Prediction of liquid height for onset of slug flow

An experimental investigation is carried out to study the transition from stratified to slug flow and the development of slug flow. The variation of Lockhart–Martinelli parameter with the non‐dimensional liquid height is established based on the experimental data. A correlation is developed for the liquid height as a function of superficial gas and liquid Reynolds number. The liquid height is observed to increase up to some level depending on the mass flow rate, beyond which there is a sudden jump in the height leading to the formation of slug. This critical liquid height is the limiting condition for the evolution of slug. Below the critical height a stable stratified flow is observed. The critical height for stability limit of stratified flow is established experimentally for various combinations of mass flow rates of the primary and secondary phases. © 2011 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering