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Fine particle turbulence modulation
Author(s) -
Harbottle David,
Biggs Simon,
Fairweather Michael
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
aiche journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.958
H-Index - 167
eISSN - 1547-5905
pISSN - 0001-1541
DOI - 10.1002/aic.12388
Subject(s) - turbulence , reynolds number , reynolds decomposition , mechanics , turbulence kinetic energy , k epsilon turbulence model , particle (ecology) , materials science , chemistry , physics , reynolds equation , geology , oceanography
Streamwise turbulence intensities of fine particulate suspensions were studied in a 26 mm N.B. horizontal pipe loop. Colloidal silica spheres were prepared in 10 −4 M and 1M KNO 3 solutions to control the degree of aggregate formation in the suspension. Using an ultrasonic Doppler velocity profiling sensor, the turbulence intensities of the fine particle suspensions were compared with those of a particle‐free flow over a range of Reynolds numbers. At low electrolyte concentration, the silica particles remain dispersed, with the turbulence intensity of the suspension flow comparable with that of the particle‐free flow. At high electrolyte concentration, increased particle‐particle interaction leads to the formation of particle aggregates which support turbulence augmentation over a critical Reynolds number range. The range of Reynolds numbers over which this turbulence enhancement is observed is limited by both fluid dynamic effects at low Reynolds numbers ( Re ≈ 5500) and aggregate breakup at high Reynolds numbers ( Re ≈ 8000). © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2011