Theoretical and Numerical Study of Bubble Blocking in Wetted Hierarchical Porous Structures

IF 1.3 4区工程技术 Q2 ENGINEERING, AEROSPACE

Microgravity Science and Technology Pub Date : 2025-05-01 DOI:10.1007/s12217-025-10176-6

Chengcheng Chen, Wubing Miao, Ran Xu, Ye Wang, Jingyi Wu, Guang Yang

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Abstract

Porous media are widely used for gas–liquid phase separation in micro-gravity, but decreasing pore radius often results in both increased critical pressure for bubble penetration and increased flow resistance through the pores. To address this issue, the present study investigates the bubble dynamics within a hierarchical porous structure to optimize phase separation performance. A theoretical model was developed by analyzing the force balance on an isolated gas bubble to predict critical pressure. The Volume of Fluid (VOF) method was utilized to simulate bubble movement at the pore scale, with critical pressure determined by varying the pressure differential between the inlet and outlet. The effects of bubble radius, pore radius, pore length, and secondary pore location on the critical pressure and critical flow rate were analyzed. Hierarchical pores were found to improve the phase separation performance compared to single stage pores. Specifically, the presence of a secondary pore with pore length and radius of 30 μm increased the critical pressure by 110% and the critical flow rate by 26% compared to a single stage pore with a pore radius of 50 μm.

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含湿分层多孔结构中气泡阻塞的理论与数值研究

多孔介质在微重力条件下广泛用于气液分离，但孔隙半径的减小往往会导致气泡穿透临界压力的增大和通过孔隙的流动阻力的增大。为了解决这一问题，本研究研究了分层多孔结构内的气泡动力学，以优化相分离性能。通过分析孤立气泡上的力平衡，建立了预测临界压力的理论模型。采用流体体积法（Volume of Fluid， VOF）模拟气泡在孔隙尺度上的运动，通过改变进出口压差来确定临界压力。分析了气泡半径、孔隙半径、孔隙长度和二次孔隙位置对临界压力和临界流量的影响。与单级孔相比，分级孔具有更好的相分离性能。其中，与孔径为50 μm的单级孔隙相比，孔径为30 μm的二次孔隙的存在使临界压力提高了110%，临界流量提高了26%。

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来源期刊

Microgravity Science and Technology 工程技术-工程：宇航

CiteScore

3.50

自引率

44.40%

发文量

期刊介绍： Microgravity Science and Technology – An International Journal for Microgravity and Space Exploration Related Research is a is a peer-reviewed scientific journal concerned with all topics, experimental as well as theoretical, related to research carried out under conditions of altered gravity. Microgravity Science and Technology publishes papers dealing with studies performed on and prepared for platforms that provide real microgravity conditions (such as drop towers, parabolic flights, sounding rockets, reentry capsules and orbiting platforms), and on ground-based facilities aiming to simulate microgravity conditions on earth (such as levitrons, clinostats, random positioning machines, bed rest facilities, and micro-scale or neutral buoyancy facilities) or providing artificial gravity conditions (such as centrifuges). Data from preparatory tests, hardware and instrumentation developments, lessons learnt as well as theoretical gravity-related considerations are welcome. Included science disciplines with gravity-related topics are: − materials science − fluid mechanics − process engineering − physics − chemistry − heat and mass transfer − gravitational biology − radiation biology − exobiology and astrobiology − human physiology