Phase Transitions, Nucleation and Mixing Modeling through Trans-Critical Conditions

ABSTRACT: In this proposal, researchers from Cascade Technologies and Professors Matthias Ihme and Ali Mani from Stanford University lay out a plan to develop predictive modeling tools for transcritical flows. Phase I of the three phase plan is outlined in detail and extensions are proposed for Phases II and III. Central points of the Phase I plan include: A comprehensive review and assessment of existing models and approaches for predicting mixing and phase transitions in transcritical flows In-depth gap analysis to determine technical deficiencies in the current state of the art Theoretical characterization of controlling processes and parameters in transcritical flows Fundamental analysis of interfacial dynamics using phase-field simulations in the critical limit Demonstration of initial modeling capabilities in idealized test cases with representative conditions Development of a detailed plan for Phase II model development, implementation, testing, and validation Summary reports to communicate Phase I findings to the Air Force and to the broader technical community Phase II efforts will strongly emphasize model validation and will expand the application scope beyond the canonical test problems envisioned for Phase I. Developments in Phase III will focus on transitioning the developed models, numerical methods, and technologies to the Air Force and industrial customers. BENEFIT: Improve prediction of fuel mixing and combustion in rocket engines, gas turbine combustors, and diesel engines Deepen fundamental understanding of multicomponent mixing and phase dynamics under transcritical conditions Improve numerical methods for high-fidelity simulations of transcritical flows