TOPFLOW tests on the structure of the gas-liquid interface in a large vertical pipe

TOPFLOW is a new thermal fluid-dynamic multipurpose test facility designed for generic and applied studies of transient two phase flow phenomena.
The paper presents results obtained in air-water tests which were started in December 2002. The experiments aimed at studying the structure of a gas-liquid two phase flow in pipes of large diameter. The experimental data is used for the visualisation of the two phase flow structure as well as to obtain void fraction profiles and bubble size distributions. Additionally, a new visualisation technique is presented, that consists in the creation of virtual side projection of the flow.