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Although the global market for wind energy is growing rapidly, leading-edge erosion is a critical issue hindering the development of wind power. The impact force of a droplet colliding with flat surfaces has been investigated in previous studies. However, the impact force exerted on curved surfaces, such as that experienced by eroded wind turbine blades, is not well understood. This study discusses the relationship between the impact force generated on a solid surface by a water droplet and the radius of curvature of the impacting surface. The impact force by a droplet was measured using a force sensor mounted on semi-cylindrical caps with different radii of curvature. The measurement results showed that the impact force decreased as the radius of curvature decreased. A computational fluid dynamics model solving incompressible flows showed that, unlike the case of a curved surface, the initial momentum of the droplet was mostly transferred to the flat surface. This resulted in a high impulse for an impact with a flat surface. The falling droplet was blocked by the surface, and the lateral jet was accelerated sideward. This acceleration was moderate for curved surfaces. When colliding with a flat surface, a higher impact force was generated owing to the wider area of the excited surface pressure compared with that of the curved surface. Finally, the relationship between the peak of the impact force and the surface curvature was derived, suggesting that the force peak is inversely proportional to the curvature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current research aims to predict the residual stress accumulation and evolution in the powder bed fusion processed multi-layer thin wall structures through a conforming mesh modeling approach. It involves the discrete element method (DEM) interfaced with the volume of fluid (VOF) method using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) coupled with the finite element method (FEM). The conforming mesh approach developed in the research predicts multi-physics, its induced porosity, and the cumulative effect on the residual stress in the powder bed fusion processed Ti-6Al-4V thin wall structures. The results of the residual stress in the multi-layered component from this method were further quantitatively compared with the non-conforming finite element method. The results show the conforming mesh approach was not only effective in capturing the layer geometry, and defects induced during the printing, but also predicted the residual stress in the region of the defect more accurately than the non-conforming mesh methods.

Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is a crucial technique to prepare high-quality graphene because of its controllability. In the research, we perform a systematic computational fluid dynamics numerical investigation on the effect of gas-phase reaction dynamics on the graphene growth in a horizontal tube CVD reactor. The research results indicate that the gas-phase chemical reactions in the CVD reactor are in a nonequilibrium state, as evidenced by the comparison of species mole fraction distributions during the CVD process and under chemical equilibrium conditions. The effect of gas-phase reaction dynamics on the deposition rate of graphene under different conditions is studied, and our research shows that the main causes of change in graphene growth rates under different conditions are gas-phase reaction dynamics and active species transport. The results of numerical simulation agree well with the experimental phenomena. The research results also indicate that, for methane, the main limiting factor of graphene growth is the surface kinetic reaction rate. Conversely, for active species, the main limiting factor of graphene growth is species transport. Our research suggests that the growth rate of graphene can be regulated from the perspective of the gas reaction mechanism. This method has theoretical guiding significance and can be extended to the preparation of large-area graphene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid development of wearable electronics highlights the urgence to develop the portable energy harvester with excellent output performance, comfortability, and sustainability. This work designs an electromagnetic walking energy harvester based on water turbine that can be embedded in shoes with good comfortability. Its working principle is that the walking generated pressure energy drives a miniature hydraulic turbine to output electricity. Experimental results show that an average power of 300 and 180 mW can be produced at heel and toe, respectively, when a man of 80 kg walks at a speed of 1.8 m s−1. This power output exceeds the piezoelectric, triboelectric, and electromagnetic walking energy harvesters reported in the past. Additionally, the simpler structure endows it better comfortability as compared with the electrostatic capacitances. Computational fluid dynamics simulations provide a further insight that the efficiency of turbine can reach 13.5% by optimizing parameters of blade number and outlet flow ratio. Finally, user real-time positioning and trajectory recording are successfully demonstrated via a wearable GPS means Global Positioning System module powered by the harvester. Due to the combination of high output performance, simple structure and low discomfort, the water turbine based walking energy harvester will provide a wide application potential in wearable devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential of methanol reforming systems to greatly improve productivity in chemical reactors has been limited, due in part, to the effect of mass transfer limitations on the production of hydrogen. There is a need to determine whether or not a microchannel reforming reactor system is operated in a mass transfer-controlled regime, and provide the necessary criteria so that mass transfer limitations can be effectively eliminated in the reactor. Three-dimensional numerical simulations were carried out using computational fluid dynamics to investigate the essential characteristics of mass transport processes in a microchannel reforming reactor and to develop criteria for determining mass transfer limitations. The reactor was designed for thermochemically producing hydrogen from methanol by steam reforming. The mass transfer effects involved in the reforming process were evaluated, and the role of various design parameters was determined for the thermally integrated reactor. In order to simplify the mathematics of mass transport phenomena, use was made of dimensionless numbers or ratios of parameters that numerically describe the physical properties in the reactor without units. The results indicated that the performance of the reactor can be greatly improved by means of proper design of catalyst layer thickness and through adjusting feed composition to minimize or reduce mass transfer limitations in the reactor. There is not an effective method to reduce channel dimensions if the flow rate remains constant, or to reduce fluid velocities if the residence time is kept constant. The rate of the reforming reaction is limited by mass transfer near the entrance of the reactor and by kinetics further downstream, when the heat transfer in the autothermal system is efficient. Finally, the criteria that can be used to distinguish between different mass transport and kinetics regimes in the reactor with a first-order reforming reaction were presented.

Chirped-Pulse Fourier-Transform millimeter wave (CP-FTmmW) spectroscopy is a powerful method that enables detection of quantum state specific reactants and products in mixtures. We have successfully coupled this technique with a pulsed uniform Laval flow system to study photodissociation and reactions at low temperature, which we refer to as CPUF ("Chirped-Pulse/Uniform flow"). Detection by CPUF requires monitoring the free induction decay (FID) of the rotational coherence. However, the high collision frequency in high-density uniform supersonic flows can interfere with the FID and attenuate the signal. One way to overcome this is to sample the flow, but this can cause interference from shocks in the sampling region. This led us to develop an extended Laval nozzle that creates a uniform flow within the nozzle itself, after which the gas undergoes a shock-free secondary expansion to cold, low pressure conditions ideal for CP-FTmmW detection. Impact pressure measurements, commonly used to characterize Laval flows, cannot be used to monitor the flow within the nozzle. Therefore, we implemented a REMPI (resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization) detection scheme that allows the interrogation of the conditions of the flow directly inside the extended nozzle, confirming the fluid dynamics simulations of the flow environment. We describe the development of the new 20 K extended flow, along with its characterization using REMPI and computational fluid dynamics. Finally, we demonstrate its application to the first low temperature measurement of the reaction kinetics of HCO with O2 and obtain a rate coefficient at 20 K of 6.66 ± 0.47 × 10−11 cm3 molec−1 s−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent escalating interest in the development of highly maneuverable hypersonic vehicles demands sharp leading edges. However, sharp leading edges induce severe aerothermal conditions where conventional passive or ablative thermal protection systems fail to protect the leading edge. Here, we numerically demonstrate transpiration cooling employing oxide coolants as a new alternative system to thermally protect sharp leading edges. We parametrically characterize the performance of transpiration cooling for various coolant properties, flight conditions, and leading edge radii using a semi-analytic boundary-layer model validated with third-order direct numerical simulations. We further utilize direct numerical simulation to examine the impact of the thermochemical behavior of oxide vapors with the external hypersonic flow on transpiration cooling. Our findings do not readily align with an optimal set of material properties for transpiration cooling. Instead, certain coolant properties are more appropriate for various flight conditions and leading edge sizes. Our results also demonstrate that the thermochemical interactions between the oxide vapors and the external hypersonic flow have a negligible impact on the performance of transpiration cooling. Our study provides numerical frameworks to evaluate the performance of transpiration cooling and optimize the coolant properties for various flight conditions to protect sharp leading edges, which are paramount across hypersonic applications.

The innovative thermal management system named Two-Phase Mechanically Pumped Loop (2PMPL) has been investigated to design probes for Venus exploration. This study aims integrating the 2PMPL evaporator inside the probe shell, using the Laser Powder Bed Fusion technique, to reduce the thermal system size and to increase the payload. In this paper, four evaporator designs have been developed and compared to the latest available reference solution. The overall assessment of those designs has been performed by comparing the results of basic Computational Fluid Dynamics analysis, structural behavior, mass and Three-Phase Contact Line (TPCL) length, highlighting specific strengths of each solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel catalyst was synthesised in a way that it could be applied in simultaneous adsorption and heterogeneous Fenton processes. The granulated Fe3O4/CuBDC/Cellulose nanocomposites were synthesised with a novel in-situ granulation method in a rotary autoclave reactor, and they were efficient in the removal of a detrimental trisazo dye, direct blue 71 (DB71). The catalysts were characterised by various analyses. In order to fulfill the expectation from the catalysts traits, many parameters were evaluated meticulously such as the effect of modification of Fe3O4 nanoparticles, the ratio of Fe3O4 to CuBDC in the nanocomposite, the stability of the catalyst, and diverse catalyst characterisations (SEM, EDX, FTIR, XRD, BET, XPS). The rotating speed of the autoclave was optimised by carrying out computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations; 60 rpm rotating speed was selected among the other ones to achieve catalysts that were more homogeneous. Moreover, the dye elimination process was conducted in a pilot fluidised bed reactor. The impacts of three diverse parameters on the removal efficiency were assessed by response surface method (RSM) to optimise them, 96.85% dye removal was achieved in a 30-min process (the initial DB71 concentration = 10 mg/L, the H2O2 concentration = 8.55 mM, and the catalyst dosage = 7.12 g/L). The study of the dye elimination mechanism and thermodynamics of the process indicated endothermic, spontaneous, favourable, and physical adsorption of DB71 on the catalysts. Reutilisation of granulated catalysts at least for ten treatment cycles without regeneration process incorporating high and stable degradation efficiency (11% performance reduction), exhibited the exceeding performance of the highly durable well-designed catalysts in the simultaneous adsorption and heterogeneous Fenton processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analysis of non-Newtonian fluid flow over an oscillating surface often involves numerical simulations and experimental investigations. Computational fluid dynamics method including finite difference or finite element techniques can be used to crack the governing equations of the fluid flow. In this work, we used the Crank–Nicolson numerical technique to analyze the numerical behavior of unsteady boundary layer flow of Casson fluid with natural convection past an oscillating vertical plate. The temperature-dependent viscosity is assumed for the flow analysis. The impact of chemical reaction and heat generation coefficient is used to examine the mass and heat transferal rates. The investigation of non-Newtonian fluid flow over an oscillating surface is crucial for a wide range of industrial, biomedical, and scientific applications. The governing model of equations occurs in the form of nondimensional PDEs and then we use the dimensionless variables in order to achieve the dimensional PDEs. These equations are numerically solved by using the Crank–Nicolson technique. The Crank–Nicolson scheme is used because it has the ability to provide accurate and stable solutions and make it a valuable numerical technique in various scientific and engineering disciplines. The findings indicate the significance of numerous parameters on the mass, velocity and energy regions. The numerical outcomes of skin friction are observed due to fluid parameter, viscosity parameter, Grashof numbers of heat and solutal rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computational fluid dynamics simulations were utilized to investigate the steam methane reforming process with the aim to improve its efficiency. Key parameters examined for their impact on process performance included surface heat flux (73–108 kW/m2), tube length (1–16 m), steam-to-carbon ratio (1.4–4), and flow rate (0.22–0.38 kg/s). To analyze the simultaneous effects of these variables while reducing computational costs, Deep Neural Networks (DNN) were employed. An optimized DNN was designed to achieve acceptable performance, featuring an input layer with four neurons that represent reformer length, flow rate, heat flux, and steam-to-carbon ratio. The network includes four hidden layers with 32, 16, 8, and 8 neurons respectively, and concludes with an output layer comprising seven neurons for residual methane, water vapor, produced hydrogen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, wall temperature, and gas outlet temperature. The results indicated that the proposed model achieved high accuracy, exceeding 99%, in predicting both training and test data. Following the DNN modeling, an optimization algorithm based on the random search method was developed. This algorithm searches a wide range of parameters to identify the optimal conditions for simultaneously maximizing hydrogen production and minimizing reformer length. [Display omitted] • Efficiency Enhancement: Improved steam methane reforming efficiency via CFD analysis. • Critical Parameters: Analyzed heat flux, tube length, S/C ratio, and flow rate impacts. • Machine Learning Approach: Employed deep neural networks to optimize multiple variables. • High Accuracy Prediction: Achieved over 99% accuracy in training and test data predictions. • Optimization Algorithm: Developed an algorithm using random search techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRCT: To enhance the bird strike resistance of fixed-wing aircraft wings, a combined computational approach integrating nonlinear solid mechanics and fluid dynamics was employed to analyze the bird strike characteristics of both traditional aluminum alloy skins and novel composite materials skins. Additionally, a standardized procedure was established to simulate aircraft structural damage more comprehensively, swiftly, and accurately during bird strikes, along with diagnostic analysis of flow field changes near the wing post-impact. This method not only quantifies wing strength damage but also establishes corresponding relationships between damage severity and aerodynamic performance degradation. The research findings indicate that the deformation of composite material skin wings is only a quarter of that of aluminum alloy skin wings. Composite material skins absorb less harmful energy compared to aluminum alloy skins, with consistently lower stiffness reduction rates at various bird strike velocities. Velocity distribution on deformed wings with composite material skins exhibits minimal deviation compared to normal wings, thereby preventing airflow separation. The research results provide more comprehensive guidance for the selection of materials for bird strike resistance of aircraft wings and the airworthiness evaluation after bird strikes. Highlights: This paper establishes a standardized procedure that enables a more comprehensive, faster, and higher-precision simulation of structural damage to the aircraft during a bird strike on the wing and allows for the diagnostic analysis of the flow field changes near the wing after bird strike. By coupling nonlinear solid mechanics and fluid dynamics computational methods, the aerodynamic performance of the wings at different angles of attack post-deformation is investigated. This approach not only quantifies the strength damage to the wings but also establishes corresponding relationships between the degree of damage and the deterioration in aerodynamic performance. The research yields insights into the aerodynamic performance degradation patterns with varying angles of attack for both composite material skin and aluminum alloy skin deformed wings. These findings can serve as valuable references for pilots in emergency situations, aiding in their decision-making regarding aircraft control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]