Computational analysis of solid particle-erosion produced by bottom ash slurry in 90° elbow

Abstract

Present work is devoted to investigation of the slurry erosion wear in a 90° elbow by using commercial Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code FLUENT. Discrete phase erosion wear model was used to predict erosion in 90° elbow by solving the governing equations through Euler-Lagrange scheme. Particle tracking was considered by using standard k-ε turbulence scheme for the flow of bottom ash slurry. Erosion wear in elbow was investigated along with velocity distribution and turbulence intensity. The radius-to-diameter (r/D) ratio was taken as 1.5. Results show that erosion rate increases with increase in velocity. Present numerical simulation model holds close agreement with previous studies. Distorted patterns appeared at low velocities. The V-shape pattern appeared on the outer wall of elbow at high velocities. The low velocity region occurs around circumference of elbow wall at outer wall of elbow due to stimulation of the drag forces near the wall region.