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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 271 records · Page 15
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2018

E × B flow shear mitigates ballooning-driven edge-localized modes at high collisionality: experiment and simulation

By using the specific co-neutral beam injection (co-NBI) and counter-NBI systems on EAST, an alternating E × B flow shear discharge has been obtained to study the impact of the E × B flow shear on ballooning-driven edge localized modes (ELMs) at a fixed high collisionality (v* ~ 2.3). The results reveal that the increased E × B flow shear can significantly mitigate ELMs, or even totally suppress ELMs when the shear is large enough. Our simulations with BOUT support the observations on EAST, and further indicate that the increased E × B can both reduce the linear growth rate of the ballooning mode and shorten its growth time (phase coherence time, PCT). In conclusion, the enhanced nonlinear interactions shorten the PCT of the ballooning mode, as validated by the bispectrum study on EAST. All those studies suggest a new way to control ELMs.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Nonlinear saturation of ballooning modes in stellarators

Ballooning mode saturation is investigated in realistic stellarator configurations using the flux tube approach of Ham et al (2018 Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion 60 075017), Ham et al (2016 Phys. Rev. Lett. 116 235001). The method is adapted to account for the lack of exact force balance in stellarator equilibrium solvers that assume existence of nested flux surfaces. A variational approach for calculating flux tube energy is developed to overcome this force error problem in stellarator numerical equilibria. Saturated (equilibrium) flux tube states that cross 10%–20% of the plasma minor radius are shown to exist for linearly ballooning unstable profiles. It is shown that several features of the displaced flux tube structure in a full nonlinear MHD simulation of Wendelstein 7X are reproduced by our model. Saturated states are found in a compact stellarator equilibrium close but below the marginal ballooning linear instability, i.e. the unperturbed equilibrium is metastable. This suggests that edge-localized-mode-like explosive MHD behavior may be possible in stellarators.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

The nylon balloon for xenon loaded liquid scintillator in KamLAND-Zen 800 neutrinoless double-beta decay search experiment

The KamLAND-Zen 800 experiment is searching for the neutrinoless double-beta decay of 136 Xe by using 136 Xe-loaded liquid scintillator. The liquid scintillator is enclosed inside a balloon made of thin, transparent, low-radioactivity film that we call Inner Balloon (IB). The IB, apart from guaranteeing the liquid containment, also allows to minimize the background from cosmogenic muon-spallation products and 8B solar neutrinos. Indeed these events could contribute to the total counts in the region of interest around the Q-value of the double-beta decay of 136 Xe. In this paper, we present an overview of the IB and describe the various steps of its commissioning minimizing the radioactive contaminations, from the material selection, to the fabrication of the balloon and its installation inside the KamLAND detector. Finally, we show the impact of the IB on the KamLAND background as measured by the KamLAND detector itself.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2021

A New Design of a Dressed Balloon Cavity with Superior Mechanical Properties

Superconducting spoke cavities are prone to multipactor - resonant raise of a number of electrons due to secondary emission. Recently proposed and tested by TRIUMF balloon-type spoke cavity showed an outstanding multipactor (MP) suppression property but unfortunately serious Q degradation at high fields. A new fully developed design of a dressed balloon cavity which can be used for any proton linac SSR2 section is developed. The design incorporates additional EP ports for high Q-factor demonstration. Superior properties are demonstrated, such as effective multipactor suppression, 40% lower Lorentz force coefficient, zero sensitivity to external pressure. This paper presents the results of coupled structural Multiphysics analysis, and engineering design of the dressed balloon cavity with EP ports.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2018

JUBA (Joint UAS-Balloon Activities) Final Campaign Report.

Using internal investment funds within Sandia National Laboratories’ (SNL) Division 6000, JUBA was a collaborative exercise between SNL Orgs. 6533 & 6913 (later 8863) to demonstrate simultaneous flights of tethered balloons and UAS on the North Slope of Alaska. JUBA UAS and tethered balloon flights were conducted within the Restricted Airspace associated with the ARM AMF3 site at Oliktok Point, Alaska. The Restricted Airspace occupies a 2 nautical mile radius around Oliktok Point. JUBA was conducted at the Sandia Arctic Site, which is approximately 2 km east-southeast of the AMF3. JUBA activities occurred from 08/08/17 – 08/10/17. Atmospheric measurements from tethered balloons can occur for a long duration, but offer limited spatial variation. Measurements from UAS could offer increased spatial variability.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2019

Pressure Safety Data Package for Remote Balloon Launcher (RBL)

The Barrow Hydrogen Fill System is intended for use by the authorized Sandia National Laboratories personnel and its contractors who are involved in research relating to the deployment of weather balloons for the Department of Energy's Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program (ARM) https://www.arm.gov/ and The National Weather Service (NWS) https://www.weather.gov/. Hydrogen is supplied from a hydrogen generation shelter and outdoor storage tank. The balloons are filled and released by a remote balloon launcher (RBL) commercially available from Vaisala. The RBL was designed to be used with helium or hydrogen and has be recently inspected by Vaisala for hydrogen operation. This system is composed of a pressure regulator, ball valves, pressure relief valves, tubing, hose. All pressurized components are "off the shelf items and have a minimum pressure rating of 300 psi and are assembled using "Best Practices" and trained pressure component installers. Non pressurized components are comprised of industry recommended components and are assembled using "Best Practices" techniques.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2023

Tethered Balloon System Merged Data (TBSMERGED) Value-Added Product Report

The U.S. Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) user facility’s Tethered Balloon System Merged Data (TBSMERGED) Value-Added Product (VAP) integrates data from instruments flown on ARM’s tethered balloon system missions that collect in situ measurements of temperature, humidity, wind speed, wind direction, and aerosol properties with estimates of cloud base and boundary-layer height from a surface-based ceilometer to improve the ease of use of tethered balloon system (TBS) data sets. The TBSMERGEDINCLOUD VAP, a variation of TBSMERGED, includes supercooled liquid water content (tbsslwc) measurements collected within the cloud.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1965

Rough surface improves stability of air- sounding balloons

Aerodynamic stability of balloons used for measuring the intensity and direction of atmospheric winds at various elevations is improved by incorporating a rough surface on the balloons. The rough-surfaced balloon is useful for collecting wind profiles and other meteorological data.

Scoggins, J. R.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Ultimate wind sensing capabilities of the jimsphere and other rising balloon systems

The error in the magnitude of the horizontal wind field as computed for balloons with linear and quadratic rise rates ascending through a light, moderate, or severe wind field is derived. The rise rate function of the Jimsphere is analyzed as a special case. Figures are presented of wind error versus altitude for each rise rate and wind field, assuming linear smoothing. The ultimate capability of rising balloon systems for measuring wind from the surface to 18 kilometers can be determined from the data and the wind accuracy can be computed by knowing only the rise rate behavior versus altitude. The radii of smooth and roughened spheres needed to achieve the desired rise rate at various altitudes are derived. The radii for smooth and roughened balloons for tow-meter-per-second to 20-meter-per-second rise rates at 10 and 14 km altitudes, and the wind-following capability for each are tabulated.

Luers, J. K.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Experimental and analytical determination of stability parameters for a balloon tethered in a wind

Experimental and analytical techniques for determining stability parameters for a balloon tethered in a steady wind are described. These techniques are applied to a particular 7.64-meter-long balloon, and the results are presented. The stability parameters of interest appear as coefficients in linearized stability equations and are derived from the various forces and moments acting on the balloon. In several cases the results from the experimental and analytical techniques are compared and suggestions are given as to which techniques are the most practical means of determining values for the stability parameters.

Redd, L. T.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Thermal design and performance of the Viking balloon-launched decelerator test vehicles

The thermal design and performance of the test vehicles used for the flight-qualification of the Viking parachute system are described. The desired range of test conditions was provided by a subsonic drop from a balloon altitude of 90,000 feet, and rocket-powered transonic and supersonic flights initiated at balloon altitudes of 120,000 feet. Unusual aspects of the thermal design approach included the application of techniques developed in support of planetary programs to the thermal analysis of balloon payloads and the use of ground firing data to establish realistic upper bounds for radiant plume heating during flight. The adequacy of thermal design is verified by flight data.

Buna, T.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Ultraviolet stellar spectrophotometry from a balloon platform

A 40 centimeter diameter aperture, balloon-borne telescope and ultraviolet spectrometer is described and selected scientific results are briefly reviewed. The general configuration of the 0.4 angstrom resolution instrument is shown and the utilization of servo-controlled secondary mirror, image dissector detector, and special mirror coatings are discussed. An outlook for astronomical research in the mid-ultraviolet from balloon-borne telescopes is presented together with future development plans for JSC's balloon-borne payload.

Kondo, Y.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Balloon platform for extended-life astronomy research

A configuration has been developed for a long-life balloon platform to carry pointing telescopes weighing as much as 80 pounds (36 kg) to point at selected celestial targets. A platform of this configuration weighs about 375 pounds (170 kg) gross and can be suspended from a high altitude super pressure balloon for a lifetime of several months. The balloon platform contains a solar array and storage batteries for electrical power, up and down link communications equipment, and navigational and attitude control systems for orienting the scientific instrument. A biaxial controller maintains the telescope attitude in response to look-angle data stored in an on-board computer memory which is updated periodically by ground command. Gimbal angles are computed by using location data derived by an on-board navigational receiver.

Ostwald, L. T.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Sky survey at far infrared wavelengths using a balloon-borne telescope

Localized sources of far infrared radiation (approximately 50 microns) have been detected during a high altitude balloon flight with a 40 cm telescope and silicon detectors. The flight system is described and preliminary results are presented. A large area of the sky has been scanned for localized sources of far infrared radiation, using a balloon-borne system that was sensitive to wavelengths beyond about 55 microns. Two Molectron silicon bolometers were used, with a Newtonian telescope having a 40 cm primary. The telescope was driven in azimuth at a fixed elevation; this mode of scanning was carried out for the duration of each of two balloon flights. The flight system is described.

Friedlander, M. W.↗
NASA NTRS1974

A high sensitivity balloon-borne X-ray telescope system

A high sensitivity X-ray telescope system suitable for photometric type observations from balloon altitudes is described. The balloon gondola system is defined to include the performance requirements and the overall performance requirements of the balloon gondola support system. Diagrams of the gondola and the installed components are provided. The pointing and control system of the telescope is analyzed.

Pelling, M. R.↗
NASA NTRS1975

A balloon-borne ionization spectrometer with very large aperture for the detection of high energy cosmic rays

A balloon experiment which was used to determine the chemical composition of very high-energy cosmic rays up to and beyond 100 GeV/nucleon is described. The detector had a geometric factor of 1 sq m sr and a total weight on the balloon of 2100 kg. The apparatus consisted of an ionization spectrometer, spark chambers, and plastic scintillation and Cherenkov counters. It was calibrated at CERN up to 24 GeV/c protons and at DESY up to 7 GeV/c electrons. In October 1972 it was flown successfully on a stratospheric balloon.

Atallah, K.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Unmanned powered balloons

In the late 1960's several governmental agencies sponsored efforts to develop unmanned, powered balloon systems for scientific experimentation and military operations. Some of the programs resulted in hardware and limited flight tests; others, to date, have not progressed beyond the paper study stage. Balloon system designs, materials, propulsion units and capabilities are briefly described, and critical problem areas are pointed out which require further study in order to achieve operational powered balloon systems capable of long duration flight at high altitudes.

Korn, A. O.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Two lighter than air systems in opposing flight regimes: An unmanned short haul, heavy load transport balloon and a manned, light payload airship

Lighter Than Air vehicles are generally defined or categorized by the shape of the balloon, payload capacity and operational flight regime. Two balloon systems that are classed as being in opposite categories are described. One is a cable guided, helium filled, short haul, heavy load transport Lighter Than Air system with a natural shaped envelope. The other is a manned, aerodynamic shaped airship which utilizes hot air as the buoyancy medium and is in the light payload class. While the airship is in the design/fabrication phase with flight tests scheduled for the latter part of 1974, the transport balloon system has been operational for some eight years.

Pohl, R. A.↗