Microvalve is one of the most important components in microfluidic systems and micropumps. In this paper, threedimensional incompressible flow through a Tesla-type microvalve is simulated using FLUENT computational fluid dynamic package. The flow is laminar and SIMPLE algorithm is used. The second-order upwind method is implemented for discretizing convective terms. The diodicity mechanism is investigated in detail for three different microvalves. Effect of several series Tesla-type microvalves on diodicity is also studied. The numerical analyses reveal that the mechanism of diodicity occurs at the T-junction and side channel. If inlet and outlet channels are eliminated, diodicity can be increased by 2. Pressure field analysis shows that the pressure drop is much severe at the junction of the reverse flow compared to the forward flow. The obtained numerical results are compared with those of experimental and a good agreement between them is noticed.
Lean-burn engines are important due to their ability to reduce emissions, increase fuel efficiency, and mitigate engine knock. In this study, the surface roughness of spark plug electrodes is investigated as a potential avenue to extend the lean flammability limit of natural gas. A nano-/micro-morphology modification is applied on surface of the spark plug electrode to increase its surface roughness. High-speed Z-type Schlieren visualization is used to investigate the effect of the electrode surface roughness on the spark ignition process in a premixed methane-air charge at different lean equivalence ratios. In order to observe the onset of ignition and flame kernel behavior, experiments were conducted in an optically accessible constant volume combustion chamber at ambient pressures and temperatures. The results indicate that the lean flammability limit of spark-ignited methane can be lowered by modulating the surface roughness of the spark plug electrode.
In turbulent non-premixed combustion applications, such as diesel and direct injection engines, the mixedness of the injected fuel with oxygen and the working fluid inside the combustion chamber is a crucial parameter since it can significantly affect the ignition behavior. In this study, a comprehensive method for investigating mixedness, defined by spatial variation and scalar dissipation, is implemented to assess the turbulent injection of hydrogen into mixture of oxygen with nitrogen, argon, and xenon. Evaluating both criteria reflects the mixture homogeneity as well as local gradients, which aids in discriminating scalar distributions with identical homogeneity and different patterns. The results indicate that replacing nitrogen with argon as the working fluid can provide more suitable ignition conditions for the hydrogen jet.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.