Pressure Drop Analysis in the Horizontal Pipes with Spherical Capsule Train Flow

Horizontal hydraulic transport of ice particles suspended in water which is used in cooling systems has several advantages, such as its friendliness to the environment and its relatively low operation and maintenance costs. In this study, as a first approximation one dimensional model is developed. Simulation model calculates the pressure drop of the flow of solid-water two-phase mixture inside the pipe. Through this model, effects of different volumetric concentrations of solid phase on the pressure drop of the capsule flow are investigated. The simulation results are compared and validated with the results obtained from the experiment which has been performed with spherical capsules having lower density than the carrier liquid. In the experiment, measurements have been carried out in a horizontal straight plexiglass pipe and water has been used as a carrier liquid. The results show that the homogenous model can be applicable to pressure drop solid-water two phase mixture with sufficient accuracy.