Abstract

SIRA, E; KLAPP, J; SIGALOTTI, L. Di G.  and  MENDOZA, G. Numerical simulations of liquid flow through restrictors. Rev. mex. fis. [online]. 2006, vol.52, suppl.3, pp.66-68. ISSN 0035-001X.

In this paper we describe the results of a two-dimensional numerical simulation of a viscous liquid flow through a wellhead choke of real dimensions using the of Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) method. The study of such flows has a direct application to the oil industry because in oil fields, it is common practice to pass liquid and gas mixtures through chokes to control the flow rates and protect the surface equipment from unusual pressure fluctuations. For the present model calculation, we assume an isothermal flow with a sound speed c of 2.0 x 10⁴ cm s^-1 and a constant kinematic viscosity coefficient (v = 0.01 cm² s^-1). The results predict a pressure drop of about 13% through the choke throat when the flow approaches an approximately stationary pattern. The flow across the choke remains subcritical with velocities of 0.1c. These velocities are about 6 and 3.5 times higher than those at the outlet and inlet sections of the choke throat, respectively. Due to the simplifications employed in the present model, the predicted pressure drop is much lower than that obtained experimentally for pure liquid with a velocity of 0.1c through the choke.

Keywords : Flows in ducts; channels; nozzles; conduits; Flow control; computational methods in influid dynamics; applied fluid mechanics.