scholarly journals A Numerical Study of Particle Migration and Sedimentation in Viscoelastic Couette Flow

Fluids ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Spanjaards ◽  
Nick Jaensson ◽  
Martien Hulsen ◽  
Patrick Anderson

In this work, a systematic investigation of the migration of sedimenting particles in a viscoelastic Couette flow is presented, using finite element 3D simulations. To this end, a novel computational approach is presented, which allows us to simulate a periodic configuration of rigid spherical particles accurately and efficiently. To study the different contributions to the particle migration, we first investigate the migration of particles sedimenting near the inner wall, without an externally-imposed Couette flow, followed by the migration of non-sedimenting particles in an externally-imposed Couette flow. Then, both flows are combined, i.e., sedimenting particles with an externally-imposed Couette flow, which was found to increase the migration velocity significantly, yielding migration velocities that are higher than the sum of the combined flows. It was also found that the trace of the conformation tensor becomes asymmetric with respect to the particle center when the particle is initially placed close to the inner cylinder. We conclude by investigating the sedimentation velocity with an imposed orthogonal shear flow. It is found that the sedimentation velocity can be both higher or lower then the Newtonian case, depending on the rheology of the suspending fluid. Specifically, a shear-thinning viscosity is shown to play an important role, which is in-line with previously-published results.

Author(s):  
Adam C. Gladen ◽  
Susan C. Mantell ◽  
Jane H. Davidson

A thermotropic material is modeled as an absorbing, thin slab containing anisotropic scattering, monodisperse, spherical particles. Monte Carlo ray tracing is used to solve the governing equation of radiative transfer. Predicted results are validated by comparison to the measured normal-hemispherical reflectance and transmittance of samples with various volume fraction and relative index of refraction. A parametric study elucidates the effects of particle size parameter, scattering albedo, and optical thickness on the normal-hemispherical transmittance, reflectance, and absorptance. The results are interpreted for a thermotropic material used for overheat protection of a polymer solar absorber. For the preferred particle size parameter of 2, the optical thickness should be less than 0.3 to ensure high transmittance in the clear state. To significantly reduce the transmittance and increase the reflectance in the translucent state, the optical thickness should be greater than 2.5 and the scattering albedo should be greater than 0.995. For optical thickness greater than 5, the reflectance is asymptotic and any further reduction in transmittance is through increased absorptance. A case study is used to illustrate how the parametric study can be used to guide the design of thermotropic materials. Low molecular weighted polyethylene in poly(methyl methacrylate) is identified as a potential thermotropic material. For this material and a particle radius of 200 nm, it is determined that the volume fraction and thickness should equal 10% and 1 mm, respectively.


2012 ◽  
Vol 693 ◽  
pp. 345-366 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Jibuti ◽  
S. Rafaï ◽  
P. Peyla

AbstractIn this paper, we conduct a numerical investigation of sheared suspensions of non-colloidal spherical particles on which a torque is applied. Particles are mono-dispersed and neutrally buoyant. Since the torque modifies particle rotation, we show that it can indeed strongly change the effective viscosity of semi-dilute or even more concentrated suspensions. We perform our calculations up to a volume fraction of 28 %. And we compare our results to data obtained at 40 % by Yeo and Maxey (Phys. Rev. E, vol. 81, 2010, p. 62501) with a totally different numerical method. Depending on the torque orientation, one can increase (decrease) the rotation of the particles. This results in a strong enhancement (reduction) of the effective shear viscosity of the suspension. We construct a dimensionless number $\Theta $ which represents the average relative angular velocity of the particles divided by the vorticity of the fluid generated by the shear flow. We show that the contribution of the particles to the effective viscosity can be suppressed for a given and unique value of $\Theta $ independently of the volume fraction. In addition, we obtain a universal behaviour (i.e. independent of the volume fraction) when we plot the relative effective viscosity divided by the relative effective viscosity without torque as a function of $\Theta $. Finally, we show that a modified Faxén law can be equivalently established for large concentrations.


Author(s):  
Ahmada Omar Ali ◽  
Oluwole Daniel Makinde ◽  
Yaw Nkansah-Gyekye

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate numerically the unsteady MHD Couette flow and heat transfer of viscous, incompressible and electrically conducting nanofluids between two parallel plates in a rotating channel. Design/methodology/approach – The nanofluid is set in motion by the combined action of moving upper plate, Coriolis force and the constant pressure gradient. The channel rotates in unison about an axis normal to the plates. The nonlinear governing equations for velocity and heat transfer are obtained and solved numerically using semi-discretization, shooting and collocation (bvp4c) techniques together with Runge-Kutta Fehlberg integration scheme. Findings – Results show that both magnetic field and rotation rate demonstrate significant effect on velocity and heat transfer profiles in the system with Cu-water nanofluid demonstrating the highest velocity and heat transfer efficiency. These numerical results are in excellent agreements with the results obtained by other methods. Practical implications – This paper provides a very useful source of information for researchers on the subject of hydromagnetic nanofluid flow in rotating systems. Originality/value – Couette flow of nanofluid in the presence of applied magnetic field in a rotating channel is investigated.


Author(s):  
L. Almanza-Huerta ◽  
A. Hernandez-Guerrero ◽  
M. Krarti ◽  
J. M. Luna

The present paper provides a numerical study of a parametric analysis of a bayonet tube with a special type of extended surface during the laminar-turbulent transition. The working internal fluid is air. Attention is focused on the heat transfer characteristics of the tube. The results constitute a systematic investigation of the effect of the extended surface located along the annulus of the bayonet on the overall heat transfer rate. The effects of the variation of some parameters related to the extended surface aiming to attain the maximum heat transfer with the minimum pressure drop are discussed. Comparisons between designs with and without extended surface are also made.


Micromachines ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Sobecki ◽  
Jie Zhang ◽  
Cheng Wang

We numerically investigated the dynamics of a paramagnetic elliptical particle immersed in a low Reynolds number Poiseuille flow in a curved channel and under a uniform magnetic field by direct numerical simulation. A finite element method, based on an arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian approach, analyzed how the channel geometry, the strength and direction of the magnetic field, and the particle shape affected the rotation and radial migration of the particle. The net radial migration of the particle was analyzed after executing a π rotation and at the exit of the curved channel with and without a magnetic field. In the absence of a magnetic field, the rotation is symmetric, but the particle-wall distance remains the same. When a magnetic field is applied, the rotation of symmetry is broken, and the particle-wall distance increases as the magnetic field strength increases. The causation of the radial migration is due to the magnetic angular velocity caused by the magnetic torque that constantly changes directions during particle transportation. This research provides a method of magnetically manipulating non-spherical particles on lab-on-a-chip devices for industrial and biological applications.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document