NUMERICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE MECHANISM OF ASYMMETRIC VORTEX FLOWS

A robust iterative method suitable for the numerical simulation of high angle-of-attack vortex flows is established based upon the multiple line-vortex model(MLVM).With symmetric or asymmetric positions of sep- aration lines given,the first converged solution at an angle of attack as high as 60 degree is obtained by means of the present method.Numerical experiments for a tangent-ogive forebody indicate the viscous onset mechanism of asymmetric vortex flows over a body of revolution at high angles of attack and zero sideslip.

Numerical simulation of gas transport mechanisms in tight shale gas reservoirs

Due to the nanometer scale pore size and extremely low permeability of a shale matrix,traditional Darcy＇s law can not exactly describe the combined gas transport mechanisms of viscous flow and Knudsen diffusion.Three transport models modified by the Darcy equation with apparent permeability are used to describe the combined gas transport mechanisms in ultra-tight porous media,the result shows that Knudsen diffusion has a great impact on the gas transport and Darcy＇s law cannot be used in a shale matrix with a pore diameter less than 1 μm.A single porosity model and a double porosity model with consideration of the combined gas transport mechanisms are developed to evaluate the influence of gas transport mechanisms and fracture parameters respectively on shale gas production.The numerical results show that the gas production predicted by Darcy＇s law is lower than that predicted with consideration of Knudsen diffusion and the tighter the shale matrix,the greater difference of the gas production estimates.In addition,the numerical simulation results indicate that shale fractures have a great impact on shale gas production.Shale gas cannot be produced economically without fractures.

MIXED COMPATIBLE ELEMENT AND MIXED HYBRID INCOMPATIBLE ELEMENT VARIATIONAL METHODS IN DYNAMICS OF VISCOUS BAROTROPIC FLUIDS

This paper presents and proves the mixed compatible finite element variationalprinciples in dynamics of viscous barotropic fluids. When the principles are proved, itis found that the compatibility conditions of stress can be naturally satisfied. The gene-rallzed variational principles with mixed hybrid incompatible finite elements are alsopresented and proved, and they can reduce the computation of incompatible elements indynamics of viscous barotropic flows.

Viscous Fluid Flowing around the Plate: Turbulence

Diffusion of momentum gives rise to viscosity. This article presents a solution in the explicit form of the equation of the momentum diffusion for a viscous fluid flowing around a plate taking into account deceleration. Three characteristic regions of a viscous flow have been described: the mantle, the body of the boundary layer, the viscous sublayer. In the mantle, the effect of viscosity is significant at a considerable distance from the plate. The momentum diffusion is focused in the body of the boundary layer. The diffusion force that produces the momentum of force giving rise to eddies is localized in the viscous sublayer. At the beginning of the plate, a moment of force twists the liquid along the flow, creating eddies that roll along the plate. For this reason, they are pressed against the surface of the plate. But at some distance from the beginning of the plate, the moment of force changes its orientation to the opposite and twists the vortices in the opposite direction, causing the vortices to roll along the plate against the flow. This causes the liquid to detach from the surface of the plate. This is the beginning of turbulence. The diameter of the vortex produced in the viscous sublayer is small being of the order of the thickness of the viscous sublayer. The vortex possesses a large angular velocity. Due to the momentum diffusion and the effect of the eddies combined in passing along the plate, its diameter increases up to the size of the thickness of the boundary layer and even more, whereas its angular velocity decreases down to the values really observed. The value of the critical Reynolds number of the transition from the laminar flow to the turbulent one has been found, and it agrees with the experimental data. The value of the shear stress produced by the viscous fluid on the plate surface has also been obtained. The way of measurement of the friction coefficient characterizing the effect of the plate on the flow has been proposed. It has been shown that the boundary condition of adhesion to the surface of a body flown around, that is applied in the estimation of viscous flows, contradicts the real processes of the flow.

Influence of Oxygen-Containing Functional Groups on Asphaltene Self-Diffusion Coefficient in Asphaltene-Xylene Systems

Molecular simulations were carried out to investigate the self-diffusion coefficient of asphaltene in asphaltene-xylene systems,used as heavy oil models.The self-diffusion behavior of asphaltene in the asphaltene-xylene equilibrium system was mainly affected by the interaction between asphaltene molecules,with stronger interactions corresponding to a slower diffusion of asphaltene.The interactions between asphaltene molecules mainly includedπ-πinteractions between aromatic rings and hydrogen bonds between strongly electronegative heteroatoms.These results are expected to provide theoretical guidance for reducing the viscosity of heavy oil.

Investigation and Improvement of the Staggered Labyrinth Seal

Recent studies on staggered labyrinth seals have focused on the effects of different parameters,such as the pressure ratio and rotational speed on the leakage flow rate.However,few investigations pay sufficient attention to flow details and the sealing mechanism,which would be of practical importance in designing seals having higher performance.This paper establishes a theoretical model to study the seal mechanism,thus revealing that leakage is determined by the pressure ratio and geometric structure.Numerical simulation is implemented to illustrate details of the flow field within the seal structure.Viscous dissipation is used to quantitatively investigate the contribution that each location makes to the seal performance,revealing that orifices and stagnation points are the most important positions in the seal structure,generating the most dissipation.The orifice is carefully studied by using the theoretical model.Experiments for different pressure ratios are conducted and the results match well with those of the theoretical model and numerical simulation,verifying the theoretical model and analysis of the seal mechanism.Three new designs,based on a good understanding of the seal mechanism,are presented,with one reducing leakage by 24.5%.