Time-averaged Flow Research Articles

Numerical simulation and coupling mechanism study of acoustic-inertial micromixer

Acoustic-inertial micromixers exhibit a wider operating range and higher mixing efficiency than conventional mixers. We have carried out experimental studies and numerical simulations of acoustic-inertial micromixers. It is found that the acoustic streaming will be changed in morphology and intensity by the background flow, and the coupling mechanism between them is obtained. Specifically, we developed the numerical model of acoustic-inertial micromixer by using perturbation theory and the Generalized Lagrangian Mean (GLM) theory. By dividing the flow variables into zero-order, first-order and second-order variables, we obtained the control equations representing background flow, acoustic response and time-averaged streaming flow. Then realized the decoupling analysis of the acoustic-inertial coupling phenomenon. It is found that in terms of acoustic streaming flow, the intensity extreme of it increases as the background flow rate increases. The flow velocity at 5Vpp can reach 0.46 m/s under 500 μL/min, which is 30 times for the same condition under 10 μL/min. However, the streaming morphology no longer behaves as a symmetric vortex distributed on both sides of the sharp edge, which is stretched and twisted by the background flow and structure at a high flow rate. The percentage of acoustic contribution at different working conditions is also investigated quantitatively, and the acoustic contribution index (ACI) will generally decrease to less than 0.5 after the background flow dominates the flow field. The results of the study can provide a reference for the design of acoustic-inertial micromixers with larger flow ranges and higher efficiencies.

Numerical simulation of pulsatile blood flow through eccentric double stenosed carotid artery

Purpose This study aims to perform three-dimensional numerical computations for blood flow through a double stenosed carotid artery. Pulsatile flow with Womersley number (Wo) of 4.65 and Reynolds number (Re) of 425, based on the diameter of normal artery and average velocity of inlet pulse, was considered. Design/methodology/approach Finite volume method based ANSYS Fluent 20.1 was used for solving the governing equations of three-dimensional, laminar, incompressible and non-Newtonian blood flow. A high-quality grid with sufficient refinement was generated using ICEM CFD 20.1. The time-averaged flow field was captured to investigate the effect of severity and eccentricity on the lumen flow characteristics. Findings The results show that an increase in interspacing between blockages brings shear layer instability within the region between two blockages. The velocity profile and wall shear stress distribution are found to be majorly influenced by eccentricity. On the other hand, their peak magnitude is found to be primarily influenced by severity. Results have also demonstrated that the presence of eccentricity in stenosis would assist in flow development. Originality/value Variation in severity and interspacing was considered with a provision of eccentricity equal to 10% of diameter. Eccentricity refers to the offset between the centreline of stenosis and the centreline of normal artery. For the two blockages, severity values of 40% and 60% based on diameter reduction were permuted, giving rise to four combinations. For each combination, three values of interspacing in the multiples of normal artery diameter (D), viz. 4D, 6D and 8D were considered.

High-resolution experiments for mixing in large enclosures

To support further model development and validation for mixing in large enclosures, the MiGaDome facility that is 1/12th scaled from the Modular High-Temperature Gas Reactor (MHTGR) upper plenum has recently been built at the University of Michigan. In this paper, 2D PIV measurements have been conducted on two jets discharging into the MiGaDome facility. Two twin-jet cases of Re=4097 and Re=6021, and an asymmetrical case (Re=6021 v.s. 4097) have been investigated. Intense turbulent mixing with spanwise vortices of various sizes is observed in the instantaneous vector field for all cases. A power spectrum density analysis with a 7.5 Hz cutoff frequency has shown low-frequency fluctuations of St=0.0144 and St=0.0120 in the middle of the two jets for the two uniform injection cases. Besides, the time-averaged flow field shows that a down-wash fountain flow has formed due to wall jet impingement for the two cases, while a clockwise recirculation is created for the asymmetrical case. High-resolution 2D velocity and turbulent statistics fields have been obtained from the time-averaged measurements. In addition, the integral length scales are also calculated based on the two-point spatial cross-correlation.

LES Modeling of the DLR Generic Single-Cup Spray Combustor: Validation and the Impact of Combustion Chemistry

AbstractTurbulent spray combustion in a generic kerosene-fueled single-cup combustor at typical idle and cruise conditions of an aeroengine are studied with Large Eddy Simulations (LES) using Lagrangian spray and finite-rate chemistry combustion modeling. Three reaction mechanisms of varying complexity are used to model the combustion chemistry. The choice of turbulence-chemistry interaction model is shown to affect the results significantly. The impact of the choice of chemical reaction mechanism and the difference in operating conditions are gauged in terms of time-averaged flow, spray, and combustion characteristics as well as unsteady behavior. Good agreement between LES predictions and experimental results are generally observed but with a notable dependence on the choice of chemical reaction mechanism. The mechanism specifically targeting Jet A displays the best agreement. The choice of reaction mechanism is further demonstrated to influence the flow and thermoacoustics in the combustor, resulting in different thermoacoustic modes dominating. The spray cone is found to be too narrow and thin, an inaccuracy which could be remedied by either making the injection method more empirical or by introducing additional models.

Unconfined fishway design, implementation, and assessment for the emerald Shiner (Notropis atherinoides) in the Upper Niagara River, New York

An engineered seawall in need of repair along the Upper Niagara River in Buffalo, NY, was previously identified as a hydrodynamic barrier to the migration of a small but important prey fish, the emerald shiner (Notropis atherinoides), and its connection to the upstream environs of Lake Erie. This study proposed a novel unconfined fishway design to be incorporated into existing plans for rehabilitation of the seawall at Broderick Park. The proposed fishway was developed using a two-dimensional depth-averaged numerical model, it was explored by placing the target fish into a physical model, and the constructed demonstration project was assessed using field measurements and observations. The numerical model showed that modular baffles attached to the seawall reduced the nearshore flow velocities to about 0.4 to 0.6 m s−1, which was within the acceptable range of velocities for the upstream migration of the emerald shiners. The physical experiments demonstrated that most emerald shiners chose to swim toward, within, or close to the proposed fishway in the presence of higher flow velocities within the main channel region. The proposed fishway design was integrated into the seawall repair as part of a demonstration project supervised by the US Army Corps of Engineers-Buffalo District. Post-construction assessment of the installation showed that (1) the modular baffles reduced time-averaged flow velocities near the seawall and water surface, (2) while very few shiners were observed swimming along the pre-construction seawall, large numbers were observed swimming upstream within this reduced flow velocity corridor created by the baffles, and (3) the structural integrity of the installation proved to be durable and resilient to extremely harsh environmental conditions. This study explored a new approach to fishway design for the passage of relatively small fish in large rivers, and it effectively melded fishway requirements into seawall restoration in concert with the expectations of multiple stakeholders.

Time-averaged flow field reconstruction based on a multifidelity model using physics-informed neural network (PINN) and nonlinear information fusion

PurposeCurrent methods for flow field reconstruction mainly rely on data-driven algorithms which require an immense amount of experimental or field-measured data. Physics-informed neural network (PINN), which was proposed to encode physical laws into neural networks, is a less data-demanding approach for flow field reconstruction. However, when the fluid physics is complex, it is tricky to obtain accurate solutions under the PINN framework. This study aims to propose a physics-based data-driven approach for time-averaged flow field reconstruction which can overcome the hurdles of the above methods.Design/methodology/approachA multifidelity strategy leveraging PINN and a nonlinear information fusion (NIF) algorithm is proposed. Plentiful low-fidelity data are generated from the predictions of a PINN which is constructed purely using Reynold-averaged Navier–Stokes equations, while sparse high-fidelity data are obtained by field or experimental measurements. The NIF algorithm is performed to elicit a multifidelity model, which blends the nonlinear cross-correlation information between low- and high-fidelity data.FindingsTwo experimental cases are used to verify the capability and efficacy of the proposed strategy through comparison with other widely used strategies. It is revealed that the missing flow information within the whole computational domain can be favorably recovered by the proposed multifidelity strategy with use of sparse measurement/experimental data. The elicited multifidelity model inherits the underlying physics inherent in low-fidelity PINN predictions and rectifies the low-fidelity predictions over the whole computational domain. The proposed strategy is much superior to other contrastive strategies in terms of the accuracy of reconstruction.Originality/valueIn this study, a physics-informed data-driven strategy for time-averaged flow field reconstruction is proposed which extends the applicability of the PINN framework. In addition, embedding physical laws when training the multifidelity model leads to less data demand for model development compared to purely data-driven methods for flow field reconstruction.

Numerical Simulation on Wind Speed Amplification of High-Rise Buildings with Openings

To explore the influence of openings on wind loads and wind speeds in high-rise buildings, the wind flow around three-dimensional (3D) square cylinders with a breadth/height aspect ratio of 1:6 was numerically simulated using the large eddy simulation (LES) method via the Fluent 15.0 platform. The opening measures in the X-direction, Y-direction and both directions were all taken into consideration. Firstly, the inflow turbulence synthesis method and parameter settings for LES were verified by comparing the simulation results of standard square cylinders with those of wind tunnel experiments, and the optimal boundary conditions were determined. Then, the wind speed was extracted and compared with the mean wind speed of incoming flow at the same height to analyze the influence of different opening measures on the wind speed of incoming flow by setting monitoring points in the open holes. Finally, the mechanism underlying the effect of the opening form on wind loads and wind speeds was analyzed from the perspective of time-averaged and transient flow field. The results show that the X-direction openings affect the magnitude and distribution of the surface wind pressures by changing the flow separation and flow reattachment. The narrow tube effect can significantly increase the wind speed, while the Y-direction openings have no obvious improvement effect on the surface wind pressures of the structure. The wind speeds in the open holes are greatly reduced due to the shielding effect, and the wind pressures are also reduced for the Y-direction openings. In the X-direction opening holes, the wind speed at the monitoring point increases, while it decreases in the crosswind open holes. In general, the measure of openings in the X-direction can greatly improve the wind load of the structure compared to openings in the Y-direction, and it can provide a good reference for wind power generation in high-rise buildings.

Numerical analyses of the flow past a short rotating cylinder

This work studies the three-dimensional flow dynamics around a rotating circular cylinder of finite length, whose axis is positioned perpendicular to the streamwise direction. Direct numerical simulations and global stability analyses are performed within a parameter range of Reynolds number $Re=DU_\infty /\nu <500$ (based on cylinder diameter $D$ , uniform incoming flow velocity $U_\infty$ ), length-to-diameter ratio ${\small \text{AR}}=L/D\leq 2$ and dimensionless rotation rate $\alpha =D\varOmega /2U_\infty \leq 2$ (where $\varOmega$ is rotation rate). By solving Navier–Stokes equations, we investigated the wake patterns and explored the phase diagrams of the lift and drag coefficients. For a cylinder with ${\small \text{AR}}=1$ , we found that when the rotation effect is weak ( $0\leq \alpha \lesssim 0.3$ ), the wake pattern is similar to the unsteady wake past the non-rotating finite-length cylinder, but with a new linear unstable mode competing to dominate the saturation state of the wake. The flow becomes stable for $0.3\lesssim \alpha \lesssim 0.9$ when $Re<360$ . When the rotation effect is strong ( $\alpha \gtrsim 0.9$ ), new low-frequency wake patterns with stronger oscillations emerge. Generally, the rotation effect first slightly decreases and then sharply increases the $Re$ threshold of the flow instability when $\alpha$ is relatively small, but significantly decreases the threshold at high $\alpha$ ( $0.9<\alpha \leq 2$ ). Furthermore, the stability analyses based on the time-averaged flows and on the steady solutions demonstrate the existence of multiple unstable modes undergoing Hopf bifurcation, greatly influenced by the rotation effect. The shapes of these global eigenmodes are presented and compared, as well as their structural sensitivity, visualising the flow region important for the disturbance development with rotation. This research contributes to our understanding of the complex bluff-body wake dynamics past this critical configuration.

A low-frequency ferrohydrodynamic pump for a magneto-caloric refrigerator

Ferrohydrodynamic or magnetic pumping enables the design of a magnetocaloric refrigerator with no moving parts. Existing magnetic pumps utilize travelling wave magnetic fields with frequencies in the range of 100 to 1000 Hz. Such high frequencies when utilized in the proposed refrigerator could cause heating which is detrimental to its performance. Hence, a magnetic pump that works with low magnetic field frequencies (¡ 1 Hz) is designed and its performance is experimentally characterized and compared against an one-dimensional model. The design of the magnetic pump consists of a rising and falling pipe, circumscribed by an electromagnetic coil. On application of a magnetic field, due to the inward acting force on either end of the pipes, the ferrofluid progresses in the rising pipe and reaches the falling pipe. On removal of the magnetic field, the portion of the fluid in the falling pipe falls down due to gravity, thereby achieving a net pumping action. Thus on continuously cycling the magnetic field, an intermittent motion of the ferrofluid is obtained. The maximum cross-sectional area and time-averaged mass flow rate of the proposed design is 1.8 g s-1 cm-2 at 0.74 Hz and 35.7 mT. This mass flow rate is comparable to pump designs that work on travelling wave magnetic fields, whose operational frequency is three orders of magnitude higher.

Computational Aeroacoustics for a Cold, Non-Ideally Expanded Aerospike Nozzle

Abstract In supersonic aerospace applications, aerospike nozzles have been subject of growing interest. This study sheds light on the noise components of a cold jet exhausting an aerospike nozzle. Implicit large eddy simulations (ILES) are deployed to simulate the jet at a nozzle pressure ratio (NPR)=3. For far-field acoustic computation, the Ffowcs Williams–Hawkings (FWH) equation is applied. A mesh sensitivity study is performed and the jet instantaneous and time-averaged flow characteristics are analyzed. The annular shock structure displays short non-attached shock-cells and longer attached shock-cells. Downstream of the aerospike, a circular shock-cell structure is formed with long shock-cells. Two-point cross-correlations of data acquired at monitoring points located along the shear layers allow to identify upstream propagating waves associated to screech. Power spectral density at monitoring points in the annular shock-cell structure allows to identify its radial oscillation modes. Furthermore, a vortex sheet model is adapted to predict the annular shock-cells length and the BBSAN central frequency. High sound pressure levels (SPL) are detected at the determined BBSAN central frequencies. Finally, high SPL are obtained at the radial oscillation frequencies for the annular shock-cell structure.

LES and experimental investigation of flow field in the cyclone separator at different temperatures

The present study is aimed to investigate the effect of temperature on the flow field. In this study, LES (large eddy simulation) and HWA (hot wire anemometry) are used to investigate the time-averaged and instantaneous flow field in the cyclone at different temperatures. The numerical results agree well with the experiment data. The results show that temperature has an impact on both the time-averaged flow field and the fluctuations of the flow field. To investigate the effect of temperature on flow field fluctuations, we first reveal the mechanism of flow field fluctuations. The effect of temperature on vortex motion and tangential velocity fluctuation is analyzed, and a mathematical model for predicting the freqeuncy of vortex core precession at different temperatures is proposed, fT/f0=k(T0/T)0.125(1+m). The Q criterion is used to identify the vortex in the cyclone. When the temperature is high, the vortex core undergoes a typical vortex breakdown phenomenon at the lower part of the cyclone separator: the vortex core breaks up into a double helix shape. This is the reason for the disappearance of the negative pressure region, the decrease in tangential velocity and the weak fluctuation of tangential velocity in the dipleg at high temperature.

Numerical study on the periodic control of supersonic compression corner flow using a nanosecond pulsed plasma actuator

This study investigates the effectiveness of a pulsed nanosecond dielectric barrier discharge (NSDBD) plasma actuator for flow control over a supersonic compression corner through numerical simulations. The effects of varying applied voltages, repetitive frequencies, and activated locations of the plasma actuator are examined under large-scale laminar flow separation conditions around a compression corner. The unit Reynolds number and Mach number are 7.8 × 106 m−1 and 4, respectively. The results indicate that the discharge induces a pressure rise and leads to misalignment between the pressure gradient and density gradient in the residual heat region. Because of the interaction between the supersonic freestream and the actuation-induced shock/compression flow, convection, compressibility of the fluid element, and baroclinicity of the residual heat region collectively lead to the formation of an induced spanwise vortex, which in turn enables momentum migration. The induced vortex disrupts the initial flow structures and entrains high-energy fluid from the main flow into the boundary layer, promoting momentum mixing between the main flow and the separated flow, which increases the energy of the boundary layer to resist the adverse pressure gradient. The time-averaged flow structures imply that it is possible to totally eliminate the flow separation near the supersonic compression corner. For aerodynamics on the surface, the normal force produces a pitching moment that can be potentially utilized to control the body's orientation and trajectory. Additionally, total drag on the surface can be reduced by 5 %. This suggests that choosing the most appropriate position based on its local fluid characteristics can strongly increase the control effectiveness.

Studying turbulent flows with physics-informed neural networks and sparse data

Physics-informed neural networks (PINNs) have recently become a viable modelling method for the scientific machine-learning community. The appeal of this network architecture lies in the coupling of a deep neural network (DNN) with partial differential equations (PDEs): the DNN can be considered a universal function approximator, and the physical knowledge from the embedded PDEs regularises the network during training. This regularisation improves robustness of the network and means the network only requires sparse training data in the domain. We apply PINNs with embedded Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations to a spatially developing adverse-pressure-gradient (APG) boundary layer 1000<Reθ<3000, and also to the periodic hill problem 5600≤Reb≤37,000. We do not use a turbulence model to close the RANS equations, rather the network infers the Reynolds-stress fields during training as a means to satisfy closure. As PINNs are able to produce robust predictions with sparse training data, this paper demonstrates how PINNs can be trained with data typical of experimental campaigns. For the APG boundary layer, we seek to quantify the amount and location of data required to model a time-averaged turbulent flow with PINNs, and show that PINNs can accurately model wall shear stress and wall pressure. We demonstrate how PINNs perform when trained without information of a critical feature of the flow (such as a separation bubble), and we highlight how the cost of training the network does not increase with Reynolds number. Finally, we undertake a series of benchmarks to demonstrate how the method scales with network size and the number of residual points in the problem. This work seeks to establish the quantity and type of data required to successfully apply PINNs to time-averaged flow without a closure model, and seeks to set expectations on the prediction quality of the network when trained on an available data set.

An Enhanced Python-Based Open-Source Particle Image Velocimetry Software for Use with Central Processing Units

Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) is a widely used experimental technique for measuring flow. In recent years, open-source PIV software has become more popular as it offers researchers and practitioners enhanced computational capabilities. Software development for graphical processing unit (GPU) architectures requires careful algorithm design and data structure selection for optimal performance. PIV software, optimized for central processing units (CPUs), offer an alternative to specialized GPU software. In the present work, an improved algorithm for the OpenPIV–Python software (Version 0.25.1, OpenPIV, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel) is presented and implemented under a traditional CPU framework. The Python language was selected due to its versatility and widespread adoption. The algorithm was also tested on a supercomputing cluster, a workstation, and Google Colaboratory during the development phase. Using a known velocity field, the algorithm precisely captured the time-average flow, momentary velocity fields, and vortices.

Reynolds Number Dependency of Wall-Bounded Turbulence Over a Surface Partially Covered by Barnacle Clusters

The settlement of barnacles on a ship hull is a common form of marine biofouling. In this study, the Reynolds number dependency of turbulent flow over a surface partially covered by barnacle clusters is investigated using direct numerical simulations of turbulent channel flow at friction Reynolds numbers ranging from 180 to 720. Mean flow, Reynolds and dispersive stress statistics are evaluated and compared to the corresponding results for a generic irregular rough surface with a Gaussian height distribution. For the barnacle surface, distinctive features emerge in the velocity statistics due to the interplay between the barnacle clusters and the large, connected smooth-wall sections surrounding them. This aspect is further investigated by applying a rough-smooth decomposition to the local time-averaged flow statistics for the barnacle surface. Using this decomposition, the partial recovery of smooth-wall behaviour over the smooth sections of the barnacle surface can be observed in the Reynolds stress statistics with the streamwise Reynolds stresses exhibiting a similar behaviour as previously found for boundary layers over surfaces with a rough to smooth transition.

Capturing the bi-stable asymmetry exchanges in the turbulent air wake of a simplified frigate using Large Eddy Simulation

Turbulent air wake of a Simplified Frigate Ship (SFS2) model is simulated using wall-resolved Large Eddy Simulation. The wake behind the superstructure presents an asymmetric configuration for an otherwise symmetric free stream condition. Bi-stable characteristics of the wake have also been simulated as evidenced by asymmetric state switching events. The wake behind the stern also exhibits bi-stable switching and adapts an opposite asymmetric orientation to the wake behind the superstructure, as also observed experimentally. The resulting time-averaged flow fields for each bi-stable state reveal a differential flux formation around the upstream sides of the superstructure. The instantaneous wake fields also suggest a possible influence of flow structures developed around the upstream end of the superstructure to generate a particular asymmetric wake state downstream.

Numerical investigation of aero-optical effects around the turret based on delayed detached eddy simulation and unsteady Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes

Delayed Detached Eddy Simulation (DDES) and Unsteady Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS), based on the two-equation Shear Stress Transport (SST) model, are implemented to investigate the flow features and the aero-optical distortions around the turret. The Mach number is Ma = 0.4 and the Reynolds number is Re = 1.43 × 106. Instantaneous and time-averaged flow fields are presented to compare the ability of DDES and URANS in predicting the flow features. The instantaneous results show that DDES can resolve the abundant flow structures and more disordered density distributions than URANS. The time-averaged pressure coefficient and the density distribution of both methods are generally similar, but the time-averaged turbulent kinetic energy of URANS is far higher than that of DDES. The time-averaged pressure coefficient of DDES is closer to experimental data. In the windward view, typical surface flow features of DDES and URANS are similar. In the leeward view, there are remarkable differences of typical flow features between DDES and URANS. At the six angles of elevation, 60°, 76°, 90°, 103°, 120°, and 132°, the spatial-temporal wavefront distortions are calculated and discussed with the geometric ray-tracing method and the Zernike polynomial fitting, respectively. In spatial distribution, the wavefront distortions of DDES and URANS are slightly different from the experimental data. At the angles of 60°, 76°, 90°, and 103°, the tendencies of wavefront distortion of DDES at different tracing distances are the same with that of URANS, which is due to the same ability of two methods to resolve the density distributions in the attached flow region. However, the results of DDES agree well with the experimental results at the angles of 120° and 132°, which is bigger than the results of URANS. For temporal characteristics, the frequencies of wavefront distortions of DDES are obviously higher than that of URANS. The amplitudes of wavefront distortions by DDES are about 3 to 5 times higher than that by URANS. At the cases of two different FLHs at Ma = 0.4, the flow structures are totally similar, and the tendencies of wavefront distortion with θ are also similar. At the cases of three Mach number, the compression has a big influence on the wavefront distortion.

Understanding the characteristics and functions of axial velocity fluctuation zone in hydrocyclones: part 1 flow pattern

Axial velocity fluctuation zone (AVFZ) is a transition region between primary vortices in hydrocyclones that may influence the separation process, but its flow pattern and functions are not fully understood yet. This study focuses on the flow field characteristics of AVFZ using physical and numerical methods to reveal the flow pattern from a novel perspective. Based on the approximate scope of AVFZ outlined by LDA, RSM and LES models were used to compare the time-averaged and instantaneous flow fields within the AVFZ, revealing that the latter is more effective at capturing its essence. The AVFZ is characterized by substantial secondary vortices with an approximate extent where the LZVV oscillates. Finally, a mathematical definition for the AVFZ is proposed along with analyses of its spatial and flow rate distributions. The results demonstrated that the AVFZ is inevitable and occupies such a large separation space that is bound to affect separation process.

Tomographic particle image velocimetry measurement on three-dimensional swirling flow in dual-stage counter-rotating swirler

Three-Dimensional (3D) swirling flow structures, generated by a counter-rotating dual-stage swirler in a confined chamber with a confinement ratio of 1.53, were experimentally investigated at Re = 2.3 × 105 using Tomographic Particle Image Velocimetry (Tomo-PIV) and planar Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV). Based on the analysis of the 3D time-averaged swirling flow structures and 3D Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) of the Tomo-PIV data, typical coherent flow structures, including the Corner Recirculation Zone (CRZ), Central Recirculation Zone (CTRZ), and Lip Recirculation Zone (LRZ), were extracted. The counter-rotating dual-stage swirler with a Venturi flare generates the independence process of vortex breakdown from the main stage and pilot stage, leading to the formation of an LRZ and a smaller CTRZ near the nozzle outlet. The confinement squeezes the CRZ to the corner and causes a reverse rotation flow to limit the shape of the CTRZ. A large-scale flow structure caused by the main stage features an explosive breakup, flapping, and Precessing Vortex Core (PVC). The explosive breakup mode dominates the swirling flow structures owing to the expansion and construction of the main jet, whereas the flapping mode is related to the wake perturbation. Confinement limits the expansion of PVC and causes it to contract after the impacting area.

Influence of Microporous Layers on Interfacial Properties, Oxygen Flow Distribution, and Durability of Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzers.

The efficient and cost-effective production of green hydrogen is essential to decarbonize heavily polluting sectors such as transportation and heavy manufacturing industries such as metal refining. Polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) is the most promising and rapidly maturing technology for producing green hydrogen at a scale and on demand. However, substantial cost reduction by lowering precious metal catalyst loadings and efficiency improvement is necessary to lower the cost of the produced hydrogen. Porous transport layers (PTLs) play a major role in influencing the PEMWE efficiency and catalyst utilization. Several studies have projected that the use of microporous layers (MPLs) on PTLs can improve the efficiency of PEMWEs, but very limited literature exists on how MPLs affect anodic interfacial properties and oxygen transport in PTLs. In this study, for the first time, we use X-ray microtomography and innovative image processing techniques to elucidate the oxygen flow patterns in PTLs with varying MPL thicknesses. We used stained water to improve contrast of oxygen in PTLs and demonstrate visualization of time averaged oxygen flow patterns. The results show that PTLs with MPLs significantly improve interfacial contact by almost 20% as compared to single layer sintered PTL. For the single layer PTL without MPL, the pore volume utilization for oxygen flow is low and the oxygen follows a viscous fingering flow regime. With MPLs, the pore volume utilization is higher, and the number of oxygen transport pathways is increased significantly. MPLs were also shown to suppress capillary fingering and transition oxygen flow to the viscous fingering regime, which has been proven to decrease site masking effects. Finally, durability tests showed the least voltage degradation for thin MPL and thicker MPLs run into mass transport limitations. Based on these findings, PTL/MPL design optimization strategies are proposed for enabling low catalyst loadings and improving durability.