Simulations of Evaporating Multicomponent Fuel Drops

A paper presents additional information on the subject matter of Model of Mixing Layer With Multicomponent Evaporating Drops (NPO-30505), NASA Tech Briefs, Vol. 28, No. 3 (March 2004), page 55. To recapitulate: A mathematical model of a three-dimensional mixing layer laden with evaporating fuel drops composed of many chemical species has been derived. The model is used to perform direct numerical simulations in continuing studies directed toward understanding the behaviors of sprays of liquid petroleum fuels in furnaces, industrial combustors, and engines. The model includes governing equations formulated in an Eulerian and a Lagrangian reference frame for the gas and drops, respectively, and incorporates a concept of continuous thermodynamics, according to which the chemical composition of a fuel is described by use of a distribution function. In this investigation, the distribution function depends solely on the species molar weight. The present paper reiterates the description of the model and discusses further in-depth analysis of the previous results as well as results of additional numerical simulations assessing the effect of the mass loading. The paper reiterates the conclusions reported in the cited previous article, and states some new conclusions. Some new conclusions are: 1. The slower evaporation and the evaporation/ condensation process for multicomponent-fuel drops resulted in a reduced drop-size polydispersity compared to their single-component counterpart. 2. The inhomogeneity in the spatial distribution of the species in the layer increases with the initial mass loading. 3. As evaporation becomes faster, the assumed invariant form of the molecular- weight distribution during evaporation becomes inaccurate

Direct numerical simulation of gaseous mixing layers laden with multicomponent-liquid drops: liquid-specific effects

A representation of multicomponent-liquid (MC-liquid) composition as a linear combination of two single-Gamma probability distribution functions (PDFs) is used to describe a large number of MC-liquid drops evaporating in a gas flow. The PDF, called the double-Gamma PDF, depends on the molar mass. The gas-phase conservation equations are written in an Eulerian frame and the drops are described in a Lagrangian frame. Gas conservation equations for mass, momentum, species and energy are combined with differential conservation equations for the first four moments of the gas-composition PDF and coupled to the perfect gas equation of state. Source terms in all conservation equations account for the gas/drop interaction. The drop governing equations encompass differential conservation statements for position, mass, momentum, energy and four moments of the liquid-composition PDF. Simulations are performed for a three-dimensional mixing layer whose lower stream is initially laden with drops colder than the surrounding gas. Initial perturbations excite the layer to promote the double pairing of its four initial spanwise vortices to an ultimate vortex. During the layer evolution, the drops heat and evaporate. The results address the layer evolution, and the state of the gas and drops when layers reach a momentum-thickness maximum past the double vortex pairing. Of interest is the influence of the liquid composition on the development of the vortical features of the flow, on the vortical state reached after the second pairing, and on the gas temperature and composition. The MC-liquid simulations are initiated with a single-Gamma PDF composition so as to explore the development of the double-Gamma PDF. Examination of equivalent simulations with n-decane, diesel and three kerosenes as the liquid, permits assessment of the single-species versus the MC-liquid aspect, and of mixture composition specific effects. Global layer growth and global rotational characteristics are unaffected by liquid specificity; however, the global mixing is highly liquid-specific. Also liquid-specific is the evolution of the ensemble-averaged drop characteristics and of the volumetric averages representing the gas composition. Visualized rotational characteristics show that the small-scale vortical activity increases with increased fuel volatility, which is confirmed by analysis of the vorticity budgets. Homogeneous-plane-average budgets of the vorticity and vorticity-magnitude equations indicate that the stretching and tilting, and momentum-source terms are responsible for the difference among simulations. For all MC liquids, the gas displays a high level of composition heterogeneity, which can directly be traced to the original PDF representing the MC-liquid composition. Under most conditions, the single-Gamma PDF develops into a double-Gamma PDF; however, the extent of this transformation, indicative of vapour condensation onto drops, is not readily parametrized by the liquid volatility, initial carrier-gas temperature or trace vapour in the initial gas

Entrained flow gasification. Part 3: Insight into the injector near-field by Large Eddy Simulation with detailed chemistry

Entrained flow gasification is a promising process for the conversion of low-grade feedstock, e.g. highly viscous slurries and suspensions with a significant content of solid particles, to high quality fuels. A major scientific challenge is the prediction of the physical and chemical phenomena occurring in such high-temperature and high-pressure multiphase flow systems. In this context, this article is the sequel to “Entrained flow gasification. Part 1: Gasification of glycol in an atmospheric-pressure experimental rig” and “Entrained flow gasification. Part 2: Mathematical modeling of the gasifier using RANS method”. The same strategy as in the first two parts was followed. In order to reduce complexity, this study focused on a two-phase (gas and liquid) flow system with a model fuel (mono-ethylene glycol) under the simplified conditions provided by the atmospheric lab-scale gasifier REGA. Using the experimental data set provided in Part 1 of the coordinated papers for validation purposes, the main focus of this study was on the detailed understanding of the near injector region of the entrained flow gasifier REGA. The unsteady flow and the chemical conversion in the gasifier were investigated by means of Large Eddy Simulations with a detailed chemistry solver including 44 individual species and a direct calculation of 329 chemical reactions. The dispersed phase was solved by Lagrangian Particle Tracking. Downstream comparisons with experimental data showed a reasonable agreement concerning temperature and species profiles. The analysis of the injector near-field revealed that the high temperature reaction zone close to the injector could not be explained by a direct reaction of the fuel with the oxidizer. Instead, carbon monoxide and hydrogen mainly formed on the axis were transported upstream by the recirculation zone. The reaction of CO and H2 with the oxygen stabilized the flame. The heat release from this reactions supported the vaporization and decomposition of fuel as well as the downstream gasification reactions

Azathioprine versus mycophenolate mofetil for long-term immunosuppression in lupus nephritis: results from the MAINTAIN Nephritis Trial

Background: Long-term immunosuppressive treatment does not efficiently prevent relapses of lupus nephritis (LN). This investigator-initiated randomised trial tested whether mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) was superior to azathioprine (AZA) as maintenance treatment. Methods: A total of 105 patients with lupus with proliferative LN were included. All received three daily intravenous pulses of 750 mg methylprednisolone, followed by oral glucocorticoids and six fortnightly cyclophosphamide intravenous pulses of 500 mg. Based on randomisation performed at baseline, AZA (target dose: 2 mg/kg/day) or MMF (target dose: 2 g/day) was given at week 12. Analyses were by intent to treat. Time to renal flare was the primary end point. Mean (SD) follow-up of the intent-to-treat population was 48 (14) months. Results: The baseline clinical, biological and pathological characteristics of patients allocated to AZA or MMF did not differ. Renal flares were observed in 13 (25%) AZA-treated and 10 (19%) MMF-treated patients. Time to renal flare, to severe systemic flare, to benign flare and to renal remission did not statistically differ. Over a 3-year period, 24 h proteinuria, serum creatinine, serum albumin, serum C3, haemoglobin and global disease activity scores improved similarly in both groups. Doubling of serum creatinine occurred in four AZA-treated and three MMF-treated patients. Adverse events did not differ between the groups except for haematological cytopenias, which were statistically more frequent in the AZA group (p=0.03) but led only one patient to drop out. Conclusions: Fewer renal flares were observed in patients receiving MMF but the difference did not reach statistical significance.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe