Numerical Simulation Of Flow Research Articles

Equivalent Radius for Well Inflow Calculations at Different Regimes in Reservoir Flow Simulations

A problem of well representation in numerical simulation of fluid flows in porous media is considered. When modelling hydrocarbon reservoirs, underground gas storages and other natural porous media, there’s a large typical difference in scales of wells (about 10 cm) and inter-well distances (from hundreds to thousands meters), so wells aren’t resolved on the grid as explicit boundaries in large-scale reservoir simulations. Instead, wells are represented by sources/sinks. The problem is that the average pressure in a grid block containing the well (well block pressure, WBP) isn’t equal to the well pressure (bottomhole pressure, BHP). D. Peaceman showed that WBP can be interpreted as the pressure at equivalent radius inside the well grid block. He derived the classical formula for the equivalent radius for steady-state (SS) Darcy flow. Though Peaceman showed it could be used for pseudo steady-state (PSS) flow as well, his derivation for PSS was not accurate. In this paper we compute the equivalent radius for PSS and boundary dominated (BD) regimes of Darcy flow and examine the impact of flow regime and distance to external boundary (or inter-well distance) on it. The results are important for accurate well representation in numerical flow simulations of underground reservoirs.

Sources and mechanisms of flow loss and hydroacoustics in a pre-swirl stator pump-jet propulsor

Accurately identifying sources of flow loss and hydroacoustics and clarifying the mechanism of their generation are crucial for directing the optimal design of efficient and quiet pump-jet propulsors (PJPs). In this paper, numerical simulations of steady and unsteady flow are performed for a PJP equipped with pre-swirl stationary vanes, based on which both sources of flow loss and hydroacoustics are investigated at multi-level granularity. Analyses of flow efficiency and entropy generation rate are performed to identify the sources of flow loss, and analyses of thrust fluctuation and wall pressure fluctuation are conduced to identify the sources of hydroacoustics. The results indicate that the pressure drag accounts for 76% of the total drag and is mainly contributed from the stator and the duct, but the flow efficiency of the rotor is much smaller than that of the stator and the sources of the flow loss are mainly located at three regions of the rotating blades: the leading edge, the tip, and the corner of the suction surface. The hydroacoustic sources are mainly located at the leading edge and the tip of the rotating blades due to stator–rotor and duct–rotor interactions, respectively, but the Taylor's frozen turbulence hypothesis is inappropriate to describe the wake evolution of the stationary vanes owing to the potential interaction caused by the blade rotation.

Numerical simulation of gas-liquid two-phase flow in a disc pump under different inlet bubble diameters

Visual investigation and numerical simulation were utilized to analyze the internal flow pattern transformation and bubble diameter variation of a gas-liquid two-phase flow disc pump. The results reveal that increasing the intake volume fraction (IGVF) from 1.12% to 27.67% changes the flow pattern in the suction chamber from bubbly to agglomerate bubbly, slug flow, and separated flow. Due to the particularity of the impeller structure of the disc pump, the blades in the leaf area of the front and rear cover plates play a barrier role. The gas phase gathers most violently at the edge of the blade in the leaf area, while the flow channel in the middle leafless area is wider and has higher permeability. At 1500r/min and 7.11% inlet volume void fraction, the local void fraction extreme value of the front edge of the blade in the blade area of the front cover plate increases to three times the initial void fraction, while the void fraction extreme value of the middle section of the bladeless area decreases to two-thirds of the initial void fraction. This research can be used to analyze the gas phase distribution and migration law in the disc pump impeller.

Introducing the Rankine vortex method for drag reduction in wall-bounded turbulent flows at low Reynolds number through streamwise vortex manipulation

It is well known that the near-wall streamwise vortices, together with the streaks, are the most important turbulent structures closely associated with drag reduction. Weakening or modifying the streamwise vortices are, thus, general approaches in near-wall turbulent control studies. In this study, a novel approach to manipulate the flow is introduced and applied to a turbulent channel flow in order to achieve drag reduction. The idea behind the “Rankine vortex method” is to generate a force based on the statistical and geometrical information of streamwise vortices. Direct numerical simulations of a turbulent channel flow at a frictional Reynolds number, Reτ, of 180 (based on the driving pressure gradient and channel half-width) are performed. The force is applied in the vicinity of the lower wall of the channel, and the results are comparatively analyzed for the cases with and without force implemented. A drag reduction of 10% is achieved. The theoretical flow control approach presented, along with the associated analysis, has the potential to enhance our current understanding of flow control mechanisms through the manipulation of near-wall turbulence.

Data-based approach for time-correlated closures of turbulence models.

Developed turbulent motion of fluid still lacks an analytical description despite more than a century of active research. Nowadays, phenomenological ideas are widely used in practical applications, such as small-scale closures for numerical simulations of turbulent flows. In the present paper, we use a shell model of turbulence to construct a closure intended to have a solid theoretical background and to capture intrinsic probabilistic features of turbulence. Shell models of turbulence are dynamical deterministic systems used to model energy cascade and other key aspects of the Navier-Stokes such as intermittency. We rescale the variables of the Sabra model in a way which leads to hidden symmetries and universal distributions. We then use such fine distributions to write closures, i.e., missing expressions for some of the Sabra variables. Our closures rely on approximating probability density functions using a Gaussian mixture model, which makes them probabilistic by nature and allows us to write time-correlated closures. We also provide a framework where other machine learning tools can be employed with reduced black-box aspects.

Power requirements in hovering flight of mosquitoes

Mosquitoes exhibit distinctive flight characteristics, utilizing a combination of very small stroke amplitudes and high stroke frequencies. This study focuses on assessing the power requirements for hovering mosquitoes through numerical simulation of wing flow and aerodynamic power, coupled with analytical computation of wing inertial power. Our findings reveal that, despite the elevated stroke frequency, the primary contributor to power expenditure is the aerodynamic power, with wing inertial power being relatively negligible due to the diminutive wing mass. The specific power necessary for hovering is approximately 35 W/kg, comparable to the requirements of various other insects such as bees, flies, and moths (ranging from 20 to –60 W/kg). Moreover, the incorporation of a 100% elastic storage system yields only marginal power savings, approximately 3.5%. Consequently, while an elastic system proves somewhat beneficial, it is not indispensable for mosquito flight. Notably, altering stroke amplitude and frequency for hovering could potentially reduce power demands compared to real-case scenarios, suggesting that the conventional small stroke amplitude and high stroke frequency utilized in mosquito flight may not be the optimal choice in terms of power efficiency. The adoption of these flight characteristics in mosquitoes may be attributed to other factors, such as providing flexibility to increase amplitude in cases of substantial weight gain due to blood-feeding or conferring a selective advantage in acoustic communication through high stroke frequency.

Realizing the multifunctional microfluidic flow manipulation based on hydrodynamic metamaterials

From their initial application to the fields of chemistry and biology, microfluidic chips used as micro total analysis systems have developed into new technologies to satisfy the requirements of various societal industries. Microchannels are essential components of microfluidic chips; they play a vital role in connecting the inlet and outlet as well as determining the flow distribution and reagent mixing. Microfluidic research has always been devoted to minimizing energy dissipation, fluid resistance, and pressure drop to realize energy-efficient microfluidic chips. This study proposes a new theory for manipulating the flow in microchannels based on hydrodynamic metamaterials according to the spatial transformation theory. In particular, hydrodynamic metamaterials are specifically designed to construct flow shifters, flow splitters, and flow combiners, and theoretical and numerical simulations are performed to assess their hydrodynamic performance. The systematic design of hydrodynamic metamaterial devices proposed in this work establishes a theoretical framework to achieve a steady flow state without inducing unstable flow disturbances in complex-shape microchannels.

Scaling and modeling of the heat transfer across the free surface of a thermocapillary liquid bridge

PurposeThis paper aims to derive a reduced-order model for the heat transfer across the interface between a millimetric thermocapillary liquid bridge from silicone oil and the surrounding ambient gas.Design/methodology/approachNumerical solutions for the two-fluid model are computed covering a wide parametric space, making a total of 2,800 numerical flow simulations. Based on the computed data, a reduced single-fluid model for the liquid phase is devised, in which the heat transfer between the liquid and the gas is modeled by Newton’s heat transfer law, albeit with a space-dependent Biot function Bi(z), instead of a constant Biot number Bi.FindingsAn explicit robust fit of Bi(z) is obtained covering the whole range of parameters considered. The single-fluid model together with the Biot function derived yields very accurate results at much lesser computational cost than the corresponding two-phase fully-coupled simulation required for the two-fluid model.Practical implicationsUsing this novel Biot function approach instead of a constant Biot number, the critical Reynolds number can be predicted much more accurately within single-phase linear stability solvers.Originality/valueThe Biot function for thermocapillary liquid bridges is derived from the full multiphase problem by a robust multi-stage fit procedure. The derived Biot function reproduces very well the theoretical boundary layer scalings.

Machine learning for rapid discovery of laminar flow channel wall modifications that enhance heat transfer

Numerical simulation of fluid flow plays an essential role in modeling many physical phenomena, which enables technological advancements, contributes to sustainable practices, and expands our understanding of various natural and engineered systems. The calculation of heat transfer in fluid flow in simple flat channels is a relatively easy task for various simulation methods. However, once the channel geometry becomes more complex, numerical simulations become a bottleneck in optimizing wall geometries. We present a combination of accurate numerical simulations of arbitrary, flat, and non-flat channels as well as machine learning models trained on simulated data to predict the drag coefficient and Stanton number. We show that convolutional neural networks (CNNs) can accurately predict target properties at a fraction of the computational cost of numerical simulations. We use CNN models in a virtual high-throughput screening approach to explore a large number of possible, randomly generated wall architectures. Data augmentation techniques are incorporated to enforce physical invariances toward shifting and flipping, contributing to precise prediction for fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics. Moreover, we approach the interpretation of the trained model to better understand relevant channel structures and their influence on heat transfer. The general approach is not only applicable to simple flow setups as presented here but can be extended to more complex tasks, such as multiphase or even reactive unit operations in chemical engineering.

Numerical simulation of hybrid nanofluid flow and heat transfer across parallel surfaces with suction/injection and magnetic effect

The heat and mass transfer through the hybrid nanofluid (Hnf) flow with the significance of magnetic field across two spinning parallel plates has been described. The Hnf is prepared by the dispersion of SiO2 (Silicon dioxide) and MoS2 (Molybdenum Disulfide) nanoparticles (NPs) in the ethylene glycol (EG). The MoS2 is anti-friction compound used in automobiles and other types of heavy machineries in industry. It reduces the engine noise, reduces fuel consumption and enhances engine life. Similarly, SiO2 is used in structural materials, food processing, pharmaceutical industries and as an electrical insulator in microelectronic apparatus. Based on the remarkable applications of the hybrid nanofluid (MoS2-SiO2/EG), the flow has been modeled in form of PDEs, which are numerically handled through the parametric method (PCM). The results are compared for velocity, energy and concentration profiles with another numerical technique bvp4c (Matlab code). It has been detected that the results derived from the PCM are reliable and accurate. Furthermore, the velocity field declines with the upshot of Reynold number and suction/injection factor. The heat dissemination rate enhances from 2.85% to 9.89%, whereas the mass diffusion rate enriches form 2.32% to 9.56% as the values of nanoparticles varies from 0.01 to 0.03.

Physically based simulation of focusing schlieren imaging for a hypersonic boundary layer flow.

Focusing schlieren systems are more advantageous than conventional schlieren systems in providing a schlieren image with certain spatial discrimination along the light path. The present work employed a hybrid of the optical-transfer matrix and ray-tracing method to faithfully replicate complete physical imaging processes throughout a focusing schlieren optic system. A direct numerical simulation of a hypersonic boundary layer flow was employed to synthesize focusing schlieren images. The influence of various configuration parameters on the properties of focusing schlieren image such as local schlieren structure, brightness, sensitivity, and depth of field were systematically explored. In addition, an approximation method was proposed as a simplified means to facilitate the simulation of a focusing schlieren image.

Numerical simulation of unsteady magneto hydrodynamic flow of nanoparticle deposition in the porous alveolar ducts

This study aims to investigate a numerical model of dust particle deposition in the human lung. There were significant discrepancies in deposition inside each alveolate duct and between ducts of a given generation, indicating that the mean acinar concentration can be greatly exceeded by limited particle concentrations. During expiration, the huge particles try to exit the construction but are failed. The similarity transformation is used to describe the differential equations controlling the flow. The various systematic quantities, such as the fluid velocity, and dust particle velocity are determined. In this research, non-linear governing coupled partial differential equations are explained by developing a finite-difference method established on the Crank-Nicolson model that is accurate, precise, widely validated, and unconditionally stable. The technique’s precision and efficacy are proven. To show how various physical factors affect the velocity and temperature profiles, various numerical data are collected and visually displayed. For each of the characteristics tested, the results show that the nano particles’ velocity is higher in comparison to the fluid particles.

Numerical simulation of gas-solid flow in a cyclone separator with additional inlet

In this study, an additional inlet was added to the gas-solid cyclone separator to enhance the separation efficiency. Four different heights were tested, including 0.95D, 1.4D, 1.5D, and 1.95D (D is the diameter of the cylindrical section). The investigation involved two inlet flow conditions: increasing and dividing the inlet flow rate. The finite volume method and Reynolds stress turbulence model were used to solve the averaged Navier–Stokes equations, whereas the Eulerian–Lagrangian approach and discrete phase model (DPM) were applied to track particles with a uniform diameter of 0.5–1.8 microns as the discrete phase. Owing to the low Stokes number and small and low-volume-fraction particles, a one-way coupling method was employed between air and the particles. The addition of an additional inlet reduced the static pressure in the center and downstream areas and increased the reverse flow velocity at the end of the cyclone. The installation of an additional inlet at 0.95D had the most positive effect on the separation efficiency, with an increase of 28.8% in the increasing flow rate case and 19.6% in the dividing flow rate case compared with the cyclone without an additional inlet. Furthermore, the increase in the separation efficiency of the submicron particles was greater than that of the larger particles in both flow distribution cases.

Physically Realistic Inlet-Velocity Profiles in Duct Flows

A uniform inlet velocity profile is widely used in the numerical simulations of fluid flow and heat transfer in ducts for both incompressible and compressible flows. In incompressible flows, the calculated fluid pressure at the inlet edge is extremely high and affects the calculation of the average pressure. In compressible flows, the fluctuation of pressure in the flow direction results in the fluctuation in the velocity. This has motivated this study to numerically investigate a physically realistic velocity profile at the inlet of a pipe rather than using a uniform velocity profile. The numerical simulations were based on the control volume-based power law scheme and the semi-implicit method for pressure-linked equations (SIMPLE) algorithm. The continuity and momentum equations for a flow in a pipe with the rounded inlet corner were solved to obtain a physically realistic inlet velocity profile. The obtained inlet velocity profile was expressed by a simple expression in the range of Reynolds number from 100 to 2000. Using this velocity profile, both the incompressible and compressible flows in a pipe were numerically investigated. The results resolved the previously observed inconsistencies in the pressure that were previously observed in the numerical simulations with uniform inlet velocity profiles.

Numerical Simulation of Fluid Flow, Solidification, and Solute Distribution in Billets under Combined Mold and Final Electromagnetic Stirring.

In this study, a three-dimensional segmented coupled model for continuous casting billets under combined mold and final electromagnetic stirring (M-EMS, F-EMS) was developed. The model was verified by comparing carbon segregation in billets with and without EMS through plant experiments. The findings revealed that both M-EMS and F-EMS induce tangential flow in molten steel, impacting solidification and solute distribution processes within the billet. For M-EMS, with operating parameters of 250A-2Hz, the maximum tangential velocity (velocity projected onto the cross-section) was observed at the liquid phase's edge. For F-EMS, with operating parameters of 250A-6Hz, the maximum tangential velocity occurred at fl=0.7. Furthermore, F-EMS accelerated heat transfer in the liquid phase, reducing the central liquid fraction from 0.93 to 0.85. M-EMS intensified the washing effect of molten steel on the solidification front, resulting in the formation of negative segregation within the mold. F-EMS significantly improved the centerline segregation issue, reducing carbon segregation from 1.15 to 1.02. Experimental and simulation results, with and without EMS, were in good agreement, indicating that M+F-EMS leads to a more uniform solute distribution within the billet, with a pronounced improvement in centerline segregation.

Supercritical CO2 flow and heat transfer through tapered horizontal mini-tubes: Parametric analysis and optimization study

One effective method for enhancing heat transfer in tubular heat exchangers involves gradually altering the cross-section of their tubes. While extensive research has been carried out in typical operating conditions, a significant shortage of studies exists that specifically investigate how changes in tube cross-section affect the heat transfer of fluids under critical and pseudocritical conditions. Additionally, the absence of a comprehensive parametric study considering the effect of all operating conditions and geometric parameters, and providing an optimal model in this field, is keenly felt. This paper offers a finite volume-based numerical simulation of steady-state turbulent flow and heat transfer for supercritical CO2 inside circular horizontal mini-tubes with tapered lateral profiles. It is found that the impact of buoyancy on thermal and hydraulic characteristics is more noticeable in the diverging mini-tube than in the converging mini-tube. The results of the parametric study reveal that under the same geometric parameters, the heat transfer coefficient in the diverging mini-tube is higher than that in the converging mini-tube by 5.2–28.6 %, with a simultaneous reduction in pressure drop ranging from 52.1 % to 68.5 %. However, in the case of a high diameter or diameter ratio, the heat transfer coefficient of the converging mini-tube exceeds that of the diverging mini-tube. Subsequently, an optimization study is conducted using BBD-RSM. To achieve the maximum heat transfer coefficient and the minimum pressure drop, an additional 54 cases are investigated, covering diverse ranges of operating conditions and geometric parameters. The results indicate that the mass flow rate and tube diameter are the most influential parameters on thermal and hydraulic characteristics. Additionally, the impact of the diameter ratio on the pressure drop is more pronounced than on the heat transfer coefficient. This research can serve as a foundation for enhancing the design of heat exchange devices within innovative supercritical CO2 power generation cycles.

Microchannel Gas Flow in the Multi-Flow Regime Based on the Lattice Boltzmann Method.

In this work, a lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) for studying microchannel gas flow is developed in the multi-flow regime. In the LBM, by comparing previous studies' results on effective viscosity in multi-flow regimes, the values of the rarefaction factor applicable to multi-flow regions were determined, and the relationship between relaxation time and Kn number with the rarefaction factor is given. The Kn number is introduced into the second-order slip boundary condition together with the combined bounce-back/specular-reflection (CBBSR) scheme to capture the gas flow in the multi-flow regime. Sensitivity analysis of the dimensionless flow rate to adjustable parameters using the Taguchi method was carried out, and the values of adjustable parameters were determined based on the results of the sensitivity analysis. The results show that the dimensionless flow rate is more sensitive to j than h. Numerical simulations of Poiseuille flow and pulsating flow in a microchannel with second-order slip boundary conditions are carried out to validate the method. The results show that the velocity profile and dimensionless flow rate simulated by the present numerical simulation method in this work are found in the multi-flow regime, and the phenomenon of annular velocity profile in the microchannel is reflected in the phases.

Multispecies Flow Indirect-Noise Modeling Re-Examined with a Helicopter-Engine Application

Composition noise has recently received increasing attention for its potential to contribute significantly to the indirect noise mechanism. In this study, the importance and definition of composition noise are revisited by proposing a new proper decomposition between entropy and mixture compositional fluctuations. When assuming quasi-one-dimensional, multispecies, isentropic, and nonreactive flow in nozzles, the resulting system of equations shows a new and remarkable one-way coupling between composition waves and both acoustic and entropy waves. Relying on the Magnus-expansion methodology, an exact solution of that system is investigated. The proposed theory is validated by comparing the model predictions with direct numerical simulations of nozzle flows in which compositional fluctuations are pulsed. It is shown that composition transfer functions from the unsteady simulations are in agreement with the analytical model of this paper. Finally, a hybrid approach is investigated consisting of extracting waves from a large-eddy simulation of a real helicopter engine and propagating those through different nozzle geometries. Composition noise is found to be negligible compared to direct or indirect entropy noise since it is at least 20 dB lower than other noise mechanisms for all tested cases.

Numerical simulations of flow inside a stone protection layer with a modified k-ω turbulence model

A numerical model is developed to investigate the flow in porous media, for the purposes of simulating scour protection around coastal and offshore structures. In the present model, the Volume-Averaged Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (VARANS) equations are solved, coupled with the volume-averaged k-ω turbulence closure. The volume-averaged k-ω equations are derived by taking the spatial average of the standard k-ω equations. The unknown coefficients caused by the averaging procedure are determined by large eddy simulation (LES). The developed model is validated against existing experimental results of flow in stone covers under both oscillatory and steady current conditions. A gradual transition of porosity towards unity at the interface between the porous media and the free flow is assumed in the simulation to fit the irregular interface in practical engineering. In the presence of parabolic porosity variation at the interface, the calculated velocity profile, bed shear stress, and turbulent fluctuations inside the porous medium are compared to measurements. The numerical results match well against the experimental data. Comparison with the volume-averaged k-ε turbulence model shows that the volume-averaged k-ω turbulence model provides more accurate flow behavior within the porous media.

Direct numerical simulation of momentum and scalar internal boundary layers

Direct numerical simulations (DNS) of turbulent open channel flow are performed to study and compare momentum and scalar internal boundary layers (IBL). An internal boundary layer (IBL) forms when a turbulent boundary layer is subjected to heterogeneous surface conditions. For example, a momentum IBL forms with a change in surface roughness and a scalar IBL forms due to a localised heat flux. Momentum IBLs are simulated using both a streamwise-varying roughness body forcing technique and a streamwise-varying wall shear stress. Passive scalar IBLs are simulated using both streamwise-varying scalar wall values and wall fluxes, for a homogeneous smooth wall. The roughness body forcing model is shown to reproduce the same IBL features as with the explicitly resolved roughness study of Rouhi et al. (2019), but at a reduced cost. Three common IBL detection methods are employed to estimate the power-law exponents in the growth rates of the IBL. The exponents for the momentum IBL cases are typically less than 0.7 for these methods, smaller than for the scalar-analogues of these methods. Furthermore, we analyse the streamwise variation of the root-mean-square wall-normal (vertical) velocity. We find that the ‘diffusion analogy’, or that momentum and scalar IBLs behave similarly, may not be an appropriate assumption, especially for rough-to-smooth transitions for momentum IBLs.