Simulations to Determine Laminar Loss Coefficients for Flow in Circular Ducts With Arbitrary Planar Bifurcation Geometries

The goal of this study was to determine laminar stagnation pressure loss coefficients for circular ducts in which flow encounters a planar bifurcation. Flow conditions and pressure losses in these laminar bifurcations are of interest in microfluidic devices, in porous media, and in other networks of small ducts or pores. Until recently, bifurcation geometries had been studied almost exclusively for turbulent flow, which is often found in fluid supply and drain systems. Recently, pressure loss coefficients from simulations of a few arbitrary bifurcation geometries in two-dimensions have been published — the present study describes the extension of these two-dimensional simulations to three-dimensional circular ducts. The pressure loss coefficients determined in this study are intended to allow realistic simulation of existing laminar flow networks or the design of these networks. This study focused on a single inlet duct with two outlet ducts, which were allowed to vary in diameter, flow fraction, and angle — all relative to the inlet duct. All ducts considered in this study were circular with their axes in a common plane. Laminar stagnation pressure loss coefficients were determined by simulating incompressible flow through 475 different geometries and flow condition combinations. In all cases, the flow was laminar in the inlet and outlet ducts with a Reynolds number of 15 in the inlet duct. Simulations of the dividing flow geometries were done using FLUENT and a custom written computer code, which automated the process of creating the three-dimensional flow geometries. The outputs, pressure and velocity distributions at the inlet and outlets, were averaged over the circular ducts and then used to calculate pressure loss coefficients for each of the geometries and flow fraction scenarios simulated. The results for loss coefficient for the geometries considered ranged from 2.0 to 70. The loss coefficient for any geometry increased significantly as the outlet flow fraction increased. A consistent increase in loss coefficient was also observed as a function of decreasing outlet duct diameter. Less significant variation of the loss coefficient was observed as a function of the angles of the outlet ducts.

Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) Pump in a Square Channel

The electrohydrodynamics (EHD) technique has shown promising results in enhancing heat transfer and mass transport. It has endless potential in industrial applications such as drying technology, design of evaporators, condensers, electrostatic precipitator, plasma actuator, and micropumps in microfluidic, chip-integrated cooling, and drug delivery systems. In recent years, a significant amount of research has been directed to design EHD micropumps as researchers realize their attractive features (e.g., no moving part, simple fabrication process) are most suitable in the aforementioned microelectro-mechanical systems (MEMS). This paper evaluates the performance of an EHD pump in a vertical square (4 × 4 inch) channel with a non-intrusive wire-electrode configuration. The voltage and current characteristics of the EHD pump are measured such that numerical simulations can be carried out. Measurements were taken from the corona threshold voltage to the occurrence of sparkover with a 1 kV increment. Due to the corona wind generated, the average volume flow rate in the channel was as high as 10 liter per second subjected to a voltage difference of 25 kV.

Numerical Study of Smoke Propagation in a Simulated Fire in a Wagon Within a Subway Tunnel

This work deals with the numerical (CFD) analysis of the smoke propagation during fires within closed environments. It is evaluated the capacity of the emergency ventilation system in controlling the smoke propagation and minimizing the deadly impact of an eventual fire in a wagon within the Metro de Caracas subway tunnel on the passengers safety. For the study, it was chosen the tunnel section between Teatros and Nuevo Circo subway stations, which consists of two parallel independent twin tunnels, connected through a transverse passage. The tunnels are provided by a longitudinal ventilation system, integrated by a set of reversible fans located at both ends of the tunnels. Three stages were considered in the study: (a) Model set up; (b) Mesh sensitivity analysis; (c) Validation of the physical-numerical parameters to be used in the numerical model; and (d) Simulation of fire scenarios in Metro de Caracas subway stations. Stages (b)–(c), aimed to testing and calibrating the CFD tool (ANSYS-CFX10™), focused on reproducing experimental data from Vauquelin and Me´gret [1], who studied the smoke propagation in a fire within a 1:20 scale road tunnel. Stage (d) critical scenarios were established via a preliminary discussion with safety experts from Metro de Caracas, in order to reduce the computer memory and the number of simulations to be performed. The analyses assessed the reliability of escape routes and alternative paths for the evacuation of passengers. Additionally, the smoke front movement was particularly computed, as a function of time, in order to determine the possible presence of the “backlayering” phenomenon [5]. Results demonstrate the strengths and weaknesses of the current ventilation system in the event of a fire in the subway tunnel, and suggest new strategies to address this potentially lethal event to minimize the risks for passengers.

CFD Solution of a Two-Canopy Parachute in a Top-to-Top Formation With a Vent of Air From One of Its Canopy

A CFD study of a 3 Dimensional flow field around two bodies (Two Canopies of a Parachutes) as two bluff bodies in an incompressible fluid (Air) is modeled here. Formations of these two bodies are top-to-top (One on the top of the other) with respect to the center of each other. One canopy with a constant cross sectional area with a vent of air at its apex, and the other with a variable cross sectional area with no vent is studied here. Vertical distances of these two bodies are varied form zero to half, equal, double and triple radius of the body with a vent on it. The flow condition is considered to be 3-D, unsteady, turbulent, and incompressible. The vertical distances between the bluff bodies, cross sectional area, and also vent ratio of bluff bodies are varied here. The drag forces with static pressures around the two bodies are calculated. From the numerical results, it can be seen that, the drag coefficient is constant on the range of zero to twenty percent of the vent ratio and it decreases for higher vent ratios for when the upper parachute is smaller than the lower one, and it increases for when the upper parachute is larger than the lower one. Both Steady and Unsteady cases gave similar results especially when the distance between the canopies is increased.

Air Entrainment Studies for a Supersonic Micro-Ejector System

Micro-ejectors offer a unique way of entraining relative large quantities of air without any moving parts, which when mixed with fuel can provide the necessary fuel-air mixture to power a micro-combustion system. Together, the micro-ejector and the micro-combustion systems can make up components of a unique air-breathing propulsion system. Larger scale ejector-based propulsion systems that operate a rocket ejector cycle have been constructed and operated in the past, dating back to the 1960s. Only very recently this same ejector system has been scaled down to the micro-size domain for use in applications other than propulsion, more specifically as a way of entraining and mixing fuel and air for use in micro-combustor applications. The present study involved the use of propane as ejector primary fluid, chosen for its high vapor pressure which allowed us to operate a March 2 nozzle with a throat height of 31 microns under high pressure and thus achieve various degrees of air entrainment based on the area ratio between the primary nozzle and ejector secondary duct. Experimental data showed the performance of the ejector system under the various area ratios studied. The degree of mixing of the primary jet is reviewed, specifically as it pertains to air entrainment performance.

Numerical Analysis on the Performance of the Solid Solar Particle Receiver With the Influence of Aerowindow

In this research work, a three dimensional model of the solid solar particle receiver (SPR) with the influence of aerowindow is analyzed. The free-falling down particles will form a solid particle curtain and be directly heated up by the reflected concentrating solar energy which passes through the aperture of the cavity. The mass, momentum and energy exchange between the solid particle phase and gas fluid phase are simulated by the two-way coupling Euler-Lagrange method. A discrete ordinate radiative transfer method has been applied to study the coupling of radiative heat transfer and the falling particle curtain. The realizable κ-ε model is used in the investigation of turbulence flow. In order to predict the performance of the SPR, the aerodynamic behavior of the particles and thermal interaction, which include particle-particle radiation, particle-wall radiation, particle-air convection, and air-wall convection are analyzed and demonstrated in this work. All the investigation on the simulation model is focusing on optimizing the performance of the SPR. The parametric studies of the performance of the SPR with aerowindow are investigated under the different working conditions, such as air injection velocity, particle mass flow rate, and the efficiency of the SPR and exit average particle temperature are compared upon these conditions.

Numerical Simulation of Bubble Formation in Co-Flowing Mercury

In this work, we present computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of helium bubble formation and detachment at a submerged needle in stagnant and co-flowing mercury. Since mercury is opaque, visualization of internal gas bubbles was done with proton radiography (pRad) at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE2). The acoustic waves emitted at the time of detachment and during subsequent oscillations of the bubble were recorded with a microphone. The Volume of Fluid (VOF) model was used to simulate the unsteady two-phase flow of gas injection in mercury. The VOF model is validated by comparing detailed bubble sizes and shapes at various stages of the bubble growth and detachment, with the experimental measurements at 1.66 mg/min helium gas flow rate and different mercury velocities. The experimental and computational results show a two-stage bubble formation in stagnant mercury. The first stage involves growing bubble around the needle, and the second follows as the buoyancy overcomes wall adhesion. The comparison of predicted and measured bubble sizes and shapes at various stages of the bubble growth and detachment is in good agreement.

Simulation of Flow Field on a Large Scale Wind Turbine

Large scale wind turbines and wind farms continue to evolve mounting 94.1GW of the electrical grid capacity in 2007 and expected to reach 160.0GW in 2010 according to World Wind Energy Association. They commence to play a vital role in the quest for renewable and sustainable energy. They are impressive structures of human responsiveness to, and awareness of, the depleting fossil fuel resources. Early generation wind turbines (windmills) were used as kinetic energy transformers and today generate 1/5 of the Denmark’s electricity and planned to double the current German grid capacity by reaching 12.5% by year 2010. Wind energy is plentiful (72 TW is estimated to be commercially viable) and clean while their intensive capital costs and maintenance fees still bar their widespread deployment in the developing world. Additionally, there are technological challenges in the rotor operating characteristics, fatigue load, and noise in meeting reliability and safety standards. Newer inventions, e.g., downstream wind turbines and flapping rotor blades, are sought to absorb a larger portion of the cost attributable to unrestrained lower cost yaw mechanisms, reduction in the moving parts, and noise reduction thereby reducing maintenance. In this work, numerical analysis of the downstream wind turbine blade is conducted. In particular, the interaction between the tower and the rotor passage is investigated. Circular cross sectional tower and aerofoil shapes are considered in a staggered configuration and under cross-stream motion. The resulting blade static pressure and aerodynamic forces are investigated at different incident wind angles and wind speeds. Comparison of the flow field results against the conventional upstream wind turbine is also conducted. The wind flow is considered to be transient, incompressible, viscous Navier-Stokes and turbulent. The k-ε model is utilized as the turbulence closure. The passage of the rotor blade is governed by ALE and is represented numerically as a sliding mesh against the upstream fixed tower domain. Both the blade and tower cross sections are padded with a boundary layer mesh to accurately capture the viscous forces while several levels of refinement were implemented throughout the domain to assess and avoid the mesh dependence.

Design of Small Wind Turbine

The project has been completed, and all of the aforementioned objectives have been achieved. An anemometer has been constructed to measure wind speed, and a wind vane has been built to sense wind direction. An LCD module has been acquired and has been programmed to display the wind speed and its direction. An H-Bridge circuit was used to drive a gear motor that rotated the nacelle toward the windward direction. Finally, the blade pitch angle was controlled by a swash plate mechanism and servo motors installed on the generator itself. A microcontroller has been programmed to optimally control the servo motors and gear motor based on input from the wind vane and anemometer sensors.

Wall Normal Jet Produced by DBD Plasma Actuator With Doughnut-Shaped Electrode

Properties of coaxial annular jets produced by a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma actuator with a doughnut shaped electrodes were investigated under atmospheric pressure and room temperature. The actuator consists of two circular electrodes sandwiching a thin dielectric layer. By applying 0 – ±3.3 kV between the electrodes at radio frequencies, the plasma jet is formed near the inner edge of the top electrode. The radial jet runs toward the center of the electrode and then impinges at the center to generate a wall normal annular jet. The evolution of the wall normal jet was observed precisely using particle image velocimetry (PIV) system. It was found that characteristic velocities increase in proportion to the bursting frequency and inversely proportional to the inner diameter of the electrode at the surging time of the voltage at 5.0 × 10−6sec.