Multiphase Flows in Plate and Shell Heat Exchangers

Multiphase flow metering is a challenging task because of the complexity of multiphase flow. In this paper, nonintrusive multiphase flow metering techniques, including machine learning (ML) / artificial intelligence models for the identification of flow regimes and estimation of flow parameters of a two-phase flow in a horizontal pipe are proposed that use data from Electrical Capacitance Tomography (ECT) and conventional measurements such as differential pressure in the pipe. The flow regimes are classified into five types, namely plug, slug, annular, wavy and stratified. Two-phase air/water flow experimental data from ECT are collected by running extensive experiments using the horizontal section of the multiphase flow rig at the University of South-Eastern Norway (USN). Exploratory data analysis (EDA) is performed on these data to extract features for use in classification and regression algorithms. Time series of normalized capacitance data from ECT sensors are used to classify flow regimes and identify flow parameters. ML techniques of Artificial Neural Network, Support Vector Machine (SVM), K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN) and Decision Tree (DT) are used to classify flow regimes by using features extracted from ECT data. The cross-correlation technique is used to estimate flow velocity using data from a twinplane ECT module. ML regression techniques are used to estimate phase fractions. Fusing data from differential pressure sensors enhances the flow regime classification. An overall system performance is given with suggestions for designing dedicated control algorithms for actuators used in multiphase flow control.

The paper presents results of measurements of porosity changes in sand during granular flow in model silos using two different non‐invasive methods, i.e., Electrical Capacitance Tomography (ECT) and Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV). The experiments in model silos are carried out with different initial unit weights of sand and silo wall roughness. Advantages and disadvantages of both methods are outlined.

Measurement techniques are vital for the control and operation of multiphase oil–water flow in pipes. The development of such techniques depends on laboratory experiments involving flow visualization, liquid fraction (‘hold-up’), phase slip and pressure drop measurements. They provide valuable information by revealing the physics, spatial and temporal structures of complex multiphase flow phenomena.This paper presents the hold-up measurement of oil–water flow in pipelines using gamma densitometry and electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) sensors. The experiments were carried out with different pipe inclinations from −5° to +6° for selected mixture velocities (0.2–1.5 m s−1), and at selected watercuts (0.05–0.95). Mineral oil (Exxsol D60) and water were used as test fluids. Nine flow patterns were identified including a new pattern called stratified wavy and mixed interface flow. As a third direct method, visual observations and high-speed videos were used for the flow regime and interface identification.ECT and gamma densitometry hold-up measurements show similar trends for changes in pipeline inclinations. Changing the pipe inclination affected the flow mostly at lower mixture velocities and caused a change of flow patterns, allowing the highest change of hold-up. ECT hold-up measurements overpredict the gamma densitometry measurements at higher input water cuts and underpredict at intermediate water cuts. Gamma hold-up results showed good agreement with the literature results, having a maximum deviation of 6%, while it was as high as 22% for ECT in comparison to gamma densitometry.Uncertainty analysis of the measurement techniques was carried out with single-phase oil flow. This shows that the measurement error associated with gamma densitometry is approximately 3.2%, which includes 1.3% statistical error and 2.9% error identified as electromagnetically induced noise in electronics. Thus, gamma densitometry can predict hold-up with a higher accuracy in comparison to ECT when applied to oil–water systems at minimized electromagnetic noise.

Fabrication of micro surface morphology of cell culture substrates is one of the current topics in biomaterials research. Recently we found that regular honeycomb structures with micrometer scale dimensions can be fabricated by simple casting of a dilute solution of amphiphilic polymers on solid substrates. The honeycomb films were applicable to the cell culture substrates, in which cell adhesive parts are much smaller than the lateral dimension of cells. This article describes the fabrication and characterization of thin polymer films which have micrometer scale weblike structure. The weblike structure is fabricated by a two-dimensional emulsion templating. The web-structured films were prepared by casting a water in oil (W/O) emulsion onto surfaces of glass, cleaved mica, and metal-coated glass. The films had lower regularity of surface morphology which indicated the polydisperse size distribution of water microspheres. The average diameter of the holes in the web structure was considerably influenced by the extent of coalescence among the water microspheres, which were dispersed in the emulsion. A surface topographical study of the cast films using atomic force microscopy (AFM) showed that the cast films have web structure with submicrometer height and width. The bottom of the hole was scratched using an AFM tip loaded with a constant force of 100 nN. This way we could measure the thickness of the polymer films to be 7 nm, which is thicker than the basal films of regular honeycomb films. Optical characterization using surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy (SPR-S) and surface plasmon resonance microscopy (SPR-M) gave further evidence for the existence of thin basal films on the web-structured films. Using these optical methods the thickness of the basal film could be estimated without any destruction of the cast films. The SPR-S measurement provided an average thickness of 14 nm for the basal films. Furthermore the SPR-M provided plasmon contrast images of the web-structured films, which revealed that the thickness of the basal films varies for each hole in the web structure. Consequently these surface analyses demonstrate that the cast films from W/O emulsion have a double-layered structure: web structure of aggregated polymer as the major surface morphology and thin films of a polymer as a basal structure which covers solid supports.

Trichinellosis, a re-emerging zoonosis in several countries and pig, is the main species responsible for its transmission to human. Vaccination of swine could be an alternative to prevent the risk of human contamination. In order to develop an efficient and safe inactivate vaccine, the choice of the adjuvant is an important issue. The aim of this study was to develop and select potent and safe adjuvants by screening them in an experimental model with a crude soluble antigen from L1 muscular larvae (ML) of Trichinella spiralis (Ts). The efficacy was checked by the quantification of specific antibody levels. Specific and non-specific IgE antibody levels were also assessed. Safety was checked by the assessment of the local reaction at the injection site. Various Montanide ISA adjuvant formulations including water in oil, oil in water and multiphasic emulsions, but also nanoparticles or microbeads were tested. The results clearly showed differences between the antibody responses induced by the adjuvants and demonstrated the necessity to use an adjuvant to obtain a specific IgG (IgG1 or IgG2a) response directed against the total soluble extract of Ts. All the formulations enhanced the humoral immune response. The origin of the oil contained in the emulsions played an important role on the efficacy. Indeed emulsions based on mineral oils were more efficient than those based on metabolisable oils. However it was linked with stronger local reactions. Multiphasic and oil in water emulsions but also nanoparticles failed to induce IgG2a antibody levels. Microbeads and water in oil formulations based on mineral oils were more efficient. This experimentation allowed then the selection of several adjuvants which efficacy will be further investigated by a challenge test and an analysis of the cellular populations involved in the mechanism of the immune response.

Efficient nanoparticle transport via CO2 foam to stabilize oil in water emulsions

Stability of oil-in-water emulsions produced by membrane emulsification with microporous ceramic membranes

The antioxidant activities of the raisin extract (RE) in stripped corn oil, stripped corn oil emulsions, and sunflower butter stored at 60 °C for up to 15 days was evaluated. Peroxide values and hexanal content were measured on a half day, 2 or 3 day basis for the emulsion, sunflower butter, and bulk oil, respectively. The RE had the best antioxidant activity in the bulk oil system. Statistical contrasts indicated the oxidation of bulk corn oil treated with RE was significantly (p < 0.001 and p = 0.044) lower than bulk oil and bulk oil treated with tertiary‐butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), respectively. No differences (p = 0.15) in hexanal concentrations were observed in stored bulk oils treated with RE and TBHQ. However, both these materials inhibited hexanal formation better (p < 0.001) when compared to the control corn oil. In contrast, 200 μg/g TBHQ had better (p = 0.0004) antioxidant activity than 3,000 μg/g RE in the oil in water(o/w) emulsion. No significant differences (p = 0.1637) in hexanal formation were observed in the emulsions treated with RE and TBHQ. However, the data indicated that the RE treated emulsion did undergo more secondary oxidation than the emulsion treated with TBHQ beyond 110 h. The 3,000 μg/g RE had antioxidant activity in sunflower butter, but was less effective than the 200 μg/g TBHQ and a lower RE concentration (200 μg/g). The observations supported the hypothesis that RE has antioxidant activity in the multiple model systems.

Image processing techniques for the measurement of two-phase bubbly pipe flows using particle image and tracking velocimetry (PIV/PTV)

Dual modality ECT–MIT multi-phase flow imaging

A three dimensional, conservative, fully implicit, colocated control volume based calculation procedure is described for the simulation of shell side flow in shell and tube heat exchangers. The colocated method uses momentum interpolation to avoid an oscillatory pressure field, and incorporates a flexible boundary condition interface that permits the specification of a wide range of problems. The simulation of shell and tube heat exchangers is based on a distributed resistance method and employs a two-equation k-ε turbulence model. Volume porosities and non homogeneous surface permeabilities account for the obstructions due to the tubes and arbitrary arrangement of baffles. Geometry generators for tubes, baffles and inlets have been created. Non-equilibrium wall functions (Launder and Spalding, 1974) are used to compute momentum and heat transfer coefficients close to plane surface walls. Various test problems presented include the driven cavity, a laminar backward facing step with heat transfer, a turbulent backward facing step with heat transfer, and turbulent sudden pipe expansion. Good agreement is obtained between our computations and experiments and the computations of other researchers. A No Tubes In Window (NTIW) heat exchanger simulation is compared with experimental data. This work forms a basis for studying the significance of geometry on the mixing and heat transfer process in shell and tube heat exchangers.

1 - Electrical Capacitance Tomography

Nowadays, the optimization of energy consumption and resources is one of the most urgent topics in worldwide industry. The energy consumption monitoring and control in various multiphase flow industrial applications, where a proper flow characteristic and an optimal phase mixture control is crucial, is hard to perform due to the physical and chemical complexity of the processes. The Electrical Capacitance Tomography (ECT) is one of the relatively cheap non-invasive measurement methods that can help in the monitoring and control of optimal energy and resources dozing in industrial processes. ECT diagnostics systems use unique sensors that can non-intrusively detect spatial capacitance changes caused by spatial changes in the electrical permittivity of industrial process components. One of the latest ECT extensions is a three-dimensional measurement strategy that uses a multilayer structure of the capacitance sensor. In this paper, the authors propose a novel approach to the 3D ECT sensors fabrication process that uses 3D computer modelling and 3D printing to easily get any sensor shape, electrode layout, scale and shielding strategy. This study compares the measurement abilities of a 3D ECT sensor fabricated using a traditional hand-made technique with the 3D printed device. The results have proven the potential of the new 3D print-based sensor regarding its significant fabrication time reduction as well as the improvement of the overall 3D ECT sensor measurement accuracy and stability.

Bioactive peptides hold great promise as functional ingredients, but they are susceptible to hydrolysis (e.g., protease degradation) during digestion and under different physiological conditions in the human body. Thus, bioactive peptides must be encapsulated first to preserve their innate characteristics and to ensure delivery to an absorption site at the small intestine without biodegradation. The objective of this study was to formulate stable single emulsions of water in oil (W1/O) and double emulsions of water in oil in water (W1/O/W2) containing collagen peptide as core material. In this study, the influence of the following parameters was investigated: collagen peptide concentration (0-20%), salt (0% or 1% NaCl), hydrophilic emulsifiers for the outer water phase (Tween 80, lecithin, chitosan, pectin), and the use of different inner/outer water fractions (20-50% inner water, 50-80% outer water) on the droplet stability of the W1/O and W1/O/W2 emulsions during storage. In particular, the influence of the osmolytes was investigated to evaluate the change in osmotic balance and destabilization of the W1/O/W2 emulsion system as the encapsulated peptide was also osmotically active. Tween 80-stabilized W1/O/W2 emulsions showed the best droplet stability without phase separation (d90,3 = 36.6 μm) and the highest collagen peptide retention (encapsulation efficiency > 90%). During prolonged storage, collagen peptides were released from the W1/O/W2 emulsion system without significant droplet size changes, possibly due to diffusion of the collagen peptide from the inner to the outer water phase. Therefore, our findings can be utilized for preparing stable functional foods or cosmetic products from W1/O/W2 emulsions containing bioactive ingredients.

Multiphase flow phenomena are widespread in nature and production process. The study of the flow mechanism and characteristics are a very important in the multiphase pipe flow. The establishment of multiphase flow experimental devices and systems is necessary in the study. In order to multi-phase pipe flow simulation, the small-scale physical experimental system based on the PLC control, and the experimental simulation system of based on Configuration software design are achieved. The physical experimental system can be achieved signals acquisition and control. Bubble flow, stratified flow, wavy flow, slug flow and other flow patterns can be formed in the experimental pipeline by changing the oil-gas-water flow rate. The virtual experimental system consists of the control interface and virtual physical interface. The simulation experiments of the multiphase flow generation can be achieved through the data exchange by two computers. This system meets the requirements for multiphase flow experiment.