In slug flow, what is the term for the large gas bubbles that coalesce and fill the cross-section?

In slug flow, what is the term for the large gas bubbles that coalesce and fill the cross-section?

• A. Oscillatory streams
• B. Droplet entrainment
• C. Taylor bubbles
• D. Slug breakup

Answer: (C)

In slug flow, the large gas bubble that grows until it fills the pipe’s cross-section is called a Taylor bubble. When gas coalesces and expands to span the entire cross-section, a thin liquid film clings to the pipe walls while the bubble moves along, forming a long, slug-like shape between liquid slugs. This cross-section-filling bubble is a defining feature, setting it apart from smaller gas pockets or droplets carried by the gas. The other phrases describe different phenomena—oscillatory streams imply partial filling with alternating flow, droplet entrainment refers to droplets carried by the gas, and slug breakup means splitting a slug into pieces.

In slug flow, the large gas bubble that grows until it fills the pipe’s cross-section is called a Taylor bubble. When gas coalesces and expands to span the entire cross-section, a thin liquid film clings to the pipe walls while the bubble moves along, forming a long, slug-like shape between liquid slugs. This cross-section-filling bubble is a defining feature, setting it apart from smaller gas pockets or droplets carried by the gas. The other phrases describe different phenomena—oscillatory streams imply partial filling with alternating flow, droplet entrainment refers to droplets carried by the gas, and slug breakup means splitting a slug into pieces.