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At least 235 records · Page 13

Scale-Up and Modeling Efforts Using an Omniphobic Surface Treatment for Mitigating Solids Deposition

Abstract Gas hydrates, waxes and asphaltenes represent some of the most significant flow assurance challenges, especially in subsea lines, where treatment options can be limited. Currently, complete avoidance is the primary strategy for hydrate management, while chemical or mechanical flushing/pigging may be utilized for other solids. Each system must also be treated with individualized solutions, as there have been no proved one-size-fits-all technologies demonstrated to date. As an alternative to constant chemical injection or thermodynamic controls such as insulation or heating, a robust omniphobic surface treatment material has been developed which has been shown in previous studies to significantly reduce the adhesion of flow assurance solids, resulting in lower risk for deposition and plugging of gas hydrates, waxes, and asphaltenes. As part of a Department of Energy study, laboratory scale tests were performed on a variety of apparatuses ranging from micromechanical force (micron scale) to laboratory flow loop testing (meter scale). While the results from these tests have been promising, there can be some disconnects between lab-scale observations and field-scale testing. Several factors can result in discrepancies between small-scale bench-top studies and deployment-scale efforts. These include flow conditions (Reynolds number, flow regime), chemistry (synthetic vs. crude oils, gas composition, and additives), physical differences (pipeline material, size, and geometry), etc. This work will describe the actions taken to better understand the deployment and performance of a material such as this omniphobic surface treatment in field scenarios, and to build confidence for deployment in a production scenario. These efforts include modeling field production scenarios using models developed from lab observations, application of the material to field-scale equipment to better understand application challenges, and expanded survivability and longevity testing. Understanding the bridge between laboratory testing and full-scale deployment allows for better technique and risk mitigation for field scale testing.

03 NATURAL GAS↗

H I Gas and Star Formation in Major Galaxy Pairs from the FAST All Sky H I Survey (FASHI)

Atomic hydrogen (H I ) plays a fundamental role in fueling star formation in galaxies. However, the behavior of H I gas in interacting systems, particularly galaxy pairs, remains elusive. In this work, we investigate the H I content of major mergers by crossmatching the extragalactic H I catalog from the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) All-Sky H I Survey with a previously established sample of isolated galaxy pairs. With the superior sensitivity of FAST, we have constructed the largest sample of major mergers with H I detections, consisting of 440 galaxy pairs: 364 spiral-spiral (S+S) and 76 spiral-elliptical (S+E) systems. We examine the H I gas fraction (f H I ), star formation rate (SFR), and H I star formation efficiency (SFE H I = SFR/M H I ) for individual galaxies in pairs. The control sample is matched in both stellar mass and redshift. We find that paired galaxies, particularly those in pairs with small projected separations (d p < 50 h −1 kpc), exhibit systematically lower (by 8.8%) H I gas fractions compared to the control galaxies. The SFR is enhanced for galaxies in the S+S pairs. The SFE H I is ∼15% higher for galaxies in the S+S pairs than in the control galaxies, while spiral galaxies in the S+E pairs show no significant difference in SFE H I compared to the control sample. These findings suggest that the merger process triggers efficient H I gas depletion and enhances star formation, especially in close S+S pairs. Notably, our sample includes 26 red spirals in paired systems. These galaxies exhibit H I deficiency and suppressed star formation activity compared to the isolated galaxies, indicating that interactions may affect quiescent spirals differently, potentially due to mechanisms similar to those of ellipticals.

Yan, Shulan 淑澜鄢 [Xiamen University (China); SDSS C↗

Streaming Clumps Ejection Model and the Heterogeneous Inner Coma of Comet Wild 2

The conventional concept of cometary comae is that they are dominated by fine particulates released individually by sublimation of surface volatiles and subsequent entrainment in the near-surface gas. It has long been recognized that such particulates could be relatively large, with early estimates that objects perhaps up to one meter in size may be levitated from the surface of the typical cometary nucleus. However, the general uniformity and small average particulate size of observed comae and the relatively smooth, monotonic increases and decreases in particle density during the Giotto flythrough of comet Halley s coma in 1986 reinforced the view that the bulk of the particles are released at the surface, are fine-sized and inert. Jets have been interpreted as geometrically constrained release of these particulates. With major heterogeneities observed during the recent flythrough of the inner coma of comet Wild 2, these views deserve reconsideration.

Clark, B. C.↗

Foreign Object Damage Behavior of a SiC/SiC Composite at Ambient and Elevated Temperatures

Foreign object damage (FOD) behavior of a gas-turbine grade SiC/SiC ceramic matrix composite (CMC) was determined at 25 and 1316 C, employing impact velocities from 115 to 440 meters per second by 1.59-mm diameter stell-ball projectiles. Two different types of specimen support were used at each temperature: fully supported and partially supported. For a given temperature, the degree of post-impact strength degradation increased with increasing impact velocity, and was greater in a partially supported configuration than in a fully supported one. The elevated-temperature FOD resistance of the composite, particularly under partially supported loading at higher impact velocities greater than or equal to 350 meters per second, was significantly less than the ambient-temperature counterpart, attributed to a weakening effect of the composite. For fully supported loading, frontal contact stress played a major role in generating composite damage; whereas, for partially supported loading, both frontal contact and backside bending stresses were combined sources of damage generation. The SiC/SiC composite was able to survive higher energy impacts without complete structural failure but suffered more strength affecting damage from low energy impacts than AS800 and SN282 silicon nitrides.

Bhatt, Ramakrishna T.↗

Ocean Winds and Turbulent Air-Sea Fluxes Inferred From Remote Sensing

Air-sea turbulent fluxes determine the exchange of momentum, heat, freshwater, and gas between the atmosphere and ocean. These exchange processes are critical to a broad range of research questions spanning length scales from meters to thousands of kilometers and time scales from hours to decades. Examples are discussed (section 2). The estimation of surface turbulent fluxes from satellite is challenging and fraught with considerable errors (section 3); however, recent developments in retrievals (section 3) will greatly reduce these errors. Goals for the future observing system are summarized in section 4. Surface fluxes are defined as the rate per unit area at which something (e.g., momentum, energy, moisture, or CO Z ) is transferred across the air/sea interface. Wind- and buoyancy-driven surface fluxes are called surface turbulent fluxes because the mixing and transport are due to turbulence. Examples of nonturbulent processes are radiative fluxes (e.g., solar radiation) and precipitation (Schmitt et al., 2010). Turbulent fluxes are strongly dependent on wind speed; therefore, observations of wind speed are critical for the calculation of all turbulent surface fluxes. Wind stress, the vertical transport of horizontal momentum, also depends on wind direction. Stress is very important for many ocean processes, including upper ocean currents (Dohan and Maximenko, 2010) and deep ocean currents (Lee et al., 2010). On short time scales, this horizontal transport is usually small compared to surface fluxes. For long-term processes, transport can be very important but again is usually small compared to surface fluxes.

Bourassa, Mark A.↗

Utilitarian models of the solar nebula

Models of the primitive solar nebula based on a combination of theory, observations of T Tauri stars, and global conservation laws are presented. The models describe the motions of nebular gas, mixing of interstellar material during the formation of the nebula, and evolution of thermal structure in terms of several characteristic parameters. The parameters describe key aspects of the protosolar cloud (its rotation rate and collapse rate) and the nebula (its mass relative to the Sun, decay time, and density distribution). For most applications, the models are heuristic rather than predicted. Their purpose is to provide a realistic context for the interpretation of solar system data, and to distinquish those nebular characteristics that can be specified with confidence, independently of the assumtions of particular models, form those that are poorly constrained. It is demonstrated that nebular gas typically experienced large radial excursions during the evolution of the nebula and that both inward and outward mean radial velocities on the order of meters per second occured in the terrestrial planet region, with inward velocities predominant for most ofthe evolution. However, the time history of disk size, surface density, and radial velocities are sensitive to the total angular momentun of the protosolar cloud, which cannot be constrained by purely theoretical considerations.It is shown that a certain amount of 'formational' mixing of interstellar material was an inevitable consequenc of nebular mass and angular momentum transport during protostellar collapse, regardless of the specific transport mechanisms invloved. Even if the protosolar cloud was initially homogeneous, this mixing was important because it had the effect of mingling presolar material that had experienced different degrees of thermal processing during collapse and passage through the accertion shock. Nebular thermal structure is less sensitive to poorly constrained parameters than is dynamical history. A simple criterion is derived for the condition that silicate grains are evaporated at midplane, and it is argued that this condition was probably fulfilled early in nebular history. Cooling of a hot nebula due tocoagulation of dust and consequent local reduction of optical depth is examined, and it is shown how such a process leads naturally to an enrichment of rock-forming elements in the gas phase.

Cassen, Patrick↗

A research on integrated-circuit sensors for gas chromatography

Fabrication of a miniature gas chromatograph column using integrated circuit technology was studied and found to be feasible. A bonding problem of forming a strong, gas tight seal between two wafers of silicon has prevented the completion of the column design. Continuing research using tin or a chromium-gold bond promises to overcome the problems of using the proposed gold-eutectic bond. Specifications for the miniature gas chromatograph column are: a spiral capillary column of semi-circular cross section, 30 micron radius, and a total length of 6.9 meters etched into a silicon structure 50 mm in diameter and 0.625 mm thick.

Source record↗

Probe Measures Fouling As In Heat Exchangers

Combustion deposits reduce transfer of heat. Instrument measures fouling like that on gas side of heat exchanger in direct-fired boiler or heat-recovery system. Heat-flux probe includes tube with embedded meter in outer shell. Combustion gases flow over probe, and fouling accumulates on it, just as fouling would on heat exchanger. Embedded heat-flow meter is sandwich structure in which thin Chromel layers and middle alloy form thermopile. Users determine when fouling approaches unacceptable levels so they schedule cleaning and avoid decreased transfer of heat and increased drop in pressure fouling causes. Avoids cost of premature, unnecessary maintenance.

Marner, Wilbur J.↗

Density scaling approximation for Monte-Carlo simulations of radioactive plumes

The release of radioactive gas into the atmosphere can diffuse into large volumes of air downwind from the point of release. The extent of radioactivity can cover thousands of cubic meters of air. For such large volumes, the weather models used to predict the down-wind distribution of the plume and the radiation transport models used to predict the radiation reaching ground-level from the plume can take tens of hours of computer time on multi-node institutional High-Performance Computing facilities. In this paper we focus on the radiation transport aspect of plume modeling. Here, we describe a phenomenological method for approximating the amounts of radiation that reach ground level from large volumes of a static radioactive plume that can be calculated on a stand-alone personal computer in much shorter computation times than those usually needed for such large volume evaluations. We refer to this method as the Density Scaling Approximation (DSA). Its ability to approximate ground-level count rates of large plumes comes from using a small-plume volume with a scaled-up value of air density to simulate the same number of scatterings that occur during transport in larger plume volumes at normal air density. We demonstrate the DSA by using a 100 m-diameter air-filled hemispherical dome geometry with a uniform volumetric activity of 135 Xe gas throughout the air-filled volume. The DSA for a larger dome diameter is obtained by evaluating the 100 m dome with an air density scaled up by the linear ratio of the larger diameter to the 100 m diameter. We find that this approximation works well for dome diameters up to 1200 m – the largest diameter studied and a size more than sufficient for accounting for all the radiation from 135 Xe. Moreover, most of our DSA results can be calculated over 500 times faster than corresponding full-sized geometry with normal air density. To help evaluate the accuracy of the DSA and gain insight into how well it can reproduce different regions of the spectra, we use three, easily understood regions of interest to compare the DSA results to the full-sized geometry at normal air density results. These regions are the full-energy peak, the region of single-Compton scattering, and the region of multiple-Compton scattering. We show how the dominance of the Compton scattering mechanism determines this division and thus provides insight into how Compton scattering is manifested in spectra from photon scattering through air in general, and how well the DSA approximation works.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Investigation of Transient Gas Phase Column Density Due to Droplet Evaporation

A NASA robotic refueling mission experiment on board the International Space Station (ISS) was designed to repeatedly transfer simulated cryogenic propellant between two dewars. After each metered transfer, the cryogen was to be vented overboard via sublimation or evaporation. ISS payload providers must conduct analyses to demonstrate that any planned gaseous venting generate no more than a certain level of material that may interfere with optical measurements from other payloads that may be located nearby. This requirement is expressed in terms of a maximum column number density (CND). For the experiment under consideration, fluid droplets likely would accompany any such vapor. Earlier related studies led to development of analytical expressions for column density along general paths for a number of practical cases under steady conditions, including droplet evaporation. These expressions are not appropriate for rapid evaporation of small droplets however, since the droplets cannot sustain mass flow rates consistent with steady conditions. In this work, analytical expressions are developed for estimating column density near a rapidly evaporating droplet along general paths. The influence for instantaneous evaporation is created first as a limiting case, where it is found the peak value occurs at the time it takes a wave of vapor to reach the closest point along the optical path traveling at its most probable thermal speed. Next, the case for finite-period evaporation is evaluated for constant conditions. Compared to the instantaneous case, peak column density occurs shortly after droplet extinction, but at a lower intensity. A new mathematical function is discovered that solves the integrals associated with this case. Finally, ways to account for droplet motion and changes in evaporation rate with size and temperature are discussed in this framework.

Woronowicz, M. S.↗

Evaluation of a self-aspirating local total enthalpy probe in a low-density arc-heated hypersonic wind tunnel

A shock-swallowing, self-aspirating, local total enthalpy probe has been evaluated in a low density nonequilibrium, hypervelocity airstream. The probe, which incorporated an air gap to separate the internal and external cooling passages, was tested in an electric archeated wind tunnel at an average Mach number of 11.7 and an average Reynolds number per meter of 57,000. The free stream enthalpy probe data are compared with bulk calorimeter measurements of total enthalpy at the beginning of the gas expansion and with local total enthalpy inferred from a theoretical nonequilibrium gas expansion model by using free stream velocity measurements obtained from a mass flow probe. The three techniques are in relative agreement at the lower enthalpies. However, at the higher enthalpies, the enthalpy probe data lie considerably below the other data. This low data may be caused by the chemical and vibrational energy frozen in the flow not being sensed by the probe. Other problems associated with the shock-swallowing total enthalpy probe are discussed, and recommendations for improving the probe performance are presented.

Guy, R. W.↗

Evaluation of a simplified gross thrust calculation technique using two prototype F100 turbofan engines in an altitude facility

The technique which relies on afterburner duct pressure measurements and empirical corrections to an ideal one dimensional flow analysis to determine thrust is presented. A comparison of the calculated and facility measured thrust values is reported. The simplified model with the engine manufacturer's gas generator model are compared. The evaluation was conducted over a range of Mach numbers from 0.80 to 2.00 and at altitudes from 4020 meters to 15,240 meters. The effects of variations in inlet total temperature from standard day conditions were explored. Engine conditions were varied from those normally scheduled for flight. The technique was found to be accurate to a twice standard deviation of 2.89 percent, with accuracy a strong function of afterburner duct pressure difference.

Kurtenbach, F. J.↗

Measurement of recovery temperature on an airfoil in the Langley 0.3-m transonic cryogenic tunnel

Experimental measurements of recovery temperature were made on an airfoil in the Langley 0.3-m Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel at Mach numbers of 0.60 and 0.84 over a Reynolds number per meter range from about 15,000,000 to about 335,000,000. The measured recovery temperatures were considerably below those associated with ideal-gas ambient temperature wind tunnels. This difference was accentuated as the stagnation pressure increased and the total temperature decreased. A boundary-layer code modified for use with cryogenic nitrogen adequately predicted the measured adiabatic wall temperature at all conditions. A quantitative, on-line assessment of the nonadiabatic condition of a model can be made during the operation of a cryogenic wind tunnel by using a correlation for the adiabatic wall temperature which is only a function of total temperature, total pressure, and local Mach number on the model.

Johnson, C. B.↗

Testing of fuel/oxidizer-rich, high-pressure preburners

Results of an evaluation of high pressure combustion of fuel rich and oxidizer rich LOX/RP-1 propellants using 4.0 inch diameter prototype preburner injectors and chambers are presented. Testing covered a pressure range from 8.9 to 17.5 MN/square meters (1292 to 2540 psia). Fuel rich mixture ratios ranged from 0.238 to 0.367; oxidizer rich mixture ratios ranged from 27.2 to 47.5. Performance, gas temperature uniformity, and stability data for two fuel rich and two ozidizer rich preburner injectors are presented for a conventional like-on-like (LOL) design and a platelet design injector. Kinetically limited combustion is shown by the excellent agreement of measured fuel rich gas composition and C performance data with kinetic model predictions. The oxidizer rich test results support previous equilibrium combustion predictions.

Lawver, B. R.↗

Two-Phase Quality/Flow Meter

A quality and/or flow meter employs a capacitance probe assembly for measuring the dielectric constant of flow stream, particularly a two-phase flow stream including liquid and gas components.ne dielectric constant of the flow stream varies depending upon the volume ratios of its liquid and gas components, and capacitance measurements can therefore be employed to calculate the quality of the flow, which is defined as the volume ratio of liquid in the flow to the total volume ratio of gas and liquid in the flow. By using two spaced capacitance sensors, and cross-correlating the time varying capacitance values of each, the velocity of the flow stream can also be determined. A microcontroller-based processing circuit is employed to measure the capacitance of the probe sensors.The circuit employs high speed timer and counter circuits to provide a high resolution measurement of the time interval required to charge each capacitor in the probe assembly. In this manner, a high resolution, noise resistant, digital representation of each of capacitance value is obtained without the need for a high resolution A/D converter, or a high frequency oscillator circuit. One embodiment of the probe assembly employs a capacitor with two ground plates which provide symmetry to insure that accurate measurements are made thereby.

Moerk, J. Steven↗

Mars In-Situ Resource Utilization Technology Evaluation

We have examined the technologies required to enable Mars Tn-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) because our understanding of Mars resources has changed significantly in the last five years as a result of recent robotic missions to the red planet [1-4]. Two major developments, (1) confirmation of the presence of near-surface water in the form of ice in very large amounts at high latitudes by the Phoenix Lander and (2) the likely existence of water at lower latitudes in the form of hydrates or ice in the top one meter of the regolith, have the potential to change ISRU technology selection. A brief technology assessment was performed for the most promising Mars atmospheric gas processing techniques: Reverse Water Gas Shift (RWGS) and Methanation (aka Sabatier), as well as an overview of soil.processing technology to extract water from Martian soil.

Santiago-Maldonado, Edgardo↗

Mars in Situ Resource Utilization Technology Evaluation

We have examined the technologies required to enable Mars In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) because our understanding of Mars resources has changed significantly in the last five years as a result of recent robotic missions to the red planet. Two major developments, (1) confirmation of the presence of near-surface water in the form of ice in very large amounts at high latitudes by the Phoenix Lander and (2) the likely existence of water at lower latitudes in the form of hydrates or ice in the top one meter of the regolith, have the potential to change ISRU technology selection. A brief technology assessment was performed for the most promising Mars atmospheric gas processing techniques: Reverse Water Gas Shift (RWGS) and Methanation (aka Sabatier), as well as an overview of soil processing technology to extract water from Martian soil.

Muscatello, Anthony C.↗