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At least 649 records · Page 36

A coupled ground heat flux–surface energy balance model of evaporation using thermal remote sensing observations

Abstract. One of the major undetermined problems in evaporation (ET) retrieval using thermal infrared remote sensing is the lack of a physically based ground heat flux (G) model and its integration within the surface energy balance (SEB) equation. Here, we present a novel approach based on coupling a thermal inertia (TI)-based mechanistic G model with an analytical surface energy balance model, Surface Temperature Initiated Closure (STIC, version STIC1.2). The coupled model is named STIC-TI. The model is driven by noon–night (13:30 and 01:30 local time) land surface temperature, surface albedo, and a vegetation index from MODIS Aqua in conjunction with a clear-sky net radiation sub-model and ancillary meteorological information. SEB flux estimates from STIC-TI were evaluated with respect to the in situ fluxes from eddy covariance measurements in diverse ecosystems of contrasting aridity in both the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere. Sensitivity analysis revealed substantial sensitivity of STIC-TI-derived fluxes due to the land surface temperature uncertainty. An evaluation of noontime G (Gi) estimates showed 12 %–21 % error across six flux tower sites, and a comparison between STIC-TI versus empirical G models also revealed the substantially better performance of the former. While the instantaneous noontime net radiation (RNi) and latent heat flux (LEi) were overestimated (15 % and 25 %), sensible heat flux (Hi) was underestimated (22 %). Overestimation (underestimation) of LEi (Hi) was associated with the overestimation of net available energy (RNi−Gi) and use of unclosed surface energy balance flux measurements in LEi (Hi) validation. The mean percent deviations in Gi and Hi estimates were found to be strongly correlated with satellite day–night view angle difference in parabolic and linear pattern, and a relatively weak correlation was found between day–night view angle difference versus LEi deviation. Findings from this parameter-sparse coupled G–ET model can make a valuable contribution to mapping and monitoring the spatiotemporal variability of ecosystem water stress and evaporation using noon–night thermal infrared observations from future Earth observation satellite missions such as TRISHNA, LSTM, and SBG.

Bhattacharya, Bimal K.↗

Multistage Schemes with Multigrid for Euler and Navier-Strokes Equations: Components and Analysis

A class of explicit multistage time-stepping schemes with centered spatial differencing and multigrids are considered for the compressible Euler and Navier-Stokes equations. These schemes are the basis for a family of computer programs (flow codes with multigrid (FLOMG) series) currently used to solve a wide range of fluid dynamics problems, including internal and external flows. In this paper, the components of these multistage time-stepping schemes are defined, discussed, and in many cases analyzed to provide additional insight into their behavior. Special emphasis is given to numerical dissipation, stability of Runge-Kutta schemes, and the convergence acceleration techniques of multigrid and implicit residual smoothing. Both the Baldwin and Lomax algebraic equilibrium model and the Johnson and King one-half equation nonequilibrium model are used to establish turbulence closure. Implementation of these models is described.

Swanson, R. C.↗

Investigating the Effect of the Closure in Partially-Averaged Navier–Stokes Equations

For this study, the importance of the turbulence closure to the modeling accuracy of the partially-averaged Navier–Stokes equations (PANS) is investigated in prediction of the flow around a circular cylinder at Reynolds number of 3900. A series of PANS calculations at various degrees of physical resolution is conducted using three Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations (RANS)-based closures: the standard, shear-stress transport (SST), and turbulent/nonturbulent (TNT) k–ω models. The latter is proposed in this work. The results illustrate the dependence of PANS on the closure. At coarse physical resolutions, a narrower range of scales is resolved so that the influence of the closure on the simulations accuracy increases significantly. Among all closures, PANS–TNT achieves the lowest comparison errors. The reduced sensitivity of this closure to freestream turbulence quantities and the absence of auxiliary functions from its governing equations are certainly contributing to this result. It is demonstrated that the use of partial turbulence quantities in such auxiliary functions calibrated for total turbulent (RANS) quantities affects their behavior. On the other hand, the successive increase of physical resolution reduces the relevance of the closure, causing the convergence of the three models toward the same solution. Finally, this outcome is achieved once the physical resolution and closure guarantee the precise replication of the spatial development of the key coherent structures of the flow.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Numerical solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations for transonic afterbody flows

The time dependent Navier-Stokes equations in mass averaged variables are solved for transonic flow over axisymmetric boattail plume simulator configurations. Numerical solution of these equations is accomplished with the unsplit explict finite difference algorithm of MacCormack. A grid subcycling procedure and computer code vectorization are used to improve computational efficiency. The two layer algebraic turbulence models of Cebeci-Smith and Baldwin-Lomax are employed for investigating turbulence closure. Two relaxation models based on these baseline models are also considered. Results in the form of surface pressure distribution for three different circular arc boattails at two free stream Mach numbers are compared with experimental data. The pressures in the recirculating flow region for all separated cases are poorly predicted with the baseline turbulence models. Significant improvements in the predictions are usually obtained by using the relaxation models.

Swanson, R. C., Jr.↗

Computational fluid dynamic modeling of fluidized-bed polymerization reactors

Polyethylene is one of the most widely used plastics, and over 60 million tons are produced worldwide every year. Polyethylene is obtained by the catalytic polymerization of ethylene in gas and liquid phase reactors. The gas phase processes are more advantageous, and use fluidized-bed reactors for production of polyethylene. Since they operate so close to the melting point of the polymer, agglomeration is an operational concern in all slurry and gas polymerization processes. Electrostatics and hot spot formation are the main factors that contribute to agglomeration in gas-phase processes. Electrostatic charges in gas phase polymerization fluidized bed reactors are known to influence the bed hydrodynamics, particle elutriation, bubble size, bubble shape etc. Accumulation of electrostatic charges in the fluidized-bed can lead to operational issues. In this work a first-principles electrostatic model is developed and coupled with a multi-fluid computational fluid dynamic (CFD) model to understand the effect of electrostatics on the dynamics of a fluidized-bed. The multi-fluid CFD model for gas-particle flow is based on the kinetic theory of granular flows closures. The electrostatic model is developed based on a fixed, size-dependent charge for each type of particle (catalyst, polymer, polymer fines) phase. The combined CFD model is first verified using simple test cases, validated with experiments and applied to a pilot-scale polymerization fluidized-bed reactor. The CFD model reproduced qualitative trends in particle segregation and entrainment due to electrostatic charges observed in experiments. For the scale up of fluidized bed reactor, filtered models are developed and implemented on pilot scale reactor.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Influence of Superparameterization and a Higher-Order Turbulence Closure on Rainfall Bias Over Amazonia in Community Atmosphere Model Version 5

In this work, we evaluate the Community Atmosphere Model Version 5 (CAM5) with a higher-order turbulence closure scheme, named Cloud Layers Unified By Binomials (CLUBB), and a Multiscale Modeling Framework (MMF) with two different microphysics configurations to investigate their influences on rainfall simulations over Southern Amazonia. The two different microphysics configurations in MMF are the one-moment cloud microphysics without aerosol treatment (SAM1MOM) and two-moment cloud microphysics coupled with aerosol treatment (SAM2MOM). Results show that both MMF-SAM2MOM and CLUBB effectively reduce the low biases of rainfall, mainly during the wet season. The CLUBB reduces low biases of humidity in the lower troposphere with further reduced shallow clouds. The latter enables more surface solar flux, leading to stronger convection and more rainfall. MMF, especially MMF-SAM2MOM, unstablizes the atmosphere with more moisture and higher atmospheric temperatures in the atmospheric boundary layer, allowing the growth of more extreme convection and further generating more deep convection. MMF-SAM2MOM significantly increases rainfall in the afternoon, but it does not reduce the early bias of the diurnal rainfall peak; LUBB, on the other hand, delays the afternoon peak time and produces more precipitation in the early morning, due to more realistic gradual transition between shallow and deep convection. MMF appears to be able to realistically capture the observed increase of relative humidity prior to deep convection, especially with its two-moment configuration. In contrast, in CAM5 and CAM5 with CLUBB, occurrence of deep convection in these models appears to be a result of stronger heating rather than higher relative humidity.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Uncertainty Quantification of Multi-Phase Closures

In the ensemble-averaged dispersed phase formulation used for CFD of multiphase ows in nuclear reactor thermohydraulics, closures of interphase transfer of mass, momentum, and energy constitute, by far, the biggest source of error and uncertainty. Reliable estimators of this source of error and uncertainty are currently non-existent. Here, we report on how modern Validation and Uncertainty Quanti cation (VUQ) techniques can be leveraged to not only quantify such errors and uncertainties, but also to uncover (unintended) interactions between closures of di erent phenomena. As such this approach serves as a valuable aide in the research and development of multiphase closures. The joint modeling of lift, drag, wall lubrication, and turbulent dispersion|forces that lead to tranfer of momentum between the liquid and gas phases|is examined in the frame- work of validation of the adiabatic but turbulent experiments of Liu and Banko , 1993. An extensive calibration study is undertaken with a popular combination of closure relations and the popular k-ϵ turbulence model in a Bayesian framework. When a wide range of super cial liquid and gas velocities and void fractions is considered, it is found that this set of closures can be validated against the experimental data only by allowing large variations in the coe cients associated with the closures. We argue that such an extent of variation is a measure of uncertainty induced by the chosen set of closures. We also nd that while mean uid velocity and void fraction pro les are properly t, uctuating uid velocity may or may not be properly t. This aspect needs to be investigated further. The popular set of closures considered contains ad-hoc components and are undesirable from a predictive modeling point of view. Consequently, we next consider improvements that are being developed by the MIT group under CASL and which remove the ad-hoc elements. We use non-intrusive methodologies for sensitivity analysis and calibration (using Dakota) to study sensitivities of the CFD representation (STARCCM+) of uid velocity pro les and void fraction pro les in the context of Shaver and Podowski, 2015 correction to lift, and the Lubchenko et al., 2017 formulation of wall lubrication.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Effects of cumulus parameterization closures on simulations of summer precipitation over the continental United States

This study examines the effects of five cumulus closure assumptions on simulations of summer precipitation in the continental U.S. by utilizing an ensemble cumulus parameterization (ECP) that incorporates multiple alternate closure schemes into a single cloud model formulation. Results demonstrate that closure algorithms significantly affect the summer mean, daily frequency and intensity, and diurnal variation of precipitation, with strong regional dependence. Overall, the vertical velocity (W) closure produces the smallest summer mean biases, while the moisture convergence (MC) closure most realistically reproduces daily variability. Both closures have advantages over others in simulating U.S. daily rainfall frequency distribution, though both slightly overestimate intense rain events. The MC closure is superior at capturing summer rainfall amount, daily variability, and heavy rainfall frequency over the Central U.S., but systematically produces wet biases over the North American Monsoon (NAM) region and Southeast U.S., which can be reduced by using the W closure. The instability tendency (TD) and the total instability adjustment (KF) closures are better at capturing observed diurnal signals over the Central U.S. and the NAM, respectively. The results reasonably explain the systematic behaviors of several major cumulus parameterizations. A preliminary experiment combining two optimal closures (averaged moisture convergence and vertical velocity) in the ECP scheme significantly reduced the wet (dry) biases over the Southeast U.S. in the summer of 1993 (2003), and greatly improved daily rainfall correlations over the NAM. Further improved model simulation skills may be achieved in the future if optimal closures and their appropriate weights can be derived at different time scales based on specific climate regimes.

Qiao, Fengxue↗

A numerical study of a marine subtropical stratus cloud layer and its stability

A model for numerical simulation of stratus cloud layers is constructed by combining a second-order closure, turbulent transfer model with a thermal radiative transfer model. The turbulent transfer model allows water vapor saturation. The combined turbulence-radiation model is applied to both a horizontally uniform one-dimensional case and a horizontally nonuniform two-dimensional case. In the latter, the dynamics of mesoscale circulations are also incorporated. Results of the two-dimensional simulation show that the layer cloud instability occurs where the sea surface temperature is high and the large-scale subsidence is weak. The simulated instability is analyzed in view of an instability criterion, the eddy kinetic energy budget, and evaporative cooling near the cloud top.

Moeng, C.-H.↗

Estimation of General Area Dose Rates During Closure Weld Operations on the DOE Standard Canister Pacific Basin Nuclear Conference 2024

The Department of Energy (DOE) Spent Nuclear Fuel (SNF) Road Ready Demonstration Project is an effort to package DOE-managed SNF for road-ready dry storage. A key operation in this demonstration is performing the closure weld on the DOE Standard Canister after it has been loaded with the SNF. Planning the closure weld operations is ongoing and must consider what parts of the operations (if any) can be done manually and what parts must be done remotely. A key parameter to inform the evolving planning of these operations is the dose rate in the vicinity of the canister and the dose hazard posed to the closure weld operators and collocated workers. This study developed a Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) model of the closure weld operation, which was used to estimate general area dose rates as well as dose rates to the welding location, weld operators, and collocated workers. These estimates provide some insight into the potential radiation exposure hazard for workers during the operations and are a factor to be considered in the ongoing development of designs, technology, processes, and administrative controls for packaging DOE-managed SNF for road-ready dry storage.

11 - NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Newton-Krylov method in solving drift-flux two-phase flow problems for both pre-CHF and post-CHF conditions at steady state

Furthermore, this paper presents numerical simulations of two-phase flow heat transfer for both pre-CHF and post-CHF conditions typical in light water nuclear reactors. The conjugate heat transfer problem is modeled with one-dimensional drift-flux two-phase flow model for coolant flow and two-dimensional heat conduction equation in solid walls. Fully implicit time integration schemes were employed, and the resulted non-linear equations were solved with a Newton-Krylov method. For the drift-flux two-phase flow model, the EPRI drift-flux closure correlation is used to model the relative motion between the two phases. Additional closure correlations were adopted from REALP5-3D to determine two-phase flow regime, wall boiling heat and mass transfer, interfacial heat and mass transfer, and two-phase flow frictional pressure drop. Three sets of experiments were used for code validation, including Bartolomei subcooled flow boiling in vertical pipes, FRIGG boiling tests in vertical bundles, and Bennett heated tube tests. RELAP5-3D simulation results were also provided to perform code-to-code benchmark. Overall, numerical results of this work showed good agreements with both experimental data and RELAP5-3D simulation results. Discrepancy between them were also identified in post-CHF region, which suggests necessary further improvement.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Analysis of Compressibility Effects and Nonlinear Property Variations in a Supercritical CO2 Mixing Layer

Calculations are performed using the large eddy simulation technique to qualitatively assess the effects of fluid compressibility and thermodynamic nonlinearities on the dynamics of a supercritical flow field. Resulting data are also used to interrogate instantaneous subfilter-scale fields, as modeled by the mixed-dynamic Smagorinsky closure and gradient diffusion model. A three-dimensional wall-resolved calculation of a spatially evolving mixing layer composed solely of carbon dioxide is performed. This is followed by a coarse grid calculation to examine model performance as a function of resolution. Theoretical analysis indicates that the partial derivatives of density with respect to pressure and temperature are important modulators of the temperature and pressure field evolution, respectively. Results pertaining to subfilter velocity-velocity and velocity-temperature fields indicate that the models are most stressed in the regions where compressibility and thermo-fluid nonlinearities dominate the physics.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Development of a Multiphase Adjoint Capability in OpenFOAM

Thermal hydraulic predictions of flow regimes within nuclear reactor cores require significant computational resources and accuracy to ensure that the core design does not violate the thermal limits of materials. Multiphase computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has become a valuable computational capability for predicting flow characteristics as they relate to applications such as nuclear reactor safety and mixing phenomena around spacer grids within fuel assemblies. Multiphase CFD requires closure relationships for both the effects of turbulence as well as the transfer of mass, momentum, and energy between phases. Understanding the sensitivity of the parameters used in closure relationships is important for improving accuracy, but performing rigorous sensitivity analysis is computationally expensive. Adjoint mathematics have been utilized for reactor physics and fluid dynamics applications with respect to verification, sensitivity analysis, adaptive mesh refinement, and optimization. The usage of adjoint methods to predict the sensitivities of a variety of closure relationship parameters within a given problem has been shown to return sensitivity responses with significantly fewer computations than normal 'large-scale' methods. As the complexity of multiphase CFD methods increases, the demand for accurate verification tools and improvements in computational efficiency also increases, making the development of adjoint capabilities an attractive option. Closure relationships that describe interphase momentum physics in multiphase CFD modelling rely heavily on prescribed constants determined from experimental data. Due to the computational efficiency of an adjoint approach, the time to derive these closure relationships could be dramatically reduced, and data assimilation techniques could be used to return probability density functions of closure models derived using experimental data. This work develops a multiphase adjoint capability for the Eulerian-Eulerian two field, two phase equations. Specifically, the adjoint capability has been developed for the sub-cooled nucleate boiling solver boilEulerFoam developed by Dr. Nam Dinh of NC State University within the open-source CFD library OpenFOAM.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

The generalized drift flux approach: Identification of the void-drift closure law

The main characteristics and the potential advantages of generalized drift flux models are presented. In particular it is stressed that the issue on the propagation properties and on the mathematical nature (hyperbolic or not) of the model and the problem of closure are easier to tackle than in two fluid models. The problem of identifying the differential void-drift closure law inherent to generalized drift flux models is then addressed. Such a void-drift closure, based on wave properties, is proposed for bubbly flows. It involves a drift relaxation time which is of the order of 0.25 s. It is observed that, although wave properties provide essential closure validity tests, they do not represent an easily usable source of quantitative information on the closure laws.

Boure, J. A.↗

Large-eddy simulation of compressible turbulence

The increase in the range of length scales with increasing Reynolds number limits the direct simulation of turbulent flows to relatively simple geometries and low Reynolds numbers. However, since most flows of engineering interest occur at much higher Reynolds number than is currently within the capabilities of full simulation, prediction of these flow fields can only be obtained by solving some suitably-averaged set of governing equations. In the traditional Reynolds-averaged approach, the Navier-Stokes equations are averaged over time. This in turn yields correlations between various turbulence fluctuations. It is these terms, e.g. the Reynolds stresses, for which a turbulence model must be derived. Turbulence modeling of incompressible flows has received a great amount of attention in the literature. An area of research that has received comparatively less attention is the modeling of compressible turbulent flows. An approach to simulating compressible turbulence at high Reynolds numbers is through the use of Large-Eddy Simulation (LES). In LES the dependent variables are decomposed into a large-scale (resolved) component and a sub-grid scale component. It is the small-scale components of the velocity field which are presumably more homogeneous than the large scales and, therefore, more easily modeled. Thus, it seems plausible that simpler models, which should be more universal in character than those employed in second-order closure schemes, may be developed for LES of compressible turbulence. The objective of the present research, therefore, is to explore models for the Large-Eddy Simulation of compressible turbulent flows. Given the recent successes of Zeman in second order closure modeling of compressible turbulence, model development was guided by principals employed in second-order closures.

Squires, Kyle D.↗