Modeling of liquid-solid flow erosion in curved pipes of gradually varying cross section

Abstract Liquid-solid flow erosion in curved pipes of gradually varying cross section is investigated. The model consists of three components integrated: Fluid Transport to describe the flowing fluid via Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes equations with standard k-ε turbulence model, Particle Transport to describe the trajectories of the solid particles using Discrete Particle Modeling (DPM) and Particle Erosion to describe the erosion rate using Oka erosion model. The model is validated against experimental data for erosion in curved pipe of constant cross section. This study focuses at the geometrical effect of curved pipes, i.e. converging, constant cross section and diverging, on erosion. Both maximum erosion and locations where it occurs are identified. Results show that curved converging pipes suffer from high erosion rate concentrated especially in the outer wall of the curved section. Curved diverging pipes on the other hand has much lower erosion of erosion rate at least one order of magnitude lower compared against that of diverging pipes and concentrated on the side wall of the curved section. This very different erosion behavior is highlighted in the study.