Stability of flow of a thin layer of viscous magnetic liquid

The laminar flow of a thin layer of heavy viscous magnetic liquid down an inclined wall is examined. The stability and control of the flow of an ordinary liquid are affected only by alteration of the angle of inclination of the solid wall and the velocity of the adjacent gas flow. When magnetic liquids are used [1, 2], an effective method of flow control may be control of the magnetic field. By using magnetic fields of various configurations it is possible to control the flow of a thin film of viscous liquid, modify the stability of laminar film flow, and change the shape of the free surface of the laminarly flowing thin film, a factor which plays a role in mass transfer, whose rate depends on the phase contact surface area. The magnetic field significantly affects the shape of the free surface of a magnetic liquid [3, 4]. In this paper the velocity profile of a layer of viscous magnetic liquid adjoining a gas flow and flowing down an inclined solid wall in a uniform magnetic field is found. It is shown that the flow can be controlled by the magnetic field. The problem of stability of the flow is solved in a linear formulation in which perturbations of the magnetic field are taken into account. The stability condition is found. The flow stability is affected by the nonuniform nature of the field and also by its direction.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 5, pp. 59–65, September–October, 1977.     

Disturbed boundary layer flow with local time-dependent surface heating

Local flows in a laminar boundary layer flowing over surface heating elements are investigated. Mathematical models of disturbed flows are constructed on the basis of an asymptotic analysis and the similarity parameters are determined. The time-dependent local heating regimes ensuring control of separation and flow stability in the boundary layer are studied. The results of a numerical and analytic analysis are obtained.     

Evolution of the diffusion-induced flow over a sphere submerged in a continuously stratified fluid

The problem of the stabilization of the diffusion-induced flow over a sphere submerged in a continuously stratified fluid is solved using both asymptotic and numerical methods. The analytical solution describes the structure of the main convective cells, including thin meridional jets flowing along the surface and plumes spreading from the flow convergence regions above the upper and lower poles of the sphere which gradually return the fluid particles to the neutral buoyancy horizon. The total width of the flows adjacent to the surface exceeds the thickness of the salinity deficit layer or the density boundary layer. The numerical solution of the complete problem in the nonlinear formulation describes the main convective cells and two systems of unsteady integral waves formed in the vicinity of the sphere poles. At large times, out of the entire system of internal waves only those nearest to the neighborhood of their horizon of formation remain clearly defined. The calculated flow patterns are in agreement with each other and the data of shadow visualization of the stratified fluid structure near a submerged obstacle at rest.     

Stability of a plane jet of a highly viscous fluid impinging on a horizontal solid wall

In a plane formulation, we consider a viscous-fluid jet flowing out of a rectangular channel and interacting with a horizontal solid substrate surface in the presence of gravity. The mathematical problem is formulated within the creeping flow approximation. For the numerical solution, a boundary-element method is used. The kinematic parameters of the jet and the evolution of the free surface are studied for different values of governing parameters. The critical values of the distance from the channel outlet to the solid wall are found. For the heights, greater than the critical value, the jet loses stability, which is manifested in the periodic buckling of the jet. A flow regime characterized by damped oscillations is described.     

Stability of flow of a viscous liquid down an inclined plane

Using the Navier-Stokes equation the stability of a layer of viscous liquid flowing down a solid surface under gravity is studied in the linear formulation. The effect of surface tension and the inclination of the solid surface on the limits of stability are examined also. Curves are calculated for the neutral stability with respect to two types of perturbations — surface waves and shear waves.Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Mekhaniki i Tekhnicheskol Fiziki, No. 2, pp. 172–176, March–April, 1975.     

Die-swell,splashing drop and a numerical technique for solving the Oldroyd B model for axisymmetric free surface flows

This work deals with the development of a numerical method for simulating viscoelastic axisymmetric free surface flow of an Oldroyd B fluid. A novel formulation is developed for the computation of the non-Newtonian extra-stress components on rigid boundaries and on the symmetry axis. The full free surface stress conditions are employed. The resulting governing equations are solved by finite differences on a Marker-and-cell (MAC) type grid. Validation is provided by simulating a pipe flow problem. The classical die-swell problem is solved and swelling ratios are provided. The height of the splash caused by a falling liquid drop for various Reynolds and Weissenberg numbers is then studied, and the height of the splash is shown to diminish with increasing viscoelasticity.     

Equalizing calculus in Trefftz method for solving two-dimensional temperature field of FC-72 flowing along the minichannel

The paper focuses on the numerical solution to two-dimensional temperature field of boiling liquid flowing along a vertical, asymmetrically heated minichannel with a rectangular cross-section. One of the walls of a minichannel is DC supplied single-sided enhanced foil with mini-recesses distributed unevenly in the selected area. The parallel walls are made of glass panes for thermal insulation and they are intended for observation of the two-phase flow and the void fraction. The thin layer of thermosensitive liquid crystal paint on the outer side of the foil enabled to record two-dimensional temperature distribution of outer foil surface. The paper described computations based on Trefftz method for finding two-dimensional temperature field of boiling liquid flowing along the minichannel. The presented research is limited only to the liquid phase of the two-phase mixture observed in the minichannel. The velocity of liquid flowing through the minichannel is represented by a piecewise linear approximating function. To solve energy equation for liquid phase, Trefftz functions specially generated for this purpose were employed. Temperature field in the fluid was approximated by a linear combination of Trefftz functions. Equalizing calculus was applied to the Trefftz method to smooth temperature measurements and reduce measurement errors. Temperature at the interface between working fluid and foil amounts to the saturation temperature. Temperature distribution in the foil and the glass pane was also computed using proper Trefftz functions.     

Fluid flow in an arbitrary cascade on an axisymmetric stream surface in a variable thickness layer

A solution is given for the problem of flow past a cascade on an axisymmetric stream surface in a layer of variable thickness, which is a component part of the approximate solution of the three-dimensional problem for a three-dimensional cascade. Generalized analytic functions are used to obtain the integral equation for the potential function, which is solved via iteration method by reduction to a system of linear algebraic equations. An algorithm and a program for the Minsk-2 computer are formulated. The precision of the algorithm is evaluated and results are presented of the calculation of an example cascade.In the formulation of [1, 3] the problem of flow past a three-dimensional turbomachine cascade is reduced approximately to the joint solution of two-dimensional problems of the averaged axisymmetric flow and the flow on an axisymmetric stream surface in an elementary layer of variable thickness.In the following we solve the second problem for an arbitrary cascade with finite thickness rotating with constant angular velocity in ideal fluid flow: the solution is carried out on a Minsk-2 computer.Many studies have been devoted to this problem. A method for solving the direct problem for a cascade of flat plates in a hyperbolic layer was presented in [2]. Methods were developed in [1, 3] for constructing the flow for the case of a channel with variable thickness; these methods are approximately applicable for dense cascades but yield considerable error for small-load turbomachine cascades. The solution developed in [4], somewhat reminiscent of that of [2], is applicable for thin, slightly curved profiles in a layer with monotonically varying thickness. A solution has been given for a circular cascade for layers varying logarithmically [5] and linearly [6]. Approximate methods for slightly curved profiles in a monotonically varying layer with account for layer variability only in the discharge component were examined in [7–9]. A solution is given in [10] for an arbitrary layer by means of the relaxation method, which yields a roughly approximate flow pattern. The general solution of the problem by means of potential theory and the method of singularities presented in [11] is in error because of neglect of the crossflow through the skeletal line. The computer solution of [12] contains an unassessed error for the calculations in an arbitrary layer. The finite difference method is used in [13] to solve the differential equation of flow, which is illustrated by numerical examples for monotonie layers of axial turbomachines. The numerical solution of [13] is very complex.The solution presented below is found in the general formulation with respect to the geometric parameters of the cascade and the axisymmetric surface and also in terms of the layer thickness variation law.The numerical solution requires about 15 minutes of machine time on the Minsk-2 computer.     

Numerical investigation of a perturbed swirling annular two-phase jet

A swirling annular gas–liquid two-phase jet flow system has been investigated by solving the compressible, time-dependent, non-dimensional Navier–Stokes equations using highly accurate numerical methods. The mathematical formulation for the flow system is based on an Eulerian approach with mixed-fluid treatment while an adjusted volume of fluid method is utilised to account for the gas compressibility. Surface tension effects are captured by a continuum surface force model. Swirling motion is applied at the inlet while a small helical perturbation is also applied to initiate the instability. Three-dimensional spatial direct numerical simulation has been performed with parallelisation of the code based on domain decomposition. The results show that the flow is characterised by a geometrical recirculation zone adjacent to the nozzle exit and by a central recirculation zone further downstream. Swirl enhances the flow instability and vorticity and promotes liquid dispersion in the cross-streamwise directions. A dynamic precessing vortex core is developed demonstrating that the growth of such a vortex in annular configurations can be initiated even at low swirl numbers, in agreement with experimental findings. Analysis of the averaged results revealed the existence of a geometrical recirculation zone and a swirl induced central recirculation zone in the flow field.     

Finite Element Modeling of Liquid Deuterium Flow and Heat Transfer in a Cold-neutron Source

A finite element simulation of flow and heat transfer in the moderator cell of a cold-neutron source (CNS), in which liquid deuterium subject to internal heat generation is flowing, is reported. The numerical scheme consists of a stabilized equal-order method. A time-accurate approach is adopted to resolve the large-scale eddies of the flow, with a Smagorinsky's model for the subgrid-scale effects. The thermal coupling follows a staggered strategy, with SUPG-type upwinding. A specific wall-law is developed that accounts for the correct partition of the heat deposited at the wall by radiation between the liquid deuterium and the helium gas flowing at the outer side of the wall. The average flow and thermal structure are presented. The turbulent fluctuations are both illustrated in physical space and decomposed into spectral components. The wavenumber spectrum suggests that adequate resolution of the large-scale eddies has been attained with just 200,000 nodes, while a DNS analysis would have required at least 1010 nodes. Usefulness of the approach in the design process of the CNS is highlighted.     

Effect of gas compressibility on the stability of a boundary layer above a permeable surface at subsonic velocities

In the present study we investigate the stability of a boundary layer for the condition that the velocity perturbations at the permeable surface are nonzero. The stability for the boundary layer of an incompressible liquid in such a formulation was considered in [1]. For the case of subsonic velocities the effect of compressibility on the flow inside the boundary layer is weak, and in the present article this effect was neglected. The unsteady flow in narrow pores of a permeable covering depends strongly on the compressibility of the gas. Therefore, in the derivation of the relation connecting the pressure oscillations at the permeable surface with the oscillations of the flow through it, the effect of the compressibility was taken into consideration. It is shown that the boundary conditions, and therefore also the stability of the boundary layer at the permeable surface, depend considerably on the Mach number, even for a subsonic exterior flow.     

On the motion of long bubbles in vertical tubes

Potential flow theory has been applied to study the shape and speed of an infinitely long bubble rising through flowing liquid in a vertical tube. In particular, the combined effects of surface tension and externally forced liquid motion are examined. An analytical formula for the bubble rise velocity in stagnant liquid is proposed, and shown to be in good agreement with experimental data for all values of surface tension. Numerical solutions for the bubble velocity in upward flowing liquid are obtained for laminar and turbulent velocity profiles. Approximate expressions for the bubble velocity, where the effects of liquid motion and surface tension are incorporated through the Reynolds and inverse Eötwos, are proposed and compared with experimental data. The predicted changes in bubble shape have, to a large extent, been confirmed through comparisons with photographic evidence for a wide range of parameters.     

Numerical study of condensing a small concentration of vapour inside a vertical tube

The purpose of this study is to analyse the combined heat and mass transfer of liquid film condensation from a small steam–air mixtures flowing downward along a vertical tube. Both liquid and gas stream are approached by two coupled laminar boundary layer. An implicit finite difference method is employed to solve the coupled governing equations for liquid film and gas flow together with the interfacial matching conditions. The effects of a wide range of changes of three independent variables (inlet pressure, inlet Reynolds number and wall temperature) on the concentration at exit tube, local Nusselt and Sherwood numbers, film thickness, accumulated condensate rate and temperature are carefully examined. The numerical results indicate that in the case of condensing a small concentration of vapours from a mixture, the resistance to heat and mass transfer by non-condensable gas becomes very intense. The comparisons of average Nusselt number and local condensate heat transfer coefficient with the literature results are in good agreement.     

Numerical investigation of the effect of boundary conditions on hydroelastic stability of two parallel plates interacting with a layer of ideal flowing fluid

The paper studies the hydroelastic stability of two parallel identical rectangular plates interacting with a flowing fluid confined between them. General equations describing the behavior of ideal compressible liquid in the case of small perturbations are written in terms of the perturbation velocity potential and transformed using the Bubnov–Galerkin method. The small deformations of elastic plates are defined using the first-order shear deformation plate theory. A mathematical formulation of the dynamic problem for elastic structures is developed using the variational principle of virtual displacements, which takes into account the work done by the inertial forces and hydrodynamic pressure. The numerical solution of the problem is carried out in three-dimensional formulation by means of the finite element method. A stability criterion is based on the analysis of complex eigenvalues of the coupled system of equations obtained for different values of flow velocity. The existence of different types of instability has been shown depending on the combinations of the kinematic boundary conditions defined at the edges of both plates. We considered both the symmetric and asymmetric types of clamping. It has been found that the dependence of the lowest eigenfrequency of two parallel plates on the height of quiescent fluid is nonmonotonic with a pronounced peak. At the same time, critical velocities of instability change insignificantly if the distance between plates is greater than half of the maximum linear dimensions of the structure. It should be noted that the critical velocities of divergence increase monotonically with growth of the height of the fluid layer, but critical velocities for the onset of flutter instability have sharp jumps. The cause of these jumps is a change in the mode shapes at which the system loses stability.     

Fringe element reconstruction for front tracking for three‐dimensional incompressible flow analysis

Fringe element reconstruction technique for tracking the free surface in three‐dimensional incompressible flow analysis was developed. The flow field was calculated by the mixed formulation based on a four‐node tetrahedral element with a bubble function at the centroid (P1+/P1). Since an Eulerian approach was employed in this study, the flow front interface was advected by the flow through a fixed mesh. For accurate modelling of interfacial movement, a fringe element reconstruction method developed can provide not only an accurate treatment of material discontinuity but also surface tension across the interface. The effect of surface tension was modelled by imposing tensile stress directly on the constructed surface elements at the flow front interface. To verify the numerical approach developed, the developed algorithm was applied to two examples whose solutions are available in references. Good agreement was obtained between the simulation results and these solutions. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Two-phase flow over a surface with the formation of a liquid film by particle deposition

A consistent asymptotic theory of wall flow with film formation is constructed with reference to subsonic two-phase flow over a blunt body. The external flow problem and the film equations are solved simultaneously. This formulation of the problem supplements the investigation carried out in [4] in which particles deposited on the surface were assumed to disappear from the flow. It is shown that depending on the values of the governing parameters the flow in the film should be described either by the boundary layer equations or by the equations of creeping flow in a layer of unknown thickness. At the outer edge of the film the mass, momentum and energy fluxes found from the numerical solution of the flow problem are given. The case of isothermal film flow on the front of a sphere is investigated. The thickness of the film and the friction and heat transfer coefficients near the axis of symmetry are found for nonisothermal flows. The conditions under which the presence of a film significantly reduces the heat flow to the wall are determined. A similar formulation of the problem (but with another type of mass, momentum and energy sources at the outer edge) is encountered in problems of film condensation on a cold surface [5, 6].Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 4, pp. 85–92, July–August, 1989.     

Direct numerical simulation of a liquid sheet in a compressible gas stream in axisymmetric and planar configurations

A thin liquid sheet present in the shear layer of a compressible gas jet is investigated using an Eulerian approach with mixed-fluid treatment for the governing equations describing the gas–liquid two-phase flow system, where the gas is treated as fully compressible and the liquid as incompressible. The effects of different topological configurations, surface tension, gas pressure and liquid sheet thickness on the flow development of the gas–liquid two-phase flow system have been examined by direct solution of the compressible Navier–Stokes equations using highly accurate numerical schemes. The interface dynamics are captured using volume of fluid and continuum surface force models. The simulations show that the dispersion of the liquid sheet is dominated by vortical structures formed at the jet shear layer due to the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability. The axisymmetric case is less vortical than its planar counterpart that exhibits formation of larger vortical structures and larger liquid dispersion. It has been identified that the vorticity development and the liquid dispersion in a planar configuration are increased at the absence of surface tension, which when present, tends to oppose the development of the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability. An opposite trend was observed for an axisymmetric configuration where surface tension tends to promote the development of vorticity. An increase in vorticity development and liquid dispersion was observed for increased liquid sheet thickness, while a decreasing trend was observed for higher gas pressure. Therefore surface tension, liquid sheet thickness and gas pressure factors all affect the flow vorticity which consequently affects the dispersion of the liquid.      

A two-phase boundary-layer model for laminar mixed-convection condensation with a noncondensable gas on inclined plates

A finite-volume-based numerical model for mixed-convection laminar film condensation from a flowing mixture of a vapor and a heavier noncondensable gas on inclined isothermal flat plates is presented. The full boundary layer equations for the liquid film and the vapor-gas mixtures (including liquid inertia and energy convection terms) are solved implicitly with appropriate liquid-mixture interface conditions. Results were obtained for three mixtures, covering wide ranges of liquid Prandtl number and free-stream gas concentration in the forced-convection, mixed-convection and free-convection flow regimes. The effects of liquid inertia were found to be significant only for low-Prandtl-number fluids and lower gas concentrations. The effects of liquid energy convection were found to be significant only for high-Prandtl-number fluids and to be most significant for mixed-convection condensation. Received on 3 March 1998     

Stability of a steady-state discontinuity of a fluid layer on the surface of an immiscible fluid

A new stable structure of the three-phase system formed by a gas, a horizontal liquid layer with a free upper surface and an underlying immiscible liquid substrate is investigated experimentally and theoretically. When the upper layer has a greater surface tension than the lower layer and its thickness is fairly small, a local deformation of its surface can lead to the development of a steady-state concentric discontinuity within whose limits the lower layer os in contact with the gas. The conditions of stability of such a phase system with a steady-state discontinuity are studied and the dependences of the discontinuity parameters on the vessel diameter, the upper layer thickness, and the liquid surface tensions are obtained for various pairs of liquids. The formulation of the analytic problem of the layer discontinuity is discussed. The experimental data are compared with the results of calculations carried out for a model of a discontinuity in an infinite layer.     

Stability of a viscous liquid film flowing down a periodic surface

The paper is devoted to a theoretical analysis of linear stability of the viscous liquid film flowing down a wavy surface. The study is based on the Navier–Stokes equations in their full statement. The developed numerical algorithm allows us to obtain pioneer results in the stability of the film flow down a corrugated surface without asymptotic approximations in a wide range over Reynolds and Kapitsa’s numbers. It is shown that in the case of moderate Reynolds numbers there is a region of the corrugation parameters (amplitude and period) where all disturbances decay in time and the wall corrugation demonstrates a stabilizing effect. At the same time, there exist corrugation parameters at which the steady-state solution is unstable with respect to perturbations of the same period as the period of corrugation. In this case the waveless solution cannot be observed in reality and the wall corrugation demonstrates a destabilizing effect.