Pigging Oil Flow in a Pipeline CFD Simulation

This CFD simulation explores the complex process of pipeline pigging in the oil and gas industry using ANSYS Fluent’s Volume of Fluid (VOF) model. Pipeline pigging involves sending a device (pig) through a pipeline to perform various maintenance operations. The VOF method is particularly suitable for this simulation due to its ability to capture the interface between multiple fluids and their interaction with the moving pig.

Key aspects of this simulation include:

VOF Model Setup: Configuring the VOF model to accurately represent the multiphase flow, including oil, gas, and potentially debris or water. This involves defining primary and secondary phases and setting up phase interactions.

Moving Mesh Method: Implementing a moving mesh technique to simulate the pig’s movement through the pipeline. This approach allows for accurate representation of the pig’s motion and its effects on the fluid flow.

Boundary Conditions: Defining appropriate inlet and outlet conditions for the pipeline, as well as the interface between the moving pig and the fluid phases.

Turbulence Modeling: Selecting and configuring a suitable turbulence model to capture the complex flow patterns around the moving pig and in its wake.

Transient Simulation: Setting up the time-dependent aspects of the simulation to capture the pig’s movement and its effects on fluid flow.

Post-processing and Analysis: Examining results such as pressure differentials across the pig, fluid velocity profiles, phase distribution, and potential cleaning efficiency. This includes creating visualizations to illustrate the flow patterns and phase separation.

Performance Evaluation: Assessing the impact of the moving pig on flow characteristics, including potential pressure drops and changes in phase distribution.

This simulation provides valuable insights into the fluid dynamics around a moving pig in a pipeline, helping to understand flow patterns, pressure changes, and phase behavior. Participants will gain skills in applying the VOF model to a complex industrial application, focusing on multiphase flow behavior with a moving object and interpretation of results in the context of pipeline operations.