Salinity Independent Flow Measurement of Vertical Upward Gas-Liquid Flows in a Small Pipe Using Conductance Method
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Conductivity Detection Method
3. The Strategy of Using Combined Sensors
4. Experimental Evaluation
5. Results and Discussion
5.1. Salinity Independent Fluctuation Signals of Water Holdup
5.2. New Water Holdup Measurement Model
5.3. Salinity Independent Flow Velocity Measurement
6. Conclusions
- The linear relationship between the sensor output and water conductivity is more suitable for conductivity detection under the conditions of changing water conductivity. Using the water holdup sensor, the velocity sensor, and water conductivity to form a combined conductance sensor system is an effective strategy to achieve salinity independent flow measurement in gas-water flows. As the sensor output is positively linearly proportional to the conductivity, the water holdup sensor and velocity sensor can capture the conductivity variation caused by water holdup under the conditions of water conductivity change with high and constant resolution. The water conductivity sensor can dynamically obtain water conductivity in the gas-liquid two-phase flow. In the calculation of water holdup, water conductivity is considered, thus the influence of salinity can be eliminated.
- For the water holdup measurement, a new water holdup measurement model based on flow structures was proposed. The bubble flow and liquid slugs in slug flow and churn flow were classified into high water holdup flow structures, and Taylor bubble of slug flow and the large gas structures of churn flow were classified into low water holdup flow structures. For the high water holdup flow structures, the Maxwell equation can achieve satisfactory water holdup measurement results. For the low water holdup flow structures, the Maxwell equation and Bruggemann equation all have limitations. Based on the characteristics of these structures, a new equation was established. Finally, a new water holdup measurement model was established to achieve salinity independent water holdup measurement in gas-water flows.
- As the output of the velocity sensor is linearly proportional to the conductivity, so the change of water conductivity only affects the amplitude of signals, and the resolution of the sensor to the conductivity variation caused by water holdup is not affected. Moreover, the fluid velocity is increased in the annular space, which enhances the correlation of upstream signal and downstream signal and simplifies the relationship between mixture velocity and cross-correlation velocity. The drift-flux model that considers the droplet size exponent, distribution parameter, and slippage velocity into consideration was established, and salinity independent flow velocity measurement was achieved satisfactorily. This paper presents a methodology to realize salinity independent flow measurement in gas-liquid flows using the conductance method from the perspective of theoretical analysis and experimental verification for the first time. It contributes to the application of the conductance method in dynamically monitoring oil wells with water salinity change. It is worth noting that for the conductance method, the change of temperature also affects the water conductivity; therefore, the method discussed in this study can also be applied to flow conditions with a changing temperature.
Author Contributions
Funding
Conflicts of Interest
Nomenclature
a | Proportion of high water holdup structures | Usg | Gas superficial velocity |
b | Proportion of low water holdup structures | Usw | Water superficial velocity |
C0 | Distribution parameter | Terminal rise velocity of a single gas bubble relative to the continuous water phase | |
C01 | Distribution parameter in annular space | Vs | Value of exciting voltage signal |
D1 | Diameter of insulated flow deflector 1 | V1 | Voltage output 1 |
d1 | Distance between two ring-shape electrodes | Vout | Sensor output |
D4 | Diameter of cylindrical insulated plexiglass rod | VA | Voltage output of channel A |
E | Relative error | VB | Voltage output of channel B |
G | Value of equivalent conductance | VC | Voltage output of channel C |
Normalized conductivity | VD | Voltage output of channel D | |
H | Axial height of electrodes | Vwcs | Output of water conductivity sensor |
h | Height of electrode | Vup | Output of upstream sensor |
H1 | Length of insulated flow deflector 1 | Vdown | Output of downstream sensor |
H4 | Distance between insulated flow deflector 1 and insulated flow deflector 2 | Yd | Holdup of dispersed phase |
I | Value of current | Yg | Gas holdup |
Is | Value of exciting current signal | Yg1 | Gas holdup in annular space |
k | A constant relating to the configuration of electrode | Yw | Water holdup |
L | Distance between upstream and downstream sensors | θ | Field angle of electrodes |
L1 | Distance between upstream sensor and the head of insulated flow deflector 1 | Threshold | |
N | Amplification factor | Conductivity | |
n | Droplet size exponent | Conductivity of conducting continuous media | |
Rm | Value of equivalent resistance | Conductivity of dispersed phase | |
Rref | Value of reference resistance | Conductivity of mixture | |
R1 | Resistance 1 | Water conductivity | |
R2 | Resistance 2 | Conductivity measured by channel A | |
R3 | Resistance 3 | Conductivity measured by channel B | |
R4 | Resistance 4 | Conductivity measured by channel C | |
R5 | Resistance 5 | Conductivity measured by channel D | |
R6 | Resistance 6 | Conductivity measured by upstream sensor | |
T | Radial thickness of electrodes | Conductivity measured by downstream sensor | |
Ucc | Cross-correlation velocity | ||
Um | Mixture velocity | ||
Um1 | Mixture velocity in annular space |
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Wang, D.; Jin, N.; Zhai, L.; Ren, Y. Salinity Independent Flow Measurement of Vertical Upward Gas-Liquid Flows in a Small Pipe Using Conductance Method. Sensors 2020, 20, 5263. https://doi.org/10.3390/s20185263
Wang D, Jin N, Zhai L, Ren Y. Salinity Independent Flow Measurement of Vertical Upward Gas-Liquid Flows in a Small Pipe Using Conductance Method. Sensors. 2020; 20(18):5263. https://doi.org/10.3390/s20185263
Chicago/Turabian StyleWang, Dayang, Ningde Jin, Lusheng Zhai, and Yingyu Ren. 2020. "Salinity Independent Flow Measurement of Vertical Upward Gas-Liquid Flows in a Small Pipe Using Conductance Method" Sensors 20, no. 18: 5263. https://doi.org/10.3390/s20185263
APA StyleWang, D., Jin, N., Zhai, L., & Ren, Y. (2020). Salinity Independent Flow Measurement of Vertical Upward Gas-Liquid Flows in a Small Pipe Using Conductance Method. Sensors, 20(18), 5263. https://doi.org/10.3390/s20185263