Scientific Results

This catalogue is obtained by conducting a systematic literature review of scientific studies and reviews related to monitoring, forecasting, and simulating the inland water cycle. The analysis maps scientific expertise across research groups and classifies findings by the type of inland water studied, application focus, and geographical scope. A gap analysis will identify missing research areas and assess their relevance to policymaking.

ID ▲	Type	Year	Authors	Title	Venue/Journal	DOI	Abstract
publications-4731	article	2023	Song, Shangfei and Liu, Xuanzhang and Li, Chenxuan and Li, Zhe and Zhang, Shijia and Wu, Wei and Shi, Bohui and Kang, Qi and Wu, Haixia and Gong, Jing	Dynamic Simulator for Three-Phase Gravity Separators in Oil Production Facilities	ACS omega	10.1021/acsomega.2c08267	In this study, a dynamic simulator for three-phase gravity separators in oil production facilities is proposed. The mass conservation equation is established to calculate the pressure, water level, and oil level in the separator and the mass balance equation of the dispersed phase to calculate the oilβ€“water separation efficiency. The proportional integral controllers are applied to control the water level, oil level, and pressure in the separator by setting the opening of the three outlet valves of oil, gas, and water. The model is verified using field data by means of the given valve opening and given proportional integral controller parameters, respectively. Subsequently, the verified simulator is applied to study the dynamic behavior of the separator filling process and the effect of pressure, oil level, and water level setpoint changes on the separator operating status. A detailed analysis of the changes in the liquid level, pressure, and opening of three outlet valves is presented. Then, the effects of operating conditions such as the inlet flow, water setpoint, and weir height on the separation efficiency are discussed. This simulator can be applied for the design of oil, gas, and water three-phase separation processes. In addition, through this simulator, the parameters that are difficult to be measured by instruments during the operation of the separator can be calculated, providing technical support for the construction of the digital twin of the separator.
publications-4732	article	2021	Lari, Kaveh Sookhak and Lari, Kaveh Sookhak and Davis, Gordon B. and Davis, Greg B. and Rayner, J. C. W. and Rayner, John L.	Towards a digital twin for characterising natural source zone depletion: a feasibility study based on the Bemidji site	Water Research	10.1016/j.watres.2021.117853	Natural source zone depletion (NSZD) of light non-aqueous phase liquids (LNAPLs) may be a valid long-term management option at petroleum impacted sites. However, its future long-term reliability needs to be established. NSZD includes partitioning, biotic and abiotic degradation of LNAPL components plus multiphase fluid dynamics in the subsurface. Over time, LNAPL components are depleted and those partitioning to various phases change, as do those available for biodegradation. To accommodate these processes and predict trends and NSZD over decades to centuries, for the first time, we incorporated a multi-phase multi-component multi-microbe non-isothermal approach to representatively simulate NSZD at field scale. To validate the approach we successfully mimic data from the LNAPL release at the Bemidji site. We simulate the entire depth of saturated and unsaturated zones over the 27 years of post-release measurements. The study progresses the idea of creating a generic digital twin of NSZD processes and future trends. Outcomes show the feasibility and affordability of such detailed computational approaches to improve decision-making for site management and restoration strategies. The study provided a basis to progress a computational digital twin for complex subsurface systems.
publications-4733	article	2023	Dichgans, Franz and Boos, Janβ€Pascal and Ahmadi, Pouyan and Frei, Sven and Fleckenstein, Jan H.	Integrated numerical modeling to quantify transport and fate of microplastics in the hyporheic zone	Water research	10.1016/j.watres.2023.120349	Despite the significance of rivers and streams as pathways for microplastics (MP) entering the marine environment, limited research has been conducted on the behavior of MP within fluvial systems. Specifically, there is a lack of understanding regarding the infiltration and transport dynamics of MP across the streambed interface and within the hyporheic sediments. In this study, transport and retention of MP are investigated using a new numerical modeling approach. The model is built as a digital twin of accompanying flume experiments, which are used to validate the simulation results. The model accurately represents particle transport in turbulent water flow and within the hyporheic zone (HZ). Simulations for transport and infiltration of 1 Βµm MP particles into a sandy streambed demonstrate that the advection-dispersion equation can be used to adequately represent particle transport for pore-scale sized MP within the HZ. To assess the applicability of the modeling framework for larger MP, the experiment was repeated using 10 Βµm particles. The larger particles exhibited delayed infiltration and transport behavior, and while the model successfully represented the spatial extent of particle transport through the HZ, it was unable to fully replicate hyporheic transit times. This study is the first to combine explicit validation against experimental data, encompassing qualitative observations of MP concentration patterns and quantification of fluxes. By that, it significantly contributes to our understanding of MP transport processes in fluvial systems. The study also highlights the advantages and limitations of employing a fully integrated modeling approach to investigate the transport and retention behavior of MP in rivers and streams.Copyright Β© 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
publications-4734	article	2021	Hong, Yong Deog and Hong, Yoonki and Hong, Yoon-Ki and Stanley, Roger and Stanley, Roger and Tang, Juming and Tang, Juming and Bui, Lan and Bui, Lan T.T. and Ghandi, Amir and Ghandi, Amir	Effect of Electric Field Distribution on the Heating Uniformity of a Model Ready-to-Eat Meal in Microwave-Assisted Thermal Sterilization Using the FDTD Method	Foods	10.3390/foods10020311	Microwave assisted thermal sterilization (MATS) is a novel microwave technology currently used in the commercial production of ready-to-eat meals. It combines surface heating of high-temperature circulation water with internal microwave heating in cavities. The heating pattern inside the food packages in a MATS process depends heavily on the electric field distribution formed by microwaves from the top and bottom windows of the microwave heating cavities. The purpose of this research was to study the effect of the electric field on 922 MHz microwave heating of ready-to-eat meals as they moved through the microwave chamber of a pilot-scale MATS system using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. A three-dimensional numerical simulation model was developed as a digital twin of the MATS process of food moving through the microwave chamber. The simulation showed that the electric field intensity of the MATS microwave cavity was greatest on the surface and side edge of the cavity and of the food. There was a strong similarity of the experimental heating pattern with that of the electric field distribution simulated by a computer model. The digital twin modeling approach can be used to design options for improving the heating uniformity and throughput of ready-to-eat meals in MATS industrial systems.
publications-4735	article	2024	Ruan, X and Guo, M and Zhan, Z	A regional digital bathymetric model fusion method based on topographic slope: A case study of the south China sea and surrounding waters.	Heliyon	10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26644	High-resolution seafloor topography is important in scientific research and marine engineering in regard to marine resource development and environmental protection monitoring. In this study, multi-dimensional comparisons were made between GEBCO_2022, SRTM15_V2.5.5, SRTM30_PLUS, SYNBATH_V1.0, ETOPO_2022, and topo_25.1 in the South China Sea and surrounding waters (SCS). This study has found that ETOPO_2022 had the best overall accuracy and reliability. Based on the results of the model accuracy analysis and by considering the topographic slope, ETOPO_2022, GEBCO_2022, and SRTM15_V2.5.5 were weighted and fused to form a fusion model. The error of the fusion model was 94.80\% concentrated in (-100-100 m). When compared with GEBCO_2022, SRTM15_V2.5.5, SRTM30_PLUS, SYNBATH_V1.0, ETOPO_2022, and topo_25.1, the RMSE was reduced by 2\%, 9\%, 62\%, 15\%, 1\%, and 73\%, respectively. The slope-based weighted fusion method has been shown that it can overcome the limitations of a single data source and provide a reference for timely reconstruction and updating of large-scale seafloor topography.Β© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
publications-4736	article	2024	Zhan, W and Zhao, X and Zhong, H and Liu, G	Cotransport of fullerene nanoparticles and montmorillonite colloids in porous media: Critical role of divalent cations of montmorillonite.	The Science of the total environment	10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169470	While the cotransport of carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) and clay colloids in porous media has been widely studied, the influence of the cation exchange capacity (CEC) of clay colloids on the transport process remains unclear. In this study, batch adsorption and column transport experiments were conducted to investigate the fate and transport of CNPs and clay colloids in quartz sand, with respect to the effect of monovalent-cation exchange capacity (mono-CEC), divalent-cation exchange capacity (di-CEC) and total CEC of clays. Fullerene nanoparticles (nC60) and six types of montmorillonite (ML) with different CEC were selected as modeled CNPs and clay colloids, respectively. Transport behavior of nC60 and ML was characterized using breakthrough curves (BTCs) and fitted with two-kinetic-sites colloid transport model. Results of the adsorption experiments showed a good linear correlation between the deposition of nC60 on the sand surface and the di-CEC of ML. Transport of ML and nC60 was inhibited by each other. The calculated mass recovery of nC60, as well as the fitted maximum deposition capacity and attachment rate coefficients of nC60 exhibited a strong linear relationship with the di-CEC of ML. These results indicate that divalent cations in ML interlayers play a significant role in aggregation between nC60 and ML and their cotransport. Through measurements of the particle size and zeta potentials of sole nC60 and mixtures of ML and nC60, FTIR and XPS analysis of nC60 under different conditions, and a release experiment of nC60 in a sand column, it demonstrated cation bridging (Ca2+-Ο€) between nC60 and ML mediated by the divalent cations in ML interlayers. The study highlighted the potential of using di-CEC of clays as an indicator to predict the mobility of nC60 in clay-containing porous media and added insights to the transport behavior of CNPs in porous media.Copyright Β© 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
publications-4737	article	2024	Liu, G and Zhan, W and Huo, L and Chen, W and Zhong, H	Kinetic stability of Fe-based nanoparticles with rheological modification by xanthan gum: A critical stabilization concentration and the underlying mechanism.	International journal of biological macromolecules	10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.131270	Enhanced kinetic stability of Fe-NPs in groundwater is a focus in application of Fe-NPs for groundwater remediation. The effect of surfactants (Triton X-100 and SDBS) and polymers (XG, SA, CCS, PSS and PVP) on the kinetic stability of Fe-NPs were studied with sedimentation experiments. Polymers improved stability of nFe3O4 and XG had the best effect, while surfactants had minimal effect. There was a critical concentration (CSC) for XG to stabilize nFe3O4, which was 2.0 g/L. At such a concentration nFe3O4, nFe2O3, and nCuO did not settled in 10 h, while the settlement occurred below the concentration and increased with decreasing XG concentration. At CSC XG could stabilize 20 g/L of nFe3O4 for >30 days and 8.0 g/L of nZVI for 13 days. Rheology studies indicated that the enhanced stability was due to the entanglement of XG molecules in the concentration range of 0.5-2.8 g/L and the formation of a uniform entangled network at CSC concentration was responsible for non-sedimentation of Fe-NPs. At hyper-CSC concentrations under the regime of concentrated network (>2.8 g/L), the stability of nFe3O4 and nFe2O3 decreased due to depletion interaction. The rules for XG to stabilize particles and information about the critical concentration will improve XG application in groundwater remediation using Fe-NPs.Copyright Β© 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.
publications-4738	article	2024	Fang, W and Zhou, L and Li, Y and Li, H and Zhong, H and Zha, Y	Heat and mass transfer based on the low-temperature thermal treatment of hydrocarbons-impacted soil: A numerical simulation and sandbox validation.	Journal of hazardous materials	10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133999	Thermal treatment can be an effective method for soil remediation, and numerical models play a crucial role in elucidating the underlying processes that affect efficacy. In this study, experiments were conducted to examine the low-temperature thermal treatment for removing n-hexane and n-octane from soil. The results showed that the removal of two alkanes followed the pseudo-first-order kinetics. Additionally, a quantitative relationship between kinetics constant and temperature was established. Based on experimental results, a simple mathematical model was presented via COMSOL Multiphysics 6.0. The processes considered in the model incorporated conductive and convective heat transfer, the vaporization latent heat, and the removal of organic contaminants which was quantified using an advection-dispersion equation combined with a pseudo-first-order kinetic. The developed model was first validated by a thermal treatment in a soil column, demonstrating conformity with the measured temperature and concentration values. Subsequently, the temporal and spatial changes in soil temperature and contaminant levels were evaluated for different heating temperatures. It was found that thermal conduction dominated heat transfer, whereas thermal convection caused by the migration of liquid water intensified when the temperature was higher than the boiling point. The completion time exhibited a correlation with the heating temperature. It was predicted that the time required to achieve a 90\% removal efficiency could be shortened from 14 h to 9.5 h by elevating the heating temperature from 80 β„ƒ to 120 β„ƒ. The study also investigated the impact of the initial water content on heat transfer. It was observed that the saturated soil showed the slowest heating rate and the longest boiling stage.Copyright Β© 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
publications-4739	article	2023	Isaksson, Malin and Gomis-Fons, JoaqΓΊΔ±n and Andersson, Niklas and Nilsson, Bernt	An automated buffer management system for small-scale continuous downstream bioprocessing	Journal of chromatography. A	10.1016/j.chroma.2023.463942	Buffer management for biopharmaceutical purification processes include buffer preparation, storage of buffers and restocking the buffers when needed. This is usually performed manually by the operators for small scale operations. However, buffer management can become a bottleneck when running integrated continuous purification processes for prolonged times, even at small scale. To address this issue, a buffer management system for the application in continuous lab-scale bioprocessing is presented in this paper. For this purpose, an Γ„KTAβ„Ά explorer chromatography system was reconfigured to perform the buffer formulation. The system formulated all buffers from stock solutions and water according to pre-specified recipes. A digital twin of the physical system was introduced in the research software Orbit, written in python. Orbit was also used for full automation and control of the buffer system, which could run independently without operator input and handle buffer management for one or several connected buffer-consuming purification systems. The developed buffer management system performed automatic monitoring of buffer volumes, buffer order handling as well as buffer preparation and delivery. To demonstrate the capability of the developed system, it was integrated with a continuous downstream process and supplied all 9 required buffers to the process equipment during a 10-day operation. The buffer management system processed 55 orders and delivered 38 L of buffers, corresponding to 20\% of its capacity. The pH and conductivity profiles observed during the purification steps were consistent across the cycles. The deviation in conductivity and pH from the measured average value was within Β±0.89\% in conductivity and Β±0.045 in pH, well within the typical specification for buffer release, indicating that the prepared buffers had the correct composition. The operation of the developed buffer management system was robust and fully automated, and provides one solution to the buffer management bottleneck on lab scale for integrated continuous downstream bioprocessing.
publications-4740	article	2024	Chen, F and Cheng, Z and Gao, C and Li, C and Zhang, C and Yu, C and Dong, Z and Jiang, L	Capillarity Constructed Open Siphon for Sustainable Drainage.	Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)	10.1002/smll.202307079	Siphon is an effective method to transfer liquid from a higher to a lower level, which has many applications in hygienic design, clinical apparatus, and hydraulic engineering. Traditional operation requires energy to overcome gravity and establish flow in a closed system. Achieving sustainable high flux siphon drainage without energy input remains a challenge due to viscous dissipation. Here, an unexpected open siphon behavior on the South American pitcher plant Heliamphora minor consisting of trichomes covered pitcher and a wedge-shaped sheath is examined. Exploiting the concept of Digital Twin, a new biomimetic research method by transforming the biological sample to a virtual 3D model is proposed and unveiled that maintained connection of wicking on sub-millimeter long trichomes due to asymmetric pressure distribution and ascending in wedge sheath under unbalanced pressure forms continuous surface flow. Exploring this mechanism, a biomimetic siphon device achieving continuous high flux exposed to ambient air is constructed. Besides, particles floating on the meniscus in the outside wedge move under a curvature gradient as water ascends, which implies a biological nutrient capture method and new dust collection manner in the drainage system. Applying the underlying principle enhances the siphon efficiency of floor drains and has the potential for other liquid transfer device design improvements.Β© 2024 Wileyβ€VCH GmbH.