Theoretical and experimental studies of churn flow in vertical tubes. Final technical report

Technical Report · Mon Jan 27 00:00:00 EST 1986

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5032679· OSTI ID:5032679

The pattern known as churn flow is a highly unsteady pattern with stochastic features and is extremely complex. However, calculations show that for many geothermal wells the condition of churn flow consists over much of the length of the two phase zone. Furthermore, it frequently exists at the surface so that design of separation equipment and surface piping depends on the accurate modelling of this type of flow. It has been the long term purpose of this project to develop physically based models for churn flow which can be used as a basis for predicting holdup, frictional loss and heat transfer rates for this flow pattern in geothermal systems. To achieve this end, it was necessary to develop new methods for measuring the time dependent characteristics of the flow and thus be able to uncover the basic physics of the flow. Models can then be developed based on this understanding which characterizes the flow and equations for holdup, friction and heat transfer evolved.

• Research Organization: Houston Univ., TX (USA). Dept. of Chemical Engineering
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-84SF12198
• OSTI ID: 5032679
• Report Number(s): DOE/SF/12198-T1; ON: DE87000003
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
TUBES
FLUID FLOW
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FREQUENCY DEPENDENCE
FRICTION
GEOTHERMAL WELLS
HEAT TRANSFER
HYDRODYNAMICS
PRESSURE GRADIENTS
SHEAR
VELOCITY
VOID FRACTION
DATA
ENERGY TRANSFER
FLUID MECHANICS
INFORMATION
MECHANICS
NUMERICAL DATA
WELLS
Geothermal Legacy
420400* - Engineering- Heat Transfer & Fluid Flow