Simulation of particle deposition on the tube in ash-laden flow using the lattice Boltzmann method

The LBM-Lagrange tracking method with multiple relaxation time (MRT) model has been developed to predict the flow field and particle deposition a circular or elliptical tube in ash-laden gas turbulent flow with Re of 10,229. The model can be used for predict particle deposition effect on thermal resistance or fouling factor of heat exchangers mostly operating in turbulent flow. Particle deposition morphology on the circular and the elliptical tubes were obtained with the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). The particle deposition mechanism has been investigated. The dominating mechanism of particle deposition on the circular tube is Brownian diffusion for the Stokes number of 0.002, whereas the dominating mechanism of particle deposition is drag inertia for the Stokes number larger than 0.031. When the long axis of the elliptical tube is parallel to the flow, both the collision efficiency and the deposition efficiency for the elliptical tube are fewer than those of the circular tube which means less particle deposition. It also can be concluded that both ratios of the collision efficiency and the deposition efficiency decrease with increasing axial length ratio of the elliptical tube. The elliptical tube is better than the circular tube as heat transfer surface in the aspect of preventing ash particle deposition. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.