Possibilities of parallel calculations in solving gas dynamics problems in the CFD environment of FLUENT software

The results of studying an incompressible gas flow field in a periodic element of the porous structure made up of the same radius spheres are presented; the studies were based on the solution of the Navier-Stokes equations using FLUENT software. The possibilities to accelerate the solution process with the use of parallel calculations are investigated and the calculation results under changes of pressure differential in the periodic element are given.     

A program package for solving problems of FV structure design

In this paper, a program package for solving problems in the field of thin-walled three-dimensional FV structure design is described.     

Investigation of the differential rotation of the large-scale magnetic elements for the solar activity cycles 20 and 21

The differential rotation of the patterns of the large-scale solar magnetic field during solar activity cycles 20 and 21 is investigated. Compact magnetic elements with the polarity of the general solar magnetic field have larger speed of rotation than the elements with the opposite polarity. The surface of the Sun was divided by 10°-zones. In all of them the average rotation rate of the magnetic elements with negative polarity is little higher than that of the magnetic elements with positive polarity, except for 50°-zone of the south hemisphere and at the 10° latitude of the north hemisphere.

The rates of differential rotation for large-scale magnetic elements with negative and positive polarities have similar behavior for both cycles of the solar activity.

The rotation rate varies at polarity reversal of the circumpolar magnetic fields. For the cycle No 20 in 1969–1970 the threefold reversal took place in the northern hemisphere and variations of rotation rate can be noticed for magnetic elements both with positive and negative polarity for each 10°-zone in the same hemisphere.     

Problems of application of face gasodynamic seals in aircraft engines

Problems arising in introduction of gasodynamic seals in aircraft engines are considered. The operation of a face gasodynamic seal as part of a natural gas pump is analyzed and its efficiency in the presence of oil is shown.     

A system for measuring the altitude-airspeed parameters of rotorcraft and very light flight vehicles

In this paper, a problem on measuring the altitude-airspeed parameters (AAPs) of rotorcraft and very light flight vehicles is considered. Some ways of improving systems used to measure the parameters of FV elements and units have been determined. Also suggested and substantiated are the principles and designs of the basic variants of these measuring systems as well as the algorithms of their operation.     

Unmanned aircraft navigation for shipboard landing using infrared vision

This paper addresses the problem of determining the relative position and orientation of an unmanned air vehicle with respect to a ship using three visible points of known separation. The, images of the points are obtained from an onboard infrared camera. The paper develops a numerical solution to this problem. Both simulation and flight test results are presented.     

Advanced lithium ion battery charger

A lithium ion battery charger has been developed for four and eight cell batteries or multiples thereof. This charger has the advantage over those using commercial lithium ion charging chips in that the individual cells are allowed to be taper charged at their upper charging voltage rather than be cutoff when all cells of the string have reached the upper charging voltage limit. Since 30-60% of the capacity of lithium ion cells may be restored during the taper charge, this charger has a distinct benefit of fully charging lithium ion batteries by restoring all of the available capacity to all of its cells     

Modeling the Modification of the Nighttime High-Latitude F-Region by Powerful HF Radiowaves

A mathematical model of the high-latitude F-region, taking the ionospheric plasma convection into account, is used for modeling a response of the auroral F-region to irradiation by powerful high-frequency (HF) radiowaves. The model enables us to calculate the time variations in the profiles of the electron concentration, the velocity of positive ions, and the ion and electron temperatures in the part of a magnetic-flux tube moving over an artificial ionospheric heater under the action of a convective electric field. The modeling was carried out for a part of the magnetic flux tube intersecting the F-layer irradiated by the Norwegian heater at Tromsö when it is located near the midnight magnetic meridian. The calculations were made for the equinox conditions under the high solar and low geomagnetic activity. The results of our modeling show that substantial variations in the profiles of the electron temperature, the velocity of positive ions, and the electron concentration can be produced in the nighttime high-latitude F-layer due to HF heating. The perturbation caused by a 20 s rectangular pulse should exist for about 20 min at the level of the F-layer maximum. The disturbed plasma volume can leave the region irradiated by the heater and move away for over 500 km within the above-mentioned time period.     

Biogeochemical evidence of microbial activity on Mars.

We suggest a new interpretation of the data on so-called SNC meteorites and delta 13C values of the calcium carbonate minerals and organic matter discovered in them. The delta 13C value of calcite (up to 15 ppt) is accounted for by the microbial reaction CO2 + H2 ---> CH4 + H2O. Methane-forming bacteria also synthesize organic carbon (in the form of biomass) from CO2, and this process is accompanied by 12C fractionation. Therefore, the organic carbon of SNC meteorites is enriched with 12C (delta 13C as low as -35 ppt). The environmental conditions under which the calcite of SNC meteorites was formed were favorable for the activity of methanogens.     

Synthesis of biomass and utilization of plants wastes in a physical model of biological life-support system

The paper considers problems of biosynthesis of higher plants' biomass and "biological incineration" of plant wastes in a working physical model of biological LSS. The plant wastes are "biologically incinerated" in a special heterotrophic block involving Californian worms, mushrooms and straw. The block processes plant wastes (straw, haulms) to produce soil-like substrate (SLS) on which plants (wheat, radish) are grown. Gas exchange in such a system consists of respiratory gas exchange of SLS and photosynthesis and respiration of plants. Specifics of gas exchange dynamics of high plants--SLS complex has been considered. Relationship between such a gas exchange and PAR irradiance and age of plants has been established. Nitrogen and iron were found to the first to limit plants' growth on SLS when process conditions are deranged. The SLS microflora has been found to have different kinds of ammonifying and denitrifying bacteria which is indicative of intensive transformation of nitrogen-containing compounds. The number of physiological groups of microorganisms in SLS was, on the whole, steady. As a result, organic substances--products of exchange of plants and microorganisms were not accumulated in the medium, but mineralized and assimilated by the biocenosis. Experiments showed that the developed model of a man-made ecosystem realized complete utilization of plant wastes and involved them into the intrasystem turnover.