2-PHASE FLOW BEHAVIOR IN A SPIRAL TUBE UNDER MICROGRAVITY

Experiments were performed to observe the flow patterns and the behavi or of a two-phase (liquid/gas) flow in a spiral tube under microgravit y. The liquids used were ethyl alcohol and R113. The microgravity envi ronment was performed using a 10-m-class drop tower, which can maintai n a gravity level of 10(-2) g for about 1 s. Photographs of the flow b ehavior were taken by a micro CCD camera and transmitted to a video ca ssette recorder. Preliminary models to explain the observed flow patte rn map are evolved.