Parameters to characterize the internal recirculation of an oxidation ditch

Mixed liquor circulates ceaselessly in the closed-loop corridor in an oxidation ditch (OD), which is significantly different from other wastewater treatment processes. The internal recirculation ratio (IRR), i.e., the ratio between circulation flow rate (QCC) and influent flow rate (QIn), and the circulatory period (T), i.e. the time consumed for the mixed liquor to complete one lap in the circular corridor, was used to quantify the internal recirculation characteristics of the OD system. In order to elucidate the characteristics and applicability of IRR and T, this study obtained the numerical relationship between IRR and T by formula derivation. It also discusses the factors influencing IRR and analyses the applications of IRR and T. The results showed that IRR = QCC/QIn = HRT/T = HRT ž IRF (HRT = hydraulic retention time of the mixed liquor in the circular corridor; IRF = internal recirculation frequency). Moreover, three kinds of parameters had an effect on IRR: QIn; reactor dimensions, i.e., length (Lmid), width (B), and height (H) of the circular corridor; and horizontal velocity of the mixed liquor in the circular corridor (v). QIn changed IRR by altering HRT. However, B, H, Lmid, and v changed IRR by altering IRF and T. Furthermore, the same IRR corresponded to many different HRT and IRF. Therefore, when QIn and QCC varied in the OD system, using HRT and IRF to evaluate the variation of QIn and QCC, respectively, was better than using IRR to evaluate their synthetical variation. IRF and T were useful for directly and precisely characterizing the circulation speed and circulation flow rate in the circular corridor, while IRR was more useful for evaluating the dilution effect of reflux on influent.

Physical Simulation on Molten Steel Flow Characteristics of RH Vacuum Chamber with Arched Snorkels

The RH vacuum refining technology is a vitally powerful method of producing clean steel. The inner diameter of traditional circular snorkel is very difficult to be increased owing to the metallurgical refractory thickness around the snorkels and the limitation of the area under the vacuum chamber, limiting the increase in refining efficiency. In order to improve the refining efficiency of the RH reactor, a new designed RH degasser with an optimized arched snorkel is established. This design replaces the traditional two circular snorkels structure with the two arched snorkels and greatly enhances the cross-sectional area of snorkel. In this study, the flow characteristics of this new type RH were studied and analyzed by establishing a 1 : 5.5 physical model of RH with arched snorkels. Results show that the circulation flow rate of RH with arched snorkels can increase by 100% ∼ 180% and the mixing time approximately decreases by 35% compared with RH with circular snorkels under actual production conditions. The circulation flow rate of RH with arched snorkels continues to increase obviously when gas flow rate exceeds the saturated value of RH with circular snorkels. The RH with arched snorkels can increase the refining efficiency significantly and has important application prospect.

CFD Study of Gas Holdup and Frictional Pressure Drop of Vertical Riser Inside IC Reactor

The internal circulation system in Internal Circulation (IC) reactor plays an important role in increasing volumetric loading rate and promoting the mixing between sludge and wastewater. In order to design the internal circulation system, the flow behaviors of gas-liquid inside vertical riser should be studied in detail. In the present study, the Multiple Flow Regimes model is adopted to capture the phase interface for different flow conditions. The flow patterns, internal circulation flow rate, gas holdup, and frictional pressure drop of vertical riser are investigated. The results show that the bubble flow inside a vertical riser is in a stable flow condition. There exists a maximum value for internal circulation flow rate with the increasing superficial gas velocity. The parameters of Martinelli models for gas holdup and frictional pressure drop are improved based on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) results. The deviations between the calculated gas holdup and frictional pressure drop by improved model and experimental value are reduced to 14% and 13.2%, respectively. The improved gas holdup and frictional pressure drop model can be used for the optimal design of internal circulation system.

An Experimental Study on Open Natural Circulation Flow Characteristics by Air Injection

An open natural circulation system has the characteristics of a simple structure, superior safety performance and strong heat removal capability. However, during long-term operation, the flow instability may occur due to the reduction of the driving force, which will have adverse effects on the heat removal capability and safe operation of the system. Thus, injecting air into the riser is designed in this paper to improve the driving force of the circulation flow, reduce the possibility of flow instability, and increase the heat removal capability. In order to investigate the influence of air injection on the evolution of flow pattern, resistance characteristics and circulation flow rate, the method of visual observation and data analysis is used based on different pore sizes porous media, air injection rate and submergence ratios. The ratio of the driving pressure head to the resistance pressure drop is proposed as the basis for assessing the effect of air injection on the ability of natural circulation. It is found that the driving force of natural circulation increases with the increase of air injection rate, and the circulation flow rate increases obviously when the bubbly flow appears in the riser. However, when the transition from bubbly flow to churn flow appears, the growth of the circulation flow rate slows down because the resistance increases faster than the driving force. Therefore, it can be known that the best performance is obtained when bubbly-churn flow appears in the top of the riser. What’s more, the capacity of lifting water will be reduced and churn flow will appear prematurely when the submergence ratio decreases. This means that in the process of open natural circulation system design, the submergence ratio of the system should be increased as much as possible. Finally, in this paper, it is found that the bubble pump with PS = 0.2 μm has better performance.