A simple and accurate numerical network flow model for bionic micro heat exchangers

Heat exchangers are often associated with drawbacks like a large pressure drop or a non-uniform flow distribution. Recent research shows that bionic structures can provide possible improvements. We considered a set of such structures that were designed with M. Hermann’s FracTherm^® algorithm. In order to optimize and compare them with conventional heat exchangers, we developed a numerical method to determine their performance. We simulated the flow in the heat exchanger applying a network model and coupled these results with a finite volume method to determine the heat distribution in the heat exchanger.     

Burnett simulation of flow and heat transfer in micro Couette flow using second-order slip conditions

The conventional Burnett equations with second-order velocity slip and temperature jump conditions were applied to the steady-state micro Couette flow of a Maxwellian monatomic gas. An analytical approach as well as a relaxation method was used to determine the velocity slip and temperature jump at the wall. Convergent solutions to the Burnett equations were obtained on arbitrary fine numerical grids for all Knudsen numbers (Kn) up to the limit of the equations’ validity. The Burnett equations with second-order slip conditions indicate a much better agreement with DSMC data over the first-order slip conditions at high Kn. The convergent Burnett solutions were obtained in orders of magnitude quicker than that with the corresponding DSMC simulation. The augmented Burnett equations were also introduced to model the flow but no obvious improvement in the results was found.     

Dynamic coupling of fluid and structural mechanics for simulating particle motion and interaction in high speed compressible gas particle laden flow

In this work, structural finite element analyses of particles moving and interacting within high speed compressible flow are directly coupled to computational fluid dynamics and heat transfer analyses to provide more detailed and improved simulations of particle laden flow under these operating conditions. For a given solid material model, stresses and displacements throughout the solid body are determined with the particle–particle contact following an element to element local spring force model and local fluid induced forces directly calculated from the finite volume flow solution. Plasticity and particle deformation common in such a flow regime can be incorporated in a more rigorous manner than typical discrete element models where structural conditions are not directly modeled. Using the developed techniques, simulations of normal collisions between two 1 mm radius particles with initial particle velocities of 50–150 m/s are conducted with different levels of pressure driven gas flow moving normal to the initial particle motion for elastic and elastic–plastic with strain hardening based solid material models. In this manner, the relationships between the collision velocity, the material behavior models, and the fluid flow and the particle motion and deformation can be investigated. The elastic–plastic material behavior results in post collision velocities 16–50% of their pre-collision values while the elastic-based particle collisions nearly regained their initial velocity upon rebound. The elastic–plastic material models produce contact forces less than half of those for elastic collisions, longer contact times, and greater particle deformation. Fluid flow forces affect the particle motion even at high collision speeds regardless of the solid material behavior model. With the elastic models, the collision force varied little with the strength of the gas flow driver. For the elastic–plastic models, the larger particle deformation and the resulting increasingly asymmetric loading lead to growing differences in the collision force magnitudes and directions as the gas flow strength increased. The coupled finite volume flow and finite element structural analyses provide a capability to capture the interdependencies between the interaction of the particles, the particle deformation, the fluid flow and the particle motion.     

Measurement of Dean flow in a curved micro-tube using micro digital holographic particle tracking velocimetry

Digital micro holographic particle tracking velocimetry (HPTV) was used to measure the three-dimensional (3D) velocity field of a laminar flow in a curved micro-tube with a circular cross-section. The micro HPTV system consists of a high-speed camera and a single laser with an acoustic optical modulator (AOM) chopper. We obtained the temporal evolution of the instantaneous velocity field of water flow within curved micro-tubes with inner diameters of 100 and 300 μm. The 3D mean velocity-field distribution was obtained quantitatively by statistically averaging the instantaneous velocity fields. At low Dean numbers (De), a secondary flow was not generated in the curved tube; however, with increasing Dean number a secondary flow consisting of two large-scale counter-rotating vortices arose due to enhanced centrifugal force. To reveal the flow characteristics at high Dean numbers, the trajectories of fluid particles were evaluated experimentally from the 3D velocity-field data measured using the HPTV technique. The present experimental results, especially the 3D particle trajectories, are likely to be helpful in understanding mixing phenomena in curved sections of various 3D curved micro-tubes or micro-channels, as well as in the design of such structures.     

Extensional flow behavior of polymer solutions and particle suspensions in a spinning motion

Mechanical spinning of fluid filaments was used to generate an extensional flow, in which rheological measurements were obtained for a Newtonian fluid, two aqueous polymer solutions, and two fluid suspensions of rod-shaped particles. The tensile stress was determined by measuring the tensile force of the fluid filament while the kinematics were determined from photographic measurement of the filament profile and the assumption of a flat velocity profile. The measured tensile stresses for the Newtonian fluid matched predicted stresses, thereby confirming the validity of the experimental technique.The spinning behavior of each polymer solution could be correlated as stress versus extension rate. The apparent “spinning viscosity” increased with increasing rate of extension, in contrast to shear-thinning behavior in viscometric flow. For the fluid suspensions, the presence of rod-shaped particles increased the apparent viscosity far more in extensional flow than in shear. Tensile stresses calculated from a theoretical formula for suspensions proposed by Batchelor agreed rather well with experiment. Some general criteria for the interpretation of the spinning experiment are proposed, and some microrheological implications of the present findings are discussed.     

Numerical simulations of gas-particle flow behavior created by low-level rotary-winged aircraft flight over particle bed

The aerodynamics of gas-particle suspensions is simulated as an Euler-Euler two-fluid model in a revolving rotor over a particle bed. The interactions of collisions between the blade and particles and particle-particle interactions are modeled using the kinetic theory of granular flow(KTGF). The gas turbulence induced by the rotation of the rotor is modeled using the kg-εg model. The flow field of a revolving rotor is simulated using the multiple reference frame(MRF) method. The distributions of velocities, volume fractions, and gas pressure are predicted while the aircraft hovers at different altitudes.The gas pressure decreases from the hub to the tip of the blade, and it is higher at the pressure side than that at the suction side of the rotor. The turbulent kinetic energy of the gas increases toward the blade tip. The volume fraction of particles decreases as the hovering altitude increases. The simulated pressure coefficient is compared with that in experimental measurements.     

Study on premixed combustion in cylindrical micro combustors: Transient flame behavior and wall heat flux

The micro combustor is a key component of the micro thermophotovoltaic (TPV) system. Improving the wall temperature of the micro combustor is an effective way to elevate the system efficiency. An experimental study on the wall temperature and radiation heat flux of a series of cylindrical micro combustors (with a backward-facing step) was carried out. For the micro combustors with d = 2 mm, the regime of successful ignition (under the cold wall condition) was identified for different combustor lengths. Acoustic emission was detected for some cases and the emitted sound was recorded and analyzed. Under the steady-state condition, the effects of the combustor diameter (d), combustor length (L), flow velocity (u₀) and fuel–air equivalence ratio (Ф) on the wall temperature distribution were investigated by measuring the detailed wall temperature profiles. In the case that the micro combustor is working as an emitter, the optimum efficiency was found at Ф ≈ 0.8, independent of the combustor dimensions (d and L) and the flow velocity. Under the experimental conditions employed in the present study, the positions of the peak wall temperature were found to be about 8–11 mm and 4–6 mm from the step for the d = 3 mm and d = 2 mm micro combustors, respectively, which are 8–11 and 8–12 times of their respective step heights. This result suggests that the backward-facing step employed in the combustor design is effective in stabilizing the flame position.     

A closed model of fluctuating particle motion in a turbulent flow

Random particle motion in a turbulent and molecular velocity fluctuation field is considered. Using a spectral representation of the carrier-phase Eulerian velocity fluctuation correlations, a closed system of integral equations for calculating the carrier-phase velocity correlation along the particle trajectory and the particle Lagrangian velocity fluctuation correlation is obtained. Based on this system, the fluctuations of the particle parameters are analyzed. In the limiting case of a passive admixture, an estimate is found for the ratio of the integral Lagrangian and Eulerian time scales and the Kolmogorov constant for the Lagrangian structure function of the carrier-phase velocity fluctuations.     

Calculation of turbulent fluid flow and heat transfer in ducts by a full Reynolds stress model

A computational method has been developed to predict the turbulent Reynolds stresses and turbulent heat fluxes in ducts by different turbulence models. The turbulent Reynolds stresses and other turbulent flow quantities are predicted with a full Reynolds stress model (RSM). The turbulent heat fluxes are modelled by a SED concept, the GGDH and the WET methods. Two wall functions are used, one for the velocity field and one for the temperature field. All the models are implemented for an arbitrary three‐dimensional channel. Fully developed condition is achieved by imposing cyclic boundary conditions in the main flow direction. The numerical approach is based on the finite volume technique with a non‐staggered grid arrangement. The pressure–velocity coupling is handled by using the SIMPLEC‐algorithm. The convective terms are treated by the van Leer scheme while the diffusive terms are handled by the central‐difference scheme. The hybrid scheme is used for solving the ε equation. The secondary flow generation using the RSM model is compared with a non‐linear k–ε model (non‐linear eddy viscosity model). The overall comparison between the models is presented in terms of the friction factor and Nusselt number. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Unsteady laminar hydromagnetic fluid–particle flow and heat transfer in channels and circular pipes

The problem of unsteady laminar flow and heat transfer of a particulate suspension in an electrically conducting fluid through channels and circular pipes in the presence of a uniform transverse magnetic field is formulated using a two-phase continuum model. Two different applied pressure gradient (oscillating and ramp) cases are considered. The general governing equations of motions (which include such effects as particulate phase stresses, magnetic force, and finite particle-phase volume fraction) are non-dimensionalized and solved in closed form in terms of Fourier cosine and Bessel functions and the energy equations for both phases are solved numerically since they are non-linear and are difficult to solve analytically. Numerical solutions based on the finite-difference methodology are obtained and graphical results for the fluid-phase volumetric flow rate, the particle-phase volumetric flow rate, the fluid-phase skin-friction coefficient and the particle-phase skin-friction coefficient as well as the wall heat transfer for plane and axisymmetric flows are presented and discussed. In addition, these numerical results are validated by favorable comparisons with the closed-form solutions. A comprehensive parametric study is performed to show the effects of the Hartmann magnetic number, the particle loading, the viscosity ratio, and the temperature inverse Stokes number on the solutions.     

Large eddy simulation and a simple wall model for turbulent flow calculation by a particle method

A turbulent channel flow and the flow around a cubic obstacle are calculated by the moving particle semi‐implicit method with the subparticle‐scale turbulent model and a wall model, which is based on the zero equation RANS (Reynolds Averaged Navier‐Stokes). The wall model is useful in practical problems that often involve high Reynolds numbers and wall turbulence, because it is difficult to keep high resolution in the near‐wall region in particle simulation. A turbulent channel flow is calculated by the present method to validate our wall model. The mean velocity distribution agrees with the log‐law velocity profile near the wall. Statistical values are also the same order and tendency as experimental results with emulating viscous layer by the wall model. We also investigated the influence of numerical oscillations on turbulence analysis in using the moving particle semi‐implicit method. Finally, the turbulent flow around a cubic obstacle is calculated by the present method to demonstrate capability of calculating practical turbulent flows. Three characteristic eddies appear in front of, over, and in the back of the cube both in our calculation and the experimental result that was obtained by Martinuzzi and Tropea. Mean velocity and turbulent intensity profiles are predicted in the same order and have similar tendency as the experimental result. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A one-dimensional numerical model of heat and mass transfer in air-water droplet flow

This paper presents a one-dimensional numerical model of the heat, mass and momentum transfer between water droplets and humid air in the disperse process device. The model merges a model of the disintegration of a water sheet presented by Dombrowski et al. [1] and a one-dimensional numerical model of the transport phenomena in the air washer presented by Demird?i? et al. [10]. Numerical results are compared with the available experimental results. Numerical simulations can predict one-dimensional analysis of the geometrical and thermophysical parameters in the disperse process device.     

Analysis of soil flow and traction mechanics for lunar rovers over different types of soils using particle image velocimetry

Grouser wheels have been used in planetary rovers to improve mobility performance on sandy terrains. The biggest difference between a wheel with and without grousers is the soil behavior beneath the wheel as the grousers shovel the soil. By analyzing the soil flow, we gain insight into the mechanics dominating the interaction between the wheel and the soil, directly impacting performance. As the soil flow varies depending on the soil properties, the effects of soil type on soil behavior and wheel-traveling performance should be studied. This paper reveals the difference in soil flow and wheel performance on cohesive and non-cohesive soils. We conducted a series of single wheel tests over different types of soils under several wheel-traveling conditions. Soil flow was visualized by using particle image velocimetry (PIV). The experimental results indicate that soil flow characteristics highly depend on the shear strength of the soil. The cohesive soil exhibited lower fluidity due to its higher shear strength. At the same time, the wheel displayed a higher traveling performance over the cohesive soil, that is, a lower slip ratio.     

Static and dynamic behavior of concrete and granite in tension with damage

A series of dynamic and static tensile-splitting experiments were performed on concrete and granite specimens to investigate the effect of induced damage on their tensile strength. These experiments were performed as part of a larger effort investigating the penetration process into the two materials. The strain rate each specimen was subjected to remained constant for these experiments, while the level of induced damage was increased. Damage was induced into the specimens through repeated drop-weight impacts and quantified using a statistical technique. The dynamic splitting experiments were performed using a split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB), while the static splitting experiments were conducted per the ASTM standard procedures D3967 and C496. As part of the investigation, photoelastic dynamic tensile-splitting experiments were also performed to establish the validity of using static relations for the determination of dynamic tensile strength. The experiments showed that the static splitting strength was highly dependent on the orientation of the induced damage with regard to the applied loading; however the dynamic tensile strength decreased with increasing damage with no apparent dependency on the random damage orientation. Photoelastic experiments have shown that the mechanism of failure changes for the dynamically tested damaged specimens, reducing their dependence on damage orientation.     

A mathematical model for pressure drop of two-phase dry-plug flow in circular mini/micro channels

Dry-plug flow is a variation of two-phase plug flow that occurs in small scale channels and refers to the dry wall conditions at gas portions of the flow regime. Previous experimental studies found a significant increase in pressure drop in this flow regime from the two-phase wet-plug flow regime. In this work an analytical model for the pressure drop of this flow regime is developed and phenomena that influence pressure drop are examined. Unlike previous models, the proposed model seems to be applicable to a wide range of capillary numbers and give good estimations for all static contact angles. Contact angle hysteresis turned out to play a major role in inducing pressure drop in this flow regime. Model’s predictions were in good agreement with previous experimental data. Finally the model is applied to very low capillary number region and pressure drop predictions for this region are presented.