• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.7
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• pp.2454-2465
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• 2023

Film boiling may lead to burnout of the heating element. Even though burnout does not occur, the heating element is subject to deformation because it is not sufficiently strong to withstand external loads. In particular, the ballooning and rupture of a tube under film boiling are important phenomena in the field of nuclear reactor safety. If the tube-type cladding of nuclear fuel ruptures owing to high internal pressure and thermal load, radioactive materials inside the cladding are released to the coolant. Therefore, predicting the ballooning and rupture is important. This study presents numerical simulations to predict the ballooning behavior and rupture time of a horizontal tube at high internal pressure under saturated film boiling. To do so, a multi-step coupled simulation of conjugated film boiling heat transfer and ballooning using creep model is adopted. The numerical methods and models are validated against experimental values. Two different nonuniform heat flux distributions and four different internal pressures are considered. The three-step simulation is enough to obtain a convergent result. However, the single-step simulation also successfully predicts the rupture time. This is because the film boiling heat transfer characteristics are slightly affected by the tube geometry related to creep ballooning.

• Korea-Australia Rheology Journal
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.59-69
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• 2009

The prediction of pressure drop for a droplet flow in a confined micro channel is presented using FE-FTM (Finite Element - Front Tracking Method). A single droplet is passing through 5:1:5 contraction - straight narrow channel - expansion flow domain. The pressure drop is investigated especially when the droplet flows in the straight narrow channel. We explore the effects of droplet size, capillary number (Ca), viscosity ratio ($\chi$) between droplet and medium, and fluid elasticity represented by the Oldroyd-B constitutive model on the excess pressure drop (${\Delta}p^+$) against single phase flow. The tightly fitted droplets in the narrow channel are mainly considered in the range of $0.001{\leq}Ca{\leq}1$ and $0.01{\leq}{\chi}{\leq}100$. In Newtonian droplet/Newtonian medium, two characteristic features are observed. First, an approximate relation ${\Delta}p^+{\sim}{\chi}$ observed for ${\chi}{\geq}1$. The excess pressure drop necessary for droplet flow is roughly proportional to $\chi$. Second, ${\Delta}p^+$ seems inversely proportional to Ca, which is represented as ${\Delta}p^+{\sim}Ca^m$ with negative m irrespective of $\chi$. In addition, we observe that the film thickness (${\delta}_f$) between droplet interface and channel wall decreases with decreasing Ca, showing ${\delta}_f{\sim}Ca^n$ Can with positive n independent of $\chi$. Consequently, the excess pressure drop (${\Delta}p^+$) is strongly dependent on the film thickness (${\delta}_f$). The droplets larger than the channel width show enhancement of ${\Delta}p^+$, whereas the smaller droplets show no significant change in ${\Delta}p^+$. Also, the droplet deformation in the narrow channel is affected by the flow history of the contraction flow at the entrance region, but rather surprisingly ${\Delta}p^+$ is not affected by this flow history. Instead, ${\Delta}p^+$ is more dependent on ${\delta}_f$ irrespective of the droplet shape. As for the effect of fluid elasticity, an increase in ${\delta}_f$ induced by the normal stress difference in viscoelastic medium results in a drastic reduction of ${\Delta}p^+$.

• Journal of Drive and Control
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.27-33
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• 2016

In hydraulic machinery, the hydraulic fluid acts primarily as working fluid and secondarily as a lubricant. Hence, the viscous friction force acting on the sliding components should be reduced to improve the mechanical efficiency. It is now well known that the surface texturing is a useful method for friction reduction. In this study, using a commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code, FLUENT, the lubrication characteristics of a surface textured slider bearing under high boundary pressure difference is studied. The streamlines, velocity profiles, pressure distributions, load capacity, friction force and leakage flowrate are highly affected by the film thickness ratio and the textured region. Partial texturing at the inlet region of the inclined slider bearing can reduce both friction force and leakage flowrate than in the untextured case. The present results can be used to improve the lubrication characteristics of hydraulic machinery.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.207-213
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• 2017

In sliding bearings, viscous friction due to high shear acting on the bearing surface raises the oil temperature. One of the mechanisms responsible for generating the load-carrying capacity in parallel surfaces is known as the viscosity wedge effect. In this paper, we investigate the effect of film-temperature boundary conditions on the thermohydrodynamic (THD) lubrication of parallel slider bearings. For this purpose, the continuity equation, Navier-Stokes equation, and the energy equation with temperature-viscosity-density relations are numerically analyzed using the commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code FLUENT. Two different film-temperature boundary conditions are adopted to investigate the pressure generation mechanism. The temperature and viscosity distributions in the film thickness and flow directions were obtained, and the factors related to the pressure generation in the equation of motion were examined in detail. It was confirmed that the temperature gradients in the film and flow directions contribute heavily to the thermal wedge effect, due to which parallel slider bearing can not only support a considerable load but also reduce the frictional force, and its effect is significantly changed with the film-temperature boundary conditions. The present results can be used as basic data for THD analysis of surface-textured sliding bearings; however, further studies on various film-temperature boundary conditions are required.

• Journal of ILASS-Korea
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.168-175
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• 2006

The static pressure distribution and flow characteristics inside the high-pressure swirl spray were investigated by measuring the static pressure inside the spray and applying the computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The static pressure difference between inner and outer part of spray was measured at different axial locations and operating conditions using a piezo-resislive pressure transducer. To obtain the qualitative value of swirl motion at different operating conditions, the spray impact-pressure at the nozzle exit was measured using a piezo-electric pressure transducer, and the flow angle was measured using a microscopic imaging system. The flow characteristics inside the high pressure swirl spray was simulated by the 1-phase 3-dimensional CFD model. The effect of pressure alternations on spray development was discussed with macroscopic spray images and a mathematical liquid film model. The results showed that the static pressure drop is observed inside the swirl spray as a result of the dragged air motion and the centrifugal force of the air. The recirculation vortex inside the spray was also observed inside the swirl spray as a result of the adverse pressure gradient along the axial locations. The results of analytical liquid film model and macroscopic spray images showed that the static pressure structure is one of the main parameters affecting the swirl spray development.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.2173-2187
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• 2022

A 3D thermo-elasto-hydrodynamic model is developed to analyze the sealing performance of a notched mechanical seal applied in the reactor coolant pump. In the model, the generalized Reynolds equation, the energy equation coupled with notch heat balance equation, the heat conduction equations, and the deformation equations of the sealing rings are iteratively solved by the finite element method. The film pressure and temperature distribution are obtained, and the deformation of the sealing rings is revealed to study the mechanism of the notched mechanical seals. A parameterized study is conducted to analyze the sealing performance under different operating conditions. As a comparison, the sealing performance of non-notched seals is also studied. The results show that the hydrostatic effect is dominant in the load-carrying capacity of the fluid film due to the radial mechanical and thermal deformations. The notch can cool the fluid film and influence the thermal deformation of seal rings. The sealing performance is sensitive to the pressure difference, ambient temperature, and rotational speed. It is suggested to set the notches on the softer sealing rings to acquire the greater hydrodynamic effect. Compared with the non-notched, the notched end face holds a better lubrication performance, especially under lower rotational speed.

• Journal of Power System Engineering
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.5-9
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• 2011

The hydraulic piston using a hydrostatic bearing has been used widely due to its satisfying performance at very high pressurized circumstance and relative higher power density in comparison to conventional one. For high pressurization, enhanced efficiency and long durability of the hydraulic piston, the design of hydrostatic bearing is at issue, which is installed between piston shoe and swash plate. The performance of the hydrostatic bearing is influenced significantly by the assembly of the piston shoe consisting of circular land and recess. In this study, to estimate the performance of the hydrostatic bearing, the characteristics for lubrication of the assembly of the piston shoe were investigated by measuring a leakage rate of hydraulic fluid under an experimental condition, where a rotating velocity of the piston, hydraulic pressure and temperature of the hydraulic fluid were changed systematically. In addition, a film thickness of the hydraulic fluid on the piston shoe was measured and compared to theoretical one.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.553-561
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• 2011

A theoretical approach is carried out to predict the quality factors of flexible modes of a microcantilever on a squeeze-film. The frequency response function of an inertially-excited microcantilever beam is derived using an Euler-Bernoulli beam theory. The external force due to squeeze-film phenomenon is developed from the Reynolds equation. Slip boundary conditions are employed at the interfaces between the fluid and the structure to consider the gas rarefaction effect, and pressure boundary condition at both ends of fluid analysis region is enhanced to increase the exactness of predicted quality factors. To the end, an approximate equation is derived for the first bending mode of the microcantilever. Using the approximate equation, the quality factors of the second and third bending modes are calculated and compared with experimental results of previously reported work. The comparison shows the feasibility of the current approach.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2011

Interest in advanced machining process such as AJM(abrasive jet machining) and CMP(chemical-mechanical polishing) using micro/nano-sized abrasives has been on the increasing demand due to wide use of super alloys, composites, semiconductor and ceramics, which are difficult to or cannot be processed by traditional machining methods. In this paper, the effects of pressure, wafer moving velocity and fluid viscosity were investigated by 2-dimensional finite element analysis method considering slurry fluid flow. From the investigation, it could be found that the simulation results quite corresponded well to the Preston's equation that describes pressure/velocity dependency on material removal. The result also revealed that the stress and corresponding material removal induced by the collision of particle may decrease under relatively high wafer moving speed due to the slurry flow resistance. In addition, the increase in slurry fluid viscosity causes the reduction of material removal rate. It should be noted that the viscosity effect can vary with the shape of abrasive particle.

• Journal of Drive and Control
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.84-90
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• 2021

Viscosity of hydraulic oils decreases due to loss reduction and efficiency increase of fluid power systems. However, low viscosity is not always appropriate due to the induction of large leakage and small lubricity. Therefore, a detailed study on the optimum viscosity of hydraulic oils is necessary. In this study, based on the thermohydrodynamic lubrication theory, numerical simulation was conducted using the slipper model of swashplate-type axial piston pumps and motors. The viscosity grades' (VG) effects of oils on power losses are mainly discussed numerically in fluid film lubrication, including changes in temperature and viscosity. The simulation results reveal that the flow rate increases and the friction torque decreases as VG decreases. The film temperature and power loss were minimised for a specific oil with a VG. The minimum conditions regarding the temperature and loss were different and closed. Under various operating conditions, the film temperature and power loss were minimised, suggesting that an optimum hydraulic oil with a specific VG could be selected for given operating conditions of pressure and speed. Otherwise, a preferable operating condition must be established to determine a specific VG oil.