Analysis of Lagrangian stretching in turbulent channel flow using a database task-parallel particle tracking approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meneveau, Charles; Johnson, Perry; Hamilton, Stephen; Burns, Randal

2016-11-01

An intrinsic property of turbulent flows is the exponential deformation of fluid elements along Lagrangian paths. The production of enstrophy by vorticity stretching follows from a similar mechanism in the Lagrangian view, though the alignment statistics differ and viscosity prevents unbounded growth. In this paper, the stretching properties of fluid elements and vorticity along Lagrangian paths are studied in a channel flow at Reτ = 1000 and compared with prior, known results from isotropic turbulence. To track Lagrangian paths in a public database containing Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) results, the task-parallel approach previously employed in the isotropic database is extended to the case of flow in a bounded domain. It is shown that above 100 viscous units from the wall, stretching statistics are equal to their isotropic values, in support of the local isotropy hypothesis. Normalized by dissipation rate, the stretching in the buffer layer and below is less efficient due to less favorable alignment statistics. The Cramér function characterizing cumulative Lagrangian stretching statistics shows that overall the channel flow has about half of the stretching per unit dissipation compared with isotropic turbulence. Supported by a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program under Grant No. DGE-1232825, and by National Science Foundation Grants CBET-1507469, ACI-1261715, OCI-1244820 and by JHU IDIES.

Ultrasound Attenuation in Normal Fluid 3He in 98% Aerogel: Knudsen-to-Hydrodynamic Crossover

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Yoonseok; Choi, H. C.; Moon, B. H.; Masuhara, N.; Meisel, M. W.; Takeuchi, H.; Higashitani, S.; Nagai, K.; Mulders, N.

2014-03-01

Mass flow in porous media is a widely occurring phenomenon as in water flow in aquifers, blood flow in vessels, and petroleum flow through sandstones. However, the understanding of these phenomena is a challenging task. In particular, when the mean free path of the fluid particles exceeds the pore size, the hydrodynamic description breaks down and the fluid mass is carried by the Knudsen diffusion. The 3He-aerogel system offers an opportunity that allows a systematic investigation of a wide range flow phenomena from the hydrodynamic to Knudsen regime owing to the strongly temperature dependent mean free path in liquid 3He at low temperatures. In this paper, we present ultrasound attenuation measurements of liquid 3He in 98% aerogel. The Knudsen-hydrodynamic crossover is clearly demonstrated in a drastic change in the temperature dependence in attenuation observed in this system. H. Takeuchi et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 225307 (2012). Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research No. 21540365 and No. 22103003 by MEXT of Japan and NSF DMR-0803516, DMR-0654118, and the State of Florida.

PC-402 Pioneer Venus orbiter spacecraft mission operational characteristics document

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barker, F. C.; Butterworth, L. W.; Daniel, R. E.; Drean, R. J.; Filetti, K. A.; Fisher, J. N.; Nowak, L. A.; Porzucki, J.; Salvatore, J. O.; Tadler, G. A.

1978-01-01

The operational characteristics of the Orbiter spacecraft and its subsystems are described. In extensive detail. Description of the nominal phases, system interfaces, and the capabilities and limitations of system level performance are included along with functional and operational descriptions at the subsystem and unit level the subtleties of nominal operation as well as detailed capabilities and limitations beyond nominal performance are discussed. A command and telemetry logic flow diagram for each subsystem is included. Each diagram encountered along each command signal path into, and each telemetry signal path out of the subsystem. Normal operating modes that correspond to the performance of specific functions at the time of specific events in the mission are also discussed. Principal backup means of performing the normal Orbiter operating modes are included.

Flow paths in the Edwards aquifer, northern Medina and northeastern Uvalde counties, Texas, based on hydrologic identification and geochemical characterization and simulation

USGS Publications Warehouse

Clark, Allan K.; Journey, Celeste A.

2006-01-01

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the San Antonio Water System, conducted a 4-year study during 2001– 04 to identify major ground-water flow paths in the Edwards aquifer in northern Medina and northeastern Uvalde Counties, Texas. The study involved use of geologic structure, surfacewater and ground-water data, and geochemistry to identify ground-water flow paths. Relay ramps and associated faulting in northern Medina County appear to channel ground-water flow along four distinct flow paths that move water toward the southwest. The northwestern Medina flow path is bounded on the north by the Woodard Cave fault and on the south by the Parkers Creek fault. Water moves downdip toward the southwest until the flow encounters a cross fault along Seco Creek. This barrier to flow might force part or most of the flow to the south. Departure hydrographs for two wells and discharge departure for a streamflow-gaging station provide evidence for flow in the northwestern Medina flow path. The north-central Medina flow path (northern part) is bounded by the Parkers Creek fault on the north and the Medina Lake fault on the south. The adjacent north-central Medina flow path (southern part) is bounded on the north by the Medina Lake fault and on the south by the Diversion Lake fault. The north-central Medina flow path is separated into a northern and southern part because of water-level differences. Ground water in both parts of the northcentral Medina flow path moves downgradient (and down relay ramp) from eastern Medina County toward the southwest. The north-central Medina flow path is hypothesized to turn south in the vicinity of Seco Creek as it begins to be influenced by structural features. Departure hydrographs for four wells and Medina Lake and discharge departure for a streamflow-gaging station provide evidence for flow in the north-central Medina flow path. The south-central Medina flow path is bounded on the north by the Seco Creek and Diversion Lake faults and on the south by the Haby Crossing fault. Because of bounding faults oriented northeast-southwest and adjacent flow paths directed south by other geologic structures, the south-central Medina flow path follows the configuration of the adjacent flow paths—oriented initially southwest and then south. Immediately after turning south, the south-central Medina flow path turns sharply east. Departure hydrographs for four wells and discharge departure for a streamflow-gaging station provide evidence for flow in the south-central Medina flow path. Statistical correlations between water-level departures for 11 continuously monitored wells provide additional evidence for the hypothesized flow paths. Of the 55 combinations of departure dataset pairs, the stronger correlations (those greater than .6) are all among wells in the same flow path, with one exception. Simulations of compositional differences in water chemistry along a hypothesized flow path in the Edwards aquifer and between ground-water and surface-water systems near Medina Lake were developed using the geochemical model PHREEQC. Ground-water chemistry for samples from five wells in the Edwards aquifer in the northwestern Medina flow path were used to evaluate the evolution of ground-water chemistry in the northwestern Medina flow path. Seven simulations were done for samples from pairs of these wells collected during 2001–03; three of the seven yielded plausible models. Ground-water samples from 13 wells were used to evaluate the evolution of ground-water chemistry in the north-central Medina flow path (northern and southern parts). Five of the wells in the most upgradient part of the flow path were completed in the Trinity aquifer; the remaining eight were completed in the Edwards aquifer. Nineteen simulations were done for samples from well pairs collected during 1995–2003; eight of the 19 yielded plausible models. Ground-water samples from seven wells were used to evaluate the evolution of ground-water chemistry in the south-central Medina flow path. One well was the Trinity aquifer end-member well upgradient from all flow paths, and another was a Trinity aquifer well in the most upgradient part of the flow path; all other wells were completed in the Edwards aquifer. Nine simulations were done for samples from well pairs collected during 1996–2003; seven of the nine yielded plausible models. The plausible models demonstrate that the four hypothesized flow paths can be partially supported geochemically. 

Shock wave absorber having apertured plate

DOEpatents

Shin, Y.W.; Wiedermann, A.H.; Ockert, C.E.

1983-08-26

The shock or energy absorber disclosed herein utilizes an apertured plate maintained under the normal level of liquid flowing in a piping system and disposed between the normal liquid flow path and a cavity pressurized with a compressible gas. The degree of openness (or porosity) of the plate is between 0.01 and 0.60. The energy level of a shock wave travelling down the piping system thus is dissipated by some of the liquid being jetted through the apertured plate toward the cavity. The cavity is large compared to the quantity of liquid jetted through the apertured plate, so there is little change in its volume. The porosity of the apertured plate influences the percentage of energy absorbed.

Shock wave absorber having apertured plate

DOEpatents

Shin, Yong W.; Wiedermann, Arne H.; Ockert, Carl E.

1985-01-01

The shock or energy absorber disclosed herein utilizes an apertured plate maintained under the normal level of liquid flowing in a piping system and disposed between the normal liquid flow path and a cavity pressurized with a compressible gas. The degree of openness (or porosity) of the plate is between 0.01 and 0.60. The energy level of a shock wave travelling down the piping system thus is dissipated by some of the liquid being jetted through the apertured plate toward the cavity. The cavity is large compared to the quantity of liquid jetted through the apertured plate, so there is little change in its volume. The porosity of the apertured plate influences the percentage of energy absorbed.

The role of interbasin groundwater transfers in geologically complex terranes, demonstrated by the Great Basin in the western United States

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nelson, Stephen T.; Mayo, Alan L.

2014-06-01

In the Great Basin, USA, bedrock interbasin flow is conceptualized as the mechanism by which large groundwater fluxes flow through multiple basins and intervening mountains. Interbasin flow is propounded based on: (1) water budget imbalances, (2) potential differences between basins, (3) stable isotope evidence, and (4) modeling studies. However, water budgets are too imprecise to discern interbasin transfers and potential differences may exist with or without interbasin fluxes. Potentiometric maps are dependent on conceptual underpinnings, leading to possible false inferences regarding interbasin transfers. Isotopic evidence is prone to non-unique interpretation and may be confounded by the effects of climate change. Structural and stratigraphic considerations in a geologically complex region like the Great Basin should produce compartmentalization, where increasing aquifer size increases the odds of segmentation along a given flow path. Initial conceptual hypotheses should explain flow with local recharge and short flow paths. Where bedrock interbasin flow is suspected, it is most likely controlled by diversion of water into the damage zones of normal faults, where fault cores act as barriers. Large-scale bedrock interbasin flow where fluxes must transect multiple basins, ranges, and faults at high angles should be the conceptual model of last resort.

Simulation and validation of concentrated subsurface lateral flow paths in an agricultural landscape

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Q.; Lin, H. S.

2009-08-01

The importance of soil water flow paths to the transport of nutrients and contaminants has long been recognized. However, effective means of detecting concentrated subsurface flow paths in a large landscape are still lacking. The flow direction and accumulation algorithm based on single-direction flow algorithm (D8) in GIS hydrologic modeling is a cost-effective way to simulate potential concentrated flow paths over a large area once relevant data are collected. This study tested the D8 algorithm for simulating concentrated lateral flow paths at three interfaces in soil profiles in a 19.5-ha agricultural landscape in central Pennsylvania, USA. These interfaces were (1) the interface between surface plowed layers of Ap1 and Ap2 horizons, (2) the interface with subsoil water-restricting clay layer where clay content increased to over 40%, and (3) the soil-bedrock interface. The simulated flow paths were validated through soil hydrologic monitoring, geophysical surveys, and observable soil morphological features. The results confirmed that concentrated subsurface lateral flow occurred at the interfaces with the clay layer and the underlying bedrock. At these two interfaces, the soils on the simulated flow paths were closer to saturation and showed more temporally unstable moisture dynamics than those off the simulated flow paths. Apparent electrical conductivity in the soil on the simulated flow paths was elevated and temporally unstable as compared to those outside the simulated paths. The soil cores collected from the simulated flow paths showed significantly higher Mn content at these interfaces than those away from the simulated paths. These results suggest that (1) the D8 algorithm is useful in simulating possible concentrated subsurface lateral flow paths if used with appropriate threshold value of contributing area and sufficiently detailed digital elevation model (DEM); (2) repeated electromagnetic surveys can reflect the temporal change of soil water storage and thus is a useful indicator of possible subsurface flow path over a large area; and (3) observable Mn distribution in soil profiles can be used as a simple indicator of water flow paths in soils and over the landscape; however, it does require sufficient soil sampling (by excavation or augering) to possibly infer landscape-scale subsurface flow paths. In areas where subsurface interface topography varies similarly with surface topography, surface DEM can be used to simulate potential subsurface lateral flow path reasonably so the cost associated with obtaining depth to subsurface water-restricting layer can be minimized.

Method and apparatus for reducing cold-phase emissions by utilizing oxygen-enriched intake air

DOEpatents

Poola, Ramesh B.; Sekar, Ramanujam R.; Stork, Kevin C.

1997-01-01

An oxygen-enriched air intake control system for an internal combustion engine includes air directing apparatus to control the air flow into the intake of the engine. During normal operation of the engine, ambient air flowing from an air filter of the engine flows through the air directing apparatus into the intake of the engine. In order to decrease the amount of carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbon (HC) emissions that tend to be produced by the engine during a short period of time after the engine is started, the air directing apparatus diverts for a short period of time following the start up of the engine at least a portion of the ambient air from the air filter through a secondary path. The secondary path includes a selectively permeable membrane through which the diverted portion of the ambient air flows. The selectively permeable membrane separates nitrogen and oxygen from the diverted air so that oxygen enriched air containing from about 23% to 25% oxygen by volume is supplied to the intake of the engine.

Global Qualitative Flow-Path Modeling for Local State Determination in Simulation and Analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Malin, Jane T. (Inventor); Fleming, Land D. (Inventor)

1998-01-01

For qualitative modeling and analysis, a general qualitative abstraction of power transmission variables (flow and effort) for elements of flow paths includes information on resistance, net flow, permissible directions of flow, and qualitative potential is discussed. Each type of component model has flow-related variables and an associated internal flow map, connected into an overall flow network of the system. For storage devices, the implicit power transfer to the environment is represented by "virtual" circuits that include an environmental junction. A heterogeneous aggregation method simplifies the path structure. A method determines global flow-path changes during dynamic simulation and analysis, and identifies corresponding local flow state changes that are effects of global configuration changes. Flow-path determination is triggered by any change in a flow-related device variable in a simulation or analysis. Components (path elements) that may be affected are identified, and flow-related attributes favoring flow in the two possible directions are collected for each of them. Next, flow-related attributes are determined for each affected path element, based on possibly conflicting indications of flow direction. Spurious qualitative ambiguities are minimized by using relative magnitudes and permissible directions of flow, and by favoring flow sources over effort sources when comparing flow tendencies. The results are output to local flow states of affected components.

Geologic, hydrologic, and geochemical identification of flow paths in the Edwards Aquifer, northeastern Bexar and southern Comal Counties, Texas

USGS Publications Warehouse

Otero, Cassi L.

2007-01-01

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the San Antonio Water System, conducted a 4-year study during 2002?06 to identify major flow paths in the Edwards aquifer in northeastern Bexar and southern Comal Counties (study area). In the study area, faulting directs ground water into three hypothesized flow paths that move water, generally, from the southwest to the northeast. These flow paths are identified as the southern Comal flow path, the central Comal flow path, and the northern Comal flow path. Statistical correlations between water levels for six observation wells and between the water levels and discharges from Comal Springs and Hueco Springs yielded evidence for the hypothesized flow paths. Strong linear correlations were evident between the datasets from wells and springs within the same flow path and the datasets from wells in areas where flow between flow paths was suspected. Geochemical data (major ions, stable isotopes, sulfur hexafluoride, and tritium and helium) were used in graphical analyses to obtain evidence of the flow path from which wells or springs derive water. Major-ion geochemistry in samples from selected wells and springs showed relatively little variation. Samples from the southern Comal flow path were characterized by relatively high sulfate and chloride concentrations, possibly indicating that the water in the flow path was mixing with small amounts of saline water from the freshwater/saline-water transition zone. Samples from the central Comal flow path yielded the most varied major-ion geochemistry of the three hypothesized flow paths. Central Comal flow path samples were characterized, in general, by high calcium concentrations and low magnesium concentrations. Samples from the northern Comal flow path were characterized by relatively low sulfate and chloride concentrations and high magnesium concentrations. The high magnesium concentrations characteristic of northern Comal flow path samples from the recharge zone in Comal County might indicate that water from the Trinity aquifer is entering the Edwards aquifer in the subsurface. A graph of the relation between the stable isotopes deuterium and delta-18 oxygen showed that, except for samples collected following an unusually intense rain storm, there was not much variation in stable isotope values among the flow paths. In the study area deuterium ranged from -36.00 to -20.89 per mil and delta-18 oxygen ranged from -6.03 to -3.70 per mil. Excluding samples collected following the intense rain storm, the deuterium range in the study area was -33.00 to -20.89 per mil and the delta-18 oxygen range was -4.60 to -3.70 per mil. Two ground-water age-dating techniques, sulfur hexafluoride concentrations and tritium/helium-3 isotope ratios, were used to compute apparent ages (time since recharge occurred) of water samples collected in the study area. In general, the apparent ages computed by the two methods do not seem to indicate direction of flow. Apparent ages computed for water samples in northeastern Bexar and southern Comal Counties do not vary greatly except for some very young water in the recharge zone in central Comal County.

A direct-interface fusible heat sink for astronaut cooling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lomax, Curtis; Webbon, B. W.

1990-01-01

Astronaut cooling during extravehicular activity is a critical design issue in developing a portable life support system that meets the requirements of a space station mission. Some the requirements are that the cooling device can be easily regenerable and nonventing during operation. In response to this, a direct-interface, fusible heat sink prototpye with freezable quick-disconnects was developed. A proof-of-concept prototype was constructed and tested that consists of an elastic container filled with normal tap water and having two quick-disconnects embedded in a wall. These quick-disconnects are designed so that they may be frozen with the ice and yet still be joined to the cooling system, allowing an immediate flow path. The inherent difficulties in a direct-interface heat sink have been overcome, i.e., (1) establishing an initial flow path; (2) avoiding low-flow freeze-up; and (3) achieving adequate heat-transfer rates at the end of the melting process. The requirements, design, fabrication, and testing are discussed.

A direct-interface, fusible heat sink for astronaut cooling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lomax, Curtis; Webbon, B. W.

1990-01-01

Astronaut cooling during extravehicular activity is a critical design issue in developing a portable life support system that meets the requirements of a space station mission. Some of the requirements are that the cooling device can be easily regenerable and nonventing during operation. In response to this, a direct-interface, fusible heat sink prototype with freezable quick-disconnects was developed. A proof-of-concept prototype was constructed and tested that consists of an elastic container filled with normal tap water and having two quick-disconnects embedded in a wall. These quick-disconnects are designed so that they may be frozen with the ice and yet still be joined to the cooling system, allowing an immediate flow path. The inherent difficulties in a direct-interface heat sink have been overcome, i.e., (1) establishing an initial flow path; (2) avoiding low-flow freeze-up; and (3) achieving adequate heat-transfer rates at the end of the melting process. The requirements, design, fabrication, and testing are discussed.

Study of Critical Heat Flux and Two-Phase Pressure Drop Under Reduced Gravity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Abdollahian, Davood; Quintal, Joseph; Barez, Fred; Zahm, Jennifer; Lohr, Victor

1996-01-01

The design of the two-phase flow systems which are anticipated to be utilized in future spacecraft thermal management systems requires a knowledge of two-phase flow and heat transfer phenomena in reduced gravities. This program was funded by NASA headquarters in response to NRA-91-OSSA-17 and was managed by Lewis Research Center. The main objective of this program was to design and construct a two-phase test loop, and perform a series of normal gravity and aircraft trajectory experiments to study the effect of gravity on the Critical Heat Flux (CHF) and onset of instability. The test loop was packaged on two aircraft racks and was also instrumented to generate data for two-phase pressure drop. The normal gravity tests were performed with vertical up and downflow configurations to bound the effect of gravity on the test parameters. One set of aircraft trajectory tests was performed aboard the NASA DC-9 aircraft. These tests were mainly intended to evaluate the test loop and its operational performance under actual reduced gravity conditions, and to produce preliminary data for the test parameters. The test results were used to demonstrate the applicability of the normal gravity models for prediction of the two-phase friction pressure drop. It was shown that the two-phase friction multipliers for vertical upflow and reduced gravity conditions can be successfully predicted by the appropriate normal gravity models. Limited critical heat flux data showed that the measured CHF under reduced gravities are of the same order of magnitude as the test results with vertical upflow configuration. A simplified correlation was only successful in predicting the measured CHF for low flow rates. Instability tests with vertical upflow showed that flow becomes unstable and critical heat flux occurs at smaller powers when a parallel flow path exists. However, downflow tests and a single reduced gravity instability experiment indicated that the system actually became more stable with a parallel single-phase flow path. Several design modifications have been identified which will improve the system performance for generating reduced gravity data. The modified test loop can provide two-phase flow data for a range of operating conditions and can serve as a test bed for component evaluation.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Khinkis, Mark J.; Kozlov, Aleksandr P.

A radiant, non-catalytic recuperative reformer has a flue gas flow path for conducting hot exhaust gas from a thermal process and a reforming mixture flow path for conducting a reforming mixture. At least a portion of the reforming mixture flow path is positioned adjacent to the flue gas flow path to permit heat transfer from the hot exhaust gas to the reforming mixture. The reforming mixture flow path contains substantially no material commonly used as a catalyst for reforming hydrocarbon fuel (e.g., nickel oxide, platinum group elements or rhenium), but instead the reforming mixture is reformed into a higher calorificmore » fuel via reactions due to the heat transfer and residence time. In a preferred embodiment, a portion of the reforming mixture flow path is positioned outside of flue gas flow path for a relatively large residence time.« less

Effects of Stochastic Traffic Flow Model on Expected System Performance

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-12-01

NSWC-PCD has made considerable improvements to their pedestrian flow modeling . In addition to the linear paths, the 2011 version now includes...using stochastic paths. 2.2 Linear Paths vs. Stochastic Paths 2.2.1 Linear Paths and Direct Maximum Pd Calculation Modeling pedestrian traffic flow...as a stochastic process begins with the linear path model . Let the detec- tion area be R x C voxels. This creates C 2 total linear paths, path(Cs

Debris flow runup on vertical barriers and adverse slopes

USGS Publications Warehouse

Iverson, Richard M.; George, David L.; Logan, Matthew

2016-01-01

Runup of debris flows against obstacles in their paths is a complex process that involves profound flow deceleration and redirection. We investigate the dynamics and predictability of runup by comparing results from large-scale laboratory experiments, four simple analytical models, and a depth-integrated numerical model (D-Claw). The experiments and numerical simulations reveal the important influence of unsteady, multidimensional flow on runup, and the analytical models highlight key aspects of the underlying physics. Runup against a vertical barrier normal to the flow path is dominated by rapid development of a shock, or jump in flow height, associated with abrupt deceleration of the flow front. By contrast, runup on sloping obstacles is initially dominated by a smooth flux of mass and momentum from the flow body to the flow front, which precedes shock development and commonly increases the runup height. D-Claw simulations that account for the emergence of shocks show that predicted runup heights vary systematically with the adverse slope angle and also with the Froude number and degree of liquefaction (or effective basal friction) of incoming flows. They additionally clarify the strengths and limitations of simplified analytical models. Numerical simulations based on a priori knowledge of the evolving dynamics of incoming flows yield quite accurate runup predictions. Less predictive accuracy is attained in ab initio simulations that compute runup based solely on knowledge of static debris properties in a distant debris flow source area. Nevertheless, the paucity of inputs required in ab initio simulations enhances their prospective value in runup forecasting.

Catalytic reactor for low-Btu fuels

DOEpatents

Smith, Lance; Etemad, Shahrokh; Karim, Hasan; Pfefferle, William C.

2009-04-21

An improved catalytic reactor includes a housing having a plate positioned therein defining a first zone and a second zone, and a plurality of conduits fabricated from a heat conducting material and adapted for conducting a fluid therethrough. The conduits are positioned within the housing such that the conduit exterior surfaces and the housing interior surface within the second zone define a first flow path while the conduit interior surfaces define a second flow path through the second zone and not in fluid communication with the first flow path. The conduit exits define a second flow path exit, the conduit exits and the first flow path exit being proximately located and interspersed. The conduits define at least one expanded section that contacts adjacent conduits thereby spacing the conduits within the second zone and forming first flow path exit flow orifices having an aggregate exit area greater than a defined percent of the housing exit plane area. Lastly, at least a portion of the first flow path defines a catalytically active surface.

General mechanism for the meandering instability of rivulets of Newtonian fluids.

PubMed

Daerr, A; Eggers, J; Limat, L; Valade, N

2011-05-06

A rivulet flowing down an inclined plane often does not follow a straight path, but starts to meander spontaneously. Here we show that this instability is the result of two key ingredients: fluid inertia and anisotropy of the friction between rivulet and substrate. Meandering only occurs if the motion normal to the instantaneous flow direction is more difficult than parallel to it. We give a quantitative criterion for the onset of meandering and confirm it by comparing to the flow of a rivulet between two glass plates which are wetted completely. Above the threshold, the rivulet follows an irregular pattern with a typical wavelength of a few cm.

Stress path dependent hydromechanical behaviour of heterogeneous carbonate rock

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gland, N.; Dautriat, J.; Dimanov, A.; Raphanel, J.

2010-06-01

The influence of stress paths, representative of reservoir conditions, on the hydromechanical behavior of a moderately heterogeneous carbonate has been investigated. Multiscale structural heterogeneities, common for instance in carbonate rocks, can strongly alter the mechanical response and significantly influence the evolution of flow properties with stress. Using a triaxial cell, the permeability evolutions during compression and the effects of brittle (fracture) and plastic (pore collapse) deformations at yield, were measured. A strong scattering was observed on the mechanical response both in term of compressibility and failure threshold. Using the porosity scaling predicted by an adapted effective medium theory (based on crack growth under Hertzian contact), we have rescaled the critical pressures by the normalized porosity deviation. This procedure reduces efficiently the scattering, revealing in the framework of proportional stress path loading, a linear relation between the critical pressures and the stress path parameter through all the deformation regimes. It leads to a new formulation for the critical state envelope in the 'mean stress, deviatoric stress' diagram. The attractive feature of this new yield envelope formulation relies on the fact that only the two most common different mechanical tests 'Uniaxial Compression' and 'Hydrostatic Compression', are needed to define entirely the yield envelope. Volumic strains and normalized permeabilities are finally mapped in the stresses diagram and correlated.

Topics on data transmission problem in software definition network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Wei; Liang, Li; Xu, Tianwei; Gan, Jianhou

2017-08-01

In normal computer networks, the data transmission between two sites go through the shortest path between two corresponding vertices. However, in the setting of software definition network (SDN), it should monitor the network traffic flow in each site and channel timely, and the data transmission path between two sites in SDN should consider the congestion in current networks. Hence, the difference of available data transmission theory between normal computer network and software definition network is that we should consider the prohibit graph structures in SDN, and these forbidden subgraphs represent the sites and channels in which data can't be passed by the serious congestion. Inspired by theoretical analysis of an available data transmission in SDN, we consider some computational problems from the perspective of the graph theory. Several results determined in the paper imply the sufficient conditions of data transmission in SDN in the various graph settings.

Gas turbine power plant with supersonic shock compression ramps

DOEpatents

Lawlor, Shawn P [Bellevue, WA; Novaresi, Mark A [San Diego, CA; Cornelius, Charles C [Kirkland, WA

2008-10-14

A gas turbine engine. The engine is based on the use of a gas turbine driven rotor having a compression ramp traveling at a local supersonic inlet velocity (based on the combination of inlet gas velocity and tangential speed of the ramp) which compresses inlet gas against a stationary sidewall. The supersonic compressor efficiently achieves high compression ratios while utilizing a compact, stabilized gasdynamic flow path. Operated at supersonic speeds, the inlet stabilizes an oblique/normal shock system in the gasdynamic flow path formed between the rim of the rotor, the strakes, and a stationary external housing. Part load efficiency is enhanced by use of a lean pre-mix system, a pre-swirl compressor, and a bypass stream to bleed a portion of the gas after passing through the pre-swirl compressor to the combustion gas outlet. Use of a stationary low NOx combustor provides excellent emissions results.

Apparatus for dispensing compressed natural gas and liquified natural gas to natural gas powered vehicles

DOEpatents

Bingham, Dennis A.; Clark, Michael L.; Wilding, Bruce M.; Palmer, Gary L.

2007-05-29

A fueling facility and method for dispensing liquid natural gas (LNG), compressed natural gas (CNG) or both on-demand. The fueling facility may include a source of LNG, such as cryogenic storage vessel. A low volume high pressure pump is coupled to the source of LNG to produce a stream of pressurized LNG. The stream of pressurized LNG may be selectively directed through an LNG flow path or to a CNG flow path which includes a vaporizer configured to produce CNG from the pressurized LNG. A portion of the CNG may be drawn from the CNG flow path and introduced into the CNG flow path to control the temperature of LNG flowing therethrough. Similarly, a portion of the LNG may be drawn from the LNG flow path and introduced into the CNG flow path to control the temperature of CNG flowing therethrough.

Method and apparatus for dispensing compressed natural gas and liquified natural gas to natural gas powered vehicles

DOEpatents

Bingham, Dennis A.; Clark, Michael L.; Wilding, Bruce M.; Palmer, Gary L.

2005-05-31

A fueling facility and method for dispensing liquid natural gas (LNG), compressed natural gas (CNG) or both on-demand. The fueling facility may include a source of LNG, such as cryogenic storage vessel. A low volume high pressure pump is coupled to the source of LNG to produce a stream of pressurized LNG. The stream of pressurized LNG may be selectively directed through an LNG flow path or to a CNG flow path which includes a vaporizer configured to produce CNG from the pressurized LNG. A portion of the CNG may be drawn from the CNG flow path and introduced into the CNG flow path to control the temperature of LNG flowing therethrough. Similarly, a portion of the LNG may be drawn from the LNG flow path and introduced into the CNG flow path to control the temperature of CNG flowing therethrough.

Fuel cell repeater unit including frame and separator plate

DOEpatents

Yamanis, Jean; Hawkes, Justin R; Chiapetta, Jr., Louis; Bird, Connie E; Sun, Ellen Y; Croteau, Paul F

2013-11-05

An example fuel cell repeater includes a separator plate and a frame establishing at least a portion of a flow path that is operative to communicate fuel to or from at least one fuel cell held by the frame relative to the separator plate. The flow path has a perimeter and any fuel within the perimeter flow across the at least one fuel cell in a first direction. The separator plate, the frame, or both establish at least one conduit positioned outside the flow path perimeter. The conduit is outside of the flow path perimeter and is configured to direct flow in a second, different direction. The conduit is fluidly coupled with the flow path.

Shrub invasion of desert grassland increases the strength of system feedbacks through enhanced flow-path connectivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Turnbull, L.; Wainwright, J.

2012-04-01

The invasion of desert grasslands by shrubs is a process that is associated with strong ecohydrological feedbacks. As shrubs invade into grasslands, runoff-generating areas become more connected, due to changes in vegetation cover and distribution. Previous field-based experimentation has demonstrated that runoff-generating areas over grassland can become highly connected, but only under extremely large rainfall events that tend to occur infrequently. In contrast, on shrub-dominated hillslopes, it has been observed that bare areas become connected even under relatively small rainfall events. In this study we carry out a scenario-based modelling analysis, using Model for Assessing Hillslope to Landscape Erosion, Runofff, And Nutrients (MAHLERAN), to investigate changes in hydrological connectivity at over a trajectory of shrub invasion, from a grassland end member to a shrubland end member under different rainfall and antecedent soil-moisture conditions. We hypothesize that (i) as shrubs invade into grasslands the connectivity of flow paths will increase, transporting water, sediment and nutrients over greater distances leading to an increased loss of essential resources from hillslopes and (ii) the extent to which flow paths become connected will be sensitive to antecedent soil-moisture conditions, and therefore that the timing as well as magnitude of runoff events will be important, but less so with increasing levels of shrub encroachment. We quantify hydrological connectivity by using a metric to calculate the maximum length of runoff-generating cells contributing flow to a point, to quantify the connectivity of runoff and entrained sediment. The metric is normalized relative to the maximum potential flow-path length to enable standardized comparisons between plots of different types. Results show that there are critical thresholds for large flow- and sediment-production events, which are a function of both rainfall type and antecedent moisture. The implication is that the pattern of rainfall events throughout a monsoon season in the US Southwest can be critical in reinforcing feedbacks that lead to desertification by producing enhanced connectivity of flow and erosion processes.

Radial inlet guide vanes for a combustor

DOEpatents

Zuo, Baifang; Simons, Derrick; York, William; Ziminsky, Willy S

2013-02-12

A combustor may include an interior flow path therethrough, a number of fuel nozzles in communication with the interior flow path, and an inlet guide vane system positioned about the interior flow path to create a swirled flow therein. The inlet guide vane system may include a number of windows positioned circumferentially around the fuel nozzles. The inlet guide vane system may also include a number of inlet guide vanes positioned circumferentially around the fuel nozzles and adjacent to the windows to create a swirled flow within the interior flow path.

Siphon flows in isolated magnetic flux tubes. III - The equilibrium path of the flux-tube arch

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thomas, John H.; Montesinos, Benjamin

1990-01-01

It is shown how to calculate the equilibrium path of a thin magnetic flux tube in a stratified, nonmagnetic atmosphere when the flux tube contains a steady siphon flow. The equilbrium path of a static thin flux tube in an infinite stratified atmosphere generally takes the form of a symmetric arch of finite width, with the flux tube becoming vertical at either end of the arch. A siphon flow within the flux tube increases the curvature of the arched equilibrium path in order that the net magnetic tension force can balance the inertial force of the flow, which tries to straighten the flux tube. Thus, a siphon flow reduces the width of the arched equilibrium path, with faster flows producing narrower arches. The effect of the siphon flow on the equilibrium path is generally greater for flux tubes of weaker magnetic field strength. Examples of the equilibrium are shown for both isothemal and adiabatic siphon flows in thin flux tubes in an isothermal external atmosphere.

Non-catalytic recuperative reformer

DOEpatents

Khinkis, Mark J.; Kozlov, Aleksandr P.; Kurek, Harry

2015-12-22

A non-catalytic recuperative reformer has a flue gas flow path for conducting hot flue gas from a thermal process and a reforming mixture flow path for conducting a reforming mixture. At least a portion of the reforming mixture flow path is embedded in the flue gas flow path to permit heat transfer from the hot flue gas to the reforming mixture. The reforming mixture flow path contains substantially no material commonly used as a catalyst for reforming hydrocarbon fuel (e.g., nickel oxide, platinum group elements or rhenium), but instead the reforming mixture is reformed into a higher calorific fuel via reactions due to the heat transfer and residence time. In a preferred embodiment, extended surfaces of metal material such as stainless steel or metal alloy that are high in nickel content are included within at least a portion of the reforming mixture flow path.

Gas Near a Wall: Shortened Mean Free Path, Reduced Viscosity, and the Manifestation of the Knudsen Layer in the Navier-Stokes Solution of a Shear Flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abramov, Rafail V.

2018-06-01

For the gas near a solid planar wall, we propose a scaling formula for the mean free path of a molecule as a function of the distance from the wall, under the assumption of a uniform distribution of the incident directions of the molecular free flight. We subsequently impose the same scaling onto the viscosity of the gas near the wall and compute the Navier-Stokes solution of the velocity of a shear flow parallel to the wall. Under the simplifying assumption of constant temperature of the gas, the velocity profile becomes an explicit nonlinear function of the distance from the wall and exhibits a Knudsen boundary layer near the wall. To verify the validity of the obtained formula, we perform the Direct Simulation Monte Carlo computations for the shear flow of argon and nitrogen at normal density and temperature. We find excellent agreement between our velocity approximation and the computed DSMC velocity profiles both within the Knudsen boundary layer and away from it.

Nonintrusive performance measurement of a gas turbine engine in real time

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

DeSilva, Upul P.; Claussen, Heiko

Performance of a gas turbine engine is monitored by computing a mass flow rate through the engine. Acoustic time-of-flight measurements are taken between acoustic transmitters and receivers in the flow path of the engine. The measurements are processed to determine average speeds of sound and gas flow velocities along those lines-of-sound. A volumetric flow rate in the flow path is computed using the gas flow velocities together with a representation of the flow path geometry. A gas density in the flow path is computed using the speeds of sound and a measured static pressure. The mass flow rate is calculatedmore » from the gas density and the volumetric flow rate.« less

Coupled long term simulation of reach scale water and heat fluxes across the river groundwater interface and hyporheic temperature dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Munz, Matthias; Oswald, Sascha E.; Schmidt, Christian

2017-04-01

Flow pattern and seasonal as well as diurnal temperature variations control ecological and biogeochemical conditions in hyporheic sediments. In particular, hyporheic temperatures have a great impact on many microbial processes. In this study we used 3-D coupled water flow and heat transport simulations applying the HydroGeoSphere code in combination with high frequent observations of hydraulic heads and temperatures for quantifying reach scale water and heat flux across the river groundwater interface and hyporheic temperature dynamics of a lowland gravel-bed river. The magnitude and dynamics of simulated temperatures matched the observed with an average mean absolute error of 0.7 °C and an average Nash Sutcliffe Efficiency of 0.87. Our results highlight that the average temperature in the hyporheic zone follows the temperature in the river which is characterized by distinct seasonal and daily temperature cycles. Individual hyporheic flow path temperature substantially varies around the average hyporheic temperature. Hyporheic flow path temperature was found to strongly depend on the flow path residence time and the temperature gradient between river and groundwater; that is, in winter the average flow path temperature of long flow paths is potentially higher compared to short flow paths. Based on the simulation results we derived a general empirical relationship, estimating the influence of hyporheic flow path residence time on hyporheic flow path temperature. Furthermore we used an empirical temperature relationship between effective temperature and respiration rate to estimate the influence of hyporheic flow path residence time and temperature on hyporheic oxygen consumption. This study highlights the relation between complex hyporheic temperature patterns, hyporheic residence times and their implications on temperature sensitive biogeochemical processes.

75 FR 66702 - Western Electric Coordinating Council; Qualified Transfer Path Unscheduled Flow Relief Regional...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-10-29

...-WECC-1 summarizes the nine steps and related actions to address unscheduled flows. 10. NERC states that...] Western Electric Coordinating Council; Qualified Transfer Path Unscheduled Flow Relief Regional... Path Unscheduled Flow Relief) submitted to the Commission for approval by the North American Electric...

Analysis of water flow paths: methodology and example calculations for a potential geological repository in Sweden.

PubMed

Werner, Kent; Bosson, Emma; Berglund, Sten

2006-12-01

Safety assessment related to the siting of a geological repository for spent nuclear fuel deep in the bedrock requires identification of potential flow paths and the associated travel times for radionuclides originating at repository depth. Using the Laxemar candidate site in Sweden as a case study, this paper describes modeling methodology, data integration, and the resulting water flow models, focusing on the Quaternary deposits and the upper 150 m of the bedrock. Example simulations identify flow paths to groundwater discharge areas and flow paths in the surface system. The majority of the simulated groundwater flow paths end up in the main surface waters and along the coastline, even though the particles used to trace the flow paths are introduced with a uniform spatial distribution at a relatively shallow depth. The calculated groundwater travel time, determining the time available for decay and retention of radionuclides, is on average longer to the coastal bays than to other biosphere objects at the site. Further, it is demonstrated how GIS-based modeling can be used to limit the number of surface flow paths that need to be characterized for safety assessment. Based on the results, the paper discusses an approach for coupling the present models to a model for groundwater flow in the deep bedrock.

Time-lapse 3D imaging of calcite precipitation in a microporous column

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Godinho, Jose R. A.; Withers, Philip J.

2018-02-01

Time-lapse X-ray computed tomography is used to image the evolution of calcite precipitation during flow through microporous quartz over the course of 400 h. The growth rate decreases by more than seven times, which is linked to the clogging of flow paths that restricts flow to some regions of the column. Fewer precipitates are observed as a function of column depth, which is found to be related to a differential nucleation density along the sample. A higher nucleation density closer to the inlet implies more crystal volume increase per unit of time without affecting the rate if normalized to the surface area of crystals. Our overall growth rates measured in porous media are orders of magnitude slower than growth rates derived from traditional precipitation experiments on free surfaces. Based on our time-lapse results we hypothesize a scenario where the evolving distribution of precipitates within a pore structure during precipitation progressively modifies the local transport through the pores. Within less permeable regions the saturation index may be lower than along the main flow paths. Therefore, the reactive crystal surfaces within those regions grow at a slower rate than that expected from the bulk fluid composition. Since the amount of reactive surface area within these less permeable regions increases over time, the overall growth rate decreases without a necessary significant change of the bulk fluid composition along more permeable flow paths. In conclusion, the overall growth rates in an evolving porous media expected from bulk fluid compositions alone can be overestimated due to the development of stagnant sub-regions where the reactive surface area is bath by a solution with lower saturation index. In this context we highlight the value of time-lapse 3D studies for understanding the dynamics of mineral precipitation in porous media.

Rankine cycle load limiting through use of a recuperator bypass

DOEpatents

Ernst, Timothy C.

2011-08-16

A system for converting heat from an engine into work includes a boiler coupled to a heat source for transferring heat to a working fluid, a turbine that transforms the heat into work, a condenser that transforms the working fluid into liquid, a recuperator with one flow path that routes working fluid from the turbine to the condenser, and another flow path that routes liquid working fluid from the condenser to the boiler, the recuperator being configured to transfer heat to the liquid working fluid, and a bypass valve in parallel with the second flow path. The bypass valve is movable between a closed position, permitting flow through the second flow path and an opened position, under high engine load conditions, bypassing the second flow path.

Method and apparatus for monitoring characteristics of a flow path having solid components flowing therethrough

DOEpatents

Hoskinson, Reed L [Rigby, ID; Svoboda, John M [Idaho Falls, ID; Bauer, William F [Idaho Falls, ID; Elias, Gracy [Idaho Falls, ID

2008-05-06

A method and apparatus is provided for monitoring a flow path having plurality of different solid components flowing therethrough. For example, in the harvesting of a plant material, many factors surrounding the threshing, separating or cleaning of the plant material and may lead to the inadvertent inclusion of the component being selectively harvested with residual plant materials being discharged or otherwise processed. In accordance with the present invention the detection of the selectively harvested component within residual materials may include the monitoring of a flow path of such residual materials by, for example, directing an excitation signal toward of flow path of material and then detecting a signal initiated by the presence of the selectively harvested component responsive to the excitation signal. The detected signal may be used to determine the presence or absence of a selected plant component within the flow path of residual materials.

Using colloidal silica as isolator, diverter and blocking agent for subsurface geological applications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bourcier, William L.; Roberts, Sarah K.; Roberts, Jeffery J.

A system for blocking fast flow paths in geological formations includes preparing a solution of colloidal silica having a nonviscous phase and a solid gel phase. The solution of colloidal silica is injected into the geological formations while the solution of colloidal silica is in the nonviscous phase. The solution of colloidal silica is directed into the fast flow paths and reaches the solid gel phase in the fast flow paths thereby blocking flow of fluid in the fast paths.

A Hybrid Analytical/Numerical Model for the Characterization of Preferential Flow Path with Non-Darcy Flow

PubMed Central

Wang, Sen; Feng, Qihong; Han, Xiaodong

2013-01-01

Due to the long-term fluid-solid interactions in waterflooding, the tremendous variation of oil reservoir formation parameters will lead to the widespread evolution of preferential flow paths, thereby preventing the further enhancement of recovery efficiency because of unstable fingering and premature breakthrough. To improve oil recovery, the characterization of preferential flow paths is essential and imperative. In efforts that have been previously documented, fluid flow characteristics within preferential paths are assumed to obey Darcy's equation. However, the occurrence of non-Darcy flow behavior has been increasingly suggested. To examine this conjecture, the Forchheimer number with the inertial coefficient estimated from different empirical formulas is applied as the criterion. Considering a 10% non-Darcy effect, the fluid flow in a preferential path may do experience non-Darcy behavior. With the objective of characterizing the preferential path with non-Darcy flow, a hybrid analytical/numerical model has been developed to investigate the pressure transient response, which dynamically couples a numerical model describing the non-Darcy effect of a preferential flow path with an analytical reservoir model. The characteristics of the pressure transient behavior and the sensitivities of corresponding parameters have also been discussed. In addition, an interpretation approach for pressure transient testing is also proposed, in which the Gravitational Search Algorithm is employed as a non-linear regression technology to match measured pressure with this hybrid model. Examples of applications from different oilfields are also presented to illustrate this method. This cost-effective approach provides more accurate characterization of a preferential flow path with non-Darcy flow, which will lay a solid foundation for the design and operation of conformance control treatments, as well as several other Enhanced Oil Recovery projects. PMID:24386224

Investigation of Preferential Flow in Low Impact Development Practice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, L.; Cao, R.; Wang, C.; Jiang, W.; Wang, J.; Xia, Z.

2016-12-01

The characteristics of preferential flow in soil affect Low Impact Development (LID) practices in two aspects. On the one hand, preferential flow may facilitate drainage of stormwater by causing non-uniform movement of water through a small portion of media (such as cracks and holes), and thus leading to much faster transport of water and solutes in one specific direction than others. On the other hand, within a certain ranges, preferential flow may weaken the subgrade capacity of pressure and/or shear stress resistance. Therefore, for the purpose of improving LID practices, there may exist an optimum scenario with a high allowable flowrate and least negative impact of resistance capacity for a soil layer. This project aims to assist the LID design by exploring the features of preferential flow in different soil compositions, studying how different flow paths affect the stability of subgrade, preliminarily analyzing the sensitivity of preferential flow impacting on drainage capacity and subgrade stability in the LID, and further optimizing LID practices. Accordingly, the concepts of Essential Direction Path, Unessential Direction Path and the Sensitivity Coefficient are defined and analyzed to simulate a hypothetical funneling scenario in LID practice. Both irrigation apparatus experiments and numerical models are utilized in this research to investigate the features of preferential flow, effective strength and overall shear strength. The main conclusions include: (1) Investigation of preferential flow characteristics in essential direction path and unessential direction path, respectively; (2) Optimum design of preferential flow in LID practice; (3) Transport capacity determination of preferential flow path in different soils; (4) Study of preferential flow impact on roadbed stability. KEY WORDS: Preferential Flow, Subgrade stability, LID, Sensitivity Coefficient, Funneling Preferential Flow Path

Path Flow Estimation Using Time Varying Coefficient State Space Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jou, Yow-Jen; Lan, Chien-Lun

2009-08-01

The dynamic path flow information is very crucial in the field of transportation operation and management, i.e., dynamic traffic assignment, scheduling plan, and signal timing. Time-dependent path information, which is important in many aspects, is nearly impossible to be obtained. Consequently, researchers have been seeking estimation methods for deriving valuable path flow information from less expensive traffic data, primarily link traffic counts of surveillance systems. This investigation considers a path flow estimation problem involving the time varying coefficient state space model, Gibbs sampler, and Kalman filter. Numerical examples with part of a real network of the Taipei Mass Rapid Transit with real O-D matrices is demonstrated to address the accuracy of proposed model. Results of this study show that this time-varying coefficient state space model is very effective in the estimation of path flow compared to time-invariant model.

Controlled pilot oxidizer for a gas turbine combustor

DOEpatents

Laster, Walter R.; Bandaru, Ramarao V.

2010-07-13

A combustor (22) for a gas turbine (10) includes a main burner oxidizer flow path (34) delivering a first portion (32) of an oxidizer flow (e.g., 16) to a main burner (28) of the combustor and a pilot oxidizer flow path (38) delivering a second portion (36) of the oxidizer flow to a pilot (30) of the combustor. The combustor also includes a flow controller (42) disposed in the pilot oxidizer flow path for controlling an amount of the second portion delivered to the pilot.

Two-stage preconcentrator for vapor/particle detection

DOEpatents

Linker, Kevin L.; Brusseau, Charles A.

2002-01-01

A device for concentrating particles from a high volume gas stream and delivering the particles for detection in a low volume gas stream includes first and second preconcentrators. The first preconcentrator has a first structure for retaining particles in a first gas flow path through which a first gas flows at a relatively high volume, valves for selectively stopping the first gas flow; and a second gas flow path through which gas flows at an intermediate flow volume for moving particles from the first structure. The second preconcentrator includes a second structure for retaining particles in the second gas flow path; a valve for selectively stopping the second gas flow; and a third gas flow path through which gas flows at a low volume for moving particles from the second structure to a detector. Each of the particle retaining structures is preferably a metal screen that may be resistively heated by application of an electric potential to release the particles.

Topographic Controls on Landslide and Debris-Flow Mobility

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McCoy, S. W.; Pettitt, S.

2014-12-01

Regardless of whether a granular flow initiates from failure and liquefaction of a shallow landslide or from overland flow that entrains sediment to form a debris flow, the resulting flow poses hazards to downslope communities. Understanding controls on granular-flow mobility is critical for accurate hazard prediction. The topographic form of granular-flow paths can vary significantly across different steeplands and is one of the few flow-path properties that can be readily altered by engineered control structures such as closed-type check dams. We use grain-scale numerical modeling (discrete element method simulations) of free-surface, gravity-driven granular flows to investigate how different topographic profiles with the same mean slope and total relief can produce notable differences in flow mobility due to strong nonlinearities inherent to granular-flow dynamics. We describe how varying the profile shape from planar, to convex up, to concave up, as well how varying the number, size, and location of check dams along a flow path, changes flow velocity, thickness, discharge, energy dissipation, impact force and runout distance. Our preliminary results highlight an important path dependence for this nonlinear system, show that caution should be used when predicting flow dynamics from path-averaged properties, and provide some mechanics-based guidance for engineering control structures.

Hydrogeologic controls imposed by mechanical stratigraphy in layered rocks of the Châteauguay River Basin, a U.S.-Canada transborder aquifer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morin, Roger; Godin, RéJean; Nastev, Miroslav; Rouleau, Alain

2007-04-01

The Châteauguay River Basin delineates a transborder watershed with roughly half of its surface area located in northern New York State and half in southern Québec Province, Canada. As part of a multidisciplinary study designed to characterize the hydrogeologic properties of this basin, geophysical logs were obtained in 12 wells strategically located to penetrate the four major sedimentary rock formations that constitute the regional aquifers. The layered rocks were classified according to their elastic properties into three primary units: soft sandstone, hard sandstone, and dolostone. Downhole measurements were analyzed to identify fracture patterns associated with each unit and to evaluate their role in controlling groundwater flow. Fracture networks are composed of orthogonal sets of laterally extensive, subhorizontal bedding plane partings and bed-delimited, subvertical joints with spacings that are consistent with rock mechanics principles and stress models. The vertical distribution of transmissive zones is confined to a few select bedding plane fractures, with soft sandstone having the fewest (one per 70-m depth) and hard sandstone the most (five per 70-m depth). Bed-normal permeability is examined using a probabilistic model that considers the lengths of flow paths winding along joints and bedding plane fractures. Soft sandstone has the smallest bed-normal permeability primarily because of its wide, geomechanically undersaturated joint spacing. Results indicate that the three formations have similar values of bulk transmissivity, within roughly an order of magnitude, but that each rock unit has its own unique system of groundwater flow paths that constitute that transmissivity.

Hydrogeologic controls imposed by mechanical stratigraphy in layered rocks of the Chateauguay River Basin, a U.S.-Canada transborder aquifer

USGS Publications Warehouse

Morin, Roger H.; Godin, Rejean; Nastev, Miroslav; Rouleau, Alain

2007-01-01

[1] The Châteauguay River Basin delineates a transborder watershed with roughly half of its surface area located in northern New York State and half in southern Québec Province, Canada. As part of a multidisciplinary study designed to characterize the hydrogeologic properties of this basin, geophysical logs were obtained in 12 wells strategically located to penetrate the four major sedimentary rock formations that constitute the regional aquifers. The layered rocks were classified according to their elastic properties into three primary units: soft sandstone, hard sandstone, and dolostone. Downhole measurements were analyzed to identify fracture patterns associated with each unit and to evaluate their role in controlling groundwater flow. Fracture networks are composed of orthogonal sets of laterally extensive, subhorizontal bedding plane partings and bed-delimited, subvertical joints with spacings that are consistent with rock mechanics principles and stress models. The vertical distribution of transmissive zones is confined to a few select bedding plane fractures, with soft sandstone having the fewest (one per 70-m depth) and hard sandstone the most (five per 70-m depth). Bed-normal permeability is examined using a probabilistic model that considers the lengths of flow paths winding along joints and bedding plane fractures. Soft sandstone has the smallest bed-normal permeability primarily because of its wide, geomechanically undersaturated joint spacing. Results indicate that the three formations have similar values of bulk transmissivity, within roughly an order of magnitude, but that each rock unit has its own unique system of groundwater flow paths that constitute that transmissivity.

Blood Pump Having a Magnetically Suspended Rotor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Antaki, James F. (Inventor); Paden, Bradley (Inventor); Burgreen, Gregory (Inventor); Groom, Nelson J. (Inventor)

2002-01-01

A blood pump preferably has a magnetically suspended rotor that rotates within a housing. The rotor may rotate about a stator disposed within the housing. Radial magnetic bearings may be defined within the stator and the rotor in order to suspend the rotor. The radial magnetic bearings may be passive magnetic bearings that include permanent magnets disposed within the stator and the rotor or active magnetic bearings. The pump may further include an axial magnetic bearing that may be either a passive or an active magnetic bearing. A motor that drives the rotor may be disposed within the housing in order to more easily dissipate heat generated by the motor. A primary flow path is defined between the rotor and the stator, and a secondary flow path is defined between the stator and the rotor. Preferably, a substantial majority of blood passes through the primary flow path. The secondary flow path is large enough so that it provides adequate flushing of the secondary flow path while being small enough to permit efficient operation of the radial magnet bearings across the secondary flow path.

Blood Pump Having a Magnetically Suspended Rotor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Antaki, James F. (Inventor); Paden, Bradley (Inventor); Burgreen, Gregory (Inventor); Groom, Nelson J. (Inventor)

2001-01-01

A blood pump preferably has a magnetically suspended rotor that rotates within a housing. The rotor may rotate about a stator disposed within the housing. Radial magnetic bearings may be defined within the stator and the rotor in order to suspend the rotor. The radial magnetic bearings may be passive magnetic bearings that include permanent magnets disposed within the stator and the rotor or active magnetic bearings. The pump may further include an axial magnetic bearing that may be either a passive or an active magnetic bearing. A motor that drives the rotor may be disposed within the housing in order to more easily dissipate heat generated by the motor. A primary flow path is defined between the rotor and the stator, and a secondary flow path is defined between the stator and the rotor. Preferably, a substantial majority of blood passes through the primary flow path. The secondary flow path is large enough so that it provides adequate flushing of the secondary flow path while being small enough to permit efficient operation of the radial magnet bearings across the secondary flow path.

Optimum Pathways of Fish Spawning Migrations in Rivers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McElroy, B. J.; Jacobson, R. B.; Delonay, A.

2010-12-01

Many fish species migrate large distances upstream in rivers to spawn. These migrations require energetic expenditures that are inversely related to fecundity of spawners. Here we present the theory necessary to quantify relative energetic requirements of upstream migration pathways and then test the hypothesis that least-cost paths are taken by the federally endangered pallid sturgeon (Scaphyrhyncus Albus), a benthic rheophile, in the lower Missouri River, USA. Total work done by a fish through a migratory path is proportional to the size of the fish, the total drag on the fish, and the distance traversed. Normalizing by the work required to remain stationary at the beginning of a path, relative work expenditure at each point of the path is found to be the cube of the ratio of the velocity along the path to the velocity at the start of the path. This is the velocity of the fish relative to the river flow. A least-cost migratory pathway can be determined from the velocity field in a reach as the path that minimizes a fish's relative work expenditure. We combine location data from pallid sturgeon implanted with telemetric tags and pressure-sensitive data storage tags with depth and velocity data collected with an acoustic Doppler profiler. During spring 2010 individual sturgeon were closely followed as they migrated up the Missouri River to spawn. These show that, within a small margin, pallid sturgeon in the lower Missouri River select least-cost paths as they swim upstream (typical velocities near 1.0 - 1.2 m/s). Within the range of collected data, it is also seen that many alternative paths not selected for migration are two orders of magnitude more energetically expensive (typical velocities near 2.0 - 2.5 m/s). In general these sturgeon migrated along the inner banks of bends avoiding high velocities in the thalweg, crossing the channel where the thalweg crosses in the opposite direction in order to proceed up the inner bank of subsequent bends. Overall, these results suggest a management strategy for increasing fecundity and reproductive success could be to manage flows to lower levels during prespawn migrations thereby decreasing expenditure necessary to reach spawning sites.

A diffusion tensor imaging tractography algorithm based on Navier-Stokes fluid mechanics.

PubMed

Hageman, Nathan S; Toga, Arthur W; Narr, Katherine L; Shattuck, David W

2009-03-01

We introduce a fluid mechanics based tractography method for estimating the most likely connection paths between points in diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) volumes. We customize the Navier-Stokes equations to include information from the diffusion tensor and simulate an artificial fluid flow through the DTI image volume. We then estimate the most likely connection paths between points in the DTI volume using a metric derived from the fluid velocity vector field. We validate our algorithm using digital DTI phantoms based on a helical shape. Our method segmented the structure of the phantom with less distortion than was produced using implementations of heat-based partial differential equation (PDE) and streamline based methods. In addition, our method was able to successfully segment divergent and crossing fiber geometries, closely following the ideal path through a digital helical phantom in the presence of multiple crossing tracts. To assess the performance of our algorithm on anatomical data, we applied our method to DTI volumes from normal human subjects. Our method produced paths that were consistent with both known anatomy and directionally encoded color images of the DTI dataset.

A Diffusion Tensor Imaging Tractography Algorithm Based on Navier-Stokes Fluid Mechanics

PubMed Central

Hageman, Nathan S.; Toga, Arthur W.; Narr, Katherine; Shattuck, David W.

2009-01-01

We introduce a fluid mechanics based tractography method for estimating the most likely connection paths between points in diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) volumes. We customize the Navier-Stokes equations to include information from the diffusion tensor and simulate an artificial fluid flow through the DTI image volume. We then estimate the most likely connection paths between points in the DTI volume using a metric derived from the fluid velocity vector field. We validate our algorithm using digital DTI phantoms based on a helical shape. Our method segmented the structure of the phantom with less distortion than was produced using implementations of heat-based partial differential equation (PDE) and streamline based methods. In addition, our method was able to successfully segment divergent and crossing fiber geometries, closely following the ideal path through a digital helical phantom in the presence of multiple crossing tracts. To assess the performance of our algorithm on anatomical data, we applied our method to DTI volumes from normal human subjects. Our method produced paths that were consistent with both known anatomy and directionally encoded color (DEC) images of the DTI dataset. PMID:19244007

Dyke-path formation in relation to the eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull 2010 and Bardarbunga-Holuhraun 2014

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gudmundsson, Agust

2015-04-01

Dykes are extension fractures and form when the magmatic overpressure is high enough to rupture (break) the host rock. Their formation is entirely analogous to that of many joints and human-made hydraulic fractures, such as are used to increase permeability in reservoirs. When generating their paths, dykes use existing weaknesses (e.g., cooling joints) in the host rock. The maximum depth of large tension fractures below the surface of a rift zone, however, is mostly less than a few hundred metres. If the fractures extend to greater depths, they must change into closed normal faults which are generally not used as magma paths. There are thus no large tension fractures or wide-open faults at great depths ready to be filled with magma to form a dyke. While magma flow in dykes, as in other fluid-driven fractures, is at any point in various directions dyke segmentation may indicate the overall large-scale flow direction. Thus, dykes composed of large-spaced disconnected segments in lateral sections are primarily formed in vertical magma flow at segmentation depth whereas those composed of large-spaced disconnected segments in vertical sections are primarily formed in lateral magma flow. The far-field displacement and stress fields of segmented dykes are similar to those generated by single, continuous dykes of similar dimensions, particularly when the distances between the nearby tips of the segments become small in comparison with segment lengths. Most dykes become arrested and never supply magma to eruptions. Feeder-dykes normally reach the surface only along parts of their lengths (strike-dimensions). The volumetric flow or effusion rate of magma through a feeder-dyke or volcanic fissure depends on the aperture (opening) of the dyke or fissure in the 3rd power. All these theoretical and observational results are here applied to the dyke emplacements associated with the eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull 2010 and Bardarbunga-Holuhraun 2014. The results make it possible to (1) explain, broadly, the propagation-paths of the associated dykes, (2) the arrest and deflection (into sills) of many dyke segments, (3) the dimensions of the dykes, in particular (4) the dyke thicknesses, (5) the volumetric flow or effusion rates of the volcanic fissures, and (6) the location of the magma sources of the dykes. Galindo, I., Gudmundsson, A., 2012. Basaltic feeder dykes in rift zones: geometry, emplacement, and effusion rates. Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 12, 3683-3700. Becerril, L., Galindo, I., Gudmundsson, A., Morales, J.M., 2013. Depth of origin of magma in eruptions. Sci. Reports (Nature Publishing), 3, 2762, doi: 10.1038/srep02762. Gudmundsson, A., Lecoeur, N., Mohajeri, N., Thordarson, T., 2014. Dike emplacement at Bardarbunga, Iceland, induces unusual stress changes, caldera deformation, and earthquakes. Bull. Volcanol., 76, 869, doi: 10.1007/s00445-014-0869-8.

Flow-Field Measurement of Device-Induced Embedded Streamwise Vortex on a Flat Plate

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yao, Chung-Sheng; Lin, John C.; Allan, Brian G.

2002-01-01

Detailed flow-field measurements were performed downstream of a single vortex generator (VG) using an advanced Stereo Digital Particle Image Velocimetry system. Thc passive flow-control devices examined consisted of a low-profile VG with a device height, h, approximately equal to 20 percent of the boundary-layer thickness, sigma, and a conventional VG with h is approximately sigma. Flow-field data were taken at twelve cross-flow planes downstream of the VG to document and quantify the evolution of embedded streamwise vortex. The effects of device angle of attack on vortex development downstream were compared between the low-profile VG and the conventional VG. Key parameters including vorticity, circulation, trajectory, and half-life radius - describing concentration, strength, path, and size, respectively--of the device-induced streamwise vortex were extracted from the flow-field data. The magnitude of maximum vorticity increases as angle of attack increases for the low-profile VG, but the trend is reversed for the conventional VG, probably due to flow stalling around the larger device at higher angles of attack. Peak vorticity and circulation for the low-profile VG decays exponentially and inversely proportional to the distance downstream from the device. The device-height normalized vortex trajectories for the low-profile VG, especially in the lateral direction, follow the general trends of the conventional VG. The experimental database was used to validate the predictive capability of computational fluid dynamics (CFD). CFD accurately predicts the vortex circulation and path; however, improvements are needed for predicting the vorticity strength and vortex size.

Dissolution-induced preferential flow in a limestone fracture.

PubMed

Liu, Jishan; Polak, Amir; Elsworth, Derek; Grader, Avrami

2005-06-01

Flow in a rock fracture is surprisingly sensitive to the evolution of flow paths that develop as a result of dissolution. Net dissolution may either increase or decrease permeability uniformly within the fracture, or may form a preferential flow path through which most of the injected fluid flows, depending on the prevailing ambient mechanical and chemical conditions. A flow-through test was completed on an artificial fracture in limestone at room temperature under ambient confining stress of 3.5 MPa. The sample was sequentially circulated by water of two different compositions through the 1500 h duration of the experiment; the first 935 h by tap groundwater, followed by 555 h of distilled water. Measurements of differential pressures between the inlet and the outlet, fluid and dissolved mass fluxes, and concurrent X-ray CT imaging and sectioning were used to characterize the evolution of flow paths within the limestone fracture. During the initial circulation of groundwater, the differential pressure increased almost threefold, and was interpreted as a net reduction in permeability as the contacting asperities across the fracture are removed, and the fracture closes. With the circulation of distilled water, permeability initially reduces threefold, and ultimately increases by two orders of magnitude. This spontaneous switch from net decrease in permeability, to net increase occurred with no change in flow rate or applied effective stress, and is attributed to the evolving localization of flow path as evidenced by CT images. Based on the X-ray CT characterizations, a flow path-dependent flow model was developed to simulate the evolution of flow paths within the fracture and its influence on the overall flow behaviors of the injected fluid in the fracture.

Experimental and numerical study of the relation between flow paths and fate of a pesticide in a riparian wetland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kidmose, Jacob; Dahl, Mette; Engesgaard, Peter; Nilsson, Bertel; Christensen, Britt S. B.; Andersen, Stine; Hoffmann, Carl Christian

2010-05-01

SummaryA field-scale pulse-injection experiment with the herbicide Isoproturon was conducted in a Danish riparian wetland. A non-reactive tracer (bromide) experiment was also carried out to characterize the physical transport system. Groundwater flow and reactive transport modelling was used to simulate flow paths, residence times, as well as bromide and Isoproturon distributions. The wetland can be characterized by two distinct riparian flow paths; one flow path discharges 2/3 of the incoming groundwater directly to the free water surface of the wetland near the foot of the hillslope with an average residence time of 205 days, and another flow path diffusively discharging the remaining 1/3 of the incoming groundwater to the stream with an average residence time of 425 days. The reactive transport simulations reveal that Isoproturon is retarded by a factor of 2-4, which is explained by the high organic content in the peat layer of the wetland. Isoproturon was found to be aerobically degraded with a half-life in the order of 12-80 days. Based on the quantification of flow paths, residence times and half-lives it is estimated that about 2/3 of the injected Isoproturon is removed in the wetland. Thus, close to 1/3 may find its way to the stream through overland flow. It is also possible that high concentrations of metabolites will reach the stream.

Particle acceleration in step function shear flows - A microscopic analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jokipii, J. R.; Morfill, G. E.

1990-01-01

The transport of energetic particles in a moving, scattering fluid, which has a large shear in its velocity over a distance small compared with the scattering mean free path is discussed. The analysis is complementary to an earlier paper by Earl, Jokipii, and Morfill (1988), which considered effects of more-gradual shear in the diffusion approximation. The case in which the scattering fluid undergoes a step function change in velocity, in the direction normal to the flow is considered. An analytical, approximate calculation and a Monte Carlo analysis of particle motion are presented. It is found that particles gain energy at a rate proportional to the square of the magnitude of the velocity change.

Electrophoretic sample insertion. [device for uniformly distributing samples in flow path

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mccreight, L. R. (Inventor)

1974-01-01

Two conductive screens located in the flow path of an electrophoresis sample separation apparatus are charged electrically. The sample is introduced between the screens, and the charge is sufficient to disperse and hold the samples across the screens. When the charge is terminated, the samples are uniformly distributed in the flow path. Additionally, a first separation by charged properties has been accomplished.

Tissue resistivities determine the current flow in the cochlea.

PubMed

Micco, Alan Gerard; Richter, Claus-Peter

2006-10-01

In individuals with severe to profound hearing loss, cochlear implants bypass normal inner ear function by applying electrical current directly into the cochlea, thereby stimulating cochlear nerve fibers. Stimulating discrete populations of spiral ganglion cells in cochlear implant users' ears is similar to the encoding of small acoustic frequency bands in a normal-hearing person's ear. Thus, spiral ganglion cells stimulated by an electrode convey the information contained by a small acoustic frequency band. Problems that refer to the current spread and subsequent nonselective stimulation of spiral ganglion cells in the cochlea are reviewed. Cochlear anatomy and tissue properties determine the current path in the cochlea. Current spreads largely via scala tympani and across turns. While most of the current leaves the cochlea via the modiolus, the facial canal and the round window constitute additional natural escape paths for the current from the cochlea. Moreover, degenerative processes change tissue resistivities and thus may affect current spread in the cochlea. Electrode design and coding strategies may result in more spatial stimulation of spiral ganglion cells, resulting in a better performance of the electrode-tissue interface.

Fuel injection and mixing systems and methods of using the same

DOEpatents

Mao, Chien-Pei; Short, John

2010-08-03

A fuel injection and mixing system is provided. The system includes an injector body having a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet, and defines a fuel flow path between the inlet and outlet. The fuel flow path may include a generally helical flow passage having an inlet end portion disposed proximate the fuel inlet of the injector body. The flow path also may include an expansion chamber downstream from and in fluid communication with the helical flow passage, as well as a fuel delivery device in fluid communication with the expansion chamber for delivering fuel. Heating means is also provided in thermal communication with the injector body. The heating means may be adapted and configured for maintaining the injector body at a predetermined temperature to heat fuel traversing the flow path. A method of preheating and delivering fuel is also provided.

Systems and methods for analyzing liquids under vacuum

DOEpatents

Yu, Xiao-Ying; Yang, Li; Cowin, James P.; Iedema, Martin J.; Zhu, Zihua

2013-10-15

Systems and methods for supporting a liquid against a vacuum pressure in a chamber can enable analysis of the liquid surface using vacuum-based chemical analysis instruments. No electrical or fluid connections are required to pass through the chamber walls. The systems can include a reservoir, a pump, and a liquid flow path. The reservoir contains a liquid-phase sample. The pump drives flow of the sample from the reservoir, through the liquid flow path, and back to the reservoir. The flow of the sample is not substantially driven by a differential between pressures inside and outside of the liquid flow path. An aperture in the liquid flow path exposes a stable portion of the liquid-phase sample to the vacuum pressure within the chamber. The radius, or size, of the aperture is less than or equal to a critical value required to support a meniscus of the liquid-phase sample by surface tension.

Modelling information flow along the human connectome using maximum flow.

PubMed

Lyoo, Youngwook; Kim, Jieun E; Yoon, Sujung

2018-01-01

The human connectome is a complex network that transmits information between interlinked brain regions. Using graph theory, previously well-known network measures of integration between brain regions have been constructed under the key assumption that information flows strictly along the shortest paths possible between two nodes. However, it is now apparent that information does flow through non-shortest paths in many real-world networks such as cellular networks, social networks, and the internet. In the current hypothesis, we present a novel framework using the maximum flow to quantify information flow along all possible paths within the brain, so as to implement an analogy to network traffic. We hypothesize that the connection strengths of brain networks represent a limit on the amount of information that can flow through the connections per unit of time. This allows us to compute the maximum amount of information flow between two brain regions along all possible paths. Using this novel framework of maximum flow, previous network topological measures are expanded to account for information flow through non-shortest paths. The most important advantage of the current approach using maximum flow is that it can integrate the weighted connectivity data in a way that better reflects the real information flow of the brain network. The current framework and its concept regarding maximum flow provides insight on how network structure shapes information flow in contrast to graph theory, and suggests future applications such as investigating structural and functional connectomes at a neuronal level. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Hydrocarbon fluid, ejector refrigeration system

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kowalski, G.J.; Foster, A.R.

1993-08-31

A refrigeration system is described comprising: a vapor ejector cycle including a working fluid having a property such that entropy of the working fluid when in a saturated vapor state decreases as pressure decreases, the vapor ejector cycle comprising: a condenser located on a common fluid flow path; a diverter located downstream from the condenser for diverting the working fluid into a primary fluid flow path and a secondary fluid flow path parallel to the primary fluid flow path; an evaporator located on the secondary fluid flow path; an expansion device located on the secondary fluid flow path upstream ofmore » the evaporator; a boiler located on the primary fluid flow path parallel to the evaporator for boiling the working fluid, the boiler comprising an axially extending core region having a substantially constant cross sectional area and a porous capillary region surrounding the core region, the core region extending a length sufficient to produce a near sonic velocity saturated vapor; and an ejector having an outlet in fluid communication with the inlet of the condenser and an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the evaporator and the outlet of the boiler and in which the flows of the working fluid from the evaporator and the boiler are mixed and the pressure of the working fluid is increased to at least the pressure of the condenser, the ejector inlet, located downstream from the axially extending core region, including a primary nozzle located sufficiently close to the outlet of the boiler to minimize a pressure drop between the boiler and the primary nozzle, the primary nozzle of the ejector including a converging section having an included angle and length preselected to receive the working fluid from the boiler as a near sonic velocity saturated vapor.« less

Spatial connectivity in a highly heterogeneous aquifer: From cores to preferential flow paths

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bianchi, M.; Zheng, C.; Wilson, C.; Tick, G.R.; Liu, Gaisheng; Gorelick, S.M.

2011-01-01

This study investigates connectivity in a small portion of the extremely heterogeneous aquifer at the Macrodispersion Experiment (MADE) site in Columbus, Mississippi. A total of 19 fully penetrating soil cores were collected from a rectangular grid of 4 m by 4 m. Detailed grain size analysis was performed on 5 cm segments of each core, yielding 1740 hydraulic conductivity (K) estimates. Three different geostatistical simulation methods were used to generate 3-D conditional realizations of the K field for the sampled block. Particle tracking calculations showed that the fastest particles, as represented by the first 5% to arrive, converge along preferential flow paths and exit the model domain within preferred areas. These 5% fastest flow paths accounted for about 40% of the flow. The distribution of preferential flow paths and particle exit locations is clearly influenced by the occurrence of clusters formed by interconnected cells with K equal to or greater than the 0.9 decile of the data distribution (10% of the volume). The fraction of particle paths within the high-K clusters ranges from 43% to 69%. In variogram-based K fields, some of the fastest paths are through media with lower K values, suggesting that transport connectivity may not require fully connected zones of relatively homogenous K. The high degree of flow and transport connectivity was confirmed by the values of two groups of connectivity indicators. In particular, the ratio between effective and geometric mean K (on average, about 2) and the ratio between the average arrival time and the arrival time of the fastest particles (on average, about 9) are consistent with flow and advective transport behavior characterized by channeling along preferential flow paths. ?? 2011 by the American Geophysical Union.

Theoretical analysis for scaling law of thermal blooming based on optical phase deference

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Yunqiang; Huang, Zhilong; Ren, Zebin; Chen, Zhiqiang; Guo, Longde; Xi, Fengjie

2016-10-01

In order to explore the laser propagation influence of thermal blooming effect of pipe flow and to analysis the influencing factors, scaling law theoretical analysis of the thermal blooming effects in pipe flow are carry out in detail based on the optical path difference caused by thermal blooming effects in pipe flow. Firstly, by solving the energy coupling equation of laser beam propagation, the temperature of the flow is obtained, and then the optical path difference caused by the thermal blooming is deduced. Through the analysis of the influence of pipe size, flow field and laser parameters on the optical path difference, energy scaling parameters Ne=nTαLPR2/(ρɛCpπR02) and geometric scaling parameters Nc=νR2/(ɛL) of thermal blooming for the pipe flow are derived. Secondly, for the direct solution method, the energy coupled equations have analytic solutions only for the straight tube with Gauss beam. Considering the limitation of directly solving the coupled equations, the dimensionless analysis method is adopted, the analysis is also based on the change of optical path difference, same scaling parameters for the pipe flow thermal blooming are derived, which makes energy scaling parameters Ne and geometric scaling parameters Nc have good universality. The research results indicate that when the laser power and the laser beam diameter are changed, thermal blooming effects of the pipeline axial flow caused by optical path difference will not change, as long as you keep energy scaling parameters constant. When diameter or length of the pipe changes, just keep the geometric scaling parameters constant, the pipeline axial flow gas thermal blooming effects caused by optical path difference distribution will not change. That is to say, when the pipe size and laser parameters change, if keeping two scaling parameters with constant, the pipeline axial flow thermal blooming effects caused by the optical path difference will not change. Therefore, the energy scaling parameters and the geometric scaling parameters can really describe the gas thermal blooming effect in the axial pipe flow. These conclusions can give a good reference for the construction of the thermal blooming test system of laser system. Contrasted with the thermal blooming scaling parameters of the Bradley-Hermann distortion number ND and Fresnel number NF, which were derived based on the change of far field beam intensity distortion, the scaling parameters of pipe flow thermal blooming deduced from the optical path deference variation are very suitable for the optical system with short laser propagation distance, large Fresnel number and obviously changed optical path deference.

Axial static mixer

DOEpatents

Sandrock, H.E.

1982-05-06

Static axial mixing apparatus includes a plurality of channels, forming flow paths of different dimensions. The axial mixer includes a flow adjusting device for adjustable selective control of flow resistance of various flow paths in order to provide substantially identical flows through the various channels, thereby reducing nonuniform coating of interior surfaces of the channels. The flow adjusting device may include diaphragm valves, and may further include a pressure regulating system therefor.

Shear-induced partial translational ordering of a colloidal solid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ackerson, B. J.; Clark, N. A.

1984-08-01

Highly charged submicrometer plastic spheres suspended in water at low ionic strength will order spontaneously into bcc crystals or polycrystals. A simple linear shear orients and disorders these crystals by forcing (110) planes to stack normal to the shear gradient and to slide relative to each other with a <111> direction parallel to the solvent flow. In this paper we analyze in detail the disordering and flow processes occurring beyond the intrinsic elastic limit of the bcc crystal. We are led to a model in which the flow of a colloidal crystal is interpreted as a fundamentally different process from that found in atomic crystals. In the colloidal crystal the coupling of particle motion to the background fluid forces a homogeneous flow, where every layer is in motion relative to its neighboring layers. In contrast, the plastic flow in an atomic solid is defect mediated flow. At the lowest applied stress, the local bcc order in the colloidal crystal exhibits shear strains both parallel and perpendicular to the direction of the applied stress. The magnitude of these deformations is estimated using the configurational energy for bcc and distorted bcc crystals, assuming a screened Coulomb pair interaction between colloidal particles. As the applied stress is increased, the intrinsic elastic limit of the crystal is exceeded and the crystal begins to flow with adjacent layers executing an oscillatory path governed by the balance of viscous and screened Coulomb forces. The path takes the structure from the bcc1 and bcc2 twins observed at zero shear to a distorted two-dimensional hcp structure at moderate shear rates, with a loss of interlayer registration as the shear is increased. This theoretical model is consistent with other experimental observations, as well.

System and method for multi-stage bypass, low operating temperature suppressor for automatic weapons

DOEpatents

Moss, William C.; Anderson, Andrew T.

2015-06-09

The present disclosure relates to a suppressor for use with a weapon. The suppressor may be formed to have a body portion having a bore extending concentric with a bore axis of the weapon barrel. An opening in the bore extends at least substantially circumferentially around the bore. A flow path communicates with the opening and defines a channel for redirecting gasses flowing in the bore out from the bore, through the opening, into a rearward direction in the flow path. The flow path raises a pressure at the opening to generate a Mach disk within the bore at a location approximately coincident with the opening. The Mach disk forms as a virtual baffle to divert at least a portion of the gasses into the opening and into the flow path.

Time-of-flight dependency on transducer separation distance in a reflective-path guided-wave ultrasonic flow meter at zero flow conditions.

PubMed

Aanes, Magne; Kippersund, Remi Andre; Lohne, Kjetil Daae; Frøysa, Kjell-Eivind; Lunde, Per

2017-08-01

Transit-time flow meters based on guided ultrasonic wave propagation in the pipe spool have several advantages compared to traditional inline ultrasonic flow metering. The extended interrogation field, obtained by continuous leakage from guided waves traveling in the pipe wall, increases robustness toward entrained particles or gas in the flow. In reflective-path guided-wave ultrasonic flow meters (GW-UFMs), the flow equations are derived from signals propagating solely in the pipe wall and from signals passing twice through the fluid. In addition to the time-of-flight (TOF) through the fluid, the fluid path experiences an additional time delay upon reflection at the opposite pipe wall due to specular and non-specular reflections. The present work investigates the influence of these reflections on the TOF in a reflective-path GW-UFM as a function of transducer separation distance at zero flow conditions. Two models are used to describe the signal propagation through the system: (i) a transient full-wave finite element model, and (ii) a combined plane-wave and ray-tracing model. The study shows that a range-dependent time delay is associated with the reflection of the fluid path, introducing transmitter-receiver distance dependence. Based on these results, the applicability of the flow equations derived using model (ii) is discussed.

14 CFR 23.61 - Takeoff flight path.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... 14 Aeronautics and Space 1 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Takeoff flight path. 23.61 Section 23.61... STANDARDS: NORMAL, UTILITY, ACROBATIC, AND COMMUTER CATEGORY AIRPLANES Flight Performance § 23.61 Takeoff flight path. For normal, utility, and acrobatic category multiengine jets of more than 6,000 pounds...

Radiant energy receiver having improved coolant flow control means

DOEpatents

Hinterberger, H.

1980-10-29

An improved coolant flow control for use in radiant energy receivers of the type having parallel flow paths is disclosed. A coolant performs as a temperature dependent valve means, increasing flow in the warmer flow paths of the receiver, and impeding flow in the cooler paths of the receiver. The coolant has a negative temperature coefficient of viscosity which is high enough such that only an insignificant flow through the receiver is experienced at the minimum operating temperature of the receiver, and such that a maximum flow is experienced at the maximum operating temperature of the receiver. The valving is accomplished by changes in viscosity of the coolant in response to the coolant being heated and cooled. No remotely operated valves, comparators or the like are needed.

Fuel cell assembly fluid flow plate having conductive fibers and rigidizing material therein

DOEpatents

Walsh, Michael M.

2000-01-01

A fluid flow plate is preferably formed with three initial sections, for instance, two layers of conductive (e.g., metal) fibers and a barrier material (e.g., metal foil) which is interposed between the two layers. For example, sintering of these three sections can provide electrical path(s) between outer faces of the two layers. Then, the sintered sections can be, for instance, placed in a mold for forming of flow channel(s) into one or more of the outer faces. Next, rigidizing material (e.g., resin) can be injected into the mold, for example, to fill and/or seal space(s) about a conductive matrix of the electrical path(s). Preferably, abrading of surface(s) of the outer face(s) serves to expose electrical contact(s) to the electrical path(s).

Separation of heat and charge currents for boosted thermoelectric conversion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mazza, Francesco; Valentini, Stefano; Bosisio, Riccardo; Benenti, Giuliano; Giovannetti, Vittorio; Fazio, Rosario; Taddei, Fabio

2015-06-01

In a multiterminal device the (electronic) heat and charge currents can follow different paths. In this paper we introduce and analyze a class of multiterminal devices where this property is pushed to its extreme limits, with charge and heat currents flowing in different reservoirs. After introducing the main characteristics of this heat-charge current separation regime, we show how to realize it in a multiterminal device with normal and superconducting leads. We demonstrate that this regime allows us to control independently heat and charge flows and to greatly enhance thermoelectric performances at low temperatures. We analyze in detail a three-terminal setup involving a superconducting lead, a normal lead, and a voltage probe. For a generic scattering region we show that in the regime of heat-charge current separation both the power factor and the figure of merit Z T are highly increased with respect to a standard two-terminal system. These results are confirmed for the specific case of a system consisting of three coupled quantum dots.

Electrical resistivity measurements in the mammalian cochlea after neural degeneration.

PubMed

Micco, Alan G; Richter, Claus-Peter

2006-08-01

In the present series of experiments, the effect of neural degeneration on the cochlear structure electrical resistivities was evaluated to test if it alters the current flow in the cochlea and if increased current levels are needed to stimulate the impaired cochlea. In cochlear implants, frequency information is encoded in part by stimulating discrete populations of spiral ganglion cells along the cochlea. However, electrical properties of the cochlear structures result in shunting of the current away from the auditory neurons. This consumes energy, makes cochlear implants less efficient, and drastically reduces battery life. Models of the electrically stimulated cochlea serve to make predictions on current paths using modified and improved cochlear implant electrodes. However, one of the model's shortcomings is that most of the values for tissue impedances are not direct measurements. They are derived from bulk impedance measurements, which are fitted to lumped-element models. The four-electrode reflection-coefficient technique was used to measure resistivities in the gerbil cochlea. In vivo and in vitro (the hemicochlea) models were used. Measurements were made in normal and in deafened animals. Cochlear damage was induced by neomycin injection into the animals' middle ears. Neural degeneration was allowed to occur over 2 months before performing the measurements in the deafened animals. The resistivity values in deafened animals were smaller than in the normal-hearing animals, thus altering the current flow within the cochlea. Resistivity changes and subsequent changes in current path should be considered in future designs of cochlear implants.

Difficulties in Forecasting Flow Paths During the 2014-2015 Lava Flow Crisis at Kīlauea Volcano (Hawaíi)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Patrick, M. R.; Orr, T. R.; Trusdell, F.; Llewellin, E. W.; Kauahikaua, J. P.

2015-12-01

Kīlauea's East Rift Zone (ERZ) eruptive activity at Púu ´Ō´ō shifted to a new vent in June 2014, sparking a lava flow crisis that threatened critical infrastructure near the town of Pāhoa in east Hawaíi. The lava flow proved to be challenging to forecast because of the influence of ground cracks on flow direction, frequent fluctuations in lava supply, and the subtle interplay between ground slope and confining topography that prevented the flow from spreading laterally. After its onset, the "June 27th" flow, named informally for its start date, advanced northeast at up to several hundred m/day. The flow's path through heavy forest was forecast using steepest-descent paths derived from a digital elevation model (DEM). Flow path uncertainties were minimized using a multiple-run technique and built-in random DEM errors (modified from Favalli et al., 2005). In mid-August, the flow encountered and entered one of many deep, discontinuous ground cracks along Kīlauea's middle ERZ. The flow continued to advance out of sight in the crack, as inferred from a forward-progressing line of steam. A week later, lava spilled from the crack 1.3 km downslope, advancing along a different flow path than was forecast. By early September, the flow had entered and exited three more cracks sequentially, carrying the flow across slope, thus making flow path forecasts unreliable. Moreover, lava-occupied cracks dilated by up to 3 m. The lava accumulating in the ground cracks forced immense, but apparently mobile, blocks to shift. Thus, while an open crack was required to capture the lava, the lava was able to force its way beyond where the crack closed. In this way, the lava flow acted as an intruding dike. The flow eventually advanced beyond the area of cracks and onto a steepest-descent path that guided the flow toward the town of Pāhoa, where it destroyed one house, reached to within ~155 m of the main street in Pāhoa, and threatened the main highway and shopping center serving the east side of the Island of Hawaíi. The flow front stalled on March 13, 2015, owing to reservoir depressurization occurring at Kīlauea's summit. When the summit system recovered, activity withdrew to within ~9 km of the vent, ending the immediate threat to the Pāhoa area.

Systems for column-based separations, methods of forming packed columns, and methods of purifying sample components

DOEpatents

Egorov, Oleg B.; O'Hara, Matthew J.; Grate, Jay W.; Chandler, Darrell P.; Brockman, Fred J.; Bruckner-Lea, Cynthia J.

2000-01-01

The invention encompasses systems for column-based separations, methods of packing and unpacking columns and methods of separating components of samples. In one aspect, the invention includes a method of packing and unpacking a column chamber, comprising: a) packing a matrix material within a column chamber to form a packed column; and b) after the packing, unpacking the matrix material from the column chamber without moving the column chamber. In another aspect, the invention includes a system for column-based separations, comprising: a) a fluid passageway, the fluid passageway comprising a column chamber and a flow path in fluid communication with the column chamber, the flow path being obstructed by a retaining material permeable to a carrier fluid and impermeable to a column matrix material suspended in the carrier fluid, the flow path extending through the column chamber and through the retaining material, the flow path being configured to form a packed column within the column chamber when a suspension of the fluid and the column matrix material is flowed along the flow path; and b) the fluid passageway extending through a valve intermediate the column chamber and the retaining material.

Systems For Column-Based Separations, Methods Of Forming Packed Columns, And Methods Of Purifying Sample Components

DOEpatents

Egorov, Oleg B.; O'Hara, Matthew J.; Grate, Jay W.; Chandler, Darrell P.; Brockman, Fred J.; Bruckner-Lea, Cynthia J.

2006-02-21

The invention encompasses systems for column-based separations, methods of packing and unpacking columns and methods of separating components of samples. In one aspect, the invention includes a method of packing and unpacking a column chamber, comprising: a) packing a matrix material within a column chamber to form a packed column; and b) after the packing, unpacking the matrix material from the column chamber without moving the column chamber. In another aspect, the invention includes a system for column-based separations, comprising: a) a fluid passageway, the fluid passageway comprising a column chamber and a flow path in fluid communication with the column chamber, the flow path being obstructed by a retaining material permeable to a carrier fluid and impermeable to a column matrix material suspended in the carrier fluid, the flow path extending through the column chamber and through the retaining material, the flow path being configured to form a packed column within the column chamber when a suspension of the fluid and the column matrix material is flowed along the flow path; and b) the fluid passageway extending through a valve intermediate the column chamber and the retaining material.

Systems For Column-Based Separations, Methods Of Forming Packed Columns, And Methods Of Purifying Sample Components.

DOEpatents

Egorov, Oleg B.; O'Hara, Matthew J.; Grate, Jay W.; Chandler, Darrell P.; Brockman, Fred J.; Bruckner-Lea, Cynthia J.

2004-08-24

The invention encompasses systems for column-based separations, methods of packing and unpacking columns and methods of separating components of samples. In one aspect, the invention includes a method of packing and unpacking a column chamber, comprising: a) packing a matrix material within a column chamber to form a packed column; and b) after the packing, unpacking the matrix material from the column chamber without moving the column chamber. In another aspect, the invention includes a system for column-based separations, comprising: a) a fluid passageway, the fluid passageway comprising a column chamber and a flow path in fluid communication with the column chamber, the flow path being obstructed by a retaining material permeable to a carrier fluid and impermeable to a column matrix material suspended in the carrier fluid, the flow path extending through the column chamber and through the retaining material, the flow path being configured to form a packed column within the column chamber when a suspension of the fluid and the column matrix material is flowed along the flow path; and b) the fluid passageway extending through a valve intermediate the column chamber and the retaining material.

Modeling heading and path perception from optic flow in the case of independently moving objects

PubMed Central

Raudies, Florian; Neumann, Heiko

2013-01-01

Humans are usually accurate when estimating heading or path from optic flow, even in the presence of independently moving objects (IMOs) in an otherwise rigid scene. To invoke significant biases in perceived heading, IMOs have to be large and obscure the focus of expansion (FOE) in the image plane, which is the point of approach. For the estimation of path during curvilinear self-motion no significant biases were found in the presence of IMOs. What makes humans robust in their estimation of heading or path using optic flow? We derive analytical models of optic flow for linear and curvilinear self-motion using geometric scene models. Heading biases of a linear least squares method, which builds upon these analytical models, are large, larger than those reported for humans. This motivated us to study segmentation cues that are available from optic flow. We derive models of accretion/deletion, expansion/contraction, acceleration/deceleration, local spatial curvature, and local temporal curvature, to be used as cues to segment an IMO from the background. Integrating these segmentation cues into our method of estimating heading or path now explains human psychophysical data and extends, as well as unifies, previous investigations. Our analysis suggests that various cues available from optic flow help to segment IMOs and, thus, make humans' heading and path perception robust in the presence of such IMOs. PMID:23554589

A Numerical Model of Exchange Chromatography Through 3D Lattice Structures

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Salloum, Maher; Robinson, David B.

Rapid progress in the development of additive manufacturing technologies is opening new opportunities to fabricate structures that control mass transport in three dimensions across a broad range of length scales. We describe a structure that can be fabricated by newly available commercial 3D printers. It contains an array of regular three-dimensional flow paths that are in intimate contact with a solid phase, and thoroughly shuffle material among the paths. We implement a chemically reacting flow model to study its behavior as an exchange chromatography column, and compare it to an array of one-dimensional flow paths that resemble more traditional honeycombmore » monoliths. A reaction front moves through the columns and then elutes. Here, the front is sharper at all flow rates for the structure with three-dimensional flow paths, and this structure is more robust to channel width defects than the one-dimensional array.« less

A Numerical Model of Exchange Chromatography Through 3D Lattice Structures

DOE PAGES

Salloum, Maher; Robinson, David B.

2018-01-30

Rapid progress in the development of additive manufacturing technologies is opening new opportunities to fabricate structures that control mass transport in three dimensions across a broad range of length scales. We describe a structure that can be fabricated by newly available commercial 3D printers. It contains an array of regular three-dimensional flow paths that are in intimate contact with a solid phase, and thoroughly shuffle material among the paths. We implement a chemically reacting flow model to study its behavior as an exchange chromatography column, and compare it to an array of one-dimensional flow paths that resemble more traditional honeycombmore » monoliths. A reaction front moves through the columns and then elutes. Here, the front is sharper at all flow rates for the structure with three-dimensional flow paths, and this structure is more robust to channel width defects than the one-dimensional array.« less

Infiltration and hydraulic connections from the Niagara River to a fractured-dolomite aquifer in Niagara Falls, New York

USGS Publications Warehouse

Yager, R.M.; Kappel, W.M.

1998-01-01

The spatial distribution of hydrogen and oxygen stable-isotope values in groundwater can be used to distinguish different sources of recharge and to trace groundwater flow directions from recharge boundaries. This method can be particularly useful in fractured-rock settings where multiple lines of evidence are required to delineate preferential flow paths that result from heterogeneity within fracture zones. Flow paths delineated with stable isotopes can be combined with hydraulic data to form a more complete picture of the groundwater flow system. In this study values of ??D and ??18O were used to delineate paths of river-water infiltration into the Lockport Group, a fractured dolomite aquifer, and to compute the percentage of fiver water in groundwater samples from shallow bedrock wells. Flow paths were correlated with areas of high hydraulic diffusivity in the shallow bedrock that were delineated from water-level fluctuations induced by diurnal stage fluctuations in man-made hydraulic structures. Flow paths delineated with the stable-isotope and hydraulic data suggest that fiver infiltration reaches an unlined storm sewer in the bedrock through a drainage system that surrounds aqueducts carrying river water to hydroelectric power plants. This finding is significant because the storm sewer is the discharge point for contaminated groundwater from several chemical waste-disposal sites and the cost of treating the storm sewer's discharge could be reduced if the volume of infiltration from the river were decreased.The spatial distribution of hydrogen and oxygen stable-isotope values in groundwater can be used to distinguish different sources of recharge and to trace groundwater flow directions from recharge boundaries. This method can be particularly useful in fractured-rock settings where multiple lines of evidence are required to delineate preferential flow paths that result from heterogeneity within fracture zones. Flow paths delineated with stable isotopes can be combined with hydraulic data to form a more complete picture of the groundwater flow system. In this study values of ??D and ??18O were used to delineate paths of river-water infiltration into the Lockport Group, a fractured dolomite aquifer, and to compute the percentage of river water in groundwater samples from shallow bedrock wells. Flow paths were correlated with areas of high hydraulic diffusivity in the shallow bedrock that were delineated from water-level fluctuations induced by diurnal stage fluctuations in man-made hydraulic structures. Flow paths delineated with the stable-isotope and hydraulic data suggest that river infiltration reaches an unlined storm sewer in the bedrock through a drainage system that surrounds aqueducts carrying river water to hydroelectric power plants. This finding is significant because the storm sewer is the discharge point for contaminated groundwater from several chemical waste-disposal sites and the cost of treating the storm sewer's discharge could be reduced if the volume of infiltration from the river were decreased.

A hydrogeologic approach to identify land uses that overlie ground-water flow paths, Broward County, Florida

USGS Publications Warehouse

Sonenshein, R.S.

1995-01-01

A hydrogeologic approach that integrates the use of hydrogeologic and spatial tools aids in the identification of land uses that overlie ground- water flow paths and permits a better understanding of ground-water flow systems. A mathematical model was used to simulate the ground-water flow system in Broward County, particle-tracking software was used to determine flow paths leading to the monitor wells in Broward County, and a Geographic Information System was used to identify which land uses overlie the flow paths. A procedure using a geographic information system to evaluate the output from a ground-water flow model has been documented. The ground-water flow model was used to represent steady-state conditions during selected wet- and dry-season months, and an advective flow particle- tracking program was used to simulate the direction of ground-water flow in the aquifer system. Digital spatial data layers were created from the particle pathlines that lead to the vicinity of the open interval of selected wells in the Broward County ground-water quality monitoring network. Buffer zone data layers were created, surrounding the particle pathlines to represent the area of contribution to the water sampled from the monitor wells. Spatial data layers, combined with a land-use data layer, were used to identify the land uses that overlie the ground-water flow paths leading to the monitor wells. The simulation analysis was performed on five Broward County wells with different hydraulic parameters to determine the source of ground-water stress, determine selected particle pathlines, and identify land use in buffer zones in the vicinity of the wells. The flow paths that lead to the grid cells containing wells G-2355, G-2373, and G-2373A did not vary between the wet- and dry-season conditions. Changes in the area of contribution for wells G-2345X and G-2369 were attributed to variations in rainfall patterns, well-field pumpage, and surface-water management practices. Additionally, using a different open interval at a site, such as for wells G-2373 and G-2373A, can result in a very different area that overlies the flow path leading to the monitor well.

Graph theory applied to noise and vibration control in statistical energy analysis models.

PubMed

Guasch, Oriol; Cortés, Lluís

2009-06-01

A fundamental aspect of noise and vibration control in statistical energy analysis (SEA) models consists in first identifying and then reducing the energy flow paths between subsystems. In this work, it is proposed to make use of some results from graph theory to address both issues. On the one hand, linear and path algebras applied to adjacency matrices of SEA graphs are used to determine the existence of any order paths between subsystems, counting and labeling them, finding extremal paths, or determining the power flow contributions from groups of paths. On the other hand, a strategy is presented that makes use of graph cut algorithms to reduce the energy flow from a source subsystem to a receiver one, modifying as few internal and coupling loss factors as possible.

Open cycle ocean thermal energy conversion steam control and bypass system

DOEpatents

Wittig, J. Michael; Jennings, Stephen J.

1980-01-01

Two sets of hinged control doors for regulating motive steam flow from an evaporator to a condenser alternatively through a set of turbine blades in a steam bypass around the turbine blades. The evaporator has a toroidal shaped casing situated about the turbine's vertical axis of rotation and an outlet opening therein for discharging motive steam into an annular steam flow path defined between the turbine's radially inner and outer casing structures. The turbine blades extend across the steam flow path intermediate the evaporator and condenser. The first set of control doors is arranged to prevent steam access to the upstream side of the turbine blades and the second set of control doors acts as a bypass around the blades so as to maintain equilibrium between the evaporator and condenser during non-rotation of the turbine. The first set of control doors preferably extend, when closed, between the evaporator casing and the turbine's outer casing and, when open, extend away from the axis of rotation. The second set of control doors preferably constitute a portion of the turbine's outer casing downstream from the blades when closed and extend, when open, toward the axis of rotation. The first and second sets of control doors are normally held in the open and closed positions respectively by locking pins which may be retracted upon detecting an abnormal operating condition respectively to permit their closing and opening and provide steam flow from the evaporator to the condenser.

Coupled Long-Term Simulation of Reach-Scale Water and Heat Fluxes Across the River-Groundwater Interface for Retrieving Hyporheic Residence Times and Temperature Dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Munz, Matthias; Oswald, Sascha E.; Schmidt, Christian

2017-11-01

Flow patterns in conjunction with seasonal and diurnal temperature variations control ecological and biogeochemical conditions in hyporheic sediments. In particular, hyporheic temperatures have a great impact on many temperature-sensitive microbial processes. In this study, we used 3-D coupled water flow and heat transport simulations applying the HydroGeoSphere code in combination with high-resolution observations of hydraulic heads and temperatures to quantify reach-scale water and heat flux across the river-groundwater interface and hyporheic temperature dynamics of a lowland gravel bed river. The model was calibrated in order to constrain estimates of the most sensitive model parameters. The magnitude and variations of the simulated temperatures matched the observed ones, with an average mean absolute error of 0.7°C and an average Nash Sutcliffe efficiency of 0.87. Our results indicate that nonsubmerged streambed structures such as gravel bars cause substantial thermal heterogeneity within the saturated sediment at the reach scale. Individual hyporheic flow path temperatures strongly depend on the flow path residence time, flow path depth, river, and groundwater temperature. Variations in individual hyporheic flow path temperatures were up to 7.9°C, significantly higher than the daily average (2.8°C), but still lower than the average seasonal hyporheic temperature difference (19.2°C). The distribution between flow path temperatures and residence times follows a power law relationship with exponent of about 0.37. Based on this empirical relation, we further estimated the influence of hyporheic flow path residence time and temperature on oxygen consumption which was found to partly increase by up to 29% in simulations.

A Comparison of Electromagnetic Induction Mapping to Measurements of Maximum Effluent Flow Depth for Assessing Flow Paths in Vegetative Treatment Areas

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Vegetative treatment systems (VTSs) are one type of control structure that has shown potential to control runoff from open feedlots. To achieve maximum performance, sheet-flow over the width of the vegetative treatment area (VTA) is required. Tools, such as maps of flow paths through the VTA, are ne...

Erosion of steepland valleys by debris flows

USGS Publications Warehouse

Stock, J.D.; Dietrich, W.E.

2006-01-01

Episodic debris flows scour the rock beds of many steepland valleys. Along recent debris-flow runout paths in the western United States, we have observed evidence for bedrock lowering, primarily by the impact of large particles entrained in debris flows. This evidence may persist to the point at which debris-flow deposition occurs, commonly at slopes of less than ???0.03-0.10. We find that debris-flow-scoured valleys have a topographic signature that is fundamentally different from that predicted by bedrock river-incision models. Much of this difference results from the fact that local valley slope shows a tendency to decrease abruptly downstream of tributaries that contribute throughgoing debris flows. The degree of weathering of valley floor bedrock may also decrease abruptly downstream of such junctions. On the basis of these observations, we hypothesize that valley slope is adjusted to the long-term frequency of debris flows, and that valleys scoured by debris flows should not be modeled using conventional bedrock river-incision laws. We use field observations to justify one possible debris-flow incision model, whose lowering rate is proportional to the integral of solid inertial normal stresses from particle impacts along the flow and the number of upvalley debris-flow sources. The model predicts that increases in incision rate caused by increases in flow event frequency and length (as flows gain material) downvalley are balanced by rate reductions from reduced inertial normal stress at lower slopes, and stronger, less weathered bedrock. These adjustments lead to a spatially uniform lowering rate. Although the proposed expression leads to equilibrium long-profiles with the correct topographic signature, the crudeness with which the debris-flow dynamics are parameterized reveals that we are far from a validated debris-flow incision law. However, the vast extent of steepland valley networks above slopes of ???0.03-0.10 illustrates the need to understand debris-flow incision if we hope to understand the evolution of steep topography around the world. ?? 2006 Geological Society of America.

Cartographic modeling of snow avalanche path location within Glacier National Park, Montana

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Walsh, Stephen J.; Brown, Daniel G.; Bian, Ling; Butler, David R.

1990-01-01

Geographic information system (GIS) techniques were applied to the study of snow-avalanche path location within Glacier National Park, Montana. Aerial photointerpretation and field surveys confirmed the location of 121 avalanche paths within the selected study area. Spatial and nonspatial information on each path were integrated using the ARC/INFO GIS. Lithologic, structural, hydrographic, topographic, and land-cover impacts on path location were analyzed. All path frequencies within variable classes were normalized by the area of class occurrence relative to the total area of the study area and were added to the morphometric information contained within INFO tables. The normalized values for each GIS coverage were used to cartographically model, by means of composite factor weightings, avalanche path locations.

Hydrogeology of a low-level radioactive-waste disposal site near Sheffield, Illinois

USGS Publications Warehouse

Foster, J.B.; Erickson, J.R.; Healy, R.W.

1984-01-01

The Sheffield low-level radioactive-waste facility is located on 20 acres of rolling terrain 3 miles southwest of Sheffield, Illinois. The shallow hydrogeologic system is composed of glacial sediments. Pennsylvania shale and mudstone bedrock isolate the regional aquifers below from the hydrogeologic system in the overlying glacial deposits. Pebbly sand underlies 67 percent of the site. Two ground-water flow paths were identified. The primary path conveys ground water from the site to the east through the pebbly-sand unit; a secondary path conveys ground water to the south and east through less permeable material. The pebbly-sand unit provides an underdrain that eliminates the risk of water rising into the trenches. Digital computer model results indicate that the pebbly-sand unit controls ground-water movement. Tritium found migrating in ground water in the southeast corner of the site travels approximately 25 feet per year. A group of water samples from wells which contained the highest tritium concentrations had specific conductivities, alkalinities, hardness, and chloride, sulfate, calcium, and magnesium contents higher than normal for local shallow ground water. (USGS)

Assessing Receiving Water Quality Impacts due to Flow Path Alteration in Residential Catchments, using the Stormwater and Wastewater Management Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wolosoff, S. E.; Duncan, J.; Endreny, T.

2001-05-01

The Croton water supply system, responsible for supplying approximately 10% of New York City's water, provides an opportunity for exploration into the impacts of significant terrestrial flow path alteration upon receiving water quality. Natural flow paths are altered during residential development in order to allow for construction at a given location, reductions in water table elevation in low lying areas and to provide drainage of increased overland flow volumes. Runoff conducted through an artificial drainage system, is prevented from being attenuated by the natural environment, thus the pollutant removal capacity inherent in most natural catchments is often limited to areas where flow paths are not altered by development. By contrasting the impacts of flow path alterations in two small catchments in the Croton system, with different densities of residential development, we can begin to identify appropriate limits to the re-routing of runoff in catchments draining into surface water supplies. The Stormwater and Wastewater Management Model (SWMM) will be used as a tool to predict the runoff quantity and quality generated from two small residential catchments and to simulate the potential benefits of changes to the existing drainage system design, which may improve water quality due to longer residence times.

Fluid dynamic characteristics of the VentrAssist rotary blood pump.

PubMed

Tansley, G; Vidakovic, S; Reizes, J

2000-06-01

The VentrAssist pump has no shaft or seal, and the device is unique in design because the rotor is suspended passively by hydrodynamic forces, and urging is accomplished by an integrated direct current motor rotor that also acts as the pump impeller. This device has led to many challenges in its fluidic design, namely large flow-blockage from impeller blades, low stiffness of bearings with concomitant impeller displacement under pulsatile load conditions, and very small running clearances. Low specific speed and radial blade off-flow were selected in order to minimize the hemolysis. Pulsatile and steady-flow tests show the impeller is stable under normal operating conditions. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has been used to optimize flow paths and reduce net axial force imbalance to acceptably small values. The latest design of the pump achieved a system efficiency of 18% (in 30% hematocrit of red blood cells suspended in phosphate-buffered saline), and efficiency was optimized over the range of operating conditions. Parameters critical to improving pump efficiency were investigated.

Influence of Processing Parameters on the Flow Path in Friction Stir Welding

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schneider, J. A.; Nunes, A. C., Jr.

2006-01-01

Friction stir welding (FSW) is a solid phase welding process that unites thermal and mechanical aspects to produce a high quality joint. The process variables are rpm, translational weld speed, and downward plunge force. The strain-temperature history of a metal element at each point on the cross-section of the weld is determined by the individual flow path taken by the particular filament of metal flowing around the tool as influenced by the process variables. The resulting properties of the weld are determined by the strain-temperature history. Thus to control FSW properties, improved understanding of the processing parameters on the metal flow path is necessary.

Boiler using combustible fluid

DOEpatents

Baumgartner, H.; Meier, J.G.

1974-07-03

A fluid fuel boiler is described comprising a combustion chamber, a cover on the combustion chamber having an opening for introducing a combustion-supporting gaseous fluid through said openings, means to impart rotation to the gaseous fluid about an axis of the combustion chamber, a burner for introducing a fluid fuel into the chamber mixed with the gaseous fluid for combustion thereof, the cover having a generally frustro-conical configuration diverging from the opening toward the interior of the chamber at an angle of between 15/sup 0/ and 55/sup 0/; means defining said combustion chamber having means defining a plurality of axial hot gas flow paths from a downstream portion of the combustion chamber to flow hot gases into an upstream portion of the combustion chamber, and means for diverting some of the hot gas flow along paths in a direction circumferentially of the combustion chamber, with the latter paths being immersed in the water flow path thereby to improve heat transfer and terminating in a gas outlet, the combustion chamber comprising at least one modular element, joined axially to the frustro-conical cover and coaxial therewith. The modular element comprises an inner ring and means of defining the circumferential, radial, and spiral flow paths of the hot gases.

Stage-by-Stage and Parallel Flow Path Compressor Modeling for a Variable Cycle Engine

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kopasakis, George; Connolly, Joseph W.; Cheng, Larry

2015-01-01

This paper covers the development of stage-by-stage and parallel flow path compressor modeling approaches for a Variable Cycle Engine. The stage-by-stage compressor modeling approach is an extension of a technique for lumped volume dynamics and performance characteristic modeling. It was developed to improve the accuracy of axial compressor dynamics over lumped volume dynamics modeling. The stage-by-stage compressor model presented here is formulated into a parallel flow path model that includes both axial and rotational dynamics. This is done to enable the study of compressor and propulsion system dynamic performance under flow distortion conditions. The approaches utilized here are generic and should be applicable for the modeling of any axial flow compressor design.

Comparison of ground-water flow model particle-tracking results and isotopic data in the Mojave River ground-water basin, southern California, USA

USGS Publications Warehouse

Izbicki, John A.; Stamos, Christina L.; Nishikawa, Tracy; Martin, Peter

2004-01-01

Flow-path and time-of-travel results for the Mojave River ground-water basin, southern California, calculated using the ground-water flow model MODFLOW and particle-tracking model MODPATH were similar to flow path and time-of-travel interpretations derived from delta-deuterium and carbon-14 data. Model and isotopic data both show short flow paths and young ground-water ages throughout the floodplain aquifer along most the Mojave River. Longer flow paths and older ground-water ages as great as 10,000 years before present were measured and simulated in the floodplain aquifer near the Mojave Valley. Model and isotopic data also show movement of water between the floodplain and regional aquifer and subsequent discharge of water from the river to dry lakes in some areas. It was not possible to simulate the isotopic composition of ground-water in the regional aquifer away from the front of the San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountains - because recharge in these areas does not occur under the present-day climatic conditions used for calibration of the model.

Critical Velocities in Open Capillary Flow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dreyer, Michael; Langbein, Dieter; Rath, Hans J.

1996-01-01

This paper describes the proposed research program on open capillary flow and the preliminary work performed theoretically and in drop tower experiments. The work focuses on the fundamental physical understanding of the flow through capillary bound geometries, where the circumference of the cross section of the flow path contains free surfaces. Examples for such a flow configuration are capillary vanes in surface tension tanks, flow along edges and corners and flow through liquid bridges. The geometries may be classified by their cross section areas, wetted circumferences and the radii of curvature of the free surfaces. In the streaming float zone the flow path is bound by a free surface only. The ribbon vane is a model for vane types used in surface tension tanks, where a structure in proximity to the tank wall forms a capillary gap. A groove is used in heat pipes for the transportation of the condensed working fluid to the heat source and a wedge may occur in a spaceborne experiment where fluid has to be transported by the means of surface tension. The research objectives are the determination of the maximum volume flux, the observation of the free surfaces and the liquid flow inside the flow path as well as the evaluation of the limiting capillary wave speed. The restriction of the maximum volume flux is due to convective forces (flow velocity exceeding the capillary wave speed) and/or viscous forces, i.e. the viscous head loss along the flow path must be compensated by the capillary pressure due to the curved free surface. Exceeding the maximum volume flux leads to the choking of the flow path, thus the free surface collapses and.gas ingestion occurs at the outlet. The means are ground-based experimental work with plateau tanks and in a drop tower, a sounding rocket flight, and theoretical analysis with integral balances as well as full three dimensional CFD solutions for flow with free surfaces.

Computer Tomography 3-D Imaging of the Metal Deformation Flow Path in Friction Stir Welding

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schneider, Judy; Beshears, Ronald; Nunes, Arthur C., Jr.

2004-01-01

In friction stir welding, a rotating threaded pin tool is inserted into a weld seam and literally stirs the edges of the seam together. This solid-state technique has been successfully used in the joining of materials that are difficult to fusion weld such as aluminum alloys. To determine optimal processing parameters for producing a defect free weld, a better understanding of the resulting metal deformation flow path is required. Marker studies are the principal method of studying the metal deformation flow path around the FSW pin tool. In our study, we have used computed tomography (CT) scans to reveal the flow pattern of a lead wire embedded in a FSW weld seam. At the welding temperature of aluminum, the lead becomes molten and thus tracks the aluminum deformation flow paths in a unique 3-dimensional manner. CT scanning is a convenient and comprehensive way of collecting and displaying tracer data. It marks an advance over previous more tedious and ambiguous radiographic/metallographic data collection methods.

Safety drain system for fluid reservoir

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

England, John Dwight (Inventor); Kelley, Anthony R. (Inventor); Cronise, Raymond J. (Inventor)

2012-01-01

A safety drain system includes a plurality of drain sections, each of which defines distinct fluid flow paths. At least a portion of the fluid flow paths commence at a side of the drain section that is in fluid communication with a reservoir's fluid. Each fluid flow path at the side communicating with the reservoir's fluid defines an opening having a smallest dimension not to exceed approximately one centimeter. The drain sections are distributed over at least one surface of the reservoir. A manifold is coupled to the drain sections.

Siphon flows in isolated magnetic flux tubes. 3: The equilibrium path of the flux tube arch

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thomas, John H.; Montesinis, Benjamin

1989-01-01

The arched equilibrium path of a thin magnetic flux tube in a plane-stratified, nonmagnetic atmosphere is calculated for cases in which the flux tube contains a steady siphon flow. The large scale mechanical equilibrium of the flux tube involves a balance among the magnetic buoyancy force, the net magnetic tension force due to the curvature of the flux tube axis, and the inertial (centrifugal) force due to the siphon flow along curved streamlines. The ends of the flux tube are assumed to be pinned down by some other external force. Both isothermal and adiabatic siphon flows are considered for flux tubes in an isothermal external atmosphere. For the isothermal case, in the absence of a siphon flow the equilibrium path reduces to the static arch calculated by Parker (1975, 1979). The presence of a siphon flow causes the flux tube arch to bend more sharply, so that magnetic tension can overcome the additional straightening effect of the inertial force, and reduces the maximum width of the arch. The curvature of the arch increases as the siphon flow speed increases. For a critical siphon flow, with supercritical flow in the downstream leg, the arch is asymmetric, with greater curvature in the downstream leg of the arch. Adiabatic flow have qualitatively similar effects, except that adiabatic cooling reduces the buoyancy of the flux tube and thus leads to significantly wider arches. In some cases the cooling is strong enough to create negative buoyancy along sections of the flux tube, requiring upward curvature of the flux tube path along these sections and sometimes leading to unusual equilibrium paths of periodic, sinusoidal form.

Are preferential flow paths perpetuated by microbial activity in the soil matrix? A review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morales, Verónica L.; Parlange, J.-Yves; Steenhuis, Tammo S.

2010-10-01

SummaryRecently, the interactions between soil structure and microbes have been associated with water transport, retention and preferential or column flow development. Of particular significance is the potential impact of microbial extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) on soil porosity (i.e., hydraulic conductivity reduction or bioclogging) and of exudates from biota, including bacteria, fungi, roots and earthworms on the degree of soil water repellency. These structural and surface property changes create points of wetting instability, which under certain infiltrating conditions can often result in the formation of persistent preferential flow paths. Moreover, distinct differences in physical and chemical properties between regions of water flow (preferential flow paths) and no-flow (soil matrix) provide a unique set of environmental living conditions for adaptable microorganisms to exist. In this review, special consideration is given to: (1) the functional significance of microbial activity in the host porous medium in terms of feedback mechanisms instigated by irregular water availability and (2) the related physical and chemical conditions that force the organization and formation of unique microbial habitats in unsaturated soils that prompt and potentially perpetuate the formation of preferential flow paths in the vadose zone.

Evidence from lava flows for complex polarity transitions: The new composite Steens Mountain reversal record

USGS Publications Warehouse

Jarboe, Nicholas A.; Coe, Robert S.; Glen, Jonathan M. G.

2011-01-01

Geomagnetic polarity transitions may be significantly more complex than are currently depicted in many sedimentary and lava-flow records. By splicing together paleomagnetic results from earlier studies at Steens Mountain with those from three newly studied sections of Oregon Plateau flood basalts at Catlow Peak and Poker Jim Ridge 70–90 km to the southeast and west, respectively, we provide support for this interpretation with the most detailed account of a magnetic field reversal yet observed in volcanic rocks. Forty-five new distinguishable transitional (T) directions together with 30 earlier ones reveal a much more complex and detailed record of the 16.7 Ma reversed (R)-to-normal (N) polarity transition that marks the end of Chron C5Cr. Compared to the earlier R-T-N-T-N reversal record, the new record can be described as R-T-N-T-N-T-R-T-N. The composite record confirms earlier features, adds new west and up directions and an entire large N-T-R-T segment to the path, and fills in directions on the path between earlier directional jumps. Persistent virtual geomagnetic pole (VGP) clusters and separate VGPs have a preference for previously described longitudinal bands from transition study compilations, which suggests the presence of features at the core–mantle boundary that influence the flow of core fluid and distribution of magnetic flux. Overall the record is consistent with the generalization that VGP paths vary greatly from reversal to reversal and depend on the location of the observer. Rates of secular variation confirm that the flows comprising these sections were erupted rapidly, with maximum rates estimated to be 85–120 m ka−1 at Catlow and 130–195 m ka−1 at Poker Jim South. Paleomagnetic poles from other studies are combined with 32 non-transitional poles found here to give a clockwise rotation of the Oregon Plateau of 11.4°± 5.6° with respect to the younger Columbia River Basalt Group flows to the north and 14.5°± 4.6° with respect to cratonic North America (95 per cent confidence interval).

Semianalytical computation of path lines for finite-difference models

USGS Publications Warehouse

Pollock, D.W.

1988-01-01

A semianalytical particle tracking method was developed for use with velocities generated from block-centered finite-difference ground-water flow models. Based on the assumption that each directional velocity component varies linearly within a grid cell in its own coordinate directions, the method allows an analytical expression to be obtained describing the flow path within an individual grid cell. Given the intitial position of a particle anywhere in a cell, the coordinates of any other point along its path line within the cell, and the time of travel between them, can be computed directly. For steady-state systems, the exit point for a particle entering a cell at any arbitrary location can be computed in a single step. By following the particle as it moves from cell to cell, this method can be used to trace the path of a particle through any multidimensional flow field generated from a block-centered finite-difference flow model. -Author

Hydrogeological characterization of flow system in a karstic aquifer, Seymareh dam, Iran

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Behrouj Peely, Ahmad; Mohammadi, Zargham; Raeisi, Ezzatollah; Solgi, Khashayar; Mosavi, Mohammad J.; Kamali, Majid

2018-07-01

In order to determine the characteristics of the flow system in a karstic aquifer, an extensive hydrogeological study includes dye tracing test was conducted. The aquifer suited left abutment of Seymareh Dam, in Ravandi Anticline and discharges by more than 50 springs in the southern flank. Flow system in the aquifer is mainly controlled by the reservoir of Seymareh Dam. Time variations of the spring discharge and water table in the observation wells were highly correlated with the reservoir water level. The average groundwater velocity ranges from 0.2 to more than 14 m/h based on the dye tracing test. The probable flow paths were differentiated in two groups including the flow paths in the northern and southern flanks of Ravandi Anticline. Types of groundwater flow in the proposed flow paths are determined as diffuse or conduit flow type considering groundwater velocity and shape of the breakthrough curves. An index is proposed for differentiation of diffuse and conduit flow system based on relationship of groundwater velocity and hydraulic gradient. Dominant geometry of the flow routs (e.g., conduit diameter and fracture aperture) is estimated for the groundwater flow paths toward the springs. Based on velocity variations and variance coefficient of the water table and discharge of springs on map view a major karst conduit was probably developed in the aquifer. This research emphasizes applying of an extensive hydrogeological study for characterization of flow system in the karst aquifer.

Tortuous path chemical preconcentrator

DOEpatents

Manginell, Ronald P.; Lewis, Patrick R.; Adkins, Douglas R.; Wheeler, David R.; Simonson, Robert J.

2010-09-21

A non-planar, tortuous path chemical preconcentrator has a high internal surface area having a heatable sorptive coating that can be used to selectively collect and concentrate one or more chemical species of interest from a fluid stream that can be rapidly released as a concentrated plug into an analytical or microanalytical chain for separation and detection. The non-planar chemical preconcentrator comprises a sorptive support structure having a tortuous flow path. The tortuosity provides repeated twists, turns, and bends to the flow, thereby increasing the interfacial contact between sample fluid stream and the sorptive material. The tortuous path also provides more opportunities for desorption and readsorption of volatile species. Further, the thermal efficiency of the tortuous path chemical preconcentrator is comparable or superior to the prior non-planar chemical preconcentrator. Finally, the tortuosity can be varied in different directions to optimize flow rates during the adsorption and desorption phases of operation of the preconcentrator.

Triple loop heat exchanger for an absorption refrigeration system

DOEpatents

Reimann, Robert C.

1984-01-01

A triple loop heat exchanger for an absorption refrigeration system is disclosed. The triple loop heat exchanger comprises portions of a strong solution line for conducting relatively hot, strong solution from a generator to a solution heat exchanger of the absorption refrigeration system, conduit means for conducting relatively cool, weak solution from the solution heat exchanger to the generator, and a bypass system for conducting strong solution from the generator around the strong solution line and around the solution heat exchanger to an absorber of the refrigeration system when strong solution builds up in the generator to an undesirable level. The strong solution line and the conduit means are in heat exchange relationship with each other in the triple loop heat exchanger so that, during normal operation of the refrigeration system, heat is exchanged between the relatively hot, strong solution flowing through the strong solution line and the relatively cool, weak solution flowing through the conduit means. Also, the strong solution line and the bypass system are in heat exchange relationship in the triple loop heat exchanger so that if the normal flow path of relatively hot, strong solution flowing from the generator to an absorber is blocked, then this relatively, hot strong solution which will then be flowing through the bypass system in the triple loop heat exchanger, is brought into heat exchange relationship with any strong solution which may have solidified in the strong solution line in the triple loop heat exchanger to thereby aid in desolidifying any such solidified strong solution.

Fraction of young water as an indicator of aquifer vulnerability along two regional flow paths in the Mississippi embayment aquifer system, southeastern USA

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kingsbury, James A.; Barlow, Jeannie R.; Jurgens, Bryant; McMahon, Peter B.; Carmichael, John K.

2017-01-01

Wells along two regional flow paths were sampled to characterize changes in water quality and the vulnerability to contamination of the Memphis aquifer across a range of hydrologic and land-use conditions in the southeastern United States. The flow paths begin in the aquifer outcrop area and end at public supply wells in the confined parts of the aquifer at Memphis, Tennessee. Age-date tracer (e.g. SF6, 3H, 14C) data indicate that a component of young water is present in the aquifer at most locations along both flow paths, which is consistent with previous studies at Memphis that documented leakage of shallow water into the Memphis aquifer locally where the overlying confining unit is thin or absent. Mixtures of young and old water were most prevalent where long-term pumping for public supply has lowered groundwater levels and induced downward movement of young water. The occurrence of nitrate, chloride and synthetic organic compounds was correlated to the fraction of young water along the flow paths. Oxic conditions persisted for 10 km or more down dip of the confining unit, and the presence of young water in confined parts of the aquifer suggest that contaminants such as nitrate-N have the potential for transport. Long-term monitoring data for one of the flow-path wells screened in the confined part of the aquifer suggest that the vulnerability of the aquifer as indicated by the fraction of young water is increasing over time.

Fraction of young water as an indicator of aquifer vulnerability along two regional flow paths in the Mississippi embayment aquifer system, southeastern USA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kingsbury, James A.; Barlow, Jeannie R. B.; Jurgens, Bryant C.; McMahon, Peter B.; Carmichael, John K.

2017-09-01

Wells along two regional flow paths were sampled to characterize changes in water quality and the vulnerability to contamination of the Memphis aquifer across a range of hydrologic and land-use conditions in the southeastern United States. The flow paths begin in the aquifer outcrop area and end at public supply wells in the confined parts of the aquifer at Memphis, Tennessee. Age-date tracer (e.g. SF6, 3H, 14C) data indicate that a component of young water is present in the aquifer at most locations along both flow paths, which is consistent with previous studies at Memphis that documented leakage of shallow water into the Memphis aquifer locally where the overlying confining unit is thin or absent. Mixtures of young and old water were most prevalent where long-term pumping for public supply has lowered groundwater levels and induced downward movement of young water. The occurrence of nitrate, chloride and synthetic organic compounds was correlated to the fraction of young water along the flow paths. Oxic conditions persisted for 10 km or more down dip of the confining unit, and the presence of young water in confined parts of the aquifer suggest that contaminants such as nitrate-N have the potential for transport. Long-term monitoring data for one of the flow-path wells screened in the confined part of the aquifer suggest that the vulnerability of the aquifer as indicated by the fraction of young water is increasing over time.

WATER QUALITY CHANGES IN HYPORHEIC FLOW PATHS BETWEEN A LARGE GRAVEL BED RIVER AND OFF-CHANNEL ALCOVES IN OREGON, USA

EPA Science Inventory

Changes in water quality that occur as water flows along hyporheic flow paths may have important effects on surface water quality and aquatic habitat, yet very few studies have examined these hyporheic processes along large gravel bed rivers. To determine water quality changes as...

Looking Deeper Into Hydrologic Connectivity and Streamflow Generation: A Groundwater Hydrologist's Perspective.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gardner, W. P.

2016-12-01

In this presentation the definition of hydraulic connection will be explored with a focus on the role of deep groundwater in streamflow generation and its time and space limits. Regional groundwater flow paths can be important sources of baseflow and potentially event response in surface water systems. This deep groundwater discharge plays an important role in determining how the watershed responds to climatic forcing, whether watersheds are a carbon source or sink and can be significant for watershed geochemistry and nutrient loading. These flow paths potentially "connect" to surface water systems and saturated soil zones at large distances, and over long time scales. However, these flow paths are challenging to detect, especially with hydraulic techniques. Here we will discuss some of the basic physical processes that affect the hydraulic signal along a groundwater flow path and their implications for the definition of hydrologic connection. Methods of measuring hydraulic connection using groundwater head response and their application in detecting regional groundwater discharge will be discussed. Environmental tracers are also a powerful method for identifying connected flowpaths in groundwater systems, and are commonly used to determine flow connection and flow rates in groundwater studies. Isotopic tracer methods for detecting deep, regional flow paths in watersheds will be discussed, along with observations of deep groundwater discharge in shallow alluvial systems around the world. The goal of this talk is to discuss hydraulic and hydrologic connection from a groundwater hydrologist's perspective, spark conversation on the meaning of hydrologic connection, the processes which govern hydraulic response and methods to measure flow connections and flux.

The Spatial and Temporal Variability of Meltwater Flow Paths: Insights From a Grid of Over 100 Snow Lysimeters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Webb, R. W.; Williams, M. W.; Erickson, T. A.

2018-02-01

Snowmelt is an important part of the hydrologic cycle and ecosystem dynamics for headwater systems. However, the physical process of water flow through snow is a poorly understood aspect of snow hydrology as meltwater flow paths tend to be highly complex. Meltwater flow paths diverge and converge as percolating meltwater reaches stratigraphic layer interfaces creating high spatial variability. Additionally, a snowpack is temporally heterogeneous due to rapid localized metamorphism that occurs during melt. This study uses a snowmelt lysimeter array at tree line in the Niwot Ridge study area of northern Colorado. The array is designed to address the issue of spatial and temporal variability of basal discharge at 105 locations over an area of 1,300 m2. Observed coefficients of variation ranged from 0 to almost 10 indicating more variability than previously observed, though this variability decreased throughout each melt season. Snowmelt basal discharge also significantly increases as snow depth decreases displaying a cluster pattern that peaks during weeks 3-5 of the snowmelt season. These results are explained by the flow of meltwater along snow layer interfaces. As the snowpack becomes less stratified through the melt season, the pattern transforms from preferential flow paths to uniform matrix flow. Correlation ranges of the observed basal discharge correspond to a mean representative elementary area of 100 m2, or a characteristic length of 10 m. Snowmelt models representing processes at scales less than this will need to explicitly incorporate the spatial variability of snowmelt discharge and meltwater flow paths through snow between model pixels.

Application of Micropore Filter Technology: Exploring the Blood Flow Path in Arterial-Line Filters and Its Effect on Bubble Trapping Functions

PubMed Central

Herbst, Daniel P.

2017-01-01

Abstract: Conventional arterial-line filters commonly use a large volume circular shaped housing, a wetted micropore screen, and a purge port to trap, separate, and remove gas bubbles from extracorporeal blood flow. Focusing on the bubble trapping function, this work attempts to explore how the filter housing shape and its resulting blood flow path affect the clinical application of arterial-line filters in terms of gross air handling. A video camera was used in a wet-lab setting to record observations made during gross air-bolus injections in three different radially designed filters using a 30–70% glycerol–saline mixture flowing at 4.5 L/min. Two of the filters both had inlet ports attached near the filter-housing top with bottom oriented outlet ports at the bottom, whereas the third filter had its inlet and outlet ports both located at the bottom of the filter housing. The two filters with top-in bottom-out fluid paths were shown to direct the incoming flow downward as it passed through the filter, placing the forces of buoyancy and viscous drag in opposition to each other. This contrasted with the third filter's bottom-in bottom-out fluid path, which was shown to direct the incoming flow upward so that the forces of buoyancy and viscous drag work together. The direction of the blood flow path through a filter may be important to the application of arterial-line filter technology as it helps determine how the forces of buoyancy and flow are aligned with one another. PMID:28298665

Application of Micropore Filter Technology: Exploring the Blood Flow Path in Arterial-Line Filters and Its Effect on Bubble Trapping Functions.

PubMed

Herbst, Daniel P

2017-03-01

Conventional arterial-line filters commonly use a large volume circular shaped housing, a wetted micropore screen, and a purge port to trap, separate, and remove gas bubbles from extracorporeal blood flow. Focusing on the bubble trapping function, this work attempts to explore how the filter housing shape and its resulting blood flow path affect the clinical application of arterial-line filters in terms of gross air handling. A video camera was used in a wet-lab setting to record observations made during gross air-bolus injections in three different radially designed filters using a 30-70% glycerol-saline mixture flowing at 4.5 L/min. Two of the filters both had inlet ports attached near the filter-housing top with bottom oriented outlet ports at the bottom, whereas the third filter had its inlet and outlet ports both located at the bottom of the filter housing. The two filters with top-in bottom-out fluid paths were shown to direct the incoming flow downward as it passed through the filter, placing the forces of buoyancy and viscous drag in opposition to each other. This contrasted with the third filter's bottom-in bottom-out fluid path, which was shown to direct the incoming flow upward so that the forces of buoyancy and viscous drag work together. The direction of the blood flow path through a filter may be important to the application of arterial-line filter technology as it helps determine how the forces of buoyancy and flow are aligned with one another.

Modelling rapid subsurface flow at the hillslope scale with explicit representation of preferential flow paths

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wienhöfer, J.; Zehe, E.

2012-04-01

Rapid lateral flow processes via preferential flow paths are widely accepted to play a key role for rainfall-runoff response in temperate humid headwater catchments. A quantitative description of these processes, however, is still a major challenge in hydrological research, not least because detailed information about the architecture of subsurface flow paths are often impossible to obtain at a natural site without disturbing the system. Our study combines physically based modelling and field observations with the objective to better understand how flow network configurations influence the hydrological response of hillslopes. The system under investigation is a forested hillslope with a small perennial spring at the study area Heumöser, a headwater catchment of the Dornbirnerach in Vorarlberg, Austria. In-situ points measurements of field-saturated hydraulic conductivity and dye staining experiments at the plot scale revealed that shrinkage cracks and biogenic macropores function as preferential flow paths in the fine-textured soils of the study area, and these preferential flow structures were active in fast subsurface transport of artificial tracers at the hillslope scale. For modelling of water and solute transport, we followed the approach of implementing preferential flow paths as spatially explicit structures of high hydraulic conductivity and low retention within the 2D process-based model CATFLOW. Many potential configurations of the flow path network were generated as realisations of a stochastic process informed by macropore characteristics derived from the plot scale observations. Together with different realisations of soil hydraulic parameters, this approach results in a Monte Carlo study. The model setups were used for short-term simulation of a sprinkling and tracer experiment, and the results were evaluated against measured discharges and tracer breakthrough curves. Although both criteria were taken for model evaluation, still several model setups produced acceptable matches to the observed behaviour. These setups were selected for long-term simulation, the results of which were compared against water level measurements at two piezometers along the hillslope and the integral discharge response of the spring to reject some non-behavioural model setups and further reduce equifinality. The results of this study indicate that process-based modelling can provide a means to distinguish preferential flow networks on the hillslope scale when complementary measurements to constrain the range of behavioural model setups are available. These models can further be employed as a virtual reality to investigate the characteristics of flow path architectures and explore effective parameterisations for larger scale applications.

Cascading Tesla Oscillating Flow Diode for Stirling Engine Gas Bearings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dyson, Rodger

2012-01-01

Replacing the mechanical check-valve in a Stirling engine with a micromachined, non-moving-part flow diode eliminates moving parts and reduces the risk of microparticle clogging. At very small scales, helium gas has sufficient mass momentum that it can act as a flow controller in a similar way as a transistor can redirect electrical signals with a smaller bias signal. The innovation here forces helium gas to flow in predominantly one direction by offering a clear, straight-path microchannel in one direction of flow, but then through a sophisticated geometry, the reversed flow is forced through a tortuous path. This redirection is achieved by using microfluid channel flow to force the much larger main flow into this tortuous path. While microdiodes have been developed in the past, this innovation cascades Tesla diodes to create a much higher pressure in the gas bearing supply plenum. In addition, the special shape of the leaves captures loose particles that would otherwise clog the microchannel of the gas bearing pads.

A stress sensitivity model for the permeability of porous media based on bi-dispersed fractal theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tan, X.-H.; Liu, C.-Y.; Li, X.-P.; Wang, H.-Q.; Deng, H.

A stress sensitivity model for the permeability of porous media based on bidispersed fractal theory is established, considering the change of the flow path, the fractal geometry approach and the mechanics of porous media. It is noted that the two fractal parameters of the porous media construction perform differently when the stress changes. The tortuosity fractal dimension of solid cluster DcTσ become bigger with an increase of stress. However, the pore fractal dimension of solid cluster Dcfσ and capillary bundle Dpfσ remains the same with an increase of stress. The definition of normalized permeability is introduced for the analyzation of the impacts of stress sensitivity on permeability. The normalized permeability is related to solid cluster tortuosity dimension, pore fractal dimension, solid cluster maximum diameter, Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio. Every parameter has clear physical meaning without the use of empirical constants. Predictions of permeability of the model is accordant with the obtained experimental data. Thus, the proposed model can precisely depict the flow of fluid in porous media under stress.

Simulation study of overtaking in pedestrian flow using floor field cellular automaton model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fu, Zhijian; Xia, Liang; Yang, Hongtai; Liu, Xiaobo; Ma, Jian; Luo, Lin; Yang, Lizhong; Chen, Junmin

Properties of pedestrian may change along the moving path, for example, as a result of fatigue or injury, which has never been properly investigated in the past research. The paper attempts to study tactical overtaking in pedestrian flow. That is difficult to be modeled using a microscopic discrete model because of the complexity of the detailed overtaking behavior, and crossing/overlaps of pedestrian routes. Thus, a multi-velocity floor field cellular automaton model explaining the detailed psychical process of overtaking decision was proposed. Pedestrian can be either in normal state or in tactical overtaking state. Without tactical decision, pedestrians in normal state are driven by the floor field. Pedestrians make their tactical overtaking decisions by evaluating the walking environment around the overtaking route (the average velocity and density around the route, visual field of pedestrian) and obstructing conditions (the distance and velocity difference between the overtaking pedestrian and the obstructing pedestrian). The effects of tactical overtaking ratio, free velocity dispersion, and visual range on fundamental diagram, conflict density, and successful overtaking ratio were explored. Besides, the sensitivity analysis of the route factor relative intensity was performed.

Axial Flow Conditioning Device for Mitigating Instabilities

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ahuja, Vineet (Inventor); Birkbeck, Roger M. (Inventor); Hosangadi, Ashvin (Inventor)

2017-01-01

A flow conditioning device for incrementally stepping down pressure within a piping system is presented. The invention includes an outer annular housing, a center element, and at least one intermediate annular element. The outer annular housing includes an inlet end attachable to an inlet pipe and an outlet end attachable to an outlet pipe. The outer annular housing and the intermediate annular element(s) are concentrically disposed about the center element. The intermediate annular element(s) separates an axial flow within the outer annular housing into at least two axial flow paths. Each axial flow path includes at least two annular extensions that alternately and locally direct the axial flow radially outward and inward or radially inward and outward thereby inducing a pressure loss or a pressure gradient within the axial flow. The pressure within the axial flow paths is lower than the pressure at the inlet end and greater than the vapor pressure for the axial flow. The invention minimizes fluidic instabilities, pressure pulses, vortex formation and shedding, and/or cavitation during pressure step down to yield a stabilized flow within a piping system.

Fluidic Oscillator Having Decoupled Frequency and Amplitude Control

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Koklu, Mehti (Inventor)

2017-01-01

A fluidic oscillator having independent frequency and amplitude control includes a fluidic-oscillator main flow channel having a main flow inlet, a main flow outlet, and first and second control ports disposed at opposing sides thereof. A fluidic-oscillator controller has an inlet and outlet. A volume defined by the main flow channel is greater than the volume defined by the controller. A flow diverter coupled to the outlet of the controller defines a first fluid flow path from the controller's outlet to the first control port and defines a second fluid flow path from the controller's outlet to the second control port.

Fluidic Oscillator Having Decoupled Frequency and Amplitude Control

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Koklu, Mehti (Inventor)

2016-01-01

A fluidic oscillator having independent frequency and amplitude control includes a fluidic-oscillator main flow channel having a main flow inlet, a main flow outlet, and first and second control ports disposed at opposing sides thereof. A fluidic-oscillator controller has an inlet and outlet. A volume defined by the main flow channel is greater than the volume defined by the controller. A flow diverter coupled to the outlet of the controller defines a first fluid flow path from the controller's outlet to the first control port and defines a second fluid flow path from the controller's outlet to the second control port.

Thermo-Mechanical Processing in Friction Stir Welds

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schneider, J. A.; Nunes, A. C., Jr.

2002-01-01

In Friction Stir Welding (FSW) a rotating pin-tool inserted into a weld seam literally stirs the edges of the seam together. In this study, two flow paths are proposed that define the FWS zone. Studies using a longitudinal tungsten wire (0.0025 dia.) were used to visualize and document the material flow. The material flow path is described using a mathematical model.

Homogenous isotropic invisible cloak based on geometrical optics.

PubMed

Sun, Jingbo; Zhou, Ji; Kang, Lei

2008-10-27

Invisible cloak derived from the coordinate transformation requires its constitutive material to be anisotropic. In this work, we present a cloak of graded-index isotropic material based on the geometrical optics theory. The cloak is realized by concentric multilayered structure with designed refractive index to achieve the low-scattering and smooth power-flow. Full-wave simulations on such a design of a cylindrical cloak are performed to demonstrate the cloaking ability to incident wave of any polarization. Using normal nature material with isotropy and low absorption, the cloak shows light on a practical path to stealth technology, especially that in the optical range.

Improved Ultrasonic Fuel Mass Flowmeter for Army Aircraft Engine Diagnostics

DTIC Science & Technology

1975-06-01

B-6), at least for large pipes , with diameters from ~0, 2 m to over 1 m. See Refs. 3-7. For area-averaging over a limited range of flow...u l a r c r o s s section. Sheet -meta l duct can be instal led to operate at hydrosta t ic p r e s s u r e within pipes of normal or heavy...practical limit is on the order of 1/4 of the pipe radius. To avoid this limit , and at the same time obtain propagation over a path independent of

Hyporheic Exchange Flows and Biogeochemical Patterns near a Meandering Stream: East Fork of the Jemez River, Valles Caldera National Preserve, New Mexico

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Christensen, H.; Wooten, J. P.; Swanson, E.; Senison, J. J.; Myers, K. D.; Befus, K. M.; Warden, J.; Zamora, P. B.; Gomez, J. D.; Wilson, J. L.; Groffman, A.; Rearick, M. S.; Cardenas, M. B.

2012-12-01

A study by the 2012 Hydrogeology Field Methods class of the University of Texas at Austin implemented multiple approaches to evaluate and characterize local hyporheic zone flow and biogeochemical trends in a highly meandering reach of the of the East Fork of the Jemez River, a fourth order stream in northwestern New Mexico. This section of the Jemez River is strongly meandering and exhibits distinct riffle-pool morphology. The high stream sinuosity creates inter-meander hyporheic flow that is also largely influenced by local groundwater gradients. In this study, dozens of piezometers were used to map the water table and flow vectors were then calculated. Surface water and ground water samples were collected and preserved for later geochemical analysis by ICPMS and HPLC, and unstable parameters and alkalinity were measured on-site. Additionally, information was collected from thermal monitoring of the streambed, stream gauging, and from a series of electrical resistivity surveys forming a network across the site. Hyporheic flow paths are suggested by alternating gaining and losing sections of the stream as determined by stream gauging at multiple locations along the reach. Water table maps and calculated fluxes across the sediment-water interface also indicate hyporheic flow paths. We find variability in the distribution of biogeochemical constituents (oxidation-reduction potential, nitrate, ammonium, and phosphate) along interpreted flow paths which is partly consistent with hyporheic exchange. The variability and heterogeneity of reducing and oxidizing conditions is interpreted to be a result of groundwater-surface water interaction. Two-dimensional mapping of biogeochemical parameters show redox transitions along interpreted flow paths. Further analysis of various measured unstable chemical parameters results in observable trends strongly delineated along these preferential flow paths that are consistent with the direction of groundwater flow and the assumed direction of inter-meander hyporheic flow.

Solute transport along preferential flow paths in unsaturated fractures

USGS Publications Warehouse

Su, Grace W.; Geller, Jil T.; Pruess, Karsten; Hunt, James R.

2001-01-01

Laboratory experiments were conducted to study solute transport along preferential flow paths in unsaturated, inclined fractures. Qualitative aspects of solute transport were identified in a miscible dye tracer experiment conducted in a transparent replica of a natural granite fracture. Additional experiments were conducted to measure the breakthrough curves of a conservative tracer introduced into an established preferential flow path in two different fracture replicas and a rock‐replica combination. The influence of gravity was investigated by varying fracture inclination. The relationship between the travel times of the solute and the relative influence of gravity was substantially affected by two modes of intermittent flow that occurred: the snapping rivulet and the pulsating blob modes. The measured travel times of the solute were evaluated with three transfer function models: the axial dispersion, the reactors‐in‐series, and the lognormal models. The three models described the solute travel times nearly equally well. A mechanistic model was also formulated to describe transport when the pulsating blob mode occurred which assumed blobs of water containing solute mixed with residual pools of water along the flow path.

Postural stability of preoperative acoustic neuroma patients assessed by sway magnetometry: are they unsteady?

PubMed

Collins, Melanie M; Johnson, Ian J M; Clifford, Elaine; Birchall, John P; O'Donoghue, Gerald M

2003-04-01

The objective was to evaluate the preoperative postural stability of acoustic neuroma patients using sway magnetometry. Prospective two-center study. Fifty-one patients (mean age, 53 years) diagnosed with unilateral acoustic neuroma on magnetic resonance imaging at two tertiary referral centers were studied. Preoperatively, each patient had sway patterns (with eyes open and with eyes closed, and standing on foam) recorded for 120 seconds by sway magnetometry. Path length for 30 seconds was calculated. The Romberg coefficient (path length with eyes open divided by path length with eyes closed) was calculated. Forty-four percent of patients had abnormal path lengths with eyes open, and 49% with eyes closed. The Romberg coefficients were significantly lower than normal (P <.001; 95% CI, 0.19-0.87). Mean Romberg coefficient was 0.59 (normal value = 0.73), and all patients had a coefficient of less than 1. Half of preoperative acoustic neuroma patients are unsteady, exhibiting abnormal sway patterns based on path length measurements. The increase in sway path length demonstrable in normal subjects with eyes closed was significantly exaggerated in patients with acoustic neuroma.

Investigation of recharge dynamics and flow paths in a fractured crystalline aquifer in semi-arid India using borehole logs: implications for managed aquifer recharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alazard, M.; Boisson, A.; Maréchal, J.-C.; Perrin, J.; Dewandel, B.; Schwarz, T.; Pettenati, M.; Picot-Colbeaux, G.; Kloppman, W.; Ahmed, S.

2016-02-01

The recharge flow paths in a typical weathered hard-rock aquifer in a semi-arid area of southern India were investigated in relation to structures associated with a managed aquifer recharge (MAR) scheme. Despite the large number of MAR structures, the mechanisms of recharge in their vicinity are still unclear. The study uses a percolation tank as a tool to identify the input signal of the recharge and uses multiple measurements (piezometric time series, electrical conductivity profiles in boreholes) compared against heat-pulse flowmeter measurements and geochemical data (major ions and stable isotopes) to examine recharge flow paths. The recharge process is a combination of diffuse piston flow and preferential flow paths. Direct vertical percolation appears to be very limited, in contradiction to the conceptual model generally admitted where vertical flow through saprolite is considered as the main recharge process. The horizontal component of the flow leads to a strong geochemical stratification of the water column. The complex recharge pattern, presented in a conceptual model, leads to varied impacts on groundwater quality and availability in both time and space, inducing strong implications for water management, water quality evolution, MAR monitoring and longer-term socio-economic costs.

Interpolating between random walks and optimal transportation routes: Flow with multiple sources and targets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guex, Guillaume

2016-05-01

In recent articles about graphs, different models proposed a formalism to find a type of path between two nodes, the source and the target, at crossroads between the shortest-path and the random-walk path. These models include a freely adjustable parameter, allowing to tune the behavior of the path toward randomized movements or direct routes. This article presents a natural generalization of these models, namely a model with multiple sources and targets. In this context, source nodes can be viewed as locations with a supply of a certain good (e.g. people, money, information) and target nodes as locations with a demand of the same good. An algorithm is constructed to display the flow of goods in the network between sources and targets. With again a freely adjustable parameter, this flow can be tuned to follow routes of minimum cost, thus displaying the flow in the context of the optimal transportation problem or, by contrast, a random flow, known to be similar to the electrical current flow if the random-walk is reversible. Moreover, a source-targetcoupling can be retrieved from this flow, offering an optimal assignment to the transportation problem. This algorithm is described in the first part of this article and then illustrated with case studies.

The 16.6 Ma Steens Mountain Geomagnetic Polarity Reversal: Additional Complexity From a Composite Record of Five Stratigraphic Sections.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jarboe, N. A.; Coe, R. S.; Glen, J. M.; Paul, R. R.

2007-05-01

The best known record of the earth's magnetic field behavior during a geomagnetic polarity reversal preserved in volcanic rock is the reverse to normal (R-N) polarity reversal found in the Steens Basalts of SE Oregon. At three locations where reverse to normal sections are found (Steens Mountain, Catlow Peak, and Poker Jim Ridge), four high precision 40Ar/39Ar plateau ages of plagioclase separates from transitionally magnetized rocks were determined. The ages are the same within error and have a weighted mean age of 16.58 ± 0.14 Ma. Errors are two sigma. A more precise constraint on the youngest possible age of the reversal is 16.548 ± 0.050 Ma determined from the normally magnetized Oregon Canyon tuff capping the Catlow Peak section. Comparison of these ages to the new geomagnetic polarity time scale of Gradstein et al. (A Geologic Time Scale 2004, 589 pp., Cambridge University Press, 2004.), after adjustments due to differences in Fish Canyon sanidine (FCs) standard ages (28.02 Ma, this study; 28.24 Ma, Gradstein et al.), shows that the Steens reversal is uniquely identified as the top of the C5Cr chron. The high precision of the ages and the Steens' reversal location in the geomagnetic polarity timescale convincingly demonstrate that these stratigraphically uncorrelated transitional sections were erupted during the same transition and their transitional paths should be combined. The high-quality, detailed benchmark record of this reversal (Mankinen et al., JGR, 90(B), 10.393-10.416, 1985; Prevot et al., Nature, 316, 230-234, 1985) is a composite derived from two sampled sections 2 km apart on Steens Mountain that overlapped significantly, Steens A above and Steens B below. This study showed that the magnetic field during the reversal moved from reverse to normal and then bounced back to transitional before finally returning to normal (a R-T-N-T-N path). The unexamined upper part of the Steens B section was later sampled and revealed an additional bounce of the field during the transition (Camps et al., JGR, 104(B8), 17747- 58, 1999). This increased the reversal's complexity to a R-T-N-T-N-T-N pattern. We have studied a R-N volcanic section at Catlow Peak 70 km SSE of Steens Mountain with 32 flows erupted during the transition. The transitional directions trace a path very close to the Steens A and B reversal path but contain an additional large swing through the reversed field direction, demonstrating an even more complex R-T-N-T-N-T-R-T-N path. We will also report on two R-N sections recently sampled at Poker Jim Ridge 80 km west of Steens Mountain that add new directions to the Steens record. The complex composite Steens reversal path recorded in these high fidelity lavas gives some credence to suggestions of very complex magnetic field behavior during reversals, previously seen only in sediment records where the acquisition of magnetization is less well understood.

Heat exchanger efficiently operable alternatively as evaporator or condenser

DOEpatents

Ecker, Amir L.

1981-01-01

A heat exchanger adapted for efficient operation alternatively as evaporator or condenser and characterized by flexible outer tube having a plurality of inner conduits and check valves sealingly disposed within the outer tube and connected with respective inlet and outlet master flow conduits and configured so as to define a parallel flow path for a first fluid such as a refrigerant when flowed in one direction and to define a serpentine and series flow path for the first fluid when flowed in the opposite direction. The flexible outer tube has a heat exchange fluid, such as water, flowed therethrough by way of suitable inlet and outlet connections. The inner conduits and check valves form a package that is twistable so as to define a spiral annular flow path within the flexible outer tube for the heat exchange fluid. The inner conduits have thin walls of highly efficient heat transfer material for transferring heat between the first and second fluids. Also disclosed are specific materials and configurations.

Short paths in expander graphs

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kleinberg, J.; Rubinfeld, R.

Graph expansion has proved to be a powerful general tool for analyzing the behavior of routing algorithms and the interconnection networks on which they run. We develop new routing algorithms and structural results for bounded-degree expander graphs. Our results are unified by the fact that they are all based upon, and extend, a body of work asserting that expanders are rich in short, disjoint paths. In particular, our work has consequences for the disjoint paths problem, multicommodify flow, and graph minor containment. We show: (i) A greedy algorithm for approximating the maximum disjoint paths problem achieves a polylogarithmic approximation ratiomore » in bounded-degree expanders. Although our algorithm is both deterministic and on-line, its performance guarantee is an improvement over previous bounds in expanders. (ii) For a multicommodily flow problem with arbitrary demands on a bounded-degree expander, there is a (1 + {epsilon})-optimal solution using only flow paths of polylogarithmic length. It follows that the multicommodity flow algorithm of Awerbuch and Leighton runs in nearly linear time per commodity in expanders. Our analysis is based on establishing the following: given edge weights on an expander G, one can increase some of the weights very slightly so the resulting shortest-path metric is smooth - the min-weight path between any pair of nodes uses a polylogarithmic number of edges. (iii) Every bounded-degree expander on n nodes contains every graph with O(n/log{sup O(1)} n) nodes and edges as a minor.« less

Design requirements and development of an airborne descent path definition algorithm for time navigation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Izumi, K. H.; Thompson, J. L.; Groce, J. L.; Schwab, R. W.

1986-01-01

The design requirements for a 4D path definition algorithm are described. These requirements were developed for the NASA ATOPS as an extension of the Local Flow Management/Profile Descent algorithm. They specify the processing flow, functional and data architectures, and system input requirements, and recommended the addition of a broad path revision (reinitialization) function capability. The document also summarizes algorithm design enhancements and the implementation status of the algorithm on an in-house PDP-11/70 computer. Finally, the requirements for the pilot-computer interfaces, the lateral path processor, and guidance and steering function are described.

WATER QUALITY EFFECTS OF HYPORHEIC PROCESSING IN A LARGE RIVER

EPA Science Inventory

Water quality changes along hyporheic flow paths may have
important effects on river water quality and aquatic habitat. Previous
studies on the Willamette River, Oregon, showed that river water follows
hyporheic flow paths through highly porous deposits created by river...

CRT--Cascade Routing Tool to define and visualize flow paths for grid-based watershed models

USGS Publications Warehouse

Henson, Wesley R.; Medina, Rose L.; Mayers, C. Justin; Niswonger, Richard G.; Regan, R.S.

2013-01-01

The U.S. Geological Survey Cascade Routing Tool (CRT) is a computer application for watershed models that include the coupled Groundwater and Surface-water FLOW model, GSFLOW, and the Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System (PRMS). CRT generates output to define cascading surface and shallow subsurface flow paths for grid-based model domains. CRT requires a land-surface elevation for each hydrologic response unit (HRU) of the model grid; these elevations can be derived from a Digital Elevation Model raster data set of the area containing the model domain. Additionally, a list is required of the HRUs containing streams, swales, lakes, and other cascade termination features along with indices that uniquely define these features. Cascade flow paths are determined from the altitudes of each HRU. Cascade paths can cross any of the four faces of an HRU to a stream or to a lake within or adjacent to an HRU. Cascades can terminate at a stream, lake, or HRU that has been designated as a watershed outflow location.

Concentrations and speciation of arsenic along a groundwater flow-path in the Upper Floridan aquifer, Florida, USA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haque, S. E.; Johannesson, K. H.

2006-05-01

Arsenic (As) concentrations and speciation were determined in groundwaters along a flow-path in the Upper Floridan aquifer (UFA) to investigate the biogeochemical “evolution“ of As in this relatively pristine aquifer. Dissolved inorganic As species were separated in the field using anion-exchange chromatography and subsequently analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Total As concentrations are higher in the recharge area groundwaters compared to down-gradient portions of UFA. Redox conditions vary from relatively oxic to anoxic along the flow-path. Mobilization of As species in UFA groundwaters is influenced by ferric iron reduction and subsequent dissolution, sulfate reduction, and probable pyrite precipitation that are inferred from the data to occur along distinct regions of the flow-path. In general, the distribution of As species are consistent with equilibrium thermodynamics, such that arsenate dominates in more oxidizing waters near the recharge area, and arsenite predominates in the progressively reducing groundwaters beyond the recharge area.

Device for improved air and fuel distribution to a combustor

DOEpatents

Laster, Walter R.; Schilp, Reinhard

2016-05-31

A flow conditioning device (30, 50, 70, 100, 150) for a can annular gas turbine engine, including a plurality of flow elements (32, 34, 52, 54, 72, 74, 102) disposed in a compressed air flow path (42, 60, 80, 114, 122) leading to a combustor (12), configured such that relative adjustment of at least one flow directing element (32, 52, 72, 110) with respect to an adjacent flow directing element (34, 54, 74, 112, 120) during operation of the gas turbine engine is effective to adjust a level of choking of the compressed air flow path (42, 60, 80, 114, 122).

Extended shortest path selection for package routing of complex networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ye, Fan; Zhang, Lei; Wang, Bing-Hong; Liu, Lu; Zhang, Xing-Yi

The routing strategy plays a very important role in complex networks such as Internet system and Peer-to-Peer networks. However, most of the previous work concentrates only on the path selection, e.g. Flooding and Random Walk, or finding the shortest path (SP) and rarely considering the local load information such as SP and Distance Vector Routing. Flow-based Routing mainly considers load balance and still cannot achieve best optimization. Thus, in this paper, we propose a novel dynamic routing strategy on complex network by incorporating the local load information into SP algorithm to enhance the traffic flow routing optimization. It was found that the flow in a network is greatly affected by the waiting time of the network, so we should not consider only choosing optimized path for package transformation but also consider node congestion. As a result, the packages should be transmitted with a global optimized path with smaller congestion and relatively short distance. Analysis work and simulation experiments show that the proposed algorithm can largely enhance the network flow with the maximum throughput within an acceptable calculating time. The detailed analysis of the algorithm will also be provided for explaining the efficiency.

Uncertainty in the modelling of spatial and temporal patterns of shallow groundwater flow paths: The role of geological and hydrological site information

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Woodward, Simon J. R.; Wöhling, Thomas; Stenger, Roland

2016-03-01

Understanding the hydrological and hydrogeochemical responses of hillslopes and other small scale groundwater systems requires mapping the velocity and direction of groundwater flow relative to the controlling subsurface material features. Since point observations of subsurface materials and groundwater head are often the basis for modelling these complex, dynamic, three-dimensional systems, considerable uncertainties are inevitable, but are rarely assessed. This study explored whether piezometric head data measured at high spatial and temporal resolution over six years at a hillslope research site provided sufficient information to determine the flow paths that transfer nitrate leached from the soil zone through the shallow saturated zone into a nearby wetland and stream. Transient groundwater flow paths were modelled using MODFLOW and MODPATH, with spatial patterns of hydraulic conductivity in the three material layers at the site being estimated by regularised pilot point calibration using PEST, constrained by slug test estimates of saturated hydraulic conductivity at several locations. Subsequent Null Space Monte Carlo uncertainty analysis showed that this data was not sufficient to definitively determine the spatial pattern of hydraulic conductivity at the site, although modelled water table dynamics matched the measured heads with acceptable accuracy in space and time. Particle tracking analysis predicted that the saturated flow direction was similar throughout the year as the water table rose and fell, but was not aligned with either the ground surface or subsurface material contours; indeed the subsurface material layers, having relatively similar hydraulic properties, appeared to have little effect on saturated water flow at the site. Flow path uncertainty analysis showed that, while accurate flow path direction or velocity could not be determined on the basis of the available head and slug test data alone, the origin of well water samples relative to the material layers and site contour could still be broadly deduced. This study highlights both the challenge of collecting suitably informative field data with which to characterise subsurface hydrology, and the power of modern calibration and uncertainty modelling techniques to assess flow path uncertainty in hillslopes and other small scale systems.

Characterizing Reactive Flow Paths in Fractured Cement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wenning, Q. C.; Huerta, N. J.; Hesse, M. A.; Bryant, S. L.

2011-12-01

Geologic carbon sequestration can be a viable method for reducing anthropogenic CO2 flux into the atmosphere. However, the technology must be economically feasible and pose acceptable risk to stakeholders. One key risk is CO2 leakage out of the storage reservoir. Potential driving forces for leakage are the overpressure due to CO2 injection and the buoyancy of free phase CO2. Potential hazards of leakage are contamination of Underground Sources of Drinking Water or the atmosphere and would be deemed an unacceptable risk. Wells potentially provide a fast path for leakage from the reservoir. While the well's cement casing is reactive with CO2 and CO2-saturated brine, the low cement matrix permeability and slow diffusion rate make it unlikely that CO2 will escape through a properly constructed wellbore. However, highly permeable fractures with micrometer scale apertures can occur in cement casings. Reactions that occur in the flow in these fractures can either be self-limiting or self-enhancing. Therefore, understanding the reactive flow is critical to understanding of leakage evolution through these fractures. The goal of our work is to characterize the modification of the flow paths in the fracture due to reaction with acidic brine. With this aim we have characterized both the initial flow path of un-reactive flow and the final flow path after introduction of low-pH acid along the same fracture. Class H cement cores 3-6 cm in length and 2.5 cm diameter are created and a single natural and unique fracture is produced in each core using the Brazilian method. Our experimental fluid is injected at a constant rate into the cement core housed in a Hassler Cell under confining pressure. A solution of red dye and deionized water is pumped through the fracture to stain the un-reactive flow paths. Deionized water is then pumped through the core to limit diffusion of the dye into non-flowing portions of the fracture. After staining the initial flow path, low pH water due to hydrochloric acid (HCL), is pumped through the core at the same rate as the dye. The low pH water is used as a proxy for acidic CO2-saturated brine. Both staining from the un-reactive dye and acid produce visible permanent color alterations on the cement fracture plane. Results show that nearly the entire fracture width is stained by the red dye, with only a few asperities un-dyed. However the low pH HCl forms restricted reacted channels that are a subset of the area open to un-reactive flow, occupying only 10-50% of the entire fracture width. Low pH HCl is believed to be the driving force for the reaction that causes channeling. As acid flows through the fracture, calcium is stripped from the low pH high velocity flow front and precipitates along of the edges of the channel where pH is higher due to the lower flow velocities outside the channel. It is hypothesized that this mineral precipitation restricts the flow into localized channels within the plane of fractures having apertures of tens of micrometers. Reactions restrict the flow path to a smaller fraction of the surface, which may be an indication of self-limiting behavior.

The role of storm scale, position and movement in controlling urban flood response

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

ten Veldhuis, Marie-claire; Zhou, Zhengzheng; Yang, Long; Liu, Shuguang; Smith, James

2018-01-01

The impact of spatial and temporal variability of rainfall on hydrological response remains poorly understood, in particular in urban catchments due to their strong variability in land use, a high degree of imperviousness and the presence of stormwater infrastructure. In this study, we analyze the effect of storm scale, position and movement in relation to basin scale and flow-path network structure on urban hydrological response. A catalog of 279 peak events was extracted from a high-quality observational dataset covering 15 years of flow observations and radar rainfall data for five (semi)urbanized basins ranging from 7.0 to 111.1 km2 in size. Results showed that the largest peak flows in the event catalog were associated with storm core scales exceeding basin scale, for all except the largest basin. Spatial scale of flood-producing storm events in the smaller basins fell into two groups: storms of large spatial scales exceeding basin size or small, concentrated events, with storm core much smaller than basin size. For the majority of events, spatial rainfall variability was strongly smoothed by the flow-path network, increasingly so for larger basin size. Correlation analysis showed that position of the storm in relation to the flow-path network was significantly correlated with peak flow in the smallest and in the two more urbanized basins. Analysis of storm movement relative to the flow-path network showed that direction of storm movement, upstream or downstream relative to the flow-path network, had little influence on hydrological response. Slow-moving storms tend to be associated with higher peak flows and longer lag times. Unexpectedly, position of the storm relative to impervious cover within the basins had little effect on flow peaks. These findings show the importance of observation-based analysis in validating and improving our understanding of interactions between the spatial distribution of rainfall and catchment variability.

Petrological Constraints on Melt Generation Beneath the Asal Rift (Djibouti)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pinzuti, P.; Humler, E.; Manighetti, I.; Gaudemer, Y.; Bézos, A.

2010-12-01

The temporal evolution of the mantle melting processes in the Asal Rift is evaluated from the chemical composition of 95 lava flows sampled along 10 km of the rift axis and 8 km off-axis (that is for the last 650 ky). The major element composition and the trace element ratios of aphyric basalts across the Asal Rift show a symmetric pattern relative to the rift axis and preserved a clear signal of mantle melting depth variations. FeO, Fe8.0, Sm/YbN and Zr/Y increase, whereas SiO2 and Lu/HfN decrease from the rift axis to the rift shoulders. These variations are qualitatively consistent with a shallower melting beneath the rift axis than off-axis and the data show that the melting regime is inconsistent with a passive upwelling model. In order to quantify the depth range and extent of melting, we invert Na8.0 and Fe8.0 contents of basalts based on a pure active upwelling model. Beneath the rift axis, melting paths are shallow, from 60 to 30 km. These melting paths are consistent with adiabatic melting in normal-temperature asthenosphere, beneath an extensively thinned mantle lithosphere. In contrast, melting on the rift shoulders occurred beneath a thick mantle lithosphere and required mantle solidus temperature 180°C hotter than normal (melting paths from 110 to 75 km). The calculated rate of lithospheric thinning is high (6.0 cm yr-1) and could explain the survival of a metastable garnet within the mantle at depth shallower than 90 km beneath the modern Asal Rift.

Pin Tool Geometry Effects in Friction Stir Welding

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Querin, J. A.; Rubisoff, H. A.; Schneider, J. A.

2009-01-01

In friction stir welding (FSW) there is significant evidence that material can take one of two different flow paths when being displaced from its original position in front of the pin tool to its final position in the wake of the weld. The geometry of the pin tool, along with the process parameters, plays an important role in dictating the path that the material takes. Each flow path will impart a different thermomechanical history on the material, consequently altering the material microstructure and subsequent weld properties. The intention of this research is to isolate the effect that different pin tool attributes have on the flow paths imparted on the FSWed material. Based on published weld tool geometries, a variety of weld tools were fabricated and used to join AA2219. Results from the tensile properties and microstructural characterization will be presented.

Tracking trade transactions in water resource systems: A node-arc optimization formulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Erfani, Tohid; Huskova, Ivana; Harou, Julien J.

2013-05-01

We formulate and apply a multicommodity network flow node-arc optimization model capable of tracking trade transactions in complex water resource systems. The model uses a simple node to node network connectivity matrix and does not require preprocessing of all possible flow paths in the network. We compare the proposed node-arc formulation with an existing arc-path (flow path) formulation and explain the advantages and difficulties of both approaches. We verify the proposed formulation model on a hypothetical water distribution network. Results indicate the arc-path model solves the problem with fewer constraints, but the proposed formulation allows using a simple network connectivity matrix which simplifies modeling large or complex networks. The proposed algorithm allows converting existing node-arc hydroeconomic models that broadly represent water trading to ones that also track individual supplier-receiver relationships (trade transactions).

Preferential paths in yield stress fluid flow through a porous medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guasto, Jeffrey; Waisbord, Nicolas; Stoop, Norbert; Dunkel, Jörn

2016-11-01

A broad range of biological, geological, and industrial materials with complex rheological properties are subjected to flow through porous media in applications ranging from oil recovery to food manufacturing. In this experimental study, we examine the flow of a model yield stress fluid (Carbopol micro-gel) through a quasi-2D porous medium, fabricated in a microfluidic channel. The flow is driven by applying a precisely-controlled pressure gradient and measured by particle tracking velocimetry, and our observations are complemented by a pore-network model of the yield stress fluid flow. While remaining unyielded at small applied pressure, the micro-gel begins to yield at a critical pressure gradient, exhibiting a single preferential flow path that percolates through the porous medium. As the applied pressure gradient increases, we observe a subsequent coarsening and invasion of the yielded, fluidized network. An examination of both the yielded network topology and pore-scale flow reveal that two cooperative phenomena are involved in sculpting the preferential flow paths: (1) the geometry of the porous microstructure, and (2) the adhesive surface interactions between the micro-gel and substrate. NSF CBET-1511340.

Evaluation of the path integral for flow through random porous media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Westbroek, Marise J. E.; Coche, Gil-Arnaud; King, Peter R.; Vvedensky, Dimitri D.

2018-04-01

We present a path integral formulation of Darcy's equation in one dimension with random permeability described by a correlated multivariate lognormal distribution. This path integral is evaluated with the Markov chain Monte Carlo method to obtain pressure distributions, which are shown to agree with the solutions of the corresponding stochastic differential equation for Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions. The extension of our approach to flow through random media in two and three dimensions is discussed.

Low hydrostatic head electrolyte addition to fuel cell stacks

DOEpatents

Kothmann, Richard E.

1983-01-01

A fuel cell and system for supply electrolyte, as well as fuel and an oxidant to a fuel cell stack having at least two fuel cells, each of the cells having a pair of spaced electrodes and a matrix sandwiched therebetween, fuel and oxidant paths associated with a bipolar plate separating each pair of adjacent fuel cells and an electrolyte fill path for adding electrolyte to the cells and wetting said matrices. Electrolyte is flowed through the fuel cell stack in a back and forth fashion in a path in each cell substantially parallel to one face of opposite faces of the bipolar plate exposed to one of the electrodes and the matrices to produce an overall head uniformly between cells due to frictional pressure drop in the path for each cell free of a large hydrostatic head to thereby avoid flooding of the electrodes. The bipolar plate is provided with channels forming paths for the flow of the fuel and oxidant on opposite faces thereof, and the fuel and the oxidant are flowed along a first side of the bipolar plate and a second side of the bipolar plate through channels formed into the opposite faces of the bipolar plate, the fuel flowing through channels formed into one of the opposite faces and the oxidant flowing through channels formed into the other of the opposite faces.

Improved aethalometer

DOEpatents

Hansen, A.D.

1988-01-25

An improved aethalometer having a single light source and a single light detector and two light paths from the light source to the light detector. A quartz fiber filter is inserted in the device, the filter having a collection area in one light path and a reference area in the other light path. A gas flow path through the aethalometer housing allows ambient air to flow through the collection area of the filter so that aerosol particles can be collected on the filter. A rotating disk with an opening therethrough allows light for the light source to pass alternately through the two light paths. The voltage output of the detector is applied to a VCO and the VCO pulses for light transmission separately through the two light paths, are counted and compared to determine the absorption coefficient of the collected aerosol particles. 5 figs.

Analysis of single-hole and cross-hole tracer tests conducted at the Nye County early warning drilling program well complex, Nye County, Nevada

USGS Publications Warehouse

Umari, A.; Earle, J.D.; Fahy, M.F.

2006-01-01

As part of the effort to understand the flow and transport characteristics downgradient from the proposed high-level radioactive waste geologic repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, single- and cross-hole tracer tests were conducted from December 2004 through October 2005 in boreholes at the Nye County 22 well complex. The results were analyzed for transport properties using both numerical and analytical solutions of the governing advection dispersion equation. Preliminary results indicate effective flow porosity values ranging from 1.0 ?? 10-2 for an individual flow path to 2.0 ?? 10 -1 for composite flow paths, longitudinal dispersivity ranging from 0.3 to 3 m, and a transverse horizontal dispersivity of 0.03 m. Individual flow paths identified from the cross-hole testing indicate some solute diffusion into the stagnant portion of the alluvial aquifer.

Four-dimensional Doppler ultrasound measurements in carotid bifurcation models: effect of concentric versus eccentric stenosis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Poepping, Tamie L.; Rankin, Richard N.; Holdsworth, David W.

2001-05-01

A unique in-vitro system has been developed that incorporates both realistic phantoms and flow. The anthropomorphic carotid phantoms are fabricated in agar with stenosis severity of 30% or 70% (by NASCET standards) and one of two geometric configurations- concentric or eccentric. The phantoms are perfused with a flow waveform that simulates normal common carotid flow. Pulsed Doppler ultrasound data are acquired at a 1 mm grid spacing throughout the lumen of the carotid bifurcation. To obtain a half-lumen volume, symmetric about the mid plane, requires a 13 hour acquisition over 3238 interrogation sites, producing 5.6 Gbytes of data. The spectral analysis produces estimates of parameters such as the peak velocity, mean velocity, spectral-broadening index, and turbulence intensity. Color-encoded or grayscale-encoded maps of these spectral parameters show distinctly different flow patterns resulting from stenoses of equal severity but different eccentricity. The most noticeable differences are seen in the volumes of the recirculation zones and the paths of the high-velocity jets. Elevated levels of turbulence intensity are also seen distal to the stenosis in the 70%-stenosed models.

Impaired cerebral blood flow networks in temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis: A graph theoretical approach.

PubMed

Sone, Daichi; Matsuda, Hiroshi; Ota, Miho; Maikusa, Norihide; Kimura, Yukio; Sumida, Kaoru; Yokoyama, Kota; Imabayashi, Etsuko; Watanabe, Masako; Watanabe, Yutaka; Okazaki, Mitsutoshi; Sato, Noriko

2016-09-01

Graph theory is an emerging method to investigate brain networks. Altered cerebral blood flow (CBF) has frequently been reported in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), but graph theoretical findings of CBF are poorly understood. Here, we explored graph theoretical networks of CBF in TLE using arterial spin labeling imaging. We recruited patients with TLE and unilateral hippocampal sclerosis (HS) (19 patients with left TLE, and 21 with right TLE) and 20 gender- and age-matched healthy control subjects. We obtained all participants' CBF maps using pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling and analyzed them using the Graph Analysis Toolbox (GAT) software program. As a result, compared to the controls, the patients with left TLE showed a significantly low clustering coefficient (p=0.024), local efficiency (p=0.001), global efficiency (p=0.010), and high transitivity (p=0.015), whereas the patients with right TLE showed significantly high assortativity (p=0.046) and transitivity (p=0.011). The group with right TLE also had high characteristic path length values (p=0.085), low global efficiency (p=0.078), and low resilience to targeted attack (p=0.101) at a trend level. Lower normalized clustering coefficient (p=0.081) in the left TLE and higher normalized characteristic path length (p=0.089) in the right TLE were found also at a trend level. Both the patients with left and right TLE showed significantly decreased clustering in similar areas, i.e., the cingulate gyri, precuneus, and occipital lobe. Our findings revealed differing left-right network metrics in which an inefficient CBF network in left TLE and vulnerability to irritation in right TLE are suggested. The left-right common finding of regional decreased clustering might reflect impaired default-mode networks in TLE. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Developments in Impeller/Seal Secondary Flow Path Modeling for Dynamic Force Coefficients and Leakage

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Palazzolo, Alan; Bhattacharya, Avijit; Athavale, Mahesh; Venkataraman, Balaji; Ryan, Steve; Funston, Kerry

1997-01-01

This paper highlights bulk flow and CFD-based models prepared to calculate force and leakage properties for seals and shrouded impeller leakage paths. The bulk flow approach uses a Hir's based friction model and the CFD approach solves the Navier Stoke's (NS) equation with a finite whirl orbit or via analytical perturbation. The results show good agreement in most instances with available benchmarks.

Obtaining parsimonious hydraulic conductivity fields using head and transport observations: A Bayesian geostatistical parameter estimation approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fienen, M.; Hunt, R.; Krabbenhoft, D.; Clemo, T.

2009-08-01

Flow path delineation is a valuable tool for interpreting the subsurface hydrogeochemical environment. Different types of data, such as groundwater flow and transport, inform different aspects of hydrogeologic parameter values (hydraulic conductivity in this case) which, in turn, determine flow paths. This work combines flow and transport information to estimate a unified set of hydrogeologic parameters using the Bayesian geostatistical inverse approach. Parameter flexibility is allowed by using a highly parameterized approach with the level of complexity informed by the data. Despite the effort to adhere to the ideal of minimal a priori structure imposed on the problem, extreme contrasts in parameters can result in the need to censor correlation across hydrostratigraphic bounding surfaces. These partitions segregate parameters into facies associations. With an iterative approach in which partitions are based on inspection of initial estimates, flow path interpretation is progressively refined through the inclusion of more types of data. Head observations, stable oxygen isotopes (18O/16O ratios), and tritium are all used to progressively refine flow path delineation on an isthmus between two lakes in the Trout Lake watershed, northern Wisconsin, United States. Despite allowing significant parameter freedom by estimating many distributed parameter values, a smooth field is obtained.

Obtaining parsimonious hydraulic conductivity fields using head and transport observations: A Bayesian geostatistical parameter estimation approach

USGS Publications Warehouse

Fienen, M.; Hunt, R.; Krabbenhoft, D.; Clemo, T.

2009-01-01

Flow path delineation is a valuable tool for interpreting the subsurface hydrogeochemical environment. Different types of data, such as groundwater flow and transport, inform different aspects of hydrogeologic parameter values (hydraulic conductivity in this case) which, in turn, determine flow paths. This work combines flow and transport information to estimate a unified set of hydrogeologic parameters using the Bayesian geostatistical inverse approach. Parameter flexibility is allowed by using a highly parameterized approach with the level of complexity informed by the data. Despite the effort to adhere to the ideal of minimal a priori structure imposed on the problem, extreme contrasts in parameters can result in the need to censor correlation across hydrostratigraphic bounding surfaces. These partitions segregate parameters into facies associations. With an iterative approach in which partitions are based on inspection of initial estimates, flow path interpretation is progressively refined through the inclusion of more types of data. Head observations, stable oxygen isotopes (18O/16O ratios), and tritium are all used to progressively refine flow path delineation on an isthmus between two lakes in the Trout Lake watershed, northern Wisconsin, United States. Despite allowing significant parameter freedom by estimating many distributed parameter values, a smooth field is obtained.

Saddle-node bifurcation to jammed state for quasi-one-dimensional counter-chemotactic flow.

PubMed

Fujii, Masashi; Awazu, Akinori; Nishimori, Hiraku

2010-07-01

The transition of a counter-chemotactic particle flow from a free-flow state to a jammed state in a quasi-one-dimensional path is investigated. One of the characteristic features of such a flow is that the constituent particles spontaneously form a cluster that blocks the path, called a path-blocking cluster (PBC), and causes a jammed state when the particle density is greater than a threshold value. Near the threshold value, the PBC occasionally collapses on itself to recover the free flow. In other words, the time evolution of the size of the PBC governs the flux of a counter-chemotactic flow. In this Rapid Communication, on the basis of numerical results of a stochastic cellular automata (SCA) model, we introduce a Langevin equation model for the size evolution of the PBC that reproduces the qualitative characteristics of the SCA model. The results suggest that the emergence of the jammed state in a quasi-one-dimensional counterflow is caused by a saddle-node bifurcation.

Computed Tomography 3-D Imaging of the Metal Deformation Flow Path in Friction Stir Welding

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schneider, Judy; Beshears, Ronald; Nunes, Arthur C., Jr.

2005-01-01

In friction stir welding (FSW), a rotating threaded pin tool is inserted into a weld seam and literally stirs the edges of the seam together. To determine optimal processing parameters for producing a defect free weld, a better understanding of the resulting metal deformation flow path is required. Marker studies are the principal method of studying the metal deformation flow path around the FSW pin tool. In our study, we have used computed tomography (CT) scans to reveal the flow pattern of a lead wire embedded in a FSW weld seam. At the welding temperature of aluminum, the lead becomes molten and is carried with the macro-flow of the weld metal. By using CT images, a 3-dimensional (3D) image of the lead flow pattern can be reconstructed. CT imaging was found to be a convenient and comprehensive way of collecting and displaying tracer data. It marks an advance over previous more tedious and ambiguous radiographic/metallographic data collection methods.

Quantitating and Dating Recent Gene Flow between European and East Asian Populations

PubMed Central

Qin, Pengfei; Zhou, Ying; Lou, Haiyi; Lu, Dongsheng; Yang, Xiong; Wang, Yuchen; Jin, Li; Chung, Yeun-Jun; Xu, Shuhua

2015-01-01

Historical records indicate that extensive cultural, commercial and technological interaction occurred between European and Asian populations. What have been the biological consequences of these contacts in terms of gene flow? We systematically estimated gene flow between Eurasian groups using genome-wide polymorphisms from 34 populations representing Europeans, East Asians, and Central/South Asians. We identified recent gene flow between Europeans and Asians in most populations we studied, including East Asians and Northwestern Europeans, which are normally considered to be non-admixed populations. In addition we quantitatively estimated the extent of this gene flow using two statistical approaches, and dated admixture events based on admixture linkage disequilibrium. Our results indicate that most genetic admixtures occurred between 2,400 and 310 years ago and show the admixture proportions to be highly correlated with geographic locations, with the highest admixture proportions observed in Central Asia and the lowest in East Asia and Northwestern Europe. Interestingly, we observed a North-to-South decline of European gene flow in East Asians, suggesting a northern path of European gene flow diffusing into East Asian populations. Our findings contribute to an improved understanding of the history of human migration and the evolutionary mechanisms that have shaped the genetic structure of populations in Eurasia. PMID:25833680

14 CFR 23.61 - Takeoff flight path.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 14 Aeronautics and Space 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Takeoff flight path. 23.61 Section 23.61... STANDARDS: NORMAL, UTILITY, ACROBATIC, AND COMMUTER CATEGORY AIRPLANES Flight Performance § 23.61 Takeoff flight path. For each commuter category airplane, the takeoff flight path must be determined as follows...

14 CFR 23.61 - Takeoff flight path.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 14 Aeronautics and Space 1 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Takeoff flight path. 23.61 Section 23.61... STANDARDS: NORMAL, UTILITY, ACROBATIC, AND COMMUTER CATEGORY AIRPLANES Flight Performance § 23.61 Takeoff flight path. For each commuter category airplane, the takeoff flight path must be determined as follows...

Preferential flow in municipal solid waste and implications for long-term leachate quality: valuation of laboratory-scale experiments.

PubMed

Rosqvist, N H; Dollar, L H; Fourie, A B

2005-08-01

In this paper, we study and quantify pollutant concentrations after long-term leaching at relatively low flow rates and residual concentrations after heavy flushing of a 0.14 m3 municipal solid waste sample. Moreover, water flow and solute transport through preferential flow paths are studied by model interpretation of experimental break-through curves (BTCs), generated by tracer tests. In the study it was found that high concentrations of chloride remain after several pore volumes of water have percolated through the waste sample. The residual concentration was found to be considerably higher than can be predicted by degradation models. For model interpretations of the experimental BTCs, two probabilistic model approaches were applied, the transfer function model and the Lagrangian transport formulation. The experimental BTCs indicated the presence of preferential flow through the waste mass and the model interpretation of the BTCs suggested that between 19 and 41% of the total water content participated in the transport of solute through preferential flow paths. In the study, the occurrence of preferential flow was found to be dependent on the flow rate in the sense that a high flow rate enhances the preferential flow. However, to fully quantify the possible dependence between flow rate and preferential flow, experiments on a broader range of experimental conditions are suggested. The chloride washout curve obtained over the 4-year study period shows that as a consequence of the water flow in favoured flow paths, bypassing other parts of the solid waste body, the leachate quality may reflect only the flow paths and their surroundings. The results in this study thus show that in order to improve long-term prediction of the leachate quality and quantity the magnitude of the preferential water flow through a landfill must be taken into account.

Unraveling the Processing Parameters in Friction Stir Welding

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schneider, Judy; Nunes, Arthur C., Jr.

2005-01-01

In friction stir welding (FSW), a rotating threaded pin tool is translated along a weld seam, literally stirring the edges of the seam together. To determine optimal processing parameters for producing a defect free weld, a better understanding of the resulting metal deformation flow path or paths is required. In this study, various markers are used to trace the flow paths of the metal. X-ray radiographs record the segmentation and position of the wire. Several variations in the trajectories can be differentiated within the weld zone.

Turbulent Flow Structure Inside a Canopy with Complex Multi-Scale Elements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bai, Kunlun; Katz, Joseph; Meneveau, Charles

2015-06-01

Particle image velocimetry laboratory measurements are carried out to study mean flow distributions and turbulent statistics inside a canopy with complex geometry and multiple scales consisting of fractal, tree-like objects. Matching the optical refractive indices of the tree elements with those of the working fluid provides unobstructed optical paths for both illuminations and image acquisition. As a result, the flow fields between tree branches can be resolved in great detail, without optical interference. Statistical distributions of mean velocity, turbulence stresses, and components of dispersive fluxes are documented and discussed. The results show that the trees leave their signatures in the flow by imprinting wake structures with shapes similar to the trees. The velocities in both wake and non-wake regions significantly deviate from the spatially-averaged values. These local deviations result in strong dispersive fluxes, which are important to account for in canopy-flow modelling. In fact, we find that the streamwise normal dispersive flux inside the canopy has a larger magnitude (by up to four times) than the corresponding Reynolds normal stress. Turbulent transport in horizontal planes is studied in the framework of the eddy viscosity model. Scatter plots comparing the Reynolds shear stress and mean velocity gradient are indicative of a linear trend, from which one can calculate the eddy viscosity and mixing length. Similar to earlier results from the wake of a single tree, here we find that inside the canopy the mean mixing length decreases with increasing elevation. This trend cannot be scaled based on a single length scale, but can be described well by a model, which considers the coexistence of multi-scale branches. This agreement indicates that the multi-scale information and the clustering properties of the fractal objects should be taken into consideration in flows inside multi-scale canopies.

Amplitude and Phase Characteristics of Signals at the Output of Spatially Separated Antennas for Paths with Scattering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anikin, A. S.

2018-06-01

Conditional statistical characteristics of the phase difference are considered depending on the ratio of instantaneous output signal amplitudes of spatially separated weakly directional antennas for the normal field model for paths with radio-wave scattering. The dependences obtained are related to the physical processes on the radio-wave propagation path. The normal model parameters are established at which the statistical characteristics of the phase difference depend on the ratio of the instantaneous amplitudes and hence can be used to measure the phase difference. Using Shannon's formula, the amount of information on the phase difference of signals contained in the ratio of their amplitudes is calculated depending on the parameters of the normal field model. Approaches are suggested to reduce the shift of phase difference measured for paths with radio-wave scattering. A comparison with results of computer simulation by the Monte Carlo method is performed.

Heat transfer in a liquid helium cooled vacuum tube following sudden vacuum loss

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dhuley, R. C.; Van Sciver, S. W.

2015-12-01

Condensation of nitrogen gas rapidly flowing into a liquid helium (LHe) cooled vacuum tube is studied. This study aims to examine the heat transfer in geometries such as the superconducting RF cavity string of a particle accelerator following a sudden loss of vacuum to atmosphere. In a simplified experiment, the flow is generated by quickly venting a large reservoir of nitrogen gas to a straight long vacuum tube immersed in LHe. Normal LHe (LHe I) and superfluid He II are used in separate experiments. The rate of condensation heat transfer is determined from the temperature of the tube measured at several locations along the gas flow. Instantaneous heat deposition rates in excess of 200 kW/m2 result from condensation of the flowing gas. The gas flow is then arrested in its path to pressurize the tube to atmosphere and estimate the heat transfer rate to LHe. A steady LHe I heat load of ≈25 kW/m2 is obtained in this scenario. Observations from the He II experiment are briefly discussed. An upper bound for the LHe I heat load is derived based on the thermodynamics of phase change of nitrogen.

Building a delta: Interactions between water, sediment, and vegetation in an experimental system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Piliouras, A.; Kim, W.; Carlson, B.

2013-12-01

Vegetation is an important part of morphodynamics in river deltas, but it has not been thoroughly investigated in physical delta models. We conducted a set of experiments in the Sediment Transport and Earth-surface Processes (STEP) Basin at the University of Texas at Austin to examine the effects of vegetation on delta growth and dynamics. One experiment was conducted without vegetation (Run 1), and four (Runs 2-5) were conducted using alfalfa (Medicago sativa) as a proxy for riparian vegetation, one of which included cycles between flood and normal flow discharges (Run 5). Results indicate that vegetation increased sediment trapping on the delta topset, increasing delta slope and decreasing progradation rate as compared to the unvegetated experiment. Vegetation also caused a lack of channelization when the topset reached 20% plant cover, after which progradational delta lobes were no longer evident. Discharge fluctuations in Run 5, however, led to more topset reworking, resulting in lower vegetation density (< 20%) and the persistence of highly incisional channels. Experiments run only at flood stage resulted in consistently net depositional deltas with very little channel incision, regardless of the amount of vegetation. The addition of water and sediment discharge fluctuations in Run 5, however, created a cyclic pattern between periods of topset aggradation and periods of channel incision that were net erosional. We conclude that there is a two-way interaction between the vegetation and the channels through discharge fluctuations that aid in delta growth. (1) During floods, vegetation acts an efficient sediment trapper on the floodplain to aid in topset aggradation and maintain channel relief. During normal flow, vegetation also stabilizes channel banks, allowing channels to focus their flow and erode sediment from the bed. (2) During floods, channels transport sediment to the shoreline to create new deposits that can be colonized by vegetation and deliver sediment to the topset to increase vegetation elevation. During normal flow, channels rework the delta topset and remove seeds from occupied flow paths.

Path perception during rotation: influence of instructions, depth range, and dot density

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Li, Li; Warren, William H Jr

2004-01-01

How do observers perceive their direction of self-motion when traveling on a straight path while their eyes are rotating? Our previous findings suggest that information from retinal flow and extra-retinal information about eye movements are each sufficient to solve this problem for both perception and active control of self-motion [Vision Res. 40 (2000) 3873; Psych. Sci. 13 (2002) 485]. In this paper, using displays depicting translation with simulated eye rotation, we investigated how task variables such as instructions, depth range, and dot density influenced the visual system's reliance on retinal vs. extra-retinal information for path perception during rotation. We found that path errors were small when observers expected to travel on a straight path or with neutral instructions, but errors increased markedly when observers expected to travel on a curved path. Increasing depth range or dot density did not improve path judgments. We conclude that the expectation of the shape of an upcoming path can influence the interpretation of the ambiguous retinal flow. A large depth range and dense motion parallax are not essential for accurate path perception during rotation, but reference objects and a large field of view appear to improve path judgments.

Scenarios for control and data flows in multiprotocol over ATM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kujoory, Ali

1997-10-01

The multiprotocol over ATM (MPOA), specified by the ATM Forum, provides an architecture for transfer of Internetwork layer packets (Layer 3 datagram such as IP, IPX) over ATM subnets or across the emulated LANs. MPOA provides shortcuts that bypass routers to avoid router bottlenecks. It is a grand union of some of the existing standards such as LANE by the ATM Forum, NHRP by the IETF, and the Q.2931 by ITU. The intent of this paper is to clarify the data flows between pairs of source and destination hosts in an MPOA system. It includes scenarios for both the intra- and inter-subnet flows between different pairs of MPOA end-systems. The intrasubnet flows simply use LANE for address resolution or data transfer. The inter-subnet flows may use a default path for short-lived flows or a shortcut for long-lived flows. The default path uses the LANE and router capabilities. The shortcut path uses LANE plus NHRP for ATM address resoluton. An ATM virtual circuit is established before the data transfer. This allows efficient transfer of internetwork layer packets over ATM for real-time applications.

Characterizing Normal Groundwater Chemistry in Hawaii

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tachera, D.; Lautze, N. C.; Thomas, D. M.; Whittier, R. B.; Frazer, L. N.

2017-12-01

Hawaii is dependent on groundwater resources, yet how water moves through the subsurface is not well understood in many locations across the state. As marine air moves across the islands water evaporates from the ocean, along with trace amounts of sea-salt ions, and interacts with the anthropogenic and volcanic aerosols (e.g. sulfuric acid, ammonium sulfate, HCl), creating a slightly more acidic rain. When this rain falls, it has a chemical signature distinctive of past processes. As this precipitation infiltrates through soil it may pick up another distinctive chemical signature associated with land use and degree of soil development, and as it flows through the underlying geology, its chemistry is influenced by the host rock. We are currently conducting an investigation of groundwater chemistry in selected aquifer areas of Hawaii, having diverse land use, land cover, and soil development conditions, in an effort to investigate and document what may be considered a "normal" water chemistry for an area. Through this effort, we believe we better assess anomalies due to contamination events, hydrothermal alteration, and other processes; and we can use this information to better understand groundwater flow direction. The project has compiled a large amount of precipitation, soil, and groundwater chemistry data in the three focus areas distributed across in the State of Hawaii. Statistical analyses of these data sets will be performed in an effort to determine what is "normal" and what is anomalous chemistry for a given area. Where possible, results will be used to trace groundwater flow paths. Methods and preliminary results will be presented.

Apparatus for separating particles utilizing engineered acoustic contrast capture particles

DOEpatents

Kaduchak, Gregory; Ward, Michael D

2014-10-21

An apparatus for separating particles from a medium includes a capillary defining a flow path therein that is in fluid communication with a medium source. The medium source includes engineered acoustic contrast capture particle having a predetermined acoustic contrast. The apparatus includes a vibration generator that is operable to produce at least one acoustic field within the flow path. The acoustic field produces a force potential minima for positive acoustic contrast particles and a force potential minima for negative acoustic contrast particles in the flow path and drives the engineered acoustic contrast capture particles to either the force potential minima for positive acoustic contrast particles or the force potential minima for negative acoustic contrast particles.

Apparatus for separating particles utilizing engineered acoustic contrast capture particles

DOEpatents

Kaduchak, Gregory [Los Alamos, NM; Ward, Michael D [Los Alamos, NM

2011-12-27

An apparatus for separating particles from a medium includes a capillary defining a flow path therein that is in fluid communication with a medium source. The medium source includes engineered acoustic contrast capture particle having a predetermined acoustic contrast. The apparatus includes a vibration generator that is operable to produce at least one acoustic field within the flow path. The acoustic field produces a force potential minima for positive acoustic contrast particles and a force potential minima for negative acoustic contrast particles in the flow path and drives the engineered acoustic contrast capture particles to either the force potential minima for positive acoustic contrast particles or the force potential minima for negative acoustic contrast particles.

Funnel for localizing biological cell placement and arrangement

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Soscia, David; Benett, William J.; Mukerjee, Erik V.

2018-03-06

The present disclosure relates to a funnel apparatus for channeling cells onto a plurality of distinct, closely spaced regions of a seeding surface. The funnel apparatus has a body portion having an upper surface and a lower surface. The body portion forms a plurality of flow paths, at least one of which is shaped to have a decreasing cross-sectional area from the upper surface to the lower surface. The flow paths are formed at the lower surface to enable cells deposited into the flow paths at the upper surface of the funnel apparatus to be channeled into a plurality ofmore » distinct, closely spaced regions on the seeding surface positioned adjacent the lower surface.« less

Relation of specific conductance in ground water to intersection of flow paths by wells, and associated major ion and nitrate geochemistry, Barton Springs Segment of the Edwards Aquifer, Austin, Texas, 1978-2003

USGS Publications Warehouse

Garner, Bradley D.; Mahler, Barbara J.

2007-01-01

Understanding of karst flow systems can be complicated by the presence of solution-enlarged conduits, which can transmit large volumes of water through the aquifer rapidly. If the geochemistry at a well can be related to streamflow or spring discharge (springflow), or both, the relations can indicate the presence of recent recharge in water at the well, which in turn might indicate that the well intersects a conduit (and thus a major flow path). Increasing knowledge of the occurrence and distribution of conduits in the aquifer can contribute to better understanding of aquifer framework and function. To that end, 26 wells in the Barton Springs segment of the Edwards aquifer, Austin, Texas, were investigated for potential intersection with conduits; 26 years of arbitrarily timed specific conductance measurements in the wells were compared to streamflow in five creeks that provide recharge to the aquifer and were compared to aquifer flow conditions as indicated by Barton Springs discharge. A nonparametric statistical test (Spearman's rho) was used to divide the 26 wells into four groups on the basis of correlation of specific conductance of well water to streamflow or spring discharge, or both. Potential relations between conduit intersection by wells and ground-water geochemistry were investigated through analysis of historical major ion and nitrate geochemistry for wells in each of the four groups. Specific conductance at nine wells was negatively correlated with both streamflow and spring discharge, or streamflow only. These correlations were interpreted as evidence of an influx of surface-water recharge during periods of high streamflow and the influence at the wells of water from a large, upgradient part of the aquifer; and further interpreted as indicating that four wells intersect major aquifer flow paths and five wells intersect minor aquifer flow paths (short, tributary conduits). Specific conductance at six wells was positively correlated with spring discharge, which was interpreted as not intersecting a flow path (conduit). Of the 11 wells for which specific conductance did not correlate with either streamflow or spring discharge, no interpretations regarding flow-path intersection by wells were made. In some cases, specific conductance data might not have indicated intersection with a flow path because of small sample sets. Water in the Barton Springs segment generally is a calcium-magnesium-bicarbonate type, although some water compositions deviate from this. Multiple geochemical processes were identified that might affect geochemistry at the wells, but in general the geochemical composition of ground water, except for dilution by surface-water recharge, was not related to intersection of a well with a flow path. Some samples from wells indicate inflow of water from the saline zone to the east; this inflow is associated with low streamflow and spring discharge. Other samples indicate that the aquifer at some wells might be receiving water that has been in contact with rocks of the Trinity aquifer; this mixing is most evident when spring discharge is high. Occurrence of nitrate in ground water was unrelated to intersection of flow paths by wells and appeared to be the result of localized contamination. However, most of the wells with one or more samples contaminated by nitrate are in the more densely populated parts of the study area.

Black Swans and the Effectiveness of Remediating Groundwater Contamination

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Siegel, D. I.; Otz, M. H.; Otz, I.

2013-12-01

Black swans, outliers, dominate science far more than do predictable outcomes. Predictable success constitutes the Black Swan in groundwater remediation. Even the National Research Council concluded that remediating groundwater to drinking water standards has failed in typically complex hydrogeologic settings where heterogeneities and preferential flow paths deflect flow paths obliquely to hydraulic gradients. Natural systems, be they biological or physical, build upon a combination of large-scale regularity coupled to chaos at smaller scales. We show through a review of over 25 case studies that groundwater remediation efforts are best served by coupling parsimonious site characterization to natural and induced geochemical tracer tests to at least know where contamination advects with groundwater in the subsurface. In the majority of our case studies, actual flow paths diverge tens of degrees from anticipated flow paths because of unrecognized heterogeneities in the horizontal direction of transport, let alone the vertical direction. Consequently, regulatory agencies would better serve both the public and the environment by recognizing that long-term groundwater cleanup probably is futile in most hydrogeologic settings except to relaxed standards similar to brownfielding. A Black Swan

Opposed slant tube diabatic sorber

DOEpatents

Erickson, Donald C.

2004-01-20

A sorber comprised of at least three concentric coils of tubing contained in a shell with a flow path for liquid sorbent in one direction, a flow path for heat transfer fluid which is in counter-current heat exchange relationship with sorbent flow, a sorbate vapor port in communication with at least one of sorbent inlet or exit ports, wherein each coil is coiled in opposite direction to those coils adjoining it, whereby the opposed slant tube configuration is achieved, with structure for flow modification in the core space inside the innermost coil.

Kasei Valles

NASA Image and Video Library

2015-10-14

Kasei Valles is a valley system was likely carved by some combination of flowing water and lava. In some areas, erosion formed cliffs along the flow path resulting in water or lava falls. In some areas, erosion formed cliffs along the flow path resulting in water or lava falls. The flowing liquid is gone but the channels and "dry falls" remain. Since its formation, Kasei Valles has suffered impacts-resulting in craters-and has been mantled in dust, sand, and fine gravel as evidenced by the rippled textures. http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA20004

Unsteady flow characteristics in the near-wake of a two-dimensional obstacle

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dyment, A.; Gryson, P.

1984-01-01

The influence of the characteristics of the boundary layer separation on the formation of vortices and alternate paths in the wake of a bidimensional obstacle at high Reynolds numbers was studied by ultra fast visualization system. It is shown that there are alternate paths for laminar and turbulent flows, with similar flow characteristics. It is found that emission of vortices does not change substantially when the flow passes from laminar to turbulent. A film with a time scale change of 10,000 times illustrates some of the discussed phenomena.

Computer code for predicting coolant flow and heat transfer in turbomachinery

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Meitner, Peter L.

1990-01-01

A computer code was developed to analyze any turbomachinery coolant flow path geometry that consist of a single flow passage with a unique inlet and exit. Flow can be bled off for tip-cap impingement cooling, and a flow bypass can be specified in which coolant flow is taken off at one point in the flow channel and reintroduced at a point farther downstream in the same channel. The user may either choose the coolant flow rate or let the program determine the flow rate from specified inlet and exit conditions. The computer code integrates the 1-D momentum and energy equations along a defined flow path and calculates the coolant's flow rate, temperature, pressure, and velocity and the heat transfer coefficients along the passage. The equations account for area change, mass addition or subtraction, pumping, friction, and heat transfer.

Redox zonation for different groundwater flow paths during bank filtration: a case study at Liao River, Shenyang, northeastern China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Su, Xiaosi; Lu, Shuai; Yuan, Wenzhen; Woo, Nam Chil; Dai, Zhenxue; Dong, Weihong; Du, Shanghai; Zhang, Xinyue

2018-03-01

The spatial and temporal distribution of redox zones in an aquifer is important when designing groundwater supply systems. Redox zonation can have direct or indirect control of the biological and chemical reactions and mobility of pollutants. In this study, redox conditions are characterized by interpreting the hydrogeological conditions and water chemistry in groundwater during bank infiltration at a site in Shenyang, northeast China. The relevant redox processes and zonal differences in a shallow flow path and deeper flow path at the field scale were revealed by monitoring the redox parameters and chemistry of groundwater near the Liao River. The results show obvious horizontal and vertical components of redox zones during bank filtration. Variations in the horizontal extent of the redox zone were controlled by the different permeabilities of the riverbed sediments and aquifer with depth. Horizontally, the redox zone was situated within 17 m of the riverbank for the shallow flow path and within 200 m for the deep flow path. The vertical extent of the redox zone was affected by precipitation and seasonal river floods and extended to 10 m below the surface. During bank filtration, iron and manganese oxides or hydroxides were reductively dissolved, and arsenic that was adsorbed onto the medium surface or coprecipitated is released into the groundwater. This leads to increased arsenic content in groundwater, which poses a serious threat to water supply security.

Identifying storm flow pathways in a rainforest catchment using hydrological and geochemical modelling

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kinner, D.A.; Stallard, R.F.

2004-01-01

The hydrological model TOPMODEL is used to assess the water balance and describe flow paths for the 9??73 ha Lutz Creek Catchment in Central Panama. Monte Carlo results are evaluated based on their fit to the observed hydrograph, catchment-averaged soil moisture and stream chemistry. TOPMODEL, with a direct-flow mechanism that is intended to route water through rapid shallow-soil flow, matched observed chemistry and discharge better than the basic version of TOPMODEL and provided a reasonable fit to observed soil moisture and wet-season discharge at both 15-min and daily time-steps. The improvement of simulations with the implementation of a direct-flow component indicates that a storm flow path not represented in the original version of TOPMODEL plays a primary role in the response of Lutz Creek Catchment. This flow path may be consistent with the active and abundant pipeflow that is observed or delayed saturation overland flow. The 'best-accepted' simulations from 1991 to 1997 indicate that around 41% of precipitation becomes direct flow and around 10% is saturation overland flow. Other field observations are needed to constrain evaporative and groundwater losses in the model and to characterize chemical end-members posited in this paper. Published in 2004 by John Wiley and Sons, Ltd.

Using borehole flow data to characterize the hydraulics of flow paths in operating wellfields

USGS Publications Warehouse

Paillet, F.; Lundy, J.

2004-01-01

Understanding the flow paths in the vicinity of water well intakes is critical in the design of effective wellhead protection strategies for heterogeneous carbonate aquifers. High-resolution flow logs can be combined with geophysical logs and borehole-wall-image logs (acoustic televiewer) to identify the porous beds, solution openings, and fractures serving as conduits connecting the well bore to the aquifer. Qualitative methods of flow log analysis estimate the relative transmissivity of each water-producing zone, but do not indicate how those zones are connected to the far-field aquifer. Borehole flow modeling techniques can be used to provide quantitative estimates of both transmissivity and far-field hydraulic head in each producing zone. These data can be used to infer how the individual zones are connected with each other, and to the surrounding large-scale aquifer. Such information is useful in land-use planning and the design of well intakes to prevent entrainment of contaminants into water-supply systems. Specific examples of flow log applications in the identification of flow paths in operating wellfields are given for sites in Austin and Faribault, Minnesota. Copyright ASCE 2004.

Diagnosing Hydrologic Flow Paths in Forest and Pasture Land Uses within the Panama Canal Watershed Using Simulated Rainfall and Electrical Resistivity Tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ogden, F. L.; Mojica, A.; Kempema, E. W.; Briceno, J. C.; Regina, J. A.

2014-12-01

Hydrological processes in the humid tropics are poorly understood and an important topic when it comes to water management in the seasonal tropics. The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama Canal Watershed Experiment, Agua Salud Project, seeks to understand these processes and quantify the long-term effects of different land cover and use across the Panama Canal Watershed. In this study we used an ARS-type rainfall simulator to apply rainfall rates up to 200 mm per hour over a 2m by 6m area on deep saprolitic soils in forest and pasture land covers. A salinity contrast added to the applied rainwater allowed observation of bulk flow paths and velocities in the subsurface. The observed effects of land cover and land use on hydrological response were striking. In the forest site, we were unable to produce surface runoff even after the application of 600 mm of rainfall in three hours, and observed flow in soils down to approximately 2 m depth, and no downslope macropore flow. In the pasture site, surface runoff was produced, and we measured the permeability of the area with applied rainfall. Observed flow paths were much shallower, less than 1 m depth, with significant macropore flow observed at downslope positions. We hypothesize that land use and land cover have significant impacts on flow paths as they affect creation, connectivity, and function of biologically created macropores in the soil.

A study on the uniqueness of the plastic flow direction for granular assemblies of ductile particles using discrete finite-element simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abdelmoula, Nouha; Harthong, Barthélémy; Imbault, Didier; Dorémus, Pierre

2017-12-01

The multi-particle finite element method involving assemblies of meshed particles interacting through finite-element contact conditions is adopted to study the plastic flow of a granular material with highly deformable elastic-plastic grains. In particular, it is investigated whether the flow rule postulate applies for such materials. Using a spherical stress probing method, the influence of incremental stress on plastic strain increment vectors was assessed for numerical samples compacted along two different loading paths up to different values of relative density. Results show that the numerical samples studied behave reasonably well according to an associated flow rule, except in the vicinity of the loading point where the influence of the stress increment proved to be very significant. A plausible explanation for the non-uniqueness of the direction of plastic flow is proposed, based on the idea that the resistance of the numerical sample to plastic straining can vary by an order of magnitude depending on the direction of the accumulated stress. The above-mentioned dependency of the direction of plastic flow on the direction of the stress increment was related to the difference in strength between shearing and normal stressing at the scale of contact surfaces between particles.

47 CFR Appendix to Part 36 - Glossary

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... An electrical path suitable for the transmission of communications between two or more points... operative communications path established in the normal circuit layout and currently used for message, WATS... transmit signaling information independent of the subscribers' communication paths or transmission channels...

47 CFR Appendix to Part 36 - Glossary

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... An electrical path suitable for the transmission of communications between two or more points... operative communications path established in the normal circuit layout and currently used for message, WATS... transmit signaling information independent of the subscribers' communication paths or transmission channels...

47 CFR Appendix to Part 36 - Glossary

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... An electrical path suitable for the transmission of communications between two or more points... operative communications path established in the normal circuit layout and currently used for message, WATS... transmit signaling information independent of the subscribers' communication paths or transmission channels...

47 CFR Appendix to Part 36 - Glossary

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... An electrical path suitable for the transmission of communications between two or more points... operative communications path established in the normal circuit layout and currently used for message, WATS... transmit signaling information independent of the subscribers' communication paths or transmission channels...

Skin friction and heat transfer correlations for high-speed low-density flow past a flat plate

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Woronowicz, Michael S.; Baganoff, Donald

1991-01-01

The independent and dependent variables associated with drag and heat transfer to a flat plate at zero incidence in high-speed, rarefied flow are analyzed anew to reflect the importance of kinetic effects occurring near the plate surface on energy and momentum transfer, rather than following arguments normally used to describe continuum, higher density flowfields. A new parameter, the wall Knudsen number Knx,w, based on an estimate of the mean free path length of molecules having just interacted with the surface of the plate, is introduced and used to correlate published drag and heat transfer data. The new parameter is shown to provide better correlation than either the viscous interaction parameter X or the widely-used slip parameter Voo for drag and heat transfer data over a wide range of Mach numbers, Reynolds numbers, and plate-to-freestream stagnation temperature ratios.

Experimental tests of truncated diffusion in fault damage zones

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suzuki, Anna; Hashida, Toshiyuki; Li, Kewen; Horne, Roland N.

2016-11-01

Fault zones affect the flow paths of fluids in groundwater aquifers and geological reservoirs. Fault-related fracture damage decreases to background levels with increasing distance from the fault core according to a power law. This study investigated mass transport in such a fault-related structure using nonlocal models. A column flow experiment is conducted to create a permeability distribution that varies with distance from a main conduit. The experimental tracer response curve is preasymptotic and implies subdiffusive transport, which is slower than the normal Fickian diffusion. If the surrounding area is a finite domain, an upper truncated behavior in tracer response (i.e., exponential decline at late times) is observed. The tempered anomalous diffusion (TAD) model captures the transition from subdiffusive to Fickian transport, which is characterized by a smooth transition from power-law to an exponential decline in the late-time breakthrough curves.

Viewing strategies for simple and chimeric faces: an investigation of perceptual bias in normals and schizophrenic patients using visual scan paths.

PubMed

Phillips, M L; David, A S

1997-11-01

Left hemi-face (LHF) perceptual bias of chimeric faces in normal right-handers is well-documented. We investigated mechanisms underlying this by measuring visual scan paths in right-handed normal controls (n = 9) and schizophrenics (n = 8) for simple, full-face photographs and schematic, happy-sad chimeric faces over 5 s. Normals viewed the left side/ LHF first, more so than the right of all stimuli. Schizophrenics viewed the LHF first more than the right of stimuli for which there was a LHF choice of predominant affect. Neither group demonstrated an overall LHF perceptual bias for the chimeric stimuli. Readjustment of the initial LHF bias in controls was probably a result of increased attention to stimulus detail with scanning, whereas the schizophrenics demonstrated difficulty in redirection of the initial focus of attention. The study highlights the role of visual scan paths as a marker of normal and abnormal attentional processes. Copyright 1997 Academic Press.

Plasma flow patterns in and around magnetosheath jets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Plaschke, Ferdinand; Hietala, Heli

2018-05-01

The magnetosheath is commonly permeated by localized high-speed jets downstream of the quasi-parallel bow shock. These jets are much faster than the ambient magnetosheath plasma, thus raising the question of how that latter plasma reacts to incoming jets. We have performed a statistical analysis based on 662 cases of one THEMIS spacecraft observing a jet and another (second) THEMIS spacecraft providing context observations of nearby plasma to uncover the flow patterns in and around jets. The following results are found: along the jet's path, slower plasma is accelerated and pushed aside ahead of the fastest core jet plasma. Behind the jet core, plasma flows into the path to fill the wake. This evasive plasma motion affects the ambient magnetosheath, close to the jet's path. Diverging and converging plasma flows ahead and behind the jet are complemented by plasma flows opposite to the jet's propagation direction, in the vicinity of the jet. This vortical plasma motion results in a deceleration of ambient plasma when a jet passes nearby.

Using dye tracing to establish groundwater flow paths in a limestone marble aquifer, University of California, Santa Cruz, California

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hayes, J.; Bertschinger, V.; Aley, T.

1993-04-01

Areas underlain by karst aquifers are characterized by soluble rock with sinkholes, caves, and a complex underground drainage network. Groundwater issues such as flow direction, well pumping impacts, spring recharge areas, and potential contamination transport routes are greatly complicated by the unique structure of karst aquifers. Standard aquifer analysis techniques cannot be applied unless the structure of the karst aquifer is understood. Water soluble fluorescent dyes are a powerful tool for mapping the irregular subsurface connections and flow paths in karst aquifers. Mapping the subsurface connections allows reasonable estimates of the hydrologic behavior of the aquifer. Two different fluorescent dyesmore » were injected at two points in a limestone karst aquifer system beneath the University of California, Santa Cruz campus. Flow paths in the marble were thought to be closely tied to easily recognized geomorphic alignments of sinkholes associated with fault and fracture zones. The dye tests revealed unexpected and highly complex interconnections. These complex flow paths only partially corresponded to previous surface mapping and aerial photo analysis of fracture systems. Several interfingering but hydrologically unconnected flow paths evidently exist within the cavernous aquifer. For example, dye did not appear at some discharge springs close to the dye injection points, but did appear at more distant springs. This study shows how a dye tracing study in a small, well-defined limestone body can shed light on a variety of environmental and hydrological issues, including potential well pumping impact areas, wellhead protection and recharge areas, parking lot runoff injection to aquifers, and drainage routes from hazardous materials storage areas.« less

Systems and methods for separating particles utilizing engineered acoustic contrast capture particles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kaduchak, Gregory; Ward, Michael D.

An apparatus for separating particles from a medium includes a capillary defining a flow path therein that is in fluid communication with a medium source. The medium source includes engineered acoustic contrast capture particle having a predetermined acoustic contrast. The apparatus includes a vibration generator that is operable to produce at least one acoustic field within the flow path. The acoustic field produces a force potential minima for positive acoustic contrast particles and a force potential minima for negative acoustic contrast particles in the flow path and drives the engineered acoustic contrast capture particles to either the force potential minimamore » for positive acoustic contrast particles or the force potential minima for negative acoustic contrast particles.« less

Apparatus for separating particles utilizing engineered acoustic contrast capture particles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kaduchak, Gregory; Ward, Michael D

An apparatus for separating particles from a medium includes a capillary defining a flow path therein that is in fluid communication with a medium source. The medium source includes engineered acoustic contrast capture particle having a predetermined acoustic contrast. The apparatus includes a vibration generator that is operable to produce at least one acoustic field within the flow path. The acoustic field produces a force potential minima for positive acoustic contrast particles and a force potential minima for negative acoustic contrast particles in the flow path and drives the engineered acoustic contrast capture particles to either the force potential minimamore » for positive acoustic contrast particles or the force potential minima for negative acoustic contrast particles.« less

Simulated groundwater flow paths, travel time, and advective transport of nitrogen in the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, Barnegat Bay–Little Egg Harbor Watershed, New Jersey

USGS Publications Warehouse

Voronin, Lois M.; Cauller, Stephen J.

2017-07-31

Elevated concentrations of nitrogen in groundwater that discharges to surface-water bodies can degrade surface-water quality and habitats in the New Jersey Coastal Plain. An analysis of groundwater flow in the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system and deeper confined aquifers that underlie the Barnegat Bay–Little Egg Harbor (BB-LEH) watershed and estuary was conducted by using groundwater-flow simulation, in conjunction with a particle-tracking routine, to provide estimates of groundwater flow paths and travel times to streams and the BB-LEH estuary.Water-quality data from the Ambient Groundwater Quality Monitoring Network, a long-term monitoring network of wells distributed throughout New Jersey, were used to estimate the initial nitrogen concentration in recharge for five different land-use classes—agricultural cropland or pasture, agricultural orchard or vineyard, urban non-residential, urban residential, and undeveloped. Land use at the point of recharge within the watershed was determined using a geographic information system (GIS). Flow path starting locations were plotted on land-use maps for 1930, 1973, 1986, 1997, and 2002. Information on the land use at the time and location of recharge, time of travel to the discharge location, and the point of discharge were determined for each simulated flow path. Particle-tracking analysis provided the link from the point of recharge, along the particle flow path, to the point of discharge, and the particle travel time. The travel time of each simulated particle established the recharge year. Land use during the year of recharge was used to define the nitrogen concentration associated with each flow path. The recharge-weighted average nitrogen concentration for all flow paths that discharge to the Toms River upstream from streamflow-gaging station 01408500 or to the BB-LEH estuary was calculated.Groundwater input into the Barnegat Bay–Little Egg Harbor estuary from two main sources— indirect discharge from base flow to streams that eventually flow into the bay and groundwater discharge directly into the estuary and adjoining coastal wetlands— is summarized by quantity, travel time, and estimated nitrogen concentration. Simulated average groundwater discharge to streams in the watershed that flow into the BB-LEH estuary is approximately 400 million gallons per day. Particle-tracking results indicate that the travel time of 56 percent of this discharge is less than 7 years. Fourteen percent of the groundwater discharge to the streams in the BB-LEH watershed has a travel time of less than 7 years and originates in urban land. Analysis of flow-path simulations indicate that approximately 13 percent of the total groundwater flow through the study area discharges directly to the estuary and adjoining coastal wetlands (approximately 64 million gallons per day). The travel time of 19 percent of this discharge is less than 7 years. Ten percent of this discharge (1 percent of the total groundwater flow through the study area) originates in urban areas and has a travel time of less than 7 years. Groundwater that discharges to the streams that flow into the BB-LEH, in general, has shorter travel times, and a higher percentage of it originates in urban areas than does direct groundwater discharge to the Barnegat Bay–Little Egg Harbor estuary.The simulated average nitrogen concentration in groundwater that discharges to the Toms River, upstream from streamflow-gaging station 01408500 was computed and compared to summary concentrations determined from analysis of multiple surface-water samples. The nitrogen concentration in groundwater that discharges directly to the estuary and adjoining coastal wetlands is a current data gap. The particle tracking methodology used in this study provides an estimate of this concentration."

­Understanding Information Flow Interaction along Separable Causal Paths in Environmental Signals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, P.; Kumar, P.

2017-12-01

Multivariate environmental signals reflect the outcome of complex inter-dependencies, such as those in ecohydrologic systems. Transfer entropy and information partitioning approaches have been used to characterize such dependencies. However, these approaches capture net information flow occurring through a multitude of pathways involved in the interaction and as a result mask our ability to discern the causal interaction within an interested subsystem through specific pathways. We build on recent developments of momentary information transfer along causal paths proposed by Runge [2015] to develop a framework for quantifying information decomposition along separable causal paths. Momentary information transfer along causal paths captures the amount of information flow between any two variables lagged at two specific points in time. Our approach expands this concept to characterize the causal interaction in terms of synergistic, unique and redundant information flow through separable causal paths. Multivariate analysis using this novel approach reveals precise understanding of causality and feedback. We illustrate our approach with synthetic and observed time series data. We believe the proposed framework helps better delineate the internal structure of complex systems in geoscience where huge amounts of observational datasets exist, and it will also help the modeling community by providing a new way to look at the complexity of real and modeled systems. Runge, Jakob. "Quantifying information transfer and mediation along causal pathways in complex systems." Physical Review E 92.6 (2015): 062829.

Magnetospheric Whistler Mode Raytracing with the Inclusion of Finite Electron and ion Temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maxworth, Ashanthi S.

Whistler mode waves are a type of a low frequency (100 Hz - 30 kHz) wave, which exists only in a magnetized plasma. These waves play a major role in Earth's magnetosphere. Due to the impact of whistler mode waves in many fields such as space weather, satellite communications and lifetime of space electronics, it is important to accurately predict the propagation path of these waves. The method used to determine the propagation path of whistler waves is called numerical raytracing. Numerical raytracing determines the power flow path of the whistler mode waves by solving a set of equations known as the Haselgrove's equations. In the majority of the previous work, raytracing was implemented assuming a cold background plasma (0 K), but the actual magnetosphere is at a temperature of about 1 eV (11600 K). In this work we have modified the numerical raytracing algorithm to work at finite electron and ion temperatures. The finite temperature effects have also been introduced into the formulations for linear cyclotron resonance wave growth and Landau damping, which are the primary mechanisms for whistler mode growth and attenuation in the magnetosphere. Including temperature increases the complexity of numerical raytracing, but the overall effects are mostly limited to increasing the group velocity of the waves at highly oblique wave normal angles.

Multiple paths of electron flow to current in microbial electrolysis cells fed with low and high concentrations of propionate.

PubMed

Hari, Ananda Rao; Katuri, Krishna P; Gorron, Eduardo; Logan, Bruce E; Saikaly, Pascal E

2016-07-01

Microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) provide a viable approach for bioenergy generation from fermentable substrates such as propionate. However, the paths of electron flow during propionate oxidation in the anode of MECs are unknown. Here, the paths of electron flow involved in propionate oxidation in the anode of two-chambered MECs were examined at low (4.5 mM) and high (36 mM) propionate concentrations. Electron mass balances and microbial community analysis revealed that multiple paths of electron flow (via acetate/H2 or acetate/formate) to current could occur simultaneously during propionate oxidation regardless of the concentration tested. Current (57-96 %) was the largest electron sink and methane (0-2.3 %) production was relatively unimportant at both concentrations based on electron balances. At a low propionate concentration, reactors supplemented with 2-bromoethanesulfonate had slightly higher coulombic efficiencies than reactors lacking this methanogenesis inhibitor. However, an opposite trend was observed at high propionate concentration, where reactors supplemented with 2-bromoethanesulfonate had a lower coulombic efficiency and there was a greater percentage of electron loss (23.5 %) to undefined sinks compared to reactors without 2-bromoethanesulfonate (11.2 %). Propionate removal efficiencies were 98 % (low propionate concentration) and 78 % (high propionate concentration). Analysis of 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing revealed the dominance of sequences most similar to Geobacter sulfurreducens PCA and G. sulfurreducens subsp. ethanolicus. Collectively, these results provide new insights on the paths of electron flow during propionate oxidation in the anode of MECs fed with low and high propionate concentrations.

Colloid Mobilization in a Fractured Soil: Effect of Pore-Water Exchange between Preferential Flow Paths and Soil Matrix.

PubMed

Mohanty, Sanjay K; Saiers, James E; Ryan, Joseph N

2016-03-01

Exchange of water and solutes between contaminated soil matrix and bulk solution in preferential flow paths has been shown to contribute to the long-term release of dissolved contaminants in the subsurface, but whether and how this exchange can affect the release of colloids in a soil are unclear. To examine this, we applied rainfall solutions of different ionic strength on an intact soil core and compared the resulting changes in effluent colloid concentration through multiple sampling ports. The exchange of water between soil matrix and the preferential flow paths leading to each port was characterized on the basis of the bromide (conservative tracer) breakthrough time at the port. At individual ports, two rainfalls of a certain ionic strength mobilized different amounts of colloids when the soil was pre-exposed to a solution of lower or higher ionic strength. This result indicates that colloid mobilization depended on rainfall solution history, which is referred as colloid mobilization hysteresis. The extent of hysteresis was increased with increases in exchange of pore water and solutes between preferential flow paths and matrix. The results indicate that the soil matrix exchanged the old water from the previous infiltration with new infiltrating water during successive infiltration and changed the pore water chemistry in the preferential flow paths, which in turn affected the release of soil colloids. Therefore, rainfall solution history and soil heterogeneity must be considered to assess colloid mobilization in the subsurface. These findings have implications for the release of colloids, colloid-associated contaminants, and pathogens from soils.

Nano-iron Tracer Test for Characterizing Preferential Flow Path in Fractured Rock

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chia, Y.; Chuang, P. Y.

2015-12-01

Deterministic description of the discrete features interpreted from site characterization is desirable for developing a discrete fracture network conceptual model. It is often difficult, however, to delineate preferential flow path through a network of discrete fractures in the field. A preliminary cross-borehole nano-iron tracer test was conducted to characterize the preferential flow path in fractured shale bedrock at a hydrogeological research station. Prior to the test, heat-pulse flowmeter measurements were performed to detect permeable fracture zones at both the injection well and the observation well. While a few fracture zones are found permeable, most are not really permeable. Chemical reduction method was used to synthesize nano zero-valent iron particles with a diameter of 50~150 nm. The conductivity of nano-iron solution is about 3100 μs/cm. The recorded fluid conductivity shows the arrival of nano-iron solution in the observation well 11.5 minutes after it was released from the injection well. The magnetism of zero-valent iron enables it to be absorbed on magnet array designed to locate the depth of incoming tracer. We found nearly all of absorbed iron on the magnet array in the observation well were distributed near the most permeable fracture zone. The test results revealed a preferential flow path through a permeable fracture zone between the injection well and the observation well. The estimated hydraulic conductivity of the connected fracture is 2.2 × 10-3 m/s. This preliminary study indicated that nano-iron tracer test has the potential to characterize preferential flow path in fractured rock.

76 FR 16691 - Western Electric Coordinating Council Qualified Transfer Path Unscheduled Flow Relief Regional...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-03-25

... of the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) IRO-006-WECC-1 (Qualified Transfer Path... the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) IRO-006-WECC-1 (Qualified Transfer Path...: Balancing Authorities and Reliability Coordinator in the Western Electricity Coordinating Council. Frequency...

Aethalometer

DOEpatents

Hansen, Anthony D.

1990-01-01

An improved aethalometer (10) having a single light source (18) and a single light detector (20) and two light paths (21, 22) from the light source (18) to the light detector (20). A quartz fiber filter (13) is inserted in the device, the filter (13) having a collection area (23) in one light path (21) and a reference area (24) in the other light path (22). A gas flow path (46) through the aethalometer housing (11) allows ambient air to flow through the collection area (23) of the filter (13) so that aerosol particles can be collected on the filter. A rotating disk (31) with an opening (33) therethrough allows light for the light source (18) to pass alternately through the two light paths (21, 22). The voltage output of the detector (20) is applied to a VCO (52) and the VCO pulses for light transmission separately through the two light paths (21, 22 ) are counted and compared to determine the absorption coefficient of the collected aerosol particles.

PUMPS FOR LIQUID CURRENT-CONDUCTING MATERIAL

DOEpatents

Watt, D.A.

1958-12-23

An induction-type liquid conductor pump is described wherein the induced current flow is substantially tnansverse to the flow of the liquid in the duct, thus eliminating parallel current flow that tends to cause unwanted pressures resulting in turbulence, eddy-flow, heating losses, and reduced pumping efficiency. This improvement is achieved by offering the parallel current a path of lower impedance along the duct than that offered by the liquid so that the induced currents remaining in the liquid flow in a substantially transverse directlon. Thick copper bars are brazed to the liquid duct parallel to the flow, and additional induced currents are created in the copper bars of appropriate magnitude to balance the ohmic drop ln the current paths outside of the liquid metal.

Numerical Simulation of the Working Process in the Twin Screw Vacuum Pump

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Yang; Fu, Yu; Guo, Bei; Fu, Lijuan; Zhang, Qingqing; Chen, Xiaole

2017-08-01

Twin screw vacuum pumps inherit the advantages of screw machinery, such as high reliability, stable medium conveying, small vibration, simple and compact structures, convenient operation, etc, which have been widely used in petrochemical and air industry. On the basis of previous studies, this study analyzed the geometric features of variable pitch of the twin screw vacuum pump such as the sealing line, the meshing line and the volume between teeth. The mathematical model of numerical simulation of the twin screw vacuum pump was established. The leakage paths of the working volume including the sealing line and the addendum arc were comprehensively considered. The corresponding simplified geometric model of leakage flow was built up for different leak paths and the flow coefficients were calculated. The flow coefficient value range of different leak paths was given. The results showed that the flow coefficient of different leak paths can be taken as constant value for the studied geometry. The analysis of recorded indicator diagrams showed that the increasing rotational speed can dramatically decrease the exhaust pressure and the lower rotational speed can lead to over-compression. The pressure of the isentropic process which was affected by leakage was higher than the theoretical process.

Derivation of groundwater flow-paths based on semi-automatic extraction of lineaments from remote sensing data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mallast, U.; Gloaguen, R.; Geyer, S.; Rödiger, T.; Siebert, C.

2011-08-01

In this paper we present a semi-automatic method to infer groundwater flow-paths based on the extraction of lineaments from digital elevation models. This method is especially adequate in remote and inaccessible areas where in-situ data are scarce. The combined method of linear filtering and object-based classification provides a lineament map with a high degree of accuracy. Subsequently, lineaments are differentiated into geological and morphological lineaments using auxiliary information and finally evaluated in terms of hydro-geological significance. Using the example of the western catchment of the Dead Sea (Israel/Palestine), the orientation and location of the differentiated lineaments are compared to characteristics of known structural features. We demonstrate that a strong correlation between lineaments and structural features exists. Using Euclidean distances between lineaments and wells provides an assessment criterion to evaluate the hydraulic significance of detected lineaments. Based on this analysis, we suggest that the statistical analysis of lineaments allows a delineation of flow-paths and thus significant information on groundwater movements. To validate the flow-paths we compare them to existing results of groundwater models that are based on well data.

Air filtration in the free molecular flow regime: a review of high-efficiency particulate air filters based on carbon nanotubes.

PubMed

Li, Peng; Wang, Chunya; Zhang, Yingying; Wei, Fei

2014-11-01

Air filtration in the free molecular flow (FMF) regime is important and challenging because a higher filtration efficiency and lower pressure drop are obtained when the fiber diameter is smaller than the gas mean free path in the FMF regime. In previous studies, FMF conditions have been obtained by increasing the gas mean free path through reducing the pressure and increasing the temperature. In the case of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with nanoscale diameters, it is possible to filtrate in the FMF regime under normal conditions. This paper reviews recent progress in theoretical and experimental studies of air filtration in the FMF regime. Typical structure models of high-efficiency particulate (HEPA) air filters based on CNTs are introduced. The pressure drop in air filters operated in the FMF regime is less than that predicted by the conventional air filtration theory. The thinnest HEPA filters fabricated from single-walled CNT films have an extremely low pressure drop. CNT air filters with a gradient nanostructure are shown to give a much better filtration performance in dynamic filtration. CNT air filters with a hierarchical structure and an agglomerated CNT fluidized bed air filter are also introduced. Finally, the challenges and opportunities for the application of CNTs in air filtration are discussed. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Column Number Density Expressions Through M = 0 and M = 1 Point Source Plumes Along Any Straight Path

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Woronowicz, Michael

2016-01-01

Analytical expressions for column number density (CND) are developed for optical line of sight paths through a variety of steady free molecule point source models including directionally-constrained effusion (Mach number M = 0) and flow from a sonic orifice (M = 1). Sonic orifice solutions are approximate, developed using a fair simulacrum fitted to the free molecule solution. Expressions are also developed for a spherically-symmetric thermal expansion (M = 0). CND solutions are found for the most general paths relative to these sources and briefly explored. It is determined that the maximum CND from a distant location through directed effusion and sonic orifice cases occurs along the path parallel to the source plane that intersects the plume axis. For the effusive case this value is exactly twice the CND found along the ray originating from that point of intersection and extending to infinity along the plume's axis. For sonic plumes this ratio is reduced to about 4/3. For high Mach number cases the maximum CND will be found along the axial centerline path. Keywords: column number density, plume flows, outgassing, free molecule flow.

Visualization and Hierarchical Analysis of Flow in Discrete Fracture Network Models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aldrich, G. A.; Gable, C. W.; Painter, S. L.; Makedonska, N.; Hamann, B.; Woodring, J.

2013-12-01

Flow and transport in low permeability fractured rock is primary in interconnected fracture networks. Prediction and characterization of flow and transport in fractured rock has important implications in underground repositories for hazardous materials (eg. nuclear and chemical waste), contaminant migration and remediation, groundwater resource management, and hydrocarbon extraction. We have developed methods to explicitly model flow in discrete fracture networks and track flow paths using passive particle tracking algorithms. Visualization and analysis of particle trajectory through the fracture network is important to understanding fracture connectivity, flow patterns, potential contaminant pathways and fast paths through the network. However, occlusion due to the large number of highly tessellated and intersecting fracture polygons preclude the effective use of traditional visualization methods. We would also like quantitative analysis methods to characterize the trajectory of a large number of particle paths. We have solved these problems by defining a hierarchal flow network representing the topology of particle flow through the fracture network. This approach allows us to analyses the flow and the dynamics of the system as a whole. We are able to easily query the flow network, and use paint-and-link style framework to filter the fracture geometry and particle traces based on the flow analytics. This allows us to greatly reduce occlusion while emphasizing salient features such as the principal transport pathways. Examples are shown that demonstrate the methodology and highlight how use of this new method allows quantitative analysis and characterization of flow and transport in a number of representative fracture networks.

Temporal dynamics in dominant runoff sources and flow paths in the Andean Páramo

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Correa, Alicia; Windhorst, David; Tetzlaff, Doerthe; Crespo, Patricio; Célleri, Rolando; Feyen, Jan; Breuer, Lutz

2017-07-01

The relative importance of catchment's water provenance and flow paths varies in space and time, complicating the conceptualization of the rainfall-runoff responses. We assessed the temporal dynamics in source areas, flow paths, and age by End Member Mixing Analysis (EMMA), hydrograph separation, and Inverse Transit Time Proxies (ITTPs) estimation within a headwater catchment in the Ecuadorian Andes. Twenty-two solutes, stable isotopes, pH, and electrical conductivity from a stream and 12 potential sources were analyzed. Four end-members were required to satisfactorily represent the hydrological system, i.e., rainfall, spring water, and water from the bottom layers of Histosols and Andosols. Water from Histosols in and near the riparian zone was the highest source contributor to runoff throughout the year (39% for the drier season, 45% for the wetter season), highlighting the importance of the water that is stored in the riparian zone. Spring water contributions to streamflow tripled during the drier season, as evidenced by geochemical signatures that are consistent with deeper flow paths rather than shallow interflow through Andosols. Rainfall exhibited low seasonal variation in this contribution. Hydrograph separation revealed that 94% and 84% is preevent water in the drier and wetter seasons, respectively. From low-flow to high-flow conditions, all the sources increased their contribution except spring water. The relative age of stream water decreased during wetter periods, when the contributing area of the riparian zone expands. The multimethod and multitracer approach enabled to closely study the interchanging importance of flow processes and water source dynamics from an interannual perspective.

Influence of visual path information on human heading perception during rotation.

PubMed

Li, Li; Chen, Jing; Peng, Xiaozhe

2009-03-31

How does visual path information influence people's perception of their instantaneous direction of self-motion (heading)? We have previously shown that humans can perceive heading without direct access to visual path information. Here we vary two key parameters for estimating heading from optic flow, the field of view (FOV) and the depth range of environmental points, to investigate the conditions under which visual path information influences human heading perception. The display simulated an observer traveling on a circular path. Observers used a joystick to rotate their line of sight until deemed aligned with true heading. Four FOV sizes (110 x 94 degrees, 48 x 41 degrees, 16 x 14 degrees, 8 x 7 degrees) and depth ranges (6-50 m, 6-25 m, 6-12.5 m, 6-9 m) were tested. Consistent with our computational modeling results, heading bias increased with the reduction of FOV or depth range when the display provided a sequence of velocity fields but no direct path information. When the display provided path information, heading bias was not influenced as much by the reduction of FOV or depth range. We conclude that human heading and path perception involve separate visual processes. Path helps heading perception when the display does not contain enough optic-flow information for heading estimation during rotation.

Chemseal 3808-A2 penetration into small leak path

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Carruth, M. R., Jr.; Dehaye, R. F.

1988-01-01

A possible fix to a leak in the oxidizer system of the Space Shuttle Discovery's attitude control system was proposed by MSFC. This fix involved the passing of a shuttlecock past the leaking Dynaflow fitting and sealing the vent tube containing the fitting with Chemseal 3808-A2. The question of whether the Chemseal 3808-A2 can flow into the leak path and provide a better seal was addressed analytically and by experiment to verify the analytical formula used. The results show that the equations are applicable and that the Chemseal will flow into the expected leak path and seal.

The dynamic nature of crystal growth in pores

DOE PAGES

Godinho, Jose R. A.; Gerke, Kirill M.; Stack, Andrew G.; ...

2016-09-12

We report that the kinetics of crystal growth in porous media controls a variety of natural processes such as ore genesis and crystallization induced fracturing that can trigger earthquakes and weathering, as well as, sequestration of CO 2 and toxic metals into geological formations. Progress on understanding those processes has been limited by experimental difficulties of dynamically studying the reactive surface area and permeability during pore occlusion. Here, we show that these variables cause a time-dependency of barite growth rates in microporous silica. The rate is approximately constant and similar to that observed on free surfaces if fast flow velocitiesmore » predominate and if the time-dependent reactive surface area is accounted for. As the narrower flow paths clog, local flow velocities decrease, which causes the progressive slowing of growth rates. We conclude that mineral growth in a microporous media can be estimated based on free surface studies when a) the growth rate is normalized to the time-dependent surface area of the growing crystals, and b) the local flow velocities are above the limit at which growth is transport-limited. Lastly, accounting for the dynamic relation between microstructure, flow velocity and growth rate is shown to be crucial towards understanding and predicting precipitation in porous rocks.« less

Flow of GE90 Turbofan Engine Simulated

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Veres, Joseph P.

1999-01-01

The objective of this task was to create and validate a three-dimensional model of the GE90 turbofan engine (General Electric) using the APNASA (average passage) flow code. This was a joint effort between GE Aircraft Engines and the NASA Lewis Research Center. The goal was to perform an aerodynamic analysis of the engine primary flow path, in under 24 hours of CPU time, on a parallel distributed workstation system. Enhancements were made to the APNASA Navier-Stokes code to make it faster and more robust and to allow for the analysis of more arbitrary geometry. The resulting simulation exploited the use of parallel computations by using two levels of parallelism, with extremely high efficiency.The primary flow path of the GE90 turbofan consists of a nacelle and inlet, 49 blade rows of turbomachinery, and an exhaust nozzle. Secondary flows entering and exiting the primary flow path-such as bleed, purge, and cooling flows-were modeled macroscopically as source terms to accurately simulate the engine. The information on these source terms came from detailed descriptions of the cooling flow and from thermodynamic cycle system simulations. These provided boundary condition data to the three-dimensional analysis. A simplified combustor was used to feed boundary conditions to the turbomachinery. Flow simulations of the fan, high-pressure compressor, and high- and low-pressure turbines were completed with the APNASA code.

An improved two-dimensional depth-integrated flow equation for rough-walled fractures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mallikamas, Wasin; Rajaram, Harihar

2010-08-01

We present the development of an improved 2-D flow equation for rough-walled fractures. Our improved equation accounts for the influence of midsurface tortuosity and the fact that the aperture normal to the midsurface is in general smaller than the vertical aperture. It thus improves upon the well-known Reynolds equation that is widely used for modeling flow in fractures. Unlike the Reynolds equation, our approach begins from the lubrication approximation applied in an inclined local coordinate system tangential to the fracture midsurface. The local flow equation thus obtained is rigorously transformed to an arbitrary global Cartesian coordinate system, invoking the concepts of covariant and contravariant transformations for vectors defined on surfaces. Unlike previously proposed improvements to the Reynolds equation, our improved flow equation accounts for tortuosity both along and perpendicular to a flow path. Our approach also leads to a well-defined anisotropic local transmissivity tensor relating the representations of the flux and head gradient vectors in a global Cartesian coordinate system. We show that the principal components of the transmissivity tensor and the orientation of its principal axes depend on the directional local midsurface slopes. In rough-walled fractures, the orientations of the principal axes of the local transmissivity tensor will vary from point to point. The local transmissivity tensor also incorporates the influence of the local normal aperture, which is uniquely defined at each point in the fracture. Our improved flow equation is a rigorous statement of mass conservation in any global Cartesian coordinate system. We present three examples of simple geometries to compare our flow equation to analytical solutions obtained using the exact Stokes equations: an inclined parallel plate, and circumferential and axial flows in an incomplete annulus. The effective transmissivities predicted by our flow equation agree very well with values obtained using the exact Stokes equations in all these cases. We discuss potential limitations of our depth-integrated equation, which include the neglect of convergence/divergence and the inaccuracies implicit in any depth-averaging process near sharp corners where the wall and midsurface curvatures are large.

Testing a Conception of How School Leadership Influences Student Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Leithwood, Kenneth; Patten, Sarah; Jantzi, Doris

2010-01-01

Purpose: This article describes and reports the results of testing a new conception of how leadership influences student learning ("The Four Paths"). Framework: Leadership influence is conceptualized as flowing along four paths (Rational, Emotions, Organizational, and Family) toward student learning. Each path is populated by multiple…

Changes in wood density, wood anatomy and hydraulic properties of the xylem along the root-to-shoot flow path in tropical rainforest trees.

PubMed

Schuldt, Bernhard; Leuschner, Christoph; Brock, Nicolai; Horna, Viviana

2013-02-01

It is generally assumed that the largest vessels are occurring in the roots and that vessel diameters and the related hydraulic conductance in the xylem are decreasing acropetally from roots to leaves. With this study in five tree species of a perhumid tropical rainforest in Sulawesi (Indonesia), we searched for patterns in hydraulic architecture and axial conductivity along the flow path from small-diameter roots through strong roots and the trunk to distal sun-canopy twigs. Wood density differed by not more than 10% across the different flow path positions in a species, and branch and stem wood density were closely related in three of the five species. Other than wood density, the wood anatomical and xylem hydraulic traits varied in dependence on the position along the flow path, but were unrelated to wood density within a tree. In contrast to reports from conifers and certain dicotyledonous species, we found a hump-shaped variation in vessel diameter and sapwood area--specific conductivity along the flow path in all five species with a maximum in the trunk and strong roots and minima in both small roots and twigs; the vessel size depended on the diameter of the organ. This pattern might be an adaptation to the perhumid climate with a low risk of hydraulic failure. Despite a similar mean vessel diameter in small roots and twigs, the two distal organs, hydraulically weighted mean vessel diameters were on average 30% larger in small roots, resulting in ∼ 85% higher empirical and theoretical specific conductivities. Relative vessel lumen area in percent of sapwood area decreased linearly by 70% from roots to twigs, reflecting the increase in sclerenchymatic tissue and tracheids in acropetal direction in the xylem. Vessel size was more closely related to the organ diameter than to the distance along the root-to-shoot flow path. We conclude that (i) the five co-occurring tree species show convergent patterns in their hydraulic architecture despite different growth strategies, and (ii) the paradigm assuming continuous acropetal vessel tapering and decrease in specific conductance from fine roots towards distal twigs needs reconsideration.

Study of two-phase flows in reduced gravity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roy, Tirthankar

Study of gas-liquid two-phase flows under reduced gravity conditions is extremely important. One of the major applications of gas-liquid two-phase flows under reduced gravity conditions is in the design of active thermal control systems for future space applications. Previous space crafts were characterized by low heat generation within the spacecraft which needed to be redistributed within the craft or rejected to space. This task could easily have been accomplished by pumped single-phase loops or passive systems such as heat pipes and so on. However with increase in heat generation within the space craft as predicted for future missions, pumped boiling two-phase flows are being considered. This is because of higher heat transfer co-efficients associated with boiling heat transfer among other advantages. Two-phase flows under reduced gravity conditions also find important applications in space propulsion as in space nuclear power reactors as well as in many other life support systems of space crafts. Two-fluid model along with Interfacial Area Transport Equation (IATE) is a useful tool available to predict the behavior of gas-liquid two-phase flows under reduced gravity conditions. It should be noted that considerable differences exist between two-phase flows under reduced and normal gravity conditions especially for low inertia flows. This is because due to suppression of the gravity field the gas-liquid two-phase flows take a considerable time to develop under reduced gravity conditions as compared to normal gravity conditions. Hence other common methods of analysis applicable for fully developed gas-liquid two-phase flows under normal gravity conditions, like flow regimes and flow regime transition criteria, will not be applicable to gas-liquid two-phase flows under reduced gravity conditions. However the two-fluid model and the IATE need to be evaluated first against detailed experimental data obtained under reduced gravity conditions. Although lot of studies have been done in the past to understand the global structure of gas-liquid two-phase flows under reduced gravity conditions, using experimental setups aboard drop towers or aircrafts flying parabolic flights, detailed data on local structure of such two-phase flows are extremely rare. Hence experiments were carried out in a 304 mm inner diameter (ID) test facility on earth. Keeping in mind the detailed experimental data base that needs to be generated to evaluate two-fluid model along with IATE, ground based simulations provide the only economic path. Here the reduced gravity condition is simulated using two-liquids of similar densities (water and Therminol 59 RTM in the present case). Only adiabatic two-phase flows were concentrated on at this initial stage. Such a large diameter test section was chosen to study the development of drops to their full extent (it is to be noted that under reduced gravity conditions the stable bubble size in gas-liquid two-phase flows is much larger than that at normal gravity conditions). Twelve flow conditions were chosen around predicted bubbly flow to cap-bubbly flow transition region. Detailed local data was obtained at ten radial locations for each of three axial locations using state-of-the art multi-sensor conductivity probes. The results are presented and discussed. Also one-group as well as two-group, steady state, one-dimensional IATE was evaluated against data obtained here and by other researchers, and the results presented and discussed.

Turbulent Flow Simulation at the Exascale: Opportunities and Challenges Workshop: August 4-5, 2015, Washington, D.C.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sprague, Michael A.; Boldyrev, Stanislav; Fischer, Paul

This report details the impact exascale will bring to turbulent-flow simulations in applied science and technology. The need for accurate simulation of turbulent flows is evident across the DOE applied-science and engineering portfolios, including combustion, plasma physics, nuclear-reactor physics, wind energy, and atmospheric science. The workshop brought together experts in turbulent-flow simulation, computational mathematics, and high-performance computing. Building upon previous ASCR workshops on exascale computing, participants defined a research agenda and path forward that will enable scientists and engineers to continually leverage, engage, and direct advances in computational systems on the path to exascale computing.

Convective heater

DOEpatents

Thorogood, Robert M.

1986-01-01

A convective heater for heating fluids such as a coal slurry is constructed of a tube circuit arrangement which obtains an optimum temperature distribution to give a relatively constant slurry film temperature. The heater is constructed to divide the heating gas flow into two equal paths and the tube circuit for the slurry is arranged to provide a mixed flow configuration whereby the slurry passes through the two heating gas paths in successive co-current, counter-current and co-current flow relative to the heating gas flow. This arrangement permits the utilization of minimum surface area for a given maximum film temperature of the slurry consistent with the prevention of coke formation.

Convective heater

DOEpatents

Thorogood, Robert M.

1983-01-01

A convective heater for heating fluids such as a coal slurry is constructed of a tube circuit arrangement which obtains an optimum temperature distribution to give a relatively constant slurry film temperature. The heater is constructed to divide the heating gas flow into two equal paths and the tube circuit for the slurry is arranged to provide a mixed flow configuration whereby the slurry passes through the two heating gas paths in successive co-current, counter-current and co-current flow relative to the heating gas flow. This arrangement permits the utilization of minimum surface area for a given maximum film temperature of the slurry consistent with the prevention of coke formation.

Convective heater

DOEpatents

Thorogood, R.M.

1983-12-27

A convective heater for heating fluids such as a coal slurry is constructed of a tube circuit arrangement which obtains an optimum temperature distribution to give a relatively constant slurry film temperature. The heater is constructed to divide the heating gas flow into two equal paths and the tube circuit for the slurry is arranged to provide a mixed flow configuration whereby the slurry passes through the two heating gas paths in successive co-current, counter-current and co-current flow relative to the heating gas flow. This arrangement permits the utilization of minimum surface area for a given maximum film temperature of the slurry consistent with the prevention of coke formation. 14 figs.

Thermally determining flow and/or heat load distribution in parallel paths

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chainer, Timothy J.; Iyengar, Madhusudan K.; Parida, Pritish R.

A method including obtaining calibration data for at least one sub-component in a heat transfer assembly, wherein the calibration data comprises at least one indication of coolant flow rate through the sub-component for a given surface temperature delta of the sub-component and a given heat load into said sub-component, determining a measured heat load into the sub-component, determining a measured surface temperature delta of the sub-component, and determining a coolant flow distribution in a first flow path comprising the sub-component from the calibration data according to the measured heat load and the measured surface temperature delta of the sub-component.

Thermally determining flow and/or heat load distribution in parallel paths

DOEpatents

Chainer, Timothy J.; Iyengar, Madhusudan K.; Parida, Pritish R.

2016-12-13

A method including obtaining calibration data for at least one sub-component in a heat transfer assembly, wherein the calibration data comprises at least one indication of coolant flow rate through the sub-component for a given surface temperature delta of the sub-component and a given heat load into said sub-component, determining a measured heat load into the sub-component, determining a measured surface temperature delta of the sub-component, and determining a coolant flow distribution in a first flow path comprising the sub-component from the calibration data according to the measured heat load and the measured surface temperature delta of the sub-component.

Aquifers of Arkansas: protection, management, and hydrologic and geochemical characteristics of groundwater resources in Arkansas

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kresse, Timothy M.; Hays, Phillip D.; Merriman, Katherine R.; Gillip, Jonathan A.; Fugitt, D. Todd; Spellman, Jane L.; Nottmeier, Anna M.; Westerman, Drew A.; Blackstock, Joshua M.; Battreal, James L.

2014-01-01

The Interior Highlands of western Arkansas has less reported groundwater use than other areas of the State, reflecting a combination of factors. These factors include prevalent and increasing use of surface water, less intensive agricultural uses, lower population and industry densities, lesser potential yield of the resource, and lack of detailed reporting. The overall low yields of aquifers of the Interior Highlands result in domestic supply as the dominant use, with minor industrial, public, and commercial-supply use. Where greater volumes are required for growth of population and industry, surface water is the greatest supplier of water needs in the Interior Highlands. The various aquifers of the Interior Highlands generally occur in shallow, fractured, well-indurated, structurally modified bedrock of this mountainous region of the State, as compared to the relatively flat-lying, unconsolidated sediments of the Coastal Plain. In terms of age from youngest to oldest, the aquifers of the Interior Highlands include: the Arkansas River Valley alluvial aquifer, the Ouachita Mountains aquifer, the Western Interior Plains confining system, the Springfield Plateau aquifer, and the Ozark aquifer. Spatial trends in groundwater geochemistry in the Interior Highlands differ greatly from trends noted for aquifers of the Coastal Plain. In the Coastal Plain, the prevalence of long regional flow paths results in regionally predictable and mappable geochemical changes along the flow paths. In the Interior Highlands, short, topographically controlled flow paths (from hilltops to valleys) within small watersheds represent the predominant groundwater-flow system. As such, dense data coverage from numerous wells would be required to effectively characterize these groundwater basins and define small-scale geochemical changes along any given flow path for aquifers of the Interior Highlands. Changes in geochemistry generally were related to rock type and residence time along individual flow paths. Dominant changes in geochemistry for the Ouachita Mountains aquifer and the Western Interior Plains confining system are attributed to rock/water interaction and changes in redox zonation along the flow path. In these areas, groundwater evolves along flow paths from a calcium- to a sodium-bicarbonate water type with increasing reducing conditions resulting in denitrification, elevated iron and manganese concentrations, and production of methane in the more geochemically evolved and strongest reducing conditions. In the Ozark and Springfield Plateau aquifers, rapid influx of surface-derived contaminants, especially nitrogen, coupled with few to no attenuation processes was attributed to the karst landscape developed on Mississippian- and Ordovician-age carbonate rocks of the Ozark Plateaus. Increasing nitrate concentrations are related to increasing agricultural land use, and areas of mature karst development result in higher nitrate concentrations than areas with less karst features.

ARC Cell Science Validation (CS-V) Payload Overview

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gilkerson, Nikita

2017-01-01

Automated cell biology system for laboratory and International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory research. Enhanced cell culture platform that provides undisturbed culture maintenance, including feedback temperature control, medical grade gas supply, perfusion nutrient delivery and removal of waste, and automated experiment manipulations. Programmable manipulations include: media feeds change out, injections, fraction collections, fixation, flow rate, and temperature modification within a one-piece sterile barrier flow path. Cassette provides 3 levels of containment and allows Crew access to the bioculture chamber and flow path assembly for experiment initiation, refurbishment, or sample retrieval and preservation.

Flow visualization study of the horseshoe vortex in a turbine stator cascade

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gaugler, R. E.; Russell, L. M.

1982-01-01

Flow visualization techniques were used to show the behavior of the horseshoe vortex in a large scale turbine stator cascade. Oil drops on the end wall surface flowed in response to local shear stresses, indicating the limiting flow streamlines at the surface. Smoke injected into the flow and photographed showed time averaged flow behavior. Neutrally bouyant helium filled soap bubbles followed the flow and showed up on photographs as streaks, indicating the paths followed by individual fluid particles. Preliminary attempts to control the vortex were made by injecting air through control jets drilled in the end wall near the vane leading edge. Seventeen different hole locations were tested, one at a time, and the effect of the control jets on the path follwed by smoke in the boundary layer was recorded photographically.

Effect of enhanced manganese oxidation in the hyporheic zone on basin-scale geochemical mass balance

USGS Publications Warehouse

Harvey, Judson W.; Fuller, Christopher C.

1998-01-01

We determined the role of the hyporheic zone (the subsurface zone where stream water and shallow groundwater mix) in enhancing microbially mediated oxidation of dissolved manganese (to form manganese precipitates) in a drainage basin contaminated by copper mining. The fate of manganese is of overall importance to water quality in Pinal Creek Basin, Arizona, because manganese reactions affect the transport of trace metals. The basin-scale role of the hyporheic zone is difficult to quantify because stream-tracer studies do not always reliably characterize the cumulative effects of the hyporheic zone. This study determined cumulative effects of hyporheic reactions in Pinal Creek basin by characterizing manganese uptake at several spatial scales (stream-reach scale, hyporheic-flow-path scale, and sediment-grain scale). At the stream-reach scale a one-dimensional stream-transport model (including storage zones to represent hyporheic flow paths) was used to determine a reach-averaged time constant for manganese uptake in hyporheic zones, 1/λs, of 1.3 hours, which was somewhat faster but still similar to manganese uptake time constants that were measured directly in centimeter-scale hyporheic flow paths (1/λh= 2.6 hours), and in laboratory batch experiments using streambed sediment (1/λ = 2.7 hours). The modeled depths of subsurface storage zones (ds = 4–17 cm) and modeled residence times of water in storage zones (ts = 3–12 min) were both consistent with direct measurements in hyporheic flow paths (dh = 0–15 cm, th = 1–25 min). There was also good agreement between reach-scale modeling and direct measurements of the percentage removal of dissolved manganese in hyporheic flow paths (fs = 8.9%, andfh = 9.3%rpar;. Manganese uptake experiments in the laboratory using sediment from Pinal Creek demonstrated (through comparison of poisoned and unpoisoned treatments) that the manganese removal process was enhanced by microbially mediated oxidation. The cumulative effect of hyporheic exchange in Pinal Creek basin was to remove approximately 20% of the dissolved manganese flowing out of the drainage basin. Our results illustrate that the cumulative significance of reactive uptake in the hyporheic zone depends on the balance between chemical reaction rates, hyporheic porewater residence time, and turnover of streamflow through hyporheic flow paths. The similarity between the hyporheic reaction timescale (1/λs ≈ 1.3 hours), and the hyporheic porewater residence timescale (ts ≈ 8 min) ensured that there was adequate time for the reaction to progress. Furthermore, it was the similarity between the turnover length for stream water flow through hyporheic flow paths (Ls = stream velocity/storage-zone exchange coefficient ≈ 1.3 km) and the length of Pinal Creek (L ≈ 7 km), which ensured that all stream water passed through hyporheic flow paths several times. As a means to generalize our findings to other sites where similar types of hydrologic and chemical information are available, we suggest a cumulative significance index for hyporheic reactions, Rs = λstsL/Ls (dimensionless); higher values indicate a greater potential for hyporheic reactions to influence geochemical mass balance. Our experience in Pinal Creek basin suggests that values of Rs > 0.2 characterize systems where hyporheic reactions are likely to influence geochemical mass balance at the drainage-basin scale.

Flume experiments elucidate relationships between stream morphology, hyporheic residence time, and nitrous oxide production

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Quick, Annika; Farrell, Tiffany B.; Reeder, William Jeffrey; Feris, Kevin P.; Tonina, Daniele; Benner, Shawn G.

2015-04-01

The hyporheic zone is a potentially important producer of nitrous oxide, a powerful greenhouse gas. The location and magnitude of nitrous oxide generation within the hyporheic zone involves complex interactions between multiple nitrogen species, redox conditions, microbial communities, and hydraulics. To better understand nitrous oxide generation and emissions from streams, we conducted large-scale flume experiments in which we monitored pore waters along hyporheic flow paths within stream dune structures. Measurements of dissolved oxygen, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, and dissolved nitrous oxide showed distinct spatial relationships reflecting redox changes along flow paths. Using residence times along a flow path, clear trends in oxygen conditions and nitrogen species were observed. Three dune sizes were modeled, resulting in a range of residence times, carbon reactivity levels and respiration rates. We found that the magnitude and location of nitrous oxide production in the hyporheic zone is related to nitrate loading, dune morphology, and residence time. Specifically, increasing exogenous nitrate levels in surface water to approximately 3 mg/L resulted in an increase in dissolved N2O concentrations greater than 500% (up to 10 µg/L N-N2O) in distinct zones of specific residence times. We also found, however, that dissolved N2O concentrations decreased to background levels further along the flow path due to either reduction of nitrous oxide to dinitrogen gas or degassing. The decrease in measurable N2O along a flow path strongly suggests an important relationship between dune morphology, residence time, and nitrous oxide emissions from within stream sediments. Relating streambed morphology and loading of nitrogen species allows for prediction of nitrous oxide production in the hyporheic zone of natural systems.

Deleterious Thermal Effects due to Randomized Flow Paths in Pebble Bed, and Particle Bed Style Reactors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moran, Robert P.

2013-01-01

Reactor fuel rod surface area that is perpendicular to coolant flow direction (+S) i.e. perpendicular to the P creates areas of coolant stagnation leading to increased coolant temperatures resulting in localized changes in fluid properties. Changes in coolant fluid properties caused by minor increases in temperature lead to localized reductions in coolant mass flow rates leading to localized thermal instabilities. Reductions in coolant mass flow rates result in further increases in local temperatures exacerbating changes to coolant fluid properties leading to localized thermal runaway. Unchecked localized thermal runaway leads to localized fuel melting. Reactor designs with randomized flow paths are vulnerable to localized thermal instabilities, localized thermal runaway, and localized fuel melting.

Aircraft Engine Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Veres, Joseph

2001-01-01

This report outlines the detailed simulation of Aircraft Turbofan Engine. The objectives were to develop a detailed flow model of a full turbofan engine that runs on parallel workstation clusters overnight and to develop an integrated system of codes for combustor design and analysis to enable significant reduction in design time and cost. The model will initially simulate the 3-D flow in the primary flow path including the flow and chemistry in the combustor, and ultimately result in a multidisciplinary model of the engine. The overnight 3-D simulation capability of the primary flow path in a complete engine will enable significant reduction in the design and development time of gas turbine engines. In addition, the NPSS (Numerical Propulsion System Simulation) multidisciplinary integration and analysis are discussed.

Stormflow generation: a meta-analysis of field studies and research catchments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barthold, Frauke; Elsenbeer, Helmut

2014-05-01

Runoff characteristics are expressions of runoff generation mechanisms. In this study, we want to test the hypothesis if storm hydrographs of catchments with prevailing near-surface flow paths are dominated by new water. We aim to test this hypothesis using published data from the scientific literature. We developed a classification system based on three runoff characteristics: (1) hydrograph response (HR: slowly or quickly), (2) the temporal source of water that dominates the hydrograph (TS: pre-event vs. event water) and (3) the flow paths that the water takes until it is released to the stream (FP: subsurface vs. surface flow paths). We then performed a literature survey to collect information on these runoff characteristics for small, forested headwater catchments that served as study areas in runoff generation studies and assigned each study catchment to one of the 8 classes. For this purpose, we designed a procedure to objectively diagnose the predominant conceptual model of storm flow generation in each catchment and assess its temporal and spatial relevance for the catchment. Finally, we performed an explorative analysis of the classified research catchments and summarized field evidence. Our literature survey yielded a sample of 22 research catchments that fell within our defined criteria (small, naturally forested catchments which served as study areas in stormflow generation studies). We applied our classification procedure to all of these catchments. Among them were 14 catchments for which our meta-analysis yielded a complete set of stormflow characteristics resulting in one of the 8 model concepts and were assigned into our classification scheme. Of the 14 classified research catchments, 10 were dominated by subsurface flow paths while 4 were dominated by overland flow. The data also indicate that the spatial and temporal relevance is high for catchments with subsurface flow paths while often weak for surface flow paths dominated catchments. The catalogue of catchments supports our hypothesis; however, it is afflicted with a relative high degree of uncertainty. Two theories exist that may explain the imbalance between surface and subsurface dominated catchments: (1) the selection of research sites for stormflow generation studies was guided by the leading research question in hydrology, i.e. to address the "old water paradox", and (2) catchments with prevailing subsurface flow paths are much more common in nature. In a next step, the proposed catalogue of research catchments allows correlation of environmental characteristics with runoff characteristics to address questions of catchment organization and similarity. However, the successful application and relevance of such an approach depends on the range of conceptual models for which field support exist. Our results prompt us to highlight future research needs: (1) in order to cover a broader range of combinations of runoff characteristics a careful selection of research sites is necessary and (2) propose guidelines for field studies in order achieve higher comparability of resulting conceptual models of research sites and increase the spatial and temporal relevance of the dominant conceptual model.

Acoustic transducer in system for gas temperature measurement in gas turbine engine

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

DeSilva, Upul P.; Claussen, Heiko

An apparatus for controlling operation of a gas turbine engine including at least one acoustic transmitter/receiver device located on a flow path boundary structure. The acoustic transmitter/receiver device includes an elongated sound passage defined by a surface of revolution having opposing first and second ends and a central axis extending between the first and second ends, an acoustic sound source located at the first end, and an acoustic receiver located within the sound passage between the first and second ends. The boundary structure includes an opening extending from outside the boundary structure to the flow path, and the second endmore » of the surface of revolution is affixed to the boundary structure at the opening for passage of acoustic signals between the sound passage and the flow path.« less

The influence of slope-angle ratio on the dynamics of granular flows: insights from laboratory experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sulpizio, R.; Castioni, D.; Rodriguez-Sedano, L. A.; Sarocchi, D.; Lucchi, F.

2016-11-01

Laboratory experiments on granular flows using natural material were carried out in order to investigate the behaviour of granular flows passing over a break in slope. Sensors in the depositional area recorded the flow kinematics, while video footage permitted reconstruction of the deposit formation, which allowed investigation of the deposit shape as a function of the change in slope. We defined the slope-angle ratio as the proportion between slope angle in the depositional area and that of the channel. When the granular flow encounters the break in slope part of the flow front forms a bouncing clast zone due to elastic impact with the expansion box floor. During this process, part of the kinetic energy of the dense granular flow is transferred to elutriating fine ash, which subsequently forms turbulent ash cloud accompanying the granular flow until it comes to rest. Morphometric analysis of the deposits shows that they are all elliptical, with an almost constant minor axis and a variable major axis. The almost constant value of the minor axis relates to the spreading angle of flow at the end of the channel, which resembles the basal friction angle of the material. The variation of the major axis is interpreted to relate to the effect of competing inertial and frictional forces. This effect also reflects the partitioning of centripetal and tangential velocities, which changes as the flow passes over the break in slope. After normalization, morphometric data provided empirical relationships that highlight the dependence of runout from the product of slope-angle ratio and the difference in height between granular material release and deposit. The empirical relationships were tested against the runouts of hot avalanches formed during the 1944 ad eruption at Vesuvius, with differences among actual and calculated values are between 1.7 and 15 %. Velocity measurements of laboratory granular flows record deceleration paths at different breaks in slope. When normalized, the velocity data show third-order polynomial fit, highlighting a complex behaviour involving interplay between inertial and frictional forces. The theoretical velocity decays were tested against the data published for volcaniclastic debris flows of the 5-6 May 1998 event in the Sarno area. The comparison is very good for non-channelized debris flows, with significant differences between actual and calculated velocities for the channelized debris flows.

Spin State Equilibria of Asteroids due to YORP Effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Golubov, Oleksiy; Scheeres, Daniel J.; Lipatova, Veronika

2016-05-01

Spins of small asteroids are controlled by the Yarkovsky--O'Keefe--Radzievskii--Paddack (YORP) effect. The normal version of this effect has two components: the axial component alters the rotation rate, while the obliquity component alters the obliquity. Under this model the rotation state of an asteroid can be described in a phase plane with the rotation rate along the polar radius and the obliquity as the polar angle. The YORP effect induces a phase flow in this plane, which determines the distribution of asteroid rotation rates and obliquities.We study the properties of this phase flow for several typical cases. Some phase flows have stable attractors, while in others all trajectories go to very small or large rotation rates. In the simplest case of zero thermal inertia approximate analytical solutions to dynamics equations are possible. Including thermal inertia and the Tangential YORP effect makes the possible evolutionary scenarios much more diverse. We study possible evolution paths and classify the most general trends. Also we discuss possible implications for the distribution of asteroid rotation rates and obliquities.A special emphasis is put on asteroid (25143) Itokawa, whose shape model is well determined, but who's measured YORP acceleration does not agree with the predictions of normal YORP. We show that Itokawa's rotational state can be explained by the presence of tangential YORP and that it may be in or close to a stable spin state equilibrium. The implications of such states will be discussed.

Label-free high-throughput imaging flow cytometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mahjoubfar, A.; Chen, C.; Niazi, K. R.; Rabizadeh, S.; Jalali, B.

2014-03-01

Flow cytometry is an optical method for studying cells based on their individual physical and chemical characteristics. It is widely used in clinical diagnosis, medical research, and biotechnology for analysis of blood cells and other cells in suspension. Conventional flow cytometers aim a laser beam at a stream of cells and measure the elastic scattering of light at forward and side angles. They also perform single-point measurements of fluorescent emissions from labeled cells. However, many reagents used in cell labeling reduce cellular viability or change the behavior of the target cells through the activation of undesired cellular processes or inhibition of normal cellular activity. Therefore, labeled cells are not completely representative of their unaltered form nor are they fully reliable for downstream studies. To remove the requirement of cell labeling in flow cytometry, while still meeting the classification sensitivity and specificity goals, measurement of additional biophysical parameters is essential. Here, we introduce an interferometric imaging flow cytometer based on the world's fastest continuous-time camera. Our system simultaneously measures cellular size, scattering, and protein concentration as supplementary biophysical parameters for label-free cell classification. It exploits the wide bandwidth of ultrafast laser pulses to perform blur-free quantitative phase and intensity imaging at flow speeds as high as 10 meters per second and achieves nanometer-scale optical path length resolution for precise measurements of cellular protein concentration.

Use of a parallel path nebulizer for capillary-based microseparation techniques coupled with an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer for speciation measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yanes, Enrique G.; Miller-Ihli, Nancy J.

2004-06-01

A low flow, parallel path Mira Mist CE nebulizer designed for capillary electrophoresis (CE) was evaluated as a function of make-up solution flow rate, composition, and concentration, as well as the nebulizer gas flow rate. This research was conducted in support of a project related to the separation and quantification of cobalamin (vitamin B-12) species using microseparation techniques combined with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) detection. As such, Co signals were monitored during the nebulizer characterization process. Transient effects in the ICP were studied to evaluate the suitability of using gradients for microseparations and the benefit of using methanol for the make-up solution was demonstrated. Co signal response changed significantly as a function of changing methanol concentrations of the make-up solution and maximum signal enhancement was seen at 20% methanol with a 15 μl/min flow rate. Evaluation of the effect of changing the nebulizer gas flow rates showed that argon flows from 0.8 to 1.2 l/min were equally effective. The Mira Mist CE parallel path nebulizer was then evaluated for interfacing capillary microseparation techniques including capillary electrophoresis (CE) and micro high performance liquid chromatography (μHPLC) to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). A mixture of four cobalamin species standards (cyanocobalamin, hydroxocobalamin, methylcobalamin, and 5' deoxyadenosylcobalamin) and the corrinoid analogue cobinamide dicyanide were successfully separated using both CE-ICP-MS and μHPLC-ICP-MS using the parallel path nebulizer with a make-up solution containing 20% methanol with a flow rate of 15 μl/min.

Modeling of ground-water flow in subsurface Austin Chalk and Taylor marl in Ellis County, Texas, near the superconducting super collider site

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mace, R.E.

1993-02-01

Numerical models are useful tools for developing an understanding of ground-water flow in sparsely characterized low-permeability aquifers. Finite-difference, cross-sectional models of Cretaceous chalk and marl formations near the Superconducting Super Collider (SSC) were constructed using MODFLOW to evaluate ground-water circulation paths and travel times. Weathered and fractured zones with enhanced permeability were included to assess the effect these features had on flow paths and times. Pump tests, slug tests, packer tests, core tests, and estimates were used to define hydraulic properties for model input. The model was calibrated with water-level data from monitor wells and from wire-line piezometers near amore » test shaft excavated by the SSC project. A ratio of vertical-to-horizontal permeability of 0.0085 was estimated through model calibration. A chalk-to-marl permeability ratio of 18 was needed to reproduce artesian head in a well completed in chalk beneath marl. Hydraulic head distributions and ground-water flow paths reflected local, intermediate, and regional flow systems with recharge beneath upland surface-water divides and discharge in valleys. Most of the flow (99%) occurred in the weathered zone, with average residence times of 5 to 10 years. Residence time in unweathered chalk bedrock was substantially longer, at an average of 1.7 Ma. As expected, the model demonstrated that deep and rapid ground-water circulation might occur in fracture zones. Particle paths calculated using MODPATH showed that ground-water travel times from recharge areas to the SSC subsurface facilities might be 20 to 60 years where flow is through fracture zones.« less

Combined Cycle Engine Large-Scale Inlet for Mode Transition Experiments: System Identification Rack Hardware Design

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thomas, Randy; Stueber, Thomas J.

2013-01-01

The System Identification (SysID) Rack is a real-time hardware-in-the-loop data acquisition (DAQ) and control instrument rack that was designed and built to support inlet testing in the NASA Glenn Research Center 10- by 10-Foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel. This instrument rack is used to support experiments on the Combined-Cycle Engine Large-Scale Inlet for Mode Transition Experiment (CCE? LIMX). The CCE?LIMX is a testbed for an integrated dual flow-path inlet configuration with the two flow paths in an over-and-under arrangement such that the high-speed flow path is located below the lowspeed flow path. The CCE?LIMX includes multiple actuators that are designed to redirect airflow from one flow path to the other; this action is referred to as "inlet mode transition." Multiple phases of experiments have been planned to support research that investigates inlet mode transition: inlet characterization (Phase-1) and system identification (Phase-2). The SysID Rack hardware design met the following requirements to support Phase-1 and Phase-2 experiments: safely and effectively move multiple actuators individually or synchronously; sample and save effector control and position sensor feedback signals; automate control of actuator positioning based on a mode transition schedule; sample and save pressure sensor signals; and perform DAQ and control processes operating at 2.5 KHz. This document describes the hardware components used to build the SysID Rack including their function, specifications, and system interface. Furthermore, provided in this document are a SysID Rack effectors signal list (signal flow); system identification experiment setup; illustrations indicating a typical SysID Rack experiment; and a SysID Rack performance overview for Phase-1 and Phase-2 experiments. The SysID Rack described in this document was a useful tool to meet the project objectives.

Use of linkage mapping and centrality analysis across habitat gradients to conserve connectivity of gray wolf populations in western North America.

PubMed

Carroll, Carlos; McRae, Brad H; Brookes, Allen

2012-02-01

Centrality metrics evaluate paths between all possible pairwise combinations of sites on a landscape to rank the contribution of each site to facilitating ecological flows across the network of sites. Computational advances now allow application of centrality metrics to landscapes represented as continuous gradients of habitat quality. This avoids the binary classification of landscapes into patch and matrix required by patch-based graph analyses of connectivity. It also avoids the focus on delineating paths between individual pairs of core areas characteristic of most corridor- or linkage-mapping methods of connectivity analysis. Conservation of regional habitat connectivity has the potential to facilitate recovery of the gray wolf (Canis lupus), a species currently recolonizing portions of its historic range in the western United States. We applied 3 contrasting linkage-mapping methods (shortest path, current flow, and minimum-cost-maximum-flow) to spatial data representing wolf habitat to analyze connectivity between wolf populations in central Idaho and Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming). We then applied 3 analogous betweenness centrality metrics to analyze connectivity of wolf habitat throughout the northwestern United States and southwestern Canada to determine where it might be possible to facilitate range expansion and interpopulation dispersal. We developed software to facilitate application of centrality metrics. Shortest-path betweenness centrality identified a minimal network of linkages analogous to those identified by least-cost-path corridor mapping. Current flow and minimum-cost-maximum-flow betweenness centrality identified diffuse networks that included alternative linkages, which will allow greater flexibility in planning. Minimum-cost-maximum-flow betweenness centrality, by integrating both land cost and habitat capacity, allows connectivity to be considered within planning processes that seek to maximize species protection at minimum cost. Centrality analysis is relevant to conservation and landscape genetics at a range of spatial extents, but it may be most broadly applicable within single- and multispecies planning efforts to conserve regional habitat connectivity. ©2011 Society for Conservation Biology.

Toward Shared Working Space of Human and Robotic Agents Through Dipole Flow Field for Dependable Path Planning.

PubMed

Trinh, Lan Anh; Ekström, Mikael; Cürüklü, Baran

2018-01-01

Recent industrial developments in autonomous systems, or agents, which assume that humans and the agents share the same space or even work in close proximity, open for new challenges in robotics, especially in motion planning and control. In these settings, the control system should be able to provide these agents a reliable path following control when they are working in a group or in collaboration with one or several humans in complex and dynamic environments. In such scenarios, these agents are not only moving to reach their goals, i.e., locations, they are also aware of the movements of other entities to find a collision-free path. Thus, this paper proposes a dependable, i.e., safe, reliable and effective, path planning algorithm for a group of agents that share their working space with humans. Firstly, the method employs the Theta * algorithm to initialize the paths from a starting point to a goal for a set of agents. As Theta * algorithm is computationally heavy, it only reruns when there is a significant change of the environment. To deal with the movements of the agents, a static flow field along the configured path is defined. This field is used by the agents to navigate and reach their goals even if the planned trajectories are changed. Secondly, a dipole field is calculated to avoid the collision of agents with other agents and human subjects. In this approach, each agent is assumed to be a source of a magnetic dipole field in which the magnetic moment is aligned with the moving direction of the agent. The magnetic dipole-dipole interactions between these agents generate repulsive forces to help them to avoid collision. The effectiveness of the proposed approach has been evaluated with extensive simulations. The results show that the static flow field is able to drive agents to the goals with a small number of requirements to update the path of agents. Meanwhile, the dipole flow field plays an important role to prevent collisions. The combination of these two fields results in a safe path planning algorithm, with a deterministic outcome, to navigate agents to their desired goals.

Ground-water situation in Oregon

USGS Publications Warehouse

Newcomb, R.C.

1951-01-01

The water that occurs beneath the land surface follows definite and well-known rules of hydraulics, the same as water on the surface. However, ground water must be studied by methods, some of which are unique to that type of water occurrence, in order to evaluate the part it plays in the over-all water scheme.Water that falls on the land surface as rain or snow and water that rests upon the surface may in places pass laterally or downward through the pores of the earth materials. There it may take one or more of a variety of paths before again flowing out on the surface or being expelled to the atmosphere by evaporation and by the transpiration of plants. Water so diverted underground is delayed or diverted from its course toward the sea and that digression results in many services of prime importance to mankind. Underground, the water generally exceeds in total quantity the water present on the land surface at any one time.The discussion of ground water can be clarified somewhat by a description of the major parts or phases of the normal path of water underground.

The dissociative chemisorption of methane on Ni(100) and Ni(111): Classical and quantum studies based on the reaction path Hamiltonian

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mastromatteo, Michael; Jackson, Bret, E-mail: jackson@chem.umass.edu

Electronic structure methods based on density functional theory are used to construct a reaction path Hamiltonian for CH{sub 4} dissociation on the Ni(100) and Ni(111) surfaces. Both quantum and quasi-classical trajectory approaches are used to compute dissociative sticking probabilities, including all molecular degrees of freedom and the effects of lattice motion. Both approaches show a large enhancement in sticking when the incident molecule is vibrationally excited, and both can reproduce the mode specificity observed in experiments. However, the quasi-classical calculations significantly overestimate the ground state dissociative sticking at all energies, and the magnitude of the enhancement in sticking with vibrationalmore » excitation is much smaller than that computed using the quantum approach or observed in the experiments. The origin of this behavior is an unphysical flow of zero point energy from the nine normal vibrational modes into the reaction coordinate, giving large values for reaction at energies below the activation energy. Perturbative assumptions made in the quantum studies are shown to be accurate at all energies studied.« less

Determination of the Residence Time of Food Particles During Aseptic Sterilization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Carl, J. R.; Arndt, G. D.; Nguyen, T. X.

1994-01-01

The paper describes a non-invasive method to measure the time an individual particle takes to move through a length of stainless steel pipe. The food product is in two phase flow (liquids and solids) and passes through a pipe with pressures of approximately 60 psig and temperatures of 270-285 F. The proposed problem solution is based on the detection of transitory amplitude and/or phase changes in a microwave transmission path caused by the passage of the particles of interest. The particles are enhanced in some way, as will be discussed later, such that they will provide transitory changes that are distinctive enough not to be mistaken for normal variations in the received signal (caused by the non-homogeneous nature of the medium). Two detectors (transmission paths across the pipe) will be required and place at a known separation. A minimum transit time calculation is made from which the maximum velocity can be determined. This provides the minimum residence time. Also average velocity and statistical variations can be computed so that the amount of 'over-cooking' can be determined.

Tortuous Pore Path Through the Glaucomatous Lamina Cribrosa.

PubMed

Wang, Bo; Lucy, Katie A; Schuman, Joel S; Sigal, Ian A; Bilonick, Richard A; Lu, Chen; Liu, Jonathan; Grulkowski, Ireneusz; Nadler, Zachary; Ishikawa, Hiroshi; Kagemann, Larry; Fujimoto, James G; Wollstein, Gadi

2018-05-08

The lamina cribrosa is a primary site of damage in glaucoma. While mechanical distortion is hypothesized to cause reduction of axoplasmic flow, little is known about how the pores, which contains the retinal ganglion cell axons, traverse the lamina cribrosa. We investigated lamina cribrosa pore paths in vivo to quantify differences in tortuosity of pore paths between healthy and glaucomatous eyes. We imaged 16 healthy, 23 glaucoma suspect and 48 glaucomatous eyes from 70 subjects using a swept source optical coherence tomography system. The lamina cribrosa pores were automatically segmented using a previously described segmentation algorithm. Individual pore paths were automatically tracked through the depth of the lamina cribrosa using custom software. Pore path convergence to the optic nerve center and tortuosity was quantified for each eye. We found that lamina cribrosa pore pathways traverse the lamina cribrosa closer to the optic nerve center along the depth of the lamina cribrosa regardless of disease severity or diagnostic category. In addition, pores of glaucoma eyes take a more tortuous path through the lamina cribrosa compared to those of healthy eyes, suggesting a potential mechanism for reduction of axoplasmic flow in glaucoma.

Characterization of preferential flow paths between boreholes in fractured rock using a nanoscale zero-valent iron tracer test

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chuang, Po-Yu; Chia, Yeeping; Liou, Ya-Hsuan; Teng, Mao-Hua; Liu, Ching-Yi; Lee, Tsai-Ping

2016-11-01

Recent advances in borehole geophysical techniques have improved characterization of cross-hole fracture flow. The direct detection of preferential flow paths in fractured rock, however, remains to be resolved. In this study, a novel approach using nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI or `nano-iron') as a tracer was developed for detecting fracture flow paths directly. Generally, only a few rock fractures are permeable while most are much less permeable. A heat-pulse flowmeter can be used to detect changes in flow velocity for delineating permeable fracture zones in the borehole and providing the design basis for the tracer test. When nano-iron particles are released in an injection well, they can migrate through the connecting permeable fracture and be attracted to a magnet array when arriving in an observation well. Such an attraction of incoming iron nanoparticles by the magnet can provide quantitative information for locating the position of the tracer inlet. A series of field experiments were conducted in two wells in fractured rock at a hydrogeological research station in Taiwan, to test the cross-hole migration of the nano-iron tracer through permeable connected fractures. The fluid conductivity recorded in the observation well confirmed the arrival of the injected nano-iron slurry. All of the iron nanoparticles attracted to the magnet array in the observation well were found at the depth of a permeable fracture zone delineated by the flowmeter. This study has demonstrated that integrating the nano-iron tracer test with flowmeter measurement has the potential to characterize preferential flow paths in fractured rock.

An axisymmetric single-path model for gas transport in the conducting airways.

PubMed

Madasu, Srinath; Borhan, All; Ultman, James S

2006-02-01

In conventional one-dimensional single-path models, radially averaged concentration is calculated as a function of time and longitudinal position in the lungs, and coupled convection and diffusion are accounted for with a dispersion coefficient. The axisymmetric single-path model developed in this paper is a two-dimensional model that incorporates convective-diffusion processes in a more fundamental manner by simultaneously solving the Navier-Stokes and continuity equations with the convection-diffusion equation. A single airway path was represented by a series of straight tube segments interconnected by leaky transition regions that provide for flow loss at the airway bifurcations. As a sample application, the model equations were solved by a finite element method to predict the unsteady state dispersion of an inhaled pulse of inert gas along an airway path having dimensions consistent with Weibel's symmetric airway geometry. Assuming steady, incompressible, and laminar flow, a finite element analysis was used to solve for the axisymmetric pressure, velocity and concentration fields. The dispersion calculated from these numerical solutions exhibited good qualitative agreement with the experimental values, but quantitatively was in error by 20%-30% due to the assumption of axial symmetry and the inability of the model to capture the complex recirculatory flows near bifurcations.

Modular assembly for supporting, straining, and directing flow to a core in a nuclear reactor

DOEpatents

Pennell, William E.

1977-01-01

A reactor core support arrangement for supporting, straining, and providing fluid flow to the core and periphery of a nuclear reactor during normal operation. A plurality of removable inlet modular units are contained within permanent liners in the lower supporting plate of the reactor vessel lower internals. During normal operation (1) each inlet modular unit directs main coolant flow to a plurality of core assemblies, the latter being removably supported in receptacles in the upper portion of the modular unit and (2) each inlet modular unit may direct bypass flow to a low pressure annular region of the reactor vessel. Each inlet modular unit may include special fluid seals interposed between mating surfaces of the inlet modular units and the core assemblies and between the inlet modular units and the liners, to minimize leakage and achieve an hydraulic balance. Utilizing the hydraulic balance, the modular units are held in the liners and the assemblies are held in the modular unit receptacles by their own respective weight. Included as part of the permanent liners below the horizontal support plate are generally hexagonal axial debris barriers. The axial debris barriers collectively form a bottom boundary of a secondary high pressure plenum, the upper boundary of which is the bottom surface of the horizontal support plate. Peripheral liners include radial debris barriers which collectively form a barrier against debris entry radially. During normal operation primary coolant inlet openings in the liner, below the axial debris barriers, pass a large amount of coolant into the inlet modular units, and secondary coolant inlet openings in the portion of the liners within the secondary plenum pass a small amount of coolant into the inlet modular units. The secondary coolant inlet openings also provide alternative coolant inlet flow paths in the unlikely event of blockage of the primary inlet openings. The primary inlet openings have characteristics which limit the entry of debris and minimize the potential for debris entering the primary inlets blocking the secondary inlets from inside the modular unit.

The Influence of Swirl Brakes and a Tip Discharge Orifice on the Rotordynamic Forces Generated by Discharge-to-Suction Leakage Flows in Shrouded Centrifugal Pumps

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sivo, Joseph M.; Acosta, A. J.; Brennen, C. E.; Caughey, T. K.

1993-01-01

Recent experiments conducted in the Rotor Force Test Facility at the California Institute of Technology have examined the effects of a tip leakage restriction and swirl brakes on the rotordynamic forces due to leakage flows on an impeller undergoing a prescribed circular whirl. The experiments simulate the leakage flow conditions and geometry of the Alternate Turbopump Design (ATD) of the Space Shuttle High Pressure Oxygen Turbopump and are critical to evaluating the pump's rotordynamic instability problems. Previous experimental and analytical results have shown that discharge-to-suction leakage flows in the annulus of a shrouded centrifugal pump contribute substantially to the fluid induced rotordynamic forces. Also, previous experiments have shown that leakage inlet (pump discharge) swirl can increase the cross-coupled stiffness coefficient and hence increase the range of positive whirl for which the tangential force is destabilizing. In recent experimental work, the present authors demonstrated that when the swirl velocity within the leakage path is reduced by the introduction of ribs or swirl brakes, then a substantial decrease in both the destabilizing normal and tangential forces could be achieved. Motivation for the present research is that previous experiments have shown that restrictions such as wear rings or orifices at pump inlets affect the leakage forces. Recent pump designs such as the Space Shuttle Alternate Turbopump Design (ATD) utilize tip orifices at discharge for the purpose of establishing axial thrust balance. The ATD has experienced rotordynamic instability problems and one may surmise that these tip discharge orifices may also have an important effect on the normal and tangential forces in the plane of impeller rotation. The present study determines if such tip leakage restrictions contribute to undesirable rotordynamic forces. Additional motivation for the present study is that the widening of the leakage path annular clearance and the installation of swirl brakes in the ATD has been proposed to solve its instability problems. The present study assesses the effect of such a design modification on the rotordynamic forces. The experimental apparatus consists of a solid or dummy impeller, a housing instrumented for pressure measurements, a rotating dynamometer and an eccentric whirl mechanism. The solid impeller is used so that leakage flow contributions to the forces are measured, but the main throughflow contributions are not experienced. The inner surface of the housing has been modified to accommodate meridional ribs or swirl brakes within the leakage annulus. In addition, the housing has been modified to accommodate a discharge orifice that qualitatively simulates one side of the balance piston orifice of the Space Shuttle ATD. Results indicate the detrimental effects of a discharge orifice and the beneficial effects of brakes. Plots of the tangential and normal forces versus whirl ratio show a substantial increase in these forces along with destabilizing resonances at some positive whirl ratios when a discharge orifice is added. When brakes are added, some of the detrimental effects of the orifice are reduced. For the tangential force, a plot versus whirl ratio shows a significant reduction and a destabilizing resonance appears to be eliminated. For the normal force, although the overall force is not reduced, again a destabilizing resonance appears to be eliminated.

A static air flow visualization method to obtain a time history of the lift-induced vortex and circulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Patterson, J. C., Jr.; Jordan, F. L., Jr.

1975-01-01

A recently proposed method of flow visualization was investigated at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Langley Research Center. This method of flow visualization is particularly applicable to the study of lift-induced wing tip vortices through which it is possible to record the entire life span of the vortex. To accomplish this, a vertical screen of smoke was produced perpendicular to the flight path and allowed to become stationary. A model was then driven through the screen of smoke producing the circular vortex motion made visible as the smoke was induced along the path taken by the flow and was recorded by highspeed motion pictures.

Development of the Circulation Control Flow Scheme Used in the NTF Semi-Span FAST-MAC Model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jones, Gregory S.; Milholen, William E., II; Chan, David T.; Allan, Brian G.; Goodliff, Scott L.; Melton, Latunia P.; Anders, Scott G.; Carter, Melissa B.; Capone, Francis J.

2013-01-01

The application of a circulation control system for high Reynolds numbers was experimentally validated with the Fundamental Aerodynamic Subsonic Transonic Modular Active Control semi-span model in the NASA Langley National Transonic Facility. This model utilized four independent flow paths to modify the lift and thrust performance of a representative advanced transport type of wing. The design of the internal flow paths highlights the challenges associated with high Reynolds number testing in a cryogenic pressurized wind tunnel. Weight flow boundaries for the air delivery system were identified at mildly cryogenic conditions ranging from 0.1 to 10 lbm/sec. Results from the test verified system performance and identified solutions associated with the weight-flow metering system that are linked to internal perforated plates used to achieve flow uniformity at the jet exit.

A Dynamic Bayesian Observer Model Reveals Origins of Bias in Visual Path Integration.

PubMed

Lakshminarasimhan, Kaushik J; Petsalis, Marina; Park, Hyeshin; DeAngelis, Gregory C; Pitkow, Xaq; Angelaki, Dora E

2018-06-20

Path integration is a strategy by which animals track their position by integrating their self-motion velocity. To identify the computational origins of bias in visual path integration, we asked human subjects to navigate in a virtual environment using optic flow and found that they generally traveled beyond the goal location. Such a behavior could stem from leaky integration of unbiased self-motion velocity estimates or from a prior expectation favoring slower speeds that causes velocity underestimation. Testing both alternatives using a probabilistic framework that maximizes expected reward, we found that subjects' biases were better explained by a slow-speed prior than imperfect integration. When subjects integrate paths over long periods, this framework intriguingly predicts a distance-dependent bias reversal due to buildup of uncertainty, which we also confirmed experimentally. These results suggest that visual path integration in noisy environments is limited largely by biases in processing optic flow rather than by leaky integration. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Path planning in uncertain flow fields using ensemble method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Tong; Le Maître, Olivier P.; Hoteit, Ibrahim; Knio, Omar M.

2016-10-01

An ensemble-based approach is developed to conduct optimal path planning in unsteady ocean currents under uncertainty. We focus our attention on two-dimensional steady and unsteady uncertain flows, and adopt a sampling methodology that is well suited to operational forecasts, where an ensemble of deterministic predictions is used to model and quantify uncertainty. In an operational setting, much about dynamics, topography, and forcing of the ocean environment is uncertain. To address this uncertainty, the flow field is parametrized using a finite number of independent canonical random variables with known densities, and the ensemble is generated by sampling these variables. For each of the resulting realizations of the uncertain current field, we predict the path that minimizes the travel time by solving a boundary value problem (BVP), based on the Pontryagin maximum principle. A family of backward-in-time trajectories starting at the end position is used to generate suitable initial values for the BVP solver. This allows us to examine and analyze the performance of the sampling strategy and to develop insight into extensions dealing with general circulation ocean models. In particular, the ensemble method enables us to perform a statistical analysis of travel times and consequently develop a path planning approach that accounts for these statistics. The proposed methodology is tested for a number of scenarios. We first validate our algorithms by reproducing simple canonical solutions, and then demonstrate our approach in more complex flow fields, including idealized, steady and unsteady double-gyre flows.

Detection of small degree of nonuniformity in dialysate flow in hollow-fiber dialyzer using proton magnetic resonance imaging.

PubMed

Osuga, T; Obata, T; Ikehira, H

2004-04-01

A small degree of nonuniformity in dialysate flow in a hollow-fiber dialyzer was detected using proton magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Since paramagnetic ions reduce the spin-lattice relaxation time of protons around them, MRI can detect Gd in water. An aqueous solution of a chelate compound of Gd was impulsively injected into the dialysate flow path at a flow rate of 500 cm(3) /m, which is that utilized in actual dialysis. Despite the apparent elimination of Gd from the dialysate flow path by the newly injected dialysate fluid after the injection of Gd was terminated, MRI revealed that Gd remained in the interior of the hollow fiber. The observed structure pattern of the Gd concentration profile revealed that the dialysate flow had a small degree of nonuniformity despite the currently established design to restrict channeling in dialysate flow. Local nonuniformity of the hollow-fiber density and vortex generation in the dialysate flow were considered to cause the nonuniformity in the dialysate flow.

Application of digital profile modeling techniques to ground-water solute transport at Barstow, California

USGS Publications Warehouse

Robson, Stanley G.

1978-01-01

This study investigated the use of a two-dimensional profile-oriented water-quality model for the simulation of head and water-quality changes through the saturated thickness of an aquifer. The profile model is able to simulate confined or unconfined aquifers with nonhomogeneous anisotropic hydraulic conductivity, nonhomogeneous specific storage and porosity, and nonuniform saturated thickness. An aquifer may be simulated under either steady or nonsteady flow conditions provided that the ground-water flow path along which the longitudinal axis of the model is oriented does not move in the aquifer during the simulation time period. The profile model parameters are more difficult to quantify than are the corresponding parameters for an areal-oriented water-fluality model. However, the sensitivity of the profile model to the parameters may be such that the normal error of parameter estimation will not preclude obtaining acceptable model results. Although the profile model has the advantage of being able to simulate vertical flow and water-quality changes in a single- or multiple-aquifer system, the types of problems to which it can be applied is limited by the requirements that (1) the ground-water flow path remain oriented along the longitudinal axis of the model and (2) any subsequent hydrologic factors to be evaluated using the model must be located along the land-surface trace of the model. Simulation of hypothetical ground-water management practices indicates that the profile model is applicable to problem-oriented studies and can provide quantitative results applicable to a variety of management practices. In particular, simulations of the movement and dissolved-solids concentration of a zone of degraded ground-water quality near Barstow, Calif., indicate that halting subsurface disposal of treated sewage effluent in conjunction with pumping a line of fully penetrating wells would be an effective means of controlling the movement of degraded ground water.

Characterization and simulation of ground-water flow in the Kansas River Valley at Fort Riley, Kansas, 1990-98

USGS Publications Warehouse

Myers, Nathan C.

2000-01-01

Hydrologic data and a ground-water flow model were used to characterize ground-water flow in the Kansas River alluvial aquifer at Fort Riley in northeast Kansas. The ground-water flow model was developed as a tool to project ground-water flow and potential contaminant-transport paths in the alluvial aquifer on the basis of past hydrologic conditions. The model also was used to estimate historical and hypothetical ground-water flow paths with respect to a private- and several public-supply wells. The ground-water flow model area extends from the Smoky Hill and Republican Rivers downstream to about 2.5 miles downstream from the city of Ogden. The Kansas River Valley has low relief and, except for the area within the Fort Riley Military Reservation, is used primarily for crop production. Sedimentary deposits in the Kansas River Valley, formed after the ancestral Kansas River eroded into bedrock, primarily are alluvial sediment deposited by the river during Quaternary time. The alluvial sediment consists of as much as about 75 feet of poorly sorted, coarse-to-fine sand, silt, and clay, 55 feet of which can be saturated with ground water. The alluvial aquifer is unconfined and is bounded on the sides and bottom by Permian-age shale and limestone bedrock. Hydrologic data indicate that ground water in the Kansas River Valley generally flows in a downstream direction, but flow direction can be quite variable near the Kansas River due to changes in river stage. Ground-water-level changes caused by infiltration of precipitation are difficult to detect because they are masked by larger changes caused by fluctuation in Kansas River stage. Ratios of strontium isotopes Sr87 and Sr86 in water collected from wells in the Camp Funston Area indicate that the ground water along the northern valley wall originates, in part, from upland areas north of the river valley. Water from Threemile Creek, which flows out of the uplands north of the river valley, had Sr87:Sr86 ratios similar to those in ground water from wells in the northern Camp Funston Area. In addition, comparison of observed water levels from wells CF90-06, CF97-101, and CF97-401 in the Camp Funston Area and ground-water levels simulated for these wells using floodwave-response analysis indicates that ground-water inflow from bedrock is a hydraulic stress that, in addition to the changing stage in the Kansas River, acts on the aquifer. This hydraulic stress seems to be located near the northern valley wall because the effect of this stress is greater for well CF97-101, which is the well closest to the valley wall. Ground-water flow was simulated using a modular, three-dimensional, finite-difference ground-water flow model (MODFLOW). Particle tracking, used to visualize ground-water flow paths in the alluvial aquifer, was accomplished using MODPATH. Forward-in-time particle tracking indicated that, in general, particles released near the Kansas River followed much more variable paths than particles released near the valley wall. Although particle tracking does not simulate solute transport, this increased path variability indicates that, near the river, ground-water contaminants could follow many possible paths towards the river, whereas more distant from the river, ground-water contaminants likely would follow a narrower corridor. Particle tracks in the Camp Funston Area indicate that, for the 1990-98 simulation period, contaminants from the ground-water study sites in the Camp Funston Area would be unlikely to move into the vicinity of Ogden's supply wells. Backward-in-time particle tracking indicated that the flow-path and recharge areas for model cells corresponding to Ogden's supply wells lie near the northern valley wall and extend into the northern Camp Funston Area. The flow-path and recharge areas for model cells corresponding to Morris County Rural Water District wells lie within Clarks Creek Valley and probably extend outside the model area. Three hypothetical simulations, i

Systems and methods of manufacturing microchannel arrays

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Paul, Brian K.; Brannon, Samuel T.

The present application relates to apparatus and methods of reducing the cost of microchannel array production and operation. In a representative embodiment, a microchannel array can comprise a first lamina having one or more flanges and a plurality of elongated bosses. The one or more flanges can extend along a perimeter of the first lamina, the plurality of elongated bosses can at least partially define a plurality of first flow paths, and the first lamina can define at least one opening. The microchannel array can also comprise a second lamina having a plurality of second flow paths, and can definemore » at least one opening. The second lamina can be disposed above the first lamina such that the second lamina encloses the first flow paths of the first lamina and the at least one opening of the first lamina is coaxial with the at least one opening of the second lamina.« less

Fuel cell generator with fuel electrodes that control on-cell fuel reformation

DOEpatents

Ruka, Roswell J [Pittsburgh, PA; Basel, Richard A [Pittsburgh, PA; Zhang, Gong [Murrysville, PA

2011-10-25

A fuel cell for a fuel cell generator including a housing including a gas flow path for receiving a fuel from a fuel source and directing the fuel across the fuel cell. The fuel cell includes an elongate member including opposing first and second ends and defining an interior cathode portion and an exterior anode portion. The interior cathode portion includes an electrode in contact with an oxidant flow path. The exterior anode portion includes an electrode in contact with the fuel in the gas flow path. The anode portion includes a catalyst material for effecting fuel reformation along the fuel cell between the opposing ends. A fuel reformation control layer is applied over the catalyst material for reducing a rate of fuel reformation on the fuel cell. The control layer effects a variable reformation rate along the length of the fuel cell.

The path to COVIS: A review of acoustic imaging of hydrothermal flow regimes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bemis, Karen G.; Silver, Deborah; Xu, Guangyu; Light, Russ; Jackson, Darrell; Jones, Christopher; Ozer, Sedat; Liu, Li

2015-11-01

Acoustic imaging of hydrothermal flow regimes started with the incidental recognition of a plume on a routine sonar scan for obstacles in the path of the human-occupied submersible ALVIN. Developments in sonar engineering, acoustic data processing and scientific visualization have been combined to develop technology which can effectively capture the behavior of focused and diffuse hydrothermal discharge. This paper traces the development of these acoustic imaging techniques for hydrothermal flow regimes from their conception through to the development of the Cabled Observatory Vent Imaging Sonar (COVIS). COVIS has monitored such flow eight times a day for several years. Successful acoustic techniques for estimating plume entrainment, bending, vertical rise, volume flux, and heat flux are presented as is the state-of-the-art in diffuse flow detection.

Self-regulating fuel staging port for turbine combustor

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Van Nieuwenhuizen, William F.; Fox, Timothy A.; Williams, Steven

2014-07-08

A port (60) for axially staging fuel and air into a combustion gas flow path 28 of a turbine combustor (10A). A port enclosure (63) forms an air path through a combustor wall (30). Fuel injectors (64) in the enclosure provide convergent fuel streams (72) that oppose each other, thus converting velocity pressure to static pressure. This forms a flow stagnation zone (74) that acts as a valve on airflow (40, 41) through the port, in which the air outflow (41) is inversely proportion to the fuel flow (25). The fuel flow rate is controlled (65) in proportion to enginemore » load. At high loads, more fuel and less air flow through the port, making more air available to the premixing assemblies (36).« less

What is normal nasal airflow? A computational study of 22 healthy adults

PubMed Central

Zhao, Kai; Jiang, Jianbo

2014-01-01

Objective Nasal airflow is essential for functioning of the human nose. Given individual variation in nasal anatomy, there is yet no consensus what constitutes normal nasal airflow patterns. We attempt to obtain such information that is essential to differentiate disease-related variations. Methods Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulated nasal airflow in 22 healthy subjects during resting breathing. Streamline patterns, airflow distributions, velocity profiles, pressure, wall stress, turbulence, and vortical flow characteristics under quasi-steady state were analyzed. Patency ratings, acoustically measured minimum cross-sectional area (MCA), and rhinomanometric nasal resistance (NR) were examined for potential correlations with morphological and airflow-related variables. Results Common features across subjects included: >50% total pressure-drop reached near the inferior turbinate head; wall shear stress, NR, turbulence energy, and vorticity were lower in the turbinate than in the nasal valve region. However, location of the major flow path and coronal velocity distributions varied greatly across individuals. Surprisingly, on average, more flow passed through the middle than the inferior meatus and correlated with better patency ratings (r=-0.65, p<0.01). This middle flow percentage combined with peak post-vestibule nasal heat loss and MCA accounted for >70% of the variance in subjective patency ratings and predicted patency categories with 86% success. Nasal index correlated with forming of the anterior dorsal vortex. Expected for resting breathing, the functional impact for local and total turbulence, vorticity, and helicity was limited. As validation, rhinomanometric NR significantly correlated with CFD simulations (r=0.53, p<0.01). Conclusion Significant variations of nasal airflow found among healthy subjects; Key features may have clinically relevant applications. PMID:24664528

Rotary magnetic heat pump

DOEpatents

Kirol, Lance D.

1988-01-01

A rotary magnetic heat pump constructed without flow seals or segmented rotor accomplishes recuperation and regeneration by using split flow paths. Heat exchange fluid pumped through heat exchangers and returned to the heat pump splits into two flow components: one flowing counter to the rotor rotation and one flowing with the rotation.

Rotary magnetic heat pump

DOEpatents

Kirol, L.D.

1987-02-11

A rotary magnetic heat pump constructed without flow seals or segmented rotor accomplishes recuperation and regeneration by using split flow paths. Heat exchange fluid pumped through heat exchangers and returned to the heat pump splits into two flow components: one flowing counter to the rotor rotation and one flowing with the rotation. 5 figs.

Stage-by-Stage and Parallel Flow Path Compressor Modeling for a Variable Cycle Engine, NASA Advanced Air Vehicles Program - Commercial Supersonic Technology Project - AeroServoElasticity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kopasakis, George; Connolly, Joseph W.; Cheng, Larry

2015-01-01

This paper covers the development of stage-by-stage and parallel flow path compressor modeling approaches for a Variable Cycle Engine. The stage-by-stage compressor modeling approach is an extension of a technique for lumped volume dynamics and performance characteristic modeling. It was developed to improve the accuracy of axial compressor dynamics over lumped volume dynamics modeling. The stage-by-stage compressor model presented here is formulated into a parallel flow path model that includes both axial and rotational dynamics. This is done to enable the study of compressor and propulsion system dynamic performance under flow distortion conditions. The approaches utilized here are generic and should be applicable for the modeling of any axial flow compressor design accurate time domain simulations. The objective of this work is as follows. Given the parameters describing the conditions of atmospheric disturbances, and utilizing the derived formulations, directly compute the transfer function poles and zeros describing these disturbances for acoustic velocity, temperature, pressure, and density. Time domain simulations of representative atmospheric turbulence can then be developed by utilizing these computed transfer functions together with the disturbance frequencies of interest.

Geophysical Assessment of the Control of a Jetty on a Barrier Beach and Estuary System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ulrich, C.; Hubbard, S. S.; Peterson, J.; Blom, K.; Black, W.; Delaney, C.; Mendoza, J.

2014-12-01

An evaluation is underway at the Goat Rock State Park, located at the mouth of the Russian River near Jenner, CA, to quantify the influence of a man made jetty on the functioning of a barrier beach and associated implications for estuary fish habitat and flood control. Flow through the beach results from water level differences between the estuary and the ocean. When the estuary is closed or perched, one of the major sources of outflow from the lagoon is seepage flow through the barrier beach. The location and design of the jetty could be altering subsurface flow paths through the jetty and possibly impeding subsurface flow where the jetty is still intact. This will result in unnatural connectivity between the ocean and the estuary leading to atypical surface water elevations and possibly salinity imbalance. We are monitoring seepage through the jetty and beach berm with multiple surface and borehole geophysical methods, including: electrical resistivity (ERT), seismic refraction (SR), ground penetrating radar (GPR), and electromagnetic methods (EM). We use SR data to characterize deeper bedrock controls on beach barrier functioning; ERT and EM methods to characterize the beach sediment layers that could contribute to preferential flow paths during tide cycles in addition to preferential flow paths created by the jetty structure; time-lapse ERT and EM data to monitor moisture changes and mixing of saline and fresh water within the beach berm, and borehole ERT and GPR data to delineate the geometry of the (often buried) jetty. Preliminary ERT and EM results indicate two preferential flow paths through zones of missing jetty structure, while time-lapse borehole ERT data is expected to image saltwater flow impedance in zones of intact jetty structure. All data are being integrated with topography, tidal, borehole, and hydrological information and the results of the assessment will enable the Sonoma County Water Agency to develop the feasibility of alternatives to the existing jetty that may help achieve target estuarine water surface elevations.

Experimental investigation of turbine disk cavity aerodynamics and heat transfer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Daniels, W. A.; Johnson, B. V.

1993-01-01

An experimental investigation of turbine disk cavity aerodynamics and heat transfer was conducted to provide an experimental data base that can guide the aerodynamic and thermal design of turbine disks and blade attachments for flow conditions and geometries simulating those of the space shuttle main engine (SSME) turbopump drive turbines. Experiments were conducted to define the nature of the aerodynamics and heat transfer of the flow within the disk cavities and blade attachments of a large scale model simulating the SSME turbopump drive turbines. These experiments include flow between the main gas path and the disk cavities, flow within the disk cavities, and leakage flows through the blade attachments and labyrinth seals. Air was used to simulate the combustion products in the gas path. Air and carbon dioxide were used to simulate the coolants injected at three locations in the disk cavities. Trace amounts of carbon dioxide were used to determine the source of the gas at selected locations on the rotors, the cavity walls, and the interstage seal. The measurements on the rotor and stationary walls in the forward and aft cavities showed that the coolant effectiveness was 90 percent or greater when the coolant flow rate was greater than the local free disk entrainment flow rate and when room temperature air was used as both coolant and gas path fluid. When a coolant-to-gas-path density ratio of 1.51 was used in the aft cavity, the coolant effectiveness on the rotor was also 90 percent or greater at the aforementioned condition. However, the coolant concentration on the stationary wall was 60 to 80 percent at the aforementioned condition indicating a more rapid mixing of the coolant and flow through the rotor shank passages. This increased mixing rate was attributed to the destabilizing effects of the adverse density gradients.

Structural control on volcanoes and magma paths from local- to orogen-scale: The central Andes case

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tibaldi, A.; Bonali, F. L.; Corazzato, C.

2017-03-01

Assessing the parameters that control the location and geometry of magma paths is of paramount importance for the comprehension of volcanic plumbing systems and geo-hazards. We analyse the distribution of 1518 monogenic and polygenic volcanoes of Miocene-Quaternary age of the Central Volcanic Zone of the Andes (Chile-Bolivia-Argentina), and reconstruct the magma paths at 315 edifices by analysing the morphostructural characteristics of craters and cones. Then we compare these data with outcropping dykes, tectonic structures and state of stress. Most magma paths trend N-S, NW-SE, and NE-SW, in decreasing order of frequency. The N-S and NW-SE paths coexist in the northern and southern part of the study area, whereas N-S paths dominate east of the Salar de Atacama. Outcropping dykes show the same trends. The regional Holocene stress state is given by an E-W greatest horizontal principal stress. N-S and NNE-SSW reverse faults and folds affect deposits of 4.8, 3.2 and 1.3 Ma BP, especially in the central and southern study areas. A few NW-SE left-lateral strike-slip faults are present in the interior of the volcanic arc, part of which belong to the Calama-Olacapato-El Toro fault. The volcanic chain is also affected by several N-S- and NW-SE-striking normal faults that offset Pliocene and Quaternary deposits. The results indicate different scenarios of magma-tectonic interaction, given by N-S normal and reverse faults and N-S fold hinges that guide volcano emplacement and magma paths. Magma paths are also guided by strike-slip and normal NW-SE faults, especially in the northern part of the study area. Zones with verticalized strata, with bedding striking NE-SW, also acted as preferential magma paths. These data suggest that at convergence zones with continental crust, shallow magma paths can be more sensitive to the presence and geometry of upper crustal weakness zones than to the regional state of stress.

Distinct roles of hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex in spatial and nonspatial memory.

PubMed

Sapiurka, Maya; Squire, Larry R; Clark, Robert E

2016-12-01

In earlier work, patients with hippocampal damage successfully path integrated, apparently by maintaining spatial information in working memory. In contrast, rats with hippocampal damage were unable to path integrate, even when the paths were simple and working memory might have been expected to support performance. We considered possible ways to understand these findings. We tested rats with either hippocampal lesions or lesions of medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) on three tasks of spatial or nonspatial memory: path integration, spatial alternation, and a nonspatial alternation task. Rats with mPFC lesions were impaired on both spatial and nonspatial alternation but performed normally on path integration. By contrast, rats with hippocampal lesions were impaired on path integration and spatial alternation but performed normally on nonspatial alternation. We propose that rodent neocortex is limited in its ability to construct a coherent spatial working memory of complex environments. Accordingly, in tasks such as path integration and spatial alternation, working memory cannot depend on neocortex alone. Rats may accomplish many spatial memory tasks by relying on long-term memory. Alternatively, they may accomplish these tasks within working memory through sustained coordination between hippocampus and other cortical brain regions such as mPFC, in the case of spatial alternation, or parietal cortex in the case of path integration. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Axial compressor gas path design for desensitization of aerodynamic performance and stability to tip clearance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cevik, Mert

Tip clearance is the necessary small gap left between the moving rotor tip and stationary shroud of a turbomachine. In a compressor, the pressure driven flow through this gap, called tip clearance flow, has a major and generally detrimental impact on compressor performance (pressure ratio and efficiency) and aerodynamic stability (stall margin). The increase in tip clearance, either temporary during transient engine operations or permanent from wear, leads to a drop in compressor performance and aerodynamic stability which results in a fuel consumption increase and a reduced operating envelope for a gas turbine engine. While much research has looked into increasing compressor performance and stall margin at the design (minimum or nominal) tip clearance, very little attention has been paid for reducing the sensitivity of these parameters to tip clearance size increase. The development of technologies that address this issue will lead to aircraft engines whose performance and operating envelope are more robust to operational demands and wear. The current research is the second phase of a research programme to develop design strategies to reduce the sensitivity of axial compressor performance and aerodynamic stability to tip clearance. The first phase had focused on blade design strategies and had led to the discovery and explanation of two flow features that reduces tip sensitivity, namely increased incoming meridional momentum in the rotor tip region and reduction/elimination of double leakage. Double leakage is the flow that exits one tip clearance and enters the tip clearance of the adjacent blade instead of convecting downstream out of the rotor passage. This flow was shown to be very detrimental to compressor performance and stall margin. Two rotor design strategies involving sweep and tip stagger reduction were proposed and shown by CFD simulations to exploit these features to reduce sensitivity. As the second phase, the objectives of the current research project are to develop gas path design strategies for axial compressors to achieve the same goal, to assess their ability to be combined with desensitizing axial compressor blade design strategies and to be applied to non-axial compressors. The search for gas path design strategies was based on the exploitation of the two flow desensitizing features listed above. Two gas path design strategies were proposed and analyzed. The first was gas path contouring in the form of a concave gas path to increase incoming tip meridional momentum.

Dynamic Testing of the NASA Hypersonic Project Combined Cycle Engine Testbed for Mode Transition Experiments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2011-01-01

NASA is interested in developing technology that leads to more routine, safe, and affordable access to space. Access to space using airbreathing propulsion systems has potential to meet these objectives based on Airbreathing Access to Space (AAS) system studies. To this end, the NASA Fundamental Aeronautics Program (FAP) Hypersonic Project is conducting fundamental research on a Turbine Based Combined Cycle (TBCC) propulsion system. The TBCC being studied considers a dual flow-path inlet system. One flow-path includes variable geometry to regulate airflow to a turbine engine cycle. The turbine cycle provides propulsion from take-off to supersonic flight. The second flow-path supports a dual-mode scramjet (DMSJ) cycle which would be initiated at supersonic speed to further accelerate the vehicle to hypersonic speed. For a TBCC propulsion system to accelerate a vehicle from supersonic to hypersonic speed, a critical enabling technology is the ability to safely and effectively transition from the turbine to the DMSJ-referred to as mode transition. To experimentally test methods of mode transition, a Combined Cycle Engine (CCE) Large-scale Inlet testbed was designed with two flow paths-a low speed flow-path sized for a turbine cycle and a high speed flow-path designed for a DMSJ. This testbed system is identified as the CCE Large-Scale Inlet for Mode Transition studies (CCE-LIMX). The test plan for the CCE-LIMX in the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) 10- by 10-ft Supersonic Wind Tunnel (10x10 SWT) is segmented into multiple phases. The first phase is a matrix of inlet characterization (IC) tests to evaluate the inlet performance and establish the mode transition schedule. The second phase is a matrix of dynamic system identification (SysID) experiments designed to support closed-loop control development at mode transition schedule operating points for the CCE-LIMX. The third phase includes a direct demonstration of controlled mode transition using a closed loop control system developed with the data obtained from the first two phases. Plans for a fourth phase include mode transition experiments with a turbine engine. This paper, focusing on the first two phases of experiments, presents developed operational and analysis tools for streamlined testing and data reduction procedures.

Not all water becomes wine: Sulfur inputs as an opportune tracer of hydrochemical losses from vineyards

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hinckley, Eve-Lyn S.; Kendall, Carol; Loague, Keith

2009-01-01

California's widespread and economically important vineyards offer substantial opportunities to understand the interface between hydrology and biogeochemistry in agricultural soils. The common use of native sulfur (S) as a fumigant or soil additive provides a novel way to isotopically differentiate among sulfate (SO42−) pools, allowing the estimation of water and SO42− budgets. The objectives of this study were (1) to characterize the near‐surface hydrological flow paths in a vineyard during irrigation and storm events and (2) to determine how those flow paths affect the fate and transport of SO42− across seasons. Integrating hydrological theory with measurements of SO42−concentration and sulfate‐S isotopic ratios (expressed as [SO42−] and δ34S, respectively) in inputs, soil water, and leachate provided a means of determining flow paths. Low [SO42−] and δ34S in leachate during 4‐h irrigation events reflect minimal engagement of the soil matrix, indicating that preferential flow was the dominant path for water in the near surface. In contrast, high [SO42−] and δ34S values during 8‐h irrigation and storm events reflect near‐complete engagement of the soil matrix, indicating that lateral flow was the dominant pathway. Because hydrologic response and SO42− mobility are tightly coupled in these soils, the magnitude of water fluxes through the near surface controls S cycling both on and off site. These results indicate that preferential flow is an important loss pathway to consider in managing both water resources and water quality (reactive elements) in vineyard land use systems.

Evidence for the Activation of Shallow Preferential Flow Paths in a Tropical Panama Watershed Using Germanium and Silicon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gardner, Christopher B.; Litt, Guy F.; Lyons, W. Berry; Ogden, Fred L.

2017-10-01

In humid tropical watersheds, the hydrologic flow paths taken by rain event waters and how they interact with groundwater and soil matrix water to form streamflow are poorly understood. Preferential flow paths (PFPs) confound storm infiltration processes, especially in the humid tropics where PFPs are common. This work applies germanium (Ge) and silicon (Si) as natural flow path tracers in conjunction with water stable isotopes and electrical conductivity to examine the rapid delivery of shallow soil water, the activation of PFPs, and event water partitioning in an experimental catchment in central Panama. We employed a three-component mixing model for hydrograph separation using the following end-member waters: (i) base flow (high [Si], low [Ge], and low Ge/Si ratio), (ii) dilute canopy throughfall (low [Si] and low [Ge]), and (iii) shallow (<15 cm) soil matrix water (low [Si], high [Ge], and high Ge/Si ratio). These three end-members bounded all observed Ge/Si streamflow ratios. During small rain events (<˜24 mm), base flow and dilute canopy throughfall components dominated stormflow. During larger precipitation events (>˜35 mm), we detected the third shallow soil water component with an elevated [Ge] and Ge/Si ratio. This component reached its maximum during the hydrograph's receding limb coincident with the maximum event fraction, and increased proportionally to the total storm rainfall exceeding ˜35 mm. Only shallow (<15 cm) soil matrix water exhibited elevated Ge concentrations and high Ge/Si ratios. This third component represents rapidly delivered soil matrix water combined with shallow lateral PFP activation through which event waters interact with soil minerals.

Using 87Sr/86Sr ratios to investigate changes in stream chemistry during snowmelt in the Provo River, Utah, USA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hale, C. A.; Carling, G. T.; Fernandez, D. P.; Nelson, S.; Aanderud, Z.; Tingey, D. G.; Dastrup, D.

2017-12-01

Water chemistry in mountain streams is variable during spring snowmelt as shallow groundwater flow paths are activated in the watershed, introducing solutes derived from soil water. Sr isotopes and other tracers can be used to differentiate waters that have interacted with soils and dust (shallow groundwater) and bedrock (deep groundwater). To investigate processes controlling water chemistry during snowmelt, we analyzed 87Sr/86Sr ratios, Sr and other trace element concentrations in bulk snowpack, dust, soil, soil water, ephemeral channels, and river water during snowmelt runoff in the upper Provo River watershed in northern Utah, USA, over four years (2014-2017). Strontium concentrations in the river averaged 20 ppb during base flow and decreased to 10 ppb during snowmelt runoff. 87Sr/86Sr ratios were around 0.717 during base flow and decreased to 0.715 in 2014 and 0.713 in 2015 and 2016 during snowmelt, trending towards less radiogenic values of mineral dust inputs in the Uinta Mountain soils. Ephemeral channels, representing shallow flow paths with soil water inputs, had Sr concentrations between 7-20 ppb and 87Sr/86Sr ratios between 0.713-0.716. Snowpack Sr concentrations were generally <2 ppb with 87Sr/86Sr ratios between 0.710-711, similar to atmospheric dust inputs. The less radiogenic 87Sr/86Sr ratios and lower Sr concentrations in the river during snowmelt are likely a result of activating shallow groundwater flow paths, which allows melt water to interact with shallow soils that contain accumulated dust deposits with a less radiogenic 87Sr/86Sr ratio. These results suggest that flow paths and atmospheric dust are important to consider when investigating variable solute loads in mountain streams.

The relationship of catchment topography and soil hydraulic characteristics to lake alkalinity in the northeastern United States

USGS Publications Warehouse

Wolock, D.M.; Hornberger, G.M.; Beven, K.J.; Campbell, W.G.

1989-01-01

We undertook the task of determining whether base flow alkalinity of surface waters in the northeastern United States is related to indices of soil contact time and flow path partitioning that are derived from topographic and soils information. The influence of topography and soils on catchment hydrology has been incorporated previously in the variable source area model TOPMODEL as the relative frequency distribution of ln (a/Kb tan B), where ln is the Naperian logarithm, “a” is the area drained per unit contour, K is the saturated hydraulic conductivity, b is the soil depth, and tan B is the slope. Using digital elevation and soil survey data, we calculated the ln (a/Kb tan B) distribution for 145 catchments. Indices of flow path partitioning and soil contact time were derived from the ln (a/Kb tan B) distributions and compared to measurements of alkalinity in lakes to which the catchments drain. We found that alkalinity was, in general, positively correlated with the index of soil contact time, whereas the correlation between alkalinity and the flow path partitioning index was weak at best. A portion of the correlation between the soil contact time index and alkalinity was attributable to covariation with soil base saturation and cation exchange capacity, while another portion was found to be independent of these factors. Although our results indicate that catchments with long soil contact time indices are most likely to produce high alkalinity base flow, a sensitivity analysis of TOPMODEL suggests that surface waters of these same watersheds may be susceptible to alkalinity depressions during storm events, due to the role of flow paths.

The effect of hydrogeological conditions on variability and dynamic of groundwater recharge in a carbonate aquifer at local scale

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dvory, Noam Zach; Livshitz, Yakov; Kuznetsov, Michael; Adar, Eilon; Yakirevich, Alexander

2016-04-01

Groundwater recharge in fractured karstic aquifers is particularly difficult to quantify due to the rock mass's heterogeneity and complexity that include preferential flow paths along karst conduits. The present study's major goals were to assess how the changes in lithology, as well as the fractured karst systems, influence the flow mechanism in the unsaturated zone, and to define the spatial variation of the groundwater recharge at local scale. The study area is located within the fractured carbonate Western Mountain aquifer (Yarkon-Taninim), west of the city of Jerusalem at the Ein Karem (EK) production well field. Field monitoring included groundwater level observations in nine locations in the study area during years 1990-2014. The measured groundwater level series were analyzed with the aid of one-dimensional, dual permeability numerical model of water flow in variably saturated fractured-porous media, which was calibrated and used to estimate groundwater recharge at nine locations. The recharge values exhibit significant spatial and temporal variation with mean and standard deviation values of 216 and 113 mm/year, respectively. Based on simulations, relationships were established between precipitation and groundwater recharge in each of the nine studied sites and compared with similar ones obtained in earlier regional studies. Simulations show that fast and slow flow paths conditions also influence annual cumulative groundwater recharge dynamic. In areas where fast flow paths exist, most of the groundwater recharge occurs during the rainy season (60-80% from the total recharge for the tested years), while in locations with slow flow path conditions the recharge rate stays relatively constant with a close to linear pattern and continues during summer.

In-line quincke tube muffler

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Patrick, William P.; Bryant, Rebecca S.; Greenwald, Larry E.

2002-05-01

A unique low-pressure-drop muffler is described which has been designed to attenuate low frequency tonal noise in ducts. Flow through the muffler is divided into two noncommunicating paths in the cylindrical configuration which was designed, built, and tested. Half of the flow is ducted through a straight central annulus and the other half is ducted through a partitioned outer annulus which directs the flow in a spiral flow pattern around the inner annulus. Thus the outer flow has a longer path length and the sound within the outer annulus is phase-delayed relative to the inner flow causing destructive interference between the inner and outer waves with resulting strong attenuation at the tuned frequencies. A procedure will be described for designing a muffler (with flow) to produce high attenuation at the fundamental noise tone and all harmonics (up to the first cross mode). Results will be presented which show that the muffler achieved over 20 dB attenuation for the first five harmonics of the incident noise in a flowing duct.

Aeropropulsion Technology (APT). Task 23 - Stator Seal Cavity Flow Investigation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Heidegger, N. J.; Hall, E. J.; Delaney, R. A.

1996-01-01

The focus of NASA Contract NAS3-25950 Task 23 was to numerically investigate the flow through an axial compressor inner-banded stator seal cavity. The Allison/NASA developed ADPAC code was used to obtain all flow predictions. Flow through a labyrinth stator seal cavity of a high-speed compressor was modeled by coupling the cavity flow path and the main flow path of the compressor. A grid resolution study was performed to guarantee adequate grid spacing was used. Both unsteady rotor-stator-rotor interactions and steady-state isolated blade calculations were performed with and without the seal cavity present. A parameterized seal cavity study of the high-speed stator seal cavity collected a series of solutions for geometric variations. The parameter list included seal tooth gap, cavity depth, wheel speed, radial mismatch of hub flowpath, axial trench gap, hub corner treatments, and land edge treatments. Solution data presented includes radial and pitchwise distributions of flow variables and particle traces describing the flow character.

Internal electrolyte supply system for reliable transport throughout fuel cell stacks

DOEpatents

Wright, Maynard K.; Downs, Robert E.; King, Robert B.

1988-01-01

An improved internal electrolyte supply system in a fuel cell stack employs a variety of arrangements of grooves and passages in bipolar plates of the multiplicity of repeating fuel cells to route gravity-assisted flowing electrolyte throughout the stack. The grooves route electrolyte flow along series of first paths which extend horizontally through the cells between the plates thereof. The passages route electrolyte flow along series of second paths which extend vertically through the stack so as to supply electrolyte to the first paths in order to expose the electrolyte to the matrices of the cells. Five different embodiments of the supply system are disclosed. Some embodiments employ wicks in the grooves for facilitating transfer of the electrolyte to the matrices as well as providing support for the matrices. Additionally, the passages of some embodiments by-pass certain of the grooves and supply electrolyte directly to other of the grooves. Some embodiments employ single grooves and others have dual grooves. Finally, in some embodiments the passages are connected to the grooves by a step which produces a cascading electrolyte flow.

Method, apparatus and system for controlling fluid flow

DOEpatents

McMurtrey, Ryan D.; Ginosar, Daniel M.; Burch, Joesph V.

2007-10-30

A system, apparatus and method of controlling the flow of a fluid are provided. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a flow control device includes a valve having a flow path defined therethrough and a valve seat in communication with the flow path with a valve stem disposed in the valve seat. The valve stem and valve seat are cooperatively configured to cause mutual relative linear displacement thereof in response to rotation of the valve stem. A gear member is coupled with the rotary stem and a linear positioning member includes a portion which complementarily engages the gear member. Upon displacement of the linear positioning member along a first axis, the gear member and rotary valve stem are rotated about a second axis and the valve stem and valve seat are mutually linearly displaced to alter the flow of fluid through the valve.

Generating Performance Models for Irregular Applications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Friese, Ryan D.; Tallent, Nathan R.; Vishnu, Abhinav

2017-05-30

Many applications have irregular behavior --- non-uniform input data, input-dependent solvers, irregular memory accesses, unbiased branches --- that cannot be captured using today's automated performance modeling techniques. We describe new hierarchical critical path analyses for the \\Palm model generation tool. To create a model's structure, we capture tasks along representative MPI critical paths. We create a histogram of critical tasks with parameterized task arguments and instance counts. To model each task, we identify hot instruction-level sub-paths and model each sub-path based on data flow, instruction scheduling, and data locality. We describe application models that generate accurate predictions for strong scalingmore » when varying CPU speed, cache speed, memory speed, and architecture. We present results for the Sweep3D neutron transport benchmark; Page Rank on multiple graphs; Support Vector Machine with pruning; and PFLOTRAN's reactive flow/transport solver with domain-induced load imbalance.« less

Descent graphs in pedigree analysis: applications to haplotyping, location scores, and marker-sharing statistics.

PubMed Central

Sobel, E.; Lange, K.

1996-01-01

The introduction of stochastic methods in pedigree analysis has enabled geneticists to tackle computations intractable by standard deterministic methods. Until now these stochastic techniques have worked by running a Markov chain on the set of genetic descent states of a pedigree. Each descent state specifies the paths of gene flow in the pedigree and the founder alleles dropped down each path. The current paper follows up on a suggestion by Elizabeth Thompson that genetic descent graphs offer a more appropriate space for executing a Markov chain. A descent graph specifies the paths of gene flow but not the particular founder alleles traveling down the paths. This paper explores algorithms for implementing Thompson's suggestion for codominant markers in the context of automatic haplotyping, estimating location scores, and computing gene-clustering statistics for robust linkage analysis. Realistic numerical examples demonstrate the feasibility of the algorithms. PMID:8651310

Adaption of a parallel-path poly(tetrafluoroethylene) nebulizer to an evaporative light scattering detector: Optimization and application to studies of poly(dimethylsiloxane) oligomers as a model polymer.

PubMed

Durner, Bernhard; Ehmann, Thomas; Matysik, Frank-Michael

2018-06-05

The adaption of an parallel-path poly(tetrafluoroethylene)(PTFE) ICP-nebulizer to an evaporative light scattering detector (ELSD) was realized. This was done by substituting the originally installed concentric glass nebulizer of the ELSD. The performance of both nebulizers was compared regarding nebulizer temperature, evaporator temperature, flow rate of nebulizing gas and flow rate of mobile phase of different solvents using caffeine and poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) as analytes. Both nebulizers showed similar performances but for the parallel-path PTFE nebulizer the performance was considerably better at low LC flow rates and the nebulizer lifetime was substantially increased. In general, for both nebulizers the highest sensitivity was obtained by applying the lowest possible evaporator temperature in combination with the highest possible nebulizer temperature at preferably low gas flow rates. Besides the optimization of detector parameters, response factors for various PDMS oligomers were determined and the dependency of the detector signal on molar mass of the analytes was studied. The significant improvement regarding long-term stability made the modified ELSD much more robust and saved time and money by reducing the maintenance efforts. Thus, especially in polymer HPLC, associated with a complex matrix situation, the PTFE-based parallel-path nebulizer exhibits attractive characteristics for analytical studies of polymers. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Multivariate statistical analysis and hydrogeochemical modelling of seawater-freshwater mixing along selected flow paths: Case of Korba coastal aquifer Tunisia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Slama, Fairouz; Bouhlila, Rachida

2017-11-01

Groundwater sampling and piezometric measurements were carried out along two flow paths (corresponding to two transects) in Korba coastal plain (Northeast of Tunisia). The study aims to identify hydrochemical processes occurring when seawater and freshwater mix. Those processes can be used as indicators of seawater intrusion progression and freshwater flushing into seawater accompanying Submarine Groundwater Discharge (SGD). Seawater fractions in the groundwater were calculated using the chloride concentration. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) was applied to isolate wells potentially affected by seawater. In addition, PHREEQC was used to simulate the theoretical mixing between two end members: seawater and a fresh-brackish groundwater sample. Geochemical conventional diagrams showed that the groundwater chemistry is explained by a mixing process between two end members. Results also revealed the presence of other geochemical processes, correlated to the hydrodynamic flow paths. Direct cation exchange was linked to seawater intrusion, and reverse cation exchange was associated to the freshwater flushing into seawater. The presence of these processes indicated that seawater intrusion was in progress. An excess of Ca, that could not be explained by only cation exchange processes, was observed in both transects. Dedolomitization combined to gypsum leaching is the possible explanation of the groundwater Ca enrichment. Finally, redox processes were also found to contribute to the groundwater composition along flow paths.

A Unified Model of Heading and Path Perception in Primate MSTd

PubMed Central

Layton, Oliver W.; Browning, N. Andrew

2014-01-01

Self-motion, steering, and obstacle avoidance during navigation in the real world require humans to travel along curved paths. Many perceptual models have been proposed that focus on heading, which specifies the direction of travel along straight paths, but not on path curvature, which humans accurately perceive and is critical to everyday locomotion. In primates, including humans, dorsal medial superior temporal area (MSTd) has been implicated in heading perception. However, the majority of MSTd neurons respond optimally to spiral patterns, rather than to the radial expansion patterns associated with heading. No existing theory of curved path perception explains the neural mechanisms by which humans accurately assess path and no functional role for spiral-tuned cells has yet been proposed. Here we present a computational model that demonstrates how the continuum of observed cells (radial to circular) in MSTd can simultaneously code curvature and heading across the neural population. Curvature is encoded through the spirality of the most active cell, and heading is encoded through the visuotopic location of the center of the most active cell's receptive field. Model curvature and heading errors fit those made by humans. Our model challenges the view that the function of MSTd is heading estimation, based on our analysis we claim that it is primarily concerned with trajectory estimation and the simultaneous representation of both curvature and heading. In our model, temporal dynamics afford time-history in the neural representation of optic flow, which may modulate its structure. This has far-reaching implications for the interpretation of studies that assume that optic flow is, and should be, represented as an instantaneous vector field. Our results suggest that spiral motion patterns that emerge in spatio-temporal optic flow are essential for guiding self-motion along complex trajectories, and that cells in MSTd are specifically tuned to extract complex trajectory estimation from flow. PMID:24586130

A Novel Low-Power, High-Performance, Zero-Maintenance Closed-Path Trace Gas Eddy Covariance System with No Water Vapor Dilution or Spectroscopic Corrections

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sargent, S.; Somers, J. M.

2015-12-01

Trace-gas eddy covariance flux measurement can be made with open-path or closed-path analyzers. Traditional closed-path trace-gas analyzers use multipass absorption cells that behave as mixing volumes, requiring high sample flow rates to achieve useful frequency response. The high sample flow rate and the need to keep the multipass cell extremely clean dictates the use of a fine-pore filter that may clog quickly. A large-capacity filter cannot be used because it would degrade the EC system frequency response. The high flow rate also requires a powerful vacuum pump, which will typically consume on the order of 1000 W. The analyzer must measure water vapor for spectroscopic and dilution corrections. Open-path analyzers are available for methane, but not for nitrous oxide. The currently available methane analyzers have low power consumption, but are very large. Their large size degrades frequency response and disturbs the air flow near the sonic anemometer. They require significant maintenance to keep the exposed multipass optical surfaces clean. Water vapor measurements for dilution and spectroscopic corrections require a separate water vapor analyzer. A new closed-path eddy covariance system for measuring nitrous oxide or methane fluxes provides an elegant solution. The analyzer (TGA200A, Campbell Scientific, Inc.) uses a thermoelectrically-cooled interband cascade laser. Its small sample-cell volume and unique sample-cell configuration (200 ml, 1.5 m single pass) provide excellent frequency response with a low-power scroll pump (240 W). A new single-tube Nafion® dryer removes most of the water vapor, and attenuates fluctuations in the residual water vapor. Finally, a vortex intake assembly eliminates the need for an intake filter without adding volume that would degrade system frequency response. Laboratory testing shows the system attenuates the water vapor dilution term by more than 99% and achieves a half-power band width of 3.5 Hz.

Two-Phase Flow in Microchannels with Non-Circular Cross Section

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eckett, Chris A.; Strumpf, Hal J.

2002-11-01

Two-phase flow in microchannels is of practical importance in several microgravity space technology applications. These include evaporative and condensing heat exchangers for thermal management systems and vapor cycle systems, phase separators, and bioreactors. The flow passages in these devices typically have a rectangular cross-section or some other non-circular cross-section; may include complex flow paths with branches, merges and bends; and may involve channel walls of different wettability. However, previous experimental and analytical investigations of two-phase flow in reduced gravity have focussed on straight, circular tubes. This study is an effort to determine two-phase flow behavior, both with and without heat transfer, in microchannel configurations other than straight, circular tubes. The goals are to investigate the geometrical effects on flow pattern, pressure drop and liquid holdup, as well as to determine the relative importance of capillary, surface tension, inertial, and gravitational forces in such geometries. An evaporative heat exchanger for microgravity thermal management systems has been selected as the target technology in this investigation. Although such a heat exchanger has never been developed at Honeywell, a preliminary sizing has been performed based on knowledge of such devices in normal gravity environments. Fin shapes considered include plain rectangular, offset rectangular, and wavy fin configurations. Each of these fin passages represents a microchannel of non-circular cross section. The pans at the inlet and outlet of the heat exchanger are flow branches and merges, with up to 90-deg bends. R-134a has been used as the refrigerant fluid, although ammonia may well be used in the eventual application.

Dual nitrate isotopes clarify the role of biological processing and hydrologic flow paths on nitrogen cycling in subtropical low-gradient watersheds

DOE PAGES

Griffiths, Natalie A.; Jackson, C. Rhett; McDonnell, Jeffrey J.; ...

2016-02-08

Nitrogen (N) is an important nutrient as it often limits productivity but in excess can impair water quality. Most studies on watershed N cycling have occurred in upland forested catchments where snowmelt dominates N export; fewer studies have focused on low-relief watersheds that lack snow. We examined watershed N cycling in three adjacent, low-relief watersheds in the Upper Coastal Plain of the southeastern United States to better understand the role of hydrological flow paths and biological transformations of N at the watershed scale. Groundwater was the dominant source of nitrified N to stream water in two of the three watersheds,more » while atmospheric deposition comprised 28% of stream water nitrate in one watershed. The greater atmospheric contribution may have been due to the larger stream channel area relative to total watershed area or the dominance of shallow subsurface flow paths contributing to stream flow in this watershed. There was a positive relationship between temperature and stream water ammonium concentrations and a negative relationship between temperature and stream water nitrate concentrations in each watershed suggesting that N cycling processes (i.e., nitrification and denitrification) varied seasonally. However, there were no clear patterns in the importance of denitrification in different water pools possibly because a variety of factors (i.e., assimilatory uptake, dissimilatory uptake, and mixing) affected nitrate concentrations. In conclusion, together, these results highlight the hydrological and biological controls on N cycling in low-gradient watersheds and variability in N delivery flow paths among adjacent watersheds with similar physical characteristics.« less

Effects of Subbasin Size on Topographic Characteristics and Simulated Flow Paths in Sleepers River Watershed, Vermont

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wolock, David M.

1995-08-01

The effects of subbasin size on topographic characteristics and simulated flow paths were determined for the 111.5-km2 Sleepers River Research Watershed in Vermont using the watershed model TOPMODEL. Topography is parameterized in TOPMODEL as the spatial and statistical distribution of the index ln (a/tan B), where In is the Napierian logarithm, a is the upslope area per unit contour length, and tan B is the slope gradient. The mean, variance, and skew of the ln (a/tan B) distribution were computed for several sets of nested subbasins (0.05 to 111.5 km2)) along streams in the watershed and used as input to TOPMODEL. In general, the statistics of the ln (a/tan B) distribution and the simulated percentage of overland flow in total streamflow increased rapidly for some nested subbasins and decreased rapidly for others as subbasin size increased from 0.05 to 1 km2, generally increased up to a subbasin size of 5 km2, and remained relatively constant at a subbasin size greater than 5 km2. Differences in simulated flow paths among subbasins of all sizes (0.05 to 111.5 km2) were caused by differences in the statistics of the ln (a/tan B) distribution, not by differences in the explicit spatial arrangement of ln (a/tan B) values within the subbasins. Analysis of streamflow chemistry data from the Neversink River watershed in southeastern New York supports the hypothesis that subbasin size affects flow-path characteristics.

Effect of travel speed on the visual control of steering toward a goal.

PubMed

Chen, Rongrong; Niehorster, Diederick C; Li, Li

2018-03-01

Previous studies have proposed that people can use visual cues such as the instantaneous direction (i.e., heading) or future path trajectory of travel specified by optic flow or target visual direction in egocentric space to steer or walk toward a goal. In the current study, we examined what visual cues people use to guide their goal-oriented locomotion and whether their reliance on such visual cues changes as travel speed increases. We presented participants with optic flow displays that simulated their self-motion toward a target at various travel speeds under two viewing conditions in which we made target egocentric direction available or unavailable for steering. We found that for both viewing conditions, participants did not steer along a curved path toward the target such that the actual and the required path curvature to reach the target would converge when approaching the target. At higher travel speeds, participants showed a faster and larger reduction in target-heading angle and more accurate and precise steady-state control of aligning their heading specified by optic flow with the target. These findings support the claim that people use heading and target egocentric direction but not path for goal-oriented locomotion control, and their reliance on heading increases at higher travel speeds. The increased reliance on heading for goal-oriented locomotion control could be due to an increased reliability in perceiving heading from optic flow as the magnitude of flow increases with travel speed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

Hg isotopes reveal in-stream processing and legacy inputs in East Fork Poplar Creek, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA

DOE PAGES

Demers, Jason D.; Blum, Joel D.; Brooks, Scott C.; ...

2018-03-01

In this paper, natural abundance stable Hg isotope measurements were used to place new constraints on sources, transport, and transformations of Hg along the flow path of East Fork Poplar Creek (EFPC), a point-source contaminated headwater stream in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Particulate-bound Hg in the water column of EFPC within the Y-12 National Security Complex, was isotopically similar to average metallic Hg(0) used in industry, having a mean δ 202Hg value of -0.42 ± 0.09‰ (1SD) and near-zero Δ 199Hg. On average, particulate fraction δ 202Hg values increased downstream by 0.53‰, while Δ 199Hg decreased by -0.10‰, converging with themore » Hg isotopic composition of the fine fraction of streambed sediment along the 26 km flow path. The dissolved fraction behaved differently. Although initial Δ 199Hg values of the dissolved fraction were also near-zero, these values increased transiently along the flow path. Initial δ 202Hg values of the dissolved fraction were more variable than in the particulate fraction, ranging from -0.44 to 0.18‰ among three seasonal sampling campaigns, but converged to an average δ 202Hg value of 0.01 ± 0.10‰ (1SD) downstream. Dissolved Hg in the hyporheic and riparian pore water had higher and lower δ 202Hg values, respectively, compared to dissolved Hg in stream water. Finally, variations in Hg isotopic composition of the dissolved and suspended fractions along the flow path suggest that: (1) physical processes such as dilution and sedimentation do not fully explain decreases in total mercury concentrations along the flow path; (2) in-stream processes include photochemical reduction, but microbial reduction is likely more dominant; and (3) additional sources of dissolved mercury inputs to EFPC at baseflow during this study predominantly arise from the hyporheic zone.« less

Hg isotopes reveal in-stream processing and legacy inputs in East Fork Poplar Creek, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Demers, Jason D.; Blum, Joel D.; Brooks, Scott C.

In this paper, natural abundance stable Hg isotope measurements were used to place new constraints on sources, transport, and transformations of Hg along the flow path of East Fork Poplar Creek (EFPC), a point-source contaminated headwater stream in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Particulate-bound Hg in the water column of EFPC within the Y-12 National Security Complex, was isotopically similar to average metallic Hg(0) used in industry, having a mean δ 202Hg value of -0.42 ± 0.09‰ (1SD) and near-zero Δ 199Hg. On average, particulate fraction δ 202Hg values increased downstream by 0.53‰, while Δ 199Hg decreased by -0.10‰, converging with themore » Hg isotopic composition of the fine fraction of streambed sediment along the 26 km flow path. The dissolved fraction behaved differently. Although initial Δ 199Hg values of the dissolved fraction were also near-zero, these values increased transiently along the flow path. Initial δ 202Hg values of the dissolved fraction were more variable than in the particulate fraction, ranging from -0.44 to 0.18‰ among three seasonal sampling campaigns, but converged to an average δ 202Hg value of 0.01 ± 0.10‰ (1SD) downstream. Dissolved Hg in the hyporheic and riparian pore water had higher and lower δ 202Hg values, respectively, compared to dissolved Hg in stream water. Finally, variations in Hg isotopic composition of the dissolved and suspended fractions along the flow path suggest that: (1) physical processes such as dilution and sedimentation do not fully explain decreases in total mercury concentrations along the flow path; (2) in-stream processes include photochemical reduction, but microbial reduction is likely more dominant; and (3) additional sources of dissolved mercury inputs to EFPC at baseflow during this study predominantly arise from the hyporheic zone.« less

Microplasma-based flowing atmospheric-pressure afterglow (FAPA) source for ambient desorption-ionization mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Zeiri, Offer M; Storey, Andrew P; Ray, Steven J; Hieftje, Gary M

2017-02-01

A new direct-current microplasma-based flowing atmospheric pressure afterglow (FAPA) source was developed for use in ambient desorption-ionization mass spectrometry. The annular-shaped microplasma is formed in helium between two concentric stainless-steel capillaries that are separated by an alumina tube. Current-voltage characterization of the source shows that this version of the FAPA operates in the normal glow-discharge regime. A glass surface placed in the path of the helium afterglow reaches temperatures of up to approximately 400 °C; the temperature varies with distance from the source and helium flow rate through the source. Solid, liquid, and vapor samples were examined by means of a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Results suggest that ionization occurs mainly through protonation, with only a small amount of fragmentation and adduct formation. The mass range of the source was shown to extend up to at least m/z 2722 for singly charged species. Limits of detection for several small organic molecules were in the sub-picomole range. Examination of competitive ionization revealed that signal suppression occurs only at high (mM) concentrations of competing substances. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Finite element solution to passive scalar transport behind line sources under neutral and unstable stratification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Chun-Ho; Leung, Dennis Y. C.

2006-02-01

This study employed a direct numerical simulation (DNS) technique to contrast the plume behaviours and mixing of passive scalar emitted from line sources (aligned with the spanwise direction) in neutrally and unstably stratified open-channel flows. The DNS model was developed using the Galerkin finite element method (FEM) employing trilinear brick elements with equal-order interpolating polynomials that solved the momentum and continuity equations, together with conservation of energy and mass equations in incompressible flow. The second-order accurate fractional-step method was used to handle the implicit velocity-pressure coupling in incompressible flow. It also segregated the solution to the advection and diffusion terms, which were then integrated in time, respectively, by the explicit third-order accurate Runge-Kutta method and the implicit second-order accurate Crank-Nicolson method. The buoyancy term under unstable stratification was integrated in time explicitly by the first-order accurate Euler method. The DNS FEM model calculated the scalar-plume development and the mean plume path. In particular, it calculated the plume meandering in the wall-normal direction under unstable stratification that agreed well with the laboratory and field measurements, as well as previous modelling results available in literature.

Permeability, Fracture Clusters, and Stress State:Implications for Mine-based Studies of EcoHydrology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Earnest, E. J.; Boutt, D. F.; Murdoch, L.; Hisz, D. B.; Ebenhack, J.; Kieft, T. L.; Onstott, T. C.; Wang, H. F.

2011-12-01

Mine-based ecohydrology studies provide unique access to deep flow systems at multiple crustal depths. Mass and energy transfer in such deep flow systems is typically dominated by localized flow through discrete features such as fractures and faults, of which only a small percentage contribute to both local and regional flow systems. Predicting which fractures are contributing to flow and transport in these networks has proven extremely difficult. Researchers working at deeper crustal levels (Barton et al., 1995) have successfully predicted fracture network permeability using relationships between fracture aperture (i.e. transmissivity) and in-situ stress. Observations suggest that compared to porous media, fractured rocks have flow systems that operate across large spatial scales and may contain clusters that are hydraulically isolated. . This point is important as these flow systems can house fluids and microbes in isolated clusters and are minimally impacted by the presence of a mine. One example of this is the the former Homestake gold mine in the northern Black Hills, South Dakota, which is being considered as a location for an underground science laboratory. Mine workings cover several km2 in plan and extend to a depth 2.4 km. The area is dominantly Proterozoic metamorphic rocks, forming regional-scale folds with plunge axes oriented ~40o to the SSE. Prior analysis of the hydrogeology of the area indicates that permeability is strongly dependent on effective stress; an increase in permeability with decreasing depth appears to be an important factor controlling the development of a shallow ground water flow systems. In this contribution we examine a set of factors contributing to permeability distribution at the site with a specific focus on: 1) refining permeability-depth models for fractured rock to include the influence of both normal and shear fracture deformation on permeability-depth trends, 2) promote the development and testing of a stress-path fracture permeability hypothesis to examine space-time fracture permeability evolution at various depths, and 3) evaluate factors necessary to create and sustain isolated fracture clusters that could be targets for studies of ecohydrology. Preliminary field work in fractured rocks of Eastern Massachusetts suggest that the stress-path hypothesis, in which fracture permeability undergoes spatial and temporal changes due to erosion and rotatation of the in situ stress field, can be used to explain depth-dependent permeability trends, and is particularly significant for flow systems at depths significant for deep ecohydrology studies.

Evaluation of Flow Paths and Confluences for Saltwater Intrusion and Its Influence on Fish Species Diversity in a Deltaic River Network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shao, X.; Cui, B.; Zhang, Z.; Fang, Y.; Jawitz, J. W.

2016-12-01

Freshwater in a delta is often at risk of saltwater intrusion, which has been a serious issue in estuarine deltas all over the world. Salinity gradients and hydrologic connectivity in the deltas can be disturbed by saltwater intrusion, which can fluctuate frequently and locally in time and space to affect biotic processes and then to affect the distribution patterns of the riverine fishes throughout the river network. Therefore, identifying the major flow paths or locations at risk of saltwater intrusion in estuarine ecosystems is necessary for saltwater intrusion mitigation and fish species diversity conservation. In this study, we use the betweenness centrality (BC) as the weighted attribute of the river network to identify the critical confluences and detect the preferential flow paths for saltwater intrusion through the least-cost-path algorithm from graph theory approach. Moreover, we analyse the responses of the salinity and fish species diversity to the BC values of confluences calculated in the river network. Our results show that the most likely location of saltwater intrusion is not a simple gradient change from sea to land, but closely dependent on the river segments' characteristics. In addition, a significant positive correlation between the salinity and the BC values of confluences is determined in the Pearl River Delta. Changes in the BC values of confluences can produce significant variation in the fish species diversity. Therefore, the dynamics of saltwater intrusion are a growing consideration for understanding the patterns and subsequent processes driving fish community structure. Freshwater can be diverted into these major flow paths and critical confluences to improve river network management and conservation of fish species diversity under saltwater intrusion.

Magnetic resonance imaging 4-D flow-based analysis of aortic hemodynamics in Turner syndrome.

PubMed

Arnold, Raoul; Neu, Marie; Hirtler, Daniel; Gimpel, Charlotte; Markl, Michael; Geiger, Julia

2017-04-01

Cardiovascular surveillance is important in Turner syndrome because of the increased risk of aortic dilation and dissection with consecutively increased mortality. To compare 4-D flow MRI for the characterization of aortic 3-D flow patterns, dimensions and vessel wall parameters in pediatric patients with Turner syndrome and age-matched controls. We performed 4-D flow MRI measuring in vivo 3-D blood flow with coverage of the thoracic aorta in 25 patients with Turner syndrome and in 16 female healthy controls (age mean ± standard deviation were 16 ± 5 years and 17 ± 4 years, respectively). Blood flow was visualized by time-resolved 3-D path lines. Visual grading of aortic flow in terms of helices and vortices was performed by two independent observers. Quantitative analysis included measurement of aortic diameters, quantification of peak systolic wall shear stress, pulsatility index and oscillatory shear index at eight defined sites. Patients with Turner syndrome had significantly larger aortic diameters normalized to BSA, increased vortices in the ascending aorta and elevated helix flow in the ascending and descending aorta compared to controls (all P<0.03). Patients with abnormal helical or vortical flow in the ascending aorta had significantly larger diameters of the ascending aorta (P<0.03). Peak systolic wall shear stress, pulsatility index and oscillatory shear index were significantly lower in Turner patients compared to controls (p=0.02, p=0.002 and p=0.01 respectively). Four-dimensional flow MRI provides new insights into the altered aortic hemodynamics and wall shear stress that could have an impact on the development of aortic dissections.

Changes in air flow patterns using surfactants and thickeners during air sparging: bench-scale experiments.

PubMed

Kim, Juyoung; Kim, Heonki; Annable, Michael D

2015-01-01

Air injected into an aquifer during air sparging normally flows upward according to the pressure gradients and buoyancy, and the direction of air flow depends on the natural hydrogeologic setting. In this study, a new method for controlling air flow paths in the saturated zone during air sparging processes is presented. Two hydrodynamic parameters, viscosity and surface tension of the aqueous phase in the aquifer, were altered using appropriate water-soluble reagents distributed before initiating air sparging. Increased viscosity retarded the travel velocity of the air front during air sparging by modifying the viscosity ratio. Using a one-dimensional column packed with water-saturated sand, the velocity of air intrusion into the saturated region under a constant pressure gradient was inversely proportional to the viscosity of the aqueous solution. The air flow direction, and thus the air flux distribution was measured using gaseous flux meters placed at the sand surface during air sparging experiments using both two-, and three-dimensional physical models. Air flow was found to be influenced by the presence of an aqueous patch of high viscosity or suppressed surface tension in the aquifer. Air flow was selective through the low-surface tension (46.5 dyn/cm) region, whereas an aqueous patch of high viscosity (2.77 cP) was as an effective air flow barrier. Formation of a low-surface tension region in the target contaminated zone in the aquifer, before the air sparging process is inaugurated, may induce air flow through the target zone maximizing the contaminant removal efficiency of the injected air. In contrast, a region with high viscosity in the air sparging influence zone may minimize air flow through the region prohibiting the region from de-saturating. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Subsurface drainage processes and management impacts

Treesearch

Elizabeth T. Keppeler; David Brown

1998-01-01

Storm-induced streamflow in forested upland watersheds is linked to rainfall by transient, variably saturated flow through several different flow paths. In the absence of exposed bedrock, shallow flow-restrictive layers, or compacted soil surfaces, virtually all of the infiltrated rainfall reaches the stream as subsurface flow. Subsurface runoff can occur within...

Soil pipe flow tracer experiments: 2. Application of a transient storage zone model

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Soil pipes, defined here as discrete preferential flow paths generally parallel to the slope, are important subsurface flow pathways that play a role in many soil erosion phenomena. However, limited research has been performed on quantifying and characterizing their flow and transport characteristic...

Current-flow efficiency of networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Kai; Yan, Xiaoyong

2018-02-01

Many real-world networks, from infrastructure networks to social and communication networks, can be formulated as flow networks. How to realistically measure the transport efficiency of these networks is of fundamental importance. The shortest-path-based efficiency measurement has limitations, as it assumes that flow travels only along those shortest paths. Here, we propose a new metric named current-flow efficiency, in which we calculate the average reciprocal effective resistance between all pairs of nodes in the network. This metric takes the multipath effect into consideration and is more suitable for measuring the efficiency of many real-world flow equilibrium networks. Moreover, this metric can handle a disconnected graph and can thus be used to identify critical nodes and edges from the efficiency-loss perspective. We further analyze how the topological structure affects the current-flow efficiency of networks based on some model and real-world networks. Our results enable a better understanding of flow networks and shed light on the design and improvement of such networks with higher transport efficiency.

Graphene-based battery electrodes having continuous flow paths

DOEpatents

Zhang, Jiguang; Xiao, Jie; Liu, Jun; Xu, Wu; Li, Xiaolin; Wang, Deyu

2014-05-24

Some batteries can exhibit greatly improved performance by utilizing electrodes having randomly arranged graphene nanosheets forming a network of channels defining continuous flow paths through the electrode. The network of channels can provide a diffusion pathway for the liquid electrolyte and/or for reactant gases. Metal-air batteries can benefit from such electrodes. In particular Li-air batteries show extremely high capacities, wherein the network of channels allow oxygen to diffuse through the electrode and mesopores in the electrode can store discharge products.

Systems and methods for separating a multiphase fluid

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Weislogel, Mark M. (Inventor); Thomas, Evan A. (Inventor); Graf, John C. (Inventor)

2011-01-01

Apparatus and methods for separating a fluid are provided. The apparatus can include a separator and a collector having an internal volume defined at least in part by one or more surfaces narrowing toward a bottom portion of the volume. The separator can include an exit port oriented toward the bottom portion of the volume. The internal volume can receive a fluid expelled from the separator into a flow path in the collector and the flow path can include at least two directional transitions within the collector.

Inverse modeling of flow tomography experiments in fractured media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klepikova, Maria; Le Borgne, Tanguy; Bour, Olivier; de Dreuzy, Jean-Raynald

2014-05-01

Inverse modeling of fracture hydraulic properties and connectivity is a very challenging objective due to the strong heterogeneity of the medium at multiple scales and the scarcity of data. Cross-borehole flowmeter tests, which consist of measuring changes in vertical borehole flows when pumping a neighboring borehole, were shown to be an efficient technique to provide information on the properties of the flow zones that connect borehole pairs (Paillet, 1998, Le Borgne et al., 2007). The interpretation of such experiments may, however, be quite uncertain when multiple connections exist. We propose the flow tomography approach (i.e., sequential cross-borehole flowmeter tests) to characterize the connectivity and transmissivity of preferential permeable flow paths in fractured aquifers (Klepikova et al., 2013). An inverse model approach is developed to estimate log-transformed transmissivity values of hydraulically active fractures between the pumping and observation wells by inverting cross-borehole flow and water level data. Here a simplified discrete fracture network approach that highlights main connectivity structures is used. This conceptual model attempts to reproduce fracture network connectivity without taking fracture geometry (length, orientation, dip) into account. We demonstrate that successively exchanging the roles of pumping and observation boreholes improves the quality of available information and reduces the under-determination of the problem. The inverse method is validated for several synthetic flow scenarios. It is shown to provide a good estimation of connectivity patterns and transmissivities of main flow paths. It also allows the estimation of the transmissivity of fractures that connect the flow paths but do not cross the boreholes, although the associated uncertainty may be high for some geometries. The results of this investigation encourage the application of flow tomography to natural fractured aquifers.

Environmental factors and flow paths related to Escherichia coli concentrations at two beaches on Lake St. Clair, Michigan, 2002–2005

USGS Publications Warehouse

Holtschlag, David J.; Shively, Dawn; Whitman, Richard L.; Haack, Sheridan K.; Fogarty, Lisa R.

2008-01-01

Regression analyses and hydrodynamic modeling were used to identify environmental factors and flow paths associated with Escherichia coli (E. coli) concentrations at Memorial and Metropolitan Beaches on Lake St. Clair in Macomb County, Mich. Lake St. Clair is part of the binational waterway between the United States and Canada that connects Lake Huron with Lake Erie in the Great Lakes Basin. Linear regression, regression-tree, and logistic regression models were developed from E. coli concentration and ancillary environmental data. Linear regression models on log10 E. coli concentrations indicated that rainfall prior to sampling, water temperature, and turbidity were positively associated with bacteria concentrations at both beaches. Flow from Clinton River, changes in water levels, wind conditions, and log10 E. coli concentrations 2 days before or after the target bacteria concentrations were statistically significant at one or both beaches. In addition, various interaction terms were significant at Memorial Beach. Linear regression models for both beaches explained only about 30 percent of the variability in log10 E. coli concentrations. Regression-tree models were developed from data from both Memorial and Metropolitan Beaches but were found to have limited predictive capability in this study. The results indicate that too few observations were available to develop reliable regression-tree models. Linear logistic models were developed to estimate the probability of E. coli concentrations exceeding 300 most probable number (MPN) per 100 milliliters (mL). Rainfall amounts before bacteria sampling were positively associated with exceedance probabilities at both beaches. Flow of Clinton River, turbidity, and log10 E. coli concentrations measured before or after the target E. coli measurements were related to exceedances at one or both beaches. The linear logistic models were effective in estimating bacteria exceedances at both beaches. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to determine cut points for maximizing the true positive rate prediction while minimizing the false positive rate. A two-dimensional hydrodynamic model was developed to simulate horizontal current patterns on Lake St. Clair in response to wind, flow, and water-level conditions at model boundaries. Simulated velocity fields were used to track hypothetical massless particles backward in time from the beaches along flow paths toward source areas. Reverse particle tracking for idealized steady-state conditions shows changes in expected flow paths and traveltimes with wind speeds and directions from 24 sectors. The results indicate that three to four sets of contiguous wind sectors have similar effects on flow paths in the vicinity of the beaches. In addition, reverse particle tracking was used for transient conditions to identify expected flow paths for 10 E. coli sampling events in 2004. These results demonstrate the ability to track hypothetical particles from the beaches, backward in time, to likely source areas. This ability, coupled with a greater frequency of bacteria sampling, may provide insight into changes in bacteria concentrations between source and sink areas.

Slot configuration for axial-flow turbomachinery blades

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Taylor, W. E.

1972-01-01

Machining of slot in turbine blades of axial flow turbines to provide flow path between pressure and suction surfaces is discussed. Slot configuration and improvements in blade performance are described. Diagram of blade slot to show geometry of modification is included.

Groundwater Flow Through a Constructed Treatment Wetland

DTIC Science & Technology

2002-03-01

sediments or has the water found preferential flow paths? (2) Does the behavior of groundwater flow change with varying loading rates or environmental...surface of the wetland. Water flows through a subsurface flow wetland in a similar fashion as groundwater flows through an aquifer. The concept is...circuiting of the wetland media. Groundwater Flow Various physical properties influence the flow of water through soil. In wetlands, the type of soil

Manual flying of curved precision approaches to landing with electromechanical instrumentation. A piloted simulation study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Knox, Charles E.

1993-01-01

A piloted simulation study was conducted to examine the requirements for using electromechanical flight instrumentation to provide situation information and flight guidance for manually controlled flight along curved precision approach paths to a landing. Six pilots were used as test subjects. The data from these tests indicated that flight director guidance is required for the manually controlled flight of a jet transport airplane on curved approach paths. Acceptable path tracking performance was attained with each of the three situation information algorithms tested. Approach paths with both multiple sequential turns and short final path segments were evaluated. Pilot comments indicated that all the approach paths tested could be used in normal airline operations.

User guide for MODPATH version 6 - A particle-tracking model for MODFLOW

USGS Publications Warehouse

Pollock, David W.

2012-01-01

MODPATH is a particle-tracking post-processing model that computes three-dimensional flow paths using output from groundwater flow simulations based on MODFLOW, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) finite-difference groundwater flow model. This report documents MODPATH version 6. Previous versions were documented in USGS Open-File Reports 89-381 and 94-464. The program uses a semianalytical particle-tracking scheme that allows an analytical expression of a particle's flow path to be obtained within each finite-difference grid cell. A particle's path is computed by tracking the particle from one cell to the next until it reaches a boundary, an internal sink/source, or satisfies another termination criterion. Data input to MODPATH consists of a combination of MODFLOW input data files, MODFLOW head and flow output files, and other input files specific to MODPATH. Output from MODPATH consists of several output files, including a number of particle coordinate output files intended to serve as input data for other programs that process, analyze, and display the results in various ways. MODPATH is written in FORTRAN and can be compiled by any FORTRAN compiler that fully supports FORTRAN-2003 or by most commercially available FORTRAN-95 compilers that support the major FORTRAN-2003 language extensions.

Joint Use of ERT, Tracer, and Numerical Techniques to Image Preferential Flow Paths in a Fractured Granite Aquifer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sanaga, S.; Vijay, S.; Kbvn, P.; Peddinti, S. R.; P S L, S.

2017-12-01

Fractured geologic media poses formidable challenges to hydrogeologists due of the strenuous mapping of fracture-matrix system and quantification of flow and transport processes. In this research, we demonstrated the efficacy of tracer-ERT studies coupled with numerical simulations to delineate preferential flow paths in a fractured granite aquifer of Deccan traps in India. A series of natural gradient saline tracer experiments were conducted from a depth window of 18 to 22 m in an injection well located inside the IIT Hyderabad campus. Tracer migration was monitored in a time-lapse mode using two cross-sectional surface ERT profiles placed in the direction of flow gradient. Dynamic changes in sub-surface electrical properties inferred via resistivity anomalies were used to highlight preferential flow paths of the study area. ERT-derived tracer breakthrough curves were in agreement with geochemical sample measurements (R2=0.74). Fracture geometry and hydraulic properties derived from ERT and pumping tests were then used to evaluate two mathematical conceptualizations that are relevant to fractured aquifers. Results of numerical analysis conclude that a dual continuum model that combines matrix and fracture systems through a flow exchange term has outperformed equivalent continuum model in reproducing tracer concentrations at the monitoring wells (evident by decrease in RMSE from 199 mg/l to 65 mg/l). A sensitivity analysis of the model parameters reveals that spatial variability in hydraulic conductivity, local-scale dispersion, and flow exchange at fracture-matrix interface have a profound effect on model simulations. Keywords: saline tracer, ERT, fractured granite, groundwater, preferential flow, numerical simulation

Observations on preferential flow and horizontal transport of nitrogen fertilizer in the unsaturated zone

USGS Publications Warehouse

Wilkison, D.H.; Blevins, D.W.

1999-01-01

A study site underlain by a claypan soil was instrumented to examine the transport of fertilizer nitrogen (N) under corn (Zea mays L.) cultivation. The study was designed to examine N transport within the unsaturated zone and in interflow (the saturated flow of water on top of the claypan). A 15N- labeled fertilizer (labeled N), bromide (Br), and chloride (Cl) were used as field tracers. Rapid or prolonged infiltration events allowed water and dissolved solutes to perch on the claypan for brief periods. However, a well- developed network of preferential flow paths quickly diverted water and solutes through the claypan and into the underlying glacial till aquifer. Excess fertilizer N in the unsaturated zone supplied a continuous, but declining input of N to ground water for a period of 15 mo after a single fertilizer application. Calculated solute velocities through the claypan matrix (6.4 x 10-6 cm s-1) were similar to horizontal transport rates along the claypan (3.5 to 7.3 x 10-6 cm s-1) but much slower than infiltration rates determined for preferential flow paths (1.67 x 10-3 cm s-1). These flow paths accounted for 35% of the transport. A seasonally variable, dual mode of transport (matrix and preferential flow) prevented the claypan from being an effective barrier to vertical transport. Simulations of selected field observations, conducted using the variably saturated two- dimensional flow and transport model, VS2DT, confirmed the presence of a dual flow regime in the claypan.

Ducting arrangement for cooling a gas turbine structure

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lee, Ching-Pang; Morrison, Jay A.

2015-07-21

A ducting arrangement (10) for a can annular gas turbine engine, including: a duct (12, 14) disposed between a combustor (16) and a first row of turbine blades and defining a hot gas path (30) therein, the duct (12, 14) having raised geometric features (54) incorporated into an outer surface (80); and a flow sleeve (72) defining a cooling flow path (84) between an inner surface (78) of the flow sleeve (72) and the duct outer surface (80). After a cooling fluid (86) traverses a relatively upstream raised geometric feature (90), the inner surface (78) of the flow sleeve (72)more » is effective to direct the cooling fluid (86) toward a landing (94) separating the relatively upstream raised geometric feature (90) from a relatively downstream raised geometric feature (94).« less

Effects of changes in pumping on regional groundwater-flow paths, 2005 and 2010, and areas contributing recharge to discharging wells, 1990–2010, in the vicinity of North Penn Area 7 Superfund site, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

USGS Publications Warehouse

Senior, Lisa A.; Goode, Daniel J.

2017-06-06

A previously developed regional groundwater flow model was used to simulate the effects of changes in pumping rates on groundwater-flow paths and extent of recharge discharging to wells for a contaminated fractured bedrock aquifer in southeastern Pennsylvania. Groundwater in the vicinity of the North Penn Area 7 Superfund site, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, was found to be contaminated with organic compounds, such as trichloroethylene (TCE), in 1979. At the time contamination was discovered, groundwater from the underlying fractured bedrock (shale) aquifer was the main source of supply for public drinking water and industrial use. As part of technical support to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) during the Remedial Investigation of the North Penn Area 7 Superfund site from 2000 to 2005, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) developed a model of regional groundwater flow to describe changes in groundwater flow and contaminant directions as a result of changes in pumping. Subsequently, large decreases in TCE concentrations (as much as 400 micrograms per liter) were measured in groundwater samples collected by the EPA from selected wells in 2010 compared to 2005‒06 concentrations.To provide insight on the fate of potentially contaminated groundwater during the period of generally decreasing pumping rates from 1990 to 2010, steady-state simulations were run using the previously developed groundwater-flow model for two conditions prior to extensive remediation, 1990 and 2000, two conditions subsequent to some remediation 2005 and 2010, and a No Pumping case, representing pre-development or cessation of pumping conditions. The model was used to (1) quantify the amount of recharge, including potentially contaminated recharge from sources near the land surface, that discharged to wells or streams and (2) delineate the areas contributing recharge that discharged to wells or streams for the five conditions.In all simulations, groundwater divides differed from surface-water divides, partly because of differences in stream elevations and because of geologic structure and pumping. In the 1990 and 2000 simulations, all recharge in and near the vicinity of North Penn Area 7 discharged to wells, but in the 2005 and 2010 simulations some recharge in this area discharged to streams, indicating possible discharge of contaminated groundwater from North Penn Area 7 sources to streams. As the amount of groundwater withdrawals by wells has declined since 1990, the area contributing recharge to wells in the vicinity of North Penn Area 7 has decreased.To determine the effect of changes in pumping on flow paths and possible flow-path-related contributions to the observed changes in spatial distribution of contaminants in groundwater from 2005 to 2010, the USGS conducted simulations using the previously developed regional groundwater-flow model using reported pumping and estimated recharge rates for 2005 and 2010. Flow paths from recharge at known contaminant source areas to discharge locations at wells or streams were simulated under steady-state conditions for the two periods. Simulated groundwater-flow paths shifted only slightly from 2005 to 2010 as a result of changes in pumping rates. These slight changes in groundwater-flow paths from known sources of contamination are not coincident with the spatial distribution of observed changes in TCE concentrations from 2005 to 2010, indicating that the decreases of TCE concentrations may be a result of other processes, such as source removal or degradation. Results of the simulations and the absence of increases in TCE-degradation-product concentrations indicate that the decreases of TCE concentrations observed in 2010 may be at least partly related to contaminant-source removal by soil excavation completed in 2005, although additional data would be needed to confirm this preliminary explanation.

Application of Stereolithographic Custom Models for Studying the Impact of Biofilms and Mineral Precipitation on Fluid Flow

PubMed Central

Stoner, D. L.; Watson, S. M.; Stedtfeld, R. D.; Meakin, P.; Griffel, L. K.; Tyler, T. L.; Pegram, L. M.; Barnes, J. M.; Deason, V. A.

2005-01-01

Here we introduce the use of transparent experimental models fabricated by stereolithography for studying the impacts of biomass accumulation, minerals precipitation, and physical configuration of flow paths on liquid flow in fracture apertures. The internal configuration of the models ranged in complexity from simple geometric shapes to those that incorporate replicated surfaces of natural fractures and computationally derived fracture surfaces. High-resolution digital time-lapse imaging was employed to qualitatively observe the migration of colloidal and soluble dyes through the flow models. In this study, a Sphingomonas sp. and Sporosarcina (Bacillus) pasteurii influenced the fluid dynamics by physically altering flow paths. Microbial colonization and calcite deposition enhanced the stagnant regions adjacent to solid boundaries. Microbial growth and calcite precipitation occurred to a greater extent in areas behind the fabricated obstacles and less in high-velocity orifices. PMID:16332867

Application of stereolithographic custom models for studying the impact of biofilms and mineral precipitation on fluid flow.

PubMed

Stoner, D L; Watson, S M; Stedtfeld, R D; Meakin, P; Griffel, L K; Tyler, T L; Pegram, L M; Barnes, J M; Deason, V A

2005-12-01

Here we introduce the use of transparent experimental models fabricated by stereolithography for studying the impacts of biomass accumulation, minerals precipitation, and physical configuration of flow paths on liquid flow in fracture apertures. The internal configuration of the models ranged in complexity from simple geometric shapes to those that incorporate replicated surfaces of natural fractures and computationally derived fracture surfaces. High-resolution digital time-lapse imaging was employed to qualitatively observe the migration of colloidal and soluble dyes through the flow models. In this study, a Sphingomonas sp. and Sporosarcina (Bacillus) pasteurii influenced the fluid dynamics by physically altering flow paths. Microbial colonization and calcite deposition enhanced the stagnant regions adjacent to solid boundaries. Microbial growth and calcite precipitation occurred to a greater extent in areas behind the fabricated obstacles and less in high-velocity orifices.

Application of Stereolithographic Custom Models for Studying the Impact of Biofilms and Mineral Precipitation on Fluid Flow

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

D. L. Stoner; S. M. Watson; R. D. Stedtfeld

Here we introduce the use of transparent experimental models fabricated by stereolithography for studying the impacts of biomass accumulation, minerals precipitation, and physical configuration of flow paths on liquid flow in fracture apertures. The internal configuration of the models ranged in complexity from simple geometric shapes to those that incorporate replicated surfaces of natural fractures and computationally derived fracture surfaces. High-resolution digital time-lapse imaging was employed to qualitatively observe the migration of colloidal and soluble dyes through the flow models. In this study, a Sphingomonas sp. and Sporosarcina (Bacillus) pasteurii influenced the fluid dynamics by physically altering flow paths. Microbialmore » colonization and calcite deposition enhanced the stagnant regions adjacent to solid boundaries. Microbial growth and calcite precipitation occurred to a greater extent in areas behind the fabricated obstacles and less in high-velocity orifices.« less

Development and Demonstration of an Ada Test Generation System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1996-01-01

In this project we have built a prototype system that performs Feasible Path Analysis on Ada programs: given a description of a set of control flow paths through a procedure, and a predicate at a program point feasible path analysis determines if there is input data which causes execution to flow down some path in the collection reaching the point so that tile predicate is true. Feasible path analysis can be applied to program testing, program slicing, array bounds checking, and other forms of anomaly checking. FPA is central to most applications of program analysis. But, because this problem is formally unsolvable, syntactic-based approximations are used in its place. For example, in dead-code analysis the problem is to determine if there are any input values which cause execution to reach a specified program point. Instead an approximation to this problem is computed: determine whether there is a control flow path from the start of the program to the point. This syntactic approximation is efficiently computable and conservative: if there is no such path the program point is clearly unreachable, but if there is such a path, the analysis is inconclusive, and the code is assumed to be live. Such conservative analysis too often yields unsatisfactory results because the approximation is too weak. As another example, consider data flow analysis. A du-pair is a pair of program points such that the first point is a definition of a variable and the second point a use and for which there exists a definition-free path from the definition to the use. The sharper, semantic definition of a du-pair requires that there be a feasible definition-free path from the definition to the use. A compiler using du-pairs for detecting dead variables may miss optimizations by not considering feasibility. Similarly, a program analyzer computing program slices to merge parallel versions may report conflicts where none exist. In the context of software testing, feasibility analysis plays an important role in identifying testing requirements which are infeasible. This is especially true for data flow testing and modified condition/decision coverage. Our system uses in an essential way symbolic analysis and theorem proving technology, and we believe this work represents one of the few successful uses of a theorem prover working in a completely automatic fashion to solve a problem of practical interest. We believe this work anticipates an important trend away from purely syntactic-based methods for program analysis to semantic methods based on symbolic processing and inference technology. Other results demonstrating the practical use of automatic inference is being reported in hardware verification, although there are significant differences between the hardware work and ours. However, what is common and important is that general purpose theorem provers are being integrated with more special-purpose decision procedures to solve problems in analysis and verification. We are pursuina commercial opportunities for this work, and will use and extend the work in other projects we are engaged in. Ultimately we would like to rework the system to analyze C, C++, or Java as a key step toward commercialization.

Hydrodynamics, wall-slip, and normal-stress differences in rarefied granular Poiseuille flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gupta, Ronak; Alam, Meheboob

2017-02-01

Hydrodynamic fields, macroscopic boundary conditions, and non-Newtonian rheology of the acceleration-driven Poiseuille flow of a dilute granular gas are probed using "direct simulation Monte Carlo" method for a range of Knudsen numbers (Kn, the ratio between the mean free path and the macroscopic length), spanning the rarefied regime of slip and transitional flows. It is shown that the "dissipation-induced clustering" (for 1 -en>0 , where en is the restitution coefficient), leading to inhomogeneous density profiles along the transverse direction, competes with "rarefaction-induced declustering" (for Kn>0 ) phenomenon, leaving seemingly "anomalous" footprints on several hydrodynamic and rheological quantities; one example is the well-known rarefaction-induced temperature bimodality, which could also result from inelastic dissipation that dominates in the continuum limit (Kn→0 ) as found recently [Alam et al., J. Fluid Mech. 782, 99 (2015), 10.1017/jfm.2015.523]. The simulation data on the slip velocity and the temperature slip are contrasted with well-established boundary conditions for molecular gases. A modified Maxwell-Navier-type boundary condition is found to hold in granular Poiseuille flow, with the velocity slip length following a power-law relation with Knudsen number Knδ, with δ ≈0.95 , for Kn≤0.1 . Transverse profiles of both first [N1(y ) ] and second [N2(y ) ] normal stress differences seem to correlate well with respective density profiles at small Kn; their centerline values [N1(0 ) and N2(0 ) ] can be of "odd" sign with respect to their counterparts in molecular gases. The phase diagrams are constructed in the (Kn,1 -en ) plane that demarcates the regions of influence of inelasticity and rarefaction, which compete with each other resulting in the sign change of both N1(0 ) and N2(0 ) . The results on normal stress differences are rationalized via a comparison with a Burnett-order theory [Sela and Goldhirsch, J. Fluid Mech. 361, 41 (1998), 10.1017/S0022112098008660], which is able to predict their correct behavior at small values of the Knudsen number. Lastly, the Knudsen paradox and its dependence on inelasticity are analyzed and contrasted with related recent works.

A unified gas-kinetic scheme for continuum and rarefied flows IV: Full Boltzmann and model equations

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, Chang, E-mail: cliuaa@ust.hk; Xu, Kun, E-mail: makxu@ust.hk; Sun, Quanhua, E-mail: qsun@imech.ac.cn

Fluid dynamic equations are valid in their respective modeling scales, such as the particle mean free path scale of the Boltzmann equation and the hydrodynamic scale of the Navier–Stokes (NS) equations. With a variation of the modeling scales, theoretically there should have a continuous spectrum of fluid dynamic equations. Even though the Boltzmann equation is claimed to be valid in all scales, many Boltzmann solvers, including direct simulation Monte Carlo method, require the cell resolution to the order of particle mean free path scale. Therefore, they are still single scale methods. In order to study multiscale flow evolution efficiently, themore » dynamics in the computational fluid has to be changed with the scales. A direct modeling of flow physics with a changeable scale may become an appropriate approach. The unified gas-kinetic scheme (UGKS) is a direct modeling method in the mesh size scale, and its underlying flow physics depends on the resolution of the cell size relative to the particle mean free path. The cell size of UGKS is not limited by the particle mean free path. With the variation of the ratio between the numerical cell size and local particle mean free path, the UGKS recovers the flow dynamics from the particle transport and collision in the kinetic scale to the wave propagation in the hydrodynamic scale. The previous UGKS is mostly constructed from the evolution solution of kinetic model equations. Even though the UGKS is very accurate and effective in the low transition and continuum flow regimes with the time step being much larger than the particle mean free time, it still has space to develop more accurate flow solver in the region, where the time step is comparable with the local particle mean free time. In such a scale, there is dynamic difference from the full Boltzmann collision term and the model equations. This work is about the further development of the UGKS with the implementation of the full Boltzmann collision term in the region where it is needed. The central ingredient of the UGKS is the coupled treatment of particle transport and collision in the flux evaluation across a cell interface, where a continuous flow dynamics from kinetic to hydrodynamic scales is modeled. The newly developed UGKS has the asymptotic preserving (AP) property of recovering the NS solutions in the continuum flow regime, and the full Boltzmann solution in the rarefied regime. In the mostly unexplored transition regime, the UGKS itself provides a valuable tool for the non-equilibrium flow study. The mathematical properties of the scheme, such as stability, accuracy, and the asymptotic preserving, will be analyzed in this paper as well.« less

Colloid Mobilization in a Fractured Soil during Dry-Wet Cycles: Role of Drying Duration and Flow Path Permeability.

PubMed

Mohanty, Sanjay K; Saiers, James E; Ryan, Joseph N

2015-08-04

In subsurface soils, colloids are mobilized by infiltrating rainwater, but the source of colloids and the process by which colloids are generated between rainfalls are not clear. We examined the effect of drying duration and the spatial variation of soil permeability on the mobilization of in situ colloids in intact soil cores (fractured and heavily weathered saprolite) during dry-wet cycles. Measuring water flux at multiple sampling ports at the core base, we found that water drained through flow paths of different permeability. The duration of antecedent drying cycles affected the amount of mobilized colloids, particularly in high-flux ports that received water from soil regions with a large number of macro- and mesopores. In these ports, the amount of mobilized colloids increased with increased drying duration up to 2.5 days. For drying durations greater than 2.5 days, the amount of mobilized colloids decreased. In contrast, increasing drying duration had a limited effect on colloid mobilization in low-flux ports, which presumably received water from soil regions with fewer macro- and mesopores. On the basis of these results, we attribute this dependence of colloid mobilization upon drying duration to colloid generation from dry pore walls and distribution of colloids in flow paths, which appear to be sensitive to the moisture content of soil after drying and flow path permeability. The results are useful for improving the understanding of colloid mobilization during fluctuating weather conditions.

Using wind tunnels to predict bird mortality in wind farms: the case of griffon vultures.

PubMed

de Lucas, Manuela; Ferrer, Miguel; Janss, Guyonne F E

2012-01-01

Wind farms have shown a spectacular growth during the last 15 years. Avian mortality through collision with moving rotor blades is well-known as one of the main adverse impacts of wind farms. In Spain, the griffon vulture incurs the highest mortality rates in wind farms. As far as we know, this study is the first attempt to predict flight trajectories of birds in order to foresee potentially dangerous areas for wind farm development. We analyse topography and wind flows in relation to flight paths of griffon vultures, using a scaled model of the wind farm area in an aerodynamic wind tunnel, and test the difference between the observed flight paths of griffon vultures and the predominant wind flows. Different wind currents for each wind direction in the aerodynamic model were observed. Simulations of wind flows in a wind tunnel were compared with observed flight paths of griffon vultures. No statistical differences were detected between the observed flight trajectories of griffon vultures and the wind passages observed in our wind tunnel model. A significant correlation was found between dead vultures predicted proportion of vultures crossing those cells according to the aerodynamic model. Griffon vulture flight routes matched the predominant wind flows in the area (i.e. they followed the routes where less flight effort was needed). We suggest using these kinds of simulations to predict flight paths over complex terrains can inform the location of wind turbines and thereby reduce soaring bird mortality.

Quantification and Control of Wall Effects in Porous Media Experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roth, E. J.; Mays, D. C.; Neupauer, R.; Crimaldi, J. P.

2017-12-01

Fluid flow dynamics in porous media are dominated by media heterogeneity. This heterogeneity can create preferential pathways in which local seepage velocities dwarf system seepage velocities, further complicating an already incomplete understanding of dispersive processes. In physical models of porous media flows, apparatus walls introduce preferential flow paths (i.e., wall effects) that may overwhelm other naturally occurring preferential pathways within the apparatus, leading to deceptive results. We used planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) in conjunction with refractive index matched (RIM) porous media and pore fluid to observe fluid dynamics in the porous media, with particular attention to the region near the apparatus walls in a 17 cm x 8 cm x 7 cm uniform flow cell. Hexagonal close packed spheres were used to create an isotropic, homogenous porous media field in the interior of the apparatus. Visualization of the movement of a fluorescent dye revealed the influence of the wall in creating higher permeability preferential flow paths in an otherwise homogenous media packing. These preferential flow paths extended approximately one half of one sphere diameter from the wall for homogenously packed regions, with a quickly diminishing effect on flow dynamics for homogenous media adjacent to the preferential pathway, but with major influence on flow dynamics for adjoining heterogeneous regions. Multiple approaches to mitigate wall effects were investigated, and a modified wall was created such that the fluid dynamics near the wall mimics the fluid dynamics within the homogenous porous media. This research supports the design of a two-dimensional experimental apparatus that will simulate engineered pumping schemes for use in contaminant remediation. However, this research could benefit the design of fixed bed reactors or other engineering challenges in which vessel walls contribute to unwanted preferential flow.

Swimming behaviour and ascent paths of brook trout in a corrugated culvert

USGS Publications Warehouse

Goerig, Elsa; Bergeron, Normand E.; Castro-Santos, Theodore R.

2017-01-01

Culverts may restrict fish movements under some hydraulic conditions such as shallow flow depths or high velocities. Although swimming capacity imposes limits to passage performance, behaviour also plays an important role in the ability of fish to overcome velocity barriers. Corrugated metal culverts are characterized by unsteady flow and existence of low‐velocity zones, which can improve passage success. Here, we describe swimming behaviour and ascent paths of 148 wild brook trout in a 1.5‐m section of a corrugated metal culvert located in Raquette Stream, Québec, Canada. Five passage trials were conducted in mid‐August, corresponding to specific mean cross‐sectional flow velocities ranging from 0.30 to 0.63 m/s. Fish were individually introduced to the culvert and their movements recorded with a camera located above the water. Lateral and longitudinal positions were recorded at a rate of 3 Hz in order to identify ascent paths. These positions were related to the distribution of flow depths and velocities in the culvert. Brook trout selected flow velocities from 0.2 to 0.5 m/s during their ascents, which corresponded to the available flow velocities in the culvert at the low‐flow conditions. This however resulted in the use of low‐velocity zones at higher flows, mainly located along the walls of the culvert. Some fish also used the corrugations for sheltering, although the behaviour was marginal and did not occur at the highest flow condition. This study improves knowledge on fish behaviour during culvert ascents, which is an important aspect for developing reliable and accurate estimates of fish passage ability.

Concentrated flow paths in riparian buffer zones of southern Illinois

Treesearch

R.C. Pankau; J.E. Schoonover; K.W.J. Willard; P.J. Edwards

2012-01-01

Riparian buffers in agricultural landscapes should be designed to trap pollutants in overland flow by slowing, filtering, and infiltrating surface runoff entering the buffer via sheet flow. However, observational evidence suggests that concentrated flow is prevalent from agricultural fields. Over time sediment can accumulate in riparian buffers forming berms that...

Using Clay Models to Understand Volcanic Mudflows

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Laney, Eric; Mattox, Steve

2007-01-01

Gravity is a subtle but ubiquitous force that influences nearly all geologic processes from the formation of ores to the flow of glaciers and rivers. Gravity also determines the path some materials take as they flow down volcanoes. Lava flows, mudflows (also called lahars), and pyroclastic flows are three such materials. Understanding the factors…

Flow path oscillations in transient ground-water simulations of large peatland systems

USGS Publications Warehouse

Reeve, A.S.; Evensen, R.; Glaser, P.H.; Siegel, D.I.; Rosenberry, D.

2006-01-01

Transient numerical simulations of the Glacial Lake Agassiz Peatland near the Red Lakes in Northern Minnesota were constructed to evaluate observed reversals in vertical ground-water flow. Seasonal weather changes were introduced to a ground-water flow model by varying evapotranspiration and recharge over time. Vertical hydraulic reversals, driven by changes in recharge and evapotranspiration were produced in the simulated peat layer. These simulations indicate that the high specific storage associated with the peat is an important control on hydraulic reversals. Seasonally driven vertical flow is on the order of centimeters in the deep peat, suggesting that seasonal vertical advective fluxes are not significant and that ground-water flow into the deep peat likely occurs on decadal or longer time scales. Particles tracked within the ground-water flow model oscillate over time, suggesting that seasonal flow reversals will enhance vertical mixing in the peat column. The amplitude of flow path oscillations increased with increasing peat storativity, with amplitudes of about 5 cm occurring when peat specific storativity was set to about 0.05 m-1. ?? 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Flow velocity profiling using acoustic time of flight flow metering based on wide band signals and adaptive beam-forming techniques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Murgan, I.; Candel, I.; Ioana, C.; Digulescu, A.; Bunea, F.; Ciocan, G. D.; Anghel, A.; Vasile, G.

2016-11-01

In this paper, we present a novel approach to non-intrusive flow velocity profiling technique using multi-element sensor array and wide-band signal's processing methods. Conventional techniques for the measurements of the flow velocity profiles are usually based on intrusive instruments (current meters, acoustic Doppler profilers, Pitot tubes, etc.) that take punctual velocity readings. Although very efficient, these choices are limited in terms of practical cases of applications especially when non-intrusive measurements techniques are required and/or a spatial accuracy of the velocity profiling is required This is due to factors related to hydraulic machinery down time, the often long time duration needed to explore the entire section area, the frequent cumbersome number of devices that needs to be handled simultaneously, or the impossibility to perform intrusive tests. In the case of non-intrusive flow profiling methods based on acoustic techniques, previous methods concentrated on using a large number of acoustic transducers placed around the measured section. Although feasible, this approach presents several major drawbacks such as a complicated signal timing, transmission, acquisition and recording system, resulting in a relative high cost of operation. In addition, because of the geometrical constraints, a desired number of sensors may not be installed. Recent results in acoustic flow metering based on wide band signals and adaptive beamforming proved that it is possible to achieve flow velocity profiles using less acoustic transducers. In a normal acoustic time of flight path the transducers are both emitters and receivers, sequentially changing their roles. In the new configuration, proposed in this paper, two new receivers are added on each side. Since the beam angles of each acoustic transducer are wide enough the newly added transducers can receive the transmitted signals and additional time of flight estimation can be done. Thus, several flow velocities are possible to be computed. Analytically defined emitted wide band signals makes possible the identification of signals coming from each transducer. Using the adaptive beam-forming algorithm the receiving transducers can record different signals from the receiver, equivalent to different propagation paths. Therefore, different measurements of time of flight are possible, leading to additional flow velocity measurements. Results carried out in an experiment facility belonging to ICPE-CA, Bucharest - Romania allowed to the validation of the flow velocities computed using this new technique, in symmetric, asymmetric and uneven flow conditions. The acoustic derived values were referenced with those provided from a Pitot tube probe installed in the test channel and the results obtained by the method proposed in this paper are relatively close to this reference.

Electron mean free path dependence of the vortex surface impedance

DOE PAGES

Checchin, M.; Martinello, M.; Grassellino, A.; ...

2017-01-17

In the present study the radio-frequency complex response of trapped vortices in superconductors is calculated and compared to experimental data previously published. The motion equation for a magnetic flux line is solved assuming a bi-dimensional and mean-free-path-dependent Lorentzian-shaped pinning potential. The resulting surface resistance shows the unprecedented bell-shaped trend as a function of the mean-free-path observed in our previous experimental work. We demonstrate that such bell-shaped trend of the surface resistance as a function of the mean-free-path may be described as the interplay of the two limiting regimes of the surface resistance, for low and large mean-free-path values: pinning andmore » flux-flow regimes respectively. Since the possibility of defining the pinning potential at different locations from the surface and with different strengths, we discuss how the surface resistance is affected by different configurations of pinning sites. By tackling the frequency dependence of the surface resistance, we also demonstrate that the separation between pinning- and flux-flow-dominated regimes cannot be determined only by the depinning frequency. As a result, the dissipation regime can be tuned either by acting on the frequency or on the mean-free-path value.« less

Electron mean free path dependence of the vortex surface impedance

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Checchin, M.; Martinello, M.; Grassellino, A.

In the present study the radio-frequency complex response of trapped vortices in superconductors is calculated and compared to experimental data previously published. The motion equation for a magnetic flux line is solved assuming a bi-dimensional and mean-free-path-dependent Lorentzian-shaped pinning potential. The resulting surface resistance shows the unprecedented bell-shaped trend as a function of the mean-free-path observed in our previous experimental work. We demonstrate that such bell-shaped trend of the surface resistance as a function of the mean-free-path may be described as the interplay of the two limiting regimes of the surface resistance, for low and large mean-free-path values: pinning andmore » flux-flow regimes respectively. Since the possibility of defining the pinning potential at different locations from the surface and with different strengths, we discuss how the surface resistance is affected by different configurations of pinning sites. By tackling the frequency dependence of the surface resistance, we also demonstrate that the separation between pinning- and flux-flow-dominated regimes cannot be determined only by the depinning frequency. As a result, the dissipation regime can be tuned either by acting on the frequency or on the mean-free-path value.« less

Predictions of hydrothermal alteration within near-ridge oceanic crust from coordinated geochemical and fluid flow models

USGS Publications Warehouse

Wetzel, L.R.; Raffensperger, Jeff P.; Shock, E.L.

2001-01-01

Coordinated geochemical and hydrological calculations guide our understanding of the composition, fluid flow patterns, and thermal structure of near-ridge oceanic crust. The case study presented here illustrates geochemical and thermal changes taking place as oceanic crust ages from 0.2 to 1.0 Myr. Using a finite element code, we model fluid flow and heat transport through the upper few hundred meters of an abyssal hill created at an intermediate spreading rate. We use a reaction path model with a customized database to calculate equilibrium fluid compositions and mineral assemblages of basalt and seawater at 500 bars and temperatures ranging from 150 to 400??C. In one scenario, reaction path calculations suggest that volume increases on the order of 10% may occur within portions of the basaltic basement. If this change in volume occurred, it would be sufficient to fill all primary porosity in some locations, effectively sealing off portions of the oceanic crust. Thermal profiles resulting from fluid flow simulations indicate that volume changes along this possible reaction path occur primarily within the first 0.4 Myr of crustal aging. ?? 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Simplified, inverse, ejector design tool

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dechant, Lawrence J.

1993-01-01

A simple lumped parameter based inverse design tool has been developed which provides flow path geometry and entrainment estimates subject to operational, acoustic, and design constraints. These constraints are manifested through specification of primary mass flow rate or ejector thrust, fully-mixed exit velocity, and static pressure matching. Fundamentally, integral forms of the conservation equations coupled with the specified design constraints are combined to yield an easily invertible linear system in terms of the flow path cross-sectional areas. Entrainment is computed by back substitution. Initial comparison with experimental and analogous one-dimensional methods show good agreement. Thus, this simple inverse design code provides an analytically based, preliminary design tool with direct application to High Speed Civil Transport (HSCT) design studies.

Gas flow path for a gas turbine engine

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Montgomery, Matthew D.; Charron, Richard C.; Snyder, Gary D.

A duct arrangement in a can annular gas turbine engine. The gas turbine engine has a gas delivery structure for delivering gases from a plurality of combustors to an annular chamber that extends circumferentially and is oriented concentric to a gas turbine engine longitudinal axis for delivering the gas flow to a first row of blades A gas flow path is formed by the duct arrangement between a respective combustor and the annular chamber for conveying gases from each combustor to the first row of turbine blades The duct arrangement includes at least one straight section having a centerline thatmore » is misaligned with a centerline of the combustor.« less

Foil changing apparatus

DOEpatents

Crist, Charles E.; Ives, Harry C.; Leifeste, Gordon T.; Miller, Robert B.

1988-01-01

A self-contained hermetically sealed foil changer for advancing a portion of foil web into a position normal to the path of a high energy particle beam. The path of the beam is defined generally by an aperture plate and cooperating axially movable barrel such that the barrel can be advanced toward the plate thereby positioning a portion of the foil across the beam path and sealing the foil between the barrel and the plate to form a membrane across said beam path. A spooling apparatus contained in the foil changer permits selectively advancing a fresh supply of foil across the beam path without breaking the foil changer seal.

Preferential flow paths in fractured rock detected by cross-borehole nano-iron tracer test

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chia, Yeeping; Chuang, Po-Yu

2017-04-01

Characterization of the preferential flow paths and their hydraulic properties is desirable for developing a hydrogeological conceptual model in fractured rock. However, the heterogeneity and anisotropy of the hydraulic property often make it difficult to understand groundwater flow paths through fractures. In this study, we adopted nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) as a tracer to characterize fracture connectivity and hydraulic properties. A magnet array was placed in an observation well to attract arriving nZVI particles for identifying the location of incoming tracer. This novel approach was developed for the investigation of fracture flow at a hydrogeological research station in central Taiwan. A heat-pulse flowmeter test was performed to delineate the vertical distribution of permeable fractures in two boreholes, making it possible to design a field tracer test. The nZVI slurry was released in the sealed injection well. The arrival of the slurry in the observation well was evidenced by a breakthrough curve recorded by the fluid conductivity sensor as well as the nZVI particles attracted to the magnets. The iron nanoparticles attracted to the magnets provide the quantitative criteria for locating the position of tracer inlet in the observation well. The position of the magnet attracting the maximum weight of iron nanoparticles agrees well with the depth of a permeable fracture zone delineated by the flowmeter. Besides, a conventional saline tracer test was conducted in the field, producing a similar outcome as the nZVI tracer test. Our study results indicate that the nano-iron tracer test could be a promising method for the characterization of the preferential flow paths in fractured rock.

Characterizing subsurface water flow to artificial drain lines using fiber-optic distributed temperature sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shults, D.; Brooks, E. S.; Heinse, R.; Keller, C. K.

2017-12-01

Over the last several years growers have experienced increasingly wet spring conditions in the Palouse Region located in North Idaho, Eastern Washington and Eastern Oregon. As a result more artificial drain lines are being installed so growers can access their fields earlier in the growing season. Additionally there has been increasing adoption of no-tillage practices among growers in order minimize erosion and runoff in the region. There is a growing body of evidence that suggests long-term no-tillage may lead to the establishment of large macropore networks through increased earthworm activity and the preservation of root channels. These macropore networks, in conjunctions with the presence of artificial drains lines, may create connected preferential flow paths from agricultural fields to receiving streams. This connectivity of flow paths from agricultural fields to receiving water bodies may increase the loading of nutrients and agricultural chemicals as some flow paths may largely bypass soil matrix interaction where materials can be sequestered. Our primary objective for this study was to characterize subsurface flow to two artificial drain lines, one under conventional tillage and the other under no-tillage, using distributed temperature sensing (DTS) technology. During the study (November 2016-April 2017) the near surface soil-water temperature was consistently colder than that of deeper depths. Temperature was thus used as a tracer as snow melt and soil-water moved from the near surface to the drain lines during snowmelt and precipitation events. The spatial and temporal variability of the temperature along the artificial drain line under no-tillage practices was found to be greater than that of the conventional tilled field. It is hypothesized that preferential flow paths are responsible for the increased variability of temperature seen in the drain line under long term no-till management. The temperature along the conventional till drain line showed a dampened response to snow melt and precipitation events during the winter indicating matrix flow was the predominate flow mechanism. In addition to temperature traces, water chemistry (electrical conductivity, pH and nitrate) and discharge measurements were collected at the outlet of each drain line as well as at access ports along the drain lines.

LAV@HAZARD: a Web-GIS Framework for Real-Time Forecasting of Lava Flow Hazards

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Del Negro, C.; Bilotta, G.; Cappello, A.; Ganci, G.; Herault, A.

2014-12-01

Crucial to lava flow hazard assessment is the development of tools for real-time prediction of flow paths, flow advance rates, and final flow lengths. Accurate prediction of flow paths and advance rates requires not only rapid assessment of eruption conditions (especially effusion rate) but also improved models of lava flow emplacement. Here we present the LAV@HAZARD web-GIS framework, which combines spaceborne remote sensing techniques and numerical simulations for real-time forecasting of lava flow hazards. By using satellite-derived discharge rates to drive a lava flow emplacement model, LAV@HAZARD allows timely definition of parameters and maps essential for hazard assessment, including the propagation time of lava flows and the maximum run-out distance. We take advantage of the flexibility of the HOTSAT thermal monitoring system to process satellite images coming from sensors with different spatial, temporal and spectral resolutions. HOTSAT was designed to ingest infrared satellite data acquired by the MODIS and SEVIRI sensors to output hot spot location, lava thermal flux and discharge rate. We use LAV@HAZARD to merge this output with the MAGFLOW physics-based model to simulate lava flow paths and to update, in a timely manner, flow simulations. Thus, any significant changes in lava discharge rate are included in the predictions. A significant benefit in terms of computational speed was obtained thanks to the parallel implementation of MAGFLOW on graphic processing units (GPUs). All this useful information has been gathered into the LAV@HAZARD platform which, due to the high degree of interactivity, allows generation of easily readable maps and a fast way to explore alternative scenarios. We will describe and demonstrate the operation of this framework using a variety of case studies pertaining to Mt Etna, Sicily. Although this study was conducted on Mt Etna, the approach used is designed to be applicable to other volcanic areas around the world.

10 CFR 434.402 - Building envelope assemblies and materials.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... MULTI-FAMILY HIGH RISE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS Building Design Requirements-Electric Systems and Equipment... be determined with due consideration of all major series and parallel heat flow paths through the... thermal transmittance of opaque elements of assemblies shall be determined using a series path procedure...

10 CFR 434.402 - Building envelope assemblies and materials.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... MULTI-FAMILY HIGH RISE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS Building Design Requirements-Electric Systems and Equipment... be determined with due consideration of all major series and parallel heat flow paths through the... thermal transmittance of opaque elements of assemblies shall be determined using a series path procedure...

10 CFR 434.402 - Building envelope assemblies and materials.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... MULTI-FAMILY HIGH RISE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS Building Design Requirements-Electric Systems and Equipment... be determined with due consideration of all major series and parallel heat flow paths through the... thermal transmittance of opaque elements of assemblies shall be determined using a series path procedure...

10 CFR 434.402 - Building envelope assemblies and materials.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... MULTI-FAMILY HIGH RISE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS Building Design Requirements-Electric Systems and Equipment... be determined with due consideration of all major series and parallel heat flow paths through the... thermal transmittance of opaque elements of assemblies shall be determined using a series path procedure...

10 CFR 434.402 - Building envelope assemblies and materials.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... MULTI-FAMILY HIGH RISE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS Building Design Requirements-Electric Systems and Equipment... be determined with due consideration of all major series and parallel heat flow paths through the... thermal transmittance of opaque elements of assemblies shall be determined using a series path procedure...

Methods for designing treatments to reduce interior noise of predominant sources and paths in a single engine light aircraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hayden, Richard E.; Remington, Paul J.; Theobald, Mark A.; Wilby, John F.

1985-01-01

The sources and paths by which noise enters the cabin of a small single engine aircraft were determined through a combination of flight and laboratory tests. The primary sources of noise were found to be airborne noise from the propeller and engine casing, airborne noise from the engine exhaust, structureborne noise from the engine/propeller combination and noise associated with air flow over the fuselage. For the propeller, the primary airborne paths were through the firewall, windshield and roof. For the engine, the most important airborne path was through the firewall. Exhaust noise was found to enter the cabin primarily through the panels in the vicinity of the exhaust outlet although exhaust noise entering the cabin through the firewall is a distinct possibility. A number of noise control techniques were tried, including firewall stiffening to reduce engine and propeller airborne noise, to stage isolators and engine mounting spider stiffening to reduce structure-borne noise, and wheel well covers to reduce air flow noise.

Transition duct system with straight ceramic liner for delivering hot-temperature gases in a combustion turbine engine

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wiebe, David J.

A transition duct system (10) for delivering hot-temperature gases from a plurality of combustors in a combustion turbine engine is provided. The system includes an exit piece (16) for each combustor. The exit piece may include a straight path segment (26) for receiving a gas flow from a respective combustor. A straight ceramic liner (40) may be inwardly disposed onto a metal outer shell (38) along the straight path segment of the exit piece. Structural arrangements are provided to securely attach the ceramic liner in the presence of substantial flow path pressurization. Cost-effective serviceability of the transition duct systems ismore » realizable since the liner can be readily removed and replaced as needed.« less

Numerical simulation based on core analysis of a single fracture in an Enhanced Geothermal System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jarrahi, Miad; Holländer, Hartmut

2017-04-01

The permeability of reservoirs is widely affected by the presence of fractures dispersed within them, as they form superior paths for fluid flow. Core analysis studies the fractures characteristics and explains the fluid-rock interactions to provide the information of permeability and saturation of a hydraulic fracturing reservoir or an enhanced geothermal system (EGS). This study conducted numerical simulations of a single fracture in a Granite core obtained from a depth of 1890 m in borehole EPS1 from Soultz-sous-Forêts, France. Blaisonneau et al. (2016) designed the apparatus to investigate the complex physical phenomena on this cylindrical sample. The method of the tests was to percolate a fluid through a natural fracture contained in a rock sample, under controlled thermo-hydro-mechanical conditions. A divergent radial flow within the fracture occurred due to the injection of fluid into the center of the fracture. The tests were performed within a containment cell with a normal stress of 2.6, 4.9, 7.2 and 9.4 MPa loading on the sample perpendicular to the fracture plane. This experiment was numerically performed to provide an efficient numerical method by modeling single phase flow in between the fracture walls. Detailed morphological features of the fracture such as tortuosity and roughness, were obtained by image processing. The results included injection pressure plots with respect to injection flow rate. Consequently, by utilizing Hagen-Poiseuille's cubic law, the equivalent hydraulic aperture size, of the fracture was derived. Then, as the sample is cylindrical, to modify the Hagen-Poiseuille's cubic law for circular parallel plates, the geometric relation was applied to obtain modified hydraulic aperture size. Finally, intrinsic permeability of the fracture under each mechanical normal stress was evaluated based on modified hydraulic aperture size. The results were presented in two different scenarios, before and after reactive percolation test, to demonstrate the effect of chemical reactive flow. The fracture after percolation test showed larger equivalent aperture size and higher permeability. Additionally, the higher the normal stress, the lower permeability was investigated. This confirmed the permeability evolution due to chemical percolation and mechanical loading. All results showed good agreements with corresponding experimental results provided by Blaisonneau et al. (2016). Keyword: Core analysis, Hydraulic fracturing, Enhanced geothermal system, Permeability, Fluid-rock interactions.

Passive shut-down heat removal system

DOEpatents

Hundal, Rolv; Sharbaugh, John E.

1988-01-01

An improved shut-down heat removal system for a liquid metal nuclear reactor of the type having a vessel for holding hot and cold pools of liquid sodium is disclosed herein. Generally, the improved system comprises a redan or barrier within the reactor vessel which allows an auxiliary heat exchanger to become immersed in liquid sodium from the hot pool whenever the reactor pump fails to generate a metal-circulating pressure differential between the hot and cold pools of sodium. This redan also defines an alternative circulation path between the hot and cold pools of sodium in order to equilibrate the distribution of the decay heat from the reactor core. The invention may take the form of a redan or barrier that circumscribes the inner wall of the reactor vessel, thereby defining an annular space therebetween. In this embodiment, the bottom of the annular space communicates with the cold pool of sodium, and the auxiliary heat exchanger is placed in this annular space just above the drawn-down level that the liquid sodium assumes during normal operating conditions. Alternatively, the redan of the invention may include a pair of vertically oriented, concentrically disposed standpipes having a piston member disposed between them that operates somewhat like a pressure-sensitive valve. In both embodiments, the cessation of the pressure differential that is normally created by the reactor pump causes the auxiliary heat exchanger to be immersed in liquid sodium from the hot pool. Additionally, the redan in both embodiments forms a circulation flow path between the hot and cold pools so that the decay heat from the nuclear core is uniformly distributed within the vessel.

Application of combined 81Kr and 4He chronometers to the dating of old groundwater in a tectonically active region of the North China Plain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matsumoto, Takuya; Chen, Zongyu; Wei, Wen; Yang, Guo-Min; Hu, Shui-Ming; Zhang, Xiangyang

2018-07-01

Groundwater dating by radio-krypton (81Kr; half-life of about 229,000 years) was applied to the sedimentary basin aquifer of the North China Plain (NCP). Krypton gas extracted from deep groundwater in the Coastal Plain was analyzed for 81Kr/Kr ratios by Atom Trap Trace Analysis, which yielded normalized ratios of 0.05 to 0.20, corresponding to groundwater residence times of 0.5-1 million years. Helium isotope compositions were determined on groundwater samples collected from the Central Plain and the Coastal Plain along a flow path of about 200 km. Helium dissolved in the groundwater samples are a mixture of atmospheric, crustal radiogenic and mantle derived sources. Mantle derived 3He contributes up to 30% of the total, and the area of occurrence coincides with zones of previous magmatic/tectonic activities. By contrast, >90% of 4He is derived from crustal reservoirs and correlates with 81Kr ages. The absolute groundwater ages (81Kr) and radiogenic 4He concentrations permit us to calibrate the 4He flux into the aquifer as well as the vertical diffusion rate of 4He to utilize the radiogenic 4He in groundwater as a quantitative age tracer. Previously, groundwater showed 14C activities near the limit of detection (30-40 k yr), in contrast Kr and radiogenic 4He data reveal progressively older ages from the recharge area to the Coastal Plain, from <20,000 yr to 0.5 to 1 Ma along the flow path of the NCP aquifers.

Evaluation of Baltic Sea transport properties using particle tracking

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dargahi, Bijan; Cvetkovic, Vladimir

2014-05-01

Particle tracking model (PTM) is an effective tool for quantifying transport properties of large water bodies such as the Baltic Sea. We have applied PTM to our fully calibrated and validated Baltic Sea 3D hydrodynamic model for a 10-years period (2000-9). One hundred particles were released at a constant rate during an initial 10-days period from all the Baltic Sea sub-basins, the major rivers, and the open boundary in the Arkona Basin. In each basin, the particles were released at two different depths corresponding to the deep water and middle water layers. The objectives of the PTM simulations were to analyse the intra-exchange processes between the Baltic Sea basins and to estimate the arrival times and the paths of particles released from the rivers. The novel contribution of this study is determining the paths and arrival times of deeper water masses rather than the surface masses. Advective and diffusive transport processes in the Bornholm and Arkona basins are both driven by the interacting flows of the northern basins of the Baltic Sea and the North Sea. Particles released from Arkona basin flows northwards along the Stople Channel. The Gotland basins are the major contributors to the exchange process in the Baltic Sea. We find high values of the advection ratio, indicative of a forced advective transport process. The Bay of Gdansk is probably the most vulnerable region in the Baltic Sea. This is despite the fact that the main exchanging basins are the Bornholm Sea and the Easter Gotland Basin. The main reason is the intensive supply of the particles from the northern basins that normally take about 3000 days to reach the Bay of Gdansk. The process maintains a high level of particle concentration (90%) along its coastlines even after the 10-years period. Comparing the particle paths in the Western and Eastern Gotland basins two interesting features were found. Particles travelled in all four directions in the former basin and the middle layer particles reached the surface flow in the eastern most part of the Gulf of Finland. This implies mixing of deeper waters of the Western Gotland Basin with the sub-surface waters of the Gulf of Finland. We believe strong density current and upwelling processes drive the process. Surprisingly, the two rivers Narva and Venta have the highest spreading in comparison to other rivers. This is despite the relatively low flow discharge values that rules out a correlation between high moment flows and the extent of spreading. We found the flow discharge to be correlated with the advection lengths. The lack of any correlation for the other rivers, signifies different hydrodynamic characteristics among the basins. The results of our PTM study may be used for a general environmental assessment in terms of sensitivity of the various coastlines and rick to the release of contaminants in the Baltic Sea.

JAVA PathFinder

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mehhtz, Peter

2005-01-01

JPF is an explicit state software model checker for Java bytecode. Today, JPF is a swiss army knife for all sort of runtime based verification purposes. This basically means JPF is a Java virtual machine that executes your program not just once (like a normal VM), but theoretically in all possible ways, checking for property violations like deadlocks or unhandled exceptions along all potential execution paths. If it finds an error, JPF reports the whole execution that leads to it. Unlike a normal debugger, JPF keeps track of every step how it got to the defect.

Nozzle for a turbomachine

DOEpatents

Lacy, Benjamin Paul; Kraemer, Gilbert Otto; Yilmaz, Ertan; Melton, Patrick Benedict

2012-10-30

A turbomachine includes a compressor, a combustor operatively connected to the compressor, and an injection nozzle operatively connected to the combustor. The injection nozzle includes a main body having a first end section that extends to a second end section to define an inner flow path. The injection nozzle further includes an outlet arranged at the second end section of the main body, at least one passage that extends within the main body and is fluidly connected to the outlet, and at least one conduit extending between the inner flow path and the at least one passage.

Quantifying the underlying landscape and paths of cancer

PubMed Central

Li, Chunhe; Wang, Jin

2014-01-01

Cancer is a disease regulated by the underlying gene networks. The emergence of normal and cancer states as well as the transformation between them can be thought of as a result of the gene network interactions and associated changes. We developed a global potential landscape and path framework to quantify cancer and associated processes. We constructed a cancer gene regulatory network based on the experimental evidences and uncovered the underlying landscape. The resulting tristable landscape characterizes important biological states: normal, cancer and apoptosis. The landscape topography in terms of barrier heights between stable state attractors quantifies the global stability of the cancer network system. We propose two mechanisms of cancerization: one is by the changes of landscape topography through the changes in regulation strengths of the gene networks. The other is by the fluctuations that help the system to go over the critical barrier at fixed landscape topography. The kinetic paths from least action principle quantify the transition processes among normal state, cancer state and apoptosis state. The kinetic rates provide the quantification of transition speeds among normal, cancer and apoptosis attractors. By the global sensitivity analysis of the gene network parameters on the landscape topography, we uncovered some key gene regulations determining the transitions between cancer and normal states. This can be used to guide the design of new anti-cancer tactics, through cocktail strategy of targeting multiple key regulation links simultaneously, for preventing cancer occurrence or transforming the early cancer state back to normal state. PMID:25232051

Staged membrane oxidation reactor system

DOEpatents

Repasky, John Michael; Carolan, Michael Francis; Stein, VanEric Edward; Chen, Christopher Ming-Poh

2014-05-20

Ion transport membrane oxidation system comprising (a) two or more membrane oxidation stages, each stage comprising a reactant zone, an oxidant zone, one or more ion transport membranes separating the reactant zone from the oxidant zone, a reactant gas inlet region, a reactant gas outlet region, an oxidant gas inlet region, and an oxidant gas outlet region; (b) an interstage reactant gas flow path disposed between each pair of membrane oxidation stages and adapted to place the reactant gas outlet region of a first stage of the pair in flow communication with the reactant gas inlet region of a second stage of the pair; and (c) one or more reactant interstage feed gas lines, each line being in flow communication with any interstage reactant gas flow path or with the reactant zone of any membrane oxidation stage receiving interstage reactant gas.

Staged membrane oxidation reactor system

DOEpatents

Repasky, John Michael; Carolan, Michael Francis; Stein, VanEric Edward; Chen, Christopher Ming-Poh

2013-04-16

Ion transport membrane oxidation system comprising (a) two or more membrane oxidation stages, each stage comprising a reactant zone, an oxidant zone, one or more ion transport membranes separating the reactant zone from the oxidant zone, a reactant gas inlet region, a reactant gas outlet region, an oxidant gas inlet region, and an oxidant gas outlet region; (b) an interstage reactant gas flow path disposed between each pair of membrane oxidation stages and adapted to place the reactant gas outlet region of a first stage of the pair in flow communication with the reactant gas inlet region of a second stage of the pair; and (c) one or more reactant interstage feed gas lines, each line being in flow communication with any interstage reactant gas flow path or with the reactant zone of any membrane oxidation stage receiving interstage reactant gas.

Staged membrane oxidation reactor system

DOEpatents

Repasky, John Michael; Carolan, Michael Francis; Stein, VanEric Edward; Chen, Christopher Ming-Poh

2012-09-11

Ion transport membrane oxidation system comprising (a) two or more membrane oxidation stages, each stage comprising a reactant zone, an oxidant zone, one or more ion transport membranes separating the reactant zone from the oxidant zone, a reactant gas inlet region, a reactant gas outlet region, an oxidant gas inlet region, and an oxidant gas outlet region; (b) an interstage reactant gas flow path disposed between each pair of membrane oxidation stages and adapted to place the reactant gas outlet region of a first stage of the pair in flow communication with the reactant gas inlet region of a second stage of the pair; and (c) one or more reactant interstage feed gas lines, each line being in flow communication with any interstage reactant gas flow path or with the reactant zone of any membrane oxidation stage receiving interstage reactant gas.

Microwave fluid flow meter

DOEpatents

Billeter, Thomas R.; Philipp, Lee D.; Schemmel, Richard R.

1976-01-01

A microwave fluid flow meter is described utilizing two spaced microwave sensors positioned along a fluid flow path. Each sensor includes a microwave cavity having a frequency of resonance dependent upon the static pressure of the fluid at the sensor locations. The resonant response of each cavity with respect to a variation in pressure of the monitored fluid is represented by a corresponding electrical output which can be calibrated into a direct pressure reading. The pressure drop between sensor locations is then correlated as a measure of fluid velocity. In the preferred embodiment the individual sensor cavities are strategically positioned outside the path of fluid flow and are designed to resonate in two distinct frequency modes yielding a measure of temperature as well as pressure. The temperature response can then be used in correcting for pressure responses of the microwave cavity encountered due to temperature fluctuations.

Computerized X-ray Microtomography Observations and Fluid Flow Measurements of the Effect of Effective Stress on Fractured Reservoir Seal Shale

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Welch, N.; Crawshaw, J.; Boek, E.

2014-12-01

The successful storage of carbon dioxide in geologic formations requires an in-depth understanding of all reservoir characteristics and morphologies. An intact and substantial seal formation above a storage reservoir is required for a significant portion of the initial sealing mechanisms believed to occur during carbon dioxide storage operations. Shales are a common seal formation rock types found above numerous hydrocarbon reservoirs, as well as potential saline aquifer storage locations. Shales commonly have very low permeability, however they also have the tendency to be quite fissile, and the formation of fractures within these seals can have a significant detrimental effect on the sealing potential of a reservoir and amount to large areas of high permeability and low capillary pressures compared to the surrounding intact rock. Fractured shales also have an increased current interest due to the increasing development of shale gas reservoirs using hydraulic fracturing techniques. This work shows the observed changes that occur within fractured pieces of reservoir seal shale samples, along with quarry analogues, using an in-situ micro-CT fluid flow imaging apparatus with a Hassler type core holder. Changes within the preferential flow path under different stress regimes as well as physical changes to the fracture geometry are reported. Lattice Boltzmann flow simulations were then performed on the extracted flow paths and compared to experiment permeability measurements. The preferential flow path of carbon dioxide through the fracture network is also observed and compared to the results two-phase Lattice Boltzmann fluid flow simulations.

The use of novel DNA nanotracers to determine groundwater flow paths - a test study at the Grimsel Deep Underground Geothermal (DUG) Laboratory in Switzerland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kittilä, Anniina; Evans, Keith; Puddu, Michela; Mikutis, Gediminas; Grass, Robert N.; Deuber, Claudia; Saar, Martin O.

2016-04-01

Groundwater flow in fractured media is heterogeneous and takes place in structures with complex geometry and scale effects, which make the characterization and modeling of the groundwater flow technically challenging. Surface geophysical surveys have limited resolution of permeable structures, and often provide ambiguous results, whereas the interpretation of borehole flow logs to infer hydraulic flow paths within fractured reservoirs is usually non-unique. Nonetheless, knowledge of the hydraulic properties of individual fractures and the role they play in determining the larger-scale flow within the fracture network (i.e. the overall flow conditions) is required in many hydrogeological and geo-engineering situations, such as in geothermal reservoir studies. Tracer tests can overcome some of the aforementioned limitations by providing strong constraints on the geometry and characteristics of flow paths linking boreholes within both porous media and fracture-dominated types of reservoirs. In the case of geothermal reservoirs, tracer tests are often used to provide estimates of the pore/fracture volume swept by flow between injection and production wells. This in turn places constraints on the swept surface area, a parameter that is key for estimating the commercial longevity of the geothermal system. A problem with conventional tracer tests is that the solute species used as the tracer tend to persist in detectable quantities within the reservoir for a long time, thereby impeding repeat tracer tests. DNA nanotracers do not suffer from this problem as they can be designed with a unique signature for each test. DNA nanotracers are environmentally friendly, sub-micron sized silica particles encapsulating small fragments of synthetic DNA which can be fabricated to have a specified, uniquely detectable configuration. For this reason, repeat tracer tests conducted with a differently-encoded DNA fragment to that used in the original will not suffer interference from the earlier test. In this study, we present the results of tests of applying novel DNA nanotracers to characterize groundwater flow properties and the flow pathways in a fracture-dominated reservoir in the Deep Underground Geothermal (DUG) Laboratory at the Grimsel Test Site in the Swiss Alps. This study is motivated by subsequent comparisons of similar characterizations of fractured rock masses after hydraulic stimulation. These will take place at the DUG Lab at the end of 2016. The results of the flow-path characterization are also compared with those obtained from classical solute tracer tests.

Belt conveyor apparatus

DOEpatents

Oakley, David J.; Bogart, Rex L.

1987-01-01

A belt conveyor apparatus according to this invention defines a conveyance path including a first pulley and at least a second pulley. An endless belt member is adapted for continuous travel about the pulleys and comprises a lower portion which engages the pulleys and an integral upper portion adapted to receive objects therein at a first location on said conveyance path and transport the objects to a second location for discharge. The upper belt portion includes an opposed pair of longitudinally disposed crest-like members, biased towards each other in a substantially abutting relationship. The crest-like members define therebetween a continuous, normally biased closed, channel along the upper belt portion. Means are disposed at the first and second locations and operatively associated with the belt member for urging the normally biased together crest-like members apart in order to provide access to the continuous channel whereby objects can be received into, or discharged from the channel. Motors are in communication with the conveyance path for effecting the travel of the endless belt member about the conveyance path. The conveyance path can be configured to include travel through two or more elevations and one or more directional changes in order to convey objects above, below and/or around existing structures.

Augmenting two-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations with measured velocity data to identify flow paths as a function of depth on Upper St. Clair River in the Great Lakes basin

USGS Publications Warehouse

Holtschlag, D.J.; Koschik, J.A.

2005-01-01

Upper St. Clair River, which receives outflow from Lake Huron, is characterized by flow velocities that exceed 7 feet per second and significant channel curvature that creates complex flow patterns downstream from the Blue Water Bridge in the Port Huron, Michigan, and Sarnia, Ontario, area. Discrepancies were detected between depth-averaged velocities previously simulated by a two-dimensional (2D) hydrodynamic model and surface velocities determined from drifting buoy deployments. A detailed ADCP (acoustic Doppler current profiler) survey was done on Upper St. Clair River during July 1–3, 2003, to help resolve these discrepancies. As part of this study, a refined finite-element mesh of the hydrodynamic model used to identify source areas to public water intakes was developed for Upper St. Clair River. In addition, a numerical procedure was used to account for radial accelerations, which cause secondary flow patterns near channel bends. The refined model was recalibrated to better reproduce local velocities measured in the ADCP survey. ADCP data also were used to help resolve the remaining discrepancies between simulated and measured velocities and to describe variations in velocity with depth. Velocity data from ADCP surveys have significant local variability, and statistical processing is needed to compute reliable point estimates. In this study, velocity innovations were computed for seven depth layers posited within the river as the differences between measured and simulated velocities. For each layer, the spatial correlation of velocity innovations was characterized by use of variogram analysis. Results were used with kriging to compute expected innovations within each layer at applicable model nodes. Expected innovations were added to simulated velocities to form integrated velocities, which were used with reverse particle tracking to identify the expected flow path near a sewage outfall as a function of flow depth. Expected particle paths generated by use of the integrated velocities showed that surface velocities in the upper layers tended to originate nearer the Canadian shoreline than velocities near the channel bottom in the lower layers. Therefore, flow paths to U.S. public water intakes located on the river bottom are more likely to be in the United States than withdrawals near the water surface. Integrated velocities in the upper layers are generally consistent with the surface velocities indicated by drifting-buoy deployments. Information in the 2D hydrodynamic model and the ADCP measurements was insufficient to describe the vertical flow component. This limitation resulted in the inability to account for vertical movements on expected flow paths through Upper St. Clair River. A three dimensional hydrodynamic model would be needed to account for these effects.

Preferential Flow Paths In A Karstified Spring Catchment: A Study Of Fault Zones As Conduits To Rapid Groundwater Flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kordilla, J.; Terrell, A. N.; Veltri, M.; Sauter, M.; Schmidt, S.

2017-12-01

In this study we model saturated and unsaturated flow in the karstified Weendespring catchment, located within the Leinetal graben in Goettingen, Germany. We employ the finite element COMSOL Multiphysics modeling software to model variably saturated flow using the Richards equation with a van Genuchten type parameterization. As part of the graben structure, the Weende spring catchment is intersected by seven fault zones along the main flow path of the 7400 m cross section of the catchment. As the Weende spring is part of the drinking water supply in Goettingen, it is particularly important to understand the vulnerability of the catchment and effect of fault zones on rapid transport of contaminants. Nitrate signals have been observed at the spring only a few days after the application of fertilizers within the catchment at a distance of approximately 2km. As the underlying layers are known to be highly impermeable, fault zones within the area are likely to create rapid flow paths to the water table and the spring. The model conceptualizes the catchment as containing three hydrogeological limestone units with varying degrees of karstification: the lower Muschelkalk limestone as a highly conductive layer, the middle Muschelkalk as an aquitard, and the upper Muschelkalk as another conductive layer. The fault zones are parameterized based on a combination of field data from quarries, remote sensing and literary data. The fault zone is modeled considering the fracture core as well as the surrounding damage zone with separate, specific hydraulic properties. The 2D conceptual model was implemented in COMSOL to study unsaturated flow at the catchment scale using van Genuchten parameters. The study demonstrates the importance of fault zones for preferential flow within the catchment and its effect on the spatial distribution of vulnerability.

DSMC simulations of leading edge flat-plate boundary layer flows at high Mach number

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pradhan, Sahadev, , Dr.

2017-04-01

The flow over a 2D leading-edge flat plate is studied at Mach number Ma =(Uinf / \\setmn √{kBTinf / m}) in the range

DSMC simulations of leading edge flat-plate boundary layer flows at high Mach number

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pradhan, Sahadev, , Dr.

2016-11-01

The flow over a 2D leading-edge flat plate is studied at Mach number Ma = (Uinf /√{kBTinf / m }) in the range

DSMC simulations of leading edge flat-plate boundary layer flows at high Mach number

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pradhan, Sahadev, , Dr.

2017-01-01

The flow over a 2D leading-edge flat plate is studied at Mach number Ma = (Uinf /√{kBTinf / m }) in the range

DSMC simulations of leading edge flat-plate boundary layer flows at high Mach number

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pradhan, Sahadev

2016-10-01

The flow over a 2D leading-edge flat plate is studied at Mach number Ma = (Uinf / {kBTinf /m}) in the range

DSMC simulations of leading edge flat-plate boundary layer flows at high Mach number

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pradhan, Sahadev, , Dr.

The flow over a 2D leading-edge flat plate is studied at Mach number Ma = (Uinf / ∖ sqrt{kBTinf / m})in the range

Dynamic response characteristics of dual flow-path integrally bladed rotors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beck, Joseph A.; Brown, Jeffrey M.; Scott-Emuakpor, Onome E.; Cross, Charles J.; Slater, Joseph C.

2015-02-01

New turbine engine designs requiring secondary flow compression often look to dual flow-path integrally bladed rotors (DFIBRs) since these stages have the ability to perform work on the secondary, or bypassed, flow-field. While analogous to traditional integrally bladed rotor stages, DFIBR designs have many differences that result in unique dynamic response characteristics that must be understood to avoid fatigue. This work investigates these characteristics using reduced-order models (ROMs) that incorporate mistuning through perturbations to blade frequencies. This work provides an alternative to computationally intensive geometric-mistuning approaches for DFIBRs by utilizing tuned blade mode reductions and substructure coupling in cyclic coordinates. Free and forced response results are compared to full finite element model (FEM) solutions to determine if any errors are related to the reduced-order model formulation reduction methods. It is shown that DFIBRs have many more frequency veering regions than their single flow-path integrally blade rotor (IBR) counterparts. Modal families are shown to transition between system, inner-blade, and outer-blade motion. Furthermore, findings illustrate that while mode localization of traditional IBRs is limited to a single or small subset of blades, DFIBRs can have modal energy localized to either an inner- or outer-blade set resulting in many blades responding above tuned levels. Lastly, ROM forced response predictions compare well to full FEM predictions for the two test cases shown.

Energy Optimal Path Planning: Integrating Coastal Ocean Modelling with Optimal Control

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Subramani, D. N.; Haley, P. J., Jr.; Lermusiaux, P. F. J.

2016-02-01

A stochastic optimization methodology is formulated for computing energy-optimal paths from among time-optimal paths of autonomous vehicles navigating in a dynamic flow field. To set up the energy optimization, the relative vehicle speed and headings are considered to be stochastic, and new stochastic Dynamically Orthogonal (DO) level-set equations that govern their stochastic time-optimal reachability fronts are derived. Their solution provides the distribution of time-optimal reachability fronts and corresponding distribution of time-optimal paths. An optimization is then performed on the vehicle's energy-time joint distribution to select the energy-optimal paths for each arrival time, among all stochastic time-optimal paths for that arrival time. The accuracy and efficiency of the DO level-set equations for solving the governing stochastic level-set reachability fronts are quantitatively assessed, including comparisons with independent semi-analytical solutions. Energy-optimal missions are studied in wind-driven barotropic quasi-geostrophic double-gyre circulations, and in realistic data-assimilative re-analyses of multiscale coastal ocean flows. The latter re-analyses are obtained from multi-resolution 2-way nested primitive-equation simulations of tidal-to-mesoscale dynamics in the Middle Atlantic Bight and Shelbreak Front region. The effects of tidal currents, strong wind events, coastal jets, and shelfbreak fronts on the energy-optimal paths are illustrated and quantified. Results showcase the opportunities for longer-duration missions that intelligently utilize the ocean environment to save energy, rigorously integrating ocean forecasting with optimal control of autonomous vehicles.

Soil pipe flow tracer experiments: 1. Connectivity and transport characteristics

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Much debate has occurred in catchment hydrology regarding the connectivity of flow paths from upslope areas to catchment outlets. This study was conducted in two catchments, one with three upper branches, in a loess soil with a fragipan that fosters lateral flow and exhibits an extensive distributio...

Application of a Transient Storage Zone Model o Soil Pipeflow Tracer Injection Experiments

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Soil pipes, defined here as discrete preferential flow paths generally parallel to the slope, are important subsurface flow pathways that play a role in many soil erosion phenomena. However, limited research has been performed on quantifying and characterizing their flow and transport characteristic...

Energy Index For Aircraft Maneuvers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chidester, Thomas R. (Inventor); Lynch, Robert E. (Inventor); Lawrence, Robert E. (Inventor); Amidan, Brett G. (Inventor); Ferryman, Thomas A. (Inventor); Drew, Douglas A. (Inventor); Ainsworth, Robert J. (Inventor); Prothero, Gary L. (Inventor); Romanowski, Tomothy P. (Inventor); Bloch, Laurent (Inventor)

2006-01-01

Method and system for analyzing, separately or in combination, kinetic energy and potential energy and/or their time derivatives, measured or estimated or computed, for an aircraft in approach phase or in takeoff phase, to determine if the aircraft is or will be put in an anomalous configuration in order to join a stable approach path or takeoff path. A 3 reference value of kinetic energy andor potential energy (or time derivatives thereof) is provided, and a comparison index .for the estimated energy and reference energy is computed and compared with a normal range of index values for a corresponding aircraft maneuver. If the computed energy index lies outside the normal index range, this phase of the aircraft is identified as anomalous, non-normal or potentially unstable.

Barriers Keep Drops Of Water Out Of Infrared Gas Sensors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Murray, Sean K.

1996-01-01

Infrared-sensor cells used for measuring partial pressures of CO(2) and other breathable gases modified to prevent entry of liquid water into sensory optical paths of cells. Hydrophobic membrane prevents drops of water entrained in flow from entering optical path from lamp to infrared detectors.

40 CFR 1033.525 - Smoke testing.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... measure smoke emissions using a full-flow, open path light extinction smokemeter. A light extinction meter... path length equal to the hydraulic diameter. The light extinction meter must meet the requirements of... apertures (or windows and lenses) and on the axis of the light beam. (8) You may use light extinction meters...

40 CFR 1033.525 - Smoke testing.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... measure smoke emissions using a full-flow, open path light extinction smokemeter. A light extinction meter... path length equal to the hydraulic diameter. The light extinction meter must meet the requirements of... apertures (or windows and lenses) and on the axis of the light beam. (8) You may use light extinction meters...

40 CFR 1033.525 - Smoke testing.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... measure smoke emissions using a full-flow, open path light extinction smokemeter. A light extinction meter... path length equal to the hydraulic diameter. The light extinction meter must meet the requirements of... apertures (or windows and lenses) and on the axis of the light beam. (8) You may use light extinction meters...

40 CFR 1033.525 - Smoke testing.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... measure smoke emissions using a full-flow, open path light extinction smokemeter. A light extinction meter... path length equal to the hydraulic diameter. The light extinction meter must meet the requirements of... apertures (or windows and lenses) and on the axis of the light beam. (8) You may use light extinction meters...

10 CFR 430.2 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... fittings, or the identical water-passage design features that use the same path of water in the highest... the same path of water in the highest-flow mode. (20) With respect to water closets, which have...-foot high output lamps) with recessed double contact bases of nominal overall length of 96 inches; (4...

Assessment of critical path analyses of the relationship between permeability and electrical conductivity of pore networks

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Critical path analysis (CPA) is a method for estimating macroscopic transport coefficients of heterogeneous materials that are highly disordered at the micro-scale. Developed originally to model conduction in semiconductors, numerous researchers have noted that CPA might also have relevance to flow ...

Using Wind Tunnels to Predict Bird Mortality in Wind Farms: The Case of Griffon Vultures

PubMed Central

de Lucas, Manuela; Ferrer, Miguel; Janss, Guyonne F. E.

2012-01-01

Background Wind farms have shown a spectacular growth during the last 15 years. Avian mortality through collision with moving rotor blades is well-known as one of the main adverse impacts of wind farms. In Spain, the griffon vulture incurs the highest mortality rates in wind farms. Methodology/Principal Findings As far as we know, this study is the first attempt to predict flight trajectories of birds in order to foresee potentially dangerous areas for wind farm development. We analyse topography and wind flows in relation to flight paths of griffon vultures, using a scaled model of the wind farm area in an aerodynamic wind tunnel, and test the difference between the observed flight paths of griffon vultures and the predominant wind flows. Different wind currents for each wind direction in the aerodynamic model were observed. Simulations of wind flows in a wind tunnel were compared with observed flight paths of griffon vultures. No statistical differences were detected between the observed flight trajectories of griffon vultures and the wind passages observed in our wind tunnel model. A significant correlation was found between dead vultures predicted proportion of vultures crossing those cells according to the aerodynamic model. Conclusions Griffon vulture flight routes matched the predominant wind flows in the area (i.e. they followed the routes where less flight effort was needed). We suggest using these kinds of simulations to predict flight paths over complex terrains can inform the location of wind turbines and thereby reduce soaring bird mortality. PMID:23152764

Lateral, Vertical, and Longitudinal Source Area Connectivity Drive Runoff and Carbon Export Across Watershed Scales

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zimmer, Margaret A.; McGlynn, Brian L.

2018-03-01

Watersheds are three-dimensional hydrologic systems where the longitudinal expansion/contraction of stream networks, vertical connection/disconnection between shallow and deep groundwater systems, and lateral connectivity of these water sources to streams mediate runoff production and nutrient export. The connectivity of runoff source areas during both baseflow and stormflow conditions and their combined influence on biogeochemical fluxes remain poorly understood. Here we focused on a set of 3.3 and 48.4 ha nested watersheds (North Carolina, USA). These watersheds comprise ephemeral and intermittent runoff-producing headwaters and perennial runoff-producing lowlands. Within these landscape elements, we characterized the timing and magnitude of precipitation, runoff, and runoff-generating flow paths. The active surface drainage network (ASDN) reflected connectivity to, and contributions from, source areas that differed under baseflow and stormflow conditions. The baseflow-associated ASDN expanded and contracted seasonally, driven by the rise and fall of the seasonal water table. Superimposed on this were event-activated source area contributions driven by connectivity to surficial and shallow subsurface flow paths. Frequently activated shallow flow paths also caused increased in-stream dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations with increases in runoff across both watershed scales. The spread and variability within this DOC-runoff relationship was driven by a seasonal depletion of DOC from continual shallow subsurface flow path activation and subsequent replenishment from autumn litterfall. Our findings suggest that hydrobiogeochemical signals at larger watershed outlets can be driven by the expansion, contraction, and connection of lateral, longitudinal, and vertical source areas with distinct runoff generation processes.

Control of fluid flow during Bridgman crystal growth using low-frequency vibrational stirring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zawilski, Kevin Thomas

The goal of this research program was to develop an in depth understanding of a promising new method for stirring crystal growth melts called coupled vibrational stirring (CVS). CVS is a mixing technique that can be used in sealed systems and produces rapid mixing through vortex flows. Under normal operating conditions, CVS uses low-frequency vibrations to move the growth crucible along a circular path, producing a surface wave and convection in the melt. This research focused on the application of CVS to the vertical Bridgman technique. CVS generated flows were directly studied using a physical modeling system containing water/glycerin solutions. Sodium nitrate was chosen as a model growth system because the growth process could be directly observed using a transparent furnace. Lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate (PMNT) was chosen as the third system because of its potential application for high performance solid state transducers and actuators. In this study, the critical parameters for controlling CVS flows in cylindrical Bridgman systems were established. One of the most important results obtained was the dependence of an axial velocity gradient on the vibrational frequency. By changing the frequency, the intensity of fluid flow at a given depth can be easily manipulated. The intensity of CVS flows near the crystal-melt interface was found to be important. When flow intensity near the interface increased during growth, large growth rate fluctuations and significant changes in interface shape were observed. To eliminate such fluctuations, a constant flow rate near the crystal-melt interface was maintained by decreasing the vibrational frequency. A continuous frequency ramp was found to be essential to grow crystals of good quality under strong CVS flows. CVS generated flows were also useful in controlling the shape of the growth interface. In the sodium nitrate system without stirring, high growth rates produced a very concave interface. By adjusting the flow intensity near the interface, CVS flows were able to flatten the growth interface under these extreme growth conditions.

Thermal Dispersion Within a Porous Medium Near a Solid Wall

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Simon, T.; McFadden, G.; Ibrahim, M.

2006-01-01

The regenerator is a key component to Stirling cycle machine efficiency. Typical regenerators are of sintered fine wires or layers of fine-wire screens. Such porous materials are contained within solid-waH casings. Thermal energy exchange between the regenerator and the casing is important to cycle performance for the matrix and casing would not have the same axial temperature profile in an actual machine. Exchange from one to the other may allow shunting of thermal energy, reducing cycle efficiency. In this paper, temperature profiles within the near-wall region of the matrix are measured and thermal energy transport, termed thermal dispersion, is inferred. The data show how the wall affects thermal transport. Transport normal to the mean flow direction is by conduction within the solid and fluid and by advective transport within the matrix. In the near-wall region, both may be interrupted from their normal in-core pattern. Solid conduction paths are broken and scales of advective transport are damped. An equation is presented which describes this change for a wire screen mesh. The near-wall layer typically acts as an insulating layer. This should be considered in design or analysis. Effective thermal conductivity within the core is uniform. In-core transverse thermal effective conductivity values are compared to direct and indirect measurements reported elsewhere and to 3D numerical simulation results, computed previously and reported elsewhere. The 3-D CFD model is composed of six cylinders in cross flow, staggered in arrangement to match the dimensions and porosity of the matrix used in the experiments. The commercial code FLUENT is used to obtain the flow and thermal fields. The thermal dispersion and effective thermal conductivities for the matrix are computed from the results.

Origin and characteristics of discharge at San Marcos Springs, south-central Texas

USGS Publications Warehouse

Musgrove, MaryLynn; Crow, Cassi L.

2013-01-01

The Edwards aquifer in south-central Texas is one of the most productive aquifers in the Nation and is the primary source of water for the rapidly growing San Antonio area. Springs issuing from the Edwards aquifer provide habitat for several threatened and endangered species, serve as locations for recreational activities, and supply downstream users. Comal Springs and San Marcos Springs are major discharge points for the Edwards aquifer, and their discharges are used as thresholds in groundwater management strategies. Regional flow paths originating in the western part of the aquifer are generally understood to supply discharge at Comal Springs. In contrast, the hydrologic connection of San Marcos Springs with the regional Edwards aquifer flow system is less understood. During November 2008–December 2010, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the San Antonio Water System, collected and analyzed hydrologic and geochemical data from springs, groundwater wells, and streams to gain a better understanding of the origin and characteristics of discharge at San Marcos Springs. During the study, climatic and hydrologic conditions transitioned from exceptional drought to wetter than normal. The wide range of hydrologic conditions that occurred during this study—and corresponding changes in surface-water, groundwater and spring discharge, and in physicochemical properties and geochemistry—provides insight into the origin of the water discharging from San Marcos Springs. Three orifices at San Marcos Springs (Deep, Diversion, and Weissmuller Springs) were selected to be representative of larger springs at the spring complex. Key findings include that discharge at San Marcos Springs was dominated by regional recharge sources and groundwater flow paths and that different orifices of San Marcos Springs respond differently to changes in hydrologic conditions; Deep Spring was less responsive to changes in hydrologic conditions than were Diversion Spring and Weissmuller Spring. Also, San Marcos Springs discharge is influenced by mixing with a component of saline groundwater.

Effect of Impeller Geometry on Lift-Off Characteristics and Rotational Attitude in a Monopivot Centrifugal Blood Pump.

PubMed

Nishida, Masahiro; Nakayama, Kento; Sakota, Daisuke; Kosaka, Ryo; Maruyama, Osamu; Kawaguchi, Yasuo; Kuwana, Katsuyuki; Yamane, Takashi

2016-06-01

The effect of the flow path geometry of the impeller on the lift-off and tilt of the rotational axis of the impeller against the hydrodynamic force was investigated in a centrifugal blood pump with an impeller supported by a single-contact pivot bearing. Four types of impeller were compared: the FR model with the flow path having both front and rear cutouts on the tip, the F model with the flow path having only a front cutout, the R model with only a rear cutout, and the N model with a straight flow path. First, the axial thrust and the movement about the pivot point, which was loaded on the surface of the impeller, were calculated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis. Next, the lift-off point and the tilt of the rotational axis of the impeller were measured experimentally. The CFD analysis showed that the axial thrust increased gently in the FR and R models as the flow rate increased, whereas it increased drastically in the F and N models. This difference in axial thrust was likely from the higher pressure caused by the smaller circumferential velocity in the gap between the top surface of the impeller and the casing in the FR and R models than in the F and N models, which was caused by the rear cutout. These results corresponded with the experimental results showing that the impellers lifted off in the F and N models as the flow rate increased, whereas it did not in the FR and R models. Conversely, the movement about the pivot point increased in the direction opposite the side with the pump outlet as the flow rate increased. However, the tilt of the rotational axis of the impeller, which oriented away from the pump outlet, was less than 0.8° in any model under any conditions, and was considered to negligibly affect the rotational attitude of the impeller. These results confirm that a rear cutout prevents lift-off of the impeller caused by a decrease in the axial thrust. © 2016 International Center for Artificial Organs and Transplantation and Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Optimization of Turbine Rim Seals

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wagner, J. H.; Tew, D. E.; Stetson, G. M.; Sabnis, J. S.

2006-01-01

Experiments are being conducted to gain an understanding of the physics of rim scale cavity ingestion in a turbine stage with the high-work, single-stage characteristics envisioned for Advanced Subsonic Transport (AST) aircraft gas turbine engines fo the early 21st century. Initial experimental measurements to be presented include time-averaged turbine rim cavity and main gas path static pressure measurements for rim seal coolant to main gas path mass flow ratios between 0 and 0.02. The ultimate objective of this work is develop improved rim seal design concepts for use in modern high-work, single sage turbines n order to minimize the use of secondary coolant flow. Toward this objective the time averaged and unsteady data to be obtained in these experiments will be used to 1) Quantify the impact of the rim cavity cooling air on the ingestion process. 2) Quantify the film cooling benefits of the rim cavity purge flow in the main gas path. 3) Quantify the impact of the cooling air on turbine efficiency. 4) Develop/evaluate both 3D CFD and analytical models of the ingestion/cooling process.

Spatial variation of vessel grouping in the xylem of Betula platyphylla Roth.

PubMed

Zhao, Xiping

2016-01-01

Vessel grouping in angiosperms may improve hydraulic integration and increase the spread of cavitations through redundancy pathways. Although disputed, it is increasingly attracting research interest as a potentially significant hydraulic trait. However, the variation of vessel grouping in a tree is poorly understood. I measured the number of solitary and grouped vessels in the xylem of Betula platyphylla Roth. from the pith to the bark along the water flow path. The vessel grouping parameters included the mean number of vessels per vessel group (VG), percentage of solitary vessels (SVP), percentage of radial multiple vessels (MVP), and percentage of cluster vessels (CVP). The effects of cambial age (CA) and flow path-length (PL) on the vessel grouping were analyzed using a linear mixed model.VG and CVP increased nonlinearly, SVP decreased nonlinearly with PL. In trunks and branches, VG and CVP decreased nonlinearly, and SVP increased nonlinearly with CA. In roots, the parameters had no change with CA. MVP was almost constant with PL or CA. The results suggest that vessel grouping has a nonrandom variation pattern, which is affected deeply by cambial age and water flow path.

Groundwater Flow Through a Constructed Treatment Wetland

DTIC Science & Technology

2003-03-01

the treatment wetland is to biodegrade perchloroethylene, which is present in the groundwater as a contaminant. Contaminated water enters the...characterizing groundwater flow through a constructed treatment wetland, one can visualize the flow paths of water through various types of soil. With...flowing groundwater and are now appearing in drinking water wells. Since contamination originated from government practices at many of these sites

Correlating the vibrational spectra of structurally related molecules: A spectroscopic measure of similarity.

PubMed

Tao, Yunwen; Zou, Wenli; Cremer, Dieter; Kraka, Elfi

2018-03-05

Using catastrophe theory and the concept of a mutation path, an algorithm is developed that leads to the direct correlation of the normal vibrational modes of two structurally related molecules. The mutation path is defined by weighted incremental changes in mass and geometry of the molecules in question, which are successively applied to mutate a molecule into a structurally related molecule and thus continuously converting their normal vibrational spectra from one into the other. Correlation diagrams are generated that accurately relate the normal vibrational modes to each other by utilizing mode-mode overlap criteria and resolving allowed and avoided crossings of vibrational eigenstates. The limitations of normal mode correlation, however, foster the correlation of local vibrational modes, which offer a novel vibrational measure of similarity. It will be shown how this will open new avenues for chemical studies. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Two-Phase Flow Technology Developed and Demonstrated for the Vision for Exploration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sankovic, John M.; McQuillen, John B.; Lekan, Jack F.

2005-01-01

NASA s vision for exploration will once again expand the bounds of human presence in the universe with planned missions to the Moon and Mars. To attain the numerous goals of this vision, NASA will need to develop technologies in several areas, including advanced power-generation and thermal-control systems for spacecraft and life support. The development of these systems will have to be demonstrated prior to implementation to ensure safe and reliable operation in reduced-gravity environments. The Two-Phase Flow Facility (T(PHI) FFy) Project will provide the path to these enabling technologies for critical multiphase fluid products. The safety and reliability of future systems will be enhanced by addressing focused microgravity fluid physics issues associated with flow boiling, condensation, phase separation, and system stability, all of which are essential to exploration technology. The project--a multiyear effort initiated in 2004--will include concept development, normal-gravity testing (laboratories), reduced gravity aircraft flight campaigns (NASA s KC-135 and C-9 aircraft), space-flight experimentation (International Space Station), and model development. This project will be implemented by a team from the NASA Glenn Research Center, QSS Group, Inc., ZIN Technologies, Inc., and the Extramural Strategic Research Team composed of experts from academia.

Outcomes from the DOE Workshop on Turbulent Flow Simulation at the Exascale

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sprague, Michael; Boldyrev, Stanislav; Chang, Choong-Seock

This paper summarizes the outcomes from the Turbulent Flow Simulation at the Exascale: Opportunities and Challenges Workshop, which was held 4-5 August 2015, and was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Advanced Scientific Computing Research. The workshop objective was to define and describe the challenges and opportunities that computing at the exascale will bring to turbulent-flow simulations in applied science and technology. The need for accurate simulation of turbulent flows is evident across the U.S. Department of Energy applied-science and engineering portfolios, including combustion, plasma physics, nuclear-reactor physics, wind energy, and atmospheric science. The workshop brought togethermore » experts in turbulent-flow simulation, computational mathematics, and high-performance computing. Building upon previous ASCR workshops on exascale computing, participants defined a research agenda and path forward that will enable scientists and engineers to continually leverage, engage, and direct advances in computational systems on the path to exascale computing.« less

Plane Poiseuille Flow of a Rarefied Gas in the Presence of a Strong Gravitation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Doi, Toshiyuki

2010-11-01

Poiseuille flow of a rarefied gas between two horizontal planes in the presence of a strong gravitation is considered, where the gravity is so strong that the path of a molecule is curved considerably as it ascends or descends the distance of the planes. The gas behavior is studied based on the Boltzmann equation. An asymptotic analysis for a slow variation in the longitudinal direction is carried out and the problem is reduced to a spatially one dimensional problem, as was in the Poiseuille flow problem in the absence of the gravitation. The mass flow rate as well as the macroscopic variables is obtained for a wide range of the mean free path of the gas and the gravity. A numerical analysis of a two dimensional problem is also carried out and the result of the asymptotic analysis is verified.

A multi-agent system for monitoring patient flow.

PubMed

Rosati, Samanta; Tralli, Augusta; Balestra, Gabriella

2013-01-01

Patient flow within a healthcare facility may follow different and, sometimes, complicated paths. Each path phase is associated with the documentation of the activities carried out during it and may require the consultation of clinical guidelines, medical literature and the use of specific software and decision aid systems. In this study we present the design of a Patient Flow Management System (PFMS) based on Multi Agent Systems (MAS) methodology. System requirements were identified by means of process modeling tools and a MAS consisting of six agents was designed and is under construction. Its main goal is to support both the medical staff during the health care process and the hospital managers in assuring that all the required documentation is completed and available. Moreover, such a tool can be used for the assessment and comparison of different clinical pathways, in order to identify possible improvementsand the optimum patient flow.

Axially Tapered And Bilayer Microchannels For Evaporative Cooling Devices

DOEpatents

Nilson, Robert; Griffiths, Stewart

2005-10-04

The invention consists of an evaporative cooling device comprising one or more microchannels whose cross section is axially reduced to control the maximum capillary pressure differential between liquid and vapor phases. In one embodiment, the evaporation channels have a rectangular cross section that is reduced in width along a flow path. In another embodiment, channels of fixed width are patterned with an array of microfabricated post-like features such that the feature size and spacing are gradually reduced along the flow path. Other embodiments incorporate bilayer channels consisting of an upper cover plate having a pattern of slots or holes of axially decreasing size and a lower fluid flow layer having channel widths substantially greater than the characteristic microscale dimensions of the patterned cover plate. The small dimensions of the cover plate holes afford large capillary pressure differentials while the larger dimensions of the lower region reduce viscous flow resistance.

Turbine exhaust diffuser flow path with region of reduced total flow area

DOEpatents

Orosa, John A.

2012-12-25

An exhaust diffuser system and method for a turbine engine includes an inner boundary and an outer boundary with a flow path defined therebetween. The inner boundary is defined at least in part by a hub that has an upstream end and a downstream end. The outer boundary has a region in which the outer boundary extends radially inward toward the hub. The region can begin at a point that is substantially aligned with the downstream end of the hub or, alternatively, at a point that is proximately upstream of the downstream end of the hub. The region directs at least a portion of an exhaust flow in the diffuser toward the hub. As a result, the exhaust diffuser system and method can achieve the performance of a long hub system while enjoying the costs of a short hub system.

Flow and fracturing of viscoelastic media under diffusion-driven bubble growth: An analogue experiment for eruptive volcanic conduits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Taddeucci, J.; Spieler, O.; Ichihara, M.; Dingwell, D. B.; Scarlato, P.

2006-03-01

To visualize the behavior of erupting magma in volcanic conduits, we performed shock tube experiments on the ductile-brittle response of a viscoelastic medium to diffusion-driven bubble expansion. A sample of shear-thinning magma analogue is saturated by gas Ar under high pressure. On rapid decompression, Ar supersaturation causes bubbles to nucleate, grow, and coalesce in the sample, forcing it to expand, flow, and fracture. Experimental variables include saturation pressure and duration, and shape and lubrication of the flow path. Bubble growth in the experiments controls both flow and fracturing, and is consistent with physical models of magma vesiculation. Two types of fractures are observed: i) sharp fractures along the uppermost rim of the sample, and ii) fractures pervasively diffused throughout the sample. Rim fractures open when shear stress accumulates and strain rate is highest at the margin of the flow (a process already inferred from observations and models to occur in magma). Pervasive fractures originate when wall-friction retards expansion of the sample, causing pressure to build-up in the bubbles. When bubble pressure overcomes wall-friction and the tensile strength of the porous sample, fractures open with a range of morphologies. Both types of fracture open normally to flow direction, and both may heal as the flow proceeds. These experiments also illustrate how the development of pervasive fractures allows exsolving gas to escape from the sample before the generation of a permeable network via other processes, e.g., bubble coalescence. This is an observation that potentially impact the degassing of magma and the transition between explosive and effusive eruptions.

Direct simulation of high-vorticity gas flows

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bird, G. A.

1987-01-01

The computational limitations associated with the molecular dynamics (MD) method and the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method are reviewed in the context of the computation of dilute gas flows with high vorticity. It is concluded that the MD method is generally limited to the dense gas case in which the molecular diameter is one-tenth or more of the mean free path. It is shown that the cell size in DSMC calculations should be small in comparison with the mean free path, and that this may be facilitated by a new subcell procedure for the selection of collision partners.

Design of supercritical cascades with high solidity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sanz, J. M.

1982-01-01

The method of complex characteristics of Garabedian and Korn was successfully used to design shockless cascades with solidities of up to one. A code was developed using this method and a new hodograph transformation of the flow onto an ellipse. This code allows the design of cascades with solidities of up to two and larger turning angles. The equations of potential flow are solved in a complex hodograph like domain by setting a characteristic initial value problem and integrating along suitable paths. The topology that the new mapping introduces permits a simpler construction of these paths of integration.

Optical properties and bioavailability of dissolved organic matter along a flow-path continuum from soil pore waters to the Kolyma River mainstem, East Siberia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Frey, Karen E.; Sobczak, William V.; Mann, Paul J.; Holmes, Robert M.

2016-04-01

The Kolyma River in northeast Siberia is among the six largest Arctic rivers and drains a region underlain by vast deposits of Holocene-aged peat and Pleistocene-aged loess known as yedoma, most of which is currently stored in ice-rich permafrost throughout the region. These peat and yedoma deposits are important sources of dissolved organic matter (DOM) to inland waters that in turn play a significant role in the transport and ultimate remineralization of organic carbon to CO2 and CH4 along the terrestrial flow-path continuum. The turnover and fate of terrigenous DOM during offshore transport largely depends upon the composition and amount of carbon released to inland and coastal waters. Here, we measured the ultraviolet-visible optical properties of chromophoric DOM (CDOM) from a geographically extensive collection of waters spanning soil pore waters, streams, rivers, and the Kolyma River mainstem throughout a ˜ 250 km transect of the northern Kolyma River basin. During the period of study, CDOM absorption coefficients were found to be robust proxies for the concentration of DOM, whereas additional CDOM parameters such as spectral slopes (S) were found to be useful indicators of DOM quality along the flow path. In particular, the spectral slope ratio (SR) of CDOM demonstrated statistically significant differences between all four water types and tracked changes in the concentration of bioavailable DOC, suggesting that this parameter may be suitable for clearly discriminating shifts in organic matter characteristics among water types along the full flow-path continuum across this landscape. However, despite our observations of downstream shifts in DOM composition, we found a relatively constant proportion of DOC that was bioavailable ( ˜ 3-6 % of total DOC) regardless of relative water residence time along the flow path. This may be a consequence of two potential scenarios allowing for continual processing of organic material within the system, namely (a) aquatic microorganisms are acclimating to a downstream shift in DOM composition and/or (b) photodegradation is continually generating labile DOM for continued microbial processing of DOM along the flow-path continuum. Without such processes, we would otherwise expect to see a declining fraction of bioavailable DOC downstream with increasing residence time of water in the system. With ongoing and future permafrost degradation, peat and yedoma deposits throughout the northeast Siberian region will become more hydrologically active, providing greater amounts of DOM to fluvial networks and ultimately to the Arctic Ocean. The ability to rapidly and comprehensively monitor shifts in the quantity and quality of DOM across the landscape is therefore critical for understanding potential future feedbacks within the Arctic carbon cycle.

Tracking lava flow emplacement on the east rift zone of Kilauea, Hawai’i with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) coherence

USGS Publications Warehouse

Dietterich, Hannah R.; Poland, Michael P.; Schmidt, David; Cashman, Katharine V.; Sherrod, David R.; Espinosa, Arkin Tapia

2012-01-01

Lava flow mapping is both an essential component of volcano monitoring and a valuable tool for investigating lava flow behavior. Although maps are traditionally created through field surveys, remote sensing allows an extraordinary view of active lava flows while avoiding the difficulties of mapping on location. Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery, in particular, can detect changes in a flow field by comparing two images collected at different times with SAR coherence. New lava flows radically alter the scattering properties of the surface, making the radar signal decorrelated in SAR coherence images. We describe a new technique, SAR Coherence Mapping (SCM), to map lava flows automatically from coherence images independent of look angle or satellite path. We use this approach to map lava flow emplacement during the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō-Kupaianaha eruption at Kīlauea, Hawai‘i. The resulting flow maps correspond well with field mapping and better resolve the internal structure of surface flows, as well as the locations of active flow paths. However, the SCM technique is only moderately successful at mapping flows that enter vegetation, which is also often decorrelated between successive SAR images. Along with measurements of planform morphology, we are able to show that the length of time a flow stays decorrelated after initial emplacement is linearly related to the flow thickness. Finally, we use interferograms obtained after flow surfaces become correlated to show that persistent decorrelation is caused by post-emplacement flow subsidence.

Tracking lava flow emplacement on the east rift zone of Kīlauea, Hawai‘i, with synthetic aperture radar coherence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dietterich, Hannah R.; Poland, Michael P.; Schmidt, David A.; Cashman, Katharine V.; Sherrod, David R.; Espinosa, Arkin Tapia

2012-05-01

Lava flow mapping is both an essential component of volcano monitoring and a valuable tool for investigating lava flow behavior. Although maps are traditionally created through field surveys, remote sensing allows an extraordinary view of active lava flows while avoiding the difficulties of mapping on location. Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery, in particular, can detect changes in a flow field by comparing two images collected at different times with SAR coherence. New lava flows radically alter the scattering properties of the surface, making the radar signal decorrelated in SAR coherence images. We describe a new technique, SAR Coherence Mapping (SCM), to map lava flows automatically from coherence images independent of look angle or satellite path. We use this approach to map lava flow emplacement during the Pu`u `Ō`ō-Kupaianaha eruption at Kīlauea, Hawai`i. The resulting flow maps correspond well with field mapping and better resolve the internal structure of surface flows, as well as the locations of active flow paths. However, the SCM technique is only moderately successful at mapping flows that enter vegetation, which is also often decorrelated between successive SAR images. Along with measurements of planform morphology, we are able to show that the length of time a flow stays decorrelated after initial emplacement is linearly related to the flow thickness. Finally, we use interferograms obtained after flow surfaces become correlated to show that persistent decorrelation is caused by post-emplacement flow subsidence.

Effect of tillage on macropore flow and phosphorus transport to tile drains

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Elevated phosphorus (P) concentrations in subsurface drainage water are thought to be the result of P bypassing the soil matrix via macropore flow. The objectives of this study were to quantify event water delivery to tile drains via macropore flow paths during storm events and to determine the effe...

78 FR 5817 - Detecting and Evaluating Drug-Induced Liver Injury; What's Normal, What's Not, and What Should We...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-01-28

... with the Critical Path Institute (C-Path) and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. Its purpose is to discuss, debate, and build consensus among stakeholders in the pharmaceutical... philanthropic support from the southern Arizona community, Science Foundation Arizona, and FDA. The...

Intelligence for education: as described by Piaget and measured by psychometrics.

PubMed

Shayer, Michael

2008-03-01

Two separate paths to the concept of intelligence are discussed: the psychometric path being concerned with the measurement of intelligence, involving the methodology of norm-referenced testing; the path followed by Piaget, and others, addresses from the start the related question of how intelligence can be described, and employs a criterion-referenced methodology. The achievements of psychometrics are briefly described, with an argument that they now remain important tools of what Kuhn called 'normal science'. The criterion-referenced approach of Piaget and others is described, with evidence from intervention studies that the Genevan descriptions of children-in-action have allowed the choice of contexts within which children can profitably be challenged to go further in their thinking. Hence, Genevan psychology is also now a part of the normal science with important uses, shown both in neo-Piagetian studies and further research stemming from Geneva. Discussion of the 'Flynn effect' sheds light on both paths, with problems still unresolved. The argument is then developed that the relevance of neuroscience needs to be discussed to try to decide in what ways it may provide useful insights into intelligence.

Turbine disc sealing assembly

DOEpatents

Diakunchak, Ihor S.

2013-03-05

A disc seal assembly for use in a turbine engine. The disc seal assembly includes a plurality of outwardly extending sealing flange members that define a plurality of fluid pockets. The sealing flange members define a labyrinth flow path therebetween to limit leakage between a hot gas path and a disc cavity in the turbine engine.

Lefschetz thimbles in fermionic effective models with repulsive vector-field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mori, Yuto; Kashiwa, Kouji; Ohnishi, Akira

2018-06-01

We discuss two problems in complexified auxiliary fields in fermionic effective models, the auxiliary sign problem associated with the repulsive vector-field and the choice of the cut for the scalar field appearing from the logarithmic function. In the fermionic effective models with attractive scalar and repulsive vector-type interaction, the auxiliary scalar and vector fields appear in the path integral after the bosonization of fermion bilinears. When we make the path integral well-defined by the Wick rotation of the vector field, the oscillating Boltzmann weight appears in the partition function. This "auxiliary" sign problem can be solved by using the Lefschetz-thimble path-integral method, where the integration path is constructed in the complex plane. Another serious obstacle in the numerical construction of Lefschetz thimbles is caused by singular points and cuts induced by multivalued functions of the complexified scalar field in the momentum integration. We propose a new prescription which fixes gradient flow trajectories on the same Riemann sheet in the flow evolution by performing the momentum integration in the complex domain.

Growth and Remodeling in Blood Vessels Studied In Vivo With Fractal Analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Parsons-Wingerter, Patricia A.

2003-01-01

Every cell in the human body must reside in close proximity to a blood vessel (within approximately 200 mm) because blood vessels provide the oxygen, metabolite, and fluid exchanges required for cellular existence. The growth and remodeling of blood vessels are required to support the normal physiology of embryonic development, reproductive biology, wound healing and adaptive remodeling to exercise, as well as abnormal tissue change in diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and coronary heart disease. Cardiovascular and hemodynamic (blood flow dynamics) alterations experienced by astronauts during long-term spaceflight, including orthostatic intolerance, fluid shifts in the body, and reduced numbers of red (erythrocyte) and white (immune) blood cells, are identified as risk factors of very high priority in the NASA task force report on risk reduction for human spaceflight, the "Critical Path Roadmap."

Flow-path textures and mineralogy in tuffs of the unsaturated zone

USGS Publications Warehouse

Levy, Schön; Chipera, Steve; WoldeGabriel, Giday; Fabryka-Martin, June; Roach, Jeffrey; Sweetkind, Donald S.; Haneberg, William C.; Mozley, Peter S.; Moore, J. Casey; Goodwin, Laurel B.

1999-01-01

The high concentration of chlorine-36 (36Cl) produced by above-ground nuclear tests (bomb-pulse) provides a fortuitous tracer for infiltration during the last 50 years, and is used to detect fast flow in the unsaturated zone at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, a thick deposit of welded and nonwelded tuffs. Evidence of fast flow as much as 300 m into the mountain has been found in several zones in a 7.7-km tunnel. Many zones are associated with faults that provide continuous fracture flow paths from the surface. In the Sundance fault zone, water with the bomb-pulse signature has moved into subsidiary fractures and breccia zones. We found no highly distinctive mineralogic associations of fault and fracture samples containing bomb-pulse 36Cl. Bomb-pulse sites are slightly more likely to have calcite deposits than are non-bomb-pulse sites. Most other mineralogic and textural associations of fast-flow paths reflect the structural processes leading to locally enhanced permeability rather than the effects of ground-water percolation. Water movement through the rock was investigated by isotopic analysis of paired samples representing breccia zones and fractured wall rock bounding the breccia zones. Where bomb-pulse 36Cl is present, the waters in bounding fractures and intergranular pores of the fast pathways are not in equilibrium with respect to the isotopic signal. In structural domains that have experienced extensional deformation, fluid flow within a breccia is equivalent to matrix flow in a particulate rock, whereas true fracture flow occurs along the boundaries of a breccia zone. Where shearing predominated over extension, the boundary between wall rock and breccia is rough and irregular with a tight wallrock/breccia contact. The absence of a gap between the breccia and the wall rock helps maintain fluid flow within the breccia instead of along the wallrock/breccia boundary, leading to higher 36Cl/Cl values in the breccia than in the wall rock.

How important is exact knowledge of preferential flowpath locations and orientations for understanding spatiotemporally integrated spring hydrologic and transport response?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Henson, W.; De Rooij, R.; Graham, W. D.

2016-12-01

The Upper Floridian Aquifer is hydrogeologically complex; limestone dissolution has led to vertical and horizontal preferential flow paths. Locations of karst conduits are unknown and conduit properties are poorly constrained. Uncertainty in effects of conduit location, size, and density, network geometry and connectivity on hydrologic and transport responses is not well quantified, leading to limited use of discrete-continuum models that incorporate conduit networks for regional-scale hydrologic regulatory models. However, conduit networks typically dominate flow and contaminant transport in karst aquifers. We evaluated sensitivity of simulated water and nitrate fluxes and flow paths to karst conduit geometry in a springshed representative of Silver Springs, Florida, using a novel calcite dissolution conduit-generation algorithm coupled with a discrete-continuum flow and transport model (DisCo). Monte Carlo simulations of conduit generation, groundwater flow, and conservative solute transport indicate that, if a first magnitude spring system conduit network developed (i.e., spring flow >2.8 m3/s), the uncertainty in hydraulic and solute pulse response metrics at the spring vent was minimally related to locational uncertainty of network elements. Across the ensemble of realizations for various distributions of conduits, first magnitude spring hydraulic pulse metrics (e.g., steady-flow, peak flow, and recession coefficients) had < 0.01 coefficient of variation (CV). Similarly, spring solute breakthrough curve moments had low CV (<0.08); peak arrival had CV=0.06, mean travel time had CV=0.05, and travel time standard deviation had CV=0.08. Nevertheless, hydraulic and solute pulse response metrics were significantly different than those predicted by an equivalent porous-media model. These findings indicate that regional-scale decision models that incorporate karst preferential flow paths within an uncertainty framework can be used to better constrain aquifer-vulnerability estimates, despite lacking information about actual conduit locations.

Wildfire-related debris-flow initiation processes, Storm King Mountain, Colorado

USGS Publications Warehouse

Cannon, S.H.; Kirkham, R.M.; Parise, M.

2001-01-01

A torrential rainstorm on September 1, 1994 at the recently burned hillslopes of Storm King Mountain, CO, resulted in the generation of debris flows from every burned drainage basin. Maps (1:5000 scale) of bedrock and surficial materials and of the debris-flow paths, coupled with a 10-m Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of topography, are used to evaluate the processes that generated fire-related debris flows in this setting. These evaluations form the basis for a descriptive model for fire-related debris-flow initiation. The prominent paths left by the debris flows originated in 0- and 1st-order hollows or channels. Discrete soil-slip scars do not occur at the heads of these paths. Although 58 soil-slip scars were mapped on hillslopes in the burned basins, material derived from these soil slips accounted for only about 7% of the total volume of material deposited at canyon mouths. This fact, combined with observations of significant erosion of hillslope materials, suggests that a runoff-dominated process of progressive sediment entrainment by surface runoff, rather than infiltration-triggered failure of discrete soil slips, was the primary mechanism of debris-flow initiation. A paucity of channel incision, along with observations of extensive hillslope erosion, indicates that a significant proportion of material in the debris flows was derived from the hillslopes, with a smaller contribution from the channels. Because of the importance of runoff-dominated rather than infiltration-dominated processes in the generation of these fire-related debris flows, the runoff-contributing area that extends upslope from the point of debris-flow initiation to the drainage divide, and its gradient, becomes a critical constraint in debris-flow initiation. Slope-area thresholds for fire-related debris-flow initiation from Storm King Mountain are defined by functions of the form Acr(tan ??)3 = S, where Acr is the critical area extending upslope from the initiation location to the drainage divide, and tan ?? is its gradient. The thresholds vary with different materials. ?? 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

A judging principle of crucial vibrational transmission paths in plates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Bin; Li, Dong-Xu; Jiang, Jian-Ping; Liao, Yi-Huan

2016-10-01

This paper developed a judging principle of crucial vibrational transmission path (VTP) in plates. Novel generalized definitions of VTPs are given referred to the meaning of streamlines. And by comparing governing equations, the similarity between energy flow and fluid motion is firstly found so that an analytic method of VTPs in plates is proposed by analogy with fluid motion. Hereafter, the crucial VTP is defined for energy flows at objective points and relative judging criteria is given. Finally, based on two numerical experiments of passive control, the judging principle is indirectly verified by comparing the reduction effects of energy flows at focused points and relative judgment results of crucial VTPs. This paper is meaningful for analyzing and applying the VTPs in plates to guide the control design in future.

Experimental Investigation of Actuators for Flow Control in Inlet Ducts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vaccaro, John; Elimelech, Yossef; Amitay, Michael

2010-11-01

Attractive to aircraft designers are compact inlets, which implement curved flow paths to the compressor face. These curved flow paths could be employed for multiple reasons. One of which is to connect the air intake to the engine embedded in the aircraft body. A compromise must be made between the compactness of the inlet and its aerodynamic performance. The aerodynamic purpose of inlets is to decelerate the oncoming flow before reaching the engine while minimizing total pressure loss, unsteadiness and distortion. Low length-to-diameter ratio inlets have a high degree of curvature, which inevitably causes flow separation and secondary flows. Currently, the length of the propulsion system is constraining the overall size of Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs), thus, smaller more efficient aircrafts could be realized if the propulsion system could be shortened. Therefore, active flow control is studied in a compact (L/D=1.5) inlet to improve performance metrics. Actuation from a spanwise varying coanda type ejector actuator and a hybrid coanda type ejector / vortex generator jet actuator is investigated. Special attention will be given to the pressure recovery at the AIP along with unsteady pressure signatures along the inlet surface and at the AIP.

Potential paths for male-mediated gene flow to and from an isolated grizzly bear population

USGS Publications Warehouse

Peck, Christopher P.; van Manen, Frank T.; Costello, Cecily M.; Haroldson, Mark A.; Landenburger, Lisa; Roberts, Lori L.; Bjornlie, Daniel D.; Mace, Richard D.

2017-01-01

For several decades, grizzly bear populations in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) and the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE) have increased in numbers and range extent. The GYE population remains isolated and although effective population size has increased since the early 1980s, genetic connectivity between these populations remains a long-term management goal. With only ~110 km distance separating current estimates of occupied range for these populations, the potential for gene flow is likely greater now than it has been for many decades. We sought to delineate potential paths that would provide the opportunity for male-mediated gene flow between the two populations. We first developed step-selection functions to generate conductance layers using ecological, physical, and anthropogenic landscape features associated with non-stationary GPS locations of 124 male grizzly bears (199 bear-years). We then used a randomized shortest path (RSP) algorithm to estimate the average number of net passages for all grid cells in the study region, when moving from an origin to a destination node. Given habitat characteristics that were the basis for the conductance layer, movements follow certain grid cell sequences more than others and the resulting RSP values thus provide a measure of movement potential. Repeating this process for 100 pairs of random origin and destination nodes, we identified paths for three levels of random deviation (θ) from the least-cost path. We observed broad-scale concordance between model predictions for paths originating in the NCDE and those originating in the GYE for all three levels of movement exploration. Model predictions indicated that male grizzly bear movement between the ecosystems could involve a variety of routes, and verified observations of grizzly bears outside occupied range supported this finding. Where landscape features concentrated paths into corridors (e.g., because of anthropogenic influence), they typically followed neighboring mountain ranges, of which several could serve as pivotal stepping stones. The RSP layers provide detailed, spatially explicit information for land managers and organizations working with land owners to identify and prioritize conservation measures that maintain or enhance the integrity of potential areas conducive to male grizzly bear dispersal.

Progressive Bidirectional Age-Related Changes in Default Mode Network Effective Connectivity across Six Decades

PubMed Central

Li, Karl; Laird, Angela R.; Price, Larry R.; McKay, D. Reese; Blangero, John; Glahn, David C.; Fox, Peter T.

2016-01-01

The default mode network (DMN) is a set of regions that is tonically engaged during the resting state and exhibits task-related deactivation that is readily reproducible across a wide range of paradigms and modalities. The DMN has been implicated in numerous disorders of cognition and, in particular, in disorders exhibiting age-related cognitive decline. Despite these observations, investigations of the DMN in normal aging are scant. Here, we used blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) acquired during rest to investigate age-related changes in functional connectivity of the DMN in 120 healthy normal volunteers comprising six, 20-subject, decade cohorts (from 20–29 to 70–79). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to assess age-related changes in inter-regional connectivity within the DMN. SEM was applied both using a previously published, meta-analytically derived, node-and-edge model, and using exploratory modeling searching for connections that optimized model fit improvement. Although the two models were highly similar (only 3 of 13 paths differed), the sample demonstrated significantly better fit with the exploratory model. For this reason, the exploratory model was used to assess age-related changes across the decade cohorts. Progressive, highly significant changes in path weights were found in 8 (of 13) paths: four rising, and four falling (most changes were significant by the third or fourth decade). In all cases, rising paths and falling paths projected in pairs onto the same nodes, suggesting compensatory increases associated with age-related decreases. This study demonstrates that age-related changes in DMN physiology (inter-regional connectivity) are bidirectional, progressive, of early onset and part of normal aging. PMID:27378909

Progressive Bidirectional Age-Related Changes in Default Mode Network Effective Connectivity across Six Decades.

PubMed

Li, Karl; Laird, Angela R; Price, Larry R; McKay, D Reese; Blangero, John; Glahn, David C; Fox, Peter T

2016-01-01

The default mode network (DMN) is a set of regions that is tonically engaged during the resting state and exhibits task-related deactivation that is readily reproducible across a wide range of paradigms and modalities. The DMN has been implicated in numerous disorders of cognition and, in particular, in disorders exhibiting age-related cognitive decline. Despite these observations, investigations of the DMN in normal aging are scant. Here, we used blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) acquired during rest to investigate age-related changes in functional connectivity of the DMN in 120 healthy normal volunteers comprising six, 20-subject, decade cohorts (from 20-29 to 70-79). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to assess age-related changes in inter-regional connectivity within the DMN. SEM was applied both using a previously published, meta-analytically derived, node-and-edge model, and using exploratory modeling searching for connections that optimized model fit improvement. Although the two models were highly similar (only 3 of 13 paths differed), the sample demonstrated significantly better fit with the exploratory model. For this reason, the exploratory model was used to assess age-related changes across the decade cohorts. Progressive, highly significant changes in path weights were found in 8 (of 13) paths: four rising, and four falling (most changes were significant by the third or fourth decade). In all cases, rising paths and falling paths projected in pairs onto the same nodes, suggesting compensatory increases associated with age-related decreases. This study demonstrates that age-related changes in DMN physiology (inter-regional connectivity) are bidirectional, progressive, of early onset and part of normal aging.

Development of a debris flow model in a geotechnical centrifuge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cabrera, Miguel Angel; Wu, Wei

2013-04-01

Debris flows occur in three main stages. At first the initial soil mass, which rests in a rigid configuration, reaches a critic state releasing a finite mass over a failure surface. In the second stage the released mass starts being transported downhill in a dynamic motion. Segregation, erosion, entrainment, and variable channel geometry are among the more common characteristics of this stage. Finally, at the third stage the transported mass plus the mass gained or loosed during the transportation stage reach a flat and/or a wide area and its deposition starts, going back to a rigid configuration. The lack of understanding and predictability of debris flow from the traditional theoretical approaches has lead that in the last two decades the mechanics of debris flows started to be analysed around the world. Nevertheless, the validation of recent numerical advances with experimental data is required. Centrifuge modelling is an experimental tool that allows the test of natural processes under defined boundary conditions in a small scale configuration, with a good level of accuracy in comparison with a full scale test. This paper presents the development of a debris flow model in a geotechnical centrifuge focused on the second stage of the debris flow process explained before. A small scale model of an inclined flume will be developed, with laboratory instrumentation able to measure the pore pressure, normal stress, and velocity path, developed in a scaled debris flow in motion. The model aims to reproduce in a controlled environment the main parameters of debris flow motion. This work is carried under the EC 7th Framework Programme as part of the MUMOLADE project. The dataset and data-analysis obtained from the tests will provide a qualitative description of debris flow motion-mechanics and be of valuable information for MUMOLADE co-researchers and for the debris flow research community in general.

Spatial characterization of riparian buffer effects on sediment loads from watershed systems.

PubMed

Momm, Henrique G; Bingner, Ronald L; Yuan, Yongping; Locke, Martin A; Wells, Robert R

2014-09-01

Understanding all watershed systems and their interactions is a complex, but critical, undertaking when developing practices designed to reduce topsoil loss and chemical/nutrient transport from agricultural fields. The presence of riparian buffer vegetation in agricultural landscapes can modify the characteristics of overland flow, promoting sediment deposition and nutrient filtering. Watershed simulation tools, such as the USDA-Annualized Agricultural Non-Point Source (AnnAGNPS) pollution model, typically require detailed information for each riparian buffer zone throughout the watershed describing the location, width, vegetation type, topography, and possible presence of concentrated flow paths through the riparian buffer zone. Research was conducted to develop GIS-based technology designed to spatially characterize riparian buffers and to estimate buffer efficiency in reducing sediment loads in a semiautomated fashion at watershed scale. The methodology combines modeling technology at different scales, at individual concentrated flow paths passing through the riparian zone, and at watershed scales. At the concentrated flow path scale, vegetative filter strip models are applied to estimate the sediment-trapping efficiency for each individual flow path, which are aggregated based on the watershed subdivision and used in the determination of the overall impact of the riparian vegetation at the watershed scale. This GIS-based technology is combined with AnnAGNPS to demonstrate the effect of riparian vegetation on sediment loadings from sheet and rill and ephemeral gully sources. The effects of variability in basic input parameters used to characterize riparian buffers, onto generated outputs at field scale (sediment trapping efficiency) and at watershed scale (sediment loadings from different sources) were evaluated and quantified. The AnnAGNPS riparian buffer component represents an important step in understanding and accounting for the effect of riparian vegetation, existing and/or managed, in reducing sediment loads at the watershed scale. Copyright © by the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America, Inc.

Retrofitting Steam Turbines with Expired Service Life

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dubrovskii, V. G.; Zubov, A. P.; Koshelev, S. A.; Babiev, A. N.; Kremer, V. L.

2018-06-01

Many pieces of equipment installed at thermal power stations (TPS) have an expired service life or are close to expiry and are obsolete. In addition, the structure of heat consumption by end users has changed. Among the ways for solving the problem of aging equipment is the retrofitting of turbines that allows for service life recovery and improvement of their performance to the modern level. The service life is recovered through replacement of high-temperature assemblies and parts of a turbine, and the performance is improved by retrofitting and major overhaul of low-temperature assemblies. Implementation of modern engineering solutions and numerical methods in designing upgraded flow paths of steam turbines considerably improves the turbine effectiveness. New flow paths include sabre-like guide vanes, integrally-machined shrouds, and effective honeycomb or axial-radial seals. The flow paths are designed using optimization and hydraulic simulation methods as well as approaches for improving the performance on the turbine blading and internal steam flow paths. Retrofitting of turbines should be performed to meet the customers' needs. The feasibility of implementation of one or another alternative must be determined on a case-by-case basis depending on the turbine conditions, the availability of reserves for generating live steam and supplying circulation water, and the demands and capacities for generation and delivery of power and heat. The main principle of retrofitting is to retain the foundation and the auxiliary and heat-exchange equipment that is fit for further operation. With the example of PT-60-130 and T-100-130, the experience is presented of a comprehensive approach to retrofitting considering the customer's current needs and the actual equipment conditions. Due to the use of modern engineering solutions and procedures, retrofitting yields updating and upgrading of the turbine at a relatively low cost.

Column Number Density Expressions Through M = 0 and M = 1 Point Source Plumes Along Any Straight Path

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Woronowicz, Michael

2017-01-01

Providers of payloads carried aboard the International Space Station must conduct analyses to demonstrate that any planned gaseous venting events generate no more than a certain level of material that may interfere with optical measurements from other experiments or payloads located nearby. This requirement is expressed in terms of a maximum column number density (CND). Depending on the level of rarefaction, such venting may be characterized by effusion for low flow rates, or by a sonic distribution at higher levels. Since the relative locations of other sensitive payloads are often unknown because they may refer to future projects, this requirement becomes a search for the maximum CND along any path.In another application, certain astronomical observations make use of CND to estimate light attenuation from a distant star through gaseous plumes, such as the Fermi Bubbles emanating from the vicinity of the black hole at the center of our Milky Way galaxy, in order to infer the amount of material being expelled via those plumes.This paper presents analytical CND expressions developed for general straight paths based upon a free molecule point source model for steady effusive flow and for a distribution fitted to model flows from a sonic orifice. Among other things, in this Mach number range it is demonstrated that the maximum CND from a distant location occurs along the path parallel to the source plane that intersects the plume axis. For effusive flows this value is exactly twice the CND found along the ray originating from that point of intersection and extending to infinity along the plumes axis. For sonic plumes this ratio is reduced to about 43.

Thermal Barrier/Seal for Extreme Temperature Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Steinetz, Bruce M.; Dunlap, Patrick H., Jr.; Phelps, Jack; Bauer, Paul; Bond, Bruce; McCool, Alex (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

Large solid rocket motors, as found on the Space Shuttle, are fabricated in segments for manufacturing considerations, bolted together, and sealed using conventional Viton O-ring seals. Similarly the nine large solid rocket motor nozzles are assembled from several different segments, bolted together, and sealed at six joint locations using conventional O-ring seals. The 5500 F combustion gases are generally kept a safe distance away from the seals by thick layers of phenolic or rubber insulation. Joint-fill compounds, including RTV (room temperature vulcanized compound) and polysulfide filler, are used to fill the joints in the insulation to prevent a direct flow-path to the O-rings. Normally these two stages of protection are enough to prevent a direct flow-path of the 900-psi hot gases from reaching the temperature-sensitive O-ring seals. However, in the current design 1 out of 15 Space Shuttle solid rocket motors experience hot gas effects on the Joint 6 wiper (sacrificial) O-rings. Also worrisome is the fact that joints have experienced heat effects on materials between the RTV and the O-rings, and in two cases O-rings have experienced heat effects. These conditions lead to extensive reviews of the post-flight conditions as part of the effort to monitor flight safety. We have developed a braided carbon fiber thermal barrier to replace the joint fill compounds in the Space Shuttle solid rocket motor nozzles to reduce the incoming 5500 F combustion gas temperature and permit only cool (approximately 100 F) gas to reach the temperature-sensitive O-ring seals. Implementation of this thermal barrier provides more robust, consistent operation with shorter turn around times between Shuttle launches.

Petrological constraints on melt generation beneath the Asal Rift (Djibouti) using quaternary basalts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pinzuti, Paul; Humler, Eric; Manighetti, Isabelle; Gaudemer, Yves

2013-08-01

The temporal evolution of the mantle melting processes in the Asal Rift is evaluated from the chemical composition of 56 new lava flows sampled along 10 km of the rift axis and 9 km off-axis (i.e., erupted within the last 620 kyr). Petrological and primary geochemical results show that most of the samples of the inner floor of the Asal Rift are affected by plagioclase accumulation. Trace element ratios and major element compositions corrected for mineral accumulation and crystallization show a symmetric pattern relative to the rift axis and preserved a clear signal of mantle melting depth variations. While FeO, Fe8.0, Zr/Y, and (Dy/Yb)N decrease from the rift shoulders to the rift axis, SiO2, Na/Ti, Lu/Hf increase and Na2O and Na8.0 are constant across the rift. These variations are qualitatively consistent with shallow melting beneath the rift axis and deeper melting for off-axis lava flows. Na8.0 and Fe8.0 contents show that beneath the rift axis, melting paths are shallow, from 81 ± 4 to 43 ± 5 km. These melting paths are consistent with adiabatic melting in normal-temperature fertile asthenosphere, beneath an extensively thinned mantle lithosphere. On the contrary, melting on the rift shoulders (from 107 ± 7 to 67 ± 8 km) occurred beneath thicker lithosphere, requiring a mantle solidus temperature 100 ± 40°C hotter. In this geodynamic environment, the calculated rate of lithospheric thinning appears to be 4.0 ± 2.0 cm yr-1, a value close to the mean spreading rate (2.9 ± 0.2 cm yr-1) over the last 620 kyr.

Congestion patterns of electric vehicles with limited battery capacity.

PubMed

Jing, Wentao; Ramezani, Mohsen; An, Kun; Kim, Inhi

2018-01-01

The path choice behavior of battery electric vehicle (BEV) drivers is influenced by the lack of public charging stations, limited battery capacity, range anxiety and long battery charging time. This paper investigates the congestion/flow pattern captured by stochastic user equilibrium (SUE) traffic assignment problem in transportation networks with BEVs, where the BEV paths are restricted by their battery capacities. The BEV energy consumption is assumed to be a linear function of path length and path travel time, which addresses both path distance limit problem and road congestion effect. A mathematical programming model is proposed for the path-based SUE traffic assignment where the path cost is the sum of the corresponding link costs and a path specific out-of-energy penalty. We then apply the convergent Lagrangian dual method to transform the original problem into a concave maximization problem and develop a customized gradient projection algorithm to solve it. A column generation procedure is incorporated to generate the path set. Finally, two numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed model and the solution algorithm.

Congestion patterns of electric vehicles with limited battery capacity

PubMed Central

2018-01-01

The path choice behavior of battery electric vehicle (BEV) drivers is influenced by the lack of public charging stations, limited battery capacity, range anxiety and long battery charging time. This paper investigates the congestion/flow pattern captured by stochastic user equilibrium (SUE) traffic assignment problem in transportation networks with BEVs, where the BEV paths are restricted by their battery capacities. The BEV energy consumption is assumed to be a linear function of path length and path travel time, which addresses both path distance limit problem and road congestion effect. A mathematical programming model is proposed for the path-based SUE traffic assignment where the path cost is the sum of the corresponding link costs and a path specific out-of-energy penalty. We then apply the convergent Lagrangian dual method to transform the original problem into a concave maximization problem and develop a customized gradient projection algorithm to solve it. A column generation procedure is incorporated to generate the path set. Finally, two numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed model and the solution algorithm. PMID:29543875

An analysis of transient flow in upland watersheds: interactions between structure and process

Treesearch

David Lawrence Brown

1995-01-01

The physical structure and hydrological processes of upland watersheds interact in response to forcing functions such as rainfall, leading to storm runoff generation and pore pressure evolution. Transient fluid flow through distinct flow paths such as the soil matrix, macropores, saprolite, and bedrock may be viewed as a consequence of such interactions. Field...

Effect of faulting on ground-water movement in the Death Valley Region, Nevada and California

USGS Publications Warehouse

Faunt, Claudia C.

1997-01-01

The current crustal stress field was combined with fault orientations to predict potential effects of faults on the regional groundwater flow regime. Numerous examples of faultcontrolled ground-water flow exist within the study area. Hydrologic data provided an independent method for checking some of the assumptions concerning preferential flow paths.

Traditional and innovative methods applied to a crystalline aquifer for characterizing fault zone hydrology at different scales

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bour, O.; Ruelleu, S.; Le Borgne, T.; Boudin, F.; Moreau, F.; Durand, S.; Longuevergne, L.

2011-12-01

Crystalline rocks aquifers are difficult to characterize since flow is mainly localized in few fractures or faults. In particular, the geometry of the main flow paths and the connections of the aquifer with the sub-surface are often poorly constrained. Here, we present results from different geophysical and hydraulic methods to quantify fault zone hydrology of a crystalline confined aquifer (Ploemeur, French Brittany). This outstandingly productive crystalline rock aquifer is exploited at a rate of about 10 6 m3 per year since 1991. The pumping site is located at the intersection of two main structures: the contact zone between granite roof and overlying micaschists, and a steeply dipping fault striking North 20°, with combined dextral strike-slip and normal components. Core samples and borehole optical imagery reveals that the contact zone at the granite roof consists of alternating deformed granitic sheets and enclaves of micaschists, pegmatite and aplite dykes, as well as quartz veins. Locally, this contact is marked by mylonites and pegmatite-bearing breccias that are often but not systematically associated with major borehole inflows. Other significant inflows are localized within single fractures independently of the lithologies encountered. At the borehole scale the structural and hydraulic properties of the aquifer are thus highly variable. At the site scale - typically a kilometer squared - the water levels are monitored in 22 boreholes, 100 meters deep in average. The connectivity of the main flow paths and the hydraulic properties are relatively well constrained and quantified thanks to cross-borehole flowmeter tests and traditional pumping tests. In complement, long-base tiltmeters monitoring and ground-surface leveling allows to monitor sub-surface deformation. It provides a quantification of the hydro-mechanical properties of the aquifer and better constraints about the geometry of the main fault zone. Surprisingly, the storage coefficient of the confined aquifer is relatively high, in agreement with ground-surface deformation measurements that suggest a relativity high compressibility of the fault zone. At larger scale, we show through a high-resolution gravimetric survey that the highly fractured contact between granite and micaschists, which constitutes the main path for groundwater flow, is a gently dipping structure. A 3D gravimetric model confirms also the presence of sub-vertical faults that may constitute important drains for the aquifer recharge. In addition, groundwater temperature monitoring allows to shows that the main water supply comes from a depth of at least 300 meters. Such a depth in a low relief region involves relatively deep groundwater circulation that can be achieved only thanks to major permeable fault zone. This field example shows the advantages and limitations of some traditional and innovative methods to characterize fault zone hydrology in crystalline bedrock aquifers.

An Anatomically Constrained Model for Path Integration in the Bee Brain.

PubMed

Stone, Thomas; Webb, Barbara; Adden, Andrea; Weddig, Nicolai Ben; Honkanen, Anna; Templin, Rachel; Wcislo, William; Scimeca, Luca; Warrant, Eric; Heinze, Stanley

2017-10-23

Path integration is a widespread navigational strategy in which directional changes and distance covered are continuously integrated on an outward journey, enabling a straight-line return to home. Bees use vision for this task-a celestial-cue-based visual compass and an optic-flow-based visual odometer-but the underlying neural integration mechanisms are unknown. Using intracellular electrophysiology, we show that polarized-light-based compass neurons and optic-flow-based speed-encoding neurons converge in the central complex of the bee brain, and through block-face electron microscopy, we identify potential integrator cells. Based on plausible output targets for these cells, we propose a complete circuit for path integration and steering in the central complex, with anatomically identified neurons suggested for each processing step. The resulting model circuit is thus fully constrained biologically and provides a functional interpretation for many previously unexplained architectural features of the central complex. Moreover, we show that the receptive fields of the newly discovered speed neurons can support path integration for the holonomic motion (i.e., a ground velocity that is not precisely aligned with body orientation) typical of bee flight, a feature not captured in any previously proposed model of path integration. In a broader context, the model circuit presented provides a general mechanism for producing steering signals by comparing current and desired headings-suggesting a more basic function for central complex connectivity, from which path integration may have evolved. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Setting Goals and Achieving Aggressing Energy Savings

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-11-30

Path to a Low Energy Building Typical 90.1 Compliant Building National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our...flow 1 2 The Path to a Low Energy Building National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future 0 0% 100...to a Low Energy Building National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future 0 0% 100% Source Energy

DSMC simulations of leading edge flat-plate boundary layer flows at high Mach number

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pradhan, Sahadev

2016-09-01

The flow over a 2D leading-edge flat plate is studied at Mach number Ma = (Uinf /√{kBTinf / m }) in the range

Quasi-2D Unsteady Flow Procedure for Real Fluids (PREPRINT)

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-05-17

water /steam/ oil piping networks, refinery systems, gas-turbine secondary flow -path and cooling networks...friction factor, f, which is a function of the local Reynolds number and the wall surface roughness . For the viscous flow examples presented below, the...3.5 4 4.5 Time ( s ) V el oc ity (m / s ) Line 2 Inlet 25% 50% 75% Exit Velocity Figure 4. Water transient viscous pipe flow using

Overland Flow Analysis Using Time Series of Suas-Derived Elevation Models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jeziorska, J.; Mitasova, H.; Petrasova, A.; Petras, V.; Divakaran, D.; Zajkowski, T.

2016-06-01

With the advent of the innovative techniques for generating high temporal and spatial resolution terrain models from Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) imagery, it has become possible to precisely map overland flow patterns. Furthermore, the process has become more affordable and efficient through the coupling of small UAS (sUAS) that are easily deployed with Structure from Motion (SfM) algorithms that can efficiently derive 3D data from RGB imagery captured with consumer grade cameras. We propose applying the robust overland flow algorithm based on the path sampling technique for mapping flow paths in the arable land on a small test site in Raleigh, North Carolina. By comparing a time series of five flights in 2015 with the results of a simulation based on the most recent lidar derived DEM (2013), we show that the sUAS based data is suitable for overland flow predictions and has several advantages over the lidar data. The sUAS based data captures preferential flow along tillage and more accurately represents gullies. Furthermore the simulated water flow patterns over the sUAS based terrain models are consistent throughout the year. When terrain models are reconstructed only from sUAS captured RGB imagery, however, water flow modeling is only appropriate in areas with sparse or no vegetation cover.

Voltage instability in a simulated fuel cell stack correlated to cathode water accumulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Owejan, J. P.; Trabold, T. A.; Gagliardo, J. J.; Jacobson, D. L.; Carter, R. N.; Hussey, D. S.; Arif, M.

Single fuel cells running independently are often used for fundamental studies of water transport. It is also necessary to assess the dynamic behavior of fuel cell stacks comprised of multiple cells arranged in series, thus providing many paths for flow of reactant hydrogen on the anode and air (or pure oxygen) on the cathode. In the current work, the flow behavior of a fuel cell stack is simulated by using a single-cell test fixture coupled with a bypass flow loop for the cathode flow. This bypass simulates the presence of additional cells in a stack and provides an alternate path for airflow, thus avoiding forced convective purging of cathode flow channels. Liquid water accumulation in the cathode is shown to occur in two modes; initially nearly all the product water is retained in the gas diffusion layer until a critical saturation fraction is reached and then water accumulation in the flow channels begins. Flow redistribution and fuel cell performance loss result from channel slug formation. The application of in-situ neutron radiography affords a transient correlation of performance loss to liquid water accumulation. The current results identify a mechanism whereby depleted cathode flow on a single cell leads to performance loss, which can ultimately cause an operating proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack to fail.

Exploring the role of mixing between subsurface flow paths on transit time distributions using a Lagrangian model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zehe, Erwin; Jackisch, Conrad; Rodriguez, Nicolas; Klaus, Julian

2017-04-01

Only a minute amount of global fresh water is stored in the unsaturated zone. Yet this tiny compartment controls soil microbial activity and associated trace gas emissions, transport and transformations of contaminants, plant productivity, runoff generation and groundwater recharge. To date, the processes controlling renewal and age of different fractions of the soil water stock are far from being understood. Current theories and process concepts were largely inferred either from over-simplified laboratory experiments, or non-exhaustive point observations and tracer data in the field. Tracer data provide key but yet integrated information about the distribution of travel times of the tracer molecules to a certain depth or on their travel depth distribution within a given time. We hence are able to observe the "effect" of soil structure i.e. partitioning of infiltrating water between fast preferential and slow flow paths and imperfect subsequent mixing between these flow paths in the subsurface and the related plant water uptake. However, we are not able to study the "cause" - because technologies for in-situ observations of flow, flow path topology and exchange processes at relevant interfaces have up to now not been at hand. In the present study we will make use of a Lagrangian model for subsurface water dynamics to explore how subsurface heterogeneity and mixing among different storage fractions affects residence time distribution in the unsaturated zone in a forward approach. Soil water is represented by particles of constant mass, which travel according to the Itô form of the Fokker Planck equation. The model concept builds on established soil physics by estimating the drift velocity and the diffusion term based on the soil water characteristics. The model has been shown to simulate capillary driven soil moisture dynamics in good accordance with a) the Richards equation and b) observed soil moisture data in different soil. The particle model may furthermore account for preferential non equilibrium infiltration in a straightforward manner by treating event water as different type of particle, which travel initially in a macropore/ coarse pore fraction and experience a slow diffusive mixing with the pre-event water particles within a characteristic mixing time. In the present study we will particularly use the last approach in combination with artificial tracer data and stable isotopes to explore how different assumptions on mixing between different flow paths affect the travel time and residence time distributions of water particles in different fractions of the pore space.

The study on RBC characteristic in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) patients using common path interferometric quantitative phase microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, Byung Jun; Won, Youngjae; Kim, Byungyeon; Lee, Seungrag

2016-03-01

We have studied the RBC membrane properties between a normal RBC and a RBC in Paroxysrnal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) patient using common path interferometric quantitative phase microscopy (CPIQPM). CPIQPM system has provided the subnanometer optical path length sensitivity on a millisecond. We have measured the dynamic thickness fluctuations of a normal RBC membrane and a RBC membrane in PNH patient over the whole cell surface with CPIQPM. PNH is a rare and serious disease of blood featured by destruction of red blood cells (RBCs). This destruction happens since RBCs show the defect of protein which protects RBCs from the immune system. We have applied CPIQPM to study the characteristic of RBC membrane in PNH patient. We have shown the morphological shape, volume, and projected surface for both different RBC types. The results have showed both RBCs had the similar shape with donut, but membrane fluctuations in PNH patient was shown to reveal the difference of temporal properties compared with a normal RBC. In order to demonstrate the practical tool of the CPIQPM technique, we have also obtained the time series thickness fluctuation outside a cell.

Dynamics of barite growth in porous media quantified by in situ synchrotron X-ray tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Godinho, jose; Gerke, kirill

2016-04-01

Current models used to formulate mineral sequestration strategies of dissolved contaminants in the bedrock often neglect the effect of confinement and the variation of reactive surface area with time. In this work, in situ synchrotron X-ray micro-tomography is used to quantify barite growth rates in a micro-porous structure as a function of time during 13.5 hours with a resolution of 1 μm. Additionally, the 3D porous network at different time frames are used to simulate the flow velocities and calculate the permeability evolution during the experiment. The kinetics of barite growth under porous confinement is compared with the kinetics of barite growth on free surfaces in the same fluid composition. Results are discussed in terms of surface area normalization and the evolution of flow velocities as crystals fill the porous structure. During the initial hours the growth rate measured in porous media is similar to the growth rate on free surfaces. However, as the thinner flow paths clog the growth rate progressively decreases, which is correlated to a decrease of local flow velocity. The largest pores remain open, enabling growth to continue throughout the structure. Quantifying the dynamics of mineral precipitation kinetics in situ in 4D, has revealed the importance of using a time dependent reactive surface area and accounting for the local properties of the porous network, when formulating predictive models of mineral precipitation in porous media.

Changes in dissolved organic matter quality in a northern hardwood forest revealed by excitation emission spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saraceno, J.; Shanley, J. B.; Pellerin, B. A.; Hansen, A. M.

2016-12-01

Changes in dissolved organic matter (DOM) quality may result from unusual and extreme precipitation patterns such as floods and droughts. In order to study DOM quality changes, we collected several hundred surface water samples during the past eight years from the W-9 watershed of the Sleepers River Research Watershed in Danville, Vermont for optical analysis of dissolved organic matter. We present the results of parallel factor (PARAFAC) and principal component analysis (PCA) on excitation emission matrices (EEMs). This analysis revealed that peaks T, C and M as identified by PARAFAC were the most prominent EEM features. The intensity of these peaks varied on inter-annual, seasonal and event time periods and these shifts reflect changes in DOM quality. Likely drivers of this variability in DOM chemistry are seasonal shifts in flow paths, antecedent moisture conditions, and precipitation duration and intensity. For example, during events, the relative proportion of protein-like, peak T fluorophores increased, likely from flushing of fresh polyphenols from surficial and shallow flow paths. During the winter, when groundwater dominates flow, EEMs were strong in humic-like peak C and peak M fluorophores, reflecting deeper soil sources and longer flow paths. Our analyses will reveal how DOM quality responds to climatic drivers, and thus how we can expect DOM quality to evolve under projected climate change scenarios.

Impact of heterogeneity on groundwater salinization due to coastal pumping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, X.; Michael, H. A.

2017-12-01

Groundwater abstraction causes and accelerates seawater intrusion in many coastal areas. In heterogeneous aquifers, preferential flow paths can lead to fast intrusion, while low permeability layers can serve as barriers. The extent to which different types of heterogeneous aquifers are vulnerable to pumping-induced seawater intrusion has not been well studied. Here we show that the connectedness of pumping location and local boundary condition drive salinization patterns. Salinization patterns in homogeneous aquifers were relatively simple and only related to the hydraulic properties and pumping rate. The salinization rates and patterns in heterogeneous aquifers were much more complicated and related to pumping location, rate and depth, preferential flow path locations, and local boundary conditions. An intrusion classification approach was developed with three types in homogeneous aquifers and four types in heterogeneous aquifers. After classification the main factors of salinized areas, intrusion rates and salinization time could be identified. The ranges of these salinization assessment criteria suggested different aspect of groundwater vulnerability in each class. We anticipate the classification approach to be a starting point for more comprehensive groundwater abstraction vulnerability assessment (including consideration of pumping rates, locations and depths, connectivity, preferential flow paths, etc.), which is critical for coastal water resources management.

Centrality and Flow Vergence gradient based Path analysis of scientific literature: A case study of Biotechnology for Engineering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lathabai, Hiran H.; Prabhakaran, Thara; Changat, Manoj

2015-07-01

Biotechnology, ever since its inception has had a huge impact on the society and its various applications have been intricately woven into the human web of life. Its evolution amidst all the other research realms vital to mankind is remarkable. In this paper, we intend to identify the radical innovations in Biotechnology for Engineering using network analyses. Centrality analysis and Path analysis are used for identifying important works. Existence of Flow Vergence effect in the scientific literature is revealed. Flow Vergence gradient, an arc metric derived from FV model, is utilised for Path analysis which detects pivotal papers of paradigm shift more accurately. A major paradigm shift has been identified in the business models of Biotechnology for Engineering - 'Capability to Connectivity' model. Evidence towards the adoption of business practices in BT firms by nanotechnology start-ups is also identified. The notion of critical divergence is introduced and the exhibition of interdisciplinary interaction in emerging fields due to critical divergence is discussed. Implications of above analyses which target: (i) Science and technology policy makers, (ii) industrialists and investors, (iii) researchers in academia as well as industry, are also discussed.

Time-Distance Helioseismology with the MDI Instrument: Initial Results

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Duvall, T. L., Jr.; Kosovichev, A. G.; Scherrer, P. H.; Bogart, R. S.; Bush, R. I.; DeForest, C.; Hoeksema, J. T.; Schou, J.; Saba, J. L. R.; Tarbell, T. D.;

Deleterious Thermal Effects Due To Randomized Flow Paths in Pebble Bed, and Particle Bed Style Reactors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moran, Robert P.

2013-01-01

A review of literature associated with Pebble Bed and Particle Bed reactor core research has revealed a systemic problem inherent to reactor core concepts which utilize randomized rather than structured coolant channel flow paths. For both the Pebble Bed and Particle Bed Reactor designs; case studies reveal that for indeterminate reasons, regions within the core would suffer from excessive heating leading to thermal runaway and localized fuel melting. A thermal Computational Fluid Dynamics model was utilized to verify that In both the Pebble Bed and Particle Bed Reactor concepts randomized coolant channel pathways combined with localized high temperature regions would work together to resist the flow of coolant diverting it away from where it is needed the most to cooler less resistive pathways where it is needed the least. In other words given the choice via randomized coolant pathways the reactor coolant will take the path of least resistance, and hot zones offer the highest resistance. Having identified the relationship between randomized coolant channel pathways and localized fuel melting it is now safe to assume that other reactor concepts that utilize randomized coolant pathways such as the foam core reactor are also susceptible to this phenomenon.

Flume experiments elucidate relationships between microbial genetics, nitrogen species and hydraulics in controlling nitrous oxide production in the hyporheic zone

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Quick, A. M.; Farrell, T. B.; Reeder, W. J.; Feris, K. P.; Tonina, D.; Benner, S. G.

2014-12-01

The hyporheic zone is a potentially important producer of nitrous oxide, a powerful greenhouse gas. The location and magnitude of nitrous oxide generation within the hyporheic zone involves complex interactions between multiple nitrogen species, redox conditions, microbial communities, and hydraulics. To better understand nitrous oxide generation and emissions from streams, we conducted large-scale flume experiments in which we monitored pore waters along hyporheic flow paths within stream dune structures. Measured dissolved oxygen, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, and dissolved nitrous oxide showed distinct spatial relationships reflecting redox changes along flow paths. Denitrifying genes (nosZ, nirS, and nirK), determined using qPCR, were spatially associated with abundances of nitrogen species. Using residence times along a flow path, clear trends in oxygen conditions, genes encoding for microbial catalysis, and nitrogen species were observed. Hotspots of targeted genes correlated with hotspots for conversion of nitrogen species, including nitrous oxide production and conversion to dinitrogen. Trends were apparent regardless of dune size, allowing for the possibility to apply observed relationships to multiple streambed morphologies. Relating streambed morphology and loading of nitrogen species allows for prediction of nitrous oxide production in the hyporheic zone.

Energy conversion system involving change in the density of an upwardly moving liquid

DOEpatents

Petrick, Michael

1989-01-01

A system for converting thermal energy into electrical energy includes a fluid reservoir, a relatively high boiling point fluid such as lead or a lead alloy within the reservoir, a downcomer defining a vertical fluid flow path communicating at its upper end with the reservoir and an upcomer defining a further vertical fluid flow path communicating at its upper end with the reservoir. A variable area nozzle of rectangular section may terminate the upper end of the upcomer and the lower end of the of the downcomer communicates with the lower end of the upcomer. A mixing chamber is located at the lower end portion of the upcomer and receives a second relatively low boiling point fluid such as air, the mixing chamber serving to introduce the low boiling point fluid into the upcomer so as to produce bubbles causing the resultant two-phase fluid to move at high velocity up the upcomer. Means are provided for introducing heat into the system preferably between the lower end of the downcomer and the lower end of the upcomer. Power generating means are associated with the one of the vertical fluid flow paths one such power generating means being a magneto hydrodynamic electrical generator.

Coal slurry fuel supply and purge system

DOEpatents

McDowell, Robert E.; Basic, Steven L.; Smith, Russel M.

1994-01-01

A coal slurry fuel supply and purge system for a locomotive engines is disclosed which includes a slurry recirculation path, a stand-by path for circulating slurry during idle or states of the engine when slurry fuel in not required by the engine, and an engine header fluid path connected to the stand-by path, for supplying and purging slurry fuel to and from fuel injectors. A controller controls the actuation of valves to facilitate supply and purge of slurry to and from the fuel injectors. A method for supplying and purging coal slurry in a compression ignition engine is disclosed which includes controlling fluid flow devices and valves in a plurality of fluid paths to facilitate continuous slurry recirculation and supply and purge of or slurry based on the operating state of the engine.

Path-preference cellular-automaton model for traffic flow through transit points and its application to the transcription process in human cells.

PubMed

Ohta, Yoshihiro; Nishiyama, Akinobu; Wada, Yoichiro; Ruan, Yijun; Kodama, Tatsuhiko; Tsuboi, Takashi; Tokihiro, Tetsuji; Ihara, Sigeo

2012-08-01

We all use path routing everyday as we take shortcuts to avoid traffic jams, or by using faster traffic means. Previous models of traffic flow of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) during transcription, however, were restricted to one dimension along the DNA template. Here we report the modeling and application of traffic flow in transcription that allows preferential paths of different dimensions only restricted to visit some transit points, as previously introduced between the 5' and 3' end of the gene. According to its position, an RNAPII protein molecule prefers paths obeying two types of time-evolution rules. One is an asymmetric simple exclusion process (ASEP) along DNA, and the other is a three-dimensional jump between transit points in DNA where RNAPIIs are staying. Simulations based on our model, and comparison experimental results, reveal how RNAPII molecules are distributed at the DNA-loop-formation-related protein binding sites as well as CTCF insulator proteins (or exons). As time passes after the stimulation, the RNAPII density at these sites becomes higher. Apparent far-distance jumps in one dimension are realized by short-range three-dimensional jumps between DNA loops. We confirm the above conjecture by applying our model calculation to the SAMD4A gene by comparing the experimental results. Our probabilistic model provides possible scenarios for assembling RNAPII molecules into transcription factories, where RNAPII and related proteins cooperatively transcribe DNA.

Diverter/bop system and method for a bottom supported offshore drilling rig

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Roche, J.R.; Alexander, G.G.; Carbaugh, W.L.

1986-07-01

A system is described adapted for alternative use as a diverter or a blowout preventer for a bottom supported drilling rig and adapted for connection to a permanent housing attached to rig structural members beneath a drilling rig rotary table, the permanent housing having an outlet connectable to a rig fluid system flow line. The system consists of: a fluid flow controller having a controller housing with a lower cylindrical opening and an upper cylindrical opening and a vertical path therebetween and a first outlet passage and a second outlet passage provided in its wall, a packing element disposed withinmore » the controller housing, and annular piston means adapted for moving from a first position to a second position, whereby in the first position the piston means wall prevents interior fluid from communicating with the outlet passages in the controller housing wall and in the second position the piston means wall allows fluid communication of interior fluid with the outlet passages and urges the annular packing element to close about an object extending through the bore of the controller housing or to close the vertical flow path through through the controller housing in the absence of any object in the vertical flow path, means for connecting a vent line to the outlet passage provided in the controller housing wall, a lower telescoping spool having a lower joining means at its lower end for joining alternatively to structural casing or to a mandrel connected to a conductor string cemented within the structural casing and an upper connection means at its upper end for connection to the lower cylindrical opening of the fluid flow controller, and an upper telescoping spool having a lower connection means for connection to the upper cylindrical opening of the fluid flow controller.« less

Local efficiency in fluvial systems: Lessons from Icicle Bend

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jerin, Tasnuba; Phillips, Jonathan

2017-04-01

Development of fluvial systems is often described and modeled in terms of principles related to maxima, minima, or optima of various hydraulic or energy parameters that can generally be encompassed by a principle of efficiency selection (more efficient flow routes tend to be preferentially selected and enhanced). However, efficiency selection is highly localized, and the cumulative effects of these local events may or may not produce more efficient pathways at a broader scale. This is illustrated by the case of Icicle Bend on Shawnee Run, a limestone bedrock stream in central Kentucky. Field evidence indicates that a paleochannel was abandoned during downcutting of the stream, and the relocation was analyzed using a flow partitioning model. The bend represents abandonment of a steeper, straighter, more efficient channel at the reach scale in favor of a longer, currently less steep and less efficient flow path. This apparently occurred owing to capture of Shawnee Run flow by a subsurface karst flow path that was subsequently exhumed. The development of Icicle Bend illustrates the local nature of efficiency selection and the role of historical contingency in geomorphic evolution.

Simulation of ground-water flow and delineation of areas contributing recharge within the Mt. Simon-Hinckley Aquifer to well fields in the Prairie Island Indian Community, Minnesota

USGS Publications Warehouse

Ruhl, J.F.

2002-01-01

A steady state single layer, two-dimensional ground-water flow model constructed with the computer program MODFLOW,combined with the particle-tracking computer program MODPATH, was used to track water particles (upgradient) from the two well fields. A withdrawal rate of 625 m3/d was simulated for each well field. The ground-water flow paths delineated areas of contributing recharge that are 0.38 and 0.65 km2 based on 10- and 50-year travel times, respectively. The flow paths that define these areas extend for maximum distances of about 350 and 450 m, respectively, from the wells. At well field A the area of contributing recharge was delineated for each well as separate withdrawal points. At well field B the area of contributing recharge was delineated for the two wells as a single withdrawal point. Delineation of areas of contributing recharge to the well fields from land surface would require construction of a multi-layer ground-water flow model.

Coupled Thermo-Hydro-Chemical (THC) Modeling of Hypogene Karst Evolution in a Prototype Mountain Hydrologic System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chaudhuri, A.; Rajaram, H.; Viswanathan, H. S.; Zyvoloski, G.

2011-12-01

Hypogene karst systems are believed to develop when water flowing upward against the geothermal gradient dissolves limestone as it cools. We present a comprehensive THC model incorporating time-evolving fluid flow, heat transfer, buoyancy effects, multi-component reactive transport and aperture/permeability change to investigate the origin of hypogene karst systems. Our model incorporates the temperature and pressure dependence of the solubility and dissolution kinetics of calcite. It also allows for rigorous representation of temperature-dependent fluid density and its influence on buoyancy forces at various stages of karstification. The model is applied to investigate karstification over geological time scales in a prototype mountain hydrologic system. In this system, a high water table maintained by mountain recharge, drives flow downward through the country rock and upward via a high-permeability fault/fracture. The pressure boundary conditions are maintained constant in time. The fluid flux through the fracture remains nearly constant even though the fracture aperture and permeability increase by dissolution, largely because the permeability of the country rock is not altered significantly due to slower dissolution rates. However, karstification by fracture dissolution is not impeded even though the fluid flux stays nearly constant. Forced and buoyant convection effects arise due to the increased permeability of the evolving fracture system. Since in reality the aperture varies significantly within the fracture plane, the initial fracture aperture is modeled as a heterogeneous random field. In such a heterogeneous aperture field, the water initially flows at a significant rate mainly through preferential flow paths connecting the relatively large aperture zones. Dissolution is more prominent at early time along these flow paths, and the aperture grows faster within these paths. With time, the aperture within small sub-regions of these preferential flow paths grows to a point where the permeability is large enough for the onset of buoyant convection. As a result, a multitude of buoyant convection cells form that take on a two-dimensional (2D) maze-like appearance, which could represent a 2D analog of the three-dimensional (3D) mazework pattern widely thought to be characteristic of hypogene cave systems. Although computational limitations limited us to 2D, we suggest that similar process interactions in a 3D network of fractures and faults could produce a 3D mazework.

Positioning apparatus

DOEpatents

Vogel, Max A.; Alter, Paul

1986-05-06

An apparatus for precisely positioning materials test specimens within the optimum neutron flux path emerging from a neutron source located in a housing. The test specimens are retained in a holder mounted on the free end of a support pivotably mounted and suspended from a movable base plate. The support is gravity biased to urge the holder in a direction longitudinally of the flux path against the housing. Means are provided for moving the base plate in two directions to effect movement of the holder in two mutually perpendicular directions normal to the axis of the flux path.

Positioning apparatus

DOEpatents

Vogel, Max A.; Alter, Paul

1986-01-01

An apparatus for precisely positioning materials test specimens within the optimum neutron flux path emerging from a neutron source located in a housing. The test specimens are retained in a holder mounted on the free end of a support pivotably mounted and suspended from a movable base plate. The support is gravity biased to urge the holder in a direction longitudinally of the flux path against the housing. Means are provided for moving the base plate in two directions to effect movement of the holder in two mutually perpendicular directions normal to the axis of the flux path.

Development of a high-speed nanoprofiler using normal vector tracing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kitayama, T.; Matsumura, H.; Usuki, K.; Kojima, T.; Uchikoshi, J.; Higashi, Y.; Endo, K.

2012-09-01

A new high-speed nanoprofiler was developed in this study. This profiler measures normal vectors and their coordinates on the surface of a specimen. Each normal vector and coordinate is determined by making the incident light path and the reflected light path coincident using 5-axis controlled stages. This is ensured by output signal of quadrant photo diode (QPD). From the acquired normal vectors and their coordinates, the three-dimensional shape is calculated by a reconstruction algorithm based on least-squares. In this study, a concave spherical mirror with a 400 mm radius of curvature was measured. As a result, a peak of 30 nm PV was observed at the center of the mirror. Measurement repeatability was 1 nm. In addition, cross-comparison with a Fizeau interferometer was implemented and the results were consistent within 10 nm. In particular, the high spatial frequency profile was highly consistent, and any differences were considered to be caused by systematic errors.

Near-wall serpentine cooled turbine airfoil

DOEpatents

Lee, Ching-Pang

2014-10-28

A serpentine coolant flow path is formed by inner walls in a cavity between pressure and suction side walls of a turbine airfoil, the cavity partitioned by one or more transverse partitions into a plurality of continuous serpentine cooling flow streams each having a respective coolant inlet.

Flume experimental evaluation of the effect of rill flow path tortuosity on rill roughness based on the Manning–Strickler equation

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Numerous soil erosion models compute concentrated flow hydraulics based on the Manning–Strickler equation (v = kSt R2/3 I1/2) even though the range of the application on rill flow is unclear. Unconfined rill morphologies generate local friction effects and consequently spatially variable rill roughn...

40 CFR 1065.650 - Emission calculations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... from a changing flow rate or a constant flow rate (including discrete-mode steady-state testing), as...·hr e NOx = 64.975/25.783 e NOx = 2.520 g/(kW·hr) (2) For discrete-mode steady-state testing, you may... method not be used if there are any work flow paths described in § 1065.210 that cross the system...

Hydrologic and geomorphic controls on hyporheic exchange during base flow recession in a headwater mountain stream

Treesearch

A.S. Ward; M. Fitzgerald; M.N. Gooseff; A.M. Binley; K. Singha

2012-01-01

Hyporheic hydrodynamics are a control on stream ecosystems, yet we lack a thorough understanding of catchment controls on these flow paths, including valley constraint and hydraulic gradients in the valley bottom. We performed four whole-stream solute tracer injections under steady state flow conditions at the H. J. Andrews Experimental Forest (Oregon, United States)...

Aquia Aquifer Dissolved Cl- and 36Cl/Cl: Implications for Flow Velocities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Purdy, Caroline Bascom; Helz, George R.; Mignerey, Alice C.; Kubik, Peter W.; Elmore, David; Sharma, Pankaj; Hemmick, Thomas

1996-05-01

The Aquia aquifer (southern Maryland) contains a remarkably smooth Cl- profile (0.46-3.23 ppm) along its flow path. This is interpreted as a record of historic changes in the deposition of Cl- in this region. Those changes have been influenced by the rise and fall of sea level, which has altered the distance of the recharge region from the coastline by ˜200 km. The 36Cl concentration along the flow path is not as smooth as the Cl- profile. Historic variations in cosmogenic production, atmospheric transport, precipitation, and evapotranspiration all might have influenced 36Cl concentrations. A general similarity between the 36Cl and Cl- profiles suggests that changes in precipitation and evapotranspiration rates, which influence both tracers similarly, are particularly important. To reconcile 14C, 36Cl, and hydrologic data, we propose a two-tier model for flow in the Aquia. Shallower portions of the aquifer (<60 m) were subjected to hydraulic gradients and flow rates approximately 5 times larger during the Pleistocene than modern, prepumping rates. At greater depths, flow rates were much slower and less variable; water in this region may be old enough to record some 36Cl decay.

Temporal evolution of water repellency and preferential flow in the post-fire

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alanís, Nancy; Jordán, Antonio; Zavala, Lorena M.

2015-04-01

Forest fires usually intensify erosive process due to the reduction of vegetation cover and degradation of aggregation in the topsoil. Another common effect of wildifres is the development of soil water repellency, which in turn favors the formation of runoff, inhibiting or delaying infiltration. Under these conditions, infiltration occurs only when ponded water or runoff flow finds macropores and cracks in the soil surface, producing preferential flow pathways. When water infiltrates through these paths, a significant portion of the soil remains dry, limiting the supply of nutrients to the roots, favoring the rapid leaching of nutrients and agrochemicals, and other impacts on flora and hydrological processes at hillslope- or basin-scale. The existence of irregular wetting fronts has been observed frequently in burned or unburned water repellent soils. Although some authors have suggested that preferential flow paths may be more or less permanent in the case of unburned soils, the temporal evolution of preferential flow has been rarely studied in burned soils during the post-fire, after water repellency decreases or disappears. This research focuses on the temporal evolution of water repellency and preferential flows in an area affected by fire.

UV reactor flow visualization and mixing quantification using three-dimensional laser-induced fluorescence.

PubMed

Gandhi, Varun; Roberts, Philip J W; Stoesser, Thorsten; Wright, Harold; Kim, Jae-Hong

2011-07-01

Three-dimensional laser-induced fluorescence (3DLIF) was applied to visualize and quantitatively analyze mixing in a lab-scale UV reactor consisting of one lamp sleeve placed perpendicular to flow. The recirculation zone and the von Karman vortex shedding that commonly occur in flows around bluff bodies were successfully visualized. Multiple flow paths were analyzed by injecting the dye at various heights with respect to the lamp sleeve. A major difference in these pathways was the amount of dye that traveled close to the sleeve, i.e., a zone of higher residence time and higher UV exposure. Paths away from the center height had higher velocities and hence minimal influence by the presence of sleeve. Approach length was also characterized in order to increase the probability of microbes entering the region around the UV lamp. The 3DLIF technique developed in this study is expected to provide new insight on UV dose delivery useful for the design and optimization of UV reactors. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Validation Ice Crystal Icing Engine Test in the Propulsion Systems Laboratory at NASA Glenn Research Center

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Oliver, Michael J.

2014-01-01

The Propulsion Systems Laboratory (PSL) is an existing altitude simulation jet engine test facility located at NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, OH. It was modified in 2012 with the integration of an ice crystal cloud generation system. This paper documents the inaugural ice crystal cloud test in PSL--the first ever full scale, high altitude ice crystal cloud turbofan engine test to be conducted in a ground based facility. The test article was a Lycoming ALF502-R5 high bypass turbofan engine, serial number LF01. The objectives of the test were to validate the PSL ice crystal cloud calibration and engine testing methodologies by demonstrating the capability to calibrate and duplicate known flight test events that occurred on the same LF01 engine and to generate engine data to support fundamental and computational research to investigate and better understand the physics of ice crystal icing in a turbofan engine environment while duplicating known revenue service events and conducting test points while varying facility and engine parameters. During PSL calibration testing it was discovered than heated probes installed through tunnel sidewalls experienced ice buildup aft of their location due to ice crystals impinging upon them, melting and running back. Filtered city water was used in the cloud generation nozzle system to provide ice crystal nucleation sites. This resulted in mineralization forming on flow path hardware that led to a chronic degradation of performance during the month long test. Lacking internal flow path cameras, the response of thermocouples along the flow path was interpreted as ice building up. Using this interpretation, a strong correlation between total water content (TWC) and a weaker correlation between median volumetric diameter (MVD) of the ice crystal cloud and the rate of ice buildup along the instrumented flow path was identified. For this test article the engine anti-ice system was required to be turned on before ice crystal icing would occur. The ice crystal icing event, an uncommanded reduction in thrust, was able to be turned on and off by manipulating cloud TWC. A flight test point where no ice crystal icing event occurred was also duplicated in PSL. Physics based computational tools were successfully used to predict tunnel settings to induce ice buildup along the low pressure compression system flow path for several test points at incrementally lower altitudes, demonstrating that development of ice crystal icing scaling laws is potentially feasible. Analysis of PSL test data showed that uncommanded reduction in thrust occurs during ice crystal cloud on operation prior to fan speed reduction. This supports previous findings that the reduction of thrust for this test article is due to ice buildup leading to a restricted airflow from either physical or aerodynamic blockage in the engine core flow path.

Validation Ice Crystal Icing Engine Test in the Propulsion Systems Laboratory at NASA Glenn Research Center

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Oliver, Michael J.

2014-01-01

The Propulsion Systems Laboratory (PSL) is an existing altitude simulation jet engine test facility located at NASA Glenn Research Center in Clevleand, OH. It was modified in 2012 with the integration of an ice crystal cloud generation system. This paper documents the inaugural ice crystal cloud test in PSLthe first ever full scale, high altitude ice crystal cloud turbofan engine test to be conducted in a ground based facility. The test article was a Lycoming ALF502-R5 high bypass turbofan engine, serial number LF01. The objectives of the test were to validate the PSL ice crystal cloud calibration and engine testing methodologies by demonstrating the capability to calibrate and duplicate known flight test events that occurred on the same LF01 engine and to generate engine data to support fundamental and computational research to investigate and better understand the physics of ice crystal icing in a turbofan engine environment while duplicating known revenue service events and conducting test points while varying facility and engine parameters. During PSL calibration testing it was discovered than heated probes installed through tunnel sidewalls experienced ice buildup aft of their location due to ice crystals impinging upon them, melting and running back. Filtered city water was used in the cloud generation nozzle system to provide ice crystal nucleation sites. This resulted in mineralization forming on flow path hardware that led to a chronic degradation of performance during the month long test. Lacking internal flow path cameras, the response of thermocouples along the flow path was interpreted as ice building up. Using this interpretation, a strong correlation between total water content (TWC) and a weaker correlation between median volumetric diameter (MVD) of the ice crystal cloud and the rate of ice buildup along the instrumented flow path was identified. For this test article the engine anti-ice system was required to be turned on before ice crystal icing would occur. The ice crystal icing event, an uncommanded reduction in thrust, was able to be turned on and off by manipulating cloud TWC. A flight test point where no ice crystal icing event occurred was also duplicated in PSL. Physics based computational tools were successfully used to predict tunnel settings to induce ice buildup along the low pressure compression system flow path for several test points at incrementally lower altitudes, demonstrating that development of ice crystal icing scaling laws is potentially feasible. Analysis of PSL test data showed that uncommanded reduction in thrust occurs during ice crystal cloud on operation prior to fan speed reduction. This supports previous findings that the reduction of thrust for this test article is due to ice buildup leading to a restricted airflow from either physical or aerodynamic blockage in the engine core flow path.

Geochemical processes in ground water resulting from surface mining of coal at the Big Sky and West Decker Mine areas, southeastern Montana

USGS Publications Warehouse

Clark, D.W.

1995-01-01

A potential hydrologic effect of surface mining of coal in southeastern Montana is a change in the quality of ground water. Dissolved-solids concen- trations in water in spoils aquifers generally are larger than concentrations in water in the coal aquifers they replaced; however, laboratory experiments have indicated that concentrations can decrease if ground water flows from coal-mine spoils to coal. This study was conducted to determine if decreases in concentrations occur onsite and, if so, which geochemical processes caused the decreases. Solid-phase core samples of spoils, unmined over- burden, and coal, and ground-water samples were collected from 16 observation wells at two mine areas. In the Big Sky Mine area, changes in ground- water chemistry along a flow path from an upgradient coal aquifer to a spoils aquifer probably were a result of dedolomitization. Dissolved-solids concentrations were unchanged as water flowed from a spoils aquifer to a downgradient coal aquifer. In the West Decker Mine area, dissolved-solids concentrations apparently decreased from about 4,100 to 2,100 milligrams per liter as water moved along an inferred flow path from a spoils aquifer to a downgradient coal aquifer. Geochemical models were used to analyze changes in water chemistry on the basis of results of solid-phase and aqueous geochemical characteristics. Geochemical processes postulated to result in the apparent decrease in dissolved-solids concentrations along this inferred flow path include bacterial reduction of sulfate, reverse cation exchange within the coal, and precipitation of carbonate and iron-sulfide minerals.

Roads at risk - traffic detours from debris flows in southern Norway

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meyer, N. K.; Schwanghart, W.; Korup, O.; Nadim, F.

2014-10-01

Globalization and interregional exchange of people, goods, and services has boosted the importance of and reliance on all kinds of transport networks. The linear structure of road networks is especially sensitive to natural hazards. In southern Norway, steep topography and extreme weather events promote frequent traffic disruption caused by debris flows. Topographic susceptibility and trigger frequency maps serve as input into a hazard appraisal at the scale of first-order catchments to quantify the impact of debris flows on the road network in terms of a failure likelihood of each link connecting two network vertices, e.g., road junctions. We compute total additional traffic loads as a function of traffic volume and excess distance, i.e. the extra length of an alternative path connecting two previously disrupted network vertices using a shortest-path algorithm. Our risk metric of link failure is the total additional annual traffic load expressed as vehicle kilometers because of debris-flow related road closures. We present two scenarios demonstrating the impact of debris flows on the road network, and quantify the associated path failure likelihood between major cities in southern Norway. The scenarios indicate that major routes crossing the central and northwestern part of the study area are associated with high link failure risk. Yet options for detours on major routes are manifold, and incur only little additional costs provided that drivers are sufficiently well informed about road closures. Our risk estimates may be of importance to road network managers and transport companies relying of speedy delivery of services and goods.

Topographic effects on flow path and surface water chemistry of the Llyn Brianne catchments in Wales

USGS Publications Warehouse

Wolock, D.M.; Hornberger, G.M.; Musgrove, T.J.

1990-01-01

Topographic shape is a watershed attribute thought to influence the flow path followed by water as it traverses a catchment. Flow path, in turn, may affect the chemical composition of surface waters. Topography is quantified in the hydrological model TOPMODEL as the relative frequency distribution of the index ln( a tanB), where a is the upslope area per unit contour that drains past a point and tanB is the local surface slope. Spatial distributions of ln( a tanB) were calculated for eight catchments in Wales on a 25 m ?? 25 m grid. Among the catchments, mean observed stream H+ concentration during high flow periods was highly correlated with the mean of the ln( a tanB) distribution. The steady-state gain of a transfer function (time series) model relating H+ to discharge was positively correlated with the mean of the ln( a tanB) distribution. These results suggest that during high flow periods, both the average stream acidity and the magnitude of fluctuations in H+ are conditioned by the topographic shape of the catchment. By performing a sensitivity analysis on TOPMODEL, we also show that as the mean of the ln( a tanB) distribution for a catchment increases, so does its theoretical likelihood to produce significant quantities of surface and near-surface runoff. Our observed results in the Llyn Brianne catchments are consistent with this theoretical expectation in that surface or near-surface runoff is often higher in acidity than are deeper sources of hillslope runoff. ?? 1990.

Roads at risk: traffic detours from debris flows in southern Norway

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meyer, N. K.; Schwanghart, W.; Korup, O.; Nadim, F.

2015-05-01

Globalisation and interregional exchange of people, goods, and services has boosted the importance of and reliance on all kinds of transport networks. The linear structure of road networks is especially sensitive to natural hazards. In southern Norway, steep topography and extreme weather events promote frequent traffic disruption caused by debris flows. Topographic susceptibility and trigger frequency maps serve as input into a hazard appraisal at the scale of first-order catchments to quantify the impact of debris flows on the road network in terms of a failure likelihood of each link connecting two network vertices, e.g. road junctions. We compute total additional traffic loads as a function of traffic volume and excess distance, i.e. the extra length of an alternative path connecting two previously disrupted network vertices using a shortest-path algorithm. Our risk metric of link failure is the total additional annual traffic load, expressed as vehicle kilometres, because of debris-flow-related road closures. We present two scenarios demonstrating the impact of debris flows on the road network and quantify the associated path-failure likelihood between major cities in southern Norway. The scenarios indicate that major routes crossing the central and north-western part of the study area are associated with high link-failure risk. Yet options for detours on major routes are manifold and incur only little additional costs provided that drivers are sufficiently well informed about road closures. Our risk estimates may be of importance to road network managers and transport companies relying on speedy delivery of services and goods.

Materials in the economy; material flows, scarcity, and the environment

USGS Publications Warehouse

Wagner, Lorie A.

2002-01-01

The importance of materials to the economy of the United States is described, including the levels of consumption and uses of materials. The paths (or flows) that materials take from extraction, through processing, to consumer products, and then final disposition are illustrated. Scarcity and environmental issues as they relate to the flow of materials are discussed. Examples for the three main themes of the report (material flows, scarcity, and the environment) are presented.

The effects of narrow and elevated path walking on aperture crossing.

PubMed

Hackney, Amy L; Cinelli, Michael E; Denomme, Luke T; Frank, James S

2015-06-01

The study investigated the impact that action capabilities have on identifying possibilities for action, particularly how postural threat influences the passability of apertures. To do this, the ability to maintain balance was challenged by manipulating the level of postural threat while walking. First, participants walked along a 7m path and passed through two vertical obstacles spaced 1.1-1.5×the shoulder width apart during normal walking. Next, postural threat was manipulated by having participants complete the task either walking on a narrow, ground level path or on an elevated/narrow path. Despite a decrease in walking speed as well as an increase in trunk sway in both the narrow and elevated/narrow walking conditions, the passability of apertures was only affected when the consequence of instability was greatest. In the elevated/narrow walking condition, individuals maintained a larger critical point (rotated their shoulders for larger aperture widths) compared to normal walking. However, this effect was not observed for the narrow path walking suggesting that the level of postural threat was not enough to impose similar changes to the critical point. Therefore, it appears that manipulating action capabilities by increasing postural threat does indeed influence aperture crossing behavior, however the consequence associated with instability must be high before both gait characteristics and the critical point are affected. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Methods and apparatus for removal and control of material in laser drilling of a borehole

DOEpatents

Rinzler, Charles C; Zediker, Mark S; Faircloth, Brian O; Moxley, Joel F

2014-01-28

The removal of material from the path of a high power laser beam during down hole laser operations including drilling of a borehole and removal of displaced laser effected borehole material from the borehole during laser operations. In particular, paths, dynamics and parameters of fluid flows for use in conjunction with a laser bottom hole assembly.

Methods and apparatus for removal and control of material in laser drilling of a borehole

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rinzler, Charles C.; Zediker, Mark S.; Faircloth, Brian O.

2016-12-06

The removal of material from the path of a high power laser beam during down hole laser operations including drilling of a borehole and removal of displaced laser effected borehole material from the borehole during laser operations. In particular, paths, dynamics and parameters of fluid flows for use in conjunction with a laser bottom hole assembly.

Kleinberg Complex Networks

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-10-21

linear combinations of paths. This project featured research on two classes of routing problems , namely traveling salesman problems and multicommodity...flows. One highlight of this research was our discovery of a polynomial-time algorithm for the metric traveling salesman s-t path problem whose...metric TSP would resolve one of the most venerable open problems in the theory of approximation algorithms. Our research on traveling salesman

Realization of a multipath ultrasonic gas flowmeter based on transit-time technique.

PubMed

Chen, Qiang; Li, Weihua; Wu, Jiangtao

2014-01-01

A microcomputer-based ultrasonic gas flowmeter with transit-time method is presented. Modules of the flowmeter are designed systematically, including the acoustic path arrangement, ultrasound emission and reception module, transit-time measurement module, the software and so on. Four 200 kHz transducers forming two acoustic paths are used to send and receive ultrasound simultaneously. The synchronization of the transducers can eliminate the influence caused by the inherent switch time in simple chord flowmeter. The distribution of the acoustic paths on the mechanical apparatus follows the Tailored integration, which could reduce the inherent error by 2-3% compared with the Gaussian integration commonly used in the ultrasonic flowmeter now. This work also develops timing modules to determine the flight time of the acoustic signal. The timing mechanism is different from the traditional method. The timing circuit here adopts high capability chip TDC-GP2, with the typical resolution of 50 ps. The software of Labview is used to receive data from the circuit and calculate the gas flow value. Finally, the two paths flowmeter has been calibrated and validated on the test facilities for air flow in Shaanxi Institute of Measurement & Testing. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Wavy flow cooling concept for turbine airfoils

DOEpatents

Liang, George

2010-08-31

An airfoil including an outer wall and a cooling cavity formed therein. The cooling cavity includes a leading edge flow channel located adjacent a leading edge of the airfoil and a trailing edge flow channel located adjacent a trailing edge of the airfoil. Each of the leading edge and trailing edge flow channels define respective first and second flow axes located between pressure and suction sides of the airfoil. A plurality of rib members are located within each of the flow channels, spaced along the flow axes, and alternately extending from opposing sides of the flow channels to define undulating flow paths through the flow channels.

Nitrate Loads and Concentrations in Surface-Water Base Flow and Shallow Groundwater for Selected Basins in the United States, Water Years 1990-2006

USGS Publications Warehouse

Spahr, Norman E.; Dubrovsky, Neil M.; Gronberg, JoAnn M.; Franke, O. Lehn; Wolock, David M.

2010-01-01

Hydrograph separation was used to determine the base-flow component of streamflow for 148 sites sampled as part of the National Water-Quality Assessment program. Sites in the Southwest and the Northwest tend to have base-flow index values greater than 0.5. Sites in the Midwest and the eastern portion of the Southern Plains generally have values less than 0.5. Base-flow index values for sites in the Southeast and Northeast are mixed with values less than and greater than 0.5. Hypothesized flow paths based on relative scaling of soil and bedrock permeability explain some of the differences found in base-flow index. Sites in areas with impermeable soils and bedrock (areas where overland flow may be the primary hydrologic flow path) tend to have lower base-flow index values than sites in areas with either permeable bedrock or permeable soils (areas where deep groundwater flow paths or shallow groundwater flow paths may occur). The percentage of nitrate load contributed by base flow was determined using total flow and base flow nitrate load models. These regression-based models were calibrated using available nitrate samples and total streamflow or base-flow nitrate samples and the base-flow component of total streamflow. Many streams in the country have a large proportion of nitrate load contributed by base flow: 40 percent of sites have more than 50 percent of the total nitrate load contributed by base flow. Sites in the Midwest and eastern portion of the Southern Plains generally have less than 50 percent of the total nitrate load contributed by base flow. Sites in the Northern Plains and Northwest have nitrate load ratios that generally are greater than 50 percent. Nitrate load ratios for sites in the Southeast and Northeast are mixed with values less than and greater than 50 percent. Significantly lower contributions of nitrate from base flow were found at sites in areas with impermeable soils and impermeable bedrock. These areas could be most responsive to nutrient management practices designed to reduce nutrient transport to streams by runoff. Conversely, sites with potential for shallow or deep groundwater contribution (some combination of permeable soils or permeable bedrock) had significantly greater contributions of nitrate from base flow. Effective nutrient management strategies would consider groundwater nitrate contributions in these areas. Mean annual base-flow nitrate concentrations were compared to shallow-groundwater nitrate concentrations for 27 sites. Concentrations in groundwater tended to be greater than base-flow concentrations for this group of sites. Sites where groundwater concentrations were much greater than base-flow concentrations were found in areas of high infiltration and oxic groundwater conditions. The lack of correspondingly high concentrations in the base flow of the paired surface-water sites may have multiple causes. In some settings, there has not been sufficient time for enough high-nitrate shallow groundwater to migrate to the nearby stream. In these cases, the stream nitrate concentrations lag behind those in the shallow groundwater, and concentrations may increase in the future as more high-nitrate groundwater reaches the stream. Alternatively, some of these sites may have processes that rapidly remove nitrate as water moves from the aquifer into the stream channel. Partitioning streamflow and nitrate load between the quick-flow and base-flow portions of the hydrograph coupled with relative scales of soil permeability can infer the importance of surface water compared to groundwater nitrate sources. Study of the relation of nitrate concentrations to base-flow index and the comparison of groundwater nitrate concentrations to stream nitrate concentrations during times when base-flow index is high can provide evidence of potential nitrate transport mechanisms. Accounting for the surface-water and groundwater contributions of nitrate is crucial to effective management and remediat

Detecting debris flows using ground vibrations

USGS Publications Warehouse

LaHusen, Richard G.

1998-01-01

Debris flows are rapidly flowing mixtures of rock debris, mud, and water that originate on steep slopes. During and following volcanic eruptions, debris flows are among the most destructive and persistent hazards. Debris flows threaten lives and property not only on volcanoes but far downstream in valleys that drain volcanoes where they arrive suddenly and inundate entire valley bottoms. Debris flows can destroy vegetation and structures in their path, including bridges and buildings. Their deposits can cover roads and railways, smother crops, and fill stream channels, thereby reducing their flood-carrying capacity and navigability.

Coupling of rainfall-induced landslide triggering model with predictions of debris flow runout distances

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lehmann, Peter; von Ruette, Jonas; Fan, Linfeng; Or, Dani

2014-05-01

Rapid debris flows initiated by rainfall induced shallow landslides present a highly destructive natural hazard in steep terrain. The impact and run-out paths of debris flows depend on the volume, composition and initiation zone of released material and are requirements to make accurate debris flow predictions and hazard maps. For that purpose we couple the mechanistic 'Catchment-scale Hydro-mechanical Landslide Triggering (CHLT)' model to compute timing, location, and landslide volume with simple approaches to estimate debris flow runout distances. The runout models were tested using two landslide inventories obtained in the Swiss Alps following prolonged rainfall events. The predicted runout distances were in good agreement with observations, confirming the utility of such simple models for landscape scale estimates. In a next step debris flow paths were computed for landslides predicted with the CHLT model for a certain range of soil properties to explore its effect on runout distances. This combined approach offers a more complete spatial picture of shallow landslide and subsequent debris flow hazards. The additional information provided by CHLT model concerning location, shape, soil type and water content of the released mass may also be incorporated into more advanced models of runout to improve predictability and impact of such abruptly-released mass.

A study of sound generation in subsonic rotors, volume 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chalupnik, J. D.; Clark, L. T.

1975-01-01

Computer programs were developed for use in the analysis of sound generation by subsonic rotors. Program AIRFOIL computes the spectrum of radiated sound from a single airfoil immersed in a laminar flow field. Program ROTOR extends this to a rotating frame, and provides a model for sound generation in subsonic rotors. The program also computes tone sound generation due to steady state forces on the blades. Program TONE uses a moving source analysis to generate a time series for an array of forces moving in a circular path. The resultant time series are than Fourier transformed to render the results in spectral form. Program SDATA is a standard time series analysis package. It reads in two discrete time series and forms auto and cross covariances and normalizes these to form correlations. The program then transforms the covariances to yield auto and cross power spectra by means of a Fourier transformation.

Geologic map of the Jasper Quadrangle, Newton and Boone counties, Arkansas

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hudson, M.R.; Murray, K.E.; Pezzutti, Deborah

2001-01-01

This digital geologic map compilation presents new polygon (i.e., geologic map unit contacts), line (i.e., fault, fold axis, and structure contour), and point (i.e., structural attitude, contact elevations) vector data for the Jasper 7 1/2' quadrangle in northern Arkansas. The map database, which is at 1:24,000-scale resolution, provides geologic coverage of an area of current hydrogeologic, tectonic, and stratigraphic interest. The Jasper quadrangle is located in northern Newton and southern Boone Counties about 20 km south of the town of Harrison. The map area is underlain by sedimentary rocks of Ordovician, Mississippian, and Pennsylvanian age that were mildly deformed by a series of normal and strike-slip faults and folds. The area is representative of the stratigraphic and structural setting of the southern Ozark Dome. The Jasper quadrangle map provides new geologic information for better understanding groundwater flow paths in and adjacent to the Buffalo River watershed.

Geologic map of the Hasty Quadrangle, Boone and Newton Counties, Arkansas

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hudson, Mark R.; Murray, Kyle E.

2004-01-01

This digital geologic map compilation presents new polygon (for example, geologic map unit contacts), line (for example, fault, fold axis, and structure contour), and point (for example, structural attitude, contact elevations) vector data for the Hasty 7.5-minute quadrangle in northern Arkansas. The map database, which is at 1:24,000-scale resolution, provides geologic coverage of an area of current hydrogeologic, tectonic, and stratigraphic interest. The Hasty quadrangle is located in northern Newton and southern Boone Counties about 20 km south of the town of Harrison. The map area is underlain by sedimentary rocks of Ordovician, Mississippian, and Pennsylvanian age that were mildly deformed by a series of normal and strike-slip faults and folds. The area is representative of the stratigraphic and structural setting of the southern Ozark Dome. The Hasty quadrangle map provides new geologic information for better understanding groundwater flow paths in and adjacent to the Buffalo River watershed.

Real-time monitoring and warning for natural hazards can provide real-time benefits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Showstack, Randy

Downhill from a golf driving range on Maryland's Interstate 70 highway near the city of Frederick, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) hydrologic technicians Richard Saffer and Robert Pentz strode along a short path and over a steel walkway for a site visit to a concrete gage house near the Monocacy River.Gage house #01643000 sits on top of a stilling well that reaches about 8.5 m above the normal flow stage of the river. Inside the house are floats to lower down the well shaft, a hand pump, pipes leading into the river, and other basic technology befitting a structure built in 1929. But the station also is equipped with a modern data collecting platform, an antenna link to transmit data to geostationary operations environmental satellites (GOES), a modem connection, and other high-tech tools of the trade.

The Spectral Web of stationary plasma equilibria. II. Internal modes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goedbloed, J. P.

2018-03-01

The new method of the Spectral Web to calculate the spectrum of waves and instabilities of plasma equilibria with sizeable flows, developed in the preceding Paper I [Goedbloed, Phys. Plasmas 25, 032109 (2018)], is applied to a collection of classical magnetohydrodynamic instabilities operating in cylindrical plasmas with shear flow or rotation. After a review of the basic concepts of the complementary energy giving the solution path and the conjugate path, which together constitute the Spectral Web, the cylindrical model is presented and the spectral equations are derived. The first example concerns the internal kink instabilities of a cylindrical force-free magnetic field of constant α subjected to a parabolic shear flow profile. The old stability diagram and the associated growth rate calculations for static equilibria are replaced by a new intricate stability diagram and associated complex growth rates for the stationary model. The power of the Spectral Web method is demonstrated by showing that the two associated paths in the complex ω-plane nearly automatically guide to the new class of global Alfvén instabilities of the force-free configuration that would have been very hard to predict by other methods. The second example concerns the Rayleigh-Taylor instability of a rotating theta-pinch. The old literature is revisited and shown to suffer from inconsistencies that are remedied. The most global n = 1 instability and a cluster sequence of more local but much more unstable n =2 ,3 ,…∞ modes are located on separate solution paths in the hydrodynamic (HD) version of the instability, whereas they merge in the MHD version. The Spectral Web offers visual demonstration of the central position the HD flow continuum and of the MHD Alfvén and slow magneto-sonic continua in the respective spectra by connecting the discrete modes in the complex plane by physically meaningful curves towards the continua. The third example concerns the magneto-rotational instability (MRI) thought to be operating in accretion disks about black holes. The sequence n =1 ,2 ,… of unstable MRIs is located on one continuous solution path, but also on infinitely many separate loops ("pancakes") of the conjugate path with just one MRI on each of them. For narrow accretion disks, those sequences are connected with the slow magneto-sonic continuum, which is far away though from the marginal stability transition. In this case, the Spectral Web method is the first to effectively incorporate the MRIs into the general MHD spectral theory of equilibria with background flows. Together, the three examples provide compelling evidence of the computational power of the Spectral Web Method.

Flowmeter determines mix ratio for viscous adhesives

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lemons, C. R.

1967-01-01

Flowmeter determines mix ratio for continuous flow mixing machine used to produce an adhesive from a high viscosity resin and aliphatic amine hardener pumped through separate lines to a rotary blender. The flowmeter uses strain gages in the two flow paths and monitors their outputs with appropriate instrumentation.

Active standoff detection of CH4 and N2O leaks using hard-target backscattered light using an open-path quantum cascade laser sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Diaz, Adrian; Thomas, Benjamin; Castillo, Paulo; Gross, Barry; Moshary, Fred

2016-05-01

Fugitive gas emissions from agricultural or industrial plants and gas pipelines are an important environmental concern as they contribute to the global increase of greenhouse gas concentrations. Moreover, they are also a security and safety concern because of possible risk of fire/explosion or toxicity. This study presents standoff detection of CH4 and N2O leaks using a quantum cascade laser open-path system that retrieves path-averaged concentrations by collecting the backscattered light from a remote hard target. It is a true standoff system and differs from other open-path systems that are deployed as point samplers or long-path transmission systems that use retroreflectors. The measured absorption spectra are obtained using a thermal intra-pulse frequency chirped DFB quantum cascade laser at ~7.7 µm wavelength range with ~200 ns pulse width. Making fast time resolved observations, the system simultaneously realizes high spectral resolution and range to the target, resulting in path-averaged concentration retrieval. The system performs measurements at high speed ~15 Hz and sufficient range (up to 45 m, ~148 feet) achieving an uncertainty of 3.1 % and normalized sensitivity of 3.3 ppm m Hz-1/2 for N2O and 9.3 % and normalized sensitivity of 30 ppm m Hz-1/2 for CH4 with a 0.31 mW average power QCL. Given these characteristics, this system is promising for mobile or multidirectional search and remote detection of gas leaks.

Thermal Analysis of the PediaFlow pediatric ventricular assist device.

PubMed

Gardiner, Jeffrey M; Wu, Jingchun; Noh, Myounggyu D; Antaki, James F; Snyder, Trevor A; Paden, David B; Paden, Brad E

2007-01-01

Accurate modeling of heat dissipation in pediatric intracorporeal devices is crucial in avoiding tissue and blood thermotrauma. Thermal models of new Maglev ventricular assist device (VAD) concepts for the PediaFlow VAD are developed by incorporating empirical heat transfer equations with thermal finite element analysis (FEA). The models assume three main sources of waste heat generation: copper motor windings, active magnetic thrust bearing windings, and eddy currents generated within the titanium housing due to the two-pole motor. Waste heat leaves the pump by convection into blood passing through the pump and conduction through surrounding tissue. Coefficients of convection are calculated and assigned locally along fluid path surfaces of the three-dimensional pump housing model. FEA thermal analysis yields a three-dimensional temperature distribution for each of the three candidate pump models. Thermal impedances from the motor and thrust bearing windings to tissue and blood contacting surfaces are estimated based on maximum temperature rise at respective surfaces. A new updated model for the chosen pump topology is created incorporating computational fluid dynamics with empirical fluid and heat transfer equations. This model represents the final geometry of the first generation prototype, incorporates eddy current heating, and has 60 discrete convection regions. Thermal analysis is performed at nominal and maximum flow rates, and temperature distributions are plotted. Results suggest that the pump will not exceed a temperature rise of 2 degrees C during normal operation.

Flow and sorption controls of groundwater arsenic in individual boreholes from bedrock aquifers in central Maine, USA

USGS Publications Warehouse

Yang, Qiang; Culbertson, Charles W.; Nielsen, Martha G.; Schalk, Charles W.; Johnson, Carole D.; Marvinney, Robert G.; Stute, Martin; Zheng, Yan

2014-01-01

To understand the hydrogeochemical processes regulating well water arsenic (As) evolution in fractured bedrock aquifers, three domestic wells with [As] up to 478 μg/L are investigated in central Maine. Geophysical logging reveals that fractures near the borehole bottom contribute 70-100% of flow. Borehole and fracture water samples from various depths show significant proportions of As (up to 69%) and Fe (93-99%) in particulates (>0.45 μm). These particulates and those settled after a 16-day batch experiment contain 560-13,000 g/kg of As and 14-35% weight/weight of Fe. As/Fe ratios (2.5-20 mmol/mol) and As partitioning ratios (adsorbed/dissolved [As], 20,000-100,000 L/kg) suggest that As is sorbed onto amorphous hydrous ferric oxides. Newly drilled cores also show enrichment of As (up to 1300 mg/kg) sorbed onto secondary iron minerals on the fracture surfaces. Pumping at high flow rates induces large decreases in particulate As and Fe, a moderate increase in dissolved [As] and As(III)/As ratio, while little change in major ion chemistry. The δD and δ18O are similar for the borehole and fracture waters, suggesting a same source of recharge from atmospheric precipitation. Results support a conceptual model invoking flow and sorption controls on groundwater [As] in fractured bedrock aquifers whereby oxygen infiltration promotes the oxidation of As-bearing sulfides at shallower depths in the oxic portion of the flow path releasing As and Fe; followed by Fe oxidation to form Fe oxyhydroxide particulates, which are transported in fractures and sorb As along the flow path until intercepted by boreholes. In the anoxic portions of the flow path, reductive dissolution of As-sorbed iron particulates could re-mobilize As. For exposure assessment, we recommend sampling of groundwater without filtration to obtain total As concentration in groundwater.

Flow and sorption controls of groundwater arsenic in individual boreholes from bedrock aquifers in central Maine, USA.

PubMed

Yang, Qiang; Culbertson, Charles W; Nielsen, Martha G; Schalk, Charles W; Johnson, Carole D; Marvinney, Robert G; Stute, Martin; Zheng, Yan

2015-02-01

To understand the hydrogeochemical processes regulating well water arsenic (As) evolution in fractured bedrock aquifers, three domestic wells with [As] up to 478 μg/L are investigated in central Maine. Geophysical logging reveals that fractures near the borehole bottom contribute 70-100% of flow. Borehole and fracture water samples from various depths show significant proportions of As (up to 69%) and Fe (93-99%) in particulates (>0.45 μm). These particulates and those settled after a 16-day batch experiment contain 560-13,000 mg/kg of As and 14-35% weight/weight of Fe. As/Fe ratios (2.5-20 mmol/mol) and As partitioning ratios (adsorbed/dissolved [As], 20,000-100,000 L/kg) suggest that As is sorbed onto amorphous hydrous ferric oxides. Newly drilled cores also show enrichment of As (up to 1300 mg/kg) sorbed onto secondary iron minerals on the fracture surfaces. Pumping at high flow rates induces large decreases in particulate As and Fe, a moderate increase in dissolved [As] and As(III)/As ratio, while little change in major ion chemistry. The δD and δ(18)O are similar for the borehole and fracture waters, suggesting a same source of recharge from atmospheric precipitation. Results support a conceptual model invoking flow and sorption controls on groundwater [As] in fractured bedrock aquifers whereby oxygen infiltration promotes the oxidation of As-bearing sulfides at shallower depths in the oxic portion of the flow path releasing As and Fe; followed by Fe oxidation to form Fe oxyhydroxide particulates, which are transported in fractures and sorb As along the flow path until intercepted by boreholes. In the anoxic portions of the flow path, reductive dissolution of As-sorbed iron particulates could re-mobilize As. For exposure assessment, we recommend sampling of groundwater without filtration to obtain total As concentration in groundwater. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Mixing effects on nitrogen and oxygen concentrations and the relationship to mean residence time in a hyporheic zone of a riffle-pool sequence

USGS Publications Warehouse

Naranjo, Ramon C.; Niswonger, Richard G.; Clinton Davis,

2015-01-01

Flow paths and residence times in the hyporheic zone are known to influence biogeochemical processes such as nitrification and denitrification. The exchange across the sediment-water interface may involve mixing of surface water and groundwater through complex hyporheic flow paths that contribute to highly variable biogeochemically active zones. Despite the recognition of these patterns in the literature, conceptualization and analysis of flow paths and nitrogen transformations beneath riffle-pool sequences often neglect to consider bed form driven exchange along the entire reach. In this study, the spatial and temporal distribution of dissolved oxygen (DO), nitrate (NO3-) and ammonium (NH4+) were monitored in the hyporheic zone beneath a riffle-pool sequence on a losing section of the Truckee River, NV. Spatially-varying hyporheic exchange and the occurrence of multi-scale hyporheic mixing cells are shown to influence concentrations of DO and NO3- and the mean residence time (MRT) of riffle and pool areas. Distinct patterns observed in piezometers are shown to be influenced by the first large flow event following a steady 8 month period of low flow conditions. Increases in surface water discharge resulted in reversed hydraulic gradients and production of nitrate through nitrification at small vertical spatial scales (0.10 to 0.25 m) beneath the sediment-water interface. In areas with high downward flow rates and low MRT, denitrification may be limited. The use of a longitudinal two-dimensional flow model helped identify important mechanisms such as multi-scale hyporheic mixing cells and spatially varying MRT, an important driver for nitrogen transformation in the riverbed. Our observations of DO and NO3- concentrations and model simulations highlight the role of multi-scale hyporheic mixing cells on MRT and nitrogen transformations in the hyporheic zone of riffle-pool sequences. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Flow and sorption controls of groundwater arsenic in individual boreholes from bedrock aquifers in central Maine, USA

PubMed Central

Yang, Qiang; Culbertson, Charles W.; Nielsen, Martha G.; Schalk, Charles W.; Johnson, Carole D.; Marvinney, Robert G.; Stute, Martin; Zheng, Yan

2014-01-01

To understand the hydrogeochemical processes regulating well water arsenic (As) evolution in fractured bedrock aquifers, three domestic wells with [As] up to 478 µg/L are investigated in central Maine. Geophysical logging reveals that fractures near the borehole bottom contribute 70–100% of flow. Borehole and fracture water samples from various depths show significant proportions of As (up to 69%) and Fe (93–99%) in particulates (>0.45 µm). These particulates and those settled after a 16-day batch experiment contain 560–13,000 mg/kg of As and 14–35% weight/weight of Fe. As/Fe ratios (2.5–20 mmole/mole) and As partitioning ratios (adsorbed/dissolved [As], 20,000–100,000 L/kg) suggest that As is sorbed onto amorphous hydrous ferric oxides. Newly drilled cores also show enrichment of As (up to 1,300 mg/kg) sorbed onto secondary iron minerals on the fracture surfaces. Pumping at high flow rates induces large decreases in particulate As and Fe, a moderate increase in dissolved [As] and As(III)/As ratio, while little change in major ion chemistry. The δD and δ18O are similar for the borehole and fracture waters, suggesting a same source of recharge from atmospheric precipitation. Results support a conceptual model invoking flow and sorption controls on groundwater [As] in fractured bedrock aquifers whereby oxygen infiltration promotes oxidation of As-bearing sulfides at shallower depths in the oxic portion of the flow path releasing As and Fe; followed by Fe oxidation to form Fe oxyhydroxide particulates, which are transported in fractures and sorb As along the flow path until intercepted by boreholes. In the anoxic portions of the flow path, reductive dissolution of As-sorbed iron particulates could re-mobilize As. For exposure assessment, we recommend sampling of groundwater without filtration to obtain total As concentration in groundwater. PMID:24842411

Self-potential monitoring of a thermal pulse advecting through a preferential flow path

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ikard, S. J.; Revil, A.

2014-11-01

There is a need to develop new non-intrusive geophysical methods to detect preferential flow paths in heterogeneous porous media. A laboratory experiment is performed to non-invasively localize a preferential flow pathway in a sandbox using a heat pulse monitored by time-lapse self-potential measurements. Our goal is to investigate the amplitude of the intrinsic thermoelectric self-potential anomalies and the ability of this method to track preferential flow paths. A negative self-potential anomaly (-10 to -15 mV with respect to the background signals) is observed at the surface of the tank after hot water is injected in the upstream reservoir during steady state flow between the upstream and downstream reservoirs of the sandbox. Repeating the same experiment with the same volume of water injected upstream, but at the same temperature as the background pore water, produces a negligible self-potential anomaly. The negative self-potential anomaly is possibly associated with an intrinsic thermoelectric effect, with the temperature dependence of the streaming potential coupling coefficient, or with an apparent thermoelectric effect associated with the temperature dependence of the electrodes themselves. We model the experiment in 3D using a finite element code. Our results show that time-lapse self-potential signals can be used to track the position of traveling heat flow pulses in saturated porous materials, and therefore to find preferential flow pathways, especially in a very permeable environment and in real time. The numerical model and the data allows quantifying the intrinsic thermoelectric coupling coefficient, which is on the order of -0.3 to -1.8 mV per degree Celsius. The temperature dependence of the streaming potential during the experiment is negligible with respect to the intrinsic thermoelectric coupling. However, the temperature dependence of the potential of the electrodes needs to be accounted for and is far from being negligible if the electrodes experience temperature changes.

Effects of flow-path variations on internal reversing flow in a tailpipe offtake configuration for ASTOVL aircraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mcardle, Jack G.; Esker, Barbara S.

1993-01-01

A one-third-scale model of a generic tailpipe offtake system for an advanced short takeoff, vertical landing (ASTOVL) aircraft was tested at the NASA Lewis Research Center Powered Lift Facility. The basic model consisted of a tailpipe with a center body to form an annulus simulating turbine outflow with no swirl; twin offtake ducts with elbows at the ends to turn the flow to a downward direction; flow control nozzles at the ends of the elbows; and a blind flange at the end of the tailpipe to simulate a closed cruise nozzle. The offtake duct-to-tailpipe diameter ratio was 0.74. Modifications of a generic nature were then made to this basic configuration to measure the effects of flow-path changes on the flow and pressure-loss characteristics. The modifications included adding rounded entrances at the forward edges of the offtake openings, blocking the tailpipe just aft the openings instead of at the cruise nozzle, changing the location of the openings along the tailpipe, removing the center body, and varying the Mach number (flow rate) over a wide range in the tailpipe ahead of the openings by changing the size of the flow control nozzles. The tests were made with unheated air at tailpipe-to-ambient pressure ratios from 1.4 to 5. Results are presented and compared with performance graphs, total-pressure contour plots, paint streak flow visualization photographs, and a flow-angle probe traverse at the offtake entrance.