Development of numerical method for interaction of flexible structures and bubbly flow

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K14652
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 19010:Fluid engineering-related
• Research Institution: Kobe University
• Principal Investigator: Kurimoto Ryo 神戸大学, 工学研究科, 助教 (90711903)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 気泡流 / 揺動物体 / 非ニュートン流体 / 膜 / 除去速度

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Numerical simulation would be useful for design and development of membrane bioreactors (MBR) in the view of visualization and prediction of flow in MBR plants. Experimental data on a relation between motion of membraned and bubbly flow are lacking, although motion of membranes should be implemented in the numerical simulation. We carried out experiments to observe bubbly flow, measure removal rate of a sludge and evaluate motion of membranes in an experimental setup with hollow fiber membranes. Liquid property affects bubble break-up at a lower tie plate and membranes. Liquid property affects the number of bubbles and those diameter in bubbly flows, since frequency of bubble break-up occurring at lower tie plate and membranes varies. This variation of the structure of bubbly flows affects removal rate attached to sludge.

Free Research Field

流体工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究で得られた知見は中空糸膜を用いた膜分離活性汚泥法の設計開発に資するものであるとともに，内部流動を予測するための数値計算技術の開発指針に資するものである．また，流路内構造物による気泡流の流動構造の変化に関する知見はまだまだ少ないが，膜固定部や膜との干渉により気泡流の流動構造が変化する結果が得られた．さらに，液相物性（非ニュートン流体）の違いは流路内構造物による気泡流の流動構造の変化に影響を及ぼす結果が得られた．これらの点から，高い学術的意義を有する研究成果が得られた．