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At least 289 records · Page 16

Nonequilibrium shock wave structure, 1. Kinetics of nitric oxide formation and decomposition, 2

Theoretical and numerical aspects of molecular flow simulation focussed on the development of collision models for diatomic and triatomic gases undergoing rotational excitation and energy exchange. A laser absorption technique is proposed and analyzed as sufficiently sensitive for measuring rotational populations in a nonequilibrium shock wave. Also reported is a survey of available literature on NO chemical rate data in preparation for experiments on NO decompensation kinetics in atmospheric pollution.

Kruger, C. H.↗

Experimental and theoretical studies of NO/x/ formation in a jet-stirred combustor.

As an approach to testing kinetic models which couple NO formation to combustion reactions, a jet-stirred combustor was used to study NO(x) formation under kinetically controlled combustion conditions. The experimental data were compared with kinetic calculations for a well-stirred reactor. The agreement between theory and experiment was quite good for the combustion of hydrogen/air and carbon monoxide/air, for which detailed mechanisms were used. A quasi-global mechanism for the combustion of propane/air resulted in substantial underprediction of NO(x) formation.

Engleman, V. S.↗

Cooling rate estimations based on kinetic modelling of Fe-Mg diffusion in olivine

A finite one-dimensional kinetic model was developed to estimate the cooling rates of lunar rocks. The model takes into consideration the compositional zonation of olivine and applies Buening and Buseck (1973) data on ion diffusion in olivine. Since the 'as-solidified' profile of a given olivine is not known, a step-function, with infinite gradient, is assumed; the position of this step is based on mass balance considerations of the measured compositional profile. A minimum cooling rate would be associated with the preservation of a given gradient. The linear cooling rates of lunar rocks 12002 and 15555 were estimated by use of the olivine cooling-rate indicator to be 10 C/day and 5 C/day, respectively. These values are lower than those obtained by dynamic crystallization studies (10-20 C/day).

Taylor, L. A.↗

The two-dimensional diagnostic model for tropospheric OH - An uncertainty analysis

Tropospheric OH is believed to play a major role in atmospheric photochemistry, and, via its chemical interactions OH ultimately may affect the climate, stratospheric ozone levels, and the pH of rain. A valuable tool for predicting the global OH abundance as a function of latitude and altitude is the two-dimensional diagnostic model for tropospheric OH. This model can also be applied to budget studies of species which interact with OH, such as CH4, CO, and O3. In addition to laboratory-obtained kinetic data, important variables include the rate constants for several reactions, the rate of heterogeneous removal of soluble species, and the global abundance and spatial variability in H2O, O3, CO, and NOx. The uncertainties in these parameters imply over a factor of 3 variability in the calculated global OH concentration as well as significant uncertainties in the latitudinal and vertical OH distribution.

Chameides, W. L.↗

Two-equation turbulence modeling of oscillatory boundary layers

Three time-dependent turbulent boundary layer problems are treated using a k-epsilon turbulence model. The flows are characterized by large pressure gradients and either reversing or rotating wall shear stress vectors. Two existing and one new near-wall formulations are tested. The computed results are compared with data from Direct Numerical Simulations of the same flows. In one case previously unpublished DNS-data are given. It is found that the k-epsilon model can provide good predictions for the wall shear as well as profiles of velocities, turbulent kinetic energy, and dissipation. The crucial part is the choice of near-wall terms.

Justesen, Peter↗

Prediction of engine and near-field plume reacting flows in low-thrust chemical rockets

A computational model is employed to study the reacting flow within the engine and near-field plumes of several small gaseous hydrogen-oxygen thrusters. The model solves the full Navier-Stokes equations coupled with species diffusion equations for a hydrogen-oxygen reaction kinetics system and includes a two-equation q-omega model for turbulence. Predictions of global performance parameters and localized flowfield variables are compared with experimental data in order to assess the accuracy with which these flowfields are modeled and to identify aspects of the model which require improvement. Predicted axial and radial velocities 3 mm downstream of the exit plane show reasonable agreement with the measurements. The predicted peak in axial velocity in the hydrogen film coolant along the nozzle wall shows the best agreement; however, predictions within the core region are roughly 15 percent below measured values, indicating an underprediction of the extent to which the hydrogen diffuses and mixes with the core flow. There is evidence that this is due to three-dimensional mixing processes which are not included in the axisymmetric model.

Weiss, Jonathan M.↗

Turbulent hydrocarbon combustions kinetics - Stochastic modeling and verification

Idealized reactors, that are designed to ensure perfect mixing and are used to generate the combustion kinetics for complex hydrocarbon fuels, may depart from the ideal and influence the kinetics model performance. A complex hydrocarbon kinetics model that was established by modeling a jet-stirred combustor (JSC) as a perfectly stirred reactor (PSR), is reevaluated with a simple stochastic process in order to introduce the unmixedness effect quantitatively into the reactor system. It is shown that the comparisons of the predictions and experimental data have improved dramatically with the inclusion of the unmixedness effect in the rich combustion region. The complex hydrocarbon kinetics is therefore verified to be mixing effect free and be applicable to general reacting flow calculations.

Wang, T. S.↗

Modeling Soft X‐Ray Emissions at the Dayside Magnetopause

In this study, we simulate the Solar Wind Charge Exchange (SWCX) soft X-ray emissions at dayside magnetosheath and cusps by using magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) and LAtmos TEst Particle (LaTeP) models. MHD models are unable to resolve the particle kinetic effects, such as the different behaviors of ions with different q/m, or distinguish the magnetospheric plasma from the solar wind plasma. We investigate these effects with the LaTeP model. As the LaTeP model does not self-compute magnetic and electric field, the magnetic and electric field data obtained from Open Geospace General Circulation Model (OpenGGCM) and Lagrangian version of the piecewise parabolic method (PPMLR) MHD model are used as the input to LaTeP model. The soft X-ray emissivity maps simulated from pure OpenGGCM and PPMLR MHD approaches and from LaTeP-OpenGGCM and LaTeP-PPMLR approaches are presented and compared. The results indicate that the LaTeP model can well resolve the kinetic effects and can be used to investigate the individual spectral characteristics. Therefore, the LaTeP model is a complementary approach for simulating the X-ray emissions near the dayside magnetopause. We also calculate the ratio of integrated OVII/OVIII line intensities, produced by charge exchange of O7+ ions and O8+ ions, respectively. We find a relatively higher ratio at the bow shock compared to the surrounding areas, suggesting that this ratio can be an effective parameter to identify the bow shock location.

Qiuyu Xu↗

Phase Shift Interferometer and Growth Set Up to Step Pattern Formation During Growth From Solutions. Influence of the Oscillatory solution Flow on Stability

We have assembled an experimental setup based on Michelson interferometry with the growing crystal surface as one of the reflective surfaces. The crystallization part of the device allows optical monitoring of a face of a crystal growing at temperature stable within 0.05 C in a flow of solution of controlled direction and speed. The reference arm of the interferometer contains a liquid crystal element that allows controlled shifts of the phase of the interferograms. We employ an image-processing algorithm, which combines five images with a pi/2 phase difference between each pair of images. The images are transferred to a computer by a camera capable of capturing 60 frames per second. The device allows data collection on surface morphology and kinetics during the face layers growth over a relatively large area (approximately 4 sq. mm) in situ and in real time during growth. The estimated depth resolution of the phase shifting interferometry is approximately 50 Angstroms. The data will be analyzed in order to reveal and monitor step bunching during the growth process. The crystal chosen as a model for study in this work is KH2PO4 (KDP). This optically non-linear material is widely used in frequency doubling applications. There have been a number of studies of the kinetics of KDP crystallization that can serve as a benchmark for our investigations. However, so far, systematic quantitative characteristics of step interaction and bunching are missing. We intend to present our first quantitative results on the onset, initial stages and development of instabilities in moving step trains on vicinal crystal surfaces at varying supersaturation, flow rate, and flow direction. Behavior of a vicinal face growing from solution flowing normal to the steps and periodically changing its direction in time was considered theoretically. It was found that this oscillating flow reduces both stabilization and destabilization effects resulted from the unidirectional solution flow directed up the step stream and down the step stream. This reduction of stabilization and destabilization comes from effective mixing which entangles the phase shifts between the spatially periodic interface perturbation and the concentration wave induced by this perturbation. Numerical results and simplified mixing criterion will be discussed.

Chernov, Alex A.↗

Nitrogen recombination on high-temperature reusable surface insulation and the analysis of its effect on surface catalysis

The energy transfer catalytic recombination coefficients for nitrogen and oxygen on a borosilicate glass are determined in nitrogen and air hypersonic arc jet streams. These data, obtained from a reacting boundary-layer analysis with first-order surface reaction kinetics, compare well with earlier results from a Goulard frozen boundary-layer model up to 1600 K. The apparent surface recombination rates increase up to 1600 K, then begin to decrease. To illustrate the effects of temperature and nitrogen dissociation on energy transfer to the glass, a diffusional heat-flux is calculated using the present results from 1450 K up to 1850 K. This diffusional heat-flux is the contribution to the total heating rate by atom recombination, and is used to compare the present results with coefficients from three previous studies.

Kolodziej, Paul↗

Changes in impedance of Ni/Cd cells with voltage and cycle life

Impedances of aerospace design Super Ni/Cd cells are being measured as functions of voltage and number of cycles. The cells have been cycled over 4400 cycles to date. Analysis of the impedance data has been made using a number of equivalent circuits. The model giving the best fit over the whole range of voltage has a parallel circuit of a kinetic resistance and a constant phase element in series with the ohmic resistance. The values for the circuit elements have been treated as empirical parameters, and no attempt has been made as yet to correlate them with physical and chemical changes in the electrode. No significant changes have been seen as yet with the exception of a decrease in kinetic resistance at low states of charge in the first 500 cycles.

Reid, Margaret A.↗

Magnetospheric space plasma investigations

A time dependent semi-kinetic model that includes self collisions and ion-neutral collisions and chemistry was developed. Light ion outflow in the polar cap transition region was modeled and compared with data results. A model study of wave heating of O+ ions in the topside transition region was carried out using a code which does local calculations that include ion-neutral and Coulomb self collisions as well as production and loss of O+. Another project is a statistical study of hydrogen spin curve characteristics in the polar cap. A statistical study of the latitudinal distribution of core plasmas along the L=4.6 field line using DE-1/RIMS data was completed. A short paper on dual spacecraft estimates of ion temperature profiles and heat flows in the plasmasphere ionosphere system was prepared. An automated processing code was used to process RIMS data from 1981 to 1984.

Comfort, Richard H.↗

Next-Generation Ion Thruster Design Tool

Computational tools that accurately predict the performance of electric propulsion devices are highly desirable and beneficial to NASA and the broader electric propulsion community. The current state of the art in electric propulsion modeling relies heavily on empirical data and numerous computational "knobs." In Phase I of this project, Tech-X Corporation developed the most detailed ion engine discharge chamber model that currently exists. This kinetic model simulates all particles in the discharge chamber along with a physically correct simulation of the electric fields. In addition, kinetic erosion models are included for modeling the ion-impingement effects on thruster component erosion. In Phase II, Tech-X developed a user-friendly computer program for NASA and other governmental and industry customers. Tech-X has implemented a number of advanced numerical routines to bring the computational time down to a commercially acceptable level. NASA now has a highly sophisticated, user-friendly ion engine discharge chamber modeling tool.

Stolz, Peter↗

Validation of a Two-Phase CFD Model for Autogenous Pressurization and Expulsion

This paper presents a two-phase computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model for simulating autogenous pressurization and expulsion in a cryogenic liquid hydrogen storage tank, utilizing a volume-of-fluid (VOF) approach combined with the kinetics-based Schrage equation to accurately capture the phase boundary and interfacial heat, mass, and momentum transfer between liquid and vapor phases. The model is validated against experimental data from NASA's K-site tank facility, specifically experimental case 225, which involved pressurization and controlled expulsion of liquid hydrogen. Various turbulence models are evaluated to assess their influence on model accuracy. The CFD simulations successfully replicate key thermodynamic behaviors observed during the experiments, including pressure evolution, temperature profiles, and phase-change dynamics at the vapor-liquid interface. The predicted tank pressures, temperatures, and pressurant requirements agree with experimental data, with pressurant mass predictions within 16\% of observed values. This study highlights the importance of selecting appropriate turbulence models to accurately simulate complex flow and heat transfer phenomena during tank pressurization and expulsion. By enhancing the accuracy and reliability of CFD models for liquid hydrogen under cryogenic conditions, this research contributes to developing efficient cryogenic propellant management strategies for future space missions.

Computational Fluid Dynamics↗

Validation of a Two-Phase CFD Model for Autogenous Pressurization and Expulsion

This paper presents a two-phase computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model for simulating autogenous pressurization and expulsion in a cryogenic liquid hydrogen storage tank, utilizing a volume-of-fluid (VOF) approach combined with the kinetics-based Schrage equation to accurately capture the phase boundary and interfacial heat, mass, and momentum transfer between vapor and liquid phases. The model is validated against experimental data from NASA's K-site tank facility, specifically experimental case 225, which involved autogenous pressurization and controlled expulsion of liquid hydrogen. Various turbulence models are evaluated to assess their influence on model accuracy. The CFD simulations successfully replicate key thermodynamic behaviors observed during the experiments, including pressure evolution, temperature profiles, and phase-change dynamics at the vapor-liquid interface. The predicted tank pressures and temperatures agree well with experimental data, whereas the pressurant mass predictions are within 16% of observed values. This study emphasizes the importance of selecting appropriate turbulence models to accurately simulate the complex flow and heat transfer phenomena during tank autogenous pressurization and expulsion. By improving the accuracy and reliability of CFD models for these processes, this research contributes to developing efficient cryogenic propellant management strategies for future space missions.

Computational Fluid Dynamics↗

Proper orthogonal decomposition based turbulence modeling

The proper orthogonal decomposition is utilized to provide one mode estimates of various turbulence quantities in the near-wall region of the turbulent boundary layer. The experimental data of Herzog (1986) and the direct numerical simulation (DNS) results of Zang (1991) proved the two-point correlation tensor. The correlation tensor is then used as the kernel in the integral eigenvalue problem from which the proper orthogonal modes are obtained. The one mode estimates of the turbulent kinetic energy, dissipation, and triple moments all exhibit the proper asymtotic behavior near the wall. As a validation test, a model for the triple moments is developed and its near-wall behavior is studied. This information can then be used to obtain an estimate of the damping function near the wall, which is then compared to known existing behavior. Since this is an initial investigation, the streamwise and spanwise dependence is surpressed and only the wall normal direction (y+) behavior of various turbulence statistics near the wall is studied. Before examining one mode estimates of the triple moments and the dissipation (on which the model is based), various second order moments are examined. If these do not exhibit the proper behavior near the wall (as discussed by Speziale et al 1990) it does not seem reasonable to expect the one mode estimate of the triple moment and dissipation to have the right behavior. Only the results obtained using the experimental data of Herzog are discussed since the results from the simulations of Zang exhibit similar behavior as discussed above.

Glauser, Mark N.↗

Analysis of Nitrogen Shockwave Radiation at Velocity Around 7km/s

In the last decade, the Electric Arc Shock Tube (EAST) facility has been widely used to provide experimental data aiming to validate radiative heating models used for atmospheric entry, mostly at velocities above 9km/s in air. In more recent years, another experimental campaign aimed to look at velocity below 9 km/s and its analysis resulted in a significant improvement of the air kinetic model using new rates found in the literature but discrepancies were still observed, especially for the N2 second positive system. Despite these previous studies, the overall uncertainties related to surface heating for lunar return remain around 50% To reduce these uncertainties, the last experimental campaign at EAST, named test 62, was conducted in pure nitrogen at velocity ranging from 6 to 11 km/s at a freestream pressure of 0.2 Torr to provide more fundamental data on nitrogen. A previous study analyzed the data obtained at a velocity of 10.3 km/s, where atomic radiation is dominant, and provided spatially resolved density measurements of different states of nitrogen. This study will focus on experimental data obtained at shock velocity of 6.88 and 7.15 km/s where molecular nitrogen is expected to be the dominant source of radiation.

Augustin Tibere-Inglesse↗

Gas Dynamics and Kinetics in the Cometary Coma: Theory and Observations

Our ability to describe the physical state of the expanding coma affects fundamental areas of cometary study both directly and indirectly. In order to convert measured abundances of gas species in the coma to gas production rates, models for the distribution and kinematics of gas species in the coma are required. Conversely, many different types of observations, together with laboratory data and theory, are still required to determine coma model attributes and parameters. Accurate relative and absolute gas production rates and their variations with time and from comet to comet are crucial to our basic understanding of the composition and structure of cometary nuclei and their place in the solar system. We review the gas dynamics and kinetics of cometary comae from both theoretical and observational perspectives, which are important for understanding the wide variety of physical conditions that are encountered.

Combi, Michael R.↗