Empirical Modelization of Intermittent Gas/Liquid Flow Hydrodynamic Parameters: The Importance of Distinguishing between Plug and Slug Flows

Abstract

Intermittent flow is one of the most complex flow regimes in horizontal pipes. Various studies have classified this regime as two distinct subregimes: plug and slug flow. This classification has been made based on flow observations. In this work, the behavior of several flow parameters that characterize plug and slug flow are presented. Data from eight published works in the open literature were collected and studied to explain the behavior of both regimes. These data include pressure drop, void fraction, and slug frequency, as well as the lengths of liquid slugs and elongated bubbles for slug and plug regimes. It is observed from the evolution and analysis of these parameters that plug and slug flows have several different distinct features and should be considered as two separate regimes for the empirical modelization of the hydrodynamic parameters. The mixture Froude number, and to a lesser extent the liquid superficial velocity to gas superficial velocity ratio, seem to have significant impacts on the plug-to-slug flow transition.