Skip to Main Content
Frequently Asked Questions
Submit an ETD
Global Search Box
Need Help?
Keyword Search
Participating Institutions
Advanced Search
School Logo
Files
File List
Blake, Kevin Accepted Thesis 1-9-19.pdf (1.97 MB)
ETD Abstract Container
Abstract Header
Experimental Characterization and Modeling of Wettability in Two Phase Oil/Water Flow in the Annular Flume Apparatus
Author Info
Blake, Kevin
ORCID® Identifier
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0581-3866
Permalink:
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1547060617833221
Abstract Details
Year and Degree
2019, Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, Mechanical Engineering (Engineering and Technology).
Abstract
This thesis documents the hydrodynamic characterization of an apparatus called the annular flume apparatus. It is designed to simulate pipeline flow in a small-scale setting, making experimentation of oil/water two-phase flow more timely and efficient than traditional testing. Predicting water wetting in two-phase oil/water flow of the bottom surface of the pipeline is essential in preventing corrosion. The current water wetting model used to predict water wetting at the Institute for Corrosion and Multiphase Technology is based on two-phase oil/water flow data from a 4 in. ID, 40m long flow loop. Due to its size, experimentation in the flow loop requires extensive time, manpower, and volumes of fluid. To make experimentation more efficient, the annular flume apparatus was designed; however, it is unclear whether this apparatus provides an accurate representation of pipeline flow. Pipe flow is pressure driven and annular flume flow is shear driven by a rotating top plate. More specifically, annular flume flow exhibits a gradient in shear stress from the top of the conduit to the bottom. Shear stress is a crucial parameter in the water wetting model as it helps determining the critical droplet size (considering water droplets dispersed in oil) and is essential in defining the transition between flow/wetting regimes. In order to predict shear stress, the water wetting model for horizontal pipe flow uses a single expression of the Fanning friction factor, while this study provides two Fanning friction factors for the annular flume apparatus: f_top for the top of the conduit, and f_bottom for the bottom of the conduit. The Fanning friction factors can be used in evaluating the stability of dispersed flow and determining phase wetting regimes in the annular flume in a timely manner, using only the physical properties of the fluids and the mean tangential velocity of the rotating top plate. Comprehensive knowledge of flow within the annular flume requires numerical modeling of multiphase flow. Because numerical modeling of multiphase flow is so complex, the first step towards this is modeling of single phase flow. The goal of this study was to characterize the hydrodynamics of the annular flume, perform numerical modeling of single phase flow in the annular flume to produce computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations and validate these simulations with experimental hydrodynamic measurements; namely, tangential velocity (m/s) and wall shear stress (Pa) of fluid flow in the annular flume, as well as phase wetting. The k-ε turbulence model was used for the CFD simulations. The results of the CFD simulations were then used to visualize the flow characteristics in the annular flume and to modify a key parameter of the water wetting model; namely, the Blasius type correlation for a Fanning friction factor.
Committee
Marc Singer, Dr. (Advisor)
Pages
100 p.
Subject Headings
Mechanical Engineering
Keywords
Annular Flume
;
Two Phase Oil Water Flow
;
Fanning Friction Factor
Recommended Citations
Refworks
EndNote
RIS
Mendeley
Citations
Blake, K. (2019).
Experimental Characterization and Modeling of Wettability in Two Phase Oil/Water Flow in the Annular Flume Apparatus
[Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1547060617833221
APA Style (7th edition)
Blake, Kevin.
Experimental Characterization and Modeling of Wettability in Two Phase Oil/Water Flow in the Annular Flume Apparatus.
2019. Ohio University, Master's thesis.
OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center
, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1547060617833221.
MLA Style (8th edition)
Blake, Kevin. "Experimental Characterization and Modeling of Wettability in Two Phase Oil/Water Flow in the Annular Flume Apparatus." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1547060617833221
Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)
Abstract Footer
Document number:
ohiou1547060617833221
Download Count:
372
Copyright Info
© 2019, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.