Inerational Journal of Mechanical Sciences 196 (2020) 105809 ELSEVIER Contents lists available at ScienceDirect International Journal of Mechanical Sciences journal homepage: wwww.elseviercomilocataiimacsc! Modeling of solid-liquid flow inside conical diverging sections using computational fluid dynamics approach 2 Harmanpreet Singh*, Satish Kumar®, Saroj Kumar Mohapatra* “chanel ienenng Depart, Tapa te of Eger & Tetley, Pil, Rajs47004, nda “osparmentof Mohan Engnewing Mao ato echo, mater, Jharhanas304, Ine ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT ina sary pipeline, de diverging secons are an imporant pipe iting and ako a cause of major prose ont and sometimes flow separation To ares this potenti ese, he complex oli gi low of coal water sry ‘through conical diverging secons is simulated using the computational ud dynamies approach. Nine diferent geometries ofthe diverging sections are analyzed inthe present tu. The length ofthe diverging Seton i the ey variable in the geometric variations and anges ro 0.05.2 20.6, The fun veloc atthe eneance fall inside the iid phase ie varied from 10 to 60%. Te results generated by the computational fd dynamics tool ace in good agreement with the experimental dat. The design ofthe dverping section is evaluated bared ‘on resus obtained for thes characterization parameters va. petsure recovery coefcien, head-los across the Aivering section and volumetric efficiency. The 0.3m long diverging ection fund Lobe the optimum: design for best presste recovery, maximum volumetric efficiency and losest heals 1. Introduction 1.1. Current situation In mos of the parts of the world, coal is the primary source of poker ‘generation, Today, numerous renewable energy resources are availabe, but replacement/ elimination of coal seems to be very difficult (1-2. Most of the good quality coal reserves have almost depleted and the remaining are getting depleted at very high pace. So, now the energy sector has started utilizing low quality coal reserves, inthe form eco: ‘nomical and more versatile liquid fuel, Coal-water-suspension/slurry oF simply CWS [2]. For this slurry pipelines are used [1]. At some places, the pulverised coal is dircetly transported from the mine to the power plant. Such transportation systems can help inthe transportation of cosl from inaccessible sites [5,6] "The hydrotranspor: isa well-established transportation technology, that is mostly used in mineral processing, chemical, petroleum and ‘ocean industries |7). This technology has advantages like, low trans- portation costs, low maintenance costs, and as the bulk solids ae trans ported through closed pipe so, there is very les change of environment pollution (8-11). In hydotransportation of the bulk solids, depending ‘upon the equilibrium state ofthe slurry, such fows can be classified as fully dispersed, unstable/moving bed and stable/static bed [22). Usu- ally i i presented that solid concentration and minimum dispersion ~ comesponding author. mail edret:harmandhinan92@ gmail.com (H Slagh, aps//da.on/10.1016/}jjmecs2020.105808 velocity (ritial velocity) are the key parameters deciding the equi sium state of the slurry. The design of slurry transportation system is ‘based upon a numerous facor viz. Physico-chemicsl properties of the particulate matter being transported, the eheology of water-particuate suspension, the dispersion stability ofthe suspension and the concentra tion ofthe particulates being transported [13-15]. Besides, other factors include particle size and size distribution, particles shape, hydrophobic. ity/hydrophlicity ofthe particles, chemical composition, pipe diameter, surface roughness of the pipe, orientation ofthe pipeline and presence ‘of pipe Ftings such as bends, elbows, sudden converging or diverging sections [16-18] Based on these reuls, the researchers have tried to Improve the ‘most influence parameter of the suspension, the rheological characteris ties using natural and artificial dspersants/surfaccants [19-22]. In some cases, the properties of the pipe and accessories are also considered viz the roughness of the pipe material and presence of pipe fittings like, bends, converging or diverging sections (25-27). In the previous stud ies, it has been widely observed that these pipe fitting are significantly responsible for the pumping losses and net increase inthe overall pump {ng power. So, researchers have tried to fx these isues by optimizing ‘the geometries of one ofthe pipe itings, the bends. n the previous ex periments, it can be seen that the most efficient 90° pipe bends have an Yd ratio of 2. Here R isthe radius of the bend and d is pipe diameter (28-31) Receive 8 May 2020; Received in revise form 15 Jane 2020; Accepted 29 ne 2020 ‘ailable online 20 June 2020 (0020-7405/% 2020 Elsevier Lid. Al sights esrved.