Experimental and numerical results of sloshing with cryogenic fluids

Abstract

The paper presents di¨erent sloshing experiments and computations performed with cryogenic liquids. Heat and mass transfer at the interface during sloshing phenomenon is responsible of large pressure variation in the vessel. This work helps understanding the behavior of thermal destrati¦cation and the associated pressure decay. Comprehension of this phenomenon is crucial for future space missions with ballistic phases where free surface will not be §at. These sloshing experiments can be used for validating numerical models taking into account heat and mass transfer at the interface.

Moving Two-Fluid Systems Using the Volume-of-Fluid Method and Single-Temperature Approximation

“…Models describing the phenomenon need to be developed further. Similar experiments were carried out by Lacapere et al [4] using liquid nitrogen (LN 2 ) and liquid oxygen (LOX), by Moran et al [5] using LH 2 , and by Das and Hopfinger [6] using the liquids FC-72 and HFE 7000. Das and Hopfinger conducted their experiments in both the stable and unstable slosh regions near the eigenfrequency of the system.…”

“…Lacapere et al [4] executed their experiments in the unstable slosh region near the eigenfrequency, resulting in very chaotic sloshing. Pressure-drop rates varied from 14 kPa=s for LOX to 10 kPa=s for LN 2 .…”

Hydrogen in Space Applications

“…This condensation due to de-stratification phenomenon and migration of subcooled liquid to the free surface [1] must be quantified precisely in order to design an adequate in-flight re-pressurization system. This hydrogen vapor is part of the liquid hydrogen feeding the cryogenic engine.…”

Validation of a CFD Model Predicting the Effect of High Level Lateral Acceleration Sloshing on the Heat Transfer and Pressure Drop in a Small-Scale Tank in Normal Gravity

“…The dynamics of the sloshing phenomenon has been extensively studied at NASA since the 1960's [11]. Recently, thermal de-stratification and pressure reduction from lateral sloshing has been investigated experimentally and numerically by Himeno et al [1,2], Lacapere et al [12], Agui and Moder [13]. While focusing on predicting the thermal de-stratification and pressure drop in the tank, these computational studies did not include an extensive analysis of the factors that can affect the modeling of the sloshing process.…”