The prediction of flow patterns, liquid holdup and pressure losses occurring during continuous two-phase flow in horizontal pipelines

Two 1700-foot field test flowlines, one a two inch I.D. line and the other a four inch I.D. line, were constructed and leveled for the purpose of studying continuous, two-phase, horizontal flow. Each flowline was equipped with two pairs of "quick closing" valves by means of which the liquid holdup was measured. Transparent nipples were placed at two points in the two inch line and at three points in the four inch line. Through these nipples the flow patterns were photographed. Pressure taps were located at fourteen points in each line enabling the construction of pressure-length traverses for each test run. Data obtained during the experimental investigation were used to develop three correlations. The first correlation is useful for the prediction of liquid holdup and the second correlation is a flow pattern map with which two-phase flow patterns may be predicted. The third correlation is an "energy loss factor" correlation which, when used with the two-phase power balance developed in this study, permits pressure losses to be predicted. The principle of dimensional analysis is used and therefore all of the correlations are dimensionless. A step by step procedure for using the correlations is given, followed by actual pressure-length traverses calculated by the outlined procedure. A statistical analysis of the correlations is included. Data taken in a 17 inch I.D. pipeline that was slightly over ten miles long were used to extend the correlation to larger pipe sizes

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Petroleum Engineering

Grantor

University of Texas at Austin

Year dc:date.issued

1966

Author dc:creator

• Eaton, Benny Alan, 1940-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Brown, Kermit E.

• Pipe fluid dynamics
• Two-phase flow
• Dimensional analysis
• Horizontal flow
• Flow pattern prediction
• Liquid holdup prediction
• Pressure loss prediction

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright © is held by the author. Presentation of this material on the Libraries' web site by University Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin was made possible under a limited license grant from the author who has retained all copyrights in the works.

Language dc:language.iso

en

Identifier URI

https://doi.org/10.26153/tsw/55736

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repositories.lib.utexas.edu:2152/129227