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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 55 records · Page 3
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

New self-consistent homogenization for thermo-elastic polycrystals with imperfect interfaces

Here we present a new thermo-elastic self-consistent formulation to calculate the thermo-mechanical response of polycrystalline aggregates with imperfect interfaces. The new model is based on an improved treatment of the effect of imperfect interfaces on the micromechanical response of the grains compared to pre-existing models. New expressions/algorithms are derived for the effective elastic and thermal properties, localization relations, and calculation of intragranular field fluctuations. In addition, derivation of a novel integral equation for the strain field in a heterogeneous elastic medium subjected to arbitrary thermal strain field and displacement jumps is presented. The new model is applied to study the effective thermo-elastic properties and average field fluctuations as a function of the interface properties for imperfectly-bonded triaminotrinitrobenzene (TATB) polycrystalline granular aggregates. The proposed formulation is general in the sense that it can be extended to other material systems and deformation regimes that require a proper consideration of the effect of imperfect interface properties on the material's thermo-mechanical response.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Hybrid-energy approach enabled by heat storage and oxy-combustion to generate electricity with near-zero or negative CO 2 emissions

We assess a hybrid-energy approach that modifies a steam-turbine power plant to use renewable energy sources (electricity, plus options for geothermal and solar heat), plus fossil fuel (natural gas and coal) and/or waste biomass (e.g., Douglas fir woodchips). Heat storage allows heat to be created during periods of excess energy supply and for that heat to be converted to electricity when demanded. Excess electricity, such as from variable renewable energy (VRE), is used to generate oxygen for oxy-combustion furnaces that create very-hot, high-purity CO 2 that heats granular rock beds in insulated vessels. Cool CO 2 leaving the beds is dried, sent to compressors powered by excess VRE electricity, before being sent by pipeline to geologic CO 2 storage. Very-hot CO 2 transfers high-grade heat from storage to the power plant in a closed loop that returns medium-grade heat back to storage, allowing low- and medium-grade renewable-heat sources to be stacked beneath combustion heat, with all heat sources being converted to electricity at the same (high) thermal efficiency. Reliable, on-demand power may be generated with near-zero CO 2 emissions with fossil fuel and with negative CO 2 emissions with waste biomass. Our analyses show that with fossil fuel, up to 35% of gross power can be derived from renewable sources, while for waste biomass, it can be entirely derived from renewable sources. Because our approach has the potential to ensure that grids have a continuous supply of clean energy and because electricity is only generated once, when demanded, it could serve as an efficient alternative to bulk energy storage.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗
NASA NTRS1991

Regolith-structure modeling

Early lunar missions have provided a basic understanding of the physical and strength properties of lunar regolith, which have been shown to differ from those of dry terrestrial granular soils. Lunar regolith is predominantly a fine sand of which nearly 40 percent can be characterized as silt with a particle size smaller than 100 micrometers. The top 10 to 20 cm of the regolith can be characterized as being in a loose to medium-loose state. The density of the regolith, however, rapidly increases below a depth of 20 cm. The highly irregular and angular shapes of the regolith particles tend to interlock and create relatively strong mechanical bonds that give the particulate mass substantial cohesive properties and smaller amounts of tensile strength properties. In addition, the friction angle of lunar regolith at medium to high densities is quite high and often exceeds 55 degrees. These known properties of lunar regolith have been matched in a terrestrially-manufactured analog known as Minnesota Lunar Simulant. A variety of experiments were conducted using this simulant to both verify existing information and generate new information on the physical and constitutive properties of lunar regolith. These experiments include maximum and minimum density determinations, specific mass of solids, grain-size distribution, conventional triaxial compression and extension, isotropic compression, one-dimensional compression, direct shear, and direct tension. Direct shear experiments were conducted under atmospheric and vacuum conditions. Results of the physical and strength experiments compare closely to results obtained from lunar missions. Results of simulant strength experiments performed in vacuum indicated no observable difference from results obtained in air. A test bed currently under study is one involving a regolith shield covering a first-generation human habitat module. It is understood that regolith in depths ranging from 3 to 5 meters is required for radiation shielding for habitation and workspace. The habitat module is treated as a rigid cylindrical tube with a smooth exterior. By making the cylinder rigid, a complex interaction problem is reduced to a situation where we can consider the support regolith and the shielding regolith as behaving independently of the structural properties of the cylindrical structure. Medium-dense lunar simulant was placed around a scaled model of the habitat module to provide a radiation shield. This embankment-type shield was constructed in relatively thin but fine layers by compacting, by mechanical vibratory means, layer upon layer of simulant placed adjacent to the horizontally-aligned cylinder. The slope angles were constructed at 55 degrees. The model described above was studied in a geotechnical centrifuge, which allows for the scaling of model dimensions to prototype dimensions by increasing the acceleration of gravity on the model. The deformation response can be scaled up to prototype dimensions to provide an assessment of the deformation patterns of the lunar structure. The actual process of local and/or global growth of instabilities or skip planes can also be observed.

Ko, Hon-Yim↗
NASA NTRS2004

Wave Propagation in 2-D Granular Matrix and Dust Mitigation of Fabrics for Space Exploration Mission

Wave Propagation study is essential to exploring the soil on Mars or Moon and Dust Mitigation is a necessity in terms of crew's health in exploration missions. The study of Dust Mitigation has a significant impact on the crew s health when astronauts track dust back into their living space after exploration trips. We are trying to use piezoelectric fiber to create waves and vibrations at certain critical frequencies and amplitudes so that we can shake the particles off from the astronaut s fabrics. By shaking off the dust and removing it, the astronauts no longer have to worry about breathing in small and possibly hazardous materials, when they are back in their living quarters. The Wave Propagation in 2-D Granular Matrix studies how the individual particles interact with each other when a pressure wave travels through the matrix. This experiment allows us to understand how wave propagates through soils and other materials. By knowing the details about the interactions of particles when they act as a medium for waves, we can better understand how wave propagates through soils and other materials. With this experiment, we can study how less gravity effects the wave propagation and hence device a way to study soils in space and on Moon or Mars. Some scientists treat the medium that waves travel through as a "black box", they did not pay much attention to how individual particles act as wave travels through them. With this data, I believe that we can use it to model ways to measure the properties of different materials such as density and composition. In order to study how the particles interact with each other, I have continued Juan Agui's experiment of the effects of impacts on a 2-D matrix. By controlling the inputs and measuring the outputs of the system, I will be able to study now the particles in that system interact with each other. I will also try to model this with the software called PFC2D in order to obtain theoretical data to compare with the experiment. PFC2D is a program that allows the user to control the number of particle's characteristic, and the environment of the particle. With this I can run simulations that mimic the impulse test. This software uses a language called FISH, probably created by the creator of the software. This means that in order to model anything, one must use the command terminal instead of GUI's. I will also use this program to simulate the Moon/Mars simulate adhering to the fabric for the Dust Mitigation project. My goals for this summer are just to complete preliminary studies of the feasibility of the Shaking Fabric, learn the PFC-2D program, and to complete building and testing the wave propagation experiment.

Thanh, Phi Hung X.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Principles for problem aggregation and assignment in medium scale multiprocessors

One of the most important issues in parallel processing is the mapping of workload to processors. This paper considers a large class of problems having a high degree of potential fine grained parallelism, and execution requirements that are either not predictable, or are too costly to predict. The main issues in mapping such a problem onto medium scale multiprocessors are those of aggregation and assignment. We study a method of parameterized aggregation that makes few assumptions about the workload. The mapping of aggregate units of work onto processors is uniform, and exploits locality of workload intensity to balance the unknown workload. In general, a finer aggregate granularity leads to a better balance at the price of increased communication/synchronization costs; the aggregation parameters can be adjusted to find a reasonable granularity. The effectiveness of this scheme is demonstrated on three model problems: an adaptive one-dimensional fluid dynamics problem with message passing, a sparse triangular linear system solver on both a shared memory and a message-passing machine, and a two-dimensional time-driven battlefield simulation employing message passing. Using the model problems, the tradeoffs are studied between balanced workload and the communication/synchronization costs. Finally, an analytical model is used to explain why the method balances workload and minimizes the variance in system behavior.

Nicol, David M.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Synthesis and Properties of the Helium Clathrate and Defect Perovskite [He 2– x $^\square$ x ][CaNb]F 6

The defect double perovskite [He 2– x $^\square$ x ][CaNb]F 6 , with helium on its A-site, can be prepared by the insertion of helium into ReO 3 -type CaNbF 6 at high pressure. Upon cooling from 300 to 100 K under 0.4 GPa helium, ~60% of the A-sites become occupied. Helium uptake was quantified by both neutron powder diffraction and gas insertion and release measurements. After the conversion of gauge pressure to fugacity, the uptake of helium by CaNbF 6 can be described by a Langmuir isotherm. The enthalpy of absorption for helium in [He 2– x $^\square$ x ][CaNb]F 6 is estimated to be ~+3(1) kJ mol –1 , implying that its formation is entropically favored. Helium is able to diffuse through the material on a time scale of minutes at temperatures down to ~150 K but is trapped at 100 K and below. The insertion of helium into CaNbF 6 reduces the magnitude of its negative thermal expansion, increases the bulk modulus, and modifies its phase behavior. On compressing pristine CaNbF 6 , at 50 and 100 K, a cubic (Fm$\overline{3}$m) to rhombohedral (R$\overline{3}$) phase transition was observed at <0.20 GPa. However, a helium-containing sample remained cubic at 0.4 GPa and 50 K. CaNbF 6 , compressed in helium at room temperature, remained cubic to >3.7 GPa, the limit of our X-ray diffraction measurements, in contrast to prior reports that upon compression in a nonpenetrating medium, a phase transition is detected at ~0.4 GPa.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2021

Screening of Lost Circulation Materials for Geothermal Applications: Experimental Study at High Temperature

Abstract This study presents a laboratory experimental research to determine the characteristics of lost circulation materials (LCMs) capable of addressing thermal degradation, providing bridging and sealing in geothermal conditions. Eleven different materials were tested: Walnut Fine, Walnut Medium, Sawdust, Altavert, Graphite Blend, Bentonite Chips, Micronized Cellulose (MICRO-C), Magma Fiber Fine, diatomaceous earth/amorphous silica powder (DEASP), Cotton Seed Hulls, and a Calcium Carbonate Blend. The filtration and sealing pressure of the LCMs were measured with HPHT equipment up to 149 °C (300 °F). Besides, the particle size distribution (PSD) of fine granular materials was measured. The results show that the performance of some LCM materials commonly used in geothermal operations is affected by high temperature. Characteristics such as shape and size made some materials more prone to thermal degradation. Also, it was found that the PSD of LCMs is a key factor in the effectiveness of bridging and sealing fractures. The results suggest that granular materials with a wide particle size distribution PSD are suitable for geothermal applications.

Energy & Fuels↗
NASA NTRS1977

Primeval gas clouds and the low-energy X-ray background

A model for the appearance of the all-sky low-energy X-ray background on a fine angular scale is presented which is based on primeval hot gas clouds associated with the formation of clusters of galaxies according to the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (1972) model. It is noted that the background could have both granular and diffuse components if it is due to such gas clouds. The observed appearance of the granular component is predicted along with the observable characteristics of collapsing protoclusters. The effects of distant X-ray-emitting QSOs, radio galaxies, and normal galaxies on the observations are considered, and these sources are shown not to interfere with the possibility of observing the protoclusters. It is concluded that if sufficient heating occurred in an intracluster medium within some clusters of galaxies at the protocluster epoch, the ensemble properties of protoclusters could be observed with an X-ray telescope, and the time at which protoclusters formed could perhaps be estimated.

Kellogg, E. M.↗
DOE OSTI2022

IMoFi - Intelligent Model Fidelity: Physics-Based Data-Driven Grid Modeling to Accelerate Accurate PV Integration (Final Report)

This report summarizes the work performed under a project funded by U.S. DOE Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) to use grid edge measurements to calibrate distribution system models for improved planning and grid integration of solar PV. Several physics-based data-driven algorithms are developed to identify inaccuracies in models and to bring increased visibility into distribution system planning. This includes phase identification, secondary system topology and parameter estimation, meter-to-transformer pairing, medium-voltage reconfiguration detection, determination of regulator and capacitor settings, PV system detection, PV parameter and setting estimation, PV dynamic models, and improved load modeling. Each of the algorithms is tested using simulation data and demonstrated on real feeders with our utility partners. The final algorithms demonstrate the potential for future planning and operations of the electric power grid to be more automated and data-driven, with more granularity, higher accuracy, and more comprehensive visibility into the system.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

IMoFi (Intelligent Model Fidelity): Physics-Based Data-Driven Grid Modeling to Accelerate Accurate PV Integration Updated Accomplishments

This report summarizes the work performed under a project funded by U.S. DOE Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO), including some updates from the previous report SAND2022-0215, to use grid edge measurements to calibrate distribution system models for improved planning and grid integration of solar PV. Several physics-based data-driven algorithms are developed to identify inaccuracies in models and to bring increased visibility into distribution system planning. This includes phase identification, secondary system topology and parameter estimation, meter-to-transformer pairing, medium-voltage reconfiguration detection, determination of regulator and capacitor settings, PV system detection, PV parameter and setting estimation, PV dynamic models, and improved load modeling. Each of the algorithms is tested using simulation data and demonstrated on real feeders with our utility partners. The final algorithms demonstrate the potential for future planning and operations of the electric power grid to be more automated and data-driven, with more granularity, higher accuracy, and more comprehensive visibility into the system.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Medium and Heavy-Duty Electric Vehicle Infrastructure - Load Operations and Deployment (HEVI-LOAD) v1.0

In order to support the California state goals to reduce the carbon and pollution emissions (AB2127), The goal of this project (HEVI-Pro) is to project the charging infrastructure needs by future medium- and heavy- duty electric vehicles, and assess optimal deployment the infrastructure in California and provide grid impacts analysis. The MHDV projections will also consider transportation system and electric system interaction with light duty vehicles. The project consists of 2 approaches in general: top-down approach that takes aggregated MHDV adoptions as the inputs and provide the county-level projections of charging load profile and infrastructure need, and the bottom-up approach that that incorporates more granular (temporal, spatial and duty-cycle-specific) behaviors of a variety of MHDVs into activity simulations/optimizations for further analysis.

Wang, Bin↗
NASA NTRS2015

Classification Scheme for Diverse Sedimentary and Igneous Rocks Encountered by MSL in Gale Crater

The Curiosity Rover landed in a lithologically and geochemically diverse region of Mars. We present a recommended rock classification framework based on terrestrial schemes, and adapted for the imaging and analytical capabilities of MSL as well as for rock types distinctive to Mars (e.g., high Fe sediments). After interpreting rock origin from textures, i.e., sedimentary (clastic, bedded), igneous (porphyritic, glassy), or unknown, the overall classification procedure (Fig 1) involves: (1) the characterization of rock type according to grain size and texture; (2) the assignment of geochemical modifiers according to Figs 3 and 4; and if applicable, in depth study of (3) mineralogy and (4) geologic/stratigraphic context. Sedimentary rock types are assigned by measuring grains in the best available resolution image (Table 1) and classifying according to the coarsest resolvable grains as conglomerate/breccia, (coarse, medium, or fine) sandstone, silt-stone, or mudstone. If grains are not resolvable in MAHLI images, grains in the rock are assumed to be silt sized or smaller than surface dust particles. Rocks with low color contrast contrast between grains (e.g., Dismal Lakes, sol 304) are classified according to minimum size of apparent grains from surface roughness or shadows outlining apparent grains. Igneous rocks are described as intrusive or extrusive depending on crystal size and fabric. Igneous textures may be described as granular, porphyritic, phaneritic, aphyric, or glassy depending on crystal size. Further descriptors may include terms such as vesicular or cumulate textures.

Schmidt, M. E.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Muon Flux Variance from Severe Atmospheric Conditions

We analyze data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) and the QuarkNet Research Group at Fermilab to study the variance in muon flux due to extreme weather conditions. We considered three high-intensity storms for each season: winter, spring, and summer. The most significant observation was during winter, with a ~125% increase in muon flux corresponding to a temperature drop of ~20K. Additionally, we are developing CosmicWatch muon detectors to be used in tests for the MMBC/MAMBA Bubble Chamber. A pair of these detectors will be employed to trigger on muons, providing extremely precise and inexpensive tracking granularity in the form of a muon telescope.

Aamir, Yusuf↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Impact Cratering Experiments Using Lunar Highland Simulant as Target Material

The properties of a target material have long been known to influence the cratering process for relatively small impact events, where the material “strength” is more dominant than the local gravitational force[1]. Strength in granular materials, however, is dependent on the interactions among packing fraction, grain size, and cohesion[2], and can thus vary for the same bulk material at different porosities. Experimentally, this relationship has been demonstrated for the most commonly used target material in impact cratering studies, unconsolidated sand, where [3] observed a notable decrease in depth-diameter ratios(d/D)for more densely packed (higher packing fraction, or lower porosity) targets. In order to extend the applicability, or properly scale, those findings to relatively small lunar craters, for example, a more realistic analog material(in terms of physical properties) should be interrogated for use as a target medium. To this end, we have conducted a series of impact cratering experiments using a lunar-highlands regolith simulant to investigate the relationship between packing fraction and crater morphology/morphometry.

impact cratering↗
NASA NTRS1987

Automated problem scheduling and reduction of synchronization delay effects

It is anticipated that in order to make effective use of many future high performance architectures, programs will have to exhibit at least a medium grained parallelism. A framework is presented for partitioning very sparse triangular systems of linear equations that is designed to produce favorable preformance results in a wide variety of parallel architectures. Efficient methods for solving these systems are of interest because: (1) they provide a useful model problem for use in exploring heuristics for the aggregation, mapping and scheduling of relatively fine grained computations whose data dependencies are specified by directed acrylic graphs, and (2) because such efficient methods can find direct application in the development of parallel algorithms for scientific computation. Simple expressions are derived that describe how to schedule computational work with varying degrees of granularity. The Encore Multimax was used as a hardware simulator to investigate the performance effects of using the partitioning techniques presented in shared memory architectures with varying relative synchronization costs.

Saltz, Joel H.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Data From Experiments on Bubbling Fluidization of Zeolite in a Rectangular Bubbling Fluidized Bed

Fluidization experiments were conducted in a lab-scale rectangular bubbling fluidized bed with the objective of generating a high-quality dataset for model validation and artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) training. Zeolite was chosen as the bed material, and the fluidizing medium was air as supplied by a compressor. Three different flow rates at the inlet were chosen such that the particles were fluidized but not elutriated from the system. The test matrix involved randomization and replicates to provide uncertainty estimates as well as four different batches of zeolite as the bed material. The quantities of interest obtained from this study were statistics of differential pressures, interface heights, and particle velocities. Considering all the components of the elaborate test plan, the results obtained were consistent and reproducible. Characterization tests were performed to estimate particle properties including size, density, coefficient of friction, coefficient of restitution, and minimum fluidization velocity. In addition, the angle of repose from granular discharge experiments has been reported to account for rolling friction, though its effect on the overall process is expected to be negligible.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2023

Solid and gas thermal conductivity models improvement and validation in various porous insulation materials

In the past few decades, significant efforts have been made to improve the theoretical understanding of thermal transport mechanisms in thermal insulation materials and push the thermal conductivity's lower limits. However, most works focused singularly on specific types of materials, and the models used for thermal conductivity predictions are diverse - a model that fits one material might not fit others. Here, we improve and unify the gas and solid thermal conductivity models for porous materials. Through experimental characterization of several different materials as well as literature data for other materials, these models are validated. Further, we have also found that the pressure-dependent gas thermal conductivity of most materials can be well fitted by using one or two pore sizes without using a complex pore size distribution. With the refined models, we decompose the effective thermal conductivity of several thermal insulation materials into gas, solid, and radiation contributions. For cellular (polystyrene and polyurethane) foams, the relative contributions from air, solid, and radiation are 58–75%, 3–11%, 16–38%, respectively. For granular porous materials (polyurethane and silica in this work), the contributions from air, solid, and radiation are 45–66%, 34–46%, and 0–8%, respectively. This work is expected to provide guidance on the design and optimization of the next generation of thermal insulation materials, for example, through the effort of reducing gas conduction and radiation in foams and suppressing gas and solid conduction in aerogels.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗