Multiphase flow measurements using coupled slotted orifice plate and swirl flow meter

• A close coupled slotted orifice plate and swirl flow meter was developed.
• Repeatable high accuracy GVF measurement was obtained for GVF range of 60%–95%.
• In this system, GVF measurements are independent of flow rate in the tested range.
• The uncertainty in GVF measurements was obtained to be ±±0.63% in the tested range.

Multiphase flow metering is a major focus for oil and gas industries. The performance of a modified version of a close coupled slotted orifice plate and swirl flow meter for multiphase flow was evaluated to provide further development of a new type of multiphase flow meter. The slotted orifice provides well homogenized flow for several pipe diameters downstream of the plate. This characteristic provides a homogeneous mixture at the inlet of the swirl meter for a wide range of gas volume fractions (GVF) and flow rates. In order to evaluate the performance of the designed flow-meter, its response was investigated for varying pressures and water flow rates. The proper correlations were established to provide high accurate two-phase flow measurements. The new proposed approach provides the GVF measurement with less than ±0.63% uncertainty for GVF range from 60% to 95%.