Eddy diffusivity of solid particles in a turbulent liquid flow in a horizontal pipe

Journal Article · Sat Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995 · AIChE Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/aic.690410716· OSTI ID:94336

Walton, I C ^[1]

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1. Schlumberger Dowell, Rosharron, TX (United States)

It is generally agreed that at a sufficiently high flow rate, particles remain in suspension because the effect of the turbulent eddies is sufficiently strong to overcome the tendency of the particles to fall under gravity to the bottom of the pipe. Theoretical models of the process describe the process variously in terms of: (1) the turbulent energy required to support the particles; (2) a force on the particles due to the turbulent eddies which balances the force of gravity; and (3) a balance between a downward drift (advection) caused by gravity and diffusion by turbulence against the induced particle concentration distribution. The objective of this article is to develop a new and concise expression for the particle eddy diffusivity in turbulent pipe flow. The basis of the calculation procedure is that the advection/diffusion method is used to determine the minimum suspension velocity in terms of the particle eddy diffusivity. Inversion of this result then allows the particle eddy viscosity to be determined in terms of existing empirical or quasi-empirical formulae for the minimum suspension velocity. The effectiveness of the method is emphasized by the simplicity of the result and by the conformity with published data.

• OSTI ID: 94336
• Journal Information: AIChE Journal, Journal Name: AIChE Journal Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 41; ISSN AICEAC; ISSN 0001-1541
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
DIFFUSION
EQUATIONS
FLOW MODELS
MITIGATION
SEDIMENTATION
SLURRY PIPELINES
TURBULENT FLOW
TWO-PHASE FLOW