PARROT: A Pilot Study on the Open Access Provision of Particle-Discrete Tomographic Datasets

A Dataset of 3D Structural and Simulated Transport Properties of Complex Porous Media

Physical processes that occur within porous materials have wide-ranging applications including - but not limited to - carbon sequestration, battery technology, membranes, oil and gas, geothermal energy, nuclear waste disposal, water resource management. The equations that describe these physical processes have been studied extensively; however, approximating them numerically requires immense computational resources due to the complex behavior that arises from the geometrically-intricate solid boundary conditions in porous materials. Here, we introduce a new dataset of unprecedented scale and breadth, DRP-372: a catalog of 3D geometries, simulation results, and structural properties of samples hosted on the Digital Rocks Portal. The dataset includes 1736 flow and electrical simulation results on 217 samples, which required more than 500 core years of computation. This data can be used for many purposes, such as constructing empirical models, validating new simulation codes, and developing machine learning algorithms that closely match the extensive purely-physical simulation. This article offers a detailed description of the contents of the dataset including the data collection, simulation schemes, and data validation.

Real-Time Modeling of Volume and Form Dependent Nanoparticle Fractionation in Tubular Centrifuges

A dynamic process model for the simulation of nanoparticle fractionation in tubular centrifuges is presented. Established state-of-the-art methods are further developed to incorporate multi-dimensional particle properties (traits). The separation outcome is quantified based on a discrete distribution of particle volume, elongation and flatness. The simulation algorithm solves a mass balance between interconnected compartments which represent the separation zone. Grade efficiencies are calculated by a short-cut model involving material functions and higher dimensional particle trait distributions. For the one dimensional classification of fumed silica nanoparticles, the numerical solution is validated experimentally. A creation and characterization of a virtual particle system provides an additional three dimensional input dataset. Following a three dimensional fractionation case study, the tubular centrifuge model underlines the fact that a precise fractionation according to particle form is extremely difficult. In light of this, the paper discusses particle elongation and flatness as impacting traits during fractionation in tubular centrifuges. Furthermore, communications on separation performance and outcome are possible and facilitated by the three dimensional visualization of grade efficiency data. Future research in nanoparticle characterization will further enhance the models use in real-time separation process simulation.