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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 379 records · Page 21
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2007

Long Term Mean Local Time of the Ascending Node Prediction

Significant error has been observed in the long term prediction of the Mean Local Time of the Ascending Node on the Aqua spacecraft. This error of approximately 90 seconds over a two year prediction is a complication in planning and timing of maneuvers for all members of the Earth Observing System Afternoon Constellation, which use Aqua's MLTAN as the reference for their inclination maneuvers. It was determined that the source of the prediction error was the lack of a solid Earth tide model in the operational force models. The Love Model of the solid Earth tide potential was used to derive analytic corrections to the inclination and right ascension of the ascending node of Aqua's Sun-synchronous orbit. Additionally, it was determined that the resonance between the Sun and orbit plane of the Sun-synchronous orbit is the primary driver of this error. The analytic corrections have been added to the operational force models for the Aqua spacecraft reducing the two-year 90-second error to less than 7 seconds.

McKinley, David P.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Liquid phase products and solid deposit formation from thermally stressed model jet fuels

The relationship between solid deposit formation and liquid degradation product concentration was studied for the high temperature (400 C) stressing of three hydrocarbon model fuels. A Jet Fuel Thermal Oxidation Tester was used to simulate actual engine fuel system conditions. The effects of fuel type, dissolved oxygen concentration, and hot surface contact time (reaction time) were studied. Effects of reaction time and removal of dissolved oxygen on deposit formation were found to be different for n-dodecane and for 2-ethylnaphthalene. When ten percent tetralin is added to n-dodecane to give a simpler model of an actual jet fuel, the tetralin inhibits both the deposit formation and the degradation of n-dodecane. For 2-ethylnaphthalene primary product analyses indicate a possible self-inhibition at long reaction times of the secondary reactions which form the deposit precursors. The mechanism of the primary breakdown of these fuels is suggested and the primary products which participate in these precursor-forming reactions are identified. Some implications of the results to the thermal degradation of real jet fuels are given.

Kim, W. S.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Development of chemometric models to classify solid-state U materials by micro-Raman spectroscopy

Discerning uranium (U) particles found in environmental sampling is of interest for monitoring the peaceful use of nuclear material. In this study, a soft independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA) library was successfully developed for the classification of a four-class system consisting of α-U 3 O 8 , UO 2 , UO 2 (NO 3 ) 2 ·6H 2 O (UNH), and UO 2 O 2 ·4H 2 O (studtite) by Raman spectroscopy in the presence of matrix particulates and additional outliers. Spectral variability between numerous particles of each type revealed appreciable differences as a function of particle size with respect to hydration state and potential oxide phase within each class. Interclass variability was accounted for using both unsupervised and supervised chemometric models. The supervised SIMCA model displayed reasonable sensitivity for each U class and a high degree of specificity by returning whether a spectrum belonged to one class or not. This work demonstrates how Raman spectral features and chemometrics can be used to distinguish U materials from one another and from matrix materials such as flint clay. Combining the outlined chemometric approach with Raman mapping sequences could provide a rapid, nondestructive technique to characterize the chemical composition of a diverse collection of U compounds amid background samples for environmental sampling, nuclear forensics, and industrial applications.

Actinide↗
DOE OSTI2022

Layered CAD/CSG geometry for spatially complex radiation transport scenarios

Many spatially complex fission, fusion, and national security Monte Carlo (MC) radiation transport scenarios involve combining computer-aided design (CAD) models with constructive solid geometry (CSG) models. A layered geometry method has been implemented in the Shift MC code to address this need. With layered geometry, multiple CAD and/or CSG models can be clipped, translated, rotated, and placed in overlapping layers to form transport-ready geometries. Here, the utility of this method is demonstrated with two problems: (1) a fixed-source simulation with a layered geometry consisting of a LiDAR-generated CAD model of the Combined Arms Collective Training Facility urban environment overlaid with CSG models of a mock hotel and a detector apparatus, and (2) a k-eigenvalue calculation using a layered geometry model of the Transformational Challenge Reactor consisting of CAD fuel elements placed in a CSG core. Tallied particle flux distributions match expectations, but tracking robustness must be improved prior to general-purpose use.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
NASA NTRS1999

A Shell/3D Modeling Technique for Delaminations in Composite Laminates

A shell/3D modeling technique was developed for which a local solid finite element model is used only in the immediate vicinity of the delamination front. The goal was to combine the accuracy of the full three-dimensional solution with the computational efficiency of a plate or shell finite element model. Multi-point constraints provide a kinematically compatible interface between the local 3D model and the global structural model which has been meshed with plate or shell finite elements. For simple double cantilever beam (DCB), end notched flexure (ENF), and single leg bending (SLB) specimens, mixed mode energy release rate distributions were computed across the width from nonlinear finite element analyses using the virtual crack closure technique. The analyses served to test the accuracy of the shell/3D technique for the pure mode I case (DCB), mode II case (ENF) and a mixed mode I/II case (SLB). Specimens with a unidirectional layup where the delamination is located between two 0 plies, as well as a multidirectional layup where the delamination is located between two non-zero degree plies, were simulated. For a local 3D model extending to a minimum of about three specimen thicknesses in front of and behind the delamination front, the results were in good agreement with mixed mode strain energy release rates obtained from computations where the entire specimen had been modeled with solid elements. For large built-up composite structures modeled with plate elements, the shell/3D modeling technique offers a great potential, since only a relatively small section in the vicinity of the delamination front needs to be modeled with solid elements.

Krueger, Ronald↗
NASA NTRS2015

An Internal Thermal Environment Model of an Aluminized Solid Rocket Motor with Experimental Validation

Due to the severity of the internal solid rocket motor (SRM) environment, very few direct measurements of that environment exist; therefore, the appearance of such data provides a unique opportunity to assess current thermal/fluid modeling capabilities. As part of a previous study of SRM internal insulation performance, the internal thermal environment of a laboratory-scale SRM featuring aluminized propellant was characterized with two types of custom heat-flux calorimeters: one that measured the total heat flux to a graphite slab within the SRM chamber and another that measured the thermal radiation flux. Therefore, in the current study, a thermal/fluid model of this lab-scale SRM was constructed using ANSYS Fluent to predict not only the flow field structure within the SRM and the convective heat transfer to the interior walls, but also the resulting dispersion of alumina droplets and the radiative heat transfer to the interior walls. The dispersion of alumina droplets within the SRM chamber was determined by employing the Lagrangian discrete phase model that was fully coupled to the Eulerian gas-phase flow. The P1-approximation was engaged to model the radiative heat transfer through the SRM chamber where the radiative contributions of the gas phase were ignored and the aggregate radiative properties of the alumina dispersion were computed from the radiative properties of its individual constituent droplets, which were sourced from literature. The convective and radiative heat fluxes computed from the thermal/fluid model were then compared with those measured in the lab-scale SRM test firings and the modeling approach evaluated.

Martin, Heath T.↗
NASA NTRS2000

A Shell/3D Modeling Technique for the Analysis of Delaminated Composite Laminates

A shell/3D modeling technique was developed for which a local solid finite element model is used only in the immediate vicinity of the delamination front. The goal was to combine the accuracy of the full three-dimensional solution with the computational efficiency of a shell finite element model. Multi-point constraints provided a kinematically compatible interface between the local 3D model and the global structural model which has been meshed with shell finite elements. Double Cantilever Beam, End Notched Flexure, and Single Leg Bending specimens were analyzed first using full 3D finite element models to obtain reference solutions. Mixed mode strain energy release rate distributions were computed using the virtual crack closure technique. The analyses were repeated using the shell/3D technique to study the feasibility for pure mode I, mode II and mixed mode I/II cases. Specimens with a unidirectional layup and with a multidirectional layup were simulated. For a local 3D model, extending to a minimum of about three specimen thicknesses on either side of the delamination front, the results were in good agreement with mixed mode strain energy release rates obtained from computations where the entire specimen had been modeled with solid elements. For large built-up composite structures the shell/3D modeling technique offers a great potential for reducing the model size, since only a relatively small section in the vicinity of the delamination front needs to be modeled with solid elements.

Krueger, Ronald↗
NASA NTRS2006

A Theoretical Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Model for System Controls and Stability Design

As the aviation industry moves towards higher efficiency electrical power generation, all electric aircraft, or zero emissions and more quiet aircraft, fuel cells are sought as the technology that can deliver on these high expectations. The Hybrid Solid Oxide Fuel Cell system combines the fuel cell with a microturbine to obtain up to 70 percent cycle efficiency, and then distributes the electrical power to the loads via a power distribution system. The challenge is to understand the dynamics of this complex multi-discipline system, and design distributed controls that take the system through its operating conditions in a stable and safe manner while maintaining the system performance. This particular system is a power generation and distribution system and the fuel cell and microturbine model fidelity should be compatible with the dynamics of the power distribution system in order to allow proper stability and distributed controls design. A novel modeling approach is proposed for the fuel cell that will allow the fuel cell and the power system to be integrated and designed for stability, distributed controls, and other interface specifications. This investigation shows that for the fuel cell, the voltage characteristic should be modeled, but in addition, conservation equation dynamics, ion diffusion, charge transfer kinetics, and the electron flow inherent impedance should also be included.

Kopasakis, George↗
NASA NTRS2008

A Theoretical Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Model for Systems Controls and Stability Design

As the aviation industry moves toward higher efficiency electrical power generation, all electric aircraft, or zero emissions and more quiet aircraft, fuel cells are sought as the technology that can deliver on these high expectations. The hybrid solid oxide fuel cell system combines the fuel cell with a micro-turbine to obtain up to 70% cycle efficiency, and then distributes the electrical power to the loads via a power distribution system. The challenge is to understand the dynamics of this complex multidiscipline system and the design distributed controls that take the system through its operating conditions in a stable and safe manner while maintaining the system performance. This particular system is a power generation and a distribution system, and the fuel cell and micro-turbine model fidelity should be compatible with the dynamics of the power distribution system in order to allow proper stability and distributed controls design. The novelty in this paper is that, first, the case is made why a high fidelity fuel cell mode is needed for systems control and stability designs. Second, a novel modeling approach is proposed for the fuel cell that will allow the fuel cell and the power system to be integrated and designed for stability, distributed controls, and other interface specifications. This investigation shows that for the fuel cell, the voltage characteristic should be modeled but in addition, conservation equation dynamics, ion diffusion, charge transfer kinetics, and the electron flow inherent impedance should also be included.

Kopasakis, George↗
DOE OSTI2023

Solid and gas thermal conductivity models improvement and validation in various porous insulation materials

In the past few decades, significant efforts have been made to improve the theoretical understanding of thermal transport mechanisms in thermal insulation materials and push the thermal conductivity's lower limits. However, most works focused singularly on specific types of materials, and the models used for thermal conductivity predictions are diverse - a model that fits one material might not fit others. Here, we improve and unify the gas and solid thermal conductivity models for porous materials. Through experimental characterization of several different materials as well as literature data for other materials, these models are validated. Further, we have also found that the pressure-dependent gas thermal conductivity of most materials can be well fitted by using one or two pore sizes without using a complex pore size distribution. With the refined models, we decompose the effective thermal conductivity of several thermal insulation materials into gas, solid, and radiation contributions. For cellular (polystyrene and polyurethane) foams, the relative contributions from air, solid, and radiation are 58–75%, 3–11%, 16–38%, respectively. For granular porous materials (polyurethane and silica in this work), the contributions from air, solid, and radiation are 45–66%, 34–46%, and 0–8%, respectively. This work is expected to provide guidance on the design and optimization of the next generation of thermal insulation materials, for example, through the effort of reducing gas conduction and radiation in foams and suppressing gas and solid conduction in aerogels.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1990

Detailed modal testing of a solid rocket motor using a portable test system

Modern analytical techniques have expended the ability to evaluate solid rocket motors used in launch vehicles. As more detailed models of solid rocket motors were developed, testing methods were required to verify the models. Experimental modal analysis (modal testing) of space structures and launch vehicles has been a requirement for model validation for many years. However, previous testing of solid rocket motors has not typically involved dynamic modal testing of full scale motors for verification of solid propellant or system assembly properties. Innovative approaches to the testing of solid rocket motors were developed and modal testing of a full scale, two segment Titan 34D Solid Rocket Motor (SRM) was performed to validate detailed computer modeling. Special modifications were made to convert an existing facility into a temporary modal test facility which would accommodate the test article. The assembly of conventional data acquisition equipment into a multiple channel count portable system has made modal testing in the field feasible. Special purpose hydraulic exciters were configured to apply the dynamic driving forces required. All instrumentation and data collection equipment were installed at the test site for the duration of the test program and removed upon completion. Conversion of an existing test facility into a temporary modal test facility, and use of a multiple channel count portable test data acquisition system allowed all test objectives to be met and resulted in validation of the computer model in a minimum time.

Glozman, Vladimir↗
NASA NTRS2003

Using Plate Finite Elements for Modeling Fillets in Design, Optimization, and Dynamic Analysis

A methodology has been developed that allows the use of plate elements instead of numerically inefficient solid elements for modeling structures with 90 degree fillets. The technique uses plate bridges with pseudo Young's modulus (Eb) and thickness (tb) values placed between the tangent points of the fillets. These parameters are obtained by solving two nonlinear simultaneous equations in terms of the independent variables rlt and twallt. These equations are generated by equating the rotation at the tangent point of a bridge system with that of a fillet, where both rotations are derived using beam theory. Accurate surface fits of the solutions are also presented to provide the user with closed-form equations for the parameters. The methodology was verified on the subcomponent level and with a representative filleted structure, where the technique yielded a plate model exhibiting a level of accuracy better than or equal to a high-fidelity solid model and with a 90-percent reduction in the number of DOFs. The application of this method for parametric design studies, optimization, and dynamic analysis should prove extremely beneficial for the finite element practitioner. Although the method does not attempt to produce accurate stresses in the filleted region, it can also be used to obtain stresses elsewhere in the structure for preliminary analysis. A future avenue of study is to extend the theory developed here to other fillet geometries, including fillet angles other than 90 and multifaceted intersections.

Brown, A. M.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Aerodynamic characteristics of a 0.00563 scale 142-inch diameter solid rocket booster (MSFC model 449 and 480) with side mounted stings in the NASA/MSFC 14-inch trisonic wind tunnel (SA14FA)

An experimental investigation (SA14FA, TWT 620) was conducted in the MSFC 14-inch Trisonic Wind Tunnel (TWT) to determine the entry static stability of a 0.00563 scale shuttle solid rocket booster (SRB). The primary objective was to determine the effects of four side mounted sting configurations and to improve the definition of the aerodynamic characteristics in the vicinity of the SRB entry trim point. Data were obtained for two 60 and two 90 degree side mounted stings and a straight nose mounted sting. The angle of attack range for the side-mounted stings was 100 to 170 degrees while that for the nose mounted sting was 150 to 170 degrees. The Mach number range consisted of 0.6 to 3.48. Except for the aft attach ring, no protuberances were considered and the side slip and roll angles were zero. The test model was scaled from the 142-inch diameter SRB known as configuration 139 which was used during test TWT 572 (SA5F).

Ramsey, P. E.↗
NASA NTRS1985

A model for explaining some features of shuttle glow

A solid state model is proposed which hopefully removes some of the objections to excited atoms being sources for light emanating from surfaces. Glow features are discussed in terms of excited oxygen atoms impinged on the surface, although other species could be treated similarly. Band formation, excited lifetime shortening and glow color are discussed in terms of this model. The model's inability to explain glow emanating above surfaces indicates a necessity for other mechanisms to satisfy this requirements. Several ways of testing the model are described.

Peters, P. N.↗
DOE OSTI2023

A real-time multiphysics model of a pressurized solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) for cyber-physical simulation

Solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOEC) can play important roles in integrated energy systems (IES) as the hydrogen production hub and the resilience energy hub. When tied to a microgrid with high renewable penetration, the SOEC is subjected to rapid load transitions in response to the intermittent renewable generations that occur not only in diurnal cycles but also in short timeframes (e.g., sub-minute). The cyber-physical simulation approach can derisk operability research but requires a real-time dynamic SOEC model. In the present work, a real-time multiphysics model for pressurized SOEC is developed and validated in the pressure range from 1.4 to 8bar. Further, the accuracy of the single repeating unit (SRU) assumption in SOEC stack simulation is quantified. A guidance of more than 45 cells in one SOEC stack is recommended to safely apply the SRU assumption. Modeling results suggest that at a given current density, more power is consumed by SOEC at elevated operating pressures. The anode air and cathode stream have major impacts on thermal management, highlighting the potential benefit of integrating SOEC with other thermal processes in IES. To achieve high hydrogen production efficiency, the SOEC could operate at the maximum endothermic point to maximize the use of thermal energy. The real-time execution of the developed SOEC model is also demonstrated, which only takes 0.1% of the fixed time step of 5ms. The developed model establishes the basis for cyber-physical simulation of SOEC hybrid systems.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Ni coarsening under humid atmosphere in the electrode of solid oxide cells: A combined study of density-functional theory and phase-field modeling

Ni coarsening in solid oxide cell (SOC) electrodes is known to be significantly faster under a humid atmosphere. The underlying mechanisms, though, have not been fully understood. In this work, we examine the surface diffusion of Ni(OH) x by a combination of density-functional theory and phase-field modeling. Here, density-functional theory is used to evaluate the adsorption and diffusion of the Ni(OH) x species on Ni (111) surface, and the results are used to obtain the effective surface diffusivity of Ni versus steam and hydrogen gas partial pressures. This diffusivity is used as an input for a phase-field model to investigate the Ni coarsening in SOC electrodes. It is found that Ni(OH) x formed through chemical reaction cannot accelerate coarsening unless an extremely high steam to hydrogen ratio is reached. However, if Ni(OH) x is formed through electrochemical reactions near triple phase boundaries (TPBs), surface diffusion of Ni(OH) x may cause faster Ni coarsening in fuel cell mode under a large overpotential. Specifically, surface diffusion of Ni(OH) may be comparable to or faster than that of Ni under an overpotential that is large but still possible under fuel cell operating conditions.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Composite Analysis Solid Waste Release Data Reduction of Activity Flux from Waste Sites to the Vadose Zone for Baseline Assessment

This environmental calculation file (ECF) describes the data reduction methodology for the solid waste release datasets generated by the Composite Analysis Solid Waste Release (CASWR) model (CP-62766, Model Package Report: Composite Analysis Solid Waste Release Model [CASWR Model]) and documents the resulting reduced datasets for the updated Composite Analysis (CA) baseline assessment. This ECF is in support of the updated Hanford Site CA. The purpose of the updated Hanford Site CA is to provide an estimate of the cumulative radiological impacts from active and planned low-level radioactive waste disposals and other potentially interacting radioactive waste disposal sources that will remain following Hanford Site closure. The vadose zone modeling activities associated with the CA includes solid waste forms as contaminant sources. To support the modeling of solid waste transport from the vadose zone to the groundwater at the Hanford Site, the CASWR model was designed to generate deterministic radionuclide release rates for the Hanford Site Central Plateau solid waste disposal sites. The complete CASWR model-generated dataset for the CA Baseline Assessment consists of 2,378,831 sets of time and release rates (1,073,869 sets for the 200 East Area and 1,304,962 sets for the 200 West Area), representing a course of the simulation from year 1953 to year 12,069, 16 radiological contaminants of potential concern (COPCs), and 237 solid waste sources as documented in ECFHANFORD- 19-0112, Solid Waste Release Calculations for the Composite Analysis Baseline Assessment. For several of the STOMP vadose zone models, the number of release rate data pairs required for release at all waste sites would exceed the limitations imposed by the STOMP modelling software package used to simulate contaminant transport through the vadose zone. As a result, a data reduction of the CASWR dataset is required prior to its use as a source input for the CA vadose zone modeling activities.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗