Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “ANNULAR FLOW”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 235 records · Page 13

Numerical simulation of an atmospheric pressure plasma jet with coaxial shielding gas

A two-dimensional ( r, z ) numerical simulation of the discharge characteristics of an atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ), with coaxial shielding gas, was performed. The helium working gas flowed in a central capillary tube, engulfing a needle electrode powered by 13.7 MHz radio frequency sinusoidal voltage. The N 2 shielding gas flowed in the annular space of a coaxial tube. These gases emerged, in laminar flow, in a 78%N 2 -21%O 2 -1%Ar dry air ambient. The characteristics of the APPJ with shielding gas were compared to those of the APPJ without shielding gas. The nitrogen shielding gas hindered the diffusion of oxygen and argon from the ambient air into the helium jet. With the shielding gas present, more nitrogen penetrated into the helium core, causing a shorter plasma ‘plume’. The flow rates of the working and shielding gas, critically affected the gas temperature, and in turn the discharge characteristics. For a He flow of 2 standard liters per minute (slm), switching on the nitrogen shielding gas flow (at 4.5 slm) reduced the on-axis O 2 and Ar mole fractions from 3.9 × 10 - 4 to 6.8 × 10 - 5 and from 1.9 × 10 - 5 to 3.3 × 10 - 6 , respectively, at an axial distance of 3 mm downstream of the nozzle. The radial profiles of the mole fractions of the ambient gases were monotonically and strongly decreasing towards the system axis, for short axial distances from the nozzle (~1 mm), but became progressively flatter at longer distances from the nozzle (3 mm and 5 mm). Simulation predictions captured the salient features of experimental data of ambient species mole fractions in the plasma jet, and the 706 nm optical emission intensity profiles of the He 3 3 S excited state.

Physics↗

Performance of a short annular dump diffuser using wall trailing-edge suction

A short annular dump (abrupt flow area change) diffuser was tested with suction through wall trailing-edge slots at inlet Mach numbers of 0.19 and 0.27 and at near ambient inlet temperature and pressure, with suction flow varied from zero to 10 percent of the inlet air mass-flow rate. The overall ratio of diffuser exit area to inlet area was 4.0, and the ratio of length to inlet height was 2.0. By applying suction flow separately on either wall or to both walls simultaneously, the original annular jet profile could be altered to either a hub- or tip-biased profile. Diffuser effectiveness was increased from about 25 percent with no suction to 50 percent at 6 percent outer-wall suction and to 52 percent at a combined suction rate on both walls of 10.25 percent. At the same time, diffuser total pressure loss was reduced by one-fourth.

Juhasz, A. J.↗

Annular-Cross-Section CFE Chamber

Proposed continuous-flow-electrophoresis (CFE) chamber of annular cross section offers advantages over conventional CFE chamber, and wedge-cross-section chamber described in "Increasing Sensitivity in Continuous-Flow Electrophoresis" (MFS-26176). In comparison with wedge-shaped chamber, chamber of annular cross section virtually eliminates such wall effects as electro-osmosis and transverse gradients of velocity. Sensitivity enhanced by incorporating gradient maker and radial (collateral) flow.

Sharnez, Rizwan↗

Bubble Eliminator Based on Centrifugal Flow

The fluid bubble eliminator (FBE) is a device that removes gas bubbles from a flowing liquid. The FBE contains no moving parts and does not require any power input beyond that needed to pump the liquid. In the FBE, the buoyant force for separating the gas from the liquid is provided by a radial pressure gradient associated with a centrifugal flow of the liquid and any entrained bubbles. A device based on a similar principle is described in Centrifugal Adsorption Cartridge System (MSC- 22863), which appears on page 48 of this issue. The FBE was originally intended for use in filtering bubbles out of a liquid flowing relatively slowly in a bioreactor system in microgravity. Versions that operate in normal Earth gravitation at greater flow speeds may also be feasible. The FBE (see figure) is constructed as a cartridge that includes two concentric cylinders with flanges at the ends. The outer cylinder is an impermeable housing; the inner cylinder comprises a gas-permeable, liquid-impermeable membrane covering a perforated inner tube. Multiple spiral disks that collectively constitute a spiral ramp are mounted in the space between the inner and outer cylinders. The liquid enters the FBE through an end flange, flows in the annular space between the cylinders, and leaves through the opposite end flange. The spiral disks channel the liquid into a spiral flow, the circumferential component of which gives rise to the desired centrifugal effect. The resulting radial pressure gradient forces the bubbles radially inward; that is, toward the inner cylinder. At the inner cylinder, the gas-permeable, liquid-impermeable membrane allows the bubbles to enter the perforated inner tube while keeping the liquid in the space between the inner and outer cylinders. The gas thus collected can be vented via an endflange connection to the inner tube. The centripetal acceleration (and thus the radial pressure gradient) is approximately proportional to the square of the flow speed and approximately inversely proportional to an effective radius of the annular space. For a given FBE geometry, one could increase the maximum rate at which gas could be removed by increasing the rate of flow to obtain more centripetal acceleration. In experiments and calculations oriented toward the original microgravitational application, centripetal accelerations between 0.001 and 0.012 g [where g normal Earth gravitation (.9.8 m/s2)] were considered. For operation in normal Earth gravitation, it would likely be necessary to choose the FBE geometry and the rate of flow to obtain centripetal acceleration comparable to or greater than g.

Gonda, Steve R.↗

Flow Simulation of Supersonic Inlet with Bypass Annular Duct

A relaxed isentropic compression supersonic inlet is a new concept that produces smaller cowl drag than a conventional inlet, but incurs lower total pressure recovery and increased flow distortion in the (radially) outer flowpath. A supersonic inlet comprising a bypass annulus to the relaxed isentropic compression inlet dumps out airflow of low quality through the bypass duct. A reliable computational fluid dynamics solution can provide considerable useful information to ascertain quantitatively relative merits of the concept, and further provide a basis for optimizing the design. For a fast and reliable performance evaluation of the inlet performance, an equivalent axisymmetric model whose area changes accounts for geometric and physical (blockage) effects resulting from the original complex three-dimensional configuration is proposed. In addition, full three-dimensional calculations are conducted for studying flow phenomena and verifying the validity of the equivalent model. The inlet-engine coupling is carried out by embedding numerical propulsion system simulation engine data into the flow solver for interactive boundary conditions at the engine fan face and exhaust plane. It was found that the blockage resulting from complex three-dimensional geometries in the bypass duct causes significant degradation of inlet performance by pushing the terminal normal shock upstream.

Kim, HyoungJin↗

Multigrid calculations of 3-D turbulent viscous flows

Convergence properties of a multigrid algorithm, developed to calculate compressible viscous flows, are analyzed by a vector sequence eigenvalue estimate. The full 3-D Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations are integrated by an implicit multigrid scheme while a k-epsilon turbulence model is solved, uncoupled from the flow equations. Estimates of the eigenvalue structure for both single and multigrid calculations are compared in an attempt to analyze the process as well as the results of the multigrid technique. The flow through an annular turbine is used to illustrate the scheme's ability to calculate complex 3-D flows.

Yokota, Jeffrey W.↗

Multigrid calculations of 3-D turbulent viscous flows

Convergence properties of a multigrid algorithm, developed to calculate compressible viscous flows, are analyzed by a vector sequence eigenvalue estimate. The full 3-D Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations are integrated by an implicit multigrid scheme while a k-epsilon turbulence model is solved, uncoupled from the flow equations. Estimates of the eigenvalue structure for both single and multigrid calculations are compared in an attempt to analyze the process as well as the results of the multigrid technique. The flow through an annular turbine is used to illustrate the scheme's ability to calculate complex 3-D flows.

Yokota, Jeffrey W.↗

Analysis of Flow Area in the Axial Cross-Vessel Annular Duct Following a Breach of the Primary Helium Boundary of an HTGR

The lock-exchange flow phenomenon has been heavily studied for decades, including the lock-exchange phenomenon that takes place during an air ingress accident in a High-Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor (HTGR) during a break on the axial cross-vessel duct. The present study aims to characterize the gas dynamics in the cavity region of an HTGR, particularly the axial cross-vessel outer duct region. This study computes the velocity and flow area of the heavy and light currents when a break on the primary helium boundary occurs. This analysis is supported using experimental data from experiments conducted in a 1/20th length-scale HTGR. The following study summarizes the conditions of the experiment, the approach adopted to predict the flow area, and future work.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Transmission of sound through annular ducts of varying cross sections and sheared mean flow

An asymptotic solution is presented for the transmission and attenuation of acoustic waves in an annular duct of slowly varying cross section which carries a sheared mean flow. The analysis also takes into account the growth of the boundary layer as well as any slow variations in the acoustic liner properties. The problem is reduced to the solution of a first-order ordinary differential equation for the amplitude. The analysis is used to estimate the effects of the variations of the duct cross section and boundary layer growth on the different acoustic modes.

Nayfeh, A. H.↗

Concerning the flow about ring-shaped cowlings Part II : annular bodies of infinite length with circulation for smooth entrance

The investigations carried out in a previous report (NACA TM 1325) concerning the flow about ring-shaped cowlings were extended by taking a circulation about the cowling into consideration. The present second report treats bodies of infinite length with approximately smooth entrance. The circulation was caused by distributing vortex rings of constant density over a stream surface extending to infinity. Furthermore, the influence of a hub body on such cowlings was dealt with. The examples treated are meant to give the designer a basis for his design.

FLOW, INCOMPRESSIBLE↗

Self-contained Tubular Compressed-flow Generation Device for Use in Making Differential Measurements

A device used in making differential measurements of a flow includes an open-ended tubular flow obstruction and a support arm. The flow obstruction has an outer annular wall and an inner annular wall. The support arm has a first end coupled to an exterior wall of a conduit and a second end coupled to the flow obstruction. The support arm positions the flow obstruction in the conduit such that a first flow region is defined around the flow obstruction's outer annular wall and a second flow region is defined by the flow obstruction's inner annular wall. The support arm's first end and second end are separated from one another with respect to a length dimension of the conduit. Measurement ports provided in the flow obstruction are coupled to points at the exterior wall of the conduit by manifolds extending through the flow obstruction and support arm.

England, John D.↗

Improved Traps for Removing Gases From Coolant Liquids

Two documents discuss improvements in traps for removing noncondensable gases (e.g., air) from heat-transfer liquids (e.g., water) in spacecraft cooling systems. Noncondensable gases must be removed because they can interfere with operation. A typical trap includes a cylindrical hydrophobic membrane inside a cylindrical hydrophilic membrane, all surrounded by an outer cylindrical impermeable shell. The input mixture of gas bubbles and liquid flows into the annular volume between the membranes. Bubbles pass into the central hollow of the hydrophobic membrane and are vented. The liquid flows outward through the hydrophilic membrane and is recirculated.

Holladay, John↗

Development of a Telescoping Vaned Exhaust Nozzle for the ASTOVL LiftFan(Trademark) Application

A discussion on the development of a Telescoping, Vaned, Exhaust Nozzle (TEVEN) is presented. This nozzle was challenged to meet the thrust vectoring requirements of an Advanced Short Takeoff and Vertical Landing (ASTOVL) aircraft. The nozzle underwent a development process from concepts to detail design using computational flow analyses and from subscale performance verification tests to full-scale hardware design. The LiftFan(Trademark) nozzle is capable of providing a pitch vector range of about 80 degrees from up to 20 degrees forward to 60 degrees aft. In addition, a set of post exit yaw doors provide +/- 10 degrees yaw while maintaining a relatively high performance at all operating conditions. Further, the nozzle is axially compact, to be stowable in very short length (LJD less than 0.3), while efficiently converging the upstream nozzle flow from an annular cross section to a "D" shape at the nozzle exit. The discussion includes a review of various nozzle concepts, viscous flow analyses, and results from 1/3 scale nozzle model tests conducted at NASA LeRC Powered Lift Facility (PLF) in 1994.

Sokhey, Jack S.↗

Enhancing Even Gas Distribution in Porous Media with Radial Flow

Packed beds, such as those used in thermal energy storage (TES) systems, typically use flow from one end to the other. This axial flow configuration leads to inefficiencies due to dispersion effects and high pressure drop. Instead of axial flow, this work proposes radial flow in packed beds, where a central tube provides flow that transports fluid from the center to the bed’s wall. Radial flow could be a promising solution to increase the efficiency of charging/discharging processes in TES systems. For instance, studies have been conducted on the thermal behavior during the charging process using radial flow and axial flow, and it was found that radial flow is better than axial flow in terms of thermal performance, where more energy can be stored in the storage tank during the charging process. However, the design of the radial pipe should be optimized to improve even flow distribution. In this work, numerical investigations on different designs were analyzed to enhance even flow gas distribution in the porous media when using this radial technique. This work shows the impact of different parameters on the even flow distribution into the packed bed for two different designs: 1) one radial tube at the center to provide the radial flow along with an annular tube at the wall to receive the flow, and 2) one radial tube at the center and four radial tubes at the wall. Air was used as fluid and 6 mm alumina beads as packing materials. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models in COMSOL Multiphysics were used to simulate the behavior of air flow through the piping and packed bed. It was found that the flow into the bed from the radial tube can be affected by different parameters: space between the holes, size/diameter of the holes, number of segments/zones, number of the holes in each zone and the length of each zone.

Beck, David M.↗