CFD SIMULATION OF SOLID–LIQUID FLOW IN INDUSTRIAL PIPELINE SYSTEMS
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Abstract
The transportation of solid–liquid mixtures through pipeline systems is widely applied in mining, mineral processing, chemical, dredging, and wastewater treatment industries. The hydraulic behavior of slurry flows is significantly more complex than that of single-phase fluids due to the interaction between solid particles and the carrier liquid. Understanding flow characteristics, pressure losses, velocity distribution, particle transport mechanisms, and sedimentation phenomena is essential for the efficient design and operation of industrial pipeline systems. In recent years, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) has emerged as a powerful tool for analyzing and optimizing solid–liquid flow processes under various operating conditions. This study investigates the application of CFD simulation techniques to analyze solid–liquid flow behavior in industrial pipeline systems. Numerical models were developed to evaluate velocity fields, pressure distribution, turbulence characteristics, particle concentration profiles, and hydraulic losses within pipelines transporting slurry mixtures. The influence of pipeline diameter, flow velocity, particle size, and solid concentration on hydraulic performance was examined. Special attention was given to the identification of sedimentation-prone regions and the prediction of flow instability under different operating conditions.
The simulation results demonstrated that CFD modeling provides detailed insight into multiphase flow dynamics and enables accurate prediction of hydraulic parameters that are difficult to measure experimentally. The analysis revealed that increasing solid concentration leads to higher pressure losses and greater hydraulic resistance, while improper flow velocities promote particle settling and pipeline blockage. The study also showed that optimized hydraulic conditions improve particle suspension, reduce energy consumption, and enhance transport efficiency. The findings confirm that CFD simulation is an effective approach for the design, optimization, and reliability assessment of industrial slurry transportation systems. The results can be used to improve pipeline performance, minimize operational costs, reduce maintenance requirements, and increase the overall efficiency of solid–liquid transport processes in industrial applications.
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