CFD Analyses of Unsteady Cavitation in Rocket Feed Systems and Flow Control Elements PDF
CFD Analyses of Unsteady Cavitation in Rocket Feed Systems and Flow Control Elements PDF
CFD Analyses of Unsteady Cavitation in Rocket Feed Systems and Flow Control Elements PDF
+
0
0
0
0
t
t fg
k
S
m
m h
S
S
=
( / )
v
Q Q =
v
Q E F
t x y
+ + (1)
(2)
2
m
m
m
m
v
g g g
m m m
m
m
u
P
u u P
v uv
w uw
Q E
u
h h u
k ku
u
+
= =
The vectors Qv, E and S are given above. The
matrix defines the transformation from the
conservative to primitive variables and may further be
preconditioned to obtain an efficient time-marching
scheme.
The source term for the vapor phase arises due to
cavitation where m
t
is the net rate of vapor mass
generation (or condensation), and the corresponding
source term for the energy equation is given as m
t
h
fg
where h
fg
is the change in enthalpy resulting from the
phase change and is a function of the local fluid
temperature. These phase change source terms are
discussed in a later section.
The mixture density, enthalpy, and vapor porosity are
related by the following relations locally in a given cell
volume:
= +
m g g L L
(3)
= +
m m g g g L L L
h h h
1
g L
(4)
= +
g
h
(5)
where
g
,
L
are the physical material densities,
while and
L
h are the sensible enthalpy of the vapor
and liquid phase respectively, and in general are
functions of both the local temperature and pressure. In
our study here, these properties were generated from the
Standard thermodynamic database 12 available from
NIST for pure fluids [6]. The thermodynamic properties
of the fluid where specified using the saturation values
from the table corresponding to the local temperature of
the fluid. Equations (1)-(2) represent a stiff system with
large variations in the acoustic speed that are a function
of the local multi-phase composition. Preconditioning
techniques are used to overcome this stiffness and obtain
an efficient numerical scheme [4].
UNSTEADY CAVITATION MODEL USING CLOUD
SURFACE AREA EQUATION
The new, unsteady cavitation model developed
incorporates formulations for bubble dynamics (e.g.
Rayleigh-Plesset equation) as an integral part of dense
cloud cavitation. By drawing on our experience in dense
spray combustion [7], we track the surface area
associated with the cavitation cloud as it evolves
spatially and temporally. We note that this Eulerian
procedure has been formulated within the premise of a
dense bubble cloud where a large number of bubbles are
present. Bubbles comprising the cloud will be
characterized by their Sauter mean radius, which
preserves the ratio of the surface area and volume for the
bubbly cloud. Thus, the source term for cavitation will
have two independent factors controlling it: a) the net
surface area given by the bubble Sauter mean radius, and
b) the rate of change of the radius, which may be
specified using the Rayleigh-Plesset equation.
The additional equation (shown in 1-D form for
discussion purposes) for the bubble surface area is given
as:
Paper No. 80, CAV2006 Ahuja and Hosangadi 2
g g
t
S S u
s
t x
+ =
(6)
Here s
t
is the source terms to the cloud surface area
equation derived in a manner consistent with the
Rayleigh Plesset equation and is defined later. For
clarity, we repeat the vapor mass conservation, which
was already included as part of the original multi-phase
system (Eqn. (2)),
g g g g
t
u
m
t x
+ =
g g
(7)
The dependent variables S and may be written
as
(8)
2
*4.0* * , *4.0
g g
S N r N = =
3
* * /3.0 r
3* /
g g
r S
where N is the number density of bubbles, and r the
Sauter mean radius of bubbles at each grid point. Thus,
the Sauter mean radius, r, that conserves cloud surface
area and volume is defined as, =
2.0* /
t g g t
t g t
m S r
. Note that
no restriction is placed on the vapor volume fraction
being dilute. Furthermore we do not restrict the number
density of bubbles to be a constant in each cell, and
allow them to convect as governed by the
hydrodynamics.
The source terms for the net vapor mass transfer and
surface area change are given by
s S r r
r
t
t
r
=
=
(9)
where is the rate of change of the radius. To specify
the rate of change of radius , the Rayleigh-Plesset
Equation could be specified as follows:
2
2
2
3 1
( )
2
+ =
i
l
d r dr
r P
dt r dt
2 4
dr
P
r dt
(10)
However this would require the solution of an
additional transport equation for the solution of (dr/dt).
In our study a simplified and approximate form for the
radius change is used:
1/ 2
( )
v
l
P P
P
v
P
v
P
1/ 2
2
3
=
abs dr
dt
(11)
where the sign of the radius change term depends on
whether the bubble is growing or decaying and is
dictated by the sign of the term. Here, is the
vapor pressure, while
CAVITATION ANALYSES OF FLOW THROUGH
ORIFICE
An orifice is routinely used in testing facilities to
step down pressure as well as for flow control and in this
section we analyze the cavitating instability that sets up
in the testing facility (NASA SSC) due to a pump
discharge orifice. The flow rate of liquid hydrogen
through the orifice is 130 lbs/sec at an operating
temperature at 21.7 K. The inlet pipe has a diameter of 6
inches and the orifice throat diameter is 3.26 inches
(with an inlet radius of 0.75 inches). A back pressure
corresponding to 65 psia is maintained on the outlet end
of the configuration and the corresponding vapor
pressure of liquid hydrogen at the operating temperature
is 21.755 psia. Since the flow through the orifice pertains
to a cavitating instability, the simulations in this case
were carried out with unsteady bubbly cavitation model
that was discussed earlier. This cavitation model as
discussed previously solves an additional equation for
the net surface area of the vapor cloud and replicates the
bubble dynamics as represented by the Rayleigh-Plesset
equation. Incorporating this cavitation model in the
simulations permits tracking of vapor clouds as they
convect through the piping downstream of the orifice.
The flow was seeded with micron sized vapor bubbles
and an initial void fraction of 10
-6
.
A snapshot of the instantaneous axial velocity
distribution is shown in Figure 1(a), which indicates the
formation of a primary jet as flow accelerates to
negotiate the orifice. It should be noted that this jet is
representative of a very high Reynolds Number flow
since cryogens such as liquid hydrogen typically have
very low viscosity. Figure 1(b) shows the vorticity
associated with the fringes of this jet and fluctuations in
vorticity lead to pressure oscillations. Figure 1(c)
depicts a snapshot of the pressure distribution with
spatially periodic patterns of low pressure in the pipe
downstream of the orifice. Vorticity production at the lip
of the orifice leads to unsteady shedding and the periodic
formation of these pockets of low pressure. The
sequence of pressure distribution in Figure 2 shows the
periodic formation of these low frequency patterns
downstream of the orifice. When the pressure in these
pockets falls below the vapor pressure cavitation sets in
leading to the formation of vapor clouds that grow and
convect downstream (Figure 3). Interestingly, low
temperature is found in the traveling vapor clouds
(Figure 4) indicating that they are prone to condensation
events and pressure excursions as a result of phase
change.
Surprisingly, large vapor clouds do not shed off a
dominant sheet-like cavity from the lip of the orifice as
seen in conventional cavitation regimes such as ogives
and hydrofoils. Rather, the interaction of low pressure
associated with vorticity in the wake of the orifice with a
bubbly vapor trail leads to the growth and formation of
large vapor clouds almost a diameter aft of the orifice
lip. This phenomenon is not unlike the growth and
formation of vapor clouds in the wake region or tip
vortex of a propeller blade.
P is the instantaneous pressure at
the grid node point at which the cavitation source term is
being computed, and
l
is the liquid density. We again
emphasize that Eqn. (11) provides the phase change for
an individual bubble only while the net mass transfer is
given by Eqn. (9) by accounting for the total surface area
of bubbles present at a given spatial grid location.
Paper No. 80, CAV2006 Ahuja and Hosangadi 3
(a)
(b)
(c)
Figure 1. Instantaneous snapshots of flow solution
through the orifice (a) axial velocity (b) vorticity (c)
pressure distribution.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
Figure 2. Sequence of pressure distributions showing
periodic formation of pockets of low pressure.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
Figure 3. Sequence of void fraction plots showing the
convecting of vapor clouds.
The physics behind tip vortex cavitation was poorly
understood due to the lack of a vapor cavity on the
propeller blade surface. The mechanics of traveling
cavitation and the interaction of vorticity in the wake
with a bubbly vapor trail to form large vapor clouds, as
noticed here can provide important insights into
Paper No. 80, CAV2006 Ahuja and Hosangadi 4
observed cavitation phenomena in ship and submarine
propeller systems.
Figure 4. Instantaneous snapshot of temperature
distribution
The shedding of the vapor clouds in our case is a
fairly periodic phenomenon as evidenced by the
instantaneous void fraction distribution seen in Figure 3.
Furthermore, these clouds are formed in regions of high
vorticity in the shear layer associated with the primary
jet. The growth and development of the vapor clouds be
better explained by the sequence of instantaneous void
fraction contour plots in a blown up region around the
orifice (Figure 5). Here, we see a small cavity formed at
the lip of the orifice with a well-defined gas-liquid
bubbly wake. As the wake encounters a region of low
pressure downstream of the orifice, it leads to sudden
expansion and growth of the vapor cloud. The formation
of the low pressure region a pipe diameter downstream
of the orifice corresponds to the sudden expansion and
growth in the vapor cloud. Figure 6 shows the Fourier
decomposition of pressure traces of two numerical
probes located 5 inches and 10 inches downstream of the
orifice along the piping wall. Both probes show large
scale pressure fluctuations attributed to the highly
dynamic processes of formation and collapse of the
vapor clouds. The frequency spectrum of the pressure
oscillations indicates a cavitation shedding frequency of
80 Hz is excited in both probes with significant energy in
a higher overtone of 320 Hz.
Figure 5. Blowup of region close to orifice showing sequence of instantaneous void fraction distributions.
80 Hz
Hz
7 Hz
325
154
80 Hz
320 Hz
800 Hz
(a) 5 inches downstream of orifice (b) 10 inches downstream of orifice
Figure 6. Fourier decomposition of numerical pressure traces.
Paper No. 80, CAV2006 Ahuja and Hosangadi 5
SIMULATIONS OF TURNING DUCT VENTURI
SYSTEM
The venturi is primarily used as a flow control
device in various propulsive applications and test
facilities. Control in the venturi is exerted through a
cavitation mechanism that under certain operating
conditions can make the mass flow rates through the
venturi insensitive to pressure fluctuations. Previously,
[3] axisymmetric simulations of a cavitating venturi with
liquid oxygen as the operating fluid were carried out
with cryogenic cavitation finite rate mode [4] in
CRUNCH CFD