Viscous Losses Research Articles

A transfer matrix for the input impedance of weakly tapered, dissipative cones as of wind instruments (L).

A formula for the local acoustical admittance in a conical waveguide with viscous and thermal losses given by Nederveen [(1969). Acoustical Aspects of Woodwind Instruments (Frits Knuf, Amsterdam)] is rewritten as an impedance transmission matrix. Based on a self-consistent approximation for the cone, it differs from other one-dimensional transmission matrices used in musical acoustics, which implicitly include the loss model of a cylinder. The resonance frequencies of air columns calculated with this transmission matrix are in better agreement with more comprehensive models. Even for long cones with a slight taper, there is no need to discretize along the axis.

Diastolic vortex ring derangements in ischemic cardiomyopathy left ventricles: a 4D Flow MRI study

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Private hospital(s). Main funding source(s): This work was supported by IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, a Clinical Research Hospital partially funded by the Italian Ministry of Health. Introduction Blood flowing into the left ventricle (LV) forms a 3D vortex ring starting from the free margin of mitral valve leaflets and encompassing the inflow jet. Vortex ring formation is presumed to store part of the kinetic energy of the entering jet and help directing blood flow towards the aorta [1]. Changes in vortex formation are associated to altered endocardial wall motion and LV chamber remodeling, as in case of ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM). 4D Flow MRI is currently the unique volumetric imaging technique to assess in vivo changes of diastolic vortex ring. Purpose To characterize changes in LV diastolic vortex ring and associated energetics in a cohort of ICM patients (n = 12) vs. controls (n = 12) with comparable age. Methods 4D Flow MRI data were acquired for ICM patients presenting with anterior myocardial infarction and in healthy controls. The diastolic vortex ring was assessed at peak E-wave and at peak A-wave through the λ2 method [2]. Geometrical features of the vortex ring, e.g., circularity index (CI) and vortex orientation (α), were extracted (Figure 1). Kinetic energy (KE), rate of viscous energy loss (EL), vorticity and volume were computed for each vortex ring core; the ratios with the respective quantities computed for the entire LV were derived. Results At peak E-wave, the vortex ring was less circular (p = 0.017) and formed a smaller α with the mitral valve plane (p = 0.024) in ICM patients as compared to controls. At peak A-wave, the vortex ring core remained less circular (p = 0.027) in ICM patients, while vortex orientation remained comparable between the two groups. KE ratio, EL ratio, vorticity ratio and volume ratio significantly decreased for ICM patients at both E-peak and A-peak (Table 1). Conclusions Though ICM is primarily addressed and investigated as a systolic dysfunction, diastolic function can be deranged too, as highlighted by altered diastolic vortex ring shape and energetics.

Evaluating a Phase-Specific Approach to Aortic Flow: A 4D Flow MRI Study.

Aortic flow parameters can be quantified using 4D flow MRI. However, data are sparse on how different methods of analysis influence these parameters and how these parameters evolve during systole. To assess multiphase segmentations and multiphase quantification of flow-related parameters in aortic 4D flow MRI. Prospective. 40 healthy volunteers (50% male, 28.9 ± 5.0 years) and 10 patients with thoracic aortic aneurysm (80% male, 54 ± 8 years). 4D flow MRI with a velocity encoded turbo field echo sequence at 3 T. Phase-specific segmentations were obtained for the aortic root and the ascending aorta. The whole aorta was segmented in peak systole. In all aortic segments, time to peak (TTP; for flow velocity, vorticity, helicity, kinetic energy, and viscous energy loss) and peak and time-averaged values (for velocity and vorticity) were calculated. Static vs. phase-specific models were assessed using Bland-Altman plots. Other analyses were performed using phase-specific segmentations for aortic root and ascending aorta. TTP for all parameters was compared to TTP of flow rate using paired t-tests. Time-averaged and peak values were assessed using Pearson correlation coefficient. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. In the combined group, velocity in static vs. phase-specific segmentations differed by 0.8 cm/sec for the aortic root, and 0.1 cm/sec (P = 0.214) for the ascending aorta. Vorticity differed by 167 sec-1 mL-1 (P = 0.468) for the aortic root, and by 59 sec-1 mL-1 (P = 0.481) for the ascending aorta. Vorticity, helicity, and energy loss in the ascending aorta, aortic arch, and descending aorta peaked significantly later than flow rate. Time-averaged velocity and vorticity values correlated significantly in all segments. Static 4D flow MRI segmentation yields comparable results as multiphase segmentation for flow-related parameters, eliminating the need for time-consuming multiple segmentations. However, multiphase quantification is necessary for assessing peak values of aortic flow-related parameters. 2 TECHNICAL EFFICACY STAGE: 3.

Experimental and numerical study of a circular OWC with a U-shaped duct for wave energy conversion in long waves: Hydrodynamic characteristics and viscous energy loss

This paper presents an experimental and numerical study of a pile-type circular oscillating water column device with a U-shaped duct (circular U-OWC) for wave energy conversion in long waves. In the experiments, the circular U-OWC model and a conventional OWC model of identical chamber dimension was compared in a wave flume under various wave conditions. Orifices of different sizes are used to simulate the power-takeoff (PTO). The pneumatic power, PTO damping coefficient, and the scattering of the incident waves are measured. A RANS equation based numerical model with a modified k-ω SST turbulence closure is validated using the experiment. The numerical model is utilized to investigate the spatial non-uniformity of the free surface inside the chamber, and the viscous energy loss in the U-shaped duct. It is found that for long waves, the circular U-OWC device is several times more efficient than a conventional OWC device, and the sloshing effect inside the pneumatic chamber is significantly reduced compared to a conventional OWC device. It is also found that a significant amount of energy entering the U-shaped duct is dissipated in viscous loss, recommendations on U-shaped duct design are given to help reduce the viscous loss of the device.

Bandwidths of vocal tract resonances in physical models compared to transmission-line simulations.

This study investigated how the bandwidths of resonances simulated by transmission-line models of the vocal tract compare to bandwidths measured from physical three-dimensional printed vowel resonators. Three types of physical resonators were examined: models with realistic vocal tract shapes based on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) data, straight axisymmetric tubes with varying cross-sectional areas, and two-tube approximations of the vocal tract with notched lips. All physical models had hard walls and closed glottis so the main loss mechanisms contributing to the bandwidths were sound radiation, viscosity, and heat conduction. These losses were accordingly included in the simulations, in two variants: A coarse approximation of the losses with frequency-independent lumped elements, and a detailed, theoretically more precise loss model. Across the examined frequency range from 0 to 5 kHz, the resonance bandwidths increased systematically from the simulations with the coarse loss model to the simulations with the detailed loss model, to the tube-shaped physical resonators, and to the MRI-based resonators. This indicates that the simulated losses, especially the commonly used approximations, underestimate the real losses in physical resonators. Hence, more realistic acoustic simulations of the vocal tract require improved models for viscous and radiation losses.

Lose the stress: Viscoelastic materials for cell engineering.

Biomaterials are widely used to study and control a variety of cell behaviors, including stem cell differentiation, organogenesis, and tumor invasion. While considerable attention has historically been paid to biomaterial elastic (storage) properties, it has recently become clear that viscous (loss) properties can also powerfully influence cell behavior. Here we review advances in viscoelastic materials for cell engineering. We begin by discussing collagen, an abundant naturally occurring biomaterial that derives its viscoelastic properties from its fibrillar architecture, which enables dissipation of applied stresses. We then turn to two other naturally occurring biomaterials that are more frequently modified for engineering applications, alginate and hyaluronic acid, whose viscoelastic properties may be tuned by modulating network composition and crosslinking. We also discuss the potential of exploiting engineered fibrous materials, particularly electrospun fiber-based materials, to control viscoelastic properties. Finally, we review mechanisms through which cells process viscous and viscoelastic cues as they move along and within these materials. The ability of viscoelastic materials to relax cell-imposed stresses can dramatically alter migration on two-dimensional surfaces and confinement-imposed barriers to engraftment and infiltration in three-dimensional scaffolds. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Most tissues and many biomaterials exhibit some viscous character, a property that is increasingly understood to influence cell behavior in profound ways. This review discusses the origin and significance of viscoelastic properties of common biomaterials, as well as how these cues are processed by cells to influence migration. A deeper understanding of the mechanisms of viscoelastic behavior in biomaterials and how cells interpret these inputs should aid the design and selection of biomaterials for specific applications.

Acoustic Wave Reflection in Water Affects Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks.

The phenomenon of acoustic wave reflection off fluid-solid surfaces is the focus of this research. This research aims to measure the effect of material physical qualities on oblique incidence acoustic attenuation across a large frequency range. To construct the extensive comparison shown in the supporting documentation, reflection coefficient curves were generated by carefully adjusting the porousness and permeability of the poroelastic solid. The next stage in determining its acoustic response is to determine the pseudo-Brewster angle shift and the reflection coefficient minimum dip for the previously indicated attenuation permutations. This circumstance is made possible by modeling and studying the reflection and absorption of acoustic plane waves encountering half-space and two-layer surfaces. For this purpose, both viscous and thermal losses are taken into account. According to the research findings, the propagation medium has a significant impact on the form of the curve that represents the reflection coefficient, whereas the effects of permeability, porosity, and driving frequency are relatively less significant to the pseudo-Brewster angle and curve minima, respectively. This research additionally found that as permeability and porosity increase, the pseudo-Brewster angle shifts to the left (proportionally to porosity increase) until it reaches a limiting value of 73.4 degrees, and that the reflection coefficient curves for each level of porosity exhibit a greater angular dependence, with an overall decrease in magnitude at all incident angles. These findings are given within the framework of the investigation (in proportion to the increase in porosity). The study concluded that when permeability declined, the angular dependence of frequency-dependent attenuation reduced, resulting in iso-porous curves. The study also discovered that the matrix porosity largely affected the angular dependency of the viscous losses in the range of 1.4 × 10-14 m2 permeability.

Dynamic modeling with quantifying dissipated power density and experimental validation of dielectric elastomer actuators

This paper proposes a dynamic electromechanical model for dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) with dissipative processes. Dielectric loss of elastomers, resistance of electrodes, actuator geometry, elastomer viscoelasticity and nonlinear electromechanical coupling are considered, and a new visco-hyperelastic constitutive model with frequency-dependent parameters is developed for large-strain elastomers. The dynamic responses of DEAs at different driving frequencies are experimentally measured and comprehensively compared with those predicted results. The relative errors over the time period of 0–50 s at 5 and 7 Hz are respectively 3.6% and 3.4%, demonstrating the effectiveness of the model. The proposed dynamic model can not only predict the frequency response of DEAs but also characterize the creep and hysteresis behavior with reasonable accuracy. The power density dissipated during dielectric elastomer actuation is calculated and analyzed. The results suggest that selecting low-resistance electrodes and elastomers with short dielectric relaxation time and low viscous loss is a feasible way to achieve high energy conversion efficiency for DEAs. This work can be helpful for the design and control of DEAs, paving the way for their practical applications.

Research on Sound Absorption Properties of Tri-Periodic Minimal Surface Sandwich Structure of Selective Laser Melting Titanium Alloy

Triply Periodic Minimal Surface (TPMS) sandwich structure has the characteristics of lightweight, high specific strength, specific stiffness, vibration, and noise reduction. There is relatively little research on its sound absorption performance. TPMS sandwich structure based on selective laser melting (SLM) technology can achieve precise control of structure type, porosity, and so on, and has broad prospects in noise control applications. In this paper, the sandwich structure is designed based on tri-periodic minimal surface implicit function, and the titanium alloy sandwich structure is formed by SLM technology, and the sound absorption performance of titanium alloy TPMS sandwich structure is studied. The effects of volume fraction, panel thickness, and cell layer number on the sound absorption performance of the two TPMS structures were systematically analyzed using the transfer function method. The results show that: The GP10 sandwich structure with the volume fraction of 20%, the thickness of the panel is 1.0 mm, and the number of cell layers is 3C parameter combination has better sound absorption performance and higher sound absorption bandwidth, and the sound absorption coefficient is 0.36. For Ti6Al4V sandwich sound absorption structure, it is not suitable to design too thick panels. When the volume fraction is lesser, the increase of the tortuosity factor τ improves the sound absorption performance of the two structures, and excessive volume fraction leads to a decrease of sound absorption performance. The increase of cell layers can broaden the sound absorption bandwidth of the two structures, and the sound absorption capacity increases and then decreases in the range of 150–6400 Hz. The Gyroid structure mostly exhibits resonance sound absorption mechanism, while the Diamond structure exhibits resonance sound absorption mechanism combined with the viscous loss of sound wave. The work done in this paper can provide a theoretical basis for the study of the sound absorption characteristics of TPMS sandwich structure.

Impact of pulmonary artery flow distribution on Fontan hemodynamics and flow energetics

BackgroundWith improved life expectancy following Fontan palliation, there is an increasing population of patients with a total cavopulmonary connection. However, there is a poor understanding of which patients will experience Fontan failure and when. 4D flow MRI has identified several metrics of clinical interest, but longitudinal studies investigating hemodynamics in Fontan patients are lacking.ObjectiveWe aimed to investigate the relationship between flow distribution to the pulmonary arteries and regional hemodynamic metrics in a unique cohort with follow-up 4D flow MRI.Materials and methodsPatients with > 6 months of 4D flow MRI follow-up were included. Flow distribution from the caval veins to pulmonary arteries was measured in addition to regional measures of peak velocity, viscous energy loss (ELmean and ELtot), and kinetic energy.ResultsTen patients with total cavopulmonary connection (17.7 ± 8.8 years at baseline, follow-up: 4.4 ± 2.6 years) were included. Five subjects had unequal flow distribution from the IVC to the pulmonary arteries at baseline. Over time, these subjects tended to have larger increases in peak velocity (39.2% vs 6.6%), ELmean (11.6% vs -38.3%), ELtot (9.5% vs -36.2%), and kinetic energy (96.1% vs 36.3%) in the IVC. However, these differences were statistically insignificant. We found that changes in ELmean and ELtot were significantly associated with changes in peak velocity in the caval veins (R2 > 0.5, P < 0.001).ConclusionUnequal flow distribution from the IVC may drive increasing peak velocities and viscous energy losses, which have been associated with worse clinical outcomes. Changes in peak velocity may serve as a surrogate measure for changes in viscous energy loss.

Numerical and experimental analysis of stable, unstable, and limit cycle spiral vibrations

In rotating machinery, non-uniform temperature distribution or hot spots on the rotor surface can induce spiral vibrations. In this paper, a novel experimental apparatus is used to analyze the influence of a hot spot on the dynamic behavior of a flexible rotor supported by oil journal bearings. The hot spot is generated using an induction system with controlled amplitude and phase shift with respect to the vibration vector. Hence, it was possible to mimic phenomena like the Morton effect or the Newkirk effect. Different types of spiral vibrations were experimentally reproduced: stable, unstable and limit cycle. In the latter case, the vibration vector describes a closed loop when plotted in a polar plot. Therefore, the present work isolates the phenomenon of spiral vibrations from the complexity of the physics behind the generation of hot spot whether this source is the viscous shearing, rotor rubbing, or eddy current losses in magnetic bearings.Moreover, a theoretical model is derived to gain insight on the mechanisms driving spiral vibrations especially the role that the phase shift between the hot spot and the vibration vector plays in the stability of the system. Theoretical and experimental stability maps obtained for sub-synchronous and super-synchronous angular speeds are in excellent agreement. Additionally, the notion of thermal period, i.e., the period that govern the oscillation of the vibration vector is introduced. A concept never addressed before. It was found that this thermal period depends not only on the thermal inertia of the rotor, but also on the amplitude and phase shift of the hot spot, the distance to the critical speed and the damping ratio.

4D-Flow MRI Characterization of Pulmonary Flow in Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot

Patients with Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) have multiple surgical sequelae altering the pulmonary flow hemodynamics. Repaired TOF (rTOF) adults frequently develop pulmonary regurgitation impacting the blood flow pressure, right ventricle load, and pulmonary hemodynamics. We aimed to evaluate the pulmonary flow hemodynamics using 4D-flow magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for characterizing altered blood flow, viscous energy loss (EL), wall shear stress (WSS), pressure drop (PD), and ventricular flow analysis (VFA) in rTOF patients. We hypothesized that 4D-flow based parameters can identify pulmonary blood flow alterations. A total of 17 rTOF patients (age: 29 ± 10 years, 35% women) and 20 controls (age: 36 ± 12 years, 25% women) were scanned using a dedicated cardiac MRI protocol. Peak velocity and regurgitant fraction were significantly higher for rTOF patients (p &lt; 0.001). WSS was consistently elevated along the PA in the rTOF (p ≤ 0.05). The rTOF average circumferential WSS was higher than axial WSS at the main pulmonary artery (p ≤ 0.001). PD and EL were consistently higher in the rTOF as compared with controls (p &lt; 0.05). For VFA, delayed ejection increased and retained inflow decreased in rTOF patients (p &lt; 0.001). To conclude, this study demonstrated that 4D-flow MRI pulmonary flow in the rTOF can exhibit altered peak velocity, valvular regurgitation, WSS, EL, PD, and VFA.

Dynamic Ocular Response to Mechanical Loading: The Role of Viscoelasticity in Energy Dissipation by the Cornea.

We have used vibrational optical coherence tomography (VOCT) to measure the resonant frequency, elastic modulus, and loss modulus of components of the anterior segment of pig eyes in vitro. Such basic biomechanical properties of the cornea have been shown to be abnormal not only in diseases of the anterior segment but also in posterior segment diseases as well. This information is needed to better understand corneal biomechanics in health and disease and to be able to diagnose the early stages of corneal pathologies. Results of dynamic viscoelastic studies on whole pig eyes and isolated corneas indicate that at low strain rates (30 Hz or less), the viscous loss modulus is as high as 0.6 times the elastic modulus for both whole eyes and corneas. This large viscous loss is similar to that of skin, which has been hypothesized to be dependent upon the physical association of proteoglycans with collagenous fibers. The energy dissipation properties of the cornea provide a mechanism to dissipate energy associated with blunt trauma, thereby preventing delamination and failure. The cornea possesses the ability to store impact energy and transmit excess energy to the posterior segment of the eye through its serial connection to the limbus and sclera. In this manner, the viscoelastic properties of the cornea, in concert with that of the posterior segment of the pig eye, function to prevent mechanical failure of the primary focusing element of the eye. Results of resonant frequency studies suggest that the 100-120 Hz and 150-160 Hz resonant frequency peaks reside in the anterior segment of the cornea since the removal of the anterior segment of the cornea decreases the peak heights at these resonant frequencies. These results suggest that there is more than one collagen fibril network found in the anterior portion of the cornea that provides structural integrity to prevent corneal delamination and that VOCT may be useful clinically to diagnose corneal diseases.

On the mechanisms of pressure drop and viscous losses in hydrofoil tip-clearance flows

Local pressure drop and viscous losses due to the tip-clearance flow are key factors in the performance degradation of axial-flow hydraulic machinery. To deepen insight into the underlying mechanisms of pressure drop and viscous losses in the vicinity of the tip-gap, taking a simplified case, the present work studies the tip-clearance flow around a hydrofoil with/without foil tip-edge fillets using very large eddy simulation. A quantitative model for evaluating viscous losses and pressure drop is developed based on a detailed analysis of the conversion between pressure energy, kinetic energy, and internal energy. Results show that the turbulent loss supplied by turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) production accounts for about 90% of the total viscous losses in the tip-gap region, and TKE production is the major contributor to pressure drop. Contributions of the sub-components of the TKE production term to the TKE production of tip-leakage vortices, and the leading derivatives of the velocity for TKE production, have been explored. Additionally, it is found that the hydrofoil edge fillet promotes (suppresses) the TKE production in the tip-leakage vortex (tip-separation vortex), then enhances (weakens) the pressure drop and viscous losses, while the amount of total loss of the tip-clearance flow is not significantly affected.

S2 Stream Surface Approximation Approach for Quasi Three-Dimensional Turbine Time-Marching Design Method

A fast and reliable turbine design method is necessary in aeroengine development practice. As Q3D time-marching method iteration process can be time consuming and unstable, a novel S2 stream surface approximation approach coupled with flow tangential condition is proposed to reduce the computation requirement. The surface approximation uses a quadratic function of axial coordinate x to formulate distribution of circumferential coordinate θ . The flow tangential condition inherently represents inviscid blade force effect, and the formulation of inviscid blade force is not needed. A corresponding personal Q3D turbine computer code was developed, which was suitable for both design and analysis applications. The Q3D design method solves Euler’s equation through third-order Godunov’s scheme with TVD property in finite volume method. Semi-implicit Crank-Nicolson’s temporal scheme is implemented. Profile, secondary, and tip clearance energy loss models are added to predict viscous losses. Blade row exit swirl is required as the convergence target for Q3D design. A two-stage turbine and a single-stage high-pressure turbine were designed and analyzed by the Q3D method. Viscous 3D CFD was utilized to check design performances. The results showed that the Q3D method could finish a design case within 1 min. At design point, Q3D mass flow rate error was no more than 1.25%, expansion ratio error was no less than -0.022, and isentropic efficiency error was no more than 0.37 percentage points. The Q3D design method is fast and accurate. The stream surface approximation approach is suitable for Q3D design and analysis.

Nonlinear viscoelasticity and crystallization behavior of anhydrous milk fat/palm stearin/oleogel blends

The crystallization behavior of anhydrous milk fat (AMF)/palm stearin (POs)/diacetyl tartaric acid ester of mono(di)glycerides (DATEM) oleogel blends was investigated, moreover, the linear and nonlinear rheological behavior of systems was analyzed by small amplitude oscillatory shear (SAOS) and large amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOS). The addition of DATEM oleogels inhibited the growth rate of crystals of blends at 4 °C and reduced the average size of crystalline nanoplatelet. Moreover, the DATEM oleogels promoted the transition of blends to more stable β polymorphism. The nonlinear rheological response of blends was qualitatively analyzed by normalized Lissajous-Bowditch curves. The addition of DATEM oleogels made blends more resistant to large deformations and slowed down viscous losses while reducing the rearrangement behavior of the crystal microstructure under high strain. These findings could open up the possibility of developing low-saturated fat products and further broaden the application of oleogels.

Multiphysics Numerical Simulation and Geometric Optimization of a Micronozzle for the MEMS Thruster

This paper reports a numerical research on MEMS (microelectromechanical system) micronozzles through multiphysics coupling simulation along with design optimization based on simulation results. The micronozzle, which is a core component of the electrothermal microthruster, features a micron-scale geometry, a 2-dimensional (2D) Laval configuration, a rectangular cross section, and a highly thermal conductive silicon wall due to MEMS fabrication. As a result, viscous loss in the flow field and heat transfer to the nozzle wall can strongly influence nozzle performance, namely, thrust force and specific impulse. To accurately understand the flow field inside the micronozzle and how the highly thermal conductive silicon wall interacts with gas flow, a numerical simulation that couples fluid dynamics field and solid heat transfer field is employed in the research. The influence of different structural parameters on micronozzle performance is then investigated to set a basis for design optimization. The optimum design of the linear expander micronozzle is obtained through constrained optimization by linear approximation. To further improve micronozzle performance, the bell-shaped expander is adapted. The optimization result shows that the bell-shaped expander is not suitable for micronozzle featuring 2D Laval configuration, and the reason behind the phenomenon is thoroughly discussed.

Crucial 3-D viscous hydrodynamic contributions to the theoretical modeling of the cochlear response.

This study uses a 3-D representation of the cochlear fluid to extend the results of a recent paper [Sisto, Belardinelli, and Moleti (2021b). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 150, 4283-4296] in which two hydrodynamic effects, pressure focusing and viscous damping of the BM motion, both associated with the sharp increase in the wavenumber in the peak region, were analyzed for a 2-D fluid, coupled to a standard 1-D transmission-line WKB approach to cochlear modeling. The propagation equation is obtained from a 3-D fluid volume conservation equation, yielding the focusing effect, and the effect of viscosity is represented as a correction to the local 1-D admittance. In particular, pressure focusing amplifies the BM response without modifying the peak admittance, and viscous damping determines the position of the response peak counteracting focusing, as sharp gradients of the velocity field develop. The full 3-D WKB formalism is necessary to represent satisfactorily the behavior of the fluid velocity field near the BM-fluid interface, strictly related to viscous losses. As in finite element models, a thin layer of fluid is effectively attached to the BM due to viscosity, and the viscous force associated with the vertical gradient of the fluid vertical velocity acts on the BM through this layer.

On enhancing interfacial mass transport through microextraction in dispersed droplet systems

The physio-chemical hydrodynamics and the solute transport around a translating dispersed drop are often multicomponent and multiphase systems. When such a dispersed droplet system is out of the thermodynamic equilibrium, steep momentum and concentration gradients are developed around the interface leading to rapid flow and solute transport. In broader perspectives, the dispersed droplet system has direct/indirect relevance to addressing the technological challenges in the 21st century, namely, energy storage, hydrogen production, CO2 capture, biofuel production, chemical analysis, diagnosis extraction, and drug delivery. Environmental engineering challenges include flotation and separation technology, inkjet printing, coatings, and paints. The most challenging issue in such applications is enhancing the transport rate from the droplet to the bulk of the fluid. In this work, we have proposed a novel method to foster the transport of solute from the drop to the bulk fluid by altering the viscosity of the bulk fluid. We have exploited the shear-thinning behavior of the fluid in bulk to reduce the viscous losses and resistances to the mass transfer. A linear thermodynamic equilibrium relation at the fluid-fluid interface is considered. The scant prior experimental results were observed to agree with the present findings. Therefore, the extensive numerical findings are presented for the ranges of pertinent parameters such as Reynolds number, (1≤Re≤75) Peclet number, (10≤Pe≤103), internal to external fluid diffusivity ratio, (0.5≤dratio≤4), dispersed to continuous fluid viscosity ratio, (0.25≤μratio≤4) and power-law index, (0.4≤n≤1). The drag coefficient exhibits an increase of 180% with the increase in the μratio as well as with the n at the maximum convective regime. The Sherwood number exhibits a positive dependence on the Reynolds number, Peclet number, and the diffusivity ratio. On the contrary, the viscosity ratio lowers the transport of species from the droplet to the fluid due to the reduced internal circulations inside the droplet. Shear-thinning fluid behavior offers a higher extraction efficiency than the Newtonian fluid (upto 30% increase in at low Pe). Finally, simple predictive correlative equations have been proposed for the drag coefficient and the average Sherwood number over the conditions considered here.

Rheological Behavior of Phase Change Slurries for Thermal Energy Applications.

Phase change materials that leverage the latent heat of solid-liquid transition have many applications in thermal energy transport and storage. When employed as particles within a carrier fluid, the resulting phase change slurries (PCSs) could outperform present-day single-phase working fluids─provided that viscous losses can be minimized. This work investigates the rheological behavior of encapsulated and nonencapsulated phase change slurries (PCSs) for applicability in flowing thermal energy systems. The physical and thermal properties of the PCS candidates, along with their rheological behavior, are investigated below and above their phase transition points at shear rates of 1-300 s-1, temperatures of 20-80 °C, and concentrations of 15-37.5 wt %. The effect of shell robustness and melting on local shear thickening and global shear thinning is discussed, followed by an analysis of the required pumping power. A hysteresis analysis is performed to test the transient response of the PCS under a range of shear rates. We assess the complex viscoelastic behavior by employing oscillatory flow tests and by delineating the flow indices─flow consistency index (K) and flow behavior index (n). We identify a viscosity limit of 0.1 Pa·s for optimal thermal performance in high-flow applications such as renewable geothermal energy.