Linear stability analysis for severe slugging in air-water systems considering different mitigation mechanisms

This work presents a numerical study of the effects of mechanisms such as gas injection, choking and different boundary conditions on the stability of the stationary state for two-phase flows in vertical and catenary pipeline-riser systems. Numerical linear stability analysis is performed to a suitable mathematical model for the two-phase flows in a pipeline-riser system. The mathematical model considers the continuity equations for the liquid and gas phases and a simplified momentum equation for the mixture, neglecting inertia (NPW - no pressure wave model). A drift flux correlation, evaluated in local conditions, is utilized as a closure law. Gas injection and a choke valve are added, respectively, at the riser bottom and top. The extended model is applied to air-water pipeline-riser systems reported in the literature. Numerical linear stability analysis results are compared with experimental and numerical results reported in the literature with excellent agreement. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.