A Numerical Study on the Effect of the Backflow Hole Position on the Performances of a Self-Priming Pump

A self-priming pump is a centrifugal pump that has the ability to prime itself. Typically, its performance dependson the configuration of its reflux hole. In this study, the ANSYS FLUENT software is used to investigate the effectsof three different radial positions of the reflux hole on gas-liquid two-phase distribution, pressure pulsation, andimp during self-priming. The research results indicate that: (1) The effective channel size for the reflux liquid toenter the volute varies depending on the location of the reflux hole. The effect of the impeller rotation on thereflux liquid becomes more obvious as the setting distance of the reflux aperture decreases. (2) The position ofthe reflux hole significantly affects the gas phase mass fraction inside the impeller, resulting in a significant reductionin the time it takes for the mass fraction to exceed 80%. (3) The position of the reflux hole significantly affectsthe average pressure on each monitoring surface. (4) Placing the reflux hole at a excessively distant radial distancecan result in an excessive vertical component. (5) The self-priming performance of the pump can be improved tosome extent by placing the return hole at a small radial distance.

Review of Collocation Methods and Applications in Solving Science and Engineering Problems

The collocation method is a widely used numerical method for science and engineering problems governed by partial differential equations.This paper provides a comprehensive review of collocation methods and their applications,focused on elasticity,heat conduction,electromagnetic field analysis,and fluid dynamics.The merits of the collocation method can be attributed to the need for element mesh,simple implementation,high computational efficiency,and ease in handling irregular domain problems since the collocation method is a type of node-based numerical method.Beginning with the fundamental principles of the collocation method,the discretization process in the continuous domain is elucidated,and how the collocation method approximation solutions for solving differential equations are explained.Delving into the historical development of the collocation methods,their earliest applications and key milestones are traced,thereby demonstrating their evolution within the realm of numerical computation.The mathematical foundations of collocation methods,encompassing the selection of interpolation functions,definition of weighting functions,and derivation of integration rules,are examined in detail,emphasizing their significance in comprehending the method’s effectiveness and stability.At last,the practical application of the collocation methods in engineering contexts is emphasized,including heat conduction simulations,electromagnetic coupled field analysis,and fluid dynamics simulations.These specific case studies can underscore collocation method’s broad applicability and effectiveness in addressing complex engineering challenges.In conclusion,this paper puts forward the future development trend of the collocation method through rigorous analysis and discussion,thereby facilitating further advancements in research and practical applications within these fields.

Optimal Design of High-Speed Partial Flow Pumps using Orthogonal Tests and Numerical Simulations

To investigate the influence of structural parameters on the performances and internal flow characteristics of partial flow pumps at a low specific speed of 10000 rpm,special attention was paid to the first and second stage impeller guide vanes.Moreover,the impeller blade outlet width,impeller inlet diameter,blade inclination angle,and number of blades were considered for orthogonal tests.Accordingly,nine groups of design solutions were formed,and then used as a basis for the execution of numerical simulations(CFD)aimed at obtaining the efficiency values and heads for each design solution group.The influence of impeller geometric parameters on the efficiency and head was explored,and the“weight”of each factor was obtained via a range analysis.Optimal structural parameters were finally chosen on the basis of the numerical simulation results,and the performances of the optimized model were verified accordingly(yet by means of CFD).Evidence is provided that the increase in the efficiency and head of the optimized model was 12.11%and 23.5 m,respectively,compared with those of the original model.

Study on the Relationship between Structural Aspects and Aerodynamic Characteristics of Archimedes Spiral Wind Turbines

A combined experimental and numerical research study is conducted to investigate the complex relationship between the structure and the aerodynamic performances of an Archimedes spiral wind turbine(ASWT).Two ASWTs are considered,a prototypical version and an improved version.It is shown that the latter achieves the best aerodynamic performance when the spread angles at the three sets of blades areα_(1)=30°,α_(2)=55°,α3=60°,respectively and the blade thickness is 4 mm.For a velocity V=10 m/s,a tip speed ratio(TSR)=1.58 and 2,the maximum CP values are 0.223 and 0.263 for the prototypical ASWT and improved ASWT,respectively,and the maximum C_(P) enhancement is 17.93%.For V=10 m/s and TSR=2,the CP values of the prototypical ASWT and improved ASWT are 0.225 and 0.263,respectively,with an aerodynamic performance enhancement of 16.88%.Through mutual verification of the test outcomes and numerical results,it is concluded that the proposed approach can effectively lead to aerodynamic performance improvement.

Numerical Calculations and Cold Tests for Flow Fields of a 220t/h Retrofitted Oil-Boiler

In this paper, cold simulation experiments and numerical calculations are conducted to predict 3 D flow field aerodynamics for an oil furnace after being retrofitted due to its fuel variation. K ε model and SIMPLE program under body fit coordination (BFC) system, in which TTM non orthogonal method is used to control the irregular geometric boundary, are adopted to solve the control equations. Model tests are conducted to check the calculation results, showing that they are in agreement with each other. Three different alternatives with different side window locations are also calculated to optimize the designs. The field retrofitting results show that the combination of cold tests with numerical calculations has prosperous application in retrofitting or renewing medium and small boilers.

NUMERICAL CALCULATIONS OF GASEOUS REACTING FLOWS IN A MODEL OF GAS TURBINE COMBUSTORS

This paper describes the numerical calculations of gaseous reaction flows in a model of gas turbine combustors. The profiles of hydrodynamic and thermodynamic patterns in a three-dimensional combustor model are obtained by solving the governing differential transport equations. The well-established numerical prediction algorithm SIMPLE, the modified k-ε turbulence model and k-ε-g turbulent diffusion flame model have been adopted in computations. The β function has been selected as probability density function. The effect of combustion process on flow patterns has been investigated. The calculated results have been verified by experiments. They are in remarkably good agreement.

Coupled Time-Domain Investigation on a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Supported on a Floating Platform

The dynamic responses of a floating vertical axis wind turbine(VAWT)are assessed on the basis of an aero-hydro-mooring coupled model.The aerodynamic loads on the rotor are acquired with double-multiple stream tube method.First-and second-order wave loads are calculated on the basis of 3D potential theory.The mooring loads are simulated by catenary theory.The coupled model is established,and a numerical code is programmed to investigate the dynamic response of the semi-submersible VAWT.A model test is then conducted,and the numerical code is validated considering the hydrodynamic performance of the floating buoy.The responses of the floating VAWT are studied through the numerical simulation under the sea states of wind and regular/irregular waves.The effects of the second-order wave force on the motions are also investigated.Results show that the slow-drift responses in surge and pitch motions are significantly excited by the second-order wave forces.Furthermore,the effect of foundation motion on aerodynamic loads is examined.The normal and tangential forces of the blades demonstrate a slight increase due to the coupling effect between the buoy motion and the aerodynamic loads.

Numerical simulation and experimental verification of plasma jet development in gas gap switch

Plasma jet triggered gas gap switch has obvious advantages in fast control switch.The development of the plasma in the ambient medium is the key factor affecting the triggering conduction of the gas switch.However,the plasma jet process and its characteristic parameters are complicated and the existing test methods cannot fully characterize its development laws.In this work,a two-dimensional transient fluid calculation model of the plasma jet process of the gas gap switch is established based on the renormalization-group k-εturbulence equation.The results show that the characteristic parameters and morphological evolution of the plasma jet are basically consistent with the experimental results,which verifies the accuracy of the simulation model calculation.The plasma jet is a long strip with an initial velocity of 1.0 km·s-1and develops in both axial and radial directions.The jet velocity fluctuates significantly with axial height.As the plasma jet enters the main gap,the pressure inside the trigger cavity drops by80%,resulting in a rapid drop in the jet velocity.When the plasma jet head interacts with the atmosphere,the two-phase fluid compresses each other,generating a forward-propelled pressure wave.The plasma jet heads flow at high velocity,a negative pressure zone is formed in the middle part of the jet,and the pressure peak decreases gradually with height.As the value of the inlet pressure increases,the characteristic parameters of the plasma jet increase.The entrainment phenomenon is evident,which leads to an increase in the pressure imbalance of the atmospheric gas medium,leading to a significant Coanda effect.Compared with air,the characteristic parameters of a plasma jet in SF6are lower,and the morphological evolution is significantly suppressed.The results of this study can provide some insight into the mechanism of action of the switch jet plasma development process.

Linear numerical calculation method for obtaining critical point,pore fluid,and framework parameters of gas-bearing media

Up to now, the primary method for studying critical porosity and porous media are experimental measurements and data analysis. There are few references on how to numerically calculate porosity at the critical point, pore fluid-related parameters, or framework-related parameters. So in this article, we provide a method for calculating these elastic parameters and use this method to analyze gas-bearing samples. We first derive three linear equations for numerical calculations. They are the equation of density p versus porosity Ф, density times the square of compressional wave velocity p Vp^2 versus porosity, and density times the square of shear wave velocity pVs^2 versus porosity. Here porosity is viewed as an independent variable and the other parameters are dependent variables. We elaborate on the calculation steps and provide some notes. Then we use our method to analyze gas-bearing sandstone samples. In the calculations, density and P- and S-velocities are input data and we calculate eleven relative parameters for porous fluid, framework, and critical point. In the end, by comparing our results with experiment measurements, we prove the viability of the method.

EDLC charging performance for microgrid applications

In order to review storage performance of the electric double layer capacitor （EDLC） in microgrid applications, charging time and storage efficiency issues are mainly studied aiming at three different charging modes, including the constant voltage charging mode （CVCM）, the constant current charging mode （CCCM） and the constant power charging mode （CPCM）, based on the practical EDLC product. Numerical calculation methods are presented for different charging modes, and the charging efficiency is also reviewed with strict mathematical deductions, which is validated to be accurate enough and applicable through a simple case with the PV/EDLC system illustration. Finally, trade-off problems between charging time and energy loss are also studied. Research results show that the CPCM is more suitable for microgrid networks compared with the traditional constant-voltage and constant-current charging modes. The hybrid charging method is recommended to save energy and keep high efficiency relatively at the same time. However, how to manage the combination percentage of different charging modes in a reasonable way should be dealt with according to the practical requirements.

An Analysis of Observed Ocean Currents Data and Numerical Simulation in the Offshore Area of Jiaonan

Based on the diurnal consecutively observed data in the offshore area of Jiaonan in 2005, the paper tries to make a preliminary analysis of the specificity of ocean currents, tidal current property and residual current property in the area in observing dates. Then on the basis of observed data analysis and by employing the split-step method, the paper conducts a numerical simulation of the tidal current field, which can show the M2 tidal constituent tidal wave system, current ellipse distribution, maximum current velocity distribution and time-dependent current field. The calculated results agree well with the observed data, which can on the one hand reflect the basic specificities of temporal and spatial distribution of the M2 tidal constituent current field to some extent, and, on the other hand, offer more information about the hydrodynamic condition. So the paper would provide a scientific basis for the making of sea environment protection plans in the offshore area of Jiaonan under certain conditions.

Temperature field calculation on cold crucible continuous melting and directional solidifying Ti50Al alloys

In order to optimize technological parameters and realize directional solidification,temperature fields of cold crucible continuous melting and directional solidifying Ti50Al（mole fraction,%） at different parameters were calculated.Continuous casting of the model is achieved by distinguishing the moving unit at different positions.The calculation results show that the feeding rod is entirely melted at 200 s,the melt of feeding rod has some superheat degree at 300 s under the conditions of 52 kW and 3.0 mm/min.Both the superheat degree and the molten zone of the feeding rod reduce,the solid-liquid interface becomes concave with increasing velocity from 1.2 mm/min to 6.0 mm/min when the power is 52 kW,and the outside layer of the rod cannot be melted at the velocity of 6.0 mm/min.Both superheat degree and the molten zone of the feeding rod increase,the solid-liquid interface descends and becomes concave with increasing power from 48 to 58 kW at velocity of 3.0 mm/min,and the rod cannot be melted entirely when the power is 48 kW.Cold crucible continuous melting and directional solidification of TiAl alloys will be achieved successfully when the pulling velocity and the power are matched appropriately.

NUMERICAL STUDY ON NATURAL CONVECTION HEAT TRANSFER INSIDE RECTANGULAR ENCLOSURE FILLED WITH ANISOTROPIC POROUS MEDIA

Natural convection heat transfer inside horizontal rectangular enclosure filled with the anisotropic porous media, with isothermally heated bottom and cooled top while the vertical walls are adiabatic, is analyzed numerically by applying the Brinkman model-a modified form of Darcy model giving consideration to the viscous effect. The results show that: (1)the permeability ratio (K*=Ky/Kx) is an important factor affecting natural convection heat transfer in the porous media. As K' decreases, the circulation intensity of the natural convectioncells increase significantly, resulting in an enhancement of heat transfer coefficient; (2)the increase of Darcy number (aa=Ky/H2) implies that the viscous effect is more significant. As Da≥10-, there exists a certain difference between the Darcy model and the Brinkman model. It is more significant at a lower permeability ratio. In particalar, with K*≤0. 25, the Nusselt number for Da=10-3 would differ form that of Darcy model up to an amount of 30K. The Darcy flow as depicted by Darcy model is no longer existing and an analysis neglecting the viscous effect will inevitably be of considerable error.

External Characteristics and Internal Flow Features of a Centrifugal Pump during Rapid Startup

Centrifugal pumps always work under steady conditions,and many researches focus on the steady operation.But transient conditions,such as sudden startup and shutdown,are inevitable.The researches on the inner flow of centrifugal pumps under transient conditions have been done,and they show that the transient operation is different from the steady operation.In order to research the evolution of unsteady flow in a centrifugal pump under transient conditions,and to investigate the mechanism of transient effects by analyzing the unsteady flow in a centrifugal pump,the external characteristic experiment and the internal flow numerical calculation of the centrifugal pump with an open impeller during startup is presented.The relationships of the rotation speed,capacity and head between start-time are obtained by the external characteristics experiment.The numerical calculations under startup process are carried out by using the k-e model and N-S equation.The distribution of velocity and pressure in the inner channel of the tested pump was obtained by choosing fourteen start-time points and twelve geometrical points in the impeller channel during startup.The calculation results show that the velocity and the pressure increase linearly with the start-time before rotation＇s speed gets steady,then changes almost horizontally after rotation speed becomes steady,then fluctuates until being steady.The internal flow characteristics are in good agreement with the external characteristic experimental results and numerical calculation.The simulation methods and results make the basis for the diagnosis and optimization of under flow in the centrifugal pump during transient operation.

Supersonic swirling characteristics of natural gas in convergent-divergent nozzles

The supersonic nozzle is a new apparatus which can be used to condense and separate water and heavy hydrocarbons from natural gas.The swirling separation of natural gas in the convergent-divergent nozzle was numerically simulated based on a new design which incorporates a central body. Axial distribution of the main parameters of gas flow was investigated,while the basic parameters of gas flow were obtained as functions of radius at the nozzle exit.The effect of the nozzle geometry on the swirling separation was analyzed.The numerical results show that water and heavy hydrocarbons can be condensed and separated from natural gas under the combined effect of the low temperature（-80℃） and the centrifugal field（482,400g,g is the acceleration of gravity）.The gas dynamic parameters are uniformly distributed correspondingly in the radial central region of the channel,for example the distribution range of the static temperature and the centrifugal acceleration are from -80 to -55℃and 220,000g to 500,000g,respectively,which would create good conditions for the cyclone separation of the liquids.However,high gradients of gas dynamic parameters near the channel walls may impair the process of separation.The geometry of the nozzle has a great influence on the separation performance. Increasing the nozzle convergent angle can improve the separation efficiency.The swirling natural gas can be well separated when the divergent angle takes values from 4°to 12°in the convergent-divergent nozzle.

Numerical study on settlement of high-fill airports in collapsible loess geomaterials:A case study of Lüliang Airport in Shanxi Province,China

Foundation settlement is of great significance for high-fill engineering in collapsible loess areas.To predict the construction settlement of Lüliang Airport located in Shanxi Province,China,a plane strain finite element method considering the linear variation in the modulus,was carried out in this paper based on the results of geotechnical tests.The stress and deformation of four typical sections caused by layered fill are simulated,and then the settlement of the high-fill airport is calculated and analyzed by inputting three sets of parameters.The relative soft parameters of loess geomaterials produce more settlement than the relatively hard parameters.The thicker the filling body is,the greater the settlement is.The filling body constrained by mountains on both sides produces less settlement than the filling body constrained by a mountain on only one side even the filling thickness is almost the same.The settlement caused by the original subbase accounts for 56%−77%of the total settlement,while the fill soils themselves accounts for 23%−44%of the total settlement,which is approximately consistent with the field monitoring results.It provides a good reference for predicting the settlement of similar high-fill engineering.

Design and Mechanical Performance Analysis of a New Wheel Propeller

Nowadays,how to enhance the maneuverability of autonomous underwater vehicles（AUVs） is an important issue in the domain of international navigation in that most AUVs just have a single function of underwater navigation or submarine movement,while the design of thrusters is the key of solving the problem.The multi-moving state autonomous underwater vehicle in this paper can achieve four functions,such as wheels,legs,thrust,and course control depend on the characteristics of spatial deflexion and continual circumgyratetion of the flexible transmission shaft.A new wheel propeller for the multi-moving state autonomous underwater vehicle is presented through analyzing the mechanical characteristics of the ducted propeller and the contracted and loaded tip（CLT） propeller.Then the computational fluid dynamics（CFD） method is used to simulate numerically different propellers open-water performance by using the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes（RANS） equations and Reynolds stress model（RSM） based on sub-domains hybrid meshes.The predicted thrust coefficients,torque coefficients and pressure of the propellers agree well with the experimental data of their open-water performance.The good consistency shows that the numerical method has good accuracy in the prediction of propeller open-water performance,which guides to design the wheel propeller.Moreover,for the sake of ensuring the security and stability of the AUV when it is moving on the ground,finite element method is used to simulate numerically the intensity and vibration characteristics.The proposed final wheel propeller D4-70（WPD4-70） has preferable open-water performance and intensity characteristics,which can realize the agile maneuverability of the multi-moving state autonomous underwater vehicle.

Impact of the eastern water diversion from the south to the north project on the saltwater intrusion in the Changjiang Estuary in China

The south to the north project (WDP) on the saltwater intrusion in the Changjiang Estuary is studied by the improved three-dimensionai (3D) numerical model.The net unit width flux in the Changjiang Estuary as well as the sectional salt flux is calculated in the North Branch (NB),the South Branch (SB),the North Channel (NC),the South Channel (SC),the North Passage (NP) and the South Passage (SP),respectively.The net seaward water flux in the SB is reduced,and the net water flux spilling over from the NB to the SB is enhanced after the eastern WDP.Under the mean river discharge condition in the dry season,the net salt flux spilling over from the NB to the SB is increased by 2.09 t/s and 0.52 t/s during the spring and neap tides,respectively,due to the eastern WDP.The saltwater intrusion in the Changjiang Estuary is enhanced by the eastern WDP.Compared with that during the spring tide,the net water diversion ratio during the neap tide in the NC is smaller,and thus the enhancement of the saltwater intrusion by the eastern WDP is smaller in the NC,and larger in the NP and the SP.The tidally averaged surface salinity at the water intakes of the Dongfengxisha Reservoir,the Chenhang Reservoir and the Qingcaosha Reservoir rises both during the spring and neap tides.

Application of Two-dimensional Viscous CE/SE Method in Calculation of Two-phase Detonation

The method of two-dimensional viscous space-time conservation element and solution element (CE/SE) can be used to calculate the gas-liquid two-phase interior flow field in pulse detonation engine (PDE). In this paper, the evolution of the detonation wave and the distribution of its physical parameters were analyzed. The numerical results show that the change of axial velocity of gas is the same as that of detonation pressure. The larger the liquid droplet radius is, the longer the time to get stable detonation wave is. The calculated results coincide with the experimented results better.

Numerical calculation of flow field inside TiAl melt during rectangular cold crucible directional solidification

Numerical investigations on the flow field in Ti-Al melt during rectangular cold crucible directional solidification were carried out. Combined with the experimental results, 3-D finite element models for calculating flow field inside melting pool were established, the characteristics of the flow under different power parameters were further studied. Numerical calculation results show that there is a complex circular flow in the melt, a rapid horizontal flow exists on the solid/liquid interface and those flows confluence in the center of the melting pool. The flow velocity v increases with the increase of current intensity, but the flow patterns remain unchanged. When the current is 1000 A, the vmax reaches 4 mm/s and the flow on the interface achieves 3 mm/s. Flow patterns are quite different when the frequency changes from 10 kHz to 100 kHz, the mechanism of the frequency influence on the flow pattern is analyzed, and there is an optimum frequency for cold crucible directional solidification.