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At least 19 records

Modifications to Marshall's Annular Seal Test (MAST) Rig and Facility for Improved Rotordynamic Coefficient Testing of Annular Seals and Fluid Film Bearings

The limits of rotordynamic stability continue to be pushed by the high power densities and rotational speeds of modern rocket engine turbomachinery. Destabilizing forces increase dramatically with rotor speed. Rotordynamic stability is lost when these destabilizing forces overwhelm the stabilizing forces. The vibration from the unstable rotor grows until it is limited by some nonlinearity. For example, a rolling element bearing with a stiffness characteristic that increases with deflection may limit the vibration amplitude. The loads and deflections resulting from this limit cycle vibration (LCV) can lead to bearing and seal damage which promotes ever increasing levels of subsynchronous vibration. Engineers combat LCV by introducing rotordynamic elements that generate increased stabilizing forces and reduced destabilizing forces. For example, replacing a labyrinth seal with a damping seal results in substantial increases in the damping and stiffness rotordynamic coefficients. Adding a swirl brake to the damping seal greatly reduces the destabilizing cross-coupled forces generated by the damping seal for even further increases in the stabilizing capacity. Marshall?s Annular Seal Test (MAST) rig is designed to experimentally measure the stabilizing capacity of new annular seal designs. The rig has been moved to a new facility and outfitted with a new slave bearing to allow increased test durations and to enable the testing of fluid film bearings. The purpose of this paper is to describe the new facility and the new bearing arrangement. Several novel seal and bearing designs will also be discussed.

Darden, J. M.↗

Theoretical versus experimental results for the rotordynamic coefficients of eccentric, smooth, gas annular seal annular gas seals

This viewgraph presentation presents the following results: (1) The analytical results overpredict the experimental results for the direct stiffness values and incorrectly predict increasing stiffness with decreasing pressure ratios. (2) Theory correctly predicts increasing cross-coupled stiffness, K(sub YX), with increasing eccentricity and inlet preswirl. (3) Direct damping, C(sub XX), underpredicts the experimental results, but the analytical results do correctly show that damping increases with increasing eccentricity. (4) The whirl frequency values predicted by theory are insensitive to changes in the static eccentricity ratio. Although these values match perfectly with the experimental results at 16,000 rpm, the results at the lower speed do not correspond. (5) Theoretical and experimental mass flow rates match at 5000 rpm, but at 16,000 rpm the theoretical results overpredict the experimental mass flow rates. (6) Theory correctly shows the linear pressure profiles and the associated entrance losses with the specified rotor positions.

Childs, Dara W.↗

Annular Flow Simulation Supported by Iterative In-Memory Mesh Adaptation

Various flow regimes exist in a boiling water reactor (BWR) as the steam quality increases in the uprising coolant flow, from bubbly flow, slug/churn flow, to annular flow. The annular flow is characterized by the presence of a fast-moving gas core and the surrounding liquid film flowing on the conduit wall. Additionally, entrained droplets can be observed in the gas core with ingested bubbles in the liquid film. The dynamics occurring on the wavy interface between the liquid film and gas core plays a crucial role in affecting the heat transfer rate and pressure drop within the BWR core. However, a fundamental understanding of annular flow is still lacking, partly due to the difficulty in obtaining detailed local data in annular flow experiments. In the current study, a novel simulation framework is developed for the annular flow by coupling a computational fluid dynamics flow solver with state-of-the-art meshing software. The gas-liquid interface is tracked with the level set method. Based on the computed flow solutions, the computational mesh is dynamically adapted in memory to meet the local mesh resolution requirement. This iterative simulation-adaptation framework can ensure the fine mesh resolution across the interface, which not only helps mitigate the mass conservation degradation known to level set methods but also improves the representation of dramatic interface topological changes such as wave breaking and droplet entrainment. The present investigation will shed light onto the complex interfacial processes involved in annular flow and generate much needed simulation data for annular flow modeling.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Ring resonator with integrated detector for monitoring light comprising an annular detection region that is physically isolated from a waveguide core

Examples described herein relate to a ring resonator. The ring resonator may include an annular waveguide having a waveguide base and a waveguide core narrower than the waveguide base. Further, the ring resonator may include an outer contact region comprising a first-type doping and disposed annularly and at least partially surrounding an outer annular surface of the waveguide base. Furthermore, the ring resonator may include an inner contact region comprising a second-type doping and disposed annularly contacting an inner annular surface of the waveguide base. Moreover, the ring resonator may include an annular detector region disposed annularly at a distance from and covering at least a portion of a surface of the waveguide core and contacting the outer contact region.

Yuan, Yuan↗

Jet Mixing and Emission Characteristics of Transverse Jets in Annular and Cylindrical Confined Crossflow

Three dimensional turbulent reacting CFD analyses were performed on transverse jets injected into annular and cylindrical (can) confined crossflows. The goal was to identify and assess mixing differences between annular and can geometries. The approach taken was to optimize both annular and can configurations by systematically varying orifice spacing until lowest emissions were achieved, and then compare the results. Numerical test conditions consisted of a jet-to-mainstream mass-flow ratio of 3.2 and a jet-to-mainstream momentum-flux ratio (J) of 30. The computational results showed that the optimized geometries had similar emission levels at the exit of the mixing section although the annular configuration did mix-out faster. For lowest emissions, the density correlation parameter (C = (S/H) square root of J) was 2.35 for the annular geometry and 3.5 for the can geometry. For the annular geometry, the constant was about twice the value seen for jet mixing at low mass-flow ratios (i.e., MR less than 0.5). For the can geometry, the constant was about 1 1/2 times the value seen for low mass-flow ratios.

Bain, D. B.↗

Laser Doppler velocimeter measurements and laser sheet imaging in an annular combustor model

An experimental study was conducted in annular combustor model to provide a better understanding of the flowfield. Combustor model configurations consisting of primary jets only, annular jets only, and a combination of annular and primary jets were investigated. The purpose of this research was to provide a better understanding of combustor flows and to provide a data base for comparison with computational models. The first part of this research used a laser Doppler velocimeter to measure mean velocity and statistically calculate root-mean-square velocity in two coordinate directions. From this data, one Reynolds shear stress component and a two-dimensional turbulent kinetic energy term was determined. Major features of the flowfield included recirculating flow, primary and annular jet interaction, and high turbulence. The most pronounced result from this data was the effect the primary jets had on the flowfield. The primary jets were seen to reduce flow asymmetries, create larger recirculation zones, and higher turbulence levels. The second part of this research used a technique called marker nephelometry to provide mean concentration values in the combustor. Results showed the flow to be very turbulent and unsteady. All configurations investigated were highly sensitive to alignment of the primary and annular jets in the model and inlet conditions. Any imbalance between primary jets or misalignment of the annular jets caused severe flow asymmetries.

Dwenger, Richard Dale↗

Fuel-cladding chemical interaction of a prototype annular U-10Zr fuel with Fe-12Cr ferritic/martensitic HT-9 cladding

As an alternative fuel form, the annular metallic fuel design eliminates the liquid sodium bond between the fuel and the cladding, providing back-end fuel cycle and other benefits. The fuel-cladding chemical interaction (FCCI) of annular fuel also presents new features. In this work, state-of-the-art electron microscopy and spectroscopy techniques were used to study the FCCI of a prototype annular U-10wt%Zr (U-10Zr) fuel with ferritic/martensitic HT-9 cladding irradiated to 3.3% fission per initial heavy atom. Compared with sodium-bonded solid fuels, negligible amounts of lanthanides were found in the FCCI layer in the investigated helium-bonded annular fuel. Instead, most lanthanides were retained in the newly formed UZr 2 phase in the fuel center region. The interdiffusion of iron and uranium resulted in tetragonal ( U ,Zr) 6 Fe phase (space group I4/mcm) and cubic ( U ,Zr)( Fe ,Cr) 2 phase (space group Fd 3 ¯ m). The ( U ,Zr)( Fe ,Cr) 2 phase contains a high density of voids and intergranular uranium monocarbides of NaCl-type crystal structure (space group Fm 3 ¯ m). At the interdiffusion zone and inner cladding interface, a porous lamellar structure composed of alternating Cr-rich layers and U-rich layers was observed. Next to the lamellar region, the unexpected phase transformation from body-centered cubic ferrite (α-Fe) to tetragonal binary Fe-Cr σ phase (space group P4 2 /mnm) occurred, and tetragonal Fe-Cr-U-Si phase (space group I4/mmm) was identified. Due to the diffusion of carbon into the interdiffusion zone, carbon depletion inside the HT-9 led to the disappearance of the martensite lath structure, and intergranular U-rich carbides formed as a result of the diffusion of uranium into the cladding. These detailed new findings reveal the unique features of the FCCI behavior of annular U-Zr fuels, which could be a promising alternative fuel form for high burnup fast reactor applications.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Entrance and exit region friction factor models for annular seal analysis

The Mach number definition and boundary conditions in Nelson's nominally-centered, annular gas seal analysis are revised. A method is described for determining the wall shear stress characteristics of an annular gas seal experimentally. Two friction factor models are developed for annular seal analysis; one model is based on flat-plate flow theory; the other uses empirical entrance and exit region friction factors. The friction factor predictions of the models are compared to experimental results. Each friction model is used in an annular gas seal analysis. The seal characteristics predicted by the two seal analyses are compared to experimental results and to the predictions of Nelson's analysis. The comparisons are for smooth-rotor seals with smooth and honeycomb stators. The comparisons show that the analysis which uses empirical entrance and exit region shear stress models predicts the static and stability characteristics of annular gas seals better than the other analyses. The analyses predict direct stiffness poorly.

Elrod, David Alan↗

Active Control of Fan Noise: Feasibility Study: Theoretical Analysis for Coupling of Active Noise Control Actuator Ring Sources to an Annular Duct with Flow - Volume 6

The objective of this effort is to develop an analytical model for the coupling of active noise control (ANC) piston-type actuators that are mounted flush to the inner and outer walls of an annular duct to the modes in the duct generated by the actuator motion. The analysis will be used to couple the ANC actuators to the modal analysis propagation computer program for the annular duct, to predict the effects of active suppression of fan-generated engine noise sources. This combined program will then be available to assist in the design or evaluation of ANC systems in fan engine annular exhaust ducts. An analysis has been developed to predict the modes generated in an annular duct due to the coupling of flush-mounted ring actuators on the inner and outer walls of the duct. The analysis has been combined with a previous analysis for the coupling of modes to a cylindrical duct in a FORTRAN computer program to perform the computations. The method includes the effects of uniform mean flow in the duct. The program can be used for design or evaluation purposes for active noise control hardware for turbofan engines. Predictions for some sample cases modeled after the geometry of the NASA Lewis ANC Fan indicate very efficient coupling in both the inlet and exhaust ducts for the m = 6 spinning mode at frequencies where only a single radial mode is cut-on. Radial mode content in higher order cut-off modes at the source plane and the required actuator displacement amplitude to achieve 110 dB SPL levels in the desired mode were predicted. Equivalent cases with and without flow were examined for the cylindrical and annular geometry, and little difference was found for a duct flow Mach number of 0.1. The actuator ring coupling program will be adapted as a subroutine to the cylindrical duct modal analysis and the exhaust duct modal analysis. This will allow the fan source to be defined in terms of characteristic modes at the fan source plane and predict the propagation to the arbitrarily-located ANC source plane. The actuator velocities can then be determined to generate the anti-phase mode. The resulting combined fan source/ANC pressure can then be calculated at any desired wall sensor position. The actuator velocities can be determined manually or using a simulation of a control system feedback loop. This will provide a very useful ANC system design and evaluation tool.

Kraft, R. E.↗

Inverted velocity profile semi-annular nozzle jet exhaust noise experiments

Experimental noise data are shown for a conical nozzle with a semi-annular secondary flow passage having secondary to primary velocity ratios ranging from 1.0 to 1.4. Spectral data are presented at different directivity angles in the flyover plane with the semi-annular flow passage located either on the same side or opposite side relative to an observer. A 10.0 cm diameter primary conical nozzle was used with a 2.59 cm and 5.07 cm wide annular gap secondary nozzle. Similar trends were observed for both nozzle configurations. In general, near the peak noise location and at velocity ratios greater than 1.0, noise levels were larger on the side where the secondary passage was closest to an observer. At velocity ratios near 1.0 the opposite was true. When compared to predicted noise levels for a conical nozzle alone operating at the same ideal thrust, the semi-annular configuration showed no benefit in terms of noise attenuation.

Goodykoontz, J. H.↗

An experimental investigation of straight and curved annular wall jets

Accurate turbulence measurements taken in wall jet flows are difficult to obtain, due to high intensity turbulence and problems in achieving two-dimensionality. The problem is compounded when streamwise curvature of the flow is introduced, since the jet entrainment and turbulence levels are greatly increased over the equivalent planar values. In this experiment, two-dimensional straight and curved incompressible wall jet flows are simulated by having a jet blow axially over a cylinder. Hot wire measurements and some Laser Doppler Velocimetry measurements are presented for straight and curved wall jet flows. The results for the straight wall showed good agreement between the annular flow data and the rectangular data taken by previous researchers. For the jets with streamwise curvature, there was agreement between the annular and corresponding rectangular jets for the flow region closest to the slot exit. An integral analysis was used as a simple technique to interpret the experimental results. Integral momentum calculations were performed for both straight and curved annular and two dimensional wall jets. The results of the calculation were used to identify transverse curvature parameters and to predict the values of those parameters which would delineate the region where the annular flow can satisfactorily simulate two dimensional flow.

Rodman, L. C.↗

Experimental investigation of straight and curved annular wall jets

Accurate turbulence measurements taken in wall jet flows are difficult to obtain, due to high intensity turbulence and problems in achieving two-dimensionality. The problem is compounded when streamwise curvature of the flow is introduced, since the jet entrainment and turbulence levels are greatly increased over the equivalent planar values. In this experiment, two-dimensional straight and curved incompressible wall jet flows are simulated by having a jet blow axially over a cylinder. Hot wire measurements and some Laser Doppler Velocimetry measurements are presented for straight and curved wall jet flows. The results for the straight wall showed good agreement between the annular flow data and the rectangular data taken by previous researchers. For the jets with streamwise curvature, there was agreement between the annular and corresponding rectangular jets for the flow region closest to the slot exit. An integral analysis was used as a simple technique to interpret the experimental results. Integral momentum calculations were performed for both straight and curved annular and two-dimensional wall jets. The results of the calculation were used to identify transverse curvature parameters and to predict the values of those parameters which would delineate the region where the annular flow can satisfactorily simulate two-dimensional flows.

Rodman, L. C.↗

Annular denuders for use in global climate and stratospheric measurements of acidic gases and particles

Measurements of acidic and basic gases that coexist with fine particle (less than 2.5 micron) may be useful for determining the impact of these species on global climate changes and determining species that influence stratospheric ozone levels. Annular denuders are well suited for this purpose. A new concentric annular denuder system, consisting of a three channel denuder, a Teflon coated cyclone preseparator, and a multistage filter pack was developed, evaluated, and shown to provide reliable atmospheric measurements of SO2, HNO2, HNO3, NH3, SO4(=), NH4(+), NO3(-), and H(+). For example, the precision of the annular denuder for the ambient measurements of HNO3 and nitrates at concentrations between 0.1 to 3 microgram/cu m was + or - 12 and 16 pct., respectively. The 120 x 25 mm three channel denuder is encased in a stainless steel sheath and has annular spaces that are 1 mm wide. This design was shown to have nearly identical capacity for removal of SO2 as conventional 210 x 25 mm single channel denuder configurations. The cyclone preseparator was designed and tested to have a D sub 50 cutoff diameter of 2.5 micron and minimal retention of HNO3.

Stevens, Robert K.↗

The Langley Annular Transonic Tunnel

Report describes the development of the Langley annular transonic tunnel, a facility in which test Mach numbers from 0.6 to slightly over 1.0 are achieved by rotating the test model in an annular passage between two concentric cylinders. Data obtained for two-dimensional airfoil models in the Langley annular transonic tunnel at subsonic and sonic speeds are shown to be in reasonable agreement with experimental data from other sources and with theory when comparisons are made for nonlifting conditions or for equal normal-force coefficients rather than for equal angles of attack. The trends of pressure distributions obtained from measurements in the Langley annular transonic tunnel are consistent with distributions calculated for Prandtl-Meyer flow.

Habel, Louis W↗

Annular Internal-External-Expansion Rocket Nozzles for Large Booster Applications

For large-thrust booster applications, annular rocket nozzles employing both internal and external expansion are investigated. In these nozzles, free-stream air flows through the center as well as around the outside of the exiting jet. Flaps for deflecting the rocket exhaust are incorporated on the external-expansion surface for thrust-vector control. In order to define nozzle off-design performance, thrust vectoring effectiveness, and external stream effects, an experimental investigation was conducted on two annular nozzles with area ratios of 15 and 25 at Mach 0, 2, and 3 in the Lewis 10- by 10-foot wind tunnel. Air, pressurized to 600 pounds per square inch absolute, was used to simulate the exhaust flow. For a nozzle-pressure-ratio range of 40 to 1000, the ratio of actual to ideal thrust was essentially constant at 0.98 for both nozzles. Compared with conventional convergent-divergent configurations on hypothetical boost missions, the performance gains of the annular nozzle could yield significant orbital payload increases (possibly 8 to 17 percent). A single flap on the external-expansion surface of the area-ratio-25 annular nozzle produced a side force equal to 4 percent of the axial force with no measurable loss in axial thrust.

Connors, James F.↗

Mixing and NOx Emission Calculations of Confined Reacting Jet Flows in Cylindrical and Annular Ducts

Rapid mixing of cold lateral jets with hot cross-stream flows in confined configurations is of practical interest in gas turbine combustors as it strongly affects combustor exit temperature quality, and gaseous emissions in for example rich-lean combustion. It is therefore important to further improve our fundamental understanding of the important processes of dilution jet mixing especially when the injected jet mass flow rate exceeds that of the cross-stream. The results reported in this report describe some of the main flow characteristics which develop in the mixing process in a cylindrical duct. A three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code has been used to predict the mixing flow field characteristics and NOx emission in a quench section of a rich-burn/quick-mix/lean-burn (RQL) combustor. Sixty configurations have been analyzed in both circular and annular geometries in a fully reacting environment simulating the operating condition of an actual RQL gas turbine combustion liner. The evaluation matrix was constructed by varying the number of orifices per row and orifice shape. Other parameters such as J (momentum-flux ratio), MR (mass flowrate ratio), DR (density ratio), and mixer sector orifice ACd (effective orifice area) were maintained constant throughout the entire study. The results indicate that the mixing flow field can be correlated with the NOx production if they are referenced with the stoichiometric equivalence ratio value and not the equilibrium value. The mixing flowfields in both circular and annular mixers are different. The penetration of equal jets in both annular and circular geometries is vastly different which significantly affects the performance of the mixing section. In the computational results with the circular mixer, most of the NOx formation occurred behind the orifice starting at the orifice wake region. General trends have been observed in the NOx production as the number of orifices is changed and this appears to be common for all hole configurations and mixer types (circular or annular). The performance of any orifice shape (in producing minimum NOx) appears to be acceptable if the number of orifices can be freely varied in order to attain the optimum jet penetration.

Oechsle, Victor L.↗

Annular and Total Solar Eclipses of 2003

On Saturday, 2003 May 31, an annular eclipse of the Sun will be visible from a broad corridor that traverses the North Atlantic. The path of the Moon's antumbral shadow begins in northern Scotland, crosses Iceland and central Greenland, and ends at sunrise in Baffin Bay (Canada). A partial eclipse will be seen within the much broader path of the Moon's penumbral shadow, which includes most of Europe, the Middle East, central and northern Asia, and northwestern North America. The trajectory of the Moon's shadow is quite unusual during this event. The shadow axis passes to the far north where it barely grazes Earth's surface. In fact, the northern edge of the antumbra actually misses Earth so that one path limit is defined by the day/night terminator rather than by the shadow's upper edge. As a result, the track of annularity has a peculiar "D" shape that is nearly 1200 kilometers wide. Since the eclipse occurs just three weeks prior to the northern summer solstice, Earth's northern axis is pointed sunwards by 22.8 deg. As seen from the Sun, the antumbral shadow actually passes between the North Pole and the terminator. As a consequence of this extraordinary geometry, the path of annularity runs from east to west rather than the more typical west to east. The event transpires near the Moon's ascending node in Taurus five degrees north of Aldebaran. Since apogee occurs three days earlier (May 28 at 13 UT), the Moon's apparent diameter (29.6 arc-minutes) is still too small to completely cover the Sun (31.6 arc-minutes) resulting in an annular eclipse.

Espenak, Fred↗

Multi-functional annular fairing for coupling launch abort motor to space vehicle

An annular fairing having aerodynamic, thermal, structural and acoustic attributes couples a launch abort motor to a space vehicle having a payload of concern mounted on top of a rocket propulsion system. A first end of the annular fairing is fixedly attached to the launch abort motor while a second end of the annular fairing is attached in a releasable fashion to an aft region of the payload. The annular fairing increases in diameter between its first and second ends.

Camarda, Charles J.↗