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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

CI-MOR Final Report: Analysis and Validation of Critical Infrastructure Models using Model Order Reduction

This report summarizes the research and capabilities developed as part of the project “Analysis and Validation of Critical Infrastructure Models using Model Order Reduction” (CI-MOR) LDRD project. CI-MOR research enables the solution of large, complex optimization models that naturally arise in national security challenges involving critical infrastructures. Specifically, CI-MOR researchers developed methods to (1) rigorously approximate complex, nonlinear optimization formulations, (2) identify alternative near-optimal solutions, (3) accelerate optimization workflows used for complex applications, and (4) rigorously integrate domain knowledge in stochastic-process models. This report provides an overview of the research done in CI-MOR, and we describe application exemplars used to illustrate CI-MOR capabilities. Furthermore, we describe the software developed by CI-MOR that researchers can leverage to analyze new applications.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

“Mirror” magnet experiment for quench studies, quench analysis techniques development and in support of superconducting magnet modeling

In order to progress on various research points related to superconducting magnets, we suggest performing series of tests with induced and natural quenches on a mirror magnet, probably using a “11 T” coil. The “mirror” is to have voltage taps instrumented on half the strands, on both coil ends. It is to be instrumented with multiple spot-heaters, of the order of ten, in designated pole-turn areas. Instrumentation is to include quench antenna array facing the inner coil surface, as well as acoustic sensors on the inner layer pole. Further, acoustic sensors at the magnet ends and an acoustic calibration transducer are to be installed. Thus, we are to test sensitivity and precision of acoustic and quench antenna (QA) array sensors, both at close proximity to the coil, and we are to test and commission acoustic on-magnet real-time “calibration”. New or extended DAQ will be tested as well. In addition to diagnostic development, the purpose of the magnet experiment is to investigate current redistribution in the coil, both during quenching and in operating conditions; to assess voltage build up across strands and in the coil segments during quenching, to explore voltage signature differentiation between different type of quenches; to improve modeling of processes during quenching and for magnet design purposes. In this experiment, we expect to be able to characterize the processes during a quench in unprecedented details.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Application of remote sensing to thermal pollution analysis

A comprehensive numerical model development program for near-field thermal plume discharge and far field general circulation in coastal regions is being carried on at the University of Miami Clean Energy Research Institute. The objective of the program is to develop a generalized, three-dimensional, predictive model for thermal pollution studies. Two regions of specific application of the model are the power plants sites at the Biscayne Bay and Hutchinson Island area along the Florida coastline. Remote sensing from aircraft as well as satellites are used in parallel with in situ measurements to provide information needed for the development and verification of the mathematical model. This paper describes the efforts that have been made to identify problems and limitations of the presently available satellite data and to develop methods for enhancing and enlarging thermal infrared displays for mesoscale sea surface temperature measurements.

Hiser, H. W.↗

Monte Carlo analysis of uncertainty propagation in a stratospheric model. 1: Development of a concise stratospheric model

A concise model has been developed to analyze uncertainties in stratospheric perturbations, yet uses a minimum of computer time and is complete enough to represent the results of more complex models. The steady state model applies iteration to achieve coupling between interacting species. The species are determined from diffusion equations with appropriate sources and sinks. Diurnal effects due to chlorine nitrate formation are accounted for by analytic approximation. The model has been used to evaluate steady state perturbations due to injections of chlorine and NO(X).

Rundel, R. D.↗

Analysis of an algae-based CELSS. I - Model development

A steady state chemical model and computer program have been developed for a life support system and applied to trade-off studies. The model is based on human demand for food and oxygen determined from crew metabolic needs. The model includes modules for water recycle, waste treatment, CO2 removal and treatment, and food production. The computer program calculates rates of use and material balance for food, O2, the recycle of human waste and trash, H2O, N2, and food production/supply. A simple noniterative solution for the model has been developed using the steady state rate equations for the chemical reactions. The model and program have been used in system sizing and subsystem trade-off studies of a partially closed life support system.

Holtzapple, Mark T.↗

Nuclear Space System Analysis and Modelling (NSSAM): A Software Tool to Efficiently Analyze the Design Space of Space Reactor Systems

Space reactors have the potential to play a key role in future NASA exploration activities due to their capability to enable sustainable power and advanced propulsion systems. To enable assessment of the space reactor design space, the nuclear space system analysis and modelling (NSSAM) software was developed by Analytical Mechanics Associates. NSSAM leverages a scalable and extensible software architecture which automates reactor analysis to perform coupled engine-reactor and reactor physics-thermal hydraulics calculations. This allows space reactor systems to be evaluated by a wider number of users with a consistent analysis approach to compare designs. NSSAM has been developed with multiple use cases to tailor the analysis to the level of detail desired by the user and computing resources. This summary overviews the NSSAM architecture and development approach, current capabilities (including design variants and use cases) and analysis approach for reactor and system component models.

nuclear thermal propulsion↗

Model Diagnostics for Equation Oriented Models: Roadblocks and the Path Forward

This poster was presented at the Foundations of Computer Aided Process Design (FOCAPD) 2024 conference with a paper describing efforts to develop a unified workflow and toolbox for diagnosing issues in equation-oriented models as part of the IDAES modeling framework. The poster presents the work currently underway within the IDAES project to develop and integrate cutting edge model analysis techniques into a common toolbox and workflow for model developers to use.

Lee, Andrew↗

Model Diagnostics for Equation Oriented Models: Roadblocks and the Path Forward

Conference paper for FOCAPD24 describing efforts to develop a unified workflow and toolbox for diagnosing issues in equation-oriented models as part of the IDAES modeling framework. The paper presents the work currently underway within the IDAES project to develop and integrate cutting edge model analysis techniques into a common toolbox and workflow for model developers to use.

Lee, Andrew↗

Integrated Heat Pump Thermal Storage and Power Cycle for CSP (Final Technical Report)

Pumped thermal energy storage (PTES) is a storage system that stores electricity in thermal reservoirs. In this project, methods of integrating PTES with concentrating solar power (CSP) systems were investigated and their feasibility evaluated. Hybrid "solar-PTES" devices can provide both flexible renewable power generation as well as a variety of electricity storage services. Techno-economic models of PTES and solar-PTES were developed and used to assess their performance, cost, and commercial viability. Systems were optimized using multi-objective optimization techniques. The value that these storage devices provide to the grid was estimated using production cost modelling. Key advances made in this project include the development of detailed techno-economic models that improve state-of-the-art assessments of these technologies. Off-design models were developed and used in grid-analysis models. This work describes for the first time how PTES and solar-PTES behave over a range of operating points and assesses the value that these systems can provide to the electrical grid. Feedback was obtained from experts in the field, which clarified key technological and economic barriers that must be addressed to improve the feasibility of these devices.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Hidden-Markov-Model Analysis Of Telemanipulator Data

Mathematical model and procedure based on hidden-Markov-model concept undergoing development for use in analysis and prediction of outputs of force and torque sensors of telerobotic manipulators. In model, overall task broken down into subgoals, and transition probabilities encode ease with which operator completes each subgoal. Process portion of model encodes task-sequence/subgoal structure, and probability-density functions for forces and torques associated with each state of manipulation encode sensor signals that one expects to observe at subgoal. Parameters of model constructed from engineering knowledge of task.

Hannaford, Blake↗

Fully Coupled Aeroelastic Stability Analysis of Adaptive Shape Memory Alloy Structural Technologies for Airframe Noise Reduction

The objective of this work is the development of computational models and analysis of the coupled fluid-structure response of a slat gap filler (SGF) noise treatment applied to the leading-edge-slat component of a high-lift system typical of modern transport aircraft. The representative airframe chosen for this work is NASA’s High-lift Common Research Model (CRM-HL) in a baseline high-lift configuration. Superelastic shape memory alloys (SMAs) have been identified as enabling materials for these structural treatments. Since the technology elements rely upon having a highly reconfigurable structure, designs must be assessed for static aeroelastic deflection as well as dynamic aeroelastic stability using coupled computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and nonlinear computational structural dynamics (NL CSD) tools. The technical approach consists of solving for the flow field around the entire vehicle using a global CFD model, followed by extraction of relevant local subdomain data for CFD and NL-CSD co-simulations. The SGF design is assessed using both 2D and 3D co-simulations to predict quasi-static aeroelastic deformations and to assess dynamic aeroelastic stability.

Fluid structure interaction↗

NASA Lewis Launch Collision Probability Model Developed and Analyzed

There are nearly 10,000 tracked objects orbiting the earth. These objects encompass manned objects, active and decommissioned satellites, spent rocket bodies, and debris. They range from a few centimeters across to the size of the MIR space station. Anytime a new satellite is launched, the launch vehicle with its payload attached passes through an area of space in which these objects orbit. Although the population density of these objects is low, there always is a small but finite probability of collision between the launch vehicle and one or more of these space objects. Even though the probability of collision is very low, for some payloads even this small risk is unacceptable. To mitigate the small risk of collision associated with launching at an arbitrary time within the daily launch window, NASA performs a prelaunch mission assurance Collision Avoidance Analysis (or COLA). For the COLA of the Cassini spacecraft, the NASA Lewis Research Center conducted an in-house development and analysis of a model for launch collision probability. The model allows a minimum clearance criteria to be used with the COLA analysis to ensure an acceptably low probability of collision. If, for any given liftoff time, the nominal launch vehicle trajectory would pass a space object with less than the minimum required clearance, launch would not be attempted at that time. The model assumes that the nominal positions of the orbiting objects and of the launch vehicle can be predicted as a function of time, and therefore, that any tracked object that comes within close proximity of the launch vehicle can be identified. For any such pair, these nominal positions can be used to calculate a nominal miss distance. The actual miss distances may differ substantially from the nominal miss distance, due, in part, to the statistical uncertainty of the knowledge of the objects positions. The model further assumes that these position uncertainties can be described with position covariance matrices. With these, and some additional simplifying assumptions, a closed-form solution for the probability of collision is obtained. This solution provides clear insights into how each of the independent parameters affects the probability of collision. It shows that for a given maximum probability of collision and prior knowledge of the objects position uncertainties and sizes, only knowledge of the nominal closest approach distance is required to make the launch/no launch decision. The model was completed and used for the mission assurance COLA analysis for the Cassini spacecraft, which was launched on a Titan IV/Centaur rocket on October 15, 1997. Although the model was specifically developed for the Cassini mission, it is clearly applicable for other launches as well. The effect of COLA closures on the launch window is shown. The bar represents the entire 140-min launch window on October 15, 1997; the blackened areas represent the loss of launch opportunities due to the potential for a collision with an orbiting object.

Bollenbacher, Gary↗

Gas-Cooled High-Temperature Pebble-Bed Reactor Reference Plant Model Updates

This work presents the latest improvements to, and investigations performed with, the pebble-bed high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (PB-HTGR) reference plant models for the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. These models serve as the foundation for the future development of detailed design evaluation models based on license applications. The reference plant models have been developed with the Comprehensive Reactor Analysis Bundle, or BlueCRAB, which is the code suite proposed for non-light-water reactor systems safety analysis. It incorporates various simulation tools developed by the Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation program, including the Griffin code for reactor physics, the Pronghorn and SAM codes for core thermal fluids, the BISON code for solid conduction and fuel performance, and the SAM code for system analysis. The primary objective of the work that was performed was to assess BlueCRAB’s level of readiness for modeling a PB-HTGR. To do so, we first developed numerical models in BlueCRAB that include the key physics for this technology to ensure an adequate level of fidelity for modeling PB-HTGR core performance and for performing multiphysics simulations for equilibrium core conditions and different accident scenarios. Then we simulated transient scenarios, including depressurized and pressurized loss of forced cooling accidents, over-cooling, and control rod withdrawal events with delayed and prompt supercritical reactivity insertions. The analysis in this report includes comparisons of the 2D thermal fluid porous media models in Pronghorn and SAM, and comparisons of coupled SAM/Griffin/SAM and coupled Pronghorn/Griffin for depressurized and pressurized loss of forced cooling, over-cooling, and control rod withdrawal events. In addition, we compare 3D, 2D, and 0D/PKE neutronic models for the two control rod withdrawal scenarios with coupled Pronghorn/Griffin. The comparisons show that the BlueCRAB models lead to physically intuitive solutions for the scenarios examined. The changes in the various scalar and vector fields, such as neutron flux, power, temperature, density, pressure, and velocity, are within the expected ranges, and their distributions can be explained by the system response of the transients and the geometric and material variations. Several comparisons suggest that the porous media models in Pronghorn and SAM can lead to similar solutions, even though they are based on different methodologies. This work further highlights the need for flexible tools with various levels of fidelity to cover the breadth and depth of needs that may arise in future technical evaluations of the PB-HTGR. We believe that the BlueCRAB capabilities will be a significant asset for confirmatory analyses in order to resolve important safety questions.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Biofuel Infrastructure, Logistics, and Transportation (BILT) Model for Supply Chain Analysis: Documentation for BILT

The Biofuel Infrastructure, Logistics, and Transportation (BILT) model for supply chain analysis developed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory for the US Department of Energy is an accounting and optimization model that tracks the entire biomass-to-end-use supply chain (e.g., biomass production, transportation, and processing) for potential feedstocks, pathways, and end uses. This report summarizes the development, function, and operation of the BILT model.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

Improved Stress Analysis Of Multicomponent Rotors

Suitable formulation of finite-element model speeds computation. Improved method developed for analysis of stress and compatibility of components in multicomponent rotating assembly. In method, single finite-element mathematical model represents all of components. Made possible by use of gap elements to represent contact surfaces between components.

Carek, Gerald A.↗

Constitutive and life modeling of single crystal blade alloys for root attachment analysis

Work to develop fatigue life prediction and constitutive models for uncoated attachment regions of single crystal gas turbine blades is described. At temperatures relevant to attachment regions, deformation is dominated by slip on crystallographic planes. However, fatigue crack initiation and early crack growth are not always observed to be crystallographic. The influence of natural occurring microporosity will be investigated by testing both hot isostatically pressed and conventionally cast PWA 1480 single crystal specimens. Several differnt specimen configurations and orientations relative to the natural crystal axes are being tested to investigate the influence of notch acuity and the material's anisotropy. Global and slip system stresses in the notched regions were determined from three dimensional stress analyses and will be used to develop fatigue life prediction models consistent with the observed lives and crack characteristics.

Meyer, T. G.↗