Experimental Study on the Drag Reduction Performance of Sodium Alginate in Saline Solutions

Experimental Study on the Drag Reduction Performance of Sodium Alginate in Saline Solutions | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Experimental Study on the Drag Reduction Performance of Sodium Alginate in Saline Solutions Zhensong Cheng, Xin Zhang, Xiaodong Dai, Hengli Zhai, Xinwang Song, and 7 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-5240042/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 30 Dec, 2024 Read the published version in Scientific Reports → Version 1 posted 10 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Since the discovery of the turbulence drag reduction phenomenon over 70 years ago, it has been recognized that the addition of small quantities of drag-reducing agents to fluids can significantly decrease wall shear stress, thereby enhancing fluid pumpability. In many applications, the fluids often contain salts, such as those used in fracturing processes within the petroleum sector. The aim of this study is to experimentally investigate the effects of salinity, flow rate, and polymer concentration on the drag reduction performance of sodium alginate in circular pipes. The experimental process was designed using Response Surface Methodology (RSM), and a predictive regression model for the drag reduction rate ( DR ) was developed. By comparing the predicted results with the experimental outcomes, we found that the accuracy of the predictive model is high, with the error controlled within ± 20%. To provide a more intuitive understanding of the effect of salinity on the drag reduction performance of sodium alginate, this paper introduces the innovative concept of Drag Reduction Inhibition Rate ( ε ). The results indicate that the drag reduction rate in saline solutions is generally lower than that in salt-free solutions. However, during the initial stage of turbulence, a small amount of salt facilitates the unfolding of sodium alginate molecules, thereby enhancing the drag reduction effect. Following this initial turbulent phase, the inhibitory effect of salinity on the polymer becomes pronounced. We propose that high concentrations of salt may restrict the extent of polymer unfolding, resulting in concentrated solutions degrading into dilute solutions. Physical sciences/Engineering/Mechanical engineering Physical sciences/Physics/Fluid dynamics Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 30 Dec, 2024 Read the published version in Scientific Reports → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 18 Nov, 2024 Reviews received at journal 06 Nov, 2024 Reviews received at journal 05 Nov, 2024 Reviewers agreed at journal 05 Nov, 2024 Reviewers agreed at journal 05 Nov, 2024 Reviewers invited by journal 05 Nov, 2024 Editor assigned by journal 04 Nov, 2024 Editor invited by journal 30 Oct, 2024 Submission checks completed at journal 28 Oct, 2024 First submitted to journal 10 Oct, 2024 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-5240042","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":379610943,"identity":"f01b2bff-dc4e-4a71-9939-c7721c5b69c4","order_by":0,"name":"Zhensong Cheng","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA9UlEQVRIie3RsQqCQBjA8ZODWi5bT4x8BcUxoVe5Q8iloDdIE3TxAa6pV/ARjAYXH0CoQZfmoKWW6OqmCE7HhvvDLXI/zu8OAJXqDxtDLWoIek4BoKH4VHQQI41j+zopXEFID2JXZWIwr+D739v7EFDTxETLc7BP/aR53MFUr4l2W0uExmg8Q9VllVdt6mQEuEZNoMkkBGIanUYZXOWYH8d/jOY1GUAkIQNMQ3P0hIHFBNl0EoQOW4OhI/kMxQmxuwgeRvyS0cIRsyyws6va2JSR+XHY8qf0LCsNLs3d8yy99A83Gfma630qX1rYEwiiUqlUqt9e36dRu9l/ZH0AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"","institution":"Shandong Institute of Petroleum and Chemical Technology","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Zhensong","middleName":"","lastName":"Cheng","suffix":""},{"id":379610944,"identity":"2b82f45a-0a6b-45f6-994e-6dd7bcaa169d","order_by":1,"name":"Xin Zhang","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Shandong Institute of Petroleum and Chemical Technology","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Xin","middleName":"","lastName":"Zhang","suffix":""},{"id":379610945,"identity":"4563d6a1-75aa-45d7-b00e-16da5302cb3f","order_by":2,"name":"Xiaodong Dai","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Shandong Institute of Petroleum and Chemical Technology","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Xiaodong","middleName":"","lastName":"Dai","suffix":""},{"id":379610946,"identity":"84674a8a-bf74-4150-bb04-feead6301a65","order_by":3,"name":"Hengli Zhai","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Downhole Service of SINOPEC Shengli Oilfield Service Corporation","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Hengli","middleName":"","lastName":"Zhai","suffix":""},{"id":379610947,"identity":"ce0faad9-3dae-4982-afa0-344ada38fb97","order_by":4,"name":"Xinwang Song","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Shandong Institute of Petroleum and Chemical Technology","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Xinwang","middleName":"","lastName":"Song","suffix":""},{"id":379610948,"identity":"df68dd98-a047-4801-a6a4-4eaa10061991","order_by":5,"name":"Xudong Wang","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Shandong Institute of Petroleum and Chemical Technology","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Xudong","middleName":"","lastName":"Wang","suffix":""},{"id":379610949,"identity":"590be340-c0f5-4307-b4f5-d65fb57ac6cd","order_by":6,"name":"Liang Gao","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Shandong Institute of Petroleum and Chemical Technology","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Liang","middleName":"","lastName":"Gao","suffix":""},{"id":379610950,"identity":"af9d47e4-f925-466a-8f88-18f957af813c","order_by":7,"name":"Guoxin Zhang","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"CNOOC (Tianjin) Oilfield Chemical Co., Ltd","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Guoxin","middleName":"","lastName":"Zhang","suffix":""},{"id":379610951,"identity":"735d0cd7-a3f3-4a20-87ca-68c7b49cec6e","order_by":8,"name":"Yuan Lu","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"CNOOC (Tianjin) Oilfield Chemical Co., Ltd","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Yuan","middleName":"","lastName":"Lu","suffix":""},{"id":379610952,"identity":"1958a2bb-43d4-4fd3-9ab9-b3e0cb6f26c2","order_by":9,"name":"Lei Li","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Shandong Institute of Petroleum and Chemical Technology","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Lei","middleName":"","lastName":"Li","suffix":""},{"id":379610953,"identity":"26140dd1-9fd9-401c-acb9-76814e9333da","order_by":10,"name":"Xiu Yan","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Sinopec Jianghan Petroleum Engineering Co., Ltd. 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In many applications, the fluids often contain salts, such as those used in fracturing processes within the petroleum sector. The aim of this study is to experimentally investigate the effects of salinity, flow rate, and polymer concentration on the drag reduction performance of sodium alginate in circular pipes. The experimental process was designed using Response Surface Methodology (RSM), and a predictive regression model for the drag reduction rate (\u003cem\u003eDR\u003c/em\u003e) was developed. By comparing the predicted results with the experimental outcomes, we found that the accuracy of the predictive model is high, with the error controlled within \u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;20%.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTo provide a more intuitive understanding of the effect of salinity on the drag reduction performance of sodium alginate, this paper introduces the innovative concept of Drag Reduction Inhibition Rate (\u003cem\u003eε\u003c/em\u003e). The results indicate that the drag reduction rate in saline solutions is generally lower than that in salt-free solutions. However, during the initial stage of turbulence, a small amount of salt facilitates the unfolding of sodium alginate molecules, thereby enhancing the drag reduction effect. Following this initial turbulent phase, the inhibitory effect of salinity on the polymer becomes pronounced. 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