Computing multiphase flow induced forces by multiphase CO2 in pipelines using OpenFOAM

Computing multiphase flow induced forces by multiphase CO2 in pipelines using OpenFOAM

Mohammed Rajiv, Adila (TU Delft Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering)

Pourquie, M.J.B.M. (mentor)
Twerda, Aris (mentor)

Delft University of Technology

2022-12-19

The need to curb CO2 emissions has led to an increase in the utilization of CCS systems. These systems use pipelines for the transport of CO2. It is preferred that CO2 be transported in it’s dense form. But, this is not always the case as the phase in which CO2 exists is based on the operating conditions. In some cases, multiphase CO2 is observed in pipelines. These multiphase systems tend to vibrate due to the dynamic nature of multiphase flows in pipelines. These vibrations can lead to fatigue in these systems. In such a situation it is important to understand the multiphase flow induced forces caused by mutliphase CO2. TNO has conducted experiments on MEG-gas systems as well as multiphase CO2 systems which act as the reference research work for the thesis. In this thesis, the multiphase CO2 system is simulated and is compared with the MEG-gas system. The simulation results helped in understanding how the difference in properties of fluids affects the multiphase flow induced forces. The CFD results of multiphase CO2 show a similarity of 70% of the RMS forces. From the simulations, we can see that the lower density difference, liquid viscosity, and surface tension of multiphase CO2 as compared to MEG-gas results in dispersed flow as compared to stratified wavy flow in MEG-gas. The influence of inlet length is also discussed which showed that there is indeed a difference in the way fluid behaves when the inlet length is increased. The different numerical parameters like timestep, mesh resolution, wall treatment, and solvers are also explored here. This work shows that even though the expected flow regime is accurately simulated, there is a discrepancy when it comes to calculating the flow induced forces using OpenFOAM.

Multiphase CO2
Flow induced forces
OpenFOAM
compressibleInterFoam
CCS
Flow regimes
Bends

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:8863838d-5ee1-4fee-ad82-46cf5a972ff5

Student theses

master thesis

© 2022 Adila Mohammed Rajiv