Modeling Liquid Slugs Accelerating in Inclined Conduits

Abstract

In this article, we simulate traveling liquid slugs in conduits, as they may occur in systems carrying high-pressure steam. We consider both horizontal and inclined pipes in which the slug is accelerated by a suddenly applied pressure gradient, while at the same time, gravity and friction work in the opposite direction. This causes a steep slug front and an extended slug tail. The shapes of front and tail are of interest since they determine the forces exerted on bends and other obstacles in the piping system. The study also aims at improving existing one-dimensional (1D) models. A hybrid model is proposed that enables us to leave out the larger inner part of the slug. It was found that the hybrid model speeds up the two-dimensional (2D) computations significantly, while having no adverse effects on the shapes of the slug's front and tail.