Description
The Effect of Surfactant on Stratified and Stratifying Gas-Liquid Flows
We consider the dynamics of a stratified/stratifying gas-liquid flow in horizontal tubes. This flow regime is characterized by the thin liquid films that drain under gravity along the pipe interior, forming a pool at the bottom of the tube, and the formation of large-amplitude waves at the gas-liquid interface. This regime is also accompanied by the detachment of droplets from the interface and their entrainment into the gas phase.
This project, one of the first of its kind, will involve carrying out an experimental study involving axial- and radial-view photography of the flow, in the presence and absence of surfactant. One of the aims is to show the effect of surfactant on the average diameter of the entrained droplets, and elucidating the mechanisms underlying these effects. The other aims are to highlight the influence of surfactant on the characteristics of the interfacial waves, and the pressure gradient that drives the flow.