Monitoring sand particle concentration in two-phase flow using acoustic emission

Abstract

This technical note presents an experimental investigation using acoustic emission technology to monitor sand transportation in two-phase flow. The investigation consisted of a preliminary experiment where a single sand particle was dropped onto metal plates to provide a basis for monitoring particle impingement on metal pipes in two-phase or three-phase flow systems. Further investigations were undertaken on two-phase (air–sand) flow in a horizontal pipe where the superficial gas velocity ( VSG) was varied. The objective of this research programme was to explore the possibility of employing acoustic emission as a non-invasive technology for monitoring sand particle concentration levels in multi-phase flow conditions. The experimental findings clearly show that a correlation exists between acoustic emission energy levels, sand concentration and superficial gas velocity.