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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 307 records · Page 17
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

High volume packing fraction TRISO-based fuel in light water reactors

We report that for a decade, fully ceramic microencapsulated (FCM) fuel, containing tri-structural isotropic (TRISO) fuel particles in a silicon carbide (SiC) matrix, has been investigated as an accident-tolerant fuel for light water reactors (LWRs). Other examples exist of TRISO-based concepts for LWR fuels with different matrix materials. Previous studies assumed TRISO particle volume packing of approximately 0.44 in SiC (or another) matrix, the highest realistic packing fractions possible with conventional manufacturing. Recent advances in advanced manufacturing have yielded the development and demonstration of a fuel form that consists of conventionally manufactured TRISO particles in a 3D-printed SiC matrix with significantly higher possible TRISO packing fractions (0.5–0.7). This increased uranium loading enhances the viability of using TRISO-based particle fuel forms in LWRs. The viability of high-packing-fraction TRISO-based particle fuel forms in LWRs is assessed from the perspective of fuel cycle length, achievable fuel burnup, reactivity coefficients, and fuel cycle performance. Higher-packing-fraction TRISO-based fuel enables either longer cycle lengths (by ~25% at a packing fraction of 0.55 relative to 0.44) at a constant enrichment or decreased enrichments (by ~25% at a packing fraction of 0.55 relative to 0.44) at a constant cycle length. Studies of different fuel kernel types (uranium nitride, uranium oxycarbide, and uranium carbide) yield similar results, although the cycle length of uranium oxycarbide is shorter than for uranium nitride or uranium carbide (due to the lower density of uranium oxide). This work also characterized the production of 14 C resulting from neutron absorption in 14 N during operation for uranium mononitride fuel kernels; the ratio of 14 C/N was 1–2 at. % at discharge. For the fuel cycle evaluation, the activity of spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste at 100 and 100,000 years was lower for high-packing-fraction fuels than for conventional LWR fuel. Environmental impact metrics were similar overall, but higher on the front end of the fuel cycle and lower on the back end of the fuel cycle. Reactivity coefficients of higher-packing-fraction TRISO-based fuel were reasonable compared with those of conventional fuels.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Optimizing Cornell’s future geothermal district heating performance through systems engineering and simulation

Cornell University’s intention to lower its carbon footprint has motivated this engineering evaluation of using low-temperature geothermal energy to supply heat to the campus district energy system. Optimal selection and operation of heat pumps can significantly improve system performance. To support this analysis, we model the quantitative relationships between heat pump configurations and source flow, supply and distribution temperatures, facility heating design options, output heat generation, and carbon abatement outcomes. A systems approach is used for analysis, troubleshooting, and improvement of the model. The result of this effort is a dynamic tool that appropriately responds to hourly thermal demand and communicates energy response for techno-economic analysis. Simulations indicate that a single well-pair in the local Basement Contact Zone reservoir can satisfy almost 68% of annual thermal demand at nearly 20 MWth average capacity while remaining financially competitive compared to conventional heating with levelized cost of heating (LCOH) as low as $4.55/MMBTU ($15.53/MWh th ). A direct-use scheme with heat pump augmentation provided more carbon abatement and 50 to 150% more annual heat supply than one without augmentation. Exploration of three and four well-pair scenarios prove the capability to achieve 50 MW th baseload heating capacity with competitive LCOH and significant carbon reductions.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Diffusion coefficients in the envelopes of white dwarfs

The diffusion of elements is a key process in understanding the unusual surface composition of white dwarfs and their spectral evolution. The diffusion coefficients of Paquette et al. have been widely used to model diffusion in white dwarfs. In this work, we perform new calculations of the coefficients of interdiffusion and ionic thermal diffusion with (1) a more advanced model that uses a recent modification of the calculation of the collision integrals that is more suitable for the partially ionized, partially degenerate, and moderately coupled plasma and (2) classical molecular dynamics. The coefficients are evaluated for silicon and calcium in white dwarf envelopes of hydrogen and helium. A comparison of our results with Paquette et al. shows that the latter systematically underestimates the coefficient of interdiffusion yet provides reliable estimates for the relatively weakly coupled plasmas found in nearly all types of stars, as well as in white dwarfs with hydrogen envelopes. In white dwarfs with cool helium envelopes (${T}_{\mathrm{eff}}$ < 15,000 K), the difference grows to more than a factor of two. We also explored the effect of the ionization model used to determine the charges of the ions and found that it can be a substantial source of discrepancy between different calculations. Finally, we consider the relative diffusion timescales of Si and Ca in the context of the pollution of white dwarf photospheres by accreted planetesimals and find factor of ≳3 differences between calculations based on Paquette et al. and our model.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Ettringite hysteresis under sorption from molecular simulations

Highlights: • Hybrid Grand Canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) and Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations are performed. • Anisotropic large strain coefficient of crystal shrinkage of ettringite is provided. • Entropy increases when ettringite converts into metaettringite. • Sorption-induced stress may lead to columns collapse upon drying. • H-bonds involving OH groups in columns play a role in hysteresis. The response of ettringite under sorption is critical for the utilization of this mineral as an energy storage material and to understand the concrete durability problems associated with ettringite formation. We report molecular simulations directly sampling the osmotic ensemble to understand the sorption processes and structural changes in ettringite-metaettringite transition. Desorption branch and sorption-induced volume changes from simulations agree with the experiments. The structural changes at low relative humidity are analyzed, revealing for the first time details of metaettringite structure. The reversibility under sorption observed experimentally is captured by simulation in the ettringite domain. The reversibility in the conversion of metaettringite into ettringite is not captured by the direct simulations in the osmotic ensemble due to the large volume changes associated with ettringite desorption. Finally, we discuss the role of hydrogen bonds on the hysteresis in ettringite.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Collisional Excitation of HCN by CO to Refine the Modeling of Cometary Comae

Here, we present the first dataset of collisional (de)-excitation rate coefficients of HCN induced by CO, one of the main perturbing gases in cometary atmospheres. The dataset spans the temperature range of 5–50 K. It includes both state-to-state rate coefficients involving the lowest ten and nine rotational levels of HCN and CO, respectively, and the so-called “thermalized” rate coefficients over the rotational population of CO at each kinetic temperature. The derivation of these coefficients exploited the good performance of the statistical adiabatic channel model (SACM) on top of an accurate interaction potential computed at the CCSD(T)-F12b/CBS level of theory. The reliability of the SACM approach was validated by comparison with full quantum calculations restricted at the lowest total angular momentum of the system. These results provide essential input to accurately model the distribution among the rotational energy levels and the abundance of HCN in cometary atmospheres, accounting for deviations from local thermodynamic equilibrium that typically occurs in such environments.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2022

Alpert multi-wavelets for functional inverse problems: direct optimization and deep learning

Computational engineering models often contain unknown entities (e.g. parameters, initial and boundary conditions) that require estimation from other measured observable data. Estimating such unknown entities is challenging when they involve spatio-temporal fields because such functional variables often require an infinite-dimensional representation. Here, we address this problem by transforming an unknown functional field using Alpert wavelet bases and truncating the resulting spectrum. Hence the problem reduces to the estimation of few coefficients that can be performed using common optimization methods. We apply this method on a one-dimensional heat transfer problem where we estimate the heat source field varying in both time and space. The observable data is comprised of temperature measured at several thermocouples in the domain. This latter is composed of either copper or stainless steel. The optimization using our method based on wavelets is able to estimate the heat source with an error between 5% and 7%. We analyze the effect of the domain material and number of thermocouples as well as the sensitivity to the initial guess of the heat source. Finally, we estimate the unknown heat source using a different approach based on deep learning techniques where we consider the input and output of a multi-layer perceptron in wavelet form. We find that this deep learning approach is more accurate than the optimization approach with errors below 4%.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2024

Thermal Management System for an Electric Machine With Additively Manufactured Hollow Conductors With Integrated Heat Pipes

Here, this paper discusses steps taken to develop a novel thermal management system for an aircraft propulsion electric machine containing additively manufactured coils integrated with heat pipes aimed at boosting its specific power. Experimental setups are used to size and characterize heat pipes for the application and 3D thermal finite element analysis is used to determine optimum heat transfer coefficient of the convective boundaries. For some of the convective boundaries, fin-based surface area enhancement is required to reach a target combined overall heat transfer coefficient and surface area performance (UA). This enhancement is worked out using a combination of the Engineering Equation Solver tool and 3D thermal FEA. The thermal management system's UA, and by extension its specific power, sensitivity to coolant temperature is explored. Temperature distribution plots of optimized machine components are also presented and discussed. Lastly, additional heat pipe testing is carried out to study its maximum heat transfer capability's sensitivity to condenser coolant temperature and configuration.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2021

Improved Gamma-Ray Point Source Quantification in Three Dimensions by Modeling Attenuation in the Scene

We discuss using a series of detector measurements taken at different locations to localize a source of radiation as a well-studied problem. The source of radiation is sometimes constrained to a single point-like source, in which case the location of the point source can be found using techniques such as maximum likelihood. Recent advancements have shown the ability to locate point sources in 2D and even 3D, but few have studied the effect of intervening material on the problem. In this work we examine gamma-ray data taken from a freely moving system and develop voxelized 3-D models of the scene using data from the onboard LiDAR. Ray casting is used to compute the distance each gamma ray travels through the scene material, which is then used to calculate attenuation assuming a single attenuation coefficient for solids within the geometry. Parameter estimation using maximum likelihood is performed to simultaneously find the attenuation coefficient, source activity, and source position that best match the data. Using a simulation, we validate the ability of this method to reconstruct the true location and activity of a source, along with the true attenuation coefficient of the structure it is inside, and then we apply the method to measured data with sources and find good agreement.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Impacts of Guanidine Degradation Products on Next Generation Solvent (NGS) Caustic Side Solvent Extraction (CSSX) Processing

Savannah River National Laboratory researchers have been requested to perform testing to assess the potential for build-up of guanidine degradation compounds in the Next Generation Solvent Caustic Side Solvent Extraction process. Testing was also requested to determine the impact of guanidine degradation compounds [3,7-dimethyloctylamine (iDA) and Bis-N,N’-(3,7-dimethyloctyl)urea (DiDU)] on cesium behavior in the flowsheet. Twelve partitioning experiments were performed to quantify the partitioning coefficient of identified guanidine degradation compounds in various organic-aqueous mixtures. Six Extraction, Scrub, and Strip (ESS) experiments were performed to quantify the impact of degradation products on cesium behavior.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

Assessment and Improvement of the SST-Gamma Transition Model in Nalu-Wind

We conduct laminar–turbulent boundary-layer transition simulations using a local correlation-based transition model for two-dimensional incompressible flow and present enhancements to improve the accuracy of transition predictions. Menter’s Galilean-invariant 𝛾 transition model is implemented in the incompressible, unstructured-grid flow solver Nalu-Wind and is validated against experimental data and results from NASA’s flow solvers. The test cases of the AIAA Transition Prediction and Modeling Workshop are investigated, namely, the T3A/T3B flat plates and the NLF(1)-0416 and S809 airfoils. Based on the results, best practices for transition simulations, particularly for an unstructured-grid flow solver, are identified. Additional airfoil simulations are conducted for two wind turbine airfoils, S822 at Reynolds numbers of 𝑂⁡(10 5 ) and DU00-W-212 at Reynolds numbers of 𝑂⁡(10 7 ), to assess the model at low and high Reynolds numbers. Furthermore, through this work, we propose several approaches to enhance transition simulations, including 1) enforcing positivity of the implicit operator for the source terms of the transition model, 2) employing a constant turbulence intensity in stationary external flow simulations, and 3) recommending meshing for unstructured-grid flow solvers. Finally, we provide detailed documentation of the validation and data for the canonical cases to the transition modeling community.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

The Role of the Anion in Imidazolium-Based Ionic Liquids for Fuel and Terpenes Processing

The potentialities of methylimidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) as solvents were evaluated for some relevant separation problems—terpene fractionation and fuel processing—studying selectivities, capacities, and solvent performance indices. The activity coefficients at infinite dilution of the solute (1) in the IL (3), γ13∞, of 52 organic solutes were measured by inverse gas chromatography over a temperature range of 333.2–453.2 K. The selected ILs are 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, [C4mim][PF6], and the equimolar mixture of [C4mim][PF6] and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride, [C4mim]Cl. Generally, low polar solutes follow γ1,C4mimCl∞ > γ1,C4mimPF6+C4mimCl∞ > γ1,C4mimPF6∞ while the opposite behavior is observed for alcohols and water. For citrus essential oil deterpenation, the results suggest that cations with long alkyl chains, such as C12mim+, promote capacity, while selectivity depends on the solute polarity. Promising results were obtained for the separation of several model mixtures relevant to fuel industries using the equimolar mixture of [C4mim][PF6] and [C4mim]Cl. This work demonstrates the importance of tailoring the polarity of the solvents, suggesting the use of ILs with mixed anions as alternative solvents for the removal of aliphatic hydrocarbons and contaminants from fuels.

Zambom, Aline (ORCID:0000000324512716)↗
NASA NTRS1972

Temperature and pressure dependence of CO2 extinction coefficients.

Results are presented of CO2 extinction coefficient measurements that were performed under conditions of temperature and pressure different from those used by previous investigators. The results show that, whereas pressure effects are generally negligible, temperature dependence is strong enough to invalidate the use of room temperature data for the Mars atmosphere.

Demore, W. B.↗
NASA NTRS1974

A simplified package for calculating with splines

This package is designed to solve some of the elementary problems of spline interpretation and least squares fit. The subroutines fall into three basic categories. The first category involves computations with a given spline and/or knot sequence; the second category involves routines which calculate the coefficients of splines which perform a certain task (such as interpolation or least squares fit); and the last category is a banded equation solver for specific linear equations.

Smith, P. W.↗
NASA NTRS1979

The radiation pressure-driven Rayleigh-Taylor instability - Analysis and application to QSO emission line clouds

The growth of perturbations in a photoionized gas slab accelerated by radiation pressure under conditions like those in QSO emission-line regions is analyzed. A linear dispersion relation is derived, and numerical radiation-transfer calculations are performed to evaluate the coefficients and roots of that dispersion relation for L-alpha optical depths between 0.1 and 10,000. The nonlinear growth of the waves is estimated, and it is concluded that complete dispersal of the clouds is likely. On the basis of qualitative arguments it is suggested that clouds of greater optical depth are linearly stable.

Krolik, J. H.↗
NASA NTRS1988

A methodology based on reduced complexity algorithm for system applications using microprocessors

The paper considers a methodology on the analysis and design of a minimum mean-square error criterion linear system incorporating a tapped delay line (TDL) where all the full-precision multiplications in the TDL are constrained to be powers of two. A linear equalizer based on the dispersive and additive noise channel is presented. This microprocessor implementation with optimized power of two TDL coefficients achieves a system performance comparable to the optimum linear equalization with full-precision multiplications for an input data rate of 300 baud.

Yan, T. Y.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Maximum likelihood estimates of polar motion parameters

Two estimators developed by Jeffreys (1940, 1968) are described and used in conjunction with polar-motion data to determine the frequency (Fc) and quality factor (Qc) of the Chandler wobble. Data are taken from a monthly polar-motion series, satellite laser-ranging results, and optical astrometry and intercompared for use via interpolation techniques. Maximum likelihood arguments were employed to develop the estimators, and the assumption that polar motion relates to a Gaussian random process is assessed in terms of the accuracies of the estimators. The present results agree with those from Jeffreys' earlier study but are inconsistent with the later estimator; a Monte Carlo evaluation of the estimators confirms that the 1968 method is more accurate. The later estimator method shows good performance because the Fourier coefficients derived from the data have signal/noise levels that are superior to those for an individual datum. The method is shown to be valuable for general spectral-analysis problems in which isolated peaks must be analyzed from noisy data.

Wilson, Clark R.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Computation of wind tunnel wall effects for complex models using a low-order panel method

A technique for determining wind tunnel wall effects for complex models using the low-order, three dimensional panel method PMARC (Panel Method Ames Research Center) has been developed. Initial validation of the technique was performed using lift-coefficient data in the linear lift range from tests of a large-scale STOVL fighter model in the National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex (NFAC) facility. The data from these tests served as an ideal database for validating the technique because the same model was tested in two wind tunnel test sections with widely different dimensions. The lift-coefficient data obtained for the same model configuration in the two test sections were different, indicating a significant influence of the presence of the tunnel walls and mounting hardware on the lift coefficient in at least one of the two test sections. The wind tunnel wall effects were computed using PMARC and then subtracted from the measured data to yield corrected lift-coefficient versus angle-of-attack curves. The corrected lift-coefficient curves from the two wind tunnel test sections matched very well. Detailed pressure distributions computed by PMARC on the wing lower surface helped identify the source of large strut interference effects in one of the wind tunnel test sections. Extension of the technique to analysis of wind tunnel wall effects on the lift coefficient in the nonlinear lift range and on drag coefficient will require the addition of boundary-layer and separated-flow models to PMARC.

Ashby, Dale L.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Impeller flow field characterization with a laser two-focus velocimeter

Use of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) codes, prevalent in the rocket engine turbomachinery industry, necessitates data of sufficient quality and quantity to benchmark computational codes. Existing data bases for typical rocket engine configurations, in particular impellers, are limited. In addition, traditional data acquisition methods have several limitations: typically transducer uncertainties are 0.5% of transducer full scale and traditional pressure probes are unable to provide flow characteristics in the circumferential (blade-to-blade) direction. Laser velocimetry circumvents these limitations by providing +0.5% uncertainty in flow velocity and +0.5% uncertainty in flow angle. The percent of uncertainty in flow velocity is based on the measured value, not full range capability. The laser electronics multiple partitioning capability allows data acquired between blades as the impeller rotates, to be analyzed separately, thus providing blade-to-blade flow characterization. Unlike some probes, the non-intrusive measurements made with the laser velocimeter does not disturb the flow. To this end,, and under Contract (NAS8-38864) to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), an extensive test program was undertaken at Rocketdyne. Impellers from two different generic rocket engine pump configurations were examined. The impellers represent different spectrums of pump design: the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) high pressure fuel turbopump (HPFTP) impeller was designed in the 1 1970's the Consortium for CFD application in Propulsion Technology Pump Stage Technology Team (Pump Consortium) optimized impeller was designed with the aid of modern computing techniques. The tester configuration for each of the impellers consisted of an axial inlet, an inducer, a diffuser, and a crossover discharge. While the tested configurations were carefully chosen to be representative of generic rocket engine pumps, several features of both testers were intentionally atypical. A crossover discharge, downstream of the impeller, rather than a volute discharge was used to minimize asymmetric flow conditions that might be reflected in the impeller discharge flow data. Impeller shroud wear ring radial clearances were purposely close to minimize leakage flow, thus increasing confidence in using the inlet data as an input to CFD programs. The empirical study extensively examined the flow fields of the two impellers via performance of laser two-focus velocimeter surveys in an axial plane upstream of the impellers and in multiple radial planes downstream of the impellers. Both studies were performed at the impeller design flow coefficients. Inlet laser surveys that provide CFD code inlet boundary conditions were performed in one axial plane, with ten radial locations surveyed. Three wall static pressures, positioned circumferentially around the impeller inlet, were used to identify asymmetrical pressure distributions in the inlet survey plane. The impeller discharge flow characterization consisted of three radial planes for the SSME HPFTP impeller and two radial planes for the Pump Consortium optimized impeller. Housing wall static pressures were placed to correspond to the radial locations surveyed with the laser velocimeter. Between five and thirteen axial stations across the discharge channel width were examined in each radial plane during the extensive flow mapping. The largely successful empirical flow characterization of two different impellers resulted in a substantial contribution to the limited existing data base, and yielded accurate data for CFD code benchmarking.

Brozowski, L. A.↗