Effect of the Gravity Forces on Flow Pattern and Frictional Pressure Drop in Two-Phase,Two-Component Flow

Abstract

Experimental data on the effect of the variable gravity magnitude, namely microgravity, normal gravity and hyper-gravity, on flow pattern and frictional pressure drop were obtained during co-current air-water flow in a horizontal tube. The flow patterns were found to depend strongly on the gravity magnitude and certain flow pattern were found to depend on the gas superficial velocity. The effect of the gravity magnitude had an effect on the frictional pressure drop only at low flow rates. The present data are used to evaluate some of existing flow pattern transition and pressure drop models and correlations.