Session: 08-03-01: Energy-Related Multidisciplinary I

Paper Number: 89396

89396 - Determination of the Convection Heat Transfer Coefficients for Multiphase Flow on Different Sections of a Closed Piping System 

The continuous demand for petroleum-based energy as well as the increased need for geothermal energy has led to higher demands of piping systems transporting multiphase flows at high pressures and temperatures. As a result, the research of multiphase heat transfer throughout the piping system is inevitable, much of which the intricate details are still unknown. This project’s focus is on uncovering the details of just one aspect of this broad field, the difference in heat transfer concerning changes in the angle of through-pipe multiphase flow. Multiphase flow refers to the simultaneous flow of materials with two or more thermodynamic phases. Multiphase flows and heat transfer have been studied in a wide range of applications such as mechanical, chemical, nuclear, and mineral engineering. The data from this project should prove useful in industries all over the world, especially industries that deal with refrigeration and with piping oil. While those are the most common uses for this work, the applications go much further than that. Engines are massively important and their efficiency is becoming more prominent than ever before, and this research could aid in that. There are also many growing uses for this research, like use in selective laser sintering and maybe even in large-scale 3D printing. The longevity and performance of these multiphase-flow piping systems, amongst other things, depend partially on the heat transfer rates inside of them.  In this experiment, the aim was to create a model of the internal pressure and temperature associated with a piping system (like that of oil extraction) which allowed testing and improvement upon existing systems through recommendations of increased efficiency and minimal waste. Water in the system represents the liquid (this could also be another water-based fluid or even an oil-based fluid) while air will represent the gases usually associated with the extraction process or any other process in which multiphase flow through pipes is necessary. The focus was placed on the change of temperature at the heating sections, as well as the convection coefficient associated with each of the three orientations (namely: vertical, 45 degree inclined, and horizontal). Additionally, the combined mass flow rate and combined heat capacity at various points in the piping system had to be determined to predict the heat transfer coefficient. In order to achieve this, the convection changes associated with the single-phase flow of both water and air had to be determined so that comparisons may be made to its multiphase counterparts. This single-phase knowledge was found by running only air and then only water through the apparatus and finding heat transfer rates for each of these conditions. The water data could then be used to predict the response of the multiphase flow and give a good baseline for what data to expect. The just-air trial may be able to show what changes could be expected between the water flow and the multiphase flow. To achieve these results, a specialized apparatus was used. This apparatus has fluid flow through a heated section of pipe, then run through an inclined pipe, followed by a vertical pipe, and finally, a horizontal pipe. The fluid then flows back through the system in a cycle. At the beginning and end of each of these sections, there are thermocouples that measure the heat difference in a specified length of pipe in each angular orientation. This data is then put into data acquisition software and run to find any patterns in the heat transfer rates of each section. These findings show extremely important aspects of multiphase flow and should help many companies for years to come.

Presenting Author: Mahmoud Elsharafi Midwestern State University

Presenting Author Biography: Dr. Mahmoud Elsharafi attended the International Mechanical Engineering Conference (IMECE) in November 2016, 2017, and 2018 where he served as chair and co-chair for several sessions. In addition, he served as topic organizer for IMECE 2019, 2020, and 2021. He worked with the students for different UGROW, EURECA, and Senior Design projects such as (Heat Transfer Technology, Dynamic Filtration Test, Sucker Rod Pump, Film Boiling Droplet Motion, Viscosity Measurements, Enhanced Oil Recovery, Water Shut-off, Dynamic Contact Angle, Energy from Salt Water, Multiphase Flow). He has a different ongoing project (Darcy and Non-Darcy Flow through Packing Particles, Energy Recovery Unit Using Phase Change Materials). He served as reviewer for more than 60 journals and conferences papers. He published several journals papers with a very high impact factor journal such as fuel and petroleum science journal. He also presented and published several conference papers. He served as an honorable associate editorial board member for various journals. He served as petroleum engineering program coordinator and associate graduate faculty at Midwestern State University. He worked with the Graduate and international service offices to admit many students. He served as a faculty advisor for SPE Student Chapter at MSU, Saudi Students Association, and National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE).

Authors:

Mahmoud Elsharafi Midwestern State University
Benton Vidal Midwestern state university
Tyler Leonard Midwestern State University