Computational Fluid Dynamics Applied to the Analysis of 10-mm Hydrocyclone Solids Separation

Performance

S. A. Grady, M. M. Abdullah, and G. D. Wesson

Department of Chemical Engineering Florida A&M University/Florida State University

College of Engineering

Presentation Outline

Research Objectives Experimental Procedures Solution Details Results Conclusions Continued Work Acknowledgments

Research Objectives Develop Flow Field Predictions for Reynolds

Stress Turbulence Model Comparison of Flow Field Properties for

Different Geometries

Validate Flow Field Prediction Solid Particle Motion

Apply Drop Break-up Model with Separation for Liquid/Liquid Systems

Experimental Procedure

10-mm Geometry Develop Grid Establish Boundary Conditions Perform RSM Simulation Using

FLUENT Identify Appropriate Flow Structures

3-D Cyclone Grid

Tangential Inlet Configuration

Volute Inlet Configuration

Grid Information

Tangential Inlet Hexahedral and

Tetrahedral Cells 532,863 cells 1,095,577 faces

Volute Inlet Hexahedral Cell Type

175,506 cells 544,937faces

Boundary Conditions

Flow Split Inlet Volumetric Flow Rate

Plug flow profile normal to inlet face

Results

Velocity profilesVelocity vectorsCore properties

Axial Velocity ProfilesAxial Velocity (L/D=4)

-2.5

-2

-1.5

-1

-0.5

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

-0.005 -0.004 -0.003 -0.002 -0.001 0 0.001 0.002 0.003 0.004 0.005

Position (m)

Ve

loc

ity

(m

/s)

volute tangential

Axial Velocity (L/D=3)

-1.5

-1

-0.5

0

0.5

1

1.5

-0.004 -0.003 -0.002 -0.001 0 0.001 0.002 0.003 0.004

Position (m)V

elo

cit

y (

m/s

)volute tangential

Axial Velocity (L/D=2)

-1.4

-1.2

-1

-0.8

-0.6

-0.4

-0.2

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

-0.003 -0.002 -0.001 0 0.001 0.002 0.003

Position (m)

Ve

loc

ity

(m

/s)

volute tangential

Tangential Velocity ProfilesTangential Velocity (L/D=4)

-4

-3.5

-3

-2.5

-2

-1.5

-1

-0.5

0

0.5

-0.005 -0.004 -0.003 -0.002 -0.001 0 0.001 0.002 0.003 0.004 0.005

Position (m)

Vel

oci

ty (

m/s

)

volute tangential

Tangential Velocity (l/D=3)

-2.5

-2

-1.5

-1

-0.5

0

-0.004 -0.003 -0.002 -0.001 0 0.001 0.002 0.003 0.004

Position (m)

Vel

coit

y (m

/s)

volute tangential

Tangential Velocity (L/D=2)

-1.6

-1.4

-1.2

-1

-0.8

-0.6

-0.4

-0.2

0

0.2

-0.003 -0.002 -0.001 0 0.001 0.002 0.003

Position (m)

Vel

oci

ty (

m/s

)

volute tangential

Velocity Vectors

Volute Inlet ConfigurationTangential Inlet Configuration

ZY

X

Velocity Vectors Colored By Axial Velocity (m/s)FLUENT 5.1 (3d, segregated, RSM)

Oct 25, 1999

8.29e+00

6.36e+00

4.43e+00

2.51e+00

5.82e-01

-1.34e+00

-3.27e+00

-5.20e+00

-7.12e+00

Z

Y X

Velocity Vectors Colored By Axial Velocity (m/s)FLUENT 5.1 (3d, segregated, RSM)

Oct 25, 1999

9.20e+00

7.14e+00

5.09e+00

3.03e+00

9.76e-01

-1.08e+00

-3.13e+00

-5.19e+00

-7.24e+00

Turbulence Intensity

Z

Y X

Velocity Vectors Colored By Turbulence IntensityFLUENT 5.1 (3d, segregated, RSM)

Oct 25, 1999

2.06e+00

1.86e+00

1.66e+00

1.45e+00

1.25e+00

1.04e+00

8.41e-01

6.37e-01

4.33e-01

2.30e-01

2.58e-02

Z

Y X

Velocity Vectors Colored By Turbulence IntensityFLUENT 5.1 (3d, segregated, RSM)

Oct 25, 1999

2.06e+00

1.86e+00

1.66e+00

1.45e+00

1.25e+00

1.04e+00

8.41e-01

6.37e-01

4.33e-01

2.30e-01

2.58e-02

Pressure Distribution

Z

Y X

Velocity Vectors Colored By Total Pressure (pascal)FLUENT 5.1 (3d, segregated, RSM)

Oct 25, 1999

5.54e+04

4.74e+04

3.94e+04

3.15e+04

2.35e+04

1.55e+04

7.47e+03

-5.18e+02

-8.51e+03

-1.65e+04

-2.45e+04

Z

Y X

Velocity Vectors Colored By Total Pressure (pascal)FLUENT 5.1 (3d, segregated, RSM)

Oct 25, 1999

5.54e+04

4.74e+04

3.94e+04

3.15e+04

2.35e+04

1.55e+04

7.47e+03

-5.18e+02

-8.51e+03

-1.65e+04

-2.45e+04

Locus of Zero Axial Velocity

Z

Y X

Contours of Axial Velocity (m/s)FLUENT 5.1 (3d, segregated, RSM)

Oct 25, 1999

0.00e+00

0.00e+00

Z

Y X

Contours of Axial Velocity (m/s)FLUENT 5.1 (3d, segregated, RSM)

Oct 25, 1999

0.00e+00

0.00e+00

Locus of Zero Tangential Velocity

Z

Y X

Contours of Tangential Velocity (m/s)FLUENT 5.1 (3d, segregated, RSM)

Oct 25, 1999

0.00e+00

0.00e+00

Conclusions

Volute Inlet Configuration Provides Greater symmetry about the axis of symmetry Lower turbulence intensity

Reynolds Stress Model Predictions Provide

Continued Work

Model Validation Based on Separation Principles Particle migration analysis Turbulence intensity based drop break-up

analysis

Model Validation Based on LDV Experiments

Acknowledgements

FAMU/NASA Graduate Fellowship Program

Florida A&M University Foundation