SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “NUCLEATION”

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.

SourceResearch connectionFrom yearThrough year

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

At least 415 records · Page 23

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

DOE OSTI2019

Investigating Helium Bubble Nucleation and Growth through Simultaneous In-Situ Cryogenic, Ion Implantation, and Environmental Transmission Electron Microscopy

Palladium can readily dissociate molecular hydrogen at its surface, and rapidly accept it onto the octahedral sites of its face-centered cubic crystal structure. This can include radioactive tritium. As tritium β-decays with a half-life of 12.3 years, He-3 is generated in the metal lattice, causing significant degradation of the material. Helium bubble evolution at high concentrations can result in blister formation or exfoliation and must therefore be well understood to predict the longevity of materials that absorb tritium. A hydrogen over-pressure must be applied to palladium hydride to prevent hydrogen from desorbing from the metal, making it difficult to study tritium in palladium by methods that involve vacuum, such as electron microscopy. Recent improvements in in-situ ion implantation Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) allow for the direct observation of He bubble nucleation and growth in materials. In this work, we present results from preliminary experiments using the new ion implantation Environmental TEM (ETEM) at the University of Huddersfield to observe He bubble nucleation and growth, in-situ, in palladium at cryogenic temperatures in a hydrogen environment. After the initial nucleation phase, bubble diameter remained constant throughout the implantation, but bubble density increased with implantation time. β-phase palladium hydride was not observed to form during the experiments, likely indicating that the cryogenic implantation temperature played a dominating role in the bubble nucleation and growth behavior.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2026

The Fate of Nucleated Black Holes in de Sitter Quantum Gravity

The Euclidean Nariai geometry has long been proposed as the instanton describing the nucleation of maximal-mass black holes in de Sitter space. We place this interpretation on firmer footing by showing that, once an observer is included, the gravitational path integral produces the imaginary phase required for a transition rate. As a warmup, we revisit the Hawking-Moss instanton and, as a byproduct, find that scalar fields can enhance black-hole nucleation, suggesting a quantum-gravity bound on scalar potentials with de Sitter solutions. We then study the subsequent semiclassical evolution of the nucleated black hole. We show that the previously claimed "anti-evaporation" channel is unphysical, arising from a quantum state with singular horizons. In a smooth state, the black hole instead undergoes standard thermal Hawking evaporation. We verify explicit agreement with the no-boundary state and argue that this evaporation is not subject to large quantum-gravity corrections. The nucleated black hole thus evaporates completely back to the maximally-entropic empty de Sitter vacuum, making the full process a Boltzmann fluctuation.

FOS: Physical sciences↗

DOE OSTI2014

Influence of surface morphology on the immersion mode ice nucleation efficiency of hematite particles

In this paper, the effect of the morphological modification of aerosol particles with respect to heterogeneous ice nucleation is comprehensively investigated for laboratory-generated hematite particles as a model substrate for atmospheric dust particles. The surface-area-scaled ice nucleation efficiencies of monodisperse cubic hematite particles and milled hematite particles were measured with a series of expansion cooling experiments using the Aerosol Interaction and Dynamics in the Atmosphere (AIDA) cloud simulation chamber. Complementary offline characterization of physico-chemical properties of both hematite subsets were also carried out with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and an electro-kinetic particle charge detector to further constrain droplet-freezing measurements of hematite particles. Additionally, an empirical parameterization derived from our laboratory measurements was implemented in the single-column version of the Community Atmospheric Model version 5 (CAM5) to investigate the model sensitivity in simulated ice crystal number concentration on different ice nucleation efficiencies. From an experimental perspective, our results show that the immersion mode ice nucleation efficiency of milled hematite particles is almost an order of magnitude higher at -35.2 °C < T < -33.5 °C than that of the cubic hematite particles, indicating a substantial effect of morphological irregularities on immersion mode freezing. Our modeling results similarly show that the increased droplet-freezing rates of milled hematite particles lead to about one order magnitude higher ice crystal number in the upper troposphere than cubic hematite particles. Finally and overall, our results suggest that the surface irregularities and associated active sites lead to greater ice activation through droplet freezing.

Hiranuma, N.↗

DOE OSTI2017

Contribution of feldspar and marine organic aerosols to global ice nucleating particle concentrations

Ice-nucleating particles (INPs) are known to affect the amount of ice in mixed-phase clouds, thereby influencing many of their properties. The atmospheric INP concentration changes by orders of magnitude from terrestrial to marine environments, which typically contain much lower concentrations. Many modelling studies use parameterizations for heterogeneous ice nucleation and cloud ice processes that do not account for this difference because they were developed based on INP measurements made predominantly in terrestrial environments without considering the aerosol composition. Errors in the assumed INP concentration will influence the simulated amount of ice in mixed-phase clouds, leading to errors in top-of-atmosphere radiative flux and ultimately the climate sensitivity of the model. Here we develop a global model of INP concentrations relevant for mixed-phase clouds based on laboratory and field measurements of ice nucleation by K-feldspar (an ice-active component of desert dust) and marine organic aerosols (from sea spray). The simulated global distribution of INP concentrations based on these two species agrees much better with currently available ambient measurements than when INP concentrations are assumed to depend only on temperature or particle size. Underestimation of INP concentrations in some terrestrial locations may be due to the neglect of INPs from other terrestrial sources. Our model indicates that, on a monthly average basis, desert dusts dominate the contribution to the INP population over much of the world, but marine organics become increasingly important over remote oceans and they dominate over the Southern Ocean. However, day-to-day variability is important. Because desert dust aerosol tends to be sporadic, marine organic aerosols dominate the INP population on many days per month over much of the mid- and high-latitude Northern Hemisphere. This study advances our understanding of which aerosol species need to be included in order to adequately describe the global and regional distribution of INPs in models, which will guide ice nucleation researchers on where to focus future laboratory and field work.

Vergara-Temprado, Jesús (ORCID:0000000231050946)↗

DOE OSTI2018

Marine and terrestrial influences on ice nucleating particles during continuous springtime measurements in an Arctic oilfield location

Abstract. Aerosols that serve as ice nucleating particles (INPs) have the potential to modulate cloud microphysical properties and can therefore impact cloud radiative forcing (CRF) and precipitation formation processes. In remote regions such as the Arctic, aerosol–cloud interactions are severely understudied yet may have significant implications for the surface energy budget and its impact on sea ice and snow surfaces. Further, uncertainties in model representations of heterogeneous ice nucleation are a significant hindrance to simulating Arctic mixed-phase cloud processes. We present results from a campaign called INPOP (Ice Nucleating Particles at Oliktok Point), which took place at a US Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (DOE ARM) facility in the northern Alaskan Arctic. Three time- and size-resolved aerosol impactors were deployed from 1 March to 31 May 2017 for offline ice nucleation and chemical analyses and were co-located with routine measurements of aerosol number and size. The largest particles (i.e., ≥ 3 µ m or “coarse mode”) were the most efficient INPs by inducing freezing at the warmest temperatures. During periods with snow- and ice-covered surfaces, coarse mode INP concentrations were very low (maximum of 6 × 10 -4 L -1 at - 15 ° C), but higher concentrations of warm-temperature INPs were observed during late May (maximum of 2 × 10 -2 L -1 at - 15 ° C). These higher concentrations were attributed to air masses originating from over open Arctic Ocean water and tundra surfaces. To our knowledge, these results represent the first INP characterization measurements in an Arctic oilfield location and demonstrate strong influences from mineral and marine sources despite the relatively high springtime pollution levels. Ultimately, these results can be used to evaluate the anthropogenic and natural influences on aerosol composition and Arctic cloud properties.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2019

A comprehensive characterization of ice nucleation by three different types of cellulose particles immersed in water

Abstract. We present the laboratory results of immersion freezing efficiencies of cellulose particles at supercooled temperature ( T ) conditions. Three types of chemically homogeneous cellulose samples are used as surrogates that represent supermicron and submicron ice-nucleating plant structural polymers. These samples include microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), fibrous cellulose (FC) and nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC). Our immersion freezing dataset includes data from various ice nucleation measurement techniques available at 17 different institutions, including nine dry dispersion and 11 aqueous suspension techniques. With a total of 20 methods, we performed systematic accuracy and precision analysis of measurements from all 20 measurement techniques by evaluating T -binned (1  ° C) data over a wide T range ( - 36  ° C  < T < - 4   ° C). Specifically, we intercompared the geometric surface area-based ice nucleation active surface site (INAS) density data derived from our measurements as a function of T , n s,geo ( T ) . Additionally, we also compared the n s,geo ( T ) values and the freezing spectral slope parameter ( Δ log ( n s , geo ) / Δ T ) from our measurements to previous literature results. Results show all three cellulose materials are reasonably ice active. The freezing efficiencies of NCC samples agree reasonably well, whereas the diversity for the other two samples spans ≈  10  ° C. Despite given uncertainties within each instrument technique, the overall trend of the n s,geo ( T ) spectrum traced by the T -binned average of measurements suggests that predominantly supermicron-sized cellulose particles (MCC and FC) generally act as more efficient ice-nucleating particles (INPs) than NCC with about 1 order of magnitude higher n s,geo ( T ) .

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2024

Cluster-dynamics-based parameterization for sulfuric acid–dimethylamine nucleation: comparison and selection through box and three-dimensional modeling

Clustering of gaseous sulfuric acid (SA) enhanced by dimethylamine (DMA) is a major mechanism for new particle formation (NPF) in polluted atmospheres. However, uncertainty remains regarding the SA–DMA nucleation parameterization that reasonably represents cluster dynamics and is applicable across various atmospheric conditions. This uncertainty hinders accurate three-dimensional (3-D) modeling of NPF and the subsequent assessment of its environmental and climatic impacts. Here we extensively compare different cluster-dynamics-based parameterizations for SA–DMA nucleation and identify the most reliable one through a combination of box model simulations, 3-D modeling, and in situ observations. Results show that the parameterization derived from Atmospheric Cluster Dynamic Code (ACDC) simulations, incorporating the latest theoretical insights (DLPNO-CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ//ωB97X-D/6-311++G(3df,3pd) level of theory) and adequate representation of cluster dynamics, exhibits dependable performance in 3-D NPF simulation for both winter and summer conditions in Beijing and shows promise for application in diverse atmospheric conditions. Another ACDC-derived parameterization, replacing the level of theory with RI-CC2/aug-cc-pV(T+d)Z//M06-2X/6–311++G(3df,3pd), also performs well in NPF modeling at relatively low temperatures around 280 K but exhibits limitations at higher temperatures due to inappropriate representation of SA–DMA cluster thermodynamics. Additionally, a previously reported parameterization incorporating simplifications is applicable for simulating NPF in polluted atmospheres but tends to overestimate particle formation rates under conditions of elevated temperature (>∼300 K) and low-condensation sink (<∼3×10 -3 s −1 ). Our findings highlight the applicability of the new ACDC-derived parameterization, which couples the latest SA–DMA nucleation theory and holistic cluster dynamics, in 3-D NPF modeling. The ACDC-derived parameterization framework provides a valuable reference for developing parameterizations for other nucleation systems.

Shen, Jiewen↗

NASA NTRS1971

Noise analysis of nucleate boiling

The techniques of noise analysis have been utilized to investigate nucleate pool boiling. A simple experimental setup has been developed for obtaining the power spectrum of a nucleate boiling system. These techniques were first used to study single bubbles, and a method of relating the two-dimensional projected size and the local velocity of the bubbles to the auto-correlation functions is presented. This method is much less time consuming than conventional methods of measurement and has no probes to disturb the system. These techniques can be used to determine the contribution of evaporation to total heat flux in nucleate boiling. Also, these techniques can be used to investigate the effect of various parameters upon the frequency response of nucleate boiling. The predominant frequencies of the power spectrum correspond to the frequencies of bubble generation. The effects of heat input, degree of subcooling, and liquid surface tension upon the power spectra of a boiling system are presented. It was found that the degree of subcooling has a more pronounced effect upon bubble size than does heat flux. Also the effect of lowering surface tension can be sufficient to reduce the effect of the degree of subcooling upon the size of the bubbles.

Mcknight, R. D.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Nonstationary homogeneous nucleation

A computer calculation was made of the relaxation time to steady-state nucleation in a supersaturated vapor. A binary-collision model of nucleation based on classical liquid-drop thermodynamics was used. The nondimensional nucleation relaxation time is plotted as a function of the critical drop size for various values of the surface-tension parameter. The curves permit a rough estimation of the limit of the validity of steady-state nucleation theory.

Harstad, K. G.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Experimental studies of the vapor phase nucleation of refractory compounds. I - The condensation of SiO

The critical partial pressure of SiO necessary to initiate avalanche nucleation in the SiO-H2 system is measured as a function of the ambient temperature in the range 750-1000 K. Results show that the condensate produced at low temperatures is Si2O3, while a mixture of Si2O3 and amorphous SiO2 is produced at high temperatures. A surface energy of approximately 500 ergs/sq cm for the particles is found by analyzing the critical partial pressure vs temperature using classical nucleation theory. It is concluded that classical nucleation theory is not applicable to this system, because several inconsistencies in the thermodynamic analysis are demonstrated, and it is suggested that a kinetic theory of nucleation may be the preferential way to describe the condensation process.

Nuth, J. A.↗

NASA NTRS1985

A study of the applicability of nucleation theory to quasi-thermodynamic transformations of second and higher Ehrenfest-order

Transient and steady-state phenomena in temperature, stress, and electric, field intensity in ferroelectric polymers were investigated. The application and extension of the theory in the primary stage to the polarization domain nucleation and growth in ferroelectric polymers were developed. The kinetics of this growth were investigated. Expressions describing nucleation under the influence of an electric field were found through the expansion of the Gibbs' free energy in a Maclaurin series. The series was expanded in the electric field strength rather than the degree of undercooling. The resulting expressions were manipulated and applied to the case of nucleation of polarized domains in ferroelectric polymers. The kinetics of the nucleation and growth of polarized domains are also investigated. This was accomplished through the modification of the Johnson-Mehl-Avrami treatment of crystallization kinetics to be applicable to the growth of polarization domains in ferroelectric materials.

Barker, R. E., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1985

On the possibility of critical radius measurements in the homogeneous crystal nucleation of glass

The potential of determining the liquid-crystal surface tension during crystal nucleation in inorganic glasses without measuring the nucleation rate is examined analytically. Attention is focused on the feasibility of measuring the critical radius of the crystal nuclei as a function of temperature in order to obtain the surface tension values. Two approximate expressions are defined for the upper and lower bounds of the bulk free energy of crystallization per unit volume. The expressions, when used for a validated approximation for the critical radius, show that the critical radius is a function of the undercooling and the molar volume. The minimum undercooling necessary for detecting homogeneous crystal nucleation is then calculated, which yields an upper limit to the critical radius in the range 10-15 A. Since the size range is too small for detection, the critical radius is not a useful measure for crystal nucleation studies.

Weinberg, M. C.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Microgravity nucleation and particle coagulation experiments support

A hollow sphere model is developed to predict the range of supersaturation ratio values for refractory metal vapors in a proposed experimental nucleation apparatus. Since the experiments are to be carried out in a microgravity environment, the model neglects the effects of convection and assumes that the only transfer of vapors through an inert gas atmosphere is by conduction and molecular diffusion. A consistent set of physical properties data is assembled for the various candidate metals and inert ambient gases expected to be used in the nucleation experiments. Transient partial pressure profiles are computed for the diffusing refractory species for two possible temperature distributions. The supersaturation ratio values from both candidate temperature profiles are compared with previously obtained experimetnal data on a silver-hydrogen system. The model is used to simulate the diffusion of magnesium vapor through argon and other inert gas atmospheres over ranges of initial and boundary conditions. These results identify different combinations of design and operating parameters which are liekly to produce supersaturation ratio values high enough to induce homogeneous nucleation in the apparatus being designed for the microgravity nucleation experiments.

Lilleleht, L. U.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Experimental correlation of melt structures, nucleation rates, and thermal histories of silicate melts

The theory and measurement of the structure of liquids is an important aspect of modern metallurgy and igneous petrology. Liquid structure exerts strong controls on both the types of crystals that may precipitate from melts and on the chemical composition of those crystals. An interesting aspect of melt structure studies is the problem of melt memories; that is, a melt can retain a memory of previous thermal history. This memory can influence both nucleation behavior and crystal composition. This melt memory may be characterized quantitatively with techniques such as Raman, infrared and NMR spectroscopy to provide information on short-range structure. Melt structure studies at high temperature will take advantage of the microgravity conditions of the Space Station to perform containerless experiments. Melt structure determinations at high temperature (experiments that are greatly facilitated by containerless technology) will provide invaluable information for materials science, glass technology, and geochemistry. In conjunction with studies of nucleation behavior and nucleation rates, information relevant to nucleation in magma chambers in terrestrial planets will be acquired.

Boynton, W. V.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Nucleation in the presence of long-range interactions

Unlike droplet nucleation near a liquid-gas critical point, the decay of metastable phases in crystalline materials is strongly affected by the presence of long-range forces. Field quench experiments performed on the ferroelectric barium titanate indicate that nucleation in this material is markedly different from that observed in liquids. In this paper, a theory for nucleation at a first-order phase transition in which the mediating forces are long range is presented. It is found that the long-range force induces cooperative nucleation and growth processes, and that this feedback mechanism produces a well-defined delay time with a sharp onset in the transformation to the stable phase. Closed-form expressions for the characteristic onset time and width of the transition are developed, in good agreement with numerical and experimental results.

Chandra, P.↗

NASA NTRS1988

The critical complex in nucleation is not the nucleus

A theory of nucleation is presented which combines features of classical nucleation. In this theory, the nucleus is a cluster of finite size with a sharp interface and spinodal decomposition, in which a fluctuation in density or composition generates the critical complex and nucleus. Thus, the nucleus is a product of nucleation. Schematic models for the classical and the proposed routes to nucleation are compared, focusing on the relation between pressure and volume in the models. In the proposed model, the critical complex, or critical state, is between the parent state and the nucleus.

Rasmussen, Don H.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Phase transformation kinetics in finite inhomogeneously nucleated systems

Phase transformation kinetics that occur by a nucleation and growth process are investigated. A simple discrete space and time model is used for the dynamics and analytical results are obtained for the volume fraction of the material transformed for both finite systems and a special example of an inhomogeneously nucleated system. The theory is developed for two cases, initial nucleation, and continuous nucleation. The results are compared with simulations of the model.

Weinberg, Michael↗

NASA NTRS1992

Microgravity nucleation and particle coagulation experiments support

Modifications to the nucleation apparatus suggested by our first microgravity flight campaign are complete. These included a complete 'repackaging' of the equipment into three racks along with an improved vapor spout shutter mechanism and additional thermocouples for gas temperature measurements. The 'repackaged' apparatus was used in two KC-135 campaigns: one during the week of June 3, 1991 consisting of two flights with Mg and two with Zn, and another series consisting of three flights with Zn during the week of September 23, 1991. Our effort then was focused on the analysis of these data, including further development of the mathematical models to generate the values of temperature and supersaturation at the observed points of nucleation. The efforts to apply Hale's Scaled Nucleation Theory to our experimental data have met with only limited success, most likely due to still inadequate temperature field determination. Work on the development of a preliminary particle collector system designed to capture particles from the region of nucleation and condensation, as well as from other parts of the chamber, are discussed.

Lilleleht, L. U.↗