Gas-Liquid Flow on Smooth and Textured Inclined Planes
Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS) is one of the various
methods that can be used to reduce the carbon footprint of the
energy sector. This paper focuses on the absorption of CO2 from
flue gas using packed columns, whose efficiency is highly dependent
on the structure of the liquid films within the column. To study the
characteristics of liquid films a CFD solver, OpenFOAM is utilised
to solve two-phase, isothermal film flow using the volume-of-fluid
(VOF) method. The model was validated using existing experimental
data and the Nusselt theory. It was found that smaller plate inclination
angles, with respect to the horizontal plane, resulted in larger wetted
areas on smooth plates. However, only a slight improvement in
the wetted area was observed. Simulations were also performed
using a ridged plate and it was observed that these surface textures
significantly increase the wetted area of the plate. This was mainly
attributed to the channelling effect of the ridges, which helped to
oppose the surface tension forces trying to minimise the surface area.
Rivulet formations on the ridged plate were also flattened out and
spread across a larger proportion of the plate width.
[1] C. D. Ho, H. Chang, H. J. Chen, C. L. Chang, H. H. Li, and Y. Y. Chang,
"CFD simulation of the two-phase flow for a falling film microreactor,"
International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, vol. 54, pp. 3740-
3748, 2011.
[2] P. Chasanis, A. Lautenschleger, and E. Y. Kenig, "Numerical investigation
of carbon dioxide absorption in a falling-film micro-contactor,"
Chemical Engineering Science, vol. 65, no. 3, pp. 1125-1133, 2010.
[3] S. Freguia and G. T. Rochelle, "Modeling of CO2 capture by aqueous
monoethanolamine," AIChE Journal, vol. 49, no. 7, pp. 1676-1686,
2003.
[4] L. Raynal and A. Royon-Lebeaud, "A multi-scale approach for CFD
calculations of gas-liquid flow within large size column equipped with
structured packing," Chemical Engineering Science, vol. 62, no. 24, pp.
7196-7204, 2007.
[5] M. Kohrt, I. Ausner, G. Wozny, and J. U. Repke, "Texture influence on
liquid-side mass transfer," Chemical Engineering Research and Design,
vol. 89, pp. 1405-1413, 2011.
[6] M. R. Khosravi Nikou, M. R. Ehsani, and M. Davazdah Emami, "CFD
Simulation of Hydrodynamics, Heat and Mass Transfer Simultaneously
in Structured Packing," International Journal of Chemical Reactor
Engineering, vol. 6, p. A91, 2008.
[7] J. Chen, C. Liu, X. Yuan, and G. Yu, "CFD simulation of flow and mass
transfer in structured packing distillation columns," Chinese Journal of
Chemical Engineering, vol. 17, no. 3, pp. 381-388, 2009.
[8] Y. Y. Xu, S. Paschke, J. U. Repke, J. Q. Yuan, and G. Wozny,
"Computational Approach to Characterize the Mass Transfer between
the Counter-Current Gas-Liquid Flow," Chemical Engineering & Technology,
vol. 32, no. 8, pp. 1227-1235, 2009.
[9] Y. Haroun, D. Legendre, and L. Raynal, "Direct numerical simulation
of reactive absorption in gas-liquid flow on structured packing using
interface capturing method," Chemical Engineering Science, vol. 65,
no. 1, pp. 351-356, 2010.
[10] B. Szulczewska, I. Zbicinski, and A. G'orak, "Liquid flow on structured
packing: Cfd simulation and experimental study," Chemical engineering
& technology, vol. 26, no. 5, pp. 580-584, 2003.
[11] H. Lan, J. Wegener, B. Armaly, and J. Drallmeier, "Developing laminar
gravity-driven thin liquid film flow down an inclined plane," Journal of
Fluids Engineering, vol. 132, p. 081301, 2010.
[12] Y. Y. Xu, S. Paschke, J. U. Repke, J. Q. Yuan, and G. Wozny,
"Portraying the Countercurrent Flow on Packings by Three-Dimensional
Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulations," Chemical Engineering &
Technology, vol. 31, no. 10, pp. 1445-1452, 2008.
[13] F. Gu, C. J. Liu, X. G. Yuan, and G. C. Yu, "CFD simulation of
liquid film flow on inclined plates," Chemical engineering & technology,
vol. 27, no. 10, pp. 1099-1104, 2004.
[14] P. Valluri, O. K. Matar, G. F. Hewitt, and M. A. Mendes, "Thin film
flow over structured packings at moderate Reynolds numbers," Chemical
engineering science, vol. 60, no. 7, pp. 1965-1975, 2005.
[15] A. Hoffmann, I. Ausner, J. U. Repke, and G. Wozny, "Fluid dynamics
in multiphase distillation processes in packed towers," Computers &
chemical engineering, vol. 29, no. 6, pp. 1433-1437, 2005.
[16] A. Hoffmann, I. Ausner, J. Repke et al., "Detailed investigation of
multiphase (gas-liquid and gas-liquid-liquid) flow behaviour on inclined
plates," Chemical Engineering Research and Design, vol. 84, no. A2,
pp. 147-154, 2006.
[17] Y. Iso and X. Chen, "Flow Transition Behavior of the Wetting Flow
Between the Film Flow and Rivulet Flow on an Inclined Wall," Journal
of Fluids Engineering, vol. 133, p. 091101, 2011.
[18] OpenCFD, OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox. User Guide
Version 2.0.1. OpenCFD Ltd., Reading UK, 2011.
[19] OpenCFD., OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox. Programmer-s
Guide Version 2.0.1. OpenCFD Ltd., Reading UK, 2011.
[20] C.W. Hirt and B.D. Nichols, "Volume of fluid (VOF) method for
the dynamics of free boundaries," Journal of Computational Physics,
vol. 39, no. 1, pp. 201 - 225, 1981.
[21] H. Rusche, "Computational Fluid Dynamics of Dispersed Two-Phase
Flows at High Phase Fractions," Ph.D. dissertation, Imperial College,
University of London, Dec 2002.
[22] E. Berberovi'c, N. P. van Hinsberg, S. Jakirli'c, I. V. Roisman, and C. Tropea,
"Drop impact onto a liquid layer of finite thickness: Dynamics of
the cavity evolution," Physical Review E, vol. 79, no. 3, p. 036306, 2009.
[23] J. Brackbill, D. Kothe, and C. Zemach, "A continuum method for
modeling surface tension," Journal of Computational Physics, vol. 100,
no. 2, pp. 335-354, 1992.
[24] W. Nusselt, "Die Oberflchenkondensation des Wasserdampfes,"
Zeitschrift des Vereines Deutscher Ingenieure, vol. 60, pp. 541-546 and
569-575, 1916.
[25] C. F. Petre, F. Larachi, I. Iliuta, and B. P. A. Grandjean, "Pressure
drop through structured packings: Breakdown into the contributing
mechanisms by CFD modeling," Chemical engineering science, vol. 58,
no. 1, pp. 163-177, 2003.
[1] C. D. Ho, H. Chang, H. J. Chen, C. L. Chang, H. H. Li, and Y. Y. Chang,
"CFD simulation of the two-phase flow for a falling film microreactor,"
International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, vol. 54, pp. 3740-
3748, 2011.
[2] P. Chasanis, A. Lautenschleger, and E. Y. Kenig, "Numerical investigation
of carbon dioxide absorption in a falling-film micro-contactor,"
Chemical Engineering Science, vol. 65, no. 3, pp. 1125-1133, 2010.
[3] S. Freguia and G. T. Rochelle, "Modeling of CO2 capture by aqueous
monoethanolamine," AIChE Journal, vol. 49, no. 7, pp. 1676-1686,
2003.
[4] L. Raynal and A. Royon-Lebeaud, "A multi-scale approach for CFD
calculations of gas-liquid flow within large size column equipped with
structured packing," Chemical Engineering Science, vol. 62, no. 24, pp.
7196-7204, 2007.
[5] M. Kohrt, I. Ausner, G. Wozny, and J. U. Repke, "Texture influence on
liquid-side mass transfer," Chemical Engineering Research and Design,
vol. 89, pp. 1405-1413, 2011.
[6] M. R. Khosravi Nikou, M. R. Ehsani, and M. Davazdah Emami, "CFD
Simulation of Hydrodynamics, Heat and Mass Transfer Simultaneously
in Structured Packing," International Journal of Chemical Reactor
Engineering, vol. 6, p. A91, 2008.
[7] J. Chen, C. Liu, X. Yuan, and G. Yu, "CFD simulation of flow and mass
transfer in structured packing distillation columns," Chinese Journal of
Chemical Engineering, vol. 17, no. 3, pp. 381-388, 2009.
[8] Y. Y. Xu, S. Paschke, J. U. Repke, J. Q. Yuan, and G. Wozny,
"Computational Approach to Characterize the Mass Transfer between
the Counter-Current Gas-Liquid Flow," Chemical Engineering & Technology,
vol. 32, no. 8, pp. 1227-1235, 2009.
[9] Y. Haroun, D. Legendre, and L. Raynal, "Direct numerical simulation
of reactive absorption in gas-liquid flow on structured packing using
interface capturing method," Chemical Engineering Science, vol. 65,
no. 1, pp. 351-356, 2010.
[10] B. Szulczewska, I. Zbicinski, and A. G'orak, "Liquid flow on structured
packing: Cfd simulation and experimental study," Chemical engineering
& technology, vol. 26, no. 5, pp. 580-584, 2003.
[11] H. Lan, J. Wegener, B. Armaly, and J. Drallmeier, "Developing laminar
gravity-driven thin liquid film flow down an inclined plane," Journal of
Fluids Engineering, vol. 132, p. 081301, 2010.
[12] Y. Y. Xu, S. Paschke, J. U. Repke, J. Q. Yuan, and G. Wozny,
"Portraying the Countercurrent Flow on Packings by Three-Dimensional
Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulations," Chemical Engineering &
Technology, vol. 31, no. 10, pp. 1445-1452, 2008.
[13] F. Gu, C. J. Liu, X. G. Yuan, and G. C. Yu, "CFD simulation of
liquid film flow on inclined plates," Chemical engineering & technology,
vol. 27, no. 10, pp. 1099-1104, 2004.
[14] P. Valluri, O. K. Matar, G. F. Hewitt, and M. A. Mendes, "Thin film
flow over structured packings at moderate Reynolds numbers," Chemical
engineering science, vol. 60, no. 7, pp. 1965-1975, 2005.
[15] A. Hoffmann, I. Ausner, J. U. Repke, and G. Wozny, "Fluid dynamics
in multiphase distillation processes in packed towers," Computers &
chemical engineering, vol. 29, no. 6, pp. 1433-1437, 2005.
[16] A. Hoffmann, I. Ausner, J. Repke et al., "Detailed investigation of
multiphase (gas-liquid and gas-liquid-liquid) flow behaviour on inclined
plates," Chemical Engineering Research and Design, vol. 84, no. A2,
pp. 147-154, 2006.
[17] Y. Iso and X. Chen, "Flow Transition Behavior of the Wetting Flow
Between the Film Flow and Rivulet Flow on an Inclined Wall," Journal
of Fluids Engineering, vol. 133, p. 091101, 2011.
[18] OpenCFD, OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox. User Guide
Version 2.0.1. OpenCFD Ltd., Reading UK, 2011.
[19] OpenCFD., OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox. Programmer-s
Guide Version 2.0.1. OpenCFD Ltd., Reading UK, 2011.
[20] C.W. Hirt and B.D. Nichols, "Volume of fluid (VOF) method for
the dynamics of free boundaries," Journal of Computational Physics,
vol. 39, no. 1, pp. 201 - 225, 1981.
[21] H. Rusche, "Computational Fluid Dynamics of Dispersed Two-Phase
Flows at High Phase Fractions," Ph.D. dissertation, Imperial College,
University of London, Dec 2002.
[22] E. Berberovi'c, N. P. van Hinsberg, S. Jakirli'c, I. V. Roisman, and C. Tropea,
"Drop impact onto a liquid layer of finite thickness: Dynamics of
the cavity evolution," Physical Review E, vol. 79, no. 3, p. 036306, 2009.
[23] J. Brackbill, D. Kothe, and C. Zemach, "A continuum method for
modeling surface tension," Journal of Computational Physics, vol. 100,
no. 2, pp. 335-354, 1992.
[24] W. Nusselt, "Die Oberflchenkondensation des Wasserdampfes,"
Zeitschrift des Vereines Deutscher Ingenieure, vol. 60, pp. 541-546 and
569-575, 1916.
[25] C. F. Petre, F. Larachi, I. Iliuta, and B. P. A. Grandjean, "Pressure
drop through structured packings: Breakdown into the contributing
mechanisms by CFD modeling," Chemical engineering science, vol. 58,
no. 1, pp. 163-177, 2003.
@article{"International Journal of Chemical, Materials and Biomolecular Sciences:62908", author = "J.J. Cooke and S. Gu and L.M. Armstrong and K.H. Luo", title = "Gas-Liquid Flow on Smooth and Textured Inclined Planes", abstract = "Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS) is one of the various
methods that can be used to reduce the carbon footprint of the
energy sector. This paper focuses on the absorption of CO2 from
flue gas using packed columns, whose efficiency is highly dependent
on the structure of the liquid films within the column. To study the
characteristics of liquid films a CFD solver, OpenFOAM is utilised
to solve two-phase, isothermal film flow using the volume-of-fluid
(VOF) method. The model was validated using existing experimental
data and the Nusselt theory. It was found that smaller plate inclination
angles, with respect to the horizontal plane, resulted in larger wetted
areas on smooth plates. However, only a slight improvement in
the wetted area was observed. Simulations were also performed
using a ridged plate and it was observed that these surface textures
significantly increase the wetted area of the plate. This was mainly
attributed to the channelling effect of the ridges, which helped to
oppose the surface tension forces trying to minimise the surface area.
Rivulet formations on the ridged plate were also flattened out and
spread across a larger proportion of the plate width.", keywords = "CCS, liquid film flow, packed columns, wetted area", volume = "6", number = "8", pages = "841-8", }
