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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 NTRS1986

Thermal barrier coating life prediction model

The objectives of this program are to determine the predominant modes of degradation of a plasma sprayed thermal barrier coating system, and then to develop and verify life prediction models accounting for these degradation modes. The program is divided into two phases, each consisting of several tasks. The work in Phase 1 is aimed at identifying the relative importance of the various failure modes, and developing and verifying life prediction model(s) for the predominant model for a thermal barrier coating system. Two possible predominant failure mechanisms being evaluated are bond coat oxidation and bond coat creep. The work in Phase 2 will develop design-capable, causal, life prediction models for thermomechanical and thermochemical failure modes, and for the exceptional conditions of foreign object damage and erosion.

Pilsner, B. H.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Performance of full size metallic and RSI thermal protection systems in a Mach 7 environment

The integrity and reusability of three flight-weight metallic and RSI thermal protection systems, designed for the Shuttle entry environment, have been demonstrated. Each model successfully survived over 23 entry thermal cycles without serious degradation. The metallic systems were more tolerant of the hostile environment and provided a higher degree of reusability than did the RSI. Thermal expansion slip joints of the metallic TPS successfully prevented hot gas ingress to the substructure. The RSI demonstrated high damage tolerance and field repairs increased its reusability. Heat-transfer tests to further assess RSI gap heating indicate that stacked tile orientations may impose a penalty on tile thickness. Parameters influencing RSI impingement heating were determined, and the heating data were correlated.

Bohon, H. L.↗
NASA NTRS2018

Coupled Thermomechanical Micromechanics Modeling of the Influence of Thermally Grown Oxide Layer in an Environmental Barrier Coating System

Environmental Barrier Coatings (EBCs) have emerged as a promising means of protecting critical components for high temperature applications (e.g., aircraft engines). EBCs are often used to protect an underlying material (substrate) from extreme thermal/chemical environments. However, systems that utilize EBCs are susceptible to a number of failure modes including oxidation/delamination. Environmental Barrier Coatings (EBCs) have emerged as a promising means of protecting silicon based ceramic matrix composite (CMC) components for high temperature applications (e.g., aircraft engines). EBCs are often used to protect an underlying material (substrate) such as silicon carbide from extreme thermal/chemical environments. In a typical CMC/EBC system, an EBC may or may not be adhered to an underlying substrate with a bond coat (e.g., silicon). Irrespective, systems that utilize EBCs are susceptible to a number of failure modes including oxidation/delamination, recession, chemical attack and dissolution, thermo-mechanical degradation, erosion, and foreign object damage. Current work at NASA Glenn Research Center is aimed at addressing these failure modes in EBC systems and developing robust analysis tools to aid in the design process. The Higher-Order Theory for Functionally Graded Materials (HOTFGM), a precursor to the High-Fidelity Generalized Method of Cells micromechanics approach, was developed to investigate the coupled thermo-mechanical behavior of functionally graded composites and will be used herein to assess the development and growth of a low-stiffness thermally grown oxide (TGO) layer in EBC/CMC systems without a silicon bond coat. To accomplish this a sensitivity study is conducted to examine the influence of uniformly and non-uniformly grown oxide layer on the associated driving forces leading to mechanical failure (spallation) of EBC layer when subjected to isothermal loading, recession, chemical attack and dissolution, thermomechanical degradation, erosion, and foreign object damage. Current work at NASA Glenn Research Center is aimed at addressing these failure modes in EBC systems and developing robust analysis tools to aid in the design process. The Higher-Order Theory for Functionally Graded Materials (HOTFGM), a precursor to the High-Fidelity Generalized Method of Cells micromechanics approach, was developed to investigate the coupled thermo-mechanical behavior of functionally graded composites (Aboudi et al., 1999, Composites B). For example, HOTFGM was previously used (Arnold et al, 1995, NASA CP 10178, paper 34), to assess interlaminar stresses (including free edge effects) in a substrate with a thermal barrier coating (TBC). In this study, HOTFGM micromechanics analyses will be used to assess the development and growth of a low-stiffness thermally grown oxide (TGO) layer between a silicon carbide substrate and a ytterbium disilicate EBC. In order to realistically simulate TGO growth, an evolution law will be incorporated into HOTFGM. In addition, the effect of TGO roughness will be explored consistent with previous TBC work (Pindera et al., 2000. Material Science and Engineering, A284, pp. 158-175). This model represents a first step in developing a robust analysis tool that can ultimately be used to design durable EBC systems. Additional failure modes will be considered as part of a future work.

environmental barrier coating↗
DOE OSTI2024

Performance evaluation of underground thermal storage integrated dual-source heat pump systems

The increasing demand for electricity stresses the existing electric grids. Buildings consume 73% of all U.S. electricity and are responsible for 30% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Integrating thermal energy storage (TES) in building heating/cooling systems, which consume considerable electricity, can mitigate the challenges to electric grids. Here, this study reports on a novel thermal energy storage device integrated heat pump system to reshape the building electricity demand profile while maintaining thermal comfort. The annual performance of the proposed system has been evaluated through a dynamic system simulation with high fidelity in the Modelica platform. The dynamic model of the novel hybrid component named ‘dual purpose underground thermal battery’ was developed and validated. It was then incorporated into the system model. Given a time-of-use tariff, a rule-based control strategy was designed to shift the electric demand and switch the heat pump source for a typical single-family house in different climate zones of the United States. The system performance of the new TES-integrated dual-source heat pump was compared with that of a conventional air-source heat pump system. The results indicate that the proposed system can reduce the annual HVAC electricity cost by up to 52% while saving 45.2% on electricity consumption. In the Northern areas, the annual peak load of the HVAC system can be reduced by 64.9%. However, this reduction is less in the Southern areas as the system’s higher efficiency in winter dominates the overall energy-saving potential.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Model predictive control for optimal dispatch of chillers and thermal energy storage tank in airports

Cost of energy consumption is one of the biggest operational cost for airports, and it is increasing from time to time as airports expand to support growing number of passengers. Various factors affect the energy consumption including efficiency of airport Heating Ventilation and Air conditioning (HVAC) systems, which in turn depends on the efficiency of individual subsystems. Here, in this paper, we present an optimal scheduling method for the central plant system at Dallas Fort Worth airport, involving chillers, pumps, and a thermal energy storage (TES) system. A model predictive control (MPC) problem is formulated to minimize both energy and demand charge costs while satisfying the cooling needs of the airport. The proposed Mixed-Integer Nonlinear Programming (MINLP) formulation includes performance curve based models for chillers and pumps and a simplified state of charge model for TES. The formulation also includes predictions of cooling load and chilled water return temperature. Simulation results for a month in summer show savings around 10% compared to the baseline. Initial recommendations based on insights from simulation results to the manual operation procedures resulted in significant savings. Field test results show a 7% chiller efficiency improvement.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2022

Theory of thermal properties of magnetic materials with unknown entropy

Theoretical approaches to study thermal properties of magnetic materials typically require accurate models of magnetic interactions in order to define the entropy. Here we introduce a complementary approach for examining thermal properties in magnetic systems where an accepted model for such interactions does not exist. In place of a specific model for magnetic interactions, the approach integrates measurements of temperature dependent magnetization of the studied material into a first principles computational scheme. The approach calculates system pressure from thermally disordered microstates that properly incorporate vibrational and spin subsystems at each temperature as well as the coupling between these subsystems. We apply the approach to calculate phonon modes and to investigate the anomalously low thermal expansion of the classical Invar alloy, Fe 0.65 Ni 0.35 . Here, the calculated phonon dispersions for Invar are in excellent agreement with measured data. The Invar thermal expansion is shown to remain small between 50 K and room temperature, consistent with the experimentally observed low thermal expansion value in this same temperature range. This anomalously small thermal expansion is directly connected to a small positive contribution from lattice thermal disorder that is nearly canceled by a large negative magnetic disorder contribution. By contrast, calculations for bcc Fe show a much larger thermal expansion, consistent with experiment, which is dominated by a large contribution from lattice thermal disorder that is reduced only slightly by a small negative contribution from that of magnetism. These findings give insights into the unusual nature of magnetism and spin-lattice coupling in Invar and Fe. In addition, they give promising preliminary support to the presented new methodology as a complementary way to investigate thermal properties of magnetic materials. The success achieved on Invar and Fe motivates future testing of the approach on other magnetic materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

GridLAB-D Technical Support Document: Residential Equivalent Thermal Parameter Model

GridLAB-D is a power distribution systems simulation and analysis tool developed by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Although GridLAB-D and its underlying residential load model has been used in a variety of power systems analyses, comprehensive documentation of the derivation of the residential house model has not been formally published. The purpose of this technical support document is to serve as a comprehensive resource for the thermal dynamics modeling and house definition implemented in GridLAB-D. It covers model derivation, parameter definitions, and implementation steps in the codebase.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
NASA NTRS2016

Thermal Testing of Ablators in the NASA Johnson Space Center Radiant Heat Test Facility

A spacecraft's thermal protection system (TPS) is required to survive the harsh environment experienced during reentry. Accurate thermal modeling of the TPS is required to since uncertainties in the thermal response result in higher design margins and an increase in mass. The Radiant Heat Test Facility (RHTF) located at the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) replicates the reentry temperatures and pressures on system level full scale TPS test models for the validation of thermal math models. Reusable TPS, i.e. tile or reinforced carbon-carbon (RCC), have been the primary materials tested in the past. However, current capsule designs for MPCV and commercial programs have required the use of an ablator TPS. The RHTF has successfully completed a pathfinder program on avcoat ablator material to demonstrate the feasibility of ablator testing. The test results and corresponding ablation analysis results are presented in this paper.

Del Papa, Steven↗
NASA NTRS1977

Atmospheric cloud physics thermal systems analysis

Engineering analyses performed on the Atmospheric Cloud Physics (ACPL) Science Simulator expansion chamber and associated thermal control/conditioning system are reported. Analyses were made to develop a verified thermal model and to perform parametric thermal investigations to evaluate systems performance characteristics. Thermal network representations of solid components and the complete fluid conditioning system were solved simultaneously using the Systems Improved Numerical Differencing Analyzer (SINDA) computer program.

Source record↗
DOE OSTI2020

Thermal Management for FPGA Nodes in HPC Systems

The integration of FPGAs into large-scale computing systems is gaining attention. In these systems, real-time data handling for networking, tasks for scientific computing, and machine learning can be executed with customized datapaths on reconfigurable fabric within heterogeneous compute nodes. At the same time, thermal management, particularly battling the cooling cost and guaranteeing the reliability, is a continuing concern. The introduction of new heterogeneous components into HPC nodes only adds further complexities to thermal modeling and management. The thermal behavior of multi-FPGA systems deployed within large compute clusters is less explored. Here, we first show that the thermal behaviors of different FPGAs of the same generation can vary due to their physical locations in a rack and process variation, even though they are running the same tasks. We present a machine learning–based model to capture the thermal behavior of each individual FPGA in the cluster. We then propose two thermal management strategies guided by our thermal model. First, we mitigate thermal variation and hotspots across the cluster by proactive thermal-aware task placement. Under the tested system and benchmarks, we achieve up to 26.4° C and on average 13.3° C system temperature reduction with no performance penalty. Second, we utilize this thermal model to guide HLS parameter tuning at the task design stage to achieve improved thermal response after deployment.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
NASA NTRS1973

Space shuttle atmospheric revitalization subsystem/active thermal control subsystem computer program (users manual)

A shuttle (ARS) atmosphere revitalization subsystem active thermal control subsystem (ATCS) performance routine was developed. This computer program is adapted from the Shuttle EC/LSS Design Computer Program. The program was upgraded in three noteworthy areas: (1) The functional ARS/ATCS schematic has been revised to accurately synthesize the shuttle baseline system definition. (2) The program logic has been improved to provide a more accurate prediction of the integrated ARS/ATCS system performance. Additionally, the logic has been expanded to model all components and thermal loads in the ARS/ATCS system. (3) The program is designed to be used on the NASA JSC crew system division's programmable calculator system. As written the new computer routine has an average running time of five minutes. The use of desk top type calculation equipment, and the rapid response of the program provides the NASA with an analytical tool for trade studies to refine the system definition, and for test support of the RSECS or integrated Shuttle ARS/ATCS test programs.

Source record↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Comparison of Exploration Portable Life Support Subsystem (xPLSS) Thermal Modeling to Thermal Vacuum Testing

To support NASA’s goal to return to the Moon through the Artemis mission, the development of an exploration portable life support system (xPLSS) has been conducted at Johnson Space Center (JSC). As part of this development process, a large system level thermal/fluid model of the xPLSS was developed using Thermal Desktop and an in-house human model (METMAN). The xPLSS model was used throughout the design process to predict the performance and temperature of nearly all components within the xPLSS. In the fall of 2023, the design, verification, and testing (DVT) unit of the xPLSS was tested in a thermal vacuum (TVAC) chamber at JSC. This testing consisted of combining the xPLSS with an upper torso of the exploration pressure garment system (xPGS) and simulating five extravehicular activities (EVAs) in extreme thermal conditions (two cold EVAs and three hot EVAs). The data generated in this test series provided system level data of the xPLSS operating in vacuum and at flight-like environmental temperatures for the first time. This data was compared to results output by the xPLSS system model to assess the accuracy of previous analyses and improve the fidelity and accuracy of the xPLSS system model. The comparison between model and test hardware provides valuable insight that will help improve the design and fidelity of next generation space suits. In general, comparison between test data and model data generally showed slightly un-conservative values (model predicting colder temperatures than test in hot environments, and hotter temperatures than test in cold environments). Model assumptions and test assumptions were assessed to understand potential causes of some of these sources in error. Recommendations to improve the fidelity of the xPLSS model were also made based on the results presented in this paper.

xPLSS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Comparative analysis of thermal management systems in electric vehicles at extreme weather conditions: Case study on Nissan Leaf 2019 Plus, Chevrolet Bolt 2020 and Tesla Model 3 2020

With the surge in electric vehicle (EV) adoption and the need for extended driving ranges, optimizing energy efficiency, particularly through thermal management, is critical, especially in extreme weather. Managing the substantial energy needed for cabin climate control and battery temperature regulation can increase energy demands by over 50 %, severely limiting range. This study conducts a comparative analysis of thermal management systems (TMS) in three popular EV vehicles, 2020 Chevrolet Bolt, 2019 Nissan Leaf Plus, and 2020 Tesla Model 3, evaluating their distinct TMS configurations and performance under varied weather conditions. Using both numerical simulations and experimental data collected on a controlled test bench at Argonne National Laboratory, we assess how TMS architecture and operational modes influence energy consumption and range. A comprehensive TMS model was developed, integrating cabin and battery thermal sub-models in the Autonomie software platform, to simulate temperature fluctuations and range impacts. Cabin climate was modeled using a mono-zonal approach, while battery cell temperature distribution was estimated through a 2D nodal structure. Each vehicle's distinct TMS setup was evaluated: the Chevrolet Bolt and Tesla Model 3 use a dual evaporator vapor compression cycle with a PTC heater for the cabin and a coolant loop for battery thermal management; the Nissan Leaf Plus employs a heat pump with a PTC heater for the cabin and air-cooling for the battery. Tests conducted at ambient temperatures of 35°C, 22°C, -7°C, and -18°C reveal significant differences in energy use and range reduction across both configurations and conditions. At 35°C, the Tesla Model 3, Chevrolet Bolt, and Nissan Leaf Plus have a range reduction of 8%, 9%, and 13%, respectively, due to air conditioning. In winter, heating technology is paramount; at -7°C, the Nissan Leaf's heat pump configuration achieves a lower range reduction (19.3%) compared to the Tesla and Chevrolet Bolt PTC heaters, which reduce range by 28.3% and 31%, respectively. Further, this study provides valuable insights for automotive engineers, EV technology researchers, and thermal management system designers aiming to enhance electric vehicle performance by understanding how different weather conditions and TMS architectures impact energy consumption and driving range.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
NASA NTRS1983

Interactive analysis of a large aperture Earth observations satellite

A system level design and analysis has been conducted on an Earth Observation Satellite (EOS) system using the Interactive Design and Evaluation of Advanced Spacecraft (IDEAS) computer-aided design and analysis program. The IDEAS program consists of about 40 user-friendly technical modules and an interactive graphics display. The reflector support system and feed mast of the EOS spacecraft are constructed with box-truss structural concept, a lattice configuration which can be packaged for delivery in a single Shuttle flight and deployed in orbit. The deployed spacecraft consists of a 120-m by 60-m parabolic focal axis. The spacecraft was modeled for structural, thermal, and control systems analysis and structural elements were designed. On-orbit dynamic and thermal loading analyses were conducted; spacecraft weights and developmental and first unit costs were determined.

Wright, R. L.↗