Transport Phenomena and Fluid Mechanics

Drag reduction phenomenon in viscous oil-water dispersed pipe flow: Experimental investigation and phenomenological modeling

  1. I. H. Rodriguez1,*,
  2. H. K. B.Yamaguti1,
  3. M. S. de Castro1,
  4. M. J. Da Silva2,
  5. O. M. H. Rodriguez1

Article first published online: 25 OCT 2011

DOI: 10.1002/aic.12787

Issue

AIChE Journal

AIChE Journal

Volume 58, Issue 9, pages 2900–2910, September 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Rodriguez, I. H., B.Yamaguti, H. K., de Castro, M. S., Da Silva, M. J. and Rodriguez, O. M. H. (2012), Drag reduction phenomenon in viscous oil-water dispersed pipe flow: Experimental investigation and phenomenological modeling. AIChE J., 58: 2900–2910. doi: 10.1002/aic.12787

Author Information

  1. 1

    Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering School of Sao Carlos, University of Sao Paulo (USP), São Carlos, SP 13566-970, Brazil

  2. 2

    Forschungszentrum Dresden-Rossendorf e. V., Institute of Safety Research, Dresden 01314, Germany

*Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering School of Sao Carlos, University of Sao Paulo (USP), São Carlos, SP 13566-970, Brazil

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 8 AUG 2012
  2. Article first published online: 25 OCT 2011
  3. Accepted manuscript online: 12 OCT 2011 02:59AM EST
  4. Manuscript Revised: 15 SEP 2011
  5. Manuscript Received: 11 MAY 2011

Funded by

  • CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior)
  • FAPESP (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo, ). Grant Number: 2008/06922-9
  • Dresden-Rossendorf Research Center (Germany) and Dr. Uwe Hampel

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Keywords:

  • liquid–liquid flow;
  • oil-water flow;
  • dispersed flow;
  • drag reduction;
  • phenomenological modeling;
  • wire-mesh sensor

Abstract

An experimental study on drag-reduction phenomenon in dispersed oil-water flow has been performed in a 26-mm-i.d. Twelve meter long horizontal glass pipe. The flow was characterized using a novel wire-mesh sensor based on capacitance measurements and high-speed video recording. New two-phase pressure gradient, volume fraction, and phase distribution data have been used in the analysis. Drag reduction and slip ratio were detected at oil volume fractions between 10 and 45% and high mixture Reynolds numbers, and with water as the dominant phase. Phase-fraction distribution diagrams and cross-sectional imaging of the flow suggested the presence of a higher amount of water near to the pipe wall. Based on that, a phenomenology for explaining drag reduction in dispersed flow in a flow situation where slip ratio is significant is proposed. A simple phenomenological model is developed and the agreement between model predictions and data, including data from the literature, is encouraging. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2012

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