MUltiphase Flow-induced Fluid-flexible structure InteractioN in Subsea applications (MUFFINS)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Glasgow
Department Name: College of Science and Engineering
Abstract
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Organisations
Publications
Elliott A
(2022)
Gas-Liquid Flow Regime Variation along a Pipeline Riser
Elliott, A.J.
(2020)
Towards a coupled fluid-structure model for slug flow in a flexible riser
Osundare O
(2020)
Liquid-Liquid Flow Pattern Prediction Using Relevant Dimensionless Parameter Groups
in Energies
| Description | The initial phase of this project focused on the design of an experimental setup for investigating multiphase flow-induced vibrations in flexible risers, along with the computational modelling required to ensure this is done safely. This included a number of strategies for quickly predicting structural responses from fluid dynamics, an area of research that continues to be pursued. This was complemented with a more direct approach to couple the two fields in a single model, with the consistent development of slug flow in fluid dynamics models and the establishment of a structural framework in which these can be applied. A full design of the full experimental setup was completed, including the configuration and materials of the test section itself, as well as a comprehensive data acquisition plan encompassing strain gauges, accelerometers, and high-speed cameras. Due to the complexity and scale of the structure, this represented a significant achievement and an important step towards generating detailed experimental data from a large-scale rig. Increasing pressure from atmospheric to 7.5 bar gauge pressure causes a ten-fold increase in the density of nitrogen, which therefore increases the mass flow rate similarly for a set superficial velocity. This causes established slug flow superficial velocities at atmospheric pressure to migrate into other flow regimes at elevated pressure. A matrix of superficial liquid and gas velocities was used to locate values at which slug flow could be observed at elevated pressure. Thus, providing required test points of for the large-scale experimental tests. Small-scale experiments were carried out in house at the University of Glasgow. This served multiple functions. Firstly, to calibrate the instrumentation prior to use on the large-scale experiment. Secondly, to permit validation of the computational fluid dynamics and associated coupled FIV models. Finally, to enable risk minimization in terms of instrumentation and measurement techniques to be employed in the large scale experiment. Following collaborative discussions with TUV NEL, an agreement for the purchase of goods and services was signed in 2021 to perform the large-scale experiments at the new Advanced Multiphase Flow facility. After the considerable impact of COVID-19, the large-scale experimental campaign was successfully carried out in spring 2022. The results showed that under single phase flow conditions (100% gas), the flexible riser does not move significantly. However, when multiphase slug flow travelled through the flexible riser, significant pipe movements were observed. The experimental data shows that the flexible riser moved, predominantly in the plane of the pipe, however some out of plane motion is observed under high flow rate conditions. The passage of slugs from the riser to the upper viewing section caused either an obfuscation of the slug behind smaller bubbles or a true churn flow. This ambiguity suggests the topic of future work and extensive examination of the high-speed camera images to see if a definite conclusion can be reached. Of additional interest, the transition of a slug through the vertical viewing section repeatedly induced a reversed flow phenomenon in the liquid phase. |
| Exploitation Route | The systematic approach to characterising slug flow in fluid dynamics models and using the latter to inform the experimental design of large-scale test facilities will be particularly relevant to commercial labs, manufacturing companies and the energy sector at large. The large-scale experimental tests generated a novel database that can inform design and safe operation of real-life riser systems. |
| Sectors | Energy,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
| Description | The design and scope of the experimental work undertaken as part of this project has attracted significant interest from the industrial partners of the project. In particular, follow up discussions with numerous industrial contacts were arranged since presentation of the initial steps at group meetings. This interest highlights the importance of the results in the validation of computational models for predicting slug flow and resultant vibrations in real-world oil and gas extraction applications. Safe use of traditional fuels has a vital role to play in the ongoing transition to carbon-neutral energy production and ensuring energy security across society. Considerable efforts were made to present the initial findings of this project to technical audiences, so that the ideas explored continue to contribute wider efforts to ensure safe and sustainable oil and gas extraction during the ongoing energy transition. In particular, the efforts to couple fluid and structural dynamics represent important steps in predicting complex behaviour, as was presented at the 3rd Euro-Mediterranean Conference on Structural Dynamics and Vibroacoustics in February 2020. This international conference was used to promote and share the work of the group, as well obtaining feedback from a vibration-focused audience. Furthermore, a second conference paper was submitted to the International Symposium on Modal Analysis, in Leuven, Belgium in September 2020. In 2020, the Recent Advances in Multiphase flow-induced vibration (RAMEN) took place, attended by academic and industry professionals via Zoom meeting. Originally the workshop was intended to be attended by delegates in a physical meeting, but due to Covid19 safety concerns, the workshop was moved online. Two presentations were given, one on "Experimental Validations for Multiphase Flow in Flexible Risers: Design Considerations for Multiple Stakeholders" and a second entitled, "CFD Simulations of Multiphase Flow in a Flexible Riser and Considering Fluid-Structure Interaction". Both presentations generated questions and discussion around their respective central topics for the academic and industry expert attendees with considerable interest on future results that the MUFFINS project will generate, because of direct applicability to the energy industries. Still in 2020, we were invited to present our findings to the Multi-phase Flow Induced Vibration Special Interest Group (MFIV SIG), which brings together 14 leading energy companies (https://mfivsig.com/about-us/). A presentation was given on the challenges and the solutions taken in the development of an experimental framework for the investigation of multiphase flow-induced vibrations in a flexible riser with particular interest in the slug flow regime. Structural analysis based on finite element models and CFD models are used to explore the occurrence of liquid slugs in the internal multiphase flow and assess its effect on the dynamics of the system. The interaction between the fluid and the structure and potential resonant phenomena in the system are investigated: these have profound implications on the design of both the experimental rig and the acquisition system. Preliminary results together with a roadmap for the safe and efficient undertaking of similar experimental tests were presented. Questions and discussion on both computational and experimental topics ensued with interest expressed from international industry representatives. In addition, there was discussion of potential future collaboration on the topic sparked by enhanced interest generated by the presentation. As an outcome of this presentation, UofG is now regularly invited to the SIG meetings, to help frame engineering solutions for the represented companies. Our paper on "Gas-liquid flow regime variation along a pipeline riser" was accepted for presentation at the 6th International Conference on Multiphase Flow and Heat Transfer (ICMFHT'2021); due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ICMFHT'2021 was cancelled and the presentation of the paper was moved to the 7th International Conference on Multiphase Flow and Heat Transfer (ICMFHT'22) which was held virtually in April 2022. In July 2022, an open-access video of our state-of-the-art experimental set up was co-produced by TUV NEL and the University of Glasgow, highlighting the unique way in which academia and professional flow testing facilities can cooperate towards R&D advances. The overall findings of the experimental work undertaken as part of this project were presented at the IMAC conference in February 2023, with significant engagement of the audience and discussions on potential follow-up work. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2020 |
| Sector | Energy |
| Impact Types | Economic |
| Description | Vacation Internship 2021 |
| Amount | £2,640 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2021 |
| End | 09/2021 |
| Title | Flow Induced Vibration in A Flexible Riser - measurements |
| Description | The data is that captured by instrumentation on the flexible riser. Data from the three accelerometers is provided in csv format. Data from the eight strain gauges, four at the entrance and four at the exit of the riser are also provided in csv format. The raw voltages input to the DAQ system is also provided in csv format. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Dataset underpins the paper (in progress) titled, "Flow Induced Vibration in A Flexible Riser" |
| Description | Experimental Slug Flow Induced Fluid Structure Interaction of a Pressurized Flexible Pipe |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation of experimental work on multiphase flow induced vibration at the Society for Experimental Mechanics (SEM) IMAC XLI international conference in Austin, Texas. This resulted in great interest, questions and discussion from the audience and international contacts with industry specialists in the USA. Requests were made for follow up information and contact with Industry professionals. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://sem.org/imac |
| Description | Experimental validations for multiphase flow in flexible risers |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Invited presentation to the special interest group of academic and Industry professional of Flow Induced Vibration Special Interest Group (FIV SIG) on the experimental results produced during MUFFINS. FIV SIG involves specialists in the field from the UK and across the EU. The presentation garnered a great deal of interest, questions and discussion. Industry contacts were made and requests for further information recieved. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://mfivsig.com/web-meeting-9th-september-2022/ |
| Description | Gas-Liquid Flow Regime Variation along a Pipeline Riser |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation given at the 7th International Conference on Multiphase Flow and Heat Transfer (ICMFHT'22) to an international audience of Academics, PDRA's and Postgraduate students. The talk disseminated learnings from computational fluid dynamics modelling of two-phase (nitrogen/water) flow at 10 bar gauge pressure through a pipe with a quarter ellipse shape. The talk sparked questions regarding the phenomena observed and interest in future reporting of experimental results. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://lisbon2022.icmfht.com/ |
| Description | Multi-phase Flow Induced Vibration Special Interest Group (MFIV SIG) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Presentation of the challenges and the solutions taken in the development of an experimental framework for the investigation of multiphase flow-induced vibrations in a flexible riser with particular interest in the slug flow regime. Structural analysis based on finite element models and CFD models are used to explore the occurrence of liquid slugs in the internal multiphase flow and assess its effect on the dynamics of the system. The interaction between the fluid and the structure and potential resonant phenomena in the system are investigated: these have profound implications on the design of both the experimental rig and the acquisition system. Preliminary results together with a roadmap for the safe and efficient undertaking of similar experimental tests were presented. Questions and discussion on both computational and experimental topics ensued with interest expressed from international industry representatives. In addition, there was discussion of potential future collaboration on the topic sparked by enhanced interest generated by the presentation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://mfivsig.com/web-meeting-4th-september-2020/ |
| Description | Recent Advances in Multiphase flow-induced vibration (RAMEN) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | 30 Academic and Industry professionals attended the workshop on multiphase flow induced vibration via Zoom meeting. Originally the workshop was intended to be attended by delegates in a physical meeting, but due to Covid19 safety concerns, the workshop was moved online. Two presentations were given, one on "Experimental Validations for Multiphase Flow in Flexible Risers: Design Considerations for Multiple Stakeholders" and a second entitled, "CFD Simulations of Multiphase Flow in a Flexible Riser and Considering Fluid-Structure Interaction". Both presentations generated questions and discussion around their respective central topics for the academic and industry expert attendees with considerable interest on future results that the MUFFINS project will generate. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.muffinsproject.org.uk/workshop/ |
| Description | TUV SUD video on MUFFINS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | A video was produced by the TUV SUD facility in which the experimental work on the MUFFINS project took place. The video was targeted at Industry and Academic professionals, highlighting multiphase flow capabilities of the facility, successful industry/academic interaction, and the MUFFINS project in general. Brief interviews with the work package lead, Prof. Gioia Falcone and research associate Dr Graeme Hunt regarding the MUFFINS project and joint Industry/Academic collaboration took place in the video. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juHEvAdwBxA&list=PLq5YS1ru1EzxlUQS1yY4Fa_4fPqB-aOUE&index=18 |