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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
DOE OSTI2011

Use of Melt Flow Rate Test in Reliability Study of Thermoplastic Encapsulation Materials in Photovoltaic Modules

Use of thermoplastic materials as encapsulants in photovoltaic (PV) modules presents a potential concern in terms of high temperature creep, which should be evaluated before thermoplastics are qualified for use in the field. Historically, the issue of creep has been avoided by using thermosetting polymers as encapsulants, such as crosslinked ethylene-co-vinyl acetate (EVA). Because they lackcrosslinked networks, however, thermoplastics may be subject to phase transitions and visco-elastic flow at the temperatures and mechanical stresses encountered by modules in the field, creating the potential for a number of reliability and safety issues. Thermoplastic materials investigated in this study include PV-grade uncured-EVA (without curing agents and therefore not crosslinked);polyvinyl butyral (PVB); thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU); and three polyolefins (PO), which have been proposed for use as PV encapsulation. Two approaches were used to evaluate the performance of these materials as encapsulants: module-level testing and a material-level testing.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2019

Application of Strain Gages in a Highly Advective Environment for Measurement of Fluid-Structure Interactions

A multi-year experimental program has been conducted to develop a program for applying strain gages to prototypic, plate-type fuel for high performance research reactors for use during flow testing. Plate strain measurements were intended to support the qualification of new fuel materials for use in high performance research reactors under the Materials Management and Minimization (MMM) Fuels Qualification Program (FQP). A survey of currently available strain gaging materials and processes was undertaken with a focus on applications towards thin, wide aspect ratio flow channels and fuel plates exposed to high velocity flows. Special consideration was taken to minimize the effect of the strain gage installations on the flow field. This test program has resulted in the selection of appropriate strain gage construction, adhesives, protective coatings, and assembly techniques to allow the real-time acquisition of plate strain during flow testing of the Generic Test Plate Assembly (GTPA) within the Oregon State University (OSU) Hydro-Mechanical Fuel Test Facility (HMFTF). All processes have been documented in procedures developed and utilized within the ASME NQA-1 compliant quality assurance program under which the HMFTF operates. Matrix testing has been completed using the results of this work with successful measurement of plate deformation due to hydraulic loading during flow testing.

Weiss, Aaron↗
DOE OSTI2019

EGS Collab Experiment 1: Circulation Testing

These data and test descriptions comprise a chilled circulation test conducted at the 164' fracture in the EGS Collab Experiment 1 testbed on the 4850 ft level of the Sanford Underground Research Facility. Descriptions of the meta data, design drawings for the flow testing system, and evaluation of the thermistor data are provided here. The test ran from April 2019 through early March of 2020, when testing was concluded at the experiment 1 site. These data are are complementary to the stimulation data provided in another submission which is linked below (i.e. stimulation at the 164' notch). More information about the test itself as well as the rationale and process of data processing is available on the EGS Collab Experiment 1 Long Term Circulation Test wiki page which is also linked below.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2017

Vadose zone flow convergence test suite

Performance Assessment (PA) simulations for engineered disposal systems at the Savannah River Site involve highly contrasting materials and moisture conditions at and near saturation. These conditions cause severe convergence difficulties that typically result in unacceptable convergence or long simulation times or excessive analyst effort. Adequate convergence is usually achieved in a trial-anderror manner by applying under-relaxation to the Saturation or Pressure variable, in a series of everdecreasing RELAxation values. SRNL would like a more efficient scheme implemented inside PORFLOW to achieve flow convergence in a more reliable and efficient manner. To this end, a suite of test problems that illustrate these convergence problems is provided to facilitate diagnosis and development of an improved convergence strategy. The attached files are being transmitted to you describing the test problem and proposed resolution.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2015

Performance Characterization of the Production Facility Prototype Helium Flow System

The roots blower in use at ANL for in-beam experiments and also at LANL for flow tests was sized for 12 mm diameter disks and significantly less beam heating. Currently, the disks are 29 mm in diameter, with a 12 mm FWHM Gaussian beam spot at 42 MeV and 2.86 μA on each side of the target, 5.72 μA total. The target design itself is reported elsewhere. With the increased beam heating, the helium flow requirement increased so that a larger blower was need for a mass flow rate of 400 g/s at 2.76 MPa (400 psig). An Aerzen GM 12.4 blower was selected, and is currently being installed at the LANL facility for target and component flow testing. This report describes this blower/motor/pressure vessel package and the status of the facility preparations. Blower performance (mass flow rate as a function of loop pressure drop) was measured at 4 blower speeds. Results are reported below.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗
DOE OSTI2014

The design and fabrication of two portal vein flow phantoms by different methods

Purpose: This study outlines the design and fabrication techniques for two portal vein flow phantoms. Methods: A materials study was performed as a precursor to this phantom fabrication effort and the desired material properties are restated for continuity. A three-dimensional portal vein pattern was created from the Visual Human database. The portal vein pattern was used to fabricate two flow phantoms by different methods with identical interior surface geometry using computer aided design software tools and rapid prototyping techniques. One portal flow phantom was fabricated within a solid block of clear silicone for use on a table with Ultrasound or within medical imaging systems such as MRI, CT, PET, or SPECT. The other portal flow phantom was fabricated as a thin walled tubular latex structure for use in water tanks with Ultrasound imaging. Both phantoms were evaluated for usability and durability. Results: Both phantoms were fabricated successfully and passed durability criteria for flow testing in the next project phase. Conclusions: The fabrication methods and materials employed for the study yielded durable portal vein phantoms.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗
DOE OSTI2017

Fracture and Flow Designs for the Collab/SIGMA-V Project

The first experiment of the Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) Collab (a.k.a Stimulation Investigations for Geothermal Modeling Analysis and Validation (SIGMA-V)) project is designed to comprehensively monitor a series of hydraulic fracture stimulations and subsequent flow tests. This experiment is planned for the 4850 Level in the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF), located at the former Homestake Gold Mine, in Lead, South Dakota. The target host rock for these stimulations and flow tests is a phyllite schist known as the Poorman formation. This paper discusses at a high level the engineering design for the stimulation and fracture monitoring system, the considerations for the test bed construction, and the preliminary stimulation modeling. Furthermore, this paper will highlight the intricate ways that predictive modeling can be used for testbed and stimulation design. This project is funded by the United States Department of Energy, Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO).

Knox, Hunter↗
DOE OSTI2025

Feasibility of carbon foam-based sorbents for the abatement of gaseous mercury and iodine

The U.S. Department of Energy Hanford Site in Washington State is in the process of commissioning the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant to process a portion of the 54 million gallons of radioactive and chemical waste from cold war weapon production. Technologies for the capture of volatile species of concern are still being assessed, and new methods and materials are developed as operational and flowsheet mission risks are identified. One such area still being assessed is the abatement efficacy of the Carbon Adsorber units to retain gaseous mercury and 129 I released during processing. It is challenging to predict the mercury chemistry due to the variability of the feed, and different methods/materials are required for the capture of gaseous Hg 0 and Hg II compounds. In this study, the feasibility of using developmental carbon foam (CF) sorbents for the capture of iodine and mercury was assessed using static and dynamic flow testing and compared against a commercially available sorbent, BATII-37. Both CF and CF functionalized with bismuth particles (CF-Bi) chemisorbed iodine, and CF-Bi had similar mercury capture performance to BATII-37 in dynamic flow tests. While species loading concentrations were measurable, limitations in achieving a mass balance prevented a full evaluation of capture efficacy. Nonetheless, the results serve as an important first step in demonstrating the potential for simultaneous iodine and mercury capture.

Hanford site↗
DOE OSTI2015

Production Facility Prototype Blower Installation Report

The roots blower in use at ANL for in-beam experiments and also at LANL for flow tests was sized for 12 mm diameter disks and significantly less beam heating. Currently, the disks are 29 mm in diameter, with a 12 mm FWHM Gaussian beam spot at 42 MeV and 2.86 μA on each side of the target, 5.72 μA total. The target design itself is reported elsewhere. With the increased beam heating, the helium flow requirement increased so that a larger blower was need for a mass flow rate of 400 g/s at 2.76 MPa (400 psig). An Aerzen GM 12.4 blower was selected, and is currently being installed at the LANL facility for target and component flow testing. This report describes this blower/motor/ppressure vessel package and the status of the facility preparations.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2019

Oil and gas flow through fractures and along interfaces in well cement

A number of wells at the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) have shown sustained, positive pressure (referred to as sustained casing pressure or SCP) in the cemented annulus behind the production casing. To better understand how SCP may develop for SPR conditions, we conducted gas and oil flow tests on cement specimens with flaws including cement fractures and discrete interfaces along a cement-steel contact. Many specimens were tested initially with gas, followed by oil, and finally with gas again to identify how the fluid type may affect the flow through flaws in the well cement. Nitrogen was used as the gas, and silicone oil with properties similar to typical crude oil was used in most tests. One set of measurements were made with crude oil. Composite steel-cement specimen with corroded steel were also tested. For both gas and oil tests, the measured flow test data were used to interpret permeability and, assuming the cubic law for flow between parallel plates, the corresponding hydraulic aperture of the flaw. The hydraulic apertures for the flawed specimens ranged from about 20 to >100 μm, which corresponds to permeabilities of about 10 -14 to 10 -12 m 2 , respectively; these hydraulic apertures are consistent with the range of values interpreted from field measurements on leaky wells. Observed differences between the flow of gas and oil were attributed to a number of factors, including non-linear flow of gas, possible blocking of flow paths by solids within the crude oil, two-phase gas and oil flow and the presence of residual oil in the cement flaw. Furthermore, we determined that corroded steel itself is permeable. Using input values consistent with the gas and oil flow measurements, we conducted one-dimensional simulations of gas and oil flow through cemented annulus systems to investigate the role of flaw size and fluid type on the expected response (i.e., pressure build-up) in the annular cement.

02 PETROLEUM↗
DOE OSTI2021

Hydraulic Response to Thermal Stimulation Efforts at Raft River Based on Stepped Rate Injection Testing

The injection well stimulation project at the Raft River geothermal field tests the effect of long-term cold water injection and high pressure injection on well injectivity, improvements to which could reduce operating costs. The primary data for analysis and interpretation of the injection test are step-rate flow tests run before each new phase of the injection. These tests were analyzed using a combination of standard pump-test analytical solution methods and methods developed expressly for the observed conditions. The stepped rate injection tests, combined with long-term flow and pressure response data suggest that the well is located within a fractured formation of low transmissivity but high storativity. These calculated parameters appeared to increase with pressure during the first injection test and the higher values were reproduced during the second stepped rate test. Calculated transmissivity and storativity are on the order of 4E-5 m cm 2 and 1E-4 m Pa -1 , respectively. The apparent pressure dependence of fitted hydraulic parameters may reflect near-well fracture compliance that increased the effective radius of the wellbore during the first test. While the type curve fit analysis also suggests that the reservoir behaves as a uniformly fractured reservoir with a radial flow regime, the hydraulic parameters indicate that condition may exist only a very limited distance (<10 m) from the well. Longer-term pressure response suggests that flow in the system effectively reaches steady state in a period of less than a day, which may reflect pressure stabilization resulting from pressure-dependent permeability or a region of much higher permeability located with a few meters of the well. The transmissivity estimates obtained from this analysis, converted to approximate fracture density and aperture, provide useful constraints on the distance to which the thermal front may migrate from the well during the cold water injection phase of the stimulation project. We estimate that the cooling front will migrate less than a tenth of a kilometer over an approximately one-year injection period. Here, the effects of that cooling, however, may be substantial, because increases in permeability have maximum effect nearest the well.

cold water injection↗
DOE OSTI2019

EGS Collab Earth Modeling: Integrated 3D Model of the Testbed

The EGS Collab project is conducting a series of stimulation and interwell flow tests in an intermediate scale (~10-20 m) testbed located on the 4850 level in the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in Lead, South Dakota. The testbed consists of eight ~200 ft (~60 m) HQ-diameter (9.6 cm) boreholes that are drilled into the Poorman Formation from the western rib of the West Access Drift. Of the eight boreholes, one borehole is used as an injection/stimulation well, another sub-parallel borehole located about 10 m away from the injection well is used as a production well, and rest of the other boreholes are used as monitoring wells. For 3D visualization of the testbed as well as to provide spatially accurate and consistent parameter data for geomechanical and geophysical process modeling tasks, we are using Leapfrog Software (Seequent Limited). For analysis of fractures and creation of conditioned stochastic discrete fracture network (CS-DFN) model of the testbed, we are using FracMan (Golder Associates Inc.). As of mid-May 2019, the EGS Collab Leapfrog database contains the general layout of the drifts/shafts at the 4850 and 4100 levels; generalized geologic framework model of a domain that spans both the 4850 and 4100 levels; the CS-DFN of the testbed; and layouts of the EGS Collab testbed boreholes, kISMET testbed boreholes, and other existing boreholes at the 4850 level. This information has been obtained from the SURF Vulcan database, detailed laser scan and point surveys of borehole collar locations, directional surveys of borehole trajectories, and mapping of features in the drifts, boreholes, and cores. Similarly, other types of data that have been incorporated into the Leapfrog database include static features of the testbed such as natural discontinuities (e.g., fractures, weeps), location of monitoring instruments, and stimulation notches. Baseline geophysical characterization results (e.g., seismic, ERT, temperature, etc.) are also imported into the Leapfrog database. The location and size of packers, various point-source signals detected during stimulation and flow tests (e.g., temperature anomalies, micro-earthquake events, etc.) are also compiled in the database. All feature locations are reported using the local Homestake Mine coordinate system. In this paper, we present some of the geostructural characteristics as well as the status of the testbed as represented by Leapfrog/FracMan database/visualizations.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Flow Sensor Test Article (F-STAr) - Status Report for FY2021

This report will review updates on the status of F-STAr. First, the report will describe a general overview of the test article and how each component interacts. Then, each main component will be discussed in a deep dive section which will review the design and other relevant details. F-STAr components which are discussed in more detail include the 120 GPM-pump, the support structure and test sections, 5 kW-heater, the 2 kW-cooler and cooling system, and the submersible flowmeter. Finally, this report will conclude with a brief recap and a bulleted outline of the path moving forward.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2025

A Simple Data-Centric Methodology for Producible Geothermal Well Determinations: Preprint

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has traditionally lacked a standardized methodology for determining if a newly drilled geothermal well is "producible," a designation essential for deciding whether a lease should be "held by production." This is a straightforward problem to solve in oil and gas: Demonstrate that a well is economically viable, meaning it produces sufficient oil or gas to exceed direct operating costs and lease-related expenses, such as rentals or minimum royalties. In geothermal, the problem is more complex: Geothermal wells are tightly coupled with the downstream infrastructure - specifically, the power plant, which is often not designed until well after a lease is deemed as "held by production." Although this designation is critical for advancing geothermal power plant development on BLM-managed lands, current geothermal well assessments often rely on ad hoc approaches that can be complex, operator-biased, and heavy in assumptions related to economic viability. To address this, we have developed two complementary methodologies: a minimum power requirement-based approach and a productivity index (PI)-based approach. These methods leverage key flow test data - pressure, temperature, flow rate, and specific enthalpy - to provide reliable and standardized producible well determinations. The minimum power requirement-based approach evaluates wells against specific power output thresholds informed by reservoir experts and the associated temperature requirements. The PI-based approach assesses well productivity using widely accepted reservoir engineering metrics, proposing a threshold of 2.5 kg/s/bar. Both methods are data-driven and grounded in empirical production data from operational geothermal wells, avoiding uncertain economic assumptions while maintaining decision-making accuracy. Wells falling below key performance thresholds (i.e., PI, specific power) are deemed non-producible. These methodologies aim to streamline BLM's decision-making process, reduce nontechnical barriers to geothermal energy adoption, and enable regulatory expansion into states lacking geothermal expertise. Preliminary results indicate clear trends and thresholds in production data that provide actionable insights for evaluating well producibility. Validation using well completion report (WCR) data is ongoing, with promising results demonstrating the potential for these standardized methodologies to impact geothermal development significantly.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2014

Papers Based Electrochemical Biosensors: From Test Strips to Paper-Based Microfluidics

Papers based biosensors such as lateral flow test strips and paper-based microfluidic devices (or paperfluidics) are inexpensive, rapid, flexible, and easy-to-use analytical tools. An apparent trend in their detection is to interpret sensing results from qualitative assessment to quantitative determination. Electrochemical detection plays an important role in quantification. This review focuses on electrochemical (EC) detection enabled biosensors. The first part provides detailed examples in paper test strips. The second part gives an overview of paperfluidics engaging EC detections. The outlook and recommendation of future directions of EC enabled biosensors are discussed in the end.

Biosensors↗