Experimental Comparison of Newtonian and Non-Newtonian Multiphase Flow in Horizontal Pipes

Abstract

Two-phase flow of gas/Newtonian and gas/non-Newtonian fluid through pipes occurs frequently in the chemical industry as well as in petroleum refining. Extensive experimental and theoretical research has been carried out on these systems in order to better understand their behaviour under different conditions regarding pressure, temperature and mixture concentrations. In this study, experimental apparatuses are used to investigate two-phase flow of gas/liquid systems through pipes. Air is used as the gas in the experiments, while water is used as the Newtonian fluid and Xanthan gum as the non-Newtonian fluid. The objectives of the study are to compare pressure drops when the same gas flows simultaneously with Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids through tubes. The comparison here is between experimental pressure drops and estimated pressure drops, based on available empirical correlations for gas/Newtonian and gas/non-Newtonian flow. The trend exhibited by the pressure drops in both systems helps us to better understand the relationship between mixture flow pressure drops in Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids and thereby develop a new experimental model. The tube diameter for the flow loop is 3/4 inch and the flow type ranges from transient to turbulent.