Charge convected in highly turbulent flows. Experiments on tanker unloading

It is a known fact that very high potentials can be generated during the flow of dielectric liquids, especially for hydrocarbons and liquefied gas. For such liquids the flow is highly turbulent. In the first part of this study, the mechanism of charge formation is analysed by taking the effect of the eddy diffusivity into account. These are two-phase flows and the influence of the ratio liquid/gas on the charge generated is explored. The second part of the study is experimental. The electrical potentials generated during the various phases of the unloading of a tanker are measured. A potential of /spl sim/3 kV is observed inside the pipe at the beginning of the unloading process.<
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