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At least 739 records · Page 41
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

First Experience with Liquid Nitrogen Cleaning

Field emission caused by microscopic particulate contamination is a limiting factor for the performance of superconducting RF (SRF) cavities. In an SRF based accelerator, particulates may be transported over the surface of an operational SRF cavity, becoming field emitters and consequentially degrading the performance of the SRF cavity. The most commonly used method for removing particulates from cavity surfaces is high-pressure ultra-pure water rinsing. We are developing a novel high-pressure liquid nitrogen cleaning technique that may possibly enable superior cleaning power and particulate removal from cavities in a cryomodule without taking apart the cryomodule components. This technique provides cleaning mechanisms beyond what are accessible by its high-pressure water rinsing counterpart and leaves no residues on the cleaned surface.

Ruber, R.J.M.Y.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Fundamental Understanding of Cu-zeolite SCR Catalyst Aging Mechanism (CRADA 452)

The CRADA between Cummins and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) will focus on advanced emission control for high-efficiency engines. It will specifically focus on the following three areas: 1. Passive NOx absorbers - The purpose is to develop next generation materials that can be efficiently used to address the cold-operation, as driven by improved engine efficiency. 2. Oxidation of methane and short alkanes – The purpose is to address cold-operation emissions arising from CNG vehicles. 3. Improved understanding of particulates–the purpose is to understand how particulates are formed which will be used to develop strategies to address the tightening regulations and their enforcement for exhaust particulate matter. The first two areas will be based on PNNL’s technical leadership in the area of zeolite-based materials. The third area will have a shorter time scope to leverage the unique SPLAT capabilities at PNNL to help address Cummins’ needs in improving the understanding of particulates.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Quantifying Impacts of Renewable Electricity Deployment on Air Quality and Human Health in Southeast Asia Based on Aims III Scenarios

Exposure to outdoor air pollution is the largest environmental risk factor for death and disease worldwide, associated with millions of cases of excess deaths (mortality) each year. Although there are many pollutants in the air that affect our health, the most important class of pollutants is fine particulate matter, PM 2.5 , which are airborne particles of diameter ≤2.5 micrometers (µm). These particles are small enough to deposit deep in the respiratory system where they can then enter the bloodstream, traveling and causing damage to other bodily systems. Exposure to outdoor (ambient) PM 2.5 has been found to be the most important environmental risk factor for mortality in Southeast Asia, associated with 130,000 - 320,000 excess deaths in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries in 2019. Southeast Asia, especially its mega-cities, but also other areas, has some of the worst air quality in the world. Almost all human activity emits air pollutants. Fine particulate matter is both directly emitted and formed in the atmosphere through chemical reactions, the latter of which requires modeling to predict. Power generation is one of the major sources of air pollutants that lead to elevated concentrations of fine particulate matter, including in Southeast Asia. Fossil fuel combustion for power generation, especially coal but also diesel, is the main source of air pollutant emissions from power generation. While natural gas burns cleaner than coal or diesel, in the quantities combusted for power generation in Southeast Asia, it is also a significant emitter. This study augments the ASEAN Interconnection Masterplan Study III (AIMS III) by quantifying changes to air quality and human health that result from its renewable integration and transmission interconnection scenarios. Performing this analysis requires translation of the changes in projected generation from different power sector fuel sources in the AIMS III scenarios to changes in air pollutant emissions, developing what's known as an emissions inventory for each scenario and year evaluated. We then use for the first time a new global, reduced-complexity air quality model to transform the changes in emissions to changes in air pollutant concentration of the deadliest air pollutant for human health, fine particulate matter (or PM 2.5 ). The air quality model, Global InMAP, then utilizes the location of human population in ASEAN countries to calculate exposure to PM 2.5 concentration changes and translates that to estimates of excess mortality attributable to the AIMS III scenarios.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Advanced Emission Control for High-Efficiency Engines

The CRADA between Cummins and Battelle will focus on: advanced emission control for high-efficiency engines. It will specifically focus on the following three areas: 1. Passive NOx absorbers - The purpose is to develop next generation materials that can be efficiently used to address the cold-operation, as driven by improved engine efficiency. 2. Oxidation of methane and short alkanes – The purpose is to address cold-operation emissions arising from CNG vehicles. 3. Improved understanding of particulates – The purpose is to understand how particulates are formed which will be used to develop strategies to address the tightening regulations and their enforcement for exhaust particulate matter. The first two areas will be based on PNNL’s technical leadership in the area of zeolite-based materials. The third area will have a shorter time scope to leverage the unique SPLAT capabilities at PNNL to help address Cummins’ needs in improving the understanding of particulates

02 PETROLEUM↗
DOE OSTI2021

Slipstream Testing of Amine-Based Solvents at a Low-Rank Coal-Fired Power Plant

Conference presentation for 38th Annual International Pittsburgh Coal Conference, Virtual, September 20–23, 2021. To better assess mitigation strategies for aerosol reduction to extend solvent life, the University of North Dakota Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) installed a pilot-scale CO 2 absorption system at a lignite-fired plant in central North Dakota. The pilot-scale system was operated using both commercial KS-1™ solvent and advanced KS-21™ solvent provided by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI). MHI’s proprietary amine emission reduction unit (AERU™) technology was installed downstream of the absorber columns to reduce solvent losses by recovering amines at the system outlet. Fine particulate loading was measured throughout the capture system with and without a WESP operating and using both solvents. Captured particulate was brought back to the EERC to be analyzed for chemical composition and to be examined by scanning electron microscopy for particulate structure. These variables were then correlated to performance of particulate control devices in reducing aerosol formation and solvent losses.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2020

Dispersible Colloid Facilitated Release of Organic Carbon From Two Contrasting Riparian Sediments

In aqueous systems, including groundwater, nano-colloids (1–100 nm diameter) and small colloids (<450 nm diameter) provide a vast store of surfaces to which organic carbon (OC) can sorb, precluding its normal bioavailability. Because nanomaterials are ubiquitous and abundant throughout Earth systems, it is reasonable that they would play a significant role in biogeochemical cycles. As such, mineral nano-colloids (MNC) and small colloids, formed through mineral weathering and precipitation processes, are both an unaccounted-for reservoir and unquantified vector for transport of OC and nutrients and contaminants within watersheds. Water extractions and leaching experiments were conducted under (1) aerobic (ambient) and (2) anaerobic (environmental chamber) conditions for each of two contrasting riparian sediments from (1) Columbia River, Washington and (2) Tims Branch, South Carolina. Water dispersible colloid-adsorbed OC was as high as 48% of OC for Tims Branch anaerobic batch water extraction and as low as 0% for Columbia River aerobic batch water extractions. Anaerobic leaching from column experiments yielded higher colloid and OC release rates. Transmission electron microscopy with electron dispersive spectroscopy mapping revealed organic carbon associated with aggregations of nano-particulate silicate minerals and Mossbauer identified nano-particulate goethite. This exploratory study demonstrates that mineral facilitated release of OC in riparian sediments is both significant and variable between locations.

Rod, Kenton A.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Persistent Elevated Soot Emissions Induced by Clustered Stochastic Preignition Events

Stochastic Preignition (SPI) is an abnormal combustion phenomenon that can occur in spark-ignition engines particularly under high-load operation. SPI is characterized by uncontrolled initiation of combustion prior to spark discharge, an abnormal combustion process that can lead to severe knock events and significant engine damage. SPI has been associated with fuel properties, lubricant composition, and engine design and operation. Here, in this work, a single-cylinder test engine with a dry-sump oil system was utilized to study the SPI response of E10 and E25 fuels with a range of Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP). An automated test procedure was employed, consisting of ten square-waved load profile segments, with each segment composed of 5 min of low-load operation followed by 25 min of sustained high-load operation. These tests were replicated across multiple days of testing including a lubricant triple flush between tests, and an online Fuel in Oil diagnostic measurement. Exhaust particulate emissions were continuously measured by an AVL microsoot sensor (MSS). Elevated particulate matter emissions were observed to occur concurrently with SPI events as blooms of soot. Particularly after clustered events (i.e., multiple SPI cycles occurring within 10 consecutive engine cycles), high soot emissions were observed to persist over several days of sequential operation despite daily lubricant changes, a complete warm-up procedure, and sustained low-load operation between test segments. This result implies that the particulate emissions trends may be dominated by deposit-based effects, where higher load operation is needed to alter deposition and formation processes. The observed soot blooms were also found to correspond to a reduction in the engine fueling and the fuel engine oil dilution rate despite the engine exhaust remaining at stoichiometric exhaust operation. These observations suggest that post-SPI events, pathways for lubricant migration and consumption into the combustion chamber may occur until these pathways are closed from deposit formation or ring dynamics during extended operation. These observed sooting propensity persisted with all fuels tests, but a linear correlation was observed between the summation of soot and particulate matter index (PMI) value for each fuel as well as SPI events, proving that PMI is a crucial fuel property for reducing SPI.

Splitter, Derek [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (OR↗
DOE OSTI2025

Burn severity and vegetation type control phosphorus concentration, molecular composition, and mobilization

Shifting phosphorus (P) dynamics after wildfires can have cascading impacts from terrestrial to aquatic environments. However, it is unclear whether shifts in P composition or P concentration are responsible for changes in P dynamics post-fire. We used laboratory leaching experiments of Douglas fir forest and sagebrush shrubland chars to examine how the potential mobility of P compounds is influenced by different burn severities. Burning produced a 6.9- and 29-fold increase in particulate P mobilization but a 3.8- and 30.5-fold decrease in aqueous P released for Douglas fir forest and sagebrush shrubland, respectively. The mechanisms driving particulate- and dissolved-phase P compound mobilization were contrasting. Phosphorus compound mobilization in the particulate phase was controlled by solid char total P concentrations, while the aqueous phase was driven by solubility changes of molecular species. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) on the solid chars indicated that organic orthophosphate monoester and diester species were thermally mineralized to inorganic P moieties with burning in both vegetation types, which decreases P solubility. This coincided with the production of calcium- and magnesium-bound inorganic P compounds. With increasing burn severity there were systematic shifts in P concentration and composition – higher-severity chars mobilized P compounds in the particulate phase, although the magnitude of change was vegetation-specific. Our results indicate a post-fire transformation to both the composition of the solid charred material and how P compounds are mobilized, which may influence its environmental cycling and fate.

31P solution-state NMR↗
NASA NTRS1973

Studies of the inner shelf and coastal sedimentation environment of the Beaufort Sea from ERTS-1

The author has identified the following significant results. The particulate transport processes involved in the movement of surficial waters were examined using secchi disc readings, light attenuation coefficients, and particulate weights from filtration. Observations gathered during the summers of 1971 and 1972 indicate a remarkable difference in particulate matter and turbidity between the two years. ERTS-1 imagery during August 1972 showed turbid water along the northern Alaska coast. The uniformity of distribution of the turbid water and the fact that the river discharge is low at this period suggest that the turbidity is related to causes other than river effluent. Studies indicate that wave action is a more significant factor influencing particulate transport than believed heretofore. The boundary between the essentially immobile shorefast ice and the moving pack ice has been plotted from several ERTS-1 images and found to occur fairly consistently along the 20 meter contour. Considering the vast difference in the amount of ice movement shoreward and seaward of this boundary, ice-bottom action should also be different on either side of this boundary and for that matter at the shear zone that develops along the boundary.

Reimnitz, E.↗
NASA NTRS1975

CARETS: A prototype regional environmental information system. Volume 7: Land use information and air quality planning

The pilot national land use information system developed by the U.S. Geological Survey in the Central Atlantic Regional Ecological Test Site project has provided an improved technique for estimating emissions, diffusion, and impact patterns of sulfur dioxide (S0 2 ) and particulate matter. Implementation of plans to control air quality requires land use information, which, until this time, has been inadequate. The pilot system, however, provided data for updating information on the sources of point and area emissions of S0 2 and particulate matter affecting the Norfolk--Portsmouth area of Virginia for the 1971-72 winter (Dec.-Jan.-Feb.) and the annual 1972 period, and for a future annual period--1985. This emission information is used as input to the Air Quality Display Model of the Environmental Protection Agency to obtain diffusion and impact patterns for the three periods previously mentioned. The results are: (1) During the 1971-72 winter, estimated SO 2 amounts over an area with a SW-NE-axis in the central section of Norfolk exceeded both primary and secondary levels; (2) future annual levels of SO 2 , estimated by anticipated residential development and point-source changes, are not expected to cause serious deterioration of the region's present air quality; and (3) for the 1971-72 winter and annual 1972 period the diffusion results showed that both primary and secondary standards for particulate matter are regularly exceeded in central Norfolk and Portsmouth. In additions on the bas is of current control programs, the 1985 levels of particulate matter are expected to exceed the presently established secondary air quality standards throughout central Norfolk and Portsmouth and in certain areas of Virginia Beach. The land use information can be used to estimate emissions for inputs to diffusion models and to interpret the implications of diffusion patterns for: (1) Implementing various control strategies (2) selecting sites of air sampling stations, and (3) predicting the effects that proposed changes in land use might have on emission patterns and air quality.

Remote sensing↗
NASA NTRS1979

Analysis of suspended solids by single-particle scattering

Light scattering by individual particulates is used in a multiple-detector system to categorize the composition of suspended solids in terms of broad particulate categories. The scattering signatures of red clay and taconite tailings, the two primary particulate contaminants in western Lake Superior, along with two types of asbestiform fibers, amphibole and chrysolite, were studied in detail. A method was developed to predict the concentration of asbestiform fibers in filtration plant samples for which electron microscope analysis was done concurrently. Fiber levels as low as 50,000 fibers/liter were optically detectable. The method has application in optical categorization of samples for remote sensing purposes and offers a fast, inexpensive means for analyzing water samples from filtration plants for specific particulate contaminants.

Diehl, S. R.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Fuel economy and exhaust emissions characteristics of diesel vehicles: Test results of a prototype Fiat 131 NA 2.4 liter automobile

The vehicle was tested on a chassis dynamometer over selected drive cycles and steady-state conditions. Two fuels were used, a U.S. no. 2 diesel and a European diesel fuel. The vehicle was tested with retarded timing and with and without an oxidation catalyst. Particulate emission rates were calculated from dilution tunnel measurements and large volume particulate samples were collected for biological and chemical analysis. It was determined that while the catalyst was generally effective in reducing hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide levels, it was also a factor in increasing particulate emissions. Increased particulate emission rates were particularly evident when the vehicle was operated on the European fuel which has a high sulfur content.

Quayle, S. S.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Aspects of the mechanisms of smoke generation by burning materials

An investigation of smoke generation during the burning of natural and synthetic solid materials (relevant to fire safety problems), under simulated fire conditions, is presented. Smoke formation mechanisms, including flaming and nonflaming combustion, are reviewed, and the complex physical, chemical, and electrical processes, important in smoke particulate production, are identified. With reference to the smoke formation mechanisms, measured experimental data are discussed, and include effects of ventilation gas temperature, dependence on material composition, and chemical analysis of smoke particulates. Significant differences in smoke characteristics are observed between flaming and nonflaming conditions, which is attributed to specific differences in controlling mechanisms and resultant ways leading to particulate formation. The effects of polymer substrate properties and effects of additives for a given substrate on smoke properties are also discussed in terms of basic processes. It is shown that many of the measured trends can be interpreted by considering postulated mechanisms of particulate formation.

Bankston, C. P.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Concentration of hydrocarbons associated with particles in the shelf waters adjacent to the entrance of Chesapeake Bay

Particulate hydrocarbon concentrations were measured in 94 water samples. The concentrations ranged from below the detection limit ( 0.7 micro-G/L) to 32 micro-g/l. The mean for all samples was 5.6 micro-g/l. Particulate hydrocarbon concentrations are higher in the Bay mouth and lower in the shelf waters adjacent to the entrance of Chesapeake Bay. No coherent particulate hydrocarbon distribution is seen with depth in the water column. The Bay is postulated as one of the possible chronic sources of particulate hydrocarbons for the adjacent shelf waters.

Wade, T. L.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Fumigation of Alcohol in a Light Duty Automotive Diesel Engine

A light-duty automotive Diesel engine was fumigated with methanol in amounts up to 35% and 50% of the total fuel energy respectively in order to determine the effect of alcohol fumigation on engine performance at various operating conditons. Engine fuel efficiency, emissions, smoke, and the occurrence of severe knock were the parameters used to evaluate performance. Raw exhaust particulate and its soluble organic extract were screened for biological activity using the Ames Salmonella typhimurium assay. Results are given for a test matrix made up of twelve steady-state operating conditions. For all conditions except the 1/4 rack (light load) condition, modest thermal efficiency gains were noted upon ethanol fumigation. Methanol showed the same increase at 3/4 and full rack (high load) conditions. However, engine roughness or the occurrence of severe knock limited the maximum amount of alcohol that could be fumigated. Brake specific nitrogen oxide concentrations were found to decrease for all ethanol conditions tested. Oxides of nitrogen emissions, on a volume basis, decreased for all alcohol conditions tested. Based on the limited particulate data analyzed, it appears that ethanol fumigation, like methanol fumigation, while lowering the mass of particulated emitted, does enhance the biological activity of that particulate.

Broukhiyan, E. M. H.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Aluminum chloride formation on Space Shuttle aluminum oxide

Samples of particulates collected from the exhaust of Space Shuttle launches STS-1, -4, -5, -6, and -7 were analyzed. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffractometry of these samples indicated that the particulates were spherical and predominantly composed of aluminum oxide. The water-soluble weight fraction, pH, acid-soluble weight fraction, and insoluble weight fraction were determined for each sample. Water-soluble weight fractions averaged about 7 percent of the total sample weight, were generally very acidic, and contained significantly elevated concentrations of chloride and aluminum (III) ion. The high concentrations of soluble aluminum (III) and chloride ions observed suggested that aluminum chlorides and/or oxychlorides had formed on the surface of the alumina particulates. More than 72 percent by weight of each sample was insoluble in either water or strong mineral acid, and was identified as alpha-Al2O3. The results from these analyses suggest that the surface of Space Shuttle exhaust alumina particulates will be highly acidic and heavily chlorided, and that a substantial amount of the surface chloride may be chemically associated with aluminum (III) ions rather than just physically adsorbed as HCl.

Cofer, W. R., III↗
NASA NTRS1990

Evaluation of several micromechanics models for discontinuously reinforced metal matrix composites

A systematic experimental evaluation of whisker and particulate reinforced aluminum matrix composites was conducted to assess the variation in tensile properties with reinforcement type, volume fraction, and specimen thickness. Each material was evaluated in three thicknesses, 1.8, 3.18, and 6.35 mm, to determine the size, distribution, and orientation of the reinforcements. This information was used to evaluate several micromechanical models that predict composite moduli. The longitudinal and transverse moduli were predicted for reinforced aluminum. The Paul model, the Cox model and the Halpin-Tsai model were evaluated. The Paul model gave a good upper bound prediction for the particulate reinforced composites but under predicted whisker reinforced composite moduli. The Cox model gave good moduli predictions for the whisker reinforcement, but was too low for the particulate. The Halpin-Tsai model gave good results for both whisker and particulate reinforced composites. An approach using a trigonometric projection of whisker length to predict the fiber contribution to the modulus in the longitudinal and transverse directions was compared to the more conventional lamination theory approach.

Johnson, W. Steven↗
NASA NTRS1990

Space Shuttle externally induced environment compared with Skylab's natural environment

Electret measurements obtained of the particulate contamination environment within the Space Shuttle Orbiter's cargo bay are presently compared with ground measurements of the particulates emitted by the Shuttle's SRBs, as well as with the expected natural particulate environment as measured by Skylab. Chemical analysis is shown to reveal the difference between natural and anthropogenic space debris; the most probable primary source of the Space Shuttle's particulate environment is the SRB exhaust.

Susko, Michael↗