Two-Phase Gas/Liquid Pipe Flow
Ron Darby PhD, PE
Professor Emeritus, Chemical Engineering
Texas A&M University
Types of Two-Phase Flow
Solid-Gas
Solid-Liquid
Gas-Liquid
Liquid-Liquid
Gas-Liquid Flow Regimes
Homogeneous
Highly Mixed
Pseudo Single-Phase
High Reynolds Number
Dispersed Many Possibilities
Horizontal Pipe Flow
Vertical Pipe Flow
Horizontal Dispersed Flow Regimes
Vertical Pipe Flow Regimes
Horizontal Pipe Flow Regime Map
1/ 2
G L
A W
W
L
W
W L
2
1/ 2
Vertical Pipe Flow Regime Map
DEFINITIONS
Mass Flow Rate m , Volume Flow Rate (Q)
m m L mG LQL G QG
Mass Flux (G):
m m L mG
G
GL GG
A
A
A
Volume Flux (J):
J J L JG
GL
QL QG
Vm
A
Volume Fraction Gas:
Vol. Fraction Liquid:
GG
1-
Phase Velocity:
JL
VL
1
VG
JG
Slip Ratio (S): Mass Fraction Gas (Quality x):
VG
S
VL
mG
x
mG m L
Mass Flow Ratio Gas/Liquid:
G
mG
x
S
mL 1 - x
L
1 -
Density of Two-Phase Mixture:
m G 1 L
where
x S 1 x G / L
is the volume fraction of gas in the mixture
Holdup (Volume Fraction Liquid):
S 1 x G / L
x S 1 x G / L
Slip (S)
Occurs because the gas expands
and speeds up relative to the liquid.
It depends upon fluid properties and
flow conditions.
There are many models for slip
(or holdup) in the literature.
Hughmark (1962) slip correlation
Either horizontal or vertical flow:
1 K 1 x / x G / L
S
K 1 x / x G / L
where
K 1 0.12 / Z
ZN
1/ 6
Re
1/ 8
Fr
0.95
19
/ 1
1/ 4
HOMOGENEOUS GAS-LIQUID PIPE
FLOW
Energy Balance (Engq Bernoulli Eqn)
2
2 f mG
dx
dz
2
G GL
m g
m D
dL
dL
dP
dL
2 dG
1 xG
dP
where
GL G L 1 / G 1 / L
For frozen flow (no phase change):
dx
0
dL
If xG 2 dG 1 flow is choked.
dP
For ideal gas:
1
G
P P
P
G
,
1 kP
P s
1/ k
1
1 k / k
For frozen ideal gas/liquid choked flow:
G cm
m kP
For flashing flow (Clausius-Clapeyron eqn):
cT
G
P
T
2
GL p
2
GL
Homogeneous Horizontal Flow
2 fm
G
dL GLdx m dz
m D
dP
2
1 xG dG / dP
2
Flashing Flow - Determine x from (adiabatic)
energy balance (or thermo properties database):
c p To Ts
GL
Finite Difference Solution solve for L
D
2
2
L P
gZ
/
fit
2
4 fm
G
Dimensionless
4 f m L
2
*2
K fit - G gZ / Po o *2
D
G
where
P / Po
G* G /
Po o G o / Po
/ o o /
L= L i
i
the pipe inclination angle
Using Z Lcos , where is
with the vertical
for horizontal cos = 0
for vertical up flow cos = 1
for vertical down flow cos = -1
*2
*2
/
G
4 f m L
fit
D
1 gD cos / 4 fPo o
Procedure:
Find G, Given L, Po and Pe
Select desired P and determine at each
pressure step from Po to Pe
Assume a value for G*
Calculate L at each pressure step.
At choke point, L 0
Adjust until L L
Ex: Flashing Water in Pipe
Given:
G , Po ,To , xo , so .Go , Lo
Calculate: Pressure Drop over L
1.
2.
3.
Assume a value for dL L;
Est. f m fn DG / m (Moody, Churchill, ~0.005)
m fn L , G , x , S
1
1
4. P1 Po P1 x1 ,Ts1 , G 1 , L1 s x1 ,GL
1
G1 L1
5.
P1
G 2 2 f m L / m D
,
P2
P2 P1 P2
Choked if
Separated Pipe Flows
Each Phase Occupies a Specific Fraction of
the Flow Area
Two-Phase Multiplier for friction loss:
P
P
2
L R L
fm
fR
Reference Single-Phase Flow:
R = L Total flow is liquid: GL mm / A G
R = G Total flow is gas: GG mm / A G
R = LGmTotal flow is liquid in mixture:
GLm 1 x G
R = GGm Total flow is gas in the mixture
GGm xG
Lockhart-Martinelli (1949)
P
P
2
L Lm L
fLm
or:
P
P
2
L Gm L
fGm
L-M Two-Phase Multipliers
2
Lm
C 1
1 2
2
Gm
1 C
State
Liquid
tt
vt
tv
vv
turbulent
laminar
turbulent
laminar
Gas
turbulent
turbulent
laminar
laminar
C
20
12
10
5
L-M Correlating Parameter
P
P
L f Lm L fGm
2
2 f Lm 1 x G
P
L D
L fLm
2
2 fGm x G
P
G D
L fGm
2
Friction Factors
f Lm is based on liquid only Reynolds No.
N ReLm
1 x GD
L
f Gm is based on gas-only Reynolds No.
N ReGm
xGD
=
mG
Duckler et al. (1964)
2
Lm
and
2
Gm
where
1 , are no slip values
and
1
ln
1.281 0.478 ln 0.444 ln
2
0.094 ln 0.00843 ln
3
m
2
G 1
1 m
The Reynolds Number is based on mixture
properties:
N Rem
DG
Sizing Relief Valves
for Two-Phase Flow
m
A
Gvalve
Gvalve K d Gidea l nozzzle
Assume Homogeneous Gas-Liquid
Mixture in an Isentropic Nozzle
dP
G K d n 2
P
o
Pn
1/ 2
Discharge Coefficient ( K d )
Values given by manufacturer, or in the Red Book
If flow is choked (critical) use :
K d ,gas
If flow is not choked (sub-critical) use :
K d ,liquid
TWO-PHASE DENSITY
G 1 L
Where is the volume fraction of gas:
x S 1 x G / L
x = mass fraction of gas phase (quality).
S = slip ratio = vG / vL = (fn(x, L/ G, etc)
Flashing Flow
Non-Equilibrium If L 10 cm
Flashing is not complete if L 10 cm
In this case, use
L
x xo xe xo
10
L = nozzle length (cm)
xo = initial quality entering nozzle
x e = local quality assuming equilibrium
If xo > 0.05, x = xe
Determine Quality,
xe fn( P )
The quality is determined as a function
of pressure by an energy balance on
the fluid along the flow path.
The path is usually assumed to be
isentropic.
HDI Homogeneous Direct Integration
Exact Solution Based on Numerical Finite
Difference Equivalent of Nozzle Equation
dP
Gn n K d -2
P
o
Pn
1/ 2
n K d -4
j n-1
j o
Pj 1 - Pj
j1 j
Required Information:
vs P at constant s from Po to Pn in increments of
Pj to Pj+1 .
Can be generated from an EOS or from a
database (e.g. steam tables).
(If choked, Gn Gmax at Pn=Pc)
1/ 2
Experimental Data
TABLE I
VALVE SPECIFICATIONS
(Lenzing, et al, 1997, 1998)
Valve
KdG
KdL
Orifice Dia.
(mm)
Orifice Area
B&R DN25/40
(Bopp &
Reuther Si63)
0.86
0.66
20
0.4869
ARI DN25/40
(Albert Richter
901/902)
0.81
0.59
22.5
0.6163
1 x 2 E
(Crosby
JLT/JBS)
Leser DN25/40
(441)
0.962
0.729
13.5
0.2219
0.77
0.51
23
0.6440
TABLE II
FLOW CONDITIONS
(Lenzing, et al, 1997, 1998)
Fluid
Nom. Pressure
(bar)
(psia)
(psia)
Air/Water
72.495
14.644
Air/Water
115.993
14.644
Air/Water
10
144.991
14.644
Steam/Water
5.4
78.295
14.644
Steam/Water
6.8
98.594
14.644
Steam/Water
115.993
14.644
Steam/Water
10.6
153.690
14.644
Po
Pb
Air-Water (Frozen) Flow
Four Different Valves
Three Different Pressures
Calc 5 bar
ARI DN25/40, Air/Water
Data 5 bar
25000
Calc 8 bar
Data 8 bar
K dG (kg/s m2)
20000
15000
10000
5000
0.0001
0.001
0.01
xo
0.1
Calc 5 bar
LESER DN25/40, Air/Water
Data 5 bar
Calc 8 bar
25000
Data 8 bar
K dG (kg/s m 2)
20000
Calc 10 bar
Data 10 bar
15000
10000
5000
0.0001
0.001
0.01
xo
0.1
Calc 5 bar
B&R DN25/40, Air/Water
Data 5 bar
Calc 8 bar
35000
Data 8 bar
K dG (kg/s m2)
30000
Calc 10 bar
Data 10 bar
25000
20000
15000
10000
5000
0
0.0001
0.001
0.01
xo
0.1
Crosby 1x2 E, Air/Water
Calc 5 bar
Data 5 bar
25000
K dG (kg/s m 2)
20000
15000
10000
5000
0.0001
0.001
0.01
xo
0.1
HNDI Homogeneous Non-Equilibrium
Direct Integration
For flashing flows, equilibrium is not reached
until flow path length reaches 10 cm or more.
For L<10 cm, quality (x = gas mass
fraction) is lower than it would be at
equilibrium (xe).
For L < 10 cm, quality is estimated from
x = xo + xe - xo L / 10
where xo is the initial (L = 0) quality (L in cm)
If xo > 0.05, x = xe
Steam-Water Flashing
(non-Equilibrium) Flow
One Valve - Leser 25/40
Four Different Pressures
Leser DN25/40 Valve, Steam/Water, 5.4 bar
5000
Data
KdG(kg/sm2)
4500
HDI
4000
HNDI L=40mm
3500
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
0.001
0.01
0.1
xo
Leser Valve DN25/40, Steam/Water, 6.8 bar
7000
Data
HDI
6000
KdG(kg/sm2)
HNDI L=40mm
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
0.001
0.01
0.1
xo
Leser Valve DN25/40, Steam/Water, 8 bar
8000
Data
HDI
7000
HNDI L=40mm
KdG (kg/sm2)
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
0.001
0.01
0.1
xo
Leser Valve DN25/40, Steam/Water, 10.6 bar
K dG (kg/sm 2)
9000
Data
8000
HDI
7000
HNDI L=40mm
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
0.001
0.01
0.1
xo
SUMMARY/MORAL
Two-Phase Flow is much more complex
than single phase flow, because of the
wide variety of possible flow regimes,
phase distributions, thermo/mechanical
equilibrium/non-equilibrium, etc.
Correlations are complex and limited in
scope.
Analysis requires good understanding of
flow mechanism.
References
Baker, O., Simultaneous Flow of Oil and Gas, Oil & Gas J.,
53:185-195, 1954
Darby, R., Fluid Mechanics for Chemical Engineers, 2nd Ed.,
Ch. 15, Marcel Dekker, 2001
Darby, R., F.E. Self and V.H. Edwards, Properly Size Pressure
Relief Valves for Two-Phase Gas/Liquid Flow, Chemical
Engineering, 109, no. 6, pp 68-74, June, (2002)
Darby, R., On Two-Phase Frozen and Flashing Flows in Safety
Relief Valves, Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process
Industries, v. 17, pp 255-259, (2004)
Refs (contd)
Darby,R, F.E. Self and V.H. Edwards, Methodology for Sizing Relief Valves
for Two-Phase Gas/Liquid Flow, Proceedings of the Process Plant
Safety Symposium, 2001, AIChE National Meeting, Houston, TX, April
2001
Duckler, A.E, M. Wicks III and R.G. Cleveland, Frictional Pressure Drop
in Two-Phase Flow: A Comparison of Existing Correlations for Pressure
Loss and Holdup, AIChE J., 10:38-43, 1964
Govier, G.W. and K. Aziz, The Flow of Complex Mixtures in Pipes, Van
Nostrand Reinhold Co., 1972
Hughmark, G.A., Holdup in Gas-Liquid Flow, CEP, 58(4), 62-65, l962
Lockhart, R.W., and R.C. Martinelli, Proposed Correlation of Data for
Isothermal Two-Phase, Two-Component Flow in Pipes, CEP, 45(1), 3948, 1949
Questions??
