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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 793 records · Page 44
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2017

Nuclear Hybrid Energy System Model Stability Testing

A Nuclear Hybrid Energy System (NHES) uses a nuclear reactor as the basic power generation unit, and the power generated is used by multiple customers as combinations of thermal power or electrical power. The definition and architecture of a particular NHES can be adapted based on the needs and opportunities of different localities and markets. For example, locations in need of potable water may be best served by coupling a desalination plant to the NHES. Similarly, a location near oil refineries may have a need for emission-free hydrogen production. Using the flexible, multi-domain capabilities of Modelica, Argonne National Laboratory, Idaho National Laboratory, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory are investigating the dynamics (e.g., thermal hydraulics and electrical generation/consumption) and cost of a hybrid system. This paper examines the NHES work underway, emphasizing the control system developed for individual subsystems and the overall supervisory control system.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Towards a Measurement of the Half-Life of {sup 60}Fe for Stellar and Early Solar System Models

Radioisotopes, produced in stars and ejected into the Interstellar Medium, are important for constraining stellar and early Solar System (ESS) models. In particular, the half-life of the radioisotope, Fe-60, can have an impact on calculations for the timing for ESS events, the distance to nearby Supernovae, and the brightness of individual, non-steady-state Fe gamma ray sources in the Galaxy. A half-life measurement has been undertaken at the University of Notre Dame and measurements of the Fe-60/Fe-56 concentration of our samples using Accelerator Mass Spectrometry has begun. This result will be coupled with an activity measurement of the isomeric decay in Co-60, which is the decay product of Fe. Preliminary half-life estimates of (2.53 +/- 0.24) x 10(6) years seem to confirm the recent measurement by Rugel et al. (2009). (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Accelerator Mass Spectrometry↗
NASA NTRS1992

Building a generalized distributed system model

The key elements in the second year (1991-92) of our project are: (1) implementation of the distributed system prototype; (2) successful passing of the candidacy examination and a PhD proposal acceptance by the funded student; (3) design of storage efficient schemes for replicated distributed systems; and (4) modeling of gracefully degrading reliable computing systems. In the third year of the project (1992-93), we propose to: (1) complete the testing of the prototype; (2) enhance the functionality of the modules by enabling the experimentation with more complex protocols; (3) use the prototype to verify the theoretically predicted performance of locking protocols, etc.; and (4) work on issues related to real-time distributed systems. This should result in efficient protocols for these systems.

Mukkamala, R.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

A Unified SHOC-MF Boundary Layer Parameterization in the NASA Goddard Earth Observing System Model

We present results from a novel extension of the boundary layer parameterization in the NASA Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) model. An Eddy Diffusivity-Mass Flux (EDMF) multi-plume updraft scheme was previously implemented in GEOS. Here we replace the K-profile eddy diffusivity scheme of Lock et. al. (2000) with the Simplified Higher Order Closure (SHOC; Bogenschutz and Krueger, 2013). The scheme prognoses turbulent kinetic energy, and derives buoyancy flux, cloud fraction and condensate from a trivariate double-gaussian joint PDF. The original SHOC scheme is modified in two significant respects: (i) contributions from the EDMF updrafts are included in estimates of all higher order moments used to determine the PDF; and (ii) the second and third moments of total water are made prognostic variables, with source terms associated with EDMF updrafts. The predicted higher order moments as well as updraft and environmental properties are compared with large eddy simulations in several case studies. Results indicate that many higher order moments are underestimated when the mass flux contribution is neglected.

Nathan Arnold↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

A Unified SHOC-MF Boundary Layer Parameterization in the NASA Goddard Earth Observing System Model

We present results from a novel extension of the boundary layer parameterization in the NASA Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) model. An Eddy Diffusivity-Mass Flux (EDMF) multi-plume updraft scheme was previously implemented in GEOS. Here we replace the K-profile eddy diffusivity scheme of Lock et. al. (2000) with the Simplified Higher Order Closure (SHOC; Bogenschutz and Krueger, 2013). The scheme prognoses turbulent kinetic energy, and derives buoyancy flux, cloud fraction and condensate from a trivariate double-gaussian joint PDF. The original SHOC scheme is modified in two significant respects: (i) contributions from the EDMF updrafts are included in estimates of all higher order moments used to determine the PDF; and (ii) the second and third moments of total water are made prognostic variables, with source terms associated with EDMF updrafts. The predicted higher order moments as well as updraft and environmental properties are compared with large eddy simulations in several case studies. Results indicate that many higher order moments are underestimated when the mass flux contribution is neglected.

Nathan Arnold↗
DOE OSTI2025

Covalent Drug Binding in Live Cells Monitored by Mid-Infrared Quantum Cascade Laser Spectroscopy: Photoactive Yellow Protein as a Model System

The detection of drug-target interactions in live cells enables analysis of therapeutic compounds in a native cellular environment. Recent advances in spectroscopy and molecular biology have facilitated the development of genetically encoded vibrational probes like nitriles that can sensitively report on molecular interactions. Nitriles are powerful tools for measuring electrostatic environments within condensed media like proteins, but such measurements in live cells have been hindered by low signal-to-noise ratios. In this study, we design a spectrometer based on a double-beam quantum cascade laser (QCL)-based transmission infrared (IR) source with balanced detection that can significantly enhance sensitivity to nitrile vibrational probes embedded in proteins within cells compared to a conventional FTIR spectrometer. Here, using this approach, we detect small-molecule binding in Escherichia coli, with particular focus on the interaction between para-Coumaric acid (pCA) and nitrile-incorporated photoactive yellow protein (PYP). This system effectively serves as a model for investigating covalent drug binding in a cellular environment. Notably, we observe large spectral shifts of up to 15 cm –1 for nitriles embedded in PYP between the unbound and drug-bound states directly within bacteria, in agreement with observations for purified proteins. Such large spectral shifts are ascribed to the changes in the hydrogen-bonding environment around the local environment of nitriles, accurately modeled through high-level molecular dynamics simulations using the AMOEBA force field. Our findings underscore the QCL spectrometer’s ability to enhance sensitivity for monitoring drug–protein interactions, offering new opportunities for advanced methodologies in drug development and biochemical research.

chromophores↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Impact of NASA’s Entry Systems Modeling Project on Planetary Mission Design

Planetary missions continue to grow larger and more complex. Furthermore, the current focus on human exploration of the Moon and Mars, as well as Mars Sample Return(MSR), place increas-ingly stringent requirements on the reliability of the entry, descent, and landing (EDL) system that ensures the safe delivery of payload or crew to their destination. Planetary EDL is an area in which mission designers are critically reliant on modeling and simulation to demonstrate the reliability of the system, as there are no ground facilities that are able to fully test these systems in a flight-relevant environment. NASA’s state-of-the-art modeling and simulation capability must continually evolve to meet the needs of the next generation of planetary EDL. To accomplish this aim, NASA’s Entry Systems Modeling (ESM) Project was formed in 2013and is funded bythe Space Technology Mission Directorate(STMD) and Science Mission Directorate (SMD). ESM is the Agency’s only cross-cutting effort for advancing entry systems modeling and simulation capabilities across a range of technical disciplines and Solar System destinations. ESM is a portfolio project covering a variety of mid-TRL research efforts within four core EDL-related areas of investment: (1) Thermal protection material modeling, (2) Shock layer kinetics and radiation, (3) Aerosciences, and (4) Guidance, navigation, and con-trol. The material modeling group creates detailed material response modelsof thermal protection systems (TPS)from the micro to macro scale, and at the fun-damental and engineering levels. Shock layer kinetics and radiation focuses on radiative heating of space-craft, quantum chemistry and benchmark experiments for validation.Aerosciences is a broad research area that impacts many aspects of entry systems, including parachutes, aerodynamics, and turbulent heating augmentation due to TPS roughness.The guidance, navigation,and control effort under ESM is expanding the capabilities of NASA’s main flight mechanics tool, POST2, for use on high-performance computing architectures and to generalize interoperability with external applications for more detailed end-to-end simula-tion.In addition, several focusedresearch topics have been approvedto augment ESM’s core portfolio. These include efforts for deep post-flight analysis of Mars 2020/MEDLI2 flight data; development ofTPS failure models; improvement of hypersonic wakeflow models; and a recently concluded effort to provide material response models for NuSil-coated PICA heat-shield material. This presentation will discuss each of these investment areas and demonstrate via real mission examples how advances to the state-of-the-art enabled by ESM are directly impacting the missions of today and tomorrow, including InSight, Mars 2020, Mars Sample Return, Orion, and Dragonfly.

Entry Systems Modeling↗
DOE OSTI2014

Developing Fully Coupled Dynamical Reactor Core Isolation System Models in RELAP-7 for Extended Station Black-Out Analysis

The reactor core isolation cooling (RCIC) system in a boiling water reactor (BWR) provides makeup water to the reactor vessel for core cooling when the main steam lines are isolated and the normal supply of water to the reactor vessel is lost. It was one of the very few safety systems still available during the Fukushima Daiichi accidents after the tsunamis hit the plants and the system successfully delayed the core meltdown for a few days for unit 2 & 3. Therefore, detailed models for RCIC system components are indispensable to understand extended station black-out accidents (SBO) for BWRs. As part of the effort to develop the new generation reactor system safety analysis code RELAP-7, major components to simulate the RCIC system have been developed. This paper describes the models for those components such as turbine, pump, and wet well. Selected individual component test simulations and a simplified SBO simulation up to but before core damage is presented. The successful implementation of the simplified RCIC and wet well models paves the way to further improve the models for safety analysis by including more detailed physical processes in the near future.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2016

ANALYSIS OF TERRESTRIAL PLANET FORMATION BY THE GRAND TACK MODEL: SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE AND TACK LOCATION

The Grand Tack model of terrestrial planet formation has emerged in recent years as the premier scenario used to account for several observed features of the inner solar system. It relies on the early migration of the giant planets to gravitationally sculpt and mix the planetesimal disk down to ∼1 au, after which the terrestrial planets accrete from material remaining in a narrow circumsolar annulus. Here, we investigate how the model fares under a range of initial conditions and migration course-change (“tack”) locations. We run a large number of N-body simulations with tack locations of 1.5 and 2 au and test initial conditions using equal-mass planetary embryos and a semi-analytical approach to oligarchic growth. We make use of a recent model of the protosolar disk that takes into account viscous heating, includes the full effect of type 1 migration, and employs a realistic mass–radius relation for the growing terrestrial planets. Our results show that the canonical tack location of Jupiter at 1.5 au is inconsistent with the most massive planet residing at 1 au at greater than 95% confidence. This favors a tack farther out at 2 au for the disk model and parameters employed. Of the different initial conditions, we find that the oligarchic case is capable of statistically reproducing the orbital architecture and mass distribution of the terrestrial planets, while the equal-mass embryo case is not.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1999

PTA1 Helium Pressurization System Model

A transient model of the Propulsion Test Article 1 (PTA1) Helium Pressurization System was developed using the Generalized Fluid System Simulation Program (GFSSP). The model included feed lines from the facility interface to the engine purge interface and Liquid Oxygen (LOX) and Rocket Propellant 1 (RP-1) tanks, the propellant tanks themselves including ullage space and propellant feed lines to their respective pump interfaces. GFSSPs capability was extended to model a control valve to maintain ullage pressure within a specified limit and pressurization processes such as heat transfer between ullage gas, propellant and the tank wall. The purpose of the model is to predict the flow system characteristics in the entire pressurization system during 80 seconds of pre-pressurization operation, 420 seconds of pressurization stand-by operation and 150 seconds of engine operation. Subsequent to the work presented here, the PTA1 model has been updated to include the LOX and RP-1 pumps, while the pressurization option itself has been modified to include the effects of mass transfer. This updated model will be compared with PTA1 test data as it becomes available.

Steadman, Todd↗
NASA NTRS2021

Thermal Systems Modeling of Chemical Integrated Power Source (CHIPS) to Survive Lunar Night Environments

This paper presents the results of the systems level thermal modeling for a conceptual Chemical Heat Integrated Power Source (CHIPS). This proposed system offers a combined thermal and electrical power source to support survival of spacecraft operating in extreme low temperature lunar environments, without the use of radioisotope-based sources. A conceptual design study has been completed for this system, that uses heat generated by an exothermic chemical reaction in place of radioisotope or electrical heat sources. The goal of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of such as system through thermodynamic and chemical analysis and thermal modeling, and to identify technology gaps to inform a technology development and maturation plan. The specific technical objectives focused on delivery of 90-100 Wth thermal power and 30-40 We electrical power for 336 hours to a representative Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) lander, to support lunar surface survival and limited operations through a lunar night. The total system mass was targeted at ≤50 kg. A highly exothermic chemical reaction system is used to generate on-board electrical power for spacecraft systems, and thermal power to maintain critical spacecraft/lander systems within their allowable flight temperature (AFTs). Based on the very high energy content of the chemical reaction system, a much higher amount of heat per unit mass can be delivered to the spacecraft, relative to a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and electrical heater(s). Since radioisotope heaters or generators are not used, the system will be orders of magnitude lower in cost than a radioisotope heating/power unit, without the attendant regulatory complexities. As part of the CHIPS concept, a fraction of the thermal power generated is converted to electrical power via an appropriate thermal-to-electric converter technology (such as a free piston Stirling converter or a thermoelectric generator module), to provide power to critical loads. This approach is ideally suited to support operation of commercial landers (e.g., via the CLPS program). In most cases, these landers are only designed to operate during a portion of the lunar day, with no provision for survival through the lunar night. By supporting lunar night survival, a mission can be extended through the lunar night and at least into another lunar day, thus turning a nominal eight-day mission into a 36-day mission. Therefore, the current system demonstration will focus on scalability to support at least 336 hours (one lunar night) of continuous thermal and electrical power generation. Although initially targeted to support lunar equatorial landings, the technology is extensible to missions at the lunar poles, other extreme environments in the Solar System or even air-independent applications on Earth (e.g., ocean exploration).

West, William↗
NASA NTRS2021

Thermal Systems Modeling of Chemical Heat Integrated Power Source (CHIPS) to Survive Lunar Night Environments

This paper presents the results of the systems level thermal modeling for a conceptual Chemical Heat Integrated Power Source (CHIPS). This proposed system offers a combined thermal and electrical power source to support survival of spacecraft operating in extreme low temperature lunar environments, without the use of radioisotope-based sources. A conceptual design study has been completed for this system, that uses heat generated by an exothermic chemical reaction in place of radioisotope or electrical heat sources. The goal of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of such a system through thermodynamic and chemical analysis and thermal modeling, and to identify technology gaps to inform a technology development and maturation plan. The specific technical objectives focused on delivery of 90 to 100 Wth thermal power and 30 to 40 We electrical power for 336 hours to a representative Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) lander, to support lunar surface survival and limited operations through a lunar night. The total system mass was targeted at ≤50 kg. A highly exothermic chemical reaction system is used to generate on-board electrical power for spacecraft systems, and thermal power to maintain critical spacecraft/lander systems within their allowable flight temperature (AFTs). Based on the very high energy content of the chemical reaction system, a much higher amount of heat per unit mass can be delivered to the spacecraft, relative to a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and electrical heater(s). Since radioisotope heaters or generators are not used, the system will be orders of magnitude lower in cost than a radioisotope heating/power unit, without the attendant regulatory complexities. As part of the CHIPS concept, a fraction of the thermal power generated is converted to electrical power via an appropriate thermal-to-electric converter technology (such as a free piston Stirling converter or a thermoelectric generator module), to provide power to critical loads. This approach is ideally suited to support operation of commercial landers (e.g., via the CLPS program). In most cases, these landers are only designed to operate during a portion of the lunar day, with no provision for survival through the lunar night. By supporting lunar night survival, a mission can be extended through the lunar night and at least into another lunar day, thus turning a nominal eight-day mission into a 36-day mission. Therefore, the current system demonstration will focus on scalability to support at least 336 hours (one lunar night) of continuous thermal and electrical power generation. Although initially targeted to support lunar equatorial landings, the technology is extensible to missions at the lunar poles, other extreme environments in the Solar System or even air-independent applications on Earth (e.g., ocean exploration).

West, William↗
DOE OSTI2020

Building Large-Scale U.S. Synthetic Electric Distribution System Models

Rapid increases in distributed energy resources on distribution systems are prompting research efforts to improve and evaluate electric power distribution algorithms; however, there is a shortage of realistic, large-scale, U.S.-style test systems for the evaluation of such advanced algorithms. Some available tools to build large-scale test systems are of European style, and their application to studies focused on the United States might not be desirable given very different characteristics between the European and U.S. distribution designs. Motivated by this need, this paper develops detailed algorithms to build large-scale U.S. distribution systems and incorporates them in a new Reference Network Model, RNM-US. The approach starts with information from street maps and a catalog with electric equipment that includes power lines, transformers, voltage regulators, capacitors, and switching devices. The paper presents the algorithms through an illustrative case study of the different steps that comprise the process of building a synthetic distribution grid. Finally, the paper presents a medium- and a large-scale data set covering 10 million electrical nodes and 120,000 km of power lines, demonstrating the applicability of the proposed method to build very large-scale synthetic distribution systems.

27 ARPA - Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy↗
NASA NTRS1986

Photochemical reactions of various model protocell systems

Models for the emergence of cellular life on the primitive Earth, and for physical environments of that era have been studied that embody these assumptions: (1) pregenetic cellular forms were phase-bounded systems primarily photosynthetic in nature, and (2) the early Earth environment was anoxic (lacking appreciable amounts of free hydrogen). It was found that organic structures can also be formed under anoxic conditions (N2, CO3=, H2O) by protracted longwavelength UV radiation. Apparently these structures form initially as organic layers upon CaCO3 crystalloids. The question remains as to whether the UV photosynthetic ability of such phase bounded structures is a curiosity, or a general property of phase bounded systems which is of direct interest to the emergence of cellular life. The question of the requirement and sailient features of a phase boundary for UV photosynthetic abilities was addressed by searching for similar general physical properties which might be manifest in a variety of other simple protocell-like structures. Since it has been shown that laboratory protocell models can effect the UV photosynthesis of low molecular weight compounds, this reaction is being used as an assay to survey other types of structures for similar UV photosynthetic reactions. Various kinds of structures surveyed are: (1) proteinoids; (2) liposomes; (3) reconstituted cell membrane spheroids; (4) coacervates; and (5) model protocells formed under anoxic conditions.

Folsome, C. E.↗
NASA NTRS1983

ADAM - An axisymmetric duct aeroacoustic modeling system

ADAM is an acronym for Axisymmetric Duct Aeroacoustic Modeling and is the name of an interconnected system of computer programs for integrated aerodynamic and acoustic analysis of aeroengine nacelles. The system consists of a streamtube curvature program for determination of the mean flow and a set of finite element codes for solution of the acoustic propagation problem. Use of the system is facilitated by interactive graphics for viewing aerodynamic and acoustic fields throughout their solution domains. This paper describes the capabilities and structure of the present system and discusses experience gained in the sample problems. Possible future enhancements to the system are also outlined.

Abrahamson, A. L.↗