Proposal of a new approach to perform advanced flow modeling for subsurface flow treatment wetlands

This study describes a new approach to model treatment wetlands (TW) by using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) coupled with the discrete element method (DEM). This methodology is based on the adoption of open-source software to perform advanced hydraulic simulations that enable a detailed represen...

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Main Authors: Kesley Antonio Santos, Lineker Max Goulart Coelho, Hersilia Andrade Santos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IWA Publishing 2023-09-01
Series:Water Science and Technology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://wst.iwaponline.com/content/88/5/1155
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author Kesley Antonio Santos
Lineker Max Goulart Coelho
Hersilia Andrade Santos
author_facet Kesley Antonio Santos
Lineker Max Goulart Coelho
Hersilia Andrade Santos
author_sort Kesley Antonio Santos
collection DOAJ
description This study describes a new approach to model treatment wetlands (TW) by using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) coupled with the discrete element method (DEM). This methodology is based on the adoption of open-source software to perform advanced hydraulic simulations that enable a detailed representation of water flow through CFD as well as solid phase consideration by using DEM. The main features of this approach are highlighted and details on how to perform CFD-DEM modeling of a horizontal flow treatment wetland (HFTW) are described. Validation of the CFD-DEM model was performed on two TW case studies. The results were compared to the Darcy-Forchheimer porous media model. Statistical and hydraulic performance indexes were used to evaluate the efficacy of models. Provided that no calibration was done, the results indicated that for these case studies the CFD-DEM approach outperformed the Darcy-Forchheimer model based on the aforementioned metrics and considering the similarity with experimental results. The application of CFD-DEM coupling for TW proved to be an interesting approach as it enables more complex analysis of the hydrodynamics of TWs, becoming a valuable tool for future research and system optimization. HIGHLIGHTS A novel CFD-DEM approach is proposed to study the hydrodynamics of treatment wetlands (TWs).; This model was validated using experimental data from two laboratory-scale TWs.; The CFD-DEM simulation results were closer to experimental data than the classical approach.; The model enables more complex analysis of TWs' hydrodynamics and to identify flow anomalies and aspects that classical models cannot simulate.; The CFD-DEM approach is a valuable tool for future research on studying the internal dynamics and hydraulic behavior of TWs.;
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spelling doaj.art-99d446302c934356a6d7b17c533ac7082023-09-18T15:30:20ZengIWA PublishingWater Science and Technology0273-12231996-97322023-09-018851155117710.2166/wst.2023.219219Proposal of a new approach to perform advanced flow modeling for subsurface flow treatment wetlandsKesley Antonio Santos0Lineker Max Goulart Coelho1Hersilia Andrade Santos2 Departamento de Engenharia Civil, Programa de Pós-graduação em Engenharia Civil, Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica de Minas Gerais, Av. Amazonas 7675, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil Department of Engineering Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Lautrupvang 15, Ballerup Campus, Ballerup 2750, Denmark Departamento de Engenharia Civil, Programa de Pós-graduação em Engenharia Civil, Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica de Minas Gerais, Av. Amazonas 7675, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil This study describes a new approach to model treatment wetlands (TW) by using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) coupled with the discrete element method (DEM). This methodology is based on the adoption of open-source software to perform advanced hydraulic simulations that enable a detailed representation of water flow through CFD as well as solid phase consideration by using DEM. The main features of this approach are highlighted and details on how to perform CFD-DEM modeling of a horizontal flow treatment wetland (HFTW) are described. Validation of the CFD-DEM model was performed on two TW case studies. The results were compared to the Darcy-Forchheimer porous media model. Statistical and hydraulic performance indexes were used to evaluate the efficacy of models. Provided that no calibration was done, the results indicated that for these case studies the CFD-DEM approach outperformed the Darcy-Forchheimer model based on the aforementioned metrics and considering the similarity with experimental results. The application of CFD-DEM coupling for TW proved to be an interesting approach as it enables more complex analysis of the hydrodynamics of TWs, becoming a valuable tool for future research and system optimization. HIGHLIGHTS A novel CFD-DEM approach is proposed to study the hydrodynamics of treatment wetlands (TWs).; This model was validated using experimental data from two laboratory-scale TWs.; The CFD-DEM simulation results were closer to experimental data than the classical approach.; The model enables more complex analysis of TWs' hydrodynamics and to identify flow anomalies and aspects that classical models cannot simulate.; The CFD-DEM approach is a valuable tool for future research on studying the internal dynamics and hydraulic behavior of TWs.;http://wst.iwaponline.com/content/88/5/1155computational fluid dynamicsdiscrete element methodhorizontal flow treatment wetlandshydraulic simulationporous mediawetlands modeling
spellingShingle Kesley Antonio Santos
Lineker Max Goulart Coelho
Hersilia Andrade Santos
Proposal of a new approach to perform advanced flow modeling for subsurface flow treatment wetlands
Water Science and Technology
computational fluid dynamics
discrete element method
horizontal flow treatment wetlands
hydraulic simulation
porous media
wetlands modeling
title Proposal of a new approach to perform advanced flow modeling for subsurface flow treatment wetlands
title_full Proposal of a new approach to perform advanced flow modeling for subsurface flow treatment wetlands
title_fullStr Proposal of a new approach to perform advanced flow modeling for subsurface flow treatment wetlands
title_full_unstemmed Proposal of a new approach to perform advanced flow modeling for subsurface flow treatment wetlands
title_short Proposal of a new approach to perform advanced flow modeling for subsurface flow treatment wetlands
title_sort proposal of a new approach to perform advanced flow modeling for subsurface flow treatment wetlands
topic computational fluid dynamics
discrete element method
horizontal flow treatment wetlands
hydraulic simulation
porous media
wetlands modeling
url http://wst.iwaponline.com/content/88/5/1155
work_keys_str_mv AT kesleyantoniosantos proposalofanewapproachtoperformadvancedflowmodelingforsubsurfaceflowtreatmentwetlands
AT linekermaxgoulartcoelho proposalofanewapproachtoperformadvancedflowmodelingforsubsurfaceflowtreatmentwetlands
AT hersiliaandradesantos proposalofanewapproachtoperformadvancedflowmodelingforsubsurfaceflowtreatmentwetlands