Research Progress and Prospects of Multi-Stage Centrifugal Pump Capability for Handling Gas–Liquid Multiphase Flow: Comparison and Empirical Model Validation

Abstract

The working capability of multi-stage pumps, such as electrical submersible pumps (ESPs) handling multiphase flow, has always been a big challenge for petroleum industries. The major problem is associated with the agglomeration of gas bubbles inside ESP-impellers, causing pump performance degradation ranging from mild to severe deterioration (surging/gas pockets). Previous literature showed that the two-phase performance of ESPs is greatly affected by gas involvement, rotational speed, bubble size, and fluid viscosity. Thus, it is necessary to understand which parameter is actually accountable for performance degradation and different flow patterns in ESP, and how it can be controlled. The present study is mainly focused on (1) the main parameters that impede two-phase performance of different ESPs; (2) comparison of existing empirical models (established for two-phase performance prediction and surging initiation) with our single-stage centrifugal pump results to determine their validity and working-range; (3) gas-handling techniques applied to enhance the multiphase performance of ESPs. Firstly, it aims at understanding the internal flow mechanism in different ESP designs, followed by test studies based on empirical models, visualization techniques, bubble-size measurements, and viscosity analysis. The CFD-based (computational fluid dynamics) numerical analysis concerning multiphase flow is described as well. Furthermore, gas-handling design methods are discussed that are helpful in developing the petroleum industry by enhancing the multiphase performance of ESPs.

Comparison of empirical models using experimental results of electrical submersible pump under two-phase flow: numerical and empirical model validation

“…According to Bagsi [17], the addition of these gas handlers and separators can handle up to 95% of entrained gas. Moreover, these gas handling techniques are categorized into three major groups and are summarised by the current authors in our previous study [18] together with their different types. In certain instances, regardless of several attempts of the researchers, the free gas does reach the pump in many ways.…”

Dynamic Coefficients of Tilting Pad Bearing by Perturbing the Turbulence Model

“…Tilting pad bearings have been widely applied in many kinds of rotating machines, such as gas turbines [1], compressors [2], and so on, due to their ability to improve stability [3]. Tilting pad bearings are also suitable for oil-free operations [4][5][6], so they have the potential for new fields such as electrical submersible pumps [7,8].…”

Numerical Study on the Cavitation Characteristics of Micro Automotive Electronic Pumps under Thermodynamic Effect

“…With the development of computer technology and computational fluid dynamics [ 13 , 14 , 15 ], numerical simulation has become an essential tool for studying cavitation problems. Deshpande et al [ 16 ] built on the Navier-Stokes equation with compressibility and pseudo-time-step progression by coupling the energy equation, and developed a thermodynamic model applicable to the cavitation of low-temperature fluids.…”