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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 361 records · Page 20

A Compact Superconducting RF Accelerator for Electron Beam and X-ray Irradiation

As commercial and industrial applications of electron beam and x-ray irradiation have developed, new applications have emerged that require very high beam power to create the required radiation field. These new applications require dependable, efficient, high-energy, high-power electron accelerators. Recent developments in Superconducting Radio-Frequency (SRF) technology can now enable accelerators with lower costs and improved performance. Cryogenic heat loads are dramatically reduced through use of new materials and improved component designs. New cooling methods allow the replacement of complex systems requiring cryogenic fluids with simple robust systems with no fluids. New RF sources can greatly reduce the cost of RF power. Each of these developments has been individually proven and an effort is underway at the Illinois Accelerator Research Center at Fermilab to integrate them into the first prototype of an entirely new class of industrial SRF-based accelerators. These accelerators will enable robust, turn-key operation with very high electrical efficiency. The accelerator prototype under design will be capable of 10 MeV beam, CW operation, and 250 kW of electron beam power. These modular systems are small enough to be palletized and transported to the point of use. Their high electrical efficiency mean that portable power generation systems can be enable their use in mobile applications. The goal is a compact, cost-effective, high-power accelerator suitable for many of the applications covered by this conference. Fermilab is actively working to build the prototype. The end-product will be a commercially available, robust, turn-key system for applications requiring reliable electron beam or X-ray irradiation. Keywords: accelerator, applications, conduction-cooling, cryogen-free, industrial, super-conducting RF.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Crystalline Structure-Dependent Mechanical and Thermoelectric Performance in Ag 2 Se 1–x S x System

Self-powered wearable electronics require thermoelectric materials simultaneously with a high dimensionless figure of merit (zT) and good flexibility to convert the heat discharged by the human body into electricity. Ag 2 (S,Se)-based semiconducting materials can well satisfy these requirements, and thus, they are attracting great attention in thermoelectric society recently. Ag 2 (S,Se) crystalizes in an orthorhombic structure or monoclinic structure, depending on the detailed S/Se atomic ratio, but the relationship between its crystalline structure and mechanical/thermoelectric performance is still unclear to date. In this study, a series of Ag 2 Se 1–x S x (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.45) samples were prepared and their mechanical and thermoelectric performance dependence on the crystalline structure was systematically investigated. x = 0.3 in the Ag 2 Se 1–x S x system was found to be the transition boundary between orthorhombic and monoclinic structures. Mechanical property measurement shows that the orthorhombic Ag 2 Se 1–x S x samples are brittle while the monoclinic Ag 2 Se 1–x S x samples are ductile and flexible. In addition, the orthorhombic Ag 2 Se 1–x S x samples show better electrical transport performance and higher zT than the monoclinic samples under a comparable carrier concentration, most likely due to their weaker electron-phonon interactions. This study sheds light on the further development of flexible inorganic TE materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Power Electronics Based Self-Monitoring and Diagnosing for Photovoltaics Systems

Self-monitoring and diagnosing technology for photovoltaic (PV) systems is a method to reduce energy production losses. The proposed technology will enable existing panel-level power optimizers and inverters in a PV system to actively perturb the system, measure its response to these small-signal perturbations, and detect any changes in the small-signal impedances. Impedance measurement will be used to identify specific faults and power degradation trends in a PV panel. This information can be used to instantly alert Operations and Maintenance (O&M) personnel of the need for corrective action, thereby reducing energy production losses earlier relative to standard PV systems.

Panchal, Jeet↗

Update on Radiation Testing for Space Fission Power Systems

Radiation effects on materials and electronics is a major topic that needs to be addressed for a nuclear reactor flight demonstration of the Kilopower reactor. The Kilopower project team has taken steps towards developing a standardized radiation environment qualification program for components and materials. Candidate nuclear reactor facilities for both low fluence electronics and high fluence materials irradiations have been identified and approached. Collaborations are being pursued with both NASA and external experts to ensure that the results of the qualification testing are appropriate and relevant to nuclear fission power flight systems.

Chaiken, Max F.↗

Flywheel Energy Storage - Dynamic Modeling

A flywheel energy storage systems (FESS) is suitable for high-power, low-energy content to deliver or absorb power in surges. This type of application is very suitable for frequency regulation in an electric grid. In addition, a modern FESS is built as a high-efficiency, high-speed motor/generator drive system that employs modern power electronics, therefore, the power quality of the grid-connected output is excellent. In addition, a FESS is very valuable to delivering ancillary services to the grid, and it can contribute reactive power compensation. Thus, a FESS can maintain high reliability in power systems by providing ride-through capability to the power system area while the rest of the generating fleet, which has a slower response in the power system, performs primary and secondary frequency response to the grid. A FESS has several advantages compared to a chemical-based energy storage (CBES) system, namely: it has high energy density and durability, and it can be cycled frequently without impacting performance. The response of FESS is faster than that of a CBES. Also, unlike some CBES, FESS has the same performance regardless of the number of cycles of charging/discharging performed throughout its lifetime.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Power processing for electric propulsion

The potential of achieving up to 30 per cent more spacecraft payload or 50 per cent more useful operating life by the use of electric propulsion in place of conventional cold gas or hydrazine systems in science, communications, and earth applications spacecraft is a compelling reason to consider the inclusion of electric thruster systems in new spacecraft design. The propulsion requirements of such spacecraft dictate a wide range of thruster power levels and operational lifetimes, which must be matched by lightweight, efficient, and reliable thruster power processing systems. This paper will present electron bombardment ion thruster requirements; review the performance characteristics of present power processing systems; discuss design philosophies and alternatives in areas such as inverter type, arc protection, and control methods; and project future performance potentials for meeting goals in the areas of power processor weight (10 kg/kW), efficiency (approaching 92 per cent), reliability (0.96 for 15,000 hr), and thermal control capability (0.3 to 5 AU).

Finke, R. C.↗

Stability and control of power systems with high penetrations of inverter-based resources: An accessible review of current knowledge and open questions

As power system renewable energy penetrations increase, the ways in which key renewable technologies such as wind and solar photovoltaics (PV) differ from thermal generators become more apparent. Many studies have examined the variability and uncertainty of such generators and described how generation and load can be balanced for a wide variety of annual energy penetrations, at timescales from seconds to years. Another important characteristic of these resources is asynchronicity, the result of using inverters to interface the prime energy source with the power system as opposed to synchronous generators. Unlike synchronous generators, whose frequency of alternating current (AC) injection is physically coupled to the rotation of the machine itself, inverter based asynchronous generators do not share the same physical coupling with the generated frequency. These subtle differences impact the operations of power systems developed around the characteristics of synchronous generators. In this paper we review current knowledge and open research questions concerning the interplay between asynchronous inverter-based resources (IBRs) and cycle- to second-scale power system dynamics, with a focus on how stability and control may be impacted or need to be achieved differently when there are high instantaneous penetrations of IBRs across an interconnection. This work does not seek to provide a comprehensive review of the latest developments, but is instead intended to be accessible to any reader with an engineering background and an interest in power systems and renewable energy. As such, the paper includes basic material on power electronics, control schemes for IBRs, and power system stability; and uses this background material to describe potential impacts of IBRs on power system stability, operational challenges associated with large amounts of distributed IBR generation, and modern power system simulation trends driven by IBR characteristics.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Reliable LED Lighting Technologies: Key Factors and Procurement Guidance

Abstract— Lighting systems have the ability to transform the economic and educational infrastructure of disadvantaged communities, and eradicating “light poverty” has become one of the primary goals of the International Year of Light 2015. Solid-state lighting (SSL) technology, based on light-emitting diode (LED) light sources, has emerged as the next generation of lighting technology, with a current global market penetration of roughly 5%. This paper will report on recent research on understanding SSL lighting system reliability (failure modes, environmental stressors, electrical power quality); discuss the implications of SSL technology reliability for providing lighting services; and suggest practical approaches to ensure SSL reliability to benefit humanity. Among the key findings from this work is that LED sources can be extremely reliable, withstanding a broad range of environmental stresses without failure. Nonetheless, SSL lighting systems can have a negative impact on electrical power reliability, as well as on the affordability of lighting services, without attention to the quality of the accompanying power infrastructure. It is therefore critical to ensure that the performance of the power supply electronics used in lighting systems is matched to the quality of the power source, when evaluating energy efficient lighting choices.

Davis, Lynn↗

Modular Design of Receiver Side Power Electronics for 200 kW High Power Dynamic Wireless Charging System

Dynamic wireless power transfer (DWPT) can provide energy to EVs in motion and extend the drive range. By upscaling the charging power to 200 kW (High Power DWPT), the percentage of electrified roadway reduces and the solution becomes cost-effective. However, coil coupling-coefficient variation during vehicle movement fluctuates the transferred power which is unfavorable for vehicle battery. Secondary regulation design can smooth the power but the converter design becomes very challenging due to requirement in high power, high efficiency, fast control, as well as high power density since the unit will be onboard. This paper provides the modular design approach of a 200 kW secondary side unit to achieve high performance and scalability. The DC/DC converter using SiC devices demonstrated 98.3% efficiency.

Xue, Lincoln↗

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Nuclear Science Symposium, 18th, and Nuclear Power Systems Symposium, 3rd, San Francisco, Calif., November 3-5, 1971, Proceedings.

Potential advantages of fusion power reactors are discussed together with the protection of the public from radioactivity produced in nuclear power reactors, and the significance of tritium releases to the environment. Other subjects considered are biomedical instrumentation, radiation damage problems, low level environmental radionuclide analysis systems, nuclear techniques in environmental research, nuclear instrumentation, and space and plasma instrumentation. Individual items are abstracted in this issue.

Source record↗

System, method, and apparatus for integrating high power density power electronics on a mobile application

A motor drive converter includes a cold plate having a first side and a second side, the first side being opposite to the second side. The motor drive converter may further include at least one motor phase power electronics disposed on the first side of the cold plate, and a capacitor array disposed on the second side of the cold plate. The cold plate may include slots therethrough for a conductor to pass through the cold plate. The conductor may be configured to electrically coupling the capacitor array and the at least one motor phase power electronics.

Stoltz, Thomas Joseph↗

Wide-Temperature Electronics for Thermal Control of Nanosats

This document represents a presentation which examines the wide and low-temperature electronics required for NanoSatellites. In the past, larger spacecraft used Radioisotope Heating Units (RHU's). The advantage of the use of these electronics is that they could eliminate or reduce the requirement for RHU's, reduce system weight and simplify spacecraft design by eliminating containment/support structures for RHU's. The Glenn Research Center's Wide/Low Temperature Power Electronics Program supports the development of power systems capable of reliable, efficient operation over wide and low temperature ranges. Included charts review the successes and failures of various electronic devices, the IRF541 HEXFET, The NE76118n-Channel GaAS MESFET, the Lithium Carbon Monofluoride Primary Battery, and a COTS DC-DC converter. The preliminary result of wide/low temperature testing of CTS and custom parts and power circuit indicate that through careful selection of components and technologies it is possible to design and build power circuits which operate from room temperature to near 100K.

Dickman, John Ellis↗