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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
NASA NTRS1979

Data reduction software for LORAN-C flight test evaluation

A set of programs designed to be run on an IBM 370/158 computer to read the recorded time differences from the tape produced by the LORAN data collection system, convert them to latitude/longitude and produce various plotting input files are described. The programs were written so they may be tailored easily to meet the demands of a particular data reduction job. The tape reader program is written in 370 assembler language and the remaining programs are written in standard IBM FORTRAN-IV language. The tape reader program is dependent upon the recording format used by the data collection system and on the I/O macros used at the computing facility. The other programs are generally device-independent, although the plotting routines are dependent upon the plotting method used. The data reduction programs convert the recorded data to a more readily usable form; convert the time difference (TD) numbers to latitude/longitude (lat/long), to format a printed listing of the TDs, lat/long, reference times, and other information derived from the data, and produce data files which may be used for subsequent plotting.

Fischer, J. P.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Development and evaluation of a list mode neutron coincidence collar for spatial response measurements of fresh fuel assemblies

A traditional safeguards neutron coincidence counting system, the Neutron Coincidence Collar, has been modified to incorporate individual preamplifiers on each of its 18 3He tubes in active interrogation mode. When used with list mode data acquisition (LMDA) and analysis, a signal from each 3He tube can be recorded and analyzed to allow a spatial response measurement to be performed on an item based on count rate and 3He tube location within the system. The ultimate goal of this project is to demonstrate the capabilities of a list mode response matrix for the nondestructive assay of fresh nuclear fuel assemblies. To enable partial defect detection of fuel pin locations and absences within an assembly, the project aims to extend well-established correlated neutron analysis techniques on a preexisting Neutron Coincidence Collar by extracting a greater number of useful signatures from the system than are currently generated. LMDA, combined with the addition of multiple preamplifiers, facilitates this capability by increasing the number of simultaneous signals that can be measured; this allows an in-depth analysis of neutron coincidence events to determine a fissioning item’s location based on the measured doubles count rate in various channel logic coincidence combinations. All of this can be done from a single measurement pulse train in offline analysis, which is the major benefit provided by LMDA. Through various stages of development and testing, a Mirion Technologies model JCC-71 Neutron Coincidence Collar has been successfully retrofit with modern electronics designed in-house at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, matching preexisting JAB-01 electronics performance, while maintaining the original system footprint. This paper presents these various stages of development and experimental evaluation of the proof of concept system.

Moore, Angela S.↗
NASA NTRS2009

Telemetry Boards Interpret Rocket, Airplane Engine Data

For all the data gathered by the space shuttle while in orbit, NASA engineers are just as concerned about the information it generates on the ground. From the moment the shuttle s wheels touch the runway to the break of its electrical umbilical cord at 0.4 seconds before its next launch, sensors feed streams of data about the status of the vehicle and its various systems to Kennedy Space Center s shuttle crews. Even while the shuttle orbiter is refitted in Kennedy s orbiter processing facility, engineers constantly monitor everything from power levels to the testing of the mechanical arm in the orbiter s payload bay. On the launch pad and up until liftoff, the Launch Control Center, attached to the large Vehicle Assembly Building, screens all of the shuttle s vital data. (Once the shuttle clears its launch tower, this responsibility shifts to Mission Control at Johnson Space Center, with Kennedy in a backup role.) Ground systems for satellite launches also generate significant amounts of data. At Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, across the Banana River from Kennedy s location on Merritt Island, Florida, NASA rockets carrying precious satellite payloads into space flood the Launch Vehicle Data Center with sensor information on temperature, speed, trajectory, and vibration. The remote measurement and transmission of systems data called telemetry is essential to ensuring the safe and successful launch of the Agency s space missions. When a launch is unsuccessful, as it was for this year s Orbiting Carbon Observatory satellite, telemetry data also provides valuable clues as to what went wrong and how to remedy any problems for future attempts. All of this information is streamed from sensors in the form of binary code: strings of ones and zeros. One small company has partnered with NASA to provide technology that renders raw telemetry data intelligible not only for Agency engineers, but also for those in the private sector.

Source record↗
DOE OSTI2024

Why the US Needs an Enduring Plutonium Critical Assembly

Jezebel (operated from 1954-1977) has been the primary experiment for fast 239 Pu nuclear data validation for the last 70 years. Validation has included not only k eff , but also spectral indicies, Rossi-α, reactivity coefficients, and neutron leakage spectra. While this has been incredibly valuable to the community, there are three major issues. The first issue is that documentation on many of these experiments were lacking, leading to large uncertainties or (even worse) incorrect assumptions. The second issue is that while there have been many advances in research, there is no way to test those new advances today. The last issue is that since the assembly only operated for 23 years (and at time when 30 other critical assemblies were operating at the same facility and nuclear weapons testing was occurring), there were limited opportunities to observe how any system parameters changed as a function of time. Note that this work is not suggesting that a "Jezebel re placement" used for a limited experiment campaign would have great value. A new enduring (100 year target) plutonium (Pu) assembly with simple geometry and low uncertainties, however, would be extremely valuable. Such a capability would have a transformative impact on many research areas including nuclear data validation, analytical methods validation, dosimetry, reactor kinetics, and materials. The need for a new plutonium assembly is not new: it has been in the DOE Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP) Mission and Vision for over 10 years and was also the top priority established at the 2022 National Criticality Experiments Research Center (NCERC) Futures meeting. This work will discuss how such a new capability would help ensure that the US retains international leadership in plutonium research. Last, a brief overview of Lilith, a project aimed to design a new enduring plutonium assembly for operation at the NCERC will be given.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Summertime methane and carbon dioxide emission rates and associated variables from a national‐scale survey of 146 reservoirs in the United States

Reservoirs are globally important sources of greenhouse gases, but the magnitude of their emissions is highly uncertain. Here, we present data for 146 reservoirs from two surveys of reservoir methane and carbon dioxide emissions, one at the regional scale in the midwestern United States and one at the national scale in the United States, plus data from two hand‐picked sites in Washington and Puerto Rico. At all reservoirs, ebullitive and diffusive emissions and basic physicochemistry were measured at 15–55 locations during one 22 to 64‐h period during the summers of 2016–2023, with four reservoirs revisited a second time. Contemporaneous water chemistry measurements were made at one or two locations in each reservoir. The dataset consists of two geospatial files and seven CSV files containing greenhouse gas emissions, water chemistry, morphology, and other relevant data. To date, these data comprise the largest multi‐reservoir emissions dataset assembled using consistent measurement methods.

Beaulieu, Jake J. [US Environmental Protection Age↗
DOE OSTI2022

Extracting structural insights from soft X-ray scattering of biological assemblies

Resonant soft X-ray scattering (RSoXS), a technique that combines X-ray absorption spectroscopy and X-ray scattering, can probe the nano- and meso-scale structure of biological assemblies with chemical specificity. RSoXS experiments yield scattering data collected at several photon energies, for example across an elemental absorption edge of interest. Collecting a near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectrum complements RSoXS experiments and determines X-ray energies that are best suited for RSoXS measurements. The analysis of RSoXS data is similar in many ways to analysis of small angle X-ray scattering using hard X-rays, with an added dimension that includes an X-ray energy dependence. This chapter discusses procedures for predicting scattering contrast and thereby identifying energies suitable for RSoXS measurements using NEXAFS spectra, analyses of 2D RSoXS images through integration into 1D profiles, and strategies for elucidating the origin of RSoXS scattering features. As a result, it also discusses existing and potential methods for interpretation of RSoXS data to gain detailed structural insights into biological systems.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

DIVA/DeviceEditor (DIVA) v5.1

The DIVA software interfaces a process in which researchers design their DNA with a web-based graphical user interface (DeviceEditor), submit their designs to a central queue, and a few weeks later receive their sequence-verified clonal constructs. Each researcher independently designs the DNA to be constructed with a web-based BioCAD tool, and presses a button to submit their designs to a central queue. Researchers have web-based access to their DNA design queues, and can track the progress of their submitted designs as they progress from "evaluation", to "waiting for reagents", to "in progress", to "complete". Researchers access their completed constructs through the central DNA repository. Along the way, all DNA construction success/failure rates are captured in a central database. his success/failure rate data can be leveraged to refine the DNA assembly design process.

Lane, Stephen↗
DOE OSTI2020

Linking crop traits to transcriptome differences in a progeny population of tetraploid potato

Background: Potato is the third most consumed crop in the world. Breeding for traits such as yield, product quality and pathogen resistance are main priorities. Identifying molecular signatures of these and other important traits is important in future breeding efforts. In this study, a progeny population from a cross between a breeding line, SW93–1015, and a cultivar, Désirée, was studied by trait analysis and RNA-seq in order to develop understanding of segregating traits at the molecular level and identify transcripts with expressional correlation to these traits. Transcript markers with predictive value for field performance applicable under controlled environments would be of great value for plant breeding.Results: A total of 34 progeny lines from SW93–1015 and Désirée were phenotyped for 17 different traits in a field in Nordic climate conditions and controlled climate settings. A master transcriptome was constructed with all 34 progeny lines and the parents through a de novo assembly of RNA-seq reads. Gene expression data obtained in a controlled environment from the 34 lines was correlated to traits by different similarity indices, including Pearson and Spearman, as well as DUO, which calculates the co-occurrence between high and low values for gene expression and trait. Our study linked transcripts to traits such as yield, growth rate, high laying tubers, late and tuber blight, tuber greening and early flowering. We found several transcripts associated to late blight resistance and transcripts encoding receptors were associated to Dickeya solani susceptibility. Transcript levels of a UBX-domain protein was negatively associated to yield and a GLABRA2 expression modulator was negatively associated to growth rate.Conclusion: In our study, we identify 100’s of transcripts, putatively linked based on expression with 17 traits of potato, representing both well-known and novel associations. This approach can be used to link the transcriptome to traits. We explore the possibility of associating the level of transcript expression from controlled, optimal environments to traits in a progeny population with different methods introducing the application of DUO for the first time on transcriptome data. We verify the expression pattern for five of the putative transcript markers in another progeny population.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

Evaluation of “Tight Oil” Well Performance and Completion Practices in the Powder River Basin - “Time Slice” Analysis

The objective of this paper is to assess how well completion practices and well performance have evolved over time (“time slices”) in the tight sands and shales of the Powder River Basin (PRB). This information can provide a foundation for helping operators define more effective well completion practices and thus optimize well performance in an emerging “tight oil” basin. To start, the authors assembled a “database” containing well completion practices, production data, and geologic information for more than 800 horizontal (Hz) wells targeting three “tight oil” formations -- Turner, Frontier, and Mowry--placed on production in the past dozen years. To control for the impact of geologic and reservoir properties on well performance, the authors defined 12 geologically distinct areas (“partitions”) for the Turner, Frontier, and Mowry Shale in the Powder River Basin (4 partitions in each formation). This paper discusses the methodology for establishing “time slices” for each partition within each of the three “tight oil” formations, including (1) taking out, to the extent practical, the effects of geology by partitioning the three “tight oil” formations based on their geologic parameters; (2) using type curves and estimated ultimate recoveries (EURs) to establish a reliable measure of well performance; and (3) rigorously inspecting the production and well completion data to assure a quality dataset. Partition #2, a high thermal maturity area of the Frontier Sandstone in the western Powder River Basin, helps illustrate the results of the study. Using a dataset of 55 Hz wells, the study found that well performance has steadily improved, with oil EURs increasing from 180 MBbl in 2012-13 to 290 MBbl in 2018-19. Much of this improvement was due to the use of longer Hz laterals, increasing notably from 3,765 ft in 2012-13 to 10,260 ft in 2018-19. More intensive completion practices contributed, as well. For example, the number of frac stages more than doubled, from 17 to 35, and proppant concentrations increased from 1,060 lbs/ft to 1,320 lbs/ft. Finally, the data show diminishing returns to longer laterals and more intensive completion practices. For example, the key performance measure of oil EUR per 1,000 ft of lateral is decreasing. For 2012-13, Hz wells recovered 50 MBbl of oil per 1,000 ft of lateral while the more recent 2018-19 Hz wells only provide 30 MBbl of oil per 1,000 ft of lateral. Considerable insight can be gained by using “time slices” and geologic partitioning to better understand the relationship between changes in well drilling and completion practices and changes in well performance in emerging “tight oil” plays. The results from this study can also serve as a foundation for subsequent, more intense efforts involving data analytics for defining more optimum well completion practices targeting specified geologic settings and formations.

02 PETROLEUM↗
DOE OSTI2025

Education for PV Modeling Professionals: Observations from the 2025 PVPMC Workshop

We surveyed professionals in the photovoltaic industry to understand interests in education and training for performance modeling of solar power systems. We found that most professionals are self-taught and rely on a variety of public sources of technical materials. Available formal education, such as courses or certification programs, either lacks detail or is focused on software user training. Responses indicate several opportunities to create public resources that would benefit professional learning for solar power system modeling: • Create a glossary of terms and common variable names. • Develop guidance on uncertainty analysis in the context of solar power systems modeling. • Assemble a catalog of available educational materials and data sources.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

A Play-Based Exploration of CO 2 Storage in the Illinois Basin (Final Technical Report)

This report documents the results of "A Play-Based Exploration of CO₂ Storage in the Illinois Basin" (DE-FE0032366), a project funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management and conducted by the Illinois State Geological Survey (ISGS) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in partnership with Visage Energy. The project adapted play-based exploration (PBE), a systematic basin-scale evaluation methodology from the petroleum industry, to screen areas of Illinois for commercial geologic carbon storage (GCS) in Cambro-Ordovician strata. The traditional play concept was expanded to encompass three play element groups, subsurface geologic factors, surface features, and societal factors, yielding 24 play elements with defensible suitability criteria applied through a five-tier classification scheme. An integrated geospatial database was assembled from ISGS, MGSC, MRCI, NATCARB, and public data sources, supported by significant data-improvement work including correction of legacy well locations, digitization of more than 1,300 well construction records using the DOE CATALOG team's OGRRE tool, compilation of a statewide 2D seismic database, and production of a refined fault and fold geodatabase.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Sporophyte Stage Genes Exhibit Stronger Selection Than Gametophyte Stage Genes in Haplodiplontic Giant Kelp

Macrocystis pyrifera (giant kelp), a haplodiplontic brown macroalga that alternates between a macroscopic diploid (sporophyte) and a microscopic haploid (gametophyte) phase, provides an ideal system to investigate how ploidy background affects the evolutionary history of a gene. In M. pyrifera , the same genome is subjected to different selective pressures and environments as it alternates between haploid and diploid life stages. We assembled M. pyrifera gene models using available expression data and validated 8,292 genes models using the model alga Ectocarpus siliculosus . Differential expression analysis identified gene models expressed in either or both the haploid and diploid life stages while functional annotation identified processes enriched in each stage. Genes expressed preferentially or exclusively in the gametophyte stage were found to have higher nucleotide diversity (π = 2.3 × 10 –3 and 2.8 × 10 –3 , respectively) than those for sporophytes (π = 1.1 × 10 –3 and 1 × 10 –3 , respectively). While gametophyte-biased genes show faster sequence evolution, the sequence evolution exhibits less signatures of adaptations when compared to sporophyte-biased genes. Our findings contrast the standing masking hypothesis, which predicts higher standing genetic variation at the sporophyte stage, and support the strength of expression theory, which posits that genes expressed more strongly are expected to evolve slower. We argue that the sporophyte stage undergoes more stringent selection compared with the gametophyte stage, which carries a heavy genetic load associated with broadcast spawning. Furthermore, using whole-genome sequencing, we confirm the strong population structure in wild M. pyrifera populations previously established using microsatellite markers, and estimate population genetic parameters, such as pairwise genetic diversity and Tajima’s D , important for conservation and domestication of M. pyrifera .

Molano, Gary↗
NASA NTRS1972

The Bosch process.

Many previous studies have been carried out to elucidate certain aspects of the Bosch process wherein CO2 is reacted over an iron catalyst to form carbon and water at temperatures around 1100 F. These results are assembled, and with the aid of new experimental data, are used to analyze the various reactions involved. It is shown that CO2 and H2 will not usually react to deposit carbon unless water is removed in a recycle loop. The critical importance of large catalyst areas is stressed relative to catalyst pretreatment processes. It is shown that in most operating Bosch reactions, mass transfer controls the rate of reaction, and it is suggested that the carbon filaments found are the expected result of such a rate limiting process. Typical recycle gas mixtures are considered, and maximum water yields are determined from various cases. A few suggestions are made to improve Bosch reaction performance, and a number of unresolved problems are noted.

Meissner, H. P.↗
NASA NTRS1974

MSFC Skylab Apollo Telescope Mount thermal control system mission evaluation

The Skylab Saturn Workshop Assembly was designed to expand the knowledge of manned earth orbital operations and accomplish a multitude of scientific experiments. The Apollo Telescope Mount (ATM), a module of the Skylab Saturn Workshop Assembly, was the first manned solar observatory to successfully observe, monitor, and record the structure and behavior of the sun outside the earth's atmosphere. The ATM contained eight solar telescopes that recorded solar phenomena in X-ray, ultraviolet, white light, and hydrogen alpha regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. In addition, the ATM contained the Saturn Workshop Assembly's pointing and attitude control system, a data and communication system, and a solar array/rechargeable battery power system. This document presents the overall ATM thermal design philosophy, premission and mission support activity, and the mission thermal evaluation. Emphasis is placed on premission planning and orbital performance with particular attention on problems encountered during the mission. ATM thermal performance was satisfactory throughout the mission. Although several anomalies occurred, no failure was directly attributable to a deficiency in the thermal design.

Hueter, U.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) safety

Bibliography, assembled from computer search of NASA Aerospace Safety Data Bank, including title of report, author, abstract, source, description of figures, key references, and key words or subject terms. Publication is indexed by key subjects and by authors. Items are relevant to design engineers and safety specialists.

Ordin, P. M.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Space station systems analysis study. Part 2, Volume 3: Appendixes, Book 1. Program requirements documentation

The objective elements representative of the kinds of space activities that will be supported by the space construction base (SCB) are discussed in (1) a brief mission overview including the primary purpose and general objectives; (2) descriptions of the processes involved (where applicable), the mission hardware, the principal activities to be undertaken, the test requirements, and the principal tests; and (3) the SCB requirements including such items as special devices (e.g., fabrication modules, assembly or construction fixtures, cranes, and airlocks), power, data management and communications, waste management, environmental control, safety, and logistics. Each program option is then described in terms of the objective elements it supports, its orbit, the general makeup of the SCB, the transportation approach, and the program schedule goals. The specific requirements that are imposed on the SCB in order to support program option L are given.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1978

Extreme ultraviolet composite spectra of representative solar features

The spectral identifications and absolute intensities of lines in the EUV spectrum for various solar features, such as the quiet sun, active regions, coronal holes, and the off-limb corona, are presented and discussed. Composite spectra have been assembled and processed from the ATM ultraviolet spectrometer data with a spectral resolution of 1.6 A over the range 280-1350 A. These spectra represent a self-consistent set of observations with good photometric calibration, in which intercomparison of intensities from different regions is used to assist in line identifications and to draw general conclusions on average physical conditions in the solar atmosphere. The quiet-sun line intensities obtained near solar minimum are compared with OSO 6 results near solar maximum to provide an estimate for the changes over the solar cycle.

Vernazza, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Space telescope - The next generation

The command handling approach as applied to fine guidance sensor guide star acquisition is described in order to illustrate the flexibility it provides to users of the Space Telescope. User control of pointing operations is detailed, and the pointing control system/fine guidance system interface is depicted along with the guide star acquisition sequence. Reaction wheel interaction with vehicle structural modes and the rate gyro assembly noise level are discussed and some test data are shown.

Dougherty, H.↗