Computational Modeling of Multiphase Flow (II)

A special issue of Processes (ISSN 2227-9717). This special issue belongs to the section "Process Control and Monitoring".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 February 2023) | Viewed by 18909
Related Special Issue: Computational Modelling of Multiphase Flow

Special Issue Editors

Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash University, Clayton 3800, Australia
Interests: multiphase flows; particle technology; computational modeling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
School of Engineering, Design and Built Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
Interests: granular materials; machine learning; artificial neural networking; mineral process; discrete element method; fluid mechanics; particle technology; CFD; numerical and analytical simulation; particle-scaling; chemical engineering; heat and mass transfer and applied mathematics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With the enormous advances in theoretical, as well as numerical, methodologies, computational modelling has become the prevailing tool as it aids in the design, scale-up, control, and operation of complex multiphase reactors. Many research studies have utilised a computational model to investigate the external and internal hydrodynamics, thermal–hydraulic performance, and optimal design of industrial process reactors. Numerical modelling of multiphase flow systems is useful as models are able to provide comprehensive details about and an understanding of the underlying importance of the reactor parameters, which are otherwise difficult to obtain directly from an experiment as they can be challenging to measure. In recent years, computational modelling has widely been applied in various branches of engineering and industry, such as chemical engineering, civil engineering, aerospace engineering, nuclear thermal hydraulics, the chemical process industry, the semiconductor industry, the glass industry, architecture, the steel industry, water and wastewater, the automotive industry, turbomachinery, movies, and computer graphics. In the chemical process industry, computational modelling has numerous applications, including the analysis of multiphase systems, physical processing, separation, heat and mass transfer, mixing, pyrolysis, combustion, drying, exchange reactions, and pipeline flow. These modelling tools have become a popular and well-established technology to help us obtain knowledge about multiphase flow and, in so doing, solve a wide range of reactor design and engineering challenges. Computational modelling can also reduce the time and cost involved in the development of new designs.

This Special Issue, entitled “Computational Modelling of Multiphase Flow”, seeks high-quality works focusing on multiphase process modelling and applications in the mineral and metallurgical industries using advanced computational modelling techniques, such as Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Discrete Particle Simulation (DPM), Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS), the Discrete Element Method (DEM), the Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM), CFD–DEM, and Graphical Processing Unit (GPU)-based DEM. The scope of this Special Issue includes, but is not limited to:

  • Particle–particle, particle–liquid, and gas–liquid–particle interactions/flows;
  • Particle-scale modelling of particle-fluid flow coupled with heat and mass transfer;
  • Rheological properties of particles and techniques for process simulation;
  • Metallurgical processes;
  • Combustion, pyrolysis, and gasification of biomass;
  • Micro- and macro-dynamic analysis and nanotechnology;
  • Particle flow, dispersion, and segregation;
  • Applications of particle technology;
  • Flows in porous media, granular flows, and other flows.

Dr. Md. Shakhaoath Khan
Dr. S M Arifuzzaman
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Processes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2000 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • computational modeling
  • multiphase flow
  • particle technology
  • phase interactions
  • fluid flows and heat and mass transfer
  • rheology
  • biomass pyrolysis

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 5875 KiB  
Article
Mixed Seeds of Oat and Vetch Based on DEM-Fluent Coupling Motion Simulation in a Venturi Tube
by Yangyang Liao, Yong You, Yunting Hui, Xuening Zhang and Decheng Wang
Processes 2023, 11(4), 1095; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pr11041095 - 04 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1218
Abstract
The gas–solid flow of mixed seeds of oat and vetch in the air-blowing venturi tube was simulated numerically by means of a coupling approach of the discrete element method (DEM) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). In the gas–solid coupling model, EDEM software was [...] Read more.
The gas–solid flow of mixed seeds of oat and vetch in the air-blowing venturi tube was simulated numerically by means of a coupling approach of the discrete element method (DEM) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). In the gas–solid coupling model, EDEM software was used to depict the discrete particle phase, and ANSYS Fluent software was used to describe the continuous gas phase. The effects of the seed entry angle and inlet air velocity on the uniformity of mixed seed supply were studied and analyzed from the angle of airflow field variation and mixed seeds movement characteristics. The simulation results showed that the seeding angle has a great influence on the seed movement in the tube and affects the pressure and velocity gradient of the airflow field. If the seed insertion angle is too large, the number of collisions between the seed and the tube wall will increase, and the phenomenon of seeds retention and disordered jumping will occur. The inlet air velocity mainly affects the outlet air velocity and seed velocity and has little effect on the change in airfield. With the increase in inlet air velocity, the greater the velocity and force of the seeds, the closer the mixed seeds collide with the wall to the outlet pipe. At high inlet airflow velocity, there is a great disparity in the movement speed between the seeds, resulting in uneven spacing between the seeds. The results showed that under the conditions of 60° seed entry angle and 35~40 m/s inlet air velocity, the airflow field distribution in the tube was uniform and the seed movement was continuous and uniform. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Computational Modeling of Multiphase Flow (II))
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16 pages, 3847 KiB  
Article
Lattice Boltzmann Modeling of a Sessile and a Body Force-Driven Sliding Droplet over a Grooved Surface
by Assetbek Ashirbekov, Nursultan Zhumatay, Alibek Kuljabekov, Bagdagul Kabdenova, Ernesto Monaco, Lei Wang and Luis R. Rojas-Solórzano
Processes 2022, 10(11), 2356; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pr10112356 - 11 Nov 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1058
Abstract
This work presents the numerical modeling of a droplet’s sessile and dynamic behavior on a grooved surface. A droplet is placed on horizontal and vertical sliding conditions to observe its behavior under wettable and non-wettable conditions. The numerical analysis uses the multicomponent multiphase [...] Read more.
This work presents the numerical modeling of a droplet’s sessile and dynamic behavior on a grooved surface. A droplet is placed on horizontal and vertical sliding conditions to observe its behavior under wettable and non-wettable conditions. The numerical analysis uses the multicomponent multiphase Shan-Chen Lattice Boltzmann Model (SC-LBM). The Cassie–Baxter and Wenzel states are reproduced for the sessile condition, and the enhancement of the contact angle is appreciated under the action of the grooved-ridged horizontal surface. The sliding droplet is analyzed through the Bond number by varying the ratio between the body force and the surface tension number. For Cassie–Baxter and Wenzel wettability conditions, a critical Bond number was discovered above which the sliding droplet will continue to deform indefinitely. The numerical model proved its suitability to predict the gradual deformation of a droplet over a grooved vertical surface subject to a tangential body force until the droplet eventually reaches a sessile condition or a breakup. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Computational Modeling of Multiphase Flow (II))
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14 pages, 3368 KiB  
Article
Experimental and Numerical Studies of Fine Quartz Single-Particle Sedimentation Based on Particle Morphology
by Chunfu Liu, Kai Lv, Lingyun Liu, Jun Chen, Bao Ren, Xuejie Bai and Fanfei Min
Processes 2022, 10(10), 1981; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pr10101981 - 01 Oct 2022
Viewed by 1030
Abstract
The sedimentation characteristics of quartz particles affect their separation and settling dehydration processes. Particle morphology determines the sedimentation equilibrium velocity. In this paper, the sedimentation of a single quartz particle is characterized by employing experimental and CFD-DEM approaches. SEM served to examine quartz [...] Read more.
The sedimentation characteristics of quartz particles affect their separation and settling dehydration processes. Particle morphology determines the sedimentation equilibrium velocity. In this paper, the sedimentation of a single quartz particle is characterized by employing experimental and CFD-DEM approaches. SEM served to examine quartz particles measuring 30–500 μm, and they exhibited flaky–blocky morphologies with an average long–middle axis ratio of 1.6. Consistent with the SEM-detected morphological features of the quartz particles, suggested here is a simpler drag coefficient model, followed by verification of the model with experimental data. The results show that the velocity of a quartz particle in the non-settling direction had a fluctuation of ±0.2 mm/s. The fluctuation reached 0.4 mm/s at varying settlement release angles. The order in which the particles reached sedimentation equilibrium velocity during the settlement process was double-cone, single-cone, and square when the initial velocity was greater than sedimentation equilibrium velocity. Furthermore, the long–middle axis ratio of quartz particles diminished as their equilibrium sedimentation velocities rose. Given that the quartz particles ranged from 30 to 50 μm in size, the long–middle axis ratio wielded no discernible effect on the sedimentation equilibrium velocity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Computational Modeling of Multiphase Flow (II))
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14 pages, 930 KiB  
Article
A Homotopy Method for the Constrained Inverse Problem in the Multiphase Porous Media Flow
by Tao Liu, Kaiwen Xia, Yuanjin Zheng, Yanxiong Yang, Ruofeng Qiu, Yunfei Qi and Chao Liu
Processes 2022, 10(6), 1143; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pr10061143 - 07 Jun 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1202
Abstract
This paper considers the constrained inverse problem based on the nonlinear convection-diffusion equation in the multiphase porous media flow. To solve this problem, a widely convergent homotopy method is introduced and proposed. To evaluate the performance of the mentioned method, two numerical examples [...] Read more.
This paper considers the constrained inverse problem based on the nonlinear convection-diffusion equation in the multiphase porous media flow. To solve this problem, a widely convergent homotopy method is introduced and proposed. To evaluate the performance of the mentioned method, two numerical examples are presented. This method turns out to have wide convergence region and strong anti-noise ability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Computational Modeling of Multiphase Flow (II))
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14 pages, 3144 KiB  
Article
Study of the Fluid Passing through the Screen in the Three Products Hydrocyclone Screen (TPHS): A Theoretical Analysis and Numerical Simulation
by Haizeng Liu, Anghong Yu, Jintao Lv, Chuanzhen Wang, Zaisheng Zhu and Md. Shakhaoath Khan
Processes 2022, 10(4), 628; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pr10040628 - 23 Mar 2022
Viewed by 1191
Abstract
The three products hydrocyclone screen (TPHS), a branch of the hydrocyclone, effectively removes the fish-hook effect, which has been used in the industrial field. The current cylindrical screen in the TPHS generates the characteristic flow known as the screen underflow, which [...] Read more.
The three products hydrocyclone screen (TPHS), a branch of the hydrocyclone, effectively removes the fish-hook effect, which has been used in the industrial field. The current cylindrical screen in the TPHS generates the characteristic flow known as the screen underflow, which has a significant impact on device performance. To investigate the flow behaviour of the fluid passing through the screen, a combination of a dynamic analysis and a numerical simulation was used. The permeating process in the TPHS was abstracted by a simple fan mode in this work to generate the flow-rate equations and the driving-force models. The pressure difference was the driving force for the screen penetration in the ideal fluid, but it also included a viscous force in the viscous fluid. Furthermore, at the same inlet velocity, the viscous fluid had a higher flow rate than the ideal, indicating that the viscosity promoted the fluid penetration. Meanwhile, as the inlet velocity increased, the mass flow of the screen backflow increased, while the corresponding proportion first rose to a peak then dropped and then gradually stabilised. Furthermore, a flow equation for the screen underflow in the TPHS was developed, which is related to the structural parameters (the rotation radius, the length of the cylindrical screen, the aperture size, and the open-area percentage) and the process parameters (the dynamic viscosity of the fluid and the pressure difference between the feed inlet and the screen outlet). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Computational Modeling of Multiphase Flow (II))
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13 pages, 4286 KiB  
Article
Influence Mechanism of Gas–Containing Characteristics of Annulus Submerged Jets on Sealing Degree of Mixing Zone
by Chao Wang, Chuanzhen Wang, Jun Xie and Md Shakhaoath Khan
Processes 2022, 10(3), 593; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr10030593 - 18 Mar 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1679
Abstract
The introduction of air into a submerged annular jet will result in dispersion of the jet, which will affect the degree of enclosure of the gas–water mixing zone in the annular jet nozzle, and then have a significant impact on air suction and [...] Read more.
The introduction of air into a submerged annular jet will result in dispersion of the jet, which will affect the degree of enclosure of the gas–water mixing zone in the annular jet nozzle, and then have a significant impact on air suction and the formation of the foam system in the floatation process. A numerical simulation method is used to analyze the characteristics of the distribution of the axial flow velocity of annular jets, gas–phase volume, and turbulence intensity in the gas–water mixing zone in the nozzle with different air–liquid ratios, and thereby reveal the mechanism whereby gas–containing in annular jets affects the degree of enclosure of the gas–water mixing zone. The results show that as the air–liquid ratio increases, the degree of air–liquid mixing will increase and the radial flow velocity will decrease gradually, resulting in the effective enclosure of the gas–water mixing zone. Meanwhile, the dissipation of jet energy, the range of turbulent flow and the vorticity intensity will increase, but the turbulence intensity will decrease. When the gas–water mixing zone is fully enclosed, as gas–containing continues to increase, the degree of dispersion of the annular jet will further increase. Consequently, the area of the gas–water mixing zone with bounced–back water will become larger, resulting in a higher axial flow velocity, larger local turbulence intensity and larger vorticity intensity. This will lead to the dissipation of jet energy, which is not favorable for air suction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Computational Modeling of Multiphase Flow (II))
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16 pages, 5763 KiB  
Article
Behavior of Top-Blown Jet under a New Cyclone Oxygen Lance during BOF Steelmaking Process
by Jun Li, Zheng Ma, Chaoyun Chen, Jieyu Zhang and Bo Wang
Processes 2022, 10(3), 507; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pr10030507 - 03 Mar 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1932
Abstract
An oxygen lance is the operation unit that generates supersonic oxygen jets, controls their behavior, and acts as a vital role in the steelmaking process. It is thought that airflow similar to a tornado may suppress upward splashing because of part of the [...] Read more.
An oxygen lance is the operation unit that generates supersonic oxygen jets, controls their behavior, and acts as a vital role in the steelmaking process. It is thought that airflow similar to a tornado may suppress upward splashing because of part of the jet pressure shifting from the axis of the oxygen lance to the tangential direction. Therefore, a new oxygen lance is designed to form a tornado jet, and the numerical simulation consequences are verified by the physical model. The structure of the new oxygen lance is optimized by numerical simulation results, and the comparison of simulation results before and after optimization is analyzed. On this basis, the effect of the cyclone oxygen lance on the upward splashing behavior, penetrating depth, turbulent kinetic energy, turbulent dissipation rate, and rotation of molten bath is investigated. The conclusions present that, compared with the conventional oxygen lance, the upward splashing with the cyclone oxygen lance decreases, and the penetrating depth and reaction area increase. In other words, for obtaining the same penetrating depth, the cyclone lance height can be higher than that of a conventional oxygen lance, which leads to a better protective effect on the refractories of the oxygen lance. Moreover, the average value of the turbulent kinetic energy of the cyclone nozzle is larger than that of the traditional Laval nozzle at the interface between oxygen and slag, which improves the effect of steelmaking. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Computational Modeling of Multiphase Flow (II))
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21 pages, 6039 KiB  
Article
Simulative Investigation of Different DLD Microsystem Designs with Increased Reynolds Numbers Using a Two-Way Coupled IBM-CFD/6-DOF Approach
by Maike S. Wullenweber, Jonathan Kottmeier, Ingo Kampen, Andreas Dietzel and Arno Kwade
Processes 2022, 10(2), 403; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pr10020403 - 18 Feb 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1452
Abstract
Deterministic lateral displacement (DLD) microsystems are suitable for the size fractionation of particle suspensions in the size range of 0.1 to 10 µm. To be able to fractionate real particles beyond a laboratory scale, these systems have to be designed for higher throughputs. [...] Read more.
Deterministic lateral displacement (DLD) microsystems are suitable for the size fractionation of particle suspensions in the size range of 0.1 to 10 µm. To be able to fractionate real particles beyond a laboratory scale, these systems have to be designed for higher throughputs. High flow resistances and increasing the clogging of the systems impose substantial challenges for industrial operation. Simulative parameter studies are suitable for improving the design of the systems; for example, the position and shape of the posts. A high-resolution, two-way coupled 6-DOF CFD-DEM approach was used to study the flow and particle behavior of different post shapes (circular and triangular) and post sizes at different Reynolds numbers. The results were compared with the classical first streamline width theory. It was shown that the streamline theory does not account for all effects responsible for the separation. Furthermore, a shift in the critical particle diameter to smaller values could be obtained when increasing the Reynolds number and also when using triangular posts with reduced post sizes compared to the post spacing. These findings can help to improve the efficiency of the systems as the post spacing could be extended, thus reducing the flow resistance and the probability of clogging. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Computational Modeling of Multiphase Flow (II))
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25 pages, 3115 KiB  
Article
Mathematical Modelling of the Entrainment Ratio of High Performance Supersonic Industrial Ejectors
by Dario Friso
Processes 2022, 10(1), 88; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pr10010088 - 02 Jan 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4811
Abstract
For many years now, manufacturers have been producing supersonic ejectors with a high entrainment ratio for the chemical, oil, and food industries. In the present work, mathematical modelling of the entrainment ratio of such industrial ejectors is carried out, in which a variation [...] Read more.
For many years now, manufacturers have been producing supersonic ejectors with a high entrainment ratio for the chemical, oil, and food industries. In the present work, mathematical modelling of the entrainment ratio of such industrial ejectors is carried out, in which a variation of the diffuser efficiency is also assumed to be a function of the Mach number of the motive gas. To determine this unknown relationship, the mathematical modelling was overturned by inserting the entrainment ratios of ten different high-performance industrial ejectors, as identified through an experimental investigation. The mathematical modelling, completed through the use of the relationship between the diffuser efficiency and the Mach number of the motive gas, was applied to sixty-eight ejectors, built and tested experimentally over the last twenty years as part of research aimed at the development of thermal ejector refrigeration systems (ERSs), to obtain the entrainment ratios proposed by the manufacturers (industrial entrainment ratios). A comparison of the experimental entrainment ratios with respect to the industrial ones demonstrated that the former were always lower, ranging from a minimum of −17% to a maximum of −82%. These results indicate that the lab-built ejectors for ERS prototypes can be improved. Therefore, in the future, researchers should apply numerical analysis iteratively, starting from a given geometry of the ejector, and modifying it until the numerical analysis provides the industrial value of the entrainment ratio. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Computational Modeling of Multiphase Flow (II))
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20 pages, 3765 KiB  
Article
Study on a New Transient Productivity Model of Horizontal Well Coupled with Seepage and Wellbore Flow
by Peng Liu, Qinghua Wang, Yanli Luo, Zhiguo He and Wei Luo
Processes 2021, 9(12), 2257; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pr9122257 - 14 Dec 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1803
Abstract
Digital transformation has become one of the major themes of the development of the global oil industry today. With the development of digital transformation, on-site production will surely achieve further automated management, that is, on-site production data automatic collection, real-time tracking, diagnosis and [...] Read more.
Digital transformation has become one of the major themes of the development of the global oil industry today. With the development of digital transformation, on-site production will surely achieve further automated management, that is, on-site production data automatic collection, real-time tracking, diagnosis and optimization, and remote control of on-site automatic adjustment devices. In this process, the realization of real-time optimization work based on massive data collection needs to be carried out combined with oil and gas well transient simulation. Therefore, research of the horizontal well capacity prediction transient model is one of the important basic works in the work of oil and gas digital transformation. In this paper, the method and process of establihing the transient calculation model of single-phase flow in horizontal wells are introduced in detail from three aspects: reservoir seepage, horizontal wellbore flow (taking one kind of flow as an example), and the coupling model of two flows. The model is more reliable through the verification of pressure recovery data from multiple field logs. The transient model of single-phase seepage in horizontal wells will lay the foundation for the establishment of transient models of oil-gas two-phase seepage and oil-gas-water three-phase seepage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Computational Modeling of Multiphase Flow (II))
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