Abstract Snow accumulation during winters poses significant challenges to realization of engineering applications, such as operation of infrared detection sensors. This paper presents the utility of coupled computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations and discrete phase model (DPM) to predict the occurrence of snow accumulation on infrared detection sensors installed in electronic toll-collection systems. The optimum shape of the cover protecting the sensor from snow particles has been numerically investigated. To this end, the cross-sectional shape of the cover was first optimized by performing two-dimensional simulations of seven different snow-cover shapes, of which two were shortlisted. Thereafter, the effect of shape modifications on snow accumulation was investigated in the light of three-dimensional simulation results. As observed, the proposed optimum snow cover significantly reduces the number of snow particles affecting the sensor when compared to the case with no cover installed. Finally, the effect of the optimum cover design was confirmed by performing field observations using mock-ups under actual snowing conditions. Results of this study indicate the effectiveness of a double-plate structure in protecting infrared sensors from incident snow particles. The authors believe this study could serve as a reference generic strategy for employing the CFD–DPM combination to solve engineering problems encountered in regions that experience heavy snowfall.

中文翻译：

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基于离散相模型的红外探测传感器积雪计算流体动力学模拟

摘要 冬季积雪对红外探测传感器等工程应用的实现提出了重大挑战。本文介绍了耦合计算流体动力学 (CFD) 模拟和离散相位模型 (DPM) 的效用，以预测安装在电子收费系统中的红外检测传感器上积雪的发生。已对保护传感器免受雪粒影响的罩盖的最佳形状进行了数值研究。为此，首先通过对七种不同的积雪形状进行二维模拟来优化覆盖物的横截面形状，其中两个入围。此后，根据三维模拟结果研究了形状修改对积雪的影响。据观察，与没有安装覆盖物的情况相比，建议的最佳雪覆盖量显着减少了影响传感器的雪粒数量。最后，通过在实际下雪条件下使用模型进行实地观察，确认了最佳覆盖层设计的效果。这项研究的结果表明双板结构在保护红外传感器免受入射雪粒子影响方面的有效性。作者认为，这项研究可以作为参考通用策略，使用 CFD-DPM 组合来解决在经历大雪的地区遇到的工程问题。通过在实际下雪条件下使用模型进行实地观察，确认了最佳覆盖层设计的效果。这项研究的结果表明双板结构在保护红外传感器免受入射雪粒子影响方面的有效性。作者认为，这项研究可以作为参考通用策略，使用 CFD-DPM 组合来解决在经历大雪的地区遇到的工程问题。通过在实际下雪条件下使用模型进行实地观察，确认了最佳覆盖层设计的效果。这项研究的结果表明双板结构在保护红外传感器免受入射雪粒子影响方面的有效性。作者认为，这项研究可以作为参考通用策略，使用 CFD-DPM 组合来解决在经历大雪的地区遇到的工程问题。