IDENTIFICATION OF 2-PHASE FLOW REGIMES VIA DIFFUSIONAL ANALYSIS OF EXPERIMENTAL TIME-SERIES

The problem of identifying different two phase flow regimes from exper imental time series by employing the method of diffusional analysis is addressed. This technique, recently applied to the multiphase flow fi eld, is described and compared with other techniques used to character ize multiphase flow regimes. Diffusional analysis is applied to experi mental time-series obtained from both a gamma-densitometer and capacit ance probes. The choice of the appropriate experimental signal to be p rocessed is also discussed. The experimental time series were obtained from a rig with air and light oil. The results obtained confirm the a dvantages of the method proposed in identifying the features of differ ent flow regimes. The advantages are particularly evident when compari ng diffusional analysis with the widely applied Rescaled Range techniq ue.