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Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation of Transport and Retention of Nanoparticle in Saturated Sand Filters
Citation:
Hassan, A. A., Z. Li, E. Sahle-Demessie, AND G. A. Sorial. Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation of Transport and Retention of Nanoparticle in Saturated Sand Filters. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS. Elsevier Science Ltd, New York, NY, 244-245:251-258, (2013).
Impact/Purpose:
Computational fluid dynamics is used to predict the fate and transport of engineered nanoparticles through ground water and othe porous structures such as sand filter beds. Study has signifance in better understanding of the health and environmental risk associated with nanomaterials in the environment.
Description:
Experimental and computational investigation of the transport parameters of nano particles flowing through porous media has been made. The objective of this work was to develop a simulation capability applicable to the transport and retention of nanoparticles (NPs) in saturated porous media that can be used to investigate the effect of process conditions, and operating parameters such as ion strength, on filtration efficiency. Experimental data obtained from tracer and nano ceria breakthrough studies were used to characterize the column dispersion and the interaction of nanoparticles with sand packed columns with different lengths. Nanoparticle transport and concentration dynamics were solved using Eulerian computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solver ANSYS/FLUENT based on a scaled down flow model. A numerical study using Navier-Stokes equation with second order interaction terms was used to estimate the model parameters. Parameters were estimated by fitting tracer, experimental NP transport data, and interaction of NP with the sand media. The model considers different concentrations of steady state inflow of NPs and different amounts of spike concentrations. Results suggest that steady state flow of dispersant-coated NPs would not be retained by a sand filter, while spike concentrations could be dampened effectively. Unlike analytical solutions the flow equation, the CFD allows estimating flow profiles for structures with complex irregular geometry and uneven packing. Keywords: CFD, nanoparticle, Flow through porous media, Modeling transport, and deposition and Nanoparticles,
