2020 Ingenium - Journal of Undergraduate Research

Page 99

Ingenium 2020

Analytical model validation for melting probe performance using applied computational fluid dynamics Michael Ullmana, b, Michael Durkaa, b, Kevin Glunta, b, and Matthew Barry, PhDa, b Applied Computational Fluid Dynamics Lab, bDepartment of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA

a

Michael Ullman

Matthew Barry, PhD

Michael Ullman graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in December 2019 with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Physics. He plans to continue his education in the fall by pursuing a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, focusing on computational fluid dynamics and fluid modeling. Dr. Barry’s research focuses on multi-physics modeling of energy systems. This ranges from terrestrial thermal-fluid-electric coupled modeling of waste-heat recovery systems to thermalelectric-mechanical coupled modeling of space power-generation systems, and includes phase-change modeling for extraterrestrial probe design and evaluation.

Significance Statement

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory is developing a melting probe to access Europa’s subterranean oceans in search of extraterrestrial life. This research advances the mathematical formulation of the melting process by identifying and quantifying discrepancies between models, ultimately providing insights into how the probe shall be designed to maximize its performance.

Category: Computational research

Keywords: Melting probe, Europa Clipper, Europa Lander, model validation

Abstract

Observations of water vapor plumes ejected from the waterice surface of Jupiter’s moon Europa have prompted scientists to hypothesize that liquid water oceans lie beneath the surface, making Europa a primary focus in the search for extraterrestrial life. NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is developing plans for its Europa Lander mission, during which a probe will melt through the surface ice sheets to access Europa’s subterranean oceans. An analytical model is being developed by JPL and the University of Pittsburgh to compute the probe’s melting performance envelope, but this model requires corroboration from numerical models. In this project, the boundary conditions of the analytical model were implemented into ANSYS-CFX finite-volume models to evaluate the analytical model’s validity. All of the numerical models exhibited heat flux distributions qualitatively similar to the analytical model on the front and side of the ice cavities, but the cavity shapes differed from what was desired. The greatest discrepancies occurred at the front corner of the probe, suggesting that radial dissipation of axial heat flux must be considered at this location. The results provide insights into the applicability of the analytical model and how the desired melt profile may be achieved.

1. Introduction

Because terrestrial life originated and thrives in Earth’s oceans, biologists hypothesize that the presence of water may be essential for life to emerge. To test this theory, astrobiologists look to examine extraterrestrial environments where water and organic compounds are plentiful. The discovery of life in these environments would help to elucidate how life developed on Earth and answer one of the most profound questions in science—are we alone in the universe? About 400 million miles from Earth, the smallest of the Galilean moons, Europa, orbits its home planet of Jupiter. This moon is notable for its thin, oxygen-rich atmosphere and fractured water-ice surface, which is splotched with red-brown hues believed to result from salt and sulfur compounds discolored by radiation [1]. Recent analyses of data from NASA’s Galileo orbiter suggest that the spacecraft flew through a plume of water vapor when passing close to Europa in 1997 [2]. Water vapor ejections have also been observed by the Hubble Space Telescope, with periodicity consistent with predicted variations in Europa’s tidal forces [3]. Scientists have hypothesized that these plumes originate within a water ocean beneath Europa’s icy surface, making it a primary focus in the search for extraterrestrial life. Because of this promise, NASA is developing plans for its Europa Lander mission, which will consist of a probe landing on and penetrating the moon’s surface to explore its subterranean oceans. The proposed method for penetrating the ice is a combination of drilling and melting—the latter of which will be caused by nuclear heat generation within the probe. Engineers at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and researchers at the University of Pittsburgh are developing a system of nondimensional equations—hereafter referred to as the JPL analytical model—to 97


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook

Articles inside

Index

2min
pages 121-125

Feasibility study of kinetic, thermoelectric, and RF enery harvesting powered sensor system

17min
pages 116-120

Biotelemetry: a brief history and future developments in lowering cost

12min
pages 112-115

Adventitial extracellular matrix from aneurysmal aorta fails to promote pericyte contractility

11min
pages 108-111

Crimped polymer microfibers produced via electrospinning: A review

12min
pages 104-107

fluid dynamics

15min
pages 99-103

WC-Co

12min
pages 90-93

Genetically engineering ocular probiotics to manipulate ocular immunity and disease

9min
pages 87-89

Monitoring the in-vitro extracellular matrix remodeling of tissue engineered vascular grafts

13min
pages 94-98

Characterization of hierarchical structures in remelted Ni-Mn-Ga substrates for directed energy deposition manufacturing of single crystals

13min
pages 79-82

Wireless signal transmission through hermetic walls in nuclear reactors

14min
pages 83-86

Laser-induced nanocarbon formation for tuning surface properties of commercial polymers

11min
pages 70-73

The role of oxygen functional groups in graphene oxide modified glassy carbon

12min
pages 74-78

Liam Martin, Megan R. Routzong, Ghazaleh Rostaminia, Pamela A. Moalli, Steven D. Abramowitch

15min
pages 65-69

techniques for the treatment of dry eye disease

9min
pages 62-64

Robust osteogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells in 3D bioactive hydrogel

8min
pages 59-61

Mechanical characterization of silk derived vascular grafts for human arterial implantation

18min
pages 54-58

Metformin administration impairs tendon wound healing

15min
pages 49-53

Lauren Grice, Chandler Fountain, Michel Modo

12min
pages 36-39

Michael Clancy, Sudarshan Sekhar, Aaron Batista, Patrick Loughlin

18min
pages 26-31

Progress in bioplastics: PLA and PHA

14min
pages 18-21

with spinal cord injury

14min
pages 32-35

Evaluating carbon reduction strategies for the University of Pittsburgh

16min
pages 13-17

Graduate Student Review Board – Ingenium 2020

1min
page 8

Tumor derived exosomes regulate dendritic cell maturation and activation

15min
pages 9-12

A Message from the Associate Dean for Research

2min
page 6

A Message from the Co-Editors-in-Chief

2min
page 7
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.