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Ntunde, D. I.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
The paper presents the research study of introducing CO2 gas in a three-phase downward flow in a vertical pipe to analyse the effect of the gas phase on the developed flow patterns as a result of the pressure drop due to pipe wall and the phase interfacial forces of the flow process. The volume of fluid VOF model analytical approach was utilized for the measured flow parameters of the captured flow patterns observed the experimental proceedings of a multiphase flow process performed within the range of the calculated superficial velocities of the gas phase between 0.452 to 32.868m/s, and the water and kerosene homogenous liquid phase between 0.008 to 13.0734m/s set at 20, 50, 70 and 90% water-cuts WCs. The result analysis of the VOF model showed that the rate of increase of the CO2 gas velocity was directly proportional to the radius of the gas area fraction, and inversely proportional to the WCs occupied in the test-section pipe. Also, the result revealed that the area fraction occupied by each phase significantly affect the development of certain flow pattern; where the Disperse flow pattern was developed at v_g≫v_l and the Bubble flow pattern at vl ≫ vg for all WCs. Further analysis on the total pressure drop revealed that the interfacial force among the phases increased from 0.12367N/m3 to 3.10977N/m3; while the pipe wall friction forces increased from 0.00067N/m3 to 0.11508N/m3. Hence, it can be deduced that the interfacial force among the phases significantly contributed to the calculated overall pressure drop and development of the flow patterns of the studied multiphase flow. These findings provide comprehensive understanding for the industrial transportation, carbon capture and underground sequestration of CO2 gas through a three-phase downward flow in pipe; to meet demands of emerging technologies.
Keywords: Three-phase, Area fraction, Volume of fluid, Water-cuts, Pressure drop
https://doi.org/10.33922/j.ujet_v12i1_7
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View: 5 | Download: 1
Published
Saturday, February 21, 2026
Issue
Vol. 12, No. 1, March 2026
Article Section
GENERAL
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