Experimental and theoretical modeling of droplet break-up of W/O emulsion flow in ESPs

Autor(es)

Leuchtenberger, Roberto Fernando ; Biazussi, Jorge Luiz ; Bannwart, Antonio Carlos

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: CHEMICAL ENGINEERING RESEARCH & DESIGN; v. 210, p. 11-pg., 2024-09-28.

Resumo

The behavior of water-in-oil emulsions flow within Electrical Submersible Pumps (ESPs) is of significant interest in the oil and gas industry due to its complex rheological characteristics, which are influenced by operational parameters and the chemical properties of both phases. Operational parameters such as dispersed phase fraction, temperature, flow rate, and pump design were investigated experimentally in this work. Improved semiempirical models for mean and maximum droplet diameter estimation were also proposed. Through extensive experimentation and statistical analysis, this study reveals that smaller droplets form with increasing dispersed phase fraction and the flow geometry significantly affects droplet breakage intensity. The proposed models integrate the dispersed phase fraction, dimensionless flow rate, specific speed, and energy dissipation rate, exhibiting commendable alignment with experimental findings. This not only helps predict effective viscosity but offers valuable insights for further analyses, particularly regarding catastrophic phase inversion (CPI) prediction. These aspects have significant importance in the oil and gas industry and can enable the optimization of production systems and processing facilities. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 19/20767-0 - EMU concedido no processo 2017/15736-3: FBRM - Focused Beam Reflectance
• Beneficiário: Marcelo Souza de Castro
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Programa Equipamentos Multiusuários
• Processo FAPESP: 17/15736-3 - Centro de Pesquisa em Engenharia em Reservatórios e Gerenciamento de Produção de Petróleo
• Beneficiário: Denis José Schiozer
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Programa Centros de Pesquisa em Engenharia