Two-phase fluid flow

GUIDELINE TO PIPE SIZING FOR TWO-PHASE FLOW

(LIQUID-GAS)

AUTHOR: VIKRAM SHARMA

DATE: 2nd MARCH 2017
Table of Contents
What is two-phase flow?
Types of Gas-Liquid flow
Bakers map for gas-liquid flow
Calculation methodology
References
What is two-phase flow?
Single-phase flow fluid flow in a single
state
Multiphase flow simultaneous flow of
several fluid phases
Common multiphase flow are (i) gas-liquid,
(ii) liquid-liquid or (iii) liquid-solid.
Why is it so important? Severity of pressure
drop problems that may result to operational
problems in a process
Types of Gas-Liquid flow
Bubble flow:
Bubbles (gas) are dispersed throughout the
liquid & moves along the upper part of the
pipe due to their buoyancy.
Velocity of the bubble of gas velocity of the
liquid
Occurs when the gas content is 0.3 wt. frac.
of the total volumetric flow & at high mass
flow rates
Linear vel. of the liq. = 1.5-4.8 m/s (typical)
Linear vel. 0f the vap. = 0.15-0.61m/s
(typical)
Types of Gas-Liquid flow (contd)
Plug flow:
Intermittent type two-phase flow
Alternate plugs of liq. & gas where the gas
portion moves along the upper part of the
pipe.
Liq. along the bottom part of the pipe
Expected to occur when liq phase is at 0.61
m/s and vapour phase is < 1.22 m/s
Types of Gas-Liquid flow (contd)
Stratified flow:
2 phases separated frm. by a common interface
Liq phase stratified at the bottom of the piping
due to gravity
Seen in horizontal & slightly inclined pipelines
gas flow: smooth fluid interface or possible
rippling by small capillary waves of a few mm
lengths
gas flow: waves of small amplitude appears,
droplets can be entrained, deposited at the wall or
interface
Liq. vel < 0.15 m/s, gas vel: 0.15-3.05 m/s
(typical)
Types of Gas-Liquid flow (contd)
Wave flow
Similar to stratified flow, gas flow at
velocity
gas vel. gas-liq. Interface is flat
As gas vel. increases interface becomes
unstable due to small disturbances & waves
are seen
Shape & size of waves pipeline geometry &
fluids flow rates
Types of Gas-Liquid flow (contd)
Slug flow
Liq. rich slugs - may or may not cover the
entire inner section of a pipe
Observed when the rapidly moving gas
created waves & form froth slugs
This slugs travel along the pipeline @ vel.
Higher than ave. liq. Vel.
Vibrations are due to vel. travelling
against fittings
Liq. vel 4.58 m/s
Gas vel.: 4.58-15.24 m/s
Types of Gas-Liquid flow (contd)
Annular flow
Gas vel. further increases resulting to gas
flow through the liq. Flow
Liq. Film @ the bottom of the pipe is thicker
due to gravity
Liq vel. < 0.15 m/s
Gas vel. > 6.1 m/s
Types of Gas-Liquid flow (contd)
Dispersed flow
Liq. entrained as the fine droplets by the gas
phase in the gas-liq flow
The dispersed phase in both gas-liq. / liq.-liq.
- flow rates of both phases as the interface is
deformable
The dispersed phase of the dispersed flow
coalesces & become continuous phase with
flow rate
Occur when the gas content is > 30% of the
total weight flow rate
Bakers map for two phase flow
Liq.
entrained as the fine droplets by the gas
phase in the gas-liq flow
Calculation procedure
Obtain physical properties of the fluid (mass
flowrate, density, viscosity and surface
tension) for both gas and liquid.
Obtain piping layout. Piping is to be divided
into segments as fluid regime and properties
varies along the piping route
Determine the flow regime for 1st pipe
segment
Perform Pfriction, Pelev. & pfittings
Repeat
the above calculations for other pipe
segments
 Calculation procedure
Fluid
(contd) Fluid
in out

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 n

Break the pipe into a couple of segments.

For Segment 0-1, determine the fluid flow
regime by calculating Bx and By (refer to Slide
#11).
Intersection of Bx and By gives the fluid flow
regime
The next step is to calculate the P of individual
phase (PL, bar/100m & PG,bar/100m)
Calculation procedure
(contd)
The next step is to calculate the P of individual
phase (PL, bar/100m & PG,bar/100m) (contd)

Darcy friction factor (fD) is expressed as:

fD can calculate for both laminar and turbulent

flows
Calculation procedure
(contd)
Lockhart-Martinelli (LM) parameter, X is the
ratio of liquid and gas pressure drop.
It is a function of mass fluxes, densities,
viscosities of the liq.. & gas and pipe diameter.

Wehave to determine the frictional pressure

drop multipliers for both liq. (2L) and gas (2G).
The multipliers are a factor of fluid Reynolds
number (turbulent, laminar (viscous)).
Transitional flow is considered as
TURBULENT.
Calculation procedure
(contd)
Transitional flow is considered as TURBULENT
(contd)

2L
decreases with increasing X, 2G increases
with increasing X
Extracting data is cumbersome, may lead to
inaccurate date.
Calculation procedure
(contd)
Extracting data is cumbersome, may lead to
inaccurate date (contd).
Chisholm (1967) incorporated the effect of
interfacial shear forces in the LM correlation.
New correlation ensures engineers to
determine the hydraulic diameters of the
phases more accurately compared to LM.
It do not require the use of graph (refer to
Slide #16)
Chisholm (1967) correlations in terms of
Lockhart-Martinelli (1949):
Calculation procedure
(contd)
Chisholm(1967) correlations in terms of
Lockhart-Martinelli (1949) (contd)

The frictional pressure drop can be

calculated based on either liquid phase or
gas phase.
The next step is to calculate the Pstatic due
to elevation
Calculation procedure
(contd)
The next step is to calculate the Pstatic due
to elevation (contd)
We have to include pressure drop due top
fittings.
We rely on equivalent length method to
determine the pressure drop.
This method approximates the pressure drop
of fittings based on hypothetical piping
length
Calculation procedure
(contd)
The next step is to calculate the Pstatic due
to elevation (contd)
We have to include pressure drop due top
fittings.
We rely on equivalent length method to
determine the pressure drop.
This method approximates the pressure drop
of fittings based on hypothetical piping
length
Calculation procedure
(contd)
This method approximates the pressure drop of
fittings based on hypothetical piping length (contd)
Consider the effect of erosion-corrosion on piping.
In certain flow regimes, liq vel approach or exceed
gas vel & this leads to erosion-corrosion
Determine if erosion-corrosion may occur at a
particular velocity.

Total pressure drop is:

P1 of Segment 0-1 is obtained: P0 PTP..

Calculation procedure
(contd)
P1 of Segment 0-1 is obtained: P0 PTP..
(contd)
The properties for Segment 1-2 is based on
Point 1. Repeat the above calculations to
determine the total pressure drop of
horizontal pipe straight length.
Do not segmentized pipe fittings! Choose
your segments appropriately.
References
Akiwi, S. (2010, September 7). Dispersed Flow. Retrieved
February 23, 2017, from THERMOPEDIA: A-to-Z Guide to
Thermodynamics, Heat & Mass Transfer, and Fluids Engineering:
http://www.thermopedia.com/content/5/
Alain, L., & Fabre, J. (2011, February 9). Stratified Gas-Liquid
Flow. Retrieved February 21, 2017, from THERMOPEDIA: A-to-Z
Guide to Thermodynamics, Heat & Mass Transfer, and Fluids
Engineering: http://www.thermopedia.com/content/266/
Coker. (2007). Fluid Flow. In Applied Process Design for
Chemicals and Petrochemical Plants (4th ed., Vol. 1, pp. 133-
302). Burlington: Elsevier Inc.
Hewitt, G. F., & Taylor-Hall, N. S. (2013). Flow regimes in
horizontal and inclined flow. In Annular Two-Phase Flow (p. 7).
Oxford: Elsevier.
McCready, M. J. (n.d.). Flow regimes in gas-liquid flows. Retrieved
February 22, 2017, from
https://www3.nd.edu/~mjm/flow.regimes.html
References
Mekisso, H. M. (2004). Comparison of Frictional Pressure Drop
Correlations for Isothermal Two-Phase Horizontal Flow. Stillwater:
Oklahoma State University.
Sreenivas, J. (2011, February 11). Wavy Flow. Retrieved February 21,
2017, from THERMOPEDIA: A-to-Z Guide to Thermodynamics, Heat &
Mass Transfer, and Fluids Engineering:
http://www.thermopedia.com/content/269/
Szilas, A. P. (1975). Selected topics in flow mechanics. In Production
and Transport of Oil and Gas (p. 54). New York: Elsevier.
Thermal-FluidsCentral. (2010, July 9). Frictional pressure drop
correlations based on the separated flow model. Retrieved March 1,
2017, from
http://www.thermalfluidscentral.org/encyclopedia/index.php/Frictional_
pressure_drop_correlations_based_on_the_separated_flow_model
Thome, J. R. (n.d.). 1: Two-Phase Flow Patterns and Flow Pattern Maps
Chapter 12 (in Databook III) [Lecture Notes]. Retrieved February 14,
2017, from Two-Phase Flows and Heat Transfer:
http://ltcm.epfl.ch/files/content/sites/ltcm/files/shared/import/migration/
COURSES/TwoPhaseFlowsAndHeatTransfer/lectures/Chapter_12.pdf