Modeling the evolution of droplet size distribution in two-phase flows

A theoretical model is developed in the present study to simulate droplet motion and the evolution of droplet size distribution (DSD) in two-phase air/dispersed water spray flows. The model takes into account several processes which influence DSD and droplet trajectory: droplet collision and coalescence, evaporation and cooling, gravitational settling, and turbulent dispersion of dispersed phase. The DSDs determined by the model at different locations in a two-phase flow are evaluated by comparing them to experimental observations obtained in an icing wind tunnel. The satisfactory coincidence between simulation and experimental results proves that the model is reliable when modeling two-phase flows under icing conditions. The model is applied for two particular examples in which the modification of DSD is calculated in two-phase flows under conditions describing in-cloud icing and freezing drizzle.     

Shallow water modeling of rolling pad instability in liquid metal batteries

Magnetohydrodynamically induced interface instability in liquid metal batteries is analyzed. The batteries are represented by a simplified system in the form of a rectangular cell, in which strong vertical electric current flows through three horizontal layers: the layer of a heavy metal at the bottom, the layer of a light metal at the top, and the layer of electrolyte in the middle. A new two-dimensional nonlinear model based on the conservative shallow water approximation is derived and utilized in a numerical study. It is found that in the case of small density difference between the electrolyte and one of the metals, the instability closely resembles the rolling pad instability observed earlier in the aluminum reduction cells. When the two electrolyte-metal density differences are comparable, the dynamics of unstable systems is more complex and characterized by interaction between two nearly synchronized or nearly anti-synchronized interfacial waves.     

Stability of stratified shear flows in channels with variable cross sections

For the instability problem of density stratified shear flows in sea straits with variable cross sections, a new semielliptical instability region is found. Furthermore, the instability of the bounded shear layer is studied in two cases: (i) the density which takes two different constant values in two layers and (ii) the density which takes three different constant values in three layers. In both cases, the dispersion relation is found to be a quartic equation in the complex phase velocity. It is found that there are two unstable modes in a range of the wave numbers in the first case, whereas there is only one unstable mode in the second case.     

Progresses in application of computational fluid dynamic methods to large scale wind turbine aerodynamics

The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods are applied to aerodynamic problems for large scale wind turbines. The progresses including the aerodynamic analyses of wind turbine profiles, numerical flow simulation of wind turbine blades, evaluation of aerodynamic performance, and multi-objective blade optimization are discussed. Based on the CFD methods, significant improvements are obtained to predict two/three dimensional aerodynamic characteristics of wind turbine airfoils and blades, and the vortical structure in their wake flows is accurately captured. Combining with a multi-objective genetic algorithm, a 1.5 MW NH-1500 optimized blade is designed with high efficiency in wind energy conversion.     

Equations of hydrodynamics for wind wave circulation on a shelf

In order to predict the propagation of an impurity and water quality on a shelf it is necessary to know the water mass dynamics and the water exchange. However, the hydrodyamics of the shelf zone differ considerably from those of the open expanses of seas and lakes owing to the steepness of the bottom, the complex structure of the shoreline, the major role of wind waves, and their breaking [1]. In [2, 3] the importance of surface waves and their breaking for inshore flows was demonstrated and the equations of hydrodynamics, averaged over the depth, were derived. For regions of the shelf remote from the shoreline it is also necessary to take into account the interaction of waves with the bottom and with essentially three-dimensional flows. In this note the equations of hydrodynamics are derived for wind wave flows averaged over the wave period in the threedimensional formulation.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 1-, pp. 174–176, January–February, 1987.     

Numerical modelling of 3D stratified free surface flows: a case study of sediment dumping

A three‐dimensional numerical model has been developed to simulate stratified flows with free surfaces. The model is based on the Reynolds‐averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations with variable fluid density. The equations are solved in a transformed σ‐coordinate system with the use of operator‐splitting method (Int. J. Numer. Meth. Fluids 2002; 38 :1045–1068). The numerical model is validated against the one‐dimensional diffusion problem and the two‐dimensional density‐gradient flow. Excellent agreements are obtained between numerical results and analytical solutions. The model is then used to study transport phenomena of dumped sediments into a water body, which has been modelled as a strongly stratified flow. For the two‐dimensional problem, the numerical results compare well with experimental data in terms of mean particle falling velocity and spreading rate of the sediment cloud for both coarse and medium‐size sediments. The model is also employed to study the dumping of sediments in a three‐dimensional environment with the presence of free surface. It is found that during the descending process an annulus‐like cloud is formed for fine sediments whereas a plate‐like cloud for medium‐size sediments. The model is proven to be a good tool to simulate strongly stratified free surface flows. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Modeling of Variable Density Turbulent Flows. A review of first-order closure schemes

The paper is intended as a review of where eddy-viscosity turbulence models have reached in accounting for the several distinct effects of variable density and high-Mach number behaviour on the development of turbulent shear flows. Three generations of ``compressible models' are depicted: a first one based on variable density and compressible adjustments of ``incompressible' schemes, a second one in which it is presumed that explicit dilatational terms can account for variable density and compressibility effects, and a third one, where such effects are taken implicitly in association with structural changes of the turbulent field. The latter are hardly tractable when using first-order closure schemes, but more reliable than the former in accounting for most observed variable density and compressibility effects in turbulent shear flows. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Investigation of Natural Convection in a Cubic Cavity near 4°C

The problem of the natural convection of water near the density inversion point is solved numerically for a cubic cavity with isothermal horizontal walls and thermally insulated vertical walls. For different Grashof numbers, six steady-state flows are obtained and the ranges of existence of these flows are found.     

Dynamic instability of inclined cables under combined wind flow and support motion

In this paper an inclined nearly taut stay, belonging to a cable-stayed bridge, is considered. It is subject to a prescribed motion at one end, caused by traveling vehicles, and embedded in a wind flow blowing simultaneously with rain. The cable is modeled as a non-planar, nonlinear, one-dimensional continuum, possessing torsional and flexural stiffness. The lower end of the cable is assumed to undergo a vertical sinusoidal motion of given amplitude and frequency. The wind flow is assumed uniform in space and constant in time, acting on the cable along which flows a rain rivulet. The imposed motion is responsible for both external and parametric excitations, while the wind flow produces aeroelastic instability. The relevant equations of motion are discretized via the Galerkin method, by taking one in-plane and one out-of-plane symmetric modes as trial functions. The two resulting second-order, non-homogeneous, time-periodic, ordinary differential equations are coupled and contain quadratic and cubic nonlinearities, both in the displacements and velocities. They are tackled by the Multiple Scale perturbation method, which leads to first-order amplitude-phase modulation equations, governing the slow dynamics of the cable. The wind speed, the amplitude of the support motion and the internal and external frequency detunings are set as control parameters. Numerical path-following techniques provide bifurcation diagrams as functions of the control parameters, able to highlight the interactions between in-plane and out-of-plane motions, as well as the effects of the simultaneous presence of the three sources of excitation.     

两不等直径圆柱高雷诺数时均风力场的数值模拟

圆柱间气动干扰研究具有重要的理论和现实意义. 尽管国内外开展了圆柱组合风效应的风洞试验研究, 但主要针对等直径圆柱, 并且雷诺数多为10$^{5}$以下. 考虑到工程结构风场的高雷诺数特征, 采用数值模拟方法, 模拟两不等直径圆柱在串列、并列及交错排列下的高雷诺数($Re=4.5\times 10^{5}$)时均绕流场. 通过改变组合的间距和风向, 分析探讨两柱阻力、升力及总风力的变化规律.     

Lattice Boltzmann modeling of shallow water flows over discontinuous beds

Numerical modeling of shallow water flows over discontinuous beds is presented. The flows are described with the shallow water equations and the equations are solved using the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) with single relaxation time (Bhatnagar–Gross–Krook‐LBM (BGK‐LBM)) and the multiple relaxation time (MRT‐LBM). The weighted centered scheme for force term together with the bed height for a bed slope is described to improve simulation of flows over discontinuous bed. Furthermore, the resistance stress is added to include the local head loss caused by flow over a step. Four test cases, one‐dimensional tidal over regular bed and steps, dam‐break flows, and two‐dimensional shallow water flow over a square block, are considered to verify the present method. Agreements between predictions and analytical solutions are satisfactory. Furthermore, the performance and CPU cost time of BGK‐LBM and MRT‐LBM are compared and studied. The results have shown that the lattice Boltzmann method is simple and accurate for simulating shallow water flows over discontinuous beds. This demonstrates the capability and applicability of the lattice Boltzmann method in modeling shallow water flows on bed topography with a discontinuity in practical hydraulic engineering. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the surface equations in two-phase flows and reacting single-phase flows

This paper summarizes the mathematical surface equations which are useful in two-phase flows and single-phase reacting flows. The connection between the interfacial area concentration transport equation for two-phase flows and the flame surface density transport equation for turbulent reacting flows is established. Several analytical examples are given to clarify the physical significance of the different quantities involved in the different transport equations. An introduction to the mathematical treatment of anisotropic interfaces is also given. This theory is illustrated on two different numerical examples: a single inclusion in a simple shear and a single inclusion in an uni-axial elongation.     

Validation of adaptive unstructured hexahedral mesh computations of flow around a wind turbine airfoil

In this paper we investigate local adaptive refinement of unstructured hexahedral meshes for computations of the flow around the DU91 wind turbine airfoil. This is a 25% thick airfoil, found at the mid‐span section of a wind turbine blade. Wind turbine applications typically involve unsteady flows due to changes in the angle of attack and to unsteady flow separation at high angles of attack. In order to obtain reasonably accurate results for all these conditions one should use a mesh which is refined in many regions, which is not computationally efficient. Our solution is to apply an automated mesh adaptation technique. In this paper we test an adaptive refinement strategy developed for unstructured hexahedral meshes for steady flow conditions. The automated mesh adaptation is based on local flow sensors for pressure, velocity, density or a combination of these flow variables. This way the mesh is refined only in those regions necessary for high accuracy, retaining computational efficiency. A validation study is performed for two cases: attached flow at an angle of 6° and separated flow at 12°. The results obtained using our adaptive mesh strategy are compared with experimental data and with results obtained with an equally sized non‐adapted mesh. From these computations it can be concluded that for a given computing time, adapted meshes result in solutions closer to the experimental data compared to non‐adapted meshes for attached flow. Finally, we show results for unsteady computations. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A well‐balanced weighted essentially non‐oscillatory scheme for pollutant transport in shallow water

In this paper, a well‐balanced finite difference weighted essentially non‐oscillatory scheme is presented for modeling transport and diffusion of pollutant in shallow water flows. The scheme balances exactly the flux gradients and the source terms. Extensive one‐dimensional and two‐dimensional numerical experiments on uniform and curvilinear meshes strongly suggest that high resolution results are achieved for both water depth and pollutant concentration. The scheme is efficient and robust and can be applied to practical numerical simulation of pollutant transport phenomena in shallow water flows. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Unified one‐fluid formulation for incompressible flexible solids and multiphase flows: Application to hydrodynamics using the immersed structural potential method (ISPM)

In this paper, we present a two‐dimensional computational framework for the simulation of fluid‐structure interaction problems involving incompressible flexible solids and multiphase flows, further extending the application range of classical immersed computational approaches to the context of hydrodynamics. The proposed method aims to overcome shortcomings such as the restriction of having to deal with similar density ratios among different phases or the restriction to solve single‐phase flows. First, a variation of classical immersed techniques, pioneered with the immersed boundary method (IBM), is presented by rearranging the governing equations, which define the behaviour of the multiple physics involved. The formulation is compatible with the “one‐fluid” formulation for two‐phase flows and can deal with large density ratios with the help of an anisotropic Poisson solver. Second, immersed deformable structures and fluid phases are modelled in an identical manner except for the computation of the deviatoric stresses. The numerical technique followed in this paper builds upon the immersed structural potential method developed by the authors, by adding a level set–based method for the capturing of the fluid‐fluid interfaces and an interface Lagrangian‐based meshless technique for the tracking of the fluid‐structure interface. The spatial discretisation is based on the standard marker‐and‐cell method used in conjunction with a fractional step approach for the pressure/velocity decoupling, a second‐order time integrator, and a fixed‐point iterative scheme. The paper presents a wide d range of two‐dimensional applications involving multiphase flows interacting with immersed deformable solids, including benchmarking against both experimental and alternative numerical schemes.     

Dual hologram shearing interference technique with enhanced sensitivity for wind tunnel testing

 A novel optical diagnostic approach, namely, a dual hologram shearing interferometry with enhanced sensitivity, is proposed for visualization, and for measuring the density gradients of the flow in wind tunnels. The technique is especially useful for strong turbulent and/or unsteady regions flows. The features of the technique make it tolerant to vibrational disturbances typical to many wind tunnel facilities. The method was demonstrated by its application to a supersonic flow over a spherically blunted nose cone/cylinder model. Received: 4 December 1997/Accepted: 8 April 1998     

风沙两相流测量技术研究进展

围绕风沙两相流的测量, 归纳了过去几十年来在风沙动力学研究中所使用的风速测量技术和输沙率测量装置.着重讨论了高频测量在目前风沙动力学研究中的必要性, 分析了传统风速和输沙率测量装置的优缺点.对新一代光学测量技术------PIV在风沙两相流测量中的应用进行了较为详细的探讨.指出PIV测速技术在风沙两相流研究中具有广泛的应用前景, 使用PIV测速技术可以得到风沙流结构、两相速度场等宏观信息, 同时也可以进行单个颗粒运动状态的研究.      

Influence mechanism on flow and heat transfer characteristics for air-cooled steam condenser cells

Air-cooled steam condensers (ACSCs) have been extensively utilized to reject waste heat in power industry to save water resources. However, ACSC performance is so sensitive to ambient wind that almost all the air-cooled power plants in China are less efficient compared to design conditions. It is shown from previous research that the influence of ambient wind on the cell performance differs from its location in the condenser. As a result, a numerical model including two identical ACSC cells are established, and the different influence on the performance of the cells is demonstrated and analyzed through the computational fluid dynamics method. Despite the great influence from the wind speeds, similar cell performance is obtained for the two cells under both windless and wind speed conditions when the wind parallels to the steam duct. Fan volumetric effectiveness which characterizes the fan performance, as well as the exchanger heat transfer rate, drops obviously with the increasing wind speed, and performance difference between the exchanger pair in the same A-frame also rises continuously. Furthermore, different flow and heat transfer characteristics of the windward and leeward cell are obtained at different wind angles, and ambient wind enhances the performance of the leeward cell, while that of the windward one changes little.