Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Optical flow”

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.

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

At least 1,459 records · Page 81
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2017

Transport modeling of convection dominated helicon discharges in Proto-MPEX with the B2.5-Eirene code

Data-constrained interpretative analyses of plasma transport in convection dominated helicon discharges in the Proto-MPEX linear device, and predictive calculations with additional Electron Cyclotron Heating/Electron Bernstein Wave (ECH/EBW) heating, are reported. The B2.5-Eirene code, in which the multi-fluid plasma code B2.5 is coupled to the kinetic Monte Carlo neutrals code Eirene, is used to fit double Langmuir probe measurements and fast camera data in front of a stainless-steel target. The absorbed helicon and ECH power (11 kW) and spatially constant anomalous transport coefficients that are deduced from fitting of the probe and optical data are additionally used for predictive simulations of complete axial distributions of the densities, temperatures, plasma flow velocities, particle and energy fluxes, and possible effects of alternate fueling and pumping scenarios. The somewhat hollow electron density and temperature radial profiles from the probe data suggest that Trivelpiece-Gould wave absorption is the dominant helicon electron heating source in the discharges analyzed here. There is no external ion heating, but the corresponding calculated ion temperature radial profile is not hollow. Rather it reflects ion heating by the electron-ion equilibration terms in the energy balance equations and ion radial transport resulting from the hollow density profile. With the absorbed power and the transport model deduced from fitting the sheath limited discharge data, calculated conduction limited higher recycling conditions were produced by reducing the pumping and increasing the gas fueling rate, resulting in an approximate doubling of the target ion flux and reduction of the target heat flux.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2019

Time-averaged Spray Analysis in the Near-field Using Broadband and Narrowband X-ray Measurements

The characterization of a spray in the near-field region is challenging because of its high optical density in this region. X-ray based techniques, with weak scatter and strong penetration properties, can provide better characterization than optical assessment techniques in this region. Here, the effects of various operating parameters on the optical depth (defined as the accumulated liquid thickness in the beam path times the X-ray attenuation coefficient) and spray profile of an atomizing spray in the near-field region are evaluated based on time-averaged X-ray analysis techniques. Controlling parameters in the spray structure include swirl ratio, liquid phase Reynolds number, and gas phase Reynolds number. Data from the broadband X-ray radiographs obtained using a tube source at Iowa State University and from focused beam measurements at the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory are compared. The X-ray tube source at Iowa State University was operated at two different energy levels, which reveals that the X-ray tube source energy influenced the magnitude of the optical depth but did not change the shape of the distribution. For the no swirl condition, gas flow rate and liquid flow rate had opposite effects on the spray profile, where the spray widens as the gas flow rate increases and narrows as the liquid flow rate increases. As the swirl ratio increases from 0 to 1, the spray widens and then narrows. Furthermore, the critical swirl ratio at which the spray reaches its widest spread differs at different flow conditions.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2017

The Solar X-Ray Limb

We describe a new technique to measure the height of the X-ray limb with observations from occulted X-ray flare sources as observed by the RHESSI (the Reuven Ramaty High-Energy Spectroscopic Imager) satellite. This method has model dependencies different from those present in traditional observations at optical wavelengths, which depend upon detailed modeling involving radiative transfer in a medium with complicated geometry and flows. It thus provides an independent and more rigorous measurement of the “true” solar radius, which means that of the mass distribution. RHESSI’s measurement makes use of the flare X-ray source’s spatial Fourier components (the visibilities), which are sensitive to the presence of the sharp edge at the lower boundary of the occulted source. We have found a suitable flare event for analysis, SOL2011-10-20T03:25 (M1.7), and report a first result from this novel technique here. Using a four-minute integration over the 3–25 keV photon energy range, we find R{sub X-ray}=960.11±0.15±0.29 arcsec, at 1 au, where the uncertainties include statistical uncertainties from the method and a systematic error. The standard VAL-C model predicts a value of 959.94 arcsec, which is about 1σ below our value.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

The First Identification of Lyα Changing-look Quasars at High Redshift in DESI

We present two cases of Lyα changing-look (CL) quasars (J1306 and J1512) along with two additional candidates (J1511 and J1602), all discovered serendipitously at z > 2 through the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. It is the first time to capture CL events in Lyα at high redshift, which is crucial for understanding the underlying mechanisms driving the CL phenomenon and the evolution of high-redshift quasars and galaxies. We find that the accretion rate in the dim state for these CL objects corresponds to a relatively low value ($\mathop{\,}\limits^{{\mathscr{M}}}\,\approx 2\times 1{0}^{-3}$), which suggests that the inner region of the accretion disk might be in transition between the advection dominated accretion flow ($\dot{\,{\mathscr{M}}}\,\lt 1{0}^{-3}\sim 1{0}^{-2}$) and the canonical accretion disk (optically thick, geometrically thin). However, unlike in C IV CL quasars in which broad Lyα remained, the broad C IV may still persist after a CL event occurs in Lyα, making the physical origin of the CL and ionization mechanism event more puzzling and interesting.

accretion↗
NASA NTRS1985

Two-Crucible Czochralski Process

Scheme for continuous melt replenishment increases capacity of Czochralski crystal-growing furnace. Replenishing and drawing crucibles of improved Czochralski apparatus connected by heated quartz siphon. When doped silicon added to replenishing crucible, liquid silicon flows into drawing crucible, equalizing two melt levels. Addition of new material automatically controlled in response to optically sensed melt level. Results of this semicontinuous operation higher production speed, lower cost, and good control of crystal quality.

Fiegl, G.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Magnetohydrodynamic model of Crab nebula radiation

The properties of the synchrotron continuum are calculated on the basis of a steady spherically symmetric MHD model of the flow in the Crab nebula. The model accounts for the spectral distribution of the continuum from the optical to gamma-rays, and semiquantitatively for its observed spatial distribution. The model does not account for the radio portion of the Crab nebula's spectrum.

Kennel, C. F.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Shock associated noise of inverted-profile coannular jets. II - Condition for minimum noise. III - Shock structure and noise characteristic

The generation of noise by the shock-turbulence interaction with shock cells in an inverted-profile coannular jet with nozzle exit velocity aligned with the jet axis is investigated analytically, interpreting the optical measurements of Tanna et al. (1985). The noise-intensity minimum at slightly supersonic primary-flow velocities is related to the weakness of the primary-stream shock-cell structure and the lack of such a pattern in the outer fan stream. The discrepancies between this finding and those of Dosanjh et al. (1977 and 1978) are attributed to nozzle design, the definition of minimum noise, and different interpretative approaches. A first-order shock-cell model is then developed to derive formulas for the peak frequencies and the scaling of noise intensity. The results of computations using these formulas are presented in graphs and found to be in good agreement with the experimental data.

Tam, C. K. W.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Studies of erosion of solar max samples of Kapton and Teflon

Several samples of Kapton and Teflon which was exposed to solar radiation were examined. The samples represent material behavior in near Earth space. Clues to the identity of erosive processes and the responsible species were searched for. Interest centered around oxygen atoms which are ubiquitous at these altitudes and are known to erode some metal surfaces. Three diagnostic methods were employed: optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Two types of simulation were used: a flow containing low energy oxygen atoms and bombardment with 3000 volt Ar ions. Results and conclusions are presented.

Fristrom, R. M.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Mass loss from rapidly rotating magnetic protostars

It is proposed that bipolar outflows from young stellar objects originate from a protostar rotating at breakup at its equator because it is being spun up by an adjoining accretion disk. Mass outflow at an appreciable fraction of the infall rate from a surrounding molecular cloud core onto the star and disk can be driven centrifugally if the protostar has a sufficiently strong magnetic field. The expansion of the flow toward the rotational poles may provide a collimation mechanism for focusing an ordinary stellar wind into optical jets.

Shu, Frank H.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Evaluation and application of a new interferometry technique for compressible flow research

A new method for obtaining large scale interferograms of flow fields in real time was investigated. The method was based on the point diffraction interferometry technique. The method was modified to accommodate the higher laser power required in recording transonic and supersonic flow fields. Basic tests were conducted in unsteady flows and flows about circulation control airfoils at transonic speeds. It was found that vibration was not a significant factor in the application of the system. In the case of the circulation control airfoils, the real-time viewing allowed the identification of the Coanda jet interaction with the external flow and the shedding of large scale vortices. The method proved to be very sensitive to the optical quality of the wind tunnel windows. The results obtained were compared with earlier interferograms obtained using interferometry. These results were in qualitative agreement.

Bachalo, William D.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Nucleation and growth control in protein crystallization

The five topics summarized in this final report are as follows: (1) a technique for the expedient, semi-automated determination of protein solubilities as a function of temperature and application of this technique to proteins other than lysozyme; (2) a small solution cell with adjustable temperature gradients for the growth of proteins at a predetermined location through temperature programming; (3) a microscopy system with image storage and processing capability for high resolution optical studies of temperature controlled protein growth and etching kinetics; (4) growth experiments with lysozyme in thermosyphon flow ; and (5) a mathematical model for the evolution of evaporation/diffusion induced concentration gradients in the hanging drop protein crystallization technique.

Rosenberger, Franz↗
NASA NTRS1993

Photographic System Makes Path Of Vortex Visible

System making rapid flows visible developed to record track followed by ring vortex when encountering object near its path. Schlieren optical setup includes standard Z-configuration mirror arrangement and pulsed, synchronized source of light. System proves valuable in determining position, velocity, and acceleration of vortex as it passes over and interacts with object in its path.

Jones, Stephen B.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

TPSAS-NF1676L-13662-DND

Nonintrusive spectral analysis of high enthalpy hypersonic flow, simulating atmospheric entry, was produced for passive and ablative heat shield materials. A calibrated fiber-optic coupled spectrometer was use to determine shock structure and prominent radiative chemical species.

Drew Hires↗
DOE OSTI2025

Optical neural engine for solving scientific partial differential equations

Abstract Solving partial differential equations (PDEs) is the cornerstone of scientific research and development. Data-driven machine learning (ML) approaches are emerging to accelerate time-consuming and computation-intensive numerical simulations of PDEs. Although optical systems offer high-throughput and energy-efficient ML hardware, their demonstration for solving PDEs is limited. Here, we present an optical neural engine (ONE) architecture combining diffractive optical neural networks for Fourier space processing and optical crossbar structures for real space processing to solve time-dependent and time-independent PDEs in diverse disciplines, including Darcy flow equation, the magnetostatic Poisson’s equation in demagnetization, the Navier-Stokes equation in incompressible fluid, Maxwell’s equations in nanophotonic metasurfaces, and coupled PDEs in a multiphysics system. We numerically and experimentally demonstrate the capability of the ONE architecture, which not only leverages the advantages of high-performance dual-space processing for outperforming traditional PDE solvers and being comparable with state-of-the-art ML models but also can be implemented using optical computing hardware with unique features of low-energy and highly parallel constant-time processing irrespective of model scales and real-time reconfigurability for tackling multiple tasks with the same architecture. The demonstrated architecture offers a versatile and powerful platform for large-scale scientific and engineering computations.

Tang, Yingheng (ORCID:0009000153622546)↗
NASA NTRS1988

Non-intrusive Space Shuttle Main Engine nozzle exit diagnostics

The results of a conceptual design study on the feasibility of nonintrusive optical diagnostics have shown that UV laser-excited Raman scattering can furnish reliable and accurate temperature and multiple-species data for the Space Shuttle Main Engine's exhaust flow. Enhanced OH flow tagging by UV photodissociation of H2O was used in velocity measurements; a time-delayed pulsed dye laser beam at 308 nm excites fluorescence from OH, and the location of the convected enhanced OH zone is measured with an optical multichannel detector.

Shirley, John A.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Pulsed laminar falling films in vertical tubes: Maintaining a continuous liquid film with reduced film thickness

Falling-liquid-film heat transfer is important to a wide variety of industrial applications, including two-phase thermosyphons, falling-film evaporators in the food industry, heat exchangers in fuel-ethanol processing, and the chemical service industry. Particularly for laminar falling films, the heat transfer increases as the film thickness decreases, hence it is desirable to keep the films as thin as possible. This article presents a periodically-pulsed flow concept to reduce the average mass flow inside a vertical tube. The technique provides thinner films than can be achieved with continuous flow. A drainage model is adopted to predict the film thickness as a function of flow rate and location along the tube. The concept is confirmed experimentally by measuring the film thickness in real time in a circular tube using a laser-based absorption technique. A new heat-transfer-based film continuity measurement is also integrated into the optical film measurement setup. Water at ambient temperature and pressure is used for this work. Film thickness reductions of up to 60%, and liquid-film volume-flow reductions of up to 80% compared to the minimum continuous-flow film have been obtained. The time-varying film thickness profile can also be controlled to a limited extent, which may be of interest for process industries.

42 ENGINEERING↗
NASA NTRS1988

Three-dimensional trajectory analyses of two drop sizing instruments: PMS OAP and PMS FSSP

Flow induced distortions of water drop fluxes and speeds seen by the instruments were predicted by use of three dimensional flow and trajectory calculation methods. Sensitivities were determined for the instruments, in isolation and mounted under the wing of an airplane, to: water drop diameter (2 to 1000 microns), angle of attack and free stream air speed. For the optical array probe in isolation and on the airplane at 0 deg angle of attack, flux distortions of practical consequence are not found. At 4 deg airplane angle of attack, partial flow stagnation under the uptilted wing causes significant decreases in both flux and speed for cloud size droplets. For the forward scattering spectrometer probe in isolation, only marginally significant sensitivities to free stream air speed are found, and no sensitivity is found to angle of attack. Both speed and flux of cloud size droplets are predicted to be undermeasured by from 12 to 24 percent depending on airplane angle of attack. For the wing-mounted instruments, effects of flow about the instruments themselves are found to be equal in importance to effects of flow about the airplane. Preferred orientation (canting) angles of distorted water drops are found to be functions of drop size, angle of attack and air speed.

Norment, Hillyer G.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Three-dimensional trajectory analyses of two drop sizing instruments - PMS OAP and PMS FSSP

Flow induced distortions of water drop fluxes and speeds seen by the instruments were predicted by use of three dimensional flow and trajectory calculation methods. Sensitivities were determined for the instruments, in isolation and mounted under the wing of an airplane, to: water drop diameter (2 to 1000 microns), angle of attack and free stream air speed. For the optical array probe in isolation and on the airplane at 0 deg angle of attack, flux distortions of practical consequence are not found. At 4 deg airplane angle of attack, partial flow stagnation under the uptilted wing causes significant decreases in both flux and speed for cloud size droplets. For the forward scattering spectrometer probe in isolation, only marginally significant sensitivities to free stream air speed are found, and no sensitivity is found to angle of attack. Both speed and flux of cloud size droplets are predicted to be undermeasured by from 12 to 24 percent depending on airplane angle of attack. For the wing-mounted instruments, effects of flow about the instruments themselves are found to be equal in importance to effects of flow about the airplane. Preferred orientation (canting) angles of distorted water drops are found to be functions of drop size, angle of attack and air speed.

Norment, Hillyer G.↗