Measuring phase distribution using external thermal excitation

A new technique to measure the phase distribution in multiphase pipe flow was tested: By applying an external thermal excitation and measuring the temperature response at a variety of positions around the pipe the distribution of the phases can be distinguished due to their different thermal properties.This technique has been tested in a two inch lab flow loop running two-phase flow with crude oil and water. The phase distribution was measured both using conventional X-ray tomography and the new temperature based technology. A series of experiments was performed covering the flow regimes from stratified flow to dispersed flow.The application for this technology is to determine non-intrusively the phase distribution and flow regime in subsea pipelines and topside process equipment.

► New way of measuring phase distribution using non-intrusive equipment.
► No radioactive or electromagnetic beams can be equipped on standard production equipment.
► Results were validated against X-ray measurements.