Simulation study on gas-liquid-solid multiphase flow characteristics and erosion mechanism in a natural gas bend--颗粒学报PARTICUOLOGY

Chen, H., Wang, S., Chen, Y., Jiang, X., Ding, N., Shao, B., & Wang, X. (2026). Simulation study on gas-liquid-solid multiphase flow characteristics and erosion mechanism in a natural gas bend. Particuology, 108, 143-155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.partic.2025.11.006

Simulation study on gas-liquid-solid multiphase flow characteristics and erosion mechanism in a natural gas bend

Hua Chen^a, Shuyan Wang^a *, Yansheng Chen^b, Xiaoxue Jiang^c, Nuo Ding^a, Baoli Shao ^a, Xuewen Wang^a

a State Key Laboratory of Continental Shale Oil, School of Petroleum Engineering, Northeast Petroleum University, Daqing, 163318, China
b The Fourth Oil Production Plant, Daqing Oilfield Co., LTD, Daqing, 163511, China
c School of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou, 213164, China

10.1016/j.partic.2025.11.006

Volume 108, January 2026, Pages 143-155

Received 5 June 2025, Revised 29 October 2025, Accepted 10 November 2025, Available online 24 November 2025, Version of Record 3 December 2025.

E-mail: wangshuyan@nepu.edu.cn

Highlights

• Volume of fluid (VOF) coupling with DPM is employed to simulate gas-liquid-solid flow in a vertical-horizontal elbow.

• Erosion behavior of multiphase flow in the elbow is predicted by means of Oka model.

• Existence of liquid film enhances the resistance of particles and curtails the erosion rate.

• Increments in gas velocity and the Stokes number prompt the particles to deviate from the fluid streamline.

Abstract

In the process of natural gas exploitation and transportation, the problem of pipeline erosion and wear due to gas-liquid-solid three-phase flow is widespread. The repetitive impact of sand particles against the pipe wall results in the weakening of the wall surface, and the consequences are perforation or even leakage, posing a significant risk to both production and the environment. In this study, the volume of fluid (VOF) multiphase flow model in conjunction with the discrete phase model (DPM) is employed to simulate the particle flow behavior of gas-liquid-solid multiphase flow in vertical-horizontal elbow. Furthermore, the erosion behavior of multiphase flow in the elbow is studied by means of the Oka model. The predicted void fraction of gas and erosion rate are in good agreement with the experimental results measured by Parsi et al. Furthermore, the influence laws of liquid film, gas velocity, particle size and particle mass flow rate on elbow erosion have been obtained. The findings indicate that the existence of liquid film enhances the resistance of particles, curtails the erosion rate, and exerts a buffering effect on erosion. The gas velocity and the Stokes number rise, prompting the particles to deviate from the fluid streamline and their collision velocity to augment. While the inertia force of the particles intensifies, and the buffering impact of the liquid film diminishes with an increase of the particle size. Also, the variation trend in the number of particles is in line with the probability of collision and the size of the collision region.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Gas-liquid-solid flow; Bend erosion; Liquid film buffering effect; Numerical simulation

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