Design and Optimization on Annular-Flow Nozzle of the Oil-Water Pump

Abstract

The transport with core-annular flow (CAF) is widely used in heavy oil transportation, which has low cost, less energy consumption, simple operation and other features. This transport requires two single-stage pump, one annular-flow nozzle and more connecting pipe, therefore, it is necessary to design an oil-water pump, which not only achieving the oil-water core annular flow with a single-stage pump, but also saving space for installation. A new annular-flow nozzle is introduced to assure the oil and water input, but there exists not corresponding theoretical guidance about this nozzle that is the key design issues of this oil-water pump. Combined with the TRIZ theory, the virtual modeling software is used to make a three-dimensional model of this annular-flow nozzle creatively. There are three factors are simulated by using the CFD method based on the VOF model,standard k-e turbulence model and SIMPLE algorithm, among which are the width of annular gap, the shrinking degree of the leaded pipe and water input pressure, so as to obtain the output characteristic of oil phase. The results showed that, the relatively small width of annular gap and shrinking degree could speed up the formation of the core oil phase; Progressively rising water input pressure makes a formation of CAF rapidly; Eventually the optimized model of this annular-flow nozzle is designed, which could achieve the stabilized outflow of core-annular flow. Meanwhile, the analysis would lay the foundation for future design and manufacture of the oil-water pump.