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Research Papers

A Robust Asymptotically Based Modeling Approach for Two-Phase Flow in Porous Media

[+] Author and Article Information

Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NF, A1B 3X5, Canadaawad@engr.mun.ca

S. D. Butt

Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NF, A1B 3X5, Canadasbutt@engr.mun.ca

1

Corresponding author.

J. Heat Transfer 131(10), 101014 (Aug 04, 2009) (12 pages) doi:10.1115/1.3180808 History: Received March 10, 2008; Revised September 08, 2008; Published August 04, 2009

Abstract

A simple semitheoretical method for calculating the two-phase frictional pressure gradient in porous media using asymptotic analysis is presented. The two-phase frictional pressure gradient is expressed in terms of the asymptotic single-phase frictional pressure gradients for liquid and gas flowing alone. In the present model, the two-phase frictional pressure gradient for $x≅0$ is nearly identical to the single-phase liquid frictional pressure gradient. Also, the two-phase frictional pressure gradient for $x≅1$ is nearly identical to the single-phase gas frictional pressure gradient. The proposed model can be transformed into either a two-phase frictional multiplier for liquid flowing alone $(ϕl2)$ or a two-phase frictional multiplier for gas flowing alone $(ϕg2)$ as a function of the Lockhart–Martinelli parameter $X$. The advantage of the new model is that it has only one fitting parameter $(p)$, while the other existing correlations, such as the correlation of Larkins , Sato , and Goto and Gaspillo, have three constants. Therefore, calibration of the new model to the experimental data is greatly simplified. The new model is able to model the existing multiparameter correlations by fitting the single parameter $p$. Specifically, $p=1/3.25$ for the correlation of Midoux , $p=1/3.25$ for the correlation of Rao , $p=1/3.5$ for the Tosun correlation, $p=1/3.25$ for the correlation of Larkins , $p=1/3.75$ for the correlation of Sato , and $p=1/3.5$ for the Goto and Gaspillo correlation.

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Figures

Figure 4

Comparison of the present asymptotic model with the correlation of Midoux (20)

Figure 5

Comparison of the present asymptotic model with the correlation of Rao (25)

Figure 6

Comparison of the present asymptotic model with Tosun’s (26) correlation

Figure 7

Comparison of the present asymptotic model with the correlation of Larkins (15)

Figure 8

Comparison of the present asymptotic model with the correlation of Sato (18)

Figure 9

Comparison of the present asymptotic model with Goto and Gaspillo’s (29) correlation

Figure 1

Comparison of the present asymptotic model with Larkins’s (13) data on 0.375 in. (9.525 mm) Raschig rings

Figure 2

Comparison of the present asymptotic model with Larkins’s (13) data on 0.375 in. (9.525 mm) spheres

Figure 3

Comparison of the present asymptotic model with Larkins’s (13) data for hydrocarbon systems on 3 mm glass beads

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