Runaway Flow Research Articles

Extreme erosion and bulking in a giant submarine gravity flow.

Sediment gravity flows are ubiquitous agents of transport, erosion, and deposition across Earth's surface, including terrestrial debris flows, snow avalanches, and submarine turbidity currents. Sediment gravity flows typically erode material along their path (bulking), which can dramatically increase their size, speed, and run-out distance. Hence, flow bulking is a first-order control on flow evolution and underpins predictive modeling approaches and geohazard assessments. Quantifying bulking in submarine systems is problematic because of their large-scale and inaccessible nature, complex stratigraphy, and poorly understood source areas. Here, we map the deposits and erosive destruction of a giant submarine gravity flow from source to sink. The small initial failure (~1.5 cubic kilometers) entrained over 100 times its starting volume, catastrophically evolving into a giant flow with a total volume of ~162 cubic kilometers and a run-out distance of ~2000 kilometers. Entrainment of mud was the critical fuel, which promoted run-away flow growth and extreme levels of erosion.

Disordered non-Fermi liquid fixed point for two-dimensional metals at Ising-nematic quantum critical points

Understanding the influence of quenched random potential is crucial for comprehending the exotic electronic transport of non-Fermi liquid metals near metallic quantum critical points. In this study, we identify a stable fixed point governing the quantum critical behavior of two-dimensional non-Fermi liquid metals in the presence of a random potential disorder. By performing renormalization group analysis on a dimensional-regularized field theory for Ising-nematic quantum critical points, we systematically investigate the interplay between random potential disorder for electrons and Yukawa-type interactions between electrons and bosonic order-parameter fluctuations in a perturbative epsilon expansion. At the one-loop order, the effective field theory lacks stable fixed points, instead exhibiting a runaway flow toward infinite disorder strength. However, at the two-loop order, the effective field theory converges to a stable fixed point characterized by finite disorder strength, termed the “disordered non-Fermi liquid (DNFL) fixed point”. Our investigation reveals that two-loop vertex corrections induced by Yukawa couplings are pivotal in the emergence of the DNFL fixed point, primarily through screening disorder scattering. Additionally, the DNFL fixed point is distinguished by a substantial anomalous scaling dimension of fermion fields, resulting in pseudogap-like behavior in the electron’s density of states. These findings shed light on the quantum critical behavior of disordered non-Fermi liquid metals, emphasizing the indispensable role of higher-order loop corrections in such comprehension.

A Study on the Transient Characteristics of the Power-Off Transition Process of a Double-Volute Centrifugal Pump

A double-volute centrifugal pump is a very important pump type; the internal flow field of a centrifugal pump will change drastically during the transition process of power failure, which will affect the safety and stability of the pump’s operation. In this paper, the CFD numerical simulation method is used, and the UDF procedure is developed to realize the continuous update of the impeller speed at each time step. The working parameters, such as the torque and flow rate at the instantaneous moment, are obtained through the sequential iteration of each small step, and a numerical simulation of the power-off transient is carried out on a double-volute centrifugal pump; additionally, the changes in the external characteristic parameters and the internal flow field of the centrifugal pump are analyzed in detail. The results show that the double-volute centrifugal pump experienced four different modes after power failure, namely pump mode, braking mode, turbine mode, and runaway mode, and the absolute values of the runaway speed and runaway flow rate are 1.465 times and 1.21 times the initial values, respectively. Through the analysis of the flow field in different regions, the change processes of the generation, development, and disappearance of the vortex at each position of the centrifugal pump are obtained, and the change and development processes of the internal velocity gradient of the centrifugal pump are obtained. In addition, it is found that the high-speed area located in the second volute runner is larger than that of the first volute runner because the second volute runner is shorter and narrower than the first volute runner.

The influence of the S shaped characteristics of high head pump-turbine on the minimum pressure of draft tube

Abstract The S shaped characteristics of pump-turbines have an important impact on the minimum pressure of draft tube. The quality of the S shaped characteristics is one of the key indicators to determine the success of model runner development, and this indicator is particularly important for ultra-high head pump-turbines. In order to delve deeper into the inherent relationship between the S-shaped characteristics of the runner and the optimization design and minimum pressure of draft tube, this article first defines a method for fixed-point quantitative analysis of the S shaped characteristic curve. Then, different experimental characteristic curves obtained from multiple optimized designs of the runner are used to calculate the hydraulic transition process. At the same time, the S shaped curve is quantitatively analyzed, and the relationship between the three is explored through continuous analysis. The results show that the bending degree of the equal opening lines in the middle at the S shape characteristics curves has the greatest influence on the minimum pressure at the draft tube inlet. The greater the ratio of unit flow difference to unit speed difference in the S shape characteristics curves of the equal opening line, the greater the runaway unit flow on the same equal opening line, the more favorable it is to increase the minimum pressure at the inlet of the draft tube. The optimal design of blade type and guide vane airfoil can improve the minimum pressure value of draft tube to a certain extent. The conclusions obtained in this paper can be used for reference in the research and development design of high head pump-turbine runner and the optimization calculation of transition.

Comparison of the Shutdown Transitions of the Full-Flow Pump and Axial-Flow Pump

In this study, a comparative analysis of the shutdown transitions of a full-flow pump and an axial-flow pump was carried out through numerical simulation and model tests. The UDF method was used to achieve control of the impeller rotational speed during shutdown. The results show that during the shutdown transition, the rate of decline of rotational speed, flow rate, and torque of the axial-flow pump are greater than those of the full-flow pump, so the axial-flow pump stops faster than the full-flow pump. The axial force of the axial-flow pump is significantly lower than that of the full-flow pump, and the maximum value of the radial force of the axial-flow pump is approximately 1.14 times that of the full-flow pump. Due to the influence of the clearance backflow vortex, the impeller inlet and outlet of the full-flow pump generate clearance backflow vortices in the near-wall area, resulting in the overall flow pattern of the impeller chamber being worse than that of the axial-flow pump and the hydraulic loss being greater than that of the axial-flow pump. The runaway speed and flow rate of the axial-flow pump are higher than those of the full-flow pump. Due to the influence of the clearance backflow, the range of the high entropy production rate at the suction side of the impeller of the full-flow pump is always larger than that of the axial-flow pump. The research results in this paper can provide theoretical support for the selection and operation of pumps in large low-head pumping stations.

Thermal runaway propagation behavior and energy flow distribution analysis of 280 Ah LiFePO4 battery

Thermal runaway propagation (TRP) of lithium iron phosphate batteries (LFP) has become a key technical problem due to its risk of causing large-scale fire accidents. This work systematically investigates the TRP behavior of 280 Ah LFP batteries with different SOCs through experiments. Three different SOCs including 40 %, 80 %, and 100 % are chosen. In addition to key TRP characteristic parameters such as temperature, TRP time and speed are analyzed, more importantly, the energy flow distribution during the TRP of large-size LFP module is also revealed. The results indicate that among the three groups of modules, TRP occurs only in the module with 100 % SOC, which is attributed to the higher internal energy (666.11 kJ) and heat transfer power (264.07 W). For the module with 100 % SOC, the TRP time interval fluctuates from 667 s to 1305 s, and the TRP speed is in the range of 0.05–0.12 mm/s. Furthermore, the energy flow distribution indicates that more than 75 % of the energy is used to heat battery itself, and approximately 20 % is carried out by ejecta. Less than 10 % can trigger neighboring batteries into thermal runaway. This work may provide important guidance for the process safety design of energy storage power stations.

Multiwavelength Observations of a Partial Filament Eruption on 13 June 2011

In this paper, we report the multiwavelength observations of the partial filament eruption associated with a C1.2 class flare in NOAA active region 11236 on 13 June 2011. The event occurred at the eastern limb in the field of view (FOV) of Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) onboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) spacecraft and was close to the disk center in the FOV of Extreme-UltraViolet Imager (EUVI) onboard the Behind Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) spacecraft. During eruption, the filament splits into two parts: the major part and the runaway part. The major part flows along closed loops and experiences bifurcation at the loop top. Some of the materials move forward and reach the remote footpoint, while the remainder returns back to the original footpoint. The runaway part flows along open-field lines, which is evidenced by a flare-related type-III radio burst. The runaway part also undergoes bifurcation. The upper branch escapes the corona and evolves into a jet-like narrow coronal mass ejection (CME) at a speed of ∼ 324 km s−1, while the lower branch falls back to the solar surface. A schematic cartoon is proposed to explain the event and provides a new mechanism of partial filament eruptions.

SO(4) multicriticality of two-dimensional Dirac fermions

We study quantum multicritical behavior in a (2+1)-dimensional Gross-Neveu-Yukawa field theory with eight-component Dirac fermions coupled to two triplets of order parameters that act as Dirac masses, and transform as $(1,0) + (0,1)$ representation under the SO(4)$\simeq$SO(3)$\times$SO(3) symmetry group. This field theory is relevant to spin-1/2 fermions on honeycomb or $\pi$-flux lattices, for example, near the transition points between an $s$-wave superconductor and a charge-density wave, on one side, and N\'eel order, on the other. Two triplets of such order parameters always allow for a common pair of two other order parameters that would complete them to the maximal set of compatible (anticommuting) orders of five. We first derive a unitary transformation in the Nambu (particle-hole) space which maps any two such triplets, possibly containing some superconducting orders, onto purely insulating order parameters. This allows one to consider a universal SO(4) Gross-Neveu-Yukawa description of the multicriticality without any Nambu doubling. We then proceed to derive the renormalization-group flow of the coupling constants at one-loop order in $4-\epsilon$ space-time dimensions, allowing also a more general set of order parameters transforming under SO($n_a$)$\times$SO($n_b$). While for $n_a=n_b > 2 $ in the bosonic sector and with fermions decoupled there is a stable fixed point of the flow, the Yukawa coupling to fermions quickly leads to its elimination by a generic fixed-point collision in the relevant range of fermion flavor numbers $N_f$. This suggests the replacement of the critical behavior by a runaway flow in the physical case $n_a=n_b=3$. The structure of the RG flow at $n_a\neq n_b$ is also discussed, and some non-perturbative arguments in favor of the stability of the decoupled critical point when $n_a=3$ and $n_b=1$ in $D=2+1$ are provided.

Runaway electron flows in magnetized coaxial gas diodes

This paper presents the experimental results on applying a strong magnetic field (B) to increase the uniformity and density of a picosecond runaway electron flow (RAEF) formed in an air coaxial diode with a tubular cathode. A uniform longitudinal field Bz allows to confine RAEF similarly to the electron beam in a magnetically insulated coaxial vacuum diode. Dependence of the spatial discreteness of RAEF emission and the transverse size of the emitting plasma regions on Bz has been demonstrated. For the cathode diameter of 8 mm, a current density was significantly increased from 40 A/cm2 (at Bz = const) to 100 A/cm2 by applying B-field with converging field lines. In the region of B maximum (5 T) the RAEF diameter was squeezed by ≈ 4 times.

Interaction-Induced Metallicity in a Two-Dimensional Disordered Non-Fermi Liquid.

The interplay of interactions and disorder in two-dimensional (2D) electron systems has actively been studied for decades. The paradigmatic approach involves starting with a clean Fermi liquid and perturbing the system with both disorder and interactions. Instead, we start with a clean non-Fermi liquid near a 2D ferromagnetic quantum critical point and consider the effects of disorder. In contrast with the disordered Fermi liquid, we find that our model does not suffer from runaway flows to strong coupling and the system has a marginally stable fixed point with perfect conduction.

Features of the secondary runaway electron flow formed in an elongated, atmospheric pressure air gap

We investigate the formation of a secondary flow of runaway electrons with energies on the order of 100 keV in an air gap after the passage of a primary picosecond flow of similar fast particles, arising in the cathode region where the distribution of the electric field is very inhomogeneous. The dependence of the secondary flow onset delay on the gap length and the field strength is demonstrated. The reasons for the discrimination of the two flows in time are considered analytically. The occurrence of fast secondary electrons in an anode-located part of the gap is demonstrated under conditions when the ionization wave generated in the cathode region by the primary runaway electrons is cutoff. For this, an intermediate aluminum foil electrode under a floating potential has been used. This third electrode, which divides the gap into two sections, is partially transparent for the runaway electrons. It has been also shown that runaway electrons demonstrate the earliest arrival to the anode if they arise due to the photoionization of the gas by bremsstrahlung of the primary particles bombarding an intermediate electrode made of tantalum foil.

Consistent Scaling Exponents at the Deconfined Quantum-Critical Point**Supported by the National Science Foundation (USA) under Grant No. DMR-1710170 and by the Simons Foundation under a Simons Investigator Award.

We report a quantum Monte Carlo study of the phase transition between antiferromagnetic and valence-bond solid ground states in the square-lattice S = 1/2 J–Q model. The critical correlation function of the Q terms gives a scaling dimension corresponding to the value ν = 0.455 ± 0.002 of the correlation-length exponent. This value agrees with previous (less precise) results from conventional methods, e.g., finite-size scaling of the near-critical order parameters. We also study the Q-derivatives of the Binder cumulants of the order parameters for L2 lattices with L up to 448. The slope grows as L1/ν with a value of ν consistent with the scaling dimension of the Q term. There are no indications of runaway flow to a first-order phase transition. The mutually consistent estimates of ν provide compelling support for a continuous deconfined quantum-critical point.

How short is the runaway electron flow in an air electrode gap?

We present and analyze characteristics of the runaway electron flow in a high-voltage (the voltage rise rate of up to 1.5 MV/ns) air-filled electrode gap with a strongly nonuniform electric field. It is demonstrated that such a flow contains a high-energy electron component of duration not more than 10 ps. According to numerical simulations, runaway electron generation/termination is governed by impact ionization of the gas near the cathode and switching on/off a critical (sufficient for electrons to run away) electric field at the boundary of the expanding cathode plasma. The corresponding characteristic time estimated to be 2–3 ps is defined by the ionization rate at a critical field.

Numerical analysis of transient characteristics of a bulb hydraulic turbine during runaway transient process

In this paper, the runaway transient process in a bulb turbine has been investigated by adopting commercial CFD code ANSYS CFX, and transient characteristics in the process have been examined and analyzed in detail. The results show that the predicted maximal runaway rotational speed and flow rate of the turbine are in close agreement with experimental data. During transient process, both the flow rate and rotational speed are rising with time, leading to an increase in both axial and circumferential velocities at the runner outlet. The velocity ratio between them has been diminished greatly at the draft tube inlet, inducing a spiral vortex rope growing with time. The cavitation will shorten the duration and reduce the maximal rotational speed of the runaway process. The runner blade pressure surface is much more critical to cavitation than the suction surface. The amplitude of pressure fluctuation in the runaway process is increasing in the main flow direction. Furthermore, the amplitude of pressure fluctuation reaches up to over 100% of the working head in the draft tube, considerably threatening the safe operation of the turbine.

Influence of Runaway Electrons on the Formation Time of Nanosecond Discharge

In this paper, we present the theoretical results of a self-consistent kinetic simulation, clarifying the influence of runaway electron flows on a delay time of the switching stage of a nanosecond discharge. The simulation is based on an accurate numerical solution of the Boltzmann kinetic equation, with model collision integrals that take into account elastic and ionization collisions of the electrons with neutral atoms. As an example, the breakdown of a cylindrical gap is investigated with respect to the variations of the voltage rise time value. The current and voltage time profiles, power spectrum, and current of high-energy electrons, as well as the electron distribution function, are calculated accordingly. Our numerical solution agrees with the existent experimental data.

Suppression of Runaway Electron Flows and Specific Features of Working Gas Breakdown in the Uragan-2M Torsatron

The results of experimental studies of the influence of runaway electrons on the parameters of the neutral gas breakdown and suppression of the runaway electron flow in the Uragan-2M torsatron are presented. The influence of the presence or absence of the runaway electron flow on the time characteristics of the breakdown is experimentally studied via comparative analysis. It is demonstrated that in the presence of the runaway electron flow the breakdown takes place earlier by an average of 1.5 ms, as compared to the breakdown in the absence of the runaway electron flow. This is also proved by the earlier results obtained at the Uragan-3M torsatron, which allows one to continue the description of some aspects of the runaway electron dynamics and its regularities and formulate a number of recommendations on controlling such electron flows in fusion installations.

Formation of 1.4 MeV runaway electron flows in air using a solid-state generator with 10 MV/ns voltage rise rate

Fulfillment of the condition that the voltage rise time across an air gap is comparable with the time of electron acceleration from a cathode to an anode allows a flow of runaway electrons (REs) to be formed with relativistic energies approaching that determined by the amplitude of the voltage pulse. In the experiment described here, an RE energy of 1.4 MeV was observed by applying a negative travelling voltage pulse of 860-kV with a maximum rise rate of 10 MV/ns and a rise time of 100-ps. The voltage pulse amplitude was doubled at the cathode of the 2-cm-long air gap due to the delay of conventional pulsed breakdown. The above-mentioned record-breaking voltage pulse of ∼120 ps duration with a peak power of 15 GW was produced by an all-solid-state pulsed power source utilising pulse compression/sharpening in a multistage gyromagnetic nonlinear transmission line.

Fate of superconductivity in three-dimensional disordered Luttinger semimetals

Superconducting instability can occur in three-dimensional quadratic band crossing semimetals only at a finite coupling strength due to the vanishing of density of states at the quadratic band touching point. Since realistic materials are always disordered to some extent, we study the effect of short-ranged-correlated disorder on this superconducting quantum critical point using a controlled loop-expansion applying dimensional regularization. The renormalization group (RG) scheme allows us to determine the RG flows of the various interaction strengths and shows that disorder destroys the superconducting quantum critical point. In fact, the system exhibits a runaway flow to strong disorder.

Interplay of Coulomb interactions and disorder in three-dimensional quadratic band crossings without time-reversal symmetry and with unequal masses for conduction and valence bands

Coulomb interactions famously drive three dimensional quadratic band crossing semimetals into a non-Fermi liquid phase of matter. In a previous work, Phys. Rev. B 95, 205106 (2017), the effect of disorder on this non-Fermi liquid phase was investigated, assuming that the bandstructure was isotropic, assuming that the conduction and valence bands had the same band mass, and assuming that the disorder preserved exact time-reversal symmetry and statistical isotropy. It was shown that the non-Fermi liquid fixed point is unstable to disorder, and that a runaway flow to strong disorder occurs. In this work, we extend that analysis by relaxing the assumption of time-reversal symmetry and allowing the electron and hole masses to differ (but continuing to assume isotropy of the low energy bandstructure). We first incorporate time-reversal symmetry breaking disorder, and demonstrate that there do not appear any new fixed points. Moreover, while the system continues to flow to strong disorder, time-reversal-symmetry-breaking disorder grows asymptotically more slowly than time-reversal-symmetry-preserving disorder, which we therefore expect should dominate the strong-coupling phase. We then allow for unequal electron and hole masses. We show that whereas asymmetry in the two masses is irrelevant in the clean system, it is relevant in the presence of disorder, such that the 'effective masses' of the conduction and valence bands should become sharply distinct in the low-energy limit. We calculate the RG flow equations for the disordered interacting system with unequal band masses, and demonstrate that the problem exhibits a runaway flow to strong disorder. Along the runaway flow, time-reversal-symmetry-preserving disorder grows asymptotically more rapidly than both time-reversal-symmetry-breaking disorder and the Coulomb interaction.

Numerical simulation of fast atmospheric pressure discharge in gas diode with plane-grid cathode system

In this paper we perform an accurate time-dependent finite-element numerical gas discharge simulation in two-dimensional semi-periodic computational geometry of the gas diode with a plane-grid cathode system. The diode configuration we investigate is similar to previously studied experimentally. Discharge simulation is performed in the framework of two-moment macroscopic (hydrodynamic) discharge plasma model accounting photoionization and autoelectronic emission from nonuniform electrodes surfaces. The results of numerical calculations can be used for further estimations of a runaway electron flows characteristics.