<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Passive cyclonic gas-liquid separators (PCGLSs) are commonly used in microgravity conditions where gravity settling separation is difficult or impossible. In this study, displacement-current phase tomography (DCPT) is used to measure various features of the gas-liquid flow inside of a PCGLS. The liquid holdup, liquid angular velocity, and gas core size are investigated. The liquid holdup is also measured in a gas-liquid flow that simulates the injection flow for a PCGLS. It is found that the gas core contracts and expands in a periodic motion as air is injected with water. This motion becomes more noticeable as the air flow rate is increased. It is also found that the liquid layer angular velocity has a positive linear trend with the air flow rate under constant water flow rates. A basic linear relation is derived to relate the liquid angular velocity to the air and water flow rates. All DCPT and electrical capacitance phase tomography (ECVT) results closely match the visual confirmation methods used for each flow feature.</p></abstract>

Passive cyclonic gas-liquid separators (PCGLSs) are commonly used in microgravity conditions where gravity settling separation is difficult or impossible. In this study, displacement-current phase tomography (DCPT) is used to measure various features of the gas-liquid flow inside of a PCGLS. The liquid holdup, liquid angular velocity, and gas core size are investigated. The liquid holdup is also measured in a gas-liquid flow that simulates the injection flow for a PCGLS. It is found that the gas core contracts and expands in a periodic motion as air is injected with water. This motion becomes more noticeable as the air flow rate is increased. It is also found that the liquid layer angular velocity has a positive linear trend with the air flow rate under constant water flow rates. A basic linear relation is derived to relate the liquid angular velocity to the air and water flow rates. All DCPT and electrical capacitance phase tomography (ECVT) results closely match the visual confirmation methods used for each flow feature.

Study of Gas-Water Flow Inside of a Horizontal Passive Cyclonic Gas-Liquid Phase Separator System Using Displacement-Current Phase Tomography

Gravitational and Space Research

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Passive cyclonic gas-liquid separators (PCGLSs) are commonly used in microgravity conditions where gravity settling separation is difficult or impossible. In...

Study of Gas-Water Flow Inside of a Horizontal Passive Cyclonic Gas-Liquid Phase Separator System Using Displacement-Current Phase Tomography

Article Category: Research Article

Published Online: Jul 21, 2020

Page range: 28 - 43

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/gsr-2018-0008

Keywords
Displacement-Current Phase Tomography, Electrical Capacitance Phase Tomography, Capacitance Tomography, Cyclonic Separation, Liquid Cyclone, Gas Core, Gas-Liquid Separator, Two-phase Flow, Liquid Holdup, Flow Imaging, Liquid Velocity, Gas-liquid Mixture, Gas Core Size

© 2018 Joshua N. Sines et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Study of Gas-Water Flow Inside of a Horizontal Passive Cyclonic Gas-Liquid Phase Separator System Using Displacement-Current Phase Tomography

Article Category: Research Article

Published Online: Jul 21, 2020

Page range: 28 - 43

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/gsr-2018-0008

KeywordsDisplacement-Current Phase Tomography, Electrical Capacitance Phase Tomography, Capacitance Tomography, Cyclonic Separation, Liquid Cyclone, Gas Core, Gas-Liquid Separator, Two-phase Flow, Liquid Holdup, Flow Imaging, Liquid Velocity, Gas-liquid Mixture, Gas Core Size

© 2018 Joshua N. Sines et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Displacement-Current Phase Tomography, Electrical Capacitance Phase Tomography, Capacitance Tomography, Cyclonic Separation, Liquid Cyclone, Gas Core, Gas-Liquid Separator, Two-phase Flow, Liquid Holdup, Flow Imaging, Liquid Velocity, Gas-liquid Mixture, Gas Core Size