Effect Of Fluid Viscosity Research Articles

Fluid Interaction Analysis for Rotor-Stator Contact in Response to Fluid Motion and Viscosity Effect

Fluid–structure interaction introduces critical failure modes due to varying stiffness and changing contact states in rotor-stator systems. This is further aggravated by stress fluctuations due to shaft impact with a fixed stator when the shaft rotates. In this paper, the investigation of imbalance and rotor-stator contact on a rotating shaft was carried out in viscous fluid. The shaft was modelled as a vertical elastic rotor system based on a vertically oriented elastic rotor operating in an incompressible medium. Implicit representation of the rotating system including the rotor-stator contact and the hydrodynamic resistance was formulated for the coupled system using the energy principle and the Navier–Stokes equations. Additionally, the monolithic approach included an implicit strategy of the rotor-stator fluid interaction interface conditions in the solution methodology. Advanced time-frequency methods, such as Hilbert transform, continuous wavelet transform, and estimated instantaneous frequency maps, were applied to extract the vibration features of the dynamic response of the faulted rotor. Time-varying stiffness due to friction is thought to be the main reason for the frequency fluctuation, as indicated by historical records of the vibration displacement, whirling orbit patterns of the centre shaft, and the amplitude–frequency curve. It has also been demonstrated that the augmented mass associated with the rotor and stator decreases the natural frequencies, while the amplitude signal remains relatively constant. This behaviour indicates a quasi-steady-state oscillatory condition, which minimises the energy fluctuations caused by viscous effects.

Effects of fluid properties on coarse particles transport in vertical pipe

The mineral resources in deep-seabed are attracting extensive attention. A numerical simulation of particle transport in a vertical pipe for a deep-sea mining system is conducted using the CFD-DEM method. The effects of fluid density, fluid viscosity and rheological parameters of non-Newtonian fluids on the liquid-solid flow behavior in a vertical pipe are investigated. For Newtonian fluids, increasing the density or viscosity enhances the particles' performance in following the fluid and reduces the slip velocity, but also increases the pressure drop. The efficient lifting of particles can be facilitated by adjusting fluid density and viscosity, while considering factors such as energy consumption. For non-Newtonian fluids, an increase in either the flow behavior index n or the consistency coefficient k results in an increase in the fluid's apparent viscosity. This leads to an increase in the particle suspension capacity and local particle velocity, along with a decrease in local particle concentration.

Effect evaluation of fluid movement and rock properties for artificial seismic activity on hydrocarbons

Despite the effectiveness of seismic stimulation in enhancing oil production from reservoirs, the impact of high-frequency vibrations on oil droplets confined within pore throats has not been adequately investigated. This laboratory-scale experimental study examines the impact of low and high-frequency sinusoidal vibrations in dislodging oil droplets trapped in a specific pore-throat region. Sinusoidal vibrations ranging from 10 to 80 Hz and with maximum displacement amplitudes of 1.2–0.06 mm are applied. By comparing the images captured prior to and after the application of seismic vibrations, the amount of oil recovered is determined. Commercial gasoline and diesel are used as trapped oil samples, and water is used as the injection fluid to bring out the effect of fluid viscosities in seismic dislodgment. While applying vibrations to trapped oil in the pore throat, three different recovery modes are observed: continuous, snap-off, and emulsified. The continuous oil recovery mode is observed in cases with minimal flow resistance through the pore throat, whereas a snap-off or intermittent recovery mode is observed when the flow resistance is high, and the vibration frequencies fall within the midrange of 40–60 Hz. An emulsified oil recovery mode is observed at high vibration frequencies. The amount of recovered oil increases as geometrical restrictions and trapped oil viscosity decrease. Seismic mobilization is observed to be directly proportional to the mobilization velocity and inversely proportional to the entrapped oil viscosity and geometrical restriction factors.

Investigating the impact of shear and bulk viscosity on the damping of confined acoustic modes in phononic crystal sensors

Phononic crystal (PnC) sensors are recognized for their capability to control acoustic wave propagation through periodic structures, presenting considerable potential across various applications. Despite advancements, the effects of fluid viscosity on PnC performance remain intricate and inadequately understood. This study theoretically investigates the influence of shear (dynamic) and bulk viscosity on acoustic wave damping in defective one-dimensional phononic crystal (1D PnC) sensors designed for detecting liquid analytes. Acetic acid with varying viscosities is considered to fill a cavity layer intermediated by a multilayer stack of lead and epoxy. The effects of dynamic and bulk viscosity on the resonance characteristics of the defective mode were analyzed. Numerical results reveal that increased dynamic viscosity leads to substantial broadening and decreased intensity of resonance peaks, accompanied by a shift to higher frequencies due to enhanced elastic wave attenuation and damping. At low dynamic viscosity (η = 0.2 ηd), numerous resonance peaks with varying intensities are observed. However, at higher viscosities (η = 2.0 ηd to η = 10.0 ηd), only one prominent peak appears in the spectrum. The intensity of this resonant peak starts at 98% for η = 2 ηd and decreases to 58.8% as the dynamic viscosity increases to η = 10 ηd. Additionally, the combined effect of dynamic and bulk viscosity introduces further damping, causing a strong shift of the resonance peak to higher frequencies, along with an increase in the full width at half maximum (FWHM) and a decrease in the quality factor (QF). These findings emphasize the necessity of incorporating both shear and bulk viscosity in the design of PnC sensors to enhance their sensitivity and accuracy in practical applications. This theoretical framework provides critical insights for optimizing sensor performance and bridging gaps between theoretical predictions and experimental observations, especially in 1D PnCs, offering potential solutions to challenges in real-world PnC sensor applications.

A new evaluation method for sand control performance of slotted screen

Evaluation method of slotted screen performance is a critical concern for sand control. Despite its significance, comprehensive investigations into quantitative study of sand retaining during the complex flow process need further in-depth study, particularly in numerical simulation research model of the slotted screen. This paper adopts the two-way coupling calculation method of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and discrete element method (DEM) for the particle movement and fluid flow at the slotted screen and establishes a numerical model of the sand particle migration process through the slotted screen. The sand particle deposition and plugging dynamics on the surface of the sand retaining medium and the micro sand plugging mechanism and blockage pattern are studied. The fractal dimension of formation sand is introduced to characterize different distribution of formation sand. The effects of fluid viscosity, width of the slotted screen, sand production concentration, fluid velocity and particle size distribution on sand production, sand passing rate and particle size distribution of formation sand passing through the slot and plugging behavior are studied. The sand plugging process of slotted screen can be divided into three stages: the beginning of blockage, the intensification of blockage, and the balance of blockage. Under simulated conditions, the initial sand plugging rate is 87%, and as the blockage intensifies, the sand plugging rate gradually increases to 96.5%. Based on the analysis of numerical simulation results, the index of total seepage resistance damage amplitude and velocity, general sand retention ratio and passed-sand size were defined to construct the integrated evaluation method of slotted screen media, which involves the performance of sand retention, anti-plugging and flow ability. A brand new set of ideas on quantifying the integrated evaluation method were introduced to calculate the individual and integrated performance indicators of the slotted screen based on simulated data. The quantitative evaluation of the sand control performance of the slotted screen provides guidance and reference for the parameter design of the slotted screen in the target oil region and the accuracy optimization of the sand control medium.

Effect of Fluid Viscosity on the Deposition of Colloidal Particles in an Expansion-Contraction Microchannel Flow

Effect of Fluid Viscosity on the Deposition of Colloidal Particles in an Expansion-Contraction Microchannel Flow

Effects of fluid saturation and viscosity on seismic dispersion characteristics in Berea sandstone

Despite additional availability of laboratory data from water-saturated sandstone at seismic frequencies, measurements of rock samples saturated with high viscous fluids, particularly at partial saturation, are still rare. To quantify the effects of fluid viscosity and saturation levels on seismic dispersion and attenuation characteristics, we conducted two comparative forced-oscillation measurements in partially saturated sandstone with varying fluid viscosity (e.g., water, glycerin) at seismic frequencies (2–400 Hz). The results demonstrate that fluid viscosity and saturation levels substantially influence the dispersion and attenuation characteristics at the measured frequencies. Significant dispersion and attenuation are observed in the presence of a relatively small amount of gas (approximately 6%–8%) for glycerin and water saturation cases but vary in their magnitudes and characteristic frequencies. Specifically, the maximum extensional attenuation (approximately 0.024) occurs at approximately 200 Hz for water-saturated rock at 94% saturation, whereas at approximately 30 Hz with a peak of 0.032 for glycerin-saturated rock at 92% saturation. Based on theoretical modeling analysis, we suggest that mesoscopic fluid flow might be a dominant mechanism accounting for the observed attenuation in partial water or glycerin saturation, while the microscopic (squirt) flow mechanism possibly dominates the fully saturated cases.

Round Splashes of a Viscous Liquid

The splashes of a highly viscous fluid (glycerol) resulting from its pulsed displacement from a gap between two rapidly approaching disks are studied. It is found that, outside the disks, the splash has the form of a thin film bounded by an annular rim. A physical model of the splash is formulated, and analytical solutions describing its trajectory are given. The calculation results are compared with experimental data. The effects of fluid viscosity, surface tension, and film breakdown are analyzed. It is shown that the key influence on the splash development scenarios is exerted by surface tension of the film connecting the rim to the disks.

Theoretical and Experimental Study on the Performance of Hermetic Diaphragm Squeeze Film Dampers for Gas-Lubricated Bearings

Low damping characteristics have always been a key sticking points in the development of gas bearings. The application of squeeze film dampers can significantly improve the damping performance of gas lubricated bearings. This paper proposed a novel hermetic diaphragm squeeze film damper (HDSFD) for oil-free turbomachinery supported by gas lubricated bearings. Several types of HDSFDs with symmetrical structure were proposed for good damping performance. By considering the compressibility of the damper fluid, based on hydraulic fluid mechanics theory, a dynamic model of HDSFDs under medium is proposed, which successfully reflects the frequency dependence of force coefficients. Based on the dynamic model, the effects of damper fluid viscosity, bulk modulus of damper fluid, thickness of damper fluid film and plunger thickness on the dynamic stiffness and damping of HDSFDs were analyzed. An experimental test rig was assembled and series of experimental studies on HDSFDs were conducted. The damper fluid transverse flow is added to the existing HDSFD concept, which aims to make the dynamic force coefficients independent of frequency. Although the force coefficient is still frequency dependent, the damping coefficient at high frequency excitation with damper fluid supply twice as that without damper fluid supply. The results serve as a benchmark for the calibration of analytical tools under development.

Study of proppant plugging in narrow rough fracture based on CFD–DEM method

In unconventional reservoirs, hydraulic fracturing often results in narrow and rough fractures. Nevertheless, the placement in narrow rough fractures is different from conventional fractures. This study utilizes the spectral synthesis method to model these fractures, employing a validated CFD-DEM method to investigate proppant transport within them. The research identifies blocky dunes in narrow rough fractures which are different from the continuous dunes. Furthermore, the study observes additional phenomena including local generations of plugs and automatic collapses of plugs. Changing proppant density leads to the formation of complete plugs. Additional CFD-DEM simulations involve that injecting high-velocity pure fluid can unblock the plugs. Finally, the study explores the effect of fluid viscosity on unblocking and establishes a new phase diagram to guide how to unblock the plugs on-site. This work enhances our understanding of how sand-plugging happens in rough narrow fractures and helps propose effective measures for mitigating sand-plugging issues.

Combined effect of rock fabric, in-situ stress, and fluid viscosity on hydraulic fracture propagation in Chang 73 lacustrine shale from the Ordos Basin

Combined effect of rock fabric, in-situ stress, and fluid viscosity on hydraulic fracture propagation in Chang 73 lacustrine shale from the Ordos Basin

The hydrodynamic study of the interaction between waves and objects in permeable reef environment

This study employed a self-developed viscous numerical wave tank based on the piston type wave maker and user-defined functions of Fluent software to explore the wave shadowing effect of the transmission of waves near the underwater object and the reef. In the study, various factors such as the permeability of the reef, changes in topography, and objects motion were considered, and detailed simulation analyses were conducted for five scenarios: a solitary reef, a fixed underwater object, a forced moving underwater object, and a free moving underwater object. The results showed that this method can effectively simulate the complex flow field changes around the underwater object and the reef under different conditions, while also fully considering the strong nonlinearity and fluid viscosity effects between the wave surface and the object. Furthermore, it was found that between the free-moving object and the reef, there would be significant swirls and streamline distortion. This indicates that a portion of the incident wave energy is transformed into kinetic energy of swirls, resulting in a smoother and more uniform flow field and reducing wave forces.

Drag coefficient for micron-sized particle in high-speed flows

The drag force on the small particle in high-speed flows is influenced by the combined effects of fluid viscosity, compressibility, and rarefaction. The existing drag coefficient models are still insufficient in accuracy and efficiency for gas-particle flow simulation. This study comprehensively considers these effects and conducts high-fidelity numerical simulations. A new drag coefficient is generated using a symbolic regression method reasonably based on the particle Mach number, Reynolds number, and Knudsen number, which are related to particle diameter, gas-particle relative velocity, and other parameters. The new drag coefficient possesses clear physical significance, high predictive accuracy, low computational cost, and consistency with theory in limiting conditions. The application of the new drag coefficient to three typical gas-solid two-phase flow cases demonstrated its excellent performance.

Numerical study of capillary-dominated drainage dynamics: Influence of fluid properties and wettability

Drainage in porous media, crucial in various engineering, industrial, and pharmaceutical contexts, is influenced by the instability of fluid interfaces, leading to diverse displacement efficiencies. This study employs a color gradient model based on the lattice Boltzmann method for pore-scale simulations, examining effects of fluid viscosity, interfacial tension, and wettability on fluid distribution and pressure variations. Results reveal that higher viscosity ratios intensify the imbibition interface, making the invading fluid more compact early in displacement. Increased interfacial tension amplifies pressure difference fluctuations and enhances imbibition, affecting the displacement front's morphology by enhancing lateral evolution but reducing finger-like structures. A greater contact angle in the defending fluid heightens pressure difference volatility, lowers imbibition interfaces, and improves the displacement front's compactness, thereby boosting overall displacement efficiency. These insights offer foundational theoretical support for optimizing mining and industrial processes considering subtle variations in fluid property and wettability.

Study on the interaction between hydraulic fracture and natural fracture under high stress

The existence of natural fractures in the reservoir has a great influence on the formation of complex fracture network, but the interaction between hydraulic fractures and natural fractures under high stress was rarely studied. Through laboratory tests, the law and characteristics of the interaction between hydraulic fractures and natural fractures under high stress were studied from the aspects of natural fractures angle, size, quantity, production method and ground stress in this study. Based on these interaction characteristics, a complex fracture network formation method of deep reservoir was proposed, which provided reference for engineering practice. The criterion of interaction between hydraulic fracture and natural fracture was improved, and the calculation method of rock tensile strength in three-dimensional state was proposed, which was applied to the criterion of fracture opening and fracture expansion. Combined with laboratory tests, a special interaction mode of hydraulic fracture passing through a certain position from the direction to end A (F-Type crossing mode) under high stress was proposed, and the criterion of this interaction mode were obtained. The three-dimensional finite discrete element model (FDEM) was used to investigate the effects of natural fracture strength and fracturing fluid viscosity on hydraulic fracture propagation under high stress. The results showed that the natural crack strength has great influence on the width, volume and shape of hydraulic crack. Small difference of fracturing fluid viscosity has little influence on fracture propagation, but high viscosity fracturing fluid has a greater influence on fracture propagation. This study provided reference for hydraulic fracturing engineering.

Oscillating solid sphere and fluid flow in an axisymmetric sinusoidal channel: Light and heavy body cases

The dynamics of a solid spherical body in a “hold-up” state caused by an oscillating fluid flow in an axisymmetric channel is investigated experimentally. The shape of the channel is sinusoidal, i.e., the radius varies periodically along its axis. The effect is studied for bodies of different size and relative density to the fluid. The effect of fluid viscosity, amplitude and frequency of oscillation of the fluid column is studied. The intensity of the averaged flows is analyzed. Particular attention is paid to the methodology of data processing of averaged flows. The experimental data are generalized to the plane of the control dimensionless parameters.

EFFECT OF CARRIER FLUID VISCOSITY AND PARTICLE CONCENTRATION ON STABILITY OF MAGNETORHEOLOGICAL FLUID

Magnetorheological fluids (MRFs) are multiphase smart fluids comprising micro-sized magnetic particles suspended in nonmagnetic carrier fluid. Dispersed particles get polarized and form chains along the magnetic field lines when MRF is exposed to an external magnetic field. It further increases the apparent viscosity. Such rheological characteristics encourage its use in hydro-mechanical systems such as damper, clutch, and brake. These systems become semi-active by using MRF instead of Newtonian oils. The biggest hurdle in rheological response is the sedimentation of particles in MRF. Due to the large density difference between carrier fluid and magnetic particles, the dispersed phase settles and separates from carrier fluid. Numerous studies have been reported on the application of different additives to reduce sedimentation. In the present work, MRF sedimentation is measured using an induction-based setup. The sedimentation index, which is used for quantification of settling, is obtained from the experimental particle settling data. Further, the experimental sedimentation index is used to study the effect of dispersed phase concentration on the stability of magnetorheological fluid. The concentration of the dispersed phase varies from 10 to 25 vol%. It is inferred that increase in the concentration of the dispersion phase increases the stability of MRF.

Transportation and deposition of oval and cylindrical shaped proppant particles in complex-fracture systems

Hydraulic fracturing treatment can create complex fractures to provide oil and natural gas flow path. To achieve a high conductivity, the proppant should be placed properly in the fractures. Up to date, nearly all proppant materials used are spherical or nearly spherical particles and the effect of proppant shape is rarely reported. In this work, we investigate the flow, transport and deposition of non-spherical proppant particles in complex fractures. The results show that in the primary fracture, the packing patterns of ovals behave as spheres, but cylinders show a significant difference. Ovals can enter subsidiary fractures at a lower pump rate than cylinders and spheres. The effect of fluid viscosity on the packing pattern is also examined, revealing a significant influence in the primary fracture, but not much in the subsidiary fracture. The proppant transportation efficiency decreases with increasing the fluid viscosity for the conditions considered in this work.

Geo-temperature response to reinjection in sandstone geothermal reservoirs

To study the evolution rules and behaviors of heat transport in a sandstone geothermal reservoir caused by cooled water reinjection, this research focuses on the quantitative relationship among reinjection parameters and the thermal breakthrough time of production wells. The permeation, tracer, and reinjection tests were conducted in a simulation model using a large sand tank in conjunction with the numerical simulation method based on COMSOL Multiphysics. Subsequently, sensitivity analysis and nonlinear fitting were performed to investigate the effects of fluid viscosity and density on the reinjection process, and to analyze the impact of reinjection parameters on the thermal breakthrough time of production wells, along with their underlying mechanisms and law. The results indicate that the migration velocity of reinjection water is greater in coarse sand layer compared to that in medium sand layer, and the thermal breakthrough time t is linearly correlated with reinjection rate (Q) raised to the power of − 0.85, temperature difference (ΔT) raised to the power of − 0.21, and spacing between the production and reinjection wells (R) raised to the power of 1.4. The correlation equation and analysis show that when the temperature difference between production and reinjection ΔT is more than 30 ℃, the influence of ΔT on the thermal breakthrough time of production well becomes weak, because ΔT exerts an effect on the thermal breakthrough time of production well t by influencing the relative position of the 18.5 ℃ isotherm in the temperature transition region. The error in reinjecting high-temperature fluid into low-temperature fluid may be corrected by introducing a viscosity correction coefficient αμ.

Flowpattern in hydrocyclones, numerical simulations with experimental verification

This paper reports a detailed study of the flow in cyclone separators, with the use of most up to date computational fluid dynamics simulations, which are validated with positron emission particle tracking (PEPT) experiments tracing the movement of particles through the cyclone. The parameters varied were the viscosity of the carrier liquid, the flowrate and, in the numerical simulations, the inlet configurations of the cyclone, namely one and two inlets and, with the two inlets, a) both at right angles to the cyclone axis and b) angled downwards. The study reveals features of the flow, which have not been seen till now, but are necessary for the understanding and modelling of the separation and purification efficiency of cyclones. The results of the simulations and the close agreement with experiment are a testament to the reliability and accuracy of large eddy simulation (LES), even for flow features as difficult to simulate as the confined strongly swirling flows in cyclone separators. The results show that a contiguous, smooth surface of zero axial velocity does exist and has approximately the shape that has been assumed by modellers. The significant effects of fluid viscosity, underflow and modifications to the inlet are also shown.