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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 487 records · Page 27
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

An improved specimen preparation method for marine shallow gas-bearing sand sediments and its validations

Instabilities of shallow gas-charged seabed are potential geological hazards in ocean engineering. In practice, the conventional field sampling techniques failed to obtain undisturbed gas-bearing sediments from the seabed for laboratory mechanical testing because of sensitive gas exsolution and escape from sediments. However, preparation of representative remoulded gas-charged specimens is a challenging issue, because it is rather difficult to quantitatively control the gas content and obtain uniform distribution of gas bubbles within the specimen. Given the above problems, this work proposes a reliable approach to reconstitute the high-saturation specimen of gas-charged sediments in the laboratory by an improved multifunction integrated triaxial apparatus (MITA). This apparatus is developed based on an advanced stress path triaxial system by introducing a temperature-controlled system and a wave-monitoring system. The temperature-controlled system is used to accurately mimic the in situ environments of sediments in the seabed. The wave-monitoring system is utilized to identify exsolution point of free gas and examine the disturbance of gas to specimens during gas exsolution. The detailed procedure of gassy specimen preparation is introduced. Then, the quality of prepared specimens using our improved apparatus is validated by the high-resolution micro-X-ray computed tomography (μCT) scanning test, from which bubble occurrence and size distribution within the gassy sand specimen can be obtained; and preliminary mechanical tests on gassy sand specimens with various initial saturation degrees are performed. The proposed specimen preparation procedure succeeds in proving the postulated occurrence state of gas bubbles in coarse-grained sediments and accurately controlling the gas content.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2017

CO2 and CH4 Production and CH4 Oxidation in Low Temperature Soil Incubations from Flat- and High-Centered Polygons, Utqiagvik (Barrow), Alaska, 2012

The dataset consists of respiration and methane production rates and methane oxidation potential obtained from soil microcosm studies carried out under controlled temperature and incubation conditions. Soils cores collected in 2012 represent the flat- and high-centered polygon active layers and permafrost (when present) from the NGEE Arctic Intensive Study Site 1, Barrow, Alaska. Data presented here will improve our understanding of the temperature controls on the temporal variation in microbially mediated carbon loss potentials from soils impacted by a characteristic microtopographic feature in the Arctic tundra ecosystems. Such an understanding will in turn help parameterize fine-scale models that constrain soil biogeochemistry, particularly relevant to methane cycle under water saturated and oxic conditions. There are three files in this dataset, two csvs and one .pdf.The Next-Generation Ecosystem Experiments: Arctic (NGEE Arctic), was a 10-year research effort (2012-2022) to reduce uncertainty in Earth System Models by developing a predictive understanding of carbon-rich Arctic ecosystems and feedbacks to climate. NGEE Arctic was supported by the Department of Energy’s Office of Biological and Environmental Research.The NGEE Arctic project had two field research sites: 1) located within the Arctic polygonal tundra coastal region on the Barrow Environmental Observatory (BEO) and the North Slope near Utqiagvik (Barrow), Alaska and 2) multiple areas on the discontinuous permafrost region of the Seward Peninsula north of Nome, Alaska.Through observations, experiments, and synthesis with existing datasets, NGEE Arctic provided an enhanced knowledge base for multi-scale modeling and contributed to improved process representation at global pan-Arctic scales within the Department of Energy’s Earth system Model (the Energy Exascale Earth System Model, or E3SM), and specifically within the E3SM Land Model component (ELM).

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1987

Solidification under microgravity conditions - Dendritic growth

The experimental approach and apparatus of a zero-gravity active crystal growth experiment to test dendritic growth theory at low supercoolings are discussed. The experiment consists of 20 experimental cycles. Estimates have been made as to how low gravitational accelerations would have to be reduced to observe convection-free dendritic growth at supercoolings from 0.01-1.0 K. The experiment requires temperature control of + or - 2 mK and photographic resolution of a few microns with a depth of field of + or - 6 mm. The thermostatic bath and temperature control system, photographic system, growth chamber, and dendrite detection system are described in detail.

Glicksman, M. E.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Integrating Phase Change Materials within Catalysts for Effective Heat Management

Here, most fuel conversion technologies, including Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, C-C coupling, methanol synthesis, and aldol condensation reactions, are highly exothermic, making precise temperature control essential to avoid thermodynamic limitations while maintaining selectivity and catalyst stability. Current industrial practice mitigates these effects primarily through reactor-level, ex situ temperature control strategies — such as heat exchangers, multi-tubular reactors, or quench cooling — but these approaches fall short in regulating the heat generated, transported, and dissipated at the catalyst particle scale.

Karakaya, Canan [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (OR↗
NASA NTRS2000

Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) Final Test Report of DM LHP TV Testing

Two loop heat pipes (LHPs) are to be used for thermal control of the Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS), planned for flight in 2001. One LHP will be used to transport 100 W from a laser to the radiator, the other will transport 210 W from electronic boxes to the radiator. In order to verify the LHP design for the GLAS application, an LHP Development Model has been fabricated, and ambient and thermal vacuum tested. Two aluminum blocks of 15 kg and 30 kg, respectively, were attached to the LHP to simulate the thermal masses connected to the heat sources. A 20 W starter heater was installed on the evaporator to aid the loop startup. A new concept to thermally couple the vapor and liquid line was also incorporated in the LHP design. Such a thermal coupling would reduce the power requirement on the compensation chamber in order to maintain the loop set point temperature. To avoid freezing of the liquid in the condenser during cold cases, propylene was selected as the working fluid. The LHP was tested under reflux mode and with adverse elevation. Tests conducted included start-up, power cycle, steady state and transient operation during hot and cold cases, and heater power requirements for the set point temperature control of the LHP. Test results showed very successful operation of the LHP under all conditions. The 20 W starter heater proved necessary in order to start the loop when a large thermal mass was attached to the evaporator. The thermal coupling between the liquid line and the vapor line significantly reduced the heater power required for loop temperature control, which was less than 5 watts in all cases, including a cold radiator. The test also demonstrated successful operation with a propylene working fluid, with successful startups with condenser temperatures as low as 100 C. Furthermore, the test demonstrated accurate control of the loop operating temperature within +/- 0.2 C, and a successful shutdown of the loop during the survival mode of operation.

Baker, Charles↗
DOE OSTI2018

Characterization and flux assessment of airborne phthalates released from polyvinyl chloride consumer goods

Highlights: • Enhanced levels of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) can affect human health. • The major SVOCs like phthalates are released into indoor by many sources like plasticizers. • This study investigated the emission characteristics of diverse phthalates from plastic/rubber products. • Emission behavior of phthalates is described in relation to several key variables, e.g., types of PVC. The concentrations and fluxes of airborne phthalates were measured from five types of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) consumer products (vinyl flooring, wallcovering, child's toy, yoga mat, and edge protector) using a small chamber (impinger) system. Airborne phthalates released from each of those PVC samples were collected using sorbent (Tenax TA) tubes at three temperature control intervals (0, 3, and 6 h) under varying temperature conditions (25, 40, and 90 °C). A total of 11 phthalate compounds were quantified in the five PVC products examined in this study. To facilitate the comparison of phthalate emissions among PVC samples, their flux values were defined for total phthalates by summing the average fluxes of all 11 phthalates generated during the control period of 6 h. The highest flux values were seen in the edge protector sample at all temperatures (0.40 (25 °C), 9.65 (40 °C), and 75.7 μg m{sup −2} h{sup −1} (90 °C)) of which emission was dominated by dibutyl isophthalate. In contrast, the lowest fluxes were found in wallcovering (0.01 (25 °C) and 0.05 μg m{sup −2} h{sup −1} (40 °C)) and child's toy (0.23 μg m{sup −2} h{sup −1} (90 °C)) at each temperature level. The information regarding phthalate composition and emission patterns varied dynamically with type of PVC sample, controlled temperature, and duration of control.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Architecture-Based Control of Temperature Gradient-Driven Water Transport in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells

Temperature gradients can move water within the porous media of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell through phase-change-induced (PCI) flow. It is critical to understand PCI flow so that control and distribution of water within a fuel cell can be accomplished. This work investigates the role of architecture, specifically anode land width, on overall cell water content and distribution in the through-plane direction. A specially-designed 4.8 cm 2 fuel cell with precise thermal boundary conditions was imaged with neutrons using two different anode flow field configurations. A new, non-dimensional thermal transport number was developed which quantifies the relative influence of PCI flow on cell water transport. It was found that anode lands larger than the cathode lands cause large thermal gradients that instigate net water flux from the cathode to the anode. An asymmetric configuration with larger anode lands was found to have large changes in water content that were strongly sensitive to cell operating conditions. The thermal transport number developed here enables deduction of the net flux condition based on operating conditions and architecture. This approach enables design of high-performance systems with balanced water management.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Catalyst for low temperature emission control and methods for using same

The invention provides a composite catalyst containing a first component and a second component. The first component contains a ternary mixed metal oxide. The second component contains a platinum group metal. The composite catalyst is useful for catalyzing the low temperature oxidation of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS2006

Start-up Behavior of a Miniature Loop Heat Pipe with Multiple Evaporators and Multiple Condensers

This paper presents the test results on start-up behaviors of a miniature loop heat pipe (MLHP) with two evaporators and two condensers. The MLHP start-up tests were conducted by varying the heat load to one or both evaporators, the condenser sink temperatures, and with or without compensation chamber (CC) temperature control. More than 90 start-up tests have been conducted in horizontal position, and all were successful. Test results showed robust start-ups of the MLHP with heat loads of 1W to 100W. Loop started as soon as the heat load was applied, without a large temperature overshoot. The efficacy and good repeatability of the start-ups with CC active temperature control by using thermoelectric cooler (TEC) was demonstrated. The ability of the loop to start with parasitic heat gain caused by cooling the CC temperature below ambient temperature was also demonstrated.

Nagano, Hosei↗
NASA NTRS1991

Adaptive temperature profile control of a multizone crystal growth furnace

An intelligent measurement system is described which is used to assess the shape of a crystal while it is growing inside a multizone transparent furnace. A color video imaging system observes the crystal in real time, and determines the position and the shape of the interface. This information is used to evaluate the crystal growth rate, and to analyze the effects of translational velocity and temperature profiles on the shape of the interface. Creation of this knowledge base is the first step to incorporate image processing into furnace control.

Batur, C.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Studies in Thermocapillary Convection of the Marangoni-Benard Type

A nonlinear feedback control strategy for delaying the onset and eliminating the subcritical nature of long-wavelength Marangoni-Benard convection is investigated based on an evolution equation. A control temperature is applied to the lower wall in a gas-liquid layer otherwise heated uniformly from below. It is shown that, if the interface deflection is assumed to be known via sensing as a function of both horizontal coordinates and time, a control temperature with a cubic-order polynomial dependence on the deflection is capable of delaying the onset as well as eliminating the subcritical instability altogether, at least on the basis of a weakly nonlinear analysis. The control coefficients required for stabilization are O(1) for both delaying onset indefinitely and eliminating subcritical instability.

Kelly, R. E.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Precooling system utilizing cryogenic liquid fuels for fueling pressurized vehicle gaseous onboard storage tank system with controlled dispensing temperatures

A method and a precooling system are provided for precooling gaseous fuel supplied for fueling pressurized gaseous vehicle onboard storage tank systems. The precooling system is used in pressurized gaseous fueling stations with source fuels in cryogenic state, such as liquid hydrogen (LH2) and liquefied nature gas (LNG). A thermal buffer heat exchanger includes a heat exchanger medium, and a cold loop and a warm loop contained in the heat exchanger medium. A control unit is configured for controlling cryogenic fuel supplied to the cold loop for cooling the thermal buffer heat exchanger. The thermal buffer heat exchanger enables precooling high pressure gaseous fuel to a preset temperature supplied to a dispenser supplying high pressure gaseous fuel to refuel a vehicle onboard storage tank system.

Elgowainy, Amgad A.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Baseplate Temperature–Dependent Vertical Composition Gradient in Pseudo–Bilayer Films for Printing Non–Fullerene Organic Solar Cells

Numerous previous reports on the sequential deposition (SD) technique have demonstrated that this approach can achieve a p–i–n active layer architecture with an ideal vertical composition gradient, which is one of the critical factors that can influence the physical processes that determine the photovoltaic performance of organic solar cells. Herein, a commonly used photovoltaic system comprised of PM6 as a donor and Y6 as an acceptor is investigated with respect to sequential blade–processing deposition to comprehensively explore the morphology characteristics as a function of baseplate temperature. A systematic study of the temperature–dependent blend morphology elucidates the SD–processed configuration merits and device physics behind temperature–controlled degree of vertical composition gradient, and constructs the temperature–microstructure–property relationship for the corresponding photovoltaic parameters. The result shows, as the temperature increases, the morphology of the active layer has undergone a distinct evolution from the pseudo–bulk heterojunction to a pseudo–planar heterojunction and then to a pseudo–planar bilayer, leading to a non–monotonic correlation between baseplate temperature and device performance. Further, this investigation not only reveals the importance of precisely controlling baseplate temperature for gaining vertical morphology control, but also provides a path toward rational optimization of device performance in the lab–to–fab transition.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS1973

Shuttle active thermal control system development testing. Volume 2: Modular radiator system tests

Tests were designed to investigate the validity of the "modular" approach to space radiator system design for space shuttle and future applications by gathering performance data on various systems comprised of different numbers of identical panels, subject to nominal and extreme heat loads and environments. Both one-sided and two-sided radiation was tested, and engineering data was gathered on simulated low a/e coatings and system response to changes in outlet temperature control point. The results of the testing showed system stability throughout nominal orbital transients, unrealistically skewed environments, freeze-thaw transients, and rapid changes in outlet temperature control point. Various alternative panel plumbing arrangements were tested with no significant changes in performance being observed. With the MRS panels arranged to represent the shuttle baseline system, a maximum heat rejection of 76,600 Btu/hr was obtained in segmented tests under the expected worst case design environments. Testing of an alternate smaller two-sided radiation configuration yielded a maximum heat rejection of 52,931 Btu/hr under the maximum design environments.

Scheps, P. B.↗
NASA NTRS2007

Improving Forecast Skill by Assimilation of Quality-controlled AIRS Temperature Retrievals under Partially Cloudy Conditions

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) on board the Aqua satellite has been long recognized as an important contributor towards the improvement of weather forecasts. At this time only a small fraction of the total data produced by AIRS is being used by operational weather systems. In fact, in addition to effects of thinning and quality control, the only AIRS data assimilated are radiance observations of channels unaffected by clouds. Observations in mid-lower tropospheric sounding AIRS channels are assimilated primarily under completely clear-sky conditions, thus imposing a very severe limitation on the horizontal distribution of the AIRS-derived information. In this work it is shown that the ability to derive accurate temperature profiles from AIRS observations in partially cloud-contaminated areas can be utilized to further improve the impact of AIRS observations in a global model and forecasting system. The analyses produced by assimilating AIRS temperature profiles obtained under partial cloud cover result in a substantially colder representation of the northern hemisphere lower midtroposphere at higher latitudes. This temperature difference has a strong impact, through hydrostatic adjustment, in the midtropospheric geopotential heights, which causes a different representation of the polar vortex especially over northeastern Siberia and Alaska. The AIRS-induced anomaly propagates through the model's dynamics producing improved 5-day forecasts.

Reale, O.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Vertical effective stress and temperature as controls of quartz cementation in sandstones: Evidence from North Sea Fulmar and Gulf of Mexico Wilcox sandstones

Here we present quantitative petrographic data, high spatial resolution oxygen isotope analyses of quartz cement, basin modelling and a kinetic model for quartz precipitation for two Paleocene-Eocene Wilcox Group sandstones from Texas and two Jurassic Fulmar Formation sandstones from the Central North Sea. At each location, one sandstone has been buried to ca. 145 °C and one to ca. 185 °C. A key difference between the Wilcox and Fulmar burial histories is that the Wilcox sandstones are currently at higher vertical effective stresses and, from basin modelling studies, have been subjected to generally higher vertical effective stresses through their burial history. The amounts of quartz cement in the Wilcox sandstones are between 12 and 18%, and between 2 and 6% in the Fulmar sandstones. High-spatial-resolution oxygen isotope data obtained from the quartz cements suggest temperature ranges for quartz precipitation from 60 to 80 °C to values approaching maximum burial temperature. Factors such as grain coatings or the timing of petroleum emplacement cannot explain the differences in the amounts of quartz cement. Petrographic data show that most of the silica for quartz cement can be derived from intergranular pressure dissolution. Although the sample set is small, we interpret the results to suggest that the differences in quartz cementation in Fulmar and Wilcox sandstones can be explained better by differences in their vertical effective stress history than their temperature history; in this case, the supply of silica rather than the precipitation of quartz becomes an important control on the rate and extent of cementation.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1976

A versatile system for biological and soil chemical tests on a planetary landing craft. II - Hardware development

A system has been under development which is designed to seek remotely for clues to life in planetary soil samples. The basic approach is a set of experiments, all having a common sensor, a gas analysis mass spectrometer which monitors gas composition in the head spaces above sealed, temperature controlled soil samples. Versatility is obtained with up to three preloaded, sealed fluid injector capsules for each of eleven soil test cells. Tests results with an engineering model has demonstrated performance capability of subsystem components such as soil distribution, gas sampling valves, injector mechanisms, temperature control, and test cell seal.

Martin, J. P.↗