Modeling study on the flow, heat transfer and energy conversion characteristics of low-power arc-heated hydrogen/nitrogen thrusters

A modeling study is conducted to investigate the effect of hydrogen content in propellants on the plasma flow, heat transfer and energy conversion characteristics of low-power (kW class) arc-heated hydrogen/nitrogen thrusters (arcjets). 1:0 (pure hydrogen), 3:1 (to simulate decomposed ammonia), 2:1 (to simulate decomposed hydrazine) and 0:1 (pure nitrogen) hydrogen/nitrogen mixtures are chosen as the propellants. Both the gas flow region inside the thruster nozzle and the anode-nozzle wall are included in the computational domain in order to better treat the conjugate heat transfer between the gas flow region and the solid wall region. The axial variations of the enthalpy flux, kinetic energy flux, directed kinetic-energy flux, and momentum flux, all normalized to the mass flow rate of the propellant, are used to investigate the energy conversion process inside the thruster nozzle. The modeling results show that the values of the arc voltage, the gas axial-velocity at the thruster exit, and the specific impulse of the arcjet thruster all increase with increasing hydrogen content in the propellant, but the gas temperature at the nitrogen thruster exit is significantly higher than that for other three propellants. The flow, heat transfer, and energy conversion processes taking place in the thruster nozzle have some common features for all the four propellants. The propellant is heated mainly in the near-cathode and constrictor region, accompanied with a rapid increase of the enthalpy flux, and after achieving its maximum value, the enthalpy flux decreases appreciably due to the conversion of gas internal energy into its kinetic energy in the divergent segment of the thruster nozzle. The kinetic energy flux, directed kinetic energy flux and momentum flux also increase at first due to the arc heating and the thermodynamic expansion, assume their maximum inside the nozzle and then decrease gradually as the propellant flows toward the thruster exit. It is found that a large energy loss (31-52%) occurs in the thruster nozzle due to the heat transfer to the nozzle wall and too long nozzle is not necessary. Modeling results for the NASA 1-kW class arcjet thruster with hydrogen or decomposed hydrazine as the propellant are found to compare favorably with available experimental data.

Modeling study to compare the flow and heat transfer characteristics of low-power hydrogen, nitrogen and argon arc-heated thrusters

A modelling study is performed to compare the plasma °ow and heat transfer char- acteristics of low-power arc-heated thrusters (arcjets) for three di®erent propellants: hydrogen, nitrogen and argon. The all-speed SIMPLE algorithm is employed to solve the governing equa- tions, which take into account the e®ects of compressibility, Lorentz force and Joule heating, as well as the temperature- and pressure-dependence of the gas properties. The temperature, veloc- ity and Mach number distributions calculated within the thruster nozzle obtained with di®erent propellant gases are compared for the same thruster structure, dimensions, inlet-gas stagnant pressure and arc currents. The temperature distributions in the solid region of the anode-nozzle wall are also given. It is found that the °ow and energy conversion processes in the thruster nozzle show many similar features for all three propellants. For example, the propellant is heated mainly in the near-cathode and constrictor region, with the highest plasma temperature appear- ing near the cathode tip; the °ow transition from the subsonic to supersonic regime occurs within the constrictor region; the highest axial velocity appears inside the nozzle; and most of the input propellant °ows towards the thruster exit through the cooler gas region near the anode-nozzle wall. However, since the properties of hydrogen, nitrogen and argon, especially their molecular weights, speci¯c enthalpies and thermal conductivities, are di®erent, there are appreciable di®er- ences in arcjet performance. For example, compared to the other two propellants, the hydrogen arcjet thruster shows a higher plasma temperature in the arc region, and higher axial velocity but lower temperature at the thruster exit. Correspondingly, the hydrogen arcjet thruster has the highest speci¯c impulse and arc voltage for the same inlet stagnant pressure and arc current. The predictions of the modelling are compared favourably with available experimental results.

Plasma and electrode emissions from a 1 kW hydrogen-nitrogen arcjet thruster

Arc root behavior affects the energy transfer and nozzle erosion in an arcjet thruster. To investigate the development of arc root attachment in 1 kW class N2 and H2-N2 arcjet thrusters from the time of ignition to the stably working condition, a kinetic series of end-on view images of the nozzle obtained by a high-speed video camera was analyzed. The addition of hydrogen leads to higher arc voltage levels and the determining factor for the mode of arc root attachment was found to be the nozzle temperature. At lower nozzle temperatures, constricted type attachment with unstable motions of the arc root was observed, while a fully diffused and stable arc root was observed at elevated nozzle temperatures.

次生植被下土壤活性有机碳组分季节动态研究

为了揭示不同类型植被下土壤有机碳及其活性组分季节动态变化及其特点，探讨不同的植被恢复模式对土壤有机碳组分的影响，分析影响土壤有机碳组分变化的因素，评估土壤有机活性有机碳组分参数在植被恢复过程中土壤质量监测的可靠性，为植被恢复及低效林改造技术提供理论依据。本研究选择岷江上游大沟流域的几种人工林（云杉林、油松林、华山松林、日本落叶松林）以及次生落叶阔叶灌丛下土壤，通过剖面机械分层取样，测定土壤总有机碳（TOC）和三种活性碳组分微生物碳（SMBC）、水溶性碳（WSOC）、易氧化碳（EOC）等来反映土壤变化特点。主要结果是： 1. 土壤有机碳含量平均在15.48~25.46 g kg-1之间在5月份时含量最低，随生长季的开始，有机碳含量逐渐增加，到9月份时含量达到最大值；由于新形成的凋落物不能被迅速分解利用补充土壤碳库，而原有碳库经历一个生长季的分解利用，因此，生长季末期即11月份的含量较小；土壤微生物碳含量平均在132.78~476.73mg kg-1之间，9月份和11月份含量都比较高；水溶性碳在生长季中逐步增大，含量在51.95~77.18 mg kg-1之间，到11月份时达到最大值；土壤易氧化碳平均含量在3.74~5.79g kg-1之间，含量最低值出现在5月份，但和其他碳组分不同的是其在7月份时含量较高。 2. 土壤有机碳及其活性碳组分大小关系为：TOC>EOC >SMBC>WSOC；比值约为300：70：5：1。 3. 土壤不同层次间比较，土壤碳指标都表现为随土壤深度增加而逐渐减小, 表层积聚作用明显。 4. 对土壤总有机碳量与活性碳组分以及活性碳之间进行了相关分析表明，土壤总有机碳含量与土壤微生物量碳、水溶性碳、易氧化碳之间的相关性均达到显著水平（P<0.05），有机碳总贮量很大程度上制约着土壤活性碳组分。土壤微生物量碳、水溶性碳、易氧化碳两两之间也都存在着显著相关关系（P<0.05），并随着不同植被类型或立地条件因子发生变化而变化。 5. 土壤有机碳及其活性组分与土壤养分状况之间的相关性分析发现，随着海拔、坡向或者植被类型的改变，其林下土壤有机碳及其活性组分与土壤养分的相关性也发生较大的变化。总体而言，岷江上游地区海拔、坡向、土壤自然含水量、植被盖度、凋落物厚度、土壤全N对次生林下土壤有机碳及其组分有重要影响。而AP、AK、C/N对土壤碳变化变化影响较小。 6. 通过不同海拔、坡向以及植被类型之间的综合比较分析发现，土壤微生物碳SMBC和水溶性碳WSOC比TOC和EOC更能敏感地反映出比较敏感的指示林下土壤质量的变化。 In order to reveal seasonal dynamics of soil labile organic carbon under different secondary vegetation, to analyze effect of different vegetation restoration pattern on soil organic carbon and its fractions, and to find the factors influencing changes in soil organic carbon and its fractions, further to estimate those parameters reliability for soil quality monitoring in the process of vegetation restoration. Soils were selected from several plantations, including Picea asperata Pinus tabulaeformis, Pinus armandii and Larix kaempferi and secondary shrub in Dagou Watershed of the upper reach of Minjiang River. The measurement of TOC, SMBC，WSOC and EOC were made, because these parameters can reflect change of soil characteristics. The major results are: 1. There were the lowest soil organic carbon and its labile fractions contents in May. At the time of growth initiation, they increased gradually and reached maximum in September. After that the soil organic carbon content decreased. Because current litter couldn’t be rapidly decomposed, and supplemented into carbon pool, while intrinsic carbon pool experienced decomposition and utilization of growth season, Which led a decrease in soil organic carbon content in November. Average value was 15.48~25.46 g kg-1; average SMBC content was 132.78~476.73mg kg-1.There were higher SMBC content in September and November as compared with other times; Water soluble organic carbon content increased from 51.95 mg kg-1 in May to 77.18 mg kg-1 in November; EOC content was lowest in May y. Average value was 3.74~5.79g kg-1. Differeing from other parameters of carbon fractions, EOC content was higher in July. 2. The content of soil organic carbon and its labile carbon fractions ranked as follows：TOC>EOC >SMBC>WSO，and ratio was about 300：70：5：1. 3. Consider as soil different layers，all of the parameters decreased gradually with increasing soil depth, thus displayed a significant accumulation in the surface layer soil. 4. Correlations coefficient analysis revealed that, TOC significantly correlated with SMBC, WSOC and EOC indicating total storage of organic carbon limited soil labile carbon fractions in great extent. On the other hand, there were significant correlations between SMBC，WSOC and EOC. But these relationships changed with vegetation types and/or environmental conditions. 5. The relationships between soil organic carbon and its labile fractions and soil nutrient traits changed with altitude，slope aspect and vegetations. Therefore our results suggested that altitude，slope aspect，soil natural water content，vegetation coverage, litter thickness and soil total nitrogen play a important role change in soil organic carbon and its fractions in upper reaches of Minjiang River. While AP、AK、C/N slightly influenced soil carbon. 6. Our results, on the other hand suggested that SMBC and WSOC are more sensitive to the change of altitudes, slope aspects, vegetation types than TOC and EOC, thus two parameters may be good index reflecting change of soil quality. These results provide insights into theoretical and technological evidences for the vegetation regeneration restoration and improvement of low-quality and benefit forest in the upper reaches of Minjiang River regions.

A 2-kW COIL with a square pipe-array JSOG and nitrogen buffer gas

A 2-kW-class chemical oxygen-iodine laser (COIL) using nitrogen buffer gas has been developed and tested since industrial applications of COIL devices will require the use of nitrogen as the buffer gas. The laser, with a gain length of 11.7 cm, is energized by a square pipe-array jet-type singlet oxygen generator (SPJSOG) and employs a nozzle bank with a designed Mach number of 2.5. The SPJSOG has advantages over the traditional plate-type JSOG in that it has less requirements on basic hydrogen peroxide (BHP) pump, and more important, it has much better operational stability. The SPJSOG without a cold trap and a gas-liquid separator could provide reliable operations for a total gas flow rate up to 450 mmol/s and with a low liquid driving pressure of around 0.7 atm or even lower. The nozzle bank was specially designed for a COIL using nitrogen as the buffer gas. The cavity was designed for a Mach number of 2.5, in order to provide a gas speed and static temperature in the cavity similar to that for a traditional COIL with helium buffer gas and a Mach 2 nozzle. An output power of 2.6 kW was obtained for a chlorine flow rate of 140 mmol/s, corresponding to a chemical efficiency of 20.4%. When the chlorine flow rate was reduced to 115 mmol/s, a higher chemical efficiency of 22.7% was attained. Measurements showed that the SPJSOG during normal operation could provide a singlet oxygen yield Y greater than or equal to 55%, a chlorine utilization U greater than or equal to 85%, and a relative water vapor concentration w = [H2O]/([O-2] + [Cl-2]) less than or equal to 0.1.

Nitrogen-15 signals of leaf-litter-soil continuum as a possible indicator of ecosystem nitrogen saturation by forest succession and N loads

National Key Research and Development Program [2010CB833502]; National Natural Science Foundation of China [30600071, 40601097, 30590381]; Chinese Academy of Sciences [KZCX2-YW-432, O7V70080SZ, LENOM07LS-01]; GUCAS [O85101PM03]