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At least 1,297 records · Page 72

Projected Regime Shift in Arctic Cloud and Water Vapor Feedbacks

The Arctic climate is changing faster than any other large-scale region on Earth. A variety of positive feedback mechanisms are responsible for the amplification, most of which are linked with changes in snow and ice cover, surface temperature (T(sub s)), atmospheric water vapor (WV), and cloud properties. As greenhouse gases continue to accumulate in the atmosphere, air temperature and water vapor content also increase, leading to a warmer surface and ice loss, which further enhance evaporation and WV. Many details of these interrelated feedbacks are poorly understood, yet are essential for understanding the pace and regional variations in future Arctic change. We use a global climate model (Goddard Institute for Space Studies, Atmosphere-Ocean Model) to examine several components of these feedbacks, how they vary by season, and how they are projected to change through the 21st century. One positive feedback begins with an increase in T(sub s) that produces an increase in WV, which in turn increases the downward longwave flux (DLF) and T(sub s), leading to further evaporation. Another associates the expected increases in cloud cover and optical thickness with increasing DLF and T(sub s). We examine the sensitivities between DLF and other climate variables in these feedbacks and find that they are strongest in the non-summer seasons, leading to the largest amplification in Ts during these months. Later in the 21st century, however, DLF becomes less sensitive to changes in WV and cloud optical thickness, as they cause the atmosphere to emit longwave radiation more nearly as a black body. This regime shift in sensitivity implies that the amplified pace of Arctic change relative to the northern hemisphere could relax in the future.

Chen, Yonghua↗

Modeling and Experiments on a Dedicated Outdoor Air System Using Liquid Desiccant Heat and Mass Exchangers

Liquid desiccants can provide efficient dehumidification but have yet to see widespread adoption. Most systems studied previously use natural gas-combustion to heat and regenerate the desiccant, and a central chiller plant or cooling tower for removing the heat of absorption. Here we present modeling and experimental results on a novel packaged air conditioner integrating liquid-desiccant heat and mass exchangers with a vapor compression cycle. The packaged system does not need cold or hot water from a central plant or cooling tower and is suitable for rooftop unit air conditioners. The system uses the evaporator to cool the liquid desiccant that is absorbing moisture from the air, and the condenser to heat the liquid desiccant to regenerate it. Efficiency is improved by reducing the load on the evaporator for a given supply-air dewpoint. This paper presents the measured dehumidification efficiency for a 10- ton packaged air conditioner, focusing on dehumidifying ventilation air. The paper also presents a numerical model to predict the outlet conditions and dehumidification efficiency, which we compare with the measured data.

air conditioning↗

Computational Modeling of Multi-Phase/Multi-Species Flows with Applications to Liquid Rocket Engines

Accurate prediction of all physical phenomena in a combustion chamber is essential for better understanding of the system performance. Atomization, evaporation, combustion, chemical kinetics, and turbulence are those processes of great importance that need to be well understood. Processes involving the liquid phase in a combustion chamber will be further complicated under supercritical conditions. More advanced and accurate numerical techniques are required to extend our understanding of the above phenomena. A computer program for multi-species/multi-phase flow was developed for NASA/MSFC in 1992. This code, called Liquid Thrust Chamber Performance (LTCP) program takes an Eulerian- Eulerian approach and is based on the Total Variation Diminishing (TVD) technique with Lax-Friedrichs upwind method. Under the NASA/ASEE SFFP the LTCP code was used to predict the performance characteristics of several engines that were of particular interest to NASA. This code was also successful in a combustion detonation study. Converting the program to the PC platform was accomplished which extends usability and makes it available to a wider range of users. The Eulerian formulation of the liquid phase provides a suitable model that can be extended to include combustion modeling under supercritical conditions. The results have been compared against the ones of other codes and available measured data. The algorithm proved to be robust and efficient for problems with stiff source terms.

Navaz, Homayun K.↗

Non-isothermal effects on SO2 absorption by water droplets. I - Model development. II - Results and discussion

An analytic model of SO2 absorption in a falling water droplet is developed and a simulation of SO2 washout is performed. Nonisothermic effects on drop growth, droplet physical parameters, reaction rates, and multicomponent diffusion are treated in the model. The gas-liquid interface is assumed to be at equilibrium, and interfacial resistance is negligible. Raindrops are simulated as falling from a 2 km height through an atmospheric region containing SO2. The droplets decrease in size from evaporation and cooling, and their slightly basic pH aids SO2 absorption. The simulation indicates higher SO2 absorption at higher altitudes, and desorption may occur at ground level. Isothermal effects are concluded to be significant, and quantification of effects will depend on further modelling.

Reda, M.↗

In situ and ex situ formation models of Kepler 11 planets

We present formation simulations of the six Kepler 11 planets. Models assume either in situ or ex situ assembly, the latter with migration, and are evolved to the estimated age of the system, ≈8 Gyr. Models combine detailed calculations of both the gaseous envelope and the condensed core structures, including accretion of gas and solids, of the disk’s viscous and thermal evolution, including photo-evaporation and disk-planet interactions, and of the planet’s evaporative mass loss after disk dispersal. Planet–planet interactions are neglected. Both sets of simulations successfully reproduce measured radii, masses, and orbital distances of the planets, except for the radius of Kepler 11b, which loses its entire gaseous envelope shortly after formation. Gaseous (H+He) envelopes account for ≲18% of the planet masses, and between ≈35 and ≈60% of the planet radii. In situ models predict a very massive inner disk, whose solid surface density (σ{sub Z}) varies from over 10{sup 4} to ≈10{sup 3} g cm{sup −2} at stellocentric distances 0.1≲r≲0.5 au. Initial gas densities would be in excess of 10{sup 5} g cm{sup −2} if solids formed locally. Given the high disk temperatures (≳1000 K), planetary interiors can only be composed of metals and highly refractory materials. Sequestration of hydrogen by the core and subsequent outgassing is required to account for the observed radius of Kepler 11b. Ex situ models predict a relatively low-mass disk, whose initial σ{sub Z} varies from ≈10 to ≈5 g cm{sup −2} at 0.5≲r≲7 au and whose initial gas density ranges from ≈10{sup 3} to ≈100 g cm{sup −2}. All planetary interiors are expected to be rich in H{sub 2}O, as core assembly mostly occurs exterior to the ice condensation front. Kepler 11b is expected to have a steam atmosphere, and H{sub 2}O is likely mixed with H+He in the envelopes of the other planets. Results indicate that Kepler 11g may not be more massive than Kepler 11e.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Modelling the development of capillary pressure in freshly 3D-printed concrete elements

3D concrete printing is a promising technology recently developed to automate construction. Since no formwork is used in this technology to support and protect fresh concrete, there are two aspects which considerably accelerate the development of capillary pressure in 3D-printed concrete in comparison to conventionally placed concrete: i) high stiffness of 3D-printed needed to provide sufficient buildability, and ii) very early and fast evaporation of pore water. Accelerated development of capillary pressure may lead to severe plastic shrinkage cracking in 3D-printed elements and, hence, need to be mitigated. This investigation aims at providing a poromechanical model for capillary pressure development in 3D-printed elements. To simulate the development of capillary pressure and plastic shrinkage, environmental factors, material properties, and element geometry need to be considered as a whole. The model inputs – coefficient of permeability, static bulk modulus, air entry pressure and chemical shrinkage rate – were determined experimentally. The model was validated for two fine-grained concretes. Both 3D-printed materials yielded faster capillary pressure increase in comparison to cast concrete, while partial substitution of cement with silica fume further accelerated the capillary pressure development. Furthermore, due to the lower permeability of the mixture containing silica fume, the gradient of capillary pressure between 3D-printed layers increased, as did the gradient of plastic shrinkage.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Interpretation of time-of-flight distributions for neutral particles under pulsed laser evaporation using direct Monte Carlo simulation

A theoretical study of the time-of-flight (TOF) distributions under pulsed laser evaporation in vacuum has been performed. A database of TOF distributions has been calculated by the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method. It is shown that describing experimental TOF signals through the use of the calculated TOF database combined with a simple analysis of evaporation allows determining the irradiated surface temperature and the rate of evaporation. Analysis of experimental TOF distributions under laser ablation of niobium, copper, and graphite has been performed, with the evaluated surface temperature being well agreed with results of the thermal model calculations. General empirical dependences are proposed, which allow indentifying the regime of the laser induced thermal ablation from the TOF distributions for neutral particles without invoking the DSMC-calculated database.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Determination of dispersion parameters of thermally deposited CdTe thin film

Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) thin film was deposited onto glass substrates under a vacuum of 5 × 10{sup −6} torr by using thermal evaporation technique. The prepared film was characterized for dispersion analysis from reflectance spectra within the wavelength range of 300 nm – 1100 nm which was recorded by using UV-Visible spectrophotometer. The dispersion parameters (oscillator strength, oscillator wavelength, high frequency dielectric constant, long wavelength refractive index, lattice dielectric constant and plasma resonance frequency) of CdTe thin film were investigated using single sellimeir oscillator model.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Pore-scale water dynamics during drying and the impacts of structure and surface wettability

Plants and microbes secrete mucilage into soil during dry conditions, which can alter soil structure and increase contact angle. Structured soils exhibit a broad pore size distribution with many small and many large pores, and strong capillary forces in narrow pores can retain moisture in soil aggregates. Meanwhile, contact angle determines the water repellency of soils, which can result in suppressed evaporation rates. Although they are often studied independently, both structure and contact angle influence water movement, distribution, and retention in soils. Here drying experiments were conducted using soil micromodels patterned to emulate different aggregation states of a sandy loam soil. Micromodels were treated to exhibit contact angles representative of those in bulk soil (8.4° ± 1.9°) and the rhizosphere (65° ± 9.2°). Drying was simulated using a lattice Boltzmann single-component, multiphase model. In our experiments, micromodels with higher contact angle surfaces took 4 times longer to completely dry versus micromodels with lower contact angle surfaces. Microstructure influenced drying rate as a function of saturation and controlled the spatial distribution of moisture within micromodels. In conclusion, lattice Boltzmann simulations accurately predicted pore-scale moisture retention patterns within micromodels with different structures and contact angles.

Fluid Dynamics Effects on Microstructure Prediction in Single-Laser Tracks for Additive Manufacturing of IN625

Single-track laser fusion were simulated using a heat-transfer-solidification-only (HTS) model and its extension with fluid dynamics (HTS_FD) model using a parallel open-source code, which included laminar fluid dynamics, flat-free surface of the molten alloy, heat transfer, phase-change, evaporation, and surface tension phenomena. The results illustrate that the fluid dynamics affects the solidification and ensuing microstructure. For the HTS_FD simulations, thermal gradient, G was found to exhibit a maximum at the extremity of the solidified pool ( i.e. , at the free surface), while for HTS simulations, G exhibited a maximum around the entire edge of the solidified pool. HTS_FD simulations predicted a wider range of cooling rates than the HTS simulations, exhibited an increased spread in the solidification speed, V variation within the melt-pool with respect to the HTS model results. Primary dendrite arm spacing (PDAS) were evaluated based on power law correlations and marginal stability theory models using the ( G , V ) from HTS and HTS_FD simulations to quantify the effect of the fluid dynamics on the microstructure. At low-laser powers and low-scan speeds, the PDAS obtained with the fluid dynamics model (HTS_FD) was larger by more than 30 pct with respect to the PDAS calculated with the simple HTS model. A new PDAS correlation, i.e. , \( \lambda_{1} \left[ {\mu {\text{m}}} \right] = 832\;G\left[ {\text{K/m}} \right]^{ - 0.5} V\left[ {\text{m/s}} \right]^{ - 0.25} \) , which uses the ( G , V ) results from the HTS_FD model was developed and validated against experimental results.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

NASA GLDAS Evapotranspiration Data and Climatology

Evapotranspiration (ET) is the water lost to the atmosphere by evaporation and transpiration. ET is a shared component in the energy and water budget, therefore, a critical variable for global energy and water cycle and climate change studies. However, direct ET measurements and data acquisition are difficult and expensive, especially at the global level. Therefore, modeling is one common alternative for estimating ET. With the goal to generate optimal fields of land surface states and fluxes, the Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS) has been generating quality-controlled, spatially and temporally consistent, terrestrial hydrologic data, including ET and other variables that affect evaporation and transpiration, such as temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind, soil moisture, heat flux, and solar radiation. This poster presents the long-term ET climatology (mean and monthly), derived from the 61-year GLDAS-2 monthly 1.0 deg x 1.0 deg. NOAH model Experiment-1 data, and describes the basic characteristics of spatial and seasonal variations of the climatology. The time series of GLDAS-2 precipitation and radiation, and ET are also discussed to show the improvement of GLDAS-2 forcing data and model output over those from GLDAS-1.

Rui, Hualan↗

Effect of Urban Heat Island and Global Warming Countermeasures on Heat Release and Carbon Dioxide Emissions from a Detached House

Urban air temperature rises induced by the urban heat island (UHIE) effect or by global warming (GW) can be beneficial in winter but detrimental in summer. The SCIENCE-Outdoor model was used to simulate changes to sensible heat release and CO 2 emissions from buildings yielded by four UHIE countermeasures and five GW countermeasures. This model can evaluate the thermal condition of building envelope surfaces, both inside and outside. The results showed that water-consuming UHIE countermeasures such as evaporative space cooling and roof water showering provided positive effects (decreasing sensible heat release and CO 2 emissions related to space conditioning) in summer. Additionally, they had no negative (unwanted cooling) effects in winter since they can be turned off in the heating season. Roof greening can provide the greatest space- conditioning CO 2 emissions reductions among four UHIE countermeasures, and it reduces the amount of heat release slightly in the heating season. Since the effect on reducing carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions by UHIE countermeasures is not very significant, it is desirable to introduce GW countermeasures in order to reduce CO 2 emissions. The significance of this study is that it constructed the new simulation model SCIENCE-Outdoor and applied it to show the influence of countermeasures upon both heat release and CO 2 emissions.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) System for Flue-Gas Derived Water From Oxy-Combustion Process

Researchers at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) located in Albany, Oregon, have patented a process - Integrated Pollutant Removal (IPR) that uses off-the-shelf technology to produce a sequestration ready CO{sub 2} stream from an oxy-combustion power plant. Capturing CO{sub 2} from fossil-fuel combustion generates a significant water product which can be tapped for use in the power plant and its peripherals. Water condensed in the IPR{reg_sign} process may contain fly ash particles, sodium (from pH control), and sulfur species, as well as heavy metals, cations and anions. NETL is developing a treatment approach for zero liquid discharge while maximizing available heat from IPR. Current treatment-process steps being studied are flocculation/coagulation, for removal of cations and fine particles, and reverse osmosis, for anion removal as well as for scavenging the remaining cations. After reverse osmosis process steps, thermal evaporation and crystallization steps will be carried out in order to build the whole zero liquid discharge (ZLD) system for flue-gas condensed wastewater. Gypsum is the major product from crystallization process. Fast, in-line treatment of water for re-use in IPR seems to be one practical step for minimizing water treatment requirements for CO{sub 2} capture. The results obtained from above experiments are being used to build water treatment models.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Effects of Carbonyl Bond and Metal Cluster Dissociation and Evaporation Rates on Predictions of Nanotube Production in HiPco

The high-pressure carbon monoxide (HiPco) process for producing single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT) uses iron pentacarbonyl as the source of iron for catalyzing the Boudouard reaction. Attempts using nickel tetracarbonyl led to no production of SWNTs. This paper discusses simulations at a constant condition of 1300 K and 30 atm in which the chemical rate equations are solved for different reaction schemes. A lumped cluster model is developed to limit the number of species in the models, yet it includes fairly large clusters. Reaction rate coefficients in these schemes are based on bond energies of iron and nickel species and on estimates of chemical rates for formation of SWNTs. SWNT growth is measured by the co-formation of CO2. It is shown that the production of CO2 is significantly greater for FeCO due to its lower bond energy as compared with that ofNiCO. It is also shown that the dissociation and evaporation rates of atoms from small metal clusters have a significant effect on CO2 production. A high rate of evaporation leads to a smaller number of metal clusters available to catalyze the Boudouard reaction. This suggests that if CO reacts with metal clusters and removes atoms from them by forming MeCO, this has the effect of enhancing the evaporation rate and reducing SWNT production. The study also investigates some other reactions in the model that have a less dramatic influence.

Scott, Carl D.↗

Simulated lidar return from a one-dimensional stratospheric aerosol model

Results are presented for theoretical calculations of lidar backscatter at wavelengths of 0.6943 and 1.06 microns from the stratospheric aerosol. The computations are based on the size distribution, particle number density, and particle composition predicted by a one-dimensional model of the stratospheric aerosol layer that assumes that the primary source of sulfur to the stratosphere is biogenic OCS released at ground level. The aerosol particles are taken to be spherical liquid H2SO4-H2O solution droplets with solid cores, which undergo condensation, evaporation, coagulation, sedimentation, and vertical eddy mixing. The theoretical backscatter profiles are compared with experimental results obtained from actual lidar observations of the stratospheric aerosol layer before and after the eruption of Volcan de Fuego in October 1974. The model predictions are shown to be in good agreement with the average of a number of observations.

Hamill, P.↗

Numerical simulations of membrane distillation systems with actively heated membranes

Membrane distillation (MD) is a thermal desalination process that is gaining attention for treating hypersaline brines. One recent approach uses composite membranes with a thermally conductive layer that delivers heat to the membrane–feed interface, where it drives evaporation. Though this increases single-pass recovery, it comes with the challenge of promoting lateral heat conduction through the thin membrane. Herein, we develop a 3D, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model that simulates conjugate heat, mass, and momentum transport in the feed channel and composite membrane. We then use the CFD to verify a simpler numerical model that approximates the feed velocity field analytically. We validate the numerical model experimentally, and use it to investigate the impacts of the conductive layer thickness, feed channel geometry, and operating conditions on temperature and concentration polarization, permeate production, and specific energy consumption. Overall, we find that lateral heating increases permeate production at the expense of increased concentration polarization. In extreme cases, the concentration increases more than four-fold along the membrane surface. Furthermore, we show however, that the feed flow rate and conductive layer thickness can be tailored to mitigate concentration polarization, for only a small reduction in permeate production.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Sockeye Code Validation Against UNIST Heat Pipe - Poster - Internship 2025

Sockeye is an engineering level code being developed under the MOOSE framework for modeling heat pipes. A heat pipe is a sealed tube with a wick structure filled with a working fluid that transfers heat efficiently and passively via phase change of the working fluid. Heat applied to the evaporator end creates a pressure gradient which causes vapor to migrate to the condenser end where the vapor deposits its energy and condenses. Capillary force generated by the wick structure then draws the liquid back to the evaporator. A validation study was performed to compare the Sockeye code against data produced at the Ulsan National Institute of Standards and Technology for a slightly overfilled sodium heat pipe. The heat pipe was operated under natural convection cooling and a decreasing inactive length was observed. The experiment was modeled in Sockeye using the condenser pool model, the front non-condensable gas (NCG) model, and the mixture NCG model separately to reproduce the inactive length phenomenon. Also, a new capability was implemented in MOOSE to allow for conjugate heat transfer from the condenser based on the Churchill-Chu correlation for natural convection. The condenser pool model showed an increasing inactive length, demonstrating that the behavior was likely not caused by a pool of excess liquid. The front NCG model was able to show good agreement with the experiment, but it suffered convergence issues at the front. Finally, the mixture NCG model gave good results when the axial mesh was sufficiently refined. This work culminated in additions to the Sockeye documentation and a contribution to a journal article that will be published later. This poster is a summary of my work which I can take back to my university for presentation.

42 - ENGINEERING↗