Flow and heat transfer characteristics of a tetra-n-butyl ammonium bromide hydrate slurry in the transition region

The flow and heat transfer characteristics of a tetra-n-butyl ammonium bromide (TBAB) hydrate slurry were investigated experimentally. The characteristics in the transition region were examined in detail. Two types of hydrates form from TBAB solution of different concentrations. The hydrate type, Reynolds number and solid fraction were varied as experimental parameters and the coefficients of pipe friction and heat transfer were measured. In the low solid fraction region, it was found that the coefficients of pipe friction and heat transfer were constant and the values were the same as that for turbulent flow of the TBAB solution. However, for the high solid fraction region, a laminarization phenomenon occurs and the flow and heat transfer characteristics can be estimated from the laminar flow of the hydrate slurry. Moreover, the laminarization point for the solid fraction can be predicted using the apparent Reynolds number.