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Energy efficiency is a key issue of sustainable development. During the design of industrial devices, it strives to achieve the highest possible energy efficiency. In the industrial systems, two-phase flow is a difficult task, especially the prediction, and maintenance of the two-phase flow regime. That is why this research proposes the evaluation and choice of an algorithm that will give a hint of the device design for which the hydrodynamic conditions of the two-phase mixture flow may be evaluated. The tests were carried out in a rectangular vertical narrow channel, as this type of device is in common use. The work aimed to show which algorithm is better for such evaluation. Parameters such as pressure drop, heat, mass, and momentum transfer are influenced by the phase velocity field. Still, various models are used for the determination of the velocity field. Therefore, there is a problem of choosing a model that will give the results closest to the real conditions. Flow visualization gives the non-invasive determination of the actual velocity field. An analysis of the velocity field was performed, which showed that for different two-phase flow regimes there are differences for given algorithms. The following algorithms were used to determine the velocity vector field: adaptive correlation method and adaptive particle image velocity method were used which are the parts of the general digital particle image velocimetry. The determination of the velocity fields in the quantitative and qualitative assessment of a given two-phase flow regime was obtained. The result of the research is the evaluation of algorithms for characterization two-phase gas-liquid flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents experimental studies on the optimization of two-phase fluid flow in an airlift pump. Airlift pumps, also known as mammoth pumps, are devices applied for vertical transport of liquids with the use of gas. Their operating principle involves the existence of a density gradient. This paper reports the results of experimental studies into the hydrodynamic effects of the airlift pump. The studies involved optical imaging of two-phase gas-liquid flow in a riser pipe. The visualization was performed with high-speed visualization techniques. The studies used a transparent model of airlift pump with a rectangular cross-section of the riser. The assessment of the airlift pump operation is based on the image grey-level analysis to provide the identification of two-phase flow regimes. The scope of the study also involved the determination of void fraction and pressure drops. The tests were carried out in a channel with dimensions 35 × 20 × 2045 mm with the gas flux range 0.2–15.0 m3/h. For the assessment of the two-phase flow pattern Probability Density Function (PDF) was applied. On the basis of the obtained results, a new method for selecting the optimum operating regime of airlift pump was derived. This method provides the finding of stability and efficiency of liquid transport. It can also be applied to determine the correlation between the total lifting efficiency and the required gas flux for proper operation of the airlift pump. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]