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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 73 records · Page 4
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

The Dynamic Networks Experiments: Virtual Experiments to Quantify Gains in Nuclear Explosion Monitoring

We describe an ongoing series of virtual experiments conducted collaboratively by four United States National Laboratories: Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. These Dynamic Network Experiments (DNEs) provide an experimental framework to evaluate the potential impact of new research tools on nuclear explosion monitoring. The second DNE (DNE2), completed in 2024, exploited waveform data (seismic, infrasound, and electromagnetic) that was recorded by multi-modal sensors within and near the Nevada National Security Site and synthetic radionuclide signatures over multiple time periods. During the execution of DNE2, we processed and analyzed data through a multi-stage event processing pipeline that ingested raw data, performed quality control, detected signals, built events from these signals, located these events, and characterized the events’ source types and sizes. For each stage and over the entire event processing pipeline, we evaluated performance changes by comparing the performance of new data processing methods, models, and algorithms against a baseline. We also performed an additional execution phase to assess event processing pipeline function, speed, and efficiency against that of an expert analyst, including computational and manual efforts. Finally, we assessed the impact and effort of modern computing infrastructure on the monitoring pipeline. This paper describes key elements of the DNEs, from formulation through execution, as demonstrated in DNE2. The DNEs introduce several novel concepts to quantitatively measure the potential impact of new methods on explosion monitoring, including the collaborative design of multi-modal datasets, performance and logistical metrics, and integrated analyses.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2025

Soil fertility management for sustainable Miscanthus × giganteus production: Increased tiller weight from nitrogen management explains yield gains in aged miscanthus

Aging-related yield decline in Miscanthus × giganteus (miscanthus) remains a major constraint to sustainable biomass production. This study evaluated how nitrogen (N) management and soil fertility influence yield-component traits and productivity in aging miscanthus. Trials were conducted at two sites established in 2008 at the University of Illinois Energy Farm, Urbana, IL. (i) The Sun Grant trial received 0, 60, and 120 kg N ha −1 annually until 2015. Starting 2021, half of each plot received 60 or 120 kg N ha −1 , resulting in six legacy-contemporary treatments: 0N–0N, 0N–120N, 60N–0N, 60N–60N, 120N–0N, 120N–120N. (ii) The Energy Farm trial remained unfertilized until 2014, when one half of each plot received 56 kg N ha −1 , forming two treatments: 0N–0N, 0N–56N. Sun Grant trial results showed N fertilization increased tiller density (tillers m −2 ) and tiller weight (g tiller −1 ) in juvenile to early-mature miscanthus (2011–2015). After N withdrawal, both traits declined (20 % and 40 %), though legacy effects persisted in tiller weight in the aging stands (2020–2023). Contemporary N had little effect on tiller density but increased tiller weight by 34 %–77 %, resulting in 23 %–106 % higher machine-harvested biomass yield in 0–120N, 60-60N, and 120-120N plots. At the Energy Farm trial, 0N–56N plots yielded 59 %–108 % more biomass than 0N–0N. Soil total N increased (Sun Grant: 47 % by 2020; Energy Farm: 58 % by 2023), while Mehlich-3 P (42 %–44 %) and K (21 %–46 %) declined. These findings identify tiller weight as a key determinant of biomass yield in aging miscanthus and highlight the need for P and K management for long-term productivity.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2024

From small changes to big gains: pyridinium-based tetralactam macrocycle for enhanced sugar recognition in water

The complex distribution of functional groups in carbohydrates, coupled with their strong solvation in water, makes them challenging targets for synthetic receptors. Despite extensive research into various molecular frameworks, most synthetic carbohydrate receptors have exhibited low affinities, and their interactions with sugars in aqueous environments remain poorly understood. In this work, we present a simple pyridinium-based hydrogen-bonding receptor derived from a subtle structural modification of a well-known tetralactam macrocycle. This small structural change resulted in a dramatic enhancement of glucose binding affinity, increasing from 56 M −1 to 3001 M −1 . Remarkably, the performance of our synthetic lectin surpasses that of the natural lectin, concanavalin A, by over fivefold. X-ray crystallography of the macrocycle–glucose complex reveals a distinctive hydrogen bonding pattern, which allows for a larger surface overlap between the receptor and glucose, contributing to the enhanced affinity. Furthermore, this receptor possesses allosteric binding sites, which involve chloride binding and trigger receptor aggregation. This unique allosteric process reveals the critical role of structural flexibility in this hydrogen-bonding receptor for the effective recognition of sugars. We also demonstrate the potential of this synthetic lectin as a highly sensitive glucose sensor in aqueous solutions.

Zhai, Canjia↗
DOE OSTI2025

Data for Soil Fertility Management for Sustainable Miscanthus × giganteus Production: Increased Tiller Weight from Nitrogen Management Explains Yield Gains in Aged Miscanthus

Aging-related yield decline in Miscanthus × giganteus (miscanthus) remains a major constraint to sustainable biomass production. This study evaluated how nitrogen (N) management and soil fertility influence yield-component traits and productivity in aging miscanthus. Trials were conducted at two sites established in 2008 at the University of Illinois Energy Farm, Urbana, IL. (i) The Sun Grant trial received 0, 60, and 120 kg N ha−1 annually until 2015. Starting 2021, half of each plot received 60 or 120 kg N ha−1, resulting in six legacy-contemporary treatments: 0N–0N, 0N–120N, 60N–0N, 60N–60N, 120N–0N, 120N–120N. (ii) The Energy Farm trial remained unfertilized until 2014, when one half of each plot received 56 kg N ha−1, forming two treatments: 0N–0N, 0N–56N. Sun Grant trial results showed N fertilization increased tiller density (tillers m−2) and tiller weight (g tiller−1) in juvenile to early-mature miscanthus (2011–2015). After N withdrawal, both traits declined (20 % and 40 %), though legacy effects persisted in tiller weight in the aging stands (2020–2023). Contemporary N had little effect on tiller density but increased tiller weight by 34 %–77 %, resulting in 23 %–106 % higher machine-harvested biomass yield in 0–120N, 60-60N, and 120-120N plots. At the Energy Farm trial, 0N–56N plots yielded 59 %–108 % more biomass than 0N–0N. Soil total N increased (Sun Grant: 47 % by 2020; Energy Farm: 58 % by 2023), while Mehlich-3 P (42 %–44 %) and K (21 %–46 %) declined. These findings identify tiller weight as a key determinant of biomass yield in aging miscanthus and highlight the need for P and K management for long-term productivity.

miscanthus↗
DOE OSTI2024

Relations between Shot Noise, Gain Bandwidth, and Saturation of Instabilities

There are numerous instabilities present in charged particle beams that undergo exponential growth and reach saturation. In various applications, such as free-electron lasers or micro-bunching light sources, achieving saturation is desirable. Conversely, there are applications where these instabilities are utilized as linear broad-band amplifiers for signals embedded in the charged beam. In the latter scenario, the saturation of an instability induces non-linear distortions in the imprinted signal, thereby limiting the useful range of such amplifiers. Accurate evaluation of these instabilities necessitates a complete and comprehensive modeling approach that includes shot noise within the beam. Unfortunately, such modeling is not always feasible or practical. In this paper, we introduce a methodology utilizing the frequency and bandwidth of the instability as key parameters. Through this, we derive an estimation for the range of linear instability growth. Our derivation is conducted in a model-independent manner, making it applicable to a broad spectrum of instabilities. To validate our approach, we employ established and thoroughly benchmarked simulations with a free electron laser (FEL) code as well as self-consistent 3-dimensional simulation of plasma-cascade instability using code SPACE.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Gaining Real-Time Water Leak Detection

Devens Reserve Forces Training Area is a United States Army Reserve (USAR) Installation that struggles with severe water leaks, often causing significant damage to the facility and requiring major renovation. Traditional water use is highly dependent on occupancy, so it can be difficult to benchmark a facility’s water use. It can be exceptionally difficult when occupancy is transient and/or varies. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) collaborated with Devens to implement real-time monitoring of their water consumption by utilizing the smart meter data from their existing 23 water meters. PNNL created a simple algorithm to calculate hourly water consumption and trigger an alert to be instantly emailed to Devens’ personnel when there appears to be a water leak in any building with a smart water meter. Here, this approach is expected to save hundreds of thousands of dollars in unnecessary water consumption costs and damages from leaks and was implemented with little-to-no costs or service disruptions. Next steps for this project include slow leak detection through nighttime monitoring and to extrapolate this water leak approach to the remainder 360 water meters on USAR’s Enterprise Building Control System so USAR sites across the country can be instantly notified of potential water leaks.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2024

System and method for atomic layer deposition of rare-earth oxides on optical grade materials for laser gain media

A method is disclosed for doping a quantity of powder particles. A container having a central chamber is initially charged with a quantity of powder particles. A quantity of precursor is sublimed to form a heated precursor. A quantity of carrier gas is mixed with the precursor to form a mixture of heated precursor/carrier gas. The central chamber is charged with the heated precursor/carrier gas and then moved to cause interaction of the powder particles with the heated precursor/carrier gas to form a first monolayer coating on the powder particles. The heated precursor/carrier gas is then removed from the central chamber and the central chamber is charged with a O2/O3 gas under a plasma. The central chamber is then further moved to produce interaction of the O2/O3 gas with the first monolayer coating on the powder particles to modify the first monolayer coating to create a different, single monolayer coating forming an oxide coating on the powder particles.

Miller, John S.↗