Investigation of solid particle erosion damage at elbow considering particle interaction

Abstract

Liquid-sand mixtures containing high concentrations of particles can cause substantial erosion damage to elbows. Despite this, the collision of particle interactions on erosion behavior remains understudied. This research addresses the significance of these interactions. An erosion loop test was employed to quantify the particle erosion strength and the distribution of erosion at the elbow. The resulting damage patterns on the pipe surface were examined at various locations along the elbow. A numerical model based on the Dense Discrete Phase Model (DDPM), incorporating particle interactions, was developed and its results were compared with experimental data. The study compared this model to the traditional bidirectional coupling DPM method, revealing differences in fluid flow distribution, particle trajectories, and particle-wall collision characteristics. The erosion damage observed consisted of numerous slender scratches, some of which exhibited lips and material accumulation at the ends, suggesting micro-cutting and plowing as the dominant modes of material loss. The DDPM method, by accounting for particle interactions, provided a more complex understanding of fluid distribution, particle dynamics, and erosion behavior.