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At least 217 records · Page 12

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

DOE OSTI2015

Bench-scale Development of an Advanced Solid Sorbent-based CO 2 Capture Process for Coal-fired Power Plants

It is increasingly clear that CO 2 capture and sequestration (CCS) must play a critical role in curbing worldwide CO 2 emissions to the atmosphere. Development of these technologies to cost-effectively remove CO 2 from coal-fired power plants is very important to mitigating the impact these power plants have within the world’s power generation portfolio. Currently, conventional CO 2 capture technologies, such as aqueous-monoethanolamine based solvent systems, are prohibitively expensive and if implemented could result in a 75 to 100% increase in the cost of electricity for consumers worldwide. Solid sorbent CO 2 capture processes – such as RTI’s Advanced Solid Sorbent CO 2 , Capture Process – are promising alternatives to conventional, liquid solvents. Supported amine sorbents – of the nature RTI has developed – are particularly attractive due to their high CO 2 loadings, low heat capacities, reduced corrosivity/volatility and the potential to reduce the regeneration energy needed to carry out CO 2 capture. Previous work in this area has failed to adequately address various technology challenges such as sorbent stability and regenerability, sorbent scale-up, improved physical strength and attrition-resistance, proper heat management and temperature control, proper solids handling and circulation control, as well as the proper coupling of process engineering advancements that are tailored for a promising sorbent technology. The remaining challenges for these sorbent processes have provided the framework for the project team’s research and development and target for advancing the technology beyond lab- and bench-scale testing. Under a cooperative agreement with the US Department of Energy, and part of NETL’s CO 2 Capture Program, RTI has led an effort to address and mitigate the challenges associated with solid sorbent CO 2 capture. The overall objective of this project was to mitigate the technical and economic risks associated with the scale-up of solid sorbent-based CO 2 capture processes, enabling subsequent larger pilot demonstrations and ultimately commercial deployment. An integrated development approach has been a key focus of this project in which process development, sorbent development, and economic analyses have informed each of the other development processes. Development efforts have focused on improving the performance stability of sorbent candidates, refining process engineering and design, and evaluating the viability of the technology through detailed economic analyses. Sorbent advancements have led to a next generation, commercially-viable CO 2 capture sorbent exhibiting performance stability in various gas environments and a physically strong fluidizable form. The team has reduced sorbent production costs and optimized the production process and scale-up of PEI-impregnated, fluidizable sorbents. Refinement of the process engineering and design, as well as the construction and operation of a bench-scale research unit has demonstrated promising CO 2 capture performance under simulated coal-fired flue gas conditions. Parametric testing has shown how CO 2 capture performance is impacted by changing process variables, such as Adsorber temperature, Regenerator temperature, superficial flue gas velocity, solids circulation rate, CO 2 partial pressure in the Regenerator, and many others. Long-term testing has generated data for the project team to set the process conditions needed to operate a solids-based system for optimal performance, with continuous 90% CO 2 capture, and no operational interruptions. Data collected from all phases of testing has been used to develop a detailed techno-economic assessment of RTI’s technology. These detailed analyses show that RTI’s technology has significant economic advantages over current amine scrubbing and potential to achieve the DOE’s Carbon Capture Program’s goal of >90% CO 2 capture rate at a cost of < $40/T-CO 2 captured by 2025. Through this integrated technology development approach, the project team has advanced RTI’s CO 2 capture technology to TRL-4 (nearly TRL-5, with the missing variable being testing on actual, coal-fired flue gas), according to the DOE/FE definitions for Technology Readiness Levels. At a broader level, this project has advanced the whole of the solid sorbent CO 2 capture field, with advancements in process engineering and design, technical risk mitigation, sorbent scale-up optimization, and an understanding of the commercial viability and applicability of solid sorbent CO 2 capture technologies for the U.S. existing fleet of coal-fired power plants.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗

NASA NTRS2001

NASA IVHM Technology Experiment for X-vehicles (NITEX)

The purpose of the NASA IVHM Technology Experiment for X-vehicles (NITEX) is to advance the development of selected IVHM technologies in a flight environment and to demonstrate the potential for reusable launch vehicle ground processing savings. The technologies to be developed and demonstrated include system-level and detailed diagnostics for real-time fault detection and isolation, prognostics for fault prediction, automated maintenance planning based on diagnostic and prognostic results, and a microelectronics hardware platform. Complete flight The Evolution of Flexible Insulation as IVHM consists of advanced sensors, distributed data acquisition, data processing that includes model-based diagnostics, prognostics and vehicle autonomy for control or suggested action, and advanced data storage. Complete ground IVHM consists of evolved control room architectures, advanced applications including automated maintenance planning and automated ground support equipment. This experiment will advance the development of a subset of complete IVHM.

Sandra, Hayden↗

DOE OSTI2024

"Reinforcement Learning Based Oscillation Dampening: Scaling up Single-Agent RL algorithms to a 100 AV highway field operational test"

In this article, we explore the technical details of the reinforcement learning (RL) algorithms that were deployed in the largest field test of automated vehicles designed to smooth traffic flow in history as of 2023, uncovering the challenges and breakthroughs that come with developing RL controllers for automated vehicles. We delve into the fundamental concepts behind RL algorithms and their application in the context of self-driving cars, discussing the developmental process from simulation to deployment in detail, from designing simulators to reward function shaping. We present the results in both simulation and deployment, discussing the flow-smoothing benefits of the RL controller. From understanding the basics of Markov decision processes to exploring advanced techniques such as deep RL, our article offers a comprehensive overview and deep dive of the theoretical foundations and practical implementations driving this rapidly evolving field. We also showcase real-world case studies and alternative research projects that highlight the impact of RL controllers in revolutionizing autonomous driving. From tackling complex urban environments to dealing with unpredictable traffic scenarios, these intelligent controllers are pushing the boundaries of what automated vehicles can achieve. Furthermore, we examine the safety considerations and hardware-focused technical details surrounding deployment of RL controllers into automated vehicles. As these algorithms learn and evolve through interactions with the environment, ensuring their behavior aligns with safety standards becomes crucial. We explore the methodologies and frameworks being developed to address these challenges, emphasizing the importance of building reliable control systems for automated vehicles.

Jang, Kathy↗

DOE OSTI2013

LANL Response to SRS Requirement G-ESR-G-00035 Item 11 Bed Temperature, Revision 4

Los Alamos National Laboratory has identified a number of plutonium-bearing materials that will be placed in interim storage in 3013 containers per requirements of DOE-STD-3013- 2004, or DOE-STD-3013-2012. Before these items can be considered for storage at Savannah River Site, 20 points of agreement, described in Savannah River Site (SRS) document G-ESR-G-00035, Revision 1, must be documented and provided to SRS for review. These agreements include documentation that the requirements of the 3013 Standard are met and the storage facility’s safety envelope is not compromised. Point 11 of the 20 points is the requirement that material be stabilized at 950°C for a minimum of two hours prior to packaging. This report addresses the Point 11 requirement, describing the controls used during stabilization to ensure that the material is properly stabilized using either a batch (calciner boat) or continuous process (Advanced Recovery and Integrated Extraction System [ARIES] direct metal oxidation unit 2 [DMO-2] and recycle oxide calcination). These controls include verification of the furnace controller thermocouple profile and verification of the profiles for the two thermocouples located in the bed and/or calciner tube hot zone. Revision 4 to this document only modifies the ARIES DMO-2 process controls. Batch processing requirements are unchanged. Changes to the DMO-2 process include use of alternate augers with differing pitch values and reduction of the minimum powder bulk density value. The new DMO-3 unit requirements are covered in a separate document.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

DOE OSTI2016

Real-time data-intensive computing

Today users visit synchrotrons as sources of understanding and discovery—not as sources of just light, and not as sources of data. To achieve this, the synchrotron facilities frequently provide not just light but often the entire end station and increasingly, advanced computational facilities that can reduce terabytes of data into a form that can reveal a new key insight. The Advanced Light Source (ALS) has partnered with high performance computing, fast networking, and applied mathematics groups to create a “super-facility”, giving users simultaneous access to the experimental, computational, and algorithmic resources to make this possible. This combination forms an efficient closed loop, where data—despite its high rate and volume—is transferred and processed immediately and automatically on appropriate computing resources, and results are extracted, visualized, and presented to users or to the experimental control system, both to provide immediate insight and to guide decisions about subsequent experiments during beamtime. We will describe our work at the ALS ptychography, scattering, micro-diffraction, and micro-tomography beamlines.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

DOE OSTI2012

Advanced Optical Sensors to Minimize Energy Consumption in Polymer Extrusion Processes (Final Technical Report)

Project Objective: The objectives of this study are to develop an accurate and stable on-line sensor system to monitor color and composition on-line in polymer melts, to develop a scheme for using the output to control extruders to eliminate the energy, material and operational costs of off-specification product, and to combine or eliminate some extrusion processes. Background: Polymer extrusion processes are difficult to control because the quality achieved in the final product is complexly affected by the properties of the extruder screw, speed of extrusion, temperature, polymer composition, strength and dispersion properties of additives, and feeder system properties. Extruder systems are engineered to be highly reproducible so that when the correct settings to produce a particular product are found, that product can be reliably produced time after time. However market conditions often require changes in the final product, different products or grades may be processed in the same equipment, and feed materials vary from lot to lot. All of these changes require empirical adjustment of extruder settings to produce a product meeting specifications. Optical sensor systems that can continuously monitor the composition and color of the extruded polymer could detect process upsets, drift, blending oscillations, and changes in dispersion of additives. Development of an effective control algorithm using the output of the monitor would enable rapid corrections for changes in materials and operating conditions, thereby eliminating most of the scrap and recycle of current processing. This information could be used to identify extruder systems issues, diagnose problem sources, and suggest corrective actions in real-time to help keep extruder system settings within the optimum control region. Using these advanced optical sensor systems would give extruder operators real-time feedback from their process. They could reduce the amount of off-spec product produced and significantly reduce energy consumption. Also, because blending and dispersion of additives and components in the final product could be continuously verified, we believe that, in many cases, intermediate compounding steps could be eliminated (saving even more time and energy).

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

NASA NTRS1991

Status and outlook of flow separation control

Under certain conditions, wall-bounded flows separate. To improve the performance of natural or man-made flow systems, it may be beneficial to delay or advance this detachment process. The present article reviews the status and outlook of separation control for both steady and unsteady flows. Both passive and active techniques to prevent or to provoke flow detachment are considered and suggestions are made for further research.

Gad-El-hak, Mohamed↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

A Natural Language Understanding Approach for Digitizing Aircraft Ground Taxi Instructions

Recent Advancements in spoken language processing technologies have enabled the development of reliable automation tools to assist air traffic control (ATC) operations. These advancements present a unique opportunity to strategically implement digital taxi instructions for aircraft movement on the ground. Digital taxi instructions issue taxiing procedures to pilots as textual or graphical instructions. There are several benefits of digital instructions, including a reduction in radio congestion, elimination of communication errors, and improved aircraft monitoring capabilities. Natural language understanding (NLU) models can extract digital taxi instructions from verbal instructions issued by air traffic controllers. This capability enables the implementation of a digital taxi communication framework with minimal changes to the existing air traffic controller operational environment. We explore a novel application for NLU: automatically generating digital taxi instructions from air traffic controller speech. We describe the development of an annotation scheme to represent (aircraft) ground traffic communications in the US National Airspace System (NAS).Our annotation scheme uses intent classification and slot filling to extract taxi instructions, enabling NLU models to leverage syntactic information. Several neural network models were trained to categorize the controller’s intent and label information relevant to his or her intent.Our research demonstrates that it is feasible to use NLU to automatically generate digitaltaxi instructions, suggesting that it is a powerful tool for the implementation of digital taxi communications.

Hillel Steinmetz↗

DOE OSTI2024

Trace Element Control in Master Alloys and Impact of Feedstock Purity on a Ta-containing Steel during Electroslag Remelting

Advanced materials design often leads to new complex compositions that can bring challenges to manufacturing processes. Melt processing of a novel alloy with a tight chemistry range revealed a 25% Ta loss after manufacturing. Vacuum induction melting (VIM) and electroslag remelting (ESR) were performed using industry practices at a laboratory scale and the loss occurred from the VIM electrode to the ESR ingot. Several tools were used for characterization, including combustion analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and electron probe microanalysis for observation of the precipitate and inclusion phases. Additionally, computational modeling of the ESR process was performed to predict macrosegregation and inclusion travel. It was found that a significant amount of Ta2O5 inclusions formed during VIM and were transferred to the slag during ESR. This led to a 95% decrease in density of inclusions explaining to Ta loss. Pathways to better control advanced alloy chemistries during melt processing will be discussed.

Detrois, Martin↗

DOE OSTI2024

Toolpath considerations for DED: Arc and laser welding

Directed energy deposition (DED) is a form of additive manufacturing that uses localized melted metal, similar to traditional arc welding, to construct an object. In comparison to polymer systems, metal systems can exert additional control over the build process through manipulation of the pool of melted metal, called the “melt pool.” This is especially important to maintain appropriate layer heights and create high quality builds. Additionally, metal systems allow site-specific control of the printed part, which enables advanced construction techniques that would otherwise not be possible. However, both of these types of control require support from the slicing software and, potentially, sensor feedback. This chapter will discuss these control processes and their basic implementation in a slicing program. The processes described here lay the foundation for more advanced solutions, particularly sensor feedback, that will be discussed later.

Borish, Michael↗

NASA NTRS1994

Quality assurance and risk management: Perspectives on Human Factors Certification of Advanced Aviation Systems

This paper is based on the experience of engineering psychologists advising the U.K. Ministry of Defense (MoD) on the procurement of advanced aviation systems that conform to good human engineering (HE) practice. Traditional approaches to HE in systems procurement focus on the physical nature of the human-machine interface. Advanced aviation systems present increasingly complex design requirements for human functional integration, information processing, and cognitive task performance effectiveness. These developing requirements present new challenges for HE quality assurance (QA) and risk management, requiring focus on design processes as well as on design content or product. A new approach to the application of HE, recently adopted by NATO, provides more systematic ordering and control of HE processes and activities to meet the challenges of advanced aircrew systems design. This systematic approach to HE has been applied by MoD to the procurement of mission systems for the Royal Navy Merlin helicopter. In MoD procurement, certification is a judicial function, essentially independent of the service customer and industry contractor. Certification decisions are based on advice from MoD's appointed Acceptance Agency. Test and evaluation (T&E) conducted by the contractor and by the Acceptance Agency provide evidence for certification. Certification identifies limitations of systems upon release to the service. Evidence of compliance with HE standards traditionally forms the main basis of HE certification and significant non-compliance could restrict release. The systems HE approach shows concern for the quality of processes as well as for the content of the product. Human factors certification should be concerned with the quality of HE processes as well as products. Certification should require proof of process as well as proof of content and performance. QA criteria such as completeness, consistency, timeliness, and compatibility provide generic guidelines for progressive acceptance and certification of HE processes. Threats to the validity of certification arise from problems and assumptions in T&E methods. T&E should seek to reduce the risk of specification non-compliance and certification failure.

Taylor, Robert M.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Test/score/report: Simulation techniques for automating the test process

A Test/Score/Report capability is currently being developed for the Transportable Payload Operations Control Center (TPOCC) Advanced Spacecraft Simulator (TASS) system which will automate testing of the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) Payload Operations Control Center (POCC) and Mission Operations Center (MOC) software in three areas: telemetry decommutation, spacecraft command processing, and spacecraft memory load and dump processing. Automated computer control of the acceptance test process is one of the primary goals of a test team. With the proper simulation tools and user interface, the task of acceptance testing, regression testing, and repeatability of specific test procedures of a ground data system can be a simpler task. Ideally, the goal for complete automation would be to plug the operational deliverable into the simulator, press the start button, execute the test procedure, accumulate and analyze the data, score the results, and report the results to the test team along with a go/no recommendation to the test team. In practice, this may not be possible because of inadequate test tools, pressures of schedules, limited resources, etc. Most tests are accomplished using a certain degree of automation and test procedures that are labor intensive. This paper discusses some simulation techniques that can improve the automation of the test process. The TASS system tests the POCC/MOC software and provides a score based on the test results. The TASS system displays statistics on the success of the POCC/MOC system processing in each of the three areas as well as event messages pertaining to the Test/Score/Report processing. The TASS system also provides formatted reports documenting each step performed during the tests and the results of each step. A prototype of the Test/Score/Report capability is available and currently being used to test some POCC/MOC software deliveries. When this capability is fully operational it should greatly reduce the time necessary to test a POCC/MOC software delivery, as well as improve the quality of the test process.

Hageman, Barbara H.↗

DOE OSTI2024

Multivariate Bayesian Optimization of CoO Nanoparticles for CO 2 Hydrogenation Catalysis

The hydrogenation of CO 2 holds promise for transforming the production of renewable fuels and chemicals. However, the challenge lies in developing robust and selective catalysts for this process. Transition metal oxide catalysts, particularly cobalt oxide, have shown potential for CO 2 hydrogenation, with performance heavily reliant on crystal phase and morphology. Achieving precise control over these catalyst attributes through colloidal nanoparticle synthesis could pave the way for catalyst and process advancement. Yet, navigating the complexities of colloidal nanoparticle syntheses, governed by numerous input variables, poses a significant challenge in systematically controlling resultant catalyst features. We present a multivariate Bayesian optimization, coupled with a data-driven classifier, to map the synthetic design space for colloidal CoO nanoparticles and simultaneously optimize them for multiple catalytically relevant features within a target crystalline phase. The optimized experimental conditions yielded small, phase-pure rock salt CoO nanoparticles of uniform size and shape. These optimized nanoparticles were then supported on SiO 2 and assessed for thermocatalytic CO 2 hydrogenation against larger, polydisperse CoO nanoparticles on SiO 2 and a conventionally prepared catalyst. The optimized CoO/SiO 2 catalyst consistently exhibited higher activity and CH 4 selectivity (ca. 98%) across various pretreatment reduction temperatures as compared to the other catalysts. This remarkable performance was attributed to particle stability and consistent H* surface coverage, even after undergoing the highest temperature reduction, achieving a more stable catalytic species that resists sintering and carbon occlusion.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2022

Advanced Engine and Fuel Technologies 2021 Annual Progress Report

This report highlights progress achieved by the Advanced Engine and Fuel Technologies Program during fiscal year 2021. The nature, current focus, and recent progress of the Program are described together with summaries of National Laboratory, industry, and university projects that provide an overview of the exciting work being conducted to address critical technical barriers and challenges to commercializing higher-efficiency engine, emissions control, and fuel technologies for passenger and commercial vehicles.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

DOE OSTI2018

System Architecture Directions for Post-SoC/32-bit Networked Sensors

The emergence of low-power 32-bit Systems-on-Chip (SoCs), which integrate a 32-bit MCU, radio, and flash, presents an opportunity to re-examine design points and trade-offs at all levels of the system architecture of networked sensors. To this end, we develop a post-SoC/32-bit design point called Hamilton, showing that using integrated components enables a ~$7 core and shifts hardware modularity to design time. We study the interaction between hardware and embedded operating systems, identifying that (1) post-SoC motes provide lower idle current (5.9 μA) than traditional 16-bit motes, (2) 32-bit MCUs are a major energy consumer (e.g., tick increases idle current >50 times), comparable to radios, and (3) thread-based concurrency is viable, requiring only 8.3 μs of context switch time. We design a system architecture, based on a tickless multithreading operating system, with cooperative/adaptive clocking, advanced sensor abstraction, and preemptive packet processing. Its efficient MCU control improves concurrency with ~30% less energy consumption. Together, these developments set the system architecture for networked sensors in a new direction.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

DOE OSTI2021

Next Generation Logistics Systems for Delivering Optimal Biomass Feedstocks to Biorefining Industries in the Southeastern U.S.

The diverse portfolio of biomass sources that is available in the Southeastern U.S., including a significant supply of pine “residue”, represents a valuable strategic position for the region. Through blends formulated based on critical properties, this project will take full advantage of the range in biomass properties afforded by the portfolio to produce a consistent, high-performance feedstock for the industry, while lowering cost. Key developments being targeted to enable this potential include whole-tree transport to a state-of-the-art merchandising depot that will further access biomass from ongoing, forest industry operations. The approach will more effectively utilize the tree and distribute cost, while minimizing in-woods contamination of the woody biomass component. To implement this vision, information on the chemical composition and changes that are induced during multiple preprocessing steps (size reduction, moisture removal, densification, etc.) is needed. New NIR sensor technology will be developed for online monitoring of important biomass properties. The data will be incorporated into a statistical process control platform to improve process efficiency and meet required specifications. Advanced process models are being developed to inform the techno-economic and life-cycle assessment of the program’s impact. The new system will ultimately reduce operational risks from supply chain disruptions, and allow operation of larger-scale biorefineries.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

NASA NTRS1971

Ionospheric effects of Birkeland currents.

Since Birkeland's observations of high-latitude magnetic perturbations led him to postulate the existence of geomagnetically aligned electric currents, theoretical studies have led to a general understanding of the mechanisms that are capable of driving such currents, and of the processes associated with formation and control of current configurations. Recent advances in experimental techniques have yielded information on the spatial and temporal behavior of such field-aligned Birkeland currents and have established their association to an individual auroral arc and energetic precipitating particles. This paper gives a brief summary of ionospheric effects related to production, maintenance, and control of Birkeland current systems. Available experimental data are discussed in relation to some of these effects.

Cloutier, P. A.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Polymer infiltration studies

During the past three months, significant progress has been made on the preparation of carbon fiber composites using advanced polymer resins. The results are set forth in recent reports and publications, and will be presented at forthcoming national and international meetings. Current and ongoing research activities reported herein include: textile composites from powder-coated towpreg; role of surface coating in braiding; prepregger hot sled operation; ribbonizing powder-impregenated towpreg; textile composites from powder-coated towpreg; role of bulk factor powder curtain prepreg process advanced tow placement (ATP) open-section part warpage control. During the coming months research will be directed toward further development of the new powder curtain prepregging method and on ways to customize dry powder towpreg for textile and robotic applications in aircraft part fabrication. Studies of multi-tow powder prepregging and ribbon preparation will be conducted in conjunction with continued development of prepregging technology and the various aspects of composite part fabrication using customized towpreg. Also, during the period ahead work will continue on the analysis of the performance of the new solution prepregger.

Marchello, Joseph M.↗