Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) approaches have been developed to studypollution reduction in the manufacturing phase and heat transfer in the packed beds of iron ore pellets. CFD is a versatile tool that can be applied to study numerous problems in fluid mechanics. In the present thesis it is used, verified and validated to reveal the fluid mechanics of a couple of processes taking place during the drying and sintering of iron ore pellets. This is interesting in itself and can facilitate the optimization of the production as to product quality of the pellets, reduced energy consumption and reduction of emissions such as NOx and CO2. The practical aim with the pollution reduction research project is to numerically study the use of Selective Non-Catalytic Reduction (SNCR) technologies in gratekiln pelletizing plants for NOx reduction which had, to the best knowledge of the author, never been used in this context before despite that it is commonly used in cement and waste incineration plants. The investigation is done in several stages: 1)Reveal if it is possible to use the technique with the two most commonly reagents, ammonia and urea. 2) Derive a chemistry model for cyanuric acid (CA) so that this reagent also can be scrutinized. 3) Compare the reagents urea and CA in the gratekiln pelletizing process.A CFD model was developed and numerical simulations were carried out solving the flow field. A model for spray injection into the grate was then included in the model enabling a study of the overall mixing between the injected reagent droplets and the NOx polluted air. The results show that the SNCR technique with urea and CA may reduce the amount of NOx in the grate-kiln process under certain conditions while ammonia fails under the conditions investigated. The work also lays grounds for continued development of the proposed chemistry model by the adding of reactions to the RAPRENOx-process for CA as reagent, facilitating an extension to ammonia and urea as reagents.The grate-kiln plant consists of a grate, a rotating kiln and an annular cooler. The pellets are loaded onto the grate to shape a bed with a mean height of about 0.2 m. The pellets in LKABs processes consist mainly of magnetite and different additives chosen to fit the demand from the customer. Throughout the grate a temperature gradient is formed in the bed. This gradient should be as even as possible throughout the grate to ensure an even quality of the pellets. Method to study this numerically is the second main task in this thesis. The aim is to find out how temperature distributions in the bed can be modeled and adjusted. Of special interest is how the incoming process gas, leakage, and the detailed composition of the pellet bed influence the heat transfer through the bed. To achieve the goals and create a trustful model for the heat transfer through the packed bed the model must be build up in steps. Heat transfer to a bed of iron ore pellets is therefore examined numerically on several scales and with three methods: a one-dimensional continuous model, a discrete three-dimensional model and traditional computational fluid dynamics.In a first study the convective heat transport in a relatively thin porous layer ofmonosized particles is set-up and computed with the one-dimensional continuous model and the discrete three-dimensional model. The size of the particles is only one order of magnitude smaller than the thickness of the layer. For the three-dimensional model the methodology applied is Voronoi discretization with minimization of dissipation rate of energy. The discrete model captures local effects, including low heat transfer in sections with low speed of the penetrating fluid and large velocity and temperature variations in a cross section of the bed. The discrete and continuousmodel compares well for low velocities for the studied uniform boundary conditions. When increasing the speed or for a thin porous layer however, the continuous model diverge from the discrete approach if a constant dispersion is used in the continuous approach. The influence is larger from an increase in pellet diameter to bed height ratio than from increased velocity. In a second study the discrete model is compared to simulations performed with CFD. If local values are of importance the discrete model should always be used but if mean predictions are sufficient the CFD model isan attractive alternative that is easy to couple to the physics up- and downstream the packed bed. The good agreement between the discrete and continuous model furthermore indicates that the discrete model may be used also for non-Stokian flow in the transitional region between laminar and turbulent flow, as turbulent effects show little influence of the overall heat transfer rates in the continuous model. / Godkänd; 2015; 20150407 (burper); Nedanstående person kommer att disputera för avläggande av teknologie doktorsexamen. Namn: Per E.C. Burström Ämne: Strömningslära/Fluid Mechanics Avhandling: Computational Fluid Dynamics of Processes in Iron Ore Grate-Kiln Plants Opponent: Professor Xue-Song Bai, Avd för strömningsteknik, Institutionen för energivetenskaper, Lunds tekniska högskola, Lund Ordförande: Professor Staffan Lundström, Avd för strömningslära och experimentell mekanik, Institutionen för teknikvetenskap och matematik, Luleå tekniska universitet Tid: Torsdag 4 juni kl 13.00 Plats: E231, Luleå tekniska universitet

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Product sound design has received much attention in recent years. This has created a need to develop and validate tools for developing product sound specifications. Elicitation of verbal attributes, identification of salient perceptual dimensions, modelling of perceptual dimensions as functions of psychoacoustic metrics and reliable auralisations are tools described in this thesis. Psychoacoustic metrics like loudness, sharpness and roughness, and combinations of such metrics into more sophisticated models like annoyance, pleasantness and powerfulness are commonly used for analysis and prediction of product sound quality. However, problems arise when sounds from several sources are analysed. The reason for this complication is assumed to be the human ability to separate sounds from different sources and consciously or unconsciously focus on some of them. The objective of this thesis was to develop and validate methods for product sound design applicable for sounds composed of several sources. The thesis is based on five papers. First, two case studies where psychoacoustic models were used to specify sound quality of saxophones and power windows in motor cars. Similar procedures were applied in these two studies which consisted of elicitation of verbal attributes, identification of most salient perceptual dimensions and modelling of perceptual dimensions as functions of psychoacoustic metrics. In the saxophone experiment, psychoacoustic models for prediction of prominent perceptual qualities were developed and validated. The power window experiment showed that subjects may judge only parts of the sound. Power window sound consists of the motor sound and the scratching of a window sliding over the seal. The motor sound was filtered out and models developed using motor sound alone showed good agreement with listening tests. This demonstrated the human ability to separate sound from different sources and pointed out the importance of handling auditory stream segregation in the product sound design process. In Paper III sound sketches (simple auralisations) was evaluated as a way to assess sounds composed of several sources. Auralisation allows control of the contributions of different sources to a sound at the listening position. This way, psychoacoustic analysis and listening tests may be carried out on the contributions from sources separately and as an ensemble. Sound sketches may also serve to specify a target sound for a product. In Papers IV and V, the precision of auralisations related to intended use was investigated. Auralisations were made by filtering engine sounds through binaural transfer functions from source locations to the listening position in a truck cabin. In Paper IV simplifications of auralisations of one source were compared to artificial head recordings. For idling sounds auralisations through binaural transfer functions with a resolution of 4 Hz or better, or smoothed with maximum 1/96 octave moving average filters were found to preserve perceived similarity to artificial head recordings. In Paper V the effect of simplifications of transfer functions on preference ratings of auralisations was examined. This is of interest in applications where audible differences may be acceptable as long as preference ratings are unaltered, e.g. when auralisations are used as rough sound sketches. At 500 rpm idle speed, a resolution of 32 Hz or better, or smoothing with maximum 1/24 octave moving average filters showed no significant alteration of subject preference ratings. These figures may serve as guide for required accuracy in auralisations used for evaluation of idling sounds in truck cabins. To conclude, psychoacoustic analysis of total sound may be used for prediction of perceived sound quality as long as the sound is generated by one source. When several sources generate sound, auditory stream segregation effects in combination with cognitive effects may deteriorate the results. Auralisation is a useful tool in such cases, since it makes it possible to analyse the effects of contributions from each source. It can also be used for making sound sketches which can serve as support in the design process. / Godkänd; 2008; 20080925 (ysko)

This thesis contains an analysis of fluid flow and heat transfer problems in the resin transfer moulding (RTM) process for manufacturing of polymer based fibre composites and it consists of five separate papers. The permeability of unidirectional fabrics, that are often used in advanced composites, is considered in Paper A and a theory for the permeability dependence on the micro geometry is developed. The theory is based on lubrication theory for narrow gaps which is motivated by the fact that most of the flow resistance comes from a small region where the fibres are closest to each other. Despite this limitation the results agree excellently with numerical results. 'Me best performance of the theory is expected at high fibre volume fractions (Vf) but the dependence on Vf is surprisingly good even at as low values as 0.3. Although the theory is formulated for an idealised geometry it can be used to predict the variation of the anisotropic permeability tensor with fibre volume fraction in real fabrics after fitting of three model parameters. Paper B is a study of the influence from different process parameters on the void content in the laminate. The void content is shown to be reduced strongly by an applied vacuum during mould filling. The main mechanism for void formation appears to be mechanical entrapment at the flow front. The voids are convected by the flow so that their concentration is highest close to the flow front. Microscopy investigation of the bubbles show that they are of two basic types, large spherical bubbles in the interstices between fibre bundles and smaller cylindrical bubbles inside the fibre bundles. The positive influence of vacuum compared to no vacuum can be explained as a combined effect of an increased mobility due to larger volume changes during mould filling and compression by the increased pressure during cure. In Paper C a comparison is made between the mould filling times for different injection strategies. The possible alternatives for a normal laminate are point injection, edge injection and peripheral injection. Theoretical results are derived that can be used to estimate the mould filling time with the different alternatives. In addition, fundamental theoretical results are derived from the governing equations showing the scaling of the mould filling time with the process parameters. This analysis also shows that the flow front motion during mould filling is only a function of the anisotropy of the reinforcement and the location of the gates. Paper D presents an analysis of the non-uniform flow at the flow front during impregnation of a stack of fabrics consisting of layers with different flow resistance. A detailed derivation of the theory and an analytical solution to the equations are presented in an addendum to Paper D. The theoretical model is compared with experimental results and is found to describe the experiment qualitatively well. The resulting permeability of a stack of different fabrics is derived from the basic equations and is found to be a weighted average of the permeability in the individual layers. This result is compared with experiments with different stacking sequences and it is found that the stacking sequence has no influence on the resulting permeability as expected from the theory. Experimental results in excellent agreement with Darcy's law are also presented for the case with radial flow and with unidirectional flow. Finally, Paper E is a theoretical study of the curing behaviour of thick laminates. A general solution independent of the cure kinetic model is derived. The solution is valid for low exothermal peak temperatures and it is characterised by two dimensionless numbers. The first parameter is the ratio between the time scales for the reaction and for heat conduction, the second parameter is the ratio between the processing temperature and the adiabatic temperature rise. The general solution is specialised to a second order autocatalytic cure model so that the results can be compared to numerical results. The agreement between the numerical and the analytical solution is excellent for small exothermal peak temperatures, as expected. The particular model used also serves as an example of the additional dimensionless parameters that are introduced by a specific kinetic model. / <p>Godkänd; 1993; 20070426 (ysko)</p>

A basic understanding of fluid flow through a porous media facilitates a comprehensive understanding of internal erosion in embankment dams. Hence, it is necessary to reveal the detailed seepage flow, the flow-induced forces acting within the porous media and the fluid flow deformation of the porous media. In order to increase the knowledge of the fluid flow a Computational Fluid Dynamics approach is applied to investigate different flow regimes. The regimes ranges from creeping flow, where a Darcy law formulation is sufficient, via an inertia dominated region, where a non-linear term must be added to the Darcy's law such as the Ergun equation, to the turbulent region, where the full Navier-Stokes equations must be solved including a Reynolds decomposition. Since it is not obvious when these transitions takes place the CFD-simulations are used to calculate the apparent permeability, the Blake-type friction factor and the normal and shear forces for a variety of model geometries. This includes quadratic and hexagonal packing of cylinders as well as spheres. One result is that the Reynolds number, where inertia-effects become significant, varies with the packing and the porosity. For a quadratic arrangement of cylinders this occurs around a Reynolds number about 10 while for a hexagonal arrangement it takes place between 30 and 50 depending on the porosity. Another result is that for quadratic arrangement the turbulent set-up at high Reynolds number gives higher forces than a corresponding laminar set-up regardless of the porosity. For hexagonal packing a turbulent set-up can, however, give lower forces. These ranges, regarding the Reynolds number, have been utilized in order to develop an expression for theoretical limits of the effective diameter and the applied pressure gradient to be applied when designing down-scaled geotechnical experimental setups. Regarding the deformation of the porous media there are several methods that has the potential to model the internal erosion process. One way is a mesh deformation approach where the normal and shear forces acting on the particles generate the motion. This methodology requires that the computational mesh is upgraded in every time-step resulting in rather computational heavy simulations. Another way is to combine CFDsimulations of flow in the vicinity of single particles with Monte-Carlo simulations of a system of a large number of particles by using the fact that the distribution of the stream function follows the known principle of minimal dissipation rate of energy. Main result is that the more compact the system is the larger is the possible relative change of permeability by applying a high flow rate. When applying this technique on a classical geotechnical experimental setup, the No Erosion Filter test, results indicate that the developed model captures the main characteristics of the sought particle transportation, both for a sealing as well as a non-sealing design of the filter and fine combination. / För en övergripande förståelse av inre erosion i fyllnadsdammar är det viktigt att få en grundläggande förståelse av villkoren för flöde genom porösa material. Därför är det nödvändigt att belysa de detaljerade flödesförhållandena, flödesinducerade krafter som verkar inom porösa material och flödesinducerad deformering av porösa material. För att öka kunskapen om dessa flöden är "Computational Fluid Dynamics" -simuleringar ett lämpligt tillvägagångssätt att använda för att undersöka olika flöden. Dessa villkor ger upphov till olika flödesregimer allt från krypande flöde, där en formulering baserad på Darcy's lag är tillräcklig, via en region dominerad av tröghetseffekter, där en icke-linjär term måste läggas till Darcy's lag såsom är fallet i Ergun's ekvation, till den turbulenta regionen, där de fullständiga Navier - Stokes ekvationer måste lösas. Men när dessa övergångar sker är inte uppenbart, därav användandet utav CFD-simuleringar för att beräkna den skenbara permeabilitet, en friktion faktor av Blake-typ och de normala och skjuvkrafter för olika modellgeometrier. Detta inkluderar kvadratiska och hexagonala packningar av cylindrar samt sfärer. Ett resultat är att Reynoldstalet där tröghetseffekterna blir betydande, varierar med packning och porositet. För en kvadratisk packning av cylindrar inträffar detta runt ett Reynolds tal omkring 10 medan för en hexagonal packning äger den rum mellan 30 och 50 beroende på porositet. Ett annat resultat är att för kvadratisk packning med turbulenta inställningar genereras högre krafter vid höga Reynolds tal än en motsvarande laminär inställning och detta sker oavsett porositet. För hexagonal packning kan en turbulent inställning ge lägre krafter. Dessa flödesregimer har använts för att fastställa ett matematiskt uttryck för de teoretiska gränserna gällande den effektiva diametern och lämplig tryckgradient för design utav nedskalade geotekniska experiment.När det gäller deformering utav ett poröst material finns flera metoder som har potential att modellera den inre erosions processen. Ett sätt är en nätdeformationsmetod där normal och skjuvkrafter som verkar på partiklarna genererar rörelse utav det porösa materialet. Denna metod kräver att beräkningsnätet uppdateras i varje tidssteg vilket genererar ganska beräkningsintensiva simuleringar. Ett annat tillvägagångssätt är att kombinera CFD-simuleringar utav flödet i närheten av enstaka partiklar med Monte Carlosimuleringar på ett större system med partiklar. De beräknade parametrarna kombineras på det större systemet där minimering utav dissipationen ger oss ett linjärt ekvationssystem med avseende på strömfunktionen. Från strömfunktionen beräknas fördelningen av krafter på strukturen som ger upphov till en omfördelning av partiklarna, detta för att kunna förutse förändringar i permeabiliteten hos det stora systemet av partiklar. Huvudresultatet är att ju mer kompakt systemet är desto större är den möjliga relativa förändringen utav permeabilitet genom att tillämpa ett högt flöde. Om man tillämpar denna teknik på ett klassisk geotekniskt experiment, No Erosion Filter test, så indikerar resultaten att metoden beskriver huvuddragen vad gäller transport utav partiklar i ett poröst material bestående utav en zon med fint material som kopplar till en filter zon. / <p>Godkänd; 2009; 20091019 (gunhel); DISPUTATION Ämnesområde: Strömningslära/Fluid Mechanics Opponent: PhD/Associate Professor Thanasis D. Papathanasiou, University of Thessaly, Grekland Ordförande: Professor Staffan Lundström, Luleå tekniska universitet Tid: Fredag den 20 november 2009, kl 09.00 Plats: E 243, Luleå tekniska universitet</p>

The solar wind interaction with the terrestrial magnetosphere is a source for many spectacular phenomena on or close the Earth's surface. A key question during the last fifty years have been how the solar wind plasma can enter the terrestrial magnetic shield represented by the magnetosphere and its outermost layer called the magnetopause. This have been the seed for many controversies among researchers throughout the years. Today we know that there are several possibilities for the solar wind to break through the magnetic boundary of the Earth. The main plasma transport mechanism at the magnetopause is called magnetic reconnection, where the magnetic energy stored in the solar wind is converted to kinetic energy through a localized break-down of the ideal frozen-in condition of the magnetic field within the plasma. Since its introduction to the space-physical community in the late 1950's, reconnection research have had its primary focus on understanding the onset mechanisms inside the diffusion region where the solar wind magnetic field is reconnected with the magnetospheric magnetic field. In this thesis work we put the context well out of the diffusion region and focuses on the implications of magnetic reconnection onto the surrounding solar wind plasma, rather than on the main mechanisms which initiates the process. We present solutions for the structure of the plasma flow through the magnetopause surface during conditions of ongoing reconnection. This is done through viscous-resistive reconnection models together with models where finite gyro-radius effects are considered. In order to validate the viscous-resistive model we also couple the analytical solutions with \textit{in situ} measurements made by the Cluster spacecraft fleet. This results in an entirely new way of determining the magnetopause transition layer thickness and the location of the reconnection site from spacecraft data. / Godkänd; 2007; 20070904 (pafi)

Flow with free and rough surfaces near hydropower stations is of interest for both engineering and environmental applications. Here, Computational Fluid Dynamics simulations of free surface flow and flow over rough surfaces in regulated rivers were performed in applications such fish migration, spillway design and flow over rough surfaces as in hydropower tunnels or natural channels. For all the investigated applications it is typical with very large geometrical scales, high flow rates and highly turbulent flow. Modelling boundaries such as free water surfaces and rough walls presents a challenge and was given special attention as well as the treatment of turbulence. Validation of the numerical simulations was performed in all cases with methods such as acoustic measurements with an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP), Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter (ADV) and optical measurements with Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV).Numerical simulations have been used to evaluate the flow downstream the Stornorrfors hydropower plant in Umeälven with regards to upstream migrating fish. Field measurements with an ADCP were performed and the measurements were used to validate the simulations. By adding a fish ladder in the simulations it was possible to investigate the attraction water created from the fishway at different positions and angles. An additional possibility to create better attraction water and improve the conditions for upstream migrating fish was simulated by guiding the spill water from the hydropower dam through a smaller passage from the old river bed.Fish population data from the same location was compared with flow fields from numerical simulations. The population data was compared with variables such as velocity, vorticity and turbulence intensity. A correlation between fish detections and turbulence intensity was shown.Simulations on the spilling from a dam were performed and compared to experimental results from a physical scale model. ADV was used to measure the velocity and validate the simulations. Two different spillway configurations were considered and simulations with both the Rigid Lid model and the Volume of Fluids method were carried out. Water levels, velocities and the shape of the water surface were compared between simulations and experiments. The simulations capture both qualitative features such as a vortex near the outlet and show good quantitative agreement with the experiments.A wall with large surface roughness was created by laser scanning a tunnel. One of the side walls was down-scaled and used to create a rough wall in a channel with rectangular cross-section for both a numerical model and an experimental model. Numerical simulations were performed and validated by PIV-measurements in the experimental model.The resolution of the geometry for the rough surface was lowered in two steps and numerical simulations were performed for flow over all three surfaces. The difference in flow fields in the bulk and near wall region was investigated as well as the difference in turbulent quantities which can provide good input for a new model for surface roughness in applications with very large surface roughness and high velocities such as flow in hydropower tunnels or natural channels and rivers. / Godkänd; 2013; 20130425 (aneane); Tillkännagivande disputation 2013-05-29 Nedanstående person kommer att disputera för avläggande av teknologie doktorsexamen. Namn: Anders G. Andersson Ämne: Strömningslära/Fluid Mechanics Avhandling: Modelling Flow with Free and Rough Surfaces in the Vicinity of Hydropower Plants Opponent: Associate Professor Nils Rüther, Dept of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway Ordförande: Professor Staffan Lundström, Institutionen för teknikvetenskap och matematik, Luleå tekniska universitet Tid: Torsdag den 20 juni 2013, kl 13.00 Plats: E231, Luleå tekniska universitet

Godkänd; 2014; 20140307 (soflar); Nedanstående person kommer att disputera för avläggande av teknologie doktorsexamen. Namn: Sofia Larsson Ämne: Strömningslära/Fluid Mechanics Avhandling: The Fluid Dynamics of the Cold Flow in a Rotary Kiln Opponent: Forskningsassistent Lisa Prahl Wittberg, Skolan för teknikvetenskap, Mekanik, KTH, Stockholm Ordförande: Professor Staffan Lundström, Avd för strömningslära och experimentell mekanik, Institutionen för teknikvetenskap och matematik, Luleå tekniska universitet Tid: Fredag den 11 april 2014, kl 10.00 Plats: E231, Luleå tekniska universitet / Fastelaboratoriet - VINNEXC

The fluid mechanical field of rough surface flows has been developed ever since the first experiments by Haagen (1854) and Darcy (1857). Although old, the area still holds merit and a surprising amount of information have to this day yet to be fully understood, which surely is a proof of its complexity. Many equations and CFD tools still rely on old, albeit reliable, concepts for simplifying the flow to be able to handle the effects of surface roughness. This notion is, however, likely to change within a not so unforeseeable future. The advancement of computer power has opened the door for more advanced CFD tools such as Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) and Large Eddy Simulation (LES). It can be argued that once a given flow situation has been fully accessible by numerical simulations, it is likely to be fully understood within a few years 1 . However, DNS is still limited to small scales of roughness and relatively low Reynolds number which is in contrast with given hydropower conditions today. The hydropower industry annually supplies Sweden with about 45% of its electricity production, and tunnels of various types are regularly used for conveying water to or from turbines within hydropower stations. The tunnels are a vital part of the system and their survival is of the essence. Depending on the manner of excavation, the walls of the tunnels regularly exhibit a roughness, this roughness may range from a few mm to m, which is true especially if the tunnel have been subjected to damage. For natural roughness e.g. hydropower tunnels, there is no clear way to distinguish between rough surface flows and flow past obstacles. Yet, to be able to distinguish between the two cases has proven to be important. This work is aimed to increase the understanding of how the wall roughness affects the flow, and how to treat it numerically. Paper A employs the use of pressure sensors to evaluate local deviations in pressure as well as head loss due to the surface roughness. Paper B is aimed at using PIV to evaluate the flow using averaging techniques and characteristic length scales. Paper C Further investigates the data from the PIV and pressure measurements and Evaluates the possibility to use basic but versatile turbulence models to evaluate the flow in such tunnels.

Iron ore pellets are a highly refined product supplied to the steel making industry for use in blast furnaces or direct reduction processes. The use of pellets offers many advantages such as customer adopted products, transportability and mechanical strength yet the production is time and energy consuming. Being such, there is a natural driving force to enhance the pelletization in order to optimize production and improve quality. The aim with this thesis is to develop numerical models with which the drying zone of an induration furnace can be examined and optimized. To start with, a continuous model of velocity and temperature distribution in the up-draught drying zone, without regard to moisture transport, is developed with aid of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). The results show a rapid cooling of air due to the high specific surface area in the porous material. With the global model an overall understanding of heat transfer is gained, but the heat and moisture transport should also be investigated on a smaller scale in order to account for small scale phenomena such as turbulence and dispersion. Drying of a bed of iron ore pellets is therefore considered by modeling a two-dimensional discrete system of round pellets. The system is divided by modified Voronoi diagrams and the convective heat transfer of hot fluid flow through the system including dispersion due to random configuration of the pellets is modeled. The results show that the temperature front advances much faster in the gaps between pellets than in the interior of the pellets even if all the heat energy of the air goes in heating of the pellets initially. Decrease of temperature is possible for low dew points of the input air due to evaporation. If the dew point temperature is higher than the temperature of the pellets on the other hand, there is slight condensation of the steam at the beginning of the process and the temperature increases faster than it would for pure thermal heating. An uneven distribution in temperature and moisture content between pellets is furthermore displayed in the discrete system. This phenomenon is related to the natural dispersion occurring in random system of pellets.To further investigate drying of individual pellets, forced convective heating of a cylindrical porous pellet with surrounding flow field taken into account is first examined. A model with properties similar to that of an iron ore pellet is numerically investigated and with interface heat transfer condition provided by CFD, the simulations show an increased heating rate for the porous cylinder when compared to a solid. The most plausible explanation to this is that there is less solid to heat up for the porous medium since the porous cylinder behaves as if it was impermeable from a fluid flow point of view. With diffusive liquid transport inside the two-dimensional pellet and corresponding evaporation at the surface, simulations of drying show an initial warm up phase with a succeeding constant rate drying phase. Constant drying rate will only be achieved if the surface temperature is constant, i.e. if it has reached the wet bulb temperature. The falling rate period will subsequently start at the forward stagnation point when the local moisture content approaches zero, while other parts of the surface still provide enough moisture to allow surface evaporation. The phases will thus coexist for a period of time. Experiments are carried out in order to examine the drying behavior of a single iron ore pellet with main goal to retrieve data for validation of the computational drying models. The experiments are performed with two inlet temperatures and one pellet from the experiments is scanned by an optical scanning equipment. In order to investigate the influence of surface irregularities and overall geometry on drying, simulations of the first drying period are compared for: 1) a scanned pellet 2) an oval pellet resembling the experimental one with equivalent volume 3) a spherical pellet with equivalent volume. The results show that the local moisture content at the surface is influenced by both surface irregularities and overall geometry. A smooth surface will decrease the local variation of moisture while a spherical geometry will, compared to an oval, increase the difference. A diffusive model taking into account capillary flow of liquid moisture and internal evaporation is developed to account for the whole drying process and simulations of the scanned pellet are validated with good agreement. The result clearly shows four stages of drying; i) evaporation of liquid moisture at the pellet surface, ii) surface evaporation coexisting with internal drying as the surface is locally dry, iii) internal evaporation with completely dry surface and iv) internal evaporation at boiling temperatures. A moisture front moving towards the core of the pellet will start to develop at the second drying stage and the results show that the front will have a non-symmetrical form arising from the surrounding fluid flow. With the developed drying model, simulations are then carried out on a spherical pellet with aim to investigate how the inlet air humidity affects drying. The results indicates that the effect of air dew point arise from the start of the first drying period, i.e the surface evaporation period, while the difference is reduced at the end of the period due to a prolonged stage of constant rate drying attained at high dew points. The wet-bulb temperature is increased with humidity and condensation will occur if the pellet surface temperature is below the dew point. Furthermore it is found that the moisture gradients at the surface and inside the pellet are increased with drying rate. / Godkänd; 2010; 20101103 (annlju); DISPUTATION Ämnesområde: Strömningslära/Fluid Mechanics Opponent: Professor Graham Nathan, The University of Adelaide, Australia Ordförande: Professor Staffan Lundström, Luleå tekniska universitet Tid: Onsdag den 8 december 2010, kl 09.00 Plats: F431, Luleå tekniska universitet