Abd el malik Bouchoucha^1,2, Rachid Bessaïh¹

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.11, No.3, pp. 279-300, 2015, DOI:10.3970/fdmp.2015.011.279

Abstract The present paper deals with a numerical study of natural convection in a square cavity filled with a nanofluid. The left and right vertical walls of the cavity are maintained at a local temperature T_h (heat source) and a local cold temperature T_C, respectively. Horizontal walls are assumed to be adiabatic. The governing equations are discretized by using the finite volume method and solved by the SIMPLER algorithm. Our computer fortran code is validated through comparison with numerical results found in the literature. Results are presented in terms of streamlines, isotherms, local and average Nusselt numbers More >

G. Frulla¹, P. Gili¹, M. Visone², V. D’Oriano^2,3, M. Lappa⁴

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.11, No.3, pp. 257-277, 2015, DOI:10.3970/fdmp.2015.011.257

Abstract A practical engineering approach to the design of a 60 kW wind generator with improved performances is presented. The proposed approach relies on the use of a specific, "ad hoc'' developed software, OPTIWR (Optimization Software), expressly conceived to define an "optimum'' rotor configuration in the framework of the blade-element-momentum theory. Starting from an initial input geometric configuration (corresponding to an already existing 50 kW turbine) and for given values of the wind velocity V_wind and of the advance ratio X = V_wind/ΩR (where Ω is the blade rotational speed and R is the propeller radius), this software… More >

V. N. Lad¹, Z. V. P. Murthy^1,2

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.11, No.3, pp. 241-255, 2015, DOI:10.3970/fdmp.2015.011.241

Abstract Free liquid jets are of great technical importance in a variety of applications like ink-jet printing, glass painting, spray coating and metal cutting. Here we consider the changes induced in the dynamics of such jets by the presence of obstructions at the tube exit. Using stainless steel bars of 1.5 mm diameter as obstruction objects and aqueous solutions of glycerol of varying concentrations as working fluids, we performed experiments for different configurations, including a single rod at the centre of the tube exit, two parallel rods equidistant from the centre of the tube, and a… More >

Yong Liu¹, Jianping Wei^2,3

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.11, No.3, pp. 221-240, 2015, DOI:10.3970/fdmp.2015.011.221

Abstract Although the socalled percussion-pulsed-water jet technique is currently recognized as an effective means for breaking hard rocks, it can’t be extensively employed due to insufficient systematic research on the related flow-field structure. Considered as one of the rock breaking technologies with the highest potential of development and application, this method is characterized by water hammer effects, a high-frequency impact pressure and high-speed side flows. The typical (impact and extrusion) pistons used for this technique collide several times to form the multi-pulsed jet. Here we analyze these features through a combined experimental-numerical investigation. The number of… More >

Chekifi. T^1,2, Dennai. B¹, Khelfaoui. R¹

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.11, No.3, pp. 205-220, 2015, DOI:10.3970/fdmp.2015.011.205

Abstract Droplet generation, splitting and sorting are investigated numerically in the framework of a VOF technique for interface tracking and a finite-volume numerical method using the commercial code FLUENT. Droplets of water-in-oil are produced by a flow focusing technique relying on the use of a microchannell equipped with an obstacle to split the droplets. The influence of several parameters potentially affecting this process is investigated parametrically towards the end of identifying "optimal" conditions for droplet breakup. Such parameters include surface tension, the capillary number and the main channel width. We show that the capillary number plays More >

Y.H. Liu¹, X.X. Xue², J.M.Shen¹

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.11, No.2, pp. 197-204, 2015, DOI:10.3970/fdmp.2015.011.195

Abstract Blends of Polyethylene (PE) and modified-oil shale ash (MOSA) with different fractions of MOSA were prepared by the melting blend method. The effects of MOSA content on the rheological and mechanical properties of the blend were properly assessed via direct experimental analysis (more precisely, all rheological measurements were performed using a laboratory-scale XSS-300 torque rheometer with single screw extruder; the temperatures were maintained at 170°C, 180°C and 190°C under continuous extrusion). The prepared samples were observed to display a shear-thinning behaviour. Moreover, with increasing the MOSA content, we found the yield strength of the blends More >

Imen Mejri^1,2, Ahmed Mahmoudi¹

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.11, No.2, pp. 171-195, 2015, DOI:10.3970/fdmp.2015.011.171

Abstract This paper examines natural convection in an open cavity with a sinusoidal thermal boundary condition. The cavity is filled with a water-Al₂O₃ nanofluid and subjected to a magnetic field. The Lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is applied to solve the coupled equations of flow and temperature. The study has been carried out considering parameters in the following ranges: Rayleigh number of the base fluid, Ra = 10³ to 10⁶, Hartmann number varied from Ha = 0 to 60, phase deviation γ = 0, π4, π2, 3 π4 and π and solid volume fraction of nanoparticles between π = More >

L. Belarche^1,2, B. Abourida¹, S. Smolen³

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.11, No.2, pp. 157-170, 2015, DOI:10.3970/fdmp.2015.011.157

Abstract Natural convection in a cubical cavity, discretely heated is studied numerically using a three-dimensional finite volume formulation. Two heating square portions are placed on the vertical wall of the enclosure, while the rest of the considered wall is adiabatic. The opposite vertical wall is maintained at a cold uniform temperature and the other walls are adiabatic. Effects of the heating sections dimensions ε (0.15 ≤ ε ≤ 0.35) and the Rayleigh number Ra (10³ ≤ Ra ≤ 10⁷) on the fluid flow and the heat transfer within the cavity are studied. The obtained results show that the flow More >

Shuce Zhang¹, Xueheng Tao^1,2,3, Jinshi Lu^1,2, Xuejun Wang^1,2, ZhenhuaZeng⁴

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.11, No.2, pp. 143-155, 2015, DOI:10.3970/fdmp.2015.011.143

Abstract Three different kinds of nozzles, normally used in industrial processes for the cleaning of material surface by means of water jets at high pressure (a Cylindrical Contracting, a Taper Contracting and Stepped nozzle), are numerically simulated with the express intent to optimize the related efficiency (cleaning effectiveness). Although some of them are found to display interesting properties, simulation results indicate that a helix nozzle displays the best jetting performances. It is shown that, as compared to improvements obtained by simply changing the jetting angle, revolving the fluid released from the helix nozzle can be used More >

Yuan Chen¹, Honggang Duan¹, Fei Yu¹, Xingyu Zhao¹, Han Xu¹, Jun Gao^1,2

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.11, No.2, pp. 127-142, 2015, DOI:10.3970/fdmp.2015.011.127

Abstract The dynamics of dispersed bubbles in a centrifugal separator are investigated with the aim to improve the efficiency of the system. The prototype separator consists of a rotor, a base, a diverting disc, a shaft, an oil trapping impeller, a central pipe, an inlet section for contaminated oil, an outlet section for purified oil and an air outlet. A hydrodynamic model is developed to predict the complex influence of parameters such as the centrifugal force and vacuum pressure. In particular, three different force models are selected to analyze the effect of the added mass and More >