Gas-Liquid Two-Phase Flow Regimes in Microchannels

Recent experimental data dealing with gas-liquid two-phase flow regimes and their transitions in microchannels with circular and near-circular cross-sections are reviewed and compared. It is shown that, for microchannels with hydraulic diameters close to 1 mm, the available data are in good agreement. These data are used as the basis for the development of a simple Weber number-based flow regime map that divides the entire flow map into four zones: a surface tension dominated zone including bubbly and plug flow patterns; an inertia dominated zone representing the annular flow regime; a dispersed/churn flow zone; and a transition zone that consists of other intermittent flow patterns. Comparison is als o made with the limited available data representing channels with slightly larger hydraulic diameters or different cross-sectional geometries, and the effects of channel cross-sectional geometry and size are examined and discussed. The areas in need of further systematic experimental investigation are identified.