Measuring Flow Pattern Asymmetry of Oil-Water Two Phase Flows Using Multi-channel Rotating Electric Field Conductance Signals

Abstract

Abstract The present study is a report on the asymmetry of dispersed oil phase in vertical upward oil-water two phase flow. The multi-channel signals of the rotating electric field conductance sensor with eight electrodes are collected in a 20-mm inner diameter pipe, and typical images of low pattern are captured using a high speed camera. With the multi-channel rotating electric field conductance signals collected at pipe cross section, multi-scale time asymmetry (MSA) and an algorithm of multi-scale first-order difference scatter plot are employed to uncover the fluid dynamics of oil-water two phase flow. The results indicate that MSA can characterise the non-linear behaviours of oil-water two phase flow. Besides, the MSA analysis also beneficial for understanding the underlying inhomogeneous distribution of the flow pattern in different directions at pipe cross section.