SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “bubble dynamics”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

SourceResearch connectionFrom yearThrough year

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 505 records · Page 28

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

DOE OSTI2026

Time-resolved unsteady shock motion and spectral analysis of a hypersonic shock-wave/boundary-layer interaction over a double-cone

Direct experimental measurements of double-cone shock-wave/boundary-layer interaction dynamics at Mach 7.2 were collected using a schlieren-based shock-detection algorithm at the University of Texas at San Antonio. The points of flow separation and reattachment were spatially and spectrally evaluated at 300 kHz for time-resolved characterization of the unsteadiness of this flow field. The separation bubble was found to rapidly expand and contract about a large mean length. Spectral analysis of the velocity fluctuations of this motion revealed this behavior to be a turbulent phenomenon, with spectral energy trends consistent with the Kolmogorov theory for the turbulent energy cascade.

Glasby, Ryan [ORNL]↗

DOE OSTI2023

Implementation of a High-Fidelity Interface Resolving Method in Nek5000

The development and utilization of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models for large, high-temperature electric melters in the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) in eastern Washington State have proven to be valuable for various purposes. These models allow for a better understanding of the physio-chemical processes occurring within the melter vessels and can contribute to improving operational efficiency, throughput, and addressing operational issues related to vitrification. The CFD models employed for these melter vessels incorporate multiphase fluid flow and heat transfer simulations in different regions, including the plenum, cold cap, and molten glass regions. As the tank waste and glass formers are introduced into the melter, a reacting batch layer known as the cold cap forms on top of the molten glass. To enhance the melt rate, forced convection bubblers located at the bottom of the melters generate convection currents that help homogenize the molten glass and provide heat to the cold cap. As the bubbles rise through the highly viscous glass, they adopt a spherical-cap shape [1]. Meanwhile, the conversion of the batch to glass generates significant amounts of gases (such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and NOx) due to thermal decomposition [2]. These gases become trapped between the cold cap and molten glass, forming a foam layer [3]. For modeling multiphase flow in CFD and heat transfer simulations of waste glass melters at different scales, efforts are underway to augment the capabilities of the Nek5000 [4] and NekRS [5] open-source codes [6]. Nek5000/NekRS is a scalable and efficient spectral element code that has been successfully applied to a wide range of fluid dynamics problems. By leveraging the Nek5000/NekRS software, it becomes possible to model the melter systems more affordably and with lower computational requirements compared to currently utilized commercial CFD software. The specific objectives of this ongoing effort include: 1. Implementation of a level set method in Nek5000/NekRS: The level set method is a numerical technique commonly employed in CFD simulations to track and represent the interface between different phases or materials accurately. By incorporating this method into Nek5000/NekRS, the ability to simulate multiphase flows in waste glass melters at a high level of fidelity can be achieved. 2. Demonstration of capability for air bubbling through molten glass: As part of the development process, a specific case of air bubbling through molten glass will be simulated using the augmented Nek5000/NekRS code. This demonstration aims to showcase the ability of the software to accurately capture and analyze the complex phenomena involved in the multiphase flow within waste glass melters. By achieving these objectives, the improved Nek5000/NekRS code will offer a powerful computational tool for simulating and analyzing waste glass melter systems, enabling better understanding, optimization, and troubleshooting of these vitrification processes. The ability to accurately model and simulate multiphase flows has broad relevance across many industries and scientific domains, and the improved functionality can contribute to advancements in various fields beyond waste glass melter simulations.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

DOE OSTI2020

Deep learning interfacial momentum closures in coarse-mesh CFD two-phase flow simulation using validation data

Multiphase flow phenomena have been widely observed in the industrial applications while it remains a challenging yet unsolved problems. Three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approaches resolve the flow fields on a finer special and temporal scales which can complement the dedicated experimental study. However, closures have to be introduced to reflect the underlying physics in multiphase flow. Among them, the interfacial forces, including drag, lift, turbulent dispersion and wall lubrication forces, play in important role on the bubble’s distribution and migration in liquid-vapor two-phase flow. Development of those closures traditionally rely on the experimental data and analytical derivation with simplified assumptions which usually cannot deliver a universal solution across wide range of flow conditions. In this paper, a data-driven approach, named as Feature Similarity Measurement (FSM), is developed and applied to improve the simulation capability of two-phase flow with coarse-mesh CFD approach. Interfacial momentum transfer in adiabatic bubbly flow serves as the focus of the present study. Both a mature and a simplified set of interfacial closures are taken as the low fidelity data. Experimental data and fine mesh CFD simulations results are adopted as high-fidelity data. Qualitative and quantitative analysis are performed in this paper which reveals that FSM can substantially improve the prediction of coarse mesh CFD model regardless of the choice of interfacial closures and it provides scalability and consistency across discontinuous flow regimes. Furthermore, it demonstrates that data-driven method can aid the multiphase flow modeling by exploring the connections between local physical features and simulation errors.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

NASA NTRS1996

Studies of Two-Phase Flow Dynamics and Heat Transfer at Reduced Gravity Conditions

The ability to predict gas-liquid flow patterns is crucial to the design and operation of two-phase flow systems in the microgravity environment. Flow pattern maps have been developed in this study which show the occurrence of flow patterns as a function of gas and liquid superficial velocities as well as tube diameter, liquid viscosity and surface tension. The results have demonstrated that the location of the bubble-slug transition is affected by the tube diameter for air-water systems and by surface tension, suggesting that turbulence-induced bubble fluctuations and coalescence mechanisms play a role in this transition. The location of the slug-annular transition on the flow pattern maps is largely unaffected by tube diameter, liquid viscosity or surface tension in the ranges tested. Void fraction-based transition criteria were developed which separate the flow patterns on the flow pattern maps with reasonable accuracy. Weber number transition criteria also show promise but further work is needed to improve these models. For annular gas-liquid flows of air-water and air- 50 percent glycerine under reduced gravity conditions, the pressure gradient agrees fairly well with a version of the Lockhart-Martinelli correlation but the measured film thickness deviates from published correlations at lower Reynolds numbers. Nusselt numbers, based on a film thickness obtained from standard normal-gravity correlations, follow the relation, Nu = A Re(sup n) Pr(exp l/3), but more experimental data in a reduced gravity environment are needed to increase the confidence in the estimated constants, A and n. In the slug flow regime, experimental pressure gradient does not correlate well with either the Lockhart-Martinelli or a homogeneous formulation, but does correlate nicely with a formulation based on a two-phase Reynolds number. Comparison with ground-based correlations implies that the heat transfer coefficients are lower at reduced gravity than at normal gravity under the same flow conditions. Nusselt numbers can be correlated in a fashion similar to Chu and Jones.

Witte, Larry C.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Dynamics of cavitating cascades

The unsteady dynamics of cavitating cascades and inducer pumps were studied with a view to understanding (and possibly predicting) the dynamic characteristics of these devices. The chronology of the research is summarized as well as the final conculsions for each task. The construction of a dynamic pump test facility and its use in making experimental measurements of the transfer function is described as well as tests conducted using a scale model of the low pressure liquid oxygen turbopump inducer in the shuttle main engine. Auto-oscillation and unsteady inlet flow characteristics are discussed in addition to blade cavity influence and bubbly cavitation.

Brennen, C. E.↗

DOE OSTI2025

Numerical simulations of liquid jetting with solid inclusions

The dynamics of finite-sized particles in fluids, and their influence on the overall flow, are of great interest across several industrial, environmental, and medical fields. In the context of inkjet printing, the presence of solid inclusions can be either intentional, as in additive manufacturing, or unintentional, as in standard printing processes. These inclusions can strongly impact the jetting process, causing effects such as jet asymmetry, bubble entrapment, and the formation of satellite droplets. Understanding and controlling particle behavior is therefore essential, particularly to predict how and when particles are ejected over multiple jetting cycles. It is therefore critical to develop reliable models that allow for a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between particle and fluid during the whole printing process. To address this, we present a tailored implementation of the Color-Gradient multicomponent Lattice Boltzmann Method for fully resolved three-dimensional (3D) simulations of multicycle liquid jetting with particles. Our method supports realistic parameter settings aligned with industrial inkjet systems, and we provide both qualitative and quantitative validation against experimental data. Additionally, we introduce a simplified model based on the Stokes drag law, in which solid particles are represented as point particles and do not influence the fluid flow. Despite this limitation, the model offers a computationally efficient means to explore the vast parameter space typically encountered in industrial applications, allowing, e.g., identifying critical ejection regions and estimating the number of cycles required for particle release. These qualitative insights are valuable for guiding and complement fully two-way coupled simulations.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

NASA NTRS1987

A numerical study of three-dimensional vortex breakdown

A numerical simulation of bubble-type vortex breakdown using a unique discrete form of the full 3-D, unsteady incompressible Navier-Stokes equations was performed. The Navier-Stokes equations were written in a vorticity-velocity form and the physical problem was not restricted to axisymmetric flow. The problem was parametized on a Rossby- Reynolds-number basis. Utilization of this parameter duo was shown to dictate the form of the free-field boundary condition specification and allowed control of axial breakdown location within the computational domain. The structure of the breakdown bubble was studied through time evolution plots of planar projected velocity vectors as well as through plots of particle traces and vortex lines. These results compared favorably with previous experimental studies. In addition, profiles of all three velocity components are presented at various axial stations and a Fourier analysis was performed to identify the dominant circumferential modes. The dynamics of the breakdown process were studied through plots of axial variation of rate of change of integrated total energy and rate of change of integrated enstrophy, as well as through contour plots of velocity, vorticity and pressure.

Spall, Robert E.↗

NASA NTRS1999

Microgravity Two-Phase Flow Transition

Two-phase flows under microgravity condition find a large number of important applications in fluid handling and storage, and spacecraft thermal management. Specifically, under microgravity condition heat transfer between heat exchanger surfaces and fluids depend critically on the distribution and interaction between different fluid phases which are often qualitatively different from the gravity-based systems. Heat transfer and flow analysis in two-phase flows under these conditions require a clear understanding of the flow pattern transition and development of appropriate dimensionless scales for its modeling and prediction. The physics of this flow is however very complex and remains poorly understood. This has led to various inadequacies in flow and heat transfer modeling and has made prediction of flow transition difficult in engineering design of efficient thermal and flow systems. In the present study the available published data for flow transition under microgravity condition are considered for mapping. The transition from slug to annular flow and from bubbly to slug flow are mapped using dimensionless variable combination developed in a previous study by the authors. The result indicate that the new maps describe the flow transitions reasonably well over the range of the data available. The transition maps are examined and the results are discussed in relation to the presumed balance of forces and flow dynamics. It is suggested that further evaluation of the proposed flow and transition mapping will require a wider range of microgravity data expected to be made available in future studies.

Parang, M.↗

NASA NTRS2000

Sweep and Compressibility Effects on Active Separation Control at High Reynolds Numbers

This paper explores the effects of compressibility, sweep and excitation location on active separation control at high Reynolds numbers. The model, which was tested in a cryogenic pressurized wind tunnel, simulates the upper surface of a 20% thick Glauert Goldschmied type airfoil at zero angle of attack. The flow is fully turbulent since the tunnel sidewall boundary layer flows over the model. Without control, the flow separates at the highly convex area and a large turbulent separation bubble is formed. Periodic excitation is applied to gradually eliminate the separation bubble. Two alternative blowing slot locations as well as the effect of compressibility, sweep and steady suction or blowing were studied. During the test the Reynolds numbers ranged from 2 to 40 million and Mach numbers ranged from 0.2 to 0.7. Sweep angles were 0 and 30 deg. It was found that excitation must be introduced slightly upstream of the separation region regardless of the sweep angle at low Mach number. Introduction of excitation upstream of the shock wave is more effective than at its foot. Compressibility reduces the ability of steady mass transfer and periodic excitation to control the separation bubble but excitation has an effect on the integral parameters, which is similar to that observed in low Mach numbers. The conventional swept flow scaling is valid for fully and even partially attached flow, but different scaling is required for the separated 3D flow. The effectiveness of the active control is not reduced by sweep. Detailed flow field dynamics are described in the accompanying paper.

Seifert, Avi↗

NASA NTRS2000

Sweep and Compressibility Effects on Active Separation Control at High Reynolds Numbers

This paper explores the effects of compressibility, sweep and excitation location on active separation control at high Reynolds numbers. The model, which was tested in a cryogenic pressurized wind tunnel, simulates the upper surface of a 20% thick GlauertGoldschmied type airfoil at zero angle of attack. The flow is fully turbulent since the tunnel sidewall boundary layer flows over the model. Without control, the flow separates at the highly convex area and a large turbulent separation bubble is formed. Periodic excitation is applied to gradually eliminate the separation bubble. Two alternative blowing slot locations as well as the effect of compressibility, sweep and steady suction or blowing were studied. During the test the Reynolds numbers ranged from 2 to 40 million and Mach numbers ranged from 0.2 to 0.7. Sweep angles were 0 and 30 deg. It was found that excitation must be introduced slightly upstream of the separation region regardless of the sweep angle at low Mach number. Introduction of excitation upstream of the shock wave is more effective than at its foot. Compressibility reduces the ability of steady mass transfer and periodic excitation to control the separation bubble but excitation has an effect on the integral parameters, which is similar to that observed in low Mach numbers. The conventional swept flow scaling is valid for fully and even partially attached flow, but different scaling is required for the separated 3D flow. The effectiveness of the active control is not reduced by sweep. Detailed flow field dynamics are described in the accompanying paper.

Seifert, Avi↗

NASA NTRS2022

Science CONOPS for Application of Sport Mission Data to Study Large (~1000KM) Ionospheric Plasma Depletions

The Scintillation Prediction Observations Research Task (SPORT) mission is a single 6U CubeSat space weather satellite planned for an October 2022 launch into an ISS-like orbit. The primary purpose of the SPORT mission is to determine the longitudinal effects on equatorial plasma bubble (EPB) growth resulting from the offset dipole magnetic field of the Earth. By combining field and plasma measurements from SPORT with other low-altitude (i.e., alt < 1000 km) spacecraft, it is possible to investigate large-scale (> 1000 km) EPB structures. The types of investigation made possible by measurements from SPORT and other contemporaneous missions include 1) dynamics of depleted magnetic flux tubes; 2) dynamics of field-aligned EPB expansion versus propagation speed; 3) EPB vertical extent; and 4) EPB temporal evolution. To support these investigation types, the respective modes of conjunctions are: 1) simultaneous intersection of a magnetic flux tube; 2) intersection of magnetic flux tube separated in time; 3) Simultaneous Latitude/Longitude position conjunction; and 4) Non-simultaneous latitude/longitude position conjunction. This paper will summarize the SPORT satellite and data used for Science CONOPS to accomplish these objectives.

Ionospheres↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Science Conops for Application of Sport Mission Data to Study Large (~1000KN) Ionospheric Plasma Depletions

Scintillation↗

NASA NTRS2021

Analysis of Arc Welding Process in Space

This work is motivated by NASA plans to conduct welding experiments on the ISS. It is expected that deployment of welding and additive manufacturing technologies in the space environment has the potential to revolutionise how orbiting platforms are designed, manufactured, and assembled. However, the structure, composition and quality of a weld is extremely dependent on the environment and can be difficult to control in space. Shielding gases would also be tough to manage as gases behave differently in zero gravity and airless environments. Additional points of concern are related to the spatter and sparks dynamics in space. Therefore, there is a need for a more basic understanding of welding processes by computational modelling. To provide such an insight we developed state of art models of the ARC torch, droplet detachment and transfer, and the melt pool build up using magnetohydrodynamics approximation and level set method for two-phase liquid metal/-gas flow modelling. Two finite element models were built using 2D axisymmetric geometry in COMSOL Multiphysics®: (i) stationary model of the ARC torch and (ii) dynamical model of droplet detachment and transfer. Both models demonstrate reasonable agreement with earlier experimental observations and high sensitivity to the temperature dependence of the thermophysical parameters on the system materials. The models were used to provide physical insight into ARC welding in various environments and geometries. It was shown, in particular, that there is a significant probability of gas bubbles trapping in the meltpool and a possibility of unbounded wondering of sparks in the welding chamber in zero gravity. In addition, we estimated metal evaporation rate that may be hazardous in the confined environment of the ISS. These issues raise concern of quality of the weld and safety for ISS applications.

ARC welding↗

NASA NTRS1998

Magnetospheric Substorms and Tail Dynamics

This grant funded several studies of magnetospheric substorms and their effect on the dynamics of the earth's geomagnetic tail. We completed an extensive study of plasmoids, plasma/magnetic field structures that travel rapidly down the tail, using data from the ISEE 3 and IMP 8 spacecraft. This study formed the PhD thesis of Mark Moldwin. We found that magnetically plasmoids are better described as flux-ropes (twisted magnetic flux tubes) rather than plasma bubbles, as had been generally regarded up to that point (Moldwin and Hughes, 1990; 1991). We published several examples of plasmoids observed first in the near tail by IMP 8 and later in the distant tail by ISEE 3, confirming their velocities down tail. We showed how the passage of plasmoids distorts the plasma sheet. We completed the first extensive statistical survey of plasmoids that showed how plasmoids evolve as they move down tail from their formation around 30 RE to ISEE 3 apogee at 240 RE. We established a one-to-one correspondence between the observation of plasmoids in the distant tail and substorm onsets at earth or in the near tail. And we showed that there is a class of plasmoid-like structures that move slowly earthward, especially following weak substorms during northward IMF. Collectively this work constituted the most extensive study of plasmoids prior to the work that has now been done with the GEOTAIL spacecraft. Following our work on plasmoids, we turned our attention to signatures of substorm onset observed in the inner magnetosphere near geosynchronous orbit, especially signatures observed by the CRRES satellite. Using data from the magnetometer, electric field probe, plasma wave instrument, and low energy plasma instrument on CRRES we were able to better document substorm onsets in the inner magnetosphere than had been possible previously. Detailed calculation of the Poynting flux showed energy exchange between the magnetosphere and ionosphere, and a short burst of tailward convective flow just prior to onset, suggesting the active role of the ionosphere in the onset process, and adding credibility to the ballooning instability theory of substorm onset. This grant also supported a number of other substorm studies and reviews. These are represented by the list of publications and meeting presentations resulting out of this grant.

Hughes, W. Jeffrey↗

DOE OSTI2024

Soft interface instability and gas flow channeling in low-permeability deformable media

Understanding gas percolation through a clay layer or a shale formation is of great importance for the development of a geologic repository for nuclear waste disposal, a subsurface system for gas storage, and an engineering approach for hydrocarbon extraction from unconventional reservoirs. Gas injection experiments have revealed complex dynamic behaviours of gas percolation through water saturated compacted bentonite, characterized by a high breakthrough pressure, rapid breakthrough, a pressure/stress decay after the breakthrough, a relatively high migration rate, high-frequency periodic/nonperiodic variations in flow rate, stepwise rate reductions during relaxation, and low gas saturation over the whole process, all indicating channelling nature of the processes. Using linear stability analyses, we show that this channelling can autonomously emerge from the instability of the deformable interface between the injected gas and the compacted bentonite matrix driven by local stress concentration, pore dilation, and hydrologic gradient. Channel patterns formed would possess a fractal geometry. We further show that, once a percolating channel is established, the gas injected would percolate through the channel in a chain of gas bubbles, also due to the interface instability, resulting in periodic/chaotic variations in gas flow rate. Our work provides a unified explanation for key features observed for gas percolation in low-permeability deformable media. The work also suggests a possibility of designing an engineered barrier system for a nuclear waste repository that can have controllable gas release while limit water transport.

Bentonite↗

DOE OSTI2023

X-ray imaging of liquid-liquid Mg cavitation

The coupling of dynamic loading platforms with synchrotron light sources have enabled experiments examining void formation in optically opaque materials. Much like spallation in a solid, cavitation occurs when rarefaction waves collide within a liquid. The resulting deformation leads to a complex flow field with numerous voids. It has been suggested that compaction of such a structure may be a significant source of ejecta (i.e. shallow bubble collapse). Experiments imaging supported and unsupported shocks interacting with a free surface in shock melted Mg with synchrotron radiation are presented. Here, the results are used to examine the structure of a cavitation plane that forms in the unsupported case and provide an estimate of the porosity within this region.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

DOE OSTI2020

Coupled Thermal-Hydraulic Analysis and Species Mass Transport in a Versatile Experimental Salt Irradiation Loop (VESIL) using COBRA-TF

With the resurgence of interest in Molten Salt Reactor (MSR) technology among commercial and governmental agencies, there is a need for new experiments and new modelling capabilities to characterize the unique phenomena present in this fluid fuel system. A Versatile Experimental Salt Irradiation Loop (VESIL) is currently under investigation at Idaho National Laboratory. It is designed to be a dynamic fuel-bearing salt loop placed in the Advanced Test Reactor. One of the key phenomena this proposed experiment plans to elucidate is fission product speciation in the fuel-salt and the subsequent effects this can have on fuel-salt properties, fission product transport and interactions, source term generation, corrosion and redox potential control. Specifically, noble gases (Xe & Kr) will bubble out to a plenum or off-gas system and noble metals (Mo, Tc, Te etc.) will precipitate and deposit in specific zones in the loop. This work extends the mass transfer and species interaction models in the general species transport capability of COBRA-TF (CTF) and applies these models to give a preliminary estimation of fission product behavior in the proposed VESIL design.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

NASA NTRS1993

Hierarchical structure analysis of interstellar clouds using nonorthogonal wavelets

We introduce the use of Laplacian pyramid transforms, a form of nonorthogonal wavelets, to analyze the structure of interstellar clouds. These transforms are generally better suited for analyzing structure than orthogonal wavelets because they provide more flexibility in the structure of the encoding functions - here circularly symmetric bandpass filters. This technique is applied to CO maps of Barnard 5. In the (C-13)O maps, for example, we identify 60 different fragments and clumps, as well as several cavities, or bubbles. Many features show evidence of hierarchical structure, with most of the power in the largest wavelengths. The clumps have a more chaotic structure at small wavelengths than expected for Kolmogorov turbulence, and a mass distribution proportional to M exp -5/3. The structure analysis is consistent with a picture where gravity, energy injection, compressible turbulence, and coalescence play an important role in the dynamics of B5.

Langer, William D.↗