Effects of liquid viscosity on characteristics of waves in gas-liquid two-phase flow - (Characteristics of huge waves and disturbance waves)

In order to clarify the effects of liquid viscosity on the interfacial stru cture of the flow occurring in the transition region from plug flow to annu lar flow regimes, time-spatial measurements of liquid holdup were carried o ut using liquids with kinematic viscosity of 1 x 10(-6), 10 x 10(-6) and 20 x 10(-6) m(2)/s. Based on these measurements, time-spatial maps of wave be havior were produced and the probability distributions of wave width, wave velocity and wave height were also determined. Close inspection of these da ta revealed that there appeared two types of waves, namely huge waves and d isturbance waves, even in cases where the liquids with the kinematic viscos ity of 10 x 10(-6) and 20 x 10(-6) m(2)/s were used. Moreover, the differen ces between these waves became greater with an increase in the kinematic vi scosity of liquid. Furthermore, it was also clarified that the region, wher e the gas-liquid interface was covered with ripple-like waves, became wider with an increase in the kinematic viscosity of liquid.