Numerical Prediction of Particle Distribution of Solid-Liquid Slurries in Straight Pipes and Bends

Turbulent solid-liquid slurry flows in pipes are encountered in many engineering fields, such as mining. In particular, the distribution of the solids is a serious concern to engineers, but its determination involves considerable technical and economic difficulties. A two-fluid model for the numerical prediction of this parameter is presented. The model is robust and numerically stable, and requires relatively low computer time to provide converged steady-state solution. The novelty of the proposed model and its better performance compared to similar ones resides in the method of accounting for some key physical mechanisms governing these flows, namely turbulent dispersion, interphase friction, and viscous and mechanical contributions to friction. The model is first validated by comparison with many experimental data available in literature regarding the horizontal pipe case over a wide range of operating conditions: delivered solid volume fraction between 9 and 40%; slurry velocity between 1 m/s and 5.5 m/s; and pipe diameter between 50 and 160 mm. A further comparison was performed with respect to recent experiments concerning a horizontal 90° bend.