Study on oil–water two-phase upflow in vertical pipes

This paper attempts at identifying flow patterns and measuring hold-up during liquid–liquid two-phase flow through a vertical pipe. The test fluids used in the research were L-AN 15 machine oil and water. The measurements were conducted for superficial velocities of the phases ranging from 0.024 to 0.578 m s−1 for oil and 0.010 to 1.045 m s−1 for water. The internal diameter of the tested pipe was 30 mm. In the study of flow patterns, the paper reports performed experimental work, which was based on systematic observations and measurements using a high speed video camera. The HOmatic membrane valves were used for the measurement of hold-up of oil. The values of hold-up and the type of flow patterns were as predicted. The results of void fraction measurements were compared with the predictions from various hold-up models and correlations.