Advanced search
Start date
Betweenand
Related content
(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

An experimental and numerical study on the wall lubrication force in dispersed liquid-liquid flow

Full text
Author(s):
Rodriguez, Oscar M. H. [1] ; Rodriguez, Iara H. [2] ; Ansoni, Jonas L. [1]
Total Authors: 3
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Sao Carlos Sch Engn, Mech Engn Dept, Ind Multiphase Flow Lab LEMI, Av Trabalhador Sao Carlense 400, BR-13566590 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil
[2] Fed Univ Lavras UFLA, Engn Dept, Campus Univ, BR-37200000 Lavras, MG - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 2
Document type: Journal article
Source: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MULTIPHASE FLOW; v. 120, NOV 2019.
Web of Science Citations: 0
Abstract

Many analytical, experimental and numerical works have been devoted to the accurate prediction of volumetric fraction distribution in the wall region, which is important for the numerical simulation of dispersed flow. Within the two-fluid-model framework, it depends upon the correct modeling of interfacial forces, and among them there is the wall lubrication force. In this prospective paper, we try to contribute with the discussion by studying the effect of wall lubrication forces in a dispersed liquid-liquid flow. Instead of bubbles, oil droplets dispersed in turbulent water flow are moved away from the wall. This phenomenon has been recently observed in a dispersed oil-water flow in a horizontal pipe and one of the findings is that it is related to drag reduction. One of the industries that have interest in this kind of problem is the energy industry. The pipe flow of oil-in-water dispersion is very common in the Brazilian offshore production scenario. An experimental campaign was carried out to measure the wall water thickness as a function of mixture velocity. The frictional pressure-drop was also measured to estimate the oil droplet average diameter. The Reynolds lubrication equation is solved using the finite element method to compute the lubrication force in the gap between a typical oil droplet and the pipe wall. Two methods were used to solve it, the Gauss-Seidel and Successive Overrelaxation. The ratio of lubrication to buoyancy forces is computed for the flow condition studied in this work, and the results suggest that the occurrence of wall lubrication force is a reasonable explanation for the observed concentration of dispersed oil droplets in the turbulent core of the pipe. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 10/08688-3 - Experimental study and modeling of flow of inverse emulsion in pipes
Grantee:Iara Hernandez Rodriguez
Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
FAPESP's process: 13/07375-0 - CeMEAI - Center for Mathematical Sciences Applied to Industry
Grantee:Francisco Louzada Neto
Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers - RIDC