Laterally accreted deposits in low efficiency turbidites associated with a structurally-induced topography (Oligocene Molare Group, Tertiary Piedmont Basin, NW Italy)

ABSTRACT The origin of laterally accreted deposits in ancient deep marine successions is often controversial. Indeed, not always do these features imply the occurrence of meanders or high-sinuosity turbidite channels, but they can be generated by other causes, such as sediment-gravity-flow dynamics controlled by the morphology of tectonically confined mini-basins. This work discusses laterally accreted deposits composed of sharp-based, normally graded beds in a very small tectonically controlled mini-basin. These beds, characterized by a well-defined asymmetrical cross-current facies tract, form well-developed lateral-accretion surfaces dipping in directions ranging between W and SW, and perpendicular to the paleocurrents directed towards the N. For this reason, these deposits have always been interpreted as point bars related to meandering channels. A new detailed stratigraphic framework and facies analysis have led to an alternative interpretation, namely that these deposits record lateral deflections of small volume, longitudinally segregated turbidite dense flows against a structurally controlled morphological high. This interpretation is also supported by a comparison to other tectonically controlled turbidite systems that are characterized by higher degrees of efficiency but show similar laterally accreted deposits and cross-current facies tracts.

Analytic Modeling of Heat Transfer to Vertical Dense Granular Flows

The high packing fractions of dense granular flows make them an attractive option as a heat transfer fluid or thermal energy storage medium for high temperature applications. Previous works studying the heat transfer to dense flows have identified an increased thermal resistance adjacent to the heated surface as a limiting factor in the heat transfer to a discrete particle flow. While models exist to estimate the heat transfer to dense flows, no physics-based model describing the heat transfer in the near-wall layer is found; this is the focus of the present study. Discrete element method (DEM) simulations were used to examine the near-wall flow characteristics, identifying how parameters such as the near-wall packing fraction and number of particle-wall contacts may affect the heat transfer from the wall. A correlation to describe the effective thermal conductivity (ETC) of the wall-adjacent layer (with thickness of a particle radius) was derived based on parallel thermal resistances representing the heat transfer to particles in contact with the wall, particles not in contact with the wall, and void spaces. Empirical correlations based on DEM results were developed to estimate the near-wall packing fraction and number of particle-wall contacts. The contribution from radiation was also incorporated using a simple enclosure analysis. The ETC correlation was validated by incorporating it into dense flow models for chute flows and cylindrical flows and comparing with the experimental data for each.

Numerical Modelling of Flow in Morning Glory Spillways Using FLOW-3D

Suspended load amount with flow is one of the factors which are disregarded in designing morning glory spillways. It is due to the fact that physical modeling of sediment load with flood flow is very difficult and costly. Suspended sediments load with flow can change the density of passing water, leading to changing most of assumptions existing in spillways' design. With its unique potential to model dense flows and flows contain suspended loads, numerical model of FLOW-3D can provide valuable information in this regard. In the present study, flow was calibrated and validated using FLOW-3D through physical model. Then, by adding suspended load to flow, the values of discharge passing through the morning glory spillway were determined. In this regard, applying suspended load (3000, 6000, 9000, and 12000 ppm), flow discharge values were investigated for various heads over the spillway. The research findings revealed that increasing suspended flow load leads to decreasing values of flow passing through the morning glory spillways; such that, deceased values strongly depend on suspended load.

Heat Transfer to Vertical Dense Granular Flows at High Operating Temperatures

Ceramic particles as a heat transfer fluid for concentrated solar power towers offers a variety of advantages over traditional heat transfer fluids. Ceramic particles permit the use of very high operating temperatures, being limited only by the working temperatures of the receiver components, as well as demonstrate the potential to be used for thermal energy storage. A variety of system configurations utilizing ceramic particles are currently being studied, including upward circulating beds of particles, falling particle curtains, and flows of particles over an array of absorber tubes. The present work investigates the use of gravity-driven dense granular flows through cylindrical tubes, which demonstrate solid packing fractions of approximately 60%. Previous work demonstrated encouraging results for the use of dense flows for heat transfer applications and examined the effect of various parameters on the overall heat transfer for low temperatures. The present work examined the heat transfer to dense flows at high operating temperatures more characteristic of concentrated solar power tower applications. For a given flow rate, the heat transfer coefficient was examined as a function of the mean flow temperature by steadily increasing the input heat flux over a series of trials. The heat transfer coefficient increased almost linearly with temperature below approximately 600°C. Above 600°C, the heat transfer coefficient increased at a faster rate, suggesting an increased radiation heat transfer contribution.