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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 181 records · Page 10

Laser Doppler velocimetry for continuous flow solar-pumped iodine laser system

A laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV) system was employed to measure the flow velocity profile of iodide vapor inside laser tubes of 36 mm ID and 20 mm ID. The LDV, which was operated in the forward scatter mode used a low power (15 mW) He-Ne laser beam. Velocity ranges from 1 m/s was measured to within one percent accuracy. The flow velocity profile across the laser tube was measured and the intensity of turbulence was determined. The flow of iodide inside the laser tube demonstrated a mixture of both turbulence and laminar flow. The flowmeter used for the laser system previously was calibrated with the LDV and found to be in good agreement.

Tabibi, Bagher M.↗

Early time evolution of a chemically produced electron depletion

The early time evolution of an ionospheric electron depletion produced by a radially expanding electron attachment chemical release is studied with a two-dimensional simulation model. The model includes electron attachment chemistry, incorporates fluid electrons, particle ions and neutrals, and considers the evolution in a plane perpendicular to the geomagnetic field for a low beta plasma. Timescales considered are of the order of or less than the cyclotron period of the negative ions that result as a by-product of the electron attacment reaction. This corresponds to time periods of tenths of seconds during recent experiemts. Simulation results show that a highly sheared azimuthal electron flow velocity develops in the radially expanding depletion boundary. This sheared electron flow velocity and the steep density gradients in the boundary give rise to small-scale irregulatities in the form of electron density cavities and spikes. The nonlinear evolution of these irregularities results in trapping and ultimately turbulent heating of the negative ions.

Scales, W. A.↗

Vibration-Free Raman Doppler Velocimeter

New method under development to measure flow velocity of molecules directly by nonintrusive laser techniques. This method, combined with vibration-free design, makes flow-velocity measurements practical in severe vibrational environments. Raman scattering and retroreflection combine to yield useful technique for wind-tunnel gas-flow mapping. Nonintrusive measurements of gas velocity, temperature, and pressure possible in highly vibrational environment.

Exton, R. J.↗

Investigation of an anomalous flow condition of the Langley pilot model expansion tube

Free-stream flow velocity measurements were made in the Langley pilot model expansion tube during the test flow interval. During this interval, an anomalous dip in pitot pressure occurs for the expansion tube operating conditions employed. Within the test flow interval, the main conclusions reached from comparison of the measured flow velocity, pitot pressure, and tube wall pressure are: the variations which occur in velocity and wall pressure are small compared with the variations in pitot pressure; a corresponding dip in the derived flow density is associated with the dip in pitot pressure; and the value of the average density over the interval, which results from the expansion from the shocked intermediate chamber condition, is approximately one-half of the value that can result from only an isentropic process.

Friesen, W. J.↗

Rossby waves in opposing currents

A barotropic Rossby wave incident to a region of increasing mean flow velocity opposing the wave group velocity undergoes a reversal of direction at a stopping point where the mean flow velocity and local wave group velocities are equal and opposite. Incident wave amplitude increases approaching this stopping point, which may be referred to as a group velocity critical layer, but eventually suffers a decrease along its trajectory so that the reflected wave amplitude and energy tend to zero on approach to a phase velociy critical layer located where the opposing flow vanishes. Some applications of this process to observations of synoptic scale Rossby waves are suggested and an axample of the interaction of an incident wave with a barotropic model of the Hadley circulation is presented to illustrate these ideas.

Farrell, B.↗

TEAMER – Harvesting Subsea Water Motion to Provide Clean Electrical Power (Abstract)

Power generation from vortex induced vibration (VIV) is an emerging field with new technologies that are just beginning to be field tested. In this TEAMER project, WITT Energy will be field testing the power production of its pendulum system in two different configurations to evaluate its performance. The amount of power produced by a VIV instrument depend on the frequency at which it vibrates. The vibrational frequency is controlled by the device shape and its interaction with the flow velocity. Computer models are used to predict vibration frequencies as a function of flow velocity but they may be inaccurate due to complicated bathymetry and bottom roughness that is not captures by the models. This project will test the WITT VIV device in the Sequim Bay channel over a range of tidal velocities. Two tests will be completed with different pipe lengths that are expected to vary the vibrational frequency and therefore the power produced. PNNL will use an acoustic doppler current profiler (ADCP) to monitor the flow conditions during the tests. These tests will help WITT Energy evaluate how closely field operations follow computer model predictions and how best to configure their device for electricity production.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗

Turbine heat transfer

Objectives and approaches to research in turbine heat transfer are discussed. Generally, improvements in the method of determining the hot gas flow through the turbine passage is one area of concern, as is the cooling air flow inside the airfoil, and the methods of predicting the heat transfer rates on the hot gas side and on the coolant side of the airfoil. More specific areas of research are: (1) local hot gas recovery temperatures along the airfoil surfaces; (2) local airfoil wall temperature; (3) local hot gas side heat transfer coefficients on the airfoil surfaces; (4) local coolant side heat transfer coefficients inside the airfoils; (5) local hot gas flow velocities and secondary flows at real engine conditions; and (6) local delta strain range of the airfoil walls.

Rohde, J. E.↗

Method for driving two-phase turbines with enhanced efficiency

A method for driving a two phase turbine characterized by an output shaft having at least one stage including a bladed rotor connected in driving relation with the shaft is described. A two phase fluid is introduced into one stage at a known flow velocity and caused to pass through the rotor for imparing angular velocity thereto. The angular velocity of the rotor is maintained at a value such that the angular velocity of the tips of the blades of the rotor is a velocity equal to at least 50% of the velocity of the flow of the two phase fluid.

Elliott, D. G.↗

Propulsive lift noise

Propulsive life noise is the increase in noise that occurs when airframe surfaces are placed in the propulsive system's exhaust to increase their lift force. Increased local flow velocities and turbulence levels, due to the propulsive system exhaust gases passing along the airframe lifting surfaces, cause an increase in maximum lift coefficient. The airplane's flight speed required for takeoff and landing can then be significantly reduced, allowing operation from shorter runways than those of conventional commercial airports. Unfortunately, interaction of high velocity turbulent exhaust flow with the airframe's solid surfaces generates additional noise radiation. Aeroacoustic processes that cause propulsive lift noise also are present in airframe noise and propulsive system installation noise. Research studies of propulsive lift noise led to development of improved methods of predicting noise radiation from surfaces in turbulent flows. Noise reduction and prediction methods of aircraft noise are discussed.

Fink, Martin R.↗

Multi-Point Interferometric Rayleigh Scattering using Dual-Pass Light Recirculation

This paper describes for the first time an interferometric Rayleigh scattering system using dual-pass light recirculation (IRS-LR) capable of simultaneously measuring at multiple points two orthogonal components of flow velocity in combustion flows using single shot laser probing. An additional optical path containing the interferometer input mirror, a quarter-wave plate, a polarization dependent beam combiner, and a high reflectivity mirror partially recirculates the light that is rejected by the interferometer. Temporally- and spatially-resolved acquisitions of Rayleigh spectra in a large-scale combustion-heated supersonic axi-symmetric jet were performed to demonstrate the technique. Recirculating of Rayleigh scattered light increases the number of photons analyzed by the system up to a factor of 1.8 compared with previous configurations. This is equivalent to performing measurements with less laser energy or performing measurements with the previous system in gas flows at higher temperatures.

Bivolaru, Daniel↗

Velocity measurements by laser resonance fluorescence

The photonburst correlation method was used to detect single atoms in a buffer gas. Real time flow velocity measurements with laser induced resonance fluorescence from single or multiple atoms was demonstrated and this method was investigated as a tool for wind tunnel flow measurement. Investigations show that single atoms and their real time diffusional motion on a buffer gas can be measured by resonance fluorescence. By averaging over many atoms, flow velocities up to 88 m/s were measured in a time of 0.5 sec. It is expected that higher flow speeds can be measured and that the measurement time can be reduced by a factor of 10 or more by careful experimental design. The method is clearly not ready for incorporation in high speed wind tunnels because it is not yet known whether the stray light level will be higher or lower, and it is not known what detection efficiency can be obtained in a wind tunnel situation.

She, C. Y.↗

Anemometer calibrator

Calibrator generates accurate flow velocities over wide range of gas pressure, temperature, and composition. Both pressure and flow velocity can be maintained within 0.25 percent. Instrument is essentially closed loop hydraulic system containing positive displacement drive.

Bate, T.↗

Radiant energy absorption studies for laser propulsion

A study of the energy absorption mechanisms and fluid dynamic considerations for efficient conversion of high power laser radiation into a high velocity flow is presented. The objectives of the study are: (1) to determine the most effective absorption mechanisms for converting laser radiation into translational energy, and (2) to examine the requirements for transfer of the absorbed energy into a steady flow which is stable to disturbances in the absorption zone. A review of inverse Bremsstrahlung, molecular and particulate absorption mechanisms is considered and the steady flow and stability considerations for conversion of the laser power to a high velocity flow in a nozzle configuration is calculated. A quasi-one-dimensional flow through a nozzle was formulated under the assumptions of perfect gas.

Caledonia, G. E.↗

The effect of barriers on wave propagation phenomena: With application for aircraft noise shielding

The frequency spectrum was divided into high and low frequency regimes and two separate methods were developed and applied to account for physical factors associated with flight conditions. For long wave propagation, the acoustic filed due to a point source near a solid obstacle was treated in terms of an inner region which where the fluid motion is essentially incompressible, and an outer region which is a linear acoustic field generated by hydrodynamic disturbances in the inner region. This method was applied to a case of a finite slotted plate modelled to represent a wing extended flap for both stationary and moving media. Ray acoustics, the Kirchhoff integral formulation, and the stationary phase approximation were combined to study short wave length propagation in many limiting cases as well as in the case of a semi-infinite plate in a uniform flow velocity with a point source above the plate and embedded in a different flow velocity to simulate an engine exhaust jet stream surrounding the source.

Mgana, C. V. M.↗

A simple spectral model of the dynamics of the Venus ionosphere

A two-dimensional model of the ionosphere of Venus has been constructed by expanding pertinent quantities in Legendre polynomials. The model is simplified by including only a single ion species, O(+). Horizontal plasma flow velocity and plasma density have been calculated as a coupled system. The calculated plasma flow velocity is found to be in good agreement with observations and the results of earlier studies. Solar zenith angle dependence of plasma density, particularly on the nightside, shows some features which differ from results of earlier studies and observed values. Effects of raising or lowering the ionopause height and changing the nightside neutral atmosphere have been discussed.

Singhal, R. P.↗

Properties of large scale plasma flow during the early stage of the plasmaspheric refilling

The objective is to better characterize the macroscopic properties of the interhemisphere plasma flow by solving a more complete set of hydrodynamic equations than that solved previously. Specifically, the ion continuity, momentum and energy equations were solved for the plasma flow along the closed magnetic field lines. During the initial stage of the supersonic outflow in the equatorial region, the ions cool substantially. Using the hydrodynamic model for the large-scale plasma flow, the dynamics of shocks was examined which form in the geomagnetic flux tubes during the early stages of refilling. These shocks are more like those forming in neutral gases than the electrostatic shocks driven by microinstabilities involving ion-ion interaction. Therefore, the shocks seen in the hydrodynamic model are termed as hydrodynamic shocks. Such shocks are generally unsteady and therefore the usual shock jump conditions given by Rankine-Hugoniot relations are not strictly applicable to them. The density, flow velocity and temperature structures associated with the shocks are examined for both asymmetrical and symmetrical flows. In the asymmetrical flow the outflow from one of two conjugate ionospheres is dominant. On the other hand, in the symmetrical case outflows from the two ionospheric sources are identical. Both cases are treated by a two-stream model. In the late type of flow, the early-time refilling shows a relaxation type of oscillation, which is driven by the large-scale interactions between the two identical streams. After this early stage, the resulting temperature structure shows some interesting features. In the equatorial region the streams are isothermal, but in the off-equatorial regions the streams have quite different temperatures, and also densities and flow velocities. The dense and slow stream is found to be warmer than the low-density fast stream. In the late stage of refilling, the temperature is found to steadily increase from the conjugate ionospheres towards the equator; the equatorial temperature is found to be as high as about 8000 K compared to the ionospheric temperature of 3600 K.

Singh, Nagendra↗

Flow Effects on the Flammability Diagrams of Solid Fuels

A research program is currently underway with the final objective of developing a fundamental understanding of the controlling mechanisms underlying the flammability diagrams of solid combustible materials and their derived fire properties. Given that there is a high possibility of an accidental fire occurring in a space-based facility, understanding the fire properties of materials that will be used in such facilities is of critical importance. With this purpose, the flammability diagrams of the materials, as those produced by the Lateral Ignition and Flame Spread Test (LIFT) apparatus and by a new forced flow device, the Forced Flow Ignition and Flame Spread Test (FIST) apparatus, will be obtained. The specific objective of the program is to apply the new flammability apparatus, which will more accurately reflect the potential ambient conditions of space-based environments, to the characterization of the materials for space applications. This paper presents a parametric study of oxidizer flow effects on the ignition curve of the flammability diagrams of PMMA. The dependence of the ignition delay time on the external radiant flux and either the sample width (LIFT) or the flow velocity (FIST) has been studied. Although preliminary, the results indicate that natural and forced convection flow changes, affect the characteristics of the ignition curves of the flammability diagrams. The major effect on the ignition time appears to be due to convective transfer variations at the fuel surface. At high radiant fluxes or high flow velocities, however, it appears that gas phase processes become increasingly important, affecting the overall ignition delay time. A numerical analysis of the solid fuel heating and pyrolysis has also been developed. The theoretical predictions approximate the experiments well for conditions in which the gas phase induction time is negligible.

Cordova, J. L.↗