Feasibility study on the use of the Acoustic Emission technology for monitoring flow patterns in two phase flow

• The research project has demonstrated that AE can be detected from the inception and collapse of single bubbles.
• The result showed the AE level associated with bubble activity increase as a function of bubble size and liquid viscosity.
• The findings also confirmed the presence of high frequency AE in the slug. This is attributed to the dynamics of bubbles within the slug.
• This work has established a basis for which the AE technology can offer a new passive and non-invasive GVF and flow regimes/pattern-monitoring technology.

This paper presents an investigation into the detection of single bubble inception and burst with the Acoustic Emission (AE) technology. In addition, it presents results correlating the Gas Void Fractions in two phase gas–liquid flow with levels of AE activity. The findings demonstrate the feasibility of employing AE technology as an on-line monitoring tool for bubble detection and ascertaining flow patterns under two phase gas-liquid flow conditions.