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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
NASA NTRS1983

Formation of v-shaped potentials

The V-shaped potential structures formed by the injection of a non-neutral electron current into a cold background plasma were simulated numerically. The injection disturbs the initial quasi-neutral plasma, leading to the excitation of strong turbulences which heat the plasma. This leads to expulsion of the plasma from the simulation region. Due to ambipolar electric fields the current injection is interrupted and the initial background plasma is extracted from the system. A particle composition with the characteristics of the two plasma reservoirs now represents the plasma in the simulation region. The interaction of the electron beam with this plasma excites turbulences of smaller amplitudes. A nearly constant time averaged potential drop with nonstationary distribution develops across the system. Single and multiple double layers may form for the duration of one ion plasma period.

Thiemann, H.↗
NASA NTRS1982

A new theory of sources of Birkeland currents

An approach to collisionless plasma shows the existence of current orthogonal to B along the low latitude boundary layer of the magnetosphere driven by electric field which is orthogonal to both B and the layer. In this case relationship P perpendicular + (sq B/8 pi) - (sq epsilon E perpendicular/8 pi) = constant holds on a line orthogonal to B and the layer, where epsilon is the dielectric constant of the plasma for electric fields orthogonal to B. Across the geomagnetic tail there flows a current in the direction of the dawn-dusk electric field, and in this case a relationship P perpendicular + (sq B/8 pi) + (sq epsilon E perpendicular/8 pi = constant, holds aong a line orthogonal to E and B. Divergence of both these currents is shown to be a source of Birkeland currents. Some of the boundary layer current is continuous with current across the tail. Electric currents of physically similar origin flow in interplanetary space, and when the magnetosphere interrupts them, additional Birkeland currents are driven.

Cole, K. D.↗
NASA NTRS1984

A new theory of sources of Birkeland currents

An approach to collisionless plasma shows the existence of current orthogonal to B along the low latitude boundary layer of the magnetosphere driven by electric field which is orthogonal to both B and the layer. In this case relationship P perpendicular + (sq B/8 pi) - (sq epsilon E perpendicular/8 pi) = constant holds on a line orthogonal to B and the layer, where epsilon is the dielectric constant of the plasma for electric fields orthogonal to B. Across the geomagnetic tail there flows a current in the direction of the dawn-dusk electric field, and in this case a relationship P perpendicular + (sq B/8 pi) + (sq epsilon E perpendicular/8 pi) = constant, holds along a line orthogonal to E and B. Divergence of both these currents is shown to be a source of Birkeland currents. Some of the boundary layer current is continuous with current across the tail. Electric currents of physically similar origin flow in interplanetary space, and when the magnetosphere interrupts them, additional Birkeland currents are driven.

Cole, K. D.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Improved device measures performance of batteries under load

Kordesch-Marko interrupter bridge circuit includes capability of varying frequency of interruption in steps from 60 Hz to 2000 Hz range extension, and addition of operating modes to allow instrument to serve as steady dc constant-current source or load, or source of interrupted constant current.

Powell, J. D.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Design, performance, and evaluation of a direct-current contactor for space nuclear electrical systems

A direct-current contactor for use in large space power systems was designed, built, and tested. It was developed to be operational in an environment of 540 C and at a pressure of 0.0001 N/sq m or lower. The contactor is rated to pass 10 A continuously and to interrupt a 20-A current at 10,000 V. It was tested to determine the corona threshold level and the leakage current at different temperatures. Also, it was tested for its closing and interruption ability.

Mueller, L. A.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Metal vapor arc switch electromagnetic accelerator technology

A multielectrode device housed in an insulator vacuum vessel, the metal vapor vacuum switch has high power capability and can hold off voltages up to the 100 kilovolt level. Such switches can be electronically triggered and can interrupt or commutate at a zero current crossing. The physics of arc initiation, arc conduction, and interruption are examined, including material considerations; inefficiencies; arc modes; magnetic field effects; passive and forced extinction; and voltage recovery. Heating, electrode lifetime, device configuration, and external circuit configuration are discussed. The metal vapor vacuum switch is compared with SCRs, GTOs, spark gaps, ignitrons, and mechanical breakers.

Mongeau, P. P.↗
NASA NTRS1969

Instrumentation for potentiostatic corrosion studies with distilled water

Corrosion is studied potentiostatically in the corroding environment of distilled water with an instrument that measures the potential of the corroding specimen immediately after interruption of the polarizing current. No current is flowing. The process permits compensation for IR drops when potentiostatic control is used in high resistance systems.

Loess, R. E.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Suppressing The Growth Of Dendrites In Secondary Li Cells

Proposed technique for suppressing growth of lithium dendrites in rechargeable lithium electrochemical power cells involves periodic interruption of steady charging current with short, high-current discharge pulses. Technique applicable to lithium cells of several different types, including Li/TiS(2), Li/NbSe(3), Li/CoO(2), Li/MoS(2), Li/Vo(x), and Li/MnO(2). Cells candidates for use in spacecraft, military, communications, automotive, and other applications in which high-energy-density rechargeable batteries needed.

Davies, Evan D.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Radiation effects on microelectronics and future space missions

This paper briefly reviews the three basic radiation effect mechanisms, and how they interrupt the functionality of currently available non-volatile memory technologies. This paper also presents a very general overview of the radiation environments expected in future space exploration missions. Unfortunately, these environments will be very harsh, from a radiation standpoint, and thus a significant effort is required to develop non-volatile technologies that will meet future mission requirements.

radiation effects↗
NASA NTRS1980

A modeling of magnetic field variations during magnetospheric substorms

Magnetic field variations in the noon-midnight plane during the magnetospheric substorm are studied in terms of changes of three current systems: the dynamo-driven current on the magnetopause, the cross-tail current and the field-aligned current-auroral electrojet system. The field-aligned current is assumed to be generated as a result of interruption and subsequent diversion of the cross-tail current to the ionosphere. It is concluded that the available observations are consistent with a large increase of the three currents.

Akasofu, S.-I.↗
NASA NTRS1971

Portable circuit-interruption indicator

Device locates transient power interruptions occurring in electrical equipment. Indicator operates on principle that circuit in normal use retains residual current in the line prior to an interruption.

Bezant, K. R.↗
DOE OSTI2025

SCR-based Medium Voltage DC Solid-State Circuit Breaker

This paper describes a medium voltage solid-state circuit breaker (SSCB) based on SCR technology, featuring short fault-interruption time and a minimal turn-off auxiliary circuit. The SSCB design incorporates a specialized SCR and a commutation circuit designed with an objective to reduce the required SCR hold-off/turn-off time, tq, which primarily determines the fault interruption duration. To validate the design, simulation analysis is presented, and a 1.5 kV 300 A SSCB prototype has been built and tested. The results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed design philosophy demonstrating the SSCB's ability to interrupt a 200 A load current in less than 50 μs. The proposed SCR-based SSCB has been developed for DC applications but is equally applicable to AC applications.

Kandula, Prasad [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000174017284)↗
NASA NTRS1971

Hot tap thermowell installation

System permits valve housings or other fillings to be installed in live steam lines or water pipes without interrupting their operation, thus eliminating current tapping restrictions. Two basic assemblies for installation under pressure are described.

Romero, C. A.↗
NASA NTRS1980

What is a magnetospheric substorm

The paper suggests that if the solar wind-magnetosphere energy coupling increases above about 10 to the 18th erg/sec, the magnetosphere suddenly develops a more efficient energy dissipation process than that operating during periods of less than 10 to the 18th erg/sec. Discussion covers the appearance that the magnetosphere achieves this enhanced energy dissipation by interrupting the cross-tail current in the magnetotail and diverting it into the ionosphere, causing an enhanced Joule heat production in the ionosphere.

Akasofu, S.-I.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Demonstration program for Omega receiver prototype microcomputer data processing

The JOLT (TM) commercial microcomputer, based on the MOS Technology 6502 processor chip, for use in Omega navigation system is evaluated. A computer program was prepared in hand-assembled code to demonstrate receiver operation. The processor provides binary processing with interrupts enabled, a carriage return is given to initialize the teleprinter, and a jump is performed to enter the program loop to wait for an interrupt. The program loop operates continuously testing the interrupt flag. The interrupt routine reads the receiver status word and determines whether the current time-slot is the A slot. If so, the interrupt flag, which is also the data index pointer, is reset to zero. The status word is stored in the status buffer. If the time-slot is not A, the interrupt flag/pointer is incremented by one to index the phase and status to the proper buffer words for later use by the print routine.

Lilley, R. W.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Physics-informed heterogeneous graph neural networks for DC blocker placement

The threat of geomagnetic disturbances (GMDs) to the reliable operation of the bulk energy system has spurred the development of effective strategies for mitigating their impacts. One such approach involves placing transformer neutral blocking devices, which interrupt the path of geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) to limit their impact. The high cost of these devices and the sparsity of transformers that experience high GICs during GMD events, however, calls for a sparse placement strategy that involves high computational cost. To address this challenge, we developed a physics-informed heterogeneous graph neural network (PIHGNN) for solving the graph-based dc-blocker placement problem. Our approach combines a heterogeneous graph neural network (HGNN) with a physics-informed neural network (PINN) to capture the diverse types of nodes and edges in ac/dc networks and incorporates the physical laws of the power grid. We train the PIHGNN model using a surrogate power flow model and validate it using case studies. Results demonstrate that PIHGNN can effectively and efficiently support the deployment of GIC dc-current blockers, ensuring the continued supply of electricity to meet societal demands. Furthermore, our approach has the potential to contribute to the development of more reliable and resilient power grids capable of withstanding the growing threat that GMDs pose.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
NASA NTRS1986

Smoothly Adjustable dc Load

Load circuit for testing dc power supplies adjusted without momentary interruptions typical of rheostat loads. Load current passes through power transistor and fixed resistor instead of wire-wound rheostat. In new circuit potentiometer used to adjust bias of power transistor and thereby adjust load. Components are standard, commercially available parts, mounted on transistor heat sink, forming compact package.

Patocka, C. G.↗