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At least 19 records

Mapping reactive flow patterns in monolithic nanoporous catalysts

The development of high-efficiency porous catalyst membranes critically depends on our understanding of where the majority of the chemical conversions occur within the porous structure. This then requires mapping of chemical reactions and mass transport inside the complex nanoscale architecture of porous catalyst membranes which is a multiscale problem in both the temporal and spatial domains. In order to address this problem, we developed a multiscale mass transport computational framework based on the lattice Boltzmann method that allows us to account for catalytic reactions at the gas–solid interface by introducing a new boundary condition. In good agreement with experiments, the simulations reveal that most catalytic reactions occur near the gas-flow facing side of the catalyst membrane if chemical reactions are fast compared to mass transport within the porous catalyst membrane.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Control of Mixing and Reactive Flow Processes

The interdisciplinary field of reactive flow control is one that holds a great deal of promise for the optimization of complex phenomena occurring in many practical systems, ranging from automobile and gas turbine engines to environmental thermal destruction systems. The fundamental underpinnings of combustion control, however, require a detailed level of understanding of complex reactive flow phenomena, and, in the case of closed-loop active control, require the ability to sense (monitor) and actuate (manipulate) flow processes in a spatially distributed manner in "near real time". Hence the ultimate growth and success of the field of reactive flow control is intimately linked: 1) to advances in the understanding, simulation, and model reduction for complex reactive flows, 2) to the development of experimental diagnostic techniques, in particular, to the development of physically robust sensors, and 3) to the development of a framework or frameworks for generation of closed loop control algorithms suitable for unsteady, nonlinear reactive flow systems. The present paper seeks to outline the potential benefits and technical challenges that exist for mixing and combustion control in fundamental as well as practical systems and to identify promising research directions that could help meet these challenges.

Karagozian, A. R.↗

Validation of Reactive Flow Capabilities in PAGOSA

Several reactive flow modeling capabilities are studied and applied to physics problems of interest in the PAGOSA hydrocode with an emphasis on validation. The Davis equation of state and the Arrhenius shock temperature dependent WSD (AWSD) reactive flow model have been implemented by the author in PAGOSA over the last year. These high-explosive modeling options along with the previously existing HE-JWL equation of state and the SURF/SURFplus reactive flow models are discussed, exercised and compared. Validation of the models analyze numerical results against experimental data from cylinder tests, two-stage gas gun experiments and proton radiography (pRad) experiments. Applications of the modeling options are explored involving both HMX based PBX 9501 and TATB based PBX 9502. The effect of mesh size is considered for prediction of phenomena such as corner turning and dead zones, and the relative code performance of the modeling options is discussed.

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEF↗

Evolution of Two-Phase High Explosive Reactive Flow [Slides]

Reactive hydrodynamics involve rapid conversion of reactants to products along a detonation wave and needs a closure rule: P-T equilibrium. To calculate P-T equilibrium, we use a root finding method, which can be a computational bottleneck. We evolve the guess for the root finder rather than using the previous value to reduce iterations. Evolving products volume fraction Φ p for an initial root finding guess does reduce root finding iterations and seems to give the best results immediately following a detonation wave (reducing root finding iterations from 5 to 2).

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Coupling Surface Flow with High-performance Subsurface Reactive Flow and Transport Code PFLOTRAN

Water exchange between the surface and subsurface is important for both water resource management and environmental protection. In this paper, we develop coupled surface and subsurface flow simulation capability in a parallel subsurface flow and reactive transport code PFLOTRAN. We sequentially couple the diffusion wave-based surface flow with the subsurface flow governedby the Richards equation in PFLOTRAN. These two flow domains are linked with a boundary condition switching method that ensures continuity of pressure and flux at the surface-subsurface interface. We verify the coupled code against other existing hydrologic models and observation data using a number of numerical experiments. The coupled hydrological model exhibits good performance in strong parallel scaling tests. The new coupled surface and subsurface simulator significantly advance community simulation capability towards improving integrated hydrologic and biogeochemical understanding of complex systems such as watersheds and river corridors. Keywords: Surface flow, Integrated hydrological modeling, Boundary condition switching, Parallel computing

Wu, Runjian↗

A Gas-Kinetic Scheme for Reactive Flows

In this paper, the gas-kinetic BGK scheme for the compressible flow equations is extended to chemical reactive flow. The mass fraction of the unburnt gas is implemented into the gas kinetic equation by assigning a new internal degree of freedom to the particle distribution function. The new variable can be also used to describe fluid trajectory for the nonreactive flows. Due to the gas-kinetic BGK model, the current scheme basically solves the Navier-Stokes chemical reactive flow equations. Numerical tests validate the accuracy and robustness of the current kinetic method.

Lian,Youg-Sheng↗

Reactive Flows in Porous Media: Challenges in Theoretical and Numerical Methods

We review theoretical and computational research, primarily from the past 10 years, addressing the flow of reactive fluids in porous media. The focus is on systems where chemical reactions at the solid–fluid interface cause dissolution of the surrounding porous matrix, creating nonlinear feedback mechanisms that can often lead to greatly enhanced permeability. Here, we discuss insights into the evolution of geological forms that can be inferred from these feedback mechanisms, as well as some geotechnical applications such as enhanced oil recovery, hydraulic fracturing, and carbon sequestration. Until recently, most practical applications of reactive transport have been based on Darcy-scale modeling, where averaged equations for the flow and reactant transport are solved. We summarize the successes and limitations of volume averaging, which leads to Darcy-scale equations, as an introduction to pore-scale modeling. Pore-scale modeling is computationally intensive but offers new insights as well as tests of averaging theories and pore-network models. We include recent research devoted to validation of pore-scale simulations, particularly the use of visual observations from microfluidic experiments.

wormhole formation↗

Temperature-based reactive flow model for triaminotrinitrobenzene (TATB) plastic bonded explosives

A new reactive flow model is presented for triaminotrinitrobenzene (TATB)-based plastic bonded explosives, applicable to shock initiation and steady detonation problems of differing initial temperature. Temperature disequilibrium is assumed between unreacted explosive, material in the vicinity of compressed defects (called hot spots), and reaction products. The model incorporates temperature-dependent decomposition reaction rates. Particularly, Arrhenius model parameters were derived from quantum-based molecular dynamics simulations of TATB decomposition. Further, a model of detonation carbon aggregation is incorporated, describing the slow release of energy inherent to detonation in TATB-based materials. Model parameters were calibrated against gas gun shock initiation experiments and steady detonation rate stick tests. The predictive ability of the model in the shock initiation regime is tested against recent thin pulse experiments. The model is found to perform equally well in predicting the size-effect curve of ambient, cold, and hot rate sticks. The present work demonstrates the viability of incorporating results from subscale simulations into a continuum-scale reactive flow model.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Reactive flow modeling of the polymer bonded explosive LX-17 double shock experiments

Overdriven double shock experiments provide a measurement of the properties of the reaction product states of the 1-3-5-triamino-2-4-6trinitrobenzene-based explosive LX-17. These experiments used two flyer materials mounted on the end of a projectile to send an initial shock through the LX-17, followed by a second shock of a higher magnitude into the detonation products. The experimental results are compared to 2D reactive flow modeling. A reactive flow model that describes only the kinetics of the LX-17 decomposition fails to accurately reproduce the decay of the first shock or the curvature or strength of the second shock. A new model is proposed in which the carbon condensate produced in the reaction zone is controlled by a kinetic rate. This allows the carbon condensate to be initially out of chemical equilibrium with the product gas. Finally, this new model reproduces the initial detonation peak and decay and matches the curvature of the second shock; however, it still over-predicts the strength of the second shock.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

A reactive flow model for heavily aluminized cyclotrimethylene-trinitramine

An accurate and reliable prediction of reactive flow is a challenging task when characterizing an energetic material subjected to an external shock impact as the detonation transition time is on the order of a micro second. The present study aims at investigating the size effect behavior of a heavily aluminized cyclotrimethylene-trinitramine (RDX) which contains 35% of aluminum by using a detonation rate model that includes ignition and growth mechanisms for shock initiation and subsequent detonation. A series of unconfined rate stick tests and two-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations are conducted to construct the size effect curve which represents the relationship between detonation velocity and inverse radius of the charge. A pressure chamber test is conducted to further validate the reactive flow model for predicting the response of a heavily aluminized high explosive subjected to an external impact.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Quadrature Moments Method for the Simulation of Turbulent Reactive Flows

A sub-filter model for reactive flows, namely the DQMOM model, was formulated for Large Eddy Simulation (LES) using the filtered mass density function. Transport equations required to determine the location and size of the delta-peaks were then formulated for a 2-peak decomposition of the FDF. The DQMOM scheme was implemented in an existing structured-grid LES solver. Simulations of scalar shear layer using an experimental configuration showed that the first and second moments of both reactive and inert scalars are in good agreement with a conventional Lagrangian scheme that evolves the same FDF. Comparisons with LES simulations performed using laminar chemistry assumption for the reactive scalar show that the new method provides vast improvements at minimal computational cost. Currently, the DQMOM model is being implemented for use with the progress variable/mixture fraction model of Pierce. Comparisons with experimental results and LES simulations using a single-environment for the progress-variable are planned. Future studies will aim at understanding the effect of increase in environments on predictions.

Raman, Venkatramanan↗

PFLOTRAN: Reactive Flow & Transport Code for Use on Laptops to Leadership-Class Supercomputers. In: Groundwater Reactive Transport Models

PFLOTRAN, a next-generation reactive flow and transport code for modeling subsurface processes, has been designed from the ground up to run efficiently on machines ranging from leadership-class supercomputers to laptops. Based on an object-oriented design, the code is easily extensible to incorporate additional processes. It can interface seamlessly with Fortran 9X, C and C++ codes. Domain decomposition parallelism is employed, with the PETSc parallel framework used to manage parallel solvers, data structures and communication. Features of the code include a modular input file, implementation of high-performance I/O using parallel HDF5, ability to perform multiple realization simulations with multiple processors per realization in a seamless manner, and multiple modes for multiphase flow and multicomponent geochemical transport. Chemical reactions currently implemented in the code include homogeneous aqueous complexing reactions and heterogeneous mineral precipitation/dissolution, ion exchange, surface complexation and a multirate kinetic sorption model. PFLOTRAN has demonstrated petascale performance using 217 processor cores on problems composed of over 2 billion degrees of freedom. The code is currently being applied to simulate uranium transport at the Hanford 300 Area and CO2 sequestration in deep geologic formations.

carbon sequestration↗

Reactive Flow Characteristic Equations

The characteristic equations are derived for the reactive flow PDEs in 1-dimension with 1 irreversible reaction. They differ from the non-reacting case only by source terms proportional to the reaction rate.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Thermal-chemical instability of weakly ionized plasma in a reactive flow

The control of plasma instability of weakly ionized plasma in a reactive flow is of great importance in plasma-assisted combustion, catalysis, fuel reforming and material synthesis. In this work, we propose a new concept of plasma chemical instability and analyze the mechanisms and impact of plasma chemical instability on the transition from a uniform discharge to a contracted state of a self-sustained glow discharge in a reactive H 2 –O 2 –N 2 mixture. Here, a one-dimensional numerical model for plasma chemical instability was developed which accounted for convective heat loss, Joule heating of plasma, and major non-equilibrium plasma-assisted combustion kinetic pathways including electron-impact ionization, vibrational energy transfer, electron attachment, combustion reactions, and heat release. The results showed that plasma chemical instability significantly modified the onset plasma current of plasma thermal instability. Specifically, the critical condition of the instability transition was strongly influenced by electron-impact reactant ionization, electron attachment to oxygen, endothermic/exothermic chemical reactions, and the formation of reaction products.

reactive flow↗

Transforming Energy Through Computational Excellence: Bringing Low Mach Number Reactive Flow Simulations at the Exascale

PeleLMeX's unique capabilities are allowing for reactive flow modeling at unprecedented scales and a reasonable time and cost. The code is currently being extended to tackle more practical, design-oriented simulations by implementing Large Eddy Simulation and data-driven chemical models, providing a fast but accurate tool for engineers considering the emergence of GPU-accelerated platforms. These extensions are critical for enabling the physical insight required to design the next generation of combustion devices as a key component of a renewable energy future.

MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Low Dissipative High Order Numerical Simulations of Supersonic Reactive Flows

The objective of this paper is to evaluate the performance of a newly developed low dissipative sixth-order spatial and fourth-order temporal scheme for viscous reactive flows interacting with shock waves that contain fine scale flow structures. The accuracy and efficiency of the scheme, and to what degree the scheme can capture the correct physical wave speeds of stiff reactive flows will be included.

Sjoegreen, B.↗

Temperature-based reactive flow model for TATB plastic bonded explosives

A new reactive flow model is presented for TATB-based plastic bonded explosives, applicable to shock initiation and detonation problems of differing initial temperature. Temperature disequilibrium is assumed between unreacted explosive, material in the vicinity of compressed defects (called hot spots), and detonation products. The model incorporates temperature-dependent decomposition reaction rates. Arrhenius model parameters were derived from subscale quantum-based molecular dynamics simulations of shock-induced TATB decomposition. Further, a model of detonation carbon aggregation is incorporated, describing the late-time slow release of energy inherent to detonation in TATB-based materials. The predictive ability of the model in the shock initiation regime is tested against recent thin pulse experiments on PBX 9502. Here, the model is found to perform equally well in predicting the size effect curve of ambient, cold, and hot PBX 9502 rate sticks.

Chemistry - Chemical explosives↗

AWSD reactive flow model for PBX 9404

An Arrhenius–Wescott–Stewart–Davis (AWSD) reactive flow model for high explosive PBX 9404 is developed. We specifically calibrate an AWSD model for PBX 9404 by fitting equations of state for reactants and detonation products to the results of thermochemical calculations and to experimental data from multiple sources. The calibrated equations of state are then coupled with an Arrhenius rate law based on shock temperature that describes the reaction progress during PBX 9404 detonation. The parameter values in the rate law are calibrated to experimental gas-gun data and diameter effect results. The results of the calibrated AWSD model are in strong agreement with available experimental data for PBX 9404. A similar level of agreement between predicted and experimental results is observed when the calibrated model is validated on data that were not used in the model parameterization procedure. Our results illustrate that the AWSD model is capable of accurately describing the many important properties and observables in the reactive burn of PBX 9404. Because of the historical significance of PBX 9404 in high explosives research and its current use in aging studies, this work provides an important model of a legacy material, which can be used to make comparisons to new high explosive formulations.

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEF↗