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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 739 records · Page 41

Earth and Ocean Physics Applications Program /EOPAP/

Abbreviated description of the objectives, experiments, spacecraft, and required schedules of a proposed NASA program blending geophysics, oceanography, and space technology in order to facilitate the prediction of earthquakes, storm surges, tidal waves, and the condition of ocean surfaces. Relevant measurements from space will be carried out by LAGEOS, SAESATS-1, GEOPAUSE, GRAVSAT, and SEASATS-2 satellites contributing data on earth dynamics, sea surface states, satellite dynamics, and earth gravity. The development of suitable mathematical models for predicting events on earth on the basis of satellite data is considered.

Vonbun, F. O.↗

Development of the command data system and ground software for the SEDSAT-1 microsatellite

SEDSAT-1 is designed to be a low cost scientific satellite which is to be used to perform a minimum of five tasks which include: (1) the acquisition of a number of important parameters associated with the tethering processes from the payloads perspective (such as accelerations incurred and imaging data of the tether during deployment), (2) to act as a remote sensing platform for making measurements of the Earth's Atmosphere (allowing research to be performed in such areas as vertical lightning observation, visible light spectrography, and cloud cover studies, (3) to act as a general purpose amateur radio communication satellite relaying information back to earth, (4) to demonstrate the feasibility of the deployment in low earth orbit of advanced technology such as the Gallium Arsenide Solar Cells, Nickel Metal Hydride batteries, and multi-chip module technology and, (5) to support student's active participation in applying the disciplines of engineering and science to space-based hardware platforms. The project includes the Three-axis Accelerometer System, TAS, Experiment which is designed to report the accelerations that the satellite undergoes during the tethering operations and during the second phase of the mission when the free floating satellite comes in contact with orbit debris. The SEASIS (SEDS Earth, Atmosphere, and Space Imaging System) is another SEDSAT experiment designed to provide images of the tether during its deployment and the earth during the second phase of the mission. To control these experiments and virtually all other satellite operations the Command Data System, CDS is employed. This system utilizes a moderate complexity micro-controller controlled by tasks operating under a real-time operating system to dynamically monitor and control the satellite. The scope of this researchers efforts has been in the general area of coordinating and assisting the student researchers with the development of the CDS and ground station interfaces. This included the low level CDS hardware design and the formulization of a general software plan and schedule for both the CDS and ground station portions of the project.

Wells, B. Earl↗

The Gaia Catalogue Second Data Release and Its Implications to Optical Observations of Man-Made Earth Orbiting Objects

The Gaia catalogue second data release and its implications to optical observations of man-made Earth orbiting objects. Abstract and not the Final Paper is attached. The Gaia spacecraft was launched in December 2013 by the European Space Agency to produce a three-dimensional, dynamic map of objects within the Milky Way. Gaia's first year of data was released in September 2016. Common sources from the first data release have been combined with the Tycho-2 catalogue to provide a 5 parameter astrometric solution for approximately 2 million stars. The second Gaia data release is scheduled to come out in April 2018 and is expected to provide astrometry and photometry for more than 1 billion stars, a subset of which with a the full 6 parameter astrometric solution (adding radial velocity) and positional accuracy better than 0.002 arcsec (2 mas). In addition to precise astrometry, a unique opportunity exists with the Gaia catalogue in its production of accurate, broadband photometry using the Gaia G filter. In the past, clear filters have been used by various groups to maximize likelihood of detection of dim man-made objects but these data were very difficult to calibrate. With the second release of the Gaia catalogue, a ground based system utilizing the G band filter will have access to 1.5 billion all-sky calibration sources down to an accuracy of 0.02 magnitudes or better. In this talk, we will discuss the advantages and practicalities of implementing the Gaia filters and catalogue into data pipelines designed for optical observations of man-made objects.

Frith, James M.↗

The Power of Pausing: Advancing Understanding of Thermalization in Experimental Quantum Annealers

We investigate alternative annealing schedules on the current generation of quantum annealing hardware (the D-Wave 2000Q), which includes the use of forward and reverse annealing with an- intermediate pause. This work provides new insights into the inner workings of these devices (and quantum devices in general), particular into how thermal effects govern the system dynamics. We show that a pause mid-way through the anneal can cause a dramatic change in the output distribution, and we provide evidence suggesting thermalization is indeed occurring during such a pause. We demonstrate that upon pausing the system in a narrow region shortly after the minimum gap, the probability of successfully finding the ground state of the problem Hamiltonian can be increased by several orders of magnitude. We relate this effect to relaxation (i.e. thermalization) after diabatic and thermal excitations that occur in the region near to the minimum gap. For a set of large-scale problems of up to 500 qubits, we demonstrate that the distribution returned from the annealer very closely matches a (classical) Boltzmann distribution of the problem Hamiltonian, albeit one with a temperature at least 1.5 times higher than the (effective) temperature of the device. Moreover, we show that larger problems are more likely to thermalize to a classical Boltzmann distribution.

Marshall, Jeffrey↗

Computer Codes V and V Tests with a Large-Scale Sodium Thermal-Hydraulic Test Facility (STELLA)

The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) is carrying out the design of a 'Prototype Generation IV Sodium-cooled Fast Reactor (PGSFR)' in cooperation with Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) in the US. In regard to computer codes V and V, a large-scale sodium thermal-hydraulic test program is currently being progressed in parallel with the PGSFR design, which is called STELLA (Sodium Test Loop for Safety Simulation and Assessment). The final objective of this program is to collect a separate and integral effect test database to validate the safety analysis codes and other thermal hydraulic design codes. In the first phase of the STELLA program, the sodium component test loop (hereafter called STELLA-1) was constructed at the KAERI site, and it has been used for performance tests of key sodium heat exchangers in PGSFR. Since this sodium test loop is basically for separate effects tests to verify the performance of key sodium components, the test database obtained from STELLA-1 has been used for the V and V of safety codes as well as heat exchanger design codes. The second phase of the program aiming at an integral effect test is called STELLA-2, which will be used for synthetic review of the key safety issues of PGSFR. The basic and detailed design phases of the STELLA-2 test facility are underway in accordance with the specific design requirements reflecting the whole design features of PGSFR. The facility installation is scheduled to be completed by 2018. Then the main experiments including the start-up tests will begin and the first integral effect test database will be constructed by the end of 2019. Based on the STELLA-2 platform, a simulation of the PGSFR transient will be made to evaluate the plant dynamic behaviors and demonstrate the decay heat removal performance. Multi-dimensional effects coming from a large sodium pool system will be identified as well. The test database obtained from the STELLA-2 experiment will be used for the validation of the safety analysis codes and other thermal hydraulics codes, and this project finally contributes to the specific design phase of PGSFR. This paper presents both the results of heat transfer tests for the key sodium heat exchangers using STELLA-1 and the first results of heat exchanger design codes V and V. The recent progress of the engineering design for the STELLA-2 test section is introduced and its specific design parameters are also presented in this paper with detailed evaluation results of their scaling distortions. A large-scale sodium thermal-hydraulic test program (STELLA) was introduced with the specific activities for separate and integral effects tests. The test database obtained from STELLA-1 was successfully used to validate both the heat exchanger design and safety analysis codes. Specific design features of the integral effects test facility (STELLA- 2) with a scaling ratio of 1/5 in length and 1/125 in volume were also presented. Validation of the STELLA-2 facility design is underway using system codes and CFD tools. Dedicated water-mockup experiments to verify the scaling design of key subsystems are currently being conducted as well. (authors)

42 ENGINEERING↗

Grid resolution and solution convergence for Mars Pathfinder forebody

As part of the Discovery Program, NASA Plans to launch a series of probes to Mars. The Mars Pathfinder project is the first of this series with a scheduled Mars arrival in July 1997. The entry vehicle will perform a direct entry into the atmosphere and deliver a lander to the surface. Predicting the entry vehicle's flight performance and designing the forebody heatshield requires knowledge of the expected aerothermodynamic environment. Much of this knowledge can be obtained through computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analysis.

Nettelhorst, Heather L.↗

Ares I-X Launch Vehicle Modal Test Overview

The first test flight of NASA's Ares I crew launch vehicle, called Ares I-X, is scheduled for launch in 2009. Ares IX will use a 4-segment reusable solid rocket booster from the Space Shuttle heritage with mass simulators for the 5th segment, upper stage, crew module and launch abort system. Flight test data will provide important information on ascent loads, vehicle control, separation, and first stage reentry dynamics. As part of hardware verification, a series of modal tests were designed to verify the dynamic finite element model (FEM) used in loads assessments and flight control evaluations. Based on flight control system studies, the critical modes were the first three free-free bending mode pairs. Since a test of the free-free vehicle is not practical within project constraints, modal tests for several configurations in the nominal integration flow were defined to calibrate the FEM. A traceability study by Aerospace Corporation was used to identify the critical modes for the tested configurations. Test configurations included two partial stacks and the full Ares I-X launch vehicle on the Mobile Launcher Platform. This paper provides an overview for companion papers in the Ares I-X Modal Test Session. The requirements flow down, pre-test analysis, constraints and overall test planning are described.

Buehrle, Ralph D.↗

Miniaturized Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer for CubeSat Atmospheric Measurements

To increase the number of single point in-situ measurements of thermosphere and exosphere ion and neutral composition and density, miniaturized instrumentation is in high demand to take advantage of the increasing platform opportunities available in the smallsat/cubesat industry. The INMS (Ion-Neutral Mass Spectrometer) addresses this need by providing simultaneous measurements of both the neutral and ion environment, essentially providing two instruments in one compact model. The 1.3U volume, 570 gram, 1.8W nominal power INMS instrument makes implementation into cubesat designs (3U and above) practical and feasible. With high dynamic range (0.1-500eV), mass dynamic range of 1-40amu, sharp time resolution (0.1s), and mass resolution of MdM16, the INMS instrument addresses the atmospheric science needs that otherwise would have required larger more expensive instrumentation. INMS-v1 (version 1) launched on Exocube (CalPoly 3U cubesat) in 2015 and INMS-v2 (version 2) is scheduled to launch on Dellingr (GSFC 6U cubesat) in 2017. New versions of INMS are currently being developed to increase and add measurement capabilities, while maintaining its smallsat/cubesat form.

science↗

Preliminary Modeling of Accident Tolerant Fuel Concepts under Accident Conditions

The catastrophic events that occurred at the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear power plant in 2011 have led to widespread interest in research of alternative fuels and claddings that are proposed to be accident tolerant. Thus, the United States Department of Energy through its NEAMS (Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation) program has funded an Accident Tolerant Fuel (ATF) High Impact Problem (HIP). The ATF HIP is funded for a three-year period. The purpose of the HIP is to perform research into two potential accident tolerant concepts and provide an in-depth report to the Advanced Fuels Campaign (AFC) describing the behavior of the concepts, both of which are being considered for inclusion in a lead test assembly scheduled for placement into a commercial reactor in 2022. The initial focus of the HIP is on uranium silicide fuel and iron-chromium-aluminum (FeCrAl) alloy cladding. Utilizing the expertise of three national laboratory participants (INL, LANL, and ANL) a comprehensive mulitscale approach to modeling is being used including atomistic modeling, molecular dynamics, rate theory, phase-field, and fuel performance simulations. In this paper, we present simulations of two proposed accident tolerant fuel systems: U3Si2 fuel with Zircaloy-4 cladding, and UO2 fuel with FeCrAl cladding. The simulations investigate the fuel performance response of the proposed ATF systems under Loss of Coolant and Station Blackout conditions using the BISON code. Sensitivity analyses are completed using Sandia National Laboratories’ DAKOTA software to determine which input parameters (e.g., fuel specific heat) have the greatest influence on the output metrics of interest (e.g., fuel centerline temperature). Early results indicate that each concept has significant advantages as well as areas of concern. Further work is required prior to formulating the proposition report for the Advanced Fuels Campaign.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Water Quality Projects Summary for the Mid-Columbia and Cumberland River Systems

Scheduling and operational control of hydropower systems is accompanied with a keen awareness of the management of water use, environmental effects, and policy, especially within the context of strict water rights policy and generation maximization. This is a multi-objective problem for many hydropower systems, including the Cumberland and Mid-Columbia river systems. Though each of these two systems have distinct operational philosophies, hydrologic characteristics, and system dynamics, they both share a responsibility to effectively manage hydropower and the environment, which requires state-of-the art improvements in the approaches and applications for water quality modeling. The Department of Energy and Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed tools for total dissolved gas (TDG) prediction on the Mid-Columbia River and a decision-support system used for hydropower generation and environmental optimization on the Cumberland River. In conjunction with IIHR - Hydroscience & Engineering, The University of Iowa and University of Colorado s Center for Advanced Decision Support for Water and Environmental Systems (CADSWES), ORNL has managed the development of a TDG predictive methodology at seven dams along the Mid-Columbia River and has enabled the ability to utilize this methodology for optimization of operations at these projects with the commercially available software package Riverware. ORNL has also managed the collaboration with Vanderbilt University and Lipscomb University to develop a state-of-the art method for reducing high-fidelity water quality modeling results into surrogate models which can be used effectively within the context of optimization efforts to maximize generation for a reservoir system based on environmental and policy constraints. The novel contribution of these efforts is the ability to predict water quality conditions with simplified methodologies at the same level of accuracy as more complex and resource intensive computing methods. These efforts were designed to incorporate well into existing hydropower and reservoir system scheduling models, with runtimes that are comparable to existing software tools. In addition, the transferability of these tools to assess other systems is enhanced due the use of simplistic and easily attainable values for inputs, straight-forward calibration of predictive equation coefficients, and standardized comparison of traditionally familiar outputs.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Effect of Properties/Injection Schedule on Fuel Spray Mixing

The DOE project for Co-Optimization of Fuels and Engines seeks to define both fuel properties and engine hardware to create cleaner and more fuel-efficient engines. Fuel spray technologies are central to this goal as the spray injection determines the combustible mixtures formed within the engine. Sprays are known to affect bum rate and efficiency, particulate formation and emissions, as well as temperature and engine knock sites. Computational fluid dynamic models must predict complicated interaction between plumes and vaporization to be useful as a design tool for industry. Changes in fuel properties are expected to affect fuel delivery. While Co-Optima fuels may be selected for chemical criteria, such as high octane number rating, an understanding of how the physical properties affect spray performance is necessary to optimize fuel delivery. Many of the selected Co-Optima fuels have properties that are different than standard gasoline, requiring investigations for their performance. A new continuous-flow spray chamber facility has been completed, offering capability to control the pressure and temperature of the gases at engine-relevant conditions at the time of injection as well as a massive increase in data throughput. Direct-injection multi-hole gasoline sprays for different Co-Optima fuels are investigated in this chamber.

02 PETROLEUM↗

DEPLOYING FAST CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN URBAN NETWORKS: AN ACTIVITY-BASED APPROACH

This paper explores an important problem under the domain of network modeling, the optimal configuration of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs) in urban networks considering EV users' daily activities and charging behavior. This study proposes a charging behavior simulation model considering different initial state of charge (SOC), travel distance, availability of home chargers, and the daily schedule of trips for each traveler. The proposed charging behavior simulation model examines the complete chain of trips for EV users as well as the interdependency of trips traveled by each driver. The problem of finding the optimum charging configuration is then formulated as a mixed-integer nonlinear programming problem that considers the dynamics of travel time and travel distance, the interdependency of trips made by each driver, limited range of EVs, remaining battery capacity for recharging, waiting time in queue, and detour to access a charging station. This problem is solved using a metaheuristic approach for a large-scale case network. A series of examples are presented to demonstrate the model efficacy and explore the impact of energy consumption on the final SOC and the optimum charging infrastructure.

Chain of Trips↗

Active flutter suppression using optical output feedback digital controllers

A method for synthesizing digital active flutter suppression controllers using the concept of optimal output feedback is presented. A convergent algorithm is employed to determine constrained control law parameters that minimize an infinite time discrete quadratic performance index. Low order compensator dynamics are included in the control law and the compensator parameters are computed along with the output feedback gain as part of the optimization process. An input noise adjustment procedure is used to improve the stability margins of the digital active flutter controller. Sample rate variation, prefilter pole variation, control structure variation and gain scheduling are discussed. A digital control law which accommodates computation delay can stabilize the wing with reasonable rms performance and adequate stability margins.

Source record↗

Spectroscopic imaging of the thermosphere from the Space Shuttle

The design features, performance characteristics, and intended missions for the Imaging Spectrometric Observatory scheduled to fly on the first Spacelab Shuttle mission in 1983 are described. The instrument comprises an array of five imaging spectrometers covering the spectral range 300-1200 A. The spectrometers operate simultaneously, using CCDs as collector elements. Resolution on the first flight will be limited to 3 A, with coverage to containing the dynamic range from nocturnal signals to the bright earth. A minicomputer in the Spacelab will permit crewmember interaction with the measurements, while data will be telemetered in real-time to a ground station. Initial mission objectives include observations of dayglow, nightglow, and twilightglow over the full wavelength range capability.

Torr, M. R.↗

Software Model Of Software-Development Process

Collection of computer programs constitutes software tool for simulation of medium- to large-scale software-development projects. Necessary to include easily identifiable and more-readily quantifiable characteristics like costs, times, and numbers of errors. Mathematical model incorporating these and other factors of dynamics of software-development process implemented in the Software Life Cycle Simulator (SLICS) computer program. Simulates dynamics of software-development process. In combination with input and output expert software systems and knowledge-based management software system, develops information for use in managing large software-development project. Intended to aid managers in planning, managing, and controlling software-development processes by reducing uncertainties in budgets, required personnel, and schedules.

Lin, Chi Y.↗

Autonomous Navigation of the SSTI/Lewis Spacecraft Using the Global Positioning System (GPS)

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) Flight Dynamics Division (FDD) is pursuing the application of Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to improve the accuracy and economy of spacecraft navigation. High-accuracy autonomous navigation algorithms are being flight qualified in conjunction with GSFC's GPS Attitude Determination Flyer (GADFLY) experiment on the Small Satellite Technology Initiative (SSTI) Lewis spacecraft, which is scheduled for launch in 1997. Preflight performance assessments indicate that these algorithms can provide a real-time total position accuracy of better than 10 meters (1 sigma) and velocity accuracy of better than 0.01 meter per second (1 sigma), with selective availability at typical levels. This accuracy is projected to improve to the 2-meter level if corrections to be provided by the GPS Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) are included.

Hart, R. C.↗

Remote sensing for urban planning

Utility companies are challenged to provide services to a highly dynamic customer base. With factory closures and shifts in employment becoming a routine occurrence, the utility industry must develop new techniques to maintain records and plan for expected growth. BellSouth Telecommunications, the largest of the Bell telephone companies, currently serves over 13 million residences and 2 million commercial customers. Tracking the movement of customers and scheduling the delivery of service are major tasks for BellSouth that require intensive manpower and sophisticated information management techniques. Through NASA's Commercial Remote Sensing Program Office, BellSouth is investigating the utility of remote sensing and geographic information system techniques to forecast residential development. This paper highlights the initial results of this project, which indicate a high correlation between the U.S. Bureau of Census block group statistics and statistics derived from remote sensing data.

Davis, Bruce A.↗

Ares I-X Overview - The First Chapter in the Next Great Adventure

Ares I-X is the first flight of NASA's new Constellation Program. Ares I-X is a development test flight to provide engineering data to inform the design of the Ares I prior to CDR. Ares I will replace the Space Shuttle which is scheduled for 2010 retirement . Ares I-X is an uncrewed, sub-orbital development flight test . Ares I-X will provide opportunity to test ground facilities and operations at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Ares I-X is on track for May 2009 launch date. Objectives include: (1) Demonstrate control of a dynamically similar, integrated Ares I/Orion, using Ares I relevant ascent control algorithms; (2) Perform an in-flight separation/staging event between a Ares I-similar First Stage and a representative Upper Stage; (3) Demonstrate assembly and recovery of a new Ares I-like First Stage element at KSC; (4) Demonstrate First Stage separation sequencing, and quantify First Stage atmospheric entry dynamics, and parachute performance; and (5) Characterize magnitude of integrated vehicle roll torque throughout First Stage flight.

Leahy, Bart↗