SIMULTANEOUS MEASUREMENT OF MASS FLUX AND STEAM QUALITY IN GEOTHERMAL WELLS USING HOMOGENEOUS AND SEPARATED FLOW MODELS
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This paper discusses the simultaneous prediction of mass flux and steam quality from two measurements, critical flow lip pressure and pressure drop across an orifice. The James equation for predicting mass flux during two-phase critical flow of steam and water in geothermal wells from lip pressure and stagnation enthalpy data is used. For two-phase flow across an orifice, the separated flow model proposed by Chisholm is used, with modification to account for the upstream fluid momentum. These predictions are compared with the data gathered by James and with the predictions of the James orifice correlation. The study indicates that for low qualities (quality <40%), the modified separated flow model is as good as the James correlation in predicting the James data. However, the prediction accuracy of both the approaches are unacceptably low at higher steam quality. A sensitivity analysis is done which indicates that the inaccuracy in prediction arises from the coupled nature of the critical flow equation and the orifice correlation. rather than the reliabilitv of the individual correlations. 1991, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.
