MUltiphase Flow-induced Fluid-flexible structure InteractioN in Subsea applications (MUFFINS)
Lead Research Organisation:
Newcastle University
Abstract
The MUFFINS project assembles a multidisciplinary team from Newcastle University, Imperial College London, University of Glasgow, industrial partners including BP, Chevron, TOTAL and Forsys Subsea, who are members of the Transient Multiphase Flow and Flow Assurance Consortium, Wood Group, Xodus Group, Orcina and TNO in the Netherlands, and an academic partner, the National University of Singapore, to develop the next generation of pioneering technologies and cost-efficient tools for the safe, reliable and real-life designs of subsea systems (pipelines, risers, jumpers and manifolds) transporting multiphase hydrocarbon liquid-gas flows. This world-leading academia-industry collaboration will be the first of its kind to strengthen the UK international competitiveness in multiphase flow designs for offshore oil and gas applications.
The proposed framework will specifically address fundamental and practical challenges in areas of internal multiphase flow-induced vibration (MFIV), in combination with external flow vortex-induced vibration (VIV), whose fatigue damage effects due to complicated fluid-structure interaction mechanisms can be catastrophic and result in costly production downtime. From a practical viewpoint, liquid-gas slug flows induced by the pipe geometry, seabed topography or thermo-physic-hydrodynamic instability, are common and problematical. Such flows have a highly complex hydrodynamic nature as the different mechanical properties of the deformable and compressible phases cause spatial and temporal variability in the combination and interaction of the interfaces. Subsea layout architecture, operational lifetime and environmental conditions can all affect the flow-pipe interaction patterns. Nevertheless, reliable practical guidelines and systematic frameworks for the response, stress and fatigue assessment of subsea structures undergoing MFIV are lacking. Greater complexities and unknowns arise when designing these structures subject to combined MFIV-VIV. Through an integrated programme combining modelling, simulation and experiment, high-fidelity three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics will be performed and a hierarchy of innovative and cost-efficient reduced-order models will be developed to capture vital multiple MFIV and VIV effects, providing significant insights into detailed flow features and fluid-structure coupling phenomena. Validation, verification, uncertainty and reliability analyses will be carried out by comparing numerical results with experimental tests and industrial data to improve confidence in identifying the likelihood of fatigue failure and safety risks. Computationally-efficient tools and open-source codes will be advanced and utilised by industry and worldwide researchers. The project will minimise uncertainties in MFIV-VIV predictions associated with multi-scale multi-physics fluid-elastic solid interactions, ultimately delivering improved design optimisation and control of the most efficient multiphase flow features.
The UK oil and gas industry has been at the heart of the UK prosperity for five decades but has faced significant challenges recently. In October 2016, the UK Government founded the Oil & Gas Authority to safeguard collaboration, maximise resource recovery from the UK Continental Shelf, and maintain the UK competitiveness with future investments. In alignment with these strategies, the MUFFINS project will deliver the maximum benefits to and security of global oil and gas energy by means of cutting-edge technologies, cost-efficient tools and recommended guidelines to significantly improve the integrity, reliability and safety of subsea systems transporting multiphase flows. The project will upskill the next-generation engineers and scientists in the oil and gas sector. The technical know-how and deliverables will lead to a transformative improvement in structural designs and reduction of environmental impacts, operational and maintenance costs.
The proposed framework will specifically address fundamental and practical challenges in areas of internal multiphase flow-induced vibration (MFIV), in combination with external flow vortex-induced vibration (VIV), whose fatigue damage effects due to complicated fluid-structure interaction mechanisms can be catastrophic and result in costly production downtime. From a practical viewpoint, liquid-gas slug flows induced by the pipe geometry, seabed topography or thermo-physic-hydrodynamic instability, are common and problematical. Such flows have a highly complex hydrodynamic nature as the different mechanical properties of the deformable and compressible phases cause spatial and temporal variability in the combination and interaction of the interfaces. Subsea layout architecture, operational lifetime and environmental conditions can all affect the flow-pipe interaction patterns. Nevertheless, reliable practical guidelines and systematic frameworks for the response, stress and fatigue assessment of subsea structures undergoing MFIV are lacking. Greater complexities and unknowns arise when designing these structures subject to combined MFIV-VIV. Through an integrated programme combining modelling, simulation and experiment, high-fidelity three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics will be performed and a hierarchy of innovative and cost-efficient reduced-order models will be developed to capture vital multiple MFIV and VIV effects, providing significant insights into detailed flow features and fluid-structure coupling phenomena. Validation, verification, uncertainty and reliability analyses will be carried out by comparing numerical results with experimental tests and industrial data to improve confidence in identifying the likelihood of fatigue failure and safety risks. Computationally-efficient tools and open-source codes will be advanced and utilised by industry and worldwide researchers. The project will minimise uncertainties in MFIV-VIV predictions associated with multi-scale multi-physics fluid-elastic solid interactions, ultimately delivering improved design optimisation and control of the most efficient multiphase flow features.
The UK oil and gas industry has been at the heart of the UK prosperity for five decades but has faced significant challenges recently. In October 2016, the UK Government founded the Oil & Gas Authority to safeguard collaboration, maximise resource recovery from the UK Continental Shelf, and maintain the UK competitiveness with future investments. In alignment with these strategies, the MUFFINS project will deliver the maximum benefits to and security of global oil and gas energy by means of cutting-edge technologies, cost-efficient tools and recommended guidelines to significantly improve the integrity, reliability and safety of subsea systems transporting multiphase flows. The project will upskill the next-generation engineers and scientists in the oil and gas sector. The technical know-how and deliverables will lead to a transformative improvement in structural designs and reduction of environmental impacts, operational and maintenance costs.
Planned Impact
The impact of this research will be significant on a global scale. Numerous oil and gas fields are being identified, operated and developed across deep-water oceans, and in the 21st century, subsea tieback technologies connecting new fields to existing facilities through long-distance pipelines to extend the life of production infrastructure are also becoming increasingly viable, both technically and economically. These technologies pose technical difficulties associated with liquid-gas slug flow occurrences and potential multiphase flow-induced vibrations (MFIV). The UK Health and Safety Executive reported that up to 21% of the topside piping networks on oil and gas production platforms have been affected by internal flow-induced vibrations, making it the second largest cause of fatigue failure. For subsea systems, issues around multiphase flows have also recently come to light for subsea jumpers, pipelines and risers. This project will allow a better understanding of MFIV phenomena and their potential effects in addition to and in combination with other environmental factors.
Subsea and flow assurance engineers, consultants and operators who are involved in analysis, design, manufacture, decision-making and operation of subsea systems transporting multiphase flows will significantly benefit from our game-changing technologies which will enable them to perform a smarter, environmentally safer, more reliable and cost-efficient design. With anticipated flow rates, forces and pressure drops, accurate pipe sizing will be sufficient to transport the mixture and accommodate future production change as oil and gas fields mature. With realistic flow regime identification in an oscillating pipe, precise estimation of temperature/pressure variations at different locations will allow the prevention of hydrate and paraffin formations, enhance the flow assurance and help operators decide whether expensive insulations or chemical inhibitors are needed. With improved assessments of dynamic loads, structural engineers can elucidate MFIV-induced fatigue, enabling them to decide whether a time-consuming detailed analysis is required. Costs for developing a subsea separation technology presently expensive for implementation in deep waters could be significantly reduced with an enhanced understanding of multiphase flows and MFIV. Better prediction accuracy of transient flows will allow the improved designs of longer pipelines, hence reducing the amount of processing required offshore and increasing operational safety.
This project will produce upskilled UK-based experts in subsea, mechanical, civil and chemical engineering who will benefit from working with the interdisciplinary research teams. All researchers will receive training in mathematical modelling, numerical techniques, managing data, public engagement and knowledge exchange. In addition, they will engage in teaching activities including tutorials, software tool demonstrations and co-supervisions of theses. These opportunities will enable effective professional competencies towards future long-term employability aspects. New numerical-experimental results will serve as invaluable benchmarks for other modellers and code developers. The experimental setup will inspire other experimental campaigns, and multidisciplinary skills of staff and lab technicians will be enhanced. Private and public sector researchers will be able to carry out related proof-of-concept tests which will improve the project public visibility.
The involvement of industry will ensure that our objectives and commitments remain focused on aspects of practical importance, whilst still answering fundamental questions and discovering new multiphase fluid dynamic phenomena. The UK economic competitiveness stands to be enhanced through this collaborative project, with the potential to attract more international consultancy jobs and investment from other companies leading to new joint industrial projects.
Subsea and flow assurance engineers, consultants and operators who are involved in analysis, design, manufacture, decision-making and operation of subsea systems transporting multiphase flows will significantly benefit from our game-changing technologies which will enable them to perform a smarter, environmentally safer, more reliable and cost-efficient design. With anticipated flow rates, forces and pressure drops, accurate pipe sizing will be sufficient to transport the mixture and accommodate future production change as oil and gas fields mature. With realistic flow regime identification in an oscillating pipe, precise estimation of temperature/pressure variations at different locations will allow the prevention of hydrate and paraffin formations, enhance the flow assurance and help operators decide whether expensive insulations or chemical inhibitors are needed. With improved assessments of dynamic loads, structural engineers can elucidate MFIV-induced fatigue, enabling them to decide whether a time-consuming detailed analysis is required. Costs for developing a subsea separation technology presently expensive for implementation in deep waters could be significantly reduced with an enhanced understanding of multiphase flows and MFIV. Better prediction accuracy of transient flows will allow the improved designs of longer pipelines, hence reducing the amount of processing required offshore and increasing operational safety.
This project will produce upskilled UK-based experts in subsea, mechanical, civil and chemical engineering who will benefit from working with the interdisciplinary research teams. All researchers will receive training in mathematical modelling, numerical techniques, managing data, public engagement and knowledge exchange. In addition, they will engage in teaching activities including tutorials, software tool demonstrations and co-supervisions of theses. These opportunities will enable effective professional competencies towards future long-term employability aspects. New numerical-experimental results will serve as invaluable benchmarks for other modellers and code developers. The experimental setup will inspire other experimental campaigns, and multidisciplinary skills of staff and lab technicians will be enhanced. Private and public sector researchers will be able to carry out related proof-of-concept tests which will improve the project public visibility.
The involvement of industry will ensure that our objectives and commitments remain focused on aspects of practical importance, whilst still answering fundamental questions and discovering new multiphase fluid dynamic phenomena. The UK economic competitiveness stands to be enhanced through this collaborative project, with the potential to attract more international consultancy jobs and investment from other companies leading to new joint industrial projects.
Organisations
- Newcastle University (Lead Research Organisation)
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Collaboration)
- Southwest Petroleum University (Collaboration)
- Pusan National University (Collaboration)
- Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (Project Partner)
- Xodus Group UK (Project Partner)
- National University of Singapore (Project Partner)
- TMF Consortium (Project Partner)
- Orcina Ltd (Project Partner)
- Wood Group (Project Partner)
Publications

Cheng M
(2020)
Data-driven modelling of nonlinear spatio-temporal fluid flows using a deep convolutional generative adversarial network
in Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering

Cheng M
(2022)
Spatio-Temporal Hourly and Daily Ozone Forecasting in China Using a Hybrid Machine Learning Model: Autoencoder and Generative Adversarial Networks
in Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems

Cheng M
(2021)
A real-time flow forecasting with deep convolutional generative adversarial network: Application to flooding event in Denmark
in Physics of Fluids

Heaney C
(2022)
An AI-based non-intrusive reduced-order model for extended domains applied to multiphase flow in pipes
in Physics of Fluids

Ma B
(2021)
Experimental Measurement of Large-Amplitude Intermittent Vibrations of an Inclined Bendable Riser Transporting Unsteady Multiphase Flows
in Applied Ocean Research

Ma B
(2023)
Prediction model for multidirectional vortex-induced vibrations of catenary riser in convex/concave and perpendicular flows
in Journal of Fluids and Structures

Ma B
(2020)
Planar dynamics of inclined curved flexible riser carrying slug liquid-gas flows
in Journal of Fluids and Structures


Obeysekara A
(2021)
Prediction of multiphase flows with sharp interfaces using anisotropic mesh optimisation
in Advances in Engineering Software
Description | We have found that: 1. The coupled static-dynamic loading mechanism of the traveling liquid-gas slug flow is fundamental to the multiphase flow-induced vibration of a long flexible cylindrical structure (offshore pipeline/riser). This mechanism can be captured through our improved mechanical model accounting for some essential features (velocity, length, fluctuation frequency) of the slug flow. 2. The occurrence of complex multiple resonances due to slug flow fluctuations is found to be responsible for the structural vibrations with multiple modes which may switch in time and along the structural span. Such mode switching and transition features - which have been numerically discovered and experimentally confirmed - have improved our understanding of the likelihood of local fatigue-related issues in engineering analysis and design. 3. The effects of practical flow-structure parameters have been parametrically investigated, shedding some new light on the structural dynamic response features and a critical parametric range that could be avoided for a safe real-life design of subsea piping structures. 4. Mathematical models have been developed and advanced, accounting for the effects of empirical formulae and coefficients, and assisting the associated experimental setup for studying the multiphase flow-induced vibration, vortex-induced vibration, and fluid-flexible structure interaction of industrial relevance. 5. A new slug tracking model and analysis tool has been developed and improved, and simulation results capture the important effect of gas and liquid flow rates on the unsteady slug flow patterns and evolutions along a long pipe/riser with variable inclination. This observation is in qualitative agreement with small-scale experimental tests involving flexible pipe oscillations. |
Exploitation Route | Mathematical models have been improved and several parametric investigations have been carried out together with comparisons and validations with available experimental and alternative numerical studies. They have been presented and discussed through a series of steering committee meetings involving industry and academic partners. New simulations involving slug flow-induced vibrations and vortex-induced vibrations have been generated whose outputs can be used as new benchmarking datasets and for experimental comparisons. New open-source codes related to multiphase slugging gas-liquid flow in curved inclined pipes are available which can be further advanced, modified, and extended by other researchers and code developers in the future for a wide range of disciplines involving multiphase flows and flow-induced vibrations. It is hoped that the prediction models and codes resulting from the present project could be utilized by the industry for the preliminary screening analysis and cost-efficient design to optimize the flow-structural configurations for real-life subsea multiphase flow transportation operations. The project outcomes may contribute to the recommended practice such as the Guidelines for the Avoidance of Vibration-Induced Fatigue Failure in Subsea Systems. |
Sectors | Energy |
Description | Research from the MUFFINS project has been disseminated widely in the form of peer-reviewed publications including journal and conference articles, and several presentations at leading international conferences (OMAE, ICMF, APS DFD, IMECE), invited talks, and research seminars organized at the UK and overseas institutions as well as through an industrial Special Interest Group (SIG) on Multiphase Flow-Induced Vibration (https://mfivsig.com/). Organized by the MUFINS project's partners, this SIG is an internationally-recognized knowledge exchange platform creating multidisciplinary interactions among academics and industrialists from several international companies in the offshore subsea oil and gas energy sector to share their state-of-the-art research and know-how technologies particularly focusing on the multiphase flow transportation, flow-induced vibration, and flow assurance issues. The outcomes from the MUFFINS project, including the newly created Symposium session dedicated to the internal (single/multiphase) flow and flow-induced vibration in subsea applications at the annual OMAE conference, have raised awareness to the upstream oil and gas industry about the important effect of gas-liquid phase flow rates (or superficial velocities) and the associated energetic unsteady slug flow patterns that, once taking place, could amplify the flow-induced loading and momentum forces affecting the operational safety, integrity, maintenance, and overall cost. Regulating such multiphase flow rates in relation to the understanding of vibrational phenomena has therefore become an important issue for subsea piping design, measurement, and control. During the initial design phase, industrial attention has also recently been paid to the effects of structural material flexibility and geometric curvature/bend which could modify the multiphase fluid properties throughout the space-time varying domains of the very long transportation pipe/riser widely used in deepwater applications. Several industrially led, -funded or -supported experimental campaigns have recently been established to specifically investigate the multiphase flow-induced vibrations in flexible pipes/risers with different shapes. Datasets and software associated with the MUFFINS project, which are regularly updated and available through Newcastle University's data repository (https://data.ncl.ac.uk/), have been increasingly downloaded several thousand times, highlighting the global research interests and advancements in the fields of multiphase flow, vortex-induced vibration, flow-induced vibration, and fluid-structure interaction in subsea applications. The obtained knowledge, theories, and methodologies have further been linked or applied to other energy industry sectors (including marine renewable, offshore carbon transportation/injection, deep-sea mining, and biomimetic energy harvesting), leading to some new theoretical concepts, research project ideas, and industrial interactions/collaborations in the form of a new potential research grant proposal, MSc thesis co-supervised by industry, PhD research, and teaching (e.g., module: Introduction to Offshore, Subsea and Pipeline Engineering) part of the MTEC: Marine Technology Education Consortium (https://research.ncl.ac.uk/mtec/) involving three UK universities (Newcastle, UCL, Southampton) that offer classes to provide advanced technical knowledge and an understanding of business applications for engineers and industrialists working in the maritime and subsea industry. |
First Year Of Impact | 2022 |
Sector | Energy |
Impact Types | Economic |
Description | Enhanced knowledge for postgraduates through teaching & learning |
Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Impact | The important aspects and advanced research knowledge of flow assurance and multiphase flow-induced vibration have improved the understanding of international students with different disciplinary backgrounds and engineers working at different companies on the subsea pipeline/riser engineering design involving multiphase hydrocarbon oil and gas flow to realize the state-of-the-art theories, simulations, and experiments to identify potential effects and risks during the real-life operation for subsea multiphase transportations. These subjects have further attracted some MSc students to pursue in-depth research for their individual theses that involved multiphase flow applications in subsea oil and gas engineering. |
URL | https://research.ncl.ac.uk/mtec/ |
Description | CableDyn: Subsea Power Cable Dynamics Under Complex Ocean Environment |
Amount | £1,224,900 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/W015102/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2022 |
End | 02/2025 |
Description | TBC |
Amount | £70,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | 2595608 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2021 |
End | 03/2025 |
Description | The Royal Society International Exchange Award |
Amount | £11,865 (GBP) |
Funding ID | IEC/NSFC/181370 |
Organisation | Shanghai Jiao Tong University |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | China |
Start | 03/2019 |
End | 03/2022 |
Title | Datasets for Experimental Measurement of Large-Amplitude Intermittent Vibrations of an Inclined Bendable Riser Transporting Unsteady Multiphase Flows |
Description | These datasets are associated with numerical results plotted in Figures 2-14 & 16-20 in an article published in Applied Ocean Research, 2021, Vol. 113, 102731. Details of each figure can be found in README file. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | So far, this dataset has been downloaded over 1000 times. |
URL | https://data.ncl.ac.uk/articles/dataset/Datasets_for_Experimental_Measurement_of_Large-Amplitude_Int... |
Title | Datasets for Planar Dynamics of Inclined Curved Flexible Riser Carrying Slug Liquid-Gas Flows |
Description | These datasets are associated with numerical results plotted in Figures 2-23 in an article published in Journal of Fluids and Structures, 2020, Vol. 94, 102911. Details of each figure can be found in README file. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2020 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | So far, this dataset has been downloaded over 2270 times. |
URL | https://data.ncl.ac.uk/articles/Planar_dynamics_of_inclined_curved_flexible_riser_carrying_slug_liqu... |
Title | Datasets for Prediction of Unsteady Slug Flow in a Long Curved Inclined Riser with a Slug Tracking Model |
Description | These are datasets associated with the analysis prediction and comparison with experimental data for the unsteady slug flow in a long curved inclined riser with a slug tracking model. See also the associated open-source main code that can be obtained via https://doi.org/10.25405/data.ncl.22226383 |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2023 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | This dataset is associated with a new advanced prediction model that has recently been published in a journal, providing new benchmarking results for future comparison and reference. |
URL | https://data.ncl.ac.uk/articles/dataset/Datasets_for_Prediction_of_Unsteady_Slug_Flow_in_a_Long_Curv... |
Description | Pusan National University [Korea] |
Organisation | Pusan National University |
Country | Korea, Republic of |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | This is a new collaboration with the Department of Naval Architecture & Ocean Engineering at the Pusan National University (PNU) in Korea. We currently have a 1+1 MSc programme at Newcastle University (NCL) where MSc students from PNU will spend one year at NCL for learning and research. A PNU student has joined our group in 2018 to work on a research problem related to multiphase flow using the computational fluid dynamics method. After one year in Newcastle, our collaboration continues via email or videoconference, together with the associated supervision provided by a professor/supervisor at PNU. |
Collaborator Contribution | This partner provides high-performance computing resources for computational fluid dynamics research to massively reduce computational simulation time. A professor at PNU is also a co-supervisor for an MSc student who has been part of our group. |
Impact | A peer-reviewed paper entitled 'Three-dimensional numerical simulations of severe gas-liquid slugging flows in S-shaped riser' has been presented at the 38th International Conference on Ocean, Offshore & Arctic Engineering Conference (OMAE) in June 2019. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Shanghai Jiao Tong University [China] |
Organisation | Shanghai Jiao Tong University |
Country | China |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We focus on the research area of vortex-induced vibration which is a fundamental fluid-structure interaction phenomenon found in several engineering applications. Our team works on the mathematical modelling and physical experiment whose knowledge has contributed to the fundamental understanding of flow-induced vibration mechanisms and numerical prediction models covering a wide range of system fluid-structure parameters. |
Collaborator Contribution | Researchers at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University have long experience in the computational fluid dynamics methods which have been applied to solve several fundamental vortex-induced vibration problems. Their numerical simulation results have allowed us to better understand several fluid mechanics and fluid-structure interaction aspects such as vortex-shedding wake patterns which cannot be captured by a simplified numerical model or experiment. |
Impact | From this collaboration, we have recently submitted two articles for a peer-review for a journal publication. These include (1) Ding C, Srinil N, Bao Y, Zhou D, Han Z (2020) "Vortex-induced vibrations of two mechanically coupled circular cylinders with asymmetrical stiffness in side-by-side arrangements".; (2) Vijay K, Zhu H, Zhou D, Srinil N, Bao Y, Han Z (2020) "Flow-induced transverse vibration of an elliptical cylinder with different aspect ratios". Both publications are within the disciplines of fluid mechanics, fluid-structure interactions and software. |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Southwest Petroleum University [China] |
Organisation | Southwest Petroleum University |
Country | China |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | This is a new collaboration with the School of Petroleum & Natural Gas Engineering of the Southwest Petroleum University (SPU) in China. A professor at SPU has a strong track record in experimental studies involving flow-induced vibrations and fluid-structure interactions of flexible structures. He has obtained a Senior Visiting Scholarship from for the China Scholarship Council (CSC) to visit and work with our research team in Newcastle for 3 months in the summer of 2019. |
Collaborator Contribution | This partner has hosted one of our PhD researchers during March-April 2019 to perform a joint experimental study at SPU where facilities are available. Outcomes have contributed to the understanding of multiphase flow-induced vibration research. This partner has also contributed to a conference paper which has been presented at The 10th International Conference in Multiphase Flow in May 2019. It is hoped that there will be a future joint journal publication resulting from this collaboration. |
Impact | Our extended abstract entitled 'On slug flow-induced vibration in long bendable curved pipe' has been presented at the 10th International Conference on Multiphase Flow in May 2019. After the conference, we have recently submitted a paper "Zhu H, Gao Y, Srinil N, Bao Y (2020) Mode switching and standing-travelling waves in slug flow-induced vibration of catenary riser" for a peer-review for a journal publication. This collaborative work is multidisciplinary, involving the fields of engineering infrastructure, multiphase flow, fluid mechanics and software engineering. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Title | Source Code for Prediction of Unsteady Slug Flow in a Long Curved Inclined Riser with a Slug Tracking Model |
Description | This Matlab source code is used for tracking the evolution of unsteady slug flow in a long curved inclined riser with a catenary shape for subsea oil and gas applications. |
Type Of Technology | Software |
Year Produced | 2023 |
Open Source License? | Yes |
Impact | This code has contributed to one journal publication. |
URL | https://data.ncl.ac.uk/articles/software/Source_Code_for_Prediction_of_Unsteady_Slug_Flow_in_a_Long_... |
Title | Source Code for Steady-State Slug Flow Hydrodynamics |
Description | This Matlab code can be used for generating a steady state slug hydrodynamic profile for an inclined pipe transporting the multiphase liquid-gas flow, based on a slug unit cell concept. |
Type Of Technology | Software |
Year Produced | 2023 |
Open Source License? | Yes |
Impact | This code has contributed to one journal and two conference papers. |
URL | https://data.ncl.ac.uk/articles/software/Source_Code_for_Steady-State_Slug_Flow_Hydrodynamics/122006... |
Title | iSLUG - Identification of Steady Slug Flow Characteristics |
Description | iSLUG is an in-house numerical tool for predicting steady-state slug liquid-gas flows traveling through a pipeline/riser with variable inclination. This tool has been developed by the team at Newcastle University as part of the MUFFINS project funded by UKRI EPSRC.iSLUG is an executable file. User should verify that at least Version 9.5 (R2018b) of the MATLAB Runtime is installed. If not, user may run the file 'iSLUG_Installer_Web' for downloading online and installing the Windows version of the MATLAB runtime. During the installation, it is recommended to create a shortcut for running iSLUG. Any figure created by iSLUG will be saved in a folder where this shortcut is created and directly run. |
Type Of Technology | Software |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Open Source License? | Yes |
Impact | This GUI-based tool has been distributed to industrial partners for potential use and feedback. |
URL | https://data.ncl.ac.uk/articles/software/iSLUG_-_Identification_of_Steady_Slug_Flow_Characteristics/... |
Description | Annual Meeting of the American Physical Society Division of Fluid Dynamics [APS-DFD] |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Academics and postgraduate researchers attended the talk, leading to questions and discussion on overall research methodologies, key findings and future developments. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Consortium on Transient & Complex Multiphase Flows & Flow Assurance [TMF] |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | This meeting is organised twice a year (April, September), bringing together researchers/academics from UK universities and engineers from industry to share and discuss state-of-the-art research related to multiphase flows applicable to a wide range of industrial applications. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018,2019 |
Description | Industrial Special Interest Group in Multiphase Flow-Induced Vibration [iSIG-MFIV] |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | This Special Interest Group (SIG) involves members from industrial companies to share recent progress and development in multiphase flow-induced vibration research. Academics have been invited to share their related research overview, frameworks and outputs, leading to questions, discussion and feedback for further research improvement and advancement. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://mfivsig.com/ |
Description | Industry-Academia Steering Group Meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | This is a regular project steering committee meeting taking place twice a year and involving colleagues from industry and academia who are investigators and project partners. Several representatives from industry partners have attended the meetings (in person or online), leading do different subjects for questions and discussion, and increasing the international recognition of the project through their global networks. The project website has been increasingly and internationally visited worldwide. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018,2019 |
Description | International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering (OMAE) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | The PI has been invited as a Topic Organizer for a special conference Session titled 'Internal Flows & Flow-Induced Vibration (FIV)' as part of the world-renowned International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering (OMAE) organized by The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). I promote such research topics to my international network and wider audience to submit their contributions (talks/papers) to this annual event in offshore oil & gas and subsea engineering. I am therefore the editor of peer-reviewed papers and chair of this session during the conference. This session has attracted several participants and talks from Oil & Gas companies based in the UK, Europe, America, Asia, and the Mid East to share and discuss state-of-the-art technologies and recent challenges facing the industry in areas of multiphase flow and flow-induced vibration related to this EPSRC-funded MUFFINS project. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020,2021,2022 |
URL | https://asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/OMAE |
Description | International Nonlinear Dynamics Conference 2021 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Co-chair of two conference sessions in 'Fluid-Structure Interaction' and presentation by the research associate on 'Phenomenological multimode models for flexible pipelines transporting slug flows and undergoing vortex-induced vibrations' |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://nodycon.org/2021/ |
Description | International Virtual Workshop on Recent Advances in MultiphasE flow-induced vibratioN (RAMEN) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Our MUFFINS project team has organized an International Virtual Workshop on Recent Advances in MultiphasE flow-induced vibratioN (RAMEN) on 16-17 December 2020, with several talks from keynote speakers, MUFFINS researchers, industrial partners and external participants (UK, USA, Canada, France, Netherlands). RAMEN has brought together colleagues from the oil & gas industry and academia to gain a better understanding of the state-of-the-art knowledge, methodologies and technologies related to the modelling, simulation and experiment of MFIV in subsea infrastructures transporting hydrocarbon liquid-gas flows, to promote international collaboration between academia and industry through presentations and discussions, and to identify scientific challenges of industry importance to be addressed in the near future. We have received positive feedback from external participants, for example: "Impressive amount of work going on!"; "Thanks for organising. It has been interesting."; "It was a pleasure to participate in your workshop, I enjoyed the other presentations."; "Thank you once again for the invitation to this virtual conference. As announced I was not able to attend all talks, but I am happy I was able to follow some of them. The topics discussed here were very interesting and show that multiphase FIV is very much alive." |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.muffinsproject.org.uk/workshop/ |
Description | PhD Degree Examination |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Part of the Ph.D. examination committee for Dissertation entitled "Numerical Investigation of Two-phase Flow-Induced Vibration in Heat Exchanger and Piping Geometries" at the University of Ghent. Both PhD researcher and supervisor thereafter took part in and gave a talk in the EPSRC-funded workshop RAMEN. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | http://hdl.handle.net/1854/LU-8675992 |
Description | Webinar: Computational Modelling of Flow Induced Vibrations - Industry Practices |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | We have been invited to give a talk about our project for the multiphase flow research involving computational fluid dynamics methodologies alongside industrial partners and other companies from different countries with the offshore oil & gas business. This virtual webinar has been organized by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Computational Fluid Dynamics Study Group based in the USA. Our two researchers have given a 20-minute talk including questions and discussion. The associated presentation slides are available to worldwide SPE members, increasing awareness of our new multiphase flow research. We also interacted with other participants through other talks and speakers. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.spegcs.org/events/5989/ |