ANALYTICAL AND LEVEL-SET METHOD-BASED NUMERICAL STUDY FOR TWO-PHASE STRATIFIED FLOW IN A PLANE CHANNEL AND A SQUARE DUCT

Abstract

The present work involves detailed nondimensional study of density-matched viscosity-stratified flow at various viscosity ratio (eta) and Reynolds number. For fully-developed flow with increasing eta, it is found that the maximum U-velocity (U(max)), and pressure gradient increases whereas interface height decreases monotonically. For developing flow, it is shown that the U(max) increases whereas the interface height decreases asymptotically along the axial direction. However, the increase and decrease is more for square duct as compared to the plane channel. Furthermore, a set of development-length correlations are proposed for the plane channel. The present results can be used for the efficient transportation of a more viscous fluid.