THE EFFECT OF GAS INJECTION ON THE FLOW OF IMMISCIBLE LIQUIDS IN HORIZONTAL PIPES

The flow of two immiscible liquids and the influence of an additional inserted gas phase in horizontal pipes is investigated. The experiment s are carried out in a transparent horizontal pipe with an inner diame ter of 59 mm and a total length of 48 m. Experimental results are pres ented for the flow regimes of the two phase and three phase flow of oi l, water and gas mixtures. The effect of phase inversion on the pressu re drop is measured. The experimental results obtained for the three p hase flow of oil, water and air indicate that drag reduction is possib le by injecting gas in laminar flowing mixtures of oil and water. In t he aerated slug flow regime of oil, water and air a water dominated an d an oil dominated flow system can be distinguished. The pressure drop of the three phase flow system is of the magnitude as the pressure dr op of the two phase flow of gas and the dominating liquid phase.