Responsible Center: NASA GRC
Grant Monitor: Chao, David
Center Contact: 216-433-8320 david.f.chao@nasa.gov
Unique ID: 15729
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Solicitation / Funding Source: 2022 Physical Sciences NNH22ZDA001N-PSI E.8 Physical Sciences Informatics
Grant/Contract No.: 80NSSC24K0193
Project Type: Ground
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No. of Post Docs: 1
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Task Description: |
Current state-of-the-art allows for simulation of liquid-vapor phase change and thermal management of large (1 to 10 meter diameter), low-gravity orbiting propellant depots (LH2 and LOx) for a few seconds with weeks-to-months of computational time. Part of the computational cost arises from having to resolve microscale features (10e-6 meters) on a dynamic liquid-vapor interface (ullage waves and liquid slosh) in order to capture local phase change and heat transfer. The result is an extremely fine mesh on a very large computational domain. The objective of the proposed work is to develop a reduced-order interface model capable of capturing all the relevant physics of interfacial dynamics for two-phase flow in low gravity. We intend to expand a non-linear evolution of the interface using a Eulerian vortex sheet model implemented on an unfitted finite element mesh. The interfacial model will be formulated to integrate mass, momentum, and energy exchange at the interface into an evolution equation for a vortex sheet. The unique configuration, test conditions, and data (imaging and thermal) of the Constrained Vapor Bubble (CVB) experiment conducted on the International Space Station (ISS) can isolate several important instability physical mechanisms, such as Marangoni stresses. CVB data, without the overpowering effect of gravity, will enable incorporation and validation of the nuances of unstable interfacial dynamics to the reduced-order interface model. |
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Research Impact/Earth Benefits: |
The new computational method for modeling an evaporating and condensing interface will advance our understanding of cryogenic hydrogen storage, which will benefit the overall hydrogen economy. |