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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

Sensitivity analysis of a layered piezoelectric system using ZFEM

The complex variable finite element method (ZFEM) is a numerical technique which aims to find the partial derivatives of the independent variables with respect to variation in dependent parameters declared in the physics. This is done by combining the complex Taylor series expansion within the weak formulation of the governing equation in a coupled system of linear equations forming a complex valued block matrix given by the Cauchy–Riemann matrix representation. In this work, two-dimensional linear first-order elements have been implemented in ZFEM to predict the design derivatives of the mechanical displacement field and the voltage potential field for a layered piezoelectric system in a steady-state study with Dirichlet boundary condition applied at the top and bottom edges of the geometry. This approach allows the standard FEM solution to quantify the sensitivity of the mechanical displacement and voltage potential fields with respect to small variations in the material properties through the information obtained from the computation of the derivatives. The domain is formed by a layered body with PZT-4 and PZT-5 stacked together. For result verification, the numerical solution obtained with ZFEM was compared to results from a commercial FEM package and the solution from the imaginary part was compared to the exact solution of a well-known benchmark problem. In conclusion, comparison of the results showed good agreement for both the real and imaginary parts of the solution and the largest sensitivities were found in PZT-5 specifically in C 13 , C 33 , and ε 33 .

42 ENGINEERING↗

A systematic strategy for estimating hERG block potency and its implications in a new cardiac safety paradigm

Introduction: hERG block potency is widely used to calculate a drug's safety margin against its torsadogenic potential. Previous studies are confounded by use of different patch clamp electrophysiology protocols and a lack of statistical quantification of experimental variability. Since the new cardiac safety paradigm being discussed by the International Council for Harmonisation promotes a tighter integration of nonclinical and clinical data for torsadogenic risk assessment, a more systematic approach to estimate the hERG block potency and safety margin is needed. Methods: A cross-industry study was performed to collect hERG data on 28 drugs with known torsadogenic risk using a standardized experimental protocol. A Bayesian hierarchical modeling (BHM) approach was used to assess the hERG block potency of these drugs by quantifying both the inter-site and intra-site variability. A modeling and simulation study was also done to evaluate protocol-dependent changes in hERG potency estimates. Results: A systematic approach to estimate hERG block potency is established. The impact of choosing a safety margin threshold on torsadogenic risk evaluation is explored based on the posterior distributions of hERG potency estimated by this method. The modeling and simulation results suggest any potency estimate is specific to the protocol used. Discussion: This methodology can estimate hERG block potency specific to a given voltage protocol. The relationship between safety margin thresholds and torsadogenic risk predictivity suggests the threshold should be tailored to each specific context of use, and safety margin evaluation may need to be integrated with other information to form a more comprehensive risk assessment.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Nonlinear ion transport mediated by induced charge in ultrathin nanoporous membranes

Ultrathin membranes with nanoporous conduits show promise for ionic separations and desalination applications, but the mechanisms underlying the nonlinear ionic transport observed in these systems are not well understood. Here, in this work, we demonstrate how induced charge at membrane interfaces can lead to nonlinear ionic transport and voltage-dependent conductance through such channels. The application of an electric field on a polarizable membrane leads to induced charges at the membrane interfaces. The induced charges in turn are screened by diffuse charges in the electrolyte, which are acted upon by the electric field. For extremely thin membranes, the induced charge effect can be significant even for moderate applied voltages commonly used in experiments. We apply a continuum Poisson-Nernst-Planck model to characterize the current-voltage behavior of ultrathin membranes over a wide parameter space. The predictions of the model are compared to recent experiments on graphene and MoS 2 membranes in an electric field. We expect the role of induced charge to be especially pronounced in the limit of atomically thin membranes.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Health Assessment and Performance Monitoring of Large Machine Diagnostics

Presentation to be given at the CCS-6 Statistical Seminar Series. Regularly maintained and operated diagnostic machines are a backbone of data collection and are a vital component of the Stockpile Stewardship Program’s efforts to better understand nuclear physics. The Cygnus X-ray machine, stationed at the Nevada National Security Site’s U1a underground facility, is one such diagnostic that provides a radiographic capability for the subcritical experiment program. Component failures within Cygnus can result in catastrophic downtime for the diagnostic, affecting performance, schedules, and cost. However, over the years various measurements have been collected on the two Cygnus axes, including voltage and current measurements at different locations, which we believe have predictive power to indicate machine health. We will share preliminary insight into this data and the machine learning approaches we are taking to assess Cygnus’ health, observe declining performance, and predict failures.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Control and Calibration of GlueX Central Drift Chamber Using Gaussian Process Regression

The Gluonic Excitations (GlueX) experiment is designed to search for exotic hybrid mesons using photoproduction, and to study the hybrid meson spectrum predicted from Lattice Quantum Chromodynamics. For the first time, the GlueX Central Drift Chamber was controlled autonomously using machine learning (ML) to calibrate in real time while recording cosmic ray tracks. We demonstrate the ability of a Gaussian Process to predict the gain correction calibration factor used to determine a high voltage setting that will stabilize the CDC gain in response to changing environmental conditions; this is in contrast to the traditional, computationally expensive method of calibrating raw data after data collection is complete.

McSpadden, Helen↗

A 30-cm diameter argon ion source

A 30 cm diameter argon ion source was evaluated. Ion source beam currents up to 4a were extracted with ion energies ranging from 0.2 to 1.5 KeV. An ion optics scaling relation was developed for predicting ion beam extraction capability as a function of total extraction voltage, gas type, and screen grid open area. Ignition and emission characteristics of several hollow cathode geometries were assessed for purposes of defining discharge chamber and neutralizer cathodes. Also presented are ion beam profile characteristics which exhibit broad beam capability well suited for ion beam sputtering applications.

Sovey, J. S.↗

A 30-cm diameter argon ion source

A 30-cm diameter argon ion source was evaluated. Ion source beam currents up to 4A were extracted with ion energies ranging from 0.2 to 1.5 KeV. An ion optics scaling relation was developed for predicting ion beam extraction capability as a function of total extraction voltage, gas type and screen grid open area. Ignition and emission characteristics of several hollow cathode geometries were assessed for purposes of defining discharge chamber and neutralizer cathodes. Also presented are ion beam profile characteristics which exhibit broad beam capability well suited for ion beam sputtering applications.

Sovey, J. S.↗

Analytical investigation of critical MHD phenomena

Development and analysis of schemes for suppression of the startup overvoltage transient in the AEDC High Performance Demonstration Experiment (HPDE), analysis of performance enhancement due to electrode voltage drop reduction by use of pyrolytic graphites in the HPDE, prediction of optimal loading schemes for the HPDE, prediction of PHDE performance with a diagonal electrical connection, and predictions of the likelihood and effects of axial current leakage between adjacent electrodes in the HPDE are reviewed. Simulations of tests at the AEDC/HPDE with STD Research Corporation multidimensional and time dependent computer codes provided additional validation for the computer codes and shed light on physical mechanisms which govern performance and durability of MHD power generators. The magnetoaerothermal effect was predicted by STD Research Corporation to have a significant effect on the HPDE/MHD generator performance at high interaction.

Source record↗

Threshold determining mechanisms for discharges in high voltage solar arrays

A theory is developed to account for the observed properties of discharges of solar arrays immersed in plasma. The theory is based on the assumption that a thin layer of insulating contaminant covers any metallic surface exposed to the plasma. Quantities derivable from the theory include a voltage threshold for arcing. The existence of the threshold and its predicted weak dependence on plasma density appear consistent with experimental results.

Parks, D. E.↗

Frequency domain model for analysis of paralleled, series-output-connected Mapham inverters

The Mapham resonant inverter is characterized as a two-port network driven by a selected periodic voltage. The two-port model is then used to model a pair of Mapham inverters connected in series and employing phasor voltage regulation. It is shown that the model is useful for predicting power output in paralleled inverter units, and for predicting harmonic current output of inverter pairs, using standard power flow techniques. Some examples are compared to data obtained from testing hardware inverters.

Brush, Andrew S.↗

Frequency domain model for analysis of paralleled, series-output-connected Mapham inverters

The Mapham resonant inverter is characterized as a two-port network driven by a selected periodic voltage. The two-port model is then used to model a pair of Mapham inverters connected in series and employing phasor voltage regulation. It is shown that the model is useful for predicting power output in paralleled inverter units, and for predicting harmonic current output of inverter pairs, using standard power flow techniques. Some sample results are compared to data obtained from testing hardware inverters.

Brush, Andrew S.↗

An Experimental Investigation of Wall-Cooling Effects on Hypersonic Boundary-Layer Stability in a Quiet Wind Tunnel

One of the primary reasons for developing quiet tunnels is for the investigation of high-speed boundary-layer stability and transition phenomena without the transition-promoting effects of acoustic radiation from tunnel walls. In this experiment, a flared-cone model under adiabatic- and cooled-wall conditions was placed in a calibrated, 'quiet' Mach 6 flow and the stability of the boundary layer was investigated using a prototype constant-voltage anemometer. The results were compared with linear-stability theory predictions and good agreement was found in the prediction of second-mode frequencies and growth. In addition, the same 'N=10' criterion used to predict boundary-layer transition in subsonic, transonic, and supersonic flows was found to be applicable for the hypersonic flow regime as well. Under cooled-wall conditions, a unique set of continuous spectra data was acquired that documents the linear, nonlinear, and breakdown regions associated with the transition of hypersonic flow under low-noise conditions.

Blanchard, Alan E.↗

A quiet tunnel investigation of hypersonic boundary-layer stability over a cooled, flared cone

A flared-cone model under adiabatic and cooled-wall conditions was placed in a calibrated, low-disturbance Mach 6 flow and the stability of the boundary layer was investigated using a prototype constant-voltage anemometer. The results were compared with linear-stability theory predictions and good agreement was found in the prediction of second-mode frequencies and growth. In addition, the same 'N = 10' criterion used to predict boundary-layer transition in subsonic, transonic, and supersonic flows under low freestream noise conditions was found to be applicable for the hypersonic flow regime as well. Under cooled-wall conditions, a unique set of spectral data was acquired that documents the linear, nonlinear, and breakdown regions associated with the transition of hypersonic flow under low-noise conditions.

Blanchard, Alan E.↗

Performance Evaluation of the Prototype Model NEXT Ion Thruster

The performance testing results of the first prototype model NEXT ion engine, PM1, are presented. The NEXT program has developed the next generation ion propulsion system to enhance and enable Discovery, New Frontiers, and Flagship-type NASA missions. The PM1 thruster exhibits operational behavior consistent with its predecessors, the engineering model thrusters, with substantial mass savings, enhanced thermal margins, and design improvements for environmental testing compliance. The dry mass of PM1 is 12.7 kg. Modifications made in the thruster design have resulted in improved performance and operating margins, as anticipated. PM1 beginning-of-life performance satisfies all of the electric propulsion thruster mission-derived technical requirements. It demonstrates a wide range of throttleability by processing input power levels from 0.5 to 6.9 kW. At 6.9 kW, the PM1 thruster demonstrates specific impulse of 4190 s, 237 mN of thrust, and a thrust efficiency of 0.71. The flat beam profile, flatness parameters vary from 0.66 at low-power to 0.88 at full-power, and advanced ion optics reduce localized accelerator grid erosion and increases margins for electron backstreaming, impingement-limited voltage, and screen grid ion transparency. The thruster throughput capability is predicted to exceed 750 kg of xenon, an equivalent of 36,500 hr of continuous operation at the full-power operating condition.

Herman, Daniel A.↗

Towards Generalizable and Efficient Circuit Topology Design: A Graph-Transformer-based Surrogate Model with Curriculum Learning

Unlike circuit parameter and sizing optimizations, the automated design of analog circuit topologies poses significant challenges for learning-based approaches. One challenge arises from the combinatorial growth of the topology space with circuit size, which limits the topology optimization efficiency. Moreover, traditional circuit evaluation methods are time-consuming, while the presence of data discontinuity in the topology space makes the accurate prediction of circuit performance exceptionally difficult for unseen topologies. To tackle these challenges, we design a novel Graph-Transformer-based Network (GTN) as the surrogate model for circuit evaluation, offering a substantial acceleration in the speed of circuit topology optimization without sacrificing performance. Our GTN model architecture is designed to embed voltage changes in circuit loops and current flows in connected devices, enabling accurate performance predictions for circuits with unseen topologies. To address the cold start problem when scaling GTN to large-scale circuits, we further introduce a curriculum learning strategy that progressively trains GTN from small-scale to large-scale circuits. This approach enables the model to first learn fundamental physical principles from simpler topologies and gradually adapt to complex configurations, effectively bridging the circuit complexity gap and improving prediction accuracy. Taking the power converter circuit design as an experimental task, our GTN model significantly outperforms an analytical approach and baseline methods directly utilizing graph neural networks. Furthermore, GTN achieves less than 5% relative error and 196× speed-up compared with high-fidelity simulation. Notably, our GTN surrogate model empowers an automatic circuit design framework to discover circuits of comparable quality to those identified through high-fidelity simulation while reducing the time required by up to 98.2%. With curriculum learning, the enhanced GTN achieves a 51% improvement for performance prediction of large-scale circuits compared to the GTN model without this strategy. These advancements establish GTN as a scalable framework for automated analog circuit design across varying circuit complexity levels.

Lu, Haoshu [New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJ↗

Modeling Framework for Bulk Electric Grid Impacts from HEMP E1 and E3 Effects (Tasks 3.1 Final Report)

This report presents a framework to evaluate the impact of a high-altitude electromagnetic pulse (HEMP) event on a bulk electric power grid. This report limits itself to modeling the impact of EMP E1 and E3 components. The co-simulation of E1 and E3 is presented in detail, and the focus of the paper is on the framework rather than actual results. This approach is highly conservative as E1 and E3 are not maximized with the same event characteristics and may only slightly overlap. The actual results shown in this report are based on a synthetic grid with synthetic data and a limited exemplary EMP model. The framework presented can be leveraged and used to analyze the impact of other threat scenarios, both manmade and natural disasters. This report d escribes a Monte-Carlo based methodology to probabilistically quantify the transient response of the power grid to a HEMP event. The approach uses multiple fundamental steps to characterize the system response to HEMP events, focused on the E1 and E3 components of the event. 1) Obtain component failure data related to HEMP events testing of components and creating component failure models. Use the component failure model to create component failure conditional probability density function (PDF) that is a function of the HEMP induced terminal voltage. 2) Model HEMP scenarios and calculate the E1 coupled voltage profiles seen by all system components. Model the same HEMP scenarios and calculate the transformer reactive power consumption profiles due to E3. 3) Sample each component failure PDF to determine which grid components will fail, due to the E1 voltage spike, for each scenario. 4) Perform dynamic simulations that incorporate the predicted component failures from E1 and reactive power consumption at each transformer affected by E3. These simulations allow for secondary transients to affect the relays/protection remaining in service which can lead to cascading outages. 5) Identify the locations and amount of load lost for each scenario through grid dynamic simulation. This can be an indication of the immediate grid impacts from a HEMP event. In addition, perform more detailed analysis to determine critical nodes and system trends. 6) To help realize the longer-term impacts, a security constrained alternating current optimal power flow (ACOPF) is run to maximize critical load served. This report describes a modeling framework to assess the systemic grid impacts due to a HEMP event. This stochastic simulation framework generates a large amount of data for each Monte Carlo replication, including HEMP location and characteristics, relay and component failures, E3 GIC profiles, cascading dynamics including voltage and frequency over time, and final system state. This data can then be analyzed to identify trends, e.g., unique system behavior modes or critical components whose failure is more likely to cause serious systemic effects. The proposed analysis process is demonstrated on a representative system. In order to draw realistic conclusions of the impact of a HEMP event on the grid, a significant amount of work remains with respect to modeling the impact on various grid components.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

On the auroral current-voltage relationship

The auroral relationship between the upward parallel current and the parallel potential drop is predicted using Knight's (1973) collisionless-plasma kinetic theory, and the results are compared with near-simultaneously carried out measurements by DE 1 and DE 2. The agreement between the calculated and observed data is generally good. However, the Knight current, since it does not include upward ionospheric electrons, is not valid in the downward return current region. It was found that suprathermal electron bursts could be observed in the diffuse aurora at the same invariant latitudes, both at high and at low altitudes, suggesting that these bursts are a spatial rather than temporal phenomenon.

Lu, G.↗

Event-Driven Predictive Approach for Real-Time Volt/VAR control with CVR in solar PV rich Active Distribution Network

The focus of this paper is on analyzing the impact of conservation voltage reduction in the presence of active devices such as solar photovoltaic (PV) and developing controls that leverage these distributed energy resources. An event-driven predictive approach for real-time volt/volt-ampere reactive (VAR) optimization, along with local two-level adaptive volt/VAR droop-based control algorithm for advanced distribution management systems, is introduced. The methodology covers aggregated and autonomous controls under different timescale operations, including the impact and effect of unpredicted events such as cloud transients on PV power production. In addition, the control schemes include the uncertainties in PV power generation and load power demand. The proposed methodology is validated in a real-time framework using the real-time digital simulator platform through co-simulation with models based on Python and OpenDSS (Open Distribution System Simulator). The developed methodology is tested on the modified IEEE 123-feeder test system. The results reveal that the proposed methodology works well in the presence of high penetrations of PV power, produces significant energy savings, and mitigates over-/undervoltage problems.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗