Sorption thermal storage for solar energy

A new method for accelerating projectiles from velocities of ~0.7 km/s up to -12 km/s using chemical energy is presented in this paper. The concept, called the "ram accelerator," is based on gasdynamic principles similar to those of an airbreathing ramjet but operates in a different manner. The projectile, which resembles the center body of a ramjet, travels through a tube filled with a premixed gaseous fuel and oxidizer mixture. The tube becomes the outer cowling of the ramjet, and the energy release process travels with the projectile. By tailoring the propellant mixture along the tube, a nearly constant acceleration can be achieved. In principle, the ram accelerator can be scaled for projectile masses ranging from grams to hundreds of kilograms and is capable of ballistic efficiencies as high as 30%. A straightforwar d, quasisteady, one-dimensional approach is used to model the acceleration process. The experimental facility developed to investigate the concept is described, and the results of recent experiments are presented. The velocity range of 690-1500 m/s has been explored in a 4.88-m long, 38-mm bore accelerator tube. Using methane, oxygen, and various diluents, accelerations of up to 16,000 g have been achieved with 75 gm projectiles and gas fill pressures of 20 atm. Proof of concept has been demonstrated, and agreement between theory and experiment has been found to be very good.

Ram accelerator - A new chemical method for accelerating projectilesto ultrahigh velocities

A review of acoustic dampers applied to combustion chambers in aerospace industry

https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01320509/document

Exploration of combustion instability triggering using Large Eddy Simulation of a multiple injector Liquid Rocket Engine

Energy storage has become an important part in renewable energy technology systems. Solar thermal systems, unlike photovoltaic systems with striving efficiencies, are industrially matured, and utilize major part of sun's thermal energy during the day. Yet, it does not have enough (thermal) backup to keep operating during the low or no solar radiation hours. New materials are selected, characterized, and enhanced in their thermo-physical properties to serve the purpose of a 24 h operation in an efficient thermal energy storage system (TESS). Solar absorption refrigeration system requires a continuous operation in many of its applications (food storage, space cooling etc), which in turn requires an efficient TES system utilizing material with high heat of fusion, eg. phase change materials (PCMs). This review is a comprehensive evaluation of suitable PCM selection, methodologies of integration, enhancements and challenges for operating temperatures of each component in a single-effect solar absorption system affecting its performance. Observations and lessons from previous studies are discussed in detail. Recommendations based on investigation results, advantages and drawback of PCMs, PCM enhancement options, energy, exergy and cost analysis are made for the future research direction.

A review for phase change materials (PCMs) in solar absorption refrigeration systems

Solar absorption air conditioning alternatives

The topic of this paper is the computational modeling and experimental visualization of gas injection in a large bore engine. The injection process is accomplished through the use of a mechanically or electrically controlled poppet valve. The objective of the paper is to more fully understand the significance of the poppet valve and the piston top in controlling the mixing of the injected fuel with the air in the cylinder. In this paper, the flow past the poppet valve into the engine cylinder is computed using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for both a low (4 bar) and a high pressure (34 bar) injection process using unshrouded and shrouded valves. Flow visualization using planar laser induced fluorescence (PLIF) is used to visualize the actual fluid flow. The results indicate that for low pressures the gas flow around the poppet valve collapses downstream of the poppet. At high pressure, the gas flow does not collapse, but flows along the cylinder wall, producing poor mixing in the cylinder. To obtain satisfactory fluid flow at high pressure, the results indicated a shroud should be employed around the poppet valve to direct the gas into the center of the cylinder. Additional computations show that at top dead center, the flammable mixture and fuel mass fraction for the high-pressure injection are significantly greater than for the low-pressure injection.Copyright © 2002 by ASME

Computational Modeling of Natural Gas Injection in a Large Bore Engine

The topic of this paper is the computational modeling of the gas injection process in a large-bore natural gas fueled engine. At high injection pressures, the overall gas injection and mixing process includes compressible flow features such as rarefaction waves and shock formation. The injection geometries examined in the paper include both a two-dimensional slot and an axisymmetric nozzle. The computations examine the effect of the supply pressure/cylinder stagnation pressure ratio, with ratios ranging from 3 to 80, on the velocity and pressure profiles in the near field region. Computational fluid dynamics modeling was compared with results obtained from a two-dimensional analytical method of characteristics solution and experimental results. The comparison process evaluated factors such as pressure and Mach number profiles, jet boundary shape, and shock location.

Characteristic and Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling of High-Pressure Gas Jet Injection

Recent testing of exhaust emissions from large bore natural gas engines has indicated that formaldehyde (CH 2 O) is present in amounts that are significant relative to hazardous air pollutant standards. In consequence, a detailed literature review has been carried out at Colorado State University to assess the current state of knowledge about formaldehyde formation mechanisms and evaluate its applicability to gas engines. In this paper the following topics from that review, which bear directly on formaldehyde formation in natural gas engines, are discussed; (1) post combustion equilibrium concentrations; (2) chemical kinetics; (3) flame propagation and structure; (4) partial oxidation possibilities; and (5) potential paths for engine out formaldehyde. Relevant data taken from the literature on equilibrium concentrations and in-flame temperatures and concentrations are presented in graphical form. A map of possible paths for engine out formaldehyde is used to summarize results of the review, and conclusions relative to formation and destruction mechanisms are presented.

Formaldehyde Formation in Large Bore Natural Gas Engines Part 1: Formation Mechanisms

In this work the tracer gas method using nitrous oxide as the tracer gas is implemented on a stationary two-stroke cycle, four-cylinder, fuel-injected large-bore natural gas engine. The engine is manufactured by Cooper-Bessemer, model number GMV-4TF. It is representative of the large bore natural gas stationary engine fleet currently in use by the natural gas industry for natural gas compression and power generation. Trapping efficiency measurements are carried out with the tracer gas method at various engine operating conditions, and used to evaluate the scavenging efficiency and trapped A/F ratio. Scavenging efficiency directly affects engine power and trapped A/F ratio has a dramatic impact on pollutant emissions. Engine operating conditions are altered through variations in boost pressure, speed, back pressure, and intake port restriction.

Charles E. Mitchell

Papers

Solar absorption air conditioning alternatives

Computational Modeling of Natural Gas Injection in a Large Bore Engine

Characteristic and Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling of High-Pressure Gas Jet Injection

Formaldehyde Formation in Large Bore Natural Gas Engines Part 1: Formation Mechanisms

Development of the Tracer Gas Method for Large Bore Natural Gas Engines—Part II: Measurement of Scavenging Parameters