Numerical and experimental research on the erosion of solid-liquid two-phase flow in transport butterfly valve based on DEM method

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the mechanism of particle erosion in butterfly valve pipelines under hydraulic transportation conditions. The results will affect the sealing and safety of butterfly valve pipelines and hopefully serve as reference for the anti-erosion design of butterfly valve pipelines. Design/methodology/approach Through the discrete element method (DEM) simulation that considers the force between particles, the detached eddy simulation (DES) turbulence model based on realizable k-epsilon is used to simulate the solid-liquid two-phase flow-induced erosion condition when the butterfly valve is fully opened. The simulation is verified by building an experimental system correctness. The solid-liquid two-phase flow characteristics, particle distribution and erosion characteristics of the butterfly valve pipeline under transportation conditions are studied. Findings The addition of particles may enhance the high-speed area behind the valve. It first increases and then decreases with increasing particle size. With increasing particle size, the low-velocity particles change from being uniformly distributed in flow channel to first gathering in the front of the valve and, then, to gathering in lower part of it. Fluid stagnation at the left arc-shaped flange leads to the appearance of two high-speed belts in the channel. With increasing fluid velocity, high-speed belts gradually cover the entire valve surface by focusing on the upper and lower ends, resulting in the overall aggravation of erosion. Originality/value Considering the complexity of solid-liquid two-phase flow, this is the first time that the DEM method with added inter-particle forces and the DES turbulence model based on realizable k-epsilon has been used to study the flow characteristics and erosion mechanism of butterfly valves under fully open transportation conditions.

A mathematical model for erosive abrasive wear analysis by using abrasive size and material hardness

“…(2015) and Aquaro (2010) set up test to change abrasive velocity in erosion-abrasion wear. Xu et al. (2021) changed the opening of a butterfly valve to analyze erosion behavior and two-phase flow characteristics.…”

“…Patil et al (2011) focused on the effect of impact angle, Desale et al (2006) and Lynn et al (1991) observed the effect of abrasive size, Dasgupta et al (1998) and Singh et al (2013) studied the effect of sand concentration in detail, Levy (1995) took the effect of particle shape into account, Biswas et al (2014) and Franek et al (2009) concentrated on abrasive impact energy, Sundararajan and Roy (1997) aimed to investigate the effect of slurry temperature and Okonkwo et al (2015) and Aquaro (2010) set up test to change abrasive velocity in erosionabrasion wear. Xu et al (2021) changed the opening of a butterfly valve to analyze erosion behavior and two-phase flow characteristics. Abdelrhman et al (2018) boronized AISI 5117 steel and studied its erosion characteristics at different impact angles.…”