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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

Maximizing the Benefits of On-Site Renewable Energy Generation Using On-Site Energy Storage

The commercial and industrial building sectors have a major role to play in a U.S. low-carbon future. Building owners can make a difference by deploying on-site renewable generation and storage technologies, which facilitates future-proofing their buildings as well as more effectively meeting the service requirements of the building. This resource provides an overview of common generation, storage, and load management technologies in behind-the-meter systems, and serves as a primer to demonstrate the impact on net building loads required from the grid for different sizes of renewable generation along with on-site electrical and thermal storage. These discussions can help commercial building owners communicate the value of these systems to project teams and develop innovative behind-the-meter solutions to achieve their energy goals.

ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION↗

Advanced modulation technology development for earth station demodulator applications. Coded modulation system development

A jointly optimized coded modulation system is described which was designed, built, and tested by COMSAT Laboratories for NASA LeRC which provides a bandwidth efficiency of 2 bits/s/Hz at an information rate of 160 Mbit/s. A high speed rate 8/9 encoder with a Viterbi decoder and an Octal PSK modem are used to achieve this. The BER performance is approximately 1 dB from the theoretically calculated value for this system at a BER of 5 E-7 under nominal conditions. The system operates in burst mode for downlink applications and tests have demonstrated very little degradation in performance with frequency and level offset. Unique word miss rate measurements were conducted which demonstrate reliable acquisition at low values of Eb/No. Codec self tests have verified the performance of this subsystem in a stand alone mode. The codec is capable of operation at a 200 Mbit/s information rate as demonstrated using a codec test set which introduces noise digitally. The measured performance is within 0.2 dB of the computer simulated predictions. A gate array implementation of the most time critical element of the high speed Viterbi decoder was completed. This gate array add-compare-select chip significantly reduces the power consumption and improves the manufacturability of the decoder. This chip has general application in the implementation of high speed Viterbi decoders.

Miller, Susan P.↗

Evolution of the Systems Engineering Education Development (SEED) Program at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

The Systems Engineering Education Development (SEED) Program at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center develops systems engineers from existing discipline engineers. The program has evolved significantly since the report to INCOSE in 2003. This paper describes the SEED Program as it is now, outlines the changes over the last year, discusses current status and results, and shows the value of human systems and leadership skills for practicing systems engineers.

Bagg, Thomas C., III↗

FY23 Drone RFID (Final Report)

The Drone RFID project successfully completed proof-of-concept testing to demonstrate the potential of a drone-based inventory system for high value remote materials at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Multiple drone platforms were procured, flight authorizations were received, and the vehicles were flown demonstrating what was initially perceived as the most difficult part of the project, successfully flying drones at the lab. Three commercial RFID inventory systems were also purchased, and ground testing performed to determine their suitability. Ultimately, one system was chosen for flight testing and successfully demonstrated the drone's ability to execute inventory with great potential for a relatively low-cost implementation.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Modular, thermal bus-to-radiator integral heat exchanger design for Space Station Freedom

The baseline concept is introduced for the 'integral heat exchanger' (IHX) which is the interface of the two-phase thermal bus with the heat-rejecting radiator panels. A direct bus-to-radiator heat-pipe integral connection replaces the present interface hardware to reduce the weight and complexity of the heat-exchange mechanism. The IHX is presented in detail and compared to the baseline system assuming certain values for heat rejection, mass per unit width, condenser capacity, contact conductance, and assembly mass. The spreadsheet comparison can be used to examine a variety of parameters such as radiator length and configuration. The IHX is shown to permit the reduction of panel size and system mass in response to better conductance and packaging efficiency. The IHX is found to be a suitable heat-rejection system for the Space Station Freedom because it uses present technology and eliminates the interface mechanisms.

Chambliss, Joe↗

Understanding vortex dynamics in CaK(Fe,Ni) 4 As 4 and Ba(Fe,Co) 2 As 2 single crystals under the influence of random point disorder

We report on the influence of doping on vortex dynamics in 3 MeV proton-irradiated single crystals of CaK(Fe 1–x Ni x ) 4 As 4 (1144, x = 0.015, 0.025, and 0.03) and Ba(Fe 1–x Co x ) 2 As 2 (x = 0.04, 0.062, 0.066 and 0.074). Non-irradiated crystals of the 1144 system display superconducting critical temperatures ranging from 31 K for x = 0.015–20.5 K, as doping increases to 0.03. On the other hand, pristine crystals of the 122 system show T c values between 14.6 and 23.6 K, with the maximum T c occurring at intermediate doping levels. The fluence was set at 3 × 10 16 p cm –2 , resulting in a decrease in the T c by around 1.5 K for all samples and significantly affecting the vortex dynamics by reducing the flux creep relaxation compared to previously reported values for unirradiated crystals. Parameters such as vortex pinning energy U 0 and the glassy exponent μ dependencies on doping and magnetic field strength are identified. For the 1144 system, U 0 reaches values approaching 500 K for small fields in samples with T c = 29.3 K (x = 0.015), systematically decreasing to around 200 K as T c falls below 20 K. Furthermore, U 0 decreases as the field increases to 3 T for the same sample, varying from approximately 250 K to 100 K as T c decreases. These changes are typically accompanied by modifications in μ, gradually increasing from values around 1 towards 1.5, corresponding to small bundle relaxation in the collective creep theory. Despite differences in the substitutional disorder and magnetic phase diagram with respect to the 1144 system, the results for 122 single crystals follow a similar tendency in which U 0 usually reduces and μ increase rise as the applied magnetic field is increased. Due to moderate U 0 in these systems (few hundreds of kelvins), the resulting decay of persistent current at liquid helium temperatures is primarily determined by a balance between U 0 and bundle size contribution. Furthermore, these findings provide valuable insights for potential applications of these systems, particularly in the context of intrinsic superconducting parameters and the resulting pinning landscape.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Systems and methods for screening particle source manufacturing and development test data

A computing system obtains test data for a particle source. The test data was generated by the particle source when the particle source was caused to emit particles. The test data comprises a first set of measurements of a first type and a second set of measurements of a second type. The computing system applies a data agnostic predictive model to the test data. The data agnostic predictive model is generated without a parametric analysis of variables of the first type and variables of the second type. The data agnostic predictive model outputs, based upon the test data, a value that is indicative of whether or not the test data is abnormal. Based upon the value, the computing system outputs an indication that the particle source was operating sub-optimally when emitting the particles.

Multari, Rosalie A.↗

Effect of atmospheric turbulence on the bit error probability of a space to ground near infrared laser communications link using binary pulse position modulation and an avalanche photodiode detector

The effect of atmospheric turbulence on the bit error rate of a space-to-ground near infrared laser communications link is investigated, for a link using binary pulse position modulation and an avalanche photodiode detector. Formulas are presented for the mean and variance of the bit error rate as a function of signal strength. Because these formulas require numerical integration, they are of limited practical use. Approximate formulas are derived which are easy to compute and sufficiently accurate for system feasibility studies, as shown by numerical comparison with the exact formulas. A very simple formula is derived for the bit error rate as a function of signal strength, which requires only the evaluation of an error function. It is shown by numerical calculations that, for realistic values of the system parameters, the increase in the bit error rate due to turbulence does not exceed about thirty percent for signal strengths of four hundred photons per bit or less. The increase in signal strength required to maintain an error rate of one in 10 million is about one or two tenths of a db.

Safren, H. G.↗

Effect of Off-Stoichiometry on Electrical Conductivity in Ni-Fe and Mn-Co Spinel Systems

This study seeks to clarify the effects of off-stoichiometry on the electrical conductivity of spinels in the (Ni,Fe) 3 O 4 and (Mn,Co) 3 O 4 systems. Spinels with the compositions Ni x Fe 3–x O 4 (where x = 0.85, 0.875, 0.9, 1.0, 1.05, and 1.15) and Mn x Co 3–x O 4 (where x = 1.0, 1.2, 1.35, 1.5, 1.75, and 2.0) were prepared using conventional solid-state process. Electrical conductivity measurements were taken between 500 °C and 800 °C using the 4-point DC method. The conductivity in Ni-Fe spinels increased with increasing Fe content. Similarly, the conductivity of Mn-Co spinels increased drastically with increasing Co content. The coefficients of thermal expansion (CTEs) of these samples were also evaluated. All the (Ni,Fe) 3 O 4 spinels were found to exhibit excellent CTE matching with prospective stack components. However, thermal expansion characteristics were highly dependent on the composition in the (Mn,Co) 3 O 4 system, and only a narrow range of compositions was well-matched in CTE with prospective stack components. The significant effect of cation off-stoichiometry and sample preparation on the electrical behavior of spinels was discussed as a possible explanation for the large discrepancies in reported conductivity values for both systems.

08 HYDROGEN↗

A Causal Approach to Integrate Component Health Data into System Reliability Models

Two of the challenges of current plant reliability approaches are the ability to integrate plant health data, and to support decision making. Condition based data and diagnostic/prognostic information are in fact not considered into plant reliability models to inform system engineers on the most critical components. Currently, the propagation of quantitative health data from the component to the system level is a challenge given the diverse nature/structure of the data. On the other hand, plant reliability methods (which are typically based on fault-trees or reliability block diagrams) can effectively propagate data from the component to the system level, but values of failure rates or failure probabilities are an approximated integral representation of the past industry-wide operational experience, and it neglects the present component health status (e.g., diagnostic and condition-based data) and health projection (when available from prognostic data). Our first claim is that system reliability models should propagate health information from the component to the system/plant level in order to provide a quantitative snapshot of system/plant health and identify the most critical components. Our second claim is that component health should be informed solely by that specific component current and historical performance data and should not be an approximated integral representation of the past industry-wide operational experience. This paper is directly supporting these two claims by proposing a different approach to perform reliability modeling which relies on available component diagnostic, prognostic and condition-based data to measure component health, and it propagates this information through fault tree models. The propagation of health data from the component to the system level is performed not in terms of probability, but in terms of margins where margin is defined as the “distance” between the present actual status and an undesired event (e.g., failure or unacceptable performance). Through a cause-effect lens, while classical reliability models target the effect associated to a component performance, a margin-based approach focuses on the cause of an undesired component performance (i.e., component health). Hence, thinking of reliability in terms of margins implies decision making based on causal reasoning. We will show how fault tree models can be solved using a margin language and how this process can effectively assist system engineers to identify the most critical components.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Applications of computer algebra to distributed parameter systems

In the analysis of vibrations of continuous elastic systems, one often encounters complicated transcendental equations with roots directly related to the system's natural frequencies. Typically, these equations contain system parameters whose values must be specified before a numerical solution can be obtained. The present paper presents a method whereby the fundamental frequency can be obtained in analytical form to any desired degree of accuracy. The method is based upon truncation of rapidly converging series involving inverse powers of the system natural frequencies. A straightforward method to developing these series and summing them in closed form is presented. It is demonstrated how Computer Algebra can be exploited to perform the intricate analytical procedures which otherwise would render the technique difficult to apply in practice. We illustrate the method by developing two analytical approximations to the fundamental frequency of a vibrating cantilever carrying a rigid tip body. The results are compared to the numerical solution of the exact (transcendental) frequency equation over a range of system parameters.

Storch, Joel A.↗

Solution of linear systems by a singular perturbation technique

An approximate solution is obtained for a singularly perturbed system of initial valued, time invariant, linear differential equations with multiple boundary layers. Conditions are stated under which the approximate solution converges uniformly to the exact solution as the perturbation parameter tends to zero. The solution is obtained by the method of matched asymptotic expansions. Use of the results for obtaining approximate solutions of general linear systems is discussed. An example is considered to illustrate the method and it is shown that the formulas derived give a readily computed uniform approximation.

Ardema, M. D.↗

Economic implications of current systems

The primary goals of this study are to estimate the value of R&D to photovoltaic (PV) metallization systems cost, and to provide a method for selecting an optimal metallization method for any given PV system. The value-added cost and relative electrical performance of 25 state-of-the-art (SOA) and advanced metallization system techniques are compared.

Daniel, R. E.↗

Performance Charts for a Turbojet System

Convenient charts are presented for computing the thrust, fuel consumption, and other performance values of a turbojet system. These charts take into account the effects of ram pressure, compressor pressure ratio, ratio of combustion-chamber-outlet temperature to atmospheric temperature, compressor efficiency, turbine efficiency, combustion efficiency, discharge-nozzle coefficient, losses in total pressure in the inlet to the jet-propulsion unit and in the combustion chamber, and variation in specific heats with temperature. The principal performance charts show clearly the effects of the primary variables and correction charts provide the effects of the secondary variables. The performance of illustrative cases of turbojet systems is given. It is shown that maximum thrust per unit mass rate of air flow occurs at a lower compressor pressure ratio than minimum specific fuel consumption. The thrust per unit mass rate of air flow increases as the combustion-chamber discharge temperature increases. For minimum specific fuel consumption, however, an optimum combustion-chamber discharge temperature exists, which in some cases may be less than the limiting temperature imposed by the strength temperature characteristics of present materials.

CHARTS-PERFORMANCE-ENGINES, TURBOJET↗

Subsonic flight test evaluation of a propulsion system parameter estimation process for the F100 engine

An adaptive-performance-seeking control system which optimizes the quasi-steady-state performance of the F-15 propulsion system is discussed. This paper presents flight- and ground-test evaluations of the propulsion system parameter-estimation process used by the performance seeking control system. The estimator consists of a compact propulsion system model and an extended Kalman filter. The extended Kalman filter estimates five engine component deviation parameters from measured inputs. The compact model uses measurements and Kalman-filter estimates as inputs to predict unmeasured propulsion parameters such as net propulsive force and fan stall margin. The ability to track trends and estimate absolute values of propulsion system parameters was demonstrated. For example, thrust stand results show a good correlation especially in trends between the performance seeking control estimated and measured thrust.

Orme, John S.↗

Subsonic flight test evaluation of a propulsion system parameter estimation process for the F100 engine

Integrated engine-airframe optimal control technology may significantly improve aircraft performance. This technology requires a reliable and accurate parameter estimator to predict unmeasured variables. To develop this technology base, NASA Dryden Flight Research Facility (Edwards, CA), McDonnell Aircraft Company (St. Louis, MO), and Pratt & Whitney (West Palm Beach, FL) have developed and flight-tested an adaptive performance seeking control system which optimizes the quasi-steady-state performance of the F-15 propulsion system. This paper presents flight and ground test evaluations of the propulsion system parameter estimation process used by the performance seeking control system. The estimator consists of a compact propulsion system model and an extended Kalman filter. The extended Laman filter estimates five engine component deviation parameters from measured inputs. The compact model uses measurements and Kalman-filter estimates as inputs to predict unmeasured propulsion parameters such as net propulsive force and fan stall margin. The ability to track trends and estimate absolute values of propulsion system parameters was demonstrated. For example, thrust stand results show a good correlation, especially in trends, between the performance seeking control estimated and measured thrust.

Orme, John S.↗

Functional-morphological parallels of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal system response reaction to long-term hypokinesia

The effect of 2 and 4 week hypokinesia regimens on the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal system (HPAS) was investigated in 110 inbred mice. Progressive exhaustion and pathological reorganization of the HPAS morphofunctional structures was revealed. On the basis of established facts of interlineary and interspecies differences in the HPAS response, it is suggested that the animal body response reaction to the long term effects of hypokinesia depends largely on its HPAS resistance and the values of this system's defensive adaptation potential.

Tsvetov, Y. P.↗

Power System Frequency Dynamics Modeling, State Estimation, and Control using Neural Ordinary Differential Equations (NODEs) and Soft Actor-Critic (SAC) Machine Learning Approaches

With the global energy transition of the electric power system, grid control, supervision, and protection is becoming more challenging. With the increasing integration of renewable energy sources (RES), the system dynamics are changing, causing traditional power system dynamic modeling with swing equation-based modeling approaches to fail. Additionally, the converter-dominated power grid is decreasing the system inertia, making the power system more fragile to the frequency swings. This paper first investigates and compares the application of a model-based Kalman filter state estimation approach with (i) a model-free machine learning approach --- neural ordinary differential equations (NODEs) --- and (ii) a data-driven system identification (SysId) approach to model and infer critical state values of the power system frequency dynamics. Then a model predictive control (MPC) framework is compared to a model-free Soft Actor-Critic (SAC) reinforcement learning (RL) control algorithm in providing efficient fast frequency response (FFR) to the power system frequency dynamics. The approaches are compared in terms of their performance goals as well as their per-timestep computational efficiency. Furthermore, the comparative study for state estimation shows that for the model-free requirement, both NODEs and SysId can provide accurate state estimates; however, with increasing model complexity, NODEs can be a better choice for model identification. Similarly, the results from the FFR comparative study show that the SAC RL-based FFR, once trained, outperforms MPC with better control signals and faster computation time, making the SAC RL-based FFR better option for providing FFR to the power system.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗