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At least 469 records · Page 26

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NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Assessment of Turbulence Models for a Single-Injector Cooling Flow

This work assesses the ability of Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes turbulence models to predict a fundamental thermal cooling flow configuration. This geometry consists of a plate with a single cooling hole positioned downstream of a heated exhaust nozzle. The linear Shear Stress Transport (SST), non-linear Quadratic Constitutive Relation (QCR), and differential SSG/LRR Reynolds Stress Model (RSM) turbulence models were investigated for flow conditions with a blowing ratio of 1.0 and 2.0. Despite significant differences in turbulence model complexity, the results miss important details observed in the data and large eddy simulation (LES). Injection penetration is over-predicted. Mixing and centerline wake recovery is too slow. Temperature predictions are worse than velocity, suggesting that perhaps the simple gradient diffusion approximation used to model the turbulent heat flux may be to blame. These observations are put into context using other studies to identify shortcomings in the modeling of both the turbulent stress and turbulent heat flux.

Film Cooling↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Assessment of Turbulence Models for a Single-Injector Cooling Flow

Film Cooling↗

NASA NTRS1999

Modeling of Macroscopic/Microscopic Transport and Growth Phenomena in Zeolite Crystal Solutions Under Microgravity Conditions

Crystals grown from liquid solutions have important industrial applications. Zeolites, for instance, a class of crystalline aluminosilicate materials, form the backbone of the chemical process industry worldwide, as they are used as adsorbents and catalysts. Many of the phenomena associated with crystal growth processes are not well understood due to complex microscopic and macroscopic interactions. Microgravity could help elucidate these phenomena and allow the control of defect locations, concentration, as well as size of crystals. Microgravity in an orbiting spacecraft could help isolate the possible effects of natural convection (which affects defect formation) and minimize sedimentation. In addition, crystals will stay essentially suspended in the nutrient pool under a diffusion-limited growth condition. This is expected to promote larger crystals by allowing a longer residence time in a high-concentration nutrient field. Among other factors, the crystal size distribution depends on the nucleation rate and crystallization. These two are also related to the "gel" polymerization/depolymerization rate. Macroscopic bulk mass and flow transport and especially gravity, force the crystals down to the bottom of the reactor, thus forming a sedimentation layer. In this layer, the growth rate of the crystals slows down as crystals compete for a limited amount of nutrients. The macroscopic transport phenomena under certain conditions can, however, enhance the nutrient supply and therefore, accelerate crystal growth. Several zeolite experiments have been performed in space with mixed results. The results from our laboratory have indicated an enhancement in size of 30 to 70 percent compared to the best ground based controls, and a reduction of lattice defects in many of the space grown crystals. Such experiments are difficult to interpret, and cannot be easily used to derive empirical or other laws since many physical parameters are simultaneously involved in the process. At the same time, however, there is increased urgency to develop such an understanding in order to more accurately quantify the process. In order to better understand the results obtained from our prior space experiments, and design future experiments, a detailed fluid dynamic model simulating the crystal growth mechanism is required. This will not only add to the fundamental knowledge on the crystallization of zeolites, but also be useful in predicting the limits of size and growth of these important industrial materials. Our objective is to develop macro/microscopic theoretical and computational models to study the effect of transport phenomena in the growth of crystals grown in solutions. Our effort has concentrated so far in the development of separate macroscopic and microscopic models. The major highlights of our accomplishments are described.

Gatsonis, Nikos A.↗

NASA NTRS1987

A thermodynamic model of the Hg(0.8)Cd(0.2)Te-iodine transport system. I - Te-saturated source material. II - Source material composition within the homogeneity range

A thermochemical analysis of the Hg(0.8)Cd(0.2)Te-iodine vapor transport system is presented, and theoretical calculations of diffusion-controlled mass transport rates are made. The predicted mass fluxes are compared with experimental data obtained from transport experiments under vertical, stabilizing conditions reported earlier and with results of additional transport experiments conducted during the present study. Experimental mass transport rate studies of the transport system for fixed amount of excess Hg as a function of transport agent pressure are presented. The mass fluxes are determined for the vertical, stabilizing orientation of the density gradient relative to the gravitational vector. In order to compare experimental mass transport rates with computed values, the thermochemical analysis is extended to take the formation of Hg vacancies in the above compound into account along with their effect on the partial pressure of the system.

Chandra, D.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Roles of initial condition and vortex pairing in jet noise

Sound generation by vortex pairing in circular and elliptic cold-air jets at Mach 0.15-0.35 is investigated experimentally, with a focus on the effects of initial conditions. The results are presented in graphs and interpreted using the theory of vortex sound proposed by Moehring (1978) and vortex-filament models of jet coherent structure. Tripping the nozzle boundary layer is shown to (1) preempt formation of shear-layer vortices, (2) remove the sound they produce in later pairing, and (3) increase the diffusion of coherent vorticity in the vortex rings. Hence pairing noise should not be significant in practical jets, which are initially turbulent.

Bridges, J. E.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Preliminary investigations into solutal flow about growing tetragonal lysozyme crystals

A series of preliminary experiments were done to investigate solutal flow about growing lysozyme crystals and its effects. Density-gradient-driven flow was observed using a schlieren optical system. Crystals used ranged from 0.3 to 1.72 mm across the (110) face, and protein concentrations were from 3.7 to 23.7 mg/ml. The convective plume velocities were found to be from 10 to 50 microns/s, which correlated with those predicted to occur based upon a diffusive-convective model. When microcrystals of lysozyme, less than 20 microns across the (110) face were subjected to directed solution flows, the growth rate was found to rapidly decrease over the 8-20 h course of the experiment. Solution flow rates used ranged from 18 to 40 microns/s, and protein concentrations were from 7.3 to 11.7 mg/ml, conditions typical of larger (greater than 0.5 mm) crystals in the terminal phases of a typical crystal growth procedure.

Pusey, Marc↗

NASA NTRS1993

A model for the selective amplification of spatially coherent waves in a centrifugal compressor on the verge of rotating stall

A simple model for the stability zones of a low speed centrifugal compressor is developed, with the goal of understanding the driving mechanism for the changes in stalling behavior predicted for, and observed in, the Purdue Low Speed Centrifugal Research Compressor Facility. To this end, earlier analyses of rotating stall suppression in centrifugal compressors are presented in a reduced form that preserves the essential parameters of the model that affect the stalling behavior of the compressor. The model is then used to illuminate the relationship between compressor geometry, expected mode shape, and regions of amplification for weak waves which are indicative of the susceptibility of the system to rotating stall. The results demonstrate that increasing the stagger angle of the diffuser vanes, and consequently the diffusion path length, results in the compressor moving towards a condition where higher-order spatial modes are excited during stall initiation. Similarly, flow acceleration in the diffuser section caused by an increase in the number of diffuser vanes also results in the excitation of higher modes.

Lawless, Patrick B.↗

NASA NTRS1997

Chromium Diffusion Doping on ZnSe Crystals

Chromium doped zinc selenide crystal have recently been demonstrated to be a promising material for near-IR room temperature tunable lasers which have an emission range of 2-3 micrometers. In this study a new diffusion doping process has been developed for incorporation of Cr(+2) ion into ZnSe wafers. This process has been successfully performed under isothermal conditions, at temperatures above 800 C. Concentrations in excess of 10(exp 19) Cr(+2) ions/cu cm, an order of magnitude larger than previously reported in melt grown ZnSe material, have been obtained by diffusion doping, as estimated from optical absorption measurements. The diffusivity was estimated to be about 10(exp -8) sq cm/sec using a thin film diffusion model. Resistivity was derived from current-voltage measurements and in the range of 10(exp 13) and 10(exp 16) omega-cm. The emission spectra and temperature dependent lifetime data will also be presented and discussed.

Journigan, Troy D.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Voyager U.V. spectrometer observations of He 584 A dayglow at Jupiter

The intensity of Jupiter's He 584 A airglow has been measured by the Voyager UV spectrometers. The disk-averaged brightness is about 4 Rs and limb darkening is present. The intensity probably varies with longitude, the variation being out of phase with the H Lyman-alpha intensity bulge. Modelling of resonance scattering of the solar He 584 A line by Jupiter's atmosphere has shown that the hydrogen and helium emissions can be explained about equally well by at least two self-consistent scenarios involving the structure (temperature and eddy diffusion coefficient) and excitation of the atmosphere. All evidence points to a dramatic change of conditions in the Jovian atmosphere in the time between Pioneer and Voyager encounters.

Mcconnell, J. C.↗

NASA NTRS2003

[Results of Simulation Studies]

Lattice Monte Carlo and off-lattice molecular dynamics simulations of h(sub 1)t(sub 4) and h(sub 4)t(sub l) (head/tail) amphiphile solutions have been performed as a function of surfactant concentration and temperature. The lattice and off-lattice systems exhibit quite different self-assembly behavior at equivalent thermodynamic conditions. We found that in the weakly aggregating regime (no preferred-size micelles), all models yield similar micelle size distributions at the same average aggregation number, albeit at different thermodynamic conditions (temperatures). In the strongly aggregating regime, this mapping between models (through temperature adjustment) fails, and the models exhibit qualitatively different micellization behavior. Incipient micellization in a model self-associating telechelic polymer solution results in a network with a transient elastic response that decays by a two-step relaxation: the first is due to a heterogeneous jump-diffusion process involving entrapment of end-groups within well-defined clusters and this is followed by rapid diffusion to neighboring clusters and a decay (terminal relaxation) due to cluster disintegration. The viscoelastic response of the solution manifests characteristics of a glass transition and entangled polymer network.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS1991

Silsesquioxane-derived ceramic fibres

Fibers formed from blends of silsesquioxane polymers were characterized to study the pyrolytic conversion of these precursors to ceramics. The morphology of fibers pyrolyzed to 1400 C revealed primarily amorphous glasses whose conversion to beta-SiC is a function of both blend composition and pyrolysis conditions. Formation of beta-SiC crystallites within the glassy phase is favored by higher than stoichiometric C/Si ratios, while carbothermal reduction of Si-O bonds to form SiC with loss of SiO and CO occurs at higher methyl/phenylpropyl silsesquioxane (lower C/Si) ratios. As the carbothermal reduction is assumed to be diffusion controlled, the fibers can serve as model systems to gain understanding of the silsesquioxane pyrolysis behavior, and therefore are useful in the development of polysilsesquioxane-derived ceramic matrices and coatings as well.

Hurwitz, F. I.↗

NASA NTRS2003

Transient Interfacial Phenomena in Miscible Polymer Systems (TIPMPS)

Almost one hundred years ago Korteweg published a theory of how stresses could be induced in miscible fluids by concentration gradients, causing phenomena that would appear to be the same as with immiscible fluids. Miscible fluids could manifest a transient or effective interfacial tension (EIT). To this day, there has been no definitive experiment to confirm Korteweg's model but numerous fascinating and suggestive experiments have been reported. The goal of TIPMPS is to answer the question: Can concentration and temperature gradients in miscible materials induce stresses that cause convection? Many polymer processes involving miscible monomer and polymer systems could be affected by fluid flow and so this work could help understand miscible polymer processing, not only in microgravity, but also on earth. Demonstrating the existence of this phenomenon in miscible fluids will open up a new area of study for materials science. The science objectives of TIPMPS are: (1) Determine if convection can be induced by variation of the width of a miscible interface; (2) Determine if convection can be induced by variation of temperature along a miscible interface; (3) Determine if convection can be induced by variation of conversion along a miscible interface An interface between two miscible fluids can best be created via a spatially-selective photopolymerization of dodecyl acrylate with a photoinitiator, which allows the creation of precise and accurate concentration gradients between polymer and monomer. Optical techniques will be used to measure the refractive index variation caused by the resultant temperature and concentration fields. The viscosity of the polymer will be measured from the increase in the fluorescence of pyrene. Because the large concentration and temperature gradients cause buoyancy-driven convection that prevents the observation of the predicted flows, the experiment must be done in microgravity. In this report, we will consider our efforts to estimate the square gradient parameter, k, and our use of the estimates in modeling of the planned TIPMPS experiments. We developed a model consisting of the heat and diffusion equations with convective terms and of the Navier-Stokes equations with an additional volume force written in the form of the Korteweg stresses arising from nonlocal interaction in the fluid. The fluid's viscosity dependence on polymer conversion and temperature was taken from measurements of poly(dodecyl acrylate). Numerical modeling demonstrated that significant flows would arise for conditions corresponding to the planned experiments.

Pojman, John A.↗

NASA NTRS1978

The use of airborne and ground-based measurements of launch vehicle HCl puffs in a finite difference parameter estimation procedure

Model 4 of the multilayer diffusion models, version 5 (MDMV5) is discussed. MDMV5 is designed to help factor considerations of the potential environment impact of a given launch operation into the actual launch decision process. The model supports this decision process by providing quantitative estimates of particular air quality indices at a set of spatial positions in the launch area and surrounding communities, for specified meteorological conditions. Modeling concepts, the finite difference estimation algorithm, and data application and results are examined.

Englar, T. S., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1999

A Process-based, Climate-Sensitive Model to Derive Methane Emissions from Natural Wetlands: Application to 5 Wetland Sites, Sensitivity to Model Parameters and Climate

Methane emissions from natural wetlands constitutes the largest methane source at present and depends highly on the climate. In order to investigate the response of methane emissions from natural wetlands to climate variations, a 1-dimensional process-based climate-sensitive model to derive methane emissions from natural wetlands is developed. In the model the processes leading to methane emission are simulated within a 1-dimensional soil column and the three different transport mechanisms diffusion, plant-mediated transport and ebullition are modeled explicitly. The model forcing consists of daily values of soil temperature, water table and Net Primary Productivity, and at permafrost sites the thaw depth is included. The methane model is tested using observational data obtained at 5 wetland sites located in North America, Europe and Central America, representing a large variety of environmental conditions. It can be shown that in most cases seasonal variations in methane emissions can be explained by the combined effect of changes in soil temperature and the position of the water table. Our results also show that a process-based approach is needed, because there is no simple relationship between these controlling factors and methane emissions that applies to a variety of wetland sites. The sensitivity of the model to the choice of key model parameters is tested and further sensitivity tests are performed to demonstrate how methane emissions from wetlands respond to climate variations.

Walter, Bernadette P.↗

NASA NTRS2004

Current State of Modeling the Photochemistry of Titan's Mutually Dependent Atmosphere and Ionosphere

In the context of recent observations, microphysical models, and laboratory data, a photochemical model of Titan's atmosphere, including updated chemistry focusing on rate coefficients and cross sections measured under appropriate conditions, has been developed to increase understanding of these processes and improve upon previous Titan photochemical models. The model employs a two-stream discrete ordinates method to characterize the transfer of solar radiation, and the effects of electron-impact, cosmic-ray deposition, and aerosol opacities from fractal and Mie particles are analyzed. Sensitivity studies demonstrate that an eddy diffusion profile with a homopause level of 850 km and a methane stratospheric mole fraction of 2.2% provides the best fit of stratospheric and upper atmosphere observations and an improved fit over previous Titan photochemical models. Lack of fits for C3H8, HC3N, and possibly C2H3CN can be resolved with adjustments in aerosol opacity. The model presents a benzene profile consistent with its detection in Titan's stratosphere [Coustenis et al., 2003], which may play an important role in the formation of Titan hazes. An electron peak concentration of 4200 cm(exp -3) is calculated, which exceeds observations by 20%, considerably lower than previous ionosphere models. With adjustments in aerosol opacities and surface fluxes the model illustrates that reasonable fits to existing observations are possible with a single eddy diffusion profile, contrary to the conclusions of previous Titan models. These results will aid in the receipt and interpretation of data from Cassini-Huygens, which will arrive at Titan in 2004 and deploy a probe into Titan's atmosphere in January 2005.

ion chemistry↗

NASA NTRS2010

Heat Entrapment Effects Within Liquid Acquisition Devices

We introduce a model problem to address heat entrapment effects or the local accumulation of thermal energy within liquid acquisition devices. We show that the parametric space consists of six parameters, namely the Rayleigh and Prandtl numbers, the aspect ratio, and heat flux ratios for the bottom, side, and top boundaries of the enclosure. For the range of Ra considered 1 to 10(sup 9), beyond Ra on the order of 10(sup 5), convective instability is the dominant mode of convection in comparison to natural convection. The flow field transitions to asymmetric modes at Ra on the order of 10(sup 7). Direct numerical simulation of a large geometric length scale prototype for Ra on the order of 10(sup 9) shows that the flow field evolves from small wavelength instability which gives rise to nonlinear growth of thermals, propagation of the instability occurs via growth of secondary and tertiary modes, and a travelling wave mode occurs prior to asymmetry. The effect of a large aspect ratio is to increase the number of modes in the vertical direction. Due to the slow diffusion of heat in the prototype, asymptotic states are not readily attained, we show that dynamical similarity can be used for a model which allows the attainment of asymptotic states and that transition to a chaotic state occurs for Ra on the order of 10(sup 9) via a broadband power spectrum. These dynamical events show that for the baseline condition in which heat is absorbed from background laboratory environment, higher heat flux is absorbed at the top and bottom boundaries of the enclosure than a nominal value of 34.9 ergs per square centimeter -second.

Duval, W. M. B.↗

NASA NTRS2001

The Transfer Function Model as a Tool to Study and Describe Space Weather Phenomena

The Transfer Function Model (TFM) is a semi-analytical, linear model that is designed especially to describe thermospheric perturbations associated with magnetic storms and substorm. activity. It is a multi-constituent model (N2, O, He H, Ar) that accounts for wind induced diffusion, which significantly affects not only the composition and mass density but also the temperature and wind fields. Because the TFM adopts a semianalytic approach in which the geometry and temporal dependencies of the driving sources are removed through the use of height-integrated Green's functions, it provides physical insight into the essential properties of processes being considered, which are uncluttered by the accidental complexities that arise from particular source geometrie and time dependences. Extending from the ground to 700 km, the TFM eliminates spurious effects due to arbitrarily chosen boundary conditions. A database of transfer functions, computed only once, can be used to synthesize a wide range of spatial and temporal sources dependencies. The response synthesis can be performed quickly in real-time using only limited computing capabilities. These features make the TFM unique among global dynamical models. Given these desirable properties, a version of the TFM has been developed for personal computers (PC) using advanced platform-independent 3D visualization capabilities. We demonstrate the model capabilities with simulations for different auroral sources, including the response of ducted gravity waves modes that propagate around the globe. The thermospheric response is found to depend strongly on the spatial and temporal frequency spectra of the storm. Such varied behavior is difficult to describe in statistical empirical models. To improve the capability of space weather prediction, the TFM thus could be grafted naturally onto existing statistical models using data assimilation.

Porter, Hayden S.↗

NASA NTRS2024

NASA HECC Geometry and Performance Review Part 1: Validation of a Computational Model for the Vaneless Diffuser Configuration with As-Manufactured Impeller Geometry

An investigation of the NASA High Efficiency Centrifugal Compressor (HECC) vaneless diffuser configuration was performed. This multipart investigation presents an extensive validation of the computational model against experimental data. The validated model was then used to explore the effects geometric differences between the as-manufactured and design-intent impellers. Lastly, the validated model was used for comparison against an experimental tip clearance study. Part I of the investigation focused on describing the HECC vaneless computational model and its validation against the experimental data published in GT2023-103128. To generate the model, a verification of the manufactured impeller was performed and was confirmed to match the impeller CAD. Section data from the impeller CAD, referred to as the As-Manufactured geometry, were used for development of the computational model. Steady RANS simulations utilizing the Wilcox K-Omega 98 turbulence model and a multiblock structured mesh were used to conduct a mesh convergence study. The resultant mesh was then used for simulations at both design-speed and off-design speed conditions. The simulations compared well to data in both 1D and 2D terms for the major performance metrics of efficiency, total pressure rise, and total temperature rise. Based on the observed results the model was deemed validated and was used in the latter two parts of the multipart investigation.

centrifugal compressor↗