Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “RADIAL DISTRIBUTION”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 217 records · Page 12
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Thermomechanical Microstructural Predictions of Fracture Nucleation of Zircaloy-4 Alloys With δ and ε Hydride Distributions

Abstract A crystalline dislocation-density formulation that was incorporated with a nonlinear finite-element (FE) method was utilized to understand and to predict the thermomechanical behavior of an hexagonal closest packed (h.c.p.) zircaloy system with hydrides with either face-centered cubic (f.c.c.) or body-centered cubic (b.c.c.) hydrides. This formulation was then used with a recently developed fracture methodology that is adapted for finite inelastic strains and multiphase crystalline systems to understand how different microstructurally based fracture modes nucleate and propagate. The interrelated microstructural characteristics of the different crystalline hydride and matrix phases with the necessary orientation relationships (ORs) have been represented, such that a detailed physical understanding of fracture nucleation and propagation can be predicted for the simultaneous thermomechanical failure modes of hydride populations and the matrix. The effects of volume fraction, morphology, crystalline structure, and orientation and distribution of the hydrides on simultaneous and multiple fracture modes were investigated for radial, circumferential, and mixed distributions. Another key aspect was accounting for temperatures changes due to the effects of thermal conduction and dissipated plastic work and their collective effects on fracture. For hydrided aggregates subjected to high temperatures, thermal softening resulted in higher ductility due to increased dislocation-density activity, which led to higher shear strain accumulation and inhibited crack nucleation and growth. The predictions provide validated insights into why circumferential hydrides are more fracture-resistant than radial hydrides for different volume fractions and thermomechanical loading conditions.

Engineering↗
DOE OSTI2020

Scaling of pulsed nanosecond capillary plasmas at different specific energy deposition

Nano-second, capillary discharges (nCDs) are unique plasma sources in their ability to sustain high specific energy deposition ω dep approaching 10 eV/molecule in molecular gases. This high energy loading on short timescales produces both high plasma densities and high densities of molecular exited states. These high densities of electrons and excited states interact with each other during the early afterglow through electron collision quenching and associative ionization. In this paper we discuss results from a two-dimensional computational investigation of a nCD sustained in air at a pressure of 28.5 mbar and with a voltage amplitude 20 kV. Discharges were investigated for two circuit configurations—a floating low voltage electrode and with the low voltage electrode connected to ground through a ballast resistor. The first configuration produced a single ionization wave from the high to low voltage electrode. The second produced converging ionization waves beginning at both electrodes. With a decrease of the tube radius, the velocity of the ionization fronts decreased while the shape of the ionization wave changed from the electron density being distributed smoothly in the radial direction, to being hollow shaped where there is a higher electron density near the tube wall. For sufficiently small tubes, the near-wall maxima merge to have the higher density on the axis of the capillary tube. In the early afterglow, the temporal and radial behavior of the N 2 (C 3 Π u ) density is a sensitive function of ω dep due to electron collision quenching. Finally, these trends indicate that starting from ω dep $\geqslant$ 0.3 eV/molecule, it is necessary to take into account interactions of electrons with electronically excited species during the discharge and early afterglow.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Blockchain for Fault-Tolerant Grid Operations

Distribution system fault/failure has a direct impact on customers. Distribution systems are not designed with the contingency of one or more elements failing as the transmission system, however, distribution systems are more likely to have faults in comparison to transmission and generation systems. Most of the distribution systems have a radial design with the protection system assumption of unidirectional power flow. The radial design results in the disconnection of customers for any given component failure. The rapid deployment of distributed energy resources conflicts with the assumption of unidirectional power flow. To maintain/improve the distribution system fault tolerance for a grid with high penetration of distributed energy resources requires improvement. Blockchain can add value to improve fault-tolerant grid operations. That can be achieved using blockchain’s core features of distributed consensus-based decision-making process and immutability. In the process of preparing for an event or system restoration, there is a need for reliable data and system situational awareness. The system situational awareness enables accurate planning for possible scenarios and system restoration after an event, an area where blockchain’s distributed architecture can help. The value of blockchain for a fault-tolerant grid operation is elaborated with three use cases: 1) fault location, isolation, and service restoration; 2) topology identification; and 3) data configuration. These use cases demonstrate how blockchain-based architecture can facilitate bridging the vulnerabilities of the existing implementation.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2020

Deep Reinforcement Learning Based Volt-VAR Optimization in Smart Distribution Systems

This paper develops a model-free volt-VAR optimization (VVO) algorithm via multi-agent deep reinforcement learning (DRL) in unbalanced distribution systems. This method is novel since we cast the VVO problem in distribution networks to an intelligent deep Q-network (DQN) framework, which avoids solving a specific optimization model directly when facing time-varying operating conditions in the systems. We consider statuses/ratios of switchable capacitors, voltage regulators, and smart inverters installed at distributed generators as the action variables of the agents. A delicately designed reward function guides these agents to interact with the distribution system, in the direction of reinforcing voltage regulation and power loss reduction simultaneously. The forward-backward sweep method for radial three-phase distribution systems provides accurate power flow results within a few iterations to the DRL environment. The proposed method realizes the dual goals for VVO. We test this algorithm on the unbalanced IEEE 13-bus and 123-bus systems. Numerical simulations validate the excellent performance of this method in voltage regulation and power loss reduction.

41 EE - Solar Energy Technologies Office (EE-4S)↗
DOE OSTI2024

Voltage Optimization

Voltage optimization refers to a volt-var optimization technique which was originally designed to minimize energy consumption and improve end-use efficiency on the distribution system. This reduces source voltage at a substation, which lowers generation demand, reduces system losses, and improves system stability. This has been the conventional implementation of voltage optimization: focusing on regulation of voltages throughout the distribution system via coordinated adjustments of load tap changers, line-voltage regulators, switched shunt compensation, and the targeted placement of new shunt compensation. These methods have received increased focus following a growth in distributed-energy resources (DERs) interconnecting at the distribution level, given their developing capability to participate in voltage regulation. This is paired with the intermittency challenges they pose, load imbalances, and voltage fluctuations. Voltage optimization has long been an area of extensive research within the distribution system, with various strategies and philosophies demonstrating a range of effects. The conventional focus on the distribution system owes to the typical operation of transmission systems, which assumes firm local resources and flows strictly from generation resources to loads. The strategies employed in distribution have also been optimized for this typically radial configuration and operation of the distribution system.

24 - POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2024

Joint Management and Optimization of Residential Natural Gas and Electricity Distribution Networks Coupled via Fuel Cells

The attractive features of natural gas as well as the growing electric power demand worldwide have created increasing interest in natural-gas-based distributed generation applications for electric distribution networks. Here, this paper investigates the interdependency between a residential natural gas network and an electric distribution network that are linked together via fuel cells. The modeling of the natural gas network is introduced first, and then the algorithm for gas flow study is presented. The optimal placement and sizing of fuel cell based distributed generation systems are formulated to minimize the losses in both the natural gas network and the electric distribution grid, subject to the constraints imposed by both networks. In addition, a probabilistic model for both gas and electricity demands is developed based on historical electricity and natural gas demand data. A K-means clustering method is used to determine the hourly load states to solve the joint probabilistic optimization problem. Simulation studies are carried out on an integrated system consisting of the IEEE 69-bus distribution network and a radial 27-node natural gas network to verify the developed optimization model and the proposed method.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2024

Joint Management and Optimization of Residential Natural Gas and Electricity Distribution Networks Coupled via Fuel Cells

The interesting properties of natural gas as well as the growing electric power demand worldwide have led to increasing attention to natural-gas-based distributed generation applications in electric distribution systems. This paper goes over the interdependency between a residential natural gas network and an electric distribution network that are coupled via fuel cells. The modeling of the gas network is introduced first, and then the algorithm for gas flow study is presented. The optimal placement and sizing of fuel cell based distributed generation systems are formulated to minimize the losses in both the gas and electric distribution networks, subject to their model constraints. In addition to this, in order to capture the probabilistic nature of the optimization problem under study, the K-means clustering algorithm is applied to the gas and electricity demands to determine hourly load states and their corresponding probabilities. Furthermore, simulation studies are carried out on an integrated system consisting of the IEEE 69-bus distribution feeder and a radial 27-node natural gas network to verify the developed optimization model and the proposed method.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2020

Conjugate Heat Transfer Analysis of the Supercritical CO2 Based Counter Flow Compact 3D Heat Exchangers

Compact heat exchangers using supercritical fluids such as CO2 are preferred due to their high heat transfer capacity and smaller footprint. Three-dimensional conjugate forced convection heat transfer analysis was performed on several shell-and-tube counter-flow microchannel heat exchangers. Numerical simulations were conducted to test effect of change in mass flow rate, hydraulic diameter and various cross sections on the heat transfer. Increasing mass flow rate improved heat transfer up to a maximum value and then decreased downstream with increasing turbulence. Maximum heat transfer was obtained for the micro channel with the smallest hydraulic diameter. Amongst the cross sections analyzed (circular, square, circular with radial ribs, and square with radial ribs), the most uniform distribution of temperature and maximum heat transfer were obtained for circular cross section with radial ribs. An optimally efficient operation of such a heat exchanger can be attained by considering these factors during multi-objective constrained optimization of geometric parameters and requirements for additive manufacturing of such compact heat exchangers.

Chitale, Janhavi↗
DOE OSTI2020

Conjugate Heat Transfer Analysis of the Supercritical CO2 Based Counter Flow Compact 3D Heat Exchangers

Compact heat exchangers using supercritical fluids such as CO2 are preferred due to their high heat transfer capacity and smaller footprint. Three-dimensional conjugate forced convection heat transfer analysis was performed on several shell-and-tube counter-flow microchannel heat exchangers. Numerical simulations were conducted to test effect of change in mass flow rate, hydraulic diameter and various cross sections on the heat transfer. Increasing mass flow rate improved heat transfer up to a maximum value and then decreased downstream with increasing turbulence. Maximum heat transfer was obtained for the micro channel with the smallest hydraulic diameter. Amongst the cross sections analyzed (circular, square, circular with radial ribs, and square with radial ribs), the most uniform distribution of temperature and maximum heat transfer were obtained for circular cross section with radial ribs. An optimally efficient operation of such a heat exchanger can be attained by considering these factors during multi-objective constrained optimization of geometric parameters and requirements for additive manufacturing of such compact heat exchangers.

Chitale, Janhavi↗
DOE OSTI2026

Cluster infall for mass calibration in the stage-IV era

The outskirts of galaxy clusters present a promising avenue for constraining cluster masses in a way that is robust to the impact of baryonic physics. We assess the accuracy to which the cluster infall regions can be used for cluster mass calibration. Building on previous work, we parametrize the velocity distribution 𝑃⁡(𝑣r,𝑣tan|𝑟,𝑀) of dark matter halos on scales 𝑟 ≥ 5⁢ℎ −1 Mpc as the product of the marginalized distribution 𝑃⁡(𝑣 r |𝑟,𝑀) and the conditional distribution 𝑃⁡(𝑣 tan |𝑣 r ,𝑟,𝑀), calibrating the radial and mass dependence of these distributions in numerical simulations. We then project our model along the line of sight to obtain accurate predictions for the distributions of line-of-sight velocities at a given projected radius and cluster mass 𝑃⁡(𝑣 LOS |𝑅,𝑀), which we can observe with spectroscopic survey data. Furthermore, with our model, we forecast that spectra from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument can constrain cluster masses with subpercent-level precision, comparable to that of stage-IV weak lensing surveys.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2020

OECD/NEA COUPLED NEUTRONIC/THERMAL-FLUIDS BENCHMARK OF THE MHTGR-350 MW CORE DESIGN: RESULTS FOR PHASE-I EXERCISE 1

This report presents the results from code-to-code comparisons for a prismatic modular high-temperature gas-cooled reactor 350-MW design for steady-state neutron transport calculations. Integral parameters as well as power and flux distributions are provided. Differences between solutions from diffusion and transport operators are analysed. Effects of control rod homogenization between full block and one sixth block are discussed.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2021

Is diffuse intracluster light a good tracer of the galaxy cluster matter distribution?

We explore the relation between diffuse intracluster light (central galaxy included) and the galaxy cluster (baryonic and dark) matter distribution using a sample of 528 clusters at 0.2 ≤ z ≤ 0.35 found in the Dark Energy Survey (DES) Year 1 data. The surface brightness of the diffuse light shows an increasing dependence on cluster total mass at larger radius, and appears to be self-similar with a universal radial dependence after scaling by cluster radius. We also compare the diffuse light radial profiles to the cluster (baryonic and dark) matter distribution measured through weak lensing and find them to be comparable. The IllustrisTNG galaxy formation simulation, TNG300, offers further insight into the connection between diffuse stellar mass and cluster matter distributions – the simulation radial profile of the diffuse stellar component does not have a similar slope with the total cluster matter content, although that of the cluster satellite galaxies does. Regardless of the radial trends, the amount of diffuse stellar mass has a low-scatter scaling relation with cluster’s total mass in the simulation, out-performing the total stellar mass of cluster satellite galaxies. We conclude that there is no consistent evidence yet on whether or not diffuse light is a faithful radial tracer of the cluster matter distribution. Nevertheless, both observational and simulation results reveal that diffuse light is an excellent indicator of the cluster’s total mass.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Analytical solution for partial heating on the exterior of the pipe with application to measuring fluid flow rate

An analytical model using Green’s functions for partial external heating of a pipe is developed, which results in an exact mathematical solution for the radial and axial temperature distribution in the pipe wall. Partial heating consists of a constant heat flux function imposed over a small section of the exterior of a pipe and for a limited time duration. The solution comprises steady-state and transient parts, and an algebraic identity is used to decrease the number of summation terms in the slowly-converging steady- state part. Intrinsic verification principles are used to verify the solution. As an example application, this transient solution is applied toward the development of a simple, noninvasive method for in-field measurement of the flow rate in pipes. Furthermore, to simulate this application, a pulse of energy is imposed to the wall of the pipe, and the developed mathematical solution is used to find the flow rate of the fluid inside the pipe. An optimal experiment is designed to find the best measurement location and time.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2022

Ultrafast two-photon fluorescence imaging of cerebral blood circulation in the mouse brain in vivo

Characterizing blood flow dynamics in vivo is critical to understanding the function of the vascular network under physiological and pathological conditions. Existing methods for hemodynamic imaging have insufficient spatial and temporal resolution to monitor blood flow at the cellular level in large blood vessels. By using an ultrafast line-scanning module based on free-space angular chirped enhanced delay, we achieved two-photon fluorescence imaging of cortical blood flow at 1,000 two-dimensional (2D) frames and 1,000,000 one-dimensional line scans per second in the awake mouse. This orders-of-magnitude increase in temporal resolution allowed us to measure cerebral blood flow at up to 49 mm/s and observe pulsatile blood flow at harmonics of heart rate. Directly visualizing red blood cell (RBC) flow through vessels down to >800 µm in depth, we characterized cortical layer–dependent flow velocity distributions of capillaries, obtained radial velocity profiles and kilohertz 2D velocity mapping of multifile blood flow, and performed RBC flux measurements from penetrating blood vessels.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

Radiation GRMHD simulations of M87: funnel properties and prospects for gap acceleration

Here, we use the public code EBHLIGHT to carry out 3D radiative general relativistic magnetohydrodynamics (GRMHD) simulations of accretion on to the supermassive black hole in M87. The simulations self-consistently evolve a frequency-dependent Monte Carlo description of the radiation field produced by the accretion flow. We explore two limits of accumulated magnetic flux at the black hole (SANE and MAD), each coupled to several subgrid prescriptions for electron heating that are motivated by models of turbulence and magnetic reconnection. We present convergence studies for the radiation field and study its properties. We find that the near-horizon photon energy density is an order of magnitude higher than is predicted by simple isotropic estimates from the observed luminosity. The radially dependent photon momentum distribution is anisotropic and can be modeled by a set of point-sources near the equatorial plane. We draw properties of the radiation and magnetic field from the simulation and feed them into an analytic model of gap acceleration to estimate the very high energy (VHE) γ-ray luminosity from the magnetized jet funnel, assuming that a gap is able to form. We find luminosities of $\rm \sim 10^{41} \, erg \, s^{-1}$ for MAD models and $\rm \sim 2\times 10^{40} \, erg \, s^{-1}$ for SANE models, which are comparable to measurements of M87’s VHE flares. The time-dependence seen in our calculations is insufficient to explain the flaring behaviour. Our results provide a step towards bridging theoretical models of near-horizon properties seen in black hole images with the VHE activity of M87.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

The differences between mass- and light-derived structural parameters over time for MaNGA elliptical galaxies

ABSTRACT We apply stellar population synthesis analysis to obtain spatially resolved archaeological inferences for a large sample of ‘red and dead’ Elliptical galaxies (Classical Ellipticals, CLEs) from the MaNGA/SDSS-IV DR15 survey. From their 2D stellar light and mass maps, we explore the differences between the radial mass and light distributions in the rest-frame bands g, r, and i as functions of look-back time, tlb, or redshift, z. We characterize these differences through the ratios between the following mass- and light-derived global properties: sizes, concentrations, and effective surface densities. We find that the mass-to-light ratios of these properties change with tlb, more the more massive the galaxies are. The CLE galaxy archaeological progenitors are, on average, less compact, concentrated, and dense in light than in mass as z decreases. However, at later times, when also the evolution of the progenitors becomes passive at all radii, there is an upturn in these trends and the differences between mass and light in compactness/concentration decrease towards z ∼ 0. The trends in the ratios of mass-to-light sizes agree qualitatively with results from direct observations in galaxy surveys at different redshifts. We discuss the caveats and interpretations of our results, and speculate that the strong structural evolution found in some previous studies for early-type galaxies could be explained partially by photometric changes rather than by intrinsic structural changes.

Ibarra-Medel, H. (ORCID:0000000297906313)↗
DOE OSTI2022

SDSS IV MaNGA: characteristics of edge-on galaxies with a counter-rotating gaseous disc

ABSTRACT Counter-rotating components in galaxies are one of the most direct forms of evidence for past gas accretion or merging. We discovered 10 edge-on disc gaseous counter-rotators in a sample of 523 edge-on galaxies identified in the final MaNGA (Mapping Nearby Galaxies at APO) IFU sample. The counter-rotators tend to located in small groups. The gaseous counter-rotators have intermediate stellar masses and and located in the green valley and red sequence of the colour–magnitude diagram. The average vertical extents of the stellar and ionized gas discs are the same as for the rest of the sample while their radial gas and stellar distributions are more centrally concentrated. This may point at angular momentum loss during the formation process of the counter-rotating discs. The counter-rotators have low gas and dust content, weak emission-line strengths, and low star formation rates. This suggests that the formation of counter-rotators may be an efficient way to quench galaxies. One counter-rotator, SDSS J080016.09+292817.1 (Galaxy F), has a post-starburst region and a possible AGN at the centre. Another counter-rotator, SDSS J131234.03+482159.8 (Galaxy H), is identified as a potential ongoing galaxy interaction with its companion satellite galaxy, a gas-rich spiral galaxy. This may be representative case of a gaseous counter-rotator forming through a merger origin. However, tidal distortions expected in mergers are only found in a few of the galaxies and we cannot rule out direct gas accretion as another formation mechanism.

Beom, Minje↗
DOE OSTI2025

Plant Reload Optimization (prlo)

The PRLO framework is built on a modular and extensible architecture that tightly couples advanced evolutionary optimization algorithms with nuclear fuel depletion solvers (i.e., nuclear physics neutronics code). It supports exploring complex, high-dimensional design spaces constrained by user-specified operational, safety, and economic constraints. Objectives such as minimizing fresh fuel enrichment, flattening radial and axial power distributions, and maximizing discharge burnup are evaluated. PRLO’s equilibrium cycle optimization capability enables the identification of core configurations that maintain fuel cycle sustainability over extended planning horizons. Its integration with the RAVEN platform facilitates optimization of loading patterns or fuel shuffling schemes across multiple cycles. The interface with SIMULATE, a licensed industry-standard nodal code developed by Studsvik, ensures accurate neutronic and thermal-hydraulic feedback for reactor core design. PRLO’s automated workflow engine supports iterative design refinement, enabling utilities to streamline core design processes and meet evolving performance and regulatory targets.

Kim, Junyung [Idaho National Laboratory] (00090005↗