Journal of Propulsion and Energy ISSN:2734-1887(Print) 2765-0049(Online)

The crude oil coking and fouling in a serpentine pipe are numerically investigated. The serpentine pipe is a sequence of parallel straight pipe segments connected by U-shaped bends. The multiphase numerical procedure is constructed within the Eulerian framework based on a continuous liquid phase and dispersed phases of gas and solid. The crude oil is assumed to be composed of six pseudo-components and the simplified reaction is adopted to predict the thermal cracking. The vortical structure due to the centrifugal force is observed at the channel bends. The enhancing effect of heat and mass transfer is reversed as the fluid flows from one bend to the another. Based on the flow structures, and the coke formation are predicted and discussed.