Research on ice slurry pigging and exploration of optimal cleaning parameters based on CFD

LI Ziyi; TAO Hui; ZHU Qixuan; SHEN Zhouwei; TANG Yangyang; LIN Tao

doi:10.13205/j.hjgc.202604014

Volume 44 Issue 4

Apr. 2026

Turn off MathJax

Article Contents

Article Navigation > ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING > 2026 > 44(4): 127-138

LI Ziyi, TAO Hui, ZHU Qixuan, SHEN Zhouwei, TANG Yangyang, LIN Tao. Research on ice slurry pigging and exploration of optimal cleaning parameters based on CFD[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2026, 44(4): 127-138. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202604014

Citation:

LI Ziyi, TAO Hui, ZHU Qixuan, SHEN Zhouwei, TANG Yangyang, LIN Tao. Research on ice slurry pigging and exploration of optimal cleaning parameters based on CFD[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2026, 44(4): 127-138. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202604014

Citation:

PDF( 2947 KB)

Research on ice slurry pigging and exploration of optimal cleaning parameters based on CFD

doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202604014

LI Ziyi^1,2,
TAO Hui^{1,2
,
,},
ZHU Qixuan^1,2,
SHEN Zhouwei^1,2,
TANG Yangyang^1,2,
LIN Tao^1,2

1. Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China;
2. College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China

Received Date: 2025-12-26
Available Online: 2026-06-06
Publish Date: 2026-04-01

Abstract

Abstract

To quantitatively investigate the volume distribution of ice slurry and the distribution of wall shear forces during the ice slurry pigging process， and explore the optimal process parameters， this study integrated the kinetic theory of granular flows （KTGF）， adopted the Euler-Euler method and the shear stress transport （SST） model to establish a computational fluid dynamics （CFD） model. The flow characteristics of the established model were verified using experimental data from relevant literature. After simulating 125 sets of different parameters for the ice slurry pigging process under common working conditions， the evaluation indicators were optimized， and the optimal flushing process parameters were determined. The results indicate that ice slurry with a high initial concentration can effectively clean both the upper and lower parts of the pipe wall， with the effective shear stress ratio of 60% concentration ice slurry reaching 77.39%. Ice slurry with larger particles exhibits significant upward movement behavior， and the non-uniformity of solid particle distribution increases with the increase in particle diameter. Flow velocity is the most critical factor affecting the shear stress exerted by ice slurry on the pipe wall； the cumulative shear stress increases and becomes more uniform with the increase in flow velocity， and the effective shear stress ratio at a flow velocity of 1.0 m/s is 83.16%. When the initial concentration of ice slurry is 50%， the particle size is 0.5 mm， and the flushing speed is 1.0 m/s， the average cumulative shear stress is 11.59 Pa·s， achieving the optimal flushing effect. This study can provide theoretical guidance for the operation of ice slurry pigging in water supply pipelines.
- ice slurry pigging,
- computational fluid dynamics （CFD）,
- kinetic theory of granular flows （KTGF）,
- Euler-Euler method,
- volume distribution,
- cumulative shear stress

FullText(HTML)

References(33)

References

[1]	ZHOU Z，ZHANG G，LU W，et al. Review on high ice packing factor（IPF）ice slurry：fabrication，characterization，flow characteristics and applications［J］. Journal of Energy Storage，2024，81：110378.
[2]	HU J，FERNANDES DEL POZO D，NOPENS I，et al. Ice slurry pigging technology in drinking water distribution system：From flow mechanisms to pipelines cleaning application［J］. Process Safety and Environmental Protection，2024，191：75- 84.
[3]	JIANG Y Y，ZHANG P. Numerical investigation of slush nitrogen flow in a horizontal pipe［J］. Chemical Engineering Science，2012，73：169- 180.
[4]	SANCHEZ F，REY H，VIEDMA A，et al. CFD simulation of fluid dynamic and biokinetic processes within activated sludge reactors under intermittent aeration regime［J］. Water Research，2018，139：47- 57.
[5]	NIEZGODA-ZELASKO B，ZALEWSKI W. Momentum transfer of ice slurry flows in tubes，modeling［J］. International Journal of Refrigeration，2006，29（3）：429- 436.
[6]	ONOKOKO L，POIRIER M，GALANIS N，et al. Experimental and numerical investigation of isothermal ice slurry flow［J］. International Journal of Thermal Sciences，2018，126：82- 95.
[7]	WANG J，ZHANG T，WANG S. Heterogeneous ice slurry flow and concentration distribution in horizontal pipes［J］. International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow，2013，44：425- 434.
[8]	WANG J，WANG S，ZHANG T，et al. Numerical and analytical investigation of ice slurry isothermal flow through horizontal bends［J］. International Journal of Refrigeration，2018，92：37- 54.
[9]	WANG J，WANG S，ZHANG T，et al. Numerical investigation of ice slurry isothermal flow in various pipes［J］. International Journal of Refrigeration，2013，36（1）：70- 80.
[10]	EKAMBARA K，SANDERS R S，NANDAKUMAR K，et al. Hydrodynamic simulation of horizontal slurry pipeline flow using ANSYS-CFX［J］. Industrial& Engineering Chemistry Research，2009，48（17）：8159- 8171.
[11]	LIU S，SONG M，HAO L，et al. Numerical simulation on flow of ice slurry in horizontal straight tube［J］. Frontiers in Energy，2021，15（1）：201- 207.
[12]	BORDET A，PONCET S，POIRIER M，et al. Advanced numerical modeling of turbulent ice slurry flows in a straight pipe［J］. International Journal of Thermal Sciences，2018，127：294- 311.
[13]	RZEHAK R，KREPPER E. Euler-euler simulation of mass-transfer in bubbly flows［J］. Chemical Engineering Science，2016，155：459- 468.
[14]	HIROCHI T，YAMADA S，SHINTATE T，et al. Ice/water slurry blocking phenomenon at a tube orifice［M］//SIDEMAN S，LANDESBERG A. Visualization and Imaging in Transport Phenomena. New York：New York Acad Sciences，2002，972：171- 176.
[15]	SINCLAIR J L. Multiphase flow and fluidization：continuum and kinetic theory descriptions［J］. Powder Technology，1995，83（3）：287.
[16]	MENTER F R，LANGTRY R B，LIKKI S R，et al. A correlation-based transition model using local variables- Part I：Model formulation［J］. Journal of Turbomachinery，2006，128（3）：413- 422.
[17]	JOHNSON P C，JACKSON R. Frictional-collisional constitutive relations for granular materials，with application to plane shearing［J］. Journal of Fluid Mechanics，1987，176：67- 93.
[18]	BELLAS J，CHAER I，TASSOU S A. Heat transfer and pressure drop of ice slurries in plate heat exchangers［J］. Applied Thermal Engineering，2002，22（7）：721- 732.
[19]	GILLIES R G，SHOOK C A. Modelling high concentration settling slurry flows［J］. The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering，2000，78（4）：709- 716.
[20]	SARI O，VUARNOZ D，MEILI F，et al. Visualization of ice slurries and ice slurry flows［C］// Proceedings of the Second Workshop on Ice Slurries of the International Institute of Refrigeration（IIR），Paris，2000：68- 80.
[21]	HUANG Y，DONG F，HE G，et al. Review of ice slurry pigging techniques for the water supply industry：engineering design and application［J］. ACS ES& T Engineering，2022，2（7）：1144- 1159.
[22]	HUANG Y，CHEN Z，HE G，et al. Application of ice pigging in a drinking water distribution system：impacts on pipes and bulk water quality［J］. Engineering，2024，40：122- 130.
[23]	QUARINI G，AISLIE E，ASH D，et al. Transient thermal performance of ice slurries pumped through pipes［J］. Applied Thermal Engineering，2013，50（1）：743- 748.
[24]	HUSBAND P S，BOXALL J B. Asset deterioration and discolouration in water distribution systems［J］. Water Research，2011，45（1）：113- 124.
[25]	LIU J，REN H，YE X，et al. Bacterial community radial-spatial distribution in biofilms along pipe wall in chlorinated drinking water distribution system of east China［J］. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology，2017，101（2）：749- 759.
[26]	WANG J，LYU Y，JIA R，et al. Numerical investigation on flow characteristics of solid-liquid slurry within multi-sized particles through a horizontal pipe［J］. International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer，2025，163：108731.
[27]	KITANOVSKI A，POREDOS A. Concentration distribution and viscosity of ice-slurry in heterogeneous flow［J］. International Journal of Refrigeration，2002，25（6）：827- 835.
[28]	REN W，ZHANG X，ZHANG Y，et al. The impact of particle size and concentration on the characteristics of solid-fluid two-phase flow in vertical pipe under pulsating flow［J］. Chemical Engineering Journal，2024，500：156398.
[29]	YANG B，TANG D，YUAN W，et al. Experimental study on pressure drop and ice blockage characteristics of ice slurry flow in big-diameter pipes［J］. International Journal of Refrigeration，2025，169：214- 225.
[30]	TUTUNCHIAN O，ABBASALIZADEH M，KHALILIAN M，et al. Numerical simulation of ice slurry fluid flow characteristics and transport capability in the flat-sided oval pipe［J］. International Journal of Thermal Sciences，2025，215：109976.
[31]	HU J M，XIN K L，WANG J Y，et al. Analysis on influencing factors and effect evaluation of ice slurry cleaning for water supply pipelines［J］. Water& Wastewater Engineering，2023，59（12）：93- 99. 胡佳敏，信昆仑，王嘉莹，等. 冰浆清洗供水管道影响因素分析及效果评估［J］. 给水排水，2023，59（12）：93- 99.
[32]	FAN L J，GUO J P，WANG S H，et al. Analysis and discussion on application cases of ice slurry flushing technology for existing water supply pipelines［J］. Water Purification Technology，2024，43（6）：204- 209. 范力杰，郭金鹏，王仕豪，等. 现有供水管道冰浆冲洗技术应用案例分析与探讨［J］. 净水技术，2024，43（6）：204- 209.
[33]	TIAN Q，HE G，WANG H，et al. Simulation on transportation safety of ice slurry in ice cooling system of buildings［J］. Energy and Buildings，2014，72：262- 270.