Headgroup effect on drag reduction and rheological properties of micellar solutions of quaternary ammonium surfactants

Two sets of cationic surfactants each with essentially the same alkyl chains but different headgroup structures were studied to investigate the effects of surfactant headgroup structure on micelle microstructures, drag reduction (DR) and rheological properties at certain counterion and surfactant concentrations. Cetyldimethylethylammonium bromide (CDMEAB) was compared with alkyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CnTAB) and benzyldimethyl(hydrogenated tallow)ammonium chloride (DMHTB) was compared with alkyltrimethylammonium chloride (CmTAC), respectively. Surfactants with larger headgroups showed lower high temperature limits for DR. CDMEAB systems have better DR abilities than CnTAB below room temperature but the opposite is true at higher temperatures. DMHTB has stronger counterion binding ability than CmTAC, giving better DR properties than CmTAC at low counterion concentration, but has a lower upper temperature limit for DR. These results provide further understanding of the self-assembly nature of threadlike micelles of cationic surfactants and guidance for design of effective surfactant structures to meet particular DR requirements.     

Turbulent drag reduction by spanwise wall oscillations

In the present work a technique is numerically investigated, which is aimed at reducing the friction drag in turbulent boundary layers and channel flows. A cyclic spanwise oscillation of the wall with a proper frequency and amplitude is imposed, allowing a reduction of the turbulent drag of up to 40%. The present work is based on the numerical simulation of the Navier-Stokes equations in the simple geometry of a plane channel flow. The frequency of the oscillations is kept fixed at the most efficient value determined in previous studies, while the choice of the best value for the amplitude of the oscillations is evaluated not only in terms of friction reduction, but also by taking into consideration the overall energy balance and the power spent for the motion of the wall. The analysis of turbulence statistics allows to shed some light on the way oscillations interact with wall turbulence, as illustrated by visual inspection of some instantaneous flow fields. Finally, a simple explanation is proposed for this interaction, which leads to a rough estimate of the most efficient value for the frequency of the oscillations.     

Multiphase drag reduction: Effect of eliminating slugs

Two-phase pressure drop measurements were taken for air/water mixtures in a 0.052-m diameter horizontal pipe with special focus on the superficial liquid velocity range of 0.03–1.2 m/s at superficial gas velocities of 3.8, 5.2, and 6.6 m/s. It was found that the addition of 400 ppm of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) to the water reduced the pressure drop by 25–40% when compared to equal flow rates without SDS. The pressure drop reduction occurred where the SDS eliminated the occurrence of the intermittent flow present with water. It was also found that the same concentration of SDS had virtually no effect on single phase liquid pressure drop. The pressure drop reduction appears to be due solely to the suppression of intermittent flow patterns.     

Experimental studies on drag reduction and rheology of mixed cationic surfactants with different alkyl chain lengths

Experimental studies of the effects of mixtures of cationic surfactants on their drag reduction and rheological behaviors are reported. Cationic alkyl trimethyl quaternary ammonium surfactants with alkyl chain lengths of C₁₂ and C₂₂ were mixed at different molar ratios (total surfactant concentrations were kept at 5 mM with 12.5 mM sodium salicylate (NaSal) as counterion). Drag reduction tests showed that by adding 10% (mol) of C₁₂, the effective drag reduction range expanded to 4–120 °C, compared with 80–130 °C with only the C₂₂ surfactant. Thus mixing cationic surfactants with different alkyl chain lengths is an effective way of tuning the drag reduction temperature range. Cryo-TEM micrographs revealed thread-like micellar networks for surfactant solutions in the drag reducing temperature range, while vesicles were the dominant microstructures at non-drag reducing temperatures. High extensional viscosity was the main rheological feature for all solutions except 50% C₁₂ (mol) solution, which also does not show strong viscoelasticity. It is not clear why this low extensional viscosity solution with relatively weak viscoelasticity is a good drag reducer. Received: 3 November 1999/Accepted: 5 January 2000     

Effects of chemical structures of para-halobenzoates on micelle nanostructure,drag reduction and rheological behaviors of dilute CTAC solutions

Counterion chemical structure and counterion to cationic surfactant molar ratio, ξ, control counterion binding, micelle nanostructures, drag reduction (DR) effectiveness and rheological behavior of quaternary ammonium surfactant systems. The effects of chemical structures of four sodium para-halobenzoate (F, Cl, Br, I) counterions with different ξ values on these properties were compared for dilute solutions of cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC). Counterion binding was determined by zeta-potential and ¹H NMR measurements. Nanostructures were determined by ¹H NMR and cryo-TEM imaging. Nanostructures, drag reduction effectiveness measured over a range of temperatures and Reynolds numbers, shear viscosities and first normal stress differences N1 were related to the chemical structures of the four counterions and their molar ratios to CTAC.     

The role of small scale coherent structures in turbulent drag reduction

With a new visualization technique, a strong suppression of small scale coherent structures (filaments) in turbulence is observed when a drag reducing polymer is added. Simultaneously, the rate of formation of large scale structures (eddies) out of these filaments decreases, which may be an important observation in the explanation of turbulent drag reduction.     

The role of elongational viscosity in the mechanism of drag reduction by polymer additives

The role of elongational viscosity in the mechanism of drag reduction by polymer additives is investigated qualitatively by means of direct numerical simulations of a turbulent pipe flow. For the polymer solution, a generalised Newtonian constitutive model is utilised in which the viscosity depends on the second and third invariant of the rate-of-strain tensor via an elongation parameter. This elongation parameter is capable of identifying elongational type of regions within the flow. The simulations show that complementary to stretching of the polymers, also compression must be incorporated to have drag reduction, contrary to many suggestions done in the literature on the mechanism which assume that stretching of the polymers is most important.     

The influence of the injection system on drag reduction

The influence of the injection system for centerline injected polymer solutions (threads) on drag reduction in a turbulent pipe flow was studied using injectors of different length and grids. Compared with a short injector, the long injector showed a different behavior: the drag reduction was lower and its onset point was shifted to higher Reynolds numbers.The velocity profiles for the polymer-phase and the water-phase were measured simultaneously with a combination of laser-Doppler-velocimetry LDV and laser-induced fluorescence LIE It was found that the analysis of the LDV measurements with respect to the difference in velocity between the polymer-phase and the water-phase can give information about the mixing between both phases. For a Reynolds number of 30000 the difference between the phases is comparatively large for low drag reduction and very small for high drag reduction. The results indicate that the drag reduction achieved by injecting a concentrated polymer solution is mainly caused by a mixing process between polymer and water.     

Jet methods of gas injection into fluid boundary layer for drag reduction

Two jet methods for saturating the fluid boundary layer with microbubbles for drag reduction in contrust with gas injection through porous materials are considered. The first method is the gas injection through the slot under a special fluid wall jet. The second method is the saturation of boundary layer by microbubbles via the gas-water mixture injection through the slot. Experimental data, reflecting the skin friction drag reduction on the flat plate and total drag reduction of axisymmetric bodies, are presented. The comparison between a jet methods of gas injection and gas injection through porous materials is made.Nomenclature v free-stream velocity - v _j mean velocity of a water through slot - v _g mean velocity of a gas through slot - h width of slot for realizing water jet - h ₁ width of slot for gas injection - incidence angle - Q volume airflow rate - C _Q airflow rate coefficient (v _g/v ) - C _f skin friction coefficient - v _j/v - C _f0 C _f ifQ=0 andv _j=0 - _f C _f/C _{f 0} - d diameter of an axisymmetric body - L length of body - C _Q 4 · ·Q/d ² v - C _D 4 ·D/1/2v ² ·d ² - C _Q 4 ·Q/d ² v - Q _j volume flow rate of water jet - C 8 ·Q _jv_j/d ² v ² - 1 fluid density of main flow - 2 fluid density of wall jet - B ₁ main stream total pressure - B ₂ wall jet total pressure - v ₁ main stream velocity - Be (B ₂ –B ₁)/1/2₁ v ₁ ² = Bernoulli number - ₂ v ₂/₁ v ₁ - p _st static pressure - p _at atmospheric pressure - p _st/p _at - D hydrodynamic drag of body     

Degradation effects of dilute polymer solutions on turbulent drag reduction in pipe flows

An important practical problem in the application and study of drag reduction by polymer additives is the degradation of the polymer, for instance due to intense shearing, especially in recirculatory flow systems. Such degradation leads to a marked loss of the drag-reducing capability of the polymer.Three different polymer types were tested on degradation effects in a closed pipe flow system. The polymers used were Polyox WSR-301, Separan AP-273 and Superfloc A-110, dissolved in water in concentrations of 20 wppm each. The flow system consisted of a 16.3 mm pipe of 4.25 m length. Two different pumps were used: a centrifugal pump and a disc pump. Different solution-preparation procedures were tried and the experiments were performed at different flow rates.Superfloc A-110 proved to be both the most effective drag reducer and most resistant to degradation. Because of very fast degradation, Polyox WSR-301 was found to be unsuitable for being used as a drag reducer in re-circulatory systems. The disc pump proved to be much better suited for pumping the polymer solutions than the centrifugal pump. The degradation curve of the combination Superfloc/disc pump showed a plateau-like region with reasonable drag reduction, which makes it possible to perform (laser Doppler) measurements under nearly constant circumstances during a sufficient time.     

On the boundary layer/riblets interaction mechanisms and the prediction of turbulent drag reduction

Turbulent drag reduction experienced by ribletted surfaces is the result of both (1) the interaction between riblet peaks and the coherent structures that characterize turbulent near-wall flows, and (2) the laminar sublayer flow modifications caused by the riblet shape, which can balance, under appropriate conditions, the drag penalty due to the increased wetted surface. The latter “viscous” mechanism is investigated by means of an analytical model of the laminar sublayer, which removes geometrical restrictions and allows us to take into account “real” shapes of riblet contours, affected by manufacturing inaccuracies, and to compute even for such cases a parameter, called protrusion height, related to the longitudinal mean flow. By considering real geometries, riblet effectiveness is clearly shown to be related to the difference between the longitudinal and the transversal protrusion heights. A simple method for the prediction of the performances of ribletted surfaces is then devised. The predicted and measured drag reduction data, for different riblet geometries and flow characteristics, are in close agreement with each other. The soundness of the physical interpretation underlying this prediction method is consequently confirmed.     

An investigation of possible mechanisms of heterogeneous drag reduction in pipe and channel flows

When concentrated polymer solutions are injected into the core-region of a turbulent pipe or channel flow, the injected polymer solution forms a thread which preserves its identity far beyond the injection point. The resulting drag reduction is called heterogeneous drag reduction.This study presents experimental results on the mechanism of this type of drag reduction. The experiments were carried out to find out whether this drag reduction is caused by small amounts of polymer removed from the thread and dissolved in the near-wall region of the flow or by an interaction of the polymer thread with the turbulence. The friction behavior of this type of drag reduction was measured for different concentrations in pipes of different cross-sections, but of identical hydraulic diameter. The parameters of the injection, i.e. injector geometry as well as the ratio of the injection to the bulk velocity, were varied. In one set of experiments the polymer thread was sucked out through an orifice and the friction behavior in the pipe was determined downstream of the orifice. In another experiment, near-wall fluid was led into a bypass in order to measure its drag reducing properties. Furthermore, the influence of a water injection into the near-wall region on the drag reduction was studied.The results provide a strong evidence that heterogeneous drag reduction is in part caused by small amount of dissolved polymer in the near-wall region as well as by an interaction of the polymer thread with the turbulence.Nomenclature a channel height - b channel width - c _p concentration of the injected polymer solution - c _R effective polymer concentration averaged over the cross-section - d pipe or hydraulic diameter - d _i injector diameter - DR drag reduction - f friction factor - l downstream distance from injector - L length of a pipe segment - P polymer type - p differential pressure - Re Reynolds number - U bulk velocity - u ^* ratio of injection to bulk velocity - y ⁺ dimensionless wall distance - v kinematic viscosity - density of the fluid - _w wall shear stress     

逆向喷流流场模态分析及减阻特性研究

逆向喷流减阻的基本原理是利用逆向高速喷流与飞行器绕流的相互作用，使飞行器周围的流场结构发生变化，致使飞行器的气动特性发生改变，从而改善飞行器的气动性能。利用数值模拟方法对轴对称球头、截锥的逆向喷流流场开展了研究，考虑了高温非平衡化学反应对流场的影响。模拟了球头和截锥在不同总压比时流场不同的模态：长穿透流模态（LPM）和短穿透流模态（SPM），得到了不同模态下钝体表面压力、气动力系数和不同模态之间转换的瞬态效应．简单分析了喷流在减阻方面的应用，给出了几个喷口参数与减阻效率之间的关系，提出了喷流减阻工程应用时应考虑的主要因素。     

Mechanism of drag reduction by spanwise oscillating Lorentz force in turbulent channel flow

Numerical simulations and experimental research are both carried out to investigate the controlled effect of spanwise oscillating Lorentz force on a turbulent channel flow. The variations of the streaks and the skin friction drag are obtained through the PIV system and the drag measurement system, respectively. The flow field in the near-wall region is shown through direct numerical simulations utilizing spectral method. The experimental results are consistent with the numerical simulation results qualitatively, and both the results indicate that the streaks are tilted into the spanwise direction and the drag reduction utilizing spanwise oscillating Lorentz forces can be realized. The numerical simulation results reveal more detail of the drag reduction mechanism which can be explained, since the spanwise vorticity generated from the interaction between the induced Stokes layer and intrinsic turbulent flow in the near-wall region can make the longitudinal vortices tilt and oscillate, and leads to turbulence suppression and drag reduction.     

Robust design and numerical simulation on drag reduction by a mixture film for liquid turbulence in a channel

An important way of increasing the speed and lowering the fuel consumption of ships is by decreasing the frictional drag. One of the most promising techniques for reducing drag is the use of air bubbles. The goal of this investigation is to establish a set of optimum robust parametric levels for drag reduction by a mixture (air–water) film in turbulent channel flow. Based on the conditions laid out by the Taguchi orthogonal array method, turbulent flows, with air bubbles injected into a channel, are simulated using commercial computational fluid dynamics software. The local shear stress on the upper wall is computed to evaluate the efficiency of drag reduction. Many factors can affect drag reduction. The factors investigated in this study are the rate of air injection, bubble size, area of air injection, flow speed, and measured position of the shear stress. These factors have been investigated through the analysis of variance, which has revealed that the rate of air injection and water flow speed dominate the efficiency of drag reduction by a mixture film. According to the results, the drag can be reduced by an average of 83.4%; and when the configuration of the parametric levels is optimum the maximum drag reduction of 88.5% is achieved. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

超声速钝体逆向喷流减阻的数值模拟研究

为研究逆向喷流技术对超声速钝体减阻的影响,采用标准k-ε湍流模型,通过求解二维Navier-Stokes方程对超声速球头体逆向冷喷流流场进行了数值模拟,并着重分析了喷口总压、喷口尺寸对流场模态和减阻效果的影响。计算结果显示:随着喷流总压的变化,流场可出现两种流动模态,即长射流穿透模态和短射流穿透模态;喷流能使球头体受到的阻力明显减小;存在最大减阻临界喷流总压值(在所研究参数范围内最大减阻可达51.1%);在其它喷流物理参数不变时,随着喷口尺寸的增大,同一流动模态下的减阻效果下降。本文的研究对超声速钝体减阻技术在工程上的应用具有一定的参考价值。     

Polymer “threads” and drag reduction

A number of different polymer fluids were ejected on the centerline of a water pipe-flow facility. Two distinct flow regions were identified: Reynolds numbers above 25000, where centerline injection acted as a rather efficient mixing device for water-soluble polymer — and no drag-reduction resulted from non water-soluble materials; and Reynolds numbers from 10000 to 25000, where strong evidence exists that under certain conditions, a viscoelastic fluid thread can interact with turbulence eddies and reduce the overall flow friction in the pipe.On Sabbatical leave from San Diego State University.     

Rheological characteristics of trimethylolethane hydrate slurry treated with drag-reducing surfactants

Rheological characteristics of trimethylolethane (TME) clathrate–hydrate slurry treated with drag-reducing surfactants were investigated. Friction coefficients and apparent viscosities were measured when the concentration of TME and its hydrate fraction treated with and without drag-reducing surfactants were changed in several steps. From the results, it is found that the surfactant addition causes effective drag reduction in a pipe flow when the hydrate fraction becomes high, while effective drag reduction disappears in the cases of low hydrate fraction. The results of viscosity measurements indicate that the TME molecules disturb the formation of shear-induced structures (SIS) causing drag reduction phenomena. To investigate this interaction between TME and surfactant micelles, the effect of TME concentration on viscosity and relaxation time of solutions was discussed. From this, it was found out that there exists a critical concentration of TME on the formation of SIS and that it becomes larger as shear rate increases. Thus, we conclude that this interaction between TME and micellar structures causes less drag reduction for the cases of low hydrate fraction, while the drag reduction appears in cases of high hydrate fraction because TME concentration in liquid phase becomes small.     

A phenomenological modification of rheological models for concentrated two-phase systems: application to a thermoplastic/thermoset blend

This paper considers an improvement of the emulsion models to take into account concentrated emulsions with no coalescence but with significant interaction between particles. For this purpose, a term proportional to the volume fraction of material in excess to the percolation threshold is added to the dynamic modulus. Its usefulness was tested to model the viscoelastic behavior in oscillatory shear flow of concentrated and diluted blends of a thermoplastic polystyrene with an epoxy-amine thermoset. These blends experience phase separation upon polymerization and the volume fraction of separated phase varies continuously with time. At low volume fraction of dispersed phase, the behavior could be described with a simple emulsion model that takes into account the plastisizing, dilution, and phase separation mechanisms. However, for concentration in excess to the percolation threshold, the modification can cope with a larger increase in the modulus related to the mechanical percolation of the dispersed particles.