English abstract
Slurry transport is a widely used method for moving goods in various industries,
including oil and gas, chemicals, and minerals. However, transporting slurries through
pipeline systems poses significant risks to the integrity of the infrastructure due to
erosion on the pipe walls. This can lead to equipment failure, resource loss, substantial
economic impacts, and potential hazards to human safety and the environment. Despite
the importance of understanding slurry erosion, studies on slurry erosion in pipelines
with elbows connected in series are relatively limited, especially compared to gasbased erosion studies. Furthermore, existing research lacks detailed evaluation of the
ratio of maximum erosion in the second elbow compared to the first. Additionally, the
erosion models presented in the literature are often complex and difficult to apply for
quick, general erosion estimation. Therefore, this project sought to address these gaps
by studying slurry erosion in a pipeline with two 90-degree elbows connected in series,
transporting a water-sand slurry under varying operating conditions using CFD
simulations. The aim was to enhance and diversify the research in this field,
complement existing parametric studies by analysing the mathematical relationships
between erosion and its contributing factors, and specifically focus on the erosion ratio
between the second and first elbow. Regression models were also formulated for
prediction of general erosion in both elbows.
