Experiments in a combined up stream downstream slug flow

Abstract

Slug flow induced by the combination of a downstream and an upstream two phase flow is very common in the oil industry, mainly when the pipelines are installed on hilly terrains. This phenomenon can be dangerous for the equipment operation because it induces vibrations due to the slugs intermittent movement into the separators. A loop, where it is possible to change the flow conditions and the loop geometrical parameters as the length and inclination angle of the pipe sections was built. Instruments for slug detection and for measuring their characteristic parameters as hold up, frequency, length, and velocity were installed. Three conductive probes were used for the hold-up measurement in different points; all of them were designed, constructed, tested andcalibrated. Experimental runs for a set of four alternated sections upstream downstream W shaped pipe have been undertaken. The gas and liquid flow rates were selected in order to obtain stratified flow at the inlet, which is the condition to induce the severe slugging. The main conclusions of the experimental results analysis are presented in this paper. The Barnea's criterion has been compared against our experimental results, three slugging regions have been found.