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Packed bed reactors play a crucial role in various industrial applications. This paper utilizes the Discrete Element Method (DEM), an efficient numerical technique for simulating the behavior of packed beds of particles as discrete phases. The focus is on generating densely packed particle beds. To ensure the model accuracy, specific DEM parameters were studied, including sub-step and rolling resistance. The analysis of the packed bed model extended to a detailed exploration of void fraction distribution along radial and vertical directions, considering the impact of wall interactions. Three different samples, spanning particle sizes from 0.3 mm to 6 mm, were used. Results indicated that the number of sub-steps significantly influences void fraction precision, a key criterion for comparing simulations with experimental results. Additionally, the study found that both loosely and densely packed beds of particles could be accurately represented by incorporating appropriate values for rolling friction. This value serves as an indicator of both inter-particle friction and friction between particles and the walls. An optimal rolling friction coefficient has been thereby suggested for the precise representation for the densely packed bed of spherical char particles., Validerad;2024;Nivå 2;2024-01-17 (joosat);Full text: CC BY 4.0 License

This study focuses on utilizing image techniques for river velocity measurement, with a specific emphasis onnatural surface floating patterns. Employing a multi-camera system, we conducted 3D measurements on riversurfaces, including surface velocity and water surface reconstruction. A pattern-based tracking approach hasbeen adopted to improve the performance of image measurements on different types of natural floating tracers.The study employs the following approaches: 3D Lagrangian Pattern Tracking Velocimetry (3D-LPTV), 2DLagrangian Pattern Velocimetry (2D- LPTV), and Large-scale Particle Image Velocimetry (LSPIV), for surfacevelocity estimation. The outcomes revealed that all three approaches yielded consistent results in terms ofaveraged velocity. However, the LSPIV method produced about two times higher uncertainty in measured velocitiescompared to the other methods. A strategy to assess the quality of river surface patterns in velocityestimation is presented. Specifically, the sum of squared interrogation area intensity gradient (SSIAIG) was foundto be strongly correlated with measurement uncertainty. Additionally, a term related to the peak sidelobe ratio(PSR) of the cross-correlation map was found as an effective constraint, ensuring the image-tracking processachieves high reliability. The precision of measurements increases corresponding to the increase of image intensitygradient and PSR., Validerad;2024;Nivå 2;2024-04-03 (joosat);Funder: Svenskt Vattenkraftcentrum, SVC;Full text: CC BY License

Measurements of mass flow through a three-outlet spillway modeled after a scaled-down spillway were conducted. The inlet and channel leading up to the outlets were placed to lead the water toward the outlet at an angle. With this, measurements of the water level at three locations were recorded by magnetostrictive sensors. The volumetric flow rates for each individual outlet were recorded separately to study the differences between them. Additionally, Acoustic Doppler Velocimetry was used to measure water velocities close to the outlets. The conditions changed were the inlet volume flow rate and the flow distribution was measured at 90, 100, 110, and 200 L per second. Differences between the outlets were mostly within the error margin of the instruments used in the experiments with larger differences shown for the 200 L test. The results produced together with a CAD model of the setup can be used for verification of CFD methods. A simulation with the k-epsilon turbulence model is included and compared to earlier experiments and the new experimental results. Larger differences are seen in the new experiments. Differing inlet conditions are assumed as the principal cause for the differences seen., Validerad;2024;Nivå 2;2024-04-08 (marisr);Full text license: CC BY

Erosion of rock channels downstream spillways may cause the significant deterioration of the spillways, raisingconcern for the safety of the dam. To evaluate the occurrence of rock erosion, this paper aims to employ a resolvedComputational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)-Discrete Element Method (DEM) approach to model the erosion process of asingle rock block and to investigate the effects of different parameters. The approach models the interaction behaviorsbetween flowing water and rock blocks. Simulation results visualize the erosion process of the rock block, whichprovides a reference to determine the threshold of the initiation of rock erosion. The results show that the incipientmotion of the rock block is significantly affected by the joint aperture. With the increase of the joint aperture size, thepressure distribution on the block surface is altered. Simulation results of the rough channel model are compared witha smooth model, which points out the influence of channel roughness on the rock erosion process., Lérosion des canaux rocheux en aval des déversoirs peut entraîner une détérioration importante des déversoirs, ce quisoulève des inquiétudes quant à la sécurité du barrage. Pour évaluer simplement loccurrence de lérosion rocheuse, cetarticle vise à utiliser une approche résolue de la dynamique des fluides computationnelle (CFD)-méthode des élémentsdiscrets (DEM) pour modéliser le processus dérosion dun seul bloc de roche et pour étudier les effets de différentsparamètres. Lapproche modélise les comportements dinteraction entre leau courante et les blocs rocheux. Les résultatsde la simulation visualisent le processus dérosion du bloc rocheux, ce qui fournit une référence pour déterminer leseuil de l’initiation de lérosion . Les résultats montrent que le mouvement initial du bloc rocheux est significativementaffecté par louverture du joint. Avec laugmentation de la taille de louverture du joint, la répartition de la pression surla surface du bloc est modifiée. Les résultats de simulation du modèle de canal rugueux sont comparés à un modèlelisse, ce qui souligne linfluence significative de la rugosité du canal sur le processus dérosion de la roche

Hydropower gains increasing importance as a steerable and controllable power source in a renewable energy mix and deregulated markets. Although hydropower produces fossil-free energy, it has a significant impact on the local environment. This review investigates the effects of flow alterations by hydropower on the downstream river system and the possibilities to integrate these effects into hydraulic modeling. The results show that various effects of flow regulation on the ecosystem, but also social and economic effects on related communities were observed in the last decades. The application of hydraulic models for investigations of ecological effects is common. Especially hydraulic effects and effects on fish were extensively modeled with the help of hydraulic 1D- and 2D-simulations. Current applications to investigate social and economic effects integrated into hydraulic modeling are meanwhile limited. Approaches to realizing this integration are presented. Further research on the economic valuation of ecosystems and integration of social and economic effects to hydraulic models is necessary to develop holistic tools to support decision-making on sustainable hydropower., Godkänd;2024;Nivå 0;2024-01-05 (hanlid);Full text license: CC BY

Hybrid aspens have long attracted scientific interest, but the research on their use as feedstocks for chemical applications are still very limited. The bark biomass of the poplar species contains many valuable extractives that can be utilized as value-added products. This paper examines the applicability of hybrid aspen (Populus tremula L. × P. tremuloides Michx.) bark extract as a precursor of rigid carbon foam and activated carbon. To explore this, the study considers 1) the basic chemical composition of the bark in terms of added value potential, 2) the basic chemical composition of the bark extract and the effect of its pretreatment on the extract composition, 3) the production of rigid carbon foam, and 4) the chemical activation of carbon foam with different impregnating agents. The study determines that the bark extract of the hybrid aspen can be used as a precursor for rigid carbon foam and further processed into an activated carbon product. Therefore, the bark extract of Populus tremula L. × P. tremuloides Michx. can be assessed as a potential value-added product that increases the use value of the hybrid aspen biomass.

Hydropower is an important tool in the struggle for low-emission power production. In the Nordic countries, hydropower operating conditions are expected to change and work more in conjunction with intermittent power production. This in turn might increase the amount of hydropeaking events in the reaches downstream of hydropower plants. The current work investigates the influence of highly flexible, high-frequency hydropeaking on the hydrodynamics in the downstream reach. By quantifying four different dynamic stages in the study reach, the influence of the hydropeaking frequencies was investigated in the bypass reach of the Stornorrfors hydropower plant in the river Umeälven in northern Sweden. The hydrodynamics in the study reach were numerically modelled using the open source solver Delft3D. Eight different highly flexible future hydropeaking scenarios, varying from 12 to 60 flow changes per day, were considered. A method for identifying four hydropeaking stages—dewatering, dynamic, alternating and uniform —was introduced. The hydropeaking frequency directly decided the stage in most of the study reach. Furthermore, a Fourier analysis showed a significant difference between the stages and their corresponding power spectra. The classification of stages put forward in this work provides a novel, simple method to investigate the hydrodynamics due to hydropeaking in a river reach., Validerad;2023;Nivå 2;2023-07-21 (sofila);This article has previously appeared as a manuscript in a thesis.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present a fast and bare bones implementation of a numerical method for quickly simulating turbulent thermal flows on GPUs. The work also validates earlier research showing that the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) method is suitable for complex thermal flows. Design/methodology/approach A dual lattice hydrodynamic (D3Q27) thermal (D3Q7) multiple-relaxation time LBM model capable of thermal DNS calculations is implemented in CUDA.FindingsThe model has the same computational performance compared to earlier publications of similar LBM solvers. The solver is validated against three benchmark cases for turbulent thermal flow with available data and is shown to be in excellent agreement. Originality/value The combination of a D3Q27 and D3Q7 stencil for a multiple relaxation time -LBM has, to the authors’ knowledge, not been used for simulations of thermal flows. The code is made available in a public repository under a free license., Validerad;2023;Nivå 2;2023-07-13 (sofila);This article has previously appeared as a manuscript in a thesis

Previously performed experiments on flow through an ordered porous media cell with tomographic particle image velocimetry reveal a complex three-dimensional steady-state flow pattern. This flow pattern emerge in the region where inertial structures have been previously reported for a wide range of packings. The onset of these steady-state inertial flow structures is here scrutinized for three different types of packing using a finite difference method. It is concluded that the onset of the flow structure coincides with a symmetry break in the flow field and discontinuities in the pressure drop, volume averaged body forces and heat transfer. A quantity for identifying the transition is proposed, namely the pressure integral across the solid surfaces. It is also shown that the transition can both increase and decrease the heat transfer dependent on the actual geometry of the porous medium., Validerad;2023;Nivå 2;2023-08-15 (hanlid);This article has previously appeared as a manuscript in a thesis.Licens fulltext: CC BY License

ISBN for host publication: 978-90-832612-1-8

This study describes a multi-camera photogrammetric approach to measure the 3D velocityof free surface flow. The properties of the camera system and particle tracking velocimetry (PTV)algorithm were first investigated in a measurement of a laboratory open channel flow to prepare forfield measurements. The in situ camera calibration methods corresponding to the two measurementsituations were applied to mitigate the instability of the camera mechanism and camera geometry.There are two photogrammetry-based PTV algorithms presented in this study regarding differenttypes of surface particles employed on the water flow. While the first algorithm uses the particletracking method applied for individual particles, the second algorithm is based on correlation-basedparticle clustering tracking applied for clusters of small size particles. In the laboratory, referencedata are provided by particle image velocimetry (PIV) and laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV). Thedifferences in velocities measured by photogrammetry and PIV, photogrammetry and LDV are 0.1%and 3.6%, respectively. At a natural river, the change of discharges between two measurement timesis found to be 15%, and the corresponding value reported regarding mass flow through a nearbyhydropower plant is 20%. The outcomes reveal that the method can provide a reliable estimation of3D surface velocity with sufficient accuracy., Validerad;2021;Nivå 2;2021-06-18 (beamah);Forskningsfinansiär: Svenskt Vattenkraftcentrum (SVC)

Mathematical modelling of single spillways is well documented in literature. For parallel spillways however, there is a lack of documented, verified, and validated cases. Here, in this article, ANSYS-CFX is used to simulate the flow over three parallel ogee-crested spillways. For mesh size verification, a grid convergence study is performed by Richardson extrapolation. The turbulence model chosen for this simulation is the k-ε model and the volume of fluid method is used to simulate the water-air interface. This article details the models ability to accurately predict flow distribution at the spillways, and the water levels. The mesh is kept relatively coarse at the channel inlet with increased mesh density at the spillways. The results are validated against experimental data from Vattenfall AB, R&Ds laboratories. The geometry and boundary conditions of the experiment are tailored for CFD. The flow rate of each spillway is measured separately with high accuracy, and for several different inlet volumetric flows. The simulation results lie within the error estimates of the measuring tools used in the experiments, within ±1%. The volume flow rate differences between the three outlets is very small, within ±1%., ISBN för värdpublikation: 978-1-74272-309-9

Entrained flow gasification of biomass in a cyclone reactor combined by a gas engine has been applied in Nordic countries as one of the preferred methods for generating combined heat and power in small scales. The purpose of the current study was to optimise the gasification plant efficiency and understanding the influence of operating conditions. The experiments were carried out in a 2.4 MW(th) commercial gasification power plant. The gasifier was operated in optimum at a rather low lambda around 0.27 and a temperature of 950°C. The lower heating value of the clean product gas at this lambda was 5.95 MJ/Nm3. The experimental results also were compared with the predicted values from thermodynamic equilibrium calculations by Factsage 7.0. The performance of five different types of biofuels including torrefied spruce, peat, rice husk, bark and stemwood were assessed and compared with each other using thermodynamic equilibrium and available experimental data., Validerad;2020;Nivå 2;2020-01-27 (johcin)

As intermittent power sources such as solar power and wind power gains traction in Scandinavia it is likely that the electricity production will become increasingly dependent on hydro power as a buffer in times of power deficit from intermittent power sources due to weather conditions. Rapid changes in hydro power demand can rapidly change the flow conditions in proximity to the power plant. This paper aims to model the transient behavior and quantify the inherent damping in a dry reach in proximity to the largest hydro power plant in Sweden, with respect to production. A two-dimensional model solving the Navier-Stokes equations with shallow water approximations was set up using the open-source solver Delft3D. The Manning numbers in the reach was calibrated with measured steady state water surface elevation data. The simulation data was then validated with transient water level measurements. The results show that it's possible to calibrate the Manning numbers using steady state water level measurements. The model also shows that it's possible to capture the inherent damping and more transient behavior using Delft3D. The results can be used to better model rivers without the need for resolving the upstream reach. The results can also be used for ecohydraulical applications where the transient behavior is important.