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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 91 records · Page 5
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1996

Experimental and Computational Investigations of Phase Change Thermal Energy Storage Canisters

Two sets of experimental data are examined in this paper, ground and space experiments, for cylindrical canisters with thermal energy storage applications. A 2-D computational model was developed for unsteady heat transfer (conduction and radiation) with phase-change. The radiation heat transfer employed a finite volume method. The following was found in this study: (1) Ground Experiments: the convection heat transfer is equally important to that of the radiation heat transfer; radiation heat transfer in the liquid is found to be more significant than that in the void; including the radiation heat transfer in the liquid resulted in lower temperatures (about 15 K) and increased the melting time (about 10 min.); generally, most of the heat flow takes place in the radial direction. (2) Space Experiments: radiation heat transfer in the void is found to be more significant than that in the liquid (exactly the opposite to the Ground Experiments); accordingly, the location and size of the void affects the performance considerably; including the radiation heat transfer in the void resulted in lower temperatures (about 40 K).

Ibrahim, Mounir↗
NASA NTRS2015

Turbo-Brayton Power Converter

Future NASA space missions will require advanced thermal-to-electric power converters that are reliable, efficient, and lightweight. Creare, LLC, is developing a turbo-Brayton power converter that offers high efficiency and specific power. The converter employs gas bearings to provide maintenance free, long-life operation. Discrete components can be packaged to fit optimally with other subsystems, and the converter's continuous gas flow can communicate directly with remote heat sources and heat rejection surfaces without the need for ancillary heat-transfer components and intermediate flow loops. Creare has completed detailed analyses, trade studies, fabrication trials, and preliminary designs for the components and converter assembly. The company is fabricating and testing a breadboard converter.

Breedlove, Jeffrey↗
DOE OSTI2024

Highly Ordered Eutectic Mesostructures via Template‐Directed Solidification within Thermally Engineered Templates

Template-directed self-assembly of solidifying eutectics results in emergence of unique microstructures due to diffusion constraints and thermal gradients imposed by the template. Here, the importance of selecting the template material based on its conductivity to control heat transfer between the template and the solidifying eutectic, and thus the thermal gradients near the solidification front, is demonstrated. Simulations elucidate the relationship between the thermal properties of the eutectic and template and the resultant microstructure. The overarching finding is that templates with low thermal conductivities are generally advantageous for forming highly organized microstructures. When electrochemically porosified silicon pillars (thermal conductivity < 0.3 Wm −1 K −1 ) are used as the template into which an AgCl-KCl eutectic is solidified, 99% of the unit cells in the solidified structure exhibit the same pattern. In contrast, when higher thermal conductivity crystalline silicon pillars (≈100 Wm −1 K −1 ) are utilized, the expected pattern is only present in 50% of the unit cells. The thermally engineered template results in mesostructures with tunable optical properties and reflectances nearly identical to the simulated reflectances of perfect structures, indicating highly ordered patterns are formed over large areas. This work highlights the importance of controlling heat flows in template-directed self-assembly of eutectics.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1999

A Study of Nucleate Boiling with Forced Convection in Microgravity

The ultimate objective of basic studies of flow boiling in microgravity is to improve the understanding of the processes involved, as manifested by the ability to predict its behavior. This is not yet the case for boiling heat transfer even in earth gravity, despite the considerable research activity over the past 30 years. The elements that constitute the nucleate boiling process - nucleation, growth, motion, and collapse of the vapor bubbles (if the bulk liquid is subcooled) - are common to both pool and flow boiling. It is well known that the imposition of bulk liquid motion affects the vapor bubble behavior relative to pool boiling, but does not appear to significantly influence the heat transfer. Indeed, it has been recommended in the past that empirical correlations or experimental data of pool boiling be used for design purposes with forced convection nucleate boiling. It is anticipated that such will most certainly not be possible for boiling in microgravity, based on observations made with pool boiling in microgravity. In earth gravity buoyancy will act to remove the vapor bubbles from the vicinity of the heater surface regardless of how much the imposed bulk velocity is reduced, depending, of course, on the geometry of the system. Vapor bubbles have been observed to dramatically increase in size in pool boiling in microgravity, and the heat flux at which dryout took place was reduced considerably below what is generally termed the critical heat flux (CHF) in earth gravity, depending on the bulk liquid subcooling. However, at heat flux levels below dryout, the nucleate pool boiling process was enhanced considerably over that in earth gravity, in spite of the large vapor bubbles formed in microgravity and perhaps as a consequence. These large vapor bubbles tended to remain in the vicinity of the heater surface, and the enhanced heat transfer appeared to be associated with the presence of what variously has been referred to as a liquid microlayer between the bubble and the heater surface. The enhancement of the boiling process with low velocities in earth gravity for those orientations producing the formation of a liquid macrolayer described above, accompanied by "sliding" vapor bubbles, has been demonstrated. The enhancement was presented as a function of orientation, subcooling, and heated length, while a criterion for the heat transfer for mixed natural/forced convection nucleate boiling was given previously. A major unknown in the prediction and application of flow boiling heat transfer in microgravity is the upper limit of the heat flux for the onset of dryout (or critical heat flux - CHF), for given conditions of fluid-heater surfaces, including geometry, system pressure and bulk liquid subcooling. It is clearly understood that the behavior in microgravity will be no different than on earth with sufficiently high flow velocities, and would require no space experimentation. However, the boundary at which this takes place is still an unknown. Previous results of CHF measurements were presented for low velocity flow boiling at various orientations in earth gravity as a function of flow velocity and bulk liquid subcooling, along with preliminary measurements of bubble residence times on a flat heater surface. This showed promise as a parameter to be used in modeling the CHF, both in earth gravity and in microgravity. The objective of the work here is to draw attention to and show results of current modeling efforts for the CHF, with low velocities in earth gravity at different orientations and subcoolings. Many geometrical possibilities for a heater surface exist in flowing boiling, with boiling on the inner and outer surfaces of tubes perhaps being the most common. If the vapor bubble residence time on and departure size from the heater surface bear a relationship to the CHF, as results to be given indicate, it is important that visualization of and access to vapor bubble growth be conveniently available for research purposes. In addition, it is desirable to reduce the number of variables as much as possible in a fundamental study. These considerations dictated the use of a flat heater surface, which is rectangular in shape, 1.91 cm by 3.81 cm (0.75 x 1.5 inches), consisting either of a 400 Angstrom thick semi-transparent gold film sputtered on a quartz substrate which serves simultaneously as a heater and a resistance thermometer, or a copper substrate of the same size. The heater substrate is a disc which can be rotated so that the heated length in the flow direction can be changed from 1.91 to 3.81 cm (0.75 to 1.5 inches). The fluid is R-113, and the velocities can be varied between 0.5 cm/s and 60 cm/s. For a sufficiently low velocity the CHF can be modeled reasonably well at various orientations by the correlation for pool boiling corrected for the influence of bulk liquid subcooling, multiplied by the square root of q, the angle relative to horizontal. This arises from equating buoyancy and drag forces in the inverted positions where the vapor bubbles are held against the heater surface as they slide. A distortion of the measurements relative to pool boiling occurs as the flow velocity increases. In modeling this effect at different levels of subcooling it appeared appropriate to estimate the volumetric rate of vapor generation, using measurements of bubble frequency (or residence time), void fraction and average bubble boundary layer thickness. These were determined with the use of a platinum hot wire probe 0.025 mm in diameter by 1.3 mm long, applying a constant current to distinguish between contact with liquid or vapor. Two-dimensional spatial variations are obtained with a special mechanism to resolve displacements in increments of 0.025 mm. From such measurements it was determined that the fraction of the surface heat transfer resulting in evaporation varies inversely with the subcooling correction factor for the CHF. The measured inverse bubble residence time is normalized relative to that predicted for an infinite horizontal flat plate at the CHF, and is correlated well with the CHF normalized relative to that for pool boiling, for various orientation angles and subcooling levels. This correspondence is then combined with a normalizing factor for the energy flux leaving the heater surface at the CHF and the computed bubble radius at departure, determined from the balance between the outward velocity of the interface due to evaporation and the buoyance induced velocity of the center of mass of the bubble. The product of the CHF and the corresponding residence time was determined to be a constant for all orientations at a given bulk flow velocity and liquid subcooling, and must be determined empirically for each velocity and subcooling at present. It then becomes possible to predict the CHF for the different orientations, velocities, and subcoolings. These are compared with normalized measurements of the CHF for velocities ranging from 4 cm/s to 55 cm/s, subcoolings from 2.8 to 22.2 K, over orientations angles of 360 degrees.

Merte, Herman, Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Thermal Modeling of Bridgman Crystal Growth

Heat Flow modeled for moving or stationary rod shaped sample inside directional-solidification furnace. Program effectively models one-dimensional heat flow in translating or motionless rod-shaped sample inside of directionalsolidification furnace in which adiabatic zone separates hot zone and cold zone. Applicable to systems for which Biot numbers in hot and cold zones are less than unity.

Cothran, E.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Experimental Measurement of Particle-to-Particle Heat Transfer in Nanoparticle Solids

Thermal conductivity in nanoparticle solids has been previously reported in the range of 0.1-1 W m -1 K -1 , which is a much smaller variation than the orders of magnitude differences achievable in electrical conductivity of similar systems. Both the low absolute magnitude of thermal conductivity and the relative insensitivity compared to electrical conductivity may be largely attributed to the poor interfacial thermal conductance of the many interfaces of the nanocrystal solid, but a direct experimental study of these interfaces is challenging. Here, in this work, we overcome this challenge via direct spectroscopic observation of heat flow within the components of a nanocrystal solid. These thermal transfers are studied by mixing two distinct types of particles: one that serves as a selectively excited antenna to inject heat and the other as the thermal acceptor to report the time-dependent change in temperature. Using transient spectroscopy, the equilibration between the heat donor and heat acceptor is observed to require similar to ~300 ps at room temperature, speeds up at reduced temperature, and has only weak sensitivity to the relative stoichiometry of the components or the intervening ligands. These results contrast strongly with the 10-20 ps time-scale of through-bond heat transfer at the ligand-particle surface and highlight the substantially lower interfacial thermal conductance of particle-to-particle transport without covalent bonding. It is also found, serendipitously, that the mixed composite films show an unexpected, substantially enhanced nonlinear absorption at the resonant wavelength of the plasmonic particles, which is tentatively attributed to a local field enhancement.

heat transfer↗
NASA NTRS1993

Particle injection and the structure of energetic-particle-modified shocks

A macroscopic 'self-consistent' nonlinear two-fluid model is developed for energetic-particle-modeled shocks. The model incorporates particle exchange between a thermal gas and an energetic population via a 'thermal leakage' mechanism. In the model, injection is regarded as a process whereby particles in the cooler thermal core of a total particle distribution are energized sufficiently to cross a 'momentum boundary' into the wings of the distribution. Particles in the wings are identified as 'energetic particles' or 'cosmic rays' and are assumed to propagate according to the diffusive transport equation of cosmic ray theory. Thermal particles are energized either as a result of adiabatic compression in a decelerating flow or directly via anomalous heating within a subshock. It is shown that the nature and model of particle injection directly affects the nature and dynamics of the shock, and hence the efficiency of particle acceleration, and that the shock itself regulates particle injection dynamically.

Zank, G. P.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Thermally anisotropic composites for thermal management in building environments

An improved system for thermal management is provided. The system includes thermally anisotropic composites coupled with a thermal loop to re-direct, reduce, and shape heat flows through a building envelope, having the potential to (1) significantly reduce envelope-generated heating and cooling loads and (2) provide grid services such as decreasing peak loads and shaping energy use. In one embodiment, the thermal management system includes an anisotropic composite that consists of alternating layers of thermal insulation and thermally conductive materials that are immediately adjacent to each other, including polyisocyanurate foam boards and aluminum sheets. The thermal management system also includes a thermal loop along the long edge or the entire the perimeter of the anisotropic composite, the thermal loop having dynamically controlled or floating temperature that is maintained at lower than an outdoor ambient temperature (for cooling). An interior wall structure is inwardly adjacent to the anisotropic composite.

Shrestha, Som S.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Comparison of visualized turbine endwall secondary flows and measured heat transfer patterns

Various flow visualization techniques were used to define the secondary flows near the endwall in a large heat transfer data. A comparison of the visualized flow patterns and the measured Stanton number distribution was made for cases where the inlet Reynolds number and exit Mach number were matched. Flows were visualized by using neutrally buoyant helium-filled soap bubbles, by using smoke from oil soaked cigars, and by a few techniques using permanent marker pen ink dots and synthetic wintergreen oil. Details of the horseshoe vortex and secondary flows can be directly compared with heat transfer distribution. Near the cascade entrance there is an obvious correlation between the two sets of data, but well into the passage the effect of secondary flow is not as obvious.

Gaugler, R. E.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Comparison of visualized turbine endwall secondary flows and measured heat transfer patterns

Various flow visualization techniques were used to define the seondary flows near the endwall in a large heat transfer data. A comparison of the visualized flow patterns and the measured Stanton number distribution was made for cases where the inlet Reynolds number and exit Mach number were matched. Flows were visualized by using neutrally buoyant helium-filled soap bubbles, by using smoke from oil soaked cigars, and by a few techniques using permanent marker pen ink dots and synthetic wintergreen oil. Details of the horseshoe vortex and secondary flows can be directly compared with heat transfer distribution. Near the cascade entrance there is an obvious correlation between the two sets of data, but well into the passage the effect of secondary flow is not as obvious. Previously announced in STAR as N83-14435

Gaugler, R. E.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Plasma Heating and Flow in an Auroral Arc

We report direct observations of the three-dimensional velocity distribution of selected topside ionospheric ion species in an auroral context between 500 and 550 km altitude. We find heating transverse to the local magnetic field in the core plasma, with significant heating of 0(+), He(+), and H(+), as well as tail heating events that occur independently of the core heating. The 0(+) velocity distribution departs from bi-Maxwellian, at one point exhibiting an apparent ring-like shape. However, these observations are shown to be aliased within the auroral arc by temporal variations that arc not well-resolved by the core plasma instrument. The dc electric field measurements reveal superthermal plasma drifts that are consistent with passage of the payload through a series of vortex structures or a larger scale circularly polarized hydromagnetic wave structure within the auroral arc. The dc electric field also shows that impulsive solitary structures, with a frequency spectrum in the ion cyclotron frequency range, occur in close correlation with the tail heating events. The drift and core heating observations lend support to the idea that core ion heating is driven at low altitudes by rapid convective motions imposed by the magnetosphere. Plasma wave emissions at ion frequencies and parallel heating of the low-energy electron plasma are observed in conjunction with this auroral form; however, the conditions are much more complex than those typically invoked in previous theoretical treatments of superthermal frictional heating. The observed ion heating within the arc clearly exceeds that expected from frictional heating for the light ion species H(+) and He(+), and the core distributions also contain hot transverse tails, indicating an anomalous transverse heat source.

Moore, T. E.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Transport of gyration-dominated space plasmas of thermal origin. I - Generalized transport equations

Grad's 20-moment set of transport equations has been examined in the limit of strong external magnetic fields. This simplified set of equations describes the transport of mass and parallel momentum as well as the transport of parallel and perpendicular energy and heat flow in the magnetic field direction. The effect of collisions was calculated assuming a modified relaxation model. Wave speeds and normal modes of the simplified set of equations were examined for an ion and electron gas. It was found that four of the ten normal modes are electron thermal-heat waves which approximately decouple from the six ion waves in the system. When low-frequency waves are considered (slow-wave approximation), this allows the electron energy and heat flow equations to be solved separately from the ion equations and in a time-independent fashion. When this was done, it was found that, under certain conditions, these equations predict an infinite electron perpendicular temperature, Te-perpendicular, in the collisionless regime. This occurs whenever Te-perpendicular is greater than the parallel temperature, at any point along collisionless and diverging magnetic field lines. When applied appropriately, the significantly simplified set of equations derived here are well suited for application to a large variety of problems in planetary ionospheres and magnetospheres.

Gombosi, Tamas I.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Optimization of Triply Periodic Minimal Surface Heat Exchanger to Achieve Compactness, High Efficiency, and Low-Pressure Drop

With advancements in additive manufacturing (AM) techniques, high-quality triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) structures can now be produced. TPMS walled heat exchangers (HX) hold significant potential for industrial applications and are receiving increasing attention. This paper explores the impact of various TPMS design variables on flow and thermal performance to optimize TPMS heat exchangers for compactness, high efficiency, and low pressure drop. The design variables examined include the type of TPMS lattice, unit cell size, wall thickness, aspect ratio, TPMS orientation, and equivalent thickness. The study reveals that the flow and heat transfer performance of TPMS structures are significantly affected by these design variables. For the Gyroid, Diamond, and SplitP lattices, performance is nearly identical when the surface-to-volume ratio is kept constant. The average velocity of the fluid in the TPMS HX should be 0.3 m/s. The corresponding Re is between 300~800. Thin wall thickness, small equivalent thickness, and flat lattice configurations can significantly reduce pressure drop while maintaining the overall heat transfer coefficient. Additionally, the angle between the flow direction and TPMS orientation can increase pressure drop. Three aluminum heat exchangers were successfully printed using an AM machine, and testing results are comparable with theoretical prediction.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2025

Comparative Analysis of HEATNETS for Geothermal Network Performance

Thermal energy networks (TENs), also known as 5th generation district energy systems, or more specifically geothermal networks when exchanging heat with geothermal boreholes, are an important technology for decarbonization. In these networks an ambient loop connects buildings and thermal sources, such as a borehole field, to exchange energy and maintain a desired loop temperature. Water-source heat pumps are used at the buildings to connect to the ambient or thermal loop to meet to the building heating and cooling loads and maintain comfort. A semi-transient, reduced-order technical model and techno-economic model, called HEATNETS, has been developed at NREL that captures the flow of energy around a TEN. In this work, a comparison of the HEATNETS technical model and a well-known coding platform used for modeling geothermal networks, TRNSYS, has been completed for a proposed geothermal network as a verification and validation process. Hourly data provided from the TRNSYS simulation included building loads, pumping power, heat pump power, temperature entering and leaving the borehole field, and mass flow rates. The hourly borehole temperatures were used to create a linear regression model utilized in HEATNETS to estimate the borehole field heat exchange. The building loads and mass flow rates were direct inputs to HEATNETS while the pumping power, heat pump power, borehole temperatures, and coefficients of performance were all simulated and calculated by HEATNETS, allowing for direct comparison of the thermal energy transfer HEATNETS considers the full process from design inputs to economic outputs and can provide modeling options for high-level initial system design and operational optimization. This study focuses on a validation of HEATNETS using results from TRNSYS. HEATNETS is not intended to replace other modeling tools, but this work demonstrates, via a comparison with an industry standard code, that HEATNETS can be a unique, high-level and rapid modeling tool for estimating the performance of a full geothermal network system.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Comparative Analysis of HEATNETS for Geothermal Network Performance: Preprint

Thermal energy networks (TENs), also known as 5th generation district energy systems, or more specifically geothermal networks when exchanging heat with geothermal boreholes, are an important technology for decarbonization. In these networks an ambient loop connects buildings and thermal sources, such as a borehole field, to exchange energy and maintain a desired loop temperature. Water-source heat pumps are used at the buildings to connect to the ambient or thermal loop to meet to the building heating and cooling loads and maintain comfort. A semi-transient, reduced-order technical model and techno-economic model, called HEATNETS, has been developed at NREL that captures the flow of energy around a TEN. In this work, a comparison of the HEATNETS technical model and a well-known coding platform used for modeling geothermal networks, TRNSYS, has been completed for a proposed geothermal network as a verification process. Hourly data provided from the TRNSYS simulation included building loads, pumping power, heat pump power, temperature entering and leaving the borehole field, and mass flow rates. The hourly borehole temperatures were used to create a linear regression model utilized in HEATNETS to estimate the borehole field heat exchange. The building loads and mass flow rates were direct inputs to HEATNETS while the pumping power, heat pump power, borehole temperatures, and coefficients of performance were all simulated and calculated by HEATNETS, allowing for direct comparison of the thermal energy transfer, rather than also comparing control systems responses. HEATNETS considers the full process from design inputs to economic outputs and can provide modeling options for high-level initial system design and operational optimization. This study shows that HEATNETS, while not intended to replace other modeling tools, can be a unique modeling tool for the performance of a full geothermal network system.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS2011

Lightweight Magnetic Cooler With a Reversible Circulator

A design of a highly efficient and lightweight space magnetic cooler has been developed that can continuously provide remote/distributed cooling at temperatures in the range of 2 K with a heat sink at about 15 K. The innovative design uses a cryogenic circulator that enables the cooler to operate at a high cycle frequency to achieve a large cooling capacity. The ability to provide remote/distributed cooling not only allows flexible integration with a payload and spacecraft, but also reduces the mass of the magnetic shields needed. The active magnetic regenerative refrigerator (AMRR) system is shown in the figure. This design mainly consists of two identical magnetic regenerators surrounded by their superconducting magnets and a reversible circulator. Each regenerator also has a heat exchanger at its warm end to reject the magnetization heat to the heat sink, and the two regenerators share a cold-end heat exchanger to absorb heat from a cooling target. The circulator controls the flow direction, which cycles in concert with the magnetic fields, to facilitate heat transfer. Helium enters the hot end of the demagnetized column, is cooled by the refrigerant, and passes into the cold-end heat exchanger to absorb heat. The helium then enters the cold end of the magnetized column, absorbing heat from the refrigerant, and enters the hot-end heat exchanger to reject the magnetization heat. The efficient heat transfer in the AMRR allows the system to operate at a relatively short cycle period to achieve a large cooling power. The key mechanical components in the magnetic cooler are the reversible circulator and the magnetic regenerators. The circulator uses non-contacting, self-acting gas bearings and clearance seals to achieve long life and vibration- free operation. There are no valves or mechanical wear in this circulator, so the reliability is predicted to be very high. The magnetic regenerator employs a structured bed configuration. The core consists of a stack of thin GGG disks alternating with thin polymer insulating films. The structured bed reduces flow resistance in the regenerator and therefore the pumping work by the cryogenic circulator. This magnetic cooler will enable cryogenic detectors for sensing infrared, x-ray, gamma-ray, and submillimeter radiation in future science satellites, as well as the detector systems in the Constellation-X (Con-X) and the Single Aperture Far-Infrared observatory (SAFIR). Scientific ap p - lica tions for this innovation include cooling for x-ray micro calorimeter spectrometers used for microanalysis, cryogenic particle detectors, and superconducting tunnel junction de tectors for biomolecule mass spectrometry. The cooler can be scaled to provide very large cooling capacities at very low temperatures, ideal for liquid helium and liquid hydrogen productions.

Chen, Weibo↗
NASA NTRS1973

Heat flow experiment

The heat flow experiment conducted during the Apollo 17 flight in the Taurus-Littrow area of the moon is discussed. The concept of the experiment is based on the direct measurement of the vertical flow of heat through the regolith. The measurement is made far enough below the surface so that the time-varying heat flow resulting from the very large diurnal variations of the surface temperature is small as compared with the flow from the interior. The equipment used for the experiment is described and illustrated. Graphs are developed to present the results of heat flow and surface temperature measurements.

Langseth, M. G., Jr.↗