APRIL 2025

MULTI-PHASE FLOW
Advanced Fluid Mechanics and Modeling

JAVID SHIRIYEV, PHD

Docent, Baku Higher Oil School
Introduction to Multi-Phase Flow

In many industries, particularly in oil and gas, fluid flow often involves multiple distinct phases rather
than a single homogeneous mixture. In such cases, we can clearly identify separate fluid
components within the flow. Multiphase flow systems are classified based on the interacting phases:
• Gas-Liquid Flow (e.g., oil and gas):
In oil and gas production, hydrocarbons exist in both liquid and gaseous phases. These phases
are in thermodynamic equilibrium, meaning phase changes can occur due to variations in
pressure and temperature. Such flow is commonly encountered in subsea pipelines transporting
production fluids from the wellhead to processing facilities.
• Liquid-Liquid Flow (e.g., oil and water):
This type of flow occurs in oil production pipelines where the crude oil and water flow together.
Depending on flow conditions, the two liquids may form separate layers, an emulsion, or
dispersed droplets within one another. Effective handling of liquid-liquid flow is crucial for water
separation, emulsification, and production efficiency.
• Liquid-Solid Flow (e.g., slurries):
Slurries consist of liquids carrying suspended solid particles, such as sand-laden flows in oil
production or drilling muds in wellbore operations. While drilling fluids may behave as a single-
phase system due to their homogeneous nature, other slurries exhibit complex settling and
erosion dynamics.

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 2

Introduction to Multi-Phase Flow
• In single-phase flow, frictional losses occur primarily due to the • No matter what type of system (gas/liquid or liquid/liquid) we are
interaction between the fluid and the pipe wall. This is caused by shear looking at, we have a set of common definitions.
stress at the boundary, which leads to energy dissipation in the form of
pressure drop along the pipe. o Flow Pattern - the picture of the distribution of one phase relative
to others in the vessel
• Thus, in multiphase flow, calculating frictional losses requires
determining which phase is interacting with the pipe wall because o Residence Time - the time spent by one phase inside a vessel
different phases have different viscosities, densities, and flow behaviors. o Hold-Up - quantity of one phase held back inside the vessel
• Moreover, the creation and breakup of droplets, bubbles, or films • There are two primary approaches to analyzing multi-phase flow: ①
introduces additional energy losses as energy is required to create new homogeneous and ② heterogeneous mixtures. In the latter,
interfaces. Additionally, frictional losses also arise from interfacial Lagrangian frame of reference appears a better bet to form governing
friction, which occurs due to velocity differences and interactions equations.
between different phases.
• Technically, it is not possible to precisely quantify ① which phase is in
contact with the wall and ② the exact number of droplets or bubbles in
a mixture - at least not in real-time or with full accuracy.

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 3

Two-Phase Flow Predictions
Creating models used to predict two phase flow has seen continual development since the 1900’s.
• Single Phase
o Easy to use
o Uses properties of mixtures
• Empirical A-B
o Probably the larger number of
industrial relevant methods fall into
this category.
o Tend to be semi empirical, non-
iterative
• Empirical C
o Industry standards
o Apply to horizontal and inclined
pipes A higher level of physics
• Mechanistic enhances the accuracy but
o Computer based also increases the complexity.
o Not easy to interpret

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 4

Multi-Phase Flow
Outline
• Two phase gas-liquid flow
o Flow Regimes and Patterns
o Common Definitions
o Pressure Drop Calculations
o Non-Newtonian Flow, Erosional Velocity
• Two phase liquid-liquid flow
o Pressure Drop Calculations
o Annular Plug Flow

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 6

Gas-Liquid Flow Patterns
• Most of the two-phase studies with flow patterns are for flows which are • In the horizontal pipe flow, the liquid at the start of the pipe will start to
NOT in equilibrium, e.g. air and water do not change phase. vaporise if the pressure drops or the temperature rises. The flow
pattern inside the pipe will start to change:
• Flows which are in equilibrium could change phase. Thus, the pressure
drop may be more complex to work out. Such cases are: o As bubbles coalesce, they form plugs
o A drop in pressure for a liquid, could cause liquid to vaporise into gas o As plugs become larger, annular flow develops
o A drop in temperature could case gas to condense into liquid. o As more vapour is formed, then the remaining liquid becomes mist
o Eventually overall vapour remains.

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 7

Gas-Liquid Flow Patterns
For vertical phase changes, we have a similar pattern. The liquid at the start of the
pipe will start to vaporise if the pressure drops or the temperature rises. The flow
pattern inside the pipe will start to change:
• As bubbles coalesce, they form plugs
• As plugs become larger, annular flow develops
• As more vapour is formed, then the remaining liquid becomes mist
• Eventually overall vapour remains.

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 8

Gas-Liquid Flow Patterns
• The flow pattern map should be the starting point for analysis of
multiphase flow.
• This map simply takes in two parameters; usually related to the
flux of one phase over the other, and maps out boundaries to
where the flow pattern inside the vessel changes.
• In a horizontal pipe, we normally describe our two-phase flow in
one of six different ways.
• The transition between each of these flow patterns is not exact
and depends on the ability of the observer as to what they
decide the regime is.
• Another issue is that a complete flow map will need a good
range of vapor and liquid flowrates.

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 9

Gas-Liquid Flow Patterns
• Based on extensive experimental studies, there are “flow maps” • Note the use of the “flux” for the x and y axes, and the units which is simply
which allow us to suggest what the flow pattern will be: the flowrate per unit cross sectional area.
• Most flow maps are based on experiments using air and water, as much of
the theoretical and foundational work in multiphase flow originates from
studying air-water flow in pipelines.
• However, the underlying concepts and principles apply broadly to all two-
phase flow scenarios, with appropriate correction terms used to translate
gas-liquid systems into the air-water framework.
• Modified liquid mass flux is 𝐺l Ψ and modified gas mass flux is 𝐺g Τ𝜆.

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 10

Gas-Liquid Flow Patterns
• For vertical pipelines, the flow patterns are classed
similarly, but the structure (the shape and distribution)
will be different.
• Note that we will not have a “stratified flow”.

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 11

Gas-Liquid Flow Patterns
• Similarly, we have
the vertical pipe
flow map pattern:

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 12

Gas-Liquid Flow Definitions
1. Time Averaged Velocity: defines the velocity for each phase rather than a 4. Quality: vapour mass fraction, it is the ratio of mass of gas to total mass.
velocity of the mixture. Note the use of 𝑥 usually should not be confused with mole fraction.

Q Qg 𝐺𝑔
wl = l wg = 𝑥=
𝐺𝑙 + 𝐺𝑔
Al Ag
5. Void Fraction: it is the volume of gas per total volume which can be re-
written by using volumetric flow rate or using areas occupied by the
2. Superficial Velocity: the velocity based on the overall cross-sectional area phases, that’s in a length:
of the pipe.

Ql Qg Ag Dz Ag if 𝑆 = 1 Qg
ul = ug = a= = a=
Al + Ag Al + Ag Al Dz + Ag Dz Al + Ag Ql + Qg

3. Slip Velocity: the difference between one phase and the other. Usually,
Other combined equations are:
between the gas over the liquid.

𝑤g ul = wl (1- a ) S=
wg
=
(1- a ) u g

𝑆= wl a ul
𝑤l

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 13

Single Phase Assumption
Before analyzing two-phase flow, let's first examine homogeneous flow, • A mixture velocity, could be based on the following:
assuming we can treat it using mixture properties.
Qmix Gmix
We can use these homogeneous properties in our normal pressure drop umix = =
expressions, and they will give reasonable answers provided the fraction of A rmix A
the 2nd phase is small. • So, for Reynolds number:
• Two Phase Density:
rmixumixd rmixGmixd Gmixd Md
Remix = = = =
r2p = rl (1- a ) + rga mmix mmix rmix A mmix A mmix
Mass Flowrate 𝐺mix
𝑀= =
• Two Phase Viscosity: Cross Sectional Area 𝐴

m2p = ml (1- x) + mg x • Remember that single phase pressure drop is given by:
2
𝐿 𝜌mix 𝑢mix
Δ𝑃friction =𝑓
Note that these two are different from the mixture properties of a 𝐷 2
homogeneous fluid mixture. Also note the use of void fraction and quality. • where 𝑓 is the MOODY friction factor.

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 14

Example
• Using the homogenous flow pressure drop model, Blasius Correlation:
calculate the frictional and total pressure drop in a
horizontal tube of 10 mm internal diameter which is 2 0.316
𝑓=
m in length. Re0.25
• Assume the flow is adiabatic and that vapour and liquid
velocities are the same value.
• Mass flow rate is 0.02 kg/s, vapour quality is 0.05.
• At the pipeline conditions the liquid density is 1518
kg/m3, vapour density 2.6 kg/m3, liquid viscosity
0.0005856 kg/ms, vapour viscosity 0.0000126 kg/ms.
• Calculate the friction factor based on the Blasius
correlation.

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 15

Two Phase Flow Pressure Drop Calculation
• The basis for all non-homogeneous flow pressure drop calculations dates to 1949, when Lockhart & Martinelli
introduced their two-phase flow parameter.
• The basis of the method is to assume there is a factor that converts the liquid phase pressure drop and gas phase
pressure drop to the two-phase pressure drop.
2 phase from the liquid side 2 phase from the gas side
Note that “X” is NOT the quality number,
æ DPf ö æ
2 DPf
ö æ DPf ö æ
2 DPf
ö DPL
ç ÷ = fL ç ÷ ç ÷ = fV ç ÷ X=
DPG
it is defined as the ratio of the liquid to
è L ø2 p è L øL è L ø2 p è L øV gas pressure drop, if the liquid and gas
occupied the pipeline separately.

• The two “drag ratio” terms are 𝜙L , 𝜙g .

• Since the two must be the same, there must be a relationship between the two drag factors.

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 17

Two Phase Flow Drag Ratio (Method-1)
• For the drag term, Lockhart-Martinelli defined different • Best rule is to check the estimation from the equation that is
most appropriate or compare several expressions to give the
expressions depending if the flow was bubbly, slug, etc.:
maximum pressure drop, if that is what is wanted.
• For the definitions of laminar and turbulent are like those for
single phase transitions. Lockhart-Martinelli grouped their
definitions of laminar and turbulent flow as:

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 18

Two Phase Flow Drag Ratio (Method-2)
The drag ratio terms can come from several sources – some based
on types of flow, and the application for the pressure drop
calculation. The basic form was given by Chisholm, 1967:

C 1
fL = 1+ + 2
2
𝜙𝐺2 = 1 + 𝐶𝑋 + 𝑋 2
X X
The constant “C” can come from several sources; the Chisholm
ones are:
• C=5 for streamline/streamline flow of the gas/liquid
• C=10 for turbulent liquid/streamline gas flow
• C=12 for streamline liquid/turbulent gas flow
• C=20 for turbulent/turbulent liquid/gas flow

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 19

Two Phase Flow Pressure Drop

Solution is given in the notes but try the Saisorn and Wongwises method to
work out 𝐶. Assume the interfacial tension is 7 dynes/cm.

What does the solution tell you about two-phase flow calculations?

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 20

Gas-Liquid Flow Predictions
The list of current models built into HYSYS is Model Horizontal Vertical Liquid Flow
shown to the right. Features illustrate the Flow Flow Holdup Map
situations where each model can be applied. Aziz, Govier and Fogarasi No Yes Yes Yes
Baxendell & Thomas Use with care Yes No No
Issues with current models: Beggs & Brill (1973) Yes Yes Yes Yes
Beggs & Brill (1979) Yes Yes Yes Yes
• Assumes steady state flow – cannot deal
Duns & Ros No Yes Yes Yes
with transients unless specifically designed Gregory, Aziz, Mandhane Yes No Yes Yes
to handle this flow Hagedorn & Brown No Yes Yes No
• Inclination angles – handling bends HTFS Homogeneous Yes Yes No No
HTFS Liquid Slip Yes Yes Yes No
• Tested over a defined range of pipe OLGAS 2 Phase Yes Yes Yes Yes
diameters OLGAS 3 Phase Yes Yes Yes Yes
Orkisewski No Yes Yes Yes
• Flow type is stable, well defined Tulsa 99 No Yes Yes Yes
TUFFP Yes Yes Yes Yes

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 21

Chawla Method for Annular and Stratified Flow
• Chawla (1968) proposed two phase gas-liquid flow correlations based on the
idea that momentum is exchanged between the two phases. The
correlations work for annular and stratified flow since the theory was valid if
the gas velocity was larger than the liquid velocity.

é 1- x r ù
19/8
æ DP ö 0.3164G x 2 7/8

ç ÷ =
tp
ê1+ z gú
è DL øtp Re0.25
go
2D rg êë x rl úû

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 22

Beggs and Brill
• One of the major steps forward in practical two-phase flow pressure drop expressions followed from the
work by Beggs & Brill in 1973.
• See the paper by Teixeira et al 2015 for a good explanation of the method. Here we should a worked
example to explain each step.
• The best way to follow the Beggs and Brill method is to complete an example.
• For the example, we will calculate the two-phase pressure drop for 11.84 m3/hr water and 127.6 m3/hr of
air flowing in a 76.2mm diameter pipeline, 10m long. The end of the pipe is 1m above the start. We will
assume an average pressure of 200 bar and temperature 20°C along this pipeline and that the properties
and fraction of water and air do not change along the 10m length.

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 23

Beggs and Brill – Step 1
• Collect all properties from the problem, and physical
conditions at some mean pressure and temperature.
Note that if exit pressure affected the properties
significantly, (more than 10%) then you would have
to re-work the solution.

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 24

Beggs and Brill – Step 2
• Calculate liquid hold up assuming horizontal line

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 25

Beggs and Brill – Step 3
• Find the Froude number for the mixture (note the definition used)

• At this point, a decision is needed on what type of flow pattern we have

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 26

Beggs and Brill – Step 3
• Beggs and Brill defines 3 types of flow pattern:
• Segregated
• Intermittent
• Distributed
• Transitional – between
segregated & intermittent

For our example the flow type is Intermittent

0.01£ 0.085 < 0.4 and 3.587 < 96 £ 150
Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 27
Beggs and Brill – Step 4
• Liquid hold up will dictate where the major losses in friction are since the wetted
wall is more likely to lose energy than a gas filled wall. If the pipe is inclined, then
the friction loss may be higher.

C1l
C2

• We modify the horizontal pipe hold up as HL0 = L

C3
Fr

• If the flow is transitional, we work out how far we are from the segregated and
intermittent regimes.

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 28

Beggs and Brill – Step 4
• If the flow is transitional, we work out how far we are from the segregated
and intermittent regimes.
( ) ( )
HLCorrection = A HLSegregated + 1- A HLTransitional

L3 - Fr
A=
L3 - L2

• In our example, the flow is intermittent so the modified hold up expression

is

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 29

Beggs and Brill – Step 5
• We now correct the hold up for a non-horizontal pipe.
(
y c = (1- lL ) ln C4lLC LCv Fr C
5 6 7
)
• Where constants are:

• Then…
(
y = 1+ y c sin (1.8q ) - 0.333sin3 (1.8q ) )
Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 30
Beggs and Brill – Step 5
• Which gives
rL 1011
• Liquid velocity Lv = v sL 4
gs
= 7.772 4
9.81x72.96x0.001
= 4.422

• Constants are

• So the correction factor is

( ( )(
y c = (1- 0.085) ln 2.96 0.0850.305 4.422-0.4474 96.5370.0978 = 0.105)( ))
Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 31
Beggs and Brill – Step 5
• Which gives

( ( )( )( ))
y c = (1- 0.085) ln 2.96 0.0850.305 4.422-0.4474 96.5370.0978 = 0.105

• Hence
(
y = 1+ 0.105 sin (1.8q ) - 0.333sin3 (1.8q ) = 1.019 )
• So the corrected hold up is
HL = 1.019x0.209 = 0.213

• The slight incline has increased the liquid holdup by about 2%

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 32
Beggs and Brill – Step 6
• Friction factor uses mixture properties

rn = rL lL + (1- lL ) rV mn = mL lL + (1- lL ) mV
rnv md
Re =
mm

• For our example

• Density 88.02 kg/m3, viscosity 1.022x10-4 kg/ms
• Reynolds number is 5.6x105

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING Slide 33

Beggs and Brill – Step 6
• Two phase flow friction factor comes from
ftp = eSfn
( )
ln y
• Where S=
( ) ( ) ( )
2 4
-0.0523 + 3.182ln y - 0.8725ln y + 0.- 1853ln y

lL
• and y=
HL2

• If 1< y < 1.2 (

S = ln 2.2y - 1.2 )
Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING Slide 34
Beggs and Brill – Step 6
• Two phase flow friction factor comes from
ftp = eSfn

• For our example

• Y=1.88 so S=0.392
• Hence the corrected friction factor is 0.019

• Frictional pressure loss is 796 Pa/m

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING Slide 35

Two Phase Gas-Liquid Flow – Special Case 1
1. Non-Newtonian Fluid
Most two-phase flow pressure drops are HIGHER than the single-phase
pressure drops.

In SOME cases, it is BENEFICIAL to have a two-phase mixture especially for

cases in the oil and gas industry. Flow of Non-Newtonian fluid is a prime
example of where introduction of a second immiscible phase

For a power-law fluid

æ1 ö
k ( buL )
n
ç L÷
DPtwo phase èb ø
fL2 = = = bn-1
DPL single phase kuLn

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 36

Two Phase Gas-Liquid Flow – Special Case 2

Velocity Limits
You will remember the issue of cavitation-

• Flashing flow where

What is cavitation? liquid changes into
vapour due to pressure
loss. As pressure drops,
liquids vaporise.
• Slugging, flashing flow,
transient behaviour due
to terrain.

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 37

Two Phase Gas-Liquid Flow – Special Case 2
Velocity Limits
You will remember the issue of cavitation. With flows of gases and liquids in
pipelines, similar effects can occur where the gas bubbles can increase
erosion.

In two phase flow, we use a “momentum limit” to estimate the maximum

velocity:
rmixumix 2 <= 15000

The mixture density, and mixture velocity would be:

GL + GG 𝐺L + 𝐺G
rmix = , umix = uG + uL 𝜌mix =
𝐺L 𝐺G
GL GG 𝜌L + 𝜌G
+
rL rG

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 38

Two Phase Gas-Liquid Flow – Special Case 2
Velocity Limits
The Recommended Practice from the American Petroleum Institute
organisation, defines something similar.

API RP 14E
C
This states that the critical velocity is given by: uc =
rmix

Be very careful of the units, uc is in ft/s, density is lb/ft3.

The value of C depends on the type of pipeline

• For general use C = 150 to 200
• For solids as well, C=100
Which value do you need to use – will an average do?

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 39

Two Phase Gas-Liquid Flow – Special Case 2
Velocity Limits

What happens if you are designing the pipeline and need to give the process
engineering the pressure drop required. What value of C do you need?

• If you need to make sure the pump that will be used is specified correctly,
you would pick a value that gives the highest pressure drop.

• If you had to specify the pipe diameter, then you would pick a value of C
that would give the lowest velocity that you can tolerate – so that the
velocity will never exceed the possible maximum value to cause problems.

You need to do several calculations here to arrive at a proper answer.

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 40

Two Phase Gas-Liquid Flow – Special Case 2

Lets change this example, why not consider a 10 inch pipeline?

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 41

• Orkiszewski correlation
• Griffith correlation
• Griffith and Wallis correlation
• Duns and Ros correlation
• Duns and Ros modified by Ros correlation
• Hagedorn and Brown correlation
• Armand correlation

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 42

Overview
You now know some of the definitions and some of the empirical correlations for two phase flow in
pipelines. These equations are under constant revision and update.

But perhaps one of the major breakthroughs in practical two phase flow pressure drop expressions followed
from the work by Beggs & Brill in 1973. This was the first theory that looked at slight elevations in the
pipeline.

See the paper by Teixeira et al 2015 for a good explanation of the method. Here we should a worked example
to explain each step

Reference:
Teixeira, R G.D, A R Secchi, and E C Biscaia. “Two-phase Flow in Pipes: Numerical Improvements and
Qualitative Analysis for a Refining Process.” Oil & Gas Science & Technology (IFP Energies Nouvelles) 70
(2015).

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 43

Overview
Yet, this is one area that we don’t fully understand the details of the physics
involved.

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 44

Overview
The cross-plot is a good way to show overall similarity between measured and
predicted pressure losses.

These plots are from https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=jas.2014.3162.3171, a

work to look at pressure loss in a multiphase vertical well.

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 45

Overview
Any testing is usually laboratory based, using large flow loops.

2” flow loop system – University of Cranfield UK

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 46

Liquid-Liquid Flow
Dealing with Liquid-Liquid Flow is
similar to Liquid-Gas
• We have flow patterns depending
on the flowrate of the two liquids
• We have pressure drops that are
related to the pressure drop for
each phase if it were flowing in the
pipeline itself.

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 47

Liquid-Liquid Flow
• The flow patterns depend on
the volume fraction – the
volume of water to total, or it
could be expressed in terms
of oil fraction.
• And of course the mixture
velocity.

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 48

 Two Phase Liquid-Liquid
Key Dimensionless Groups
Since we are dealing with two liquid phases, we have dimensionless groups
that refer to either the oil or water phases.

1. Reynolds Number
r ouoD r wuwD
This you know about Reo = Re w =
mo mw

2. Capillary Number
This is used to measure the difference between the viscous forces to
interfacial forces.
mu m u
Cao = o o Ca w = w w
s ow s ow

Because we are dealing with interfaces between liquids, we have the

“interfacial tension” and not the “surface tension”

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 49

Two Phase Liquid-Liquid
Key Dimensionless Groups
Since we are dealing with two liquid phases, we have dimensionless groups
that refer to either the oil or water phases.

3. Weber Number
This is a ratio between inertial forces (momentum) and the interfacial forces.
rouo2D r wu2wD
Weo = We w =
s ow s ow

The Weber number is often used to predict the size distribution of oil droplets
in water, and of water droplets in oil when oil and water flow through
pipelines and valves in pipelines.

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 50

Two Phase Liquid-Liquid
Pressure Drops
A simple approach is to use a Lockhart Martinelli type of expression, where
we have a drag coefficient
æ DP ö 2 æ DP ö æ DP ö 2 æ DP ö
çè L ÷ø = fw çè L ÷ø çè L ÷ø = fo çè L ÷ø
ow w ow o

The drag terms are fw2 = C1 + C2 X2

C1
f =
2
o 2
+ C2
X
æ DP ö
çè L ÷ø
X =
2 o

The Lockhart Martinelli parameter X is defined as æ DP ö

çè L ÷ø
w

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 51

Two Phase Liquid-Liquid
Pressure Drops
A simple approach is to use a Lockhart Martinelli type of expression, where
we have a drag coefficient
æ DP ö 2 æ DP ö æ DP ö 2 æ DP ö
çè L ÷ø = f wç ÷ø çè L ÷ø = fo ç ÷ø
ow
è L w ow
è L o

The drag terms are fw2 = C1 + C2 X2

C1
f =
2
o 2
+ C2
X

Constants C1 and C2 depend on the pipeline – suggested values are in the

notes.

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 52

Calculation Procedure
4𝑄𝑖
• 𝑣𝑖 =
𝜋𝐷2
𝜌𝑣𝐷
• 𝑅𝑒𝑖 = 𝑖 𝑖
𝜇𝑖
• Turbulent flow: 0 = −𝜙𝑖−0.5 + 2.5 ln 𝑅𝑒𝑖 𝜙𝑖0.5 + 0.3
𝐿
• Δ𝑃𝑖 = 4𝜙𝑖 𝜌𝑖 𝑣𝑖2
𝑑
Δ𝑃𝑜
• 𝑋=
Δ𝑃𝑤

• 𝜙𝑤 = 𝐶1 + 𝐶2 𝑋 2
𝐶1
• 𝜙𝑜 = + 𝐶2
𝑋2

• Δ𝑃 = 𝜙𝑜2 Δ𝑃𝑜 = 𝜙𝑤
2 Δ𝑃
𝑤

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 53

Capillary Number
• Since we are dealing with two liquid phases, we have dimensionless groups
that refer to either the oil or water phases.
r ouoD r wuwD
Reo = Re w =
mo mw

• Capillary number is used to measure the difference between the viscous

forces to interfacial forces.
• Because we are dealing with interfaces between liquids, we have the
“interfacial tension” and not the “surface tension”
mouo mwuw
Cao = Ca w =
s ow s ow

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 54

Weber Number
• This is a ratio between inertial forces (momentum) and the interfacial
forces.
rouo2D r wu2wD
Weo = We w =
s ow s ow
• The Weber number is often used to predict the size distribution of oil
droplets in water, and of water droplets in oil when oil and water flow
through pipelines and valves in pipelines.

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 55

Pressure Drop
• A simple approach is to use a Lockhart Martinelli type of expression, where
we have a drag coefficient
æ DP ö 2 æ DP ö æ DP ö 2 æ DP ö
çè L ÷ø = f wç
= f
ow
è L ÷ø w çè L ÷ø
ow
o ç
è L ÷ø o

The drag terms are

C1
fw2 = C1 + C2 X2 f =2
o 2
+ C2
X

æ DP ö
çè L ÷ø
The Lockhart Martinelli parameter X is defined as X =
2 o
æ DP ö
çè L ÷ø
w

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 56

Pressure Drop
• Constants C1 and C2 depend on the pipeline

Fused Sillia Glass Quartz

Channel diameter (microns) 250 667 793
Oil Viscosity (mPa-S) 863 30.6 30.6
C1 60 ± 2 2.24 ± 0.7 2.44 ± 0.85
C2 1.28 ± 0.07 0.67 ± 0.15 0.71 ± 0.23

Apr-25 ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS AND MODELING 57