Flow patterns in conical and cylindrical hydrocyclones

Using a two beam, 300 mW laser Doppler velocimeter, the tangential and axial velocity fields were determined for the water flow in a 102-mm modular hydrocyclone. The body of the equipment could be changed to transform it into a conical or a flat bottom hydrocyclone. During the tests the pressure drop and the diameter of apex and vortex were varied and the axial and the tangential velocities and their turbulence intensity were measured. The results shows that the inlet pressure affects only the magnitude of the velocities, but does not change the flow pattern. The tangential velocity is similar in both types of hydrocylones while the axial velocity is different. In both hydrocyclones the axial velocity is a function of the radial position but, while it is a linear function of the vertical coordinate in the cylindrical hydrocyclone, this is not the case for the conical vessel.     

进口尺寸对旋转流场分离特征的影响

力旋流器进口尺寸的设计是提高分离精度的一种有效方法。长期以来,对旋流器进口尺寸影响分离性能的认识主要来自工程实践经验,鲜见从旋转流场和分离机理的角度进行系统性分析的报道。采用计算流体力学方法进行旋转流场模拟,并考察进口尺寸缩小后的压力分布特性、三向速度分布和二次涡流结构。研究结果表明：进口尺寸缩小后切向速度数值的上升趋势明显,同时轴向速度和径向速度数值上相对变化较小,管内离心强度显著增高的同时保留了主要的分离结构。而且柱段流体,尤其是远离进口一侧的流体旋转更为充分,轴向速度双峰结构也更为明显。从上述角度来看,进口尺寸缩小后的流场分布情况更加有利于分离。但是,进口尺寸的缩小会加剧旋流管内的二次涡流运动,增大进口处射流的卷吸作用,使流场更加不稳定,从而对分离产生不利影响,因此分离粒度不可能随着进口尺寸的缩小无限制地降低。另外,进口尺寸缩小后,局部损失增大,且二次涡流运动加剧,导致旋流管的能耗会有一定的增加。     

不同流量条件下导叶式旋流器内部流动的数值模拟

应用Fluent软件和雷诺应力模型(RSM)对导叶式旋流器内部三维强旋湍流流动进行了数值模拟,考察了不同入口流量对旋流器内速度场的影响。研究结果表明,旋流器内径向速度远小于切向速度和轴向速度,锥段的切向速度明显小于柱段的切向速度;随着流量的增加,各向速度均增加,最大切向速度的分布直径并不随流量的变化而改变,且最大切向速度位于准自由涡与准强制涡的分界处。通过计算还发现,在旋流器圆柱段存在循环流和短路流,锥段的上行区域均小于柱段,而且截面越靠底流口,上行区域越小。     

水力旋流分离器内流动和油水分离的数值模拟

The fluid flow and oil-water separation were simulated using a Reynolds stress transport equation model of turbulence in water flow and a stochastic model of oil droplet motion,Simulation results give the axial and tangential velocity components,the pressure and turbulence intensity distribution and droplet trajectories for a hydrocyclone of F type and a hydrocyclone proposed by the present authors.The flow filed predictions are in qualitative agreement with the LDV measurements.The results show that the proposed hydrocyclone has better performance than the hydrocyclone of F type due to creating stronger centrifugal force and lower axial velocity.     

不同操作参数下动态水力旋流器内部油水两相流动的数值模拟

根据计算流体动力学(CFD)的方法,应用Fluent软件对动态水力旋流器内部油水两相流场进行数值模拟,考察了不同入口流量及转筒转速下旋流器内速度场与油水两相的分布情况。结果表明:动态水力旋流器内切向速度呈双涡结构(准自由涡与准强制涡);轴向速度明显小于切向速度且不存在零速度包络面,油相集中于旋流器轴心形成油核,随着流量及转速的增加,各相速度及中心油核浓度均增加。     

Mathematical modelling of a hydrocyclone for the down-hole oil–water separation (DOWS)

In this study, a mathematical model is developed to predict the efficiency of a down-hole oil–water separation hydrocyclone. In the proposed model, the separation efficiency is determined based on droplet trajectory of a single oil droplet through the continuous-phase. The droplet trajectory model is developed using a Lagrangian approach in which single droplets are traced in the continuous-phase. The droplet trajectory model uses the swirling flow of the continuous-phase to trace the oil droplets. By applying the droplet trajectory, a trial and error approach is used to determine the size of the oil droplet that reaches the reverse flow region, where they can be separated. The required input for the proposed model is hydrocyclone geometry, fluid properties, inlet droplet size distribution and operational conditions at the down hole. The model is capable of predicting the hydrocyclone hydrodynamic flow field, namely, the axial, tangential and radial velocity distributions of the continuous-phase. The model was then applied for some case studies from the field tested DOWS systems which exist in the literature. The results show that the proposed model can predict well the split ratio and separation efficiency of the hydrocyclone. Moreover, the results of the proposed model can be used as a preliminary evaluation for installing a down-hole oil–water separation hydrocyclone system in a producing well.     

基于雷诺应力模型的脱油旋流器流场特性研究

采用雷诺应力模型(RSM)对油水分离用水力旋流器进行了数值模拟,模拟出了循环流和短路流现象,得到了内部流场的轴向速度、径向速度和切向速度的分布规律;模拟结果与实验结果吻合较好,说明该湍流模型和计算方法的选取是正确的;另外,针对油相体积分数为2%,油滴粒径为40μm的混合介质进行分析,得出了油水二相的体积分数分布。在旋流器的轴心处油相体积分数最大,最大处混合介质中含油体积分数高达98.9%;在壁面附近体积分数很小,说明该水力旋流器的分离效果较好。通过数值模拟为进一步研究水力旋流器内部流场的分布和结构优化设计奠定了基础。     

充气水力旋流器内流场的研究

采用透明充气水力族流器模型对其内流动状态特征进行了研究，首次明确提出了“液柱”存在的必要性，并对液柱高度对分选的影响进行了研究。用快速摄像分析法测定了薄流层内流体的速度及液柱内气泡的运动速度，探讨了操作参数的影响。本研究结果对充气水力族流器的设计及工艺参数的优化具有指导意义。     

液-液旋流分离器内流动特性的大涡模拟

基于柱坐标系下的瞬态N-S方程,采用标准Smagorinsky-Lilly模型,对旋流分离器内的单相流动特性进行了大涡模拟研究,获得了旋流分离器内的瞬时流场、时均速度与湍动能分布,并将结果与雷诺应力模型(RSM)及实测结果进行了对比。结果表明,大涡模拟方法可以得到旋流分离器内的瞬态流场,且能够反映更多的流场细节;对时均速度的预测与实测数据吻合良好,精度优于RSM模型;对湍动能的模拟与RSM方法差异显著,但其结论更符合以往理论分析与实测的结果。相比采用时均方法的RSM模型,大涡模拟方法对此类旋流湍流具有更好的模拟能力。     

多进口旋流器流场特征及分离性能

为了改善单进口旋流器稳定性差、分级效率低等问题,本文提出了多进口旋流器结构。通过数值模拟方法,在恒定入料工况下,对比分析了单、二、三、四进口旋流器的流场特征和分离性能。研究结果表明：增加旋流器进口数量,会对旋流器流场和分离性能产生积极影响,有利于旋流流场径向压力的增大,且进口数量为偶数时,流场径向静压力增强效果更好;旋流器柱段区域流场切向速度增大,有利于强化旋流器分离能力。同时使用Mixture耦合RSM模型预测了离散相CaCO₃颗粒的分离效率,结果表明多进口旋流器可以在低速度入口条件下完成离散相的高精度分离。入料速度为3m/s的工况条件下,多进口旋流器分离50μm、57.5μm颗粒的底流分配率较单进口旋流器分别提升了10.60%、5.59%,对抑制旋流器溢流产品错配率和提高分级精度有积极的影响。因此,增加旋流器进口数量,可以有效提升旋流分级效率和分离精度。     

Flow Patterns in Mini‐Hydrocyclones with Different Vortex Finder Depths

Two‐phase flow patterns in a mini‐hydrocyclone with different insertion depths of the vortex finder were measured by a phase Doppler particle analyzer. The distributions of velocity, concentration, root‐mean‐square velocity, and average diameter of particles were evaluated. A deeper insertion of the vortex finder led to smaller tangential velocity at the cross section near the column cone interface. When the vortex finder insertion depth did not reach the column cone interface, the vortex finder was inserted deeper and the line of zero velocity value migrated more distinctly inward. When the vortex finder insertion depth reached or exceeded the column cone interface, strong turbulence occurred near the vortex finder. The distributions of the axial velocities of particles and root‐mean‐square velocities indicated that circulation flow existed at the bottom part of the mini‐hydrocyclone.     

三次曲线管型水力旋流器的速度场研究

对设计的三次曲线管型水力旋流器的速度场进行研究。结果表明,在大、小锥段交接处附近的流场更加顺畅,特别是水力旋流器轴向速度的波动明显减少。水力旋流器内部流场的稳定减小了聚并油滴再次破碎的机会,为提高水力旋流器的处理效果提供了保证。     

用于催化外甩油浆的微旋流分离流场的数值模拟

为了研究用于催化外甩油浆分离的一种微型旋流芯管内部的流场,采用雷诺应力模型(RSM),对旋流芯管内油浆单相流动进行了数值模拟,得到了其内部流场的轴向速度、切向速度、径向速度和压力分布规律。分析了压力场和速度场的分离特征,显示了高效工作区,为进一步数值模拟打下了基础。     

滚筒端面对颗粒物料轴向流动特性影响的离散模拟研究

针对碎渣工艺中仅一个端面可随侧壁转动的短滚筒体系，采用离散单元法模拟研究了滚筒轴径比和转动速度对颗粒物料轴向流动特性的影响。模拟结果表明，系统内形成了显著的轴向对流结构：物料层顶部处颗粒物料会朝向滚筒固定端面一侧运动，而物料层趾部区域颗粒则朝向滚筒转动端面一侧运动。低转速条件下，沿物料自由表面由顶部到趾部，颗粒轴向速度呈非对称分布，顶部区域颗粒轴向速度绝对值显著小于趾部区域颗粒轴向速度绝对值；两部分区域颗粒轴向速度绝对值分别在y/R=±0.725处达到极大值，且轴向速度为0的位置并不出现在切向的中间位置。改变滚筒的轴长对这种非对称分布的影响近似可忽略，但是增大滚筒转速会增大颗粒轴向运动速度并逐步减弱这种非对称性。改变滚筒转速，对物料顶部区域颗粒的轴向流动的影响要大于对趾部区域颗粒轴向流动的影响。当滚筒轴径比达到1.2后，滚筒转动端面对物料轴向流动的影响区域不会随滚筒转速的增大而呈现显著变化。这些结果为实际滚筒碎渣工艺的结构优化提供了理论指导。     

Studies on the performance of a hydrocyclone and modeling for flow characterization in presence and absence of air core

Hydrocyclones are getting more and more interest from various industries. They are widely used to separate particulates from liquid at high throughput because of their advantages like simple structure, low cost, large capacity and small volume, require little way of maintenance and support structure. Modeling of complex and multiphase flow behavior inside the hydrocyclone is done usually with the help of computational fluid dynamic study. Current study involves experimental investigation of separation performance characteristics of the hydrocyclone using new design parameters. For experimental purpose, a new hydrocyclone was designed with insertion of solid rod, at central portion of conical section of hydrocyclone, inside the hydrocyclone . By which air core could be eliminated effectively and hydrocyclone performance is improved. This effect may be observed due to reduction of radial and axial components of velocity and turbulence in the area near the entrance of the vortex finder. Therefore, the flow field characteristics inside the hydrocyclone with no air core become more suitable for separation. Also the effect of flow rate, vortex finder depths, air core and particle interaction were studied experimentally. A new arrangement was suggested to eliminate the air core formed inside the hydrocyclone. In this case, effect of diameter and height of solid rod inserted inside the hydrocyclone with changing total inlet flow rate was studied experimentally. Three-dimensional geometry and meshing of hydrocyclone is created in Gambit, preprocessor of commercial software—Fluent, for hydrodynamic study.     

Flow characteristics of a laminar swirling impinging jet: A numerical study

The primitive Navier-Stokes equations were solved to predict the flow field induced by a partially confined swirling laminar jet impinging normally on a flat surface. A study is made of the influence of the jet Reynolds number, nozzle-to-plate spacing, axial and swirl velocity profiles at nozzle exit plane, size of the confining and impingement plate and uniform suction applied at the plate. An interesting feature of the flow configuration is the predicted development of a recirculation bubble in the stagnation region which influences the heat and mass transfer characteristics. Axial and swirl velocity profiles at entry have dominant influence on the development of the flow field.     

Adherence and Rolling Kinetics of a Rigid Cylinder in Contact with a Natural Rubber Surface

Equilibrium conditions of a rigid cylinder in contact with the flat and smooth surface of a natural rubber sample are studied using concepts of fracture mechanics, such as the strain energy release rate or the stress intensity factor. It is shown that an equilibrium contact area exists if the applied force per unit axial length is greater than a negative critical value, closely related to the cylinder radius and mechanical and superficial properties of the elastic solid. Due to the intervention of molecular attraction forces, of van der Waals type, a light cylinder rolls under an inclined rubber surface and it is displayed that the rolling speed is the same when the cylinder rolls upon the same inclined surface. It has been verified that if a flat rubber substrate, with an adequate length, is rotated at constant angular velocity, a steel cylinder rolls alternately upon and under the surface, unceasingly without falling down.     

Rotary cylinders: Solid transport prediction by dimensional and rheological analysis

A semi-experimental model for predicting the axial transport of the granular bed in a rotating cylinder is proposed. It is based on dimensional analysis and on the determination of an apparent viscosity characterizing the flow behaviour of the bed. Unknown constants in the model are determined either by analysis or by tuning with experimental data. An example of such tuning is shown to work well. The model is capable of giving, as a function of filling angle and friction angle, the axial velocity that varies along the cylinder axis. This is important for the control of the process taking place inside the cylinder.     

ELECTROOSMOSIS THROUGH PORES WITH NONUNIFORMLY CHARGED WALLS

The movement of fluid through a charged capillary by the action of an electric field is analyzed in the case where the charge density on the capillary wall varies with axial position. The capillary's radius is assumed much greater than the Debye screening length of the fluid. Our results show that the mean fluid velocity within the capillary is given exactly by the classical Helmholtz equation with the local zeta potential replaced by the average zeta potential, determined by integrating the local value over the length of the capillary. If the magnitude of the local zeta potential exceeds the thermal potential (kT/e), the relationship between zeta potential and wall charge is nonlinear, so that the Helmholtz equation cannot be used to calculate the average charge from a measured electroosmotic flow or streaming potential. Although the mean electroosmotic velocity depends only on the average zeta potential, the fluid velocity field within the capillary is a strong function of the distribution of zeta potential along the wall and even displays flow separation and circulation.     

ELECTROOSMOSIS THROUGH PORES WITH NONUNIFORMLY CHARGED WALLS

The movement of fluid through a charged capillary by the action of an electric field is analyzed in the case where the charge density on the capillary wall varies with axial position. The capillary's radius is assumed much greater than the Debye screening length of the fluid. Our results show that the mean fluid velocity within the capillary is given exactly by the classical Helmholtz equation with the local zeta potential replaced by the average zeta potential, determined by integrating the local value over the length of the capillary. If the magnitude of the local zeta potential exceeds the thermal potential (kT/e), the relationship between zeta potential and wall charge is nonlinear, so that the Helmholtz equation cannot be used to calculate the average charge from a measured electroosmotic flow or streaming potential. Although the mean electroosmotic velocity depends only on the average zeta potential, the fluid velocity field within the capillary is a strong function of the distribution of zeta potential along the wall and even displays flow separation and circulation.