Three-dimensional Physical Model Research Articles

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.

Internal flow and vibration characteristics of axial flow check valves based on fluid-structure interaction analysis

Axial flow check valves are primarily employed to regulate the unidirectional flow of fluids within pipelines, preventing backflow or reverse flow. The design of this type of check valve ensures its opening in the direction of fluid flow and closing in the case of reverse flow, thereby ensuring that fluid within the pipeline system can only move in the predetermined direction. This paper establishes a three-dimensional physical model of the axial flow check valve with the length of 2050 mm, the height of 2200 mm and the inlet/outlet diameter of 1716 mm. Dynamic characteristics of the flow field during the closing process of axial flow check valve under different pressure difference were studied using dynamic mesh technology and User Defined Function. The vibration of the valve stem of the axial flow check valve was predicted and analyzed through fluid-structure coupling. Additionally, a fluid-structure coupled approach is employed to predict and analyze the vibration of the valve stem in axial flow check valves. The results indicate that with an increase in the pressure difference at the inlet and outlet, the time required for the check valve to close decreases, leading to an acceleration in the valve disc’s velocity. Simultaneously, the fluid forces exerted by the flow field on the valve stem the increase, resulting in more significant vibrations. Among these vibrations, the first three natural modes have the most substantial impact on the valve stem. To prevent damage to the valve stem, efforts should be made to minimize the influence of these first three modes on axial flow check valves. This study provides valuable recommendations and support for preventing damage to the valve stem in operational scenarios involving axial flow check valves.

Benchmarking Physical Model Experiments with Numerical Simulations for the Wangjiashan Landslide-Induced Surge Waves in the Baihetan Reservoir Area

The Baihetan Hydropower Station reservoir area began impoundment in 2021, triggering the reactivation of ancient landslides and the formation of new ones. This not only caused direct landslide disasters but also significantly increased the likelihood of secondary surge wave disasters. This study takes the Wangjiashan (WJS) landslide in the Baihetan reservoir area as an example and conducts large-scale three-dimensional physical model experiments. Based on the results of the physical model experiments, numerical simulation is used as a comparative verification tool. The results show that the numerical simulation method effectively reproduces the formation and propagation process of the WJS landslide-induced surge waves observed in the physical experiments. At the impoundment water level of 825 m, the surge waves generated by the WJS landslide pose potential threats to the Xiangbiling (XBL) residential area. In this study, the numerical simulation based on computational fluid dynamics confirmed the actual propagation forms of the surge waves, aligning well with the results of the physical experiments at a microscopic scale. However, at a macroscopic scale, there is some discrepancy between the numerical simulation results and the physical experiment outcomes, with a maximum error of 25%, primarily stemming from the three-dimensional numerical source model. This study emphasizes the critical role of physical model experiments in understanding and mitigating surge wave disasters in China. Furthermore, physical experiments remain crucial for accurate disaster prediction and mitigation strategies. The theories and methods used in this study will provide important references for future research related to landslide disasters in reservoir areas.

Hydrodynamics of standing-and-walking on the water surface by dolphins using collaborative movements of the body and fins

To break the application scenario limitations of traditional bionic underwater robots and open up the way of information docking between underwater and water surface, a systematic study was conducted on the cross-medium standing-and-walking (SAW) behavior of dolphins under the collaborative movements of the body, caudal, and pectoral fins. A three-dimensional physical model of the biomimetic dolphin robot was established, a collaborative movement law of the body, caudal, and pectoral fins was proposed, and the SAW behavior under two modes, Homologous and Reverse modes, was realized. The mapping relationship between the robot's kinematic parameters and hydrodynamic performance parameters was analyzed, the respective advantages of the two vertical walking modes were compared, and the SAW mechanism of the two modes was revealed physically with the help of the evolution law of the flow field around the robot. The results show that the biomimetic dolphin robot can realize cross-medium SAW behavior through the collaborative movements of the body, caudal pectoral fins. It is worth noting that the Hom mode has a superior walking speed, which can reach up to 0.27 m/s, an increase in 83.3% compared to the Rev mode under the same conditions, while the Rev mode has better walking stability, with a minimum fluctuation rate of 2.59%, a 30.8% improvement compared to the Hom mode. This research provides a novel idea for enhancing the surface operation capability of traditional biomimetic underwater robots and provides an important fluid mechanics theoretical basis for the design of new generation of cross-medium dolphin robots.

Characteristics of Carbon Monoxide and Ethylene Generation in Mine’s Closed Fire Zone and Their Influence on Methane Explosion Limits

Methane explosions often occur during the closure process of mine fire zones, during which the concentration of combustible gases such as monoxide and ethylene produced by coal combustion dynamically changes, which changes the risk of methane explosion. Therefore, studying the gas concentration distribution and methane explosion limits during the process of mine closure is of great significance for disaster prevention and control. In this paper, a three-dimensional physical model of gob was built, and the distribution of monoxide and ethylene in the process of fire zone closure was investigated. Further, the explosion limits of methane enriched with CO and C2H4 in the closed fire zone of gob were analyzed. The results indicate that CO and C2H4 would form a small-scale accumulation phenomenon near the fire zone after the closure of the fire zone, and when the fire zone is closed for more than 15 min, the mixed combustible gases in the environment lose their explosiveness.

Fetal transposition of the great arteries: 3D virtual and physical models from ultrasound datasets.

Transposition of the great arteries (TGA) is a cyanotic congenital heart disease characterized by ventriculoarterial discordance and atrioventricular concordance with the great arteries in a parallel relationship. Prenatal diagnosis of TGA has implications for postnatal outcomes, allowing for planned delivery and perinatal management. Three-dimensional virtual or physical models of fetal TGA allow better understanding of fetal cardiac anomalies by parents and interactive discussion among the multidisciplinary team (obstetricians, pediatricians, maternal-fetal specialists, pediatric cardiologists, and cardiovascular surgeons), as well as continuing medical education.

Comprehensive design of the 3D printing process for architectural models. A case study: the medieval walled enclosure of Priego De Cordoba (E1:200)

AbstractNowadays, an object can be viewed both physically and virtually. In both cases, the visualization process consists in a continuous variation of the observer’s perspective. When looking at objects, visual interactivity is achieved by the tandem formed by human vision and the position of the observer. 3D technology allows the viewer to delve into this aspect: starting from a virtual reconstruction. It is possible to go from the virtual 3D reconstruction of a model shown on a display to a real element materialized by means of a scale model or prototype. The innovation of this research lies in the development of an efficient method for printing 3D models, with a specific emphasis on material and time savings. This study aims to obtain the three-dimensional physical model of the walled enclosure of the city of Priego de Córdoba in the Middle Ages, at its time of greatest historical development, i.e., in the late 15th century. To this end, 3D printing technology was applied, which is an innovative method for the realization of architectural scale models. The performance of 3D printers, with different printing formats, was evaluated in terms of efficiency and quality of the architectural scale models. Our theoretical assumption showed that material saving is determined by the orography slopes of the model. Obtaining slopes with values in the range of 1–5%, a large format printer is the most suitable option; in the range of 5–15%, the medium format printer is recommended; and, for a slope greater than 15%, the small format printer should be used.

Three-Dimensional Simulations of Subaerial Landslide-Generated Waves: Comparing OpenFOAM and FLOW-3D HYDRO Models

AbstractThe recent destructive landslide tsunamis, such as the 2018 Anak Krakatau event, were fresh reminders for developing validated three-dimensional numerical tools to accurately model landslide tsunamis and to predict their hazards. In this study, we perform Three-dimensional physical modelling of waves generated by subaerial solid-block landslides, and use the data to validate two numerical models: the commercial software FLOW-3D HYDRO and the open-source OpenFOAM package. These models are key representatives of the primary types of modelling tools—commercial and open-source—utilized by scientists and engineers in the field. This research is among a few studies on 3D physical and numerical models for landslide-generated waves, and it is the first time that the aforementioned two models are systematically compared. We show that the two models accurately reproduce the physical experiments and give similar performances in modelling landslide-generated waves. However, they apply different approaches, mechanisms and calibrations to deliver the tasks. It is found that the results of the two models are deviated by approximately 10% from one another. This guide helps engineers and scientists implement, calibrate, and validate these models for landslide-generated waves. The validity of this research is confined to solid-block subaerial landslides and their impact in the near-field zone.

Spatial and Temporal Distribution Characteristics of Landslide Surge Based on Large-Scale Physical Modeling Experiment

Surge is a common secondary disaster caused by reservoir landslides. The study of its spatial and temporal distribution characteristics is important since it affects not only the normal operation of reservoirs but also the safety of people residing along the river. This paper presents a large-scale three-dimensional physical modeling experiment using a near-dam high-position landslide project as a prototype. It investigated the relationships between the river course characteristics, the landslide volume, the head wave velocity of the landslide surge, the waveform of surges, and the head wave crest of the wave along the course in depth. The results indicate that the head wave velocity of the landslide surge is basically unchanged during the propagation process, and it is minimally affected by the landslide volume. The waveform distribution characteristics and head wave crests change considerably in the diversion area and the curved areas but remain mostly unchanged in the topographic similarity area. In addition, there is a negative correlation between the head wave crest and the cross-sectional area of the river course. Furthermore, under conditions of a large landslide volume, the influence of the cross-sectional area of the river channel on the wave height of landslide surges becomes more significant. Finally, the maximum wave height along the course may not necessarily occur in the head wave crest; it could occur in the second wave or even the subsequent ones.

Simulation study on transport characteristics of leakage gas from the condenser of power plant

Exploring the transport characteristics of leakage gas in the condenser can facilitate quicker identification of leak points when using Helium tracer gas method for detection. We construct a 3-D physical model of the condenser to simulate the Helium gas leakage process within the tube bundle. On the steam side, we adopt RNG k-?, porous media, steam condensation, and convective diffusion models to describe steam and leakage gas-flow. On the waterside, we use the tube bundle thermal resistance model to describe the steam-water heat transfer. The research concludes with three key points. When the centripetal pressure gradient is insufficient, there will be leakage gas enrichment, resulting in flowing out in the form of diffusion. When there is no centripetal pressure gradient in the tube bundle region, it will extract only a small amount of upstream leakage gas along with steam through the flow. When reaching a stable level for leakage gas, the leakage intensity is proportional to the outlets? flow rate but is independent of the transport form. The deviation of the mass-flow rate decreases with the mesh quantity increasing, which is less than 2% when the mesh quantity is over 638228. The deviation between simulated and actual values of the two parameters is less than 5%, which reveals the good agreement between numerical calculation and actual work conditions. These conclusions can assist employees and researchers in evaluating data on leak points and enhancing detection techniques.

Physical modeling of complex lithofacies volcanic edifices and seismic characteristics

Abstract The Songnan fault basin contains a significant distribution of basaltic volcanic rock structures, and serves as one of the primary types of reservoir in the area. Volcanic formations exhibit notable distinctions when compared to conventional oil and gas reservoirs, and the precise seismic response mechanism of these formations remains uncertain. Hence, it is imperative to investigate the seismic response mechanism of volcanic formations to enhance the geophysical characterization capability of oil and gas reservoirs composed of igneous rock. The seismic physical simulation model method is used to obtain dependable data for investigating the seismic response mechanisms of volcanic structures. This is achieved by constructing intricate physical models of rocks and volcanic structures. Our team focused on the development of materials and processes for accurately modeling various rock and volcanic structures, and we successfully designed and produced a three-dimensional physical model representing volcanic structures in the Chaganhua area. Furthermore, we conducted thorough data acquisition and analysis to examine the seismic response characteristics and sensitive properties of different geological bodies. We improved the accuracy of identifying different lithofacies of volcanic rocks by extracting different seismic attributes. This study presents a reliable approach for elucidating the seismic response mechanism of intricate rock and volcanic formations. It can also serve as a valuable resource for processing and interpreting seismic data in the specific study region. The conclusion that weak seismic reflection signals in volcanic rocks are effective signals rather than noise could be more conducive to accurate analysis and description of volcanic structures.

Multi-physics Coupled Simulation and Model App Development for Lithium Slurry Batteries

Lithium slurry batteries, as an electrochemical energy storage technology, have the advantages of high operating voltage, large energy density and flexible configuration, and have broad application prospects. Due to the high cost of experiment time, materials traditional experimental methods have low R&D efficiency and the internal reactions and physical fields of batteries are very complex, research on battery performance is difficult and the threshold is high. To overcome this challenge, A new dynamic three-dimensional multi physical field coupling model for lithium slurry flow batteries has been proposed. This model can study the fluid dynamics of slurry batteries, the electrochemistry of lithium electrode reactions, the transport of lithium in solid particles, and the mass balance in storage tanks. Based on this model, we develop model applications using Comsol’s built-in interface. This app has a simple interface and simple operation to reduce the threshold for researchers and improve their research efficiency.

Non-Isothermal Simulation and Safety Analysis of Twin-Screw Extrusion Process for Synthetizing Glycidyl Azide Polymer-Based Energetic Thermoplastic Elastomer.

In order to study the temperature variation and flow characteristics in the twin-screw reactive extrusion process of synthetizing glycidyl azide polymer-based energetic thermoplastic elastomer (GAP-ETPE), a non-isothermal simulation and a safety analysis were carried out. Firstly, based on the synthesis principle of GAP-ETPE, a mechanical sensitivity test, viscosity test and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) of GAP-ETPE were carried out. Secondly, a three-dimensional physical model of the intermeshing co-rotating conveying element was established by Gambit. A three-dimensional non-isothermal numerical simulation of the conveying and kneading elements was carried out using FLUENT 19.0 software. The temperature, pressure and shear stress field of conveying and kneading elements with different staggered angles were analyzed and compared. The results show that the maximum temperature of the kneading element is always slightly higher than that of the conveying element at the same rotational speed, but the average temperature in the flow channel is always slightly higher than that of the kneading element. The inlet and outlet pressure difference of the kneading elements with a 90° offset angle is the smallest and the safety is the highest. The shear stress in the flow channel of the conveying element is higher than that of the kneading element as a whole, but the shear stress near the outlet of the 90° kneading element is higher than that in the flow channel of the conveying element. Among the kneading elements, the 90° kneading element has the strongest dispersing and mixing ability, followed by the 60° and 45° kneading elements. According to the thermal and physical parameters of the material, the ignition response time is approximately 6 s, which provides a theoretical guide for the safety design of the GAP-ETPE twin-screw extruder.

Assessment of twin tunnelling induced settlement and load transfer mechanism of a single pile in dry sand

This study conducted both three-dimensional physical model tests and numerical back-analyses to examine the performance of a single pile subjected to twin tunnelling beneath the pile toe in dry sand. Moreover, numerical parametric analyses were carried out to assess the impact of working load level and tunnel volume loss on pile behaviour. The findings revealed that the first tunnelling induced a 1.9% dp (pile diameter) settlement in the pile when the pile toe was 0.5 D (tunnel diameter) above the twin tunnels, which had a 1.0% volume loss. The settlement was accompanied by an upward load transfer mechanism. The second tunnelling had a reduced impact and induced only 76% of the settlement caused by the first tunnelling. The study also showed that tunnelling-induced shearing behaviours weakened beneath the pile toe with a decrease in working load, resulting in reduced pile head settlement. Moreover, the computed pile settlement increased by 178% when the tunnel volume loss increased from 0.5% to 2%. The findings of this study offer valuable data for the validation and calibration of numerical models. In addition, the outcome from this study provides useful insights into the prediction of the pile-soil-tunnel interaction when subjected to twin tunnelling.

Numerical investigation of hydrogen-rich gas and pulverized coal injection in the raceway of a blast furnace with lower carbon emissions

The application of hydrogen-rich gas in the pulverized coal injection technology represents a precious solution to mitigate carbon emissions. In this research, a three-dimensional physical model has been constructed based on the actual dimensions of the gas lance, coal lance, blowpipe, tuyere and raceway of a prominent blast furnace in China. A comparative analysis of the tuyere and raceway status, along with the coal combustion behaviors, is conducted using numerical simulation method after the injection volume of the two hydrogen-rich gases changes. The simulation outcomes demonstrate that the introduction of natural gas into the blast furnace has a comparatively larger influence on the temperature within the raceway, in contrast to the injection of coke oven gas, leading to a more noticeable temperature reduction. Additionally, the average temperature at the tuyere outlet is about 20 K higher with coke oven gas injection compared to natural gas injection under equivalent coal ratios. Furthermore, the burnout of particles is lower in the case of natural gas injection compared to coke oven gas injection. When the injection rates of natural gas and coke oven gas increase, and the coal ratio decreases from 170 kg/t to 140 kg/t, the burnout of coal powder decreases from 68.11% to 64.12% and 64.73%, respectively. The impact of injecting natural gas on coal powder combustion is more pronounced. The research offers a theoretical guide for advancing the mixed application of natural gas, coke oven gas, and particles in the blast furnace, serving as a valuable guide for practical implementation.

Retracted: Application of Optical Fiber Sensing Technology in Permeability Test of Three-Dimensional Physical Model of Medium and Long-Distance Diversion Tunnel

Retracted: Application of Optical Fiber Sensing Technology in Permeability Test of Three-Dimensional Physical Model of Medium and Long-Distance Diversion Tunnel

Experimental Investigation of Preformed Particle Gel and Alkali-Surfactant-Polymer Composite System for Enhanced Oil Recovery in Heterogeneous Reservoirs

Abstract Heterogeneity is a significant feature of the reservoirs after polymer flooding, resulting in challenges for further enhanced oil recovery (EOR) in heterogeneous reservoirs. In order to further improve oil recovery in the reservoirs after polymer flooding, a novel EOR system (ASP-PPG composite system) was developed using preformed particle gel (PPG) and alkali-surfactant-polymer system (ASP system). We designed an oil saturation monitoring device and a large-scale 3D heterogeneous physical model to evaluate the performance of the system. The performance of the system and the ASP system were tested. Based on the testing results, the fluid migration patterns and enhanced oil recovery mechanisms of the ASP-PPG system in an actual heterogeneous reservoir were investigated using the oil saturation monitoring device and the 3D physical model. Experimental results indicate that the ASP-PPG system has a higher viscosity and better profile control ability than the ASP system. Additionally, the interfacial tension can be maintained at a low level, around 10−3 mN/m. Flooding experiments using the three-dimensional heterogeneous physical model demonstrated the excellent elastic deformation ability of PPG, which can dynamically block the large pores that formed after the polymer flooding and effectively improve the heterogeneity of reservoirs. After injecting the ASP-PPG system, the recovery factor of the model increased by 15.8%. Specifically, the sweep coefficient of high, medium, and low permeability layers increased by 4.36%, 19.6%, and 37.55%, respectively. Moreover, the oil displacement efficiency increased by 7.4%, 14.4%, and 17.9%, respectively. These results highlight the synergistic effect of combining PPG and ASP systems, significantly enhancing heterogeneous reservoir recovery after polymer flooding.

Three-dimensional physical modeling of the wet manufacturing process of solid-state battery electrodes

Poor design of composite electrodes in Solid-State Batteries (SSBs) is one of the main reasons for their low performance. Although modeling techniques offer great potential in investigating multiple conditions for microstructure optimization, SSB manufacturing remains almost unaddressed in terms of computational studies. We present here a three-dimensional physics-based modeling workflow to investigate the impact of wet manufacturing process parameters on the properties of SSB tape casted composite electrodes based on LiNi0.6Mn0.2Co0.2O2 as the active material and Li6PSCl5 sulfide solid electrolyte. Our proposed workflow models the entire process of wet manufacturing of SSB electrodes, starting with the slurry consisting of active material, carbon additive, binder, solid electrolyte and solvent, and continues through its drying process, and the calendering of the resulting electrodes. Our focus is in particular on the impact of the calendering degree on the microstructure of the electrode. We characterize the resulting microstructures in terms of electronic and ionic conduction properties. We believe that this first-of-its-kind wet manufacturing process model for SSB cathodes is an important step towards the development of systematic modeling approaches that can provide practical optimization of the interfaces between materials in electrodes to improve SSB performance and durability.

Study on diffusion and migration characteristics of impurities in secondary side of simplified u-tube steam generator

During the operation of nuclear power systems, the occurrence of leakage accidents of primary and secondary condensers are a major concern due to the potential threat to safe operation. The entry of seawater into the secondary loop from the condenser, along with impurities such as Cl-, can accumulate near the heat transfer tube, causing wear and corrosion, which can further aggravate the situation. Therefore, it is essential to accurately understand the migration and diffusion process of impurities in the secondary side of the steam generator. This study aims to investigate the three-dimensional multi-tube physical model of fluid–structure coupling heat transfer in the primary and secondary loops of the steam generator, including the heat exchange tube, to gain insights into the migration and diffusion of Cl- and other impurities. The distribution of important thermal parameters, such as volume vapor fraction, temperature, and velocity, in a U-shaped tube bundle were analyzed by numerical simulation of heat transfer and fluid flow. The diffusion and migration of Cl- in a two-phase flow were also studied. Results of this study reveal that impurities concentration is influenced by the effective diffusion coefficient, which is further influenced by the boiling intensity and flow velocity of the coolant. The combined effect of the boiling intensity and flow velocity of the coolant has a synergistic effect on the migration and diffusion of Cl-. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the flow heat transfer impurity migration under a multi-tube coupled heat transfer condition of the steam generator, which can be used as a scientific basis for the design optimization and operation of steam generators.

Three-Dimensional Physical Modeling of Response of Existing Metro Tunnel to Pile Loading in Delhi Silt in India

Three-Dimensional Physical Modeling of Response of Existing Metro Tunnel to Pile Loading in Delhi Silt in India