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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 307 records · Page 17
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NASA NTRS1992

Adaptation of multidimensional group particle tracking and particle wall-boundary condition model to the FDNS code

A particulate two-phase flow CFD model was developed based on the FDNS code which is a pressure based predictor plus multi-corrector Navier-Stokes flow solver. Turbulence models with compressibility correction and the wall function models were employed as submodels. A finite-rate chemistry model was used for reacting flow simulation. For particulate two-phase flow simulations, a Eulerian-Lagrangian solution method using an efficient implicit particle trajectory integration scheme was developed in this study. Effects of particle-gas reaction and particle size change to agglomeration or fragmentation were not considered in this investigation. At the onset of the present study, a two-dimensional version of FDNS which had been modified to treat Lagrangian tracking of particles (FDNS-2DEL) had already been written and was operational. The FDNS-2DEL code was too slow for practical use, mainly because it had not been written in a form amenable to vectorization on the Cray, nor was the full three-dimensional form of FDNS utilized. The specific objective of this study was to reorder to calculations into long single arrays for automatic vectorization on the Cray and to implement the full three-dimensional version of FDNS to produce the FDNS-3DEL code. Since the FDNS-2DEL code was slow, a very limited number of test cases had been run with it. This study was also intended to increase the number of cases simulated to verify and improve, as necessary, the particle tracking methodology coded in FDNS.

Chen, Y. S.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Radiative equilibrium in rapidly expanding shells

The equation of radiative equilibrium for rapidly expanding spherical shells including the special relativistic terms is discussed, and a temperature-correction procedure for the solution of this equation is given. The temperature-correction scheme combines a partial linearization approach with the approximate Lambda-operator iteration method. For some test problems, the temperature structures of atmospheres in radiative equilibrium in the Lagrangian frame are calculated. The effects of the velocity field on the temperature stratification and the luminosity are also discussed. We find that the temperature structure of a moving photosphere in radiative equilibrium in the Lagrangian frame differs significantly from that of a static photosphere and that, at least, all first-order terms, in particular the advection and aberration terms, have to be included consistently both in the radiative transfer and the energy equation in studies of supernovae atmospheres and other high-speed radiating flows.

Hauschildt, P. H.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Computations of spray, fuel-air mixing, and combustion in a lean-premixed-prevaporized combustor

A code was developed for computing the multidimensional flow, spray, combustion, and pollutant formation inside gas turbine combustors. The code developed is based on a Lagrangian-Eulerian formulation and utilizes an implicit finite-volume method. The focus of this paper is on the spray part of the code (both formulation and algorithm), and a number of issues related to the computation of sprays and fuel-air mixing in a lean-premixed-prevaporized combustor. The issues addressed include: (1) how grid spacings affect the diffusion of evaporated fuel, and (2) how spurious modes can arise through modelling of the spray in the Lagrangian computations. An upwind interpolation scheme is proposed to account for some effects of grid spacing on the artificial diffusion of the evaporated fuel. Also, some guidelines are presented to minimize errors associated with the spurious modes.

Dasgupta, A.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Stratospheric aircraft exhaust plume and wake chemistry

Progress to date in an ongoing study to analyze and model emissions leaving a proposed High Speed Civil Transport (HSCT) from when the exhaust gases leave the engine until they are deposited at atmospheric scales in the stratosphere is documented. A kinetic condensation model was implemented to predict heterogeneous condensation in the plume regime behind an HSCT flying in the lower stratosphere. Simulations were performed to illustrate the parametric dependence of contrail droplet growth on the exhaust condensation nuclei number density and size distribution. Model results indicate that the condensation of water vapor is strongly dependent on the number density of activated CN. Incorporation of estimates for dilution factors into a Lagrangian box model of the far-wake regime with scale-dependent diffusion indicates negligible decrease in ozone and enhancement of water concentrations of 6-13 times background, which decrease rapidly over 1-3 days. Radiative calculations indicate a net differential cooling rate of the plume about 3K/day at the beginning of the wake regime, with a total subsidence ranging between 0.4 and 1 km. Results from the Lagrangian plume model were used to estimate the effect of repeated superposition of aircraft plumes on the concentrations of water and NO(y) along a flight corridor. Results of laboratory studies of heterogeneous chemistry are also described. Kinetics of HCl, N2O5 and ClONO2 uptake on liquid sulfuric acid were measured as a function of composition and temperature. Refined measurements of the thermodynamics of nitric acid hydrates indicate that metastable dihydrate may play a role in the nucleation of more stable trihydrates PSC's.

Miake-Lye, R. C.↗
NASA NTRS1992

On the local nature of the energy cascade

The local nature of the energy cascade in space and time is studied using direct numerical simulation of decaying and forced isotropic turbulence. To examine the concept that large scales evolve into smaller ones, we compute the Lagrangian correlation coefficient between local kinetic energy at different scales. This correlation is found to peak at a Lagrangian time-delay that increases with scale separation. The results show that, on average, the flow of energy to smaller scales is predominantly local in physical space and that the view of eddies decaying into smaller ones while transferring their kinetic energy appears to be, on average, quite realistic. To examine the spectral characteristics of the cascade under unsteady conditions, a pulse of large-scale energy is added to the large-eddy simulation of forced isotropic turbulence. As time progresses, the evolution of this pulse through bands of increasing wavenumbers is studied.

Meneveau, C.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Clouding tracing: Visualization of the mixing of fluid elements in convection-diffusion systems

This paper describes a highly interactive method for computer visualization of the basic physical process of dispersion and mixing of fluid elements in convection-diffusion systems. It is based on transforming the vector field from a traditionally Eulerian reference frame into a Lagrangian reference frame. Fluid elements are traced through the vector field for the mean path as well as the statistical dispersion of the fluid elements about the mean position by using added scalar information about the root mean square value of the vector field and its Lagrangian time scale. In this way, clouds of fluid elements are traced and are not just mean paths. We have used this method to visualize the simulation of an industrial incinerator to help identify mechanisms for poor mixing.

Ma, Kwan-Liu↗
NASA NTRS1993

Solution of mixed convection heat transfer from isothermal in-line fins

Transient and steady state combined natural and forced convective flows over two in-line finite thickness fins (louvers) in a vertical channel are numerically solved using two methods. The first method of solution is based on the 'Simple Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian' (SALE) technique which incorporates mainly two computational phases: (1) a Lagrangian phase in which the velocity field is updated by the effects of all forces, and (2) an Eulerian phase that executes all advective fluxes of mass, momentum and energy. The second method of solution uses the finite element code entitled FIDAP. In the first part, comparison of the results by FIDAP, SALE, and available experimental work were done and discussed for steady state forced convection over louvered fins. Good agreements were deduced between the three sets of results especially for the flow over a single fin. In the second part and in the absence of experimental literature, the numerical predictions were extended to the transient transports and to the opposing flow where pressure drop is reversed. Results are presented and discussed for heat transfer and pressure drop in assisting and opposing mixed convection flows.

Khalilollahi, Amir↗
NASA NTRS1994

Technical report series on global modeling and data assimilation. Volume 2: Direct solution of the implicit formulation of fourth order horizontal diffusion for gridpoint models on the sphere

High order horizontal diffusion of the form K Delta(exp 2m) is widely used in spectral models as a means of preventing energy accumulation at the shortest resolved scales. In the spectral context, an implicit formation of such diffusion is trivial to implement. The present note describes an efficient method of implementing implicit high order diffusion in global finite difference models. The method expresses the high order diffusion equation as a sequence of equations involving Delta(exp 2). The solution is obtained by combining fast Fourier transforms in longitude with a finite difference solver for the second order ordinary differential equation in latitude. The implicit diffusion routine is suitable for use in any finite difference global model that uses a regular latitude/longitude grid. The absence of a restriction on the timestep makes it particularly suitable for use in semi-Lagrangian models. The scale selectivity of the high order diffusion gives it an advantage over the uncentering method that has been used to control computational noise in two-time-level semi-Lagrangian models.

Max J. Suarez↗
NASA NTRS1994

Sqeezing generated by a nonlinear master equation and by amplifying-dissipative Hamiltonians

In the first part of this contribution we show that the master equation derived from the generalized version of the nonlinear Doebner-Goldin equation leads to the squeezing of one of the quadratures. In the second part we consider two familiar Hamiltonians, the Bateman- Caldirola-Kanai and the optical parametric oscillator; going back to their classical Lagrangian form we introduce a stochastic force and a dissipative factor. From this new Lagrangian we obtain a modified Hamiltonian that treats adequately the simultaneous amplification and dissipation phenomena, presenting squeezing, too.

Dodonov, V. V.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Quasi-linear regime of gravitational instability: Implication to density-velocity relation

The well known linear relation between density and peculiar velocity distributions is a powerful tool for studying the large-scale structure in the Universe. Potentially it can test the gravitational instability theory and measure Omega. At present it is used in both ways: the velocity is reconstructed, provided the density is given, and vice versa. Reconstructing the density from the velocity field usually makes use of the Zel'dovich approximation. However, the standard linear approximation in Eulerian space is used when the velocity is reconstructed from the density distribution. I show that the linearized Zel'dovich approximation, in other words the linear approximation in the Lagrangian space, is more accurate for reconstructing velocity. In principle, a simple iteration technique can recover both the density and velocity distributions in Lagrangian space, but its practical application may need an additional study.

Shandarin, Sergei F.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Statistics of pressure and pressure gradient in homogeneous isotropic turbulence

The statistics of pressure and pressure gradient in stationary isotropic turbulence are measured within direct numerical simulations at low to moderate Reynolds numbers. It is found that the one-point pdf of the pressure is highly skewed and that the pdf of the pressure gradient is of stretched exponential form. The power spectrum of the pressure P(k) is found to be larger than the corresponding spectrum P(sub G)(k) computed from a Gaussian velocity field having the same energy spectrum as that of the DNS field. The ratio P(k)/P(sub G)(k), a measure of the pressure-field intermittence, grows with wavenumber and Reynolds number as -R(sub lambda)(exp 1/2)log(k/k(sub d)) for k less than k(sub d)/2 where k(sub d) is the Kolmogorov wavenumber. The Lagrangian correlations of pressure gradient and velocity are compared and the Lagrangian time scale of the pressure gradient is observed to be much shorter than that of the velocity.

Gotoh, T.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Modeling of Non-Spherical Droplet Dynamics

A two-dimensional time-dependent computer code based on the modified Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian (ALE) technique, has been developed to simulate non-spherical droplet dynamics and evaporation under convective flows at real rocket combustion chamber conditions. The equations of mass, momentum, energy and species are simultaneously solved for both liquid and gas phases with an accurate dynamic interface tracking. The jump boundary conditions across the deforming droplet surface are obtained by applying the integral forms of conservation of mass, momentum, and energy. At each time step, the interface geometry and flow properties at the droplet surface are implicitly solved by satisfying the interface boundary conditions. A Lagrangian technique was developed to track the arbitrarily moving interface between the liquid droplet and the external gas. An elliptic grid generator is adopted to dynamically reconstruct grids both inside and outside the droplet surface. This code has been used to study droplet oscillation, droplet deformation/breakup, nonspherical droplet evaporation in both low and high pressure convective flows. This presentation briefly describes the numerical algorithm for modeling of the nonspherical droplet dynamics and demonstrates the representative simulation results of nonspherical droplet evaporation at low and high pressure convective flows. Potential applications of this code to rocket combustor design and performance predictions are discussed.

Deng, Zheng-Tao↗
NASA NTRS1994

On the cause of the annual cycle in tropical lower-stratospheric temperatures

An analysis of monthly mean, zonally averaged temperatures from the lower-stratospheric channel of the microwave sounding unit (MSU-4) shows that on the month-to-month time scale, there is nearly complete compensation between temperature changes in the tropics and in the extratropics. For the annual cycle the MSU-4 data show a similar compensation between temperatures in the tropics and those in high latitudes, with only a small residual variation in the global mean. The tropics are coldest in January and warmest in July, compensating for the warmer wintertime temperatues in the Northern Hemisphere compared to those in the Southern Hemisphere. These out-of phase temperature variations betwen the tropics and extratropics are interpreted as the signature of an annual cycle in the strength of the wave-driven, Lagrangian mean meridional circulation, which warms the high-latitude winter hemisphere and cools the tropics. The observed phase of the annual cycle in tropical lower-stratospheric temperatures is thus determined by the stronger orographic and thermal forcing of the wintertime planetary waves in the Northern Hemisphere, which drives a stronger Lagrangian mean meridional circulation. In the absence of fluctuations in the global mean diabatic heating, the compensation would be complete and the globally averaged temperature would be constant. The small annual cycle in the globally averaged temperature in the MSU-4 data is nearly in phase with the annual cycle in the tropics and is consistent with the annual cycle in diabatic heating by ozone.

Yulaeva, Elena↗
NASA NTRS1994

The permeability of the Antarctic vortex edge

Mixing and cross-vortex mass transport along isentropic surfaces in the lower stratosphere are investigated with a 'contour advection' technique and a semi-Lagrangian transport model for the Antarctic winter of 1993 using analyzed winds from the United Kingdom Meteorological Office data assimilation system. Results from the 'contour advection' technique show that at the vortex edge there exists a potential vorticity (PV) contour that has the smallest lengthening rate. This PV contour is referred to as the 'line of separation' because it essentially separates the inner and outer vortex. The average e-folding time for the lengthening of the 'line of separation' increases monotonically with altitude, ranging from about 7 days on the 350 K isentropic surface to about 105 days on the 500 K isentropic surface. The results also suggest the existence of a transition layer around the 400 K isentropic surface, above which the vortex is nearly completely isolated from the midlatitudes and below which the vortex is less isolated. Results from a semi-Lagrangian transport model with an idealized tracer initially inside the inner vortex show that at 425 K and above virtually no tracer is transported out of the vortex during a 40-day integration starting from July 21, 1993. At 400 K and below a small amount of the tracer is transported out of the vortex while the bulk of the tracer remains confined within the inner vortex.

Chen, Ping↗
NASA NTRS1993

The interaction of radiative and dynamical processes during a simulated sudden stratospheric warming

An analysis of a spontaneous sudden stratospheric warming that occurred during a 2-year integration of the Langley Research Center (LaRC) Atmospheric Simulation Model is presented. The simulated warming resembles observed 'wave 1' warmings in the Northern Hemisphere stratosphere and provides an opportunity to investigate the radiative and dynamical processes occurring during the warming event. Isentropic analysis of potential vorticity sources and sinks indicates that dynamically induced departures from radiative equilibrium play an important role in the warming event. Enhanced radiative cooling associated with a series of upper stratospheric warm pools leads to radiative dampening within the polar vortex. Within the 'surf zone' large-scale radiative cooling leads to diabatic advection of high potential vorticity air from aloft. Lagrangian area diagnostics of the simulated warming agree well with Limb Infrared Monitor of the Stratosphere (LIMS) analyses. Dynamical mixing is shown to account for the majority of the decrease in the size of the polar vortex during the simulated warming. An investigation of the nonlinear deformation of material lines that are initially coincident with diagnosed potential vorticity isopleths is conducted to clarify the relationship between the Lagrangian area diagnostics and potential vorticity advection during wave breaking events.

Pierce, R. B.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Barotropic simulation of large-scale mixing in the Antarctic polar vortex

Theory and observations suggest that the Antarctic polar vortex is relatively isolated from midlatitudes, although others have interpreted the observations to indicate that there is substantial mixing from the interior of the vortex into middle latitudes. The equivalent barotropic model of Salby et al. is used to study quasi-horizontal mixing by the large-scale flow in the lower stratosphere during Southern Hemisphere spring, which is when the Antarctic ozone hole appears and disappears. The model is forced by relaxation to observed climatological monthly mean zonal-mean winds and by an idealized wave 1 or 2 forcing at the lower boundary. Mixing and transport are diagnosed primarily through Lagrangian tracer trajectories. For September, October, and November basic states, there is little or no mixing in the interior of the vortex. Mixing occurs near the critical lines for the waves: in the tropics and subtropics for a stationary wave 1, and in midlatitudes on the equatorial flank of the jet for an eastward-moving wave 2. For the December basic state, the wave 2 forcing rapidly mixes the interior of the vortex. Mixing of Lagrangian tracer particles can be significant even when the waves do not `break', as evidenced by the potential vorticity field. In the model there does not appear to be any significant transport of air out of the interior of the polar vortex prior to the vortex breakdown. The principal factor that leads to the vortex breakdown and mixing of the vortex interior is the deceleration of the jet to the point where winds in the interior of the vortex are close to the phase velocity of the wavenumber 2 forcing. The tracer transport is very similar to many aspects of the behavior of the total ozone field during the spring season.

Bowman, Kenneth P.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Visualizing turbulent mixing of gases and particles

A physical model and interactive computer graphics techniques have been developed for the visualization of the basic physical process of stochastic dispersion and mixing from steady-state CFD calculations. The mixing of massless particles and inertial particles is visualized by transforming the vector field from a traditionally Eulerian reference frame into a Lagrangian reference frame. Groups of particles are traced through the vector field for the mean path as well as their statistical dispersion about the mean position by using added scalar information about the root mean square value of the vector field and its Lagrangian time scale. In this way, clouds of particles in a turbulent environment are traced, not just mean paths. In combustion simulations of many industrial processes, good mixing is required to achieve a sufficient degree of combustion efficiency. The ability to visualize this multiphase mixing can not only help identify poor mixing but also explain the mechanism for poor mixing. The information gained from the visualization can be used to improve the overall combustion efficiency in utility boilers or propulsion devices. We have used this technique to visualize steady-state simulations of the combustion performance in several furnace designs.

Ma, Kwan-Liu↗
NASA NTRS1995

The modulational instability for the TDNLS equations for weakly nonlinear dispersive MHD waves

In this paper we study the modulational instability for the TDNLS equations derived by Hada (1993) and Brio, Hunter, and Johnson to describe the propagation of weakly nonlinear dispersive MHD waves in beta approximately 1 plasmas. We employ Whitham's averaged Lagrangian method to study the modulational instability. This complements studies of the modulational instability by Hada (1993) and Hollweg (1994), who did not use the averaged Lagrangian approach.

Webb, G. M.↗