Study of two-phase flow for liquid-solid in a horizontal transportation pipeline

This paper presents a review of investigation treatment liquid-solid two-phase flow in a horizontal transportation pipeline. The Liquid–solid two-phase flows, which referred to as slurries, are common in many engineering and natural processes and they are often turbulent. For some particular conditions, the solid phase can create structures that can be able to support large stresses and can flow like a viscous paste in others circumstances the mixture. Multi-phase flow may be transported in vertical, horizontal or inclined pipes. The diameter and length of the pipeline and its inclination, the properties of the solids (size, shape and density) and of the liquid (density, viscosity, Newtonian or nonnewtonian), the flow rates, temperature and pressure all influence the nature of the flow and the pressure gradient. The deposition of asphaltene, wax, hydrates, scale and transfer of sands in oil wells and horizontal transportation pipelines are serious problems that cause production interruptions and lead to substantial economic losses. The sand transported through the pipes poses serious problems ranging from blockage, corrosion, abrasion and reduction in pipe efficiency to loss of pipe integrity. At very high flow rates, the solid particles are nearly uniformly distributed across the pipe cross-section due to the high level of turbulence. Reduction in the flow rate leads to a higher concentration of particles at the bottom of the pipe. As the velocity continues to decrease, the solid material may form a dense sliding bed and eventually a stationary bed. As the maintenance cost of repairing and troubleshooting is very high, addressing issues related to flow assurance becomes critical in the petroleum industry.

Keywords:

Liquid–solid two-phase flows , deposition of asphaltene , wax , corrosion , blockage.