Local void fraction and liquid turbulence measurements of two-phase flow downstream of a sudden expansion

The flow structure of horizontal air-oil two-phase flow downstream of a sudden area expansion has been experimentally investigated using hot-folm anemometry. The time averaged local profiles of the void fraction, mean liquid velocity and the liquid turbulence intensity for elongated bubble flow downstream of the expansion are presented in this paper. The development of the flow pattern downstream of the expansion was investigated using dorect observations of the flow using a high speed video camera. The sudden expansion was found to have a strong effect on the phase redistribution immediately downstream of the expansion. However, the "fully developed" flow regime and void fraction are found to be dependent only on the downstream flow parameters.