Fundamental study of wax deposition in crude oil flows in a pipeline via interface-resolved numerical simulations
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Magnini, Mirco
Matar, Omar K
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
This work presents a fundamental analysis of the mechanisms governing wax deposition and removal in crude oil transportation pipelines. We utilize a numerical framework where oil and deposit are treated as two immiscible phases, and the volume-of-fluid (VOF) method is adopted to resolve the unsteady dynamics of the free interface. Deposition is modeled locally at the oil–deposit interface via a chemical equilibria model, here adapted to the VOF method. Deposit ageing is included via a thixotropic rheological model. The results emphasize that the deposit pattern may appear as a uniform axisymmetric film covering the pipe wall or be completely stratified. Although different mechanisms of deposit mobilization may occur, the removal rates correlate well with the Reynolds number of the bulk flow and the viscosity of the deposit layer. The simulation data are used to benchmark closure laws for the velocity and temperature within the film, and a prediction method for the steady-state deposit thickness is proposed.
Date Issued
2019-11-27
Date Acceptance
2019-10-30
Citation
Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 2019, 58 (47), pp.21797-21816
ISSN
0888-5885
Publisher
American Chemical Society (ACS)
Start Page
21797
End Page
21816
Journal / Book Title
Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research
Volume
58
Issue
47
Copyright Statement
© 2019 American Chemical Society. This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work see https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.9b05250
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Petronas Research Sdn. Bhd.
Identifier
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.iecr.9b05250
Grant Number
EP/K003976/1
N/A
Subjects
Chemical Engineering
09 Engineering
03 Chemical Sciences
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2019-10-30