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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 235 records · Page 13

Extension of the flux fit method for estimating power deposition profiles

The flux fit method is used to self-consistently estimate the power deposition profile and heat transport profiles from temperature measurements originating from perturbative experiments with a modulated source. Furthermore, this letter improves on this method by addressing the limitations and assumptions. The most crucial improvement is the additional freedom in the source deposition profile. Allowing for a variable central deposition location and height and including a skewness parameter produces deposition profiles more consistent with the measurement data, but still wider than equilibrium ray tracing in two different DIII-D discharges. Moreover, we show that the quality of the estimated deposition profile is key to the accuracy of diffusivity and connectivity estimates, but inversely, the estimated transport parameters hardly affect the quality of the power deposition estimate. Using this method, we show that the power deposition profile estimate is broadened with respect to ray-tracing by about 1.7-1.8 times in two DIII-D discharges.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Fast and fault-tolerant model predictive control of MMCs under selective harmonic elimination

Selective harmonic elimination (SHE) is a suitable pulse-width modulation (PWM) tech-nique for some applications of modular multilevel converters (MMC) with lower numberof semiconductor submodules (SM). However, SHE can make it difficult to control circu-lating currents in the MMC. Moreover, the MMC is vulnerable to SM switch failures thatreduce its output power magnitude and quality. This paper proposes a fault-tolerant modelpredictive control strategy for MMCs operating with SHE (FT SHE-MPC). The effects ofswitch failure on phase voltage waveforms are studied first. Then, a method is proposedto design the FT SHE waveform to preserve its harmonic performance. Next, the pro-posed FT SHE-MPC is designed to increase the capacitor voltages during an SM failure tomaintain the fundamental component of the faulty phase voltage and control the circulat-ing currents, maintaining balance among line voltages and the output power of the MMC.Additionally, the proposed method offers as much as 60% faster FT transition time and asmuch as 36% lower capacitor voltage ripple. The advantages of the proposed method areverified through offline and real-time simulation studies on a three-phase nine-level MMCin PSCAD/EMTDC software and RTDS.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Non-degenerate parametric mixing and Q-enhancement in ALN Lamb wave resonator

In this Letter, we explore a non-degenerate phase independent parametric quality factor (Q)-enhancement technique for aluminum nitride (AlN) Lamb wave resonators. Unlike other active Q-enhancement techniques which require precise phase control of the electronic feedback loop, this technique is implemented by parametrically pumping AlN material stiffness to realize a negative resistance seen at the signal path. The negative resistance is dependent on the nonlinear material modulation and multi-resonance coupling in the device. A nonlinear circuit model is developed to simulate the parametric coupling of each resonance and extract the nonlinearity of AlN from experimental data. With proper pump frequency and pump power, the device quality factor is boosted in both simulation and experiment. The demonstrated Q-enhancement method is simple to implement and can be applied to other types of resonators that have nonlinear behavior and support multi-resonance operation.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Bayesian optimization of Fisher Information in nonlinear multiresonant quantum photonics gyroscopes

Abstract We propose an on-chip gyroscope based on nonlinear multiresonant optics in a thin film χ (2) resonator that combines high sensitivity, compact form factor, and low power consumption simultaneously. We theoretically analyze a novel holistic metric – Fisher Information capacity of a multiresonant nonlinear photonic cavity – to fully characterize the sensitivity of our gyroscope under fundamental quantum noise conditions. Leveraging Bayesian optimization techniques, we directly maximize the nonlinear multiresonant Fisher Information. Our holistic optimization approach orchestrates a harmonious convergence of multiple physical phenomena – including noise squeezing, nonlinear wave mixing, nonlinear critical coupling, and noninertial signals – all encapsulated within a single sensor-resonator, thereby significantly augmenting sensitivity. We show that ∼ 470 × $\sim 470{\times}$ improvement is possible over the shot-noise limited linear gyroscope with the same footprint, intrinsic quality factors, and power budget.

42 ENGINEERING↗

RLAs WITH FFA ARCS FOR PROTONS AND ELECTRONS

Recirculating Linear Accelerators (RLAs) provide an efficient way of producing high-power, high-quality, continuous-wave hadron and lepton beams. However, their attractiveness had been limited by the cumbersomeness of multiple recirculating arcs and by the complexity of the spreader and recombiner regions. The latter problem sets one of the practical limitations on the maximum number of recirculations. We present an RLA design concept where the problem of multiple arcs is solved using the Fixed-Field Alternating gradient (FFA) design as in CBETA. The spreader/recombiner design is greatly simplified using an adiabatic matching approach. It allows for the spreader/recombiner function to be accomplished by a single beam line. The concept is applied to the designs of a high-power hadron accelerator being considered at ORNL and a CEBAF electron energy doubling project, FFA@CEBAF, being developed at Jefferson lab.

Morozov, V. S.↗

2022 Small Turbine Certification Awardee: Ryse Energy LLC - Americas

To meet the growing demands of the distributed wind market and comply with current U.S. standards, Ryse Energy LLC-Americas (Ryse Energy, formerly Primus Wind Power) plans to update all six products in its AIR Range family of micro wind turbines. A new, more cost-effective circuit board will be paired with other hardware upgrades, advanced control algorithms, and a Bluetooth function that allows users to more easily program and control the turbine. This Competitiveness Improvement Project (CIP) award will fund certification testing of the new circuit board to make sure it meets American National Standards Institute/American Clean Power Association (ANSI/ACP) and UL Federal Communications Commission (FCC) safety and quality standards. Primus Wind Power developed the prototype for the new circuit board with an earlier round of CIP funding, and Primus has received CIP awards supporting other certification and optimization projects.

CIP↗

Advances in Machine and Deep Learning for Modeling and Real-time Detection of Multi-Messenger Sources

We live in momentous times. The science community is empowered with an arsenal of cosmic messengers to study the universe in unprecedented detail. Gravitational waves, electromagnetic waves, neutrinos, and cosmic rays cover a wide range of wavelengths and timescales. Combining and processing these datasets that vary in volume, speed, and dimensionality requires new modes of instrument coordination, funding, and international collaboration with a specialized human and technological infrastructure. In tandem with the advent of large-scale scientific facilities, the last decade has experienced an unprecedented transformation in computing and signal-processing algorithms. The combination of graphics processing units, deep learning, and the availability of open source, high-quality datasets has powered the rise of artificial intelligence. This digital revolution now powers a multibillion dollar industry, with far-reaching implications in technology and society. In this chapter, we describe pioneering efforts to adapt artificial intelligence algorithms to address computational grand challenges in multi-messenger astrophysics. We review the rapid evolution of these disruptive algorithms, from the first class of algorithms introduced in early 2017 to the sophisticated algorithms that now incorporate domain expertise in their architectural design and optimization schemes. We discuss the importance of scientific visualization and extreme-scale computing in reducing time-to-insight and obtaining new knowledge from the interplay between models and data.

Artificial Intelligence↗

Quadratic strong coupling in AlN Kerr cavity solitons

Photonic platforms with χ (2) nonlinearity offer new degrees of freedom for Kerr frequency comb development. Here, we demonstrate Kerr soliton generation at 1550 nm with phase-matched quadratic coupling to the 775 nm harmonic band in a single AlN microring and thus the formation of dual-band mode-locked combs. In the strong quadratic coupling regime where the χ (2) phase-matching window overlaps the pump mode, the pump-to-harmonic-comb conversion efficiency is optimized. However, the strong quadratic coupling also drastically modifies the Kerr comb generation dynamics and decreases the probability of soliton generation. By engineering the χ (2) phase-matching wavelength, we are able to achieve a balance between high conversion efficiency and high soliton formation rate under the available pump power and microring quality factors. Our numerical simulations confirm the experimental observations. These findings provide guidance on tailoring single-cavity dual-band coherent comb sources.

Gong, Zheng (ORCID:0000000301704870)↗

Germanium Telluride Chalcogenide Switches for RF Applications

This project developed prototype germanium telluride switches, which can be used in RF applications to improve SWAP (size, weight, and power) and signal quality in RF systems. These switches can allow for highly reconfigurable systems, including antennas, communications, optical systems, phased arrays, and synthetic aperture radar, which all have high impact on current National Security goals for improved communication systems and communication technology supremacy. The final result of the project was the demonstration of germanium telluride RF switches, which could act as critical elements necessary for a single chip RF communication system that will demonstrate low SWAP and high reconfigurability

42 ENGINEERING↗

Contactless Production Testing of Silicon Solar Cells

Critical cost reductions in silicon solar cells are made by minimizing silver usage in their metal contacts. The reason why is both clear and unavoidable—silver is not only expensive, but also a potential limiting resource for scale-up (the PV industry alone used 10.3 % of the global silver supply in 2020 [1]). The result is solar cells with vanishing electrical contact area that are extremely difficult to test prior to module manufacture, when they must be sorted for quality to maximize power output and reliability of the subsequent modules. This project developed a new measurement instrument that enables the transition to solar cells with very low silver content, including cell designs with both minimal busbars and no busbars at all to electrically contact. The resulting instrument at project completion demonstrated the ability to sort cells with comparable—or better—results than existing technology. Compared to existing cell-test instruments, the new tool has minimal contacting requirements, which lowers the maintenance costs and use of consumable parts. We demonstrated innovative, yet pragmatic, solutions for reporting a comprehensive set of measurement results useful for both cell sorting (going forward in the line for module manufacture) and process control (looking backward in the line to identify cell manufacturing issues from wafer to cell-test). In addition to the traditional current-voltage characterization at cell test—short circuit current, open-circuit voltage, power, efficiency and fill factor—the new tool maintains all the advanced parameter characterization of our existing product line such as a substrate doping measurement, carrier recombination (lifetime) analysis, and surface recombination analysis.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Study of efficient video compression algorithms for space shuttle applications

Results are presented of a study on video data compression techniques applicable to space flight communication. This study is directed towards monochrome (black and white) picture communication with special emphasis on feasibility of hardware implementation. The primary factors for such a communication system in space flight application are: picture quality, system reliability, power comsumption, and hardware weight. In terms of hardware implementation, these are directly related to hardware complexity, effectiveness of the hardware algorithm, immunity of the source code to channel noise, and data transmission rate (or transmission bandwidth). A system is recommended, and its hardware requirement summarized. Simulations of the study were performed on the improved LIM video controller which is computer-controlled by the META-4 CPU.

Poo, Z.↗

An experimental investigation of end treatments for nonreturn wind tunnels

The results of a series of flow quality and performance tests on several inlet and exit configurations for nonreturn wind tunnels are presented. Test section flow angularities, local dynamic pressure variations, and total-pressure-loss variations are presented as functions of wind-to-test-section dynamic pressure ratio. The results show that a nonreturn wind tunnel should have end treatments with three characteristics: (1) a vertical exit system, (2) a horizontal inlet system, and (3) an area of protected enclosure at the inlet. Inlet and exhaust treatments were developed that produced good aerodynamic flow qualities with low power penalties.

Eckert, W. T.↗

An analytical method for ride quality of flexible airplanes

A new and easily used method of aircraft ride quality analysis is developed, and its use is illustrated by a numerical example using DC-8 airplane equations of motion. The method readily allows any type of stability augmentation system to be included for good handling qualities. A particularly powerful method of specifying and achieving all roots of a desired closed-loop characteristic equation by use of full state variable feedback is described and applied to the DC-8 example.

Swaim, R. L.↗

The development of a self-streamlining flexible walled transonic test section

This design eliminates the uncertainties in data from conventional transonic test sections. Sidewalls are rigid, and the flexible floor and ceiling are positioned by motorized jacks controlled by on-line computer to minimize run times. The tunnel-computer combination is self-streamlining without reference to the model. Data is taken from the model only when the walls are good streamlines, and is corrected for the small, known but inevitable residual interferences. Two-dimensional validation testing in the Mach range up to about 0.85 where the walls are just supercritical shows good agreement with reference data using a height:chord ratio of 1.5. Techniques are under development to extend Mach number above 1. This work has demonstrated the feasibility of almost eliminating wall interferences, improving flow quality, and reducing power requirements or increasing Reynolds number. Extensions to three-dimensional testing are outlined.

Goodyer, M. J.↗

Solar thermal parabolic dish energy applications

Vu-graphs are presented that show that applications are a viable distributed renewable power generation option. Quality energy can be produced in the form of electricity and high temperature heat. Modular systems are described that can be distributed to new or existing plants and that are mass producible with the associated economies of production.

Pijawka, W.↗

Power for Commercial Space Applications

Since the proposed space station is intended to be a permanent installation, used in part by commercial organizations, its design requirements differ fundamentally from those in previous manned spacecraft. In particular, commercialization on a significant scale depends critically on the ability to control capital and operational costs, including the cost of energy, and this demands new approaches to systems such as the power supply for the space station. These considerations suggest guidelines for power plant development. The cost of energy in space, guidelines for power supply development, quality standards, and the role of government are discussed.

Chapman, P. K.↗

Adaptive wall technology for minimization of wall interferences in transonic wind tunnels

Modern experimental techniques to improve free air simulations in transonic wind tunnels by use of adaptive wall technology are reviewed. Considered are the significant advantages of adaptive wall testing techniques with respect to wall interferences, Reynolds number, tunnel drive power, and flow quality. The application of these testing techniques relies on making the test section boundaries adjustable and using a rapid wall adjustment procedure. A historical overview shows how the disjointed development of these testing techniques, since 1938, is closely linked to available computer support. An overview of Adaptive Wall Test Section (AWTS) designs shows a preference for use of relatively simple designs with solid adaptive walls in 2- and 3-D testing. Operational aspects of AWTS's are discussed with regard to production type operation where adaptive wall adjustments need to be quick. Both 2- and 3-D data are presented to illustrate the quality of AWTS data over the transonic speed range. Adaptive wall technology is available for general use in 2-D testing, even in cryogenic wind tunnels. In 3-D testing, more refinement of the adaptive wall testing techniques is required before more widespread use can be planned.

Wolf, Stephen W. D.↗