Turbulent Regime Research Articles

Proper orthogonal decomposition of wall-bounded high-pressure transcritical fluids

This study explores the principal modes of high-pressure transcritical channel flow from direct numerical simulation data. The four cases investigated correspond to CO2 at high-pressure conditions (P/Pc=1.5) confined between a cold/bottom wall (T/Tc=0.8−0.95) and a hot/top wall (T/Tc=1.1−1.4); Pc and Tc correspond, respectively, to the pressure and temperature of the critical point. The bulk velocity ranges between Ub=0.5−1.0 m/s with corresponding bulk Reynolds numbers of Reb≈1000−2500. The four cases considered are first characterized into laminar and turbulent regimes, followed by an analysis of energy decay using singular value decomposition. This method allows us to identify the most energetic modes of velocity, temperature, and specific isobaric heat capacity for the laminar and turbulent cases considered. The results reveal that fewer modes are needed to represent the hydrodynamics compared to the thermodynamics of the system. The findings also highlight that the pseudo-boiling region, prevalent in high-pressure transcritical systems, disrupts the coherent structures formed (especially) in the hotter region of the flow. Finally, a correlation analysis between the most energetic modes shows an interdependence between velocity and specific isobaric heat capacity modes when conditioned to focus solely on the pseudo-boiling affected regions. This correlation underscores the complex interplay between hydrodynamic and thermodynamic variables in such high-pressure transcritical environments.

Polymer-doped two-dimensional turbulent flow to study the transition from Newtonian turbulence to elastic instability

Detecting the flow regimes of Newtonian turbulence (NT), elasto-inertial filament (EIF), elasto-inertial turbulence (EIT), and maximum drag reduction (MDR) of polymer solution and their transition has been a hot topic in the last decade. We attempted to detect NT, EIF, EIT, and MDR by visualizing vortex shedding downstream of an array of cylinders that was inserted perpendicular to polymer-doped two-dimensional (2D) flow. Since polymers are stretched at the cylinders, the consequent vortex shedding is affected by viscoelasticity. The flow regimes are characterized based on Weissenberg (Wi) and Reynolds numbers (Re) with the relaxation time of the polymeric solution estimated from capillary-thinning experiments. The flow regimes are observed for different molecular weights of polyethylene oxide and polyacrylamide in solution and are categorized as either vortex type 1, type 2, and type 3 on a Re–Wi map based on flow visualization using particle image velocimetry. In addition, turbulent statistics of these flow regimes are calculated to more fully quantify these flow regimes. We found that vortex types from 1 to 3 have a similarity to NT, EIF, EIT, and MDR. In addition, characteristic turbulent energy transfer without an increase in turbulent energy production was found in the flow regimes of vortex types 2 and 3 of each polymer solution. Our results suggest intriguing parallels between pipe, jet, and 2D turbulent flow for drag-reducing polymeric solutions.

Thermal performance augmentation of microchannel using curved rectangular winglet vortex generators having rectangular perforation

This article innovatively introduces the application of punched curved rectangular wing vortex generators positioned on opposing sides of a rectangular microchannel. Through a comprehensive approach combining numerical simulations and experimental investigations, the flow dynamics and heat transfer performance of these VGs under turbulent conditions are thoroughly examined. This analysis is performed in the turbulent flow regime, specifically at Reynolds number ranging from 2500 to 3500. The governing equations are solved by using SST k-ω model. To evaluate the behavior of mixed vortices, a range of key metrics is utilized, including the Nusselt number ratio, friction coefficient ratio, and thermal enhancement factor (TEF). The study encompasses variations in opening angles (θ = 0°, 5°, 10°, 15°) and pitch ratios (PR = P/H = 15, 30, 45) to determine their impact on the overall system performance. The findings reveal that the punched curved rectangular winglet VGs effectively induce mixed vortices, leading to an enhancement in local heat transfer rates. However, the presence of fluid jets hinders the formation of other vortices. Compared to a smooth tube, the maximum TEF also experiences a 26 % rise. To validate the findings, the field synergy principle and entropy generation theory was utilized.

Impact of hydromechanical stress on CHO cells’ metabolism and productivity: Insights from shake flask cultivations with online monitoring of the respiration activity

The hydromechanical stress is a relevant parameter for mammalian cell cultivations, especially regarding scale-up processes. It describes the mechanical forces exerted on cells in a bioreactor. The maximum local energy dissipation rate is a suitable parameter to characterize hydromechanical stress. In literature, different studies deal with the effects of hydromechanical stress on CHO cells in stirred tank reactors. However, they often focus on lethal effects. Furthermore, systematic examinations in smaller scales like shake flasks are missing. Thus, this study systematically considers the influence of hydromechanical stress on CHO DP12 cells in shake flask cultivations. By utilizing online monitoring of the oxygen transfer rate, the study simplifies and enhances the resolution of examinations. Results indicate that while lethal effects are absent, numerous sub-lethal effects emerge with increasing hydromechanical stress: The process time is prolonged. The time of glucose and glutamine depletion, and the lactate switch correlate positively linear with the logarithmic average energy dissipation rate while the maximum specific growth rate correlates negatively. Strikingly, the final antibody concentration only declines at the highest tested average energy dissipation rate of 3.84Wkg-1 (only tested condition with a turbulent flow regime and therefore a higher maximal local energy dissipation rate) from about 250mgL-1 to about 180mgL-1. This study presents a straightforward method to examine the impact of hydromechanical stress in shake flasks, easily applicable to any other suspension cell line. Additionally, it offers valuable insights for scale-up processes, for example into stirred tank reactors.

Numerical Investigation into Gas-Solid Fluidized Bed Reactors for Activating the Iron-based Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis Catalyst

Abstract The present work conducted experimental and computational fluid dynamics simulation studies on the hydrodynamic characteristics of gas-solid fluidized bed reactors for activating the iron-based Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalyst. In order to provide reliable guidance for the design and scale-up of the reactor, the present study applied experimental data from a pilot fluidized bed device to verify the accuracy of the drag force model used in the two-fluid model and further used the validated drag force model to simulate an industrial-scale fluidized bed activation reactor. It was found that the bubbling-EMMS drag model can accurately simulate the pilot-scale fluidized bed in the flow regimes ranging from bubbling to turbulent fluidization. Simulation studies on the industrial-scale fluidized bed activation reactor showed that the reactor was in a turbulent fluidization regime under the designed operating gas velocity, with high gas-solid dispersion efficiency, reasonable utilization of reactor space, and low gas-solid separation load.

Mitigation of flow-induced vibrations in high-speed flows using triply periodic minimal surface structures

Flow-induced vibrations (FIVs) pose challenges and limit intended functionalities in many industrial sectors, especially in high-tech industries such as semiconductor manufacturing. Because of extreme precision requirements, any mechanical perturbation to the manufacturing process detrimentally affects production quality and process yield. The impact of FIV must, thus, be minimized. This study investigates the FIV reducing properties of triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) inserts in industrial cooling systems by expanding the Darcy–Forchheimer model for flow through porous media to a turbulent regime. Using the expanded model, we performed full-scale finite-element simulations for high-speed flows in a pipe with an abrupt expansion of diameter and analyzed the effects of TPMS inserts on the reduction of induced turbulence and FIV. Our data revealed that the TPMS inserts exhibit promising characteristics for FIV mitigation revealing up to 97.6% reduction in turbulent kinetic energy and 32.7% reduction in vorticity. These results complement available data on using TPMS inserts to eliminate geometry-induced instabilities in internal pipe flows.

Flow and heat transfer analysis of submerged multiple synthetic jet impingement in a square channel with forced-flow

This study experimentally and numerically investigated the flow and heat transfer of submerged multiple synthetic jet impingement in forced crossflow in a square-section channel with a constant heat flux on the bottom surface. In the forced channel flow, effects on heat transfer of six synthetic jets placed diagonally in the main flow have four different amplitudes and six different frequencies at various Reynolds numbers (6000 ≤ Re ≤ 40000) were examined. Jets were submerged vertically into the main flow and their effects on heat transfer in the turbulent regime of the main flow were analyzed. Temperature measurements were made using thermocouples placed at the channel entrances and exits on the target surface. The Nusselt numbers (Nu) were calculated using the measured temperatures. The results indicate that at Re = 6000, the target surface temperature decreases significantly with increasing amplitude and frequency, and the effects of amplitude and frequency on surface temperatures decreased at increasing Reynolds numbers. It was observed that the THP values increased with increasing amplitude and frequency for all Reynolds numbers tested. For a constant jet parameter (Ao = 0.88 and Wo = 27), the highest THP was determined as 2.06 at Re = 6000.

Evaluating the Thermal Performance of Shell-and-Tube Heat Exchangers: The Role of Flow Rate in Water-Based Systems

This research investigates the performance of water as a working fluid in the shell side of shell-and-tube heat exchangers (STHEs), explicitly analyzing how variations in flow rate influence the heat transfer coefficient, pressure drop, and friction factor characteristics. Experiments were conducted using an STHE with a SUS 201 stainless steel shell and a pure copper tube featuring an inner diameter of 10 mm and an outer diameter of 13 mm. The flow rates of the cold fluid varied at 9, 10, and 12 liters per minute (LPM), while the hot fluid flow was maintained at a constant rate of 6.67 LPM. A 600 W heater, regulated by a PID system, was utilized to evaluate thermal performance, with water serving as the hot fluid on the shell side and the cold fluid on the tube side. Results demonstrate a significant increase in both the heat transfer coefficient and the heat transfer rate with higher flow rates of the cold fluid, with the maximum heat transfer coefficient recorded at 12 LPM and the minimum at 9 LPM. The STHE exhibited high efficiency, with heat transfer rate differences between the shell and tube sides remaining below 5%. Although pressure fluctuations were observed with increasing flow rates, they did not substantially affect the friction factor, indicating a predominantly turbulent flow regime. These findings provide critical insights for optimizing heat transfer performance in STHEs, contributing to advancements in thermal management technologies and enhancing the design of efficient heat exchangers.

Modeling Polymer Microencapsulation Processes Using CFD and Population Balance Models

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling has emerged as a valuable tool for investigating complex processes like microencapsulation. This paper aims to validate the ability of CFD simulations to predict particle size distribution in a polymer microencapsulation process. The CFD modeling approach employed a Eulerian multiphase framework, incorporating a discrete population balance model to track the evolution of the droplet population. A realizable k-ε turbulence model and a multiple reference frame strategy were utilized to capture the system’s flow dynamics. The results reveal that while the CFD simulations align well with experimental data at higher agitation speeds (>10,000 rpm), discrepancies arise at lower speeds (<7500 rpm), indicating a challenge in accurately capturing turbulent viscous regimes. Despite these challenges, the CFD model demonstrates robust predictive capabilities for droplet formation and distribution in microencapsulation processes, validated by error margins within the acceptable limits. The validated model can be used as a reliable tool to guide experimental efforts and optimize process parameters, contributing to an enhanced understanding and control of microencapsulation processes.

Wake Three-Dimensionality of Profiled Blunt Trailing Edge Bodies with Varying Chord Length

This paper investigates experimentally the structure of turbulent blunt trailing edge body wakes with varying boundary-layer thicknesses controlled through the freestream velocity and the chord length. The intrinsic effect of transition to turbulence on the vortex-shedding frequency, strength, and its three-dimensional structure is explored. At large-scales, the vortex shedding is characterized by significant phase variations along the span, which vary stochastically and are punctuated by vortex dislocations when the phase differences grow large. These features of the vortex shedding are quantitatively examined in a streamwise–spanwise plane of the wake with particle image velocimetry. When the point of transition shifts upstream due to an increasing Reynolds number, greater phase variations in the vortex shedding along the span and more frequent dislocation events are produced. These changes are linked to the spanwise correlation of the streamwise velocity in the wake. In the turbulent boundary-layer regime, it is found that the phase drift does not change significantly. The decline in the spanwise correlation with increasing boundary-layer thickness in this regime is instead linked to the relative strength of the vortex shedding compared to the random turbulent fluctuations in the wake.

New Modeling Approaches for Ethylene Oxychlorination in Fluidized Bed Reactors: Industrial and Low Flow Rate Conditions

A simple model (Continuous Stirred-Tank Reactor) has been developed to predict the behavior of industrial ethylene oxychlorination fluidized beds operating in a turbulent regime. The approach showed good agreement both with results from industrial reactors and with those corresponding to the (Simple two phases-Plug bubble-Mixed flow emulsion approach) validated in the literature. For low flow rates, the use of the (Simple two phases - Plug bubble - Plug emulsion model) adapted to these conditions enabled us to highlight the location and extent of undesirable thermal hot spots for the process, and to propose actions to control them by acting on the temperature and/or on the feed gas flows. By comparing this model with the plug approach, the significant slowdown in ethylene conversion caused by resistance to mass transfer when feed flow rates are low is highlighted. Copyright © 2024 by Authors, Published by BCREC Publishing Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).

Euler–Euler modeling of turbulent annular regime

Euler–Euler methods are one of the many approaches available in literature for modeling droplet-laden flows. These models consider both the gas and droplet phases as inter-penetrating continua, thereby separate sets of transport equations are solved for these phases. The current work focuses on modeling of thin liquid films on solid surfaces in the context of the two-fluid approach to multiphase simulation. In majority of the literature, liquid films are modeled using a 2D Laminar approximation with a parabolic profile for the velocity across the film. However, a number of industrial applications demonstrate a turbulent behavior of the film which would affect the effective viscosity and thereby the thickness of the film. In the current work, a turbulent model for liquid films is proposed based on the Universal Velocity Profile. Additional models are employed to capture the deposition of droplets onto solid surface and stripping off of droplets from the film due to surface waves. The liquid film model is validated on experimental data from available literature. Finally, the newly implemented turbulent film model is applied to study the flow over a fuel rod assembly in a Boiling Water Reactor.

Anomalous intensification of vortex heat transfer in the case of separated air flow over an inclined groove in a hot isothermal region of a flat plate

Anomalous heat transfer intensification in turbulent separated air flow over a long groove of moderate depth made in a plate inclined at an angle of 45°to the freestream is revealed both experimentally and numerically. The region under investigation includes a rectangle heated to 100°C by saturated water vapor. The Reynolds number varied from 103to 3×104. Using the gradient heatmetry the twofold increase, as compared with the case of a flat plate, of the heat transfer coefficient on the groove bottom is established at the Reynolds number Re = 3×104. The relative Nusselt number in different regions of the groove is determined both in the physical experiment and in the RANS calculations with the application of multiblock computational technologies and the SST model in the VP2/3 software package. The results are in good agreement in the turbulent flow regime at Re = (5, 10, and 30) ×103.

Microconfined High-Pressure Transcritical Channel Flow Database: Laminar, Transitional & Turbulent Regimes

The potential of comprehending and managing microscale flows to enhance energy processes, especially in heat transfer and propulsion applications, remains largely untapped particularly for supercritical fluids, which have gained increased interest over the past years due to the higher power and thermodynamic efficiencies they provide. This work, therefore, presents the first comprehensive, open-source dataset carefully curated and structured for studying microconfined high-pressure transcritical fluid channel flows under various regimes. Particularly, the dataset contains 18 direct numerical simulations of carbon dioxide at different bulk pressures and velocities confined between differentially-heated walls. For all cases, the thermodynamic conditions selected impose the fluid to undergo a transcritical trajectory across the pseudo-boiling region. The data collection comprises an array of physical quantities that enable comprehensive parametric analyses spanning laminar, transitional, and turbulent flow regimes. This data repository is poised to provide access to the detailed study and modeling of the complex flow physics observed in high-pressure transcritical fluids, especially those closely linked to improving microfluidics performance.

Experimental investigation of the effects of metal foam porous rings on non-Newtonian fluid flow in a double pipe heat exchanger

In this study, we experimentally investigate the effects of metal foam porous rings on heat transfer, pressure drop, and the heat transfer performance ratio of two non-Newtonian fluids in a double-pipe heat exchanger. Enhancing the heat transfer rate is crucial for reducing the size and cost of heat exchangers. We considered various parameters in the experiment, including the power-law index (0.91 and 0.85), porous ring thickness (4, 6, and 8 mm), and the number of porous rings (2, 4, 6). The flow is a turbulent regime, with the Reynolds number ranging from 4000 to 10,000. The test setup includes a test section with a length of 1.6 m and a diameter ratio of 0.6. Open-cell copper metal foam rings with a porosity of 0.92 are placed in the annular pipe, while the internal surface of the inner pipe is subjected to constant heat flux. The results show that, for non-Newtonian Carboxy Methyl Cellulose fluids with concentrations of 0.1% and 0.2%, the average heat transfer coefficients at Reynolds number 4000 increase by 22.0% and 32.0%, respectively. With porous rings, these coefficients increase by 80.3% and 92.7%. Additionally, the average friction factor increases by 19.2% and 35.5% without porous rings and by 320% and 280% with porous rings, respectively. Furthermore, increasing the number of porous rings from 2 to 6 increases the Nusselt number by approximately 16.8% and 17.1%, respectively. The maximum friction factor is 400% higher when using a 0.2% concentration of non-Newtonian fluid. Finally, the performance of the two non-Newtonian fluids improved by approximately 28% and 36.4%, respectively, compared to the base fluid.

Estimation of Friction for a Hydrodynamic Sliding Bearing for the Turbulent Regime From Single-Phase and Two-Phase Fluid Flow Behaviour

The hydrodynamic plain bearing relies on the generation of a lubricant film through the rotational movement of the journal. As the journal rotates, it creates a layer of lubricant between the bearing and journal surfaces. This lubricant film separates the two surfaces, preventing direct contact and minimizing friction and wear. The high speeds can lead to severe conditions such as cavitation due to rapid oil evaporation, which introduces a new phase into the flow. In this study, it is anticipated that a two-phase flow will occur through the shaft-bushing conjunction because of the rupture of the lubricating film near the contact outlet. Pressure disturbances above these rupture zones may induce vapor-cavity formation at a small scale. A numerical analysis was conducted by solving Navier–Stokes continuity equations and vapor-transport equations. The k-epsilon model was used to analyze friction at the fluid-bearing interface for the turbulent regime. The results indicate that higher flow velocity values and pressure were observed in the case of two-phase flow compared to one-phase flow.

Transition from weak turbulence to collapse turbulence regimes in the Majda-McLaughlin-Tabak model.

It is well known that wave collapses can emerge from the focusing one-dimensional (1D) Majda-McLaughlin-Tabak (MMT) model as a result of modulational instability. However, how these wave collapses affect the spectral properties and statistics of the wave field has not been adequately studied. We undertake this task by simulating the forced-dissipated 1D MMT model over a range of forcing amplitudes. Our results show that when the forcing is weak, the spectrum agrees well with the prediction by wave turbulence theory with few collapses in the field. As the forcing strength increases, we see an increase in the occurrence of collapses, together with a transition from a power-law spectrum to an exponentially decaying spectrum. Through a spectral decomposition, we find that the exponential spectrum is dominated by the wave collapse component in the nonintegrable MMT model, which is in analogy to a soliton gas in integrable turbulence.

Numerical investigation into effects of slot control on flow around wind turbine blades

This paper investigates the effects of slots on wind turbine blade sections on the reduction of fluid loads on the airfoil in turbulent flows. The governing conversation equations were discretized using the finite volume method (FVM), numerically simulating an unsteady flow with a turbulent regime. It was found that slots at ΨA70° and high angles of attack (AOAs) improved the aerodynamic performance of the airfoil and delayed the stall by 2°. The Cl-Cd ratio was 31.49%, 79.22%, and 29.66% higher in the slotted airfoil than in the non-slotted one at an AOA of 18°, 20°, and 22°, respectively. Furthermore, slots with ΨA70° at AOAs of 20° and 22° substantially reduced lift and drag variations on the airfoil.

Column flotation hydrodynamics operating in the heterogeneous regime estimated by electrical resistance tomography and multi-phase CFD model

ABSTRACT This paper investigates the two-phase flow hydrodynamics of a column flotation operated from a homogeneous to a heterogeneous flow regimes using experimental and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques. Experiments were conducted in a lab scale column flotation of 0.1 m internal diameter and 2.5 m length at various superficial gas velocities using a dual plane electrical resistance tomography (ERT). The mean gas holdup increased from 2 to 18% with the increase in superficial gas velocity from 0.6 to 7.2 cm/s. The gas holdup-based bubble swarm velocity method identified four distinct flow regimes, i.e. homogeneous bubbling regime, narrow discrete bubbling regime, a sustained helical flow regime and churn turbulent flow regime in the column. Further, transient simulations were conducted using a two-fluid model coupled with a population balance model to assess the flow behavior inside the column. Virtual mass, lift and drag forces were incorporated into the model to account for the interphase forces. Numerical simulations predicted mean gas holdup was matching with the experimental data at low gas velocities (<2.4 cm/s), and a marginal deviation was noted at higher gas velocities (>2.4 cm/s). The predicted radial gas holdup profiles were found to change from flatter to parabolic with the increase in gas velocities, i.e. similar to the experiments. The effect of particle size on the rate constant and recovery was estimated with Luttrell and Yoon’s performance model using the particle floatability input data and the two-phase experimental data. The developed CFD model can be useful to optimize the operating and design parameters for efficient operation of the column flotation process.

Large-eddy simulation of vortex-induced vibration of a circular cylinder at Reynolds number 10 000

The canonical scenario of cross-flow vortex-induced vibration (VIV) of a circular cylinder in the turbulent regime, which has been studied by several physical experiments in the literature, is reexamined in this study through high-fidelity large-eddy simulations (LES) at a Reynolds number 104. The VIV response (including vibration amplitude and frequency) and hydrodynamic coefficients predicted by the present LES agree with the experimental results better than previous numerical attempts. In addition, several phenomena reported by previous experimental studies are confirmed numerically for the first time. After validating against the experiments, new VIV characteristics and physical mechanisms are explored with confidence. First, a collective analysis on the frequency spectra of the displacement, lift, and velocity signals provides a complete picture of the frequency response of the system. In contrast, the use of a single signal may miss certain aspects of the frequency response, so that caution should be exercised. Second, spanwise correlation of primary vortex shedding is examined, where relatively low correlations in the upper and lower branches are likely because the vortex shedding patterns involve complex vortex generation and interaction. Third, the effect of mass ratio (m*) of the cylinder on the VIV response is analyzed with a range of m* (=1.4–3.4) relevant to cylindrical structures used in offshore engineering (such as subsea pipelines). The variations in the amplitude response, frequency response, and hydrodynamic coefficients with m* and reduced velocity are examined in detail. The present results suggest that a lighter pipeline is more susceptible to the onset of VIV.