Water-lubricated drag reduction and pressure drop model modification for heavy oil pipeline

doi:10.11949/0438-1157.20230378

Abstract

Abstract:

Based on a self-built water-lubricated heavy oil drag-reducing loop system, mineral oil and tap water with a viscosity ratio of 1176 and a density ratio of 0.9 were used to systematically study the effects of oil superficial velocity (0.12—0.93 m/s) and water superficial velocity (0.04—1.54 m/s) on the distribution of flow patterns, frictional pressure drop, and drag reduction effect in horizontal pipes. The applicability of the Rodriguez, Brauner, and Colombo models was evaluated. Considering the influence of oil core eccentricity, the Rodriguez model with the highest accuracy was modified around the mixed viscosity. The results indicate that annular flow is the main flow pattern in the experimental conditions. When the moisture content is between 0.04 and 0.93, there is always a minimum value in the pressure gradient, and it will increase in a parabolic form after exceeding this value. If the mixing flow rate is lower than the critical value, it will lead to a transition from annular flow/plug flow to stratified flow and the pressure drop will increase suddenly. A complete water film between the oil and the wall can effectively lubricate and reduce drag, with a maximum pressure reduction factor up to 73.1. A new calculation formula for mixed viscosity was provided, and the average relative error of the modified Rodriguez model is 3.89%.

Key words: two-phase flow, model, annular flow, flow pattern, drag reduction, prediction

摘要：

基于自主搭建的水润滑稠油减阻环道系统，采用黏度比为1176、密度比为0.9的矿物油和自来水，系统研究了水平管中油表观流速（0.12～0.93 m/s）和水表观流速（0.04～1.54 m/s）对流型分布、摩擦压降以及减阻效果的影响；评价了Rodriguez、Brauner和Colombo压降模型的适用性；考虑油核偏心的影响，围绕混合黏度修正了精度最高的Rodriguez模型。结果表明：环状流是实验工况下的主要流型；含水率在0.04～0.93时，压力梯度总存在一个最小值，超过该值后均以抛物线形式递增；混合流速低于临界值会导致环状流/塞状流向分层流转变、压降骤增；油壁间完整水膜可有效润滑和减阻，最大压力折减系数高达73.1；给出了新的混合黏度计算式，修正后Rodriguez模型的平均相对误差为3.89%。

关键词: 两相流, 模型, 环状流, 流型, 减阻, 预测

CLC Number:

TE 832.3

Yuying GUO, Jiaqiang JING, Wanni HUANG, Ping ZHANG, Jie SUN, Yu ZHU, Junxuan FENG, Hongjiang LU. Water-lubricated drag reduction and pressure drop model modification for heavy oil pipeline[J]. CIESC Journal, 2023, 74(7): 2898-2907.

郭雨莹, 敬加强, 黄婉妮, 张平, 孙杰, 朱宇, 冯君炫, 陆洪江. 稠油管道水润滑减阻及压降预测模型修正[J]. 化工学报, 2023, 74(7): 2898-2907.

Figures/Tables 12

Fig.1 Physical parameters of mineral oil

Fig.2 Flow chart of water-lubricated drag reduction process for heavy oil

Table 1 Experimental conditions of water-lubricated heavy oil drag reduction in horizontal pipes

序号	J_o/(m/s)	J_w/(m/s)	C_w
1	0.12～0.13	0.10～1.54	0.43～0.93
2	0.24～0.25	0.10～1.53	0.27～0.86
3	0.35～0.36	0.09～1.52	0.20～0.81
4	0.46～0.47	0.08～1.50	0.14～0.77
5	0.56～0.57	0.07～1.48	0.11～0.73
6	0.66～0.67	0.07～1.47	0.09～0.69
7	0.75～0.76	0.05～1.47	0.07～0.66
8	0.84～0.85	0.05～1.44	0.05～0.63
9	0.92～0.93	0.04～1.41	0.04～0.60

Fig.3 Flow patterns observed under experimental conditions

Fig.4 Flow pattern of oil-water two-phase flow in horizontal pipes

Fig.5 Curve of pressure gradient with inlet water content

Fig.6 The variation of measured pressure gradient in CAF with Cw

Fig.7 Pressure gradient under different mixed flow rates

Fig.8 Relationship between pressure reduction factor and inlet water content

Fig.9 Comparison between measured pressure drop and model calculated pressure drop of CAF

Fig.10 Mixture viscosity under different oil-water flow ratio

Fig.11 The error between the predicted pressure gradient of the modified Rodriguez model and the measured value

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