Cellular automata model of gravity-driven granular flows

A cellular automata model is used to simulate a variety of granular chute flows. The model is tested against several case studies: flow down a chute, flow past an obstacle, chute flow in which complex, counter-rotating vortices result in streamwise surface stripes and flow near a boundary. The model successfully reproduces experimental observations in all of these cases. These results lead us to propose that simple, rule-based, models such as this can improve our detailed understanding of dynamics and flow within an opaque granular bed.     

排桩式波浪能发电装置附近流场特性研究

基于雷诺时均Navier-Stokes方程和k?ω湍流模型,研究单排桩式振荡水柱式波浪能发电装置在规则波作用下的桩基附近流场特性. 通过物理模型实验验证所建数值波浪水槽的准确性. 模拟规则波作用下装置附近的流场特性,分析装置附近的涡特征以及其对装置附近泥沙冲刷情况的潜在影响. 结果表明,测试工况下,在桩式振荡水柱装置桩柱体的桩基附近观察到马蹄涡和尾涡现象,马蹄涡强度随着Keulegan–Carpenter（KC）数的增大而减小,尾涡强度随着KC数的增大而增大. 马蹄涡因强度过小,在模拟的KC数范围内不是装置桩基泥沙冲刷的主要因素,高强度的尾涡很可能成为装置桩基附近泥沙起动、输运和冲刷的重要影响因素.     

Pressure drop for single and two‐phase flow of non‐newtonian liquids in helical coils

New experimental results on pressure loss for the single and two‐phase gas‐liquid flow with non‐Newtonian liquids in helical coils are reported. For a constant value of the curvature ratio, the value of the helix angle of the coils is varied from 2.56° to 9.37°. For single phase flow, the effect of helix angle on pressure loss is found to be negligible in laminar flow regime but pressure loss increases with the increasing value of helix angle in turbulent flow conditions. On the other hand, for the two‐phase flow, the well‐known Lockhart‐Martinelli method correlates the present results for all values of helix angle (2.56‐9.37°) satisfactorily under turbulent/laminar and turbulent/turbulent conditions over the following ranges of variables as: 0.57 ≤ n′ ≤ 1; Re′ < 4000; Re_l < 4000; Re_g < 8000; 8 ≤ x ≤ 1000 and 0.2 ≤ De′ ≤ 1000.     

Upstream wake-secondary flow interactions in the endwall region of high-loaded turbines

A detailed experimental and numerical investigation of the unsteady interaction of secondary flow vortices in turbine endwall region was performed with the effect of upstream periodic wakes. The flow field was investigated respectively in a linear turbine cascade and a turbine rotor. The study revealed the physical mechanisms of unsteady interaction between upstream wake and secondary vortices. The influence of the upstream wake on the performance of turbine endwall region was also discussed.The flow field at the exit of the turbine blade row showed a decrease in passage vortex strength and loss due to the upstream wake transport. Two interaction mechanisms are proposed whereby passage vortex loss decreases. They are the upstream wake-pressure side leg of the horseshoe vortex interaction and the upstream wake-passage vortex interaction. The transport of upstream wake can suppress the development of pressure side leg of the horseshoe vortex and passage vortex because of the “negative jet” influence of the wake.     

Methods to control dynamic stall for wind turbine applications

Dynamic stall (DS) on a wind turbine is encountered when the sectional angles of attack of the blade rapidly exceeds the steady-state stall angle of attack due to in-flow turbulence, gusts and yaw-misalignment. The process is considered as a primary source of unsteady loads on wind turbine blades and negatively influences the performance and fatigue life of a turbine. In the present article, the control requirements for DS have been outlined for wind turbines based on an in-depth analysis of the process. Three passive control methodologies have been investigated for dynamic stall control: (1) streamwise vortices generated using vortex generators (VGs), (2) spanwise vortices generated using a novel concept of an elevated wire (EW), and (3) a cavity to act as a reservoir for the reverse flow accumulation. The methods were observed to delay the onset of DS by several degrees as well as reduce the increased lift and drag forces that are associated with the DSV. However, only the VG and the EW were observed to improve the post-stall characteristics of the airfoil.     

Flow visualization in an annulus between co-axis rotating cylinders with a circular jet on stationary outer cylinder

This work experimentally investigated the effects of jet flow and flow outlet configuration on the fluid flow in an annulus between co-axis rotating cylinders. By using the incense and the laser light, smoke flow visualization in a rotating annulus can be obtained. Firstly, the flow behavior in a rotating annular without jet flow and flow outlet was investigated. When Taylor number (Ta) exceeded 1708, the well-known Taylor vortices were successfully observed. Subsequently, the flow characteristics in a rotating annular with a jet flow and various flow outlet configurations were investigated. The circle jet nozzle was located at the middle position of the stationary outer cylinder. In addition, two flow outlet configurations were employed. One was the model of single outlet at the right side of the annulus, the other was the model of double outlets at both side of the annulus. The jet Reynolds number (Re) was 1351. The Taylor number (Ta) varied from 545 to 24,217. When the impinging force and the inertia force from the jet flow interacted with the Coriolis force and the centrifugal force due to rotation, the fluid flow should become very complicated. The experimental results indicated that the rapid rotation broke the original stream line of the jet flow. On the other hand, when the jet flow turned 90° to be the axial flow, it would suppress the onset of Taylor vortices. Finally, fixing the Re and Ta, the model of single outlet more suppressed the onset of Taylor vortices than the model of double outlets did.     

Strengths of horseshoe vortices around a circular cylinder with an upstream cavity

Horseshoe vortices are formed at the junction of an object immersed in fluid-flow and endwall plate as a result of three-dimensional boundary layer separation. This study presents the variation of the strengths of such horseshoe vortices around a circular cylinder with a cavity (slot) placed upstream. Through the cavity, no mass flow addition (blowing) or reduction (suction) is applied. With the upstream cavity, adverse pressure gradient is weakened upstream of the cavity whereas it is strengthened downstream of the cavity. Furthermore, a single vortex system is found to form immediately upstream of the cylinder instead of a typical two vortex (primary and secondary vortices) system observed in the absence of the upstream cavity. The strength of the primary vortex is weakened due to the fluid stream engulfed in to the upstream cavity, resulting in diffusion of the mainstream. Consequently, the circulation of the primary vortex is weakened. This paper was presented at the 7th JSME-KSME Thermal and Fluids Engineering Conference, Sapporo, Japan, October 2008. Seung Jin Song has received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Duke University and MIT, respectively. He has taught in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Inha University from 1995 to 1999. Since 1999, he has been teaching in the School of Aerospace Engineering at Seoul National University. His research interests include turbomachinery, propulsion, and fluid engineering.     

Numerical analysis of residence time distribution in microchannels

This article describes a numerical approach, which allows for the analysis of the residence time distribution (RTD) in microchannels. While the traditional methods provide the RTD at the outlet of the reactor, we consider the distribution of the tracer's age across the entire flowfield. The equation for the tracer's age distribution is solved by a modified method of moments and the distribution function is calculated by a reconstruction procedure. As an example we consider a Dean vortex-based micromixer.     

On the Completeness of Quantum Hydrodynamics: Vortex Formation and the Need for Both Vector and Scalar Quantum Potentials in Device Simulation

The conditions for the occurrence of quantized vortices in electron flow are examined critically in the context of quantum hydrodynamic modelling. The presence of vortices is shown to be described by the coupling to a new vector quantum potential which augments the conventional scalar quantum potential used in hydrodnamic and density gradient modelling of semiconductor devices.     

Liquid 4He: Contributions to First Principles Theory. I. Quantized Vortices and Thermohydrodynamic Properties

Quantized vortices in liquid ⁴ He are treated quantum mechanically with realistic many-body model wave functions in variational calculations for energy and core structure at T = 0 K. A rectilinear vortex and both small and large vortex rings are studied. Calculated results indicate that rotons are not just small-quantized vortex rings. We compare our results for quantized vortices with experimental data and with theoretical results calculated by others. Correlated basis functions and standard statistical mechanics are used in treating thermohydrodynamic properties of flowing liquid ⁴ He. The Helmholtz potential is evaluated for a model of the flowing liquid that includes phonons and interacting rotons. Characteristics of this potential are discussed. The physical nature of negative superfluid density is explained. Superfluid density, entropy, and specific heat for liquid He-II are evaluated using our theory and the results are compared with experimental data. Very good agreement is found, except in a small temperature range near the λ transition. We indicate that results obtained here can be used in extending the theory to include thermally excited vortices and to investigate the possible role of vortices in accounting for the λ transition in liquid ⁴ He.