Influence of matrix physical properties on flow characteristics in dual network model

The tight oil formation develops with microfractures and matrix pores,it is important to study the influence of matrix physical properties on flow characteristics.At first,the representative fracture and matrix samples are selected respectively in the dual media,the fracture and matrix digital rocks are constructed with micro-CT scanning at different resolutions,and the corresponding fracture and matrix pore networks are extracted,respectively.Then,the modified integration method is proposed to build the dual network model containing both fracture and matrix pore-throat elements,while the geometric-topological structure equivalent matrix pores are generated to fill in the skeleton domain of fracture network,the constructed dual network could describe the geometric-topological structure characteristics of fracture and matrix pore-throat simultaneously.At last,by adjusting the matrix pore density and the matrix filling domain factor,a series of dual network models are obtained to analyze the influence of matrix physical properties on flow characteristics in dual-media.It can be seen that the matrix system contributes more to the porosity of the dual media and less to the permeability.With the decrease in matrix pore density,the porosity/permeability contributions of matrix system to dual media keep decreasing,but the decrease is not significant,the oil-water co-flow zone decreases and the irreducible water saturation increases,and the saturation interval dominated by the fluid flow in the fracture keeps increasing.With the decrease in matrix filling domain factor,the porosity/permeability contributions of matrix system to dual media decreases,the oil-water co-flow zone increases and the irreducible water saturation decreases,and the saturation interval dominated by the fluid flow in the fracture keeps increasing.The results can be used to explain the dual-media flow pattern under different matrix types and different fracture control volumes during tight oil production.

Physical model of fluid flow characteristics in RH-TOP vacuum refining process

To understand the characteristic of circulation flow rate in 250-t RH-TOP vacuum refining process, the 1：4 water model test was established through the bubble behavior and gas holdup in the up-leg to investigate the effects of different processes and equipment parame- ters on the RH circulation flow rate. With the increases of lifting gas flow rate, liffing bubble travel, and the internal diameter of the up-leg, and the decrease of nozzle diameter, the work done by bubble floatage and the circulation flow rate increase. The expression of circulation flow rate was derived fi＂om the regression analysis of experiment data. Meanwhile, the influences of vacuum chamber pressure and nozzle blockage situation on the circulation flow rate were discussed in detail by the bubble behavior and gas holdup in the up-leg. It is necessary to maintain a certain vacuum chamber liquid level in the molten steel circulation flow. Compared with a nozzle with symmetrical blockage in the up-leg, when a nozzle with non-symmetrical blockage is applied, the lifting gas distribution is non-uniform, causing a great effect on the molten steel circulation flow and making the circulation flow drop largely.

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS OF CAVITATION EFFECTS ON FLOW CHARACTERISTICS OF SMALL ORIFICES AND VALVES IN WATER HYDRAULICS

The flow characteristics and cavitation effects of water passing throughsmall sharp-edged cylindrical orifices and valves of different shapes in water hydraulics areinvestigated. The test results using orifices with different aspect ratios and different diametersshow that the flow coefficients in the case of non-cavitating flow are larger than that of flow inthe case of cavitation occurrence. The flow coefficients of flow with cavitation initially decreaseas Reynolds number increases and ultimately tend to be of constant values close to contractioncoefficient. Large aspect ratio has an effect of suppressing cavitation. The experimental resultsabout disc valves illustrate that the valves with sharp edge at large opening are less affected bycavitation than that at small opening. Throttle with triangle notch has better anti-cavitationability than that with square notch. The flowrate of the throttle with square notch is significantlyaffected by the flow direction or the flow passage shape.

Influence of Blade Thickness on Transient Flow Characteristics of Centrifugal Slurry Pump with Semi-open Impeller

As the critical component, the impellers of the slurry pumps usually have blades of a large thickness. The increasing excretion coefficient of the blades affects the flow in the impeller resulting in a relatively higher hydraulic loss, which is rarely reported. In order to investigate the influence of blade thickness on the transient flow characteristics of a centrifugal slurry pump with a semi-open impeller, transient numerical simulations were carried out on six impellers, of which the meridional blade thickness from the leading edge to trailing edge varied from 5-10 mm, 5-15 mm, 5-20 mm, 10-10 mm, 10-15 mm, and 10-20 mm, respectively. Then, two of the six impellers, namely cases 4 and 6, were manufactured and experimentally tested for hydraulic performance to verify the simulation results. Results of these tests agreed reasonably well with those of the numerical simulation. The results demonstrate that when blade thickness increases, pressure fluctuations at the outlet of the impeller become severe. Moreover, the standard deviation of the relative velocity in the middle portion of the suction sides of the blades decreases and that at the outlet of the impeller increases. Thus, the amplitude of the impeller head pulsation for each case increases. Meanwhile, the distribution of the time-averaged relative flow angle becomes less uniform and decreases at the outlet of the impeller. Hence, as the impeUer blade thickness increases, the pump head drops rapidly and the maximum efficiency point is offset to a lower flow rate condition. As the thickness of blade trailing edge increases by 10 mm, the head of the pump drops by approximately 5 m, which is approximately 10 % of the original pump head. Futhermore, it is for the first time that the time-averaged relative flow angle is being considered for the analysis of transient flow in centrifugal pump. The presented work could be a useful guideline in engineering practice when designing a centrifugal slurry pump with thick impeller blades.

Flow Characteristics of Grains in a Conical Silo with a Central Decompression Tube Based on Experiments and DEM Simulations

Grains are widely present in industrial productions and processing,and are stored in silos.In the silo,auxiliary structures are added to achieve efficient production.However,little effort has been devoted to the influence of the internal structure of the silo on the granular flow.In this work,a silo with a central decompression tube is studied through experimental measurements and discrete element methods.Then,the influences of the central decompression tube on the flow behavior of grains and wall pressure are analyzed.Results show that the grains are in mass flow in the silo without a central decompression tube,while the grains are in funnel flow in the silo with a central decompression tube.Moreover,regardless of whether there is a central decompression tube in the silo,the maximum pressure appears at the top of the conical silo.In the lower part of the silo,the wall pressure of the silo with a central decompression tube is lower than that of the silo without a central decompression tube.Therefore,a silo with a central decompression tube is more conducive to grain storage and discharge than a silo without a central decompression tube.

Analysis of Gas-Solid Flow Characteristics in a Spouted Fluidized Bed Dryer by Means of Computational Particle Fluid Dynamics

In order to grasp the particle flow characteristics and energy consumption of industrial fluidized spouted beds,we conduct numerical simulations on the basis of a Computational Particle Fluid Dynamics(CPFD)approach.In particular,the traction model of Wen-Yu-Ergun is used and different inlet conditions are considered.Using a low-speed fluidizing gas,the flow state of the particles is better and the amount of particles accumulated at the bottom of the bed wall becomes smaller.For the same air intake,the energy loss of a circular nozzle is larger than that of a square nozzle.

Experimental Investigation on Flow Characteristics at Leeside of Suspended Flexible Curtain for Sedimentation Enhancement

A new patent registered device- suspended flexible curtain （SFC） for sedimentation enhancement is proposed in this paper, which consists of two parts： a light-weight curtain with sediment-passing windows and a heavy pillar for the device stability. The mechanism of trapping nearbed sediment by the SFC is such that a primary and a secondary circulations with horizontal hubs would be formed at the leeside when it is placed on beds in running flow; the velocities within the sediment-passing windows are locally accelerated, the nearbed sediments would be brought by the flow through the windows, and then settled down within the primary circulation zone. Experimental tests on hydraulic characteristics are conducted in a laboratory flume with rigid bed. It is found that the dimensions of the curtain and the sediment-passing windows determine the characteristics of the primary and the secondary circulations. The intensity of the primary and the secondary circulations is dominated by the size of the sediment-passing window. Whether the secondary circulation would contact the bed or not depends on the level of the sediment-passing window. The length and the height of the primary circulation zone demonstrate quasi linear relationships with the effective height of the SFC. And the tests on sandy bed flume show that the sediment deposition happens just in the primary circulation zone.

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF EFFECTS OF OPERATING CONDITIONS ON THE FLOW CHARACTERISTICS OF WATER HYDRAULIC THROTTLE

Experimental investigations are made on the effects of operating conditionson the flow characteristics of throttle when tap water is used as the working media. The researchedthrottles include cone poppet valve, ball valve, disc valve and dumping orifice. Operating conditionincludes poppet lift, working media, back pressure, medium temperature, etc. Because the vapourouspressure of water is much higher than that of oil, cavitation is easier to occur in water hydraulicelements and systems, so the effects of operating conditions on the cavitation characteristics ofthrottle are also researched.

Uniformity evaluation and optimization of fluid flow characteristics in a seven-strand tundish

The effect of flow control devices（FCDs） on the uniformity of flow characteristics in a seven-strand symmetrical trapezoidal tundish was studied using both an experimental 1：2.5 hydraulic model and a numerical simulation of a 1：1 geometric model.The variation coefficient（CV） was defined to evaluate the flow uniformity of the seven-strand tundish.An optimized FCD configuration was proposed on the basis of the evaluation of experimental results.It is concluded that a turbulence inhibitor（TI） and U-type dam are essential to improve the uniformity of fluid flow in the seven-strand tundish.In addition,the configuration of inclination T-type dams with a height of 200 mm between the second and third strands and with a height of 300 mm between the third and fourth strands can minimize the proportion of dead zone.After optimizing the configuration of FCDs,the variation coefficient reduces below 20%of the mean value,and the average proportion of dead zone is just 14.6%;in addition,the temperature fluctuation between the strands could be controlled within 0.6 K.In summary,the uniformity of flow and temperature in the seven-strand tundish is greatly improved.

Experimental Study on the Flow Characteristics of a Plate with a Mechanically Choked Orifice

The mechanically choked orifice plate (MCOP) is a new type of device for flow control by which choking conditionsfor incompressible fluids can be obtained with relatively small pressure losses. Given the lack of relevant results anddata in the literature, in the present study, we concentrate on the experimental determination of the flow coefficientfor the annular orifice, the pressure distribution in the MCOP, and the characteristics of the choked flow itself. Asconfirmed by the experimental results, the Reynolds number, the orifice plate thickness, the plug taper, and theeccentricity have an obvious influence on the aforementioned flow coefficient. The pressure drop in the MCOPis mainly generated near the orifice plate, and the pressure upstream of the orifice plate is slightly reduced in theflow direction, while the pressure downstream of the orifice plate displays a recovery trend. The choked flow rateof the MCOP can be adjusted by replacing the spring with a maximum flow control deviation of 4.91%.

Periodic flow characteristics during RH vacuum circulation refining

The circulation period of RH vacuum refining was studied to promote the refining efficiency. The influences of the lift gas flow rate and submersion depth of snorkels on the circulation period, and the relationship between mixing time and circulation flow were dis- cussed. The effects of the lift gas flow rate and submersion depth on the degassing rate in one circulation period were studied by water modeling. The results show that the circulation period is shortened by increasing the lift gas flow rate. The circulation period is the shortest when the submersion depth of snorkels is 560 mm. The whole ladle can be mixed thoroughly after three times of circulation. Increasing the lift gas flow rate can enhance the degassing rate of RH circulation.

Modeling Tracer Flow Characteristics in Different Types of Pores: Visualization and Mathematical Modeling

Structure of porous media and fluid distribution in rocks can significantly affect the transport characteristics during the process of microscale tracer flow.To clarify the effect of micro heterogeneity on aqueous tracer transport,this paper demonstrates microscopic experiments at pore level and proposes an improved mathematical model for tracer transport.The visualization results show a faster tracer movement into movable water than it into bound water,and quicker occupancy in flowing pores than in storage pores caused by the difference of tracer velocity.Moreover,the proposed mathematical model includes the effects of bound water and flowing porosity by applying interstitial flow velocity expression.The new model also distinguishes flowing and storage pores,accounting for different tracer transport mechanisms(dispersion,diffusion and adsorption)in different types of pores.The resulting analytical solution better matches with tracer production data than the standard model.The residual sum of squares(RSS)from the new model is 0.0005,which is 100 times smaller than the RSS from the standard model.The sensitivity analysis indicates that the dispersion coefficient and flowing porosity shows a negative correlation with the tracer breakthrough time and the increasing slope,whereas the superficial velocity and bound water saturation show a positive correlation.

FLOW CHARACTERISTICS OF WALLFLOW DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER SYSTEM WITH REVERSE PULSE AIR REGENERATION

To simulate steady airflows inside of wall-flow diesel particulate filters （DPF） with different reverse blowing pipes collocation, a mathematical model of the flow in a DPF is established by an equivalent continuum approach. The experimental results agree well with the theoretical values calculated from the model. Simulation shows that the velocity and the pressure distribution of the filters in the regenerative process are key factors to the filter＇s regeneration. How to decrease the mal-distribution of the flow in the filter and how to achieve the better regenerative performance at the least cost of air consumption in the regenerative process are the ultimate goals of the study. Calculation and experiments show that the goals can be realized through adjusting the angle of two reverse blowing pipes and their relative location suitably.

Effects of Geometry on Leakage Flow Characteristics of Brush Seal

In order to better application of brush seal in rotating machinery,the leakage flow characteristics of the brush seal considering geometry effects are numerically analyzed using Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes( RANS) model coupling with a non-Darcian porous medium model. The reliability of the present numerical method is proved,which is in agreement with the experimental and numerical results from literatures. Three different bristle pack thicknesses,fence heights and initial clearances under different pressure ratios,rotational velocities and other operating conditions are utilized to investigate the effects of geometry modification on the brush seal leakage flow behaviors. It discusses the effectiveness of various geometry configurations outlining important flow features. The results indicate that the increase of fence height and clearance would lead to the increase of leakage rate. But the leakage is not linearly with respect to the bristle pack thickness,and the effect of rotational velocity is not obvious. Moreover,the detailed leakage flow fields and pressure distributions along the rotor surface,free bristle height,and fence height of the brush seals are also presented. The static pressure drop amplitude through the bristle pack and the pressure rise amplitude through the cavity would increase while the pressure differential increases. And the axial pressure is the main reason of bristle blow down. The results provide theoretical support for the brush seal structure optimal design.

Aerothermodynamic Design and Flow Characteristics for a S-CO_(2) Radial Inflow Turbine

In this paper,a radial inflow turbine is designed for the 150 kW S-CO_(2) Brayton cycle system,and flow characteristics and off-design performances are analyzed.The design results are accurate and high performances can be achieved for the S-CO_(2) power system,and the total-static efficiency of 86%and net output power about 285.2 kW can meet the design requirements of S-CO_(2) cycle system.The results of the flow characteristics show the streamlines of radial inflow turbine distribute uniformly,and the vortexes generated at the shroud of the blade suction surface have little influence on the turbine performances.The off-design performances show the total-static efficiency remains above 80%in the pressure ratio range of 1.6~2.9,and the output power and mass flow rate increase with the pressure ratio increasing.It is indicated that the designed turbine has excellent off-design performances and can meet the operation requirements.The study results can provide guidance for S-CO_(2) radial inflow turbine design and operation.

Flow Field Characteristics of Multi-Trophic Artificial Reef Based on Computation Fluid Dynamics

On the basis of computational fluid dynamics,the flow field characteristics of multi-trophic artificial reefs,including the flow field distribution features of a single reef under three different velocities and the effect of spacing between reefs on flow scale and the flow state,were analyzed.Results indicate upwelling,slow flow,and eddy around a single reef.Maximum velocity,height,and volume of upwelling in front of a single reef were positively correlated with inflow velocity.The length and volume of slow flow increased with the increase in inflow velocity.Eddies were present both inside and backward,and vorticity was positively correlated with inflow velocity.Space between reefs had a minor influence on the maximum velocity and height of upwelling.With the increase in space from 0.5 L to 1.5 L(L is the reef lehgth),the length of slow flow in the front and back of the combined reefs increased slightly.When the space was 2.0 L,the length of the slow flow decreased.In four different spaces,eddies were present inside and at the back of each reef.The maximum vorticity was negatively correlated with space from 0.5 L to 1.5 L,but under 2.0 L space,the maximum vorticity was close to the vorticity of a single reef under the same inflow velocity.

Flow field, sedimentation, and erosion characteristics around folded linear HDPE sheet sand fence: Numerical simulation study

Wind and sand hazards are serious in the Milan Gobi area of the Xinjiang section of the Korla Railway. In order to ensure the safe operation of railroads, there is a need for wind and sand protection in heavily sandy areas. The wind and sand flow in the region is notably bi-directional. To shield railroads from sand, a unique sand fence made of folded linear high-density polyethylene(HDPE) is used, aligning with the principle that the dominant wind direction is perpendicular to the fence. This study employed field observations and numerical simulations to investigate the effectiveness of these HDPE sand fences in altering flow field distribution and offering protection. It also explored how these fences affect the deposition and erosion of sand particles. Findings revealed a significant reduction in wind speed near the fence corner;the minimum horizontal wind speed on the leeward side of the first sand fence(LSF) decreased dramatically from 3 m/s to 0.64 m/s. The vortex area on the LSF markedly impacted horizontal wind speeds. Within the LSF, sand deposition was a primary occurrence. As wind speeds increased, the deposition zone shrank, whereas the positive erosion zone expanded. Close to the folded corners of the HDPE sand fence, there was a notable shift from the positive erosion zone to a deposition zone. Field tests and numerical simulations confirmed the high windproof efficiency(WE) and sand resistance efficiency(SE) in the HDPE sand fence. Folded linear HDPE sheet sand fence can effectively slow down the incoming flow and reduce the sand content, thus achieving good wind and sand protection. This study provides essential theoretical guidance for the design and improvement of wind and sand protection systems in railroad engineering.

Systematic analysis of distinct flow characteristics and underlying microstructural evolution mechanisms of a novel fine-grained P/M nickel-based superalloy during isothermal compression

Isothermal forging(IF)is an effective method for forming difficult-to-deform materials like P/M superalloys.Understanding the isothermal compression microstructural evolution mechanism of a novel P/M s-peralloy provides the basis for its optimized IF planning.In this study,the isothermal compression tests of a novel fine-grained P/M nickel-based superalloy were carried out at 1000-1150℃with strain rates of 0.001-0.01 s^(−1).The results indicated that the alloy exhibits three distinct flow characteristics:continuous softening after reaching the peak stress,near-steady superplastic flow,and discontinuous hardening,corresponding to different strain rate sensitivity exponent(m)values.Varied microstructural evolution mechanisms,including grain boundary sliding(GBS),dynamic recrystallization(DRX),and grain growth,are dominated in different m-value domains.Meanwhile,different roles of primaryγ’play in microstruc-tural evolution were clarified.A moderate fraction of primaryγ’with 8.5%-14.2%can well coordinate the GBS and hinder excessive grain growth at a high m value domain(m>0.4).When 0.2<m<0.4,the role of the primaryγ’is changed to promote dislocation accumulation,accelerating the nucleation of DRXed grains.As the primaryγ’is dissolved at 1150℃,obvious grain growth was observed after compression.Work hardening effect by overgrown grains competed with DRX softening results in the discontinuous rising stress.

Solid-liquid flow characteristics and sticking-force analysis of valve-core fitting clearance

External contamination particles or wear particles corroded by a valve body are mixed into the fluid. As a result, when the fluid enters the fitting clearance of the valve core, it can cause an increase in resistance and lead to sticking failure of the valve core. This paper analyzes solid-liquid flow characteristics in fitting clearances and valve-core sticking based on the Euler-Euler model, using a typical hydraulic valve as an example. The impact of particle concentration and diameter on flow characteristics and valve-core sticking force was analyzed. The highest volume fraction of particles was in the pressureequalizing groove(PEG), with peak values increasing as the particle diameter increased. The sticking force increased with increasing particle concentration. When the particle diameter was 12 μm, the sticking force was the largest, making this the sensitive particle diameter. Particle distribution and valve-core sticking force were compared for oval, rectangular, and triangular PEGs. The fluid-deflection angles in oval and rectangular PEGs were larger, and their values were 32.83° and 39.15°, respectively. The fluid-deflection angle in the triangular PEG was relatively small, less than 50% that of the oval or rectangular PEGs. The particle-volume-fraction peaks in oval, rectangular, and triangular PEGs were 0.0317, 0.0316, and 0.0312, respectively. The sticking forces of oval, rectangular, and triangular PEGs were 4.796, 4.802, and 4.757 N, respectively when the particle diameter was 12 μm. This work provides a reference for design and research aimed at reducing valve-core sticking.

Study on Characteristics of a High-Precision Cold Gas Micro Thruster

In order to improve the reliability of the spacecraft micro cold gas propulsion system and realize the precise control of the spacecraft attitude and orbit, a micro-thrust, high-precision cold gas thruster is carried out, at the same time due to the design requirements of the spacecraft, this micro-thrust should be continuous working more than 60 minutes, the traditional solenoid valve used for the thrusts can’t complete the mission, so a long-life micro latching valve is developed as the control valve for this micro thruster, because the micro latching valve can keep its position when it cuts off the outage. Firstly, the authors introduced the design scheme and idea of the thruster. Secondly, the performance of the latching valve and the flow characteristics of the nozzle were simulated. Finally, from the experimental results and compared with the numerical study, it shows that the long-life micro cold gas thruster developed in this paper meets the mission requirements.