Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Small systems”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 883 records · Page 49
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2014

Ranking of small scale proposals for water system repair using the Rapid Impact Assessment Matrix (RIAM)

Environmental impacts of small scale projects are often assessed poorly, or not assessed at all. This paper examines the usability of the Rapid Impact Assessment Matrix (RIAM) as a tool to prioritize project proposals for small scale water restoration projects in relation to proposals' potential to improve the environment. The RIAM scoring system was used to assess and rank the proposals based on their environmental impacts, the costs of the projects to repair the harmful impacts, and the size of human population living around the sites. A four-member assessment group (The expert panel) gave the RIAM-scores to the proposals. The assumed impacts of the studied projects at the Eastern Finland water systems were divided into the ecological and social impacts. The more detailed assessment categories of the ecological impacts in this study were impacts on landscape, natural state, and limnology. The social impact categories were impacts to recreational use of the area, fishing, industry, population, and economy. These impacts were scored according to their geographical and social significance, their magnitude of change, their character, permanence, reversibility, and cumulativeness. The RIAM method proved to be an appropriate and recommendable method for the small-scale assessment and prioritizing of project proposals. If the assessments are well documented, the RIAM can be a method for easy assessing and comparison of the various kinds of projects. In the studied project proposals there were no big surprises in the results: the best ranks were received by the projects, which were assumed to return watersheds toward their original state.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2019

Low-cost Oxygen (LCO) for Small-scale Modular Gasification Systems

Development of a sorbent-based vacuum pressure swing adsorption oxygen production technology was undertaken. Newly developed perovskite ceramic sorbent materials have a higher O 2 adsorption capacity, lower operating temperatures (550-600 °C vs 800-850 °C), and an order of magnitude faster desorption rate than those used in earlier development efforts. These performance advancements lead to substantial savings in capital investment and operational costs. Cost of producing oxygen using the new sorbents can be considerably lower than a cryogenic air separation unit. Development of these new sorbents and design and fabrication of a pilot demonstration unit (PDU) encompassed lab-scale work, bench-scale testing and development, demonstration-scale sorbent manufacturing, procurement of plant components, and final assembly and testing of the PDU. The goal of the project was to develop an advanced oxygen production technology based on improved perovskite ceramic sorbents that results in significantly lower oxygen cost compared to commercial state of the art technologies. The pilot demonstration unit was constructed and operated, but the performance of the scaled-up sorbent and the PDU was hindered by the mechanical problems with the system. When the problems are accounted for, the results show that the PDU would be able to produce 95% oxygen at a rate exceeding one ton per day. The same mechanical problems also mean that the PDU system was not fully optimized, which would increase the productivity as well.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2013

First application of liquid-metal-jet sources for small-animal imaging: High-resolution CT and phase-contrast tumor demarcation

Purpose: Small-animal studies require images with high spatial resolution and high contrast due to the small scale of the structures. X-ray imaging systems for small animals are often limited by the microfocus source. Here, the authors investigate the applicability of liquid-metal-jet x-ray sources for such high-resolution small-animal imaging, both in tomography based on absorption and in soft-tissue tumor imaging based on in-line phase contrast. Methods: The experimental arrangement consists of a liquid-metal-jet x-ray source, the small-animal object on a rotating stage, and an imaging detector. The source-to-object and object-to-detector distances are adjusted for the preferred contrast mechanism. Two different liquid-metal-jet sources are used, one circulating a Ga/In/Sn alloy and the other an In/Ga alloy for higher penetration through thick tissue. Both sources are operated at 40-50 W electron-beam power with {approx}7 {mu}m x-ray spots, providing high spatial resolution in absorption imaging and high spatial coherence for the phase-contrast imaging. Results: High-resolution absorption imaging is demonstrated on mice with CT, showing 50 {mu}m bone details in the reconstructed slices. High-resolution phase-contrast soft-tissue imaging shows clear demarcation of mm-sized tumors at much lower dose than is required in absorption. Conclusions: This is the first application of liquid-metal-jet x-ray sources for whole-body small-animal x-ray imaging. In absorption, the method allows high-resolution tomographic skeletal imaging with potential for significantly shorter exposure times due to the power scalability of liquid-metal-jet sources. In phase contrast, the authors use a simple in-line arrangement to show distinct tumor demarcation of few-mm-sized tumors. This is, to their knowledge, the first small-animal tumor visualization with a laboratory phase-contrast system.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS2019

Effectiveness of Redundant Communications Systems in Maintaining Operational Control of Small Unmanned Aircraft

As a part of NASA’s Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Traffic Management (UTM) research, a test was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of the redundant Command and Control (C2) communications system for maintaining operational control of small UAS in the airspace over a rural area. In the test, operators set up a primary and a secondary UAS C2 communications system, sent a maneuver command to an Unmanned Aircraft (UA) with and without a functioning primary system, then verified the execution of the sent command to confirm the operator control. Operators reported that the tested redundancy configurations were effective in maintaining operational control in the test airspace over rural locations. Since the next phase of UTM research focuses on operations in an urban area where an increased level of Radio Frequency (RF) activities occur compared to a rural area, four recommendations are provided to sustain the effectiveness of redundancy in urban operations. First, the operator should not include C2 systems that use the industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) radio bands in redundancy configurations. Second, the operator should verify the RF characteristics of the intended operation area and examine the area’s radio noise floor. Third, the operator should monitor the availability, quality, and reliability of communications services used by a redundant system. Fourth, the small UAS community should adopt a standard set of contingency steps to handle the loss of C2 communications so that such events are managed in a consistent manner across the airspace. The insights from the test will be used to accommodate the FAA’s UAS integration effort.

Jung, Jaewoo↗
DOE OSTI2016

Spectral characteristics of background error covariance and multiscale data assimilation

The spatial resolutions of numerical atmospheric and oceanic circulation models have steadily increased over the past decades. Horizontal grid spacing down to the order of 1 km is now often used to resolve cloud systems in the atmosphere and sub-mesoscale circulation systems in the ocean. These fine resolution models encompass a wide range of temporal and spatial scales, across which dynamical and statistical properties vary. In particular, dynamic flow systems for small scales can become spatially localized and temporarily intermittent. An analysis shows that the background correlation length scale is larger than 75 km for streamfunctions, even for a 2-km resolution model, and larger than 25 km for water vapor mixing ratios. The theoretical analyses suggest that such correlation length scales prevent the currently used data assimilation schemes from constraining spatial scales smaller than 150 km for streamfunctions and 50 km for water vapor mixing ratios. These results highlight the necessity of fundamentally modifying the currently used data assimilation algorithm for assimilating high-resolution observations into the aforementioned fine resolution models. A multiscale methodology based on scale decomposition is suggested, and challenges are discussed.

Li, Zhijin↗
DOE OSTI2018

Properties of coupled-cluster equations originating in excitation sub-algebras

In this paper we discuss properties of single-reference coupled cluster (CC) equations associated with the existence of nilpotent sub-algebras of excitations that allow one to represent CC equations in a hybrid fashion where the cluster amplitudes associated with these sub-algebras can be obtained by solving corresponding eigenvalue problem. For closed-shell formulations analyzed in this paper, the hybrid representation of CC equations provides a natural way for extending concepts behind actives-spaces and seniority numbers to provide more accurate description of electron correlation effects. Moreover, new representation can be utilized to re-define iterative algorithms used to solve CC equations, especially for though cases defined by the presence of strong static and dynamic correlation effects. We will also explore invariance properties associated with the nilpotent sub-algebras to define a new class of CC approximations referred in this paper to as the nilpotent-flow-based CC methods. We illustrate the performance of these methods on the example of ground- and excited-state calculations for commonly used small benchmark systems.

Kowalski, Karol↗
DOE OSTI2025

Common femtoscopic hadron-emission source in pp collisions at the LHC

The femtoscopic study of pairs of identical pions is particularly suited to investigate the effective source function of particle emission, due to the resulting Bose–Einstein correlation signal. In small collision systems at the LHC, pp in particular, the majority of the pions are produced in resonance decays, which significantly affect the profile and size of the source. In this work, we explicitly model this effect in order to extract the primordial source in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV from charged π–π correlations measured by ALICE. We demonstrate that the assumption of a Gaussian primordial source is compatible with the data and that the effective source, resulting from modifications due to resonances, is approximately exponential, as found in previous measurements at the LHC. The universality of hadron emission in pp collisions is further investigated by applying the same methodology to characterize the primordial source of K–p pairs. The size of the primordial source is evaluated as a function of the transverse mass (m T ) of the pairs, leading to the observation of a common scaling for both π–π and K–p, suggesting a collective effect. Further, the present results are compatible with the m T scaling of the p–p and p–Λ primordial source measured by ALICE in high multiplicity pp collisions, providing additional evidence for the presence of a common emission source for all hadrons in small collision systems at the LHC. This will allow the determination of the source function for any hadron–hadron pairs with high precision, granting access to the properties of the possible final-state interaction among pairs of less abundantly produced hadrons, such as strange or charmed particles.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Nonequilibrium effects and transverse spherocity in ultrarelativistic proton-nucleus collisions

We investigate the effects of nonequilibrium dynamics in small colliding systems by comparing a nonequilibrium transport approach, Parton-Hadron-String Dynamics (PHSD), with a (2+1)-dimensional viscous hydrodynamic model, VISHNew. Focusing on p + Pb collisions at energies available at the Large Hadron Collider, we extract the initial conditions for the hydrodynamic model from PHSD, in order to reduce the impact of the early out-of-equilibrium dynamics and focus on the traces of nonequilibrium in the ensuing medium evolution. We find that in the transport approach quantities like energy density and bulk viscous pressure are highly inhomogeneous on the transverse plane during the whole evolution, whereas the hydrodynamic simulations dissolve more efficiently the initial spatial irregularities, still keeping a high degree of inhomogeneity due to the smaller size and lifetime of the medium produced in p + Pb collisions with respect to heavy-ion reactions. As a first step that will help to identify the impact of these nonequilibrium effects on final observables in proton-nucleus collisions, we perform an analysis of the transverse spherocity, an event-shape observable able to distinguish between jetty and isotropic configurations of transverse momenta. We found that the spherocity distribution in PHSD is slightly shifted towards the isotropic limit with respect to the hydrodynamic result. Even though this dissimilarity is partially due to the difference in the final charged particle production, it mainly comes from the different description within the two frameworks of the medium produced in small colliding systems. This finding supports the idea that multidifferential measurements, such as those based on event categorization according to multiplicity and spherocity, are useful to study final-state observables in ultrarelativistic proton-nucleus collisions.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

The effects of a stannous chloride-based water treatment system in a mercury contaminated stream

Remediation of mercury (Hg)-contaminated watersheds is often challenging because of the complex nature of Hg biogeochemistry. Stream ecosystems have been shown to be particularly susceptible to Hg contamination and bioaccumulation in fish. Decreasing total Hg loading to stream systems, however, has shown variable performance in decreasing Hg concentrations in fish tissues. In this study, we assess the impacts of an innovative treatment system in reducing releases of Hg to a small stream system in the southeastern United States. The treatment system, installed in 2007, removes Hg from water using tin (Sn) (II) chloride followed by air stripping. Mercury concentrations in the receiving stream, Tims Branch, decreased from > 100 to ~10 ng/L in the four years following treatment, and Hg body burdens in redfin pickerel ( Esox americanus ) decreased by 70 % at the most contaminated site. Tin concentrations in water and fish increased significantly in the tributary leading to Tims Branch, but concentrations remain below levels of concern for human health or ecological risks. While other studies have shown that Sn may be environmentally methylated and methyltin can transfer its methyl group to Hg, results from our field studies and sediment incubation experiments suggest that the added Sn to the Tims Branch watershed is not contributing to MeHg production and bioaccumulation. The stannous chloride treatment system installed at Tims Branch was effective at removing Hg inputs and reducing Hg bioaccumulation in the stream with minimal impacts on the environment due to the increased Sn in the system.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2018

Charge-patching method for the calculation of electronic structure of polypeptides

Theoretical study of the electronic structures of protein is a fundamental challenge in computational biochemistry due to the large size of the systems. The electronic structure of a protein is important for some of the important protein functionalities, such as photosynthesis. Here, we explored the charge-patching method to calculate the electronic structure of polypeptides. This method generates the charge densities of the systems by patching the charge motifs calculated from small prototype systems. The method was tested on a range of polypeptides, including the glycine polypeptide in 2 7 -ribbon, α-helix, 3 10 -helix, and β-strand structures. After the charge density profiles of these systems were obtained, the electronic structures of these glycine polypeptides were further calculated based on density functional theory (DFT) using a folded-spectrum method. The highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) were analyzed and compared with conventional direct DFT calculations. The charge-patching method results were found to be in good agreement with the directed DFT results.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2014

Transits of planets with small intervals in circumbinary systems

Transit times around single stars can be described well by a linear ephemeris. However, transit times in circumbinary systems are influenced both by the gravitational perturbations and the orbital phase variations of the central binary star. Adopting a coplanar analog of Kepler-16 as an example, we find that circumbinary planets can transit the same star more than once during a single planetary orbit, a phenomenon we call 'tight transits.' In certain geometric architecture, the projected orbital velocity of the planet and the secondary star can approach zero and change sign, resulting in very long transits and/or 2-3 transits during a single binary orbit. Whether tight transits are possible for a particular system depends primarily on the binary mass ratio and the orbital architecture of both the binary and the planet. We derive a time-dependent criterion to judge when tight transits are possible for any circumbinary system. These results are verified with full dynamical integrations that also reveal other tight transit characteristics, i.e., the transit durations and the intervals between tight transits. For the seven currently known circumbinary systems, we estimate these critical parameters both analytically and numerically. Due to the mutual inclination between the planet and the binary, tight transits can only occur across the less massive star B in Kepler-16, -34, -35, and -47 (for both planets). The long-term average frequency of tight transits (compared to typical transits) for Kepler-16, -34, and -35 are estimated to be several percent. Using full numerical integrations, the next tight transit for each system is predicted and the soonest example appears to be Kepler-47b and -47c, which are likely to have tight transits before 2025. These unique and valuable events often deserve special observational scrutiny.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2020

SAM™ (System Advisor Model™) [SWR-16-02, SWR-10-13]

See the SAM™ website to build a desktop version of the National Laboratory of the Rockies' (NLR's) System Advisor Model™ (SAM). https://sam.nlr.gov/ The System Advisor Model™ (SAM™) is a free techno-economic software model that facilitates decision-making for people in the renewable energy industry: -Project managers and engineers -Policy analysts -Technology developers -Researchers SAM can model many types of renewable energy systems: -Photovoltaic systems, from small residential rooftop to large utility-scale systems -Battery storage with Lithium ion, lead acid, or flow batteries for front-of-meter or behind-the-meter applications -Concentrating Solar Power systems for electric power generation, including parabolic trough, power tower, and linear Fresnel -Industrial process heat from parabolic trough and linear Fresnel systems -Wind power, from individual turbines to large wind farms -Marine energy wave and tidal systems -Solar water heating -Fuel cells -Geothermal power generation -Biomass combustion for power generation -High concentration photovoltaic systems SAM's financial models are for the following types of projects: -Residential and commercial projects where the renewable energy system is on the customer side of the electric utility meter (behind the meter), and power from the system is used to reduce the customer's electricity bill. -Power purchase agreement (PPA) projects where the system is connected to the grid at an interconnection point, and the project earns revenue through power sales. The project may be owned and operated by a single owner or by a partnership involving a flip or leaseback arrangement. -Third party ownership where the system is installed on the customer's (host) property and owned by a separate entity (developer), and the host is compensated for power generated by the system through either a PPA or lease agreement. For a more detailed description of SAM, see Blair et al. (2018), System Advisor Model (SAM) General Description (Version 2017.9.5), NREL/TP-6A20-70414. https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy18osti/70414.pdf

Ryberg, David↗
DOE OSTI2015

Update on Small Modular Reactors Dynamic System Modeling Tool: Web Application

Previous reports focused on the development of component and system models as well as end-to-end system models using Modelica and Dymola for two advanced reactor architectures: (1) Advanced Liquid Metal Reactor and (2) fluoride high-temperature reactor (FHR). The focus of this report is the release of the first beta version of the web-based application for model use and collaboration, as well as an update on the FHR model. The web-based application allows novice users to configure end-to-end system models from preconfigured choices to investigate the instrumentation and controls implications of these designs and allows for the collaborative development of individual component models that can be benchmarked against test systems for potential inclusion in the model library. A description of this application is provided along with examples of its use and a listing and discussion of all the models that currently exist in the library.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Searching for Parton Energy Loss in Quark-Gluon Plasma Droplets (Technical Report)

This technical report summarizes the main accomplishments of the research performed under the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science, Early Career Award (ECA), grant number DE-SC0018117, from 9/1/2017 to 8/31/2022, with Prof. Dennis Perepelitsa as the single PI. The grant proposal was to investigate the quark-gluon plasma (QGP) created in ultrarelativistic collisions of large nuclei with the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and to prepare for this physics with the sPHENIX experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). In particular, the focus was on QGP regions of different sizes and shapes, including the tradtional “large” collision systems such as Pb+Pb as well as small collision systems such as p+Pb, where there has been evidence of QGP “flow” but not yet the accompanying energy loss from hard-scattered partons traversing the QGP medium. Additionally, a particular tool was the use of photon+jet events, where the photon is unaffected by the QGP and thus serves as the “control” while the jet (the result of parton fragmentation) is the “probe” of the QGP. The research was successfully carried out, resulting in over ten publications of experimental measurements in peer-reviewed journals, and the significant training of junior scientists.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗