NUEM - Multiphase Flow Research Center

The Multiphase Flow Center – NUEM (Núcleo de Escoamento Multifásico – NUEM) is accredited by the ANP to develop R&D projects in the area of Oil & Gas Production and Exploration. NUEM has over 10 years’ experience in the development of researches oriented to the Oil & Gas sector. The NUEM is composed by the following labs: the Multiphase Flow Lab, the Hydrates in Flow Assurance Lab, the Instrumentation Lab, the Flow Visualisation Lab and the Computational Fluid Dynamics Lab. An excess of US$ 10,300,000 (ten millions and three hundred thousand US dollars) has been invested in the NUEM over the last 10 years. Those funds have supported the development of R&D activities, the capacitation of human resources and personnel and the creation of infrastructure. NUEM’s chief sponsors and partners are PETROBRAS, REPSOL/ SINOPEC, PRH/ANP, FINEP e CNPq. The large number of people involved in multidisciplinary activities comprehending the Departments of Chemistry, Electronics and Mechanics of the UTFPR is directly related to NUEM’s skills and excellence in R&D production. NUEM keeps close cooperation with both national and international institutions such as UNICAMP/Brazil, the Colorado School of Mines/USA, the University of Nottingham/UK, Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Saint-Étienne/France and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf/DE. Our R&D focus is: - Mathematical modelling of multiphase flows in risers and through pieces of underwater equipment (ESPs, gas-liquid separators, etc.); - Experimental characterisation of multiphase flows in risers and through pieces of underwater equipment; - Hydrates in flow assurance: modeling and experimentation; - Development of multiphase flow sensors and instrumentation; - Development of customised software. Our R&D laboratories infrastructure: - Multiphase Flow Lab - Hydrates in Flow Assurance Lab - Instrumentation Lab - Flow Visualisation Lab - Computational Fluid Dynamics Lab