This study presents a systematic investigation into the gas-solid two-phase flow and wall erosion characteristics within a valve-bend assembly of a pneumatic conveying system, aiming to elucidate the erosion patterns and underlying mechanisms induced by nitrogen-transported adsorbent particles during the gasoline desulfurization process. The study focuses on a V-ball valve connected to bends assembly, representing a typical configuration in industrial pneumatic conveying systems. A three-dimensional numerical model is developed based on the computational fluid dynamics-discrete phase model (CFD- DPM), incorporating detailed geometric modeling, structured mesh generation, and rigorous boundary condition specification to resolve the turbulent gas flow, particle transport, and wall impingement characteristics under various operating conditions. Both fully opened and partially opened valve positions, including 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80% openings, are simulated to investigate the effect of valve opening on flow structures, particle trajectories, and wall erosion distribution. The numerical results reveal that under fully open conditions, the primary erosion occurs in the second bend and the downstream straight pipe segment, with a maximum erosion rate reaching 4.48×10-7 kg/(m2·s). This behavior is primarily caused by the combined effects of the V-shaped valve geometry and an upstream protrusion located immediately before the first bend. The protrusion disrupts the approaching flow, causing the particles to impact the wall of the first bend at relatively shallow angles, resulting in comparatively low local erosion rates. After traversing the intermediate straight section, the particles enter the second bend and the downstream straight segment at larger impact angles, increasing the material removal rate at these locations. Consequently, the second bend and the downstream straight section exhibit the maximum erosion intensity under fully open conditions. When the valve is partially opened, the erosion pattern shifts toward the upstream and downstream faces of the valve core. Among the different throttling scenarios considered, the 60% valve opening exhibits the most severe erosion, with a peak erosion rate of 1.10×10-8 kg/(m2·s). This enhanced erosion results from the combined effects of three factors: the accelerated flow through the throttled valve port, which increases local gas velocity and enhances particle transport; the elevated fluid drag force acting on particles, which raises particle impact velocity; and variations in particle impact angles that optimize the erosion efficiency. Secondary vortices downstream of the valve further promote repeated wall collisions, contributing to intensified local erosion. Detailed analysis of the Eulerian-Lagrangian coupling indicates that both particle velocity and instantaneous drag forces exhibit significant spatial non-uniformity within the valve cavity and the bend assembly. This non-uniformity leads to a highly heterogeneous distribution of erosion intensity along the pipe walls, varying with valve opening, axial position, and circumferential location. The study highlights the critical influence of flow-field non-uniformity, particle inertia, and secondary flow structures on the development and evolution of wall erosion. By systematically characterizing the multiphase flow behavior, particle-wall interactions, and erosion distribution within a representative valve-bend assembly, this research provides essential theoretical guidance for improving the reliability and service life of adsorbent pneumatic conveying systems.
Key words
pneumatic conveying /
V-ball valve and bend /
gas-solid two-phase flow /
erosion /
fluid drag force /
numerical simulation
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Funding
National Key Research and Development Program of China (2021YFB3301100); Interdisciplinary Research Project of Beijing University of Chemical Technology (XK2023-07)
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