UBC Mechanical Engineering CFD Modeling Group Dr. Martha Salcudean Weyerhaeuser Industrial Research Chair Fellow C.S.M.E., F.C.A.A., F.R.S.C. Dr. Ian Gartshore Fellow C.A.S.I PULP AND PAPER COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS APPLICATIONS Objectives: Predict and control fiber fractionation according to wood species Develop a model of flexible fiber motion that includes wall interaction Compute trajectories of fibers in complex flows Model fractionation during screening and in hydrocyclones Benefits: Improve supply of uniform fibers and increase quality and consistency of pulp FLUID-FIBER INTERACTION Objectives: Determine the air flow and moisture distribution in wood kilns Optimize kiln operations and improve wood quality Model: 3-D curvilinear non-orthogonal computational method with transient mass and heat transfer calculations to model the drying process End-Users: Kiln operators and manufactures WOOD KILNS Objectives: Develop a 3-D steady-state computational model to predict the flow and heat transfer in the lime kiln Use the model to solve problems in kiln operation and design Model: Block-structure body-fitted coordinates with domain segmentation, implementation of vortex stretching model, combustion, radiation, and 3-D modeling of the non-Newtonian nature of the lime mud Benefits: Maintain maximum operating efficiency for lime kiln and reduce energy consumption LIME KILNS Objectives: Develop a comprehensive bark boiler gas flow and combustion model Optimize the thermal efficiency and emissions of boilers and identify promising and cost-effective design upgrades Model: Momentum and conservation equations for mass, energy and gas species concentration using the turbulence k-  model are solved simultaneously Chip combustion includes the evaporation of water, release of volatile gases and gas radiation heat transfer End-Users: Bark boiler operators and manufacturers BARK BOILERS FUNDING - - NSERC - FRBC - B.C. Science Council - Weyerhaeuser - CANFOR - PSL Objectives: Develop modeling tools to improve existing designs and operating procedures, and to lower carry-over and environmental load Analyze performance of different air systems and liquor firing strategies Model: 3-D orthogonal computational method with k-  turbulent model, liquor combustion, particle tracking, and wall and gas radiation Flow equations coupled to the energy and species conservation equations Predicts gas flows, composition, temperature, and liquor-smelt-char particulate distribution Benefits: Powerful modeling tool to optimize recovery boilers, reduce plugging rates, reduce time between water washes, analyze performance of different air systems, improve operating procedures, lower carry- over, and reduce environmental load RECOVERY BOILERS Zhengbing BianPaul Nowak Eric Bibeau Mohammad Shariati Suqin DongEmil Statie Xioasi FengDavid Stropky Mike GeorgallisZhu Zhi Xiao Pingfan HeJerry Yuan Jason Zhang Kegang Zhang R=0% R=8% R=15% Tube Position A v e r a g e V e l o c i t y ( m / s ) Objectives: Investigate experimentally flows in headboxes with a range of fiber concentration Develop computational-based methods to simulate the complex flows occurring in headboxes Model: 3-D curvilinear non-orthogonal computational method with low Reynolds k-  model and with non-isotropic, non-linear versions of the k-  model End-Users: Headbox manufactures and paper mills HEADBOXES Objectives: Model the delignification process occurring within digesters Calculation of liquid and solid conservation equations for multi- dimensional flow Model: Liquid-solid two-phase flow model coupled to the energy and conservation of species equations Benefits: Better understanding of process to improve yield and fiber strength Flexible Fiber Rotation Objectives: Improve predictions of swirling flows Develop mathematical models to predict the classification of fibers Model: Discretization using block structured curvilinear grids Modified k-  model for highly curved turbulent flows Particle tracking through explicit time marching based on force balance End-Users: Pulp mills requiring high efficiencies for fiber cleaning and fractionation HYDROCYCLONES DIGESTERS Other Institutions GovernmentIndustry TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER License agreement Service agreements Consulting agreements Custom agreements License agreements PSL