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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 181 records · Page 10

Exploring the potential benefits of high-efficiency dual-fuel combustion on a heavy-duty multi-cylinder engine for SuperTruck I

In support of the Daimler SuperTruck I team’s 55% brake thermal efficiency (BTE) pathway goal, researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory performed an experimental investigation of the potential efficiency and emissions benefits of dual-fuel advanced combustion approaches on a modified heavy-duty 15-L Detroit™ DD15 engine. For this work, a natural gas port fuel injection system with an independent injection control for each cylinder was added to the DD15 engine. For the dual-fuel strategies investigated, 65%–90% of the total fuel energy was supplied through the added port fuel injection natural gas (NG) fueling system. The remaining fuel energy was supplied by one or more direct injections of diesel fuel using the production high pressure diesel fueling system. The production DD15 air handling system and combustion geometry were unmodified for this study. Efficiency and emissions with dual-fuel strategies including both low temperature combustion (LTC) and non-LTC approaches such as dual fuel direct-injection were investigated along with control authority over combustion phasing. Parametric studies of dual-fuel NG/diesel advanced combustion were conducted in order to experimentally investigate the potential of high-efficiency, dual-fuel combustion strategies to improve BTE in a multi-cylinder engine, understand the potential reductions in engine-out emissions, and characterize the range of combustion phasing controllability. Characterization of mode transitions from mixing-controlled diesel pilot ignition to kinetically controlled ignition is presented. Key findings from this study included a reproducible demonstration of BTE approaching 48% at up to a 13-bar brake mean effective pressure with significant reductions in engine-out NOx and soot emissions. Additional results from investigating load transients in dual-fuel mode and initial characterization of particle size distribution during dual-fuel operation are presented.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

Learning reference governor for cycle-to-cycle combustion control with misfire avoidance in spark-ignition engines at high exhaust gas recirculation–diluted conditions

Cycle-to-cycle feedback control is employed to achieve optimal combustion phasing while maintaining high levels of exhaust gas recirculation by adjusting the spark advance and the exhaust gas recirculation valve position. The control development is based on a control-oriented model that captures the effects of throttle position, exhaust gas recirculation valve position, and spark timing on the combustion phasing. Under the assumption that in-cylinder pressure information is available, an adaptive extended Kalman filter approach is used to estimate the exhaust gas recirculation rate into the intake manifold based on combustion phasing measurements. The estimation algorithm is adaptive since the cycle-to-cycle combustion variability (output covariance) is not known a priori and changes with operating conditions. A linear quadratic regulator controller is designed to maintain optimal combustion phasing while maximizing exhaust gas recirculation levels during load transients coming from throttle tip-in and tip-out commands from the driver. During throttle tip-outs, however, a combination of a high exhaust gas recirculation rate and an overly advanced spark, product of the dynamic response of the system, generates a sequence of misfire events. In this work, an explicit reference governor is used as an add-on scheme to the closed-loop system in order to avoid the violation of the misfire limit. The reference governor is enhanced with model-free learning which enables it to avoid misfires after a learning phase. Experimental results are reported which illustrate the potential of the proposed control strategy for achieving an optimal combustion process during highly diluted conditions for improving fuel efficiency.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Partitioning of Radionuclides in Various Streams of the Mo-99 Purification Process

The Universal Neutron Irradiator (UNI) was designed to irradiate a small volume of uranium solution and to achieve high fission power without creating a large radionuclide (RN) inventory. The UNI system is equipped with a fully enclosed off-gas system with online hydrogen gas monitoring to prevent the production of an explosive atmosphere, as well as storage cylinders for capturing fission gases. It also includes a catalytic recombiner in the target capsule (to immediately recombine radiolytic hydrogen and oxygen gas in the system) and access ports for sampling the target solution and capsule headspace. In UNI Phase I experiments, 50 mL of uranyl sulfate solution was irradiated at 0.3–0.5 W/mL fission power using a tantalum target assembly to produce photoneutrons via irradiation with an electron beam. The purposes of the Phase I experiments were to test the efficacy of adding 200 ppm Fe 2+ to the target solution to prevent uranyl peroxide precipitation under representative irradiation conditions, and to monitor iodine speciation in the irradiated uranyl sulfate solution. The focus of the UNI Phase II experiments was to use an irradiated uranyl sulfate solution containing a mixture of fission products and monitor their distribution in various streams during the primary recovery column (titania-based column) that separates Mo-99 from uranium. Irradiations were designed to create sufficient activity for tracking their distribution in various processing streams using a combination of gamma counting and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analyses. Obtained data will be used to better understand the composition of waste streams, accumulation of RN on the titania column, and identify what RNs accumulate in the uranyl sulfate solution. Furthermore, this knowledge will allow us to determine waste classifications for various streams produced during the Mo-99 purification process and develop an appropriate waste clean-up strategy.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

A shadowed flow in the stem of the Crab nebula?

The faint radio and emission line 'jet' outward from the northern boundary of the Crab Nebula which appears as a neat right cylinder is modelled here as the convected margin of a gas cloud that accidentially cast its shallow across the nearly ballistic flow of the stellar envelope ejected in the supernova explosion. It is shown that this model is consistent with known data on the jet, and that it accounts for the strikingly regular geometrical features in a natural way. In contrast, flow instability models do not easily result in so neat a cylinder.

Morrison, P.↗

Development of a Physics-Based Combustion Model for Engine Knock Prediction

The objective of this project is to improve the prediction of engine knock by developing a new combustion modeling framework. Engine knock is a limiting factor to constrain the increase of fuel efficiency for spark ignition (SI) engines in most passenger cars. Efforts to increase fuel efficiency, increasing the compression ratio or downsizing, lead to the increase in the tendency of the knock occurrence. The knock is an undesired ignition of the end-gas, unburned fuel/air mixture ahead of the spark-ignited premixed flame, resulting in rapid in-cylinder pressure rises and engine damages. The combustion modeling framework developed in this project can consider turbulence-chemistry interactions during end-gas ignition, while using a reasonably detailed chemical mechanism developed for ignition and combustion reactions under engine relevant conditions, and the subtle characteristics of spark-ignited flame propagation. It is developed in the context of large eddy simulation (LES), which can capture stochastic in-cylinder processes. The developed model is incorporated into a commercial software for engine simulation, CONVERGE CFD, as a user defined function, and validated. Engine knock and knock-free experiments as well as direct numerical simulation (DNS) of end-gas ignition in homogeneous turbulence are performed to help model development and provide data sets for model validation. With further validation, the developed model is expected to advance the predictive capability for engine knock simulations and thus contribute to improving the fuel efficiency.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Development of a Physics-Based Combustion Model for Engine Knock Prediction

The objective of this project is to improve the prediction of engine knock by developing a new combustion modeling framework. Engine knock is a limiting factor to constrain the increase of fuel efficiency for spark ignition (SI) engines in most passenger cars. Efforts to increase fuel efficiency, increasing the compression ratio or downsizing, lead to the increase in the tendency of the knock occurrence. The knock is an undesired ignition of the end-gas, unburned fuel/air mixture ahead of the spark-ignited premixed flame, resulting in rapid in-cylinder pressure rises and engine damages. The combustion modeling framework developed in this project can consider turbulence-chemistry interactions during end-gas ignition, while using a reasonably detailed chemical mechanism developed for ignition and combustion reactions under engine relevant conditions, and the subtle characteristics of spark-ignited flame propagation. It is developed in the context of large eddy simulation (LES), which can capture stochastic in-cylinder processes. The developed model is incorporated into a commercial software for engine simulation, CONVERGE CFD, as a user defined function, and validated. Engine knock and knock-free experiments as well as direct numerical simulation (DNS) of end-gas ignition in homogeneous turbulence are performed to help model development and provide data sets for model validation. With further validation, the developed model is expected to advance the predictive capability for engine knock simulations and thus contribute to improving the fuel efficiency.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Some composite bearing and seal materials for gas turbine applications - A review

A review is made of the selection and tribological testing of materials for high-temperature bearings and seals. The goal is to achieve good tribological properties over a wide range of temperatures because bearings and seals must be functional from low temperature start-up conditions on up to the maximum temperatures encountered during engine operation. Plasma sprayed composite coatings with favorable tribological properties from 25 to 900 C are discussed. The performance of these coatings in simple tribological bench tests is described. Examples are also given of their performance in high-speed sliding contact seals and as Stirling cylinder liner materials, and as backup lubricants for compliant foil gas bearings.

Sliney, Harold E.↗

Sensing The Position Of A Piston In A Cylinder

Position of piston in cylinder determined by series of ports and pressure-actuated electrical switches. Position-sensing scheme developed to help control movement of piston, which delivers fist-size objects to automatic mechanism at rate of less than 1 per second. Piston driven by either pressurized gas or hydraulic fluid. Position sensors have only fluid connections to cylinder. If cylinder or piston removed, not necessary to disturb electrical connections to switches. Scheme useful when electrical sensors create hazard or cause interference.

Wiker, Gordon A.↗

Calculations of the Performance of a Compression-Ignition Engine-Compressor Turbine Combination I : Performance of a Highly Supercharged Compression-Ignition Engine

Small high-speed single-cylinder compression-ignition engines were tested to determine their performance characteristics under high supercharging. Calculations were made on the energy available in the exhaust gas of the compression-ignition engines. The maximum power at any given maximum cylinder pressure was obtained when the compression pressure was equal to the maximum cylinder pressure. Constant-pressure combustion was found possible at an engine speed of 2200 rpm. Exhaust pressures and temperatures were determined from an analysis of indicator cards. The analysis showed that, at rich mixtures with the exhaust back pressure equal to the inlet-air pressure, there is excess energy available for driving a turbine over that required for supercharging. The presence of this excess energy indicates that a highly supercharged compression-ignition engine might be desirable as a compressor and combustion chamber for a turbine.

EXHAUST GASES-TEMPERATURE↗

Magnetic Velocity Gauges: Effects of Misalignment

Embedded velocity gauges are standardly used at LANL on gas gun experiments of a shock to-detonation transition. The experiments are intended to be one-dimensional with a planar shock driven by the projectile from a gas gun propagating along the axis of the HE cylinder. As disussed by Gustavsen et al. [1999], the accuracy of the gauges depends on the alignment of the directions of shock propagation, magnetic field and the active gauge element. A source of inaccuracies is from tilt or misalignment angle at impact between the projectile surface and the HE surface; typically a few milliradians. This leads to the shock propagating at a slight angle to the axis of the HE cylinder and can affect the shock rise time of the velocity gauges, the time offset between the tracker gauges for the trajectory of the lead shock, and the gauge positions in the direction of propagation. It is important to note that tilt is characterized by 2 parameters; the magnitude of the angle relative to the HE axis and the direction in the plane transverse to the HE axis. Here we derive the uncertainties from tilt to leading order in the tilt angle.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Apparatus for sampling particulates in gases

A device for sampling particulates in gases is described. The device is used to obtain samples of the upper atmosphere. The equipment used a common source of gas pressure to provide the driving gas of an air ejector pump. The sample collection cylinder has many slit impactors running longitudinally on the outer surface of a cylinder and terminating just short of each end of the cylinder.

Wood, R. C.↗

Stirling Engine With Radial Flow Heat Exchangers

Conflict between thermodynamical and structural requirements resolved. In Stirling engine of new cylindrical configuration, regenerator and acceptor and rejector heat exchangers channel flow of working gas in radial direction. Isotherms in regenerator ideally concentric cylinders, and gradient of temperature across regenerator radial rather than axial. Acceptor and rejector heat exchangers located radially inward and outward of regenerator, respectively. Enables substantial increase in power of engine without corresponding increase in diameter of pressure vessel.

Vitale, N.↗

Effect of Exhaust Pressure on the Cooling Characteristics of a Liquid-Cooled Engine

Data for a liquid-cooled engine with a displacement volume of 1710 cubic inches were analyzed to determine the effect of exhaust pressure on the engine cooling characteristics. The data covered a range of exhaust pressures from 7 to 62 inches of mercury absolute, inlet-manifold pressures from 30 to 50 inches of mercury absolute, engine speeds from 1600 to 3000 rpm, and fuel-air ratios from 0.063 to 0.100. The effect of exhaust pressure on engine cooling was satisfactorily incorporated in the NACA cooling-correlation method as a variation in effective gas temperature with exhaust pressure. Large variations of cylinder-head temperature with exhaust pressure were obtained for operation at constant charge flow. At a constant charge flow of 2 pounds per second (approximately 1000 bhp) and a fuel-air ratio of 0.085, an increase in exhaust pressure from 10 to 60 inches of mercury absolute resulted in an increase of 40 F in average cylinder-head temperature. For operation at constant engine speed and inlet-manifold pressure and variable exhaust pressure (variable charge flow), however, the effect of exhaust pressure on cylinder-head temperature is small. For example, at an inlet-manifold pressure of 40 inches of mercury absolute, an engine speed of 2400 rpm.- and a fuel-air ratio of 0.085, the average cylinder-head temperature was about the same at exhaust pressures of 10 and 60 inches of,mercury absolute; a rise and a subsequent decrease of about 70 occurred between these extremes.

Doyle, Ronald B.↗

Experimental Characterization of Hydrocarbons and Nitrogen Oxides Production in a Heavy-Duty Diesel–Natural Gas Reactivity-Controlled Compression Ignition Engine

Reactivity-Controlled Compression Ignition (RCCI) combustion is considered one of the most promising Low-Temperature Combustion (LTC) concepts aimed at reducing greenhouse gases for the transportation and power generation sectors. Due to the spontaneous combustion of a lean, nearly homogeneous mixture of air and low-reactivity fuel (LRF), ignited through the direct injection of a small quantity of high-reactivity fuel (HRF), RCCI (dual-fuel) shows higher efficiency and lower pollutants compared to conventional diesel combustion (CDC) if run at very advanced injection timing. Even though a HRF is used, the use of advanced injection timing leads to high ignition delays, compared to CDC, and generates high cycle-to-cycle variability, limited operating range, and high pressure rise rates at high loads. This work presents an experimental analysis performed on a heavy-duty single-cylinder compression ignited engine in dual-fuel diesel–natural gas mode. The objective of the present work is to investigate and highlight the correlations between combustion behavior and pollutant emissions, especially unburned hydrocarbons (HC) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx). Based on the analysis of crank-resolved pollutants measurements performed through fast FID and fast NOx systems under different engine operating conditions, two correlations were found demonstrating a good accordance between pollutant production and combustion behavior: Net Cyclic Hydrocarbon emission—cyclic IMEP variations (R 2 = 0.86), and Cyclic NOx—maximum value of the Rate of Heat Released (R 2 = 0.82).

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

Flight Tests of Exhaust Gas Jet Propulsion, Special Report

Flight test s were conducted on the XP-41 airplane, equipped with a Pratt & Whitney R1830-19, 14-cylinder, air-cooled engine, to determine the increase in flight speed obtainable by the use of individual exhaust stacks directed rearwardly to obtain exhaust-gas thrust. Speed increases up to 18 miles per hour at 20,000 feet altitude were obtained using stacks having an exit area of 3.42 square inches for each cylinder. A slight increase in engine power and decrease in cylinder temperature at a given manifold pressure were obtained with the individual stacks as compared with a collector-ring installation. Exhaust-flame visibility was quite low, particularly in the rich range of fuel-air ratios.

Pnkel, Benjamin↗

CAG12 - A CSCM based procedure for flow of an equilibrium chemically reacting gas

The Conservative Supra Characteristic Method (CSCM), an implicit upwind Navier-Stokes algorithm, is extended to the numerical simulation of flows in chemical equilibrium. The resulting computer code known as Chemistry and Gasdynamics Implicit - Version 2 (CAG12) is described. First-order accurate results are presented for inviscid and viscous Mach 20 flows of air past a hemisphere-cylinder. The solution procedure captures the bow shock in a chemically reacting gas, a technique that is needed for simulating high altitude, rarefied flows. In an initial effort to validate the code, the inviscid results are compared with published gasdynamic and chemistry solutions and satisfactorily agreement is obtained.

Green, M. J.↗

Thermocapillary flow and gaseous convection in microgravity: Results from GAS payload G-0518

Thermocapillary flow and gaseous convection in microgravity were investigated in GAS payload G-0518 during Space Shuttle Mission 41-D. A cylinder of paraffin was supported and heated differentially from its ends to induce a melt from solid to liquid and drive thermocapillary flow in the resulting liquid phase. Laminar thermocapillary flow was observed in the liquid paraffin and found to show a transition to time-dependent oscillatory motion at a Marangoni number of about Ma = 34000 with a period of approximately T = 8 seconds. In addition, free convection in a gas in microgravity was observed for the first time. The gaseous convection was caused by the thermal and/or velocity boundary layers present at the heater-liquid interface. Oscillation occurred in the gaseous convection simultaneously with those in the liquid, implying the two are strongly coupled. The gaseous convection may be driven by coupled thermocapillary flow/thermal expansion convection or microgravity bouyancy convection.

Scott Thomas↗