Aerodynamic Functional Diagnostics Based on Angular Momentum Transport Lines

In analogy with the classical concept of mass-flux-based streamlines, we define angular momentum transport (AMT) lines as an aerodynamic functional diagnostic tool. The AMT lines are the ones whose tangents are given by the average angular momentum flux. The mathematical and physical properties of these AMT lines are exploited to study the generation, removal, and transport of angular momentum in turbomachinery components. We illustrate the concept by visualizing AMT lines in two relatively simple flows, namely, vaneless incompressible diffuser and von Karman flow (a model of centrifugal compressors). Next, we apply the proposed diagnostic tool to flow in a return channel. A return channel is a part of a multistage centrifugal compressor stage. Its principal function is to remove angular momentum. In this work, we apply the diagnostic tool of AMT lines to a Reynolds-averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) simulation and a wall-modeled large eddy simulation (LES) of flow in the return channel. We show that AMT lines give us insights into the AMT process that are otherwise not available with conventional visualization tools.

Circulation Around a Constrained Curve: An Alternative Analysis Tool for Diagnosing the Origins of Tornado Rotation in Numerical Supercell Simulations

Fine-resolution computer models of supercell storms generate realistic tornadic vortices. Like real tornadoes, the origins of these virtual vortices are mysterious. To diagnose the origin of a tornado, typically a near-ground material circuit is drawn around it. This circuit is then traced back in time using backward trajectories. The rate of change of the circulation around the circuit is equal to the total force circulation. This circulation theorem is used to deduce the origins of the tornado’s large vorticity. However, there is a well-known problem with this approach; with staggered grids parcel trajectories become uncertain as they dip into the layer next to the ground where horizontal wind cannot be interpolated.To circumvent this dilemma, we obtain a generalized circulation theorem that pertains to any circuit. We apply this theorem either to moving circuits that are constrained to simple surfaces or to a ‘hybrid’ circuit defined next. Let A be the horizontal surface at one grid spacing off the ground. Above A the circuit moves as a material circuit. Horizontal curve segments that move in A with the horizontal wind replace segments of the material circuit that dip below A. The circulation equation for the modified circuit includes the force circulation of the inertial force that is required to keep the curve segments horizontal. This term is easily evaluated on A.Use of planar or circular circuits facilitates explanation of some simple flows. The hybrid-circuit method significantly improves the accuracy of the circulation budget in an idealized supercell simulation.

Aerodynamic Functional Diagnostics Based on Angular Momentum Transport Lines

In analogy with the classical concept of mass-flux-based streamlines, we define Angular Momentum Transport (AMT) lines as an aerodynamic functional diagnostic tool. The AMT lines are the ones whose tangents are given by the average angular momentum flux. The mathematical and physical properties of these AMT lines are exploited to study the generation, removal, and transport of angular momentum in turbomachinery components. We illustrate the concept by visualizing AMT lines in two relatively simple flows, namely, vaneless incompressible diffuser and von Karman flow (a model of centrifugal compressors). Next, we apply the proposed diagnostic tool to flow in a return channel. A return channel is a part of a multistage centrifugal compressor stage. Its principal function is to remove angular momentum. In this work, we apply the diagnostic tool of AMT lines to a Reynolds averaged Navier Stokes simulation (RANS) and a wall-modeled large eddy simulation (LES) of flow in the return channel. We show that AMT lines give us insights into the angular momentum transport process that are otherwise not available with conventional visualization tools.

Uncertainty analysis of rising sewer models with respect to input parameters and model structure using Monte Carlo simulations and computational fluid dynamics

Modelling conversion processes in sewers can help minimize odour and pipe corrosion issues, but model uncertainties and errors must be understood. In this study, the Wastewater Aerobic/Anaerobic Transformation in Sewers (WATS) model is implemented in two different frameworks; 1-D (CSTR-in-series) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to study the uncertainties due to model parameters and its mathematical form. The 1-D model is used to conduct uncertainty/sensitivity analysis using Monte Carlo simulations. Time-averaged outputs were represented using a general linearized model to quantify the importance of specific parameters. The sulfide formation rate per unit area of the biofilm is the most influential parameter. Parameters controlling anaerobic hydrolysis and fermentation are also significant. Uncertainty due to model structure is studied using CFD to explore the influences of non-homogeneous surface reactions and solids settling. These showed that the 1-D model provides a reasonable characterisation of the process for simple flows in pressure mains.

Simple stationary filtering flows of incompressible non-newtonian oil in a homogeneous formation according to a general nonlinear law

Three stationary hydrodynamic theoretical problems are solved, in which filtrations obey only the General nonlinear law. Simple flows occur in tasks: plane-parallel, plane-radial, and hemispherical-radial. All derived formulas – oil flow rate, filtration rate, pressure gradient, etc. – should be used to solve various practical problems of the development of these deposits and even when drawing up a project for the development of such deposits. It should be noted that a plane-parallel simple filtration flow of oil originates from a strip-like reservoir to a straight gallery. In addition, such a simple filtration fluid flow also occurs when the oil field under development has several parallel rectilinear rows of production production wells and, in some cases, there may be rows of injection water wells in the reservoir. In oil-bearing areas between parallel adjacent rows, oil filtration is also plane-parallel. Hence, the practical significance of solving the first problem of a plane-parallel oil flow in this scientific article becomes clear. Planar-radial simple filtration flow of oil originates from a circular horizontal formation to a central production well. In addition, such a simple filtration fluid flow also occurs when a strip-like oil field being developed has several (usually three or four) parallel straight rows of production production wells. In the drainage zones of these wells, a simple flat-radial filtration flow also occurs. From the foregoing, the practical significance of a radial plane oil flow becomes clear. Hemispherical – a radial simple filtration flow of oil originates from a hemispherical reservoir to a central well, barely penetrated by the reservoir by its hemispherical concave bottom. By analyzing these calculation formulas, you can identify the specific features of the development of deposits, develop and implement measures to eliminate undesirable phenomena.

Thickness Characteristics of Pāhoehoe Lavas in the Deccan Province, Western Ghats, India, and in Continental Flood Basalt Provinces Elsewhere

Constraining the eruption rates of flood basalt lava flows remains a significant challenge despite decades of work. One potential observable proxy for eruption rates is flood basalt lava-flow lobe thicknesses, a topic that we tackle here quantitatively. In this study, we provide the first global compilation of pāhoehoe lava-lobe thicknesses from various continental flood basalt provinces (∼ 3,800 measurements) to compare characteristic thicknesses within and between provinces. We refer to thin lobes (∼ ≤5 m), characteristic of “compound” lavas, as hummocky pāhoehoe lava flows or flow-fields. Conversely, we term thicker lobes, characteristic of “simple” flows, as coming from sheet-lobe-dominated flows. Data from the Deccan Traps and Columbia River flood-basalt provinces are archetypal since they have the most consistent datasets as well as established chemo- and litho-stratigraphies. Examining Deccan lobe thicknesses, we find that previously suggested (and disputed) distinct temporal and regional distributions of hummocky pāhoehoe and sheet-lobe-dominated flow fields are not strongly supported by the data and that each geochemically defined formation displays both lobe types in varying amounts. Thin flow-lobes do not appear to indicate proximity to source. The modal lobe thickness of Deccan formations with abundant “thin” lava-lobes is 8 m, while the mode for sheet-lobe-dominated formations is only 17 m. Sheet-lobes up to 75–80 m are rare in the Deccan and Columbia River Provinces, and ones >100 m are exceptional globally. For other flood basalt provinces, modal thickness plots show a prevalence toward similar lobe thicknesses to Deccan, with many provinces having some or most lobes in the 5–8 m modal range. However, median values are generally thicker, in the 8–12 m range, suggesting that sheet-lobes dominate. By contrast, lobes from non-flood basalt flow-fields (e.g., Hawai’i, Snake River Plain) show distinctly thinner modes, sub-5 m. Our results provide a quantitative basis to ascertain variations in gross lava morphology and, perhaps, this will in future be related to emplacement dynamics of different flood basalt provinces, or parts thereof. We can also systematically distinguish outlier lobes (or regions) from typical lobes in a province, e.g., North American Central Atlantic Magmatic Province lava-lobes are anomalously thick and are closely related to feeder-intrusions, thus enabling a better understanding of conditions required to produce large-volume, thick, flood basalt lava-lobes and flows.

On the Discretization of the Power-Law Hemolysis Model

Flow-induced hemolysis remains a concern for blood-contacting devices, and computer-based prediction of hemolysis could facilitate faster and more economical refinement of such devices. While evaluation of convergence of velocity fields obtained by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations has become conventional, convergence of hemolysis calculations is also essential. In this paper, convergence of the power-law hemolysis model is compared for simple flows, including pathlines with exponentially increasing and decreasing stress, in gradually expanding and contracting Couette flows, in a sudden radial expansion and in the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) channel. In the exponential cases, convergence along a pathline required from one to tens of thousands of timesteps, depending on the exponent. Greater timesteps were required for rapidly increasing (large exponent) stress and for rapidly decreasing (small exponent) stress. Example pathlines in the Couette flows could be fit with exponential curves, and convergence behavior followed the trends identified from the exponential cases. More complex flows, such as in the radial expansion and the FDA channel, increase the likelihood of encountering problematic pathlines. For the exponential cases, comparison of converged hemolysis values with analytical solutions demonstrated that the error of the converged solution may exceed 10% for both rapidly decreasing and rapidly increasing stress.

Development and Validation of a Continuous Random Walk Model for Particle Tracking in Accelerating Flows

Stochastic particle tracking models coupled to RANS fluid simulations are frequently used to simulate particulate transport and hence predict component damage in gas turbines. In simple flows the Continuous Random Walk (CRW) model has been shown to model particulate motion in the diffusion-impaction regime significantly more accurately than Discrete Random Walk implementations. To date, the CRW model has used turbulent flow statistics determined from DNS in channels and experiments in pipes. Robust extension of the CRW model to accelerating flows modelled using RANS is important to enable its use in design studies of rotating engine-realistic geometries of complex curvature. This paper builds on previous work by the authors to use turbulent statistics in the CRW model directly from Reynolds Stress Models (RSM) in RANS simulations. Further improvements are made to this technique to account for strong gradients in Reynolds Stresses in all directions; improve the robustness of the model to the chosen time-step; and to eliminate the need for DNS/experimentally derived statistical flow properties. The effect of these changes were studied using a commercial CFD solver for a simple pipe flow, for which integral deposition prediction accuracy equal to that using the original CRW was achieved. These changes enable the CRW to be applied to more complex flow cases. To demonstrate why this development is important, in a more complex flow case with acceleration, deposition in a turbulent 90° bend was investigated. Critical differences in the predicted deposition are apparent when the results are compared to the alternative tracking models suitable for RANS solutions. The modified CRW model was the only model which captured the more complex deposition distribution, as predicted by published LES studies. Particle tracking models need to be accurate in the spatial distribution of deposition they predict in order to enable more sophisticated engineering design studies.