Browsing by Subject "convection"
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Item A numerical study of convection in a channel with porous baffles(Texas A&M University, 2005-02-17) Miranda, Bruno Monte Da SilvaThe effects on heat transfer in a two-dimensional parallel plate channel with sixteen porous baffles in a staggered arrangement with a uniform heat flux heating applied to the top and bottom walls has been numerically investigated. Developing Flow (DF) was considered for this study. The Brinkman-Forchheimer-extended Darcy model was used for modeling the heat transfer and fluid flow through the porous baffles. The flow was assumed to be laminar. A finite volume based method in conjunction with the SIMPLEC algorithm was used to solve the model equations. Calculations were made by varying several independent parameters such as Reynolds number (Re), Darcy number ⎞ (Da), thermal conductivity ratio ⎛⎜ k e kf ⎠⎟ , baffle thickness ( * ) , non-dimensional w ⎝ baffle spacing ( * ) , and non-dimensional baffle height ( * ) . w The results of the study established that porous baffles out perform solid baffles from a pressure drop point of view. However, porous baffles under perform solid baffles from a heat transfer point of view. The ratio representing increase in heat transfer per unit increase in pumping power (heat transfer performance ratio) was found to be less than unity for all cases. Increasing the Darcy number was found to produce less desirable heat transfer enhancement ratios. Increasing the non-dimensional baffle spacing (d/w) and the baffle aspect ratio (H/w) were found to enhance heat transfer.Item Analysis of the Reactor Cavity Cooling System for Very High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactors Using Computational Fluid Dynamics Tools(2011-08-08) Frisani, AngeloThe design of passive heat removal systems is one of the main concerns for the modular Very High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors (VHTR) vessel cavity. The Reactor Cavity Cooling System (RCCS) is an important heat removal system in case of accidents. The design and validation of the RCCS is necessary to demonstrate that VHTRs can survive to the postulated accidents. The commercial Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) STAR-CCM+/ V3.06.006 code was used for three-dimensional system modeling and analysis of the RCCS. Two models were developed to analyze heat exchange in the RCCS. Both models incorporate a 180 degree section resembling the VHTR RCCS bench table test facility performed at Texas A&M University. All the key features of the experimental facility were taken into account during the numerical simulations. Two cooling fluids (i.e., water and air) were considered to test the capability of maintaining the RCCS concrete walls temperature below design limits. Mesh convergence was achieved with an intensive parametric study of the two different cooling configurations and selected boundary conditions. To test the effect of turbulence modeling on the RCCS heat exchange, predictions using several different turbulence models and near-wall treatments were evaluated and compared. The models considered included the first-moment closure one equation Spalart-Allmaras model, the first-moment closure two-equation k-e and k-w models and the second-moment closure Reynolds Stress Transport (RST) model. For the near wall treatments, the low y+ and the all y+ wall treatments were considered. The two-layer model was also used to investigate the effect of near-wall treatment. The comparison of the experimental data with the simulations showed a satisfactory agreement for the temperature distribution inside the RCCS cavity medium and at the standpipes walls. The tested turbulence models demonstrated that the Realizable k-e model with two-layer all y+ wall treatment performs better than the other k-e models for such a complicated geometry and flow conditions. Results are in satisfactory agreement with the RST simulations and experimental data available. A scaling analysis was developed to address the distortion introduced by the experimental facility and CFD model in simulating the physics inside the RCCS system with respect to the real plant configuration. The scaling analysis demonstrated that both the experimental facility and CFD model give a satisfactory reproduction of the main flow characteristics inside the RCCS cavity region, with convection and radiation heat exchange phenomena being properly scaled from the real plant to the model analyzed.Item Heat transfer enhancement for turbulent flow through blockages with elongated holes in a rectangular channel(Texas A&M University, 2007-09-17) Lee, YongheeIn this thesis, turbulent forced convective heat transfer downstream of blockages with elongated holes in a rectangular channel was studied. The rectangular channel has a width-to-height ratio of 12:1. The blockages have the same cross section as that of the channel. The diameter of all elongated holes of the blockages is three quarters of the channel height. The blockages are classified into two different types with two different hole-to-blockage area ratios (ratio of total crosssectional area of holes to cross-sectional surface area of the blockage) of 0.5 or 0.6. For each hole-to-blockage area ratio, the blockages are again subdivided into three different cases using three different aspect ratios (hole-width-to-height ratio) which are determined by the number of holes four, six, and eight holes per blockage. Experiments for total six different cases of blockages were performed under a uniform wall temperature condition (50C). The experiments were conducted at three different Reynolds numbers of about 7,000, 12,000, and 17,000, respectively. Three copper plate heaters with twenty one embedded thermocouples were used to measure the average heat transfer on the surface of channel walls between two consecutive blockages. Results from this study showed that the blockages with elongated holes enhance the average heat transfer by up to 5.06 and 4.08 times that by fully developed turbulent flow through a smooth channel at the same Reynolds numbers for small and large holeto- blockage area ratios, respectively. The friction factor ratios for small and large holeto- blockage area ratios of the blockages reached 345 and 89 times, respectively, that by fully developed turbulent flow through a smooth channel at the same Reynolds numbers. TP (Thermal Performance) values varied from 0.65 to 1.11 depending on cases. According to the results, Case L-2, which has six elongated holes and hole-toblockage area ratio of 0.6, is the best option from the TP point of view. But Case S-2, which also had six elongated holes and hole-to-blockage area ratio of 0.5, can be an alternative when more weight should be put on the heat transfer enhancement than TP value.Item Heat Transfer in Rectangular Channels (AR=2:1) of the Gas Turbine Blade at High Rotation Numbers(2011-08-03) Lei, Jiang 1980-Gas turbine blade/vane cooling is obtained by circulating the high pressure air from compressor to the internal cooling passage of the blade/vane. Heat transfer and cooling effect in the rotating blade is highly affected by rotation. The typical rotation number for the aircraft engine is in the range of 0~0.25 and for the land based power generation turbine in the range of 0~05. Currently, the heat transfer data at high rotation numbers are limited. Besides, the investigation of heat transfer phenomena in the turn region, especially near hub portion is rare. This dissertation is to study the heat transfer in rectangular channels with turns in the tip or the hub portion respectively at high rotation numbers close to the engine condition. The dissertation experimentally investigates the heat transfer phenomena in a two-pass rectangular channel (AR=W/H=2:1) with a 180 degree sharp turn in the tip portion. The flow in the first passage is radial outward and after the turn in the second passage, the flow direction is radial inward. The hydraulic diameter (Dh) of the channel is 16.9 mm. Parallel square ribs with an attack angle (alpha) of 45 degrees are used on leading and trailing surfaces to enhance the heat transfer. The rib height-to-hydraulic diameter ratio (e/Dh) is 0.094. For the baseline smooth case and the case with rib pitch-to-height ratio (P/e) 10, channel orientation angles (beta) of 90 degrees and 135 degrees were tried to model the cooling passage in the mid and rear portion of the blade respectively. Two other P/e ratios of 5 and 7.5 were studied at beta=135 degrees to investigate their effect on heat transfer. The data are presented under high rotation numbers and buoyancy parameters by varying the Reynolds number (Re=10,000~40,000) and rotation speed (rpm=0~400). Corresponding rotation number and buoyancy parameter are ranged as 0~0.45 and 0~0.8 respectively. The dissertation also studies the heat transfer in a two-pass channel (AR=2:1) connected by a 180 degree U bend in the hub portion. The flow in the first passage is radial inward and after the U bend, the flow in the second passage is radial outward. The cross-section dimension of this channel is the same as the previous one. To increase heat transfer, staggered square ribs (e/Dh=0.094) are pasted on leading and trailing walls with an attack angle (alpha) of 45 degrees and pitch-to-height ratio (P/e) of 8. A turning vane in the shape of half circle (R=18.5 mm, t=1.6 mm) is used in the turn region to guide the flow for both smooth and ribbed cases. Channel orientation angles (beta) of 90 degrees and 135 degrees were taken for both smooth and ribbed cases. The heat transfer data were taken at high rotation numbers close to previous test section.Item Low-level convergence and its role in convective intensity and frequency over the Houston lightning and rainfall anomaly(Texas A&M University, 2007-09-17) McNear, Veronica AnnAn increase in the amount of lightning and rainfall over the Houston area, compared to the surrounding rural areas, has been well documented in previous studies. The placement of a Shared Mobile Atmospheric Research and Teaching Radar (SMART-R) in the Houston area during the summer season of 2005 presented a unique opportunity to investigate the role of boundary-layer convergence in modulating convective frequency and intensity and, thereby, likely causing the rainfall and lightning anomalies. The role of the urban heat island (UHI) and the sea-breeze, as a source of low-level convergence leading to enhanced convection over Houston, was examined. Hourly average dual-Doppler wind and convergence maps were created on 1 X 1 km grids for an eleven-week period. By using these images along with average lightning, rainfall, and reflectivity for a large Houston-centered domain, it was possible to discern a correlation between low-level convergence and convection. Also, past findings of enhancement in lightning and rainfall over Houston and downwind of Houston were validated. High convergence levels for the Houston area in the mid-morning were followed closely by a peak in convection in the early afternoon. The enhancement of rainfall and lightning over and downwind of downtown was found to be primarily from a large increase in frequency of deep convective events when compared to the surrounding domain. Also, it was found that UHI, rather than sea-breeze, was likely the primary causative mechanism in the development of convection over the Houston area because of the lack of deep convection in areas equally affected by the sea-breeze and the timing of the convection compared to time of peak sea-breeze. An area of weaker enhancement south of Houston, not discussed in previous studies, was found to be present, possibly from the interactions between the bay-breeze off of the Galveston Bay and the seabreeze.Item Radar Observations of MJO and Kelvin Wave Interactions During DYNAMO/AMIE/CINDY2011(2013-07-05) DePasquale, Amanda MicheleThe Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO), a tropical phenomenon that exists on the time scale of 30-90 days, commonly initiates over the Indian Ocean and slowly propagates into the western Pacific as a series of convective events, which have time scales on the order of hours or days. These events and the overall MJO convective envelope may interact with convectively coupled waves such as Kelvin waves that propagate more rapidly eastward with time scales of 3-5 days. Radar and sounding data collected during the DYNAMO/AMIE/CINDY2011 field campaign from October 2011 to February 2012 in the central Indian Ocean are used to study the interaction between Kelvin waves and the MJO in terms of atmospheric and cloud properties. The focus is on characterizing the precipitation characteristics, convective cloud spectrum, and atmospheric profiles of Kelvin waves during the active and suppressed phases of the MJO to gain insight on MJO initiation. Characteristics of waves identified using different satellite thresholds and filtering methods are compared. Composites of the radar and sounding observations are calculated for a total of ten Kelvin waves and three MJO events that occurred during the field campaign. Analyzed radar products include convective-stratiform classification of rain rate, rain area, and echo-top heights, as well as cloud boundaries. Sounding data includes profiles of wind speed and direction and relative humidity. Kelvin waves that occur during the suppressed MJO are convectively weaker than Kelvin waves during the active MJO, but display previously documented structure of low-level convergence and a moist atmosphere prior to the wave passage. During the active MJO, Kelvin waves have stronger convective and stratiform rain, and the entire event is longer, suggesting a slower moving wave. The Kelvin wave vertical structure is somewhat overwhelmed by the convective envelope associated with the MJO. When the MJO is developing, the Kelvin wave displays a moisture-rich environment after the passage, providing deep tropospheric moisture that is postulated to be important for the onset of the MJO. The convective cloud population prior to MJO initiation shows increased moisture and a population of low- to mid-level clouds. The moisture precedes shallow convection, which develops into the deep convection of the MJO, supporting the discharge-recharge theory of MJO initiation. Additionally, enhanced moisture after the passage of the pre-MJO Kelvin wave could also support the frictional Kelvin-Rossby wave-CISK theory of MJO initiation. With a better understanding of the interaction between the initiation of the MJO and Kelvin waves, the relationships between the environment and the onset of the convection of the MJO can be improved.Item Total lightning observations of severe convection over North Texas(2009-05-15) McKinney, Christopher MichaelFive severe convective cells over North Texas from three separate dates were examined to determine what three dimensional, or ?total? lightning data can add to the understanding of a convective cell?s intensity, propagation, and severe weather potential. Total lightning data were obtained from Vaisala Inc.?s Dallas/Fort Worth (D/FW) Lightning Detection and Ranging (LDAR) network. Radar data from two Weather Surveillance Radar ? 1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) sites were used for position data and information regarding the intensity and kinematic properties of each cell. Total lightning products used by the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Fort Worth, Texas were compared to total lightning flash rate; a quantity that has been shown to be correlated to changes in cell intensity inferred from other sources, such as radar and satellite data. These products, specifically flash extent density (FED) were also compared to CG flash rate and radar derived measures from the WSR-88D sites. The results of this work show that FED and total flash rate are well correlated, with an average Pearson correlation value of 0.73, indicating that previous total flash rate results may also apply to FED. Lightning hooks, holes, and notches in FED displays indicated likely updraft regions, while appendages were observed to develop prior to deviant motion with two supercells. These results, combined with a greater update frequency provided a useful complement to radar data in the warning decision process. FED jumps were observed prior to several severe weather reports, indicating that total lightning activity may be related to updraft strength as found in past studies. However, FED jumps were sometimes observed without any associated severe event. More work is clearly needed to define what FED changes are of most importance in the short-term prediction of storm severity. The usefulness of the total lightning data on these dates was dependant upon LDAR network status and distance of the cell from the network center. The results of this study suggest that combining total flash rate trends with visual displays of FED provides the greatest added benefit to forecasters in maintaining situational awareness during warning operations.