Analysis of frictionless two-phase flow in tubes under centrifugal acceleration and minimum heating for choked flow

To determine the void fraction in a tube of a rotating heat exchanger, an analytical investigation was undertaken to model frictionless two-phase flow boiling. Steady, one-dimensional separated two-phase conservation equations in differential form, were first applied to a stationary system. The equations were integrated between the inlet and exit of the flow channel to yield three coupled algebraic equations. The algebraic equations were then modified to represent rotating systems. To obtain closure, the velocity ratio, mass quality and void fraction are defined as a function of pressure.

A numerical technique was used to solve the equations. Sample results are presented in a graph of mass quality versus void fraction. The graph demonstrates that a minimum heat input must be exceeded to change from a single-phase flow to saturated two-phase flow boiling. Also, the void fraction was found to increase for increasing heat input, decreasing mass flow rate, increasing inlet mass quality and decreasing pressure difference between the inlet and exit.     

A solution of steady-state fluid flow in multiply fractured isotropic porous media

Herein a plane, steady-state fluid flow solution for fractured porous media is first presented. The solution is based on the theory of complex potentials, the theory of Cauchy integrals, and of singular integral equations. Subsequently, a numerical method is illustrated that may be used for the accurate estimation of the pore pressure and pore pressure gradient fields due to specified hydraulic pressure or pore pressure gradient acting on the lips of one or multiple non-intersecting curvilinear cracks in a homogeneous and isotropic porous medium. It is shown that the numerical integration algorithm of the singular integral equations is fast and converges rapidly. After the successful validation of the numerical scheme several cases of multiple curvilinear cracks are illustrated.     

含有启动压力梯度的渗流问题及其无网格解法

针对两种典型的涉及启动压力梯度的渗流问题,给出了无量纲化的渗流控制方程、初始条件和边界条件,并使用无网格方法进行数值模拟。计算结果使用Gringarten—Bourdet图版进行井底压力分析,给出了一种计算动边界位置的方法,并详细讨论了动边界变化情况。     

Differential transformation method for studying flow and heat transfer due to stretching sheet embedded in porous medium with variable thickness,variable thermal conductivity,and thermal radiation

This article presents a numerical solution for the flow of a Newtonian fluid over an impermeable stretching sheet embedded in a porous medium with the power law surface velocity and variable thickness in the presence of thermal radiation. The flow is caused by non-linear stretching of a sheet. Thermal conductivity of the fluid is assumed to vary linearly with temperature. The governing partial differential equations （PDEs） are transformed into a system of coupled non-linear ordinary differential equations （ODEs） with appropriate boundary conditions for various physical parameters. The remaining system of ODEs is solved numerically using a differential transformation method （DTM）. The effects of the porous parameter, the wall thickness parameter, the radiation parameter, the thermal conductivity parameter, and the Prandtl number on the flow and temperature profiles are presented. Moreover, the local skin-friction and the Nusselt numbers are presented. Comparison of the obtained numerical results is made with previously published results in some special cases, with good agreement. The results obtained in this paper confirm the idea that DTM is a powerful mathematical tool and can be applied to a large class of linear and non-linear problems in different fields of science and engineering.     

Analytical Determination of Flow Patterns in a Double Porosity Medium Containing Ellipsoidal Occluded Macro-Voids

This article presents the analytical study of fluid flow in a porous medium presenting pores of two different length scales: at the smallest or microscopic scale, the presence of connected voids confers a porous medium structure to the material investigated, while at the upper or mesoscopic scale, occluded macro-pores are present. This microstructure is employed to represent the progressive opening of inter-aggregate pore spaces observed in natural compacted montmorillonites polluted by heavy metal ions. Three-dimensional analytical expressions are rigorously derived for the pore fluid velocity and excess pore fluid pressure within the porous matrix, around an occluded ellipsoidal inter-aggregate void. The eccentricity ratio is employed to characterize the geometrical shape of the ellipsoidal void, while its size is characterized by the macro-porosity. Confrontations are made with numerical solutions in order to investigate the applicability of the analytical pressure and velocity solutions to microstructures of finite size.     

Modeling of Axisymmetric Two-phase Dilute Flows

This paper deals with the numerical treatment of Eulerian approach for dilute two-phase compressible flows (gas-particles mixtures) in axisymmetric configurations. For dilute flows, two classes of models depending on the dispersed phase volumetric fraction can be found. The volume occupied by the particles may be considered, that yields a model in which the gas phase and the dispersed phase equations are coupled through the void fraction and the source terms (Delhaye model). The void fraction effects can be neglected, that means the gas phase is a carrier phase for the particles (Ishii model). The mathematical nature of the two models is demonstrated from analysis of characteristic directions. For the Delhaye's model, a centered scheme is used to solve the system of partial differential equations, while an upwind TVD scheme is used for the Ishii's one. Then, it is shown that the problem of symmetry boundary conditions does not depend on the physical approach, as long as the flow remains dilute. However, a classical treatment for symmetry boundary conditions at the geometrical axis leads to large errors. A particular treatment for this boundary is presented: a new class of particles, described by a supplementary system of equations, is required.     

EULERIAN–LAGRANGIAN COMPUTATIONS ON PHASE DISTRIBUTION OF TWO-PHASE BUBBLY FLOWS

A comprehensively theoretical model is developed and numerically solved to investigate the phase distribution phenomena in a two-dimensional, axisymmetric, developing, two-phase bubbly flow. The Eulerian approach treats the fluid phase as a continuum and solved Eulerian conservation equations for the liquid phase. The Lagrangian bubbles are tracked by solving the equation of motion for the gas phase. The interphase momentum changes are included in the equations. The numerical model successfully predicts detailed flow velocity profiles for both liquid and gas phases. The development of the wall-peaking phenomenon of the void fraction and velocity profiles is also characterized for the developing flow. For 42 experiments in which the mean void fraction is less than 20 per cent, numerical calculations demonstrate that the predictions agree well with Liu's experimental data. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Wall shear stress and void fraction in Poiseuille bubbly flows: Part I: simple analytic predictions

Upward, co-current bubbly flows in a vertical rectangular duct are investigated at low liquid Reynolds numbers. The conditions considered are such that the pseudo-turbulent stresses remain negligible compared to the viscous stresses. The void fraction transverse distribution is idealised as step-functions and is then inserted in the conservation equations supplemented by appropriate closure laws. Analytical expressions are then obtained for the axial velocity profiles, for the lineic gas fraction and for the wall friction. The sensitivity of these quantities to the void distribution, characterised by the void fraction and the width of the three layers introduced, is discussed. It is shown that differential buoyancy effects govern the modification of the liquid velocity profiles. Notably, void peaking near walls is able to induce a wall shear stress many times higher than its single-phase flow counterpart at the same liquid flow rate. Also, the presence of a near wall region free of gas favours the onset of downward directed secondary flows. All these features correspond to experimental observations, and a few quantitative comparisons are also presented which support the validity of the model even in case of void coring. A companion paper (part II) will be devoted to systematic comparisons between predictions and experiments in the case of axisymmetric Poiseuille bubbly flows.     

The effect of porosity distribution on ductile failure

The effect of a nonuniform distribution of porosity on flow localization and failure in a porous material is analyzed numerically. The void density distribution and properties used to characterize the material behavior were obtained from measurements on partially consolidated and sintered iron powder. The calculations were carried out using an elastic viscoplastic constitutive relation for porous plastic solids. Local material failure is incorporated into the model through the dependence of the flow potential on void volume fraction. The region modelled is a small portion of a larger body, subject to various triaxial stress conditions. Both plane strain and axisymmetric deformations are considered with imposed periodic boundary conditions. Interactions between regions with higher void fractions promote plastic flow localization into a band. Local failure occurs by void growth and coalescence within the band. The results suggest a failure criterion based on a critical void volume fraction that is only weakly dependent on stress history. The critical void fraction does. however, depend on the initial void distribution and material hardening characteristics.     

NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL SHOCK-SHOCK INTERACTIONS ON A BLUNT BODY

A numerical study is conducted to simulate the effects of extraneous shock impingement on a blunt body in viscous hypersonic flow. The interaction of extraneous shock with the leading-edge shock results in a very complex flow field that contains local regions of high pressure and intense heating. The heating and pressure can be orders of magnitude higher than the peak values in the absence of shock impingement. The flow field is calculated by solving thin-layer Navier-Stokes equations with a finite-volume flux splitting technique developed by van Leer. For a zero or small sweep of the body, a type IV interaction occurs, which produces a lambda shock structure with a supersonic jet embedded in the otherwise subsonic flow; for a moderate sweep of about 25^°, a type V interaction occurs in which a subsonic shear layer sandwiched in supersonic flow is produced with a transmitted shock. In the present study, both type IV and type V interactions are investigated. Results of the present numerical investigation are compared with available experimental results. For the present conditions, the peak pressure is 2.2 times the unimpinged stagnation point pressure and the peak heating is 3 times the unimpinged stagnation point heating. The flow for a type IV interaction is found to be unsteady.     

Analysis of one-dimensional horizontal two-phase flow in geothermal reservoirs

In the absence of capillarity the single-component two-phase porous medium equations have the structure of a nonlinear parabolic pressure (equivalently, temperature) diffusion equation, with derivative coupling to a nonlinear hyperbolic saturation wave equation. The mixed parabolic-hyperbolic system is capable of substaining saturation shock waves. The Rankine-Hugoniot equations show that the volume flux is continuous across such a shock. In this paper we focus on the horizontal one-dimensional flow of water and steam through a block of porous material within a geothermal reservoir. Starting from a state of steady flow we study the reaction of the system to simple changes in boundary conditions. Exact results are obtainable only numerically, but in some cases analytic approximations can be derived. When pressure diffusion occurs much faster than saturation convection, the numerical results can be described satisfactorily in terms of either saturation expansion fans, or isolated saturation shocks. At early times, pressure and saturation profiles are functionally related. At intermediate times, boundary effects become apparent. At late times, saturation convection dominates and eventually a steady-state is established. When both pressure diffusion and saturation convection occur on the same timescale, initial simple shock profiles evolve into multiple shocks, for which no theory is currently available. Finally, a parameter-free system of equations is obtained which satisfactorily represents a particular case of the exact equations.     

Coalescence of voids by internal necking: Theoretical estimates and numerical results

Upper-bound estimates and supposedly exact numerical results are obtained for the limit loads associated with cylindrical cells containing voids and subjected to boundary conditions that are consistent with post-localization kinematics in porous plastic solids. When supplemented with evolution equations for the microstructural variables, the results can be used in the modeling of void coalescence by internal necking in ductile materials.     

Modeling transient churn-annular flows in a long vertical tube

This work investigates the transient behavior of high gas fraction gas-liquid flows in vertical pipes (annular and churn flows). Hyperbolic balance equations for mass, momentum and entropy are written for the gas and liquid, which is split between a continuous film and droplets entrained in the gas core. Closure relationships to calculate the wall and interfacial friction and the rates of droplet entrainment and deposition were obtained from the literature. A finite-difference solution algorithm based on a coefficient matrix splitting method was implemented to deal with sharp variations in the spatial and temporal domains, such as pressure and phase holdup waves. The model results were compared with steady-state experimental data from eight different sources, totaling more than 1500 data points for pressure gradient, liquid film flow rate and void/core fraction. The absolute average deviation between the model and the data was 17% for the pressure gradient and 5.8% for the void fraction. A comparison of the model results with fully transient air-water data generated in a 49-mm ID, 42-m long vertical pipe is also presented. The experimental results consist of two outlet pressure-induced and two inlet mass flow rate-induced transient tests. Two main transient parameters are compared, namely the local void fraction and the pressure difference between selected points along the test section and the outlet (taken as a reference). The comparisons between the experiments and the numerical model indicate that the model was capable of describing the transient annular to churn flow transition with absolute average deviations of 14.5% and 7.9% for the pressure difference and void fraction, respectively.     

Finite element solution of the equations governing the flow of electrolyte in charged microporous membranes

Electrical double-layer effects are unimportant in flows through porous media except when the Debye length k^?1 is comparable in magnitude with the pore radius a. Under these conditions the equations governing the flow of electrolyte are those of Stokes, Nernst-Planck and Poisson. These equations are non-linear and require numerical solution. The finite element method provides a useful basis for solution and various algorithms are investigated. The numerical stability and errors of each scheme are analysed together with the development of an appropriate finite element mesh. The electro-osmotic flow of a typical electrolyte (barium chloride) through a uniformly charged cylindrical membrane pore is investigated and the ion fluxes are post-computed from the numerical solutions. The ion flux is shown to be strongly dependent on both zeta potential and pore radius, ka, indicating the effects of overlapping electrical double layers.     

气液两相管流水力瞬变的数值计算及实验研究

由气液两相管流的基本方程出发,通过引入矢通量分裂,对传统的特征线差分做了较大的改进,形成了基于矢通量分裂的特征线差分解法。该法首先将控制方程组的特征值分解成正、负两部分,进而将控制方程中的矢通量雅可比矩阵分裂成两个亚矢量矩阵,对其按各自的迎风格式差分,从而建立了稳定的差分求解格式。该计算法适合于计算声速变化较大且计及液流速度的气液管流的瞬变。计算求解得到的各种不同初始空隙比的压力变化曲线、声速曲线、波速变化曲线、空隙比变化曲线及气体释放影响曲线,通过与不同初始空隙比时气液管流水力瞬变的实验结果对比分析,结果表明两者吻合较好,说明本文方法对于低空隙比的气液两相管流具有较普遍的适用性。     

Convective cooling/heating induced thermal stresses in a fluid saturated porous medium undergoing local thermal non-equilibrium

Local thermal non-equilibrium (LTNE) may have profound effects on the pore pressure and thermal stresses in fluid saturated porous media under transient thermal loads. This work investigates the temperature, pore pressure, and thermal stress distributions in a porous medium subjected to convective cooling/heating on its boundary. The LTNE thermo-poroelasticity equations are solved by means of Laplace transform for two fundamental problems in petroleum engineering and nuclear waste storage applications, i.e., an infinite porous medium containing a cylindrical hole or a spherical cavity subjected to symmetrical thermo-mechanical loads on the cavity boundary. Numerical examples are presented to examine the effects of LTNE under convective cooling/heating conditions on the temperature, pore pressure and thermal stresses around the cavities. The results show that the LTNE effects become more pronounced when the convective heat transfer boundary conditions are employed. For the cylindrical hole problem of a sandstone formation, the thermally induced pore pressure and the magnitude of thermal stresses are significantly higher than the corresponding values in the classical poroelasticity, which is particularly true under convective cooling with moderate Biot numbers. For the spherical cavity problem of a clay medium, the LTNE effect may become significant depending on the boundary conditions employed in the classical theory.     

A New Approach in Modeling Phase Distribution in Fully Developed Bubbly Pipe Flow

Turbulent two-phase flow equations are derived and solved for fully developed pipe flow using a composite eddy-viscosity model and a new void-fraction equation. The void fraction profile is first specified from experiments and the velocity field is calculated to validate the eddy-viscosity model. Consequently, a new equation is presented for calculation of the void fraction. This void-fraction equation incorporates the gradient of turbulent normal stresses in the radial direction, the conventional lift force, and a contribution from the unsteady drag force. The implications of this new equation, for the bubbly flow regime, are investigated by calculating the void-fraction distribution for a given velocity field. Inclusion of the normal turbulent stresses in the radial direction is shown to simulate correctly the experimentally observed trends of the phase distribution, both for upward and downward bubbly flow, without the need for a fictitious term such as the so called ``lubrication force'. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Hydraulic Fracture Propagation with 3-D Leak-off

Hydraulic fracture models typically couple a fracture elasticity model with a geological reservoir model to forecast the rate of fluid leak-off from the propagating fracture. The most commonly used leak-off model is that originally specified by Carter, which involves the assumption that the fracture is embedded within an infinite homogenous porous medium where flow only occurs perpendicular to the fracture plane. The objectives of this paper are: (1) to show that assuming one-dimensional leak-off can lead to erroneous conclusions, (2) to present a robust numerical methodology for simulating three-dimensional leak-off from propagating hydraulic fractures, and (3) to present and compare a new analytical method based on assuming three-dimensional flow of an incompressible fluid through an incompressible porous formation from a circular planar fracture. Provided the fluid and formation compressibility can be ignored within the reservoir flow model, the three-dimensional leak-off from a circular planar fracture can be written in closed-form as a function, which depends linearly on fracture pressure and radial extent. This simple expression for leak-off can be easily coupled to a range of circular fracture elasticity models. As a comparison example, the Carter model, our new function and a three-dimensional numerical model of the full problem are coupled to the PK-radial fracture model. Comparison with the numerical model shows that our new function overestimates fracture growth during intermediate times but accurately predicts both the early and late-time asymptotic behavior. In contrast, the Carter model fails to replicate both the early and late-time asymptotic behavior. Our new function additionally improves on the Carter model by not requiring the evaluation of convolution integrals and allowing easy evaluation of both the spatial leakage flux distribution across the fracture face and the three-dimensional pressure distribution within the porous formation.     

A one-dimensional moving grid solution for the coupled non-linear equations governing multiphase flow in porous media. 1: Model development

A straightforward moving grid finite element method is developed to solve the one-dimensional coupled system of non-linear partial differential equations (PDEs) governing two- and three-phase flow in porous media. The method combines features from a number of self-adaptive grid techniques. These techniques are the equidistribution, the moving grid finite element and the local grid refinement/coarsening methods. Two equidistribution criteria, based on solution gradient and curvature, are employed and nodal distributions are computed iterativcly. Using the developed approach, an intermingle-free nodal distribution is guaranteed. The method involves examination of a single representative gradient to facilitate the application of moving grid algorithms to solve a non-linear coupled set of PDEs and includes a feature to limit mass balance error during nodal redistribution. The finite element part of the developed algorithm is verified against an existing finite difference model. A numerical simulation example involving a single-front two-phase flow problem is presented to illustrate model performance. Additional simulation examples are given in Part 2 of this paper. These examples include single and double moving fronts in two- and three-phase flow systems incorporating source/sink terms. Simulation sensitivity to the moving grid parameters is also explored in Part 2.