Journal of Energy Resources Technology-Transactions of The ASME, Vol.123, No.2, 144-149, 2001
Mass transfer coefficient measurement in water/oil/gas multiphase flow
Mass transfer studies in oil-containing multiphase flow provide fundamental knowledge towards the understanding of hydrodynamics and the subsequent effect on corrosion in pipelines. Mass transfer coefficient measurements in two-phase (oil/ferri-ferrocyanide) and three-phase (oil/ferri-ferrocyanide/nitrogen) flow using limiting current density technique were made in 10-cm-dia pipe at 25 and 75 percent oil percentage. Mass transfer coefficients in full pipe oil/water flow and slug flow were studied. A relationship is developed between the average mass transfer coefficient in full pipe flow and slug flow. The mass transfer coefficient decreased with a decrease of in-situ water cut. This was due to the existence of oil phase, which decreased the ionic mass transfer diffusion coefficient.