Droplet Transport Modelling and Generation Enhancement in Hydrocarbon Multiphase transport

Liquid accumulation due to velocity difference between gas and liquids has a significant influence on the capacity and operability of a multiphase hydrocarbon production system. Droplet transport increases the liquid transport and thereby reduces the liqu id accumulation. Present models for droplet transport are based on experiments at conditions far from actual large diameter high pressure condensate lines. The theoretical basis seems poor. Attempts at applying better phenomenological models for droplet distribution to low velocity dense gas experimental data has not been as succesfull as when applied to low gas density - high velocity experiments. Therefore the scaling properties of the models are suspect. The reason is probably a too simplistic descrip tion of the turbulence, which probably are not satisfying with a large assymetry in the distribution of liquid surface roughness around the pipe wall. The program will study the turbulence in a gas flowing over a wavy liquid surface using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV). University of OSLO (UiO) will contribute with measurement hardware and software, assist with experiements, and perform the data analysis. Based on existing models for stratified flow a model describing the observed turbulence distrib ution will be developed. A model for droplet dispersion that can take into account the spatial distribution of turbulence will be developed and coupled to the stratified flow model. It would be highly desirable to increase the production of droplets, an d to produce smaller droplets that are more easily carried by the gas flow. Similar technologies used in other fields of application like agricultural spraying and liquid-liquid extraction by static electricity will be studied for potential transfer of t echnology.