Comparison of electrical capacitance tomography and gamma densitometer measurement in viscous oil-gas flows
- Department of Offshore Process and Energy Systems Engineering, Cranfield University, Cranfield (United Kingdom)
Multiphase flow is a common occurrence in industries such as nuclear, process, oil and gas, food and chemical. A prior knowledge of its features and characteristics is essential in the design, control and management of such processes due to its complex nature. Electrical Capacitance Tomography (ECT) and Gamma Densitometer (Gamma) are two promising approaches for multiphase visualization and characterization in process industries. In two phase oil and gas flow, ECT and Gamma are used in multiphase flow monitoring techniques due to their inherent simplicity, robustness, and an ability to withstand wide range of operational temperatures and pressures. High viscous oil (viscosity > 100 cP) is of interest because of its huge reserves, technological advances in its production and unlike conventional oil (oil viscosity < 100 cP) and gas flows where ECT and Gamma have been previously used, high viscous oil and gas flows comes with certain associated concerns which include; increased entrainment of gas bubbles dispersed in oil, shorter and more frequent slugs as well as oil film coatings on the walls of flowing conduits. This study aims to determine the suitability of both devices in the visualization and characterization of high-viscous oil and gas flow. Static tests are performed with both devices and liquid holdup measurements are obtained. Dynamic experiments were also conducted in a 1 and 3 inch facility at Cranfield University with a range of nominal viscosities (1000, 3000 and 7500 cP). Plug, slug and wavy annular flow patterns were identified by means of Probability Mass Function and time series analysis of the data acquired from Gamma and ECT devices with high speed camera used to validate the results. Measured Liquid holdups for both devices were also compared.
- OSTI ID:
- 22271108
- Journal Information:
- AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 1592, Issue 1; Conference: 8. international symposium on measurement techniques for multiphase flows, Guangzhou (China), 13-15 Dec 2013; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0094-243X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
CAMERAS
CAPACITANCE
COATINGS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DENSITOMETERS
DESIGN
GAMMA DETECTION
GAS FLOW
LIQUIDS
MULTIPHASE FLOW
OILS
RADIATION DETECTORS
TIME-SERIES ANALYSIS
TOMOGRAPHY
VISCOSITY