Abstract
Transient three-dimensional flow simulations of power–law fluid in a long axisymmetric annular channel considering 0.5 diameter ratio were performed. An in–house CFD code considering URANS (Unsteady Reynolds Averaged Navier–Stokes), 2D RANS (steady-state axially uniform 2D RANS) and LES (Large Eddy Simulation) approaches were compared to perform the simulations. Flow structure was analyzed. Numerical experiments showed that rotation of the inner cylinder (drill pipe) leads to two effects: decrease of apparent viscosity in the region close to the rotating cylinder, thus decreasing viscous shear stresses; development of secondary vorticity structures increasing energy loss. First mechanism decreases pressure losses and dominates when Re < 300. At Re ∼ 300 the mechanisms compete with each other and pressure losses depends on power–law index n. At Re > 300 mechanism of second vortex structured dominates and increases pressure loss with rotation. Pressure losses for two-dimensional steady-state and three-dimensional transient problems were compared. Pressure losses using a two-dimensional approach can be underestimated by up to 30%.
