Prediction of vortex height from mechanical mixing in metal matrix nanocomposite processing by means of dimensional analysis and scaling

Mechanical mixing can be used for initial dispersion and distribution of nanoparticle agglomerates in metal matrix nanocomposite (MMNC) fabrication. As vortex height increases, flow is enhanced as well as the risk of oxidate melt contamination. The goal of this study was to examine and predict vortex height using dimensional analysis while varying fluid and the angular speed of a pitched square-blade impeller. An equation proposed by Markopoulos et al. was verified for the present experimental conditions. The relevant dimensionless numbers were the Reynolds (Re), Froude (Fr) and Galilei (Ga) numbers. A modified Fr was defined (Fr*) including the shaft and blade angles of the impeller. Experiments allowed calculation of the dimensionless numbers. Two fluids, water and 50 vol% aqueous glycerine, were used. Angular clockwise speed varied from 200 to 900 rpm in 100 rpm increments. Vortex height was measured in lateral view digital images. Correlations of the dimensionless numbers yielded, first, a linear relationship of the product of dimensionless vortex height (H) and specific gravity (ρ*) with respect to Fr*. A polynomial relationship was found between H and ReFr* for each fluid. The polynomial coefficients, in turn, follow a power law behavior with respect to Ga. This allows a prediction of vortex height in other Newtonian fluids that satisfy the single-phase isothermal flow condition. Perhaps, molten aluminum used in MMNC fabrication, can be analyzed based on a simple, room temperature, low cost transparent fluid system. For the experimental conditions in this study, the equation proposed by Markopoulos et al. was valid. The predicting methodology was verified with experimental results using 25 vol% aqueous glycerine, resulting in an absolute percent error of 5.29%, comparable and lower than an error of 9.12% obtained by predicting vortex height with Markopoulos’ equation.     

用水力旋流器净化油田采出水

水力旋流器是近１０年来用于油田采出水处理系统的新型设备，它具有体积小、重量轻、分离性能好、运行安全可靠等优点，在世界各地的海上和陆地油田得到了广泛的使用。本文对具有代表性的Ｖｏｒｔｏｉｌ水力旋流器的基本结构、工作原理、影响分离性能的诸因素、应用和优点等进行了介绍。     

A convective wind resource model for Solar Vortex power generation

ABSTRACT

Climate change has increased the need for clean, nonpolluting energy sources to decrease dependence on fossil fuels. Alternative energy sources, mainly solar and horizontal wind, have been the primary focus for producing clean energy. New technologies are being developed, such as the Solar Vortex (SoV), which was developed at the Georgia Institute of Technology, and relies on a vertical wind resource to generate power. The National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) has resource models representing solar and horizontal wind resources across the 48 United States. This research developed a vertical wind resource model that is comparable in resolution to NREL’s solar and horizontal wind resource models and uses the model for estimating power output for the SoV. This model complements NREL’s existing resource models and supports the deployment of an additional clean energy generation technology. The model was applied to Mesa, Arizona to find feasible sites for a small-scale vertical wind farm.     

An unusual high ozone event over the North and Northeast China during the record-breaking summer in 2018

Under the background of global warming, the summer temperature of the North and Northeast China (NNEC) has significantly increased since 2017, which was accompanied by the aggravated ozone (O₃) pollution. In 2018, the NNEC experienced a record-breaking summer of the past 40 years. Influenced by the abnormal high temperatures, a regional ozone event occurred on 2-3 August, over 63% of 79 selected cities in the NNEC were exposed to O₃ pollution, and the maximum value of MDA8 O₃ reached 268 μg/m³. Observations indicated that ozone concentrations agree well with the maximum temperature at 2 meters (MT2M) over NNEC with a correlation coefficient of 0.69. During the pollution episode, strong downdraft in the local high (35°N-42.5°N, 112.5°E-132.5°E; LH) over the NNEC created the favourable meteorological conditions for O₃ formation. By analyzing the horizontal wind and wave activity fluxes (WAFs) at 200 hPa, we found that the LH formation was resulted from the Rossby wave propagation from upstream along the mid-latitude Asian jet. The split polar vortex intrusion further strengthened the amplitude of the Rossby wave and reinforced the LH. Moreover, a secondary circulation between Typhoon Jongdari and the LH contributed to the enhanced LH with strong subsidence. On the other hand, the stratospheric intrusions under the deep subsidence also contributed to the enhanced surface O₃. In this study, the deep-seated meteorological dynamical mechanisms contributing to the abnormal high temperatures were investigated, which can lead to a better understanding of the regional O₃ pollution over NNEC under the global-warming background.     

Numerical study on premixing characteristics and explosion process of starch in a vertical pipe under turbulent flow

Fire and explosion accidents are frequently caused by combustible dust, which has led to increased interest in this area of research. Although scholars have performed some research in this field, they often ignored interesting phenomena in their experiments. In this paper, we established a 2D numerical method to thoroughly investigate the particle motion and distribution before ignition. The optimal time for the corn starch dust cloud to ignite was determined in a semi-closed tube, and the characteristics of the flame propagation and temperature field were investigated after ignition inside and outside the tube. From the simulation, certain unexpected phenomena that occurred in the experiment were explained, and some suggestions were proposed for future experiments. The results from the simulation showed that 60–70 ms was the best time for the dust cloud to ignite. The local high-temperature flame clusters were caused by the agglomeration of high-temperature particles, and there were no flames near the wall of the tube due to particles gathering and attaching to the wall. Vortices formed around the nozzle, where the particle concentration was low and the flame spread slowly. During the explosion venting, particles flew out of the tube before the flame. The venting flame exhibited a “mushroom cloud” shape due to interactions with the vortex, and the flame maintained this shape as it was driven upward by the vortex.     

暴雨径流固态污染物旋流分离研究

旋流分离技术在暴雨径流污染控制中的应用是一项新兴的污染控制技术。本文结合滇池流域暴雨径流中固态污染物构成的特征，利用传统的旋流分离技术和复合流场旋流分离技术来实现暴雨径流中固态污染物的去除。通过现场试验，探讨了旋流分离技术的主要技术参数以及他们之间的内在联系。     

Global population collapse in a superabundant migratory bird and illegal trapping in China

Persecution and overexploitation by humans are major causes of species extinctions. Rare species, often confined to small geographic ranges, are usually at highest risk, whereas extinctions of superabundant species with very large ranges are rare. The Yellow‐breasted Bunting (Emberiza aureola) used to be one of the most abundant songbirds of the Palearctic, with a very large breeding range stretching from Scandinavia to the Russian Far East. Anecdotal information about rapid population declines across the range caused concern about unsustainable trapping along the species’ migration routes. We conducted a literature review and used long‐term monitoring data from across the species’ range to model population trend and geographical patterns of extinction. The population declined by 84.3–94.7% between 1980 and 2013, and the species’ range contracted by 5000 km. Quantitative evidence from police raids suggested rampant illegal trapping of the species along its East Asian flyway in China. A population model simulating an initial harvest level of 2% of the population, and an annual increase of 0.2% during the monitoring period produced a population trajectory that matched the observed decline. We suggest that trapping strongly contributed to the decline because the consumption of Yellow‐breasted Bunting and other songbirds has increased as a result of economic growth and prosperity in East Asia. The magnitude and speed of the decline is unprecedented among birds with a comparable range size, with the exception of the Passenger Pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius), which went extinct in 1914 due to industrial‐scale hunting. Our results demonstrate the urgent need for an improved monitoring of common and widespread species’ populations, and consumption levels throughout East Asia.     

热诱导浮力羽流涡旋结构直接数值模拟

涡旋结构是湍流流场重要的研究内容之一,也是影响特殊火行为的重要因素之一,如涡旋在飞火传播中起着非常重要的作用。火羽流涡旋结构的详细分析对火灾蔓延特性的研究有重要指导意义。该文对轴对称热羽流和平面热羽流进行了直接数值模拟,分别基于涡旋动力学及涡旋稳定性角度对计算结果进行详细分析。研究表明平面热羽流的涡量值明显高于轴对称热羽流,平面热羽流具有较低的脉动频率。从涡量输运方程出发,分析得出拉伸项的存在降低了轴对称热羽流的混合强度。     

The Influence of Tip Leakage Flow on Flowfields in a Highly Loaded Transonic Rotor with Forward Sweep

A three-dimensional numerical simulation on a highly loaded transonic rotor with zero, 0.2 mm, 0.3 mm, and 0.5 mm tip gap, respectively, is performed in this article. The flowfields above 60% span of transonic rotors are affected by leakage flow, but the stall margin of rotor has obviously improved with small tip gap. Typical leakage vortex structures with double cores are generated by the interaction of incoming flow, leakage flow, and second flow in flowfields, and then the two vortex cores merge into a stronger one in front of shock. The shape of passage shock changes seriously by strong leakage vortex after interaction and a large low-velocity region generates behind shock in tip region. The blockage, produced by leakage flow and boundary layer separation, induces detached shock wave near leading edge of rotors and triggers the rotating stall of compressor. However, with tip gap increasing, the blockage produced by leakage flow tends to be dominant in occurrence of rotating stall. Once the tip clearance adds to 0.5 mm, vortex breakdown in tip region of rotor appears and the flow deteriorates drastically, which aggravates the onset of stall in rotor.     

低雷诺数涡街流量传感器在安全环保工作中的应用

本文介绍了低雷诺数涡街流量传感器的原理和结构,主要介绍它在采样流量控制、流速测量、职业卫生和气体流量校准方面的实际应用。