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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 343 records · Page 19

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

NASA NTRS1977

Estimation of old field ecosystem biomass using low altitude imagery

Color-infrared photography was used to evaluate the biomass of experimental plots in an old-field ecosystem that was treated with different levels of waste water from a sewage treatment facility. Cibachrome prints at a scale of approximately 1:1,600 produced from 35 mm color infrared slides were used to analyze density patterns using prepared tonal density scales and multicell grids registered to ground panels shown on the photograph. Correlations between mean tonal density and harvest biomass data gave consistently high coefficients ranging from 0.530 to 0.896 at the 0.001 significance level. Corresponding multiple regression analysis resulted in higher correlation coefficients. The results indicate that aerial infrared photography can be used to estimate standing crop biomass on waste water irrigated old field ecosystems. Combined with minimal ground truth data, this technique could enable managers of waste water irrigation projects to precisely time harvest of such systems for maximal removal of nutrients in harvested biomass.

Nor, S. M.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) Engineering Test Facility (ETF) 200 MWe power plant Conceptual Design Engineering Report (CDER)

The reference conceptual design of the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) Engineering Test Facility (ETF), a prototype 200 MWe coal-fired electric generating plant designed to demonstrate the commercial feasibility of open cycle MHD, is summarized. Main elements of the design, systems, and plant facilities are illustrated. System design descriptions are included for closed cycle cooling water, industrial gas systems, fuel oil, boiler flue gas, coal management, seed management, slag management, plant industrial waste, fire service water, oxidant supply, MHD power ventilating

Source record↗

NASA NTRS1987

Activation of a controlled ecological life support system (CELSS) breadboard facility - Wheat growth studies

NASA's Controlled Ecological Life Support System (CELSS) will include subsystems for biomass production, food processing, and waste management in space. This paper discusses the CELSS Breadboard program, which is a research project for integration and evaluation of concepts and techniques of the CELSS facility, with special attention given to the Biomass Production Chamber (BPC). The design of the BPC and of its subsystems for nutrient delivery, atmospheric control, and computer control are discussed together with the subsystem control and monitoring parameter requirements. Results from preliminary wheat-growth tests in the BPC are included.

Knott, William M.↗

NASA NTRS2017

Transient Thermal Analyses of Passive Systems on SCEPTOR X-57

As efficiency, emissions, and noise become increasingly prominent considerations in aircraft design, turning to an electric propulsion system is a desirable solution. Achieving the intended benefits of distributed electric propulsion (DEP) requires thermally demanding high power systems, presenting a different set of challenges compared to traditional aircraft propulsion. The embedded nature of these heat sources often preclude the use of traditional thermal management systems in order to maximize performance, with less opportunity to exhaust waste heat to the surrounding environment. This paper summarizes the thermal analyses of X-57 vehicle subsystems that don't employ externally air-cooled heat sinks. The high-power battery, wires, high-lift motors, and aircraft outer surface are subjected to heat loads with stringent thermal constraints. The temperature of these components are tracked transiently, since they never reach a steady-state equilibrium. Through analysis and testing, this report demonstrates that properly characterizing the material properties is key to accurately modeling peak temperature of these systems, with less concern for spatial thermal gradients. Experimentally validated results show the thermal profile of these systems can be sufficiently estimated using reduced order approximations.

Thermal Analyses↗

DOE OSTI2020

Document Management: A Focused Analysis on the Configuration Management Process at Y-12 National Security Complex

The configuration management process at Y-12 is a crucial process to ensure safe operations and compliance with Department of Energy (DOE) regulations and requirements. This process is evaluated utilizing systems-thinking methodology in order to understand the current operational flow, with the ultimate goal of building an easily understandable, representative model. This model offers insights on key areas of waste and provides a potential solution by modernizing rate limiting steps: a software implementation to update the traditional document management system and make it paperless. Stakeholders of the software implementation are identified in order to define characteristic requirements of an effective product and the anticipated benefit is evaluated. Ultimately, this project is an effort to increase the quality of life for all stakeholders, while improving the capacity, throughput, and effectiveness of a necessary process at Y-12.

42 ENGINEERING↗

DOE OSTI2022

Analysis of Glycolate in Radioactive Waste by Ion Chromatography (IC) and Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (H NMR)

Here, in preparation for implementing the Nitric-Glycolic (NG) acid flowsheet for the Savannah River Site (SRS) Liquid Waste System (LWS), analytical methods for determining glycolate at low concentration, below 20 mg/L in radioactive samples, were developed to support system management and safety. To accommodate the wide range of LWS matrix conditions, two alternative methods were developed, refined, and demonstrated for glycolate analysis in radioactive waste samples: ion chromatography (IC) and a proton nuclear magnetic resonance (H NMR). Investigators validated IC and H NMR methods for glycolate analysis, defined the range of applicability, and demonstrated key supporting analytical protocols. The deployed IC method is applicable in low to moderate ionic strength samples and requires sample pretreatment using a Dionex OnGuard II H + cartridge. The deployed H NMR method is more labor intensive but provides options for a broader range of matrices. Based on the results, high quality glycolate analysis of the Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF) condensate in Tank 22 is feasible by IC down to approximately 12 mg/L. Using H NMR, glycolate may be determined to 8 mg/L or lower depending on the run time with the potential for broader applicability of the method to higher ionic strength conditions in other tanks of the SRS LWS.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

A Review of Baseline Assumptions and Ersatz Waste Streams for Partial Gravity Habitats and Orbiting Micro-gravity Habitats

Highly efficient water management and recovery systems will be required to support human missions beyond the low Earth orbit of the International Space Station (ISS). A review of baseline assumptions for the human activities and associated water cycle in surface, partial gravity habitats and orbiting, microgravity habitats is conducted. The paper reviews and updates ersatz formulations and water flow rates for the main liquid water waste streams of urine, humidity condensate, hygiene, and laundry. Development of a new framework is recommended to coordinate advancement and commonalities of water recovery systems for 30- day crew occupancies under partial gravity with longer term, continuous occupancy in surface or orbiting microgravity habitats and the Mars transit habitat.

Dean Leslie Muirhead↗

NASA NTRS2010

Life Support and Habitation Systems: Crew Support and Protection for Human Exploration Missions Beyond Low Earth Orbit

Life Support and Habitation Systems (LSHS) is one of 10 Foundational Domains as part of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration s proposed Enabling Technology Development and Demonstration (ETDD) Program. LSHS will develop and mature technologies to sustain life on long duration human missions beyond Low Earth Orbit that are reliable, have minimal logistics supply and increase self-sufficiency. For long duration exploration missions, further closure of life support systems is paramount, including focus on key technologies for atmosphere revitalization, water recovery, waste management, thermal control and crew accommodation that recover additional consumable mass, reduce requirements for power, volume, heat rejection, crew involvement, and which have increased reliability and capability. Other areas of focus include technologies for radiation protection, environmental monitoring and fire protection. Beyond LEO, return to Earth will be constrained. The potability of recycled water and purity of regenerated air must be measured and certified aboard the spacecraft. Missions must be able to recover from fire events through early detection, use of non-toxic suppression agents, and operation of recovery systems that protect on-board Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLS) hardware. Without the protection of the Earth s geomagnetic field, missions beyond LEO must have improved radiation shielding and dosimetry, as well as warning systems to protect the crew against solar particle events. This paper will describe plans for the new LSHS Foundational Domain and mission factors that will shape its technology development portfolio.

Barta, Daniel J.↗

DOE OSTI2020

A Preliminary Radiological Risk Assessment Model for Disposition of Remote-Handled Transuranic Wastes at Los Alamos National Laboratory Area G - 20116

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) operates a low-level radioactive waste (LLW) disposal site at Material Disposal Area G, in Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA. Area G has been the primary LLW disposal site for Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) since the 1960's. In addition to LLW, Area G is host to a variety of other wastes, the disposition of which must be determined before closure of the site. A probabilistic Radiological Risk Assessment (RRA) for Area G is used in order to support decision making regarding some wastes that are not addressed in the extant Area G Performance Assessment (PA) and Composite Analysis (CA). Between 1979 and 1987, 33 special shafts were augered into the Bandelier Tuff at Area G. This volcanic tuff is present across Pajarito Plateau on the eastern slopes of the Jemez Mountains, and varies widely in its consistency, from weakly indurated non-welded layers to welded layers that uphold the mesa cliffs of the Plateau. These mesas are home to LANL, Area G, and the townsites of Los Alamos and White Rock, with residences about 1400 m from Area G. The 33 Shafts were lined with steel casing, and contain remote-handled (RH) transuranic wastes (TRU) resulting from experiments and analysis performed in special glove boxes at the Chemistry and Metallurgy Research (CMR) facility at LANL. Some of these wastes originated as used nuclear fuel. The purpose of the Area G RRA is to evaluate the potential future risk to humans and the environment from the RH TRU in the 33 Shafts in the context of the risk associated with the surrounding wastes at Area G. The analysis is responsive to expectations outlined in DOE Order 458.1, Radiation Protection of the Public and the Environment, and is informed by the Manual and Guidance accompanying DOE O 435.1, Radioactive Waste Management. Because the waste meets the definition of TRU, the regulatory context necessarily takes into consideration the regulation governing the disposal of TRU from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): 40 CFR 191, Environmental Radiation Protection Standards for Management and Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel, High-Level and Transuranic Radioactive Wastes. Given the broader regulatory context for the RRA, the analysis is subject to different assumptions from those made in the existing DOE O 435.1 PA and CA, such as allowing for future occupation of the site. The analysis begins with a comprehensive evaluation of features, events, processes, and exposure scenarios (FEPS) for Area G and the wastes it contains. These FEPSs are screened to eliminate from further consideration those of extremely low probability and/or consequence, and a conceptual site model (CSM) is subsequently developed. The scope and structure of the Area G RRA Model is informed by this CSM, and the Area G RRA Model is developed using the GoldSim systems analysis modeling platform. This paper presents the initial version of a defensible, transparent, and reasonably realistic model, which is based on the state of knowledge of the wastes, the site, and the FEPSs that govern contaminant transport from wastes into the environment and subsequent exposures to humans and other biota. Probabilistic model input distributions represent uncertainties inherent in the real and modeled systems. The results of the Area G RRA Model inform decisions regarding the disposition of the RH TRU in the 33 Shafts. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

DOE OSTI2024

Coupled hydro-thermal flow and radionuclide transport driven by spatial variation of heat-generating radioactive wastes in shale formations

Deep geologic disposal of multiple nuclear waste packages with various heat sources can induce nonuniform hydro-thermal behaviors in the near-field of the repository, consequently influencing the long-term radionuclide transport in the far-field once waste form breach initiates. Here, this study looks into three cases with variation in the spatial order of six groups of heat sources (10th, 50th, 75th, 90th, 95th, and 99th percentiles of heat outputs generated from 1,981 as-loaded dual-purpose canisters in the field site) in a shale-hosted repository with respect to the uni-directional groundwater flow (from west to east): (1) cooler waste packages from west to east, (2) hotter waste packages from west to east, and (3) hottest waste packages in the middle of the repository. Our field-scale PFLOTRAN simulation represents heat-driven multiphysics coupled mechanisms, including multiphase flow, heat transfer, and chemical/radioactive transport, and also, calculates the onset of waste form breach based on temperature-dependent canister vitality. The results from this sensitivity study will quantify the short- (less than 1 × 10 3 years) and long-term (up to 1 × 10 6 years) impacts of sporadic heat pulses from waste package on the spatio-temporal perturbation in hydro-thermal flow quantities and the rate of radionuclide transport in both near- and far-field of the repository system.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

NASA NTRS1985

Thermal management of high power space based systems

Conventional techniques of using a portion of the spacecraft skin for radiation of waste heat will be inadequate for high powered payloads (50 to 100 kWe) due to the lack of sufficient area. A Shuttle type system using a pumped single phase fluid loop could be scaled up to higher power but this type of system would require excessive pump power and weight. A pumped two-phase heat transfer loop has a much lower pumping requirement due to the higher latent heat of vaporization of the fluid in comparison to the sensible heat it can absorb through a temperature change. Concepts for an evaporator and a condenser for a pumped two-phase system are described. The condenser uses capillary grooves and a separate pumped condensate return line to achieve high heat transfer coefficients and stable operation due to the separation of the vapor and liquid flows. The cold plate evaporator uses wicks to contain the liquid and transport it to the heated surface. It can also function as a condenser for warming components. Control concepts for the cold plate are discussed. Concepts for deployment or erection of large space radiators are also considered.

Hwangbo, H.↗

NASA NTRS2005

Designing For Human Presence in Space: An Introduction to Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS)

Wieland, P. O.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Designing for human presence in space: An introduction to environmental control and life support systems

Human exploration and utilization of space requires habitats to provide appropriate conditions for working and living. These conditions are provided by environmental control and life support systems (ECLSS) that ensure appropriate atmosphere composition, pressure, and temperature; manage and distribute water, process waste matter, provide fire detection and suppression; and other functions as necessary. The functions that are performed by ECLSS are described and basic information necessary to design an ECLSS is provided. Technical and programmatic aspects of designing and developing ECLSS for space habitats are described including descriptions of technologies, analysis methods, test requirements, program organization, documentation requirements, and the requirements imposed by medical, mission, safety, and system needs. The design and development process is described from initial trade studies through system-level analyses to support operation. ECLSS needs for future space habitats are also described. Extensive listings of references and related works provide sources for more detailed information on each aspect of ECLSS design and development.

Wieland, Paul↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Status of ISS Water Management and Recovery

Water management on ISS is responsible for the provision of water to the crew for drinking water, food preparation, and hygiene, to the Oxygen Generation System (OGS) for oxygen production via electrolysis, to the Waste & Hygiene Compartment (WHC) for flush water, and for experiments on ISS. This paper summarizes water management activities on the ISS US Segment as of March 2022 and provides a status of the performance and issues related to the operation of the Water Processor Assembly (WPA) and Urine Processor Assembly (UPA).

Water Recovery System↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Thermal Vacuum Chamber Demonstration of a Cryocooled, HTS Rotor for a 1.4 MW Electric Machine for Electrified Aircraft Propulsion

Aircraft with electrified propulsion systems require electric machines that are very lightweight and highly efficient. Advancements to the state of the art are required to meet this demand. This is particularly true for large transport aircraft with more than about 150 passengers, which will require electric machines with power ratings in the 1 to 30+ MW range. At this scale of power, superconducting technology becomes attractive for electrified aircraft propulsion to increase efficiency and reduce mass [1]. A mass reduction relative to non-superconducting machines can result from an increase in the specific power of the machine and indirectly through a significant reduction in the amount of waste heat generated on the aircraft, which reduces the mass of the thermal management system [2]. NASA’s high efficiency megawatt motor (HEMM) is a 1.4 MW partially superconducting machine that is being developed to achieve an efficiency greater than 98% and electromagnetic specific power greater than 16 kW/kg. HEMM contains a copper stator operating at an average temperature around 423 K and a superconducting rotor composed of no-insulation 2nd generation high temperature superconducting (HTS) coils that operates around 60 K. The superconducting coils are conductively cooled by a pulse tube cryocooler embedded inside and rotating with the rotor shaft. This paper presents a full-scale demonstration of the rotor in a thermal vacuum chamber at the designed operating temperature. The test was designed to validate the design of HEMM’s rotor, namely the ability to operate the 2G HTS coils at their rated direct current in a relevant thermal environment while being conductively cooled.

high temperature superconductors↗

NASA NTRS1996

Earth benefits of interdisciplinary CELSS-related research by the NSCORT in Bioregenerative Life Support

Earth benefits of research from the NSCORT in Bioregenerative Life Support will include the following: development of active control mechanisms for light, CO2, and temperature to maximize photosynthesis of crop plants during important phases of crop development; automation of crop culture systems; creation of novel culture systems for optimum productivity; creation of value-added crops with superior nutritional, yield, and waste-process characteristics; environmental control of food and toxicant composition of crops; new process technologies and novel food products for safe, nutritious, palatable vegetarian diets; creation of menus for healthful vegetarian diets with psychological acceptability; enzymatic procedures to degrade recalcitrant crop residues occurring in municipal waste; control-system strategies to ensure sustainabilty of a CELSS that will enable management of diverse complex systems on Earth.

NASA Discipline Number 93-10↗

NASA NTRS1979

Food and waste management biotechnology for the space shuttle

Space-crew facilities for preparation, eating, personal hygiene and waste management are contained in one small area of the Shuttle Orbiter Mid-Deck, all the functional systems being interconnected. The paper discusses three major systems: (1) the Galley, which includes the personal hygiene station and food packages; (2) the Waste Collector, which includes provisions for male and female users, urine, feces and emesis collection in both a normal and contigency mode of operation; and (3) Biowaste Monitoring, which includes mass measurement and sampling. The technology improvement continues by assuring that the Orbiter systems have sufficient design flexibility to permit later improvements in operation and in function.

Murray, R. W.↗

NASA NTRS2003

Lyophilization for Water Recovery From Solid Waste

This abstract describes the development of a solid waste treatment system designed for a near term human exploration mission. The technology being developed is an energy- efficient lyophilization technique that recovers water from spacecraft solid waste. In the lyophilization process water in an aqueous waste is frozen and then sublimed, resulting in the separation of the waste into a dried solid material and liquid water. This technology is ideally suited to applications where water recovery rates approaching 100% are desirable but production of CO, is not. Water contained within solid wastes accounts for approximately 3% of the total water balance. If 100% closure of the water loop is desired the water contained within this waste would need to be recovered. To facilitate operation in microgravity thermoelectric heat pumps have be used in place of traditional fluid cycle heat pumps. A mathematical model of a thermoelectric lyophilizer has been developed and used to generate energy use and processing rate parameters. The results of laboratory investigations and discussions with ALS program management have been used to iteratively arrive at a prototype design. This design address operational limitations which were identified in the laboratory studies and handling and health concerns raised by ALS program management. The current prototype design is capable of integration into the ISS Waste Collection System.

Flynn, Michael↗