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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 415 records · Page 23

Technology for large space systems: A special bibliography with indexes (supplement 04)

This bibliography lists 259 reports, articles, and other documents introduced into the NASA scientific and technical information system between July 1, 1980 and December 31, 1980. Its purpose is to provide information to the researcher, manager, and designer in technology development and mission design in the area of the Large Space Systems Technology Program. Subject matter is grouped according to systems, interactive analysis and design. Structural concepts, control systems, electronics, advanced materials, assembly concepts, propulsion, solar power satellite systems, and flight experiments.

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Technology for large space systems: A special bibliography with indexes (supplement 05)

This bibliography lists 298 reports, articles, and other documents introduced into the NASA scientific and technical information system between January 1, 1981 and June 30, 1981. Its purpose is to provide helpful, information to the researcher, manager, and designer in technology development and mission design in the area of the Large Space Systems Technology (LSST) Program. Subject matter is grouped according to systems, interactive analysis and design, structural concepts, control systems, electronics, advanced materials, assembly concepts, propulsion, solar power satellite systems, and flight experiments.

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Technology for large space systems: A special bibliography with indexes (supplement 06)

This bibliography lists 220 reports, articles and other documents introduced into the NASA scientific and technical information system between July 1, 1981 and December 31, 1981. Its purpose is to provide helpful information to the researcher, manager, and designer in technology development and mission design in the area of the Large Space Systems Technology (LSST) Program. Subject matter is grouped according to systems, interactive analysis and design, structural concepts, control systems, electronics, advanced materials, assembly concepts, propulsion, solar power satellite systems, and flight experiments.

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Technology for large space systems: A bibliography with indexes (supplement 07)

This bibliography lists 366 reports, articles and other documents introduced into the NASA scientific and technical information system between January 1, 1982 and June 30, 1982. Subject matter is grouped according to systems, interactive analysis and design, structural concepts, control systems, electronics, advanced materials, assembly concepts, propulsion, solar power satellite systems, and flight experiments.

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Intelligent Chemical Sensor Systems for In-space Safety Applications

Future in-space and lunar operations will require significantly improved monitoring and Integrated System Health Management (ISHM) throughout the mission. In particular, the monitoring of chemical species is an important component of an overall monitoring system for space vehicles and operations. For example, in leak monitoring of propulsion systems during launch, inspace, and on lunar surfaces, detection of low concentrations of hydrogen and other fuels is important to avoid explosive conditions that could harm personnel and damage the vehicle. Dependable vehicle operation also depends on the timely and accurate measurement of these leaks. Thus, the development of a sensor array to determine the concentration of fuels such as hydrogen, hydrocarbons, or hydrazine as well as oxygen is necessary. Work has been on-going to develop an integrated smart leak detection system based on miniaturized sensors to detect hydrogen, hydrocarbons, or hydrazine, and oxygen. The approach is to implement Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) based sensors incorporated with signal conditioning electronics, power, data storage, and telemetry enabling intelligent systems. The final sensor system will be self-contained with a surface area comparable to a postage stamp. This paper discusses the development of this "Lick and Stick" leak detection system and it s application to In-Space Transportation and other Exploration applications.

Hunter, G. W.↗

Flow Boiling in Microgap Coolers - Suborbital Flight Results

Flow Boiling in Microgap Coolers (FBMC) is a thermal management technique that provides embedded, on-site heat removal for power dense electronic components and systems. The dielectric coolant undergoes liquid-to-vapor phase change as it passes through channels integrated within or between devices. By facilitating direct contact between the coolant and heat-generating devices and relying on phase change, the system provides tight temperature control, hot spot mitigation, very high heat transfer coefficients, and low pumping power. Ground tests demonstrated removal of high heat fluxes (up to 500 kW/m2), very high coefficients of performance (up to 40 W of heat transferred per W of pumping power), and consistent performance across five evaporator orientations under the appropriate conditions. As a follow-on study and to better assess the role of gravity on such two-phase systems, the FBMC payload was developed and flown twice aboard the Blue Origin New Shepard space vehicle in January and May 2019. Each flight exposed the payload to weightlessness (150 seconds below 0.01 g) and shorter periods of high-g during ascent (up to 3 g) and descent (up to 5 g). The flow boiling performance was consistent independent of the acceleration levels, which provides confidence that such systems will provide consistent performance when tested on the ground, orbiting or traveling through weightlessness, and operating on the surface of the Moon, Mars, and other planetary bodies. Details of the flight results, payload development, flight environment, and planned future testing will be presented.

Flow boiling↗

Advanced electric propulsion system concept for electric vehicles. Addendum 1: Voltage considerations

The two electric vehicle propulsion systems that best met cost and performance goals were examined to assess the effect of battery pack voltage on system performance and cost. A voltage range of 54 to 540 V was considered for a typical battery pack capacity of 24 k W-hr. The highest battery specific energy (W-hr/kg) and the lowest cost ($/kW-hr) were obtained at the minimum voltage level. The flywheel system traction motor is a dc, mechanically commutated with shunt field control, and due to the flywheel the traction motor and the battery are not subject to extreme peaks of power demand. The basic system uses a permanent-magnet motor with electronic commutation supplied by an ac power control unit. In both systems battery cost were the major factor in system voltage selection, and a battery pack with the minimum voltage of 54 V produced the lowest life-cycle cost. The minimum life-cycle cost for the basic system with lead-acid batteries was $0.057/km and for the flywheel system was $0.037/km.

Raynard, A. E.↗

Nanosatellite Power System Considerations

The capability to build complex electronic functions into compact packages is opening the path to miniature satellites on the order of 1 kg mass, 10 cm across, packed with the computing processors, motion controllers, measurement sensors, and communications hardware necessary for operation. Power generation will be from short strings of silicon or gallium arsenide-based solar photovoltaic cells with the array power maximized by a peak power tracker (PPT). Energy storage will utilize a low voltage battery with nickel cadmium or lithium ion cells as the most likely selections for rechargeables and lithium (MnO2-Li) primary batteries for one shot short missions.

Robyn, M.↗

Annual Battery Conference on Applications and Advances, 2nd, California State University, Long Beach, Jan. 14-16, 1986, Proceedings

Various papers on battery applications and advances are presented. The general topics considered include: power systems in biomedical applications, batteries in electronic and computer applications, batteries in transportation and energy systems, space power systems, aircraft power systems, applications in defense systems, battery safety issues, and quality assurance and manufacturing.

Das, R. L.↗

Radiation-Hardened Circuitry Using Mask-Programmable Analog Arrays (September 2014 Milestone Report)

This is a report of the activities involving Task 2 of the NEET 2 project Radiation Hardened Circuitry Using Mask-Programmable Analog Arrays. Using the analog blocks available in our currently pre-configured Via-Configured Array (VCA), we will perform a detailed schematic design of our system to include the signal-processing blocks for temperature, radiation and pressure. Control and data acquisition will be implemented with the Spartan-6 Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) as well as wired serial communications with a remote computer to be used with this project. In addition, batteries and associated voltage regulators will be selected for powering the system. Fabrication may include a polyimide, printed circuit board (PCB) for improved radiation and temperature tolerance. The PCB will go through a layout process by one of the organizations we utilize for this function and be fabricated by another external vendor. Population of the system board will be performed using one of our in-house technicians or an outside vendor we commonly use. Five prototype systems (sensors, electronics board, battery power supply, and personal computer (PC) serial communications port) will be constructed to support the testing objectives of this work. Quality assurance will be performed at each step by both the submitters and the vendors.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Using distributed power electronics-based devices to improve the voltage and frequency stability of distribution systems

Methods include, in response to a line frequency variation of a power grid, adjusting a voltage setpoint of a voltage regulator coupled to the power grid at a grid edge to maintain a voltage at the grid edge, wherein the adjusting the regulated voltage setpoint is configured to reduce the line frequency variation to stabilize the line frequency of the power grid. Apparatus include a voltage regulator configured to couple to a power grid at a grid edge and to maintain a voltage at the grid edge, wherein the voltage regulator is further configured to adjust a voltage setpoint of a voltage regulator in response to a line frequency variation of the power grid to reduce the line frequency variation and stabilize the line frequency of the power grid.

Du, Wei↗

Effects of nano-SiO{sub 2} particles on surface tracking characteristics of silicone rubber composites

Compared with neat silicone rubber composites (SiRCs), SiRCs filled with nano-sized SiO{sub 2} particles at weight ratios from 0.1 to 1.0 wt. % exhibit a higher surface flashover voltage and a greater resistance to surface tracking. Scanning electron microscopy images of tracking morphologies indicate that the SiO{sub 2} particles are situated in close proximity to the polymeric chains and act as bridges to stabilize the chains and maintain the structure of the composite. Higher concentrations of nano-sized SiO{sub 2} particles, however, (above 0.3 wt. %) produce defects in the molecular network which lead to reductions in both the surface flashover voltage and the resistance to surface tracking, although these reduced values are still superior to those of neat SiRCs. Therefore, SiRCs filled with nano-sized SiO{sub 2} particles, especially at an optimal weight ratio (0.1 to 0.3 wt. %), may have significant potential applications as outdoor insulators for power systems.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Lifetime laser damage performance of β-Ga 2 O 3 for high power applications

Gallium oxide (Ga 2 O 3 ) is an emerging wide bandgap semiconductor with potential applications in power electronics and high power optical systems where gallium nitride and silicon carbide have already demonstrated unique advantages compared to gallium arsenide and silicon-based devices. Establishing the stability and breakdown conditions of these next-generation materials is critical to assessing their potential performance in devices subjected to large electric fields. Here, by using systematic laser damage performance tests, we establish that β-Ga 2 O 3 has the highest lifetime optical damage performance of any conductive material measured to date, above 10 J/cm2 (1.4 GW/cm2). This has direct implications for its use as an active component in high power laser systems and may give insight into its utility for high-power switching applications. Both heteroepitaxial and bulk β-Ga 2 O 3 samples were benchmarked against a heteroepitaxial gallium nitride sample, revealing an order of magnitude higher optical lifetime damage threshold for β-Ga 2 O 3 . Photoluminescence and Raman spectroscopy results suggest that the exceptional damage performance of β-Ga 2 O 3 is due to lower absorptive defect concentrations and reduced epitaxial stress.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Integrated Power Source Grant

Traditional spacecraft power systems incorporate a solar array energy source, an energy storage element (battery), and battery charge control and bus voltage regulation electronics to provide continuous electrical power for spacecraft systems and instruments. Dedicated power conditioning components provide limited fault isolation between systems and instruments, while a centralized power-switching unit provides spacecraft load control. Battery undervoltage conditions are detected by the spacecraft processor, which removes fault conditions and non-critical loads before permanent battery damage can occur. Cost effective operation of a micro-sat constellation requires a fault tolerant spacecraft architecture that minimizes on-orbit operational costs by permitting autonomous reconfiguration in response to unexpected fault conditions. A new micro-sat power system architecture that enhances spacecraft fault tolerance and improves power system survivability by continuously managing the battery charge and discharge processes on a cell-by-cell basis has been developed. This architecture is based on the Integrated Power Source (US patent 5644207), which integrates dual junction solar cells, Lithium Ion battery cells, and processor based charge control electronics into a structural panel that can be deployed or used to form a portion of the outer shell of a micro-spacecraft. The first generation Integrated Power Source is configured as a one inch thick panel in which prismatic Lithium Ion battery cells are arranged in a 3x7 matrix (26VDC) and a 3x1 matrix (3.7VDC) to provide the required output voltages and load currents. A multi-layer structure holds the battery cells, as well as the thermal insulators that are necessary to protect the Lithium Ion battery cells from the extreme temperatures of the solar cell layer. Independent thermal radiators, located on the back of the panel, are dedicated to the solar cell array, the electronics, and the battery cell array. In deployed panel applications, these radiators maintain the battery cells in an appropriate operational temperature range.

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IEEE P2988: Recommended Practice of Use and Functions of Virtual Synchronous Machines

Power systems are going through a paradigm shift from centralized generation to distributed generation. This brings unprecedented challenges to power systems stability, reliability, and security. Operating power electronic converters as Virtual Synchronous Machines (VSMs) can bring backward compatibility to power systems, unify and harmonize the integration and interaction of future power systems players, and improve power system stability, reliability, and security. This is vital for the large-scale adoption of distributed energy resources, the advancement of sustainability, and the development of a low-carbon economy. This IEEE 2988 Recommended Practice will define the fundamental principles, mandatory functions, and optional functions of a VSM, i.e., a power electronic converter that is operated to behave like conventional synchronous machines. It will not describe or specify power semiconductor devices, hardware topologies, or micro-controllers that are used to build a VSM. This talk will discuss the activities and development plan for IEEE 2988 with the aim to engaging broad stakeholders and widening participation.

Zhong, Qing-Chang↗

Enhancing Power System Transient Stability by Virtual Synchronous Generator Control Using Wide-Area Measurements

Virtual synchronous generator control provides a potential solution to connect power electronics interfaced sources to the power system. With its flexible control, the emulated inertia may be adaptively changed to enhance system small-signal stability. However, previously proposed methods may have adverse impact to system transient stability. This paper proposes to improve the methods by using wide-area measurements, namely center of inertia frequency. Experimental results are presented to both demonstrate the limitations of previous control schemes, and the effectiveness of the proposed one. The practical implementation of this method is discussed.

Ma, Yiwei↗

Low cost Get-Away-Special (GAS) furnace

A simple and inexpensive Space Shuttle experimental apparatus to conduct microgravity melting and solidification is presented. A GAS space furnace was initially developed as a student design project at the USAF Academy and further refined at NASA Lewis. The experiment package consists of a melting chamber, battery power system, temperature data recording systems, and electronic controller. The melting chamber is a thin-walled tube wrapped by heating resistance wire. Thermocouples are used to record the specimen thermal history. Power is supplied by 2-V batteries wired to produce 360 W. The mV output of the thermocouples is amplified, cold-junction compensated, and converted to a frequency which is then recorded on an off-the-shelf cassette tape recorder. A backup data recording system which digitizes the amplified signal and records the data on EEPROMs has also been included. This experimental device demonstrates that basic science research can be kept simple and inexpensive.

Turner, Glon D.↗

Atomically Thin Femtojoule Memristive Device

The morphology and dimension of the conductive filament formed in a memristive device are strongly influenced by the thickness of its switching medium layer. Aggressive scaling of this active layer thickness is critical toward reducing the operating current, voltage, and energy consumption in filamentary-type memristors. Previously, the thickness of this filament layer has been limited to above a few nanometers due to processing constraints, making it challenging to further suppress the on-state current and the switching voltage. In this paper, the formation of conductive filaments in a material medium with sub-nanometer thickness formed through the oxidation of atomically thin two-dimensional boron nitride is studied. The resulting memristive device exhibits sub-nanometer filamentary switching with sub-pA operation current and femtojoule per bit energy consumption. Furthermore, by confining the filament to the atomic scale, current switching characteristics are observed that are distinct from that in thicker medium due to the profoundly different atomic kinetics. The filament morphology in such an aggressively scaled memristive device is also theoretically explored. Finally, these ultralow energy devices are promising for realizing femtojoule and sub-femtojoule electronic computation, which can be attractive for applications in a wide range of electronics systems that desire ultralow power operation.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗