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 

1/ 2
W     2

  L

W
 
L  W   L  
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):
G GL GG
J  J L  JG   
m L G
QL  QG
  Vm
A
Volume Fraction Gas: ε
Vol. Fraction Liquid: 1-ε

Phase Velocity:
JL JG
VL  , VG 
1 
Slip Ratio (S): Mass Fraction Gas (Quality x):
VG mG
S x
VL mG  m L

Mass Flow Ratio Gas/Liquid:

mG x  G   
  S  
mL 1 - x  L  1 - 
Density of Two-Phase Mixture:

 m  G   1     L
where
x
ε
x  S  1  x  ρG / ρL
is the volume fraction of gas in the mixture
Holdup (Volume Fraction Liquid):

S  1  x   ρG / ρL 
φ  1 ε 
x  S  1  x   ρG / ρL 
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  ρG / ρL
S
K  1  x  / x  ρG / ρL
where

K   1  0.12 / Z 
19
0.95

/ 1  ε
1/ 4
ZN 1/ 6
Re N 1/ 8
Fr
 HOMOGENEOUS GAS-LIQUID PIPE
FLOW
Energy Balance (Eng’q Bernoulli Eqn)
2
2 f mG dx dz
 G νGL
2
 ρm g
dP ρm D dL dL
 
dL 2 dνG
1  xG
dP
where

ν GL  ν G  ν L  1 / ρG  1 / ρ L
 For “frozen” flow (no phase change):
dx
0
dL

If xG 2 dνG  1 flow is choked.

dP
For ideal gas:

 νG   νG 
1/ k
1 P
 P    ρP  1
,    1 k  / k
 T  P  s ρ1 kP
For frozen ideal gas/liquid choked flow:

ρm kP
G  cρm 
ε

For flashing flow (Clausius-Clapeyron eqn):

 νG  ν cT 2

 P    λ
GL p

 T
2
GL
 Homogeneous Horizontal Flow
 2 fm 
2
G  dL  νGLdx   ρm dz
 ρm D 
 dP 
 1  xG dνG / dP 
2

Flashing Flow - Determine x from (adiabatic)

energy balance (or thermo properties database):

c p  To  Ts 
x
λGL
 Finite Difference Solution – solve for  L

D  
ΔL  - 
4 fm 
 ΔP  G 2
Δν  gΔZ / ν  2
νG 2
 ΣK fit 

 Dimensionless

4 f m ΔL  2 
 ΣK fit  -  Δη  G Δε  gΔZ / Po νo ε  *2 
*2

D  εG 
where
Δη  ΔP / Po
G*  G / Po ρo  G νo / Po
ε  ν / νo  ρo / ρ
 
 L=   ΔL  i 
 i 
  the pipe inclination angle
Using Z  Lcos  , where θ is
with the vertical

for horizontal cos  = 0

for vertical up flow cos  = 1
for vertical down flow cos  = -1

4 f m ΔL 
 2  Δη  G *2
Δε  / εG *2
 ΣK 
fit 
-
D 1  gD cos θ / 4 fPo νo ε
 Procedure: Find G, Given L, Po and Pe

 Select desired ΔP and determine  at each

pressure step from Po to Pe

 Assume a value for G*

 Calculate ΔL at each pressure step.

At choke point, ΔL  0

 Adjust until ΣΔL  L

 Ex: Flashing Water in Pipe
Given: G , Po ,To ,  xo , so .ρGo , ρLo 

Calculate: Pressure Drop over L

1. Assume a value for dL  ΔL;

2. Est. f m  fn  DG / μm  (Moody, Churchill, ~0.005)
3.
ΔP1 G 2  2 f m ΔL / ρm D ρm  fn  ρL , ρG , x , S 
,
1 1
4. P1  Po  ΔP1   x1 ,Ts1 , ρG 1 , ρL1  s  Δx1 ,νGL  
1
ρG1 ρL1
5.  ΔP2 P2  P1  ΔP2
Choked if ΔP  
 Separated Pipe Flows

Each Phase Occupies a Specific Fraction of

the Flow Area

“Two-Phase Multiplier” for friction loss:

 P  2  P 
  L   ΦR   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  2  P 
  L   ΦLm   L 
 f   fLm
or:

 P  2  P 
  L   ΦGm   L 
 f   fGm
L-M Two-Phase Multipliers

C 1
Φ 2
Lm  1  2
χ χ

Φ 2
Gm  1  Cχ  χ 2
State Liquid Gas C

tt turbulent turbulent 20
vt laminar turbulent 12
tv turbulent laminar 10
vv laminar laminar 5
L-M Correlating Parameter

 P   P 
χ  
2
  
 L  f Lm  L  fGm

2 f Lm  1  x  G
2
 P 
2

  
 L  fLm ρL D

 P 
2 2
2 fGm x G
  
 L  fGm ρG D
 Friction Factors

f Lm is based on “liquid only” Reynolds No.

 1  x  GD
N ReLm 
μL
f Gm is based on “gas-only” Reynolds No.

xGD
N ReGm =
mG
 Duckler et al. (1964)
ρL
Φ 2
Lm  α  φ β  φ
ρ
and
ρG
Φ 2
Gm  α  φ β  φ
ρ
where
φ   1  ε  , ρ are “no slip” values
and
 lnφ
α  φ  1 
1.281  0.478   lnφ   0.444   lnφ  
2

0.094   lnφ   0.00843   lnφ 

3 4

 ρG   1  φ  
2
ρL  φ 2
β  φ     
ρ  φm  ρ  1  φm 
 
The Reynolds Number is based on mixture
properties:

DG
N Rem  β  φ
μm
 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

1/ 2
 Pn
dP 
G  K d ρn  2  
 P ρ 
 o 
 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

ρ  ερG   1  ε  ρL
Where ε is the volume fraction of gas:

x
ε
x  S  1  x  ρG / ρL

x = mass fraction of gas phase (quality).

S = slip ratio = vG / vL = (fn(x, ρL/ ρG, …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

1/ 2 1/ 2
 Pn
dP   j  n-1  Pj  1 - Pj 
Gn  ρn K d  -2 
 P ρ 
  ρn K d  -4    
 o   j o  ρj1  ρj  

Required Information:
ρ 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)
 Experimental Data
TABLE I
VALVE SPECIFICATIONS
(Lenzing, et al, 1997, 1998)
Valve KdG KdL Orifice Dia. Orifice Area
(mm)
B&R DN25/40 0.86 0.66 20 0.4869
(Bopp &
Reuther Si63)

ARI DN25/40 0.81 0.59 22.5 0.6163

(Albert Richter
901/902)

1 x 2 “E” 0.962 0.729 13.5 0.2219

(Crosby
JLT/JBS)
Leser DN25/40 0.77 0.51 23 0.6440
(441)
 TABLE II
FLOW CONDITIONS
(Lenzing, et al, 1997, 1998)

Fluid Nom. Pressure Po Pb

(bar) (psia) (psia)

Air/Water 5 72.495 14.644

Air/Water 8 115.993 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 8 115.993 14.644

Steam/Water 10.6 153.690 14.644

Air-Water (Frozen) Flow

Four Different Valves

Three Different Pressures

 ARI DN25/40, Air/Water Calc 5 bar

Data 5 bar
25000
Calc 8 bar

20000 Data 8 bar

K dG (kg/s m2)

15000

10000

5000

0
0.0001 0.001 0.01 0.1 1
xo
 Calc 5 bar
LESER DN25/40, Air/Water
Data 5 bar
25000 Calc 8 bar
Data 8 bar
20000 Calc 10 bar
K dG (kg/s m 2)

Data 10 bar
15000

10000

5000

0
0.0001 0.001 0.01 0.1 1
xo
 Calc 5 bar
B&R DN25/40, Air/Water
Data 5 bar
Calc 8 bar
35000
Data 8 bar
30000 Calc 10 bar
Data 10 bar
25000
K dG (kg/s m2)

20000

15000

10000

5000

0
0.0001 0.001 0.01 0.1 1
xo
 Crosby 1x2 E, Air/Water Calc 5 bar

Data 5 bar
25000

20000
K dG (kg/s m 2)

15000

10000

5000

0
0.0001 0.001 0.01 0.1 1
xo
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
4500 HDI
4000 HNDI L=40mm
KdG(kg/sm2)

3500
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
0.001 0.01 0.1 1
xo
 Leser Valve DN25/40, Steam/Water, 6.8 bar

7000
Data

6000 HDI
HNDI L=40mm
KdG(kg/sm2)

5000

4000

3000

2000

1000

0
0.001 0.01 0.1 1

xo
 Leser Valve DN25/40, Steam/Water, 8 bar

8000
Data
7000 HDI
HNDI L=40mm
6000
KdG (kg/sm2)

5000

4000

3000

2000

1000

0
0.001 0.01 0.1 1
xo
 Leser Valve DN25/40, Steam/Water, 10.6 bar

9000
Data
8000 HDI
7000 HNDI L=40mm
K dG (kg/sm 2)

6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
0.001 0.01 0.1 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 (cont’d)
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), 39-
48, 1949
Questions??