Control of electrical submersible pumps in two-phase liquid-liquid flow

• Grant number: 22/01133-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: November 01, 2022
• End date: February 28, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mechanical Engineering - Transport Phenomena
• Principal Investigator: Alberto Luiz Serpa
• Grantee: Mauricio Barrios Castellanos
• Supervisor: Johannes Jaeschke
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Mecânica (FEM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Norway
• Associated to the scholarship: 19/10249-2 - Control of Electrical Submersible Pumps in two-phase liquid-liquid flow, BP.DR

Abstract

Control strategies that are capable of maintaining the efficient operation of pumps subjected to liquid-liquid flows are necessary. This research project aims to propose and implement fault-tolerant control approaches in Electrical Submersible Pumps systems subjected to liquid-liquid flows. For this purpose, Damage Tolerant Active Control (DTAC) techniques are proposed, capable of tolerating operational instabilities produced by the emulsion formation. A methodology based on experimental development is proposed by simulating pump operation under different two-phase liquid-liquid flow conditions, simulating situations where the emulsion is present, modeling the system and disturbances, and finally, designing and testing the controller. This project presents the internship activities related to the topic of process control. (AU)