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Measurement System of Bubbly Flow Using

Ultrasonic Velocity Profile Monitor and Video Data
Processing Unit, (III)
a

Shirong ZHOU , Yumiko SUZUKI , Masanori ARITOMI , Mitsuo MATSUZAKI ,

b

Yasushi TAKEDA & Michitsugu MORI

Tokyo Institute of Technology , Ohokayama , Meguro-ku , Tokyo , 152-0033

Paul Scherrer Institut , CH-5232, Villigen , SWITZERLAND

Tokyo Electric Power Co. , Uchisaiwai-cho , Chiyoda-ku , Tokyo , 100-0011

Published online: 15 Mar 2012.

To cite this article: Shirong ZHOU , Yumiko SUZUKI , Masanori ARITOMI , Mitsuo MATSUZAKI , Yasushi TAKEDA &
Michitsugu MORI (1998) Measurement System of Bubbly Flow Using Ultrasonic Velocity Profile Monitor and Video Data
Processing Unit, (III), Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 35:5, 335-343, DOI: 10.1080/18811248.1998.9733869
To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/18811248.1998.9733869

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Journal of NUCLEAR SCIENCE and TECHNOLOGY, Vol. 35, No. 5, p. 335-343 (May 1998)

Measurement System of Bubbly Flow

Using Ultrasonic Velocity Profile Monitor
and Video Data Processing Unit, (111)
Comparison of Flow Characteristics between Bubbly Cocurrent

and Countercurrent Flows

Shirong ZHOU*' , Yumiko SUZUKI*l , Masanori ARITOMI*llt, Mitsuo MATSUZAKI'l
Yasushi TAKEDA*' and Michitsugu MORI*3
*l Tokyo

Institute of Technology

*'Paul Scherrer Institut

*3TokyoElectric Power Co.

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(Received September 30, 1997)

The authors have developed a new measurement system which consisted of an Ultrasonic Velocity Profile
Monitor (UVP) and a Video Data Processing Unit (VDP) in order to clarify the two-dimensional flow characteristics in bubbly flows and to offer a data base to validate numerical codes for two-dimensional two-phase
flow. In the present paper, the proposed measurement system is applied to fully developed bubbly cocurrent
flows in a vertical rectangular channel. At first, both bubble and water velocity profiles and void fraction profiles in the channel were investigated statistically. In addition, the two-phase multiplier profile of turbulence
intensity, which was defined as a ratio of the standard deviation of velocity fluctuation in a bubbly flow to
that in a water single phase flow, were examined. Next, these flow characteristics were compared with those
in bubbly countercurrent flows reported in our previous paper. Finally, concerning the drift flux model, the
distribution parameter and drift velocity were obtained directly from both bubble and water velocity profiles
and void fraction profiles, and their results were compared with those in bubbly countercurrent flows.

KEYWORDS: two-phase flow, measurement system, multi-dimensional flow, ultrasonic velocity profile monitor, video data processing unit, bubbly cocurrent flow, bubbly countercurrent flow, velocity, void fraction, turbulence, two-phase multiplier, probability density
function, drift flux model

I. Introduction
With the development of science and technology, twophase flow measurements have become increasingly important in a variety of processes and power systems. For
example, industrial and laboratory systems that require
such measurements include water-air and oil-gas system,
the design of nuclear reactors, steam boilers, evaporating
equipment, refrigerating equipment and so on. Nuclear
reactor related investigations have provided much of the
impetus for recent development in two-phase flow measurement technology. Many concepts of future light water reactors (LWRs), where passive and simplified safety
functions are actively introduced into their safety features, have been proposed such as the AP-600 design(l)
and the SBWR design(2) in order t o reduce their construction cost, to improve their reliability and main*' Ohokayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-0033.
*' CH-5232, Villigen, SWITZERLAND.
*3

Uchisaiwai-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0011.

Corresponding author, Tel. $81-3-5734-3063,
Fax. $81-3-5734-2959; E-mail: maritomi@nr.titech.ac.jp

tainability and so on. However, the driving force with

passive safety features functioned by the law of nature,
such as a gravity-driven coolant injection system, is much
smaller than that induced by act,ive ones, so that multidimensional two-phase flow may appear after their safety
features are act.ivated. Consequently, it is necessary with
regard t o passive safety features t o be able to simulate
multi-dimensional flow characteristics even for the twophase flow which can be regarded as one dimensional
flow for active ones. The two-phase flow shows essentially multi-dimensional characteristics even in a simple
channel. The safety analysis codes such as TRAC(3) and
RELAP5(*) treat the flow basically as one dimensional
flow and introduce multi-dimensional convection effects
in a macroscopic way due t o a lack of a fundamental
data base for establishing the model of multi-dimensional
two-phase flow dynamics. Therefore, it is one of the important problems for two-phase flow analysis t o establish
analytical methods of multi-dimensional two-phase flow
for an analytical verification of the effectiveness of passive safety features. It is also one of the most important
subjects in the future research on two-phase flow dynamics t o clarify its multi-dimensional flow characteristics.

335

Downloaded by [123.17.141.24] at 16:41 06 May 2015

336

S. ZHOU et al.

Recently, a Doppler method of an ultrasonic pulse

for velocity profile measurement has been developed for
liquid flow measurements by Takedac5). It can measure a local velocity profile instantaneously as a component in the ultrasonic beam direction, so that a velocity ficld can be measured in space and time domain(6).
The authors have developed a new measurement system
composed of Ultrasonic Velocity Profile Monitor (UVP)
and a Video Data Processing Unit (VDP) to measure
multi-dimensional flow characteristics in bubbly
The measurement system can measure simultaneously
the multi-dimensional flow characteristics of bubbly flow
such as velocity profiles of both gas and liquid phases
and a void fraction profile in a channel, an average bubble diameter and' an average void fraction. In addition,
the authors applied this measurement system to bubbly
countercurrent flows in a vertical rectangular channel(")
in order to understand multi-dimensional flow characteristics and to offer a data base to establish numerical
codes for multi-dimensional two-phase flow.
It is easy to discriminate air and water velocities in
bubbly countercurrent flows because bubble flow is in reversed direction of water flow. On the other hand, both
bubble and water flow directions are the same in bubbly
cocurrent flows. Recently the authors have attempted
to apply the proposed measurement system to fully developed bubbly cocurrent flows in a vertical rectangular
channel in order to examine its capability and to understand multi-dimensional flow characteristics. In this
paper, the proposed measurement system is applied t o
the fully developed bubbly cocurrent flows in a vertical
rectangular channel in order to understand the multidimensional flow characteristics, to offer a data base
to validate numerical codes for multi-dimensional twophase flow and to compare the flow characteristics with

that of bubbly countercurrent flows. At first, both bubble and water velocity profiles and void fraction profiles
in the channel were investigated statistically under various conditions of both air and water flow rates. Turbulence intensity in a continuous liquid phase was defined
as a standard deviation of velocity fluctuation, and the
two-phase multiplier profile of turbulence intensity in t.he
channel was measured as a ratio of the standard deviation of velocity fluctuation in a bubbly flow to that in a
water single phase flow. Next, the comparison of these
flow characteristics in bubbly cocurrent flows with those
in bubbly countercurrent flows(8)was discussed. Finally,
concerning the drift flux model, the distribut,ion parameter and drift velocity were obtained directly from both
bubble and water velocity profiles and void fraction ones,
and their results were compared with those in bubbly
countercurrent flows@).

11. Experimental Apparatus and Measurement Principle

1. Experimental Apparatus
Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of an experimental apparat,us in bubbly cocurrent flows. Air and water
were used as working fluids. The experimental apparatus was composed of a water circulation system, an air
supply system, a test section and a measurement system. The test section was a vertical rectangular channel
of 100 mm in width, 10 mm in deep and 500 mm in height
made of Plexiglas as shown in Fig. 2. The measurement
system consisted of the UVP and a personal computer
to acquire and treat data.
Water was fed into the test section from a feed water
pump passing through a subcooler and an orifice flowmeter and flowed upward t o an upper tank. The water

pper t a n k
to feed w a t e r t a n k

I:.'.. ...
.. . -

m
I Subcooler

Orifice

Pump

Feed w a t e r tank

to feed w a t e r t a n k

Test section

Flow control valve

-Air

Flow control
valve

&

SB

A i r flowmeter

L
Compressor

Fig. 1 A schematic diagram of experimental apparatus

JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

337

Measurement System of Bubbly Flow Using Ultrasonic Velocity Profile Monitor

t o get them. The hydrostatic head was simultaneously

measured as a pressure drop between the pressure taps
installed on the side wall using a differential pressure
transducer t o get'an averaged void fraction. For bubbly cocurrent flows in this work, positive velocity data
means that both bubble and water flow upward. On
the other hand, for bubbly countercurrent flows, positive velocity data means that bubble flows upward and
negative velocity data does that water flows downward.
The experimental conditions for bubbly cocurrent and
countercurrent flows are shown in Table 1.

US : ultrasonic
Measuring line

US transducer

A-E : Measuring points

unit : mm

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Fig. 2 Test section

level in the upper tank was kept const,ant by two overflow nozzles which were connected t o a lower feed water
tank. The flow rate was measured by orifice flowmeters and regulated by a flow control valve which was installed at the lower end of the test section. Adopting
this flow control system, the water flow rate could be
kept constant for hours. Microparticles (10 pm diameter) of Nylon powder were suspended in water t o reflect
ultrasonic pulses in concentration of 5 x lo4 particles per
unit volume (particles/m3). Water temperature was kept
at 20C by a subcooler. The top of the upper tank was
open to the atmosphere.
The air supply system consisted of a compressor and
a pressure regulation valve. Bubbles were injected from
three needles (inside diameter is 0.1 mm and 10 mm long)
located near the bottom of the channel. The air flow rate
was measured by float flowmeters and regulated by another flow control valve. As a result, the air flow rate
could be kept constant during an experiment. Pressure transducers were installed with pressure regulation
valves and thermocouples were attached in the upper
tank and the inlet part of the test section t o monitor
the flow condition. A personal computer acquired the
readings from these sensors and treated these data for
an on-line control of the experimental conditions.
An ultrasonic transducer was installed on the outside
surface of the front wall of the channel with a contact angle, 8,of 45"and a gap between the transducer and the
wall was filled with a jelly t o prevent a reflection of ultrasonic pulses on the wall surface as shown in Fig. 2. After
both air and water flow rates were set up at the desired
values, 9,216 ( 1 , 0 2 4 ~ 9 )velocity profiles along a measured line were measured under one experimental condition to treat them statistically. It takes about 15 min

2. Measurement Principle of UVP

Since the detailed information of the proposed measurement system and video data processing unit was reported in our previous paper(7), its measurement principle is described briefly and t o the point in this paper.
The working principle of the UVP is to use the echo of
ultrasonic pulses reflected by microparticles suspended
in the fluid. An ultrasonic transducer takes roles of both
emitting the ultrasonic pulses and receiving the echoes,
that is, the backscattered ultrasound is received for a
time interval between two emissions. The position information, 2 , is obtained from the time lapse, r , from the
emission of the ultrasound pulse to the reception of t.he
echo:
x = cr/2,
(1)
where c is a sound speed in the fluid. An instantaneous
local velocity, uuvp(xi), as a component in the ultrasonic beam direction, is derived from the instantaneous
Doppler shift frequency, f D , in the echo:
UUVP

=cfD/af,

(2)

where f is the basic ultrasonic frequency. Horizontal

position, y, and axial velocity, u, can be expressed by

y = Axci sin 8 ,

(3)

'u = uuvp/ cos e,

(4)

where Ax is a spatial resolution, which is 0.74mm for

our proposed system, i is the number of the reception of
t,he emission echo.
A probability density funct,ion includes the velocity
information of both phases. Assuming that each probability density function of both phases can be expressed
by a normal distribution,

"u,

2](U)

1
=&2- exp

( u - u)2

(5)
[
T
.
I

Table 1 Experimental conditions

System pressure
Water temperature ( " C )
Water superficial velocity (m/s)
Air superficial velocity (m/s)
VOL. 35, NO. 5, MAY 1998

Bubbly cocurrent flow

Bubbly countercurrent flow

Atmospheric pressure

Atmospheric pressure

20

0.12-0.18
0.00235-0.00384

20
-0.06--0.12

0.00195-0.00418

S. ZHOU et al.

338

Then, the probability density function of mixture velocity is given by

pu(Y~u ) = &(Y)"aG(Y),

d(Y)l(u)

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+ (1 - 4Y))"fiL(Y),

aml!u),

(6)

where tic and f i are

~ average velocities of gas and liquid
phases respectively, UG and UL are standard deviations
of both phases respectively and E is the probability of
bubble existence. These five variables, QG, f i ~ CG,
,
0~
and E are calculated numerically and iteratively by the
least squares method. Typical examples of the probability density function in bubbly cocurrent and countercurrent flows obtained from the UVP data are shown in
Fig. 3,representatively.
As long as a bubble exists, the ultrasonic pulse is reflected at its surface, so that the bubble velocity can be
always detected as the interfacial velocity. On the ot.her
hand, the ultrasonic wave is not reflected in water where
a microparticle does not exist. As a result, local water
velocity is not always measured in the profile. Hence, it
is necessary to revise the probability of bubble existence
as follows:

(7)

.(I/=
)Ps(Y).(Y),

Table 2 The specification of the UVP used in this work

4 MHz
758 mm (variable)
0.74 rnm
0.722 m/s (variable)
5.6 mm/s (variable)
128
1024

Basic ultrasonic frequency

Maximum measurable depth
Minimum spatial resolution
Maximum measurable velocity
Velocity resolution
Measurement points
The number of profiles

(a)= k

ndA/A = k ( ~ ) .

(9)

The proportional constant, k , was calculated from measured average void fraction, ( a ) ,and measured average
probabilit,y of bubble data existence, ( K ) . Then, local
void fraction, a ( y ) , is given by
4 Y ) =W Y ) .

(10)

The UVP specification used in this work is t,abulated in

Table 2.

111. Results and Discussion

1. Velocity Profiles of Both Phases

where Ps(y)is the probability of data existence. ~ ( y )
Velocity profiles of both phases in the channel were
is called the probability of bubble data existence in this measured by the UVP. At first, the effects of air flow
work.
rates on the flow characteristics in bubbly cocurrent
The hydrostatic head is obtained from the measured
and countercurrent flows were investigated as shown in
differential pressure because friction loss is negligibly Fig. 4. Since it is necessary to correct the positions
small due t o low water flow rates. By using the measured
near the wall with significant, accuracy due to an ultrahydrostatic head, the average void fraction is calculated sonic beam diameter of 5 mm; they are corrected in this
figure. Both water upward and downward velocities beby
come higher toward the center of the channel rather than
(AP/AZ)Head = p G ( a ) g p L ( 1 - ( a ) ) g .
(8)
the wall as well as a water single phase flow. Meanwhile,
Assuming that the local void fraction is proportional
bubble rise velocities also increase toward the center of
to the local probability of the bubble data existence and
the channel for bubbly cocurrent flows. On the contrary,
that the proportional constant, k , is uniform in the chanbubble rise velocities decrease toward the center of the
nel since it is dependent on bubble size and configuration,
channel for bubbly countercurrent flows. Since air flow
the average void fraction is expressed by
rates are much lower than water ones under the present

.-g oI
Q

+ * Water
+ +

0.2

. . . . . . . . . . Air
...........

> -0.2
-0.4

-0.6
0

Water

0 0 Q 0 0 Q

jL=O.l 8m/s

0.00235
1

0 0.00195
0 0.00327
0 0.00418

Distance from a wall (mm)

Velocity (m/s)

Fig. 3 Typical probability density function measured by the

UVP

'806

Fig. 4

Velocity profiles of both phases in reference to air

flow rates

JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

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Measurement System of Bubbly Flow Using Ultrasonic Velocity Profile Monitor

conditions, bubble rise velocities become higher but velocity profiles of both phases are scarcely varied even if
the air flow rate increases. Moreover, relative velocity
was defined by a difference between the bubble and water velocities. Relative velocity profiles were calculated
from the results shown in Fig. 4 and are shown in Fig. 5 .
It can be seen from Fig. 5 that the relative velocities are
almost constant in the whole channel and are scarcely
varied with the change in the air flow rates. It is clear
from Fig. 4 that the flow characteristics of bubbly flows
is almost independent of air flow rate. Therefore, it is
thought that the flow characteristics of the bubbly flows
is strongly dependent on the water velocity which is a
continuous phase because a bubble rise velocity is induced by the difference between the buoyancy and interfacial drag force under the present conditions. hiIoreover,
it can be regarded statistically that local average bubble
diameters of the cross section are almost constant.
Next, the effects of water flow rates on the flow characteristics in bubbly cocurrent and countercurrent flows
were also investigated as shown in Fig. 6. It can be seen
from this figure that both water upward and downward

339

velocities become higher but their profiles are scarcely

influenced even with an increase in a water flow rate.
Meanwhile, bubble rise velocities also increase but their
profiles are hardly affected for bubbly cocurrent flows under the present conditions. On the contrary, bubble rise
velocities become lower but their profiles are scarcely influenced for bubbly countercurrent flows. This result il1ustrat.esthat the characterist,ics of the water phase dominates the flow characteristics in bubbly flows under the
present conditions. Consequently, the flow characteristics of a liquid phase for bubbly cocurrent flows is the
same as that of a liquid phase for bubbly countercurrent
flows but the flow characteristics of a gas phase for bubbly cocurrent flows are opposite that of a gas phase for
bubbly countercurrent flows.
2 . Void Fraction Profiles

A void fraction profile in the channel can be calculated

from Eqs. (7), (S), (9) and (10) as mentioned above. The
effects of air flow rates on the void fract,ion profile in bubbly cocurrent and countercurrent flows for both low and
high water flow rates are shown in Figs. 7(a) and (b).

0*01
0.012

r-----l

' I g o. .
' @.
5
'
0 0

0.01

8 :- 8 6 8O . O@OI
=0 0

.c 0.008
0

.
"0'

jL=O.l 8m/s
0.11
iG(m/s)
0.00235
0.00313
0.00384

'

jL=-0.12m/s
jG(m/s)
0 0.00195
0 0.00327
0 0.00418

'

'

.-

0.006-

go

0.004'
:0.00235
I:/(
- jL=O.lZm/s
o
jL=0.18m/s,G

&

Distancefrom a wall (mm)

Fig. 5

'

to:

Relative velocity profiles of both phases in reference

to air flow rates

0 .
0

0.00313
u 0.00384
1
2
3
4
5
Distancefrom a wall (mm)
o

(a) Bubbly cocurrent flows

0.1 jL=-0.06m/s
'
I
'
jL=-0.12m/s
I
'
I
, jG(m/s)
I
,

Air
0.41

4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 44

.
m

0.2-

> 0.04

0-

0.00327
0.00418

0.06

J=

g-

.
*******
d ***
..........
0.081

0
a,

> -0.2 -0.40

-0.6-

1
2
3
4
Distancefrom a wall (mm)

Fig. 6 Velocity profiles of both phases in reference to water

flow rates
VOL. 35, NO. 5, MAY 1998

1
2
3
4
Distance from a wall (mm)

(b) Bubbly countercurrent flows

Fig. 7 Void fraction profiles of bubbly cocurrent and countercurrent flows in reference to air flow rates

S. ZHOU et al.

340

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It can be seen from Fig. 7(a) that the void fraction profiles of bubbly cocurrent flows change the shape with a
change in a water flow rate. Under a low water flow rate
condition, void fraction becomes higher with going toward the center of the channel and its profile shows the
mountain-type distribution as shown in Fig. 7(a). Conversely, when the water flow rate becomes higher, void
fraction is decreasing with going toward the center of
the channel and its profile shows the saddle-type distribution as shown in Fig. 7. On the other hand, Fig. 7(b)
shows that void fraction profiles are almost flat in bubbly countercurrent flows except for those near the wall.
Moreover, since air flow rates are much lower than water
ones under the present experimental conditions, water
velocity profiles are scarcely varied even with a change
in air flow rates. Bubble velocity is dependent on the
water velocity profiles as shown in Figs. 4 and 6. As a
result, the void fraction is enlarged with an increase in
air flow rates when the water flow rates are constant as
shown in Figs. 7(a) and (b).
In addition, the effects of water flow rates on the void
fraction profile in bubbly cocurrent and countercurrent
flows for both low and high air flow rates are shown in
Figs. S(a) and (b). It can be seen from Fig. 8(a) that
void fraction of bubbly cocurrent flows becomes smaller
with an increase in a water flow rate but void fraction
profiles change as mentioned above. That is, void fraction profile shows the mountain-type distribution when
water flow rate is low and it shows the saddle-type distribution when water flow rate is high toward the center of
the channel in bubbly cocurrent flows. On the contrary,
Fig. 8(b) shows that the void fraction becomes larger
with an increase in a water flow rate and the void fraction profile is nearly constant except for those near the
wall in bubbly countercurrent flows. In short, for bubbly
cocurrent flows, void fraction profile decreases toward
the center of the channel at high water flow rates. When
water flow rate is lower, the profile shows the peak in the
center of the channel. On the other hand, void fraction
profiles are almost flat in bubbly countercurrent flows
except for those near the wall. Void fractions are proportional to air flow rates for both bubbly cocurrent and
countercurrent flows. It is also proportional to water flow
rates in bubbly countercurrent flows but inversely proportional to water flow rates in bubbly cocurrent flows.
3. Turbulence Intensity Profiles
As a general rule, the turbulence intensity in a bubbly
flow is larger than that in a liquid single phase flow because bubbles agitate the flow. In the present study, a
turbulence intensity is defined as a standard deviatsion of
water velocity fluctuation in a continuous liquid phase,
u ~The
. standard deviation profile in the channel can be
calculated from Eq. (6). Typical results in water single
phase upward and downward flows are shown in Fig. 9.
In a water upward flow, the turbulence intensity has the
maximum value near t.he wall and becomes lower with
going toward the center of the channel because the tur-

0.011

O:i6
0.18,

.-c
6 0.008

s 0.006

'
.-

0.004
U

0.002
0

j~=O.O0235m/s
1
2
Distancefrom a wall (mm)
(a) Bubbly cocurrent flows

jG=o.ooi 95m/s jG=O.O0418m/s jL(m/s)

-0.06
-0.08
-0.1 0
-0.1 2

0.08
A

0.06

A
A A

1
2
3
4
Distance from a wall (mm)

(b) Bubbly countercurrent flows

Fig. 8

Void fraction profiles of bubbly cocurrent and countercurrent flows in reference to water flow rates
0.05
0.04

+A

0 -0:os
0
-0.10
A -0.12

0.14
0.16
0.18

J? 0.03
E
Y

by 0.02
0.01

1
2
3
4
Distancefrom a wall (mm)

Fig. 9 Typical standard deviation profiles of velocity fluctuation in single phase flow

bulence is mainly induced by a large velocity gradient

near the wall. Similarly in a water downward flow, the
turbulence intensity profiles have the same characteristics as a water upward flow. In a bubbly cocurrent flow,
JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

341

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Measurement System of Bubbly Flow Using Ultrasonic Velocity Profile Monitor

two main effccts of bubbles on the turbulence are considered: One is called the disturbance effect, which is caused
by the fluctuation of bubble motion and the slip velocity
between bubble and water phases. The other is called
the dispersion effect, which means that the turbulence is
declined by the existence of bubbles.
In the UVP measurement, local velocities were measured not at a point but on the area because of an ultrasonic beam diameter of 5mm. Therefore, in the region
where velocity gradient exists, the standard deviation
is not zero even in laminar flows. The absolute value
of the standard deviation in a water phase is not significant. Hence, the ratio of the standard deviation of
velocity fluctuation in a bubbly flow t o that in a water
single phase flow is selectcd as two-phase multiplier of
turbulence intensity, ULTPF/ULSPF. Figures lO(a) and
(b) show the effects of air flow rates on the two-phase
multiplier of turbulence intensity in bubbly cocurrent
and countercurrent flows for both low and high water
flow rates. The effects of water flow rates on the two-

jL=0.12m/s jL=o.lam/s
0

+rn

k l

phase multiplier of turbulence intensity in bubbly cocurrent and countercurrent flows for both low and high air
flow rates are illustrated in Figs. l l ( a ) and (b). It can
be seen from Figs. lO(a) and l l ( a ) that in low water
flow rate the q , T p F / ( T L S p F is greater than 1 and it becomes larger with the increase in void fraction and with
going toward the center of the channel for bubbly cocurrent flows. In the center of the channel, fluctuation of
bubble motion is larger than that near the wall, so the
disturbance effect is enlarged. Consequently, the profiles
of ULTPF/ULSPF mark the highest value in the center region. Similarly, it is clear from Fig. 10(b) that the turbulence intensity multiplier of turbulence intensity becomes
larger with going toward the center of the channel and
is enhanced with the increase in air flow rates for bubbly countercurrent flows. On the other hand, Figs. lO(a)
and l l ( a ) show that the turbulence intensity multiplier is
smaller than 1in some regions for bubbly cocurrent flows.
In these regions, since the water flow rate is higher and
the probability of bubble data existence decreases with

jG(m/s)
0.00235
0.00313
0.00384

0
0

1
2
3
4
Distancefrom a wall (mm)
(a)

01.I.I.I.I.(
0
1
2
3
4
Distancefrom a wall (mm)

(a) Bubbly cocurrent flows

Bubbly cocurrent flows

jL=-0.06m/s jL=-0.12m/s j&/s)

0.00195
0.00327
0.00418

a-

8-

LL

LL

.
3

-0.06
-0.08
-0.10
-0.12

:
A

6-

5 4-

2-

0
0

1
2
3
Distance from a wall

(mm)

(b) Bubbly countercurrent flows

Fig. 10 Effect of air flow rate on turbulence intensity multiplier profiles in bubbly cocurrent and countercurrent flows
VOL. 35, NO. 5, MAY 1998

0
0

1
2
3
4
Distance from a wall (mm)

(b) Bubbly countercurrent flows

Fig. 11 Effect of water flow rate on turbulence intensity

multiplier profiles in bubbly cocurrent and countercurrent flows

342

S. ZHOU e t al.

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an increase in a water flow rate, the dispersion effect is

enlarged and t,he void fraction becomes lower with an
increase in a water flow rate. Moreover, the void fraction profiles show the saddle-type distribution as shown
in Figs. 7(a) and S(a), the fluctuation of the bubble motion in the center of the channel decreases, so disturbance effect is decreased. Consequently, the dispersion
effect is superior t o the disturbance effect for high water
flow rate. It can be seen from Fig. l l ( a ) that the turbulence intensity multiplier of turbulence intensity becomes
larger with going toward the center of the channel and
is enhanced with the decrease in water flow rates. On

1.5

s,

'

0"
0.5 -

iL(m/s)
-o.06

iL(m/s)
4

0.12
0.14
0.16
0.18
.

,Zuber

0 -0.08
0-0.10
A -0.12
.

& Findlay

0.41

(11)
0.1

where F is a variable and A is a flow channel cross secand

j ,
tion. In the drift flux model, local drift velocity, ~ , ~
the distribution parameter, CO,are defined as follows:

1--------A*--JCs-*Q----

4. Distribution Parameter and Drift Velocity

As mentioned in our previous paper@),the drift flux
model proposed by Zuber and Findlay(9J is widely applied to two-phase flow analysis codes. In the present,
study, the drift flux model are applied t o analyze bubbly cocurrent and countercurrent flows. The following
notations are introduced:

FdA
( F )= 7 ,

iL(m/s)

jL(m/s)
0.12
0.14
0.16
A 0.18

-0.06

0 -0.08

0 -0.10
A -0.12

Fig. 13 Drift velocity of the drift flux model

where j is superficial velocity of two-phase mixture and

defined by
j = j G + j , = aaG

+ (1

a)aL.

(15)

Since it was difficult to measure velocity profiles of both

phases and void fraction profiles directly, in many previous works, average void fractions were measured under
various conditions of ( j ~and
) ( j ~ and
) , Co and Vgj were
determined by

In this work, velocity profiles of both phases and void

fract.ion profiles can be measured. Local drift velocity is
given by
vgj(Y)

= [I - a ( Y ) I [ a G ( Y ) - a L ( Y ) l .

(17)

Substituting experimental results of ~ G ( Y ) i, i ~ ( y )and

a ( y ) into Eqs. (14), (15) and (17), the distribution parameters and the drift velocity in bubbly cocurrent and
countercurrent flows can be calculated by

L(1- Q ) ( ~ G- a,)dA
((vg,))

v,,=

(19)

The results are shown in Figs. 12 and 13, respectively.

It can be seen from Figs. 4, 6, 7(a)(b) and 8(a)(b) that
the void fraction profiles and velocity profiles of both
phases in bubbly flows are almost flat except for those
near the wall. Consequently, the distribution parameter
is almost 1.0. Substituting properties of air and water
into the correlation proposed by Zuber and find la^(^),
V,, = 0.231 m/s. The results shown in Fig. 13 are identical t o this value. Therefore, the distribution parameter
and the drift velocity of bubbly cocurrent flows are almost the same as those of bubbly countercurrent flows.

IV. Conclusions
The measurement system composed of an Ultrasonic
JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

343

Downloaded by [123.17.141.24] at 16:41 06 May 2015

Measurement System of Bubbly Flow Using Ultrasonic Velocity Profile Monitor

Velocity Profile Monitor and a Video Data Processing

Unit was applied t o measure the flow characteristics of
fully developed bubbly flows in a vertical rectangular
channel. The following insights are clarified:
(1) In both bubbly countercurrent and cocurrent flows,
the relative velocities were almost constant at every
point in the channel because the bubble rise velocity is induced by the balance of the buoyancy and
interfacial drag force.
(2) The void fraction profiles of bubbly cocurrent flows
are different from those of bubbly countercurrent
flows. Void fraction profiles of bubbly cocurrent
flows decrease near the center of the channel at
low void fraction (the saddle-type distribution) , but
they show the maximum value in the center at high
void fraction (the mountain-type distribution).
(3) Under conditions where the saddle-type void fraction distribution appears in bubbly cocurrent flows,
the turbulence intensity near the wall is lower than
that in water single phase flows. Under conditions
where the mountain-type void fraction distribution
appears in bubbly cocurrent flows, the turbulence
intensity in the channel is larger than that in water
single phase flows.
(4) The distribution parameter in the drift flux model
is 1.0 in both bubbly countercurrent and cocurrent
flows, and the drift velocities are almost the same
value as proposed by Zuber and Findlay.
[NOMENCLATURE]

A: Flow channel cross section (mm)

CO:Distribution parameter in drift flux model

c:

A sound speed in the fluid (m/s)

F : Point quantity
( F )=
FdAIA: Average value
((F))= ( a F ) / ( a ) : Weighted mean value
f : The basic ultrasonic frequency (MHz)

s,

f ~ The
: instantaneous Doppler shift frequency (MHz)
g: Acceleration of gravity (m/s2)

i: The number of the reception of the emission echo

j : Superficial velocity of two-phase mixture (m/s)
j c : Superficial velocity of gas phase (m/s)
j,: Superficial velocity of liquid phase (m/s)
k: The proportional constant
P: Pressure (Pa)
Ps: Probability of data existence
AP: Pressure drop between the pressure taps (Pa)

VOL. 35, NO. 5, MAY 1998

Velocity of two-phase mixture (m/s)

Mean velocity of two-phase mixture (m/s)
a ~ Mean
:
velocity of gas phase (m/s)
ti,: Mean velocity of liquid phase (m/s)
uuvp: An instantaneous local velocity as a component in
the ultrasonic beam direction (m/s)
vg3: Local drift velocity in drift flux model (m/s)
Vgj: Mean drift velocity in drift flux model (m/s)
2: The position information (mm)
Ax: A spatial resolution (mm)
y: Coordinate along the deep direction (mm)
AZ: Position difference between the pressure taps (mm)
u:
ti:

(Greek symbols)
a: Local void fraction
E : Probability of bubble existence
8: Angle of transducer to the flow direction
K : Probability of bubble data existence
P G : Density of gas phase (kg/m3)
p ~ Density
:
of liquid phase (kg/m3)
( T G : Standard deviation of gas phase (m/s)
(TL: Standard deviation of liquid phase (m/s)
crLSPF: Standard deviation of water single phase flow (m/s)
uLTPF:Standard deviation of liquid phase in two-phase flow
(m/s)
7:The time lapse from the emission to the reception of
the echo ( s )

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

This work was performed at the Tokyo Institut,e of

Technology in collaboration wit,h the Tokyo Electric
Power Company and the Paul Scherrer Institut.
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