Optimization of net power density in Reverse Electrodialysis

Abstract Reverse Electrodialysis (RED) extracts electrical energy from the salinity difference between two solutions using selective ion exchange membranes. In RED, conditions yielding a large net power density (NPD) are generally desired, due to the still large cost of the membranes. NPD depends on a large number of physical and geometric parameters. Some of these, for example the inlet concentrations of concentrate and diluate, can be regarded as “scenario” variables, imposed by external constraints (e.g., availability) or chosen by different criteria than NPD maximization. Others, namely the thicknesses HCONC, HDIL and the velocities UCONC, UDIL in the concentrate and diluate channels, c…

Transition to turbulence in toroidal pipes

AbstractIncompressible flow in toroidal pipes of circular cross-section was investigated by three-dimensional, time-dependent numerical simulations using a finite volume method. The computational domain included a whole torus and was discretized by up to ${\ensuremath{\sim} }11. 4\ensuremath{\times} 1{0}^{6} $ nodes. Two curvatures $\delta $ (radius of the cross-section/radius of the torus), namely 0.3 and 0.1, were examined; a streamwise forcing term was imposed, and its magnitude was made to vary so that the bulk Reynolds number ranged between ${\ensuremath{\sim} }3500$ and ${\ensuremath{\sim} }14\hspace{0.167em} 700$. The results were processed by different techniques in order to confirm…

Bartlett formalism generating functions and Z-transforms in fluctuation and noise theory

Abstract “La theorie des fonctions generatrices s'adapte elle meme et avec la plus grande generalite aux questions des probabilite les plus difficiles.” (Laplace, 1812) “An important part of probability theory consists of the derivation of the probability distribution of the sum of n random variables, each of which obeys a given probability law, and the development of asymptotic forms of these distributions valid for increasing n. Probability generating functions owe their dominant position to the simplification they permit to both problems. Their employment to obtain the successive moments of a probability distribution and to solve the difference equations of probability theory is ancillar…

Performance Comparison of Alternative Hollow-Fiber Modules for Hemodialysis by Means of a CFD-Based Model

Commercial hemodialyzers are hollow-fiber cylindrical modules with dimensions and inlet–outlet configurations dictated mostly by practice. However, alternative configurations are possible, and one may ask how they would behave in terms of performance. In principle, it would be possible to depart from the standard counter-flow design, while still keeping high clearance values, thanks to the increase in the shell-side Sherwood number (Sh) due to the cross-flow. To elucidate these aspects, a previously developed computational model was used in which blood and dialysate are treated as flowing through two interpenetrating porous media. Measured Darcy permeabilities and mass transfer coefficients…

MHD Free Convection in Helium-Cooled Lithium-Lead Blanket Modules for the Demonstration Fusion Reactor

Modellazione semplificata dello scambio termico per convezione naturale da una parete verticale calda con l'eventuale presenza di un film liquido. Quaderno N. 2/2008, Dipartimento di Ingegneria Nucleare, Università degli Studi di Palermo.

Turbulent Fluid Flow in Closed- and Free-Surface Unbaffled Tanks Stirred by Radial Impellers

SIMULAZIONI CFD DEL CAMPO DI MOTO A BASSO NUMERO DI REYNOLDS IN BIOREATTORI AGITATI CON E SENZA SETTI FRANGIVORTICE

I recipienti meccanicamente agitati sono apparecchiature frequenti dell’industria chimica di processo. Questi sono tipicamente dotati di setti frangivortice (recipienti baffled) atti a rompere il moto prettamente tangenziale tipico dei recipienti sprovvisti di setti (recipienti unbaffled) e convertirlo in moto assiale e radiale. La presenza dei setti evita inoltre nella zona centrale del sistema la formazione del vortice d’aria che può talvolta essere indesiderato o in taluni casi creare instabilità una volta arrivato alla girante. I recipienti unbaffled sono considerati quindi dei miscelatori meno efficienti rispetto a quelli provvisti di setti. Tali sistemi sono pertanto ad oggi impiegati…

Investigation of Flow and Heat Transfer in Corrugated Passages – II. Numerical Simulations

Experimental investigation of two-side heat transfer in spacer-filled channels

Abstract In Membrane Distillation (MD), spacers support the membranes and promote mixing, thus reducing temperature polarization. Their efficient design requires a knowledge of the distribution of the local heat transfer coefficient h and of its dependence on Reynolds number, spacer geometry and flow-spacer relative orientation. In previous work, we applied Thermochromic Liquid Crystals (TLC) and digital image processing to the measurement of h distributions for different spacer configurations; data were used to validate CFD simulations and select turbulence models. For constructive reasons, the test section allowed only one-side heat transfer, while in most MD configurations (e.g. spiral-w…

La turbolenza e i suoi modelli

A Comparison of Direct Numerical Simulation and Turbulence Models for Liquid Metal Free Convection in Volumetrically Heated Enclosures

The REAPower Project

Abstract Reverse electrodialysis technology has grown significantly in the last decade, gaining a fast increase in its technology readiness level and presenting some interesting examples of pilot systems operating under very different real environments. Among these, one was able to operate in a saltwork in Marsala (Sicily, Italy) with real concentrated brine and real saline waters (i.e., either seawater or brackish water), producing electric power in the order of 1 kW. This pilot plant was one of the main achievements of the European REAPower research project. This chapter presents an overview of the main research efforts and results achieved in the framework of this project starting from t…

Large Eddy Simulation of Unbaffled Stirred Tanks

CFD prediction of concentration polarization phenomena in spacer-filled channels for Reverse Electrodialysis

Abstract Salinity Gradient Power generation through Reverse Electrodialysis (SGP-RE) is a promising technology to convert the chemical potential difference of a salinity gradient into electric energy. In SGP-RE systems, as in most membrane processes, concentration polarization phenomena may affect the theoretical driving force and thus the performance of the process. Operating conditions, including the feed solution flow rate and concentration and the channels׳ geometrical configuration, may greatly influence both the polarization effect and the pumping energy consumption. The present work uses CFD to investigate the dependence of concentration polarization and pressure drop on flow rate, f…

CFD simulation of channels for direct and reverse electrodialysis

Flows within very thin channels, typically filled with spacers, can be often encountered in many processes such as electrodialysis (ED) and reverse electrodialysis (RED). Although the ED and the RED processes have been studied for a long time, the optimization of the fluid dynamics within the channels is still an open problem. In the present work, realized within the EU-FP7 funded REAPower project, computational fluid dynamics simulations were carried out in order to predict the fluid flow field inside a single ED/RED channel. Some different configurations were tested which includes: an empty channel, a channel provided with a spacer, and a channel filled with a purposely manufactured fiber…

Improved Liquid Crystal Thermography by Using True-Colour Image Processing Technology

No abstract available

CFD simulation of Electrodialysis channels equipped with profiled membranes

Electrodialysis (ED) is a membrane-based electrochemical process that remove ions from a solution. The main use of ED is for the production of drinking water by brackish water desalination, but there are several other applications. ED is characterized by the coexistence and the interaction of different physical phenomena that affect the stack performance. Among them, fluid dynamics and mass transport are crucial: concentration polarization affects the limiting current density and the non-Ohmic voltage drop due to the chemical potential difference between the two solutions; pressure drop affects the pumping power consumption. Moreover, the total energy consumption depends also on the Ohmic v…

CFD MODELLING OF PARTICLE SUSPENSION IN STIRRED TANKS

Mixing of solid particles into liquids in mechanically agitated vessels is a topic of primary importance for several industrial applications. A great deal of research efforts has been devoted so far to the assessment of the minimum impeller speed (Njs) able to guarantee that all particles are suspended. Conversely, only little attention has been paid to the evaluation of the amount of solid particles that are suspended at impeller speeds N lower than Njs, despite the fact that in a number of industrial applications agitation speeds smaller than Njs are actually adopted [1,2]. The present work deals with dense solid-liquid partial suspensions in baffled stirred tanks and particularly focuses…

CFD modelling of profiled membranes channels for reverse electrodialysis

Reverse electrodialysis (RE) is a promising technology for electric power generation from controlled mixing of two differently concentrated salt solutions, where ion-exchange membranes are adopted for the generation of ionic currents within the system. Channel geometry strongly influences fluid flow and thus crucial phenomena such as pressure drop and concentration polarization. Profiled membranes are an alternative to the more commonly adopted net spacers and offer a number of advantages: avoiding the use of non-conductive and relatively expensive materials, reducing hydraulic losses and increasing the active membrane area. In this work, Computational Fluid Dynamic simulations were perform…

Heavy Gas Dispersion Modelling Over a Topographically Complex Mesoscale: A CFD Based Approach

Abstract: Potentially dangerous events involving heavy gas dispersion and their severe consequences have been largely publicized by the media. Simplified models have been widely applied to describe the effects of these accidents. However, most simplified models deal with flat terrain scenarios and are based on quite crude simplifications of the complex phenomenology involved. In this paper the possibility of simulating the dispersion of heavy gas clouds over a large topographically complex area (tens of km) by a general purpose computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code is investigated. The aim is that of setting up a tool able to produce a realistic description of such dispersion processes, w…

Il monitoraggio della radioattività ambientale in Italia: aspetti scientifici, giuridici e normativi. Quaderno No. 1/06, Dipartimento di Ingegneria Nucleare, Università degli Studi di Palermo

Investigation of Flow and Heat Transfer in Corrugated-Undulated Plate Heat Exchangers

An experimental and numerical investigation of heat transfer and fluid flow was conducted for corrugated-undulated plate heat exchanger configurations under transitional and weakly turbulent conditions. For a given geometry of the corrugated plates the geometrical characteristics of the undulated plates, the angle formed by the latter with the main flow direction, and the Reynolds number were made to vary. Distributions of the local heat transfer coefficient were obtained by using liquid-crystal thermography, and surface-averaged values were computed; friction coefficients were measured by wall pressure tappings. Overall heat transfer and pressure drop correlations were derived. Three-dimen…

Determination of limiting current density and current efficiency in electrodialysis units

Abstract A crucial parameter for the design and operation of electrodialysis (ED) units is the limiting current density (LCD). This is often identified with the diffusion-limited current density, which corresponds to the complete solute depletion in the layer adjacent to the membrane. Current-voltage curves obtained from measurements with electrodes in contact with the solution (i.e. without membranes) are consistent with this interpretation and exhibit a horizontal plateau identifying LCD. However, real ED systems show more complex behaviours, with a reduced-slope tract instead of a plateau and a third region in which the current increases more markedly (overlimiting current). The phenomen…

The REAPower Project: Power Production From Saline Waters and Concentrated Brines

Aim of this chapter is that of describing in detail the REAPower project from the very beginning up to the testing of the pilot plant built at the end of the project.

Mixed magnetohydrodynamic convection in poloidal Helium-Cooled Lithium Lead blanket modules of a fusion reactor

Reverse electrodialysis heat engine for sustainable power production

Abstract Reverse Electrodialysis Heat Engine (REDHE) is a promising technology to convert waste heat at temperatures lower than 100 °C into electric power. In the present work an overview of the possible regeneration methods is presented and the technological challenges for the development of the RED Heat Engine (REDHE) are identified. The potential of this power production cycle was investigated through a simplified mathematical model. In the first part of the work, several salts were singularly modelled as possible solutes in aqueous solutions feeding the RED unit and the corresponding optimal conditions were recognized via an optimization study. In the second part, three different RED He…

Fluid-structure interaction and flow redistribution in membrane-bounded channels

The hydrodynamics of electrodialysis and reverse electrodialysis is commonly studied by neglecting membrane deformation caused by transmembrane pressure (TMP). However, large frictional pressure drops and differences in fluid velocity or physical properties in adjacent channels may lead to significant TMP values. In previous works, we conducted one-way coupled structural-CFD simulations at the scale of one periodic unit of a profiled membrane/channel assembly and computed its deformation and frictional characteristics as functions of TMP. In this work, a novel fluid&ndash

Convezione magnetoidrodinamica in metalli liquidi in configurazioni rilevanti per la fusione nucleare - 5. Trasporto del trizio in moduli poloidali di blanket HCLL. Quaderno No. 6/04, Dipartimento di Ingegneria Nucleare, Università degli Studi di Palermo

Numerical simulation of electroconvection phenomena in electrodialysis

In water desalination by electrodialysis, the current density i cannot exceed specific constraints, notably the diffusion limit. Working at higher i (overlimiting current regime) would make higher desalination rates possible. The main phenomenon allowing overlimiting current densities is the electrokinetic instability that arises when a sufficiently intense electric potential gradient is imposed, and leads to electroconvective mixing in the near-wall layer. In this study, these phenomena were investigated by CFD. The governing equations were the Nernst-Planck transport equations for anions and cations, the Poisson equation for the electrical potential and the Navier-Stokes and continuity eq…

Natural Convection Heat Transfer in a Partially- or Completely-Partitioned Vertical Rectangular Enclosure

Influence of a Magnetic Field on Liquid Metal Free Convection in a Differentially Heated Cubic Enclosure

Induction Heating of Planar Aluminum Targets for Spray Cooling Research

Large-Eddy Simulation of Turbulent Flow in an Unbaffled Stirred Tank Driven by a Rushton Turbine

The turbulent flow fieldgeneratedin an unbaffledstirredtank by a Rushton turbine was computedby large-eddy simulation (LES). The Smagorinsky model was used to model the unresolved, or sub-grid, scales. A general purpose CFD code was appropriately modified in order to allow the computation of the sub-gridviscosity andto perform statistics on the computedresults. The numerical predictions were comparedwith the literature results for comparable configurations andwith experimental data obtainedusing particle image velocimetry. A very goodagreement was foundas regards both time-averagedresolv edfield s andturb ulence quantities. 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Studio di fattibilità sull’applicazione della tecnologia delle radiazioni ionizzanti al trattamento delle acque reflue in Sicilia. Quaderno N. 3/2007, Dipartimento di Ingegneria Nucleare, Università degli Studi di Palermo.

Turbulence structure and budgets in curved pipes

Abstract Turbulent flow in curved pipes was investigated by Direct Numerical Simulation. Three curvatures δ (pipe radius a /curvature radius c ) were examined: δ  = 0 (straight pipe), simulated for validation and comparison purposes; δ  = 0.1; and δ  = 0.3. The friction velocity Reynolds number (based on the pipe radius a ) was 500 in all cases, yielding bulk Reynolds numbers of ∼17,000, ∼15,000 and ∼12,000 for δ  = 0, 0.1 and 0.3, respectively. The computational domain was ten pipe radii in length and was resolved by up to 20 × 10 6 hexahedral finite volumes. The time step was chosen equal to a wall time unit; 1 Large Eddy TurnOver Time (LETOT) was thus resolved by 500 time steps and simul…

Computation of MHD buoyant flows at low Pr in a cubic enclosure with a full resolution of the Hartmann layers

Pressure drop at low reynolds numbers in woven-spacer-filled channels for membrane processes: CFD prediction and experimental validation

The energy consumption due to pumping power is a crucial issue in membrane processes. Spacers provide mechanical stability and promote mixing, yet increasing pressure drop. Woven spacers and their behaviour at low Reynolds numbers are less studied in the literature. Nevertheless, they are typical of some membrane technologies, as reverse electrodialysis (RED). RED is a promising technology for electric power generation by the chemical potential difference of two salt solutions within a stack equipped by selective ion-exchange membranes. The mechanical energy required for pumping the feed solutions, can dramatically reduce the net power output. In this work computational fluid dynamics (CFD)…

Studio di fattibilità di un impianto E-Beam per il trattamento dei reflui civili dell’impianto di Acqua dei Corsari a Palermo

Limiting current phenomena in electro-membrane processes: local occurrence or stack-dependent one?

Background Electro-membrane processes are gaining great interest in the field of desalination and brine valorisation. However, limiting current phenomena can be a bottleneck for their techno-economic performances. In the present work, the in-out distribution of current density is measured to elucidate the achievement of limiting conditions in real stacks. Materials and Methods A 10-cell pairs Electrodialysis stack (10×40 cm2 active area), equipped with four-segmented electrodes, was tested. NaCl solutions at an inlet concentration ranging from 0.5 to 60 g/l were fed at velocities of either 2 or 4 cm/s in parallel flow. Current density-voltage curves were built by applying equal increasing s…

On the Derivation of the Boiling Curve in Spray Cooling from Experimental Temperature-Time Histories

CFD prediction of solid particle distribution in baffled stirred vessels under partial to complete suspension conditions

Solid-liquid mixing within tanks agitated by stirrers can be easily encountered in many industrial processes. It is common to find an industrial tank operating at an impeller speed N lower than the minimum agitation speed for the suspension of solid particles: under such conditions the distribution of solid-particles is very far from being homogeneous and very significant concentration gradients exist. The present work evaluates the capability of a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model to reliably predict the particle distribution throughout the tank under either partial or complete suspension conditions. A flat bottomed baffled tank stirred by a Rushton turbine was investigated. Both tr…

Simulazioni Numeriche del Campo di Moto e della Caduta di Pressione in Tubi Elicoidali

Influence of a Magnetic Field on Liquid Metal Free Convection in an Internally Heated Cubic Enclosure

The buoyancy‐driven magnetohydrodynamic flow in a cubic enclosure was investigated by three‐dimensional numerical simulation. The enclosure was volumetrically heated by a uniform power density and cooled along two opposite vertical walls, all remaining walls being adiabatic. A uniform magnetic field was applied orthogonally to the gravity vector and to the temperature gradient. The Prandtl number was 0.0321 (characteristic of Pb–17Li at 300°C), the Rayleigh number was 104, and the Hartmann number was made to vary between 0 and 2×103. The steady‐state Navier–Stokes equations, in conjunction with a scalar transport equation for the fluid's enthalpy and with the Poisson equation for the electr…

CFD Predictions of Sufficient Suspension Conditions in Solid-Liquid Agitated Tanks

Abstract Most research efforts on mechanically agitated solid-liquid contactors have been devoted to the assessment of the minimum impeller speed for complete off-bottom suspension, N js . Actually, many industrial vessels are operated at impeller speeds slightly lower than N js (Oldshue, 1983; Rieger et al., 1988). This suggests that the sufficient suspension condition, which is quantitatively specified in this paper by introducing a suitably defined quantity N ss , may represent a valid alternative to that of complete suspension. In the present work time-dependent RANS simulations were carried out with the aim of predicting the achievement of sufficient suspension conditions. The Eulerian…

Maximum Net Power Density Conditions in Reverse Electrodialysis Stacks

Reverse Electrodialysis (RED) harvests electrical energy from a salinity gradient. The maximum obtainable net power density (NPD) depends on many physical and geometric variables. Some have a monotonic (beneficial or detrimental) influence on NPD, and can be regarded as “scenario” variables chosen by criteria other than NPD maximization. Others, namely the thicknesses HCONC, HDIL and the velocities UCONC, UDIL in the concentrate and diluate channels, have contrasting effects, so that the NPD maximum is obtained for some intermediate values of these parameters. A 1-D model of a RED stack was coupled here with an optimization algorithm to determine the conditions of maximum NPD in the space o…

Green grass, red blood, blueprint: reflections on life, self-replication, and evolution

A novel 2D model for the assessment of deformation-induced flow redistribution phenomena in electrodialysis units

Effect of membrane profiles on the limiting current density in electrodialysis

In the present work, we experimenrtally investigated the effect of different membrane profiles on the LCD, testing also different operating conditions.

Investigation of flow and heat transfer in corrugated passages—II. Numerical simulations

An experimental and numerical study of flow and heat transfer was conducted for a crossed-corrugated geometry, representative of compact heat exchangers under transitional and weakly turbulent conditions. Three-dimensional numerical predictions were obtained by a finite volume method using a variety of approaches ranging from laminar flow assumptions to standard and low-Reynolds number k-e turbulence models, direct simulation, and large-eddy simulation. In this paper, the various computational approaches are presented and their relative performance is discussed for various geometries and Reynolds numbers; results are compared with experimental measurements and literature data. Detailed expe…

On the Simulation of Solid Particle Distribution in Multiple Impeller Agitated Tanks via Computational Fluid Dynamics

Prediction of flow fields in a dual-impeller stirred vessel

Numerical simulations were connected for the flow field in a baffled tank stirred by a dual Rushton impeller. For this geometry, LDV measurements show a characteristic dependence of the flow patterns upon the position of the impellers. Two advanced modeling approaches were tested. In the first, the vessel was divided info two concentric blocks, coupled by, a sliding grin technique, and simulations were conducted in time-dependent mode. In the second approach, the vessel was modeled as two partially over-lapping I regions, the inner one rotating with the impeller and rite outer one stationary simulations were run in steady-state mode for each of the two regions, while information was iterati…

CFD simulations of dense solid–liquid suspensions in baffled stirred tanks: Prediction of solid particle distribution

Abstract Industrial tanks devoted to the mixing of solid particles into liquids are often operated at an impeller speed N less than Njs (defined as the lowest speed allowing the suspension of all particles): under such conditions the distribution of solid-particles is very far from being homogeneous and very significant concentration gradients exist. The present work is devoted to assessing the capability of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) in predicting the particle distribution throughout the tank. The CFD model proposed by Tamburini et al. [58] and successfully applied to the prediction of the sediment amount and shape was adopted here to simulate the particle distribution under partia…

Convezione magnetoidrodinamica in metalli liquidi in configurazioni rilevanti per la fusione nucleare - 2. Convezione naturale in geometrie bi- e tridimensionali. Quaderno No. 3/04, Dipartimento di Ingegneria Nucleare, Università degli Studi di Palermo

Investigation of the Cooling of Hot Walls by Liquid Water Sprays

An experimental study was conducted for the heat transfer from hot walls to liquid water sprays. Four full cone, swirl spray nozzles were used at different upstream pressures, giving mass fluxes impinging on the wall, G, from 8 to 80 kg m(-2) s(-1), mean droplet velocities, U, from 13 to 28 m s(-1) and mean droplet diameters, D, from 0.4 to 2.2 mm. A target consisting of two slabs of beryllium-copper alloy, each 4 x 5 cm in size and 1.1 mm thick, was electrically heated to about 300 degrees C and then rapidly and symmetrically cooled by water sprays issuing from two identical nozzles. The midplane temperature was measured by a fast response, thin-foil thermocouple and the experimental data …

Large-Eddy Simulation of Turbulent Flow and Heat Transfer in Plane and Rib-Roughened Channels

Large-eddy simulation results are presented and discussed for turbulent flow and heat transfer in a plane channel with and without transverse square ribs on one of the walls. They were obtained with the finite-difference code Harwell-FLOW3D, Release 2, by using the PISOC pressure-velocity coupling algorithm, central differencing in space, and Crank-Nicolson time stepping. A simple Smagorinsky model, with van Driest damping near the walls, was implemented to model subgrid scale effects. Periodic boundary conditions were imposed in the streamwise and spanwise directions. The Reynolds number based on hydraulic diameter (twice the channel height) ranged from 10 000 to 40 000. Results are compar…

Heavy Gas Dispersion Modelling Over a Topographically Complex Mesoscale

Potentially dangerous events involving heavy gas dispersion and their severe consequences have been largely publicized by the media. Simplified models have been widely applied to describe the effects of these accidents. However, most simplified models deal with flat terrain scenarios and are based on quite crude simplifications of the complex phenomenology involved. In this paper the possibility of simulating the dispersion of heavy gas clouds over a large topographically complex area (tens of km) by a general purpose computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code is investigated. The aim is that of setting up a tool able to produce a realistic description of such dispersion processes, whose resul…

Numerical Simulation of Low Reynolds Number Flow Fields in Unbaffled Stirred Vessels

Direct numerical simulation of turbulent heat transfer in curved pipes

Fully developed turbulent convective heat transfer in curved pipes was investigated by Direct Numerical Simulation for a friction velocity Reynolds number of 500, yielding bulk Reynolds numbers between 12 630 and ~17 350 according to the curvature (pipe radius/curvature radius). Three different curvatures were compared, i.e. 0 (straight pipe), 0.1 and 0.3. The Prandtl number was 0.86. The computational domain was a tract of pipe 5 diameters in length. A finite volume method was used, with multiblock structured grids of ~5.3x10E6 hexahedral volumes. Simulations were typically protracted for 20 LETOT’s starting from coarse-grid results. Results were post-processed to compute first and second …

On the influence of curvature and torsion on turbulence in helically coiled pipes

Turbulent flow and heat transfer in helically coiled pipes at Ret=400 was investigated by DNS using finite volume grids with up to 2.36×10^7 nodes. Two curvatures (0.1 and 0.3) and two torsions (0 and 0.3) were considered. The flow was fully developed hydrodynamically and thermally. The central discretization scheme was adopted for diffusion and advection terms, and the second order backward Euler scheme for time advancement. The grid spacing in wall units was ~3 radially, 7.5 circumferentially and 20 axially. The time step was equal to one viscous wall unit and simulations were typically protracted for 8000 time steps, the last 4000 of which were used to compute statistics. The results sho…

Multi-physical modelling of Reverse ElectroDialysis

Energy extraction from salinity gradients (salinity gradient power, SGP) represents a novel and valuable renewable energy source. Among the existing SGP technologies, reverse electrodialysis (RED) is the oldest and one of the most promising. RED is a membrane-based electrochemical process that directly converts the salinity gradient energy into electric current. More precisely, in a RED unit two solutions at different concentration flow in two series of alternated channels, which are formed by piling two alternated series of cation and anion exchange membranes (CEMs and AEMs, respectively). The chemical potential difference between the two solutions generates an electric potential differenc…

Flow and Heat Transfer in Corrugated Passages: Direct and Large-Eddy Simulation and Comparison with Experimental Results

Numerical simulations supporting process models of chemical engineering: applications for membrane systems

This work presents computational fluid dynamics simulations aimed at characterizing flow and mass/heat transport mechanisms in spacer-filled channels for membrane processes, with particular reference to (reverse) electrodyalisis and membrane distillation.

Characterization of magnesium hydroxide from highly concentrated MgCl2 solutions

Sulla simulazione numerica di deflussi turbolenti con media transitoria - I. Moto sviluppato in un canale a sezione quadrata soggetto ad un gradiente di pressione periodico. Quaderno No. 2/2007, Dipartimento di Ingegneria Nucleare, Università degli Studi di Palermo

Power-Law Probability Density Functions and Corresponding Rank-Size Distributions: Properties, Limits and Shannon Entropy. Quaderno N. 3/2008, Dipartimento di Ingegneria Nucleare, Università degli Studi di Palermo.

Modifiche del Codice RELAP5 per lo Studio delle Perdite di Carico in Generatori di Vapore a Tubi Elicoidali Interessati da Flussi Bifase

Large-Eddy Simulation of Flow and Heat Transfer in Compact Heat Exchangers

LES results are presented for different heat exchanger geometries. Subgrid terms were usually computed by the Smagorinsky model; preliminary comparative results are also given for the ‘dynamic’ subgrid model. The numerical methods used were those implemented in a commercial general-purpose code (CFDS-FLOW3D); they included a finite-volume approach, colocated body-fitted grids, central differencing for the advection terms, the SIMPLEC algorithm, and Crank-Nicolson time stepping. Predictions arc compared with experimental measurements (including local Nu distributions), and with results from a low-Reynolds number k-e model. In most cases, LES was more ‘robust’ and required little more CPU tim…

CFD simulations of dense solid–liquid suspensions in baffled stirred tanks: Prediction of the minimum impeller speed for complete suspension

Abstract In the literature on mechanically agitated solid–liquid systems, several methods are described to estimate the minimum impeller speed Njs at which all particles are suspended, but few studies have been devoted so far to their critical comparative assessment [67] . In the present paper, several alternative Njs prediction methods are applied to CFD results obtained for selected test cases covering a broad range of suspension conditions and impeller speeds. Results are compared with one another and with classic empirical correlations [88] . The aim of the work is to assess the adequacy of different methods for predicting Njs and, more generally, to contribute to a viable CFD-based str…

Mass transfer in ducts with transpiring walls

Abstract The problem of mass transfer in ducts with transpiring walls is analysed: the concepts of “solvent” and “solute” fluxes are introduced, all possible sign combinations for these fluxes are considered, and relevant examples from membrane processes such as electrodialysis, reverse osmosis and filtration are identified. Besides the dimensionless numbers commonly defined in studying flow and mass transfer problems, new dimensionless quantities appropriate to transpiration problems are introduced, and their limiting values, associated with “drying”, “desalting” and “saturation” conditions, are identified. A simple model predicting the Sherwood number Sh under all possible flux sign combi…

On the simulation of stirred tank reactors via computational fluid dynamics

Abstract Predictions of flow fields in a stirred tank reactor, obtained by computational fluid dynamics, were used for the simulation of a mixing sensitive process consisting of two parallel reactions competing for a common reagent: A + B → Prod .1 A + C → Prod .2. Experimental data were obtained for A = OH − , B = 1 2 Cu ++ and C=ethyl-chloroacetate. For this reaction scheme the final selectivity of the process, easily measured by a simple colorimetric analysis of the residual Cu++, was found to depend on agitation speed and therefore on the mixing history during the batch process. The flow field-based three-dimensional simulations performed here led to predictions that compared very well …

Improved Tomographic Particle Image Velocimetry and Thermography in Rayleigh-Bènard Convection

CFD study on the influence of water transpiration on flow and mass transfer in channels with bipolar membranes

The future energetic supply based on the massive use of renewable sources poses issues linked to fluctuations of power produced and consumed, thus requiring the use of energy storage systems.

On the influence of gravitational and centrifugal buoyancy on laminar flow and heat transfer in curved pipes and coils

Abstract The effects of gravitational and centrifugal buoyancy on laminar flow and heat transfer in curved and helical pipes were investigated by numerical simulation. Six dimensionless numbers characterizing the problem were identified, and an analysis was conducted on the possible combinations of signs of the gravitational and centrifugal buoyancy effects. Two distinct Richardson numbers were introduced in order to quantify the importance of the two types of buoyancy, and it was shown that, in the case of heating from the wall, a maximum realizable value of the centrifugal Richardson number exists which is a linear function of the curvature δ (ratio of pipe radius a to curvature radius c)…

TRACE input model for SPES3 facility

Termovelocimetria tomografica ad immagini di particelle mediante cristalli liquidi termocromici sospesi - tecnica sperimentale e applicazione alla convezione di Rayleigh-Bénard

The Experimental Heat Transfer Curve in Spray Cooling as the Solution of a Minimum Problem

Heat Transfer in Low-Prandtl Number Free Convection from Internally Heated Rectangular Enclosures

CFD simulation of solid-liquid suspension startup in a stirred tank

Investigation of flow and heat transfer in corrugated passages—I. Experimental results

Abstract An experimental and numerical study of flow and heat transfer was conducted for a crossed-corrugated geometry, representative of compact heat exchangers including air preheaters for fossil-fuelled power plant. In this paper, we describe the method of applying thermochromic liquid crystals and true-colour image processing to give local Nusselt number distribution over the surface, and average Nu, both of quantitative reliability; a careful uncertainty analysis is also presented. Typical experimental results for heat transfer and pressure drop are presented and discussed for various geometries and Reynolds numbers, and are compared with literature data. Numerical predictions are disc…

Current distribution along electrodialysis stacks and its influence on the current-voltage curve: behaviour from near-zero current to limiting plateau

The current maldistribution along the flow path of electrodialysis (ED) units is a well-known phenomenon. However, it has been poorly quantified via experimental tests so far. This work aimed at measuring the current distribution in an ED stack with 40 cm path length, provided with four-segment electrodes. The current-voltage curve (CVC) of each segment was recorded under several operating conditions of inlet concentrations and feed velocity. In the CVC of the first segment, the current increased approaching a saturation, while in that of the remaining segments it passed through a maximum and then settled at near-zero values when high voltage values were applied. The current fraction on the…

NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF SEDIMENT RESUSPENSION IN MECHANICALLY STIRRED VESSEL

CFD modelling of profiled-membrane channels for reverse electrodialysis

Abstract: Reverse electrodialysis (RE) is a promising technology for electric power generation from controlled mixing of two differently concentrated salt solutions, where ion-exchange membranes are adopted for the generation of ionic currents within the system. Channel geometry strongly influences fluid flow and thus crucial phenomena such as pressure drop and concentration polarization. Profiled membranes are an alternative to the more commonly adopted net spacers and offer a number of advantages: avoiding the use of non-conductive and relatively expensive materials, reducing hydraulic losses and increasing the active membrane area. In this work, Computational Fluid Dynamic simulations we…

On some issues in the computational modelling of spacer-filled channels for membrane distillation

Abstract This study addresses issues which arise in the computational and experimental modelling of flow and heat/mass transfer in membrane distillation and other processes adopting spacer-filled channels (either planar or spiral wound), but have not been sufficiently clarified in the literature so far. Most of the argumentations presented are based on original computational results obtained by the authors by finite volume simulations; some literature results are also considered. The questions addressed regard the choice of scales for the reduction of data and the definition of dimensionless numbers ( Re , f , Nu , Sh ); the definition of average heat or mass transfer coefficients; the comb…

MHD free convection in a liquid-metal filled cubic enclosure. I. Differential heating

Membrane Deformation and Its Effects on Flow and Mass Transfer in the Electromembrane Processes

In the membrane processes, a trans-membrane pressure (TMP) may arise due to design features or operating conditions. In most applications, stacks for electrodialysis (ED) or reverse electrodialysis (RED) operate at low TMP (&lt

Convezione magnetoidrodinamica in metalli liquidi in configurazioni rilevanti per la fusione nucleare - 4. Convezione mista in geometrie bidimensionali. Quaderno No. 5/04, Dipartimento di Ingegneria Nucleare, Università degli Studi di Palermo

Comparison of different hollow fibre haemodialysis module configurations by a CFD multiscale approach

Objectives The study aims to predict 3-D flow and solute concentrations fields both for blood and dialysate and overall performance parameters (such as dialysate pressure drop and clearance) for different hollow-fibre haemodialysis modules. Methods A multiscale approach was used. At small (unit cell)-scale, dialysate flow and mass transfer around straight cylindrical fibres arranged in regular lattices were simulated. At module-scale, hydraulic permeabilities and mass transfer coefficients derived from small-scale simulations were used to define two different porous media representative of blood and dialysate, sharing the same volume and exchanging solute. Simulations involved different mod…

Investigation of heat transfer in spacer-filled channels by experiments and direct numerical simulations

Abstract The analysis of flow fields and heat or mass transfer phenomena is of great importance in the optimum design of spacer-filled channel geometries for a variety of membrane-based processes. In the present work, models of spacer-filled channels often adopted in Membrane Distillation are simultaneously investigated by experiments and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Experiments rely on a non-intrusive technique, based on the use of Thermochromic Liquid Crystals (TLC) and digital image processing, and provide the local distribution of the convective heat transfer coefficient on a thermally active wall. CFD relies on steady-state (laminar flow) simulations in the lower end of the Reyn…

Studio sperimentale dello "Spray Cooling" di pareti calde – 6. Caratterizzazione idrodinamica degli spray. Quaderno No. 3/05, Dipartimento di Ingegneria Nucleare, Università degli Studi di Palermo

A novel TLC based technique for temperature field investigation in MD channel

Low-Prandtl Number Natural Convection in Volumetrically Heated Rectangular Enclosures - II. Square Cavity, AR=1

Low-Prandtl Number Natural Convection in Volumetrically Heated Rectangular Enclosures - III. Shallow Cavity, AR=0.25

Abstract Natural convection in a volumetrically heated rectangular enclosure filled with a low-Prandtl number (Pr=0.0321) fluid was studied by direct numerical two-dimensional simulation. The enclosure had isothermal side walls and adiabatic top/bottom walls. The aspect ratio was 4 and the Grashof number Gr, based on conductive maximum temperature and cavity width, ranged from 3.79 × 104 to 1.26 × 109. According to the value of Gr, different flow regimes were obtained: steady-state, periodic, and chaotic. The first instability of the steady-state solution occurred at Gr≈3×105; the resulting time-periodic flow field consisted of a central rising plume and of convection rolls, periodically ge…

ASSESMENT OF TEMPERATURE POLARIZATION IN MEMBRANE DISTILLATION CHANNELS BY LIQUID CRYSTAL THERMOGRAPHY

AbstractThe measurement of local temperature distributions within a membrane distillation (MD) channel is a crucial step for the optimization of the channel and spacer geometry. This information allows the estimation of temperature polarization phenomena, which can dramatically influence the thermal efficiency of the process and the optimal choice of the geometric configuration (net spacer features, channel size, etc.). In the present work, a recently presented experimental technique, based on the use of thermochromic liquid crystals and digital image analysis, has been employed in order to assess the temperature polarization phenomena. The local heat transfer coefficient distribution on th…

Modelling hybrid systems for seawater desalination: electromembrane processes (RED, ARED and ED) coupled with RO

The need to reduce energy consumption in seawater reverse osmosis processes has pushed research towards the development of new hybrid systems in which, for example, other membrane processes can be used to pre-treat seawater. Electrodialysis and reverse electrodialysis can act as a dilution step before seawater enters the RO unit, thus leading to an important energy saving in RO. In this work, two coupled models are proposed for the RED-RO and ED-RO system. Each process model was validated before being used for a sensitivity analysis in which the effect of the integration on the cost saving in the overall process was assessed. The analysis was performed by changing (R)ED voltage and RO press…

Multi-physical modelling of reverse electrodialysis

Abstract Reverse electrodialysis (RED) is an electrochemical membrane process that directly converts the energy associated with the concentration difference between two salt solutions into electrical energy by means of a selective controlled mixing. The physics of RED involves the interaction of several phenomena of different nature and space-time scales. Therefore, mathematical modelling and numerical simulation tools are crucial for performance prediction. In this work, a multi-physical modelling approach for the simulation of RED units was developed. A periodic portion of a single cell pair was simulated in two dimensions. Fluid dynamics was simulated by the Navier-Stokes and continuity …

CFD prediction of scalar transport in thin channels for reverse electrodialysis

Reverse ElectroDialysis (RED) is a very promising technology allowing the electrochemical potential difference of a salinity gradient to be directly converted into electric energy. The fluid dynamics optimization of the thin channels used in RED is still an open problem. The present preliminary work focuses on the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation of the flow and concentration fields in these channels. In particular three different configurations were investigated: a channel unprovided with a spacer (empty channel) and two channels filled with spacers, one made of overlapped filaments the other of woven filaments. The transport of two passive scalars, representative of the ions …

Statistical physics: Some basic principles of fluctuation and noise theory

Abstract Models have traditionally played a significant role in statistical mechanics. In view of the complexity of the system which statistical mechanics attempt to describe, this is not at all surprising. The study of simplified models has frequently revealed the underlying mathematical structure of many physical questions and in so doing the study of models has contributed directly to a clarification of several paradoxes which beset statistical mechanics. In this paper some of the models which appear to be useful for the discussion of non-equilibrium phenomena are examined in some detail. As usual these models are extremely simplified versions of the actual situations. It is, finally, as…

CFD analysis of mass transfer in spacer-filled channels for reverse electrodialysis

Reverse electrodialysis (RE) is a promising technology for electric power generation by converting the chemical potential difference of a salinity gradient, within a stack equipped by selective ion-exchange membranes. Concentration polarization phenomena and pressure drop affect strongly the power output obtainable; therefore the channel geometry is a fundamental operating parameter for the optimization of the system. In this work, Computational Fluid Dynamic simulations were performed to predict fluid flow and mass transfer in spacer-filled channels for RE applications. A parametric analysis for different spacer geometries was carried out; in particular, woven and non woven spacers were si…

Conjugate Heat Transfer in Plate Heat Exchangers

Top-covered unbaffled stirred tanks: experiments and numerical simulations

In this work computational fluid dynamics was employed to predict the flow field of an unbaffled stirred tank from steady to turbulent conditions

Unsteadiness and transition to turbulence in woven spacer filled channels for Membrane Distillation

To characterize the performance of Membrane Distillation (MD) modules, channels filled with woven spacers were investigated by Computational Fluid Dynamics (including Direct Numerical Simulations and the use of the SST k-ω turbulence model) and by parallel experiments with Thermochromic Liquid Crystals. The cases considered here regard mutually orthogonal filaments with a spacer pitch to channel height ratio P/H=2, two spacer orientations θ with respect to the main flow (0° and 45°), and bulk Reynolds numbers Re from ∼200 to ∼2000, an interval of great interest in practical MD applications. For both values of θ, CFD predicted steady-state flow for Re up to ∼300, and chaotic flow …

Numerical Simulation of MHD Fully Developed Buoyant Flow at Low Pr: “Direct” vs. “Ad hoc” Treatment of the Hartmann Layers

A CFD MODEL FOR THE PERFORMANCE PREDICTION OF HOLLOW FIBRE HAEMODIALYSIS MODULES

Objectives: The model proposed aims to predict how geometric, transport and operative parameters affect the performances of hollow-fibre membrane modules for haemodialysis, especially solute clearance. Methods: A two-scale approach was used. Preliminarily, dialysate flow and mass transfer around fibre bundles were simulated at Unit Cell level, i.e. in a single periodic unit of the bundle. For a given porosity, both regular lattices (square or hexagonal) and random fibre arrangements were studied. From the predicted friction coefficients and Sherwood numbers, permeability and solute exchange terms were derived to be used in a porous media model of the whole module. Solute concentrations on t…

CFD prediction of shell-side flow and mass transfer in regular fiber arrays

Numerical simulations were conducted for fully developed, steady-state flow with mass transfer in fiber bundles arranged in regular lattices. The porosity was 0.5 and the Schmidt number 500. Several combinations of axial flow, transverse flow and flow attack angles in the cross-section plane were considered. The axial and transverse Reynolds numbers Rez , ReT were made to vary from 10(^−4) to 10(^2). Concentration boundary conditions, and the definition of an average Sherwood number, were addressed. Results for the hydraulic permeability were compared with the literature. Both hexagonal and square lattices were found to be hydraulically almost isotropic up to transverse flow Reynolds number…

Combined Experimental and Numerical Study of Local Heat Transfer Coefficient by Liquid Crystal Thermography

Analisi Mediante Il Codice TRACE Delle Principali Fenomenologie Caratterizzanti Il Transitorio Conseguente Ad Una Rottura A Ghigliottina Nella Linea DVI dell’Impianto Sperimentale SPES-3

Coupling CFD with a one-dimensional model to predict the performance of reverse electrodialysis stacks

Abstract Different computer-based simulation models, able to predict the performance of Reverse ElectroDialysis (RED) systems, are currently used to investigate the potentials of alternative designs, to orient experimental activities and to design/optimize prototypes. The simulation approach described here combines a one-dimensional modelling of a RED stack with a fully three-dimensional finite volume modelling of the electrolyte channels, either planar or equipped with different spacers or profiled membranes. An advanced three-dimensional code was used to provide correlations for the friction coefficient (based on 3-D solutions of the continuity and Navier-Stokes equations) and the Sherwoo…

Fully developed laminar flow and heat transfer in serpentine pipes

Abstract A serpentine pipe is a sequence of parallel straight pipe segments connected by U-bends. Its geometry is fully characterized by pipe radius, a , bend curvature radius, c and length of the straight segments, l . The repeated curvature inversion forces the recirculation (secondary flow) pattern to switch between two specular configurations, which may enhance mixing and heat or mass transfer with respect to a constant-curvature pipe at the cost of an increase in pressure drop. In the present work, fully developed laminar flow and heat transfer in serpentine pipes were investigated by numerical simulation. The curvature δ  =  a / c was made to vary between 0.1 and 0.5 while the paramet…

A Computational Approach to Conjugate Heat Transfer between Two Fluids in Plate Heat Exchangers of Arbitrary Geometry

Mixed MHD convection and Tritium transport in fusion-relevant configurations

Mixed MHD flow and Tritium transport were computed for a slender poloidal duct, representative of a DEMO HCLL blanket element. 2-D flow and temperature fields were computed in the duct's cross section under the assumption of parallel, fully developed flow, while Tritium concentration C was found by solving a fully 3-D problem with simplifying assumptions at the duct's ends. The spatial distribution of C depended on the intensity and direction of the forced flow. Significant peak factors were obtained if the net flow rate was so low that re-circulation occurred; C maxima were attained near the walls for upward flow, in the core region for downward flow.

Modelling Laminar and Turbulent Combustion Problems Using ANSYS-CFX. Quaderno N. 1/2008, Dipartimento di Ingegneria Nucleare, Università degli Studi di Palermo.

Filtering of the Navier-Stokes Equations in the Context of Time-Dependent Flows

A parametric CFD study of hollow fiber membrane modules for hemodialysis

Hemodialysis is a membrane-based process in which solute transport from the patient’s blood to a rinsing solution (dialysate) occurs by diffusion and ultrafiltration. Devices used in hemodialysis are cylindrical modules filled with hollow-fiber membranes which allow the removal of toxic substances and metabolic wastes from the blood, but inhibit the passage of proteins and cells to the dialysate. A predictive porous-media model of hemodialysis was developed and validated against experimental data. Unlike previous literature models, it requires only basic membrane properties (hydraulic and diffusive permeabilities and reflection coefficients) instead of relying on empirically adjusted global…

A novel colorimetric experimental technique for the characterisation of metal hydroxides reactive crystallization phenomena

The reactive crystallization of metal hydroxides constitutes a field of raising interest driven by the importance of metals recovery and the wide industrial applications of their hydroxides. A popular example is related to the case of magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2), which is widely employed in the fields of water treatment, desulphurization of fuel gases, pharmaceutical industry, refractory field and flame retardants

Three-Dimensional Flow and Temperature Distribution in Rayleigh-Bènard Convection Using Thermochromic Liquid Crystals and Digital Image Processing

Flow and Heat Transfer in Corrugated Passages: Direct and Large Eddy Simulation and Comparison with Experimental Results

Direct and large-eddy numerical simulations are presented for the transitional and turbulent flow with heat transfer in corrugated passages, representative of compact heat exchangers such as rotary air preheaters (regenerators), at Reynolds number ranging from 103 to 104. Pressure drop and heat transfer results are compared with wind-tunnel experimental data; the agreement is quite satisfactory, and superior to that obtained by more traditional methods.

Reciprocating Flow in a Plane Channel: Comparison of RANS Turbulence Models and Direct Numerical Simulation

Natural Convection Cooling of a Hot Vertical Wall Wet by a Falling Liquid Film

Abstract The system studied is a plane channel in which one of the two vertical walls is kept at an arbitrary temperature profile and may be partially or completely wet by a falling liquid film, while the opposite wall is adiabatic. Air from the environment flows along the channel with a mass flow rate which depends on the balance between hydraulic resistances and buoyancy forces. These latter, in their turn, depend on the distribution of temperature and humidity (hence, density) along the channel and eventually on the heat and mass transferred from wall and film to the humid air. A simplified computational model of the above system was developed and applied to the prediction of relevant qu…

Direct numerical simulations of creeping to early turbulent flow in unbaffled and baffled stirred tanks

Abstract It has been known for a long time that the fluid flow and several global quantities, such as the power and pumping numbers, are about the same in baffled and unbaffled mechanically stirred vessels at low Reynolds numbers, but bifurcate at some intermediate Re and take drastically different values in fully turbulent flow. However, several details are not yet completely understood, notably concerning the relation of this bifurcation with the flow features and the transition to turbulence. In order to shed light on these issues, computational fluid dynamics was employed to predict the flow field in two vessels stirred by a six-bladed Rushton turbine at Reynolds numbers from 0.2 to 600…

Convezione magnetoidrodinamica in metalli liquidi in configurazioni rilevanti per la fusione nucleare - 3. Convezione mista in geometrie monodimensionali. Quaderno No. 4/04, Dipartimento di Ingegneria Nucleare, Università degli Studi di Palermo

Fluid-structure interaction in electromembrane processes: modelling of membrane deformation, fluid dynamics and mass transfer

In recent years, water and energy supply issues have boosted a noticeable interest in the scientific community on electromembrane processes such as electrodialysis and reverse electrodialysis. In order to gain an important place in the industrial market, technological challenges on various aspects are involved for the optimization of these processes. In this context, profiled membranes exhibit interesting performances and offer countless geometric alternatives. However, the mechanical behavior of the membranes and its interaction with fluid dynamics has been poorly investigated so far. In membrane-based processes, a trans-membrane pressure (Ptm) between the different solutions flowing throu…

Convezione magnetoidrodinamica in metalli liquidi in configurazioni rilevanti per la fusione nucleare - 1. Aspetti generali ed equazioni del moto. Quaderno No. 2/04, Dipartimento di Ingegneria Nucleare, Università degli Studi di Palermo

A Test Rig for the Investigation of Free Convection Heat Transfer in Enclosures at High Rayleigh Number

Unsteady turbulence in plane channel flow

Abstract Direct numerical simulations were conducted for oscillating flow with zero time mean (reciprocating flow) in a plane channel subject to a harmonic forcing term of varying amplitude and frequency. The results confirmed the existence of four flow regimes (laminar, “disturbed laminar”, intermittently turbulent, and fully turbulent) depending on the above parameters. The flow behaviour was found to depend on the complex interplay of mean and turbulence quantities, as described by the closed loop formed by the streamwise Reynolds-averaged momentum equation in conjunction with the exact transport equations for the turbulent (Reynolds) stresses. A crucial role in this loop appeared to be …

k-epsilon Predictions of Heat Transfer in Turbulent Recirculating Flows Using an Improved Wall Treatment

Friction and Heat Transfer in Membrane Distillation Channels: An Experimental Study on Conventional and Novel Spacers

The results of an experimental investigation on pressure drop and heat transfer in spacer-filled plane channels, which are representative of Membrane Distillation units, are presented and discussed. Local and mean heat transfer coefficients were obtained by using Thermochromic Liquid Crystals and Digital Image Processing. The performances of a novel spacer geometry, consisting of spheres that are connected by cylindrical rods, and are hereafter named spheres spacers, were compared with those of more conventional woven and overlapped spacers at equal values of the Reynolds number Re (in the range ~150 to ~2500), the pitch-to-channel height ratio, the flow attack angle and the thermal boundar…

Modelling and cost analysis of hybrid systems for seawater desalination: Electromembrane pre-treatments for Reverse Osmosis

Abstract The need to reduce energy consumption in seawater Reverse Osmosis (RO) process has pushed research towards the development of new hybrid systems in which, for example, other membrane processes can be used to pre-treat seawater. Electrodialysis (ED) and Reverse Electrodialysis (RED) can act as a pre-desalting step before seawater enters the RO unit, thus leading to an important energy saving in RO. In this work, two coupled models are proposed for the RED-RO and ED-RO systems. Each process model was validated. Then a sensitivity analysis was performed to assess the effect of the integration on the overall process cost saving. The analysis was performed by changing ED or RED voltage …

Complete Numerical Simulation of Flow Fields in Baffled Stirred Vessels: The Inner-Outer Approach

Modifiche del codice RELAP5/MOD3.2.b per lo studio delle perdite di carico e dello scambio termico in condotti elicoidali interessati da deflussi bifase: validazione attraverso gli esperimenti effettuati dal Politecnico di Milano presso l’impianto SIET di Piacenza

L’attività di ricerca svolta nell’ambito della linea progettuale LP2-B.2 del programma PAR 2008-09 (CERSE III) ha visto una prima fase in cui è stato ulteriormente sviluppato il lavoro svolto nel corso dei precedenti programmi CERSE [1, 2], riguardante la validazione del codice termoidraulico avanzato Relap5/Mod3.2.b, modificato per il calcolo delle cadute di pressione in tubi elicoidali interessati da deflussi monofase e bifase, ed una seconda fase che ha comportato l’implementazione di nuove procedure valide per lo studio dello scambio termico bifase in condotti elicoidali, in aggiunta a quelle relative al solo scambio termico monofase, in precedenza implementate. Per quanto riguarda ques…

An Experimental Investigation of the Spray Cooling of Hot Walls

Experiments and modelling for determining the Limiting Current Density in Electrodialysis units

In the present work, in order to explore such issues on the LCD identification, we performed in-situ measurements with ED units, assessing the influence of operating conditions and validating a purposely implemented process simulator, which was then used for further investigation

CFD analysis of concentration polarization phenomena in spacer-filled channels for Reverse Electro-Dialysis

In this work, carried out within the EU-FP7 funded REAPower project, CFD simulations were carried out in order to study the fluid flow behaviour and mass transport phenomena within spacer-filled channels.

CFD predictions of turbulent two-phase flow in helical coils

Turbulent two-phase flow in a helical pipe was simulated by means of CFD using the ANSYS-CFX code, based on a finite-volume multi-fluid approach. The focus was on flow patterns and frictional pressure drops; inter-phase heat and mass transfer and heat exchange with the pipe walls were not included and physical properties were assumed constant for each phase. The computational domain included a single, vertical axis, coil turn; the flow was assumed to be fully developed. Geometry and physical conditions were representative of the IRIS nuclear reactor steam generators (saturated water at 58 bar, pressure gradient of 0.1 bar/m). Void fraction and computational options (homogeneous vs. inhomo…

Computational fluid dynamics and its application to transport processes

Fluid transport behaviour is of great importance within the chemical process industry and in biotechnology. The complexity of this behaviour, reflected in the nature of the fundamental partial differential equations which describe it analytically, means that it has to be treated by numerical methods. In this paper the basic equations are given, and the approaches necessary to treat laminar and turbulent flows are carefully explained. As digital computers have increased in size, so has the comprehensiveness of the problems which can be treated, and the development of typical computer programs is described. Problems of accuracy and experimental validation are also surveyed, and it is shown th…

Mechanical-fluid dynamics coupled model for profiled Ion Exchange Membranes design

In this work, we developed an advanced model useful for the design of profiled IEMs, based on the coupled simulation of local mechanical deformations and of fluid dynamics and associated mass transport phenomena within deformed channels

The Nukiyama Curve in Water Spray Cooling: its Derivation from Temperature-Time Histories and its Dependence on the Quantities that Characterize Drop Impact

Abstract Heat transfer from hot aluminium walls to cold water sprays was investigated. The method used was the transient two-side symmetric cooling of a planar aluminium target, previously heated to temperatures of up to 750 K, by twin sprays issuing from full-cone swirl spray nozzles of various gauge. The target’s mid-plane temperature was recorded during the cooling transient by thin-foil K thermocouples and a high-frequency data acquisition system. In order to determine the wall temperature Tw, the wall heat flux q w ″ and the q w ″ - T w heat transfer (Nukiyama) curve, two different approaches were used: the first was based on the solution of an inverse heat conduction problem, the seco…

Experimental and computational investigation of heat transfer in channels filled by woven spacers

Abstract Models of woven-type spacer-filled channels were investigated by Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and parallel experiments in order to characterize the performance of Membrane Distillation (MD) modules. The case of overlapped spacers was analysed in a companion paper. Experiments were based on a non-intrusive technique using Thermochromic Liquid Crystals (TLC) and digital image processing, and provided the distribution of the local convective heat transfer coefficient on a thermally active wall. CFD simulations ranged from steady-state conditions to unsteady and early turbulent flow, covering a Reynolds number interval of great practical interest in real MD applications. A specif…

Turbulent heat transfer in spacer-filled channels: Experimental and computational study and selection of turbulence models

Abstract Heat transfer in spacer-filled channels of the kind used in Membrane Distillation was studied in the Reynolds number range 100–2000, encompassing both steady laminar and early-turbulent flow conditions. Experimental data, including distributions of the local heat transfer coefficient h, were obtained by Liquid Crystal Thermography and Digital Image Processing. Alternative turbulence models, both of first order (k-e, RNG k-e, k-ω, BSL k-ω, SST k-ω) and of second order (LRR RS, SSG RS, ω RS, BSL RS), were tested for their ability to predict measured distributions and mean values of h. The best agreement with the experimental results was provided by first-order ω-based models able to …

CFD parametrical study of the spacer geometry for Membrane Distillation

Membrane Distillation (MD) is a thermal process that separates water from aqueous solutions containing non-volatile components such as salt. Water vapor from the hot feed channel permeates through a hydrophobic membrane thanks to a partial pressure gradient, and condenses in the cool channel. One of the main advantages of MD is the easy coupling with renewable resources, as the solar thermal energy. In the various MD configurations developed, net spacers are used in order to support the membrane, thus creating the channels; moreover, they can counteract the side effects of temperature polarization by promoting mixing. However, the presence of the spacer involves an increase of pressure drop…

Education and Research in Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Protection at Nuclear Engineering Department of Palermo University

Transient Development of Rayleigh-Bénard Convection: a TLC Study

A Computer-Controlled Experimental Facility for the Investigation of High Rayleigh Number Free Convection in Enclosures

The Use of Thermochromic Liquid Crystals and Image Processing for Technical and Biomedical Thermography

Mixed MHD Convection and Tritium Transport in HCLL TBM Breeder Units for the ITER Fusion Reactor

One-dimensional Mixed MHD Convection

The parallel, fully developed flow of an electrically conducting fluid between plane parallel walls under the simultaneous influence of a driving pressure head, buoyancy, and magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) forces is studied. The fluid is assumed to be internally heated and the flow is modeled as one-dimensional and incompressible, while the Boussinesq approximation is adopted for the buoyancy terms. Analytical solutions are obtained for temperature, velocity and electrical potential under different electrical boundary conditions, forced to natural convection intensity ratios and values of the magnetic induction. Generalized working charts are presented which synthetically describe the system''s …

Transition to turbulence in serpentine pipes

Abstract The geometry considered in the present work (serpentine pipe) is a sequence of U-bends of alternate curvature. It is characterized by pipe diameter, d = 2a and bend diameter, D = 2c. The repeated curvature inversion forces the secondary flow pattern, typical of all flows in curved ducts, to switch between two mirror-like configurations. This causes (i) pressure drop and heat or mass transfer characteristics much different from those occurring either in a straight pipe or in a constant-curvature pipe, and (ii) an early loss of stability of the base steady-state flow. In the present work, four values of the curvature δ = a/c (0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5) were considered. For each value of …

A 2-D model of electrodialysis stacks including the effects of membrane deformation

Abstract Membrane-based processes have gained a relevant role in many engineering applications. Much effort has been devoted to thoroughly understand the fundamental phenomena behind them. However, membrane deformation has been taken into consideration only recently, although much evidence has shown its impacts in many applications. This work presents a novel 2-D, multi-scale, semi-empirical process model able to predict the behavior and the performance of Electrodialysis (ED) systems in cross-flow configurations in the presence and absence of local membrane deformations. The model exploits the results and the simulation approaches of previous fluid-structure investigations performed by the…

On natural convection in a single and two zone rectangular enclosure

Abstract Convective heat transfer was investigated numerically for rectangular enclosures both undivided and divided in two zones by a vertical partition, and having opposite isothermal walls at different temperatures. The aspect ratio was varied from 0.1 to 16 and the Rayleigh number from 3.5 ∗ 10 3 to ∗ 10 7 (non-partitioned enclosures) and from 1.0 ∗ 10 5 to 1.6 ∗ 10 8 (partitioned enclosures). The thickness and conductivity of the partition were varied. The end wall thermal boundary conditions were adiabatic or LTP (Linear Temperature Profile). The continuity, momentum and energy equations for a 2-D laminar steady flow were solved under the Boussinesq approximation by using a finite-dif…

Investigation of Reverse ElectroDialysis Units by Multi-Physical Modelling

Reverse electrodialysis (RED) is an electrochemical membrane process that converts the salinity gradient energy between two solutions into electric current, by using ion exchange membranes. A novel multi-physical approach for RED modelling is proposed. 2-D simulations of one cell pair with tertiary current distribution (Nernst–Plank equation and local electroneutrality) were performed. Moreover, the Donnan exclusion theory was implemented for simulating double layer phenomena. Transport phenomena and electrochemical behavior were well described. The influence of membrane/channel configuration, dilute concentration and feeds velocity on the process performance was assessed. For a dilute conc…

Pressure drop in woven-spacer-filled channels for reverse electrodialysis: CFD prediction and experimental validation

Reverse electrodialysis (RED) is a promising technology for electric power generation by the chemical potential difference of two salt solutions within a stack equipped by selective ionexchange membranes (salinity gradient energy). Mechanical energy is required for pumping the feed solutions, which can reduce dramatically the net power output. In this work Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations of spacer-filled channels for RED were carried out in parallel with an experimental campaign focused on the collection of data for model validation.

Temperature distribution analysis in spacer filled channels for membrane distillation

An experimental study for the characterization of fluid dynamics and heat transport within the spacer-filled channels of membrane distillation modules

Abstract The thermo-fluid dynamic behavior of spacer-filled channels for membrane distillation was investigated experimentally. Several different geometry were investigated thanks to customized reference spacers manufactured using a 3D printer. In particular, two sets of experiments were conducted: in the first set, cylindrical filaments were orthogonally arranged and the flow attack angle was made to vary from 0o to 90o; in the second set, the flow attack angle was kept symmetrical and the filament angle was made to vary from 30° to 150°. Each spacer was tested for Reynolds numbers between 200 and 900 in the hot channel, while maintaining a constant temperature difference of 13 °C between …

Influence of drag and turbulence modelling on CFD predictions of solid liquid suspensions in stirred vessels

Abstract Suspensions of solid particles into liquids within industrial stirred tanks are frequently carried out at an impeller speed lower than the minimum required for complete suspension conditions. This choice allows power savings which usually overcome the drawback of a smaller particle-liquid interfacial area. Despite this attractive economical perspective, only limited attention has been paid so far to the modelling of the partial suspension regime. In the present work two different baffled tanks stirred by Rushton turbines were simulated by employing the Eulerian-Eulerian Multi Fluid Model (MFM) along with either the Sliding Grid algorithm (transient simulations) or the Multiple Refe…

CFD Applied to Laminar and Turbulent Combustion Problems: from Laboratory to Industrial Flows

Prediction of Swirling Flow in a Corrugated Channel

Laminar and turbulent flow in a corrugated channel is simulated using HARWELL-FLOW3D. The channel represents a typical cell within a proposed design for the heat-transfer element of a rotary regenerator. Velocity vectors in planes perpendicular and parallel to the axis of a corrugation are visualised using Harwell’s graphics package, OUTPROC. Both programs were mn on Harwell’s Cray 2. The velocity vector plots show clear evidence of swirl, which is thought to be the mechanism responsible for the high rates of heat transfer in this type of heat-exchanger geometry. The swirl strength is shown to be a function of the channel geometry.

Influence of Rayleigh Number and End Wall Boundary Conditions on Free Convection Heat Transfer in a Rectangular Enclosure

CFD simulations of early- to fully-turbulent conditions in unbaffled and baffled vessels stirred by a Rushton turbine

Abstract Laboratory scale unbaffled tanks provided with a top cover and a baffled tank both stirred by a Rushton turbine were simulated by carrying out RANS simulations. Three different turbulence models were adopted (k- ω SST, k- e and the SSG Reynolds stress model) to predict the flow field and the relevant performance parameters (power and pumping numbers) of the tank operated from early to fully turbulent conditions. CFD results were compared with literature experimental data and DNS simulation results to validate and properly compare the models. In the range of Reynolds numbers investigated, results showed that, for the unbaffled tank, the SSG model based on Reynolds stresses is a bett…

Flow and mass transfer in spacer-filled channels for reverse electrodialysis: a CFD parametrical study

Abstract In reverse electrodialysis (RED) concentration polarization phenomena and pressure drop affect strongly the power output obtainable; therefore the channel geometry has a crucial impact on the system optimization. Both overlapped and woven spacers are commonly commercialised and adopted for RED experiments; the latter exhibit some potential advantages, such as better mixing and lower shadow effect, but they have been poorly investigated in the literature so far. In this work, computational fluid dynamics was used to predict fluid flow and mass transfer in spacer-filled channels for RED applications. A parametric analysis for different spacer geometries was carried out: woven (w) and…

A Thermochromic Liquid Crystals Image Analysis technique to investigate temperature polarization in spacer-filled channels for Membrane Distillation

The analysis of flow fields and temperature distributions is of paramount importance in the development and optimization of new spacer-filled channel geometries for Membrane Distillation modules. The literature reports only few studies on the experimental characterization of such channels and, to the authors’ knowledge, none of them presents local information concerning the temperature distribution on the membrane surface. In the present work, a non-intrusive experimental technique named TLC-IA-TP is presented: it is based on the use of Thermochromic Liquid Crystals (TLCs) and digital Image Analysis (IA) and it is applied here for the first time to the analysis of Temperature Polarization (…

CFD Investigation of Spacer-Filled Channels for Membrane Distillation

The membrane distillation (MD) process for water desalination is affected by temperature polarization, which reduces the driving force and the efficiency of the process. To counteract this phenomenon, spacer-filled channels are used, which enhance mixing and heat transfer but also cause higher pressure drops. Therefore, in the design of MD modules, the choice of the spacer is crucial for process efficiency. In the present work, different overlapped spacers are investigated by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and results are compared with experiments carried out with thermochromic liquid crystals (TLC). Results are reported for different flow attack angles and for Reynolds numbers (Re) ran…

Measurements of temperature polarization phenomena in membrane distillation channels by a thermographic technique

In the present work, a recently presented experimental technique, based on the use of thermochromic liquid crystals (TLCs) and digital image processing, has been employed in order to measure the temperature and local heat transfer coefficient distribution on the membrane surface in a MD spacer-filler channel

A study of turbulent heat transfer in curved pipes by numerical simulation

Abstract Turbulent heat transfer in curved pipes was studied by numerical simulation. Two curvatures δ (pipe radius a/curvature radius c) were considered, 0.1 and 0.3; results were also obtained for a straight pipe (δ = 0) for comparison purposes. A tract of pipe 5 diameters in length was chosen as the computational domain and was discretized by finite volume multiblock-structured grids of ∼5.3 × 106 hexahedral cells. Fully developed conditions were assumed; the friction velocity Reynolds number was 500, corresponding to bulk Reynolds numbers between 12 630 and ∼17 350 according to the curvature, while the Prandtl number was 0.86 (representative of saturated liquid water at 58 bar). Simulat…

CFD prediction of flow, heat and mass transfer in woven spacer-filled channels for membrane processes

Abstract Flow and heat or mass transfer in channels provided with woven spacers made up of mutually orthogonal filaments were studied by Computational Fluid Dynamics. The problem addressed was the combined effect of the parameters that characterize the process: pitch to height ratio P/H (2, 3 and 4), flow attack angle θ (0, 7, 15, 20, 30, 40 and 45°) and Reynolds number Re (from ~1 to ~4000). The Prandtl number was 4.33, representative of water at ~40°C, while the Schmidt number was 600, representative of NaCl solutions. Simulations were performed by the finite volume code Ansys CFX™ 18.1 using very fine grids of ~6 to ~14 million volumes. For Re > ~400, the SST turbulence model was used to…

Dense solid–liquid off-bottom suspension dynamics: Simulation and experiment

Dense solid–liquid off-bottom suspension inside a baffled mechanically stirred tank equipped with a standard Rushton turbine is investigated. Dynamic evolution of the suspension from start-up to steady-state conditions has been determined by both visual experiments and computational fluid dynamics (CFDs). A classical Eulerian–Eulerian multifluid model (MFM) along with the “homogeneous” k–ε turbulence model is adopted to simulate suspension dynamics. In these systems the drag inter-phase force affects both solids suspension and distribution. Therefore, different computational approaches are tested in order to compute this term. Simulation results are compared with images obtained from the re…

Modelling nanoscale fluid dynamics and transport in physiological flows

The concept of nanotechnology is discussed, and its connection with biomedical engineering is elucidated. For the specific field of nanoscale flow and transport problems of physiological relevance, some typical examples are presented, and their interaction is discussed for some classic biomechanical problems like the flow in arteries with blood-wall coupling. Then, existing computational models are presented and classified according to the length scale of interest, with emphasis on particle-fluid problems. Final remarks address the essential unity of biomedical and engineering behaviour and the possible relevance to small-scale industrial research.

Experimental and Numerical Simulations of Flow and Heat Transfer in Heat Exchanger Elements Using Liquid Crystal Thermography

Experimental and numerical investigation of heat transfer and fluid flow were conducted for classic heat exchanger elements (flat plate with fin-tubes in-line, staggered and with vortex generators) and corrugated-undulated ducts under transitional and weakly turbulent conditions. The dependence of average heat transfer and pressure drop on Reynolds number and geometrical parameters was investigated. Distributions of local heat transfer coefficient were obtained by using liquid crystal thermography and surface-averaged values were computed. Three-dimensional numerical simulations were conducted by a finite-volume method using a low-Reynolds number k-e model under the assumption of fully deve…

Electrodialysis with asymmetrically profiled membranes: Influence of profiles geometry on desalination performance and limiting current phenomena

Abstract Electrodialysis (ED) has recently gained much attention in the wide field of desalination and water treatment. However, energy consumption and capital costs may impair the process competitiveness. In this regard, limiting current density (LCD) and current efficiency (η) are key performance parameters for optimized ED systems. In this work, an experimental campaign was carried out characterizing the performance of ED stacks when adopting asymmetrically profiled membranes. Current–voltage curves were recorded under different operating conditions mimicking the operation of brackish water or seawater desalination units. Results showed that there was a preferable direction of the electr…

Investigation of Flow and Heat Transfer in Corrugated Passages – I. Experimental Results

Numerical simulation of reciprocating turbulent flow in a plane channel

Direct numerical simulation results were obtained for oscillatory flow with zero time mean (reciprocating flow) in a plane channel using a finite volume method, Crank-Nicolson time stepping and central approximation of the advection terms. A pressure gradient varying co-sinusoidally in time was imposed as the forcing term, and its frequency and amplitude were made to vary so as to span a range of regimes from purely laminar to fully turbulent. For the limiting cases of reciprocating laminar flow and steady-state turbulent flow, numerical results were validated against analytical solutions and classic experimental literature data, respectively. For general reciprocating flows, predictions we…

Large-Eddy Simulation: A Critical Survey of Models and Applications

Large-eddy simulations of turbulent flow with heat transfer in simple and complex geometries using Harwell-FLOW3D

Abstract Large-eddy simulation (LES) results are presented and discussed for the turbulent flow with heat transfer in different geometrical configurations, including a plane channel, a channel bearing transverse square ribs on one of the walls, and a crossed-corrugated air heater. They were obtained using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code Harwell-FLOW3D (Release 2), finite-volume grids having up to 423 nodes, and the Smagorinsky subgrid model with several variants regarding near-wall damping and wall boundary conditions. The first problem (plane turbulent Poiseuille flow with heat transfer) was mainly used as a benchmark to investigate the influence of numerical methods (pressure-…

Influence of the boundary conditions on heat and mass transfer in spacer-filled channels

The purpose of this study is to discuss some problems which arise in heat or mass transfer in complex channels, with special reference to the spacer-filled channels adopted in membrane processes. Among the issues addressed are the consistent definition of local and mean heat or mass transfer coefficients; the influence of the wall boundary conditions; the influence of one-side versus two-side heat/mass transfer. Most of the results discussed were obtained by finite volume CFD simulations concerning heat transfer in Membrane Distillation or mass transfer in Electrodialysis and Reverse Electrodialysis, but many of the conclusions apply also to different processes involving geometrically compl…

MHD free convection in a liquid-metal filled cubic enclosure. II. Internal heating

The buoyancy-driven magnetohydrodynamic flow in a liquid-metal filled cubic enclosure was investigated by three-dimensional numerical simulation. The enclosure was differentially heated at two opposite vertical walls, all other walls being adiabatic, and a uniform magnetic field was applied orthogonal to the temperature gradient and to the gravity vector. The Rayleigh number was 105 and the Prandtl number was 0.0321 (characteristic of Pb–17Li at 573 K). The Hartmann number was made to vary between 102 and 103 and the electrical conductance of the walls between 0 and ∞. The continuity, momentum and enthalpy transport equations, in conjunction with a Poisson equation for the electric potentia…

An experimental study of the spray cooling of hot walls – 7. Final results. Quaderno N. 4/2007, Dipartimento di Ingegneria Nucleare, Università degli Studi di Palermo.

Unsteady Turbulence: Phenomena and Modelling

Characterization of membrane-spacer industrial distillers using thermochromic liquid crystals

Natural convection heat transfer in a partially—or completely—partitioned vertical rectangular enclosure

Abstract The effect of symmetric partitions protruding centrally from the end walls of a rectangular vertical enclosure on heat transfer rates is investigated numerically. The enclosure has opposite isothermal walls at different temperatures. The Rayleigh number is varied from 10 4 to 10 7 and the aspect ratio from 0.5 to 10. The thickness of the partitions is fixed and equal to one tenth of the width of the enclosure. Their non-dimensional length ( L / H ) is varied from 0 (non-partitioned enclosure) to 0.5 (two separate enclosures). The effect of different thermal boundary conditions at the end walls and at the partitions is included in the investigation.

Bifurcations and Histeresis of Low Prandtl Number Free Convection in Square Enclosures with Internal Heat Generation

A novel fluid-structure 2D modelling tool for the assessment of membrane deformation effects on electrodialysis units performances

Flow and Heat Transfer Predictions in Flow Passages of Air Preheaters: Assessment of Alternative Modelling Approaches

Natural Convection in Liquid Metal-Filled Rectangular Enclosures with Volumetric Heating

Steady, periodic, quasi-periodic and chaotic flow regimes in toroidal pipes

Incompressible flow in a toroidal pipe was investigated by direct numerical simulation. The curvature a/c (radius of the cross section / radius of the torus) was 0.3 or 0.1 and the bulk Reynolds number ranged between 3500 and 14 700. The study revealed a rich scenario of transition to turbulence. For the higher curvature a/c = 0.3, a supercritical transition from stationary to periodic flow (Hopf bifurcation) was observed at Re=4600. The periodic flow was characterized by a travelling wave which, in the whole periodic Re range, took the form of a varicose modulation of the twin Dean vortex rings, included 8 wavelengths along the axis of the torus, and exhibited instantaneous anti-symmetry a…

Performance comparison between overlapped and woven spacers for membrane distillation

The sustainable production of freshwater from seawater desalination is receiving increasing attention. Recently, some desalination technologies are taking advantage from the coupling with renewable resources; among them, membrane distillation (MD) is one of the most promising since it can be easily powered by low-grade thermal energy. MD being an emerging technology, efforts are required to optimize geometry and operating conditions of real units in order to reduce the unitary freshwater production cost. In particular, temperature polarization is a well-known detrimental effect for the process driving force; spacers are traditionally used to enhance mixing and make temperature boundary laye…

Termoidraulica del sodio - elementi teorici e sperimentali

Direct Numerical Simulation of Pulsatile Turbulent Channel Flow

Analisi numerica degli effetti della deformazione di membrane a scambio ionico sulla distribuzione dei fluidi in canali di Elettrodialisi

L’elettrodialisi (ED) è una promettente tecnologia a membrana utilizzata in diversi campi, ad esempio nella dissalazione delle acque e nell’industria alimentare. L’ED usa un potenziale elettrico per indurre una migrazione selettiva di cationi ed anioni da una soluzione elettrolitica ad un’altra, sfruttando membrane a scambio ionico. Membrane anioniche e cationiche sono alternativamente collocate all’interno di una unità ED. A queste sono solitamente interposti spaziatori che prevengono il contatto tra le membrane e delineano i canali in cui scorrono le soluzioni. L’utilizzo di membrane profilate consente di costruire unità prive di tradizionali spaziatori a rete non conduttivi. In genere, l…

Numerical prediction of flow fields in baffled stirred vessels: A comparison of alternative modelling approaches

Abstract Numerical simulations of the flow field in baffled mixing tanks, based on three alternative methods, are presented and discussed. In the first method, the impeller is not explicitly simulated, and its effects are modelled by imposing suitable, empirically derived, boundary conditions to the external flow. In the second method, the whole vessel volume is divided into two concentric, partially overlapping, regions. In the inner region, containing the impeller, the flow field is simulated in the rotating reference frame of the latter, while in the outer region simulations are conducted in the reference frame of the laboratory. Information is iteratively exchanged between the two regio…

Local Effects of Longitudinal Heat Conduction in Plate Heat Exchangers

Abstract In a plate heat exchanger, heat transfer from the hot to the cold fluid is a multi-dimensional conjugate problem, in which longitudinal heat conduction (LHC) along the dividing walls often plays some role and can not be neglected. Large-scale , or end-to-end, LHC is always detrimental to the exchanger’s effectiveness. On the contrary, if significant non-uniformities exist in the distribution of either convective heat transfer coefficient, small-scale , or local, LHC may actually enhance the exchanger’s performance by improving the thermal coupling between high heat transfer spots located on the opposite sides of the dividing wall.

CFD modelling of thin channels for direct and reverse electrodialysis

Fully Developed Mixed MHD Convection in a Vertical Square Duct

Pressure-Induced Deformation of Pillar-Type Profiled Membranes and Its Effects on Flow and Mass Transfer

In electro-membrane processes, a pressure difference may arise between solutions flowing in alternate channels. This transmembrane pressure (TMP) causes a deformation of the membranes and of the fluid compartments. This, in turn, affects pressure losses and mass transfer rates with respect to undeformed conditions and may result in uneven flow rate and mass flux distributions. These phenomena were analyzed here for round pillar-type profiled membranes by integrated mechanical and fluid dynamics simulations. The analysis involved three steps: (1) A conservatively large value of TMP was imposed, and mechanical simulations were performed to identify the geometry with the minimum pillar density…

Analysis of particles size distributions in Mg(OH)2 precipitation from highly concentrated MgCl2 solutions

Magnesium is a raw material of great importance, which attracted increasing interest in the last years. A promising route is to recover magnesium in the form of Magnesium Hydroxide via precipitation from highly concentrated Mg2+ resources, e.g. industrial or natural brines and bitterns. Several production methods and characterization procedures have been presented in the literature reporting a broad variety of Mg(OH)2 particle sizes. In the present work, a detailed experimental investigation is aiming to shed light on the characteristics of produced Mg(OH)2 particles and their dependence upon the reacting conditions. To this purpose, two T-shaped mixers were employed to tune and control the…

Low-Prandtl Number Natural Convection in Volumetrically Heated Rectangular Enclosures - I. Slender Cavity, AR=4

Measurement of Local Hot-Wall Heat Transfer in High-Rayleigh Number Free Convection Flow

Predictive Study of Heat Transfer to an Incompressible Fluid Past a Downstream-Facing Step in Turbulent Flow

On the influence of curvature and torsion on turbulence in helically coiled pipes

Turbulent flow and heat transfer in helically coiled pipes at Retau=400 was investigated by DNS using finite volume grids with up to 2.36×10E7 nodes. Two curvatures (0.1 and 0.3) and two torsions (0 and 0.3) were considered. The flow was fully developed hydrodynamically and thermally. The central discretization scheme was adopted for diffusion and advection terms, and the second order backward Euler scheme for time advancement. The grid spacing in wall units was ~3 radially, 7.5 circumferentially and 20 axially. The time step was equal to one viscous wall unit and simulations were typically protracted for 8000 time steps, the last 4000 of which were used to compute statistics. The results s…

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Modelling Turbulent Inter-Phase Drag in Mechanically Stirred Solid-Liquid Suspensions

Nanoscale Fluid Dynamics in Physiological Processes: A Review Study

Electrodialysis for water desalination: A critical assessment of recent developments on process fundamentals, models and applications

Abstract The need for unconventional sources of fresh water is pushing a fast development of desalination technologies, which proved to be able to face and solve the problem of water scarcity in many dry areas of the planet. Membrane desalination technologies are nowadays leading the market and, among these, electrodialysis (ED) plays an important role, especially for brackish water desalination, thanks to its robustness, extreme flexibility and broad range of applications. In fact, many ED-related processes have been presented, based on the use of Ion Exchange Membranes (IEMs), which are significantly boosting the development of ED-related technologies. This paper presents the fundamentals…

Tomographic Particle Image Velocimetry and Thermography in Rayleigh-Bènard Convection Using Suspended Thermochromic Liquid Crystals and Digital Image Processing

Numerical prediction of turbulent flow and heat transfer in helically coiled pipes

Abstract Computational results were obtained for turbulent flow and heat transfer in curved pipes, representative of helically coiled heat exchangers. Following a grid refinement study, grid independent predictions from alternative turbulence models ( k – ɛ , SST k – ω and RSM– ω ) were compared with DNS results and experimental pressure drop and heat transfer data. Using the SST k – ω and RSM– ω models, pressure drop results were in excellent agreement with literature data and the Ito correlation. For heat transfer, the literature is not comparably complete or accurate, but a satisfactory agreement was obtained in the range of available data. Unsatisfactory results, both for pressure drop …

CFD simulations of dense sloid-liquid suspensions in baffled stirred tanks: Prediction of suspension curves

Mixing of solid particles into liquids within contactors mechanically agitated by stirrers is a topic of primary importance for several industrial applications. A great research effort has been devoted to the assessment of the minimum impeller speed (Njs) able to guarantee the suspension of all particles. Conversely, only little attention has been paid so far to the evaluation of the amount of solid particles that are suspended at impeller speeds lower than Njs. In some cases the loss in available interfacial area between particles and liquid could be reasonably counterbalanced by a decreased mechanical power, making it of interest to evaluate the percentage of suspended solids at different…

Dense-Cloud Atmospheric Dispersion in Complex-Terrain Sites

Fully Developed Mixed Magnetohydrodynamic Convection in a Vertical Square Duct

The fully developed flow of an electrically conducting, internally heated fluid in a vertical square duct under the influence of buoyancy and magnetohydrodynamic forces is studied. The flow being parallel, the governing equations are two-dimensional and linear; an analytical solution exists for temperature, while velocity and electric potential are computed by a finite difference technique under different electric boundary conditions, forced to natural convection intensity ratios and values of the magnetic induction. Limiting values of pressure gradient and mean velocity are determined for the flow to be unidirectional throughout the duct's section; recirculation occurs for intermediate val…

On the Influence of Initial Conditions on Rayleigh-Bènard Convection

Entropy, Benford’s first digit law, and the distribution of everything