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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 55 records · Page 3
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

Simulation of Li-pellet triggered ELMs in EAST with an impurity model implemented under BOUT++ framework

A simple impurity model has been developed under the BOUT++ framework to investigate the Li-pellet triggered edge localized mode (ELM) in EAST configuration. The present impurity model decouples the ion pressure enhancement effect (IPEE) (which affects radial E X B flow shear and gyro-viscosity of deuterium ions and is implicitly included in our previous work) to make the simulation of Li pellet injection more physically reasonable. In addition, the present impurity model also includes the impurity equilibrium effect (IEE) (which induces modifications on vorticity and gyro-viscosity). The simulation results show that without IPEE a turbulent ELM induced by Li pellet is triggered by multiple peeling-ballooning modes (PBMs) rather than by a single dominant mode, and the simultaneous growth of multiple modes is conducive to reducing the time for pedestal entering the energy loss state. When a turbulent ELM occurs, the nonlinearly dominant modes undergo a secondary fast growth during fast crash phase. The finding explains the secondary increase of D α emission observed in the DIII-D Li injection experiments. During the evolution of a turbulent ELM, the continuous pedestal collapse dominates the pedestal energy loss in turbulent transport phase; however, in saturation phase, the stabilizing effects on PBMs (n ≠ 0) by n = 0 mode and radial E X B flow shear within the steepest gradient region are more prominent. It is also found that with IEE and without IPEE, the size threshold of ELM triggering and the magnitude of ELM sizes both show a good agreement with EAST and DIII-D experimental observations.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Simulation study of particle transport by weakly coherent mode in the Alcator C-Mod tokamak

A simulation study has been conducted of the physical mechanisms behind the weakly coherent mode (WCM) and its produced particle transport in the I-mode edge plasmas by using the BOUT++ code. The WCM is identified in our simulations by its poloidal and radial distributions as well as its frequency and wavenumber spectra. Its produced radial particle flux is calculated and compared with the experimental value. The good agreement indicates that the WCM is an important particle transport channel in the I-mode pedestal. It is found that the WCM can transport particles across the strong outer shear layer of the Er well established in the formation of I-mode, based on which a possible explanation is provided why I-mode does not feature a density pedestal. The key point lies in the change of the cross-phase between the electric potential and density fluctuations induced by the E × B Doppler shift. In the strong shear layer, although the electric potential fluctuation is significantly suppressed, the cross-phase is close to π/2, resulting in a strong drive of the density fluctuation and particle transport. To identify the physical nature of the WCM, a linear dispersion relation for drift Alfvén modes is derived in the slab geometry. A drift Alfvén wave instability is found to have similar dependence to the simulated linear instability behind the WCM on the resistivity and the parallel electron pressure gradient and thermal force terms in the parallel Ohm's law.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Simulations of heat fluxes in an ELMy H-mode discharge on HL-2A

In order to study the distribution and evolution of the transient heat flux on HL-2A during edge-localized-mode (ELM) bursts, the BOUT++ electromagnetic six-field two-fluid model is used to simulate the pedestal collapse under the lower single-null divertor geometry. The equilibrium profiles of HL-2A ELMy H-mode discharge No. 24 953 are adopted as the initial condition in the original case. In this instance, linear analysis shows that the resistive ballooning mode (RBM) and drift-Alfven wave are unstable to this equilibrium, and RBM is the dominant instability. The evolutions of the radial heat fluxes at the outer mid-plane and heat fluxes to the inner and outer targets during the ELM event are presented. Six more equilibria are constructed based on the original case to find out the influence of the pedestal profiles on the peak electron heat flux. The results indicate that the heat flux increases with temperature and/or density, and the theoretical analysis and simulation results consistently show that the heat flux q ∥e is proportional to n e0,SEP $T^{\frac32}_{e0,SEP}$.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Edge localized mode characteristics and divertor heat flux during stationary and transient phase for CFETR hybrid scenario

The study of edge localized mode (ELM) behavior, stationary heat flux and transient heat flux during the ELM crash phase is performed for a China Fusion Engineering Test Reactor (CFETR) 1 GW hybrid mode operation scenario ($R$ = 7.2 m, ${B_{\text{T}}}$ = 6.5 T, ${I_{\text{p}}}$ = 13.78 MA). Modeling and simulation start with a scenario obtained by multi-code integrated modeling on the one modeling framework for integrated tasks framework. Linear stability and nonlinear simulations of ELM dynamics are carried out using the BOUT++ six-field reduced magnetohydrodynamic module, which show a much smaller ELM energy loss (Δ ELM ~ 0.13%) compared to that of a Type-I ELM. Parametric analysis of the weak linear growth rate and small ELM energy loss characteristics shed light on physics corresponding to a grassy ELM regime for CFETR 1 GW hybrid scenario. The transient heat flux on the divertor target during this small ELM phase is investigated using BOUT++. Here we found that upstream radial transport in the scrape-off-layer (SOL) induced by small ELMs is weak, which keeps it in the drift-dominated region. However, the heat flux width is still broadened to ${\lambda _{\text{q}}}$ = 4.64 mm by the increase of separatrix temperature during ELM nonlinear evolution. The impact of transient peak heat load and ELM energy fluence on tungsten melting and net erosion rate of divertor target is evaluated for the first-time using physics-based transport that connects the pedestal with the SOL. Energy fluence caused by a single ELM pulse is below the tungsten melting limit, while tungsten erosion would exceed the material requirements. We conclude that external mitigation methods, such as divertor detachment and advanced divertor geometry are likely needed for the steady state operation of CFETR.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Experimental and theoretical study of weakly coherent mode in I-mode edge plasmas in the EAST tokamak

The I-mode is a promising operation mode for fusion in the future, featuring high-temperature and low-density confinement, but the reason why the temperature and density are decoupled remains an important aspect to be explored. The experimental results from the experimental advanced superconducting tokamak (EAST) showed that the weakly coherent mode (WCM) is directly related to sustaining the I-mode and that the peak amplitude of the WCM is proportional to the temperature in the pedestal. Here, simulating the experimental data from EAST with the six-field model of BOUT++, we find a density perturbation close to the frequency of the WCM observed in the experiment. By testing all the physical terms in this model, we find that the density perturbation and particle transport are directly related to the drift Alfvén wave (DAW) mode. Additionally we use the SymPIC program (Xiao et al Plasma Sci. Technol. 20 110501; Phys. Plasmas 22 112504; Plasma Sci. Technol. 23 055102) to simulate the same experimental data and find that the frequency range of the WCM is close to both experimental and BOUT++ results. Therefore, the WCM of the I-mode can be considered to be driven by the DAW, which helps improve the transport of the I-mode.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Modeling of small tungsten dust grains in EAST tokamak with NDS-BOUT ++

In order to investigate the transport of small dusts as well as their evolution property along their trajectories, the NDS module is developed under the BOUT++ framework, a highly desirable C++ code package to perform parallel plasma fluid simulations with an arbitrary number of equations in three-dimensional curvilinear coordinates. Due to the severe dust ablation in fusion plasmas, the dust size would decrease from micrometer to nanometer, resulting in impurities. Small dusts in the simulations here are specified as tungsten spheres with the radii on or below the order of submicrometer. The Rayleigh limit is included in the charging process when the dust is ablated to the droplet phase. The simulation results from the NDS module show that a 200 nm radius spherical tungsten dust originated from upper divertor region of EAST Tokamak is ablated completely due to the intense heating from the incoming plasma inside the core region, well consistent with the CCD footage of EAST shot # 81459. Furthermore it is found that the magnetic field dominates the dust transport when the dust radius is below 100 nm during the ablation along the trajectory. Our simulations predict that a 10 nm radius spherical tungsten dust injected from the inner midplane is well constrained by the magnetic field, and it reaches the inner divertor target with a velocity on the order of km/s.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Effects of radial transport on divertor power and particle flux widths under different operational regimes in EAST

Here, a study of the effects of radial transport on the outer divertor particle and power flux widths (λ js and λ q ) is carried out using plasmas under different operational regimes in the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST). In the EAST experiments, the λ js values measured during the grassy intra- and inter-ELM phases are similar, and the averaged value of λ js during grassy ELMy discharges is found to be smaller than that of the intra-ELM phase of type-I ELMy discharges but larger than that of the inter-ELM phase of type-I ELMy discharges. Simulations of scans of the radial particle and heat transport coefficients, D and χ e , performed using the BOUT++ transport code show that both λq and λjs increase with D and χe, especially when D or χ e is larger than a threshold value, indicating that background turbulence starts to matter in the determination of λ q and λ js when D or χ e surpasses the threshold value. A comparison between the simulation of the D scan and the experimental results shows that the different values of λ js obtained under different plasma operational regimes are probably due to the different intensities of background turbulence, which is beyond the scope of Goldston's heuristic drift-based model as reported by Goldston et al (2012 Nucl. Fusion 52 013009), since their model was derived by assuming that turbulent transport does not exceed a certain level. The ratio of λ js to λ q is greatly affected by the radial transport; however, simulations carried out using Scrape-off Layer Plasma Simulation (SOLPS) show that divertor geometry and plasma density have big influences on λ js , and thus could also affect the ratio of λ js to λ q .

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS1992

Effects of acute exercise on attenuated vagal baroreflex function during bed rest

We measured carotid baroreceptor-cardiac reflex responses in six healthy men, 24 h before and 24 h after a bout of leg exercise during 6 deg head-down bed rest to determine if depressed vagal baroreflex function associated with exposure to microgravity environments could be reversed by a single exposure to acute intense exercise. Baroreflex responses were measured before bed rest and on day 7 of bed rest. An exercise bout consisting of dynamic and isometric actions of the quadriceps at graded speeds and resistances was performed on day 8 of bed rest and measurements of baroreflex response were repeated 24 h later. Vagally-mediated cardiac responses were provoked with ramped neck pressure-suction sequences comprising pressure elevations to +40 mm Hg, followed by serial, R-wave triggered 15 mm Hg reductions, to -65 mm Hg. Baroreceptor stimulus-cardiac response relationships were derived by plotting each R-R interval as a function of systolic pressure less the neck chamber pressure applied during the interval. Compared with pre-bed rest baseline measurements, 7 d of bed rest decreased the gain (maximum slope) of the baroreflex stimulus-response relationship by 16.8 +/- 3.4 percent (p less than 0.05). On day 9 of bed rest, 24 h after exercise, the maximum slope of the baroreflex stimulus-response relationship was increased (p less than 0.05) by 10.7 +/- 3.7 percent above pre-bed rest levels and 34.3 +/- 7.9 percent above bed rest day 7. Our data verify that vagally-mediated baroreflex function is depressed by exposure to simulated microgravity and demonstrate that this effect can be acutely reversed by exposure to a single bout of intense exercise.

Convertino, Victor A.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Exercise training - Blood pressure responses in subjects adapted to microgravity

Conventional endurance exercise training that involves daily workouts of 1-2 hr duration during exposure to microgravity has not proven completely effective in ameliorating postexposure orthostatic hypotension. Single bouts of intense exercise have been shown to increase plasma volume and baroreflex sensitivity in ambulatory subjects through 24 hr postexercise and to reverse decrements in maximal oxygen uptake and syncopal episodes following exposure to simulated microgravity. These physiological adaptations to acute intense exercise were opposite to those observed following exposure to microgravity. These results suggest that the 'exercise training' stimulus used to prevent orthostatic hypotension induced by microgravity may be specific and should be redefined to include single bouts of maximal exercise which may provide an acute effective countermeasure against postflight hypotension.

Convertino, Victor A.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Two-stage crash process in resistive drift ballooning mode driven ELM crash

We report a two-stage crash process in edge localized mode (ELM) driven by resistive drift-ballooning modes (RDBMs) numerically simulated in a full annular torus domain with a scale-separated four-field reduced MHD (RMHD) model using the BOUT++ framework. In the early nonlinear phase, the small first crash is triggered by linearly unstable RDBMs, and m/n=2/1 magnetic islands are nonlinearly excited by nonlinear coupling of RDBMs as well as their higher harmonics. Here, m is the poloidal mode number, n is the toroidal mode number, the q = 2 rational surface exists near the pressure gradient peak, and q is the safety factor. Simultaneously, middle-n RDBM turbulence develops but is poloidally localized around X-points of the magnetic islands, leading to the small energy loss. The second large crash occurs in the late nonlinear phase. Higher harmonics of m/n=2/1 magnetic islands well develop around the q = 2 surface via nonlinear coupling and make the magnetic field stochastic by magnetic island overlapping. Turbulence heat transport develops at X-points of higher harmonics of m/n=2/1 magnetic islands, resulting in the turbulence spreading in the poloidal direction. The large second crash is triggered when the turbulence covers the whole poloidal region so that the magnetic island generation and magnetic field stochastization before the large crash can be interpreted as ELM precursors. It is concluded that the ELM trigger is attributed to the turbulent spreading in the poloidal direction in synchronization with the magnetic field stochastization and the crash is driven by E × B convection rather than the conventional Rechester–Rosenbluth anomalous electron heat transport.

Seto, H. (ORCID:0000000259278643)↗
DOE OSTI2023

Electromagnetic turbulence simulation of tokamak edge plasma dynamics and divertor heat load during thermal quench

Abstract The edge plasma turbulence and transport dynamics, as well as the divertor power loads during the thermal-quench phase of tokamak disruptions, are numerically investigated with BOUT++’s flux-driven six-field electromagnetic turbulence model. Here, transient yet intense particle and energy sources are applied at the pedestal top to mimic the plasma power drive at the edge induced by a core thermal collapse, which flattens the core temperature profile. Interesting features, such as surging of divertor heat load (up to 50 times) and broadening of heat-flux width (up to four times) on the outer-divertor target plate, are observed in the simulation, in qualitative agreement with experimental observations. The dramatic changes in divertor heat load and width are due to the enhanced plasma turbulence activities inside the separatrix. Two cross-field transport mechanisms, namely, the E × B turbulent convection and the stochastic parallel advection/conduction, are identified to play important roles in this process. First, an elevated edge pressure gradient drives instabilities and subsequent turbulence in the entire pedestal region. The enhanced turbulence not only transports particles and energy radially across the separatrix via the E × B convection, which causes the initial divertor heat-load burst, but it also induces amplified magnetic fluctuation B ˜ . Once themagnetic fluctuation is large enough to break the magnetic flux surface, magnetic flutter effect provides an additional radial transport channel. In the late stage of our simulation, | B ˜ r / B 0 | reaches to 10 −4 level that completely breaks magnetic flux surfaces such that stochastic field lines are directly connecting pedestal top plasma to the divertor target plates or first wall, further contributing to the divertor heat-flux width broadening.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Estimation of China Fusion Engineering Test Reactor performance and burning fraction in different pellet fueling scenarios by a multi-species radial transport model

Tritium self-sufficiency in future deuterium–tritium fusion reactors is a crucial challenge. As an engineering test reactor, the China Fusion Engineering Test Reactor requires a burning fraction of 3% for the goal to test the accessibility to the future fusion plant. To self-consistently simulate burning plasmas with profile changes in pellet injection scenarios and to estimate the corresponding burning fraction, a one-dimensional multi-species radial transport model is developed in the BOUT++ framework. Here several pellet-fueling scenarios are then tested in the model. The results show that the increased fueling depth improves the burning fraction by particle confinement improvement and fusion power increase. Nevertheless, by increasing the depth, the pellet cooling-down may significantly lower the temperature in the core region. Taking the density perturbation into consideration, the reasonable parameters of the fueling scenario in these simulations are estimated as pellet radius ${r}_{{\rm{p}}}=3\,{\rm{mm}},$ injection rate $=\,4\,\mathrm{Hz},$ and pellet injection velocity $=\,1000\mbox{-}2000\,{\rm{m}}\,{{\rm{s}}}^{-1}$ without drift or $450\,{\rm{m}}\,{{\rm{s}}}^{-1}$ with high-field-side drift.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS1996

Restoration of plasma volume after 16 days of head-down tilt induced by a single bout of maximal exercise

Seven healthy men performed maximal exercise 24 h before the end of 16 days exposure to 6 degrees head-down tilt (HDT) to test the hypothesis that such an exercise technique could restore plasma volume (PV) at the end of a simulated space mission. Exercise consisted of supine cycling with graded work rates increasing by 16 W/min to volitional fatigue and required an average of 16 min. The experimental protocol was a standard cross-over design in which the order of treatment (exercise or control) was counterbalanced across all seven subjects. PV, fluid intake (ad libitum), urine output, renal function, and hormones associated with fluid homeostasis were measured before HDT, 24 h before the end of HDT just prior to exercise, and at the end of HDT 24 h after exercise. HDT reduced PV by 16% in both control and exercise conditions. Maximal exercise completely restored plasma volume within 24 h to 3.9 +/- 3.2% of pre-HDT levels despite continued HDT. Compared with control, exercise induced a 660-ml larger positive fluid balance because of greater fluid intake and reduced urine volume during the 24 h after exercise. These results suggest that one bout of maximal leg exercise before return from 16 days of spaceflight may be completely effective in stimulating thirst and restoring plasma volume to preflight levels.

Non-NASA Center↗
DOE OSTI2025

Investigation of divertor detachment induced through neon seeding and density ramp on HL-3

A new self-consistent 1D scrape-off layer model has been recently developed in BOUT++ framework, named SD1D, which includes equations for various particle species (e.g. main plasma, neutrals and impurities) and couples open databases like ADAS and AMJUEL. It is able to quickly and effectively simulate divertor detachment experiments. In this work, a typical detachment experiment (shot #6270) on HL-3 with neon seeding is simulated using the SD1D code. It is found that the target electron temperature and the target ion saturation current in the simulations are consistent with experimental results measured by Langmuir probes on the target plate. The variation of D α radiation intensity in the divertor is qualitatively similar to the measured D α signal. Following the experimental validations, different upstream densities are set in the simulations to study the impurity distribution under different plasma density conditions. It is found that increasing upstream density can be helpful for the control of the neon radiation front (closer to the target). In this work we also compare two detachment regimes in simulations. Based on the same initial experimental parameters (shot #6270) on HL-3, a scan of upstream density and a scan of neon seeding rate are carried out respectively. It is found that the role of atomic and molecular processes is different in the two detachment regimes. The current density roll-over is ascribed to a drop in the divertor ion source, and the variation of D α radiation intensity via different excitation channels is associated with the relevant collisional reaction sources.

BOUT++↗
NASA NTRS1998

Restoration of peak vascular conductance after simulated microgravity by maximal exercise

We sought to determine if (i) peak vascular conductance of the calf was reduced following prolonged exposure to simulated microgravity, and (ii) if maximal cycle ergometry performed at the end of microgravity exposure stimulated a restoration of peak calf vascular conductance. To do this, peak vascular conductance of the calf was recorded following ischaemic plantar flexion exercise to fatigue in seven men after 16 days of head-down tilt (HDT) under two conditions: (i) after one bout of maximal supine cycle ergometry completed 24 h prior to performance of ischaemic plantar flexion exercise, and (ii) in a control (no cycle ergometry) condition. Following HDT, peak vascular conductance was reduced in the control condition (0.38 +/- 0.02 to 0.24 +/- 0.02 ml 100 ml-1 min-1 mmHg-1; P = 0.04), but was restored when subjects performed cycle ergometry (0.33 +/- 0.05 to 0.28 +/- 0.04 ml 100 ml-1 min-1 mmHg-1; P = 0.46). After HDT, time to fatigue during ischaemic plantar flexion exercise was not different from pre-HDT 24 h after performance of exhaustive cycle ergometry (120 +/- 24 vs. 122 +/- 19 s), but was decreased in the control condition (116 +/- 11 vs. 95 +/- 8 s; P = 0.07). These data suggest that a single bout of maximal exercise can provide a stimulus to restore peak vascular conductance and maintain time to fatigue during performance of ischaemic plantar flexion exercise.

NASA Discipline Cardiopulmonary↗
NASA NTRS1987

Potential benefits of maximal exercise just prior to return from weightlessness

The purpose of this study was to determine whether performance of a single maximal bout of exercise during weightlessness within hours of return to earth would enhance recovery of aerobic fitness and physical work capacities under a 1G environment. Ten healthy men were subjected to a 10-d bedrest period in the 6-deg headdown position. A graded maximal supine cycle ergometer test was performed before and at the end of bedrest to simulate exercise during weightlessness. Following 3 h of resumption of the upright posture, a second maximal exercise test was performed on a treadmill to measure work capacity under conditions of 1G. Compared to before bedrest, peak oxygen consumption, V(O2), decreased by 8.7 percent and peak heart rate (HR) increased by 5.6 percent in the supine cycle test at the end of bedrest. However, there were no significant changes in peak V(O2) and peak HR in the upright treadmill test following bedrest. These data suggest that one bout of maximal leg exercise prior to return from 10 d of weightlessness may be adequate to restore preflight aerobic fitness and physical work capacity.

Convertino, Victor A.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Carotid-cardiac baroreflex - Relaxation with orthostatic hypotension following simulated microgravity and implications for development of countermeasures

An examination has been made of the function of the human carotid-cardiac baroreflex (CCB) under the influence of simulated microgravity, varying states of vascular volume, and acute exercise. Results have been obtained which suggest that acute fluid replacement prior to reentry may not reverse the impaired baroreflex associated with postflight hypotension. It is also noted that one bout of maximal exercise increased baroreflex sensitivity and buffer capacity through 24 hrs post exercise; these baroreflex changes were the opposite of those following head-down bedrest. Contributions of reduced blood volume and impaired CCB function to orthostatic hypotension following microgravity appear to be separate and additive, so that maximal exercise and fluid replacement could be a potent countermeasure against postflight hypotension.

Convertino, Victor A.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Q2 Report for FY25 Theory and Simulation Performance Target: Development of an integrated modeling framework for fusion reactor design and assessment

This report describes the work and activities carried out towards the completion of each of the following milestones in FY25 Q2: 1. Demonstrate workflow for generating self-consistent CESOL plasma profiles + first wall and divertor loading prediction and generate the CAT plasma and neutron loading needed for further engineering analysis: $\circ$ Run CESOL with BOUT++/Hermes-3 and immersed boundary condition to directly map to wall: • Run BOUT++/Hermes-3 through the IPS workflow to find radial particle and energy diffusivities to match either the Eich or the physics-based scaling of the SOL heat flux width, and • Expand source of first wall heat flux to include charged particles, neutrals, and radiation from the core+edge. 2. Generate medium fidelity parametrized CAD: $\circ$ Develop the TRACER tool to read an existing CAD, regenerate the geometry based on vertex location and connectivity information, define vertex translation and parameters needed for scaling the CAD, and $\circ$ Utilize the FreeGS code to determine CAT PF coil placement, including minimizing the number of coils, coil current, and electromechanical stresses. 3. Utilize plasma loading for engineering analysis: $\circ$ Couple the plasma loading to input for OpenFOAM and demonstrate initial test of thermal analysis of CAT first wall loading with typical DCLL blanket component cooling boundary conditions. 4. Demonstrate nuclear analysis: $\circ$ Apply initial analysis of tritium transport in DCLL blanket by evaluating spatially resolved tritium generation rates, tritium diffusion and convection.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗