SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Diffusion rate”

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.

SourceResearch connectionFrom yearThrough year

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,117 records · Page 62

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

NASA NTRS1996

Regulation of Methane Oxidation in a Freshwater Wetland by Water Table Changes and Anoxia

The effects of water table fluctuations and anoxia on methane emission and methane oxidation were studied in a freshwater marsh. Seasonal aerobic methane oxidation rates varied between 15% and 76% of the potential diffusive methane flux (diffusive flux in the absence of aerobic oxidation). On an annual basis, approximately 43% of the methane diffusing into the oxic zone was oxidized before reaching the atmosphere. The highest methane oxidation was observed when the water table was below the peat surface. This was confirmed in laboratory experiments where short-term decreases in water table levels increased methane oxidation but also net methane emission. Although methane emission was generally not observed during the winter, stems of soft rush (Juncus effusus) emitted methane when the marsh was ice covered. Indigenous methanotrophic bacteria from the wetiand studied were relatively anoxia tolerant. Surface peat incubated under anoxic conditions maintained 30% of the initial methane oxidation capacity after 32 days of anoxia. Methanotrophs from anoxic peat initiated aerobic methane oxidation relatively quickly after oxygen addition (1-7 hours). These results were supported by culture experiments with the methanotroph Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b. This organism maintained a greater capacity for aerobic methane oxidation when starved under anoxic compared to oxic conditions. Anoxic incubation of M. trichosporium OB3b in the presence of sulfide (2 mM) and a low redox potential (-110 mV) did not decrease the capacity for methane oxidation relative to anoxic cultures incubated without sulfide. The results suggest that aerobic methane oxidation was a major regulator of seasonal methane emission front the investigated wetland. The observed water table fluctuations affected net methane oxidation presumably due to associated changes in oxygen gradients. However, changes from oxic to anoxic conditions in situ had relatively little effect on survival of the methanotrophic bacteria and thus on methane oxidation potential per se.

Roslev, Peter↗

NASA NTRS2005

MASS CONTENT AND DYNAMICAL STATE OF 3 OPTICALLY SELECTED HIGH-Z CLUSTERS

As part of our analysis of the Chandra and XMM-Newton observations of the high redshift, optically selected cluster ElS0954-2023/22, we have identified Chandra sources in the field and measured their count rate and fluxes. From the 15 ksec Chandra ACIS-S observation, we detected eleven X-ray sources. Their positions and count rates are listed below. Our analysis also shows faint diffuse emission associated with the optically identified cluster. This information was used in a joint analysis of the XMM-Newton observation of the cluster emission to determine the luminosity and temperature of the diffuse cluster gas.

Mushotzky, Richard F.↗

NASA NTRS1999

Bipolar membranes with fluid distribution passages

The present invention provides a bipolar membrane and methods for making and using the membrane. The bipolar membrane comprises a cation-selective region, an anion-selective region, an interfacial region between the anion-selective region and the cation-selective region, and means for delivering fluid directly into the interfacial region. The means for delivering fluid includes passages that may comprise a fluid-permeable material, a wicking material, an open passage disposed within the membrane or some combination thereof. The passages may be provided in many shapes, sizes and configurations, but preferably deliver fluid directly to the interfacial region so that the rate of electrodialysis is no longer limited by the diffusion of fluid through the cation- or anion-selective regions to the interfacial region.

Hitchens, G. Duncan↗

NASA NTRS2014

H Diffusion in Olivine and Pyroxene from Peridotite Xenoliths and a Hawaiian Magma Speedometer

Hydrogen is present as a trace element in olivine and pyroxene and its content distribution in the mantle results from melting and metasomatic processes. Here we examine how these H contents can be disturbed during decompression. Hydrogen was analyzed by FTIR in olivine and pyroxene of spinel peridotite xenoliths from Salt Lake Crater (SLC) nephelinites which are part of the rejuvenated volcanism at Oahu (Hawaii) [1,2]. H mobility in pyroxene resulting from spinel exsolution during mantle upwelling Most pyroxenes in SLC peridotites exhibit exsolutions, characterized by spinel inclusions. Pyroxene edges where no exsolution are present have less H then their core near the spinel. Given that H does not enter spinel [3], subsolidus requilibration may have concentrated H in the pyroxene adjacent to the spinel exsolution during mantle upwelling. H diffusion in olivine during xenolith transport by its host magma and host magma ascent rates Olivines have lower water contents at the edge and near fractures compared to at their core, while the concentrations of all other chemical elements appear homogeneous. This suggests that some of the initial water has diffused out of the olivine. Water loss from the olivine is thought to occur during host-magma ascent and xenolith transport to the surface [4-6]. Diffusion modeling matches best the data when the initial water content used is that measured at the core of the olivines, implying that mantle water contents are preserved at the core of the olivines. The 3225 cm(sup -1) OH band at times varies independantly of other OH bands, suggesting uneven H distribution in olivine defects likely acquired during mantle metasomatism just prior to eruption and unequilibrated. Diffusion times (1-48 hrs) combined with depths of peridotite equilibration or of magma start of degassing allow to calculate ascent rates for the host nephelinite of 0.1 to 27 m/s.

Peslier, A. H.↗

DOE OSTI2025

Diffusion coefficients predicting facet-dependent crystallization in amorphous silicon nitride

Amorphous silicon nitride is a common material in microelectronics devices, which acts as an insulating barrier. Extended annealing times at elevated temperature can initiate crystallization of α-Si 3 ⁢ N 4 , which does not possess the same barrier properties. Molecular dynamics can resolve the fundamental mechanism for α-Si 3 ⁢N 4 crystallization and the influence of local environments. Here, we compare two interatomic potentials and conclude that these models predict structural features (e.g., angular distributions and densities) which span the range of experimental measurements. We confirmed these models reproduce experimental estimates of activation energy and leveraged these models to identify crystallization drivers. We conclude that near-T g , facet-dependent silicon nitride crystal growth rates can be predicted directly by either bulk or interfacial diffusion properties.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

NASA NTRS1986

The diffusion of individual molecules within a gas

The Direct Simulation Monte Carlo method is used to study the positional history of the individual molecules in a gas that is homogeneous at the macroscopic level and is in Maxwellian equilibrium at the microscopic level. The behavior at small times is characterized by 'persistence of velocity' effects, and a 'random walk' type of dispersal occurs over a longer timescale. It is shown that the rate of dispersal can be directly related to the self-diffusion coefficient. In addition, the diffusion coefficients are obtained directly from one-dimensional calculations, and the local Knudsen number at which the Chapman-Enskog theory breaks down is determined. Results are presented for both simple gases and gas mixtures.

Bird, G. A.↗

NASA NTRS1994

The effects of temperature and NaCl concentration on tetragonal lysozyme face growth rates

Measurements were made of the (110) and (101) face growth rates of the tetragonal form of hen egg white lysozyme at 0.1M sodium acetate buffer, pH 4.0, from 4 to 22 C and with 3.0%, 5.0%, and 7.0% NaCl used as the precipitating salt. The data were collected at supersaturation ratios ranging from approximately 4 to approximately 63. Both decreasing temperature and increasing salt concentrations shifted plots of the growth rate versus C/C(sat) to the right, i.e. higher supersaturations were required for comparable growth rates. The observed trends in the growth data are counter to those expected from the solubility data. If tetragonal lysozyme crystal growth is by addition of ordered aggregates from the solution, then the observed growth data could be explained as a result of the effects of lowered temperature and increased salt concentration on the kinetics and equilibrium processes governing protein-protein interactions in solution. The data indicate that temperature would be a more tractable means of controlling the growth rate for tetragonal lysozyme crystals contrary to the usual practice in, e.g., vapor diffusion protein crystal growth, where both the precipitant and protein concentrations are simultaneously increased. However, the available range for control is dependent upon the protein concentration, with the greatest growth rate control being at the lower concentration.

Forsythe, Elizabeth↗

NASA NTRS1993

Diffuse gamma-ray emission from pulsars in the Large Magellanic Cloud

We investigate the contribution of pulsars to the diffuse gamma-ray emission from the LMC. The pulsar birth rate in the LMC is a factor of about 10 lower than that of the Galaxy and the distance to pulsars in the LMC is about 5-10 times larger than to Galactic pulsars. The resulting total integrated photon flux from LMC pulsars is thus reduced by a factor of about 100 to 1000. However, the surface brightness is not reduced by the same amount because of the much smaller angular extent of the LMC in comparison to the diffuse glow from the Galactic plane. We show that gamma-ray emission due to pulsars born in the LMC could produce gamma-ray fluxes that are larger than the inverse Compton component from relativistic cosmic-ray electrons and a significant fraction of the extragalactic isotropic background or the diffuse Galactic background in that direction. The diffuse pulsar glow above 100 MeV should therefore be included in models of high-energy emission from the LMC. For a gamma-ray beaming fraction of order unity the detected emissions from the LMC constrain the pulsar birth rate to less than one per 50 yr. This limit is about one order of magnitude above the supernova rate inferred from the historic record or from the star-formation rate.

Hartmann, Dieter H.↗

DOE OSTI2022

A Time-Varying Model for Predicting Formaldehyde Emission Rates in Homes

Recent studies have succeeded in relating emissions of various volatile organic compounds to material mass diffusion transfer using detailed empirical characteristics of each of the individual emitting materials. While significant, the resulting models are often scenario specific and/or require a host of individual component parameters to estimate emission rates. This study developed an approach to estimate aggregated emissions rates based on a wide number of field measurements. We used a multi-parameter regression model based on previous mass transfer models to predict formaldehyde emission rate for a whole dwelling using field-measured, time-resolved formaldehyde concentrations, air exchange rates, and indoor environmental parameters in 63 California single-family houses built between 2011 and 2017. The resulting model provides time-varying formaldehyde emission rates, normalized by floor area, for each study home, assuming a well-mixed mass balance transport model of the home, and a well-mixed layer transport model of indoor surfaces. The surface layer model asserts an equilibrium concentration within the surface layer of the emitted materials that is a function of temperature and RH; the dwelling ventilation rate serves as a surrogate for indoor concentration. We also developed a more generic emission model that is suitable for broad prediction of emission for a population of buildings. This model is also based on measurements aggregated from 27 homes from the same study. We showed that errors in predicting household formaldehyde concentrations using this approach were substantially less than those using a traditional constant emission rate model, despite requiring less unique building information.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

NASA NTRS1992

Electron-impact vibrational relaxation in high-temperature nitrogen

Vibrational relaxation process of N2 molecules by electron-impact is examined for the future planetary entry environments. Multiple-quantum transitions from excited states to higher/lower states are considered for the electronic ground state of the nitrogen molecule N2 (X 1Sigma-g(+)). Vibrational excitation and deexcitation rate coefficients obtained by computational quantum chemistry are incorporated into the 'diffusion model' to evaluate the time variations of vibrational number densities of each energy state and total vibrational energy. Results show a non-Boltzmann distribution of number densities at the earlier stage of relaxation, which in turn suppresses the equilibrium process but affects little the time variation of total vibrational energy. An approximate rate equation and a corresponding relaxation time from the excited states, compatible with the system of flow conservation equations, are derived. The relaxation time from the excited states indicates the weak dependency of the initial vibrational temperature. The empirical curve-fit formula for the improved e-V relaxation time is obtained.

Lee, Jong-Hun↗

DOE OSTI2024

Gaseous contaminant transfer in membrane-based air-to-air energy exchangers

Membrane-based air-to-air energy exchangers (M–AAEEs) transfer heat and moisture between building exhaust air and fresh ventilation air streams through a membrane, thereby reducing the energy required for conditioning the fresh ventilation air. Energy exchangers are typically used in buildings with relatively clean building exhaust air, such as office buildings and schools. Recently interest in using energy exchangers in a wider range of buildings has grown, to reduce the energy consumption associated with the heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems in these buildings. However, if the building exhaust air is not clean, as would be the case for laboratories or factories, new risks are encountered when using energy exchangers. It is possible that gaseous contaminants in the exhaust air may also transfer along with the moisture through the membranes, contaminating the incoming fresh ventilation air. Current test standards provide a test procedure to determine the contamination of the fresh ventilation air by measuring the transfer of an inert tracer gas in an energy exchanger. However, the tracer gas test may not represent the transfer of common indoor air contaminants due to differences in their transport properties. Therefore, in this study, an experimental facility is developed to determine the transfer of seven different contaminants through two membranes (porous and dense) at different flow rates. Contaminant transfer is quantified using a parameter called the exhaust contaminant transfer ratio (ECTR), which gives the fraction of the contaminants transferred from the exhaust air to the fresh ventilation air. A theoretical model based on the effectiveness-number of transfer units (ε-NTU) correlation and moisture transfer resistance of the membrane is presented to determine transfer through porous membranes and validated with experimental results. The major contribution of this paper is that it presents a simple method to predict the transfer of different contaminants through a porous membrane based on the moisture transfer resistance of the membrane at different operating conditions. It is found that as contaminant diffusivity decreases, ECTR generally also decreases, and as the flow rate increases, ECTR decreases, which is consistent with the predictions from the correlation.

42 ENGINEERING↗

DOE OSTI2024

Bond Selective Photochemistry at Metal Nanoparticle Surfaces: CO Desorption from Pt and Pd

The use of visible photon fluxes to influence catalytic reactions on metal nanoparticle surfaces has attracted attention based on observations of reaction mechanisms and selectivity not observed under equilibrium heating. These observations suggest that photon fluxes can selectively impact the rates of certain elementary steps, creating nonequilibrium energy distributions among various reaction pathways. However, quantitative studies validating these hypotheses on metal nanoparticle surfaces are lacking. Here, we examine the influence of continuous wave visible photon fluxes on the CO desorption rates from 1 to 2 nm diameter Pt and Pd nanoparticle surfaces supported on γ-Al 2 O 3 . Temperature-programmed desorption measurements quantified via diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy demonstrate that visible photon fluxes significantly enhanced the rate of CO desorption from Pt nanoparticles in a wavelength-dependent manner. 440 nm photons most efficiently promoted CO desorption from Pt nanoparticle surfaces, aligning with the excitation energy for the interfacial electronic transition within the Pt–CO bond. Conversely, visible photon fluxes had no measurable influence on CO desorption rates from Pd nanoparticle surfaces after accounting for photon-induced heating. Density functional theory calculations demonstrate that the Pt–CO bond exhibits a narrower LUMO resonance, stronger coupling between the photoexcitation and forces induced on the metal–C bond, and vibrational energy dissipation that more effectively couples to desorption as compared to Pd–CO. These results demonstrate the specificity photons provide in facilitating chemical reactions on metal nanoparticle surfaces and substantiate the idea that photon fluxes can steer processes and outcomes of catalytic reactions in ways not achievable by equilibrium heating.

desorption↗

DOE OSTI2021

DECaNT: Simulation tool for diffusion of excitons in carbon nanotube films

In this work, we present the numerical tool DECaNT (Diffusion of Excitons in Carbon NanoTubes) that simulates exciton transport in thin films of carbon nanotubes. Through a mesh of nanotubes generated using the Bullet Physics C++ library, excitons move according to an ensemble Monte Carlo algorithm, with the scattering rates that account for tube chirality, orientation, and distance. We calculate the diffusion tensor from the position–position correlation functions and analyze its anisotropy and dependence on the film composition, morphology, and defect density.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

NASA NTRS1994

Modeling the effect of water on mantle rheology

To study the thermal history of the Earth we use a parameterized model of mantle convection. This model includes a mathematical description of de- and regassing processes of water from the Earth's mantle. The rates of this processes are considered to be directly proportional to the seafloor spreading rate. The kinematic viscosity of the mantle depends on the temperature/pressure as well as on the volatile content. Dissolved volatiles such as water weaken the minerals by reducing their activation energy for solid state creep. Karato and Toriumi showed a power law dependence between creep rate and water fugacity derived from experimental results. Therefore, we use such flow parameters of diffusion creep in olivine under wet and dry conditions to calculate the mantle viscosity as a function of the water content. Because the creep rate is proportional to the concentration of water-related point deflects we assume that the water fugacity is proportional to the water weight fraction. An equation for the steady-state strain rate under wet conditions is established. To assess the unknown constant K in this equation, we use flow law parameters given by Karato and Wu as well as the results of McGovern and Schubert.

Bounama, CH.↗

NASA NTRS1974

The diffusive idealization of charged particle transport in random magnetic fields

The transport of charged particles diffusing in a random magnetic field parallel to a relatively large guiding field is presented. The same coefficient of diffusion is obtained by three methods. Two corrections must be added to the expression in which the diffusive flux is proportional to the gradient of the density. Explicit expressions are given for a characteristic time and a characteristic length which describe the corrections. The well known divergence of the coefficient of diffusion, which is implied by the quasilinear analysis of pitch angle scattering, does not occur if the scattering rate is finite at 90 deg pitch angle. This effect is illustrated by formulas which give the coefficient of diffusion when the quasilinear expression is perturbed by a variable amount of isotropic scattering.

Earl, J. A.↗

NASA NTRS2011

Reduction of Altitude Diffuser Jet Noise Using Water Injection

A feasibility study on the effects of injecting water into the exhaust plume of an altitude rocket diffuser for the purpose of reducing the far-field acoustic noise has been performed. Water injection design parameters such as axial placement, angle of injection, diameter of injectors, and mass flow rate of water have been systematically varied during the operation of a subscale altitude test facility. The changes in acoustic far-field noise were measured with an array of free-field microphones in order to quantify the effects of the water injection on overall sound pressure level spectra and directivity. The results showed significant reductions in noise levels were possible with optimum conditions corresponding to water injection at or just upstream of the exit plane of the diffuser. Increasing the angle and mass flow rate of water injection also showed improvements in noise reduction. However, a limit on the maximum water flow rate existed as too large of flow rate could result in un-starting the supersonic diffuser.

Allgood, Daniel C.↗

NASA NTRS2014

Reduction of Altitude Diffuser Jet Noise Using Water Injection

Allgood, Daniel C.↗

NASA NTRS1989

A theoretical study of fluid forces on a centrifugal impeller rotating and whirling in a vaned diffuser

The fluid forces on a centrifugal impeller rotating and whirling in a vaned diffuser are analyzed on the assumption that the number of impeller and diffuser vanes is so large that the flows are perfectly guided by the vanes. The flow is taken to be two dimensional, inviscid, and incompressible, but the effects of impeller and diffuser losses are taken into account. It is shown that the interaction with the vaned diffuser may cause destabilizing fluid forces. From these discussions, it is found that the whirling forces are closely related to the steady head-capacity characteristics of the impeller. This physical understanding of the whirling forces can be applied also to the cases with volute casings. At partial capacities, it is shown that the impeller forces change greatly when the flow rate and whirl velocity are near to the impeller or vaned diffuser attributed rotating stall onset capacity, and the stall propagation velocity, respectively. In such cases the impeller forces may become destabilizing for impeller whirl.

Tsujimoto, Yoshinobu↗