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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 1,045 records · Page 58
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

A numerical study of the spectral radiative properties of packed bed with mixed bauxite and silica spheres

Bauxite and silica particles have gained increasing attention for applications in the field of concentrated solar power. In this work, a Monte Carlo ray-tracing simulation is performed to predict the radiative properties (absorptance, reflectance, and transmittance) of packed beds with mixed bauxite and silica spherical particles at wavelengths of 0.5, 2.6, 9.0, and 9.35 µm. These wavelengths are representative for the visible, near-infrared, and the mid-infrared regions that are important for solar and thermal radiation, respectively. A repeating unit-column approach is used to mathematically represent the particle bed. The effects of particle mixing ratio, volume fraction, and wavelength on the predicted radiative properties are examined. The obtained radiative properties are inputted to an inverse method to retrieve the effective absorption and scattering coefficients as well as the scattering albedo, which may be later used in a continuous-scale radiative heat transfer analysis. Furthermore, the independent scattering model is used to obtain the absorption coefficient and scattering albedo based on the absorption and scattering cross sections predicted by a Monte Carlo algorithm for a single particle. It is shown that the independent scattering model underpredicts the scattering coefficient for opaque particles but overpredicts the scattering coefficient for semitransparent particles for sufficiently high particle volume fractions. Here, the radiative properties calculated from the independent scattering model are compared to the full Monte Carlo simulation of the particle bed to examine the influence of particle mixing on dependent scattering.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2022

Effects of internal swelling on residual elasticity of a quasi-brittle material through a composite sphere model

This work describes the development of a micromechanical-based constitutive model accounting for the effect of internal expansion on the residual elasticity of a Hashin composite material. This material is made of spherical inclusions that are subjected to gradual swelling within a quasi-brittle matrix. The main focus of this work is to describe and analyze the material mechanical response, with an additional focus on the internal swelling’s effect on the stress–strain response and residual elasticity. Microstructural features and parameters of major importance for the mechanical responses were identified. The innovative characteristics of the proposed approach are summarized as follows: (1) a full determination of the physics of a complete-damage problem throughout the whole process of inclusion swelling with upscaling techniques, which transfers the microcrack-related properties from the lower scale to upper scale; and (2) an evolution of the mechanical fields and the corresponding residual elasticity for various inclusion swelling levels. Concerning the matrix–inclusion composite, it was hypothesized that only the matrix was susceptible to cracking, with varied degrees of damage, whereas the inclusions behave elastically and the elastic modulus of the expanding inclusions remains constant. It is to emphasize that the gradual swelling of inclusions is modeled by an increasing strain in the current micromechanical-based constitutive model, and the microcracks are represented by a set of randomly oriented penny-shaped microcracks with identical radii (namely, closed cracks). The main contribution of the current research is to establish the exact mathematical solutions for the mechanical fields (stress, strain) caused by the swelling of the inclusions (mechanical loading) and derive the effective residual elasticity of a composite (structural response) subject to internal expansion and quasi-brittle damage. Based on the assumption of closed cracks that could be extended to open cracks in the upcoming work, the results proposed by the present paper help to understand the non-linear mechanical behavior of quasi-brittle materials subject to microcracking and provide a theoretical framework to be used as academical benchmark for numerical simulations.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2018

A 3D DLM/FD method for simulating the motion of spheres and ellipsoids under creeping flow conditions

We present in this article a novel distributed Lagrange multiplier/fictitious domain (DLM/FD) method for simulating fluid-particle interaction in three-dimensional (3D) Stokes flow. The methodology is validated by comparing the numerical results for a neutrally buoyant particle, of either spherical or prolate shape, with the associated Jeffrey's solutions for a simple shear flow. The results concerning two balls, interacting under creeping flow conditions in a bounded shear flow, are consistent with those available in the literature. We will discuss also the interactions of two balls in a bounded shear flow, when these balls are very close initially. For a prolate ellipsoid rotating in a shear flow under the sole effect of the particle inertia, shear plane tumbling is stable, while log-rolling is unstable. For two prolate ellipsoids interacting in a bounded shear flow, the results are similar to those for two balls if the major axes are initially orthogonal to the shear plane (a result not at all surprising considering that the intersections of the ellipsoids with the shear pane are circular).

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2011

Surfactant-assisted hydrothermal crystallization of nanostructured lithium metasilicate (Li{sub 2}SiO{sub 3}) hollow spheres: II-Textural analysis and CO{sub 2}-H{sub 2}O sorption evaluation

In a previous work, the synthesis and structural-microstructural characterization of different nanocrystalline lithium metasilicate (Li{sub 2}SiO{sub 3}) samples were performed. Then, in this work, initially, a textural analysis was performed over the same samples. Li{sub 2}SiO{sub 3} samples prepared with a non-ionic surfactant (TRITON X-114) presented the best textural properties. Therefore, this sample was selected to evaluate its water vapor (H{sub 2}O) and carbon dioxide (CO{sub 2}) sorption properties. Sorption experiments were performed at low temperatures (30-80 deg. C) in presence of water vapor using N{sub 2} or CO{sub 2} as carrier gases. Results clearly evidenced that CO{sub 2} sorption on these materials is highly improved by H{sub 2}O vapor, and of course, textural properties enhanced the H{sub 2}O-CO{sub 2} sorption efficiency, in comparison with the solid-state reference sample. - Graphical abstract: Li{sub 2}SiO{sub 3} varied significantly its capacity of CO{sub 2} absorption as a function of the microstructural properties and by the water presence. Highlights: > We studied the CO{sub 2} absorption on different Li{sub 2}SiO{sub 3} samples in presence of H{sub 2}O vapor. > It was proved that CO{sub 2} absorption on Li{sub 2}SiO{sub 3} is controlled by different factors. > Li{sub 2}SiO{sub 3} with a porous microstructure produces a higher CO{sub 2} absorption. > H{sub 2}O vapor favors the CO{sub 2} absorption on Li{sub 2}SiO{sub 3} due to a surface hydroxylation.

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

Facile synthesis of hierarchical hollow ε-MnO{sub 2} spheres and their application in supercapacitor electrodes

The hierarchical hollow microspheres of ε-MnO{sub 2} have been synthesized through a facile chemical method at room temperature followed by selective removal of manganese carbonate structures with HCl. The microstructure and morphologies of the resulting materials are investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The results indicate that the product obtained by simple reaction for 3 min has a porous shell with excellent permeability and uniform pore-size distribution. Electrochemical properties were characterized by cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge/discharge and impedance spectra. As a result, the hierarchical hollow ε-MnO{sub 2} showed the specific capacitance of 115 F g{sup −1} at 0.5 A g{sup −1}. These results demonstrate that the ε-MnO{sub 2} as electrode materials have potential application for high-performance supercapacitors. - Graphical abstract: The MnO{sub 2} shell with MnCO{sub 3} intermediate core is prepared at room temperature; the hollow structure with excellent permeated shell enhanced the discharge capacity and electrochemical stability.

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

GaN decomposition after high-energy ball milling and its transformation to BN hollow spheres in annealing samples doped with B

Highlights: • B- and Si-doped GaN semiconductor are processed by high-energy ball milling. • TEM observations indicate GaN structural decomposition. • DSC-TGA analysis confirms the GaN temperatures decomposition. • GaN decomposition is more influenced by B element. • BN hollow particles is formed after annealing treatment of the B-doped GaN. - Abstract: In this work, GaN powders doped with B and Si were treated by high-energy ball milling, and subsequently, annealing at different temperatures. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations showed the in-situ GaN decomposition in the undoped GaN specimen milled for 5 h. TEM also revealed that the chemical decomposition of GaN was more affected in samples doped with B. Thermo-gravimetric analysis indicates that an undoped GaN specimen decomposes at 1120 °C, Si-doped GaN samples disintegrate at 1150 °C, and finally, B-doped GaN samples decompose at the lower temperature of 940 °C. TEM and SEM results show that the annealing treatment of the as-milled B-doped GaN samples at 1150 °C for 15 min leads to the GaN decomposition and BN hollow nanostructures formation under an N{sub 2} atmosphere. The synthesized product consists of mesoporous powders with variable particle sizes from 500 nm to 1 μm having variable cavities in the range from 60 nm to 800 nm.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2019

Modified Solution Combustion Synthesis (SCS) of nickel oxide, NiO sphere clusters using glucans and sodium salts: Application for electrocatalytic decomposition of urea

The application of metabolites from the modern clinic (patient care environments including hospitals and medical facilities) has become an important part of energy research as these materials are readily available at low-cost and are non-toxic to handle in large quantities for catalyst development in the chemical industry. A modified Solution Combustion Synthesis (SCS) route was utilized in the preparation of nickel oxide, NiO nanomaterials using Dextran/Trisodium Citrate Dihydrate and Dextran/Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose (Na-CMC). The catalysts were then applied towards the electrocatalytic decomposition of urea, a metabolite from human and animal urine for Direct Urea Fuel Cell (DUFC) technology. Results from the catalysis demonstrated that the sample prepared via Dextran/Trisodium Citrate Dihydrate had the greatest Electroactive Surface Area (ESA) of 146 $\frac{cm^2}{mg}$, potentially a result of the well-defined clusters produced using the citrate coordinating species to produce individual particles.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗