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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 199 records · Page 11
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2014

Advanced Manufacturing Technologies (AMT): Additive Manufactured Hot Fire Planning and Testing in GRC Cell 32 Project

The objective of this project is to hot fire test an additively manufactured thrust chamber assembly TCA (injector and thrust chamber). GRC will install the additively manufactured Inconel 625 injector, two additively manufactured (SLM) water cooled Cu-Cr thrust chamber barrels and one additively manufactured (SLM) water cooled Cu-Cr thrust chamber nozzle on the test stand in Cell 32 and perform hot fire testing of the integrated TCA.

Fikes, John C.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Diagnosis of PV Cell Passivation Degradation Resulting from Hot-Humid, High Voltage Potential Aging

Corrosion of the antireflective coating on the cell ("AR c corrosion") was previously observed in studies using hot-humid test conditions with external high voltage (HV) bias. Because AR c corrosion is not well understood, mini-modules (MiMos) were examined in a comparative experiment using PERC and PERT as well as legacy Al-BSF cells. For separate MiMos with the cell circuit electrical at +1500 V, -1500 V, or unbiased "V oc", test conditions in the comparative study included 60degrees C/60% RH for 96 h, as in IEC TS 62804-1; 70degrees C/70%RH for 200 h; and 85degrees C/85% RH for 200 h. Characterizations at each read point included: camera and electroluminescence (EL) imaging, colorimetry, and I-V curve tracing. Characterizations at the final read point included: SunsVoc; spatially mapping external quantum efficiency (EQE); high resolution: photoluminescence (PL), EL, and dark lock-in thermographic (DLIT) imaging. Forensics were performed on extracted cores, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and scanning Auger microscopy (SAM). Forensics were also conducted on MiMos (stepped HV aging) and full-sized modules (outdoor aging) from previous studies. AR c corrosion was specifically observed for the glass/encapsulant/cell side of +1500 V (HV+) stressed MiMos, where appearance, color, and reflectance were the characteristics most distinguished relative to simultaneously occurring degradation modes. SEM/EDS and SAM identified conversion of silicon nitride to silicon oxide or hydrous silica, preferentially occurring at the edges and tips of the pyramidal textured cell surface.

aging↗
NASA NTRS1974

A three-component concept of the chromosphere and transition region

It is proposed that present observations of the chromosphere and transition region in EUV, optical and mm wavelengths are best described by a three-component concept. The three components are taken to be the interiors of supergranular cells, the hot plagettes overlying faculae, and the cooler, transient mottles which surround them in the network boundaries. The enhanced emission of the hot plagettes in transition ions is interpreted as a direct result of the increased pressure scale height over faculae relative to the cell interiors.

Foukal, P.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Development and Application of a Novel Calorimetry Technique for the Study of Lithium-Ion Cell Thermal Runaway

Lithium-ion battery technology is widely used and is attractive due to demonstrated specific energies in the 200-300 W-hr/kg range. The excellent, mass-efficient energy storage capability of lithium-ion batteries has led to their use on many aerospace platforms. However, lithium-ion batteries can exhibit thermal runaway behavior wherein stored electrochemical energy is released rapidly as a result of thermal or mechanical failure, electrochemical abuse, internal or external short circuiting. A single cell undergoing thermal runaway within a battery has the potential to induce thermal runaway in adjacent cells if heat dissipation is not properly managed and can result in a catastrophic failure of the battery. Designing batteries that are resistant to thermal runaway propagation requires an understanding of, not only, total energy yield but also the means by which that energy is liberated from the cell. While Accelerating Rate Calorimetry and other techniques provide total thermal runaway energy yield, they do not provide the fractional breakdown of energy liberated via conduction through the cell casing from that which is vented from the cell as hot gases and effluents. Such data are needed to inform battery thermal design and analysis. To measure the total energy yield, the fraction conducted through the cell casing, and the fraction lost due to gases and effluents, NASA developed Fractional Thermal Runaway Calorimetry (FTRC). Two calorimeters have been developed and demonstrated, the Small-format- and Large-format Fractional Thermal Runaway Calorimeters (S-FTRC and L-FTRC, respectively). The technique has been successfully applied to small- and large-format cells (2.4-3.5 Ah and >100 Ah capacity, respectively) and has given new insights into Li-ion cell thermal runaway. Development of the calorimeters is discussed and results from the initial thermal runaway testing campaigns are presented.

Lithium-Ion Cell↗
NASA NTRS2008

Molten Materials Transfer and Handling on the Lunar Surface

Electrolytic reduction processes as a means to provide pure elements for lunar resource utilization have many advantages. Such processes have. the potential of removing all the oxygen from the lunar soil for use in life support and for propellant. Electrochemical reduction also provides a direct path for the. production of pure metals and silicon which can be utilized for in situ manufacturing and power production. Some of the challenges encountered in the electrolytic reduction processes include the feeding of the electrolytic cell (the transfer of electrolyte containing lunar soil), the withdrawal of reactants and refined products such as the liquidiron~siliconalloy with a number of impurities, and the spent regolith slag, produced in the hot electrolytic cell for the reduction of lunar regolith. The paper will discuss some of the possible solutions to the challenges of handling molten materials on the lunar surface, as well as the path toward the construction and testing of a proof-of-concept facility.

Stefanescu, Doru M.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Development of a new low cost antireflective coating technique for solar cells

The goal of this study was the development of an antireflective (AR) coating technique that has the potential for high throughput and low cost yet is capable of producing films of good optical quality. Previous efforts to develop sprayed AR coatings had utilized titanium isopropoxide mixed with volatile solvents. These films worked well on smooth surfaces but when applied to etched semi-crystalline silicon surfaces yielded inconsistent results with more than 20 percent of the AM1 incident light being reflected. In this program titanium isopropoxide was sprayed directly onto heater wafers (410 C) to produce a uniform AR coating even on highly textured surfaces. Tests on various types of solar cells yielded performance improvements for the hot sprayed AR cells that are equivalent to that observed for evaporated TiOx AR coated cells. As an extension of this effort a new double layer AR consisting of a bottom layer of hot sprayed titanium isopropoxide and a top layer of hot sprayed aluminum isopropoxide in methylene chloride has resulted in more than 10 percent improvement in cell output as compared to a single layer AR cell.

Wohlgemuth, J. H.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Advanced Anode for Internal Reforming and Thermal Management in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is an efficient and clean electrical power generation system compared to conventional combustion based technologies with energy efficiency reaching as high as 85-90% in co-generation mode (electricity and heat). Other advantages of SOFCs are hybridization, modularity of construction, small CO 2 foot print per kWh of generated electricity and fuel flexibility. Hydrocarbons present in the gaseous fuel is utilized in SOFCs by internal or external reforming. There are two different internal reforming concepts: Direct Internal Reforming (DIR) and Indirect Internal Reforming (IIR). For DIR operation, the endothermic reforming reaction and the exothermic reaction from the oxidation reaction are operated together in the single unit eliminating the requirement for a separate fuel reformer. This configuration also simplifies the overall system design, making SOFC more attractive and efficient means of producing electrical power. The main advantage of the DIR type of operation is that the H 2 or CO consumption by the electrochemical reaction could directly promote the conversion of methane at the anode side of the fuel cell resulting in high conversion and high efficiency. The DIR operation, however, requires an anode material that has desired dual catalytic (hetero and electro) properties for reforming reaction and electrochemical reactions. The anode materials also need to remain resistant to carbon formation at the operating temperature and atmosphere with stable cell performance. Another requirement is to match the reforming reactions and electrochemical reactions to avoid local cooling or overheating, which can result in mechanical failure due to thermally induced stresses. Direct internal reforming (DIR) of hydrocarbon fuels simplifies the overall SOFC system design making it more attractive and efficient for producing electrical power. Low cost alloy anodes for distributed internal reforming of methane and other hydrocarbon fuels offer increased fuel-flexibility, reliability, and long term performance stability of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). The research program examined modification of the chemical compositions and microstructure of high entropy alloy (HEA) anode materials using thermochemical calculations and process simulation and modeling to achieve distributed reforming over the entire anode to eliminate hot zones. Cell fabrication and testing of the HEA anodes using button cell configuration has been performed to demonstrate the advantages of new anode over traditional Ni-YSZ anodes for distributed reforming and carbon free operation. Technical accomplishments include identification and synthesis of HEA carbon-resistant anode, demonstration of reduction in reforming rate confirmed by GC and modelling data validating effectiveness for thermal management in cell/stacks, electrochemical testing of HEA anode in single cell (HEA-GDC||YSZ||LSM-YSZ) and Characterization of pretest and posttest anode materials by TEM and SEM-EDS confirming carbon-free operation.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗
DOE OSTI2020

Synergistically integrated phosphonated poly(pentafluorostyrene) for fuel cells

Modern electrochemical energy conversion devices require more advanced proton conductors for their broad applications. Phosphonated polymers have been proposed as anhydrous proton conductors for fuel cells. However, the anhydride formation of phosphonic acid functional groups lowers proton conductivity and this prevents the use of phosphonated polymers in fuel cell applications. Here, we report a poly(2,3,5,6-tetrafluorostyrene-4-phosphonic acid) that does not undergo anhydride formation and thus maintains protonic conductivity above 200 °C. We use the phosphonated polymer in fuel cell electrodes with an ion-pair coordinated membrane in a membrane electrode assembly. We find that this synergistically integrated fuel cell reached peak power densities of 1,130 mW cm -2 at 160 °C and 1,740 mW cm -2 at 240 °C under H2/O2 conditions, substantially outperforming polybenzimidazole- and metal phosphate-based fuel cells. Our result indicates a pathway towards using phosphonated polymers in high-performance fuel cells under hot and dry operating conditions.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
NASA NTRS2010

Focusing Light Beams To Improve Atomic-Vapor Optical Buffers

Specially designed focusing of light beams has been proposed as a means of improving the performances of optical buffers based on cells containing hot atomic vapors (e.g., rubidium vapor). There is also a companion proposal to improve performance by use of incoherent optical pumping under suitable conditions. Regarding the proposal to use focusing: The utility of atomic-vapor optical buffers as optical storage and processing devices has been severely limited by nonuniform spatial distributions of intensity in optical beams, arising from absorption of the beams as they propagate in atomic-vapor cells. Such nonuniformity makes it impossible to optimize the physical conditions throughout a cell, thereby making it impossible to optimize the performance of the cell as an optical buffer. In practical terms simplified for the sake of brevity, "to optimize" as used here means to design the cell so as to maximize the group delay of an optical pulse while keeping the absorption and distortion of the pulse reasonably small. Regarding the proposal to use incoherent optical pumping: For reasons too complex to describe here, residual absorption of light is one of the main impediments to achievement of desirably long group delays in hot atomic vapors. The present proposal is directed toward suppressing residual absorption of light. The idea of improving the performance of slow-light optical buffers by use of incoherent pumping overlaps somewhat with the basic idea of Raman-based slow-light systems. However, prior studies of those systems did not quantitatively answer the question of whether the performance of an atomic vapor or other medium that exhibits electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) with Raman gain is superior to that of a medium that exhibits EIT without Raman gain.

Strekalov, Dmitry↗
DOE OSTI2022

In-Cell Thermal Creep Frame Capability: Out-of-Cell Construction and Subsized Sample Testing

This report describes the activities related to the construction of an in-cell thermal creep test facility for small-scale specimens in the irradiation-assisted stress-corrosion cracking (IASCC) hotcell located at the Fuels and Applied Science Building (FASB) at INL. The whole project includes three stages: (i) conceptual design; (ii) out-of-cell demonstration tests; and (iii) in-cell demonstration testing. During the current fiscal year (FY)-2022, materials and equipment required to construct the conceptual design outlined in a previous report were procured. Frames for conducting out-of-cell testing have been constructed, and testing plans have been developed to assess the operation of the newly constructed frames. Preliminary testing of flat subsized tensile specimens on ASTM creep frames has also been completed for two sample thicknesses: 0.75 mm and 1.0 mm.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Toward Hot Carrier Extraction in Intervalley Photovoltaic Devices

InGaAs heterostructures have demonstrated the means to maintain hot carrier behavior under practical operating conditions via valley photovoltaics. However, enhancing the extraction to create a fully operational hot carrier solar cell requires an enhanced understanding of the barriers inside such devices. A set of four InGaAs heterostructures altering the n + top layer of the structure has been produced to enable comparative analysis of the current density-voltage characterization and the relationship to the band and valley alignments.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS1984

Improved Gas Seal for Electrolytic Cells

Breakage by differential thermal expansion reduced. Cells for hot electrolysis of gases improved by design that reduces vulnerability of gas seals to breakage at operating temperature of about 1000 degrees C.

Richter, R.↗
NASA NTRS1983

On Io, all that flickers is not cold

The 4.8 micron flux from the Galilean satellite Io was shown to fluctuate with an amplitude of approximately 10 percent on time scales of every 28 seconds, 40 minutes, night-to-night, and perhaps year-to-year. Such behavior was found to be the result of random fluctuations for which the mean square fluctuation varies inversely with frequency for constant bandwidth measurement. The theory developed for thermionic emission from barium oxide cathodes in vacuum tubes might be applicable to this situation. If so, the fluctuations in the flux from Io's volcanoes may be caused by diffusion of hot convective cells onto the surface of Io. Long term fluctuations may furnish a means by which the Io volcanism can shut down and conserve energy. Thus the discrepancy that exists between measurements of the current heat flow from Io and calculations of tidal dissipation may be resolved. Tests for rapid flickering at 10 microns showed no fluctuations greater than one percent. This agrees with the prediction of the flow model theory in which the 10 microns volcanic thermal emission arises from cooling of old flows.

Sinton, W. M.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Specifications of EBR-II Neutron Radiography Method Description and Digitization Approach

All neutron radiography (NRAD) images of fuel pins in Argonne’s collection were originally generated using the NRAD imaging facility established in the Hot Fuel Examination Facility (HFEF) at Idaho National Laboratory (INL). The NRAD reactor facility was built in 1977 and has been operating since. The reactor is a TRIGA-type reactor operating at a power level of 250 kWth to provide a neutron source for radiography imaging. The reactor is equipped with two beam tubes (i.e., east beam tube and north beam tube) to guide the neutron beams to two radiography stations. The east radiography station is directly under the HFEF main cell and is dedicated for specimens already in the HFEF hot cell. The north radiography station is outside of the main HFEF hot cell and allows NRAD imaging of non-irradiated items. The NRAD images of EBR-II irradiated metallic fuel pins were taken in the east radiography station. Thermal neutrons have the capability to transmit through most materials and are ideal for NRAD imaging. However, because of their high thermal neutron absorption cross-section, fissile materials (e.g., highly-enriched nuclear fuels) may not be as transmissible to thermal neutrons. This is also the case for oversize specimens with extraneous thickness. Epithermal neutron imaging is therefore used as a complement to thermal neutron NRAD imaging. At HFEF’s NRAD facility, both thermal and epithermal neutrons can be used for NRAD imaging. Irradiated nuclear fuels emit high levels of γ radiation that can easily darken X-ray films, so direct exposure NRAD cannot be used to image them. Instead, an indirect NRAD imaging method was developed at HFEF’s NRAD facility. In this method, foils made of materials that can be activated by neutrons (i.e., with large neutron absorption cross section) are used to collect transmitted neutron signals. Then the activated foils are then placed against X-ray films and enclosed in a vacuum cassette so that the γ decay from the activated foils can produce images on the X-ray films. Then, general X-ray film processing procedures are used to digitize and store the images. By using different foil materials, different energy neutrons can be used for NRAD imaging. At the HFEF NRAD station, two types of films are commonly used: dysprosium (Dy) foils with thickness of 130 microns are used to capture thermal neutron signal, while indium (In) foils with thickness of 130 microns are used to capture epithermal neutron signal. A cadmium or gadolinium foil is put before the indium foil to work as a thermal neutron filter. The thermal and epithermal NRAD images can be taken simultaneously by using a Dy/Cd/In sandwiched foil combination. The typical NRAD exposure time is approximately 20 minutes. Then the exposed foils are transferred to film vacuum cassettes. The vacuum ensures that there is no gap between the foil and the film. The foil-to-film exposure time is at least three half-lives of the corresponding radioisotopes, which are 3 hours for In and 7.5 hours for Dy, respectively. Exposed films are processed using an automatic film processor to produce completed NRAD images.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Diagnosis of PV Cell Antireflective Coating Degradation Resulting from Hot-Humid, High Voltage Potential Aging

Corrosion of the antireflective coating on a photovoltaic cell ("ARc corrosion") has previously been observed in studies using hot-humid test conditions with external high-voltage (HV) bias. This study primarily focuses on known vulnerable, legacy aluminum back surface field (Al-BSF) cells in mini-modules (MiMos) put through comparative stepped stress tests. Each cell type had MiMos at +1500 V, -1500 V, or unbiased ("Voc") potential, which were sequentially subjected to test conditions of 60deg C/60% relative humidity (RH) for 96 h, as in International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Technical Specification 62804-1; 70 deg C/70% RH for 200 h; and 85 deg C/85% RH for 200 h. Characterizations at each step included visual camera and electroluminescence (EL) imaging, colorimetry, and current-voltage (I-V) curve tracing. Final characterizations included: Suns-Voc; spatial mapping of external quantum efficiency (EQE); high-resolution photoluminescence (PL), EL, and dark lock-in thermography (DLIT) imaging. Forensics were performed on extracted cores, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning Auger microscopy (SAM). Forensics were also conducted on MiMos from previous studies that underwent stepped HV aging and separate outdoor aged full-sized modules. ARc corrosion was specifically seen for the glass/encapsulant/cell side of the +1500V (HV+) stressed MiMos and modules. Appearance, color, and reflectance were the most distinguishing characteristics relative to glass corrosion, gridline-corrosion and -delamination as well as other concurrent degradation modes. SEM/EDS and SAM identified conversion of silicon nitride to hydrated silica, hydrous silica, or hydrated amorphous silica, which preferentially occurred at the edges and tips of the pyramidal textured cell surface.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Diagnosis of PV Cell Antireflective Coating Degradation Resulting From Hot-Humid High-Voltage Potential Aging

Corrosion of the antireflective coating on a photovoltaic cell ("ARc corrosion") has previously been observed in studies using hot-humid test conditions with external high-voltage (HV) bias. This study primarily focuses on known vulnerable legacy aluminum back surface field cells in mini-modules (MiMos) put through comparative stepped stress tests. Each cell type had MiMos at +1500 V, -1500 V, or unbiased ("Voc") potential, which were sequentially subjected to test conditions of 60 degrees C/60% relative humidity (RH) for 96 h, as in International Electrotechnical Commission Technical Specification 62804-1; 70 degrees C/70% RH for 200 h; and 85 degrees C/85% RH for 200 h. Characterizations at each step included visual camera and electroluminescence (EL) imaging, colorimetry, and current-voltage curve tracing. Final characterizations included: Suns-Voc, spatial mapping of external quantum efficiency, high-resolution photoluminescence, EL, and dark lock-in thermography imaging. Forensics were performed on extracted cores, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and scanning Auger microscopy (SAM). Forensics were also conducted on MiMos from previous studies that underwent stepped HV aging and separate outdoor aged full-sized modules. ARc corrosion was specifically seen for the glass/encapsulant/cell side of the +1500 V (HV+) stressed MiMos and modules. Appearance, color, and reflectance were the most distinguishing characteristics relative to glass corrosion, gridline corrosion and delamination, and other concurrent degradation modes. SEM/EDS and SAM identified the conversion of silicon nitride to hydrated silica, hydrous silica, or hydrated amorphous silica, which preferentially occurred at the edges and tips of the pyramidal textured cell surface.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS1987

Concentrator hot-spot testing, phase 1

Results of a study to determine the hot-spot susceptibility of concentrator cells, to provide a hot-spot qualification test for concentrator modules, and to provide guidelines for reducing hot-spot susceptibility are presented. Hot-spot heating occurs in a photovoltaic module when the short-circuit current of a cell is lower than the string operating current forcing the cell into reverse bias with a concurrent power dissipation. Although the basis for the concentrator module hot-spot qualification test is the test developed for flat-plate modules, issues, such as providing cell illumination, introduce additional complexities into the testing procedure. The same general guidelines apply for protecting concentrator modules from hot-spot stressing as apply to flat-plate modules. Therefore, recommendations are made on the number of bypass diodes required per given number of series cells per module or source circuit. In addition, a new method for determining the cell temperature in the laboratory or in the field is discussed.

Gonzalez, C. C.↗