Counter-Current and Co-Current Gas Kicks in “Horizontal” Wells: Non-Newtonian Rheology Effects

2003 ◽  
Vol 125 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Baca ◽  
D. E. Nikitopoulos ◽  
J. R. Smith ◽  
A. T. Bourgoyne
Keyword(s):  
Test Section ◽  
Gas Flow ◽  
Current Flow ◽  
Gas Injection ◽  
Horizontal Wells ◽  
Gas Flows ◽  
Counter Current Flow ◽  
Liquid Yield ◽  
Counter Current ◽  
Injection Rates

Results from experiments conducted in downward liquid-gas flows in inclined, eccentric annular pipes, with water-air and water-polymer-air mixtures as the working fluids, are presented. The gas was injected near the middle of the test-section length. This flow is directly relevant to what is found in down-grade portions of “horizontal” wells. Flow maps, in terms of liquid and gas superficial velocities, indicating the transitions between counter-current and co-current gas flows have been determined experimentally for four dip angles. The counter-current gas flow observed was always in the slug regime while the co-current one appeared as stratified. Counter-current flow fraction and void fraction measurements were carried out at various liquid superficial velocities and gas-injection rates and correlated to visual observations through a full-scale transparent test section. Results indicate that increase of the liquid yield point favors the development of counter current flow which is shown to occur at representative liquid superficial velocities and gas injection rates. Thus, counter-current flow can be easily generated at small downward dip angles, within the practical range of liquid superficial velocity for drilling operations, especially at low gas-injection rates.

Co-Current and Countercurrent Migration of Gas Kicks in “Horizontal” Wells

1999 ◽  
Vol 121 (2) ◽  
pp. 96-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Baca ◽  
J. Smith ◽  
A. T. Bourgoyne ◽  
D. E. Nikitopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Test Section ◽  
Gas Flow ◽  
Gas Injection ◽  
Horizontal Wells ◽  
Gas Flows ◽  
Countercurrent Flow ◽  
Drilling Operations ◽  
Operating Window ◽  
Annular Pipes ◽  
Injection Rates

Results from experiments conducted in downward liquid-gas flows in inclined, eccentric annular pipes, with water and air as the working fluids, are presented. The gas was injected in the middle of the test section length. The operating window, in terms of liquid and gas superficial velocities, within which countercurrent gas flow occurs at two low-dip angles, has been determined experimentally. The countercurrent flow observed was in the slug regime, while the co-current one was stratified. Countercurrent flow fraction and void fraction measurements were carried out at various liquid superficial velocities and gas injection rates and correlated to visual observations through a full-scale transparent test section. Our results indicate that countercurrent flow can be easily generated at small downward dip angles, within the practical range of liquid superficial velocity for drilling operations. Such flow is also favored by low gas injection rates.

SUCTION PIPE DESIGN CRITERION FOR R-134a REFRIGERATORS TO SECURE OIL RETURN TO COMPRESSOR

2012 ◽  
Vol 20 (04) ◽  
pp. 1250018 ◽  
Author(s):  
TIANDONG GUO ◽  
WONJONG LEE ◽  
SANGCHUL DO ◽  
JI HWAN JEONG
Keyword(s):  
Test Section ◽  
Current Flow ◽  
Small Diameter ◽  
Glass Tube ◽  
Visual Observation ◽  
Design Criterion ◽  
Flow Reversal ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Counter Current Flow ◽  
Counter Current

Polyol Ester oil–air two-phase counter current flow experiments were performed with small diameter tubes to measure gas velocities for the counter current flow limitation point and the flow reversal point. The test section was made of a Pyrex glass tube to allow visual observation. The geometry of the test section was designed to simulate various shapes of suction lines of refrigerators. The inner diameter of the test tube was 7 mm and the height was 1 m. The inclination of the test tubes varied from vertical to crank type with various horizontal lengths. An empirical oil return criterion was suggested based on the flow reversal points. This criterion was also verified using a refrigerator test apparatus and refrigerant.

Air/Water Counter-Current Flow Experiments in a Model of the Hot Leg of a Pressurized Water Reactor

2009 ◽  
Vol 131 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christophe Vallée ◽  
Deendarlianto ◽  
Matthias Beyer ◽  
Dirk Lucas ◽  
Helmar Carl
Keyword(s):  
Steam Generator ◽  
Pressure Vessel ◽  
Test Section ◽  
Current Flow ◽  
Flow Limitation ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Pressurized Water ◽  
Counter Current Flow ◽  
Counter Current ◽  
Inlet Chamber

Different scenarios of small break loss of coolant accident for pressurized water reactors (PWRs) lead to the reflux-condenser mode in which steam enters the hot leg from the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) and condenses in the steam generator. A limitation of the condensate backflow toward the RPV by the steam flowing in counter current could affect the core cooling and must be prevented. The simulation of counter-current flow limitation conditions, which is dominated by 3D effects, requires the use of a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach. These numerical methods are not yet mature, so dedicated experimental data are needed for validation purposes. In order to investigate the two-phase flow behavior in a complex reactor-typical geometry and to supply suitable data for CFD code validation, the “hot leg model” was built at Forschungszentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (FZD). This setup is devoted to optical measurement techniques, and therefore, a flat test-section design was chosen with a width of 50 mm. The test section outlines represent the hot leg of a German Konvoi PWR at a scale of 1:3 (i.e., 250 mm channel height). The test section is mounted between two separators, one simulating the RPV and the other is connected to the steam generator inlet chamber. The hot leg model is operated under pressure equilibrium in the pressure vessel of the TOPFLOW facility of FZD. The air/water experiments presented in this article focus on the flow structure observed in the region of the riser and of the steam generator inlet chamber at room temperature and pressures up to 3 bar. The performed high-speed observations show the evolution of the stratified interface and the distribution of the two-phase mixture (droplets and bubbles). The counter-current flow limitation was quantified using the variation in the water levels measured in the separators. A confrontation with the images indicates that the initiation of flooding coincides with the reversal of the flow in the horizontal part of the hot leg. Afterward, bigger waves are generated, which develop to slugs. Furthermore, the flooding points obtained from the experiments were compared with empirical correlations available in literature. A good overall agreement was obtained, while the zero penetration was found at lower values of the gaseous Wallis parameter compared with previous work. This deviation can be attributed to the rectangular cross section of the hot leg model.

Air/Water Counter-Current Flow Experiments in a Model of the Hot Leg of a Pressurised Water Reactor

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christophe Valle´e ◽  
Deendarlianto ◽  
Matthias Beyer ◽  
Dirk Lucas ◽  
Helmar Carl
Keyword(s):  
Steam Generator ◽  
Pressure Vessel ◽  
Test Section ◽  
Current Flow ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Counter Current Flow ◽  
Counter Current ◽  
Flow Experiments ◽  
Inlet Chamber ◽  
Reactor Pressure

Different scenarios of small break Loss of Coolant Accident (LOCA) for pressurised water reactors (PWR) lead to the reflux-condenser mode in which steam enters the hot leg from the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) and condenses in the steam generator. A part of the condensate flows back towards the RPV in counter current to the steam. During the reflux-condenser mode, a counter-current flow limitation (CCFL) must be prevented because this would limit the core cooling. The simulation of CCFL conditions, which is dominated by 3D effects, requires the use of a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach. These methods are not yet mature and have to be validated before they can be applied to nuclear reactor safety. Therefore, dedicated experimental data is needed with high resolution in space and time. In order to investigate the two-phase flow behaviour in a complex reactor-typical geometry and to supply suitable data for CFD code validation, the “hot leg model” was built at Forschungszentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (FZD). This setup is devoted to optical measurement techniques, therefore, a flat test-section design was chosen with a width of 50 mm. The test-section outlines represent the hot leg of a German Konvoi PWR at a scale of 1:3, which corresponds to a channel height of 250 mm in the straight part of the hot leg. The test-section is mounted between two separators, one simulating the reactor pressure vessel and the other is connected to the steam generator inlet chamber. This allows to perform co-current as well as counter-current flow experiments. Moreover, the hot leg model is built in the pressure vessel of the TOPFLOW facility of FZD, which is used to perform high-pressure experiments under pressure equilibrium with the inside atmosphere of the vessel. Therefore, the test section can be designed with thin materials and equipped with big size windows like in the hot leg model. The presented air/water experiments focus on the flow structure observed in the region of the riser and of the steam generator inlet chamber at room temperature and pressures up to 3 bars. The performed high-speed observations show the evolution of the stratified interface and the distribution of the two-phase mixture (droplet and bubbles). Counter-current flow limitation, or the onset of flooding, was found by analysing the water levels measured in the separators. A confrontation with the images indicates that the initiation of flooding coincides with the reversal of the flow in the horizontal part of the hot leg due to high air velocities. Afterwards, bigger waves are generated, which develop to slugs. Furthermore, the CCFL data was compared with similar experiments and empirical correlations available in the literature. The agreement of the CCFL curve is good and indicate that the data is relevant for CFD validation purposes. The zero penetration was found at lower values of the Wallis parameter than in most of the previous work, which can be attributed to the rectangular geometry of the hot leg model.

scholarly journals Experimental Characterisation of the Interfacial Structure during Counter-Current Flow Limitation in a Model of the Hot Leg of a PWR

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christophe Vallée ◽  
Toshifumi Nariai ◽  
Takashi Futatsugi ◽  
Akio Tomiyama ◽  
Dirk Lucas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Level ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Gas Flow ◽  
Current Flow ◽  
Interfacial Structure ◽  
Flow Limitation ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
Counter Current Flow ◽  
Counter Current

In order to investigate the two-phase flow behaviour during counter-current flow limitation in the hot leg of a pressurised water reactor, dedicated experiments were performed in a scaled down model ofKobe University. The experiments were performed with air and water at atmospheric pressure and room temperature. At high flow rates, CCFL occurs and the discharge of water to the reactor pressure vessel simulator is limited by the formation of slugs carrying liquid back to the steam generator. The structure of the interface was observed from the side of the channel test section using a high-speed video camera. An algorithm was developed to recognise the stratified interface in the camera frames after background subtraction. This method allows extracting the water level at any position in the image as well as performing further statistical treatments. The evolution of the interfacial structure along the horizontal part of the hot leg is shown by the visualisation of the probability distribution of the water level and analysed in function of the liquid and gas flow rates. The data achieved are useful for the analysis of the flow conditions as well as for the validation of modelling approaches like computational fluid dynamics.

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