Two-Phase Flow

By: Ankur Srivastava

Chemical Engineer
[email protected]
 • More complex than single-phase flow
• Physical properties such as density and
viscosity of the flowing fluid are considered
as mixture (gas-liquid)
Introduction • Flow velocity in the conduit (pipe or any
to Two- other geometrical shape) is conceptualized
as “Superficial Velocity”
Phase Flow - • The basis of flow correlations is single-phase
General but the further developed correlations have
a lot of empirical & experimental data
embedded in them
• The concept of “Holdup” is applied for
either phase
Definitions and Equations -1
• Superficial Velocity
Superficial velocity is a hypothetical flow velocity calculated as if the
given phase (gas or liquid) were the only one flowing or present in a
given cross sectional area. It is unambiguous and well defined
compared to true velocity which is spatially dependent.
For equations refer next slide
Definitions and Equations -2

Equations for Superficial Velocity

Definitions and Equations - 3
• Holdup
 Liquid Holdup, HL
It is defined as the fraction of the pipe’s cross-sectional area occupied by liquid

 Gas Holdup, HG
The Gas holdup is given by

A = AL + AG

where:
AL = Cross-sectional area of the pipe occupied by liquid
AG = Cross-sectional area of the pipe occupied by gas
A = Total cross-sectional area of the pipe
Definitions and
Equations - 4
 • Holdup (contd.)
 Slip Velocity and Liquid Holdup
 The gas and liquid are traveling at different velocities
 Due to density difference the gas tends to flow faster than
Definitions liquid
 This kind of flow found in practical flow applications of
and 
oil/gas flow
No-Slip Velocity & Liquid Holdup
Equations - 5  Gas and Liquid are traveling at the same velocity
 Fluid properties are taken as the average of the gas and
liquid phases
 Friction factors are calculated using the single phase
Moody correlation
 For homogeneous flow slip velocity is zero
 • Slip Ratio, S
It is defined as the ratio of the velocity of the gas
phase to the velocity of the liquid phase.

• Gas Void Fraction, εg

It is defined as the ratio of the gas volume in a
pipeline segment to the whole volume of the
Definitions pipeline segment.
and • Mass Quality
Equations - 6 It is the mass of the gas divided by the total mass in
the pipe

For equations refer the next slide

Definitions
and
Equations - 7
Definitions and Equations - 8
• Mixture Viscosity

• Mixture Density

Where,
μn = mixture dynamic viscosity
ρk = mixture density
λ = flowing liquid volume fraction,
HLd = Liquid Holdup calculated based on Dukler’s correlation
Definitions and
Equations - 9

• Mixture Reynolds Number, Rey

Definitions & Equations – 10
• Generalized Pressure Drop Equation (Two-Phase Flow)

Where,
fm = 2-phase friction factor (specific to the flow correlation used)
ρm = mixture density (specific to the flow correlation)
Definitions and Equations -11
• Total Pressure drop in 2-phase flow is the sum of the frictional pressure
drop, the acceleration pressure drop and the gravitational pressure drop

• For horizontal pipelines the gravitational pressure drop is zero

• Acceleration pressure drop can be neglected in adiabatic flow
Note: Empirical two-phase flow correlations based on laboratory
experiments on air-water two-phase flow are under adiabatic flow
conditions which mimic the flow of oil-gas mixture flow in field pipelines
such as flowlines
Definitions and Equations -12
• Non-Adiabatic (Diabatic) Two-Phase Flow
 These involving heat transfer between the
phases and examples are flow of boiling or
condensing two-phase vapor-liquid flows
 The mechanism of two-phase flow in boiling
and condensing fluids is complex and beyond
the scope of this presentation
Flow Regimes:
Horizontal Pipe
Flow-1
 • Bubble Flow
Very low gas-liquid ratios. Gas bubbles rise to the top
• Elongated Bubble
With increasing gas-liquid ratios, bubbles become larger and
form gas plugs.
• Stratified
Flow Further increase in gas-liquid ratios make the plugs become
longer until the gas and liquid are in separate layers.
Regimes: • Wavy

Horizontal As the gas rate increases, the flowing gas causes waves in the
flowing liquid.
• Slug
Pipe Flow-2 At even higher gas rates, the waves touch the top of the pipe,
trapping gas slugs between wave crests. The length of these
slugs can be several hundred feet long in some cases.
• Annular Mist
At extremely high gas-liquid ratios, the liquid is dispersed into
the flowing gas stream.
 Flow Regimes:
Vertical Pipe Flow
-1
 • Bubble
Small gas-liquid ratio with gas present in small,
randomly distributed bubbles. The liquid moves
up at a uniform velocity. Gas phase has little
Flow effect on pressure gradient.
• Slug Flow
Regimes: The gas phase is more pronounced. Although
Vertical Pipe the liquid phase is still continuous, the gas
bubbles coalesce into stable bubbles of the
Flow -2 same size and shape, which are nearly the
diameter of the pipe. These bubbles are
separated by slugs of liquid. Both phases have a
significant effect on the pressure gradient.
 • Transition or Churn Flow
The change from a continuous liquid phase to a
continuous gas phase occurs in this region. The
Flow gas phase is pre-dominant and the liquid
becomes entrained in the gas. The effects of the
Regimes: liquid are still significant.
Vertical Pipe • Annular Mist Flow
The gas phase is continuous and the bulk of the
Flow -3 liquid is entrained in and carried by the gas. A
film of liquid wets the pipe wall and its effects
are secondary. The gas phase is the controlling
factor.
Flow Regime Maps – Horizontal and Vertical
Aziz Map for Vertical
Up-flow Regime

• For pipe inclinations greater than

10-20 degrees, flow regime
patterns resemble those of
vertical flow more than those of
horizontal flow, and the Aziz
vertical map should be used.
Calculating Flow
Regime based on
Aziz Map
 Example
Calculation:
Flow Regime for
Aziz Map
Common
Flow
Correlations
for Two
Phase Flow

• Horizontal Flow
Common Flow
Correlations for Two
Phase Flow

• Vertical Flow
Aspen HYSYS
Correlations
for Two
Phase Flow
Flow Regime,
Liquid Holdup,
Frictional Pressure • Reference:
Drop, Elevation Table 3.5, Chapter 3, “Natural Gas Processing
Pressure Drop & Technology and Engineering Design” – by
Acceleration Drop Alireza Bahadori, Ph.D., Elseiver
Eqns for various
Two-Phase flow
correlations
 • Gas-dominated (high GLR) with subcritical Flow
 Duckler-Eaton correlation
 Low Liquid loadings (0.056 m3/1000 Sm3) require to be
bracketed with Beggs, Brill & Moody
 For 0.1<HL<0.35 Mukherjee-Brill provides good results

• Crude Oil (low GLR)

Beggs, Brill & Moody
Further
Recommendations • Two-Phase Fluids / Steam with downward flow
on Two Phase Flow Beggs and Brill No-Slip correlation
Correlations • Wet Steam (except downward flow)
Applicability -1 Beggs, Brill and Moody

• High Velocity / Critical Flow Systems

High-velocity modifications to the standard Beggs and Brill, and
Beggs, Brill, and Moody correlations.
Further Recommendations on Two Phase Flow
Correlations Applicability -2
2-Phase Friction Pressure Drop AGA (Dukler)-1
• Liquid Holdup for Dukler Pressure Drop
2-Phase Friction Pressure Drop AGA (Dukler)-2
• Single Phase Friction Factor, fn

where,
Rey is calculated as per “Definitions and Equations-9”
2-Phase Friction Pressure Drop AGA (Dukler)-3
• Friction Factor Ratio, ftpr
2-Phase Friction Pressure Drop AGA (Dukler)-4
• Frictional Pressure Drop

where,
ΔPf = frictional pressure drop, kPa
fn, ftpr = as defined in “2-Phase Friction Pressure Drop AGA (Dukler)-2 and 3”
ρk = as defined in slide “Definitions and Equations-8”, kg/m3
Vm = (VsL + Vsg), m/s
Lm = Pipe length, km
D = Pipe internal diameter, m
2-Phase Friction Pressure Drop AGA (Dukler)-5
• Problem Statement
A pipeline segment with a 6-inch NPS (152.4 mm ID), 1.2 km long,
transports a mixture of gas and oil. The pipeline has a gradual upward
slope and rises 30 m over the 1.2 km length. The inlet pressure of the
pipeline is 2800 kPa (abs), liquid viscosity is 0.02 Pa.s, the vapor
viscosity is 0.000015 Pa.s, and the interfacial surface tension is 1.5 x
10-6 N/m. The liquid flow rate is 17 m3/h and the vapor flow rate is
425 m3/h. The density of the liquid phase is 880 kg/m3, and the
density of the gas phase is 20.8 kg/m3 at operating conditions. What
is the pressure at the downstream end of the line segment, and what
is the liquid inventory of the line?
2-Phase Friction Pressure
Drop AGA (Dukler)-6

• Calculations (Horizontal Line)

2-Phase
Friction
Pressure
Drop AGA
(Dukler)-7
Pressure Drop due to Elevation (Flanigan Correlation)-1

• Elevation Component of
Pressure Drop
Pressure Drop due to Elevation (Flanigan Correlation)-2

• Calculations for Elevation

Pressure Drop
Total Pressure Drop (Friction + Elevation)
• Total Pressure Drop in the line is the sum of the friction pressure
drop (ΔPf) and the elevation pressure drop (ΔPe)

Ptotal  Pf  Pe

ΔPtotal = 343.5 kPa

P2 = 2456.5 kPa (abs) (pressure at line outlet)
 Liquid Holdup correlation shown as Fig. 17-18 is
meant to be used only for the AGA (Dukler)
Liquid frictional pressure drop calculation

Holdup for
Pipeline Correlation by Eaton et al. is better suited for
liquid holdup determination in liquid inventory

Liquid
Inventory The Eaton Liquid Holdup (HLe) as a fraction is
described in the form of a chart where HLe is
plotted directly as a function of a dimensionless
group NE
Eaton Liquid Holdup HLe – Dimensionless group NE
Eaton Liquid
Holdup HLe -
Chart
Liquid Inventory in Pipe
• The liquid holdup fraction, HLe, is the fraction of the flow area of the pipe
occupied by liquid.
• To calculate the liquid inventory in the pipe, IL, the pipe internal volume is
multiplied by this holdup fraction.

where,
IL = liquid inventory in pipeline, m3
L = Length of pipeline, m

HLe = liquid holdup fraction (Eaton)

Eaton Liquid Holdup HLe - Calculations
Slugging in
Two-Phase
Flow-1
Slugging in
Two-Phase
Flow-2
Slugging in
Two-Phase
Flow-3
Slugging in
Two-Phase
Flow-4
Slugging in Two-Phase Flow-5
• Types of Slug Catchers
 Harp or Pipe Type
 Constructed of multiple lengths of pipe
 Treated as part of pipeline and generally designed as per pipeline codes
instead of ASME Section VIII (Div. 1 or Div. 2)
 Commonly use piping codes are ASME B31.3 and ASME B31.8
 Require larger plot plan for installation
 Utilized for high volume applications (thousands of barrels)
 The upper section is short and consists of two or more pipe sections
designed to reduce the gas velocity to provide the necessary separation
 Gas flows from the upper section and liquid flows to a lower bank of
piping
 The lower liquid section consists of multiple downward sloped pipes with
sufficient volume to provide storage for the required pipeline slug volume
Slugging in Two-Phase Flow-6
• Types of Slug Catchers (contd.)
 Vessel Type
 Used in lower pressure services (below 3447 kPag)
 Employed for smaller slug sizes (<159 m3)
 Designed as per pressure vessel code ASME Section VIII, Div. 1
or Div. 2
 Requires smaller plot plan for installation
 Has special internals, such as a unique inlet deflection baffle
which reduces the momentum of the incoming liquid
 A distinct advantage is the ability to incorporate a sand
removal system, if required based on inlet fluid characteristics
Slugging in Two-Phase Flow-7:
Harp Slug Catcher
Slugging in
Two-Phase
Flow-8:
Vessel Slug
Catcher
Slugging in
Two-Phase Pipeline Two Phase Slug Length and
Flow-9 Volume Calculator