Measurement of phase fraction in oil-water two-phase flow using ultrasound attenuation method

Ultrasonic technology has potential application prospect in measurement of phase fraction in oil-water two-phase flow. An ultrasound attenuation method is discussed in the oil-water two-phase flow. Geometric simulation models of oil-water two-phase flow with different fractions are set up based on the finite element analysis method. Simulation results show that phase fraction and distribution jointly affect on the ultrasound attenuation coefficient. Test results give good agreement with the trend of the simulation results. The feasibility and effectiveness can be achieved to use the ultrasound attenuation testing method. This is a basic work for ultrasound attenuation method adopted to test the phase fraction of oil-water two-phase flow. A predicted model of phase fraction with different flow patterns can be effectively established combined with physically experimental data.