Liquid Distribution Research Articles

Eulerian multi-fluid simulations of local liquid distribution in a bed packed with cylindrical particles

Eulerian multi-fluid simulations of local liquid distribution in a bed packed with cylindrical particles

Physics-informed neural networks approach for pollutant dispersion flow caused by magnetic dipole

Abstract Research on the liquid flow and distribution of waste discharge concentration over cylindrical surfaces might lead to the growth of efficient waste management and pollution controlling strategies. In view of this, the pollutant concentration and magnetic dipole impact on the liquid flow through the cylinder with a porous medium are explored in the present analysis. Moreover, Fourier’s and Fick’s laws are considered to explore heat transport features. The governing partial differential equations (PDEs) of the present study are converted into non-dimensional ordinary differential equations (ODEs) utilizing similarity variables. Also, the current study proposes a novel implementation of neural networks based on physics knowledge for the liquid flow past a cylinder. The self-updating weights and bias facilitate the network to satisfy the minimization objective function and provide accurate results. Additionally, the solution obtained by Runge Kutta Fehlberg's fourth-fifth order (RKF-45) method is utilized to validate the physics-informed neural network (PINN) results, presenting mean squared errors from 10-9 to 10-11. Furthermore, it is found that the increase in temperature relaxation time parameter decreases the Nusselt number gradually at the rate of 1 to 5%. An upsurge in the values of the pollutant external source parameter and the pollutant external source variation parameter decreases the concentration profile.

Modeling phosphorus transport in soil columns amended with polyaluminum chloride and anionic polyacrylamide water treatment residuals: implications for stormwater bioretention systems

ABSTRACT Understanding phosphorus transport in soil columns amended with polyaluminum chloride and anionic polyacrylamide water treatment residuals (PAC-APAM WTRs) is crucial for the effective recycling of PAC-APAM WTRs into traditional soil-based stormwater bioretention systems. Phosphorus transport in columns containing three distinct soil types amended with PAC-APAM WTRs under saturated steady-state flow conditions was effectively modeled using three different models: the convection-dispersion equation (CDE) model with linear isotherm, the CDE model with Langmuir isotherm, and the chemical non-equilibrium two-site model (TSM). In Soils 1 and 2, amended with PAC-APAM WTRs, the primary mechanism governing phosphorus transport transitioned from instantaneous adsorption to two-site adsorption as flow rate increased. In contrast, Soil 3 amended with PAC-APAM WTRs was predominantly governed by two-site adsorption throughout the experiments. An increase in flow rate reduced the solid–liquid distribution coefficient and the fraction of equilibrium adsorption sites, resulting in decreased phosphorus adsorption and increased phosphorus mobility. This study strongly recommends the selection of soil amended with PAC-APAM WTRs that exhibits higher instantaneous phosphorus adsorption. Additionally, this study emphasizes the importance of appropriately designing the depth of the ponding layer, utilizing the TSM model, and refining modeling techniques to optimize phosphorus retention and mitigate pollution risks in stormwater management.

Liquid Water Transport and Distribution in the Gas Diffusion Layer of a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Considering Interfacial Cracks

The proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), with a high energy conversion efficiency, has become an important means of hydrogen energy utilization. However, water condensation is unavoidable in the PEMFC because of low operating temperatures. The impact of liquid water on PEMFC performance and stability is significant. The gas diffusion layer (GDL) provides a critical transport path for liquid water in the PEMFC. Liquid water saturation and distribution in the GDL determine water flooding and mass transfer efficiency in the PEMFC. In this study, focusing on the effects of the water introduction method, osmotic pressure, and contact angle, the liquid water transport in the GDL was numerically investigated based on a pore-scale model using the volume of fluid (VOF) method. The results showed that compared with the conventional water introduction method without cracks, the saturation and spatial distribution of water inside the GDL obtained in the simulation were more consistent with the experimental results when the water was introduced through the microporous layer (MPL) crack. It was found that increasing the osmotic pressure resulted in a faster rate of water penetration, faster approaching the steady-state performance, and higher saturation. The ultra-high osmotic pressure contributed to the secondary breakthrough with a significant increase in saturation. Increasing the contact angle caused higher capillary resistance, especially in the region with small pore sizes. At a constant osmotic pressure, as the contact angle increased, the liquid water gradually failed to penetrate into the small pores around the transport path, causing saturation reduction and an ultimate failure to break through the GDL. Increasing the contact angle contributed to a higher breakthrough pressure and secondary breakthrough pressure.

Correlating Catalyst Growth with Liquid Water Distribution in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells.

This study investigates the impact of liquid water distribution in a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) on the spatially heterogeneous platinum (Pt) catalyst degradation. The membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) are aged using accelerated stress tests (ASTs) in varied cathode gas environments (N2 and air) to instigate Pt catalyst degradation. The study employs high-resolution neutron imaging and synchrotron micro-X-ray diffraction (micro-XRD) to map liquid water distribution and Pt particle size, respectively. Neutron radiographs reveal liquid water accumulation primarily within the diffusion media, especially under flow field lands, due to thermal resistance differences between channels and lands. Aged MEAs exhibit increased water retention, likely due to increased hydrophilicity of the diffusion media with aging. Synchrotron micro-XRD maps unveil significant heterogeneity in Pt particle size distribution in the aged MEAs, correlated with preferential liquid water accumulation under flow field lands. This study highlights the critical role of flow field design and water distribution in catalyst degradation, underscoring the need for innovative strategies to enhance fuel cell durability and performance.

Characterization and Evaluation of an Electrostatic Knapsack Sprayer Prototype for Agricultural Crops

Pesticide application development has grown exponentially in recent decades thanks to the implementation of new technologies and improved quality of spray input application. Electrostatic technology for increasing deposition has proven to be a suitable tool under specific study conditions, such as when working with very small droplet sizes, with air assistance, or typically in greenhouse environments. However, its effectiveness in hydraulic spraying, as well as its application from a commercial point of view in agriculture, is still challenging. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of this technology by implementing a modified lance on a small commercial knapsack sprayer, equipped with a hydraulic nozzle providing a range of droplet size values (Dv50) from 136 μm to 386 μm in the pressure range between 2 and 6 bar. This setup allowed operation under normal conditions (disconnected electrostatic system: NES) or with the connected electrostatic system (ES), with both configurations being tested in this study. Liquid distribution profiling as well as qualitative and quantitative evaluation of deposition were carried out both under laboratory conditions and in tomato crops under greenhouse conditions. The results showed no differences between the ES and NES in terms of flow rate (L min−1) characterization or in the total accumulated volume collected with the vertical bench. The impact of the electrostatic system connection was clearly observed in laboratory trials, with total deposition increases of up to 66%. In field trials, this effect decreased in unexposed areas and in denser sections of the crop. However, the overall increase in deposition, mainly associated with the exposed side, continued to be significant.

Performance of the multi-U-style structure based flow field for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell

The design of the reactant gas flow field structure in bipolar plates significantly influences the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). In this study, we introduced four innovative U-shaped flow field designs, namely: In-Out Multi-U, Out-In Multi-U, Distro In-Out Multi-U, and Distro Out-In Multi-U. To investigate the impact of these various flow fields on PEMFC performance, we conducted computational fluid dynamics (CFD) numerical simulations, validated through model experiments. Our results indicate that the Distro Out-In Multi-U flow field offers notable advantages compared to the conventional parallel flow field (CPFF) and conventional serpentine flow field (CSFF). These benefits include reduced inlet and outlet pressures, lower liquid water content, more uniform liquid water distribution, and a more even current density distribution. Furthermore, the Distro Out-In Multi-U design demonstrates improved efficiency, consuming less H2 (91.9%) than the CSFF while achieving a higher net power density output (10.1%). As a result, for the same power output, the Distro Out-In Multi-U utilizes only 83.5% of the H2 consumed by the CSFF. In summary, the U-shaped structured flow field exhibits superior output performance, enhanced energy efficiency, and improved resistance to flooding. These findings suggest that the U-shaped flow field design holds significant potential as a reactive flow field for PEMFCs.

Horizontal Distribution of Liquid in an Over-Row Sprayer with a Secondary Air Blower

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of boom height above a crop stand and the spacing between nozzles and diffusers in an over-row sprayer on the uniformity of the horizontal spray distribution and the uniformity of the air velocity distribution. The experimental setup involved a prototype over-row sprayer equipped with a boom with a working width of 8 m and ten air diffusers with spray nozzles. Air diffusers were connected to one or two nozzles each, and they were installed on the boom at intervals of 60, 80, and 90 cm. Terminal airflow velocity at a canopy is determined by the height of a sprayer boom and the diffuser spacing, ranging from around 2 m s–1 to around 27 m s–1. The sprayer boom should be positioned at a height of 50 cm above a crop stand due to the difference between the minimum and maximum airflow velocities. The horizontal spray distribution was more uniform when the sprayer was equipped with hollow-cone nozzles instead of flat-fan nozzles; hollow-cone nozzles should be applied if the distance between nozzles needs to be adjusted to the row width and row spacing. The analyzed coefficients did not exceed 10% when the boom was positioned 50 cm above the crop stand and when the nozzles were spaced 80 cm apart, which suggests that, in this configuration, sprayers equipped with hollow-cone nozzles can also be applied to close-grown crops.

Investigation of cavitation with air injection using Eulerian-Lagrangian method

Abstract Air injection can be used to reduce the cavitation erosion in fluid machinery. However the inverse result that the injected air indeed increases the size of cavitation may be obtained. To find out the interaction between air injection and cavitation, the present work proposes a Eulerian-Lagrangian method to investigate the effect of air injection on the characteristics of cavitating flow. The Eulerian method is used to describe the liquid and vapor distribution, and the morphology of large cavities are tracked by the Volume of Fluid (VOF) method in the Eulerian frame. On the other side, the Lagrangian method is used to track both air and vapor bubbles in small scale. With the Eulerian-Lagrangian coupling, discrete micro bubbles in sub-grid scale as well as the large cavities can be well captured and simulated. This work takes two cavitation situations in different cavitation numbers of σ = 0.81 and 0.70 into account. The cavitation features in σ = 0.81 are mainly characterized by the intermittent shedding of small-scale cavities under re-entrant flow mechanism. For σ =0.70, the injected air flow plays an important part which enhances the scale of cavity. For both cases, simulated results of the cavity shapes and distribution of discrete bubbles anastomoses well with experimental results, which verifies the accuracy of the algorithm. The interaction between injected air and vapor is also analysed.

Research on the Balance Axial Force of the Back Blade of Centrifugal Pump Impeller based on CFD

Abstract One popular way to decrease the pump’s axial force is by utilizing the back blade. In this paper, by changing the number and width of back blades and using CFD 3D simulation technology, the influence law of back blades on pump performance, pump chamber liquid pressure characteristics and axial force characteristics is obtained. By changing the number of the back blade and width of the back blade, this paper adopt CFD 3D simulation technology to study, get pump performance, pump cavity liquid pressure characteristic and the influence law of axial force characteristics. The results show that the pump head and power increase with the increase of the width and number of back blades. However, the efficiency of the pump gradually decreases with the increase of the width and number of back blades. The impeller mounted back blade can change the pressure distribution of liquid of the pump chamber, and affect the axial force of the pump. The size and direction of the axial force change with the number and width of the back blades.

Comparative experiments on the flow morphology of liquid nitrogen and water in perforated structured packing

Cryogenic distillation is the primary method for air separation, with corrugated plate packing as the main packing for heat and mass transfer between nitrogen and oxygen. The perforated structure on the corrugated plate packing can directly change the liquid distribution characteristics, thereby affecting the packing’s flow and mass transfer performance. Currently, the effect of perforated structure is mainly revealed by room temperature fluids such as water and air, while on the practical cryogenic fluids such as liquid nitrogen, it is seldom studied. In this study, the effects of perforation size ranging from 2 to 8 mm on the flow of water and liquid nitrogen on the perforated plates were investigated and compared by a high-speed camera. It was observed that water could hardly flow through the perforations, it completely covers the perforations, forming a continuous liquid film on the surface of the perforations. The expected role of perforations in redistributing water on the back side of the corrugated plate is relatively minor. While for liquid nitrogen, the presence of the perforated structure helps fluid redistribution on the back side of the plate, as it can easily flow through the perforations with diameters between 2 mm and 8 mm. It is found that when the perforation diameter exceeds 6 mm, liquid nitrogen will form suspended liquid droplets within the holes, which could be a risk of premature flooding. Under similar conditions, the wetting rate of liquid nitrogen reaches 86.90 % −99.48 %, higher than that of water which is about 10.26 % −78.82 %. The results show that perforations have quite different effects on the flow characters of water and liquid nitrogen due to their disparate physic properties.

Water Permeability and Oxygen Transport Resistance of Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Composite Microporous Layer Coated Gas Diffusion Layer

Enhancing water management to mitigate the performance impact of humidity fluctuations is crucial in PEFC applications. A novel microporous layer (MPL) incorporated with both hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties, applied to the gas diffusion layer (GDL), has been developed and demonstrated to enhance robustness under varying humidity levels. This study utilized water permeability test results to analyze the composite MPL, distinguishing between hydrophobic and hydrophilic absolute permeability ratios. By elucidating these ratios, insights into their roles in liquid water distribution and oxygen transport resistance were gained, distinguishing the composite MPL from conventional hydrophobic and hydrophilic MPLs. Ultimately, the performance of the composite MPL under high and low humidity conditions highlighted its robustness across diverse humidity environments.

Water Permeability and Oxygen Transport Resistance of Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Composite Microporous Layer Coated Gas Diffusion Layer

Enhancing water management to mitigate the performance impact of humidity fluctuations is crucial in PEFC applications. A novel microporous layer (MPL) incorporated with both hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties, applied to the gas diffusion layer (GDL), has been developed and demonstrated to enhance robustness under varying humidity levels. This study utilized water permeability test results to analyze the composite MPL, distinguishing between hydrophobic and hydrophilic absolute permeability ratios. By elucidating these ratios, insights into their roles in liquid water distribution and oxygen transport resistance were gained, distinguishing the composite MPL from conventional hydrophobic and hydrophilic MPLs. Ultimately, the performance of the composite MPL under high and low humidity conditions highlighted its robustness across diverse humidity environments.

CFD-DEM modeling for optimized liquid distribution in fluidized bed spray granulation

In this work, CFD-DEM simulations of two different fluidized bed granulator geometries were performed, aiming to provide an insight into how the injected liquid behaves within the particle bed and thus an overall better understanding of the granulation process itself. Simulation results were evaluated regarding the fate of sprayed droplets, e.g. deposition on a particle, elutriation from fluidized bed, or collision with apparatus walls. For the deposited droplets, the particle–droplet collisions were tracked in order to obtain a locally resolved deposition rate. Spray parameters as well as geometric specifications of the nozzle setup were varied, investigating a broad range of different process conditions. By optimizing apparatus design, especially the air inlet, an even distribution of the liquid droplets within the fluidized bed and overall higher deposition rate can be achieved and a stable steady state with a well-defined spray zone is reached within a broad range of varied spray parameters.

Thermo-hydrodynamic characterization and mapping of the two-phase flow in a capillary tube

The study presents an experimental investigation on the behavior of condensate film and liquid–vapor meniscus in the unit cell of a pulsating heat pipe (PHP) at different operating boundary conditions, and their respective roles in determining PHP’s performance. The orientation and the temperatures of evaporator and condenser sections are taken as the variable operating boundary conditions whereas the amplitude of oscillations influences the performance of the PHP. The entire thermo-hydrodynamic phenomenon is captured using high-speed imaging. By tracking the interface of liquid film and vapor, different regimes for film flow in the condenser section are observed and characterized. Also, the oscillation amplitude has been quantified at different operating boundary conditions. Despite a quite small tube diameter, gravity plays a key role in determining the liquid and vapor phase distributions in the tube. The variation of oscillation amplitude is intimately linked with the nuances of film flow regimes and inter-regime transitions. The optimum inclination angle, and evaporator and condenser temperatures are found to exist for the PHP unit cell which maximize the oscillation amplitude. The dependence of optimum inclination angle on condenser temperature has also been understood along with. Further, the associated film flow regime in condenser which facilitates these optima has also been recognized. All variable operating boundary conditions are observed to have a peculiarly mixed influence on the flow regimes and thus oscillation amplitude. The study would help to achieve a better elementary understanding of the role of condensate film flow in determining PHP’s performance and develop a flow regime map particularly for PHPs.

Two-dimensional refractive index distribution using polarization phase shifting interferometry and total internal reflection

An effective method to measure the 2-D refractive index distribution of homogeneous liquids: acetic acid and glycerol- water mixture at different concentration and a non- homogeneous mixture of liquids: water, acetic acid, acetone and glycerin but not limited to these liquids is presented. In the present setup a combination of polarization phase shifting interferometry (PPSI) and total internal reflection (TIR) is used. The s-polarized light strikes the boundary of a right angle prism and a tested liquid droplet. When TIR occurs on the interface, the incident light has a phase variation which depends on the refractive index of adhered liquid on prism surface. Two-dimensional index distributions can be easily calculated using the relation among reflection phase shift difference and the liquid index. The results of the tested mixed liquid by proposed technique show the refractive index and its distribution in range 1.433 ± 0.031 to 1.433 ± 0.124.

Experimental study on hydrate blockage formation and decomposition in gas-dominated Fluctuating pipes

Current research pertaining to hydrate flow assurance in the transportation of deep-sea natural gas through undulating pipelines remains sparse. Employing a novel undulating pipeline equipped with multipoint-distributed sensors, we delve to the processes of hydrate generation, migration, deposition, blockage, and decomposition. Our findings reveal that the upward inclination sections of both lifting and underlying pipes are particularly vulnerable to hydrate blockage. The lifting pipe is not conducive to hydrate deposition and blockage, whereas the underlying pipe poses a heightened risk for hydrate formation. Increasing subcooling leads to a reduction in blockage duration and sloughing frequency, alongside an extension in decomposition time. Furthermore, increasing the water injection rate and pipeline curvature prolongs the blockage of the lifting pipe. However, the impact of the water injection rate on the underlying pipe is negligible. Increasing pipeline curvature promotes the blockage of the underlying pipe. We propose models that encapsulate hydrate blockage and decomposition based on varying gas–liquid distributions. This research fills the gap in the study of hydrate blockage and decomposition in undulating pipelines and provides a reference for monitoring hydrate risks in natural-gas transmission pipelines.

A numerical study of liquid water distribution and transport in PEM fuel cell using Cathode-Anode model

A numerical study of liquid water distribution and transport in PEM fuel cell using Cathode-Anode model

Multiphase distribution in partly saturated hierarchical nonwoven fibre networks under applied load using X-ray computed tomography

In many industrial applications, nonwoven fibre networks are facilitated to operate under partly saturated conditions, allowing for filtration, liquid absorption and liquid transport. Resolving the governing liquid distribution in loaded polyamide-6 (PA6) fibre networks using X-ray computed micro-tomography is a challenge due to the similar X-ray attenuation coefficients of water and PA6 and limitations in using background subtraction techniques if the network is deformed, which will be the case if subjected to compression. In this work, we developed a method using a potassium iodide solution in water to enhance the liquid’s attenuation coefficient without modifying the water’s rheological properties. Therefore, we studied the evolving liquid distribution in loaded and partly saturated PA6 fibre networks on the microscale. Increasing the external load applied to the network, we observed an exponential decrease in air content while the liquid content was constant, increasing the overall saturation with increasing network strain. Furthermore, the microstructural properties created by the punch-needle process in the manufacturing of the network significantly influenced the out-of-plane liquid distribution. The method has been proven helpful in understanding the results of adaptions in both the fibre network design and manufacturing process, allowing for investigating the resulting liquid distribution on a microscale.

Numerical investigation of heat and mass transfer characteristics of steam condensation containing non-condensable gas in vertical corrugated tube

A numerical simulation of steam condensation containing non-condensable gas is conducted in this paper to analyze the heat and mass transfer characteristics in vertical corrugated tube. The species transport model, Euler liquid film model and diffusion-balance model with Dehbi factor to correct the diffusion effect are applied to simulate the mass and energy transfer processes. The effects of different corrugated tube structural parameters and inlet steam parameters on steam condensation rate, liquid film distribution and heat transfer are simulated. The results show that vortex and accumulated non-condensable gas in the corrugated region significantly influence condensation heat transfer, which are closely related to corrugation height (H=0–5 mm) and corrugation length (L=13, 16, 19, 22, and 25 mm) of the corrugations, as well as inlet velocity (Vin = 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15 m·s−1) and inlet steam content (Ws = 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 0.99, and 1). The total heat transfer coefficient varies linearly with inlet velocity when inlet velocity increase from 5 m·s−1 to 15 m·s−1, which increase 89.6–108.1 %; total heat transfer coefficient increases almost exponentially when inlet steam content increase from 0.6 to 1, which increase 389–460 %; and the best corrugated tubes are those with corrugation height of 0.075 times diameter of tube and corrugation length of 0.325 times diameter of tube.