Single-phase Flow Research Articles

Comparative analysis of NIR point source and surface array probes in two-phase flow measurement model

As one of the most significant parameters, phase fraction is of great importance for ensuring the accuracy of two-phase flow measurement. Although near-infrared (NIR) technology has been widely used, its accuracy remains limited. Two methods have been proposed to reduce the energy loss of near-infrared light transmission signal in two-phase flow: the point light source method, which shortens optical path and the array light source method for increasing light source area. Experiments were conducted on single phase flow and gas–liquid two-phase flow, and the results indicated that the signal transmission effect of the point source near-infrared device was better. Using the experimental results from the point source near-infrared device, phase fraction models for bubble flow, annular flow, and slug flow were established. Validation results demonstrate that the relative measurement error of the three phase fraction models is within ± 4.96 %.

Learning a general model of single phase flow in complex 3D porous media

Modeling effective transport properties of 3D porous media, such as permeability, at multiple scales is challenging as a result of the combined complexity of the pore structures and fluid physics—in particular, confinement effects which vary across the nanoscale to the microscale. While numerical simulation is possible, the computational cost is prohibitive for realistic domains, which are large and complex. Although machine learning (ML) models have been proposed to circumvent simulation, none so far has simultaneously accounted for heterogeneous 3D structures, fluid confinement effects, and multiple simulation resolutions. By utilizing numerous computer science techniques to improve the scalability of training, we have for the first time developed a general flow model that accounts for the pore-structure and corresponding physical phenomena at scales from Angstrom to the micrometer. Using synthetic computational domains for training, our ML model exhibits strong performance (R 2 = 0.9) when tested on extremely diverse real domains at multiple scales.

Experimental study on flow-induced vibration under laminar flow and turbulent flow transition state in helical coiled tube

This study investigates the vibration characteristics induced by single-phase flow at low velocities within helical coiled tube, encompassing laminar and turbulent flow transition regimes. Modal experiments were conducted to ascertain the natural frequencies in the radial and vertical directions within the helical coiled tube. The influence of fluid mass in tube on vibration was considered, revealing the fluid mass has a greater influence on the vibration frequency in the vertical direction. When the coil was filled with water, the radial natural frequency decreased by 0.1 Hz, while the vertical natural frequency decreased by 0.8 Hz.By simplifying the spiral coil into a spring system, the intrinsic causes of the influence of mass on the natural frequency are studied and verified with the experimental data. The results show that the radial natural frequency is only related to the local mass change of the pipe, while the vertical natural frequency is related to the static deformation of the system under the influence of gravity.By conducting single-phase flow induced vibration experiments inside the pipeline, the radial and vertical vibration response characteristics were obtained, and the modal experimental results were analyzed. Findings indicated larger vibration displacements when laminar flow prevailed within the tube, with radial RMS (Root Mean Square) at 10.1 μm and vertical RMS at 14.5 μm. After the transition to turbulent flow, significant reductions in vibration displacements were observed, reducing the radial RMS to 2.3 μm and vertical RMS to 5.5 μm.Based on statistical and frequency-domain analysis methods, the influence mechanism of secondary flow on the vibration of helical coils at low flow rates was revealed, and the importance of friction coupling was clarified. Moreover, this study considered the impact of fluid viscosity on vibration response and experimentally validated the critical role of friction coupling in exciting secondary flows.

An approach for topology optimization of heat sinks for two-phase flow boiling: Part 1 – Model formulation and numerical implementation

Two-phase flow boiling in heat sinks and cold plates is attractive for various thermal management applications due to high effective heat capacity rates and high heat transfer coefficients compared to single-phase operation. In addition, multi-physics topology optimization is sought for generation of high performance thermal management components. Yet, the design of heat sinks using topology optimization has been restricted to single-phase flow physics, due to incompatibility between available two-phase flow models and traditional single-phase topology optimization approaches. Interface-capturing two-phase flow models are too computationally expensive for optimization; mixture and two-fluid models that treat the liquid and vapor phases as an interpenetrating continuum with interfacial transport phenomena captured through empirical correlations are computationally tractable for heat-sink-scale optimization. However, the penalization approaches commonly used to define the structures formed during topology optimization results in arbitrary fin and channel geometries for which a universal two-phase flow correlation is not available. To enable coupling with two-phase mixture models, this work leverages a homogenization approach to topology optimization wherein heat sink designs are represented using spatially varying microstructures with optimized dimensions. A predefined microstructure geometry is chosen for which two-phase flow correlations exist and therefore topology optimization can be performed. This work is the first to develop a topology optimization algorithm using a mixture model for simulating two-phase flow boiling to design heat sinks and cold plates. Part 1 of this study develops and implements the algorithm to investigate topology optimized heat sinks at various heat inputs, topology optimization grid sizes, and maximum vapor quality constraints. Topology optimized heat sinks designed for single-phase versus two-phase flow are compared. There are significant differences in hydraulic and thermal responses of the single-phase and two-phase designs due to high effective heat capacity rates and high heat transfer coefficients of flow boiling. A companion paper (Part 2) focuses on manufacturing, model calibration, and experimental validation of the topology optimized heat sinks under two-phase flow boiling. The algorithm demonstrated in this work extends the capabilities of topology optimization to two-phase flow physics, and thereby enables the design of various two-phase flow components such as evaporators, condensers, heat sinks, and cold plates.

Phase-field formulated meshless simulation of Rayleigh-Taylor instability problem

The interface between two immiscible Newtonian liquids with different densities and the same viscosity, influenced by gravity, is based on the Phase-Field Method (PFM) formulation. The solution of the related governing coupled Navier-Stokes (NS) and Cahn-Hillard (CH) equations is structured by the meshless Diffuse Approximate Method (DAM) and Pressure Implicit with Splitting of Operators (PISO). The variable density is involved in the inertial and buoyancy terms (non-Boussinesq formulation). The related moving boundary problem is handled through single-domain, irregular, fixed node arrangement in two-dimensional Cartesian coordinates. The meshless DAM uses weighted least squares approximation on overlapping subdomains, polynomial shape functions of second-order and Gaussian weights. Implicit time discretisation is performed for the NS and CH equations in the momentum predictor and Phase-Field (PF) variable corrector steps of PISO, while the momentum corrector steps solve the NS equation explicitly. This solution procedure has improved stability compared to Chorin’s pressure-velocity coupling, previously used in meshless solutions of related problems. The Rayleigh-Taylor instability problem simulations are performed for an Atwood number of 0.76. The DAM parameters (shape parameter of the Gaussian weight function and number of nodes in a local subdomain) are the same as in the author’s previous studies on single-phase flows. The simulations did not need any upwinding in the range of the simulations. The results compare well with the mesh-based finite volume method studies performed with the open-source code Gerris.

Experimental investigation and modeling of onset of condensation induced water hammer in equal-height-difference natural circulation system

Condensation induced water hammer (CIWH) in equal-height-difference natural circulation systems (EHDNCS) can lead to significant damage to associated equipment. To investigate the mechanism and the prediction of the onset of CIWH in EHDNCS, a small-scale experiment of EHDNCS was conducted under different water temperatures, heat transfer powers, and resistance coefficients of the water-side inlet. This study analyzed the thermal hydraulics, flow regimes, and the onset mechanism of CIWH through temperature and pressure measurement, U-Net image segmentation, and analytical modeling. Four distinct flow regimes were observed in the horizontal pipe: single-phase flow, non-periodic bubble, periodic bubble, and CIWH. Flow regime maps based on water temperature and heat transfer power were obtained under different inlet resistance coefficients. When the steam bubble length is smaller than the pipe length, no CIWH occurs. When the steam bubble length reaches the pipe outlet to form stratified flow, CIWH occurs at a high steam channel height. The occurrence of stratified flow and reverse flow of subcooled water in the steam channel causes the onset of CIWH in EHDNCS. A dimensionless criterion has been developed to predict the onset of CIWH when the saturated steam-water mixture is discharged through a horizontal pipe in EHDNCS. This criterion effectively predicted the transition from periodic bubble to CIWH in the experiment.

Reference solutions for compressible single-phase flows in heated and cooled ducts

Analytical/quasi-analytical solutions are proposed for a steady, compressible, single-phase flow in a rectilinear duct subjected to heating followed by cooling. The flow is driven by the pressure ratio between an upstream tank and a variable outlet pressure. The article proposes a methodology to determine the full flow behavior, as a function of pressure ratio and heat-flux distribution. Following an analogy done with the study of compressible flows in nozzles, a behavioral classification of non-adiabatic compressible flows is proposed through the definition of critical pressure ratios. It is demonstrated that a critical pressure ratio distinguishes subsonic and supersonic outlet regimes and that there cannot be a steady shock wave in such configuration. The behavior of this critical pressure ratio is studied for limit cases of heat flux, delineating physical boundaries. An abacus is also proposed for a given couple of heating and cooling powers, as both values are needed to characterize the flow. Results are studied for parameters such as pressure ratio and outlet heat power. A short validation of a numerical simulation tool is provided, yielding excellent results and very small relative errors.

Wear work-rate measurement for different steam generator tube layouts in two-phase cross flow

Tube-to-support contact damage is directly related to the wear work-rate in steam generator tube bundles. Generally, the work-rate is related to two main factors: the contact force between the tube and the supports, and the sliding distance during this contact. This work presents an experimental study of the wear work-rate of the APR1400 steam generator tube bundle array layouts. The three array layouts, rotated square, rotated triangle and normal triangle, are tested in single phase and two-phase flow. The test apparatus was designed to accurately measure the work-rate of the three arrays. The approach followed in this work is to appropriately measure the contact force and sliding distance during the impact, which leads to an accurate calculation of the work-rate. Based on the results of this study, array layout effect on the work-rate was analyzed by statistical analysis. The measurements were performed for different flow velocities, covering a wide range to include post- and pre-critical flow velocity of each array. Results showed a substantial difference in the mean work-rate between the rotated square array and the triangular arrays. Furthermore, the larger gap size between the vibrating tube and the supports resulted into higher work-rates for all void fractions.

Debris-induced consequences on turbulence and vorticity in solar photovoltaic module-generated array wakes

Particle-laden flows in solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are inevitable, where wind-swept debris in open environments are carried by high winds and turbulence, coating panel surfaces or damaging structures. Particle deposition, or soiling, is a well-known issue for large-scale plants which rely on uninhibited solar rays for optimal production. But understanding the mechanisms leading to soiling requires a physical and fluid dynamics-centered focus, since turbulence dominates PV panel wakes and is also known to alter particle concentration and trajectories. This study presents an experimental campaign toward consequences of particle-laden flow between two model PV panels using time-resolved particle image velocimetry. The model array was subjected to varied particle volume fractions, including a tracer particle case and a water droplet case. Characterization of mean velocity, turbulence statistics, and mean kinetic energy within the single phase and, separately, particle phase flows showed modified features due to particle inertia. Images captured at a frequency of 1 kHz in the near wake of the upstream panel allow for a first experimental look at vorticity and convective velocity of vortex structures for single-phase and particle-phase flows which are crucial to debris transport and soiling in PV environments.

LES investigations of turbulent heat transfer structures with exponential power escalation

The BORAX-type accident is a key scenario in the safety design of pool-type experimental nuclear reactors. It considers a reactivity insertion large enough to initiate an exponential power escalation with a period as small as tens of milliseconds, necessitating effective heat removal by the coolant system. This study presents a computational analysis of single-phase transient heat transfer under thermal-hydraulic conditions relevant to such reactors, focusing on turbulent channel flow between planar fuel plates with highly subcooled water. Our investigation uses Large Eddy Simulation (LES) performed with TrioCFD, the open-source CFD code developed by the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA). Several modeling options are tested: incompressible flow with temperature as a passive scalar, incompressible flow with varying viscosity, and quasicompressible flow with temperature-dependent viscosity and mass density. To evaluate the accuracy of our physical models, all simulations were performed under uniform conditions, using the same experimental parameters, mesh, and numerical strategies. The specific examined scenario involves a highly subcooled turbulent channel flow at moderate pressure, experiencing an exponential power increase. We ensure detailed turbulence resolution at the Batchelor scale in the wall normal direction close to the heating wall. This communication presents a comparative study of LES simulations of the single-phase flow under exponential power excursion at the wall. Subsequent analyses focused on the impact of different velocity-temperature couplings on the prediction of wall heat transfer, incorporating comparisons with experimental infrared thermometry measurements. Early in the transient phase, temperature peaks are confined within turbulent streaks, as reported in the existing literature. However, as the exponential power transient unfolds, the viscous layer and streak structures destabilize, leading to a more dispersed distribution of hot spots. Preliminary findings suggest a transition in heat transfer modes from turbulence-driven to conduction during the final stages of the single-phase transient.

Assessment of MARS-KS prediction capability for natural circulation flow in passive heat removal system

Considering that system analysis codes are used for the evaluation of the performance of Passive Safety Systems (PSSs), it is important to investigate the capability of the system analysis code to reliably predict the heat transfer and natural circulation flow, which are the main phenomena governing the performance of a PSS. Since MARS-KS has been widely validated for heat transfer models, this study focuses on evaluating its capability to predict the single and two-phase pressure drops and natural circulation flow. The straight pipe simulation results indicate that the pressure drop predictions are reliable within ±5 % error margin for the single-phase flow and the errors of pressure drop up to −30 % for the two-phase flow. Through single-phase natural circulation flow analysis, it is concluded that the use of the appropriate K-factor modeling based on the flow regimes is important since the natural circulation flow rate in MARS-KS is mainly affected by the form loss factor modeling. With two-phase natural circulation flow analysis, this study emphasizes the behavior of the system could change significantly depending on the two-phase wall friction and pressure loss modeling. With the analysis results, modeling considerations for the PSS performance evaluation with the system analysis codes are proposed.

Fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics of a microstructured microchannel heat sink under flow boiling condition

A microchannel heat sink (MCHS) is known as a heat dissipation device from the miniaturized electronic components and devices due to its capability to dissipate high heat flux from smaller surface area. However, the higher pressure drop and the uneven heat removal along the channel length are the noticeable disadvantages of MCHS. Though there are attempts to address these shortcomings, no existing study has been found to study the effect of positions of microstructures (micro-pin fin and blind holes) and combined effect of micro-pin fins and blind holes under flow boiling condition. Therefore, in the present study, an attempt has been made to logically explain the effect of various arrangements and positions of pin fins and blind holes in the selected twenty-four uniformly distributed stations on the thermohydraulic performance of MCHS through numerically predicted results. The objectives of the study have been attained using the following three analyses, flow boiling, (i) with saturated fluid inlet conditions (inlet Re = 500), (ii) with different inlet subcooling (20, 40, and 60 °C), and (iii) with different heat flux conditions (100, 150, 200 and 250 W/cm2). From the study, it is observed that the pin fin enhances heat transfer in single-phase flow and delays the phase change by disturbing the flow. The blind holes act as nucleation sites and help phase change heat transfer. It is also observed that the ratio of single-phase and two-phase length and arrangement of microstructures in these two regions predominately dominate the heat transfer and fluid flow characteristics of the microchannel heat sink. The optimum performance (maximum heat transfer coefficient and minimum pressure drop) is achieved when twelve pin fins are placed in the upstream half and twelve blind holes are located at the downstream half of the channel. However, design improvement is possible through more computational and experimental analysis.

Numerical study of the effect of helical fuel rod geometry on single-phase flow and heat transfer characteristics

Helical fuel is a promising nuclear fuel proposed to improve the core power density and safety margin. In this study, the effect of helical fuel rod geometry on single-phase flow and heat transfer characteristics in helical fuel annuli has been investigated. The volumetric energy source is applied to the fuel pin, and coupled walls are used at the coolant-cladding and cladding-fuel interfaces. The numerical method with SST k-ω turbulence model has been validated with the results of bare annulus. The flow field, fuel central temperature, friction factor, and the circumferential distribution of swirl intensity, heat flux and wall temperature are obtained based on the numerical simulation. The increase in R2/R1 will result in broadening transverse flow region, reducing the gradient of surface heat flux and wall temperature, lowering the maximum wall temperature, but increasing the fuel central temperature and has no significant effect on the friction resistance. The decrease of helical pitch increases the swirl intensity and friction factor, but worsens the heat transfer at the blade roots.

CFD Applications to Pressurized Thermal Shock-Related Phenomena

In pressurized water reactor accident scenarios, the injection of water from the emergency core cooling system (ECCS) (ECC injection) might induce a pressurized thermal shock (PTS), affecting the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) integrity. Therefore, PTS is a vital research issue in reactor safety, and its analysis is essential for evaluating the integrity of RPVs, which determines the reactor life. The PTS analysis comprises a coupled analysis between thermal–hydraulic and structural analyses. The thermal–hydraulic approach is particularly crucial, and reliable computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations should play a vital role in the future because predicting the temperature gradient of the RPV wall requires data on the transient temperature distribution of the downcomer (DC). Since one-dimensional codes cannot predict the complex three-dimensional flow features during ECC injection, PTS is one reactor safety issue where CFD simulation can benefit from complement evaluations with thermal–hydraulic system analysis codes. This study reviewed from the viewpoint of the turbulence models most affecting PTS analysis based on papers published since 2010 on single- and two-phase flow CFD simulation for the experiment on PTS performed in the Rossendorf coolant mixing model (ROCOM), transient two-phase flow (TOPFLOW), upper plenum test facility (UPTF), and large-scale test facility (LSTF). The results revealed that in single-phase flow CFD simulation, where knowledge and experience are sufficient, various turbulence models have been considered, and many analyses using large eddy simulation (LES) have been reported. For two-phase flow analysis of air–water conditions, interface capturing/tracking methods were used in addition to two-fluid models. The standard k–ε and shear stress transport (SST) k–ω models were still in the validated phase, and various turbulence models have yet to be fully validated. In the two-phase flow analysis of steam–water conditions, many studies have used two-fluid models and Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stoke (RANS), and NEPTUNE_CFD, in particular, has been reported to show excellent prediction performance based on years of accumulated validation.

Development of stochastically reconstructed 3D porous media micromodels using additive manufacturing: numerical and experimental validation

We propose an integrated methodology for the design and fabrication of 3D micromodels that are suitable for the pore-scale study of transport processes in macroporous materials. The micromodels, that bear the pore-scale characteristics of sandstone, such as porosity, mean pore size, etc, are designed following a stochastic reconstruction algorithm that allows for fine-tuning the porosity and the correlation length of the spatial distribution of the solid material. We then construct a series of 3D micromodels at very fine resolution (i.e. 16μ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$16\\,\\upmu $$\\end{document}m) using a state-of-the-art 3D printing infrastructure, specifically a ProJet MJP3600 3D printer, that utilizes the Material Jetting technology. Within the technical constraints of the 3D printer resolution, the fabricated micromodels represent scaled-up replicas of natural sandstones, that are suitable for the study of the scaling between the permeability, the porosity and the mean pore size. The REV- and pore-scale characteristics of the resulting physical micromodels are recovered using a combination of X-ray micro-CT and microfluidic studies. The experimental results are then compared with single-phase flow simulations at pore-scale and geostatistic models in order to determine the effects of the design parameters on the intrinsic permeability and the spatial correlation of the velocity profile. Our numerical and experimental measurements reveal an excellent match between the properties of the designed and fabricated 3D domains, thus demonstrating the robustness of the proposed methodology for the construction of 3D micromodels with fine-tuned and well-controlled pore-scale characteristics. Furthermore, a pore-scale numerical study over a wider range of 3D digital domain realizations reveals a very good match of the measured permeabilities with the predictions of the Kozeny–Carman formulation based on a single control parameter, k0\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$k_0$$\\end{document}, that is found to have a practically constant value for porosities ϕ≥0.2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\phi \\ge 0.2$$\\end{document}. This, in turn, enables us to customize the sample size to meet REV constraints, including enlarging pore morphology while considering the Reynolds number. It is also found that at lower porosities there is a significant increase in the fraction of the non-percolating pores, thus leading to different k0\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$k_0$$\\end{document}, as the porosity approaches a numerically determined critical porosity value, ϕc\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\phi _c$$\\end{document}, where the domain is no longer percolating.

Resolvent analysis of turbulent flow laden with low-inertia particles

We extend the resolvent framework to two-phase flows with low-inertia particles. The particle velocities are modelled using the equilibrium Eulerian model. We analyse the turbulent flow in a vertical pipe with Reynolds number of $5300$ (based on diameter and bulk velocity), for Stokes numbers $St^+=0-1$ , Froude numbers $Fr_z=-4,-0.4,0.4,4$ and $1/Fr_z = 0$ (gravity omitted). The governing equations are written in input–output form and a singular value decomposition is performed on the resolvent operator. As for single-phase flows, the operator is low rank around the critical layer, and the true response can be approximated using one singular vector. Even with a crude forcing model, the formulation can predict physical phenomena observed in Lagrangian simulations, such as particle clustering and gravitational effects. Increasing the Stokes number shifts the predicted concentration spectra to lower wavelengths; this shift also appears in the direct numerical simulation spectra and is due to particle clustering. When gravity is present, there are two critical layers, one for the concentration field, and one for the velocity field. For upward flow, the peak of concentration fluctuations shifts closer to the wall, in agreement with the literature. We explain this with the aid of the different locations of the two critical layers. Finally, the model correctly predicts the interaction of near-wall vortices with particle clusters. Overall, the resolvent operator provides a useful framework to explain and interpret many features observed in Lagrangian simulations. The application of the resolvent framework to higher $St^+$ flows in combination with Lagrangian simulations is also discussed.

Roadmap for Recommended Guidelines of Leak Detection of Subsea Pipelines

The leak of hydrocarbon-carrying pipelines represents a serious incident, and if it is in a gas line, the economic exposure would be significant due to the high cost of lost or deferred hydrocarbon production. In addition, the leakage of hydrocarbon could pose risks to human life, have an impact on the environment, and could cause an image loss for the operating company. Pipelines are designed to operate at full capacity under steady-state flow conditions. Normal operations may involve day-to-day transients such as the operations of pumps, valves, and changes in production/delivery rates. The basic leak detection problem is to distinguish between the normal operational transients and the occurrence of non-typical process conditions that would indicate a leak. To date, the industry has concentrated on a single-phase flow, primarily of oil, gas, and ethylene. The application of a leak-monitoring system to a particular pipeline system depends on environmental issues, regulatory imperatives, loss prevention of the operating company, and safety policy rather than pipe size and configuration. This paper provides a review of the recommended guidance for leak detection of subsea pipelines in the context of pipeline integrity management. The paper also presents a review of the capability and application of various leak detection techniques that can be used to offer a roadmap to potential users of the leak detection systems.

An experimental approach to heat loss measurement of horizontal two-phase flow boiling in low-pressure low-flow (LPLF) conditions

A crucial parameter remarkably influencing the reliability and accuracy of vapor quality measurements in flow boiling experiments is the measurement of heat loss. The latent heat loss estimation in two-phase flow boiling sounds more demanding than that of sensible heat loss in single-phase flow experiments. To accurately investigate the impact of vapor quality on the heat transfer coefficient of flow boiling, accurate estimates of heat loss and subsequent calibration of heat supplies are of a great significance. It is widely common that the single-phase flow tests are performed to estimate a fixed heat loss percentage and calibrate heat supplies for further measurements of vapor quality and heat transfer coefficient of flow boiling experiments. In the present work, an empirical methodology is first proposed to measure heat losses and calibrate latent heat supplies directly from flow boiling process. The proposed methodology is then compared and verified with the commonly applied methodology which uses single-phase flow experiments. The proposed methodology exhibited higher accuracy than the single-phase-based methodology to estimate heat losses and measure vapor quality within two-phase flow boiling under low-pressure low-flow (LPLF) operating conditions.

Adaptive space-time model order reduction with dual-weighted residual (MORe DWR) error control for poroelasticity

In this work, the space-time MORe DWR (Model Order Reduction with Dual-Weighted Residual error estimates) framework is extended and further developed for single-phase flow problems in porous media. Specifically, our problem statement is the Biot system which consists of vector-valued displacements (geomechanics) coupled to a Darcy flow pressure equation. The MORe DWR method introduces a goal-oriented adaptive incremental proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) based-reduced-order model (ROM). The error in the reduced goal functional is estimated during the simulation, and the POD basis is enriched on-the-fly if the estimate exceeds a given threshold. This results in a reduction of the total number of full-order-model solves for the simulation of the porous medium, a robust estimation of the quantity of interest and well-suited reduced bases for the problem at hand. We apply a space-time Galerkin discretization with Taylor-Hood elements in space and a discontinuous Galerkin method with piecewise constant functions in time. The latter is well-known to be similar to the backward Euler scheme. We demonstrate the efficiency of our method on the well-known two-dimensional Mandel benchmark and a three-dimensional footing problem.

Experimental analysis of subcooled flow boiling in a microchannel evaporator of a pumped two-phase loop

High-power electronics exceed the heat dissipation capability of conventional air or liquid-based forced convection cooling systems. A pumped two-phase loop (P2PL) utilizing phase change heat transfer can effectively transport and dissipate high heat fluxes generated from the electronics at very small thermal resistance while consuming negligible pumping power. Existing research primarily focuses on standalone evaporators with fixed boundary conditions, neglecting the interactions between the evaporator and other components within the P2PL. This knowledge gap hinders the comprehensive understanding of system performance. To address this need, an experimental study was conducted to examine subcooled flow boiling in a microchannel evaporator of P2PL using R-134a. The parameters used for the investigation are evaporator heat input, mass flux, chiller loop inlet temperature, and fluid charge ratio. Additionally, flow visualization through a sight glass tube at the evaporator outlet was used to identify the two-phase flow regimes, namely – the onset of nucleate boiling, bubbly, slug, stratified, annular, and mist flow. The dominant flow boiling mechanisms and its transitions in the microchannel were identified based on the varying slopes of the boiling curves. The dynamic responses were additionally utilized to differentiate between single-phase and two-phase flows as well as to identify the propagation of dryout in the microchannel evaporator. The study further revealed that for a constant wall superheat, within the convective boiling dominant regime, the heat transfer rate in the evaporator exhibits an increase with the mass flow rate. In contrast, in the nucleate boiling dominant regime, the heat transfer rate remains unaffected by the mass flow rate. Furthermore, it was found that as the fluid charge ratio increases, the heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop in the evaporator decreases.