CFD Simulation and Validation of Interfacial Morphology of Viscous Oil-Water Flow through Upward Inclined Pipe

Abstract

Water lubrication technique is one of the most efficient ways to transport viscous oil through pipelines. Flow of two immiscible liquids through conduits gives rise to various flow patterns. In the present study flow patterns of viscous oil-water flow through 5° upward inclined pipeline has been numerically simulated using ANSYS FLUENT TM6.2. Volume of Fluid (VOF) method has been employed to predict various flow patterns by assuming unsteady flow, immiscible liquid pair (viscous oil and water), constant liquid properties, and co-axial flow. Five flow patterns namely plug flow, slug flow, wavy stratified, stratified mixed and annular flow patterns have been predicted using CFD simulation in upward inclined pipeline. The simulation results have been validated with experimental results. The results gave good proximity with the experimental data.