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At least 307 records · Page 17

Resistive drift wave turbulence and anomalous transport of multi-species plasma

Anomalous transport of multi-species plasma is considered with the generalized Hasegawa–Wakatani model. It is shown that the transport of all plasma species is described by fractional diffusion equations with the same effective diffusion coefficient. Strongly enhanced perturbations of heavy impurity density are found in long-living plasma flow vortices.

Physics↗

Self-generated electrokinetic flows from active-charged boundary patterns

We develop a hydrodynamic description of self-generated electrolyte flow in capillaries whose bounding walls feature nonuniform distributions of charge nonuniform active ionic fluxes. The hydrodynamic velocity arising in such a system has components that are forbidden by symmetry in the absence of charge and fluxes. However, when these two boundary mechanisms are simultaneously present, they can lead to a symmetry broken state where steady flows with both unidirectional and circulatory components emerge. We show that these flow states arise when modulated boundary patterns of charge and fluxes are offset by a flux-charge phase difference, which is associated with the separation between sites of their peak densities on the wall. Mismatch in diffusivity of cationic and anionic species can modify the flow states and becomes an enhancing factor when fluxes of both ion species are being produced together at the same site. We demonstrate that this mechanism can be realized with a microfluidic generator that is powered by enzyme-coated patches that catalyze reactants in the solution to produce fluxes of ions. The local ionic elevation or depletion, which disrupts a nonuniform double layer, promotes self-induced gradients yielding persistent body forces to generate bulk fluid motion. Our work quantifies a boundary-driven mechanism behind self-sustained electrolyte flow in confined environments that exists without any external bulk-imposed fields or gradients. It provides a theoretical framework for understanding the combined effect of active and charged boundaries that are relevant in biological or soft matter systems, and can be utilized in electrofluidic and iontronic applications.

active matter↗

Prediction of electron concentration reductions in re-entry flow fields due to electrophilic liquid and water injection.

Discussion of an analytical model which leads to predictions of reductions in electron concentrations in reentry flow fields due to the injection of electrophilic liquids and water. The processes incorporated into the model are: penetration and breakup of the liquid jet, droplet acceleration and vaporization, expansion of the liquid spray due to droplet vaporization, electrophilic vapor diffusion, heterogeneous and homogeneous charged species recombination kinetics and homogeneous electron attachment kinetics. Spray boundary calculations are shown to be in good agreement with photographic observations of water and Freon E-3 sprays in wind tunnel tests of a scale model RAM C-III flight vehicle. Fixed-bias electrostatic probe data taken during the RAM C-III flight are interpreted in terms of effective jet penetration distances - which are shown to be consistent with calculations using the present model.

Pergament, H. S.↗

Variability of intensity ratios of H to He and He to ions with Z not smaller than 3 in solar energetic particle events

Data from the solid-state detector on Explorer 35 are applied to a study of two intensity ratios in the sub-MeV per nucleon specific kinetic energy range for several energetic particle events. It is found that the intensity ratios vary markedly from event to event, particularly during the time history of the individual events. This implies that the ratios have no simple relationship to 'solar abundances' in the usual sense of the term. The pattern of the variability of each ratio is established; the ratio of He to ions with Z not smaller than 3 starts with a low value and increases as the event proceeds. The H/He ratio exhibits a qualitatively similar time history with marked relative enhancement of He early in an event. Differential diffusion of the various ionic species with differing magnetic rigidities is seen to be the dominant physical cause for the variabilities observed.

Van Allen, J. A.↗

Numerical study of a ramjet dump combustor flow field

Increased interest in ramjet propulsion systems with higher performance requirements and tighter constraints on system size and weight has lead to the need for improved techniques for analyzing and designing such systems. A computer program has been developed to analyze the turbulent reacting flow field in a ramjet dump combustor configuration. The program solves the axisymmetric Navier-Stokes and species equations throughout the engine diffuser and combustor providing a unified analysis of the complete engine flow field, including flow separation, fuel-air mixing, and preliminary results with chemical reaction. Details of the program development are given, along with a comparison of program results with data from a dump combustor simulation experiment, to allow assessment of the flow field modeling that is employed.

Drummond, J. P.↗

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and the diffuse interstellar bands

This paper discusses some of the thermodynamic and spectroscopic properties of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons which make them attractive candidates as carriers of the Diffuse Interstellar Bands (DIBs). It is pointed out that, in the diffuse medium, many of these species will be partially hydrogenated and positively charged, and will absorb in the visible. The observed lineshapes and widths of the DIBs can be explained by rovibronic band contours and linebroadening due to internal conversion. Since little information is available concerning the spectroscopic properties of such species in the gas phase, a considerable amount of laboratory and theoretical work is needed.

Van Der Zwet, G. P.↗

Transient processes in combustion of single submillimeter metal droplets

A laser was used to ignite Al, Zr, Ti and Hf droplets in separate trials to study metal droplet combustion in air. The burning was recorded with high speed film at high magnification. Al was found to flash vaporize, melt, surface oxidize, revaporize, then combust. All species burned with a vapor diffusion flame surrounded by an oxide condensation front. The Zr, Ti and Hf droplets grew by condensation, coalesced, then convected toward the perimeter of the condensation zone. It is expected that the data will serve as bases for a theoretical vapor diffusion model. Finally, the introduction of a transverse acoustic field was observed to have no effect on either the luminosity or combustion zone geometry.

Pellett, G. L.↗

A detailed numerical model of a supersonic reacting mixing layer

A current research effort is underway at the NASA Langley Research Center to achieve a detailed understanding of important phenomena present when a supersonic flow undergoes chemical reaction. A computer program has been developed to study the details of such flows. The program has been constructed to consider the multicomponent diffusion and convection of important species, the finite-rate reaction of these species, and the resulting interaction between the fluid mechanics and chemistry. Code results from the analysis of a spatially developing and reacting mixing layer are presented, and conclusions are drawn regarding the structure of the evolving layer and its associated flame.

Drummond, J. P.↗

Theory of electrophoretic separations. I - Formulation of a mathematical model

A generally applicable model of electrophoretic processes is presented. The model describes the chemical reactions, treating the chemical processes as reactions at equilibrium and accounting for convection, conservation, diffusion, and electromigration of individual species as well as the relation between charge and potential. Conservation relations are described and simplified, taking advantage of the speed of the chemical reactions as compared to the transport processes to adapt the model to the electrophoretic processes involving weak electrolytes. As an application example, isotachophoresis in a one-dimensional column is considered in detail.

Saville, D. A.↗

A numerical model for supersonic reacting mixing layers

A current research effort is underway at the NASA Langley Research Center to achieve a detailed understanding of important phenomena present when a supersonic flow undergoes a chemical reaction. A computer program has been developed to study the details of such flows. The program has been constructed to consider the multicomponent diffusion and convection of important species, the finite-rate reaction of these species, and the resulting interaction between the fluid mechanics and chemistry. Code results from the analysis of a spatially developing and reacting mixing layer are presented, and conclusions are drawn regarding the structure of the evolving layer and its associated flame.

Drummond, J. Philip↗

The gabbro-eclogite phase transition and the elevation of mountain belts on Venus

The hypothesis is explored that the crust-mantle boundary of Venus is not in phase equilibrium but rather is rate-limited by the temperature-dependent volume diffusion of the slowest ionic species. The 1D thermal evolution problem is solved assuming that the mountains formed by uniform horizontal shortening of the crust and the lithospheric mantle at a constant rate. The time-dependent density structure and surface elevation are calculated by assuming a temperature-dependent reaction rate and local Airy isostatic compensation. For a horizontal strain rate of 10 exp -15/s or greater, the temperature increase at the base of the crust during mountain formation is modest to negligible, the deepening lower crust is metastable, and the surface elevation increases as the crust thickens. For strain rates less than 10 exp -16/s, crustal temperature increases with time because of internal heat production and the lower crust is more readily transformed to the dense eclogite assemblage. For such models, a maximum elevation is reached during crustal shortening.

Namiki, Noriyuki↗

Biocompatible Capsules and Methods of Making

Embodiments of the invention include capsules for containing medical implants and delivery systems for release of active biological substances into a host body. Delivery systems comprise a capsule comprising an interior enclosed by walls, and a source of active biological substances enclosed within the capsule interior, wherein the active biological substances are free to diffuse across the capsule walls. The capsule walls comprise a continuous mesh of biocompatible fibers and a seal region where two capsule walls overlap. The interior of the capsule is substantially isolated from the medium surrounding the capsule, except for diffusion of at least one species of molecule between the capsule interior and the ambient medium, and prevents cell migration into or out of the capsule. Methods for preparing and using the capsules and delivery systems are provided.

Loftus, David J.↗

Polarimetry of the Interstellar Medium

The talk will review what is known about the composition of ices and organics in the dense and diffuse interstellar media (ISM). Mixed molecular ices make up a significant fraction of the solid materials in dense molecular clouds and it is now known that thermal and radiation processing of these ices results in the production of more complex organic species, some of which may survive transport into forming stellar systems and the diffuse ISM. Molecular species identified in interstellar ices include H2O, CH3OH, CO, CH4, CO2, and somewhat surprisingly, H2. Theoretical and laboratory studies of the processing of interstellar analog ices containing these species indicate that species like HCO, H2CO, CH3, and NH3 are readily made and should also be present. The irradiation of mixed molecular ices containing these species, when followed by warming, leads to the production of a large variety of more complex species, including ethanol (CH3CH2OH), formamide (HC(=O)NH2), acetamide (CH3C(=O)NH2), nitriles or isonitriles (R-CN or R-NC hexamethylenetetramine (HMT; C6H12N4), a number of polymeric species related to polyoxymethylene [POM,(-CH2O-)n], and ketones {R-C(=O)-R'}. Spectral studies of dust in the diffuse ISM indicate the presence of fairly complex organics, some of which may be related to the organics produced in dense molecular clouds. Spectral comparisons indicate that the diffuse ISM organics may be quite similar to meteoritic kerogens, i.e. they may consist largely of aromatic moieties interlinked by short aliphatic bridges. Interestingly, recent evidence indicates that the galactic distribution of this material closely matches that of silicates, but does not correlate directly with visual extinction. This implies that a large fraction of the visual extinction is caused by a material other than these organics and silicates and that this other material has a significantly different distribution within the galaxy.

Sandford, Scott↗

Direct numerical simulation of a turbulent methane/air flame impinged by a sub-breakdown electric field

Here, the effects of an external electric field on a turbulent methane/air diffusion flame are analyzed in this work using direct numerical simulations. The analyzed configuration consists of a temporally evolving mixing layer of air and a mixture of methane and nitrogen at 1 atm that is impinged by an electric field in the direction normal to the mean mixing plane. The combustion and chemi-ionization reactions involved in the flow are modeled using finite-rate chemistry and a reduced reaction scheme consisting of 26 species and 134 reactions. The mass diffusion and ion-wind effects are modeled using a detailed description of the diffusion coefficients and electric mobilities based on kinetic theory. The presented calculations show that the turbulence generated within the mixing layer is mostly unaffected by the applied electric field for the configuration under exam. In fact, the electric body force is developed away from the mixing region where the flow is uniform. Conversely, the turbulence is able to introduce very high intermittency in the electrically charged species concentration and, consequently, in the electric body force. Such intermittency will constitute a challenge in the future formulation of combustion models that take into account ion-wind effects.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

Diffusion coefficient and nucleation density studies on electrochemical deposition of aluminum from chloroaluminate ionic liquid electrolytes

In this study, aluminum was electrodeposited from ionic liquids comprising a melt of alkyl imidazolium chlorides and aluminum chloride (AlCl 3 ). The ionic liquids utilized in this study were 1-ethyl-3-methyl-imidazolium chloride (EMIC)-AlCl 3 , 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (BMIC)-AlCl 3 , and 1-hexyl-3-methyl-imidazolium chloride (HMIC)-AlCl 3 at the AlCl 3 mole fraction of 0.667 (molar ratio of 1:2). The electrochemical behavior of chloroaluminate species in the three ionic liquids was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry (CA) techniques at different temperatures. The cyclic voltammograms indicated that the reduction of Al 2 Cl 7 – species to metallic aluminum followed a diffusion-controlled phenomenon. Moreover, even at a less negative applied potential, the higher current density was obtained for EMIC-AlCl 3 ionic liquid. That indicates that EMIC-AlCl 3 favors less energy consumption during the electrodeposition. The chronoamperometric analysis revealed that the onset of aluminum deposition from such ionic liquids proceeds via a three-dimensional instantaneous nucleation process. The concentrations of Al 2 Cl 7 – ions in the ionic liquids were calculated based on the thermodynamic data, which were 2520, 2271, and 2035 mol m –3 for EMIC-AlCl 3 , BMIC-AlCl 3 , and HMIC-AlCl 3 , respectively. The diffusion coefficient (D) values of Al 2 Cl 7 – species in such ionic liquids were also calculated at various temperatures. The D values determined from the CA technique at 363 K are 2.16 × 10 –11 , 1.03 × 10 –11 , and 0.87 × 10 –11 m 2 s –1 for EMIC-AlCl 3 , BMICAlCl 3 , and HMIC-AlCl 3 , respectively. In addition, the D value increased as temperature increased and decreased as the hydrocarbon group in the ionic liquid increased. As a result, the calculated grain sizes of nucleation range from 2 to 4 μm for these ionic liquids and are in good agreement with experimental data obtained from SEM micrographs.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Two-Photon Laser-Induced Fluorescence O and N Atoms for the Study of Heterogeneous Catalysis in a Diffusion Reactor

Advanced laser-based diagnostics have been developed to examine catalytic effects and atom/surface interactions on thermal protection materials. This study establishes the feasibility of using laser-induced fluorescence for detection of O and N atom loss in a diffusion tube to measure surface catalytic activity. The experimental apparatus is versatile in that it allows fluorescence detection to be used for measuring species selective recombination coefficients as well as diffusion tube and microwave discharge diagnostics. Many of the potential sources of error in measuring atom recombination coefficients by this method have been identified and taken into account. These include scattered light, detector saturation, sample surface cleanliness, reactor design, gas pressure and composition, and selectivity of the laser probe. Recombination coefficients and their associated errors are reported for N and O atoms on a quartz surface at room temperature.

Pallix, Joan B.↗

Kinetic Model for Moisture-Controlled CO 2 Sorption

The understanding of the sorption/desorption kinetics is essential for practical applications of moisture-controlled CO 2 sorption. We introduce an analytic model of the kinetics of moisture-controlled CO 2 sorption and its interpretation in two limiting cases. In one case, chemical reaction kinetics on pore surfaces dominates, in the other case, diffusive transport through the sorbent defines the kinetics. Here, we show that reaction kinetics, which is dominant in the first case, can be expressed as a linear combination of 1st and 2nd order kinetics in agreement with the static isotherm equation derived and validated in a previous paper. The interior transport kinetics can be described by non-linear diffusion equations. By combining all carbon species into a single equation, we can eliminate — in certain limits — the source terms associated with chemical reactions. In this case, the governing equation is ∂θ/∂t = –∇ · (–D eff ∇ θ ). For a sorbent in a form of a flat sheet or a membrane, one can maintain the same functional form of a diffusion equation by introducing a generalized effective diffusivity D M that combines contributions from both surface chemical reaction kinetics and interior diffusive transport kinetics. Experimental data of transient CO 2 flux in a preconditioned commercial anion exchange membrane fit well to the 1st order model as long as very dry states are avoided, validating the theory. The observed DM for a preconditioned commercial anion exchange membrane ranges from 6.6× 10 -14 to 7.1× 10 -14 m 2 s -1 at 35°C. These small values compared to typical ionic diffusivities imply a very slow kinetics, which will be the largest issue that needs to be addressed for practical application. The collected transient CO 2 flux data are used to predict the magnitude of a continuous CO 2 pumping flux in an active membrane that transports CO 2 against a CO 2 concentration gradient. The pumped CO 2 flux is supported by water flux due to a water concentration gradient.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

First-principles Studies of Tritium Species Formation on and Desorption from Surfaces of $γ- LiAlO_2$ Pellets with Related Secondary Phase

The $γ- LiAlO_2$ ceramics enriched with the $^6Li$ isotope are used in the form of annular pellets in tritium-producing burnable absorber rods (TPBARs). When irradiated in a pressurized water reactor (PWR), the $^6Li$ absorbs neutrons, simulating the nuclear characteristics of a burnable absorber rod, and produces tritium $(_{1}^{3}H, T)$. Once the $_{1}^{3}H$ is produced in the bulk of $γ- LiAlO_2$, it diffuses to its surface, forming different $_{1}^{3}H$ species (possibly $T, OT, T_2, or T_2O$). The $T_2O$ is expected to be generated from experiment, to avoid $_{1}^{3}H$ leakage. However, up to now, it is still not clear which $_{1}^{3}H$ species are formed on the $γ- LiAlO_2$ surface and travel to the getter. Besides, with the dramatic Li loss under irradiation, the secondary phase (possibly $LiAl_5O_8$) precipitates and participates into the $_{1}^{3}H$ diffusivity and $_{1}^{3}H$ species formation. Therefore, exploring $_{1}^{3}H$ species formation on and desorption from surfaces of $γ- LiAlO_2$ with related secondary phases becomes a very important task to provide a better understanding of $_{1}^{3}H$H species escaping from pellets.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗