Abstract: The investigation on hydrate particle size distribution characteristics is of great importance for the assurance of deep water flow. In order to simulate hydrate particle size distribution characteristics in pipeline flowing systems, a population balance model based on the dynamics of hydrate particle agglomeration was established first. This model concentrated on the collision frequency, agglomeration efficiency, breakage frequency and particle size distribution of the sub-hydrate-particles, and could well describe the flow behavior of hydrate particles. Subsequently, a three-dimensional geometric model was built according to an experimental setup in the literature and then solved using software FLUENT 14.5 together with several relevant solid-liquid two-phase flow models. In this way, the influences of initial hydrate particle size distribution, hydrate volume fraction, flow rate and initial hydrate particle size on the types and regularities of hydrate particle size distribution were simulated. The simulation results were in good agreement with the experimental results in literature and could provide references for hydrate management strategies.

Key words: pipeline, hydrate, population balance, numerical simulation, particle size distribution

摘要： 研究管道内水合物颗粒的粒径分布特性对深水流动安全保障具有十分重要的意义。为模拟管道流动体系中水合物颗粒的粒径分布特性，本文首先建立了基于水合物颗粒聚集动力学的群体平衡模型。该模型重点考虑水合物颗粒在流动过程中的碰撞频率、聚并效率、破碎频率及破碎后子颗粒的粒径分布函数，可较好地刻画管内水合物颗粒的流动行为。随后，根据文献中的实验装置建立三维几何模型，利用FLUENT 14.5软件对上述群体平衡模型和相关固液两相流模型进行联合求解，借此模拟水合物颗粒初始粒径分布、水合物体积分数、管内流速和水合物颗粒初始粒径大小对管内水合物颗粒粒径分布类型及分布规律的影响。本文模拟结果与文献中相关实验数据吻合良好，可为水合物防治技术的发展提供技术支持。

关键词: 管道, 水合物, 群体平衡, 数值模拟, 粒径分布