Flow Tracer Research Articles

Adaptively Implicit Advection for Atmospheric Flows

AbstractImplicit time‐stepping for advection is applied locally in space and time where Courant numbers are large, but standard explicit time‐stepping is used for the remaining solution which is typically the majority. This adaptively implicit advection scheme facilitates efficient and robust integrations with long time‐steps while having negligible impact on the overall accuracy, and achieving monotonicity and local conservation on general meshes. A novel and important aspect for the efficiency of the approach is that only one iteration is needed each time the linear equation solver is called for solving the advection equation. The demonstration in this paper uses the second‐order Runge‐Kutta implicit/explicit time integration in combination with a second/third‐order finite‐volume spatial discretization and is tested using deformation flow tracer advection on the sphere and a fully compressible model for atmospheric flows. Tracers are advected over the poles of highly anisotropic latitude‐longitude grids with very large Courant numbers and on quasi‐uniform hexagonal and cubed‐sphere meshes with the same algorithm. Buoyant flow simulations with strong local updrafts also benefit from adaptively implicit advection. Stably stratified compressible flow simulations require a stable combination of implicit treatment of gravity and acoustic waves as well as advection in order to achieve long time‐steps.

CFD-based simulation of the hydrodynamics of steady-state gas–liquid in ultrasonically oscillating microreactors

Ultrasound-driven microbubble oscillation in a microchannel is commonly used in mixing and mass transfer, and its steady-state mechanisms are complex. This study proposes an acoustic streaming steady-state model for the oscillation between two microbubbles driven by ultrasound in a square microchannel (150 × 150 μm2). The breathing mode and shape oscillation mode of the bubble cap were experimentally analyzed at an ultrasound frequency of 97.5 kHz, and the flow patterns of liquid slugs were found to be completely opposite. A two-dimensional numerical model of the two microbubble oscillations was developed from a new perspective of steady state. The correctness of the model was verified by comparing the 2 μm diameter polystyrene tracer flow field with the simulation results. The steady-state flow field was analyzed in terms of ultrasound amplitude, shape, size, and liquid property parameters. The streaming velocity was found to be directly proportional to the square of the microbubble amplitude. When the bubble cap became more hydrophilic and sharper, the mixing effect improved. In particular, it was found that the microbubbles had the most intense disturbance to the fluid when the distance between the two microbubbles was twice the channel width.

Impairment of spinal CSF flow precedes immune cell infiltration in an active EAE model

Accumulation of immune cells and proteins in the subarachnoid space (SAS) is found during multiple sclerosis and in the animal model experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Whether the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) along the SAS of the spinal cord is impacted is yet unknown. Combining intravital near-infrared (NIR) imaging with histopathological analyses, we observed a significantly impaired bulk flow of CSF tracers within the SAS of the spinal cord prior to EAE onset, which persisted until peak stage and was only partially recovered during chronic disease. The impairment of spinal CSF flow coincided with the appearance of fibrin aggregates in the SAS, however, it preceded immune cell infiltration and breakdown of the glia limitans superficialis. Conversely, cranial CSF efflux to cervical lymph nodes was not altered during the disease course. Our study highlights an early and persistent impairment of spinal CSF flow and suggests it as a sensitive imaging biomarker for pathological changes within the leptomeninges.

Lagrangian gradient regression for the detection of coherent structures from sparse trajectory data.

Complex flows are often characterized using the theory of Lagrangian coherent structures (LCS), which leverages the motion of flow-embedded tracers to highlight features of interest. LCS are commonly employed to study fluid mechanical systems where flow tracers are readily observed, but they are broadly applicable to dynamical systems in general. A prevailing class of LCS analyses depends on reliable computation of flow gradients. The finite-time Lyapunov exponent (FTLE), for example, is derived from the Jacobian of the flow map, and the Lagrangian-averaged vorticity deviation (LAVD) relies on velocity gradients. Observational tracer data, however, are typically sparse (e.g. drifters in the ocean), making accurate computation of gradients difficult. While a variety of methods have been developed to address tracer sparsity, they do not provide the same information about the flow as gradient-based approaches. This work proposes a purely Lagrangian method, based on the data-driven machinery of regression, for computing instantaneous and finite-time flow gradients from sparse trajectories. The tool is demonstrated on a common analytical benchmark to provide intuition and demonstrate performance. The method is seen to effectively estimate gradients using data with sparsity representative of observable systems.

All-optics technique for monitoring absolute cerebral blood flow: validation against magnetic resonance imaging perfusion.

The ability to monitor cerebral blood flow (CBF) at the bedside is essential to managing critical-care patients with neurological emergencies. Diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS) is ideal because it is non-invasive, portable, and inexpensive. We investigated a near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) approach for converting DCS measurements into physiological units of blood flow. Using magnetic resonance imaging perfusion as a reference, we investigated the accuracy of absolute CBF measurements from a bolus-tracking NIRS method that used transient hypoxia as a flow tracer and hypercapnia-induced increases in CBF measured by DCS. Twelve participants (7 female, years) completed a hypercapnia protocol with simultaneous CBF recordings from DCS and arterial spin labeling (ASL). Nine participants completed the transient hypoxia protocol while instrumented with time-resolved NIRS. The estimate of baseline CBF was subsequently used to calibrate hypercapnic DCS data. Moderately strong correlations at baseline ( and ) and during hypercapnia ( and ) were found between CBF values from calibrated DCS and ASL (range 34 to ). Results demonstrated the feasibility of an all-optics approach that can both quantify CBF and perform continuous perfusion monitoring.

A Framework for Constraining Ocean Mixing Rates and Overturning Circulation from Age Tracers

Abstract The age of seawater refers to the amount of time that has elapsed since that water encountered the surface. This age measures the ventilation rate of the ocean, and the spatial distribution of age can be influenced by multiple processes, such as overturning circulation, ocean mixing, and air–sea exchange. In this work, we aim to gain new quantitative insights about how the ocean’s age tracer distribution reflects the strength of the meridional overturning circulation and diapycnal diffusivity. We propose an integral constraint that relates the age tracer flow across an isopycnal surface to the geometry of the surface. With the integral constraint, a relationship between the globally averaged effective diapycnal diffusivity and the meridional overturning strength at an arbitrary density level can be inferred from the age tracer concentration near that level. The theory is tested in a set of idealized single-basin simulations. A key insight from this study is that the age difference between regions of upwelling and downwelling, rather than any single absolute age value, is the best indicator of overturning strength. The framework has also been adapted to estimate the strength of abyssal overturning circulation in the modern North Pacific, and we demonstrate that the age field provides an estimate of the circulation strength consistent with previous studies. This framework could potentially constrain ocean circulation and mixing rates from age-like realistic tracers (e.g., radiocarbon) in both past and present climates. Significance Statement The age of seawater—the local mean time since local water from different pathways was last at the surface—is a valuable indicator of ocean circulation and the transport time scale of heat and carbon. We introduce a novel constraint that relates total age flow across a density surface to its geometry, which provides new insights into constraining ocean circulation and mixing rates from age-like realistic tracers (e.g., radiocarbon).

Impact of engineering measures on water exchange and water quality in semi-closed bay: A model study in Zhelin Bay

Coastal aquatic environments are increasingly polluted due to human activities such as engineering, fishing, and agriculture. Semi-enclosed bays are particularly vulnerable to this issue due to weaker tidal currents and water circulation than open coastal areas. Although engineering measures, such as tidal channel dredging, have been implemented, their impact on semi-enclosed bays remains inadequately quantified. This study aimed to investigate the water exchange and water quality of Zhelin Bay, a semi-enclosed bay, after the implementation of two engineering measures: dredging the LG (Ligang) Channel and upgrading the SBM (Sanbaimen) Gate. The finite element model TELEMAC was used to simulate hydrodynamic processes before and after these two measures. The LG Channel dredging project increased flow velocity and tracer discharge during ebbing tides. The watergate project significantly reduced the semi-exchange time of adjacent waters. The combined two measures could enhance water exchange by up to 15 %. Furthermore, the projects slightly impacted spatial distribution of COD, while TP and TN levels near the SBM Gate decreased over by 80 %. This study represents the first effort to evaluate the water exchange improvement strategy of Zhelin Bay, a semi-enclosed bay with multiple tidal channels, and provides valuable insights for future research in marine ecology protection.

Process validation and preclinical development of a new PET cerebral blood flow tracer [11C]MMP for initial clinical trials

Background2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose ([18F]FDG) is commonly used for diagnosis of dementia because brain glucose metabolism reflects neuronal activity. However, as [18F]FDG is an analogue of glucose, accumulation of tracer in the brain is affected by plasma glucose levels. In contrast, cerebral blood flow (CBF) tracers are theoretically unaffected by plasma glucose levels and are therefore expected to be useful alternatives for the diagnosis of dementia in patients with diabetes. The techniques currently used for CBF imaging using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and [15O]H2O positron emission tomography (PET), but these are limited by their insufficient resolution and sensitivity for regional brain imaging, especially in patients with brain atrophy. N-isopropyl-4-[11C]methylamphetamine ([11C]MMP) is a possible CBF tracer with high resolution and sensitivity that exhibits comparable performance to that of [15O]H2O in conscious monkey brains. We performed process validation of the radiosynthesis and preclinical development of [11C]MMP prior to clinical translation.ResultsThe decay-corrected yields of [11C]MMP at the end of synthesis were 41.4 ± 6.5%, with 99.7 ± 0.3% radiochemical purity, and 192.3 ± 22.5 MBq/nmol molar activity. All process validation batches complied with the product specifications. The acute toxicity of MMP was evaluated at a dose of 3.55 mg/kg body weight, which is 10,000 times the potential maximum clinical dose of [11C]MMP. The acute toxicity of [11C]MMP injection at 150 or 200 times, to administer a postulated dose of 740 MBq of [11C]MMP, was also evaluated after the decay-out of 11C. No acute toxicity of MMP and [11C]MMP injection was found. No mutagenic activity was observed for MMP. The effective dose calculated according to the Medical Internal Radiation Dose (MIRD) method was 5.4 µSv/MBq, and the maximum absorbed dose to the bladder wall was 57.6 µGy/MBq. MMP, a derivative of phenylalkylamine, showed binding to the sigma receptor, but had approximately 1/100 of the affinity of existing sigma receptor imaging agents. The affinity for other brain neuroreceptors was low.Conclusions[11C]MMP shows acceptable pharmacological safety at the dose required for adequate PET imaging. The potential risk associated with [11C]MMP PET imaging is well within the acceptable dose limit.

On-Site Characterization of Automotive Diffuser Aerodynamics by 3D LPT

This investigation proposes a novel LPT facility featuring Helium-Filled Soap Bubbles flow tracers, LED illumination and two high-speed cameras to characterize the dominating flow patterns within automotive underbodies. A remote control (RC) car model, fitted with custom-made floor and diffusers, traverses a region of seeded air following the Ring of Fire methodology. Underground-placed cameras view the car through a transparent panel, providing unparalleled optical access to the underbody of the car. The on-site measurement setup and the interaction between car model and ground enhance the realism and fidelity of the experiments, while potentially reducing testing costs associated with wind tunnel operation. The setup is shown to be a valid alternative to conventional testing approaches to capture flow separation, 3D flow evolution and differences in the flow field between the four tested configurations, whereby the diffuser angle was varied in the range between 5° and 20°. The 15° diffuser led to the largest velocity and pressure peaks under the car, whereas the 10° diffuser produced the most downforce thanks to the diffuser “pumping” effect, leading to a large region of low pressure under the vehicle. Notably, the 20° diffuser featured the most prominent flow separation at the diffuser’s leading edge, heavily affecting its ability to sustain low pressures under the car. The results show that the wide tyres have a major impact on the underbody flow, because their large wakes induce mass flow leakage through the sides of the car, thus disrupting the mechanism of downforce generation and impairing the generation of streamwise vortices.

Surveillance Data Analysis Reveals Well Performance and Reservoir Connectivity: A Case Study in Alasehir Geothermal Field

SummaryThe integration of surveillance data analysis, encompassing wellbore pressure, fluid flow rate, tracer injection, and recovery, is pivotal in deciphering the dynamic behavior of wells within a geothermal field. This comprehensive study focuses on the interconnectivity between producers, gauged by the reciprocal-productivity index (RPI), and the synergy between producers and injectors, assessed through capacitance-resistance modeling (CRM). The modified-Hall analysis further corroborates the performance metrics of both injectors and producers, thereby reinforcing operational excellence. These methodologies and related analytical tools are instrumental in refining field management practices.Executing meticulous tracer tests and subsequent analyses is crucial in validating the CRM’s applicability in the field. The fusion of these investigative techniques solidifies the role of CRM in managing geothermal reservoirs. Additionally, this study sheds light on the potential compartmentalization within the reservoir and monitors the evolving performance of producers and injectors over time. Utilizing a suite of analytical tools, including RPI, CRM, and modified-Hall analysis, provides a holistic insight into the reservoir dynamics at the Alaşehir field in Türkiye, ensuring a sustainable and optimized exploitation of geothermal energy.

Sustainable lindane waste remediation: Surfactant-driven residual DNAPL extraction and oxidation in a real landfill (LIFE SURFING)

The LIFE SURFING Project was carried out at the Bailin Landfill in Sabiñánigo, Spain (2020-2022), applying Surfactant Enhanced Aquifer Remediation (SEAR) and In Situ Chemical Oxidation (S-ISCO) in a 60-meter test cell beneath the old landfill, to remediate a contaminated aquifer with dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) from nearby lindane production. The project overcame traditional extraction limitations, successfully preventing groundwater pollution from reaching the river.In spring 2022, two SEAR interventions involved the injection of 9.3 m3 (SEAR-1) and 6 m3 (SEAR-2) of aqueous solutions containing 20 g/L of the non-ionic surfactant E-Mulse 3®, with bromide (around 150 mg/L) serving as a conservative tracer. 7.1 and 6.0 m3 were extracted in SEAR-1 and SEAR-2, respectively, recovered 60–70 % of the injected bromide and 30–40 % of the surfactant, confirming surfactant adsorption by the soil. Approximately 130 kg of DNAPL were removed, with over 90 % mobilized and 10 % solubilized. A surfactant-to-DNAPL recovery mass ratio of 2.6 was obtained, a successful value for a fractured aquifer. In September 2022, the S-ISCO phase entailed injecting 22 m3 of a solution containing persulfate (40 g/L), E-Mulse 3® (4 g/L), and NaOH (8.75 g/L) in pulses over 48 h, oxidizing around 20 kg of DNAPL and ensuring low toxicity levels after that.Preceding the SEAR and S-ISCO trials, 2020 and 2021 were dedicated to detailed groundwater flow characterizations, including hydrological and tracer studies. These preliminary investigations allowed the design of a barrier zone between 317 and 557 m from the test cell and the river, situated 900 m away. This zone, integrating alkali dosing, aeration, vapor extraction, and oxidant injection, effectively prevented the escape of fluids to the river. Neither surfactants nor contaminants were detected in river waters post-treatment. The absence of residual phase in test cell wells and reduction of chlorinated compound levels in groundwater were noticed till one year after S-ISCO.

Численно-аналитическая модель для интерпретации результатов индикаторных исследований нефтяных пластов: решение прямой задачи при наличии каналов низкого фильтрационного сопротивления

The article considers the problem of interpretation of tracer tests in oil reservoirs, into which a specific chemical substance - tracer - is injected via an injection well for flow monitoring and tracer concentration measurements in surrounding production wells. The testing data provide evidence of the existence of low resistance channels in the reservoirs, along which the tracer moves at velocities several orders of magnitude higher than in the reservoir. The nature and properties of these channels are unknown, and a semi-analytical model involving two small parameters is proposed to solve this problem. This makes it possible to construct two non-conjugate solutions: universal numerical and analytical. Such an approach allows us to solve both direct and inverse problems. The present article is devoted to solving the direct problem. The problem of pressure distribution in a rectangular reservoir pattern is solved in dimensionless coordinates and is universal, i.e., it does not depend on the size of the area and the pressure drop. This solution is approximated by power functions and is further used to determine the mass transfer between channel and reservoir. The problem of tracer slug propagation through the channel obeys the law of conservation of tracer mass and Darcy's law. Its solution is found by the methods of characteristics under the condition of smallness of the parameter reflecting the ratio of reservoir permeability to channel permeability. The results of the semi-analytical solution are compared with the numerical solutions previously obtained by other authors. The fundamental difference between these solutions is the presence of numerical diffusion when using the finite-difference method of solution, which leads to the «dissipation» of the trace slug edges.

Modeling of Chemical Tracers for Two-Phase Flow in Advective-Dominated Porous Media at Core Scale

Summary Chemical tracer modeling in porous media plays a key role in subsurface applications including oil recovery, aquifer remediation, and geothermal energy production. In oil reservoirs, chemical tracers are critical to quantifying the remaining oil saturation in porous media after displacing processes, enabling the correct evaluation of the sweep efficiency of recovery methods at the field scale. Even though the transport of solutes under single-phase flow has been modeled extensively with numerous solutions, there are no existing mathematical approaches to examine the displacement of solutes in two-phase flow conditions. Therefore, we present in this research work the first analytical solutions derived to model the transport of ideal and partitioning tracers in porous media with mobile water and oil phases. The models presented are derived from the classic study of fluid displacement by viscous forces and the analysis of dynamic phase distribution in porous media, where key transformation variables are introduced to simplify the nonlinear advection-dispersion equation (ADE) into a conventional partial differential expression. In our derivation process, it is recognized that the dispersion effect can be superimposed onto an ideal concentration front via a singular perturbation expansion, resulting in practical solutions that do not require complex numerical calculations or inversion methods. The solutions derived are verified with numerical simulations and validated with experimental data under different flow conditions for the transport of ideal and partitioning tracers, demonstrating that the complex mechanisms of hydrodynamic dispersion, partitioning, and adsorption are accurately modeled under two-phase flow. Thus, our solutions can be used to rapidly evaluate tracer transport under the existing flow conditions in porous media, significantly reducing the number of experiments and simulations to characterize and select the correct tracer to be used in field applications.

A Review on Nano Fluid Production, Mathematical Modelling and Applications

Recently, nano fluids have taken on a significant role in many human endeavours. A fluid called a nanofluid includes nanoparticles, also called nanoparticles. Colloidal suspensions of nanoparticles in a base fluid are what these fluids are made of. The numerous production procedures and mathematical interpretation models for nanofluids are examined in this review study. Marangoni convection’s advantages, which enhance heat transfer and balance temperature distribution, are underlined. The effects of thermophoresis on surface tension as well as surface tension in laminar natural convection are also discussed in this work. The characteristics of carbon nanotubes and their prospective medical uses are covered in the article. The study covers electrochemical double layer capacitors, which offer greater safety, longer cycle stability, and better power densities. The study explores the impact of magnetic fields on entropy formation and natural convection in a hybrid nanofluid enclosure, revealing four distinct models based on thermal conductivity and viscosity correlations. The information review work is relevant. The review information work is relevant to flow tracers, prosthetic heart valves, oil pipelines, chemical industry separation methods, and oil recovery.

Numerical modeling of temperature-reporting nanoparticle tracer for fractured geothermal reservoir characterization

Information on the temperature distribution of subsurface reservoirs is essential for geothermal energy development. One of the promising tools to detect the reservoir temperature distribution is temperature-reporting nanoparticle tracers whose functionality has been extensively investigated in both theoretical and experimental ways in the last decade. However, most related studies were limited to simplified geometries and ignored the dynamic interplays of fluid flow, heat transfer, transport and reaction of the temperature-reporting nanoparticle tracer. The response behavior and working mechanisms of such nanotracers in a realistic three-dimensional system still have not been fully revealed through a systematic study. In this work, we develop a numerical modeling approach to simulate field implementation of these nanotracers in a fractured geothermal reservoir. This study aims to evaluate whether the injection of multiple temperature-reporting nanoparticle tracers with different thresholds can be used to estimate the temperature distribution and provide information on the thermal and geological heterogeneities. Several scenarios have been investigated for the geothermal reservoir including homogeneous and non-homogeneous cases (e.g., thermal and geological heterogeneities). Our obtained results from the nanotracer breakthrough curves show that the deviation temperatures in peak concentration values provide an upper limit of the lowest temperature and precise highest temperature for the reservoir temperature range. The deviation temperature of the peak arrival time curve accurately estimates the highest temperature along the main streamlines between the wells. The proposed analysis curves based on the nanotracer breakthrough data were visibly affected by geological heterogeneities including their conductivities and orientations as well as thermal heterogeneities in the geothermal reservoir.

Development of 3D flow diagnostic numerical simulator and rock property modelling for a homogeneous faulted reservoir

Research has shown that faults, especially sealing faults, have become a barrier to flow. Flow diagnostics, on the other hand, are straightforward and controlled numerical flow experiments that are performed to examine a reservoir model, build links and offer rudimentary volume estimates as well as to quickly produce a qualitative representation of the reservoir’s flow patterns. To evaluate, assess, and validate reservoir models and production scenarios, the ’diagnostics’ module in the Matlab Reservoir Simulation Toolbox (MRST) provides a computationally less expensive alternative to running fully featured multiphase simulations. This is done to determine qualitatively regions for well placement to maximize hydrocarbon recovery. Monitoring flow fields, timelines, and tracers—neutral particles in the fluid that flow with the fluid—are all part of flow diagnostics. These techniques are used to determine volumetric communication between a pair of injector-producer wells, as well as flow patterns between injection-production wells and the arrival time between them. To create the grid, the simulation schedule, the wells, upscaling, arrival time computation, and flow diagnostics (drainage and sweep regions) were all done using the Matlab reservoir simulation toolbox (MRST) package by “Makemodel 3” on the data obtained from “SPE 10th comparative solution project” on the MRST package. This was done for a homogeneous anisotropic faulted porous medium. The simulation runs for about 473,739 milliseconds on a fine grid having 20040 active cells while in the coarse model with faster computational time of about 200 seconds, 112 milliseconds. At the early stages of the reservoir bottom-hole pressure for injector I1(about 7000psia) and three producers P1, P2 and P3 remains constant over time (about 3600psia) thanks to pressure support by I1. The extent of residence time after 10 years for the fine, coarse and more coarser model is that fluid element find it easier to transverse through the fault line from I1 to P1, P2 then P3 which takes lesser time than crossing across two intersecting faults, It can also be seen that the sweep efficiency of the fine grid is more effective than the coarse grid. Finally, it has been seen clearly that the fine grid model gives more accurate details but slower computational time while the coarse model which is less accurate but with faster computational time.

Simulation of Fountain Flow based on Molecular Dynamics Method

In this paper, numerical simulations of the fountain effect on the flow front of polymer dilute solutions are carried out based on molecular dynamics principles and the FENE dumbbell model. The Euler method is used to solve the constitutive equations of the mechanical model for the simple shear flow field and the dislocation equations of the dumbbell molecules, and subsequently obtain the tracer flow lines and the dumbbell distribution of the flow front. The results are used to calculate the stress field, analyze the rheological evolution law, study the effect of temperature and shear rate and other parameters on the model and analyze the effectiveness of the FENE dumbbell molecular model for the fountain effect. The study shows that due to the fountain effect the dumbbell molecules stretch more with increasing shear rate, the polymer stress at the flow front will show a complex change of stress overshoot and then stabilize, and the dumbbell molecules are oriented along the fountain flow line.

A phase-resolved force analysis of bubble trapping behind cylinders in liquid-gas flows

A liquid-gas flow across a bluff body can result in non-uniform distribution of void fraction due to the interaction of the bubbles with the bluff-body wake. This experimental investigation was conducted to characterize a bubble-trapping region and the clustering dynamics of two distinct bubble sizes in an upward water channel with a rectangular cross-section. Bubble trapping in the near wake of a cylinder is shown as a function of bubble size, liquid flow rate, and gas flow rate through patterns of local void fraction. Particle tracking velocimetry and particle image velocimetry were used to calculate time-averaged trajectories of 3 mm diameter and 0.5 mm diameter bubbles as they flowed around a cylinder. The liquid Reynolds number (Re), based on the cylinder diameter of 9.5 mm, was varied from Re = 100 to Re = 3,000. In addition, the injection of liquid flow tracers and application of particle shadow image velocimetry allowed measurements of the time-averaged liquid velocities in the wake. The phase-resolved tracking results were evaluated to determine the effects of the added mass, pressure gradient, lift, drag, and buoyancy forces acting on the air bubbles. Trapping of both bubble sizes was observed across a range of operating conditions; however, this behavior was not explained solely by the Reynolds number of the flow. The force balance analysis revealed that inertial forces and lift forces acting on the bubbles both contributed to the clustering, which occurred when either the inertial forces or the lift forces acting on the bubble were sufficiently high compared to the bubble drag forces. Both the inertia- and lift-to-drag ratios were necessary to predict the bubble clustering dynamics of the distinct bubble sizes investigated.

Three-Dimensional Quantitative Flow Visualization Around a Thrust Reverser

Volumetric particle tracking velocimetry measurements are performed in a low-speed wind tunnel to study the flow around a 1:12-scale aircraft model with jet engines operating with thrust reversers. The engine jet and freestream flow velocity are varied to yield a jet to freestream velocity ratio of ranging from 1.5 to 6. Measurements at such scale () require the use of strongly scattering helium-filled soap bubbles as flow tracers, which are introduced in both the jet and the freestream flow. The tracer’s three-dimensional motion is determined using an array of cameras and a Lagrangian particle tracking algorithm. The mean velocity field reveals the jet inner structure as well as its interaction with the freestream, the ground board, the nacelle, the fuselage, and the horizontal and vertical tails. The experiments allow detection of exhaust reingestion as well as the aerodynamic interference with control surfaces at the tail segments in a single measurement volume. The results are in good agreement with conventional temperature rake measurements while adding details of the flow topology and of the large-scale unsteady flow fluctuations. Finally, the jet reversal characteristics with varying freestreams and nozzle pressure ratios are assessed, demonstrating the feasibility and versatility of volumetric velocimetry measurements for industrial aerodynamics.

Detailed numerical evaluation of diffusion convection equation in layered reservoirs during tracer injection

Characterization of heterogeneous reservoirs such as multilayered or fractured systems is an important issue in different disciplines such as hydrology, petroleum and geothermal systems. One of the popular methods that can be used for this purpose is tracer tests. Better understanding of the mechanisms of mass transfer (convection–diffusion process) is essential for having a proper test interpretation. In this study, the solutions of different scenarios of tracer flow in a pair of high and low-permeable layered reservoirs including convection and diffusion mechanisms are discussed. Although analytical solutions generally provided exact solutions, they involve several assumptions and might be hard to use for complex problems. As a result, numerical methods are selected for the investigation of different scenarios and addressing cases that are beyond access of analytical methods. In this study, several scenarios of considering diffusion and convection in low and high permeable zones and effective parameters on tracer concentration are investigated. According to the results of this study, the higher the porosity ratio of low to high permeable layer, the more time is needed to get the final concentration value. Also, by increasing the value of the dispersivity coefficient, the time needed to increase the concentration decreases. In other words, the sharp increase in concentration for lower times is seen in higher dispersivity values. The concentration profile variation is affected by Peclet number. The difference among concentration profiles in different cases is considerable, especially in low Peclet numbers where the diffusion mechanism is dominant. This behavior is more common in low permeable mediums such as multilayered tight or shale reservoirs.