Numerical Investigation to Derive Correlations for Hydrodynamic Entrance Length in Very Low Reynolds Number Regime in Rectangular Microchannels

A three-dimensional laminar flow model was used for 37 Reynolds numbers (0.1, 0.2…1, 2…10, 20…100, and 200…1000) through six rectangular microchannels (aspect ratios: 1, 0.75, 0.5, 0.25, 0.2, and 0.125) to develop correlations for hydrodynamic entrance length. The majority of the Reynolds numbers are in the low regime (Re < 100) to fulfill the need to determine the hydrodynamic entrance length for microchannels. Examination of the fully developed flow condition was considered using the velocity or fRe criteria. Numerical results from the present simulations were validated by comparing the fRe results. Two new correlations were developed from a vast amount of numerical data (222 simulations). The velocity criterion correlations predict entrance length with a mean error of 4.67% and maximum error of 10.28%. The fRe criterion generated better correlations and were developed as a function of aspect ratio to predict entrance length with a mean error less than 2% and maximum error of 5.75% for 0.1 ≤ Re ≤ 1000 and 0 ≤ α ≤ ∞.

Inlet Effect Caused by Multichannel Structure for Molecular Electronic Transducer Based on a Turbulent-Laminar Flow Model

The actual fluid form of an electrolyte in a molecular electronic converter is an important factor that causes a decrease in the accuracy of a molecular electronic transducer (MET) liquid motion sensor. To study the actual fluid morphology of an inertial electrolyte in molecular electron transducers, an inlet effect is defined according to the fluid morphology of turbulent-laminar flow, and a numerical simulation model of turbulent-laminar flow is proposed. Based on the turbulent-laminar flow model, this paper studies the variation of the inlet effect intensity when the thickness of the outermost insulating layer is 50 µm and 100 µm, respectively. Meanwhile, the changes of the inlet effect intensity and the error rate of central axial velocity field are also analyzed when the input signal intensity is different. Through the numerical experiment, it verifies that the thickness of the outermost insulating layer and the amplitude of the input signal are two important factors which can affect the inlet effect intensity and also the accuracy of the MET. Therefore, this study can provide a theoretical basis for the quantitative study on the performance optimization of a MET liquid sensor.

The Study of Sand-blocking Characteristic and Flow Field Simulation Analysis of the Ring-shaped Sand-barrier

Aiming at the complexity of wind direction and irregular sand flow in a desert area, a combinatorial ring-shaped sand barrier is used. Stokes law of inertia force and centrifugal force and gravity sedimentation are used. With CFD fluid software Fluent, laminar flow model Equation and κ-ε turbulence model, the wind speed of the sand in the sand-gas-solid two-phase flow passing through the circular sand barrier is studied at different distances and different altitudes after the sand barrier, the wind speeds before and after the sand barrier are compared and analyzed . The mean minimum wind speed behind the single sand barrier was reduced by 32.5% -49.4% compared with that before the sand barrier. The wind speed at different height of the composite sand barrier was reduced by 30% -58.3% compared with the inlet wind speed, which solved the problem of irregular wind and sand control in the desert wind direction.

The Caltech Photooxidation Flow Tube Reactor – I: Design and Fluid Dynamics

Flow tube reactors are employed to study gas-phase atmospheric chemistry and secondary organic aerosol formation. A new laminar flow tube reactor, the Caltech PhotoOxidation flow Tube (CPOT), has been designed with the aim of achieving a well-characterized fluid dynamic and residence time environment. We present here the design and fluid dynamical characterization of the CPOT, based on the fundamental behavior of vapor molecules and particles in the reactor. The design of the inlet of the CPOT, which was based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, comprises a static mixer and a conical diffuser to facilitate rapid development of the characteristic laminar flow parabolic profile. A CFD laminar flow model is developed to simulate the residence time distribution (RTD) of vapor molecules and particles in the CPOT. To assess the extent to which the actual performance adheres to the theoretical CFD model, RTD experiments were conducted with O3 and sub-micrometer ammonium sulfate particles. The measured RTD profiles do not strictly adhere to theory, owing to slightly non-isothermal conditions in the reactor, which lead to secondary flows. Introducing an enhanced eddy-like diffusivity for the vapor molecules and particles in the laminar flow model significantly improves the model-experiment agreement. These characterization experiments, in addition to the idealized computational behavior, provide a basis on which to evaluate the performance of the CPOT as a chemical reactor.

Acid hydrolysis of O-acetyl-galactoglucomannan in a continuous tube reactor: a new approach to sugar monomer production

Hemicellulose O-acetyl-galactoglucomannan (GGM) is the main noncellulosic water-soluble polysaccharide in the coniferous softwood Norway spruce, consisting of anhydro-galactose, -glucose, and -mannose. Acid hydrolysis of GGM has been studied in a continuous tube reactor to obtain these sugars under industrially relevant conditions. The reaction was performed under atmospheric pressure at 90°C and 95°C, and hydrochloric acid (HCl) served as catalyst. The influence of the reaction parameters, such as acid concentration (pH), temperature, concentration of the substrate, as well as catalyst and reactant flow rates, has been studied on the conversion efficiency and product distribution. Continuous production of monomeric sugars was achieved without formation of low-molecular by-products. The GGM conversion was high with HCl as catalyst, at 95°C, and a pH of 0.3. The main hydrolysis products were mannose, glucose, and galactose monomers. Minor amounts of sugar dimers were detected among the products. The experimental results are described with a laminar flow model for the continuous reactor.

Numerical Simulation on Interface Evolution and Impact of Flooding Flow

A numerical model based on Navier-Stokes equation is developed to simulate the interface evolution of flooding flows. The two-dimensional fluid domain is discretised by structured rectangular elements according to finite volume method (FVM). The interface between air and liquid is captured through compressive interface capturing scheme for arbitrary meshes (CICSAM) based on the idea of volume of fluid (VOF). semiimplicit method for pressure linked equations (SIMPLE) scheme is used for the pressure-velocity coupling. A second order upwind discretization scheme is applied for the momentum equations. Both laminar flow model and turbulent flow model have been studied and the results have been compared. Previous experiments and other numerical solutions are employed to verify the present results on a single flooding liquid body. Then the simulation is extended to two colliding flooding liquid bodies. The impacting force of the flooding flow on an obstacle has been also analyzed. The present results show a favourable agreement with those by previous simulations and experiments.

Paraffin Depositing Mechanism and Prediction Methods of Paraffin Removal Cycle

This paper explains the mechanism of oil well paraffin deposit. The paraffin deposit velocity has a closed relationship with the temperature distribution of the well, the production of the well , and the roughness of pipe. This paper quantitatively calculates the speed of paraffin deposit of oil wells on the basis of certain assumptions, deduces the quantitative calculation method of paraffin removal cycle based on laminar flow model and provides a quantitative basis for determining the oil well paraffin removal cycle on time.

Diffusion and Equilibrium Adsorption Coefficients of Aromatic Hydrocarbon Species in Capillary Columns

This study focuses on a mathematical description of elution of aromatic species in a 30 m×0.25 mm×0.25 μm BPX5 capillary column. Experimental studies involve the detection of chemical species at the capillary column outlet. Using the recorded peaks, statistical moments of different orders are calculated for both toluene and naphthalene. Modeling studies involve a laminar flow model with an equilibrium coefficient (Ks) and a solute diffusion coefficient in the stationary phase (Ds). Model validation is developed by performing experiments at different carrier gas velocities and GC oven temperatures. Under the conditions, neither the first statistical moment (M1) nor the second statistical moment (M2) is affected by the carrier gas velocity. Thus, the interface equilibrium coefficients (Ks) and the diffusion coefficients (Ds) solely depend on the solute and the capillary column polymer coating properties. Furthermore, the statistical moments of different orders show that the proposed interface equilibrium based model in the “narrow bore” 30 m×0.25 mm×0.25 μm BPX5 capillary column is adequate for aromatic species such as toluene and naphthalene.

Multi-Cup Isoflux Gas Anchor Numerical Simulation of Oil-Water Separating

Gas anchor is also known as downhole oil and gas separator. It plays a role of separating the gas and oil before the fluid flows into the pump, thus to eliminate the influence of gas and improve pump efficiency. It can also extend the lifetime of the equipment and increase the oil well output. On the analysis of factors affecting the efficiency of gas anchor, I built 3D models in Gambit on the basis of the blueprint of multi-cup isoflux gas anchor. I used Fluent to calculate the multi-cup isoflux gas anchor separation of oil and gas with laminar flow model. Then I got the distribution of speed and pressure in the multi-cup isoflux gas anchor and derived the formula of local resistance ratio. Learned that on the application of the multi-cup isoflux gas anchor the pumping wells pump efficiency enhances on an average of more than 25%.