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DOE OSTI2021

Reduction of Ultrafine Hematite for a Spouting Bed Chemical Looping Process - Presentation

Chemical looping combustion research has been a topic of great interest since the mid-1990s, although the concept can be traced much further back. It is a combustion technology for fuel utilization that uses a two-reactor system to produce a carbon free effluent stream from the air reactor and a carbon dioxide rich stream from the fuel reactor with oxygen shuttled between the reactors with an oxygen carrier. Chemical looping combustion has been studied extensively because of this inherent separation of the carbon dioxide combustion product from the atmospheric nitrogen over that past 25 years with hundreds of research papers and tens of books. The oxygen carrier is, in general, a solid such as naturally occurring hematite or an engineered carrier like a copper and iron oxide supported on alumina. System technical and economic research activities conducted at the National Energy Technology Laboratory have shown that the costs associated with the carrier, initial and replacement, are a significant factor in the economic viability of the technology. To overcome this economic challenge, the work reported on in this paper investigates the use of a waste iron oxide as the chemical looping oxygen carrier. This waste material is quite unique as it has a particle size of 0.7 um. Given the particle size, the reactions are quite fast. However, the development of a contactor reactor to mix the fuel with the carrier is a fluidization challenge as the material is a Geldart group C material and highly cohesive. Normally, Geldart group C materials are fluidized with either a vibrating bed. This technique is acceptable for low temperature pharmaceuticals production but does not lend itself to much larger reactors used for power production or operation at temperatures in the order of 1100 to 1200 C. Therefore, a hydrodynamic solution was needed to break up the cohesive structures to replace the vibration. In this instance, it was hypothesized that a spouting bed of large Geldart group B or Geldart group D particles could provide the necessary energy to break up the cohesive structures of the Geldart group C material. This paper presents the reduction performance for this novel carrier material in a laboratory spouting bed reactor.

Breault, Ronald↗

DOE OSTI2024

Direct numerical simulation of open-channel flow over a heterogeneous particle bed at low relative submergence

In this article, this study investigates turbulent open-channel flows over beds of irregularly arranged particles, using direct numerical simulations at a friction Reynolds number of Re T = 300⁠. Two distinct cases are examined: a polydisperse bed (P800) composed of multiple layers of randomly distributed spheres of varying sizes, and a monodisperse bed (M1015) formed by a random distribution of uniform sized spheres, with a bottommost single layer of varied-sized particles to introduce realistic randomness. Our investigation unveils a rich network of low- and high-speed streaks within the flow field, exhibiting distinctive behaviors in different bed configurations. The P800 case presents a poorly organized flow pattern induced by the varied particle sizes and arrangements, while the M1015 case shows a more regular flow pattern, marked by larger streaks. We also observe that total wall shear stress is substantially influenced by surface roughness-induced drag, extending beyond the effects documented in existing studies of open-channel flows. The present study reveals intricate secondary flow patterns over irregular particle beds. Large-scale circulations are discerned around particle crests in the P800 case and localized circulations with increased turbulence in the M1015 case. Furthermore, analysis of Reynolds stress tensor components indicates that roughness disrupts coherent turbulent eddies, consequently mitigating peak stress. We quantify correlations between drag force and local fluid velocity fluctuations. Notably, a larger deviation in drag is observed in the P800 case compared to M1015, accentuating the influence of particle size and distribution on fluid–particle interactions.

42 ENGINEERING↗

NASA NTRS2014

High-Precision Measurement of Eu/Eu* in Geological Glasses via LA-ICP-MS Analysis

Elemental fractionation during laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) analysis has been historically documented between refractory and volatile elements. In this work, however, we observed fractionation between light rare earth elements (LREEs) and heavy rare earth elements (HREEs) when using ablation strategies involving large spot sizes (greater than 100 millimeters) and line scanning mode. In addition: (1) ion yields decrease when using spot sizes above 100 millimeters; (2) (Eu/Eu*)(sub raw) (i.e. Europium anomaly) positively correlates with carrier gas (He) flow rate, which provides control over the particle size distribution of the aerosol reaching the ICP; (3) (Eu/Eu*)(sub raw) shows a positive correlation with spot size, and (4) the changes in REE signal intensity, induced by the He flow rate change, roughly correlate with REE condensation temperatures. The REE fractionation is likely driven by the slight but significant difference in their condensation temperatures. Large particles may not be completely dissociated in the ICP and result in preferential evaporation of the less refractory LREEs and thus non-stoichiometric particle-ion conversion. This mechanism may also be responsible for Sm-Eu-Gd fractionation as Eu is less refractory than Sm and Gd. The extent of fractionation depends upon the particle size distribution of the aerosol, which in turn is influenced by the laser parameters and matrix. Ablation pits and lines defined by low aspect ratios produce a higher proportion of large particles than high aspect ratio ablation, as confirmed by measurements of particle size distribution in the laser induced aerosol. Therefore, low aspect ratio ablation introduces particles that cannot be decomposed and/or atomized by the ICP and thus results in exacerbated elemental fractionation. Accurate quantification of REE concentrations and Eu/Eu* requires reduction of large particle production during laser ablation. For the reference materials analyzed in this work, the 100 millimeters spot measurements of Eu/Eu* agreed with GeoRem preferred values within 3 percent. Our long-term analyses of Eu/Eu* in MPI-DING glass KL-2G and USGS glass BIR-1G were reproducible at 3 percent (2 RSD).

geological glasses↗

NASA NTRS1997

Effect of microgravity and hypergravity on deposition of 0.5- to 3-micron-diameter aerosol in the human lung

We measured intrapulmonary deposition of 0. 5-, 1-, 2-, and 3-micron-diameter particles in four subjects on the ground (1 G) and during parabolic flights both in microgravity (microG) and at approximately 1.6 G. Subjects breathed aerosols at a constant flow rate (0.4 l/s) and tidal volume (0.75 liter). At 1 G and approximately 1.6 G, deposition increased with increasing particle size. In microG, differences in deposition as a function of particle size were almost abolished. Deposition was a nearly linear function of the G level for 2- and 3-micron-diameter particles, whereas for 0.5- and 1.0-micron-diameter particles, deposition increased less between microG and 1 G than between 1 G and approximately 1.6 G. Comparison with numerical predictions showed good agreement for 1-, 2-, and 3-micron-diameter particles at 1 and approximately 1.6 G, whereas the model consistently underestimated deposition in microG. The higher deposition observed in microG compared with model predictions might be explained by a larger deposition by diffusion because of a higher alveolar concentration of aerosol in microG and to the nonreversibility of the flow, causing additional mixing of the aerosols.

Flight Experiment↗

DOE OSTI2023

An introduction to the significance of sample size in particle analyses for nuclear forensics and radiological investigations

Particulate isotopic analysis in nuclear forensics has developed rapidly during the past two decades due to technical advances in determining the isotopic composition of individual particles. This paper introduces basic statistical concepts that can be applied by analysts to understand the importance of statistical adequacy when interpretating particle data. While these basic statistical methods provide a useful point-of-entry to particle data analysis, more sophisticated statistical and modeling approaches are needed to extract maximal information from such datasets in the future.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗

NASA NTRS2018

Net Radiative Effects of Dust in the Tropical North Atlantic Based on Integrated Satellite Observations and in Situ Measurements

In this study, we integrate recent in situ measurements with satellite retrievals of dust physical and radiative properties to quantify dust direct radiative effects on shortwave (SW) and longwave (LW) radiation (denoted as DRESW and DRELW, respectively) in the tropical North Atlantic during the summer months from 2007 to 2010. Through linear regression of the CERES-measured top-of atmosphere (TOA) flux versus satellite aerosol optical depth (AOD) retrievals, we estimate the instantaneous DRESW efficiency at the TOA to be -49+/-7.1 W/sq.m AOD(exp -1) and -36+/-4:8W/sq.m AOD(exp -1) based on AOD from MODIS and CALIOP, respectively. We then perform various sensitivity studies based on recent measurements of dust particle size distribution (PSD), refractive index, and particle shape distribution to determine how the dust microphysical and optical properties affect DRE estimates and its agreement with the above-mentioned satellite-derived DREs. Our analysis shows that a good agreement with the observation-based estimates of instantaneous DRESW and DRELW can be achieved through a combination of recently observed PSD with substantial presence of coarse particles, a less absorptive SW refractive index, and spheroid shapes. Based on this optimal combination of dust physical properties we further estimate the diurnal mean dust DRE(sub SW) in the region of -10W/sq.m at TOA and -26W/sq.m at the surface, respectively, of which ~30% is canceled out by the positive DRE(sub LW). This yields a net DRE of about -6:9 and -18.3 W/sq.m at TOA and the surface, respectively. Our study suggests that the LW flux contains useful information on dust particle size, which could be used together with SW observations to achieve a more holistic understanding of the dust radiative effect.

Song, Qianqian↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Millimeter Wave Doppler Radar Testing Using the Lunar Regolith Ejecta Simulator

A linear conveyor system has been devised to maintain lunar regolith simulant at a range of velocities, distances, angles, particle densities, and particle sizes. The Lunar Regolith Ejecta Simulator (LuRES) system shall test prototype and potential flight instrumentation for measuring the velocities of regolith particles accelerated by a plume-surface interaction (PSI) and determining effects of particle number densities and particle size distributions on return signals. Here we present the results of initial LuRES testing of the Millimeter Wave Doppler Radar (MWDR) instrument. The LuRES system held a single, ~900 µm BP-1 lunar regolith simulant particle at a continuous ~5 m/s velocity. The return signal of the MWDR from this LuRES configuration was analyzed to calibrate the MWDR instrument. Further testing is planned for the remaining of 2023 to calibrate the MWDR for various particle sizes and densities at a continuous velocity. These results will be presented in the final paper.

PSI↗

NASA NTRS2006

Electrostatic Beneficiation of Lunar Simulant

Electrostatic beneficiation of lunar regolith is a method allowing refinement of specific minerals in the material for processing on the moon. The use of tribocharging the regolith prior to separation was investigated on the lunar simulant MLS-I by passing the dust through static mixers constructed from different materials; aluminum, copper, stainless steel, and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The amount of charge acquired by the simulant was dependent upon the difference in the work function of the dust and the charging material. XPS and SEM were used to characterize the simulant after it was sieved into five size fractions (> 100 pm, 75-100 pm, 50- 75 pm, 50-25 pm, and < 25 pm), where very little difference in surface composition was observed between the sizes. Samples of the smallest (< 25 pm) and largest (> 100 pm) size fractions were beneficiated through a charge separator using the aluminum (charged the simulant negatively) and PTFE (charged positively) mixers. The mass fractions of the separated simulant revealed that for the larger particle size, significant unipolar charging was observed for both mixers, whereas for the smaller particle sizes, more bipolar charging was observed, probably due to the finer simulant adhering to the inside of the mixers shielding the dust from the charging material. Subsequent XPS analysis of the beneficiated fractions showed the larger particle size fraction having some species differentiation, but very little difference for the smaller.size. Although MLS-1 was made to have similar chemistry to actual lunar dust, its mineralogy is quite different. On-going experiments are using NASA JSC-1 lunar simulant. A vacuum chamber has been constructed, and future experiments are planned in a simulated lunar environment.

Trigwell, Steve↗

NASA NTRS2014

Intercomparison and Evaluation of Global Aerosol Microphysical Properties Among Aerocom Models of a Range of Complexity

Many of the next generation of global climate models will include aerosol schemes which explicitly simulate the microphysical processes that determine the particle size distribution. These models enable aerosol optical properties and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) concentrations to be determined by fundamental aerosol processes, which should lead to a more physically based simulation of aerosol direct and indirect radiative forcings. This study examines the global variation in particle size distribution simulated by 12 global aerosol microphysics models to quantify model diversity and to identify any common biases against observations. Evaluation against size distribution measurements from a new European network of aerosol supersites shows that the mean model agrees quite well with the observations at many sites on the annual mean, but there are some seasonal biases common to many sites. In particular, at many of these European sites, the accumulation mode number concentration is biased low during winter and Aitken mode concentrations tend to be overestimated in winter and underestimated in summer. At high northern latitudes, the models strongly underpredict Aitken and accumulation particle concentrations compared to the measurements, consistent with previous studies that have highlighted the poor performance of global aerosol models in the Arctic. In the marine boundary layer, the models capture the observed meridional variation in the size distribution, which is dominated by the Aitken mode at high latitudes, with an increasing concentration of accumulation particles with decreasing latitude. Considering vertical profiles, the models reproduce the observed peak in total particle concentrations in the upper troposphere due to new particle formation, although modelled peak concentrations tend to be biased high over Europe. Overall, the multimodel- mean data set simulates the global variation of the particle size distribution with a good degree of skill, suggesting that most of the individual global aerosol microphysics models are performing well, although the large model diversity indicates that some models are in poor agreement with the observations. Further work is required to better constrain size-resolved primary and secondary particle number sources, and an improved understanding of nucleation an growth (e.g. the role of nitrate and secondary organics) will improve the fidelity of simulated particle size distributions.

Cloud physics↗

NASA NTRS1965

Experimental investigation of jet impingement on surfaces of fine particles in a vacuum environment

The erosion characteristics of a bed of fine particles under vacuum conditions (10 -4 torr) resulting from an impinging jet exhaust were investigated for various particle sizes and jet heights above the dust surface. The investigation included measurements of the craters during erosion, measurements of the visibility reduction, and photographs of the erosion process. The results of this investigation indicate that there exists a finite jet height above which particles will not be eroded. This height, for given nozzle conditions, varies with surface-particle size. In addition, the results indicate that the magnitude of surface erosion also depends on-surface-particle size; erosion is most rapid with the coarsest particles. These and other associated test results are presented and compared with available theory.

Jet exhaust↗

DOE OSTI2024

A Three–Dimensional Nanoscale View of Electrocatalyst Degradation in Hydrogen Fuel Cells

The loss of platinum (Pt) electrochemically active surface area (ECSA) is a critical degradation mode that often becomes a limiting factor for heavy-duty proton exchange membrane fuel cell vehicles. High surface area carbon supports have been shown to improve Pt dispersion and limit detrimental ionomer-electrocatalyst interactions due to their large interior pore volume. Here, in this work, using automated scanning transmission electron tomography, the degradation of nanoparticles located on the interior versus exterior surfaces of the carbon support is compared following a catalyst-specific accelerated stress test (AST) of 90,000 voltage cycles between 0.6 V to 0.95 V. The results reveal a notable increase in median particle size for both interior and exterior Pt catalyst particles, with a slightly higher increase in particle size distribution and loss of specific surface area for the particles located on the exterior carbon surface. The fraction of Pt nanoparticles that reside within the interior of the carbon support also increased following the AST test, accompanied by evidence of an increase in average carbon mesopore size. Here, the results shed light on the degradation mechanisms affecting electrochemical properties and the enhanced particle accessibility at lower relative humidity.

08 HYDROGEN↗

DOE OSTI2023

Particle Scale Impacts on Deconstruction Energy of Pine Residues

The goal of this Case Study was to quantify the impacts of variable moisture and ash on hammer mill throughput and energy consumption and on generation of fines that are not able to be fed to conversion, as compared to a status quo Base Case system. Also considered was convertible carbon content (minimum carbon specification) and maximum ash content and the delivered feedstock cost impacts of not being able to feed residue not meeting both specifications to the conversion reactor. Laboratory data on the impacts of input particle size and moisture content on the exit particle size were received from FCIC Subtask 5.2: Preprocessing, High Temperature Conversion Preprocessing from their single particle impact population balance modeling study (Tiasha Bhattacharjee, INL). Additional throughput and energy consumption data were obtained from FCIC Subtask 5.2 (Jordan Klinger, INL) for the same grinder with a 6 mm screen in place. These data were utilized to develop the necessary response surface equations to perform throughput analysis using discrete event simulation. Because the ash contents in the separated fines had not been analyzed in the laboratory at the time of the model runs, we chose to assume that the ash distributed proportionally with total mass into the overs and unders in the disk screen following grinding.

energy consumption↗

NASA NTRS1990

Measuring Monodisperse Small Particles En Masse

New optical method enables determination of sizes of approximately-micron-sized particles. Arrays of particles act as diffraction gratings. Simple and inexpensive apparatus replaces high-magnification microscopes in measurements of diameters of small polystyrene latex spheres. Device being used to determine monodispersity and diameters of polystyrene latex microspheres used as seeding material for laser-velocimetry flow measurements in NASA's wind tunnels. Characterization of particle sizes important in wide range of fields, including manufacture of plastics and ceramics, biochemistry, and medicine.

Bruce, Robert A.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Droplet sizes and velocities in vaporizing sprays

A pulse height laser Doppler anemometer particle sizing technique has been refined to permit simultaneous particle size and velocity measurements in sprays. The improvements include (1) the use of a specially tailored 'top hat' light distribution, to provide unambiguous particle diameter-signal amplitude relations, (2) the use of back scattered light collection, and (3) the utilization of Mie theory to compute the relations between signal amplitude and particle diameter, in the backscatter mode. Twin-fluid atomized kerosene sprays have been investigated using the new technique. In these sprays distributions have been mapped of mean droplet diameters, droplet size distributions, and the local correlations between droplet diameters and velocities. The data show the variation of spray structure with atomizer input parameters, the preferential vaporization of smaller droplets, and the differing trajectories of the large and small droplets.

Yule, A. J.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Aircraft microwave observations and simulations of deep convection from 18 to 183 GHz. II - Model results

In this June 29, 1986 case study, a radiative transfer model is used to simulate the aircraft multichannel microwave brightness temperatures presented in the Adler et al. (1990) paper and to study the convective storm structure. Ground-based radar data are used to derive hydrometeor profiles of the storm, based on which the microwave upwelling brightness temperatures are calculated. Various vertical hydrometeor phase profiles and the Marshall and Palmer (M-P, 1948) and Sekhon and Srivastava (S-S, 1970) ice particle size distributions are experimented in the model. The results are compared with the aircraft radiometric data. The comparison reveals that the M-P distribution well represents the ice particle size distribution, especially in the upper tropospheric portion of the cloud; the S-S distribution appears to better simulate the ice particle size at the lower portion of the cloud, which has a greater effect on the low-frequency microwave upwelling brightness temperatures; and that, in deep convective regions, significant supercooled liquid water (about 0.5 g/cu m) may be present up to the -30 C layer, while in less convective areas, frozen hydrometeors are predominant above -10 C level.

Yeh, Hwa-Young M.↗

DOE OSTI2024

New insights into the mechanism of ultrasonic atomization for the production of metal powders in additive manufacturing

Ultrasonic atomization is one of the promising technologies for producing metal powders for additive manufacturing, where precise control of particle size and morphology is essential. In this study, we coupled an ultrasonic transducer with a carbon fiber plate and atomized liquid droplets and films under different vibration amplitudes. Water, glycerol, and pure aluminum melt were used to study the atomization mechanism and the resulting droplet/powder characteristics, respectively. High-speed optical and ultrafast synchrotron X-ray imaging were used to study in situ the ultrasonic atomization dynamics, including pulsation and clustering of cavities inside the liquid layer/films, development of capillary waves, and formation of liquid droplets. For the first time, we observed and captured the occurrence of cavitation during the atomization of resting drops, films and impact droplets. The inertial cavitation events interfered with the capillary waves across the interphase boundary, puncturing and breaking the boundary to produce atomized mist. The in situ observation revealed the intricate dynamics of ultrasonic atomization and underscored the pivotal role of cavitation events throughout the entire atomization process. We also conducted experiments on ultrasonic atomization of liquid aluminum, producing particles of perfectly spherical shape. The particle size tended to decrease with reduced vibration amplitude Our work has demonstrated the important processing strategies on how to tailor the particle size while ensuring consistent particle shape and morphology, which is the key processing capability for producing high quality powders for additive manufacturing applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

NASA NTRS1988

Assessment of the effects of space debris and meteoroids environment on the space station solar array assembly

The methodology used to assess the probability of no impact of space debris and meteoroids on a spacecraft structure is applied to the Space Station solar array assembly. Starting with the space debris and meteoroids flux models, the projected surface area of the solar cell string circuit of the solar array panel and the mast longeron, and the design lifetime, the possibility of no impact on the solar array mast and solar cell string circuits was determined as a function of particle size. The probability of no impact on the cell string circuits was used to derive the probability of no open circuit panel. The probability of meeting a certain power requirement at the end of the design lifetime was then calculated as a function of impacting particle size. Coupled with a penetration and damage models/correlations which relate the particle size to the penetration depth and damage, the results of this analysis can be used to determine the probability of meeting the lower power requirement given a degree of redundancy, and the probability of no impact on the solar array mast.

Nahra, Henry K.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Assessment of the effects of space debris and meteoroids environment on the Space Station solar array assembly

The methodology used to assess the probability of no impact of space debris and meteoroids on a spacecraft structure is applied to the Space Station solar array assembly. Starting with space debris and meteoroid flux models, the projected surface area of the solar cell string circuit of the solar array panel and the mast longeron, and the design lifetime, the possibility of no impact on the solar mast and solar cell string circuits was determined as a function of particle size. The probability of no impact on the cell string circuits was used to derive the probability of no open circuit panel. The probability of meeting a certain power requirement at the end of the design lifetime was then calculated as a function of impacting particle size. Coupled with a penetration and damage models/correlations which relate the particle size to penetration depth and damage, the results of this analysis can be used to determine the probability of meeting the lower power requirement given a degree of redundancy, and the probability of no impact on the solar array mast.

Nahra, Henry K.↗