Abstract:
This experiment involves the erosion process in a pipe bend reducer by 90 degrees in
multi-phase flow. An experimental specimen was manufactured using a reducer pipe
made of 3D-printed Polylactic Acid (PLA) material. The carrier fluid used in the
experiment was created by water and air, and its dispersed phase was silica particles.
The concentration of silica particles is kept at 5%, and the carrier fluid is allowed to
move at about five m/s. To bring realistic industrial flow environments into the
laboratory, a specially designed flow loop and test section are fabricated. This permits
the execution of simulations and experiments under conditions as close to industrial
practice as possible. For material erosion and loss, several methods were adopted,
which include mass loss analysis, thickness reduction measurements, microscopic
imaging, and 3D scanning. Such analyses could help in crafting a way to use these 3D
printed PLA materials for unconventional applications in pipeline components, where
thermal aging might not pose as severe a challenge as it has in this study. We hence
hope to contribute valuable data through this research to understand erosion dynamics
and material behavior within 3D-printed PLA materials, especially in the context of
multiphase flows. Our findings will ultimately help to inspire creative solutions and
considerations in pipeline engineering toward sustainable and affordable design
alternatives for traditional materials and manufacturing processes.
