Recent progress on the discrete element method simulations for powder transport systems: A review

Powder transport systems are ubiquitous in various industries, where they can encounter single powder flow, two-phase flow with solids carried by gas or liquid, and gas–solid–liquid three-phase flow. System geometry, operating conditions, and particle properties have significant impacts on the flow behavior, making it difficult to achieve good transportation of granular materials. Compared to experimental trials and theoretical studies, the numerical approach provides unparalleled advantages over the investigation and prediction of detailed flow behavior, of which the discrete element method (DEM) can precisely capture complex particle-scale information and attract a plethora of research interests. This is the first study to review recent progress in the DEM and coupled DEM with computational fluid dynamics for extensive powder transport systems, including single-particle, gas–solid/solid–liquid, and gas–solid–liquid flows. Some important aspects (i.e., powder electrification during pneumatic conveying, pipe bend erosion, non-spherical particle transport) that have not been well summarized previously are given special attention, as is the application in some new-rising fields (ocean mining, hydraulic fracturing, and gas/oil production). Studies involving important large-scale computation methods, such as the coarse grained DEM, graphical processing unit-based technique, and periodic boundary condition, are also introduced to provide insight for industrial application. This review study conducts a comprehensive survey of the DEM studies in powder transport systems.     

Thermal destratification of cryogenic liquid storage tanks by continuous bubbling of gases

This paper focuses on thermal destratification and pressurisation inside thermally stratified storage tanks by continuous gas bubbling. The primary purpose of doing these studies is to better understand the effect of bubble dynamics on thermal destratification and quantify the extent of destratification. The volume of fluid and interface compression method of OpenFOAM CFD code is utilised for the present analysis. Different values of inlet gas velocities (V_g), orifice diameters (d_o), and arrangement of the orifices in triangular and square fashion with different pitches (p/d_o) are considered. In addition, the effect of gravitational forces (g/g_e) on thermal destratification is also reported. For all these cases, the effectiveness of thermal destratification is quantified in terms of a newly defined parameter, the destratification index (I_d). For V_g = 1 m/s, the I_d value is maximum compared to lower V_g values. It is seen that when the gas velocity increased from 0.3 m/s to 1.0 m/s, the average effectiveness in thermal destratification (I_davg) and pressure at the ullage increased by 44.38% and by 64.81%, respectively. The I_davg and pressure at ullage increased by 96.29% and 14.91%, respectively, when the g/g_e ratio changed from 0.3 to 3. Compared to the triangular arrangement with p/d_o = 10, the calculated I_davg increased by 30.67% when gas inlets were arranged with a square pitch of 10. For p/d_o = 4, 6 and 8, the increments in I_davg are of the order of 12.86%, 19.43% and 21.92%, respectively, for gas inlets arranged in a square fashion as compared to the triangular arrangement. It is found that continuous bubbling with gas inlets arranged in square pitch p/d_o = 10 gives higher effectiveness in thermal destratification. Thus, by these studies, one can develop a thermal destratification mechanism with continuous bubbling for optimum performance. Also, these studies give an overall idea of sparger design for getting the correct gas flow rate for thermal destratification within the cryogenic liquid storage tanks.     

A benchmark data set for two-phase Coriolis metering

For more than a decade there has been growing interest in the use of Coriolis mass flow metering applied to two-phase (gas/liquid) and multiphase (oil/water/gas) conditions. It is well-established that the mass flow and density measurements generated from multiphase flows are subject to large errors, and a variety of physical models and correction techniques have been proposed to explain and/or to compensate for these errors. One difficulty is the absence of a common basis for comparing correction techniques, because different flowtube designs and configurations, as well as liquid and gas properties, may result in quite different error curves. Furthermore, some researchers with interests in the modelling aspects of the field may not have suitable multiphase laboratory facilities to generate their own data sets. This paper offers a small data set that may be used by researchers as a benchmark i.e. a common data set for comparing correction techniques. The data set was collected at the UK National Flow Laboratory TUV-NEL, using air and a viscous oil, and provides experimental points over a wide flow range (8:1 turndown) and with Gas Volume Fraction (GVF) values up to 60%. As a first investigation using the benchmark data set, we consider how data sparsity (i.e. the flow rate and GVF spacing in the experimental grid) affects the accuracy of a correction model. A range of neural network models are evaluated, based on different subsets of the benchmark data set. The data set and some exemplary code are provided with the paper. Additional data sets are available on a web site created to support this initiative.     

Modeling of Slug Velocity and Pressure Drop in Gas‐Liquid‐Liquid Slug Flow

Gas‐liquid‐liquid slug flow in a capillary reactor is a promising new concept that allows one to incorporate gas‐liquid reaction, liquid‐liquid extraction, and facile catalyst separation in a single unit. In order to assess the performance of a gas‐liquid‐liquid slug flow reactor, it is necessary to predict the slug velocity and pressure drop to ascertain residence times and reaction rates. New empirical models for velocity and pressure drop were developed based on existing models for two‐phase gas‐liquid and liquid‐liquid slug flows, and these were validated experimentally.     

Fenton 絮凝工艺去除废水中的有机物试验

为了研究废水中有机物的去除问题，针对某企业含有机物废水进行了对比试验，采用了Fenton 絮凝联合工艺去除废水中的COD（化学需氧量）和浊度，考察了初始pH值、H2O2投加量、H2O2与Fe2+投加物质的量比、反应时间、絮凝剂投加量以及絮凝剂投加时的pH值对COD以及浊度去除效果的影响。结果表明，采用最佳工艺参数组合后，浊度去除率和COD的去除率分别为99.32%和97.27%。     

Microstructure and hydrogen absorption/desorption properties of Mg24Y3M (M = Ni,Co, Cu,Al) alloys

Ternary alloys with the nominal composition of Mg₂₄Y₃M (M = Ni, Co, Cu, Al) have been fabricated by using vacuum induction melting method. Their microstructure and phase composition are characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The isothermal hydrogen absorption and desorption kinetics are measured by a Sievert's-type apparatus. The dehydrogenation behaviors of the full hydrogenated alloys are also analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) method. Results show that each and every alloy has a distinct multiphase structure containing the main phase Mg₂₄Y₅ and some amount of Mg. Intermetallic compounds of YCo₂ and Al₂Y are detected in the M = Co and M = Al alloy, while long-period stacking ordered (LPSO) phase can be also observed in M = Ni and M = Cu alloy. The hydrogen absorption and desorption kinetics shows a decreased trend in the following order: (M = Ni) > (M = Al) > (M = Co) > (M = Cu). The M = Ni alloy has the best hydrogen storage performance among the investigated alloys. The dehydrogenation activation energy (E_a) of the M = Ni alloy decreases to 66 kJ/mol, and its decomposition peak temperature is also reduced to 313 °C. Moreover, the p–c–T (pressure-composition isotherms) curves of the studied alloys are also discussed.     

An improved method to visualize two regions of interest synchronously in microfluidics

Multiphase flow in mini/micro channels has been widely studied for its potential in many industrial applications. The normal experimental method cannot capture two separate regions of interest (ROI) with a long distance synchronously for the limited field of views. In order to solve this problem, an improved experimental method is proposed and validated with experimental results. Prism groups are applied to reflect the two regions of interest to a very small shooting zone. Though the actual distance between the two regions is far, the reflected regions adjoin with each other on the top surface of the prisms. Thus, the two regions can be captured synchronously with one image using a small field of view. Two types of configurations with 4 prisms and 6 prisms are compared using gas-liquid and liquid-liquid experimental results. The resolution of the two configurations is similar, while the maximum amplification ratio is smaller for the latter configuration with 6 prisms. The first type is more suitable for experimental studies focusing on the formation and breakup of dispersed phases near two branches. The second configuration is recommended for cases focusing on the formation and fully developed hydraulic characteristics of the dispersed phase. The proposed method is very efficient for studies of hydraulic, heat and mass transfer characteristics of multiphase flows in mini/micro channels.     

芬顿氧化-絮凝沉淀处理焦化废水应用研究

研究以"芬顿氧化+絮凝沉淀"组合工艺对某焦化厂的二级处理尾水进行深度处理,以小试优化条件用于实际尾水处理,考核指标为絮凝沉淀池最终出水COD。结果表明,组合工艺的优化运行条件:H2O2、Fe2+的质量浓度分别为210、185 mg/L,pH为3.5。在此条件下,实际尾水系统出水COD低于80 mg/L,能够满足GB 16171-2012的相关要求。     

The effect of transition metal carbides MeC (Me = Ti,Zr, Nb,Ta, and W) on mechanical properties of B4C ceramics fabricated via pressureless sintering

In this study, boron carbide-metallic boride (B₄C-MeB_x, Me = Ti, Zr, Nb, Ta, or W) multiphase ceramics were fabricated via in situ pressureless sintering at 2250 °C for 1 h. The effects of transition metal carbides, namely, TiC, ZrC, NbC, TaC, and WC, on the phase composition, microstructure, and mechanical properties of the ceramics were investigated. The results showed that MeC could facilitate the sintering densification of B₄C by distributing second-phase particles uniformly throughout the B₄C. Additionally, the main phases observed were B₄C and (Me, W)B_x (Me = Ti, Zr, Nb, or Ta) due to the doping of a small amount of WC during the ball milling process. As a result, the mechanical properties of B₄C-MeB_x showed significant improvements when compared with those of single-phase B₄C ceramics. B₄C–NbB₂ ceramics were found to exhibit the best mechanical properties, with an elastic modulus of 393.0 GPa, a hardness of 28.7 GPa, a flexural strength of 368.0 MPa, and a fracture toughness of 6.94 MPa m^1/2.     

Modeling and simulation of mixing in water-in-oil emulsion flow through a valve-like element using a population balance model

Emulsion flows are very common in natural processes as well as in several engineering areas, such as in the process of desalting crude oil that occurs in refineries. This kind of flow is described as a polydispersed multiphase flow. In this work, we evaluated the behavior of water-in-oil emulsion flowing through a duct with an element used to mimic the effect of a globe valve. An Eulerian multi-fluid approach was employed by solving the population balance equation coupled with computational fluid dynamics. Coalescence and breakage models recently developed were extended to this inhomogeneous model. A bivariate population balance problem was also solved to demonstrate the mixing caused by the valve-like element. The simulated results showed good agreement with the available experimental data for the Sauter and DeBroukere mean diameters.