Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Particle properties”

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 775 records · Page 43
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1991

Particle acceleration near X-type magnetic neutral lines

The behavior of charged particles near X-type magnetic neutral lines is investigated. The magnetic field is taken to be hyperbolic and time stationary, with a uniform electric field perpendicular to the magnetic field. The general properties of the orbits of noninteracting particles in that field geometry are examined. Approximate analytic solutions to the orbit equations are derived by considering a magnetic-insulation picture where there is a hole in the magnetic insulation around the neutral line. Scaling laws for the dependence of the energy gain on strengths of the magnetic and electric fields are derived. The kinetic-energy distribution function for accelerated particles is derived for particles flowing past the neutral line. These analytic derivations are supported by computer simulations, in which the relativistic equations of motion for single test particles are numerically solved and the orbits and kinetic-energy gains of the particles are obtained. A number of simulations were performed and one parameter at a time was varied. Applications of the results to magnetic-neutral-line regions in space physics and astrophysics are possible.

Deeg, Hans-Jorg↗
NASA NTRS2006

Single-Particle Measurements of Midlatitude Black Carbon and Light-Scattering Aerosols from the Boundary Layer to the Lower Stratosphere

A single-particle soot photometer (SP2) was flown on a NASA WB-57F high-altitude research aircraft in November 2004 from Houston, Texas. The SP2 uses laser-induced incandescence to detect individual black carbon (BC) particles in an air sample in the mass range of approx.3-300 fg (approx.0.15-0.7 microns volume equivalent diameter). Scattered light is used to size the remaining non-BC aerosols in the range of approx.0.17-0.7 microns diameter. We present profiles of both aerosol types from the boundary layer to the lower stratosphere from two midlatitude flights. Results for total aerosol amounts in the size range detected by the SP2 are in good agreement with typical particle spectrometer measurements in the same region. All ambient incandescing particles were identified as BC because their incandescence properties matched those of laboratory-generated BC aerosol. Approximately 40% of these BC particles showed evidence of internal mixing (e.g., coating). Throughout profiles between 5 and 18.7 km, BC particles were less than a few percent of total aerosol number, and black carbon aerosol (BCA) mass mixing ratio showed a constant gradient with altitude above 5 km. SP2 data was compared to results from the ECHAM4/MADE and LmDzT-INCA global aerosol models. The comparison will help resolve the important systematic differences in model aerosol processes that determine BCA loadings. Further intercomparisons of models and measurements as presented here will improve the accuracy of the radiative forcing contribution from BCA.

Schwartz, J. P.↗
NASA NTRS2018

A13H-2537: Above Cloud Aerosol Optical Properties in the South East Atlantic from airborne observations during ORACLES

Aerosol overlying marine stratocumulus clouds is a persistent feature in the southeast Atlantic during the biomass burning season, July through November. We sampled aerosol and cloud from an airborne research platform, the NASA P3, during the deployments of ObseRvations of CLouds above Aerosols and their intEractionS (ORACLES) encompassing the peak biomass burning season. We used the Spectrometer for Sky-Scanning, Sun-Tracking Atmospheric Research (4STAR) to quantify the aerosol’s optical properties, notably the aerosol optical depth (AOD) by directly measuring the amount of light attenuation. We present an overview of very recent AOD measurements and contrast those to previous deployments. We observed an average AOD at 500 nm of 0.33 (0.30) in September 2016 (August 2017), with similar spatial dependence as observed by the MODIS instrument on board the TERRA and AQUA satellites. We also show full spectral vertical dependence of AOD from flight profiles, which compares favorably to the integrated aerosol extinction profile obtained by the active remote sensing High Spectral Resolution Lidar-2 (HSRL-2). We also present a quantification of the gap extent separating cloud top and aerosol layer bottom. Using hyperspectral transmitted light measurements from 4STAR, in conjunction with hyperspectral hemispheric irradiance measurements from the Solar Spectral Flux Radiometers (SSFR), we retrieved aerosol intensive properties (asymmetry parameter, single scattering albedo), aerosol size distributions, cloud optical depth (COD), cloud particle effective radius, and cloud thermodynamic phase. Cloud properties, also presented here, are obtained from 4STAR measurements of scattered light below clouds.

Samuel E LeBlanc↗
NASA NTRS2015

Use of Existing CAD Models for Radiation Shielding Analysis

The utility of a radiation exposure analysis depends not only on the accuracy of the underlying particle transport code, but also on the accuracy of the geometric representations of both the vehicle used as radiation shielding mass and the phantom representation of the human form. The current NASA/Space Radiation Analysis Group (SRAG) process to determine crew radiation exposure in a vehicle design incorporates both output from an analytic High Z and Energy Particle Transport (HZETRN) code and the properties (i.e., material thicknesses) of a previously processed drawing. This geometry pre-process can be time-consuming, and the results are less accurate than those determined using a Monte Carlo-based particle transport code. The current work aims to improve this process. Although several Monte Carlo programs (FLUKA, Geant4) are readily available, most use an internal geometry engine. The lack of an interface with the standard CAD formats used by the vehicle designers limits the ability of the user to communicate complex geometries. Translation of native CAD drawings into a format readable by these transport programs is time consuming and prone to error. The Direct Accelerated Geometry -United (DAGU) project is intended to provide an interface between the native vehicle or phantom CAD geometry and multiple particle transport codes to minimize problem setup, computing time and analysis error.

Lee, K. T.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Rocket measurements of energetic particles in the midlatitude precipitation zone

Measurements of energetic ion and electron properties as a function of altitude in the midlatitude zone of nighttime energetic particle precipitation are reported. The measurements of particle fluxes, energy spectra and pitch angle distributions were obtained by a Langmuir probe, six energetic particle spectrometers and an electrostatic analyzer on board a Nike Apache rocket launched near the center of the midlatitude zone during disturbed conditions. It is found that the incident flux was primarily absorbed rather than backscattered, and consists of mainly energetic hydrogen together with some helium and a small energetic electron component. Observed differential energy spectra of protons having an exponential energy spectrum, and pitch angle distributions at various altitudes indicate that the energetic particle flux decreases rapidly for pitch angles less than 70 deg. An energetic particle energy flux of 0.002 ergs/sq cm per sec is calculated which indicates the significance of energetic particles as a primary nighttime ionization source for altitudes between 120 and 200 km in the midlatitude precipitation zone.

Voss, H. D.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Adiabatic particle motion in a nearly drift-free magnetic field: Application to the geomagnetic tail

The guiding center motion of particles in a nearly drift free magnetic field is analyzed in order to investigate the dependence of mean drift velocity on equatorial pitch angle, the variation of local drift velocity along the trajectory, and other properties. The mean drift for adiabatic particles is expressed by means of elliptic integrals. Approximations to the twice-averaged Hamiltonian W near z = O are derived, permitting simple representation of drift paths if an electric potential also exists. In addition, the use of W or of expressions for the longitudinal invariant allows the derivation of the twice averaged Liouville equation and of the corresponding Vlasov equation. Bounce times are calculated (using the drift-free approximation), as are instantaneous guiding center drift velocities, which are then used to provide a numerical check on the formulas for the mean drift.

Stern, D. P.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Multiple dataset water-quality analyses in the vicinity of an ocean wastewater plume

The White's Point ocean outfall is the method of disposal for approximately 374 million gallons of treated wastewater per day from Los Angeles County. The photosynthetic characteristics and particle distributions have well-defined properties that can be exploited to yield information on transport of the plume, mixing dynamics, and resuspension of bottom sediments during periods of bottom current velocity in excess of ca. 0.1 m/s. This plume of particles serves as a conservative tracer, which was studied using a number of sampling platforms and strategies, including underway sawtooth, or 'tow-yo' sampling, moored arrays of instruments, stationary profiling, and now for the first time with remotely-sensed multispectral color imagery. Research in this area previously focused on examination of the plume as it relates to the local current field and transport of particles, and on the resuspension of bottom sediments during periods of increased currents. In addition, Wu et al elucidated techniques for separating the particle signal into photosynthetic and nonphotosynthetic components, based on the beam attenuation to chlorophyll fluorescence ratio. High-frequency time series measurements of the current field and bio-optical characteristics at a site close to the waste diffusers were also collected. These are being analyzed for the spectral characteristics of the longer-timescale variability, in order to predict particle transport through simple meteorological measurements. With the advent of high spectral and spatial resolution imaging spectrometers such as AVIRIS, it is now possible to construct causal relationships between particle distributions and signature of the upwelled radiance from the surface. The availability of a constant and well-characterized source of material lends itself well to models which predict upwelled radiance from the surface. The availability of a constant and well-characterized source of material lends itself well to models which predict upwelled light as a function of particle distributions, photosynthetic pigments, colored dissolved organic material, and detrital and degradation products of photosynthesis. In addition, the spatial coverage provided by the tow-yo sampling device, combined with the profile measurements of the light field, should facilitate the best inverse modeling attempts possible thus far.

Hamilton, Michael↗
NASA NTRS2002

Decoupling the Role of Particle Inertia and Gravity on Particle Dispersion

Particle dispersion and the influence that particle momentum exchange has on the properties of a turbulent carrier flow in micro-gravity environments challenge present understanding and predictive schemes. The objective of this effort has been to develop and assess high-fidelity simulation tools for predicting particle transport within micro-gravity environments suspended in turbulent flows. The computational technique is based on Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) of the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. The particular focus of the present work is on the class of dilute flows in which particle volume fractions and inter-particle collisions are negligible. Particle motion is assumed to be governed by drag with particle relaxation times ranging from the Kolmogorov scale to the Eulerian timescale of the turbulence and particle mass loadings up to one. The velocity field was made statistically stationary by forcing the low wavenumbers of the flow. The calculations were performed using 96(exp 3) collocation points and the Taylor-scale Reynolds number for the stationary flow was 62. The effect of particles on the turbulence was included in the Navier-Stokes equations using the point-force approximation in which 96(exp 3) particles were used in the calculations. DNS results show that particles increasingly dissipate fluid kinetic energy with increased loading, with the reduction in kinetic energy being relatively independent of the particle relaxation time. Viscous dissipation in the fluid decreases with increased loading and is larger for particles with smaller relaxation times. Fluid energy spectra show that there is a non-uniform distortion of the turbulence with a relative increase in small-scale energy. The non-uniform distortion significantly affects the transport of the dissipation rate, with the production and destruction of dissipation exhibiting completely different behaviors. The spectrum of the fluid-particle energy exchange rate shows that the fluid drags particles at low wavenumbers while the converse is true at high wavenumbers for small particles. A spectral analysis shows that the increase of the high wavenumber portion of the fluid energy spectrum can be attributed to transfer of the fluid-particle covariance by the fluid turbulence. This in turn explains the relative increase of small-scale energy caused by small particles observed in the present simulations as well as those of others.

Squires, Kyle D.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Feasibility of reduced gravity experiments involving quiescent, uniform particle cloud combustion

The study of combustible particle clouds is of fundamental scientific interest as well as a practical concern. The principal scientific interests are the characteristic combustion properties, especially flame structure, propagation rates, stability limits, and the effects of stoichiometry, particle type, transport phenomena, and nonadiabatic processes on these properties. The feasibility tests for the particle cloud combustion experiment (PCCE) were performed in reduced gravity in the following stages: (1) fuel particles were mixed into cloud form inside a flammability tube; (2) when the concentration of particles in the cloud was sufficiently uniform, the particle motion was allowed to decay toward quiescence; (3) an igniter was energized which both opened one end of the tube and ignited the suspended particle cloud; and (4) the flame proceeded down the tube length, with its position and characteristic features being photographed by high-speed cameras. Gravitational settling and buoyancy effects were minimized because of the reduced gravity enviroment in the NASA Lewis drop towers and aircraft. Feasibility was shown as quasi-steady flame propagation which was observed for fuel-rich mixtures. Of greatest scientific interest is the finding that for near-stoichiometric mixtures, a new mode of flame propagation was observed, now called a chattering flame. These flames did not propagate steadily through the tube. Chattering modes of flame propagation are not expected to display extinction limits that are the same as those for acoustically undisturbed, uniform, quiescent clouds. A low concentration of fuel particles, uniformly distributed in a volume, may not be flammable but may be made flammable, as was observed, through induced segregation processes. A theory was developed which showed that chattering flame propagation was controlled by radiation from combustion products which heated the successive discrete laminae sufficiently to cause autoignition.

Ross, Howard D.↗
NASA NTRS2026

Satellite Optical Remote Sensing of Clouds and Aerosols: From Particle Single-Scattering and Gaseous Absorption Through Radiative Transfer to Retrieval Products

Clouds and aerosols are fundamental regulators of Earth’s radiation budget and climate system, influencing both solar and terrestrial radiation through scattering, absorption, and emission processes. Accurate characterization of their physical and radiative properties from space requires a rigorous understanding of particle single-scattering, gaseous absorption, and radiative transfer in the atmosphere, as well as reliable inversion methods. This review synthesizes the physical foundations and algorithmic implementations of satellite-based passive optical remote sensing of clouds and aerosols, spanning the ultraviolet to thermal infrared spectral range. Beginning with electromagnetic scattering theory and state-of-the-art methods for computing single-scattering by nonspherical particles and computationally efficient methods for accounting for atmospheric absorption, we discuss the radiative transfer framework underpinning cloud and aerosol retrievals. The connection between single-scattering and multiple-scattering is rigorously formulated. We then summarize operational and research-grade retrieval techniques, including cloud masking and thermodynamic phase determination, CO₂ slicing for cloud-top pressure, the Nakajima-King shortwave bi-spectral, and infrared split-window approaches for cloud optical thickness and effective particle size, inversion algorithms for determining aerosol properties from multi-spectral and/or multi-angle radiometric and polarimetric measurements, and active-passive sensing synergy. Examples of the global cloud and aerosol climatologies are illustrated using observations from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR). Furthermore, the unique strengths of active remote sensing techniques based on spaceborne lidar observations are briefly elaborated in the context of studying ice clouds composed of randomly and horizontally oriented ice crystals, which is a significant challenge for conventional passive remote sensing techniques. By connecting physical theory to practical retrievals, this review highlights both the maturity of current methodologies and the remaining challenges in reducing uncertainties in particle morphology, vertical structure, absorption, and aerosol-cloud interactions. Furthermore, the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on atmospheric remote sensing is briefly addressed.

Aerosols↗
NASA NTRS1988

Optical measurements of soot in premixed flames

Two laser diagnostic techniques were used to measure soot volume fractions, number densities and soot particle radii in premixed propane/oxygen flat flames. The two techniques were two wavelength extinction, using 514.5 to 632.8 nm and 457.9 to 632.8 nm wavelength combinations, and extinction/scattering using 514.5 nm light. The flames were fuel rich and had cold gas velocities varying from 3.4 to 5.5 cm/s. Measurements were made at various heights above the sintered bronze, water colored flat flame burner with the equivalence ratio and cold gas velocity fixed. Also, measurements were made at a fixed height above the burner and fixed cold gas velocity while varying the equivalence ratio. Both laser techniques are based on the same underlying assumptions of particle size distribution and soot optical properties. Full Mie theory was used to determine the extinction coefficients and the scattering efficiencies. Temperature measurements in the flame were made using infrared radiometry and fine wire thermocouples. Good agreement between the two techniques in terms of soot particle radii, number density and volume fraction was found for intensity ratios between 0.1 and 0.8.

Lyons, Valerie J.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Modeled Aerosol Optical Properties From Measurement-Based Mixtures of Chemical Species: Assessing the Impacts of Particle Morphology and Absorption

This report serves as the final report for the Colorado State University portion of this grant. The original grant was awarded to CSU under the direction of co-Principal Investigators Kirk Fuller and Sonia Kreidenweis. Upon Dr. Fuller's relocation to the University of Alabama - Huntsville, the major portion of the award was also relocated. The following summarizes only that work completed by Prof. Kreidenweis under her remaining award.

Kreidenweis, Sonia↗
NASA NTRS1984

Effect of particulate thermophoresis in reducing the fouling rate advantages of effusion-cooling

To predict small-particle diffusional mass transfer (deposition), including particle thermophoresis, transpiration cooling, and variable properties, the coupled ordinary differential equations governing self-similar laminar boundary layers are solved numerically. Under typical combustion turbine conditions, although diffusional deposition rates can be dramatically reduced by transpiration cooling (e.g., by some 5-decades for mainstream submicron particles corresponding to a Schmidt number of about 100 and a wall transpiration-cooled to Tw/Te = 0.8), actual deposition rate reductions will be smaller than previously expected (by about 1 decade for particles with Sc of about 100), owing to thermophoretic particle drift caused by the colder wall. Such microdroplets, small enough to behave like heavy molecules in combustion systems, are often important because they can cause adherence of the much larger ash particles which inertially impact on the same surface.

Gokoglu, S. A.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Individual Aerosol Particles from Biomass Burning in Southern Africa Compositions and Aging of Inorganic Particles: Compositions and Aging of Inorganic Particles - 2

Individual aerosol particles collected over southern Africa during the SAFARI 2000 field study were studied using transmission electron microscopy and field-emission scanning electron microscopy. The sizes, shapes, compositions, mixing states, surface coatings, and relative abundances of aerosol particles from biomass burning, in boundary layer hazes, and in the free troposphere were compared, with emphasis on aging and reactions of inorganic smoke particles. Potassium salts and organic particles were the predominant species in the smoke, and most were internally mixed. More KCl particles occur in young smoke, whereas more K2SO4 and KNO3 particles were present in aged smoke. This change indicates that with the aging of the smoke, KCl particles from the fires were converted to K2SO4 and KNO3 through reactions with sulfur- and nitrogen- bearing species from biomass burning as well as other sources. More soot was present in smoke from flaming grass fires than bush and wood fires, probably due to the predominance of flaming combustion in grass fires. The high abundance of organic particles and soluble salts can affect the hygroscopic properties of biomass-burning aerosols and therefore influence their role as cloud condensation nuclei. Particles from biomass burning were important constituents of the regional hazes.

Li, Jia↗
NASA NTRS1988

Optical measurements of soot and temperature profiles in premixed propane-oxygen flames

Two laser diagnostic techniques were used to measure soot volume fractions, number densities and soot particle radii in premixed propane/oxygen flat flames. The two techniques used were two wavelength extinction, using 514.5 nm to 632.8 nm and 457.9 nm to 632.8 nm wavelength combinations, and extinction/scattering using 514.5 nm light. The flames wre fuel-rich (equivalence ratios from 2.1 to 2.8) and had cold gas velocities varying from 3.4 to 5.5 cm/s. Measurements were made at various heights above the sintered-bronze, water-cooled flat flame burner with the equivalence ratio and cold gas velocity fixed. Also, measurements were made at a fixed height above the burner and fixed cold gas velocity while varying the equivalence ratio. Both laser techniques are based on the same underlying assumptions of particle size distribution and soot optical properties. Full Mie theory was used to determine the extinction coefficients K sub ext, and the scattering efficiencies, Q sub vv. Temperature measurements in the flames were made using infrared radiometry. Good agreement between the two techniques in terms of soot particle radii, number density and volume fraction was found for intensity ratios (I/I sub o) between 0.1 and 0.8. For intensity ratios higher or lower than this range, the differences in extinction coefficients at the wavelengths chosen for the two-wavelength method are too small to give accurate results for comparing particle radii and number densities. However, when comparing only soot volume fractions, the agreement between the two techniques continued to be good for intensity ratios up to 0.95.

Lyons, Valerie J.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Optical measurements of soot and temperature profiles in premixed propane-oxygen flames

Two laser diagnostic techniques were used to measure soot volume fractions, number densities and soot particle radii in premixed propane/oxygen flat flames. The two techniques used were two wavelength extinction, using 514.5 nm to 632.8 nm and 457.9 nm to 632.8 nm wavelength combinations, and extinction/scattering using 514.5 nm light. The flames were fuel-rich (equivalence ratios from 2.1 to 2.8) and had cold gas velocities varying from 3.4 to 5.5 cm/s. Measurements were made at various heights above the sintered-bronze, water-cooled flat flame burner with the equivalence ratio and cold gas velocity fixed. Also, measurements were made at a fixed height above the burner and fixed cold gas velocity while varying the equivalence ratio. Both laser techniques are based on the same underlying assumptions of particle size distribution and soot optical properties. Full Mie theory was used to determine the extinction coefficients K sub ext, and the scattering efficiencies, Q sub vv. Temperature measurements in the flames were made using infrared radiometry. Good agreement between the two techniques in terms of soot particle radii, number density and volume fraction was found for intensity ratios (I/I sub o) between 0.1 and 0.8. For intensity ratios higher or lower than this range, the differences in extinction coefficients at the wavelengths chosen for the two-wavelength method are too small to give accurate results for comparing particle radii and number densities. However, when comparing only soot volume fractions, the agreement between the two techniques continued to be good for intensity ratios up to 0.95.

Lyons, V. J.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Ground Based Studies of Thermocapillary Flows in Levitated Drops: Analytical Part

The main objectives of the analytical part of this investigation are to study the fluid flow phenomena together with the thermal effects on drops levitated in an acoustic field. To a large extent, experimentation on ground requires a strong acoustic field that has a significant interference with other thermal-fluid effects. While most of the work has been directed towards particles in strong acoustic fields to overcome gravity, some results for microgravity have been obtained. One of the objectives was to obtain the thermocapillary flow in a spot-heated drop, and set up a model for the prediction of thermophysical properties. In addition, for acoustically levitated particles, a clear understanding of the underlying fluid mechanics was required. Also, the interaction of acoustics with steady and pulsating thermal stimuli was required to be analyzed. The experimental part of the work was funded through JPL, and has been reported separately.

Sadhal, S. S.↗
NASA NTRS2017

A Hierarchical Relationship Between the Fluence Spectra and CME Kinematics in Large Solar Energetic Particle Events: A Radio Perspective

We report on further evidence that solar energetic particles are organized by the kinematic properties of coronal mass ejections (CMEs). In particular, we focus on the starting frequency of type II bursts, which is related to the distance from the Sun where the radio emission starts. We find that the three groups of solar energetic particle (SEP) events known to have distinct values of CME initial acceleration, also have distinct average starting frequencies of the associated type II bursts. SEP events with ground level enhancement (GLE) have the highest starting frequency (107 MHz), while those associated with filament eruption (FE) in quiescent regions have the lowest starting frequency (22 MHz); regular SEP events have intermediate starting frequency (81 MHz). Taking the onset time of type II bursts as the time of shock formation, we determine the shock formation heights measured from the Sun center. We find that the shocks form on average closest to the Sun (1.51 Rs) in GLE events, farthest from the Sun in FE SEP events (5.38 Rs), and at intermediate distances in regular SEP events (1.72 Rs). Finally, we present the results of a case study of a CME with high initial acceleration (approx.3 km s-2) and a type II radio burst with high starting frequency (approx. 200 MHz) but associated with a minor SEP event. We find that the relation between the fluence spectral index and CME initial acceleration continues to hold even for this minor SEP event.

Gopalswamy, N.↗