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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
DOE OSTI2026

Hydrogen applications in airport operations: a review using the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey as an illustrative airport system

Airports combine aircraft propulsion, ground operations, stationary power systems, and fuel logistics in ways that make emissions reduction technically and operationally complex. Existing studies often assess hydrogen applications in these areas separately, limiting understanding of the shared infrastructure, safety, and operational constraints that shape airport deployment. This review evaluates hydrogen across three airport-relevant operational domains: aviation propulsion, ground support equipment and vehicles, and stationary power systems. Within aviation propulsion, the review examines sustainable aviation fuel production and hydrogen-powered aircraft as two distinct hydrogen-relevant pathways. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is used as an illustrative airport system to relate the literature to a real operating context. Drawing on peer-reviewed studies, technical reports, demonstration projects, and public operational information, the review also includes screening-level calculations of hydrogen demand and potential CO 2 e reductions for selected applications. The findings show that hydrogen's role is highly application-specific. Near-term opportunities are strongest where hydrogen serves as a low-carbon process input, supports selected high-utilization ground equipment, or contributes to resilient stationary power-system configurations. Hydrogen-powered aircraft remain a longer-term option because storage, fueling infrastructure, certification, cost, and NO x management continue to constrain deployment. Across all domains, infrastructure readiness, fuel logistics, safety requirements, and leakage management emerge as recurring determinants of viability. Future research should focus on cross-domain infrastructure planning, comparative assessment of hydrogen against alternative pathways, improved treatment of leakage and non-CO 2 effects, and clearer safety and regulatory frameworks for airport deployment.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2026

Numerical Modeling & Size Optimization of Thermal Energy Storage for Iron & Steel Production

Iron and steel production are responsible for 90 million MtCO2 per year in the United States. Hydrogen direct reduction of iron (H2DRI) is a promising pathway for a more sustainable iron production than commercially deployed technologies which rely on natural gas. The H2DRI process requires hydrogen at a temperature of up to 950 degrees C fed into a reduction furnace to produce pellets or briquettes that are used in the downstream iron and steelmaking process. In this work, we propose to use an electrical thermal energy storage (ETES) system, that can use renewable electricity to store high-temperature heat and dispatch it upon demand. Such a system can buffer the H2DRI plant from the variability of electricity prices by charging during curtailment and running the plant from storage during times of peak electricity price. We have developed heat transfer models for two different ETES systems that can be used to heat up hydrogen to the required temperatures: a particle-based ETES and a firebrick ETES. These models are used to evaluate the performance of such a system and support the sizing and preliminary cost estimation. The preliminary results using both models show that designing ETES systems for an industrial-scale H2DRI furnace is feasible. The firebrick ETES system has limited operational duration, which might limit the price buffering effect unless significantly oversized. The particle ETES system heat exchanger has industry-feasible dimensions, but its storage capacity would be decided upon the number of particle storage silos.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
NASA NTRS2003

Systems Analysis Initiated for All-Electric Aircraft Propulsion

A multidisciplinary effort is underway at the NASA Glenn Research Center to develop concepts for revolutionary, nontraditional fuel cell power and propulsion systems for aircraft applications. There is a growing interest in the use of fuel cells as a power source for electric propulsion as well as an auxiliary power unit to substantially reduce or eliminate environmentally harmful emissions. A systems analysis effort was initiated to assess potential concepts in an effort to identify those configurations with the highest payoff potential. Among the technologies under consideration are advanced proton exchange membrane (PEM) and solid oxide fuel cells, alternative fuels and fuel processing, and fuel storage. Prior to this effort, the majority of fuel cell analysis done at Glenn was done for space applications. Because of this, a new suite of models was developed. These models include the hydrogen-air PEM fuel cell; internal reforming solid oxide fuel cell; balance-of-plant components (compressor, humidifier, separator, and heat exchangers); compressed gas, cryogenic, and liquid fuel storage tanks; and gas turbine/generator models for hybrid system applications. Initial mass, volume, and performance estimates of a variety of PEM systems operating on hydrogen and reformate have been completed for a baseline general aviation aircraft. Solid oxide/turbine hybrid systems are being analyzed. In conjunction with the analysis efforts, a joint effort has been initiated with Glenn s Computer Services Division to integrate fuel cell stack and component models with the visualization environment that supports the GRUVE lab, Glenn s virtual reality facility. The objective of this work is to provide an environment to assist engineers in the integration of fuel cell propulsion systems into aircraft and provide a better understanding of the interaction between system components and the resulting effect on the overall design and performance of the aircraft. Initially, three-dimensional computer-aided design (CAD) models of representative PEM fuel cell stack and components were developed and integrated into the virtual reality environment along with an Excel-based model used to calculate fuel cell electrical performance on the basis of cell dimensions (see the figure). CAD models of a representative general aviation aircraft were also developed and added to the environment. With the use of special headgear, users will be able to virtually manipulate the fuel cell s physical characteristics and its placement within the aircraft while receiving information on the resultant fuel cell output power and performance. As the systems analysis effort progresses, we will add more component models to the GRUVE environment to help us more fully understand the effect of various system configurations on the aircraft.

Kohout, Lisa L.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Development of a Portable Stand-Alone 20 K Brayton Cycle Helium Refrigeration System

From 2012 to 2015, NASA funded development of the Ground Operations Demonstration Unit for Liquid Hydrogen (GODU-LH2) at Kennedy Space Center that scaled up and matured Integrated Refrigeration and Storage (IRAS) technology. IRAS involves the integration of an external helium refrigeration system with a cryogenic storage tank via an internal heat exchanger and allows advanced operations such as zero boiloff and densification of the liquid. The refrigeration system employed for GODU-LH2 was a Linde LR1620 piston-Brayton cycle machine with an RSX helium compressor. The GODU-LH2 system was installed in two separate shipping containers—one housing the cold-box, compressor, and gas management hardware, and the other the water chiller unit—with 480 VAC and 120 VAC electrical power fed from external hardware at the test site, and data capture and controls achieved using four different, independent software packages. From 2017 to 2019, in support of a densified hydrogen loading test program, the entire system was repackaged into a single, 40’ (12 m) shipping container, including the refrigeration system, water chiller, and electrical power distribution hardware, and controls were consolidated into a single Allen Bradley PanelView. Details regarding the design, build-out, and testing of the system will be presented and discussed.

W F Reaves↗
NASA NTRS2011

Project H - A Complete Spaceport Hydrogen Solution

This slide presentation reviews Project H, and its importance in the development of Kennedy Space Center (KSC) as a Spaceport capable of multiple launches. It is known that current KSC cryogenic technology results in only approximately 55 % of purchased hydrogen being used. The rest is lost at various points in the process: transfer from transporting vehicle to tank, storage tank boil off, and from the tank to the intended propulsion tanks. Project H's goals would be to have local hydrogen production and liquifaction capability, and to increase the efficiency of hydrogen operations to greater than 80 %. The project envisions two phases: Phase 1 will build a smaller scale demonstration system, and phase 2 will build a full scale spaceport system. This initial project has proposed ideas for local hydrogen production, gaseous distribution, integrated refrigeration and storage, and high efficiency transfer lines that merit further investigation.

Notardonato, William↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Lunar South Pole Regenerative Fuel Cell System Efficiency Analysis

It is expected that future NASA mission energy storage needs can be adequately met by regenerative fuel cells (RFCs). Aerospace RFCs package proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrochemical conversion devices based on hydrogen, oxygen, and water. To optimize system designs and direct further development, the most useful system metric is round-trip efficiency (RTE). Improving RTE generally increases specific energy and reduces system mass. The following analysis models the impact of several factors on RTE for RFCs at the lunar south pole scaling from 0.1 kW to 50 kW. The analysis demonstrates that higher electrolyzer operational pressure most negatively impacts both RFC RTE and specific energy. Optimal electrolyzer membrane thickness is evaluated as a function of operational current density and pressure. Reactant storage heating and power management losses are significant for RFCs of any scale but are reduced in impact at the south pole compared to colder equator applications. Solenoid valve power remains a noticeable parasitic load for smaller RFCs. Larger electrolyzers enable higher peak theoretical efficiencies when recharging at higher rates, if the RFC can be coupled with a corresponding higher power source. RFC design is a compromise of many interrelated factors, but this analysis provides a starting point for difficult decisions that must be made when designing a lunar south pole RFC.

regenerative fuel cell↗
NASA NTRS1988

Space Station battery system design and development

The Space Station Electric Power System will rely on nickel-hydrogen batteries in its photovoltaic power subsystem for energy storage to support eclipse and contingency operations. These 81-Ah batteries will be designed for a 5-year life capability and are configured as orbital replaceable units (ORUs), permitting replacement of worn-out batteries over the anticipated 30-year Station life. This paper describes the baseline design and the development plans for the battery assemblies, the battery ORUs and the battery system. Key elements reviewed are the cells, mechanical and thermal design of the assembly, the ORU approach and interfaces, and the electrical design of the battery system. The anticipated operational approach is discussed, covering expected performance as well as the processor-controlled charge management and discharge load allocation techniques. Development plans cover verification of materials, cells, assemblies and ORUs, as well as system-level test and analyses.

Haas, R. J.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Potential Challenges of HyBlend Storage in a Methane Reservoir Located in Southwestern United States

Hydrogen has been identified as a flexible energy carrier with zero or negative emissions across multiple energy systems. It is possible to utilize hydrogen by storing Hyblend, or hydrogen gas blended with methane, in existing natural gas infrastructure. However, the compatibility of adapting the current CH4 storage strategies to include H2 injection has not been fully demonstrated. It is essential that we understand the impact of H2 gas on the naturally occurring microbial community of subsurface storage reservoirs before deploying large-scale H2-CH4 storage. We designed a series of experiments that allowed us to identify potential geochemical and microbial challenges of HyBlend Storage in existing methane reservoirs. First, we collected and characterized field fluid samples from a methane reservoir located in southwestern United States. Next, we used these field fluid samples to complete a series of short-term reactor experiments at reservoir conditions (80 °C and ~1,000 psi) for a natural gas (100% CH4) and HyBlend(80% CH4/20% H2) storage environment to measure the transformation of gas content. We conducted both biotic and abiotic (sterilized) measurements to accurately understand and decouple abiotic and microbially driven processes. Overall, we found that our field sample was characterized by a diverse microbial community with the metabolic capacity for sulfur reduction, iron reduction, and acetogenesis. Across our reactors, there was minimal change in geochemistry.

hydrogen storage↗
DOE OSTI2022

Cobalt-Catalyzed Hydrogenation Reactions Enabled by Ligand-Based Storage of Dihydrogen

The use of supporting ligands that can store either protons or electrons has emerged as a powerful strategy in catalysis. While these strategies are potent individually, natural systems mediate remarkable transformations by combining the storage of both protons and electrons in the secondary coordination sphere. As such, there has been recent interest in using this strategy to enable fundamentally different transformations. Furthermore, outsourcing H-atom or hydrogen storage to ancillary ligands can also enable alternative mechanistic pathways and thereby selectivity. Here, we describe the application of this strategy to facilitate radical reactivity in Co-based hydrogenation catalysis. Metalation of previously reported dihydrazonopyrrole ligands with Co results in paramagnetic complexes, which are best described as having Co(II) oxidation states. These complexes catalytically hydrogenate olefins with low catalyst loadings under mild conditions (1 atm H 2 , 23 °C). Mechanistic, spectroscopic, and computational investigations indicate that this system goes through a radical hydrogen-atom transfer (HAT) type pathway that is distinct from classic organometallic mechanisms and is supported by the ability of the ligand to store H 2 . These results show how ancillary ligands can facilitate efficient catalysis, and furthermore how classic organometallic mechanisms for catalysis can be altered by the secondary coordination sphere.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS1968

Silicon surface barrier detectors used for liquid hydrogen density measurement

Multichannel system employing a radioisotope radiation source, strontium-90, radiation detector, and a silicon surface barrier detector, measures the local density of liquid hydrogen at various levels in a storage tank. The instrument contains electronic equipment for collecting the density information, and a data handling system for processing this information.

James, D. T.↗
DOE OSTI2020

H2@Scale Concept Hydrogen Demand and Resources

The H2@Scale concept involves hydrogen as an energy intermediate. Hydrogen can be produced from various conventional and renewable energy sources including as a responsive load on the electric grid. Hydrogen has many current applications and many more potential applications, such as energy for transportation, as a feedstock for synthetic fuels, and to upgrade oil and biomass, heat for industry and buildings, and electricity storage. Owing to its flexibility and fungibility, a hydrogen intermediate could link energy sources that have surplus availability to markets that require energy or chemical feedstocks, benefiting both. This data release provides estimates on hydrogens serviceable consumption potential for possible hydrogen applications and the technical potential for producing hydrogen from various resources. We define the technical potential as the resource potential constrained by real-world geography and system performance, but not by economics.

Array↗
DOE OSTI2021

Influence of Non-Equilibrium Conditions on Liquid Hydrogen Storage Tank Behavior [Slides]

Understanding liquid hydrogen tank fluid dynamics is key for modeling liquid hydrogen systems. The tank is the source for nearly all liquid hydrogen systems. Accurate flow modeling out of the tank is needed to predict flows through downstream components. Tank contains liquid and gas that may not be at equilibrium. Questions to be addressed are: Does heat and mass transfer between liquid and vapor affect the flow rate? Is boiling an important consideration? For what conditions is a pressure relief valve (PRV) sufficient to relieve pressure and when is the burst disc needed?

08 HYDROGEN↗
NASA NTRS1978

Cryogenic Propellant Densification Study

Ground and vehicle system requirements are evaluated for the use of densified cryogenic propellants in advanced space transportation systems. Propellants studied were slush and triple point liquid hydrogen, triple point liquid oxygen, and slush and triple point liquid methane. Areas of study included propellant production, storage, transfer, vehicle loading and system requirements definition. A savings of approximately 8.2 x 100,000 Kg can be achieved in single stage to orbit gross liftoff weight for a payload of 29,484 Kg by utilizing densified cryogens in place of normal boiling point propellants.

Ewart, R. O.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Combined TDLAS and chemiluminescence imaging in a flat flame burner operated with NH3/H2 blends

Ammonia is a promising hydrogen carrier due to its favorable storage and transport characteristics. However, its direct use in combustion systems is limited by low flammability and potential for high nitrogen oxide emissions. To better understand ammonia combustion, researchers conducted experiments using a flat flame burner and measured species profiles using tunable-diode-laser-absorption-spectroscopy and chemiluminescence imaging. They tested three flame conditions with different ammonia-hydrogen blends and oxygen levels. The results were compared to simulations using various kinetic mechanisms, including one that accounts for excited species chemistry. The goal is to provide direct information about species profiles in a simple system, isolating chemical kinetics from fluid dynamic effects, which can inform the development of more efficient and low-emission combustion systems using ammonia.

ammonia combustion↗
NASA NTRS2022

Lunar Equator Regenerative Fuel Cell System Efficiency Analysis

It is expected that future NASA mission energy storage requirements can be adequately met by regenerative fuel cells (RFCs). Aerospace RFCs are likely to package proton exchange membrane electrochemical conversion devices based on hydrogen, oxygen, and water. To optimize system designs and direct further development, the most useful system metric is round-trip efficiency (RTE). Improving RTE generally increases specific energy and reduces system mass. The following analysis models the impact of several factors on RTE for RFCs scaling from 0.1 to 50 kW. The analysis demonstrates that higher electrolyzer (EZ) operational pressure most negatively impacts both RFC RTE and specific energy. Reactant storage heating and power management losses are significant for RFCs of any scale, but solenoid valve power becomes a noticeable parasitic load for smaller RFCs. Spherical gas storage vessels benefit RTE by only 2 to 4 percentage points but increase specific energy by ~50 percent. Cryogenic reactant storage is shown to depress RTE to below 15 percent in all cases. For a given RFC scale, there is an RTE benefit to specifying larger EZs and recharging at higher rates—if the RFC can be coupled with a corresponding power source. Although fuel cell (FC) operation is less impactful on RTE than EZ factors, efficiency is maximized by sizing the FCs relatively large and keeping current density low. RFC design is a balance of many interrelated factors, but this analysis provides a starting point for difficult decisions that must be made when designing a lunar equator RFC.

regenerative fuel cell↗
NASA NTRS1995

Nuclear Thermal Rocket/Vehicle Design Options for Future NASA Missions to the Moon and Mars

The nuclear thermal rocket (NTR) provides a unique propulsion capability to planners/designers of future human exploration missions to the Moon and Mars. In addition to its high specific impulse (approximately 850-1000 s) and engine thrust-to-weight ratio (approximately 3-10), the NTR can also be configured as a 'dual mode' system capable of generating electrical power for spacecraft environmental systems, communications, and enhanced stage operations (e.g., refrigeration for long-term liquid hydrogen storage). At present the Nuclear Propulsion Office (NPO) is examining a variety of mission applications for the NTR ranging from an expendable, single-burn, trans-lunar injection (TLI) stage for NASA's First Lunar Outpost (FLO) mission to all propulsive, multiburn, NTR-powered spacecraft supporting a 'split cargo-piloted sprint' Mars mission architecture. Each application results in a particular set of requirements in areas such as the number of engines and their respective thrust levels, restart capability, fuel operating temperature and lifetime, cryofluid storage, and stage size. Two solid core NTR concepts are examined -- one based on NERVA (Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle Application) derivative reactor (NDR) technology, and a second concept which utilizes a ternary carbide 'twisted ribbon' fuel form developed by the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The NDR and CIS concepts have an established technology database involving significant nuclear testing at or near representative operating conditions. Integrated systems and mission studies indicate that clusters of two to four 15 to 25 klbf NDR or CIS engines are sufficient for most of the lunar and Mars mission scenarios currently under consideration. This paper provides descriptions and performance characteristics for the NDR and CIS concepts, summarizes NASA's First Lunar Outpost and Mars mission scenarios, and describes characteristics for representative cargo and piloted vehicles compatible with a reference 240 t-class heavy lift launch vehicle (HLLV) and smaller 120 t HLLV option. Attractive performance characteristics and high-leverage technologies associated with both the engine and stage are identified, and supporting parametric sensitivity data is provided. The potential for commonality of engine and stage components to satisfy a broad range of lunar and Mars missions is also discussed.

Borowski, Stanley K.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Welding at the Kennedy Space Center

Welding plays a major role in the design, manufacture, and construction of the ground support equipment at the Kennedy Space Center. Three applications of welding are described, i.e., an example of the structural welding of a girder in a mobile launcher (presently designated mobile launcher platform), an example of the repair welding of crawler/transporter shoes, and an example of the welding of the liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen storage spheres and vacuum jacketed piping in the propellants system. This welding technology was developed during the Apollo and earlier programs. It is now being applied to the Space Shuttle.

Clautice, W. E.↗
NASA NTRS2001

A Low Cost, Self Acting, Liquid Hydrogen Boil-Off Recovery System

The purpose of this research was to develop a prototype liquid hydrogen boll-off recovery system. Perform analyses to finalize recovery system cycle, design detail components, fabricate hardware, and conduct sub-component, component, and system level tests leading to the delivery of a prototype system. The design point and off-design analyses identified cycle improvements to increase the robustness of the system by adding a by-pass heat exchanger. Based on the design, analysis, and testing conducted, the recovery system will liquefy 31% of the gaseous boil off from a liquid hydrogen storage tank. All components, including a high speed, miniature turbocompressor, were designed and manufacturing drawings were created. All hardware was fabricated and tests were conducted in air, helium, and hydrogen. Testing validated the design, except for the turbocompressor. A rotor-to-stator clearance issue was discovered as a result of a concentricity tolerance stack-up.

Pelfrey, Joy W.↗