Study of bubbly two-phase flows in a veritical pipe using ultrasound and image processing

Nguyen Tat Thang1,2, Hiroshige Kikura2, Duong Ngoc Hai1,3, Hideki Murakawa4
1 Institute of Mechanics, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), 264 Doi Can, Ba Dinh, Hanoi, Vietnam
2 Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 O-okayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan
3 University of Engineering and Technology, VNU, 144 Xuan Thuy, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam
4 Kobe University, 1-1, Rokkodai, Nada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan

Main Article Content

Abstract

Two advanced methods, i.e. multiwave UVP (Ultrasonic Velocity Profile) and PIV (Particle
Image Velocimetry) for measurement of bubbly two-phase flow in a vertical pipe have been developed. These methods are non-intrusive and able to measure instantaneous velocity profiles and 2D velocity fields of pipe flows. Thanks to measured instantaneous velocity profiles, characteristics and behaviors of two-phase flow in a pipe can be clarified. Test flow loops have been recently built at the Laboratory for Industrial and Environmental Fluid Dynamics, Institute of Mechanics, VAST. Air and tap water are used for generating bubbly counter-current two-phase flow. Measurements have been successfully conducted at varied liquid and gas superficial velocities in bubbly flow regime (void fraction less than 10%). Measured results are highly useful for both practical and theoretical study of two-phase flows in engineering systems, especially in nuclear power plants. Moreover, the multiwave UVP measurement system, which is highly compact and able to work with opaque fluid and containers, can be applied to practical and online measurements in systems under operation.

Article Details

References

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