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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 901 records · Page 50
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Initial Scoping Efforts for a Plant-Wide Digital Infrastructure Modernization Business Case Study

This research report describes the preparatory efforts to perform a BCA on an expanded set of digital upgrades envisioned for implementation at the Luminant?s Comanche Peak nuclear plant. It captures efforts to scope the digital upgrade effort to enable performance of the BCA. The final BCA will be the subject of a subsequent report. LWRS pilot research in this area is intended to enable this effort and to provide a roadmap to others to follow. INL appreciates the Luminant?s participation in this research.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Molybdenum in basalt-hosted seafloor hydrothermal systems: Experimental, theoretical, and field sampling approaches

Here, seafloor hydrothermal vents represent potential sources of Mo and other biologically relevant transition metals to the global ocean, complementing continental runoff. Here, we use a combination of experimental, theoretical, and field-sampling approaches to investigate the behavior of Mo in basalt-hosted seafloor hydrothermal systems to provide insight into the processes controlling Mo concentrations in hydrothermal fluids and to derive estimates of vent fluid Mo concentrations and fluxes. Results of this study demonstrate that reaction fluids generated from 350°C, 500 bar hydrothermal basalt alteration experiments contain 775–801 nmol/kg Mo and are thus comparable to a recently collected time series of natural seafloor vent fluids that contained 200–220 nmol/kg Mo at 302°C and 29–30 nmol/kg at 281–282°C (Evans et al., 2023). Synchrotron-based analyses of experimentally altered basalt produced in this study and additional natural samples of altered oceanic crust originally collected from Pito Deep Rift reveal the presence of Mo-rich particles consistent with trace molybdenite. Comparisons of Mo:Cu ratios in natural vent fluids and near-vent sediment trap samples from Main Endeavour Field indicate that vent fluid Mo is readily incorporated into buoyant plume particles and advected out of the near-vent field, analogous to previous mass balance studies of Cu in this region. Thermodynamic calculations of molybdenite solubility in the context of mineral-buffered hydrothermal fluids and comparisons with natural and experimental hydrothermal fluids suggest that high-temperature vent fluids contain 30–1500 nmol/kg Mo. While a minor component of the modern Mo budget, hydrothermal Mo fluxes are estimated to have constituted 0.3–200× the contemporaneous continental weathering fluxes prior to the ~2.4 Ga ago “Great Oxidation Event” and widespread oxidative continental weathering. Overall, identification of hydrothermal vents as a source of Mo-rich plume particles with potential for dispersal into the wider marine environment has significant implications for hypotheses regarding the co-evolution of Life and Earth’s environments, specifically the form and availability of Mo in anoxic Archean-Eon oceans, where Mo-dependent enzymatic pathways are thought to have emerged and subsequently evolved.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Exploring ice sheet model sensitivity to ocean thermal forcing and basal sliding using the Community Ice Sheet Model (CISM)

Abstract. Multi-meter sea level rise (SLR) is thought to be possible within the next few centuries, with most of the uncertainty originating from the Antarctic land ice contribution. One source of uncertainty relates to the ice sheet model initialization. Since ice sheets have a long response time (compared to other Earth system components such as the atmosphere), ice sheet model initialization methods can have significant impacts on how the ice sheet responds to future forcings. To assess this, we generated 25 different ice sheet spin-ups, using the Community Ice Sheet Model (CISM) at a 4 km resolution. During each spin-up, we varied two key parameters known to impact the sensitivity of the ice sheet to future forcing: one related to the sensitivity of the ice shelf melt rate to ocean thermal forcing (TF) and the other related to the basal friction. The spin-ups all nudge toward observed thickness and enforce a no-advance calving criterion, such that all final spin-up states resemble observations but differ in their melt and friction parameter settings. Each spin-up was then forced with future ocean thermal forcings from 13 different CMIP6 models under the Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP)5-8.5 emissions scenario and modern climatological surface mass balance data. Our results show that the effects of the ice sheet and ocean parameter settings used during the spin-up are capable of impacting multi-century future SLR predictions by as much as 2 m. By the end of this century, the effects of these choices are more modest, but still significant, with differences of up to 0.2 m of SLR. We have identified a combined ocean and ice parameter space that leads to widespread mass loss within 500 years (low friction and high melt rate sensitivity). To explore temperature thresholds, we also ran a synthetically forced CISM ensemble that is focused on the Amundsen region only. Given certain ocean and ice parameter choices, Amundsen mass loss can be triggered with thermal forcing anomalies between 1.5 and 2 ∘C relative to the spin-up. Our results emphasize the critical importance of considering ice sheet and ocean parameter choices during spin-up for SLR predictions and suggest the importance of including glacial isostatic adjustment in ice sheet simulations.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1974

The application of remote sensing techniques: Technical and methodological issues

Capabilities and limitations of modern imaging electromagnetic sensor systems are outlined, and the products of such systems are compared with those of the traditional aerial photographic system. Focus is given to the interface between the rapidly developing remote sensing technology and the information needs of operational agencies, and communication gaps are shown to retard early adoption of the technology by these agencies. An assessment is made of the current status of imaging remote sensors and their potential for the future. Public sources of remote sensor data and several cost comparisons are included.

Polcyn, F. C.↗
NASA NTRS1991

A parallel-vector equation solver for unsymmetric matrices on supercomputers

A parallel-vector unsymmetric equation solver is presented. The solver exploits both vector and parallel capabilities provided by modern, high-performance supercomputers. A special storage scheme and loop-unrolling technique are used to optimize the vector performance. A parallel FORTRAN language is used to develop the solver on the CRAY 2 and CRAY Y-MP multiple processing computer environment. Three numerical examples are presented which demonstrate the efficiency and accuracy of this equation solver. The first two examples demonstrate the improved performance, and the third example utilizes the proposed solver to solve a highly nonlinear, unsymmetric finite element formulation for panel flutter.

Qin, J.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Multistage robust optimization for the day-ahead scheduling of hybrid thermal-hydro-wind-solar systems

The integration of large-scale uncertain and uncontrollable wind and solar power generation has brought new challenges to the operations of modern power systems. In a power system with abundant water resources, hydroelectric generation with high operational flexibility is a powerful tool to promote a higher penetration of wind and solar power generation. In this paper, we study the day-ahead scheduling of a thermal-hydro-wind-solar power system. The uncertainties of renewable energy generation, including uncertain natural water inflow and wind/solar power output, are taken into consideration. We explore how the operational flexibility of hydroelectric generation and the coordination of thermal-hydro power can be utilized to hedge against uncertain wind/solar power under a multistage robust optimization (MRO) framework. To address the computational issue, mixed decision rules are employed to reformulate the original MRO model with a multi-level structure into a bi-level one. Column-and-constraint generation (C &CG) algorithm is extended into the MRO case to solve the bi-level model. The proposed optimization approach is tested in three real-world cases. Furthermore, the computational results demonstrate the capability of hydroelectric generation to promote the accommodation of uncertain wind and solar power.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
NASA NTRS1994

Proposed law of nature linking impacts, plume volcanism, and Milankovitch cycles to terrestrial vertebrate mass extinctions via greenhouse-embryo death coupling

A greenhouse-physiological coupling killing mechanism active among mammals, birds, and reptiles has been identified. Operating via environmental thermal effects upon the maternal core-skin blood flow critical to the survival and development of embryos, it reduces the flow of blood to the uterine tract. Today, during hot summers, this phenomena kills embryos on a vast, global scale. Because of sensitivity of many mammals to modern heat, a major modern greenhouse could reduce population numbers on a global scale, and potentially trigger population collapses in the more vulnerable parts of the world. In the geological past, the killing mechanism has likely been triggered into action by greenhouse warming via impact events, plume volcanism, and Earth orbital variations (Milankovitch cycles). Earth's biosphere is maintained and molded by the flow of energy from the solar energy source to Earth and on to the space energy sink (SES). This SES energy flow maintains Earth's biosphere and its living components, as open, intermediate, dissipative, nonequilibrium systems whose states are dependent upon the rate of energy flowing through them. Greenhouse gases such as CO2 in the atmosphere influence the SES energy flow rate. Steady-state flow is necessary for global ecological stability (autopoiesis). Natural fluctuations of the C cycle such as rapid releases of CO2 from the mantle, or oceans, disrupt steady-state SES flow. These fluctuations constantly challenge the biosphere; slowdown of SES energy flow drives it toward thermodynamical equilibrium and stagnation. Fluctuations induced by impact event, mantle plume volcanism, and Milankovitch cycles can grow into structure-breaking waves triggering major perturbations of Earth's C cycle and mass extinctions. A major C cycle perturbation involves readjustment of the outer physiochemical spheres of the Earth: the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere; and by necessity, the biosphere. A greenhouse, one manifestation of a major C cycle perturbation, is the most dangerous natural phenomenon that life on Earth can experience. Greenhouse conditions existed during the KT mass extinctions of 65 m.y. ago, and the Pleistocene-Holocene (P-H) mammalian extinctions of 10,000-12,000 yr ago. Coupling climatology to reproductive physiology via effects of ambient air temperature upon uterine blood flow to developing embryos accounts for the extinctions via established physiological principles.

Mclean, D. M.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Global differential geometry: An introduction for control engineers

The basic concepts and terminology of modern global differential geometry are discussed as an introduction to the Lie theory of differential equations and to the role of Grassmannians in control systems analysis. To reach these topics, the fundamental notions of manifolds, tangent spaces, vector fields, and Lie algebras are discussed and exemplified. An appendix reviews such concepts needed for vector calculus as open and closed sets, compactness, continuity, and derivative. Although the content is mathematical, this is not a mathematical treatise but rather a text for engineers to understand geometric and nonlinear control.

Doolin, B. F.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Processing-Dependent Structure and Poroelasticity of Nafion in Liquid Water

Ionomers act as the solid polymer electrolyte membrane in many modern electrochemical devices, yet the role of their nanostructure in modulating the poroelastic response remains poorly understood, especially in liquid water, where few techniques can measure simultaneous transport-mechanical properties. Poroelastic Relaxation Indentation (PRI) is uniquely suited for measuring time-dependent transport-mechanical properties of porous solids, specifically hydraulic diffusivity, elastic modulus, Poisson’s ratio, and intrinsic permeability, for porous solids. While ionomers such as Nafion are not porous in the typical sense, Nafion has a nanophase-segregated structure that, when fully swollen in liquid water, behaves as a poroelastic solid with a coupled mechanical-transport response. Using a poroelastic framework, we investigate how casting and pretreatment of Nafion membranes alter their poroelastic response in liquid environments. We characterize both extruded and dispersion-cast Nafion membranes pretreated in water at 25 or 100 °C and relate the mechanical-transport properties to the ionomer structure via hydrophilic and intercrystalline domain spacing measured using Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS). At 25 °C, dispersion-cast membranes exhibit distinctly lower hydraulic diffusivity and intrinsic permeability than extruded membranes but with comparable mechanical properties. Pretreatment at 100 °C increases hydrophilic domain spacing, improving transport but at the expense of mechanical stiffness. Dispersion-cast membranes respond more strongly to pretreatment than extruded membranes. Using the Carman-Kozeny pore network model and the hydrophilic domain-spacing, we estimate the pore radius and tortuosity to show how pretreatment reduces structure-related tortuosity differences between dispersion-cast and extruded membranes. Here, in this work, we show that nanophase-segregated materials such as Nafion can be rigorously characterized using poroelasticity, resulting in physically meaningful transport-mechanical properties. Coupling PRI with SAXS provides insights into the nanostructural features that govern the coupled mechanical-transport response. By establishing PRI for a nanophase-segregated material, this approach opens avenues for this technique’s application in other hydrated polymeric materials not typically considered to be poroelastic.

Shen, Margaret [University of California, Berkeley↗
NASA NTRS1986

How different a modern SST would be

The characteristics of a proposed SST are described. The proposed aircraft is to have two engines and an arrow-wing design, a passenger capacity of 250, and attain speeds of Mach 2.7. The low fineness ratio, low-aspect ratio wing planform, different engine nacelles location, and improved lift-to-drag ratio of the aircraft contribute to attaining an economical supersonic cruise. The proposed structural design and materials for the aircraft are examined; the material and design are to be applicable to high Mach and high temperature. Changes in the SST propulsion system, the nozzle designs, and landing and takeoff procedures to improve the operation of the aircraft are discussed.

Driver, C.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Resolving root causes of experiment discrepancies guided by machine learning

Abstract Scientists rely on accurate experimental data to explain nature and then harness this knowledge for applications addressing human needs. However, discrepancies between experiments of the same observable can impede scientific progress if one does not understand the underlying causes. Here, we developed a process that unravels data discrepancies by first using Bayesian machine learning to relate discrepancies to few of many, potentially biasing metadata features that encode experiment procedures. This machine learning output guides human experts to study discrepancy causes by simulating suspicious aspects of historical experiments or designing modern ones to address open questions. The study findings then lead to rejecting or correcting historical data on firm scientific bases. This process is demonstrated for the energy spectrum of neutrons emitted promptly (<1 ns) after fission of 252 Cf, a trusted nuclear physics Standard. It reduces the spread in experimental 252 Cf spectra by up to a factor of 6.

Neudecker, D. (ORCID:0000000339200627)↗
NASA NTRS1986

Progress in the Lewis Research Center Altitude Wind Tunnel (AWT) Modeling Program

The rehabilitation of the Altitude Wind Tunnel (AWT) at the NASA Lewis Research Center is under study with the goal of providing a modern subsonic wind tunnel for conducting propulsion system/airframe integration, isolated propulsion system, propulsion acoustics and adverse weather tests. Because of the increased Mach number capability (from Mach 0.6 to 0.9 plus) and the incorporation of acoustic and adverse weather capabilities into an existing tunnel, the AWT rehabilitation represents a significant technical challenge. In order to reduce the risk associated with such an undertaking, and extensive AWT modeling program is being conducted to guide and verify the tunnel design. Significant findings and progress in this modeling program are the subject of this paper.

Ciepluch, C. C.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Progress in the Lewis Research Center Altitude Wind Tunnel (AWT) modeling program

The rehabilitation of the AWT at the NASA Lewis Research Center is under study with the goal of providing a modern subsonic wind tunnel for conducting propulsion system/airframe integration, isolated propulsion system, propulsion acoustics and adverse weather tests. Because of the increased Mach number capability (from Mach 0.6 to 0.9 plus) and the incorporation of acoustic and adverse weather capabilities into an existing tunnel, the AWT rehabilitation represents a significant technical challenge. In order to reduce the risk associated with such an undertaking, an extensive AWT modeling program is being conducted to guide and verify the tunnel design. Significant findings and progress in this modeling program are the subject of this paper.

Ciepluch, C. C.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Federal incentives for industrial modernization: Historical review and future opportunities

Concerns over the aging of the U.S. aerospace industrial base led DOD to introduce first its Technology Modernization (Tech Mod) Program, and more recently the Industrial Modernization Incentive Program (IMIP). These incentives include productivity shared savings rewards, contractor investment protection to allow for amortization of plant and equipment, and subcontractor/vendor participation. The purpose here is to review DOD IMIP and to evaluate whether a similar program is feasible for NASA and other non-DOD agencies. The IMIP methodology is of interest to industrial engineers because it provides a structured, disciplined approach to identifying productivity improvement opportunities and documenting their expected benefit. However, it is shown that more research on predicting and validating cost avoidance is needed.

Coleman, Sandra C.↗
NASA NTRS2005

Performance Cycle Analysis of a Two-Spool, Separate-Exhaust Turbofan With Interstage Turbine Burner

This paper presents the performance cycle analysis of a dual-spool, separate-exhaust turbofan engine, with an Interstage Turbine Burner serving as a secondary combustor. The ITB, which is located at the transition duct between the high- and the low-pressure turbines, is a relatively new concept for increasing specific thrust and lowering pollutant emissions in modern jet engine propulsion. A detailed performance analysis of this engine has been conducted for steady-state engine performance prediction. A code is written and is capable of predicting engine performances (i.e., thrust and thrust specific fuel consumption) at varying flight conditions and throttle settings. Two design-point engines were studied to reveal trends in performance at both full and partial throttle operations. A mission analysis is also presented to assure the advantage of saving fuel by adding ITB.

Liew, K. H.↗
NASA NTRS2015

Using Results from the PlioMIP Ensemble to Investigate the Greenland Ice Sheet During the Mid-Pliocene Warm Period

During an interval of the Late Pliocene, referred to here as the mid-Pliocene Warm Period (mPWP; 3.264 to 3.025 million years ago), global mean temperature was similar to that predicted for the end of this century, and atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations were higher than preindustrial levels. Sea level was also higher than today, implying a significant reduction in the extent of the ice sheets. Thus, the mPWP provides a natural laboratory in which to investigate the long-term response of the Earth's ice sheets and sea level in a warmer-than-present-day world. At present, our understanding of the Greenland ice sheet during the mPWP is generally based upon predictions using single climate and ice sheet models. Therefore, it is essential that the model dependency of these results is assessed. The Pliocene Model Intercomparison Project (PlioMIP) has brought together nine international modeling groups to simulate the warm climate of the Pliocene. Here we use the climatological fields derived from the results of the 15 PlioMIP climate models to force an offline ice sheet model. We show that mPWP ice sheet reconstructions are highly dependent upon the forcing climatology used, with Greenland reconstructions ranging from an ice-free state to a near modern ice sheet. An analysis of the surface albedo variability between the climate models over Greenland offers insights into the drivers of inter-model differences. As we demonstrate that the climate model dependency of our results is high, we highlight the necessity of data-based constraints of ice extent in developing our understanding of the mPWP Greenland ice sheet.

sea level↗
NASA NTRS2016

Operational Implementation of a Pc Uncertainty Construct for Conjunction Assessment Risk Analysis

Earlier this year the NASA Conjunction Assessment and Risk Analysis (CARA) project presented the theoretical and algorithmic aspects of a method to include the uncertainties in the calculation inputs when computing the probability of collision (Pc) between two space objects, principally uncertainties in the covariances and the hard-body radius. The output of this calculation approach is to produce rather than a single Pc value an entire probability density function that will represent the range of possible Pc values given the uncertainties in the inputs and bring CA risk analysis methodologies more in line with modern risk management theory. The present study provides results from the exercise of this method against an extended dataset of satellite conjunctions in order to determine the effect of its use on the evaluation of conjunction assessment (CA) event risk posture. The effects are found to be considerable: a good number of events are downgraded from or upgraded to a serious risk designation on the basis of consideration of the Pc uncertainty. The findings counsel the integration of the developed methods into NASA CA operations.

assessment↗
DOE OSTI2022

Snowmass2021 Cosmic Frontier: Cosmic Microwave Background Measurements White Paper

This is a solicited whitepaper for the Snowmass 2021 community planning exercise. The paper focuses on measurements and science with the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB). The CMB is foundational to our understanding of modern physics and continues to be a powerful tool driving our understanding of cosmology and particle physics. In this paper, we outline the broad and unique impact of CMB science for the High Energy Cosmic Frontier in the upcoming decade. We also describe the progression of ground-based CMB experiments, which shows that the community is prepared to develop the key capabilities and facilities needed to achieve these transformative CMB measurements.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗