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Thermocapillary Bubble Oscillations and Migration in a Vibrating Cylinder in a Zero-Gravity Environment

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Abstract

Bubble migration in a vibrating zero gravity environment is numerically investigated using ANSYS-FLUENT software. A 3D CFD model is developed describing the two-phase flow of a nitrogen bubble immersed in a container full of ethanol. The Volume of Fluid (VOF) method and the geometric reconstruction scheme are used to track the gas–liquid interface. The liquid in the container is vibrated horizontally in the x momentum with different frequencies from 0 to 1 Hz, and amplitudes from 0.005 to 0.1 m/s2. The vibration impact on the bubble arrival time to the top and its ensuing dynamic is analyzed. Different bubble trajectory shapes are observed, other than the conventional vertical translation induced by the temperature difference. Compared to the no vibration case, the bubble motion is slightly either accelerated or decelerated for very low vibration amplitudes. For a fixed frequency f = 1 Hz, the bubble takes more time to reach the top with the vibration amplitude increment relatively to the no vibration case. The vibration effect becomes more intense with the Marangoni number decrease when f = 0.2 Hz and Ab = 0.005 m/s2. Those results are difficult to obtain experimentally, signifying the importance of this numerical study to understand bubble motion and migration in space.

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Acknowledgements

This work is supported and funded by Public Authority for Applied Education and Training, Research project No (TS-21-04), Research Title (Behaviour of Bubbles and Droplets in a Zero-Gravity Environment Under the Influence of Temperature Gradients and Vibrations in the Rotating container).

Funding

This research paper is supported and funded by The Public Authority of Education and Training (PAAET) in Kuwait.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mechanical Power and Refrigeration Department (MPR), College of Technological Studies (CTS), Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET), Adailiyah, Kuwait

    Yousuf Alhendal

  2. Research Team, Energy Systems, Mechanical Materials and Structures, and Industrial Processes Modeling (MOSEM2PI), Mohammadia School of Engineers, Mohammed V University in Rabat, P.O. Box 765 Agdal, Rabat, Morocco

    Sara Touzani & Abdelkhalek Cheddadi

  3. Independent Researcher, Rabat, Morocco

    Ali Turan

Authors
  1. Yousuf Alhendal
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  2. Sara Touzani
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  4. Abdelkhalek Cheddadi
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Contributions

This manuscript is a continuation of a series of research papers published by Yousuf Alhendal and Ali Turan, three of which have been published in the Journal of Microgravity for Science and Technology. All researchers agreed to search for a new scenario that had not been investigated and to study the effect of simple vibrations on the trajectory of bubbles in a zero-gravity environment. Yousuf Alhendal, Sara Touzani, and Abdelkhalek Cheddadi prepared the previous studies and reviewed all references related to this research as well as preparing the sub-code for inclusion in the Ansys Fluent program. Yousuf Alhendal, Ali Turan, and Sara Touzani performed all validation of the results with previous studies and their inclusion in this manuscript. They also wrote the main manuscript text, drew the figures and extracted the results. Abdelkhalek Cheddadi reviewed the paper with the author Ali Turan before sending it for publication in the journal.

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Correspondence to Yousuf Alhendal.

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Alhendal, Y., Touzani, S., Turan, A. et al. Thermocapillary Bubble Oscillations and Migration in a Vibrating Cylinder in a Zero-Gravity Environment. Microgravity Sci. Technol. 35, 22 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12217-023-10046-z

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