Two Phase Pipeline

Part I

Ref.1 : Brill & Beggs, Two Phase Flow in Pipes, 6th Edition, 1991.
Chapter 1 & 3.
 Two-Phase Flow Properties
Holdup
1- Liquid and Gas Holdup (HL & Hg): HL is defined as the ratio of the volume
of a pipe segment occupied by liquid to the volume of the pipe segment. The
remainder of the pipe segment is of course occupied by gas, which is referred to
as Hg. Hg = 1 – HL

2- No-Slip Liquid and Gas Holdup (λL & λg): λL is defined as the ratio of the
volume of the liquid in a pipe segment divided by the volume of the pipe
segment which would exist if the gas and liquid travelled at the same velocity
(no-slippage). It can be calculated directly from the known gas and liquid
volumetric flow rates from :

qL
L  ,  g  1  L
qL  q g
 Two-Phase Flow Properties
Density
1- Liquid Density (ρL): ρL may be calculated from the oil and water densities
with assumption of no slippage between the oil and water phases as follows:

2- Two-Phase Density: Calculation of the two-phase density requires

knowledge of the liquid holdup. Three equations for two-phase density are used
by various investigators in two-phase flow:

qo qoSC Bo
 L  o f o   w f w where fo  
qo  qw qoSC Bo  qwSC Bw
s  L H L   g H g ,  n   L L   g  g
 L 2L  g 2g
k  
HL Hg
 Two-Phase Flow Properties
Velocity
1- Superficial Gas and Liquid Velocities (vsg & vsL):
qg qL
vsg  , vsL  where A is the pipe cross  sectional area
A A
2- Actual Gas and Liquid Velocities (vg & vL):

3- Two-Phase Velocity (vm):

vsg vsL
4- Slip Velocity (vs): vg  , vL 
Hg HL
vm  vsg  vsL
vs  vg  vL

vsg vsL vsL

For No  Slip : vg  vL or   L 
1  L L vm
 Two-Phase Flow Properties
Viscosity
1- Liquid Viscosity (μL): μL may be calculated from the oil and water
viscosities with assumption of no slippage between the oil and water phases as
follows:

 L  o f oofthe
2- Two-Phase Viscosity: Calculation wtwo-phase
fw viscosity requires
knowledge of the liquid holdup. Two equations for two-phase viscosity are used
by various investigators in two-phase flow:

3- Liquid Surface Tension (σL):

n   L L   g g , s   LH   g
L
Hg

 L   o fo   w f w
 Two-Phase Flow Regimes
Horizontal Flow

Two-phase flow regimes for horizontal flow are shown in

Figure 3-1. These horizontal flow regimes are defined as
follows.
Stratified (Smooth and Wavy) Flow: Stratified flow consists of two
superposed layers of gas and liquid, formed by segregation under the
influence of gravity.
Intermittent (Slug and Elongated Bubble) Flow: The intermittent flow
regime is usually divided into two subregimes: plug or elongated bubble
flow and slug flow. The elongated bubble flow regime can be considered
as a limiting case of slug flow, where the liquid slug is free of entrained
gas bubbles. Gas–liquid intermittent flow exists in the whole range of
pipe inclinations and over a wide range of gas and liquid flow rates.
 Two-Phase Flow Regimes
Horizontal Flow

Annular-Mist Flow: During annular flow, the liquid phase flows largely as
an annular film on the wall with gas flowing as a central core. Some of the
liquid is entrained as droplets in this gas core (mist flow).

Dispersed Bubble Flow: At high liquid rates and low gas rates, the gas is
dispersed as bubbles in a continuous liquid phase. The bubble density is
higher toward the top of the pipeline, but there are bubbles throughout the
cross section. Dispersed flow occurs only at high flow rates and high
pressures. This type of flow, which entails high-pressure loss, is rarely
encountered in flow lines.

Note that raw gas pipelines usually have stratified flow patterns.
In other words, raw gas lines are “sized” to be operated in
stratified flow during normal operation.
 Two-Phase Flow Regimes
Vertical-Upward Flow

Flow regimes frequently encountered in upward vertical two-

phase flow are shown in Figure 3-2.These regimes are defined
as follows.
Bubble Flow: The gas phase is distributed in the liquid phase as
variable-size, deformable bubbles moving upward with zigzag motion.
The wall of the pipe is always contacted by the liquid phase.

Slug Flow: Most of the gas is in the form of large bullet-shaped bubbles
that have a diameter almost reaching the pipe diameter. These bubbles are
referred to as “Taylor bubbles,” move uniformly upward, and are
separated by slugs of continuous liquid that bridge the pipe and contain
small gas bubbles. The gas bubble velocity is greater than that of the
liquid.
 Two-Phase Flow Regimes
Vertical-Upward Flow

Churn Flow: If a change from a continuous liquid phase to a continuous

gas phase occurs, the continuity of the liquid in the slug between
successive Taylor bubbles is destroyed repeatedly by a high local gas
concentration in the slug. This oscillatory flow of the liquid is typical of
churn flow. It may not occur in small-diameter pipes. The gas bubbles
may join and liquid may be entrained in the bubbles.

Annular-Mist Flow: Annular flow is characterized by the continuity of

the gas phase in the pipe core. The liquid phase moves upward partly as a
wavy film and partly in the form of drops entrained in the gas core.

Reliable models for downward multiphase flow are currently

unavailable and the design codes are deficient in this area.
 Two-Phase Flow Regimes
Inclined Flow

Pipe inclination angles have a very strong influence on flow

pattern transitions.

Generally, the flow regime in a near-horizontal pipe remains

segregated for downward inclinations and changes to an
intermittent flow regime for upward inclinations.

An intermittent flow regime remains intermittent when tilted

upward and tends to segregated flow pattern when inclined
downward.

The inclination should not significantly affect the distributed

flow regime.
 Two-Phase Flow Correlations
General Equation

General Pressure Gradient Equation: The pressure

gradient equation which is applicable to any fluid flowing in
a pipe inclined at an angle φ from horizontal was derived
previously. This equation is usually adapted for two-phase
flow by assuming that the two-phase flow regime and two-
phase properties can be considered homogeneous over a
finite volume of the pipe.

Depend on the using correlation

L H L  g H g vsL  vsg

 d P  g f  v 2
 dv 2
     s sin  
tp tp m
 s m

 dZ  g c 2gc d 2 g dL
 Two-Phase Flow Correlations
General Equation

Many correlations have been developed for predicting two-

phase flow pressure gradients which differ in the manner
used to calculate the three terms of pressure gradients
equation (elevation change, friction and acceleration terms):
a. No slip, no flow regime considerations: the mixture density is
calculated based on the no slip holdup. No distinction is made
for different flow regimes.
b. Slip considered, no flow regime consideration: The same
correlations for liquid holdup and friction factor are used for all
flow regimes.
c. Slip considered, flow regime considered: Usually a different
liquid holdup and friction factor prediction methods are required
in each flow regimes.
 Two-Phase Flow
Procedure for Outlet Pressure Calculation

1. Starting with the known inlet pressure and flow rates.

2. Select a length increment, ΔL, and estimate the pressure drop in this
increment, ΔP.
3. Calculate the average pressure and, for non-isothermal cases, the
average temperature in the increment.
4. Determine the gas and liquid properties (based on black-oil or
compositional model) at average pressure and temperature conditions.
5. Calculate the pressure gradient, dP/dL, in the increment at average
conditions of pressure, temperature, and pipe inclination, using the
appropriate pressure gradient correlation.
6. Calculate the pressure drop in the selected length increment, ΔP=ΔL(-
dP/dL).
7. Compare the estimated and calculated values of ΔP. If they are not
sufficiently close, estimate a new value and return to step 3.
8. Repeat the steps 2 to 7 for the next pipe length increment.
 Two-Phase Flow Correlations
Vertical Upward Flow Pipeline

The vertical flow correlations discussed in this section and

the category in which they belong are listed below:

Correlation Category

Poettmann and Carpenter a

Baxendell and Thomas a

Fancher and Brown a

Hagedorn and Brown b

Duns and Ros c

Orkiszewski c

Aziz, Govier and Fogarasi c

Chierici, Ciucci and Sclocehi c

Beggs and Brill c

 Two-Phase Flow Correlations
Vertical-Upward Flow (Category a)

The basic equation for calculating a pressure gradient in the

three correlations considered in this category is:

 dP  g f tp  n vm2
  n 
 dZ  g c 2 gc d
In each method the two-phase friction factor ( ftp ) was
correlated empirically with the numerator of the Reynolds
number ( ρn vm d ):
1- Poettmann and Carpenter : Figure 3-3
2- Baxendell and Thomas: Figure 3-4
3- Fancher and Brown: Figure 3-5
 Two-Phase Flow Correlations
Vertical-Upward Flow (Category b)

The only correlation discussed in this category (b) is that of

Hagedorn and Brown. The liquid holdup predicted by this
method is not a true value, it is only a correlating parameter
for calculating the pressure gradient. The four dimensionless
numbers used in Hagedorn and Brown method are:
ft/sec
Liquid Velocity Number:   
0.25
 
0.25

N Lv  vsL  L   1.938 vsL  L 

 g L  L 
Gas Velocity Number:   
0.25
 
0.25

N gv  vsg  L   1.938 vsg  L  lbm/ft3

 g L  L 
Pipe Diameter Number: 0.5 ft 0.5
 L g   L 
N d  d    120.872 d  
 L  L  dynes/cm
Liquid Viscosity Number: 0.25 cp 0.25
 g   1 
N L   L    0.15726  L 
3 

3 
  L L    L L 
 Two-Phase Flow Correlations
Vertical-Upward Flow (Category b)

The steps for calculating the Liquid holdup are:

1- Calculate CNL from Figure 3-6.
2- Calculate the liquid holdup factor (HL/ψ) from Figure 3-7.
3- Calculate the correction factor, ψ, from Figure 3-8.

The steps for calculating the two-phase friction factor are:

 n vm d
1- Calculate the two-phase Reynold number: N Re 
s
2- Calculate the ftp from Moody diagram (Figure 3-9).
 Two-Phase Flow Correlations
Vertical-Upward Flow (Category b)

The pressure gradients in Hagedorn and Brown method can be

calculated as follows:

 dP  g f tp tp vm2
 s vm2
  s  
 dZ  g c 2 gc d 2 g c Z

Where:
 n2
tp 
s
vm2  vm2 (at P2 , T2 )  vm2 (at P1 , T1 )
Figure 3-1. Horizontal two-phase flow regimes (Cindric et al., 1987).
Figure 3-2. Upward vertical two-phase flow regimes (Shoham, 1982).
Figure 3-3. Poettmann
and Carpenter friction
factor correlation.
Figure 3-4. Baxendell
and Thomas friction
factor correlation.
Figure 3-5. Fancher
and Brown friction
factor correlation.
Figure 3-6. Correlating parameter, CNL.
Figure 3-7. Liquid holdup factor correlation, Pa=base pressure (14.7 psia).
Figure 3-8. Correlation of second correction factor, ψ