Streamline Distribution Research Articles

Simulation and design of a solar chimney integrated with phase change material layer for building ventilation

The development of modern life requires new energy sources, and one of this energy is renewable solar energy uses in solar chimney for natural ventilation, but at the present time it is not greatly invested, taking into account the weather conditions of the region and the physical characteristics of solar radiation and air in the area in which the study will be conducted. The current study was carried out in Basrah city- Iraq, at longitude 47.749° and latitude 30.568°, where the solar chimney was facing south. The investigation was conducted using both theoretical and experimental studied. In the theoretical study, the solar chimney with the room in the presence and absence of PCM was simulated numerically using the finite volume method using the soft package ANSYS-Fluent/2021/R2. The effect of different tilt angles (α = 30°, 45°, and 60°), solar chimney air gap (gab = 10 cm, 15 cm, and 20 cm), and PCM basin thickness (tPCM = 3 cm, 4 cm, and 5 cm) were investigated. The results were presented in the form of contours of the distribution of streamlines, velocity, temperature, and liquid fraction of the solar chimney with the room, rate of temperature of the absorber plate with time and the rate of temperature of the PCM (TPCM) with time, rate of air change per hour (ACH). As for the experimental side, the device was built, and the intensity of solar radiation was studied for several days on 30 Sep. and 15 Oct. 2023, the temperature distribution rate of the absorbent plate over time, the PCM temperature rate, and the air change per hour (ACH). The theoretical results were compared with the experimental results, where there was good agreement, and the theoretical comparison was also made with several researchers. Significant results showed that the optimal ratio of the air gap width of the solar chimney is 15 cm, the inclination angle of the solar chimney α = 30°, and the thickness of the PCM basin (tPCM = 4 cm) to obtain the maximum ventilation rate. The thickness of the PCM basin = 4 cm gives the largest liquid fraction along time and maximum average temperature of the absorber plate. On the experimental, it was found that PCM convert into the liquid phase after its melting point, which is 340 K, after 12 noon, and the highest value of ACH reached 37 on September 30/2023 at midday.

The Aerodynamic Performance of a Novel Overlapping Octocopter in Hover

A novel octocopter with an overlapping rotor arrangement is proposed in this paper to increase the payload with a limited size. The aerodynamic performance was obtained by both experiments and numerical simulations with the rotor spacing ranging from 1.2 D to 2.0 D (L= 1.2 D, 1.4 D, 1.6 D, 1.8 D, 2.0 D). Also, the aerodynamic parameter was evaluated by the thrust, power consumption, thrust coefficient, power coefficient, and figure of merit (FM) in hover. Compared with a traditional co-axial octocopter, the results indicated that the overlapping octocopter at L= 1.8 D presented an increasing thrust up to 15.98%, and the FM increment was up to 6%. Additionally, the streamline distribution showed that the symmetry of the vortex movement in the downwash flow for the overlapping rotors will offset the rotor interference with an increase in thrust. Meanwhile, the vortex deformation resulting from the induced velocity from the upper rotor also led to an increase in power consumption. Finally, the optimal aerodynamic performance of the overlapping octocopter was obtained with a rotor spacing of L= 1.8 D at 1800 RPM.

Mixing screw design and high density polyethylene toughening modification for recycled polypropylene based on screw 3D printing

AbstractThe recycling of waste plastics primarily involves physical modification and the addition of modifiers, often utilizing equipment such as twin‐screw extruders for miscible modification. Considering the widespread use of single‐screw 3D printing, improving the mixing efficiency of the single‐screw is crucial to achieve a “one‐stop” recycling modification that is suitable for 3D printing. This paper introduces a 3D printer equipped with a mixing screw (MS) and compares it with a conventional screw (CS). We conduct numerical simulations to investigate the pressure build‐up capacity, velocity streamline distribution, and the mixing effect of the MS. The mechanical properties, thermal characteristics, and molecular orientation of the recycled Polypropylene (rPP) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) mixture are investigated through experiments. The results show that the MS provides more effective elongational flows compared to the CS by breaking down the reinforcing materials into smaller particles. Additionally, toughening and modification experiments are performed on rPP and HDPE. The composites treated with the MS showed improved elongation at break (increased by ~111%), a stable melt crystallization temperature, and an enhanced mixing effect. This study on single‐screw 3D printers lays the groundwork for streamlining the plastic recycling process and increasing the reuse rate of recycled plastics.

Additive manufactured high-performance topology-optimized lattice structure: Compressive behavior and flow heat transfer characteristics

In this study, topological optimization techniques were employed to construct innovative TopS lattice structures, to achieve a lightweight design while simultaneously optimizing their mechanical properties and enhancing flow and heat transfer performance. Through model reconstruction and proportional scaling techniques, lightweight configurations with increased surface areas were achieved, leading to the successful fabrication of Ti-6Al-4V lattice structures via Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) technology. A comprehensive investigation combining numerical simulations and experimental testing revealed that the TopS-L16 lattice structure outperforms TopS-L1 and TopS-L4 in terms of compressive strength, demonstrating values of 386.00 MPa for compressive strength, 352.00 MPa for upper compressive yield strength, and 6938.00 MPa for elastic modulus. Furthermore, multilayer-filled lattice structures were found to effectively improve streamline distribution and vorticity, reducing boundary layers, which indicates a significant enhancement in fluid flow and heat transfer performance, with TopS-L16 exhibiting the best performance. The novelty of this work lies in its exploration of the interplay between lattice structures and their interactions with compressive deformation, energy absorption capabilities, and flow heat transfer.

Microstructure evolution of coal undergoing in situ demineralization and ensued impacts on seepage characteristics

The natural fracture system present in coal provides the principal channel for transporting coalbed methane. Dissolving or modifying mineral occlusions has the potential to enhance the permeability of highly mineralized coal seams. In this study, low-rank mineralized coal was examined using x-ray computed tomography (CT) scanning. A novel in situ demineralization method based on coal CT images was developed using an improved pore-scale three-dimensional morphological modeling algorithm to further investigate the effect of mineral alteration on the dynamic evolution of microstructure and seepage characteristics. The results indicate that the development of pore-fracture and the alteration of mineralogical properties affect the demineralization work. Demineralization increases the connected porosity from 4.16% to 15.42%, significantly increasing the interconnected pore space of the coal. Meanwhile, permeability improved from 0.73 to 2.15 μm2, and a 194.5% increase after the completion of the demineralization work. A higher demineralization degree can develop the preferential flow channels well, resulting in a more rapid pore pressure drop. As demineralization progresses, the flow streamline distribution becomes more homogeneous, and new flow channels emerge. The proposed method shows superior performance in poorly connected areas, with a 69.29% higher permeability compared to previous methods.

Thermo-mechanical processing characteristics and strain-rate-sensitive degradation properties of Mg-Er-Ni alloys

Hot deformation behavior, the corresponding microstructure evolution, and degradation properties of a weak-textured Mg-Er-Ni alloy containing a high-volume fraction of Ni-LPSO phases, have been investigated. Hot deformation behavior has been carried out in the temperatures range of 370 ∼ 460 °C and strain rates range of 0.001 ∼ 1 s−1. Flow stress-strain curves of high strain rate cases show a continuous increase trend without a steady or a peak stage, while that of low strain rate cases show an obvious dynamic softening after peak stress. Based on flow stress-strain curves, materials constants calculated by an Arrhenius-type constitutive equation, show a high n and Q compared to those of high-volume fraction α-Mg matrix Mg alloys. Optimal processing windows, based on the dynamic material model, is determined as high temperature domains. As for microstructure evolution, a complete recrystallization and dispersive Ni-LPSO fragments for high temperature & low strain rates while a restricted recrystallization and a streamline distribution LPSO phase for high temperature & high strain rates are observed. Varying degrees of continuous dynamic recrystallization, particle induced nucleation mechanism, as well as coordinated deformation of LPSO through kinking and bending account for the strain-rate-dependence hot deformation mechanism. As a result, dispersive Ni-LPSO fragments at low strain rates provide more degradation channels for the α-Mg matrix and thus possess better a degradation rate than the streamlined LPSO at high strain rates.

Influence of an inclined thick partition on free convection heat transfer performance under surface radiation in a hollow block

In the present work, a computational analysis of the combined energy transfer by free convection, radiation, and heat conduction in 2D hollow block with an inclined partition was carried out. The inclined partition was made of a heat-conducting material and had a finite thickness. The closed space inside the brick was filled with air (Pr = 0.71) and the airflow is laminar. The external surfaces of the vertical borders are considered to be isothermal, and the remaining horizontal surfaces are supposed to be adiabatic. The finite difference technique is employed to work out numerically the differential equations. The in-house computational code was verified in detail using various problems. The major characteristics that determine the considered phenomena are surface emissivity of internal walls, Ra number, and material of solid walls and partition. As a result of the research, the distributions of streamlines and isotherms combined with the average Nusselt numbers were obtained. Depending on the material of the partition, the flow structure in the cavity changes significantly, which reflects the distribution of streamlines, namely, for the materials with low thermal conductivity the convective cell in the upper part of the cavity is elongated, while in the lower part it is shifted to the lower and left borders. The isotherms reflect the more intensive heating in the left part of the area. With an increase in the thermal conductivity coefficient, the streamlines reflecting the nature of the flow are restructured. It was shown that the presence of an inclined partition significantly reduces the intensity of convective heat transfer.

Research on erosion wear law of four-way flow channel of wellhead fracturing in ultra-deep wells

Abstract This paper establishes a 1/2 three-dimensional finite element model that considers multiple factors affecting the erosion rate of the four-way fracturing structure on site. The model can simulate the effects of different inlet velocities, dynamic viscosities, outlet quantities, outlet pressures, and channel wall angles on the velocity and streamline distribution of the four-way channel. It is also possible to analyze the effects of different factors such as inlet velocity, sand carrying mass flow rate, inlet quantity, fluid dynamic viscosity, fracturing fluid particle density, fracturing fluid particle diameter, four-way wall hardness, and channel wall inclination angle on the erosion of the inner wall. Through the established model calculation, it was found that as the inlet flow velocity increases, the maximum flow velocity in the channel also increases, and the value is close to 1.8 times the inlet velocity, with the maximum value appearing at the inlet corner. When the inlet velocity of the four-way valve is low, a significant vortex-like flow field appears in the closed flow channel of the four-way valve, which will lead to the accumulation of particles in the fracturing fluid. The calculation shows that the number and velocity of sand containing fracturing fluid inlets have the greatest impact on the erosion rate of the four-way flow channel, and the optimal inclination angle of the flow channel is 9 degrees. Increasing the hardness of the four-way wall can improve the maximum erosion rate of the flow channel wall, but changing the sand particle density and diameter has little significance in reducing the erosion rate of the four-way flow channel. It is recommended to perform corresponding heat treatment on the inner wall of the four-way valve to reduce the impact of sand containing fracturing fluid on wall erosion. This article provides a theoretical basis and guidance for controlling or avoiding erosion and thinning failure of four-way valves and also provides a theoretical basis for the design of wellhead four-way valves and various safe construction operations.

Thermo-magnetic convection of MHD Casson fluid in a wavy triangular porous cavity with embedded a cold inverted triangle obstacle

The design of enclosures is crucial in thermal engineering applications and technologies, encompassing areas such as electronics, heat transfer devices, power reactors, heating systems, solar panels, and nuclear power plants. Thermal efficiency in microchannels is optimized and improved by using triangular enclosures with varying aspect ratios. Specifically, the purpose of these triangular enclosures with cool cylinders is to reduce energy loss in nanoscale thermal sinks and thermal exchange devices. The current study aims to explore the thermal radiation effects on magnetohydrodynamic MHD Casson fluid flow within a wavy triangular cavity that includes an embedded cold inverted triangle. The inner inverted triangle is kept at a lower temperature, while the wavy bottom wall of the outer triangular cavity acts as an isothermal heat source at a higher temperature. The numerical solution for this mathematical model is obtained using the open-source finite element software COMSOL. In this study, the wavy triangular enclosure is analyzed for key parameters such as Casson parameter β , Hartmann number Ha , Rayleigh number Ra , numbers of undulation N , radiation Rd and inclination γ . The study presents the local distribution of streamlines, velocity profiles, isothermals, and entropy production, along with the Nu avg . The results reveal the rate of heat transport and total entropy production raise with the increasing number of undulations N and the Casson parameter β , while they decrease with increasing Hartmann number Ha . The number Nu avg rises with the increasing radiation parameter Rd and Rayleigh number Ra . The maximum stream function is observed at an inclination angle of 60 ° .

Numerical simulation on unsteady cavitating flows in a rotational hydrodynamic cavitation reactor

Abstract The RNG k-ε turbulence model and mass transport cavitation model Zwart-Gerber-Belamri are used to simulate unsteady cavitating flows in a rotational hydrodynamic cavitation reactor (RHCR). The RHCR is mainly composed of rotor and stator. Unsteady cavitation flow field analyses in RHCR are focused mainly near the rotor surface. The numerical simulation results are in good agreement with the experimental data. The frequency of pressure fluctuations and streamline distribution are discussed by setting 10 monitoring points near the rotor surface. The numerical simulation results shows that the main frequency of pressure fluctuation inside RHCR is 24f r and 72f r; the maximum amplitude of pressure fluctuations appears near the inlet, and its value about 3 times than the minimum. Moreover, the streamline distribution analyses demonstrate that the vortex appears near the rotor surface, and is generating, growth and disappearing with time. The shape, vortex center and intensity of the vortex near the inlet change drastically with time. This research provided a reference for the optimization design of RHCR.

The influence of guide vane opening on internal cavitation of Francis turbine

Abstract In response to the theme of national multi energy complementary power grid construction, hydropower stations need to frequently change the opening of active guide vanes. Operation deviates from the rated working condition. And output is adjusted to meet the flexible power demand of users. Cavitation phenomenon as the biggest problem restricting the eccentric operation of Francis turbine. Easily induce cavitation damage to the flow passage components of the unit and shorten the service life of the unit. Therefore, there is a good engineering research background for the cavitation characteristics inside Francis turbines in the process of exploring the variation of guide vane opening. This paper takes a high head Francis turbine as the research object, based on numerical simulation and model test. The results show that the maximum amplitude of the draft tube vortex gradually increases during the process of decreasing the opening. The degree of cavitation is gradually serious, and the streamline distribution of the flow field inside the impeller is uneven. As the opening of the guide vane gradually increases, the vortexof the draft tube gradually decreases. The cavitation degree is weakened, and the streamline distribution inside the impeller is significantly improved. With the increase of the guide vane opening, the low-speed area on the outlet surface of the impeller gradually decreases, resulting in a gradual reduction of the low-speed zone in the straight cone section of the draft tube, a smaller vortex, a weaker cavitation degree. The internal flow distribution of the impeller is significantly improved.

Cold obstacle influence on nanofluid convection in porous cavity

Enclosure design has a substantial influence on thermal engineering procedures and technology, such as electronics, thermal exchangers, power engines, heating systems, solar panels, and nuclear power plants. Triangular enclosures with different aspect ratios are used for multiple-purpose optimization and enhanced thermal efficiency in microchannels. Triangle enclosures with cold cylinders are often used to reduce heat loss in thermal exchange devices and nanoscale thermal sinks. The objective of the current study is to explore the natural convection of a hybrid nanofluid within a wavy-bottom triangular porous cavity containing an embedded cold inverted triangle, all under the influence of an inclined magnetic field. The inner inverted triangle maintains a lower temperature, while the wavy bottom wall of the outer triangular cavity acts as an isothermal heat source at high temperatures. The space between the inner and outer triangles is filled with hybrid nanofluid (Ag–MgO– water). The numerical solution for the modeled mathematical framework is derived using the open-source finite element program COMSOL. A wavy triangle enclosure is used in this work to analyze key elements, such as the Hartmann number, Ha, the Rayleigh number, Ra, the volume fraction, ϕ, the Darcy number, Da, and the inclination, γ. The local distribution of streamlines, velocity profile, isotherms, and entropy production are demonstrated along with the average Nusselt number. The findings reveal that the heat transfer rate and the total entropy generation increase with increase in Da, while their values decrease with increase in Ha. The value of Nu is raised with increase in the volume fraction ϕ and Rayleigh number Ra. The velocity profile shows increase with increase in the volume fraction ϕ and Rayleigh number Ra.

The Use of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Forecasting the Financial Growth of Automobile Industries

The automotive industry's financial forecasting is vital for growth and competitiveness in today's rapidly evolving market landscape. Accurate and reliable forecasting is essential for strategic planning, resource allocation, and decision-making processes. However, traditional forecasting methods often struggle to adapt to the dynamic nature of the automotive sector, characterized by fluctuating consumer demands, evolving market trends, and complex supply chain dynamics. The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) technologies has revolutionized financial forecasting in the automotive industry, transforming forecasting accuracy, efficiency, and decision-making processes. By leveraging AI algorithms and ML models, automotive companies can gain deeper insights into market dynamics, predict consumer behavior more accurately, optimize production schedules, and streamline distribution processes. This paper explores the transformative impact of AI and ML technologies on financial forecasting in the automotive industry, delving into key applications, benefits, challenges, and future directions of integrating these advanced technologies into forecasting processes. The adoption of AI and ML empowers automotive companies to make data-driven decisions with greater precision and agility, driving innovation, growth, and competitiveness in this dynamic sector. Key Words: Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Financial Forecasting, Automotive Industry, Predictive Maintenance, Hybrid Decision Support Systems, Production Planning and Control Systems, Intelligent Transport Logistics.

Improved algorithm for generating evenly-spaced streamlines from an orientation field on a triangulated surface

Background:Vector fields such as cardiac fiber orientation can be visualized on a surface using streamlines. The application of evenly-spaced streamline generation to the construction of interconnected cable structure for cardiac propagation models has more stringent requirements imperfectly fulfilled by current algorithms. Method:We developed an open-source C++/python package for the placement of evenly-spaced streamlines on a triangulated surface. The new algorithm improves upon previous works by more accurately handling streamline extremities, U-turns and limit cycles, by providing stronger geometrical guarantees on inter-streamline minimal distance, particularly when a high density of streamlines (up to 10μm spacing) is desired, and by making a more efficient parallel implementation available. The approach requires finding intersections between geometrical capsules and triangles to update an occupancy mask defined on the triangles. This enables fast streamline integration from thousands of seed points to identify optimal streamline placement. Results:The algorithm was assessed qualitatively on different left atrial models of fiber orientation with varying mesh resolutions (up to 375k triangles) and quantitatively by measuring streamline lengths and distribution of inter-streamline minimal distance. The complexity and the computational performance of the algorithm were studied as a function of streamline spacing in relation to triangular mesh resolution. Conclusion:More accurate geometrical computations, attention to details and fine-tuning led to an algorithm more amenable to applications that require precise positioning of streamlines.

Evaluation of left ventricular flow field changes after stress in patients with nonobstructive coronary artery disease using ultrasonic flow vector imaging.

Vector flow mapping and treadmill exercise stress echocardiography were used to evaluate and explore changes in the left ventricular (LV) flow field of patients with nonobstructive coronary artery disease. Overall, 34 patients with nonobstructive (<50%) left anterior descending coronary artery stenosis (case group) and 36 patients with no coronary artery stenosis (control group) were included. Apical four-, three-, and two-chamber echocardiographic images were collected at rest and during early recovery from treadmill exercise. LV flow field, vortex area, and circulation (cir) changes were recorded in different phases: isovolumetric systole (S1), rapid ejection (S2), slow ejection (S3), isovolumetric diastole (D1), rapid filling (D2), slow filling (D3), and atrial systole (D4). Intra- and inter-group differences were compared before and after exercise loading. The control and case groups demonstrated regular trends of eddy current formation and dissipation at rest and under stress. Compared with the control group, the case group had irregular streamline distributions. Abnormal vortices formed in the S1 and D3 apical segments and D1 left ventricular middle segment in the resting group. Compared with the control group, the resting group had decreased left ventricular S1 vortex areas and increased S3 vortex areas. The post-stress D1 and D3 vortex areas and D1 and D2 cir increased. Compared with at rest, after stress, the control group had decreased S1, S3, D2, and D3 vortex areas; increased S2, D1, D3, and D4 cir; and decreased D2 cir. After stress, the case group had decreased S3 and D2 vortex areas, increased D1 vortex areas, and increased S2, D1, D3, and D4 cir (P all < 0.001). Logistic regression and ROC curve analyses show that increased D1 vortex area after stress is an independent risk factor for stenosis in nonobstructive stenosis of coronary arteries (OR: 1.007, 95% CI: 1.005-1.010, P < 0.05). A D1 vortex area cutoff value of 82.26 had an AUC, sensitivity, and specificity of 0.67, 0.655, and 0.726, respectively. The resting left ventricular flow field changed in patients with nonobstructive left anterior descending coronary artery stenosis. Both groups had more disordered left ventricular blood flow after stress. The increased D1 vortex area after stress is an independent risk factor for mild coronary stenosis and may contribute to the assessment of nonobstructive coronary stenosis. VFM combined with treadmill stress is useful in evaluating left ventricular flow field changes in patients with nonobstructive coronary artery disease, which is valuable in the early evaluation of coronary heart disease.

Experimental Study on Improving Oil Recovery Mechanism of Injection–Production Coupling in Complex Fault-Block Reservoirs

In order to improve the effect of injection–production coupling development to improve crude oil recovery in complex fault-block reservoirs, we carried out a physical simulation experiment based on a sandpack model of transforming water-driven development into injection–production coupling development and quantitatively evaluated the influence of rounds of injection pressure coupling on the crude oil mobilization in reservoirs with different permeability levels and on oil recovery. Meanwhile, the characteristics of residual oil were studied via a numerical simulation method. The mechanism of increased oil production via injection–production coupling development was revealed by analyzing the water and oil contents, formation pressure, and streamline fields through the establishment of mechanism models. The results of the physical experiment show that injection–production coupling can improve the recovery effect of medium- and low-permeability reservoirs by 55.66%. With an increase in the injection pressure, the oil recovery percentage of the low-permeability sandpack model at 20 MPa is 100%, and this study finds that injection–production coupling is the main way to develop the recoverable oil in a low-permeability reservoir. The numerical simulation results show that among the four remaining oil distribution types (interwell-enriched, low-permeability zone-enriched, well network imperfection, and mismatch between injection and production), the interwell-enriched type of the remaining oil reserves accounts for the highest proportion (48.52%). The simulation results of the mechanism model show that water-driven development easily leads to streamline solidification, resulting in ineffective circulation of the injected water. Compared with conventional water-driven development, the pressure propagation range is significantly increased in injection–production coupling development. The reservoir streamline distribution is more continuous and uniform, and the flooding wave is wider in volume and range. This research provides a theoretical basis for the injection–production coupling technology policy in complex fault-block reservoirs.

Numerical study of phase change heat accumulator with distribution of Hanoi tower-shaped fin

Hanoi tower-shaped fin distribution was proposed to improve the shell-and-tube phase change accumulator's ability for heat storage. Unlike the common annular fin group, the fin spacing of the Hanoi tower-shaped fin distribution is distributed in an arithmetic sequence, the fin length increases in a fixed proportion, and the fin group's overall position changes with the bottommost spacing. In this paper, the effects of no fin, uniform fin distribution, and Hanoi tower-shaped fin distribution on the melting process were compared and analyzed. The single-factor effects of bottommost spacing, spacing tolerance, and length ratio were analyzed for the Hanoi tower-shaped fin distribution. The solid–liquid phase change frontier, melting time, temperature distribution, and streamline distribution were simulated and studied for different fin structures. Fins' combined effects on heat conduction and natural convection were examined. The Hanoi tower-shaped fins' structural parameters were optimized by applying response surface methodology (RSM). The results indicated that the Hanoi tower-shaped fin distribution considerably enhanced the phase change material's (PCM) melting rate and uniformity in the vertical circular tube heat accumulator. The significance levels of factors affecting the whole melting time were spacing tolerance (d) < length ratio (k) < bottommost spacing (P1). Within a certain range, the larger the bottommost spacing was, the synergistic heat transfer effect of natural convection and heat conduction was better. According to the RSM optimization results, when the length ratio was 1.2, the fin's bottommost spacing was 17.82 mm, and the spacing tolerance was 3.38 mm, the model had the shortest melting time. Compared with the uniform fin distribution, the total heat storage time was reduced by 18.04 %.

A combined CFD-based simulation and experimental study of particle dispersion in a high-concentration airtight space under unorganized airflow

It is significant to obtain the particle distribution data for workpiece processing and industrial protection strategies. To simulate the particle dispersion in a high-concentration airtight space under unorganized airflow, a CFD-based simulation and experimental were utilized in this study. The proposed method works in three steps. The first step is to use Stokes-MRF-Fan-CFD model to simplify the distribution of high-concentration particles calculation to the dispersion state of the gas components. The second step is to compute the airflow patterns and dispersion of particles. The third step is to prove the feasibility of Stokes-MRF-Fan-CFD model. The results of this model in particle dispersion show ±200 mg·m−3 of absolute error, ±20% of relative error, and 88.5747 grade of simulation accuracy. And the results of particle concentration distribution can be mutually confirmed with the streamline and velocity vector distribution in the airtight space, providing a promising and innovative model for the particle dispersion in a high-concentration airtight space under unorganized airflow.

Research on the Internal Flow Difference between Peak and Valley Conditions of Water Jet Propulsion Pump during Working at Hump Region

When we tested the water jet propulsion pump, we found that there were significant vibrations in the pump, especially at small flow points that deviated from the design conditions. The water jet propulsion pump is a mixed-flow pump with guide vane, which is commonly employed for water jet propulsion. However, the guide vane mixed-flow pump is susceptible to a phenomenon known as “hump”, which can cause flow disturbances, increased vibration, and noise when the pump operates within the hump region. According to the vibration phenomenon found in our experiment, the mechanism of vibration needs to be revealed. This study focuses on vorticity and turbulence distributions of a mixed flow water jet propulsion pump under the valley and peak operating conditions of the hump region. The research is conducted using experimental and numerical simulation methods. The SST k-ω turbulence model is employed for turbulence calculations. The experiments are conducted on a closed test rig for axial (mixed) flow pumps. A comparison of experimental and numerical simulation results of hydraulic performance curves are conducted to validate the accuracy of the numerical simulation. Cavitation flow structures of the critical cavitation stage under valley conditions and under peak conditions are compared. A comparative analysis is conducted to examine the differences in internal vortex core distribution and turbulence kinetic energy distribution between the valley and peak operating conditions when working within the hump region. The pressure and velocity vectors of the pump impeller blades and the velocity streamline distribution between the impeller and the guide vane blades are compared. To further analyze the flow state in different flow channels under valley and peak conditions, the streamline distribution at Span = 0.5 in the impeller and diffuser basin is extracted. This study provides theoretical foundations and technical support for the design of high-performance, low-vibration water jet propulsion pumps.

Research on internal two‐phase flow in the local micro‐clearance design of a high‐speed ball bearing with under‐race lubrication

AbstractIn this research, an angular contact ball bearing with two‐half inner rings is used as a carrier. Considering the two‐phase flow characteristics of oil and air in the bearing, the flow characteristics of lubricating oil inside the bearing with under‐race lubrication are studied. Based on the volume of fluid (VOF) method and the standard k–ε turbulent flow model, the characteristics of oil and air two‐phase flow inside the ball bearing are analysed. The bearing internal pressure field distribution, streamline distribution, and other flow properties for the different radial working clearances, pocket clearances and guide clearances are determined. The distribution of the lubricating oil in key areas is observed. The oil phase volume fraction of the key lubrication areas, such as the cage pocket surface and the inner and outer ring surfaces is used to evaluate the influence of different structural parameters on the bearing lubrication performance. The lubrication influences of the inner and outer guides of the cage are evaluated, and the internal flow characteristics of the bearing are analysed with different guide clearances. The results show that with the radial working clearance range from 0.100 to 0.145 mm, the pressure in the working contact area of the bearing decreases 26%. The pocket clearance ranges from 0.48 to 0.28 mm, and the pressure in the working contact area of the bearing significant increases from 0.642 to 1.165 MPa. From this perspective, the larger the radial working clearance and pocket clearance are, the more favourable it is for bearing lubrication. For bearings with under‐ring lubrication, when the bearing adopts outer guidance, the distribution of lubricating oil in the key areas of the bearing is worse than that for internal guidance. However, the pressure in the working contact area of the bearing slightly increases from 0.642 to 0.759 MPa with the inner guide clearance increasing from 0.4 to 0.8 mm.