Main achievements and future directions

So far, the researchers have performed a combined numerical-experimental investigation of the slurry erosion of two valves, namely an angle choke valve with cage and sleeve functioning, and a gate valve. The laboratory measurements were compared quantitatively and qualitatively with the numerical simulation, enhancing the confidence of the mathematical model as a predictive tool. The useful lifetime of the valve was put in relation with the erosional speed, which was estimated numerically and it became the subject of a sensitivity analysis to capture the effect of the valve operation conditions on its vulnerability to wear.

Nowadays, the research is being focused on the prediction of wear in transient processes, e.g. opening-closing cycles, and in the simulation of the valve integrated in a complex hydraulic system. To this aim, the possibility of coupling a CFD code with a concentrated parameter-one (e.g., Simcenter Amesim) is being explored.