Title: Synchrotron X-Ray Interrogation of Turbulent Gas–Liquid Mixing in Cryogenic Rocket Sprays

Abstract

The atomization and vaporization of liquid jets within turbulent gaseous flows are characterized by the mixing phenomena occurring over a wide range of spatiotemporal scales. This creates a complex, turbid medium that is not easily interrogated using conventional optical-measurement techniques. In the current study, the optically dense, multiphase flow created by a cryogenic liquid jet injected into a turbulent gaseous coflow is probed using high-speed (MHz) X-ray radiography from a focused, narrowband synchrotron source to resolve the internal cascade of scales and the evolution to isotropic, homogeneous turbulence. Changes in the spectral characteristics for different flow conditions are furthermore correlated with changes in the spatial distributions of the liquid and gas phases within the spray using simultaneous X-ray radiography and tracer (krypton) fluorescence. It is found that an increase in entrainment and mixing infers an evolution in spectral characteristics toward the well-known -5/3 law of energy dissipation in the context of the classical Kolmogorov theory. Finally, these data demonstrate the utility of the synchrotron-based X-ray radiography and fluorescence for uncovering the internal, turbulent mixing processes in multiphase and optically dense flows.

Authors:

Radke, Christopher D. ^[1]; McManamen, J. Patrick ^[1]; Kastengren, Alan L. ^[2]; Swantek, Andrew B. ^[2]; Meyer, Terrence R. ^[3]

---

+ Show Author Affiliations

1. NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX (United States)
2. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
3. Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN (United States)

Publication Date:

Mon Jul 31 00:00:00 EDT 2017

Research Org.:

Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States); NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE Office of Science (SC); National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

OSTI Identifier:

1432997

Grant/Contract Number:  

AC02-06CH11357

Resource Type:

Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:

AIAA Journal

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Volume: 55; Journal Issue: 12; Journal ID: ISSN 0001-1452

Publisher:

AIAA

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

42 ENGINEERING; 71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS