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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

Viscous-shock-layer solutions for turbulent flow of radiating gas mixtures in chemical equilibrium

The viscous-shock-layer equations for hypersonic laminar and turbulent flows of radiating or nonradiating gas mixtures in chemical equilibrium are presented for two-dimensional and axially-symmetric flow fields. Solutions were obtained using an implicit finite-difference scheme and results are presented for hypersonic flow over spherically-blunted cone configurations at freestream conditions representative of entry into the atmosphere of Venus. These data are compared with solutions obtained using other methods of analysis.

Anderson, E. C.↗

Liquid sheet radiator

A new external flow radiator concept, the liquid sheet radiator (LSR), is introduced. The LSR sheet flow is described and an expression for the length/width (l/w), ratio is presented. A linear dependence of l/w on velocity is predicted that agrees with experimental results. Specific power for the LSR is calculated and is found to be nearly the same as the specific power of a liquid droplet radiator, (LDR). Several sheet thicknesses and widths were experimentally investigated. In no case was the flow found to be unstable.

Chubb, Donald L.↗

Liquid sheet radiator

A new external flow radiator concept, the liquid sheet radiator (LSR), is introduced. The LSR sheet flow is described and an expression for the length/width (l/w) ratio is presented. A linear dependence of l/w on velocity is predicted that agrees with experimental results. Specific power for the LSR is calculated and is found to be nearly the same as the specific power of a liquid droplet radiator (LDR). Several sheet thicknesses and widths were experimentally investigated. In no case was the flow found to be unstable.

Chubb, Donald L.↗

Comparison of Radiative Energy Flows in Observational Datasets and Climate Modeling

This study examines radiative flux distributions and local spread of values from three major observational datasets (CERES, ISCCP, and SRB) and compares them with results from climate modeling (CMIP3). Examinations of the spread and differences also differentiate among contributions from cloudy and clear-sky conditions. The spread among observational datasets is in large part caused by noncloud ancillary data. Average differences of at least 10Wm(exp -2) each for clear-sky downward solar, upward solar, and upward infrared fluxes at the surface demonstrate via spatial difference patterns major differences in assumptions for atmospheric aerosol, solar surface albedo and surface temperature, and/or emittance in observational datasets. At the top of the atmosphere (TOA), observational datasets are less influenced by the ancillary data errors than at the surface. Comparisons of spatial radiative flux distributions at the TOA between observations and climate modeling indicate large deficiencies in the strength and distribution of model-simulated cloud radiative effects. Differences are largest for lower-altitude clouds over low-latitude oceans. Global modeling simulates stronger cloud radiative effects (CRE) by +30Wmexp -2) over trade wind cumulus regions, yet smaller CRE by about -30Wm(exp -2) over (smaller in area) stratocumulus regions. At the surface, climate modeling simulates on average about 15Wm(exp -2) smaller radiative net flux imbalances, as if climate modeling underestimates latent heat release (and precipitation). Relative to observational datasets, simulated surface net fluxes are particularly lower over oceanic trade wind regions (where global modeling tends to overestimate the radiative impact of clouds). Still, with the uncertainty in noncloud ancillary data, observational data do not establish a reliable reference.

Raschke, Ehrhard↗

Modeling and Simulation of Radiative Compressible Flows in Aerodynamic Heating Arc-Jet Facility

Numerical simulations of an arc heated flow inside NASA's 20 [MW] Aerodynamics heating facility (AHF) are performed in order to investigate the three-dimensional swirling flow and the current distribution inside the wind tunnel. The plasma is considered in Local Thermodynamics Equilibrium(LTE) and is composed of Air-Argon gas mixture. The governing equations are the Navier-Stokes equations that include source terms corresponding to Joule heating and radiative cooling. The former is obtained by solving an electric potential equation, while the latter is calculated using an innovative massively parallel ray-tracing algorithm. The fully coupled system is closed by the thermodynamics relations and transport properties which are obtained from Chapman-Enskog method. A novel strategy was developed in order to enable the flow solver and the radiation calculation to be preformed independently and simultaneously using a different number of processors. Drastic reduction in the computational cost was achieved using this strategy. Details on the numerical methods used for space discretization, time integration and ray-tracing algorithm will be presented. The effect of the radiative cooling on the dynamics of the flow will be investigated. The complete set of equations were implemented within the COOLFluiD Framework. Fig. 1 shows the geometry of the Anode and part of the constrictor of the Aerodynamics heating facility (AHF). Fig. 2 shows the velocity field distribution along (x-y) plane and the streamline in (z-y) plane.

Pasma flows↗

Navier-Stokes and viscous shock-layer solutions for radiating hypersonic flows

Results are presented from the Navier-Stokes and viscous shock-layer (VSL) calculations with nonequilibrium and equilibrium chemistry, respectively. These calculations contain coupling to the Aerotherm radiation code RAD. A simplified form of the electron energy equation is used to obtain an electron temperature in the Navier-Stokes calculations. The radiation in the flowfield is calculated using this temperature. The Navier-Stokes code is used at high altitude only, whereas the VSL code is employed for the entire entry period to make estimates of the radiative and convective heating to the Fire II vehicle. Results from the Navier-Stokes code have also been compared with the predictions of Lee and Kawamura, who used gray-gas radiation model and thin-layer Navier-Stokes equations. Quite good agreement is obtained between the measured and computed values of radiative and convective heating from the VSL code in th medium-to-low altitude flight regime of the Fire II vehicle. At high altitudes, the Navier-Stokes calculations considerably overpredict the Fire II flight data for radiative intensity. This is attributed to the deficiencies in the Aerotherm radiation model when used for low-density flight conditions. This model contains the thermal equilibrium assumption and precludes accounting for the collision-limiting phenomenon at high altitudes. Present Navier-Stokes calculations highlight the effect of these assumptions on radiative heating calculations for such conditions.

Gupta, Roop N.↗

Modeling Hydrodynamic Instabilities, Shocks, and Radiation Waves in High Energy Density Experiments [Dissertation]

This thesis presents the computational design, modeling, and analysis of three experiments in high-energy density physics (HEDP), all of them concerning fundamental radiation flows. The first experiment is a laboratory astrophysics experiment to investigate the role of the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (KHI) in the process of galactic filaments supplying gas to galactic halos. The achieved goal was to provide a first study in which the role of the instability is maximal and predict behavior in future iterations of an experiment accessing a more radiative regime where the role of the instability is stifled. This experiment would help answer how certain galaxies are able to grow so rapidly and produce many stars as the KHI limits this process. The second experiment, COAX, is a radiation flow experiment with a novel spectroscopy diagnostic configuration, designed to spatially measure the temperature of a radiation wave as it travels down a doped foam. A key result of this work was the development of a synthetic spectroscopy application and application of modern spectroscopy comparison techniques to provide our first temperature reconstructions from the experimental data. This experimental platform serves as the launching ground for a number of new experiments that vary the basic premise and thus is foundational to our ongoing research. The final experiment is a full integration of modeling, design, and theoretical development for the Radishock experiment. This experimental platform studies the head-on collision of a radiation wave with a counter-propagating shock, and like COAX, uses spectroscopy to diagnose and detect the interaction. My research analyzes the successful shots, indicating aspects of successful detections and suggests improvements to future iterations of the design.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

A simple nearly analytic model of a gravity wave driven middle atmospheric circulation

A nearby analytic model of a gravity wave driven middle atmosphere circulation is formulated. The simplified model represents the one-dimensional interaction of a single gravity wave mode with a zonal-mean flow. Solutions of this model are shown to agree very well with numerical results from a more complete mean-flow/gravity-wave model (essentially the model developed by Holton, 1982). A single nondimensional parameter, the ratio of a mean flow radiative forcing parameter, and the gravity wave momentum flux incident into the middle atmosphere from below largely determine the solution of the model. For typical middle atmosphere parameter values, an approximate solution can be obtained, and this solution permits the parameter dependence of the circulation to be characterized very simply. The gravity wave driven circulation extends downward from the level (the breaking level, approximately) where the momentum flux equals the mean flow radiative forcing.

Barnes, Jeffrey R.↗

A Study of High Altitude Hypersonic Flow-Field Radiation

This paper presents the results of the works carried out jointly at Stanford University and Ames Research Center under a grant from the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO) (formerly the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization) to explain and understand the results of the two flight experiments, Bow Shock Ultra-Violet 1 and Bow Shock Ultra-Violet 2, carried out by the Organization. A portion of the material contained in this paper has been reported elsewhere in open literature. However, this paper provides (1) the details of scientific contents not available in those literature, (2) the links among those and the logical order of the efforts involved, and (3) some materials not contained in any open literature. The first author is responsible for execution of the work; the second author directed the work of the first author. In the two flight experiments mentioned above, the spectra of radiation in the ultraviolet wavelength range incident on the stagnation point of a blunt body were measured at the flight speeds of 3.8 and 5.2 km/sec over a wide range of altitudes. The results were compared first with the calculations made using the original version of the NEQAIR/STRAP codes written earlier by the second author. At low altitudes, the calculations agreed with the measurement. However, at high altitudes, the calculations underestimated the intensity of the radiation by several orders of magnitudes. A shock tube experiment was carried out at CALSPAN and a plasma-torch experiment was carried out at Stanford University to produce experimental data to help explain the discrepancy. In addition, the shock tube experiment at Ames Research Center carried out independently of the BMDO was also found to be relevant to this question. In this paper, several theoretical models are developed and calculations using the models were carried out to explain the results not only of the flight experiments but also of the CALSPAN, Stanford, and Ames experiments. The are: (1) the diffusion model for the rotational mode to explain the slowness of rotational excitation, (2) assignment of different vibrational temperatures and different relaxation rates for different molecules, and (3) the modification of the NEQAIR code to accommodate the new experimental data. This paper shows that the discrepancy between the flight data and calculation is smaller with the present model, but is still substantial.

Moreau, Stephane↗

AGN Obscuration Through Dusty Infrared Dominated Flows: Radiation-Hydrodynamics Solution for the Wind - 1

We construct a radiation-hydrodynamics model for the obscuring toroidal structure in active galactic nuclei. In this model the obscuration is produced at parsec scale by a dense, dusty wind which is supported by infrared radiation pressure on dust grains. To find the distribution of radiation pressure, we numerically solve the 2D radiation transfer problem in a flux limited diffusion approximation. We iteratively couple the solution with calculations of stationary 1D models for the wind, and obtain the z-component of the velocity. Our results demonstrate that for AGN luminosities greater than 0.1 L(sub edd) external illumination can support a geometrically thick obscuration via outflows driven by infrared radiation pressure. The terminal velocity of marginally Compton-thin models (0.2 < tau(sub T) < 0.6), is comparable to or greater than the escape velocity. In Compton thick models the maximum value of the vertical component of the velocity is lower than the escape velocity, suggesting that a significant part of our torus is in the form of failed wind. The results demonstrate that obscuration via normal or failed infrared-driven winds is a viable option for the AGN torus problem and AGN unification models. Such winds can also provide an important channel for AGN feedback.

Dorodnitsyn, A.↗

Radiative coupled viscous flow with massive blowing

An analysis of the fully-coupled viscous, radiating flow past an ablating blunt body at hyperbolic entry conditions is presented. A detailed thermodynamics computation, as well as a realistic radiation transport model, is included. A locally nonsimilar approach is employed to solve the conservation equations away from the stagnation point. The validity of the locally nonsimilar approach is demonstrated for some nonablating cases. Sample calculations are made for the typical flight condition of a Jovian entry probe. The effects of the downstream injection of the ablation products of a carbon heat shield on the flux distribution around the body are discussed in detail. It is found that most of the radiative energy is absorbed by the injected carbon gas and dumped into the wake.

Chou, Y. S.↗

Effects of precursor heating on chemical and radiation nonequilibrium viscous flow around a Jovian entry body

The influence of precursor heating on viscous chemical nonequilibrium radiating flow around a Jovian entry body is investigated. Results obtained for a 45-degree hyperboloid blunt body entering Jupiter's nominal atmosphere at zero angle of attack indicate that the nonequilibrium radiative heating rate is significantly higher than the corresponding equilibrium heating. The precursor heating, in general, increases the radiative and convective heating to the body, and this increase is slightly higher for the nonequilibrium conditions.

Tiwari, S. N.↗

Effects of precursor heating on chemical and radiative nonequilibrium viscous flow around a Jovian entry body

The influence of precursor heating on viscous chemical nonequilibrium radiating flow around a Jovian entry body is investigated. Results obtained for a 45 deg hyperboloid blunt body entering the Jupiter's nominal atmosphere at zero angle of attack indicate that the nonequilibrium radiative heating rate is significantly higher than the corresponding equilibrium heating. The precursors heating, in general, increases the radiative and convective heating to the body and this increase is slightly higher for the nonequilibrium conditions.

Tiwari, S. N.↗