Numerical Investigation on a Twin-Screw Multiphase Pump Under low IGVF

Abstract

A three-dimensional transient numerical model was developed to obtain the two-phase flow characteristics in a twin-screw multiphase pump based on dynamic mesh technology and the multiphase flow model. The pump performance under different inlet gas volume fractions (IGVF) was predicted by the numerical model and was tested. Then, the numerical model was validated after comparing the simulation and experimental results. After that, the flow field in the pump under 10% IGVF was analyzed. When the IGVF is 10%, the pressure increases step by step and is symmetrical from both ends to the middle of the screw rotors. The pressure distribution through a single working chamber is uniform. It falls rapidly at the inlet of the tooth tip gap and then drops linearly in the gap channel. At the outlet of the tip gap, the pressure temporarily falls due to the high-speed jet. The GVF distribution in the working chamber is uneven. The leakage flow is laminar in the tip gap, and the liquid concentrates on the top of the gap. When the last working chamber connects with the discharge chamber, the discharge jet flow causes the vortices in the discharge pipe. The gas gradually moves to the center of the vortices, forming four gas-phase aggregation regions. The velocity of the interlobe leakage is the largest. The maximum velocity appears at the second cross-section and reaches 35m/s. This research can be used to improve the performance of the twin-screw multiphase pump under two-phase working conditions.