Chapter 3: Methodology
3.1 Geometry and Domain Description
The study models a three-dimensional horizontal pipeline with a symmetric constriction
placed at the center. The constriction simulates real-world scenarios such as valves, pipe
joints, or blockages. The upstream and downstream pipe sections maintain a uniform
diameter to ensure stable inlet and outlet conditions and allow flow development before
and after the constriction.
Key geometric specifications:
- Pipe length: 1.0 m
- Pipe diameter: 0.05 m
- Constriction length: 0.1 m
- Constriction diameter: 0.025 m (50% reduction)
- Constriction shape: Smooth transition (conical or sinusoidal tapering)
The domain is generated using CAD tools and exported to meshing software. The
constriction is placed at 0.5 m (center of the pipe). The length before and after the
constriction ensures that inlet and outlet effects are minimized, and accurate
hydrodynamic interactions can be observed.
3.2 Governing Equations
The incompressible, immiscible two-phase oil–water flow is governed by the Navier–
Stokes equations and solved using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) techniques.
The Volume of Fluid (VOF) model is employed to track the interface between oil and
water.
- Continuity Equation:
∇⋅u=0
- Momentum Equation:
∂(ρu)/∂t + ∇ ⋅ (ρuu) = -∇p + ∇ ⋅ (μ∇u) + F_st
Where:
- u = velocity vector
- ρ = fluid density
- μ = dynamic viscosity
- F_st = surface tension force (modeled via CSF)
- VOF Transport Equation:
∂α/∂t + u ⋅ ∇α = 0
Where α is the volume fraction of oil in each cell.
3.3 Boundary and Initial Conditions
- Inlet: Velocity-inlet boundary condition with a specified superficial velocity for each
phase (oil and water). Oil enters from the top portion and water from the bottom.
- Outlet: Pressure-outlet boundary with zero-gauge pressure, allowing free outflow.
- Walls: No-slip condition on all wall surfaces.
- Initial Conditions: Stratified flow assumed — oil phase on top due to lower density and
water on the bottom. The volume fraction field is initialized accordingly.
3.4 Numerical Scheme and Simulation Parameters
The CFD solver (ANSYS Fluent or OpenFOAM) is used in transient mode with the
following settings:
- VOF model for immiscible fluid interaction
- PISO algorithm for pressure-velocity coupling
- Time-step size: 0.001–0.005 s (CFL < 0.5)
- Upwind second-order discretization for momentum and VOF
- Convergence criteria: Residuals for continuity, velocity components, and volume
fraction < 10^-5
The simulation runs for a physical time of 2–5 seconds to ensure fully developed flow
downstream.
3.5 Mesh Generation and Grid Independence Study
A structured hexahedral mesh is used for high accuracy, with denser cells in the
constriction region. Mesh independence is tested by comparing results across three grid
resolutions:
| Mesh Type | Number of Elements | Key Output Change (%) |
|-----------|---------------------|------------------------|
| Coarse | ~50,000 | Reference |
| Medium | ~150,000 | < 3% |
| Fine | ~300,000 | < 1.5% |
Since the medium mesh provides acceptable accuracy with lower computational cost, it is
chosen for all simulations. Skewness and orthogonality are kept within recommended
thresholds to ensure numerical stability.
3.6 Validation
To ensure accuracy, simulation results are compared with published experimental data or
benchmark numerical results. Validation is based on:
- Phase distribution downstream of the constriction
- Pressure drop across the constriction
- Flow regime identification
Discrepancies between numerical and reference results are quantified and analyzed.
Typical error ranges remain within 5–10%, validating the model's reliability.