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.     

Effects of different metal corrosion inhibitors on hydrogen suppression and film formation with Mg–Zn alloy dust in NaCl solutions

To improve the safety of wet dust removal systems for processing magnesium-based alloys, a new method is proposed for preventing hydrogen generation. In this paper, hydrogen generation by Mg–Zn alloy dust was inhibited with six common metal corrosion inhibitors. The results showed that sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate was the best hydrogen inhibitor, while CeCl₃ enhanced hydrogen precipitation. The film-forming stability of sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate was tested with different contents, temperatures, Cl^? concentrations and perturbation rates. The results showed that this inhibitor formed stable protective films on the surfaces of Mg–Zn alloy particles, and adsorption followed the Langmuir adsorption model.     

Investigation of corrosion properties with Ni–P/TiNO coating on aluminum alloy bipolar plates in proton exchange membrane fuel cell

Aluminum alloy bipolar plates have unique application potential in proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) due to the characteristics of lightweight and low cost. However, extreme susceptibility to corrosion in PEMFC operation condition limits the application. To promote the corrosion resistance of aluminum alloy bipolar plates, a Ni–P/TiNO coating was prepared by electroless plating and closed field unbalanced magnetron sputter ion plating (CFUMSIP) technology on the 6061 Al substrate. The research results show that Ni–P interlayer improves the deposition effect of TiNO outer layer and increase the content of TiN and TiO_xN_y phases. Compared to Ni–P and TiNO single-layer coatings, the Ni–P/TiNO coating samples exhibited the lowest current density value of (1.10 ± 0.02) × 10^?6 A·cm^?2 in simulated PEMFC cathode environment. Additionally, potential cyclic polarization measurements were carried out aiming to evaluate the durability of the aluminum alloy bipolar plate during the PEMFC start-up/shut-up process. The results illustrate that the Ni–P/TiNO coating samples exhibit excellent stability and corrosion resistance.     

FeCo alloys in-situ formed in Co/Co2P/N-doped carbon as a durable catalyst for boosting bio-electrons-driven oxygen reduction in microbial fuel cells

Non-noble metal catalyst with high catalytic activity and stability towards oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is critical for durable bioelectricity generation in air-cathode microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Herein, nitrogen-doped (iron-cobalt alloy)/cobalt/cobalt phosphide/partly-graphitized carbon ((FeCo)/Co/Co₂P/NPGC) catalysts are prepared by using cornstalks via a facile method. Carbonization temperature exerts a great effect on catalyst structure and ORR activity. FeCo alloys are in-situ formed in the catalysts above 900 °C, which are considered as the highly-active component in catalyzing ORR. AC-MFC with FeCo/Co/Co₂P/NPGC (950 °C) cathode shows the highest power density of 997.74 ± 5 mW m^?2, which only declines 8.65% after 90 d operation. The highest Coulombic efficiency (23.3%) and the lowest charge transfer resistance (22.89 Ω) are obtained by FeCo/Co/Co₂P/NPGC (950 °C) cathode, indicating that it has a high bio-electrons recycling rate. Highly porous structure (539.50 m² g^?1) can provide the interconnected channels to facilitate the transport of O₂. FeCo alloys promote charge transfer and catalytic decomposition of H₂O₂ to ?OH and ?O₂^?, which inhibits cathodic biofilm growth to improve ORR durability. Synergies between metallic components (FeCo/Co/Co₂P) and N-doped carbon energetically improve the ORR catalytic activity of (FeCo)/Co/Co₂P/NPGC catalysts, which have the potential to be widely used as catalysts in MFCs.     

基于有限元法的石油射孔枪弹间干扰研究

石油射孔弹顺序起爆后,弹间冲击波相互作用是一个高度非线性的力学过程。基于有限元法对这一过程进行显式动力分析,由计算结果得知,高孔密射孔枪弹间干扰产生的主要原因是下位弹在不对称的压力场起爆。设计的不同孔密和不同爆速的导爆索两种情形的爆轰试验结果表明,弹间间距越小(即孔密的增加),弹间干扰越严重;随着导爆索爆速的降低,下位弹射流头部质量集中的"中间"偏转角度增大,上位弹对其干扰越明显。以上结论可用于高孔密射孔枪的优化设计。     

Bifunctional nanoporous ruthenium-nickel alloy nanowire electrocatalysts towards oxygen/hydrogen evolution reaction

A class of ruthenium-nickel alloy catalysts featured with nanoporous nanowires (NPNWs) were synthesized by a strategy combining rapid solidification with two-step dealloying. RuNi NPNWs exhibit excellent electrocatalytic activity and stability for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in which the RuNi-2500 NPNWs catalyst shows an OER overpotential of 327 mV to deliver a current density of 10 mA cm^?2 and the RuNi-0 NPNWs catalyst requires the overpotential of 69 mV at 10 mA cm^?2 showing the best HER activity in alkaline media. Moreover, the RuNi-1500 NPNWs catalyst was used as the bifunctional electrocatalyst in a two-electrode alkaline electrolyzer for water splitting, which exhibits a low cell voltage of 1.553 V and a long-term stability of 24 h at 10 mA cm^?2, demonstrating that the RuNi NPNWs catalysts can be considered as promising bifunctional alkaline electrocatalysts.     

Direct shear behavior of gravel-rubber mixtures: Discrete element modeling and microscopic investigations

In this paper, a newly developed 3-dimentional discrete element model (DEM) for gravel-rubber mixtures (GRMs), namely DEM4GRM, that is capable of accurately describing the macro-scale shear response (from small to large deformation) of GRMs in a direct shear box apparatus is presented. Rigid gravel grains are modelled as simple multi-shape clumps, while soft rubber particles are modeled by using deformable 35-ball body-centered-cubic clusters. Mixtures are prepared with different volumetric rubber content (VRC) at 0, 10, 25, 40 and 100%, statically compressed under 30, 60 and 100 kPa vertical stress and then sheared, by closely simulating a reference laboratory test procedure. The variation of micro-scale factors such as fabric, normal and tangential force anisotropy is carefully examined throughout the shearing process and described by means of novel micro-mechanical relationships valid for GRMs. Moreover, strong-force chains are scrutinized to identify the transition from rigid to soft granular skeleton and gain insights on the load transfer and deformation mechanisms of GRMs. It is shown that the development of the fabric and force anisotropy during shearing is closely related to the macro-scale shear strength of GRMs, and strongly depends on the VRC. Besides, strong-force chains appear to be primarily formed by gravel-gravel contacts (resulting in a rigid-like mechanical behavior) up to VRC = 30%, and by rubber-rubber contacts (causing a soft-like mechanical response) beyond VRC = 60%. Alternatively, at 30% < VRC < 60%, gravel-rubber contacts are predominant in the strong-force network and an intermediate mechanical behavior is observed. This is consistent with the behavioral trends observed in the macro- and micro-mechanical responses.     

Microstructural and mechanical properties assessment of transient liquid phase bonding of CoCuFeMnNi high entropy alloy

The transient liquid phase (TLP) bonding of CoCuFeMnNi high entropy alloy (HEA) was studied. The TLP bonding was performed using AWS BNi-2 interlayer at 1050 °C with the TLP bonding time of 20, 60, 180 and 240 min. The effect of bonding time on the joint microstructure was characterized by SEM and EDS. Microstructural results confirmed that complete isothermal solidification occurred approximately at 240 min of bonding time. For samples bonded at 20, 60 and 180 min, athermal solidification zone was formed in the bonding area which included Cr-rich boride and Mn₃Si intermetallic compound. For all samples, the γ solid solution was formed in the isothermal solidification zone of the bonding zone. To evaluate the effect of TLP bonding time on mechanical properties of joints, the shear strength and micro-hardness of joints were measured. The results indicated a decrement of micro-hardness in the bonding zone and an increment of micro-hardness in the adjacent zone of joints. The minimum and maximum values of shear strength were 100 and 180 MPa for joints with the bonding time of 20 and 240 min, respectively.     

基于数值模拟的挤压参数对AZ91镁合金管转角焊合室分流挤压焊合压力的影响规律研究

提出了一种镁合金管材转角焊合室分流挤压新工艺，该工艺可在有效延长焊合室长度和焊合时间前提下保证舌针刚度，从而保证管材尺寸精度，并且可通过转角剪切变形机制增加预焊合金属变形量和动态再结晶程度，从而有利于提高管材性能和焊缝焊合性能。利用有限元法揭示了转角焊合室分流挤压成形过程中金属的流动特征，应变分布特征和焊合室内的静水压力分布特征。结果表明，整个挤压过程无金属折叠，从而保证管材的表面质量；流经转角后预焊合金属变形量明显增加，有利于提高管材质量和焊缝质量。最后，研究揭示了坯料初始温度，挤压速度和模具转角对焊合室内静水压力的影响规律。结果表明，随着挤压速度的增加和模具转角的增大，转角焊合室内静水压力增大；随着坯料预热温度的增加，转角焊合室内静水压力呈先增大后减小的趋势。