Erosion-corrosion Analysis of Oil Pipeline Elbow Based on FLUENT

Oil pipeline elbow is often used to change the direction of oil flow. The sudden change of fluid direction and pressure at the elbow always causes erosion-corrosion, resulting in punching or breaking. A mathematical model of the fluid in the elbow was established based on the finite volume method, and the fluid dynamics at the point was analyzed using FLUENT. The change of flow velocity and pressure in the elbow was analyzed at a series of flow speeds, which can give an intuitional method to show how the flow distribution influences the erosion-corrosion at the elbow, and to verify the place corroded easily, which can provide a scientific basis for comprehension of the effect of hydrodynamic factors on pipe errosion-corrosion.