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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 523 records · Page 29
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2019

Enhancing Electrocatalytic Water Splitting by Strain Engineering

Electrochemical water splitting driven by sustainable energy such as solar, wind, and tide is attracting ever-increasing attention for sustainable production of clean hydrogen fuel from water. Leveraging these advances requires efficient and earth-abundant electrocatalysts to accelerate the kinetically sluggish hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions (HER and OER). A large number of advanced water-splitting electrocatalysts have been developed through recent understanding of the electrochemical nature and engineering approaches. Specifically, strain engineering offers a novel route to promote the electrocatalytic HER/OER performances for efficient water splitting. Herein, the recent theoretical and experimental progress on applying strain to enhance heterogeneous electrocatalysts for both HER and OER are reviewed and future opportunities are discussed. A brief introduction of the fundamentals of water-splitting reactions, and the rationalization for utilizing mechanical strain to tune an electrocatalyst is given, followed by a discussion of the recent advances on strain-promoted HER and OER, with special emphasis given to combined theoretical and experimental approaches for determining the optimal straining effect for water electrolysis, along with experimental approaches for creating and characterizing strain in nanocatalysts, particularly emerging 2D nanomaterials. Finally, a vision for a future sustainable hydrogen fuel community based on strain-promoted water electrolysis is proposed.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2020

Towards understanding the development and characteristics of under-expanded flash boiling jets

Here in this research, the n-hexane jets discharged from a straight channel were studied numerically to reveal the development and characteristics of under-expanded flashing jets. Firstly, the development of flash boiling jets was investigated and compared to that of two-phase jets without phase transition. It was shown that the two-phase jets without phase transition can be under-expanded only if the flow is choked. In contrast, flash boiling jets can be under-expanded whether or not the choked conditions are verified. Secondly, the factors affecting the flashing jet behaviors were discussed. The relaxation time in phase transition, the expansion ratio, and the injection pressure have been identified as three key factors determining the jet characteristics. With high enough expansion ratio and low enough relaxation time, the expansion was so strong that the flow became transonic and shock structures similar to those of under-expanded gaseous jets appeared near the orifice exit. Finally, two types of choking have been identified for flash boiling jets, i.e., vaporization-induced choking and expansion-induced choking. The former one is mainly ascribed to the vapor formation in the orifice which reduces the local speed of sound, while the latter one is due to the expansion of under-expanded two-phase flow and the resultant flow acceleration.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2023

A multi-length-scale investigation of the applicability of ductility laws for annealed and work-hardened copper

Small-scale mechanical testing provides unique advantages over conventional testing in investigating the mechanical response of nuclear materials. While small-scale testing enables accelerated materials research, it raises the question of comparability to large-scale properties for engineering design considerations. Among different mechanical properties for structural design considerations such as yield and ultimate tensile stress, ductility is of critical importance with respect to structural component health. The effectiveness of using small-scale mechanical testing for probing these mechanical properties is dictated by understanding how the mechanical responses translate from the microscale to the engineering scale. Therefore, a better understanding of size scaling effects via gathering and analysis of experimental data is required to bridge length-scales. Further, this work builds upon previous reports to provide statistical data on how mechanical response changes as the size of the specimens are reduced from conventional sizes. One hundred twenty mesoscale tensile coupons of oxygen-free high thermal conductivity (OFHC) copper in work-hardened and annealed state have been manufactured using micro-wire electrical discharge machining (EDM) and tested under uniaxial tension. The mesoscale specimens have dimensions dictated by pre-selected geometric ratios (i.e., gauge section length over the square root of the cross-section area) with gauge length dimensions of 3 mm (or less) and sub-millimeter gauge widths and thicknesses. The mesoscale responses were compared to bulkscale properties to reveal the effect of specimen size on the mechanical response as a function of grain size and material state for a single phase face-centered cubic metal.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Strategies for designing biocatalysts with new functions

Enzymes can be optimized to accelerate chemical transformations via a range of methods. In this review, we showcase how protein engineering and computational design techniques can be interfaced to develop highly efficient and selective biocatalysts.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2013

THE LOS ALAMOS SUPERNOVA LIGHT-CURVE PROJECT: COMPUTATIONAL METHODS

We have entered the era of explosive transient astronomy, in which current and upcoming real-time surveys such as the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, the Palomar Transient Factory, and the Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System will detect supernovae in unprecedented numbers. Future telescopes such as the James Webb Space Telescope may discover supernovae from the earliest stars in the universe and reveal their masses. The observational signatures of these astrophysical transients are the key to unveiling their central engines, the environments in which they occur, and to what precision they will pinpoint cosmic acceleration and the nature of dark energy. We present a new method for modeling supernova light curves and spectra with the radiation hydrodynamics code RAGE coupled with detailed monochromatic opacities in the SPECTRUM code. We include a suite of tests that demonstrate how the improved physics and opacities are indispensable to modeling shock breakout and light curves when radiation and matter are tightly coupled.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

PBX9012 Tracker Gauge Data

Five shock-to-detonation transition (SDT) gas gun experiments for PBX 9012 were performed by Burns and Chiquete [2020]. The data from the experiments is available on the small-scale database. Here we focus on the tracker gauge data for the lead shock trajectory, x(t). In order to determine the shock speed U s (t) and the detonation transition point, a least squared fit to the shock trajectory is used based on a pair of ODEs with a fitting form for the shock acceleration developed by Hill and Gustavsen [2002].

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2024

Experimental Considerations for Estimating Degradation in PV Modules

Carefully controlled laboratory experiments and measurements can enable the determination of acceleration factors suitable for extrapolation to durability and performance of a fielded PV module. Ideally, a single mechanism can be identified with appropriate acceleration factors for extrapolation to the field. However, even with a single mechanism, the inherent uncertainty in these factors leads to uncertainty in the extrapolation which is greater the higher the acceleration factor. This course will explain how because of the wide range of acceleration factors for a given degradation mode, utilizing acceleration factors greater than about 10x will typically lead to unacceptable uncertainty in the results. Therefore, if even just a rank ordering of materials is desired, acceleration factors must be minimized which requires a good general understanding of the scale of the different acceleration factors for the degradation mode of interest. In this tutorial we will discuss what the different purposes are for many of the accelerated stress tests used today. E.g., what is a qualification test, a highly accelerated stress test, a rank ordering test, or a service life prediction test. We will discuss how one can understand the relationship between test results and expected field performance. A single accelerated stress test condition cannot duplicate outdoor exposure for all possible degradation pathways; therefore, one must use targeted evaluation of material properties at different stress levels to determine the relevant acceleration factors and fit it to a model. We will also discuss how to interpret the results of experiments understanding what is relevant/not relevant, or not e valuated in a test. There are many common error people make in their test interpretations because they push the stress levels to be too harsh. This creates biases and can mask the relevant failure modes and mechanisms or will erroneously lead one to over design materials against things that aren't relevant. Several case studies will be presented to illustrate appropriate interpretation of accelerated stress testing results.

degradation↗
DOE OSTI2013

Hedberg Research Conference on Fundamental Controls on Flow in Carbonates: Request for Travel Support for Post-Doctoral Fellows

Carbonate reservoirs pose a scientific and engineering challenge to geophysical prediction and monitoring of fluid flow in the subsurface. Difficulties in interpreting hydrological, reservoir and other exploration data arise because carbonates are composed of a hierarchy of geological structures, constituents and processes that span a wide spectrum of length and time scales. What makes this problem particularly challenging is that length scales associated with physical structure and processes are often not discrete, but overlap, preventing the definition of discrete elements at one scale to become the building blocks of the next scale. This is particularly true for carbonates where complicated depositional environments, subsequent post-deposition diagenesis and geochemical interactions result in pores that vary in scale from submicron to centimeters to fractures, variation in fabric composition with fossils, minerals and cement, as well as variations in structural features (e.g., oriented inter- and intra layered - interlaced bedding and/or discontinuous rock units). In addition, this complexity is altered by natural and anthropogenic processes such as changes in stress, fluid content, reactive fluid flow, etc. Thus an accurate geophysical assessment of the flow behavior of carbonate reservoirs requires a fundamental understanding of the interplay of textural and structural features subjected to physical processes that affect and occur on various length and time scales. To address this complexity related to carbonates, a Hedberg conference on “Fundamental Controls on Flow in Carbonates” was held July 8 to 13, 2012, to bring together industry and academic scientists to stimulate innovative ideas that can accelerate research advances related to flow prediction and recovery in carbonate reservoirs. Participants included scientist and engineers from multiple disciplines (such as hydrology, structural geology, geochemistry, reservoir engineering, geophysics, geomechanics, numerical modeling, physical experiments, sedimentology, well-testing, statistics, mathematics, visualization, etc.) who encompass experience as well as the latest advances in these multi-faceted fields. One of the goals was to include early career scientists and engineers (post-doctoral fellows, assistant professors, etc.). With this grant 10 early career scientists and engineers were supported to attend the conference. This reports contains a brief overview of the conference and the list of support participants supported by this grant. Full details of the outcomes of the conference are given in the publication found in the Attachment section of this report.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Mechanical and Chemical Properties of Harvested Hypalon Cable Jacket Subjected to Accelerated Thermal Aging

For nuclear power plants (NPPs) that are considering second license renewal for their operation beyond 60 years, knowledge of long-term operation, condition monitoring, and viability for the reactor components including reactor pressure vessel, concrete structures, and cable systems is essential. Such knowledge will provide NPPs with a game plan to predict performance and to estimate costs that are associated with monitoring or replacement programs for the affected systems. For cable systems that encompass a wide variety of materials, manufacturers, and in-plant location, accelerated aging of harvested cable jacket and insulation can provide insight as to remaining useful life and methods for monitoring. Accelerated thermal aging in air at temperatures between 80°C and 120°C was carried out on a multi-conductor control rod cable that had been in-service for over 30 years and was made by Boston Insulated Wire with Hypalon cable jacket and ethylene-propylene rubber insulation. From elongation at break (EAB) measurements and supporting Arrhenius analysis of the jacket material, an activation energy of 97.84 kJ/mol was estimated and the time to degradation, as represented by 50% EAB at the expected maximum operating temperature of 45°C, was estimated as consistent with 80 years. These values were slightly below previous measurements and could either be attributed to in-service degradation or variations in material properties from a given manufacturer. In addition, results from indenter modulus measurements and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy suggest possible markers that could be beneficial to monitor cable conditions.

cable aging, cable insulation, Hypalon, second lic↗
DOE OSTI2015

Fluid simulation of the bias effect in inductive/capacitive discharges

Computer simulations are performed for an argon inductively coupled plasma (ICP) with a capacitive radio-frequency bias power, to investigate the bias effect on the discharge mode transition and on the plasma characteristics at various ICP currents, bias voltages, and bias frequencies. When the bias frequency is fixed at 13.56 MHz and the ICP current is low, e.g., 6 A, the spatiotemporal averaged plasma density increases monotonically with bias voltage, and the bias effect is already prominent at a bias voltage of 90 V. The maximum of the ionization rate moves toward the bottom electrode, which indicates clearly the discharge mode transition in inductive/capacitive discharges. At higher ICP currents, i.e., 11 and 13 A, the plasma density decreases first and then increases with bias voltage, due to the competing mechanisms between the ion acceleration power dissipation and the capacitive power deposition. At 11 A, the bias effect is still important, but it is noticeable only at higher bias voltages. At 13 A, the ionization rate is characterized by a maximum at the reactor center near the dielectric window at all selected bias voltages, which indicates that the ICP power, instead of the bias power, plays a dominant role under this condition, and no mode transition is observed. Indeed, the ratio of the bias power to the total power is lower than 0.4 over a wide range of bias voltages, i.e., 0–300 V. Besides the effect of ICP current, also the effect of various bias frequencies is investigated. It is found that the modulation of the bias power to the spatiotemporal distributions of the ionization rate at 2 MHz is strikingly different from the behavior observed at higher bias frequencies. Furthermore, the minimum of the plasma density appears at different bias voltages, i.e., 120 V at 2 MHz and 90 V at 27.12 MHz.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2026

Lessons from the IEC Durability of Adhesion Accelerated Test Sequence

The IEC 62788-1-1 and IEC 63209-2 standards use aging sequences for durability of adhesion in photovoltaic (PV) modules, which may be evaluated using the single cantilever beam (SCB) test. Because the encapsulant forms critical interfaces with the front glass and solar cells, degradation at those interfaces under ultraviolet (UV) exposure, elevated temperature, and humidity can lead to interfacial delamination - compromising the long-term reliability. In this work, adhesion durability of UV-transmitting poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) (EVA) encapsulant to glass and to silicon solar cells is evaluated after sequenced UV and damp heat aging (85C/85%RH). Laminates were prepared using StarPhire solar front glass with thin glass or PERC cells, and two EVA formulations with different concentrations of siloxane coupling agent. Adhesion was quantified by measuring critical debond energy using the SCB method. Both formulations exhibit similar qualitative trends, while different adhesion is observed at the periphery despite the use of low-shrink manufacturing. The results show that while glass/EVA adhesion remains stable or increases after UV exposure and shows only moderate changes after damp heat, the EVA/cell interface exhibits an irreversible loss of adhesion following UV and then damp heat exposure. Although glass/EVA interfaces generally exhibit lower debond energies, the EVA/cell interface is significantly more vulnerable to UV-driven degradation, identifying it as the dominant reliability risk location through early- and intermediate-module life. These results demonstrate that accelerated aging sequences can expose large, interface-specific losses in adhesion durability and underscore the importance of interface engineering for long-term PV module reliability.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Studies as a function of different ALD capping layers on cavity losses for QIS and accelerators

Niobium-based bulk SRF cavities have demonstrated exceptional performance. To further improve niobium cavity performance, we present studies involving a novel surface engineering process designed to prevent the formation of amorphous niobium oxides on the surface. This is achieved by encapsulating the niobium surface using thermal Atomic-Layer-Deposition (ALD). This technique has been shown to enhance the properties of niobium cavities and 2D resonators. This study not only aims to improve SRF performance at high fields but also has the potential to enhance the quality factor in low-field regimes, particularly for quantum applications. For the method to be effective, it is essential to have a clean interface between the encapsulating layer and the bulk niobium. Achieving this requires a uniform coating across the entire cavity surface and efficient removal of the underlying niobium oxides. To optimize the process, a variety of material characterization tools have been utilized to refine parameters such as thin film thickness and annealing conditions. Cavity RF measurements were performed at the vertical test facilities at FNAL to assess the Q vs. Eacc curves for accelerator applications, as well as at the SQMS dilution refrigerators to investigate the full two-level system (TLS) losses at milliKelvin and single-photon levels. Based on the results, we characterized the loss of different oxides in various regimes and applications, comparing them to natural niobium pentoxide.

Grassellino, L. [Fermilab]↗
DOE OSTI2016

TOWARD AN UNDERSTANDING OF GRB PROMPT EMISSION MECHANISM. I. THE ORIGIN OF SPECTRAL LAGS

Despite decades of investigations, the physical mechanism that powers the bright prompt γ -ray emission from gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) is still not identified. One important observational clue that still has not been properly interpreted is the existence of time lags of broad light curve pulses in different energy bands, referred to as “spectral lags.” Here, we show that the traditional view invoking the high-latitude emission “curvature effect” of a relativistic jet cannot account for spectral lags. Rather, the observed spectral lags demand the sweep of a spectral peak across the observing energy band in a specific manner. The duration of the broad pulses and inferred typical Lorentz factor of GRBs require that the emission region be in an optically thin emission region far from the GRB central engine. We construct a simple physical model invoking synchrotron radiation from a rapidly expanding outflow. We show that the observed spectral lags appear naturally in our model light curves given that (1) the gamma-ray photon spectrum is curved (as observed), (2) the magnetic field strength in the emitting region decreases with radius as the region expands in space, and (3) the emission region itself undergoes rapid bulk acceleration as the prompt γ -rays are produced. These requirements are consistent with a Poynting-flux-dominated jet abruptly dissipating magnetic energy at a large distance from the engine.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2012

Accelerating the Computation of Detailed Chemical Reaction Kinetics for Simulating Combustion of Complex Fuels

Combustion of hydrocarbon fuels has been a very challenging scientific and engineering problem due to the complexity of turbulent flows and hydrocarbon reaction kinetics. There is an urgent need to develop an efficient modeling capability to accurately predict the combustion of complex fuels. Detailed chemical kinetic models for the surrogates of fuels such as gasoline, diesel and JP-8 consist of thousands of chemical species and Arrhenius reaction steps. Oxygenated fuels such as bio-fuels and heavier hydrocarbons, such as from newer fossil fuel sources, are expected to have a much more complex chemistry requiring increasingly larger chemical kinetic models. Such models are beyond current computational capability, except for homogeneous or partially stirred reactor type calculations. The advent of highly parallel multi-core processors and graphical processing units (GPUs) promises a steep increase in computational performance in the coming years. This paper will present a software framework that translates the detailed chemical kinetic models to high-performance code targeted for GPU accelerators.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2015

Investigating {sup 13}C+{sup 12}C reaction by the activation method. Sensitivity tests

We have performed experiments to check the limits of sensitivity of the activation method using the new 3 MV Tandetron accelerator and the low and ultra-low background laboratories of the “Horia Hulubei” National Institute of Physics and Nuclear Engineering (IFIN-HH). We have used the {sup 12}C+{sup 13}C reaction at beam energies E{sub lab}= 6, 7 and 8 MeV. The knowledge of this fusion cross section at deep sub-barrier energies is of interest for astrophysical applications, as it provides an upper limit for the fusion cross section of {sup 12}C+{sup 12}C over a wide energy range. A {sup 13}C beam with intensities 0.5–2 particleμA was provided by the accelerator and used to bombard graphite targets, resulting in activation with {sup 24}Na from the {sup 12}C({sup 13}C,p) reaction. The 1369 and 2754 keV gamma-rays from {sup 24}Na de-activation were clearly observed in the spectra obtained in two different laboratories used for measurements at low and ultralow background: one at the surface and one located underground in the Unirea salt mine from Slanic Prahova, Romania. In the underground laboratory, for E{sub lab} = 6 MeV we have measured an activity of 0.085 ± 0.011 Bq, corresponding to cross sections of 1–3 nb. This demonstrates that it is possible to measure {sup 12}C targets irradiated at lower energies for at least 10 times lower cross sections than before β–γ coincidences will lead us another factor of 10 lower, proving that this installations can be successfully used for nuclear astrophysics measurements.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

New research assessing the effect of engine operating conditions on regulated emissions of a 4-stroke motorcycle by test bench measurements

In the latest years the effect of powered two-wheelers on air polluting emissions is generally noteworthy all over the world, notwithstanding advances in internal combustion engines allowed to reduce considerably both fuel consumption and exhaust emissions of SI engines. Nowadays, in fact, these vehicles represent common means of quotidian moving, serving to meet daily urban transport necessities with a significant environmental impact on air quality. Besides, the emissive behavior of the two-wheelers measured under fixed legislative driving standards (and not on the local driving conditions) might not be sufficiently representative of real world motorcycle riding. The purpose of this investigation is a deeper research on emissive levels of in-use motorcycles equipped with last generation SI engines under real world driving behavior. In order to analyze the effect of vehicle instantaneous speed and acceleration on emissive behavior, instantaneous emissions of CO, HC and NO{sub X} were measured in the exhaust of a four-stroke motorcycle, equipped with a three-way catalyst and belonging to the Euro-3 legislative category. Experimental tests were executed on a chassis dynamometer bench in the laboratories of the National Research Council (Italy), during the Type Approval test cycle, at constant speed and under real-world driving cycles. This analytical-experimental investigation was executed with a methodology that improves vehicles emission assessment in comparison with the modeling approaches that are based on fixed legislative driving standards. The statistical processing results so obtained are very useful also in order to improve the database of emission models commonly used for estimating emissions from road transport sector, then they can be used to evaluate the environmental impact of last generation medium-size motorcycles under real driving behaviors.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗