A droplet entrainment model based on the force balance of an interfacial wave in two-phase annular flow

Droplets are generated at the interface of annular flow due to an interaction between a liquid film and gas core flow. Therefore, knowledge of the interfacial wave structure is essential for making an accurate prediction of the amount of entrained droplets. A new droplet entrainment model was proposed based on the force balance of interfacial waves in vertical annular flow. An analytic wave shape function was developed reflecting the detailed experimental findings, and was used in the development of a new model. The model was validated using the experimental data reported by Hewitt and Pulling at low pressures and by Keeys et al. at high pressures, which had been performed in adiabatic vertical tubes. The root-mean-square error of the prediction of the amount of entrainment was approximately 27% when the model was implemented into COBRA-TF code, which is approximately 23% less than that determined by the Würtz model. The models proposed by Okawa et al. and Stevanovic et al. were also implemented into COBRA-TF and compared with the proposed model.

► Knowledge of the interfacial wave structure is essential for making an accurate prediction of the amount of entrained droplets.
► A new droplet entrainment model based on the force balance of interfacial waves in vertical annular flow.
► An analytic wave shape function was developed.
► A new droplet entrainment model was validated using the experimental data reported by Hewitt and Pulling and by Keeys et al.