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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 775 records · Page 43
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1983

Electrochemical Studies of Redox Systems for Energy Storage

Particular attention was paid to the Cr(II)/Cr(III) redox couple in aqueous solutions in the presence of Cl(-) ions. The aim of this research has been to unravel the electrode kinetics of this redox couple and the effect of Cl(1) and electrode substrate. Gold and silver were studied as electrodes and the results show distinctive differences; this is probably due to the role Cl(-) ion may play as a mediator in the reaction and the difference in state of electrical charge on these two metals (difference in the potential of zero charge, pzc). The competition of hydrogen evolution with CrCl3 reduction on these surfaces was studied by means of the rotating ring disk electrode (RRDE). The ring downstream measures the flux of chromous ions from the disk and therefore separation of both Cr(III) and H2 generation can be achieved by analyzing ring and disk currents. The conditions for the quantitative detection of Cr(2+) at the ring electrode were established. Underpotential deposition of Pb on Ag and its effect on the electrokinetics of Cr(II)/Cr(III) reaction was studied.

Wu, C. D.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Interstellar absorption along the line of sight to Sigma Scorpii using Copernicus observations

From Copernicus observations of Sigma Sco, 57 individual lines of 11 elements plus the molecular species H2 and CO were identified. By using a profile-fitting technique, rather than curves of growth, it was possible to obtain column densities and Doppler b values for up to four separate components along this line of sight. Electron density in the major H I component was derived from the photoionization equilibrium of sulfur, obtaining, n(e) of about 0.3/cu cm. The neutral hydrogen density in the same component was also derived using fine-structure excitation of O I. An H II component is also present in which the electron density was n(e) about 20/cu cm. As a by-product of this analysis, previously undetermined oscillator strengths for two Mn II lines were obtained: for 1162.-017 A, f about 0.023 and for 1164.211 A, f about 0.0086.

Allen, M. M.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Lubrication of Space Shuttle Main Engine Turbopump Bearings

The Space Shuttle has three main engines that are used for propulsion into orbit. These engines are fed propellants by four turbopumps on each engine. A main element in the turbopump is the bearings supporting the rotor that spins the turbine blades and the pump impeller. These bearings are required to spin at very high speeds, support radial and thrust loads, and have high wear resistance without the benefit of lubrication. The liquid hydrogen and oxygen propellants flow through the bearings to cool the surfaces. The volatile nature of the propellants excludes any conventional means of lubrication. Lubrication for these bearings is provided by the ball separator inside the bearing. The separator is a composite material that supplies a transfer film of lubrication to the rings and balls. New separator materials and lubrication schemes have been investigated at Marshall Space Flight Center in a bearing test rig with promising results. Hybrid bearings with silicon nitride balls have also been evaluated. The use of hybrid, silicon nitride ball bearings in conjunction -with better separator materials has shown excellent results. The work that Marshall has done is being utilized in turbopumps flying on the space shuttle fleet and will be utilized in future space travel. This result of this work is valuable for all aerospace and commercial applications where high-speed bearings are used.

Gibson, Howard↗
NASA NTRS2005

Lunar and Planetary Science XXXVI, Part 12

Topics discussed include: The Ancient Lakes in Hellas Basin Region as Seen Through the First Year of Mars Express HRSC-Camera; DISR Observations of Craters at Titan at the Huygens Landing Site: Insights Anticipated; The Sun s Dust Disk - Discovery Potential of the New Horizons Mission During Interplanetary Cruise; Evidence for Aqueously Precipitated Sulfates in Northeast Meridiani Using THEMIS and TES Data; Integrated Spectroscopic Studies of Anhydrous Sulfate Minerals; Venusian Channel Formation as a Subsurface Process; Reexamination of Quartz Grains from the Permian-Triassic Boundary Section at Graphite Peak, Antarctica; Observations of Calcium Sulfate Deposits at High Latitudes by OMEGA/Mex at Km/Pixel Resolutions; Observations of the North Permanent Cap of Mars in Mid-Summer by OMEGA/MEX at km per Pixel Resolutions; Classification and Distribution of Patterned Ground in the Southern Hemisphere of Mars Genesis: Removing Contamination from Sample Collectors; Thermal Characterization of Fe3O4 Nanoparticles Formed from Poorly Crystalline Siderite; Hydrogen Abundances in Metal Grains from the Hammadah Al Hamra (HaH) 237 Metal-rich Chondrite: A Test of the Nebular-Formation Theory; REE and Some Other Trace Elements Distributions of Mineral Separates in Atlanta (EL6); The Composition and Origin of the Dewar Geochemical Anomaly; Asteroid Modal Mineralogy Using Hapke Mixing Models: Testing the Utility of Spectral Lookup Tables; and The Huygens Mission at Titan: Results Highlights. (sup 182)Hf-(sup 182)W Chronometry and an Early Differentiation in the Parent Body of Ureilites Ground Penetrating Radar in Sedimentary Rocks Mars, Always Cold, Sometimes Wet: New Constraints on Mars Denudation Rates and Climate Evolution from Analog Studies at Haughton Crater, Devon Island, High Arctic Europa s Porous Ice Rheology and Implications for Ice-penetrating Radar Scattering Loss Surface Generated Cracks on Europa

Source record↗
DOE OSTI2021

Nucleobase-Functionalized Poly(alkylthiophene)s: One-Pot, Sequential Direct Arylation Polymerization and Deprotection, and Surface Modification for Oil–Water Separations

Direct arylation polymerization (DArP) has emerged as an environmentally friendly, atom efficient method of synthesizing a variety of conjugated polymers. In this work, we report a one-pot approach consisting of DArP followed by Boc deprotection to synthesize a functional, surface-active adenine-containing poly(alkylthiophene). Careful control over the polymerization temperature enables the one-pot polymerization and deprotection strategy for synthesis, with quantitative (>99%) Boc deprotection achieved in 24 h. This temperature-controlled synthesis method reduces extra purification and isolation steps, which makes the total synthesis more efficient and practical, and allows higher molecular weight polymer to be made. We quantify the hydrogen bonding ability of the resulting adenine-containing polythiophene, T Ad -tT 4h , by 1 H NMR host–guest titration studies and analyze the results with the Benesi–Hildebrand model, yielding an association constant of 18.7 M –1 between alkylated thymine and T Ad -tT 4h . We demonstrate that T Ad -tT 4h robustly modifies the surface of cellulosic filter paper (CFP), and the modified cellulosic filter paper, CFP-T Ad -tT 4h , is an effective oil–water separatory filter with superhydrophobic properties (water contact angle (CA) ~151°). The utility of hydrogen bonding interactions between adenine and cellulose highlights the importance of side-chain engineering for creating functional materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Metal-hydrogen-pi-bonded organic frameworks

We report the synthesis and characterization of a new series of permanently porous, three-dimensional metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), M-HAF-2 (M = Fe, Ga, or In), constructed from tetratopic, hydroxamate-based, chelating linkers. Here, the structure of M-HAF-2 was determined by three-dimensional electron diffraction (3D ED), revealing a unique interpenetrated hcb-a net topology. This unusual topology is enabled by the presence of free hydroxamic acid groups, which lead to the formation of a diverse network of cooperative interactions comprising metal–hydroxamate coordination interactions at single metal nodes, staggered π–π interactions between linkers, and H-bonding interactions between metal-coordinated and free hydroxamate groups. Such extensive, multimodal interconnectivity is reminiscent of the complex, noncovalent interaction networks of proteins and endows M-HAF-2 frameworks with high thermal and chemical stability and allows them to readily undergo postsynthetic metal ion exchange (PSE) between trivalent metal ions. We demonstrate that M-HAF-2 can serve as versatile porous materials for ionic separations, aided by one-dimensional channels lined by continuously π-stacked aromatic groups and H-bonding hydroxamate functionalities. As an addition to the small group of hydroxamic acid-based MOFs, M-HAF-2 represents a structural merger between MOFs and hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs) and illustrates the utility of non-canonical metal-coordinating functionalities in the discovery of new bonding and topological patterns in reticular materials.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS1988

Filament wound metal lined propellant tanks for future Earth-to-orbit transports

For future Earth-to-orbit transport vehicles, reusability and lighter weights are sought for the main propellant tanks. To achieve this, a filament wound tank with a metal liner and an intermediate layer of foam-filled honeycomb is proposed. A hydrogen tank is used as an example. To accommodate mismatches in the expansion of liner and overwrap a design is proposed wherin the liner is configured so that the extension of the liner under pressure matches the expected contraction of the same liner due to the presence of a cryogen. In operation, the liner is pressurized at a rate such that the pressure strain matches the contraction due to decrease in temperature. As an alternate approach, compressive pre-stress is placed in the liner such that it will not separate from the overwrap. A finite element program is used to show stresses in the liner and overwrap for various tank pressures for the pre-stressed liner concept. A fracture mechanics analysis is made of the liners to determine tank life. The tank concept shown has a similar weight to the Shuttle external hydrogen tank, but the filament wound tank is expected to be reusable. Integration of the propellant tanks into a future transport vehicle is discussed.

Macconochie, Ian O.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Analysis of Intermediates and Products from the Dehydrogenation of Mg(BH 4 ) 2

The thermodynamic properties of key compounds, Mg(B 3 H 8 ) 2 , MgB 2 H 6 , MgB 10 H 10 , Mg(B 11 H 14 ) 2 , Mg 3 (B 3 H 6 ) 2 , and MgB 12 H 12 , proposed to be formed in the release of hydrogen from magnesium borohydride Mg(BH 4 ) 2 and uptake of hydrogen by MgB 2 , have been investigated using solid–state density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Further, more accurate treatment of cell–size effects to the entropies were also investigated, in order to improve the accuracy of the thermodynamic properties of complex borohydrides. We find that the zero–point energy corrections can lower the electronic energies of reaction by 20–30 kJ/(mol H 2 ) for these intermediates, while adding the thermal and entropy contributions results in the total decrease up to ~50 kJ/(mol H 2 ). Although our treatment lowers the calculated formation energy of Mg(B 3 H 8 ) 2 , it is still too high to explain the experimental observation of B 3 H 8 – . We discuss possible reasons for this disparity and propose that the formation of B 3 H 8 – and H – in a disordered amorphous phase has a large energy difference compared to the phase–separated Mg(B 3 H 8 ) 2 and MgH 2 considered in calculations. Comparison of the experimental and NMR chemical shifts calculated within a DFT approach for known species Mg(BH 4 ) 2 , Mg(B 3 H 8 ) 2 , Mg(B 11 H 14 ) 2 , MgB 10 H 10 and MgB 12 H 12 provides validation for predicting the chemical shifts of the other compounds which are yet to be confirmed experimentally. These include MgB 2 H 6 and the proposed tri–anion species Mg 3 (B 3 H 6 ) 2 that both have favorable thermodynamics for reversible hydrogen storage in Mg(BH 4 ) 2 without the formation of MgH 2 as a co–product which could phase–separate and inhibit rehydrogenation.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2020

The rate of development of atomic mixing and temperature equilibration in inertial confinement fusion implosions

The MARBLE project is a novel inertial confinement fusion platform for studying the development of atomic mixing and temperature equilibration in inertial confinement fusion implosions and their impact on thermonuclear burn. Experiments involve the laser-driven implosion of capsules filled with deuterated engineered foams whose pores are filled with a gaseous mixture of hydrogen and tritium. By varying the size of the foam pores, we can study the timescale of the development of atomic mix relative to the development of thermal equilibrium between species. In contrast, previous separated reactant experiments have only provided information on the total amount of mix mass. Additionally, we report on the series of MARBLE experiments [first reported in Haines et al., Nat. Commun. 11, 544 (2020)] performed on the University of Rochester's OMEGA laser facility and detailed and highly resolved three-dimensional radiation-hydrodynamic simulations of the implosions. In both the experimental and simulation results, we observe that the reactants do not achieve thermal equilibrium during the course of the implosion except in atomically mixed regions—i.e., that atomic mixing develops faster than thermal equilibration between species. The results suggest that ion temperature variations in the mixture are at least as important as reactant concentration variations for determining the fusion reaction rates.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

A near X-point charge exchange neutral spectroscopy (CENS) system for DIII-D

A 16 channel spectroscopy system has been installed on DIII-D to provide information about the energy distribution of the atomic neutrals using the Doppler shift and broadening of passive Balmer-α emission. Here, the lines of sight are dominantly in the toroidal direction, with tangencies near the lowest point on closed magnetic flux surfaces moving from the lower divertor upward into the confined plasma. This allows the system to provide details of the neutrals as they undergo various atomic physics processes while traveling upward from the lower divertor. The spectrally resolved measurements provide several advantages that complement typical optical filter based measurements of hydrogenic spectral lines. These include more direct measurements of the neutrals that fuel deeper in the plasma and capturing neutral velocity distribution information via the Doppler broadened and shifted line. In addition, the spectral separation of higher energy “thermal” neutrals and bright cold emission from the scrape-off layer allows for a more straightforward calculation of the underlying neutral densities based on the emission because of the dependence of the thermal emission on confined plasma properties that are approximately flux functions and well measured.

Atomic and molecular physics↗
DOE OSTI2025

REDOTHERM: a thermodynamic modeling framework for redox-based thermochemical processes

Two-step thermochemical redox cycles are being developed as a potential pathway for the production of hydrogen and syngas. While there are many possible reactor and system configurations, moving oxide systems are considered promising in terms of the redox thermodynamics, due to the potential implementation of a countercurrent system that can achieve higher performance compared to other configurations. There is a lack of a robust thermodynamic modeling framework in the field, with multiple models incorporating incorrect thermodynamic assumptions that violate the second law of thermodynamics. We present in this work REDOTHERM, an open-source system model for moving oxides that incorporates the correct thermodynamic limits, as well as various options for the system auxiliary units including product separation, heat recovery, and oxygen removal. The model is agnostic to the energy source, and could be used for solar thermal or other configurations. We highlight the uses of this model, presenting some of the tradeoffs and challenges in redox-active material selection and how they affect the entire thermochemical hydrogen production process. This model could be easily adapted and used for material exploration, system/reactor design, and technoeconomic analysis.

08 HYDROGEN↗
NASA NTRS1977

Thermal performance of a modularized replaceable multilayer insulation system for a cryogenic stage

A rugged modularized MLI system for a 2.23-meter-diameter (87.6-in.-diam) liquid hydrogen tank was designed, fabricated, and tested under simulated near-earth and deep-space environments. The two blankets of the system were each composed of 17 double-aluminized Mylar radiation shields separated by silk net. The unit area weight of the installed system was 1.54 kg/sqm (0.32 lb/sq ft). The overall average heat transferred into the insulated tank was 22.7 and 0.98 watts (77.4 and 3.3 Btu/hr) during simulated near-earth and deep-space testing, respectively. The near-earth result was only 2.6 times that predicted for an undisturbed insulation system (i.e., no seams or penetrations). Tests indicate that this insulation concept could be useful for a cryogenic space tug or orbit transfer vehicle application.

Knoll, R. H.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Heat Flux In A Dual-Throat Rocket Engine

Report describes tests of dual-throat rocket engine burning hydrogen in oxygen. In tests, heat-flux profiles measured in inner nozzle and outer chamber. Dual-throat engine being considered for advanced space transportation. Consisting of two combustion chambers in series operating separately or together, engine makes it possible to change mode of operation in flight to obtain performance in most advantageous regime. Produces high thrust at sea level or low thrust with higher performance at high altitudes or in space.

Ewen, R. L.↗
NASA NTRS2009

Boiler and Pressure Balls Monopropellant Thermal Rocket Engine

The proposed technology is a rocket engine cycle utilizing as the propulsive fluid a low molecular weight, cryogenic fluid, typically liquid hydrogen, pressure driven, heated, and expelled through a nozzle to generate high velocity and high specific impulse discharge gas. The proposed technology feeds the propellant through the engine cycle without the use of a separate pressurization fluid and without the use of turbomachinery. Advantages of the proposed technology are found in those elements of state-of-the-art systems that it avoids. It does not require a separate pressurization fluid or a thick-walled primary propellant tank as is typically required for a classical pressure-fed system. Further, it does not require the acceptance of intrinsic reliability risks associated with the use of turbomachinery

Greene, William D.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Use of polyamines in the pretreatment of biomass

The present invention provides for a method to deconstruct a biomass: the method comprising: (a) introducing a solvent comprising a polyamine, or a mixture of polyamines, to a biomass to dissolve at least part of solid biomass in the solvent, wherein the polyamine is a Brønsted or Lewis base, and/or the polyamine is a hydrogen bond donor and/or acceptor; (b) optionally introducing an enzyme and/or a microbe to the solubilized biomass mixture such that the enzyme and/or microbe produces a sugar from the solubilized biomass mixture; (c) optionally separating the sugar from the solubilized biomass mixture; and (d) optionally separating the lignan from the solubilized biomass mixture.

Source record↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Development of a Portable Stand-Alone 20 K Brayton Cycle Helium Refrigeration System

From 2012 to 2015, NASA funded development of the Ground Operations Demonstration Unit for Liquid Hydrogen (GODU-LH2) at Kennedy Space Center that scaled up and matured Integrated Refrigeration and Storage (IRAS) technology. IRAS involves the integration of an external helium refrigeration system with a cryogenic storage tank via an internal heat exchanger and allows advanced operations such as zero boiloff and densification of the liquid. The refrigeration system employed for GODU-LH2 was a Linde LR1620 piston-Brayton cycle machine with an RSX helium compressor. The GODU-LH2 system was installed in two separate shipping containers—one housing the cold-box, compressor, and gas management hardware, and the other the water chiller unit—with 480 VAC and 120 VAC electrical power fed from external hardware at the test site, and data capture and controls achieved using four different, independent software packages. From 2017 to 2019, in support of a densified hydrogen loading test program, the entire system was repackaged into a single, 40’ (12 m) shipping container, including the refrigeration system, water chiller, and electrical power distribution hardware, and controls were consolidated into a single Allen Bradley PanelView. Details regarding the design, build-out, and testing of the system will be presented and discussed.

W F Reaves↗
DOE OSTI2021

Precursor Processing Development for Low Cost, High Strength Carbon Fiber for Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessel Applications

Carbon fiber (CF) is central to produce lightweight, high pressure, composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs), which are used for on-board storage of hydrogen for fuel cell vehicles. In 2015, carbon fiber cost accounted for 62% of the cost of a hydrogen storage system, as COPVs were manufactured with T700S CF at $\$ $29.40/kg CF. The high cost of hydrogen storage, largely attributed to the carbon fiber cost, limits the application of fuel cells in vehicles. Therefore, our team endeavored to develop fiber processing to demonstrate carbon fiber tensile properties similar to T700S with a production cost potential of $\$ $12.60/kg or less. Here, the overarching goal of the project was the development of low cost, high strength carbon fiber for composite overwrapped pressure vessels. Within the project, our team investigated a new low-cost, high-volume, high quality polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based precursor terpolymer for the production of carbon fiber precursors, methods for increasing water and energy use efficiency in wash-water/solvent separation, and ultimately developed a multifilament spinning and conversion process for the production of hollow carbon fibers from a segmented arc spinneret utilizing a solution spinning method.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2023

Detailed Simulation Study to Evaluate Future Transportation Decarbonization Potential

This report is the ninth revision of a continuous-improvement, scenario-based study on program benefits from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office and Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office. With each revision of the study, Argonne made improvements to the assumptions, control strategies at the vehicle level, methodologies, powertrain selections, and the number of vehicles analyzed. In 2019, separate reports were published on the analysis of light-duty and heavy-duty vehicles. From 2020 onwards, summaries for both light- and heavy-duty vehicles are consolidated into one report. The first part of the report covers the impact of technology progress on light-duty vehicles and the second part of the report is devoted to the technology progress assumed for medium- and heavy-duty trucks.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗