DRAG REDUCTION WITH POLYMER MIXTURES IN OIL-WATER FLOWS: EFFECT OF SYNERGY

Authors : Muhammad GİMBA, Lawrence EDOMWONYI-OTU

Pages : 1-8

View : 8 | Download : 4

Publication Date : 2020-05-30

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The pressure drop encountered during horizontal pipeline flows in chemical and petroleum industries require high pumping energy. An economical approach has been reported where small amount of higher molecular weight polymeric solution can lead to large decrease in pressure drop. In this work, drag reduction insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(DR); in oil-water flows was investigated in 20 mm horizontal pipe diameter and length of 140 times the diameter insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(140D);. Partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(HPAM; magnafloc 1011);, polyethylene oxide insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(PEO); and Aloe Vera mucilage insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(AVM); as well as their mixtures insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(HPAM-AVM and PEO-AVM); at mixture Reynolds number of 37773 were used. Master solution of 2000 ppm and 20000 ppm for HPAM, PEO and AVM as well as their respective mixtures at total concentration insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(TC); of 30 ppm and 400 ppm were used. The two liquids used were tap water insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(ρ = 1000 Kg/m3, µ = 0.89 cP); and diesel oil insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(ρ = 832 Kg/m3, µ = 1.66 cP); at ambient conditions insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(25 oC, 1 atm);. Different oil input volume fractions insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(δo); and mixture velocities insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Umix); for the two phases were used. The results show that the DR of 61.67 & 63.33%, and 66.67 & 68.33% were obtained for HPAM-AVM and PEO-AVM respectively, at mixing ratios of 3:1 & 1:19, for 25% oil input and water phase Reynolds number insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Rew); of 28329. These values were found to be higher than the DR obtained by individual polymer alone at the same conditions. Drag reduction decreased with increase in the δo due to the decrease in the Rew. The synergistic effect observed in DR of the polymer mixture solution may be due to the presence of interaction among the polymer molecules and their rigidity. The result implies that drag reduction efficiency can be enhanced by combining natural and synthetic polymers. 
Keywords : Synergy, Drag reduction, polymer mixture, oil water flows