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Results for “Upper Confinement”

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 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1980

Hot-water aquifer storage: A field test

The basic water injection cycle used in a large-scale field study of heat storage in a confined aquifer near Mobile, Alabama is described. Water was pumped from an upper semi-confined aquifer, passed through a boiler where it was heated to a temperature of about 55 C, and injected into a medium sand confined aquifer. The injection well has a 6-inch (15-cm) partially-penetrating steel screen. The top of the storage formation is about 40 meters below the surface and the formation thickness is about 21 meters. In the first cycle, after a storage period of 51 days, the injection well was pumped until the temperature of the recovered water dropped to 33 c. At that point 55,300 cubic meters of water had been withdrawn and 66 percent of the injected energy had been recovered. The recovery period for the second cycle continued until the water temperature was 27.5 C and 100,100 cubic meters of water was recovered. At the end of the cycle about 90 percent of the energy injected during the cycle had been recovered.

Parr, A. D.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Quasi-Decadal Oscillations Generated by the QBO

Quasi-decadal oscillations (QDO) have been observed in the stratosphere and have been linked to the equatorial Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO) and to the 11-year solar activity cycle. With the use of a 2D version of our Numerical Spectral Model (NSM) that incorporates Hines' Doppler Spread Parameterization (DSP) for gravity waves (GW), we demonstrate that beat periods between 9 and 11 years can be generated by the QBO as it interacts through GW filtering with the Annual Oscillation (AO) and Semi-annual Oscillation (SAO). Results are discussed from computations covering up to 50 years, and our analyses leads to the following conclusions. The QDO as a stand-alone signature is largely confined to the upper mesosphere. Its largest signature appears in the form of amplitude modulations of the QBO, AO and SAO, and these extend into the lower stratosphere. The downward control that characterizes the QBO apparently comes into play, and the longer time constants for diffusion and radiative loss at lower altitudes facilitate the QDO response. Although excited by the QBO, which is confined to low latitudes, the QDO is shown to extend to high latitudes. The effect is particularly large for the QBO with period around 33.5 month (near the upper limit of observations), which interacts with the SAO to produce a hemispherically symmetric QDO. Our analysis indicates that the QDO is transferred to high latitudes by the meridional circulation, which prominently exhibits this periodicity particularly in the amplitude modulation of the AO.

Mayr, H. G.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Quasi-Decadal Oscillations Generated by the QBO

Quasi-decadal oscillations (QDO) have been observed in the stratosphere and have been linked to the equatorial Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO) and to the 11-year solar activity cycle. With the use of a 2D version of our Numerical Spectral Model (NSM) that incorporates Hines'Doppler Spread Parameterization (DSP) for gravity waves (GW), we demonstrate that beat periods between 9 and I I years can be generated by the QBO as it interacts through GW filtering with the Annual Oscillation (AO) and Semi-annual Oscillation (SAO). Results are discussed from computations covering up to 50 years, and our analyses leads to the following conclusions. The QDO as a stand-alone signature is largely confined to the upper mesosphere. Its largest signature appears in the form of amplitude modulations of the QBO, AO and SAO, and these extend into the lower stratosphere. The downward control that characterizes the QBO apparently comes into play, and the longer time constants for diffusion and radiative loss at lower altitudes facilitate the QDO response. Although excited by the QBO, which is confined to low latitudes, the QDO is shown to extend to high latitudes. The effect is particularly large for the QBO with period around 33.5 month (near the upper limit of observations), which interacts with the SAO to produce a hemispherically symmetric QDO. Our analysis indicates that the QDO is transferred to high latitudes by the meridional circulation, which prominently exhibits this periodicity particularly in the amplitude modulation of the AO. The propensity for beat periods around 10 years may help to increase significantly the efficiency for generating solar cycle signatures in the atmosphere, and we discuss numerical experiments related to that.

Mayr, Hans G.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Quantitative Assessment of the Integrated Response in Global Heat and Moisture Budgets to Changing Solar Irradiance

Earlier, we found time sequences of basin- and global-average upper ocean temperature (that is, diabatic heat storage above the main pycnocline) for 40 years from 1955-1994 and of sea surface temperature for 95 years from 1900-1994 associated with changes in the Sun's radiative forcing on decadal and interdecadal timescales, lagging by 10 deg.- 30 deg. of phase and confined to the upper 60-120 m. Yet, the observed changes in upper ocean temperature (approx. 0.1 K) were approximately twice those expected from the Stefan-Boltzmann black-body radiation law for the Earth's surface, with phase lags (0 deg. to 30 deg. of phase) much shorter than the 90 deg. phase shift expected as well. Moreover, White et al. (1997, 1998) found the Earth's global decadal mode in covarying SST and SLP anomalies phase locked to the decadal signal in the Sun's irradiance. Yet, Allan (2000) found this decadal signal also characterized by patterns similar to those observed on biennial and interannual time scales; that is, the Troposphere Biennial Oscillation (TBO) and the El Nino and the Southern Oscillation (ENSO). This suggested that small changes in the Sun's total irradiance could excite this global decadal mode in the Earth's ocean-atmosphere-terrestrial system similar to those excited internally on biennial and interannual period scales. This is a significant finding, proving that energy budget models (that is, models based on globally-averaged radiation balances) yield unrealistic responses. Thus, the true response must include positive and negative feedbacks in the Earth's ocean-atmosphere-terrestrial system as its internal mode (that is, the natural mode of the system) respond in damped resonance to quasi-periodic decadal changes in the Sun's irradiance. Moreover, these responses are not much different from those occurring internally on biennial and interannual period scales.

White, Warren B.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Observations of 20-day period meridional current oscillations in the upper ocean along the Pacific Equator

Prominent oscillations of the meridional current, with a mean period of approximately 20 days, is observed in the upper ocean from May 1979 to October 1985 using moored current measurements along the Pacific equator at 95, 110, 124, 140, and 152 deg W, as well as off (but near) the equator at 110 and 140 deg W. The fluctuations are relatively narrowband in frequency. A 95 percent statistically significant peak in the power spectra of the meridional current occurs at 110, 124, and 140 deg W, but not at 95 and 152 deg W where the spectral peaks are smaller. The dominant wave period decreases by about 4 percent from 110 to 140 deg W. The wave amplitude decreases with depth, and the wave is essentially confined to the upper 80 m. The penetration depth of the oscillation is greatest at 110 deg W and least at 140 deg W.

Halpern, David↗
NASA NTRS1987

Thermally induced phase changes, lateral heterogeneity of the mantle, continental roots, and deep slab anomalies

Factors which influence the lateral heterogeneity in density and seismic velocity with depth in the upper earth mantle are discussed. It is emphasized that most of the increases in density and seismic velocity with depth are caused by pressure-induced solid-solid phase changes in the high-density high-velocity phases of mineral assemblage, due to variations in temperature. In particular, the ilmenite form of MgSiO3 and the gamma-spinel form of Mg2SiO4 have broad stability fields in cold mantle and are not stable in hotter mantle. It is emphasized that the density and velocity anomalies associated with temperature-induced phase changes in mineral assemblage must be taken into account in the thermal models of the slabs; when these effects are accounted for, the geoid and seismic anomalies associated with subducted slabs are consistent with slab confinement to the upper mantle and with layered models of mantle convection.

Anderson, Don L.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Structure and variability of the Alboran Sea frontal system

A distinct oceanic front coinciding with the jet of incoming North Atlantic water, and an associated anticyclonic gyre in the western half of the basin, were observed during a ship and aircraft survey of the physical characteristics of the Alboran Sea in the western Mediterranean in October 1977. The front was confined to the upper 200 m and was a continuous feature, extending from the Strait of Gibraltar 500 km eastward to the prime meridian. It is noted that in ten days between two surveys, the center of the gyre shifted 50 km westward. This variability of the anticyclonic gyre may correspond to changes of North Atlantic inflow strength, as inferred by local wind and the average atmospheric pressure over the western Mediterranean.

Cheney, R. E.↗
NASA NTRS1988

A new method for estimating the turbulent heat flux at the bottom of the daily mixed layer

Temperature data in the mixed layer and net solar irradiance data at the sea surface are used to estimate the vertical turbulent heat flux at the bottom of the daily mixed layer. The method is applied to data obtained in the eastern tropical Pacific, where the daily cycle in the temperature field is confined to the upper 10-25 m. Equatorial turbulence measurements indicate that the turbulent heat flux is much greater during nighttime than daytime.

Imawaki, Shiro↗
NASA NTRS1991

P-wave residuals at stations in Nepal - Evidence for a high velocity region beneath the Karakorum

P-wave residuals recorded at stations in Nepal from events to the northwest and closer than about 20 deg are consistently earlier than those from other directions by about 2.5 sec. These early arrivals are associated with paths confined to the upper 300 km of the earth and suggest that cold material occupies the uppermost mantle beneath the Karakorum, northwest Himalaya, and western Kunlun. Thus, these data suggest that convective downwelling occurs more vigorously in this region than beneath the rest of the Himalaya, Tibet, and their surroundings.

Pandey, M. R.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Differential shear wave attenuation and its lateral variation in the North Atlantic region

A digital data base of over 150 seismograms and a spectral radio technique are used to measure SS-S differential attenuation in the North Atlantic region. Differential attenuation is positively correlated with SS-S travel time residual, and both differential attentuation and travel time residual decrease with increasing seafloor age. Models are developed for seismic Q in which lateral variations include contributions from the asthenospheric low-Q zone as well as from lithospheric cooling. The Q models obtained under this assumption are in good agreement with those obtained from surface wave studies and are therefore preferred over those models with lateral variations confined to the upper 125 km. Systematic long-wavelength (1000-7000 km) variations in differential attenuation, corrected for seafloor age, are evident along the axis of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. These variations can be qualitatively correlated with long-wavelength variations in SS-S differential travel time residuals and are attributed to along-axis differences in upper mantle temperature.

Sheehan, Anne F.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Linear stability of a layered fluid with mobile surface plates

We develop a general method of calculating the linear stability of a fluid with homogeneous layers that is heated from below. The method employs a propagator technique to obtain expressions for the fluid velocity, stress, and temperature. The principal advantage of the method is the ease with which solutions are adapted to a wide variety of boundary conditions and fluid properties. We demonstrate the utility of the method using three examples which quantify the effects of (1) rheological layering, (2) mobile plates at the surface, and (3) multiple phase transitions. Each example is presented in the context of Earth's mantle. In the first example, we predict that convection becomes confined to the upper mantle once the viscosity increase between the upper and lower mantle exceeds a factor of 2000, consistent with the nonlinear calculations of Davies (1977). In the second example we find that the heat flux variations in a convecting fluid with variably sized, surface plates can be attributed, in part, to changes in the critical Rayleigh number. The linear stability of a fluid with multiple phase transitions is significantly affects by the locations of the transitions. We find that phase transitions have their largest effect when they are located at the center of the fluid layer and become much less important when they are located near the exterior boundaries.

Buffett, B. A.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Mauna Kea

Mauna Kea, the highest of Hawaii's five volcanoes, is the only high landmass in the central Pacific Ocean basin to bear unmistakable signs of Pleistocene glaciation. The stratigraphic record indicates that a summit ice cap formed and disappeared at least four times in the last 250,000 years, and that volcanic eruptions characterized not only the interglacial intervals, but also two of the glacial periods as well. Exposed rock units on the upper slopes of Mauna Kea have been divided into two major groups based on gross lithologic character. The Hamakua Group comprises the bulk of the subaerial shield of the volcano and consists largely of thin-bedded pahoehoe flows of olivine basalt. The overlying Laupahoehoe Group consists of a thin cap of alkalic lavas and pyroclastic layers confined largely to the upper slopes of the mountain. Interstratified with the volcanic units are sedimentary formations that provide evidence of four episodes of ice cap glaciation.

Porter, S. C.↗
NASA NTRS1988

A documentation of two- and three-dimensional shock-separated turbulent boundary layers

A shock-related separation of a turbulent boundary layer has been studied and documented. The flow was that of an axisymmetric turbulent boundary layer over a 5.02-cm-diam cylinder that was aligned with the wind tunnel axis. The boundary layer was compressed by a 30 deg half-angle conical flare, with the cone axis inclined at an angle alpha to the cylinder axis. Nominal test conditions were P sub tau equals 1.7 atm and M sub infinity equals 2.85. Measurements were confined to the upper-symmetry, phi equals 0 deg, plane. Data are presented for the cases of alpha equal to 0. 5. and 10 deg and include mean surface pressures, streamwise and normal mean velocities, kinematic turbulent stresses and kinetic energies, as well as reverse-flow intermittencies. All data are given in tabular form; pressures, streamwise velocities, turbulent shear stresses, and kinetic energies are also presented graphically.

Brown, J. D.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Convection in three dimensions with surface plates - Generation of toroidal flow

This work presents numerical calculations of mantle convection that incorporate some of the basic observational constraints imposed by plate tectonics. The model is three-dimensional and includes surface plates; it allows plate velocity to change dynamically according to the forces which result from convection. It is shown that plates are an effective means of introducing a toroidal component into the flow field. After initial transients the plate motion is nearly parallel to transform faults and in the direction that tends to minimize the toroidal flow field. The toroidal field decays with depth from its value at the surface; the poloidal field is relatively constant throughout the layer but falls off slightly at the top and bottom boundaries. Layered viscosity increasing with depth causes the toroidal field to decay more rapidly, effectively confining it to the upper, low-viscosity layer. The effect of viscosity layering on the poloidal field is relatively small, which is attributed to its generation by temperature variations distributed throughout the system. The generation of toroidal flow by surface plates would seem to account for the observed nearly equal energy of toroidal and poloidal fields of plate motions on the earth. A low-viscosity region in the upper mantle will cause the toroidal flow to decay significantly before reaching the lower mantle. The resulting concentration of toroidal flow in the upper mantle may result in more thorough mixing there and account for some of the geochemical and isotopic differences proposed to exist between the upper and lower mantles.

Gable, Carl W.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Development of Segmented Composite Toroidal Tanks

The conservation of weight and space are major challenges for launch vehicles, especially upper stages. Upper-stage launch vehicles are confined by the space of the payload fairing of the first stage and it is difficult to stack fuel and oxidizer tanks end-to-end. Toroidal tanks have been studied as a way to help solve this problem. A toroidal tank concept would allow a portion of another tank, or part of an engine, to pass through its center opening. A toroidal tank assembly would be especially beneficial if it could somehow handle structural loads of the vehicle. Marshall Space Flight Center, along with ATK Thiokol Propulsion, is designing and fabricating a toroidal tank composed of individual conformal segments. Each conformal segment will be a metal-lined composite over-wrapped vessel. This paper will demonstrate unique materials and processing approaches that are overcoming hurdles for the fabrication of this vessel.

DeLay, Thomas K.↗
NASA NTRS2001

A role for inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate in gravitropic signaling and the retention of cold-perceived gravistimulation of oat shoot pulvini

Plants sense positional changes relative to the gravity vector. To date, the signaling processes by which the perception of a gravistimulus is linked to the initiation of differential growth are poorly defined. We have investigated the role of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP(3)) in the gravitropic response of oat (Avena sativa) shoot pulvini. Within 15 s of gravistimulation, InsP(3) levels increased 3-fold over vertical controls in upper and lower pulvinus halves and fluctuated in both pulvinus halves over the first minutes. Between 10 and 30 min of gravistimulation, InsP(3) levels in the lower pulvinus half increased 3-fold over the upper. Changes in InsP(3) were confined to the pulvinus and were not detected in internodal tissue, highlighting the importance of the pulvinus for both graviperception and response. Inhibition of phospholipase C blocked the long-term increase in InsP(3), and reduced gravitropic bending by 65%. Short-term changes in InsP(3) were unimpaired by the inhibitor. Gravitropic bending of oat plants is inhibited at 4 degrees C; however, the plants retain the information of a positional change and respond at room temperature. Both short- and long-term changes in InsP(3) were present at 4 degrees C. We propose a role for InsP(3) in the establishment of tissue polarity during the gravitropic response of oat pulvini. InsP(3) may be involved in the retention of cold-perceived gravistimulation by providing positional information in the pulvini prior to the redistribution of auxin.

Non-NASA Center↗
NASA NTRS1981

The deflection of a jet by confining surfaces

Thrust vectoring can be provided by the turning of a jet exhaust by the presence of confining surfaces. This approach is analogous to the upper surface blowing (USB) concept. Mean velocities, velocity autocorrelations, and pressure-velocity correlations are measured. From the autocorrelation curves, the Taylor microscales and the integral length scales are calculated. Convection velocities are calculated from the velocity space-time correlations. Two different confining surfaces (one flat, one with large curvature) are placed adjacent to the lip of a circular nozzle, and the resultant effects on the flow field are determined. In addition, two velocity ratios (exit plane velocity to ambient stream velocity) are examined. The velocity measurements were made with a laser Doppler velocimeter in conjunction with a phase locked-loop processor. Pressure measurements were made using a 1/8th inch condensor type microphone.

Catalano, G. D.↗