Numerical simulation of allocator annular flow field

Abstract

The allocator is the key tool for the oilfield to realize the multi-layered polymer flooding. The most common allocator is the annular pressure-reducing groove structure. The selection of reasonable structural characteristics parameters has always been a difficult problem in the design of pressure reducing structure. The structural optimization design involves many parameters, and the numerical simulation method can effectively reduce the dependence on the experiment and the number of experiments. In this paper, the parametric modelling of the annular pressure-reducing groove structure is carried out, and the numerical simulation model of the power law fluid flowing in the annular channel is established. The turbulence calculation model is used to numerically calculate the flow field. The velocity, pressure, turbulent kinetic energy and strain rate contours are obtained and analysed. The numerical calculation results of the annulus flow field with four different structural characteristic parameters are compared and the optimal structural parameters are obtained, which can provide valuable reference for the design and improvement of the annular pressure-reducing groove allocator.