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<p> A virtual impactor type dust flow concentrator was developed and an experimental investigation was performed to characterize the hydraulic and particulate matter (PM) separation performance of the device. In particular, the pressure drop characteristics, the ratio of the flow through the two branches, and the PM concentration in the minor and main branch of the flow concentrator were evaluated using experiments on a diesel exhaust rig and an air rig. Tests were performed to examine the effect of the inlet flow Reynolds number, the inlet tube lip position relative to the concentration probe, and the flow distribution between the minor and main branches. Numerical simulations were also performed for a simplified concentrator geometry to examine the flow streamlines and pressure drop. The results showed that the ratio of the concentration in the minor and main flow branches changed as the flow rate in these branches changed, reaching a maximum at a minor flow ratio that depended on the lip position. It was observed the difference of the particulate matter concentration in the minor and main branch was greater for higher inlet Reynolds number. For example, the concentration ratio increased 50% as the Reynolds number increased from 2,200 to 25,700. A similar result was observed when the inlet tube lip was moved further into the concentration body. The pressure losses seem to be mainly caused by the changes in flow directions and the change in the cross sectional areas.</p> / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

Coronary tortuosity is the abnormal curving and twisting of the coronary arteries. Although the phenomenon of coronary tortuosity is frequently encountered by cardiologists its clinical significance is unclear. It is known that coronary tortuosity has significant influence on the hemodynamics inside the coronary arteries, but it is difficult to draw definite conclusions due to the lack of patient-specific studies and an absence of a clear definition of tortuosity. In this work, in order to investigate a relation of coronary tortuosity to such diseases as atherosclerosis, ischemia, and angina, a numerical investigation of coronary tortuosity was performed. First, we studied a correlation between a degree of tortuosity and flow parameters in three simplified vessels with curvature and zero torsion. Next, a statistical analysis based on flow calculations of 23 patient-based real tortuous arteries was performed in order to investigate a correlation between tortuosity and flow parameters, such as pressure drop, wall shear stress distribution, and a strength of helical flow, represented by a helicity intensity, and concomitant risks. Results of both idealized and patient-specific studies indicate that a risk of perfusion defects grows with an increased degree of tortuosity due to an increased pressure drop downstream an artery. According to the results of the patient-specific study, a risk of atherosclerosis decreases in more tortuous arteries - a result different from an outcome of the idealized study of arteries with zero torsion. Consequently, a modeling of coronary tortuosity should take into account all aspects of tortuosity including a heart shape that introduces additional torsion to arteries. Moreover, strength of a helical flow was shown to depend strongly on a degree of tortuosity and affect flow alterations and accompanying risks of developing atherosclerosis and perfusion defects. A corresponding quantity, helicity intensity, might have a potential to be implemented in future studies as a universal single parameter to describe tortuosity and assess congruent impact on the health of a patient. / Master of Science

The desire to achieve higher heat transfer augmentation for turbine blades is fueled by the increased power output and efficiency that is achievable with high turbine inlet temperatures. The use of internal cooling channels fitted with pin fin arrays serves as one method of accomplishing this goal. Consequently, the addition of pin fin arrays comes at the expense of increased pressure drop. Therefore the pin fin geometry must be judiciously chosen to achieve the required heat transfer rate while minimizing the associated pressure drop. This project culminates in the measurement of both pin fin force and array pressure drop as they related to changes in the array geometry. Specifically, the effects of Reynolds number, spanwise pin spacing, streamwise pin spacing, pin aspect ratio, and flow incidence angle. Direct two-component force measurement is achieved with a cantilever beam force sensor that uses highly sensitive piezoresistive strain gauges, relating the strain at the base of the beam to the applied force. With proper characterization, forces as small as one-tenth the weight of a paper clip are successfully measured. Additionally, array pressure drop measurements are achieved using static pressure taps. Experiments were conducted over a range of Reynolds numbers between 7,500 and 35,000. Changes in the spanwise pin spacing were shown to substantially alter the pin fin drag and array pressure drop, while changes in the streamwise pin spacing were less influential. The experimental results also showed a dramatic reduction in the pin fin drag and array pressure drop for an inline flow incidence angle. Finally, changes in the pin aspect ratio were shown to have little effect on the array pressure drop. / Master of Science

The desire for smaller, faster, and more efficient products places a strain on thermal management in components ranging from gas turbine blades to computers. Heat exchangers that utilize internal cooling flows have shown promise in both of these industries. Although pin fins are often placed in the cooling channels to augment heat transfer, their addition comes at the expense of increased pressure drop. Consequently, the pin fin geometry must be judiciously chosen to achieve the desired heat transfer rate while minimizing the pressure drop and accompanying pumping requirements. This project culminates in the construction of a new test facility and the development of a unique force measurement methodology. Direct force measurement is achieved with a cantilever beam force sensor that uses sensitive piezoresistive strain gauges to simultaneously measure aerodynamic lift and drag forces on a pin fin. After eliminating the detrimental environmental influences, forces as small as one-tenth the weight of a paper clip are successfully measured. Although the drag of an infinitely long cylinder in uniform cross flow is well documented, the literature does not discuss the aerodynamic forces on a cylinder with an aspect ratio of unity in channel flow. Measured results indicate that the drag coefficient of a cylindrical pin in a single row array is greater than the drag coefficient of an infinite cylinder in cross flow. This phenomenon is believed to be caused by an augmentation of viscous drag on the pin fin induced by the increased viscous effects inherent in channel flow. / Master of Science

The wall effect is known to present difficulties when attempting to predict the pressure drop over randomly packed beds. The Nuclear Safety Standard Commission, “Kerntechnischer Auss-chuss" (KTA), made considerable efforts to develop an equation which predicts the pressure drop over cylindrical randomly packed beds consisting of mono-sized spheres. The KTA was able to estimate a limiting line, which defines the region for which the wall effect is negligible, however the theoretical basis for this line is unclear. The goal of this investigation was to determine the validity of the KTA limiting line, using an explicit approach. Packed beds were generated using Discrete Element Modelling (DEM), and the flow through the beds simulated using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). STAR-CCM+R was used for both DEM and CFD operations, and the methods developed for this explicit approach were validated with empirical data. The KTA correlation predictions for friction factors were com- pared with the CFD results, as well as the predictions from a few other correlations. The KTA correlation predictions for friction factors did not correspond well with the CFD results at low aspect ratios and low modified Reynolds numbers, due to the influence of the wall effect. The KTA limiting line was found to be valid, but not exact. A new limiting line for the KTA correlation was suggested, however the new limiting line improved little on the existing line and was the result of some major assumptions. In order to improve the determination of the position of the KTA limiting line further, criteria need to be established which determine how small the error in predicted friction factor must be before the KTA correlation can be accepted as accurate. / MIng (Nuclear Engineering), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The wall effect is known to present difficulties when attempting to predict the pressure drop over randomly packed beds. The Nuclear Safety Standard Commission, “Kerntechnischer Auss-chuss" (KTA), made considerable efforts to develop an equation which predicts the pressure drop over cylindrical randomly packed beds consisting of mono-sized spheres. The KTA was able to estimate a limiting line, which defines the region for which the wall effect is negligible, however the theoretical basis for this line is unclear. The goal of this investigation was to determine the validity of the KTA limiting line, using an explicit approach. Packed beds were generated using Discrete Element Modelling (DEM), and the flow through the beds simulated using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). STAR-CCM+R was used for both DEM and CFD operations, and the methods developed for this explicit approach were validated with empirical data. The KTA correlation predictions for friction factors were com- pared with the CFD results, as well as the predictions from a few other correlations. The KTA correlation predictions for friction factors did not correspond well with the CFD results at low aspect ratios and low modified Reynolds numbers, due to the influence of the wall effect. The KTA limiting line was found to be valid, but not exact. A new limiting line for the KTA correlation was suggested, however the new limiting line improved little on the existing line and was the result of some major assumptions. In order to improve the determination of the position of the KTA limiting line further, criteria need to be established which determine how small the error in predicted friction factor must be before the KTA correlation can be accepted as accurate. / MIng (Nuclear Engineering), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

In the recent past it has been found that a considerable pressure drop occurred during the extrusion of linear polyethylene in the course of capillary flow. The pressure drop resides within a narrow temperature window of one to two degrees Celsius. In this research the hydrodynamic condition and molecular origin of the extrusion window of linear polymer were investigated further. The advantage of the extrusion window, viz. smooth extrudate with less die swell ratio attained at low extrusion pressure and temperature, has potential in industrial applications. However, the extrusion window, corresponding to linear polyethylene (PE) with relatively low polydispersity (<7), has a narrow window temperature interval, circa 1~2°C, thus it could not be applied to industrial scale processing at the industrial scale. To have a fundamental insight and make the process industrially viable, research in this thesis was devoted to broaden the extrusion window to tolerate the thermal fluctuations in conventional processing. To achieve this goal molecular weight dependence of window temperature and flow criticalities is revealed. The hydrodynamic conditions of the extrusion window observed in a rate-controlled rheometer and stick-slip flow studied in a stress-controlled rheometer could be traced back to the same origin, viz. slip flow arises due to the disentanglement of adsorbed chains on capillary wall from free chains in the bulk. Secondly, a dual window effect was uncovered in the course of capillary flow of a bimodal PE, which is consistent with the window temperature dependence on molecular weight. Moreover, it was found that flow induced orientation within the window effect is even less than that observed in steady state flow at a relatively low shear rate. This implies that in the window region only relaxed free chains are extruded through the capillary die and most of the adsorbed chains, which could be disengaged from the entangled melt, remain sticking to the inner capillary wall. This observation is consistent with the hydrodynamic origin of high-surface-energy-die slip flow. Finally, a unimodal linear PE with extremely broad molecular weight distribution, i.e. polydispersity (PDI) is 27, showed a broad window effect, circa 8°C, at an appropriate apparent shear rate. The molecular origin of such a broad window effect is due to its broad molecular weight distribution. These results have further implications for energy efficient processing.