Euler–Euler large eddy simulations for dispersed turbulent bubbly flows

In this paper we present detailed Euler–Euler Large Eddy Simulations (LES) of dispersed bubbly flow in a rectangular bubble column. The motivation of this study is to investigate the potential of this approach for the prediction of bubbly flows, in terms of mean quantities. The physical models describing the momentum exchange between the phases including drag, lift and wall force were chosen according to previous experiences of the authors. Experimental data, Euler–Lagrange LES and unsteady Euler–Euler Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes results are used for comparison. It is found that the present model combination provides good agreement with experimental data for the mean flow and liquid velocity fluctuations. The energy spectrum obtained from the resolved velocity of the Euler–Euler LES is presented as well.     

Prediction of mono-disperse gas–liquid turbulent flow in a vertical pipe

A two-fluid model in the Eulerian–Eulerian framework has been implemented for the prediction of gas volume fraction, mean phasic velocities, and the liquid phase turbulence properties for gas–liquid upward flow in a vertical pipe. The governing two-fluid transport equations are discretized using the finite volume method and a low Reynolds number $k-\varepsilon$ model is used to predict the turbulence field for the continuous liquid phase. In the present analysis, a fully developed one-dimensional flow is considered where the gas volume fraction profile is predicted using the radial force balance for the bubble phase. The current study investigates: (1) the turbulence modulation terms which represent the effect of bubbles on the liquid phase turbulence in the k–ε transport equations; (2) the role of the bubble induced turbulent viscosity compared to turbulence generated by shear; and (3) the effect of bubble size on the radial forces which results in either a center-peak or a wall-peak in the gas volume fraction profiles. The results obtained from the current simulation are generally in good agreement with the experimental data, and somewhat improved over the predictions of some previous numerical studies.     

Numerical simulation of a dense solid particle flow inside a cyclone separator using the hybrid Euler–Lagrange approach

This paper presents a numerical simulation of the flow inside a cyclone separator at high particle loads. The gas and gas–particle flows were analyzed using a commercial computational fluid dynamics code. The turbulence effects inside the separator were modeled using the Reynolds stress model. The two phase gas–solid particles flow was modeled using a hybrid Euler–Lagrange approach, which accounts for the four-way coupling between phases. The simulations were performed for three inlet velocities of the gaseous phase and several cyclone mass particle loadings. Moreover, the influences of several submodel parameters on the calculated results were investigated. The obtained results were compared against experimental data collected at the in-house experimental rig. The cyclone pressure drop evaluated numerically underpredicts the measured values. The possible reason of this discrepancies was disused.     

Structures in gas–liquid churn flow in a large diameter vertical pipe

Gas–Liquid two phase co-current flow in a vertical riser with an internal diameter of 127 mm was investigated in the churn flow pattern. This paper presents detailed experimental data obtained using a Wire Mesh Sensor. It shows that the most obvious features of the flow are huge waves travelling on the liquid film. Wisps, large tendrils of liquid and the product of incomplete atomisation, which had previously detected in smaller diameter pipes, have also been found in the larger diameter pipe employed here. The output of the Wire Mesh Sensor has been used to determine the overall void fraction. When examined within a drift flux framework, it shows a distribution coefficient of ∼1, in contrast to data for lower gas flow rates. Film thickness time series extracted from the Wire Mesh Sensor output have been examined and the trends of mean film thickness, that of the base film and the wave peaks are presented and discussed. The occurrence of wisps and their frequencies have been quantified.     

Euler–Lagrange simulation of high pressure shock waves

This paper presents the numerical simulation of overdriven detonation (or O.D.D.) that occurs when a high velocity object impacts an explosive. The pressure and the velocity at this state are higher than those of the Chapman–Jouguet (C–J) state. First, before the simulation of this event, a study of PBX air blast by using multi-material Eulerian method is presented. Pressure peaks are computed for several distances from the explosive. Second, the O.D.D. phenomenon is modeled by the Euler–Lagrange penalty coupling, which permits to couple a Lagrangian mesh of the flyer plate to multi-material Eulerian mesh of explosives and air. This coupling gives us the high detonation velocities in the acceptor explosive and demonstrates that it is able to handle shock–structure interaction problems.     

Modelling of gas–solid turbulent channel flow with non-spherical particles with large Stokes numbers

This paper describes a complete framework to predict the behaviour of interacting non-spherical particles with large Stokes numbers in a turbulent flow. A summary of the rigid body dynamics of particles and particle collisions is presented in the framework of Quaternions. A particle-rough wall interaction model to describe the collisions between non-spherical particles and a rough wall is put forward as well. The framework is coupled with a DNS-LES approach to simulate the behaviour of horizontal turbulent channel flow with 5 differently shaped particles: a sphere, two types of ellipsoids, a disc, and a fibre. The drag and lift forces and the torque on the particles are computed from correlations which are derived using true DNS.The simulation results show that non-spherical particles tend to locally maximise the drag force, by aligning their longest axis perpendicular to the local flow direction. This phenomenon is further explained by performing resolved direct numerical simulations of an ellipsoid in a flow. These simulations show that the high pressure region on the acute sides of a non-spherical particle result in a torque if an axis of the non-spherical particle is not aligned with the flow. This torque is only zero if the axis of the particle is perpendicular to the local direction of the flow. Moreover, the particle is most stable when the longest axis is aligned perpendicular to the flow.The alignment of the longest axis of a non-spherical particle perpendicular to the local flow leads to non-spherical particles having a larger average velocity compared to spherical particles with the same equivalent diameter. It is also shown that disc-shaped particles flow in a more steady trajectory compared to elongated particles, such as elongated ellipsoids and fibres. This is related to the magnitude of the pressure gradient on the acute side of the non-spherical particles. Finally, it is shown that the effect of wall roughness affects non-spherical particles differently than spherical particles. Particularly, a collision of a non-spherical particle with a rough wall induces a significant amount of rotational energy, whereas a corresponding collision with a spherical particle results in mostly a change in translational motion.     

Pore-scale modeling of viscoelastic flow in porous media using a Bautista–Manero fluid

This article examines the extensional flow and viscosity and the converging–diverging geometry as the basis of the peculiar viscoelastic behavior in porous media. The modified Bautista–Manero model, which successfully describes elasticity, thixotropic time dependency and shear-thinning, was used for modeling the flow of viscoelastic materials which also show thixotropic attributes. An algorithm, originally proposed by Philippe Tardy, that employs this model to simulate steady-state time-dependent flow was implemented in a non-Newtonian flow simulation code using pore-scale modeling. The simulation results using two topologically-complex networks confirmed the importance of the extensional flow and converging–diverging geometry on the behavior of non-Newtonian fluids in porous media. The analysis also identified a number of correct trends (qualitative and quantitative) and revealed the effect of various fluid and flow parameters on the flow process. The impact of some numerical parameters was also assessed and verified.     

“Perfect” modeling framework for dynamic SGS model testing in large eddy simulation

A perfect modeling framework for the systematic study of the effect of filter shape on the resolved scales of motion in large eddy simulation is developed. The effects of the explicit and implicit filtering approaches in large eddy simulation are considered. A simple model for smooth filtering is proposed and the related effects are analyzed. The proposed approach provides an effective research tool for assessing the behavior of sub-grid scale models in a dynamic fashion. The performances of various classical models are examined by using the perfect modeling formalism for simulating the large and/or the small residual scales effect. Numerical experiments are performed for decaying isotropic turbulence. The consistency of the sub-grid scale models with the effective composite filter employed in real simulations is discussed. The necessity of using mixed models when solving doubly-filtered Navier–Stokes equations is verified. It is found that time evolution of large scale velocity field is more sensitive to sub-grid large scale models like Bardina model, while the grid-filtered sub-filter scale model is necessary to ensure the proper energy dissipation.     

Effect of pipe rotation on downward co-current air–water flow in a vertical pipe

The present research experimentally studied the effect of pipe rotation on the flow patterns of downward gasliquid two-phase flow. Two-phase flow patterns and their transition boundaries were observed and analyzed at different pipe revolutions. The experimental setup was fabricated to show flow patterns in a downward direction. The setup includes a transparent vertical pipe with a diameter of 50 mm and an aspect ratio (L/d) of 80 that can rotate at different speeds. Eight flow maps were obtained at revolutions of 0, 60, 120, 180, 240, 300, 400 and 500 rpm by changing the air and water velocities at any revolution (a total of 2205 points). The gasliquid downward two-phase flow regimes were analyzed using image processing. The experimental results were compared with published flow maps for vertical flow. It was found that pipe rotation has major effect on flow patterns map and their transitions boundaries. Increasing pipe rotation cause slug and annular flow start at lower V_SG.     

Theory on transverse migration of particles in a turbulent two-phase suspension flow due to turbulent diffusion—I

A new theoretical model has been developed to explain the behavior of transverse particle transport in turbulent flow of a dilute two-phase suspension due to turbulent diffusion. This model is based on the ability of a particle to respond to surrounding fluid motion and depends on particle size and density relative to the carrier fluid, the fractional variation in particle concentration in the transverse direction as well as the existing turbulence structure of the surrounding fluid. The model developed in this investigation has been formulated by dividing the transverse fluid velocity, as seen by a particular particle, into two superimposed components representing, respectively, the transverse turbulent fluid fluctuations and an apparent transverse local fluid drifting velocity due to the effect on the transverse oscillatory component of fluid motion by the transverse concentration distribution of particles. A subsequent paper will show that the theory (together with other new results on the concentration effects on particle drag and lift and fluid turbulence properties) can help to explain the phenomena measured previously.     

Modeling fluid–particle interaction in dilute-phase turbulent liquid–particle flow simulation

The present work examines the predictive capability of a two-fluid CFD model that is based on the kinetic theory of granular flow in simulating dilute-phase turbulent liquid–particle pipe flows in which the interstitial fluid effect on the particle fluctuating motion is significant. The impacts of employing different drag correlations and turbulence closure models to describe the fluid–particle interactions (i.e. drag force and long-range interaction) are examined at both the mean and fluctuating velocity l...     

Drag models for simulating gas–solid flow in the turbulent fluidization of FCC particles

This paper examines the suitability of various drag models for predicting the hydrodynamics of the turbulent fluidization of FCC particles on the Fluent V6.2 platform.The drag models included those of Syamlal–O’Brien,Gidaspow,modified Syamlal–O’Brien,and McKeen.Comparison between experimental data and simulated results showed that the Syamlal–O’Brien,Gidaspow,and modified Syamlal–O’Brien drag models highly overestimated gas–solid momentum exchange and could not predict the formation of dense phase in the fl...     

The flow pattern map of a two-phase non-Newtonian liquid–gas flow in the vertical pipe

A map for the determination of flow pattern for two-phase flow of gas and non-Newtonian liquid in the vertical pipe has been presented. Our own experimental data confirm applicability of such a map.     

Effect of drag reducing polymers on oil–water flow in a horizontal pipe

Measurements of drag-reduction are presented for oil–water flowing in a horizontal 0.0254 m pipe. Different oil–water configurations were observed. The injection of water soluble polymer solution (PDRA) in some cases produced drag reduction of about 65% with concentration of only 10–15 ppm. The results showed a significant reduction in pressure gradient due to PDRA especially at high mixture velocity which was accompanied by a clear change in the flow pattern. Phase inversion point in dispersed flow regime occurred at a water fraction range of (0.33–0.35) indicated by its pressure drop peak which was disappeared by injecting only 5 ppm (weight basis) of PDRA. Effect of PDRA concentration and molecular weight on flow patterns and pressure drops are presented in this study. Influence of salt content in the water phase on the performance of PDRA is also examined in this paper.     

Modelling of pressure–strain correlation in compressible turbulent flow

Previous studies carried out in the early 1990s conjectured that the main compressible effects could be associated with the dilatational effects of velocity fluctuation. Later, it was shown that the main compressibility effect came from the reduced pressure-strain term due to reduced pressure fluctuations. Although better understanding of the compressible turbulence is generally achieved with the increased DNS and experimental research effort, there are still some discrepancies among these recent findings. Analysis of the DNS and experimental data suggests that some of the discrepancies are apparent if the compressible effect is related to the turbulent Mach number, Mt. From the comparison of two classes of compressible flow, homogenous shear flow and inhomogeneous shear flow （mixing layer）, we found that the effect of compressibility on both classes of shear flow can be characterized in three categories corresponding to three regions of turbulent Mach numbers： the low-Mr, the moderate-Mr and high-Mr regions. In these three regions the effect of compressibility on the growth rate of the turbulent mixing layer thickness is rather different. A simple approach to the reduced pressure-strain effect may not necessarily reduce the mixing-layer growth rate, and may even cause an increase in the growth rate. The present work develops a new second-moment model for the compressible turbulence through the introduction of some blending functions of Mt to account for the compressibility effects on the flow. The model has been successfully applied to the compressible mixing layers.     

Vortical patterns in turbulent flow downstream a 90° curved pipe at high Womersley numbers

The present experimental work focuses on highly pulsatile, i.e. inertia dominated, turbulent flow downstream a curved pipe and aims at investigating the vortical characteristics of such a flow. The flow parameters (Dean and Womersley number) investigated are of the same order as those met in the internal combustion engine environment. The technique employed is time-resolved stereoscopic particle image velocimetry at different cross-sections downstream the pipe bend. These measurements allow the large-scale structures that are formed to be analyzed by means of proper orthogonal decomposition. The flow field changes drastically during a pulsatile cycle, varying from a uniform flow direction across the pipe section from the inside to the outside of the bend to vortical patterns consisting of two counter-rotating cells. This study characterizes and describes pulsatile curved pipe flow at Womersley numbers much higher than previously reported in the literature. Furthermore, the oscillatory behaviour of the Dean cells for the steady flow – the so-called ‘swirl switching’ – is investigated for different downstream stations from the bend exit and it is shown that this motion does not appear in the immediate vicinity of the bend, but only further downstream.