SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “CONFINEMENT”

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.

SourceResearch connectionFrom yearThrough year

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 253 records · Page 14

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

NASA NTRS1994

Effect of density gradients in confined supersonic shear layers, part 1

The effect of density gradients on the supersonic wall modes (acoustic modes) of a 2-D confined compressible shear layer were investigated using linear analysis. Due to the inadequacies of the hyperbolic tangent profile, the boundary layer basic profiles were used. First a test case was taken with the same parameters as in Tam and Hu's analysis with convective Mach number M(sub c) = 1.836 and density ratio of 1.398. Three generalized inflection points were found giving rise to three modes. The first two show similar properties to the Class A and B modes, and the third is an 'inner mode' which will be called a Class C mode. As the density ratio is increased, the smallest of the three neutral phase speeds tends towards the speed of the lower velocity stream, and the other two eventually coalesce and then disappear. These two effects lead to a linear resonance between the Class B modes which increases the cutoff frequency and growth rate of the lowest mode. In fact, growth rates of 2-4 times the test case were found as the density ratio was increased to 7. A similar trend is observed for the Class A modes when the density ratio is decreased from the test case, but the growth rate is not changed by much from the test case.

Peroomian, Oshin↗

NASA NTRS1995

Jet Mixing and Emission Characteristics of Transverse Jets in Annular and Cylindrical Confined Crossflow

Three dimensional turbulent reacting CFD analyses were performed on transverse jets injected into annular and cylindrical (can) confined crossflows. The goal was to identify and assess mixing differences between annular and can geometries. The approach taken was to optimize both annular and can configurations by systematically varying orifice spacing until lowest emissions were achieved, and then compare the results. Numerical test conditions consisted of a jet-to-mainstream mass-flow ratio of 3.2 and a jet-to-mainstream momentum-flux ratio (J) of 30. The computational results showed that the optimized geometries had similar emission levels at the exit of the mixing section although the annular configuration did mix-out faster. For lowest emissions, the density correlation parameter (C = (S/H) square root of J) was 2.35 for the annular geometry and 3.5 for the can geometry. For the annular geometry, the constant was about twice the value seen for jet mixing at low mass-flow ratios (i.e., MR less than 0.5). For the can geometry, the constant was about 1 1/2 times the value seen for low mass-flow ratios.

Bain, D. B.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Effects of confinement on partially premixed flames

Partially premixed combustion is an intermediate regime between the limiting cases of premixed and nonpremixed combustion. Although combustion problems are generally approached from one of these two limiting cases, there are many practical situations where flames cannot be considered as purely premixed or nonpremixed, and thus the partially premixed approach must be used. In partially premixed combustion, mechanisms from the premixed and nonpremixed regimes can coexist, and as a result some interesting new phenomena can arise. One such phenomenon is the flame stabilization in laminar mixing layers by triple flames. One of the first observations of triple flames was made by Phillips (1965), who investigated a triple flame propagating in a methane mixing layer. Kioni et al. (1993) also examined triple flames both experimentally and numerically. There have also been numerous analytical studies on the shape and propagation of triple flames under various assumptions by Dold (1989), Dold et al. (1991), and Hartley and Dold (1991). In terms of modeling, Muller et al. (1994) have combined the flamelet formulations for premixed and nonpremixed combustion in order to treat lifted diffusion flames. One common feature in the analytical and numerical studies mentioned above is the assumption of zero heat release, which is necessary to make the problem tractable. The effect of heat release on triple flames was investigated by Ruetsch et al. (1995), where for the unconfined case, flame speeds larger than their premixed counterparts were found. One of the most important practical situations in which these conditions arise is in lifted turbulent jet diffusion flames. At a critical velocity the burning zone of a fuel jet lifts off from the nozzle, moves to increasing distances as the jet velocity increases, and finally blows off. The mechanisms that control these phenomena, i.e. that determine the stability of these flames, are still not understood. In addition to regions where diffusion flame stabilization takes place, partially premixed conditions also exist during the ignition process in nonpremixed systems. Numerical simulations by Reveillon et al. (1994) of the ignition process in a weakly stirred mixture of fuel and oxidizer show that triple flames propagate along lines of stoichiometric mixture fraction throughout the fluid. In addition, Peters (1994) notes that NO(x) emissions are likely to be large in such transient cases, and therefore an understanding of triple flames can provide information concerning pollutant formation. This study extends the work previously done and examines the effects of lateral confinement on partially premixed flames. Once again, we study both the flame structure and propagation.

Ruetsch, G. R.↗

NASA NTRS1996

Mixing of Multiple Jets with a Confined Subsonic Crossflow in a Cylindrical Duct

This paper summarizes NASA-supported experimental and computational results on the mixing of a row of jets with a confined subsonic crossflow in a cylindrical duct. The studies from which these results were derived investigated flow and geometric variations typical of the complex 3-D flowfield in the combustion chambers in gas turbine engines. The principal observations were that the momentum-flux ratio and the number of orifices were significant variables. Jet penetration was critical, and jet penetration decreased as either the number of orifices increased or the momentum-flux ratio decreased. It also appeared that jet penetration remained similar with variations in orifice size, shape, spacing, and momentum-flux ratio when the number of orifices was proportional to the square-root of the momentum-flux ratio. In the cylindrical geometry, planar variances are very sensitive to events in the near wall region, so planar averages must be considered in context with the distributions. The mass-flow ratios and orifices investigated were often very large (mass-flow ratio greater than 1 and ratio of orifice area-to-mainstream cross-sectional area up to 0.5), and the axial planes of interest were sometimes near the orifice trailing edge. Three-dimensional flow was a key part of efficient mixing and was observed for all configurations. The results shown also seem to indicate that non-reacting dimensionless scalar profiles can emulate the reacting flow equivalence ratio distribution reasonably well. The results cited suggest that further study may not necessarily lead to a universal 'rule of thumb' for mixer design for lowest emissions, because optimization will likely require an assessment for a specific application.

Holdeman, James D.↗

NASA NTRS1997

Mixing of Multiple Jets With a Confined Subsonic Crossflow: Opposed Rows of Orifices in Rectangular Ducts - Part 2

This paper summarizes experimental and computational results on the mixing of opposed rows of jets with a confined subsonic crossflow in rectangular ducts. The studies from which these results were excerpted investigated flow and geometric variations typical of the complex 3-D flowfield in the combustion chambers in gas turbine engines. The principal observation was that the momentum-flux ratio, J, and the orifice spacing, S/H, were the most significant flow and geometric variables. Jet penetration was critical, and penetration decreased as either momentum-flux ratio or orifice spacing decreased. It also appeared that jet penetration remained similar with variations in orifice size, shape, spacing, and momentum-flux ratio when the orifice spacing was inversely proportional to the square-root of the momentum-flux ratio. It was also seen that planar averages must be considered in context with the distributions. Note also that the mass-flow ratios and the offices investigated were often very large (jet-to-mainstream mass-flow ratio greater than 1 and the ratio of orifices-area-to-mainstream-cross-sectional-area up to 0.5 respectively), and the axial planes of interest were often just downstream of the orifice trailing edge. Three-dimensional flow was a key part of efficient mixing and was observed for all configurations.

Holdeman, James D.↗

NASA NTRS1997

Effects of Acoustically Lined Cylindrical Ducts on Instability Waves in Confined Supersonic Jets

The pressure disturbances generated by an instability wave in the shear layer of a supersonic jet are studied for an axisymmetric jet inside a lined cylindrical duct. For the supersonic jet, locally linear stability analysis with duct wall boundary conditions is used to calculate the eigenvalues and the eigenfunctions. These values are used to determine the growth rates and phase velocities of the instability waves and the radial pressure disturbance patterns. The study is confined to the dominant Kelvin-Helmholtz instability mode and to the region just downstream of the nozzle exit where the shear layer is growing but is still small in size compared to the radius of the duct. Numerical results are used to study the effects of changes in the outer flow, growth in the shear layer thickness, wall distance, wall impedance, and frequency. Results indicate that the effects of the duct wall on shear layer growth rates diminish as the outer flow increases. Also, wall reflections cause variations in growth rates depending on wall height and Strouhal number. These variations are due to the phase relationship between the outgoing and the reflected incoming pressure disturbances at the shear layer. The growth rate variations can be reduced and the maximum growth rate minimized by keeping the imaginary part of the impedance negative.

Dahl, Milo D.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Glucose Infusion into Exercising Dogs after Confinement: Rectal and Active Muscle Temperatures

Intravenous glucose infusion into ambulatory dogs results in attenuation of exercise-induced increase of both rectal and thigh muscle temperatures. That glucose (Glu) infusion attenuates excessive increase in body temperature from restricted activity during confinement deconditioning. Intravenous glucose infusion attenuates the rise in exercise core temperature in deconditioned dogs by a yet undefined mechanism.

Greenleaf, J. E.↗

NASA NTRS1998

Confined States in Large-Aspect-Ratio Thermosolutal Convection

Two-dimensional thermosolutal convection with no-slip boundary conditions is studied using numerical simulations in a periodic domain. The domain is large enough to follow the evolution of phase instabilities of fully nonlinear traveling waves. In the parameter regime studied these instabilities evolve, without loss of phase or hysteresis, into a series of confined states or pulses characterized by locally enhanced heat and solute transport. The wavelength and phase velocity of the traveling rolls within a pulse differ substantially from those in the background. The pulses drift in the same direction as the convection rolls on which they ride but more slowly, and are characterized by an exponential leading front and an oscillatory trailing end. Multiple, apparently stable, states are found for identical parameter values. The qualitative properties of the pulses are in good agreement with the predictions of a third-order phase equation which accounts for the relation between wave number and phase velocity, the oscillatory tails and the multiplicity of states. These properties of the pulses are shown to be a consequence of Shil'nikov dynamics in the spatial domain.

Spina, Alejandro↗

NASA NTRS1996

Effect of Density Gradients in Confined Supersonic Shear Layers: Three-Dimensional Modes - 2

The effect of density gradients on three-dimensional (3-D) supersonic acoustic modes and 3-D subsonic modes in a compressible confined shear layer were investigated using linear analysis. The compressible Rayleigh equation with the solution of the steady compressible boundary layer equations as its basic profiles was solved for two different density ratios, 1.398 and 3.0, and several spanwise wave numbers. For a density ratio of 1.398, the 2-D Co, mode had the highest growth rate for a fixed aspect ratio BIH=2. At the higher-density ratio, the 3-D mode had a slightly higher maximum growth rate than the two-dimensional (2-D) mode, and the maximum growth rate was at a location where the phase speed was supersonic with respect to the fast stream.

Peroomian, Oshin↗

NASA NTRS1999

Mixing of Multiple Jets with a Confined Subsonic Crossflow: Opposed Rows of Orifices in Rectangular Ducts - Part 2

This paper summarizes experimental and computational results on the mixing of opposed rows of jets with a confined subsonic crossflow in rectangular ducts. The studies from which these results were excerpted investigated flow and geometric variations typical of the complex three-dimensional flowfield in the combustion chambers in gas turbine engines. The principal observation was that the momentum-flux ratio, J, and the orifice spacing, S/H, were the most significant flow and geometric variables. Jet penetration was critical, and penetration decreased as either momentum-flux ratio or orifice spacing decreased. It also appeared that jet penetration remained similar with variations in orifice size, shape, spacing, and momentum-flux ratio when the orifice spacing was inversely proportional to the square-root of the momentum-flux ratio. It was also seen that planar averages must be considered in context with the distributions. Note also that the mass-flow ratios and the orifices investigated were often very large (jet-to-mainstream mass-flow ratio > 1 and the ratio of orifices-area-to-mainstream- cross-sectional-area up to 0.5, respectively), and the axial planes of interest were often just downstream of the orifice trailing edge. Three-dimensional flow was a key part of efficient mixing and was observed for all configurations.

Holdeman, J. D.↗

NASA NTRS1999

Preliminary Results from the Confined Helium Experiment

We describe the preliminary results from an experiment to measure the heat capacity of helium confined within a stack of evenly spaced silicon plates at temperatures very close to the superfluid transition. The resolution of the heat capacity measurements was generally about 5x10 (exp -9)K, allowing the finite size peak to be mapped in detail. In addition, wide range data containing information on the behavior of the surface specific heat was collected. The preliminary analysis shows fair agreement with theory, but some discrepancies. The results can also be combined with related ground measurements on smaller length scales to perform additional tests of scaling predictions for cross-over to lower dimensional behavior. Some results in this area are also presented.

Lipa, J. A.↗

NASA NTRS1999

CUSP Energetic Particles: Confinement, Acceleration and Implications

The cusp energetic particle (CEP) event is a new magnetospheric phenomenon. The events were detected in the dayside cusp for hours, in which the measured helium ions had energies up to 8 MeV. All of these events were associated with a dramatic decrease and large fluctuations in the local magnetic field strength. During January 1999 - December 1999 covered by this report, I have studied the CEP events by analyzing the POLAR, GEOTAIL, and WIND particle and magnetic field data measured during the geomagnetic quiet periods in 1996 and one geomagnetic storm period in 1998. The simultaneous observations indicated that the ion fluxes in the CEP events were higher than that in both the upstream and the downstream from the bow shock. The pitch angle distribution of the helium ions in the CEP events was found to peak around 90 deg. It was found that the mirror parameter, defined as the ratio of the square root of the integration of the parallel turbulent power spectral component over the ultra-low frequency (ULF) ranges to the mean field in the cusp, is correlated with the intensity of the cusp MeV helium flux, which is a measure of the influence of mirroring interactions and an indication of local effect. It was also found that the turbulent power of the local magnetic field in the ultra-low frequency (ULF) ranges is correlated with the intensity of the cusp energetic helium ions. Such ULF ranges correspond to periods of about 0.33-500 seconds that cover the gyroperiods, the bounce periods, and the drift periods of the tens keV to MeV charged particles when they are temporarily confined in the high-altitude dayside cusp. These observations represent a discovery that the high-altitude dayside cusp is a new acceleration and dynamic trapping region of the magnetosphere. The cusp geometry is connected via gradient and curvature drift of these energized ions to the equatorial plasma sheet as close as the geostationary orbit at local midnight. It implies that the dayside cusp is potentially an important source of magnetospheric particles. The discovery of the CEP events has been recognized as one of the most significant results from POLAR. I was invited to give a talk at 1999 IUGG meeting to interpret the CEP events. This discovery has also been written into the web-based Space Physics Text Book (http://www.oulu.fi/- spaceweb/textbook/cusp.html).

Chen, Jiasheng↗

NASA NTRS2000

Mixing and NOx Emission Calculations of Confined Reacting Jet Flows in Cylindrical and Annular Ducts

Rapid mixing of cold lateral jets with hot cross-stream flows in confined configurations is of practical interest in gas turbine combustors as it strongly affects combustor exit temperature quality, and gaseous emissions in for example rich-lean combustion. It is therefore important to further improve our fundamental understanding of the important processes of dilution jet mixing especially when the injected jet mass flow rate exceeds that of the cross-stream. The results reported in this report describe some of the main flow characteristics which develop in the mixing process in a cylindrical duct. A three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code has been used to predict the mixing flow field characteristics and NOx emission in a quench section of a rich-burn/quick-mix/lean-burn (RQL) combustor. Sixty configurations have been analyzed in both circular and annular geometries in a fully reacting environment simulating the operating condition of an actual RQL gas turbine combustion liner. The evaluation matrix was constructed by varying the number of orifices per row and orifice shape. Other parameters such as J (momentum-flux ratio), MR (mass flowrate ratio), DR (density ratio), and mixer sector orifice ACd (effective orifice area) were maintained constant throughout the entire study. The results indicate that the mixing flow field can be correlated with the NOx production if they are referenced with the stoichiometric equivalence ratio value and not the equilibrium value. The mixing flowfields in both circular and annular mixers are different. The penetration of equal jets in both annular and circular geometries is vastly different which significantly affects the performance of the mixing section. In the computational results with the circular mixer, most of the NOx formation occurred behind the orifice starting at the orifice wake region. General trends have been observed in the NOx production as the number of orifices is changed and this appears to be common for all hole configurations and mixer types (circular or annular). The performance of any orifice shape (in producing minimum NOx) appears to be acceptable if the number of orifices can be freely varied in order to attain the optimum jet penetration.

Oechsle, Victor L.↗

NASA NTRS1999

Inertial Electrostatic Confinement Fusion: The Laser Elevator Solar System Survey for Propellants Abstract

Dr. Wayne Pryor worked on three projects this summer. These were: 1) Inertial Electrostatic Confinement; 2) The Laser Elevator; and 3) Solar System Survey for Propellants Abstract. We Assisted Jon Nadler from Richland Community College in assembling and operating a table-top nuclear fusion reactor. We successfully demonstrated neutron production in a deuterium plasma. Pryor also obtained basic spectroscopic information on the atomic and molecular emissions in the plasma. The second project consisted of the completion of a paper on a novel propulsion concept (due to Tom Meyer of Colorado, the first author): a laser sail that bounces light back to the laser source. Recycling the photons from source to sail perhaps 100-1000 times dramatically improves the energy efficiency of this system, which may become very important for high-velocity missions in the future. Lastly, we compiled a very basic inventory of solar system propellant resources, their locations, and their accessibility. This initial inventory concentrates on sunlight availability, water availability, and the difficulty (delta-velocity requirement and radiation environment) in getting there.

Pryor, Wayne↗

NASA NTRS2003

Mixing and NO(x) Emission Calculations of Confined Reacting Jet Flows in a Cylindrical Duct

Rapid mixing of cold lateral jets with hot cross-stream flows in confined configurations is of practical interest in gas turbine combustors as it strongly affects combustor exit temperature quality, and gaseous emissions in for example rich-lean combustion. It is therefore important to further improve our fundamental understanding of the important processes of dilution jet mixing especially when the injected jet mass flow rate exceeds that of the cross-stream. The results reported in this report describe some of the main flow characteristics which develop in the mixing process in a cylindrical duct. A 3-dimensional tool has been used to predict the mixing flow field characteristics and NOx emission in a quench section of an RQL combustor, Eighteen configurations have been analyzed in a circular geometry in a fully reacting environment simulating the operating condition of an actual RQL gas turbine combustion liner. The evaluation matrix was constructed by varying three parameters: 1) jet-to-mainstream momentum-flux ratio (J), 2) orifice shape or orifice aspect ratio, and 3) slot slant angle. The results indicate that the mixing flow field significantly varies with the value of the jet penetration and subsequently, slanting elongated slots generally improve the mixing uniformity at high J conditions. Round orifices produce more uniform mixing and low NO(x) emissions at low J due to the strong and adequate jet penetration. No significant correlation was found between the NO(x) production rates and the mixing deviation parameters, however, strong correlation was found between NO(x) formation and jet penetration. In the computational results, most of the NO(x) formation occurred behind the orifice starting at the orifice wake region. Additional NO(x) is formed upstream of the orifice in certain configurations with high J conditions due to the upstream recirculation.

Holdeman, James D.↗

NASA NTRS2004

Electron Density and Two-Channel Neutron Emission Measurements in Steady-State Spherical Inertial-Electrostatically Confined Plasmas, with Review of the 1-D Kinetic Model

Electron density measurements have been made in steady-state plasmas in a spherical inertial electrostatic confinement (IEC) discharge using microwave interferometry. Plasma cores interior to two cathodes, having diameters of 15 and 23 cm, respectively, were probed over a transverse range of 10 cm with a spatial resolution of about 1.4 cm for buffer gas pressures from 0.2 to 6 Pa in argon and deuterium. The transverse profiles are generally flat, in some cases with eccentric symmetric minima, and give mean densities of from approx. = 0.4 to 7x 10(exp 10)/cu cm, the density generally increasing with the neutral gas pressure. Numerical solutions of the 1-D Poisson equation for EC plasmas are reviewed and energy distribution functions are identified which give flat transverse profiles. These functions are used with the plasma approximation to obtain solutions which also give densities consistent with the measurements, and a double potential well solution is obtained which has minima qualitatively similar to those observed. Explicit consideration is given to the compatibility of the solutions interior and exterior to the cathode, and to grid transparency. Deuterium fusion neutron emission rates were also measured and found to be isotropic, to within the measurement error, over two simultaneous directions. Anisotropy was observed in residual emissions during operation with non-fusing hydrogen-1. The deuterium rates are consistent with predictions from the model.

Dobson, Chris C.↗

NASA NTRS2004

Electron Density and Two-Channel Neutron Emission Measurements in Steady-State Spherical Inertial-Electrostatically Confined Plasmas, with Review of the One-Dimensional Kinetic Model

Electron density measurements have been made in steady-state plasmas in a spherical inertial electrostatic confinement (IEC) discharge using microwave interferometry. Plasma cores interior to two cathodes, having diameters of 15 and 23 cm, respectively, were probed over a transverse range of 10 cm with a spatial resolution of about 1.4 cm for buffer gas pressures from 0.2 to 6 Pa in argon and deuterium. The transverse profiles are generally flat, in some cases with eccentric symmetric minima, and give mean densities of from approx. = 0.4 to 7 x 10(exp 10)/cu cm, the density generally increasing with the neutral gas pressure. Numerical solutions of the one-dimensional Poisson equation for IEC plasmas are reviewed and energy distribution functions are identified which give flat transverse profiles. These functions are used with the plasma approximation to obtain solutions which also give densities consistent with the measurements, and a double potential well solution is obtained which has minima qualitatively similar to those observed. Explicit consideration is given to the compatibility of the solutions interior and exterior to the cathode, and to grid transparency. Deuterium fusion neutron emission rates were also measured and found to be isotropic, to within the measurement error, over two simultaneous directions. Anisotropy was observed in residual emissions during operation with nonfusing hydrogen- 1. The deuterium rates are consistent with predictions from the model.

Dobson, Chris C.↗

NASA NTRS2003

The psychology of isolated and confined environments. Understanding human behavior in Antarctica

Psychosocial adaptation to isolated and confined environments exhibits 4 distinct characteristics. First, it is seasonal: Variations in mood are associated with the altered diurnal cycle and psychological segmentation of the mission. Second, it is situational: Concurrent measures of personality, interpersonal needs, and coping styles are better predictors of mood and performance than are predeployment measures. Third, it is social: Members of expeditions with low social coherence report significantly more depression, anxiety, and anger than individuals belonging to expeditions with high social coherence. Fourth, it is salutogenic: Depressed mood is inversely associated with the severity of the physical environment of the station, and the winter-over experience is associated with reduced subsequent rates of hospital admissions, suggesting positive benefits for individuals seeking challenging experiences.

NASA Program Biomedical Research and Countermeasur↗