Go with the flow
Who: Researchers from the University of Bari in Italy are using Ansys’ flow simulation software to model volcanic ash clouds. The work is to develop a better understanding of how ash clouds behave during an eruption.
Technology: The software is being used to simulate ash particles in a pyroclastic flow of a volcanic column of ash and smoke. To do this researchers have used multiphase modelling to look at the transfer of particles from a volcano’s crater and through the air. The system has built-in flexibility for defining the size and distribution of the particles and modelling the breakup of particles in different flow conditions. Different shapes and sizes of particles are represented by different colours in the software simulation.
Fine ash particles are a focus of the work because they can be blown by the wind over long distances for long periods. Ash particles can be dispersed for hundreds of kilometres.
The simulation has been created from experiments in which researchers created miniature ash clouds based on the Icelandic volcano eruption. The clouds created in the experiments were digitalised for simulation.
Fluid dynamic solutions have been used for simulating flows of steam from cooling towers, smoke from chimneys and the behaviour of air in air-conditioning and ventilation systems.
Application: The Italian government has shown an interest in using the technology to understand volcanic eruptions. By knowing more about the behaviour of ash clouds, the Bari researchers say it could also help reduce flying restrictions during an eruption.
© PE Publishing, 2 June 2010
