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CFD Modeling (cfd + modeling)
Selected AbstractsFractionation technology for the petroleum refining industryASIA-PACIFIC JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, Issue 4 2007Albert Hug Abstract Distillation Research and Development is moving rapidly with the utilization of computational fluid dynamic (CFD) modeling. Previously, a potential fractionation application would first be developed and fabricated. Then many hours of pilot plant testing would be required to finalize the design. The time line for the development of new distillation equipment has been reduced, leading to advances in fractionation equipment. Current applications of trays, packings, distributors and feed inlets can be optimized utilizing CFD modeling. CFD Modeling has improved the current generation of fractionation equipment. This modeling is also particularly important in maximizing capacity in tower revamps where the diameter of the tower is fixed. This paper will review the current-generation fractionation equipment and the utilization of the same in the petroleum refining industry. Copyright © 2007 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] CFD Modeling of a Bubble Column Reactor Carrying out a Consecutive A , B , C ReactionCHEMICAL ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY (CET), Issue 4 2004J.M. van Baten Abstract In this paper, we develop a CFD model for describing a bubble column reactor for carrying out a consecutive first-order reaction sequence A , B , C. Three reactor configurations, all operating in the homogeneous bubbly regime, were investigated: (I) column diameter DT = 0.1 m, column height HT = 1.1 m, (II) DT = 0.1 m, HT = 2 m, and (III) DT = 1 m, HT = 5 m. Eulerian simulations were carried out for superficial gas velocities UG in the range of 0.005,0.04 m/s, assuming cylindrical axisymmetry. Additionally, for configurations I and III fully three-dimensional transient simulations were carried out for checking the assumption of cylindrical axisymmetry. For the 0.1 m diameter column (configuration I), 2-D axisymmetric and 3-D transient simulations yield nearly the same results for gas holdup ,G, centerline liquid velocity VL(0), conversion of A, ,A, and selectivity to B, SB. In sharp contrast, for the 1 m diameter column (configuration III), there are significant differences in the CFD predictions of ,G, VL(0), ,A, and SB using 2-D and 3-D simulations; the 2-D strategies tend to exaggerate VL(0), and underpredict ,G, ,A, and SB. The transient 3-D simulation results appear to be more realistic. The CFD simulation results for ,A and SB are also compared with a simple analytic model, often employed in practice, in which the gas phase is assumed to be in plug flow and the liquid phase is well mixed. For the smaller diameter columns (configurations I and II) the CFD simulation results for ,A are in excellent agreement with the analytic model, but for the larger diameter column the analytic model is somewhat optimistic. There are two reasons for this deviation. Firstly, the gas phase is not in perfect plug flow and secondly, the liquid phase is not perfectly mixed. The computational results obtained in this paper demonstrate the power of CFD for predicting the performance of bubble column reactors. Of particular use is the ability of CFD to describe scale effects. [source] Identification of contaminant sources in enclosed environments by inverse CFD modelingINDOOR AIR, Issue 3 2007T. F. Zhang First page of article [source] MRI measurement of time-resolved wall shear stress vectors in a carotid bifurcation model, and comparison with CFD predictionsJOURNAL OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING, Issue 2 2003Panorea Papathanasopoulou MSc Abstract Purpose To study pulsatile fluid flow in a physiologically realistic model of the human carotid bifurcation, and to derive wall shear stress (WSS) vectors. Materials and Methods WSS vectors were calculated from time-resolved 3D phase-contrast (PC) MRI measurements of the velocity field. The technique was first validated with sinusoidal flow in a straight tube, and then used in a model of a healthy human carotid bifurcation. Velocity measurements in the inflow and outflow regions were also used as boundary conditions for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) calculations of WSS, which were compared with those derived from MRI alone. Results The straight tube measurements gave WSS results that were within 15% of the theoretical value. WSS results for the phantom showed the main features expected from fluid dynamics, notably the low values in the bulb region of the internal carotid artery, with a return to ordered flow further downstream. MRI was not able to detect the high WSS values along the divider wall that were predicted by the CFD model. Otherwise, there was good general agreement between MRI and CFD. Conclusion This is the first report of time-resolved WSS vectors estimated from 3D-MRI data. The technique worked well except in regions of disturbed flow, where the combination with CFD modeling is clearly advantageous. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2003;17:153,162. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] CFD modeling of the Wurster bed coaterAICHE JOURNAL, Issue 10 2009Stina Karlsson Abstract In the Wurster bed coater, the wetting, drying, and circulation of particles are combined to produce a high quality coating. The drying and wetting conditions in a laboratory scale Wurster bed coater are modeled and compared with experimental data. A model combining multiphase fluid dynamics with heat and mass transfer is developed to model the particle and gas motion and the transport of thermal energy and moisture. A wetting region is defined, where a specified moisture content is set in the particle phase, above the jet inlet, to describe the injection of coating liquid. The simulation shows the characteristic circulation of particles in the equipment, as well as the behavior of the moisture in the system and agrees well with measurements. The simulation indicates how different process conditions influence the drying regions. The results show that most of the drying, under typical operating conditions, takes place in the Wurster tube. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009 [source] Analysis of the effect of mixing vane geometry on the flow in an annular centrifugal contactorAICHE JOURNAL, Issue 9 2009Kent E. Wardle Abstract The annular centrifugal contactor is a compact mixer/centrifuge developed for solvent extraction processes for recycling used nuclear fuel. This research effort couples computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling with a variety of experimental observations to provide a valid detailed analysis of the flow within the centrifugal contactor. CFD modeling of the free surface flow in the annular mixing zone using the volume-of-fluid method combined with large eddy simulation of turbulence was found to have very good agreement with the experimental measurements. A detailed comparative analysis of the flow and mixing with different housing vane geometries (four straight vanes, eight straight vanes, and curved vanes) was performed. Two additional variations on the eight straight vane geometry were also simulated. This analysis determined that at the simulated moderate flow rate the four straight mixing vane geometry has greater mixing and fluid residence time as compared to the other mixing vane configurations. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009 [source] CFD modeling and validation of the turbulent fluidized bed of FCC particlesAICHE JOURNAL, Issue 7 2009Jinsen Gao Abstract An experimental and computational study is presented on the hydrodynamic characteristics of FCC particles in a turbulent fluidized bed. Based on the Eulerian/Eulerian model, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model incorporating a modified gas-solid drag model has been presented, and the model parameters are examined by using a commercial CFD software package (FLUENT 6.2.16). Relative to other drag models, the modified one gives a reasonable hydrodynamic prediction in comparison with experimental data. The hydrodynamics show more sensitive to the coefficient of restitution than to the flow models and kinetics theories. Experimental and numerical results indicate that there exist two different coexisting regions in the turbulent fluidized bed: a bottom dense, bubbling region and a dilute, dispersed flow region. At low-gas velocity, solid-volume fractions show high near the wall region, and low in the center of the bed. Increasing gas velocity aggravates the turbulent disorder in the turbulent fluidized bed, resulting in an irregularity of the radial particle concentration profile. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009 [source] CFD modeling of flow patterns and hydraulics of commercial-scale sieve traysAICHE JOURNAL, Issue 4 2003Getye Gesit A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was used to predict the flow patterns and hydraulics of a commercial-scale sieve tray. The model considers the 3-D two-phase flow of gas and liquid in which each phase is treated as an interpenetrating continuum having separate transport equations. Interaction between the two phases occurs via an interphase momentum transfer. For the CFD analysis, the commercial packages CFX5.4 and CFX4.4 of AEA Technology were employed. Velocity distributions, clear liquid height, froth height, and liquid holdup fraction in froth were predicted for various combinations of gas and liquid flow rates. Tray geometry and operating conditions were based on the experimental work that Solari and Bell carried out in a 1.22-m diameter air,water simulator in 1986 at Fractionation Research Inc. Predicted results were found to be in good agreement with the experimental data of these authors. The objective of the work was studying the extent to which CFD can be used as a prediction and design tool for industrial trays. The simulation results are such that CFD can be used as an invaluable tool in tray design and analysis. [source] CFD modeling of heat transfer in turbulent pipe flowsAICHE JOURNAL, Issue 9 2000S. S. Thakre Twelve versions of low Reynolds number k-, and two low Reynolds number Reynolds stress turbulence models for heat transfer were analyzed comparatively. Predictions of the mean axial temperature, the radial and axial turbulent heat fluxes, and the effect of Prandtl number on Nusselt number were compared with the experimental data. The model by Lai and So from the k-, group and Lai and So from the Reynolds stress group had the best overall predictive ability for heat transfer in turbulent pipe flow. The Lai and So model was attributed to its success in the predictions of flow parameters such as mean axial velocity, turbulent kinetic energy, eddy diffusivity, and the overall energy dissipation rate. The k-, models performed relatively better than the Reynolds stress models for predicting the mean axial temperature and the Nusselt number. This qualitative and quantitative study found the need for more sophisticated near-wall experimental measurements and the accuracy of the dissipation (of turbulent energy) and the pressure-scrambling models. [source] Modeling Flow in a Compromised Pediatric Airway Breathing Air and HelioxTHE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 12 2008Mihai Mihaescu PhD Abstract Objectives/Hypothesis: The aim of this study was to perform computer simulations of flow within an accurate model of a pediatric airway with subglottic stenosis. It is believed that the airflow characteristics in a stenotic airway are strongly related to the sensation of dyspnea. Methodology: Computed tomography images through the respiratory tract of an infant with subglottic stenosis, were used to construct the three-dimensional geometry of the airway. By using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling to capture airway flow patterns during inspiration and expiration, we obtained information pertaining to flow velocity, static airway wall pressure, pressure drop across the stenosis, and wall shear stress. These simulations were performed with both air and heliox. Results: Unlike air, heliox maintained laminar flow through the stenosis. The calculated pressure drop over stenosis was lower for the heliox flow, in contrast to the airflow case. This lead to an approximately 40% decrease in airway resistance when using heliox, and presumably causes a decrease in the level of effort required for breathing. Conclusions: CFD simulations offer a quantitative method of evaluating airway flow dynamics in patients with airway abnormalities. CFD modeling illustrated the flow features and quantified flow parameters within a pediatric airway with subglottic stenosis. Simulations with air and heliox conditions mirrored the known clinical benefits of heliox as compared with air. We anticipate that computer simulation models will ultimately allow a better understanding of changes in flow caused by specific medical and surgical interventions in patients with conditions associated with dyspnea. [source] CFD modeling of subcooling process for beer fermentation liquidASIA-PACIFIC JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, Issue 1 2009Yuejin Yuan Abstract A model of subcooling process for beer fermentation liquid was established at the base of a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technique which assumed that all the biochemical reactions were suppressed to a lower extent by the cryogenic condition and their influences on heat and momentum transfer of liquid could be ignored. The subcooling process of fermentation liquid in a cooling tank was simulated, where the temperature was from 10 to , 1 °C. The transient temperature and velocity distributions of the fermentation liquid were obtained by the simulation. The results indicated that the temperature delamination was distinct in the direction of the tank axis, while the temperature gradient was inconspicuous along the radial direction. The fermentation liquid showed a complicated movement including numerous local small circumfluences, which was different from our conventional knowledge. Copyright © 2008 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] CFD modeling of rotary cement kilnsASIA-PACIFIC JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, Issue 2 2008Kaustubh S. Mujumdar Abstract Rotary cement kilns are widely used to convert calcineous raw meal into cement clinker, and are key components in the cement industry. In this article, we report a comprehensive computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-based model to capture key transport processes in rotary cement kilns. Separate but coupled computational models were developed for the bed and the freeboard regions of the rotary kiln. The complex swirling airflow produced by kiln burners, coal combustion, gas-phase combustion of volatile matter and radiative heat transfer in the freeboard region were modeled. The clinkerization reactions in the bed region were modeled assuming solids as pseudo fluids. Coating formation in cement kilns (for both bed and freeboard regions) was considered. Appropriate source and sink terms were developed to model transfer of CO2 from the bed to the freeboard region due to calcination reaction in the bed region. The developed bed and freeboard models were coupled by mass and energy communication through common interface. These coupled computational models were able to quite satisfactorily predict the available data from industrial kilns and previously published results. The computational models were also able to capture the intricacies of the burning zones of rotary cement kilns for changing burner-operational parameters like axial to swirl ratio and oxygen enrichment. The developed approach, computational models and simulation results will not only help in developing better understanding of cement kilns but also provide quantitative information about influence of burner design and other design parameters on kiln performance. Copyright © 2008 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Fractionation technology for the petroleum refining industryASIA-PACIFIC JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, Issue 4 2007Albert Hug Abstract Distillation Research and Development is moving rapidly with the utilization of computational fluid dynamic (CFD) modeling. Previously, a potential fractionation application would first be developed and fabricated. Then many hours of pilot plant testing would be required to finalize the design. The time line for the development of new distillation equipment has been reduced, leading to advances in fractionation equipment. Current applications of trays, packings, distributors and feed inlets can be optimized utilizing CFD modeling. CFD Modeling has improved the current generation of fractionation equipment. This modeling is also particularly important in maximizing capacity in tower revamps where the diameter of the tower is fixed. This paper will review the current-generation fractionation equipment and the utilization of the same in the petroleum refining industry. Copyright © 2007 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | |||||||||||||