Dynamics of multiphase dispersed systems in rotating annulus

Master's thesis in Petroleum engineeringAn investigation of multiphase dispersed system dynamics in rotating annulus is described. The investigation was based on measuring rheological constant (viscosity) of two-phase flowing system. The flow was obtained between two cylinders of the Couette viscometer OFITE Model 900 with rotating outer cylinder. Rheological constant was measured at 200 C for different dispersed systems with liquid continuous phase and liquid/solid dispersed phase: water – oil Marcol 82, diluted alcohol – oil Bayol 35, glycerol – glass beads, salt water – glass beads. Optimal properties of liquids (density, viscosity, surface tension) and particles (size, shape, density) were obtained during investigation. Dispersed systems studied were different and had different viscosities. At least three measurement repetitions were done for each dispersed system and five viscosity/shear stress points have been taken per each RPM. Using Matlab software the program was written to analyse experimental data and obtain average value of viscosity/shear stress for each RPM. The less range in viscosity measurement for every dispersed system studied was observed at 600 RPM. The viscosities measured in the experiments have been compared to different viscosity models of dispersed system: Einstein, Batchelor, Frankel and Acirvos, Chong, Kitano, Mooney, Krieger and Dougherty