Non-expert summaryThis is a dynamic simulation of removal of a soluble component by diffusive mass transfer from the shadow region of a 2-D backward facing step. The scenario is this: a fully developed laminar flow (Reynolds number of 10 and 100) between two parallel plates encounters a shallow 90 degree step in the lower plate (the step height is 0.02 x the initial duct height). A nonreactive soluble component is present in the region next to the step, essentially a square of contaminated fluid. The washout of this packet of fluid, by flow over the step and diffusion, is modelled for Schmidt numbers between 7 and 2650. Streamlines and contentration contours over time are mapped and characteristic timescales are computed.
The results will be of interest to those interested in the washout of contaminated liquids in shallow recesses.