MULTIPHASE FLOW METERING USING A PRESSURE DROP BASED METERING DEVICE

Abstract

A dual-pressure drop based flow measurement device (DPDE) was developed taking advantage of the compressibility of two-phase flow. By creating a pressure drop between two crimped pipe elements with restrictions, a variation in density and volumetric flow rate was created. This variation caused by flow expansion is used to predict mass flow rate and gas fraction of two-phase flow. An air-water-ethanol mixture was used, and the device was tested for gas fractions ranging from 0-85% with mass flow rates varying from 30-100 kg/h. The predicted mass flow rate and density are compared to results obtained from a Coriolis meter and gas/liquid feed rates to the system. Average errors of 5 kg/h and 100 kg/m3 were observed for mass flow rate and density, respectively.