Computational Study on Pressure Drop Inside Slurry Pipeline for Iron Ore Slurry Flow

Abstract

Background:: Utilizing highly concentrated slurry is recommended due to its ability to reduce both operational expenses and water use. In the previous studies, the pressure drop analysis on coal, sand, and coal ashes was investigated. However, there is a scarcity of research on the pressure drop properties of iron ore slurry, particularly when it comes to highly concentrated slurries. Aim:: This patent aims to replicate the iron ore flow in a hydro-slurry pipe, specifically focusing on predicting the features of pressure drop, distribution of volume fraction, and behaviour of solid particles. Objective:: This patent presents the CFD modelling of pressure drop characteristics of iron ore-water multiphase flow inside a hydro-slurry pipeline Results:: Results show that the augmentation in pressure drop is non-linearly correlated with both the granular concentration and the velocity. The size of the efflux concentration zone expands as the concentration rises, but this zone shrinks as the velocity increases. The variation in volume fraction at the lower periphery of the pipe decreases with an increase in velocity and increases with the size of particle and granular concentration. The turbulent intensity of the mixture was affected marginally with an increase in concentration but highly by velocity. The variation in granular size increased turbulence as large particles caused additional turbulence. The velocity profile recorded marginal variation in the pattern of solid phase flow with variations in granular concentration, granular size, and velocity. The change in velocity resulted in particle shifting. Methods:: A granular flow was represented using an Eulerian technique based on kinetic theory to depict multiphase phenomena. Simulations were carried out on a pipeline with a 50 mm diameter. The velocity ranged from 2 to 5 m/s, whereas the efflux concentration varied between 20% and 60%. An analysis was conducted on the impact of granular size at a greater concentration. The numerical code was validated using experimental findings, and it was determined that the RNG k-ε turbulent model exhibited satisfactory validation with the experimental data. Conclusion:: As per this patent, the RNG k-ε turbulent model is superior to the other multiphase models for ore-water flow analysis.