• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.121-130
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• 2021

In this study, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation based on an Eulerian-Eulerian approach was used to evaluate the mixing performance of a mud agitator through the distribution of bulk particles. Firstly, the commercial CFD software Star-CCM+ was verified by performing numerical simulations of single-phase water mixing problems in an agitator with various turbulence models, and the simulation results were compared with an experiment. The standard model was selected as an appropriate turbulence model, and a grid convergence test was performed. Then, a simulation of the liquid-solid multi-phase mixing in an agitator was simulated with different multi-phase interaction models, and lift and drag models were selected. In the case of the lift model, the results were not significantly affected, but Syamlal and O'Brien's drag model showed more reasonable results with respect to the experiment. Finally, with the properly determined simulation conditions, a multi-phase flow simulation of a mud agitator was performed to predict the mixing time and spatial distribution of solid particles. The applicability of the CFD multi-phase simulation for the practical design of a mud agitator was confirmed.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.107-116
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• 2017

When drilling operation is being performed, many physical and chemical changes are occurred near wellbore. To handle various changes of well condition and keep drilling process safe, additives of bulk, such as bentonite for increasing density of drilling mud, barite for increasing viscosity of drilling mud, polymer for chemical control, or surfactant, are added into drilling mud through a mud shear mixer. Because the achievement of the required material property through mud mixing system is essential to stabilize drilling system, it is of importance to analyze multi-phase flow during mud mixing process, which is directly related to increase mixing performance of the system and guarantee the safety of the whole drilling system. In this study, a series of liquid-solid flow simulation based on a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) are performed with comparing to solid concentration in experiment by Gilles et al. [2004] to understand the characteristics of liquid-solid mixing in a mud shear mixer. And then, the simulation-based design of shear mixer are carried out to improve mixing performance in a mud handling system.