Numerical Simulation of Erosion Characteristics in Gas Gathering Pipeline

Based on the theory of gas-liquid flow in pipeline, the distribution of flow velocity, liquid volume fraction, wall shear force and turbulent kinetic energy in a gas gathering pipeline were studied. The results show that liquid phase was accumulated at the bottom of horizontal pipeline and outside of the elbow in the underground pipeline. There was a risk of corrosion. The turbulent kinetic energy and wall shear force in the outside of the underground elbow were large. The large turbulent kinetic energy and wall shear force accelerated the mass transfer and had a great effect on corrosion. The outside of the underground elbow was affected by corrosion and erosion, facing a high risk of pitting. In the gas gathering pipeline above the ground, there was corrosion and erosion on the outside of the first elbow behind the slide valve. The liquid phase tended to accumulate on the inside of the first elbow before the slide valve. The same distributions were found on the inside of the second and third elbows, inducing corrosion.