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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 397 records · Page 22
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

A Review on Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities for Urban Air Mobility

Recent developments of high-powered unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have allowed for urban air mobility (UAM) to become a reality. While these flying cars' propulsive technology has almost become economically viable, the infrastructure to allow these vehicles to operate in an urban environment is still lacking. With numerous known vulnerabilities in UAVs and commercial aircraft, manufacturers have not addressed cybersecurity in the scope of urban air mobility.

Urban Air Mobility↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

UV Laser Development for In Situ Planetary Lander Instruments

Mass and Raman spectrometers represent progressive analytical platforms for future in situ lander missions to explore the surface chemistry of planetary bodies across the Solar System. Europa, the Moon, and Mars are some of the primary targets for future NASA missions to search for extraterrestrial life and potentially habitable environments beyond Earth, further our understanding of the timing and formation of the Solar System and identify potentially viable economic resources such as water and/or valuable metal assets. The CORALS (Characterization of Ocean Residues And Life Signatures) and CRATER (Characterization of Regolith And Trace Economic Resources) instruments are UV laser-enabled OrbitrapTM mass spectrometers currently under development for prospective lander missions to Europa and the Moon, respectively. The Raman Mass Spectrometer (RAMS) is a dual wavelength (UV and visible) laser enabled hybrid instrument that incorporates laser desorption/ ionization mass spectrometry (LDMS) and micro-Raman microspectroscopy imaging (μRS) into a compact instrument package for multiple planetary missions to the inner and outer Solar System. The Pulse Laser Ablation Sampling and Mass Analysis (PLASMA) instrument combines a multi-wavelength laser (deep-UV to near-IR), plasma source, and collision cell with a heritage quadrupole mass spectrometer (QMS) to enable high precision trace element analyses for a future Lunar lander instrument. We report on the advancement of four compact, robust, and high technology readiness level (TRL) solid state lasers operating at wavelengths 213 nm, 266 nm, 515 nm, 532 nm and 1064 nm that serve as the sampling and ionization sources, for the CRATER, CORALS, RAMS and PLASMA investigations.

Molly Fahey↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Recent NASA Research into the Psychoacoustics of Urban Air Mobility Vehicles

NASA maintains multiple psychoacoustic laboratories across the United States. One focus of research in these facilities is to investigate the human reaction to the noise of notional UAM vehicles. This effort will look for answers to several questions: What does a “good” UAM sound like? What might be the impact on existing urban soundscapes? What will people think when there are an [economically viable] number of these machines operating? Although this effort is ongoing, a number of advances have already been made: A psychoacoustic test to guide UAM sound design has been recently completed. Several algorithms to assess the audibility of a UAM vehicle in an existing background soundscape have been put forward. A technical memorandum detailing best practices for recording and reproduction of background sounds for UAM psychoacoustic research has been published (TM 20210017504). Flexible data analysis methods that could be agile to changes in perception that occur when large numbers of vehicles are flying have been developed by extending existing metrics. This presentation gives an overview of this completed and continuing research.

UAM↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Solid-state Laser Development for the in Situ Spectroscopic Europa Explorer Instrument

The in Situ Spectroscopic Europa Explorer (iSEE) instrument is an ultra-compact laser-enabled Raman spectrometer instrument that meets the top-level science requirements for multiple future planetary in situ missions to explore the surface and atmospheric chemistry of planetary bodies across the Solar System. Enceladus, Europa, the Moon, Mars, and Venus are some of the primary targets for future NASA missions to search for extraterrestrial life and potentially habitable environments beyond Earth, further our understanding of the timing and formation of the Solar System and identify potentially viable economic resources such as water and/or valuable metal assets. We report on the advancement and space flight qualification of a compact, robust, solid-state laser operating at 515 nm that serves as the excitation source for the iSEE investigation. The iSEE instrument is being developed under a NASA Maturation of Instruments for Solar System Exploration (MatISSE) program. The iSEE laser is a diode pumped 1030 nm Yb:YAG microchip laser with a second harmonic generator to achieve an output wavelength of 515 nm and coupled to a multi-mode fiber for delivery to the Raman spectrometer probe. The fundamental 1030 nm laser operates at a pulse repetition frequency (PRF) of 1-10 kHz with pulse energy of 95 μJ and ~800 ps pulse width. A 15 mm long Type II KTP crystal is used for second harmonic generation from 1030 nm to 515 nm. The residual fundamental 1030 nm is separated from the 515 nm beam using a pair of dichroic filters. A focusing lens couples the 515 nm beam to the optical fiber to produce an output laser pulse energy of 20 μJ. A custom vacuum fiber feedthrough assembly was designed with two 105 μm core fibers, and two 200 μm core fibers. One fiber is needed for coupling the laser to the iSEE instrument, and the additionally fibers provide redundancy and design flexibility. The laser enclosure is pressurized with >1 atm of clean dry air. The laser has been designed to minimize the size, weight, and power (SWaP) for a lander instrument with minimal resources. The laser will go through environmental testing including vibration and thermal vacuum testing for space flight qualification. Here we discuss the design, trade studies, performance, and environmental qualificationtesting of the iSEE laser.

Solid state laser, Raman spectrometer, visible las↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Solid-State Laser Development for the in Situ Spectroscopic Europa Explorer Instrument

The in Situ Spectroscopic Europa Explorer (iSEE) instrument is an ultra-compact laser-enabled Raman spectrometer instrument that meets the top-level science requirements for multiple future planetary in situ missions to explore the surface and atmospheric chemistry of planetary bodies across the Solar System. Enceladus, Europa, the Moon, Mars, and Venus are some of the primary targets for future NASA missions to search for extraterrestrial life and potentially habitable environments beyond Earth, further our understanding of the timing and formation of the Solar System, and identify potentially viable economic resources such as water and/or valuable metal assets. We report on the advancement and space flight qualification of a compact, robust, solid-state laser operating at 515 nm that serves as the excitation source for the iSEE investigation.

Solid state laser, Raman spectrometer, visible las↗
DOE OSTI2020

Flotation of Bastnaesite Ore Using Novel Collectors

Interest in rare earth elements (REEs) has increased due to their distinct properties and new applications. China currently has a monopoly on rare earth production due to the lack of an economically viable process used outside of China. Bastnaesite, a rare earth fluorocarbonate, is one of the most common minerals containing REEs, which is mostly comprised of cerium and other light REEs. The objective of this research is to find a novel collector for the beneficiation of bastnaesite through froth flotation experiments to increase the grade and recovery of rare earth oxides while rejecting the major gangue minerals. Microflotation and rougher bench flotation studies were evaluated to find optimal collector(s) from 19 possible candidates. Collector 2, 5, and 8 were the top performing collectors chosen from microflotation experiments. A design of experiment matrix was set up to evaluate the variables, variable interactions and provide a reverence matrix for future optimization studies. Collector 2 was assessed to be the optimal collector. A rougher flotation experiment produced a rare earth oxide grade and recovery of 41% and 78% respectively and a 91.5% rejection of calcite. Collector 8 and 14 also showed promising results in replace fatty acid.

Everly, Dylan↗
DOE OSTI2021

BETO 2021 Peer Review - Biological Upgrading of Sugars (BUS) 2.3.2.105

The Biological Upgrading of Sugars (BUS) project directly targets the anaerobic conversion of lignocellulosic feedstocks into intermediate molecules readily upgradeable to fuel precursors. Recent efforts on the BUS project have a particular emphasis on the biological production of butyric acid, an intermediate that can be readily upgraded to sustainable aviation fuel, diesel blend-stocks, and high value chemicals. The BUS project approaches this direction through a combination of strain engineering, fermentation process engineering, development of novel separations technologies, and the design and build of pilot scale systems. Our ultimate project goal is to develop an integrated cost-effective process at pilot scale to achieve DOE's MYPP targets of $2.50/GGE. The major thrust of the BUS project over the last project cycle was on the development of integrated processes surrounding the anaerobic production of carboxylic acids using diverse Clostridium species. We developed and expanded genetic tools for several Clostridium species and rewired microbial metabolism in an attempt to maximize substrate utilization and flux towards butyric acid. We designed and built novel bioreactors with an in situ product recovery system enabling the biological production and recovery of highly purified acids. We leveraged this system to generate 100s of grams of acid from corn stover hydrolysate. In this presentation we highlight data surrounding our proposed process and accompanying results from technoeconomic and life-cycle analyses of our integrated process. Finally, we detail plans of our pilot scale reactor system that is in process and discuss our future routes towards achieving economically viable and sustainable diesel and jet blendstocks.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Controlled evolution of rare earth phosphate in coal ash slag

Coal ash slag as a waste by-product, is generated from commercial processes that include gasification facilities, power plants, and steelmaking industries. Some is recycled into construction materials, insulation fibers, and used as a soil neutralizer, but the majority is still discarded. Coal ash slag exhibit trace amounts of critical materials including rare earth elements (REEs). An economically viable extraction of REEs from the coal ash would lower the production costs, addressing the availability and environmental concerns. In nature, most REEs exist as phosphate such as monazite but its synthetic evolution in coal ash slag has never been reported. In industrial processes, P may originate from coal, additives, and/or refractory liners. REEs may be extracted by first concentrating REEs into phosphates, sulphide, or fluorides [1], or carbonates [2]. In this work, P-enriched coal ash slag bearing REEs was first melted above 1600 °C, then crystallization behaviors in the melt during controlled cooling was studied. REE phosphate coprecipitated with mullite and hematite with mullite being the first crystal to form on cooling. The REEs were rejected from the molten slag, mullite, and hematite, and tended to segregate only to the phosphate phase with REE concentration as high as 58 wt.% in the structure.

Nakano, Jinichiro↗
DOE OSTI2021

Controlled evolution of rare earth phosphate in coal ash slag

Coal ash slag as a waste by-product, is generated from commercial processes that include gasification facilities, power plants, and steelmaking industries. Some is recycled into construction materials, insulation fibers, and used as a soil neutralizer, but the majority is still discarded. Coal ash slag exhibit trace amounts of critical materials including rare earth elements (REEs). An economically viable extraction of REEs from the coal ash would lower the production costs, addressing the availability and environmental concerns. In nature, most REEs exist as phosphate such as monazite but its synthetic evolution in coal ash slag has never been reported. In industrial processes, P may originate from coal, additives, and/or refractory liners. REEs may be extracted by first concentrating REEs into phosphates, sulphide, or fluorides [1], or carbonates [2]. In this work, P-enriched coal ash slag bearing REEs was first melted above 1600 °C, then crystallization behaviors in the melt during controlled cooling was studied. REE phosphate coprecipitated with mullite and hematite with mullite being the first crystal to form on cooling. The REEs were rejected from the molten slag, mullite, and hematite, and tended to segregate only to the phosphate phase with REE concentration as high as 58 wt.% in the structure.

Nakano, Jinichiro↗
DOE OSTI2020

A Tool for Performing Link Analysis, Operational Sequence Analysis, and Workload Analysis to Support Nuclear Power Plant Control Room Modernization

Nuclear power continues to have an imperative role for the U.S.’s electricity generation. However, for these nuclear power plants (NPPs) to remain economically viable, new strategies for reducing operations and maintenance costs must be explored. The U.S. Department of Energy Light Water Reactor Sustainability Program is researching how to digitally transform existing analog and hybrid main control rooms into a fully integrated control room that addresses this challenge. The transformation will fundamentally change the conduct of operations for these U.S. NPPs. Human factors engineering has a vital role in this effort, where traditional task analysis methods are important in informing the design of advanced human-system interface displays. This work describes a preliminary tool to support task analysis for the development of these advanced displays. Details on the use of this tool, including the specific task analysis methods offered, are presented in this paper.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗
DOE OSTI2021

ENABLING BUSINESS-DRIVEN INNOVATION THROUGH HUMAN FACTORS ENGINEERING IN NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

For existing United States nuclear power plant fleet to remain economically viable, the nuclear industry needs to fundamentally change the way in which these plants are operated, maintained, and supported. A digital transformation is a key strategy to address this challenge. Though, guidance in this area is a continued effort. One framework to support innovation in the nuclear industry has taken a broader perspective by focusing on how technology can be used to meet specific business needs and work for the people and processes at hand. This work discusses the role and value of human factors engineering within this nuclear innovation framework. Human factors methods are presented here regarding how they address the phases of nuclear innovation. This work seeks to describe how human factors can be applied in nuclear innovation by strengthening the alignment of technology, people, processes, and regulations such that the needs of the business is addressed.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Integration of CO2 Electrolysis with Microbial Syngas Upgrading to Rewire the Carbon Economy

This project has worked towards demonstrating and understanding the conversion of waste CO2 into value added fuels and chemicals. If successful, our proposed technology will incentivize CO2 capture and can add carbon efficiency to biorefineries. We have integrated two conversion technologies to demonstrate a novel approach of combining electrolytic CO2 reduction with biocatalytic CO upgrading. Industrial partners 3M and Dioxide Materials have recently demonstrated electrolytic conversion of CO2 and water to syngas using inexpensive renewable energy. Concurrently, supporting partner Lanzatech has demonstrated industrial scale CO fermentation using steel mill waste CO as a substrate. This presentation will highlight the investment BETO has made to establish a CO2 electrolysis test station and CO fermentation at NREL. We will also discuss the process of increasing the size of the electrolyzers to meet fermentation needs, along with the investigation into the affect CO2 concentration and contaminates have on electrolyzer efficiency, lifetime, and specificity. Additionally, we have begun to examine the downstream impact of electrolyzer off-gas CO:H2 ratios have on the metabolism of C. autoethanologen. Experimental results along input from our industrial partners have led to a baseline techno-economic and life cycle analyses. These results enabled the identification of key cost drivers and carbon intensity of the process. We have used these metrics to identify technology gaps to iteratively inform the process optimization and potential deployment siting to achieve economically viable, sustainable conversion of biopower-derived flue gases to fuels and chemical intermediates.

bioenergy↗
DOE OSTI2022

Cleantech Innovations Launch to Market

The NREL Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center (IEC) brings economically viable cleantech innovations to market. We create technology incubation program and solutions that address gaps preventing innovations from getting to market and preventing market growth.

accelerator↗
DOE OSTI2022

American-Made Challenges: FLoating Offshore Wind ReadINess (FLOWIN) Prize

The goal of this prize is to establish a pathway to cost-effective domestic manufacture and deployment of gigawatt-scale floating wind farms in U.S. waters. Toward realization of that goal, the prize will: (1) incentivize and support further development of technically and economically viable floating wind platform structures that can support 12-MW-rated or larger wind turbines in water depths over 40 meters. (2) incentivize the creation of a supply chain that will enable domestic on-site manufacturing of floating offshore wind farm components utilizing a skilled and trained workforce. (3) promote awareness of the importance and principles of inclusion and environmental justice.

American-Made Challenges↗
DOE OSTI2022

2021 Prototype Design Development Awardee: Accelerate Wind, Inc.

In the United States, rooftop photovoltaic systems can be installed on most commercial buildings. However, even if all available rooftop space is used, solar energy cannot satisfy the building's total energy demand. With many building owners trying to move toward net-zero-carbon-emission energy generation, these customers often have no way to achieve this goal on-site. Rooftop wind energy technology could be an option, but most rooftop wind turbines are not economically viable because they do not produce meaningful amounts of energy and are not likely to pay for themselves within their lifetime. Some rooftop wind turbine companies have attempted to exploit the fact that wind naturally speeds up at the edge of a roof; but, so far, these solutions have also struggled to produce significant energy because only a small portion of that wind can be captured so close to the edge of the roof.

CIP↗
DOE OSTI2023

Recent Advances in Picochlorum renovo Strain Development

Microalgae are amongst the most efficient phototrophs for the reduction of CO2 to industrially relevant products and product intermediates. We have recently identified a novel species in the genus Picochlorum (Picochlorum renovo) that demonstrates high areal productivity (>30 g/m2/day), high temperature and salinity tolerances, and rapid growth rate (-2 hour doubling time): attributes essential for economically viable industrial scale deployment for low value commodities (e.g. fuel and chemical precursors). Following screening of >300 algal isolates to identify Picochlorum renovo, we developed baseline genetic tools necessary for genetic engineering of the nucleus and chloroplast, and further built upon these tools to establish a protein secretion system. We have also deployed genetic engineering tools to establish the utilization of phosphite as a selectable marker in the chloroplast and nuclear genomes, while concurrently acting as a potential crop protection strategy. We have further implemented these tools to enable the utilization of formate as a novel carbon source for phototroph cultivation. Explicitly, formate toxicity was assayed, followed by introduction of a formate dehydrogenase to allow formate utilization. Cultures supplemented with formate grew to a higher density when cultivated under ambient CO2, highlighting the potential for this strategy to increase growth. Additionally, we have established a synthetic transcription factor and core promoter system which lays the foundation for tunable, high expression engineering in the nuclear genome, and potentially can be applied for universal algal genetic engineering. Finally, current work has focused on direct photosynthetic production of chemicals, and generation of mutant libraries. Combined, our work has established a robust genetic toolbox for Picochlorum renovo, which we have deployed for strain development purposes to introduce biotechnologically relevant traits.

algae↗
DOE OSTI2023

ABF Past Accomplishments - TEA/LCA

The Integrated Analysis task in the Agile BioFoundry (ABF) conducts techno-economic analysis (TEA) and life cycle assessment (LCA) to quantify the economics and environmental impacts of bioprocesses under development. The team from Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) develops TEA and LCA models of selected compound targets and hosts of interest to the ABF in an effort to provide an analysis-based foundation to the R&D. To date, the Integrated Analysis task has performed process modeling and analyses on multiple pairings of bioproducts and hosts, centered around major metabolic "beachheads" and "exemplar" molecules chosen for each of the metabolic pathways of interest. This presentation provides an overview of the approach used for TEA and LCA in the ABF and of the progress, outcomes, and impacts of TEA and LCA to support ABF goals, with a focus towards developing bio-based products that are both environmentally and economically viable.

BIOMASS FUELS,INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND AN↗
DOE OSTI2023

Deployment Feasibility Futures Analysis of Natural Gas Combined Cycle with Carbon Capture in Five U.S. Regions

A broad suite of technologies will be required to enable the United States to meet the current goal of a zero-carbon power sector by 2035, while continuing to provide the U.S. consumer with reliable, secure, stable, and affordable electricity. This study was conducted to evaluate the competitiveness of a natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) with carbon capture and storage (CCS) in five independent system operating areas, the PJM interconnection (PJM) regional transmission organization, Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), Western Electricity Coordinating Council’s (WECC) Northwest Power Pool (NWPP) region, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and the SERC Reliability Corporation (SERC) in the 2030 to 2035 time horizon. The modeling and simulation efforts focused on determining the dispatch characteristics and the economic feasibility of constructing an NGCC plant with CCS in each of those regions. The analysis indicates that a NGCC system with CCS can be economically viable in the ERCOT and PJM regions. Additional revenue stream and/or capacity payments are required in MISO, NWPP, and SERC to enable successful commercial deployment of a NGCC with CCS.

Pickenpaugh, Gavin↗