Interfacial Friction Factor for Counter-Current Gas-Liquid Flows in Vertical Pipes

One-region computations with the annular flow model were done for counter-current flow limitation (CCFL) at the sharp-edged lower end of vertical pipes to evaluate effects of diameters and fluid properties on CCFL characteristics. CCFL characteristics computed with several correlations for interfacial friction factors were compared with CCFL data and the correlation proposed by Bharathan et al. (which is a function of void fraction) was selected. The adjustment factors were obtained to give good agreement between CCFL characteristics computed with the correlation by Bharathan et al. and CCFL data and were correlated with the viscosity ratio of gas and liquid phases and the dimensionless diameter. By using the correlation for interfacial friction factors by Bharathan et al. modified with the viscosity ratio of gas and liquid phases and the dimensionless diameter, effects of diameters and fluid properties on CCFL characteristics were computed.