Session: 04-01-01 Leak Detection

Paper Number: 134107

134107 - Leak Orientation Effects on Flow-Induced Vibration in Horizontal Multiphase Pipelines 

Abstract: 

Multiphase flow is commonly found in horizontal and inclined pipeline systems and can result in strong pipe structure vibrations due to transient flow forcing. The flow-induced vibrations can be utilized to develop novel non-destructive structural health monitoring technologies, such as pipeline leak detection. Due to large component density differences in multiphase flow, the gas component tends to reside at the top of the pipe with the liquid component at the bottom. The azimuthal location of a leak can influence the composition of the leaked fluid, and this has an impact on the character of the vibration signature due to the leaked fluid and thus on monitoring performance.

In this paper, an experimental investigation of the effects of leak orientation on flow-induced vibration in horizontal multiphase pipelines is performed. Two-phase gas-liquid flow experiments are conducted in an air-suspended acrylic pipe section with an internal diameter of 2 inches. Two leak orientations are investigated, a leak at the top of the pipe and a leak at the bottom of the pipe. Vibration measurements are performed using a wall-mounted triaxial accelerometer positioned on the side opposite the leak location. High-speed video is used to simultaneously observe changes in the multiphase flow due to the leak presence. Flow measurements, including flow rate and pressure, are used to monitor for additional changes induced by the leak.

Vibrations induced by the multiphase flow are correlated with flow pattern. A total of four flow patterns including bubbly flow, plug flow, slug flow and stratified wavy flow are studied. The vibration signals are characterized by spectral and time-frequency analysis under the four flow patterns. The high-speed video results show that leak orientation affects the flow pattern, with the top leak being mostly gas and the bottom leak being mostly liquid in most cases. In addition, flow patterns are found to change the nature of the leak flow (multiphase or single phase). Accordingly, the vibration characteristics are influenced by both leak orientation and flow pattern. For instance, pronounced increases in vibration magnitude are obtained when the leak is at the bottom of the pipe for the stratified wavy flow pattern, while minor changes are induced for the leak at the top of the pipe.

Presenting Author: Haobin Chen University of Calgary

Presenting Author Biography: Haobin Chen, is a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pipeline Engineering Center, University of Calgary. He received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Calgary. His research areas include experimental and computational fluid dynamics, vibroacoustics, non-destructive testing and artificial intelligent-based engineering applications. His current research topics include pipeline integrity management for multiphase flow pipelines and hydrogen blended gas pipelines.

Authors:

Haobin Chen University of Calgary
Zhuoran Dang Canadian Nuclear Laboratories
Farzaneh Bayati Pipewise
Simon Park University of Calgary
Ron Hugo University of Calgary