The flow of immiscible liquids in pipelines has been studied in this work in order to formulate
a one-dimensional model for the computer analysis of two-phase liquid-liquid flow in horizontal
pipes. The model simplifies the number of flow patterns commonly encountered in liquid-liquid
flow to stratified flow, fully dispersed flow and partial dispersion with the formation of one or
two different emulsions. The model is based on the solution of continuity equations for dispersed
and continuous phase; correlations available in the literature are used for the calculation of the
maximum and mean dispersed phase drop diameter, the emulsion viscosity, the phase inversion
point, the liquid-wall friction factors, liquid-liquid friction factors at interface and the slip
velocity between the phases. In absence of validated models for entrainment and deposition
in liquid-liquid flow, two entrainment rate correlations and two deposition models originally
developed for gas-liquid flow have been adapted to liquid-liquid flow. The model was applied
to the flow of oil and water; the predicted flow regimes have been presented as a function
of the input water fraction and mixture velocity and compared with experimental results,
showing an overall good agreement between calculation and experiments. Calculated values
of oil-in-water and water-in-oil dispersed fractions were compared against experimental data
for different oil and water superficial velocities, input water fractions and mixture velocities.
Pressure losses calculated in the full developed flow region of the pipe, a crucial quantity in
industrial applications, are reasonably close to measured values. Discrepancies and possible
improvements of the model are also discussed.
The model for two-phase flow was extended to three-phase liquid-liquid-gas flow within
the framework of the two-fluid model. The two liquid phases were treated as a unique liquid
phase with properly averaged properties. The model for three-phase flow thus developed was
implemented in an existing research code for the simulation of three-phase slug flow with the
formation of emulsions in the liquid phase and phase inversion phenomena. Comparisons with
experimental data are presented.