Large scale laboratory experiments with slug flow in pipes. EFP-89 project

A combined theoretical and experimental study of slug flow in pipes has been carried out as a joint project between Risø National Laboratory, LICconsult Consulting Engineers Ltd. and the Institute of Hydrodynamics and Hydraulic Engineerings, ISVA, the Technical University of Denmark. In this report the results of the experimental part of the project are presented.

The theoretical investigation is presented in a separate report, Risø-R-602. The experiments have been made in a transparent straight tube 100 m long and a diameter of 90 mm. The experiments have been performed with water and air as test fluids simulating oil and gas. The majority of the tests have been made in the slug flow region.

At various combinations of water and air flow the slug flow has been studied. In all round 200 different test runs have been made. The following parameters have been determined: slug velocity, slug frequency, slug length and composition and finally the pressure transient during passage of slugs. The results are presentet as diagrams with the slug parameters plotted versus the water and air velocities. (au) (1 tab., 20 ills., 7 refs.).