Abstract
The distribution of gas and liquid in a gas–liquid two‐phase slug flow was measured using semi‐supermultiple point‐electrode probes. Based on the measurements, the wake zone behind a gas slug and the low void‐fraction zone in a liquid slug were defined, and the void fractions of the two zones were determined. The data revealed that the void fraction of the wake zone increased with superficial gas velocity, yet was virtually independent of superficial liquid velocity. Nondimensional head was proposed as an informative characteristic of this system, accounting for the momentum change of the liquid in the wake zone. It was clarified that the nondimensional head was closely related to the void fraction of the wake zone. A good practical relationship was found between the nondimensional head and the lengths of a swelling liquid‐front zone and the wake zone. Furthermore, empirical correlations were proposed for the void fraction in the wake zone, the mean void fraction in the liquid slug, and the lengths of the swelling liquid‐front zone and the wake zone. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 31(4): 257–271, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/htj.10029