Numerical optimization of  the mixing flow in a straight tube, single, and two loops helical coil

Wameath Shawqi Abdul-Majeed

doi:10.18282/fme.v1i1.601

Wameath Shawqi Abdul-Majeed Department of Chemical and Petrochemical Engineering -University of Nizwa, PC616, Nizwa - Oman

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18282/fme.v1i1.601

Keywords: mixing flow, flow in curved sections, swirl flow, helical coil, passive flow techniques

Abstract

A great interest of using curved pipes was shown in the industrial applications due to many advantages such as developed agitation which could be obtained as an alternative to the conventional agitation at lower energy consumption and reduced cost. A computational investigation was conducted in this study to contemplate on the enhancement occur in the mixing flow upon using single and multi-loops helical coil compared with a straight tube. The objective was to optimize the number of loops in the helical coil. The computations were achieved via “Fluent software” in which 3d, second order upwind were used for all cases studied. The study consisted of four parts in which the numerical error study was conducted in the first part to optimize the grid meshing and to make sure that the results are independent of it. The effect of using the helical coil on the pressure drop was conducted in the second part. The third and fourth parts of the study were devoted to envisage the enhancement of applying the curved loops in the coil on the heat and mass transfer, respectively. The main findings of the study were limited effect of single loop coil on the heat and mass transfer processes. Better effect was depicted upon increasing the number of loops in the helical coil into 2. However, applying 2 loops has resulted in building up higher pressure drops. Moreover, the pressure drop was shown slightly higher in the case of applying water when compared with air.

Author Biography

Wameath Shawqi Abdul-Majeed, Department of Chemical and Petrochemical Engineering -University of Nizwa, PC616, Nizwa - Oman

Wameath Abdul-Majeed has received B.Sc and M.Sc degrees in Chemical Engineering from the University of Technology/Baghdad and a PhD in chemical Engineering from the University of Sheffield/UK. He worked more than 30 years in industry,academia and R&D. He is currently serving as the head of Chemical and Petrochemical Engineering Department - University of Nizwa - Sultanate of Oman. His current reserch focuses on applying non-thermal plasma as a catalyzing agent in different applications (industrial, enviroment and health sectors). Other research interests are dedicated for hydrogen generation and CO2 capturing.

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