On the stability of a one-dimensional two-fluid model Original Research Article

An analysis on the stability of the governing differential equations for area averaged one-dimensional two-fluid model is presented. The momentum flux parameters for gas and liquid are introduced to incorporate the effect of void fraction profiles and velocity profiles. The stability of the governing differential equations is determined in terms of gas and liquid momentum flux parameters. It is shown that the two-fluid model is well posed with certain restrictions on the liquid and gas momentum flux parameters. Simplified flow configurations for bubbly flow, slug flow, and annular flow are constructed to test the validity of proposed stability criteria. The momentum flux parameters are calculated for these flow configurations by assuming a power-law profile for both velocity and void fraction. Existing correlation for volumetric distribution parameter Co is used. By employing simplified velocity profiles, the void fraction profile is determined from Co correlation. It is found that the void fraction is wall-peaked at low void fraction and it becomes center-peaked as the void fraction increases. A simplified annular flow is also constructed. With these flow configurations, the momentum flux parameters are determined. It is shown that the calculated momentum flux parameters are located in the stable region above the analytically determined stability boundary. The analyses results indicate that the use of momentum flux parameter is promising, since they reflect flow structure and help to stabilize the governing differential equations.