Experimental study of wavy-annular flow in a rectangular microchannel using LIF method

This article aims at studying gas-liquid flow in a rectangular microchannel with a high aspect ratio (200 × 2045 μm). Liquid and gas phases were 95% ethanol and nitrogen mixture. Experimental flow characteristics are obtained using high-speed visualization and laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) methods. Using the LIF method for wavy-annular flow, the average film thickness, liquid film distribution, and liquid film width were measured. The dependences of the liquid film width and the average film thickness on gas superficial velocity are presented in graphical form and analyzed. An increase in gas superficial velocity causes growth of the liquid film width and thickness of the liquid film, which indicates the process of liquid transfer from the menisci area to the liquid film. For different liquid velocities and the same gas superficial velocities, close values of averaged liquid film thickness were observed for flow with 2D waves and 3D waves on liquid film.

A Novel Concept for Air Removal in Two-Phase Immersion Cooling Systems

A 10 kW scale model of a decoupled immersion cooling rig is constructed in order to serve as a testbed for immersion cooling, using 3M FC3284 dielectric cooling fluid. A species separator is constructed and demonstrates an ability to remove air from the flowfield before the condensable gases enter the condenser vessel, verified with Schlieren photography. The condenser underperformed significantly compared to initial sizing calculations using the NTU method, and film thickness of FC3284 liquid on the surface of the condenser was determined to be the cause due to low thermal conductivity of the liquid. The average film thickness on the surface of the condenser is calculated. In addition to the performance detriment of the film, air is also shown to reduce the condenser’s performance. The height of a transient stratification line is measured and compared against condenser power. Condenser efficacy losses are large and variable based on the concentration of air in the condenser vessel. A low vs high-mounted boiler is investigated. The mounting of the boiler has an effect on how much vapor is lost during a maintenance event. Finally, a comparison of the test rig’s overall cooling efficiency is made with various air-cooled datacenters by tracking energy consumption to cool a given IT load. This also translates to a reduction in carbon emissions.

Patterns formed in a thin film with spatially homogeneous and non-homogeneous Derjaguin disjoining pressure

We consider patterns formed in a two-dimensional thin film on a planar substrate with a Derjaguin disjoining pressure and periodic wettability stripes. We rigorously clarify some of the results obtained numerically by Honisch et al. [Langmuir 31: 10618–10631, 2015] and embed them in the general theory of thin-film equations. For the case of constant wettability, we elucidate the change in the global structure of branches of steady-state solutions as the average film thickness and the surface tension are varied. Specifically we find, by using methods of local bifurcation theory and the continuation software package AUTO, both nucleation and metastable regimes. We discuss admissible forms of spatially non-homogeneous disjoining pressure, arguing for a form that differs from the one used by Honisch et al., and study the dependence of the steady-state solutions on the wettability contrast in that case.

Further Increasing the Accuracy of Characterization of a Thin Dielectric or Semiconductor Film on a Substrate from Its Interference Transmittance Spectrum

Three means are investigated for further increasing the accuracy of the characterization of a thin film on a substrate, from the transmittance spectrum T(λ) of the specimen, based on the envelope method. Firstly, it is demonstrated that the accuracy of characterization, of the average film thickness d¯ and the thickness non-uniformity ∆d over the illuminated area, increases, employing a simple dual transformation utilizing the product T(λ)xs(λ), where Tsm(λ) is the smoothed spectrum of T(λ) and xs(λ) is the substrate absorbance. Secondly, an approach is proposed for selecting an interval of wavelengths, so that using envelope points only from this interval provides the most accurate characterization of d¯ and ∆d, as this approach is applicable no matter whether the substrate is transparent or non-transparent. Thirdly, the refractive index n(λ) and the extinction coefficient k(λ) are computed, employing curve fitting by polynomials of the optimized degree of 1/λ, instead of by previously used either polynomial of the optimized degree of λ or a two-term exponential of λ. An algorithm is developed, applying these three means, and implemented, to characterize a-Si and As98Te2 thin films. Record high accuracy within 0.1% is achieved in the computation of d¯ and n(λ) of these films.

The Grooved Lip Effect on Reciprocating Hydraulic Rod Seal Performances in Transient Condition: Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication

It is commonly known that the sealing performance of dynamic seals is significantly influenced by the surface finish. To reduce friction effect and leakage ratio, new generations of grooved lip or shaft have emerged, but only two computational models were performed up to now with a textured elastomeric lip: spiral groove in the axial direction or micro-cavities according to the circumferential direction. However, if the numerical results have confirmed the slight effect of the grooved lip on the rotary lip seal performances, it seems relevant to investigate the influence of such grooves on the reciprocating hydraulic rod seal behavior.Thus, the scope of this work is to perform a parametric study of the grooved lip throughout a one-dimensional elastohydrodynamic model by taking into account the elasticity of the lip and the shaft roughness.After confirming the validity of the current model, numerical simulations have been performed and compared with experiments. The effect of lip grooves on the hydraulic rod seal behavior in outstroke and instroke shaft motion has been underlined. Thereby, it is shown that the leakage and the average film thickness are sensible to both the depth and the density of the lip groove. Additionally, a slight effect of the pattern shape is observed on the friction force.

Effect of Adding Stone Sludge as Sand Replacement on Fresh Properties of Mortar

Shortage of river sand and disposal of stone sludge are the problem of the construction and stone product industries, respectively. Utilization of stone sludge in mortar is one of the feasible strategies to solve these two problems. To study the effects of addition of stone sludge on the performance of mortar, 20 mixes of stone sludge powder mortar with various water/cement ratios and various stone sludge powder contents were produced for flowability measurement. To further study the governing mechanism of flowability and the packing densities of the solid proportions of the 20 mortar mixes were measured. Based on the packing density results, the average film thickness (AFT) of the 20 mortar mixes were calculated for flowability indication. Results proved that addition of stone sludge powder as sand replacement would decrease the flowability. The flowability was mainly governed by the AFT.

Evaluation of a vertical downward water film thickness using visualization and image recognition techniques

The present work is focused on the experimental study of a vertical downward annular flow to determine the thickness and stability of a falling film water flow. For this purpose, it was designed and implemented an experimental set up to generate the annular two-phase flow pattern, provided with an injection head with a special geometry to induce a liquid film inside a cylinder. Due to the small dimensions, the film was visualized using a pulsated laser to illuminate the region and the pictures were taken with a high-speed camera. This technique allowed the determination of the falling film thickness by means of an algorithm to recognize image contours. In some of the studied cases, a concurrent air flow was injected in the center of the cylinder in order to evaluate its influence on the interfacial hydrodynamics of the liquid film. Average film thickness were obtained for different Reynolds numbers in different axial observation points, and it was observed that the liquid film annular area and the shape of the header to inject the water, are important factors for the surface characteristic and thickness of the film, and its stability as well. The experimental results show that the standard deviation increases in proportion to the average film thickness, especially in the turbulent regime.

Conditions of Lift-Off and Film Thickness in Squeeze Film Levitation

An experimental test rig has been used to analyze the lift-off condition of a squeeze film thrust bearing. It is composed of a vibrating flat plate linked to a piezo-actuator, a cylindrical mass, and two displacement sensors. The frequency and magnitude of oscillation are varied as well as the mass of the solid, to identify the lift-off conditions. The experimental results are compared to numerical simulations. The model solves the transient compressible Reynolds equation coupled with Newton's law for the levitated mass. The model is then used to extend the experimental results to other operating conditions. A dimensionless analysis of the results is performed to study the lift-off conditions and the average film thickness during levitation.

Effect of Surface Topography on Average Film Thickness between the End Faces for Mechanical Seal

In order to research and master the effect of surface topography on average film thickness between the end faces for mechanical seals, average film thickness fractal model between the end faces for mechanical seal was established using fractal parameters charactering surface topography characteristics, based on contact fractal model of the end face for mechanical seal, and solving micro-void volume. Effect of surface topography fractal parameters on average film thickness between the end faces for B104a-70 mechanical seal was analyzed by theoretical calculation. The results showed that fractal dimension D and characteristic length scale G of the end face had a great influence on the average film thickness h0, and h0 decreased with the increased of D or decreased of G; h0 decreased rapidly with the increased of D or with the decreased of G when the end face was coarser, however, it decreased slowly with the increased of D or with the decreased of G when the end face was smoother. In normal working parameters and surface topography fractal parameters range, average film thickness between end faces was in the range of 0.27~1.7μm. Studying on the effect of the change of surface topography on average film thickness has an important significance on the predicting of operating characteristics of end faces during actual operating and the design of end faces for contact mechanical seal.

The Influence of Spraying Angle on Robotic Trajectory Planning

The influence of roll angle on coating uniformity is analyzed by establishing the formula between the average film thickness and it. The functional relations of coating uniformity to yaw angle and roll angle are obtained by measuring the average film thickness under the diferrent angles. The minor changes of spray angle have little influence on coating uniformity, and the tracking error of robotic spray gun is very small, therefore it can be ignored when studying robotic trajectory planning. The alteration of spraying angle, spraying distance and moving speed of spray gun can lead to the change of coating thickness, so optimized combination of them can improve coating uniformity.