Comparative Assessment of Turbulence Models for Prediction of Flow-Induced Corrosion Damages

Abstract

The present study makes a comparative assessment of different turbulence models in simulating the flow-assisted corrosion (FAC) process for pipes with noncircular cross sections and bends, features regularly encountered in heat exchangers and other pipeline networks. The case study investigates material damage due to corrosion caused by dissolved oxygen (O2) in a stainless steel pipe carrying an aqueous solution. A discrete solid phase is also present in the solution, but the transport of the solid particles is not explicitly modeled. It is assumed that the volume fraction of the solid phase is low, so it does not affect the continuous phase. Traditional two-equation models are compared, such as isotropic eddy viscosity, standard k-ε and k-ω models, shear stress transport (SST) k-ω models, and the anisotropic Reynolds Stress Model (RSM). Computed axial and radial velocities, and turbulent kinetic energy profiles predicted by the turbulence models are compared with available experimental data. Results show that all the turbulence models provide comparable results, though the RSM model provided better predictions in certain locations. The convective and diffusive motion of dissolved O2 is calculated by solving the species transport equations. The study assumes that solid particle impingement on the pipe wall will completely remove the protective film formed by corrosion products. It is also assumed that the rate of corrosion is controlled by diffusion of O2 through the mass transfer boundary layer. Based on these assumptions, corrosion rate is calculated at the internal pipe walls. Results indicate that the predicted O2 corrosion rate along the walls varies for different turbulence models but show the same general trend and pattern.