Numerical Investigation and Temperature Field Analysis during Liquid Hydrogen Bubble Collapse in Confined Micro-Clearance

  • YAN Shaohang ,
  • GAO Yingke ,
  • LIU Mingzhe ,
  • HOU Yu ,
  • LAI Tianwei
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  • 1. State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow in Power Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
    2. MOE Key Laboratory of cryogenic technology and Equipment, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China

Online published: 2025-10-29

Supported by

This project is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51976150), and the Youth Innovation Team of Shanxi Universities.

Copyright

Science Press, Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, CAS and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2025

Abstract

In the micro-clearance of the valves and sealing structures of liquid hydrogen (LH2) storage tanks, bubbles occur due to heat leakage. The sudden rising of pressure causes bubbles to collapse, resulting in pressure and temperature fluctuations that impact the sealing surface and the valve. In this paper, the cryogen cavitation model is modified by considering the thermal effect, surface tension, and viscosity. The bubble collapse inside micro-clearance is investigated by the modified cavitation model and volume of fluid (VOF) method. Transient pressure and temperature at the bubble center during collapse are recorded and evaluated. The effects of micro-clearance height, dimensionless bubble diameter, and bubble vertical position on bubble collapse and bubble morphology are investigated. To reduce the cavitation erosion on the walls, the frequency and time-frequency characteristics of the pressure oscillations induced by bubble collapse are analyzed by Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) and Wavelet Transform (WT). Furthermore, the temperature and pressure field variation and oscillation mechanisms are analyzed by Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) and Dynamic Mode Decomposition (DMD). The analytical results reveal the LH2 bubbles collapse mechanism within the micro-clearance. The results provide a certain extent of reference for optimizing the structure of micro-clearance.

Cite this article

YAN Shaohang , GAO Yingke , LIU Mingzhe , HOU Yu , LAI Tianwei . Numerical Investigation and Temperature Field Analysis during Liquid Hydrogen Bubble Collapse in Confined Micro-Clearance[J]. Journal of Thermal Science, 2025 , 34(6) : 1978 -1995 . DOI: 10.1007/s11630-025-2148-8

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