Agus Yodi Gunawan

An Investigation on Gas Lift Performance Curve in an Oil-Producing Well

The main objective in oil production system using gas lift technique is to obtain the optimum gas injection rate which yields the maximum oil production rate. Relationship between gas injection rate and oil production rate is described by a continuous gas lift performance curve (GLPC). Obtaining the optimum gas injection rate is important because excessive gas injection will reduce production rate, and also increase the operation cost. In this paper, we discuss a mathematical model for gas lift technique and the characteristics of the GLPC for a production well, for which one phase (liquid) is flowing in the reservoir, and two phases (liquid and gas) in the tubing. It is shown that in certain physical condition the GLPC exists and is unique. Numerical computations indicate unimodal properties of the GLPC. It is also constructed here a numerical scheme based on genetic algorithm to compute the optimum oil production.

Optimization of Gas Injection Allocation in a Dual Gas Lift Well System

1. Abstract Optimization problem for oil production in a multi gas lift wells system is discussed. The main problem is to identify allocation of gas injection for each well to obtain maximum total oil production. The gas injection rate is constrained by a maximum limit. Oil production rate is a nonlinear function of gas injection rate, which is unknown explicitly. In existing approaches, the nonlinear function is estimated from empirical or numerical simulation data, by curve fltting using regression method, or estimated by piecewise linear function. We developed here, a mathematical model for gas lift well system, where the ∞uid ∞ow in reservoir and pipes consists of liquid and gas, so the conditions represent two phase ∞ow phenomena. Relationship between gas injection and oil production is given implicitly from the model. We have also developed a computation scheme to solve the optimization problem. Considering complexity of the problem, computation scheme is developed based on genetic algorithms. Our results show quite good estimation for optimum solution. The approach also gives better quality prediction over existing approach, since all computation results come from the model, not from regression or interpolation. 2. Keywords: Gas Lift, Gas Lift Performance Curve, Constrained Optimization, Genetic Algorithm.

Metabolic regulation and maximal reaction optimization in the central metabolism of a yeast cell

Regulation of fluxes in a metabolic system aims to enhance the production rates of biotechnologically important compounds. Regulation is held via modification the cellular activities of a metabolic system. In this study, we present a metabolic analysis of ethanol fermentation process of a yeast cell in terms of continuous culture scheme. The metabolic regulation is based on the kinetic formulation in combination with metabolic control analysis to indicate the key enzymes which can be modified to enhance ethanol production. The model is used to calculate the intracellular fluxes in the central metabolism of the yeast cell. Optimal control is then applied to the kinetic model to find the optimal regulation for the fermentation system. The sensitivity results show that there are external and internal control parameters which are adjusted in enhancing ethanol production. As an external control parameter, glucose supply should be chosen in appropriate way such that the optimal ethanol production can be achieve...

Washout and non-washout solutions of a system describing microbial fermentation process under the influence of growth inhibitions and maximal concentration of yeast cells

An unstructured model for the growth of yeast cell on glucose due to growth inhibitions by substrate, products, and cell density is discussed. The proposed model describes the dynamical behavior of fermentation system that shows multiple steady states for a certain regime of operating parameters such as inlet glucose and dilution rate. Two types of steady state solutions are found, namely washout and non-washout solutions. Furthermore, different numerical impositions to the two parameters put in evidence three results regarding non-washout solution: a unique locally stable non-washout solution, a unique locally stable non-washout solution towards which other nearby solutions exhibit damped oscillations, and multiple non-washout solutions where one is locally stable while the other is unstable. It is also found an optimal inlet glucose which produces the highest cell and ethanol concentration.

A new strategy of glucose supply in a microbial fermentation model

Strategy of glucose supply to achieve an optimal productivity of ethanol production of a yeast cell is one of the main features in a microbial fermentation process. Beside a known continuous glucose supply, in this study we consider a new supply strategy so called the on-off supply. An optimal control theory is applied to the fermentation system to find the optimal rate of glucose supply and time of supply. The optimization problem is solved numerically using Differential Evolutionary algorithm. We find two alternative solutions that we can choose to get the similar result: either long period process with low supply or short period process with high glucose supply.

A new approach for modeling of the surfactant effect on a sessile oil drop motion

In this paper, we study the surfactant effect on the motion of an immersed sessile drop. We propose a new approach for the contact-line dynamic, involving forces acting on the drop motion such as the friction force from the wall and the mechanical force balance from the three-phase contact line. The drop shape formula is determined by the principle of minimization surface energy, subjected to mass conservation. Our numerical simulations show that the proposed model is in agreement with the experimental results which performs that surfactant alters the wettability of a surface to become more water-wet.

Solving a fuzzy initial value problem of a harmonic oscillator model

Modeling in systems biology is often faced with challenges in terms of measurement uncertainty. This is possibly either due to limitations of available data, environmental or demographic changes. One of typical behavior that commonly appears in the systems biology is a periodic behavior. Since uncertainties would get involved into the systems, the change of solution behavior of the periodic system should be taken into account. To get insight into this issue, in this work a simple mathematical model describing periodic behavior, i.e. a harmonic oscillator model, is considered by assuming its initial value has uncertainty in terms of fuzzy number. The system is known as Fuzzy Initial Value Problems. Some methods to determine the solutions are discussed. First, solutions are examined using two types of fuzzy differentials, namely Hukuhara Differential (HD) and Generalized Hukuhara Differential (GHD). Application of fuzzy arithmetic leads that each type of HD and GHD are formed into α-cut deterministic system...

Shape profile of an inhomogeneous sessile drop using the variational method

In this paper, we develop a solution for the shape of an axisymmetric inhomogeneous sessile-drop. We assume that the volume and the radius contact-line of the drop were known. In order to determine the shape of the drop, here we use the variational calculus approach to minimize the total energy. The present approach is proposed to obtain numerical solution efficiently. For the case of a homogenous sessile-drop, we compare our results to the well-known numerical solutions of the Young-Laplace equation and both results are quite in agreement.

Quantitative Analysis of the Relationship between Three Psychological Parameters Based on Swallowtail Catastrophe Model

A sudden jump in the value of the state variable in a certain dynamical system can be studied through a catastrophe model. This paper presents an application of catastrophe model to solve psychological problems. Since we will have three psychological aspects or parameters, intelligence (I), emotion (E), and adversity (A), a Swallowtail catastrophe model is considered to be an appropriate one. Our methodology consists of three steps: solving the Swallowtail potential function, finding the critical points up to and including threefold degenerates, and fitting the model into our measured data. Using a polynomial curve fitting derived from the potential function of Swallowtail catastrophe model, relations among three parameters combinations are analyzed. Results show that there are catastrophe phenomena for each relation, meaning that a small change in one psychological aspect may cause a dramatic change in another aspect.

Heat loss model for flow assurance in a deep water riser

The study is intended to investigate the heat loss phenomenon of oil flow in a riser. This heat loss happens due to the difference between the oil temperature in a riser and the surrounding sea water temperature. It causes the formation of wax that may disturb the flow. Heat loss can be reduced by setting up an insulator in a riser or by selecting appropriate pipeline specifications. It is necessary to determine the possible locations and specifications of insulator and pipeline. A mathematical model is formulated by considering the oil temperature and its flow velocity. Assuming that the density variation is small, the fluid behaves as an incompressible fluid. Furthermore, numerical solutions with finite difference methods are presented with some hypothetical data to give an overview of how the system works. Two surrounding conditions are taken into account, i.e. with and without sea current. From the simulation, the location of wax formation can be predicted. At a certain depth region of sea, where the sea current is present, a greater heat loss take place in which wax may be formed immediately. To overcome the formation of wax, we can control the parameters such as conductivity and wall thickness of pipe.The study is intended to investigate the heat loss phenomenon of oil flow in a riser. This heat loss happens due to the difference between the oil temperature in a riser and the surrounding sea water temperature. It causes the formation of wax that may disturb the flow. Heat loss can be reduced by setting up an insulator in a riser or by selecting appropriate pipeline specifications. It is necessary to determine the possible locations and specifications of insulator and pipeline. A mathematical model is formulated by considering the oil temperature and its flow velocity. Assuming that the density variation is small, the fluid behaves as an incompressible fluid. Furthermore, numerical solutions with finite difference methods are presented with some hypothetical data to give an overview of how the system works. Two surrounding conditions are taken into account, i.e. with and without sea current. From the simulation, the location of wax formation can be predicted. At a certain depth region of sea, where the ...