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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
DOE OSTI2022

Flux Creep in a Bi-2212 Rutherford Cable for Particle Accelerator Applications

Bi-2212 superconducting cables are being considered for use in the high field magnets needed for the next generation of particle accelerators. Magnetization in these cables and the decay of that magnetization lead to field error and field-error drift, respectively, which need to be compensated. To study this, a segment of the winding pack was extracted from a racetrack coil made from Bi-2212 Rutherford cable. Using a Hall probe measurement technique, we measured the response of the cable's magnetization and its magnetization decay to changes in the applied magnetic field. The effect of adjustments to the cycling of the magnetic field was studied, intended to simulate the preinjection cycles of an accelerator magnet. Three M vs. H loops were constructed by sweeping the magnetic field applied to the sample from 0 to 2.5 T, then to a preinjection field 'x' (where x = 0, 0.25, 0.75 T), and finally up to 1 T. The applied field was then held at 1 T for 1500 s, and the magnetization decay was measured. Finally, the decay was found to vary from 8% to 14% after 1500 s, depending on the preinjection field cycle.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2023

Dynamics of Current-Sharing Within a REBCO Tape-Stack Cable

Current redistribution in a non-insulating REBCO tape-stack cable may enable the use of such a cable in a high field dipole without provision for transposition of the constituent tapes. As current is increased in the REBCO cable a dynamic resistance arises in the superconducting layer near operation at critical current. The critical current of each tape in the stack is determined by the local magnetic field variation within the cable. The superconducting-normal transition in REBCO occurs over a working range of current and, within that range, the longitudinal Ohmic electric field produces a transverse electric field between adjacent tapes with different critical currents. Circuit models indicate that, as a given tape approaches critical operation, current will naturally redistribute to neighboring tapes with higher current carrying capacity due to the dynamic rise in resistivity thus preventing premature quench. Here, a multi-scale model is being developed to study the dynamics of current-sharing, the limits of stability, and the impact of fluctuations in critical-current density along each tape.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2024

A Field Quality Modeling in Canted Cosine Theta Dipole Magnets Wound Using REBCO Cables

In accelerator magnets the magnetic field quality is an important parameter. Using REBCO tapes or cables in magnet windings affects the magnetic field quality because of a quite high magnetization generated by these conductors. In this paper we analyzed numerically (using FEM) an effect of various REBCO cables’ magnetization on the field quality of canted cosine theta (CCT) dipole magnets. The magnetic properties of the cables were taken from our measurements of their M (H) curves at 4.2 K and magnetic fields up to 12 T. Also, flux creep effects were measured and their effects on field quality analyzed. Here we present a modeling of a CCT magnet containing 1 dipole double layer wound using a CORC and STAR cable. To make the FEM modeling less computationally “expensive”, we modelled only a section of 10 turns of the magnet's central part and calculated b3 fields on a circle of 2/3 of the innermost layer center line. Special M (H) curves measured during various field cycles (the so called “pre-injection cycles”) are effective in decreasing b 3 fields of the magnets. Flux creep effects suppress the b 3 fields further. In conclusion, using these techniques b 3 fields less than 10 units can be achieved.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Crack Identification and Characterization in Deformed Nb3Sn Rutherford Cable Stacks Using Machine Learning

An investigation of instance segmentation of cracks in Nb3Sn 4-stack 40-strand Rutherford cables using machine learning is presented. Three samples were uniaxially and biaxially loaded before metallographic inspections were performed. The Mask R-CNN model was used in the Detectron2 framework with pre-trained weights but fine-tuned to detect and segment cracks. The model detected cracks with bounding box and mask average precisions (AP) of 42.8 and 27.9, respectively, and was used for instance segmentation of all cracks in the three samples. More cracks were found in the sample pre-loaded along the z-axis (i.e., along the cable length). Pre-loading along the x-axis (i.e., on the cables edges) reduced the number of cracks and changed the crack orientation distribution, away from being highly aligned with the y-axis (i.e., normal to the cables broad faces), i.e., the direction with the highest applied load. Fine-tuning of the Segment Anything Model (SAM) was also studied but performed poorly without human-provided prompts. However, the zero-shot capability of SAM showed high promises to accelerate the image annotation process for applications beyond this study.

Croteau, Jean-Francois↗
DOE OSTI2021

Testing of Instrumentation and Control Sensors and Cables for Small Modular Reactors

As advanced reactor concepts like small modular reactors (SMRs) progress towards design maturity and commercial deployment, it is important to assess their instrumentation and control (I&C) system sensors and cables to assure their safe, reliable, and efficient operation throughout their service lifetimes. The I&C system of any nuclear power plant (NPP) is the central nervous system of the plant and is made up of field devices such as sensors which are connected via cables to analog and/or digital systems. These systems are responsible for control and/or protection of the plant. The performance of I&C sensors and cables is dependent on several factors, including plant operating conditions. In particular, the plant operation can affect the static (accuracy) and dynamic (response) performance of the sensor, whereas the surrounding ambient environment can impact the remaining useful life of the cables, connectors, and other associated components within I&C sensor circuits.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2021

HEAF Cable Fragility Testing at the Solar Furnace at the NSTTF

In order to establish a zone of influence (ZOI) due to a high energy arcing fault (HEAF) environment, the fragility of the targets must be determined. The high heat flux/short duration exposure of a HEAF is considerably different than that of a traditional hydrocarbon fire, which previous research has addressed. The previous failure metrics (e.g., internal jacket temperature of a cable exposed to a fire) were based on low heat flux/long duration exposures. Because of this, evaluation of different physics and failure modes was considered to evaluate the fragility of cables exposed to a HEAF. Tests on cable targets were performed at high heat flux/short duration exposures to gain insight on the relevant physics and failure modes. These tests yielded data on several relevant failure modes, including electrical failure and sustained ignition. Additionally, the results indicated a relationship between the total energy of exposure and the damage state of the cable target. This data can be used to inform the fragility of the targets.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2026

Optimized cryogenic setup for microwave loss characterization of superconducting coaxial cables

As superconducting quantum systems scale up to enable applications like large-scale quantum computing, challenges such as fabrication yield, wiring complexity, and microwave crosstalk drive the need for high-fidelity, low-loss, modular interconnects. In recent experiments, the performance of these interconnects is often limited by cable loss, a factor that becomes even more critical as we aim for higher fidelity operations and connect increasingly coherent modules. In this talk, we present our cryogenic microwave loss characterization setup, carefully designed to minimize losses external to the coaxial cables under test. We also share results for several commercially-available superconducting cables measured with this setup and briefly discuss our ongoing efforts to develop custom coaxial cables capable of achieving state-of-the-art performance.

Vallières, André [Northwestern U.]↗
DOE OSTI2026

Optimized cryogenic setup for microwave loss characterization of superconducting coaxial cables

As superconducting quantum systems scale up to enable applications like large-scale quantum computing, challenges such as fabrication yield, wiring complexity, and microwave crosstalk drive the need for high-fidelity, low-loss, modular interconnects. In recent experiments, the performance of these interconnects is often limited by cable loss, a factor that becomes even more critical as we aim for higher fidelity operations and connect increasingly coherent modules. In this talk, we present our cryogenic microwave loss characterization setup, carefully designed to minimize losses external to the coaxial cables under test. We also share results for several commercially-available superconducting cables measured with this setup and briefly discuss our ongoing efforts to develop custom coaxial cables capable of achieving state-of-the-art performance.

Vallières, André [Northwestern U.]↗
DOE OSTI2024

Cable-Driven Parallel Robot (CDPR) for Panelized Envelope Retrofits: Feasible Workspace Analysis

Recent decades have seen remarkable progress in the field of robotic-assisted construction. Cable-driven parallel robots (CDPRs) emerge as promising tools for automating construction processes, due to their advantageous features such as scalability, reconfigurability, compact design, and high payload-to-weight ratio. This paper uses a simple static model to determine the feasibility of a CDPR for overclad panel installation in building envelope retrofits. Given that the building facade needs to be a subset of the CDPR’s wrench-feasible workspace, we focus on the sensitivity of the workspace concerning various cable arrangements and CDPR frame sizes (e.g., height and width extensions). Our analysis indicates that no cable arrangement satisfies the requirement of complete facade coverage and avoids cable-to-panel collisions. Thus, frame extension is needed to enhance coverage. However, in densely populated areas where width extension is limited by space constraints, height extension alone is insufficient to guarantee full facade coverage. This paper pioneers the investigation of CDPRs for panelized envelope retrofits, showcasing their advantages and limitations and paving the way for further research and development.

Liu, Yifang↗
DOE OSTI2025

Total Recycling of Copper Cable Scrap and Production of Carbon Using Fast Microwave Technology

The recycling of cable scrap, particularly from discarded electrical wiring, is gaining significant attention due to the rising demand for copper and the need for sustainable management of electronic waste. Traditionally, mechanical and thermal processings have been used to recover copper and plastic from cables. However, these approaches are often energy-intensive, time-consuming, and costly in terms of equipment and labor. In this study, we present a simple and effective method for recovering materials from cable scrap using a domestic microwave oven. Cable pieces (2–2.5 cm long) were exposed to 700 W of microwave irradiation under rotation for 30 s, enabling the rapid and efficient separation of high-quality copper metal from the core wire, and activated carbon from the carbonized plastic sheath. Microwaves facilitate this process through Ohmic heating, which induces electrical resistance in the metal, generating heat that mechanically loosens the metal and carbonized plastic components. The process demonstrates high efficiency, achieving an 80% reduction in energy consumption compared to conventional processings. This fast and energy-efficient method shows strong potential for scaling up to industrial recycling, offering a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to recover high-quality materials for further use or repurposing.

Bourlinos, Athanasios B. (ORCID:0000000256165993)↗
DOE OSTI2020

Conceptual Design of a HTS Dipole Insert Based on Bi2212 Rutherford Cable

The U.S. Magnet Development Program (US-MDP) is aimed at developing high-field accelerator magnets with magnetic fields beyond the limits of Nb 3 Sn technology. Recent progress with composite wires and Rutherford cables based on the first generation high-temperature superconductor Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8-x (Bi2212) allows considering them for this purpose. However, Bi2212 wires and cables are sensitive to transverse stresses and strains, which are large in high-field accelerator magnets. This requires magnet designs with stress management concepts to control azimuthal and radial strains in the coil windings and prevent the degradation of the current carrying capability of Bi2212 conductor or even its permanent damage. This paper describes a novel stress management approach, which was developed at Fermilab for high-field large-aperture Nb 3 Sn accelerator magnets, and is now being applied to high-field dipole inserts based on Bi2212 Rutherford cables. The insert conceptual design and main parameters, including the superconducting wire and cable, as well as the coil stress management structure, key technological steps and approaches, test configurations and their target parameters, are presented and discussed.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Acoustic MEMS Sensor Array for Quench Detection of CICC Superconducting Cables

A novel quench detection method using microelectro- mechanical system (MEMS) sensor technology has been investigated in use for high temperature superconducting (HTS) conductors such REBCO tape cables. The sensor array along a superconducting cable, such as a cable-in-conduit-conductor (CICC), is installed in a cooling channel. It will allow sensitive and quick detection for a local quench of a superconducting cable. This work has confirmed that a quench of a single REBCO tape can be detected in liquid nitrogen by a MEMS piezoelectric microphone sensor. The quench detection design utilizing a MEMS sensor array method is discussed for the case of a toroidal field (TF) magnets of a fusion Tokamak device.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Investigation of HTS Twisted Stacked-Tape Cable (TSTC) Conductor for High-Field, High-Current Fusion Magnets

The critical currents of a twisted single-tape were measured at 4.2 K in fields up to 17 T. It was confirmed that the critical current of a twisted-tape was similar to that of a flat tape in c-axis fields. Based on the single-tape critical-currents, a 40-tape (4-mm width) twisted stacked-tape cable (TSTC) conductor was experimentally evaluated at fields up to 17 T at 4.2 K. It was found that the Lorentz load degradation of the TSTC conductor was negligible at the end of a cyclic test. The TSTC cabling method has been considered to be suitable for developing a high-field high-current REBCO conductor for magnet applications as well as power transmission cables. A method to fabricate the inner legs of a D-shape toroidal field coil using a TSTC conductor has been discussed. This method allows the conductor to properly resist the transverse Lorentz load and mitigate ac loss issues by adopting a parallel-HTS-tape flat cable configuration where necessary.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS1970

Survey, analysis and evaluation test on high voltage/current pulse transmission cables

A survey, analysis, and testing of available cable connector configurations were carried out in connection with transmission of high voltage/current to an exploding wire bridge. Transmission was desired at high efficiency with maximum cable flexibility, at minimum weight and size of the cable connector, with maximum cable length while maintaining applicable voltage/current pulse characteristics, and with due consideration to environmental parameters.

Dann, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Cabling design for phased arrays

The ribbon-cabling system used for the AEGIS phased array which provides minimum cable bulk, complete EMI shielding, rugged mechanical design, repeatable electrical characteristics, and ease of assembly and maintenance is described. The ribbon cables are 0.040-inch thick, and in widths up to 2 1/2 inches. Their terminations are molded connectors that can be grouped in a three-tier arrangement, with cable branching accomplished by a matrix-welding technique.

Kruger, I. D.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Development of and dynamic studies concerning a cable boom system prototype

The conception of a cable boom system for a scientific spin stabilized satellite led to a flat cable stowed on a drum with a flexlead without conversion to avoid slip rings and to facilitate automatic restowage from any state of deployment. Some dynamic features of the extended cable boom and especially the comparison between round and flat cables were investigated in a phenomenological study using a test rig capable of inducing lateral, torsional and thermal cycling disturbances separately or in any combination.

Bring, G.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Some cable suspension systems and their effects on the flexural frequencies of slender aerospace structures

The effects of several cable suspension configurations on the first free-free flexural frequency of uniform beams have been determined by experiment and analysis. The results of this study confirm that in general the larger the test vehicle the larger is the flexural frequency measurement error attributable to a given cable suspension configuration. For horizontally oriented beams representing modern aerospace vehicles of average size and flexibility, the restraining effects of all but the shortest support cables were minor. The restraining effects of support cables of moderate length attached near the base of vertically oriented vehicles were overshadowed by the effects of beam compression due to gravity.

Herr, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS1974

A movable-mass attitude stabilization system for cable-connected artificial-g space stations

The development of an active, momentum-exchange system to be used for attitude stabilization of a class of cable-connected artificial-g space stations is studied. A system which employs a single movable control mass is examined for the control of a space station which has the physical appearance of two cylinders connected axially by cables. The dynamic model for the space station includes its aggregate rigid body rotation and relative torsional rotation between the bodies. A zero torsional stiffness design (one cable) and a maximum torsional stiffness design (eight cables) are examined in various stages of deployment, for selected spin velocities ranging from 4 rpm upwards. A linear, time-invariant, feed-back control system is employed, with gains calculated via a root-specification procedure. The movable mass controller provides critical wobble-damping capability for the crew quarters for all configurations and spin velocity.

Childs, D. W.↗