Micro four-sensor probe measurement of interfacial area transport for bubbly flow in round pipes

A newly developed micro four-sensor conductivity probe is presented, which is capable of acquiring the time-averaged local two-phase flow parameters of various types of bubbles. The data acquired by the probe are categorized into two groups in view of the two-group particle transport: namely spherical/distorted bubbles as group 1 and cap/Taylor bubbles as group 2. The good agreement in the benchmark experiments employing the image analysis method validates the new method. The data obtained by the probe in the bubbly and bubbly to slug transition condition is compared with the one-group interfacial area transport equation. The model and the data agree well within the measurement error of ± 10%.