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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
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Flow Boiling and Condensation Experiment (FBCE): Summary of Findings for Flow Boiling based on Completed ISS Experiments

Since 2011, researchers from Purdue University and NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) have been collaborating to investigate the effects of gravity on several aspects of flow boiling and flow condensation. This massive research endeavor, termed the Flow Boiling and Condensation Experiment (FBCE), has culminated in development of NASA’s largest and most complex facility for investigation of two-phase fluid physics onboard the ISS. FBCE consists of two separate studies: flow boiling, using the Flow Boiling Module (FBM), and flow condensation, using the Condensation Module for Heat Transfer Measurements (CM-HT); this presentation concerns the FBM portion of FBCE. Fitted with FBM, FBCE was launched to the ISS in August 2021 and experiments were successfully performed starting in February 2022 to amass a large microgravity-flow-boiling database supported by extensive visualization of interfacial behavior using high-speed video. Based on FBCE experiments performed previously in Earth gravity and parabolic flight, along with the new ISS data, several empirical correlations, theoretical models, and CFD models have been developed, enabling the prediction of crucial flow boiling parameters, including heat transfer coefficient and critical heat flux (CHF). These predictive tools, which will be summarized in this presentation, are expected to serve as foundation for design of future space systems involving flow boiling.

Two-phase flow and phase transition↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Flow Boiling and Condensation Experiment (FBCE): Latest Findings from the Summary ISS Experiments

Since 2011, researchers from Purdue University and NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) have been collaborating to investigate the effects of gravity on several aspects of flow boiling and flow condensation. This massive research endeavor, termed the Flow Boiling and Condensation Experiment (FBCE), has culminated in development of NASA’s largest and most complex facility for investigation of two-phase fluid physics onboard the ISS. FBCE consists of two separate studies: flow boiling, using the Flow Boiling Module (FBM), and flow condensation, using the Condensation Module for Heat Transfer Measurements (CM-HT); the FBM experiments have already been completed while the condensation experiments began in 2024. This presentation will summarize mostly new results from the flow boiling experiments, with a focus on analysis of pressure drop and two-phase flow instabilities in microgravity using both experimental data and video records from the ISS experiments, as well as development of machine learning models. These new predictive tools are part of the arsenal of predictive methods developed by the Purdue-Glenn team for design of future space systems.

Microgravity↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Technology Demonstrator of an Americium-Fuelled Radioisotope Stirling Generator

Americium-241 is used as the fuel of choice in European Radioisotope Power Systems. The University of Leicester have developed a number of systems using this fuel type, including a 200 Wth heat source. To maximise the electrical output that can be generated from the heat source, the University of Leicester and NASA Glenn Research Center have collaborated on a radioisotope Stirling generator concept, building on the long heritage of dynamic power conversion developments at NASA GRC. Here we present the design of a technology demonstrator of the Americium-fuelled Radioisotope Stirling Generator (Am-RSG).

Americium-241↗
DOE OSTI2020

Ubiquitous Traffic Volume Estimation through Machine-Learning Procedure

Traffic volume data is one of the most important metrics for accurate assessment of the performance of a transportation system. Quality volume data is required to effectively assess extent of delay and congestion, detect real-time perturbations to the network, and understand traffic patterns during major weather events. Traffic volume on freeways are typically collected through continuous count stations installed by state DOTs, while there is lack of traffic volume observability on off-freeway roads. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), in Collaboration with the I-95 Corridor Coalition and the University of Maryland, extended its research into estimating volumes anywhere anytime from industry probe based data for off-freeway roads. NREL combined vehicle probe count data with several other data sets (speed, whether, roadway geometry, time-of-day, day-of-week, etc.) to estimate hourly volumes as well as AADTs. The research validated and demonstrated the machine learning model, namely XGBoost, using data collected from Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Tennessee.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2024

Hydrogen Component Reliability Database (HyCReD)

The Hydrogen Component Reliability Database (HyCReD) is a collaborative project between the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the University of Maryland, and hydrogen stakeholders to improve safety reliability for hydrogen facilities by integrating risk reduction methodologies and component reliability data taxonomies that support hydrogen infrastructure failure rate analysis.

availability↗
DOE OSTI2026

Online Alpha Monitoring of High Cs-137 Hanford and SRS High Level Waste with Tensioned Metastable Fluid Detectors

The Department of Energy’s Hanford and Savannah River Sites maintain millions of gallons of caustic supernate and salt high activity waste in their high-level waste (HLW) tank farm inventories. The Savannah River Site is currently treating this waste with a calixarene-based solvent extraction of Cs-137 to reduce these inventories. Hanford is employing an at-tank crystalline silico titanate (CST) based solid phase extraction methodology to reduce their liquid HLW inventories. Due to the high solubility of Cs-137 and the relative insolubility of the actinides in these caustic waste forms, the beta to alpha radioactivity ratio can often exceed six orders of magnitude in the feed solutions to these treatment processes. This unique characteristic leads to significant technical challenges in making rapid gross alpha measurements in the presence of the overwhelming beta, gamma, as well as dissolved sodium salt in these HLW matrices. Conventional radioanalytical techniques, such as liquid scintillation analysis or gas flow proportional counting require significant radiochemistry preparation prior to the radiometric measurements for gross alpha activity. These required pretreatments render these technologies untenable for rapid quantification of gross alpha activity that could be required to support on or at-line measurements ensuring a waste stream will meet regulatory requirements. The radiation measurement properties of Tensioned Metastable Fluid Detectors (TMFDs) have been studied by Purdue University’s Taleyarkhan research group for well over a decade. Fluids tensioned to the appropriate degree will rupture when struck by radiation, resulting in a measurable cavitation event. The negative pressure generating this tension can be adjusted by centrifugal rotation or by acoustic means in such a way that these cavitation events can be generated from alpha radiation but will not be generated by beta or gamma radiation. Purdue University and the Savannah River National Laboratory are currently collaborating to develop a gamma/beta blind, spectroscopic alpha measurement system based on the Tensioned Metastable Fluid Detector technology to provide a potential solution for performing rapid gross alpha measurements on these high gamma/beta sample matrices. Measurements using the Indirect Drive Acoustically Tensioned Metastable Fluid Detectors developed as part of this collaboration were performed with an alpha emitting radionuclide. Successful determination of gross alpha activity was observed, indicating a potential pathway for rapid gross alpha measurements in remote-handled shielded cells or in process situations requiring online alpha monitoring. Measurements using this system have been conducted on high beta activity solutions, demonstrating the beta blind capability of this system. Measurements are currently underway to test the system’s capability to measure gross alpha activity on Savannah River Site high level waste high Cs-137 samples that have been measured by the SRNL radiochemistry team. This work was supported by the DOE EM Technology Development program.

DiPrete, David [Savannah River National Laboratory↗
DOE OSTI2024

In-Situ Blade Strain Measurements and Fatigue Analysis of a Cross-Flow Turbine Operating in a Tidal Flow

Cross-flow turbines (CFTs) are inherently unsteady devices with regards to operating principle and loading. By improving our understanding of the dynamic loading on these turbines, we hope to better inform CFT design, improve survivability, and reduce overall costs. The University of New Hampshire (UNH) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) collaborated on a project to instrument and test a four-bladed New Energy Corp. vertical axis cross-flow turbine in a real tidal flow. One blade from the 3.2 m diameter x 1.7 m height turbine was instrumented with eight full-bridge strain gauges along the span of the blade. The turbine was then deployed at the UNH-Atlantic Marine Energy Center (AMEC) Tidal Energy Test Site in Portsmouth, NH. Time-synchronized measurements of blade strain, inflow, thrust, rotational speed, and electrical output were obtained to characterize blade loading under various conditions. The blade strain was examined to assess the dynamic loading and conduct a fatigue analysis on the device.

blade strain↗
NASA NTRS1997

The World Wide Web as a Medium of Instruction: What Works and What Doesn't

A conference was held on March 18-20, 1997 to investigate the lessons learned by the Aeronautics Cooperative Agreement Projects with regard to the most effective strategies for developing instruction for the World Wide Web. The conference was a collaboration among the NASA Aeronautics and Space Transportation Technology Centers (Ames, Dryden, Langley, and Lewis), NASA Headquarters, the University of Idaho and The Pennsylvania State University. The conference consisted of presentations by the Aeronautics Cooperative Agreement Teams, the University of Idaho, and working sessions in which the participants addressed teacher training and support, technology, evaluation and pedagogy. The conference was also undertaken as part of the Dryden Learning Technologies Project which is a collaboration between the Dryden Education Office and The Pennsylvania State University. The DFRC Learning Technology Project goals relevant to the conference are as follows: conducting an analysis of current teacher needs, classroom infrastructure and exemplary instructional World Wide Web sites, and developing models for Web-enhanced learning environments that optimize teaching practices and student learning.

McCarthy, Marianne↗
NASA NTRS2003

Toward the Development of Group III-V Photodetectors and Imaging Arrays

A collaboration between researchers at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) (Code 718.1) and the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) on the development of gallium nitride (GaN) based photodetectors has been in existence since July 1994. This collaboration, based on APL undertaking the material growth and GSFC undertaking the device processing, has led to discrete GaN photoconductive detectors with superior characteristics to those of similar devices reported in the literature and, more recently, to the development of state-of-the art 256x256 imaging arrays with the pixels indium bump-bonded to a silicon readout circuit (RIOC). The object of this proposal is to continue the collaboration for the period 1998-2002 by outlining a program of work at the APL on the metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) growth of GaN and related materials for UV detector applications. In particular, emphasis will be placed on the optimization of growth on 2 in diameter substrates, on the growth of In(sub x)Ga(1-x)N and Al(sub x)Ga(1-x)N alloy structures to produce devices with a wider range of tailored cut-off wavelengths, and on the growth of pn-junction structures for photovoltaic devices.

Wickenden, Dennis K.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Open Energy Data Initiative (OEDI) FY22-24 (Final Technical Report)

Final technical report for the Open Energy Data Initiative (OEDI) project covering fiscal years FY22 through FY24. The DOE Open Energy Data Initiative (OEDI) is a partnership between the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and major cloud providers including Amazon, Microsoft, and Google to provide universal access to big data in the cloud. At the heart of OEDI is a centralized repository of high-value energy research datasets aggregated from the U.S. Department of Energy's Program Offices, National Laboratories and other collaborators. It aggregates smaller, domain-specific repositories, allows direct data submissions, and includes support for big data through its energy data lakes. OEDI's data lakes make high-value data universally accessible and help researchers, collaborators and the general public overcome many of the obstacles to accessing and using big data.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Non-catalytic pyrolysis of associated gas to zero CO 2 hydrogen and high value carbon black

The overall objective of this work is to perform a pre-Front End Engineering Design (pre-FEED) study of the conversion of associated gas produced at an active oil pad of a Bakken oil field producer, to high value carbon black and hydrogen using the Microwave Plasma Pyrolysis of Associated Gas (MPP-AG) process developed by H Quest Vanguard, Inc (HQV). The University of North Dakota’s Center for Process Engineering Research (CPER) collaborated with HQV to complete a design and techno-economic analysis for the MPP-AG deployed at an active Bakken well site flaring an average of 54,000 standard cubic feet per day of AG. The proposed design consists of: • A Microwave Pyrolysis Unit (MPU) which consists of H Quest’s proprietary MPP technology • A patent-pending Gas Conditioning Unit (GCU) designed by the University of North Dakota to condition intermittent and variable flow gas prior to pyrolysis. • An auxiliary unit running on the associated gas to power the GCU and MPU in an “island mode” configuration.

03 NATURAL GAS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Mechanical and Light Activation of Materials for Chemical Production

Abstract Mechanical expansion and contraction of pores within photosynthetic organisms regulate a series of processes that are necessary to manage light absorption, control gas exchange, and regulate water loss. These pores, known as stoma, allow the plant to maximize photosynthetic output depending on environmental conditions such as light intensity, humidity, and temperature by actively changing the size of the stomal opening. Despite advances in artificial photosynthetic systems, little is known about the effect of such mechanical actuation in synthetic materials where chemical reactions occur. It is reported here on a hybrid hydrogel that combines light‐activated supramolecular polymers for superoxide production with thermal mechanical actuation of a covalent polymer. Superoxide production is important in organic synthesis and environmental remediation, and is a potential precursor to hydrogen peroxide liquid fuel. It is shown that the closing of pores in the hybrid hydrogel results in a substantial decrease in photocatalysis, but cycles of swollen and contracted states enhance photocatalysis. The observations motivate the development of biomimetic photosynthetic materials that integrate large scale motion and chemical reactions.

Đorđević, Luka [Department of Chemical Sciences Un↗
DOE OSTI2020

Strangely attractive: Collaboration and feedback in the field of molecular magnetism

The fluid synergy between experimentalists and theoreticians has, for decades, led to a deeper understanding of the processes that govern single-molecule magnets. This approach has allowed for the establishment of proven design criteria for the control of magnetic properties through molecular architecture and the development of new magnetic measurement techniques and innovative computational methodologies. Here, we give an account of the experimental and theoretical joint endeavor carried out as part of the synthesis group led by David Mills and the computational/theoretical team led by Nicholas Chilton, together with colleagues in synthetic f-element chemistry and magnetism at the University of Manchester. In addition, we provide a personal perspective on collaborative work in molecular magnetism and how such collaborations are essential for advancing the field further.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

Seasonal variations of the atmospheric muon neutrino spectrum measured with IceCube

This study presents an analysis of seasonal variations in the atmospheric muon neutrino flux, using 11.3 years of data from the IceCube Neutrino Observatory. By leveraging a novel spectral unfolding method, we explore the energy range from 125 GeV to 10 TeV for zenith angles from 90° to 110°, corresponding to the Antarctic atmosphere. Our findings reveal that the differential measurement of the amplitudes of the seasonal variation is consistent with an energy-dependent decrease reaching (-4.5 ± 1.2)% during Austral winter and increase to (+ 3.9 ± 1.3)% during Austral summer relative to the annual average at 10 TeV. While the unfolded flux exceeds the model predictions by up to 30%, the differential measurement of the seasonal to annual average flux remains unaffected. The measured seasonal variations of the muon neutrino spectrum are consistent with theoretical predictions using the MCEq code and the NRLMSISE-00 atmospheric model.

Astroparticle Physics and High-Energy Cosmic Pheno↗
NASA NTRS2022

A Broadband X-ray Imaging Spectroscopy in the 2030s: The FORCE Mission

We present the Focusing on Relativistic universe and Cosmic Evolution (FORCE) mission, the product of a JAXA/NASA collaboration. The FORCE mission will achieve 10 times higher sensitivity in the hard X-ray band in comparison to any previous hard X-ray mission. FORCE aims to be launched in the early 2030s, as a perfect hard X-ray complement to Athena. FORCE provides broadband (1-79 keV) X-ray imaging spectroscopy with high angular resolution (<15"). FORCE will be the most powerful X-ray probe for discovering obscured/hidden black holes and studying high energy particle acceleration in our Universe.

Ann H Cardiff↗
NASA NTRS1999

Radiation Effects: Core Project

The risks to personnel in space from the naturally occurring radiations are generally considered to be one of the most serious limitations to human space missions, as noted in two recent reports of the National Research Council/National Academy of Sciences. The Core Project of the Radiation Effects Team for the National Space Biomedical Research Institute is the consequences of radiations in space in order to develop countermeasure, both physical and pharmaceutical, to reduce the risks of cancer and other diseases associated with such exposures. During interplanetary missions, personnel in space will be exposed to galactic cosmic rays, including high-energy protons and energetic ions with atomic masses of iron or higher. In addition, solar events will produce radiation fields of high intensity for short but irregular durations. The level of intensity of these radiations is considerably higher than that on Earth's surface, and the biological risks to astronauts is consequently increased, including increased risks of carcinogenesis and other diseases. This group is examining the risk of cancers resulting from low-dose, low-dose rate exposures of model systems to photons, protons, and iron by using ground-based accelerators which are capable of producing beams of protons, iron, and other heavy ions at energies comparable to those encountered in space. They have begun the first series of experiments using a 1-GeV iron beam at the Brookhaven National Laboratory and 250-MeV protons at Loma Linda University Medical Center's proton synchrotron facility. As part of these studies, this group will be investigating the potential for the pharmaceutical, Tamoxifen, to reduce the risk of breast cancer in astronauts exposed to the level of doses and particle types expected in space. Theoretical studies are being carried out in a collaboration between scientists at NASA's Johnson Space Center and Johns Hopkins University in parallel with the experimental program have provided methods and predictions which are being used to assess the levels of risks to be encountered and to evaluate appropriate strategies for countermeasures. Although the work in this project is primarily directed toward problems associated with space travel, the problem of protracted exposures to low-levels of radiation is one of national interest in our energy and defense programs, and the results may suggest new paradigms for addressing such risks.

Dicello, John F.↗
DOE OSTI2024

China-US Theory Institute for Physics of Exotic Nuclei

The China-US Theory Institute for Physics of Exotic Nuclei (CUSTIPEN) was funded by DOE during May 1, 2013-April 30, 2023. The grant was managed by Texas A&M University-Commerce under the guidance of the CUSTIPEN Governing Board consists of physicists from Michigan State University, Florida State University, and Texas A&M University-Commerce. Its main goal was to support US-based physicists to visit their collaborators in China to work on projects supporting the science goals of DOE's national Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) built on the campus of Michigan State University. The project has achieved successfully its scientific goals and mission.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Leading University Students to the Edge of Space

For over 16 years, the Louisiana Space Grant Consortium (LaSPACE), the NASA Balloon Program Office (BPO), and the NASA Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility (CSBF) have collaborated in a series of high altitude balloon-based programs involving hands-on authentic learning experiences that expose university students and other participants to technical skills, teamwork dynamics, and effective communication methods. Such programs go beyond what is possible to achieve in a normal classroom and help prepare future engineers and scientists for a successful aerospace workforce career. In our collaborative effort, LaSPACE has focused on the program content and student mentoring while NASA BPO and CSBF provide balloon flight support and operations. The entry-level Louisiana Aerospace Catalyst Experiences for Students (LaACES) builds students’ skills in basic electronics, sensor interfacing, real-time programming, mechanical development, and project management. These skills are then applied to the design, development, fabrication, and flight of a small (∼500 gram) balloon payload. Finally, the payloads are flight-tested to an altitude of ∼30 km using a 2 kg latex sounding balloon. The LaACES program includes a set of lectures, activities, and Arduino Mega based electronic kits that are used for skill building and as a core control system for the student payload. The more advanced High Altitude Student Platform (HASP) is designed to carry ∼twelve 3 to 20 kg student payloads to an altitude of about 36 kilometers with flight durations of 10 to 20 hours using a ∼311,500 cubic meter, zero pressure balloon. HASP provides all student payloads with power, downlink telemetry, uplink commanding, and real-time HD video for instrument control and assessment during the flight. While originally developed for university students, these programs have been adapted to projects focused on high school teachers as well as affecting minorities underrepresented in aerospace related science and engineering fields. We are now in the process of adapting the LaACES materials to a pre-engineering curriculum for high school students as well as for widespread access over the internet. During this presentation, we will provide details of both the LaACES and HASP programs, how these programs have engaged participants from all demographic groups, and our current plans for continuing and expanding upon our success.

University↗