51316-7711-Liquid Film Thickness and Erosion of Elbows in Gas-Liquid Annular Flow

Available for download

Product Number: 51316-7711-SG

ISBN: 7711 2016 CP

Author: Peyman Zahedi

Publication Date: 2016

Member Price: $0.00

Non Member Price: $20.00

Price: $20.00

Qty:

Elbows are often used in oil and gas production systems and are vulnerable to erosion damage when sand production is anticipated. Annular flow is mostly observed in multiphase gas production pipelines. Examination of annular flow in an elbow is complicated by separation of phases droplet entrainment in the gas core or deposition of entrained droplets to the liquid film. Experiments have shown that average liquid film thickness along the outer bend of the elbow is lower than that for upward vertical flow in straight sections of pipe. The liquid film thickness in the bend can significantly affect erosion as particles have to penetrate through the liquid film to impact the pipe wall. In order to accurately predict erosion magnitude within pipe bends prediction of liquid film thickness in bends is important. In this study experimental data and CFD calculations are used to predict annular flow characteristics and liquid film thickness. The simulation results of liquid film thickness trends are in reasonable agreement with the available experimental data in the literature. The use of predicted liquid film thicknesses in high gas superficial velocities and low liquid rates allows more accurate prediction of erosion in elbows. A comparison of predicted erosion magnitude with previously developed models for predicting erosion in annular flows and experimental data indicates that the new modifications help improve the predicted erosion data.