Dynamic behaviours of horizontal gas-liquid pipes subjected to hydrodynamic slug flow: Modelling and experiments

The dynamic behaviours of gas-liquid pipes are difficult to predict because of the complex flow characteristics of gas-liquid two-phase flow and fluid-structure interactions. In this paper, a dynamics model capable of describing the characteristics of hydrodynamic slug flow and fluid-structure interactions involving centrifugal force and Coriolis force is presented to investigate the dynamic behaviours of horizontal pipes subjected to hydrodynamic slug flow. The motion equation is solved using the finite element method. Experiments are performed to measure the characteristics of slug flow and dynamic behaviours of horizontal pipes and to validate the theoretical results. The motion of pipes under different two-phase flow parameters are simulated, and some interesting and unexpected results are presented. Finally, the cumulative effect of fluid-structure interactions and slug characteristics on the dynamics of the system is discussed. This study is helpful for understanding the complicated dynamic behaviours of gas-liquid pipes and promoting pipeline safety.