Análise da dinâmica de uma bolha de gás em uma bomba centrífuga

Abstract

Electrical Submersible Pump (ESP), are quite common in the oil industry. Due to the nature of the oil production operations, multiphase flow of oil, gas and other fluids are present in reservoirs, pipelines and equipment, including ESP’s. Two-phase flows inside pump diffusers and impellers decrease an ESP’s lift and efficiency. Literature presents a large number of studies about the influence of operational parameters such as void fraction, rotor speed and inlet pressure, on an ESP’s global efficiency. Nevertheless, this influence is strictly related to the two-phase flow pattern. The present study evaluates the two-phase flow inside a pump diffuser and impeller by means of a single bubble flowing through the liquid mass. An experimental apparatus was designed and built at the NUEM facilities. The original pump housing and impeller were replaced by transparent pieces so that bubbles flowing inside the pump could be visualized. The path of the bubbles were followed so as to both define preference paths and to calculate bubbles velocities. Additional CFD analyses provided liquid velocities and static pressure through the pump impeller. An algebraic model fed with numerical and experimental data evaluated the drag coefficient and the drag force according to different experimental conditions.