CFD investigation of the effect of solid particles on the power consumption of a 20-inch centrifugal pump for the transportation of petroleum products

Abstract

One of the main challenges in oil transmission lines and petroleum products is fluid impurities especially suspended solids. Suspended solid particles, most of which are caused by corrosion of pipe walls and equipment, have many adverse effects on the life and performance of transmission systems. One of the components most affected by solid particles is the pumps. These devices are the beating heart of oil transmission lines. Their performance has a direct impact on the performance of transmission lines. Therefore, the effect of diameter and weight percentage of solid particles on the power consumption of a sample of pumps used in one of the oil transmission lines is investigated. To this end, the pump is simulated numerically in real dimensions and the particle motion in the pump chamber is modeled using an Eulerian–Lagrangian approach. The transferred fluid is liquid gasoline with C₈H₁₈ formula and 761 kg density. The fluid flow is assumed to be incompressible, steady, and turbulent and the effect of the suspended solid particles on the pump power consumption is investigated. The results indicate that the size and amount of particle accumulation can significantly increase the pump power consumption.

Keywords:

• Pump
• solid particle
• oil
• transmission line
• particle size