The Topology and Stability of Drops at Open Tube Ends

Poster Image
The Topology and Stability of Drops at Open Tube Ends
Poster Session
A
Poster Number
03
Project Author(s)
Oleg Krishcko
Institution
Portland State University | OSGC Virtual Summer Internship
Project Description

Droplet behavior at the end of open tubes has important implications for the design of fluid systems in low gravity. On earth, gravity dominates the stability of such droplets which results in small stable droplet size with larger drops simply falling off. Subtle differences in stable configurations are also generally not noticed on earth since such droplets are so small. The stability is governed by a dimensionless group called the Bond number which leads to larger stable droplet sizes as gravity is decreased. This means that in low gravity environments droplets on the tips of open tubes can become very large with a variety of different stable configurations. Mapping these stable configurations for different Bond numbers as a function of contact angle can be useful and even critical to fluid system designs aboard low-g spacecraft. A simulation software tool called the Surface Evolver-Fluid Interface Tool (SE-FITĀ®) was used to run different initial configurations on which Bond number and contact angle were varied. The simulations revealed three primary regimes in which the droplet assumes a certain stable configuration. Further refinement of these regimes is in progress and plans are being made to experimentally confirm these results. This 'regime map' can be a useful tool for determining what stable configurations are expected at various Bond number and contact angles and can be applied to fluid system designs, particularly in low gravity.