Modification of premixed combustion in shear layers by grid turbulence

The influence of grid turbulence on the shear layer of a jet and the premixed flames embedded in it was investigated in the present study. The velocity field of the jet was measured by using hot-wire anemometry. It was found that grid turbulence reduced turbulence intensities in the shear layer and suppressed low frequency fluctuation. Moreover, the energy contained in small-scale fluctuation was increased and turbulence became homogeneous. The results indicate that grid turbulence inhibits the formation of a large-scale coherent structure in the shear layer. Flame temperature was measured by using a compensated fine-wire thermocouple. It was found that grid turbulence reduced low frequency fluctuation of the flame fronts, increased the small-scale wrinkles and elevated the mean temperature of the flame zone. The results show that grid turbulence can enhance and stabilize premixed flames in shear flow. Translated from Journal of Engineering Thermophysics, 2006, 27(1): 159–162 [译自: 工程热物理学报]     

Cavitation in semi-open centrifugal impellers for a miniature pump

Cavitation in miniature pumps was investigated experimentally for two semi-open centrifugal impellers. Although both impellers had the same blade cross-section, one impeller had a two-dimensional blade, while the other had a leaned blade. The flows were also analyzed using a numerical model of the three-dimensional turbulent flow in the pumps near the peak efficiency point using the k-ɛ turbulence model and the VOF cavitation model. The average cavitation performance of each impeller was satisfactorily predicted by the numerical simulations. The results show that the miniature pumps have similar cavitation performances as an ordinary-size pump, with the cavitation performance of the semi-open impeller reduced by increased axial tip clearances. Also, both the hydraulic and cavitation performance of the semi-open impeller were improved by the leaned blade. The results also show that uniform flow upstream of the impeller inlet will improve the cavitation performance of a miniature pump. __________ Translated from J Tsinghua Univ (Sci & Tech), 2006, 46(8): 1451–1454 [译自: 清华大学学报(自然科学版)]     

Characteristics of force acting on adjustable axial flow pump blade

The internal three-dimensional turbulent flow of adjustable axial-flow pump arrangement was simulated, and the force acting on the blade surface was calculated under different operating conditions. Based on the calculated results, finite element method (FEM) was adopted to analyze stress and strain distributions of the adjustment blade in different operations. Hydraulic moment, centrifugal moment and friction moment which must be conquered by adjusting the blades were also calculated. __________ Translated from Journal of Shanghai University (Natural Science), 2007, 13(3): 314–319 [译自: 上海大学学报]     

Study on direct measurement method of vorticity from particle images

To overcome the shortcomings of conventional methods for vorticity measurement, a new direct measurement of vorticity (DMV) method extracting vorticity from particle images was proposed. Based on the theory of fluid flow, two matched particle patterns were extracted from particle images in the DMV method. The pattern vorticity was determined from the average angular displacement of rotation between the two matched particle patterns. The method was applied on standard particle images, and was compared with the second and third order central finite difference methods. Results show that the accuracy of DMV method is independent of the spatial resolution of the sampling, and the uncertainty errors in the velocity measurement are not propagated into the vorticity. The method is applicable for measuring vorticity of a stronger rotational flow. The time interval of image sampling should be shortened to increase the measurement ranges for higher shearing distortion flows. __________ Translated from Journal of Zhejiang University (Engineering Science), 2006, 40(9): 1 644–1 647 [译自: 浙江大学学报 (工学版)]     

Discrete ordinates method for three-dimensional neutron transport equation based on unstructured-meshes

A discrete ordinates method for a three-dimensional first-order neutron transport equation based on unstructured-meshes that avoids the singularity of the second-order neutron transport equation in void regions was derived. The finite element variation equation was obtained using the least-squares method. A three-dimensional transport calculation code was developed. Both the triangular-z and the tetrahedron elements were included. The numerical results of some benchmark problems demonstrated that this method can solve neutron transport problems in unstructured-meshes very well. For most problems, the error of the eigenvalue and the angular flux is less than 0.3% and 3.0% respectively. __________ Translated from Journal of Xi’an Jiao Tong University, 2007, 41(3): 363–366 [译自: 西安交通大学学报]     

Combustion instability detection using the wavelet detail of pressure fluctuations

A combustion instability detection method that uses the wavelet detail of combustion pressure fluctuations is put forward. To confirm this method, combustion pressure fluctuations in a stoker boiler are recorded at stable and unstable combustion with a pressure transducer. Daubechies one-order wavelet is chosen to obtain the wavelet details for comparison. It shows that the wavelet approximation indicates the general pressure change in the furnace, and the wavelet detail magnitude is consistent with the intensity of turbulence and combustion noise. The magnitude of the wavelet detail is nearly constant when the combustion is stable, however, it will fluctuate much when the combustion is unstable. __________ Translated from Journal of Shanghai Jiaotong University, 2007, 41(3): 342–346 [译自: 上海交通大学学报]     

Numerical analysis of rotating stall characteristics in vaneless diffuser with large width-radius ratio

A two-dimensional model, where the influence of wall boundary layers is neglected and inlet jetwake velocity patterns are prescribed, was applied to simulate one vaneless diffuser with a large width-radius ratio. The impact of diffuser length, impeller blade number, etc. on the rotating stall was analyzed. Computational results show that a different mechanism does exist for diffusers with large width-radius ratios. Comparison with related conclusions and references is supportive of the model. __________ Translated from Journal of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 2007, 41(9): 1518–1521 [译自: 上海交通大学学报]     

Numerical simulation of three-dimensional gas/liquid two-phase flow in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell

Investigation into the formation and transport of liquid water in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) is the key to fuel cell water management. A three-dimensional gas/liquid two-phase flow and heat transfer model is developed based on the multiphase mixture theory. The reactant gas flow, diffusion, and chemical reaction as well as the liquid water transport and phase change process are modeled. Numerical simulations on liquid water distribution and its effects on the performance of a PEMFC are conducted. Results show that liquid water distributes mostly in the cathode, and predicted cell performance decreases quickly at high current density due to the obstruction of liquid water to oxygen diffusion. The simulation results agree well with experimental data. Translated from J Tsinghua Univ (Sci & Tech), 2006, 46(2): 252–256 [译自: 清华大学学报]     

Experimental study on velocity characteristics of recirculation zone in humid air non-premixed flame

To examine the effect of the flow field within the recirculation zone on flame structure, the characteristic velocity fields of methane/humid air flame in non-premixed combustion behind a disc bluff-body burner were experimentally studied by particle image velocimeter (PIV).The results show that two stagnation points exist on the centerline in the recirculation zone flame. However, the distance of the two stagnation points in humid air combustion shortens, and the minimal dimensionless velocity increases compared with the conventional nonhumid air combustion. In addition, the positional curves of the minimal velocities can be partitioned into three phases representing three different flame patterns. The analysis of axial minimal velocities on the centerline and their positions under different co-flow air velocity conditions reveals that fuel-to-air velocity ratio is the crucial parameter that governs humid air combustion flame characteristics. __________ Translated from Journal of Shanghai Jiaotong University, 2007, 41(3): 357–360, 365 [译自: 上海交通大学学报]     

Multi-objective optimization of a 3D vaneless diffuser based on fuzzy theory

An optimization model based on fuzzy theory was set up and the corresponding Interactive modified simplex (IMS) method was developed to solve it. Both static pressure recovery and total pressure loss were considered in the model. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method was applied to solve the Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes equation (RANS) and to find flow field distribution to get the value of the object function. After receiving the new shroud curve, grid movement and redrawing technology were adopted to avoid grid-line crossing and negative cells. The shroud curve was fitted with B-spline. The optimized results concur with the results reported in references. __________ Translated from Journal of Shanghai Jiaotong University, 2006, 40(7): 1192–1197, 1199 [译自: 上海交通大学学报]     

Studies of the effect of a coal concentrator on NO formation in swirling coal combustion

To develop low-pollution burners, the effect of a coal concentrator on NO formation in swirling coal combustion is studied using both numerical simulation and experiments. The isothermal gas–particle two-phase velocities and particle concentration in a cold model of swirl burners with and without coal concentrators were measured using the phase Doppler particle anemometer (PDPA). A full two-fluid model of reacting gas–particle flows and coal combustion with an algebraic unified second-order moment (AUSM) turbulence-chemistry model for the turbulent reaction rate of NO formation are used to simulate swirling coal combustion and NO formation with different coal concentrators. The results give the turbulent kinetic energy, particle concentration, temperature and NO concentration in cases of with and without coal concentrators. The predicted results for cold two-phase flows are in good agreement with the PDPA measurement results, showing that the coal concentrator increases the turbulence and particle concentration in the recirculation zone. The combustion modeling results indicate that although the coal concentrator increases the turbulence and combustion temperature, but still can remarkably reduce the NO formation due to creating high coal concentration in the recirculation zone.     

用二阶矩亚网格尺度燃烧模型对丙烷-空气旋流扩散燃烧的大涡模拟

用二阶矩(SOM)亚网格尺度燃烧模型对环缝进燃料的丙烷-空气旋流湍流扩散燃烧进行了大涡模拟(LES).模拟得到统计平均的热态3个方向的速度、湍流度、温度、丙烷、氧和CO2浓度分布,其值与实验数据符合很好.结果表明,二阶矩(SOM)亚网格尺度燃烧模型适用于大涡模拟.环缝进气使湍流脉动强度、各向异性程度和温度分布趋于均匀.     

A dynamic procedure based on the scale-similarity hypotheses for large-eddy simulation

Current dynamic procedures in large-eddy simulation treat the two subgrid-scale stresses in the Germano identity with the same subgrid base model. Thus to get the base model coefficient, the coefficient must be assumed to be constant for test filter operation. However, since the coefficient has sharp fluctuations, this assumption causes some inconsistence. A new dynamic procedure was developed in which these two stresses are modeled by the base model and the scale-similarity hypotheses respectively. Thus the need for the assumption is removed and consistence is restored. The new procedure is tested in the large-eddy simulation of a lid-driven cavity flow at Reynolds number of 10,000. The results show that the new procedure can both improve the prediction of statistics of the flow and effectively relieve the singularity of subgrid-scale (SGS) model coefficient. __________ Translated from J Tsinghua Univ (Sci & Tech), 2006, 46(8): 1 438–1 446 [译自: 清华大学学报]     

Study and practice on condition-based maintenance of induced fans in coal-fired power plants

Reducing the enormous maintenance cost is essential to enhance the competitiveness for power plants. An overall design scheme for condition-based maintenance of induced fans is proposed for large thermal power plants. The interface of the above framework is simple and convenient; the optimum maintenance strategy is given by condition monitoring and risk evaluating. The decisionsupported system was used in Guangdong Shajiao C Power Plant. The results show that it is a feasible maintenance optimization scheme for power plants. __________ Translated from J Huazhong Univ of Sci & Tech (Natural Science Edition), 2007, 35(1): 63–66 [译自: 华中科技大学学报(自然科学版)]     

A κ—ε—PDF Two—Phase Turbulence Model for Simulating Sudden—Expansion Particle—Laden FLows

A κ-ε-PDF model based on statistical theory for turbulent gas-particle flows is proposed.and a numerical procedure combining the finite difference and finite fluctuaing-velocity-group methods is used.The obtained statistically averaged equations have the same form as those obtained by using the Reynolds averaging.Using the κ-ε-PDF model(PDF particle turbulence model combined with the κ-ε- gas turbulence model),amny terms,such as the diffusion term in particle Reynolds Stress equations,can be accurately calcuated for verifying the second-moment-closure model,the κ-ε-PDF model is used to simulate sudden-expansion particle-laden flow.comparison of the predictions using both κ-ε-PDF and the κ-ε- models with experimental results shows that the κ-ε-PDF model give more reasonable non-siotropic features of particle turbulence.     

Boiling heat transfer correlations for refrigerant mixtures flowing inside micro-fin tubes

Based on experimental results of ternary non-azeotropic refrigerant mixture R417A flowing and boiling in one smooth and two internally grooved horizontal tubes with different geometrical parameters, a boiling heat transfer correlations was developed for refrigerant mixtures flowing inside micro-fin tubes by applying the enhancement factor in the present modified-Kattan model which was modified by the experimental data of R417A in a smooth tube. The comparison between the calculation and the experimental results indicates that the prediction by the present correlations is in good agreement with the experiment of refrigerant mixtures inside different microfin tubes with a standard deviation of ±30% for vapor qualities below 80%. __________ Translated from Journal of Xi’an Jiaotong University, 2007, 41(11): 1279–1283 [译自: 西安交通大学学报]     

Experimental study of humid air reverse diffusion combustion in a turbulent flow field

Experiments were performed to investigate the differences between the propane/air turbulent diffusion reactive flows past bluff-body and the propane/humid air turbulent diffusion reactive flows in the same conditions. The velocity distributions of the non-humid reactive flow fields and the humid reactive flow fields were measured by particle image velocimetry (PIV) techniques. The temperature fields were measured by high temperature thermocouples, and NO_x distributions were obtained by using gas detection instruments. The results show that although humid air reactive flow fields are similar to non-humid flow fields in general, there are some differences in the humid air combustion flow field comparing with the non-humid combustion flow field: the center of the reversed-flow region goes forward; the dimension of the reversed-flow region is smaller; the peak temperature and NO_x formation are reduced. It is suggested that humid air combustion is helpful to shorten the axial length of combustors, and reduce the formation of pollutants. __________ Translated from Journal of Shanghai Jiaotong University, 2006, 40(8): 1 287–1 292 [译自: 上海交通大学学报]     

Numerical analysis of aerodynamic noise radiated from cross flow fan

The flow field in a cross flow fan was simulated by solving the 2-D unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations. The calculated pressure fluctuations of the blades, the vortex wall, and the rear wall were then used as noise sources to calculate the sound field. The Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings (FW-H) equation was employed to predict the noise field caused by these sources. The predictions show that the rear wall and the vortex wall sources contribute significantly to the total noise and that both the predicted aerodynamic performance and noise agree well with the experimental results. __________ Translated from J Tsinghua Univ (Sci & Tech), 2007, 47(2): 236–239 [译自: 清华大学学报(自然科学版)]     

Parameter for judging reactivity of coal and coke

To eliminate the judgment error of char reactivity arising from different carbon content of samples, a new parameter called specific maximum weight loss rate was introduced. It is defined as the quotient of the maximum weight loss rate in non-isothermal thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) experiment to the carbon content of the corresponding sample. The reactivity of different kinds of coal, the reactivity of the same coal type with different lithotype, and the reactivity of the char with different carbon conversion rates were checked by using the specific maximum weight loss rate, and the results were analyzed and compared with those obtained by using other criteria. The results show that the specific maximum weight loss rate can be used as a commonality parameter to evaluate and distinguish the reactivity of different coal and char. The heating rate selected in TGA experiment has no effect on the judgment. __________ Translated from Journal of Zhejiang University (Engineering Science), 2006, 40(11): 1998–2001 [译自: 浙江大学学报(工学版)]     

Assessment indices for uniform and non-uniform thermal environments

Different assessment indices for thermal environments were compared and selected for proper assessment of indoor thermal environments. 30 subjects reported their overall thermal sensation, thermal comfort, and thermal acceptability in uniform and non-uniform conditions. The results show that these three assessment indices provide equivalent evaluations in uniform environments. However, overall thermal sensation differs from the other two indices and cannot be used as a proper index for the evaluation of non-uniform environments. The relationship between the percentage and the mean vote for each index is established. __________ Translated from J Tsinghua Univ (Sci & Tech), 2006, 46(12): 1949–1952 [译自: 清华大学学报(自然科学版)]