Numerical simulation of an over-expanded supersonic and subsonic industrial nozzle flow relevant to flaring system

Abstract

Flaring in oil and gas production is the controlled burning of unwanted exhaust gases to enhance safety. To improve flare combustion, gas flares are equipped with air nozzles that introduce extra oxygen and improve mixing in the combustion zone. These nozzles are operated in the subsonic, sonic, or supersonic regimes. In this paper, we are concerned with turbulence modeling of the jet flow exiting from a particular convergent–divergent nozzle used in flare systems. That nozzle has convergent and divergent sections that are connected via a throat section with a finite length and constant diameter. The Realizable k – ε and SST k – ω models are used to study the compressible flow within the nozzle. The velocity profiles, turbulent kinetic energy, Mach number profiles, and entrainment rate coefficients predicted by both turbulence models are compared for nozzle pressure ratios in the range 1.18 ≤ NPR ≤ 1.78. It is shown that both turbulence models predict nearly identical flow evolution along the nozzle. When the flow becomes supersonic, the shock surface, and consequently nozzle outlet velocity profiles, predicted by the SST k – ω model deviates slightly from the other model. The differences, however, become negligible a couple of diameters downstream of the nozzle outlet.