Flow pattern and void fraction characterization in nitrogen/water flows through a diamond-type triply periodic minimal surface lattice

Abstract

Here, this study presents, to the authors knowledge, the first experimental investigation on the void fraction and flow patterns in two-phase flows through a diamond-type Triply Periodic Minimal Surface (TPMS) lattice. An additively manufactured TPMS structure was tested under upward co-current flow of a water/nitrogen mixture. Superficial velocities varied for a total of 42 test conditions (gas: 0.01–2.4 m/s; liquid: 0.01–2.4 m/s; mass flux: 20–2370 kg/m 2 ·s). High-speed video and X-ray imaging enabled time-averaged void fraction measurements and identified six distinct flow regimes which were used to develop a flow pattern map. Comparison of the void fraction data with correlations from literature demonstrated the Rouhani and Axelsson (1970) [49] correlation modified by Steiner (1993) [52] provided the best agreement, which was improved with empirically fit coefficients. This approach predicted the void fraction with errors < ±20% for 64% of the data, with a mean absolute percent deviation (MAPD) of 23%. The measured frictional pressure drop was compared to correlations from literature which captured the observed trends but did not provide good accuracy. The best agreement was found after optimizing the empirical coefficients of the Muller-Steinhagen & Heck (1986) [56] correlation; this approach captured 33% of the data within ±20% with a MAPD of 46% over the full range and captured 71% of the data within ±20% a MAPD of 13.3% at mass fluxes >1100 kg/m 2 -s. These results provide foundational insight into TPMS two-phase flow behavior and inform modeling and design of advanced heat exchange components incorporating TPMS geometries.