Fines mobility and distribution in streaming fibre networks: experimental evidence and numerical modelingShow others and affiliations
2020 (English)In: Cellulose, ISSN 0969-0239, E-ISSN 1572-882X, Vol. 27, no 16, p. 9663-9682Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
The motion of flocculated fibres in a streaming suspension is governed by the balance of the network strength and hydrodynamic forces. With increasing flow rate through a channel, (1) the network initially occupying all space, (2) is then compressed to the centre, and (3) ultimately dispersed. This classical view neglects fibres-fines: we find that the distribution of these small particles differs in streaming suspensions. While it is known that fibre-fines can escape the fibre network, we find that the distribution of fibre-fines is non-homogenous in the network during compression: fibre-fines can be caged and retarded in the streaming fibre network. Hence, the amount of fibre-fines is reduced outside of a fibre network and enriched at the network’s interface. Aiming on selectively removing fibre-fines from a streaming network by suction, we identify a reduction of the fines removal rate. That documents a hindered mobility of fibre-fines when moving through the network of fibres. Additionally, we found evidence, that the mobility of fibre-fines is dependent on the fibre-fines quality, and is higher for fibrillar fines. Consequently, we suggest that the quality of fibre-fines removed from the suspension can be controlled with the flow regime in the channel. Finally, we present a phenomenological model to compute the length dependent fibre distribution in an arbitary geometry. For a fibre suspension channel flow we are able to predict a length-dependent fibre segregation near the channel’s centre. The erosion of a plug of long fibres was however underestimated by our model. Interestingly, our model with parameters fitted to streaming fibre suspension qualitatively agreed with the motion of micro-fibrillated cellulose. This gives hope that devices for handling flocculated fibre suspensions can be designed in the future with greater confidence.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Springer Science and Business Media B.V. , 2020. Vol. 27, no 16, p. 9663-9682
Keywords [en]
Fibre segregation, Fibre suspension modelling, Fractionation, Hydrodynamic fractionation, Length-based fibre separation, Computational geometry, Flocculation, Suspensions (fluids), Arbitary geometry, Experimental evidence, Hydrodynamic forces, Micro fibrillated cellulose, Network strength, Phenomenological modeling, Small particles, Streaming networks, Fibers, Dispersions, Distribution, Fines Removal, Flow Measurement, Length, Quality
National Category
Fluid Mechanics
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-302820DOI: 10.1007/s10570-020-03443-9ISI: 000572036600001Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85091320381OAI: oai:DiVA.org:kth-302820DiVA, id: diva2:1599901
Note
QC 20211003
2021-10-032021-10-032025-02-09Bibliographically approved