Abstract
Heavy oil and water dispersed flows in a 0.0254 m, 0.0381 m, 0.0508 m ID horizontal pipelines (Pipeline length = 2.5 m) were investigated experimentally and numerically (at steady state) without and with additives by varying the temperature from 25 °C to 50 °C by considering power law (i.e., for emulsion) rheological behavior. The development of boundary layer, pressure drop, velocity profile, boundary layer thickness, and wall shear were discussed in these numerical investigations without and with water, ML (i.e., a natural extract from Madhuca Longifolia), and PS (i.e., potato starch) via pipeline transportation of heavy oil. The pressure drops in the numerical simulations were compared with the available experimental results and found in qualitative agreement (i.e., max error ±7%). The pressure drop from the inlet to the outlet was decreased with an upsurge in the concentration of bio-additives in the aqueous phase of the heavy oil emulsion and temperature. The development of the boundary layer was significantly varied after adding water and bio-additives to the heavy oil. The ratio of boundary layer thickness and pipe length is reduced by increasing the additive's temperature and concentration in the heavy oil-water flows. Furthermore, the reduction in wall shear occurred after efficiently adding water and bio-additives to the heavy oil during transportation. The comparative studies also carried out between the influence of additives on the hydrodynamic parameter. The bio-additives (ML and PS) in the aqueous phase improve the hydrodynamics of heavy oil flow in the pipeline. Natural extract ML improves the hydrodynamics of heavy oil flow through the pipeline than potato starch. The application of numerical investigations can significantly enhance understanding the hydrodynamics of the heavy oil/emulsion's transportation via pipelines with greater accuracy for complex pipeline configurations.
•Experimental and numerical investigations of heavy oil flow in horizontal pipelines.•Bio-additives ML and PS were used to improve hydrodynamics of heavy oil flow.•Comparison of ML and PS were investigated via experimental and numerical studies.•Energy analysis were performed for heavy oil transportation in pipelines.