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Geraci, Giorgio (2006) Gas-liquid flows in inclined pipes and venturis. PhD thesis, University of Nottingham.

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Abstract

In oil industrial applications, the modem practice in the drilling of oil wells, deviated drilling, results in inclinations from the vertical to the horizontal being present in such wells. Their design requires an accurate knowledge of the pressure drop/flowrates/physical-properties relationships. The measurement of wet-gas streams can be improved significantly by the use of a Venturi flow meter with an "overreading" correction. Moreover, at high gas mass fractions, knowledge of the liquid distribution about the well tubing cross section is required to inform policy on the use of inhibitors to protect the tubing from corrosion.

Therefore, the aims of this study are to address aspects of two-phase gas/liquid flow in the pipe upstream the Venturi and in the Venturi. The main thrust of the project is to examine the effects of stratification that occur in annular flow when the pipe inclination is from horizontal to much higher inclinations. The study of annular flow includes the prediction of the three principal dependent variables – film flowrate, film thickness and pressure drop - as a function of position along the channel. All experiments were carried out with air and water in an inclinable rig. It consisted of a 5 m long stainless steel pipe of 38 mm internal diameter. The pipe could be positioned at any angle between horizontal and vertical in intervals of 5 degrees. The Venturi, located downstream the pipe, had a 19 mm i.d. throat and angles of convergent and diffuser respectively of 32° and 4°. Measurements on liquid film flowrate and liquid film thickness were carried on with two conductance probe techniques and sintered porous wall units. Measurements on pressure drop were conducted with the use of two differential pressure cells. In all experiments described, gas and liquid flowrates and pipe orientation were varied.

Another aim of the study was to develop computer modelling for the prediction of air-water pressure gradient and liquid film thickness along the Venturi. The models of Azzopardi et al. (1991) regarding pressure drop and the models of Fukano and Ousaka (1988) for film thickness circumferential variations have been analysed and modified according to the characteristics of the system.

Item Type:	Thesis (University of Nottingham only) (PhD)
Supervisors:	Azzopardi, B.J. Hills, J.H.
Keywords:	Flow meters, Two-phase flow, Annular flow, Air-water pressure gradient, Liquid film thickness
Subjects:	T Technology > TJ Mechanical engineering and machinery
Faculties/Schools:	UK Campuses > Faculty of Engineering > Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering
Item ID:	14313
Depositing User:	EP, Services
Date Deposited:	13 Jun 2014 10:30
Last Modified:	14 Oct 2017 09:39
URI:	https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/14313

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