scholarly journals Exergy Analysis of a Direct Contact Membrane Distillation (DCMD) System Based on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)

Membranes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 525
Author(s):  
Jihyeok Choi ◽  
Yongjun Choi ◽  
Juyoung Lee ◽  
Yusik Kim ◽  
Sangho Lee

Understanding the energy efficiency of direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) is important for the widespread application and practical implementation of the process. This study analyzed the available energy, known as exergy, in a DCMD system using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). A CFD model was developed to investigate the hydrodynamic and thermal conditions in a DCMD module. After the CFD model was verified, it was used to calculate the temperature polarization coefficient (TPC) and exergy destruction magnitudes under various operating conditions. The results revealed that slight decreases and increases in the TPC occurred with distance from the inlet in the module. The TPC was found to increase as the feed temperature was reduced and the feed and permeate flow rates were increased. The exergy destruction phenomenon was more significant under higher feed temperatures and higher flux conditions. Although the most significant exergy destruction in the permeate occurred near the feed inlet, the effect became less influential closer to the feed outlet. An analysis of exergy flows revealed that the efficiency loss in the permeate side corresponded to 32.9–45.3% of total exergy destruction.

2014 ◽  
Vol 53 (37) ◽  
pp. 14526-14543 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dale D. McClure ◽  
Hannah Norris ◽  
John M. Kavanagh ◽  
David F. Fletcher ◽  
Geoffrey W. Barton

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (23) ◽  
pp. 8573
Author(s):  
Franco Concli

For decades, journal bearings have been designed based on the half-Sommerfeld equations. The semi-analytical solution of the conservation equations for mass and momentum leads to the pressure distribution along the journal. However, this approach admits negative values for the pressure, phenomenon without experimental evidence. To overcome this, negative values of the pressure are artificially substituted with the vaporization pressure. This hypothesis leads to reasonable results, even if for a deeper understanding of the physics behind the lubrication and the supporting effects, cavitation should be considered and included in the mathematical model. In a previous paper, the author has already shown the capability of computational fluid dynamics to accurately reproduce the experimental evidences including the Kunz cavitation model in the calculations. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) results were compared in terms of pressure distribution with experimental data coming from different configurations. The CFD model was coupled with an analytical approach in order to calculate the equilibrium position and the trajectory of the journal. Specifically, the approach was used to study a bearing that was designed to operate within tight tolerances and speeds up to almost 30,000 rpm for operation in a gearbox.


Author(s):  
Deval Pandya ◽  
Brian Dennis ◽  
Ronnie Russell

In recent years, the study of flow-induced erosion phenomena has gained interest as erosion has a direct influence on the life, reliability and safety of equipment. Particularly significant erosion can occur inside the drilling tool components caused by the low particle loading (<10%) in the drilling fluid. Due to the difficulty and cost of conducting experiments, significant efforts have been invested in numerical predictive tools to understand and mitigate erosion within drilling tools. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is becoming a powerful tool to predict complex flow-erosion and a cost-effective method to re-design drilling equipment for mitigating erosion. Existing CFD-based erosion models predict erosion regions fairly accurately, but these models have poor reliability when it comes to quantitative predictions. In many cases, the error can be greater than an order of magnitude. The present study focuses on development of an improved CFD-erosion model for predicting the qualitative as well as the quantitative aspects of erosion. A finite-volume based CFD-erosion model was developed using a commercially available CFD code. The CFD model involves fluid flow and turbulence modeling, particle tracking, and application of existing empirical erosion models. All parameters like surface velocity, particle concentration, particle volume fraction, etc., used in empirical erosion equations are obtained through CFD analysis. CFD modeling parameters like numerical schemes, turbulence models, near-wall treatments, grid strategy and discrete particle model parameters were investigated in detail to develop guidelines for erosion prediction. As part of this effort, the effect of computed results showed good qualitative and quantitative agreement for the benchmark case of flow through an elbow at different flow rates and particle sizes. This paper proposes a new/modified erosion model. The combination of an improved CFD methodology and a new erosion model provides a novel computational approach that accurately predicts the location and magnitude of erosion. Reliable predictive methodology can help improve designs of downhole equipment to mitigate erosion risk as well as provide guidance on repair and maintenance intervals. This will eventually lead to improvement in the reliability and safety of downhole tool operation.


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