Stereoscopic Particle Image Velocimetry Analysis of Air-Water flow in a Pipe Separator

Abstract

Experimental investigations have been carried out to study the hydrodynamic flow behaviour and phase separation of air-water flow in a pipe separator. Stereoscopic particle image velocimetry measurements are conducted at three different axial positions for air-water mixture at a constant air flow rate of 4.5×10-3 m3/s and six different water flow rates. Effects of air flow in the air-water flow field are investigated by comparing the velocity distributions of air–water flow with that of only water flow field. Experimental results indicate that the tangential and radial velocity flow patterns of air-water flow and water flow were the same. However, the magnitudes of the velocity profiles for air-water were greater than that of only water flow fields. The axial velocity profiles illustrated the phase separation that occurred as air-water flow through the pipe separator