TY - JOUR
T1 - Drift Flux Model Parameters Estimation based on Numerical Simulation of Slug Flow Regime with High-Viscous Liquids in Pipelines
AU - Pugliese, Victor
AU - Ettehadtavakkol, Amin
AU - Panacharoensawad, Ekarit
N1 - Funding Information:
The numerical study was carried out at the Bob L. Herd Department of Petroleum Engineering. The authors gratefully acknowledge Universidad del Norte, Colombia (Contract Identification: CCBUNDDA/12/2016) for the financial support.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020
PY - 2021/2
Y1 - 2021/2
N2 - Multiphase flow models involve more variables than available equations, thus constitutive equations are required to solve the system's governing equations. In the Drift Flux Model, mean drift velocity of the gas phase is estimated by using a Dispersed-Phase Distribution Coefficient and Gas Drift Velocity closure relationships. This study investigates the hydrodynamic of the slug flow regime with high-viscous liquids, and develops an equation for the Distribution Coefficient. Simulation cases were run with inclination angles varying from 0° (horizontal direction) to 90° (vertical upward) and a 0.051m-ID pipe. OpenFOAM, an open-source CFD software, was used to numerically solve the two-phase flow problem. A detailed methodology to estimate drift flux parameters from the data stored at each grid block is presented. This step-by-step methodology allows researchers to further develop the constitutive equations for Distribution Coefficient and the Drift Velocity for other cases. Simulated results were compared with experimental data from the literature and other published models for horizontal and vertical pipes. The results showed that this CFD modeling approach is suitable for representing actual slug flow in pipes. The newly developed Distribution Coefficient constitutive equation has less than 10% absolute average relative error for the viscosity range of 0.14 to 1.120Pa·s, and pipe inclinations from 0° to 90°.
AB - Multiphase flow models involve more variables than available equations, thus constitutive equations are required to solve the system's governing equations. In the Drift Flux Model, mean drift velocity of the gas phase is estimated by using a Dispersed-Phase Distribution Coefficient and Gas Drift Velocity closure relationships. This study investigates the hydrodynamic of the slug flow regime with high-viscous liquids, and develops an equation for the Distribution Coefficient. Simulation cases were run with inclination angles varying from 0° (horizontal direction) to 90° (vertical upward) and a 0.051m-ID pipe. OpenFOAM, an open-source CFD software, was used to numerically solve the two-phase flow problem. A detailed methodology to estimate drift flux parameters from the data stored at each grid block is presented. This step-by-step methodology allows researchers to further develop the constitutive equations for Distribution Coefficient and the Drift Velocity for other cases. Simulated results were compared with experimental data from the literature and other published models for horizontal and vertical pipes. The results showed that this CFD modeling approach is suitable for representing actual slug flow in pipes. The newly developed Distribution Coefficient constitutive equation has less than 10% absolute average relative error for the viscosity range of 0.14 to 1.120Pa·s, and pipe inclinations from 0° to 90°.
KW - Distribution Coefficient
KW - Drift Flux Model
KW - Drift Velocity
KW - High-Viscous Liquid
KW - Inclined pipes
KW - Multiphase Flow
KW - OpenFOAM
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85097364178&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ijmultiphaseflow.2020.103527
DO - 10.1016/j.ijmultiphaseflow.2020.103527
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85097364178
VL - 135
JO - International Journal of Multiphase Flow
JF - International Journal of Multiphase Flow
SN - 0301-9322
M1 - 103527
ER -