Two-phase flow definitions

Vapor fraction (Vapor quality), x

L G
G
L G
G
tot
G
m m
m
state
steady
if
m m
m
m
m
x
& &
&
+

'

+


Void fraction,

L G
G
L G
G
L G
G
tot
G
A A
A
flow
l dimensiona one
if
V V
V
state
steady
if
V V
V
V
V
+

'

'

+

& &
&


Slip (velocity ratio), S

L
G
w
w
S

The relation between x, a, and S can be deducted and the result is:

S
x
x 1
1
1
L
G

+
,
S
1 1
1
1
x
G
L

+
,
G
L
x 1
x 1
S

The reason for defining the vapor fraction, the void fraction and the slip ratio is that they
make it possible to calculate the density of the two-phase mixture which are used to calculate
pressure drop. For separated flow models, the calculation of the density of a two-phase
mixture requires that both the vapor fraction, x, and the void fraction, , is known. As seen in
the equations above, the slip, S, is needed for this calculation.

Mass flux, G:

A
m
G
&

Slip ratio correlations
Several correlations for calculation the slip, S, and the void fraction are presented in literature.
Here, a few of the most recommended are given in order of decreasing accuracy.

CISE correlation:

2
2
1
E y
E y 1
y
E 1 S
+
+

where:
( ) x 1
x
y
G
L



22 . 0
G
L
19 . 0
L
h
1
d G
578 . 1 E

,
_

,
_

08 . 0
G
L
51 . 0
L
h
L
h
2
2
d G d G
0273 . 0 E

,
_

,
_

,
_

is the surface tension.

Smiths void correlation:

( )
1
L
G
L
G
L
G
x
x 1
K 1
x
x 1
K
x
x 1
K 1
x
x 1
K 1

1
1
1
1
1
]
1

,
_

,
_

,
_

,
_

+

where K = 0.4 in order to achieve good agreement with experimental data.

Chisholms slip correlation:

,
_

G
L
1 x 1 S

Zivis slip correlation:

3
G
L
S

Homogeneous flow model

S=1


Two-phase flow pressure drop
Pressure drop in two-phase flow, the total pressure drop is the sum of four different pressure
loss terms. In addition to the usual friction and dynamic pressure losses, also the
acceleration and elevation pressure losses have to be summed up to get the total pressure
drop.

When correlations describing pressure drop in two-phase flow has been developed, two main
approaches have been used; conservation of momentum or conservation of energy. For single-
phase flow these two approaches lead to identical results. However, in two-phase flow the
approach has an influence on the distribution of the pressure losses among the different terms
in the total pressure drop. Theoretically, the total pressure drop is of course the same for both
approaches. It is therefore important to remember from which approach different correlations
are developed. In this paper, only the most recommended friction pressure drop correlation,
the CESNEF2-correclation, will be presented. This correlation was based on the conservation
of energy approach, and therefore only this apprach will be discussed here.

Dynamic pressure losses
The dynamic pressure losses are often calculated using the same type of equations as for
single-phase flow. These losses can be of considerable magnitude and should be taken into
account when designing a system experiencing two-phase flow. The equations are omitted
here, and the reader is referred to e.g. Tengblad (1996) for details.

Conservation of Energy approach
Friction pressure drop (CESNEF2 correlation)
( ) z b f b f b f
d
G 2
p
m m L L G G
h
2
F
+ +

where:
L G
h
x 1 x
1

, z is the vertical height difference (m)

To calculate f
G
and f
L
, the following equations should be used:
G
G
d G
Re

L
L
d G
Re

where d is the tube diameter.

For Re
G
> 2400 and Re
L
> 2400
2
G
G
d
2 . 0
Re
10
ln 8 . 3
1
f

,
_

,
_

+

2
L
L
d
2 . 0
Re
10
ln 8 . 3
1
f

,
_

,
_

+


where is the surface roughness of the tube.

For Re
G
< 2400 and Re
L
< 2400
G
G
Re
16
f
L
L
Re
16
f
To calculate f
m
, the following equations should be used:

L
G
h
2
d G
Lo

For d = 0.001 m:
( )
L
G
2
L
001 . 0 d
g Ce

For d < 0.001 m:
0 Ce

For Lo = 30 Ce:
25 . 0
m
Lo 046 . 0 f


For Lo < 30 Ce:
25 . 0
m
Lo Ce 046 . 0 f



( )
L G
600
G
x b

( )
( )
G L
2
L
x 1 b


L G m
b b 1 b

Elevation pressure drop
z g
. const
if
dz g p
h
h
2
1
h E

'

Acceleration pressure drop

,
_

1 , m 2 , m
2
A
1 1
G p

Where index 1 refers to the inlet condition and index 2 to the outlet condition

( )
( ) x
x 1 S 1
1
1
L G L
G
L G
L L G m

+

+ +