Theoretical Research on Output Response Characteristics of Vertical Longitudinal Multipole Conductance Sensor by Discrete Phase Distribution

In oilfield development, vertical longitudinal multipole conductance sensors (VLMCS) have been widely used to measure the water holdup in the oil-water two-phase flow. When water is a continuous phase and oil is a discrete phase, the oil phase distribution has a great influence on the VLMCS output. In this paper, a 3D theoretical model of the VLMCS is established, and the output response characteristics are studied, considering an oil bubble behavior in the 3D model. The task is performed by establishing a spherical coordinate system and a cylindrical coordinate system with varying mesh sizes and axial and radial positions. At the same time, finite element analysis is used to study the VLMCS output response characteristics of multiple oil bubbles. The results reveal the effect of oil bubble size and position on the VLMCS output response characteristics, which is of great significance for the measurement of the oil-water two-phase flow parameters and optimization of the VLMCS design. The established model provides a theoretical basis for the engineering applications of the VLMCS.