Assumption Of Local Equilibrium Research Articles

Exploring subgrid-scale variance models in LES of lab-scale methane fire plumes

Large Eddy Simulation (LES) of the lab-scale methane fire plumes investigated experimentally by McCaffrey is performed using the steady laminar flamelet/presumed beta filtered density function model on grids of different resolution ranging from the Taylor length scale to about six times the Kolmogorov length scale. This work focuses on investigating existing subgrid (SGS) mixing models for mixture fraction variance prediction. Three different models based on the local equilibrium assumption, the variance transport equation (VTE) and the second moment transport equation (STE) are assessed. In the non-equilibrium modelling (VTE and STE), the scalar dissipation rate is modelled with an algebraic expression involving an SGS mixing time-scale. The comparison of the solutions is based on the convergence properties of LES statistics for mixture fraction, temperature and axial velocity with respect to the filter width. The simulations show that the equilibrium algebraic model is not suitable for purely buoyant flows. On the other hand, simulations performed with the transport models show that grids coarser than 1 cm cannot resolve adequately the natural laminar instability near the edge of the plume that governs the formation of large-scale vortex and, therefore, underestimate the mixing process, especially in the lower part of the continuous flame. For grid resolutions finer than 1 cm, the STE model is less sensitive to grid refinement than the VTE formulation and differences between the two models are reduced with grid refinement. The STE model predicts also a stronger mixing, resulting in a slightly larger lateral expansion of the fire plume. Predicted solutions by the two models are in quantitative agreement with the experimental data in terms of axial temperature, velocity and temperature fluctuations.

A hybrid dynamic Smagorinsky model for large eddy simulation

A hybrid dynamic subgrid-scale model (HDSM) pertaining to Large-eddy simulation (LES) has been developed. The coefficient obtained by German dynamic Smagorinsky model (DSM) was integrated with a new dynamic coefficient, based on the dynamic subgrid characteristic length and controlled by the subgrid-scale (SGS) motions. In HDSM, the characteristic wave number determining the characteristic length of the dynamic subgrid is calculated from a new energy weighted mean method when the subgrid scale turbulent kinetic energy and the dissipation wave number are known. The dissipation wave-number is derived from the SGS turbulent kinetic energy spectrum equation. The total dissipation rate spectrum equation is based on the Pao energy spectrum and local equilibrium assumption. The dynamic subgrid characteristic length could take into account the rapidly fluctuating small scale behaviours and the spatial variation of turbulent characteristics. HDSM was used to simulate the fully developed channel and turbulent flow past a circular cylinder, and to determine the impact of the dam-break flow on downstream structure. The HDSM is robust in respect to anisotropic mesh and is less sensitive to grid resolution, and would accurately describe the energy transfer from large-scale to SGS fluctuations and capture more fluctuations of turbulence with same meshes compared to the DSM.

Approximate analytical characterization and multi-parametric optimization design of single-tank thermocline heat storage system

Compared with two tank thermal energy storage (TES) system, the single-tank thermocline (STTC) TES system provides a more cost-effective option for TES systems with low-cost solid filler, and it is progressively becoming an important research topic. In this study, analytical approach solutions derived from the one-dimensional two-phase (1D-2P) without heat loss model and one-dimensional one-phase (1D-1P) with heat loss model in the STTC system are compared with experimental data, it is found that local thermal equilibrium assumption is inappropriate in the thermocline tank because the internal heat transfer in fluid and solid is dominant. Besides, the analytical approach results of 1D-2P model are more exact than numerical results compared with experimental data. The algebraic equations of non-dimensional discharging time and discharging efficiency are derived from analytical modeling results. Based on these important correlations, a multi-parametric optimization design procedure of the thermocline tank considering of stress safety requirement is proposed. Then different design cases are studied and the effects of some critical non-dimensional parameters are investigated. The results show that optimal Pe number exists for designing a thermocline TES system, with which convection heat transfer is dominant and final discharging time is not that short. For the PROMES experimental case, not only the output power increases 145.9% but also the final discharging efficiency improves 0.75% compared with the experimental boundary condition with the optimum Pe = 960.63. Larger value of fluid volumtric heat capacity ratio and higher Bi number increases efficient discharging time and discharging efficiency while decreases thermocline thickness, the improvement is highly significant especially for Bi < 1 × 106.

Influence of Collisions with Hydrogen Atoms on Non-LTE Effects for K I and Ca II in Stellar Atmospheres

We have constructed a new K I model atom using currently available atomic data. We have performed calculations for K I by abandoning the assumption of local thermodynamic equilibrium (non-LTE) for the Sun and three moderately metal-poor dwarf stars. To take into account the inelastic processes in collisions with hydrogen atoms, for the first time we have used the rate constants calculated by including the fine structure of K I levels and analyzed the influence of their application on the non-LTE results compared to the use of the rate constants calculated for combined levels. In agreement with the non-LTE studies available in the literature, K I is subject to overrecombination, which leads to a strengthening of spectral lines and negative abundance corrections. The non-LTE effects are shown to weaken when using new collisional data. We reached the same conclusion when comparing the non-LTE corrections calculated for the Ca II 8662 A line in model atmospheres with $$\textrm{[Fe/H]}={-}4.5$$ using the Ca II $$+$$ H I collision rates derived with and without allowance for the fine structure of Ca II levels. However, the effect is very small for the other two triplet lines, Ca II 8498 and 8542 A. The solar non-LTE abundance $$\log\varepsilon_{\textrm{K}}=5.09\pm 0.08$$ derived from five lines is consistent with the meteoritic one within 0.01 dex. Despite the fact that in the atmospheres of the program stars the departures from LTE are larger than those in the Sun, the differential abundance [K/H] is almost independent of which collisional data set is used: the one calculated with or without allowance for the fine structure of K I levels.

Chemical Analysis of Zooplankton by Calibration-Free Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

Ratios of light metals (Li, Na, K, Mg, and Ca) in zooplankton (Calanus spp.) were determined by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy without reference samples under the assumption of local thermodynamic equilibrium. The temperature of plasma formed as a result of laser ablation of zooplankton was estimated from the CN rotation–vibration bands, and the electron density was estimated from the Stark broadening of Mg I 383.23 nm, Li I 610.37 nm, and Ca II 396.85 nm lines. These experimentally determined parameters were used for plasma modeling, taking into account the transport of radiation. This made possible a selection of analytical emission lines free from self-absorption. The results are compared with the results of elemental analysis by atomic emission and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The influence of the ionization equilibrium on the correctness of results is discussed. The described method is proposed to be used for direct semiquantitative determination of Li, Mg, and Ca ratios in zooplankton.

Time-resolved temperature profile measurements in the exhaust of a single sector gas turbine combustor at realistic operating conditions

Records of the time-varying temperature profile at flight relevant operating conditions are acquired at the exit of a combustion chamber fitted with a staged, lean-burn fuel injector using high-speed laser induced fluorescence (LIF) at a sample rate of 10 kHz. Temperatures are estimated from the concentration dependent fluorescence of the hydroxyl (OH) radical under the assumption of local equilibrium. Beyond the time-series analysis, the acquired data is correlated with simultaneously acquired OH chemiluminescence sampled in the primary zone near the fuel injector. These analyses reveal a strong influence from the precessing vortex core, originating in the primary zone, on oscillations in the temperature profiles measured at the exit of the combustor.Graphic abstract

Quantification of hydrogen trapping in multiphase steels: Part II – Effect of austenite morphology

We tackle the role of austenite in multiphase steels on hydrogen diffusion systematically for the first time, considering a range of factors such as morphology, interface kinetics and the additional effect of point traps using both experiments and modelling. This follows the findings from part I where we showed that austenite cannot be parametrised and modelled as point traps under the assumption of local equilibrium, unlike grain boundaries and dislocations. To solve this, we introduce a 2D hydrogen diffusion model accounting for the difference in diffusivities and solubilities between the phases. We first revisit the as-quenched martensite permeation results from part I and show that the extremely low H diffusivity there can be partly explained with the new description of austenite but is partly likely due to quench vacancies. We then also look at the H absorption and desorption rates in a duplex steel as a case study using a combination of simulations and experiments. The rates are shown to depend heavily on austenite morphology and the kinetics of H transition from ferrite to austenite and that an energy barrier is likely associated to this transition. We show that H diffusion through the ferrite matrix and austenite islands proceeds at similar rates and the assumption of negligible concentration gradients in ferrite occasionally applied in the literature is a poor approximation. This approach is also applicable to other austenite-containing steels as well as other multiphase alloys.

Similarity Solutions for Local Thermal Non-equilibrium Boundary-Layer Flows in a Fluid-Saturated Porous Medium

A general boundary-layer coordinate transformation was proposed in order to find the necessary conditions under which similarity solutions exist for free, forced and mixed convective Darcian flows subject to local thermal non-equilibrium. The aim of this study is to present the effects of local thermal non-equilibrium on the boundary-layer heat transfer in porous media, identifying each of the parameters controlling the thermal boundary-layer development. The findings of this systematic study are quite beneficial to those dealing with thermal applications using porous media. Similarity solutions are found to exist for such local thermal non-equilibrium cases as forced convection around the stagnation regions of horizontal cylinder and sphere heated according to a power function of the distance from the stagnation point, free convection over a vertical plate with its temperature increasing linearly, and free and mixed convection around the stagnation regions of isothermally heated horizontal cylinder and sphere. The study clearly indicates that the local thermal equilibrium assumption results in substantial overestimation of heat transfer rates. The local non-equilibrium effects must be considered when the modified interstitial Stanton number is less than its criterion value around 10.

Contributions of chemical potential to the diffusive Seebeck coefficient for bulk semiconductor materials

Predicting the behaviors of thermoelectric material, such as the Seebeck coefficient, using first-principle material properties will accelerate material design and selection to optimize the performance of thermoelectric generator. This paper presents an analytic framework for the Seebeck coefficient. Particularly, it elucidates the important contribution of chemical potential to the overall Seebeck coefficient. This factor, however, is often neglected when Seebeck coefficient is defined based on only electrostatic potential or when methods based on the Boltzmann transportation equation is used to derive the expression of the Seebeck coefficient. (The diffusion component due to chemical potential gradient is generally ignored.) In this paper, methods based on local equilibrium assumption and Fermi–Dirac distribution are utilized to derive the expressions for the Seebeck coefficients using the first-principle parameters. The analytic expression of both the total Seebeck coefficient and the contribution from chemical potential component is derived, which is solved using numerical methods. A case study on a popular thermoelectric material bismuth telluride (both n-type and p-type) is conducted based on the derived expressions. Results of numerical calculations prove that chemical potential contributes significantly to the total Seebeck coefficient of bismuth telluride (76% for n-type and 88% for p-type materials, respectively, at room temperature if the materials are doped with shallow energy level impurities) when working under optimal Seebeck coefficient conditions.

Improving spectroscopic lithium abundances

Context. Accurate spectroscopic lithium abundances are essential in addressing a variety of open questions, such as the origin of a uniform lithium content in the atmospheres of metal-poor stars (Spite plateau) or the existence of a correlation between the properties of extrasolar planetary systems and the lithium abundance in the atmosphere of their host stars. Aims. We have developed a tool that allows the user to improve the accuracy of standard lithium abundance determinations based on 1D model atmospheres and the assumption of local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) by applying corrections that account for hydrodynamic (3D) and non-LTE (NLTE) effects in FGK stars of different metallicity. Methods. Based on a grid of CO5BOLD 3D models and associated 1D hydrostatic atmospheres, we computed three libraries of synthetic spectra of the lithium λ 670.8 nm line for a wide range of lithium abundances, accounting for detailed line formation in 3D NLTE, 1D NLTE, and 1D LTE, respectively. The resulting curves-of-growth were then used to derive 3D NLTE and 1D NLTE lithium abundance corrections. Results. For all metallicities, the largest corrections are found at the coolest effective temperature, Teff = 5000 K. They are mostly positive, up to + 0.2 dex, for the weakest lines (lithium abundance A(Li)1DLTE = 1.0), whereas they become more negative towards lower metallicities, where they can reach − 0.4 dex for the strongest lines (A(Li)1DLTE = 3.0) at [Fe/H] = − 2.0. We demonstrate that 3D and NLTE effects are small for metal-poor stars on the Spite plateau, leading to errors of at most ± 0.05 dex if ignored. We present analytical functions evaluating the 3D NLTE and 1D NLTE corrections as a function of Teff [5000…6500 K], log g [3.5…4.5], and LTE lithium abundance A(Li) [1.0…3.0] for a fixed grid of metallicities [Fe∕H] [ − 3.0…0.0]. In addition, we also provide analytical fitting functions for directly converting a given lithium abundance into an equivalent width, or vice versa, a given equivalent width (EW) into a lithium abundance. For convenience, a Python script is made available that evaluates all fitting functions for given Teff, log g, [Fe∕H], and A(Li) or EW. Conclusions. By means of the fitting functions developed in this work, the results of complex 3D and NLTE calculations are made readily accessible and quickly applicable to large samples of stars across a wide range of metallicities. Improving the accuracy of spectroscopic lithium abundance determinations will contribute to a better understanding of the open questions related to the lithium content in metal-poor and solar-like stellar atmospheres.

Numerical investigation of porous stack for a solar-powered thermoacoustic refrigerator

This article proposes a numerical analysis for performance improvement of the stack, which represents a crucial element on the solar-powered thermoacoustic refrigerator. The stack is considered as a saturated parallelepiped homogeneous porous media. Numerical simulation of the flow and the heat transfer in the thermoacoustic refrigerator is carried out. The physical flow is governed by the modified Darcy–Brinkmann–Forchheimer model. The governing equations are solved numerically using the lattice Boltzmann method. Furthermore, the local thermal equilibrium assumption is applied to examine heat transfer. Particular attention is paid a new form of the lattice Boltzmann equation system describing the flow and the heat transfer in porous media and fluid regions. The effects of several parameters characterizing the thermal behaviour in the porous medium are studied. The parametric results lead to the optimization of the porous media form. The presence of the viscous dissipation term in the heat transfer formulation within the thermoacoustic system is particularly highlighted, due to its significant effects introduced by the Eckert number.

Quantification of hydrogen trapping in multiphase steels: Part I – Point traps in martensite

We quantified systematically the H trap density in martensite resulting from the presence of dislocations, grain boundaries and retained austenite through a combination of detailed microstructural characterisation, H permeation, thermal desorption and diffusion modelling. This thorough analysis allowed for the first time to deconvolve key microstructural constituents affecting H diffusion in multi-trap martensite. Three microstructures were investigated – as-quenched, tempered at 300 °C and tempered at 450 °C. The first two microstructures had identical dislocation densities and grain size, while the as-quenched one also contained 3.5 vol.% of retained austenite. The two tempered microstructures showed a large difference in dislocation density with few other microstructural differences. The as-quenched microstructure exhibited over an order of magnitude lower H diffusivity and increased H trapping due to retained austenite, while the tempered samples exhibited very similar diffusivities, indicating that dislocations have a limited effect on H trapping. Trap density scaling laws were successfully identified and validated through diffusion simulations and experiments. It was also shown that in martensite and heavily deformed ferrite, where the average grain size is small, grain boundaries are more effective trapping sites than dislocations. Our results also show that retained austenite cannot be effectively modelled as a point trap under the local equilibrium assumption, which is frequently used to model its effect on H diffusion, and that bulk trapping must be considered at least in two dimensions, which is addressed in part II of this series.

Effects of cementite size and chemistry on the kinetics of austenite formation during heating of a high-formability steel

To understand how austenite forms in high-formability steels during the heating step of intercritical annealing, calculations based on atomic diffusion and local equilibrium assumption were used to simulate the transformation kinetics. It appears that chromium must be considered in the calculations to allow for a good fit with the austenite formation kinetics obtained by dilatometry. Indeed, Cr has a strong delaying effect on this kinetics, even though it is a minor element in the steel chemistry. The parametric study reveals that cementite initial radius is the most influential parameter on transformation kinetics. Mn and Cr enrichments also prove to be important parameters to consider.

NLTE for APOGEE: simultaneous multi-element NLTE radiative transfer

Context.Relaxing the assumption of local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) in modelling stellar spectra is a necessary step to determine chemical abundances to better than about 10% in late-type stars.Aims.We describe our multi-element (Na, Mg, K, and Ca) non-LTE (NLTE) calculations, which can be applied to the APOGEE survey.Methods.The new version ofTLUSTYallows for the calculation of restricted NLTE in cool stars using pre-calculated opacity tables. We demonstrate thatTLUSTYgives consistent results withMULTI, a well-tested code for NLTE in cool stars. We usedTLUSTYto perform LTE and a series of NLTE calculations that simultaneously used all combinations of one, two, three and four of the elements in NLTE.Results.We take into account that departures from LTE in one element can affect others through changes in the opacities of Na, Mg, K, and Ca. We find that atomic Mg, which provides strong UV opacity and exhibits significant departures from LTE in the low-energy states, can affect the NLTE populations of Ca, leading to abundance corrections as large as 0.07 dex. The differences in the derived abundances between the single-element and the multi-element cases can exceed those between the single-element NLTE determinations and an LTE analysis. We therefore caution that this is not always a second-order effect. Based on detailed tests for three stars with reliable atmospheric parameters (Arcturus, Procyon, and the Sun), we conclude that our NLTE calculations provide abundance corrections that can in the optical amount to 0.1, 0.2, and 0.7 dex for Ca, Na and K, but LTE is a good approximation for Mg. In theH-band, NLTE corrections are much smaller and always lower than 0.1 dex. The derived NLTE abundances in the optical and in the IR are consistent. In all three stars, NLTE line profiles fit the observations better than the LTE counterparts for all four elements.Conclusions.The atomic elements in ionisation stages where over-ionisation is an important NLTE mechanism are likely affected by departures from LTE in Mg. Particular care must be taken with the collisions that are adopted for high-lying levels when NLTE profiles of lines in theH-band are calculated. The derived NLTE corrections in the optical and in theH-band differ, but the derived NLTE abundances are consistent between the two spectral regions.

Effect of heat source on forced convection in a partially-filled porous channel under LTNE condition

An analysis of forced convection is presented within a channel partially filled by porous medium inserted in the core, with the inclusion of internal heat source in fluid and solid phases. By employing Brinkman extended Darcy model and local thermal non-equilibrium (LTNE) model in porous region, exact solutions are obtained including fluid velocity, solid and fluid temperatures and Nusselt number, and pertinent parameters' effects on heat transfer enhancement are performed. In addition, the solutions are also compared to that by applying the local thermal equilibrium (LTE) assumption and the LTE validity is discussed. The results find that for a partially-filled porous channel, existed heat source terms can intensify the occurrence of the singularity in Nusselt number, especially with the variation of porous filling ratio more than one singularity points can be observed under both LTE and LTNE conditions. In addition, even if the singularity exists the Nusselt number can reach to LTE condition at a high Biot number (Bi) or at a very high solid to fluid thermal conductivity ratio (K), and at a small K the LTE also holds with the fluid heat source only. Overall, partially-filled porous systems with internal heat source have more rich thermal characteristics.

Kinetic transitions and Mn partitioning during austenite growth from a mixture of partitioned cementite and ferrite: Role of heating rate

Austenite formation from a ferrite-cementite mixture is a crucial step during the processing of advanced high strength steels (AHSS). The ferrite-cementite mixture is usually inhomogeneous in both structure and composition, which makes the mechanism of austenite formation very complex. In this contribution, austenite formation upon continuous heating from a designed spheroidized cementite structure in a model Fe-C-Mn alloy was investigated with an emphasis on the role of heating rate in kinetic transitions and element partitioning during austenite formation. Based on partition/non-partition local equilibrium (PLE/NPLE) assumption, austenite growth was found alternately contribute by PLE, NPLE and PLE controlled interfaces migration during slow-heating, while NPLE mode predominately controlled the austenitization by a synchronous dissolution of ferrite and cementite upon fast-heating. It was both experimentally and theoretically found that there is a long-distance diffusion of Mn within austenite of the slow-heated sample, while a sharp Mn gradient was retained within austenite of the fast-heated sample. Such a strong heterogeneous distribution of Mn within austenite cause a large difference in driving force for ferrite or martensite formation during subsequent cooling process, which could lead to various final microstructures. The current study indicates that fast-heating could lead to unique microstructures which could hardly be obtained via the conventional annealing process.

Mathematical Modeling of the Effect of Water Splitting on Ion Transfer in the Depleted Diffusion Layer Near an Ion-Exchange Membrane.

Water splitting (WS) and electroconvection (EC) are the main phenomena affecting ion transfer through ion-exchange membranes in intensive current regimes of electrodialysis. While EC enhances ion transport, WS, in most cases, is an undesirable effect reducing current efficiency and causing precipitation of sparingly soluble compounds. A mathematical description of the transfer of salt ions and H+ (OH−) ions generated in WS is presented. The model is based on the Nernst–Planck and Poisson equations; it takes into account deviation from local electroneutrality in the depleted diffusion boundary layer (DBL). The current transported by water ions is given as a parameter. Numerical and semi-analytical solutions are developed. The analytical solution is found by dividing the depleted DBL into three zones: the electroneutral region, the extended space charge region (SCR), and the quasi-equilibrium zone near the membrane surface. There is an excellent agreement between two solutions when calculating the concentration of all four ions, electric field, and potential drop across the depleted DBL. The treatment of experimental partial current–voltage curves shows that under the same current density, the surface space charge density at the anion-exchange membrane is lower than that at the cation-exchange membrane. This explains the negative effect of WS, which partially suppresses EC and reduces salt ion transfer. The restrictions of the analytical solution, namely, the local chemical equilibrium assumption, are discussed.

Prediction of flow and heat transfer through a microtube filled with bidisperse porous medium under local thermal nonequilibrium condition

AbstractIn this paper, the thermal and hydrodynamic solutions of a microtube filled with bidisperse porous medium (BDPM) under the local thermal nonequilibrium (LTNE) condition are presented. Considering the LTNE condition, the energy equations have been numerically solved. The rarefaction effects are considered for Knudsen numbers ranging from 0 to 0.1; therefore, first‐order boundary condition is applied on the wall. The temperature distribution of each phase is examined with respect to the involved parameters in the BDPM system. For the first time, the Nusselt number ratio (NRDP) is introduced to study the influence of Darcy number on the Nusselt number more precisely. Also, the effect of different thermophysical parameters on the Nusselt number is studied. The advantage of BDPM system over monodisperse porous medium (MDPM) structure is examined through the heat transfer performance parameter. The findings exhibit a good agreement with the literature. Also, the LTNE condition produces more realistic results in comparison to local thermal equilibrium assumption. On the whole, although implementing the BDPM enhances the heat transfer rate compared with the MDPM, it does not improve the thermal hydrodynamic performance significantly.

A Numerical Model of Vapour Transfer and Phase Change in Unsaturated Freezing Soils

In recent studies, vapour transfer is reported to lead to remarkable frost heave in unsaturated soils, but how to better model this process has not been answered. In order to avoid the great uncertainty caused by the phase change term of vapour‐water‐ice in the numerical iteration process, a new numerical model is developed based on the coupled thermal and hydrological processes. The new model avoids using the local equilibrium assumption and the hydraulic relations that accounts for liquid water flow, which provides a new way for the water‐heat coupling movement problem. The model is established by using COMSOL Multiphysics, which is a multiphysics simulation software through finite element analysis. The model is evaluated by comparing simulated results with data from column freezing experiments for unsaturated coarse‐grained soils. Simulated values of the total water content compare well with experimental values. The model is proved to be applicable and numerically stable for a high‐speed railway subgrade involving simultaneous heat and moisture transport. An agreement can be found between the predicted and measured frost/thawed depth and soil moisture profiles, demonstrating that the model is able to simulate rapidly changing boundary conditions and nonlinear water content profiles in the soil.

Stable extension of the unified model into the mesosphere and lower thermosphere

A coupled Sun-to-Earth model is the goal for accurate forecasting of space weather. A key component of such a model is a whole atmosphere model – a general circulation model extending from the ground into the upper atmosphere – since it is now known that the lower atmosphere also drives variability and space weather in the upper atmosphere, in addition to solar variability. This objective motivates the stable extension of The Met Office’s Unified Model (UM) into the Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere (MLT), acting as a first step towards a whole atmosphere model. At the time of performing this research, radiation and chemistry schemes that are appropriate for use in the MLT had not yet been implemented. Furthermore, attempts to run the model with existing parameterizations and a raised upper boundary led to an unstable model with inaccurate solutions. Here, this instability is examined and narrowed down to the model’s radiation scheme – its assumption of Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium (LTE) is broken in the MLT. We subsequently address this issue by relaxation to a climatological temperature profile in this region. This provides a stable extended UM which can be used as a developmental tool for further examination of the model performance. The standard vertical resolution used in the UM above 70 km is too coarse (approx. 5 km) to represent waves that are important for MLT circulation. We build on the success of the nudging implementation by testing the model at an improved vertical resolution. Initial attempts to address this problem with a 3 km vertical resolution and a 100 km lid were successful, but on increasing the resolution to 1.5 km the model becomes unstable due to large horizontal and vertical wind velocities. Increasing the vertical damping coefficient, which damps vertical velocities near the upper boundary, allows a successful year long climatology to be produced with these model settings. With the goal of a whole atmosphere model we also experiment with an increased upper boundary height. Increasing the upper model boundary to 120 and 135 km also leads to stable simulations. However, a 3 km resolution must be used and it is necessary to further increase the vertical damping coefficient. This is highly promising initial work to raise the UM into the MLT, and paves the way for the development of a whole atmosphere model.