Thermodynamics of the condensation of dust grains in Wolf–Rayet stellar winds

ABSTRACT Wolf–Rayet (WR) stars are the evolutionary phases of very massive stars prior to the final supernova explosion stage. These stars lose substantial mass during the WN and WC stages. The mass losses are associated with diverse elemental and isotopic signatures that represent distinct stellar evolutionary processes. WR strong winds can host environments favourable for the condensation of dust grains with diverse compositions. The condensation of dust in the outflows of massive stars is supported by a number of observations. The present work is an attempt to develop a theoretical framework for the thermodynamics associated with the condensation of dust grains in the winds of the WN and WC phases. A novel numerical code has been developed for dust condensation. In addition to the equilibrium dust condensation calculations, we have attempted, perhaps for the first time, a set of non-equilibrium scenarios for dust condensation in various WR stages. These scenarios differ in terms of the magnitude of the non-equilibrium state, defined in terms of a simulation non-equilibrium parameter. Here, we attempt to understand the effect of the simulation non-equilibrium parameter on the condensation sequence of dust grains. In general, we found that mostly C (graphite), TiC, SiC, AlN, CaS and Fe-metal are condensed in WR winds. The extent of non-equilibrium influences the relative proportions of the earliest dust condensate compared with the condensates formed at later stages subsequent to the cooling of the gas. The results indicate that dust grains that are condensed in the WC phase may make a substantial contribution of carbon-rich dust grains to the interstellar medium.

Two-Phase Critical Flow Simulations by Using a New Non-Equilibrium Model and a Modified Equilibrium Model

An accurate prediction of a critical flow discharged from a pressurized pipe system is of most importance in such a safety analysis of nuclear power plants, since it provides the transient boundary conditions during the depressurization transients initiated by a pipe break in primary or secondary systems and during the over-pressurization transients resulting in a relief of coolant through valves. Mass and energy discharge through the opening of pressure boundary affects the system thermal hydraulic responses, that is, phase changes and flow distribution in the system, and the mass inventory remaining in the system necessary to remove core decay heat of a nuclear reactor. Therefore, the safety significance relating to the critical flow led to a development of various empirical and mechanistic critical flow models. However, the accuracies of these models are still in question especially during two-phase critical flow condition. A good example of that is a homogeneous equilibrium model (HEM). The HEM is the basis of several system codes, such as early versions of RELAP, for nuclear loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA). The major non-equilibrium phenomena that are ignored in the HEM are vapor bubble nucleation and interface heat, mass, and momentum transfer. Henry-Fauske empirically handled non-equilibrium vapor generation by introducing a non-equilibrium parameter that allows only a fraction of the equilibrium vapor generation to occur. This approach boils down in essence to a correlation of the deviation between the measured flow rate and the prediction from the HEM: The details of the flow path do not have to be worked out and only needs to know the upstream conditions. However, if we treat non-equilibrium phenomena with this model, it requires an empirical database of the non-equilibrium parameters or their correlations that are so far unknown. Further, because the coefficients are not applied separately to the subcooled liquid and two-phase mixture, we have not been able to treat the non-equilibrium phenomena with the phase change properly. For this reason, we propose the non-equilibrium parameters for subcooled liquid and two-phase mixture, respectively, and then we adopt their combinations according to the flow conditions through the phase change process using the RELAP5/MOD3 code. In addition, we discuss the assessment results of Marviken LBLOCA tests using these non-equilibrium parameter sets with those from the non-equilibrium model by Trapp-Ransom and Chung et al.

On the Analysis of Critical Flow Discharged From a Pressurized Pipe System Using a HEM

An accurate prediction of a critical flow discharged from a pressurized pipe system is of most importance in such a safety analysis of nuclear power plants, since it provides the transient boundary conditions during the depressurization transients initiated by a pipe break in primary or secondary systems and during the over-pressurization transients resulting in a relief of coolant through valves. Mass and energy discharge through the opening of pressure boundary affects the system thermal hydraulic responses, that is, phase changes and flow distribution in the system, and the mass inventory remaining in the system necessary to remove core decay heat of a nuclear reactor. Therefore, the safety significance relating to the critical flow led to a development of various empirical and mechanistic critical flow models. However, the accuracies of these models are still in question especially during two-phase critical flow condition. A good example of that is a homogeneous equilibrium model (HEM). The HEM is the basis of several system codes, such as early versions of RELAP, for nuclear loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA). The major non-equilibrium phenomena that are ignored in the HEM are vapor bubble nucleation and interface heat, mass, and momentum transfer. Henry & Fauske empirically handled non-equilibrium vapor generation by introducing a non-equilibrium parameter that allows only a fraction of the equilibrium vapor generation to occur. This approach boils down in essence to a correlation of the deviation between the measured flow rate and the prediction from the HEM: The details of the flow path do not have to be worked out and only needs to know the upstream conditions. However, if we treat non-equilibrium phenomena with this model, it requires an empirical database of the non-equilibrium parameters or their correlations that are so far unknown. Further, because the coefficients have not been applied separately to the subcooled liquid and two-phase mixture, we have not been able to treat the non-equilibrium phenomena with the phase change properly. For this reason, we propose the non-equilibrium parameters for subcooled liquid and two-phase mixture, respectively, and then we adopt their combinations according to the flow conditions through the phase change process using the RELAP5/MOD3 code. In addition, we discuss the assessment results of Marviken LBLOCA tests using these non-equilibrium parameter sets with those from the non-equilibrium model by Trapp & Ransom and Chung et al.

The Effects of Vibrational Relaxation on Hypersonic Flow Past Blunt Bodies

SummaryThe analysis of Freeman is extended to the hypersonic flow of an inviscid, vibrationally relaxing gas past a bluff body. Expressions for the shock shape, streamline shapes and stand-off distance are derived; these expressions have been evaluated for a sphere for various values of an appropriate non-equilibrium parameter Λ.