Solution of temperature fields in hydrodynamics bearings by the numerical network method

Solution to the 2-D steady-state nonlinear heat conduction equation, involving cylindrical coordinates, applied to a plain bearing by a simple and versatile numerical technique based on network method is presented in this work. These advantages of the technique are necessary for the status evaluation of industrial machines during operation because time and computing resources are limited. The pressure field in the fluid is previously solved from the Reynolds equation by finite element method. The main difficulty is associated with the exponential dependency of the viscosity on temperature. The proposed model is very efficient and requires negligible computing times. Solutions are very close to the experimental and numerical results of other researchers.     

液力偶合器在电动煤气鼓风机系统的应用

煤气鼓风机为适应系统煤气量的变化采用改变风机的转速来进行调节是一有效的节能方法。本文介绍了液力偶合器的结构特点、工作原理及其在煤气鼓风机系统中的应用，以实现风机的调速，并取得了明显的节能效果。     

Dissolution of phase-separated domains after a jump to a temperature in the single-phase region

Phase-separated domains prepared in the two-phase region were dissolved at a temperature in the single-phase region, and their dissolution dynamics was studied by using the time-resolved light scattering (TRLS) technique and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The time t_ps of preparation of domains was chosen to be long enough for phase separation to proceed into the late stage. The scattered light intensity at small wavenumbers increased before it attenuated. As t_ps increased, the increase at smaller wavenumbers became more significant and the peak intensity decreased only slightly with dissolution time. The characteristic wavenumber q_m evaluated from TRLS and SEM followed the power-law relation q_mt^−0.3.     

Complementary modelling of fluid separation processes

Optimal functioning of numerous technological processes depends primarily on relevant process design, properly selected column internals and sufficient understanding of the process behaviour. This can be achieved only with the help of accurate and reliable process models capable of considering process rates in a rigorous way, with respect to both transport phenomena and chemistry. In this article, a new modelling concept called complementary modelling is suggested for a large class of fluid separation processes. Since the conditions and criteria for these processes vary considerably, it is impossible to develop a unified modelling approach. Instead, a reasonable and effective combination of different modelling approaches provides solutions to many present and future tasks. The complementary modelling is discussed in detail and illustrated with several case studies.     

Hydrodynamic force between two hard spheres tangentially translating in a power-law fluid

The hydrodynamic interaction between two hard spheres tangentially translating in a power-law fluid is investigated. By considering the gap between the two spheres being sufficiently small such that the Reynolds’ lubrication theory applies, an analytical equation to the pressure in the gap is obtained using truncated Fourier series. To a good approximation, the pressure equation can be further simplified. The simplified approximate equation over-predicts the pressure for shear thickening fluid (n>1) but under-predicts the pressure for shear-thinning fluid (n<1). However, the errors in the predicted tangential force and moment are relatively small. In particular, for a Newtonian fluid, the accurate solution and the simplified approximate solution degenerate to the asymptotic solution of Goldman et al. [1967. Slow viscous motion of a sphere parallel to a plane wall-motion through a quiescent fluid. Chemical Engineering Science 22, 637-651.] and O’Neill and Stewartson [1967. On the slow motion of a sphere parallel to a nearby plane wall. Journal of Fluid Mechanics 27, 705-724.]. Both solutions predict that for shear thickening fluid (n>1), the hydrodynamic force converged in the inner region of the gap between the two spheres and the contribution from the outer region is sufficiently small. For shear thinning fluid (n<1), the contribution from the outer region is also significant.     

Second-order Wagner theory of wave impact

The paper deals with the two-dimensional unsteady problem of the impact of a liquid parabola onto a rigid flat plate at a constant velocity. The liquid is assumed ideal and incompressible and its flow potential. The initial stage of the impact is the main concern in this study. The non-dimensional half-width of the contact region between the impacting liquid and the plate plays the role of a small parameter in this problem. The flow region is subdivided into four parts: (i) the main flow region, the dimension of which is of the order of the contact-region width, (ii) the jet-root region, where the curvature of the free surface is very high and the flow is strongly nonlinear, (iii) the jet region, where the flow is approximately one-dimensional, (iv) the far-field region, where the flow is approximately uniform at the initial stage of impact. A second-order solution in the main flow region has been derived and matched to the first-order inner solution in the jet-root region. The matching conditions provide an estimate of the dimension of the contact region for small time. Pressure distributions in both the main flow region and the inner region are derived. The accuracy of the obtained asymptotic formulae is estimated. The second-order hydrodynamic force acting on the plate is obtained and compared with available experimental data. A fairly good agreement is reported.     

Hydrodynamic interaction and coalescence of two droplets under large step shear strains

We observed change in distance between two droplets in each step after application of large multi-step shear strains. Experiments were performed using a sliding plate apparatus. Large step shear strains were applied to two polyisobutylene droplets in poly(dimethyl siloxane) matrix in the same plane between the plates. The distance between the two droplets decreases with increasing the total shear strain, which is given by the product of the step strain magnitude and the number of application of the step strains. The two droplets coalesce when the distance becomes less than the diameter of the droplets. The slope for plots of the distance versus the total strain is independent of the step strain magnitude. This indicates that the effect per unit strain on the distance is the same, irrespective of the strain magnitude. It is suggested that a stronger hydrodynamic interaction between the droplets is the main cause for the droplet approach.     

Radial density distribution of fractal clusters

The radial density distributions of fractal clusters generated in both DLCA and RLCA conditions by Monte-Carlo off-lattice cluster-cluster aggregation have been investigated. It has been computed by averaging a large number of clusters of same mass to form an average cluster, which is then considered as spherically symmetric. It is found that the radial density distribution, calculated using the mass center of the cluster as the center point, does not follow the fractal scaling, as sometimes assumed in the literature. An empirical model has been proposed to describe the dependence of the radial density distribution on the number of particles in the cluster. The obtained radial density distribution is used to compute permeability profile of the fractal cluster using several literature models, which is then applied to estimate the cluster hydrodynamic radius, R_h, by considering the cluster as a porous permeable object and using the solution of Brinkman equations for the fluid flow inside the cluster. The so obtained R_h values are compared to those in the literature, computed using the Kirkwood-Riseman (KR) theory. It has been found that, among the five permeability models examined, only the model proposed by Davis (Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Part B 1, 185) provides results in good agreement with those obtained using the KR model. Furthermore, it has been verified that the R_h values are insensitive to the model used for the density distribution.     

Flow regime, hydrodynamics, floc size distribution and sludge properties in activated sludge bubble column, air-lift and aerated stirred reactors

This paper presents a comparative study how reactor configuration, sludge loading and air flowrate affect flow regimes, hydrodynamics, floc size distribution and sludge solids-liquid separation properties. Three reactor configurations were studied in bench scale activated sludge bubble column reactor (BCR), air-lift reactor (ALR) and aerated stirred reactor (ASR). The ASR demonstrated the highest capacity of gas holdup and resistance, and homogeneity in flow regimes and shearing forces, resulting in producing large numbers of small and compact flocs. The fluid dynamics in the ALR created regularly directed recirculation forces to enhance the gas holdup and sludge flocculation. The BCR distributed a high turbulent flow regime and non-homogeneity in gas holdup and mixing, and generated large numbers of larger and looser flocs. The sludge size distributions, compressibility and settleability were significantly influenced by the reactor configurations associated with the flow regimes and hydrodynamics.     

Studying Fluid Characteristics Atop Surface Patterned Membranes via Particle Image Velocimetry

Surface patterning is a recent promising approach to promote performance of pressure-driven membranes in water treatment and desalination. Nevertheless, knowledge about foulant deposition mechanisms, especially at early stage of filtration, is still lacking. The applicability of particle imaging velocimetry to study fluid characteristics atop surface patterned thin-film composite membranes was investigated at different operating conditions. This work is an important first step toward reliable understanding of the impacts of topographical membrane surface modification on hydrodynamic conditions and foulant deposition mechanisms.