Search

In this study, we have derived a thermodynamically consistent phase-field model for two-phase flows with thermocapillary effects. This model accommodates variations in physical properties such as density, viscosity, heat capacity, and thermal conductivity between the two components. The model equations encompass a Cahn-Hilliard equation with the volume fraction as the phase variable, a Navier-Stokes equation, and a heat equation, and meanwhile maintains mass conservation, energy conservation, and entropy increase simultaneously. Given the highly coupled and nonlinear nature of the model equations, we developed a semi-decoupled, mass-preserving, and entropy-stable time-discrete numerical method. We conducted several numerical tests to validate both our model and numerical method. Additionally, we have investigated the merging process of two bubbles under non-isothermal conditions and compared the results with those under isothermal conditions. Our findings reveal that temperature gradients influence bubble morphology and lead to earlier merging. Moreover, we have observed that the merging of bubbles slows down with increasing heat Peclect number Pe T when the initial temperature field increases linearly along the channel, while bubbles merge faster with heat Peclect number Pe T when the initial temperature field decreases linearly along the channel. • A thermodynamically consistent phase-field model for two-phase flows with thermocapillary effects. • A semi-decoupled, mass-preserving, and entropy-stable numerical method. • Investigated numerically the merging process of two bubbles under isothermal and non-isothermal conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate a new diffuse-interface model that describes creeping two-phase flows (i.e., flows exhibiting a low Reynolds number), especially flows that permeate a porous medium. The system of equations consists of a Brinkman equation for the volume averaged velocity field and a convective Cahn–Hilliard equation with dynamic boundary conditions for the phase field, which describes the location of the two fluids within the domain. The dynamic boundary conditions are incorporated to model the interaction of the fluids with the wall of the container more precisely. In particular, they allow for a dynamic evolution of the contact angle between the interface separating the fluids and the boundary, and for a convection-induced motion of the corresponding contact line. For our model, we first prove the existence of global-in-time weak solutions in the case where regular potentials are used in the Cahn–Hilliard subsystem. In this case, we can further show the uniqueness of the weak solution under suitable additional assumptions. We further prove the existence of weak solutions in the case of singular potentials. Therefore, we regularize such singular potentials by a Moreau–Yosida approximation, such that the results for regular potentials can be applied, and eventually pass to the limit in this approximation scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: We propose an implicit discontinuous Galerkin (DG) discretization for incompressible two‐phase flows using an artificial compressibility formulation. The conservative level set (CLS) method is employed in combination with a reinitialization procedure to capture the moving interface. A projection method based on the L‐stable TR‐BDF2 method is adopted for the time discretization of the Navier‐Stokes equations and of the level set method. Adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) is employed to enhance the resolution in correspondence of the interface between the two fluids. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is shown in a number of classical benchmarks. A specific analysis on the influence of different choices of the mixture viscosity is also carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hybrid method is developed to simulate two-phase flows with soluble surfactants. In this method, the interface and bulk surfactant concentration equations of diffuse-interface form, which include source terms to consider surfactant adsorption and desorption dynamics, are solved in the entire fluid domain by the finite difference method, while two-phase flows are solved by a lattice Boltzmann color-gradient model, which can accurately simulate binary fluids with unequal densities. The flow and interface surfactant concentration fields are coupled by a modified Langmuir equation of state, which allows for surfactant concentration beyond critical micelle concentration. The capability and accuracy of the hybrid method are first validated by simulating three numerical examples, including the adsorption of bulk surfactants onto the interface of a stationary droplet, the droplet migration in a constant surfactant gradient, and the deformation of a surfactant-laden droplet in a simple shear flow, in which the numerical results are compared with theoretical solutions and available literature data. Then, the hybrid method is applied to simulate the buoyancy-driven bubble rise in a surfactant solution, in which the influence of surfactants is identified for varying wall confinement, density ratio, Eotvos number and Biot number. It is found that surfactants exhibit a retardation effect on the bubble rise due to the Marangoni stress that resists interface motion, and the retardation effect weakens as the Eotvos or Biot number increases. We further show that the weakened retardation effect at higher Biot numbers is attributed to a decreased non-uniform effect of surfactants at the interface. By comparing with the Cahn-Hilliard phase-field method, we also show that the present method conserves the mass for each fluid, improves numerical stability especially at high density ratio and Eotvos number, and does not need the selection of free parameters, thus breaking the limitations of the existing method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current experimental investigation demonstrates the capability of neutron imaging to quantify cavitation, in terms of vapour content, within an orifice of an abruptly constricting geometry. The morphology of different cavitation regimes setting in was properly visualised owing to the high spatial resolution of 16 μm achieved, given the extensive field of view of 12.9 × 12.9 mm2 offered by the imaging set-up. At a second step, the method was proven capable of highlighting subtle differences between fluids of different rheological properties. More specifically, a reference liquid was comparatively assessed against a counterpart additised with a Quaternary Ammonium Salt (QAS) agent, thus obtaining a viscoelastic behaviour. In accordance with previous studies, it was verified, yet in a quantifiable manner, that the presence of viscoelastic additives affects the overall cavitation topology by promoting the formation of more localised vortical cavities rather than cloud-like structures occupying a larger portion of the orifice core. To the authors' best knowledge, the present work is the first to demonstrate that neutron imaging is suitable for quantifying in-nozzle cavitating flow at the micrometre level, consequently elucidating the distinct forms of vaporous structures that arise. The potential of incorporating neutron irradiation for the quantification of two-phase flows in metallic microfluidics devices has been established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review article highlights the critical impact of surface roughness in modifying the structure of two-phase flow within mini- and microchannels, particularly in processes such as boiling and condensation. Channel surface roughness enhances flow resistance, affects the distribution of vapor bubbles, and enhances heat transfer by providing additional nucleation sites. Several experiments have shown that while increased surface roughness enhances the efficiency of heat transfer, increased flow resistance may hurt system performance. This is so because too high a surface roughness negatively impacts flow resistance, a factor of importance in the optimization for a balance between heat transfer and flow resistance, especially in high-performance compact heat exchangers. Furthermore, the review identifies that higher-degree measurement and characterization techniques of the surface roughness are increasingly required, as traditional 2D parameters may not fully represent the actual physics of complex surface interactions in two-phase flow systems. Consequently, the article calls for further research that can examine the exact relationship between roughness, flow structure, and thermal performance with the aim of improving design strategies for future heat exchanger technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The current experimental investigation demonstrates the capability of neutron imaging to quantify cavitation, in terms of vapour content, within an orifice of an abruptly constricting geometry. The morphology of different cavitation regimes setting in was properly visualised owing to the high spatial resolution of 16 μm achieved, given the extensive field of view of 12.9 × 12.9 mm2 offered by the imaging set-up. At a second step, the method was proven capable of highlighting subtle differences between fluids of different rheological properties. More specifically, a reference liquid was comparatively assessed against a counterpart additised with a Quaternary Ammonium Salt (QAS) agent, thus obtaining a viscoelastic behaviour. In accordance with previous studies, it was verified, yet in a quantifiable manner, that the presence of viscoelastic additives affects the overall cavitation topology by promoting the formation of more localised vortical cavities rather than cloud-like structures occupying a larger portion of the orifice core. To the authors’ best knowledge, the present work is the first to demonstrate that neutron imaging is suitable for quantifying in-nozzle cavitating flow at the micrometre level, consequently elucidating the distinct forms of vaporous structures that arise. The potential of incorporating neutron irradiation for the quantification of two-phase flows in metallic microfluidics devices has been established.

We study the unique solvability of weak transmission problems in some unbounded domains containing at least one flat layer area, which is associated with the motion of two-phase fluids. In particular, we construct the solution to the transmission problem for the Laplace operator with non-homogeneous boundary conditions. As a direct consequence, the Helmholtz–Weyl decomposition for the two-phase problem is also proved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continuous technical development of weapons and ammunition, as well as the growing requirements placed on new equipment, require the use of modern tools for their designing and testing. The analysis of the operation of powder propellant systems, which is the focus of interior ballistics, requires particularly specialised tools due to the complexity of the phenomena occurring during a shot. The development of numerical methods and the increase in the computing power of modern computers have enabled the modelling and simulation of highly complex physical problems and the development of numerical schemes with a theoretically arbitrary high order of accuracy. In this study, an attempt was made to develop a one-dimensional model of two-phase flows with a high order of solution accuracy in time, based on the finite volume method. The use of a two-phase flow model in the context of interior ballistics allows, among other things, the analysis of wave phenomena occurring during firing, which is crucial for safety reasons, especially in tank guns. The developed algorithm for solving two-phase systems was checked using recognised test problems for this type of model. The results of the work will be used to develop a numerical model to solve the main problem of interior ballistics.

The main goal of this paper is to establish the nonlocal-to-local convergence of strong solutions to a Navier–Stokes–Cahn–Hilliard model with singular potential describing immiscible, viscous two-phase flows with matched densities, which is referred to as the Model H. This means that we show that the strong solutions to the nonlocal Model H converge to the strong solution to the local Model H as the weight function in the nonlocal interaction kernel approaches the delta distribution. Compared to previous results in the literature, our main novelty is to further establish corresponding convergence rates. Before investigating the nonlocal-to-local convergence, we first need to ensure the strong well-posedness of the nonlocal Model H. In two dimensions, this result can already be found in the literature, whereas in three dimensions, it will be shown in the present paper. Moreover, in both two and three dimensions, we establish suitable uniform bounds on the strong solutions of the nonlocal Model H, which are essential to prove the nonlocal-to-local convergence results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study analyzes the unique behavior of two-phase flows when incorporating nanofluids containing aluminum trioxide (Al2O3) and copper (Cu) nanoparticles in a vertical channel. The main goal is to investigate the behavior of airnanofluid mixtures in this setting, with potential implications for industrial and exploration applications. Research in this area could provide valuable insights into the dynamics of these flows and their impact on heat transfer, fluid dynamics, and material science. This study includes an analysis of upwelling dynamics, the effect of fluid characteristics on bubble growth, and the system's thermal efficiency. Using numerical and quantitative visualization techniques, we seek to understand the behavior of these particles at the interface between the liquid and gas phases by integrating Al2O3 and Cu nanoparticles into the VOF approach. Because of their superior thermal conductivity, copper nanoparticles have a higher volumetric density and provide more efficient heat transfer, leading to quick and efficient thermal dissipation. Smaller nanoparticles offer an increased surface area-to-volume ratio, which improves heat transfer capabilities and ensures uniform heat dissipation throughout the material. Consequently, copper nanoparticles emerge as the preferred choice for applications necessitating high thermal transfer and optimal performance. These results significantly impact the design of more efficient heat exchangers and optimize recovery techniques by elucidating the interactions between these nanoparticles and the surrounding fluids. Furthermore, the selection of smaller copper nanoparticles further amplifies thermal transfer, maximizing performance across diverse applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reactant gas and liquid water transport phenomena in the flow channels are complex and critical to the performance and durability of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. The polymer membrane needs water at an optimum level for proton conductivity. Water management involves the prevention of dehydration, waterlogging, and the cell’s subsequent performance decline and degradation. This process requires the study and understanding of internal two-phase flows. Different experimental visualization techniques are used to study two-phase flows in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. However, the experiments have limitations in in situ measurements; they are also expensive and time exhaustive. In contrast, numerical modeling is cheaper and faster, providing insights into the complex multiscale processes occurring across the components of the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. This paper introduces the recent design of flow channels. It reviews the numerical modeling techniques adopted for the transport phenomena therein: the two-fluid, multiphase mixture, volume of fluid, lattice Boltzmann, and pressure drop models. Furthermore, this work describes, compares, and analyses the models’ approaches and reviews the representative results of some selected aspects. Finally, the paper summarizes the modeling perspectives, emphasizing future directions with some recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Problems of Mechatronics. Armament, Aviation, Safety Engineering / Problemy Mechatroniki. Uzbrojenie, lotnictwo, Inżynieria Bezpieczeństwa is the property of Index Copernicus International and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The study analyzes the unique behavior of two-phase flows when incorporating nanofluids containing aluminum trioxide (Al2O3) and copper (Cu) nanoparticles in a vertical channel. The main goal is to investigate the behavior of air-nanofluid mixtures in this setting, with potential implications for industrial and exploration applications. Research in this area could provide valuable insights into the dynamics of these flows and their impact on heat transfer, fluid dynamics, and material science. This study includes an analysis of upwelling dynamics, the effect of fluid characteristics on bubble growth, and the system's thermal efficiency. Using numerical and quantitative visualization techniques, we seek to understand the behavior of these particles at the interface between the liquid and gas phases by integrating Al2O3 and Cu nanoparticles into the VOF approach. Because of their superior thermal conductivity, copper nanoparticles have a higher volumetric density and provide more efficient heat transfer, leading to quick and efficient thermal dissipation. Smaller nanoparticles offer an increased surface area-to-volume ratio, which improves heat transfer capabilities and ensures uniform heat dissipation throughout the material. Consequently, copper nanoparticles emerge as the preferred choice for applications necessitating high thermal transfer and optimal performance. These results significantly impact the design of more efficient heat exchangers and optimize recovery techniques by elucidating the interactions between these nanoparticles and the surrounding fluids. Furthermore, the selection of smaller copper nanoparticles further amplifies thermal transfer, maximizing performance across diverse applications.

In thermal spraying, molten YSZ (Yttria Stabilized Zirconia) drop impact is crucial to the understanding of formation of splats and hence coatings. However, existing studies hardly cast attention to the possible rebounding dynamics when successive molten YSZ drops impinge onto newly solidified splats whose temperature is still high so that freezing may be delayed. This work uses a newly developed numerical model based on the conservative level set method to probe into the rebounding dynamics of YSZ drops in practical thermal spraying conditions. The free-energy-based surface tension model in the phase field method was introduced to avoid the computing of curvature, which is however necessary in the continuum surface tension model. The projection method was invoked to solve the Navier–Stokes equations. The model was validated against an experiment of drop impact with rebounding, showing reasonable agreement. Moreover, the model was applied to both dense and hollow YSZ drop impact, with the details of fluid flow being analyzed. The maximum spread factor was found in agreement with existing scaling laws. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the simulation of two-phase flow dominated by surface tension, accurate surface tension modeling is beneficial to better reproduce and understand the mechanism of interphase flow. In this paper, based on an ISPH-FVM coupling framework, three different surface tension models are implemented and tested respectively, including the generally used continuum surface force (CSF) model, the continuous surface stress (CSS) model and the height function (HF) model. In the present ISPH-FVM coupling framework, the ISPH particle approximate interpolation technique combined with a volume fraction correction scheme is employed to ensure the volume conservation in the computational domain during the information transfer between particles and grids. Meanwhile, the three surface tension models are discretized and calculated by the volume fraction defined on the FVM grid. The volume fraction of the FVM grid is obtained by approximate interpolation of ISPH particles within the grid support domain. Several benchmark cases are tested to verify the performance of three surface tension models in the ISPH-FVM coupling method. The results show that the CSF model and CSS model have less spurious currents and better robustness than HF model under the present coupling method. In addition, the CSF model and CSS model can simulate the flow regime involving complex interface topology changes more accurately than HF model. • An ISPH-FVM coupling method is developed to simulate two-phase flows. • The volume conservation is guaranteed during the information transfer. • Three surface tension models are implemented and compared under the present coupling method. • The CSF and CSS model can get relatively small spurious currents than HF model. • The CSF and CSS model perform well in predicting the complex interface topological changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we present a novel interpolation scheme for chimera simulations in CFD that treats flows with discontinuities. This scheme is suitable for interpolation over polyhedral meshes using only scattered data and without the use of stencils. During the interpolation data transfer among overset meshes, both solution variables and their gradients are communicated and then used for the interpolation process. First, the overset topology problem in partitioned polyhedral meshes is addressed, and then a new interpolation algorithm for generally discontinuous fields is introduced. Then, we describe how the gradient approximation of the Finite Volume (FV) method is utilized in order to construct bounded approximations on values on the direction of discontinuities and enhance the accuracy of the low order Nearest Neighbor value (NNV) algorithm. The performance of the proposed algorithm is quantified and validated in various test cases, together with a comparison with NNV. Finally, scalability tests are presented to prove computational efficiency. The method is proved to be highly accurate in propagation cases and performs well in unsteady two-phase problems executed using parallel architectures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A numerical model was developed to investigate the behavior of round buoyancy-driven particle clouds in a quiescent ambient. The model was validated by comparing model simulations with prior experimental and numerical results and then applied the model to examine the difference between releases of positively and negatively buoyant particles. The particle cloud model used the entrainment assumption while approximating the flow field induced by the cloud as a Hill's spherical vortex. The motion of individual particles was resolved using a particle tracking equation that considered the forces acting on them and the induced velocity field. The simulation results showed that clouds with the same initial buoyancy magnitude and particle Reynolds number behaved differently depending on whether the particles were more dense or less dense than the ambient fluid. This was found even for very low initial buoyancy releases, suggesting that the sign of the buoyancy is always important and that, therefore, the Boussinesq assumption is never fully appropriate for such flows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A snowdrift is a two-phase flow consisting of air and suspended particles. In the presence of snow particles in the air, additional stability appears in the surface layer due to the density gradient. The density gradient reduces turbulence and affects the properties of the surface layer. Therefore, to describe the properties of the flow with included snow particles, additional clarifications are required. A description of the surface layer parameterization with the presence of suspended snow particles is presented in this paper. The formulation of the effect of snow particles consists of the reformulation of the Obukhov turbulent length scale. The novel surface layer parameterization allows one to take into account the effect of snow particles on turbulent flow and may improve the estimates of friction velocity and boundary-layer height.The parameterization was successfully tested on the observational data. A description of snow particle influence has been included in the large eddy simulation (LES) model. The numerical experiments confirmed an increase in the stability of the surface layer. The mechanism of influence of suspended particles on the surface layer is analogous to a thermal stabilization of the turbulent flow, in which negative buoyancy acts to reduce the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, different CFD models to compute flows inside a steam ejector were investigated. The results were compared to the analytical models as well as the experimental results from the literature. All the simulations gave realistic results from the hydrodynamic perspective with a relative error of the entrainment ratio between 25% and 40% compared to reference experimental data. However, an analysis of the temperature profiles showed that only realistic results from the thermodynamic perspective were given by multiphase calculations. The first multiphase model tested was the so-called Wet-Steam model from ANSYS Fluent. This model gave inconsistent results for the steam ejector CFD simulation due to the physical boundaries of this model. The second model tested was the Eulerian mixture model, which gave the most realistic results in terms of the physical conditions of the liquid and vapor phases inside the ejector. It also showed that the phase change could have a significant impact on the value of the critical output pressure as a way to improve the performance of the ejector.

This review article highlights the critical impact of surface roughness in modifying the structure of two-phase flow within mini- and microchannels, particularly in processes such as boiling and condensation. Channel surface roughness enhances flow resistance, affects the distribution of vapor bubbles, and enhances heat transfer by providing additional nucleation sites. Several experiments have shown that while increased surface roughness enhances the efficiency of heat transfer, increased flow resistance may hurt system performance. This is so because too high a surface roughness negatively impacts flow resistance, a factor of importance in the optimization for a balance between heat transfer and flow resistance, especially in high-performance compact heat exchangers. Furthermore, the review identifies that higher-degree measurement and characterization techniques of the surface roughness are increasingly required, as traditional 2D parameters may not fully represent the actual physics of complex surface interactions in two-phase flow systems. Consequently, the article calls for further research that can examine the exact relationship between roughness, flow structure, and thermal performance with the aim of improving design strategies for future heat exchanger technologies.

In this paper, a thermodynamically consistent phase-field model is employed to simulate the thermocapillary migration of a droplet. The model equations consist of a general Navier–Stokes equation for the two-phase flows, a Cahn–Hilliard equation for the diffuse interface, and a heat equation, and meanwhile satisfy the balance laws of mass, energy and entropy. In particular, the total energy of the system includes kinetic energy, potential energy and internal energy, which leads to a highly coupled and nonlinear equation system. We therefore develop a linear mass and energy conserving, semi-decoupled numerical method for the numerical simulations. As the model contains a heat (energy) equation, a simple error term introduced by the temporal discretization of the momentum equation can be absorbed into the heat equation, such that the numerical solutions satisfy the conservation laws of mass and energy exactly at the temporal discrete level. Several numerical tests are carried out to validate our numerical method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, different CFD models to compute flows inside a steam ejector were investigated. The results were compared to the analytical models as well as the experimental results from the literature. All the simulations gave realistic results from the hydrodynamic perspective with a relative error of the entrainment ratio between 25% and 40% compared to reference experimental data. However, an analysis of the temperature profiles showed that only realistic results from the thermodynamic perspective were given by multiphase calculations. The first multiphase model tested was the so-called Wet-Steam model from ANSYS Fluent. This model gave inconsistent results for the steam ejector CFD simulation due to the physical boundaries of this model. The second model tested was the Eulerian mixture model, which gave the most realistic results in terms of the physical conditions of the liquid and vapor phases inside the ejector. It also showed that the phase change could have a significant impact on the value of the critical output pressure as a way to improve the performance of the ejector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pipe structures are commonly encountered in the geophysical context, and in particular in sedimentary basins, where they are associated with fluid migration structures. We investigate pipe formation through laboratory experiments by injecting water locally at a constant flow rate at the base of water-saturated sands in a Hele–Shaw cell (30 cm high, 35 cm wide, gap 2.3 mm). The originality of this work is to quantify the effect of a discontinuity. More precisely, bilayered structures are considered, where a layer of fine grains overlaps a layer of coarser grains. Different invasion structures are reported, with fluidization of the bilayered sediment over its whole height or over the finer grains only. The height and area of the region affected by the fluidization display a non-monotonous evolution, which can be interpreted in terms of fluid focusing vs. scattering. Theoretical considerations can predict the critical coarse grains height for the invasion pattern transition, as well as the maximum topography at the sediment free surface in the regime in which only the overlapping finer grains fluidize. These results have crucial geophysical implications, as they demonstrate that invasion patterns and pipe formation dynamics may control the fluid expulsion extent and localization at the seafloor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The work is devoted to the study of random statistical processes in two-phase flows. The objective is to obtain new computational and experimental data on the influence of previously undetermined factors on the trajectories of particle motion, their segregation, and the formation of a locally continuous flow field of the dispersed phase in supersonic turbulent two-phase flows. The results of computational and experimental study of the flow features of a two-phase supersonic flow are presented. A new experimental method was applied for analysis of influence of random statistical factors on the particle distribution in a high-speed carrier flow. The physical basis of the proposed method is to indicate the flow rate of the dispersed phase by means of particle adhesion to an obstacle installed in the flow. In order to analyze the segregation of the dispersed phase in the flow, the approach of quasi-continuumization of individual particle trajectories is applied. The method obtains a locally continuous flow stress field for dispersed phase flow. Empirical coefficients resulting from the influence of random statistical factors on the motion of dispersed particles in a two-phase flow are determined. The obtained computational and experimental data clarify the prediction of the distribution and segregation of dispersed phase particles with a size of 15–40 microns in a supersonic free flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with the numerical modeling of two-phase flows while using Baer–Nunziato type models. Focus is given here on the numerical treatment of source terms that involve three (or four) relaxation time scales. A new coupled approach relying on the continuous analysis of the system of ODEs is compared with a more widely used strategy grounded on the fractional step approach. Properties of schemes are given in both cases. Several numerical applications show that the coupled approach should be preferred for both stability and accuracy reasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soft objects squeezing through small apertures are crucial for many in vivo and in vitro processes. Red blood cell transit time through splenic inter-endothelial slits (IESs) plays a crucial role in blood filtration and disease progression, while droplet velocity through constrictions in microfluidic devices is important for effective manipulation and separation processes. As these transit phenomena are not well understood, we sought to establish analytical and numerical solutions of viscous droplet transit through a rectangular slit. This study extends from our former theory of a circular pore because a rectangular slit is more realistic in many physiological and engineering applications. Here, we derived the ordinary differential equations (ODEs) of a droplet passing through a slit by combining planar Poiseuille flow, the Young–Laplace equations, and modifying them to consider the lubrication layer between the droplet and the slit wall. Compared to the pore case, we used the Roscoe solution instead of the Sampson one to account for the flow entering and exiting a rectangular slit. When the surface tension and lubrication layer were negligible, we derived the closed-form solutions of transit time. When the surface tension and lubrication layer were finite, the ODEs were solved numerically to study the impact of various parameters on the transit time. With our solutions, we identified the impact of prescribed pressure drop, slit dimensions, and droplet parameters such as surface tension, viscosity, and volume on transit time. In addition, we also considered the effect of pressure drop and surface tension near critical values. For this study, critical surface tension for a given pressure drop describes the threshold droplet surface tension that prevents transit, and critical pressure for a given surface tension describes the threshold pressure drop that prevents transit. Our solutions demonstrate that there is a linear relationship between pressure and the reciprocal of the transit time (referred to as inverse transit time), as well as a linear relationship between viscosity and transit time. Additionally, when the droplet size increases with respect to the slit dimensions, there is a corresponding increase in transit time. Most notably, we emphasize the initial antagonistic effect of surface tension which resists droplet passage but at the same time decreases the lubrication layer, thus facilitating passage. Our results provide quantitative calculations for understanding cells passing through slit-like constrictions and designing droplet microfluidic experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main theme of this paper is a numerical investigation of fluid-particle flow in a channel with aslant walls (divergent channel) by taking thermal slip and Ohmic heating into account. The shooting technique with the RK-4 method is exploited to solve the system of dimensionless equations. Graphical discussions of the effects of emerging factors have been conducted for both fluid and particle aspects of temperature and velocity profiles. A perfect match is found when the current results are compared to the previous ones. The results reveal that the fluid phase temperature diminishes but particle phase temperature improves with an augmentation of the thermal slip parameter. These types of flows are used by a variety of industries, including the processing of waste water, mines, petrochemical sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A numerical model was developed to investigate the behavior of round buoyancy-driven particle clouds in a quiescent ambient. The model was validated by comparing model simulations with prior experimental and numerical results and then applied the model to examine the difference between releases of positively and negatively buoyant particles. The particle cloud model used the entrainment assumption while approximating the flow field induced by the cloud as a Hill’s spherical vortex. The motion of individual particles was resolved using a particle tracking equation that considered the forces acting on them and the induced velocity field. The simulation results showed that clouds with the same initial buoyancy magnitude and particle Reynolds number behaved differently depending on whether the particles were more dense or less dense than the ambient fluid. This was found even for very low initial buoyancy releases, suggesting that the sign of the buoyancy is always important and that, therefore, the Boussinesq assumption is never fully appropriate for such flows.

The present work provides a detailed numerical investigation of a turbopump for waterjet applications in cavitating conditions. In particular, the study focuses on the complexities of cavitation modelling, serving as a pivotal reference for future computational research, especially in off-design hydro-jet scenarios, and it aims to extend current model assessments of the existing methods, by disputing their standard formulations. Thus, a computational domain of a single rotor-stator blade passage is solved using steady-state Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes equations, coupled with one-, two-, and four-equation turbulence models, and compared with available measurements, encompassing both nominal and thrust breakdown conditions. Through grid dependency analysis, a medium refinement with the Shear Stress Transport turbulence model is chosen as the optimal configuration, reducing either computational time and relative error in breakdown efficiency to 1%. This arrangement is coupled with a systematic study of the Zwart cavitation model parameters through multipliers ranging from 10 − 2 to 10 2 . Results reveal that properly tuning these values allows for a more accurate reconstruction of the initial phases of cavitation up to breakdown. Notably, increasing the nucleation radius reduces the difference between the estimated head rise and experimental values near breakdown, reducing the maximum error by 4%. This variation constrains vapour concentration, promoting cavitation volume extension in the passage. A similar observation occurs when modifying the condensation coefficient, whereas altering the vaporization coefficient yields opposite effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports the development of a numerical method to simulate two-phase flows of Newtonian fluids that are incompressible, immiscible, and isothermal. The interface in the simulation is located and reconstructed using the geometric volume of fluid (VOF) method. The implementation of the piecewise-linear interface calculation (PLIC) scheme of the VOF method is performed to solve the three-dimensional (3D) interface transport during the dynamics of two-phase flows. In this method, the interface is approximated by a line segment in each interfacial cell. The balance of forces at the interface is accounted for using the continuum interfacial force (CSF) model. To solve the Navier–Stokes equations, meshless finite difference schemes from the HiG-Flow computational fluid dynamics software are employed. The 3D PLIC-VOF HiG-Flow algorithm is used to simulate several benchmark two-phase flows for the purpose of validating the numerical implementation. First, the performance of the PLIC implementation is evaluated by conducting two standard advection numerical tests: the 3D shearing flow test and the 3D deforming field test. Good agreement is obtained for the 3D interface shape using both the 3D PLIC-VOF HiG-Flow algorithm and those found in the scientific literature, specifically, the piecewise-constant flux surface calculation, the volume of fluid method implemented in OpenFOAM, and the high-order finite-element software FEEL. In addition, the absolute error of the volume tracking advection calculation obtained by our 3D PLIC-VOF HiG-Flow algorithm is found to be smaller than the one found in the scientific literature for both the 3D shearing and 3D deforming flow tests. The volume fraction conservation absolute errors obtained using our algorithm are 4.48 × 10 − 5 and 9.41 × 10 − 6 for both shearing and deforming flow tests, respectively, being two orders lower than the results presented in the scientific literature at the same level of mesh refinement. Lastly, the 3D bubble rising problem is simulated for different fluid densities ( ρ 1 / ρ 2 = 10 and ρ 1 / ρ 2 = 1000 ) and viscosity ratios ( μ 1 / μ 2 = 10 and μ 1 / μ 2 = 100 ). Again, good agreement is obtained for the 3D interface shape using both the newly implemented algorithm and OpenFOAM, DROPS, and NaSt3D software. The 3D PLIC-VOF HiG-Flow algorithm predicted a stable ellipsoidal droplet shape for ρ 1 / ρ 2 = 10 and μ 1 / μ 2 = 10 , and a stable cap shape for ρ 1 / ρ 2 = 1000 and μ 1 / μ 2 = 100 . The bubble's rise velocity and evolution of the bubble's center of mass are also computed with the 3D PLIC-VOF HiG-Flow algorithm and found to be in agreement with those software. The rise velocity of the droplet for both the ellipsoidal and cap flow regime's is found, in the initial stages of the simulation, to gradually increase from its initial value of zero to a maximum magnitude; then, the steady-state velocity of the droplet decreases, being more accentuated for the cap regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The immersed boundary method (IBM) is widely used in simulating multiphase flows. DCU (Deep Computing Unit) acceleration device is a kind of GPU-like device, which is developed by GPU technology authorised by AMD. To achieve an efficient numerical simulation of two-phase flows, we develop a parallel DCU-based immersed boundary method using the MPI+HIP programming model. To solve the slow convergence problem caused by domain partitioning in multigrid methods, a coarse grid aggregation (CGA) technique is effectively employed. We adopt a nonblocking communication approach with HIP streams to overlap computation and communication. To validate the proposed method running on DCU clusters, we conducted two numerical experiments of droplet deformation in shear flow and the rising bubble. Performance tests show that a speedup of 181 times more than the CPU version can be achieved with 32 DCUs in a $ 1024\times 512\times 512 $ 1024 × 512 × 512 mesh grid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is the second of the series of two papers, which focuses on the derivation of an averaged 1D model for compressible bubbly flows. For this, we start from a microscopic description of the interactions between a large but finite number of small bubbles with a surrounding compressible fluid. This microscopic model has been derived and analysed in the first paper. In the present one, provided physical parameters scale according to the number of bubbles, we prove that solutions to the microscopic model exist on a timespan independent of the number of bubbles. Considering then that we have a large number of bubbles, we propose a construction of the macroscopic variables and derive the averaged system satisfied by these quantities. Our method is based on a compactness approach in a strong-solution setting. In the last section, we propose the derivation of the Williams–Boltzmann equation corresponding to our setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this note, we introduce a microscopic model for the motion of gas bubbles in a viscous fluid. By interpreting a bubble as a compressible fluid with infinite shear viscosity, we derive a pde/ode system coupling the density/velocity/pressure in the surrounding fluid with the linear/angular velocities and radii of the bubbles. We provide a 1D analogue of the system and construct an existence theory for this simplified system in a natural regularity framework. The second part of the paper is a preparatory work for the derivation of an averaged or macroscopic model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a conservative phase‐field lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is proposed for incompressible two‐phase flows. In this method, two LB models are adopted to solve the nonlocal Allen–Cahn equation (ACE) and the Navier–Stokes equations, respectively. Unlike the previous models for the nonlocal ACE with a space‐time‐dependent Lagrange multiplier, a simple multiple‐relaxation time LB model is designed for the conservative and nonlocal ACE with a curvature‐dependent Lagrange multiplier, which can eliminate the problem of inherent coarsening process. Through the Chapman–Enskog analysis, the present LB model can correctly recover the ACE, and the macroscopic order parameter used to label different phases can be calculated explicitly. Finally, the present LBM is validated by two tests, that is, the horizontal translation of two circular interfaces and a bubble rising under gravity, and the results show that the present LBM has a superior performance in capturing the large topological changes and small features of interfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of a two-phase incompressible solver for magnetic flows in the magnetostatic case is presented. The proposed numerical toolkit couples the Navier–Stokes equations of hydrodynamics with Maxwell's equations of electromagnetism to model the behaviour of magnetic flows in the presence of a magnetic field. To this end, a rigorous implementation of a second-order two-phase solver for incompressible nonmagnetic flows is introduced first. This solver is implemented in the finite-difference framework, where a fifth-order conservative level set method is employed to capture the evolution of the interface, along with an incompressible solver based on the projection scheme to model the fluids. The solver demonstrates excellent performance even with high density ratios across the interface (Atwood number $ \approx 1 $ ≈ 1), while effectively preserving the mass conservation property. Subsequently, the numerical discretisation of Maxwell's equations under the magnetostatic assumption is described in detail, utilising the vector potential formulation. The primary second-order solver for two-phase flows is extended to the case of magnetic flows, by incorporating the Lorentz force into the momentum equation, accounting for high magnetic permeability ratios across the interface. The implemented solver is then utilised for examining the deformation of ferrofluid droplets in both quiescent and shear flow regimes across various susceptibility values of the droplets. The results suggest that increasing the susceptibility value of the ferrofluid droplet can affect its deformation and rotation in low capillary regimes. In higher capillary flows, increasing the magnetic permeability jump across the interface can further lead to droplet breakup as well. The effect of this property is also investigated for the Rayleigh–Taylor instability growth in magnetic fluids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We derive a novel thermodynamically consistent Navier–Stokes–Cahn–Hilliard system with dynamic boundary conditions. This model describes the motion of viscous incompressible binary fluids with different densities. In contrast to previous models in the literature, our new model allows for surface diffusion, a variable contact angle between the diffuse interface and the boundary, and mass transfer between bulk and surface. In particular, this transfer of material is subject to a mass conservation law including both a bulk and a surface contribution. The derivation is carried out by means of local energy dissipation laws and the Lagrange multiplier approach. Next, in the case of fluids with matched densities, we show the existence of global weak solutions in two and three dimensions as well as the uniqueness of weak solutions in two dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the performance of a fully passive flapping foil device for energy harvesting in a free surface flow. The study uses numerical simulations to examine the effects of varying submergence depths and the impact of monochromatic waves on the foil's performance. For the numerical simulations, a in-house artificial compressibility two-phase solver is employed and coupled with a rigid body dynamic solver. The results show that the fully passive flapping foil device can achieve high efficiency for submergence depths between 4 and 9 chords, with an "optimum" submergence depth where the flapping foil performance is maximised. The effects of regular waves on the foil's performance were also investigated, showing that waves with a frequency close to that of the natural frequency of the flapping foil-aided energy harvesting. Overall, this study provides insights that could be useful for future design improvements for fully passive flapping foil devices for energy harvesting operating near the free surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waterfalls are conspicuous geomorphological features with heterogeneous structure, complex dynamics and multiphase flows. Swifts, dippers and starlings are well-known to nest behind waterfalls, and have been reported to fly through them. For smaller fliers, by contrast, waterfalls seem to represent impenetrable barriers, but associated physical constraints and the kinematic responses of volant animals during transit are unknown. Here, we describe the flight behaviour of hummingbirds (the sister group to the swifts) and of various insect taxa as they fly through an artificial sheet waterfall. We additionally launched plastic balls at different speeds at the waterfall so as to assess the inertial dependence of sheet penetration. Hummingbirds were able to penetrate the waterfall with reductions in both their translational speed, and stroke amplitude. The body tilted more vertically and exhibited greater rotations in roll, pitch and yaw, along with increases in tail spread and pitch. The much smaller plastic balls and some flies moving at speeds greater than 2.3 m s-1 and 1.6 m s-1, respectively, also overcame effects of surface tension and water momentum and passed through the waterfall; objects with lower momentum, by contrast, entered the sheet but then fell along with the moving water. Waterfalls can thus represent impenetrable physical barriers for small and slow animal fliers, and may also serve to exclude both predators and parasites from nests of some avian taxa.

Two-phase flows are found in almost all areas of technology. For example, tubular evaporators, boiling water reactors, boiler blowdown systems, heaters, boilers, gas lift pumps, oil and geothermal wells, oil and gas pipelines, refrigerators, process pipelines, and condensers. Two-phase flows are classified as mixtures. According to the composition of the mixture are divided: (a) for single-component (or one-component) - vapor-liquid flows; (b) multicomponent - gas-liquid flows. One-component mixtures consist of the same substance in different states of aggregation. This can be not only vapor-liquid, but also a mixture of liquid or vapor with a solid phase, a water-ice mixture, or a vapor flow with ice particles, for example, in sublimation installations. Multicomponent mixtures are a combination of substances of different physical nature. These include not only gas-liquid flows, but also, for example, mixtures of air and sand, water and oil. The paper presents the main attention is paid to the movement of two-phase flows in the pipeline.

Computer simulation of two-phase media flow in curvilinear channels and pipes of complex geometry is considered. The motion equations of a two-phase medium, simplified taking into account the features of the flow, which are written in an orthogonal coordinate system associated with the flow area, are solved by the method of surfaces of equal flow rates. An algorithm for calculating the flow for computer simulation has been constructed. Numerical calculations were carried out for channels of parabolic and conical shapes, taking into account the presence of the initial section of the flow and the influence of the centrifugal force field. Based on of computer simulation, various flow regimes and the influence of various parameters on the hydrodynamic situation in the flow area were studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transient flows in stormwater systems can lead to damaging and dangerous operational conditions, as exemplified by geysering events created by the uncontrolled release of entrapped air pockets. Extreme rain and associated rapid inflows may result in air pocket entrapment, which causes significant changes in flow conditions and potentially geysering. Stormwater geysers have been studied in different experimental and numerical modeling studies, as well as from limited data gathered within real systems. However, there is still no complete understanding of geysering events, as stormwater system geometries vary considerably. Most past studies involved releasing air from an intermediate shaft, in which a significant fraction of the entrapped air may bypass the release. This work advances the understanding of geysering by considering uncontrolled air release through an upstream shaft or manhole. In such cases, the entire air pocket is released upon reaching the shaft, worsening the occurrence of geysering. Pressure and water level measurements were performed for various combinations of initial water pressure, trapped air pocket volume, and vertical shaft geometries, indicating the higher severity of these geysering events. The results obtained also corroborate previous studies in that the measured pressure heads were lower than the grade elevation. Future studies should include larger-scale testing and the representation of this geometry using CFD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pipe structures are commonly encountered in the geophysical context, and in particular in sedimentary basins, where they are associated with fluid migration structures. We investigate pipe formation through laboratory experiments by injecting water locally at a constant flow rate at the base of water-saturated sands in a Hele–Shaw cell (30 cm high, 35 cm wide, gap 2.3 mm). The originality of this work is to quantify the effect of a discontinuity. More precisely, bilayered structures are considered, where a layer of fine grains overlaps a layer of coarser grains. Different invasion structures are reported, with fluidization of the bilayered sediment over its whole height or over the finer grains only. The height and area of the region affected by the fluidization display a non-monotonous evolution, which can be interpreted in terms of fluid focusing vs. scattering. Theoretical considerations can predict the critical coarse grains height for the invasion pattern transition, as well as the maximum topography at the sediment free surface in the regime in which only the overlapping finer grains fluidize. These results have crucial geophysical implications, as they demonstrate that invasion patterns and pipe formation dynamics may control the fluid expulsion extent and localization at the seafloor.