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# Design of the Dense Gas Flexible Asymmetric Shock Tube

[+] Author and Article Information
P. Colonna1

Energy Technology Section, Process and Energy Department,  Delft University of Technology, Leeghwaterstraat 44, 2628 CA Delft, The Netherlandsp.colonna@tudelft.nl

A. Guardone

Dipartimento di Ingegneria Aerospaziale,  Politecnico di Milano, Via La Masa 34, 20158 Milano, Italy

N. R. Nannan, C. Zamfirescu

Energy Technology Section, Process and Energy Department,  Delft University of Technology, Leeghwaterstraat 44, 2628 CA Delft, The Netherlands

1

Corresponding author.

J. Fluids Eng 130(3), 034501 (Mar 11, 2008) (6 pages) doi:10.1115/1.2844585 History: Received December 12, 2006; Revised August 20, 2007; Published March 11, 2008

## Abstract

This paper presents the conceptual design of the flexible asymmetric shock tube (FAST) setup for the experimental verification of the existence of nonclassical rarefaction shock waves in molecularly complex dense vapors. The FAST setup is a Ludwieg tube facility composed of a charge tube that is separated from the discharge vessel by a fast-opening valve. A nozzle is interposed between the valve and the charge tube to prevent disturbances from the discharge vessel to propagate into the tube. The speed of the rarefaction wave generated in the tube as the valve opens is measured by means of high-resolution pressure transducers. The provisional working fluid is siloxane $D6$ (dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane, $C12H36O6Si6$). Numerical simulations of the FAST experiment are presented using nonideal thermodynamic models to support the preliminary design. The uncertainties related to the thermodynamic model of the fluid are assessed using a state-of-the-art thermodynamic model of fluid $D6$. The preliminary design is confirmed to be feasible and construction requirements are found to be well within technological limits.

###### FIGURES IN THIS ARTICLE
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Copyright © 2008 by American Society of Mechanical Engineers
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## Figures

Figure 1

Saturation and Γ=0 curves for siloxane D6 in the vr‐Pr plane of reduced specific volume and pressure, as computed by the PRSV thermodynamic model. (8) Reduced thermodynamic variables are made dimensionless by their critical point values. The nonclassical region (BZT region) is bounded by the saturation curve and the Γ=0 curve.

Figure 2

The FAST dense gas Ludwieg tube setup: concept and pressure profile after the opening of the FOV separating the charge tube from the reservoir (qualitative). A RSW propagates into the charge tube at supersonic speed. Past the RSW, the fluid is accelerated from rest conditions A to postshock conditions B and flows into the reservoir through the nozzle. At the nozzle throat, sonic conditions S are attained.

Figure 3

Left: Expansion in the charge tube up to the nozzle throat in the vr‐Pr plane. Right: Mach profile at time t=tI for a fully formed RSW.

Figure 4

Pressure signals at the nozzle throat (left) and at measurement station 1 (right) as computed using three different grid resolutions. Numerical results are compared to the “exact” solution, in which the flow inside the nozzle is assumed to be steady.

Figure 5

FAST experiment according to the PRSV and SW models

Figure 6

Dimensional wave speed W and sound speed c as a function of the reduced volume along the vapor side of the saturation curve. The error bars represent an error of 0.5% in the evaluation of W or c.

## Errata

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