Numerical simulation of ice slurry patterns with phase interactions effects inside different channels structures of plate heat exchangers

摘要

Within a current research project, an Euler-Euler approach is used in a commercial CFD simulation programto describe an ice slurry flow in plate heat exchangers. The Eulerian model is based on the kinetic theory ofgranular flow. The ice flow patterns in different structures of channels of plate heat exchangers areinvestigated. In addition, it provides predictions for the pressure drop and the concentration profiles thatrepresent the beginning of agglomeration. The ice agglomeration varies with concentration and particle size.The CFD simulation provides information about these parameters in combination with the channel geometryand the flow path. The simulation results show a comparison of pressure drop and volume fraction of the iceslurry flow in commercially available plate heat exchangers. The variation of the ice slurry parameters(concentration, particle size) at different locations in the plate heat exchangers (including gravity) is verycrucial for the explanation of the surface shear stress and the particle interaction. The numerical investigationshave focused mainly on illustrating the shear stress profiles, and mean velocity profiles in the channels byincreasing the ice volume fraction. The numerical results provide force coefficients at different inlet velocities,ice concentrations and particle sizes. The wall shear stress profiles show the effect of gravity on the flow profileof ice slurry.