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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 757 records · Page 42
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Scale-up Production of Graphene Monoxide for Next-Generation LIB Anodes (AMMTO Final Report)

COnovate, LLC has developed a patented material called graphene monoxide and demonstrated that its unique chemical and crystal structure enables lithium-ion batteries (LIB) with greater specific capacity, safer and faster charging, and better low temperature performance than the industry standard. The current capability gap with COnovate’s technology is to scale up this new active anode material, developing processing technology to commercially relevant levels. This project will develop the means for progressive scale-up to 100g, 1kg, and 10kg levels, incorporating industrial synthesis and processing technologies, and deliver an industrial procedure/batch record draft for use by potential full-scale manufacturers to develop metric-ton production levels. The project goals of 10kg production and industrial procedure for full-scale production are necessary for COnovate’s customers to adequately evaluate and adopt their technology, and to pursue purchase orders for tons of material. MERF will confirm material analytics and performance in half cell tests during scaling and deliver materials to COnovate for QA/QC testing during the iterative scale up efforts. The final product batches will be delivered to COnovate for battery assembly and lifetime testing.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Advanced IFE Target Designs with Next-Generation Laser Technologies

The project has advanced our understanding and established the technology requirements for laser direct drive (LDD), high-gain target designs for the inertial fusion energy (IFE). These designs are based on novel hot-spot ignition concept, dynamic shell formation, and new laser drivers, broadband lasers, that mitigate detrimental effects of various laser–plasma interaction (LPI) processes.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Improvements of Nuclear Data Evaluations for Lead Isotopes in Support of Next Generation Lead-Cooled Fast Systems

The neutron evaluation of the isotopes that comprise natural lead were undertaken as a part of DOE-NEUP Project #19-16739. The goal of the project was to update the neutron cross sections to account for new differential measurements and incorporate the most up-to-date physics. Shortcomings in the lead cross sections was made known by several independent reports. The work performed here repeated the simulation of all the “benchmark” validation systems and concluded that the major issue is the scattering cross sections in the major lead isotopes above 100 keV. Re-evaluation of 206,207,208 Pb included both the resolved resonance region and fast region evaluations of the cross sections. Combined these regions cover energies from thermal to 20 MeV. The most drastic improvement is the resolved resonance region evaluation of 208 Pb which is now extended from 1.0 to 1.5 MeV. Parameterization of these resonances in the R-matrix provides a superior reconstruction of not only the experimental cross section but also the scattering distributions via the Blatt-Biedenharn formalism. Fast region evaluations of the three major isotopes were done to include new inelastic experimental data from the neutron Time-of-Flight facility at CERN. The culmination of all the changes to the cross section is a drastic improvement in the scattering kernel as shown in Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Quasi-Differential scattering measurements and improved prediction of keff for fast integral experiments. Alongside the new cross sections, new nuclear data covariance (uncertainties) have been computed and are included in the evaluation. Little is changed in the magnitude of the uncertainties but the correlations within the covariance display non-trivial changes. The new evaluations of 206,207,208 Pb have been submitted to the National Nuclear Data Center to be included in the ENDF/B-VIII.1 library. While the cross sections have been updated extensively, knowledge and modeling of the cross sections between 1.0 and 3.0 MeV for the isotopes remain a challenge. Most notably is the double differential elastic cross section for 208 Pb and 206 Pb. New quasi-differential measurements for pure samples of these two nuclei would go a long way in reducing compensating errors in the evaluations. Qualitatively, the project has produced a prosperous collaboration between the nuclear data group at RPI with staff scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory, Naval Nuclear Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and Sandia National Laboratories. Quantitatively this is reflected in seven conference presentations, at least one journal submission, and one doctoral thesis.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Phase Field Modeling of Corrosion for Design of Next-Generation Magnesium-Aluminum Vehicle Joints

In this study, WPI and its partners sought to understand galvanic corrosion in Mg-Al friction stir weld (FSW) joints. Unlike fusion welds, FSW is done in the solid state. This limits (but does not eliminate) the formation of brittle Al-Mg intermetallics, resulting in better joint strength and corrosion resistance. This study aimed to understand corrosion behavior of Mg-Al FSW joints by using a Cahn-Hilliard phase field electrochemistry model based on the work of Pongsaksawad et al. Its context challenge problem was an ultra-light door designed by Magna with 6061-Al sheet outer and ZEK100-Mg sheet inner panels, joined by an adhesive and FSW. Unlike most FSW joints, which weld through the softer material into the harder one, the Al sheet’s hem joint around Mg required the FSW tool to through the harder Al into the softer Mg, which was itself a challenge. Despite this challenge, PNNL succeeded in consistently making very strong FSW lap joints, by using a triflute tool and power control. Characterization showed mostly separate Al and Mg regions in the weld, usually with a hook protruding from Al into Mg, which likely contributed to high joint strength. Nanohardness mapping showed higher hardness in thin Mg swirls into the Al nugget, likely due to the intermetallics. The study used the industry standard SAE J2334 Cyclic Corrosion Test (CCT) to simulate corrosion conditions over the life of a vehicle, as well as linear polarization testing and ASTM G71 pitting corrosion testing. Corrosion reactions were: H 2 O + ½O 2 + 2e - → 2OH - at the Al cathode, and either Mg → Mg 2+ + 2e - or Mg + 2OH - → Mg(OH) 2 + 2e - at the Mg anode, with electron transfer through the joint. Mass loss increased with Al section length, supporting the hypothesis that galvanic corrosion in Al-Mg joints is limited by the cathodic reaction. Both pitting corrosion (first anode reaction) and hydroxide film formation (second reaction) were observed. The J2334 CCT test method was slightly modified, adding a chromium solution cleaning step after each week of corrosion testing, in order to remove Mg oxides and hydroxides and accurately measure mass loss over time. That said, FSW joints treated in this way did not did not exhibit significant reduction in lap shear strength of the joints vs. newly welded samples which had not undergone corrosion. Corrosion appeared to consist mainly of pitting in Mg in a way which did not directly affect the bond between the materials where the joints failed. A Cahn-Hilliard phase field model coupled with electrical potential described the electronically mediated galvanic corrosion electrochemical reactions described above in the four-component Al-Mg-H 2 O-(H 2 O+½O 2 ) system. This 2-D model successfully predicted Mg(OH)₂ formation at the anode in some circumstances, and Mg pitting corrosion in others, and showed the correct electric field directions in both cases. The model predicted Mg pit corrosion depth within a factor of two of measured pits.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2024

Simulating long-time evolution of driven many-body systems with next generation quantum computers (Final Report)

This project is focused on performing the best science possible on current generation quantum computers. As such, we have focused on developing techniques that involve robust algorithms that are either insensitive to noise, or are extremely low depth. We also have worked on determining topological properties and employing the robustness of topology to noise to allow for robust quantum computation. The ultimate goal is to be able to do new science on quantum computers that cannot be achieved on classical computers. The main effort of the work we have completed is on time-evolution of quantum systems and robust calculation of properties of systems enabled by being able to perform time evolution.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2024

New Two-Cylinder Prototype Demonstration and Concept Design of a Next Generation Class 3-6 Opposed Piston Engine (Final Report)

The objective of the project is to research, develop, and test an Opposed Piston (OP) engine prototype capable of ≥10% fuel economy improvement over a 2015 baseline diesel engine while meeting prevailing emissions standards and include a cost analysis of the proposed technologies that validates an operating cost payback of less than 2 years. Results: In direct comparison with the baseline Isuzu model, the OP engine exhibited a noteworthy average fuel economy improvement exceeding 12% across five distinct driving cycles, including the Interstate cycle, Congested interstate cycle, GM-city cycle, HWFET cycle, and FTP cycle, with Interstate cycle benefited the most.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2023

Durable and Low-Cost Fractal Structured Multifunctional Coatings for Next-Generation CSP

Fractal coatings on various low-cost and high-temperature metallic substrates such as SS316, SS347, In800H, In740H, In625, Haynes 230, etc. were fabricated employing our patented novel electrodeposition process at various deposition potentials and deposition times, as well as chemical etching. The best combination of the materials and processing conditions were co-optimized for the reliable and repeatable fabrication of the multifunctional coatings. Surface morphologies were examined using SEM and AFM, and fractal characterization was done using a 3D optical surface profiler. Fractal dimension was used to identify successful fabrication and material parameters. The mechanical durability of the coatings was evaluated using several standardized tests, such as sand abrasion (ASTM D968) and adhesion (ASTM D3359), to fully characterize and demonstrate the mechanical durability of the fabricated surfaces. HTF immersion tests on the fractal multifunctional coatings were conducted based on a modification of the ASTM D870, which is established for static water immersion testing. To calculate the corrosion rates and descaled weight loss of the samples subjected to thermal exposure for different time durations (100 h, 300 h, 500 h, and optionally 750 h) to estimate the corrosion rate. While protecting the substrates from corrosion is an important goal, an allied goals is also to examine the post-corrosion temperature stability and properties of the molten salts themselves due to the dissolution of the constituents of the alloys and the corrosion products from the coatings that cause “fouling” of the molten salts. Fouling characteristics of the different molten salt HTFs exposed to coated and uncoated substrates were investigated. Finally, considering a prototype molten salt/sCO2 heat exchanger, cost/performance model is developed to demonstrate that the coatings on low-cost alloys such as stainless steel provide lower levelized cost of heat exchanger compared to high nickel content Ha230.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Towards a Next Generation Search for Time-Reversal Violation Using Optically Addressable Nuclei in Cryogenic Solids (Final Technical Report, September 2018 - August 2023)

Certain rare pear-shaped nuclei have unmatched sensitivity to new kinds of forces between subatomic particles that are not the same when the arrow of time is reversed. Such forces are believed to be responsible for the near absence of antimatter in the observable Universe. These rare isotopes, some for the first time, will be produced in large numbers at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams currently under operating at Michigan State University providing an unprecedented opportunity to probe for new physics. In anticipation, we are using abundant isotopes to develop new techniques to manipulate nuclei embedded inside an optically transparent solid at cryogenic temperatures. Implantation into a solid, such as neon and argon, is potentially an effective way to both efficiently capture and repeatedly probe the small number of rare nuclei, such as radium and protactinium. An optically transparent host medium at cryogenic temperatures would allow for the laser manipulation of the nuclei in a thermally quiet and stable environment for a wide variety of guest species such as polar molecules. In such systems, the nuclei are exposed to extraordinarily large electric fields and magnetic field gradients, which significantly amplifies the measurability of certain time-reversal violating effects. The potential sensitivity of this new approach could be at least a few hundred times greater than the current leading experiment which uses stable mercury atoms. We report on the design considerations and preliminary performance of an instrument used to produce and implant molecules into a frozen argon solid.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Next Generation High-Temperature Optical Fibers

To advance the development of geothermal energy sources, research teams at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and the University of Colorado/Boulder investigated novel techniques for applying metal coatings to optical fibers, and methods to overcome the quantum noise limits of optical fiber-based acoustic sensors.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Next Generation Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Module Development

The overall objective of this project was to develop a transformative Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) building block configuration comprised of multi-stack arrays that can be utilized in large-scale power plants. This transformative design signified the benefits of lower performance degradation coupled with improved reliability, low cost, smaller packaging for easier transport and installation, and improved maintenance and field serviceability characteristics. The project goal was to design and fabricate a scalable hot module for housing an array of SOFC stacks and to demonstrate the characteristics of the module gas distribution, insulation and instrumentation, and DC power take-off. The approach was to validate the design of a stack prototype scalable to megawatt (MW) class systems using FuelCell Energy’s Compact SOFC Architecture (CSA) stacks. The scope of work was intended to design, build, and test a compact and low-cost multi-stack sub-module with flexibility to house CSA stacks and scalable to 350 kW which could ultimately be deployed in construction of MW-class systems.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Sputter deposition of Ta 1 W 1 Au 1 Bi 7 films for next generation hohlraums

Hohlraum simulation predicts a higher x-ray drive from Ta 1 W 1 Au 1 Bi 7 compared with our current Au hohlraum. Here, we study the effect of deposition process parameters including deposition rate, working pressure, target-to-substrate distance, substrate bias, and substrate temperature on the microstructure of Ta1W1Au1Bi7 films deposited by direct current magnetron sputtering onto planar substrates. We found that the substrate temperature has a pronounced effect on the film microstructure. This is attributed to the Bi low melting point (271°C) causing its adatom mobility to be strongly dependent on the substrate temperature. Additionally, we observed phase separation for films deposited with a high substrate bias. These results have important implications for the development of a robust Ta 1 W 1 Au 1 Bi 7 hohlraum fabrication process.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗