Two-phase gas vapour -liquid flow

Some of the important features of the flow of two-phase mixtures composed of a liquid together with a gas or vapour are discussed in this section. There are many applications in the chemical and process industries, ranging from the flow of mixtures of oil and gas from well heads to flow of vapour-liquid mixtures in boilers and evaporators. 

Because of the presence of the two phases, there are considerable complications in describing and quantifying the nature of the flow compared with conditions with a single phase. The lack of knowledge of the velocities at a point in the individual phases makes it impossible to give any real picture of the velocity distribution. In most cases the gas 

A gas-liquid mixture will have a lower density than the liquid alone. Therefore, if in a U-tube one limb contains liquid and the other a liquid-gas mixture, the equilibrium height in the second limb will be higher than in the first. If two-phase mixture is discharged at a height less than the equilibrium height, a continuous flow of liquid will take place from the first to the second limb, provided that a continuous feed of liquid and gas is maintained. This principle is used in the design of the air lift pump described in Chapter 8. 

Consideration will now be given to the various flow regimes which may exist and how they may be represented on a Flow Pattern Map to the calculation and prediction of hold-up of the two phases during flow and to the calculation of pressure gradients for gas-liquid flow in pipes. In addition, when gas-liquid mixtures flow at high velocities serious erosion problems can arise and it is necessary for the designer to restrict flow velocities to avoid serious damage to equipment. 

A more detailed treatment of the subject is given by Govier and AzE by Chisholm - and by Hewitt . 

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