Effects of fluid properties on coarse particles transport in vertical pipe

Abstract

The mineral resources in deep-seabed are attracting extensive attention. A numerical simulation of particle transport in a vertical pipe for a deep-sea mining system is conducted using the CFD-DEM method. The effects of fluid density, fluid viscosity and rheological parameters of non-Newtonian fluids on the liquid-solid flow behavior in a vertical pipe are investigated. For Newtonian fluids, increasing the density or viscosity enhances the particles' performance in following the fluid and reduces the slip velocity, but also increases the pressure drop. The efficient lifting of particles can be facilitated by adjusting fluid density and viscosity, while considering factors such as energy consumption. For non-Newtonian fluids, an increase in either the flow behavior index n or the consistency coefficient k results in an increase in the fluid's apparent viscosity. This leads to an increase in the particle suspension capacity and local particle velocity, along with a decrease in local particle concentration.