Numerical and experimental investigation of gas–gas diffusion and convection

Abstract

Gas-to-gas diffusion and convection phenomena exist in a wide range of applications, including industrial and scientific processes, food production and storage, and breathing gases. To analyze gas–gas mixing phenomena, a numerical model based on open-source tool libraries was developed and validated; an experimental model was built up and repeated physical tests were performed. Comparative mixing gas–gas profiles and O2 concentration time histories were presented to analyze gas–gas phenomena and to validate the developed numerical solver. Practically, relevant assessments of the gas-to-gas diffusion and convection process demonstrated that (1) obstacles accelerated gas–gas diffusion and convection, (2) diffusion and convection stabilized after a certain time period, and (3) stronger diffusion and convection occurred during the initial stages of the gas-to-gas contact.