Three-Dimensional Shear Driven Thin Liquid Film in a Duct

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Lan ◽  
M. Friedrich ◽  
B. F. Armaly ◽  
J. A. Drallmeier

Measurements and predictions of three-dimensional shear driven thin liquid films by turbulent air flow in a duct are reported. FLUENT - CFD code is used to perform the numerical simulations and the Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes and continuity equations along with the Volume of Fluid (VOF) model and the realizable k-ε turbulence model are implemented for this task. Film thickness and width are reported as a function of air flow rate, liquid film volume flow rate and surface tension, and a comparison with preliminary measured results is made. The thickness of the shear driven liquid film is measured using an interferometric technique that makes use of the phase shift between the reflection of incident light from the top and bottom surfaces of the thin liquid film. The spatial resolution is determined based on the spot size of the incident light, which for the current configuration of the transmitting optics is approximately 10 microns. The resulting fringe pattern is imaged using a high-speed imaging camera operating at 2000 frames per second. The technique has proved successful in measuring thickness between 100 and 900 microns in these shear driven films. Simulation results reveal that higher gas flow velocity decreases the film thickness but increases its width, while higher liquid film flow rate increases the film thickness and increases its width. Reasonable comparison appears to exist between preliminary measured and simulated results.

2010 ◽  
Vol 132 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Lan ◽  
J. L. Wegener ◽  
B. F. Armaly ◽  
J. A. Drallmeier

Three-dimensional (3D)—steady-developing-laminar-isothermal—and gravity-driven thin liquid film flow adjacent to an inclined plane is examined and the effects of film flow rate, surface tension, and surface inclination angle on the film thickness and film width are presented. The film flow was numerically simulated using the volume of fluid model and experimental verification was conducted by measuring film thickness and width using a laser focus displacement instrument. The steady film flow that is considered in this study does not have a leading contact line, however, it has two steady side contact lines with the substrate surface at the outer edge of its width. Results reveal that the film width decreases and the average film thickness increases as the film flows down the inclined plane. The film thickness and width decrease but its streamwise velocity increases as surface inclination angle (as measured from the horizontal plane) increases. A higher film flow rate is associated with a higher film thickness, a higher film width, and a higher average film velocity. Films with higher surface tension are associated with a smaller width and a higher average thickness. A ripple develops near the side contact line, i.e., the spanwise distribution of the film thickness exhibits peaks at the outer edges of the film width and the height of this ripple increases as the surface tension or the film flow rate increases. The width of the film decreases at a faster rate along the streamwise direction if liquid film has higher surface tension. Measurements of the film thickness and the film width compare favorably with the numerically simulated results.


Author(s):  
Kenji Yoshida ◽  
Tomoya Adachi ◽  
Isao Kataoka ◽  
Hiroyuki Horiki ◽  
Akira Yoneya ◽  
...  

Experimental and analytical studies have been carried out on the hydrodynamic behavior of swirling liquid film flow on a rotating disc. Film flow formation and swirling waves on the liquid film were analyzed through observation using high speed video. Liquid film thickness was measured using the Laser refraction method and compared with prediction. The rotating disc is 200 mm in diameter and was made of Silicon (Silicon wafer in industrial use). The rotating speed is up to 100 rad/sec (2000 rotations per min.) Water is supplied to the center of the disc at a flow rate of 8.3 × 10−6 m3/s (500 cc/min). The film flow is divided into three regimes depending upon rotating speed. For the lower rotating speed (up to 10 rad/sec), formation of liquid film flow is incomplete and some part of the peripheral region of the disc is not completely covered by liquid film. For the intermediate rotating speed (15–25 rad/sec), laminar film flow covered the whole disc. Furthermore, there are swirling waves on the liquid film. This wave is considered to be a continuity wave arising at the center portion of disc due to the water flow rate variation form the nozzle. Wave propagation speed and behavior of these swirling waves were well explained by the theory of continuity wave. For the high rotating speed (more than 30 rad/sec), the liquid film flow changed its flow regime from laminar flow to turbulent flow. The estimated film Reynolds number at transition is about 1200 which is consistent with turbulent flow transition for pipe flow and film flow on non-rotating surface. Three dimensional turbulent waves were observed on this turbulent liquid film. The behavior of such three dimensional turbulent waves were quite random in time and space. Measured film thicknesses ranged from 50 to 300 micron. Film thickness and its fluctuation decreased as the rotation speed of disc increased and distance from disc center increased. The analysis was made on the film thickness based on the force balance between shear stress and centrifugal force acting on the film. The predicted film thickness agreed well with the measured value.


Author(s):  
Budi Chandra ◽  
Kathy Simmons ◽  
Stephen Pickering ◽  
Marc Tittel

In a typical aero engine bearing chamber, oil is introduced to lubricate and cool the bearings as well as the bearing chamber wall. The flow of the oil in the bearing chamber is very complex due to the presence of various forces: gravity, windage, capillary, etc. These pose a great challenge for designers, in particular on how to effectively and efficiently scavenge the hot oil out of the bearing chamber. The University of Nottingham Technology Centre in Gas Turbine Transmission Systems is conducting an ongoing experimental program on liquid and gas flow behavior in the highly rotating environment typically found in a bearing chamber. This paper presents results from a study of the thin film on the wall of a generic bearing chamber consisting of an inner rotating shaft and outer stationary cylindrical wall. Thin liquid film behavior in a cylindrical chamber, subject to only gravity or together with the presence of shearing air flow is of interest in many industrial applications and processes. Measurements of film thickness were taken at various axial and angular locations, at various representative inlet flow rates, scavenge ratios and shaft rotational speeds. The experimental data provides insight on the behavior of thin liquid film as it travels down the inner chamber wall subject to both gravity and shearing air flow and provides a data set eminently suitable for CFD validation. The film thickness measurements are discussed in relation to previously published chamber residence volume data [1].


Author(s):  
Zezhi Zeng ◽  
Gopinath Warrier ◽  
Y. Sungtaek Ju

Direct-contact heat transfer between a falling liquid film and a gas stream yield high heat transfer rates and as such it is routinely used in several industrial applications. This concept has been incorporated by us into the proposed design of a novel heat exchanger for indirect cooling of steam in power plants. The DILSHE (Direct-contact Liquid-on-String Heat Exchangers) module consists of an array of small diameter (∼ 1 mm) vertical strings with hot liquid coolant flowing down them due to gravity. A low- or near-zero vapor pressure liquid coolant is essential to minimize/eliminate coolant loss. Consequently, liquids such as Ionic Liquids and Silicone oils are ideal candidates for the coolant. The liquid film thickness is of the order of 1 mm. Gas (ambient air) flowing upwards cools the hot liquid coolant. Onset of fluid instabilities (Rayleigh-Plateau and/or Kapitza instabilities) result in the formation of a liquid beads, which enhance heat transfer due to additional mixing. The key to successfully designing and operating DILSHE is understanding the fundamentals of the liquid film fluid dynamics and heat transfer and developing an operational performance map. As a first step towards achieving these goals, we have undertaken a parametric experimental and numerical study to investigate the fluid dynamics of thin liquid films flowing down small diameter strings. Silicone oil and air are the working fluids in the experiments. The experiments were performed with a single nylon sting (fishing line) of diameter = 0.61 mm and height = 1.6 m. The inlet temperature of both liquid and air were constant (∼ 20 °C). In the present set of experiments the variables that were parametrically varied were: (i) liquid mass flow rate (0.05 to 0.23 g/s) and (ii) average air velocity (0 to 2.7 m/s). Visualization of the liquid flow was performed using a high-speed camera. Parameters such as base liquid film thickness, liquid bead shape and size, velocity (and hence frequency) of beads were measured from the high-speed video recordings. The effect of gas velocity on the dynamics of the liquid beads was compared to data available in the open literature. Within the range of gas velocities used in the experiments, the occurrence of liquid hold up and/or liquid blow over, if any, were also identified. Numerical simulations of the two-phase flow are currently being performed. The experimental results will be invaluable in validation/refinement of the numerical simulations and development of the operational map.


2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-49
Author(s):  
Aleksandr Pavlenko ◽  
Oleg Volodin ◽  
Vladimir Serdyukov

Results of experimental studies on hydrodynamics of the film flow of liquid nitrogen over the surface of the single elements of structured packing are presented. The effect of inclination angle of the large ribs and perforation on the zones of liquid film spreading over the corrugated surface with microtexture at different Reynolds numbers of the film is shown based on a comparison of experimental data. It is shown that the angle of large rib inclination has a significant influence on redistribution of the local flow rate of liquid flowing on the surface with complex geometry. Analysis of results of the high-speed video revealed that in a vicinity of the vertical lateral edges of corrugated plates, the intense rivulet flows are formed, including those with separation from the film flow surface. This negative factor can lead to significant liquid accumulation and flow near the vertical edges of the structured packing and on the inner wall of the heat exchanging apparatuses and, finally, to a significant increase in the degree of maldistribution of local liquid flow rate over the crosssection, for instance, of the distillation columns.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huacheng Zhang ◽  
Tutomo Hisano ◽  
Shoji Mori ◽  
Hiroyuki Yoshida

Abstract Annular gas-liquid two-phase flows, such as the flows attached to the fuel rods of boiling water reactors (BWR), are a prevalent occurrence in industrial processes. At the gas-liquid interface of such flows, disturbance waves with diverse velocity and amplitude commonly arise. Since the thin liquid film between two successive disturbance waves leads to the dryout on the heating surface and limits the performance of the BWRs, complete knowledge of the disturbance waves is of great importance for the characterized properties of disturbance waves. The properties of disturbance waves have been studied by numerous researchers through extensive experimental and analytical approaches. However, most of the experimental data and analyses available in the literature are limited to the near atmospheric condition. In consideration of the properties of liquids and gases under atmospheric pressure which are distinct from those under BWR operating conditions (7 MPa, 285 °C), we employed the HFC134a gas and liquid ethanol whose properties at relatively low pressure and temperature (0.7 MPa, 40 °C) are similar to those of steam and water under BWR operating conditions as working fluids in a tubular test section having an inside diameter 5.0mm. Meanwhile, the liquid film thickness is measured by conductance probes. In this study, we report the liquid film thickness characteristics in a two-phase HFC134a gas-liquid ethanol flow. A simple model of the height of a disturbance wave was also proposed.


2014 ◽  
Vol 644-650 ◽  
pp. 373-376
Author(s):  
Li Liu ◽  
Yi Ping Lu ◽  
Jia De Han ◽  
Xue Mei Sun

Air volume flow rate distribution of stator ducts along axial and circumferential for salient pole synchronous motor is strongly influenced by the air flow field in the air gap and rotor poles, which is completely different from the flow characteristics of non-salient pole motor and it directly relates to the peak temperature of stator bars and core and axial temperature difference which can affect the safety of the operation. A three-dimensional physical model of 1/8 motor was established and corresponding solution domain boundary conditions were given in this article. The air volume flow rate distribution of stator ducts along axial and circumferential was analyzed based on CFD. The study show that at the same position of the axial stator, the cooling air flow into stator ducts along the circumferential direction is uneven, the air volume flow rate distribution is largely influenced by rotor pole pieces, geometry and position of pole support block and rotor rotation direction.


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