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Updated: Sep 6, 2025
08:02
Reservoir Condition Pore-scale Imaging of Multiple Fluid Phases Using X-ray Microtomography
Published on: February 25, 2015
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Towards Tomography-Based Real-Time Control of Multiphase Flows: A Proof of Concept in Inline Fluid Separation
Matheus M Garcia1, Muhammad A Sattar2, Hanane Atmani3
1Department of Chemical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 24, 2022
Summary
Real-time tomography control significantly improves multiphase flow processes by directly managing phase distribution. This advanced method enhances system performance, outperforming traditional controllers reliant on indirect flow variables.
Area of Science:
- Process Control
- Fluid Dynamics
- Measurement Science
Background:
- Multiphase flow process performance hinges on internal phase distribution.
- Current controllers use indirect flow variables (e.g., pressure), limiting performance optimization.
- Advancements in tomography's temporal resolution enable real-time flow reconstruction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential and limitations of tomography-based real-time control for multiphase flow.
- To analyze the dynamics of gas-liquid multiphase flows within an inline swirl separator.
- To demonstrate improvements in process performance using tomography-guided control strategies.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a wire-mesh sensor (WMS) and high-speed camera to analyze flow dynamics.
- Implemented a proportional-integral (PI) feedback controller based on electrical resistance tomography (ERT).
- Conducted experiments in a gas-liquid inline swirl separator.
Main Results:
- Identified two components in multiphase flow dynamics: intrinsic and disturbance-driven.
- Demonstrated that intrinsic dynamics can be leveraged for predictive and feedforward control.
- Achieved a gas capture increase from 76% to 93% using the ERT-based controller.
Conclusions:
- Tomography-based real-time control offers substantial performance improvements over traditional methods.
- The study validates the effectiveness of ERT for controlling phase distribution and enhancing process outcomes.
- Findings support the extension of tomography-based control to quasi-1D multiphase flows.
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