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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 1,207 records · Page 67

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NASA NTRS1980

Numerical simulation of steady supersonic flow over an ogive-cylinder-boattail body

A recently reported parabolized Navier-Stokes code has been employed to compute the supersonic flow field surrounding an ogive-cylinder-boattail body at incidence. The computations were performed for flow conditions where an extensive series of experimental surface pressure and turbulent boundary-layer profile measurements had been obtained. Comparison between the computational results and experimental measurements for angles of attack up to 6 deg show excellent agreement. At angles greater than 6 deg discrepancies are observed which are tentatively attributed to three-dimensional turbulence modeling errors.

Schiff, L. B.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Determinations of SIII, OIV and NeV abundances in planetary nebulae from IR lines

Airborne observations of the infrared forbidden lines (SIII) 18.71 microns, (NeV) 24.28 microns and (OIV) 25.87 microns were made for twelve planetary nebulae. One or more of the lines was detected in seven of these nebulae and ionic abundances were calculated. These results are insensitive to nebula temperatures, in contrast to the case for optical or UV lines. However, density estimates from optical and UV forbidden lines were required to obtain abundances. The NeV infrared line flux from NGC 7662 was combined with the 3426A flux to obtain a NeV electron temperature of 11,200 (+2000, - 1100) K, which overlaps OIII temperature measurements. Since the ionization potential of NeIV is much greater than that of OII, T sub e (NeV) would be expected to be much greater than T sub e (OIII). In fact, numerical models predict T sub e (NeV) (16-20) x 1000 K. This discrepancy may indicate inaccuracies in currently available atomic parameters for NeV.

Shure, M. A.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Boundary layers in cataclysmic variables: The HEAO-1 X-ray constraints

The predictions of the boundary layer model for the X-ray emission from novae are summarized. A discrepancy between observations and theory in the X-ray observations is found. Constraints on the nature of the boundary layers in novae, based on the lack of detections of novae in the HEAO-1 soft X-ray survey are provided. Temperature and column densities for optically thick boundary layers in novae are estimated.

Jensen, K. A.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Thickness of Saturn's rings inferred from Voyager 1 observations of microwave scatter

Earth-based telescopic observations indicate that Saturn's rings are about 1 kilometer thick, while spacecraft measurements and theoretical considerations give an upper bound of about 100 meters. Analysis of a shielding effect present in radio occultation provides a sensitive new measure of the ring thickness. On the basis of this effect, Voyager 1 microwave measurements of near-forward scatter imply a thickness ranging from less than 10 meters in ring C to about 20 and 50 meters in the Cassini division and ring A, respectively. Monolayer models do not fit the observations in the latter two regions. The discrepancy between the earth-based and spacecraft measurements may be due to warps in the ring plane or effects of tenuous material outside the primary ring system.

Zebker, H. A.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Boundary layers in cataclysmic variables - The HEAO 1 X-ray constraints

Jensen, K. A.↗

NASA NTRS1988

In-flight radiometric calibration of the Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS)

A reflectance-based method was used to provide an analysis of the in-flight radiometric performance of AVIRIS. Field spectral reflectance measurements of the surface and extinction measurements of the atmosphere using solar radiation were used as input to atmospheric radiative transfer calculations. Five separate codes were used in the analysis. Four include multiple scattering, and the computed radiances from these for flight conditions were in good agreement. Code-generated radiances were compared with AVIRIS-predicted radiances based on two laboratory calibrations (pre- and post-season of flight) for a uniform highly reflecting natural dry lake target. For one spectrometer (C), the pre- and post-season calibration factors were found to give identical results, and to be in agreement with the atmospheric models that include multiple scattering. This positive result validates the field and laboratory calibration technique. Results for the other spectrometers (A, B and D) were widely at variance with the models no matter which calibration factors were used. Potential causes of these discrepancies are discussed.

Conel, James E.↗

NASA NTRS1988

In-flight radiometric calibration of the airborne visible/infrared imaging spectrometer (AVIRIS)

A reflectance-based method was used to provide an analysis of the in-flight radiometric performance of AVIRIS. Field spectral reflectance measurements of the surface and extinction measurements of the atmosphere using solar radiation were used as input to atmospheric radiative transfer calculations. Five separate codes were used in the analysis. Four include multiple scattering, and the computed radiances from these for flight conditions were in good agreement. Code-generated radiances were compared with AVIRIS-predicted radiances based on two laboratory calibrations for a uniform highly reflecting natural dry lake target. For one spectrometer, the pre- and post-season calibration factors were found to give identical results, and to be in agreement with the atmospheric models that include multiple scattering. Results for the other spectrometers were widely at variance with the models no matter which calibration factors were used. Potential causes of these discrepancies are discussed.

Conel, James E.↗

NASA NTRS1988

An empirical investigation of the InP shallow-homojunction solar cell

An experimental study of the performance of epitaxially grown InP shallow-homojunction solar cells as a function of the thickness and carrier concentration in the base and emitter layers is presented. Identification of improvements to cell design leading to higher performance is emphasized. As a result, using a near-optimum set of design parameters, cells with conversion efficiencies of 20.3 percent (global) and 17.6 percent (AM0) have been achieved. For such cells, it is shown that the internal response of the base layer is essentially perfect, whereas the emitter-layer properties can be improved substantially and warrant further investigation. Discrepancies between the results of the present study and those of earlier modeling efforts are discussed.

Wanlass, M. W.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Natural convection in binary gases driven by combined horizontal thermal and vertical solutal gradients

An investigation of natural convection is presented to examine the influence of a horizontal temperature gradient and a concentration gradient occurring from the bottom to the cold wall in a cavity. As the solutal buoyancy force changes from augmenting to opposing the thermal buoyancy force, the fluid motion switches from unicellular to multicellular flow (fluid motion is up the cold wall and down the hot wall for the bottom counterrotating flow cell). Qualitatively, the agreement between predicted streamlines and smoke flow patterns is generally good. In contrast, agreement between measured and predicted temperature and concentration distributions ranges from fair to poor. Part of the discrepancy can be attributed to experimental error. However, there remains considerable discrepancy between data and predictions due to the idealizations of the mathematical model, which examines only first-order physical effects. An unsteady flow, variable thermophysical properties, conjugate effects, species interdiffusion, and radiation were not accounted for in the model.

Weaver, J. A.↗

NASA NTRS2003

Numerical and Experimental Investigation of the Turbulent Flow in a Ribbed Serpentine Passage

In this paper, the turbulent flow in a serpentine with oblique ribs is investigated experimentally and by numerical simulations. The measurements are carried out by using Magnetic Resonance Velocimetry (MRV) and the simulations using the Immersed Boundary (IB) technique. A brief description of these two approaches is reported in following sections. The results are reported in terms of velocity distributions in various planes in the serpentine; differences between measurements and simulations are presented qualitatively and quantitatively. The study of the discrepancy allows us to identify areas of needed improvements in the turbulence modeling.

Iaccarino, Gianluca↗

NASA NTRS2022

L1 Adaptive Control with Switched Reference Models: Application to Learn-to-Fly

Learn-to-Fly (L2F) is a new framework that aims to replace the traditional iterative development paradigm for aerial vehicles with a combination of real-time aerodynamic modeling, guidance, and learning control. To ensure safe learning of the vehicle dynamics on the fly, this paper presents an L1 adaptive control (L1AC) based scheme, which actively estimates and compensates for the discrepancy between the intermediately learned dynamics and the actual dynamics. First, to incorporate the periodic update of the learned model within the L2F framework, this paper extends the L1AC architecture to handle a switched reference system subject to unknown time-varying parameters and disturbances. The paper also includes analysis of both transient and steady-state performance of the L1AC architecture in the presence of non-zero initialization error for the state predictor. Second, the paper presents how the proposed L1AC scheme is integrated into the L2F framework, including its interaction with the baseline controller and the real-time modeling module. Finally, flight tests on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) validate the efficacy of the proposed control and learning scheme.

Steven Snyder↗

DOE OSTI2019

Recent DIII-D advances in runaway electron measurement and model validation

Novel measurements and modeling of runaway electron (RE) dynamics in DIII-D have resolved experimental discrepancies and validated predictions for ITER, improving confidence that RE avoidance and mitigation can be predictably achieved. Considering RE formation, first experimental assessments of the RE seed current demonstrates that present hot-tail theories are not yet accurate and require improved treatment of the pellet dynamics. Novel measurements of kinetic instabilities in the MHz-range have been made in the RE formation phase, with the intensity of these modes correlated with previously unexplained empirical thresholds for RE generation. Controlled RE dissipation experiments in quiescent regimes have validated RE distribution function dependencies on collisional and synchrotron damping, both in terms of distribution function shape and dissipation rates. Measurements of RE bremsstrahlung and synchrotron emission are now used in tandem to resolve energy and pitch-angle effects. A resolution to long-standing dissipation anomalies in the quiescent regime is offered by taking into account kinetic instability effects on RE phase-space dynamics. Kinetic instabilities in the 100–200 MHz range are directly observed, though modeling finds the largest dissipation arises from GHz range instabilities that are beyond the reach of existing diagnostics. Kinetic instabilities are also observed in the mature post-disruption RE plateau phase, so long as the collisional damping rate is reduced with low-Z injection. Experiments with high-Z injection find that the dissipation rate saturates with injection quantity, likely due to neutral diffusion rates being slower than vertical instability rates in DIII-D. Considering the final loss, a 0D model for first-wall Joule heating is found to be in agreement with experiment, and controlled access to RE equilibria with edge safety factor of two identifies novel dynamics brought about by large-scale kink instabilities. These dynamics are typified by fast (tens of microseconds) RE loss rates without RE beam regeneration. The above measurements and comparison with theory represent significant advances in the understanding of RE dynamics and indicate possible new opportunities for RE avoidance or mitigation via kinetic instabilities.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2024

A chemo-mechanical model for describing sorption hysteresis in a glassy polyurethane

Abstract Hysteretic sorption and desorption of water is observed from 0 to 95% relative humidity and 298–333 K on a glassy polyurethane foam. It is postulated that sorption-induced swelling of the glassy polyurethane increases the concentration of accessible hydrogen-bonding adsorption sites for water. The accessibility of sites is kinetically controlled due to the restricted thermal motions of chains in the glassy polymer, causing a difference in accessible site concentrations during sorption and desorption. This discrepancy leads to hysteresis in the sorbed concentrations of water. A coupled chemo-mechanical model relating volumetric strain, adsorption site concentration, and sorbed water concentration is employed to describe water sorption hysteresis in the glassy polyurethane. This model not only describes the final mass uptake for each relative humidity step, but also captures the dynamics of water uptake, which exhibit diffusion and relaxation rate-controlled regimes.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2019

Evaluation of global simulations of aerosol particle and cloud condensation nuclei number, with implications for cloud droplet formation

A total of 16 global chemistry transport models and general circulation models have participated in this study; 14 model shave been evaluated with regard to their ability to reproduce the near-surface observed number concentration of aerosol particles and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN), as well as derived cloud droplet number concentration (CDNC). Model results for the period 2011–2015 are compared with aerosol measurements(aerosol particle number, CCN and aerosol particle composition in the submicron fraction) from nine surface stations located in Europe and Japan.The evaluation focuses on the ability of models to simulate the average across time state in diverse environments and on the seasonal andshort-term variability in the aerosol properties. There is no single model that systematically performs best across all environments represented by the observations. Models tend to underestimate the observed aerosol particle and CCN number concentrations, with average normalized mean bias (NMB) of all models and for all stations, where dataare available, of –24% and –35% for particles with dry diameters <50 and <120 nm, as well as –36% and –34% for CCNat supersaturations of 0.2% and 1.0%, respectively. Yet, they seem to behave differently for particles activating at very low supersaturations (<0.1%) than at higher ones. A total of 15 models have been used to produce ensemble annual median distributions of relevant parameters. The model diversity (defined as the ratio of standard deviation to mean) is up to about 3 for simulated N 3 (number concentration of particles with dry diameters larger than 3 nm) and up to about 1 for simulated CCN in the extra-polar regions. A global mean reduction of a factor of about 2 is found in the model diversity for CCN at a supersaturation of 0.2% (CCN 0.2 ) compared to that for N 3 , maximizing over regions where new particle formation is important. An additional model has been used to investigate potential causes of model diversity in CCN and bias compared to the observations by performing a perturbed parameter ensemble (PPE) accounting for uncertainties in 26 aerosol-related model input parameters. This PPE suggests that biogenic secondary organic aerosol formation and the hygroscopic properties of the organic material are likely to be the major sources of CCN uncertainty in summer, with dry deposition and cloud processing being dominant in winter. Models capture the relative amplitude of the seasonal variability of the aerosol particle number concentration for all studied particle sizes with available observations (dry diameters larger than 50, 80 and 120 nm). The short-term persistence time (on the order of a few days) of CCN concentrations, which is a measure of aerosol dynamic behavior in the models, is underestimated o naverage by the models by 40% during winter and 20% in summer. In contrast to the large spread in simulated aerosol particle and CCN number concentrations, the CDNC derived from simulated CCN spectra is less diverse and in better agreement with CDNC estimates consistently derived from the observations (average NMB –13% and –22% for updraft velocities 0.3 and 0.6m s –1 , respectively). In addition, simulated CDNC is in slightly better agreement with observationally derived values at lower than at higher updraft velocities (index of agreement 0.64 vs. 0.65). The reduced spread of CDNC compared to that of CCN is attributed to the sublinear response of CDNC to aerosol particle number variations and the negative correlation between the sensitivities of CDNC to aerosol particle number concentration( ∂ N d / ∂ N a ) and to updraft velocity ( ∂ N d / ∂ w ). Overall, we find that while CCN is controlled by both aerosol particle number and composition, CDNC is sensitive to CCN at low and moderate CCN concentrations and to the updraft velocity when CCN levels are high. Discrepancies are found in sensitivities ∂ N d / ∂ N a and ∂ N d / ∂ w ; models may be predisposed to be too“aerosol sensitive” or “aerosol insensitive” in aerosol–cloud–climate interaction studies, even if they may capture average droplet numbers well.This is a subtle but profound finding that only the sensitivities can clearly reveal and may explain inter-model biases on the aerosol indirect effect.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2022

Initial study on cross-section generation requirements for a PBR equilibrium core

A Serpent model of the equilibrium core HTR-PM small modular nuclear reactor in China, was developed for use in cross-section preparation studies in order to guide methods development for the Griffin reactor multiphysics application. The model includes detailed isotopics for 10 distinct pebble burnup groups in 126 core zones with unique fuel and moderator temperatures obtained from a coupled neutronics-thermal-fluids equilibrium core calculation using Griffin-Pronghorn. A sensitivity study of the fuel and moderator temperatures for various core regions was performed with the MOOSE stochastic tools. The results show that the uncertainties are, not unexpectedly, dominated by the value of the fluid temperature and that the power level, heat transfer coefficient and effective conduction to neighboring pebbles and fluid constitute, at best, second order effects. The temperature uncertainty range varies from 28 K to 57 K between the core entry and exit planes, respectively, but these values are probably higher. We still have to quantify the significance of these uncertainties in the preparation of cross-sections in future work. In addition, we verified that the effective pebble approximation used in the PEBBED and V.S.O.P. computer codes works well for the preparation of region averaged cross-sections. Nevertheless, there are some discrepancies in the cross-sections when compared to the multi-pebble model, which could affect the prediction of peak values and the depletion calculation. We conclude that is highly desirable for future studies with Griffin to be able to handle both the 'effective' pebble approximation and the multi-pebble approach for various pebble burnup groups. This enables Griffin users with the flexibility to perform higher-fidelity studies. Finally, we initiated the preparation of cross-sections for various core regions from the full core Serpent reference model. We quantified the differences in 26 group cross-sections from infinite domain models versus the full core approach. These reference cross-sections will serve to verify the double heterogeneity, self-shielding, and spectrum-correction methods in Griffin. (authors)

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

DOE OSTI2020

Spring 2020 Dissertation Update [Slides]

An update is provided on the dissertation underway and what has been learned thus far. Work thus far: Developed analytic models for each region in the spent fuel cask – Used to identify and explain physical processes which create features in detailed casks; Developed simplified computational models to identify details not seen in analytic models; SC were calculated in the fuel region; The difference in SC’s between the analytic model and the simplified computational model were identified. Outstanding issues: Analysis of analytic models in stainless steel and carbon steel – These materials are thin and have few features (just the slope); Discrepancies between absorption SC’s in fuel; Create a test problem to show the effects of the high energy resonances in the fuel region. Future Work: Sensitivity analysis needs to be continued through the cask – The detailed model will be added to the remaining materials; Sensitivity analysis paper; and, Addressing outstanding issues.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

DOE OSTI2025

Optimization of spray breakup model parameters for predicting fuel spray and film characteristics in gasoline direct injection engines

This study investigated the behavior of gasoline direct injection (GDI) sprays using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The authors developed an approach to identify optimal spray breakup model parameters by evaluating an error function across numerous simulations, with the goal of minimizing discrepancies from experimental data. Using the optimal setup, the simulated spray matched well with projected liquid volume distributions, liquid penetration, and spray width measured in a constant-pressure continuous-flow chamber. To further validate the approach, the same setup was tested across various fuels, injectors, and operating conditions. Subsequently, the optimal setup, along with a recently developed spray-wall interaction model, were applied to a direct-injection spark-ignited engine under late-injection conditions to predict and evaluate fuel film formation and evolution at varying engine coolant temperatures. Here, with the centrally mounted injector directing the spray toward the piston, simulations indicated that the spray tends to impinge on the piston surface. The proposed simulation framework also accurately captured the aggregate film area on the piston surface, aligning with previously published experimental results. Moreover, simulations showed that increasing the coolant temperature from cold start conditions (333 K) to warm conditions (363 K) reduced the fuel mass deposited on the piston by roughly 50%. Furthermore, for the spray-guided engine configuration studied in this work, the CFD model predicted minimal film deposition on the spark plug electrodes regardless of the coolant temperatures due to a relatively weak in-cylinder flow during the compression phase.

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD)↗

NASA NTRS1985

Broad emission features in QSOs and active galactic nuclei. II - New observations and theory of Fe II and H I emission

Seven QSOs of low to intermediate redshift are characterized on the basis of: 320-850-nm spectra obtained with the UVITS spectrograph and image-dissector scanner at the f/9 Cassegrain focus of the 2.7-m reflecting telescope at McDonald Observatory; improved model calculations for the Fe II, Mg II, and Balmer lines and the Balmer continuum; and the theoretical results of Netzer and Wills (1983). The data are presented in tables, spectra, and difference spectra and described in detail. Fe II is found to be the largest contributor to the emission line spectrum, with strong UV Fe II lines in all QSOs (regardless of the strength of the optical Fe II lines) and an abundance ratio suggesting a factor-of-three overabundance of Fe relative to Mg and probably H. A discrepancy between the observed Fe II strength and the predictions of dustless standard photoionization models is noted, and the addition of a high-density component to the models is suggested.

Wills, B. J.↗