Void Fraction Profiles Research Articles

Computational fluid dynamics simulation of cryogenic vertical upflow boiling under Earth gravity

This study presents numerical simulations and their validation for flow boiling of liquid nitrogen (LN2) in a vertical upflow orientation, with a primary aim to understand the complex two-phase flow and heat transfer phenomena important to space applications. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model utilized the coupled level set volume of fluid (CLSVOF) method, incorporating additional source terms for bubble collision dispersion force and shear lift force in the momentum conservation equation to enhance simulation accuracy. The simulations were conducted for two mass velocities (G = 526 and 804 kg/m2s) and three different heat flux levels (approximately 10%, 30%, and 70% of critical heat flux (CHF) under Earth gravity. The model was validated against measured wall temperature data acquired from the authors’ previous experimental studies, demonstrating average deviations of less than 2.8 K across all operating conditions. The simulated two-phase flow contours illustrated various flow patterns, including bubbly, slug, churn, and annular. Both mass velocity and heat flux were observed to impact the onset of nucleate boiling (ONB), bubble nucleation, growth, and coalescence, and overall vapor structure. The simulations also offered insight into axial and radial void fraction and velocity profiles, revealing local flow acceleration trends synchronized with void fraction development. A comparison between predicted and measured bulk fluid temperature profiles showed excellent agreement, further validating the CFD model’s accuracy and practical usefulness for two-phase cryogenic flow boiling simulations in space applications.

Assessment of ansys-fluent Code for Computation of Two-Phase Flow Characteristics: A Comparative Study of Water–Air and Silicone Oil–Air in a Vertical Pipe

Abstract The study aimed to assess the flow characteristics of water–air and silicone oil–air in a vertical upward pipe, utilizing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations with the volume of fluid (VOF) model. Structured meshes with various resolutions were employed to ensure mesh independence, and the k–ε realizable model addressed turbulence. Simulations were conducted in a vertical pipe with a diameter of 67 mm, while varying superficial gas velocities. The investigation focused on the impact of superficial gas velocity on flow patterns, radial void fractions, void fraction time series, probability density functions (PDFs), and mean void fractions. Results indicated a transition in flow patterns with increasing superficial gas velocities: water–air shifted from cap-bubbly to churn flow, and silicone oil–air transitioned from bubbly to annular flow. Notably, annular flow was observed in silicone oil even at low gas velocity. Substantial alterations were observed in radial void fraction profiles corresponding to changing flow patterns. Void fraction time series showed higher fluctuations for water compared to silicone oil, and PDFs identified regimes. Mean void fraction consistently demonstrated higher values for silicone oil compared to water across all flow conditions. The CFD results were validated against experiments, demonstrating good agreement. Furthermore, the validated model was applied to predict pressure drops and liquid velocities between the two systems. Silicone oil exhibited lower pressure drops compared to water. Significant differences in liquid velocities were observed between the two systems at 0.05 m/s and 5.71 m/s, emphasizing the impact of fluid properties.

Local characteristics of bubbly flow in rods assembly 3 × 3

This study focuses on the experimental investigation of local characteristics of upward bubble flow in a 3 × 3 square rod bundle assembly. The experiments were conducted at Reynolds numbers ranging from 4000 to 11000 and gas void fractions up to 10%. The distribution of the gas phase around the central rod of the assembly was measured using a frontal conductivity probe, while the wall shear stress on the central rod was obtained through the electrodiffusion method. It is shown that the gas phase distribution does not exhibit the symmetry characteristic of the assembly cross-section. Furthermore, as the distance from the spacer grid increases, a reconfiguration of void fraction profiles is observed. This explains the non-monotonic dependence of wall shear stress and wall shear stress fluctuations on the distance to the spacer grid.

Heat transfer and flow analysis of a novel particle heater using CFD-DEM

CFD-DEM coupled simulations of a unique gravity-fed particle heater are performed. Physical and heat transfer properties of the solid particles and walls are varied to determine their relative impact on the local heat transfer coefficient along the heater surfaces. The varied parameters are the coefficient of restitution, particle-particle and particle-wall friction coefficients, particle size distribution, normal spring constant, particle conductivity, particle specific heat, and the numerical lens radius. The local heat transfer coefficient increases when the local void fraction along the heater surface decreases. In addition to analyzing thermal performance, flow instabilities are also identified under certain conditions. The outlet particle flow oscillates when the top of each heater is rounded. For heaters with sharp top edges, the local heat transfer coefficient and void fraction profiles change dramatically. The sharp corners remove the particle stagnation point, and the particles adhere to the surface better which increases the heat transfer.

Understanding two‐phase flow behaviour: CFD Assessment of silicone oil–air and water–air in an intermediate vertical pipe

AbstractThe study utilized computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations employing the volume of fluid (VOF) model to analyze silicone oil–air flows in a vertical pipe with a diameter of 67 mm. Various structured meshes ensured grid independence, and the k‐ε realizable model addressed turbulence. The analysis characterized bubbly to annular flows, involving the evaluation of flow patterns, radial void fractions, void fraction time series, probability density functions (PDFs), power spectral densities (PSDs), and mean void fractions. Results indicated a transition from bubbly to annular flow with increasing gas velocities and notable changes in radial void fraction profiles. Void fraction exhibited significant variations with distinct flow patterns at constant liquid velocity. PDFs identified flow regimes, and PSDs revealed frequency patterns. CFD results were validated against experiments, demonstrating good agreement. The validated CFD model was utilized to investigate radial gas velocities and pressure drops, revealing a shift from uniform velocity distributions to irregular patterns and a decrease in total pressure drop with an increase in gas superficial velocity. The model was also applied to a water‐air system to explore two‐phase flow behaviour. The impact of superficial gas velocity on flow patterns and radial void fractions was studied through numerical analysis and compared with the silicone oil‐air system. Results showed that at extreme gas velocities (0.06 and 5.53 m/s), silicone oil exhibited bubbly and annular flows, while water displayed cap bubbly and churn flows. The significant variation in radial void fraction at these velocities emphasized the impact of fluid properties.

NUMERICAL INVESTIGATION OF TURBULENCE CHARACTERISTICS AND SELF-SIMILARITY IN A HIGHLY AERATED STABLE HYDRAULIC JUMP USING LARGE EDDY SIMULATION

This work presents a numerical study of a stable hydraulic jump at Froude number 4.25 and Reynolds number 1.15×105 inside a horizontal and rectangular channel with a length of 3.2 m, a width of 0.5 m and a height of 0.4 m using large eddy simulation (LES). Classical hydraulic jump characteristics are obtained, such as conjugate depths, jump length, void fraction and velocity profiles. The hydraulic jump maximum streamwise velocity decay and shear layer spreading rate are simulated and compared with experimental data. For these parameters, numerical results demonstrate that is possible to stablish an analogy with other shear flows, such as the horizontal plane wall jet. Profiles of streamwise and vertical components of mean velocity are simulated, and self-similarity is observed for cross-sections located at the recirculation region of the jump. Self-similarity is also observed in terms of turbulent fluctuations, insofar as LES simulations indicate a high level of turbulence in the recirculation region. The simulated root mean square of streamwise velocity fluctuations, , ranges from 0.5 to 0.7 of the maximum cross-sections velocity, whereas the root mean square of vertical component of velocity fluctuations, , stays around 0.5 of the maximum cross-sections velocitiy. All validation comparisons show good agreement with the selected experimental data of Kramer and Valero (2020) and Wang (2014), presenting average deviations always lesser than 5%.

Experimental validation of the mechanism and condition for the onset of significant void in subcooled flow boiling

In evaluating the axial void fraction profile in the subcooled boiling region in heated channels, accurate determination of the point of onset of significant void (POSV) is of critical importance. Recently, it has been reported that the POSV can be predicted with high accuracy if the onset of significant void (OSV) is assumed to be caused by a sudden decrease in the interfacial area due to global bubble coalescence (GBC) leading to the formation of large bubbles. Therefore, in this work, experimental investigations were carried out to measure the void fraction, bubble size and bubble number density. The experimental results were utilized to validate the mechanism causing the OSV in subcooled flow boiling. The experimental results were in qualitative and quantitative agreement with the model based on the GBC concept. Thus, it was validated that the sudden decrease in condensation rate due to large bubble formation is the main cause of OSV. It was also confirmed that the GBC occurs when the local void fraction near the heated wall reaches about 0.3, analogous to the flow regime transition from bubbly flow to slug flow in adiabatic gas-liquid two-phase flows.

A coupled level-set and volume-of-fluid (CLSVOF) method for prediction of microgravity flow boiling with low inlet subcooling on the international space station

The present study is part of a series of NASA-supported investigations of flow boiling of n-perfluorohexane (n-PFH, C6F14) under microgravity on the International Space Station (ISS). The fluid physics and heat transfer characteristics of flow boiling with low inlet subcooling are explored using the Flow Boiling and Condensation Experiment (FBCE) (which is actual name of the test facility), the largest endeavor in microgravity two-phase research conducted to date. Experimental data are collected from the FBCE's Flow Boiling Module (FBM), which features a rectangular channel with 5.0-mm x 2.5-mm cross-section and 114.6-mm heated length. Results for three flow rates are used to explore the effects of mass velocity on flow structure and heat transfer characteristics in the absence of the body force. A Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model is constructed to predict the measured FBM results. The CFD model employs the Coupled Level-Set and Volume-of-Fluid (CLSVOF) method, which is modified with improved interface capture and additional force terms in the momentum equation to determine the bubble dynamics more accurately. Validity of the CFD model is assessed in two ways, by comparing predictions against video-captured interfacial behavior and heat transfer data. The CFD model shows good ability to capture detailed evolution of the interfacial structure both across and along the flow channel, including bubble nucleation, growth, departure, and coalescence, as well as axial development of dominant flow patterns. Details of the flow structure are examined via axial development of both flow velocity and void fraction profiles. Similarly, heat transfer results are presented in terms of streamwise variations of both wall temperature and fluid temperature, which are also predicted accurately with the CFD model. Overall, this study proves the CFD model is an effective method for both design and performance assessment of flow boiling subsystems in space vehicles.

Assessment of State-of-the-art multiphase CFD modeling for subcooled flow boiling in reactor applications

Multiphase Computational Fluid Dynamics (M-CFD) has the potential to provide high fidelity simulation of complex boiling phenomena in Light Water Reactors (LWRs), thereby accelerating the development cycle and reducing the need for expensive large-scale experiments. M-CFD relies on two-phase closure models to consistently represent the relevant physical phenomena in flow boiling. However, the still incomplete understanding of the ability of these closures to accurately capture the underlying physics, limits the adoption of M-CFD in reactor development and design optimization. Due to the interaction of complex physical phenomena present in subcooled flow boiling, local measurements are necessary to assess the performance of existing closures. Furthermore, because previous validation was performed mostly on low pressure data, measurements at high pressure are needed to understand the performance of multiphase closures at PWR conditions. In this work, benchmarking was conducted using measured radial profiles of void fraction from subcooled flow boiling experiments of R12 refrigerant that reproduced density ratios and scaled flow conditions corresponding to PWR operation, called the DEBORA experiments. This work leverages recent advancements in momentum closures to perform a systematic assessment of the wall boiling representation by evaluating heat flux partitioning formulations and the associated closure relations. The influence and sensitivity of bulk boiling and condensation models were also evaluated. Using separate effect assessments and recent advancements in experimental understanding, this work presents a closure representation that demonstrates consistent predictions and is applicable to prototypical PWR conditions, while identifying areas for future improvement.

A vector radiative transfer model for simulating the microwave emissivity of sea foam based on matrix operator method

Modeling sea foam emissivity is important for microwave remote sensing of the ocean. Based on the matrix-operator method, we propose a vector radiative transfer model (RTM) for the simulation of wave propagation in the foam layer and the sea foam emissivity is then calculated. The RTM simulates the emissivity of a vertically structured foam layer with various water properties. We assess the model simulations under different conditions. It is found that the foam thickness and the void fraction profile could be critical parameters in modeling foam emissivity. The sea foam emissivity could range from 0.2 to 0.3 in our simulations with varying foam thicknesses and void fraction profiles. Then, comparisons were made to experimental data for validation, and our model achieved a good consistency with the different experimental measurements of three previous studies. And it was also found that the modeled emissivity fits the experimental data well using an exponential profile with a small profile shape-control parameter.

Experimental and computational investigation into hydrodynamic and heat transfer characteristics of subcooled flow boiling on the International Space Station

This study is part of a long-term initiative to investigate flow boiling of n-perfluorohexane (n-PFH) under microgravity on the International Space Station (ISS). Investigated are data received from the ISS during 2022 using the Flow Boiling and Condensation Experiment (FBCE) (actual name of experimental payload). FBCE is designed to accommodate one of two test modules, one for flow boiling and another for condensation. Data for the present study are acquired using FBCE's Flow Boiling Module (FBM), which features a rectangular channel of 5.0-mm height, 2.5-mm width, and 114.6-mm heated length. Examined are results for three different mass velocities of 199.9, 799.9, and 2399.9 kg/m2.s, and heat fluxes corresponding to approximately 20, 40, and 60% of critical heat flux (CHF). Detailed development of the interfacial behavior is captured by high-speed video through the channel's transparent sidewalls. In the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model, numerical solver is constructed in ANSYS-Fluent wherein the multiphase model is combined with appropriate models for turbulence, surface tension, and interfacial phase change. Also incorporated are momentum source terms governing bubble shear-lift, bubble drag, and bubble dispersion. Accuracy of the CFD predictions is assessed by comparison against both the heat transfer data and video-captured interfacial behavior. Very good agreement is achieved against measured axial profile of heated wall temperatures and further validated by accurately capturing such interfacial features as bubble formation, detachment, coalescence, and downstream wavy vapor layer development. Additionally, the CFD simulations enable prediction of other transport parameters vitally important to understanding evolution of the boiling flow but not possible from experiment, such as cross-sectional profiles of void fraction, fluid velocity, and mixture temperature.

Pulsatile gas-liquid flow resembling Decompression Sickness: Computational Fluid Dynamics simulation and experimental validation.

This work performs two-dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations of pulsatile bubbly flow in a column resembling the flow inside human vena cava during Decompression Sickness (DCS), aiming to illustrate the effect of certain parameters in bubbly blood flow and so facilitate the design of the: a) corresponding in-vitro bubbly flow experiments under pulsatile flow conditions inside a flow loop and b) in-vivo trials on swines for assessing a novel electrical impedance spectroscopy technique on the detection of bubbles (as those found during DCS) in their bloodstream. The commercially available ANSYS 2019-R3 CFD code was employed to simulate the pulsatile bubbly flow that resembled DCS. Simulations were validated against experiments conducted in a vertical co-current upward pulsatile bubbly flow provided by a flow loop equipped with electrical, optical and pressure diagnostics. CFD simulations under pulsatile conditions were initially validated by oscillatory in-vitro bubbly flow experiments. Then, the influence of pulsation parameters on void fraction, α, and flow velocity, U, profiles was computationally investigated. Intense periodic fluctuations of void fraction were observed along the column and their intensity increases with pulsation amplitude. Moreover, U and α radial profiles were uniform for bubbles 30 μm but showed a core-peaking profile for bubbles 300 μm. CFD simulations of pulsatile bubbly flow resembling DCS provided unconventional information about the influence of different-sized sub-millimetre bubbles on the flow velocity and void fraction profiles, which are expected to improve the design of in-vitro and in-vivo trials for the detection of bubbles such as those found in DCS.

Void fraction thermo-kinematics for subcooled flow boiling

This work presents some preliminary results about a new void fraction model in subcooled flow boiling based on brand new mass and energy balances developed by the author over the past years. As main novelties, the new mass balance is based on the liquid velocity and the mixture specific volume, whereas the new heat balance is a function of the mixture enthalpy, based on the thermodynamic quality, and explicitly includes the mean vapor–liquid velocity ratio, or the slip ratio. The core of the model is to predict the slip ratio profile and then to calculate the mixture enthalpy from the new heat balance and, finally, to derive the void fraction. In this work, it is shown that the continuity of the first derivative of the mixture specific volume just at saturation establishes a first equation to obtain the slip evolution. A second kinematic equation between the onset of nuclear boiling (ONB) and the vapor velocity is also found. Three additional parameters, related to the ONB and the point of net vapor generation, are needed for void fraction profiles predictions, which have been found by trial and error, searching the best fitting to the measured void fraction. The new model is compared to eight full axial void fraction profiles data for upward subcooled flow of water at high pressure.

Evaluation of subcooled void fraction in downward flow under low mass flux condition by using neutron radiography

In downward flow, complex two-phase flow is caused by buoyancy of bubbles. It affects not only a void fraction profile but also a point of net vapor generation (PNVG). In order to understand the fundamental characteristics of the void fraction on subcooled boiling in downward flow, the void fraction was measured by using neutron radiography. The test sections were made of stainless steel tubes that had 400 mm in heated length with 10 and 15 mm in inner diameters. They were heated by direct Joule heating applying D.C. power. The void fraction characteristics were explained by dividing into three regions: i.e., a wall voidage region, a detached voidage region, and a bulk voidage region. PNVG was defined as the boundary between the detached voidage region and the bulk voidage region. In a downward flow, the thermal equilibrium quality at PNVG is smaller than in an upward flow. “Secondary PNVG” was also observed which was caused by the influence of a reverse flow of bubbles. A difference of thermal equilibrium quality between at primary PNVG and at secondary PNVG is lager in 15 mm in inner diameter than in 10 mm. The void fraction profile and PNVG characteristics in downward flow show dependence of inner diameter as well as mass flux. To demonstrate the void fraction profile involving with the influence of a reverse flow in a downward flow, an empirical void fraction correlation based on a drift-flux model with Lahey’s flow quality model was developed. This correlation well agreed with the experimental results.

Improvement of the subcooled boiling model using a new net vapor generation correlation inferred from artificial neural networks to predict the void fraction profiles in the vertical channel

In the one-dimensional thermal-hydraulic (TH) codes, a subcooled boiling model to predict the void fraction profiles in a vertical channel consists of wall heat flux partitioning, the vapor condensation rate, the bubbly-to-slug flow transition criterion, and drift-flux models. Model performance has been investigated in detail, and necessary refinements have been incorporated into the Safety and Performance Analysis Code (SPACE) developed by the Korean nuclear industry for the safety analysis of pressurized water reactors (PWRs). The necessary refinements to models related to pumping factor, net vapor generation (NVG), vapor condensation, and drift-flux velocity were investigated in this study. In particular, a new NVG empirical correlation was also developed using artificial neural network (ANN) techniques. Simulations of a series of subcooled flow boiling experiments at pressures ranging from 1 to 149.9 bar were performed with the refined SPACE code, and reasonable agreement with the experimental data for the void fraction in the vertical channel was obtained. From the root-mean-square (RMS) error analysis for the predicted void fraction in the subcooled boiling region, the results with the refined SPACE code produce the best predictions for the entire pressure range compared to those using the original SPACE and RELAP5 codes.

Bed density and bubble void fraction variation in a fluidized bed stripper

This study was targeted at understanding the local flow and flooding behaviors of fluidized bed strippers. Beddensity, pressure fluctuations andbubble void fraction were measured in a 0.6 m diameter stripper fordisk and donut, as well as gratinginternals using FCC catalyst particles.The gratingstripper had a higher bed density andoperatedsmoothly without flooding over a wider range of gas and solids flows than the disk and donut stripper. Flooding in thedisk and donut stripperwas a sudden rather than a gradual occurrence when a limiting solids flux was exceeded.Increasing fines composition and addingholes to the disk and donut traysmitigatedflooding to some extent.The gratings stripper had flattened parabolic radial bubble void fraction profiles whereas the disk and donut stripper had characteristic M-shape profiles. The results hereare expected to be valuable for the operation and design of gas-solids fluidized bed strippers.

Phase-resolved characteristics of bubbles in cloud cavitation shedding cycles

To investigate the complex physics and mixture properties inside sheet/cloud cavities, we performed an experimental study that used phase-resolved optical probes and high-speed photography to acquire both vapor-water information and large-scale flow structures. We found distinctive characteristics at different scales: the large scale of cavitation shedding, and the small scale of bubbles. Large-scale cavitation behavior was examined using the mean void fraction profile and raw signal history, characterized by the shedding of cavity cloud. Small-scale information on bubbles and probability density function of bubble size distributions were quite similar at various measurement locations. Based on the experimental data, we proposed an empirical bubble size distribution and discussed the corresponding statistical quantities for cloud cavitation.

Reduction of skin friction and two-phase flow structure beneath wall in horizontal rectangular channel

From the viewpoint of the improvement of the air lubrication method for the ship's hull resistance reduction, an experimental study was conducted for two-phase flow in a horizontal rectangular channel with a length of 3.0 m, a gap of 0.05 m, and a width of 0.2 m, which simulates the external two-phase flow. The database on frictional drag and local two-phase flow parameters, including void fraction profile and gas chord length, was collected using a shear stress sensor and a double sensor probe. Measurement of two-phase flow structure was performed at three axial positions of z = 0.930, 1.43, and 1.93 m from the bubble injection port. The wall shear stress was obtained at z = 1.93 m. A total of 72 datasets are acquired a room temperature and at flow conditions of superficial liquid velocity <jf> ranging from 0.832 to 3.00 m/s and superficial gas velocity <jg> ranging from 0.0232 to 0.714 m/s. The effects of entry length, liquid and gas flow rates on the phase distribution characteristics beneath the wall were discussed. The bubble layer thickness was newly defined as the length scale. The bubble layer thickness was not so sensitive to the changes in the liquid flow rates and the entry length, and highly dependent on the gas flow rates in the present experimental conditions. The mean void fraction in the bubble layer was highly reliant on the liquid flow rate and decreased with the superficial liquid velocity. In contrast, the insignificant effect of gas flow rate on the mean void fraction was confirmed. A strong correlation between the drag reduction effect due to the air lubrication and the mean void fraction in the bubble layer was confirmed. The obtained data are expected to be used for the modeling of the interfacial area transport terms, development of the constitutive equations of the drift flux model, modeling of the drag reduction for the external two-phase flow and the benchmark tests of various CFD codes in the future study.

Study of flow fluctuation in the thermal bubble pump tube

In the present work, we were interested in the study of the oscillatory phenomenon of ammonia-water two-phase flow inside the bubble pump of absorption-diffusion refrigerators. In fact, flow instability can reduce the efficiency of the bubble pump. The simulation of two-phase flow in the bubble pump is conducted by using the drift flow model. Balance equations of the drift flow model and their closure relationships, as well as the numerical method, were developed. The numerical resolution allowed defining the void fraction, the liquid and vapor velocities, the pressure, and the mixing enthalpy against time. The effect of heat flux received by the bubble pump is simulated in the transitional regime. Simulated results of the vapor, liquid, and mass velocities show a flow fluctuation at the beginning of the operation. The duration of the fluctuation increase from 6 s to 12 s by reducing the heat flux from 5 to 2 kW/m².The void fraction profile makes it possible to distinguish that the slug and churn regimes are those which dominate the pump’s operating regime for a heat flux of 2 and 3 kW/m². The pumping action is influenced by the heat flux. A maximum of 10 kW/m² value of heat flux is defined for an obtained minimum of the pumping action.

Effects of liquid viscosity and bubble size distribution on bubble plume hydrodynamics

The present paper provides a complete databank of bubble plume hydrodynamics in various media characterized by different viscosities in the range 1–100mPa.s. Thus, the influence of the viscosity on bubble plume oscillations and on both liquid and gas velocity fields is studied. The role of the bubble size distribution at different viscosities was also analysed by using two different spargers: a membrane to create ellipsoidal millimetrice bubbles and a slugflow tube to create spherical cap bubbles. Mean velocity profiles, averaged over a large number of plume oscillation periods and corresponding root mean square profiles are discussed, in both phases. Furthermore, void fraction profiles, plume oscillation periods, and bubble size distributions are given for all experimental conditions. Finally, probability density functions and phase averaged profiles in the liquid phase provide additional information. The dependence of bubble plume hydrodynamics on liquid viscosity is huge. At large viscosity, the oscillating plume is damped, regardless of the sparger. Concerning the membrane sparger the viscosity increase modifies the plume oscillation period and its lateral plume expansion, whereas, in the case of the slugflow sparger, only the plume expansion is impacted. Liquid phase hyrdodynamics are weakly affected by the choice of sparger, especially at high viscosities.