Solids Concentration Distribution Research Articles

Total Suspended Solid Concentration Dynamics and Distribution Based on Geospatial Models in Mojo River Estuary, Pemalang

Total Suspended Solid Concentration Dynamics and Distribution Based on Geospatial Models in Mojo River Estuary, Pemalang

Characteristics of slurry transport regimes: Insights from experiments and interface-resolved Direct Numerical Simulations

A common way to transport solids in large quantities is by using a carrier fluid to transport the solids as a concentrated solid/liquid mixture or slurry through a pipeline. Typical examples are found in dredging, mining and drilling applications. Dependent on the slurry properties and flow conditions, horizontal slurry pipe flow is either in the fixed-bed, sliding-bed or fully-suspended regime. In terms of non-dimensional numbers, the flow is fully characterized by the bulk liquid Reynolds number (Re), the Galileo number (Ga, a measure for the tendency of particles to settle under gravity), the solid bulk concentration (ϕb), the particle/fluid density ratio (ρp/ρf), the particle/pipe diameter ratio (Dp/Dpipe), and parameters related to direct particle interactions such as the Coulomb coefficient of sliding friction (μc). To further our fundamental understanding of the flow dynamics, we performed experiments and interface-resolved Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS) of slurry flow in a horizontal pipe. The experiments were performed in a transparent flow loop with Dpipe=4 cm. We measured the pressure drop along the pipeline, the spatial solid concentration distribution in the cross-flow plane through Electrical Resistance Tomography (ERT), and used a high-speed camera for flow visualization. The slurry consisted of polystyrene beads in water with Dp=2mm, ρp/ρf=1.02, Ga between 40–45 and ϕb between 0.26–0.33. The different flow regimes were studied by varying the flow rate, with Re varying from 3272 till 13830. The simulations were performed for the same flow parameters as in the experiments. Taking the experimental uncertainty into account, the results from the DNS and the experiments are in reasonably good agreement. The results for the pressure drop agree also fairly well with popular empirical models from literature. In addition, we performed a parametric DNS study in which we solely varied Re and Ga. In all flow regimes, a secondary flow of Prandtl’s second kind is present, ascribed to the presence of internal flow corners and a ridge of densely packed particles at the pipe bottom during transition towards the fully-suspended regime. In the bulk of the turbulent flow above the bed, secondary flow transport of streamwise momentum dominates over turbulent diffusion in regions where the secondary flow is strong and vice versa where it is weak. The transition between flow regimes appears to be governed by the competition between the net gravity force on the particles and shear-induced particle migration from particle–particle interactions. This competition can be expressed by the Shields number, θ. For θ≲0.75, gravity is dominant and the flow is in the fixed-bed regime. For θ≳0.75, shear-induced migration becomes progressively more important for increasing θ. Low-concentration zones flanking the sliding bed start to form at the top corners of the bed, and gradually expand downwards along the pipe wall till the pipe bottom is reached. For θ≳1.5, shear-induced migration is responsible for lifting the particle bed away from the wall, associated with the onset of the suspended regime. For θ≫1, gravity is of minor importance and the mean flow eventually reaches axi-symmetry with a high-concentration particle core at the pipe center and negligible secondary flow.

Investigation of an external loop airlift slurry separator for precise grading of solid particles

Powder with a narrow or extremely narrow particle size distribution is highly desired in many industries, while precise grading of solid particles remains a technical challenge. A theory for precise grading was proposed, and a piece of grading equipment was designed and verified for simultaneous and continuous separation of two kinds of target particles by combining the superb particle pre-dispersion in an external loop airlift slurry separator with the precise sieving process. The grading accuracy of small particles in fine products with irregular shapes was close to 90%, and that of large particles in coarse products reached up to 94.5%. The effects of superficial gas velocity and siphon flow rate on the hydrodynamic characteristics, solid concentration distribution, grading accuracy, particle yield, and grading efficiency were systematically investigated, and new thoughts for the appropriate design, optimization, and scale-up of such precise grading equipment were provided.

Coupling particle image velocimetry and digital image analysis to characterize cluster dynamics in a fast fluidized bed

Particle clusters affect interphase interaction and dominate the overall performance of gas-solid fluidized beds. In this work, the particle image velocimetry, particle tracking velocimetry and digital image analysis were coupled to characterize clustering dynamics in a lab-scale riser. The clusters were identified by the Otsu algorithm based on grayscale distribution, and the cluster properties such as equivalent size, solids concentration and velocity distribution were extracted and analyzed under various operating conditions. It was found macroscopic operating conditions affect cluster characteristics significantly whereas the effect of particle composition is secondary. A bimodal or skewed probability density function was observed for not only the time-averaged hydrodynamic velocity but also the particle velocity around the cluster interface, indicating the coexistence of dilute and dense phases and the breaking of equilibrium assumption. The nonuniform distributions for laminar and Reynolds-stress-like granular temperatures were further discussed, which show remarkable anisotropy at both the microscopic and mesoscopic scales.

Solids dispersion in high density circulating fluidized beds

Transient local solid tracer concentration distributions were measured by a novel, simple and accurate measurement system with fast response to obtain axial solids dispersion in the riser of a circulating fluidized bed operated at solids fluxes up to 450 kg/m2s and gas velocities up to 8 m/s. Phosphorescent-coated FCC particles were used as the tracer which were activated by high intensity UV light and injected into the return leg of high-density circulating fluidized bed unit. A radially non-uniform axial dispersion model was utilized to determine axial solids dispersion coefficients, and the results were interpreted with the help of hydrodynamic data obtained in the same column. Comparison of the axial dispersion coefficients at different operating conditions revealed that dispersion decreases when solids circulation flux increases to 450 kg/m2s together with the increase in gas velocity to 8 m/s. Low solids dispersion coefficients (Daz < 0.1) at high solids circulation fluxes and high velocities resulted from the disappearance of the net downward flow of particles at the riser walls, signifying the existence of the dense suspension upflow regime.

Population balance modeling of InP quantum dots: Experimentally enabled global optimization to identify unknown material parameters

Despite great progress in the synthetic chemistry of InP QDs, a predictive model to describe their temporal formation is still missing. In this work, we introduce a population balance model incorporating liquid phase reactions, homogeneous nucleation and reaction-limited growth of InP supported with the highly reproducible and reliable experimental data acquired from an automated robotic synthesis platform. A comparison between experimental kinetic data (different initial concentrations and temperatures) and simulations was made. The proposed model describes the temporal evolution of solid concentration, particle diameter and particle size distribution very well. The quantitative agreement between experiments and simulations was only achieved by global optimization to identify unknown and hardly measurable material parameters and kinetic constants such as surface energy, growth rate constants or activation energies. We see this model rendering the first step towards the development of more refined models that enable rigorous optimization and control of the production process for III-V semiconductors.

Measurements of particle velocity and solid concentration near the wall of a cyclone using high-speed particle shadow velocimetry

The particle velocity and solid concentration distribution in the near-wall region of a cyclone separator was experimentally studied. A series of measurement experiments were conducted based on the high-speed particle shadow velocimetry (HPSV) method. The experiment was conducted on a ϕ160 mm cyclone at an inlet velocity of 12-20 m/s and inlet concentration of 30-300 g/m3 with glass beads whose median diameter was 136.7 μm. The measured results of the microscopic particle movement demonstrate the moving behavior of the spiral particle band near the cyclone wall. It was found that the particle velocity and solid concentration are greatly different from those in and outside the particle band. The particle velocity inside the particle band can drop to 1.9 m/s, while the dispersed particle velocity outside the particle band away from the wall can reach 15.2 m/s. Along the downward movement of particle band, the particle velocity decrease and velocity fluctuation become milder, the solid concentration increases four times and reaches the highest at the cone wall. On the cross-section plane, the solid concentration decreases along the radial direction away from the wall. In the near-wall region inside particle band, the solid concentration can reach 0.004 or even higher, which is 32 times higher than the inlet solid concentration. This study helps to understand the complex gas-solid two-phase flow phenomena in cyclones.

Experimental investigation of circulating fluidized bed combustion of dry powders of coal slime

Effective combustion of coal slime in circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boilers is essential for the sustainable development of clean coal technology. To overcome issues related to burning wet coal slime in CFBs, we propose to dry coal slime in a low-temperature drying system and burn the dried fine powders in a CFB with a highly efficient separator. This study reports a series of experiments conducted in a 4MWth pilot-scale CFB combustion test facility to assess the feasibility. The results demonstrate that the dried slime particles, which have a particle size distribution similar to that of circulating ash particles, can be burned stably, efficiently, and cleanly. The combustion of fuels with size distributions similar to that of circulating ash particles increases solids circulation rates, betters solids concentration distribution, enhances heat transfer combustion and improves operation and SO2 and NOx controls. Therefore, the study presents a potential opportunity to advance CFB combustion technology.

3D CFD-PBM simulation of gas–solid bubbling beds of Geldart A particles with sub-grid drag correction

The importance of bubble dynamics in fluidized beds is underscored by the efforts undertaken over the past decades through experimental and numerical studies. Nonetheless, the bubble dynamic evolution and its effects on sub-grid closures were neglected in previous coarse-grid CFD models, particularly for Geldart A particles. In this article, a population balance model with improved kernels was employed to describe the bubble dynamic evolution in three-dimensional bubbling beds, whereby the EMMS drag model was closedto be incorporated into an Eulerian continuum model . Furthermore, the Extended Quadrature Method of Moments (EQMOM) was utilized to reconstruct the number density function of bubble size once their lower moments were obtained. The simulation results showed that the hydrodynamics including bed expansion characteristics, solids concentration and bubble size distribution can be well predicted by the model, indicating its capability to capture the heterogeneous structures in three-dimensional bubbling beds of fine particles.

Drag force modification model for turbulent suspended-load sediment solid–liquid two-phase flow

The calculation accuracy of a solid–liquid two-phase flow numerical simulation is related directly to the reliability of the results obtained. The interphase drag force significantly affects the calculation results of the solid concentration distribution of suspended-load sediment solid–liquid two-phase flow. However, the conventional Wen–Yu drag force model is obtained by adding solid concentration to the standard drag force coefficient curves. The model does not consider the influence of turbulence, which is a comprehensive reflection of particle inertia and liquid turbulence intensity. To improve the calculation accuracy of the Wen–Yu model, the particle inertia and turbulence intensity factors are introduced to express the comprehensive influence of the particle inertia and liquid turbulent intensity on the drag force coefficient for the suspended-load sediment solid–liquid two-phase flow. The turbulence modification function preliminary expression is determined and further modified to improve the calculation accuracy for a particle Reynolds number of less than 100 by combining experimental data and the least square method through experiments and theoretical research. Then, the final expression of the turbulence modification function is proposed to help modify the drag force coefficient of the Wen–Yu model, and finally establish the modified turbulence effect (MTE)-Wen–Yu drag force modification model. The calculations for the suspended-load sediment solid–liquid two-phase flow in the circular tubes show that the solid-phase concentration values calculated by the MTE-Wen–Yu drag force model are considerably closer to the experimental results than those obtained by the Wen–Yu drag force model in the suspended-load sediment solid–liquid two-phase flow calculation for different inlet velocities, inlet solid concentrations, and particle diameters. Hence, the calculation accuracy of the MTE-Wen–Yu model is higher than that of the Wen–Yu drag force model. The calculation precision of the solid-phase concentration distribution calculated using the MTE-Wen–Yu drag force model decreases with the increase in particle diameter owing to the high quality and large inertia of large particles. Therefore, it is more suitable for the numerical simulation of suspended-load sediment solid–liquid two-phase flow with a small particle diameter.

Transport hydrodynamics of catalytic particles in gradient cyclonic flow field and reaction characteristics to produce bio-oil

For the purpose of improving product yield and reducing energy consumption, a novel cyclonic integrated catalytic process was established for the biomass vapors upgrading based on simultaneous reaction-separation technology. In order to gain better insights into the biomass pyrolysis vapors upgrading in this heterogeneous system of novel gradient cyclonic flow field, the particle transport hydrodynamics, the product distribution characteristics and operating parameters effects in the newly developed uniflow cyclone reactor were explored by experimental and numerical simulation methods. The results demonstrate that the gradient cyclonic flow field has a positive effect on the contact efficiency and separation effect, and then beneficially promote catalytic reactions. During the movement of catalysts in the gradient cyclonic flow field, a catalyst-cluster is observed near the top of the reactor with a dense “body” and a dilute “shadow”. The characteristics of secondary vortexes and solid concentration distribution on radial and axial directions were further explained. The optimal reaction temperature, reaction time and catalyst to vapors mass ratio to produce bio-oil respectively are 550 °C, 1.5 s and 24.0. This work provides theoretical basis for optimization of reactor structure and operation parameters. It is beneficial to the improvement of biomass catalytic pyrolysis technology.

A data-driven machine learning framework for modeling of turbulent mixing flows

A novel computationally efficient machine learning (ML) framework has been developed for constructing the turbulent flow field of single-phase or two-phase particle-liquid flows in a mechanically agitated vessel by feeding a very short-term experimental Lagrangian trajectory. Using a supervised k-nearest neighbors regressor learning algorithm coupled with a Gaussian process, the framework predicts the mean flow and turbulent fluctuations by sharing the statistical features learned from experimental data. The capability of the ML framework is evaluated by comparing the flow dynamics of predicted trajectories to extensive Lagrangian particle tracking measurements under various flow conditions. Local velocity distributions, Lagrangian statistical analysis, solid concentration distributions, and phase flow numbers show very good agreement between ML-predictions and experiments. Being accurate, efficient, and robust, the ML framework is a powerful tool for analyzing and modeling multiphase flow systems using a minimal amount of driver data input, which can equally be provided from any reliable numerical simulation, thus avoiding costly experimental measurements.

Particle flow characteristics in the pipeline of a nonmetallic ore powder air classifier using a DPD-DEM coupled method

Understanding particle flow characteristics can help improve the efficiency of nonmetallic ore powder air classifiers. In this paper, dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) and the discrete element method (DEM) were adopted to study the interactions between the gas phase and solid particles. Gas and solid phases were coupled using the single-particle DPD model. Taking sepiolite particles as an example, at the optimal input air velocity in the pipeline, the gas particle velocity distribution, solid particle velocity distribution, solid particle concentration distribution, and solid particle position distribution were analyzed by numerical simulations. A comparison of numerical simulation and experimental results showed that when the input air velocity in the pipeline was 17 m/s, the velocity of particles and gas in the pipeline gradually increased from the wall to the center of the pipeline. The velocity near the pipeline wall changed rapidly, and the velocity in the main flow area remained basically unchanged. Particles left the pipeline in a uniform and dispersed state and were carried into the classification area. As the input air velocity increased, the pressure drop across the pipeline also increased. Therefore, the optimal input air velocity value could be reasonably selected to minimize energy consumption.

Magnetohydrodynamic chemically reactive viscoelastic fluid flow through an inclined porous layer

AbstractAnalysis of a time‐independent magnetohydrodynamic viscoelastic fluid flow in a deformable inclined porous layer with first‐order chemical reaction has been investigated. Walters' fluid model has been used to study viscoelastic fluid. The walls are suctioned/injected at a constant rate. The expression representing the solution for solid displacement, fluid velocity, temperature, and concentration distribution is obtained. The effect of applicable parameters on solid displacement, fluid velocity, temperature, and concentration are discussed graphically, while skin friction, heat transfer, and mass transfer are revealed in a tabular structure. It is noticed that solid displacement, fluid velocity, and temperature profiles decrease when the viscoelastic parameter increase. Solid displacement enhances and the velocity of the fluid reduces owing to the influence of increasing drag parameter, whereas the reverse effect is seen for the volume fraction parameter. Nusselt number at the walls shows the opposite behavior for the viscoelastic parameter and Eckert number. Sherwood number at the walls shows opposite behavior for Reynolds number, Schmidt number, and radiation parameter. Also, the entropy generation number rises as a result of the influence of viscoelasticity and Eckert number.

Evaluation of low-gravity-solids sedimentation in non-Newtonian synthetic-based drilling fluids monitored by gamma-ray attenuation technique

ABSTRACT Drilling fluids are used in the process of drilling wellbores. They are formulated by a combination of solubles and suspended solids. During drilling, cuttings of rock formation may get in the mix. Some of them are too small and light to be removed from the fluids. They are called low-gravity solids (LGS). In no drilling situations, both solids may settle due to gravity. This project aimed to characterize the physical and rheological properties of synthetic-based drilling fluids and monitor the distribution of solids concentration in batch gravity settling experiments. The interplay of solid content and mud rheology was evaluated by pycnometry, retort, and rheological analysis. The Gamma-ray Attenuation Technique was applied to monitor the solid concentration along the test tube as a function of time. We analyzed two similar muds that slightly differed by the presence LGS The fluids presented non-Newtonian behavior, clear separation of solids in two phases and apparent viscosity changes. After 90 days, the clarified liquid region was formed between 16 and 22 cm from the bottom of the tube. This region took shape between 7 to 80 days, and the maximum solid concentration was approximately 9%. Finally, the LGS increased the fluid resistance of settling.

Effect of drag models on hydrodynamic behaviors of slurry flows in horizontal pipes

The Eulerian–Eulerian method is efficient when dealing with liquid–solid slurry flows containing a large number of particles, but its reliability relies on an accurate description of liquid–particle interaction for which numerous interphase drag models have been proposed. However, the performance of these models has not been systematically evaluated when applied to slurry flows. In this study, slurries in horizontal pipes under various flow conditions are simulated using the Eulerian–Eulerian method. Six commonly used drag models, such as the Schiller–Naumann, Wen–Yu, Gibilaro, Gidaspow, Syamlal–O'Brien, and Huilin–Gidaspow models, are assessed based on their predictions of streamwise velocity, secondary flow, solid concentration, and liquid turbulent kinetic energy. Under normal operations, all models provide similar streamwise velocities and secondary flow patterns. However, the Schiller–Naumann model presents an intensified secondary flow and a flattened solid concentration profile. All models perform poorly for the solid concentration distribution, which may be corrected by considering the overall mean solid concentration. Additionally, the Wen–Yu model, which has previously been thought applicable only for dilute systems, behaves very closely to the Gidaspow model, which is usually recommended for dense fluidized beds.

Bubble-Based EMMS Drag Model for Particle Segregation Simulation with a Continuous Size Distribution

Particles in industrial fluidized beds are usually continuously distributed rather than monodisperse in size, and the separation of particles is a key factor in determining the performance of the fluidized reactor. In this paper, a bubble-based Energy Minimum Multi-Scale (EMMS) drag model was proposed to simulate polydisperse segregation in a gas–solid fluidized bed. Particle size distribution (PSD) was split into a sufficient class of characteristic particle sizes. Each size was treated as a solid phase, and the total drag force could be estimated by considering the influence of all solid phases and mesoscale structures. The EMMS drag model was then coupled with the Eulerian multi-fluid model (MFM) to simulate the segregation behavior of a polydisperse particle system. The effects of discrete particle size classes, different drag models, and gas velocities on the simulation results were also discussed under different operating conditions. The results showed that the present drag model was in better agreement with the experimental data in terms of axial solids concentration and mean particle size distribution than other models. In bubbling beds, the segregation patterns of polydisperse particles can be well predicted by this method.

Investigation of particle flow characteristics in a CFB recirculation system using electrical capacitance volume tomography

Gas-solid fluidized beds have complex flow characteristics and opacity, and the particle motion characteristics in the recirculation system of circulating fluidized bed (CFB) have not been studied thoroughly. In order to study the motion of gas-solid two-phase flow in a CFB recirculation system, a 32-electrode electrical capacitance volume tomography (ECVT) system was developed with an imaging speed of 120 frames per second. Under various working conditions, the experimental platform of CFB was also built to measure the particle flow in the CFB recirculation system with the 32-electrode ECVT system, including the solid concentration and the flow velocity of particles in the branch pipe. When the velocity of fluidized gas U f is adjusted from 2.73 m/s to 1.76 m/s, the average solid concentration in the riser is roughly distribution of upper dilute and lower concentrated along the axial direction. With the decrease of U f , the average solid concentration generally showed an increasing trend, and the difference of solid concentration between different planes in the branch pipe gradually decreased. The slug length in the imaging area decreases, and the rising velocity of the slug in the riser above the branch pipe decreases. ECVT continuous images (U f = 2.73 m/s). • The 3-D solid concentration distribution in the CFB recirculation system was investigated. • ECVT continuous images under three different working conditions are given. • Solid concentration in the CFB recirculation system was acquired from the ECVT images. • Solid velocity was gained by analyzing the time lag of the neighbour planes.

Monitoring and Visualization of Crystallization Processes Using Electrical Resistance Tomography: CaCO3 and Sucrose Crystallization Case Studies.

In the current research work, electrical resistance tomography (ERT) was employed for monitoring and visualization of crystallization processes. A first-of-its-kind MATLAB-based interactive GUI application “ERT-Vis” is presented. Two case studies involving varied crystallization methods were undertaken. The experiments were designed and performed involving calcium carbonate reactive (precipitative) crystallization for the high conductivity solution-solute media, and the cooling crystallization of sucrose representing the lower conductivity solution–solute combination. The software successfully provided key insights regarding the process in both crystallization systems. It could detect and separate the solid concentration distributions in the low as well as high conductivity solutions using the visual analytics tools provided. The performance and utility of the software were studied using a software evaluation case study involving domain experts. Participant feedback indicated that ERT-Vis software helps by reconstructing images instantaneously, interactively visualizing, and evaluating the output of the crystallization process monitoring data.

Impacts of solid physical properties on the performances of a slurry external airlift loop reactor integrating mixing and separation

Solid physical properties are vital for the design, optimization, and scale-up of gas–liquid–solid multiphase reactors. The complex and interactional effects of the solid physical properties, including particle diameter, density, wettability, and sphericity, on the hydrodynamic behaviors in a new external airlift loop reactor (EALR) integrating mixing and separation are decoupled in this work. Two semi-empirical equations are proposed and validated to predict the overall gas holdup and liquid circulating velocity satisfactorily, and then the individual influence of such solid physical properties is further investigated. The results demonstrate that both the overall gas holdup in the riser and the liquid circulating velocity in the downcomer increase with the contact angle, but decrease with particle size, density, and sphericity. Additionally, the impact of the particle size on the liquid circulating velocity is also profoundly revealed on a micro-level considering the particle size distribution. Moreover, the axial solid concentration distribution is discussed, and the uniformity of the slurry is described by the mixing index of the solid particles. The results show that a more homogeneous mixture can be achieved by adding finer particles other than attaining violent turbulence. Therefore, this work lays a foundation for the design, scale-up, and industrialization of the EALRs.