Exploring the wax removal process by numerical simulation is beneficial for guiding field operations. In this paper, enthalpy-porosity and volume of fluid (VOF) methods were adopted to simulate the melting process of wax in the crude oil gathering pipeline. The melting patterns and liquid fraction of the wax were used to validate the mathematical model. The results show that the wax melts quickly before the liquid fraction reaches 80%, while the remaining 20% melts very slowly. Since the water with higher density sinks to the lower part of the pipeline, the wax in the lower part of the pipeline melts first, while the wax in the upper part of the pipeline melts slowly. The water temperature and flow rate disproportionately affect the melting process. Increasing the water temperature and flow rate can accelerate the melting process, but the effects on shortening the melting time of wax gradually decrease. Increasing the flow rate, the heat transfer rate and the melting rate are increasing progressively, the change of flow rate also affects the outlet temperature of the pipeline.

通过数值模拟探索除蜡过程有利于指导现场作业。本文采用热函孔隙率和流体体积（VOF）方法来模拟原油集输管道中蜡的熔化过程。蜡的熔化模式和液体分数用于验证数学模型。结果表明，在液体分数达到80%之前，蜡熔化得很快，而剩下的20%则熔化得很慢。由于密度较大的水沉到管道下部，管道下部的蜡先熔化，而管道上部的蜡熔化缓慢。水温和流速不成比例地影响熔化过程。提高水温和流量可以加速熔化过程，但缩短蜡熔化时间的效果逐渐减弱。增大流量，传热速率和熔化速率逐渐增大，流量的变化也影响管道出口温度。