Measurements in Horizontal Air-Water Pipe Flows Using Wire-mesh Sensors

Abstract

The main objective of the present study is the assessment of the measurement uncertainty of void fraction and interfacial velocity in different air-water flow regimes in horizontal pipes, measured by wire-mesh sensors (WMS). New experiments were conducted in a dedicated flow loop and it was found that interfacial velocity measurements by WMS were in good agreement with optical measurements using a high-speed camera. Estimates of the uncertainties of the present void fraction measurements, as well as a review of relevant results from the literature, are also discussed. Drift-flux models were fitted to the present measurements and it was found that the parameters of these models were not only sensitive to the flow regime, but also to the liquid superficial velocity.