Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation of three-phase non-Newtonian slurry flows in industrial horizontal pipelines

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Sadeghi, Mohsen, Sontti, Somasekhara Goud, Zheng, Enzu, Zhang, Xuehua
Format: Preprint
Published: 2022
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author Sadeghi, Mohsen
Sontti, Somasekhara Goud
Zheng, Enzu
Zhang, Xuehua
author_facet Sadeghi, Mohsen
Sontti, Somasekhara Goud
Zheng, Enzu
Zhang, Xuehua
contents Understanding the flow behavior of complex concentrated slurries is of tremendous importance for industrial waste management. In this study, the transport of three-phase oil sands tailings in a horizontal pipeline is simulated via the mixture multiphase model coupled with the kinetic theory of granular flow. The solid particles and bitumen droplets are conveyed via a non-Newtonian carrier fluid in a turbulent regime inside an industrial-scale pipeline. The simulation results showed exceptional agreement with the field data, with errors of <3.5% for velocity distribution and <15% for the pressure drop. A systematic parametric investigation was performed for a wide range of flow conditions, showing that the majority of bitumen droplets reside at the top region of the pipe. Our findings may help design an effective process for the separation of bitumen residues during pipeline transport.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2209_00079
institution arXiv
publishDate 2022
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation of three-phase non-Newtonian slurry flows in industrial horizontal pipelines
Sadeghi, Mohsen
Sontti, Somasekhara Goud
Zheng, Enzu
Zhang, Xuehua
Fluid Dynamics
Understanding the flow behavior of complex concentrated slurries is of tremendous importance for industrial waste management. In this study, the transport of three-phase oil sands tailings in a horizontal pipeline is simulated via the mixture multiphase model coupled with the kinetic theory of granular flow. The solid particles and bitumen droplets are conveyed via a non-Newtonian carrier fluid in a turbulent regime inside an industrial-scale pipeline. The simulation results showed exceptional agreement with the field data, with errors of <3.5% for velocity distribution and <15% for the pressure drop. A systematic parametric investigation was performed for a wide range of flow conditions, showing that the majority of bitumen droplets reside at the top region of the pipe. Our findings may help design an effective process for the separation of bitumen residues during pipeline transport.
title Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation of three-phase non-Newtonian slurry flows in industrial horizontal pipelines
topic Fluid Dynamics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2209.00079