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At least 1,783 records · Page 99

A unified non-equilibrium phase change model for injection flow modeling

The homogenous relaxation model (HRM) is one of the most widely used models to describe the liquid- gas phase transition. However, in its original formulation, it is unable to handle multispecies vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE), which limits its applicability to single-component fluids. In this work, a unified non-equilibrium phase change model that considers the VLE of multicomponent mixtures is proposed building upon the HRM's structure. A time factor is introduced to mimic the effect of different phase change timescales due to different mechanisms, e.g., cavitation, flash-boiling, and evaporation. Here to assess the model's performance, computational fluid dynamics simulations of the internal and near-nozzle injection flow of the Engine Combustion Network's Spray G injector were performed using the nine-component PACE-20 fuel with both the unified model and the original HRM. The predicted fuel density in the near-nozzle region matched well with X-ray tomography measurements. The simulation results indicated that, whereas the HRM failed to capture the vaporization due to convective mixing between the fuel and ambient gas, the unified model performed well in predicting the mixing-driven vaporization and the corresponding evaporative cooling. Further comparisons using the nine-component fuel formula and a single-component fuel surrogate demonstrated the unified model's ability to predict preferential vaporization, which affects the predictions of local mixture composition and rate of vaporization. Finally, it is shown that the unified model is capable of representing multiple phase change mechanisms, and the relaxation time factor plays an important role in determining the degree of phase change due to the different mechanisms.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

Vortex Flow and Cavitation in Liquid Injection: A Comparison between High-Fidelity CFD Simulations and Experimental Visualizations on Transparent Nozzle Replicas

Experimental instantaneous shadowgraph visualizations on transparent glass nozzle replicas of high-pressure fuel injectors have been used to validate a novel in-house high-fidelity LES-VOF multiphase solver, to study the evolution of vortex flow and fuel cavitation. Both experiments and simulations capture the formation of an unsteady vapor structure inside the nozzle volume, which is referred to as 'string-cavitation'; strings are found at the core of the recirculation zones. Furthermore, high-fidelity simulations provide a very detailed insight into the vortex generation in the injector nozzle; strings appear within the time scales that are relevant for fast injection events (on the order of 0.1 milliseconds) and, for the problem under consideration, their generation seems mostly related to the flow pattern in the sac. It is also shown that vortexes interact, merge till they disrupt and favor the temporary inception of shear cavitation.

3-phase LES-VOF solver↗

The effect of injected interstitials on void formation in self-ion irradiated nickel containing concentrated solid solution alloys

Pure nickel and three nickel containing single-phase concentrated solid solution alloys (SP-CSAs) have been irradiated using 3 MeV Ni 2+ ions at 500 C to fluences of 1.5 x 10 16 and 5.0 x 10 16 cm 2 . We characterized the radiation-induced voids using cross sectional transmission electron microscopy that distributions of voids and dislocation loops were presented as a function of depth. We also observed a various degree of void suppression on the tested samples and a defect clusters migration mechanism was proposed for NiCo. Furthermore, in order to sufficiently understand the defect dynamics in these SP-CSAs, the injected interstitial effect has been taken into account along with the 1-dimentional (1-D) and 3-dimentional (3-D) interstitial movement mechanisms.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Dual-step photocarrier injection by mixture layer of ZnO QDs and MoS 2 NPs on hybrid PdAu NPs

Hybrid UV-photodetector (PD) design consisted of various compatible nano-material systems are drawing significant research interests due to their improved device tunability and functionality. A hybrid ZnO–MoS 2 /HNP UV-PD design is demonstrated by the mixture layer of zinc oxide (ZnO) quantum dot (QD) and molybdenum di-sulfate (MoS 2 ) nanoparticles (NPs) on the plasmonic hybrid PdAu NP template. The proposed design exhibits an excellent photocurrent of 1.45×10 -3 A under the 54.9 mW/mm2 at ± 10 V due to a dual step enhancement of photo-carrier injection. It then leads to the significantly improved performance factors of photo-responsivity 1430 mA/mm 2 and detectivity 4.50 × 10 10 jones at 0.34 mW/mm 2 . The rise time (T r ) and fall time (T f ) of 3.37 and 0.35 s are obtained for the ZnO–MoS 2 /HNP PD. Finally, the demonstrated performance factors indicate that the hybrid ZnO–MoS 2 /HNP UV-PD platform is one of the best UV-PDs as summarized in Table 1.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Experimental and simulated heating in nanocrystalline diamond charge exchange injection films using an electron beam to mimic SNS conditions

Nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) foils have been in use at the Spallation Neutron Source as primary stripper foils for charge exchange injection since the machine’s inception. NCD’s low atomic number leads to reduced beam scattering while still being easy to handle, as opposed to even lighter elements. NCD foils also have the benefit of being free-standing, and rigid when grown under the right conditions to minimize residual stresses. This study overviews a method to mimic the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) beam and characterize thermally driven failure of NCD foils. To do this, a foil test stand was developed with in situ diagnostics that tracks signs of foil sublimation and thinning. The foil test stand’s electron beam is equated to the SNS beamline by comparing peak deposited energy densities for both beams. Post-mortem testing is also conducted to help elucidate changes the NCD foils undergo during exposure to the beam. Further, a COMSOL simulation was also developed as a method to assess potential future changes to the NCD film and predict how changes to beam conditions will effect foil temperatures. This method allows for examination of the NCD foil’s thermal limits and can be used to assess future changes to SNS stripper foils.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Bronchopulmonary C-fibers' IL1RI contributes to the prolonged apneic response to intra-atrial injection of capsaicin by prenatal nicotinic exposure in rat pups

Prenatal nicotinic exposure (PNE) as a SIDS model reportedly sensitizes bronchopulmonary C-fibers (PCFs), contributing to the prolonged PCF-mediated apnea in rat pups, but the relevant mechanisms are not fully understood. Pulmonary IL-1β upregulated by cigarette smoke is known to stimulate or sensitize PCFs acting via IL-1 type I receptor (IL1RI) and inhibit inspiration frequency. Because of its upregulation observed in SIDS victims, we hypothesized that PNE increased pulmonary IL-1β release and IL1RI expression in pulmonary C-neurons via action on α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α7nAChR) to induce the prolonged PCF-mediated apnea. IL-1β in BALF and IL1RI in the nodose/jugular (N/J) ganglion and vagal pulmonary C-neurons retrogradely-traced were compared between Ctrl (saline) and PNE pups and among the vehicle-treated Ctrl and PNE and methyllycaconitine (a selective α7nAChR antagonist)-treated PNE pups. The effect of IL-1RI blockade (IL-1Ra) on the PCF-mediated apnea was also compared between Ctrl and PNE pups. PNE significantly elevated IL-1β in BALF and upregulated IL1RI gene and protein expression in N/J ganglia and gene in vagal pulmonary C-neurons. All of these responses were eliminated by pretreatment with blockade of α7nAChR. In addition, the prolonged PCF-mediated apnea in PNE pups was significantly shortened by right atrial bolus injection of IL-1Ra. We conclude that PNE enhances pulmonary IL-1β release and PCF IL1RI expression acting via α7nAChR in contributing to sensitization of PCFs and prolongation of the PCF-mediated apneic response. - Highlights: • PNE increased pulmonary IL-1β release and IL1R1 expression in the N/J ganglia. • PNE elevated IL1R1 mRNA in vagal pulmonary C-neurons. • Blockage of peripheral IL1R1 reduced the PNE-induced PCF sensitization. • PNE induced the changes in IL-1β and IL1R1 dependent on action of α7nAChR.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Modeling indicates efficient vaccine-based interventions for the elimination of hepatitis C virus among persons who inject drugs in metropolitan Chicago

Background and aims People who inject drugs (PWID) are at highest risk for acquiring and transmitting hepatitis C (HCV) infection. The recent availability of oral direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy with reported cure rates >90% can prevent HCV transmission, making HCV elimination an attainable goal among PWID. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently proposed a 90% reduction in HCV incidence as a key objective. Yet, given barriers to the use of DAAs in PWID, including cost, restricted access to DAAs, and risk of reinfection, combination strategies including the availability of effective vaccines are needed to eradicate HCV as a public health threat. This study hopes to model the cost and efficacy of a dual modality approach using HCV vaccines combined with DAAs to reduce HCV incidence by 90% and prevalence by 50% in PWID populations. Methods We developed a mathematical model that represents the HCV epidemic among PWID and calibrated it to empirical data from metropolitan Chicago, Illinois. Four medical interventions were considered: vaccination of HCV naive PWID, DAA treatment, DAA treatment followed by vaccination, and, a combination of vaccination and DAA treatment. Results The combination of vaccination and DAAs is the lowest cost-expensive intervention for achieving the WHO target of 90% incidence reduction. The use of DAAs without a vaccine is much less cost-effective with the additional risk of reinfection after treatment. Vaccination of naïve PWID alone, even when scaled-up to all reachable PWID, cannot achieve 90% reduction of incidence in high-prevalence populations due to infections occurring before vaccination. Similarly, the lowest cost-expensive way to halve prevalence in 15 years is through the combination of vaccination and DAAs. Conclusions The modeling results underscore the importance of developing an effective HCV vaccine and augmenting DAAs with vaccines in HCV intervention strategies in order to achieve efficient reductions in incidence and prevalence.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

New Perspective on Phase Space Density Analysis for Outer Radiation Belt Enhancements: The Influence of MeV Electron Injections

Observation of growing phase space density (PSD) peak in the outer electron radiation belt has been considered evidence for local wave-driven acceleration as a primary cause of radiation belt enhancement. However, recent studies showed that strong substorm-associated MeV electron injections can also cause significant radiation belt enhancements on fast timescales (~10s min). Such rapid enhancements pose challenges for determining true spatial PSD profiles. To address this, we conduct a detailed spatiotemporal analysis of electron flux and PSD during an enhancement event, using Van Allen Probes data. Our analysis reveals rapid and intermittent flux enhancements. During these rapid enhancements, inbound spacecraft observed false PSD peaks, due to spacecraft's relatively slow movement. However, we identify time intervals of stable fluxes between enhancements, enabling us to determine quasi-stationary PSD profiles with no noticeable peaks. This study provides new insights into accurate PSD analysis, critical for understanding the mechanisms underlying radiation belt enhancements.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Design, fabrication and test of a pneumatically controlled, renewable, microfluidic bead trapping device for sequential injection analysis applications

This paper describes the design, fabrication, and testing of a pneumatically controlled,renewable, microfluidic device for conducting bead-based assays in an automated sequential injection analysis system. The device used a “brick wall”-like pillar array (pillar size: 20 μm length X 50 μm width X 45 μm height) with 5 μm gaps between the pillars serving as the micro filter. The flow channel where bead trapping occurred is 500 μm wide X 75 μm deep. An elastomeric membrane and an air chamber were located underneath the flow channel. By applying pressure to the air chamber, the membrane is deformed and pushed upward against the filter structure. This effectively traps beads larger than 5 μm and creates a “bed” or micro column of beads that can be perfused and washed with liquid samples and reagents. Upon completion of the assay process, the pressure is released and the beads are flushed out from underneath the filter structure to renew the device. Mouse IgG was used as a model analyte to test the feasibility of using the proposed device for immunoassay applications. Resulting microbeads from an on-chip fluorescent immunoassay were individually examined using flow cytometry. The results show that the fluorescence signal intensity distribution is fairly narrow indicating high chemical reaction uniformity among the beads population. Electrochemical onchip assay was also conducted. A detection limit of 0.1 ng/mL1 ppb was achieved and good device reliability and repeatability were demonstrated. The novel microfluidic-based beadstrapping device thus opens up a new pathway to design micro-bead based biosensor immunoassays for clinical and othervarious applications.

beads trapping↗

Zero-{beta} modeling of coaxial helicity injection in the HIT-II spherical torus

Coaxial helicity injection in the HIT-II [A. J. Redd et al., Phys. Plasmas 9, 2006 (2002)] spherical torus is modeled with time-dependent resistive magnetohydrodynamics computations run to steady state for conditions without strong relaxation. Laboratory and computed results on injector current and plasma current agree reasonably well as toroidal magnetic field and injector flux are scaled. The scalings are consistent with a dimensional estimate from the Grad-Shafranov equation that provides a new perspective on a previously published model based on a current-sheet equilibrium and the magnetic pressure required for the ''bubble-burst'' criterion. Numerical solutions of the Grad-Shafranov equation with an assumed current profile also indicate large qualitative changes as the predicted criterion is crossed.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Experimental demonstration of tokamak inductive flux saving by transient coaxial helicity injection on national spherical torus experiment

Discharges initiated by transient coaxial helicity injection in National Spherical Torus Experiment have attained peak toroidal plasma currents up to 300 kA. When induction from the central solenoid is then applied, these discharges develop up to 300 kA additional current compared to discharges initiated by induction only. CHI initiated discharges in NSTX have achieved 1 MA of plasma current using only 258 mWb of solenoid flux whereas standard induction-only discharges require about 50% more solenoid flux to reach 1 MA. In addition, the CHI-initiated discharge has lower plasma density and a low normalized internal plasma inductance of 0.35, as needed for achieving advanced scenarios in NSTX.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Liquid metal alloy ion source based metal ion injection into a room-temperature electron beam ion source

We have carried out a series of measurements demonstrating the feasibility of using the Dresden electron beam ion source (EBIS)-A, a table-top sized, permanent magnet technology based electron beam ion source, as a charge breeder. Low charged gold ions from an AuGe liquid metal alloy ion source were injected into the EBIS and re-extracted as highly charged ions, thereby producing charge states as high as Au{sup 60+}. The setup, the charge breeding technique, breeding efficiencies as well as acceptance and emittance studies are presented.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Influence of laser irradiated spot size on energetic electron injection and proton acceleration in foil targets

The influence of irradiated spot size on laser energy coupling to electrons, and subsequently to protons, in the interaction of intense laser pulses with foil targets is investigated experimentally. Proton acceleration is characterized for laser intensities ranging from 2x10{sup 18}-6x10{sup 20} W/cm{sup 2}, by (1) variation of the laser energy for a fixed irradiated spot size, and (2) by variation of the spot size for a fixed energy. At a given laser pulse intensity, the maximum proton energy is higher under defocus illumination compared to tight focus and the results are explained in terms of geometrical changes to the hot electron injection.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Fusion neutron generation computations in a stellarator-mirror hybrid with neutral beam injection

In the paper [Moiseenko V.E., Noack K., Agren O. 'Stellarator-mirror based fusion driven fission reactor' J Fusion Energy 29 (2010) 65.], a version of a fusion driven system (FDS), i.e. a sub-critical fast fission assembly with a fusion plasma neutron source, is proposed. The plasma part of the reactor is based on a stellarator with a small mirror part. Hot ions with high perpendicular energy are assumed to be trapped in the magnetic mirror part. The stellarator part which connects to the mirror part and provides confinement for the bulk (deuterium) plasma. In the magnetic well of the mirror part, fusion reactions occur from collisions between a of hot ion component (tritium) with cold background plasma ions. RF heating is one option to heat the tritium. A more conventional method to sustain the hot ions is neutral beam injection (NBI), which is here studied numerically for the above-mentioned hybrid scheme. For these studies, a new kinetic code, KNBIM, has been developed. The code takes into account Coulomb collisions between the hot ions and the background plasma. The geometry of the confining magnetic field is arbitrary for the code. It is accounted for via a numerical bounce averaging procedure. Along with the kinetic calculations the neutron generation intensity and its spatial distribution are computed.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

A study of solitary wave trains generated by injection of a blob into plasmas

We have investigated the evolution of consecutive electrostatic solitary waves (ESWs) generated upon injection of a finite-sized blob into plasmas using one-dimensional electrostatic particle-in-cell simulations. Strong charge separation developed at the leading edge of the blob, producing a huge electrostatic potential in which electrons were trapped and heated. Ions were reflected from the boundaries of the blob, forming fast, cold ion beams in the forward and backward directions. The forward ion beams interacted with the hot electrons, which were escaping from the potential developed at the leading edge of the blob, to produce successive ESWs. On the other hand, the backward ion beams formed ion phase space holes as a result of the ion two-stream instability. The present study demonstrates that localized density perturbations in plasmas can be a viable source of consecutive ESWs observed in space.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Agglomeration processes sustained by dust density waves in Ar/C{sub 2}H{sub 2} plasma: From C{sub 2}H{sub 2} injection to the formation of an organized structure

In this paper, an experimental investigation of dust particle agglomeration in a capacitively coupled RF discharge is reported. Carbonaceous particles are produced in an argon plasma using acetylene. As soon as the particle density becomes sufficient, dust density waves (DDWs) are spontaneously excited within the cathode sheath. Recently, it was proven that DDWs can significantly enhance the agglomeration rate between particles by transferring them a significant kinetic energy. Thus, it helps them to overcome Coulomb repulsion. The influence of this mechanism is studied from acetylene injection to the formation of very large agglomerates forming an organized structure after a few dozens of seconds. For this purpose, three diagnostic tools are used: extinction measurements to probe nanometer-sized particles, fast imaging for large agglomerates and a dust extraction technique developed for ex-situ analysis.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗