Discrete-Element Model of Wear of Structural Elements of a Centrifugal Decanter for Improved Cleaning of Drilling Fluids

It is shown that during drilling, cleaning of drilling solution using centrifugal decanters minimizes the presence of abrasive particles in the system and reduces mechanical wear of structural elements and pumping units. The results of a comparative analysis of the resource of the initial nozzle design and three proposed modifications, differing in surface geometry and orientation relative to the direction of rotation of the drum, are presented. A comprehensive assessment of the effect of design changes on the particle escape velocity and, as a result, on the wear rate was carried out using an analytical model for calculating the amount of wear during particle impact. A discrete-element model of the processes accompanying the operation of a centrifugal decanter (movement of drilling solution along the centrifuge screw) has been developed. The time before the formation of critical wear (destruction) of the nozzle surfaces is calculated. The influence of geometric and design parameters of centrifugal decanter nozzles on the efficiency of the drilling solution cleaning process has been studied. It is shown that reducing the height and diameter of the nozzles to 34 and 37 mm, respectively, increased the surface wear time by 1.5 times. An analytical evaluation of the resource of cylindrical nozzle surfaces for various design options has been performed. A significant increase in service life is achieved by changing the inclination of the cylindrical surfaces of the nozzles against the direction of rotation of the drum. The wear time of the nozzle surface increases 12.5 times.