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At least 343 records · Page 19

Temperature Dependence of FDR Response for Thermally Aged Low-Voltage Cables

Frequency Domain Reflectometry (FDR) has attracted significant attention for use in nuclear power plants (NPPs) for non-destructive cable health monitoring. However, cable aging detection using FDR faces challenges due to its high sensitivity to environmental factors such as temperature, vibrations, proximity to other cables, and so on. This work aims to evaluate the influence of measurement temperature on the FDR reflected signal in a low voltage cable undergoing accelerated thermal aging. A 100 ft long multi-core low-voltage unshielded power cable insulated with flame retardant ethylene propylene rubber (FR-EPR) and covered by a chloro-polyethylene (CPE) jacket was selected for this study. The cable was energized during aging by a 480 VAC 3-phase motor, and a 30 ft mid-section of this cable was routed through an air circulating oven held at 140 °C for up to an effective aging time of 62 days. FDR measurements were taken periodically with the oven on (at 140 °C) and with the oven off (at 22 °C). A comparative analysis of data collected at both temperatures showed that the FDR response was strongly dependent on measurement temperature. FDR measurements at ambient temperature showed large peaks corresponding to impedance changes in the aged section of the cable after 3 days of aging. These peaks continued to rise steadily with increasing aging time. However, for measurements taken at 140 °C, slowly rising peaks in the oven region (aged section) were observed only after a lead time of 23 days of aging. This work highlights the importance of measurement temperature on the performance of FDR as a condition monitoring tool for aging cables.

Sriraman, Aishwarya↗

Mild hybridisation of turboprop engine with high-power-density integrated electric drives

Here this paper shares with the aerospace community a case study of turboprop mild hybridisation using a recently developed integrated drive system in the University of Nottingham, UK, within the ACHIEVE project under EU H2020 CleanSky 2 program (project No. 737814). The developed drive system enables green taxiing of a turboprop aircraft while on the ground with its engine off, and as an electrical generator when the turboprop is in the air. The entire system is designed to be able to integrate within the power auxiliary gear box (PAGB) of a turboprop aircraft. Some of the key features of the developed system include a high-speed permanent magnet machine (up to 14,200rpm) with dual three-phase design, SiC-based high power density (11.8kW/L for the power converter, 35.3kW/L and 7.2kW/kg for the machine active parts), integrated cooling design for high-temperature operation (>130°C ambient temperature), fault tolerance consideration with dual channel operation capabilities and sensorless control for entire operational conditions. This paper is giving an overview of the design process of the electrical machine, power converters, and its cooling of the entire drive. Numerical analysis (FEM and CFD) and some experimental results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness and the desired performance of the developed integrated drive system.

42 ENGINEERING↗

A Study on the Impact of Temperature-Dependent Ferroelectric Switching Behavior in 3D Memory Architecture

The flourishing development of neural networks that require exponentially growing amounts of data has presented an elevated demand for memory footprint. To address this, researchers have been exploring hardware accelerators with innovative memory architectures like 3D memory. These 3D memory architectures offer enhanced storage capacity and processing capabilities, at a cost of rising on-chip temperature during operation. Hafnium Zirconium Oxide (HZO) based Ferroelectric Random Access Memory (FeRAM) is a promising nonvolatile memory candidate in neural network hardware accelerators for its outstanding write performance and reliability. However, its implementation in the architecture regarding the temperature-dependent ferroelectric switching behavior has not been well studied. In this work, we study the thermal impacts on polarization switching through experimental devices and simulation results. We conduct the circuit and architecture-level simulations to showcase that one can exploit this temperature rise to reduce FeRAM's write voltage and write energy due to its unique temperature-activated polarization switching mechanisms. As the on-chip temperature increases to 351K (ambient temperature at 300K) due to neural network workloads, the access energy per bit can be reduced by 27.6% when a dynamic write voltage is applied.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Gamma Driven Catalysis of Ammonia

Experiments were conducted to investigate a passive production mechanism for the world’s most energy intensive commodity, ammonia. A novel method, gamma catalyzed ammonia production at ambient conditions, was investigated. Ammonia is currently produced through the highly energy intensive Haber-Fritz process, which requires an operation pressure of 400 atmosphere and 600 degrees Celsius. Due to the high demand and need for ammonia, the Haber-Bosch process consumes 25% all energy produced globally. Reported herein was an attempt to produce ammonia at ambient temperature (20 C) and ambient pressure (1 atm), through a novel process developed at PNNL, gamma driven catalysis of ammonia. Although the measurements of the ammonia production suggest wild success, reports in the literature by Gao et.al. suggest an experimental positive bias in the results. To rule out the potential positive bias, multiple additional production campaigns would be needed to with an alternate analysis technique such as ion chromatography, as suggested by Gao et.al. Unfortunately, due to this late determination of potential positive bias, the results of this study remain inconclusive to the feasibility of gamma driven catalysis of ammonia and more work is needed to describe the chemical evolution with time. The results are a first step and demonstrate that gamma-catalyst mediated reactions are possible. This represents a key opportunity to explore the fundamental chemistry of high band gap catalysts that can change the paradigm of radiation, transforming it from a waste to a valuable energy source.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗

Rate of recombination of oxygen atoms and CO at temperatures below ambient

The measurements reported were conducted with 30.0 torr CO, 40.0 torr argon, and varying amounts of carbon dioxide from about 20 to 230 torr. Measurements were made at 277, 272, 263, and 257 K. The pseudo-first-order decay rate as a function of carbon dioxide pressure is shown in a graph. An Arrhenius plot for the rate constants obtained from the measurements is also presented. A value for the activation energy was determined on the basis of a linear least-squares fit to the data.

Inn, E. C. Y.↗

Weathering of a liquid solar collector

Commercially available flate plate hot water solar collector is characterized in report that presents 10 month weathering study of system. Collector efficiency was calculated and plotted from measurements of fluid temperature and flow rate, ambient temperature and solar flux. Windspeed and wind direction were also measured during tests.

Source record↗

Results of heating mode performance tests of a solar-assisted heat pump

The performance of a heat pump, utilizing 8.16 square meters of low-cost solar collectors as the evaporator in a Freon-114 refrigeration cycle, was determined under actual insolation conditions during the summer and fall of 1976. C.O.P.'s (coefficient of performance) greater than 3 were obtained with condensing temperatures around 78 C and evaporating temperatures around 27 C. Ambient temperatures were about 3 C above evaporating temperatures. Similar performance levels were obtained at other insolation and temperature conditions. Experience with the system has identified some component and system changes which should increase the obtainable C.O.P. to about 4.0. These are described along with the system's design rationale. The accumulated data are presented as an appendix.

Jones, C. B.↗

Low-Temperature Chemiluminescence From cis-1,4-Polybutadiene, 1,2-Polybutadiene, and trans-Polypentenamer at Temperatures Near Ambient

The chemiluminescence emission at 25-60 C was measured from films of cis-1,4-polybutadiene, 1,2-polybutadiene, and trans-polypentenamer. The polymers were autoxidized previously in air 100 C, or allowed to react with singlet molecular oxygen in solution, and then cast into films. Values of beta(or k(sub d,((1)O2 yields (3)03)/k(sub r)((1)O2 + polymer yields products)) were determined in benzene for cis-1,4-polybutadiene and cis-1,4-polyisoprene, and for model compounds cis-3-hexene and cis-3-methyl-3-hexene by independent methods. The chemiluminescence emission from irradiated films of the polymers containing a dye sensitizer showed a complicated time dependence, and the results depended on the length of irradiation.

Nathan, Richard A.↗

The Effect of Penetration Depth on Thermal Contrast of NDT by Thermography

Nondestructive evaluation by Thermography (TNDE) is generally classified into two categories, the passive approach and the active approach. The passive approach is usually performed by measuring the natural temperature difference between the ambient and the material or structure to be tested. The active approach, on the other hand, requires the application of an external energy source to stimulate the material for inspection. A laser, a heater, a hot air blower, a high power thermal pulse, mechanical, or electromagnetic energy may provide the energy sources. For the external heating method to inspect materials for defects and imperfection at ambient temperature, a very short burst of heat can be introduced to one of the surfaces or slow heating of the side opposite to the side being observed. Due to the interruption of the heat flow through the defects, the thermal images will reveal the defective area by contrasting against the surrounding good materials. This technique is called transient Thermography, pulse video Thermography, or thermal wave imaging. As an empirical rule, the radius of the smallest defect should be at least one to two times larger than its depth under the surface. Thermography is being used to inspect void, debond, impact damage, and porosity in composite materials. It has been shown that most of the defects and imperfection can be detected. However, the current method of inspection using thermographic technique is more of an art than a practical scientific and engineering approach. The success rate of determining the defect location and defect type is largely depend on the experience of the person who operates thermography system and performs the inspection. The operator has to try different type of heat source, different duration of its application time, as well as experimenting with the thermal image acquisition time and interval during the inspection process. Further-more, the complexity of the lay-up and structure of composites makes it more difficult to determine the optimal operating condition for revealing the defects. In order to develop an optimal thermography inspection procedure, we must understand the thermal behavior inside the material subjected to transient heat in order to interpret the thermal images correctly. Fabrication of finite element models of characteristic defects in composite materials subjected to transient heat will enable the development of appropriate procedure for thermography inspection. Design of phantom defects could be modeled and behavior characterized prior to physically building these test parts. Since production of phantom test parts can be very time consuming and laborious, it is important to design good representative defects.

Chu, Tsuchin Philip↗

Bion-11 Spaceflight Mission

The Sensors 2000! Program, in support of the Space Life Sciences Payloads Office at NASA Ames Research Center developed a suite of bioinstrumentation hardware for use on the Joint US/Russian Bion I I Biosatellite Mission (December 24, 1996 - January 7, 1997). This spaceflight included 20 separate experiments that were organized into a complimentary and interrelated whole, and performed by teams of US, Russian, and French investigators. Over 40 separate parameters were recorded in-flight on both analog and digital recording media for later analysis. These parameters included; Electromyogram (7 ch), Electrogastrogram, Electrooculogram (2 ch), ECG/EKG, Electroencephlogram (2 ch), single fiber firing of Neurovestibular afferent nerves (7 ch), Tendon Force, Head Motion Velocity (pitch & yaw), P02 (in vivo & ambient), temperature (deep body, skin, & ambient), and multiple animal and spacecraft performance parameters for a total of 45 channels of recorded data. Building on the close cooperation of previous missions, US and Russian engineers jointly developed, integrated, and tested the physiologic instrumentation and data recording system. For the first time US developed hardware replaced elements of the Russian systems resulting in a US/Russian hybrid instrumentation and data system that functioned flawlessly during the 14 day mission.

Skidmore, M.↗

Shapes of Nonbuoyant Round Luminous Hydrocarbon/Air Laminar Jet Diffusion Flames

The shapes (luminous flame boundaries) of round luminous nonbuoyant soot-containing hydrocarbon/air laminar jet diffusion flames at microgravity were found from color video images obtained on orbit in the Space Shuttle Columbia. Test conditions included ethylene- and propane-fueled flames burning in still air at an ambient temperature of 300 K, ambient pressures of 35-130 kPa, initial jet diameters of 1.6 and 2.7 mm, and jet exit Reynolds numbers of 45-170. Present test times were 100-200 s and yielded steady axisymmetric flames that were close to the laminar smoke point (including flames both emitting and not emitting soot) with luminous flame lengths of 15-63 mm. The present soot-containing flames had larger luminous flame lengths than earlier ground-based observations having similar burner configurations: 40% larger than the luminous flame lengths of soot-containing low gravity flames observed using an aircraft (KC-135) facility due to reduced effects of accelerative disturbances and unsteadiness; roughly twice as large as the luminous flame lengths of soot-containing normal gravity flames due to the absence of effects of buoyant mixing and roughly twice as large as the luminous flame lengths of soot-free low gravity flames observed using drop tower facilities due to the presence of soot luminosity and possible reduced effects of unsteadiness. Simplified expressions to estimate the luminous flame boundaries of round nonbuoyant laminar jet diffusion flames were obtained from the classical analysis of Spalding (1979); this approach provided Successful Correlations of flame shapes for both soot-free and soot-containing flames, except when the soot-containing flames were in the opened-tip configuration that is reached at fuel flow rates near and greater than the laminar smoke point fuel flow rate.

Lin, K.-C.↗

Shapes of Nonbuoyant Round Luminous Hydrocarbon/Air Laminar Jet Diffusion Flames

The shapes (luminous flame boundaries) of round luminous nonbuoyant soot-containing hydrocarbon/air laminar jet diffusion flames at microgravity were found from color video images obtained on orbit in the Space Shuttle Columbia. Test conditions included ethylene- and propane-fueled flames burning in still air at an ambient temperature of 300 K ambient pressures of 35-130 kPa, initial jet diameters of 1.6 and 2.7 mm, and jet exit Reynolds numbers of 45-170. Present test times were 100-200 s and yielded steady axisymmetric flames that were close to the laminar smoke point (including flames both emitting and not emitting soot) with luminous flame lengths of 15-63 mm. The present soot-containing flames had larger luminous flame lengths than earlier ground-based observations having similar burner configurations: 40% larger than the luminous flame lengths of soot-containing low gravity flames observed using an aircraft (KC-135) facility due to reduced effects of accelerative disturbances and unsteadiness; roughly twice as large as the luminous flame lengths of soot-containing normal gravity flames due to the absence of effects of buoyant mixing and roughly twice as large as the luminous flame lengths of soot-free low gravity flames observed using drop tower facilities due to the presence of soot luminosity and possible reduced effects of unsteadiness, Simplified expressions to estimate the luminous flame boundaries of round nonbuoyant laminar jet diffusion flames were obtained from the classical analysis of Spalding; this approach provided successful correlations of flame shapes for both soot-free and soot-containing flames, except when the soot-containing flames were in the opened-tip configuration that is reached at fuel flow rates near and greater than the laminar smoke point fuel flow rate.

Lin, K.-C.↗

Soft Landing of Spacecraft on Energy-Absorbing Self-Deployable Cushions

A report proposes the use of cold hibernated elastic memory (CHEM) foam structures to cushion impacts of small (1 to 50 kg) exploratory spacecraft on remote planets. Airbags, which are used on larger (800 to 1,000 kg) spacecraft have been found to (1) be too complex for smaller spacecraft; (2) provide insufficient thermal insulation between spacecraft and ground; (3) bounce on impact, thereby making it difficult to land spacecraft in precisely designated positions; and (4) be too unstable to serve as platforms for scientific observations. A CHEM foam pad according to the proposal would have a glass-transition temperature (Tg) well above ambient temperature. It would be compacted, at a temperature above Tg, to about a tenth or less of its original volume, then cooled below Tg, then installed on a spacecraft without compacting restraints. Upon entry of the spacecraft into a planetary atmosphere, the temperature would rise above Tg, causing the pad to expand to its original volume and shape. As the spacecraft decelerated and cooled, the temperature would fall below Tg, rigidifying the foam structure. The structure would absorb kinetic energy during ground impact by inelastic crushing, thus protecting the payload from damaging shocks. Thereafter, this pad would serve as a mechanically stable, thermally insulating platform for the landed spacecraft.

Sokolowski, Witold↗

Comparison of MODIS and VIIRS On-board Blackbody Performance

MODIS has 16 thermal emissive bands (TEBs), covering wavelengths from 3.7 to 14.4 microns. MODIS TEBs are calibrated on-orbit by a v-grooved blackbody (BB) on a scan-by-scan basis. The BB temperatures are measured by a set of 12 thennistors. As expected, the BB temperature uncertainty and stability have direct impact on the quality of TEB calibration and, therefore, the quality of the science products derived from TEB observations. Since launch, Terra and Aqua MODIS have successfully operated for more than 12 and 10 years, respectively. Their on-board BB performance has been satisfactory in meeting the TEB calibration requirements. The first VIIRS, launched on-board the Suomi NPP spacecraft on October 28, 2011, has successfully completed its initial Intensive Calibration and Validation (ICV) phase. VIIRS has 7 thermal emissive bands (TEBs), covering wavelengths from 3.7 to 12.4 microns. Designed with strong MODIS heritage, VIIRS uses a similar BB for its TEB calibration. Like MODIS, VIIRS BB is nominally controlled at a pre-determined temperature (set point). Periodically, a BB Warm-Up and Cool-Down (WUCD) operation is performed, during which the BB temperatures vary from instrument ambient (temperature) to 315K. This paper examines NPP VIIRS BB on-orbit performance. It focuses on its BB temperature scan-to-scan variations at nominally controlled temperature as well as during its WUCD operation and their impact on TEB calibration uncertainty. Comparisons of VIIRS (NPP) and MODIS (Terra and Aqua) BB on-orbit performance and lessons learned for future improvements are also presented in this paper.

Xiong, Jack↗