Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Product design”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 577 records · Page 32
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Design and permitting considerations of a floating hydrogen production and dispensing Barge for the Port of San Francisco

This paper reports on the design of a Floating Hydrogen Production and Dispensing Barge destined for the Port of San Francisco (SF). The H 2 Barge is designed to produce renewable H 2 at the rate of ∼530 kg/day, storing 512 kg of hydrogen at 517-bar, allowing fast refueling of hydrogen fuel cell vessels and land-side hydrogen delivery trailers for distribution into the nascent SF hydrogen ecosystem. The broader considerations that impacted H 2 Barge design are also described. An account is given of a new review process formulated by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) to review this first-of-its-kind maritime implementation of hydrogen technology. Furthermore, the immediate goals of the H 2 Barge Project are to 1) demonstrate the feasibility, viability and methods of hydrogen production, storage and fueling in a maritime context, 2) help shape (where needed) and navigate the required local, state and federal regulatory gauntlet and 3) catalyze a “green hydrogen ecosystem” (both marine and landside) with locally produced renewable hydrogen at the San Francisco waterfront.

08 HYDROGEN↗
NASA NTRS2000

Multi-Disciplinary Design Optimization Using WAVE

The current preliminary design tools lack the product performance, quality and cost prediction fidelity required to design Six Sigma products. They are also frequently incompatible with the tools used in detailed design, leading to a great deal of rework and lost or discarded data in the transition from preliminary to detailed design. Thus, enhanced preliminary design tools are needed in order to produce adequate financial returns to the business. To achieve this goal, GEAE has focused on building the preliminary design system around the same geometric 3D solid model that will be used in detailed design. With this approach, the preliminary designer will no longer convert a flowpath sketch into an engine cross section but rather, automatically create 3D solid geometry for structural integrity, life, weight, cost, complexity, producibility, and maintainability assessments. Likewise, both the preliminary design and the detailed design can benefit from the use of the same preliminary part sizing routines. The design analysis tools will also be integrated with the 3D solid model to eliminate manual transfer of data between programs. GEAE has aggressively pursued the computerized control of engineering knowledge for many years. Through its study and validation of 3D CAD programs and processes, GEAE concluded that total system control was not feasible at that time. Prior CAD tools focused exclusively on detail part geometry and Knowledge Based Engineering systems concentrated on rules input and data output. A system was needed to bridge the gap between the two to capture the total system. With the introduction of WAVE Engineering from UGS, the possibilities of an engineering system control device began to formulate. GEAE decided to investigate the new WAVE functionality to accomplish this task. NASA joined GEAE in funding this validation project through Task Order No. 1. With the validation project complete, the second phase under Task Order No. 2 was established to develop an associative control structure (framework) in the UG WAVE environment enabling multi-disciplinary design of turbine propulsion systems. The capabilities of WAVE were evaluated to assess its use as a rapid optimization and productivity tool. This project also identified future WAVE product enhancements that will make the tool still more beneficial for product development.

Irwin, Keith↗
DOE OSTI2024

Conceptual Spacer Design for the ATR GEN I Target for Pu-238 Production in the Advanced Test Reactor at Idaho National Laboratory

The initial target design used for Pu-238 production at Idaho National Laboratory was designed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory to optimize the production of Pu-238 in the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) and are referred to as HFIR GEN II targets. To take advantage of the Advanced Test Reactor’s (ATR) taller active core region a redesign of the HFIR GEN II targets was needed. It was proposed to stack two HFIR GEN II targets nose to nose about the core center line; however, this resulted in excessive neutron and photon heating in the pellets located in the center. This peak heating was not desirable so three alternative designs were investigated for the ATR GEN I targets. The python-based code, MCNP to ORIGEN2 in Python (MOPY), was used to calculate the heating rates after 40 days of irradiation to capture the effects of each configuration. The purpose of this paper is to document the details of these conceptual design calculations and comparisons for the ATR GEN I targets.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Conceptual Spacer Design for the ATR GEN I Target for Pu-238 Production in the Advanced Test Reactor at Idaho National Laboratory

The initial target design used for Pu-238 production at Idaho National Laboratory was designed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory to optimize the production of Pu-238 in the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) and are referred to as HFIR GEN II targets. To take advantage of the Advanced Test Reactor’s (ATR) taller active core region a redesign of the HFIR GEN II targets was needed. It was proposed to stack two HFIR GEN II targets nose to nose about the core center line; however, this resulted in excessive neutron and photon heating in the pellets located in the center. This peak heating was not desirable so three alternative designs were investigated for the ATR GEN I targets. The python-based code, MCNP to ORIGEN2 in Python (MOPY), was used to calculate the heating rates after 40 days of irradiation to capture the effects of each configuration. The purpose of this paper is to document the details of these conceptual design calculations and comparisons for the ATR GEN I targets.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Radioisotope production at the Spallation Neutron Source: Design concept of experimental target station

Completion of the Proton Power Upgrade Project for the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) accelerator at Oak Ridge National Laboratory opens an opportunity to utilize reserve beam power of more than 100 kW for applications beyond neutron production. One of these applications is the production of critical radionuclides. To demonstrate the feasibility of using the reserve beam power to produce radioisotope at SNS, a design concept of a small-scale experimental target station in the Linac Dump area has been developed. This experimental facility will provide isotope yield benchmarking data using protons in the GeV range. It will also enable additional research and development in isotope handling and radiochemical separation. The target station consists of a target module enclosed in a vessel and concrete shielding. Particle transport calculations and thermo-mechanical simulations are used to determine beam parameters, decay time, isotope yield, shielding dimensions, and target design parameters. Calculations verified that the irradiated capsule can be handled manually using hands-off tools and transported to a hot cell in a shielded container for post-irradiation characterizations.

Lee, Yong Joong [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000298381723)↗
NASA NTRS1980

IPAD project overview

To respond to national needs for improved productivity in engineering design and manufacturing, a NASA supported joint industry/government project is underway denoted Integrated Programs for Aerospace-Vehicle Design (IPAD). The objective is to improve engineering productivity through better use of computer technology. It focuses on development of technology and associated software for integrated company-wide management of engineering information. The project has been underway since 1976 under the guidance of an Industry Technical Advisory Board (ITAB) composed of representatives of major engineering and computer companies and in close collaboration with the Air Force Integrated Computer-Aided Manufacturing (ICAM) program. Results to date on the IPAD project include an in-depth documentation of a representative design process for a large engineering project, the definition and design of computer-aided design software needed to support that process, and the release of prototype software to integrate selected design functions. Ongoing work concentrates on development of prototype software to manage engineering information, and initial software is nearing release.

Fulton, R. E.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Managing Technical and Cost Uncertainties During Product Development in a Simulation-Based Design Environment

An approach for objective and quantitative technical and cost risk analysis during product development, which is applicable from the earliest stages, is discussed. The approach is supported by a software tool called the Analytical System for Uncertainty and Risk Estimation (ASURE). Details of ASURE, the underlying concepts and its application history, are provided.

Karandikar, Harsh M.↗
DOE OSTI2021

The Making of a Metric: Co-Producing Decision-Relevant Climate Science

Developing decision-relevant science for adaptation requires the identification of climatic parameters that are both actionable for practitioners as well as tractable for modelers. In many sectors, these decision-relevant climatic metrics and the approaches that enable their identification remain largely unknown. “Co-production” of science with scientists and decision-makers is one potential way to identify these metrics, but there is little research describing specific and successful co-production approaches. This paper examines the negotiations and outcomes from Project Hyperion, wherein scientists and water managers jointly developed decision-relevant climatic metrics for adaptive water management. We identify successful co-production strategies by analyzing the project’s numerous back-and-forth engagements and tracing the evolution of the science during these engagements. We found that effective mediation between scientists and managers needed dedicated “boundary spanners” with significant modeling expertise. Translating practitioners’ information needs into tractable climatic metrics required direct and indirect methods of eliciting knowledge. We identified four indirect methods that were particularly salient for extracting tacitly held knowledge and enabling shared learning: developing a hierarchical framework linking management issues with metrics, starting discussions from the planning challenges, collaboratively exploring the planning relevance of new scientific capabilities, and using analogies of other “good” metrics. The decision-relevant metrics we developed provide insights into advancing adaptation-relevant climate science in the water sector. The co-production strategies we identified can be used to design and implement productive scientist–decision-maker interactions. Overall, the approaches and metrics we developed can help climate science to expand in new and more use-inspired directions.

Planning↗
NASA NTRS1985

Hydrogen production from salt water by Marine blue green algae and solar radiation

Two marine bluegreen algae, Oscillatoria sp. Miami BG 7 and Synechococcus sp Miami 041511 have been selected as the result of over 10 years continuous and intensive effort of isolation, growth examination, and the screening of hydrogen photoproduction capability in this laboratory. Both strains photoproduced hydrogen for several days at high rates and a quantity of hydrogen was accumulated in a closed vessel. Overall hydrogen donor substance of the hydrogen photoproduction was found to be salt water. Using strain Miami BG 7, a two step method of hydrogen photoproduction from salt water was successfully developed and this was recycled several times over a one month period using both free cells and immobilized cells in both indoor and outdoor under natural sunlight. According to these experiments, a prototype floating hydrogen production system was designed for further development of the biosolar hydrogen production system.

Mitsui, A.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Creation of Anatomically Accurate Computer-Aided Design (CAD) Solid Models from Medical Images

Most surgical instrumentation and implants used in the world today are designed with sophisticated Computer-Aided Design (CAD)/Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) software. This software automates the mechanical development of a product from its conceptual design through manufacturing. CAD software also provides a means of manipulating solid models prior to Finite Element Modeling (FEM). Few surgical products are designed in conjunction with accurate CAD models of human anatomy because of the difficulty with which these models are created. We have developed a novel technique that creates anatomically accurate, patient specific CAD solids from medical images in a matter of minutes.

Stewart, John E.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Portable Extensible Viewer

The use of Nonuniform Rational B-Splines (NURBS) to represent geometry and data offers a standard way to facilitate the multidisciplinary analysis and design of aeropropulsion products. Using standard geometry defined by NURBS throughout design, analysis, part definition, manufacture, and test processes saves money and time. The Portable Extensible Viewer (PEV) offers engineers of different disciplines a means to view and manipulate NURBS geometry and associated data. Under the guidance of a team of Lewis, Boeing Company, and Navy personnel, PEV was developed by NASA Lewis Research Center's Computer Services Division for Lewis' Interdisciplinary Technology Office. The aeropropulsion industry provided input to the design requirements.

Horowitz, Jay G.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Plutonium-238 Production Program Results, Implications, and Projections from Irradiation and Examination of Initial NpO 2 Test Targets for Improved Production

An alternative target design with potential improvements, including a major increase in 238 Pu production rate and annual capacity; fewer targets to be fabricated, irradiated, and processed; and a significant replacement of a large volume of caustic-nitrate, aluminum-bearing radioactive liquid waste with a smaller volume of solid metal waste, has been conceived and evaluated using reactor physics and thermal-hydraulic analyses. The alternative target design uses pressed pellets of 237 NpO 2 , sintered to 92% to 93% of theoretical density, and stacked inside a Zircaloy-4 cladding tube. Additionally, four test targets were fabricated, irradiated, and examined. No melting or other potential problems were indicated. Projections from measured constituents indicated annual production could be increased by a factor of ~2, and the number of targets required to be fabricated, irradiated, and processed could be reduced by a factor of ~5.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Design of robot grippers for binder jet products handling

Dimension accuracy, damage minimization, and defect detection are essential in manufacturing processes, especially additive manufacturing. These types of challenges may arise either during the manufacture of a product or its use. The repeatability of the process is vital in additive manufacturing systems. However, human users may lose concentration and, thus, would be a great alternative as an assistant. Depending on the nature of work, a robot’s fingers might vary, for example, mechanical, electrical, vacuum, two-fingers, and three-fingers. In addition, the end effector plays a vital role in picking up an object in the advanced manufacturing process. However, inbuilt robotic fingers may not be appropriate in different production environments. In this research presented here considering metal binder jet additive manufacturing, the two-finger end- effectors are proposed design, analysis, and experiment to pick up an object after completing the production process from a specific location. The final designs were further printed by using a 3D metal printer and installed in the existing robotic systems. These new designs are used successfully to hold the object from the specific location by reducing the contact force that was not possible with the previously installed end effector's finger. In addition, a numerical study was conducted in order to compare the flowability of the geometric shape of finger's free areas.

42 ENGINEERING↗
NASA NTRS1985

Use of COSMIC NASTRAN in a Design Department

Application of COSMIC NASTRAN to product development in a design department requires low cost, rapid model construction and interactive evaluation of results. The NASTRAN processor is described that meets these requirements by automating many of the modeling activities.

Coddington, R. C.↗
NASA NTRS2018

Sabatier System Design Study for a Mars ISRU Propellant Production Plant

As NASA looks towards human missions to Mars, an effort has started to advance the technology of a Mars in situ resource utilization (ISRU) Propellant Production Plant to a flight demonstration. This paper will present a design study of the Sabatier subsystem. The Sabatier subsystem receives carbon dioxide, CO2, and hydrogen, H2, and converts them to methane, CH4, and water, H2O. The subsystem includes the Sabatier reactor, condenser, thermal management, and a recycling system (if required). This design study will look at how the choice of reactor thermal management, number of reactors, and recycling system affect the performance of the overall Sabatier system. Different schemes from the literature involving single or cascading reactors will be investigated to see if any provide distinct advantages for a Mars propellant production plant.

Hintze, Paul E.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Risk Analysis of a 100 MW Hydrogen Generation Facility near a Nuclear Power Plant

Nuclear power plants (NPPs) are considering flexible plant operations to take advantage of excess thermal and electrical energy. One option for NPPs is to pursue hydrogen production through high temperature electrolysis as an alternate revenue stream to remain economically viable. The intent of this study is to investigate the risk of a 100 MW hydrogen production facility in close proximity to an NPP. Previous analyses have evaluated preliminary designs of a hydrogen production facility in a conservative manner to determine if it is feasible to co-locate the facility within 1 km of an NPP. This analysis specifically evaluates the risk components of a 100 MW hydrogen production facility design, including the likelihood of a leak within the system and the associated consequence to critical NPP targets. This analysis shows that although the likelihood of a leak in an HTEF is not negligible, the consequence to critical NPP targets is not expected to lead to a failure given adequate distance from the plant.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2020

Biodiesel production from engineered sugarcane lipids under uncertain feedstock compositions: Process design and techno-economic analysis

In this study, different process schemes were designed and evaluated for biodiesel production from engineered cane lipids with uncertain fatty acid compositions. Four different process schemes were compared under (i) thermal glycerolysis and (ii) enzymatic glycerolysis approaches. These schemes were based on the biodiesel yield and economic indicators such as the net present value (NPV) and the minimum selling price (MSP) of biodiesel. A scheme with polar lipid separation under thermal glycerolysis resulted in the maximum NPV ($\$96.5$ million) and minimum MSP ($\$1107$ /ton biodiesel), respectively. Through local sensitivity analysis, it was concluded that the cane lipid percentage is the most significant factor influencing process economics. A conjoint analysis of the lipid procurement price and cane lipid percent suggested that 15% cane lipids with a low lipid procurement price ($\$0.536$ /kg) results in a positive NPV. When the cane lipid price is higher (> $\$0.80$ /kg), a 20% lipid content should be considered to achieve a positive NPV. At 20% cane lipids, the worst-case and best-case scenarios were evaluated by analyzing the interplay of the three most important parameters, Here, the best-case scenario revealed that the minimum NPV under any process scheme could yield more than $\$100$ million (or MSP: $\$0.80$ /L), and the worst-case analysis showed that losses incurred by the plant could be as high as 80 million (MSP: $\$1.36$ /L). A Monte Carlo simulation indicated that there is a 70% chance of the plant being profitable (NPV > 0).

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Data from Biodiesel Production from Engineered Sugarcane Lipids under Uncertain Feedstock Compositions: Process Design and Techno-Economic Analysis

In this study, different process schemes were designed and evaluated for biodiesel production from engineered cane lipids with uncertain fatty acid compositions. Four different process schemes were compared under (i) thermal glycerolysis and (ii) enzymatic glycerolysis approaches. These schemes were based on the biodiesel yield and economic indicators such as the net present value (NPV) and the minimum selling price (MSP) of biodiesel. A scheme with polar lipid separation under thermal glycerolysis resulted in the maximum NPV ($96.5 million) and minimum MSP ($1107/ton biodiesel), respectively. Through local sensitivity analysis, it was concluded that the cane lipid percentage is the most significant factor influencing process economics. A conjoint analysis of the lipid procurement price and cane lipid percent suggested that 15% cane lipids with a low lipid procurement price ($0.536/kg) results in a positive NPV. When the cane lipid price is higher (>$0.80/kg), a 20% lipid content should be considered to achieve a positive NPV. At 20% cane lipids, the worst-case and best-case scenarios were evaluated by analyzing the interplay of the three most important parameters, The best-case scenario revealed that the minimum NPV under any process scheme could yield more than $100 million (or MSP: $0.80/L), and the worst-case analysis showed that losses incurred by the plant could be as high as $80 million (MSP: $1.36/L). A Monte Carlo simulation indicated that there is a 70% chance of the plant being profitable (NPV > 0).

Conversion↗