Fluid Mechanics and Transport Phenomena

Fine particle turbulence modulation

  1. David Harbottle†*,
  2. Simon Biggs,
  3. Michael Fairweather

Article first published online: 27 JUL 2010

DOI: 10.1002/aic.12388

Issue

AIChE Journal

AIChE Journal

Volume 57, Issue 7, pages 1693–1699, July 2011

Additional Information

How to Cite

Harbottle, D., Biggs, S. and Fairweather, M. (2011), Fine particle turbulence modulation. AIChE J., 57: 1693–1699. doi: 10.1002/aic.12388

Author Information

  1. Institute of Particle Science and Engineering, School of Process, Environmental and Materials Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K.

  1. †

    City College of New York, City University of New York, New York, NY 10031

*City College of New York, City University of New York, New York, NY 10031

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 9 JUN 2011
  2. Article first published online: 27 JUL 2010
  3. Accepted manuscript online: 27 JUL 2010 12:00AM EST
  4. Manuscript Revised: 22 JUL 2010
  5. Manuscript Received: 27 OCT 2009

Funded by

  • EPSRC. Grant Number: EP/C549465/1
  • National Nuclear Laboratory

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Keywords:

  • turbulence modulation;
  • colloidal particles;
  • aggregation

Abstract

Streamwise turbulence intensities of fine particulate suspensions were studied in a 26 mm N.B. horizontal pipe loop. Colloidal silica spheres were prepared in 10−4M and 1M KNO3 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

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