The effect of number of baffles on the improvement efficiency of primary sedimentation tanks

In this study, the effect of different numbers of baffles is investigated using computational simulation. Laboratory measurements using different numbers of constant height baffles in a rectangular primary sedimentation tank are conducted. The velocity fields measured by an Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter (ADV) are used to verify the results of the computational model. The effects of the number of baffles arrangement on the hydraulic performance of primary settling tanks are studied by using two different ways: the parameters of flow pattern and the Flow Through Curves (FTCs) method. The results of both the experimental and computational investigations indicate that increasing the number of baffles in suitable positions provides minimum volume of the recirculation region, dissipates the kinetic energy, creates a uniform flow field in the tank and finally the hydraulic efficiency of the sedimentation tank will be improved.     

Numerical modeling of baffle location effects on the flow pattern of primary sedimentation tanks

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is used extensively by engineers to model and analyze complex issues related to hydraulic design, planning studies for future generating stations, civil maintenance and supply efficiency. In order to find the optimal position of a baffle in a rectangular primary sedimentation tank, computational investigations are performed. Also laboratory experiments are conducted to verify the numerical results and the measured velocity fields which were by Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter (ADV) are used. The GMRES algorithm as a pressure solver was used in the computational modeling. The results of computational investigations performed in the present study indicate that the favorable flow field (uniform in the settling zone) would be enhanced for the case that the baffle position provide small circulation regions volume and dissipate the kinetic energy in the tank. Also results show that the GMRES algorithm can obtain the good agreement between the results of numerical models and experimental tests.     

车身非光滑表面凹坑排布对气动性能的影响

受仿生学非光滑旋成体减阻启发,以SAE(美国机动车工程师协会)标准模型为研究对象,采用CFD(计算流体力学)数值模拟方法,在SAE模型顶部布置不同排布形式和不同排布密度的凹坑单元,研究其对车身气动性能的影响.通过比较各模型的尾流、气流速度、压力场、湍流动能等流场性能指标,分析非光滑表面减阻机理以及造成各模型流场性质差异的原因.计算结果显示:当凹坑型非光滑单元以矩形排布时模型具有最小的气动阻力,且气动阻力随着凹坑密度的增加而减小,减阻率最高达到4.1%.     

Flow separation behind ellipses at Reynolds numbers less than 10

Flow separation behind two-dimensional ellipses with aspect ratios ranging from 0, a flat plate, to 1, a circular cylinder, were investigated for Reynolds numbers less than 10 using both a cellular automata model and a commercial computational fluid dynamics software program. The relationship between the critical aspect ratio for flow separation and Reynolds number was determined to be linear for Reynolds numbers greater than one. At slower velocities, the critical aspect ratio decreases more quickly as the Reynolds number approaches zero. The critical Reynolds numbers estimated for flow separation behind a flat plate and circular cylinder agree with extrapolations from experimental observations. Fluctuations in the values of the stream function for laminar flow behind the ellipses were found at combinations of Reynolds number and aspect ratio near the critical values for separation.     

Numerical investigation of pressure loss reduction in a power plant stack

The strengthened environmental laws require the power plants to reduce the emissions. Flue gas desulphurization and deNO_x involve adding chemicals to the flow stream, thereby resulting in increased mass flow. This problem could be overcome by reducing the pressure drop in the duct work and stack combination, so that a higher flow at reduced pressure drop can be handled by the existing fans. In this study, a power plant stack model of 1:40 was investigated numerically. The pressure reduction was achieved by introduction of baffles with various orientations and turning vanes at the inlet of the stack. The flows were modeled and analyzed using commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software Fluent 6.2. The numerical results were validated with the experimental data. The 30° baffle without turning vanes was found to be the optimum baffle angle in terms of the pressure loss reduction. Variation of axial velocity, swirling component and turbulence kinetic energy along the axis of the stack was analyzed to understand the mechanism of the pressure loss reduction in a power plant stack. Guidelines for further pressure loss reduction were provided based on the insight gained from the simulation results.     

基于Schwarz-Christoffel变换的非圆截面血管流场分布研究

应用Schwarz-Christoffel(S-C)变换方法,实现从复平面单位圆到多边形区域的共形映射,结合圆形管道下完全发展脉动流的Womersley算法理论,建立了基于S-C映射的非圆入口截面下的Womersley速度边界模型.在边界模型建立的基础上,应用计算流体力学方法,对基于生理真实的人体肺动脉二级分支血管在一个心动周期内的血流流动情况进行了数值模拟,并与通过外接圆管法设定入口速度边界条件得到的流场模拟结果进行了对比分析.分析结果表明,两者的模拟结果高度一致,但考虑到模拟效率和数值模拟结果的确定性,基于S-C映射的Womersley速度边界模型优于外接圆管方法,对于血管血流动力学的模拟研究更具有现实意义.     

Numerical Investigation of Cavitation Interacting with Pressure Wave

A computational fluid dynamics solver based on homogeneous cavitation model is employed to compute the two-phase cavitating flow. The model treats the two-phase regime as the homogeneous mixture of liquid and vapour which are locally assumed to be under both kinetic and thermodynamic equilibrium. As our focus is on pressure wave formation, propagation and its impact on cavitation bubble, the compressibility effects of liquid water have to be accounted for and hence the flow is considered to be compressible. The cavitating flow disturbed by the introduced pressure wave is simulated to investigate the unsteady features of cavitation due to the external perturbations. It is observed that the cavity becomes unstable, locally experiencing deformation or collapse, which depends on the shock wave intensity and freestream flow speed.     

Significance of plaque morphology in modifying flow characteristics in a diseased coronary artery: Numerical simulation using plaque measurements from intravascular ultrasound imaging

The paper deals with numerical investigation of the effect of plaque morphology on the flow characteristics in a diseased coronary artery using realistic plaque morphology. The morphological information of the lumen and the plaque is obtained from intravascular ultrasound imaging measurements of 42 patients performed at Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio. For this data, study of Bhaganagar et al. (2010) [1] has revealed the stenosis for 42 patients can be categorized into four types – type I (peak-valley), type II (ascending), type III (descending), and type IV (diffuse). The aim of the present study is to isolate the effect of shape of the stenosis on the flow characteristics for a given degree of the stenosis. In this study, we conduct fluid dynamic simulations for the four stenosis types (type I–IV) and analyze the differences in the flow characteristics between these types. Finely refined tetrahedral mesh for the 3-D solid model of the artery with plaques has been generated. The 3-D steady flow simulations were performed using the turbulence (k–ε) model in a finite volume based computational fluid dynamics solver. The axial velocity, the radial velocity, turbulence kinetic energy and wall shear stress profiles of the plaque have been analyzed. From the axial and radial velocity profiles results the differences in the velocity patterns are significantly visible at proximal as well as distal to the throat, region of maximum stenosis. Turbulent kinetic energy and wall shear stress profiles have revealed significant differences in the vicinity of the plaque. Additional unsteady flow simulations have been performed to validate the hypothesis of the significance of plaque morphology in flow alterations in diseased coronary artery. The results revealed the importance of accounting for plaque morphology in addition to plaque height to accurately characterize the turbulent flow in a diseased coronary artery.     

Numerical study of gas–solid flow in a cyclone separator

This paper presents a numerical study of the gas–powder flow in a typical Lapple cyclone. The turbulence of gas flow is obtained by the use of the Reynolds stress model. The resulting pressure and flow fields are verified by comparing with those measured and then used in the determination of powder flow that is simulated by the use of a stochastic Lagrangian model. The separation efficiency and trajectory of particles from simulation are shown to be comparable to those observed experimentally. The effects of particle size and gas velocity on separation efficiency are quantified and the results agree well with experiments. Some factors which affect the performance of cyclone were identified. It is shown that the collision between gas streams after running about a circle and that just entering occurred around the junction of the inlet duct and the cylinder of the cyclone, resulting in a short-circuiting flow. The combination of flow source and sink was distributed near the axis of cyclone, forming a flow dipole at axial section. Particles entering at different positions gave different separation efficiency. A particle with size exceeding a critical diameter, which was condition-dependant, would stagnate on the wall of cyclone cone. This was regarded as one of the main reasons for the deposition on the inner conical surface in such cyclones used in the cement industry.     

Numerical investigation of blood flow. Part I: In microvessel bifurcations

In some diseases there is a focal pattern of velocity in regions of bifurcation, and thus the dynamics of bifurcation has been investigated in this work. A computational model of blood flow through branching geometries has been used to investigate the influence of bifurcation on blood flow distribution. The flow analysis applies the time-dependent, three-dimensional, incompressible Navier–Stokes equations for Newtonian fluids. The governing equations of mass and momentum conservation were solved to calculate the pressure and velocity fields. Movement of blood flow from an arteriole to a venule via a capillary has been simulated using the volume of fluid (VOF) method. The proposed simulation method would be a useful tool in understanding the hydrodynamics of blood flow where the interaction between the RBC deformation and blood flow movement is important. Discrete particle simulation has been used to simulate the blood flow in a bifurcation with solid and fluid particles. The fluid particle method allows for modeling the plasma as a particle ensemble, where each particle represents a collective unit of fluid, which is defined by its mass, moment of inertia, and translational and angular momenta. These kinds of simulations open a new way for modeling the dynamics of complex, viscoelastic fluids at the micro-scale, where both liquid and solid phases are treated with discrete particles.     

Particle transport in a bottom-feed separation vessel

A two-dimensional, axisymmetric numerical model of particle separation in a bottom-feed separation vessel is presented. The model includes six separate particle classes and assumes that the settling velocity of each particle class is sufficiently small when compared to the high inflow turbulence levels that the effect of the particles on turbulence can be neglected. Low particle settling velocities coupled with low particle volume fractions allows application of a drift-flux multi-phase model. The comparison between numerical results and measured plant data is in good agreement for overflow of all particle classes. Results of simulations show that bottom feeding results in a negatively buoyant, particle-laden jet being formed in the core of the vessel. The fraction of large particles that is carried out through the overflow is found to be critically dependent on the inlet velocity. The most effective way to reduce carry-over of large particles at the same time as maintaining through-put is to increase the diameter of the inlet feed pipe.     

Modeling Sediment Deposition Patterns Arising From Suddenly Released Fixed-Volume Turbulent Suspensions

Models presented in several recent papers [1–3] dealing with particle transport by, and deposition from, bottom gravity currents produced by the sudden release of dilute, well‐mixed fixed‐volume suspensions have been relatively successful in duplicating the experimentally observed long‐time, distal, areal density of the deposit on a rigid horizontal bottom. These models, however, fail in their ability to capture the experimentally observed proximal pattern of the areal density with its pronounced dip in the region initially occupied by the well‐mixed suspension and its equally pronounced local maximum at roughly the one‐third point of the total reach of the deposit. The central feature of the models employed in [1–3] is that the particles are always assumed to be vertically well‐mixed by fluid turbulence and to settle out through the bottom viscous sublayer with the Stokes settling velocity for a fluid at rest with no re‐entrainment of particles from the floor of the tank. Because this process is assumed from the outset in the models of [1–3], the numerical simulations for a fixed‐volume release will not take into account the actual experimental conditions that prevail at the time of release of a well‐mixed fixed‐volume suspension. That is, owing to the vigorous stirring that produces the well‐mixed suspension, the release volume will initially possess greater turbulent energy than does an unstirred release volume, which may only acquire turbulent energy as a result of its motion after release through various instability mechanisms. The eddy motion in the imposed fluid turbulence reduces the particle settling rates from the values that would be observed in an unstirred release volume possessing zero initial turbulent energy. We here develop a model for particle bearing gravity flows initiated by the sudden release of a fixed‐volume suspension that takes into account the initial turbulent energy of mixing in the release volume by means of a modified settling velocity that, over a time scale characteristic of turbulent energy decay, approaches the full Stokes settling velocity. Thereafter, in the flow regime, we assume that the turbulence persists and, in accord with current understanding concerning the mechanics of dense underflows, that this turbulence is most intense in the wall region at the bottom of the flow and relatively coarse and on the verge of collapse (see [22]) at the top of the flow where the density contrast is compositionally maintained. We capture this behavior by specifying a “shape function” that is based upon experimental observations and provides for vertical structure in the volume fraction of particles present in the flow. The assumption of vertically well‐mixed particle suspensions employed in [1–5] corresponds to a constant shape function equal to unity. Combining these two refinements concerning the settling velocity and vertical structure of the volume fraction of particles into the conservation law for particles and coupling this with the fluid equations for a two‐layer system, we find that our results for areal density of deposits from sudden releases of fixed‐volume suspensions are in excellent qualitative agreement with the experimentally determined areal densities of deposit as reported in [1, 3, 6]. In particular, our model does what none of the other models do in that it captures and explains the proximal depression in the areal density of deposit.     

The non-homogeneous flow of a thixotropic fluid around a sphere

The non-homogeneous flow of a thixotropic fluid around a settling sphere is simulated. A four-parameter Moore model is used for a generic thixotropic fluid and discontinuous Galerkin method is employed to solve the structure-kinetics equation coupled with the conservation equations of mass and momentum. Depending on the normalized falling velocity U*, which compares the time scale of structure formation and destruction, flow solutions are divided into three different regimes, which are attributed to an interplay of three competing factors: Brownian structure recovery, shear-induced structure breakdown, and the convection of microstructures. At small U*( ≪ 1), where the Brownian structure recovery is predominant, the thixotropic effect is negligible and flow solutions are not too dissimilar to that of a Newtonian fluid. As U* increases, a remarkable structural gradient is observed and the structure profile around the settling sphere is determined by the balance of all three competing factors. For large enough U*( ≫ 1), where the Brownian structure recovery becomes negligible, the balance between shear-induced structure breakdown and the convection plays a decisive role in determining flow profile. To quantify the interplay of three factors, the drag coefficient Cs of the sphere is investigated for ranges of U*. With this framework, the effect of the destruction parameter, the confinement ratio, and a possible nonlinearity in the model-form on the non-homogeneous flow of a thixotropy fluid have been addressed.     

CFD modeling of hydrodynamic characteristics of a gas–liquid two-phase stirred tank

A three-dimensional CFD model was developed in this work to simulate hydrodynamic characteristics of a gas–liquid two-phase stirred tank with two six-bladed turbines and four baffles, coupling of the Multiple Size Group model to determine bubble size distribution. Important hydrodynamic parameters of the multi-phase system such as volume-averaged overall and time-averaged local gas holdups and axial liquid velocities along time and transversal courses were simulated and analyzed in detail, under varied operating conditions (inlet air flow rate and impeller rotation speed). Model predictions of local transient gas holdup and liquid velocity distributions on vertical and horizontal sections of the tank were also carried out. The overall flow patterns were discussed in detail to assess the mixing. Bubble size distributions were further predicted to reveal the unique properties of gas phase. Experimental measurements of overall gas holdups and local axial liquid velocities were used to validate the developed model.     

CFD studies on burner secondary airflow

In many fossil power plants operating today, there is insufficient means to assure the proper balancing of the secondary airflows between the individual burners of wall-fired units. This mismatch leads to decreased boiler efficiency and increased emissions. In this study, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling of a fossil power plant wind box was performed. The model solved the three-dimensional Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes equations with the k–ε turbulence model. The CFD results were validated by the experimental data taken from a 1/8th scale model of a wall-fired fossil unit. Simulations under various mass flow rates specified at inlet, various baffle positions and two opening conditions of the burners were obtained to identify the optimum design in terms of the equalization of the secondary airflow through the burners. This study demonstrated that the combination of experimental and CFD approach can be an effective tool in the research of burner secondary airflow balancing.     

A 3D modeling of static and forward smoldering combustion in a packed bed of materials

A three-dimensional (3D) model based on the first principles of mass, momentum and energy was developed that numerically simulates the processes of static and forward smoldering in a porous packed bed of plant materials. The packed bed contains cellulose material or tobacco (cigarette) wrapped in a porous paper and surrounded by an ambient air. Other major characteristics of the model are including the effects of buoyancy forces in the flow field, separate treatment of solid and gas in a thermally non-equilibrium environment, and use of multi-precursor kinetic models for the pyrolysis of staring material and oxidation of char. The changes in porosity due to pyrolysis and char oxidation and the effect of porosity on the bed permeability and gas diffusivity are included. The mass, momentum, energy, and species transport equations are solved in a discretized computational domain using a commercially available computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code. The simulation results show that the model reasonably reproduces the major features of a burning cigarette during smoldering and puffing and are in a good agreement with the existing experimental results for cigarettes. Results include the velocity profiles, gas and solid temperatures, coal shape, burn rates, profile and transport of gas and vapor species throughout the packed bed, dilution through the wrapper paper and ventilation in the filter section, and the mass fraction of some pyrolysis and oxidation products in the mainstream and sidestream flows.     

Modeling aspects of flow and solute transport simulations in water disinfection tanks

Water disinfection tanks such as chlorine and ozone contactors typically consist of multiple compartments featuring a serpentine flow pattern. Due to the complex hydrodynamics, the design and optimization of these tanks are often carried out by employing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. The present study demonstrates the influence of certain modeling aspects when the widely used Reynolds-Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) based CFD approach to predict hydrodynamics and disinfection performance is employed. Three different contact tank geometries are examined numerically using RANS. The time-averaged velocity predictions are reasonably accurate when compared to validation data. However, in baffled contact tanks, the time-averaged flow differs quite significantly from the instantaneous flow, with the consequence that RANS-based models require careful calibration of the turbulent mixing parameter, i.e., the turbulent Schmidt number, when computing transport of solutes.     

Investigation of physiological pulsatile flow in a model arterial stenosis using large-eddy and direct numerical simulations

Physiological pulsatile flow in a 3D model of arterial stenosis is investigated by using large eddy simulation (LES) technique. The computational domain chosen is a simple channel with a biological type stenosis formed eccentrically on the top wall. The physiological pulsation is generated at the inlet using the first harmonic of the Fourier series of pressure pulse. In LES, the large scale flows are resolved fully while the unresolved subgrid scale (SGS) motions are modelled using a localized dynamic model. Due to the narrowing of artery the pulsatile flow becomes transition-to-turbulent in the downstream region of the stenosis, where a high level of turbulent fluctuations is achieved, and some detailed information about the nature of these fluctuations are revealed through the investigation of the turbulent energy spectra. Transition-to-turbulent of the pulsatile flow in the post stenosis is examined through the various numerical results such as velocity, streamlines, velocity vectors, vortices, wall pressure and shear stresses, turbulent kinetic energy, and pressure gradient. A comparison of the LES results with the coarse DNS are given for the Reynolds number of 2000 in terms of the mean pressure, wall shear stress as well as the turbulent characteristics. The results show that the shear stress at the upper wall is low just prior to the centre of the stenosis, while it is maximum in the throat of the stenosis. But, at the immediate post stenotic region, the wall shear stress takes the oscillating form which is quite harmful to the blood cells and vessels. In addition, the pressure drops at the throat of the stenosis where the re-circulated flow region is created due to the adverse pressure gradient. The maximum turbulent kinetic energy is located at the post stenosis with the presence of the inertial sub-range region of slope −5/3.     

Numerical evaluation of the suppression effect of a free-to-rotate triangular fairing on the vortex-induced vibration of a circular cylinder

The suppression of vortex-induced vibration (VIV) of a circular cylinder with a free-to-rotate triangular fairing in the Reynolds number range of Re = 1100–6100 is numerically investigated using computational fluid dynamics. The unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations and the shear stress transport k–ω turbulence model coupled with an improved fourth-order Runge–Kutta method are used to solve the wake flow, the structure's vibration, and the fairing's rotation. The computational model is validated with the available experimental results for a cylinder with an attached short-tail fairing. The numerical results indicate that the triangular fairing has a positive role in suppressing vibration when it achieves a stable position deflected from the flow direction. The suppression effect is sensitive to the incoming flow velocity. The fairing shifts from a stable state to an unstable one when the flow velocity varies. Therefore, maintaining the hydrodynamic stability of the fairing is the key to achieving success in vibration suppression, and the stability is dependent on the characteristic length and the rotational friction. Although the strong flapping of the 70° triangular fairing excites a more vigorous vibration, it may be used as an amplifier of VIV for energy harvesting.