Computational modelling of water flow inside laboratory Knelson concentrator bowl

Enhanced gravity concentrators such as Knelson concentrator (KC) are extensively used in the mineral processing industry. The complexities of KC bowl geometry and variation of feed characteristics have forced process engineers to design empirically new units using laboratory and pilot-scale Knelson concentrators. However, numerical modelling methods such as computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and discrete element method (DEM) provide a better insight of flow behaviour of fluid and particulate solid phases inside these processing units. This article reports findings of CFD simulations for single-phase water flow inside the laboratory KC. An available standard 7.5-cm laboratory KC bowl was numerically simulated using realisable k-ε turbulence model to resolve the turbulence dispersion of existing transitional flow regime. The effects of relative centrifugal force (RCF) intensity and bed fluidisation water flow rate on the water velocity and pressure distributions were studied. Simulations confirmed the swirling flow pattern governing inside the bowl. The results revealed that the impact of RCF intensity on the water field values is greater than that of bed fluidisation water flow rate. Both velocity and pressure variations inside the bowl rings followed a linear trend.     

Numerical analysis of history-dependent hemivariational inequalities and applications to viscoelastic contact problems with normal penetration

In this paper numerical approximation of history-dependent hemivariational inequalities with constraint is considered, and corresponding Céa’s type inequality is derived for error estimate. For a viscoelastic contact problem with normal penetration, an optimal order error estimate is obtained for the linear element method. A numerical experiment for the contact problem is reported which provides numerical evidence of the convergence order predicted by the theoretical analysis.     

Ontology-based approach for the provision of simulation knowledge acquired by Data and Text Mining processes

Numerical simulation techniques such as Finite Element Analyses are essential in today's engineering design practices. However, comprehensive knowledge is required for the setup of reliable simulations to verify strength and further product properties. Due to limited capacities, design-accompanying simulations are performed too rarely by experienced simulation engineers. Therefore, product models are not sufficiently verified or the simulations lead to wrong design decisions, if they are applied by less experienced users. This results in belated redesigns of already detailed product models and to highly cost- and time-intensive iterations in product development.Thus, in order to support less experienced simulation users in setting up reliable Finite Element Analyses, a novel ontology-based approach is presented. The knowledge management tools developed on the basis of this approach allow an automated acquisition and target-oriented provision of necessary simulation knowledge. This knowledge is acquired from existing simulation models and text-based documentations from previous product developments by Text and Data Mining. By offering support to less experienced simulation users, the presented approach may finally lead to a more efficient and extensive application of reliable FEA in product development.     

Numerical investigation of gelled crude oil particle melting in water for hydrogen production

This paper describes a numerical analysis of the melting process of gelled crude oil in water for hydrogen production. The melting characteristics of crude oil particles are analyzed, and the influence of flow velocity, particle radius, and hot water temperature on the melting process is discussed. The results indicate that the melting rate on the surface of the crude oil is different, the oil particles do not melt concentrically, and the monitoring points and rate of increase in temperature are not substantially affected by the phase change interval. The flow rate and particle radius are found to have a significant influence on the phase distribution of the oil droplets, but changes in water temperature have little effect. After validating a model of the melting process, we investigate the influence of oil particle size, water temperature, flow rate, and oil temperature. It is found that increases in water temperature and flow rate, or a decrease in oil particle size, tend to reduce the melting time.     

Effect of temperature on fast forging process of Mg-Ni samples for fast formation of Mg2Ni for hydrogen storage

Fast-Forging was used as a Severe Plastic Deformation technique to process Mg/Ni fine powder mixtures at a ratio corresponding to the eutectic composition. The samples were processed at different temperature, increased successively from room temperature up to above 500 °C. The one shock forging operation led to a reduction rate comprised between 80 to more than 90% depending of the applied temperature. Interestingly, a threshold temperature was pointed out for which amounts of the binary Mg₂Ni alloy were directly synthesized in increasing proportions when increasing temperature. A maximum amount of Mg₂Ni was synthesized according the nominal proportions at the highest applied temperature. Besides, numerical simulations were developed to consider and integrate to the forging process, the heat arising from the mechanical energy at deformation. Interestingly the total temperature at shock – heat applied to and heat developed in – indicates that the threshold temperature correspond well with the eutectic temperature as reported in the phase diagram. Early hydrogenation cycles suggest that both mechanical defects in brittle Mg and presence of amounts of Mg₂Ni as catalyst should be combined to optimize the hydrogenation characteristics.     

基于现场监测与数值模拟的浅层采空区稳定性分析

隐患采空区是目前影响露天开采矿山安全生产的主要危害源之一。随着台阶开采的不断剥离,露天开采境界内各台阶与地下空区群的隔离层厚度越来越薄,随时有可能发生采空区顶板坍塌事故。考虑到露天矿采空区地质赋存条件和围岩稳固性等特征,以弓长岭露天铁矿浅层采空区为工程背景,运用现场监测和数值模拟相结合的手段综合分析了浅层采空区的稳定性。将液体静力水准地表沉降监测系统的监测数据与FLAC数值模拟结果对比,调整蠕变参数使得数值模拟的蠕变速率与现场监测结果一致,而后据此进行未来结果的预测。最终根据地表沉降数据确定的蠕变参数取值为A=1.0×10^-12、m=1.75、n=0.35。研究表明:静力水准测点地表最大沉降位移为-9.8 mm,蠕变计算结果顶板最大垂直位移约20.4 mm,应力最大值约25 MPa,综合分析显示该采空区较稳定。上述研究提供了一种基于采空区现场监测数据的数值模拟蠕变分析方法,可为类似矿山采空区稳定性分析提供借鉴。     

基于双向流固耦合弹性环式挤压油膜阻尼器建模及动力学特性研究

利用数值方法建立了弹性环式挤压油膜阻尼器(ERSFD)的流固耦合模型,分别利用有限元方法以及有限体积法建立了弹性环和内外油膜的CFD数值模型,并进一步利用分时迭代的弱耦合方法实现了油膜以及弹性环控制方程的耦合求解,获得了内油膜的压力分布特性及弹性环的变形,并进一步识别了油膜和弹性环的动力学特性系数;研究了涡动频率、凸台数目、凸台高度、凸台宽度以及弹性环厚度对阻尼器动力学特性系数的影响。结果表明,弹性环的凸台高度对ERSFD油膜动力学特性系数的影响最为明显,ERSFD油膜阻尼与涡动频率无关。     

住宅新风系统风量分配装置压力平衡研究

为确保住宅建筑新风系统风量的合理分配,本文提出了一种新风系统设计方法,并通过计算流体力学模拟了一体积较小且带有六个出口的风量分配装置,以在不同位置设置不同长度的导流板的方式,得出在两侧设置长度为43 mm的导流板,在中心设置长度为44 mm导流板时,可以实现在一定风量范围内达到风量平衡且出口压力相等。     

Novel hybrid serpentine-interdigitated flow field with multi-inlets and outlets of gas flow channels for PEFC applications

In our previous study, a novel flow field design for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) called “Hybrid Serpentine-Interdigitated (HSI)” had been proposed. Although it was very promising in terms of performance and pressure drop, it still had a major drawback of the low oxygen concentration area. To improve its design and performance, three HSI configurations with different numbers of gas inlet and outlet, namely one inlet and one outlet HSI (1-IO HSI), one inlet and two outlets HSI (1I-2O HSI) and two inlets and two outlets HSI (2-IO HSI) were numerically investigated and compared with the conventional single channel serpentine (1S). The investigation on the cell performance and other transport behaviors has been carried out using CFD techniques via ANSYS FLUENT software. At a practical operating potential of about 0.6 V of 50 cm² PEFCs, the 2-IO HSI offered the best distributions of oxygen, current density and water due to the shorter channel length. More importantly, the 2-IO HSI could contribute to a reduction in cathode pressure drop by 90%, as compared with the 1S, resulting in the enhancement in the net power output by 6%, approximately.     

基于CFD技术优化50 L发酵罐内气体分布器

通过CFD模拟技术对50L通气搅拌发酵罐内不同气体分布器的传质混合效果进行气液双相流模拟。首先对发酵罐自带气体分布器进行流场模拟,针对模拟结果提出两种改进气体分布器。结果表明:双层环形气体分布器表现出一种较理想的混合传质效果,为此类发酵罐的优化和放大提供一种有效的技术手段。