A three-phase dispersion profile model for stratified pipe flow: Effects of gas bubbles on the distribution of oil and water droplets

A three-phase dispersion profile model for stratified gas/oil/water pipe flow was developed. The main goal was to incorporate the effects of gas bubbles on the cross-sectional distribution of oil and water droplets in the continuous liquids. Gas bubbles entrain from the gas layer above the oil/water layers and modify the oil and water dispersion profiles in several different ways. Increased hindered settling due to gas bubbles, reduction of the effective background mixing density that affects buoyancy, turbulence suppression due to droplets and bubbles and finally reduction of oil and water droplet entrainment rate due to area blocking by gas bubbles at the oil/water interface. All three dispersion profiles were modelled consistently with respect to their mutual coupling. The tuned model qualitatively reproduced the shapes and magnitude of the volume fraction profile data obtained from X-ray measurements. Several areas were identified where more fundamental experimental research would be needed. • Effects of bubbles on oil and water dispersion profiles were modelled. • Altered buoyancy, turbulence modulation and hindered settling were accounted for. • The results compared well to X-ray profiles for high pressure 3-phase flow.