Two-phase Flow In Small Tubes Research Articles

MODELING OF THE MINIMIZED TWO-PHASE FLOW FRICTIONAL PRESSURE DROP IN A SMALL TUBE WITH DIFFERENT CORRELATIONS

The major parameters of interest in heat transfer research are the refrigerant charge, pressure drop, and heat transfer capacity. Smaller channels reduce the refrigerant charge with higher heat transfer capability due to the increased in surface area to volume ratio but at the expense of a higher pressure drop. Differences between the predicted and experimental frictional pressure drop of two-phase flow in small tubes have frequently been discussed. Factors that could have contributed to that effect have been attributed to the correlations used to model the flow, some being modified from the originals developed for a macro system. Experimental test-rigs have varied in channel geometry, refrigerant type, and flow conditions. Thousands of data have been collected to find a common point among the differences. This paper reports an investigation of four different two-phase friction factor correlations used in the modeling of the frictional two-phase flow pressure drop of refrigerant R-22. One had been specifically developed for laminar flow in a smooth channel, another was modified from a laminar flow in a smooth pipe to be used for a rough channel, and two correlations are specific for turbulent flow that consider internal pipe surface roughness. Genetic algorithm, an optimization scheme, is used to search for the minimum friction factor and minimum frictional pressure drop under optimized conditions of the mass flux and vapor quality. The results show that a larger pressure drop does come with a smaller channel. A large discrepancy exists between the correlations investigated; between the ones that does not consider surface roughness and that which does, as well as between flow under laminar and turbulent flow conditions.

Molecular-Level Modeling of Interfacial Phenomena in Boiling Processes

The thermophysics of liquid–vapor interfaces has long been recognized as a critical element in the physical mechanisms of boiling processes. This article will describe results of recent molecular dynamics simulation studies that explore the structure and stability of liquid–vapor interfacial regions using a hybrid analysis scheme that combines new formulations of capillarity theory with molecular dynamics simulations that use similar interaction potentials. Two forms of this type of hybrid scheme have been developed: one for non-polar fluids based on a Lennard–Jones interaction potential and a second specifically for water using a modified treatment of the extended simple point charge interaction potential that accounts for water dipole interactions. The hybrid model has the advantage that the capillarity theory provides theoretical relationships among parameters that govern interfacial region structure and thermophysical behavior, while the companion molecular dynamics simulations allow more detailed molecular level exploration of the interfacial region thermophysics. Predictions of interfacial region structure indicated by this kind of hybrid modeling will be described for pure non-polar and water liquid–vapor interfaces and for water with dissolved ionic solutes (i.e., salts). Extension of the methodology to thin liquid films will also be described. Rupture of a free liquid film dictates merging of adjacent bubbles, which is particularly important in nucleate boiling heat transfer, bubbly two-phase flow in small tubes, and the mechanisms that dictate the Leidenfrost transition. To understand the mechanisms of bubble merging in nanostructured boiling surfaces and in nanotubes, it is useful to explore film stability and the onset of rupture at the molecular level. Results obtained with the hybrid model indicate that wave instability predominates as an onset of rupture mechanism for free liquid films of macroscopic extent, but for free liquid films with nanoscale lateral extent (e.g., in nanostructured boiling surfaces), lack of film core stability is more likely to be the mechanism. Predictions of the hybrid models will be compared to results of experimental studies of the effects of ionic solutes on interfacial tension and bubble merging. The implications of the molecular dynamics model predictions for boiling processes in micro-channels and boiling in nanostructured surfaces are also discussed.

Flow Patterns of the Vapor-liquid Two-phase Flow in Small Tubes

Flow Patterns of the Vapor-liquid Two-phase Flow in Small Tubes

Pressure Drop of the Vapor-liquid Two-phase Flow in Small Tubes

Pressure Drop of the Vapor-liquid Two-phase Flow in Small Tubes

Thermophysics of the Interfacial Region and Its Impact on Instability and Rupture of Thin Free Liquid Films

Merging of adjacent bubbles is a particularly important process in nucleate boiling heat transfer, bubbly two-phase flow in small tubes, and the mechanisms that dictate the Leidenfrost transition. The merging process is ultimately associated with the rupture of the liquid film separating two bubbles, and the stability of the liquid film dictates whether coalescence is likely to occur. This paper examines two methods of exploring how the molecular-level features of the thin film and its interfaces affect the stability of the film and its subsequent impact on bubble merging. One method is an extended molecular capillarity model that has been developed for a free liquid film bounded by two liquid–vapor interfacial regions. This model predicts that as film thickness diminishes, a point is reached at which the mean centerline density in the film is between the spinodal limits for the fluid, implying that the film core lacks intrinsic stability. This suggests that loss of intrinsic stability may be the mechanism for film rupture in some cases. The second method examined here is use of molecular dynamics simulations to examine film structure and stability. Simulations using a Lennard–Jones interaction potential for non-polar fluids and the SPC/E potential for water and salt water are examined. Results of these explorations indicate that for water–NaCl solution films, surface tension increases with increasing NaCl concentration. These predictions are shown to be consistent with measured surface-tension data for such solutions. The results also indicate that for pure water and NaCl solutions, below a threshold thickness, the surface tension decreases with film thickness. Wave interface stability theory implies that this tends to make the film less stable. The implications of the results of these investigations for bubble merging in two-phase flow and boiling processes are also examined.

Hybrid modeling of interfacial region thermophysics and intrinsic stability of thin free liquid films

The film rupture process that dictates merging of adjacent bubbles is particularly important in nucleate boiling heat transfer, bubbly two-phase flow in small tubes, and the mechanisms that dictate the Leidenfrost transition. To understand the mechanisms of bubble merging in nanostructured boiling surfaces and in nanotubes, it is useful to explore film stability and onset of rupture at the molecular level. This paper reports the results of such an investigation using a hybrid analysis scheme that combines a new formulation of capillarity theory for free liquid films with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations that use similar interaction potentials. Two forms of our molecular film capillarity theory are developed here: one for non-polar fluids based on a Lennard-Jones interaction potential, and a second specifically for water using a modified treatment of the SPC/E interaction potential that accounts for water dipole interactions. The hybrid model has the advantage that the capillarity theory provides theoretical relationships among parameters that govern film structure and thermophysical behavior, while the companion MD simulations allow more detailed molecular level exploration of the film thermophysics. Results obtained with the hybrid model indicate that wave instability predominates as an onset of rupture mechanism for liquid films of macroscopic extent, but for free liquid films with nanoscale lateral extent (in, for example, nanostructured boiling surfaces), lack of core stability is more likely to be the mechanism. The implications of these predictions for film rupture and bubble merging in nanostructured surfaces and nanotubes are examined in detail.