Abstract

In this work, experiments were performed during horizontal separated oil-water flows in an acrylic pipe with an internal diameter of 14 mm. The test fluids were tap water and a middle distillate oil. Magnafloc 1011 (a copolymer of polyacrylamide and sodium acrylate) was used as drag reducing agent and was added from an initial concentration of 1000ppm in the water phase in the pipe to generate in situ concentrations between 20ppm and 50ppm using a pressurized air system. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements were carried out to study the changes on the water phase velocity profiles and turbulence properties caused by the polymer addition Results showed significant changes to the total turbulence in the near wall and interface regions, the water hold-up and the velocity profiles of the water layer flow. The addition of the polymer also shifted the boundaries of stratified flow to higher superficial oil and water velocities while it reduced the frictional pressure drop by almost 45 % in some of the cases studied.

This content is only available via PDF.
You can access this article if you purchase or spend a download.