Development of the flow pattern map for the application of CO₂ gas in a three-phase downward flow

Abstract

The experimental modelling of a gas-liquid-liquid downward flow in a vertical pipe was performed to characterize the transportation of  CO2 for further industrial application of the flow process. The study involved a multiphase downward flow pipe model integrated with a  high-speed video camera to observe the flow patterns developed from the experimental proceedings of the flow process. This was  achieved by varying the input flow rates of the CO₂ gas phase at high, medium and low set watercuts values of the liquid phases. These  flow patterns were observed for 0.452 to 32.868m/s range of the calculated superficial velocities of the gas phase. The homogenous  water and kerosene liquid phase was found between 0.452 to 32.868m/s 0.008 to 13.0734m/s at 20, 50, 70 and 90% water-cuts.  Subsequently, the relationship between the area fraction occupied by the gas phase, the calculated superficial velocities of the gas and  the homogenous liquid phases were utilised to empirically predict the transition criteria of one flow pattern to another for the developed  flow pattern map of the studied flow system. These findings provide an adequate understanding of the industrial transportation, carbon  capture and underground sequestration of CO₂ gas through a three-phase downward flow in the pipe; to meet the demands of  emerging technologies.