Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “COMPONENTS”

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 289 records · Page 16

Calculating a checksum with inactive networking components in a computing system

Calculating a checksum utilizing inactive networking components in a computing system, including: identifying, by a checksum distribution manager, an inactive networking component, wherein the inactive networking component includes a checksum calculation engine for computing a checksum; sending, to the inactive networking component by the checksum distribution manager, metadata describing a block of data to be transmitted by an active networking component; calculating, by the inactive networking component, a checksum for the block of data; transmitting, to the checksum distribution manager from the inactive networking component, the checksum for the block of data; and sending, by the active networking component, a data communications message that includes the block of data and the checksum for the block of data.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Calculating a checksum with inactive networking components in a computing system

Calculating a checksum utilizing inactive networking components in a computing system, including: identifying, by a checksum distribution manager, an inactive networking component, wherein the inactive networking component includes a checksum calculation engine for computing a checksum; sending, to the inactive networking component by the checksum distribution manager, metadata describing a block of data to be transmitted by an active networking component; calculating, by the inactive networking component, a checksum for the block of data; transmitting, to the checksum distribution manager from the inactive networking component, the checksum for the block of data; and sending, by the active networking component, a data communications message that includes the block of data and the checksum for the block of data.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Design Choices for Thermofluid Flow Components and Systems that are Exported as Functional Mockup Units

This paper discusses design decisions for exporting Modelica thermofluid flow components as Functional Mockup Units. The purpose is to provide guidelines that will allow building energy simulation programs and HVAC equipment manufacturers to effectively use FMUs for modeling of HVAC components and systems. We provide an analysis for direct input-output dependencies of such components and discuss how these dependencies can lead to algebraic loops that are formed when connecting thermofluid flow components. Based on this analysis, we provide recommendations that increase the computing efficiency of such components and systems that are formed by connecting multiple components. We explain what code optimizations are lost when providing thermofluid flow components as FMUs rather than Modelica code. We present an implementation of a package for FMU export of such components, explain the rationale for selecting the connector variables of the FMUs and finally provide computing benchmarks for different design choices. It turns out that selecting temperature rather than specific enthalpy as input and output signals does not lead to a measurable increase in computing time, but selecting nine small FMUs rather than a large FMU increases computing time by 70%.

Wetter, Michael↗

Printing transferable components using microstructured elastomeric surfaces with pressure modulated reversible adhesion

In a method of printing a transferable component, a stamp including an elastomeric post having three-dimensional relief features protruding from a surface thereof is pressed against a component on a donor substrate with a first pressure that is sufficient to mechanically deform the relief features and a region of the post between the relief features to contact the component over a first contact area. The stamp is retracted from the donor substrate such that the component is adhered to the stamp. The stamp including the component adhered thereto is pressed against a receiving substrate with a second pressure that is less than the first pressure to contact the component over a second contact area that is smaller than the first contact area. The stamp is then retracted from the receiving substrate to delaminate the component from the stamp and print the component onto the receiving substrate. Related apparatus and stamps are also discussed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Printing transferable components using microstructured elastomeric surfaces with pressure modulated reversible adhesion

In a method of printing a transferable component, a stamp including an elastomeric post having three-dimensional relief features protruding from a surface thereof is pressed against a component on a donor substrate with a first pressure that is sufficient to mechanically deform the relief features and a region of the post between the relief features to contact the component over a first contact area. The stamp is retracted from the donor substrate such that the component is adhered to the stamp. The stamp including the component adhered thereto is pressed against a receiving substrate with a second pressure that is less than the first pressure to contact the component over a second contact area that is smaller than the first contact area. The stamp is then retracted from the receiving substrate to delaminate the component from the stamp and print the component onto the receiving substrate. Related apparatus and stamps are also discussed.

Menard, Etienne↗

Printing transferable components using microstructured elastomeric surfaces with pressure modulated reversible adhesion

In a method of printing a transferable component, a stamp including an elastomeric post having three-dimensional relief features protruding from a surface thereof is pressed against a component on a donor substrate with a first pressure that is sufficient to mechanically deform the relief features and a region of the post between the relief features to contact the component over a first contact area. The stamp is retracted from the donor substrate such that the component is adhered to the stamp. The stamp including the component adhered thereto is pressed against a receiving substrate with a second pressure that is less than the first pressure to contact the component over a second contact area that is smaller than the first contact area. The stamp is then retracted from the receiving substrate to delaminate the component from the stamp and print the component onto the receiving substrate. Related apparatus and stamps are also discussed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Additive manufacturing of multi-component parts for customizable energetic systems

An apparatus, system, and method utilizes at least two separate components during the process of producing the final product. At least one component during the process is produced using additive manufacturing, and additional components are components that are combined with the additively manufactured part. The apparatus, system, and method includes at least one energetic component and at least one second inert component. An additive manufacturing system produces a scaffold of said first energetic component(s). A system adds the second component(s) to the scaffold to produce the energetic material product.

Sullivan, Kyle T.↗

Evaluating design safety margins in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers graphite core components design-by-analysis assessments

Graphite is an important material being used for core components in next-generation high-temperature gas-cooled nuclear reactors. The selection of graphite grade for a specific Designer is a complex task, dependent on reactor conditions, component functionality, and required reliability. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) provides two semi-probabilistic design-by-analysis assessments to evaluate graphite core components against design reliability targets. The simplified assessment uses a 2-parameter Weibull distribution to describe the graphite grade’s tensile-strength distribution to establish component stress limits. The full assessment uses the 3-parameter Weibull distribution and a modified Weakest-Link Theory approach to calculate a component design probability of failure. The paper defines recommended assessment rules, which are the as-written simplified assessment and the full assessment with parameter lower bounds, the modulus update with threshold reduction, and the 2027 grouping rules. Code rules are applied to three grades: 2114, IG-110, and NBG-18. The baseline margin calculation is developed using the experimental tensile dogbone specimen. Percent margin is defined as the percent reduction in the median experimental load to obtain the allowable load per ASME assessments. Under the recommended rules, the SRC–1 margin in the simplified assessment ranged from 40.2 % to 52.7 % among the grades in this study and from 36.1 % to 49.8 % in the full assessment. The full assessment only decreases the margins by 2.5–4.5 % for the SRC-1 components and 0–1.5 % for the SRC-2 components for this baseline case. Margin is inversely related to material median strength (i.e., the strongest grade, 2114, has the lowest margin).

11 - NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

In-Field Testing of Components for Feedback and Control of the ITER Disruption Mitigation System

Here, the shattered pellet injection (SPI) method has been chosen as the disruption mitigation system (DMS) for ITER. To protect the device from plasma disruptions that cause damaging heat and electromagnetic loads, SPI is used to inject high-Z material into the plasma. The process of SPI utilizes cryogenic cooling to form solid pellets. Pellets are accelerated down a barrel and into an angled surface, causing the pellet to shatter prior to entering the tokamak chamber. For the DMS to function reliably, the 27 separate shattered pellet injectors planned for ITER must rely on many components to provide accurate feedback data and for control functions. Each component in the DMS is exposed to an elevated background magnetic field depending on its placement and proximity to the plasma chamber. A Helmholtz coil test stand that is operated at Oak Ridge National Laboratory was utilized to test the components in relevant background field levels to assess component performance. This paper details the test design and results for in-field component operation for a variety of components. This list includes the following components: two different network switches for camera connectivity, a VAT fast shutter valve intended to reduce the flow of SPI propellant gas into the torus, a solenoid control valve intended for use in the pellet formation process, pressure/vacuum switches to be used for feedback and control, a printed circuit board piezo pressure sensor to be used to measure breech pressure, and various relays for the high-voltage pulsed power supply used to drive the SPI propellant valve.

Disruption mitigation↗

Component design, construction and evaluation for satellites

Components for a high-reliability system such as the Telstar project are obtained by: (a) design of the component for the required environment, (b) careful control of manufacturing processes, (c) elimination of potential early failures by screening tests, and (d) selection of the most stable components. For passive components, these methods could be applied by using design parameters, suppliers and screening techniques established in the earlier submarine cable program, with consideration being given to the additional effects of the satellite launch and orbit environments. Semiconductor component designs were selected by qualification tests using accelerated electrical and environmental stress conditions. Screening tests were applied to eliminate early failures, and resulting components were aged from two to six months before selection for the satellite. The recognition of the effect of ionizing radiation on transistors caused the addition of a radiation qualification test, or a screening to assure selection of the least sensitive devices. Tests have shown this screening to be effective for the radiation intensity expected. Experience with the passive components, and evaluation of the accelerated test results and aging data of the semiconductor devices, indicate that the reliability objective was obtained.

TELSTAR SATELLITE↗

DEGRADATION SUSCEPTIBILITY METRICS AS THE BASES FOR BAYESIAN RELIABILITY MODELS OF AGING PASSIVE COMPONENTS AND LONG-TERM REACTOR RISK

Conventional probabilistic risk assessments (PRAs) are not well-suited to addressing long-term reactor operations. Since passive structures, systems and components are among those for which refurbishment or replacement can be least practical, they might be expected to contribute increasingly to risk in an aging plant. Yet, passives receive limited treatment in PRAs. Furthermore, PRAs produce only snapshots of risk based on the assumption of time-independent component failure rates. This assumption is unlikely to be valid in aging systems. The treatment of aging passive components in PRA does present challenges. First, service data required to quantify component reliability models are sparse, and this problem is exacerbated by the greater data demands of age-dependent reliability models. A compounding factor is that there can be numerous potential degradation mechanisms associated with the materials, design, and operating environment of a given component. This deepens the data problem since the risk-informed management of materials degradation and component aging will demand an understanding of the long-term risk significance of individual degradation mechanisms. In this paper we describe a Bayesian methodology that integrates the metrics of materials degradation susceptibility being developed under the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Proactive Management of Materials of Degradation Program with available plant service data to estimate age-dependent passive component reliabilities. Integration of these models into conventional PRA will provide a basis for materials degradation management informed by the predicted long-term operational risk.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

On Perturbation Components Correspondence between Diffusion and Transport

We have established a correspondence between perturbation components in diffusion and transport theory. In particular we have established the correspondence between the leakage perturbation component of the diffusion theory to that of the group self scattering in transport theory. This has been confirmed by practical applications on sodium void reactivity calculations of fast reactors. Why this is important for current investigations? Recently, there has been a renewed interest in designing fast reactors where the sodium void reactivity coefficient is minimized. In particular the ASTRID8,9 reactor concept has been optimized with this goal in mind. The correspondence on the leakage term that has been established here has a twofold implication for the design of this kind of reactors. First, this type of reactor has a radial reflector; therefore, as shown before, the sodium void reactivity coefficient calculation requires the use of transport theory. The minimization of the sodium reactivity coefficient is normally done by increasing the leakage component that has a negative sign. The correspondence established in this paper allows to directly look at this component in transport theory. The second implication is related to the uncertainty evaluation on sodium void reactivity. As it has shown before, the total sodium void reactivity effect is the result of a large compensation (opposite sign) between the scattering (called often spectral) component and the leakage one. Consequently, one has to evaluate separately the uncertainty on each separate component and then combine them statistically. If one wants to compute the cross section sensitivity coefficients of the two different components, the formulation established in this paper allows to achieve this goal by playing on the contribution to the sodium void reactivity coming from the group self scattering of the sodium cross section.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Predictive based monitoring of nuclear plant component degradation using support vector regression

Nuclear power plants (NPPs) are large installations comprised of many active and passive assets. Degradation monitoring of all these assets is expensive (labor cost) and highly demanding task. In this paper a framework based on Support Vector Regression (SVR) for online surveillance of critical parameter degradation of NPP components is proposed. In this case, on time replacement or maintenance of components will prevent potential plant malfunctions, and reduce the overall operational cost. In the current work, we apply SVR equipped with a Gaussian kernel function to monitor components. Monitoring includes the one-step-ahead prediction of the component’s respective operational quantity using the SVR model, while the SVR model is trained using a set of previous recorded degradation histories of similar components. Predictive capability of the model is evaluated upon arrival of a sensor measurement, which is compared to the component failure threshold. A maintenance decision is based on a fuzzy inference system that utilizes three parameters: (i) prediction evaluation in the previous steps, (ii) predicted value of the current step, (iii) and difference of current predicted value with components failure thresholds. The proposed framework will be tested on turbine blade degradation data.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

A System-Level Model for Estimating Residual Strain and Life of Nuclear Reactor Coolant System Components Under Connected-System-Thermal–Mechanical Boundary Conditions

Background: Environmental-assisted fatigue (EAF) is a major issue for the long-term survival of nuclear power plant fleets in the U.S. and worldwide. Multi-material welded regions (e.g., nozzles) and other high-stress regions of reactor coolant system (RCS) components are prone to EAF-related damage. Objective: The discussed work describes a system-level finite element (FE) model of RCS components of a pressurized water reactor (PWR). This is with the goal of predicting the stress hotspots, strain residuals, strain amplitudes and the resulting fatigue lives. Methods: Herein, the FE model was developed considering system-level loading conditions (under connected system thermal-mechanical boundary conditions). Thermal-mechanical stress analysis was performed considering thermal stratification and a design-basis reactor loading cycle. Based on the FE model results, the strain residuals, strain amplitudes and resulting fatigue lives of RCS components were predicted. Results: The results show that some of the RCS components can have significantly different strain amplitudes, residual strain, and fatigue lives, despite having similar geometry and material. Higher residual strain can lead to accelerated cyclic hardening of material and the associated effect of EAF. The simulated component-level strain profile (under realistic multi-axial-multi-physics loading cycle) can guide the selection of appropriate test inputs for conducting laboratory-scale EAF tests, which is a focus of future works. Conclusions: Despite similar geometry and material the RCS component can have significantly different strain profiles and resulting fatigue lives. The discussed approach can help to identify and prioritize the RCS components for conducting expensive nondestructive evaluation (NDE) inspections.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Vortices in a rotating two-component Bose–Einstein condensate with tunable interactions and harmonic potential

We consider a pair of coupled nonlinear Schrödinger equations modeling a rotating two-component Bose–Einstein condensate with tunable interactions and harmonic potential, with emphasis on the structure of vortex states by varying the strength of inter-component interaction, rotational frequency, and the aspect ratio of the harmonic potential. Our results show that the inter-component interaction greatly enhances the effect of rotation. For the case of isotropic harmonic potential and small inter-component interaction, the initial vortex structure remains unchanged. As the ratio of inter- to intra-component interactions increases, each component undergoes a transition from a vortex lattice (vortex line) in an isotropic (anisotropic) harmonic potential to an alternatively arranged stripe pattern, and eventually to the interwoven “serpentine” vortex sheets. Moreover, in the case of anisotropic harmonic potential the system can develop to a rotating droplet structure. -- Highlights: •Different vortex structures are obtained within the full parameter space. •Effects of system parameters on the ground state structure are discussed. •Phase transition between different vortex structures is also examined. •Present one possible way to obtain the rotating droplet structure. •Provide many possibilities to manipulate vortex in two-component BEC.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Functional remediation components: A conceptual method of evaluating the effects of remediation on risks to ecological receptors

Governmental agencies, regulators, health professionals, tribal leaders, and the public are faced with understanding and evaluating the effects of cleanup activities on species, populations, and ecosystems. While engineers and managers understand the processes involved in different remediation types such as capping, pump and treat, and natural attenuation, there is often a disconnect between (1) how ecologists view the influence of different types of remediation, (2) how the public perceives them, and (3) how engineers understand them. The overall goal of the present investigation was to define the components of remediation types (= functional remediation). Objectives were to (1) define and describe functional components of remediation, regardless of the remediation type, (2) provide examples of each functional remediation component, and (3) explore potential effects of functional remediation components in the post-cleanup phase that may involve continued monitoring and assessment. Functional remediation components include types, numbers, and intensity of people, trucks, heavy equipment, pipes, and drill holes, among others. Several components may be involved in each remediation type, and each results in ecological effects, ranging from trampling of plants, to spreading invasive species, to disturbing rare species, and to creating fragmented habitats. In some cases remediation may exert a greater effect on ecological receptors than leaving the limited contamination in place. A goal of this conceptualization is to break down functional components of remediation such that managers, regulators, and the public might assess the effects of timing, extent, and duration of different remediation options on ecological systems.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

TWO COMPONENTS OF THE SOLAR CORONAL EMISSION REVEALED BY EXTREME-ULTRAVIOLET SPECTROSCOPIC OBSERVATIONS

Recent spectroscopic observations have revealed the ubiquitous presence of blueward asymmetries of emission lines formed in the solar corona and transition region. These asymmetries are most prominent in loop footpoint regions, where a clear correlation of the asymmetry with the Doppler shift and line width determined from the single-Gaussian fit is found. Such asymmetries suggest at least two emission components: a primary component accounting for the background emission and a secondary component associated with high-speed upflows. The latter has been proposed to play a vital role in the coronal heating process and there is no agreement on its properties. Here we slightly modify the initially developed technique of red-blue (RB) asymmetry analysis and apply it to both artificial spectra and spectra observed by the Extreme-ultraviolet Imaging Spectrometer on board Hinode, and demonstrate that the secondary component usually contributes a few percent of the total emission, and has a velocity ranging from 50 to 150 km s{sup -1} and a Gaussian width comparable to that of the primary one in loop footpoint regions. The results of the RB asymmetry analysis are then used to guide a double-Gaussian fit and we find that the obtained properties of the secondary component are generally consistent with those obtained from the RB asymmetry analysis. Through a comparison of the location, relative intensity, and velocity distribution of the blueward secondary component with the properties of the upward propagating disturbances revealed in simultaneous images from the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory, we find a clear association of the secondary component with the propagating disturbances.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

THIRD COMPONENT SEARCH AND ABUNDANCES OF THE VERY DUSTY SHORT-PERIOD BINARY BD +20 Degree-Sign 307

We have obtained near-infrared adaptive optics imaging and collected additional radial velocity observations to search for a third component in the extremely dusty short-period binary system BD +20 Degree-Sign 307. Our image shows no evidence for a third component at separations greater than 19 AU. Our four seasons of radial velocities have a constant center-of-mass velocity and are consistent with the systemic velocities determined at two earlier epochs. Thus, the radial velocities also provide no support for a third component. Unfortunately, the separation domains covered by our imaging and radial velocity results do not overlap. Thus, we examined the parameters for possible orbits of a third component that could have been missed by our current observations. With our velocities we determined improved circular orbital elements for the 3.4 day double-lined binary. We also performed a spectroscopic abundance analysis of the short-period binary components and conclude that the stars are a mid- and a late-F dwarf. We find that the iron abundances of both components, [Fe/H] = 0.15, are somewhat greater than the solar value and comparable to that of stars in the Hyades. Despite the similarity of the binary components, the lithium abundances of the two stars are very unequal. The primary has log {epsilon} (Li) = 2.72, while in the secondary log {epsilon} (Li) {<=}1.46, which corresponds to a difference of at least a factor of 18. The very disparate lithium abundances in very similar stars make it impossible to ascribe a single age to them. While the system is likely at least 1 Gyr old, it may well be as old as the Sun.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗