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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 559 records · Page 31
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2014

Toward Single Pilot Operations: The Impact of the Loss of Non-Verbal Communication on the Flight Deck

Since the 1950s, the crew required to fly transport category aircraft has been reduced from five to two. NASA is currently exploring the feasibility of a further reduction to one pilot. In this study we examine the effects of separating the pilots on crew interaction. The results are consistent with earlier research on decision-making between remote groups. Pilots strongly prefer face-to-face interactions; however, we could find no impact of separation on their ultimate decisions. There were a number of areas in which separation negatively affected communications. We discuss possible mitigations for these areas.

Single Pilot Operations↗
NASA NTRS2022

Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems

Remotely piloted aircraft range from quadcopter “drones” with endurance measured in minutes, to large, long endurance aircraft powered by jet turbine engines. The central message of this chapter is that the further development of unmanned aviation may be held back more by a lack of attention to human factors, than by technological hurdles. This chapter begins with a brief overview of remotely piloted aircraft, follows with a review of their accident record, and then focuses on human factors principles for Remote Pilot Stations (RPS).

remotely piloted aircraft↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Initial testing of the Uncrewed Aerial System Pilot Kit (UASP-kit) in Operational Settings

Remote pilots for small uncrewed aerial systems (sUAS) are at a disadvantage for building situation awareness of the airspace in which they are flying, because of limited sight lines and distance from cell towers. A tool to provide increased air traffic situation awareness for an sUAS pilot is being developed. The “UASP-kit” is small and self-contained, with its chief capability being to collect and display Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast reports of local aircraft. UASP-kits were taken into the field, introduced to users during a training course, and then left with them for the summer fire season. sUAS pilots used the prototypes when it was appropriate throughout the summer. The UASP-kits were operational for a total of 79 flight-days. Users noted that the UASP-kits supported their situation awareness but also identified several usability issues. The findings contribute to validation of the UASP-kit, and support continuing the work to improve the tool and develop additional functionality.

STEReO↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Assessment of Remote Pilot Maneuver Taskload under Multi-Vehicle Control

Multi-vehicle control schemes where a number of remote pilots (m) supervise a number of uncrewed vehicles (m:N) are desired to enable scalability of operations, such as air cargo delivery, in the face of pilot shortage and other constraints. We use queuing models derived from historical track data to assess the increased task load on a remote pilot due to maneuvering demands as the number of supervised vehicles increase. We quantify metrics such as the probability that the inter-maneuver time and inter-communication time.

Multi-Vehicle Control↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Effects of Motion Fidelity on Pilot Performance Using Mixed-Reality Visuals

This paper investigates the effects of simulator motion fidelity on pilot performance using mixed-reality visuals. In NASA’s Vertical Motion Simulator, eleven pilots flew a lift-plus-cruise electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle in a vertiport approach and landing task with four different motion conditions: no motion, small hexapod motion, large hexapod motion, and full motion. The simulator motion condition statistically significantly affected: 1) the severity of cybersickness, 2) motion ratings, 3) final approach and take-off boundary crossing groundspeed, 4) longitudinal touchdown point, and 5) battery time remaining after landing. The findings suggest that motion systems are essential in simulators with virtual- or mixed-reality visuals when it is required to have pilot flying performance similar to that in real flight.

mixed reality↗
DOE OSTI2019

250 kWt Pilot Testing in Support of a 10 MWe Coal-Direct Chemical Looping Demonstration Feasibility Study

The Babcock & Wilcox Company and The Ohio State University have constructed a 250 kWt coal direct chemical looping pilot facility at the Babcock & Wilcox Research Center in Barberton, Ohio. Testing was conducted on the facility to support installation of a 10 MWe coal direct chemical looping large pilot facility at the Dover Light & Power Plant in Dover, Ohio. Results of the testing and their impact on the design of the large pilot facility are discussed.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2014

National Grid Deep Energy Retrofit Pilot, Massachusetts and Rhode Island (Fact Sheet)

Between December, 2009 and December, 2012 42 deep energy retrofit (DER) projects were completed through a DER pilot program sponsored by National Grid and conducted in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. 37 of these projects were comprehensive retrofits while 5 were partial DERs, meaning that high performance retrofit was implemented for a single major enclosure component or a limited number of major enclosure components. The 42 DER projects represent 60 units of housing. The comprehensive projects all implemented a consistent "package" of measures in terms of the performance targeted for major building components. Projects exhibited some variations in the approach to implementing the retrofit package. Pre- and post-retrofit air leakage measurements were performed for each of the projects. Each project also reported information about project costs including identification of energy-related costs. Post-retrofit energy-use data was obtained for 29 of the DER projects. Post-retrofit energy use was analyzed based on the net energy used by the DER project regardless of whether the energy was generated on site or delivered to the site. Homeowner surveys were returned by 12 of the pilot participants. Based on the community experience, this DER package is expected to result in yearly source energy use near 110 MMBtu/year or approximately 40% below the Northeast regional average. Larger to medium sized homes that successful implement these retrofits can be expected to achieve source EUI that is comparable to Passive House targets for new construction. The community of DER projects show post-retrofit airtightness below 1.5 ACH50 to be eminently achievable.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2014

Performance Results for Massachusetts and Rhode Island Deep Energy Retrofit Pilot Community

Between December, 2009 and December, 2012 42 deep energy retrofit (DER) projects were completed through a DER pilot program sponsored by National Grid and conducted in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. 37 of these projects were comprehensive retrofits while 5 were partial DERs, meaning that high performance retrofit was implemented for a single major enclosure component or a limited number of major enclosure components. The 42 DER projects represent 60 units of housing. The comprehensive projects all implemented a consistent 'package' of measures in terms of the performance targeted for major building components. Projects exhibited some variations in the approach to implementing the retrofit package. Pre- and post-retrofit air leakage measurements were performed for each of the projects. Each project also reported information about project costs including identification of energy-related costs. Post-retrofit energy-use data was obtained for 29 of the DER projects. Post-retrofit energy use was analyzed based on the net energy used by the DER project regardless of whether the energy was generated on site or delivered to the site. Homeowner surveys were returned by 12 of the pilot participants. Based on the community experience, this DER package is expected to result in yearly source energy use near 110 MMBtu/year or approximately 40% below the Northeast regional average. Larger to medium sized homes that successful implement these retrofits can be expected to achieve source EUI that is comparable to Passive House targets for new construction. The community of DER projects show post-retrofit airtightness below 1.5 ACH50 to be eminently achievable.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2019

Pilot Point Optimization of Mining Boundaries for Lateritic Metal Deposits: Finding the Trade-off Between Dilution and Ore Loss

Geological contacts in lateritic metal deposits (footwall topographies) often delineate the orebody boundaries. Spatial variations seen in such contacts are frequently higher than those for the metal grades of the deposit. Therefore, borehole spacing chosen based on the grade variations cannot adequately capture the geological contact variability. Consequently, models created using such boreholes cause high volumetric uncertainties in the actual and targeted ore extraction volumes, which, in turn, lead to high unplanned dilution and ore losses. In this paper, a method to design optimum ore/mining boundaries for lateritic metal deposits is presented. The proposed approach minimizes the dilution/ore losses and comprises two main steps. First, the uncertainty on the orebody boundary is represented using a set of stochastic realizations generated with a multiple-point statistics algorithm. Then, the optimal orebody boundary is determined using an optimization technique inspired by a model calibration method called Pilot Points. The pilot points represent synthetic elevation values, and they are used to construct smooth mining boundaries using the multilevel B-spline technique. The performance of a generated surface is evaluated using the expected sum of losses in each of the stochastic realizations. The simulated annealing algorithm is used to iteratively determine the pilot point values which minimize the expected losses. The results show a significant reduction in the dilution volume as compared to those obtained from the actual mining operation.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2015

A pilot study on the feasibility of European harmonized human biomonitoring: Strategies towards a common approach, challenges and opportunities

In 2004 the European Commission and Member States initiated activities towards a harmonized approach for Human Biomonitoring surveys throughout Europe. The main objective was to sustain environmental health policy by building a coherent and sustainable framework and by increasing the comparability of data across countries. A pilot study to test common guidelines for setting up surveys was considered a key step in this process. Through a bottom-up approach that included all stakeholders, a joint study protocol was elaborated. From September 2011 till February 2012, 17 European countries collected data from 1844 mother–child pairs in the frame of DEMOnstration of a study to COordinate and Perform Human Biomonitoring on a European Scale (DEMOCOPHES). Mercury in hair and urinary cadmium and cotinine were selected as biomarkers of exposure covered by sufficient analytical experience. Phthalate metabolites and Bisphenol A in urine were added to take into account increasing public and political awareness for emerging types of contaminants and to test less advanced markers/markers covered by less analytical experience. Extensive efforts towards chemo-analytical comparability were included. The pilot study showed that common approaches can be found in a context of considerable differences with respect to experience and expertize, socio-cultural background, economic situation and national priorities. It also evidenced that comparable Human Biomonitoring results can be obtained in such context. A European network was built, exchanging information, expertize and experiences, and providing training on all aspects of a survey. A key challenge was finding the right balance between a rigid structure allowing maximal comparability and a flexible approach increasing feasibility and capacity building. Next steps in European harmonization in Human Biomonitoring surveys include the establishment of a joint process for prioritization of substances to cover and biomarkers to develop, linking biomonitoring surveys with health examination surveys and with research, and coping with the diverse implementations of EU regulations and international guidelines with respect to ethics and privacy. - Highlights: • A common European Human Biomonitoring (HBM) survey protocol was developed through a bottom-up approach. • A joint process for prioritization was established to select a limited set of biomarkers, some covered by experience and others for emerging substances. • The protocol was tested in a pilot study, resulting in HBM results comparable on a European scale which sustained environmental health policy. • Ethics and privacy regulations were not an obstacle for transnational harmonization.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

A scoping study of far-SOL main-wall protection limiters for steady-state operation of compact pilot plant tokamaks

We present a novel method for handling steady-state heat fluxes incident on the main wall of pilot plant-scale magnetic fusion devices, based on the utilization of protection limiters in the far scrape-off layer (SOL). This method helps avoid large plasma-wall gaps, without excessively compromising blanket performance. We present an optimization algorithm for determining the appropriate size and scale of these protection limiters given (1) probability distributions of SOL plasma parameters and (2) assumed risk tolerance. As part of this optimization, we have developed an analytic description of parallel heat fluxes across limiter shadows, and an objective cost function (the ‘Far-SOL Marginal Cost’) to quantify the impact that different main-wall thermal management design choices have on reactor capital cost. Applying the model to a midscale fusion pilot plant concept shows that making use of far-SOL protection limiters can reduce capital costs on the order of $500 M, relative to naively increasing the plasma-wall gap. Our analysis demonstrates that the far-SOL power decay length is the highest-leverage plasma assumption for thermal loading of the first wall, and the primary cost driver for main wall thermal management. The relative cost efficiency of protection limiters increases as assumptions on the far-SOL heat flux become more pessimistic. The concepts described in this paper motivate the further development of far-SOL protection limiters as part of larger efforts to design economical core-edge-wall compatible solutions for a fusion pilot plant.

Design under uncertainty↗
DOE OSTI2020

Influence of pilot-fuel mixing on the spatio-temporal progression of two-stage autoignition of diesel-sprays in low-reactivity ambient fuel-air mixture

The spatial and temporal locations of autoignition for direct-injection compression-ignition engines depend on fuel chemistry, temperature, pressure, and mixing trajectories in the fuel jets. Dual-fuel systems can provide insight into both fuel-chemistry and physical effects by varying fuel reactivities and engine operating conditions. In this context, the spatial and temporal progression of two-stage autoignition of a diesel-fuel surrogate, n-heptane, in a lean-premixed charge of synthetic natural-gas (NG) and air is imaged in an optically accessible heavy-duty diesel engine. The lean-premixed charge of NG is prepared by fumigation upstream of the engine intake manifold. Optical diagnostics include high-speed (15kfps) cool-flame chemiluminescence-imaging as an indicator of low-temperature heat-release (LTHR) and OH* chemiluminescence-imaging as an indicator high-temperature heat-release (HTHR). NG prolongs the ignition delay of the pilot fuel and increases the combustion duration. Zero-dimensional chemical-kinetics simulations provide further understanding by replicating a Lagrangian perspective for mixtures evolving along streamlines originating either at the fuel nozzle or in the ambient gas, for which the pilot-fuel concentration is either decreasing or increasing, respectively. The zero-dimensional simulations predict that LTHR initiates most likely on the air streamlines before transitioning to HTHR, either on fuel-streamlines or on air-streamlines in regions of near-constant φ. Due to the relatively short pilot-fuel injection-durations, the transient increase in entrainment near the end of injection (entrainment wave) is important for quickly creating auto-ignitable mixtures. To achieve desired combustion characteristics, e.g., multiple ignition-kernels and favorable combustion phasing and location (e.g., for reducing wall heat-transfer or optimizing charge stratification), adjusting injection parameters could tailor mixing trajectories to offset changes in fuel ignition chemistry.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2012

Modelling piloted ignition of wood and plastics

Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer We model piloted ignition times of wood and plastics. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The model is applied on a packed bed. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer When the air flow is above a critical level, no ignition can take place. - Abstract: To gain insight in the startup of an incinerator, this article deals with piloted ignition. A newly developed model is described to predict the piloted ignition times of wood, PMMA and PVC. The model is based on the lower flammability limit and the adiabatic flame temperature at this limit. The incoming radiative heat flux, sample thickness and moisture content are some of the used variables. Not only the ignition time can be calculated with the model, but also the mass flux and surface temperature at ignition. The ignition times for softwoods and PMMA are mainly under-predicted. For hardwoods and PVC the predicted ignition times agree well with experimental results. Due to a significant scatter in the experimental data the mass flux and surface temperature calculated with the model are hard to validate. The model is applied on the startup of a municipal waste incineration plant. For this process a maximum allowable primary air flow is derived. When the primary air flow is above this maximum air flow, no ignition can be obtained.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2025

Measured air quality impacts after teaching parents about cooking ventilation with a video: a pilot study

BackgroundCooking-related emissions contribute to air pollutants in the home and may influence children’s health outcomes.ObjectiveIn this pilot study, we investigate the effects of a cooking ventilation intervention in homes with gas stoves, including a video-based educational intervention and range hood replacement (when needed) in children’s homes.MethodsThis was a pilot (n = 14), before-after trial (clinicaltrials.gov #NCT04464720) in homes in the San Francisco Bay Area that had a school-aged child, a gas stove, and either a venting range hood or over-the-range microwave/hood. Cooking events, ventilation use, and indoor air pollution were measured in homes for 2–4 weeks, and children completed respiratory assessments. Midway, families received this intervention: (1) education about the hazards of cooking-related pollutants and benefits of both switching to back burners and using the range hood whenever cooking and (2) ensuring the range hood met airflow and sound performance standards. The educational intervention was delivered via a video developed in conjunction with local youth.ResultsWe found substantially increased use of back burners and slight increases in range hood use during cooking after intervening. Even though there was no change in cooking frequency or duration, these behavior changes resulted in decreases in nitrogen dioxide (NO2), including significant decreases in the total integrated concentration of NO2 over all cooking events from 1230 ppb*min (IQR 336, 7861) to 756 (IQR 84.0, 4210; p < 0.05) and NO2 collected on samplers over the entire pre- and post-intervention intervals from 10.4 ppb (IQR 3.5, 47.5) to 9.4 (IQR 3.0, 36.1; p < 0.005). There were smaller changes in PM2.5, and no changes were seen in respiratory outcomes.ImpactThis pilot before-after trial evaluated the use of a four-minute educational video to improve cooking ventilation in homes with gas stoves and one or more school-aged children. Participant behavior changed after watching the video, and there were decreases in indoor air pollutant concentrations in the home, some of which were significant. This brief video is now publicly available in English and Spanish (wspehsu.ucsf.edu/projects/indoor-air-quality), and this provides suggestive evidence of the utility of this simple intervention, which could be particularly beneficial for households that have children with asthma.

Holm, Stephanie M↗
DOE OSTI2024

Molecular-level design of alternative media for energy-saving pilot-scale fibrillation of nanocellulose

The outstanding mechanical properties, light weight, and biodegradability of cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) make them promising components of renewable and sustainable next-generation reinforced composite biomaterials and bioplastics. Manufacturing CNFs at a pilot scale requires disc-refining fibrillation of dilute cellulose fibers in aqueous pulp suspensions to shear the fibers apart into their nanodimensional forms, which is, however, an energy-intensive process. Here, in this study, we used atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulation to examine media that might facilitate the reduction of interactions between cellulose fibers, thereby reducing energy consumption in fibrillation. The most suitable medium found by the simulations was an aqueous solution with 0.007:0.012 wt.% NaOH:urea, and indeed this was found in pilot-scale experiments to reduce the fibrillation energy by ~21% on average relative to water alone. The NaOH:urea-mediated CNFs have similar crystallinity, morphology, and mechanical strength to those formed in water. The NaOH and urea act synergistically on CNFs to aid fibrillation but at different length scales. NaOH deprotonates hydroxyl groups leading to mesoscale electrostatic repulsion between fibrils, whereas urea forms hydrogen bonds with protonated hydroxyl groups thus disrupting interfibril hydrogen bonds. This suggests a general mechanism in which an aqueous medium that contains a strong base and a small organic molecule acting as a hydrogen-bond acceptor and/or donor may be effectively employed in materials processes where dispersion of deprotonable polymers is required. The study demonstrates how atomic-detail computer simulation can be integrated with pilot-scale experiments in the rational design of materials processes for the circular bioeconomy.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2013

WHITE-DWARF-MAIN-SEQUENCE BINARIES IDENTIFIED FROM THE LAMOST PILOT SURVEY

We present a set of white-dwarf-main-sequence (WDMS) binaries identified spectroscopically from the Large sky Area Multi-Object fiber Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST, also called the Guo Shou Jing Telescope) pilot survey. We develop a color selection criteria based on what is so far the largest and most complete Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) DR7 WDMS binary catalog and identify 28 WDMS binaries within the LAMOST pilot survey. The primaries in our binary sample are mostly DA white dwarfs except for one DB white dwarf. We derive the stellar atmospheric parameters, masses, and radii for the two components of 10 of our binaries. We also provide cooling ages for the white dwarf primaries as well as the spectral types for the companion stars of these 10 WDMS binaries. These binaries tend to contain hot white dwarfs and early-type companions. Through cross-identification, we note that nine binaries in our sample have been published in the SDSS DR7 WDMS binary catalog. Nineteen spectroscopic WDMS binaries identified by the LAMOST pilot survey are new. Using the 3{sigma} radial velocity variation as a criterion, we find two post-common-envelope binary candidates from our WDMS binary sample.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2011

THE MILLIMETER ASTRONOMY LEGACY TEAM 90 GHz (MALT90) PILOT SURVEY

We describe a pilot survey conducted with the Mopra 22 m radio telescope in preparation for the Millimeter Astronomy Legacy Team Survey at 90 GHz (MALT90). We identified 182 candidate dense molecular clumps using six different selection criteria and mapped each source simultaneously in 16 different lines near 90 GHz. We present a summary of the data and describe how the results of the pilot survey shaped the design of the larger MALT90 survey. We motivate our selection of target sources for the main survey based on the pilot detection rates and demonstrate the value of mapping in multiple lines simultaneously at high spectral resolution.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2019

First Ever Polymer Flood Field Pilot to Enhance the Recovery of Heavy Oils on Alaska’s North Slope – Polymer Injection Performance

Alaska North Slope (ANS) holds an estimated 20-30+ billion barrel heavy oil resources, yet the development pace has been very slow due to high development costs and low oil recovery using conventional waterflood and EOR methods. The objective of this pilot is to perform a field experiment to validate the use of an advanced polymer flooding technology to unlock the vast heavy oil resources on ANS. The advanced polymer flooding technology combines polymer flooding, low salinity water flooding, horizontal wells, and if necessary, injection conformance control treatments into one integrated process to significantly improve oil recovery from heavy oil reservoirs. Two pairs of horizontal injection and production wells have been deployed in an isolated fault block of the Schrader Bluff heavy oil reservoir at the Milne Point Field to conduct a polymer flood pilot. The pilot will acquire scientific knowledge and field performance data to optimize polymer flood design in the Schrader Bluff heavy oil reservoirs on ANS. Polymer injection started on August 28, 2018 using a custom made polymer blending and pumping unit. This paper focuses on the facility setup and polymer injection performance into the horizontal injectors drilled and completed in the Schrader Bluff heavy oil reservoir. Partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) polymer was selected and the initial target viscosity was set at 45 centipoise. Polymer injection rate was set at 2200 bbl/day for one injector (J-23A) and 1200 bbl/day for the other (J-24A) based on production voidage. Injection pressure was controlled at below fracture pressure to prevent fracturing the reservoir and causing fast breakthroughs. Step rate and pressure falloff tests indicate that short term polymer injectivity is similar to water injectivity, which means that injectivity is mostly controlled by fluid mobility deep in the reservoir rather than that in the vicinity of the injection wellbore. Long term injection data indicate that polymer injectivity has been decreasing in both injectors as the reservoir is filled by polymer. No polymer has been observed in the production stream 7 months after the start of polymer injection compared with a 3-month breakthrough time with waterflood. This indicates that polymer significantly delays breakthrough time which will lead to increased sweep efficiency.

Ning, Samson↗