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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 703 records · Page 39
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1967

Manned Venus Orbiting Mission

Manned orbiting stopover round trips to Venus are studied for departure dates between 1975 and 1986 over a range of trip times and stay times. The use of highly elliptic parking orbits at Venus leads to low initial weights in Earth orbit compared with circular orbits. For the elliptic parking orbit, the effect of constraints on the low altitude observation time on the initial weight is shown. The mission can be accomplished with the Apollo level of chemical propulsion, but advanced chemical or nuclear propulsion can give large weight reductions. The Venus orbiting mission weights than the corresponding Mars mission.

LAUNCH DATE↗
NASA NTRS1989

Performance of advanced missions using fusion propulsion

A quantitive evaluation of the premise that nuclear fusion propulsion offers benefits as compared to other propulsion technologies for carrying out a program of advanced exploration of the solar system and beyond is presented. Using a simplified analytical model of trajectory performance, numerical results of mass requirements versus trip time are given for robotic missions beyond the solar system that include flyby and rendezvous with the Oort cloud of comets and with the star system Alpha Centauri. Round trip missions within the solar system, including robotic sample returns from the outer planet moons and multiple asteroid targets, and manned Mars exploration are also described.

Friedlander, Alan↗
NASA NTRS2004

MSFC Propulsion Research Center Overview

The MSFC Propulsion Research Center (PRC) is housed in a new research laboratory and provides research and technology development capabilities in several areas related to space propulsion. These areas include advanced chemical propulsion and high power propulsion for in-space applications. The research directions and capabilities, including a description of the facilities, of the PRC will be discussed.

Schafer, Charles↗
NASA NTRS2008

Environmental Testing of the NEXT PM1 Ion Engine

The NEXT propulsion system is an advanced ion propulsion system presently under development that is oriented towards robotic exploration of the solar system using solar electric power. The Prototype Model engine PM1 was subjected to qualification-level environmental testing to demonstrate compatibility with environments representative of anticipated mission requirements. Random vibration testing, conducted with the thruster mated to the breadboard gimbal, was executed at 10.0 Grms for 2 minutes in each of three axes. Thermal-vacuum testing included a deep cold soak of the engine to temperatures of -168 C and thermal cycling from -120 to 203 C. Although the testing was largely successful, several issues were identified including the fragmentation of potting cement on the discharge and neutralizer cathode heater terminations during vibration which led to abbreviated thermal testing, and generation of particulate contamination from manufacturing processes and engine materials. Thruster performance was nominal throughout the test program, with minor variations in some engine operating parameters likely caused by facility effects. In general, the NEXT PM1 engine and the breadboard gimbal were found to be well-designed against environmental requirements based on the results reported herein. After resolution of the findings from this test program the hardware environmental qualification program can proceed with confidence.

Synder, John S.↗
NASA NTRS2007

Environmental Testing of the NEXT PM1R Ion Engine

The NEXT propulsion system is an advanced ion propulsion system presently under development that is oriented towards robotic exploration of the solar system using solar electric power. The subsystem includes an ion engine, power processing unit, feed system components, and thruster gimbal. The Prototype Model engine PM1 was subjected to qualification-level environmental testing in 2006 to demonstrate compatibility with environments representative of anticipated mission requirements. Although the testing was largely successful, several issues were identified including the fragmentation of potting cement on the discharge and neutralizer cathode heater terminations during vibration which led to abbreviated thermal testing, and generation of particulate contamination from manufacturing processes and engine materials. The engine was reworked to address most of these findings, renamed PM1R, and the environmental test sequence was repeated. Thruster functional testing was performed before and after the vibration and thermal-vacuum tests. Random vibration testing, conducted with the thruster mated to the breadboard gimbal, was executed at 10.0 Grms for 2 min in each of three axes. Thermal-vacuum testing included three thermal cycles from 120 to 215 C with hot engine re-starts. Thruster performance was nominal throughout the test program, with minor variations in a few engine operating parameters likely caused by facility effects. There were no significant changes in engine performance as characterized by engine operating parameters, ion optics performance measurements, and beam current density measurements, indicating no significant changes to the hardware as a result of the environmental testing. The NEXT PM1R engine and the breadboard gimbal were found to be well-designed against environmental requirements based on the results reported herein. The redesigned cathode heater terminations successfully survived the vibration environments. Based on the results of this test program and confidence in the engineering solutions available for the remaining findings of the first test program, specifically the particulate contamination, the hardware environmental qualification program can proceed with confidence

Snyder, John S.↗
DOE OSTI2014

Medium and Heavy Duty Vehicle Field Evaluations (Presentation)

This presentation discusses field evaluations of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles performed by NREL. The project provides medium-duty (MD) and heavy-duty (HD) test results, aggregated data, and detailed analysis, including 3rd party unbiased data (data that would not normally be shared by industry in an aggregated and detailed manner). Over 5.6 million miles of advanced technology MD and HD truck data have been collected, documented, and analyzed on over 240 different vehicles since 2002. Data, analysis, and reports are shared within DOE, national laboratory partners, and industry for R&D planning and strategy. The results help guide R&D for new technology development, help define intelligent usage of newly developed technology, and help fleets/users understand all aspects of advanced technology.

2014 AMR↗
DOE OSTI2015

Project Startup: Evaluating the Performance of Hydraulic Hybrid Refuse Vehicles

The Fleet Test and Evaluation Team at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is evaluating the in-service performance of 10 next-generation hydraulic hybrid refuse vehicles (HHVs), 8 previous-generation HHVs, and 8 comparable conventional diesel vehicles operated by Miami-Dade County's Public Works and Waste Management Department in southern Florida. The HHVs under study - Autocar E3 refuse trucks equipped with Parker Hannifin's RunWise Advanced Series Hybrid Drive systems - can recover as much as 70 percent of the energy typically lost during braking and reuse it to power the vehicle. NREL's evaluation will assess the performance of this technology in commercial operation and help Miami-Dade County determine the ideal routes for maximizing the fuel-saving potential of its HHVs.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Clean Cities 2016 Vehicle Buyer's Guide

Drivers and fleets are increasingly turning to the hundreds of light-duty, alternative fuel, and advanced technology vehicle models that reduce petroleum use, save on fuel costs, and cut emissions. This guide provides a comprehensive list of the 2016 light-duty models that use alternative fuels or advanced fuel-saving technologies.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicle Field Evaluations

This presentation provides information about NREL's real-world evaluations of commercial vehicle technologies, which compare the performance of advanced medium- and heavy-duty fleet vehicles to conventional vehicles. NREL conducts these customized evaluations in partnership with commercial and government fleets across the nation. Current fleet and industry partners include UPS, Workhorse, Parker Hannifin, Proterra, Foothill Transit, Long Beach Transit, BYD, Odyne, Duke Energy, Miami-Dade, TransPower, Eaton, Cummins, Bosch, and Clean Cities/National Clean Fleet Partnership. The presentation focuses on two particular vehicle evaluation projects -- hydraulic hybrid refuse haulers operated by Miami-Dade and electric transit buses operated by Foothill Transit.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2017

NREL, Industry Collaboration to Usher in New Wave of Autonomous Vehicle Research

In an important step toward advancing intelligent, efficient, and autonomous electric vehicles, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) plans to partner on research and development efforts with EasyMile, a smart mobility solutions company. EasyMile provided a demo of its driverless EZ10 shuttle on the NREL campus in September 2017.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Quantifying the Mobility and Energy Benefits of Automated Mobility Districts Using Microscopic Traffic Simulation

This poster highlights a study quantifying the mobility and energy benefits of automated mobility districts (AMDs), with a focus on the district-scale implementation of advanced vehicle (AV) technologies, the benefits of an AV-shared-mobility service within a confined geographic region or district, and AMD models serving as 'special generators' in existing urban travel demand models. Through the study, leaders developed an AMD modeling and simulation toolkit.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Trends in SiC MOSFET Threshold Voltage and ON-Resistance Measurements from Thermal Cycling and Electrical Switching Stresses: Preprint

Integrating SiC power MOSFETs is very attractive for advancing power electronic systems, yet the system reliability with new devices remains in question. This work presents two accelerated test experiments to further investigate the packaging and semiconductor failures of a TO-247 SiC MOSFET. First, a variation on power cycling experiments -- switching cycling -- is introduced. Traditional power cycling experiments utilize conduction losses to self-heat the device where a large temperature swing causes degradation at the packaging level. However, by decreasing the on-time such that the device only turns on and immediately turns off, the temperature swing is decreased and the semiconductor itself is degraded. This work shows experimental device degradation caused by continuous switching events - switching cycling, at 90% of the device's breakdown voltage. Second, thermal cycling experiments were conducted between -40 degrees C and 175 degrees C to observe degradation in the mechanical packaging of the device. Experimentally-measured changes in threshold voltage and ON-resistance are recorded in both experiments and compared. These results also illustrate the spectrum between device and package degradation from accelerated test methods.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Clean Cities Coalitions: Advancing Affordable, Domestic Transportation Fuels and Technologies Across the Country

This fact sheet provides an overview of the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Vehicle Technologies Office Clean Cities Coalition Network, which advances affordable, domestic transportation fuels and technologies nationwide. More than 75 active coalitions serve as the foundation of Clean Cities, working in communities across the country to help local decision makers and fleets understand and implement alternative and renewable fuels, idle-reduction measures, fuel economy improvements, new mobility choices, and emerging transportation technologies. At the national level, VTO develops and promotes publications, tools, and other unique resources to support coordinators. At the local level, coalitions leverage these resources to create networks of stakeholders.

accomplishments↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Transformational Propulsion for In-Space Fast Transits

NASA has ambitious mission objectives requiring much faster transits to and from Mars, interstellar probes and a gravity lens observatory. However, there has been very little investment in transformational propulsion system development activities since the 1970s. There have been dozens of concepts proposed for high acceleration propulsion solutions, but nearly all have been limited to paper studies. A quick assessment was completed in 2023 to determine the potential of transformational propulsion concepts to enable faster transits, with a focus on crewed missions to and from Mars. Far-term conventional nuclear thermal propulsion is limited to very modest improvement in transfer times. Advanced nuclear propulsion options have significant performance potential, but limited interim evolutionary payoff for NASA. Advanced electric propulsion, both solar and nuclear, offers transformational performance potential with high payoff during interim progress for power production, conversion, and heat rejection technologies. Study results and recommendations for near-term investments are presented herein.

Propulsion↗
NASA NTRS1987

Static tests of the propulsion system

Advanced, highly-loaded, high-speed propellers, called propfans, are promising to revolutionize the transport aircraft industry by offering a 15- to 30-percent fuel savings over the most advanced turbofans without sacrificing passenger comfort or violating community noise standards. NASA Lewis Research Center and industry have been working jointly to develop the needed propfan technology. The NASA-funded Propfan Test Assessment (PTA) Program represents a key element of this joint program. In PTA, Lockheed-Georgia, working in concert with Hamilton Standard, Rohr Industries, Gulfstream Aerospace, and Allison, is developing a propfan propulsion system which will be mounted on the left wing of a modified Gulfstream GII aircraft and flight tested to verify the in-flight characteristics of a 9-foot diameter, single-rotation propfan. The propfan, called SR-7L, was designed and fabricated by Hamilton Standard under a separate NASA contract. Prior to flight testing, the PTA propulsion system was static tested at the Rohr Brown Field facility. In this test, propulsion system operational capability was verified and data was obtained on propfan structural response, system acoustic characteristics, and system performance. This paper reports on the results of the static tests.

Withers, C. C.↗
DOE OSTI2024

A Report on Actions for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicle Energy and Emissions Innovation

A Report on Actions for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicle Energy and Emissions Innovation (the MHDV Plan) summarizes strategies and actions to substantially reduce emissions in the U.S. commercial on-road medium- and heavy-duty vehicle (MHDV) sector. This includes all on-road vehicles over 8,500 pounds used for commercial purposes. The intended audience of this report are industry and stakeholders who will take on the suite of actions needed to drive forward MHDV emissions reduction and decarbonization in a sustainable and economic way.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
NASA NTRS1985

Main propulsion system design recommendations for an advanced Orbit Transfer Vehicle

Various main propulsion system configurations of an advanced OTV are evaluated with respect to the probability of nonindependent failures, i.e., engine failures that disable the entire main propulsion system. Analysis of the life-cycle cost (LCC) indicates that LCC is sensitive to the main propulsion system reliability, vehicle dry weight, and propellant cost; it is relatively insensitive to the number of missions/overhaul, failures per mission, and EVA and IVA cost. In conclusion, two or three engines are recommended in view of their highest reliability, minimum life-cycle cost, and fail operational/fail safe capability.

Redd, L.↗