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At least 1,387 records · Page 77
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2016

Analysis of non-equilibrium phenomena in inductively coupled plasma generators

This article addresses the modeling of non-equilibrium phenomena in inductively coupled plasma discharges. In the proposed computational model, the electromagnetic induction equation is solved together with the set of Navier-Stokes equations in order to compute the electromagnetic and flow fields, accounting for their mutual interaction. Semi-classical statistical thermodynamics is used to determine the plasma thermodynamic properties, while transport properties are obtained from kinetic principles, with the method of Chapman and Enskog. Particle ambipolar diffusive fluxes are found by solving the Stefan-Maxwell equations with a simple iterative method. Two physico-mathematical formulations are used to model the chemical reaction processes: (1) A Local Thermodynamics Equilibrium (LTE) formulation and (2) a thermo-chemical non-equilibrium (TCNEQ) formulation. In the TCNEQ model, thermal non-equilibrium between the translational energy mode of the gas and the vibrational energy mode of individual molecules is accounted for. The electronic states of the chemical species are assumed in equilibrium with the vibrational temperature, whereas the rotational energy mode is assumed to be equilibrated with translation. Three different physical models are used to account for the coupling of chemistry and energy transfer processes. Numerical simulations obtained with the LTE and TCNEQ formulations are used to characterize the extent of non-equilibrium of the flow inside the Plasmatron facility at the von Karman Institute. Each model was tested using different kinetic mechanisms to assess the sensitivity of the results to variations in the reaction parameters. A comparison of temperatures and composition profiles at the outlet of the torch demonstrates that the flow is in non-equilibrium for operating conditions characterized by pressures below 30 000 Pa, frequency 0.37 MHz, input power 80 kW, and mass flow 8 g/s.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS1988

Numerical simulation of axisymmetric turbulent flow in combustors and diffusors

A method for predicting turbulent flow in combustors and diffusers is developed. The Navier-Stokes equations, incorporating a turbulence kappa-epsilon model equation, were solved in a nonorthogonal curvilinear coordinate system. The solution applied the finite volume method to discretize the differential equations and utilized the SIMPLE algorithm iteratively to solve the differenced equations. A zonal grid method, wherein the flow field was divided into several subsections, was developed. This approach permitted different computational schemes to be used in the various zones. In addition, grid generation was made a more simple task. However, treatment of the zonal boundaries required special handling. Boundary overlap and interpolating techniques were used and an adjustment of the flow variables was required to assure conservation of mass, momentum and energy fluxes. The numerical accuracy was assessed using different finite differencing methods, i.e., hybrid, quadratic upwind and skew upwind, to represent the convection terms. Flows in different geometries of combustors and diffusers were simulated and results compared with experimental data and good agreement was obtained.

Yung, Chain Nan↗
DOE OSTI2017

Analytic study of 1D diffusive relativistic shock acceleration

Diffusive shock acceleration (DSA) by relativistic shocks is thought to generate the dN / dE ∝ E{sup −p} spectra of charged particles in various astronomical relativistic flows. We show that for test particles in one dimension (1D), p {sup −1}=1−ln[γ{sub d}(1+β{sub d})]/ln[γ{sub u}(1+β{sub u})], where β{sub u}(β{sub d}) is the upstream (downstream) normalized velocity, and γ is the respective Lorentz factor. This analytically captures the main properties of relativistic DSA in higher dimensions, with no assumptions on the diffusion mechanism. Unlike 2D and 3D, here the spectrum is sensitive to the equation of state even in the ultra-relativistic limit, and (for a J(üttner-Synge equation of state) noticeably hardens with increasing 1<γ{sub u}<57, before logarithmically converging back to p (γ{sub u→∞})=2. The 1D spectrum is sensitive to drifts, but only in the downstream, and not in the ultra-relativistic limit.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Local bounds preserving stabilization for continuous Galerkin discretization of hyperbolic systems

The objective of this paper is to present a local bounds preserving stabilized finite element scheme for hyperbolic systems on unstructured meshes based on continuous Galerkin (CG) discretization in space. A CG semi-discrete scheme with low order artificial dissipation that satisfies the local extremum diminishing (LED) condition for systems is used to discretize a system of conservation equations in space. The low order artificial diffusion is based on approximate Riemann solvers for hyperbolic conservation laws. In this case we consider both Rusanov and Roe artificial diffusion operators. In the Rusanov case, two designs are considered, a nodal based diffusion operator and a local projection stabilization operator. The result is a discretization that is LED and has first order convergence behavior. To achieve high resolution, limited antidiffusion is added back to the semi-discrete form where the limiter is constructed from a linearity preserving local projection stabilization operator. The procedure follows the algebraic flux correction procedure usually used in flux corrected transport algorithms. To further deal with phase errors (or terracing) common in FCT type methods, high order background dissipation is added to the antidiffusive correction. The resulting stabilized semi-discrete scheme can be discretized in time using a wide variety of time integrators. Numerical examples involving nonlinear scalar Burgers equation, and several shock hydrodynamics simulations for the Euler system are considered to demonstrate the performance of the method. In conclusion, for time discretization, Crank–Nicolson scheme and backward Euler scheme are utilized.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2016

Influence of radiation on double conjugate diffusion in a porous cavity

The current work highlights the effect of radiation on the conjugate heat and mass transfer in a square porous cavity having a solid wall. The solid wall is placed at the center of cavity. The left surface of cavity is maintained at higher temperature T{sub w} and concentration C{sub w} whereas the right surface is maintained at T{sub c} and C{sub c} such that T{sub w}>T{sub c} and Cw>Cc. The top and bottom surfaces are adiabatic. The governing equations are solved with the help of finite element method by making use of triangular elements. The results are discussed with respect to two different heights of solid wall inside the porous medium along with the radiation parameter.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2024

An MPMD approach coupling electromagnetic continuum mechanics approximations in ALEGRA

In this work, two complementary approximations for describing aspects of continuum electromagnetics in moving media are discussed: electroquasistatic and magnetoquasistatic. Each has been implemented in the finite element shock code ALEGRA for modeling dynamic electromechanical phenomena on typical engineering time scales, with fully integrated circuit coupling. The approximations can be obtained by consistent asymptotic balancing of Maxwell’s equations relative to timescales associated with magnetic diffusion, charge relaxation, and electromagnetic wave propagation. In ALEGRA, the electroquasistatic approximation is used for ferroelectric (FE) modeling, while the magnetoquasistatic approximation is used for magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) modeling. In this paper we introduce for the first time a detailed derivation of a useful quasi-steady “low-R m ” variant of the MHD approximation applicable for cases, such as with detonators, where the thermodynamic pressure arising from Joule heating dominates over magnetic forces. An additional purpose of this paper is to present a coupling mode using Multiple Program-Multiple Data (MPMD) message passing communication that allows the user to run 3D FE problems together with 2D and/or 3D MHD problems with the respective simulation domains coupled through a common circuit equation. The MPMD coupling capability is used here to model the dynamic coupling of a notional ferroelectric generator with an RP-87 exploding bridgewire detonator. The simulated bridgewire heats up and bursts under current generated by simulated depoling of the ferroelectric generator, as a demonstration of the MPMD capability.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2018

Theory of Carbon Dioxide Absorption by Hanford Waste - 18208

Hanford nuclear waste has a very high pH, and Hanford tanks are ventilated with air. Air has CO{sub 2(g)} in it, which is an acid, so it has some affinity for the waste. The absorption of CO{sub 2} by the waste is important because CO{sub 2} absorption consumes hydroxide at the liquid-air interface, and the hydroxide is important for inhibiting tank corrosion. NaOH is periodically added to some tanks in order to mitigate the surface acidification. The NaOH added then becomes part of the waste and must be treated as waste, increasing the cost of the mission. The Hobbs Equation, developed at the Savannah River site, is used at Hanford to predict CO{sub 2} absorption from the tank ventilation system. In this study, the Hobbs Equation functional form is theoretically evaluated from thermodynamic calculations of CO{sub 2} absorption, and diffusion rates in the waste surface. This study theoretically justifies the empirical equation reported by Hobbs. Thermodynamic calculations performed using the Environmental Simulation Program (ESP) software on a typical double-shell tank waste composition indicate that essentially 100 % of CO{sub 2} that contacts the waste will react with the waste whenever the pH is above 10. In the 1990's, a substantial amount of data was collected on the concentration of CO{sub 2} in the off-gas of ventilated double-shell tanks at Hanford. This historic data was mined in order to determine the quantity of CO{sub 2} absorbed by the waste. The results of this data mining activity determined that tanks below approximately pH 10 (i.e., tank 241-AN-107) will show limited CO{sub 2} absorption, consistent with both the Hobbs model and the theory developed here. Two other tank with higher pH showed contrasting CO{sub 2} absorption. One showed substantial CO{sub 2} absorption, and the other showed minimal CO{sub 2} absorption despite the high waste pH in one tank, presumably because there was minimal contact between the waste surface and most of the air flow. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
NASA NTRS1990

Plasma diffusion at the magnetopause? The case of lower hybrid drift waves

The diffusion expected from the quasilinear theory of the lower hybrid drift instability at the Earth's magnetopause is recalculated. The resulting diffusion coefficient is in principle just marginally large enough to explain the thickness of the boundary layer under quiet conditions, based on observational upper limits for the wave intensities. Thus, one possible model for the boundary layer could involve equilibrium between the diffusion arising from lower hybrid waves and various low processes. However, some recent data and simulations seems to indicate that the magnetopause is not consistent with such a soft diffusive equilibrium model. Furthermore, investigation of the nonlinear equations for the lower hybrid waves for magnetopause parameters indicates that the quasilinear state may never arise because coalescence to large wavelengths, followed by collapse once a critical wavelengths is reached, occur on a time scale faster than the quasilinear diffusion. In this case, an inhomogeneous boundary layer is to be expected. More simulations are required over longer time periods to explore whether this nonlinear evolution really takes place at the magnetopause.

Treumann, R. A.↗
DOE OSTI2017

Screening in a multicomponent plasma by the example of a wet air plasma

A general theory of screening of a dust-particle charge in a multicomponent plasma is developed based on the asymptotic screening theory. In the asymptotic theory, the balance equations for the number of charged plasma particles in the diffusion-drift approximation supplemented with point sinks of plasma particles on a dust particle and the Poisson equation for the self-consistent electric field potential are solved by the linearization method using the three-dimensional Fourier transform. The coefficients of a secular or a characteristic polynomial, whose zeroes determine screening constants in a multicomponent plasma, were calculated by the Leverrier–Faddeev method, allowing one to find these coefficients for any number of initial balance equations for the number of charged plasma particles. By the example of a wet air plasma produced by an external gas-ionization source, the procedure is considered for constructing the truncated system of balance equations for main plasma ions and screening constants are determined. The influence of the number of main ions on screening constants is considered and the physical meaning of all screening constants is found.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
NASA NTRS1983

Ion cyclotron waves in the Io plasma torus - Polarization reversal of whistler mode noise

Because of the presence of multiple ion species in the Io plasma torus, whistler mode noise can be converted to ion cyclotron waves via a polarization reversal process at the local crossover frequency. Using whistler mode intensity measurements in the Jovian magnetosphere from Voyager 1, the pitch-angle diffusion rates that would occur if the noise is converted to ion cyclotron waves is estimated. Typical pitch-angle diffusion coefficients range from 0.000001/sec for protons resonating near the equator to 0.0001/sec for 10-keV O(+) ions resonating at high latitudes. Although complete bounce averaged diffusion coefficients have not yet been computed, preliminary estimates indicate that the energetic ion precipitation caused by these waves may be able to account for the EUV auroral emissions at the foot of the torus field lines.

Gurnett, D. A.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Turbo fluid machinery and diffusers

The general theory behind turbo devices and diffusers is explained. Problems and the state of research on basic equations of flow and experimental and measuring methods are discussed. Conventional centrifugation-type compressor and fan diffusers are considered in detail.

Sakurai, T.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Partially averaged field approach to cosmic ray diffusion

A new nonlinear technique is used to derive the kinetic equation for particles interacting with turbulent fluctuations. Difficulties associated with quasi-linear theory are avoided. The new method evaluates the effects of the fluctuations along particle orbits which themselves include the effects of a statistically averaged subset of the possible configuration of the turbulence. As an illustration, the pitch-angle diffusion coefficient is calculated for particles interacting with 'slab model' magnetic turbulence, i.e., magnetic fluctuations linearly polarized transverse to a mean magnetic field. The pitch-angle diffusion coefficient is determined in the vicinity of 90-deg pitch angles where quasi-linear theory breaks down. The spatial diffusion coefficient parallel to a mean magnetic field is evaluated by use of the calculated pitch-angle diffusion coefficient. It is suggested that the partially averaged field method is not limited to small amplitude fluctuating fields and hence is not a perturbation theory.

Jones, F. C.↗
DOE OSTI2021

A modified many-body dissipative particle dynamics model for mesoscopic fluid simulation: methodology, calibration, and application for hydrocarbon and water

The many-body dissipative particle dynamics (mDPD) is a prominent mesoscopic multiphase model for fluid transport in mesoconfinement. However, it has been a long-standing challenge for mDPD (and other multiphase-enabled DPD models) to accurately predict real-fluid static and dynamic properties simultaneously. We have developed a modified mDPD model to overcome the issue and a rigorous calibration approach that uses reference data, including experimental and/or molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to parameterise the modified mDPD for real fluids. We choose heptane as a representative example of hydrocarbon in source rocks to demonstrate the model's capability to accurately predict the equation of state (EOS), free surface tension, diffusivity, and viscosity. Our timing test shows that the modified mDPD is 400–500 times faster than its MD counterpart for simulating bulk heptane in equivalent volumes. To further demonstrate the robustness of the model, we revisited the benchmark problem of mesoscopic modelling of water, in which all the previous works on DPD reported only a limited portion of the water properties. Here, we show that the modified mDPD can provide accurate modelling of water static and dynamic properties and an EOS that matches the experimental data to a large range of confinement pressure.

42 ENGINEERING↗
NASA NTRS1993

Alveolar ventilation to perfusion heterogeneity and diffusion impairment in a mathematical model of gas exchange

This study describes a two-compartment model of pulmonary gas exchange in which alveolar ventilation to perfusion (VA/Q) heterogeneity and impairment of pulmonary diffusing capacity (D) are simultaneously taken into account. The mathematical model uses as input data measurements usually obtained in the lung function laboratory. It consists of two compartments and an anatomical shunt. Each compartment receives fractions of alveolar ventilation and blood flow. Mass balance equations and integration of Fick's law of diffusion are used to compute alveolar and blood O2 and CO2 values compatible with input O2 uptake and CO2 elimination. Two applications are presented. The first is a method to partition O2 and CO2 alveolar-arterial gradients into VA/Q and D components. The technique is evaluated in data of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The second is a theoretical analysis of the effects of blood flow variation in alveolar and blood O2 partial pressures. The results show the importance of simultaneous consideration of D to estimate VA/Q heterogeneity in patients with diffusion impairment. This factor plays an increasing role in gas alveolar-arterial gradients as severity of COPD increases. Association of VA/Q heterogeneity and D may produce an increase of O2 arterial pressure with decreasing QT which would not be observed if only D were considered. We conclude that the presented computer model is a useful tool for description and interpretation of data from COPD patients and for performing theoretical analysis of variables involved in the gas exchange process.

NASA Discipline Environmental Health↗
DOE OSTI2019

A Multilevel in Space and Energy Solver for 3-D Multigroup Diffusion and Coarse-Mesh Finite Difference Eigenvalue Problems

The Multilevel in Space and Energy Diffusion (MSED) method accelerates the iterative convergence of multigroup diffusion eigenvalue problems by performing work on lower-order equations with only one group and/or coarser spatial grids. It consists of two primary components: (1) a grey (one-group) diffusion eigenvalue problem that is solved via Wielandt-shifted power iteration (PI) and (2) a multigrid-in-space linear solver. In previous work, the efficiency of MSED was verified using Fourier analysis and numerical results from a one-dimensional multigroup diffusion code. Since that work, MSED has been implemented as a solver for the coarse-mesh finite difference (CMFD) system in the three-dimensional Michigan Parallel Characteristics Transport (MPACT) code. In this paper, the results from the implementation of MSED in MPACT are introduced, and the changes needed to make MSED more suitable for MPACT are described. For problems without feedback, the conclusions in this paper show that MSED can reduce the CMFD run time by an order of magnitude and the overall run time by a factor of 2 to 3 compared to the default CMFD solver in MPACT [PI with the generalized minimal residual (GMRES) method]. For problems with feedback, the convergence of the outer Picard iteration scheme is worsened by the well-converged CMFD solutions produced by the standard MSED method. To overcome this unintuitive deficiency, MSED may be run with looser convergence criteria (a modified version of the MSED method called MSED-L) to circumvent the issue until the multiphysics iteration in MPACT is improved. Results show that MSED-L can reduce the CMFD run time in MPACT by an order of magnitude, without negatively impacting the outer Picard iteration scheme.

3-D↗
NASA NTRS1986

Diffuser investigation for advanced multi-megawatt MPD engine development

Steady-state testing of advanced, multimegawatt MPD engines requires vacuum facilities with pumping speeds which are not presently available. Gas dynamic diffusers have been proposed as a possible solution to this problem. An analytical investigation into the feasibility of using a diffuser for pumping the MPD engine exhaust is presented here. This analysis uses a detailed equation of state based on the partition function for the high temperature argon exhaust. On the basis of the electron-ion momentum exchange collision frequency in the exhaust plasma, it was concluded that the diffuser gas dynamics could be modeled to a first approximation with ordinary continuum equations. Calculations of the stagnation pressure in the diffuser, downstream of a strong normal shock, yielded pressures on the order of 10 torr suggesting that the diffuser is feasible for pumping the MPD engine exhaust.

Brophy, J. R.↗
DOE OSTI2015

Dynamic of charged planar geometry in tilted and non-tilted frames

We investigate the dynamics of charged planar symmetry with an anisotropic matter field subject to a radially moving observer called a tilted observer. The Einstein-Maxwell field equations are used to obtain a relation between non-tilted and tilted frames and between kinematical and dynamical quantities. Using the Taub mass formalism and conservation laws, two evolution equations are developed to analyze the inhomogeneities in the tilted congruence. It is found that the radial velocity (due to the tilted observer) and the electric charge have a crucial effect on the inhomogeneity factor. Finally, we discuss the stability in the non-tilted frame in the pure diffusion case and examine the effects of the electromagnetic field.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
NASA NTRS1981

Factors governing the ratio of inward to outward diffusing flux of satellite ions

The sensitivity of the flux ratio to the uncertainties in the boundary conditions and diffusion coefficient is analyzed. The principal result is that if the diffusion is driven externally, for example, by winds in Jupiter's ionosphere, the inward flux exceeds or is of the same order of magnitude as the outward flux. On the other hand, if the diffusion is driven locally by the centrifugal interchange instability, as suggested by one interpretation of Voyager plasma data, the outward flux can be one or two orders of magnitude greater than the inward flux. Fits to the Voyager in situ plasma torus data obtained through solutions to the transport equations appropriate to wind driven and centrifugally driven diffusion are compared.

Richardson, J. D.↗