Study of the Two-Phase Flow and Wear of a Pump with Mixed-Size Particles

Abstract

This paper used a combination of numerical simulations and experiments to study the hydraulic performance and the wear law of a centrifugal pump when conveying mixed particle sizes. The numerical simulation was based on the Discrete Phase Model (DPM). The model was used to complete the mutual coupling between the solid particles and the flow field as well as the calculation of wall wear. The results show that under the same mass concentration, the head and the efficiency of the centrifugal pump were significantly improved with an increase in the small particle composition. Compared with transporting single-sized large particles, the wear law of the mixed particle size on the flow parts changed greatly. The addition of a certain number of small-sized particles to large-sized particles aggravated the wear of the impeller, but when the small particles occupied a relatively high proportion, the wear area of the impeller was reduced even smaller than that for the transportation of single-sized large particles.

Mechanical Impurities Carry-Over from Horizontal Heavy Oil Production Well

“…In addition, mechanical impurities, in the Uchebny field is the most significant aggravating factor, accounting for approximately 72% of all failures (Figure 1). These failures include failures due to clogging in the passage area of the working elements of the submersible pump, erosion of production system [5], erosive wear of tubing strings, etc. The largest share in the structure of mechanical impurities entering the pumping unit at the field under study are products of rock destruction (54%) and process fluids pumped into the well (16%), which have not been sufficiently prepared and contain chemicals that complicate the cleaning process (leading to rapid destruction of filters).…”