One-dimensional Numerical Model Research Articles

Pulse-to-pulse coupling in cylindrical discharges

Abstract Several filamentary discharges can be applied to a combustible mixture, which can then ignite. The energy density of this discharge is a vital parameter, as it directly influences the local temperature rise and radical production. The goal of this article is to investigate how a previous discharge affects the energy density of a second discharge. To investigate the pulse-to-pulse coupling of filamentary discharges a one-dimensional numerical model is developed. In the developed model, the compressible Navier-Stokes equations are coupled to a plasma model. The plasma model is used to estimate the local energy density, while the compressible Navier-Stokes equations model the reactive flow. As a first step, skeletal air plasma chemistry is used, which includes fast gas heating, slow gas heating and the rapid generation of radicals. The skeletal plasma chemistry is combined with a detailed hydrogen combustion mechanism. Simulations in both air and hydrogen/air are conducted at several discharge energies and pressures. From the analysis of these results, we conclude that the main mechanism of pulse-to-pulse coupling is the reduction in molar density due to temperature rise.

Development of Pipeline Transient Mixed Flow Model with Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics Based on Preissmann Slot Method

The accurate modeling and understanding of complex transient mixed pipe flows is crucial for the optimal design and safe and efficient operation in pipeline systems such as urban drainage systems. Currently, the predominant approach for modeling free-surface-pressurized flows relies on grid-based numerical schemes, with comparatively limited capability for exploring its complex phenomena. This study proposed a novel one-dimensional numerical model that integrates the smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) method with the Preissmann slot method (PSM) to explore transient mixed flows in pipeline systems, with better potential capability for exploring more mixed flow phenomena. Empirical parameters of the proposed SPH-PSM model were optimized for improving the numerical accuracy and stability, and the applicable range for these empirical parameters was recommended. The performances of the proposed model were evaluated by different flow regimes, including one free surface case, one fully pressurized case, and two transient mixed-flow cases. The simulation results of different flow regimes demonstrated a high level of agreement with the reference data, indicating the good capability of the SPH-PSM model in simulating complex flow regimes in pipeline systems. Therefore, the proposed SPH-PSM model can be an alternative way for modeling, exploring, and understanding the complex transient mixed flows in pipeline systems.

Dynamic simulation and performance analysis of a solid-state barocaloric refrigeration system

Barocaloric refrigeration technology is a promising candidate for next-generation refrigeration technologies attributed to its eco-friendliness, high efficiency, and mechanical stability. To date, research in this field has predominantly focused on the exploration of solid-state refrigerants. However, the development of barocaloric systems is currently hindered by a lack of both prototype models and a comprehensive theoretical foundation. Addressing this gap, this study innovatively introduces the first model of a barocaloric refrigeration system, characterized by efficient hydrostatic pressure transitions and rapid heat and cold extraction. The employed refrigerant, neopentyl glycol, is notable for its low cost and significant barocaloric effect. Through the development of a one-dimensional dynamic numerical model for the system, this study investigates the system's temperature variability and operational efficiency under varying design parameters and operating conditions. Simulations suggest that the system could achieve a maximum COP of 13.1 and a refrigeration capacity of 106.4 W at a temperature span of 10 K. Additionally, the system is capable of reaching a maximum temperature span of 18 K under no-load conditions. This research not only underscores the theoretical viability of barocaloric refrigeration, but also provide crucial theoretical support and guidance for the design and construction of the first-generation barocaloric refrigeration prototype.

A one-dimensional numerical model of carbon corrosion in catalyst layers of proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Understanding interaction between carbon corrosion and physicochemical processes inside proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) is important. A one-dimensional carbon corrosion model considering cathode catalyst layer (CCL) structure evolutions is established and coupled with one-dimensional PEMFC performance model. The coupled model is validated and employed to predict CCL structure evolution and PEMFC performance degradation during accelerated stress test. The results find that high relative humidity can enhance performance but accelerate carbon corrosion. Increasing carbon loading and decreasing ionomer weight can improve both performance and durability. Low Pt loading leads to reduced performance and durability. There exists an optimal carbon diameter leading to the best performance. Small carbon diameter can enhance cell durability. Proper gradient CCL design can enhance durability at cost of small initial performance reduction. Finally, an optimized structure is proposed with 21.7 % higher current density at 0.6 V and 5.2 % lower performance loss compared with base case.

Numerical Analysis of Flow Stability in a Natural Circulation Loop

Flow modeling of a natural circulation loop is of high importance in ensuring the stability of the system. As a system relying on buoyancy force, several parameters play a crucial role in determining stability. In this study, a one-dimensional numerical model is employed to predict the mass flow rate and stability due to the variation of heated riser and cooled faller locations. The result shows that the highest flow rate of 0.344 kg/s is obtained as the heater is located at the lowest position, while the cooler remains at the top. Furthermore, a stability map is plotted to show the condition for the stability, whereby the result demonstrates that the location with a relatively low mass flow rate exhibits a higher chance of oscillating flow.

Assessing the compatibility of EPR rates with one-dimensional numerical modelling in monitoring shoreline kinematics along with supplying near/long-term forecasts

The utilization of remote sensing technologies in conjunction with the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) is a commonly employed approach for monitoring shoreline alterations. However, the reliability of DSAS as a predictive tool for assessing short-term and long-term shoreline changes remains questionable. Considering this uncertainty, there arose an urgent need to investigate whether DSAS can be utilized in conjunction with a one-dimensional numerical model, such as LITPACK, to evaluate its credibility over extended periods of 30 and 80 years. For this investigation, a specific area of the shoreline near the Kitchener drain in the Delta region of Northern Egypt was selected. Medium-resolution satellite images, rectified between 1987 and 2022, were employed to undertake various kinematic data processing tasks, including area classification, shoreline digitization, uncertainty estimation, and quantification of temporal changes using the EPR, LRR, and NSM tools. The obtained results were compared between DSAS and LITPACK for the shoreline coordinates of the study area, projecting the analysis until the years 2050 and 2100. The comparison revealed the presence of minor discrepancies in the DSAS outputs for shoreline prediction within the year 2050. However, these discrepancies significantly worsened as the year 2100 approached, casting doubt on the reliability of DSAS as a long-term forecasting tool. Simultaneously, this research provided implicit evidence supporting the use of DSAS in the formulation of a decision matrix for coastal zone planning with a duration of up to 30 years, as it demonstrated a degree of dependability within this timeframe.

Numerical Study on Peak Shaving Performance of Combined Heat and Power Unit Assisted by Heating Storage in Long-Distance Pipelines Scheduled by Particle Swarm Optimization Method

Thermal energy storage in long-distance heating supply pipelines can improve the peak shaving and frequency regulation capabilities of combined heat and power (CHP) units participating in the power grid. In this study, a one-dimensional numerical model was established to predict the thermal lag in long-distance pipelines at different scale levels. The dynamic response of the temperature at the end of the heating pipeline was considered. For the one-way pipe lengths of 10 km, 15 km and 20 km, the response times of the temperature at the distal end were 2.33 h, 2.94 h and 3.54 h, respectively. The longer the flow period, the further the warming-up time is delayed. An optimization scheduling approach was also created to illustrate the peak shaving capabilities of a CHP unit combined with a long-distance pipeline thermal energy storage component. It was demonstrated that the maximum heating load of the unit increased up to 503.08 MW, and the heating load could be expanded in the range of 17.88 MW to 203.76 MW at the minimum electric load of the unit of 104.08 MW. Finally, the particle swarm optimization method was adopted to guide the operating strategy through a whole day to meet both the electric power and heating power requirements. For the optimized case, the comprehensive energy utilization efficiency and the exergy efficiency increase to 64.4% and 56.73%. The thermal energy storage applications based on long-distance pipelines were simulated quantitively and proved to be effective in promoting the operational flexibility of the CHP unit.

Climatic sensitivity of seasonal ice-cover, water temperature and biogeochemical cycling in Lake 239 of the Experimental Lakes Area (ELA), Ontario, Canada

Regional climate plays an important role on in-lake physical and biogeochemical processes and determines the state of water quality and ecology of the lakes. This paper presents the result of a one-dimensional numerical modelling of lake ice cover, water temperature, as well as nutrient and phytoplankton dynamics in Lake 239 (Rawson Lake) located in the Experimental Lakes Area (ELA), Ontario, Canada. Using observed meteorological and inflow/outflow data, the Multi-year Lake simulation model (MyLake) was setup to replicate measured lake water temperature, ice-cover, dissolved organic carbon, particulate and dissolved phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a concentrations over the entire depth of the lake. The sensitivity of the lake to changes in climatic drivers, specifically to changes in surface air temperature and wind speed, was examined by incrementally changing the model input forcing for temperature and wind speed and mapping the resulting changes in the simulated outputs. The results show that lake processes are generally as sensitive to changes in wind speed as they are to changes in air temperature. Simulated changes in lake variables corresponding to projected changes in Global Climate Models (GCMs) under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 emission scenarios reveal a general increase in lake water temperature and the corresponding decrease in lake ice thickness and ice cover duration under the changing climate. While lake water temperature increases at all depths, the shallow epilimnion layer is more sensitive to the changing climate than the deeper hypolimnion layer, reaching mean annual change value of +3.7 °C for RCP 8.5 and the 2090s as compared to the 1990s baseline period. While the simulated change in lake ice thickness reaches −20 cm by 2090s for the RCP 8.5 scenario, the corresponding change in ice-cover duration reaches -47 days. These changes are shown to result in seasonal changes in the biogeochemical cycling over the depth of the lake with projected increases in chlorophyll-a concentration during ice covered season of December to May reaching up to +0.15 mg/m3 for RCP 8.5 and the 2090s followed by a decrease during open water season of June to November reaching −0.15 mg/m3 compared to the 1990s baseline period.

Evolution of suspended sediment concentration profiles in the partially and periodically stratified Changjiang Estuary during dry season

A better understanding of how the vertical profile of suspended sediment concentration (SSC) is influenced by multiple factors is required to better understand the hydrodynamics and sediment dynamics of estuaries. Based on in situ measurements obtained during a spring-neap cycle in the estuarine turbidity maximum (ETM) of the Changjiang Estuary in January 2015, we investigate the intratidal evolution and controlling mechanisms of SSC profiles. The results show that during the dry season the ETM was characterized by periodic salinity stratification, low SSC, suspended sediments with reduced grain size, and low sediment availability for resuspension. Three types of SSC profiles were identified, i.e., profiles with two-layer, linear and quasi-uniform structures. The shapes of the SSC profiles varied with time and generally deviated from the equilibrium profile due to the highly variable hydrodynamic and sediment conditions. During ebbs of spring and intermediate tides, the SSC profiles generally evolved from a two-layer to a quasi-uniform structure via a linear structure. Analysis shows that the linear and quasi-uniform profiles occurred under the combination of vertically well-mixed salinity, negligible resuspension, low settling velocity associated with very fine grains, and shallow water depth. Such an evolution pattern can be well reproduced using a one-dimensional numerical model, with the diffusion coefficient being parabolically distributed in the water column and the four factors mentioned above. The findings reported here imply a high variability of SSC profiles in estuarine environments.

Dynamic characterization of supercritical natural circulation loop under periodic excitation

Characterization of supercritical natural circulation loop under the influence of periodic power profile has not been explored in open literature, despite the promise of producing intriguing dynamics. Present study employs a one-dimensional numerical model to explore the transients on imposing a sinusoidal excitation on the heater power. The resultant dynamics are found to be strongly correlated with the heat transfer regime. The time period of excitation plays a more dominating role compared to the amplitude in deciding the characteristics. System attains dynamic steady-state and persists with a periodic profile at both low and high power levels. But introduction of natural frequency emanates into flow reversal at power levels within the transition regime. Chaotic oscillations can be identified for an intermediate band of imposed frequency, transforming to bidirectional pulsing at higher time periods. Frequency locking within the chaotic zone and frequency pushing for double-periodic nature is also identified, and the appearance of chaos is substantiated using the Poincaré map.

Numerical analysis of thermoelectric power generation coupled with temperature-dependent material properties

Thermoelectric generator (TEG) with improved performance is a promising technology in power supply and energy harvesting. Existing studies primarily adopt constant material properties to investigate TEG performance. However, thermoelectric (TE) material properties are subjected to considerable variations with temperature. Thus, reasonable doubts have risen concerning the influence level of temperature-dependent material properties on TEG performance. To solve this problem, an efficient and a comprehensive one-dimensional numerical model is developed to fully consider the third-order polynomial temperature-dependent thermal conductivity, Seebeck coefficient, and electrical resistivity. Control volume and finite difference algorithms are compared, and experiments are conducted to verify the developed numerical model. The temperature distribution along the TE leg obviously differs from the parabolic shape, which is a classic temperature distribution under the assumption of constant material properties. Insights find that the local change rate of thermal conductivity and Thomson effect are the essential reasons for the abovementioned phenomenon. It has been found that Thomson heat is released in the part of the leg near the cold-end, whereas it is absorbed in the remaining parts of the leg near the hot-end. The electric power on the basis of constant material properties is confirmed to be accurate enough by the developed numerical model, but the parabolic shape of the TE efficiency can be only obtained when temperature-dependent material properties are considered. Furthermore, it is wise to improve the TE efficiency by structural optimization. The present work provides an efficient and a comprehensive one-dimensional numerical model to include temperature-dependent material properties. New insights into the temperature and heat flux distribution, Thomson influence, and structural optimization potential are also presented for the in-depth understanding of the TE conversion process.

One-dimensional numerical model of landslide over high-steep slopes: Theory and verification to the analytical solution

At the steep slope areas, landslide events may suddenly occur due to prolonged heavy rain and seriously affect humans’ lives and their properties. Numerical models simulating landslides help us to predict the real landslide phenomenon effectively because they are not only time-saving compared to physical models but also acceptable accuracy. In this paper, the one-dimensional nonlinear shallow water equations using the global coordinate system are established as the proposed model governing equations. The hybrid finite difference-finite volume method, the implicit method and the automatical time step controlling technique are employed to stably simulate the landslide events over the high-steep slopes. To validate the proposed numerical model to the analytical solution, authors continuously derive the non-dimensional governing equations in one dimension as well as using the global coordinate system. The numerical results are in good agreement with the analytical solution. The proposed numerical model can be used to simulate the landslides and the landslide-induced tsunami events, especially for simulating the high-steep slope conditions.

Ammonia cracking for hydrogen production using a microwave argon plasma jet

Ammonia (NH3) is a promising hydrogen carrier that effectively connects producers of blue hydrogen with consumers, giving rapid conversion of ammonia to hydrogen a critical role in utilizing hydrogen at the endpoints of application in an ammonia-hydrogen economy. Because conventional thermal cracking of NH3 is an energy intensive process, requiring a relatively longer cold start duration, plasma technology is being considered as an assisting tool—or an alternative. Here we detail how an NH3 cracking process, using a microwave plasma jet (MWPJ) under atmospheric pressure, was governed by thermal decomposition reactions. We found that a delivered MW energy density (ED) captured the conversion of NH3 well, showing a full conversion for ED > 6 kJ l−1 with 0.5-% v/v NH3 in an argon flow. The hydrogen production rate displayed a linear increase with MW power and the NH3 content, being almost independent of a total flow rate. A simplified one-dimensional numerical model, adopting a thermal NH3 decomposition mechanism, predicted the experimental data well, indicating the importance of thermal decomposition in the plasma chemistry. We believe that such a prompt thermal reaction, caused by MW plasma, will facilitate a mobile and/or non-steady application. A process combined with the conventional catalytic method should also effectively solve a cold start issue.

Experimental study on the thermal performance of a liquid-cooled heat sink integrating heat pipes for dual CPU servers

The increasing power consumption of server CPUs poses a challenge for data center cooling. In this work, a liquid-cooled heat pipe heat sink (LHPHS) with compactly arranged heat pipes is designed and fabricated for CPU cooling in dual CPU servers. Water is selected as the working fluid in the heat pipes. Experiments are conducted to explore the heat dissipation potential of LHPHS under high inlet coolant temperature and high heat load conditions, and to investigate the operational stability of LHPHS under the conditions of uneven heat generation between two CPUs. Furthermore, a one-dimensional thermal resistance network and numerical model of the LHPHS are established to quantitatively analyze the thermal resistance distribution of LHPHS and the variation of thermal resistance with coolant flow rate. The results show that, firstly, the LHPHS operates stably under high inlet coolant temperature and high heat load conditions, meeting the heat dissipation requirements of up to 37.5 W/cm2 with a coolant flow rate of 1 L/min and inlet coolant temperature of 35℃. Secondly, the LHPHS exhibits excellent performance in controlling temperature difference between CPUs and even when there is discrepant heat generation between them. Thirdly, the LHPHS performs a low thermal resistance, measuring 0.044 ℃/W at a coolant flow rate of 0.5 L/min, and this resistance further decreases as the flow rate increases. Additionally, it is observed that the thermal resistance of the liquid-cooled plate decreases with the increasing flow rate, and heat transfer within the heat pipes becomes a critical aspect under high coolant flow rates. Therefore, reducing the thermal resistance of the heat pipe is crucial for the thermal performance improvement of the LHPHS.

Mathematical and numerical modelling of rapid transients at partially lifted sluice gates

In the present paper, we study the mathematical and numerical modelling of rapid transients at partially lifted sluice gates in the context of one-dimensional Shallow water Equations. First, improved exact solutions of the dam-break problem with partially lifted gate are presented, assuming (i) the dependence of the gate contraction coefficient on the upstream flow depth, and (ii) a viable definition of the submerged flow equation. We show that an exact dam-break solution always exists for any set of initial conditions, but there are also initial conditions for which the solution is multiple. To cope with this case, a novel disambiguation criterion based on the continuous dependence of the solution on the initial conditions is used to select the physically congruent choice amongst the alternatives. Finally, we present a one-dimensional Finite Volume numerical model for the approximate solution of the Shallow water Equations equipped with an approximate Riemann solver for the sluice gate treatment at cells interfaces. The numerical experiments show that the embedding of the steady state gate equations (equilibrium approach) into the approximate Riemann solver leads to unsatisfactory dam-break simulations, while a novel relaxed version of the gate equations (non-equilibrium approach) supplies results that are in agreement with both the novel exact solutions and the laboratory dam-break results available from the literature.

Aerial photogrammetry to characterise and numerically model an ice jam in Southern Quebec

Abstract Collecting data on the dynamic breakup of a river's ice cover is a notoriously difficult task. However, such data are necessary to reconstruct the events leading to the formation of ice jams and calibrate numerical ice jam models. Photogrammetry using images from remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) is a cost-effective and rapid technique to produce large-scale orthomosaics and digital elevation maps (DEMs) of an ice jam. Herein, we apply RPA photogrammetry to document an ice jam that formed on a river in southern Quebec in the winter of 2022. Composite orthomosaics of the 2-km ice jam provided evidence of overbanking flow, hinge cracks near the banks and lengthy longitudinal stress cracks in the ice jam caused by sagging as the flow abated. DEMs helped identify zones where the ice rubble was grounded to the bed, thus allowing ice jam thickness estimates to be made in these locations. The datasets were then used to calibrate a one-dimensional numerical model of the ice jam. The model will be used in subsequent work to assess the risk of ice interacting with the superstructure of a low-level bridge in the reach and assess the likelihood of ice jam flooding of nearby residences.

Influence mechanism of temperature field inside the cable on dynamic process of cable pyrolysis

Cable is used widely in the industrial and public buildings. The hazard assessment of the cable burning is an important consideration fire protection design. In previous studies, the cable was considered as a thermally thin cylinder, which cannot be applied to the large diameter cables used commonly in engineering applications. In this work, fire experiments of individual cables with different diameters were conducted in the cone calorimeter. The increase of cable diameter led to a transition from peak to quasi-steady state mass loss rate during the cable pyrolysis. Based on the one-dimensional numerical model validated with the experimental data, the effect of cable insulation thickness on the heat transfer inside the cable was investigated. The numerical model was able to simulate the transition from peak to quasi steady state burning as a function of cable diameter. The present work provide the influence mechanism of heat transfer inside large diameter cables on the cable pyrolysis and provides a better understanding of cable fire behavior in common engineering applications.

Propagation characteristics analysis of high-frequency vibration in pumped storage power station based on a 1D fluid-solid coupling model

High-frequency pressure fluctuation is a common hydraulic phenomenon in pumped storage power station (PSPS), which is caused by the rotor-stator interaction in the pumped turbine. The propagation of the high-frequency vibration (HFV) could transmit the vibration energy to the upstream headrace tunnel, inducing severe environmental vibration and noise pollution. This study aims to establish an applicable numerical model to investigate the propagation characteristics of HFV, and evaluate the vibration magnitude of both solid and fluid in the headrace tunnel of the PSPS. In this study, a one-dimensional (1D) numerical model is established for the fluid solid interaction (FSI) behavior of the pipe, where the equations of solid and fluid are solved intuitively in the time domain by the Finite Difference Method (FDM) and Method of Characteristics (MOC), respectively. Detailed discretization schemes and solution procedures are deduced and presented in this study. Four validation cases are carried out to examine the established model. The results demonstrate that the established mode is applicable for predicting the vibration in the fluid-filled pipe (FFP). The non-reflect boundary conditions are proposed to eliminate the influence of the reflected wave from the boundary. The propagation characteristics of the high-frequency vibration (HFV) in FFP are comprehensively analyzed and summarized based on a real PSPS. And magnitude distributions of the pressure fluctuation, axial and radial vibration along the pipeline axis are presented and discussed.

Analysis of different modeling approaches for simulation of glow discharge in helium at atmospheric pressure

One-dimensional numerical models of a direct current atmospheric pressure glow discharge in helium are developed and examined. The models use a fluid description of charged and neutral particles and a drift-diffusion approximation for particle fluxes. The effects of plasma-chemical models, the form of the electron energy distribution function (Maxwellian vs non-Maxwellian), the energy loss due to gas heating and the width of the gas gap on the discharge characteristics are analyzed. The performance of different modeling approaches is examined by superimposing computed current–voltage characteristic (CVC) curves with each other and with measured and computed CVCs available in the literature.

Assessment of River Regime of Chenab River in Post-Chiniot Dam Project Scenario

Dams and reservoirs trap most sediments, and clear water can cause downstream riverbed degradation or aggradation. As a result, the river adjusts its dynamics and channel geometry to regain equilibrium between sediment supply and transport capacity. This study aimed to assess the river regime of the Chenab River in the post-Chiniot Dam Project scenario using a one-dimensional numerical model. After calibration and validation using historic flows and river surveys, simulations were carried out for 5, 10, and 30 years. The sediment model was validated with Brune’s curve, which showed a Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency value of 0.734. The results showed that the river experienced continuous degradation of sediments for the first 16 years and showed a maximum erosion of 8 m at 680 m downstream of the dam. The reach experienced aggradation at 15 km downstream of the dam for the first 10 years and then became stable and showed a maximum deposition of 0.9 m. The ratio of sediments passed through the dam to sediments transported out of reach varied from 0.833 to 0.921, showing that the river reach would continue to attain equilibrium even after 30 years of reservoir operation. The study would be helpful for the prediction of possible future changes in the Chenab River.