James A. Liburdy

Theoretical model for the wetting of a rough surface.

Many applications would benefit from an understanding of the physical mechanism behind fluid movement on rough surfaces, including the movement of water or contaminants within an unsaturated rock fracture. Presented is a theoretical investigation of the effect of surface roughness on fluid spreading. It is known that surface roughness enhances the effects of hydrophobic or hydrophilic behavior, as well as allowing for faster spreading of a hydrophilic fluid. A model is presented based on the classification of the regimes of spreading that occur when fluid encounters a rough surface: microscopic precursor film, mesoscopic invasion of roughness and macroscopic reaction to external forces. A theoretical relationship is developed for the physical mechanisms that drive mesoscopic invasion, which is used to guide a discussion of the implications of the theory on spreading conditions. Development of the analytical equation is based on a balance between capillary forces and frictional resistive forces. Chemical heterogeneity is ignored. The effect of various methods for estimating viscous dissipation is compared to available data from fluid rise on roughness experiments. Methods that account more accurately for roughness shape better explain the data as they account for more surface friction; the best fit was found for a hydraulic diameter approximation. The analytical solution implies the existence of a critical contact angle that is a function of roughness geometry, below which fluid will spread and above which fluid will resist spreading. The resulting equation predicts movement of a liquid invasion front with a square root of time dependence, mathematically resembling a diffusive process.

Turbulent flow characteristics in a randomly packed porous bed based on particle image velocimetry measurements

An experimental study was undertaken to better understand the turbulent flow characteristics within a randomly packed porous bed. A relatively low aspect ratio bed (bed width to spherical solid phase particle diameter of 4.67) with the fluid phase refractive index matched to that of the solid phase was used to obtain time resolved particle image velocimetry data. Care was taken to assure that data were outside of the wall affected region, and results are based on detailed time dependent velocity vector maps obtained at selected pores. In particular, four pores were identified that display a range of very disparate mean flow conditions which resemble channel-like flow, impinging flow, recirculating flow, and jet like flow. Velocity data were used for a range of pore Reynolds numbers, Repore, from 418 to 3964 to determine the following turbulence measures: (i) turbulent kinetic energy components, (ii) turbulent shear production rate, (iii) integral Eulerian length and time scales, and (iv) energy spectra. T...

Adiabatic Flow Boiling in Fractal-Like Microchannels

Fractal-like branching channels are proposed for a number of microscale applications, including heat sinks, heat exchangers, absorbers, desorbers, and micro-mixers. Based on model predictions, the benefit of fractal-like channel designs is a lower pressure drop than parallel straight channels for a given flow rate, when compared to an equal channel surface area basis with the terminal channel cross-section of the fractal-like network used to define the parallel channel geometry. The fractal-like flow networks are a unique geometry that follows fractal bifurcation patterns, in this case mimicking the flow patterns found in nature. Two-phase flow applications require an understanding of how the geometric constraints impact the flow characteristics during multiphase flow. One-dimensional modeling predictions are used in this study to asses the relative impact of flow network designs on pressure drop and void fraction distributions for adiabatic flow boiling. The characterization of the flow networks includes a specified branching ratio of channel length and channel width (or diameter) and also the number of branching levels, or bifurcations, in a given length. The goal of the present study is to identify the adiabatic boiling characteristics within the fractal-like flow network and compare results to straight parallel channels. The model used is a compilation of two-phase flow models presented in the literature but modified to include a local two-phase flow parameter, flow re-development, as well as variable property effects. Results are compared with straight channels based on flow boiling conditions, pressure drop, and vapor quality distributions for a range of flow rates and subcooling.

Simulation of Compressible Micro-Scale Jet Impingement Heat Transfer

A computational study is presented of the heat transfer performance of a micro-scale, axisymmetric, confined jet impinging on a flat surface with an embedded uniform heat flux disk. The jet flow occurs at large, subsonic Mach numbers (0.2 to 0.8) and low Reynolds numbers (419 to 1782) at two impingement distances. The flow is characterized by a Knudsen number of 0.01, based on the viscous boundary layer thickness, which is large enough to warrant consideration of slip-flow boundary conditions along the impingement surface. The effects of Mach number, compressibility, and slip-flow on heat transfer are presented. The local Nusselt number distributions are shown along with the velocity, pressure, density and temperature fields near the impingement surface

Void Fraction Variations in a Fractal-Like Branching Microchannel Network

Based on predictions of lower pressure drop penalties in fractal-like branching channels compared to parallel channels, an experimental investigation of two-phase void fraction variations was performed. The flow network, mimicking flow networks found in nature, was designed with a self-similar bifurcating channel configuration and etched 150 μ m into a 38.1 mm diameter silicon disk. A Pyrex® cover was anodically bonded to the silicon disk to allow for flow visualization. The length and width scale ratios between channels on either side of a bifurcation are fixed. The channel widths range in size from 100 μ m to 400 μm over a total channel length of approximately 17 mm. Experimental results of flow boiling are presented for a heater energy input power of 66 W and an inlet water flow rate of 45 g/min at a fixed inlet fluid temperature of 88°C. High-speed, high-resolution imaging was used to visualize the flow and quantify void fraction values in several channels within a branching structure. Both time-averaged and instantaneous two-dimensional void fraction data are presented, showing a correlation between channels at the same bifurcation level and between channels at different bifurcation levels.

Performance of a Smart Direct Fire Projectile Using a Ram Air Control Mechanism

The effectiveness of a direct fire penetrator projectile equipped with an actively controlled ram air actuation mechanism is investigated through dynamic simulation. The ram air control mechanism consists of a rotary sleeve valve which directs airflow from an inlet in the center of the nose to side ports. The coupled dynamics of the projectile, inertial measurement unit, and flight control system are included in the system model. This work shows that a ram air control mechanism provides sufficient control authority to significantly reduce dispersion of a direct fire penetrator, even in the presence of moderate levels of sensor bias and noise.

Droplet impingement dynamics: effect of surface temperature during boiling and non-boiling conditions

This study investigates the hydrodynamic characteristics of droplet impingement on heated surfaces and compares the effect of surface temperature when using water and a nanofluid on a polished and nanostructured surface. Results are obtained for an impact Reynolds number and Weber number of approximately 1700 and 25, respectively. Three discs are used: polished silicon, nanostructured porous silicon and gold-coated polished silicon. Seven surface temperatures, including single-phase (non-boiling) and two-phase (boiling) conditions, are included. Droplet impact velocity, transient spreading diameter and dynamic contact angle are measured. Results of water and a water-based single-wall carbon-nanotube nanofluid impinging on a polished silicon surface are compared to determine the effects of nanoparticles on impinging dynamics. The nanofluid results in larger spreading velocities, larger spreading diameters and an increase in early-stage dynamic contact angle. Results of water impinging on both polished silicon and nanostructured silicon show that the nanostructured surface enhances the heat transfer for evaporative cooling at lower surface temperatures, which is indicated by a shorter evaporation time. Using a nanofluid or a nanostructured surface can reduce the total evaporation time up to 20% and 37%, respectively. Experimental data are compared with models that predict dynamic contact angle and non-dimensional maximum spreading diameter. Results show that the molecular-kinetic theorys dynamic contact angle model agrees well with current experimental data for later times, but over-predicts at early times. Predictions of maximum spreading diameter based on surface energy analyses indicate that these models over-predict unless empirical coefficients are adjusted to fit the test conditions. This is a consequence of underestimates of the dissipative energy for the conditions studied.

Flow development of co-flowing streams in rectangular micro-channels

The diffusion and flow development characteristics of two co-flowing, laminar streams in a high aspect ratio rectangular micro-channel have been examined. A long, thin splitter plate initially separates the two streams such that fully developed flow in each of the two channels is established prior to merging. The co-flowing micro-channel has an aspect ratio of 16 with a width of 1006 μm and a height of 63 μm. Micro-Particle Image Velocimetry (μPIV) was utilized to observe the interaction between the streams for a range of flow rate ratios ranging from one to nine, for Reynolds numbers of one and ten. For flow rate ratios greater than one, a cross-stream pressure gradient exists immediately downstream of the splitter plate, which results in a strong lateral flow of the faster moving fluid into the slower moving fluid. Despite this rapid expansion, the fluids in the two streams do not mix. The two streams eventually recover a fully developed velocity profile across the entire channel. A model is presented to predict this development length based on the pressure imbalance between the two streams. The model is expressed in terms of the flow rate ratio between the streams, which is shown to be a function of channel aspect ratio. An asymptotic condition for the development length is found for high flow rate ratios and high aspect ratio channels. It is shown that existing entrance length relationships greatly underpredict this development length.

Predictions of Flow Boiling in Fractal-Like Branching Microchannels

Single-phase and two-phase flows in microscale fractal-like branching flow networks are studied using a one-dimensional model that includes variable property and developing flow effects. Pressure drop, pumping power, changes in the bulk fluid temperature and a performance parameter are reported for mass flow rates ranging from 25 to 500 g/min and wall heat fluxes from 5 to 40 W/cm2 . Two-phase flow through fractal-like flow networks is also compared to flow through a series of parallel channels for identical wall heat fluxes and for flow rates between 25 and 100 g/min. Channel length, height, convective surface area, heat flux and flow rate were the same between the fractal-like and parallel channel array. It was found that single-phase flows through fractal-like flow networks exhibit lower pressure drop and pumping power than do two-phase flows at the same wall heat flux and mass flow rate. The inlet temperature for the single-phase cases is 20°C, whereas the two-phase flow enters as a saturated liquid. The pressure drop and pumping power were always lowest for the fractal-like flow networks compared with the parallel channel arrays for identical heat transfer and flow rates.Copyright

Near Surface Characterization of an Impinging Elliptic Jet Array

In this study naturally occurring large-scale structures and some turbulence characteristics within an impinging jet array are investigated. The dynamics of a three-by-three elliptic jet array are analyzed relative to the flow structures within the array. With applications to electronic component cooling, low Reynolds number conditions, Re = 300 to 1500, are presented. Two jet aspect ratios are used, 2 and 3, with identical jet hydraulic diameters and jet-to-jet space. The effects of impinging distance are studied in the range of one to six jet hydraulic diameters. Flow visualization and PIV are used for the identification of structures and quantitative analysis