Effect of solid concentration on pressure drop characteristics in slurry pipeline using CFD

Abstract

In the present study, physical, chemical and rheological properties were studied and CFD tool ANSYS R15.0 Design Modeler (DM) for simulations to analyze the effect of solid concentration on pressure drop characteristics in slurry pipeline. The specific gravity, PSD, statics settled concentration and rheological properties were studied at different solid concentrations (by weight). The simulations were performed with different modeling schemes and standard SST k-ω turbulence model shows close agreement with the experimental results as compare to other modeling schemes. Simulations were performed for coal water slurry with solid concentrations 30-60% (by weight) and velocity ranges from 2-5?ms-1 in slurry pipeline. It was observed that at a specific flow velocity, increases pressure drop with the increase in concentration. Distribution Results of volume fraction shows that the lean concentration region and settling region reduces with the rise in flow velocity. It is found that viscosity, solid concentration has a significant influence on the pressure drop in the pipeline.