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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 451 records · Page 25
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1979

Numerical simulation of ozone production, transport and distribution with a global atmospheric general circulation model

The production, transport, and distribution of ozone are simulated for a January with a global atmospheric general circulation model. In this model, the ozone influences the radiational heating and the photochemical ozone production and destruction, the radiational heating influences the atmospheric circulation, and the circulation redistributes the ozone. The model has simulated the synoptic and time-averaged observed large-scale fields of temperature, mass, and velocity in the troposphere and stratosphere, although with deficiencies which are seen in the time-averaged O3 distribution. Transport of ozone in the summer and winter hemispheres, in different seasons, and in various latitudes is discussed, and it is concluded that the divergence of the ozone transport maintains it below its photochemical equilibrium concentration in the tropics and subtropics, and the convergence of the ozone transport maintains it above its photochemical equilibrium concentration in the middle and high latitudes of both hemispheres. Thus, both the atmospheric motions and the O3 photochemistry determine the O3 sources and sinks.

Schlesinger, M. E.↗
DOE OSTI2014

SU-E-J-56: Dosimetric Impact of Patient Roll Variability in Peripheral-Lung SBRT

Purpose: Positional variation about the patient longitudinal axis may introduce deleterious effects to clinical treatment plans, the effects of which are exacerbated by hypo-fractionated treatment regimens. Our goal is to evaluate the dosimetric impact of rotational setup error in stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for peripherally-located lung lesions. Methods: Six patients who had been treated for peripheral lung lesions using varying SBRT techniques were analyzed. Each patient's planning CT was processed using custom in-house software to simulate 1, 3, and 5 degree roll in both directions about their longitudinal axis. The original plan was fused and re-calculated. Agreement between planned and error-simulated dose distributions was quantified using 3%, 3mm criteria for the 3-dimensional gamma metric, and changes in target coverage and adjacent normal anatomy were also quantified. Results: Increased rotational setup error resulted in reduced target coverage, with changes in equivalent uniform dose ranging from −1.24% to −6.11% for simulated roll greater than or equal to 3 degrees, increasing with magnitude of error and skewed for roll directed toward the involved side. Changes to normal tissue metrics are linearly related to simulated roll, with rib D(1cc) changes ranging from −4.23% to 3.27% relative to the original treatment plan. Error-simulated dose distributions demonstrate agreement by the gamma metric in the planned target of 72.56%, 81.02%, and 99.52% for 5, 3, and 1 degree simulated roll scenarios, respectively. Corresponding agreement for the regional dose in excess of 50% of the maximum were 65.71%,70.77%, and 97.88%. Conclusion: This study suggests that the ability to detect and compensate for rotational positioning variations beyond a threshold level may improve care for patients with peripherally-located lesions beyond that which may be accomplished using only translational axes. Positional error of one degree of roll had little influence, though three or more degrees of error introduced significant discrepancy.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Simulation of the Aerosol Size Distribution Using a Neural Network Surrogate for the Modal Aerosol Module (MAM7)

One objective of atmospheric simulations is to quantify the distribution of aerosols and their properties. Accurate parameterizations of the processes governing aerosol mass, particle number, and particle size distribution are important for predicting the Earth’s net radiative balance and aerosol-cloud interactions. The Modal Aerosol Module (MAM7) is a two-moment aerosol model that simulates mass, number, and size distribution of seven modes comprised of internally mixed aerosol species. The two-moment scheme adds significant computational expense but allows for the prediction of varying particle size distribution relative to the bulk method which predicts only total mass. In this work, we developed a neural network surrogate model for MAM7 (MAMnet) to predict the aerosol number concentration in NASA’s Global Earth Observing System (GEOS) without adding prohibitive computational expense. MAMnet, can be driven by output from a single moment, mass-based, aerosol scheme (Goddard Chemistry Aerosol and Radiation model (GOCART)) or from reanalysis products (Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications, Version 2 (MERRA-2)). MAMnet was trained using number concentrations from a 5-year GEOS/MAM7 simulation at 1-degree horizontal resolution and using the total mass calculated across modes as inputs, as well as temperature and air density. The model architecture for MAMnet was based on AlexNet, the 2012 winner of the ImageNet Large Scale Visual Recognition Challenge. While some modifications were necessary to accommodate our problem, important aspects of the network were preserved. MAMnet was able to reproduce zonal dynamics and spatial distributions of the aerosol number concentration however predictability in the upper troposphere was poor.

Katherine H Breen↗
DOE OSTI2018

Fluid–Solid Coupling Simulation on the Temperature Distribution of Tuyere Used for Oxygen Bottom Blowing Converter

For an oxygen bottom blowing converter, a high-temperature fire spot zone forms above the tuyere owing to oxygen reaction. The bottom blowing tuyere and surrounding brick are simultaneously heated by high-temperature fire spot and flowing molten steel. High-speed fluids flowing in the inner tube and the annular gap of the tuyere can remove part of the heat transferred from the fire spot zone and molten steel, playing a vital role in cooling the tuyere. To determine the temperature distributions of the tuyere and surrounding brick under the condition of oxygen bottom blowing, a fluid–solid coupling heat transfer numerical model that considers both the radiation of the fire spot and convection of the molten steel was established in this study. The simulation results agree well with previous experimental results; thus, the numerical model was validated. Utilizing the validated model, the influences of the tuyere inner tube material and fire spot zone temperature on the tuyere temperature distribution were studied in detail. Along with an increase in the material thermal conductivity, the maximum temperature of the inner tube at the hot face decreased, verifying the superiority of copper as the inner tube. More importantly, it was found that reducing the fire spot zone temperature by mixing CO{sub 2} in the bottom blowing oxygen fundamentally alleviated the burning loss of the tuyere and the surrounding brick.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2011

A Distributed Electrochemistry Modeling Tool for Simulating SOFC Performance and Degradation

This report presents a distributed electrochemistry (DEC) model capable of investigating the electrochemistry and local conditions with the SOFC MEA based on the local microstructure and multi-physics. The DEC model can calculate the global current-voltage (I-V) performance of the cell as determined by the spatially varying local conditions through the thickness of the electrodes and electrolyte. The simulation tool is able to investigate the electrochemical performance based on characteristics of the electrode microstructure, such as particle size, pore size, electrolyte and electrode phase volume fractions, and triple-phase-boundary length. It can also investigate performance as affected by fuel and oxidant gas flow distributions and other environmental/experimental conditions such as temperature and fuel gas composition. The long-term objective for the DEC modeling tool is to investigate factors that cause electrode degradation and the decay of SOFC performance which decrease longevity.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗
DOE OSTI2014

Investigating ice nucleation in cirrus clouds with an aerosol-enabled Multiscale Modeling Framework

In this study, an aerosol-dependent ice nucleation scheme [Liu and Penner, 2005] has been implemented in an aerosol-enabled multi-scale modeling framework (PNNL MMF) to study ice formation in upper troposphere cirrus clouds through both homogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation. The MMF model represents cloud scale processes by embedding a cloud-resolving model (CRM) within each vertical column of a GCM grid. By explicitly linking ice nucleation to aerosol number concentration, CRM-scale temperature, relative humidity and vertical velocity, the new MMF model simulates the persistent high ice supersaturation and low ice number concentration (10 to 100/L) at cirrus temperatures. The low ice number is attributed to the dominance of heterogeneous nucleation in ice formation. The new model simulates the observed shift of the ice supersaturation PDF towards higher values at low temperatures following homogeneous nucleation threshold. The MMF models predict a higher frequency of midlatitude supersaturation in the Southern hemisphere and winter hemisphere, which is consistent with previous satellite and in-situ observations. It is shown that compared to a conventional GCM, the MMF is a more powerful model to emulate parameters that evolve over short time scales such as supersaturation. Sensitivity tests suggest that the simulated global distribution of ice clouds is sensitive to the ice nucleation schemes and the distribution of sulfate and dust aerosols. Simulations are also performed to test empirical parameters related to auto-conversion of ice crystals to snow. Results show that with a value of 250 μm for the critical diameter, Dcs, that distinguishes ice crystals from snow, the model can produce good agreement to the satellite retrieved products in terms of cloud ice water path and ice water content, while the total ice water is not sensitive to the specification of Dcs value.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2016

Enabling Smart Grid Cosimulation Studies: Rapid Design and Development of the Technologies and Controls

The 21st century electric power grid is transforming with an unprecedented increase in demand and increase in new technologies. In the United States Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, Title XIII sets the tenets for modernizing the electricity grid through what is known as the 'Smart Grid Initiative.' This initiative calls for increased design, deployment, and integration of distributed energy resources, smart technologies and appliances, and advanced storage devices. The deployment of these new technologies requires rethinking and re-engineering the traditional boundaries between different electric power system domains.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
NASA NTRS1978

Multi-KW dc distribution system technology research study

The Multi-KW DC Distribution System Technology Research Study is the third phase of the NASA/MSFC study program. The purpose of this contract was to complete the design of the integrated technology test facility, provide test planning, support test operations and evaluate test results. The subjet of this study is a continuation of this contract. The purpose of this continuation is to study and analyze high voltage system safety, to determine optimum voltage levels versus power, to identify power distribution system components which require development for higher voltage systems and finally to determine what modifications must be made to the Power Distribution System Simulator (PDSS) to demonstrate 300 Vdc distribution capability.

Dawson, S. G.↗
NASA NTRS1980

The influence of NO and ClO variations at twilight on the interpretation of solar occultation measurements

The influence of short lived photochemically produced species on solar occultation measurements of ClO and NO was examined. Time varying altitude profiles of ClO and NO were calculated with a time dependent photochemical model to simulate the distribution of these species during a solar occultation measurement. These distributions were subsequently used to calculate simulated radiances for various tangent paths from which mixing ratios were inferred with a conventional technique that assumes spherical symmetry. These results show that neglecting the variation of ClO in the retrieval process produces less than a 10 percent error between the true and inverted profile for both sunrise and sunset above 18 km. For NO, errors are less than 10 percent for tangent altitudes above about 35 km for sunrise and sunset; at lower altitudes, the error increases, approaching 100 percent at altitudes near 25 km. the results also show that average inhomogeneity factors, which measure the concentration variation along the tangent path and which can be calculated from a photochemical model, can indicate which species require more careful data analysis.

Boughner, R.↗
NASA NTRS2010

The Emergence of Agent-Based Technology as an Architectural Component of Serious Games

The evolution of games as an alternative to traditional simulations in the military context has been gathering momentum over the past five years, even though the exploration of their use in the serious sense has been ongoing since the mid-nineties. Much of the focus has been on the aesthetics of the visuals provided by the core game engine as well as the artistry provided by talented development teams to produce not only breathtaking artwork, but highly immersive game play. Consideration of game technology is now so much a part of the modeling and simulation landscape that it is becoming difficult to distinguish traditional simulation solutions from game-based approaches. But games have yet to provide the much needed interactive free play that has been the domain of semi-autonomous forces (SAF). The component-based middleware architecture that game engines provide promises a great deal in terms of options for the integration of agent solutions to support the development of non-player characters that engage the human player without the deterministic nature of scripted behaviors. However, there are a number of hard-learned lessons on the modeling and simulation side of the equation that game developers have yet to learn, such as: correlation of heterogeneous systems, scalability of both terrain and numbers of non-player entities, and the bi-directional nature of simulation to game interaction provided by Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS) and High Level Architecture (HLA).

Phillips, Mark↗
NASA NTRS2016

Probing Acceleration and Turbulence at Relativistic Shocks in Blazar Jets

Diffusive shock acceleration (DSA) at relativistic shocks is widely thought to be an important acceleration mechanism in various astrophysical jet sources, including radio-loud active galactic nuclei such as blazars. Such acceleration can produce the non-thermal particles that emit the broad-band continuum radiation that is detected from extragalactic jets. An important recent development for blazar science is the ability of Fermi-Large Area Telescope spectroscopy to pin down the shape of the distribution of the underlying non-thermal particle population. This paper highlights how multiwavelength spectra spanning optical to X-ray to gamma-ray bands can be used to probe diffusive acceleration in relativistic, oblique, magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) shocks in blazar jets. Diagnostics on the MHD turbulence near such shocks are obtained using thermal and non-thermal particle distributions resulting from detailed Monte Carlo simulations of DSA. These probes are afforded by the characteristic property that the synchrotron vF(sub v), peak energy does not appear in the gamma-ray band above 100 MeV. We investigate self-consistently the radiative synchrotron and inverse Compton signatures of the simulated particle distributions. Important constraints on the diffusive mean free paths of electrons, and the level of electromagnetic field turbulence are identified for three different case study blazars, Mrk 501, BL Lacertae and AO 0235+164. The X-ray excess of AO 0235+164 in a flare state can be modelled as the signature of bulk Compton scattering of external radiation fields, thereby tightly constraining the energy-dependence of the diffusion coefficient for electrons. The concomitant interpretations that turbulence levels decline with remoteness from jet shocks, and the probable significant role for non-gyroresonant diffusion, are posited.

Baring, Matthew G.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Explicit modeling and computational load distribution for concurrent processing simulation of the space station

Two important aspects of concurrent processing under development at TRW are discussed. These are: (1) the derivation of explicit mathematical models of multibody dynamic systems, and (2) a balanced computational load distribution (BCLD) among loosely coupled computational units (processors) of a concurrent processing system. The developed methodologies are demonstrated by way of an application to the Phase 1 of the Space Station - a task being performed by TRW under NASA/JSC contract NAS9-17778. The mathematical model of the Space Station consists of three interconnected flexible bodies capable of undergoing large, rigid-body motion with respect to each other. Body 1 is the main central body and contains the pressurized modules inboard of the two Alpha gimbals. Bodies 2 and 3 are the starboard and port bodies connected to Body 1 at the Alpha gimbals and include all components on the transverse booms outboard of the Alpha gimbals (including the solar arrays). The control systems in the model maintain Body 1 in a prescribed 3-axis attitude control mode, while producing large-angle rotations of the flexible solar arrays to position them normal to the sun-line.

Gluck, R.↗
DOE OSTI2012

Thermal characteristics of air flow cooling in the lithium ion batteries experimental chamber

A battery pack prototype has been designed and built to evaluate various air cooling concepts for the thermal management of Li-ion batteries. The heat generation from the Li-Ion batteries was simulated with electrical heat generation devices with the same dimensions as the Li-Ion battery (200 mm x 150 mm x 12 mm). Each battery simulator generates up to 15W of heat. There are 20 temperature probes placed uniformly on the surface of the battery simulator, which can measure temperatures in the range from -40 C to +120 C. The prototype for the pack has up to 100 battery simulators and temperature probes are recorder using a PC based DAQ system. We can measure the average surface temperature of the simulator, temperature distribution on each surface and temperature distributions in the pack. The pack which holds the battery simulators is built as a crate, with adjustable gap (varies from 2mm to 5mm) between the simulators for air flow channel studies. The total system flow rate and the inlet flow temperature are controlled during the test. The cooling channel with various heat transfer enhancing devices can be installed between the simulators to investigate the cooling performance. The prototype was designed to configure the number of cooling channels from one to hundred Li-ion battery simulators. The pack is thermally isolated which prevents heat transfer from the pack to the surroundings. The flow device can provide the air flow rate in the gap of up to 5m/s velocity and air temperature in the range from -30 C to +50 C. Test results are compared with computational modeling of the test configurations. The present test set up will be used for future tests for developing and validating new cooling concepts such as surface conditions or heat pipes.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2011

Heat transfer simulation and thermal measurements of microfabricated x-ray transparent heater stages

A microfabricated amorphous silicon nitride membrane-based nanocalorimeter is proposed to be suitable for an x-ray transparent sample platform with low power heating and built-in temperature sensing. In this work, thermal characterization in both air and vacuum are analyzed experimentally and via simulation. Infrared microscopy and thermoreflectance microscopy are used for thermal imaging of the sample area in air. While a reasonably large isothermal area is found on the sample area, the temperature homogeneity of the entire sample area is low, limiting use of the device as a heater stage in air or other gases. A simulation model that includes conduction, as well as radiation and convection heat loss, is presented with radiation and convection parameters determined experimentally. Simulated temperature distributions show that the homogeneity can be improved by using a thicker thermal conduction layer or reducing the pressure of the gas in the environment but neither are good solutions for the proposed use. A new simple design that has improved temperature homogeneity and a larger isothermal area while maintaining a thin thermal conduction layer is proposed and fabricated. This new design enables applications in transmission x-ray microscopes and spectroscopy setups at atmospheric pressure.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2017

Design of the HELICS High-Performance Transmission-Distribution-Communication-Market Co-Simulation Framework

This paper describes the design rationale for a new cyber-physical-energy co-simulation framework for electric power systems. This new framework will support very large-scale (100,000+ federates) co-simulations with off-the-shelf power-systems, communication, and end-use models. Other key features include cross-platform operating system support, integration of both event-driven (e.g. packetized communication) and time-series (e.g. power flow) simulation, and the ability to co-iterate among federates to ensure model convergence at each time step. After describing requirements, we begin by evaluating existing co-simulation frameworks, including HLA and FMI, and conclude that none provide the required features. Then we describe the design for the new layered co-simulation architecture.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2017

Design of the HELICS High-Performance Transmission-Distribution-Communication-Market Co-Simulation Framework: Preprint

This paper describes the design rationale for a new cyber-physical-energy co-simulation framework for electric power systems. This new framework will support very large-scale (100,000+ federates) co-simulations with off-the-shelf power-systems, communication, and end-use models. Other key features include cross-platform operating system support, integration of both event-driven (e.g. packetized communication) and time-series (e.g. power flow) simulation, and the ability to co-iterate among federates to ensure model convergence at each time step. After describing requirements, we begin by evaluating existing co-simulation frameworks, including HLA and FMI, and conclude that none provide the required features. Then we describe the design for the new layered co-simulation architecture.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2021

OCHRE: The Object-oriented, Controllable, High-resolution Residential Energy Model for Dynamic Integration Studies

Electrification and the growth of distributed energy resources (DERs), including flexible loads, are changing the energy landscape of electric distribution systems and creating new challenges and opportunities for electric utilities. Changes in demand profiles require improvements in distribution system load models, which have not historically accounted for device controllability or impacts on customer comfort. Although building modeling research has focused on these features, there is a need to incorporate them into distribution load models that include DERs and can be used to study grid-interactive buildings. In this paper, we present the Object-oriented, Controllable, High-resolution Residential Energy (OCHRE) model. OCHRE is a controllable thermal-electric residential energy model that captures building thermal dynamics, integrates grid-dependent electrical behavior, contains models for common DERs and end-use loads, and simulates at a time resolution down to 1 minute. It includes models for space heaters, air conditioners, water heaters, electric vehicles, photovoltaics, and batteries that are externally controllable and integrated in a co-simulation framework. Using a proposed zero energy ready community in Colorado, we co-simulate a distribution grid and 498 all-electric homes with a diverse set of efficiency levels and equipment properties. We show that controllable devices can reduce peak demand within a neighborhood by up to 73% during a critical peak period without sacrificing occupant comfort. We also demonstrate the importance of modeling load diversity at a high time resolution when quantifying power and voltage fluctuations across a distribution system.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗