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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 235 records · Page 13

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NASA NTRS1988

Nucleate pool boiling: High gravity to reduced gravity; liquid metals to cryogens

Requirements for the proper functioning of equipment and personnel in reduced gravity associated with space platforms and future space station modules introduce unique problems in temperature control; power generation; energy dissipation; the storage, transfer, control and conditioning of fluids; and liquid-vapor separation. The phase change of boiling is significant in all of these. Although both pool and flow boiling would be involved, research results to date include only pool boiling because buoyancy effects are maximized for this case. The effective application of forced convection boiling heat transfer in the microgravity of space will require a well grounded and cogent understanding of the mechanisms involved. Experimental results are presented for pool boiling from a single geometrical configuration, a flat surface, covering a wide range of body forces from a/g = 20 to 1 to a/g = 0 to -1 for a cryogenic liquid, and from a/g = 20 to 1 for water and a liquid metal. Similarities in behavior are noted for these three fluids at the higher gravity levels, and may reasonably be expected to continue at reduced gravity levels.

Merte, Herman, Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1958

Free Convection Under the Conditions of the Internal Problem

Convection is called free is the stresses (including the normal pressure) to which the fluid is subjected at its boundaries do not perform mechanical work, that is, if all the boundaries of the fluid are stationary. The case where this is not true is termed forced convection. It corresponds to the action on the fluid of some mechanical suction pumping the fluid.

Ostroumov, G. A.↗

NASA NTRS1999

The Effect of a Rotating Magnetic Field on Rayleigh-Benard Convection

A destabilizing vertical temperature gradient and a rotating magnetic field have been applied to a cylindrical column of liquid gallium. The convective flows which arise as a function of these driving parameters are identified. For small magnetic field strengths, a region of stationary flow is observed. This region is bounded by critical values of the Rayleigh and Hartmann numbers. As the rotating magnetic field is increased, the critical Rayleigh number can increase by more than a factor of 10. The rotating magnetic field itself induces an instability at a critical value of the Hartmann number independent of the Rayleigh number. The nature of the bifurcations (whether subcritical or supercritical) and the convective flows occurring at the critical Rayleigh numbers are dependent upon the Hartmann number. In the stationary flow region, the rotating magnetic field can induce fluid motion with velocities on the order of cm/s. Thus, a rotating magnetic field can be used to achieve the benefits of forced convection during crystal growth processes without triggering deleterious instabilities.

Volz, Martin P.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Gravitational effects on chemically reacting laminar boundary layer flows over a horizontal flat plate

A theoretical study of the chemically reacting laminar boundary layer flow over a horizontal flat plate with gravitationally induced buoyant force is presented. A diffusion flame sheet model was used to describe the combustion process. The effects of gravity on the purely force convection flow can be characterized by a dimensionless coordinate quantity, which is involved in the generation of the governing equations. A numerical solution of the zero and first order governing equations subject to the appropriate physical boundary conditions was obtained. It is shown that the cross stream buoyancy induced body force acts effectively to produce a streamwise pressure gradient in the fluid adjacent to the plate surface. It is concluded that buoyancy plays an important role in boundary layer diffusion flames.

Lavid, M.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Simulation of mesoscale convective response

Results are reported from a transfer of thermodynamic and dynamic data downscale from a two-dimensional mesoscale model to a two-dimensional cloud model and a subsequent examination of the differential convective response of the cloud model to a mesoscale structure. The mesoscale model included a high resolution PBL formulation, with convective forces expressed in a profile of exchange coefficients over the height of the PBL and the magnitude of the surface heat flux. Account was also taken of forcing by long- and short-wave radiation, surface forcing by the surface energy budget, the terrain shape, and possible wave reflection at the top boundary. The slab-symmetric cloud model possessed subgrid-scale features, five types of moisture terms, and a subroutine for accretion processes. The mesoscale environment was observed to have a significant impact on convective response, i.e., the vertical velocity and the cloud water. Various factors which were not included in the study and which must be considered are discussed.

Mcnider, R. T.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Structural analysis of stratocumulus convection

The 1 and 20 Hz data are examined from the Electra flights made on July 5, 1987. The flight legs consisted of seven horizontal turbulent legs at the inversion, midcloud, and below clouds, plus 4 soundings made within the same period. The Rosemont temperature sensor and the top and bottom dewpoint sensors were used to measure temperature and humidity at 1 Hz. Inversion structure and entrainment; local dynamics and large scale forcing; convective elements; and decoupling of cloud and subcloud are discussed in relationship to the results of the Electra flight.

Siems, S. T.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Mixed convective/dynamic roll vortices and their effects on initial wind and temperature profiles

The onset and development of both dynamically and convectively forced boundary layer rolls are studied with linear and nonlinear analyses of a truncated spectral model of shallow Boussinesq flow. Emphasis is given here on the energetics of the dominant roll modes, on the magnitudes of the roll-induced modifications of the initial basic state wind and temperature profiles, and on the sensitivity of the linear stability results to the use of modified profiles as basic states. It is demonstrated that the roll circulations can produce substantial changes to the cross-roll component of the initial wind profile and that significant changes in orientation angle estimates can result from use of a roll-modified profile in the stability analysis. These results demonstrate that roll contributions must be removed from observed background wind profiles before using them to investigate the mechanisms underlying actual secondary flows in the boundary layer. The model is developed quite generally to accept arbitrary basic state wind profiles as dynamic forcing. An Ekman profile is chosen here merely to provide a means for easy comparison with other theoretical boundary layer studies; the ultimate application of the model is to study observed boundary layer profiles. Results of the analytic stability analysis are validated by comparing them with results from a larger linear model. For an appropriate Ekman depth, a complete set of transition curves is given in forcing parameter space for roll modes driven both thermally and dynamically. Preferred orientation angles, horizontal wavelengths and propagation frequencies, as well as energetics and wind profile modifications, are all shown to agree rather well with results from studies on Ekman layers as well as with studies on near-neutral and convective atmospheric boundary layers.

Haack, Tracy↗

NASA NTRS2000

Experimental and Numerical Characterization of a Cylindrical Blackbody Cavity

During hypersonic flight, high temperatures and high heat fluxes are generated on the surfaces of vehicles. The Flight Loads Laboratory (FLL) at Dryden Flight Research Center (DFRC) is equipped with a calibration furnace, capable of calibrating heat flux gages up to 1100kW per square meters, and temperature sensors up to 2600 C. One heating configuration of the calibration furnace is a cylindrical blackbody cavity. Throughout the blackbody there are temperature gradients due to various boundary conditions. These boundary conditions include resistance heating, radiant heat transfer, and conduction to water-cooled electrodes. Also, an inert gas is purged through the graphite blackbody to prevent it from oxidizing. Consequently, the various modes of heat transfer present during operation of the blackbody cavity must be well understood in order to produce accurate heat flux gage and temperature sensor calibrations for use in ground testing or flight testing of hypersonic vehicles. The first step towards understanding the heat transfer in the blackbody cavity was to perform experiments at 1100 C, with and without outer surface insulation, while taking detailed temperature measurements inside the blackbody cavity. Steady state thermal models of the blackbody cavity were then developed. These models included detailed thermal analysis using commercial thermal analysis software. Conduction, radiation, and convection were considered in the thermal models for two cases: one with the outside of the blackbody cavity insulated and the second without insulation. This paper describes the experimental and numerical efforts used to characterize the steady state operation of the blackbody cavity. It describes the analysis of the test measurements, the boundary conditions used in the numerical models, and how the models were calibrated to fit the experimental data. Effects of various uncertainties, such as material properties, and convection are discussed.Initial thermal models predicted temperatures in the deepest part of the blackbody cavity within 7 C of the measured value and produced trends comparable to the experimental data, throughout the models. Adjustment of the boundary conditions, which were included in the thermal models, produced good agreement with measured temperatures. Free and forced convection of the purge gas inside the blackbody was found to be insignificant.

Abdelmessih, Amanie N.↗

NASA NTRS2003

Solidification Using a Baffle in Sealed Ampoules (SUBSA)

Solidification Using a Baffle in Sealed Ampoules (SUBSA) will be the first materials science experiment conducted in the Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG) Facility at the International Space Station (ISS) Alpha. The launch is schedule for May 31, 2002. Using the specially developed furnace, 10 Te and Zn-doped single crystals of InSb will be directionally solidified in microgravity. A key goal of the SUBSA investigation is to (i) clarify the origin of the melt motion in space laboratories and (ii) to reduce the magnitude of the melt motion to the point that it does not interfere with the transport phenomena. These goals will be accomplished through a special ampoule and furnace design. A disk-shaped baffle, positioned close to the freezing front, is used to reduce melt motion. Furthermore, the solidification will be visualized by using a transparent furnace, with a video camera, continuously sending images to the earth. This allows detection of bubbles and melt de-wetting that could cause surface tension driven convection. In preparation for the space experiments, 30 ground-based experiments were conducted. The results of ground based tests and numerical modeling will be presented. Based on numerical modeling, 12 mm 1D silica ampoules were selected. The small diameter ampoule favors closer placement of the baffle to the interface, without excessive radial segregation caused by forced convection while providing more damping of natural convection. The parts in the silica ampoule include 2 carbon springs made by Energy Science Laboratories, Inc., a pyrocarbon-coated graphite cylinder, pyrocarbon-coated graphite a baffle with the shaft and the InSb charge with the seed crystal grown by W.A. Bonner of Crystallod Inc.

Marin, C.↗

DOE OSTI2024

A computational analysis of effective R-values of buried ducts – the dynamic performance of buried ducts

Here, this paper evaluates the thermal performance of ducts partially or fully buried in loose-fill attic insulation. The overall thermal resistance between the ducts and the attic is referred to as an effective R-value. This paper shows a strong dependency of assumed attic temperature on the effective R-value. Based on the results, the effective R-value can be about twice as much with an attic temperature of 130 °F [54.4 °C], compared to when the attic temperature is 80 °F [26.7 °C]. Thus, this paper provides a polynomial regression equation based on a large set of simulations to determine the effective R-value of buried ducts depending on attic temperature and whether the HVAC system runs in cooling or heating mode. Further, the work presented in this paper investigated the potential impact of convective airflow within the attic insulation, particularly around the ducts. The analysis was based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and indicated that convectional forces are presented around the exterior surface of the ducts, but with negligible impact on the overall heat balance between the duct and the attic space.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

NASA NTRS1989

A fluid flow analysis for convective thermal control of flight experiments

A method for thermally analyzing convectively cooled flight experiments is presented. A three-dimensional fluid flow analysis code is used to optimize air circulation patterns and to predict air velocities in thermally critical areas. The analysis results are compared with the performance characteristics of a typical isothermal free jet, and good agreement is found between velocity profiles and radial distributions for downstream flow mixing. Predicted air velocities from the fluid analysis are used to calculate forced convection coefficients for the flight experiment, and the coefficients are used in a finite difference thermal analysis code to describe the response of air temperature and heat loss for the Lidar Atmospheric Sensing Experiment during transient flight profiles. Recommendations are made for the future design of convectively cooled flight experiments.

Killough, Brian D.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Wire Insulation Flammability Experiment: USML-1 One Year Post Mission Summary

Herein we report the results from the Wire Insulation Flammability (WIF) Experiment performed in the Glovebox Facility on the USML-1 mission. This experiment explored various aspects of electrically induced fire scenarios in a reduced gravity environment. Under quiescent microgravity conditions, heat and mass transfer are dominated by diffusive and radiative transport; while in normal-gravity buoyancy induced convection often dominates. Of considerable scientific and practical interest is the intermediate situation of combustion occurring in the presence of imposed gas flows, with lower characteristic velocities than those induced by buoyancy in noma1 gravity. Two distinct cases naturally arise: flow direction opposed to, or concurrent with, the flame spread direction. Two tests of each kind were conducted in the WIF experiment, providing the first controlled demonstration of flame spreading in forced convection ever conducted in space. Four test modules were flown. The wire insulation, 1.5 mm in diameter, was polyethylene, extruded onto nichrome wire. Temperatures of the wh3 cores and insulation heated in quiescent and flowing environments were measured. Video and still-camera images of the samples, burning in air flowing at approximately 10 cm/sec, were recorded to obtain flame characteristics including spread rate, structure and temperature. Flame spread rates in concurrent flow were approximately twice those in opposed flow. In concurrent and opposed flow regimes, the spreading flames stabilized around a bead of molten insulation material, within which bubble nucleation was observed. An ignition attempt without flow mated a quiescent cloud of vaporized fuel which ignited dramatically yet failed to sustain normal flame spread. Finally, all tests produced substantial soot agglomerates, particularly the concurrent flow tests; and the collected soot has a morphology very distinct from soot formed in normal gravity flames. Several unexpected and unique microgravity combustion phenomena were observed.

Greenberg, Paul S.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Laminar free convection over two-dimensional bodies with uniform surface heat flux

A general analysis is presented of the steady nondissipative constant-property laminar boundary layer flow over a two-dimensional body of uniform surface heat flux situated in an infinite ambient fluid of undisturbed temperature. The analysis is then applied to a long horizontal circular cylinder. Numerical solutions to the universal functions associated with the first two terms in the derived series are given for Prandtl numbers 0.7, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10. The results are compared with those obtained by Koh (1964) whose method is patterned after the Blasius-Frossling procedure for forced convection flow. The study reveals that Wilks' (1972) analysis concerning the external natural convection about two-dimensional bodies with constant heat flux is in error.

Lin, F. N.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Hydraulic concentration of fields in the solar photosphere. IV - Evolution of fields near equipartition

It has previously been inferred that small isolated flux tubes appearing in supergranule boundaries are compressed to 1500 gauss or more. This paper considers whether some dynamic condition within a flux tube exists which provides both stability and a 'mechanical advantage' so that a small force over a small period of time can accomplish the enormous compression from the weak-field to the strong-field state. It is found that the equipartition solutions to the hydromagnetic equations apparently may have the desired property of permitting an infinitesimal external pressure to convert a gentle flow of gas along a weak field into a very intense field through a succession of equipartition states. An illustrative example is presented, and field compression by convective forces is analyzed.

Parker, E. N.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Theoretical properties of Omega-loops in the convective zone of the Sun. 3: Extended updrafts

It was pointed out in an earlier paper that the continuing emergence of Omega-loops at localized sites on the surface of the Sun indicates a continuing updraft at those sites. The updraft evidently extends all the way from the base of the convective zone to somewhat near (approximately 10(exp 9)cm) the surface. We pointed out that such updrafts enhance the convective heat transport to the surface, accounting for a major part of the increased solar brightness or irradiance during times of solar activity. The problem is to work out, as much as possible, the dynamical nature of the extended updrafts, initiated as the wakes of successive rising Omega-loops and driven therafter by the convective forces. The question is, does the updraft take on a long-lived columnar form of its own, or does it never devlop beyond a sequence of rising wakes, resembling beads on a string? The dynamics of a columnar updraft is complicated by both the large Reynolds number and the strong stratication of the atmosphere, and by a total lack of direct observational information. Extended slender updrafts are not a spontaneous occurrence in numerical simulations of thermal convection in a stratified atmosphere, although slender concentrated downdrafts commonly occur. This paper examines several aspects of a columnar updrft in a convective atmosphere under various idealized circumstances to investigate to what extent that state can be maintained against the diminishing vorticity and expansion in the updraft. It appears that the successive passage of Omega-loops from the bottom to the top of the convective zone is an essential feature of the continuing existence of the updraft.

Parker, E. N.↗

DOE OSTI2023

Modelling and analysis of salt-convection effect on oxide reduction process for uranium oxides using smoothed particle hydrodynamics

Oxygen ion transport via molten salt continuum is a key kinetic feature of electrochemical reduction process for uranium oxides in molten salt. During the electrolysis, the evolution of oxygen ion concentration field in molten salt continuum appears from porous metallic layer to open bulk salt. Despite the important role affecting process throughput, its effect coupled with controlled salt movement was not adequately investigated. To capture the reactive oxygen ion transport phenomena, a multidimensional reduction model based on smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) was combined with the advection-diffusion model. A pelletized oxide fuel bed capturing interconnected salt continuum is considered as a reactant material geometry, which allows forced convective delivery of molten salt through the reactant materials with a relatively low pressure head. Here, in this study, reduction time of a pelletized-fuel bed was quantified with respect to key design parameters of the reactant material configuration. The simulation results demonstrated the advantage of salt convection which effectively removes oxygen ion products from the reactant materials and consequently accelerates the reduction process. Moreover, the reduction-time correlation of a single pelletized fuel was developed as a function of relevant dimensionless parameters and was extended to the application for a pelletized-fuel bed. Finally, several insights and implications in the use of a pelletized oxide fuel were presented. The developed SPH-based framework enabled multi-physics analysis of governing dynamics in appreciating and screening candidate reactant material configurations in a cost-effective manner.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

NASA NTRS1975

Technology of forced flow and once-through boiling: A survey

Representative boiling heat transfer and pressure drop information obtained primarily from past NASA and AEC programs is presented which is applicable to forced flow and once-through boiler systems. The forced convection boiler has a number of advantages: little possibility of flow mal-distribution; heat transfer characteristics are usually consistent; and conductances are predictable, so that higher heat fluxes may be employed with safety (which leads to more compact, lighter weight equipment). It was found that in gas-fired systems particularly, the controlling heat transfer resistance may be on the hot side, so that increased fluxes would require extended surfaces. If in a power generation system the working fluid is very expensive, a forced flow boiler can be designed especially for small holdup volume. If the fluid is temperature sensitive, the boiling side wall temperatures can be tailored to maintain maximum heat transfer rates without overheating the fluid. The forced flow and once-through configurations may be the only type which can satisfy a specific need (such as the automotive Rankine cycle power plant design having a very short time-response boiler).

Poppendieck, H. F.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Numerical Prediction of Heat Transfer Coefficients during Xenon Tank Fill in Microgravity

NASA’s Gateway will serve as an orbital outpost to enable sustained human lunar exploration and facilitate access to destinations beyond the Moon. To maintain sustainable deep space missions, on-orbit propellant transfer and refueling must be realized. One of Gateway’s critical components, the Power and Propulsion Element (PPE), will use solar electric propulsion to perform attitude control maneuvers and orbit transfers. Xenon will be used as the propellant for the PPE and stored in a composite overwrapped pressure vessel (COPV). During the propellant refueling process, xenon will compress causing the fluid and tank walls to warm. There is concern that the bond between the tank liner and composite may degrade at elevated temperatures, along with the possibility of the tank exceeding design pressure. While on-orbit testing is being proposed, numerical models are being used to predict the thermal response and reduce risk during a refueling operation in microgravity where natural convection is diminished. Accurate numerical models may be used to inform decisions for follow-on testing, or design and operation of refueling architectures. Challenges of modeling xenon tank fill in microgravity include non-ideal gas behavior, operating near the fluid’s critical point, and lack of experimental flight data. This study presents a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model with conjugate heat transfer that is used to predict averaged heat transfer coefficients during tank filling. At the anticipated injection flow rates, the CFD results showed that forced convection dominates in microgravity. Initial results from a multi-node Thermal Desktop model that assumed a purely conducting fluid (Nu=1) over-predicted the CFD fluid temperature and pressure, while a similar model allowing for natural convection under-predicted. The heat transfer coefficients predicted by CFD were implemented into the multi-node model, and the COPV thermal response from the two computational approaches were compared with good agreement.

Heat Transfer↗