Non-Newtonian multi-phase flows: On drag reduction, pressure drop and liquid wall friction factor

The present work focuses on the non-Newtonian liquid drag reduction by gas injection. Two regimes are taken in consideration: fully stratified gas shear-thinning liquid flow and gas shear-thinning liquid slug flow regimes.Predictions of drag reduction ratio and holdup are presented for the stratified flow of gas and non-Newtonian Ostwald-de Waele liquid. Fully stratified flow is considered and the approach developed in Taitel and Dukler (1976) is used. For these regimes, CMC (CarboxyMethyl Cellulose) solution is used in order to investigate the behaviour of the gas and non-Newtonian liquids in horizontal pipes. Results have been reformulated and an extension to interfacial Andreussi and Persen (1987) correlation has been carried out for stratified regimes.For slug flow regimes, the mechanistic slug unit model is adopted in order to estimate the pressure gradients along the slug unit. The slug unit model is rearranged and reinterpreted as inviscid Burgers's equation for incompressible phases.For both stratified and slug flow regimes, three dimensional CFD (computational fluid dynamics) simulations were performed in order to compare the drag reduction ratio and pressure gradients. In stratified flows, CFD is also used in an attempt to evaluate the liquid wall friction factor and to compare the obtained values with those given by empirical standard correlations.

► Drag reduction by gas injection in gas/non-Newtonian liquid system is investigated.
► A good estimation of the liquid wall friction factor is obtained for low liquid flow rates.
► Analytical models for stratified and slug flow regimes are shown to agree with experimental data.
► 3D CFD simulations compare well with data concerning drag reductions and pressure gradients.