Study on pressure drop characteristics of gas-liquid swirl annular flow

Considering the influence of swirl attenuation, the pressure drop characteristics of gas-liquid spiral annular flow are studied, and the pressure drop prediction model of spiral annular flow is deduced. The swirl-straight ratio of pressure drop is defined as the ratio of pressure drop of swirl flow to straight flow, used to characterize the effect of swirl decay on pressure drop. The expression of swirl-straight ratio of pressure drop is derived by the method of dimensional analysis, and it has a strongly dependence on Lockhart-Martinelli coefficient and gas phase Froude number. Finally, the prediction model of pressure drop for gas-liquid swirl annular flow is obtained. The pressure drop characteristics of the swirl annular flow are experimentally studied in a horizontal tube with an inner diameter of 50 mm. The range of the gas superficial velocity is 10—16 m/s and the range of the liquid volume fraction (LVF) is 0.6%—4.8%. Through comparison with experimental data, the relative error of the pressure drop prediction model is within ±15%, which provides a method reference for engineering applications.