Compound Capillary Flows in Complex Containers: Drop Tower Test Results

Bolleddula, Daniel; Chen, Yongkang; Semerjian, Ben; Tavan, Noel; Weislogel, Mark

doi:10.1007/s12217-010-9213-x

Cited by 18 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…It is important as the amount of fluid involved in the flow is much more significant as compared to other configurations. The dynamics of such flow is addressed by Bolleddula et al (2009) in this issue.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Studies of the Wetting of Gaps in Weightlessness

Collicott

Chen

2010

Microgravity Sci. Technol.

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The geometry of a thin sheet metal vane terminating near a wall in a surface tension propellant management device (PMD) is common in devices designed by various people. A research program into the capillary fluid physics of the common vane-wall gap began in 1998 with the arrival of the second author at the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University. Drop tower experiments, Surface Evolver computations, and analysis were combined to explore the details of the fluid behavior in the vane-wall gap geometry. Results of four vane-wall gap experiment topics: critical wetting, advance rates, sensitivity to vane orientation, and effect of imperfect initial conditions, are discussed here. This work led to a desire by Weislogel to incorporate this type of geometry into his "Capillary Fluids Experiment" (CFE) that operated flawlessly on the International Space Station in 2006 and 2007. It is found that the wetting of vanewall gaps is predicted correctly through use of the critical wetting analysis of Concus and Finn. Furthermore, the dynamics of the wetting flows are found to have scaling of flow rates versus time similar to those known for capillary advances in solid corners. In some

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Studies of the Wetting of Gaps in Weightlessness

Collicott

Chen

2010

Microgravity Sci. Technol.

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“…When the gravity is turned off, given that the generalized Concus-Finn condition ≤ 0 is satisfied, part of the surface on o advances to form an advancing bulk meniscus while the part of the surface on o forms a receding bulk meniscus. 5 The advancing meniscus rises to infinity, i.e., l = l(t) → ∞ to establish the C-singular solution. However, before this ultimate condition, in an asymptotic sense the advancing bulk meniscus is likely to establish a quasisteady state with its own constant mean curvature.…”

Section: Analytic Formulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(2.9) or (2.11) can be used to calculate H o . The pure bulk shift flow in finite containers for this geometry has been studied both analytically and experimentally as briefly summarized by Bolleddula et al 5 In that study it is shown that the displacement of the advancing meniscus minimum l is proportional to t 1/2 such that conditions, and advancing non-uniform dynamic contact line and contact angle effects. As a start, Tavan 19 estimates the mean curvatures of the menisci by the radii of the cylinders.…”

Section: A Asymmetric Conjoined Circular Cylindersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Typical examples include flows along interior corners 1-3 of polygonal containers and vane-wall gaps in circular cylinders. 4 Consisting of single or multiple advancing menisci of the same hierarchic level and normally one receding meniscus, such flows are often considered elementary as compared to compound capillary flows such as those recently studied by Bolleddula et al 5 A "compound capillary flow" consists of capillarity-driven flows at different hierarchic levels over both local and global length scales with widely varying time scales. A typifying example of a large length-scale compound capillary flow was recently observed during the Capillary Flow Experiment (CFE) Vane-Gap experiments performed on the International Space Station 6 (ISS).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A mean curvature model for capillary flows in asymmetric containers and conduits

2012

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Capillarity-driven flows resulting from critical geometric wetting criterion are observed to yield significant shifts of the bulk fluid from one side of the container to the other during “zero gravity” experiments. For wetting fluids, such bulk shift flows consist of advancing and receding menisci sometimes separated by secondary capillary flows such as rivulet-like flows along gaps. Here we study the mean curvature of an advancing meniscus in hopes of approximating a critical boundary condition for fluid dynamics solutions. It is found that the bulk shift flows behave as if the bulk menisci are either “connected” or “disconnected.” For the connected case, an analytic method is developed to calculate the mean curvature of the advancing meniscus in an asymptotic sense. In contrast, for the disconnected case the method to calculate the mean curvature of the advancing and receding menisci uses a well-established procedure. Both disconnected and connected bulk shifts can occur as the first tier flow of more complex compound capillary flows. Preliminary comparisons between the analytic method and the results of drop tower experiments are encouraging.

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“…A series of stable equilibrium interface and relocation time was obtained. Bolleddula et al [19] investigated the capillary flow phenomena using drop towers and concluded that compound capillary flows occurred spontaneously and simultaneously over local and global length scales. Li et al [20] studied the capillary flow in an asymmetric interior corner in a vane-type surface tension tank.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Testing Liquid Distribution in a Vane-Type Propellant Tank under Conditions of Microgravity Using a Drop Tower Test

Liu¹,

Li²,

Wen³

et al. 2020

International Journal of Aerospace Engineering

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Propellant management devices (PMDs) are a key component used to manage liquid propellant in a propellant tank under zero gravity conditions. A microgravity drop tower test system was established to investigate the performance of a PMD. A single module was used for the experiments, and the microgravity level was less than 3 × 10 − 3 g . Anhydrous ethanol was used as the simulate liquid. Different volume fractions of liquid were used to study the influence of the PMD on performance management. Experiments were conducted with the position of the container oriented in different directions. Changes in the gas-liquid interface were studied during the test. This kind of vane transports liquid through the rectangular area between the vane and the wall. The velocity flows along the vane of different liquid volume fractions in the tank were different at the beginning ( t < 0.8 s ) compared with the end of the test. The liquid relocation time was less than 0.8 s while the liquid volume fraction was larger than 25%. The liquid relocation time was prolonged when the liquid volume fraction was less than 25%. The liquid climbing height along the vane under microgravity increased as the volume fraction of liquid reduced. The climbing velocity of the liquid is half reduction when the liquid volume fraction is small. The time for the liquid transferred from the top of the tank to the liquid outlet can be obtained by climbing velocity. It shows that the maneuverability of the satellite decreases at the end of its life. The above results are applicable to all propellant tank with vertical vanes. These results provide a favorable reference for further optimized design of vertical vane-type propellant tanks.

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Compound Capillary Flows in Complex Containers: Drop Tower Test Results

Cited by 18 publications

References 15 publications

Studies of the Wetting of Gaps in Weightlessness

Studies of the Wetting of Gaps in Weightlessness

A mean curvature model for capillary flows in asymmetric containers and conduits

Testing Liquid Distribution in a Vane-Type Propellant Tank under Conditions of Microgravity Using a Drop Tower Test

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