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At least 487 records · Page 27

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NASA NTRS2007

Flux Transfer Events Simultaneously Observed by Polar and Cluster: Flux Rope in the Subsolar Region and Flux Tube Addition to the Polar Cusp

The phenomenon called flux transfer events (FTEs) is widely accepted as the manifestation of time-dependent reconnection. In this paper, we present observational evidence of a flux transfer event observed simultaneously at low-latitude by Polar and at high-latitude by Cluster. This event occurs on March 21, 2002, when both Cluster and Polar are located near local noon but with a large latitudinal separation. During the event, Cluster is moving outbound from the polar cusp to the magnetosheath, and Polar is in the magnetosheath near the equatorial magnetopause. The observations show that a flux transfer event occurs between the equator and the northern cusp. Polar and Cluster observe the FTE s two open flux tubes: Polar encounters the southward moving flux tube near the equator; and Cluster the northward moving flux tube at high latitude. The low latitude FTE appears to be a flux rope with helical magnetic field lines as it has a strong core field and the magnetic field component in the boundary normal direction exhibits a strong bi-polar variation. Unlike the low-latitude FTE, the high-latitude FTE observed by Cluster does not exhibit the characteristic bi-polar perturbation in the magnetic field. But the plasma data clearly reveal its open flux tube configuration. It shows that the magnetic field lines have straightened inside the FTE and become more aligned to the neighboring flux tubes as it moves to the cusp. Enhanced electrostatic fluctuations have been observed within the FTE core, both at low- and high-latitudes. This event provides a unique opportunity to understand high-latitude FTE signatures and the nature of time-varying reconnection.

Le, G.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Telescoping tube assembly

An extensible and retractable telescoping tube positions test devices that inspect large stationary objects. The tube has three dimensional adjustment capabilities and is vertically suspended from a frame. The tube sections are independently supported with each section comprising U-shaped housing secured to a thicker support plate. Guide mechanisms preferably mounted only to the thicker plates guide each tube section parallel to a reference axis with improved accuracy so that the position of the remote end of the telescoping tube is precisely known.

Sturm, Albert J.↗

NASA NTRS2004

Thermally Conductive Metal-Tube/Carbon-Composite Joints

An improved method of fabricating joints between metal and carbon-fiber-based composite materials in lightweight radiators and heat sinks has been devised. Carbon-fiber-based composite materials have been used in such heat-transfer devices because they offer a combination of high thermal conductivity and low mass density. Metal tubes are typically used to carry heat-transfer fluids to and from such heat-transfer devices. The present fabrication method helps to ensure that the joints between the metal tubes and the composite-material parts in such heat-transfer devices have both (1) the relatively high thermal conductances needed for efficient transfer of heat and (2) the flexibility needed to accommodate differences among thermal expansions of dissimilar materials in operation over wide temperature ranges. Techniques used previously to join metal tubes with carbon-fiber-based composite parts have included press fitting and bonding with epoxy. Both of these prior techniques have been found to yield joints characterized by relatively high thermal resistances. The present method involves the use of a solder (63 percent Sn, 37 percent Pb) to form a highly thermally conductive joint between a metal tube and a carbon-fiber-based composite structure. Ordinarily, the large differences among the coefficients of thermal expansion of the metal tube, solder, and carbon-fiber-based composite would cause the solder to pull away from the composite upon post-fabrication cooldown from the molten state. In the present method, the structure of the solder is modified (see figure) to enable it to deform readily to accommodate the differential thermal expansion.

Copeland, Robert J.↗

NASA NTRS2017

Cryogenic Thermal Emittance Measurements on Small-Diameter Stainless Steel Tubing

The Mid Infrared Instrument aboard the James Webb Space Telescoep includes a mechanical cryocooler which cools its detectors to their 6 K operating temperature. The refrigerant flows through several meters of approximately 2 mm diameter 304L stainless steel tubing, with some sections gold plated, and some not, which are exposed to their environment. An issue of water freezing onto the tube surfaces is mitigated by a running a warm gas through the lines to sublimate the water. To model the effect of this process on nearby instruments, an accurate measure of the tube emittance is needed. Previously we reported the abosprtance of the gold plated stainless steel tubing as a function of source temperature (i.e. its environment). In this work the thermal emittance of the uncoated tubing is measured as a function of its temperature between 100 and 300 K. This value leads to an accurate prediction of the minimum length of time required to thermally recycle the system. We report the technique and present the results.

cryogenic↗

NASA NTRS2017

Cryogenic Thermal Emittance Measurements on Small-Diameter Stainless Steel Tubing

The Mid Infrared Instrument aboard the James Webb Space Telescope includes a mechanical cryocooler which cools its detectors to their 6 K operating temperature. The refrigerant flows through several meters of 2 mm diameter 304L stainless steel tubing, with some sections gold plated, and some not, which are exposed to their environment. An issue of water freezing onto the tube surfaces is mitigated by running a warm gas through the lines to sublimate the frozen water. To model the effect of this process on nearby instruments, an accurate measure of the tube emittance is needed. Previously we reported the absorptance of the gold plated stainless steel tubing as a function of source temperature (i.e. its environment). In this work the thermal emittance of the uncoated tubing is measured as a function of its temperature between 100 and 280 K. These values lead to an accurate prediction of the minimum length of time required to thermally recycle the system. We report the technique and present the results.

stainless steel↗

NASA NTRS2020

Resolution of Lava Tubes with Ground Penetrating Radar: The TubeX project

Remote sensing surveys of the Moon and Mars show evidence of lava tubes, which are potential safe havens for human crews and their equipment. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) can be used to map tubes because the void/rock interface at tube ceilings and floors strongly reflects radar pulses. We have tested the capacity of GPR to sense lava tube geometry at Lava Beds National Monument (LBNM) in California, USA. GPR and detailed LiDAR data are presented for two tubes: Skull Cave, with a few meters of overburden, diameter ~10-20 m, and a rubbly floor; and Valentine Cave, with similarly thin overburden, diameter ~1-3 meters, and a flatter smoother floor. On both caves GPR clearly resolves the ceiling and permits good estimates of the cave width as validated with LiDAR data. Where GPR fails, the primary cause is inferred to be strong out-of-plane effects due to complex 3D geometries. Recovery of the floor position requires migrating the GPR data with a 2D velocity model, as signal velocity is faster in void space. We find that floor position is recoverable in caves whose voids are taller than the radar wavelength (~3 m in this study). Forward modeling assuming planetary parameters suggests GPR should be similarly successful on the Moon or Mars.

S. Esmaeili↗

NASA NTRS2021

Microscale Processes Determining Macroscale Evolution of Magnetic Flux Tubes along Earth’s Magnetopause

An important process affecting solar wind-Earth’s magnetosphere coupling is non-steady dayside magnetic reconnection, observationally evidenced by a flux-transfer-event (FTE) that shows a bipolar variation of the magnetic field component normal to the magnetopause. FTEs often consist of two interlinked flux tubes, but, local kinetic processes between the flux tubes are not understood in the context of the FTE structuring, evolution, and impact. An FTE observed by MMS on 18 December 2017 consisted of two flux tubes of different topology. One includes field lines with ends connected to the northern and southern hemispheres while the other includes field lines with both ends connected to the magnetosheath. Reconnection occurring at the flux-tube interface indicates how interacting flux tubes evolve into a flux rope with helical magnetic topology that is either closed or open. This study demonstrates a new aspect of how micro-to meso-scale dynamics occurring within FTEs determines their macroscale characteristics and evolution.

Solar-terrestrial interactions↗

NASA NTRS2021

Magnetic Reconnection in a Sheared Magnetic Flux Tube: Slippage Versus Tearing

The process of magnetic reconnection in a flux tube can occur in a time-stationary fashion as slippage reconnection or in a time-dependent manner based on, for example, the tearing instability. However, it is not well known under which conditions a system can sustain slippage reconnection. Likewise, it is unclear whether systems can exhibit slippage reconnection and time-dependent reconnection simultaneously. In order to investigate these questions, we employ a set of 3D magnetohydrodynamic simulation. Using these simulations, we model a twisted flux tube with a spatially localized resistive region in the center of the simulation box, and an applied driver on one end plane of the simulation box. As a result, the Poynting flux injected at the boundary propagates to the resistive region and dissipates there. If the driver is nearly circular, we find a predominance of slippage reconnection, which decouples the applied driver entirely from one half of the flux tube. Second, a tearing-like instability occurs with slippage reconnection in the resistive region when the resistivity is strong enough and the cross section of the flux tube, as defined by the shape of the applied velocity perturbation, is elliptical enough. In this case we find the surprising feature that magnetic field perturbation generated by the tearing-like instability radiates away from the resistive region to influence the entire flux tube shape.

Hidetaka Kuniyoshi↗

DOE OSTI2012

Multiple tube premixing device

The present application provides a premixer for a combustor. The premixer may include a fuel plenum with a number of fuel tubes and a burner tube with a number of air tubes. The fuel tubes extend about the air tubes.

42 ENGINEERING↗

DOE OSTI2013

Multiple tube premixing device

42 ENGINEERING↗

DOE OSTI2016

Cladding material, tube including such cladding material and methods of forming the same

A multi-layered cladding material including a ceramic matrix composite and a metallic material, and a tube formed from the cladding material. The metallic material forms an inner liner of the tube and enables hermetic sealing of thereof. The metallic material at ends of the tube may be exposed and have an increased thickness enabling end cap welding. The metallic material may, optionally, be formed to infiltrate voids in the ceramic matrix composite, the ceramic matrix composite encapsulated by the metallic material. The ceramic matrix composite includes a fiber reinforcement and provides increased mechanical strength, stiffness, thermal shock resistance and high temperature load capacity to the metallic material of the inner liner. The tube may be used as a containment vessel for nuclear fuel used in a nuclear power plant or other reactor. Methods for forming the tube comprising the ceramic matrix composite and the metallic material are also disclosed.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

DOE OSTI2016

Method and system for a gas tube switch-based voltage source high voltage direct current transmission system

A voltage source converter based high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) transmission system includes a voltage source converter (VSC)-based power converter channel. The VSC-based power converter channel includes an AC-DC converter and a DC-AC inverter electrically coupled to the AC-DC converter. The AC-DC converter and a DC-AC inverter include at least one gas tube switching device coupled in electrical anti-parallel with a respective gas tube diode. The VSC-based power converter channel includes a commutating circuit communicatively coupled to one or more of the at least one gas tube switching devices. The commutating circuit is configured to "switch on" a respective one of the one or more gas tube switching devices during a first portion of an operational cycle and "switch off" the respective one of the one or more gas tube switching devices during a second portion of the operational cycle.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

DOE OSTI2018

Gas tube-switched high voltage DC power converter

A direct current (DC)-DC converter includes a transformer and a gas tube-switched inverter circuit. The transformer includes a primary winding and a secondary winding. The gas tube-switched inverter circuit includes first and second inverter load terminals and first and second inverter input terminals. The first and second inverter load terminals are coupled to the primary winding. The first and second inverter input terminals are couplable to a DC node. The gas tube-switched inverter circuit further includes a plurality of gas tube switches respectively coupled between the first and second inverter load terminals and the first and second inverter input terminals. The plurality of gas tube switches is configured to operate to generate an alternating current (AC) voltage at the primary winding.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

DOE OSTI2024

Beam Loss Assessment Through Use of Photomultiplier Tubes

Modern accelerators aim to deliver maximal beam current at stable energy with minimal beam loss. Environmental changes, among other factors, can result in increased beam loss and decreased beam throughput, prompting daily retuning of the accelerator. The compact nature of the oldest part of the linear accelerator limits the available beam instrumentation, making beam loss assessment and tuning difficult. Thus, additional devices for beam loss monitoring must be considered. Photomultiplier tube-based beam loss monitors (BLMs) were installed along the Fermilab drift tube Linac to assess beam loss. Due to noise, the data from the installed photomultiplier tubes was difficult to assess. After noise reduction and signal analysis, it was found that the signals produced by the photomultiplier tubes in response to beam loss were consistent for a given configuration and therefore a reasonable measure of beam loss. This project lays groundwork for future work in beam loss assessment using photomultiplier tubes, with the automation of the process developed in this project being the next step in this effort.

Waggoner, Alexander↗

DOE OSTI2023

Distributed Coaxial Cable Sensors for In-Situ Condition Based Monitoring of Coal-Fired Boiler Tubes

The increasing contributions of renewable energy sources present new challenges to the operation and maintenance of the existing coal-fired power plants. One of the major operational risks is the unexpected failure of superheater boiler tubes, leading to the most unplanned power plant outrages. The boiler tube failure is difficult to predict due to the harsh operating environments. Therefore, condition-based monitoring (CBM) with a reliable high temperature sensor becomes necessary to produce a meaningful assessment of the health condition of boiler tubes and their remaining lifetime. In this work, the stainless-steel and quartz coaxial cable sensor (SSQ-CCS) is proposed for in-situ distributed monitoring of the boiler tube temperatures in existing coal-fired power plants. Comprehensive tests have been conducted with an in-house testing facility at Clemson University to study and evaluate the sensors’ performance in the temperature range of 100℃ to 600℃. The results indicated that the measurement resolution of the SSQ-CCS sensor is better than 1℃, and the drift is less than 2% over long-period testing. Meanwhile, multi-physics finite element analysis has been conducted to optimize the design and evaluate the safety of the SSQ-CCS temperature sensor under various operational conditions. Based on the performance obtained in the laboratory-scale testing, a field test has been implemented at a power plant. Four SSQ-CCS temperature sensors were installed for in-situ monitoring of the temperatures of a power plant’s superheat tube assembles. The data acquisition system has been successfully set up and collected sensing signals for more than three months. The sensing signals have been post-processed, and the monitored temperature history through the SSQ-CCS temperature sensor has been validated and compared with the conventional high temperature thermal couple data.

Jiao, Xinyu↗

DOE OSTI2014

Dose equations for shift-variant CT acquisition modes using variable pitch, tube current, and aperture, and the meaning of their associated CTDI{sub vol}

Purpose: With the increasing clinical use of shift-variant CT protocols involving tube current modulation (TCM), variable pitch or pitch modulation (PM), and variable aperture a(t), the interpretation of the scanner-reported CTDI{sub vol} is called into question. This was addressed for TCM in their previous paper published by Dixon and Boone [Med. Phys. 40, 111920 (14pp.) (2013)] and is extended to PM and concurrent TCM/PM as well as variable aperture in this work. Methods: Rigorous convolution equations are derived to describe the accumulated dose distributions for TCM, PM, and concurrent TCM/PM. A comparison with scanner-reported CTDI{sub vol} formulae clearly identifies the source of their differences with the traditional CTDI{sub vol}. Dose distribution simulations using the convolution are provided for a variety of TCM and PM scenarios including a helical shuttle used for perfusion studies (as well as constant mA)—all having the same scanner-reported CTDI{sub vol}. These new convolution simulations for TCM are validated by comparison with their previous discrete summations. Results: These equations show that PM is equivalent to TCM if the pitch variation p(z) is proportional to 1/i(z), where i(z) is the local tube current. The simulations show that the local dose at z depends only weakly on the local tube current i(z) or local pitch p(z) due to scatter from all other locations along z, and that the “local CTDI{sub vol}(z)” or “CTDI{sub vol} per slice” do not represent a local dose but rather only a relative i(z) or p(z). The CTDI-paradigm does not apply to shift-variant techniques and the scanner-reported CTDI{sub vol} for the same lacks physical significance and relevance. Conclusions: While the traditional CTDI{sub vol} at constant tube current and pitch conveys useful information (the peak dose at the center of the scan length), CTDI{sub vol} for shift-variant techniques (TCM or PM) conveys no useful information about the associated dose distribution it purportedly represents. On the other hand, the total energy absorbed E (“integral dose”) as well as its surrogate DLP remain robust (invariant) with respect to shift-variance, depending only on the total mAs = 〈i〉t{sub 0} accumulated during the total beam-on time t{sub 0} and aperture a, where 〈i〉 is the average current.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

NASA NTRS1962

Combined Radiation and Forced Convection for Flow of a Transparent Gas in a Tube with Sinusoidal Axial Wall Heat Flux Distribution

An analysis is made of the influence that radiation exchanges between elements on the inside surface of a tube have on the wall and gas temperature distributions for forced-convection flow. The wall heat generation has a chopped sine distribution with length along the tube, which is a distribution often encountered in nuclear-reactor channels. The flowing gas is assumed transparent to thermal radiation and hence does not participate directly in the radiative exchange process. Axial heat conduction is neglected in the gas and tube wall, and the convective-heat-transfer coefficient and fluid properties are assumed constant. Several numerical examples are given to illustrate the effects of eight independent parameters such as wall emissivity, Stanton number, and length-diameter ratio. In some instances the radiation exchanges reduced the peak wall temperature or caused a reduction in the exit gas temperature because of radiation losses from the tube end openings.

TUBE↗

DOE OSTI2016

Highly Active and Stable Graphene Tubes Decorated with FeCoNi Alloy Nanoparticles via a Template-Free Graphitization for Bifunctional Oxygen Reduction and Evolution

Development of highly active and stable bifunctional oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts from earth–abundant elements remains a grand challenge for highly demanded reversible fuel cells and metal–air batteries. Carbon catalysts have many advantages over others due to their low cost, excellent electrical conductivity, high surface area, and easy functionalization. However, they typically cannot withstand the highly oxidative OER environment. Here, a new class of bifunctional electrocatalyst is reported, consisting of ultralarge sized nitrogen doped graphene tubes (N–GTs) (>500 nm) decorated with FeCoNi alloy particles. These tubes are prepared from an inexpensive precursor, dicyandiamide, via a template–free graphitization process. The ORR/OER activity and the stability of these graphene tube catalysts depend strongly on the transition metal precursors. The best performing FeCoNi–derived N–GT catalyst exhibits excellent ORR and OER activity along with adequate electrochemical durability over a wide potential window (0–1.9 V) in alkaline media. Here, the measured OER current is solely due to desirable O 2 evolution, rather than carbon oxidation. Extensive electrochemical and physical characterization indicated that high graphitization degree, thicker tube walls, proper nitrogen doping, and presence of FeCoNi alloy particles are vital for high bifunctional activity and electrochemical durability of tubular carbon catalysts.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗