The effect of the flow direction inside the header on two-phase flow distribution in parallel vertical channels

The experimental investigation presented in this paper is aimed at understanding the main mechanisms which drive the flow distribution inside a two-phase horizontal header in order to design improved distributors and to optimise the flow distribution inside compact heat exchanger. Experimentation was devoted to establish the influence of the inlet conditions and of the channel/distributor geometry on the phase/mass distribution into parallel vertical channels. The study is carried out with air-water mixtures and it is based on the measurement of component flow rates in individual channels and on pressure drops across the distributor.