Influence of flow field on sedimentation efficiency in a circular settling tank with peripheral inflow and central effluent

The paper presents an experimental study of suspension flow patterns and velocity field inside a circular settling tank with continuous operation. Research was focused on the impact of a specific flow pattern on the sedimentation efficiency of the prototype settling tank. The latter differed from a common circular settling tank in that it was peripherally fed and had the central draw-off. Experiment was carried out on a settling tank section made of plexiglass and represented a radial slice of a prototype settling tank. The flow field and local suspension concentration was determined by computer-aided visualization. Sedimentation efficiency was assessed relatively by comparison of the amount of settled particles (sludge height measurements) between different types of flow in a certain time period of the settling tank operation. Results showed that there were two types of flow in the settling tank that were initiated by a horizontal or vertical inflow from the distribution ring. The type of inflow (horizontal or vertical) was a function of the suspension height in the settling tank. Significant differences in sedimentation efficiency were observed between both types of flow, particularly at lower inlet suspension concentrations. Horizontal inflow proved to be less efficient in terms of settling.     

Numerical and experimental investigation of axial fan with trailing edge self-induced blowing

Axial fans often show adverse flow conditions at the fan hub and at the tip of the blades. In the present paper, a modification of conventional axial fan blades with numerical and experimental investigation is presented. Hollow blades were manufactured from the hub to the trailing edge at the tip of the blades. They enable the formation of self-induced internal flow through internal passages. The internal flow enters the internal radial flow passages of the hollow blades through the openings near the fan hub and exits through the trailing edge slots at the tip of the blade. The study of the influence of internal flow on the flow field of axial fan and the modifications of aerodynamic characteristics of the axial fan have been made. The numerical and experimental results show a comparison of integral and local characteristics of the axial fan with the internal flow, compared to characteristics of a geometrically equivalent fan without internal flow. The experimental results of local characteristics were performed with a five-hole probe and computer-aided visualization. A reduction of adverse flow conditions near the trailing edge at the tip of the blade was achieved, as well as boundary layer reduction on the blade suction side and the reduction of flow separation. The introduction of self-induced blowing led to the preservation of the direction of external flow, defined by blade geometry, and enabled maximal local energy conversion. The integral characteristic reached higher degree of efficiency.     

Time dependant measurements of cavitation damage

Due to the extremely long length of experiments, in most studies of cavitation erosion only damage in the incubation period is measured and the final damage (mass loss rate) is then predicted by extrapolation. The methods of extrapolation are usually very basic since there were almost no in depth time dependant measurements of cavitation erosion performed in the past. A rotating disc test rig that generates a very aggressive cavitation and pure copper specimens, as erosion sensors, were used to investigate the correlation between the damage within the incubation period and final mass loss. The damage was measured optically three times during the incubation period and by weighing the specimen during the rest of the experiment.The results confirmed that the same clear relationship between the damage in the incubation period and the final mass loss rate exists, what means, that the mass loss rate can indeed be qualitatively predicted on the basis of measurements performed within the incubation period. This is a good basis for developing laws of extrapolation from a short time scale (laboratory measurement within the incubation period) to the real time scale (machine operation).     

Mineral wool melt fiberization on a spinner wheel

In this paper, the formation of mineral wool fibres has been studied on a real industrial production process. Parametric dependence of the melt film structural dynamics on the spinner wheel rotational frequency was investigated. The results presented indicate the presence of the melt instability that is formed as a complex quasi-periodic oscillation of the structures on the melt film surface. In addition to the melt oscillations which coincide with the rotating frequency of the spinner wheel and its higher harmonics, aperiodic melt structures also appear. These structures result from the Taylor instability, which is inherent to liquid movement and is one of the basic mechanisms of the formation of melt ligaments that solidify into mineral wool fibres. Based on the results, a phenomenological model for structural instability as a function of the wheel rotational frequency was formed, indicating a characteristic influence of melt film dynamics on the fibre formation and indirectly, on the quality of the end product.     

Prediction of cavitation vortex dynamics in the draft tube of a francis turbine using radial basis neural networks

Application of radial basis neural networks (RBNN) for prediction of cavitation vortex dynamics in a Francis turbine draft tube is presented. The dynamics of the cavitation vortex was established by fluctuations of a void fraction in a selected region of the draft tube. The void fraction was determined by image acquisition and analysis. Pressure in the draft tube and images of the cavitation vortex were acquired simultaneously for the experiment. RBNN were used for prediction. The void fraction in the selected region of the cavitation vortex was predicted on the basis of experimentally provided pressure data. The learning set consisted of pressure – void fraction pairs. The prediction consisted in providing only the pressure. Regression coefficients r between the predicted and measured void fractions were in an interval of 0.82–0.98. A good agreement between power spectra and correlation functions of measured and predicted void fractions was shown.     

LDA Velocity Measurements of High‐Viscosity Fluids in Mixing Vessel with Vane Geometry Impeller

The object of this work was to measure the velocity field in non‐Newtonian fluids inside mixing vessel. The six‐bladed vane rotor used for mixing was designed from rotating vane geometry of a sensor system, commonly used for rheometrical measurements of complex fluids (Barnes and Nguyen, J. Non‐Newtonian Fluid Mech. 98 , 1‐14 (2001); Schramm, 1994). During mixing, the viscosity was determined by measuring the torque at different impeller speeds, and compared to rheologically obtained shear dependent viscosity. The velocity field was determined by LDA measurements at twelve places inside mixing vessel. It was observed that axial and radial component of the velocity were insignificant at all measurement points. On the other hand, the results showed the periodic nature of tangential component of the velocity, which was confirmed with computer‐aided visualization method.     

Wettability of waterborne coatings on chemically and thermally modified pine wood

Modification of wood can change its hydrophilic character. Consequently, modified wettability of wood can change its behavior with coating or gluing processes. The authors investigated the wettability of oil-heat-treated and DMDHEU-modified Scots pine wood with some commercial waterborne coatings. The increased hydrophobic character of modified wood was revealed from high advancing contact angles of water. In contrast, exterior waterborne coatings exhibited much better wetting on modified substrates than on unmodified substrates. Good wetting of modified wood by waterborne coatings is an interesting result, opening up possibilities for application of environmentally friendly waterborne surface systems on modified wood.     

Investigation of adsorption properties of geological materials for CO2 storage

The assessment for realistic CO₂‐adsorption capacities of different rocks is important for understanding the processes associated with CO₂ storage. This paper investigates the adsorption characteristics of rocks for CO₂ (limestone, sandstone, marl, claystone, clay, siltstone and metamorphic rock) by using a gravimetric method. The measurements were performed at 21°C with pressures from 1 up to 4 MPa. Sandstone (and clay with sand/sandstone) showed the largest adsorption capacity at 21°C. The highest amount of in situ CO₂ contents in measured samples was 21.4 kg/t. The CO₂‐adsorption capacities were lower than past results in different coal samples. The results indicate that adsorption of CO₂ into rocks may play an important role in storing CO₂ in subsurface rock. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Numerical Analysis of the Local Anomalies in a Natural-Draft Cooling Tower

This paper presents experimental and numerical analyses of the aero-thermodynamic characteristics of a natural-draft cooling tower. The influence of local technical faults in the fill and rain region on the cooling tower's performance was estimated. Measurements of the air velocity and the temperature above the droplet eliminators showed a noticeable non-uniformity of both parameters. This is caused by a non-uniform airflow resistance and heat-transfer rate within the fill and rain region. Based on these measurements, a commercial CFD model was customized with additional relations describing the heat- and mass-transfer, as well as the airflow resistance in individual regions of the cooling tower. The results of a 3D numerical simulation of the cooling tower are the temperature and velocity distributions within the entire cooling tower. A comparison of nominal and actual cooling tower operation shows regions with unfavorable air temperatures or velocities. Thus, the inefficiently operating areas of the cooling tower's cross-section can be identified. These areas cause non-homogeneous aero-thermodynamic characteristics and have an influence on the integral characteristics of the cooling tower. A sample calculation of an actual cooling tower shows the usefulness of the method when it comes to improving the cooling tower's performance. The improvement can be achieved by modifying the fill resistance and water distribution.     

Thermovision Method for Diagnostics of Local Characteristics of Natural Draft Cooling Towers

Abstract

Increased and more rigorous demands for power station operation in order to minimize both the cost of electrical energy production and environment pollution, addressed the necessity for optimisation of all segments of the process. As a consequence, there are certain needs for the introduction of new experimental methods which would ensure effective diagnostics.

A newly developed experimental method for thermovisional detection of the temperature field in natural draft cooling towers is presented in this paper. The method is adapted to the real conditions that are present inside cooling towers and enables spatial‐ and time‐dependent detection of local temperatures in the region of drift eliminators of natural draft cooling towers. Combined with the previously developed methods for detection of velocity and temperature fields, the thermovision method enables quick detection of the local efficiency of cooling towers. Results of the method can be used for diagnostics of local and integral characteristics of cooling tower operation. Apart from this, they enable prediction of local corrections in order to increase the cooling tower efficiency.