THE CHALLENGES OF ACCURATE INTERFACE MEASUREMENT

摘要

THE NEED FOR reliable interface measurement arises whenever immiscible liquids,those incapable of mixing,reside within the same vessel.The lighter medium rises to the top and the heavier settles at the bottom.In oil production,for example,water or steam is used to extract oil from a well.Well fluids then route to production separators where they settle into their primary constituents as a hydrocarbon over water interface.Interfaces can form between liquids and solids,liquid and foam,and liquid and gas;but the emphasis here will be concentrated on liquid/liquid interface.Immiscible liquids meet along an interface layer where they undergo some amount of emulsification.This emulsion or”rag”layer may form a narrow,distinct boundary,but more frequently it is a broader gradient of the mixed liquids.Generally,the thicker the emulsion layer,the greater the measurement challenge.