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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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At least 847 records · Page 47
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Stability and Control of Burning Tokamak Plasmas with Resistive Walls (Final Report)

This research has focused on quantitative prediction of the stability, control, and equilibrium state evolution in toroidal burning plasmas. The stability of long pulse burning plasmas is highly sensitive to the physics of resonant layers in the plasma, sources of momentum and flow, kinetic effects of energetic particles, and boundary conditions at the wall, including feedback control and error fields. In ITER in particular, the low toroidal flow equilibrium state, sustained primarily by energetic alpha particles from fusion reactions, will require the consideration of all of these key elements to predict quantitatively the stability and evolution. The principal investigators on this proposal are leading experts in the relevant theoretical and computational areas, and aimed to perform computations guided by analytic modeling, to address this physics in realistic configurations. The overall goal is to understand the key physics mechanisms that describe resistive toroidal burning plasmas, surrounded by a resistive wall, under active feedback control. With the physics of the energetic ions, resonant layers, resistive wall, and toroidal momentum transport included, this study will extend from recent publications in theory and simulation of individual effects and move toward predictive modeling for burning plasmas.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
NASA NTRS1967

Molecular collisions. V.

Transport coefficient expressions for collisions between rigid diatomic molecules, using perturbation method

TRANSPORT COEFFICIENT↗
NASA NTRS1972

Dispersion of SST trails in the stratosphere.

A simple theory for the dispersion of the exhaust of a supersonic transport cruising in the stratosphere is presented. This model shows that far downstream from the aircraft, buoyancy dominates the growth of the wake. This growth is limited by the stable stratification of the atmosphere. Data on the visible width of the wake from scaled experiments in a towing tank and from studies on the growth of contrails of subsonic aircraft verify the growth of the wake in an unstratified atmosphere is predicted by the model. This growth is faster than would be predicted for the wake of an axisymmetric body with no buoyancy.

Overcamp, T. J.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Radiative transfer calculated from a Markov chain formalism

The theory of Markov chains is used to formulate the radiative transport problem in a general way by modeling the successive interactions of a photon as a stochastic process. Under the minimal requirement that the stochastic process is a Markov chain, the determination of the diffuse reflection or transmission from a scattering atmosphere is equivalent to the solution of a system of linear equations. This treatment is mathematically equivalent to, and thus has many of the advantages of, Monte Carlo methods, but can be considerably more rapid than Monte Carlo algorithms for numerical calculations in particular applications. We have verified the speed and accuracy of this formalism for the standard problem of finding the intensity of scattered light from a homogeneous plane-parallel atmosphere with an arbitrary phase function for scattering. Accurate results over a wide range of parameters were obtained with computation times comparable to those of a standard 'doubling' routine. The generality of this formalism thus allows fast, direct solutions to problems that were previously soluble only by Monte Carlo methods. Some comparisons are made with respect to integral equation methods.

Esposito, L. W.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Transport properties associated with entry into the atmosphere of Titan

In this paper the transport properties in the atmosphere of Titan and at the shock front and the probe surface for non-ablative entry into Titan's atmosphere are calculated, using the kinetic theory of gases. The species N2, H2, CH4, HCN, N, and H contribute to the transport properties under these conditions. The transport properties were calculated by using accurate potential energy curves for each of the thirteen two-body interactions which occur between these species. Results are given for the binary diffusion coefficients, the non-reactive and reactive thermal conductivity, and the viscosity from 1000 K to 8000 K. This information is needed for calculating flowfield properties and surface heating rates. The most important conclusions are that the non-reactive thermal conductivity is much larger behind the shock layer than it is in the ambient atmosphere and that the nonreactive thermal conductivity appears to be nearly constant in the shock layer.

Flori, B.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Experimental and theoretical deposition rates from salt-seeded combustion gases of a Mach 0.3 burner rig

Deposition rates on platinum-rhodium cylindrical collectors rotating in the cross streams of the combustion gases of a salt-seeded Mach 0.3 burner rig were determined. The collectors were internally air cooled so that their surface temperatures could be widely varied while they were exposed to constant combustion gas temperatures. The deposition rates were compared with those predicted by the chemically frozen boundary layer (CFBL) computer program, which is based on multicomponent vapor transport through the boundary layer. Excellent agreement was obtained between theory and experiment for the NaCl-seeded case, but the agreement lessened as the seed was changed to synthetic sea salt, NaNO3, and K2SO4, respectively, and was particularly poor in the case of Na2SO4. However, when inertial impaction was assumed to be the deposition mechanism for the Na2SO4 case, the predicted rates agreed well with the experimental rates. The former were calculated from a mean particle diameter that was derived from the measured intial droplet size distribution of the solution spray. Critical experiments showed that liquid phase deposits were blown off the smooth surface of the platinum-rhodium collectors by the aerodynamic shear forces of the high-velocity combustion gases but that rough or porous surfaces retained their liquid deposits.

Santoro, G. J.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Heavy doping effects in high efficiency silicon solar cells

A model for bandgap shrinkage in semiconductors is developed and applied to silicon. A survey of earlier experiments, and of new ones, give an agreement between the model and experiments on n- and p-type silicon which is good as far as transport measurements in the 300 K range. The discrepancies between theory and experiment are no worse than the discrepancies between the experimental results of various authors. It also gives a good account of recent, optical determinations of band gap shrinkage at 5 K.

Lindholm, F. A.↗
NASA NTRS1992

The Orbiter Experiments (OEX) Program

The objective of the Orbiter Experiments (OEX) program is to obtain research quality flight data for the augmentation and advancement of space transportation technologies. This includes the validation and advancement of analytical theories and of ground-test methods and techniques. The following topics are discussed: aerothermodynamic design tool development and validation; the freestream environment; trajectory reconstruction; atmospheric reconstruction; the Shuttle Entry Air Data System (SEADS); the Shuttle Upper Atmosphere Mass Spectrometer (SUMS); and aerodynamic forces and moments. The discussion is presented in vugraph form.

Throckmorton, David A.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Introduction to Generalized Functions with Applications in Aerodynamics and Aeroacoustics

Generalized functions have many applications in science and engineering. One useful aspect is that discontinuous functions can be handled as easily as continuous or differentiable functions and provide a powerful tool in formulating and solving many problems of aerodynamics and acoustics. Furthermore, generalized function theory elucidates and unifies many ad hoc mathematical approaches used by engineers and scientists. We define generalized functions as continuous linear functionals on the space of infinitely differentiable functions with compact support, then introduce the concept of generalized differentiation. Generalized differentiation is the most important concept in generalized function theory and the applications we present utilize mainly this concept. First, some results of classical analysis, are derived with the generalized function theory. Other applications of the generalized function theory in aerodynamics discussed here are the derivations of general transport theorems for deriving governing equations of fluid mechanics, the interpretation of the finite part of divergent integrals, the derivation of the Oswatitsch integral equation of transonic flow, and the analysis of velocity field discontinuities as sources of vorticity. Applications in aeroacoustics include the derivation of the Kirchhoff formula for moving surfaces, the noise from moving surfaces, and shock noise source strength based on the Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings equation.

Farassat, F.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Application of QFT to the Problem of Failed In-Flight Controllers During Approach and Landing of a B720 Aircraft

Previous studies by NASA Dryden have shown the use of throttles for emergency flight control to be extremely difficult, especially for landing. Flight control using only the throttles to achieve safe landing for a large jet transport airplane, the Boeing 720, is investigated using Quantitative Feedback Theory (QFT). Results are compared to an augmented control developed in a previous study. The controller corrected unsatisfactory open-loop characteristics by increasing system bandwidth and damping, but improving the control bandwidth substantially proved very difficult. The pitch controller is robust in conditions of no or moderate turbulence. The roll controller performed well in conditions of no turbulence, but is sensitive to moderate turbulence. Handling qualities of the augmented control for approach and landing were evaluated by piloted simulation flights.

Chou, Hwei-Lan↗
NASA NTRS1944

The Theory of a Free Jet of a Compressible Gas

In the present report the theory of free turbulence propagation and the boundary layer theory are developed for a plane-parallel free stream of a compressible fluid. In constructing the theory use was made of the turbulence hypothesis by Taylor (transport of vorticity) which gives best agreement with test results for problems involving heat transfer in free jets.

Abramovich, G. N.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Land Use and Land Cover Change in Forest Frontiers: The Role of Household Life Cycles

Tropical deforestation remains a critical issue given its present rate and a widespread consensus regarding its implications for the global carbon cycle and biodiversity. Nowhere is the problem more pronounced than in the Amazon basin, home to the world's largest intact, tropical forest. This article addresses land cover change processes at household level in the Amazon basin, and to this end adapts a concept of domestic life cycle to the current institutional environment of tropical frontiers. In particular, it poses a risk minimization model that integrates demography with market-based factors such as transportation costs and accessibility. In essence, the article merges the theory of Chayanov with the household economy framework, in which markets exist for inputs (including labor), outputs, and capital. The risk model is specified and estimated, using survey data for 261 small producers along the Transamazon Highway in the eastern sector of the Brazilian Amazon.

Walker, Robert↗
NASA NTRS2008

Differential Cross Section Kinematics for 3-dimensional Transport Codes

In support of the development of 3-dimensional transport codes, this paper derives the relevant relativistic particle kinematic theory. Formulas are given for invariant, spectral and angular distributions in both the lab (spacecraft) and center of momentum frames, for collisions involving 2, 3 and n - body final states.

Norbury, John W.↗
NASA NTRS2017

Applying Graph Theory to Problems in Air Traffic Management

Graph theory is used to investigate three different problems arising in air traffic management. First, using a polynomial reduction from a graph partitioning problem, it isshown that both the airspace sectorization problem and its incremental counterpart, the sector combination problem are NP-hard, in general, under several simple workload models. Second, using a polynomial time reduction from maximum independent set in graphs, it is shown that for any fixed e, the problem of finding a solution to the minimum delay scheduling problem in traffic flow management that is guaranteed to be within n1-e of the optimal, where n is the number of aircraft in the problem instance, is NP-hard. Finally, a problem arising in precision arrival scheduling is formulated and solved using graph reachability. These results demonstrate that graph theory provides a powerful framework for modeling, reasoning about, and devising algorithmic solutions to diverse problems arising in air traffic management.

computational complexity↗
DOE OSTI2022

A Geo‐Structurally Based Correction Factor for Apparent Dissolution Rates in Fractured Media

Abstract Field measurements of apparent geochemical weathering reaction rates in subsurface fractured porous media are known to deviate from laboratory measurements by multiple orders of magnitude. To date, there is no geologically based explanation for this discrepancy that can be used to predict reaction rates in field systems. Proposed correction factors are typically based on ad hoc characterizations related to geochemical kinetic models. Through a series of high‐fidelity reactive transport simulations of mineral dissolution within explicit 3D discrete fracture networks, we are able to link the geo‐structural attributes with reactive transport observations. We develop a correction factor to linear transition state theory for the prediction of the apparent dissolution rate based on measurable geological properties. The modified rate law shows excellent agreement with numerical simulations, indicating that geological structure could be a primary reason for the discrepancy between laboratory and field observations of apparent dissolution rates in fractured media.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Equilibrium reconstruction of DIII-D plasmas using predictive modeling of the pressure profile

New workflows have been developed for predictive modeling of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equilibrium in tokamak plasmas. The goal of this work is to predict the MHD equilibrium in tokamak discharges without having measurements of the kinetic profiles. The workflows include a cold start tool, which constructs all the profiles and power flows needed by transport codes; a Grad–Shafranov equilibrium solver; and various codes for the sources and sinks. For validation purposes, a database of DIII-D tokamak discharges has been constructed that is comprised of scans in the plasma current, toroidal magnetic field, and triangularity. Initial efforts focused on developing a workflow utilizing an empirically derived pressure model tuned to DIII-D discharges with monotonic safety factor profiles. This workflow shows good agreement with experimental kinetic equilibrium calculations, but is limited in that it is a single fluid (equal ion and electron temperatures) model and lacks H-mode pedestal predictions. The best agreement with the H-mode database is obtained using a theory-based workflow utilizing pressure profile predictions from a coupled TGLF turbulent transport and EPED pedestal models together with external magnetics and Motional Stark Effect (MSE) data to construct the equilibrium. Here, we obtain an average root mean square error of 5.1% in the safety factor profile when comparing the predicted and experimental kinetic equilibrium. We also find good agreement with the plasma stored energy, internal inductance, and pressure profiles. Including MSE data in the theory-based workflow results in noticeably improved agreement with the q-profiles in high triangularity discharges in comparison with the results obtained with magnetic data only. The predictive equilibrium workflow is expected to have wide applications in experimental planning, between-shot analysis, and reactor studies.

Kinsey, J. E. (ORCID:0000000193347473)↗
NASA NTRS1972

Quasi-linear theory of electron density and temperature fluctuations with application to MHD generators and MPD arc thrusters

Fluctuations in electron density and temperature coupled through Ohm's law are studied for an ionizable medium. The nonlinear effects are considered in the limit of a third order quasi-linear treatment. Equations are derived for the amplitude of the fluctuation. Conditions under which a steady state can exist in the presence of the fluctuation are examined and effective transport properties are determined. A comparison is made to previously considered second order theory. The effect of third order terms indicates the possibility of fluctuations existing in regions predicted stable by previous analysis.

Smith, M.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Quasi-linear theory of electron density and temperature fluctuations with application to MHD generators and MPD arc thrusters.

Fluctuations in electron density and temperature coupled through Ohm's law are studied for an ionizable medium. The nonlinear effects are considered in the limit of a third order quasi-linear treatment. Equations are derived for the amplitude of the fluctuation. Conditions under which a steady state can exist in the presence of the fluctuation are examined and effective transport properties are determined. A comparison is made to previously considered second order theory. The effect of third order terms indicates the possibility of fluctuations existing in regions predicted stable by previous analysis.

Smith, J. M.↗