Comparative CFD modelling of pressure differential flow meters for measuring two-phase geothermal fluid flow

Abstract

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models solved using ANSYS Fluent to simulate the two-phase geothermal fluid flows in production pipelines using six types of flow meters: concentric orifice, top eccentric orifice, bottom eccentric orifice, segmental orifice, Nozzle and Venturi tubes. The CFD models were then developed to predict fluid flow behaviour, including net pressure drop, velocity, turbulent kinetic energy, mass flow rate, temperature, enthalpy and entropy. The results are useful for selecting the appropriate pressure differential flow meter to measure the output of geothermal wells and their total power potential, which is of most importance to the geothermal industry.