Yong-Kweon Suh

On the Problem of Using Mixing Index Based on the Concentration Dispersion

In this study, the problem of using the mixing index as a measure of the mixing performance for a certain flow field has been discussed. The flow model subjected to this study is the two-dimensional unsteady lid-driven cavity flow. The transport equation for the concentration within the cavity was solved by using the finite volume method where the convective terms are discretized with the central difference scheme. It was shown that both the concentration dispersion and the mixing index depend highly on the initial distribution of the concentration, and therefore the mixing index obtained from the concentration dispersion equation loses its universal applicability.

A Numerical Study on Stirring Characteristics in a Microchannel with Various Arrangement of Blocks

Numerical study on stirring characteristics in a microchannel with blocks arranged periodically has been performed. Viscous flows through the microchannel is simulated three-dimensionally using a commercial code, FLUENT 6.0. Focus is given to the effect on the stirring characteristics of the geometric factors including the pitch, height and angle of the block arrangement. The numerical results at low Reynolds numbers show that the particles` trajectories in the microchannel heavily depend on the block arrangement. A nonlinear dynamical tool, i.e. Lyapunov exponent, was used in analysing the mixing effect. It was found that the mixing is the most effective at a certain combination of parameter values.

Analysis of the Power for a Decanter-Type Centrifuge (II) - Total Power and the Power-Transmission Mechanism -

In this paper, we derived the formula for estimating the power of the electric motors needed to operate the Decanter-type centrifuge. In the derivation of the formula the sludge-removal torque is to be supplied from the formula derived in the first paper. The intricate nature of the transmission mechanism in the planetary gear trains of the sludge-removal power and torque has been clarified in this second paper. In particular we considered two-motor system, where the main motor drives the machine while the differential-speed control motor plays the role of braking in adjusting the differential speed. Sample calculation for the specific design treated in the first paper showed that the selection criterion for the main motor depends on the lower limit of the differential speed; when the lower limit is set low, it should be selected based on the steadily operating power, while it should be selected based on the starting power when the lower limit is set high. The total power required by both the main motor and the differential-speed control motor increases as the differential speed is decreased. It is suggested that the power loss in the differential-speed control motor could be minimized by attaching an electric generator to it.

Analysis of the Power for a Decanter-Type Centrifuge (I) - Sludge-Removal Power -

In general, the electric motor for driving the centrifuge of Decanter type is selected based on the power(starting power) necessary to start the bowl and the screw shaft. However the operation cost of the machine is dependent on the power needed at a steadily operating condition, including the power against the bearing friction and that for the sludge removal. In this paper, the formulation for the sludge-removal power is presented. Sample calculation for a specific design shows that the sludge-removal power is increased with the friction coefficient. It also reveals that the power is mainly dependent on the length of the screw blade rather than the beach angle. Further it is shown that the power increases in square of the rotational speed of the machine.

Development of a Nonlinear Ekman Pumping Model

Developed in this study is a nonlinear Ekman pumping model to be used in simulating the rotating flows with quasi-three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations. In this model, the Ekman pumping velocity is given from the solution of the Ekman boundary-layer equations for the region adjacent to the bottom wall of the flow domain; the boundary-layer equations are solved in the momentum-integral form. The developed model is then applied to rotating flows in a rectangular container receiving a time-periodic forcing. By comparing our results with the DNS and experimental data we have validated the developed model. We also compared our results with those given from the classical Ekman pumping model. It was found that our model can predict the rotating flows more precisely than the classical linear model.

Movement of a Horizontal Vortex Ring in a Circular Cylinder

In this paper, we report the numerical and experimental solutions of the axi-symmetric flows in the axial plane driven by an impingement of fluid from the bottom wall of a circular cylinder. We managed to visualize successfully the flow pattern shown on the vertical plane through the container axis. The numerical results are shown to compare well with the experimental results for the case of infinity Rossby number. The satisfactory agreement between the two results was possible when in the numerics the free surface was treated as a solid wall so that a no-slip condition was applied on the surface. The numerical solutions reveal that inertial oscillation plays an important role at small Rossby numbers, or at a larger background rotation.

Three-Dimensional Numerical Computation and Experiment on Periodic Flows under a Background Rotation

We present numerical and experimental results of periodic flows inside a rectangular container under a background rotation. The periodic flows are generated by changing the speed of rotation periodically so that a time-periodic body forces produce the unsteady flows. In numerical computation, a parallel-computation technique with MPI is implemented. Flow visualization and PIV measurement are also performed to obtain velocity fields at the free surface. Through a series of numerical and experimental works, we aim to clarify, if any, the fundamental reasons \ulcornerf discrepancy between the two-dimensional computation and the experimental measurement, which was detected in the previous study for the same flow model. Specifically, we check if the various assumptions prerequisite for the validity of the classical Ekman pumping law are satisfied for periodic flows under a background rotation.

A Study on Removing the Magnetic Impurity in a Power Plant Line

This work focuses on eliminating tiny particles from the coolant in a nuclear pipe line by using a permanent magnet on the exterior surface of the pipe. This method have some merits compared with the currently applied methods and is expected to be applied to most of the pipe lines in the nuclear plant. For instance in this method, a ring is attacked to the exterior surface of the pipe, so that it does not affect the inflows directly. Further, the cost needed in the initial build-up of the facility is low.

A Numerical Study on Spin-up Flows in a Shallow Quadrangular Container

Spin-up is a transient flow phenomenon occurring in a container when it starts to rotate from rest or its rotational speed increases from a low to high value. However, most studies on this subject have been for two-dimensional approximation. In this study, spin-up flows in a shallow rectangular container are analysed by using three-dimensional computation. We compared our results with those obtained by others using basically two-dimensional computation. Effect of two parameters, Reynolds number and liquid depth on the flow evolution is studied. We found that 2-D result is not accurate enough, and the vertical velocity distribution should be assumed of a fourth-order polynomial function for a better comparison.

Experimental/Numerical Study on a Secondary Flow within a Rectangular Container Subjected to a Horizontal Oscillation

Analysis of two-dimensional secondary flows given by an oscillatory motion of a liquid with a free surface in a rectangular container subject to a linear reciprocating force is performed by numerical and experimental methods. FVM is used for the numerical computation of the two-dimensional flows. We considered the effects of the free-surface properties such as the surface tension and the dilatational viscosity. The boundary-layer analysis as well as an experiment is used in establishing the free surface properties. The secondary flow patterns are visualized by a laser sheet. It is shown that the secondary flow patterns predicted by the numerical methods are in good agreement with the experimental results.