Particulate flow modelling in a spiral separator by using the Eulerian multi-fluid VOF approach

The Euler-Euler model is less effective in capturing the free surface of flow film in the spiral separator,and thus a Eulerian multi-fluid volume of fluid(VOF)model was first proposed to describe the particulate flow in spiral separators.In order to improve the applicability of the model in the high solid concentration system,the Bagnold effect was incorporated into the modelling framework.The capability of the proposed model in terms of predicting the flow film shape in a LD9 spiral separator was evaluated via comparison with measured flow film thicknesses reported in literature.Results showed that sharp air–water and air-pulp interfaces can be obtained using the proposed model,and the shapes of the predicted flow films before and after particle addition were reasonably consistent with the observations reported in literature.Furthermore,the experimental and numerical simulation of the separation of quartz and hematite were performed in a laboratory-scale spiral separator.When the Bagnold lift force model was considered,predictions of the grade of iron and solid concentration by mass for different trough lengths were more consistent with experimental data.In the initial development stage,the quartz particles at the bottom of the flow layer were more possible to be lifted due to the Bagnold force.Thus,a better predicted vertical stratification between quartz and hematite particles was obtained,which provided favorable conditions for subsequent radial segregation.

Experiment and Numerical Simulation of Free Water Jet by a Central-body Nozzle

The recent research about cavitation jet mainly focuses on the organ-pipe nozzle and triangular nozzle. The research content mainly includes the optimized design about the structure of nozzles, the observation and flow analysis about the cavitation jet in the water, and the theory of rock attacked by the cavitation jet, while the energy characteristic of the free jet is not studied yet. In China, the research about the central-body nozzle is almost empty. For the purpose of studying the energy characteristic and the structure of free water jet discharged from central-body nozzle, an experiment with phase Doppler particle anemometry（PDPA） technology is carried out to measure the free water jet flow, which is produced by a central-body nozzle under the jet pressure of 15 MPa. While five sections with different axial distances from the nozzle outlet are selected for data process and analysis, the axial and radial velocity and the droplets of the particle size are studied. Meanwhile, numerical calculation of corresponding flow field is conducted by using volume of fluid（VOF） multiphase model, and the jet flow feature is discussed. The experimental and calculating results show that the axial velocity of high speed jet flow dissipates slowly in the air, and the core area and diffused area are discovered. The diameter of droplet in the core area is small, and jet energy is concentrated, while in the diffusion area, water is mingled with ambient air and radial velocity is relatively large. Obvious low-pressure area exists behind the central body and potential cavitation may occur in that area. The proposed research reveals the energy characteristic of free jet discharged from central-body nozzle, provides the theoretical basis for preestimating erosion feature of the central-body nozzle and also the theoretical foundation for revealing the mechanism of erosion.

A coupled model on fluid flow,heat transfer and solidification in continuous casting mold

Fluid flow, heat transfer and solidification of steel in the mold are so complex but crucial, determining the surface quality of the continuous casting slab. In the current study, a 2D numerical model was established by Fluent software to simulate the fluid flow, heat transfer and solidification of the steel in the mold. The VOF model and k-ε model were applied to simulate the flow field of the three phases(steel, slag and air), and solidification model was used to simulate the solidification process. The phenomena at the meniscus were also explored through interfacial tension between the liquid steel and slag as well as the mold oscillation. The model included a 20 mm thick mold to clarify the heat transfer and the temperature distribution of the mold. The simulation results show that the liquid steel flows as upper backflow and lower backflow in the mold, and that a small circulation forms at the meniscus. The liquid slag flows away from the corner at the meniscus or infiltrates into the gap between the mold and the shell with the mold oscillating at the negative strip stage or at the positive strip stage. The simulated pitch and the depth of oscillation marks approximate to the theoretical pitch and measured depth on the slab.

Numerical Simulation of Seaplane Wave Ground Effect with Crosswind

Under the absolute coordinate system, the unsteady Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes(URANS)equations and the k-ω SST turbulence model are solved using the finite volume method to simulate the aerodynamic characteristics of large seaplane flying with the ground-effect above wavy surface. The velocity inlet wave-making method and the volume of fluid model are used to accurately simulate the linear regular waves and to precisely capture the free surface. This paper studies the influence of the sideslip angle on the aerodynamic characteristics of large seaplane when it is cruising above wavy water. The results show that the wave surface mainly affects the pressure distribution on the lower surface of the wing. When the sideslip angle varies from 0° to 8°,the varying of frequency of aerodynamic forces is consistent with the wave encounter frequency,and both periods are 0.6 s. With the increase of the sideslip angle,the lift coefficient and the pitching moment coefficient decrease. However,when the sideslip angle is smaller than 4°,the decrease amplitude is small,and the significant decrease occurs above 4° and during the whole process of the change of sideslip angle,the aerodynamic fluctuation amplitude is almost unchanged. As the drag coefficient increases with the increase of sideslip angle,significant increase also occurs when the value is greater than4°,and the fluctuation amplitude does not show any correlations. The rolling moment coefficient and yaw moment coefficient increase with the increase of the sideslip angle,and the fluctuation amplitudes of both increase linearly with the increase of the sideslip angle.

Numerical simulation of liquid aluminum leakage in casting process

A model was built to simulate liquid aluminum leakage during the casting process,including transient trough flow,orifice outflow,and spread,to prevent the explosion.A comparison between the simulation data and the theoretical calculation results verifies that the model has remarkable adaptability and high accuracy.Although the height of liquid aluminum in the mixing furnace and outlet radius are changed,the molten aluminum will not leak during the casting process.The aluminum in the trough moves forward in a wave-like motion and causes a leakage.The spread of the leaked aluminum resembles a long strip on the ground.The leakage amount and spread area of liquid aluminum increase with increasing the height of liquid aluminum in the mixing furnace.

Numerical Simulation of Gas-LiquId Flow in a Horizontal Elbow

Gas-liquid flow(GLF),especially slug and annular flows in oil and gas gathering and transportation pipelines,become particularly complex inside elbows and can easily exacerbate pipeline corrosion and damage.In thisstudy,FLUENT was used to conduct 3D simulations of slug and annular flow in elbows for different velocitiesto assess the ensuing changes in terms of pressure.In particular,the multifluid VOF(Volume of Fraction)modelwas chosen.The results indicate that under both slug and annular flow conditions,the pressure inside the elbow islower than the outside.As the superficial velocity of liquid and gas increase,the pressure and liquid flow velocityat different positions of the elbow also increase,while the secondary flow weakens.Under annular flow conditions,the liquid film on the outer side of the elbow is thicker than that on the inner side,and the liquid velocityin the main liquid film zone is the lowest.

Numerical investigation on characteristics of interfacial wave of liquid film in gas-liquid two-phase flow using OpenFOAM

Liquid film cooling as an advanced cooling technology is widely used in space vehicles.Stable operation of liquid film along the rocket combustion inner wall is crucial for thermal protection of rocket engines.The stability of liquid film is mainly determined by the characteristics of interfacial wave,which is rarely investigated right now.How to improve the stability of thin film has become a hot spot.In view of this,an advanced model based on the conventional Volume of Fluid(VOF)model is adopted to investigate the characteristics of interfacial wave in gas-liquid flow by using OpenFOAM,and the mechanism of formation and development of wave is revealed intuitively through numerical study.The effects from gas velocity,surface tension and dynamic viscosity of liquid(three factors)on the wave are studied respectively.It can be found that the gas velocity is critical to the formation and development of wave,and four modes of droplets generation are illustrated in this paper.Besides,a gas vortex near the gas-liquid interface can induce formation of wave easily,so changing the gas vortex state can regulate formation and development of wave.What’s more,the change rules of three factors influencing on the interfacial wave are obtained,and the surface tension has a negative effect on the formation and development of wave only when the surface tension coefficient is above the critical value,whereas the dynamic viscosity has a positive effect in this process.Lastly,the maximum height and maximum slope angle of wave will level off as the gas velocity increases.Meanwhile,the maximum slope angle of wave is usually no more than 38°,no matter what happens to the three factors.

THREE-DIMENSIONAL TURBULENCE NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF A STEPPED SPILLWAY OVERFLOW

In this paper, the k ε turbulence model is used to simulate the three dimensional turbulence flow over the stepped spillway at the Yubeishan reservoir. In order to solve the curved free water surface and to handle the complex boundary conditions, the fractional Volume Of Fluid (VOF) model that is applicable to the solution of the stratified two phase flow is introduced along with k ε turbulence model and the unstructured grid is used for the discretization of the irregular simulation domain. By these methods, the turbulence flow field of the stepped spillway is simulated successfully. The location of the free surface along the spillway, the magnitude and distribution of the velocity, the pressure on the step surface, the turbulence kinetic energy and turbulence dissipation rate are obtained by simulation. The changes and distributions of these characteristics along the width of the spillway are also obtained. The energy dissipation ratio of the stepped spillway is calculated according to the upstream and downstream water depth and velocities

Numerical study of air layer drag reduction of an axisymmetric body in oscillatory motions

The air layer drag reduction(ALDR)of an axisymmetric body in oscillatory motions is investigated in this paper with open source toolbox OpenFOAM.The unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes(URANS)equations are used to determine the viscous flow and the volume of fluid(VOF)model is adopted to capture the interface of the air-water two-phase flow.The k-e turbulence model is adopted to simulate the turbulence.The dynamic mesh technique is applied to model the movement of the axisymmetric body.Firstly,the ALDR results are validated by the experimental data.Then,the effects of the movements of the body on the drag reduction during the ALDR state are investigated.Two representative kinds of movements are considered,namely,the pitch and the heave.The numerical results show that the drag reduction varies during the movements and the average drag reduction rates will be reduced.The variation of the drag reduction is related to the morphological change of the air layer.The heave motion is more likely to reduce the effects of the ALDR than the pitch motion.For both oscillatory motions,the large motion amplitude and the low motion period are not conductive to improving the effects of the ALDR.The effects of the oscillatory motion on the ALDR are more sensitive at high water speeds than at low water speeds.Besides,increasing the air flow ratio can be considered as one way to improve the effects of the ALDR.

Separation efficiency of liquid-solid undergoing vibration based on breakage of liquid bridge

Vibrating separation is a significant method for liquid-solid separation.A typical example is the vibrating screen to dewater wet granular matter.The properties of granular matter and the vibrating parameters significantly affect the separation efficiency.This study investigates the effect of vibration parameters in separation based on the breakage of large-scale liquid bridge numerically by using a calibrated simulation model.Through analysing the simulation results,the liquid bridge shape and the volume between two sphere particles for various particle sizes and particle distances were studied in the static condition under the effect of gravity.The results show a general reducing trend of liquid bridge volume when the radius ratio of two particles increases,particularly when the ratio increases to 5.Additionally,a set of vibrating motion was applied to the liquid bridge in the simulation model.A group of experiments were also performed to validate the simulation model with vibration.Then,the effect of vibrating peak acceleration,distance between spheres and radius on the separation efficiency which was reflected by the residual water were investigated.It is found that separation efficiency increased obviously with the peak acceleration and the increase slowed down after the peak acceleration over 1 m/s^(2).