CFD Modeling of Multi-Sized Particulate Slurry Flow through Pipe Bend

Abstract

Particle size normally varies over wide ranges in any commercial transportation of solids through the pipeline. In the present study, the three-dimensional numerical modeling of the conventional 90o bend transporting multi-sized particulate slurry using granular Eulerian-Eulerian model is performed. The mixture of water and six different sizes of zinc tailing particles ranging from 37.5 µm to 575 µm are considered. The effect of variation in velocity and concentration on pressure drop and flow field of the multi-sized particulate slurry is investigated. The simulations are performed in the velocity range of 2.25 m/s to 3.5 m/s for the weighted solid concentration range of 9.82 to 44.26%. The comparison of pressure drop data from the available experimental results and the present numerical modeling with multisized particulate slurry shows maximum deviation within ±6%. Further, the suspension behavior of different size particles in the multi-sized slurry flow inside the bend is analyzed with the variation in the flow velocity and solid concentration. The particles of different size in the multi-sized slurry showed different suspension characteristics.