Measurement and analysis of the water hammer in ram pump

Sādhanā - This paper presents the results of experimental research of the phenomena occurring in water ram during a single cycle of its operation. Apart from a brief introduction and...     

Sensitivity Analysis as a Tool for Estimating Numerical Modeling Results

Modeling of real physical processes by numerical methods is highly time-consuming and requires significant computational capacity. In some cases, tens or even hundreds of hours of high-power computing are needed to virtually model a real process that lasts one second. Processes that take many hours, such as drying, pose an even greater challenge. This problem can be solved in two ways: by using faster computers (such as computing clusters) or by significantly simplifying the modeled process (its geometry, physical phenomena, or the impact of individual factors). For this reason, all methods which speed up or minimize the number of simulations required to achieve the research objective should be analyzed. This article focuses on the latter approach, and it proposes a simple method for predicting the responses of a numerical model (values of any output parameter) to changes in input values (values of any input parameter). This method requires a base model, such as a numerical model which is qualitatively and quantitatively consistent with experimental observations, and a sensitivity analysis. This article discusses the mathematical and logical premises for the discussed model, and it proposes two methods for predicting numerical simulation results. Those methods are illustrated with examples which analyze the behavior of the Eulerian Multiphase Model and describe phase interactions based on Gidaspow's approach. The discussed example relies on data from a series of articles published by the authors in Drying Technology. This article was inspired by the observations made during a time-consuming process of modeling a spouted bed grain dryer, which was described in the above publications. The objective of this study was to discuss the advantages and possibilities created by sensitivity analyses of numerical models and to encourage their practical application.     

The use of Path Tracking Method for determining the tortuosity field in a porous bed

The article is related to a computational method of obtaining the geometric tortuosity in granular beds, i.e. polydisperse beds consisting of spherical or quasi-spherical particles, freely distributed in the 3D space. The main aim is to show a new way of calculating two-dimensional tortuosity distribution in the plane perpendicular to the chosen direction in the space (interpreted as the main flow direction) by the use of own computational algorithm, the so-called Path Tracking Method (PTM). This way links the ability of the PTM to analyze relatively large granular beds due to low demand for computing power and the possibility of obtaining the tortuosity distribution in the space. Although this distribution is only 2D (there is only one value for every discrete point in the plane perpendicular to the main flow direction), it may be useful for estimation of the local pressure drops in fluid flows through granular bed. To reach the aim, the PTM has been improved and its application here is shown in a new context.     

Rain generated ring-waves: Measurements and modelling for remote sensing

We present an analysis of ring-wave and scatterometer data from a water surface that was agitated by simulated rain. Water droplets of 2.8mm diameter impacted the water surface at almost terminal velocity, and the rain rates cover a wide range of conditions (5 to 200mm hr^?1). Both the ring-wave energy and backscattered power from the GHz scatterometer increase as R increases, but the growth rates slacken at higher rain intensities. Ring-wave frequency spectra and wavenumber spectra are well represented by log-Gaussian spectral models. The results can be used to guide development of microwave scattering models.     

Selected Aspects of Developing a Simulation Model of a Spouted Bed Grain Dryer Based on the Eulerian Multiphase Model

This article discusses the key aspects of developing a simulation model of a spouted bed grain dryer for an analysis of fluid dynamics. The following aspects have been analyzed: selection of computational space, type of geometry and computational grid, configuration of the mathematical model (based on the Eulerian multiphase model) through the selection of “closures,” turbulence modeling, the simulation model's sensitivity to changes in phase and flow parameters, as well as the configuration of numerical parameters. The presented study makes reference to an earlier experiment carried out by the author, and it sums up the author's previous work in the modeling of a spouted bed grain dryer. This article presents a synthetic overview of the problems that are frequently encountered in the process of developing simulation models of a spouted bed grain dryer and proposes several solutions.     

Sea surface scattering calculations in maritime satellitecommunications

A method extending the Kirchhoff classical approach for mobile maritime satellite communications is presented. Carrier to specular and carrier to multipath ratios are evaluated from scattering by the rough sea surface calculations using the boundary perturbation method. They are compared with experimental results and with other experimental models. The results illustrate the limited effects of the wind speed and significant wave height, the important dependence on the elevation angle and the very large effects of the ship motions     

A method to overcome the limitations of G.O. in axis-symmetric dielectric lens shaping

The design of a cylindrically symmetric dielectric lens antenna is presented for the case of a very squeezed fan-beam. One makes use of geometrical optics (G.O.) to establish the profile of the lens in a first step. A half-integrated solution of Green's formula for bodies with cylindrical symmetry and circularly polarized surface fields is then derived to calculate the radiation pattern. Since the use of G.O. is restricted to some conditions which were observed unsatisfied in our study, a two-steps procedure to reach an acceptable lens shape is then presented. The first step is based on weighting the source beam of the antenna; and the second one is based on simple geometrical interpolation. Prototypes provided experimental results that are consistent with the predicted radiation characteristics and interesting features of such antennas are pointed out.     

The Path Tracking Method as an alternative for tortuosity determination in granular beds

Tortuosity is one of the most elusive parameters of porous media. The fundamental question is whether it may be computed from the geometry only or the transport equations must be solved first. Elimination of the transport equations would significantly decrease the computation time and memory consumption and thus allow investigating larger samples. We compare the geometric to hydraulic tortuosity of a sphere-packed porous media. We applied the Discrete Element Method to generate a set of virtual beds based on experimental data taking into account the real porosity and particle distribution, the Lattice Boltzmann Method to compute the hydraulic tortuosity and geometrical approach, i.e. so-called Path Tracking Method, to calculate the geometrical tortuosity. Our study shows that the calculation time can be reduced from hours (if the LBM is used) to seconds (if the PTM is applied) without losing the accuracy of the final results. The relative error between average values of the tortuosity obtained for both used methods is less than 3%. We show that the applied geometrical method may serve as an attractive alternative to hydraulic tortuosity, particularly in large granular systems.