Numerical investigation of liquid-liquid two-phase separation and pressure drop characteristics in T-junctions

Based on the Eulerian and k - epsilon viscous models, a numerical model of liquid-liquid two-phase flow in a T-junction was established. The simulation results were in reasonable agreement with the experimental data. The effects of the mass fraction taken off through branch and mixture velocity on the separation efficiency and pressure drop characteristics were investigated using the validated model. The results illustrate that the separation efficiency first increases and then decreases with an increase in the mass fraction taken off through branch. When the mass fraction taken off through branch is close to the inlet mass quality, the separation efficiency reaches its maximum. The maximum separation efficiency decreases with the increase of the mixture velocity. In addition, the pressure drop from the inlet to the outlet is primarily due to the local resistance at the intersection and frictional resistance in the pipe, and the pressure drop from the inlet to the branch is majorly caused by the gravity in the branch. It was observed that there is a vortex region at the inlet of the outlet pipe, causing pressure losses.

Automated summary

A numerical model for liquid-liquid two-phase flow in a T-junction was established based on Eulerian and k-epsilon viscous models. The simulation results were in good agreement with experimental data, showing that separation efficiency is influenced by mass fraction taken off through branch and mixture velocity. Pressure drop characteristics were mainly caused by local resistance at the intersection and frictional resistance in the pipe, as well as gravity in the branch, with a vortex region at the inlet of the outlet pipe causing pressure losses.