STUDY OF GAS FLOW IN THE BOUNDARY LAYER OF A GAS PIPELINE

Abstract

This article presents a mathematical model of gas flow in a compressible boundary layer over curved sections of main gas pipelines. The study focuses on the nonlinear phase of disturbance development (Gertler vortices) at high subcritical Reynolds numbers. The authors derive a modified system of Euler equations for three-dimensional disturbed flow, taking into account the influence of centrifugal forces in the curvature field of the gas pipeline. Using numerical methods (Runge-Kutta and matrix eigenvalue analysis), velocity profiles were obtained and the dependence of the local Reynolds number on the increment of vortex amplitude growth for the principal modes was established. The results of this work allow for the prediction of the transition from laminar to turbulent flow, which is critically important for the implementation of the general gasification scheme and the minimization of losses during gas transportation.