Multiphase Flow Model Research Articles

A Case Study and Numerical Modeling of Post-Wildfire Debris Flows in Montecito, California

Wildfires and their long-term impacts on the environment have become a major concern in the last few decades, in which climate change and enhanced anthropogenic activities have gradually led to increasingly frequent events of such hazards or disasters. Geological materials appear to become more vulnerable to hazards including erosion, floods, landslides and debris flows. In the present study, the well-known 2017 wildfire and subsequent 2018 debris flows in the Montecito area of California are examined. It is found that the post-wildfire debris flows were initiated from erosion and entrainment processes and triggered by intense rainfall. The significant debris deposition in four major creeks in this area is investigated. Numerical modeling of the post-wildfire debris flows is performed by employing a multi-phase mass flow model to simulate the growth in the debris flows and eventual debris deposition. The debris-flow-affected areas estimated from the numerical simulations fairly represent those observed in the field. Overall, the simulated debris deposits are within 7% error of those estimated based on field observations. A similar simulation of the pre-wildfire scenario indicates that the debris would be much less significant. The present study shows that proper numerical simulations can be a promising tool for estimating post-wildfire erosion and the debris-affected areas for hazard assessment and mitigation.

Simple synthesis of acyl coupling conjugated microporous polymers monolithic material for synergistic capture of PM and CO2 in flue gas and process simulation

Adsorption and separation technologies based on physical adsorbents have the advantages of simple operation, low heat of adsorption and easy regeneration. They have received much attention for the capture of CO2 and PM from flue gases. However, the inherent “trade-off” between adsorption capacity and adsorption selectivity, as well as the high gas permeation resistance after powder processing and shaping, severely limit the prospects for industrial applications. Here, acyl functional groups were strategically introduced into polymer frameworks to successfully synthesize monolithic adsorbents (AC-CMPs) with a hierarchical pore structure for PM capture and CO2/N2 selective adsorption. The three-dimensional network structure composed of aligned hollow nanotubes effectively enhances the dispersion and mass transfer of gas flow per unit volume. Based on the porous media, multiphase flow model and discrete phase model, the gas flow process of PM trapped by AC-CMPs was simulated using Fluent. The simulation dynamically revealed the relationship between permeability resistance and filtration efficiency. The highly delocalized π-π conjugated porous skeleton linked by continuous covalent bonds endowed AC-CMPs with good stability, which prevented them from degrading in humid and high-temperature environments, thus keeping the adsorption capacity unchanged. The high polarity environment generated by the open oxygen atoms within the AC-CMPs framework, along with a high micro/mesopore ratio, enable it to achieve a CO2 adsorption capacity of 2.07 mmol/g at 273 K and 1 bar. Ideal adsorption solution theory calculations (IAST) and CO2/N2 column breakthrough experiments confirmed the excellent CO2 selectivity of AC-CMPs under realistic carbon capture conditions.

A numerical study of heterogeneous nucleation of ice crystals and frost layer growth on horizontal cold surfaces

In engineering applications, the formation and growth of frost layers can significantly affect the normal operation of equipment, leading to undesirable influences. Therefore, it is imperative to understand the frost formation mechanisms as a basis for developing effective anti-frosting and defrosting methodologies. This study proposes a model for the growth of horizontal cold surface frost layers using the classical nucleation theory and the Eulerian multiphase flow model. Compared to numerous models that investigate the frost formation issues using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method, our proposed model takes into account the crystal growth period (the heterogeneous nucleation process of ice). The predicted results of the proposed model were found to be in good agreement with the data collected from five related experimental studies. In this regard, the maximum frost layer thickness error was 23.9 % with a mean error of 5.1 %, and the maximum density error was 22.8 % with a mean error of 8.1 %. Compared to existing models in the literature, the proposed model can reduce the maximum thickness and density uncertainties by 17.4 % and 10.2 %, respectively. Additionally, the effects of the surface contact angle and environmental parameters on the nucleation process were analyzed using the established model. It was found that a larger contact angle, higher cold surface temperature, and lower air temperature, humidity, and velocity were unfavorable conditions for supporting the formation and growth of ice crystals. Moreover, the nucleation completion time was shortened with the increase in the moist air supersaturation degree, varying as an exponential function. The findings of this study provide an important theoretical basis for the development of optimizing strategies for anti-frosting and defrosting.

Research on the Effect of Structural Parameters on Cavitation Performance of Shear Hydrodynamic Cavitation Generator

The method of cavitation is increasingly applied in water environmental protection. Based on the numerical simulation method, a study on the structural parameters of the shear-type hydrodynamic cavitation generators for wastewater treatment is proceeded. The internal flow field is described by employing the mixed multiphase flow model and the Zwart cavitation model. Experiments were conducted by applying the wastewater from a dyeing factory as the medium. The degradation rate of COD in water characterizes the cavitation performance of the hydrodynamic cavitation generator, and the rationality of the numerical simulation approach is validated. The findings indicate that different structural parameters have a great influence on the cavitation performance. The appropriate number of tooth rows creates a flow field with a greater vapor and velocity than the other parameters. The number of teeth in a single row, the outer diameter of the hydrodynamic cavitation generator and the tooth bevel angle also affect the cavitation performance to some extent, and there is an optimal value. The study provides a reference for the applicability of a numerical simulation of the flow field inside the hydrodynamic cavitation generator and the structural optimization of the rotary hydrodynamic cavitation generator.

Experimental and numerical investigation on the pyrolysis of oil shale particles in a bubbling fluidized bed

The efficient utilization of oil shale resource is beneficial to environment and the resource diversity. In this work, a bubbling fluidized bed (BFB) reactor was first used to pyrolyze Huadian oil shale experimentally, mainly focusing on the influence of fluidization flow rates. The yield of shale oil, char and non-condensable gas varies little at different fluidization flow rates, but the components in shale oil are different due to the secondary cracking, such as the fractions and species of aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons and non-hydrocarbons. Then, the dense discrete phase model (DDPM) was used to track the trajectories of oil shale particles with different diameters in a bubbling fluidized bed. Population balance model (PBM) coupled Eulerian model was used to well describe the bubbling status of bed materials to characterize the hydrodynamic behaviors. Furthermore, a segmented kinetic model was compiled by UDF module to illuminate the pyrolysis of oil shale particles. The multi-phase reactive flow modeling clearly indicated the distribution of oil shale particles and gaseous products in BFB reactor, as well as pyrolysis time and the secondary cracking at different fluidization flow rates. In summary, this work provides a reference basis for complete pyrolysis of oil shale particles in a bubbling fluidized bed and generating shale oil with high yield and good quality.

Incompressible versus compressible fluid flow models: A case study on furnace tap-hole lancing

Pyrometallurgical furnaces, essential for metal extraction, operate at temperatures exceeding 1600°C and represent complex multiphase systems that challenge direct industrial research. Multiphysics models play a key role in shedding light on their intricate behaviours, supporting the refinement of design and operational strategies. Integral to the operation are the tap-holes, which facilitate the removal of molten products and are routinely opened by lancing, a process comparable to the use of a cutting torch, where high temperatures result from oxygen reacting with an iron lance. When the lance pierces the clay, oxygen gas enters the furnace, which could influence the behaviour of the molten material inside. In this work, a multiphase fluid flow model was used to investigate bulk flow dynamics, with a focus on the effects of the lancing process on the inside of the furnace, immediately behind the tap-hole. Incompressible and compressible multiphase fluid solvers were used and compared with respect their performance - the intention was to assess whether using a compressible solver would yield a different solution to the incompressible one. It was concluded that there are negligible disparities in bulk fluid flow behaviour between the solvers for the case studies examined, indicating that solver selection might be less consequential for certain aspects of oxygen lancing.

Numerical analysis of blood flow through stenosed microvessels using a multi-phase model

Blood flow in arterioles have attracted considerable research attention due to their clinical implications. However, the fluid structure interaction between red blood cells and plasma in the blood poses formidable difficulty to the computational efforts. In this contribution, we seek to represent the red blood cells in the blood as a continuous non-Newtonian phase and construct a multi-phase model for the blood flow in microvessels. The methods are presented and validated using a channel with sudden expansion. And the resulting blood flow inside a stenosed microvessel is investigated at different inlet velocity amplitudes and hematocrits. It is show that the increase of both inlet velocity amplitude and inlet hematocrit leads to longer and thicker cell-rich layer downstream the stenosis. Besides, it is found that the maximum values of wall shear stress scales up with inlet velocity amplitudes and hematocrits. These results show the validity of the proposed computational model and provide helpful insights into blood flow behaviors inside stenosed vessels.

Numerical Modeling of Foam Carrying Sand Transport in Multifactor Horizontal Wells.

The solution of wellbore multiphase flow models has an important position in oil-gas field development. However, the solution of multiphase flow models often involves a series of complicated situations such as interphase mass and energy transfer, surface problems, and so on. Foam carrying sand particles in the wellbore is a solid, liquid, and gas three-phase cylinder flow problem. To solve this problem, we developed a computational fluid dynamics-discrete element method model based on the traditional N-S equations to track the streamline of the foam fluid and sand particles in the wellbore. On this basis, we investigated the influence of three factors, i.e., foam and sand properties and wellbore parameters, on the sand carrying rate of foam. The results show that whether the sand mound at the bottom of wells that can be dispersed is mainly affected by the properties of foam. The location of sand deposition in the wellbore and the effectiveness of foam in sand transportation are mainly influenced by the wellbore parameters and sand properties.

Optimization of Drying Process of Lithium Battery Pole Piece Based on Simulation Technology

After electrode pulping and coating of lithium battery, it is necessary to dry the pole pieces, but there is a contradiction between drying efficiency and drying quality. In the process of rapid drying, the binder components are easy to migrate, which reduces the adhesion of the pole pieces, leading to the increase of internal resistance of the pole pieces and subsequent manufacturing defects. Therefore, this paper puts forward an optimization scheme of pole piece efficient drying process. Firstly, based on the analysis of the transfer process of heat and solvent quality in the drying process, the calculation method of drying curve is put forward, and the optimal design criteria of drying parameters are established. Furthermore, a multiphase flow and heat transfer model of drying process is constructed, and the oven structure and parameters are optimized based on multiphase flow simulation. The experimental results of drying process optimization of positive pole pieces show that the mass production speed of 51 Ah positive pole is increased by 25% after process optimization. The adhesion of the A surface of the pole piece is increased by 6.5%, and the difference between the A and B surfaces is decreased by 91%. The average resistance of the pole piece decreases by 12%, which meets the high requirements for the quality and efficiency of pole piece drying for automotive lithium-ion batteries.

Study on the effect of temperature on pressure drop and under-rib convection in PEMFC

ABSTRACT Pressure drop effectively reflects the state of water in PEMFC channels and gas diffusion layers. In order to study the regularities in pressure drop and the characteristics of the under-rib convection in the PEMFC at different temperatures, a three-dimensional multiphase flow model was presented, which considers the formation and transport of water inside the cell, as well as the mechanisms governing the conversion between different states of water (liquid water, water vapor and membrane water). The model was imported into Fluent using user-defined functions to simulate and analyze under-rib convection characteristics within the fuel cell at different temperatures. A fuel cell testing system was established to perform tests on polarization curves and anode pressure drop at different temperatures. The results show that the model agrees well with the experiment data, with a maximum error of 5.34%. The anode pressure drop shows a step-level characteristic with three segments: a normal segment, an increasing segment and a stepped segment. As the temperature increases, both the average anode pressure drop and the velocity vector of reactants gradually increase. Notably, the peak velocity vector is observed in the rib-turning region, where heightened under-rib convection is evident.

Numerical study on condensation heat transfer of R1234ze(E)/R152a in a horizontal smooth tube

Stable-state numerical simulations of the condensation heat transfer properties of the novel refrigerant NCUR01 (R1234ze(E) and R152a in a mass ratio of 4:6) have been performed using the volume of fluid (VOF) multiphase flow model. The findings demonstrate that as mass flux rises, the working substance’s fluid velocity increases at the same location within the tube, boosting the condensation heat transfer coefficient in the process. The condensation heat transfer force is strengthened by an increase in heat flux, which raises the condensation heat transfer coefficient. On the other hand, when the saturation temperature rises, the condensation heat transfer coefficient falls.

Multi-objective optimization of parameters design based on genetic algorithm in annulus aerated dual gradient drilling

The optimization of drilling parameters is crucial for resolving the drilling problems in low-pressure and leaky formations using the annulus aerated dual gradient drilling technology. However, the previous studies have mostly focused on engineering applications and wellbore fluid flow models, with less emphasis on parameter optimization. This paper combines the wellbore multiphase flow model with genetic algorithms for the first time, proposing a key parameter optimization method for annulus aerated dual gradient drilling based on genetic algorithms. The study investigates the impact of selection operators on the performance of genetic algorithms and compares genetic algorithms with PSO algorithm and SAA. The results indicate that the convergence and stability of genetic algorithms can be improved by enhancing the selection operators. Compared to the gas–liquid ratio parameter optimization method, the IRSGA optimization method reduces the cost coefficient by 36.46%. Through comparative analysis of different optimization methods, the IRSGA demonstrates over 95% accuracy in large-scale computations. The research findings contribute to the optimization of parameters design under low-cost conditions and are of significant importance for promoting the use of this technology to address the serious issue of lost circulation in drilling technology.

Effect of two-phase flow lubrication on sealing performance of spiral groove mechanical seal under high speed and low temperature conditions

The function of the turbo-pump shaft within the liquid rocket engine is rendered exceedingly complex due to the operation in an environment characterized by drastically low temperatures, elevated velocities, and high pressures. Given these operational conditions, it is highly plausible that a two-phase flow might form within the liquid film located on the terminal face of the mechanical seal. This liquid-vapor mixture significantly modifies the fluid lubrication pattern across the end faces and poses consequential implications on the overall sealing stability. In this study, the phase change characteristics of the fluid in the seal clearance were investigated based on the Laminar and Mixture multi-phase flow models in a spiral groove mechanical seal. The behaviors of two-phase flow characteristics and phase transition under extreme temperature, rotational speed and pressure with liquid nitrogen media were studied. The sealing performance was quantified through metrics including the leakage rate, opening force, and internal gas phase volume ratio. The findings offered valuable insights into the role of operational conditions in influencing the phase change of the liquid film. Moreover, we discerned and explicated the intricate interconnections between the leakage rate, the opening force, and the phase change behavior of the liquid film.

Numerical simulation of fluidized bed: A bibliometric analysis of research progress and prospects

This study employed bibliometric analysis, reviewing 3763 papers related to numerical simulation of fluidized bed published between 1990 and 2023 from the Web of Science Core Collection database. The research findings indicate an upward trend in the development of numerical simulation studies of fluidized bed. This phenomenon is closely linked to the enhancement of computational capabilities, the widespread application of fluidized bed technology, and the continuous advancement in simulation methodologies. Particularly since 2009, this field has experienced significant growth. Journals such as “POWDER TECHNOLOGY”, “CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE” and “CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL” were the most prolific. Current research hotspots included multi-scale simulation methods, data-driven approaches and machine learning, improvements in multiphase flow models, coupling multi-physical field simulations, application of environment-friendly technologies, research on new materials and energy sources. The primary research fields are chemical engineering, energy & fuels, mechanics and thermodynamics. These insights serve as valuable guidance and references for researchers.

Phase diagram in multi-phase heterogeneous traffic flow model integrating the perceptual range difference under human-driven and connected vehicles environment

With the gradual development of autonomous driving and connected communication technology, urban road networks will be shared by a combination of Human-driven vehicles (HDVs) and Connected vehicles (CVs) for a long era. Besides, as the actual vehicle operator, the driver regulates the vehicle state with an accelerator, gear lever, or brake, whereas the stepwise acceleration process is overlooked in the literature. Motivated by this, comprehensive kinetic difference between the two types of vehicles, we propose a novel heterogeneous multi-phase traffic flow accounting for the HDVs and CVs to close this hole. In the section on linear stability analysis, the reductive perturbation approach was applied to figure out the stability norm of the new model. The findings show that, on the one hand, inhibiting traffic bottlenecks is positively impacted by the penetration rate of CVs and the number of preceding vehicles taken into account; on the other hand, by varying the headway between following vehicles, the multiple-phase transition occurs; consequently, the number of turning points in the optimal velocity function is the sole factor that affects the number of stages in multi-phase transitions. Subsequently, the modified Korteweg-de Vries (mKdV) equation corresponding to the new model is deduced to investigate the nonlinear phenomenon of traffic flow at the vicinity of the critical point, and the kink-antikink soliton wave solution by solving the above characteristic equation can describe the “stop-and-go” phenomenon in real traffic flow. Finally, the conclusion of the numerical experiments is consistent with the above theoretical analysis. This research can provide insight into the dynamic evolution of road traffic flow during the transition from HDVs to semi-CVs and eventually to CVs.

The spatiotemporal distribution characteristics analysis and suppression of the axial tip clearance leakage flow for the liquid-ring vacuum pump

The clearance leakage flow of liquid-ring pump has complex spatiotemporal distribution characteristics, and it has severe negative impact on its performance. In order to suppress the axial blade tip leakage flow of liquid-ring pump, the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of leakage flow was analyzed in detail by numerical simulation method. The composite tip of winglet and squealer was introduced to the liquid-ring pump, and its suppression mechanism was analyzed. The RNG k-ε turbulence model and VOF multiphase flow model were selected to simulate transient flow in liquid-ring pump. The results show that the leakage flow in the suction zone gradually decreases from hub to rim, and the leakage flow intensity gradually increases along the rotation direction of the impeller. The gas leakage velocity of compression zone is the highest, and the leakage flow intensity gradually increases along the rotation direction of the impeller. In the exhaust zone, the reverse leakage flow forms near the hub, which flows from the clearance suction side to the pressure side, and the leakage flow intensity gradually decreases from the hub to the rim. Near the rim, the leakage flow direction changes, flowing from pressure side to suction side. In the transition zone, as the impeller flow passage approaching suction zone gradually, the pressure decreases continuously. The pressure on the clearance suction side is greater than that of the pressure side, and the reverse leakage flow forms near the hub. The composite tip blade of winglet and squealer not only lengthens the clearance channel but also blocks the clearance by the pressure side squealer corner vortex and the squealer vortex, thus the leakage flow was effectively suppressed. To some extend the composite tip can suppress the leakage flow, the vacuum values are improved by 3.5%, 3.9%, and 5.3% under different conditions respectively.

Effect of Swirl Angle on Interaction between Swirl Oxygen Lance Jet and Melt Pool

In order to clarify the action law of the swirl oxygen lance jet on the melt pool of the converter and to determine the optimal swirl angle of the swirl oxygen lance for the 120t converter, this study establishes the gas-liquid two-phase flow model of the oxygen lance with different swirl angles based on the realizable k-ε model and the VOF multiphase flow model. The gas-liquid interface behavior during the interaction between the jet and the molten pool was analyzed, and the flow pattern of molten steel in the molten pool was mainly investigated. The results show that compared with traditional oxygen lance, the rotating oxygen lance jet enhances the stirring of the melt pool and intensifies the fluctuation of the melt pool liquid level. The depth of the impact cavity decreases with the increase of the swirl angle, but the diameter of the impact cavity increases with the increase of the swirl angle. When the jet with a swirl angle of 10 ° impacts the surface of the melt pool, the turbulence energy obtained by the molten steel is the highest, the average flow velocity inside the melt pool is the highest, and the molten steel is stirred more thoroughly, achieving better melting effects.

Landslide-generated wave simulation using coupled multi-phase flow and Boussinesq-type models

The effect of landslide-generated tsunami waves on coastal areas can be initially understood through a numerical simulation. Moreover, an efficient numerical simulation would be beneficial for predicting tsunami waves. However, a single numerical model that can capture the landslide and wave propagation is still impractical, especially in a large-scale domain. A domain-partitioning technique or coupling model would be more practical. This paper reports a numerical study of a landslide-generated wave, which uses a multi-phase CFD model for the landslide phenomena and a surface wave model based on Boussinesq-type equations for wave propagation. The proposed coupling model that sits between the multi-phase CFD and wave models validated by laboratory experiments is shown to be effective. The computation domain of the CFD model can be defined as small as it covers the impacted area of the landslide. The rest of the domain can be handled by the wave model that propagates the wave accurately with a low computation cost.

An energy estimate and a stabilized Lagrange–Galerkin scheme for a multiphase flow model

Multiphase flow models are commonly employed for understanding complex fluid flows, while few mathematical discussions exist. For a general multiphase flow model in Gidaspow (1994), an energy decay property is proved. A stabilized Lagrange–Galerkin scheme for the model and its stability property are presented. Here, a hyperbolic tangent transformation is employed to preserve the boundedness of the volume fraction. A novel artificial term is added to obtain the stability property. Two-dimensional numerical examples exhibit the experimental order of convergence and applicability in modelling sedimentation phenomena.

Using X-ray computed tomography and pore-scale numerical modeling to study the role of heterogeneous rock surface wettability on hydrogen-brine two-phase flow in underground hydrogen storage

Underground hydrogen storage (UHS) is receiving increasing attention to address the challenges in hydrogen storage. A crucial aspect of UHS is understanding the transport of hydrogen in subsurface porous media. In this work, hydrogen core flooding experiments were conducted in a sandstone sample and then the pore-scale distribution of hydrogen and brine was visualized using high-resolution X-ray micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). After CT image processing, we measured the surface contact angles (CAs) on rock surfaces and found that the measured CAs followed a log-normal distribution. To investigate the influence of rock surface wettability on the transport properties in the hydrogen-brine-sandstone system, the lattice Boltzmann (LB) method was used to simulate two-phase flows with different surface CA distributions; hydrogen-brine relative permeability and capillary pressure curves through the primary drainage, imbibition, and secondary drainage processes were obtained by LB simulations. X-ray CT scanning showed that hydrogen resided in both large pores and small pores and pore throats after the primary drainage process (i.e., hydrogen displacing brine), whereas after the imbibition process (i.e., brine displacing hydrogen) hydrogen stayed primarily in large pores where the capillary pressure barriers were low. The LB two-phase flow modeling illustrated that water’s relative permeability increased whereas hydrogen’s relative permeability decreased when the core flooding moved from primary drainage to imbibition; in contrast, when the core flooding moved from imbibition to secondary drainage, water’s relative permeability decreased whereas hydrogen’s relative permeability increased. Decreasing the surface CA increased the capillary pressure and reduced the hydrogen residual rate, which indicates high hydrogen retrievability and thus is favorable for UHS practice. The change in CA’s standard deviation did not cause noticeable changes in water’s relative permeability curves, whereas it resulted in noticeable changes in hydrogen’s relative permeability curves. This work is the first study that utilizes X-ray micro-CT scanning and pore-scale multiphase flow modeling to quantitatively and comprehensively investigate hydrogen-brine two-phase flow properties under different rock surface wettability distributions. The research findings from this study will advance the understanding of hydrogen transport in an underground storage system and provide essential data for large-scale field studies in UHS.