Three dimensional simulation of fluid flow in X-ray CT images of porous media

2004 ◽  
Vol 28 (13) ◽  
pp. 1327-1360 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Al-Omari ◽  
E. Masad
Author(s):  
Kenichi Katono ◽  
Jun Nukaga ◽  
Takuji Nagayoshi ◽  
Kenichi Yasuda

We have been developing a void fraction distribution measurement technique using the three-dimensional (3D) time-averaged X-ray CT (computed tomography) system to understand two-phase flow behavior inside a fuel assembly for BWR (boiling water reactor) thermal hydraulic conditions of 7.2 MPa and 288 °C. Unlike CT images of a normal standstill object, we can obtain 3D CT images that are reconstructed from time-averaged X-ray projection data of the intermittent two-phase flow. We measured the 3D void fraction distribution in a vertical square (5 × 5) rod array that simulated a BWR fuel assembly in the air-water test. From the 3D time-averaged CT images, we confirmed that the void fraction at the center part of the channel box was higher than that near the channel box wall, and the local void fraction at the central region of a subchannel was higher than that at the gap region of the subchannel. A comparison of the volume-averaged void fractions evaluated by the developed X-ray CT system with those evaluated by a differential pressure transducer in a void fraction range from 0.05 to 0.40 showed satisfactory agreement within a difference of 0.03.


Author(s):  
S. Shahsavari ◽  
M. B. Shafii ◽  
M. H. Saidi

Thermopneumatic micropump is one type of positive displacement micropump, which has many applications due to its relatively large stroke volume, low working voltage, and simple fabrication in microscale. In this paper, a numerical study of heat transfer and fluid flow in a valveless thermopneumatically driven micropump is presented. For rectifying the bidirectional flow, a nozzle and a diffuser are used as the inlet and outlet channels of the chamber. Since the fluid flow is induced by the motion of a diaphragm, the numerical simulation includes fluid structure interaction, which requires applying a dynamic mesh. The domain of solution is divided into two sections; the actuator unit, which contains the secondary fluid, and the main chamber through which the working fluid is passing. The temperature distribution, the pressure variations, and the center deflection of the diaphragm are obtained. In order to validate the model, the numerical results are compared with some experimental data, which shows fair consistency. According to the results of the three dimensional simulation, the rectification efficiency for the nozzle and diffuser channels depends on the frequency.


2003 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 940-950 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Aykac ◽  
E.A. Hoffman ◽  
G. McLennan ◽  
J.M. Reinhardt

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