flow study of medium size pipeline testing · pdf file3.3 pdms software 30 ... 4.3 pdms...

FLOW STUDY OF MEDIUM SIZE PIPELINE TESTING LOOP

By

TAN NI KING

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Chemical and Natural Resources Engineering in

partial fulfillment of the requirement for the Degree of Bachelor of Engineering in

Chemical Engineering

Faculty of Chemical and Natural Resources Engineering

Universiti Malaysia Pahang

FEBRARY 2013

vi

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE i

SUPERVISOR’S DECLARATION ii

DECLARATION iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS v

TABLE OF CONTENTS vi

LIST OF TABLES xi

LIST OF FIGURES xii

LIST OF APPENDICES xvi

LIST OF SYMBOLS xvii

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS xviii

ABSTRAK xix

ABSTRACT xx

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of Study 1

1.2 Problem Statement 2

1.3 Research Objectives 3

1.4 Scope of Research 4

1.5 Significance of Study 5

CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Chapter Overview 7

2.2 Stratified Flow Pattern 8

2.3 Annular Flow 10

2.4 Slug Flow Behaviors 11

2.5 Slug Length 12

2.6 Transition to Slug Flow 13

2.7 Slug Stability Theory 14

vii

2.8 Mathematic Model for Three Phases Flow 16

2.9 Pipeline Testing Rig 18

2.10 Summary of Flow Trends 21

2.10.1 Stratified Flow 21

2.10.2 Bubbles Flow 22

2.10.3 Wavy Flow 22

2.10.4 Plug Flow 22

2.10.5 Slug Flow 22

2.11 Comparison between Eulerian, Volume of Fluid (VOF) and

Mixture Model

23

2.12 Limitation of VOF Model 24

2.13 Lamina and Turbulent Flow of Fluid 25

2.14 VOF Time-Discretization 25

2.15 Wall Condition 26

2.16 Steady and Unsteady State 26

2.17 Surface Tension 26

2.18 Summary of Simulation Model 27

CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 28

3.1 Introduction 28

3.2 Simulation Approach of CFD Multiphase Flow 29

3.3 PDMS Software 30

3.4 Research Procedure 31

3.5 Propose Title and Literature Review 32

3.6 Procedure of Drawing for the Pipeline Test Section 33

3.7 Operating Conditions 35

3.8 Boundary Conditions 35

3.9 Study Parameters 36

3.10 Setting up Multiphase Model 37

3.10.1 Enable VOF Multiphase Model 38

3.10.2 Specify Unsteady State Formulation 39

3.11 Define Materials 39

viii

3.12 Define Phases 40

3.13 Define Operating Conditions 42

3.14 Defining Multiphase Boundary Conditions 43

3.15 Implicit Time Discretization Formulation 44

3.16 Defining Solution Limits 45

3.17 Solution Initialization 46

CHAPTER 4 RESULTS & DISCUSSION 49

4.1 Introduction 49

4.2 Summary of CFD Simulation Results 50

4.2.1 Simulation Result for Gasoil-vapour 0.5 m/s,

Gasoil-liquid 1 m/s, and Water 1 m/s

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4.2.31 Analysis of Liquid Level at Outlet of Pipe 80

4.3 PDMS Drawing for Equipments 83

4.3.1 Gas, Oil, and Water Separator 84

4.3.2 Gas Compressor 85

4.3.3 Heat Exchanger 86

4.3.4 Gasoil-vapour Storage Tank 87

4.3.5 Gasoil-liquid Pump 88

4.3.6 Gasoil-liquid Tank 89

4.3.7 Gas Suction-receiver Tank 90

4.3.8 Water Pump 91

4.3.9 Water Tank 92

4.3.10 Plant Look North for Equipment Zone 93

4.3.11 Plant Look North Testing Zone Zoom In 95

CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATIONS 97

5.1 Conclusion 97

5.2 Recommendations 99

REFERENCES 101

APPENDICES 104

xi

LIST OF TABLES

Table No. Title Page

2.1 Summary of Flow Trend with Different Condition 21

2.2 Comparison between Simulation Models 23

2.3 Limitation of VOF Model 24

2.4 Properties of Fluid 27

3.1 Density and Viscosity Data from FLUENT 30

3.2 Operating Condition for Pipeline Testing Loop from

University of Tulsa

32

3.3 The Parameters Are Selected to Run Simulation 36

3.4 Time Discretization Parameters 45

3.5 Under-Relaxation Factors 45

4.1 Types of Flow Regimes and Its Definition 49

4.2 Summary of CFD Simulation Results 50

4.3 Summary of Liquid Level for Different Flow Rate 81

4.4 Summary of Equipments in the Testing Loop 83

4.5 Summary of Compressor Sizing 85

4.6 Summary of the Tank Sizing 88

4.7 Summary of Gasoil-liquid Tank 90

4.8 Summary of Suction-receiver Tank 90

xii

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure No. Title Page

2.1 Difference Types of Stratified Flow in Pipeline 8

2.2 Annular Flows For Air, Water and Oil Mixture 10

2.3 Model of Slug Flow 12

2.4 Slug Length and Slug Bubbles 13

2.5 Model of slug 16

2.6 Experimental Testing Rig Setup 18

2.7 Pipeline Testing Rig 19

2.8 The High Pressure Pipeline Testing Rig from University Tulsa 20

3.1 Project Flow Diagrams 31

3.2 The Mixing of Three Inlets Pipe 33

3.3 3 Inlets Pipe Mesh 34

3.4 Solver Panel 37

3.5 Multiphase Model 38

3.6 Viscous Model Panel 39

3.7 Materials Selection Panel 40

3.8 Phase Setting Panel 41

3.9 Phase Interaction Setting Panel 41

3.10 Operating Conditions Panel 42

3.11 Liquid Levels for Water-Oil-Air flow in Horizontal Pipes.

Oil Viscosity 1cP. Water Flow Rate 50%

43

3.12 Boundary Conditions Panel 44

3.13 Solution Limits Panel 46

3.14 Residual Monitors Panel 46

3.15 Solution Initialization Panel 47

3.16 Iterate Panel 47

4.2.1 Contours of Mixture Density (kg/m3) for

Gasoil-vapour 0.5 m/s, Gasoil-liquid 1 m/s, and Water 1 m/s

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Gasoil-vapour 2 m/s, Gasoil-liquid 1 m/s, and Water 1 m/s

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Gasoil-vapour 10m/s, Gasoil-liquid 3 m/s, and Water 3 m/s

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Gasoil-vapour 10 m/s,Gasoil-liquid 5 m/s, and Water 5 m/s

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4.2.31 Graph of Different Gas Flow Rate to Total Liquid Flow Rate

Analysis

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4.3.1 Isometric 3 View of Gas, oil, and Water Separator 84

4.3.2 Isometric 3 View of Gas Compressor for Gasoil-vapour 85

4.3.3 Isometric 3 View of Heat Exchanger 86

4.3.3.1 Summary of Heat Exchanger Sizing 86

4.3.4 Isometric 3 View of Gasoil-vapour Storage Tank 87

4.3.5 Isometric 3 View of Gasoil-liquid Pump 88

4.3.3.2 Summary of Gasoil-liquid Pump Sizing 89

xv

4.3.6 Isometric 3 View of Gasoil-liquid Tank 89

4.3.7 Isometric View of Gas Suction-receiver Tank 91

4.3.8 Isometric View of Water Pump 91

4.3.3.3 Summary of Equipment Sizing of Water Pump 92

4.3.9 Isometric 3 View of Water Tank 93

4.3.10 Equipment Zone 94

4.3.11 Testing Zone 95

xvi

LIST OF APPENDICES

Appendix Title Page

A Mass Flow Rate Calculation 104

B Data Extracted from FLUENT 106

C PDMS Design Plant Look 123

xvii

LIST OFSYMBOLS

UGS Gas superficial velocity

F Front velocity

AL1 Area at station 1

u1 Velocity

CB Velocity

u3 Liquid velocity at station 3

Volume fraction of the gas in the slug

U3 The gas velocity at station 3

Qout Volumetric flow rate of the liquid detaching from the slug

Umix Volumetric balance between the inlet of the pipe and station 3

g Gravity

D Diameter

Inclination angle

A Cross sectional area

Shear stress acting on the wall wetted by

Shear stress acting on oil-water interface

Shear stress acting on the oil-gas interface

Shear stress acting on the wall wetted by water

Viscosity

Interfacial tension

ULS Summation of water and oil flow rate

ULW Water flow rate, m/s

ULO Oil flow rate, m/s

UOW Total liquid flow rate

h Height of Liquid in Pipe

xviii

LIST OFABBREVIATIONS

CFD Computational Fluid Dynamic

PDMS Plant Design Management System

P Pressure

W Water

O Oil

G Gas

VOF Volume of Fluid

H2S Hydrogen Sulphide

CO2 Carbon Dioxide

SWD Stratified wavy / drops

ODST Oil-Droplet Stratified Flow

SMW Stratified mixed / water layer

SMO Stratified mixed / oil layer

AO Annular Oil Flow

MMSCFD Million Metric Standard Cubic Feet per Day

BPD Barrels of Liquids per Day

cP Centipoises

xix

KAJIAN PENGALIRAN DALAM LITAR PAIP PERCUBAAN

ABSTRAK

Dalam kajian ini, sebuah litar paip percubaan telah diciptakan untuk

pengajian multifasa pengaliran dalam paip. Keseluruhan reka bagi peralatan and paip

rangkaian telah ditunjukkan dalam pengajian ini dengan menggunakan perisian

PDMS. Pengajian mutifasa pengaliran telah dijalankan dengan menggunakan

perisian CFD untuk mengenal pasti jenis trend aliran bagi gas minyak wap, gas

minyak cecair dan air yang mempunyai kadar aliran yang tidak sama dalam paip

diameter 6 inci. Matlamat utama menjalankan pengajian ini adalah untuk

menganalisis aliran multifasa untuk menyelesaikan masalah yang sering dihadapi

oleh industri dalam penghantaran campuran dari takungan minyak ke penapisan

process. Dengan rekaan litar percubaan paip ini membolehkan pengajian multifasa

pengaliran di seksyen percubaan. Litar paip percubaan ini dicipata and direka dengan

membina setiap komponen seperti, tangki, penukar haba dan pam. Litar paip telah

disambung dengan semua peralatan dengan menggunakan bebibir dan injap.

Multifasa simulasi telah dijalankan dengan 6 kadar aliran gas minyak wap dan 4

kadar aliran gas minyak cecair dan air yang tidak sama. VOF model telah dipilih

untuk menyelesaikan simulasi pengesaan permukaan.

xx

FLOW STUDY ON MEDIUM SIZE PIPELINE TESTING LOOP

ABSTRACT

In this research, a pipeline testing loop was constructed to study on the

multiphase flow behavior in pipes. A fully design of equipments and piping network

were constructed in this study by using Plant Design Management System (PDMS)

software. The multiphase flow study was done by Computational Fluid Dynamic

(CFD) software to identify the type of flow trends for different gasoil-vapour flow

rate, gasoil-liquid flow rate, and water flow rate in a 6 inches diameter of pipe. The

main purpose of this study was to perform the analysis of multiphase flow in order to

understand the flow problem that is always encountered in the industry when

transporting a mixture from reservoirs to the onshore oil production process. By

working on the model fabricated on the pipeline testing loop, the multiphase flow

study was able to be studied at the test section in the testing loop. The pipeline

testing loop was created by constructing each of the equipments places in the

pipeline such as tank, heat exchanger, and pump. The piping network was connected

to all the equipments with valves and flanges. The multiphase simulation was carried

out by six (6) different gasoil-vapour flow rates and four (4) different gasoil-liquid

and water flow rates. Volume of Fluid (VOF) model was selected as the simulation

approach to solve the surface tracking simulation.

1

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of Study

Nowadays, the demand of crude oil and natural gas by the world’s ever

increasing population, especially in the developing countries. The use of petroleum

products are increasing year by year due to the development of the country and

economy. There is a drastic high demand on the production of oil and gas within the

industry. The transportation of oil and gas through pipeline is the conventional way

of transporting. During the transportation of oil and gas, there are numerous

transportation issues that arise, such as Saturated Aromatic Resins and Asphaltenes

(SARA) characteristic of crude oil which contains varying amount of wax, or

paraffin and corrosive compounds such as hydrogen sulphide (H2S) and carbon

dioxide (CO2). Other than these compounds, the crude oil also tends to deposit some

wax and paraffin residuals on the pipeline walls which will cause the reduction of the

cross-sectional area of the pipeline and increase the external pressure. The external

pressure will act as a driving force to push the oil from the offshore facility to the oil

2

production plant. Since the pipeline system plays an important role with the oil and

gas industry, it is necessary that regular maintenance be carried out.

There are a lot of pipeline testing loops such as 6’’ High Pressure Large-

Diameter Pipeline, 6’’ Low Liquid Large-Diameter Pipeline, 3’’ Hilly-Terrain

Multiphase Pipeline, 3’’ Gas/Oil/Water Flow Loop, 2’’ High Viscosity Oil/Gas Two-

phase Flow Loop (James, 1973). These facilities are used to test the flow in the

pipeline with different conditions. In addition, there are some problems like pressure

drop or multiphase flow frequently occurring in pipeline during the transportation of

oil and gas or other chemical compounds. Therefore, the pipeline testing loop is also

used to test the pressure drop for gas and liquid especially for the multiphase flow

situation.

The pipeline testing loop is also important to determine the friction

mechanism governing the flow for multiphase flow. The main focus in this research

is to conceptual build a medium size (6’’) pipeline testing rig and analyzes the

multiphase fluid flow in the pipeline. By performing this testing loop, there is more

information that would lead to further understanding about the pipe flow that is

governing the multiphase flow.

1.2 Problem Statement

The oil and gas industry always encounter multiphase flow problems such as

the presence of slug, solid particles, natural gas, oil and water. The oil and gas that

3

are produced from the reservoirs always contain sea water and sand. This formed a

mixture flow called slug flow. Slug flow creates a potential problem for the

transportation of crude oil from offshore to onshore production process. It is

unfavorable to the processing equipments downstream due to the intermittent flow of

crude inside the pipe. The flow is highly complex, unstable and hard to handle and

will create a large pressure drop and accumulation inside the pipeline which clogs the

pipeline and produces an unfriendly flow trend. This formation will definitely affect

the separation unit for oil and gas. Hence, the multiphase flow model using

Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) and Plant Design Management System (PDMS)

are needed to model pipeline testing loop. There are some mathematical assumptions

made and reviewed in order to form a good multiphase flow in a pipeline.

1.3 Research Objectives

The research objectives must be able to achieve the designing, simulation and

understanding of the pipeline testing loop and flow trends. Therefore, three research

objectives have been determined to achieve the goal of this research, and that are

i. To construct a testing rig for the multiphase system by using PDMS

ii. To determine the multiphase flow trend along the pipe by using CFD

iii. To determine the liquid level over diameter at the pipe outlet by using CFD

4

1.4 Scope of Research

The scope of research covers the types of flow such as slug flow, stratified

flow, plug flow, and bubbles flow. In addition, the pipeline testing rigs from different

researches are studied in order to get a suitable pipeline section and parameters for

this work. The simulation models formulation in FLUENT simulator such as

Eulerian, Volume of Fluid (VOF), and Mixture are the models that need to be studied.

PDMS software is used to design the pipeline testing loop. Slug flow stabilities

analysis is to understand the stability of slug and its structure. The behavior of slug

will affect the stability and this is the most common flow problem occur in

multiphase pipe flow. The slug length is to study the average slug length inside the

pipe with varying pipe diameters. This scope also provides the information about the

entrance conditions, flow rates of gas and liquid, and the pipe inclination affecting on

the slug length. Transition to slug flow studies is about the transition flow formation.

It also covers about the instability of a stratified flow to long wavelength

disturbances and instability of stratified flow. Pipeline testing rig for multiphase

system is the main item in this study. The testing rig is very important in order to

generate the analysis of multiphase flow by using CFD. This scope provides the

information about different testing rig with different rig structures. The main focus in

the testing rig is to understand the behaviors of the oil, gas and water flow trend of

this multiphase flow inside the test section. CFD multiphase flow model is to

understand the past researcher’s work on the multiphase flow by using CFD. The

study gives some knowledge about the model of CFD analysis and the results.

Mathematical model to simulate the multiphase flow in CFD is to study about the

velocity of the moving bubble by considering and the rate of the liquid adjoining and

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detaching from a slug at is front and rear. This mathematical model can provide the

volumetric flow rate of the liquid detaching from the slug. Multiphase simulation

model is very important to be determined in order to obtain a better result. There are

few models such as Eulerian, VOF, and Mixture. Each of these models has different

limitation and specification. Thus, it is necessary to choose the best model among

them. Type of flow motions either lamina or turbulent flow of fluid is common types

of flow motion. In the simulation, the lamina and turbulent also need to be

determined for choosing the correct turbulent model. Either steady state or unsteady

state flow will be considered in this work. It depends on the change of properties,

velocity and temperature for the flow. If there is change in properties, velocity, and

temperature the unsteady state flow must be chosen. Boundary condition such as wall

condition, interfacial tension between the fluids, flow rate, and phases need to be

defined in the simulator. The interfacial tension is the attractive forces between

molecules in a fluid. When two fluids come into contact to each others, there must be

force acting between them. The flow rate for every phase can affect the flow trend in

the pipe. Plant Design Management System (PDMS) is classified as design software

which user can used to design chemical plant. This software is able to construct

equipments and piping network.

1.5 Significance of Study

One of major difficulties faced when transporting oil and gas through a

pipeline is the unsteady flow of the fluid in pipeline. The oil and gas production

industries have faced a lot of issues due to this unsteady flow regime inside the pipe.

6

If left uncontrolled, it will reduce the quality composition of the product greatly

which causes unwanted losses in the production process in oil and gas plant.

Therefore is it important to solve these issues by understanding the flow trending of

multiphase flow inside the pipeline in order to increase the quality of the production

of oil and gas. In order to perform this study, CFD is used to analyze the multiphase

flow in the testing rig to create a computer simulation model to solve the multiphase

flow problem. The result obtain is comparable with the real experimental results

measured with minimal errors.

7

CHAPTER 2

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Chapter Overview

There are seventeen main sections in this chapter. In the first section,

stratified flow patterns have been discussed to explain about the different models of

stratified flow which can be formed under different conditions. In the second section,

the annular flow is being discussed in relation to the annular formation superficial

velocity and its characteristics. The third section discusses about slug flow behavior

by looking of the slug formation condition. Next, the slug length is also an important

scope to study the effect of pipe diameter on the slug length. Then, transitions to slug

flow and its definition have been discussed. Furthermore, the slug stability theory

with the equation related to the slug flow is being discussed. After that, comparison

also been made for the researchers use different pipeline testing rig to study about the

multiphase flow trend. Then, in the section 2.7 and 2.8 some useful mathematic

models that can link to this study have been discussed. From section 2.9 to 2.16

mainly discuss about the parameters and models need to use in the simulation. The

8

comparisons and definitions for all the parameters and models have been stated and

selected clearly and understanding.

2.2 Stratified Flow Pattern

Figure 2.1 Difference Types of Stratified Flow in Pipeline

(Source: Al-Yaaris & Abu-Sharkh, 2011)

The stratified wavy flow occurs when the phases are completely segregated

with the interface between them showing a characteristic wavy nature (Al-Yaaris &

Abu-Sharkh, 2011). The Stratified wavy / drops (SWD). On the other hand, Oil-

Droplet Stratified Flow (ODST), which is similar to the mixed flow pattern defined

by Arirachakaran et al. (1989) occurs at the higher water fraction conditions. The

entrainment of one or both phases as drops in the other has begun, the droplets being

concentrated near the interface zone (stratified wavy with mixing interface).

http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezproxy.ump.edu.my/science/article/pii/S0301932299000658#BIB3

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