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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
NASA NTRS1975

Preliminary study of the minimum temperatures for valid testing in a cryogenic wind tunnel

The minimum operating temperature which avoids real-gas effects, such as condensation, was determined for M sub infinity = 0.85 flow over a 0.137-meter NACA 0012-64 airfoil mounted in the Langley 1/3-meter transonic cryogenic tunnel. For temperatures within 5 K of reservoir saturation and total pressures from 1.2 to 4.5 atmospheres, the pressure distributions over the airfoil are not altered by real-gas effects. This ability to test at total temperatures below those which avoid saturation over the airfoil allows an increase in Reynolds number capability of at least 17 percent for a constant tunnel total pressure. Similarly, 17 percent less total pressure is required to obtain a given Reynolds number.

Hall, R. M.↗
NASA NTRS1976

An analysis of data related to the minimum temperatures for valid testing in cryogenic wind tunnels using nitrogen as the test gas

The minimum operating temperature which avoids adverse low temperature effects, such as condensation, has been determined at a free stream Mach number of 0.85 for flow over a 0.137 meter airfoil mounted at zero incidence in the Langley 1/3 meter transonic cryogenic tunnel. The onset of low temperature effects is established by comparing the pressure coefficient measured at a given orifice for a particular temperature with those measured at temperatures sufficiently above where low temperature effects might be expected to occur. The pressure distributions over the airfoil are presented in tabular form. In addition, the comparisons of the pressure coefficient as a function of total temperature are presented graphically for chord locations of 0, 25, 50, and 75 percent. Over the 1.2 to 4.5 atmosphere total pressure range investigated, low temperature effects are not detected until total temperatures are 2 K, or more, below free stream saturation temperatures.

Hall, R. M.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Radiative properties of a nickel based superalloy: Inconel 617 - After simulated earth reentry

Experimental results are presented to show the effect of environmental simulation exposures of convective heating and of radiant heating on the spectral (1.0 to 14 micrometers) and total emittance of oxidized Inconel 617. Convective heating exposures were conducted in an arc heated supersonic wind tunnel using a wedge-shaped specimen configuration. Radiant tests were conducted in dry air at a flow velocity of several meters per second. Convective heating specimens were subjected to 8, 20 and 38 heating cycles of 15-minutes duration and radiant heating specimens were tested for 10, 20, 50 and 100 one-half hour heating cycles. Changes in radiative properties are discussed in terms of changes in composition and morphology resulting from the exposure tests. Total normal emittance did not significantly change from the statically oxidized condition after either type of exposure, and it remained above 0.80 at 1260K for all cases. Although spectral changes were observed on post exposure specimens at wavelengths less than 2.0 micrometers and greater than 15 micrometers, these changes have no influence on total emittance at 1260K.

Cunnington, G. R.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Radiative properties of advanced spacecraft heat shield materials

Experimental results are presented to show the effects of simulated reentry exposure by convective heating and by radiant heating on spectral and total emittance of statically oxidized Inconel 617 and Haynes HS188 superalloys to 1260 K and a silicide coatea (R512E) columbium 752 alloy to 1590 K. Convective heating exposures were conducted in a supersonic arc plasma wind tunnel using a wedge-shaped specimen configuration. Radiant tests were conducted at a pressure of .003 atmospheres of dry air at a flow velocity of several meters per second. Convective heating specimens were subjected to 8, 20, and 38 15-min heating cycles, and radiant heating specimens were tested for 10, 20, 50, and 100 30-min heating cycles. Changes in radiative properties are explained in terms of changes in composition resulting from simulated reentry tests. The methods used to evaluate morphological, compositional and crystallographic changes include: Auger electron spectroscopy; scanning electron microscopy; X-ray diffraction analysis; and electron microprobe analysis.

Cunnington, G. R.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Reconstruction of the dynamics of the 1800-1801 Hualalai eruption: Implications for planetary lava flows

The 1800-1801 eruption of alkalic basalt from the Hualalai volcano, Hawaii provides a unique opportunity for investigating the dynamics of lava flow emplacement with eruption rates and compositions comparable to those that have been suggested for planetary eruptions. Field observations suggest new considerations must be used to reconstruct the emplacement of these lava flows. These observations are: (1) the flow traversed the 15 km from the vent to the sea so rapidly that no significant crust formed and an observation of the eruption reported that the flow reach the sea from the vent in approximately 1 hour; (2) the drainage of beds of xenolith nodules indicates a highly fluid, low viscosity lava; (3) overspills and other morphologic evidence for a very low viscosity host fluid; (4) no significant longitudinal increase in flow thickness that might be associated with an increase in the rheological properties of the lava; and (5) the relatively large size of channels associated with the flow, up to 80 meters across and several km long. Models for many geologic mass movements and fast moving fluids with various loadings and suspensions are discussed.

Baloga, Stephen↗
NASA NTRS2002

CATS-based Air Traffic Controller Agents

This report describes intelligent agents that function as air traffic controllers. Each agent controls traffic in a single sector in real time; agents controlling traffic in adjoining sectors can coordinate to manage an arrival flow across a given meter fix. The purpose of this research is threefold. First, it seeks to study the design of agents for controlling complex systems. In particular, it investigates agent planning and reactive control functionality in a dynamic environment in which a variety perceptual and decision making skills play a central role. It examines how heuristic rules can be applied to model planning and decision making skills, rather than attempting to apply optimization methods. Thus, the research attempts to develop intelligent agents that provide an approximation of human air traffic controller behavior that, while not based on an explicit cognitive model, does produce task performance consistent with the way human air traffic controllers operate. Second, this research sought to extend previous research on using the Crew Activity Tracking System (CATS) as the basis for intelligent agents. The agents use a high-level model of air traffic controller activities to structure the control task. To execute an activity in the CATS model, according to the current task context, the agents reference a 'skill library' and 'control rules' that in turn execute the pattern recognition, planning, and decision-making required to perform the activity. Applying the skills enables the agents to modify their representation of the current control situation (i.e., the 'flick' or 'picture'). The updated representation supports the next activity in a cycle of action that, taken as a whole, simulates air traffic controller behavior. A third, practical motivation for this research is to use intelligent agents to support evaluation of new air traffic control (ATC) methods to support new Air Traffic Management (ATM) concepts. Current approaches that use large, human-in-the-loop simulations are unquestionably valuable for this purpose, but pose considerable logistical, fiscal, and experimental control problems. First, data analysis is extremely complicated, owing simply to the large number of participants and data sources in such simulations. In addition, experienced human air traffic controllers working adjacent sectors tend to flexibly adapt to the evolving control problem - potentially shifting to other strategies than those under investigation. In addition, their performance is tightly coupled to the control interface, which in the development phase may support some concepts and supporting strategies better than others. A simple shift in strategy by one controller can change the character of a particular traffic scenario dramatically, which makes experimental comparison of ATC performance under different traffic scenarios difficult. Training a given team of controllers on operations under a new ATM concept for a sufficient period of time could avert such difficulties, but instituting an adequate training program is expensive and logistically difficult.

Callantine, Todd J.↗
NASA NTRS2006

Software for Simulating Air Traffic

Future Air Traffic Management Concepts Evaluation Tool (FACET) is a system of software for performing computational simulations for evaluating advanced concepts of advanced air-traffic management. FACET includes a program that generates a graphical user interface plus programs and databases that implement computational models of weather, airspace, airports, navigation aids, aircraft performance, and aircraft trajectories. Examples of concepts studied by use of FACET include aircraft self-separation for free flight; prediction of air-traffic-controller workload; decision support for direct routing; integration of spacecraft-launch operations into the U.S. national airspace system; and traffic- flow-management using rerouting, metering, and ground delays. Aircraft can be modeled as flying along either flight-plan routes or great-circle routes as they climb, cruise, and descend according to their individual performance models. The FACET software is modular and is written in the Java and C programming languages. The architecture of FACET strikes a balance between flexibility and fidelity; as a consequence, FACET can be used to model systemwide airspace operations over the contiguous U.S., involving as many as 10,000 aircraft, all on a single desktop or laptop computer running any of a variety of operating systems. Two notable applications of FACET include: (1) reroute conformance monitoring algorithms that have been implemented in one of the Federal Aviation Administration s nationally deployed, real-time, operational systems; and (2) the licensing and integration of FACET with the commercially available Flight Explorer, which is an Internet- based, real-time flight-tracking system.

Sridhar, Banavar↗
NASA NTRS2013

How do Air Traffic Controllers Use Automation and Tools Differently During High Demand Situations?

In a human-in-the-loop simulation, two air traffic controllers managed identical airspace while burdened with higher than average workload, and while using advanced tools and automation designed to assist with scheduling aircraft on multiple arrival flows to a single meter fix. This paper compares the strategies employed by each controller, and investigates how the controllers' strategies change while managing their airspace under more normal workload conditions and a higher workload condition. Each controller engaged in different methods of maneuvering aircraft to arrive on schedule, and adapted their strategies to cope with the increased workload in different ways. Based on the conclusions three suggestions are made: that quickly providing air traffic controllers with recommendations and information to assist with maneuvering and scheduling aircraft when burdened with increased workload will improve the air traffic controller's effectiveness, that the tools should adapt to the strategy currently employed by a controller, and that training should emphasize which traffic management strategies are most effective given specific airspace demands.

ATC↗
NASA NTRS2019

ATD-3 Dynamic Routes for Arrivals in Weather (DRAW) Operational Concept, V2.0

NASA's Airspace Technology Demonstration-3 (ATD-3) is the applied traffic flow management activity, and third in the series of ATD projects. ATD-3 provides a suite of en route automation tools, both ground and flight-deck based, that focus on improving the efficiency of en route operation from initial cruise to arrival into the Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON). Dynamic Routes for Arrivals in Weather (DRAW) is a technology in the ATD-3 suite that is designed to provide Traffic Managers with a capability to efficiently manage arrival traffic flow and help sustain metering operations when weather is impacting arrivals into major airports. DRAW mitigates convective weather impact on arrival metering operations by providing tools to Traffic Managers that enable efficient reroutes free of convective weather conflicts, and integrated with the arrival metering schedule(s).

terminal airspace↗
NASA NTRS1977

AC adapter for fuel-flow sensor

Readily-available fuel meters can be used to aid in fuel oil conservation in homes and commercial buildings. Device also includes failure monitor that activates warning light and horn if meter fails.

Millman, L. L.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Flow Visualization of Density in a Cryogenic Wind Tunnel Using Planar Rayleigh and Raman Scattering

Using a pulsed Nd:YAG laser (532 nm) and a gated, intensified charge-coupled device, planar Rayleigh and Raman scattering techniques have been used to visualize the unseeded Mach 0.2 flow density in a 0.3-meter transonic cryogenic wind tunnel. Detection limits are determined for density measurements by using both unseeded Rayleigh and Raman (N2 vibrational) methods. Seeding with CO2 improved the Rayleigh flow visualization at temperatures below 150 K. The seeded Rayleigh version was used to demonstrate the observation of transient flow features in a separated boundary layer region, which was excited with an oscillatory jet. Finally, a significant degradation of the laser light sheet, in this cryogenic facility, is discussed.

Herring, Gregory C.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Laser Doppler velocimetry application in the Langley 0.3-meter Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel

The problems and the potential use of a nonintrusive flow velocity measuring technique in the Langley 0.3 meter transonic cryogenic tunnel (TCT) were investigated. A laser velocimeter (LV) was used. It was concluded that free-stream velocity measurements can be successfully made in the Langley 0.3-m TCT using a low-power (15-mW) LV system. The measured and calculated mean velocities typically agreed within one percent. The overall normalized standard deviation was less than one percent. Tunnel vibration and temperature had no detrimental effects on the optical system. It is recommended that the LV work should be further investigated for future use in the Langley 0.3-m TCT.

Gartrell, L. R.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Overland flow numerical model prediction, Lower Triangle Region in East River Watershed, Colorado, 3 days

This data package contains numerical simulation results of surface flow variables such as flow velocity and water depth in Lower Triangle Region in East River Watershed, Colorado. The surface flow is a consequence of a high intensity rainfall event with a total duration of 3 days, available at a resolution of 10 minutes. The results are computed on triangular multiresolution meshes with resolutions ranging from 10 meter to 80 meter. The data package also contains a simulation on a uniform triangular mesh with a resolution of 10 meter. The simulations consider surface flow only and neglect subsurface flow, infiltration, and evapotranspiration. The purpose of the data is to assess the quality of a mesh refinement strategy.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS2010

Portable Dew Point Mass Spectrometry System for Real-Time Gas and Moisture Analysis

A portable instrument incorporates both mass spectrometry and dew point measurement to provide real-time, quantitative gas measurements of helium, nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and carbon dioxide, along with real-time, quantitative moisture analysis. The Portable Dew Point Mass Spectrometry (PDP-MS) system comprises a single quadrupole mass spectrometer and a high vacuum system consisting of a turbopump and a diaphragm-backing pump. A capacitive membrane dew point sensor was placed upstream of the MS, but still within the pressure-flow control pneumatic region. Pressure-flow control was achieved with an upstream precision metering valve, a capacitance diaphragm gauge, and a downstream mass flow controller. User configurable LabVIEW software was developed to provide real-time concentration data for the MS, dew point monitor, and sample delivery system pressure control, pressure and flow monitoring, and recording. The system has been designed to include in situ, NIST-traceable calibration. Certain sample tubing retains sufficient water that even if the sample is dry, the sample tube will desorb water to an amount resulting in moisture concentration errors up to 500 ppm for as long as 10 minutes. It was determined that Bev-A-Line IV was the best sample line to use. As a result of this issue, it is prudent to add a high-level humidity sensor to PDP-MS so such events can be prevented in the future.

Arkin, C.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Faster-than-real-time Simulation with Demonstration for Resilient DER Integration

The US electric grid is facing operational, stability, and security challenges. Transmission system operators need some measure of visibility into distribution system renewable generation. Distribution system generation needs to support transmission system voltage. The grid is experiencing an expansion in measurement systems. How to take full advantage of this expansion and defend against attacks, both cyber and physical, poses additional challenges. The Faster-than-real-time Simulation with demonstration for Resilient DER Integration project set out to do the following: a. Flatten the voltage profile through the feeders and system for cost saving and voltage stabilization needs. b. Increase the amount of intermittent distributed energy resources (IDERs) that could be deployed on a utility feeder and provide 100% or more energy needed for the demands on that feeder, and c. based on an accurate model (Digital Twin) of the utilities system, be able to detect any abnormalities on the utilities distribution system. To manage the voltage and increase IDER penetration (a,b), Graph Trace Analysis is employed in a time-series, optimal power flow to coordinate the time-varying feedback control setpoints of a distribution feeder’s utility control devices. Under the coordinated control are a Load Tap Changing Transformer, a voltage regulator, and five switched capacitor banks. The feeder serves over 2000 customers, the feeder secondaries are modeled, and the feeder has 2.3 MW of PV generation, corresponding to a 17.4% penetration of PV generation. The feeder model has over 12,000 components, where every customer load bus and PV generator are modeled. The accuracy of the power flow solution is compared against historical meter voltage measurements, the improvement in conservation voltage reduction energy savings as a function of the coordinated control desired voltage profile is investigated, and the increase in PV penetration of the coordinated control over the existing control is presented. To achieve improved control performance while observing system operation constraints, bellwether Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) voltage measurements are used to adjust the desired voltage profile used by the optimal power flow analysis. To detect and alleviate or negate attacks or failures on the distribution and transmission utility grids (c) the grid needs to be resilient and self-healing. In this project software was designed to do just that. At the center of the software is an Integrated System Model (ISM) that spans from transmission to secondary distribution. The ISM is employed in real-time abnormality detection, voltage stability forecasting, and multi-mode control. Testing results are presented for: 1—attacks on utility infrastructure; 2—energy savings from optimal control; 3—distribution system control response during a low voltage transmission system event; 4—cyber-attacks on PV inverters, where physical inverters are used in hard-ware-in-the-simulation-loop studies. Contributions of this work include real-time analysis that spans from three-phase transmission through secondary distribution; an approach for detecting abnormalities that employs measurements from three independent measurement systems; and a multi-mode distribution system control that responds to cyber-attacks, physical attacks, equipment failures, and transmission system needs.

Integrated System Model, Graph Trace Analysis, Adv↗
DOE OSTI2020

Behind the Meter Storage for Electric Vehicle Charging, Electrochemical and Thermal Energy Storage, and Solar Photovoltaic

In response to the potentially large and irregular demand from EVs, along with changing load profiles from buildings with on-site generation, utilities are evaluating multiple options for managing dynamic loads, including time-of-use pricing, demand charges, battery storage, and curtailment of variable generation. Buildings, as well as commercial, public, and workplace EV charging operations, can use a combination of electrochemical battery storage and thermal energy storage coupled with on-site generation to manage energy costs as well as provide resiliency and reliability for EV charging and building energy loads. We are completing a behind the meter storage analysis that focuses on determining the optimal system designs and energy flows for thermal and electrochemical behind the meter storage with on-site solar photovoltaic (PV) generation enabling electric vehicle charging in various climates, building types, and utility rate structures. In completing this analysis, we have developed a tool that combines existing battery models via the System Advisor Model (SAM) and building modeling software via EnergyPlus into a single interface. This tool allows us to simulate a building with a detailed battery model to properly size the battery, thermal energy storage, and solar PV systems to maximize profit for the system owner. This also allows us to assess how the battery degrades under various supervisory control dispatch algorithms to control charging/discharging; we can also see how thermal energy storage is created and used to complement the battery to reduce thermal loads in the building. With this project, we can analyze new batteries that are designed specifically for energy storage, rather than designed to be extremely energy dense for electric vehicle applications, using battery lifetime models from other national labs and the existing SAM battery model, which has detailed lifetime and degradation parameters. We can also assess novel thermal storage technologies by integrating them into the whole building energy simulation program EnergyPlus. Because the model calls both SAM and EnergyPlus, required inputs need to be compatible for both models. These inputs include, on a high-level, the following: weather files, building and electric vehicle load profiles, electricity rate tariff information, and system cost information for the stationary battery, solar PV, and thermal storage system. The various buildings we are studying for this analysis are retail big-box grocery store, commercial office building, fleet vehicle depot and operations facility, multi-family residential, and electric vehicle charging station. For these different applications, the battery and thermal storage will be dispatched differently, and the various technologies are sized differently to optimize cost.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗
DOE OSTI2024

Impact of Janssen effect on thermal transport in granular flow

Using a modulated photothermal radiometry (MPR) technique capable of measuring thermal transport in particle beds, we find asymptotically increasing effective thermal conductivity and decreasing near-wall thermal resistance along gravity-driven downward granular flows through a 1-meter-long narrow vertical channel owing to the Janssen effect. The Janssen effect is confirmed by similar asymptotic trends from particle bed apparent mass measurements as well as separate MPR heat transfer measurements on stationary particle beds under compression at different heights of the channel with and without pressure screening. Furthermore, local heat transfer coefficient along the 1-meter-long channel was modeled based on measured spatially resolved thermal conductivity and near-wall thermal resistance due to the Janssen effect. This work reveals for the first time the impact of the over century-old Janssen effect on heat transfer in granular media. Furthermore, the results from this work can lead to a better understanding of heat transfer in granular flow.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS1977

An analysis of maximum vertical gusts recorded at NASA's 150-meter ground winds tower facility at Kennedy Space Center, Florida

A statistical summary is presented of vertical wind speed data recorded at NASA's 150-Meter Ground Winds Tower Facility on Merritt Island, Kennedy Space Center, Florida. One year of continuous around-the-clock vertical wind speed measurements processed by the Automatic Data Acquisition System (ADAS) is classified as a function of tower level (10, 18, 60, and 150 meters) and period of reference day, month, season: winter (October through March) and summer (April through September), and annual. Intensity, frequency, time of occurrence, prevailing conditions, etc., of the daily maximum vertical gusts (i.e., updraft and downdraft) are determined. The results are compared with the vertical gusts associated with the daily maximum horizontal gust. The intent of this summarization of vertical wind speed data is to provide a general description of wind flow in the lower 150 meters of the atmosphere for the identification of hazards involved in wind shear encounters relative to ascent and descent of the Space Shuttle and conventional aircraft.

Alexander, M. B.↗