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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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419 records · Page 24

CFD Jet Mixing Model Validation Against Zero-Boil-Off Tank (ZBOT) Microgravity Experiment

The Zero-Boil-Off Tank (ZBOT) experiments are a series of small scale two-phase fluids physics experiments conducted aboard the International Space Station (ISS) in 2017. A goal of these experiments is to study various fundamental fluid flow, heat and mass transport, and phase change phenomena that control storage tank pressurization and pressure control in microgravity. In this paper, results of a state-of-the-art two-phase CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) storage tank model are presented and validated against jet mixing data provided by microgravity ZBOT experiments. Jet-ullage interaction was studied in the experiment for different jet speeds representing different flow regimes, and tank fill levels. Effects of various physical parameters, such as, jet angle, gravitational acceleration and surface tension value were investigated. Computational parameters, such as turbulence and surface tension models and interface capturing scheme, affecting jet-ullage interaction were also studied. Computational results were compared to experimental results for model validation.

Turbulence↗

CFD Jet Mixing Model Validation against Zero-Boil-Off Tank (ZBOT) Microgravity Experiment

The Zero-Boil-Off Tank (ZBOT) experiments are a series of small scale two-phase fluids physics experiments conducted aboard the International Space Station (ISS) in 2017. A goal of these experiments is to study various fundamental fluid flow, heat and mass transport, and phase change phenomena that control storage tank pressurization and pressure control in microgravity. In this paper, results of a state-of-the-art two-phase CFD storage tank model are presented and validated against jet mixing data provided by microgravity ZBOT experiments. Jet-ullage interaction was studied in the experiment for different jet speeds representing different flow regimes, and tank fill levels. Effects of various physical parameters, such as, jet angle, gravitational acceleration and surface tension value were investigated. Computational parameters, such as turbulence and surface tension models and interface capturing scheme, affecting jet-ullage interaction were also studied. Computational results were compared to experimental results for model validation.

Mixing↗

A Study into Validating a Coupled Method of Characteristics and Direct Simulation Monte Carlo Method Against Empirical Data

The following will outline the methodology and results of validating a coupled Method of Characteristics (MOC) and Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method. This research focused specifically on modeling plume impingement, induced by Reaction Control System (RCS) thrusters that flew on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA’s) space shuttle Discovery. For each simulation, the continuum portion of the RCS thruster was simulated using MOC for solving hyperbolic Partial Differential Equations (PDEs) and computed with the NASA code, Reacting and Multi-phase Program (RAMP). The solution was then implemented as a starting condition into the NASA DSMC code, Direct Simulation and Monte Carlo Analysis Code (DAC). Typically, DSMC models rely on code-to-code validation for fidelity. The significance of this research is in its ability to validate its models against empirical data. Prior to computing solutions for these simulations, the mesh size and structure were optimized and many variants of DSMC input parameters were iterated on in order to acquire a reliable, mesh-independent, fully optimized numerical solution. This research will discuss the mathematical formulation of MOC for nozzle flow and DSMC for rarefied gases. Additionally, it will provide an explanation of how to implement these mathematical concepts into the two solvers: RAMP and DAC. Ultimately, this research will demonstrate that the overall process illustrated produces results in good agreement with empirical data. As a consequence, the methodology presented is granted an increased level of confidence and will greatly contribute to the aerospace industry and its effort in understanding and predicting rarefied flow fields.

Direct Simulation Monte Carlo Analysis Code↗

Modeling Fuel Droplets in RCS Engine Exhaust Plume

Thrusters are used to maneuver spacecraft in space. Spacecraft maneuvering and attitude control is achieved by accelerating the high temperature and pressure exhaust gases, which are the result of chemical combustion in the case of chemical engines, through the rocket nozzle. Following the end of the nozzle a plume is created containing combustion gases and high velocity droplets of unburnt propellant that with time can erode the surfaces it strikes. A simulation that can accurately model a thruster’s plume can help us reduce the erosion of components struck by the plume. The creation of this simulation can be broken into several parts, and this paper focuses on finding out what distribution of particles along a plane in the nozzle, where combustion can be assumed to be complete, creates the observed particle distribution in the plume. Findings show that unburnt droplets are mostly concentrated in the center of the nozzle or uniformly dispersed within the nozzle.

CFD↗

Validation & Verification of CFD Models for Cryogenic Fluid Management of Propellant Tanks in Space

This article describes the need and the strategy for CFD model development, validation, and verification for Cryogenic Fluid Management (CFM) of Propellant Tanks in Space. It describes the type of CFD models that must be developed to address the future needs of Space CFM. It also discusses the two classes of experiments currently used to validate the fidelity of the CFD models. These two experiment classes are: (a) the small-scale simulant fluid science experiments that are equipped with scientific diagnostics to elucidate the underlying two-phase fluid physics of the CFM processes; and (b) the large-scale cryogenic experiments that assess the engineering performance of the propellant tank for storage and transfer. The current status of the CFD model development and validation is briefly assessed by presenting examples of segregated two-phase flow problems that have been successfully modeled. The future model development directions for CFM situations involving more complex interpenetrating phases are also defined.

Cryogenic Fluid Management↗