Slurry flow modelling by CFD

Abstract

An attempt has been made in the present study to develop generalized slurry flow model using CFD and utilize the model to predict concentration profile. The purpose of CFD model is to gain better insight into the solid liquid slurry flow in pipelines. Initially a three-dimensional model problem was developed to understand the influence of the particle drag coefficient on solid concentration profile. The preliminary simulations highlighted the need for the correct modelling of the inter phase drag force. The various drag correlations available in literature was incorporated in a two-fluid model (Euler-Euler) along with the standard k-? turbulence model with mixture properties to simulate the turbulent solid-liquid flow in a pipeline. The computational model was mapped on to a commercial CFD solver FLUENT6.2 (of Fluent Inc., USA). To push the envelope of applicability of simulation, the recent data of Kaushal (2005) (with solid concentration up to 50%) was selected to validate the three dimensional simulations. The experimental data consists of water-glass bead slurry at 125& 440 micron particle with different flow velocity (from 1 to 5 m/s) and overall concentration up to 10 to 50% by volume. The predicted pressure drop and concentration profile was validated by experimental data and shows excellent agreement. Interesting findings were come out from the parametric study of velocity and concentration profiles. The computational model and results discussed in this work would be useful for extending the applications of CFD models for simulating large slurry pipelines.

Improvements in the numerical prediction of fully-suspended slurry flow in horizontal pipes

“…These models interpret both phases as interpenetrating continua and solve for their average flow properties. The two-fluid model that we proposed in a previous work [6] showed comparable or better agreement with the experimental evidence than similar models [18][19][20][21], and it also overcame the main limitations inferred from inspection of these earlier papers, namely susceptibility to numerical instability and high computational cost. In particular, it was capable in predicting the pressure gradient data of different experimenters [7,22,23] within about ±20% of the measured values (Fig.…”

Modeling Internal Erosion Processes in Soil Pipes: Capturing Geometry Dynamics

“…[9]; and (vi) infiltration of water from the pipe into the surrounding media was neglected. Lahiri and Ghanta (2010) and Bello et al (2011) both conducted modeling studies to examine the transport of solid particles in oil pipeline systems, having an interest in either knowing how the transported particles affect the energy loss associated with the fluid flow or to examine the effect of solid collision with pipe boundaries on pipe corrosion. Both studies were not limited by assumptions (i) to (iv).…”

Eulerian-Eulerian Simulation of Particle-Liquid Slurry Flow in Horizontal Pipe

“…Many factors affect slurry flow behaviour in pipelines. These include particle size, velocity profile, frictional pressure loss, and concentration profile [1][2][3][4]. Past studies have suggested many empirical correlations to predict slurry flow behaviour; nonetheless, the capability of these correlations is limited to some data range and experimental setup.…”