Study on influence of jet flow on slurry transport characteristics in slurry chamber of shield tunneling machines

doi:10.11949/0438-1157.20250079

Abstract

Abstract:

A numerical simulation model for slurry transport within the chamber of an ultra-large-diameter slurry shield tunneling machine is established based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods. A theoretical approach for calculating the critical non-silting velocity in the air cushion chamber is proposed, and the internal flow field characteristics under different jet nozzle angles, both in front of the grille and behind the slurry gate, are analyzed. When the jet angle behind the slurry gate is set to α = 45°, the flow field is optimized, leading to an increase in the average velocity across the grille section, enhancing the slurry jet's transport capacity for soil agglomerates, and promoting particle entry into the grille. The critical non-silting velocity is found to range from 1.68 m/s to 1.80 m/s, with higher proportions of large particles requiring greater velocities. At α = 45° and α = 60°, the flow velocity in the lower central chamber exceeds the critical value, effectively reducing the risk of debris deposition. Moreover, the overlap of jet turbulence diffusion zones at the grille enhances particle transport efficiency. When the jet angle in front of the grille is set to β = 30°, turbulence-induced disturbances effectively prevent the deposition of easily flocculated fine particles. These findings provide valuable insights for improving the transport efficiency of soil and rock particles within the chamber and mitigating sediment blockage in the air cushion chamber.

Key words: extra-large-diameter slurry shield, jet angle, delayed mucking, critical non-silting velocity, CFD, numerical simulation, turbulent flow

摘要：

基于计算流体动力学（CFD）方法，建立了超大直径泥水盾构仓体内泥浆冲刷和输送模型，提出了一种适用于气垫仓的临界不淤流速理论计算方法，并研究了格栅前和泥浆门后射流在不同角度时气垫仓内部流场运动特性。泥浆门后射流角度α=45°时流场优化效果最佳，可显著提高格栅截面平均速度，并促进颗粒进入格栅。不同地质条件下临界不淤流速范围为1.68~1.80 m/s，大粒径颗粒占比越高，临界不淤流速越大；α=45°及α=60°时气垫仓下部中间区域流速高于临界值，可有效降低岩屑沉积风险，并增强颗粒通过率。格栅前射流角度β=30°时，射流形成的湍动能扰动对防止易絮凝细颗粒的沉积具有显著作用。研究结果可为提高仓内岩土颗粒运输效率以及解决渣土滞排等问题提供参考。

关键词: 超大直径泥水平衡盾构, 冲刷角度, 渣土滞排, 临界不淤流速, 计算流体力学, 数值模拟, 湍流

CLC Number:

U 45

Jiuchun SUN, Yunlong SANG, Haitao WANG, Hao JIA, Yan ZHU. Study on influence of jet flow on slurry transport characteristics in slurry chamber of shield tunneling machines[J]. CIESC Journal, 2025, 76(S1): 246-257.

孙九春, 桑运龙, 王海涛, 贾浩, 朱艳. 泥水盾构仓体内射流对泥浆输送特性影响研究[J]. 化工学报, 2025, 76(S1): 246-257.

Figures/Tables 24

Table 1 Diameter of each flushing pipeline for slurry inlet

管路名称	入口管径/m	出口管径/m
中心冲刷	0.3	0.2×1 0.08×4
上部冲刷左	0.2	0.2
上部冲刷右	0.2	0.2
泥浆门前冲刷左	0.2	0.15
泥浆门前冲刷右	0.2	0.15
破碎机冲刷左	0.2	0.15
破碎机冲刷右	0.2	0.15
泥浆门后冲刷左1(BJ1)	0.1	0.1
泥浆门后冲刷左2(BJ2)	0.1	0.1
泥浆门后冲刷右1(BJ3)	0.1	0.1
泥浆门后冲刷右2(BJ4)	0.1	0.1
格栅冲刷左(GJ1)	0.1	0.08
格栅冲刷右(GJ2)	0.1	0.08
排浆管	0.5	0.5

Fig.1 Schematic diagram of ultra-large diameter slurry shield

Fig.2 Schematic diagram of flushing structure and lower part of air cushion chamber

Fig.3 Grid independence verification

Fig.4 Comparison between the pressure distribution at the slurry chamber and experiment data

Table 2 Particle size distribution

强风化泥质粉砂岩颗粒直径/mm	颗粒占比/%	含黏性土碎石颗粒直径/mm	颗粒占比/%
>60	8	>60	11
60~50	12	60~50	8
50~40	12	50~40	8
40~30	13	40~30	10
30~20	13	30~20	10
20~10	17	20~10	18
<10	25	<10	35

Fig.5 Schematic diagram of air cushion compartment size

Table 3 Scour flow settings

冲刷位置	流速/(m/s)	流量占比/%
中心冲刷	0	0
上部冲刷左	0	0
上部冲刷右	0	0
泥浆门前冲刷左	4.6	15.6
泥浆门前冲刷右	4.6	15.6
破碎机冲刷左	4.87	16.4
破碎机冲刷右	4.87	16.4
泥浆门后冲刷左1（BJ1）	11.06	6
泥浆门后冲刷左2（BJ2）	16.58	9
泥浆门后冲刷右1（BJ3）	11.06	6
泥浆门后冲刷右2（BJ4）	16.58	9
格栅冲刷左（GJ1）	5.53	3
格栅冲刷右（GJ2）	5.53	3

Fig.6 Schematic diagram of measuring points for air cushion chamber

Table 4 Parameter settings

泥浆门后冲刷α	格栅内冲刷β	刀盘转速	泥浆物性	出口压力
0°/45°/60°	0°/30°	1 rad/min	0.0075 Pa·s	3 bar

Fig.7 Velocity and streamline distribution at the side section of the air cushion chamber

Fig.8 Pressure distribution on the central side section of the air cushion chamber

Fig.9 Velocity distribution of grille cross-section

Table 5 Average flow velocity of each layer in the grille channel

α/(°)	流速/(m/s)
α/(°)	1层	2层	3层	4层	5层
0	0.89	0.85	0.85	0.63	0.47
45	0.8	0.75	0.82	0.81	0.84
60	0.79	0.7	0.85	0.8	0.72

Fig.10 Velocity and streamline distribution at the side section of the BJ2

Fig.11 Velocity and streamline distribution at the side section of the BJ1

Fig.12 Velocity and streamline distribution at the GJ

Table 6 Critical non siltation flow velocity for different soil types

颗粒级配参考依据	临界不淤流速/(m/s)
强风化泥质粉砂岩	1.78
含黏性土碎石	1.78
碎石填土	1.80
圆砾	1.79
素填土	1.78
含碎石粉质黏土	1.721
砂质粉土夹粉砂	1.714
全风化安山玢岩	1.70
强风化凝灰质含砾砂岩	1.68

Fig.13 Velocity distribution at different locations

Fig.14 Velocity distribution at different heights at the bottom of the air cushion chamber

Fig.15 Turbulent kinetic energy distribution at the side section of the air cushion chamber

Fig.16 Turbulent kinetic energy distribution at the side section of BJ2

Fig.17 Turbulent kinetic energy distribution at the side section of BJ1

Fig.18 Turbulent kinetic energy distribution at the side section inside the grid

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