This study introduces a measurement technique for simultaneous phase-separated velocity in two-phase bubbly flow. The non-invasive technique, based on an Ultrasonic Velocity Profiler (UVP), is used in order to obtain an instantaneous, separate velocity profile for both liquid and bubble. The aim of this paper is to measure each phase velocity at the same time and position it using only a single resonant frequency. To achieve this aim, extended signal processing of the Short-Time Fourier Transform (STFT) is proposed, combining with amplitude classification to analyze Doppler signal influenced from the bubbly flow. The use of developed algorithms allows the instantaneous separation of liquid and bubble velocity profiles. In this work, the developed technique is used to measure the velocity profile of bubbly flow in the vertical pipe, demonstrating the classification of liquid and bubble velocity. To confirm the accuracy of each velocity profile phase, the Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) method is used for comparison. The results clarify that the proposed method is in good agreement with the PIV measurement. Finally, the effect of void fraction against velocity measurement of both phases was demonstrated.

The present paper describes a measurement technique for phase-separated velocity profile measurements in the two-phase bubbly flow. The Ultrasonic Velocity Profiler (UVP) method which is nonintrusive measurement, is applied to obtain an instantaneous velocity profile of liquid and bubble separately by using only one resonant frequency. To achieve this target, developed algorithm, which can decompose frequency component of the Doppler signal affected by liquid and bubble, is applied in the UVP system to obtain and separate instantaneous velocity profile of both phases. For confirming the applicability of modified measurement system, the developed UVP was used for the measurement of the velocity profile in bubbly flow on vertical pipe flow apparatus, the measurement accuracy was validated by UVP Original and Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) method. Finally, the UVP was applied to experiment for observing velocity distribution of both phases in a bubble column.

Abstract. In two-phase bubbly flow, measurement of liquid and bubble velocity is a necessity to understand fluid characteristic. The conventional ultrasonic velocity profiler (UVP), which has been known as a nonintrusive measurement technique, can measure velocity profile of liquid and bubble simultaneously by applying a separation technique for both phases (liquid and bubble) and transparent test section is unnecessary. The aim of this study was to develop a new technique for separating liquid and bubble velocity data in UVP method to measure liquid and bubble velocity profiles separately. The technique employs only single resonant frequency transducer and a simple UVP system. An extra equipment is not required. Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) based frequency estimator paralleled with other signal processing techniques, which is called as proposed technique, was proposed to measure liquid and bubble velocity separately. The experimental facility of two-phase bubbly flow in the vertical pipe was constructed. Firstly, the Doppler frequency estimation by using the FFT technique was evaluated in single-phase liquid flow. Results showed that FFT technique showed a good agreement with autocorrelation and maximum likelihood estimator. Then, separation of liquid and bubble velocity was demonstrated experimentally in the two-phase bubbly flow. The proposed technique confirmed that liquid and bubble velocity could be measured efficiently.

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