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At least 613 records · Page 34

Comprehensive uncertainty quantification (UQ) for full engineering models by solving probability density function (PDF) equation

This report details a new method for propagating parameter uncertainty (forward uncertainty quantification) in partial differential equations (PDE) based computational mechanics applications. The method provides full-field quantities of interest by solving for the joint probability density function (PDF) equations which are implied by the PDEs with uncertain parameters. Full-field uncertainty quantification enables the design of complex systems where quantities of interest, such as failure points, are not known apriori. The method, motivated by the well-known probability density function (PDF) propagation method of turbulence modeling, uses an ensemble of solutions to provide the joint PDF of desired quantities at every point in the domain. A small subset of the ensemble is computed exactly, and the remainder of the samples are computed with approximation of the driving (dynamics) term of the PDEs based on those exact solutions. Although the proposed method has commonalities with traditional interpolatory stochastic collocation methods applied directly to quantities of interest, it is distinct and exploits the parameter dependence and smoothness of the dynamics term of the governing PDEs. The efficacy of the method is demonstrated by applying it to two target problems: solid mechanics explicit dynamics with uncertain material model parameters, and reacting hypersonic fluid mechanics with uncertain chemical kinetic rate parameters. A minimally invasive implementation of the method for representative codes SPARC (reacting hypersonics) and NimbleSM (finite- element solid mechanics) and associated software details are described. For solid mechanics demonstration problems the method shows order of magnitudes improvement in accuracy over traditional stochastic collocation. For the reacting hypersonics problem, the method is implemented as a streamline integration and results show very good accuracy for the approximate sample solutions of re-entry flow past the Apollo capsule geometry at Mach 30.

42 ENGINEERING↗

A multi-Physics Experiment for Low-Yield Nuclear Explosion Monitoring

A series of multi-physics experiments, referred to as Physics Experiment 1 (PE1) is underway at the United States’ Nevada National Security Site (NNSS). The PE1 series includes detonations of three underground chemical explosions in P-tunnel, with fully coupled (PE1 A), partially decoupled (PE1 D L ), and fully decoupled (PE1 B) emplacements. Canisters with gas tracers are imbedded in the explosives, and the tracers are released when the canister is destroyed by the detonation. A dedicated electromagnetic (EM) experiment (EMX) generates well-characterized EM signals at an underground location near the chemical explosive experiments. A series of atmospheric experiments (METEX, REACT, and METREX) release smoke and radioactive tracers around Aqueduct Mesa to test gas transport in complex topography. Each of the chemical explosive experiments includes a network of sensors to record seismic, acoustic, and electromagnetic waves, measurement of atmospheric conditions, and air sample collection for measurement of tracer concentration. EMX records EM signals underground and on the surface of Aqueduct Mesa. METEX, REACT, and METREX include measurement of atmospheric condition, as well as tracking smoke releases. REACT and METREX add low-level radioactive gas tracers to the atmospheric releases.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Development of Hydrogen Burner for FT4000® Aeroderivative Engine - Final Report

This report details an effort to develop a retrofittable fuel/air injector for the FT4000® aeroderivative gas turbine that enables use of hydrogen as a carbon-free fuel for efficient power generation. The FT4000 engine’s low-NOx combustor was developed by Pratt & Whitney and RTX Technology Research Center with core technology from the Pratt & Whitney PW4000 turbofan aircraft engine. The current FT4000 production engine operates on either natural gas or No. 2 fuel oil with water injection to achieve high thermal efficiency and low emissions. This engine is fielded by Mitsubishi Power Aero and delivers 70 MW of power with a simple-cycle efficiency of over 41% when operating with wet compression. The work reported here advances the technology readiness level of the FT4000 combustor for operation with hydrogen, starting with an experimental assessment of the current production hardware with increasing hydrogen content mixed with natural gas and ending with improved nozzle concepts for fully robust operation with 100% hydrogen. High-pressure single-sector combustor rig tests have been completed, demonstrating the ability for the dual fuel nozzle to operate an FT4000 combustor on 100% hydrogen with low nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. Metal temperature measurements and video images of the flame structure from zero to 100% hydrogen highlight opportunities to improve the fuel nozzle robustness for high hydrogen conditions. The design of new fuel/air mixer concepts to improve durability and operability with high hydrogen levels was also completed. A total of eleven new concepts were developed and analyzed, ranging from modifications to the bill-of-materials nozzle to fully clean sheet designs. The concepts were evaluated with non-reacting and reacting flow evaluations to assess the performance of the new hardware designs. Non-reacting tests included Phase Doppler Particle Analysis (PDPA) for droplet size and velocity, mechanical patternation for liquid water flux, and planar laser induced fluorescence (PLIF) with acetone-seeding for gaseous fuel/air mixing characterization. Five scaled candidate fuel nozzle designs, in addition to a scaled bill-of-materials nozzle, were then successfully evaluated in an atmospheric pressure burner rig. The nozzles were evaluated for performance with natural gas, hydrogen/natural gas blends, and pure hydrogen. For 100% hydrogen, the nozzles were evaluated with and without water injection. Optical and infrared imaging of the flame and fuel nozzle was captured. NOx emissions were sampled from fixed emissions probes. The results show measurable differences between the various designs, and the data was used to down-select the two most promising designs to advance to future full pressure rig testing. Results from this study have cleared the current production FT4000 engines with dual fuel nozzles to operate at baseload power on blends of hydrogen mixed with natural gas and water. Two promising nozzle designs have been developed to enable fully robust operation with up to 100% hydrogen. These nozzles require validation at full baseload operating conditions before they can be introduced to the field.

03 NATURAL GAS↗

Benzoimidazolium-derived dimeric and hydride n-dopants for organic electron-transport materials: impact of substitution on structures, electrochemistry, and reactivity

1,3-Dimethyl-2,3-dihydrobenzo[ d ]imidazoles, 1H , and 1,1',3,3'-tetramethyl-2,2',3,3'-tetrahydro-2,2'-bibenzo[ d ]imidazoles, 1 2 , are of interest as n-dopants for organic electron-transport materials. Salts of 2-(4-(dimethylamino)phenyl)-4,7-dimethoxy-, 2-cyclohexyl-4,7-dimethoxy-, and 2-(5-(dimethylamino)thiophen-2-yl)benzo[ d ]imidazolium ( 1g–i + , respectively) have been synthesized and reduced with NaBH 4 to 1gH , 1hH , and 1iH , and with Na:Hg to 1g 2 and 1h 2 . Their electrochemistry and reactivity were compared to those derived from 2-(4-(dimethylamino)phenyl)- ( 1b + ) and 2-cyclohexylbenzo[ d ]imidazolium ( 1e + ) salts. E ( 1 + / 1 • ) values for 2-aryl species are less reducing than for 2-alkyl analogues, i.e., the radicals are stabilized more by aryl groups than the cations, while 4,7-dimethoxy substitution leads to more reducing E ( 1 + / 1 • ) values, as well as cathodic shifts in E ( 1 2 •+ / 1 2 ) and E ( 1H •+ / 1H ) values. Both the use of 3,4-dimethoxy and 2-aryl substituents accelerates the reaction of the 1H species with PC 61 BM. Because 2-aryl groups stabilize radicals, 1b 2 and 1g 2 exhibit weaker bonds than 1e 2 and 1h 2 and thus react with 6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene ( VII ) via a “cleavage-first” pathway, while 1e 2 and 1h 2 react only via “electron-transfer-first”. 1h 2 exhibits the most cathodic E ( 1 2 •+ / 1 2 ) value of the dimers considered here and, therefore, reacts more rapidly than any of the other dimers with VII via “electron-transfer-first”. Crystal structures show rather long central C–C bonds for 1b 2 (1.5899(11) and 1.6194(8) Å) and 1h 2 (1.6299(13) Å).

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Reactions of HO2 with carbon monoxide and nitric oxide and of O/1 D/ with water.

Investigation of the reactions of the hydroperoxyl radical with carbon monoxide and nitric oxide in a static system, and reexamination of the reaction of O(1 D) with water. The HO2 radicals were generated by the photolysis of N2O at 2139 A in the presence of excess H2O or H2 and smaller amounts of CO and O2. The O(1 D) atoms produced from the photolysis of N2O react with H2O or with H2 to give OH radicals in the case of H2O or OH radicals and H atoms in the case of H2. With H2O, two OH radicals are produced for each O(1 D) removed at low pressures, but the OH yield drops as the pressure is raised. This drop is attributed to an insertion reaction which removes from 10 to 30% of the O(1 D) atoms at about 650 torr of H2O at 200 F. The OH radicals generated can react with either CO or H2 to produce H atoms, which then add to O2 to produce HO2. In the absence of NO, the HO2 radicals could react by two routes, while with NO present NO2 is produced in a long chain process.

Simonaitis, R.↗

Supersonic Mixing and Combustion in Parallel Injection Flow Fields

Adequate prediction techniques for supersonic, mixing, reacting flows are of great importance in the design and performance analysis of supersonic combustion ramjet (scramjet) engines. Analytical programs for parallel injection flow fields with chemical reaction and turbulent mixing are now available for both single and multiple-jet flows. The application of these analyses to simple flow geometries is discussed, and comparisons also are made with data on the more complex case of multiple-jet, reacting flows. A review is given of Langley investigations of parallel injection flow fields. Among these are single-jet studies of nonreacting, turbulent mixing (H2 in air and H2 in N2), and of reacting turbulent mixing (H2 in air) with both single and multiple jets. Implications of the results of the studies for scramjet fuel injector design are discussed.

Evans, J. S.↗

Aspects of turbulent combustion

A complete second-order closure program for the investigation of chemically reacting turbulent flowfields is being developed. Many of the turbulence models being used have been developed and tested during previous studies of a variety of incompressible and compressible shear flows. A number of additional scalar correlations have to be modeled for chemically reacting flows, and a 'typical eddy' model has been developed for the joint probability density function for all the scalars. A simpler model in which higher-order scalar correlations are set zero is also being used. The program has been recently extended to multi-species, multi-step chemical reactions. Computations have been performed using the second-order closure program to study the turbulence-chemistry interaction in DF chemical laser flows and in a hydrogen-air diffusion flame. The results demonstrate the importance of the inclusion of the concentration and temperature fluctuation correlations in turbulent reacting flows.

Varma, A. K.↗

A second-order closure analysis of turbulent diffusion flames

A complete second-order closure computer program for the investigation of compressible, turbulent, reacting shear layers was developed. The equations for the means and the second order correlations were derived from the time-averaged Navier-Stokes equations and contain third order and higher order correlations, which have to be modeled in terms of the lower-order correlations to close the system of equations. In addition to fluid mechanical turbulence models and parameters used in previous studies of a variety of incompressible and compressible shear flows, a number of additional scalar correlations were modeled for chemically reacting flows, and a typical eddy model developed for the joint probability density function for all the scalars. The program which is capable of handling multi-species, multistep chemical reactions, was used to calculate nonreacting and reacting flows in a hydrogen-air diffusion flame.

Varma, A. K.↗

On the acid disulphate (pyrosulphate) of nitrosyle

Crystallized HS2O7NO was obtained by reacting excess NO2 gas with liquid HSO3Cl. Stable to a melting point of approximately 105 deg, this reacted with nitrates from about 25 deg and formed M2S2O7, with an acid disulphate intermediary. Excess NO2, whether liquid or gas, reacted with HS2O7NO to five (NO)2S2O7.

Wartel, M.↗

Effect of oxygen and nitrogen interactions on friction of single-crystal silicon carbide

Friction studies were conducted with single-crystal silicon carbide contacting silicon carbide and titanium after having been exposed to oxygen and nitrogen in various forms. After they had been sputter cleaned, the surfaces were (1) exposed to gaseous oxygen and nitrogen (adsorption), (2) ion bombarded with oxygen and nitrogen, or (3) reacted with oxygen (SiC only). Auger emission spectroscopy was used to determine the presence of oxygen and nitrogen. The results indicate that the surfaces of silicon carbide with reacted and ion-bombarded oxygen ions give higher coefficients of friction than do argon sputter-cleaned surfaces. The effects of oxygen on friction may be related to the relative chemical, thermodynamic properties of silicon, carbon, and titanium for oxygen. The adsorbed films of oxygen, nitrogen, and mixed gases of oxygen and nitrogen on sputter-cleaned, oxygen-ion bombarded, and oxygen-reacted surfaces generally reduce friction. Adsorption to silicon carbide is relatively weak.

Miyoshi, K.↗

Reactions of yttria-stabilized zirconia with oxides and sulfates of various elements

The reactions between partially stabilized zirconia, containing 8 weight-percent yttria, and oxides and sulfates of various elements were studied at 1200, 1300, and 1400 C for times to 800, 400, and 200 hours, respectively. These oxides and sulfates represent impurities and additives potentially present in gas turbine fuels or impurities in the turbine combustion air as well as the elements of the substrate alloys in contact with zirconia. Based on the results, these compounds can be classified in four groups: (1) compounds which did not react with zirconia (Na2SO4, K2SO4, Cr2O3, Al2O3 and NiO); (2) compounds that reached completely with both zirconia phases (CaO, BaO, and BaSO4); (3) compounds that reacted preferentially with monoclinic zirconia (Na2O, K2O, CoO, Fe2O3, MgO, SiO2, and ZnO); and (4) compounds that reacted preferentially with cubic zirconia (V2O5, P2O5).

Zaplatynsky, I.↗

Reactions of calcium orthosilicate and barium zirconate with oxides and sulfates of various elements

Calcium orthosilicate and barium zirconate were evaluated as the insulation layer of thermal barrier coatings for air cooled gas turbine components. Their reactions with various oxides and sulfates were studied at 1100 C and 1300 C for times ranging up to 400 and 200 hours, respectively. These oxides and sulfates represent potential impurities or additives in gas turbine fuels and in turbine combustion air, as well as elements of potential bond coat alloys. The phase compositions of the reaction products were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. BaZrO3 and 2CaO-SiO2 both reacted with P2O5, V2O5, Cr2O3, Al2O3, and SiO2. In addition, 2CaO-SiO2 reacted with Na2O, BaO, MgO, and CoO and BaZrO3 reacted with Fe2O3.

Zaplatynsky, I.↗

Space Shuttle laminar heating with finite-rate catalytic recombination

Temperature-dependent catalytic recombination coefficients are used to calculate the heat flux to the Space Shuttle Orbiter. With variable entropy boundary-layer edge properties obtained from a reacting inviscid flow-field calculation, the reacting boundary-layer equations are solved along the forward 50 percent of the windward centerline using the boundary-layer integral matrix procedure. The results are compared with fully catalytic and noncatalytic reacting solutions, with equilibrium solutions, and with the Orbiter-design heating rates. The fully catalytic heat fluxes are about equal to the equilibrium predictions; whereas, the finite catalytic results are about 12 to 27 percent lower than the fully catalytic results (approaching the noncatalytic results downstream) and as much as 30 to 50 percent lower than design predictions away from the nose area.

Scott, C. D.↗

Polyvinyl alcohol cross-linked with two aldehydes

A film forming polyvinyl alcohol resin is admixed, in aqueous solution, with a dialdehyde crosslinking agent which is capable of crosslinking the polyvinyl alcohol resin and a water soluble acid aldehyde containing a reactive aldehyde group capable of reacting with hydroxyl groups in the polyvinyl alcohol resin and an ionizable acid hydrogen atom. The dialdehyde is present in an amount sufficient to react with from 1 to 20% by weight of the theoretical amount required to react with all of the hydroxyl groups of the polyvinyl alcohol. The amount of acid aldehyde is from 1 to 50% by weight, same basis, and is sufficient to reduce the pH of the aqueous admixture to 5 or less. The admixture is then formed into a desired physical shape, such as by casting a sheet or film, and the shaped material is then heated to simultaneously dry and crosslink the article.

Sheibley, D. W.↗

The use of superoxide mixtures as air-revitalization chemicals in hyperbaric, self-contained, closed-circuit breathing apparatus

In portable breathing apparatus applications at 1 atm, potassium superoxide (KO2) has exhibited low-utilization efficiency of the available oxygen (O2) and diminished carbon dioxide-(CO2) scrubbing capacity caused by the formation of a fused, hydrated-hydroxide/carbonate product coating on the superoxide granules. In earlier work, it was discovered that granules fabricated from an intimate mixture of KO2 and calcium superoxide, Ca(O2)2, did not exhibit formation of a fused product coating and the utilization efficiency with respect to both O2 release and CO2 absorption was superior to KO2 granules when both types of granules were reacted with humidified CO2 under identified conditions. In the work described here, single pellets of KO2, KO2/Ca(O2), mixtures and commercially available KO2 tables and granules were reacted with a flow of humidified CO2 in helium at 1- and 10-atm total pressure and at an initial temperature of 40 C. In the 1-atm flow tests, the reaction rates and utilization efficiency of the KO2/Ca(O2)2 pellets were markedly superior to the KO2 pellets, tablets, and granules when the samples were reacted under identical conditions. However, at 10 atm, the rates of O2 release and CO2 absorption, as well as the utilization efficiencies of all the superoxide samples, were one-third to one-eighth of the values observed at 1 atm. The decrease in reaction performance at 10 atm compared to that at 1 atm has been attributed principally to the lower bulk diffusivity of the CO2 and H2O reactants in helium at the higher pressure and secondarily to the moderation of the reaction temperature caused by the higher heat capacity of the 10-atm helium.

Wood, P. C.↗

Payload isolation and precision pointing for the 1990's

The design of a pointing system that is applicable for a variety of payloads is examined. The system employs a very soft interface coupled with inertial control torques which use reaction wheels or control moment gyros. The fundamental stability and disturbance rejection characteristics of simple gimbal pointing systems and the soft mounted inertially reacting concept are evaluated and compared. It is observed that in simple and two-stage gimbal systems there is dynamic interaction with the basebody and these types of systems are not applicable for a Space Station/Space Platform environment in which system dynamics are uncertain; however, the soft mounted inertially reacting concept minimizes the dynamic interaction with the basebody and retains stability. It is concluded that the soft mounted inertially reacting concept has the pointing accuracy and disturbance isolation of a free flying spacecraft while still obtaining power, communication, orbit maintenance, and servicing from a basebody.

Sirlin, S. W.↗

Vortex-scalar element calculations of a diffusion flame stabilized on a plane mixing layer

The vortex-scalar element method, a scheme which utilizes vortex elements to discretize the region of high vorticity and scalar elements to represent species or temperature fields, is utilized in the numerical simulations of a two-dimensional reacting mixing layer. Computations are performed for a diffusion flame at high Reynolds and Peclet numbers without resorting to turbulence models. In the nonreacting flow, the mean and fluctuation profiles of a conserved scalar show good agreement with experimental measurements. Results for the reacting flow indicate that for temperature independent kinetics, the chemical reaction begins immediately downstream of the splitter plate where mixing starts. Results for the reacting flow with Arrhenius kinetics show an ignition delay, which depends on reactant temperature, before significant chemical reaction occurs. Harmonic forcing changes the structure of the layer, and concomitantly the rates of mixing and reaction, in accordance with experimental results. Strong stretch within the braids in the nonequilibrium kinetics case causes local flame quenching due to the temperature drop associated with the large convective fluxes.

Ghoniem, Ahmed F.↗

A new PNS code for chemical nonequilibrium flows

A new parabolized Navier-Stokes (PNS) code has been developed to compute the hypersonic laminar flow of a multicomponent, chemically reacting mixture of thermally perfect gases over two-dimensional and axisymmetric bodies. The new PNS code solves the gas dynamic and species conservation equations in a coupled manner using a noniterative, implicit, space-marching finite-difference method. The conditions for well-posedness of the space-marching method have been derived from an eigenvalue analysis of the governing equations. The code has been used to compute hypersonic laminar flow of chemically reacting air over wedges and cones. The results of these computations are in good agreement with the results of reacting boundary-layer calculations.

Prabhu, D. K.↗