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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 613 records · Page 34
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

Modification of wind turbine wakes by large-scale, convective atmospheric boundary layer structures

In this study, we consider the impact of large-scale, convective structures in an unstable atmospheric boundary layer on wind turbine wakes. Simulation data from a high-fidelity large-eddy simulation (LES) of the AWAKEN wind farm site matching unstable atmospheric conditions were analyzed, and both turbine performance and wake behavior were affected based on their location relative to the convective structures. Turbines located in updraft regions of the flow experienced lower inflow velocity and generated less power, but their wakes were observed to recover faster and saw greater turbulent kinetic energy mixing higher in the boundary layer. The opposite effect was found for turbines in the downdraft regions of the convective structures. A simplified model of this wake behavior was also developed based on a two-dimensional k–ε Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes formulation. This simplified model included the effects of vertical transport, but could be efficiently solved as a parabolic system, and was found to capture similar wake modifications observed in the high-fidelity LES computations.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗
DOE OSTI2023

Investigation of Theoretical Solutions to a Bottom-Raised Oscillating Surge Wave Energy Converter (OSWEC) Through Experimental and Parametric Studies

Experiments were conducted on a wave tank model of a bottom raised oscillating surge wave energy converter (OSWEC) model in regular waves. The OSWEC model shape was a thin rectangular flap, which was allowed to pitch in response to incident waves about a hinge located at the intersection of the flap and the top of the supporting foundation. Torsion springs were added to the hinge in order to position the pitch natural frequency at the center of the wave frequency range of the wave maker. The flap motion as well as the loads at the base of the foundation were measured. The OSWEC was modeled analytically using elliptic functions in order to obtain closed form expressions for added mass and radiation damping coefficients, along with the excitation force and torque. These formulations were derived and reported in a previous publication by the authors. While analytical predictions of the foundation loads agree very well with experiments, large discrepancies are seen in the pitch response close to resonance. These differences are analyzed by conducting a sensitivity study, in which system parameters, including damping and added mass values, are varied. The likely contributors to the differences between predictions and experiments are attributed to tank reflections, standing waves that can occur in long, narrow wave tanks, as well as the thin plate assumption employed in the analytical approach.

analytical↗
DOE OSTI2023

Developing a Marine Energy Workforce Pipeline

Marine Energy is a nascent, but growing industry and will need a strong workforce to be successful. This paper examines the resources and programs needed to achieve the industry's goals.

education↗
DOE OSTI2015

Influence of wall plasma on microwave frequency and power in relativistic backward wave oscillator

The RF breakdown of the slow wave structure (SWS), which will lead to the generation of the wall plasma, is an important cause for pulse shortening in relativistic backward wave oscillators. Although many researchers have performed profitable studies about this issue, the influence mechanism of this factor on the microwave generation still remains not-so-clear. This paper simplifies the wall plasma with an “effective” permittivity and researches its influence on the microwave frequency and power. The dispersion relation of the SWS demonstrates that the introduction of the wall plasma will move the dispersion curves upward to some extent, which is confirmed by particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations and experiments. The plasma density and volume mainly affect the dispersion relation at the upper and lower frequency limits of each mode, respectively. Meanwhile, PIC simulations show that even though no direct power absorption exists since the wall plasma is assumed to be static, the introduction of the wall plasma may also lead to the decrease in microwave power by changing the electrodynamic property of the SWS.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2013

Analysis of the power capacity of overmoded slow wave structures

As the generated wavelength shortens, overmoded slow wave structures (SWSs) with large diameters are employed in O-type Cerenkov high power microwave (HPM) generators to achieve high power capacity. However, reported experimental results suggest that overmoded slow wave HPM generators working at millimeter wavelength output much lower power than those working at X-band do, despite the fact that the value of D/λ (here, D is the average diameter of SWSs and λ is the generated wavelength) of the former is much larger than that of the latter. In order to understand this, the characteristics of the power capacity of the TM{sub 0n} modes in overmoded SWSs are numerically investigated. Our analysis reveals the following facts. First, the power capacity of higher order TM{sub 0n} modes is apparently larger than that of TM{sub 01} mode. This is quite different from the conclusion got in the foregone report, in which the power capacity of overmoded SWSs is estimated by that of smooth cylindrical waveguides. Second, the rate at which the power capacity of TM{sub 01} mode in overmoded SWSs grows with diameter does not slow down as the TM{sub 01} field transforms from “volume wave” to “surface wave.” Third, once the diameter of overmoded SWSs and the beam voltage are fixed, the power capacity of TM{sub 01} wave drops as periodic length L shortens and the generated frequency rises, although the value of D/λ increases significantly. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the capability of annular electron beam to interact efficiently with higher order TM{sub 0n} modes in overmoded SWSs if we want to improve the power capacity of overmoded O-type Cerenkov HPM generators working at high frequency.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2016

A Ka-band radial relativistic backward wave oscillator with GW-class output power

A novel radial relativistic backward wave oscillator with a reflector is proposed and designed to generate GW-level high power microwaves at Ka-band. The segmented radial slow wave structure and the reflector are matched to enhance interaction efficiency. We choose the volume wave TM{sub 01} mode as the working mode due to the volume wave characteristic. The main structural parameters of the novel device are optimized by particle-in-cell simulation. High power microwaves with power of 2 GW and a frequency of 29.4 GHz are generated with 30% efficiency when the electron beam voltage is 383 kV, the beam current is 17 kA, and the guiding magnetic field is only 0.6 T. Simultaneously, the highest electric field in the novel Ka-band device is just about 960 kV/cm in second slow wave structure.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Modeling the Integration of Marine Energy into Microgrids - Wave Resource Assessment

This submission has wave resource assessments which were conducted for six locations based on IEC requirements using the DOE WPTO Hindcast data and MHKiT. The locations are chosen to provide varying wave climates and include PacWave South, OR; Wave Energy Testing Site (WETS), HI; Molokai, HI; St. Paul, AK; Yakutat, Ak; and Sebastion, FL. It includes the data gathered and the resulting report. This submission also includes a link to Hindcast dataset and some relevant software.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗
DOE OSTI2017

NWEI Azura RTI 1/20th Model Validation Wave Tank Test Data

Data from the 1/20th wave tank test of the RTI model. NWEI has licensed intellectual property from RTI, and modified the PTO and retested the 1/20th RTI model that was tested as part of the Wave Energy Prize. The goal of the test was to validate NWEI's simulation models of the model. The test occurred at the University of Maine in Orono.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗
DOE OSTI2013

Modelling of radiative divertor operation towards detachment in experimental advanced superconducting tokamak

In order to actively control power load on the divertor target plates and study the effect of radiative divertor on plasma parameters in divertor plasmas and heat fluxes to the targets, dedicated experiments with Ar impurity seeding have been performed on experimental advanced superconducting tokamak in typical L-mode discharge with single null divertor configuration, ohmic heating power of 0.5 MW, and lower hybrid wave heating power of 1.0 MW. Ar is puffed into the divertor plasma at the outer target plate near the separatrix strike point with the puffing rate 1.26 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 20} s{sup -1}. The radiative divertor is formed during the Ar puffing. The SOL/divertor plasma in the L-mode discharge with radiative divertor has been modelled by using SOLPS5.2 code package [V. Rozhansky et al., Nucl. Fusion 49, 025007 (2009)]. The modelling shows the cooling of the divertor plasma due to Ar seeding and is compared with the experimental measurement. The changes of peak electron temperature and heat fluxes at the targets with the shot time from the modelling results are similar to the experimental measurement before and during the Ar impurity seeding, but there is a major difference in time scales when Ar affects the plasma in between experiment and modelling.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2014

Cascade type-I quantum well diode lasers emitting 960 mW near 3 μm

The cascade pumping scheme reduced the threshold current density of high power type-I quantum well GaSb-based λ ∼ 3 μm diode lasers down to ∼100 A/cm{sup 2} at room temperature. Laser heterostructures had single GaInAsSb quantum well gain stages connected in series by means of GaSb/AlSb/InAs tunnel junctions followed by InAs/AlSb electron injectors. Devices with densely stacked two and three gain stages and 100-μm-wide aperture demonstrated peak power conversion efficiency of 16% and continuous wave output power of 960 mW. Corresponding narrow ridge lasers demonstrated above 100 mW of output power. The experiment showed that the bandwidth of the gain and its rate of increase with current depended strongly on the thickness of AlSb layer separating electron injectors from quantum wells. The possible impact of electron injector interfaces and ionized impurities on the carrier scattering and recombination in the active quantum well is discussed.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2023

PacWave South SeaRAY k2 Risk Registers

The SeaRAY is a deployable power system for maritime sensors, monitoring equipment, communications, unmanned underwater vehicles, and other similar payloads. This project is to design, deliver, and test a prototype low-power WEC that lowers the total cost of ownership and provides robust, new capabilities for customers in the maritime environment. Failure Modes, Effects, and Criticality Analysis (FMECA) is conducted to systematically identify all potential failure modes and their effects on the system, and to analyze the criticality of each risk based on the likelihood of the event and the severity of the impact. Actions may then be recommended to mitigate the criticality of a risk, either by reducing the likelihood of the risk or the severity of its impact. Risk assessment is executed iteratively as an integral part of the design process. By incorporating risk assessment early in the development cycle, mitigation of risk can be achieved cost effectively. The actions recommended to mitigate risk may be subsequently executed, and as the design progresses the risk assessment is reviewed and revised. Review of the risk assessment is integrated into structured design reviews, ensuring that critical risks are comprehended and that the Project will not progress to e.g. fabrication while intolerable risks remain. The risk assessment process results in the population and maintenance of Risk Registers (RRs). Each major system (and as needed, subsystem) will have a distinct RR. This allows each system or subsystem to be assessed individually, rendering the RRs to a manageable size for review.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗
NASA NTRS1993

A direct current rectification scheme for microwave space power conversion using traveling wave electron acceleration

The formation of the Vision-21 conference held three years ago allowed the present author to reflect and speculate on the problem of converting electromagnetic energy to a direct current by essentially reversing the process used in traveling wave tubes that converts energy in the form of a direct current to electromagnetic energy. The idea was to use the electric field of the electromagnetic wave to produce electrons through the field emission process and accelerate these electrons by the same field to produce an electric current across a large potential difference. The acceleration process was that of cyclotron auto-resonance. Since that time, this rather speculative ideas has been developed into a method that shows great promise and for which a patent is pending and a prototype design will be demonstrated in a potential laser power beaming application. From the point of view of the author, a forum such as Vision-21 is becoming an essential component in the rather conservative climate in which our initiatives for space exploration are presently formed. Exchanges such as Vision-21 not only allows us to deviate from the 'by-the-book' approach and rediscover the ability and power in imagination, but provides for the discussion of ideas hitherto considered 'crazy' so that they may be given the change to transcend from the level of eccentricity to applicability.

Manning, Robert M.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Investigation of a Multi-Rotor Triboelectric Nanogenerator Using a Modular Flexible Circuit Board Stack

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are a nascent class of energy harvester that are being explored for scavenging energy from small ocean waves. To date, they have been integrated in wave energy converters (WECs) designed to capture random motion caused by the perturbations of the ocean surface. Blue economy applications such as ocean observation can benefit greatly from more substantial wave-derived power, as such, the power output of existing TENG WECs must be increased several-fold to become viable. This study describes the conceptualization of a rotary TENG, and the subsequent efforts to increase its power output by stacking multiple stator and rotor pairs. In the latter part of this study, we introduce a novel means of incorporating a friction element into the design of the TENG by employing flexible printed circuit board (PCB) rotors. At rest, these flexible rotors will contact the stator, building static charges due to friction, at speed, these flexible rotors will be decoupled from the stator, reducing friction and allowing faster rotation. Initial results indicate that the power output of the flexible PCB rotor does not produce more power than a rigid, acrylic disk rotor, however the current output of the prototype is boosted, and the prototype is far more compact, allowing for a higher energy density than the rigid rotor prototype.

bench testing↗
DOE OSTI2023

Design, Manufacture, and Testing of an Open-Source Benchmark Composite Hydrokinetic Turbine Blade: Preprint

In a trend toward clean energy alternatives, recent years have seen great strides in the marine energy space. Consequently, there is a pressing need for the design, development, and validation of novel energy harvesting technologies such as hydrokinetic devices, which capture kinetic energy from waves, tides, and currents. However, these devices span numerous concepts and designs that often lack solid benchmark research that can be freely referenced throughout their development. This work focuses on the design process of an open-source composite hydrokinetic turbine blade for a three-bladed marine turbine rotor assembly with a diameter of 2.5 m. The proposed blade consists of two structural composite skins that are bonded with an adhesive and filled with a foam core. This study also explores and contrasts the efficiency and resolution of low-fidelity rapid design methodologies and comprehensive high-fidelity approaches in the context of blade design, modeling, and analysis efforts, a key objective in this research. Blade hydrodynamic loads were modeled and applied to finite-element blade models to study deformations and potential failure. Ongoing and upcoming efforts will result in blade manufacture and structural testing at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. In future work, multiple blades will be deployed at the Living Bridge site at the University of New Hampshire and will be compared to rigid aluminum blades of the same geometry, developed by Sandia National Laboratories. Ultimately, this research will lay foundational groundwork for researchers and manufacturers, establishing a baseline composite blade design that will serve as a benchmark in the development of future hydrokinetic turbine blades.

blade design↗
DOE OSTI2015

Development of nanosecond time-resolved infrared detection at the LEAF pulse radiolysis facility

When coupled with transient absorption spectroscopy, pulse radiolysis, which utilizes high-energy electron pulses from an accelerator, is a powerful tool for investigating the kinetics and thermodynamics of a wide range of radiation-induced redox and electron transfer processes. The majority of these investigations detect transient species in the UV, visible, or near-IR spectral regions. Unfortunately, the often-broad and featureless absorption bands in these regions can make the definitive identification of intermediates difficult. Time-resolved vibrational spectroscopy would offer much improved structural characterization, but has received only limited application in pulse radiolysis. In this paper, we describe in detail the development of a unique nanosecond time-resolved infrared (TRIR) detection capability for condensed-phase pulse radiolysis on a new beam line at the LEAF facility of Brookhaven National Laboratory. The system makes use of a suite of high-power, continuous wave external-cavity quantum cascade lasers as the IR probe source, with coverage from 2330-1051 cm⁻¹. The response time of the TRIR detection setup is ~40 ns, with a typical sensitivity of ~100 µOD after 4-8 signal averages using a dual-beam probe/reference normalization detection scheme. As a result, this new detection method has enabled mechanistic investigations of a range of radiation-induced chemical processes, some of which are highlighted here.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2024

In-Situ Blade Strain Measurements and Fatigue Analysis of a Cross-Flow Turbine Operating in a Tidal Flow

Cross-flow turbines (CFTs) are inherently unsteady devices with regards to operating principle and loading. By improving our understanding of the dynamic loading on these turbines, we hope to better inform CFT design, improve survivability, and reduce overall costs. The University of New Hampshire (UNH) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) collaborated on a project to instrument and test a four-bladed New Energy Corp. vertical axis cross-flow turbine in a real tidal flow. One blade from the 3.2 m diameter x 1.7 m height turbine was instrumented with eight full-bridge strain gauges along the span of the blade. The turbine was then deployed at the UNH-Atlantic Marine Energy Center (AMEC) Tidal Energy Test Site in Portsmouth, NH. Time-synchronized measurements of blade strain, inflow, thrust, rotational speed, and electrical output were obtained to characterize blade loading under various conditions. The blade strain was examined to assess the dynamic loading and conduct a fatigue analysis on the device.

blade strain↗