The study of the two-phase flow through the standing and traveling valves used in an oil artificial-lift pumping unit is presented. The investigation aimed to determine the effects thegaseous phase may cause on the pump volumetric efficiency. Data obtained on a specially designed test facility is presented and analyzed as a first step before developing a semi-empirical model to predict the performance of the pump under two-phase flow conditions. Preliminary results, based on one-phase and two-phase runs, demonstrate important features introduced on the pump performance once the gas-phase is included in the process
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