Influence of drag and turbulence modelling on CFD predictions of solid liquid suspensions in stirred vessels

Suspensions of solid particles into liquids within industrial stirred tanks are frequently carried out at an impeller speed lower than the minimum required for complete suspension conditions. This choice allows power savings which usually overcome the drawback of a smaller particle-liquid interfacial area. Despite this attractive economical perspective, only limited attention has been paid so far to the modelling of the partial suspension regime.     

CFD Simulation of Inlet Design Effect on Deoiling Hydrocyclone Separation Efficiency

An Eulerian‐Eulerian three‐dimensional CFD model was developed to study the effect of different inlet designs on deoiling hydrocyclone separation efficiency. Reynolds averaged Navier Stokes and continuity equations were applied to solve steady turbulent flow through the cyclone with the Reynolds stress model. In addition, the modified drag correlation for liquid‐liquid emulsion with respect to the Reynolds number range and viscosity ratio of two phases was used and the simulation results were compared with those predicted by the Schiller‐Naumann correlation. Pressure profile, tangential and axial velocities and separation efficiency of the deoiling hydrocyclone were calculated for four different inlet designs and compared with the standard design. The simulation results for the standard design demonstrate an acceptable agreement with reported experimental data. The results show that all new four inlet designs offer higher efficiencies compared to the standard design. The difference between the efficiency of the LLHC, of the new inlets and the standard design can be improved by increasing the inlet velocity. Furthermore, the simulations show that the separation efficiency can be improved by about 10 % when using a helical form of inlet.     

Effect of swirling addition on the liquid mixing performance in a T-jets mixer

Swirling addition to the stream is beneficial for the fluid mixing. This work aims to study the mixing process intensification in a conventional T-jets mixer by the swirling addition. After experimental verification by the planar laser-induced fluorescence technique, large eddy simulation with the dynamic kinetic energy sub-grid stress model is used to predict how the swirling strength (in terms of swirling number, S_w) and swirling directions affect the mixing performance, e.g. the tracer concentration distribution, mixing time, and turbulent characteristics in the T-jets mixers. Predictions show that the swirling strength is the key factor affecting the mixing efficiency of the process. The overall mixing time, τ₉₀, can be significantly reduced by increasing S_w. Vortex analysis shows that more turbulent eddies appear in the collision zone and the turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rate increases obviously with the swirling addition. When S_w is kept constant, the mixing process can be accelerated and intensified by adding swirling to only one stream, to both streams with the opposite swirling directions, or to both streams with the same swirling directions. Amplification of the mixing process by enlarging the mixer size or increasing the flow rates is also optimized. Thus, this work provides a new strategy to improve the mixing performance of the traditional T-jets mixers by the swirling addition.     

Comparison of various radiation-cooled dew condensers using computational fluid dynamics

Radiation-cooled dew water condensers can serve as a complementary potable water source. In order to enhance passive dew collection water yield, a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software, PHOENICS, was used to simulate several innovative condenser structures. The sky radiation is calculated for each of the geometries. Several types of condensers under typical meteorological conditions were investigated using their average radiating surface temperature. The simulations were compared with dew yield measurements from a 1 m² 30°-inclined planar condenser used as a reference. A robust correlation between the condenser cooling ability and the corresponding dew yield was found. The following four shapes were studied: (1) a 7.3 m² funnel shape, whose best performance is for a cone half-angle of 60°. Compared to the reference condenser, the cooling efficiency improved by 40%, (2) 0.16 m² flat planar condenser (another dew standard), giving a 35% lower efficiency than the 30° 1 m² inclined reference condenser, (3) a 30 m² 30°-inclined planar condenser (representing one side of a dew condensing roof), whose yield is the same as the reference collector, and (4) a 255 m² multi-ridge condenser at the ground surface provided results similar to the reference collector at wind speeds below 1.5 m s^− 1 but about 40% higher yields at wind speeds above 1.5 m s^− 1.     

Review of 3D CFD modeling of flow and mass transfer in narrow spacer-filled channels in membrane modules

The robustness, reliability and efficiency of modern numerical methods for obtaining solutions to flow problems have given rise to the adoption of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) as a widely used analysis tool for membrane separation systems. In the past decade, many two-dimensional (2D) flow studies employing CFD have been published. Three-dimensional (3D) solutions are also slowly emerging. This paper reviews recent research utilizing 3D CFD models to simulate the flow conditions in narrow spacer-filled channels, such as those encountered in Spiral Wound Membrane (SWM) modules. Many of these studies have focused on optimizing spacer geometric parameters, while others have attempted to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms giving rise to mass transfer enhancement. Applications of 3D CFD to complex spacer geometries and multiple ionic component diffusion are also discussed.     

搅拌槽内近桨区流动场的数值研究

利用滑移网格方法，采用三种不同密度的网格，计算了六直叶涡轮搅拌桨的三维流动场。利用数值方法得到了桨叶附近流动场中产生的尾涡，并将不同密度网格下的数值模拟结果与实验数据进行了比较。计算结果表明，在高密度的网格下可以清楚地观察到桨叶附近所产生的尾涡，其大小与实验结果一致，但尾涡衰减较快：叶端的径向与切向速度分布与实验值吻合较好，加密网格对最大径向及切向速度的预测精度有明显提高；即使采用很高的网格密度，对湍流动能的预测仍然偏低。     

CFD analysis on the catalyst layer breakage failure of an SCR-DeNOx system for a 350 MW coal-fired power plant

Selective catalytic reduction as one of the secondary NO_x control technologies is widely used in industrial sources including coal-fired power plants and large boilers. The performance of an SCR-DeNO_x system is sensitive to the installment of its components such as turning vanes and hybrid grids. In this work, three-dimensional CFD simulations are carried out to analyze the breakage failure of an SCR-DeNO_x system for a certain 350 MW coal-fired power plant. Research results are consistent with the phenomena that occur in the industrial application. It reveals that the breakage failure in the industrial application is likely to be caused by the inappropriate installation of the turning vane 3 locating closest to the catalyst, especially the angle of the turning vane 3. The analysis further shows that the lifetime or the breakage of the catalyst layers depends highly on the gas velocity, the fly ash distribution and its particle velocity.     

Validation of Submodels for CFD Simulation of n‐Hexane Pool Flames including Interferometry

Computational fluid dynamics simulation is used to predict transient and time‐averaged flame temperatures and species concentrations of an n‐hexane pool flame. Employing a combination of an assumed probability density function approach with laminar flamelets using detailed kinetic data and large eddy simulation with Smagorinsky submodel is shown to be a promising way in modeling pool and tank fires. The measured species concentration and flame temperature profiles from gas chromatography, thermocouple measurements and holographic interferometry are used to validate the submodels for CFD simulation of pool flames.     

A CFD model for predicting the flow patterns of viscous fluids in a bioreactor under various operating conditions

Computational fluid dynamics simulation is becoming an increasingly useful tool in the analysis and design of simultaneous saccharification fermentation (SSF) and saccharification followed by fermentation process (SFF). To understand and improve mixing and mass transfer in a highly viscous non-Newtonian system, it was necessary to simulate the flow behavior in this bench scale bioreactor (BioFlo 3000). This study focused on designing a high concentration medium agitation system for such a process using the commercial computational fluid dynamics package Fluent (V. 6.2.20) and its preprocessor Mixsim (V. 2.1.10). The objective of this study is to compare performance of various designs of a bioreactor and identify the flow pattern and related phenomena in the bench scale tank. The configuration of the physical model for simulating a mixing tank with a Rushton impeller consists of an ellipsoidal cylindrical tank with four equally spaced wall mounted baffles extending the vessel bottom to the free surface, stirred by a centrally located six-blade Rushton turbine impeller. Simulations were performed with the original and a modified design in which the lower bottom shaft mounted a Lightnin A200 impeller. The results suggest that there is a potential for slow or stagnant flow between top impellers and bottom of the tank region, which could result in poor nitrogen and heat transfer for highly viscous fermentations. The results also show that the axial velocity was significantly improved for the modified geometry in the bottom of the tank.     

Modelling of heat transfer and hydrodynamic with two kinetics approaches during supercritical water oxidation process

Supercritical water oxidation is an innovative and very efficient process to treat hazardous organic waste. In order to better understand the complex physic phenomena involved in this process, and to design more efficient reactors or to insure future efficient scale-up, a simulation with the Computational Fluid Dynamics software FLUENT was carried out for a simple tubular reactor.The turbulent non-reactive flow is well-represented using the k– model. Nevertheless, the k–ω model gives better results when a source term is added to take into account the chemical reaction.Two approaches are used to model the reaction rate: an Arrhenius law and the Eddy Dissipation Concept (EDC) generally used to describe combustion reactions.The results of this simulation using Arrhenius law, are in good agreement with experimental data although a simple thermohydraulic model was used. Moreover, the sensitiveness to the inlet temperature has been demonstrated. It influences the reaction start-up and the shape of the measured wall temperature peak. Equally, the simulated temperature profiles using Eddy Dissipation Concept model are in good agreement with experimental ones. Hence, the two approaches give similar results. Nevertheless, the EDC model predicts more precisely the thermal peak location at the reactor wall.     

Hydrodynamic and heat transfer characteristics of a centrally heated cylindrical enclosure: CFD simulations and experimental measurements

Natural convection in enclosures is of importance in many engineering applications. The stratification arising out of natural convection may be desirable/undesirable depending on applications. In order to control the degree of stratification, understanding of flow pattern and temperature profiles is required. In the present work, transient natural convection in a cylindrical enclosure has been investigated for water with CFD simulations and flow visualization [using particle image velocimetry (PIV) and hot film anemometry (HFA)] over a wide range of parameters namely Rayleigh number (1.08 × 10¹¹ ≤ Ra ≤ 3.76 × 10¹³) and aspect ratio (1 ≤ H/R ≤ 2). The effect of various parameters like pressure, tube diameter and aspect ratio on the extent of stratification has been studied. PIV measurements have been performed to understand the transient flow behavior. Multiple thermocouples were used to measure the temperature profiles. CFD simulations have been performed using SST k–ω model and the results have been compared with the PIV measurements. The CFD simulations have been carried out for 2D axi-symmetric cases and the effect of boundary conditions (free-slip and no-slip) has been investigated. An excellent agreement was found between the CFD predictions and the experimental measurements of flow and temperature patterns. The extent of stratification has been quantified using dimensionless parameters like stratification number and stratification time. The kinetic energy profiles and kinetic energy dissipation profiles show that almost 75% of the enclosure is stratified (after different times depending on Ra number and the aspect ratio). The turbulence parameters were found to weaken with time in the stratified region and these predictions are corroborated with HFA measurements.