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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 1,315 records · Page 73
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2019

Direct Numerical Simulation of Turbulent Flow Inside a Differentially Heated Composite Cavity

In this work, turbulent flow inside a modified differentially heated cavity at high Rayleigh number (Ra ~ 10 9 ) has been studied through fully resolved direct numerical simulation (DNS) using the high-order spectral element method code Nek5000. The flow configuration includes two separate physical phenomena: the natural recirculation itself, and the flow inside a curved channel. Simulations have been carried out using both the Boussinesq approximation and the low-Mach compressible formulation. Significant discrepancies between the two methods inform of the extreme caution that should be exercised when using the Boussinesq approximation in the limits of its applicability. The DNS solutions are analyzed in terms of polynomial-order convergence and Reynolds stress budgets, and the turbulence quantities and velocity profiles are presented as a reference for the validation of turbulence models.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
NASA NTRS1990

Patterns in simulated turbulent channel flow

The surface stress is a key diagnostic in wall bounded turbulent flows. Large fluctuations in the stress are believed to be associated with intermittent 'bursting' events during which a large proportion of the turbulence production takes place. If this is so, then a detailed investigation of the structure of the surface stress and its spatial relationship to events within the flow could have wide application in drag reduction and other aspects of flow control. The initial phase of this project, therefore, concentrated on the surface stress field. The first objective is to carry out a statistical analysis of the instantaneous surface stress in a simulated turbulent channel flow, including comparison with multipoint experimental data from a zero pressure gradient turbulent boundary layer. The second objective is to apply a simple pattern recognition procedure to educe the characteristic spatial structure of various flow diagnostics. The final objective is to extend the pattern recognition analysis to examine the whole three dimensional structure of the flow.

Stretch, D.↗
DOE OSTI2016

Simulation of Boiling Flow in a Helical Coil Using a Homogeneous Equilibrium Model with the Nek-2P CFD Code

Recent developments in the field of nuclear energy have lead to an increased interest in the design of helically coiled steam generators. In particular, their compact size, and high heat transfer rates make them ideal for small modular reactors. This has lead to a renewed effort to investigate the characteristics of fluid flow and heat transfer in and around helical coils both numerically and experimentally. The focus of this work is on the development of a consistent modeling, formulation, and simulation framework for boiling flows in helical coils using the highly scalable Nek-2P CFD code. As a first step, two phase flow is accounted for using a homogeneous equilibrium model. Results for both single and multiphase flows are compared to results obtained from Star-CCM+. (authors)

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
NASA NTRS1987

Numerical simulation of channel flow transition, resolution requirements and structure of the hairpin vortex

Three-dimensional, nonlinear numerical simulations are presented for the K-type and H-type transitions for channel flow. There are two objectives. The first is to establish firmly the resolution requirements for the various stages in the transition process. Comparisons between calculations on various grids suggest a set of guidelines for maintaining a physically meaningful calculation. The second objective is to map out the structure of the hairpin vortices which arise in K-type and H-type transitions in channel flow, to the latest stage currently feasible. Flow field details are presented for both a subcritical Reynolds number of 1500 and a supercritical Reynolds number of 8000. The diagnostics include illustrations of the vertical shear, streamwise and spanwise vorticity, helicity, vortex stretching, and vortex diffusion fields.

Krist, Steven E.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Direct simulations of turbulent flow using finite-difference schemes

A high-order accurate finite-difference approach is presented for calculating incompressible turbulent flow. The methods used include a kinetic energy conserving central difference scheme and an upwind difference scheme. The methods are evaluated in test cases for the evolution of small-amplitude disturbances and fully developed turbulent channel flow. It is suggested that the finite-difference approach can be applied to complex geometries more easilty than highly accurate spectral methods. It is concluded that the upwind scheme is a good candidate for direct simulations of turbulent flows over complex geometries.

Rai, Man Mohan↗
NASA NTRS1993

Numerical simulation of lava flows: Applications to the terrestrial planets

Lava flows are the visible expression of the extrusion of volcanic materials on a variety of planetary surfaces. A computer program described by Ishihara et al. appears to be well suited for application to different environments, and we have undertaken tests to evaluate their approach. Our results are somewhat mixed; the program does reproduce reasonable lava flow behavior in many situations, but we have encountered some conditions common to planetary environments for which the current program is inadequate. Here we present our initial efforts to identify the 'parameter space' for reasonable numerical simulations of lava flows.

Zimbelman, James R.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Steady and Unsteady Simulations of the Flow in an Impeller/Diffuser Stage

SLI engine designs will require pumps to throttle over a wide flow range while maintaining high performance. Unsteadiness generated by impeller/diffuser interaction is one of the major factors affecting off-design performance. Initial unsteady simulations are completed for impeller/diffuser stage. The Corsair simulations will continue across a wide flow range and for inducer/impeller/diffuser combinations. Results of unsteady simulations are being used to guide and explore new designs.

Canabal, Francisco↗
NASA NTRS1997

Efficient Parallel Algorithm For Direct Numerical Simulation of Turbulent Flows

A distributed algorithm for a high-order-accurate finite-difference approach to the direct numerical simulation (DNS) of transition and turbulence in compressible flows is described. This work has two major objectives. The first objective is to demonstrate that parallel and distributed-memory machines can be successfully and efficiently used to solve computationally intensive and input/output intensive algorithms of the DNS class. The second objective is to show that the computational complexity involved in solving the tridiagonal systems inherent in the DNS algorithm can be reduced by algorithm innovations that obviate the need to use a parallelized tridiagonal solver.

Moitra, Stuti↗
NASA NTRS1993

Direct numerical simulation of turbulent flow over a backward-facing step

The objectives of this study are as follows: (1) to conduct a direct numerical simulation of turbulent backward facing step flow using inflow and outflow conditions; and (2) to provide data in the form of Reynolds stress budgets for Reynolds averaged modeling. The report presents the basic statistical data and comparisons with the concurrent experiments of Jovic and Driver and budgets of turbulent kinetic energy.

Le, Hung↗
NASA NTRS1988

Numerical Simulation of Subsonic and Transonic Propeller Flow

The numerical simulation of 3-D transonic flow about a system of propeller blades is investigated. In particular, it is shown that the use of helical coordinates significantly simplifies the form of the governing equation when the propeller system is assumed to be surrounded by an irrotational flow field of an inviscid fluid. The unsteady small disturbance equation, valid for lightly loaded blades and expressed in helical coordinates, is derived from the general blade-fixed potential equation, given for an arbitrary coordinate system. The use of a coordinate system which inherently adapts to the mean flow results in a disturbance equation requiring relatively few terms to accurately model the physics of the flow. Furthermore, the helical coordinate system presented here is novel in that it is periodic in the circumferential direction while, simultaneously, maintaining orthogonal properties at the mean blade locations. The periodic characteristic allows a complete cascade of blades to be treated, and the orthogonality property affords straightforward treatment of blade boundary conditions. An ADI numerical scheme is used to compute the solution of the steady flow as an asymptotic limit of an unsteady flow. As an example of the method, solutions are presented for subsonic and transonic flow about a 5 percent thick bicircular arc blade of an 8-bladed cascade. Both high and low advance ratio cases are computed and include a lifting as well as nonlifting cases. The nonlifting solutions obtained are compared to solutions from a Euler code.

Snyder, Aaron↗
DOE OSTI2017

Simulation of Taylor flow evaporation for bubble-pump applications

Single-pressure absorption systems incorporate bubble-pump generators (BPGs) for refrigerant separation and passive fluid circulation. In conventional spot-heated BPGs, heat is transferred over a small area, requiring high source temperatures. Distributed-heated BPGs receive thermal input over most of the component surface, enabling low temperature operation. In this investigation, a Volume-of-Fluid phase-change simulation formulation is developed and validated. Here this approach is applied to the evaporating Taylor flow pattern in distributed-heated BPGs. A 2-D axisymmetric simulation is performed, which yields detailed information about the developing heat transfer and two-phase flow phenomena. Results are used to assess predicted trends and sub-models from a 1-D segmented BPG model. Close agreement is obtained between segmented model and simulation results for bubble rise velocity (5–7% deviation), bubble and slug lengths, void fraction (3%), and hydrodynamic pressure drop (18%). Specifying average Taylor bubble lengths from the simulation as an input to the segmented model reduces hydrodynamic pressure drop deviation to 6%. Simulated flow-evaporation heat transfer coefficients are significantly higher than those predicted using analytic models from the literature. A new flow evaporation heat transfer correlation that accounts for developing slug flow effects is proposed, and yields close agreement with simulation results for heat transfer coefficient (AAD = 11%) and overall heat transfer rate (2%). Overall, this investigation provides validation for a distributed-heated BPG modeling approach, which can enable passive refrigeration for diverse applications.

42 ENGINEERING↗
NASA NTRS1991

Direct Finite-Difference Simulations Of Turbulent Flow

Report discusses use of upwind-biased finite-difference numerical-integration scheme to simulate evolution of small disturbances and fully developed turbulence in three-dimensional flow of viscous, incompressible fluid in channel. Involves use of computational grid sufficiently fine to resolve motion of fluid at all relevant length scales.

Rai, Man Mohan↗
DOE OSTI2016

Simulating Regional Groundwater Flow in the Vicinity of the Nevada National Security Site, Nye County, Nevada - 16104

The Death Valley Regional Groundwater Flow System (DVRFS) occupies an area of about 70,000 km{sup 2} in south-central Nevada and southeastern California. Interest in this system stems from the need to (1) understand the groundwater flow paths and travel times associated with potential migration of radioactive material from the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) where underground nuclear testing was conducted from 1956 to 1992; (2) characterize the groundwater system in the vicinity of the proposed high-level radioactive waste repository at Yucca Mountain, Nev.; and (3) address a variety of potential effects from NNSS activities on users down gradient from the NNSS and Yucca Mountain. A single groundwater flow model of the DVRFS has been developed that integrates data and results of two previous regional-scale models and supports Department of Energy (DOE) programs at the NNSS. The numerical model was constrained by organizing hydrogeologic data and interpretations in three-dimensional (3D) geographic information systems and constructing a digital three-dimensional (3D) hydrogeologic framework model (HFM) to represent 27 hydrogeologic units (HGUs) and major structures in the DVRFS region. The 3D hydrogeologic data sets were discretized to 1,500 meters (m) grid cell resolution for input arrays required for the model. The DVRFS was simulated using the USGS 3D groundwater-flow modeling code MODFLOW-2000. Two examples showing how the DVRFS regional model is used by the DOE as part of waste management activities at the NNSS: (1) use of the regional model to provide the boundary conditions for site-scale models, and (2) use of the regional model to assess changes in hydraulic gradient and flow paths in the regional flow system resulting from changes in pumping in various areas of interest. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2017

Verification of the Two-Fluid Model in the Spectral Element Code Nek-2P for Adiabatic Flow Conditions

The simulation of multiphase flow is a difficult physical, computational, and numerical problem. Sophisticated tools are necessary to provide results encompassing a wide range of physical phenomena. The development of these tools must be supported by rigorous analysis and ongoing efforts of verification and validation to ensure the accuracy of simulations. The Nek-2P multiphase code is being developed at Argonne with the general goal of simulating a wide range of multiphase flows and the primary goal of simulating boiling flows in LWR fuel assemblies. As part of this, there is an ongoing effort to verify the code and validate the underlying physical models. The objective of this work is to present recent results in the verification of Nek-2P. As a starting point, this work is focused on adiabatic flows for the sake of simplicity with the immediate next planned step to expand the effort to include heat and mass transfer. Details of the verification of the implemented mass fraction transport, momentum conservation, and pressure equations in Nek-2P are presented. Results of simulations are compared to analytic solutions when possible, however due to the complexity of multiphase flows, these are seldom available. To overcome this difficulty, an independent model is used to provide solutions for comparison.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
NASA NTRS1987

Numerical simulation of compressible flow around complex two-dimensional cavities

Compressible viscous flow around two-dimensional cavities, that model the midplane flow in and around an airborne telescope cavity, are obtained through numerical simulation. Numerical solutions using the patched grid CSCM scheme for compressible, unsteady flow are presented for the cavities, with and without blowing. The time evolving solutions show interesting flow features. Relevant results for a limited number of problems presented here show the unsteady nature of the flow and its dependence on various parameters such as Reynolds number, the wall conditions, etc. The voluminous data of time evolving flow field solutions are analyzed through movies of the velocity vectors, and contours of other flow variables.

Venkatapathy, Ethiraj↗
NASA NTRS2004

DSMC Simulations of Hypersonic Flows With Shock Interactions and Validation With Experiments

The capabilities of a relatively new direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) code are examined for the problem of hypersonic laminar shock/shock and shock/boundary layer interactions, where boundary layer separation is an important feature of the flow. Flow about two model configurations is considered, where both configurations (a biconic and a hollow cylinder-flare) have recent published experimental measurements. The computations are made by using the DS2V code of Bird, a general two-dimensional/axisymmetric time accurate code that incorporates many of the advances in DSMC over the past decade. The current focus is on flows produced in ground-based facilities at Mach 12 and 16 test conditions with nitrogen as the test gas and the test models at zero incidence. Results presented highlight the sensitivity of the calculations to grid resolution, sensitivity to physical modeling parameters, and comparison with experimental measurements. Information is provided concerning the flow structure and surface results for the extent of separation, heating, pressure, and skin friction.

Moss, James N.↗
NASA NTRS2004

DSMC Simulations of Hypersonic Flows With Shock Interactions and Validation With Experiments

The capabilities of a relatively new direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) code are examined for the problem of hypersonic laminar shock/shock and shock/boundary layer interactions, where boundary layer separation is an important feature of the flow. Flow about two model configurations is considered, where both configurations (a biconic and a hollow cylinder-flare) have recent published experimental measurements. The computations are made by using the DS2V code of Bird, a general two-dimensional/axisymmetric time accurate code that incorporates many of the advances in DSMC over the past decade. The current focus is on flows produced in ground-based facilities at Mach 12 and 16 test conditions with nitrogen as the test gas and the test models at zero incidence. Results presented highlight the sensitivity of the calculations to grid resolutions, sensitivity to physical modeling parameters, and comparison with experimental measurements. Information is provided concerning the flow structure and surface results for the extent of separation, heating, pressure, and skin friction.

Moss, James N.↗