A full multi-phase computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was utilised to predict erosion rates within a three way valve structure under a variety of flow conditions and sand production rates.
Atteris utilised ANSYS Fluent to undertake the coupled fluid-particle CFD simulation. The overall assessment case matrix considered multiple flow conditions and the impact of a deforming mesh on the overall erosion rate within the 3-way valve.
Prior to the assessment of the CWLH 3-way valve Atteris verified its CFD erosion modelling methodology by replicating the models and results two published erosion papers for i) single phase fluid flow and ii) multi-phase fluid flow.