Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Flow chemistry”

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 253 records · Page 14

An upwind, kinetic flux-vector splitting method for flows in chemical and thermal non-equilibrium

We have developed new upwind kinetic difference schemes for flows with non-equilibrium thermodynamics and chemistry. These schemes are derived from the Boltzmann equation with the resulting Euler schemes developed as moments of the discretized Boltzmann scheme with a locally Maxwellian velocity distribution. Splitting the velocity distribution at the Boltzmann level is seen to result in a flux-split Euler scheme and is called Kinetic Flux Vector Splitting (KFVS). Extensions to flows with finite-rate chemistry and vibrational relaxation is accomplished utilizing nonequilibrium kinetic theory. Computational examples are presented comparing KFVS with the schemes of Van Leer and Roe for a quasi-one-dimensional flow through a supersonic diffuser, inviscid flow through two-dimensional inlet, and viscous flow over a cone at zero angle-of-attack. Calculations are also shown for the transonic flow over a bump in a channel and the transonic flow over an NACA 0012 airfoil. The results show that even though the KFVS scheme is a Riemann solver at the kinetic level, its behavior at the Euler level is more similar to the existing flux-vector splitting algorithms than to the flux-difference splitting scheme of Roe.

Eppard, W. M.↗

PeleLMeX: an AMR Low Mach Number Reactive Flow Simulation Code without level sub-cycling

PeleLMeX simulates chemically reacting low Mach number flows with block-structured adaptive mesh refinement (AMR). The code is built upon the AMReX library, which provides the underlying data structures and tools to manage and operate on them across massively parallel computing architectures. PeleLMeX algorithmic features are inherited from its predecessor PeleLM but key improvements allow representation of more complex physical processes. Together with its compressible flow counterpart PeleC, the thermo-chemistry library PelePhysics and the multi-physics library PeleMP, it forms the Pele suite of open-source reactive flow simulation codes.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Development of an in situ thermal conductivity measurement for the lunar heat flow experiment.

Discussion of the design and calibration of the heat flow experiment of the Apollo Lunar Scientific Experiments Package (ALSEP). The principal objective is to gain evidence on the bulk chemistry of the moon. The heat flow is determined by making independent measurements of the vertical temperature gradient and the thermal conductivity in the inner surface layer (the regolith). Attention is given to the errors associated with the experimental technique. The low thermal conductivity of the regolith layer presents both advantages and disadvantages in heat flow measurement.

Langseth, M. G., Jr.↗

Adaptation of multidimensional group particle tracking and particle wall-boundary condition model to the FDNS code

A particulate two-phase flow CFD model was developed based on the FDNS code which is a pressure based predictor plus multi-corrector Navier-Stokes flow solver. Turbulence models with compressibility correction and the wall function models were employed as submodels. A finite-rate chemistry model was used for reacting flow simulation. For particulate two-phase flow simulations, a Eulerian-Lagrangian solution method using an efficient implicit particle trajectory integration scheme was developed in this study. Effects of particle-gas reaction and particle size change to agglomeration or fragmentation were not considered in this investigation. At the onset of the present study, a two-dimensional version of FDNS which had been modified to treat Lagrangian tracking of particles (FDNS-2DEL) had already been written and was operational. The FDNS-2DEL code was too slow for practical use, mainly because it had not been written in a form amenable to vectorization on the Cray, nor was the full three-dimensional form of FDNS utilized. The specific objective of this study was to reorder to calculations into long single arrays for automatic vectorization on the Cray and to implement the full three-dimensional version of FDNS to produce the FDNS-3DEL code. Since the FDNS-2DEL code was slow, a very limited number of test cases had been run with it. This study was also intended to increase the number of cases simulated to verify and improve, as necessary, the particle tracking methodology coded in FDNS.

Chen, Y. S.↗

Computations of ideal and real gas high altitude plume flows

In the present work, complete flow fields around generic space vehicles in supersonic and hypersonic flight regimes are studied numerically. Numerical simulation is performed with a flux-split, time asymptotic viscous flow solver that incorporates a generalized equilibrium chemistry model. Solutions to generic problems at various altitude and flight conditions show the complexity of the flow, the equilibrium chemical dissociation and its effect on the overall flow field. Viscous ideal gas solutions are compared against equilibrium gas solutions to illustrate the effect of equilibrium chemistry. Improved solution accuracy is achieved through adaptive grid refinement.

Feiereisen, William J.↗

Forebody and base region real gas flow in severe planetary entry by a factored implicit numerical method. II - Equilibrium reactive gas

The factored-implicit, gas-dynamic algorithm has been adapted to the numerical simulation of equilibrium reactive flows. Changes required in the perfect gas version of the algorithm are developed, and the method of coupling gas-dynamic and chemistry variables is discussed. A flow-field solution that approximates a Jovian entry case was obtained by this method and compared with the same solution obtained by HYVIS, a computer program much used for the study of planetary entry. Comparison of surface pressure distribution and stagnation line shock-layer profiles indicates that the two solutions agree well.

Davy, W. C.↗

The development of flux-split algorithms for flows with non-equilibrium thermodynamics and chemical reactions

A finite-volume method for the numerical computation of flows with nonequilibrium thermodynamics and chemistry is presented. A thermodynamic model is described which simplifies the coupling between the chemistry and thermodynamics and also results in the retention of the homogeneity property of the Euler equations (including all the species continuity and vibrational energy conservation equations). Flux-splitting procedures are developed for the fully coupled equations involving fluid dynamics, chemical production and thermodynamic relaxation processes. New forms of flux-vector split and flux-difference split algorithms are embodied in a fully coupled, implicit, large-block structure, including all the species conservation and energy production equations. Several numerical examples are presented, including high-temperature shock tube and nozzle flows. The methodology is compared to other existing techniques, including spectral and central-differenced procedures, and favorable comparisons are shown regarding accuracy, shock-capturing and convergence rates.

Grossman, B.↗

Fast algorithm for calculating chemical kinetics in turbulent reacting flow

This paper addresses the need for a fast batch chemistry solver to perform the kinetics part of a split operator formulation of turbulent reacting flows, with special attention focused on the solution of the ordinary differential equations governing a homogeneous gas-phase chemical reaction. For this purpose, a two-part predictor-corrector algorithm which incorporates an exponentially fitted trapezoidal method was developed. The algorithm performs filtering of ill-posed initial conditions, automatic step-size selection, and automatic selection of Jacobi-Newton or Newton-Raphson iteration for convergence to achieve maximum computational efficiency while observing a prescribed error tolerance. The new algorithm, termed CREK1D (combustion reaction kinetics, one-dimensional), compared favorably with the code LSODE when tested on two representative problems drawn from combustion kinetics, and is faster than LSODE.

Radhakrishnan, K.↗

Assessment of Reduced-Kinetics Mechanisms for Combustion of Jet Fuel in CFD Applications

A computational effort was undertaken to analyze the details of fluid flow in Lean-Direct Injection (LDI) combustors for next-generation LDI design. The National Combustor Code (NCC) was used to perform reacting flow computations on single-element LDI injector configurations. The feasibility of using a reduced chemical-kinetics approach, which optimizes the reaction rates and species to model the emissions characteristics typical of lean-burning gas-turbine combustors, was assessed. The assessments were performed with Reynolds- Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) and Time-Filtered Navier Stokes (TFNS) time-integration, with a Lagrangian spray model with the NCC code. The NCC predictions for EINOx and combustor exit temperature were compared with experimental data for two different single-element LDI injector configurations, with 60deg and 45deg axially swept swirler vanes. The effects of turbulence-chemistry interaction on the predicted flow in a typical LDI combustor were studied with detailed comparisons of NCC TFNS with experimental data.

Ajmani, Kumud↗

Flow Enhanced Electrochemical Sensor Performance in Complex Salt Systems

To advance MSR MC&A practices, Argonne National Laboratory developed and optimized robust flow enhanced electrochemical sensors (FEES) and multielectrode array voltammetry sensors (MAVS) which provide accurate near-real time measurements of actinides in molten salts. Flow-enhanced electrochemical sensors are installed directly into MSR flow conduits for inline salt chemistry measurement, while MAVS are deployed in quiescent salt conditions enabling online species concentration determination in stationary salt vessels. This report summarizes efforts to improve electrochemical sensor technological readiness through (1) sensor testing in complex, high concentration molten salt systems to demonstrate low uncertainty actinide measurements in MSR-representative solutions and (2) demonstrations of sensor performance in challenging real-world conditions in collaboration with partner MSR institutions.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

FY24 LLNL Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Project Accomplishments

Large duration energy storage is the key to couple renewable energy generation with power supply. This project aimed to advance the durability of a low-cost and eco-friendly flow battery technology based on iron chemistry to speed up the technology readiness level rapidly and radically. A novel device which is called “an artificial kidney” was innovated through disruptive research to integrate with the flow battery for rebalancing capacity. Key results at 50 cm2 scale demonstrates that artificial kidney enabled retaining the storage capacity of the flow battery over 100 cycles. Comparison of outcome of this work showing 0% capacity degradation to the state-of-the-art technology corroborates that this novel system is a game changing innovation.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗

Low-Temperature Plasma Assisted Kinetics Study of Ethanol

Non-equilibrium plasma assisted kinetics of ethanol at 0.5 atm over a temperature range of 523-1203 K were studied at stoichiometric conditions by using a plasma flow reactor (PFR). The effects of plasma chemistry on fuel and its influence on neutral chemistry is decoupled with both experimental and modelling efforts. Enhanced reactivity was observed experimentally in both plasma-assisted oxidation and pyrolysis cases with fuel consumption beginning at temperatures as low as 523 K. Absolute fuel consumption was observed at temperatures nearly 200 K earlier than pure thermal reactions highlighting the effectiveness of non-equilibrium plasma to promote reactivity. Furthermore, modelling results illustrated the effect of electron impact reactions towards accelerating fuel consumption and promoting low temperature chemistry by generating excited state N2 and reactive O and OH radicals.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Understanding latent timescales in neural ordinary differential equation models of advection-dominated dynamical systems

The neural ordinary differential equation (ODE) framework has shown considerable promise in recent years in developing highly accelerated surrogate models for complex physical systems characterized by partial differential equations (PDEs). For PDE-based systems, state-of-the-art neural ODE strategies leverage a two-step procedure to achieve this acceleration: a nonlinear dimensionality reduction step provided by an autoencoder, and a time integration step provided by a neural-network based model for the resultant latent space dynamics (the neural ODE). This work explores the applicability of such autoencoder-based neural ODE strategies for PDEs in which advection terms play a critical role. More specifically, alongside predictive demonstrations, physical insight into the sources of model acceleration (i.e., how the neural ODE achieves its acceleration) is the scope of the current study. Such investigations are performed by quantifying the effects of both autoencoder and neural ODE components on latent system time-scales using eigenvalue analysis of dynamical system Jacobians. To this end, the sensitivity of various critical training parameters – de-coupled versus end-to-end training, latent space dimensionality, and the role of training trajectory length, for example – to both model accuracy and the discovered latent system timescales is quantified. Furthermore, this work specifically uncovers the key role played by the training trajectory length (the number of rollout steps in the loss function during training) on the latent system timescales: larger trajectory lengths correlate with an increase in limiting neural ODE time-scales, and optimal neural ODEs are found to recover the largest time-scales of the full-order (ground-truth) system. Demonstrations are performed across fundamentally different unsteady fluid dynamics configurations influenced by advection: (1) the Kuramoto–Sivashinsky equations (2) Hydrogen-Air channel detonations (the compressible reacting Navier–Stokes equations with detailed chemistry), and (3) 2D Atmospheric flow.

Advection-dominated dynamical systems↗

Carbon-Carbon Aeroshell Chemical Reaction Model in an Open RPS in Martian Environment

A new RPS is being designed to be open to the vacuum of space to improve its thermal efficiency during deep space missions. This design, however, could lead to some potential complications if it is ever used in the low-pressure gas environment of mission destinations like Mars. This report documents the development of a chemical kinetics reaction model of the FWPF carbon-carbon aeroshell in the Martian gaseous environment. This model uses an “infinite sink” assumption where the RPS is open to the Martian environment with open exchange of flowing gases, so the gas chemistry over the aeroshell does not change with the reaction and represents the worst case scenario of the chemical reaction of the FWPF in the Martian environment. The model combines the kinetics equation of both oxidation reactions that would occur on Mars: the Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetics of the Boudouard reaction of CO 2 with the chemical kinetics of O 2 oxidation of the carbon-carbon. The FWPF chemical reaction model was benchmarked using the Opila’s experimental chemical reaction test data (1) in a simulated Martian environment to increase the validity of the model’s predicted mass loss rate. The output of the benchmarked chemical reaction model showed a trade-off between the maximum temperature of the aeroshell to have less than 10% reaction at the mission life. For example, an RPS with a five-year intended mission life on Mars has a maximum aeroshell temperature of 835 K / 562 °C, increasing the mission life to ten years reduces the maximum operating temperature to 810 K / 527 °C. If the aeroshell operating temperature in the new RPS on the surface of Mars is 960 Kelvin, the model calculates that the life is limited to 0.22 years / 81 days. Increasing the aeroshell temperature to 1343 Kelvin, further reduces the life to 0.375 days / 9 hrs. This illustrates the thermally activated nature of the chemical kinetics model in limiting the life of the aeroshell.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

In Situ Infrared Spectroscopy of a Plasma Jet and Data-Driven Solution of Multi-Scale Plasma Chemistry Problems

Multi-scale problems are commonly known in many scientific and engineering fields where microscopic behaviors are coupled with macroscopic processes. This is also an unsolved problem in low-temperature plasma chemistry where hundreds of chemical species are involved in thousands of chemical reactions. To address this problem, a physics-informed data-driven modeling is developed to solve such a multi-scale problem using the experimental Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) measurements of several species’ concentrations. The modeling based on modern machine learning techniques provides concentrations of other relevant species along with the electron temperature and gas temperature at the location of FTIR measurements. For example, the concentrations O, OH, and H 2 O 2 play key roles in plasma-based cancer therapy. This approach overcomes the multi-scale difficulties of microscopic low-temperature plasma chemistry coupling with macroscopic gas flow and allows the acquisition of a full picture of output species concentrations. Presented here for the helium-air jet at atmospheric pressure, the ML-based modeling can be used to describe and possibly control multiscale systems using partial experimental data sets.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

The computation of non-equilibrium chemically-reacting flows

Numerical techniques for the analysis of flows with nonequilibrium thermodynamics and chemistry are developed and demonstrated. Particular attention is given to the formulation of the thermodynamic and chemical gas models, the derivation of the governing equations, and the solution procedures. Results for typical problems involving shock tubes and supersonic diffusers are presented in extensive graphs and briefly characterized.

Grossman, B.↗