Hydrodynamics Characterisitics of Two-phase Fluid Flow Affecting Calcite Deposition Rate in a Geothermal Wellbore

Abstract

The work presents Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) analysis of two-phase flow in a geothermal wellbore with calcite scaling. The analysis uses Eulerian six-equation model for modeling two-phase flow. The model calculates velocities of each phase separately, thus taking into consideration the effect of slip velocity on heat transfer between the two phases. Effect of various hydrodynamic forces including lift and drag is taken into consideration to understand the bubble phase motion in the flow, which is mainly assumed to be the major cause of calcite deposition in the near wall region. Results from the model simulation for a case study shows bubble motion and heat transfer in the calcite region as a major cause contributing to higher deposition rate in the same region.