Session: 06-11-01 Ocean Engineering Technology - I

Submission Number: 178589

Numerical Study on Flow-Field Dynamics and Spatial Distribution Characteristics of Pressure in a Coandă-Effect-Based Collector 

The Coandă-effect-based collector shows great promise for deep-sea mining because of the specific flow field characterized by vertical pressure difference, which is generated by the curved-wall jet. A comprehensive understanding of the flow field and pressure characteristics is essential for assessing seabed disturbance and predicting the movement of nodules and sediments. This study employs the Large Eddy Simulation (LES) method to numerically investigate the flow field and pressure distribution under different curved-wall jet velocities. The results indicated that the vertical pressure difference always peaks near the dimensionless horizontal distance x/H = 0.5 and fluctuates within the region 2 < x/H < 6 for different Froude numbers (Fr), where H represents the bottom clearance of the collector. The longitudinal distribution is symmetrical around the central axis of the collector. Near the curved-wall, the pressure gradient rises sharply within the dimensionless vertical distance z/H = 0.33, with the average location of the transition point at z/H = 0.2. In addition, the maximum vertical pressure difference grows quadratically with increasing Fr, and the disturbed region displays a triangular distribution on the top view plane. This study reveals the flow field and pressure distribution mechanism of the Coandă-effect-based collector, which provides a foundation for optimizing the design of nodule collection systems.

Presenting Author: Yuyao Li Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Presenting Author Biography: Yuyao Li received the B.S. degree in Ocean Engineering from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China, in 2023. She is currently working toward the Ph.D. degree in Ocean Engineering with the School of Ocean and Civil Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. Her research interests include deep-sea hydraulic ore-collecting and CFD.

Authors:

Yuyao Li Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Guocheng Zhao Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Longfei Xiao Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Lixin Xu Jiangsu University of Science and Technology