Yingying Wang

Shale gas is a low-carbon unconventional natural gas resource. The development of shale gas helps to optimize the energy structure and reduce carbon emissions. However, the needle throttle valves (NTVs) commonly used in shale gas fields are usually severely eroded by solid particles. Based on the method of CFD-DEM coupling calculation, this paper constructs a gas–solid two-phase flow erosion model of the NTV and studies the influence of different placement methods, valve opening degrees, and other factors on particle movement and valve erosion. This research found that the spool is the area of the valve that is most severely eroded, and when placed horizontally, it has a serious ‘bias wear’ phenomenon. The research results herein can provide references for the design optimization and on-site maintenance of valve performance.

During shale gas field production, wellhead throttle valves are prone to erosion caused by solid particles carried in the gas stream, posing significant safety risks. Existing studies on erosion primarily focus on simple structure like elbows and tees, while research on gas–solid two-phase flow erosion in needle throttle valves remains limited. This paper establishes a numerical model based on the CFD-DPM approach, integrating actual shale gas field production conditions to investigate the erosion behavior of needle throttle valves under varying openings, particle sizes, inlet velocities, and particle mass flow rates. The results show that the valve spool consistently exhibits the highest erosion rate among all components, with the most severe erosion localized at its front end. At a 1/4 opening, particles colliding with the spool exhibit significantly increased frequency and energy when re-entering the upstream pipeline, raising the risk of blockages. Furthermore, when the opening exceeds 2/4, the valve chamber experiences higher erosion rates than the upstream and downstream pipelines. This study provides critical insights for optimizing valve design and maintenance strategies, thereby enhancing service life and ensuring safe shale gas production.