Numerical Simulation of Characteristics of Motion for Polymetallic Nodules in Swirling Flow During Hydraulic Lifting
The lifting of polymetallic nodules was simulated by using a CFD-DEM coupling approach,and the influence of different swirling flow on hydraulic lifting of polymetallic nodules in vertical pipelines was explored.The results show that as swirl ratio increases,the intensity of swirl will be enhanced significantly,and both the maximum fluid velocity and the average axial velocity of particle group will increase.It is found that intensity of swirl can bring obvious impact to the distribution of particles with different velocity in the pipe,showing that particles with high velocity are gradually distributed around the pipe wall,while the particles with low velocity in the center of the pipe.Swirling flow can reduce the local concentration of particles,which is beneficial to reducing the risk of pipeline blockage due to higher concentration of particles caused by retention effect.
deep sea miningpolymetallic nodulesliquid-solid two-phase flowhydraulic liftingpipeline transportationswirl ratioCFD-DEM coupling