Design Parameters Investigation on Sand Transportation Characteristics of V-Inclined Pipe Based on Eulerian–Eulerian Two-Phase Flow Model

Abstract

During the operation of the water transportation pipelines in the upstream of the Yellow River, varying degrees of sand deposition often occur under a low flow rate. Taking into account the effect of different pipe inclinations, pipe diameters, and inlet sand content, the Eulerian–Eulerian two-phase model was applied in the numerical simulation of sediment-laden flow in a V-inclined pipe. The results indicate that there is a significant difference between a V-inclined pipe and horizontal pipe affected by gravity. Compared with the downward inclined pipe, sand deposition is evident in the upward inclined pipe. The high-velocity region moves upward and the asymmetry of the cross-sectional velocity increases. As the pipe diameter increases, the interaction between sand and the wall as well as the degree of turbulence decrease, so that the distribution of sand volume concentration across the cross section will be more uniform. Under different inlet sand content, the lowest point of the pipe experiences the most sand deposition, with sand volume concentration and velocity distribution across the cross-sections becoming uneven as inlet sand content increases. The location of the maximum liquid velocity varies from section to section. When the inlet sand content increases from 0.42% to 5%, the liquid velocity of the pipe cross-section no longer satisfies the rule of high velocity for middle and low velocity near the wall.