Numerical prediction of intermittent two-phase flow in horizontal and inclined pipelines and comparison with experiments

Abstract

Numerical simulations of intermittent two-phase flow are important to monitor and predict the behavior of this flow pattern along a pipe. Some previous works have proved that the transient one-dimensional two-fluid model is capable of capturing slugs automatically, just as a result of the flow dynamics. In this work, two approaches of the two-fluid model in combination with different numerical methods are implemented. The proposed mathematical models have five and seven equations, are unconditionally hyperbolic and are evaluated to simulate benchmark problems. The numerical model that best reproduces the benchmark problems is used to simulate cases of intermittent flow through the slug capturing approach. Results obtained with the numerical model are compared with a literature case and with experimental data obtained through an experimental campaign that is also part of this work. The results demonstrate that the numerical model is promising, presenting good agreement for some slug characteristics, such as slug frequency and translational velocity, although adjustments to contemplate effects that are intrinsically three-dimensional and that have an impact on the flow may be needed.