TAVARES, D. P. S. de A.; http://lattes.cnpq.br/2987641500506384; TAVARES, Daniela Passos Simões de Almeida.
Abstract:
Networks of pipelines are considered the best option for transport of fluids in the oil
industry to long distances which has encouraged the development of leak detection techniques
that are fast and accurate to inspect and detect quickly and accurately possible leaks over the
pipeline in order to minimize economic and environmental damage. The techniques of leak
detection available range from visual observation to mathematical modeling using
computational techniques. The present study evaluated the thermo-fluid dynamic of threephase
flow (oil-water-gas) with leakage. The equations of conservation of mass, momentum
and energy for each phase (oil-continuous phase and gas and water-dispersed phase) were
solved using ANSYS CFX®, using a representative structured mesh of the horizontal pipe
with a leakage orifice. The Eulerian-Eulerian model and the RNG k-8 turbulence model was
used. The physicochemical properties were considered constant. With the volume fraction and
temperature fields, and velocity and pressure profile was possible to evaluate the influence of
the leakage on the flow and on the development of pressure and pressure drop with time. The
results of numerical simulations showed an important role with respect the choice of boundary
conditions at the leak orifice (velocity or pressure prescribed). The use of the prescribed
pressure condition gave more consistent results compared to those available in the literature.