Abstract
The results of two-dimensional mathematical modeling of heat and mass transfer in a highly viscous hydrocarbon liquid by inductive and radio-frequency (RF) electromagnetic (EM) heating are presented. The model takes into account the dependence of the liquid's viscosity and thermal conductivity on the temperature and also the presence of thermal convection effects. It is shown that the occurrence of volumetric heat sources inside the liquid caused by EM radiation yields an intensive deep heating as compared with inductive heating. Numerical calculations show that, in both these cases, the single vortex flow structure is formed in the whole volume of the liquid. However, RF EM heating provides a more homogeneous distribution of heat in the medium and requires three-fold less power consumption in comparison with induction heating.
Highlights
INTRODUCTIONThe study of convective heat transfer in multiphase multicomponent media, such as natural (oil and bitumen) or manmade (sludge and petroleum products) hydrocarbon systems, are associated with a number of problems arising in the oil and gas industry
The study of convective heat transfer in multiphase multicomponent media, such as natural or manmade hydrocarbon systems, are associated with a number of problems arising in the oil and gas industry
In the case of RF electromagnetic heating (Fig. 5), the temperature begins to rise with varying intensity simultaneously on all thermocouples. This occurs due to the fact that the more homogeneous redistribution of the energy in the case of RF EM heating prevents the local overheating of the liquid that takes place in induction heating and a steady temperature rise is observed throughout the volume of the liquid
Summary
The study of convective heat transfer in multiphase multicomponent media, such as natural (oil and bitumen) or manmade (sludge and petroleum products) hydrocarbon systems, are associated with a number of problems arising in the oil and gas industry. 3 , 3 , c3 , k3 are density, coefficient of dynamic viscosity, heat capacity and thermal conductivity of a hydrocarbon liquid; v is a vector field of velocity of free convective motion of the liquid; P is pressure; T is temperature; f is the vector field of mass forces; q3 is the density of distributed heat sources in the liquid. If we assume that the gas and liquid phases behave as a single system and if we neglect the compressibility of the medium, the quasi-homogeneous approximation can be applied (Kutateladze and Nakoryakov, 1984) In this case, it is possible to solve the system of equations mentioned above using effective values of some of the physical quantities: density, coefficient of dynamic viscosity, coefficient of thermal conductivity, heat capacity, and the averaged values of velocity, temperature and pressure in the medium. The viscosity of the hydrocarbon liquid is temperature dependent: the approximate dependence of viscosity on temperature in the form of two experimentally obtained exponents has been used (Kovaleva et al, 2005):
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