Adela Syikilili
The aim of this work was to analyze inlet effect and patterns development length of the vertical gas-liquid flow experimentally. The study was conducted in multiphase rig with a test section of 18m long pipeline and 60 mm internal diameter. Two types of inlets were considered. Four conductivity probe rings were installed at four different positions along the test section. Water flow rate was kept at 0.07 m/s by adjusting pump frequencies and water inlet valve. Air was varied from 4 m/s to 22 m/s at atmospheric pressure and temperature so that to attain different types of flow pattern. Recognition of flow patterns was done by considering four methods; observation with aid of high-speed camera, time series of conductance signals, signals probability density functions and distribution moments about mean. Conductance signals were collected for about two minutes for each test after attaining steady state flow. The results show that with steady state flow, patterns transition can occur within a test section while the inlet effect is very small for slug propagation within a test section.