Experimental and Numerical Studies of Two-Phase Flow in Ribbed Periodic Vertical Channel

Abstract

Pressure drop in a ribbed vertical channel was studied for a two-phase (air and water) flow, different shapes of ribs (triangle, semi-circular, and rectangle) were used in this investigation. An experimental rig was constructed with a test channel having the dimensions (10×3×70 cm) that enabled the flow patterns visual observation. An experimental setup of a two-phase was done for the present investigation, as well as a sum of (150) two-phase data with various flow patterns was determined. The used water superficial inlet velocities were in the range (0.0333 - 0.0888 m/s), and the air superficial inlet velocities were in the range (0.0555 - 0.1666 m/s). The experimental pressure drop according to a smooth plate was (41%, 38%, and 35%) for a channel fitted with semi-circle, rectangular and triangular ribs, respectively. The less pressure drop recorded was in the triangular ribbed channel, which indicates that the triangular shaped ribbed channel is the finest shape among the studied ones to lower the pressure drop. As future work, the numbers and dimensions of ribs can be changed to investigate its effect on the two-phase flow and the pressure drop, another suggestion for the future investigations is to include other fluid to have a three-phase flow, also the inclination angle of the duct can be changed to study its effect.