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At least 325 records · Page 18

Vertical and Horizontal Heterogeneity of Atmospheric Dust Loading in Northern Gale Crater, Mars

This paper updates the record of atmospheric dust loading within northern Gale Crater, Mars, by providing line-of-sight extinction (LOS-Ext) measurements of the intervening dust between the rover and the crater rim. These measurements are derived from images taken with the Navigation Cameras (Navcam) onboard the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover, Curiosity. The observations span 2.44 Mars years, from Mars Year (MY) 31 at a solar longitude (L(sub s)) of 208° to t L(sub s) = 7° of MY34, sols 100–1701 of the MSL surface mission. This work examines the dataset for seasonal trends of the LOS-Ext in addition to horizontal variations and the vertical structure of LOS-Ext. The LOS-Ext has a repetitive pattern with a single peak in the latter half of the Mars year. The atmosphere in the crater is well mixed horizontally but not vertically as larger LOS-Ext is seen nearer the crater floor than at higher altitudes within the crater. The results allow a discussion on whether or not Gale Crater is a sink for atmospheric dust or a source of atmospheric dust in the current era.

Casey A. Moore↗

Horizontally Integrated Informatics to Support Science Operations in Human Spaceflight

Many systems will be designed and developed for the Artemis program. A subset of these systems will be relevant to scientific activities conducted during the program, but it is important to consider that these scientific activities will be conducted within the context of the larger program. Thinking about the program data holistically, and deliberately structuring its data products in a way that preserves the data’s mission context will enable new opportunities for real-time science support, and long-term analysis of the mission and its data for generations to come (see [1] for an example). Here, we show that horizontally integrated mission data products are valuable by describing the SSERVI RISE2 field program. Temporally contextualized data introduces relationships that do not need to be predefined. One field that greatly benefits from freeform relationship building between disparate datasets is anomaly investigation, where investigators need to follow lines of evidence that may not be a priori apparent. Building relationships between data enables accident investigators to react faster to time-sensitive incidents during EVA operation and other critical human spaceflight activities. Another advantage is the long-term data preservation that enables unplanned or yet-to-be conceived applications or study of this data many years in the future. As Artemis activities become more defined, having a horizontally integrated data management plan will be paramount to ensuring successful mission context is captured for generations to come.

B F Feist↗

Evolution of the Horizontal Winds in Jupiter’s Great Red Spot from One Jovian Year of HST/WFC3 Maps

We measured the horizontal winds in Jupiter's Great Red Spot (GRS) using data from the WFC3/UVIS instrument on board the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The data cover 11 epochs from 2009 to 2020. Long-term monotonic trends in size and shape previously noted from the visible cloud appearance are paralleled by changes in the high-speed ring around the vortex. The circularization of the GRS cannot be explained by changes in the horizontal wind shear of the surrounding environment. The velocity fields suggest no long-term trend in the static stability inside or outside the vortex. Instead, the changes are accompanied by a 4%–8% increase in the mean wind speeds of the high-speed ring from 2009 to 2020. Changes in the wind field coincided with the South Equatorial Belt Outbreak storms of 2016–2017, but not with 2019 "flaking" events involving detachment of red material from the main oval.

Michael H. Wong↗

Functional Horizontal Gene Transfer From Bacteria to Eukaryotes

The antiquity of bacteria and archaea in part explains why they, along with viruses, encode most of the genetic and biochemical diversity on Earth. Eukaryotic life evolved into a world teeming with prokaryotes, and so bacteria (especially) have inevitably affected eukaryotic biology as parasitic, commensal, or beneficial symbionts. But along with these important organismal interactions, the ubiquity and diversity of bacteria have also made them frequent sources of horizontally transferred DNA into eukaryotic genomes. Here we survey the role of bacterial genes throughout the eukaryotic lineage. We review what steps horizontal gene transfers (HGTs) take in becoming functional, what bacterial groups these HGTs come from, and what functions these HGTs typically bestow on their eukaryotic recipient. We classify HGTs into two broad types: those that maintain preexisting functions and those that add new functionality to the recipient. We find that genes involved in host nutrition, protection, and adaptation to extreme environments are the most common HGTs from bacterial to eukaryotic genomes.

Bacteria↗

Horizontal Habitability Layout Studies

As our efforts in the 2011-2012 X-Hab Academic Innovation Challenge we designed, developed, constructed and tested a deployable horizontally oriented habitat system for use as an Earth analog. The goals of the project included a short-term goal of an interdisciplinary senior design project to design, build and evaluate a horizontally oriented habitat and a long-term goal to develop capabilities in education, research, and outreach in field of space habitat design. This included both technical engineering and outreach efforts. In the 2011-2012 year, the program involved the following schools at OSU: The Schools of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) and Industrial and Engineering Management (IEM) within the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology and Design, Housing and Merchandising (DHM) in the College of Human Sciences. We also included the School of Aviation Education (AvED) in the College of Education through the ISNPIRE (Interdisciplinary National Science Project Incorporating Research and Education Experience) program of as part of our outreach efforts.

Jamey D. Jacob↗

Horizontal high speed stacking for batteries with prismatic cans

A system and method for stacking battery cells or related assembled components. Generally planar, rectangular (prismatic-shaped) battery cells are moved from an as-received generally vertical stacking orientation to a generally horizontal stacking orientation without the need for robotic pick-and-place equipment. The system includes numerous conveyor belts that work in cooperation with one another to deliver, rotate and stack the cells or their affiliated assemblies. The belts are outfitted with components to facilitate the cell transport and rotation. The coordinated movement between the belts and the components promote the orderly transport and rotation of the cells from a substantially vertical stacking orientation into a substantially horizontal stacking orientation. The approach of the present invention helps keep the stacked assemblies stable so that subsequent assembly steps--such as compressing the cells or attaching electrical leads or thermal management components--may proceed with a reduced chance of error.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Numerical evaluation of thermal effects from nuclear waste disposed in horizontal drillholes

© 2019 American Nuclear Society, Inc. We examine the temperature evolution near horizontal drillholes designed for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste. In this concept, directional drilling technology is used to complete a small-diameter, vertical access hole, which at the target depth gradually turns into a horizontal section dedicated for the end-to-end disposal of nuclear waste canisters in a suitable, low-permeable formation. Decay heat emanating from the waste leads to temperature increases within the drillhole and the surrounding host rock. Predicting the thermal evolution within the engineered and natural barrier systems is important, because high temperatures may lead to thermal stresses, alter material properties, or induce driving forces that affect the migration of radionuclides along the drillhole and in the near field of the repository. We present the results of numerical design calculations that examine the spatial and temporal evolution of temperature as a function of uncertain material properties and adjustable design parameters.

Finsterle, S↗

Method and precision nanopositioning apparatus with compact vertical and horizontal linear nanopositioning flexure stages for implementing enhanced nanopositioning performance

An enhanced method and precision nanopositioning apparatus for implementing enhanced nanopositioning performance is provided. The nanopositioning apparatus includes a vertical linear nanopositioning flexure stage and a horizontal linear nanopositioning flexure stage. The vertical linear nanopositioning flexure stage includes a stage base, a symmetrically configured flexure linear guiding mechanism with precision motion enhancement structure, and a stage carriage. The horizontal linear nanopositioning flexure stage is mounted on the stage carriage of the vertical linear nanopositioning flexure stage, and includes a middle-bar relative position control mechanism to enhance the stiffness of a flexure linear guiding mechanism.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Engineering organisms resistant to viruses and horizontally transferred genetic elements

Organisms resistant to horizontal gene transfer (HGT), and compositions and methods of use thereof are provided. The organisms are typically genomically recoded organisms (GRO), typically cells, having a genome in which at least one endogenous codon has been eliminated by reassignment of the codon to a synonymous or non-synonymous codon. The GRO typically include a recombinant expression construct for expression of at least one element of a ribosomal rescue pathway, typically lacking the eliminated codon. Typically, the disclosed cells are resistant to completed transfer and/or expression of a horizontally transferred genetic element (HTGE) from another organism compared a corresponding cell having a genome wherein the eliminated codon has not been eliminated. In some embodiments, the organism from which the HTGE is being transferred is a bacterium or a virus.

Isaacs, Farren J.↗

Reduction of the Waste Occupied Area by Nuclide Separation and Horizontal Emplacement of the Waste Packages - 20422

Two of the key objectives for realizing the advanced nuclear fuel cycle are to reduce the volume of high-level radioactive waste and to reduce the foot-print of the geological repository. To achieve these objectives, research and development on nuclide separation technologies is a prerequisite. In this context, it is necessary to consider the vitrification conditions and the design of the geological repository where separation technologies would be implemented to achieve effective reductions in the volume of vitrified waste and the foot-print of the geological repository. In this study, the effects of the vitrification conditions on the number of vitrified waste units and the disposal area were evaluated, based on the assumption that separation of Cs and Sr from the spent nuclear fuel had been performed. In addition, with reference to the design of the geological repository, the impact on the foot-print of the repository for different emplacement methods of the waste packages was examined. As a result, it was clarified that the waste-occupied area could be reduced by horizontal emplacement of the vitrified waste with low heat generation. In addition, it was demonstrated that a low waste-loaded vitrified waste contributed to a reduction in the foot-print of the geological repository in the case of horizontal emplacement, although the number of vitrified waste units increased. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Image Analysis for Plug Bubbles in Horizontal Flow

Horizontal plug flow is different from horizontal slug flow in that relatively few small bubbles exist in plug flow, whereas slug flow is characterized by highly aerated liquid slugs and liquid films. While the nose position and nose propagation velocity of plug bubbles may provide physical insights in understanding the flow regime transition mechanism between the plug and slug flows, few systematic investigations on these parameters have been performed in previous research. In view of this, this paper presents the development of an image processing method for the purpose of (a) obtaining data for nose position and nose propagation velocity of plug bubbles and (b) benchmarking local four-sensor conductivity probe measurements of time-averaged bubble velocity and void fraction. (authors)

42 ENGINEERING↗

Development of Scaling Criteria for Modeling Condensation in Horizontal Tubes Using Reduced Pressure System and Simulant Fluid

Most of the currently operating nuclear power plants (NPPs), generation-II and III, are equipped with active safety systems, which raises concerns regarding those safety systems' operational reliability and the suitability of the accidents prevention measures. Following the severe accidents at nuclear power plants at Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and recently in Fukushima some advance Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs) have adopted passively cooled steam generator natural circulation system to remove the decay heat passively through the steam generator (SG). This is done by condensing steam from the steam generator inside a heat exchanger submerged in a tank of water or an air cooled system. The APR+ (Advanced Power Reactor Plus), which is currently being developed in South Korea, has adopted a Passive Auxiliary Feedwater System (PAFS), which removes the decay heat through the steam generator replacing the conventional active auxiliary feedwater system. The main part of the PAFS, in where the steam condenses, is the Passive Condensation Heat Exchanger (PCHX). The steam condenses under high pressure (7.4 MPa, 290 deg. C) in 8.4 m long horizontal tube, with 3 degrees inclination, with inner diameter of 44.8 mm and wall thickness of 3 mm. The PCHX consists of 4 bundles, each bundle has 60 condensation tubes. The performance of the PCHX performance should be evaluated. Condensation has been extensively studied; however, most previous experimental work was directed to low pressure (i.e., near atmospheric pressure) and small condensation tubes. Moreover, studies on the horizontal type heat exchanger are limited, since previous safety systems and experimentation work were directed to the vertical type heat exchangers. Due to the high construction cost of a full size high pressure condensation experiment, a reduced-size reduced-pressure condensation experiment is suggested to evaluate the heat removal performance of a condensation tube of the PAFS heat exchanger. A scaling methodology to be established to design a reduced-size reduced-pressure condensation experiment. This study attempts to develop a scaling criteria for the PAFS condensation system, and to apply it for modeling a high pressure water system by a low pressure Freon system.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

Shape optimization under uncertainty for rotor blades of horizontal axis wind turbines

We present a computational framework for the shape optimization of a Horizontal-Axis Wind Turbine (HAWT) rotor blade under uncertainty. Our framework integrates aerodynamic simulations based on the blade element method which utilizes reduced order models of the blade structure and wind load with design sensitivity analysis and nonlinear programming. The wind velocity is modeled as a stochastic process to account for variations in time and space. An additional stochastic process accounts for uncertainties in the structural material properties. The uncertainty propagation is based on a non-intrusive polynomial chaos expansion that allows accurate estimation of stochastic performance metrics such as generated power and structural compliance. Sensitivities of cost and constraint functions with respect to shape parameters namely twist angles are computed with an efficient scheme to enable gradient based optimization. To demonstrate the effect of uncertainty, designs obtained from optimization under uncertainty are compared to those obtained from deterministic optimization.

42 ENGINEERING↗

A horizontal powder injector for W7-X

We report that injection of low-Z powders into fusion plasma has been used to improve wall conditions, similar to the standard boronization process using diborane. Powder injection has the advantage of being much simpler, non-toxic, and efficient. The W7-X stellarator is planning on utilizing powder injection in long pulse discharges; a proof-of-principle test for horizontal injection into the plasma was conceived, a Probe Mounted Particle Injector (PMPI). The PMPI concept is developed using a polyetheretherketone (PEEK) paddle wheel hub that is driven by a piezo motor, due to the high magnetic fields, that rotates at 100 deg/s. This small PMPI fits into an envelope of 120 mm diameter × 150 mm long, a standard size for Multi-Purpose Manipulator (MPM). The device is housed in a carbon cup mounted on a retractable probe that can be placed near the plasma edge, enabling powder injection ˜4–8 cm radially into the boundary plasma. The feed for the paddle is via piezo electric actuator that vibrates a funnel filled with powder into a trough for the paddle to push. The 8 paddle arms, 35 mm long and 10 mm wide, are made from 0.38 mm thick PEEK which drag slightly along the powder-filled trough bottom, becoming a spring-loaded paddle which accelerates the powder upon release. Finally, design challenges are the high ambient magnetic field, vacuum compatible materials, high temperature environment, limited rotary-drive options, and compact space. The design and testing of this new device will be presented.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Numerical simulations of a horizontal axis water turbine designed for underwater mooring platforms

In order to extend the operational life of Underwater Moored Platforms (UMPs), a horizontal axis water turbine is designed to supply energy for the UMPs. The turbine, equipped with controllable blades, can be opened to generate power and charge the UMPs in moored state. Three-dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations are performed to study the characteristics of power, thrust and the wake of the turbine. Particularly, the effect of the installation position of the turbine is considered. Simulations are based on the Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations and the shear stress transport k-ω turbulent model is utilized. The numerical method is validated using existing experimental data. The simulation results show that this turbine has a maximum power coefficient of 0.327 when the turbine is installed near the tail of the UMP. The flow structure near the blade and in the wake are also discussed.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗

Sensitivity and history match analysis of a carbon dioxide “huff-and-puff” injection test in a horizontal shale gas well in Tennessee

Due to improvements in well development, shale gas production has gained importance recently, especially in the United States. To improve gas production and develop a better understanding of shale reservoirs, researchers are conducting field tests to monitor CO 2 storage and enhanced gas recovery. Reservoir simulations can then utilize these field results for sensitivity studies, uncertainty analysis, history matching, gas production forecasts, and CO 2 storage capacity estimations. One such field test was performed for the Chattanooga Shale formation in Morgan County, Tennessee. Approximately 463 tonnes (510 tons) of CO 2 was successfully injected into a hydraulically fractured horizontal well over a thirteen-day period in March 2014. The injection test was achieved in four steps: pre-injection, injection, soaking, and flowback. In this paper, those steps were modeled with a reservoir simulator to match the historic production and injection rates with gas component compositions and forecast the production for five years. The reservoir fluid was modeled as a multi-component gas, including CH 4 , C 2 H 6 , C 3 H 8 , N 2 , and CO 2 . Langmuir constants, reservoir pressure, and fracture network volume were adjusted to match simulation results with observed production rates and gas composition. Results showed that, under the same reservoir conditions, each gas component behaves differently by way of compositional changes in production. CH4 behaves like N2, while CO 2 behaves like heavier hydrocarbons such as C 2 H 6 and C 3 H 8 . CO 2 plume results showed that, after injection, the produced CO 2 is mostly derived from fractured limestone (i.e., Fort Payne Formation) because the injected CO 2 is not adsorbed in limestone but rather by shale formations.

03 NATURAL GAS↗

On the spectral behaviour of the turbulence-driven power fluctuations of horizontal-axis turbines

In this article we consider the spectral behaviour of turbulence-driven power fluctuations for a single horizontal-axis turbine. To this end, a small-scale instrumented axial-flow hydrokinetic turbine model ( diameter=0.724 m ) is deployed in the long water flume situated in the laboratory facilities of IFREMER in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France, and synchronous measurements of the upstream velocity and the rotor are collected for different tip-speed ratios. The study confirms previous findings suggesting that the power spectra follow the velocity spectra behaviour in the large scales region and a steeper power law slope behaviour ( -11/3 ) over the inertial frequency sub-range. However, we show that both the amplitude of the power spectra and low-pass filtering effect over the inertial sub-range also depend on the rotor aero/hydrodynamics (e.g. dC L /dα) and the approaching flow deceleration and not solely on the rotational effects. In addition, we present a novel semi-analytical model to predict the dominant blade-passing frequency harmonics in the high-frequency regime using the rotationally sampled spectra technique. For all calculations, the distortion of incoming turbulence is taken into account.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Comparison of horizontal wind speed and direction measurements from dual-Doppler radar and profiling lidars

Dual-Doppler radar is a relatively new technology in the wind energy community and thus not yet studied vastly. This paper aims to compare horizontal wind speed and direction data retrieved from dual-Doppler radar and profiling lidars within the American WAKE experimeNt (AWAKEN) to investigate the influence of measurement height, wind direction and speed on the comparison. The 10-min averaged data show a better agreement of the measurements for higher altitudes, especially at faster wind speeds. For the wind direction, two sectors of larger differences in the measurements were detected: around 270° transient winds occur with a higher frequency than in other sectors. To explain the different measurement values in the wind direction sector around 90°, further studies, e.g. on the influence of atmospheric stability, are necessary.

17 WIND ENERGY↗