Manifold flow distribution

For the superior performance design with consecutive, multiply furcated capillaries using conventional manifolds, flow distribution quality was determined. Polydispersity indices for eight capillaries ranged from 1.66 to 1.71, i.e., it showed a low spread, demonstrating that flow distribution was reasonably achieved. The molecular number average was... 

It has become quite popular to optimize the manifold design using computational fluid dynamic codes, ie, FID AP, Phoenix, Fluent, etc, which solve the full Navier-Stokes equations for Newtonian fluids. The effect of the area ratio, on the flow distribution has been studied numerically and the flow distribution was reported to improve with decreasing yiR. 

A numerical study of the effect of area ratio on the flow distribution in parallel flow manifolds used in a Hquid cooling module for electronic packaging demonstrate the useflilness of such a computational fluid dynamic code. The manifolds have rectangular headers and channels divided with thin baffles, as shown in Figure 12. Because the flow is laminar in small heat exchangers designed for electronic packaging or biochemical process, the inlet Reynolds numbers of 5, 50, and 250 were used for three different area ratio cases, ie, AR = 4, 8, and 16. 

The quahtative flow distribution in a manifold can be estimated by examining a streamline plot. Figure 13 shows the streamline plot for the manifold having AR = 4. Note that the same amount of fluid flows between two consecutive streamlines. The area ratio is an important parameter affecting the flow distribution in a manifold, as shown in Figure 14a, which shows the percent flow rate in each channel for three cases. As the area ratio increases, the percent flow rate increases in channels no. 1 and no. 8, whereas the percent flow rate decreases in the middle channels. 

The flow distribution in a manifold is highly dependent on the Reynolds number. Figure 14b shows the flow distribution curves for different Reynolds number cases in a manifold. When the Reynolds number is increased, the flow rates in the channels near the entrance, ie, channel no. 1—4, decrease. Those near the end of the dividing header, ie, channel no. 6—8, increase. This is because high inlet velocity tends to drive fluid toward the end of the dividing header, ie, inertia effect. 

Figure 15 shows the effect of the width ratio DJthe ratio of the combining header width to the dividing header width, on the flow distribution in manifolds for Reynolds number of 50. By increasing DJthe flow distribution in the manifold was significantly improved. The ratio of the maximum channel flow rate to the minimum channel flow rate is 1.2 for the case of D /= 4.0, whereas the ratio is 49.4 for the case oiDjD,=0.5. 

A. K. Singhal, L. W. Keeton, A. K. Majundar, and T. Mukerjee,M Improved Mathematical Formulation for the Computations of Flow Distributions in Manifolds for Compact Heat Exchangers, paper presented at The ASME Winter Annual Meeting, Anaheim, Calif., 1986, p. 105. 

Fig. 4. Schematic of a hemodialyzer. The design of a dialyzer is close to that of a sheU and tube heat exchanger. Blood enters through an inlet manifold, is distributed to a parallel bundle of fibers, and exits into a coUection manifold. Dialysate flows countercurrent in an external chamber the blood and dialysate are separated from the fibers by a polyurethane potting material. Housings are typically prepared from acrylate or polycarbonate. Production volume is...

Alternatively, reactant and product gases can be distributed to and removed from individual cells through internal pipes in a design analogous to that of filter presses, (iare must be exercised to assure an even flow distribution between the entiv and exit cells. The seals in internally manifolded stacks are generally not subject to electrical, thermal, and mechanical stresses, but are more numerous than in externally manifolded stacks. 

Figure 40.42 shows a flow diagram in a manifold that provides both pressure and return passages. One common line provides pressurized fluid to the manifold, which distributes the fluid to any one of five outlet ports. The return side of the manifold is similar in design. This manifold is provided with a relief valve, which is connected to the pressure and return passages. In the event of excessive pressure, the relief valve opens and allows the fluid to flow from the pressure side of the manifold to the return side. 

Modeling manifold physics is an essential element for defining all geometry elements required to provide sufficient flow distribution to many thousands of parallel channels. No manifold can ever be perfect, and thus the idealized goal of uniform flow distribution will remain elusive. In some cases, tailored rather... 

Also a simulation of the flow field in the methanol-reforming reactor of Figure 2.21 by means of the finite-volume method shows that recirculation zones are formed in the flow distribution chamber (see Figure 2.22). One of the goals of the work focused on the development of a micro reformer was to design the flow manifold in such a way that the volume flows in the different reaction channels are approximately the same [113]. In spite of the recirculation zones found, for the chosen design a flow variation of about 2% between different channels was predicted from the CFD simulations. In the application under study a washcoat cata-... 

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