The analysis of silica suspensions atomization

The paper contains the results of experimental investigation of air–water and air–silica suspension atomization process in effervescent nozzles with internal mixing obtained by the use of the digital microphotography method. In experiments the different aqueous solutions of silica Aerosil 300 of different concentration have been used. The suspensions containing up to 0.04 (kg solid particles/kg solution) have Newtonian rheological properties. The observations were carried out at liquid flow rates changed from 0.0014 to 0.011 (kg/s) and gas flow rates from 0.00015 to 0.0065 (kg/s). It corresponded to gas to liquid mass ratios (GLR) values from 0.014 to 0.46. The analysis of photos shows that the droplets which have been formed during the liquid atomization have very different sizes. The differences between characteristics of effervescent atomization for water and suspensions used have not been observed. The present study confirmed the previous reports which suggested that the small particles added to solution do not change spray characteristics. The experimental results show that C_D and SMD are non-linear functions of GLR. Their values are decreasing rapidly as GLR is increased from zero to around 0.07 and thereafter decreasing at a slower rate with further increase in GLR. In the same point (GLR = 0.07) the value of α is maximal. The first regime is characteristic for bubbly flow. The second is typical of annular flow regime. Boundary between bubbly and annular flow regime is observed at GLR = 0.07 for investigated systems. The correlations for C_D and Sauter mean diameter were proposed. The results may be used for example to verify numerical models or comparisons with respect to similar atomization processes.     

Linear and non-linear rheological behaviour of cement and silica suspensions. Effect of polymer addition

Oil well cement pastes and model silica suspensions demonstrate similar rheology: in oscillatory shear, beyond a critical stress, a sharp transition is ob- served between gel and liquid behaviour. In creep tests, an apparent yield stress and shear-thinning are followed by the appearance of shear thickening. The minimum viscosity measured in steady shear is close in value to the complex viscosity obtained from oscillatory measurements. The observations can be explained by the formation of liquid trapping aggregates whose compactness may be estimated by fitting the Tsenoglou model, and whose cohesion is reflected in the rigidity of the gel and in the critical strain (or stress) of gel dissolution. Substituting cement or silica particles by polymer redispersible powder causes a decrease of the storage modulus in the gel state and a lower viscosity, while leaving the general features of the flow curve unchanged. Decrease in material rigidity may be due to a weaker inter-particle attraction generated by the polymer presence. The decrease in viscosity is explained by a lessening of water entrapped within the aggregates, which now contain polymer particles which are less hydrophilic than either cement or silica.     

Numerical analysis of complex flow of fibre suspensions in a viscoelastic fluid

Research efforts made so far to simulate fibre suspension flows are limited to fibre suspensions in Newtonian fluids. Though short fibre composites are mostly made of polymers, lack of suitable constitutive equations for fibre suspensions in viscoelastic fluids frustrates attempts to simulate flows of these suspensions. A preliminary work done by the author led to a constitutive equation for semiconcentrated fibre suspensions in the Oldroyd-B fluid. This paper describes the mathematical formulation of the flow problems for such a suspension and the numerical procedure to solve them. Some numerical results of flow past a sphere in a tube are also presented. This paper is supported by the University of Melbourne, the National Natural Science Foundation of China and Zhejiang Province.     

Filament stretching of carbon nanotube suspensions

This paper reports the application of a recently developed filament stretching protocol for the study of the extensional rheology of both treated and untreated carbon nanotubes (CNT) suspended within an epoxy resin. It was experimentally observed that filaments formed by treated and untreated CNT suspensions behaved differently after initial stretching. The filament thinning process of the base epoxy was consistent with a simple Newtonian fluid, whilst the filament of treated CNT suspensions also thinned in a Newtonian way but with an enhanced extensional viscosity. Filaments formed with untreated CNT suspensions behaved in a non-uniform way with local fluctuation in filament diameter, and it was not possible to obtain reliable extensional viscosity data. Irregularity of the untreated CNT filaments was consistent with coupled optical images, where spatial variation in CNT aggregate concentration was observed. In the case of treated CNT suspensions, the enhanced extensional viscosity was modelled in terms of the alignment of CNTs in the stretching direction, and the degree of alignment was subsequently estimated using a simple orientation model.     

The flow structure of dilute gas-particle suspensions behind a shock wave moving along a flat surface

The asymptotic and numerical investigations of shock-induced boundary layers in gas-particle mixtures are presented.The Saffman lift force acting on a particle in a shear flow istaken into account.It is shown that particle migration across the boundary layer leads tointersections of particle trajectories.The corresponding modification of dusty gas model isproposed in this paper.The equations of two-phase sidewall boundary layer behind a shock wave moving at aconstant speed are obtained by using the method of matched asymptotic expansions.Themethod of the calculation of particle phase parameters in Lagrangian coordinates isdescribed in detail.Some numerical results for the case of small particle concentration aregiven.     

Rheometric properties of micron-sized CaCO3 suspensions stabilised by a physical polyol/silica gel for polyurethane foams

This article considers the rheometric properties of mixtures containing a micron-sized mineral filler of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) in a polymer matrix gelled by adding colloidal silica (CS). These mixtures, consisting of a polymer matrix (polyols, catalysts, surfactant) are used to produce polyurethane foams. The suspending phase (polymer matrix/CS) has a yield stress that has been linked to fractal aggregation of the colloidal filler. Suspensions without any colloidal silica (polymer matrix/CaCO₃), show aggregation of CaCO₃ which is most probably due to the adsorption of catalysts present in the polymer matrix. Beyond a critical CaCO₃ volume fraction, a yield stress is detected indicating a 3D connected structure. In the case of suspensions containing colloidal silica (polymer matrix/CaCO₃/SC), the yield stress is due to a combination of the fractal network formed by the colloidal silica and aggregation of the micron-sized particles of CaCO₃.     

Nonlinear rheology of concentrated spherical silica suspensions: 3. Concentration dependence

Nonlinear rheology was examined for concentrated suspensions of spherical silica particles (with radius of 40 nm) in viscous media, 2.27/1 (wt/wt) ethylene glycol/glycerol mixture and pure ethylene glycol. The particles were randomly and isotropically dispersed in the media in the quiescent state, and their effective volume fraction φ_eff ranged from 0.36 to 0.59. For small strains, the particles exhibited linear relaxation of the Brownian stress σ_B due to their diffusion. For large step strains γ, the nonlinear relaxation modulus G(t,γ) exhibited strong damping and obeyed the time-strain separability. This damping was related to γ-insensitivity of strain-induced anisotropy in the particle distribution that resulted in decreases of σ_B/γ. The damping became stronger for larger φ_eff. This φ_eff dependence was related to a hard-core volume effect, i.e., strain-induced collision of the particles that is enhanced for larger φ_eff. Under steady/transient shear flow, the particles exhibited thinning and thickening at low and high γ˙, respectively. The thinning behavior was well described by a BKZ constitutive equation using the G(t,γ) data and attributable to decreases of a Brownian contribution, σ_B/γ˙. The thickening behavior, not described by this equation, was related to dynamic clustering of the particles and corresponding enhancement of the hydrodynamic stress at high γ˙. In this thickening regime, the viscosity growth η₊ after start-up of flow was scaled with a strain γ˙t. Specifically, critical strains γ_d and γ_s for the onset of thickening and achievement of the steadily thickened state were independent of γ˙ but decreased with increasing φ_eff. This φ_eff dependence was again related to the hard-core volume effect, flow-induced collision of the particles enhanced for larger φ_eff. Received: 26 June 1998 Accepted: 9 December 1998     

Shear and squeeze rheometry of suspensions of magnetic polymerized chains

We present the first experimental results on the magnetorheology of suspensions of non-Brownian magnetic ellipsoidal particles. These particles are made of spherical iron particles linked by polymers and are called polymerized chains. Steady shear, oscillatory shear, and oscillatory squeeze rheological tests have been performed. The rheological properties of the suspension of polymerized chains have been compared with those of the suspension of spherical iron particles. In shear flow, both suspensions develop nearly the same yield stress, while in squeeze flow, the yield stress is several times higher for the suspension of polymerized chains. We show that the squeezing force of a suspension of spherical particles is an increasing function of the magnetic field intensity at low magnetic fields but decreases dramatically at higher fields. Surprisingly, this phenomenon, attributed to cavitation or air entrainment, does not occur in the suspension of polymerized chains.     

The flow behavior of fiber suspensions in Newtonian fluids and polymer solutions.

This is the second part of a study examining the mechanical properties and capillary flow of fiber suspensions in Newtonian fluids and in polymer solutions. In part I results for the viscous and elastic properties of the fiber suspensions were presented and it was shown that the fiber suspensions exhibited normal stresses in Newtonian as well as in viscoelastic suspending media. It was thus expected that circulating secondary flows would occur near the entrance to a capillary. Four types of fillers (glass, carbon, nylon and vinylon fibers) suspended in glycerin, HEC solutions and Separan solutions were investigated. The entrance flow patterns were visualized and the pressure fluctuations measured. The visualization enabled the eddies occurring in the fiber suspensions in Newtonian fluids to be analysed and classified into two tpyes. The results from the flow visualization were correlated with the pressure fluctuations. Empirical equations for the tube length correction factor due to the elasticity were obtained.     

Dynamics of short fiber suspensions in bounded shear flow

We have studied the dynamics of non-colloidal short fiber suspensions in bounded shear flow using the Stokesian dynamics simulation. Such particles make up the microstructure of many suspensions for which the macroscopic dynamics are not well understood. The effect of wall on the fiber dynamics is the main focus of this work. For a single fiber undergoing simple shear flow between plane parallel walls the period of rotation was compared with the Jeffrey’s orbit. A fiber placed close to the wall shows significant deviation from Jeffrey’s orbit. The fiber moving near a solid wall in bounded shear flow follows a pole-vaulting motion, and its centroid location from the wall is also periodic. Simulations were also carried out to study the effect of fiber–fiber interactions on the viscosity of concentrated suspensions.     

Simulation of liquid solvent atomization in compressed CO2

The work investigates numerically the atomization regime of a liquid injected into compressed CO₂ under subcritical conditions, i.e. below the CO₂-solvent critical pressure. To vary the conditions within the atomization regime whilst keeping up with realistic experimental background, ethanol and methylene chloride were selected as injected fluid and pressure was modified as well. Results first show that the jet indeed breaks up by atomization, which confirms the validity at high pressure of the breakup classification diagram. Aiming at evaluating the size distribution of the droplets formed by the jet atomization, two methods of interface tracking were investigated. Compared to the VOF-PLIC classical method, the novel sub mesh (VOF-SM) approach allows for determining smaller sized droplets without digital broadcasting.     

Vertical integration of three-phase flow equations for analysis of light hydrocarbon plume movement

A mathematical model is derived for areal flow of water and light hydrocarbon in the presence of gas at atmospheric pressure. Vertical integration of the governing three-dimensional, three-phase flow equations is performed under the assumption of local vertical equilibrium to reduce the dimensionality of the problem to two orthogonal horizontal directions. Independent variables in the coupled water and hydrocarbon areal flow equations are specified as the elevation of zero gauge hydrocarbon pressure (air-oil table) and the elevation of zero gauge water pressure (air-water table). Constitutive relations required in the areal flow model are vertically integrated fluid saturations and vertically integrated fluid conductivities as functions of air-oil and air-water table elevations. Closed-form expressions for the vertically integrated constitutive relations are derived based on a three-phase extension of the Brooks-Corey saturation-capillary pressure function. Closed-form Brooks-Corey relations are compared with numerically computed analogs based on the Van Genuchten retention function. Close agreement between the two constitutive models is observed except at low oil volumes when the Brooks-Corey model predicts lower oil volumes and transmissivities owing to the assumption of a distinct fluid entry pressure. Nonlinearity in the vertically integrated constitutive relations is much less severe than in the unintegrated relations. Reduction in dimensionality combined with diminished nonlinearity, makes the vertically integrated water and hydrocarbon model an efficient formulation for analyzing field-scale problems involving hydrocarbon spreading or recovery under conditions for which the vertical equilibrium assumption is expected to be a satisfactory approximation.     

Numerical prediction of fiber motion in a branching channel flow of fiber suspensions

Fiber orientation and dispersion in the dilute fiber suspension that flows through a T-shaped branching channel are simulated numerically based on the slender-body theory. The simulated results are consistent qualitatively with the experimental data available in the literature. The results show that the spatial distribution of fibers is dependent on the fiber aspect ratio, but has no relation with the volume fraction of fiber. The content ratio of fibers near the upper wall increases monotonically with an increasing Re number, and the situation is reverse for the region near the bottom wall. The orientation of fibers depends on Re number, however, the function of fiber volume fraction and aspect ratio is negligible. The fibers near the wall and in the central region of the channel align along the flow direction at all times, but the fibers in the other parts of the channel tend to align along the flow direction only in the downstream region.The project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (10372090) and Doctoral Program of Higher Education in China (20030335001)The English text was polished by Ron Marshall     

Effect of polymer bridging on rheological properties of dispersions of charged silica particles in the presence of low-molecular-weight physically adsorbed poly(ethylene oxide)

 The effect of a low-molecular-weight physically adsorbed poly(ethylene oxide) on the rheological behavior of aqueous dispersions of silica particles (as a model system) has been investigated. Particular attention is given to the evolution of the rheological behavior with increasing polymer concentration in the system at different volume fractions of the particles. Experiments were performed in the absence of salt and just the pH of the dispersion was adjusted to 9.5, a condition at which the system is electrostatically stable and electrostatic repulsive forces are long range in nature. It was observed that the shear viscosity and the linear viscoelastic functions of the dispersion at 55 vol% increase initially through the addition of polymer, reach a maximum, and then decrease to a minimum with further addition of polymer to the system. At higher polymer concentrations, there may be an increase in the viscosity of the dispersion owing to an increase in the concentration of free polymer chains in the medium causing depletion flocculation in the system. The increase in the rheological behavior of the dispersion at low polymer coverage is attributed to polymer bridging flocculation caused by a low-molecular-weight poly(ethylene oxide) in the system. Comparison of the data given here with the results of earlier studies on the viscosity behavior of the system in the presence of salt (0.01 M) indicates that the range of the electrostatic repulsion has a significant role in the rheological behavior of the system. Received: 7 February 2001 Accepted: 18 October 2001     

Apparent wall slip velocity measurements in free surface flow of concentrated suspensions

In this work we have experimentally measured the apparent wall slip velocity in open channel flow of neutrally buoyant suspension of non-colloidal particles. The free surface velocity profile was measured using the tool of particle imaging velocimetry (PIV) for two different channels made of plane and rough walls. The rough walled channel prevents wall slip, whereas the plane wall showed significant wall slip due to formation of slip layer. By comparing the velocity profiles from these two cases we were able to determine the apparent wall slip velocity. This method allows characterization of wall slip in suspension of large sized particles which cannot be performed in conventional rheometers. Experiments were carried out for concentrated suspensions of various particle volume concentrations and for two different sizes of particles. It was observed that wall slip velocity increases with particle size and concentration but decreases with increase in the viscosity of suspending fluid. The apparent wall slip velocity coefficients are in qualitative agreement with the earlier measurements. The effect of wall slip on free surface corrugation was also studied by analyzing the power spectral density (PSD) of the refracted light from the free surface. Our results indicate that free surface corrugation is a bulk flow response and it does not arise from boundary problem such as development of slip layer.     

Research on the motion of particles in the turbulent pipe flow of fiber suspensions

The motion of fibers in turbulent pipe flow was simulated by 3-D integral method based on the slender body theory and simplified model of turbulence. The orientation distribution of fibers in the computational area for different Re numbers was computed. The results which were consistent with the experimental ones show that the fluctuation velocity of turbulence cause fibers to orient randomly. The orientation distributions become broader as the Re number increases. Then the fluctuation velocity and angular velocity of fibers were obtained. Both are affected by the fluctuation velocity of turbulence. The fluctuation velocity intensity of fiber is stronger at longitudinal than at lateral, while it was opposite for the fluctuation angular velocity intensity of fibers. Finally, the spatial distribution of fiber was given. It is obvious that the fiber dispersion is strenghened with the increase of Re numbers.     

Viscosity of concentrated noncolloidal bidisperse suspensions

At the same solid volume fraction (Φ) the relative viscosity (η _r ) of a concentrated noncolloidal bidisperse suspension of hard spherical particles is lower than that of a monodisperse suspension. In this paper a semi-analytical viscosity model of noncolloidal bidisperse suspensions is derived using an integration method. In this model the random loose packing density obtained by computer simulation is taken as the limit of solid volume fraction Φ _m which depends upon both the diameter ratio (λ) of large to small particles and the volume fraction of large particles (ξ=Φ _l /Φ). This model shows that at high solid volume fraction, Φ > 0.40, both λ and ξ significantly influence η _r . For example, at Φ=0.5, it predicts that for monodisperse suspensions η _r =70, while for bidisperse suspensions (λ=2 and ξ=0.7) η _r =40. Comparison shows that, at high solid volume fraction (0.4–0.5), the relative viscosity predicted by this model is in good agreement with that predicted by the work of Shapiro and Probstein (1992) and of Patlazhan (1993), but is higher than that predicted by the work of others. Received: 27 February 2001 Accepted: 25 April 2001     

Microstructure development in concentrated suspensions in a spinning ball rheometer

The spinning ball rheometer has been proposed as a method to measure the microstructure effect on the bulk rheological properties of concentrated suspensions. Recent experiments have shown that the measured extra torque on the spinning ball decreases as the radius of the spinning ball becomes comparable to the size of the suspended particle. We have performed a series of three‐dimensional boundary element calculations of the rheometer geometry to probe the microstructure effects that contribute to that apparent slip. We present a series of quasi‐static results based on random initial configurations as well as fully three‐dimensional transient calculations, both of which are compared to the available experimental data. For the two cases, the apparent viscosity decreased as the size of the spinning ball decreased relative to the suspended particle. Comparison of the quasi‐static and transient simulations indicates that the microstructure development is critical even at short times. In the transient calculations, the viscosity was observed to increase substantially relative to the torque based on the random initial configuration. Published in 2005 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.