Experimental investigation of the two-phase flow distribution in the outlets of a horizontal multi-branch header

Abstract An experimental investigation was conducted to study the two-phase flow distribution in a horizontal header with two inlet turrets and 30 (six banks of five) outlet branches. Tests were performed using air–water mixtures at room temperature and a nominal header pressure of 170.3 kPa. The test matrix included one- and two-turret injection, two inlet water flow rates and four different air flow rates for each water flow rate, giving four different inlet qualities. The outlet flow rates of air and water were measured in all the branches under the condition of equal pressure drop across all branches. The data show that there is significant variation in air and water flow rates among the branches, both in the axial and circumferential directions. The flow distribution among the branches was found to be strongly dependent on the inlet flow rates of air and water, and the type of injection (one or two turrets).