This dissertation focuses on aerosol transport modeling in occupational environments and mining sites in Arizona using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The impacts of human exposure in both environments are explored with the emphasis on turbulence, wind speed, wind direction and particle sizes. Final emissions simulations involved the digitalization process of available elevation contour plots of one of the mining sites to account for realistic topographical features. The digital elevation map (DEM) of one of the sites was imported to COMSOL MULTIPHYSICS® for subsequent turbulence and particle simulations. Simulation results that include realistic topography show considerable deviations of wind direction. Inter-element correlation results using metal and metalloid size resolved concentration data using a Micro-Orifice Uniform Deposit Impactor (MOUDI) under given wind speeds and directions provided guidance on groups of metals that coexist throughout mining activities. Groups between Fe-Mg, Cr-Fe, Al-Sc, Sc-Fe, and Mg-Al are strongly correlated for unrestricted wind directions and speeds, suggesting that the source may be of soil origin (e.g. ore and tailings); also, groups of elements where Cu is present, in the coarse fraction range, may come from mechanical action mining activities and saltation phenomenon. Besides, MOUDI data under low wind speeds (<2 m/s) and at night showed a strong correlation for particles 1-micrometer in diameter between the groups: Sc-Be-Mg, Cr-Al, Cu-Mn, Cd-Pb-Be, Cd-Cr, Cu-Pb, Pb-Cd, As-Cd-Pb. The As-Cd-Pb group correlates strongly in almost all ranges of particle sizes. When restricted low wind speeds were imposed more groups of elements are evident and this may be justified with the fact that at lower speeds particles are more likely to settle. When linking these results with CFD simulations and Pb-isotope results it is concluded that the source of elements found in association with Pb in the fine fraction come from the ore that is subsequently processed in the smelter site, whereas the source of elements associated to Pb in the coarse fraction is of different origin. CFD simulation results will not only provide realistic and quantifiable information in terms of potential deleterious effects, but also that the application of CFD represents an important contribution to actual dispersion modeling studies; therefore, Computational Fluid Dynamics can be used as a source apportionment tool to identify areas that have an effect over specific sampling points and susceptible regions under certain meteorological conditions, and these conclusions can be supported with inter-element correlation matrices and lead isotope analysis, especially since there is limited access to the mining sites. Additional results concluded that grid adaption is a powerful tool that allows to refine specific regions that require lots of detail and therefore better resolve flow detail, provides higher number of locations with monotonic convergence than the manual grids, and requires the least computational effort. CFD simulations were approached using the k-epsilon model, with the aid of computer aided engineering software: ANSYS® and COMSOL MULTIPHYSICS®. The success of aerosol transport simulations depends on a good simulation of the turbulent flow. A lot of attention was placed on investigating and choosing the best models in terms of convergence, independence and computational effort. This dissertation also includes preliminary studies of transient discrete phase, eulerian and species transport modeling, importance of saltation of particles, information on CFD methods, and strategies for future directions that should be taken.

This work has been aimed at developing a mechanistic, transient, 3-D numerical model to predict the behavior of an evaporating thin liquid film on a non-uniformly heated cylindrical rod with simultaneous parallel and cross flow of vapor. Interest in this problem has been motivated by the fact that the liquid film on a full-length boiling water reactor fuel rod may experience significant axial and azimuthal heat flux gradients and cross flow due to variations in the thermal-hydraulic conditions in surrounding subchannels caused by proximity to inserted control blade tip and/or the top of part-length fuel rods. Such heat flux gradients coupled with localized cross flow may cause the liquid film on the fuel rod surface to rupture, thereby forming a dry hot spot. These localized dryout phenomena can not be accurately predicted by traditional subchannel analysis methods in conjunction with empirical dryout correlations. To this end, a numerical model based on the Level Contour Reconstruction Method was developed. The Standard k- turbulence model is included. A cylindrical coordinate system has been used to enhance the resolution of the Level Contour Reconstruction Model. Satisfactory agreement has been achieved between the model predictions and experimental data. A model of this type is necessary to supplement current state-of-the-art BWR core thermal-hydraulic design methods based on subchannel analysis techniques coupled with empirical dry out correlations. In essence, such a model would provide the core designer with a "magnifying glass" by which the behavior of the liquid film at specific locations within the core (specific axial node on specific location within a specific bundle in the subchannel analysis model) can be closely examined. A tool of this type would allow the designer to examine the effectiveness of possible design changes and/or modified control strategies to prevent conditions leading to localized film instability and possible fuel failure.

Vegetation is commonly modelled as emergent arrays of rigid, circular cylinders. However, the drag coefficient (CD) of real stems or trunks is closer to that of cylinders with a square cross-section. In this thesis, vegetation has been idealised as square cylinders in laboratory experiments with a turbulence intensity of the order of 10% which is similar to that of typical river flows. These cylinders may also represent other obstacles such as architectural structures. This research has determined CD of an isolated cylinder and cylinder pairs as a function of position as well as the average drag coefficient (CDv) of larger arrays. A strain gauge was used to measure CD whilst CDv was computed with a momentum balance which was validated by strain gauge measurements for a regularly spaced array. The velocity and turbulence intensity surrounding a pair of cylinders arranged one behind the other with respect to mean flow (in tandem) were also measured with an Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter. The isolated cylinder CD was found to be 2.11 in close agreement with other researchers. Under fixed flow conditions CD for a cylinder in a pair was found to be as low as -0.40 and as high as 3.46 depending on their relative positioning. For arrays, CDv was influenced more by the distribution of cylinders than the flow conditions over the range of conditions tested. Mean values of CDv for each array were found to be between 1.52 and 3.06. This new insight therefore suggests that CDv for vegetation in bulk may actually be much higher than the typical value of 1 which is often assumed to apply in practice. If little other information is available, a crude estimate of CDv = 2 would be reasonable for many practical applications. The validity of a 2D realizable k-epsilon turbulence model for predicting the flow around square cylinders was evaluated. The model was successful in predicting CD for an isolated cylinder. In this regard the model performed as well as Large Eddy Simulations by other authors with a significant increase in computational efficiency. However, the numerical model underestimates CD of downstream cylinders in tandem pairs and overestimates velocities in their wake. This suggests it may be necessary to expand the model to three-dimensions when attempting to simulate the flow around two or more bluff obstacles with sharp edges.

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Rotating bed reactors are used throughout the process industry. They are usedboth in the chemical industry and other industrial sectors, such as pharmaceuticals and the textile industry in decolorization due to by-products or contaminants.SpinChem AB manufactures rotary bed reactors (RBRs) to perform chemical reactions between liquids and solids. The solid material consists of spherical particles0.1 mm - 1 mm in diameter that are packed between two cylindrical spaces in theRBR. The goal of this project work is to determine the power number, the axial force thatthe RBRn experiences, the torque requirement on the motor and power consumptionof the the RBR when a fully developed turbulent flow is achieved. The purpose ofthe work is to optimize the technology from the energy usage point of view, makethe product simple and easily accessible for chemical and industrial processes as acontribution to the development of sustainable society. In order to achieve the purpose and goal of the projects, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) combined withexperimental models were used. Computation were made in COMSOL Multiphysicsfor two turbulence models. In it, the rotating machinery was used with moving meshtechnique for both the standard k−ε model and the SST k−ω turbulence models.The result is then compared with the empirical models. Investigation were done for two models of the rotating bed reactors (RBRs). Onemodel is called RBR S2 with relatively small size and RBR S14 which is a muchlarger version. For RBR S2 the experimental results turned out to be, an output ofpower number which is 3.4, torque requirement of 0.03 Nm, power consumption of3 W and a thrust force of 0.11 N. While the simulation results turned out to bean output of power number which is about 1.2, torque requirement of 0.013 Nm, apower consumption of 2 W and thrust force of 0.8 N. Similarly, the experimentalresult for RBR S14 was as follows. A power number of 0.53, torque requirement of0.41 Nm, power consumption of 6 W and a thrust force of 4.16 N. The simulationresults turned out to be, a power number of 0.34, torque requirement of 0,40 Nm,a power consumption of 4.14 W and thrust force of 3.61 N. With the help of the calculated power numbers, the power required to rotate theRBR can then be determined. Power number is determined when a fully developedturbulent flow is achieved. For RBRS2, a fully developed turbulent flow is achievedat Re = 2.8·104 and the angular velocity at that Reynolds number is about 830RPM. At that speed, the power is shown to be about 4 W for RBRS2. For RBRS14,a fully developed turbulent flow is achieved at Re = 1.5 · 105 and then the speed atthat Reynols number is about 83 RPM. The power need at that stage is shown tobe about 20 W. / Roterande bäddreaktorer används inom hela processindustrin. De används bådeinom den kemiska industrin och andra industriella sektor såsom, läkemedel och textilindustrin vid avfärgning på grund av biprodukter eller föroreningar. SpinChemAB tillverkar roterande bed reaktorer (RBR) för att utföra kemiska reaktioner mellan vätska och fasta material. Det fasta materialet består av sfäriska partiklar på0,1 mm - 1 mm i diameter som packas mellan två cylindrar i RBRn. Målet med detta projektarbete var att bestämma effekt nummer, effekt som krävsvid det effekt nummer, kravet på vridmoment från motorn samt den axiella kraftensom den roterande bäddreaktorn upplever när ett fullt utvecklat turbulent flöde uppnåtts. Syftet med arbetet var optimera teknologin ur energianvändningssynpunkt, göra den enkel och lättillgänglig för kemiska och industriella processer som ett bidragför hållbar samhällsutveckling. För att kunna uppnå syftet och målet med projekten användes, avancerade beräkningsmetoder i födes mekanik (CFD) i kombinationmed experimentella modeller. Beräkningar gjordes i COMSOL Multiphysics för tvåturbulenta modeller. I de användes roterande maskineriet med en medföljande mesh (moving mesh) för både standard k-ε modellen och SST k-ω modellen. Resultatet jämfördes sedan med de empiriska modellerna. Undersökningarna gjordes för två modeller av RBR. Ena modellen heter RBR S2med relativt små tillstorlek och RBR S14 som är mycket större version. För RBR S2visar den experimentella resultaten ett effekt nummer på 3,4, vridmoment på 0,03Nm, effekt förbrukning på 3 W och en axiellkraft ("thrust force") på 0,11 N. Simuleringsresultatet visar ett effekt nummer på 1,2, vridmoment på 0,013 Nm, effektförbrukning på 2 W och en axiellkraft på 0,8 N. För RBR S14 visade det experimentella resultatet ett effekt nummer på 0,53, vridmoment på 0,41 Nm, effektförbrukning på 6 W och en axiellkraft ("thrust force") på 4,16 N. Simuleringsresultatetvisade att effekt nummer var 0,34, vridmoment på 0,40 Nm, effektförbrukning på4,14 W och en axiellkraft på 3,61 N. Med hjälp av de framräknade effektnummer kan effekten som behövs rotera RBRnbestämmas. Effektnummer bestäms när ett fullt utvecklat turbulent flöde uppnåtts. För RBRS2 uppnås ett fullt utvecklat turbulent flöde vid Re = 2,8·04 och vinkelhastigheten är 830 RPM vid det Reynolds nummer. Effekten som krävs för att drivaRBRn vid det läge är ca 4 W för RBRS2. För RBRS14 uppnås ett fullt utvecklatturbulent flöde vid Re = 1,5·105 och då har vi en hastighet på 83 RPM. Vid denhastighet visas effekten vara ca 20 W.

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