Computational Study of Two-Phase Flow Morphology in a Nozzle

Abstract

Multiphase flow meters are widely used in nuclear, petroleum and chemical industries. Here the flow rate is defined indirectly by the differential pressure measurement over the device. An additional measurement is required to estimate average density of the phase mixture. This could be done by means of the gamma-ray, electromagnetic or acoustic tomography. The accuracy of the technique is dependent on flow morphology. The present paper reports the results of CFD-modelling of the gas-liquid flow through the vertical flow meter accompanied by a flow conditioner. The model is used to consider the morphology for three different combinations of liquid and gas flow rates. The model demonstrates high non-uniformities of the flow field at the entrance of the flow meter and generally confirms the agreement of flow morphology with previous experimental observations for vertical pipes.