Experimental Simulation Methods Research Articles

Adding Yaw System to Improve Wind Energy Utilization of Offshore Wind Turbines

In wind power generation, the wind energy loss caused by yaw and other factors is as high as 50%, which directly leads to the difficulty of greatly improving The efficiency of wind power generating in producing electricity. The development of yaw control system restricts the progress of wind energy utilization, The purpose of this study is to investigate the application and influence of automatic steering of offshore wind turbines in practice. This paper proposes that the automatic yaw system of offshore wind turbine can improve the efficiency of wind power generation. The outcomes of the experiment demonstrate that the wind resources can be fully utilized and the power generation efficiency of the offshore fan can be improved by enabling the offshore fan to automatically turn according to the wind direction. The research has a certain value for the development of new energy power generation technology. In this paper, the method of Simulink simulation experiment is used to demonstrate that the yaw system can improve the wind energy utilization coefficient of offshore fan.

Large-Scale Physical Simulation Experiment of Water Invasion Law for Multi-Well Development in Sandstone Gas Reservoirs with Strong Water Drive

In order to clarify the water invasion law and residual gas distribution characteristics in edge and bottom water gas reservoirs with multi-well development, a large-scale three-dimensional physical simulation model was developed and a physical simulation experiment method for the water invasion law of multi-well development in sandstone gas reservoirs with strong water drives was established. Water invasion physical simulation experiments of multi-well development under the conditions of different water body multiples and production systems were conducted. The results show the following: (1) Gas wells near fractures and high-permeability zones experience the earliest water breakthrough. The larger the water body multiple, the faster the rate of water invasion, the earlier the water breakthrough time of gas wells, the more severe the degree of water invasion in gas reservoirs, and the lower the ultimate recovery rate. (2) Shutting in low-position gas wells immediately after water breakthrough reduces the overall water production of the gas reservoir and extends the overall water-free gas production period. However, the ultimate recovery rate is lower than when the wells are not shut in. (3) The residual gas in the fracture model is mainly distributed around the fracture and the edge of the gas reservoir, with the ultimate recovery rate ranging from 38.5% to 58.2%. The residual gas in the fracture–high-permeability zone model is mainly distributed around the fracture–high-permeability zone and the edge of the gas reservoir, with the ultimate recovery rate ranging from 28.32% to 41.8%. The experimental results have important guiding significance for the economical and efficient development of similar gas reservoirs.

Investigation of the Discharge Coefficient for Laidback Fan-Shaped Holes on Turbine Blades Under Internal Crossflow Condition

Abstract The discharge coefficient of laidback fan-shaped holes on turbine blades under internal crossflow conditions is investigated using experimental and numerical simulation methods. The study is conducted on a linear cascade, with single rows of film holes set on both the pressure and suction surfaces of the test blade, coolant supplied by an internal crossflow channel. The internal crossflow Reynolds number ranged from 39,100 to 78,200, and the pressure ratio ranged from 1 to 1.5. This research considered the effects of internal crossflow Reynolds numbers and hole length-to-diameter ratio on the discharge coefficient of laidback fan-shaped holes. The findings are as follows: internal crossflow increases the inlet loss of film holes and flow separation within the holes, leading to a significant reduction in the discharge coefficient of film holes. Meanwhile, film holes on the pressure surface of the blade exhibit greater sensitivity to crossflow. Under different hole length-to-diameter ratio conditions, the length of the cylindrical section is the primary factor affecting the discharge coefficient, and the magnitude of the discharge coefficient depends on the extent of flow separation within the cylindrical section. The sensitivity of the discharge coefficient to variations in the cylindrical section length decreases once the cylindrical section length exceeds 2.8D for the pressure surface and 2.0D for the suction surface, where the inlet separation region reattaches to the wall. Under plenum conditions, there are significant differences in the discharge coefficients of film holes between the suction surface and pressure surface, especially at pressure ratios below 1.05.

Oil/water interface behavior of hesperidin methylchalcone and its application in nano-emulsions

The behavior of hesperidin methylchalcone (HMC) at the oil/water interface was examined through experimental and molecular simulation methods, and a nano-emulsions based on HMC was subsequently fabricated. The findings indicated that HMC spontaneously aggregated at the oil-water interface, leading to a reduction in interfacial tension and an increase in interfacial thickness. Furthermore, its glycoside and benzene ring showed tendencies to interact with water and medium-chain triglyceride, respectively. The HMC addition amount (w), homogenization times (n) and homogenization pressure (p) significantly influenced the formation of the nano-emulsions. The nano-emulsion with an oil-droplet size of 277.26 ± 13.62 nm was obtained at w = 1.0 %, p = 200 bar, and n = 6. When compared to the Tween 20 nano-emulsion, the HMC nano-emulsion demonstrated superior storage stability, antioxidant activity, and lutein bioaccessibility. It could achieve the slow release of HMC. These findings not only broaden the application range of HMC but also contribute to the advancement of functional nano-emulsions.

Rebar indentation on performance of CFS columns strengthened by rebar at flange-lip

To facilitate easier construction when longitudinally reinforcing cold-formed thin-walled lipped channel steel columns with steel bars, here, both ends of the steel bars used for reinforcement were cut, and the impact on the reinforcement effect was studied through experimental and numerical simulation methods. Seven groups of reinforced column specimens with different indentation lengths and one group of unreinforced specimens were designed, and axial compression tests were conducted. Parametric analyses were performed using the numerical models calibrated by tests. These numerical models included three types of specimens with typical sections and several series of specimens with different steel plate thicknesses. Using these models, the effects of the steel bar indentation length Li, steel bar diameter D, and other factors on the ultimate bearing capacity and deformation of the reinforced specimens were studied. The experimental results indicated that when the steel bar is the same length as the specimen, the compressive bearing capacity of the cold-formed thin-walled lipped channel column can be significantly improved by bonding the steel bar. Additionally, the numerical analysis results indicated that the influence of changing the steel bar diameter D on the bearing capacity of the specimens is not significant when the steel bars are indented within a certain range. As the length of the steel bar indentation increases to a certain extent, the stress concentration at the end of the steel bar becomes more significant, causing local buckling of the specimen and ultimately leading to a sharp decrease in the bearing capacity of the specimen. To achieve reinforcement, facilitate construction, and ensure structural safety, the total indentation length Li of the steel bars should not be >2 cm in practical engineering projects. Considering the economy of reinforcement engineering, it is suggested that steel bars with smaller diameters, i.e., 6 mm, should be selected. Through a comparison between the FEA and the experimental process, it was confirmed that the failure model of the numerical model is basically consistent with the experimental phenomenon, and the bearing capacity deviation was <3.3%. This indicates that the FEM established in this study was reliable.

Strain path dependent dynamic recrystallization and its resulted material flow and microstructure evolution of a titanium alloy

Changing strain path is an effective method to optimize the hot working process and improve microstructure and mechanical performance of titanium alloys. In this work, dynamic recrystallization (DRX) and its resulted material flow and microstructural behaviors in monotonic torsion (MT) and forward-reverse torsion (FRT) were comparatively explored by experimental and crystal plastic finite element simulation methods. The results indicate that both MT and FRT can induce discontinuous DRX (DDRX) and continuous DRX (CDRX). However, compared to MT where CDRX always prevails, FRT makes DDRX more important since it inhibits CDRX by recovering the lattice rotation during the reversal stage. Moreover, in FRT, the driving force and the grain boundary content for DDRX nucleation and bulging are relatively low at a small total strain. And the recovery of lattice rotation in FRT can also suppress CDRX. Therefore, DRX kinetics is obviously delayed at a smaller strain. As strain increases, both the stored energy for DDRX and the long-range misorientation gradient for CDRX are gradually greater, thus improve DRX kinetics. With these effects by DRX, although FRT exhibits a lower grain refinement degree at a smaller total strain compared to MT, it can make grain refinement degree rapidly rise and even close to that in MT at a greater strain. Also, FRT can obviously weaken the deformation texture by inducing extensive DDRX grains and recovering the lattice rotation of retained grains. In addition, the texture formed in forward stage and DRX delaying can result in a decrease in yield strength and softening rate in reversal stage, respectively, i.e., exhibiting remarkable Bauschinger effect, especially at a higher forward strain. These results can provide a basic guidance for designing the hot working process of titanium alloys to obtaining more refined microstructure and excellent properties of the components.

Comparison of mineral transformation in CO2 geological storage under CO2–water–sandstone and mudstone reactions

Carbon dioxide (CO2) mineral trapping was considered the most secure and stable mechanism for CO2 geological storage. The previous studies lacked clarity regarding the mechanisms and processes of transformation for various types of minerals involved in CO2–water–sandstone and mudstone reactions during CO2 geological storage. Additionally, it didn't clear the different stages of mineral reactions in reservoir and caprock. We utilized experimental and numerical simulation methods to analyze the mechanisms, processes, and stages of CO2–water–rock reactions involving various types of minerals in the mudstone from Chang 4 + 5 members and the sandstone from Chang 6 member of the Triassic Yanchang Formation in the Ordos Basin. The experimental simulation demonstrated the dissolution of feldspar minerals in sandstone led to precipitate of carbonate, clay, and other minerals. Contrary, mudstone primarily underwent the dissolution of clay minerals and the precipitation of feldspar minerals, whereas carbonate content remained relatively stable. The numerical simulation consisted of experimental results in the short term, but over a longer timescale, The reaction processes of carbonate and clay minerals in the reservoir and caprock dissolved first and then precipitated. Conversely, other minerals behaved oppositely; feldspar minerals continuously dissolved in the reservoir but precipitated first and then dissolved in the caprock. The reaction stages of mineral change in both the reservoir and caprock could be divided into dissolution, rapid precipitation, and stable precipitation. The reservoir's dissolution stage was shorter than the caprock, which entered the stable precipitation stage earlier. With increasing storage time, continuous CO2–water–rock reactions gradually transformed physically sequestered CO2 in the formation into chemically sequestered mineralized CO2.

Heat transfer characteristics of printed circuit heat exchangers under mechanical vibrations

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of mechanical vibration on the heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics of semicircular channel printed circuit heat exchangers (PCHEs), while also establishing correlations between vibration parameters and thermal performance. Design/methodology/approach By combining experimental and numerical simulation methods, the heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop characteristics of supercritical carbon dioxide (S-CO2) in a semicircular channel with a diameter of 2 mm under vibration conditions were studied. Reinforce the research by conducting computational fluid dynamics studies using ANSYS Fluent 22.0, the experimental results were compared with the numerical simulation results to verify the accuracy of the numerical method. Findings The use of vibration has the potential to attenuate the degradation of wall heat transfer caused by buoyancy-induced PCHEs on the upward-facing surface. The heat transfer enhancement (HTE) was maximized by an increase of 18.2%, while the pressure drop enhancement (PDE) was elevated by over 25-fold. The capacity to enhance the heat exchange between S-CO2 and channel walls through increasing vibration intensity is limited, indicating maximum effectiveness in improving thermal performance. Originality/value Conducting heat transfer experiments on PCHEs with mechanical vibration enhancement and verifying the accuracy of the vibration numerical model. The relation based on the dimensionless factor is derived. To provide theoretical support for using vibration to enhance the heat transfer capability of PCHEs.

Exploring green environmental composites as hosts for shielding materials using experimental, theoretical and Geant4 simulation methods

Rice straw is considered an agricultural waste harmful to the environment, which is abundant in most parts of the world. From this point, the present study is devoted to preparing new composites of two types of glue based on rice straw as a plentiful, low-cost matrix. Straw glue samples were prepared by mixing 20% wt. of rice straw with 80% wt. of animal glue (RS-An) and polyvinyl acetate (RS-PVAC) at different thicknesses of 1, 2, and 3 cm. The chemical composition of the prepared samples was identified by energy dispersive X-ray analysis and their morphology was examined using a scanning electron microscope. The mechanical test explored that RS-An and RS-PVAC respectively required a stress of 25.2 and 25.5 MPa before reaching the breaking point. γ-ray shielding performance was analyzed and determined at numerous photon energies from 0.059 to 1.408 MeV emitted from five-point γ-rays sources using NaI (Tl). Linear attenuation coefficient was calculated by obtaining the area under the peak of the energy spectrum observed from Genie 2000 software in the presence and absence of the sample. The experimental results of mass attenuation coefficient were compared with theoretical data of XCOM software with relative deviation ranging from 0.10 to 2.99%. Geant4 Monte Carlo simulation code was also employed to validate the experimental results. The relative deviation of XCOM and Geant4 outcomes was 0.09–1.77%, which indicates a good agreement between them. Other radiation shielding parameters such as half value layer (HVL), tenth value layer, and mean free path were calculated in three ways: experimentally, theoretically from the XCOM database, and by simulation using Geant4 code. Additionally, effective atomic number (Zeff), effective atomic number (Neff), equivalent atomic number (Zeq), and buildup factors were evaluated. It was confirmed that the γ-ray shielding properties were further boosted by mixing rice straw with the animal glue compared to the synthetic one.

Supercritical carbon dioxide chelation extraction of heavy metal ions from drilling fluid waste: Experiment and simulation

This study evaluates the application of supercritical carbon dioxide chelation extraction technology for treating heavy metal ions (Zn2+ and Cr3+) in drilling fluid waste. Through a combination of experimental and molecular dynamics simulation methods, the influence of extraction parameters (temperature, pressure, duration, and chelating agents) on the extraction efficiency are investigated. Findings show that increased duration and pressure significantly improve extraction efficiency, while temperature has a complex effect, initially increasing efficiency but plateauing and slightly decreasing at higher temperatures. The optimum extraction condition with pressure of 220 bar, temperature 348.15 K and an extraction duration of 70 min using ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) as the chelating agent has been determined. Importantly, molecular simulation analysis revealed that citric acid outperforms EDTA in terms of Zn2+ and Cr3+ aggregation by forming larger aggregates with greater numbers of molecules while reducing overall aggregate count. Furthermore, optimization of extraction pressure in the EDTA system shows potential benefits. These results suggest that supercritical carbon dioxide chelation extraction technology has strong potential for environmentally friendly and reliable waste management in the drilling industry. This study represents a significant step forward in developing sustainable solutions for heavy metal removal from drilling fluid waste.

Simulation analysis of cryogenic mechanical properties of carbon fiber reinforced silicon-containing epoxy resin composite

The use of carbon fiber-reinforced resin matrix composites instead of metals to manufacture cryogenic propellant tanks for spacecrafts is a development trend in the world aerospace industry. Cryogenic mechanical properties of the composites should be investigated in detail due to that the ultra-low temperature environment may cause micro cracks in the composites, leading to propellant leakage. In the present study, cryogenic tensile properties of a carbon fiber reinforced silicon-containing epoxy resin aomposite are investigated using experimental and numerical simulation methods. A silicon-containing epoxy resin with excellent cryogenic mechanical properties is developed by introducing a synthesized organic silicon polymer epoxidized polysiloxane and Nano-SiO2 into bisphenol F type epoxy resin. The tensile strength and modulus of the silicon-containing epoxy resin at −180 °C are 202.63 MPa and 7.81 GPa, which are 16.71% and 3.03% higher than those of bisphenol F type epoxy resin. The tensile strength of the silicon-containing epoxy resin at −180 °C is increased by 107.7% compared to that at room temperature, and the modulus at −180 °C is nearly twice that at room temperature. The carbon fiber reinforced silicon-containing epoxy resin composite is prepared by vacuum injection molding. The finite element model for the representative volume element of the composite unidirectional plate is established. The random sequence expansion method is used to randomly distribute the carbon fibers and simulate the thermal residual stress, the elastic performance, and the damage of the composite at cryogenic environments. Through comparison, it is found that the simulation results are in good agreement with the experimental results. The simulation reliability for cryogenic mechanical properties of carbon fiber reinforced resin matrix composites is verified. It is expected to provide a reference for the analysis and evaluation of cryogenic mechanical properties of composite tanks.

Numerical and experimental investigation of 12 W/60 K high-efficiency coaxial pulse tube cryocooler

Maintaining a low-temperature environment is paramount in pursuing reliable operation for infrared detectors. To address the rising demand for long-wave infrared detectors functioning in low-temperature environments around 60 K, this study investigates the enhanced efficiency of a 60 K coaxial pulse tube cryocooler (PTC) through both simulation analysis and experimental methods. A PTC model was developed using Sage software to optimize parameters such as cold finger size. Analysis of the internal flow field highlighted that variations in cold head temperature, frequency, and input power significantly impact phase angle distribution within the regenerator. Experimental results yielded the same conclusion and confirmed how these critical factors affect the PTC’s performance. Through systematic optimization of simulations and experiments, a cooling performance of 12.7 W/60 K was achieved with an input power of 300 W. Furthermore, when the input power of the PTC was 200 W, a cooling capacity of 9.2 W/60 K was achieved, demonstrating a relative Carnot efficiency of 18.3 %.

Preparation and properties of phosphorus-containing thermotropic liquid crystal copolyester fibers with excellent flame retardance and mechanical property

In order to acquire polymeric fibers have both excellent flame retardance and mechanical properties, high molecular weight phosphorus-containing liquid crystal copolyesters derived from 6-hydroxy-2-naphthenic acid (HNA), terephthalic acid (TA) and 10-(2,5-dihydroxypheny)-10-hydro-9-oxa-10-phospha phenanthrene-10-oxide (DOPO-HQ) were synthesized via “one-pot” melt polymerization, and then the fibers were obtained by melt spinning method. The structure and property of the copolyesters were studied elaborately by experimental characterization technique and molecular simulation method. Shear shinning behavior was observed from rheology measurement, indicating that the copolyesters had excellent melt fluidity and spinnability. The rigidity of molecular chain was efficiently improved by the phosphorus-containing monomer DOPO-HQ and naphthalene HNA units which could be reflected by the molecular simulation results as well as high Tg values. The flame retardant mechanism of the phosphorus-containing flame retardant copolyester was systematically studied via limiting oxygen index (LOI), vertical burning (UL-94) test, cone calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results showed that the copolyesters exhibit synergistic flame retardant mechanism of gas phase and condensed phase. Meanwhile, mechanical property of the as-spun fibers could be significantly improved by increasing the spinneret draw ratio (SDR) attributed to high molecular chain orientation. The maximum tensile strength of the as-spun fiber was 0.77 GPa observed for P-HNA60P20 at a relatively low SDR of 29. It was shown the unique combination of good thermal stability, spinnability as well as mechanical and flame retardant properties of the copolyesters would make them could be used as high-performance flame retardant materials.

Suppression effects of different extinguishing agents on vent gases fires from lithium-ion batteries after thermal runaway: A comprehensive experimental and numerical study

During the thermal runaway process of lithium-ion batteries, the release of vaporized electrolyte and combustible gases can lead to the formation of a jet flame, posing a significant fire or explosion risk. In order to deal with the threat of lithium-ion battery vent gas fires to the safety of energy storage power stations, it's crucial to identify effective fire extinguishing agents for lithium-ion battery systems. This study employs a combination of experimental and numerical simulation methods to assess the suppression capabilities of CO2, N2, and HFC-227ea on vent gas/air premixed flames originating from lithium-ion batteries with various cathode materials. Laminar flame speed of vent gas/air/extinguishing agent premixed flames at specific equivalence ratios were measured using a Bunsen burner device under ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure conditions. Additionally, numerical calculations of laminar flame speed and adiabatic flame temperature were conducted using CHEMKIN-Pro, accompanied by an analysis of the chemical inhibition mechanism of HFC-227ea. The findings reveal that although HFC-227ea may slightly elevate the adiabatic flame temperature at lower equivalence ratios, its overall fire extinguishing efficacy surpasses that of CO2 and N2. These results offer valuable insights for selecting appropriate fire extinguishing agents for energy storage power stations, thereby enhancing the safety standards of energy storage systems.

Experimental and numerical study of wet-deck slamming characteristic for a trimaran in regular head waves

Wet deck may suffer from strong slamming effects when sailing under severe sea conditions, which could damage it locally and compromise the structural integrity of trimarans. The wet-deck slamming characteristic for trimaran sailing in head waves is studied in this work using both experimental and numerical simulation methods. We found that the negative pressure occurred at the front of the wet deck, which is caused by the wet deck exit from the wave crest. Regarding the spatial distribution in longitudinal, the slamming behaviour is more severe at the front part of the wet deck, as the relative vertical impact velocity decreased from the front to the back part of it. Simultaneously, the wet-deck slamming is more severe under the short-wave condition. Regarding the spatial distribution in lateral, we found that the water-entry of the main hull could cause the wet-deck slamming pressure near the outrigger larger than that of the main hull. Moreover, the wet deck has been divided into three regions according to their different lateral distribution characteristics of the wet-deck slamming. These results can provide a better understanding of the wet-deck slamming characteristics when trimaran sailing in waves, which can be considered in future designs for the trimaran.

Cesium stability on the interlayers of K- or Rb-fixing micaceous minerals investigated by both experimental and numerical simulation methods

The frayed edge site (FES) of micas, a partially weathered interlayer site, selectively adsorbs Cs radioisotopes. Despite extensive research on Cs+ adsorption, the interactive dynamics of FES elements remain unclear. This study employs experimental and computational methods to examine how interlayer cations at the FES affect Cs stability. We measured the solid–liquid distribution coefficients of Cs+ for partially expanded K- and Rb-fixed biotite using chemical extraction and adsorption methods. We evaluated the standard Gibbs free energy for the Cs exchange reaction between the FESs of K- and Rb-fixed muscovite models and bulk water, expanding the d001 spacing from collapsed to fully expanded conditions. Our results reveal that the interlayer cation significantly influences Cs+ affinity for FES, with the substitution of K+ with Rb+ largely reducing Cs+ stability. The computational approach further disclosed that the K+ to Rb+ replacement only at the wedge-shaped part of the FES contributed to the decrease in Cs+ stability whereas the replacement at other interlayer sites caused little impact. Our studies offer microscopic structural insights into FES, highlighting the critical role of the wedge-shaped part of FES in Cs+ stability.

Optimization and influence of oil supply parameters on oil capture characteristics of radial oil scoop for high-speed bearings

Radial under-race lubrication technology offers an innovative solution for high-speed bearings in aero-engines, aiming to minimize oil flow rate and engine power loss. This study, through experimental and CFD simulation methods, evaluates the entire operational process of radial under-race lubrication — capturing, delivering, and expelling oil. It elucidates the mechanisms through which oil supply parameters, particularly the orifice diameter, affect both oil capture efficiency and flow rate, while identifying the optimal range of orifice diameters under various oil supply conditions. An improper orifice diameter can reduce oil capture efficiency by up to 45 %. In engineering applications, achieving a higher oil capture flow rate may necessitate sacrificing a portion of oil capture efficiency. Optimized oil capture efficiency consistently exceeds 80 %, with a significant improvement of over 20 %. Owing to the competitive relationship between the relative error of oil supply and capture efficiency, it is necessary to reconcile these factors to achieve optimal performance.

Numerical simulation of VAM assisted combustion gas turbine

In order to save energy and protect environment, how to utilize ventilation air methane (VAM) is a subject that needed urgently to be studied. The methane concentration in VAM varies greatly, making it difficult for traditional burners to burn directly. Therefore, the feasibility of using VAM as a combustion gas for gas turbines is considered. When natural gas is used as the fuel for a micro gas turbine, the changes in air inlet parameters will directly affect its performance. This article uses experimental and numerical simulation methods to analyze the feasibility of using VAM as combustion air for micro gas turbines. The results show that factors such as intake pressure, temperature, and composition of gas turbines have an impact on combustion and pollutant emissions; the comparison between VAM and air as combustion gases shows that the rate of temperature increase in the combustion chamber increases, and the concentration of NO at the outlet of the combustion chamber increases by 0.97 % and the concentration of CO increases by 3.76 %. Based on the comprehensive analysis of gas turbine performance, it is concluded that the application of mine exhaust air to micro gas turbines has certain feasibility.

Investigation on the morphology and temperature distribution of hydrogen jet flames impinging on barrier walls

Hydrogen is often stored and transported in a high-pressure state, posing a risk of jet flames in the event of accidental leakage. Firewalls are commonly installed around high-pressure hydrogen storage and transportation equipment to protect surrounding facilities and personnel from the fire hazards caused by hydrogen leaks. By combining experimental and numerical simulation methods, this study investigated the effects of varying hydrogen release pressure, nozzle shape, nozzle-wall distance, and barrier height on the behavior of high-pressure hydrogen jet flames. A predictive model for the flame extension length after contact with the wall was proposed. The study found that when the wall height is sufficient to cause complete flame deflection, the temperature distribution near the wall exhibits a strong regularity. The temperature of the barrier wall below the nozzle height is higher than that above the nozzle height, indicating that enhanced thermal protection is needed in this region for practical applications.

Experiments and three-dimensional flow simulations on twin-screw pumps operated as control valves for energy recovery

This study explores the characteristics of twin-screw pumps when operated in turbine, i.e., reverse mode as an alternative to traditional control valves in piping systems for recovering energy. Experimental and flow simulation methods are employed. By an overset grid technique, unsteady three-dimensional (3D) flow simulations are conducted, ensuring high cell quality and high spatial resolution, particularly in wall proximity and within the gaps. To assess viscosity effects, pump and turbine mode characteristics are analyzed for water and oil. Compared to water, a pronounced reduction of the flow rate dependence on pressure difference is revealed for highly viscous oil. The gap flow in oil is significantly affected by the spindles’ rotational speed and direction, whereas water displays minimal influence. Analyzing the variation in gap sizes, a 50% reduction in the minimum flank gap width leads to a slight rise in volumetric efficiency with negligible overall efficiency effects. Our findings underscore that utilizing twin-screw pumps as turbines for high-viscosity fluids can potentially recover up to 50% of the energy instead of dissipating it by using conventional control valves.