3D Fluid Flow Research Articles

The influence of micro-channel shape filled by nanofluid on heat transfer characteristics: Numerical and experimental study

The integration of nanofluid effects and channel shape effects in a heat sink, which exhibits both variable and constant cross-section, has gained significant traction as an efficient cooling method for thermal devices, particularly microelectronic devices. This research presents an experimental and numerical analysis to compare the performance of microchannel heat sink designs (straight, zigzag, wavy, and circular cavities). In addition, the study dealt with the use of pure water and nanofluid (CuO-H2O) with volumetric concentrations of (0.01, 0.02, and 0.03) as coolants. COMSOL Multiphysics was used for numerical analysis to simulate and solve the problem of fluid and heat flow in 3D. The bottom wall of the four microchannels is subjected to a steady heat flux of 170 kW/m2. The simulations were only performed within the laminar domain, encompassing a spectrum of Reynolds numbers ranging from 50 to 150. The influence on the microchannel's wall temperature, thermal resistance, pressure drop, and friction factor is exhibited. According to the findings, the wavy and zigzag microchannel heat sink cooled by nanofluid displays higher performance in terms of heat transmission and dissipation in comparison to the heat sink that was cooled by distilled water. as evidenced by a 12% increase in mussel number at volume concentrations of 0.03%.

3D flow field measurements outside nanopores.

We demonstrate a non-stereoscopic, video-based particle tracking system with optical tweezers to study fluid flow in 3D in the vicinity of glass nanopores. In particular, we used the quadrant interpolation algorithm to extend our video-based particle tracking to displacements out of the trapping plane of the tweezers. This permitted the study of flow from nanopores oriented at an angle to the trapping plane, enabling the mounting of nanopores on a micromanipulator with which it was then possible to automate the mapping procedure. Mapping of the voltage driven flow in 3D volumes outside nanopores revealed polarity dependent flow fields. This is in agreement with the model of voltage driven flow in conical nanopores depending on the interaction of distinct flows within the nanopore and along the outer walls.

A Novel Numerical Model for Fluid Flow in 3D Fractured Porous Media Based on an Equivalent Matrix-Fracture Network

An original 3D numerical approach for fluid flow in fractured porous media is proposed. The whole research domain is discretized by the Delaunay tetrahedron based on the concept of node saturation. Tetrahedral blocks are impermeable, and fluid only flows through the interconnected interfaces between blocks. Fractures and the porous matrix are replaced by the triangular interface network, which is the so-called equivalent matrix-fracture network (EMFN). In this way, the three-dimensional seepage problem becomes a two-dimensional problem. The finite element method is used to solve the steady-state flow problem. The big finding is that the ratio of the macroconductivity of the whole interface network to the local conductivity of an interface is linearly related to the cubic root of the number of nodes used for mesh generation. A formula is presented to describe this relationship. With this formula, we can make sure that the EMFN produces the same macroscopic hydraulic conductivity as the intact rock. The approach is applied in a series of numerical tests to demonstrate its efficiency. Effects of the hydraulic aperture of fracture and connectivity of the fracture network on the effective hydraulic conductivity of fractured rock masses are systematically investigated.

An implicit potential method along with a meshless technique for incompressible fluid flows for regular and irregular geometries in 2D and 3D

We present the Implicit Potential (IPOT) numerical scheme developed in the framework of meshless point collocation. The proposed scheme is used for the numerical solution of the steady state, incompressible Navier-Stokes (N-S) equations in their primitive variable (u-v-w-p) formulation. The governing equations are solved in their strong form using either a collocated or a semi-staggered type meshless nodal configuration. The unknown field functions and derivatives are calculated using the Modified Moving Least Squares (MMLS) interpolation method. Both velocity-correction and pressure-correction methods applied ensure the incompressibility constraint and mass conservation. The proposed meshless point collocation (MPC) scheme has the following characteristics: (i) it can be applied, in a straightforward manner to: steady, unsteady, internal and external fluid flows in 2D and 3D, (ii) it equally applies to regular an irregular geometries, (iii) a distribution of points is sufficient, no numerical integration in space nor any mesh structure are required, (iv) there is no need for pressure boundary conditions since no pressure constitutive equation is solved, (v) it is quite simple and accurate, (vi) results can be obtained using collocated or semi-staggered nodal distributions, (vii) there is no need to compute the velocity potential nor the unit normal vectors and (viii) there is no need for a curvilinear system of coordinates. Simulations of fluid flow in 2D and 3D for regular and irregular geometries indicate the validity of the proposed methodology.

Analysis of the favorability for geothermal fluid flow in 3D: Astor Pass geothermal prospect, Great Basin, northwestern Nevada, USA

As geothermal exploration increasingly focuses on blind or hidden systems, precise geologic characterization of the sub-surface at potential development sites becomes essential. Geothermal circulation requires elevated heat, relatively high permeability, and ample fluid flow. Evidence for the collocation of these characteristics occur in areas where geothermal circulation is most likely to occur and where exploration activities should be focused. Employing a 3D geologic framework constructed through integration of many separate datasets, we demonstrate a methodology for analyzing the data types that can be used as proxies for these three key characteristics. This methodology is applied at the Astor Pass geothermal prospect in northwestern Nevada, western USA. Based on geologic structure modeled in 3D, several proxies for heat, fluids and permeability are compared in order to identify areas within the field with the highest favorability for geothermal fluid flow. Geological and conceptual models constructed through these methodologies can be used to develop exploration strategies and subsequently site wells. Such models can be iteratively adapted with newly acquired data, as prospects evolve into mature geothermal developments. If developed prior to expensive drilling programs, these techniques allow for more efficient use of limited drilling budgets, ultimately lowering the risks and costs of geothermal exploration and development.

Analysis of the Fluid Flow in 3D Symmetric Enlarged Channel

A 3-Dimensional fluid flow over the sudden expansion region of a horizontal duct for various Reynolds numbers have been studied by using the CFD Software package ANSYS Workbench Fluent v 13.0. The expansion ratio and aspect ratio for the sudden expansion are taken as 2.5 and 4 respectively. This work deals with the finding of critical Reynolds number for a fluid and also the length of re-attachments on stepped walls at various Reynolds numbers for the same fluid. The simulation is carried out in sudden expansion for Reynolds number ranging from 200 to 4000. The variations of local Nusselt number along the stepped walls of the sudden expansion are presented with the heat flux of 35 W/m2 on the stepped walls. Also, the plots of pressure coefficient (Cp) along the stepped walls for different Reynolds numbers are presented in this work.

Application of multiple forms of mechanical loading to human osteoblasts reveals increased ATP release in response to fluid flow in 3D cultures and differential regulation of immediate early genes

ATP is actively released into the extracellular environment from a variety of cell types in response to mechanical stimuli. This is particularly true in bone where mechanically induced ATP release leads to immediate early gene activation to regulate bone remodelling; however there is no consensus as to which mechanical stimuli stimulate osteoblasts the most. To elucidate which specific type(s) of mechanical stimuli induce ATP release and gene activation in human osteoblasts, we performed an array of experiments using different mechanical stimuli applied to both monolayer and 3D cultures of the same osteoblast cell type, SaOS-2. ATP release from osteoblasts cultured in monolayer significantly increased in response to turbulent fluid flow, laminar fluid flow and substrate strain. No significant change in ATP release could be detected in 3D osteoblast cultures in response to cyclic or static compressive loading of osteoblast-seeded scaffolds, whilst turbulent fluid flow increased ATP release from 3D cultures of osteoblasts to a greater degree than observed in monolayer cultures. Cox-2 expression quantified using real time PCR was significantly lower in cells subjected to turbulent fluid flow whereas c-fos expression was significantly higher in cells subjected to strain. Load-induced signalling via c-fos was further investigated using a SaOS-2 c-fos luciferase reporter cell line and increased in response to substrate strain and turbulent fluid flow in both monolayer and 3D, with no significant change in response to laminar fluid flow or 3D compressive loading. The results of this study demonstrate for the first time strain-induced ATP release from osteoblasts and that turbulent fluid flow in 3D up regulates the signals required for bone remodelling.

Boundary element method based algorithm for simulation of fluid flow in 3D

AbstractA boundary element method based numerical scheme that solves the velocity‐vorticity formulation of Navier‐Stokes equation is presented. The developed method is validated and used to simulate laminar viscous flow coupled with heat transfer in 3D. Benchmark test cases were use to determine the validity of the method. Flow around a hotstrip is presented as a test case. (© 2011 Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)