Multiphase flow model developed for simulating gas hydrate transport in horizontal pipe

• Published in: Applied mathematics and mechanics Vol. 37; no. 9; pp. 1193 - 1202
• Main Authors: Tang, Shuai, Liu, Caixi, Dong, Yuhong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shanghai Shanghai University 01.09.2016; Springer Nature B.V; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Mechanics in Energy Engineering, Shanghai University,Shanghai 200072, China; Shanghai Institute of Applied Mathematics and Mechanics, Shanghai University,Shanghai 200072, China
• Edition: English ed.
• Subjects: Applications of Mathematics; Classical Mechanics; Fluid- and Aerodynamics; Mathematical Modeling and Industrial Mathematics; Mathematics; Mathematics and Statistics; Multiphase flow; Partial Differential Equations; slug flow; multiphase flow; phase change; 76F25; hydrate; O359
• ISSN: 0253-4827; 1573-2754
• DOI: 10.1007/s10483-016-2127-6

The hydrate formation or dissociation in deep subsea flow lines is a challenging problem in oil and gas transport systems. The study of multiphase flows is complex while necessary due to the phase changes （i.e., liquid, solid, and gas） that occur with increasing the temperature and decreasing the pressure. A one-dimensional multiphase flow model coupled with a transient hydrate kinetic model is developed to study the characteristics of the multiphase flows for the hydrates formed by the phase changes in the pipes. The multiphase flow model is derived from a multi-fluid model, while has been widely used in modelling multiphase flows. The heat convection between the fluid and the ambient through the pipe wall is considered in the energy balance equation. The developed multiphase flow model is used to simulate the procedure of the hydrate transport. The results show that the formation of the hydrates can cause hold-up oscillations of water and gas.