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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
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2004

NASA Tech Briefs, June 2004

Topics covered include: COTS MEMS Flow-Measurement Probes; Measurement of an Evaporating Drop on a Reflective Substrate; Airplane Ice Detector Based on a Microwave Transmission Line; Microwave/Sonic Apparatus Measures Flow and Density in Pipe; Reducing Errors by Use of Redundancy in Gravity Measurements; Membrane-Based Water Evaporator for a Space Suit; Compact Microscope Imaging System with Intelligent Controls; Chirped-Superlattice, Blocked-Intersubband QWIP; Charge-Dissipative Electrical Cables; Deep-Sea Video Cameras Without Pressure Housings; RFID and Memory Devices Fabricated Integrally on Substrates; Analyzing Dynamics of Cooperating Spacecraft; Spacecraft Attitude Maneuver Planning Using Genetic Algorithms; Forensic Analysis of Compromised Computers; Document Concurrence System; Managing an Archive of Images; MPT Prediction of Aircraft-Engine Fan Noise; Improving Control of Two Motor Controllers; Electro-deionization Using Micro-separated Bipolar Membranes; Safer Electrolytes for Lithium-Ion Cells; Rotating Reverse-Osmosis for Water Purification; Making Precise Resonators for Mesoscale Vibratory Gyroscopes; Robotic End Effectors for Hard-Rock Climbing; Improved Nutation Damper for a Spin-Stabilized Spacecraft; Exhaust Nozzle for a Multitube Detonative Combustion Engine; Arc-Second Pointer for Balloon-Borne Astronomical Instrument; Compact, Automated Centrifugal Slide-Staining System; Two-Armed, Mobile, Sensate Research Robot; Compensating for Effects of Humidity on Electronic Noses; Brush/Fin Thermal Interfaces; Multispectral Scanner for Monitoring Plants; Coding for Communication Channels with Dead-Time Constraints; System for Better Spacing of Airplanes En Route; Algorithm for Training a Recurrent Multilayer Perceptron; Orbiter Interface Unit and Early Communication System; White-Light Nulling Interferometers for Detecting Planets; and Development of Methodology for Programming Autonomous Agents.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS2005

Matlab GUI for a Fluid Mixer

The Test and Engineering Directorate at NASA John C. Stennis Space Center developed an interest to study the modeling, evaluation, and control of a liquid hydrogen (LH2) and gas hydrogen (GH2) mixer subsystem of a ground test facility. This facility carries out comprehensive ground-based testing and certification of liquid rocket engines including the Space Shuttle Main engine. A software simulation environment developed in MATLAB/SIMULINK (M/S) will allow NASA engineers to test rocket engine systems at relatively no cost. In the progress report submitted in February 2004, we described the development of two foundation programs, a reverse look-up application using various interpolation algorithms, a variety of search and return methods, and self-checking methods to reduce the error in returned search results to increase the functionality of the program. The results showed that these efforts were successful. To transfer this technology to engineers who are not familiar with the M/S environment, a four-module GUI was implemented allowing the user to evaluate the mixer model under open-loop and closed-loop conditions. The progress report was based on an udergraduate Honors Thesis by Ms. Jamie Granger Austin in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Tulane University, during January-May 2003, and her continued efforts during August-December 2003. In collaboration with Dr. Hanz Richter and Dr. Fernando Figueroa we published these results in a NASA Tech Brief due to appear this year. Although the original proposal in 2003 did not address other components of the test facility, we decided in the last few months to extend our research and consider a related pressurization tank component as well. This report summarizes the results obtained towards a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for the evaluation and control of the hydrogen mixer subsystem model and for the pressurization tank each taken individually. Further research would combine the two components - mixer and tank, for a more realistic simulation tool.

Barbieri, Enrique↗
DOE OSTI2021

Exploring Charged Defects in Ferroelectrics by the Switching Spectroscopy Piezoresponse Force Microscopy

Monitoring the charged defect concentration at the nanoscale is of critical importance for both the fundamental science and applications of ferroelectrics. However, up-to-date, high-resolution study methods for the investigation of structural defects, such as transmission electron microscopy, X-ray tomography, etc., are expensive and demand complicated sample preparation. Here, with an example of the lanthanum-doped bismuth ferrite ceramics, a novel method is proposed based on the switching spectroscopy piezoresponse force microscopy (SSPFM) that allows probing the electric potential from buried subsurface charged defects in the ferroelectric materials with a nanometer-scale spatial resolution. When compared with the composition-sensitive methods, such as neutron diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and local time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry, the SSPFM sensitivity to the variation of the electric potential from the charged defects is shown to be equivalent to less than 0.3 at% of the defect concentration. Additionally, the possibility to locally evaluate dynamics of the polarization screening caused by the charged defects is demonstrated, which is of significant interest for further understanding defect-mediated processes in ferroelectrics.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2020

Improving Long-term Monitoring of Contaminated Groundwater at Sites where Attenuation-based Remedies are Deployed

This study presents an effective approach to tackle the challenge of long-term monitoring of contaminated groundwater sites where remediation leaves residual contamination in the subsurface. Traditional long-term monitoring of contaminated groundwater sites focuses on measuring contaminant concentrations and is applicable to sites where contaminant mass is removed or degraded to a level below the regulatory standard. The traditional approach is less effective at sites where risk from metals or radionuclides continues to exist in the subsurface after remedial goals are achieved. We propose a long-term monitoring strategy for this type of waste site that focuses on measuring the hydrological and geochemical parameters that control attenuation or remobilization of contaminants while de-emphasizing contaminant-concentration measurements. Furthermore, we demonstrate how this approach would be more effective than traditional long-term monitoring, using a site in South Carolina, USA, where groundwater is contaminated by several radionuclides. A comprehensive enhanced attenuation remedy has been implemented at the site to minimize discharge of contamination to surface water. The immobilization of contaminants occurs in three locations by manipulation of hydrological and geochemical parameters, as well as by natural attenuation processes. Deployment of our proposed long-term monitoring strategy will combine subsurface and surface measurements using spectroscopic tools, geophysical tools, and sensors to monitor the parameters controlling contaminant attenuation. The advantage of this approach is that it will detect the potential for contaminant remobilization from engineered and natural attenuation zones, allowing potential adverse changes to be mitigated before contaminant attenuation is reversed.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
NASA NTRS1975

Investigation of two-dimensional wedge exhaust nozzles for advanced aircraft

Two-dimensional wedge nozzle performance characteristics were investigated in a series of wind-tunnel tests. An isolated single-engine/nozzle model was used to study the effects of internal expansion area ratio, aftbody cowl boattail angle, and wedge length. An integrated twin-engine/nozzle model, tested with and without empenage surfaces, included cruise, acceleration, thrust vectoring and thrust reversing nozzle operating modes. Results indicate that the thrust-minus-aftbody drag performance of the twin two-dimensional nozzle integration is significantly higher, for speeds greater than Mach 0.8, than the performance achieved with twin axisymmetric nozzle installations. Significant jet-induced lift was obtained on an aft-mounted lifting surface using a cambered wedge center body to vector thrust. The thrust reversing capabilities of reverser panels installed on the two-dimensional wedge center body were very effective for static or in-flight operation.

Maiden, D. L.↗
NASA NTRS1976

The aerodynamic and acoustic characteristics of an over-the-wing target-type thrust reverser model

A static test of a large-scale, over-the-wing (OTW) powered-lift model was performed. The OTW propulsion system had been modified to incorporate a simple target-type thrust reverser as well as the normal rectangular OTW exhaust nozzle. Tests were performed in both the reverse thrust and approach configurations. The thrust reverser noise created by jet turbulence mixing and the OTW approach noise were both low frequency and broadband. When scaled to a 45,400-kg (100,000-lb) aircraft, the thrust reverser and approach configurations produced peak 152-m (500-ft) sideline perceived noise levels of 110 and 105 PNdB, respectively. The aerodynamic performance of the model showed that 50% or greater reverser effectiveness can be achieved without experiencing ingestion of exhaust gas or ground debris into the engine inlets.

Falarski, M. D.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Acoustic performance of a 50.8-cm (20-inch) diameter variable-pitch fan and inlet. Volume 2: Acoustic data

Results from acoustic tests on a 50.8 cm (20 inch) QCSEE Under-the-Wing (UTW) engine, variable pitch fan and inlet simulator are tabulated. Tests were run in both forward and reverse thrust mdoes with a bellmouth inlet, five accelerating inlets (one hardwall and four treated), and four low Mach number inlets (one hardwall and three treated). The 1/3 octave-band acoustic data are presented for the model size on the measured 5.2 m (17.0 ft) arc and also data scaled to full QCSEE size 71:20 on a 152.4 m (500 ft) sideline.

Bilwakesh, K. R.↗
NASA NTRS1954

An evaluation of two cooling-air ejectors in flight at transonic speeds

Flight tests conducted on the YF-93 airplane afforded an opportunity to evaluate two cooling-air ejectors of widely different geometry. One ejector had a diameter ratio (fuselage-exit diameter divided by tail-pipe diameter) of 1.58 and a spacing ratio (distance from tail-pipe exit to fuselage exit divided by tail-pipe diameter) of 0.73 while the other ejector had a diameter ratio of 1.33 and a spacing ratio of 0.30. The larger tail exhibited poor net thrust performance due to excessive quantity of secondary air flow. The second engine-ejector combination had superior characteristics; however, an undesirable characteristic existed in that a region of reversed flow was present in the exit. This reversed flow caused a decrease in the performance of the ejector. Correlation of the flight data with cold-jet-model ejector data has demonstrated to what extent the model tests can be used as a design tool. When comparing the ejector with reversed flow with the model tests, it was necessary to consider the effect the reversed flow had on reducing the effective diameter ratio. Airplane drag measurements as determined for the widely different configurations indicated a good over-all precision for the method used in this investigation.

Rolls, L Stewart↗
DOE OSTI2024

Embedding Reverse Electron Transfer Between Stably Bare Cu Nanoparticles and Cation‐Vacancy CuWO 4

Cu nanoparticles (NPs) have attracted widespread attention in electronics, energy, and catalysis. However, conventionally synthesized Cu NPs face some challenges such as surface passivation and agglomeration in applications, which impairs their functionalities in the physicochemical properties. Here, the issues above by engineering an embedded interface of stably bare Cu NPs on the cation-vacancy CuWO 4 support is addressed, which induces the strong metal-support interactions and reverse electron transfer. Various atomic-scale analyses directly demonstrate the unique electronic structure of the embedded Cu NPs with negative charge and anion oxygen protective layer, which mitigates the typical degradation pathways such as oxidation in ambient air, high-temperature agglomeration, and CO poisoning adsorption. Kinetics and in situ spectroscopic studies unveil that the embedded electron-enriched Cu NPs follow the typical Eley-Rideal mechanism in CO oxidation, contrasting the Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism on the traditional Cu NPs. This mechanistic shift is driven by the Coulombic repulsion in anion oxygen layer, enabling its direct reaction with gaseous CO to form the easily desorbed monodentate carbonate.

Cu nanoparticles↗
DOE OSTI2025

Reversible Nanocomposite by Programming Amorphous Polymer Conformation Under Nanoconfinement

Nanoconfinements are utilized to program how polymers entangle and disentangle as chain clusters to engineer pseudo bonds with tunable strength, multivalency, and directionality. When amorphous polymers are grafted to nanoparticles that are one magnitude larger in size than individual polymers, programming grafted chain conformations can "synthesize" high-performance nanocomposites with moduli of ≈25GPa and a circular lifecycle without forming and/or breaking chemical bonds. These nanocomposites dissipate external stresses by disentangling and stretching grafted polymers up to ≈98% of their contour length, analogous to that of folded proteins; use both polymers and nanoparticles for load bearing; and exhibit a non-linear dependence on composition throughout the microscopic, nanoscopic, and single-particle levels.

Chen, Tiffany↗
NASA NTRS2016

Reverse Brayton Cycle with Bladeless Turbo Compressor for Automotive Environmental Cooling

An automotive cabin cooling system uses a bladeless turbocompressor driven by automobile engine exhaust to compress incoming ambient air. The compressed air is directed to an intercooler where it is cooled and then to another bladeless turbine used as an expander where the air cools as it expands and is directed to the cabin interior. Excess energy may be captured by an alternator couple to the expander turbine. The system employs no chemical refrigerant and may be further modified to include another intercooler on the output of the expander turbine to isolate the cooled cabin environment.

Cepeda-Rizo, Juan↗
DOE OSTI2023

Light controlled reversible Michael addition of cysteine: a new tool for dynamic site-specific labeling of proteins

Cysteine-based Michael addition is a widely employed strategy for covalent conjugation of proteins, peptides, and drugs. The covalent reaction is irreversible in most cases, leading to a lack of control over the process. Utilizing spectroscopic analyses along with X-ray crystallographic studies, we demonstrate Michael addition of an engineered cysteine residue in human Cellular Retinol Binding Protein II (hCRBPII) with a coumarin analog that creates a non-fluorescent complex. UV-illumination reverses the conjugation, yielding a fluorescent species, presumably through a retro-Michael process. Furthermore, this series of events can be repeated between a bound and non-bound form of the cysteine reversibly, resulting in the ON–OFF control of fluorescence. The details of the mechanism of photoswitching was illuminated by recapitulation of the process in light irradiated single crystals, confirming the mechanism at atomic resolution.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2020

Surface Tension of Dielectric–Air Interfaces

Analytical and semianalytical expressions for the surface tension of dielectric–air interfaces are presented after considering local and nonlocal dielectric effects near interfaces. It is shown that the nonlocal effects of dielectrics are significant for highly polar dielectric fluids such as water. Far from the interface, nonlocal dielectric effects are shown to cause not only the oscillatory potential of the mean force but also a reversal of sign at intermediate distances.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2022

Reversible Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Systems for Energy Storage and Hydrogen Production

FuelCell Energy (FCE) studied the performance, design, and economics of a reversible solid-oxide fuel cell/electrolyzer integrated with a natural gas-based electricity generation plant and used as an energy storage system. Increased market penetration of renewable energy is challenging for operators of fossilbased plants which are not suited for quick turndown and ramp-up. Process simulations studies show that with utilization of waste heat from the power plant, a high roundtrip efficiency (RTE) around 70% is possible, providing excellent market potential for this energy storage technology, potentially providing improved economics and lifetime for such power plant. The market potential and economics as a function of production volume are analyzed in detail. FCE is continuing the development and commercialization of its solid oxide technology.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2025

Reversible long-range domain wall motion in an improper ferroelectric

Reversible ferroelectric domain wall movements beyond the 10 nm range associated with Rayleigh behavior are usually restricted to specific defect-engineered systems. Here, we demonstrate that such long-range movements naturally occur in the improper ferroelectric ErMnO 3 during electric-field-cycling. We study the electric-field-driven motion of domain walls, showing that they readily return to their initial position after having traveled distances exceeding 250 nm. By applying switching spectroscopy band-excitation piezoresponse force microscopy, we track the domain wall movement with nanometric spatial precision and analyze the local switching behavior. Phase field simulations show that the reversible long-range motion is intrinsic to the hexagonal manganites, linking it to their improper ferroelectricity and topologically protected structural vortex lines, which serve as anchor point for the ferroelectric domain walls. Our results give new insight into the local dynamics of domain walls in improper ferroelectrics and demonstrate the possibility to reversibly displace domain walls over much larger distances than commonly expected for ferroelectric systems in their pristine state, ensuring predictable device behavior for applications such as tunable capacitors or sensors.

Zahn, Manuel [Norwegian Univ. of Science and Techn↗
DOE OSTI2021

Resilient NdFeB magnet recycling under the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic: Stochastic programming and Benders decomposition

Neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets are the most powerful magnets per unit volume sold in the commercial market. Despite the increasing demand for clean energy applications such as electric vehicles and wind turbines, disruptive events including the COVID-19 pandemic have caused significant uncertainties in the supply and demand for NdFeB magnets. Therefore, this study aims to alleviate the risk of supply shortage for NdFeB magnets and the containing critical materials, rare-earth elements (REEs), through the development of a resilient reverse supply chain and logistics network design. We develop scenarios to model the unique impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the proposed business, incorporating both disruption intensity and recovery rate. We formulate a chance-constrained two-stage stochastic programming model to maximize the profit while guaranteeing the network resiliency against disruption risks. To solve the problem in large-scale instances, we develop an efficient Benders decomposition algorithm that reduces the computational time by 98.5% on average compared to the default CPLEX algorithm. When applied to the United States, the model suggests the optimal facility locations, processing capacities, inventory levels, and material flows for NdFeB magnet recyclers that could meet 99.7% of the demand. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to incorporate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic to design a resilient NdFeB magnet recycling supply chain and logistics network, leveraging risk-averse stochastic programming.

42 ENGINEERING↗