Simulation Of Three-dimensional Flow Research Articles

CFD Simulations and Phenomenological Modelling of Aerodynamic Stall Hysteresis of NACA 0018 Wing

Computational simulations of three-dimensional flow around a NACA 0018 wing with an aspect ratio of AR=5 were carried out by using the Unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) equations with the Shear-Stress Transport turbulence model closure. Simulations were performed to capture aerodynamic stall hysteresis by using the developed pseudo-transient continuation (PTC) method based on a dual-time step approach in CFD OpenFOAM code. The flow was characterized by incompressible Mach number M=0.12 and moderate Reynolds number Re=0.67×106. The results obtained indicate the presence of noticeable aerodynamic hysteresis in the static dependencies of the force and moment coefficients, as well as the manifestation of bi-stable flow separation patterns, accompanied by the development of asymmetry in the stall zone. The URANS simulation results are in good agreement with the experimental data obtained for the NACA 0018 finite-aspect-ratio wing in the low-speed wind tunnel under the same test conditions. A new phenomenological bifurcation model of aerodynamic stall hysteresis under static and dynamic conditions is formulated and is proven to be able to closely match the experimental data.

Three-dimensional simulation of an orifice flow with cavitation-induced air release

A model for the approximation of cavitation-induced air release in three-dimensional flow simulations is proposed. A cavitating orifice flow is investigated. It is assumed that vapor vanishes in the proximity of the orifice, and bubbles further downstream consist essentially of air. The model is based on a homogeneous mixture assumption and comprises one main parameter, which needs to be adjusted to the experimentally measured degassing fraction. Experimental validation is based on transmission light images downstream of the orifice. In the proximity of the orifice, the inclusion of air release in the CFD simulation yields a better agreement to experimentally measured cavitation intensity than the consideration of pure vapor only. It is concluded that a considerably larger amount of air is released than is dissolved in the evaporated amount of liquid. The simulation results suggest that the released air mass corresponds to about 1% of the evaporated liquid mass. These observations may be a good basis for purposeful future experiments, which are indispensable for the development of a more predictive approach of cavitation-induced air release in 3D CFD methods.

Effect of vertical vibration on transient heat transfer characteristics of flow boiling in small rectangular channels

In the thermal management of fuel cell vehicles, radiators are subjected to vibrations due to vehicle speed and road surface irregularities. However, there has been no comprehensive study of the impact of these vibrations on the heat transfer performance of radiators. Therefore, this paper employs R141b to conduct three-dimensional transient numerical simulations of flow boiling in small channels under vertical vibrations. The study reveals that the single-phase heat transfer coefficient exhibits periodic variations. At the same vibration frequency, the heat transfer frequency for the vertically oriented heating surface is twice that of the horizontally oriented surface, This is because the thermal boundary layer varies with the vibration velocity. Furthermore, as the frequency increases to 21 Hz, the time-averaged heat transfer coefficient can increase by up to 2.5 times. Following boiling onset, for horizontally oriented heating surfaces, an increase in frequency or amplitude enhances the transient heat transfer performance. Under the conditions of 28 Hz and 5 mm, the heat transfer coefficient can increase by 125.7%. However, for vertically oriented heating surfaces, when the frequency exceeds 14 Hz or the amplitude exceeds 8 mm, the heat transfer performance weakens after 7.143 s due to the promotion of bubble coalescence by the vibrations.

Uncertainty quantification of the impact of peripheral arterial disease on abdominal aortic aneurysms in blood flow simulations.

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) often coexist and pose significant risks of mortality, yet their mutual interactions remain largely unexplored. Here, we introduce a fluid mechanics model designed to simulate the haemodynamic impact of PAD on AAA-associated risk factors. Our focus lies on quantifying the uncertainty inherent in controlling the flow rates within PAD-affected vessels and predicting AAA risk factors derived from wall shear stress. We perform a sensitivity analysis on nine critical model parameters through simulations of three-dimensional blood flow within a comprehensive arterial geometry. Our results show effective control of the flow rates using two-element Windkessel models, although specific outlets need attention. Quantities of interest like endothelial cell activation potential (ECAP) and relative residence time are instructive for identifying high-risk regions, with ECAP showing greater reliability and adaptability. Our analysis reveals that the uncertainty in the quantities of interest is 187% of that of the input parameters. Notably, parameters governing the amplitude and frequency of the inlet velocity exert the strongest influence on the risk factors' variability and warrant precise determination. This study forms the foundation for patient-specific simulations involving PAD and AAAs which should ultimately improve patient outcomes and reduce associated mortality rates.

Understanding the Dynamics of Polymer Extrusion: Simulation of Thermoplastics Processing with Planetary Roller Extruders

Resource efficient processing of polymers is of paramount importance to minimize energy consumption, processing time, and material losses in the polymer industry. This study is concerned with polymer processing in planetary roller extruders. A three-dimensional numerical flow simulation was tailored to understand the polymer flow through the extruder in detail. Using the simulation software ANSYS Polyflow, we quantified both directly measurable process parameters, such as pressure build-up, and more intangible parameters, such as material shear. By varying operational and material parameters in a sensitivity analysis, we showed that the dynamics, material stress and pressure build-up are controlled primarily by the number of spindles and their rotational speed. Notably, this work provides the first successful validation of a 3D simulation of a polymer flow in a planetary roller extruder against actual experimental data. The simulation showed robust agreement between the simulated and experimental values, provided that a critical backpressure length is reached. This computational approach minimizes labor-intensive experimental testing in polymer processing.

Interaction of a Ventricular Assist Device With Patient-Specific Cardiovascular Systems: In-Silico Study With Bidirectional Coupling.

Ventricular assist devices (VADs) are used to assist the heart function of patients with advanced heart failure. Computational fluid dynamics in VADs are widely applied in the development and optimization, for example, to evaluate blood damage. For these simulations, the pulsating operating conditions, in which the VAD operates, should be included accurately. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the flow in a VAD by interacting with patient-specific cardiovascular systems of heart failure patients. A numeric method will be presented, which includes a patient-specific cardiovascular system model that is bidirectionally coupled with a three-dimensional (3D) flow simulation of the HeartMate 3. The cardiovascular system is represented by a lumped parameter model. Three heart failure patients are considered, based on clinical data from end-stage heart failure patients. Various parameters of the cardiovascular system and the VAD are analyzed, for example, flow rates, pressures, VAD heads, and efficiencies. A further important parameter is the blood damage potential of the VAD, which varies significantly among different patients. Moreover, the predicted blood damage fluctuates within a single heartbeat. The increase in blood damage is evaluated based on the operating conditions. Both, overload and especially partial load conditions during the pulsating operation result in elevated blood damage.

Three-dimensional simulation of binary alkane mixture flow in a ballistic cycle of a high-pressure direct fuel injector using a mass transfer cavitation model

A multi-species cavitation model is applied to a high-pressure injection cycle. Results of transient simulations with ballistic needle dynamics are presented. Species segregation in terms of local species demixing in the liquid phase is assessed. Therefore, the mass transfer cavitation model proposed by [101] is adopted and implemented in an incompressible large-eddy simulation flow solver. The model is based on the Rayleigh bubble dynamics equation, Raoult's and Dalton's law, vapor-liquid equilibrium, and mixing rules. It is initially tested on a hydrofoil test case and subsequently applied to a high-pressure injector. A heavier n-dodecane/n-heptane and a lighter n-octane/n-heptane mixture are considered. For both mixtures, essentially the same vortex and vapor structures are encountered. No distinct hysteresis between opening and closing phase of the cycle is present, which is related to a relatively low liquid density of both mixtures. Segregation correlates with the amount of vapor and is most pronounced for cloud cavitation at low needle lift levels and minor for string cavitation at high needle lift levels. It is considerably more pronounced for the heavier than the lighter mixture due to a wide spread of volatilities of n-dodecane and n-heptane. Even for the heavier mixture, segregation is much less pronounced than observed in the immediate environment of a single bubble. This observation is related to the homogeneous mixture approach, by which an averaged effect of segregation over the computational cell is assumed. An Euler-Lagrange approach is proposed for future studies, embedding details of mass transfer over the bubble interface into the CFD code.

Transient and Dynamic Simulation of the Fluid Flow through Five-Way Electric Coolant Control Valve of a 100 kW Fuel Cell Vehicle by CFD with Moving Grid Technique

In order to maintain the performance of a fuel cell vehicle, it is essential to maintain a constant temperature of the stack. Therefore, it is very important to distribute the optimal coolant flow rate to each major component under very diverse and rapidly changing dynamic operating conditions. The part responsible for this is a five-way electric coolant valve. Therefore, this study aims to investigate transient dynamic flow characteristics of the fluid flow through a five-way electric coolant valve (PCCV: Penta-Control Coolant Valve). To achieve this goal, this paper attempts a three-dimensional dynamic simulation of the fluid flow through the valve using a commercial CFD solver with moving mesh technique to consider flow inertia and dynamic flow in the opening and closing stages of the ball valve rotating motion. The dynamic flow characteristics and the thermal mixing inside the PCCV ball valve during the opening and closing stages are analyzed. It was found that the discrepancies between dynamic and steady-state simulations are remarkable when fluxes with different levels of enthalpy and momentum flow into the PCCV, leading to strong flow interference and flow inertia, while the discrepancies are relatively small at low rotation speed and weak flow interference. Subsequently, the effect of the dynamic flow characteristics of the valve on the dynamic thermal mixing characteristics at two different ball valve rotation speeds and rotation directions are investigated. It was found that the dynamic flow and thermal mixing characteristics inside the PCCV are greatly affected by the rotation speed, rotation direction, and degree of flow interference between fluxes. It also helps design better coolant control strategies and improves the FCEV thermal management system.

Impact of Pressure Guidewire on Model-Based FFR Prediction.

Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) is used to characterize the functional significance of coronary artery stenoses. FFR is assessed under hyperemic conditions by invasive measurements of trans-stenotic pressure thanks to the insertion of a pressure guidewire across the coronary stenosis during catheterization. In order to overcome the potential risk related to the invasive procedure and to reduce the associated high costs, three-dimensional blood flow simulations that incorporate clinical imaging and patient-specific characteristics have been proposed. Most CCTA-derived FFR models neglect the potential influence of the guidewire on computed flow and pressure. Here we aim to quantify the impact of taking into account the presence of the guidewire in model-based FFR prediction. We adopt a CCTA-derived FFR model and perform simulations with and without the guidewire for 18 patients with suspected stable CAD. Presented results show that the presence of the guidewire leads to a tendency to predict a lower FFR value. The FFR reduction is prominent in cases of severe stenoses, while the influence of the guidewire is less pronounced in cases of moderate stenoses. From a clinical decision-making point of view, including of the pressure guidewire is potentially relevant only for intermediate stenosis cases.

Aerodynamic drag improvements on a circular cylinder using passive Venturi actuators

Scale-adaptive simulations (SAS) of three-dimensional flow around a circular cylinder fitted with a passive version of a novel flow control method (passive Venturi actuator, PVA) are performed at a diameter-based Reynolds number of Re = 28 000. The PVA consists of one or more narrow slits located at the top and/or bottom sides of the cylinder that connected to the throat of the axial Venturi slit in this cylinder. The main purpose of the study is to investigate the influence of divergence angle and narrow slit location relative to the axial Venturi slit on the aerodynamic performance of the cylinder. To this end, four models were designed with various PVAs. Additional models, a plain cylinder (unmodified model) and a cylinder fitted with an axial Venturi slit (model without a narrow slit), were also used for quantitative comparison. SAS predicts that an additional 5% reduction in the time-averaged drag coefficient, ⟨CD⟩, was observed when two narrow slits located on the surface at an angle of ±80° from the front stagnation line were fitted to the cylinder with an axial Venturi slit. Reducing the divergence angle of the PVA leads to improvements in ⟨CD⟩ and root mean square of fluctuating force coefficients, CD−rms and CL−rms. It is found that a cylinder with a PVA that has two narrow slits and a divergence angle of 6° can produce a 28.6% reduction in ⟨CD⟩, a 58.5% reduction in CD−rms, and an 81.2% reduction in CL−rms, when compared to the plain cylinder.

Droplet impact on doubly re-entrant structures

Doubly re-entrant pillars have been demonstrated to possess superior static and dynamic liquid repellency against highly wettable liquids compared to straight or re-entrant pillars. Nevertheless, there has been little insight into how the key structural parameters of doubly re-entrant pillars influence the hydrodynamics of impacting droplets. In this work, we carried out numerical simulations and experimental studies to portray the fundamental physical phenomena that can explain the alteration of the surface wettability from adjusting the design parameters of the doubly re-entrant pillars. On the one hand, three-dimensional multiphase flow simulations of droplet impact were conducted to probe the predominance of the overhang structure in dynamic liquid repellency. On the other hand, the numerical results of droplet impact behaviours are agreed by the experimental results for different pitch sizes and contact angles. Furthermore, the dimensions of the doubly re-entrant pillars, including the height, diameter, overhang length and overhang thickness, were altered to establish their effect on droplet repellency. These findings present the opportunity for manipulations of droplet behaviours by means of improving the critical dimensional parameters of doubly re-entrant structures.

Analytic description of the gas flow around planets embedded in protoplanetary disks

Context. A growing planet embedded in a protoplanetary disk induces three-dimensional gas flow, which exhibits a midplane outflow that can suppress dust accretion onto the planet and form global dust substructures (rings and gaps). Aims. Because analytic formulae for the planet-induced outflow are useful for modeling its influences on local and global dust surface densities and planet accretion, we derived analytic formulae that describe the morphology and velocity of the planet-induced outflow. Methods. We first performed three-dimensional, nonisothermal hydrodynamical simulations of the gas flow past a planet, which enabled us to introduce a fitting formula that describes the morphology of the outflow. We then derived an analytic formula for the outflow speed using Bernoulli’s theorem. Results. We successfully derived a fitting formula for the midplane outflow morphology (the shape of the streamline), which is valid when the dimensionless thermal mass falls below m ≲ 0.6. The obtained analytic formulae for the outflow, such as the maximum outflow speed and the velocity distributions of the outflow in the radial and vertical directions to the disk, show good agreement with the numerical results. We find the following trends: (1) the maximum outflow speed increases with the planetary mass and has a peak of ~30–40% of the sound speed when the dimensionless thermal mass is m ~ 0.3, corresponding to a super-Earth mass planet at 1 au for the typical steady accretion disk model, and (2) the presence of the headwind (namely, the global pressure force acting in the positive radial direction of the disk) enhances (reduces) the outflow toward the outside (inside) of the planetary orbit. Conclusions. The planet-induced outflow of the gas affects the dust motion when the dimensionless stopping time of dust falls below St ≲ min(10 m2, 0.1), which can be used to model the dust velocity influenced by the outflow.

Wing Sails: Numerical Analysis of High-Performance Propulsion Systems for a Racing Yacht

With the increasing popularity of yachting sports and races comes the need to develop a more advanced and efficient propulsion device. Significant improvement can be made when using a mainly lift-driven propulsion source, known as a wing sail. This idea, dating back as far as the mid-70s, is nowadays regaining interest as a propulsion system in multihull, high-performance racing vessels (for instance, the AC50 and AC72 America’s Cup yacht classes). This article documents 2D and 3D numerical analyses of wing sail systems imitating those of an AC72 racing yacht class. It depicts methods employed in two- and three-dimensional steady-state flow simulations, compares systems equipped with various geometries of mainsails, and details a comprehensive examination of the airflow around the vessel using spatial analyses. Numerical calculations were carried out using ANSYS CFX and ANSYS Fluent (with overset feature) for 2D and 3D models, respectively. All simulations were conducted under conditions similar to those acting on the real system, i.e., high Reynolds number (order of magnitude 106 to 107) and atmospheric boundary layer (in the 3D model).

Layer-based Simulation for Three-Dimensional Fluid Flow in Spherical Coordinates

Layer-based Simulation for Three-Dimensional Fluid Flow in Spherical Coordinates

Inertial range scaling of inhomogeneous turbulence

We investigate how inhomogeneity influences the $k^{-5/3}$ inertial range scaling of turbulent kinetic energy spectra (with $k$ the wavenumber). For weak statistical inhomogeneity, the energy spectrum can be described as an equilibrium spectrum plus a perturbation. Theoretical arguments suggest that this latter contribution scales as $k^{-7/3}$ . This prediction is assessed using direct numerical simulations of three-dimensional Kolmogorov flow.

Employment of roughened absorber palate and jet nozzles with different hole shapes for performance boost of solar-air-heaters

In this study, roughened absorber plate and jet nozzle are simultaneously employed to enhance the efficiency of a solar based air heater. The impact of jet nozzle hole shape is comprehensively investigated for the mentioned system which have not been investigated before. Three-dimensional steady-state simulations of incompressible turbulent fluid flow and heat transfer are performed using the Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations to model the jet solar air heater (JSAH). Five different jet hole shapes (circular, triangular, square, hexagonal, and rectangular) are examined and results are compared with conventional structure. The thermal and hydraulic performance of the JSAH is assessed using a variety of geometric and operating parameters, including jet diameter ratio (dj/Dh), jet hole streamwise pitch (Lj/Dh), and Re number (Re). The results show that the ratio of (Nu/Nus) initially increases and then decreases as the hydraulic diameter of the jet holes increases. Circular jet holes consistently outperform other shapes, while rectangular and triangular jet holes perform poorly. The pressure penalty (f/fs) decreases with increasing (dj/Dh), with circular jet holes exhibiting the lowest value. Increasing the Reynolds number enhances heat transfer and pumping power but leads to a decrease in (Nu/Nus) and negatively affects the THPP of the JSAH compared to a conventional smooth solar air heater. The study also reveals that the THPP initially increases with streamwise pitch (Lj/Dh) but then declines, following the trend of (Nu/Nus). The results demonstrate up to 4.5 times higher Nusselt numbers with a jet solar air heater versus a smooth solar heater. A maximum thermal-hydraulic performance parameter of 1.64 indicates the proposed design's efficacy. This research furnishes critical insights into optimizing solar air heater performance by examining jet nozzle hole shape, streamwise pitch, and Reynolds number. It enables enhancing thermal efficiency and thermo-hydraulic performance.

Broadband noise characteristics of fans with different blades under identical working conditions

Small axis-flow fans are widely used for air cooling and ventilation systems. A common small axis-flow fan has an unshrouded rotor, structs or stator vanes and a round casing. The fans used in this work are designed based on isolated-airfoil blade design mode and simple radial equilibrium theory supplemented by three-dimensional flow simulations with steady flow. The noise radiated from the fan can be decomposed to discrete tones and broadband noise, which is mainly due to interaction between blades and structs or stators vanes and turbulence, respectively. Under the working conditions of the same pressure rise and volume flow rate, the noise spectra from different fans are analyzed. It is found that with the addition of the fan blade number, the concentration of the broadband sound energy gradually shifts from low frequency to high frequency. And the fewer the number of blades, the less the corresponding total broadband energy. Besides, the calculation results also show the fan with more blades can be absorbed more sound by the same sound absorption materials with the same volume. The findings are useful for improving the acoustic design of small axis-flow fans.

Effects of taper ratio on the aerodynamic forces and flow field of two tandem square cylinders

To explore the influence of taper ratio on aerodynamic characteristics of tandem square cylinders, three-dimensional (3D) large eddy simulations of flow around two tandem square cylinders at the Reynolds number (Re) = 2 × 103 are carried out with a spacing ratio G/D = 4, where G is the cylinder center-to-center distance and D is the cylinder width. Different taper ratios of ξ = 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15% are considered. The influence of taper ratio on aerodynamic coefficient, wind pressure coefficient, mean, and instantaneous flow fields are comprehensively studied. The mechanism of variation in flow fields is revealed, and the mathematical relationship between the taper ratio and aerodynamic characteristics is established, which can provide theoretical reference for design and construction of tandem structures. The results indicate that the taper ratio has significant influence on the mean force coefficient, fluctuating force coefficient, surface mean and fluctuating pressure coefficients, and vortex shedding frequency (fvs). As increase in the taper ratio, the mean force in the along-wind direction, fluctuating force in the across-wind direction, and surface pressure of the two cylinders will be decreased, but the vortex shedding frequency will be increased. The taper ratio has negligible influence on the flow separation location of the upstream cylinder. However, reattachment location of the shear layer moves backward along the leeward surface of the downstream cylinder, and width of the shear layer gradually becomes narrower and closer to surface of the two cylinders. The vortex shedding strength and vortex energy distribution of the two cylinders will be reduced as a result of the narrower shear layer. Meanwhile, coherence and periodicity of the vortex shedding will also be weakened, which results in reduction in the aerodynamic forces and increase in the vortex shedding frequency.

MODFLOW/MT3D Based Three-Dimensional Groundwater Flow and Transport Simulation of Uranium Contamination in Bathinda District, Punjab, India

MODFLOW/MT3D Based Three-Dimensional Groundwater Flow and Transport Simulation of Uranium Contamination in Bathinda District, Punjab, India

Three-dimensional simulation of gas flow for predicting the pressure and velocity profiles inside a gas centrifuge machine using the DSMC method

In this article, using the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method, the gas flow inside the gas centrifuge was modeled simultaneously in the Knudsen and hydrodynamic zones. So that the three-dimensional (3D) simulation of gas centrifuge in the presence of all drivers inside the rotor, including feed, scoop, baffle, etc. was done. The results showed that, the feed is an important factor in creating and intensifying the axial flow formed in the rotor axis, and choke phenomenon occurs at the point of its entry into the rotor. It was further revealed that the amount of separation power obtained from the simulation (using the DSMC method) and the experimental has a difference of 4.3%, showing the agreement of the 3D simulations with reality.