About Book

Computational fluid dynamics is a branch of fluid mechanics that uses numerical analysis and algorithms to solve and analyze problems that involve fluid flows. Computers are used to perform the calculations required to simulate the interaction of liquids and gases with surfaces defined by boundary conditions. It is an essential ingredient in the modern engineering of stable aerodynamic, hemodynamic and hydraulic systems, as it has the capability to predict the flow motions for a specific system design, but also enables the researcher the opportunity to study the system's reaction to additional sets of physical conditions. CFD is applied to a wide range of research and engineering problems in many fields of study and industries, including aerodynamics and aerospace analysis, weather simulation, natural science and environmental engineering, industrial system design and analysis, biological engineering, fluid flows and heat transfer, and engine and combustion analysis. The book aims to shed light on some of the unexplored aspects of computational fluid dynamics. It deals with topics such as assessment of carotid flow, centrifuges, photochemical reactors, computational fluid dynamics modelling, portable microplasmas, thermography techniques, computational fluid dynamics and genetic algorithm. The topics included in it are of utmost significance and are bound to provide incredible insights to readers. It strives to provide a fair idea about this discipline and to help develop a better understanding of the latest advances within this field. Coherent flow of topics, student-friendly language and extensive use of examples make this book an invaluable source of knowledge. For all those who are interested in CFD, this book can prove to be an essential guide.

Preface............................................................................................................v

Chapter 1 Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Applied to a Glass Vaporization Chamber for Introduction of Micro- or Nano-Size Samples into Lab-Based ICPs and to a CFDDerived (and Rapidly Prototyped Via 3D Printing) Smaller-Size Chamber for

Portable Microplasmas..............................................................................1

Abstract ..................................................................................................1

1. Introduction............................................................................................2

2. Micro- or nano-sample introduction into ICPs...............................2

3. Experimental: Using an ICP-OES system in a lab.........................9

4. Fate of analytes in the chamber during vaporization...................9

5. Toward an ideal vaporization chamber.........................................11

6. Computational fluid dynamics for an ideal chamber.................12

7. Chambers designed based on simulation results.........................22

8. Experimental verification of CFD simulations..............................23

9. Conclusions drawn by employing ICP systems in a lab............29

10. A smaller chamber for microplasmas used in the field.............30

11. Overall conclusions.............................................................................31

Acknowledgements.............................................................................32

Chapter 2 Optimization Design by Coupling Computational Fluid Dynamics and Genetic Algorithm............................................................................37

Abstract.................................................................................................37

1. Introduction..........................................................................................37

2. A brief introduction about GAs.......................................................39

3. CFD coupled GAs for shape optimization....................................40

4. Optimization of the maldistribution of flow in a manifold.......43

5. Conclusions..........................................................................................49

Acknowledgements.............................................................................50

Chapter 3 Computational Fluid Dynamics in Turbulent Flow

Applications...............................................................................................53

Abstract ................................................................................................53

1. Introduction..........................................................................................53

2. Governing equations in computational fluid dynamics..............54

3. The ANSYS FLUENT software.........................................................60

4. RANS models.......................................................................................73

5. The LES technique..............................................................................74

6. RANS and LES capacities for turbulent flows analysis..............75

Chapter 4 Incorporation of Computational Fluid Dynamics into a Fluid

Mechanics Curriculum ...........................................................................79

1. Introduction ........................................................................................79

2. Basic computational fluid dynamics elements ............................82

3. Computational fluid dynamics teaching laboratories ................89

4. Integration of CFD laboratory into fluid mechanics

curriculum ...........................................................................................91

5. Teaching and learning evaluation ..................................................95

6. Concluding remarks ........................................................................106

Chapter 5 CFD Modelling of Fluidized Bed with Immersed Tubes............110

1. Introduction........................................................................................110

2. Two fluid and erosion model.........................................................111

3. Numerical method............................................................................115

4. Results and discussion.....................................................................118

5. Conclusion .........................................................................................131

Chapter 6 Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Modeling of Photochemical

Reactors.....................................................................................................135

1. Introduction ......................................................................................135

2. Photoreactor design .........................................................................137

3. Radiation field properties ..............................................................140

4. Photon transport equation .............................................................141

5. Principles of photocatalysis ...........................................................142

6. Momentum balance and computational fluid dynamics .........143

7. Case study .........................................................................................145

8. Conclusions .......................................................................................152

9. Acknowledgements .........................................................................153

10. Nomenclature ...................................................................................153

Greek letters ......................................................................................154

Chapter 7 CFD and Thermography Techniques Applied in Cooling Systems Designs .....................................................................................................163

1. Introduction ......................................................................................163

2. Benefits and drawbacks ..................................................................164

3. Fundamental concepts ....................................................................164

4. Water-cooled frame .........................................................................174

5. Thermal circuit and equations ......................................................175

6. Numerical analyses .........................................................................177

7. Experiments and thermography ...................................................183

8. Conclusions .......................................................................................186

9. Acknowledgement ...........................................................................187

Chapter 8 Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Discrete Element Method (DEM) Applied to Centrifuges............................................188

1. Introduction........................................................................................188

2. Solid bowl centrifuges......................................................................191

3. Mathematical formulation of the fluid.........................................196

4. Simulated flow in solid bowl centrifuges....................................204

5. Mathematical formulation of the particles...................................215

6. Prediction of the sediment build-up by means of DEM..........221

7. Evaluation of the computational demand for predicting flow in

centrifuges...........................................................................................225

8. Conclusions........................................................................................227

9. Notation..............................................................................................229

Abbreviations.....................................................................................230

10. Acknowledgments.............................................................................230

Chapter 9 Advances in Computational Fluid Dynamics Applied to the Greenhouse Environment ....................................................................235

1. Introduction ......................................................................................235

2. Fundamental CFD equations and methodology .......................236

3. Approaches used in the application of CFD to the greenhouse

environment ......................................................................................242

4. Main results of CFD models in greenhouses ............................256

5. Validation procedures for CFD models of greenhouse

environment ......................................................................................259

6. Looking into the future ..................................................................262

Chapter 10 Assessment of Carotid Flow Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging

and Computational Fluid Dynamics..................................................271

1. Introduction........................................................................................271

2. Magnetic resonance flow imaging.................................................273

3. Slice-selective FVE with spiral readouts (spiral FVE)...............280

4. Wall shear rate estimation using spiral FVE...............................285

5. Assessment of carotid flow using CFD (and MRI)....................291

6. Conclusion..........................................................................................297

Citation......................................................................................................301

Index...........................................................................................................303

About Author

Luke Howard holds Ph.D. in Earth Science and Fluid Dynamics from Technological University, Florence. His current research topics are fluid dynamics, mathematical methods, large-scale physics flows and industrial applications. He is an Assistant Professor at Open Research University, Aragon. He has written several articles and journals on diffusion of pollutants, computational fluid dynamics, and atmospheric meteorology. Howard is also working as an independent researcher, technical writer, and editor in the fields of mathematics, physics, astronomy and astrophysics.