A Seminar Presentation on

Slug Flow Through Horizontal

Pipes
by

Namita Sabnis
C22017551654
Supervisor

Prof. Parag Chaware

Department of Mechanical Engineering,

MKSSS’s Cummins College of Engineering for Women, Pune
 Introduction

• Simultaneous flow of gas and liquid in a pipe

leads to the formation of different flow regimes
like stratified, wavy, plug .etc.
• The formation of such flow patterns depends on
the liquid as well as the gas flow rate.

Fig.1 Transition from stratified flow to slug flow

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 Introduction…

• Slug is the most critical flow of all. It is characterized

by an intermittent flow of liquid slugs followed by
large gas bubbles.
• Slugs are generated from small waves on the gas-
liquid interface, which gradually grow to bridge the
pipe.
• These slugs may contain a dispersion of small
bubbles which are entrained at the slug head and
discharged as the liquid is shed at the tail end.
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 Importance of Analysis of
Slug Flow
• Slug flow is a very complex and inherently unsteady
flow.
• Since the slugs flow at high velocity, large amount of
dynamic fluid forces are exerted upon the pipe wall,
as the slugs flow through bends and tees in the
pipelines which would severely affect the pipe.
• Due to the intermittent nature of slug flow, there is a
high pressure drop along the pipeline which increases
the chances of damaging the pipe.
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 Importance of Analysis of
Slug Flow…
• If the slug frequency of the flow matches with the
fundamental frequency of the pipeline, resonance
may occur, leading to excessive vibrations and
eventually pipe failure.
• Thus slugging can lead to problems in the operations
as well as the design of the pipelines.
• It’s analysis is hence, of utmost importance to
industries dealing with two-phase flows through
pipelines.
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 Importance of Analysis of
Slug Flow…
• The analysis, is especially, of critical importance
to the oil and gas industries as these companies
operate in harsh and remote environments.
• During design of the pipelines, it is important to
consider the flow surges and the extreme
pressure variations caused due to slugging, for
the piping system to be operated safely.

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