Computational fluid dynamics research at the United Technologies Research Center requiring supercomputers

An overview of research activities at the United Technologies Research Center (UTRC) in the area of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is presented. The requirement and use of various levels of computers, including supercomputers, for the CFD activities is described. Examples of CFD directed toward applications to helicopters, turbomachinery, heat exchangers, and the National Aerospace Plane are included. Helicopter rotor codes for the prediction of rotor and fuselage flow fields and airloads were developed with emphasis on rotor wake modeling. Airflow and airload predictions and comparisons with experimental data are presented. Examples are presented of recent parabolized Navier-Stokes and full Navier-Stokes solutions for hypersonic shock-wave/boundary layer interaction, and hydrogen/air supersonic combustion. In addition, other examples of CFD efforts in turbomachinery Navier-Stokes methodology and separated flow modeling are presented. A brief discussion of the 3-tier scientific computing environment is also presented, in which the researcher has access to workstations, mid-size computers, and supercomputers

Multiscale modelling of blood flow in cerebral microcirculation: Details at capillary scale control accuracy at the level of the cortex

Aging or cerebral diseases may induce architectural modifications in human brain microvascular networks, such as capillary rarefaction. Such modifications limit blood and oxygen supply to the cortex, possibly resulting in energy failure and neuronal death. Modelling is key in understanding how these architectural modifications affect blood flow and mass transfers in such complex networks. However, the huge number of vessels in the human brain—tens of billions—prevents any modelling approach with an explicit architectural representation down to the scale of the capillaries. Here, we introduce a hybrid approach to model blood flow at larger scale in the brain microcirculation, based on its multiscale architecture. The capillary bed, which is a space-filling network, is treated as a porous medium and modelled using a homogenized continuum approach. The larger arteriolar and venular trees, which cannot be homogenized because of their fractal-like nature, are treated as a network of interconnected tubes with a detailed representation of their spatial organization. The main contribution of this work is to devise a proper coupling model at the interface between these two components. This model is based on analytical approximations of the pressure field that capture the strong pressure gradients building up in the capillaries connected to arterioles or venules. We evaluate the accuracy of this model for both very simple architectures with one arteriole and/or one venule and for more complex ones, with anatomically realistic tree-like vessels displaying a large number of coupling sites. We show that the hybrid model is very accurate in describing blood flow at large scales and further yields a significant computational gain by comparison with a classical network approach. It is therefore an important step towards large scale simulations of cerebral blood flow and lays the groundwork for introducing additional levels of complexity in the future

Electro-thermal analysis of power converter components in low-voltage DC microgrids for optimal protection system design

Bidirectional power converters are considered to be key elements in interfacing the low voltage dc microgrid with an ac grid. However to date there has been no clear procedure to determine the maximum permissible fault isolation periods of the power converter components against the dc faults. To tackle this problem, this paper presents an electro-thermal analysis of the main elements of a converter: ac inductors, dc capacitors and semiconductors. In doing this, the paper provides a methodology for quantifying fault protection requirements for power converter components in future dc microgrids. The analysis is performed through simulations during normal and fault conditions of a low voltage dc microgrid. The paper develops dynamic electro-thermal models of components based on the design and detailed specification from manufacturer datasheets. The simulations show the impact of different protection system operating speeds on the required converter rating for the studied conditions. This is then translated into actual cost of converter equipment. In this manner, the results can be used to determine the required fault protection operating requirements, coordinated with cost penalties for uprating the converter components

Spatio-temporal forecasting of network data

In the digital age, data are collected in unprecedented volumes on a plethora of networks. These data provide opportunities to develop our understanding of network processes by allowing data to drive method, revealing new and often unexpected insights. To date, there has been extensive research into the structure and function of complex networks, but there is scope for improvement in modelling the spatio-temporal evolution of network processes in order to forecast future conditions. This thesis focusses on forecasting using data collected on road networks. Road traffic congestion is a serious and persistent problem in most major cities around the world, and it is the task of researchers and traffic engineers to make use of voluminous traffic data to help alleviate congestion. Recently, spatio-temporal models have been applied to traffic data, showing improvements over time series methods. Although progress has been made, challenges remain. Firstly, most existing methods perform well under typical conditions, but less well under atypical conditions. Secondly, existing spatio-temporal models have been applied to traffic data with high spatial resolution, and there has been little research into how to incorporate spatial information on spatially sparse sensor networks, where the dependency relationships between locations are uncertain. Thirdly, traffic data is characterised by high missing rates, and existing methods are generally poorly equipped to deal with this in a real time setting. In this thesis, a local online kernel ridge regression model is developed that addresses these three issues, with application to forecasting of travel times collected by automatic number plate recognition on London’s road network. The model parameters can vary spatially and temporally, allowing it to better model the time varying characteristics of traffic data, and to deal with abnormal traffic situations. Methods are defined for linking the spatially sparse sensor network to the physical road network, providing an improved representation of the spatial relationship between sensor locations. The incorporation of the spatio-temporal neighbourhood enables the model to forecast effectively under missing data. The proposed model outperforms a range of benchmark models at forecasting under normal conditions, and under various missing data scenarios

A Wide Tuning-Range mm-Wave LC-VCO Sized Using Evolutionary Algorithms

Designing a LC Voltage Controlled Oscillator (LC-VCO) for mm-Wave frequencies requires a careful balance of interdependent design parameters. The losses due to passive elements dictate the required cross coupled pair transconductance (g m ), which in turn affects the tuning range via fixed capacitance. As such, the design process requires significant engineering time. An optimization methodology using a genetic algorithm is proposed to optimize component selection for use in the LC-VCO. The design for the LC-VCO is broken into pseudo-independent sub-modules to allow the designer greater control and to allow the optimization to benefit from manual circuit intuition. Performance of the components chosen by the genetic algorithm is verified using a circuit simulator to achieve a center frequency of 29 GHz with a 15.8 GHz tuning range. The simulated phase noise performance is -103.2 dBc/Hz using a 10 MHz frequency offset.A one-year embargo was granted for this item.Academic Major: Electrical and Computer Engineerin

Interference-aware adaptive spectrum management for wireless networks using unlicensed frequency bands

The growing demand for ubiquitous broadband network connectivity and continuously falling prices in hardware operating on the unlicensed bands have put Wi-Fi technology in a position to lead the way in rapid innovation towards high performance wireless for the future. The success story of Wi-Fi contributed to the development of widespread variety of options for unlicensed access (e.g., Bluetooth, Zigbee) and has even sparked regulatory bodies in several countries to permit access to unlicensed devices in portions of the spectrum initially licensed to TV services. In this thesis we present novel spectrum management algorithms for networks employing 802.11 and TV white spaces broadly aimed at efficient use of spectrum under consideration, lower contention (interference) and high performance. One of the target scenarios of this thesis is neighbourhood or citywide wireless access. For this, we propose the use of IEEE 802.11-based multi-radio wireless mesh network using omnidirectional antennae. We develop a novel scalable protocol termed LCAP for efficient and adaptive distributed multi-radio channel allocation. In LCAP, nodes autonomously learn their channel allocation based on neighbourhood and channel usage information. This information is obtained via a novel neighbour discovery protocol, which is effective even when nodes do not share a common channel. Extensive simulation-based evaluation of LCAP relative to the state-of-the-art Asynchronous Distributed Colouring (ADC) protocol demonstrates that LCAP is able to achieve its stated objectives. These objectives include efficient channel utilisation across diverse traffic patterns, protocol scalability and adaptivity to factors such as external interference. Motivated by the non-stationary nature of the network scenario and the resulting difficulty of establishing convergence of LCAP, we consider a deterministic alternative. This approach employs a novel distributed priority-based mechanism where nodes decide on their channel allocations based on only local information. Key enabler of this approach is our neighbour discovery mechanism. We show via simulations that this mechanism exhibits similar performance to LCAP. Another application scenario considered in this thesis is broadband access to rural areas. For such scenarios, we consider the use of long-distance 802.11 mesh networks and present a novel mechanism to address the channel allocation problem in a traffic-aware manner. The proposed approach employs a multi-radio architecture using directional antennae. Under this architecture, we exploit the capability of the 802.11 hardware to use different channel widths and assign widths to links based on their relative traffic volume such that side-lobe interference is mitigated. We show that this problem is NP-complete and propose a polynomial time, greedy channel allocation algorithm that guarantees valid channel allocations for each node. Evaluation of the proposed algorithm via simulations of real network topologies shows that it consistently outperforms fixed width allocation due to its ability to adapt to spatio-temporal variations in traffic demands. Finally, we consider the use of TV-white-spaces to increase throughput for in-home wireless networking and relieve the already congested unlicensed bands. To the best of our knowledge, our work is the first to develop a scalable micro auctioning mechanism for sharing of TV white space spectrum through a geolocation database. The goal of our approach is to minimise contention among secondary users, while not interfering with primary users of TV white space spectrum (TV receivers and microphone users). It enables interference-free and dynamic sharing of TVWS among home networks with heterogeneous spectrum demands, while resulting in revenue generation for database and broadband providers. Using white space availability maps from the UK, we validate our approach in real rural, urban and dense-urban residential scenarios. Our results show that our mechanism is able to achieve its stated objectives of attractiveness to both the database provider and spectrum requesters, scalability and efficiency for dynamic spectrum distribution in an interference-free manner

Non-adiabatic capillary tubes in high efficiency household refrigerator: an experimental study

El tubo capilar con intercambio de calor líquido-succión (CT-LSHX) es un componente ampliamente utilizado en refrigeradores domésticos. Trabajos recientes han indicado que la entrada del tubo capilar era bifásica, aunque condiciones subenfriadas estaban medidas a la salida del condensador. El objetivo de esta tesis doctoral es examinar las condiciones reales a la entrada del tubo capilar de un refrigerador doméstico mediante el uso de un banco de pruebas innovador. Se instalaron tubos transparentes a la salida del condensador y a la entrada del tubo capilar con el fin de visualizar el flujo. La campaña de visualización experimental revela que el flujo a la entrada del tubo capilar era bifásico a pesar de la medición de un cierto subenfriamiento, independientemente de la posición del filtro instalado a la entrada del capilar (horizontal o vertical), la dirección del flujo (hacia arriba o hacia abajo) y la carga de refrigerante. Este estudio demuestra también que el filtro no estaba actuando como un acumulador ya que el nivel de líquido del capilar siempre siguió la entrada del tubo capilar, independientemente de la longitud del tubo capilar dentro del filtro. Se plantearon dos hipótesis para explicar el fenómeno: una condición de no equilibrio del refrigerante y/o un desequilibrio entre el caudal másico del compresor y del capilar, es decir, el sistema estaría equipado con un capilar no bastante restrictivo en comparación con las necesidades del compresor. El condensador original refrigerante-aire fue reemplazado por un condensador refrigerante-agua para evaluar, a partir del balance de calor en el condensador de agua, las condiciones del refrigerante a la salida del condensador y, por lo tanto, a la entrada del tubo capilar. Las mediciones indican un flujo bifásico no equilibrado compuesto de vapor y líquido subenfriados a la entrada del tubo capilar. Para verificar si la presencia de flujo bifásico se debía a un desequilibrio entre el caudal másico del compresor y del capilar, el diseño del banco de prueba se modificó utilizando un diámetro de tubo capilar más pequeño y aumentando la velocidad del compresor. Con esta nueva configuración, se alcanzó a llenar de líquido el filtro y, por lo tanto, tener condiciones exclusivamente líquidas a la entrada del tubo capilar. Se realizó una comparación de prestaciones entre un flujo bifásico y un flujo únicamente líquido a la entrada del capilar. Los resultados revelan que el COP fue mayor cuando la entrada del capilar era sólo líquida.El tub capil·lar amb intercanvi de calor líquid-succió (CT-LSHX) és un component àmpliament utilitzat en refrigeradors domèstics. Treballs recents han indicat que l'entrada del tub capil·lar era bifàsica, encara que condicions sub-refredades estaven mesurades a l'eixida del condensador. L'objectiu d'aquesta tesi doctoral és examinar les condicions reals a l'entrada del tub capil·lar d'un refrigerador domèstic mitjançant l'ús d'un banc de proves innovador. Es van instal·lar tubs transparents a l'eixida del condensador i a l'entrada del tub capil·lar amb la finalitat de visualitzar el flux. La campanya de visualització experimental revela que el flux a l'entrada del tub capil·lar era bifàsic malgrat el mesurament d'un cert sub-refredament, independentment de la posició del filtre instal·lat a l'entrada del capil·lar (horitzontal o vertical), la direcció del flux (cap amunt o cap avall) i la càrrega de refrigerant. Aquest estudi demostra també que el filtre no estava actuant com un acumulador ja que el nivell de líquid del capil·lar sempre va seguir l'entrada del tub capil·lar, independentment de la longitud del tub capil·lar dins del filtre. Es van plantejar dues hipòtesis per a explicar el fenomen: una condició de no equilibri del refrigerant i/o un desequilibri entre el cabal màssic del compressor i del capil·lar, és a dir, el sistema estaria equipat amb un capil·lar no bastant restrictiu en comparació amb les necessitats del compressor. El condensador original refrigerant-aire va ser reemplaçat per un condensador refrigerant-aigua per a avaluar, a partir del balanç de calor en el condensador d'aigua, les condicions del refrigerant a l'eixida del condensador i, per tant, a l'entrada del tub capil·lar. Els mesuraments indiquen un flux bifàsic no equilibrat compost de vapor i líquid sub-refredats a l'entrada del tub capil·lar. Per a verificar si la presència de flux bifàsic es devia a un desequilibri entre el cabal màssic del compressor i del capil·lar, el disseny del banc de prova es va modificar utilitzant un diàmetre de tub capil·lar més xicotet i augmentant la velocitat del compressor. Amb aquesta nova configuració, es va aconseguir omplir de líquid el filtre i, per tant, tindre condicions exclusivament líquides a l'entrada del tub capil·lar. Es va realitzar una comparació de prestacions entre un flux bifàsic i un flux únicament líquid a l'entrada del capil·lar. Els resultats revelen que el COP va ser major quan l'entrada del capil·lar era només líquida.Capillary tube with liquid-to-suction heat exchanger (CT-LSHX) is a component widely used in household refrigerators. Recent works have indicated that even when measuring subcooled conditions at the condenser outlet, the actual capillary tube inlet is two phase-flow. The aim of this PhD thesis is to examine the actual conditions at the capillary tube inlet of a household refrigerator by using an innovative test bench. Transparent tubes were set up at the condenser outlet and capillary tube inlet. The experimental visualisation campaign reveals that the capillary tube inlet was two-phase flow despite the measurement of a certain subcooling, regardless of the filter position (horizontal or vertical), flow direction (upward or downward) and refrigerant charge. This study also demonstrates that the filter was not acting as an accumulator since the liquid level of the capillary always followed the capillary tube entrance, regardless of the capillary tube length inside the filter. Two hypotheses were then posed to explain the phenomenon: a non-equilibrium condition of the refrigerant and/or an unbalanced matching between compressor and capillary tube, that is, the system would be equipped with a capillary tube with a notably large expansion capacity compared to the needs of the compressor. The original refrigerant-to-air condenser was replaced by a refrigerant-to-water condenser to assess, from the heat balance at the water condenser, the refrigerant conditions at the condenser outlet and therefore, at the capillary tube inlet. Measurements indicate a non-equilibrium two-phase flow composed of subcooled vapour and liquid at the capillary tube inlet. To verify if the presence of two-phase flow was due to unbalanced matching between the capillary tube and compressor, the test bench design was modified by using a smaller capillary tube diameter and increasing compressor speed. Fully liquid conditions at the capillary tube inlet were reached with this new configuration. A performance analysis comparison between a capillary tube inlet composed of vapour and liquid and a capillary tube inlet composed of only liquid was also performed. Results reveal that COP were higher in cases of fully liquid conditions at the capillary tube inlet.Bardoulet, LV. (2018). Non-adiabatic capillary tubes in high efficiency household refrigerator: an experimental study [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/113170TESI

Towards brain-scale modelling of the human cerebral blood flow : hybrid approach and high performance computing

The brain microcirculation plays a key role in cerebral physiology and neuronal activation. In the case of degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, severe deterioration of the microvascular networks (e.g. vascular occlusions) limit blood flow, thus oxygen and nutrients supply, to the cortex, eventually resulting in neurons death. In addition to functional neuroimaging, modelling is a valuable tool to investigate the impact of structural variations of the microvasculature on blood flow and mass transfers. In the brain microcirculation, the capillary bed contains the smallest vessels (1-10 μm in diameter) and presents a mesh-like structure embedded in the cerebral tissue. This is the main place of molecular exchange between blood and neurons. The capillary bed is fed and drained by larger arteriolar and venular tree-like vessels (10-100 μm in diameter). For the last decades, standard network approaches have significantly advanced our understanding of blood flow, mass transport and regulation mechanisms in the human brain microcirculation. By averaging flow equations over the vascular cross-sections, such approaches yield a one-dimensional model that involves much fewer variables compared to a full three-dimensional resolution of the flow. However, because of the high density of capillaries, such approaches are still computationally limited to relatively small volumes (<100 mm3). This constraint prevents applications at clinically relevant scales, since standard imaging techniques only yield much larger volumes (∼100 cm3), with a resolution of 1-10 mm3. To get around this computational cost, we present a hybrid approach for blood flow modelling where the capillaries are replaced by a continuous medium. This substitution makes sense since the capillary bed is dense and space-filling over a cut-off length of ∼50 μm. In this continuum, blood flow is characterized by effective properties (e.g. permeability) at the scale of a much larger representative volume. Furthermore, the domain is discretized on a coarse grid using the finite volume method, inducing an important computational gain. The arteriolar and venular trees cannot be homogenized because of their quasi-fractal structure, thus the network approach is used to model blood flow in the larger vessels. The main difficulty of the hybrid approach is to develop a proper coupling model at the points where arteriolar or venular vessels are connected to the continuum. Indeed, high pressure gradients build up at capillary-scale in the vicinity of the coupling points, and must be properly described at the continuum-scale. Such multiscale coupling has never been discussed in the context of brain microcirculation. Taking inspiration from the Peaceman “well model” developed for petroleum engineering, our coupling model relies on to use analytical solutions of the pressure field in the neighbourhood of the coupling points. The resulting equations yield a single linear system to solve for both the network part and the continuum (strong coupling). The accuracy of the hybrid model is evaluated by comparison with a classical network approach, for both very simple synthetic architectures involving no more than two couplings, and more complex ones, with anatomical arteriolar and venular trees displaying a large number of couplings. We show that the present approach is very accurate, since relative pressure errors are lower than 6 %. This lays the goundwork for introducing additional levels of complexity in the future (e.g. non uniform hematocrit). In the perspective of large-scale simulations and extension to mass transport, the hybrid approach has been implemented in a C++ code designed for High Performance Computing. It has been fully parallelized using Message Passing Interface standards and specialized libraries (e.g. PETSc). Since the present work is part of a larger project involving several collaborators, special care has been taken in developing efficient coding strategies

Supercomputing in Aerospace

Topics addressed include: numerical aerodynamic simulation; computational mechanics; supercomputers; aerospace propulsion systems; computational modeling in ballistics; turbulence modeling; computational chemistry; computational fluid dynamics; and computational astrophysics