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Flow field characteristics of an agitator system of a large diameter slurry-water shield machine

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Abstract

A numerical model was established for calculation in this study on the basis of the standard k-epsilon turbulence model and the discrete phase model of the Euler-Lagrange equation. Results of the particle image velocimetry experiment were used to verify the reliability of the numerical model. The effects of the rotation speeds, slurry densities, and impeller structures on the flow field characteristics, including velocity distribution, ballast fluidity, and power loss, were also investigated. The results indicate that the increase of rotation speed has little influence on the flow field near the wall and bottom of the agitator, and the agitator performs well when the speed is set between 30 rpm and 40 rpm. The increase of the slurry density will increase the pressure loss between the inlet and the outlet, and it will also increase the load of the agitator. Hence, the slurry density must be less than 1400 kg/m3. The baffle can improve the velocity distribution of the flow field and the slag discharge capacity of the agitator.

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Abbreviations

Re:

The Reynolds number

D :

The impeller diameter in meter

μ :

The fluid viscosity in kg/(m s)

p :

The pressure on the fluid microelement

k :

Turbulent kinetic energy

ε :

Dissipation rate

τ :

The shear pressure

Y :

Shear rate

K :

Viscosity coefficient of the slurry

n :

Power law index

P :

Power coefficients

N :

Rotation speed of the impeller

T :

Torque

ρ :

Slurry density (kg/m3)

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Acknowledgments

The research is supported by the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2012AA041803) and Science and Technology Major Project of Hunan Province, China (Grant No. 2014FJ1002). The supports are gratefully acknowledged by the authors.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China

    Junjie Liao, Yimin Xia, Xianqiong Zhao, Xuemeng Xiao & Yang Wang

  2. State Key Laboratory of High-Performance Complex Manufacturing, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China

    Junjie Liao, Yimin Xia, Xianqiong Zhao, Xuemeng Xiao & Yang Wang

  3. China Railway 14th Bureau Group Shield Engineering Co. Ltd., Nanjing, 211800, China

    Kun Bai & Haizhen Li

Authors
  1. Junjie Liao
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  2. Kun Bai
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  3. Yimin Xia
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  4. Haizhen Li
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  5. Xianqiong Zhao
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  6. Xuemeng Xiao
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  7. Yang Wang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xuemeng Xiao.

Additional information

Recommended by Editor Yang Na

Xiao Xuemeng is a Doctoral Student in Mechanical Engineering in Central South University, Changsha, China. Her research interests include slurry shield circulation system and slurry shield excavation silo flow field flow problem.

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Liao, J., Bai, K., Xia, Y. et al. Flow field characteristics of an agitator system of a large diameter slurry-water shield machine. J Mech Sci Technol 35, 1501–1513 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-021-0315-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-021-0315-8

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