Effect of drag reducing polymer on pressure gradients of dispersed oil-water flow in horizontal and inclined pipes

This experimental investigation was conducted in horizontal and inclined acrylic pipe of 30.6-mm ID. The pressure gradients were determined in the dispersed flow regions with flow conditions of 0.8 - 1.6 m/s mixture velocities and 0.05 - 0.9 input oil volume fractions. The investigation showed that the addition of the 40 ppm drag-reducing polymer substantially decreased the frictional pressure gradients with drag reductions at the upward inclinations higher than those at downward inclination. The upward inclinations also increased the drag reductions at water-continuous dispersed flow regions while the reverse was the case at downward inclination in the same flow regions.