An efficient method for simulation of the dynamics of a large number of deformable droplets in the stokes regime

Direct simulations of the interaction of a large number of deformable droplets are necessary for more accurate predictions of rheological properties and the microstructure of liquid-liquid systems. In the present study, a mathematical model of a three-dimensional flow of a mixture of two Newtonian liquids of a droplet structure in an unbounded domain at low Reynolds numbers is considered. An efficient computational method for simulation of the dynamics of a large number of deformable drops is developed and tested. This approach is based on the boundary element method for three-dimensional problems accelerated both via an advanced scalable algorithm (FMM), and via utilization of a heterogeneous computing architecture (multicore CPUs and graphics processors). This enables direct simulations of systems of tens of thousands of deformable droplets on PCs, which is confirmed by test and demo computations. The developed method can be used for solution of a wide range of problems related to the emulsion flow in micro- and nanoscales. Also it can be used to establish the closing relations for simulation of two-phase liquid-liquid flow based on the continuum approach in macroscales.     

Droplet transient migration and dynamic force balance mechanism on vibration-controlled micro-texture surfaces

In this paper, forced vibration was used to regulate the droplet migration, fully recording the transient migration of droplets on a micro-textured substrate under the resonance frequency by a high-speed camera. The influence of resonance frequency and dynamic migration characteristics of droplets on the solid micro-texture surface under lateral vibration were researched. The experiment demonstrates that the driving force is caused by the difference between the left and right contact angles made the droplet oscillate and migrate, and as time t increases, the left and right contact points are periodically shifted and the amplitude of migration increases. Therefore, based on the droplet migration behavior and its force balance mechanism, a spring vibration model of migration behavior of the vibrating droplet micro unit was set up to predict the complete trajectory of its migration on a solid surface. The calculation results show that the theoretical displacement is less than the experimental displacement, and the longer the time, the larger the difference. Affected by the vibration, part of the droplet permeates through the micro-texture, resulting in the droplet losing height and the contact angle becoming smaller as well. While the other part of droplet overcomes the internal surface tension to migrate.     

Local Heating Effect of Flow Past a Circular Cylinder

Heating effects of air flows past a two-dimensional circular cylinder at low Reynolds numbers and low Mach numbers are investigated by numerical simulation. The cylinder wall is heated partially rather than heated on the whole surface as with previous researches. The heating effects are completely different for various heating locations on the cylinder surface. Heating either windward or leeward side stabilizes the flow and reduces or completely suppresses vortex shedding from the cylinder at supercritical Reynolds numbers, which is consistent with previous results of heating on the whole surface of the cylinder. However, as the lateral sides of the cylinder （perpendicular to the stream-wise direction） are heated, an adverse effect is found for the first time in that the flow is destabilized and vortex shedding can be excited at subcritical Reynolds numbers. As the lateral sides of the cylinder are cooled, the flow is stabilized.     

Modeling and simulation of thermocapillary flows using lattice Boltzmann method

To understand how thermocapillary forces manipulate droplet motion in microfluidic channels, we develop a lattice Boltzmann (LB) multiphase model to simulate thermocapillary flows. The complex hydrodynamic interactions are described by an improved color-fluid LB model, in which the interfacial tension forces and the Marangoni stresses are modeled in a consistent manner using the concept of a continuum surface force. An additional convection–diffusion equation is solved in the LB framework to obtain the temperature field, which is coupled to the interfacial tension through an equation of state. A stress-free boundary condition is also introduced to treat outflow boundary, which can conserve the total mass of an incompressible system, thus improving the numerical stability for creeping flows.The model is firstly validated against the analytical solutions for the thermocapillary driven convection in two superimposed fluids at negligibly small Reynolds and Marangoni numbers. It is then used to simulate thermocapillary migration of three-dimensional deformable droplet at various Marangoni numbers, and its accuracy is once again verified against the theoretical prediction in the limit of zero Marangoni number. Finally, we numerically investigate how the localized heating from a laser can block the microfluidic droplet motion through the induced thermocapillary forces. The droplet motion can be completely blocked provided that the intensity of laser exceeds a threshold value, below which the droplet motion successively undergoes four stages: constant velocity, deceleration, acceleration, and constant velocity. When the droplet motion is completely blocked, four steady vortices are clearly visible, and the droplet is fully filled by two internal vortices. The external vortices diminish when the intensity of laser increases.     

On the behavior of suspension of drops on an inclined surface

The flow of drops suspended on an inclined surface, are studied by numerical simulations at finite Reynolds numbers. The flow is driven by the acceleration due to gravity, and there is no pressure gradient in the flow direction. The effect of the Reynolds number, the Capillary number and density ratio on the distribution of drops and the fluctuation energy across the channel are investigated. It is found that drops tend to stay away from the channel floor, which is consistent with the behavior observed in the granular flow regime. Drops that are less deformable will stay further away from the channel floor. Also, drops appear at a larger distance from the floor as the Reynolds number increases. Simulations at large density ratios show that results are more compatible with computer simulations of granular flows. The behavior observed here resembles more the granular flow regime when the restitution coefficient is low.     

Correlations to predict droplet size in ultrasonic atomisation.

In conventional two fluid nozzles, the high velocity air imparts its energy to the liquid and disrupts the liquid sheet into droplets. If the energy for liquid sheet fragmentation can be supplied by the use of ultrasonic energy, finer droplets with high sphericity and uniform size distribution can be achieved. The other advantage of ultrasound induced atomisation process is the lower momentum associated with ejected droplets compared to the momentum carried by the droplets formed using conventional nozzles. This has advantage in coating and granulation processes. An ultrasonic probe sonicator was designed with a facility for liquid feed arrangement and was used to atomise the liquid into droplets. An ingenious method of droplet measurement was attempted by capturing the droplets on a filter paper (size variation with regard to wicking was uniform in all cases) and these are subjected to image analysis to obtain the droplet sizes. This procedure was evaluated by high-speed photography of droplets ejected at one particular experimental condition and these were image analysed. The correlations proposed in the literature to predict droplet sizes using ultrasound do not take into account all the relevant parameters. In this work, a truly universal correlation is proposed which accounts for the effects of physico-chemical properties of the liquid (flow rate, viscosity, density and surface tension), and ultrasonic properties like amplitude, frequency and the area of vibrating surface. The significant contribution of this work is to define dimensionless numbers incorporating ultrasonic parameters, taking cue from the conventional numbers that define the significance of different forces involved in droplet formation. The universal correlations proposed are robust and can be used for designing ultrasonic atomisers for different applications. Among the correlations proposed here, those ones that are based on the dimensionless numbers and Davies approach predict droplet sizes within acceptable limits of deviation. Also, an empirical correlation from experimental data has been proposed in this work.     

Investigation of droplet combustion in strained counterflow diffusion flames using planar laser-induced fluorescence

Experimental investigation of an isolated droplet burning in a convective flow is reported. Acetone droplets were injected in a steady laminar diffusion counterflow flame operating with methane. Planar laser-induced fluorescence measurements applied to OH radical and acetone was used to measure the spatial distribution of fuel vapour and the structure of the flame front around the droplet. High-magnification optics was used in order to image flow areas with a ratio of 1:1.2. The different combustion regimes of an isolated droplet could be observed from the configuration of the envelope flame to that of the boundary-layer flame, and occurrence of these regimes was found to depend on the droplet Reynolds number. Experimental results were compared with 1D numerical simulations using detailed chemistry for the configuration of the envelope flame. Good agreement was obtained for the radial profile of both OH radical and fuel vapour. Influence of droplet dynamics on the counterflow flame front was also investigated. Results show that the flame front could be strongly distorted by the droplet crossing. In particular, droplets with high velocity led to local extinction of the flame front whereas droplets with low velocity could ignite within the flame front and burn on the oxidiser side. PACS 33.50.-j; 42.62.-b; 47.55.D-; 47.70.Pq; 47.80.Jk     

矩形通道内横流喷雾掺混流场的实验研究

应用PIV系统对矩形通道内横流-喷雾掺混过程中液滴沿横流方向的流场进行了实验测量.分别获得了单喷嘴和双喷嘴下横流掺混中的流场结构,以及液滴的水平速度分布.横流作用下,液滴的最大水平速度为横流速度的两倍左右;反旋涡对降低了液滴的水平速度,提高了液滴在横流中的停留时间.双喷嘴条件下,横流截面上的液滴密集区域呈狭长的三角形,...     

高炉渣熔融液滴撞击壁面行为特性实验研究

针对高温熔渣粒化技术的开发,本文通过可视化实验研究了高炉渣熔融液滴撞击不锈钢壁面的动态行为特性。结果表明:随液滴雷诺数增大,撞击过程液滴形态演变模式依次由铺展-回缩转变为铺展-回缩破碎和铺展-破碎-凝固;增大壁面粗糙度可减弱与壁面换热,抑制液滴铺展;减小壁面粗糙度促进液滴发生破碎;液膜回缩过程普遍出现回卷现象,壁面倾角越大,液膜回卷和液滴滚动现象越显著,且液滴铺展面积越大,在壁面停留时间越长;减小液滴雷诺数、减小壁面粗糙度并采用垂直粒化仓壁面有利于壁面防黏结。     

双液滴撞击平面液膜的流动与传热特性

采用耦合的水平集-体积分数法(CLSVOF)对双液滴连续撞击恒定壁温壁面上的热液膜的流动和换热特性进行了数值模拟及分析,得到了双液滴撞击热液膜后形态演变的过程.分析了液滴垂直间距、撞击速度、液膜厚度以及液滴直径对双液滴撞击液膜后的流动与传热特性的影响,结果显示,壁面平均热流密度随液滴撞击速度的增大而增大,液滴垂直间距、液膜厚度和液滴直径对平均热流密度的影响较小,但会对热流密度在撞击区域和交界区的分布产生重要影响.     

剪切变稀液滴撞击不同浸润性壁面的数值模拟研究

基于有限元法,采用水平集方法捕捉相界面的移动,构建了液滴撞击固体壁面的数值模型.通过修正的幂律模型描述流体的非牛顿剪切变稀特性,探讨了剪切变稀特性对液滴撞击固体壁面后铺展行为的影响,分析了撞击不同浸润性壁面时剪切变稀特性对液滴撞击壁面行为的影响差异.研究结果表明:随着幂律指数m的减小,液滴撞击过程中的黏性耗散减小,液滴的形貌变化及无量纲参数变化更为显著.接触角为55°的情况下:当m降低至0.85时,液滴铺展过程中开始出现显著区别于牛顿流体液滴的振荡现象;当m降低至0.80时,液滴在回缩过程中会出现中心液膜断裂的情况.接触角为100°时,剪切变稀液滴均会出现振荡行为,振荡幅度随着m的减小而增大.接触角为160°时,牛顿流体液滴与剪切变稀液滴均会在回缩过程中弹起,但剪切变稀液滴的弹起速度更快.此外,基于数值计算结果,本文提出了接触角为55°情况下剪切变稀液滴撞击壁面后的最大无量纲铺展直径预测模型.     

单液滴正碰球面动态行为特性实验研究

在考虑空气阻力影响,确定液滴撞击球面速度的基础上,对较高韦伯数液滴撞击干燥球面动态行为过程进行了实验研究,分析了球面曲率与韦伯数对液滴撞击行为和铺展因子的影响,并与前人撞击平面结果进行了对比.实验表明,靠近撞击球面时,液滴降落速度出现明显波动;球面曲率对液滴撞击后行为影响明显,曲率较大时,液滴撞击后铺展液膜会超出球面直径并滑落,曲率较小时,液滴撞击后在球面上呈现明显的铺展、回缩、震荡、着附动态变化行为,此时最大铺展因子受曲率影响小,随曲率减小,逐渐趋向于撞击平面时的最大铺展因子;韦伯数对液膜铺展速率影响较小,但对液膜回缩时间影响明显,最大铺展因子随韦伯数增加逐渐增大,获得的关联式呈指数变化.     

液滴碰撞Janus颗粒球表面的行为特征

为研究液滴碰撞Janus颗粒(双亲性)球表面的独特行为特征,以粒径为5.0 mm铜球为材料制备了Janus颗粒,用直径为2.0 mm的液滴,在韦伯数(We)为2.7,10,20,30的测试情况下对Janus颗粒球表面进行了碰撞实验.结果表明:液滴碰撞Janus颗粒球表面后的运动可分为铺展、回缩、振荡和回弹4个过程.在不同We下,液滴碰撞Janus颗粒后的运动状态主要与表面润湿性相关,在Janus颗粒亲水侧表现为铺展特性且铺展系数γ随着时间t的增大而逐渐增大并趋于稳定;但在疏水侧,表现为回弹现象,铺展系数γ会出现类似"抛物线"形状;当液滴碰撞Janus颗粒球表面亲-疏水分界线时,液滴铺展和回弹同时发生.基于能量平衡和受力分析发现,液滴动能和表面能的互相转化是液滴铺展的关键,液滴会在重力、惯性力、表面张力、黏性力、接触力等力的综合作用下展现其独特的行为特征并最终达到平衡状态.     

Magneto-photoluminescence study of InGaAs quantum dots fabricated by droplet epitaxy

We have successfully measured magneto-photoluminescence of InGaAs quantum dots (QDs) fabricated by droplet epitaxy with highly dense Ga droplets, termed separated-phase enhance epitaxy with droplets (SPEED). In the low magnetic field region, the PL peak energy shift increases linearly with square of the magnetic field. From the estimated Bohr radii for the QDs, it is found that the size of the QDs in the lateral direction is 2.7-times larger than that in the vertical direction. Moreover, using high magnetic region for estimating the detailed lateral size, the cyclotron radius around 25 T in the QDs becomes equal to the lateral size of the QDs. The cyclotron radius of 5.1 nm at 25 T suggests that the size of the InGaAs QDs in lateral direction might be as small as about 10 nm.     

毫米级单分散聚-α-甲基苯乙烯空心微球制备

采用汇聚式双重乳液发生器通过乳液微封装技术制备得到了毫米级单分散的聚--甲基苯乙烯空心微球。初步研究了各相流速对乳液形成过程、乳液直径及其分散度的影响。基于获得的单分散双重乳液,采用旋转蒸发方式固化得到了分散度小于3%、直径800~1200 m的聚--甲基苯乙烯空心微球。     

Polydisperse spray diffusion flames in oscillating flow

The phenomenon of droplet clustering or grouping found when a spray of droplets is moving in an oscillating host flow field is investigated for the case of a polydisperse spray that fuels a laminar co-flow diffusion flame. A mathematical solution is developed for the liquid phase based on use of small Stokes numbers for size sections into which the polydisperse spray size distribution is divided. Droplet clustering in the oscillatory flow field is accounted for by constructing a special model for the sectional vaporization Damkohler numbers in accordance with droplet size. Combining this with a formal solution for a gas phase Schvab-Zel'dovich variable yields the means whereby flame dynamics can be described. Results calculated from this solution demonstrate that preferential droplet size behaviour (with smaller droplets tending to cluster to a greater extent and reduce the vaporization Damkohler number more than larger ones) can have a major impact on the flame dynamics through local droplet enrichment with attendant consequences on the production of fuel vapour. The dynamics of the sort of flame (over- or under-ventilated) and the occurrence of flame pinching leading to multiple flame sheets are altered under these circumstances. However, potential control of the actual initial spray polydispersity may reduce the intensity of such effects.     

液滴室内的氢液滴超冷条件下的结晶(英文)

液滴室内超冷现象的存在使得氢微球在自身温度低于其三相点温度的情况下依然处于液态。这可能导致液滴在真空注入过程中发生碎裂。结合液氢的超冷知识, 对液滴室内的氢液滴进行了热力学模拟, 理论上提出了利于氢液滴尽快冷却成固体小丸的最佳实验条件, 即保持液滴室内氦背景气体和氢蒸汽的压强尽可能低, 并将液滴室长度延长到6 cm以上。Because of the existence of supercooling in a droplet formation chamber, the hydrogen micro spheres are still in liquid phase even though their temperature is lower than the triple point temperature. This may cause the droplets to shatter in the vacuum injection capillary. Based on the knowledge about supercooling of liquid hydrogen, we have done a thermodynamic simulation of the droplets in the droplet formation chamber, and theoretically suggested the optimal working conditions under which the droplets will most properly nucleate to solid pellets. The suggested working conditions are that the helium gas pressure and the hydrogen vapor pressure in the droplet formation chamber are kept as low as possible, and the droplet formation chamber should be no less than 6 cm in the length.     

Formation of cations and anions upon electron interaction with (doped) helium droplets

Superfluid helium droplets have provided a new perspective for studying electron induced chemistry at extremely low temperatures. Helium droplets represent an ideal environment for the formation of novel and exotic agglomerates of atoms and molecules. Mass spectrometry can be used to detect the resulting ions formed upon electron ionization and electron attachment to doped droplets. In the case of electron ionization a helium atom of the droplet is ionized initially and after few resonant charge transfer reactions between helium atoms the charge finally localises on the dopant. An alternative process is Penning ionization of the dopant, where the scattered electron first electronically excites a helium atom on the surface of the droplet. The attachment of a low energy electron leads to formation of an electron bubble inside the droplet which decays by autodetachment or localization on a dopant, if present in the droplet. In the present minireview a general overview about the field of electron scattering with doped helium droplets is given and a presentation of important recent results related to these electron collision studies is given as well.     

Hydrodynamics of passing-over motion during binary droplet collision in shear flow

A combined experimental and numerical study is undertaken to investigate the hydrodynamic characteristics of single-phase droplet collision in a shear flow. The passing-over motion of interactive droplets is observed, and the underlying hydrodynamic mechanisms are elucidated by the analysis of the motion trajectory, transient droplet deformation and detailed hydrodynamic information (e.g., pressure and flow fields). The results indicate that the hydrodynamic interaction process under shear could be divided into three stages: approaching, colliding, and separating. With the increasing confinement, the interaction time for the passing-over process is shorter and the droplet processes one higher curvature tip and more stretched profile. Furthermore, the lateral separation Δy/R₁ exhibits larger decrease in the approaching stage and the thickness of the lubrication film is decreased during the interaction. As the initial lateral separation increases, the maximum trajectory shift by the collision interaction is getting smaller. During the collision between two droplets with different sizes, the amplitude of the deformation oscillation of the larger droplet is decreased by reducing the size ratio of the smaller droplet to the bigger one.