Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Two phase flow”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 109 records · Page 6

Development of the Two Phase Flow Separator Experiment for a Reduced Gravity Aircraft Flight

The recent hardware development and testing of a reduced gravity aircraft flight experiment has provided valuable insights for the future design of the Two Phase Flow Separator Experiment (TPFSE). The TPFSE is scheduled to fly within the Fluids Integration Rack (FIR) aboard the International Space Station (ISS) in 2020. The TPFSE studies the operational limits of gas and liquid separation of passive cyclonic separators. A passive cyclonic separator utilizes only the inertia of the incoming flow to accomplish the liquid-gas separation. Efficient phase separation is critical for environmental control and life support systems, such as recovery of clean water from bioreactors, for long duration human spaceflight missions. The final low gravity aircraft flight took place in December 2015 aboard NASA's C9 airplane.

fluid mechanics↗

Two-phase flows and heat transfer within systems with ambient pressure above the thermodynamic critical pressure

In systems where the design inlet and outlet pressures P sub amb are maintained above the thermodynamic critical pressure P sub c, it is often assumed that heat and mass transfer are governed by single-phase relations and that two-phase flows cannot occur. This simple rule of thumb is adequate in many low-power designs but is inadequate for high-performance turbomachines, boilers, and other systems where two-phase regions can exist even though P sub amb P sub c. Heat and mass transfer and rotordynamic-fluid-mechanic restoring forces depend on momentum differences, and those for a two-phase zone can differ significantly from those for a single-phase zone. By using a laminar, variable-property bearing code and a rotating boiler code, pressure and temperature surfaces were determined that illustrate nesting of a two-phase region within a supercritical pressure region. The method of corresponding states is applied to bearings with reasonable rapport.

Hendricks, R. C.↗

Two-phase flows and heat transfer within systems with ambient pressure above the thermodynamic critical pressure

In systems where the design inlet and outlet pressure P sub amb are maintained above the thermodynamic critical pressure P sub c, it is often assumed that heat and mass transfer are governed by single-phase relations and that two-phase flows cannot occur. This simple rule of thumb is adequate in many low-power designs but is inadequate for high-performance turbomachines, boilers, and other systems where two-phase regions can exist even though P sub amb P sub c. Heat and mass transfer and rotordynamic-fluid-mechanic restoring forces depend on momentum differences, and those for a two-phase zone can differ significantly from those for a single-phase zone. By using a laminar, variable-property bearing code and a rotating boiler code, pressure and temperature surfaces were determined that illustrate nesting of a two-phase region within a supercritical pressure region. The method of corresponding states is applied to bearings with reasonable rapport.

Hendricks, R. C.↗

Two-Phase Flow Research on the ISS for Thermal Control Applications

With the era of full utilization of the ISS now upon us, this presentation will discuss some of the highest-priority areas for two-phase flow systems with thermal control applications. These priorities are guided by recommendations of a 2011 NRC Decadal Survey report, Recapturing a Future for Space Exploration, Life and Physical Sciences for a New Era as well as an internal NASA exercise in response to the NRC report conducted in early 2012. Many of these proposals are already in various stages of development, while others are still conceptual.

Motil, Brian J.↗

Analyzing Seals With Two-Phase Flows

SEAL computer program analyzes steady-state performance of face seal with two-phase leakage flow. Calculates general trends of performance under both low- and high-leakage conditions and, by extrapolation, behavior in intermediate region. Parameters investigated include subcooling, coning of seal faces, speeds of rotation, conductivities of seal materials, and widths of seal faces. Program incorporates idealized mathematical models, and based on finite-difference approach. Written in FORTRAN 77.

Lau, S.↗

Two-phase flow

An experimental program to characterize the spray from candidate nozzles for icing-cloud simulation is discussed. One canidate nozzle, which is currently used for icing research, has been characterized for flow and drop size. The median-volume diameter (MVD) from this air-assist nozzle is compared with correlations in the literature. The new experimental spray facility is discussed, and the drop-size instruments are discussed in detail. Since there is no absolute standard for drop-size measurements and there are other limitations, such as drop -size range and velocity range, several instruments are used and results are compared. A two-phase model was developed at Pennsylvania State University. The model uses the k-epsilon model of turbulence in the continous phase. Three methods for treating the discrete phase are used: (1) a locally homogeneous flow (LHF) model, (2) a deterministic separated flow (DSF) model, and (3) a stochastic separated flow (SSF) model. In the LHF model both phases have the same velocity and temperature at each point. The DSF model provides interphase transport but ignores the effects of turbulent fluctuations. In the SSF model the drops interact with turbulent eddies whose properties are determined by the k-epsilon turbulence model. The two-phase flow model has been extended to include the effects of evaporation and combustion.

Tacina, Robert R.↗

Separation of gas from liquid in a two-phase flow system

Separation system causes jets which leave two-phase nozzles to impinge on each other, so that liquid from jets tends to coalesce in center of combined jet streams while gas phase is forced to outer periphery. Thus, because liquid coalescence is achieved without resort to separation with solid surfaces, cycle efficiency is improved.

Hayes, L. G.↗

Topical: Boiling, Condensation and Two-Phase Flows in Microgravity

The white paper addresses both fundamental and technological questions in the science of phase-change fluid flows aimed at understanding thermal transport in flow boiling and condensation and the use of these processes in space and terrestrial thermal systems. While flow boiling and condensation are widely employed in Earth-based thermal equipment to reduce the cost, size, and power required to transfer heat, a lack of data and predictive models on the impact of gravity on these phenomena hinders the use of two-phase heat transport in a low-gravity environment. The white paper presents research tasks in long-duration microgravity recommended to expand our knowledge on phase-changing flows. Due to elimination of the masking gravity effects, the proposed research will provide a unique opportunity to bring new insights into the role of capillary and hydrodynamic forces in phase-changing flows. The potential impact of the proposed research ranges from the space power, thermal and cryogenic systems to various terrestrial applications in the petrochemical, pharmaceutical, biochemical, nuclear, and metallurgical industries.

Phase-change fluid flow↗

Modeling of two-phase flow in membranes and porous media in microgravity as applied to plant irrigation in space

In traditional applications in soil physics it is convention to scale porous media properties, such as hydraulic conductivity, soil water diffusivity, and capillary head, with the gravitational acceleration. In addition, the Richards equation for water flux in partially saturated porous media also contains a gravity term. With the plans to develop plant habitats in space, such as in the International Space Station, it becomes necessary to evaluate these properties and this equation under conditions of microgravitational acceleration. This article develops models for microgravity steady state two-phase flow, as found in irrigation systems, that addresses critical design issues. Conventional dimensionless groups in two-phase mathematical models are scaled with gravity, which must be assigned a value of zero for microgravity modeling. The use of these conventional solutions in microgravity, therefore, is not possible. This article therefore introduces new dimensionless groups for two-phase models. The microgravity models introduced here determined that in addition to porous media properties, important design factors for microgravity systems include applied water potential and the ratio of inner to outer radii for cylindrical and spherical porous media systems.

Plant Roots/growth & development↗

An Interactive Tool for Discrete Phase Analysis in Two-Phase Flows

Under a NASA MSFC SBIR Phase 1 effort an interactive software package has been developed for the analysis of discrete (particulate) phase dynamics in two-phase flows in which the discrete phase does not significantly affect the continuous phase. This package contains a Graphical User Interface (based on the X Window system and the Motif tool kit) coupled to a particle tracing program, which allows the user to interactively set up and run a case for which a continuous phase grid and flow field are available. The software has been applied to a solid rocket motor problem, to demonstrate its ease of use and its suitability for problems of engineering interest, and has been delivered to NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Dejong, Frederik J.↗

A combined Eulerian-Lagrangian two-phase flow analysis of SSME HPOTP nozzle plug trajectories. I - Methodology

A computer code has been developed for the analysis of SSME (Space Shuttle Main Engine) HPOTP (High Pressure Oxidizer Turbo Pump) nozzle plug trajectories in the turnaround duct downstream of the turbine. The algorithm is based on a combined Eulerian-Lagrangian analysis originally developed for the study of two-phase flows. The Lagrangian part of this analysis has been enhanced to include three-dimensional particle motion and the effect of particle-wall collisions in complex geometries (with a large number of boundaries). The sensitivity of the nozzle plug trajectories to a variety of parameters has been determined, via the qualitative analysis of a select number of computed trajectories. The results of extensive parametric studies have been reported in a companion paper.

De Jong, Frederik J.↗

Analysis of the Hydrodynamics and Heat Transfer Aspects of Microgravity Two-Phase Flows

Experimental results for void fractions, flow regimes, and heat transfer rates in two-phase, liquid-gas flows are summarized in this paper. The data was collected on-board NASA's KC-135 reduced gravity aircraft in a 9.525 mm circular tube (i.d.), uniformly heated at the outer surface. Water and air flows were examined as well as three glycerol/water solutions and air. Results are reported for the water-air data.

Rezkallah, Kamiel S.↗

Dynamics of face and annular seals with two-phase flow

A detailed study was made of face and annular seals under conditions where boiling, i.e., phase change of the leaking fluid, occurs within the seal. Many seals operate in this mode because of flashing due to pressure drop and/or heat input from frictional heating. High pressure, water pumps, industrial chemical pumps, and cryogenic pumps are mentioned as a few of many applications. The initial motivation was the LOX-GOX seals for the space shuttle main engine, but the study was expanded to include any face or annular seal where boiling occurs. Some of the distinctive behavior characteristics of two-phase seals were discussed, particularly their axial stability. While two-phase seals probably exhibit instability to disturbances of other degrees of freedom such as wobble, etc., under certain conditions, such analyses are too complex to be treated at present. Since an all liquid seal (with parallel faces) has a neutral axial stiffness curve, and is stabilized axially by convergent coning, other degrees of freedom stability analyses are necessary. However, the axial stability behavior of the two-phase seal is always a consideration no matter how well the seal is aligned and regardless of the speed. Hence, axial stability is thought of as the primary design consideration for two-phase seals and indeed the stability behavior under sub-cooling variations probably overshadows other concerns. The main thrust was the dynamic analysis of axial motion of two-phase face seals, principally the determination of axial stiffness, and the steady behavior of two-phase annular seals. The main conclusions are that seals with two-phase flow may be unstable if improperly balanced. Detailed theoretical analyses of low (laminar) and high (turbulent) leakage seals are presented along with computer codes, parametric studies, and in particular a simplified PC based code that allows for rapid performance prediction. A simplified combined computer code for the performance prediction over the laminar and turbulent ranges of a two-phase seal is described and documented. The analyses, results, and computer codes are summarized.

Hughes, William F.↗

Two-Phase Flow Technology Developed and Demonstrated for the Vision for Exploration

NASA s vision for exploration will once again expand the bounds of human presence in the universe with planned missions to the Moon and Mars. To attain the numerous goals of this vision, NASA will need to develop technologies in several areas, including advanced power-generation and thermal-control systems for spacecraft and life support. The development of these systems will have to be demonstrated prior to implementation to ensure safe and reliable operation in reduced-gravity environments. The Two-Phase Flow Facility (T(PHI) FFy) Project will provide the path to these enabling technologies for critical multiphase fluid products. The safety and reliability of future systems will be enhanced by addressing focused microgravity fluid physics issues associated with flow boiling, condensation, phase separation, and system stability, all of which are essential to exploration technology. The project--a multiyear effort initiated in 2004--will include concept development, normal-gravity testing (laboratories), reduced gravity aircraft flight campaigns (NASA s KC-135 and C-9 aircraft), space-flight experimentation (International Space Station), and model development. This project will be implemented by a team from the NASA Glenn Research Center, QSS Group, Inc., ZIN Technologies, Inc., and the Extramural Strategic Research Team composed of experts from academia.

Sankovic, John M.↗

The stability of two-phase flow over a swept-wing

We use numerical and asymptotic techniques to study the stability of a two-phase air/water flow above a flat porous plate. This flow is a model of the boundary layer which forms on a yawed cylinder and can be used as a useful approximation to the air flow over swept wings during heavy rainfall. We show that the interface between the water and air layers can significantly destabilize the flow, leading to traveling wave disturbances which move along the attachment line. This instability occurs for lower Reynolds numbers than in the case of the absence of a water layer. We also investigate the instability of inviscid stationary modes. We calculate the effective wavenumber and orientation of the stationary disturbance when the fluids have identical physical properties. Using perturbation methods we obtain corrections due to a small stratification in viscosity, thus quantifying the interfacial effects. Our analytical results are in agreement with the numerical solution which we obtain for arbitrary fluid properties.

Coward, Adrian↗

Two-phase flow research using the DC-9/KC-135 apparatus

Low-gravity gas-liquid flow research can be conducted aboard the NASA Lewis Research Center DC-9 or the Johnson Space Center KC-135. Air and water solutions serve as the test liquids in cylindrical test sections with constant or variable inner diameters of approximately 2.54 cm and lengths of up to 3.0 m. Superficial velocities range from 0.1 to 1.1 m/sec for liquids and from 0.1 to 25 m/sec for air. Flow rate, differential pressure, void fraction, film thickness, wall shear stress, and acceleration data are measured and recorded at data rates of up to 1000 Hz throughout the 20-sec duration of the experiment. Flow is visualized with a high-speed video system. In addition, the apparatus has a heat-transfer capability whereby sensible heat is transferred between the test-section wall and a subcooled liquid phase so that the heat-transfer characteristics of gas-liquid two-phase flows can be determined.

McQuillen, John B.↗

Two phase flow LH2 pump inducers

Design, performance characteristics and testing of two-phase hydrogen pump inducer for use in future spacecraft systems

King, J. A.↗