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DOE OSTI2024

Shock tube experiments on the three-layer Richtmyer–Meshkov instability

Here, a vertical shock tube is used for experiments on the three-layer Richtmyer–Meshkov instability. Two closely spaced membrane-less interfaces are formed by the flow of two different sects of three gases: one with air above CO 2 above SF 6 and the other with helium above air above SF 6 . The lightest of the three gases enters the shock tube at the top of the driven section and flows downward. Conversely, the heaviest gas enters at the bottom of the shock tube and flows upward while the intermediate density gas enters at the middle through porous plates. All three gases are allowed to escape through holes at the layer location, leaving an approximately 30-mm layer of intermediate-density gas suspended between the lightest gas from above and the heaviest gas from below. A single-mode, two-dimensional initial perturbation is then imposed on the lower interface by oscillating the shock tube in the horizontal direction. The flow is visualized by seeding the intermediate gas with particles and illuminating it with a pulsed laser. Image sequences are then captured using high-speed video cameras. Perturbation amplitude measurements are made from the three-layer system and compared with measurements from 2, two-layer systems. It is observed that the presence of the upper, initially flat interface produces a decrease in growth of instability amplitude in the nonlinear phase over an equivalent single-interface configuration.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2024

Saturation of fishbone instability through zonal flows driven by energetic particle transport in tokamak plasmas

Gyrokinetic and kinetic-MHD simulations are performed for the fishbone instability in the DIII-D discharge #178631, chosen for validation of first-principles simulations to predict the energetic particle (EP) transport in an ITER prefusion baseline scenario. Fishbone modes are found to generate zonal flows, which dominate the fishbone saturation. The underlying mechanisms of the two-way fishbone-zonal flows nonlinear interplay are discussed in details. Numerical and analytical analyses identify the fishbone-induced EP redistribution as the dominant generation mechanism for zonal flows. The zonal flows modify the nonlinear dynamics of phase space zonal structures, which reduces the amount of EPs able to resonate with the mode, leading to an early fishbone saturation. Simulation results including zonal flows agree quantitatively with DIII-D experimental measurements of the fishbone saturation amplitude and EP transport, supporting this novel saturation mechanism by self- generated zonal flows. Moreover, the wave-particle mode-locking mechanism is shown to determine quantitatively the fishbone frequency down-chirping, as evident in GTC simulation results in agreement with predictions from analytical theory. Finally, thefishbone-induced zonal flows are possibly responsible for the formation of an ion-ITB in the DIII-D discharge. Based on the low EP transport and the large zonal flow shearing rates associated with the fishbone instability in gyrokinetic simulations of the ITER scenario, it is conjectured that high performance scenarios could be designed in ITER burning plasmas through fishbone-induced ITBs.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2020

Wettability Effects on Falling Film Flow and Heat Transfer Over Horizontal Tubes in Jet Flow Mode

The performance of a falling-film heat exchanger is strongly linked to the surface characteristics and the heat transfer processes that take place over the tubes. The primary aim of this numerical study is to characterize the influence of surface wettability on the film flow behavior and its associated surface heat transfer in the jet-flow mode. Volume of fluid (VOF) based simulations are carried out for horizontal tubes with different surface wettabilities. The wettability of the tube surfaces is represented using the Kistler's dynamic contact angle model. Surface wettability effects ranging from superhydrophilic to superhydrophobic are studied by varying the equilibrium contact angle from 2 deg to 175 deg. Two different liquid mass flow rates of 0.06 and 0.18 kg/m-s corresponding to the inline and staggered jet flow modes are studied. Results are presented in terms of the liquid film thickness, the contact areas between the different phases (solid–liquid and liquid–air), and the heat transfer coefficient or Nusselt number. The resistance imposed by the increasing contact angles inhibits the extent of the liquid spreading over the tube surface, and this, in turn, influences the liquid film thickness, and the wetted area of the tube surface. A significant decrement in the heat transfer rate from the tube surfaces was observed as the equilibrium contact angle increased from 2 deg to 175 deg. The local distributions of the Nusselt number over the tube surface are strongly influenced by the flow recirculation in the liquid bulk.

Engineering↗

NASA NTRS1980

Inviscid Flow Field Effects: Experimental results

The aero-optical distortions due to invisid flow effects over airborne laser turrets is investigated. Optical path differences across laser turret apertures are estimated from two data sources. The first is a theoretical study of main flow effects for a spherical turret assembly for a Mach number (M) of 0.6. The second source is an actual wind tunnel density field measurement on a 0.3 scale laser turret/fairing assembly, with M = 0.75. A range of azimuthal angles from 0 to 90 deg was considered, while the elevation angle was always 0 deg (i.e., in the plane of the flow). The calculated optical path differences for these two markedly different geometries are of the same order. Scaling of results to sea level conditions and an aperture diameter of 50 cm indicated up to 0.0007 cm of phase variation across the aperture for certain forward look angles and a focal length of F = -11.1 km. These values are second order for a 10.6 micron system.

Otten, L. J., III↗

NASA NTRS1985

Comprehensive modeling of a liquid rocket combustion chamber

An analytical model for the simulation of detailed three-phase combustion flows inside a liquid rocket combustion chamber is presented. The three phases involved are: a multispecies gaseous phase, an incompressible liquid phase, and a particulate droplet phase. The gas and liquid phases are continuum described in an Eulerian fashion. A two-phase solution capability for these continuum media is obtained through a marriage of the Implicit Continuous Eulerian (ICE) technique and the fractional Volume of Fluid (VOF) free surface description method. On the other hand, the particulate phase is given a discrete treatment and described in a Lagrangian fashion. All three phases are hence treated rigorously. Semi-empirical physical models are used to describe all interphase coupling terms as well as the chemistry among gaseous components. Sample calculations using the model are given. The results show promising application to truly comprehensive modeling of complex liquid-fueled engine systems.

Liang, P.-Y.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Modeling of confined turbulent fluid-particle flows using Eulerian and Lagrangian schemes

Two important aspects of fluid-particulate interaction in dilute gas-particle turbulent flows (the turbulent particle dispersion and the turbulence modulation effects) are addressed, using the Eulerian and Lagrangian modeling approaches to describe the particulate phase. Gradient-diffusion approximations are employed in the Eulerian formulation, while a stochastic procedure is utilized to simulate turbulent dispersion in the Lagrangina formulation. The k-epsilon turbulence model is used to characterize the time and length scales of the continuous phase turbulence. Models proposed for both schemes are used to predict turbulent fully-developed gas-solid vertical pipe flow with reasonable accuracy.

Adeniji-Fashola, A.↗

NASA NTRS1996

Computations of Drop Collision and Coalescence

Computations of drops collisions, coalescence, and other problems involving drops are presented. The computations are made possible by a finite difference/front tracking technique that allows direct solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations for a multi-fluid system with complex, unsteady internal boundaries. This method has been used to examine the various collision modes for binary collisions of drops of equal size, mixing of two drops of unequal size, behavior of a suspension of drops in linear and parabolic shear flows, and the thermal migration of several drops. The key results from these simulations are reviewed. Extensions of the method to phase change problems and preliminary results for boiling are also shown.

Tryggvason, Gretar↗

NASA NTRS1997

Collective Interaction of a Compressible Periodic Parallel Jet Flow

A linear instability model for multiple spatially periodic supersonic rectangular jets is solved using Floquet-Bloch theory. The disturbance environment is investigated using a two dimensional perturbation of a mean flow. For all cases large temporal growth rates are found. This work is motivated by an increase in mixing found in experimental measurements of spatially periodic supersonic rectangular jets with phase-locked screech. The results obtained in this paper suggests that phase-locked screech or edge tones may produce correlated spatially periodic jet flow downstream of the nozzles which creates a large span wise multi-nozzle region where a disturbance can propagate. The large temporal growth rates for eddies obtained by model calculation herein are related to the increased mixing since eddies are the primary mechanism that transfer energy from the mean flow to the large turbulent structures. Calculations of growth rates are presented for a range of Mach numbers and nozzle spacings corresponding to experimental test conditions where screech synchronized phase locking was observed. The model may be of significant scientific and engineering value in the quest to understand and construct supersonic mixer-ejector nozzles which provide increased mixing and reduced noise.

Miles, Jeffrey Hilton↗

NASA NTRS2007

Cryogenic Pressure Control Modeling for Ellipsoidal Space Tanks

A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model is developed to simulate pressure control of an ellipsoidal-shaped liquid hydrogen tank under external heating in normal gravity. Pressure control is provided by an axial jet thermodynamic vent system (TVS) centered within the vessel that injects cooler liquid into the tank, mixing the contents and reducing tank pressure. The two-phase cryogenic tank model considers liquid hydrogen in its own vapor with liquid density varying with temperature only and a fully compressible ullage. The axisymmetric model is developed using a custom version of the commercially available FLOW-31) software. Quantitative model validation is ,provided by engineering checkout tests performed at Marshall Space Flight Center in 1999 in support of the Solar Thermal Upper Stage_ Technology Demonstrator (STUSTD) program. The engineering checkout tests provide cryogenic tank self-pressurization test data at various heat leaks and tank fill levels. The predicted self-pressurization rates, ullage and liquid temperatures at discrete locations within the STUSTD tank are in good agreement with test data. The work presented here advances current CFD modeling capabilities for cryogenic pressure control and helps develop a low cost CFD-based design process for space hardware.

Lopez, Alfredo↗

DOE OSTI2020

Kinetics Modeling for Design of Continuous Enzymatic Hydrolysis

Enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose to monomeric sugars continues to be a limiting step in cost-effectively producing sugar and fermentation-based biofuels from biomass. In particular, the high cost of enzymes coupled with the long time-scale of reaction pose challenges to economic viability. Performing enzymatic hydrolysis in a continuous mode with enzyme recycle may provide a path towards substantially reduced costs for sugar production, but design and analysis are complicated by a lack of suitable kinetics models. Computationally attainable models, such as fractal-based models, require knowledge of the reaction-history of the biomass, and are thus only suitable for describing the batch reactions from which they are derived. Fundamental models, while potentially more generalizable, are often too computationally intensive to use in process or reactor modeling. In this work, a phenomenological rate model is proposed based on a two-phase substrate representation. Good agreement is seen between batch and continuous enzymatic hydrolysis (CEH) experiment data, which validates the model and enables us to solve for reactor design parameters, such as CEH reactor size and stream flow rates, based on process variables like yield. This model is integrated with techno-economic analysis software to explore economic sensitivities. Important design optimizations and tradeoffs are identified and quantified, including the relative cost imposed by rate slowdown from sugar inhibition versus the cost to remove and concentrate sugars at a lower concentration. It also identifies, high-leverage avenues for further exploration, such as increasing the maximum feasible solids concentration, and sustaining high membrane flux and reliability.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

NASA NTRS1995

The effect of gravity on the combustion synthesis of Ni-Al and Ni3Al-TiB2 composites from elements

Previous studies on the combustion synthesis of advanced materials indicate that combustion and structure formation mechanisms involve several stages including melting of reactants and products, spreading of the melt, droplet coalescence, diffusion and convection, buoyancy of solid particles, and densification of the liquid product. Most of these processes are affected by gravity. Conducting the combustion synthesis under microgravity conditions is expected to help elucidate the reaction mechanisms. Two systems were examined. The first involves Ni/AI cladded particles, which is an ideal system to examine the individual particle and liquid flow before combustion occurs. For comparison, elemental Ni and Al powders with the same stoichiometry as that of the cladded particles were also used in some experiments. The second system was the Ni3AITiB2 composite in which the Ni3AI (-delta H(sub f) = 153.1 kJ/mol) phase melts during reaction enabling us to examine settling of the liquid phase. The amount of liquid phase was controlled by varying the TiB2 (-delta H(sub f) = 323.8 kJ/mol) content which generates the additional heat. The overall reactions for the two systems can be expressed as follows. System 1: 4Ni + 2AI yields Ni3AI + NiA and System 2: 3Ni + Al + x (Ti + 2B) yields Ni3Al + x(TiB2). For the first system, pellets were pressed directly from the cladded particles, at green densities about 77 +/- 3% of theoretical value. For the second, the pellets were prepared by mixing the elemental reactant powders in the required stoichiometry by ball-milling and then pressing uniaxially at green densities about 70 +/- 3 percent of theoretical. The pellets were cylindrical in shape, 10 mm in diameter and length typically 20-30 mm. The pellet samples were reacted in UHP Argon (1 atm) using the experimental setup and procedure described previously. After reaction, the samples were sectioned axially in order to conduct the microstructural analysis in the longitudinal direction. The phase composition of the reacted product was determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and the microstructure was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) along with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX).

Varma, Arvind↗

NASA NTRS1988

Particle-laden weakly swirling free jets: Measurements and predictions

A theoretical and experimental investigation of particle-laden, weakly swirling, turbulent free jets was conducted. Glass particles, having a Sauter mean diameter of 39 microns, with a standard deviation of 15 microns, were used. A single loading ratio (the mass flow rate of particles per unit mass flow rate of air) of 0.2 was used in the experiments. Measurements are reported for three swirl numbers, ranging from 0 to 0.33. The measurements included mean and fluctuating velocities of both phases, and particle mass flux distributions. Measurements were also completed for single-phase non-swirling and swirling jets, as baselines. Measurements were compared with predictions from three types of multiphase flow analysis, as follows: (1) locally homogeneous flow (LHF) where slip between the phases was neglected; (2) deterministic separated flow (DSF), where slip was considered but effects of turbulence/particle interactions were neglected; and (3) stochastic separated flow (SSF), where effects of both interphase slip and turbulence/particle interactions were considered using random sampling for turbulence properties in conjunction with random-walk computations for particle motion. Single-phase weakly swirling jets were considered first. Predictions using a standard k-epsilon turbulence model, as well as two versions modified to account for effects of streamline curvature, were compared with measurements. Predictions using a streamline curvature modification based on the flux Richardson number gave better agreement with measurements for the single-phase swirling jets than the standard k-epsilon model. For the particle-laden jets, the LHF and DSF models did not provide very satisfactory predictions. The LHF model generally overestimated the rate of decay of particle mean axial and angular velocities with streamwise distance, and predicted particle mass fluxes also showed poor agreement with measurements, due to the assumption of no-slip between phases. The DSF model also performed quite poorly for predictions of particle mass flux because turbulent dispersion of the particles was neglected. The SSF model, which accounts for both particle inertia and turbulent dispersion of the particles, yielded reasonably good predictions throughout the flow field for the particle-laden jets.

Bulzan, Daniel L.↗

DOE OSTI2022

Modeling of vapor-liquid interactions in condensing ejectors

Ejectors are compact mechanical devices that utilize the expansion of a high-pressure primary fluid to entrain and compress a low-pressure secondary fluid by means of momentum transfer between the two streams of fluid. Condensing ejectors feature both momentum and heat transfer through the interaction between the vapor and liquid streams. The goal of this paper is to develop and validate a one-dimensional slug flow model to simulate the vapor–liquid interactions in two types of condensing ejectors – one with primary liquid and secondary vapor flows (Type I), and the other with primary vapor and secondary liquid flows (Type II). Control volume analysis of the mass, momentum, and energy balance in each phase and across the interface was conducted for the ejectors. The slug flow models for both types of ejectors are validated with published results in the literature. The friction coefficient on the inner wall of the ejectors and the interfacial heat transfer coefficient are identified as controlling parameters for the ejector performance in terms of pressure and temperature distributions along the axis. The detailed parametric study shows that the liquid inlet velocity and mixing tube diameter have a significant impact on the performance of the Type I ejectors, and the performance of the Type II ejectors is mainly controlled by the secondary liquid flow inlet temperature.

42 ENGINEERING↗

DOE OSTI2018

Combinatorial Nitrogen Gradients in Sputtered Thin Films

High-throughput synthesis and characterization methods can significantly accelerate the rate of experimental research. For physical vapor deposition (PVD), these methods include combinatorial sputtering with intentional gradients of metal/metalloid composition, temperature, and thickness across the substrate. However, many other synthesis parameters still remain out of reach for combinatorial methods. Here, we extend combinatorial sputtering parameters to include gradients of gaseous elements in thin films. Specifically, a nitrogen gradient was generated in a thin film sample library by placing two MnTe sputtering sources with different gas flows (Ar and Ar/N 2 ) opposite of one another during the synthesis. The nitrogen content gradient was measured along the sample surface, correlating with the distance from the nitrogen source. The phase, composition, and optoelectronic properties of the resulting thin films change as a function of the nitrogen content. Furthermore, this work shows that gradients of gaseous elements can be generated in thin films synthesized by sputtering, expanding the boundaries of combinatorial science.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2024

Modeling of Sagging for 3D Printed Layers During the Curing Process

Here, a printed layer of silica-enforced poly(dimethylsiloxane)-co-(diphenylsiloxane) is modeled as a two-phase system consisting of air and polymer with an interface set up during the printing process. The structural geometry changes mostly due to the action of surface tension, while all material properties are strongly temperature dependent. Polymer flow is described using equations of the extended Herschel–Bulkley model, with parameters strongly dependent on temperature and degree of curing. Parameters of the model are determined using flow sweep measurements and separate experiments with vertical structure sagging at different temperatures. The curing process is modeled using dependencies between the curing rate, degree of curing, and temperature obtained in studies by differential scanning calorimetry. The developed model is used for simulations of printed structure deformations with different initial and boundary conditions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2024

Active nematic ratchet in asymmetric obstacle arrays

We numerically investigate the effect of an asymmetric periodic obstacle array in a two-dimensional active nematic. We find that activity in conjunction with the asymmetry leads to a ratchet effect or unidirectional flow of the fluid along the asymmetry direction. The directional flow is still present even in the active turbulent phase when the gap between obstacles is sufficiently small. We demonstrate that the dynamics of the topological defects transition from flow mirroring to smectic-like as the gap between obstacles is made smaller, and explain this transition in terms of the pinning of negative winding number defects between obstacles. This also leads to a nonmonotonic ratchet effect magnitude as a function of obstacle size, so that there is an optimal obstacle size for ratcheting at fixed activity.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2020

Presentation of the Dana Medal of the Mineralogical Society of America for 2019 to Matthew J. Kohn

If there’s one word that describes Matt Kohn’s career, it’s eclectic. What is possibly most astounding is that Matt’s contributions have not been in a single, narrow field, but in two distinct fields that, at least at first glance, are not even that closely related. While Matt is a metamorphic petrologist par excellence making significant contributions to the fields of geo-thermobarometry, metamorphic phase equilibria, metamorphic fluid flow, monazite geochronology, argon geochronology, and metamorphic P-T-t studies and their tectonic implications, he has also pioneered the use of stable isotopes to unravel vertebrate paleodietary patterns and paleoclimate.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2021

An Integrated Multiscale Modeling Framework for Unconventional Stimulation and Production (Final Report)

The production of oil and gas from unconventional reservoirs largely depends upon two main features operating at different scales: (1) the establishment of a reservoir scale stimulated fracture network that effectively communicates with the rock volume, enhancing permeability and transport to the wellbore and (2) the coupled multi-phase flow, chemical and mechanical processes affecting the migration of hydrocarbons from the low permeability country rock adjacent to the stimulated fracture network. To date, there has been no simulation framework that allows seamless and integrated prediction of these features across spatial scales extending from the pore structure of the reservoir rock to the volume of the reservoir. In addition, there has been a lack of suitable field measurements to test such models, as stimulation and production data are often proprietary and not freely available to national laboratories and academic institutions. New multi-scale simulation capabilities are needed that are validated against suitable field-based research experiments on hydraulic fracturing and shale production.

02 PETROLEUM↗