Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Distributed Wind”

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 1,081 records · Page 60

Influence of Time and Frequency Domain Wave Forcing on the Power Estimation of a Wave Energy Converter Array

Industry-specific tools for analyzing and optimizing the design of wave energy converters (WECs) and associated power systems are essential to advancing marine renewable energy. This study aims to quantify the influence of phase information on the device power output of a virtual WEC array. We run the phase-resolving wave model FUNWAVE-TVD (Total Variation Diminishing) to generate directional waves at the PacWave South site offshore from Newport, Oregon, where future WECs are expected to be installed for testing. The two broad cases presented correspond to mean wave climates during warm months (March–August) and cold months (September–February). FUNWAVE-TVD time series of sea-surface elevation are then used in WEC-Sim, a time domain numerical model, to simulate the hydrodynamic response of each device in the array and estimate their power output. For comparison, WEC-Sim is also run with wave energy spectra calculated from the FUNWAVE-TVD simulations, which do not retain phase information, and with wave spectra computed using the phase-averaged model Simulating WAves Nearshore (SWAN). The use of spectral data in WEC-Sim requires a conversion from frequency to time domain by means of random superposition of wave components, which are not necessarily consistent because of the linear assumption implicit in this method. Thus, power response is characterized by multiple realizations of the wave climates.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗

Data collected using small uncrewed aircraft systems during the TRacking Aerosol Convection interactions ExpeRiment (TRACER)

Abstract. The main goal of the TRacking Aerosol Convection interactions ExpeRiment (TRACER) project was to further understand the role that regional circulations and aerosol loading play in the convective cloud life cycle across the greater Houston, Texas, area. To accomplish this goal, the United States Department of Energy and research partners collaborated to deploy atmospheric observing systems across the region. Cloud and precipitation radars, radiosondes, and air quality sensors captured atmospheric and cloud characteristics. A dense lower-atmospheric dataset was developed using ground-based remote sensors, a tethersonde, and uncrewed aerial systems (UASs). TRACER-UAS is a subproject that deployed two UAS platforms to gather high-resolution observations in the lower atmosphere between 1 June and 30 September 2022. The University of Oklahoma CopterSonde and the University of Colorado Boulder RAAVEN (Robust Autonomous Aerial Vehicle – Endurant Nimble) were flown at two coastal locations between the Gulf of Mexico and Houston. The University of Colorado Boulder RAAVEN gathered measurements of atmospheric thermodynamic state, winds and turbulence, and aerosol size distribution. Meanwhile, the University of Oklahoma CopterSonde system operated on a regular basis to resolve the vertical structure of the thermodynamic and kinematic state. Together, a complementary dataset of over 200 flight hours across 61 d was generated, and data from each platform proved to be in strong agreement. In this paper, the platforms and respective data collection and processing are described. The dataset described herein provides information on boundary layer evolution, the sea breeze circulation, conditions prior to and nearby deep convection, and the vertical structure and evolution of aerosols. The quality-controlled TRACER-UAS observations from the CopterSonde and RAAVEN can be found at https://doi.org/10.5439/1969004 (Lappin, 2023) and https://doi.org/10.5439/1985470 (de Boer, 2023), respectively.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Local skin friction coefficients and boundary layer profiles obtained in flight from the XB-70-1 airplane at Mach numbers up to 2.5

Boundary-layer and local friction data for Mach numbers up to 2.5 and Reynolds numbers up to 3.6 x 10 to the 8th power were obtained in flight at three locations on the XB-70-1 airplane: the lower forward fuselage centerline (nose), the upper rear fuselage centerline, and the upper surface of the right wing. Local skin friction coefficients were derived at each location by using (1) a skin friction force balance, (2) a Preston probe, and (3) an adaptation of Clauser's method which derives skin friction from the rake velocity profile. These three techniques provided consistent results that agreed well with the von Karman-Schoenherr relationship for flow conditions that are quasi-two-dimensional. At the lower angles of attack, the nose-boom and flow-direction vanes are believed to have caused the momentum thickness at the nose to be larger than at the higher angles of attack. The boundary-layer data and local skin friction coefficients are tabulated. The wind-tunnel-model surface-pressure distribution ahead of the three locations and the flight surface-pressure distribution ahead of the wing location are included.

Fisher, D. F.↗

Scanning laser Doppler velocimeter system simulation for sensing aircraft wake vortices

A model that simulates the interaction of a laser-Doppler velocimeter with an aircraft wake flowfield is described. A hydrodynamic model is developed which represents the trailing vortex sheet and wind shear as discrete free vortices distributed over a two-dimensional grid. A sensor model is formulated for scanning both in range and in angle to produce a fan beam configuration without frequency translation. Output of this model is a frequency spectrum vs both range and angle. Once the spectrum is evaluated, simulations of the data analysis procedure are carried out. Patterns of various features of the signature are presented in range-elevation angle plots. The problem of locating the vortex centers is discussed as a pattern recognition problem and as a point target problem.

Thomson, J. A. L.↗

Structure of a quasi-parallel, quasi-laminar bow shock

A thick, quasi-parallel bow shock structure was observed with field and particle detectors of both HEOS 1 and OGO 5. The typical magnetic pulsation structure was at least 1 to 2 earth radii thick radially and was accompanied by irregular but distinct plasma distributions characteristic of neither the solar wind nor the magnetosheath. Waves constituting the large pulsations were polarized principally in the plane of the nominal shock, therefore also in the plane perpendicular to the average interplanetary field. A separate interpulsation regime detected between bursts of large amplitude oscillations was similar to the upstream wave region magnetically, but was characterized by disturbed plasma flux and enhanced noise around the ion plasma frequency. The shock structure appeared to be largely of an oblique, whistler type, probably complicated by counterstreaming high energy protons. Evidence for firehose instability-based structure was weak at best and probably negative.

Greenstadt, E. W.↗

Structure of a quasi-parallel, quasi-laminar bow shock

A thick quasi-parallel bow shock structure was observed on February 14, 1969, with field and particle detectors of both Heos 1 and Ogo 5. The typical magnetic pulsation structure was at least 1-2 R-E thick radially and was accompanied by irregular but distinct (average) plasma distributions characteristic of neither the solar wind nor the magnetosheath. There appeared to be a separate 'interpulsation' regime occurring between bursts of large amplitude oscillations. This regime was magnetically similar to the upstream wave region but was characterized by disturbed plasma flux and enhanced noise around the ion plasma frequency. The shock structure appeared to be largely of an oblique whistler type, probably complicated by counterstreaming high-energy protons.

Greenstadt, E. W.↗

Two-dimensional separated wake modeling and its use to predict maximum section lift coefficient

A technique for computing the lift of separating multielement airfoils in incompressible flow is presented. The procedure employs repeated application of a panel method to solve for the separated wake displacement surface using entirely inviscid boundary conditions. Results are presented that compare computed pressure distributions with those measured in the wind tunnel for airfoils with one, two, and four elements with separation on each element. A method employing this technique is presented which shows promise in predicting airfoil section lift through stall.

Henderson, M. L.↗

The electron spectrometer experiment on ISEE-1

A six-axis electron spectrometer for the ISEE-1 spacecraft is described and some typical early results presented. This instrument, designed for three-dimensional plasma distribution function studies in the solar wind, magnetosheath, outer magnetosphere, and near tail regions, has three energy ranges: 7.5-512 eV, 11-2062 eV, and 109-7285 cV, respectively. Two channel electron multipliers are used at the output of each of six cylindrical electrostatic analyzers. The total mass of two sensors and a data processing unit is 4.9 kg and the power comsumption is 3.5 W. Two hundred information bits/s telemetry rate is required.

Ogilvie, K. W.↗

Evidence for ice meteoroids beyond 2 AU

Processes controlling the population of particles of mass greater than 2 x 10 to the -9th g as observed by the Pioneer 10 meteoroid penetration data between 2 and 5 AU are discussed as evidence for the presence of ice meteoroids. Consideration is given to particle collisional lifetimes, Poynting-Robertson drag and the influence of Jupiter in controlling particle orbits, and it is noted that none of these mechanisms may be capable of accounting for the observed constant, or possibly increasing, particle density between 2 and 5 AU. It is shown, however, that ice particles with radii of about 15 microns and varying amounts of impurities could account for the observed distribution with thermal sublimation or solar wind sputtering possible mechanisms of particle destruction. It is concluded that meteoroids made of ice are probably responsible for most of the penetrations of the Pioneer 10 meteoroid penetration sensor beyond 2 AU.

Zook, H.↗

Commercial applications of satellite oceanography

It is shown that in the next decade the oceans' commercial users will require an operational oceanographic satellite system or systems capable of maximizing real-time coverage over all ocean areas. Seasat studies suggest that three spacecraft are required to achieve this. Here, the sensor suite would measure surface winds, wave heights (and spectral energy distribution), ice characteristics, sea-surface temperature, ocean colorimetry, height of the geoid, salinity, and subsurface thermal structure. The importance of oceanographic data being distributed to commercial users within two hours of observation time is stressed. Also emphasized is the importance of creating a responsive oceanographic satellite data archive. An estimate of the potential dollar benefits of such an operational oceanographic satellite system is given.

Montgomery, D. R.↗

Designing Glass Panels for Economy and Reliability

Analytical method determines probability of failure of rectangular glass plates subjected to uniformly distributed loads such as those from wind, earthquake, snow, and deadweight. Developed as aid in design of protective glass covers for solar-cell arrays and solar collectors, method is also useful in estimating the reliability of large windows in buildings exposed to high winds and is adapted to nonlinear stress analysis of simply supported plates of any elastic material.

Moore, D. M.↗

Statistical modeling of space shuttle environmental data

Statistical models which use a class of bivariate gamma distribution are examined. Topics discussed include: (1) the ratio of positively correlated gamma varieties; (2) a method to determine if unequal shape parameters are necessary in bivariate gamma distribution; (3) differential equations for modal location of a family of bivariate gamma distribution; and (4) analysis of some wind gust data using the analytical results developed for modeling application.

Tubbs, J. D.↗

Tropospheric Chemistry

The fundamental processes that control the chemical composition and cycles of the global troposphere and how these processes and properties affect the physical behavior of the atmosphere are examined. The long-term information needs for tropospheric chemistry are: to be able to predict tropospheric responses to perturbations, both natural and anthropogenic, of these cycles, and to provide the information required for the maintenance and effective future management of the atmospheric component of our global life support system. The processes controlling global tropospheric biogeochemical cycles include: the input of trace species into the troposphere, their long-range transport and distribution as affected by the mean wind and vertical venting, their chemical transformations, including gas to particle conversion, leading to the appearance of aerosols or aqueous phase reactions inside cloud droplets, and their removal from the troposphere via wet (precipitation) and dry deposition.

Mohnen, V.↗

Thermal-stress analysis for wood composite blade

The thermal-stress induced by solar insolation on a wood composite blade of a Mod-OA wind turbine was investigated. The temperature distribution throughout the blade (a heat conduction problem) was analyzed and the thermal-stress distribution of the blades caused by the temperature distribution (a thermal-stress analysis problem) was then determined. The computer programs used for both problems are included along with output examples.

Fu, K. C.↗

A simple, accurate and efficient algorithm for unsteady transonic flow

The derivation of an algorithm for computing an airfoil's response to small unsteady perturbations is described. The analysis of the far-field boundary conditions for the flow field, and the application of the time-linearization technique to develop an accurate description of the flow field are discussed. The treatment of moving shock waves is examined. The alternating direction implicit scheme of Ballhaus and Steger (1975) is utilized for the discretization of the governing equations and boundary conditions. Numerical examples demonstrating the applicability of the time-linearization method to determine the correlation between airfoil and pressure distribution are provided. The effect of wind tunnel walls on unsteady transonic testing is studied.

Fung, K.-Y.↗

An Investigation of Some Aspects of the Sonic Boom by Means of Wind-Tunnel Measurements of Pressures About Several Bodies at a Mach Number of 2.01

An investigation of some aspects of the sonic boom has been made with the aid of wind-tunnel measurements of the pressure distributions about bodies of various shapes. The tests were made in the Langley 4- by 4-foot supersonic pressure tunnel at a Mach number of 2.01 and at a Reynolds number per foot of 2.5 x 10(exp 6). Measurements of the pressure field were made at orifices in the surface of a boundary-layer bypass plate. The models which represented both fuselage and wing types of thickness distributions were small enough to allow measurements as far away as 8 body lengths or 64 chords. The results are compared with estimates made using existing theory. To the first order, the boom-producing pressure rise across the bow shock is dependent on the longitudinal development of body area and not on local details. Nonaxisymmetrical shapes may be replaced by equivalent bodies of revolution to obtain satisfactory theoretical estimates of the far-field pressures.

Carlson, Harry W.↗

NASA's plans to observe the earth's atmosphere with lidar

The development of two active laser remote-sensing systems designed for the Earth Observing System (EOS) as part of the Space Station for the 1990s is discussed. The operational capabilities of lidar in the Lidar Atmospheric Sounder and Altimeter (LASA) are considered, and the synergistic use of LASA and EOS data, as in the combination of LASA-determined vertical profiles of water vapor and two-dimensional EOS depictions of water vapor distribution, is emphasized. The Laser Atmospheric Wind Sounder will measure wind profiles with an accuracy of a few meters per second, and will provide samples at intervals of about 100 km horizontally for layers 1 km thick.

Curran, Robert J.↗