A Unified Gaskinetic Methodology for Full-Knudsen-Range Flows with Chemically Reacting Effects

ZONA proposes a Unified Gas Kinetic Scheme (UGKS) to cover the full Knudsen number range from the continuum flow to free molecular flow that can simultaneously exist in the jet nozzle flow of the spacecraft. In the UGKS solver, the BGK model of Boltzmann equation is solved directly with finite volume method based on the Discrete Ordinate Method (DOM). In the UGKS computation the convective terms and collision term is computed in one step with a multi-scale scheme without splitting. The UGKS also closely couples the update of macroscopic conservative variables with the update of microscopic gas distribution functions in one step. At the continuum flow regime, the UGKS recovers the Navier-Stokes solutions with much larger time step than regular direct BGK solver where UGKS essentially becomes a shock-capture scheme. In the rarefied flow regime, UGKS recovers the direct BGK method up to the free molecular flow. With the UGKS, the jet-like flow can be simulated with a unique flow solver. Furthermore, a two-species chemical reaction will be incorporated in UGKS. The UGKS will be applied to various test cases whose results will be validated with others' computational results and available experimental data to verify its accuracy and computational efficiency.

Potential Non-NASA commercial applications are supported by aerospace and non-aerospace domains and provide industry for rarefied gas flows application with a wide range of Kn number and Mach number. Such examples for defense industry include hypersonic flows around missiles and rocket nozzles. For civil industry, UGKS applications include aerosol effects on weather prediction, materials processing inside vacuum chamber especially for the semi-conductor industry, air purification with tools made of fine fibers such as masks, and rarefied gas flows associated with MicroElectroMechanical System (MEMS) such as various gas sensors. ZONA will extend the proposed UGKS and package them into a commercial software. Potential customers include DoD, Depart. of Homeland Security, chemical and civil engineering firms, vacuum industry, and semiconductor industry, etc.

The developed Unified GasKinetic (UGKS) solver can be used for hypersonic applications from continuum to rarefied flow regimes for thermochemical nonequilibrium effects up to ionization/plasma flows and including chemical reaction. The UGKS solver can generate accurate aerodynamic forces and heat rates. Typical applications are for launch vehicles in space access, entry command module and ballutes in atmospheric entry; plume flows in chemical engines or rockets.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 6) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.