Dynamic delayed detached eddy simulation of a multi‐inlet vortex reactor

The multi‐inlet vortex reactor (MIVR) is used for flash nanoprecipitation to manufacture functional nanoparticles. A validated computational fluid dynamics model is needed for the design, scale‐up, and optimization of the MIVR. Unfortunately, available Reynolds‐averaged Navier‐Stokes methods are unable to accurately model the highly swirling flow in the MIVR. Large‐eddy simulations (LES) are also problematic, as excessively fine grids are required to accurately model this flow. These dilemmas led to the application of the dynamic delayed detached eddy simulation (DDES) method to the MIVR. In the dynamic DDES model, the eddy viscosity has a form similar to the Smagorinsky sub‐grid viscosity in LES, which allows the implementation of a dynamic procedure to determine its model coefficient. Simulation results using the dynamic DDES model are found to match well with experimental data in terms of mean velocity and turbulence intensity, suggesting that the dynamic DDES model is a good option for modeling the turbulent swirling flow in the MIVR. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 62: 2570–2578, 2016     

利用面激光诱导荧光技术研究喷射器内液-液湍流混合特性

面激光诱导荧光(planar laser induced fluorescence,PLIF)是流场研究中的先进测试技术.今建立了液-液喷射混合器流场研究实验装置,利用PLIF技术对喷射混合器的湍流混合特性进行了研究,得到了喷射器内湍流混合的二维浓度场.对瞬时、时均浓度场的图像进行了分析,并利用离析度(intensity of segregation,IOS)的概念对时均混合效果进行了评价,得到了不同操作条件下IOS值沿射流方向的变化趋势图,结果表明流速比和绝对流速是影响混合的两个主要因素,液液喷射器中流速比越大.达到完全混合所需的距离就越短,在相同流速比的情况下,流速越大混合进行得就越快.     

Identification and characterization of three‐dimensional turbulent flow structures

Many phenomena in chemical processes for example fast mixing, coalescence and break‐up of bubbles and drops are not correctly described using average turbulence properties as the outcome is governed by the interaction with individual vortices. In this study, an efficient vortex‐tracking algorithm has been developed to identify thousands of vortices and quantify properties of the individual vortices. The traditional algorithms identifying vortex‐cores only capture a fraction of the total turbulent kinetic energy, which is often not sufficient for modeling of coalescence and break‐up phenomena. In the present algorithm, turbulent vortex‐cores are identified using normalized Q‐criterion, and allowed to grow using morphological methods. The growth is constrained by estimating the influence from all neighboring vortices using the Biot‐Sawart law. This new algorithm allows 82% of the total turbulent kinetic to be captured, at the same time the individual vortices can be tracked in time. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 62: 1265–1277, 2016     

Use of an areal distribution of mixing intensity to describe blending of non‐newtonian fluids in a kenics KM static mixer using PLIF

The performance of KM static mixers has been assessed for the blending of Newtonian and time‐independent non‐Newtonian fluids using planar laser induced fluorescence (PLIF). A stream of dye is injected at the mixer inlet and the distribution of dye at the mixer outlet is analyzed from images obtained across the pipe cross section. The effect of number of mixing elements, fluid rheology, and apparent viscosity ratio for two‐fluid blending have been investigated at constant mixture superficial velocity of 0.3 m s^?1. Aqueous solutions of glycerol and Carbopol 940 are used as the working fluids, the latter possessing Herschel–Bulkley rheology. The PLIF images have been analyzed to determine log variance and maximum striation thickness to represent the intensity and scale of segregation, respectively. Conflicting trends are revealed in the experiments, leading to the development of an areal‐based distribution of mixing intensity. For two‐fluid blending, the addition of a high viscosity stream into the lower viscosity main flow causes very poor mixing performance, with unmixed spots of this component observable in the PLIF image. © 2013 The Authors AIChE Journal published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 60: 332–342, 2014     

Scalar mixing in turbulent concentric round jets

The scalar mixing field of a free, turbulent concentric round jet has been examined using marker nephelometry. The flow conditions included velocity ratios between the centre and annular jet of 0.188, 0.519 and 0.911. The correlation function between the concentration fluctuations in the two jet streams increased from –1.0 near the nozzle to + 1.0 further downstream indicating a tendency to complete mixing between the jets. The initial mixing behaviour between the jets was better for the lower velocity ratio between the jets (U_i/U_o = 0.188) although further downstream there was better transverse mixing between the jets with the higher velocity ratio (U_i/U_o = 0.911).     

T型撞击流混合器内流动特性的PIV研究

采用粒子图像测速技术对入射管直径为3 mm、混合腔直径为16 mm的T型撞击流混合器内的流动特性进行了研究,考察了不同流速比和撞击轴线上方空间条件下混合腔内的速度和湍流动能分布. 结果表明,在相同入射管直径和流速下,撞击驻点位于混合腔中心处,无因次化的速度和湍流动能分布趋势基本一致. 高湍流动能区主要集中在撞击点附近区域,其无因次化数值是传统Rushton涡轮搅拌槽叶端处的3倍. 流速比对撞击驻点位置影响显著;减小撞击轴线上方空间可增加高湍流动能分布区域,利于物料混合.     

Characteristic time scales for predicting the scalar flux at a free surface in turbulent open‐channel flows

The purpose of this study is to predict the turbulent scalar flux at a free surface subject to a fully developed turbulent flow based on a hydrodynamic analysis of turbulence in the region close to the free surface. The effect of the Reynolds number on turbulent scalar transfer mechanisms is extensively examined. A direct numerical simulation technique is applied to achieve the purpose. The surface‐renewal approximation is used to correlate the free‐surface hydrodynamics and scalar transport at the free surface. Two types of characteristic time scales have been examined for predicting turbulent scalar flux. One is the time scale derived from the characteristic length and velocity scale at the free surface. The other is the reciprocal of the root‐mean‐square surface divergence. The results of this study show that scalar transport at the free surface can be predicted successfully using these time scales based on the concept of the surface‐renewal approximation. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2012     

LES–Lagrangian‐particles‐simulation of turbulent reactive flows at high Sc number using approximate deconvolution model

Large eddy simulation (LES) with the approximate deconvolution model is combined with Lagrangian particles simulation (LPS) for simulating turbulent reactive flows at high Schmidt numbers Sc. The LES is used to simulate velocity and nonreactive scalar while reactive scalars are simulated by the LPS using the mixing volume model for molecular diffusion. The LES–LPS is applied to turbulent scalar mixing layers with a second‐order isothermal irreversible reaction at Sc = 600. The mixing volume model is implemented with the IEM, Curl's, and modified Curl's mixing schemes. The mixing volume model provides a correct decay rate of nonreactive scalar variance at high Sc independently of the number of particles. The statistics in the LES–LPS with the IEM or modified Curl's mixing scheme agree well with the experiments for both moderately‐fast and rapid reactions. However, the LPS with the Curl's mixing scheme overpredicts the effects of the rapid reaction. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 62: 2912–2922, 2016     

Turbulent mixing in a confined rectangular wake

Liquid-phase turbulent transport in a confined rectangular wake was investigated for a Reynolds number of 37,500 based on bulk velocity and the hydraulic diameter of the test section and a Schmidt number of 1250 using particle image velocimetry (PIV) and planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF). The velocity and concentration field data were analyzed for flow statistics such as the mean velocity, Reynolds stresses, turbulent kinetic energy, turbulent dissipation rate, mixture-fraction mean, mixture-fraction variance and one-point composition probability density functions (PDF). Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models, including a two-layer k-ε turbulence model, a scalar gradient-diffusion model and a scalar dissipation rate model were validated against PIV and PLIF data collected at six downstream locations. Low-Reynolds-number effects on turbulent transport were taken into consideration through the mechanical-to-scalar time-scale ratio. The experimental and computational results were found to be in satisfactory agreement.     

A Comparison of the Mixing Characteristics in Single‐ and Two‐Phase Grid‐Generated Turbulent Flow Systems

The mixing process is studied in grid‐generated turbulent flow for single‐ and bubbly two‐phase flow systems. Concentration and mixing characteristics in the liquid phase are measured with the aid of a PLIF/PLIF arrangement. A nearly isotropic turbulent flow field is generated at the center of the vertical pipe by using a honeycomb, three grids and a contraction. In two‐phase flow experiments, air bubbles were injected into the flow from a rectangular grid, with mesh size M = 6 mm, which is placed midway between two circular grids each with a mesh size of M = 2 mm. For single‐phase flow, the normalized mean concentration cross‐stream profiles have rather similar Gaussian shapes, and the cross‐stream profiles of the normalized root‐mean‐square (RMS) values of concentration were found to be quite similar. Cross‐stream profiles of the mean concentration, for bubbly two‐phase flow, were also found to be quite similar, but they did not have the Gaussian shape of the profiles for single‐phase flow. Almost self‐similar behavior was also found for the RMS values of the concentration in two‐phase systems. The turbulent diffusion coefficient in the liquid phase was also calculated. At the center of the plume, the flow was found to have a periodic coherent structure, probably of vortex shedding character. Observations showed that the period of oscillation is higher in the case of two‐phase flow than in single‐phase flow.     

Demarcation of a new circulating turbulent fluidization regime

Transient flow behaviors in a novel circulating‐turbulent fluidized bed (C‐TFB) were investigated by a multifunctional optical fiber probe, that is capable of simultaneously measuring instantaneous local solids‐volume concentration, velocity and flux in gas‐solid two‐phase suspensions. Microflow behavior distinctions between the gas‐solid suspensions in a turbulent fluidized bed (TFB), conventional circulating fluidized bed (CFB), the bottom region of high‐density circulating fluidized bed (HDCFB), and the newly designed C‐TFB were also intensively studied. The experimental results show that particle‐particle interactions (collisions) dominate the motion of particles in the C‐TFB and TFB, totally different from the interaction mechanism between the gas and solid phases in the conventional CFB and the HDCFB, where the movements of particles are mainly controlled by the gas‐particle interactions (drag forces). In addition, turbulence intensity and frequency in the C‐TFB are significantly greater than those in the TFB at the same superficial gas velocity. As a result, the circulating‐turbulent fluidization is identified as a new flow regime, independent of turbulent fluidization, fast fluidization and dense suspension upflow. The gas‐solid flow in the C‐TFB has its inherent hydrodynamic characteristics, different from those in TFB, CFB and HDCFB reactors. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009     

Numerical Investigation of Flow Patterns and Concentration Profiles in Y‐Mixers

The fluid flow patterns and associated concentration fields in Y‐mixers are investigated using lattice Boltzmann method‐based models. The focus lies on the impact of the mixing angle on the flow and concentration fields, with the mixing angle varying between acute (θ = 10°) and obtuse (θ = 130°) angles. Residence time distributions are determined to study the effect of the angles on the mixing and velocity patterns, in particular, different flow regimes, i.e., stratified laminar, vortex, and engulfment flow. The results from the simulations are validated with literature data and found to be in good agreement. Maximum mixing occurs in the 100° obtuse‐angle Y‐mixer, attributed to the extensive engulfment of flows in the mixing channel.     

面激光诱导荧光技术用于快速液液微观混合研究

建立了面激光诱导荧光技术研究液液微观混合过程的实验方法,在无干扰流场条件下,研究了毫米尺度流道内、错流接触的两股液膜的时空混合行为,以可视化的手段揭示了液液微观混合过程的二维瞬态浓度场,发现了液膜快速错流接触后形成的有序波形涡结构,涡的尺度大小为1～2 mm,涡的发展过程是影响两股流体混合的主要因素.同时建立了混合过程的定量表征方法,用混合液膜中组分的离析度（intensity of segregation, IOS）定量描述了混合过程所达到的程度,获得了不同液膜流速下液液混合过程IOS值随着液体流动方向的变化趋势图,并分析了两股液膜之间的速率比以及混合液膜的Reynolds数对混合过程的影响.     

Mixing and micromixing times in the forced vortex region of unbaffled mixing devices

Unbaffied mixing devices are characterized by a very particular hydrodynamics. A well defined depression in the liquid surface is formed, resulting from the combined vortex established in the liquid. The combined vortex is composed of one central Forced Vortex Region (FVR) and one annular free vortex region. Because the FVR behaves like a confined mixing zone, this region inside an unbaffled mixing device appears to be quite interesting to carry out certain chemical reactions. In this paper the influence of operating conditions on the mixing time of two reagent feed streams arriving continuously in the FVR of unbaffled mixing devices is investigated. Process parameters investigated are?: stirrer speed, reagent flow rates and feed pipe position. Mixing time correlations are established, which are useful for the scale‐up of this reactor.     

Fibre orientation distribution in turbulent fibre suspensions flowing through an axisymmetric contraction

The Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes equation was solved numerically with the Reynolds stress model to get the mean fluid velocity and the turbulent kinetic energy in turbulent fibre suspensions flowing through an axisymmetric contraction. The fluctuating fluid velocity was represented as a Fourier series with random coefficients. Then the slender‐body theory was used to predict the fibre orientation distribution and orientation tensor. Some numerical results are compared with the experimental ones in the turbulent fibre suspensions flowing through a contraction with a rectangular cross‐section. The results show that the fibres with high aspect ratio tend to align its principal axis with the flow direction much easier. High contraction ratio makes the fibre alignment with the flow direction much easier. The contraction ratio has a strong effect on the fibre orientation distribution. Only a small part of the fibre is aligned with the flow direction in the inlet region, while most fibres are aligned with the flow direction when they approach to exit. The fibres are aligned with the flow direction rapidly in the inlet region, after that the fibre orientations change little in the most of the downstream region. The fibres with high aspect ratio are aligned with the flow direction faster when they enter the contraction. The randomising effect of the turbulence becomes significant in the downstream region because of the high turbulent intensity.     

Large-eddy simulation and laser diagnostic measurements of mixing in a coaxial jet mixer

Numerical and experimental investigation of the turbulent mixing in a coaxial jet mixer is presented. Laser doppler velocimetry (LDV) and planar laser induced fluorescence (PLIF) were applied for measurements of velocity and scalar fields and their fluctuations. Numerical simulations were performed using large-eddy simulation and RANS with different closure models. These results are used for validation of numerical models and a detailed study of flow physics within the recirculation zone.     

T型反应器内流动、混合及界面反应特征

利用平面激光诱导荧光（PLIF）技术和酚酞显色反应,对不同Reynolds数（20<Re<420）下T型反应器内的复杂流动结构及界面反应进行了可视化研究。随着入口Re的增加,反应器内依次出现分离流、稳态吞噬流、非稳态吞噬流及非稳态对称流等流动模式。重点考察了不同流动模式下T型反应器内的界面反应特征,结合流动模式对混合效果、产物浓度分布及时间演化进行了分析,揭示了反应器内复杂流场对混合及界面反应的影响机理。结果表明,吞噬流三维旋涡结构使流体相互卷吸缠绕,通过折叠拉伸形成层状的流体界面,极大增加了反应物的界面接触面积,混合及反应程度显著提升,产物浓度较高且分布均匀。     

CFD数值模拟在微涡絮凝中的应用

传统的絮凝理论是基于层流的条件得到的结果,而实际絮凝反应中,流体的流态是以湍流占优势的,不存在整体和恒定不变的速度梯度,因此微涡絮凝较传统絮凝更为复杂,其内部流态分布对絮体的形成具有重要作用,但目前试验无法获取其流态分布。随着计算机硬件的更新,计算能力不断提高,许多学者开始使用CFD数值模拟对种种复杂的实际问题进行计算模拟,以湍动能k、湍动能耗散率ε、涡旋速度梯度、涡旋尺寸作为评价指标,对微涡絮凝进行研究。     

基于阶跃射流的撞击流反应器流场动态特性分析

利用实验与数值模拟方法对动态阶跃型撞击流反应器流场特性进行研究,分析不同入口速度条件下流体流动规律、湍流特性以及能量水平。结果表明,动态阶跃型入口条件下,撞击面在两喷嘴之间周期性移动,流动参数也会发生周期性变化。随着入口平均速率的增大,驻点速度逐渐增大;随着两喷嘴入口速率差的增加,撞击面移动速度加快,撞击区流体湍流强度逐渐增加;随着入口平均速率与入口速率差的增大,XOZ平面在一个周期内的平均湍动能逐渐减小。对比动态撞击流反应器与稳态撞击流反应器内流场特性,探究动态入口条件对撞击流反应器流场特性的影响。结果表明,动态阶跃撞击流反应器湍流黏度、湍流强度和湍动能等参数均明显高于稳态撞击流反应器,撞击轴线上的湍动能梯度分布大于稳态撞击流反应器。动态入口条件下撞击流反应器流体湍动更剧烈,能量水平更高,有利于增加流场内流体扰动与促进混合。     

两组同轴相向撞击流反应器流场的仿真研究

利用Fluent软件对两组同轴相向撞击流反应器内的流场进行了模拟,研究了在不同流速下两组同轴相向撞击流反应器内的流场结构。模拟结果表明,随着进口速度的增加撞击区逐渐扩大,并使其周围形成的漩涡更加密集,涡流现象更为明显,产生了更大的速度梯度。同时,湍流强度随进口速度的增加变化明显,相对湍流强度增强,更有利于反应器内的湍动混合。