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Large‐Eddy Simulation of Oil‐Water Annular Flow in Eccentric Vertical Pipes
Author(s) -
Silva Andhros G.,
de Moraes Deovaldo,
Al Arni Saleh,
Solisio Carlo,
Converti Attilio,
Oliveira Ricardo P. S.,
Vianna Ardson S.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
chemical engineering and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.403
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1521-4125
pISSN - 0930-7516
DOI - 10.1002/ceat.202000361
Subject(s) - mechanics , turbulence , pressure drop , volume of fluid method , multiphase flow , flow (mathematics) , computational fluid dynamics , large eddy simulation , fluent , turbulence modeling , petroleum engineering , materials science , geology , physics
One of the difficulties related to oil exploration is transporting heavy oil since its high viscosity causes high‐pressure drop and energy consumption. In order to save energy, the core annular flow (CAF) can be applied where a two‐phase annular flow occurs, with peripheral water flowing offering a reduction in energy expenditure. The multiphase flow was studied experimentally in a simple purpose‐built unit. To theoretically handle the CAF, computational fluid dynamics simulations were done with the commercial package Ansys Fluent. The flow was considered turbulent, isothermal, incompressible, and 3D, and both stationary and transient cases were evaluated. The volume‐of‐fluid model was adopted for the multiphase system, and water/oil interface and turbulence phenomena were well predicted.