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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 1,009 records · Page 56
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NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Power System Redundancy Design Trends for All-Electric eVTOL Quadrotors

Electrical vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles promise to enable a variety of new local and intraregional air transport missions. However, there are significant challenges that must be solved to enable their use. One challenge is the relatively low reliability of power components (e.g. motors, power electronic devices, and batteries). No clear development path to create reliable eVTOL power systems has been articulated in the literature, though it is generally assumed redundancy is part of the solution. This work proposes an analysis process to examine the redundancy design space and select mass optimal designs for eVTOL power systems. The process is applied to a six passenger quadrotor vehicle, and results are used to highlight redundancy design trends for this class of vehicle. This process and associated data can help vehicle designers more effectively develop eVTOLs that meet reliability requirements.

Electric vertical takeoff and landing↗
NASA NTRS1973

An empirical model for average F-layer scintillation at VHF/UHF.

An empirical approach to modeling the electron-density irregularities in the F layer that are primarily responsible for amplitude scintillation of VHF/UHF signals has been devised and tested. An irregularity model was postulated as a function of geomagnetic latitude, local time of day, season, and sunspot number. The primary parameters of the irregularities that were postulated were their strength and transverse scale-size. The irregularities were assumed to be aligned along the geomagnetic field, and their axial ratio was taken as constant, as were the height and thickness of the irregular layer. The model is offered as a tool for VHF/UHF communication-systems planning, to the extent that the average value of scintillation in a specified circumstance is of engineering value.

Fremouw, E. J.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Twilight helium 10,830-A calculations and observations

The 10,830-A column emission rates from metastable He(2 3S) atoms in the upper atmosphere are calculated and compared with other calculations and observations. It is shown that the calculated emission rates agree well with the observed emission rates provided that the cross sections for loss of He(2 3S) by Penning ionization on atomic oxygen is near 5 A 2 and not 44 A 2 as previously measured. It is assumed that the local and conjugate photoelectron fluxes above 300 km are about double those calculated. The dawn/dusk intensity ratio observed in New Mexico, Brazil and Peru is accounted for by changes in the ambient thermal electron concentration in Brazil and Peru and by changes in plasmasphere opacity to conjugate point electrons for New Mexico and to some extent for Brazil. The rate at which He-4 would escape from the earth if sufficient energy were imparted to the He-4 atoms during the Penning reaction was recalculated and found to be inadequate by an order of magnitude to balance the terrestrial production.

Tinsley, B. A.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Plasma density features associated with strong convection in the winter high-latitude F region

A single plasma convection model was combined with an ionospheric-atmospheric composition model to study plasma density features associated with string convection in the winter high-latitude F region. Time dependent, three-dimensional, ion density distributions for NO(+), O2(+), N2(+), O(+) and He(+) were produced, and the ionosphere above 42 deg N magnetic latitude was covered for 24 hours. The study found that for strong and weak convection, electron density exhibited a variation with altitude, latitude, longitude and universal time. Ionospheric features were evident for strong convection, but modified in comparison with those found for slow convection. Also found for strong convection was a more pronounced tongue of ionization, the appearance of a new polar hole in the polar cap, and a midlatitude electron density trough that was not as deep as found for a weak convection. In addition, good agreement was found between predictions and Atmosphere Explorer measurements of ion composition variation with latitude and local time.

Sojka, J. J.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Evolution of Plasmaspheric Refilling: A Comparison of Measurements with an Interhemispheric Plasmasphere Model

The evolution of plasmasphere is closely coupled to processes governing flux tube refilling and transport. In this study we follow this evolution through a series of sequential ion observations made by RIMS on the DE 1 satellite and with the intervening time intervals filled by simulations made with the FLIP model. The FLIP model solves the continuity and momentum equations for the major ion species as well as the energy equations for ions and electrons along entire flux tubes rom 100 k altitude in both hemispheres. Convection has recently been included, driven a dawn-dusk electric field model. Since the observations are necessarily restricted to two local time passes through the plasmasphere per orbit, the FLIP code will follow the observed flux tubes as they corotate and convect through the other local times. The period of DE 1 is such that nearly the same flux tubes are observed every second day or every sixth orbit. The composite of observations and simulations allows assessment of the degree to which the degree to which the FLIP simulations accurately describe the processes which govern flux tube refilling over the two-day period between observations of the same flux tubes.

Comfort, Richard H.↗
NASA NTRS1999

GEOTAIL and POLAR Observations of Auroral Kilometric Radiation and Terrestrial Low Frequency Bursts and their Relationship to Energetic Particles, Auroras, and Other Substorm Phenomena

Terrestrial low frequency (LF) bursts are plasma wave phenomena that appear to be a part of the low frequency end of the auroral kilometric radiation (AKR) spectrum and are observed during strong substorms, GEOTAIL and POLAR plasma wave observations from within the magnetosphere show that the AKR increases in intensity and its lower frequency limits decrease when LF bursts are observed. The first is expected as it is shows substorm onset and the latter indicates that the AKR source region is expanding to higher altitudes. Images from the POLAR VIS Earth Camera operating in the far-UV range and the POLAR UVI experiment usually feature an auroral brightening and an expansion of the aurora to higher latitudes at the time of the LF bursts. Enhanced fluxes of X-rays from precipitating electrons have also been observed by POLAR PIXIE. High resolution ground Abstract: magnetometer data from the CANOPUS and IMAGE networks show that the LF bursts occur when the expansive phase onset signatures are most intense. The ground magnetometer data and the CANOPUS meridian scanning photometer data sometimes show that during the LF burst events the expansive phase onset starts at unusually low latitudes and moves poleward. Large injections of energetic protons and electrons have also been detected by the GOES and LANL geosynchronous satellites during LF burst events. While most of the auroral brightenings and energetic particle injections associated with the LF bursts occur near local midnight, several have been observed as early as mid-afternoon. From these various measurements, we are achieving a better understanding of the plasma and particle motions during substorms that are associated with the generation and propagation of terrestrial LF bursts

Anderson, R . R.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Reduced T(sub c) Niobium Superconducting HEB Mixers

A reduction in the mixer noise is expected when using superconductors with a lower transition temperature (T(sub c)) since the thermal noise components of the mixer noise should scale with T(sub c). Also, the local oscillator (LO) power required for a diffusion-cooled device should decrease as T(sub c) when T(sub bath) << T(sub c). We previously studied mixing in aluminum based hot-electron bolometers (HEBs) at microwave frequencies (approximately 30 GHz), and observed a significant improvement in noise performance, and a reduction in LO power as predicted. However, the bias voltage range over which good mixer performance was observed was approximately 5 - 10 microV. These devices are thus susceptible to saturation effects, in particular output saturation. In the present work, we have investigated Nb HEBs whose T(sub c) is lowered by applying a magnetic field. The goal is to study a case intermediate between Nb and Al, and hopefully to find properties that will allow use in practical receivers. A 15 kOe perpendicular magnetic field was applied to a Nb HEB (L = 0.16 micrometers, W = 0.08 micrometers, R(sub N) = 90 ohms) to reduce T(sub c) from 5.2 K to 2.4 K. The mixer noise, as inferred from the output noise and the conversion efficiency, decreased from 390 K, DSB to 171 K, DSB. The LO power required for near optimum mixer conversion efficiency (eta(sub mixer) = -9 dB in this device) was 8 nW in zero field, and approximately 2 nW when T(sub c) was reduced to 2.4 K. T(sub bath) = 0.22 K. The conversion bandwidth was previously measured to be 2.4 GHz and the same bandwidth was observed in the presence of a magnetic field. By lowering T(sub c), the voltage range over which good mixing was observed also decreased. However, even with T(sub c) reduced to 2.4 K, the conversion efficiency dropped by 3 dB from its maximum value only when the bias voltage was changed by approximately 90 microV. Saturation effects should thus be much less of a concern in these devices than in Al HEBS. In situations where the application of a large magnetic field is not feasible, we suggest using Ta based HEBS. Ta HEBs should have T(sub c) = 3 - 3.5 K and material properties very similar to Nb.

Siddiqi, I.↗
NASA NTRS2011

NASA Tech Briefs, July 2011

Topics covered include: 1) Collaborative Clustering for Sensor Networks; 2) Teleoperated Marsupial Mobile Sensor Platform Pair for Telepresence Insertion Into Challenging Structures; 3) Automated Verification of Spatial Resolution in Remotely Sensed Imagery; 4) Electrical Connector Mechanical Seating Sensor; 5) In Situ Aerosol Detector; 6) Multi-Parameter Aerosol Scattering Sensor; 7) MOSFET Switching Circuit Protects Shape Memory Alloy Actuators; 8) Optimized FPGA Implementation of Multi-Rate FIR Filters Through Thread Decomposition; 9) Circuit for Communication Over Power Lines; 10) High-Efficiency Ka-Band Waveguide Two-Way Asymmetric Power Combiner; 11) 10-100 Gbps Offload NIC for WAN, NLR, and Grid Computing; 12) Pulsed Laser System to Simulate Effects of Cosmic Rays in Semiconductor Devices; 13) Flight Planning in the Cloud; 14) MPS Editor; 15) Object-Oriented Multi Disciplinary Design, Analysis, and Optimization Tool; 16) Cryogenic-Compatible Winchester Connector Mount and Retaining System for Composite Tubes; 17) Development of Position-Sensitive Magnetic Calorimeters for X-Ray Astronomy; 18) Planar Rotary Piezoelectric Motor Using Ultrasonic Horns; 19) Self-Rupturing Hermetic Valve; 20) Explosive Bolt Dual-Initiated from One Side; 21) Dampers for Stationary Labyrinth Seals; 22) Two-Arm Flexible Thermal Strap; 23) Carbon Dioxide Removal via Passive Thermal Approaches; 24) Polymer Electrolyte-Based Ambient Temperature Oxygen Microsensors for Environmental Monitoring; 25) Pressure Shell Approach to Integrated Environmental Protection; 26) Image Quality Indicator for Infrared Inspections; 27) Micro-Slit Collimators for X-Ray/Gamma-Ray Imaging; 28) Scatterometer-Calibrated Stability Verification Method; 29) Test Port for Fiber-Optic-Coupled Laser Altimeter; 30) Phase Retrieval System for Assessing Diamond Turning and Optical Surface Defects; 31) Laser Oscillator Incorporating a Wedged Polarization Rotator and a Porro Prism as Cavity Mirror; 32) Generic, Extensible, Configurable Push-Pull Framework for Large-Scale Science Missions; 33) Dynamic Loads Generation for Multi-Point Vibration Excitation Problems; 34) Optimal Control via Self-Generated Stochasticity; 35) Space-Time Localization of Plasma Turbulence Using Multiple Spacecraft Radio Links; 36) Surface Contact Model for Comets and Asteroids; 37) Dust Mitigation Vehicle; 38) Optical Coating Performance for Heat Reflectors of the JWST-ISIM Electronic Component; 39) SpaceCube Demonstration Platform; 40) Aperture Mask for Unambiguous Parity Determination in Long Wavelength Imagers; 41) Spaceflight Ka-Band High-Rate Radiation-Hard Modulator; 42) Enabling Disabled Persons to Gain Access to Digital Media; 43) Cytometer on a Chip; 44) Principles, Techniques, and Applications of Tissue Microfluidics; and 45) Two-Stage Winch for Kites and Tethered Balloons or Blimps.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS2014

Forced Reconnection in the Near Magnetotail: Onset and Energy Conversion in PIC and MHD Simulations

Using two-dimensional particle-in-cell (PIC) together with magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) Q1 simulations of magnetotail dynamics, we investigate the evolution toward onset of reconnection and the subsequent energy transfer and conversion. In either case, reconnection onset is preceded by a driven phase, during which magnetic flux is added to the tail at the high-latitude boundaries, followed by a relaxation phase, during which the configuration continues to respond to the driving. The boundary deformation leads to the formation of thin embedded current sheets, which are bifurcated in the near tail, converging to a single sheet farther out in the MHD simulations. The thin current sheets in the PIC simulation are carried by electrons and are associated with a strong perpendicular electrostatic field, which may provide a connection to parallel potentials and auroral arcs and an ionospheric signal even prior to the onset of reconnection. The PIC simulation very well satisfies integral entropy conservation (intrinsic to ideal MHD) during this phase, supporting ideal ballooning stability. Eventually, the current intensification leads to the onset of reconnection, the formation and ejection of a plasmoid, and a collapse of the inner tail. The earthward flow shows the characteristics of a dipolarization front: enhancement of Bz, associated with a thin vertical electron current sheet in the PIC simulation. Both MHD and PIC simulations show a dominance of energy conversion from incoming Poynting flux to outgoing enthalpy flux, resulting in heating of the inner tail. Localized Joule dissipation plays only a minor role.

two-dimensional↗
NASA NTRS2009

Mechanistic Study of Delamination Fracture in Al-Li Alloy C458 (2099)

Delamination fracture has limited the use of lightweight Al-Li alloys. In the present study, electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) methods were used to characterize crack paths in Al-Li alloy C458 (2099). Secondary delamination cracks in fracture toughness samples showed a pronounced tendency for fracture between grain variants of the same deformation texture component. These results were analyzed by EBSD mapping methods and simulated with finite element analyses. Simulation procedures include a description of material anisotropy, local grain orientations, and fracture utilizing crystal plasticity and cohesive zone elements. Taylor factors computed for each grain orientation subjected to normal and shear stresses indicated that grain pairs with the largest Taylor factor differences were adjacent to boundaries that failed by delamination. Examination of matching delamination fracture surface pairs revealed pronounced slip bands in only one of the grains bordering the delamination. These results, along with EBSD studies, plasticity simulations, and Auger electron spectroscopy observations support a hypothesis that delamination fracture occurs due to poor slip accommodation along boundaries between grains with greatly differing plastic response.

Tayon, W. A.↗
NASA NTRS1991

A guide to NASA's Pilot Land Data System (PLDS)

NASA's Pilot Land Data System (PLDS) is a distributed information management system designed to support NASA's land science community. The PLDS provides a wide range of services including management of information about scientific data, access to a library of scientific data, a data ordering capability, communications, connection to data analysis facilities, and electronic mail. The PLDS provides these services by offering the scientist the capability to search for and order data, and to communicate electronically with other scientists and computers. Three functions enable scientists to find what data are available and where they reside. The first two, Find data summaries and Read detailed descriptions give summary and detailed descriptions about data sets or groups of related data sets, science, projects, and institutions which archive land data. The third, gives information about specific pieces of data. This last function has two components, Search systemwide inventory and Search local inventory. The first component enables the user to find data elements (images, geological samples, transects, maps, etc.) that exist anywhere in the PLDS while the second has only information about data at the local site. The first enables the user to find pieces of data from several different data sets with the same temporal and spatial coverage and other elements common to most data sets, while the second allows the user to select a data set based on these descriptors and on those that are unique to a data set. The PLDS provides capabilities that enable electronic file transfers, intercomputer connection, and electronic mail. Both TCP/IP and DECnet protocols are supported via the NASA Science Internet (NIS). Access is also available through Telenet.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS2021

Local Ultrasonic Resonance Spectroscopy of Lithium Metal Batteries for Aerospace Applications

As next-generation aircraft and vehicles continue to develop, so do their associated energy demands. Lithium metal batteries are a leading candidate to fulfill this energy requirement, but these batteries are prone to internal dendrite defects that can lead to catastrophic thermal runaway events. Current battery management systems are capable of mitigating such risks, but are unable to detect such defects until thermal runaway has already begun. Various nondestructive evaluation (NDE) techniques, particularly ultrasonic NDE, can directly monitor internal battery parameters giving them the potential to detect critical defects prior to catastrophic failure. However, most of the current battery NDE research has focused on improved battery state-of-charge (SOC) and stateof- health (SOH) monitoring with little emphasis on critical defect detection. Thus, a measurement technique sensitive to subtle battery defects is needed. In addition, the complex mechanics of ultrasound in porous, thin, multilayered batteries prompt the use of physics-based simulation to guide inspections. In this work, an ultrasonic NDE technique has been developed utilizing frequency domain analysis of local battery resonances to detect the presence of battery defects. This technique is a practical extension of local ultrasonic resonance spectroscopy (LURS) – which previously required non-contact laser ultrasonics – to measurements with piezoelectric contact and immersion scan transducers. To extend the technique to work with piezoelectric transducers, ultrasonic battery measurements were compared to a sans-battery calibration measurement. Then, a linear systems deconvolution was used to eliminate the transfer functions of extraneous factors such as the transducer and electronics, leaving only the frequency-dependent battery reflection coefficient. The LURS technique was first validated on stainless steel and aluminum plates, producing reflection coefficients in line with analytical and numerical finite element modeling (FEM) results. Functioning Li-metal pouch cells were then seeded with lithium chip defects prior to LURS measurements. The presence of these defects is shown to cause a measurable shift in the battery’s through-thickness local resonances. 2D, frequency-domain poroelastic models of ultrasonic propagation in a single-cell lithium metal pouch battery were created and corroborated these findings. Thus, this work has both extended and proven the feasibility of the LURS technique in the detection of local battery defects.

Ultrasound↗
NASA NTRS1975

The latitudinal morphology of 10-eV to 10-keV electron fluxes during magnetically quiet and disturbed times in the 2100-0300 MLT sector

Electron and proton data from Isis 1 and 2 have been used to examine the change in the latitudinal morphology of auroral particle fluxes as a function of substorm time in the dipole magnetic local time period from 2100 to 0300. Clear and repeatable systematics in the latitudinal morphology were observed during the various phases of a substorm, allowing the substorm phase to be identified on the basis of particle data alone. Based on this study, a new phenomenological substorm model is presented which relates particle precipitation from various parts of the magnetotail to auroral oval morphology.

Winningham, J. D.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Statistical equilibrium calculations for silicon in early-type model stellar atmospheres

Line profiles of 36 multiplets of silicon (Si) II, III, and IV were computed for a grid of model atmospheres covering the range from 15,000 to 35,000 K in effective temperature and 2.5 to 4.5 in log (gravity). The computations involved simultaneous solution of the steady-state statistical equilibrium equations for the populations and of the equation of radiative transfer in the lines. The variables were linearized, and successive corrections were computed until a minimal accuracy of 1/1000 in the line intensities was reached. The common assumption of local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) was dropped. The model atmospheres used also were computed by non-LTE methods. Some effects that were incorporated into the calculations were the depression of the continuum by free electrons, hydrogen and ionized helium line blocking, and auto-ionization and dielectronic recombination, which later were found to be insignificant. Use of radiation damping and detailed electron (quadratic Stark) damping constants had small but significant effects on the strong resonance lines of Si III and IV. For weak and intermediate-strength lines, large differences with respect to LTE computations, the results of which are also presented, were found in line shapes and strengths. For the strong lines the differences are generally small, except for the models at the hot, low-gravity extreme of our range. These computations should be useful in the interpretation of the spectra of stars in the spectral range B0-B5, luminosity classes III, IV, and V.

Kamp, L. W.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Diagnostic system design for the Ion Auxiliary Propulsion System (IAPS). Flight tests of two 8 cm mercury ion

The mechanical, thermal, electrical design and the ground test results of four types of detectors are explained. The DSS is designed to measure the thruster efflux material deposition and S/C potential relative to the local plasma in the vicinity of two 8 cm mercury ion thrusters. The DSS consists of two quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) detectors, one potential probe, nine solar cell arrays, seven ion collectors and two electronic packages.

Hurst, E. B.↗
NASA NTRS1987

A preliminary study of extended magnetic field structures in the ionosphere

Several plasma phenomena which are to be expected around a magnet in LEO were identified and analyzed qualitatively. The ASTROMAG cusp magnet will create an extended field whose strength drops to the ambient level over a scale length of approx. 15 m; the combined field has a complex topology with ring nulls and open and closed field lines. The entire configuration is moving through the partially ionized F-layer of the ionosphere at a speed slow compared to the local Alfven speed but fast compared to the ion sound speed. The ambient plasma crosses the extended field structure in a time short compared to the ion Larmor period yet long relative to the electron Larmor period. Thus, electrons behave as a magnetized fluid while ions move ballistically until reflected from higher fields near the cusp. Since the Debye length is short compared to the field scale length, an electrostatic shock-like structure forms to equilibrate the flows and achieve quasi-neutrality. The ambient plasma will be excluded from a cavity near the magnet. The size and nature of the strong interaction region in which the magnet significantly perturbs the ambient flow were determined by studying ion orbits numerically. Lecture viewgraphs summarizing these results are presented.

Sullivan, James D.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Mapping of auroral kilometric radiation sources to the aurora

Auroral kilometric radiation (AKR) and optical auroral emissions are observed simultaneously using plasma wave instrumentation and auroral imaging photometers carried on the DE 1 spacecraft. The DE 1 plasma wave instrument measures the relative phase of signals from orthogonal electric dipole antennas, and from these measurements, apparent source directions can be determined with a high degree of precision. Wave data are analyzed for several strong AKR events, and source directions are determined for several emission frequencies. By assuming that the AKR originates at cyclotron resonant altitudes, a candidate source field line is identified. When the selected source field line is traced down to auroral altitudes on the concurrent DE 1 auroral image, a striking correspondece between the AKR source field line and localized auroral features is produced. The magnetic mapping study provides strong evidence that AKR sources occur on field lines associated with discrete auroral arcs, and it provides confirmation that AKR is generated near the electron cyclotron frequency.

Huff, R. L.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Interactive wall turbulence control

After presenting boundary layer turbulence physics in a manner that emphasizes the possible modification of structural surfaces in a way that locally alters the production of turbulent flows, an account is given of the hardware that could plausibly be employed to implement such a turbulence-control scheme. The essential system components are flow sensors, electronic processors, and actuators; at present, actuator technology presents the greatest problems and limitations. High frequency/efficiency actuators are required to handle three-dimensional turbulent motions whose frequency and intensity increases in approximate proportion to freestream speed.

Wilkinson, Stephen P.↗