The gravitational settling of aerosol particles in homogeneous turbulence and random flow fields

1987 ◽  
Vol 174 ◽  
pp. 441-465 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. R. Maxey

The average settling velocity in homogeneous turbulence of a small rigid spherical particle, subject to a Stokes drag force, is shown to depend on the particle inertia and the free-fall terminal velocity in still fluid. With no inertia the particle settles on average at the same rate as in still fluid, assuming there is no mean flow. Particle inertia produces a bias in each trajectory towards regions of high strain rate or low vorticity, which affects the mean settling velocity. Results from a Gaussian random velocity field show that this produces an increased settling velocity.

Author(s):  
Michael W. Reeks

Comparisons are made between the Advection-Diffusion Equation (ADE) approach for particle transport and the two fluid model approach based on the PDF method. In principal the ADE approach offers a simpler way of calculating the inertial deposition of particles in a turbulent boundary layer than that based on the PDF approach. However the ADE equations that have recently been used are only strictly valid for a simple Gaussian process when particle inertia is small. Using a prescribed but in general non-Gaussian random particle velocity field, it is shown that the net particle mass flux contains an extra drift term to that from the mean velocity of the particle velocity field, associated with the compressibility of the velocity field. Furthermore the diffusive flux in general depends not only upon the gradient of the mean concentration (true only for a Gaussian random flow field) but also upon higher order derivatives whose relative contribution depends on diffusion coefficients Dijk... etc. These coefficients depend upon the statistical moments associated with random displacements and compressibility of the particle flow field along particle trajectories which in turn depend upon particle inertia. In contrast the PDF approach offers the advantage of using a simple gradient (Gaussian) approximation in particle phase space which can lead to a non-Gaussian spatial dispersion process when particle inertia is important. Conditions based on the particle mean free path are derived for which a simple ADE is appropriate. Some of the features of particle transport in an inhomogeneous turbulent flow are illustrated by examining particle dispersion in a random flow field composed of pairs of counter rotating vortices which has an rms velocity which increase linearly from a stagnation point.


1993 ◽  
Vol 256 ◽  
pp. 27-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lian-Ping Wang ◽  
Martin R. Maxey

The average settling velocity in homogeneous turbulence of a small rigid spherical particle, subject to a Stokes drag force, has been shown to differ from that in still fluid owing to a bias from the particle inertia (Maxey 1987). Previous numerical results for particles in a random flow field, where the flow dynamics were not considered, showed an increase in the average settling velocity. Direct numerical simulations of the motion of heavy particles in isotropic homogeneous turbulence have been performed where the flow dynamics are included. These show that a significant increase in the average settling velocity can occur for particles with inertial response time and still-fluid terminal velocity comparable to the Kolmogorov scales of the turbulence. This increase may be as much as 50% of the terminal velocity, which is much larger than was previously found. The concentration field of the heavy particles, obtained from direct numerical simulations, shows the importance of the inertial bias with particles tending to collect in elongated sheets on the peripheries of local vortical structures. This is coupled then to a preferential sweeping of the particles in downward moving fluid. Again the importance of Kolmogorov scaling to these processes is demonstrated. Finally, some consideration is given to larger particles that are subject to a nonlinear drag force where it is found that the nonlinearity reduces the net increase in settling velocity.


2019 ◽  
Vol 864 ◽  
pp. 925-970 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alec J. Petersen ◽  
Lucia Baker ◽  
Filippo Coletti

We study experimentally the spatial distribution, settling and interaction of sub-Kolmogorov inertial particles with homogeneous turbulence. Utilizing a zero-mean-flow air turbulence chamber, we drop size-selected solid particles and study their dynamics with particle imaging and tracking velocimetry at multiple resolutions. The carrier flow is simultaneously measured by particle image velocimetry of suspended tracers, allowing the characterization of the interplay between both the dispersed and continuous phases. The turbulence Reynolds number based on the Taylor microscale ranges from $Re_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D706}}\approx 200{-}500$, while the particle Stokes number based on the Kolmogorov scale varies between $St_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D702}}=O(1)$ and $O(10)$. Clustering is confirmed to be most intense for $St_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D702}}\approx 1$, but it extends over larger scales for heavier particles. Individual clusters form a hierarchy of self-similar, fractal-like objects, preferentially aligned with gravity and with sizes that can reach the integral scale of the turbulence. Remarkably, the settling velocity of $St_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D702}}\approx 1$ particles can be several times larger than the still-air terminal velocity, and the clusters can fall even faster. This is caused by downward fluid fluctuations preferentially sweeping the particles, and we propose that this mechanism is influenced by both large and small scales of the turbulence. The particle–fluid slip velocities show large variance, and both the instantaneous particle Reynolds number and drag coefficient can greatly differ from their nominal values. Finally, for sufficient loadings, the particles generally augment the small-scale fluid velocity fluctuations, which however may account for a limited fraction of the turbulent kinetic energy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 168781402090782
Author(s):  
Hiroki Suzuki ◽  
Shinsuke Mochizuki ◽  
Yutaka Hasegawa

The present study introduces third-order quasi-analytical solutions of a turbulence-modeling equation, where the standard [Formula: see text] model equation is used because this model is commonly and widely used in engineering applications. These quasi-analytical solutions describe the robustness of decaying homogeneous turbulence. In the present study, decaying homogeneous turbulence influenced by a weak fluid acceleration of mean flow, which is equivalent to the small strain of the mean flow, is considered. Here, the small strain of the mean flow only slightly affects the anisotropy of the decaying homogeneous turbulence, as shown in previous experiments. Simplified governing equations are derived from the governing equations of the turbulence modeling by introducing the conditions of the small strain. Here, two nondimensional functions are introduced in order to describe the influence on the turbulent kinetic energy and its dissipation using decay laws of the turbulent kinetic energy and its dissipation. Three constants included in the quasi-analytical solutions could be obtained using observable parameters.


1985 ◽  
Vol 50 (11) ◽  
pp. 2396-2410
Author(s):  
Miloslav Hošťálek ◽  
Ivan Fořt

The study describes a method of modelling axial-radial circulation in a tank with an axial impeller and radial baffles. The proposed model is based on the analytical solution of the equation for vortex transport in the mean flow of turbulent liquid. The obtained vortex flow model is tested by the results of experiments carried out in a tank of diameter 1 m and with the bottom in the shape of truncated cone as well as by the data published for the vessel of diameter 0.29 m with flat bottom. Though the model equations are expressed in a simple form, good qualitative and even quantitative agreement of the model with reality is stated. Apart from its simplicity, the model has other advantages: minimum number of experimental data necessary for the completion of boundary conditions and integral nature of these data.


2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (10) ◽  
pp. 4323-4331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wouter J. M. Knoben ◽  
Jim E. Freer ◽  
Ross A. Woods

Abstract. A traditional metric used in hydrology to summarize model performance is the Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE). Increasingly an alternative metric, the Kling–Gupta efficiency (KGE), is used instead. When NSE is used, NSE = 0 corresponds to using the mean flow as a benchmark predictor. The same reasoning is applied in various studies that use KGE as a metric: negative KGE values are viewed as bad model performance, and only positive values are seen as good model performance. Here we show that using the mean flow as a predictor does not result in KGE = 0, but instead KGE =1-√2≈-0.41. Thus, KGE values greater than −0.41 indicate that a model improves upon the mean flow benchmark – even if the model's KGE value is negative. NSE and KGE values cannot be directly compared, because their relationship is non-unique and depends in part on the coefficient of variation of the observed time series. Therefore, modellers who use the KGE metric should not let their understanding of NSE values guide them in interpreting KGE values and instead develop new understanding based on the constitutive parts of the KGE metric and the explicit use of benchmark values to compare KGE scores against. More generally, a strong case can be made for moving away from ad hoc use of aggregated efficiency metrics and towards a framework based on purpose-dependent evaluation metrics and benchmarks that allows for more robust model adequacy assessment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 108 ◽  
pp. 106377
Author(s):  
Mohammed Faheem ◽  
Aqib Khan ◽  
Rakesh Kumar ◽  
Sher Afghan Khan ◽  
Waqar Asrar ◽  
...  

Fluids ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thorben Helmers ◽  
Philip Kemper ◽  
Jorg Thöming ◽  
Ulrich Mießner

Microscopic multiphase flows have gained broad interest due to their capability to transfer processes into new operational windows and achieving significant process intensification. However, the hydrodynamic behavior of Taylor droplets is not yet entirely understood. In this work, we introduce a model to determine the excess velocity of Taylor droplets in square microchannels. This velocity difference between the droplet and the total superficial velocity of the flow has a direct influence on the droplet residence time and is linked to the pressure drop. Since the droplet does not occupy the entire channel cross-section, it enables the continuous phase to bypass the droplet through the corners. A consideration of the continuity equation generally relates the excess velocity to the mean flow velocity. We base the quantification of the bypass flow on a correlation for the droplet cap deformation from its static shape. The cap deformation reveals the forces of the flowing liquids exerted onto the interface and allows estimating the local driving pressure gradient for the bypass flow. The characterizing parameters are identified as the bypass length, the wall film thickness, the viscosity ratio between both phases and the C a number. The proposed model is adapted with a stochastic, metaheuristic optimization approach based on genetic algorithms. In addition, our model was successfully verified with high-speed camera measurements and published empirical data.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. 3625
Author(s):  
Jon Hardwick ◽  
Ed B. L. Mackay ◽  
Ian G. C. Ashton ◽  
Helen C. M. Smith ◽  
Philipp R. Thies

Numerical modeling of currents and waves is used throughout the marine energy industry for resource assessment. This study compared the output of numerical flow simulations run both as a standalone model and as a two-way coupled wave–current simulation. A regional coupled flow-wave model was established covering the English Channel using the Delft D-Flow 2D model coupled with a SWAN spectral wave model. Outputs were analyzed at three tidal energy sites: Alderney Race, Big Roussel (Guernsey), and PTEC (Isle of Wight). The difference in the power in the tidal flow between coupled and standalone model runs was strongly correlated to the relative direction of the waves and currents. The net difference between the coupled and standalone runs was less than 2.5%. However, when wave and current directions were aligned, the mean flow power was increased by up to 7%, whereas, when the directions were opposed, the mean flow power was reduced by as much as 9.6%. The D-Flow Flexible Mesh model incorporates the effects of waves into the flow calculations in three areas: Stokes drift, forcing by radiation stress gradients, and enhancement of the bed shear stress. Each of these mechanisms is discussed. Forcing from radiation stress gradients is shown to be the dominant mechanism affecting the flow conditions at the sites considered, primarily caused by dissipation of wave energy due to white-capping. Wave action is an important consideration at tidal energy sites. Although the net impact on the flow power was found to be small for the present sites, the effect is site specific and may be significant at sites with large wave exposure or strong asymmetry in the flow conditions and should thus be considered for detailed resource and engineering assessments.


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