CFD ANALYSIS OF EROSION MODELING IN PIPE BENDSOF CLOSED DRAIN SYSTEM USING ANSYS FLUENT

Solid particle erosion due to micromechanical process may lead to potential breakdown of upstream oil and gas producing wells. Erosion depends upon number of factors such as impact angle, flow geometry and particle size and shape can affect pipeline components and fittings, thus leading to costly maintenance routines, production downtime, loss of equipment, and potential environmental damage. Erosion can also be affected by fluid properties, flow conditions, and the material comprising the impact surface. In this work, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was developed to parametric factors that determine the extent and severity of erosion on pipe bends. New pipe geometry is modeled to reduce erosion and compared with existing design using Ansys Fluent. Observed that new design has significantly reduced erosion rate which enhance the life of pipe material.