DYNAMICS OF TWO-PHASE FLOW ACROSS HORIZONTAL TUBE BUNDLES - A REVIEW

Abstract

This paper presents a state-of-the-art review of the hydrodynamic aspects of two-phase flow across horizontal tube bundles. The review covers studies related to the evaluation of void fraction, two-phase flow behaviors and pressure drops on the shell side of staggered and in-line tube bundles for upward, downward and side-to-side flows. This study of the literature critically describes the proposed flow pattern maps and semi-empirical correlations for predicting void fraction and frictional pressure drop. These predicting methods are generally based on experimental results for adiabatic air-water flows. A limited number of experimental studies with R-11 and R-113 were also carried out in the past. The review shows noticeable discrepancies among the available prediction methods. Finally, this study suggests that further research focusing on the development of representative databanks and new prediction methods is still necessary.