EFFECTS OF THE LIQUID VISCOSITY ON THE PHASE DISTRIBUTIONS IN HORIZONTAL GAS-LIQUID SLUG FLOW

In the present paper, experimental results of the investigations of th e effect of liquid viscosity on the phase distribution in two-phase ai r-liquid slug flow in horizontal pipes are represented. As the liquid phases, oil with viscosities in the range from 14 to 37 mPas and water are used. The experimental investigations are conducted in a horizont al pipe with an inner diameter of 59 mm. The superficial liquid viscos ities and the superficial air velocities in the test section are varie d in a range from 0.15 to 1.5 mis and from 0.1 to 13.5 mis, respective ly. The liquid hold-up within the liquid slug zone, the liquid holdup in the elongated bubble zone and the flow averaged liquid holdup are m easured by means of a multibeam gamma-ray densitometer. The results in dicate that there are significant differences in the distribution of l iquid and gas when oil and air or water and air are used in the experi ments. By increasing the liquid viscosity, increasing values for the R ow averaged liquid holdup and the volume averaged liquid holdup inside the liquid slug and the elongated bubble zone are obtained.