Modelling of particle transport and bed-formation in pipelines

Abstract

Particle transport and bed formation in gas and condensate pipelines could occur under various flow regimes, from dilute flows to high mass-loading conditions, to conditions where particle beds form in the pipeline. Proper modelling requires a comprehensive approach that can handle all the different regimes. A range of complex phenomena have to be accounted for, including turbulence of the carrier phase, particle-turbulence and particle-wall interactions, surface roughness effects, particle-particle interactions, particle agglomeration, deposition, saltation and re-suspension. We present here recent results of TransAT’s particle transport predictions to conditions of one-way, two-way and four-way particle-flow coupling, spanning the three flow regimes evoked: (i) dilute suspensions, (ii) high mass-loading conditions, and (iii) particle beds in the pipeline.