Thermocapillary simulation of single bubble dynamics in zero gravity

The lack of significant buoyancy effects in zero gravity conditions poses an issue with fluid transfer in a stagnant liquid. In this paper bubble movement in a stagnant liquid is analysed and presented numerically using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach. The governing continuum conservation equations for two phase flow are solved using the commercial software package Ansys-Fluent v.13 and the Volume of Fluid (VOF) method is used to track the liquid/gas interface in 2D and 3D domains. The simulation results are in reasonable agreement with the earlier experimental observations, the VOF algorithm is found to be a valuable tool for studying the phenomena of gas–liquid interaction. The flow is driven via Marangoni influence induced by the temperature difference which in turn drives the bubble from the cold to the hot region. A range of thermal Reynolds (Re_T) and Marangoni numbers (Ma_T) are selected for the numerical simulations, specifically Re_T=13–658 and Ma_T=214–10,721 respectively. The results indicate that the inherent velocity of bubbles decreases with an increase of the Marangoni number, a result that is line with the results of previous space experiments (Kang et al., 2008) [1]. An expression for predicting the scaled velocity of bubble has been derived based on the data obtained in the present numerical study. Some three-dimensional simulations are also performed to compare and examine the results with two-dimensional simulations.     

氮气强制对流消除煤油温度分层及其液氮降温系统分析

为找到煤油贮罐降温后的温度分层原因,通过分析煤油贮罐不同深度的温度,结合管道布置走向,发现煤油降温流动过程中存在上部滞流区,导致煤油贮罐形成上部热煤油和下部冷煤油分层。采用鼓泡与泵回流两种方式进行对比试验,结果表明鼓泡能较好消除煤油贮罐在垂直方向上的温度不均,泵回流方式无明显效果。为准确预估降温后的煤油温度,采用不同调温方式进行多次试验,构建了煤油调温目标温度计算模型,作为煤油降温停止的判断准则。鼓泡方法和调温模型已成功应用于天舟一号发射任务,有效保障了煤油推进剂的温度品质。     

一种改进的跨声速旋成体壁面脉动压力经验预测公式

使用大涡模拟（LES）方法对典型整流罩旋成体结构进行非定常数值模拟研究,结果表明引起壁面压力脉动的流场结构随时间和空间变化,不同的流场结构之间相互干扰。同时研究发现,旋成体折角膨胀会造成流动在较短的距离内迅速加减速,同样引起壁面压力脉动。基于上述流动现象,重新划分压力脉动产生区域,通过引入空间修正项,提出一套改进的跨声速旋成体壁面脉动压力经验公式。算例表明,该方法能够显著提高旋成体在跨声速条件下的脉动压力分布的预测精度。     

Thrust modulation of solid propellant rockets by a fluidic vortex valve with secondary combustion

An analytical model for calculation of the thrust and pressure modulation of a solid propellant rocket by means of a fluidic vortex valve with secondary combustion has been developed. Thrust control by the vortex valve method was found superior to the axial injection of control flow. Addition of oxygen in the injected flow improves the energetic performance of the system as well as the thrust modulation capability. Experiments have been conducted using a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen as the injection gas. The two main parameters investigated in a series of experiments were the oxygen percentage in the injection gas and the ratio between the mass flow rates of the control gas and the solid propellant combustion products. The results show an increase of thrust by a factor of 2 for a 25% addition in mass flow rate by secondary injection at optimal conditions.     

垂直上升管内气液两相泡状流的存在条件

文章对垂直上升管内气液两相泡状流的存在条件进行了研究。对重力自循环的流动机理进行了理论分析,指出了泡状流的流型转变机理,并分别从Hewitt-Roberts流型图、Taitel泡状流与弹状流的判别式、泡状流存在的最小管径Barnea模型3个不同角度分析并验证了某空间模拟器的液氮制冷系统结构的合理性。     

凹槽参数对通气空泡融合的影响

水下航行体通气技术形成的空泡能够有效降低航行阻力并调节运动姿态,但通气空泡在航行体表面不易融合,空泡形态不稳定,因此开展通气空泡的融合控制具有重要工程应用价值。采用有限体积法进行数值计算,研究了航行体孔后开槽对通气空泡融合的控制作用,并探究了不同凹槽参数对通气空泡融合的影响。研究发现,凹槽改变了空泡的流场特性,槽内产生的旋涡卷吸流经凹槽的气体,使槽内气体向航行体周向发展并融合;当槽宽取0.125D,孔槽间距取0.075D时,对空泡融合的促进以及稳压效果最佳。     

The feasibility of Doppler monitoring during EVA

During extravehicular activities (EVA) outside the spacecraft, astronauts have to work under reduced pressure in a space suit. This pressure reduction induces the risk of decompression sickness (DCS) by the formation of gas bubbles from excess nitrogen dissolved in the organism by breathing air at normal pressure. Under laboratory conditions the gas bubbles moving in the blood stream can be detected by the non-invasive ultrasonic Doppler method. By early detection of excessive bubble formation the development of DCS symptoms may be prevented by early application of preventative measures. The method could also be useful when applied in the space suit in order to compare the results of laboratory tests with operational results, because there is a discrepancy according to the DCS risk of laboratory experiments and actual EVA missions, where no symptoms have been reported yet. A prototype Doppler sensor has been developed and implemented in the Russian Orlan suit. To investigate the feasibility of this method under simulated space conditions, the equipment has been used in a series of 12 thermovacuum chamber tests with suited subjects, where intravenous bubble formation was compared to unsuited control experiments. In more than 50% of the suited tests good Doppler recordings could be achieved. In some cases with unsatisfying results the signal could be improved by breathholding. Although the results do not yet allow any conclusion about a possible difference between suited and unsuited subjects due to the small number of tests performed, the method proved its feasibility for use in EVA suits and should be further developed to enhance the safety of EVA procedures.     

Microgravity gas–liquid flow through packed beds

Analysis of possible physical mechanism involved in the process of transition of bubble-to-pulse flow regime in cocurrent gas–liquid flow through a packed bed in microgravity demonstrates that the transition can be described by the key dimensionless group Suratman number and the ratio of gas to liquid Reynolds numbers. This result establishes a physical basis to the existing empirical transition equation which is also based on the same dimensionless groups. Furthermore, the concepts of driving-to-resistance force ratio and pore-level bubble flow mechanism have been utilized to explore the basis of the existing modified friction factor correlation for two-phase flow through a packed bed under microgravity.     

Numerical solution of nonlinear heat problem with moving boundary

Two phase gas–liquid flow in pipes is widely spread in space applications: bubble flows appear in cryogenic components transport through fuel/oxidant supply lines. Another important application is based on the fact that in liquid flows with small bubbles a close contact between the two phases occurs resulting in high rates of transfer between them. The compactness of a system makes it ideally suited to serve as a space-based two-phase bio-reactor which forms an important unit in environmental control and life support system deployed onboard. A numerical method was developed for solving a nonlinear problem of thermal interaction between a spherical gas bubble and surrounding liquid. The system of equations for describing this interaction was formulated. It includes ordinary and nonlinear partial differential equations. The problem was solved using finite-difference technique by dividing the system into spherical layers inside the bubble and employing the new variable which “freezes” the moving boundary of the bubble. A numerical solution is obtained for the problem of radial bubble motion induced by a sudden pressure change in the liquid—a situation which corresponds to the behavior of bubbles beyond a shock wave front when the latter enters a bubble curtain.     

三维侧压高超声速进气道不启动流场试验与数值模拟研究

对某构型三维侧压高超声速进气道开展了Ma4的自由射流试验和数值仿真,研究 了低马赫数下不启动流场的流动机理。观测到了具有“对涡”结构的底板油流图案,并得到 了分离区的范围和内部流动特征。分析得出,“对涡”结构油流图案和流场中部分离区的形 成是唇口激波和内收缩形成的逆压梯度作用于侧板激波形成的流场中部低能流区的结果。根 据试验和数值模拟结果给出了流场结构示意图,并为下一步进气道构形设计和性能改善工作 提出了建议。     

加热器在冲压发动机试验技术中的应用研究

直连试验技术是冲压发动机研究中一项非常关键的技术,论证分析了如何模拟直连试验模型进口流量、总温及总压等关键参数,并以此为基础研制了一种高室压、大流量及耐高温的空气加热器,通过对该加热器和试验台相关组件的试验研究,结果表明以空气、氧气及煤油组织燃烧的加热器工作性能良好,解决了冲压发动机直连试验这项关键技术。     

Application of the mechanical oscillator technique to the investigation of EVA decompression

The ultrasonic bubble detection technique has been used as a versatile tool in the investigation of hypobaric decompression procedures for the last two decades. However, this method can only detect relatively large bubbles > 30-50 micrometers (usually in venous blood) and not the very first stages of bubble formation. Recently, the mechanical oscillator technique has been applied in air diving trials in order to detect small blood density changes due to hypothetical fluid shifts. However, sharp density drops were found in the decompression process, and these have been attributed to gas bubble formation. In this study, this method was applied together with Doppler controls to a series of altitude decompressions to 300 and 500 hPa, which represents the range of EVA operational pressures currently used or planned. Six subjects participated in both series; the oscillator sample tube could be pressurized. By the application of pressure on a blood sample containing questionable gas bubbles, these are reduced in volume, like in recompression therapy, and thus the density of the sample is increased. This effect has been shown in all 6 subjects undergoing decompression to 300 hPa, whereas in the 500 hPa series only 3 out of 6 subjects corresponded with gas phase formation immediately after decompression. Typically, Doppler bubbles appeared only after some latency time between 20 and 60 min; after this time, the density effect had nearly vanished. It is concluded that the mechanical oscillator technique represents a complementary research instrument to the Doppler method, because it is able to deliver a quantitative resolution of the early stage of gas phase formation.     

表面张力贮箱泡破点盲测技术研究

通过对表面张力贮箱结构、泡破点测试难点分析,提出了采用微压闭环控制技术解决测试过程管理装置内腔压力维持准平衡状态难题的技术途径,研制的贮箱泡破点盲测系统具有自动控制、自动判读及测试精度高等特点,经试验验证该技术满足贮箱泡破点盲测要求,已在型号研制中得到应用。     

卫星真空热试验用红外加热笼工艺设计

文章主要介绍了红外加热笼在结构设计中如何防止加热带热变形问题,阐述了加热带喷涂黑漆过程采用的防污染工艺以及为了防止相邻加热区间热流相互干扰所采取的措施。试验证明其工艺设计效果明显,这些工艺措施的实行,不仅提高了外热流模拟的精度和可靠性,而且保证了型号试验的顺利完成。     

An experimental study of flame turbulence

An experimental study of the turbulence generated by an enclosed, premixed, propane-air flame has been carried out in a combustion chamber of 25 × 20 cm cross section. Care was taken to reduce any effects of the axial pressure gradient. By suitable changes in the grid geometry, the turbulence intensity and scale of the approach flow were varied independently. The results of these experiments show that a strong link exists between the mechanisms of turbulent flame propagation and flame-generated turbulence. Thus three distinct regions may be identified, each having different characteristics in regard to the effects of turbulence scale on flame-generated turbulence. For each region, a physical mechanism for flame-generated turbulence is proposed. In particular, it is observed that over a wide range of intensity and scale of the approach turbulence, (a) the relative turbulence intensity in the flame zone varies in the range 1–2 times the relative turbulence intensity of the cold flow, (b) in the region of intermediate turbulence levels ( ) the flame-generated turbulence intensity reaches a minimum value which is equal to the approach stream turbulence intensity, (c) the flame-generated turbulence intensity reaches a maximum value when the rate of production of turbulent vorticity is equal to about half its rate of viscous dissipation.     

跨大气层和空间区域飞行器的液体推进剂管理

根据大气层飞行环境与机动飞行特点,以及空间飞行环境与液体推进剂特点,分析了跨大气层和空间区域飞行器的保证重力场和失重状态下均无夹气液体输送、控制液体推进剂质心位移、剩余推进剂空间排放和重复使用等液体推进剂管理技术要求。阐述了相应的关键技术,如包括无夹气输送、液体质心位移控制、失重状态下的流体动力、参数确定和结构设计等管理模式确定,以及包括模型参数确定、模型、状态模拟和验证等的管理模式试验。     

一种嵌入式网络视频服务器的研究与实现

介绍一种基于嵌入式处理器的网络视频服务器。该系统采用Motorola ARM9处理器和嵌入式L inux操作系统,利用软件实现图像的采集、压缩和网络传输。试验证明,该方案用于视频监控是可行的。     

Dual-frequency ultrasound for detecting and sizing bubbles

ISS construction and Mars exploration require extensive extravehicular activity (EVA), exposing crewmembers to increased decompression sickness risk. Improved bubble detection technologies could help increase EVA efficiency and safety. Creare Inc. has developed a bubble detection and sizing instrument using dual-frequency ultrasound. The device emits “pump” and “image” signals at two frequencies. The low-frequency pump signal causes an appropriately-sized bubble to resonate. When the image frequency hits a resonating bubble, mixing signals are returned at the sum and difference of the two frequencies. To test the feasibility of transcutaneous intravascular detection, intravascular bubbles in anesthetized swine were produced using agitated saline and decompression stress. Ultrasonic transducers on the chest provided the two frequencies. Mixing signals were detected transthoracically in the right atrium using both methods. A histogram of estimated bubble sizes could be constructed. Bubbles can be detected and sized transthoracically in the right atrium using dual-frequency ultrasound.     

Determination of aerodynamic forces on satellites by theory and wind tunnel experiments

Theoretical and experimental aspects of satellite aerodynamics in free molecular flow have been studied. A FORTRAN-program package has been developed to calculate free molecular aerodynamic force and moment coefficients of general and special convex shapes, using an approximation of the surfaces by plane triangular elements.As a special case for concave bodies, the drag of a satellite of TD1A-similar shape has been investigated by an approximate theory and by wind tunnel experiments. Comparisons are made between experimental results, the approximate theory and exact theory.     

航天器公用空间搭载试验平台设计

我国航天器搭载试验包括空间材料实验、航天医学实验和航天新技术验证试验,具有数据量大、需要实时传输、工作模式多样等特点。文章根据试验项目的需求,设计了应用于低轨道航天器的支持各类空间搭载试验项目的公用试验平台。地面测试验证和在轨运行情况表明,该平台在不影响飞行器平台安全的同时,满足了对试验项目的工作控制、遥测监视及试验数据传输管理的任务要求。