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At least 1,351 records · Page 75

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

DOE OSTI2013

A method for the direct numerical simulation of hypersonic boundary-layer instability with finite-rate chemistry

A new numerical method is presented here that allows to consider chemically reacting gases during the direct numerical simulation of a hypersonic fluid flow. The method comprises the direct coupling of a solver for the fluid mechanical model and a library providing the physio-chemical model. The numerical method for the fluid mechanical model integrates the compressible Navier–Stokes equations using an explicit time advancement scheme and high-order finite differences. This Navier–Stokes code can be applied to the investigation of laminar-turbulent transition and boundary-layer instability. The numerical method for the physio-chemical model provides thermodynamic and transport properties for different gases as well as chemical production rates, while here we exclusively consider a five species air mixture. The new method is verified for a number of test cases at Mach 10, including the one-dimensional high-temperature flow downstream of a normal shock, a hypersonic chemical reacting boundary layer in local thermodynamic equilibrium and a hypersonic reacting boundary layer with finite-rate chemistry. We are able to confirm that the diffusion flux plays an important role for a high-temperature boundary layer in local thermodynamic equilibrium. Moreover, we demonstrate that the flow for a case previously considered as a benchmark for the investigation of non-equilibrium chemistry can be regarded as frozen. Finally, the new method is applied to investigate the effect of finite-rate chemistry on boundary layer instability by considering the downstream evolution of a small-amplitude wave and comparing results with those obtained for a frozen gas as well as a gas in local thermodynamic equilibrium.

42 ENGINEERING↗

DOE OSTI2020

Effect of Computational Schemes on Coupled Flow and Geo-Mechanical Modeling of CO 2 Leakage through a Compromised Well

Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) describes a set of technically viable processes to separate carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) from industrial byproduct streams and inject it into deep geologic formations for long-term storage. Legacy wells located within the spatial domain of new injection and production activities represent potential pathways for fluids (i.e., CO 2 and aqueous phase) to leak through compromised components (e.g., through fractures or micro-annulus pathways). The finite element (FE) method is a well-established numerical approach to simulate the coupling between multi-phase fluid flow and solid phase deformation interactions that occur in a compromised well system. We assumed the spatial domain consists of a three-phases system: a solid, liquid, and gas phase. For flow in the two fluids phases, we considered two sets of primary variables: the first considering capillary pressure and gas pressure (PP) scheme, and the second considering liquid pressure and gas saturation (PS) scheme. Fluid phases were coupled with the solid phase using the full coupling (i.e., monolithic coupling) and iterative coupling (i.e., sequential coupling) approaches. The challenge of achieving numerical stability in the coupled formulation in heterogeneous media was addressed using the mass lumping and the upwinding techniques. Numerical results were compared with three benchmark problems to assess the performance of coupled FE solutions: 1D Terzaghi’s consolidation, Liakopoulos experiments, and the Kueper and Frind experiments. We found good agreement between our results and the three benchmark problems. For the Kueper and Frind test, the PP scheme successfully captured the observed experimental response of the non-aqueous phase infiltration, in contrast to the PS scheme. These exercises demonstrate the importance of fluid phase primary variable selection for heterogeneous porous media. We then applied the developed model to the hypothetical case of leakage along a compromised well representing a heterogeneous media. Considering the mass lumping and the upwinding techniques, both the monotonic and the sequential coupling provided identical results, but mass lumping was needed to avoid numerical instabilities in the sequential coupling. Additionally, in the monolithic coupling, the magnitude of primary variables in the coupled solution without mass lumping and the upwinding is higher, which is essential for the risk-based analyses.

deformation flow↗

DOE OSTI2020

Simulation of coupled multiphase flow and geomechanics in porous media with embedded discrete fractures

In fractured natural formations, the equations governing fluid flow and geomechanics are strongly coupled. Hydrodynamical properties depend on the mechanical configuration, and they are therefore difficult to accurately resolve using uncoupled methods. In recent years, significant research has focused on discretization strategies for these coupled systems, particularly in the presence of complicated fracture network geometries. In this work, we explore a finite-volume discretization for the multiphase flow equations coupled with a finite-element scheme for the mechanical equations. Fractures are treated as lower dimensional surfaces embedded in a background grid. Interactions are captured using the embedded discrete fracture model (EDFM) and the embedded finite element method (EFEM) for the flow and the mechanics, respectively. This nonconforming approach significantly alleviates meshing challenges. EDFM considers fractures as lower dimension finite volumes that exchange fluxes with the rock matrix cells. The EFEM method provides, instead, a local enrichment of the finite-element space inside each matrix cell cut by a fracture element. Both the use of piecewise constant and piecewise linear enrichments are investigated. They are also compared to an extended finite element approach. One key advantage of EFEM is the element-based nature of the enrichment, which reduces the geometric complexity of the implementation and leads to linear systems with advantageous properties. Synthetic numerical tests are presented to study the convergence and accuracy of the proposed method. It is also applied to a realistic scenario, involving a heterogeneous reservoir with a complex fracture distribution, to demonstrate its relevance for field applications.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

NASA NTRS1972

Quasi-one-dimensional compressible flow across face seals and narrow slots. 2: Computer program

A computer program is presented for compressible fluid flow with friction across face seals and through narrow slots. The computer program carries out a quasi-one-dimensional flow analysis which is valid for laminar and turbulent flows under both subsonic and choked flow conditions for parallel surfaces. The program is written in FORTRAN IV. The input and output variables are in either the International System of Units (SI) or the U.S. customary system.

Zuk, J.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Algebraically growing waves in ducts with sheared mean flow

Analysis of the behavior of standing and traveling acoustic waves in a smooth duct with a fluid flow having a sheared mean velocity profile, when the waves grow algebraically as they travel along the duct axis. It is shown that standing waves growing algebraically with the axial distance cannot exist in a smooth duct when the duct wall have a finite resistance. The existence of traveling waves subject to the same law of growth is also dismissed under realistic flow conditions.

Nayfeh, A. H.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Finite element computation of a viscous compressible free shear flow governed by the time dependent Navier-Stokes equations

A finite element algorithm for solution of fluid flow problems characterized by the two-dimensional compressible Navier-Stokes equations was developed. The program is intended for viscous compressible high speed flow; hence, primitive variables are utilized. The physical solution was approximated by trial functions which at a fixed time are piecewise cubic on triangular elements. The Galerkin technique was employed to determine the finite-element model equations. A leapfrog time integration is used for marching asymptotically from initial to steady state, with iterated integrals evaluated by numerical quadratures. The nonsymmetric linear systems of equations governing time transition from step-to-step are solved using a rather economical block iterative triangular decomposition scheme. The concept was applied to the numerical computation of a free shear flow. Numerical results of the finite-element method are in excellent agreement with those obtained from a finite difference solution of the same problem.

Cooke, C. H.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Analysis of forced convection heat flow effects in horizontal ribbon growth from the melt

A heat transport analysis which considers forced convective fluid flow induced by the motion of a continuous solid ribbon over a melt has been done for horizontal ribbon growth. A model has been developed which treats both 'active' and 'passive' cooling at the ribbon surface. The results show that heat flow from the melt requires active cooling in the region of the leading growth edge or growth tip. Steady-state liquid-solid interface shape is analyzed and numerical results are given for steady-state pulling of silicon ribbon.

Zoutendyk, J. A.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Conditions at the downstream boundary for simulations of viscous incompressible flow

The proper specification of boundary conditions at artificial boundaries for the simulation of time-dependent fluid flows has long been a matter of controversy. A general theory of asymptotic boundary conditions for dissipative waves is applied to the design of simple, accurate conditions at downstream boundary for incompressible flows. For Reynolds numbers far enough below the critical value for linear stability, a scaling is introduced which greatly simplifies the construction of the asymptotic conditions. Numerical experiments with the nonlinear dynamics of vortical disturbances to plane Poiseuille flow are presented which illustrate the accuracy of our approach. The consequences of directly applying the scalings to the equations are also considered.

Hagstrom, Thomas↗

NASA NTRS1990

Calculation of turbulent three-dimensional jet-induced flow in a rectangular enclosure

The application of a flux-spline scheme to three-dimensional fluid flow is reported. A comparison is made of the performance of this scheme with that of the Power-law differencing scheme. The numerical results are compared with experimental data. For the problem considered in this study, the flux-spline scheme is more accurate than the Power-law. For a prescribed accuracy, the flux-spline scheme requires a far fewer number of grid points. Thus, it has the potential of providing a numerical error-free solution, especially for three-dimensional flows, without requiring an excessively fine grid.

Nikjooy, M.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Using Multiple Grids To Compute Flows

Paper discusses decomposition of global grids into multiple patched and/or overlaid local grids in computations of fluid flow. Such "domain decomposition" particularly useful in computation of flows about complicated bodies moving relative to each other; for example, flows associated with rotors and stators in turbomachinery and rotors and fuselages in helicopters.

Rai, Man Mohan↗

NASA NTRS1992

Surface heat transfer and flow properties of vortex arrays induced artificially and from centrifugal instabilities

The paper presents and compares fluid-flow and heat transfer properties from artificially induced vortices in a flat-plate turbulent boundary layer and naturally occurring vortices due to centrifugal instabilities in a curved-channel laminar flow. Pairs and arrays of vortices are artificially induced by placing half-delta wings on the plate surface. With both arrays and pairs of vortices, streamwise velocities and total pressures are high, and surface heat transfer is locally augmented in vortex downwash regions. In contrast to vortices in the arrays vortices in the pairs tend to move in the streamwise direction with significant divergence (when the common flow between pair is toward the wall) or convergence (when the common flow between pair is away from the wall). The vortices in the arrays cause maximum peak-to-peak heat transfer variations of up to 12 percent of local spanwise-averaged values for initial vortex spacings between 1 to 2.5 generator heights.

Subramanian, C. S.↗

NASA NTRS1970

Economic method for measuring ultra-low flow rates of fluids

Capillary tube flowmeter measures ultra-low flows of very corrosive fluids /such as chlorine trifluoride and liquid fluorine/ and other liquids with reasonable accuracy. Flowmeter utilizes differential pressure transducer and operates on the principle that for laminar flow in the tube, pressure drop is proportional to flow rate.

Bogdanovic, J. A.↗

DOE OSTI2014

Physics based model for online fault detection in autonomous cryogenic loading system

We report the progress in the development of the chilldown model for a rapid cryogenic loading system developed at NASA-Kennedy Space Center. The nontrivial characteristic feature of the analyzed chilldown regime is its active control by dump valves. The two-phase flow model of the chilldown is approximated as one-dimensional homogeneous fluid flow with no slip condition for the interphase velocity. The model is built using commercial SINDA/FLUINT software. The results of numerical predictions are in good agreement with the experimental time traces. The obtained results pave the way to the application of the SINDA/FLUINT model as a verification tool for the design and algorithm development required for autonomous loading operation.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2014

Gasification Studies: Task 4 Topical Report, Utah Clean Coal Program

A key objective of the Task 4 activities has been to develop simulation tools to support development, troubleshooting and optimization of pressurized entrained-flow coal gasifiers. The overall gasifier models (Subtask 4.1) combine submodels for fluid flow (Subtask 4.2) and heat transfer (Subtask 4.3) with fundamental understanding of the chemical processes (Subtask 4.4) processes that take place as coal particles are converted to synthesis gas and slag. However, it is important to be able to compare predictions from the models against data obtained from actual operating coal gasifiers, and Subtask 4.6 aims to provide an accessible, non-proprietary system, which can be operated over a wide range of conditions to provide well-characterized data for model validation. Highlights of this work include: (1) Verification and validation activities performed with the Arches coal gasification simulation tool on experimental data from the CANMET gasifier (Subtask 4.1). (2) The simulation of multiphase reacting flows with coal particles including detailed gas-phase chemistry calculations using an extension of the one-dimensional turbulence model’s capability (Subtask 4.2). (3) The demonstration and implementation of the Reverse Monte Carlo ray tracing (RMCRT) radiation algorithm in the ARCHES code (Subtask 4.3). (4) Determination of steam and CO 2 gasification kinetics of bituminous coal chars at high temperature and elevated pressure under entrained-flow conditions (Subtask 4.4). In addition, attempts were made to gain insight into the chemical structure differences between young and mature coal soot, but both NMR and TEM characterization efforts were hampered by the highly reacted nature of the soot. (5) The development, operation, and demonstration of in-situ gas phase measurements from the University of Utah’s pilot-scale entrained-flow coal gasifier (EFG) (Subtask 4.6). This subtask aimed at acquiring predictable, consistent performance and characterizing the environment within the gasifier.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗

DOE OSTI2021

Deterministic Calibration of MFiX-PIC, Part 1: Settling Bed

The Particle-in-cell (PIC) numerical approach for modeling granular solids in fluid flow has gained significant interest in recent years. Valued for its often shorter time-to-solution, the PIC formulation relies on modeling statistical groupings of particles called parcels in cooperation with a solids stress model to affect local solids velocity. This is in contrast to the discrete element model (DEM) where every particle in a system is modelled individually and directly coupled to local solids velocity through Newtonian mechanics. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) develops and maintains Multiphase Flow with Interphase eXchanges (MFiX), a collection of open-source computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solvers. Included in the MFiX suite are traditional two-fluid model (TFM) and DEM solvers, and a recently added PIC solver (NETL, 2021). In general, PIC methodologies offer an accuracy trade-off in lieu of computational speed; and therefore, it is important to assess the credibility of MFiX-PIC simulations. For this purpose, a systematic verification, validation and uncertainty quantification (VVUQ) effort was initiated at NETL to assess the new PIC solver

42 ENGINEERING↗

DOE OSTI2022

Eddy Current Flow Meter Measurements and Modeling Validation

The goal of the eddy current flow meter (ECFM) is to monitor velocities and temperatures of conductive liquid metals. The ECFM can also detect voids in two-phase liquid metal flows. Measurement of these flows can greatly improve the accuracy of the empirical formulas used for fluid dynamics near the reactor core and aid in mapping any non-uniformities in fluid flow such as estimates of temperature and phase. While the eventual goal is to develop the ECFM for the liquid sodium surrounding the Versatile Test Reactor (VTR) core, this report focuses on modeling and experimental validation of ECFM for a moving solid test rod and for liquid mercury in the Target Test Facility (TTF) flow loop to better understand and further develop ECFM measurement capabilities by validating model predictions with benchmark experiments. Eventually the models could be used to design and optimize future ECFMs for specific applications such as monitoring flow within the VTR pool.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

NASA NTRS1970

Adjustable flow restrictor

Flow-rate restrictor with sharp-edged threads generates turbulence in the fluid flow, providing greater pressure reduction than is possible with a smooth-walled device. It is less susceptible to clogging.

Tufte, R. J.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Laboratory and theoretical models of planetary-scale instabilities and waves

The continuous low-g environment of the orbiting space shuttle provided a setting for conducting geophysical fluid model experiments with a completely consistent representation of sphericity and the resultant radial gravity found on astrogeophysical objects. This is possible because in zero gravity an experiment can be constructed that has its own radial buoyancy forces. The dielectric forces in a liquid, which are linearly dependent on fluid temperature, give rise to an effectively radial buoyancy force when a radial electrostatic field is applied. The Geophysical Fluid Flow Cell (GFFC) experiment is an implementation of this idea in which fluid is contained between two rotating hemispheres that are differentially heated and stressed with a large ac voltage. The GFFC flew on Spacelab 3 in May 1985. Data in the form of global Schlieren images of convective patterns were obtained for a large variety of configurations. These included situations of rapid rotation (large Taylor numbers), low rotation, large and small thermal forcing, and situations with applied meridional temperature gradients. The analysis and interpretation of the GFFC-85 data are being conducted. Improvements were developed to the GFFC instrument that will allow for real-time (TV) display of convection data and for near-real-time interactive experiments. These experiments, on the transition to global turbulence, the breakdown of rapidly rotating convective planforms and other phenomena, are scheduled to be carried out on the International Microgravity Laboratory (IML-1) aboard the shuttle in June 1990.

Hart, John E.↗