Numerical Prediction of Sand Erosion in Elbows

Abstract

In the present article, turbulent flow of crude oil and sand particles in piping system with a 90° elbow is analysed using computational fluid dynamics simulations. The flow of the crude oil is modelled as continuous fluid which is govern by the continuity and Reynold-averaged Navier–Stokes equations. The Discrete phase model is used for sand particle flow. The governing parameters considered in the present study are: the inlet velocity, spherical sand particle size and sand mass flow rate. The maximum erosion rate is found on the outer surface of the elbow where the sand and fluid impinging the surface before changing the flow direction. It is found that the erosion rate is increasing with the increase of the inlet velocity of the crude oil. The numerical results show that the large sand particles with constant sand flow rate causing less erosion rate than those of smaller diameter. The results show also that the increase of the sand mass flow rate leads to the increase of the erosion rate.