Computational Modelling of Multiphase Flow

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2021) | Viewed by 13393

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Guest Editor
Research Fellow, Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
Interests: multiphase flows; particle technology; computational modelling
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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; and
  • flows in porous media, granular flows, and other flows.

Dr. Md. Shakhaoath Khan
Guest Editor

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Keywords

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

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 3858 KiB  
Article
Effect of Closure Characteristics of Annular Jet Mixed Zone on Inspiratory Performance and Bubble System
by Chao Wang, Chuanzhen Wang, Anghong Yu, Mingdong Zheng and Md. Shakhaoath Khan
Processes 2021, 9(8), 1392; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr9081392 - 11 Aug 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1690
Abstract
In the flotation process, gas-liquid properties and the bubble system greatly influence bubble mineralization. In order to clarify how the mechanism applies to the closure characteristics of an annular jet mixed flow zone on the inspiratory performance and the bubble system, different degrees [...] Read more.
In the flotation process, gas-liquid properties and the bubble system greatly influence bubble mineralization. In order to clarify how the mechanism applies to the closure characteristics of an annular jet mixed flow zone on the inspiratory performance and the bubble system, different degrees of closure on the velocity field and gas-liquid ratio in the mixed flow zone were investigated using numerical simulation. The variations in the characteristics of bubble size distribution, rising velocity, and gas content under different closure levels were measured with a high-speed dynamic camera technology. The results confirmed that when the closure degrees of the mixed flow zone improved, the inlet jet could gradually overcome the static pressure outside the nozzle effectively. It formed a gas-liquid mixing zone with high turbulence first, and a large pressure difference at the gas-liquid junction second. This helped to increase the inspiratory capacity. At the same time, the gas-liquid ratio rose gradually under conditions of constant flow. When the nozzle outlet was completely closed, the gas-liquid ratio gradually stabilized. For the bubble distribution system, an enhancement in the closure degrees can effectively reduce the bubble size, and subsequently, the bubble size distribution became more uniform. Due to the improved gas-liquid shear mixing, the aspect ratio of the bubbles can be effectively changed, consequently reducing the bubble rising speed and increasing the gas content and bubble surface area flux of the liquid. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Computational Modelling of Multiphase Flow)
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15 pages, 3707 KiB  
Article
Continuum-Based Approach to Model Particulate Soil–Water Interaction: Model Validation and Insight into Internal Erosion
by Ahmed Ibrahim and Mohamed Meguid
Processes 2021, 9(5), 785; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr9050785 - 29 Apr 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2520
Abstract
Resolving the interaction between soil and water is critical to understanding a wide range of geotechnical applications. In cases when hydrodynamic forces are dominant and soil fluidization is expected, it is necessary to account for the microscale interactions between soil and water. Some [...] Read more.
Resolving the interaction between soil and water is critical to understanding a wide range of geotechnical applications. In cases when hydrodynamic forces are dominant and soil fluidization is expected, it is necessary to account for the microscale interactions between soil and water. Some of the existing models such as coupled Computational Fluid Dynamics–Discrete Element Method (CFD-DEM) can capture microscale interactions quite accurately. However, it is often computationally expensive and cannot be easily applied at a scale that would aid the design process. Contrastingly, continuum-based models such as the Two-Fluid Model (TFM) can be a computationally feasible and scalable alternative. In this study, we explored the potential of the TFM to simulate granular soil–water interactions. The model was validated by simulating the internal fluidization of a sand bed due to an upward water jet. Analogous to leakage from a pressurized pipe, the simulation was compared with the available experimental data to evaluate the model performance. The numerical results showed decent agreement with the experimental data in terms of excess pore water pressure, fluidization patterns, and physical deformations in violent flow regimes. Moreover, detailed soil characteristics such as particle size distribution could be implemented, which was previously considered a shortcoming of the model. Overall, the model’s performance indicates that TFM is a viable tool for the simulation of particulate soil–water mixtures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Computational Modelling of Multiphase Flow)
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10 pages, 1906 KiB  
Article
Capsule Migration and Deformation in a Converging Micro-Capillary
by Yiyang Wang and Panagiotis Dimitrakopoulos
Processes 2021, 9(3), 452; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr9030452 - 3 Mar 2021
Viewed by 1816
Abstract
The lateral migration of elastic capsules towards a microchannel centerline plays a major role in industrial and physiological processes. Via our computational investigation, we show that a constriction connecting two straight microchannels facilitates the lateral capsule migration considerably, which is relatively slow in [...] Read more.
The lateral migration of elastic capsules towards a microchannel centerline plays a major role in industrial and physiological processes. Via our computational investigation, we show that a constriction connecting two straight microchannels facilitates the lateral capsule migration considerably, which is relatively slow in straight channels. Our work reveals that the significant cross-streamline migration inside the constriction is dominated by the strong hydrodynamic forces due to the capsule size. However, in the downstream straight channel, the increased interfacial deformation at higher capillary numbers or a lower viscosity ratio and lower membrane hardness results in increased lateral cross-streamline migration. Thus, our work highlights the different migration mechanisms occurring over curved and straight streamlines. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Computational Modelling of Multiphase Flow)
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17 pages, 4206 KiB  
Article
Numerical and Experimental Investigation on Key Parameters of the Respimat® Spray Inhaler
by Yi Ge, Zhenbo Tong, Renjie Li, Fen Huang and Jiaqi Yu
Processes 2021, 9(1), 44; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr9010044 - 28 Dec 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4115
Abstract
Respimat®Soft MistTM is a newly developed spray inhaler. Different from traditional nebulizers, metered-dose inhalers, and dry powder inhalers, this new type of inhaler can produce aerosols with long duration, relatively slow speed, and a high content of fine particles. Investigating [...] Read more.
Respimat®Soft MistTM is a newly developed spray inhaler. Different from traditional nebulizers, metered-dose inhalers, and dry powder inhalers, this new type of inhaler can produce aerosols with long duration, relatively slow speed, and a high content of fine particles. Investigating the effect of the key geometric parameters of the device on the atomization is of great significance for generic product development and inhaler optimization. In this paper, a laser high-speed camera experimental platform is built, and important parameters such as the geometric pattern and particle size distribution of the Respimat®Soft MistTM are measured. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and the volume of fluid method coupled with the Shear Stress Transport (SST) k-ω turbulence model are applied to simulate the key geometric parameters of the device. The effects of geometric parameters on the spray velocity distribution and geometric pattern are obtained. The angle of flow collision, the sphere size of the central divider and the length and width of the flow channel show significant impacts on the spray atomization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Computational Modelling of Multiphase Flow)
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Review

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24 pages, 1011 KiB  
Review
Eulerian–Eulerian Modeling of Multiphase Flow in Horizontal Annuli: Current Limitations and Challenges
by Amina Shynybayeva and Luis R. Rojas-Solórzano
Processes 2020, 8(11), 1426; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr8111426 - 9 Nov 2020
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4895
Abstract
Multiphase flows are present in many natural phenomena, processing technologies, and industries. In the petroleum industry, the multiphase flow is highly relevant, and special attention is paid to the development of predictive tools that determine flow conditions to guarantee safe and economic hydrocarbon [...] Read more.
Multiphase flows are present in many natural phenomena, processing technologies, and industries. In the petroleum industry, the multiphase flow is highly relevant, and special attention is paid to the development of predictive tools that determine flow conditions to guarantee safe and economic hydrocarbon extraction and transportation. Hydrodynamic aspects such as pressure drop and holdup are of primary relevance for the field engineer in daily operations like pumping power calculation and equipment selection and control. Multiphase flow associated with oil production is usually a mixture of liquids and gas. The hydrodynamic behavior has been studied in different pipeline configurations (i.e., vertical ascending/descending and horizontal/inclined pipelines). However, the available information about flow patterns as well as the general conditions present in horizontal annuli is incomplete, even if they are of fundamental relevance in today’s horizontal drilling, production, and well intervention in many oil wells around the world. This review aims to present an in-depth revision of the existing models developed to predict two-phase flow patterns and hydrodynamic conditions in annuli flow, focusing mainly on, but not limited to, horizontal configuration. Key flow parameters and effects caused by annuli geometry and the physical properties of fluids are extensively discussed in the present paper. Different empirical correlations and mechanistic and numerical models on two-phase flow through horizontal/inclined pipelines and in both concentric and eccentric annuli are analyzed. Some of these models partially agree with experimental results and show acceptable predictions of frictional pressure loss and flow patterns. Limitations in current models and challenges to be faced in the next generation of models are also discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Computational Modelling of Multiphase Flow)
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