This paper presents a method of determining the volume fractions of two liquid components in a two-phase flow by measuring the speed of sound through the composite fluid and the instantaneous temperature. Two separate algorithms are developed, based on earlier modeling work by Urick (Urick, 1947, “A Sound Velocity Method for Determining the Compressibility of Finely Divided Substances,” J. Appl. Phys., 18(11), pp. 983–987) and Kuster and Toksöz (Kuster and Toksöz, 1974, “Velocity and Attenuation of Seismic Waves in Two-Phase Media: Part 1. Theoretical Formulations,” Geophysics, 39(5), pp. 587–606). The main difference between these two models is the representation of the composite density as a function of the individual densities; the former uses a linear rule-of-mixtures approach, while the latter uses a nonlinear fractional formulation. Both approaches lead to a quadratic equation, the root of which yields the volume fraction () of one component, subject to the condition . We present results of a study with mixtures of crude oil and process water, and a comparison of our results with a Coriolis meter. The liquid densities and sound speeds are calibrated at various temperatures for each fluid component, and the coefficients are used in the final algorithm. Numerical studies of sensitivity of the calculated volume fraction to temperature changes are also presented.
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e-mail: cfo@lanl.gov
e-mail: sinha@lanl.gov
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October 2012
Multiphase Flows
An Algorithm for Determining Volume Fractions in Two-Phase Liquid Flows by Measuring Sound Speed
Anirban Chaudhuri,
Anirban Chaudhuri
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Sensors and Electrochemical Devices (MPA-11), Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545
e-mail: anirban@lanl.gov
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Curtis F. Osterhoudt,
Curtis F. Osterhoudt
Scientist
Sensors and Electrochemical Devices (MPA-11), Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545
e-mail: cfo@lanl.gov
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Dipen N. Sinha
Dipen N. Sinha
Scientist and Laboratory Fellow
Sensors and Electrochemical Devices (MPA-11), Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545
e-mail: sinha@lanl.gov
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Anirban Chaudhuri
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Sensors and Electrochemical Devices (MPA-11), Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545
e-mail: anirban@lanl.gov
Curtis F. Osterhoudt
Scientist
Sensors and Electrochemical Devices (MPA-11), Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545
e-mail: cfo@lanl.gov
Dipen N. Sinha
Scientist and Laboratory Fellow
Sensors and Electrochemical Devices (MPA-11), Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545
e-mail: sinha@lanl.gov
J. Fluids Eng. Oct 2012, 134(10): 101301 (7 pages)
Published Online: September 28, 2012
Article history
Received:
October 4, 2011
Revised:
July 19, 2012
Published:
September 24, 2012
Online:
September 28, 2012
Citation
Chaudhuri, A., Osterhoudt, C. F., and Sinha, D. N. (September 28, 2012). "An Algorithm for Determining Volume Fractions in Two-Phase Liquid Flows by Measuring Sound Speed." ASME. J. Fluids Eng. October 2012; 134(10): 101301. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4007265
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