Synergy mechanism in combined polymer and microbubble drag reduction: Decreased polymer diffusion

  • Howard L. Petrie
  • , Arnold A. Fontaine
  • , Michael J. Moeny
  • , Steven Deutsch

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

    Abstract

    Drag reduction (DR) experiments with combined micro-bubble and polymer solution injection were conducted in a water tunnel at the ARL/Penn State. Previous research has shown that gas injected upstream of polymer produced higher levels of DR than expected based on DR levels observed with the independent injection of micro-bubbles or polymer alone.1 This synergy between the two injection processes was speculated to have resulted from a decrease in the diffusion rate of injected polymer away from the surface by the effects of the micro-bubbles. The slowed polymer diffusion should extend the length of the zone where large polymer DR occurs. In the current work, a confocal-style laser induced fluorescence based probe was developed and used to measure the wall concentration of injected polymer solutions and injected water with and without upstream micro-bubble injection. The local wall concentrations were increased with gas injection by more than an order of magnitude in many cases. These results show that synergistic drag reduction occurs with combined injection as a result of increased polymer wall concentrations.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Title of host publicationProceedings of ASME Fluids Engineering Division Summer Meeting 2006, FEDSM2006
    PublisherAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers
    Pages1585-1594
    Number of pages10
    ISBN (Print)0791847500, 9780791847503
    DOIs
    StatePublished - 2006
    Event2006 ASME Joint U.S.- European Fluids Engineering Division Summer Meeting, FEDSM2006 - Miami, FL, United States
    Duration: Jul 17 2006Jul 20 2006

    Publication series

    NameProceedings of ASME Fluids Engineering Division Summer Meeting 2006, FEDSM2006
    Volume1 SYPMOSIA

    Other

    Other2006 ASME Joint U.S.- European Fluids Engineering Division Summer Meeting, FEDSM2006
    Country/TerritoryUnited States
    CityMiami, FL
    Period7/17/067/20/06

    All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

    • General Engineering

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