Erosion prediction of liquid-particle two-phase flow in pipeline elbows via CFD–DEM coupling method

• The CFD–DEM-based erosion prediction model is presented.
• Prediction of maximum erosion rate and location is carried out in elbows.
• The maximum erosive locations are at or near the exit of the elbows.
• Effect of bend-angle of elbows is discussed.

A CFD–DEM-based liquid-particle two-phase flow erosion prediction model occurring over such pipeline connection as elbows, which takes the interaction of liquid–particle, particle–particle and particle–wall into account, is proposed in this study. The standard k − ε model is adopted for fluid turbulent flow, the standard wall functions for near-wall zone treatment, and the Hertz–Mindlin (no slip) model for particle–particle and particle–wall contact. Numerical simulations have been performed by combining CFD code ANSYS FLUENT with DEM code EDEM to predict the maximum erosion rate and location in 90°, 60° and 45° elbows with diameter 40 mm. The fluid is water with inlet velocity 3 m/s, and the particles are 150 μm in diameter and 2650 kg/m3 in density. While the maximum erosion rates of the three are found to be quite different, the maximum erosive locations have been indicated to be at or near the exit of the elbows. In addition, the effect of bend-angle on erosion, particle motion and flow field has been discussed.

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