In order to study the flow characteristics of hydrate slurry, two-fluid Euler models based on the kinetic theory of the granular flow are established, in which the RNG k-ε model is used to simulate the turbulence movement and the drag force is used to express the interaction between the liquid phase and the solid phase. It is shown that secondary flows can clearly seen to arise in the elbow, and the maximum velocity occurs close to the inner side of the cross section; the hydrate slurry's turbulence kinetic energy in the 90° elbow is enhanced and the kinetic energy distribution is homogenized because of the hydrate particles; the presence of the elbow pipe and hydrates has a remarkable effect on the pressure energy losses. It is also shown that the pressure gradient of the hydrate slurry increases with its average velocity rising at the same hydrate's volume fraction, and that the pressure gradient of the hydrate slurry sees a slowly-growing zone, a transient zone and a rapidly-growing zone in turns with hydrate's volume fraction rising at the same velocity. The pressure gradient zoning and rheology diversity as well as the hydrate volume fraction have to be investigated from the point of microcosmic characteristics changes in hydrate's growth to early predict the pipeline plug risk.

90°  /  elbow pipe  /  hydrate slurry  /  flow characteristics  /  turbulent kinetic energy  /  pressure gradient