Wave behavior in horizontal annular air–water flow

In this study, non-intrusive pressure drop, liquid base film thickness distribution, and wave behavior measurements have been obtained for 206 horizontal annular two-phase (air–water) flow conditions in 8.8, 15.1, and 26.3 mm ID tubes. Reliable wave velocity measurements are available for 185 of these flow conditions, while 131 flow conditions allow for reliable wave frequency measurements. The wave velocity is found to be predicted to within 9% by gas friction velocity and 6% by an optimized correlation of similar structure. Wave frequency can also be predicted with a simple correlation to within 5% for the 8.8 and 15.1 mm tubes, but a separate relation is required to explain 26.3 mm frequency data. The differences in wave behavior between the annular and wavy-annular/wavy regimes are also discussed.