ABSTRACT
Liquid jet pumps are widely used in various industrial applications for fluid mixing, circulation, and transport. The efficiency and performance of liquid jet pumps play a crucial role in determining their overall effectiveness and economic viability. The performance of liquid jet pumps is primarily affected by parameters such as motive fluid pressure, nozzle design, and entrainment ratio. Liquid jet pumps exhibit a notable drawback in terms of comparatively lower efficiency when compared to alternative pump types. The reduced overall efficiency of liquid jet pumps stems primarily from energy dissipation incurred during the entrainment process. To address this obstacle, a water-water loop system was implemented in conjunction with a liquid jet pump, followed by the introduction of drag-reducing polymers (DRPs) into the suction flow of the liquid jet pump using a specific configuration. This configuration led to a significant reduction in drag within the liquid jet pump, raising its efficiency in some cases from 13.8% to 26.7% with a drag reduction of 46%, subsequently improving its overall performance. The resulting enhancement was evaluated using various efficiency models documented in the existing literature to comprehensively assess the overall performance of the liquid jet pump. A new interpretation of jet pump efficiency has been shared, along with a comparison of the various efficiencies.
ABSTRACT
Matrix acidizing is a technique that is widely used in the petroleum industry to remove scales and create channels in the rock. Removal of scales and creation of channels (wormhole) enhance productivity. Conventional acidizing fluids, such as hydrochloric acid (HCl) for carbonate and a mixture of hydrofluoric acid (HF) and HCl acid, are used for the matrix acidizing process. However, these fluids have some drawbacks, including strong acid strength, corrosion at high temperatures, and quick reactions with scale and particles. Emulsified acid systems (EASs) are used to address these drawbacks. EASs can create deeper and narrower wormholes by reducing the reaction rate of the acid due to the external oil phase. However, EASs have a much higher viscosity compared to conventional acidizing fluids. The high viscosity of EASs leads to a high drag that restricts pumping rates and consumes energy. This study aims to utilize environmentally friendly and widely available nanomaterials as drag-reducing agents (DRAs) of the EAS. The nanomaterials used in this study are carbon nanodots (CNDs). CNDs have unique properties and are used in diverse applications in different industries. The size of these CNDs is usually smaller than 10 nm. CNDs are characterized by their biocompatibility and chemical stability. This study investigates the use of CNDs as DRAs for EAS. Several experiments have been conducted to investigate the CNDs as a DRA for the EAS. The developed EAS was initially tested for conductivity and drop-test analysis to ensure the formation of an inverted emulsion. Thereafter, the thermal stability for the range of temperatures and the rheological properties of the EAS were evaluated to meet the criteria of field operation. Then flow experiments with EASs were conducted before and after adding the CNDs to investigate the efficacy of drag reduction of EASs. The results revealed that CNDs can be used as viscosity reducers for the EAS, where adding the CNDs to the EAS reduces the viscosity at two different HCl concentrations (15 and 20%). It reduces the viscosity of the EAS in the presence of corrosion inhibitors as well as other additives to the EAS, showing its compatibility with the field formulation. The drag reduction was observed at the range of temperatures investigated in the study. The conductivity, stability, and rheology experiments for the sample taken after the flow experiment are consistent, ensuring CNDs work as a DRA. The developed EAS with CNDs is robust in terms of field mixing procedures and thermally stable. The CNDs can be used as a DRA with EAS, which will reduce drag in pipes, increasing pumping rates and saving energy.
ABSTRACT
This paper presents a comprehensive experimental investigation concerning the effect of drag reducing polymers (DRP) on enhancing the throughput and reducing the pressure drop for a horizontal pipe carrying two-phase flow of air and water mixture. Moreover, the ability of these polymer entanglements to damp turbulence waves and changing the flow regime has been tested at various conditions, and a clear observation showed that the maximum drag reduction always occurs when the highly fluctuated waves were reduced effectively by DRP (and that, accordingly, phase transition (flow regime changed) appeared. This may also help in improving the separation process and enhancing the separator performance. The present experimental set-up has been constructed using a test section of 1.016-cm ID; an acrylic tube section was used to enable visual observations of the flow patterns. A new injection technique has been utilized and, with the use of different injection rates of DRP, the results have shown that the reduction in pressure drop occurred in all flow configurations. Furthermore, different empirical correlations have been developed which improve the ability to predict the pressure drop after the addition of DRP. The correlations showed low discrepancy for a wide range of water and air flow rates.
