Abstract
Experimental investigations on annular flow film thickness were conducted using a closed-loop horizontal pipe with an internal diameter of 2-inch (0.0504m). The aim is to progress the understanding of such flow and facilitate the optimum design of hydrocarbon production systems were such flow is encountered. Liquid film thickness was extensively investigated using three methods: the conductance probe sensors installed at the bottom of the pipe, conductivity ring sensors and triangular relationship model. From these methods, liquid film thickness was proven to decrease with increase in superficial gas velocity, while increases with increase in superficial liquid velocity. In comparison, the predicted triangular relationship liquid film thickness matched better with the liquid film thickness obtained from conductance probe sensors at all the flow conditions in the experiments, while the conductivity ring sensor results matched closely at superficial liquid velocity of 0.0505m/s and 0.0714m/s but overestimated at superficial liquid velocity of 0.0903m/s and 0.1851m/s. This has shown the impact of high superficial gas velocity on conductivity ring sensors in accounting for liquid film thickness.
Highlights
Multiphase flow in pipes involve different phases flowing together, either at the same or different velocity
A thin liquid film exists at the curved surfaces and the upper walls while a thick liquid film exists at the bottom of the internal diameter of horizontal pipes, [14]
According to [20], the asymmetry distribution of annular flow in horizontal pipes is dependent on the mass flow rate of the liquid and gas
Summary
Multiphase flow in pipes involve different phases flowing together, either at the same or different velocity. Annular flow in horizontal pipes flow with much gas velocity at the core centre of the pipe with impact of gravity leaving the circumferential liquid film on the internal walls of the pipe which drains to the bottom of the pipe as film thickness,[15]. Liquid film thickness is observed to be higher at the bottom of the pipe compared to the curved surface area and the upper walls of the pipe internally. This is because of the effects of gravity-induced drainage, which increases the liquid film thickness at the bottom of the pipe, [20, 21]. [13] investigated and reported on circumferential water film thickness in annular in pipes, [1] presented film thickness at the upper part of the walls of the pipe while [2] conducted experiments on film thickness with respect to axial flow. [3, 22, 9, 18] likewise investigated liquid film thickness in Osokogwu Uche: Evaluation of Liquid Film Thickness in Gas-Liquid Annular Flow in Horizontal
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