Numerical simulation of liquid-liquid stratified flow in horizontal pipes using OpenFOAM

• Grant number: 16/10339-3
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): July 01, 2016
• Effective date (End): December 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mechanical Engineering - Transport Phenomena
• Principal researcher: Leandro Franco de Souza
• Grantee: Vinícius Pessoa Mapelli
• Home Institution: Instituto de Ciências Matemáticas e de Computação (ICMC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Many research studies have aimed multiphase flows for the past few decades, especially gas-water two-phase flow. However, even with recent scientific advances, liquid-liquid flows were not as observed and studied as gas-liquid flow. In literature, there are simplified models specified for each flow pattern that can predict main parameters of these flows. Nevertheless, these models were developed under unidimensional assumption, thus neglecting effects that may be of concern. In this way, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) arises as an interesting tool to analyze effects that are neglect in literature models. In this work, it is intended to use open-source software called OpenFOAM to analyze stratified liquid-liquid two-phase flow, commonly seen in oil industry in ducts, using an Eulerian-Eulerian approach with Volume of Fluid (VOF) model. Numerical results regarding holdup and pressure gradient are going to be compared with experimental and models results from literature. CFD techniques are expected to be able to capture tridimensional and interface phenomena of liquid-liquid flows. (AU)