scholarly journals Hydrodynamic Performance and Cavitation Analysis in Bottom Outlets of Dam Using CFD Modelling

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Omid Aminoroayaie Yamini ◽  
S. Hooman Mousavi ◽  
M. R. Kavianpour ◽  
Ramin Safari Ghaleh

Bottom outlets are significant structures of dams, which are responsible for controlling the flow rate, operation, or removal of reservoir sedimentation. The service gate controls the outlet flow rate, and whenever this gate is out of order, the emergency gate which is located at upstream is utilized. The cavitation phenomenon is one of the common bottom outlets’ problems due to the rapid flow transfer. The present research is a numerical study of the flow pattern in a dam’s bottom outlet for different gate openings by the use of Flow-3D software and RNG k-ε turbulence model. The investigation is carried out on the Sardab Dam, an earth dam in Isfahan (Iran). The maximum velocity for 100% opening of the gate and Howell Bunger valve is about 18 m/s in the section below the gate, and the maximum velocity for 40% opening of the gate is equal to 23.1 m/s. For 50% opening of the service and emergency gate in the valve’s upstream areas, the desired pressure values are reduced. Moreover, in the areas between the two emergency and service gates, the pressure values are reduced. The possibility of cavitation in this area can be reduced by installing aerators. The flow pattern in Sardab Dam’s bottom outlet has relatively stable and proper conditions, and there are no troublesome hydraulic phenomena such as local vortices, undesirable variations in pressure, and velocity in the tunnel, and there is no flow separation in the critical area of flow entering into the branch.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 3404
Author(s):  
Majid Hejazian ◽  
Eugeniu Balaur ◽  
Brian Abbey

Microfluidic devices which integrate both rapid mixing and liquid jetting for sample delivery are an emerging solution for studying molecular dynamics via X-ray diffraction. Here we use finite element modelling to investigate the efficiency and time-resolution achievable using microfluidic mixers within the parameter range required for producing stable liquid jets. Three-dimensional simulations, validated by experimental data, are used to determine the velocity and concentration distribution within these devices. The results show that by adopting a serpentine geometry, it is possible to induce chaotic mixing, which effectively reduces the time required to achieve a homogeneous mixture for sample delivery. Further, we investigate the effect of flow rate and the mixer microchannel size on the mixing efficiency and minimum time required for complete mixing of the two solutions whilst maintaining a stable jet. In general, we find that the smaller the cross-sectional area of the mixer microchannel, the shorter the time needed to achieve homogeneous mixing for a given flow rate. The results of these simulations will form the basis for optimised designs enabling the study of molecular dynamics occurring on millisecond timescales using integrated mix-and-inject microfluidic devices.


2021 ◽  
pp. 174425912098418
Author(s):  
Toivo Säwén ◽  
Martina Stockhaus ◽  
Carl-Eric Hagentoft ◽  
Nora Schjøth Bunkholt ◽  
Paula Wahlgren

Timber roof constructions are commonly ventilated through an air cavity beneath the roof sheathing in order to remove heat and moisture from the construction. The driving forces for this ventilation are wind pressure and thermal buoyancy. The wind driven ventilation has been studied extensively, while models for predicting buoyant flow are less developed. In the present study, a novel analytical model is presented to predict the air flow caused by thermal buoyancy in a ventilated roof construction. The model provides means to calculate the cavity Rayleigh number for the roof construction, which is then correlated with the air flow rate. The model predictions are compared to the results of an experimental and a numerical study examining the effect of different cavity designs and inclinations on the air flow rate in a ventilated roof subjected to varying heat loads. Over 80 different test set-ups, the analytical model was found to replicate both experimental and numerical results within an acceptable margin. The effect of an increased total roof height, air cavity height and solar heat load for a given construction is an increased air flow rate through the air cavity. On average, the analytical model predicts a 3% higher air flow rate than found in the numerical study, and a 20% lower air flow rate than found in the experimental study, for comparable test set-ups. The model provided can be used to predict the air flow rate in cavities of varying design, and to quantify the impact of suggested roof design changes. The result can be used as a basis for estimating the moisture safety of a roof construction.


Author(s):  
Riccardo Da Soghe ◽  
Cosimo Bianchini ◽  
Carl M. Sangan ◽  
James A. Scobie ◽  
Gary D. Lock

This paper deals with a numerical study aimed at the characterization of hot gas ingestion through turbine rim seals. The numerical campaign focused on an experimental facility which models ingress through the rim seal into the upstream wheel-space of an axial-turbine stage. Single-clearance arrangements were considered in the form of axial- and radial-seal gap configurations. With the radial-seal clearance configuration, CFD steady-state solutions were able to predict the system sealing effectiveness over a wide range of coolant mass flow rates reasonably well. The greater insight of flow field provided by the computations illustrates the thermal buffering effect when ingress occurs: for a given sealing flow rate, the effectiveness on the rotor was significantly higher than that on the stator due to the axial flow of hot gases from stator to rotor caused by pumping effects. The predicted effectiveness on the rotor was compared with a theoretical model for the thermal buffering effect showing good agreement. When the axial-seal clearance arrangement is considered, the agreement between CFD and experiments worsens; the variation of sealing effectiveness with coolant flow rate calculated by means of the simulations display a distinct kink. It was found that the “kink phenomenon” can be ascribed to an over-estimation of the egress spoiling effects due to turbulence modelling limitations. Despite some weaknesses in the numerical predictions, the paper shows that CFD can be used to characterize the sealing performance of axial- and radial-clearance turbine rim seals.


2018 ◽  
Vol 341 ◽  
pp. 151-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Gong ◽  
Chun-Yu Guo ◽  
Tie-Cheng Wu ◽  
Ke-Wei Song

Author(s):  
Gaffar G. Momin

Cavitation phenomenon is basically a process formation of bubbles of a flowing liquid in a region where the pressure of the liquid falls below its vapour pressure and it is the most challenging fluid flow abnormalities leading to detrimental effects on both the centrifugal pump discharge characteristics as well as physical characteristics. In this low pressure zones are the first victims of cavitation. Due to cavitation pitting of impeller occurs and wear of internal walls of pumps occurs due to which there is creation of vibrations and noize are there. Due to this there is bad performance of centrifugal pump is there. Firstly, description of the centrifugal pump with its various parts are described after that pump characteristics and its important parameters are presented and discussed. Passive discharge (flow rate) control methods are utilized for improvement of flow rate and mechanical and volumetric and overall efficiency of the pump. Mechanical engineers is considering an important phenomenon which is known as Cavitation due to which there is decrease in centrifugal pump performance. There is also effect on head of the pump which is getting reduced due to cavitation phenomenon. In present experimental investigation the cavitation phenomenon is studied by starting and running the pump at various discharges and cavitating conditions of the centrifugal pump. Passive discharge (flow rate) control is realized using three different impeller blade leading edge angles namely 9.5 degrees, 16.5 degrees .and 22.5 degrees for reduction in the cavitation and increase the of the centrifugal pump performance at different applications namely, domestic, industrial applications of the centrifugal pump.


2018 ◽  
Vol 225 ◽  
pp. 02003
Author(s):  
Elaine Why ◽  
Firas Alnaimi ◽  
Hasril Hasini ◽  
Mohammad Nasif

Complete combustion of coal fuel in thermal power plant is often achieved, by ensuring output of fine coal particle (< 75μm) is as high as possible. This is due to the fact that same mass of coal particle in smaller sizes, has higher surface exposed to combustion. Hence, the objective of the study is to determine the effect of air flow rate and coal particle flow rate on coal fineness output. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling and validation with experimental coal fineness test in real plant are made. The optimum range of air flow rate and coal particle flow rate in pulverizer are selected, by considering relevant air/fuel ratio of 1.5 to 2.0 and turbulence intensity.


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