Simulation and Two-phase Void Fraction Measurement Utilizing Gamma Technique in Conjunction with Flat Panel Detector

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Radiation Application Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

The presence of bubbles is evident in most two-phase gas-liquid flows. The measurement of void fraction in various industries, such as nuclear, chemical and petrochemical, provides valuable insight into the distribution of phases in a multiphase system. This understanding can lead to the improvements in the design, operation and maintenance of industrial processes in sectors like oil and gas, petrochemicals, chemical reactors, heat exchangers, and geothermal power plants. In many cases, bubbles are evenly distributed in the liquid, creating uncertainty in measurements. To address this issue, this research utilized a wide gamma beam in conjunction with a flat panel detector to minimize systematic errors caused by fluctuations in bubble placement along the path of the gamma ray passing through the flow tube. Next, in the Monte Carlo simulation environment, the numerical density of the bubble is calculated in a fixed volume. Using the calibration chart, the fraction of the bubble is determined in terms of the numerical density for various bubble radius values. Ultimately, after validating the code by comparing the results of the spectrum produced from the code with the spectrum of a reference sample from an X-ray tube, the graph displaying numerical density changes in terms of bubble fraction at different radii demonstrates the method’s ability to distinguish varying amounts of bubble fraction for different radii.

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References

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Journal of Petroleum Research
Volume 34, 1403-6 - Serial Number 139
January and February 2025
Pages 141-147

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