High-throughput particle focusing and separation in split-recombination channel

Inertial microfluidic has been widely applied to manipulate particles or bio-sample based on the inertial lift force and Dean Vortices. This technology provides significant advantages over conventional technologies, including simple structure, high throughput and freedom from an external field. Among many inertial microfluidic systems, the straight microchannel is commonly used to produce inertial focusing, which is a phenomenon that particles or cells are aligned and separated based on their size under the influence of inertial lift force. Besides the inertial lift force, flow drag forces induced by the geometrical structures of microchannel can also affect particle focusing. Herein, a split-recombination microchannel, consisting of curved and straight channels, is proposed to focus and separate particles at high flow rate. As compared with the straight channel, the particle focusing in the split-recombination channel is greatly improved, which results from the combined effects of the inertial lift force, the curvature-induced Dean drag force and the structure of split and recombination. Moreover, the distribution of different-sized particles in designed microchannel is investigated. The results indicate that the proposed microchannel not only enhances the particle focusing but also enables the separation of different-sized particles with high throughput. Finally, it is discovered that the larger length of straight channel and curvature radius of curved channel can result in a more efficient particle separation. Another important feature of designed split-recombination microchannel is that it can be arranged in parallel to handle large-volume samples, holding great potential in lab-on-a-chip applications.

Prediction of drag and lift forces of a high-speed vessel at full scale by CFD-based GEOSIM method

In this study, it was aimed to obtain an accurate extrapolation method to compute lift and drag forces of high-speed vessels at full-scale by using CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) based GEOSIM (GEOmetrically SIMilar) method which is valid for both fully planing and semi-planing regimes. Athena R/V 5365 bare hull form with a skeg which is a semi-displacement type of high-speed vessel was selected with a model family for hydrodynamic analyses under captive and free to sinkage/trim conditions. Total drag and lift forces have been computed for a generated GEOSIM family of this form at three different model scales and full-scale for Fr = 0.8 by an unsteady RANS (Reynolds Averaged Navier–Stokes) solver. k–ε turbulence model was used to simulate the turbulent flow around the hulls, and both DFBI (Dynamic Fluid Body Interaction) and overset mesh technique were carried out to model the heave and pitch motions under free to sinkage/trim condition. The computational results of the model family were used to get “drag-lift ratio curve” for Athena hull at a fixed Fr number and so the corresponding results at full scale were predicted by extrapolating those of model scales in the form of a non-dimensional ratios of drag-lift forces. Then the extrapolated full-scale results calculated by modified GEOSIM method were compared with those of full-scale CFD and obtained by Froude extrapolation technique. The modified GEOSIM method has been found to be successful to compute the main forces (lift and drag) acting on high-speed vessels as a single coefficient at full scale. The method also works accurately both under fully and semi-planing conditions.

A 3D DEM Model for Air Sparging Technology in the Saturated Granular Soils

This work provides a three-dimensional discrete element simulation (DEM) model to study the air sparging technology. The simulations have taken into account the multi-phases of bubble (gas) - fluid (water) - soil (solid) particles. Bubbles are treated as discrete individual particles, with buoyancy and drag forces applied to bubbles and soil particles. The trajectory of each discrete bubble particle can be tracked using the discrete element model. It is found that the diffusion of the whole bubble is inverted conical though the motion behavior of a single bubble particle is random. Furthermore, the distribution of the radius of influence (ROI) is not uniform. The bubbles become more concentrated as in the center of the inverted cone. The number of bubbles dissipated from the water surface is normally distributed. The DEM simulation is a novel approach to studying air sparging technology that can provide us a deeper insight into bubble migration at the microscopic level.

How should the lift and drag forces be calculated from 2-D airfoil data for dihedral or coned wind turbine blades?

In the present work, a consistent method for calculating the lift and drag forces from the 2-D airfoil data for the dihedral or coned horizontal-axis wind turbines when using generalized lifting-line methods is described. The generalized lifting-line methods include, for example, lifting-line (LL), actuator line (AL), blade element momentum (BEM) and blade element vortex cylinder (BEVC) methods. A consistent interpretation of classic unsteady 2-D thin airfoil theory results for use in a generally moving frame of reference within a linearly varying onset velocity field reveals that it is necessary to use not only the relative flow magnitude and direction at one point along the chord line (for instance three-quarter-chord), but also the gradient of the flow direction in the chordwise direction (or, equivalently, the flow direction at the quarter-chord) to correctly determine the magnitude and direction of the resulting 2-D aerodynamic forces and moment. However, this aspect is generally overlooked and most implementations in generalized lifting-line methods use only the flow information at one calculation point per section for simplicity. This simplification will not change the performance prediction of planar rotors, but will cause an error when applied to non-planar rotors. The present work proposes a generalized method to correct the error introduced by this simplified single-point calculation method. In this work this effect is investigated using the special case, where the wind turbine blade has only dihedral and no sweep, operating at steady-state conditions with uniform inflow applied perpendicular to the rotor plane. We investigate the impact of the effect by comparing the predictions of the steady-state performance of non-planar rotors from the consistent approach with the simplified one-point approach of the LL method. The results are verified using blade geometry resolving Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) simulations. The numerical investigations confirmed that the correction derived from thin airfoil theory is needed for the calculations to correctly determine the magnitude and direction of the sectional aerodynamic forces for non-planar rotors. The aerodynamic loads of upwind and downwind coned blades that are calculated using the LL method, the BEM method, the BEVC method and the AL method are compared for the simplified and the full method. Results using the full method, including different specific implementation schemes, are shown to agree significantly better with fully-resolved RANS than the often used simplified one-point approaches.

Reliability Updating of Offshore Structures Subjected to Marine Growth

Marine growth is a known problem for oceanic infrastructure and has been shown to negatively impact the reliability of bottom-fixed or floating offshore structures submitted to fatigue or extreme loading. Among other effects, it has been shown to change drag forces by increasing member diameters and modifying the roughness. Bio-colonization being highly random, the objective of this paper is to show how one-site inspection data increases reliability by decreasing uncertainties. This can be introduced in a reliability-based inspection framework for optimizing inspection and maintenance (here, cleaning). The modeling and computation are illustrated through the reliability analysis of a monopile in the European Atlantic area subjected to marine growth and according to the plastic collapse limit state. Based on surveys of structures in the North Sea, long-term stochastic modeling (space and time) of the marine growth thickness is first suggested. A Dynamic Bayesian Network is then developed for reliability updating from the inspection data. Finally, several realistic (10–20 measurements) inspection strategies are compared in terms of reliability improvement and the accuracy of reliability assessment.

Assessing Tolerance to the Hydrodynamic Exposure of Posidonia oceanica Seedlings Anchored to Rocky Substrates

Among a suite of abiotic and biotic factors, the hydrodynamic regime strongly influences the success of seagrass recruitment through sexual propagules. Uprooting of propagules by drag forces exerted by currents and waves is one of the main causes for the failed establishment and the consequent recruitment. Substrate type and stability play a key role in determining the success of colonization through sexual propagules, as seedling establishment probabilities proved to be significantly higher on rocky bottoms than on unstable unconsolidated substrates. In this research, the current and wave flow intensity that Posidonia oceanica seedlings anchored to rocky substrates can withstand before uprooting were evaluated and the influence of substrate complexity on seedling anchorage success and anchorage strength was investigated. P. oceanica seedlings withstood the current velocity of 70 cm s–1 and increased orbital flow velocities up to 25 cm s–1. Seedling adhesion strength ranged from 3.92 to 29.42 N. Results of the present study corroborate the hypothesis that substrate complexity at scales relevant to the size of propagules is a crucial feature for P. oceanica seedling establishment. The intensity of unidirectional and oscillatory flow that seedlings can withstand without being dislodged assessed in this study support the hypothesis that P. oceanica sexual propagules, once adhered to a consolidated substrate, are able to tolerate high hydrodynamic stress. The results of the present study contribute to re-evaluation of the habitat requirements of P. oceanica, assessing the range of hydrodynamic conditions that this species can tolerate during the early stages of its life history.

Planetary polar explorer – the case for a next-generation remote sensing mission to low Mars orbit

We propose the exploration of polar areas on Mars by a next-generation orbiter mission. In particular, we aim at studying the seasonal and regional variations in snow-deposits, which – in combination with measurements of temporal variations in rotation and gravity field – will improve models of the global planetary CO2 cycle. A monitoring of polar scarps for rock falls and avalanche events may provide insights into the dynamics of ice sheets. The mapping of the complex layering of polar deposits, believed to contain an important record of climate history, may help us understand the early climate collapse on the planet. Hence, we propose an innovative next-generation exploration mission in polar circular Low Mars Orbit, which will be of interest to scientists and challenging to engineers alike. Schemes will be developed to overcome atmosphere drag forces acting upon the spacecraft by an electric propulsion system. Based on the experience of missions of similar type in Earth orbit we believe that a two-year mission in circular orbit is possible at altitudes as low as 150 km. Such a mission opens new opportunities for novel remote sensing approaches, not requiring excessive telescope equipment or power. We anticipate precision altimetry, powerful radars, high-resolution imaging, and magnetic field mapping.

Evaluating Phase Blockages and Mobility Changes During Pressure Transient Analysis

Pressure transient analysis (PTA) is a cogent methodology to evaluate dynamics of hydrocarbon reservoirs. Numerous analytical and numerical models have been developed to model various types of wellbore, reservoir, and boundary responses. However, the near-wellbore region remains to be perplexing in pressure transient analysis. In this paper we investigate the pressure transient behavior of phase blocking and mobility variations caused by fluid phase interactions or properties, such as viscous drag forces and surface tension at the near-wellbore region and their impact on pressure transient evaluation. We have used real field examples to scrutinize relative effects of mobility variations in pressure transients. The impact of capillary number (Nc) acting on the near-wellbore region and its influence on pressure transient behavior and skin alteration were examined in detail. Several real field examples honoring actual reservoir rock special core analysis (SCAL) and fluid pressure/volume/temperature (PVT) properties have been studied. Actual field data discussed in this paper for PTA were captured during drill stem testing (DST) operations from various hydrocarbon reservoirs in the Berkine Basin of Algeria. PVT laboratory-measurement-based fluid properties were used in conjunction with tuned equation of state (EOS) models to ensure consistency between wells and reservoirs. Pressure transient analysis of a gas condensate reservoir system can depict various mobility regions, especially while flowing below dew point pressure. In some cases, three-distinct-mobility regions can be identified as: a far-field zone with initial gas and condensate saturation; a mid-field zone with increased condensate saturation and lower gas relative permeability; and a near-wellbore zone with high Nc which increases gas relative permeability and mobility. These three-distinct-mobility regions form due to condensate dropping out and fluid interactions in the near wellbore. We demonstrate, with real-life field examples of the near-wellbore region, how the relative effects of viscous drag forces and surface tension forces acting across the liquid and gas interface can enable the reference fluid phase to regain its mobility. We further investigate the evaluation of skin factor in such circumstances and show how the existence of phase blocking and velocity stripping can cause over-estimation or under-estimation of skin factor. We present a novel set of real field examples and relations between various zones in hydrocarbon reservoirs to avoid snags of misleading pressure transient interpretations and how composite models can be accurately used to represent complex cases. Field examples from Algerian hydrocarbon reservoirs are depicted. The findings could be easily applied for similar reservoirs in other parts of the globe to identify and model such intricate systems.