Numerical simulation of hydrate particle size distribution and hydrate particle bedding in pipeline flowing systems

Abstract

In offshore operations, hydrate hazards are now posing a great threat to deep water flow assurance. Pipeline hydrate particle size distribution is closely related to the viscosity of hydrate slurry, flow pressure drop and interface heat and mass transfer. Hydrate particle bedding could lead to pipeline hydrate plugging. Therefore, hydrate particle size distribution and hydrate particle bedding have a significant impact on pipeline hydrate flow assurance. In order to simulate hydrate particle size distribution and hydrate particle bedding in pipeline flowing systems, a new hydrate agglomeration model was used and then solved by the software FLUENT 14.5 together with some CFD models. In the simulations, the type and characteristics of hydrate particle size distribution and the characteristics of pipeline hydrate particle bedding were focused on. In addition, the influences of hydrate particle size initial distribution type, hydrate volume fraction, flow rate and initial hydrate particle diameter were investigated. The conclusions in this work can provide guidance for the development of deep water flow assurance.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Hydrate
• agglomeration
• numerical simulation
• particle size distribution
• bedding

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation, China (Grant No. ZR2017MEE057) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (14CX02207A, 17CX05006, 17CX06017), which are gratefully acknowledged.