Pressure drops and loss coefficients of a phase change material slurry in pipe fittings

Abstract: In this study, we investigated the pressure drops and loss coefficients of a phase change material slurry-tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) clathrate hydrate slurry (CHS) in pipe fittings. Pressure drops of TBAB CHS in 6mm and 14mm straight tubes, 14mm 90° elbow, sudden contraction from 14mm to 6mm, sudden expansion from 6mm to 14mm, 14mm tee distribution and convergence were measured as the mass fraction of TBAB CHS varying from 0wt% to 30wt%. Power-law model was applied to describe the characteristics of slurry flow, and the fluid parameters including the flow behavior index and fluid consistence factor were obtained for 6mm and 14mm tubes respectively. Furthermore, the loss coefficients of TBAB CHS flowing through the pipe fittings were obtained from the experimental results and the corresponding correlations were also developed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]