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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 163 records · Page 9

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NASA NTRS1992

Modeling the land surface boundary in climate models as a composite of independent vegetation stands

An efficient strategy for modeling the land surface boundary in general circulation models (GCMs) is presented which accounts for the effects of vegetation on surface energy fluxes and allows for an arbitrary number of vegetation types to coexist in a grid square. The GCM grid square is depicted as a 'mosaic' of vegetation 'tiles', with each tile consisting of a single vegetation type. The energy balance equation for each tile follows closely that of a single vegetation version of the simple biosphere (SiB) model of Sellers et al. (1986) but is simplified enough to be written in Penman-Monteith form. Each tile in the square is coupled independently to the GCM atmosphere, and tiles affect each other only through the atmosphere. This coupling strategy differs conceptually from that of models such as SiB that assume a homogeneous mixture of vegetation types within a GCM grid square. A quantitative comparison of the two strategies is presented.

Koster, Randal D.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Solar house system interfaced with the power utility grid

Photovoltaic cells may be used to convert sunlight directly into electrical energy and into low-grade heat to be used for large scale terrestrial solar energy conversion. Both forms of energy can be utilized if such cells are deployed in close proximity to the consumer (rooftop). CdS/Cu2S solar cells are an example of cells which may be produced inexpensively enough to become economically attractive. Cell parameters relevant for combined solar conversion are presented. Critical issues, such as production yield, life expectancy, stability of performance, are discussed. Systems design parameters related to operating temperatures are analyzed. First results obtained on Solar One, the experimental solar house of the University of Delaware, are given. Economic aspects are discussed.

Boeer, K. W.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Fabricating Sub-Collimating Grids for an X-Ray Solar Imaging Spectrometer Using LIGA Techniques

A proposed NASA mission uses a High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (HESSI) to image solar X-rays. The HESSI instrument consists of twelve rotating pairs of high aspect ratio, high Z grids, each pair of which is separated by 1.7 meters and backed by a single Ge detector. Discussed are the fabrication of these proof-of-concept sub-collimating X-ray grids which are to be used in HESSI.

solar↗

NASA NTRS1987

Neutral atomic oxygen beam produced by ion charge exchange for Low Earth Orbital (LEO) simulation

A low energy neutral atomic oxygen beam system was designed and is currently being assembled at the Lewis Research Center. The system utilizes a 15 cm diameter Kaufman ion source to produce positive oxygen ions which are charge exchange neutralized to produce low energy (variable from 5 to 150 eV) oxygen atoms at a flux simulating real time low Earth orbital conditions. An electromagnet is used to direct only the singly charged oxygen ions from the ion source into the charge exchange cell. A retarding potential grid is used to slow down the oxygen ions to desired energies prior to their charge exchange. Cryogenically cooled diatomic oxygen gas in the charge exchange cell is then used to transfer charge to the oxygen ions to produce a neutral atomic oxygen beam. Remaining non-charge exchanged oxygen ions are then swept from the beam by electromagnetic or electrostatic deflection depending upon the desired experiment configuration. The resulting neutral oxygen beam of 5 to 10 cm in diameter impinges upon target materials within a sample holder fixture that can also provide for simultaneous heating and UV exposure during the atomic oxygen bombardment.

Banks, Bruce↗

NASA NTRS2008

Calculations of High-Temperature Jet Flow Using Hybrid Reynolds-Average Navier-Stokes Formulations

Two multiscale-type turbulence models are implemented in the PAB3D solver. The models are based on modifying the Reynolds-averaged Navier Stokes equations. The first scheme is a hybrid Reynolds-averaged- Navier Stokes/large-eddy-simulation model using the two-equation k(epsilon) model with a Reynolds-averaged-Navier Stokes/large-eddy-simulation transition function dependent on grid spacing and the computed turbulence length scale. The second scheme is a modified version of the partially averaged Navier Stokes model in which the unresolved kinetic energy parameter f(sub k) is allowed to vary as a function of grid spacing and the turbulence length scale. This parameter is estimated based on a novel two-stage procedure to efficiently estimate the level of scale resolution possible for a given flow on a given grid for partially averaged Navier Stokes. It has been found that the prescribed scale resolution can play a major role in obtaining accurate flow solutions. The parameter f(sub k) varies between zero and one and is equal to one in the viscous sublayer and when the Reynolds-averaged Navier Stokes turbulent viscosity becomes smaller than the large-eddy-simulation viscosity. The formulation, usage methodology, and validation examples are presented to demonstrate the enhancement of PAB3D's time-accurate turbulence modeling capabilities. The accurate simulations of flow and turbulent quantities will provide a valuable tool for accurate jet noise predictions. Solutions from these models are compared with Reynolds-averaged Navier Stokes results and experimental data for high-temperature jet flows. The current results show promise for the capability of hybrid Reynolds-averaged Navier Stokes and large eddy simulation and partially averaged Navier Stokes in simulating such flow phenomena.

Abdol-Hamid, Khaled S.↗

NASA NTRS2004

Numerical Study of Flow Past a Circular Cylinder Using RANS, Hybrid RANS/LES and PANS Formulations

Two multiscale type turbulence models are implemented in the PAB3D solver. The models are based on modifying the Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations. The first scheme is a hybrid RANS/LES model utilizing the two-equation (k(sub epsilon)) model with a RANS/LES transition function dependent on grid spacing and the computed turbulence length scale. The second scheme is a modified version of the partially averaged Navier-Stokes (PANS) model, where the unresolved kinetic energy parameter (f(sub k)) is allowed to vary as a function of grid spacing and the turbulence length scale. Solutions from these models are compared to RANS results and experimental data for a stationary and rotating cylinder. The parameter f(sub k) varies between zero and one and has the characteristic to be equal to one in the viscous sub layer, and when the RANS turbulent viscosity becomes smaller than the LES viscosity. The formulation, usage methodology, and validation example are presented to demonstrate the enhancement of PAB3D's time-accurate and turbulence modeling capabilities. The models are compared to RANS results and experimental data for turbulent separated flows (TS) and laminar separated flows (LS) around stationary and rotating cylinders. For a stationary cylinder, the TS case is accurately simulated using the general two-equation k(sub epsilon) turbulence model (eddy-viscosity model). PAB3D accurately predicts the drag coefficient (CD), lift coefficient (CL) and the Strouhal number (St). The LS case was a challenge for the RANS computation with an eddy-viscosity turbulence model. The RANS/LES and PANS performed well and showed marked improvements over the RANS solution. The modified PANS model was the most accurate. For the rotating cylinder, the spin ratio varied from zero to one, and the PANS results were in good agreement with published experimental data. RANS/LES and PANS capture both temporal and spatial fluctuations and produce large-scale structures that do not occur in the RANS simulation. The current results show promise for the capability of PANS in simulating unsteady and complex flow phenomena.

Elmiligui, Alaa A.↗

NASA NTRS2005

Numerical Study of High-Temperature Jet Flow Using RANS/LES and PANS Formulations

Two multi-scale-type turbulence models are implemented in the PAB3D solver. The models are based on modifying the Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations. The first scheme is a hybrid RANS/LES model utilizing the two-equation (k(epsilon)) model with a RANS/LES transition function dependent on grid spacing and the computed turbulence length scale. The second scheme is a modified version of the Partially Averaged Navier-Stokes (PANS) model, where the unresolved kinetic energy parameter (f(sub k)) is allowed to vary as a function of grid spacing and the turbulence length scale. This parameter is estimated based on a novel two-stage procedure to efficiently estimate the level of scale resolution possible for a given flow on a given grid for Partial Averaged Navier-Stokes (PANS). It has been found that the prescribed scale resolution can play a major role in obtaining accurate flow solutions. The parameter f(sub k) varies between zero and one and equal to one in the viscous sub layer, and when the RANS turbulent viscosity becomes smaller than the LES viscosity. The formulation, usage methodology, and validation examples are presented to demonstrate the enhancement of PAB3D's time-accurate and turbulence modeling capabilities. The accurate simulations of flow and turbulent quantities will provide valuable tool for accurate jet noise predictions. Solutions from these models are compared to RANS results and experimental data for high-temperature jet flows. The current results show promise for the capability of hybrid RANS/LES and PANS in simulating such flow phenomena.

Abdol-Hamid, Khaled S.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Performance of an Array of 6 X 6 X 20 mm3 Virtual Frisch-Grid CdZnTe Detectors With A Waveform Sampling Readout System

Arrays of CdZnTe (CZT) bars with high spatial and energy resolution are an enabling technology for future space missions, such as the image plane detector of the Galactic Explorer with a Coded Aperture Mask Compton Telescope (GECCO). GECCO will explore the medium-energy (100 keV – 10 MeV) gamma-ray sky, which is among the least covered windows to the Universe with a massive potential for discovery. We have integrated an array of 6x6x20 mm3 virtual Frisch-grid (VFG) CZT detectors, measuring signals from the cathodes, anodes, and pads on each of the four sides of each bar. The VFG CZT detector is read out with an IDEAS GDS-100 waveform sampling readout system to optimize the signal processing and event reconstruction. We evaluated the energy and position resolution of the integrated VFG CZT array with a 137Cs source and successfully demonstrated better than 1% energy resolution and finer than 1 mm position resolution at 662 keV. Furthermore, we carried out a beam test at the High Intensity Gamma-ray Source (HIGS) at Duke University to investigate the performance of the system for higher energy gamma-rays. Together with the basic performance obtained from the 137Cs source, we present here those results from the beam test with various gamma-ray energies up to 8 MeV.

Makoto Sasaki↗

NASA NTRS1999

A Comparison of FIFE Observation with GEOS Assimilated Data Including a Heterogeneous LSM

Several recent studies have shown that much can be learned by comparing grid-point data from a data assimilation system with in-situ observations from field experiments. While the surface heterogeneity is acknowledged in these studies, they lack quantitative representations of the influence of heterogeneity on the near-surface meteorology and surface hydrologic and energy balance. Here, we use the Betts and Ball FIFE site-averaged data. Standard deviations of the site-average will provide an estimate of the FIFE site heterogeneity. Recently, the Mosaic Land-Surface Model (LSM) has been incorporated into the Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) Data Assimilation System (DAS). The Mosaic LSM computes the surface energy and hydrologic balance for nine distinct surface types at each grid-point. Each surface type is proportionally weighted to determine the mean grid point properties. Hence, we can compare modeled and observed grid-point variability in addition to the mean properties. Also, assimilated data sets created with and without the LSM are compared. The results indicate the importance of including quantitative estimates of heterogeneity in the analysis of the land surface hydrology and energy balances in assimilation systems.

Bosilovich, M.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Thermocapillary motion of deformable drops

The thermocapillary motion of initially spherical drops/bubbles driven by a constant temperature gradient in an unbounded liquid medium is simulated numerically. Effects of convection of momentum and energy, as well as shape deformations, are addressed. The method used is based on interface tracking on a base cartesian grid, and uses a smeared color or indicator function for the determination of the surface topology. Quad-tree adaptive refinement of the cartesian grid is implemented to enhance the fidelity of the surface tracking. It is shown that convection of energy results in a slowing of the drop, as the isotherms get wrapped around the front of the drop. Shape deformation resulting from inertial effects affect the migration velocity. The physical results obtained are in agreement with the existing literature. Furthermore, remarks are made on the sensitivity of the calculated solutions to the smearing of the fluid properties. Analysis and simulations show that the migration velocity depends very strongly on the smearing of the interfacial force whereas it is rather insensitive to the smearing of other properties, hence the adaptive grid.

Haj-Hariri, Hossein↗

NASA NTRS1988

Numerical modeling of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) in a horizontal reactor

In the present numerical prediction of the deposition rate of silicon from silane in a CVD process, the conservation equations for mass, momentum, energy, and chemical species are solved on a staggered grid using the SIMPLE algorithm, while the rate of chemical reactions in the gas phase and on the susceptor surface is obtained from an Arrhenius rate equation. Predicted deposition rates as a function of position along the susceptor with and without the gas phase chemical reaction are compared with the available experimental and numerical data; agreement is excellent except at the leading edge of the susceptor, where the deposition rate is overpredicted.

Sheikholeslami, M. Z.↗

NASA NTRS2001

Coarse Grid Modeling of Turbine Film Cooling Flows Using Volumetric Source Terms

The recent trend in numerical modeling of turbine film cooling flows has been toward higher fidelity grids and more complex geometries. This trend has been enabled by the rapid increase in computing power available to researchers. However, the turbine design community requires fast turnaround time in its design computations, rendering these comprehensive simulations ineffective in the design cycle. The present study describes a methodology for implementing a volumetric source term distribution in a coarse grid calculation that can model the small-scale and three-dimensional effects present in turbine film cooling flows. This model could be implemented in turbine design codes or in multistage turbomachinery codes such as APNASA, where the computational grid size may be larger than the film hole size. Detailed computations of a single row of 35 deg round holes on a flat plate have been obtained for blowing ratios of 0.5, 0.8, and 1.0, and density ratios of 1.0 and 2.0 using a multiblock grid system to resolve the flows on both sides of the plate as well as inside the hole itself. These detailed flow fields were spatially averaged to generate a field of volumetric source terms for each conservative flow variable. Solutions were also obtained using three coarse grids having streamwise and spanwise grid spacings of 3d, 1d, and d/3. These coarse grid solutions used the integrated hole exit mass, momentum, energy, and turbulence quantities from the detailed solutions as volumetric source terms. It is shown that a uniform source term addition over a distance from the wall on the order of the hole diameter is able to predict adiabatic film effectiveness better than a near-wall source term model, while strictly enforcing correct values of integrated boundary layer quantities.

Heidmann, James D.↗

NASA NTRS1998

Terrestrial Energy Storage SPS Systems

Terrestrial energy storage systems for the SSP system were evaluated that could maintain the 1.2 GW power level during periods of brief outages from the solar powered satellite (SPS). Short-term outages of ten minutes and long-term outages up to four hours have been identified as "typical" cases where the ground-based energy storage system would be required to supply power to the grid. These brief interruptions in transmission could result from performing maintenance on the solar power satellite or from safety considerations necessitating the power beam be turned off. For example, one situation would be to allow for the safe passage of airplanes through the space occupied by the beam. Under these conditions, the energy storage system needs to be capable of storing 200 MW-hrs and 4.8 GW-hrs, respectively. The types of energy storage systems to be considered include compressed air energy storage, inertial energy storage, electrochemical energy storage, superconducting magnetic energy storage, and pumped hydro energy storage. For each of these technologies, the state-of-the-art in terms of energy and power densities were identified as well as the potential for scaling to the size systems required by the SSP system. Other issues addressed included the performance, life expectancy, cost, and necessary infrastructure and site locations for the various storage technologies.

Brandhorst, Henry W., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Simulating fluxes from heterogeneous land surfaces: Explicit subgrid method employing the biosphere-atmosphere transfer scheme (BATS)

A vectorized version of the biosphere-atmosphere transfer scheme (VBATS) is used to study moisture, energy, and momentum fluxes from heterogeneous land surfaces st the scale of an atmospheric model (AM) grid cells. To incorporate subgrid scale inhomogeneity, VBATS includes two important features: (1) characterization of the land surface (vegetation and soil parameters) at N subgrid points within an AM grid cell and (2) explicit distribution of climate forcing (precipitation, clouds, etc.) over the subgrid. In this study, VBATS is used in stand-alone mode to simulate a single AM grid cell and to evaluate the effects of subgrid scale vegetation and climate specification on the surface fluxes and hydrology. It is found that the partitioning of energy can be affected by up to 30%, runoff by 50%, and surface stress in excess of 60%. Distributing climate forcing over the AM grid cell increases the Bowen ratio, as a result of enhanced sensible heat flux and reduced latent heat flux. The combined effect of heterogeneous vegetation and distribution of climate is found to be dependent on the dominat vegetation class in the AM grid cell. Development of this method is part of a larger program to explore the importance of subgrid scale processes in regional and global climate simulations.

Seth, Anji↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Energy-Optimized Path Planning for Uas in Varying Winds Via Reinforcement Learning

In this paper we propose a reinforcement learning (RL) algorithm for path planning of Unmanned Aviation Vehicles (UAVs) under varying wind conditions. Solutions to UAV path planning problems are becoming increasingly necessary as autonomous UAVs continue to enter commercial and government spaces. Path-planning is inherently challenging, as UAVs need to account for dynamically changing flying conditions such as weather, obstacle or no-fly zones, degraded vehicle health, and off-nominal battery power consumption. Machine learning methods such as reinforcement learning (RL) have the potential to revolutionize how vehicles navigate in such uncertain environments. In this study, we compute UAV trajectories from a pre-determined starting position to a target cell within a 7X7 grid environment by optimizing parameters for mission assurance and safety limits in addition to the energy consumption and operation time. The UAV navigates the grid by taking actions to move in any of the eight cardinal and inter-cardinal directions, under constant thrust profile. The resultant UAV state is sampled from a probability distribution which accounts for the UAV’s action, local wind velocity, and the presence of obstacles or boundaries. As the unmanned airspace gets more complex due to multiple vehicles and environmental uncertainties, trade-offs between energy consumption, operation time, risk tolerance, and mission assurance need to be made. Our Markov Decision Process (MDP) environment model can capture any combination of these in the optimization objective, making it novel compared to other work in the field.

trajectory planning↗

NASA NTRS1981

On the effect of high latitude filtering in global grid point models

The application of various Fourier filtering techniques in a coarse resolution grid point model and the poor simulation of the nonlinear effects responsible for change in the mean zonal flow is discussed. The poor simulation results in spurious energy and momentum transfers. An operational filter, a second order filter on a staggered grid, a fourth order filter on a nonstaggered grid, and a biharmonic diffusion filter were considered.

Takacs, L. L.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Shock effects from a large impact on the moon

The paper calculates the shock and shear deformation-induced internal energy distribution associated with a major basin-forming hypervelocity meteorite impact on the moon. The Hageman and Walsh formulation of the axisymmetric two-dimensional conservation equations in finite difference form is used, and the flow field induced upon impact of an iron meteorite traveling at 15 km/sec with a gabbroic anorthosite lunar crust is calculated for sequential time steps over a grid of hoop-shaped zones fixed in space. If an energy of 5 times 10 to the 32nd power ergs for the projectile energy is required to excavate a basin of Imbrium size, than a flow field of approximately 210 km in radius approximately 19 seconds after impact is indicated. The meteorite residue, the melt, and the ejecta are discussed, and the results are compared with the Gault and Heitowit (1963) formulation.

Okeefe, J. D.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Regional and seasonal estimates of fractional storm coverage based on station precipitation observations

Simulated climates using numerical atmospheric general circulation models (GCMs) have been shown to be highly sensitive to the fraction of GCM grid area assumed to be wetted during rain events. The model hydrologic cycle and land-surface water and energy balance are influenced by the parameter bar-kappa, which is the dimensionless fractional wetted area for GCM grids. Hourly precipitation records for over 1700 precipitation stations within the contiguous United States are used to obtain observation-based estimates of fractional wetting that exhibit regional and seasonal variations. The spatial parameter bar-kappa is estimated from the temporal raingauge data using conditional probability relations. Monthly bar-kappa values are estimated for rectangular grid areas over the contiguous United States as defined by the Goddard Institute for Space Studies 4 deg x 5 deg GCM. A bias in the estimates is evident due to the unavoidably sparse raingauge network density, which causes some storms to go undetected by the network. This bias is corrected by deriving the probability of a storm escaping detection by the network. A Monte Carlo simulation study is also conducted that consists of synthetically generated storm arrivals over an artificial grid area. It is used to confirm the bar-kappa estimation procedure and to test the nature of the bias and its correction. These monthly fractional wetting estimates, based on the analysis of station precipitation data, provide an observational basis for assigning the influential parameter bar-kappa in GCM land-surface hydrology parameterizations.

Gong, Gavin↗