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Article
Publication date: 15 June 2015

Wen-Juan Zhang, Xue-Hua Ruan, Gao-Hong He, Yong-Liang Ma and Yuan-Fa Liu

The permeate flux in microfiltration (MF) declines sharply with time due to membrane fouling, which seriously restricts its use in industrial applications. The purpose of this…

Abstract

Purpose

The permeate flux in microfiltration (MF) declines sharply with time due to membrane fouling, which seriously restricts its use in industrial applications. The purpose of this paper is to investigate particles deposition in MF processes, and propose a three-dimensional numerical model that focuses on particle-fluid flow and considers both permeable boundary conditions and cake deposition.

Design/methodology/approach

The two-ways coupling model was solved using Euler-Lagrange methods in which the suspended particle was traced by a hard sphere model and the fluid was simulated using large eddy model.

Findings

The numerical results predicted based on this model demonstrated the permeate flux increased as trans-membrane pressure and inlet velocity increased but decreased with an increase in feed concentration.

Research limitations/implications

Good agreement was observed between the values obtained with the model and experimental values from the literature. The error is less than 20 per cent both permeate flux and cake thickness. In addition, a precise visualisation of cake morphology with filtration time was provided.

Originality/value

These analyses allowed for an estimation of the three-dimensional motion of suspended particles in turbulent flow. It saves manpower and financial resources for experiment, which possess important theoretical and industrial significance.

Details

Engineering Computations, vol. 32 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 20 January 2021

Shifu Chen, Hong Lei, Meng Wang, Changyou Ding, Weixue Dou and Lishan Chang

The reported mathematical models of gas–liquid flow in single snorkel Rheinstahl–Heraeus (SSRH) are based on the assumption of steady Ar-molten steel flow. The purpose of this…

Abstract

Purpose

The reported mathematical models of gas–liquid flow in single snorkel Rheinstahl–Heraeus (SSRH) are based on the assumption of steady Ar-molten steel flow. The purpose of this paper is to develop a mathematical model to describe the unsteady turbulent flow (CO-Ar-molten steel) with nonequilibrium decarburization reaction.

Design/methodology/approach

On the base of the finite volume method, the computational fluid dynamics software CFX is used to predict the unsteady fluid flow, the spatial distributions of CO/argon gas and carbon element. The water model experiment and the industrial experiment are carried out to verify the mathematical models.

Findings

A two-way coupling model (T-WCM) based on algebraic slip model is developed to investigate the coupling phenomena. The related results show that T-WCM is more rigorous and accurate than one-way coupling model in predicting carbon content of molten steel. The amount of CO gas, which can enhance turbulent flow and mass transfer, is about three times the argon gas blown into SSRH.

Originality/value

CO gas is the key factor in investigating the transport phenomena. This study fully reveals the truth about the unsteady gas-liquid flow in SSRH. It is necessary to adopt T-WCM based on algebraic slip model to describe the CO-Ar-molten steel flow phenomenon.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 31 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 19 December 2022

Hsin-Yi Lai and Jing-Hao Kang

This study aims to solve the problems of low flow rate and low efficiency of micropumps in high-frequency applications. This micropump system was proposed to meet the requirements…

89

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to solve the problems of low flow rate and low efficiency of micropumps in high-frequency applications. This micropump system was proposed to meet the requirements of 1–5 ml/min for microthrusters or drug delivery devices.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, a comprehensive analysis indicator and numerical procedure were disclosed and used to demonstrate the fluid dynamic characteristics and performance of a micropump. Accordingly, the reliability of the two-way coupling calculation was ensured through mutual verification of the real structure and the numerical system.

Findings

The research results indicate that the Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microchannel can realize the contraction and expansion mechanism, allowing the fluid to generate different levels of pressure gradient during the working stroke and also enhancing the characteristics of energy consumption and storage of the flow field.

Originality/value

The pressure gradient between the fluid and PDMS microchannel can facilitate the improvement of the fluid backflow in a micropump. Therefore, in terms of performance improvement, the PDMS micropump increased the maximum backflow and optimum efficiency by approximately 50 and 90%, respectively.

Details

Engineering Computations, vol. 40 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 28 April 2022

Somashekar V. and Immanuel Selwynraj A.

Rainfall is one of the main atmospheric conditions that significantly affect the aerodynamic performance of the low Reynolds number flights. In this paper, the adverse effects of…

Abstract

Purpose

Rainfall is one of the main atmospheric conditions that significantly affect the aerodynamic performance of the low Reynolds number flights. In this paper, the adverse effects of rain on the aerodynamic performance of a two-dimensional (2D) airfoil with a chord-based low Reynolds number of 2 × 105 and the mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for various flight conditions, i.e. 0°–40° at Mach number 0.04 were studied numerically. The purpose of this study is to explore the aerodynamic penalties that affect the liquid water content (LWC = 5.33) of the airfoil and UAV performance in rain under different flying conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

The Eulerian–Lagrangian two-phase flow method is adopted to simulate the rain environment over an airfoil and mini-UAV aerodynamic performances. The Reynolds Averaged Navier–Stokes equations are considered to solve the time-averaged equations of motion for fluid flow.

Findings

The effect of rainfall on the airfoil and mini-UAV is studied numerically and validated experimentally. For 2D airfoil, the lift and drag coefficients for both numerical and experimental results show a very good correlation at Reynolds number 2 × 105. For three-dimensional (3D) mini-UAV, the lift and drag coefficients for both numerical and experimental results show a very good correlation at Mach number 0.04. The raindrops distribution around the airfoil, premature trailing edge separation, boundary-layer velocity profiles at five different chord positions (i.e. LE, 0.25c, 0.5c, 0.75c and 0.98c) on the upper surface of the airfoil, water film height and the location of rivulet formation on the upper surface of the airfoil are also presented.

Originality/value

For 2D airfoil, the recorded maximum variation of the coefficient of lift and lift-to-drag (L/D) ratio is observed to be 5.33% at an 8° and 10.53% at a 4° angle of attack (AOA) between numerical and experimental results under the influence of rainfall effect for LWC = 5.33. The L/D ratio percentage degradation is seen to be 61.9% at an AOA of 0°–2° for the rain environment. For 3D mini-UAV, the recorded maximum variation of the coefficient of lift and L/D ratio are observed to be 2.84% and 4.60% at a 30° stall AOA under the influence of rainfall effect for LWC = 5.33. The numerical results are impressively in agreement with the experimental results. UAV designers will benefit from the findings presented in this paper. This will be also helpful for training the pilots to control the airplanes in a rain environment.

Details

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, vol. 94 no. 10
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1748-8842

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 12 September 2018

Shuya Li, Zhengqi Gu, Taiming Huang, Zhen Chen and Jun Liu

The purpose of this paper is to develop a two-way coupling approach for investigating the aerodynamic stability of vehicles under the combined effect of crosswind and road…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a two-way coupling approach for investigating the aerodynamic stability of vehicles under the combined effect of crosswind and road adhesion.

Design/methodology/approach

The author develops a new two-way coupling approach, which couples large eddy simulation with multi-body dynamics (MBD), to investigate the crosswind stability on three different adhesion roads: ideal road, dry road and wet road. The comparison of the results obtained using the traditional one-way coupling approach and the new two-way coupling approach is also done to assess the necessity to use the proposed coupling technique on low adhesion roads, and the combined effect of crosswind and road adhesion on vehicle stability is analyzed.

Findings

The results suggest that the lower the road adhesion is, the larger deviation a vehicle generates, the more necessary to conduct the two-way coupling simulation. The combined effect of the crosswind and road adhesion can decrease a vehicle’s lateral motion on a high adhesion road after the disappearing of the crosswind. But on a low adhesion road, the vehicle tends to be unstable for its large head wind angle. The vehicle stability in crosswind on a low adhesion road needs more attention, and the investigation should consider the coupling of aerodynamics and vehicle dynamics and the combined effect of crosswind and road adhesion.

Originality/value

Developing a new two-way coupling approach which can capture the complex vehicle structures and the road adhesion with MBD model and the completed fluid filed structure with CFD model. The present study might be the first study considering the coupling of crosswind and low adhesion road. The proposed two-way coupling approach will be useful for researchers who study vehicle crosswind stability.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 28 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 25 April 2023

Rene Prieler, Simon Pletzer, Stefan Thusmer, Günther Schwabegger and Christoph Hochenauer

In fire resistance tests (FRTs) of building materials, a crucial criterion to pass the test procedure is to avoid the leakage of the hot flue gases caused by gaps and cracks…

Abstract

Purpose

In fire resistance tests (FRTs) of building materials, a crucial criterion to pass the test procedure is to avoid the leakage of the hot flue gases caused by gaps and cracks occurring due to the thermal exposure. The present study's aim is to calculate the deformation of a steel door, which is embedded within a wall made of bricks, and qualitatively determine the flue gas leakage.

Design/methodology/approach

A computational fluid dynamics/finite element method (CFD/FEM) coupling was introduced representing an intermediate approach between a one-way and a full two-way coupling methodology, leading to a simplified two-way coupling (STWC). In contrast to a full two way-coupling, the heat transfer through the steel door was simulated based on a one-way approach. Subsequently, the predicted temperatures at the door from the one-way simulation were used in the following CFD/FEM simulation, where the fluid flow inside and outside the furnace as well as the deformation of the door were calculated simultaneously.

Findings

The simulation showed large gaps and flue gas leakage above the door lock and at the upper edge of the door, which was in close accordance to the experiment. Furthermore, it was found that STWC predicted similar deformations compared to the one-way coupling.

Originality/value

Since two-way coupling approaches for fluid/structure interaction in fire research are computationally demanding, the number of studies is low. Only a few are dealing with the flue gas exit from rooms due to destruction of solid components. Thus, the present study is the first two-way approach dealing with flue gas leakage due to gap formation.

Details

Journal of Structural Fire Engineering, vol. 15 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2040-2317

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 4 September 2017

Anton Stephan, Frank Holzäpfel and Stefan Zholtovski

This study aims to investigate the effect of gusts on aircraft wake vortices. Aircraft wake vortices present a potential risk to following aircraft, particularly during final…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the effect of gusts on aircraft wake vortices. Aircraft wake vortices present a potential risk to following aircraft, particularly during final approach and landing, as wake vortices may remain in the flight corridor for a long time. Wind and turbulence are key factors that influence the wake vortex evolution and the wake vortex generation in the aircraft. Flying through a gust influences the wake vortex roll-up process and its evolution. Note that vertical and lateral gusts may affect counter-rotating wake vortices differently. Both vortices influence each other by inducing a downward velocity. Disturbances may therefore lead to local vortex tilting and later to a complex three-dimensional deformation. This work uses two different hybrid Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes/large-eddy simulation (RANS-LES) approaches to investigate the effect of gusts on wake vortex evolution. In a one-way coupling, a pre-calculated RANS velocity field of the aircraft’s near-field is being swept through an LES domain. The effect of a sine gust on the turbulent wake is modeled by manipulating the RANS-field accordingly. As a more sophisticated approach, the concept of a two-way coupling is being presented. Here an LES solver is bi-directionally coupled with an unsteady RANS (URANS) solver, exchanging values at every physical time step of the simulation.

Design/methodology/approach

A one-way coupling approach of the LES code MGLET and the RANS code TAU is presented to simulate the gust effect on aircraft wake vortices. Additionally, the concept of the two-way coupling of these two codes incorporating a coupling module.

Findings

The gust effect of wake vortices subjected to a crosswind can be simulated. The vortex physics is analyzed. Unexpected behavior like fast upwind vortex decay is revealed.

Practical implications

The understanding of the aircraft wake vortex physics during landing provides valuable information for wake vortex advisory systems.

Originality/value

The effect of gust on wake vortices during and after landing has not been studied so far. The hybrid one-way coupling approach, as well as the concept of the two-way coupling, are relatively new.

Details

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, vol. 89 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1748-8842

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 28 July 2021

Yue Long, Lang Lu and Pan Liu

The purpose of this paper is to solve the problem of low efficiency on knowledge resources allocation in the strategic emerging industry (SEI), an incentive model of technology…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to solve the problem of low efficiency on knowledge resources allocation in the strategic emerging industry (SEI), an incentive model of technology innovation based on knowledge ecological coupling is designed.

Design/methodology/approach

First, a principal–agent model of knowledge inputs and a knowledge ecological coupling model based on an improved Lotka–Volterra model are constructed. In addition, a numerical example about Chongqing Yongchuan industrial park, the emulation analysis and the associated discussions are conducted to analyze the equilibriums of principal–agent in different knowledge inputs. Further, the paper analyzes the evolutionary equilibrium in knowledge ecological coupling and reveals the dual adjustments of the node organization on knowledge inputs.

Findings

Thus, this paper shows that by establishing the relationships of knowledge ecological coupling based on “mutualism and commensalism,” node organization raises the level of knowledge inputs; an incentive mode of “knowledge ecological coupling relationship + technology innovation chain” is conductive to substantially improving the efficiency of knowledge resource allocation, and to stimulate the vitality of node organization for technology innovation in the strategic emerging industry (SEI).

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the extant researches in two ways. First, this paper reveals the dual adjustments of the node organizations in inputting knowledge, which broadens the vision and borders of the researches on traditional knowledge management. The methods of the traditional principal–agent model and the knowledge input/output profit model are also expanded. Second, this paper verifies that applying the mode of “knowledge ecological coupling relationship + technology innovation chain” in practice is conducive to enhancing the efficiency of the cross-organizational knowledge allocation in the strategic emerging industry (SEI).

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 8 May 2018

Stef Lommen, Gabriel Lodewijks and Dingena L. Schott

Bulk material-handling equipment development can be accelerated and is less expensive when testing of virtual prototypes can be adopted. However, often the complexity of the…

2043

Abstract

Purpose

Bulk material-handling equipment development can be accelerated and is less expensive when testing of virtual prototypes can be adopted. However, often the complexity of the interaction between particulate material and handling equipment cannot be handled by a single computational solver. This paper aims to establish a framework for the development, verification and application of a co-simulation of discrete element method (DEM) and multibody dynamics (MBD).

Design/methodology/approach

The two methods have been coupled in two directions, which consists of coupling the load data on the geometry from DEM to MBD and the position data from MBD to DEM. The coupling has been validated thoroughly in several scenarios, and the stability and robustness have been investigated.

Findings

All tests clearly demonstrated that the co-simulation is successful in predicting particle–equipment interaction. Examples are provided describing the effects of a coupling that is too tight, as well as a coupling that is too loose. A guideline has been developed for achieving stable and efficient co-simulations.

Originality/value

This framework shows how to achieve realistic co-simulations of particulate material and equipment interaction of a dynamic nature.

Details

Engineering Computations, vol. 35 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 27 April 2020

Vuong Quoc Dang and Christophe Geuzaine

The purpose of this paper is to deal with the correction of the inaccuracies near edges and corners arising from thin shell models by means of an iterative finite element…

115

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to deal with the correction of the inaccuracies near edges and corners arising from thin shell models by means of an iterative finite element subproblem method. Classical thin shell approximations of conducting and/or magnetic regions replace the thin regions with impedance-type transmission conditions across surfaces, which introduce errors in the computation of the field distribution and Joule losses near edges and corners.

Design/methodology/approach

In the proposed approach local corrections around edges and corners are coupled to the thin shell models in an iterative procedure (each subproblem being influenced by the others), allowing to combine the efficiency of the thin shell approach with the accuracy of the full modelling of edge and corner effects.

Findings

The method is based on a thin shell solution in a complete problem, where conductive thin regions have been extracted and replaced by surfaces but strongly neglect errors on computation of the field distribution and Joule losses near edges and corners.

Research limitations/implications

This model is only limited to thin shell models by means of an iterative finite element subproblem method.

Originality/value

The developed method is considered to couple subproblems in two-way coupling correction, where each solution is influenced by all the others. This means that an iterative procedure between the subproblems must be required to obtain an accurate (convergence) solution that defines as a series of corrections.

Details

COMPEL - The international journal for computation and mathematics in electrical and electronic engineering , vol. 39 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0332-1649

Keywords

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