Fluid dynamics analysis and experimental study for solar radiation error correction of sounding humidity sensor.

In subtropical hot desert climates, the high temperature inside the chamber of the solar dryers spoils heat‐sensitive bioactive ingredients of agricultural products. In this article, the annular temperature variation inside the dryer chamber and collector thermal efficiency of a naturally ventilated indirect solar dryer in Ahvaz‐Iran was evaluated using computational fluid dynamics models. Time variable boundary conditions based on the regional meteorological reports and Universal Time Coordinated for automatic consideration of solar heat radiation, were applied in the models. The results were validated against the physical experiments by accuracy evaluation of the chamber temperature (root mean squared error [RMSE] of 3.14°C), product moisture ratio (RMSE of 0.26), and solar heat flux (RMSE of 84.26 W/m2). The efficiency of the collector was shown to be minimal during the warm months from April to September with a higher level around the solar noon. Daily variation of the temperature inside the chamber from sunrise to sunset and the annual interval of each temperature lasts during a day were presented which can be used for defining the tolerable period of drying. The possibility of drying medicinal plants was presented as a sample. The results can provide a viable estimate for similar climates in the Middle East.Practical ApplicationsIn this study, many details of preprocessing procedure of solar drying computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation has been presented which is practical for related studies about the dryers or any process affected by variable weather and solar radiation. Graphical results are comparable and useful for numerical research studies on heat and mass transfer phenomena. The accuracy of the CFD model that was validated against the physical experiments, is promising for CFD‐based drying process optimization research studies. The results of physical experiments which have been expressed in good detail can be used as a reference for future research studies. The tolerable period of drying of agricultural products in Ahvaz‐Iran can be extracted from the results of this study which is a viable estimation for similar climates in the Middle East.

The dry bias of MEMS humidity sensor induced by solar radiation heating seriously affects the accuracy of the relative humidity (RH) measurement. To solve this problem, this paper presents a novel numerical analysis method for the error correction of RH based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Firstly, considering the solar radiation, the distribution of temperature field of MEMS humidity sensor is simulated from the ground to 32km altitude by using CFD soft under the boundary condition of fluid-solid coupled heat transfer. Secondly, the numerical analysis model of RH is put forward for solar radiation dry bias (SRDB) correction based on the working principle of the MEMS capacitive humidity sensor and the definition of RH. The results of numerical analysis show that the error of RH caused by solar radiation is nonlinearly increased with the altitude. Meanwhile the errors decrease with the reflectivity of sensor or of solder point increase. The simulation data also indicate that the SRDB can be reduced by improving the reflectivity of sensor or of solder point, adopting the substrate material with high thermal conductivity or choosing the suitable thickness of sensor. However, the SRDB should be corrected, for it still is more than 20% under the low atmospheric pressure. In this paper, the method based on fluid dynamics simulation provides a new way to correct the error of radiosonde MEMS humidity measurement caused by solar radiation heating.

This study designed a vertical take-off and landing tailsitter unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with a long endurance time. Nine parameters of the tailsitter UAV were investigated. Using a 2k full factorial test, 512 experiments on the nine parameters were conducted at their maximum and minimum values. The time coefficient and air resistance were calculated using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method under different parameter combinations. The analysis of variance determined that the specific factors influencing the time coefficient and air resistance were the root chord, wingtip chord, wingspan, and sweep angle. By carrying out a central composite design (CCD) test, 25 sample points of the four particular factors were constructed. The time coefficient and air resistance were simulated under different structural parameter combinations using the CFD method. CFD simulation was verified by carrying out a wind tunnel test, and the results revealed that the aerodynamic coefficient error was less than 5%, while the air resistance error was less than 6%. The response surface methodology (RSM) for the time coefficient and air resistance was established using a genetic aggregation method. A multi-objective genetic algorithm (MOGA) was used to optimize the parameters with regard to the maximum time coefficient and minimum air resistance. The optimal structural parameters were wing root chord length at 315 mm, wingtip chord length at 182 mm, wingspan length at 1198 mm, and sweep angle at 16°. Compared with the original layout and size, the time coefficient of the new design of the tailsitter UAV improved by 19.5%, while the air resistance reduced by 34.78%. The results obtained by this study are significant for the design of tailsitter UAVs.

Tracheal Bronchus (TB) is a rare congenital anomaly characterized by the presence of an abnormal bronchus originating from the trachea or main bronchi and directed toward the upper lobe. The airflow pattern in tracheobronchial trees of TB subjects is critical, but has not been systemically studied. This study proposes to simulate the airflow using CT image based models and the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method. Six TB subjects and three health controls (HC) are included. After the geometric model of tracheobronchial tree is extracted from CT images, the spatial distribution of velocity, wall pressure, wall shear stress (WSS) is obtained through CFD simulation, and the lobar distribution of air, flow pattern and global pressure drop are investigated. Compared with HC subjects, the main bronchus angle of TB subjects and the variation of volume are large, while the cross-sectional growth rate is small. High airflow velocity, wall pressure, and WSS are observed locally at the tracheal bronchus, but the global patterns of these measures are still similar to those of HC. The ratio of airflow into the tracheal bronchus accounts for 6.6-15.6% of the inhaled airflow, decreasing the ratio to the right upper lobe from 15.7-21.4% (HC) to 4.9-13.6%. The air into tracheal bronchus originates from the right dorsal near-wall region of the trachea. Tracheal bronchus does not change the global pressure drop which is dependent on multiple variables. Though the tracheobronchial trees of TB subjects present individualized features, several commonalities on the structural and airflow characteristics can be revealed. The observed local alternations might provide new insight into the reason of recurrent local infections, cough and acute respiratory distress related to TB.

Aerodynamic characteristics of a guided rocket projectile are numerically simulated. Simulations are performed in a range of flight conditions using a commercial CFD software FLUENT, and variations of lift coefficients and drag coefficients with Mach numbers and angles of attack were demonstrated. The numerical results also indicate that the angle of canard deflection has significant influence on the flow field near tailfins.

As Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) methods evolve and mature, more engineering problems are being solved through computer simulation to reduce reliance on the costly and time-consuming experimental methods. This trend is also occurring in the gear manufacturing industry, where an increasing number of quality issues related to the oil quenching process are being investigated by CFD methods to find solutions. However, while the CFD theory and numerical methods have made significant advancements, gaps still exist between the academic research and industrial applications. In the case of the oil quenching processes, the prospect of using CFD methods to visualize and study the oil flow pattern in the gear quenching tank is promising yet challenging. The obstacle to simulating the oil quenching process using CFD methods lies not in the numerical method itself for solving the Navier-Stokes equation, but in building a computer simulation model that encompasses all the geometrical details of the quenching tank, fixtures, centrifugal pumps, and gears, including all the gear teeth. This task is particularly challenging for Finite Volume Method (FVM) CFD solvers, as the computation mesh could take days or weeks to build. In this research, a new solution method based on Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) is introduced to simulate the oil flow in the gear quenching tank. Since SPH is a mesh-free Lagrangian method, it not only greatly simplifies the mesh generation task for building the computational models but also handles the complex physics of the free surface flow and fluid-structure interaction with great ease. In addition, the oil flow in the gear quenching tank usually is driven by centrifugal pumps whose dynamics can be simulated directly in SPH methods, as opposed to FVM methods which require complicated moving mesh computation.

Objective To perform the virtual Fontan operations on patients who had undergone the bilateral bidirectional Glenn procedure, and to simulate the blood flow in different types of opera-tive strategies by the method of computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Methods Three-dimensional re-construction was performed with Mimics 12. 0(R) according to the results of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Virtual operations were performed by changing the virtual anastomotic sites of bilateral supe-rior vena cava (SVC) and pulmonary arteries (PAs), and by connecting the inferior vena cava (IVC) to different sites of PAs. Numerical simulations were established to analyze the CFD of blood flows in patients undergoing 4 different types of virtual operative strategies at different predetermined flow split distribution ratios of left pulmonary artery (LPA) to right pulmonary artery (RPA) (at 30: 70,40 : 60, 50:50,60:40 and 70:30, respectively). Results When the distance between the anastomotic sites of the bilateral SVCs to the PAs was relatively long and the anastomotic site of IVC and PAs was in the middle of the SVC-PA anastomotic sites, the control volume power loss (CVPL) was lower than any other three operative strategies at all predetermined LPA/RPA flow split distribution ratios. The CV-PL achieved a minimal value of 23.60 mW at the ratio of 50/50. Conclusions For Fontan operations, it may be the optimal operative strategy to anastomose bilateral SVCs to the homolateral PA separately and to connect the IVC in the middle of the SVC-PA anastomotic sites. Key words: Computational fluid dynamics; Fontan procedure; Virtual operation; Energy me-tabolism

The demand for high-efficiency air vehicles and the development of distributed electric propulsion systems for aircraft are exposing the need for accurate aerodynamic prediction of multiple integrated propulsion systems. Conventional high-fidelity computational methods are too expensive, and low-cost low-fidelity methods make too many aerodynamic assumptions to be applied to these analyses. Dual-solver hybrid computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods bridge the gap between these two categories of solvers, but many lack capabilities that are needed for complex vehicles. Recent improvements to the hybrid solver OVERFLOW-CHARM provide efficient and accurate analysis of integrated propulsion systems with hybrid CFD methods, as demonstrated on the wing–propeller system of the AIAA Workshop for Integrated Propeller Prediction. Predictions of propeller thrust are within 1% of conventional CFD data, and wing pressure coefficient distributions agree well with both experimental data and conventional CFD methods. The dual-solver results were obtained at half the computational cost of the full CFD simulation.

A numerical study on self-propulsion performance of the 66k DWT bulk carrier in low-speed calm water and regular wave conditions

Aim: Nasal valve (NV) dysfunctions are a significant cause of nasal obstruction. Changes in the nasolabial angle (NLA) may also cause changes in NV morphology. The effect of changes in the 3D structure of the nasal valve region (NVR) on nasal airflow has yet to be studied sufficiently. The accuracy of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation results of nasal airflow has been confirmed by in vitro tests. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of changes in NV structure and volume on nasal airflow based on the CFD method. Material and Method: We used CT images to create a 3D structural model of the NVR. First, CT images were transferred to MIMICS® software, and the nasal air passage was modeled. A solid reference model of the NVR was then created using SolidWorks software. Five different solid 3D nasal valve models were created with nasolabial angles of 85˚ in Model 1, 90˚ in Model 2, 95˚ in Model 3, 100˚ in Model 4, and 105˚ in Model 5. To simulate breathing during rest and exercise using the CFD method, the unilateral nasal airflow rates were set at 150 ml/s and 500 ml/s, respectively. The CFD method was then used to calculate each model’s airflow properties. Finally, the volumes of the models, pressure at the NV outlet, and airflow velocity were evaluated and calculated to investigate each model’s NV airflow characteristics. Results: Our study found a significant correlation between the nasolabial angle (NLA) and NVR volume (r=-0.998, p=0.000), flow rate and velocity (r=0.984, p=0.000), velocity and maximum pressure (r=0.920, p=0.000), velocity and minimum pressure (r=-0.969, p=0.000), flow rate and maximum pressure (r=0.974, p=0.000), and flow rate and minimum pressure (r=-0.950, p=0.000). There was no correlation between NLA increase and nasal airflow velocity. We determined that the highest pressure and lowest airflow velocity values were in the upper angle region and that the lowest pressure and highest airflow velocity values were at the bottom of the NVR in all models. Conclusion: Using the CFD method, we found a decrease in NVR volume and an increase in airflow velocity with an increase in NLA. In addition, we found that the pressure values in the NVR did not change significantly with the increase in NLA.

This paper implements the parameter identification of ship roll motion based on vibration tests and the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method. By applying sinusoidal moment excitations from a shaker, we successfully simulate the quasi-roll motion behavior of the ship model in the air. We conduct two vibration tests, including a constant-amplitude angular displacement test and a constant-amplitude angular velocity test, to identify the restoring moment and the damping moment coefficients of the quasi-roll motion. In addition, we perform the approximate equivalence of the fluid around the ship through the CFD method and the fluid-solid coupling technique. Thus, we obtain the hydrodynamic coefficients, such as the added mass moment of inertia and the equivalent damping, to accomplish the parameter identification of the ship’s real roll motion. Finally, the accuracy of the identified parameters is verified by means of numerical simulations based on the Runge–Kutta method.

Emergency condition should be evaluated during the siting of Nuclear Power Plants (NPP). One of the criteria is the capability of emergency evacuation for the purpose of protecting the NPP staff and public. Exposure dose received by evacuees is a key factor to evaluate the effectiveness of emergency evacuation, which can be characterized by the atmospheric dispersion factors over the evacuation paths. Gaussian plume model is usually applied in the atmospheric dispersion factor calculation for NPPs. However, for some NPP sites with complex terrain like mountain and lake which has significant influence on the local flow field and the nuclides transportation, the calculations based on Gaussian model will not be accurate enough for the evaluation of the evacuation capability. In such cases, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) method with fine calculation grids and rich physical models can be used in the atmospheric dispersion modeling of small-scale region, to get much more accurate results. This paper is devoted to the research on the impact of these complex terrain on atmospheric dispersion with CFD method. The local atmospheric dispersion around a NPP site located on an island is modeled, where there is a mountain on the way of evacuation. For the limitation of the geographic barrier, two evacuation paths, which are located closely with small difference in direction, are planned along different sides of the mountain. Utilizing STAR-CCM+ CFD software, local atmospheric dispersion factors are fine simulated under six worse wind directions. Based on the simulation results, the impact of the mountain on the flow field and of the radiological plume on the evacuation paths is analyzed. Results show that due to the blocking effect of the mountain, those two evacuation paths have little probability to be simultaneously covered by the radiological plume. By the choosing of suitable routes during the evacuation, the radiological risk of public is acceptable and emergency evacuation can be carried out effectively. These results also demonstrate that CFD modeling method is effective in the evaluation of local atmospheric dispersion over complex terrain, which can be applied in the analysis of emergency evacuation of NPP sites with complex terrain.

Computational modelling and experimental validation of drug entrainment in a dry powder inhaler

In this work three different numerical methods are used to simulate a multi-megawatt class class wind turbine under turbulent inflow conditions. These methods are a blade resolved Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation, an actuator line based CFD simulation and a Blade Element Momentum (BEM) approach with wind fields extracted from an empty CFD domain. For all three methods sectional and integral forces are investigated in terms of mean, standard deviation, power spectral density and fatigue loads. It is shown that the average axial and tangential forces are very similar in the mid span, but differ a lot near the root and tip, which is connected with smaller values for thrust and torque. The standard deviations in the sectional forces due to the turbulent wind fields are much higher almost everywhere for BEM than for the other two methods which leads to higher standard deviations in integral forces. The difference in the power spectral densities of sectional forces of all three methods depends highly on the radial position. However, the integral densities are in good agreement in the low frequency range for all methods. It is shown that the differences in the standard deviation between BEM and the CFD methods mainly stem from this part of the spectrum. Strong deviations are observed from 1.5 Hz onward. The fatigue loads of torque for the CFD based methods differ by only 0.4%, but BEM leads to a difference of up to 16%. For the thrust the BEM simulation results deviate by even 29% and the actuator line by 7% from the blade resolved case. An indication for a linear relation between standard deviation and fatigue loads for sectional as well as integral quantities is found.

Through the combination of experimental measurement and CFD (computational fluid dynamics) method, the fluid flow characteristics in the pipe of magnetic capsule robot for intestinal tract are studied. The PIV (particle imaging velocimetry) system is used to measure the fluid flow field around the magnetic-controlled capsule robot under certain translational and rotational speeds, and the rich flow field information (streamline, velocity, and vorticity) is obtained. At the same time, the CFD software is used to calculate the corresponding flow field and the force acting on the capsule robot, and the calculated value is basically consistent with the experimental value. The results show that, driven by the external permanent magnet, the magnetic capsule robot makes corresponding precession movement in the pipe filled with silicone oil, and the movement track is wavy. When the pipe diameter is increased, the fluid streamline around the capsule robot is more stable, the vorticity value is smaller, the resistance and resisting moment of the capsule robot in the forward direction become smaller. The PIV measurement method and CFD method used in this paper can be applied to the fluid flow field measurement and mechanical analysis of the smaller size capsule robot in the liquid environment.