An algorithm for refined reconstruction of the phase interface for two-phase gas/liquid annular flows using wire-mesh data

Wire-Mesh sensors (WMS) are used to measure the instantaneous distributions of the phases with high temporal and spatial resolutions with conducting and non-conducting fluids. The experimental data acquired from WMS can be used in a variety of ways to obtain detailed information on the two-phase flow topology including the quantitative visualization of the phase interface.

The current study explores the applicability of a phase interface identification algorithm for two-phase annular flows. The experimental data used in the development of the algorithm is acquired by a WMS with a 16×16 wires for water/air two-phase annular flow at Tulsa University Horizontal Well Artificial Lift Projects (TUHWALP) in 0.05 m (2-in.), 1° upward inclined pipe. The superficial gas and liquid velocities are set to 26 m/s and 0.075 m/s, respectively.

Initially, the WMS data is transformed from a Cartesian coordinate system (with a mesh size of 16×16) onto a polar coordinate system with a mesh size of (MRF×16)×(MRF×16) using a weighted average interpolation, where MRF is the mesh refinement factor. The interpolated data (defined in the polar coordinate system) enables the identification of the phase interface based on the local liquid holdup profile along the radial direction at a given tangential position using the centre of mass concept.

The data interpolation scheme conserves the liquid mass within the pipe cross-section as the mesh refinement factor is increased. However, large values of the refinement factor yield in outliers in the phase interface coordinates. The significance of these outliers is more pronounced if the WMS measurements are affected by the end effects such as in capacitance based measurements. The current algorithm is also capable of producing satisfactory results under stratified flow conditions.