Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “CO2 Sources”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 109 records · Page 6
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Biomanufacturing from gaseous C1 feedstocks: A perspective on opportunities and challenges

Single-carbon (C1) substrates including carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and methane are abundantly available from natural and anthropogenic sources and present potential feedstocks for biomanufacturing. Utilizing these C1 gas feedstocks in bioprocesses for sustainable production of chemicals and fuels could prove pivotal in removing excess carbon from the atmosphere. This perspective describes the spectrum and sources of CO2, CO, and CH4 and examines emerging opportunities in microbial bioconversion and bioelectrochemical processes for these feedstocks. We discuss existing challenges in bioprocess development that currently restrict the commercialization of C1 biomanufacturing technologies. We detail different aerobic and anaerobic bioconversion approaches for C1 feedstocks employing pure and mixed cultures and examine the suitability of each scenario for producing specific molecules. Beyond strain engineering and bioprocess constraints, we address often overlooked factors that limit the development of efficient and reliable bioprocesses, including technology availability for research and safety considerations. We then discuss and recommend the necessary safety features and technological research tools for developing fast, safe, and efficient bioprocesses using gaseous feedstocks to support the scale-up and commercialization of C1 biomanufacturing technologies. This perspective provides an overview of the current scientific and industrial state of the art and offers insights into future technological needs that must be addressed to realize the potential of biomanufacturing from gaseous feedstocks. Synopsis: C1 gases offer a sustainable feedstock for biomanufacturing of fuels and chemicals. This work analyzes bioconversion methods, challenges, and safety considerations, and emphasizes the need for improved technology to enable commercialization.

Biomanufacturing↗
DOE OSTI2021

Technoeconomic and Life Cycle Analysis of Synthetic Methanol Production from Hydrogen and Industrial Byproduct CO 2

Here CO 2 capture and utilization provides an alternative pathway for low-carbon hydrocarbon production. Given the ample supply of high-purity CO 2 emitted from ethanol and ammonia plants, this study conducted technoeconomic analysis and environmental life cycle analysis of several systems: integrated methanol-ethanol coproduction, integrated methanol-ammonia coproduction, and stand-alone methanol production systems, using CO 2 feedstock from ethanol plants, ammonia plants, and general market CO 2 supply. The cradle-to-grave greenhouse gas emissions of methanol produced from the stand-alone methanol, integrated methanol-ethanol, and integrated methanol-ammonia systems are 13.6, 37.9, and 84.6 g CO 2 -equiv/MJ, respectively, compared to 91.5 g CO 2 -equiv/MJ of conventional methanol produced from natural gas. The minimum fuel selling price (MFSP) of methanol ($\$0.61-0.64$/kg) is 61-68% higher than the average market methanol price of $\$0.38$/kg, when using a Department of Energy target renewable hydrogen production price of $\$2.0$/kg. The methanol price increases to $\$1.24-1.28$/kg when the hydrogen price is $\$5.0$/kg. Without CO 2 abatement credits, the H 2 price needs to be within $\$0.77-0.95$/kg for the MFSP of methanol to equal the average methanol market price. With a CO 2 credit of $\$35$/MT according to tax credit per metric ton of CO 2 captured and used, the methanol price is reduced to $\$0.56-0.59$/kg.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Computational Analysis of the Effect of Structured Packing Design on Absorption Column Hydrodynamics for Post-Combustion Carbon Capture Applications

Solvent based post-combustion carbon capture technologies have a potential for reducing carbon emissions from fossil-fuel-fired power plants and industrial sources where CO2 emissions are inherently harder to mitigate, such as steel or cement industries. A prominent technology to achieve this is by retrofitting absorption columns to the existing infrastructure. While these systems have been among the less costly alternatives for carbon capture, they still impose a considerable energy penalty to the operation of power plants or industrial facilities. The optimization of CO2 capture rate in solvent-based absorption process is complex as it depends on several factors including CO2 solubility, solvent reaction kinetics and temperature effects on the solubility, reaction rates, surface tension, and thermophysical properties of the solvent and the flue gas. The overall heat and mass transfer also depends on the hydrodynamics, which in turn, is affected by the packing geometry. In the current work, we systematically quantify the effects the design of the structured packing has on the column hydrodynamics, by performing detailed CFD simulations for different geometrical configurations and operating conditions. We then obtain relationships between the key hydrodynamic metrics, such as liquid holdup, interfacial area, wetted area, and pressure drop to the parameters defining the packing geometries and identify new more effective packing designs for the given operating conditions.

Shah, Yash Girish↗
DOE OSTI2024

Assessing Suitable Geologic Carbon Storage Sites Across Utah

Utah has a wealth of potential geological reservoirs for carbon dioxide storage (CS) and a long history of geologic research resulting in an abundance of available subsurface data to evaluate CS potential. Reservoirs may include sandstone, carbonate, and basalt; these rock types are plentiful in Utah’s subsurface and the complex Phanerozoic history throughout the state requires evaluating each geologic region individually for promising reservoir-seal pairs for CO2 storage. Classifying Utah by geologic provinces (or “geo-regions”) allows for customized thinking about suitable CS reservoir and seal distribution, CO2 point sources, land use, and existing infrastructure. Preliminary results from this study highlight the geologic CS potential across 15 geo-regions. Four regions stand out as having high CS potential: the Uinta Basin, San Rafael Swell, Paradox Basin, and the southern Basin and Range Province. The Uinta Basin and San Rafael Swell geo-regions are well suited for CS and have several projects ongoing to evaluate Cretaceous Frontier and Naturita Formations, Jurassic Navajo Sandstone and Entrada Sandstone, and Permian Weber Sandstone reservoir units that lie beneath robust sealing units like the ~5000-ft-thick Mancos Shale and Carmel Formation. Reservoirs such as the Navajo and Weber Sandstones have been demonstrated to be suitable reservoirs through a long history of oil and gas exploration in Utah. New areas of interest include the southern Basin and Range in southwest Utah, where the Jurassic Navajo Sandstone is overlain by the sealing Carmel Formation at suitable depths (>3000 ft), and has good porosities based on outcrop analogue data. Just to the north (e.g., central Basin and Range), legacy wells and 2D seismic data show possible salt and subsurface basalt flows that may provide additional possible CS reservoirs and seals. This geo-region also has the advantage of being coupled with geothermal energy resources that may be used to power burgeoning direct air capture technologies. In the Paradox Basin of southeastern Utah, the Leadville Limestone is a potential storage reservoir beneath the thick (4000–5000 ft), salt-bearing Pennsylvanian Paradox Formation. Although the northern and western parts of Utah offer CS potential, these areas typically contain less infrastructure and subsurface penetrations, creating geologic uncertainty associated with subsurface seals and reservoirs due to a lack of data. Overall, this statewide assessment and ranking is the first step to aid in evaluating CS potential across Utah and provides a foundation for future research in the most favorable locations.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1986

CO2 lidar system for atmospheric studies

A lidar facility using a TEA CO2 laser source is being developed at the ENEA Laboratories for Atmospheric Studies. The different subsystems and the proposed experimental activities are described.

Barbini, R.↗
NASA NTRS1986

What can meteorites tell us about comets?

Cometary silicates, carbon, and volatiles are reviewed using data from the Halley probes, interplanetary dust particles, and cometary spectra. The origins of anhydrous Fe(2+)-bearing silicates; whether hydrated silicates, if present, were made by gaseous or liquid H2O3; sources of organic compounds: ion-molecule reactions, photochemistry, grain catalysis; sources of CO2 and of organic polymers; and interstellar molecules and grains in comets are discussed.

Anders, Edward↗
NASA NTRS1991

A comparison of optical technologies for a high data rate Mars link

Several optical systems, based on Nd:YAG, GaAs, and CO2 laser sources and employing both direct and heterodyne detection, are analyzed in order to assess their feasibility in providing high data rate (10-1000 Mbps) Mars-to-earth communications. The rms pointing/tracking accuracy is shown to be a critical parameter in defining the Mars-earth optical link. Data obtained reveal that unless, extremely small rms pointing and tracking errors can be achieved (sigma less than .2 microrad), the most promising optical implementation appears to be the Nd:YAG laser using direct detection and high order PPM modulation.

Spence, Rodney L.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Carbon metabolism of the cryptoendolithic microbiota from the Antarctic desert

The carbon metabolism of the cryptoendolithic microbiota of sandstones from the Ross Desert of Antarctica was studied in situ and in vitro. Organic and inorganic carbon compounds were metabolized by the microbiota, with bicarbonate incorporation into community lipids occurring primarily in the light. Light intensity affected the photometabolism of carbon with a photosynthesis-intensity response optimum at about 200 to 300 micromoles of photons per m2 per s. Photosynthesis was also affected by temperature, with a minimum activity at -5 degrees C, an optimum activity at 15 degrees C, and complete inhibition at 35 degrees C, indicating that the cryptoendolithic community was psychrophilic. The primary source of CO2 for photosynthesis in situ was the atmosphere. CO2 may also be photometabolized by using the carbon produced from respiration within the endolithic community. Photosynthesis occurred maximally when the microbiota was wet with liquid water and to a lesser extent in a humid atmosphere. This simple microbial community, therefore, exists under extremes of water, light, and temperature stress which affect and control its metabolism.

NASA Discipline Exobiology↗
NASA NTRS2009

Achieving a Prioritized Research and Technology Development Portfolio for the Dust Management Project

Mission architectures for human exploration of the lunar surface continue to advance as well as the definitions of capability needs, best practices and engineering design to mitigate the impact of lunar dust on exposed systems. The NASA DMP has been established as the agency focal point for dust characterization, technology, and simulant development. As described in this paper, the DMP has defined a process for selecting and justifying its R&T portfolio. The technology prioritization process, which is based on a ranking system according to weighted criteria, has been successfully applied to the current DMP dust mitigation technology portfolio. Several key findings emerged from this assessment. Within the dust removal and cleaning technologies group, there are critical technical challenges that must be overcome for these technologies to be implemented for lunar applications. For example, an in-situ source of CO2 on the moon is essential to the CO2 shower technology. Also, significant development effort is required to achieve technology readiness level TRL 6 for the electrostatic cleaning system for removal of particles smaller than 50 pm. The baseline materials related technologies require considerable development just to achieve TRL 6. It is also a nontrivial effort to integrate the materials in hardware for lunar application. At present, there are no terrestrial applications that are readily adaptable to lunar surface applications nor are there any obvious leading candidates. The unique requirements of dust sealing systems for lunar applications suggest an extensive development effort will be necessary to mature dust sealing systems to TRL 6 and beyond. As discussed here, several alternate materials and technologies have achieved high levels of maturity for terrestrial applications and warrant due diligence in ongoing assessment of the technology portfolio. The present assessment is the initial step in an ongoing effort to continually evaluate the DMP technology portfolio and external non-NASA relevant technology developments efforts to maintain an optimal investment profile. At the same time, there is an ongoing review of agency-wide dust-related R&T activities. The results of these ongoing assessments will be reported in future publications.

Hyatt, Mark J.↗
NASA NTRS2012

Organic Combustion in the Presence of Ca-Carbonate and Mg-Perchlorate: A Possible Source for the Low Temperature CO2 Release Seen in Mars Phoenix Thermal and Evolved Gas Analyzer Data

Two of the most important discoveries of the Phoenix Lander were the detection of approx.0.6% perchlorate [1] and 3-5% carbonate [2] in landing site soils. The Thermal and Evolved Gas Analyzer (TEGA) instrument on the Phoenix lander could heat samples up to approx.1000 C and monitor evolved gases with a mass spectrometer. TEGA detected a low (approx.350 C) and high (approx.750 C) temperature CO2 release. The high temp release was attributed to the thermal decomposition of Ca-carbonate (calcite). The low temperature CO2 release could be due to desorption of CO2, decomposition of a different carbonate mineral, or the combustion of organic material. A new hypothesis has also been proposed that the low temperature CO2 release could be due to the early breakdown of calcite in the presence of the decomposition products of certain perchlorate salts [3]. We have investigated whether or not this new hypothesis is also compatible with organic combustion. Magnesium perchlorate is stable as Mg(ClO4)2-6H2O on the martian surface [4]. During thermal decomposition, this perchlorate salt releases H2O, Cl2, and O2 gases. The Cl2 can react with water to form HCl which then reacts with calcite, releasing CO2 below the standard thermal decomposition temperature of calcite. However, when using concentrations of perchlorate and calcite similar to what was detected by Phoenix, the ratio of high:low temperature CO2 evolved is much larger in the lab, indicating that although this process might contribute to the low temp CO2 release, it cannot account for all of it. While H2O and Cl2 cause calcite decomposition, the O2 evolved during perchlorate decomposition can lead to the combustion of any reduced carbon present in the sample [5]. We investigate the possible contribution of organic molecules to the low temperature CO2 release seen on Mars.

Archer, Douglas↗
NASA NTRS2022

Soil Respiration Phenology Improves Modeled Phase of Terrestrial Net Ecosystem Exchange in Northern Hemisphere

In the northern hemisphere, terrestrial ecosystems transition from net sources of CO2 to the atmosphere in winter to net ecosystem carbon sinks during spring. The timing (or phase) of this transition, determined by the balance between ecosystem respiration (RECO) and primary production, is key to estimating the amplitude of the terrestrial carbon sink. We diagnose an apparent phase bias in the RECO and net ecosystem exchange (NEE) seasonal cycles estimated by the Terrestrial Carbon Flux (TCF) model framework and investigate its link to soil respiration mechanisms. Satellite observations of vegetation canopy conditions, surface meteorology, and soil moisture from the NASA SMAP Level 4 Soil Moisture product are used to model a daily carbon budget for a global network of eddy covariance flux towers. Proposed modifications to TCF include: the inhibition of foliar respiration in the light (the Kok effect); a seasonally varying litterfall phenology; an O2 diffusion limitation on heterotrophic respiration (RH); and a vertically resolved soil decomposition model. We find that RECO phase bias can result from bias in RECO magnitude and that mechanisms which reduce northern spring RECO, like substrate and O2 diffusion limitations, can mitigate the phase bias. A vertically resolved soil decomposition model mitigates this bias by temporally segmenting and lagging RH. Applying these model enhancements at Continuous Soil Respiration (COSORE) sites verifies their improvement of RECO and NEE skill compared to in situ observations (up to ∆RMSE = −0.76 g C m−2 d −1 35 ). Ultimately, these mechanisms can improve prior estimates of NEE for atmospheric inversion studies.

Soil respiration↗
NASA NTRS2013

Carbon Isotopic Composition of CO2, Evolved During Perchlorate-Induced Reactions in Mars Analog Materials: Interpreting SAM/MSL Rocknest Data

The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) Instrument Suite on the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Rover Curiosity made its first solid sample evolved gas analysis of unconsolidated material at aeolian bedform Rocknest in Gale Crater. The magnitude of O2 evolved in each run as well as the chlorinated hydrocarbons detected by SAM gas chromatograph/ mass spectrometer (GCMS) [1] suggest a chlorinated oxidant such as perchlorate in Rocknest materials [2]. Perchlorate induced combustion of organics present in the sample would contribute to the CO2 volatile inventory, possibly overlapping with CO2 from inorganic sources. The resulting carbon and oxygen isotopic composition of CO2 sent to the Tunable Laser Spectrometer (TLS) for analysis would represent mixed sources. This work was undertaken to better understand a) how well the carbon isotopic composition ( 13C) of CO2 from partially combusted products represents their source and b) how the 13C of combusted products can be deconvolved from other carbon sources such as thermal decomposition of carbonate.

Stern, J. C.↗
NASA NTRS1989

C-13/C-12 of atmospheric CO2 in the Amazon basin - Forest and river sources

Results are presented of measurements of the CO2 concentrations and C-13/C-12 ratios in CO2 in air samples collected from within the Amazonian rain forest and over the Amazon river between 1982 and 1987. Results indicate the presence of a diurnal cycle in the CO2 concentration and the C-13/C-12 ratio. It was found that the CO2 input to air in the forest was derived from the soil respiration, and the CO2 input to air over the Amazon river was derived from the degassing of CO2 from the river. It was also found that plants growing at heights lower than 7 m assimilate soil-derived CO2 with a low C-13/C-12 ratio.

Quay, Paul↗
NASA NTRS2004

An Adjoint-Based Analysis of the Sampling Footprints of Tall Tower, Aircraft and Potential Future Lidar Observations of CO2

A detailed mechanistic understanding of the sources and sinks of CO2 will be required to reliably predict future CO2 levels and climate. A commonly used technique for deriving information about CO2 exchange with surface reservoirs is to solve an 'inverse problem', where CO2 observations are used with an atmospheric transport model to find the optimal distribution of sources and sinks. Synthesis inversion methods are powerful tools for addressing this question, but the results are disturbingly sensitive to the details of the calculation. Studies done using different atmospheric transport models and combinations of surface station data have produced substantially different distributions of surface fluxes. Adjoint methods are now being developed that will more effectively incorporate diverse datasets in estimates of surface fluxes of CO2. In an adjoint framework, it will be possible to combine CO2 concentration data from longterm surface and aircraft monitoring stations with data from intensive field campaigns and with proposed future satellite observations. We have recently developed an adjoint for the GSFC 3-D Parameterized Chemistry and Transport Model (PCTM). Here, we will present results from a PCTM Adjoint study comparing the sampling footprints of tall tower, aircraft and potential future lidar observations of CO2. The vertical resolution and extent of the profiles and the observation frequency will be considered for several sites in North America.

Andrews, Arlyn↗
DOE OSTI2023

SPRUCE Climate Warming and Elevated CO2 Rapidly Alter Peatland Soil Carbon Sources and Stability: Supporting Data

This data set reports a suite of complementary biogeochemical analyses of peat samples from the SPRUCE (Spruce and Peatland Responses Under Changing Environments) experiment. Results were collected using quantitative molecular analysis of bulk soil carbon to assess the stability of soil organic carbon following whole-ecosystem warming and exposure to elevated carbon dioxide concentrations (eCO2). Targeted soil organic carbon components include solvent-extractable compounds (alkanoic acids, alkanols, alkanes, steroids, and terpenoids), ester-bound hydrolysable biopolymers (cutin and suberin markers), lignin phenols, and pyrogenic carbon. Bulk peat samples were analysed by Soxhlet extraction and solid phase separation for solvent-extractable compounds, alkaline hydrolysis to extract hydrolysable biopolymers, copper (II) oxide oxidation to extract lignin phenols and benzene polycarboxylic acids (BPCAs) as an approximation of pyrogenic carbon. Samples were analysed by gas chromatography (GC) equipped with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID) and compound identification was performed on GC coupled to mass selective detector (MS) for solvent-extractable compounds, ester-bound hydrolysable biopolymers and lignin phenols, and high-performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC) for pyrogenic carbon. Results are presented in Ofiti et al. (accepted). The experimental work was conducted on samples collected in August 2018 at the SPRUCE climate manipulation experiment in northern Minnesota, 40 km north of Grand Rapids, in the USDA Forest Service Marcell Experimental Forest (MEF). Samples were collected and later analysed in a 10 cm increments over 0 to 50 cm depth and 25 cm intervals from 50 to 75 cm. Samples were analyzed for lignin phenols over 0 to 30 cm depth. This data set contains one file in comma separate (*.csv) format. This dataset contains data used to produce: Ofiti, N.O.E., Schmidt, M.W.I., Abiven, S., Hanson, P.J., Iversen, C.M., Wilson, R.M., Kostka, J.E., Wiesenberg, G.L.B., Malhotra, A. 2023. Climate warming and elevated CO2 rapidly alter peatland soil carbon sources and stability. Nat Commun 14, 7533. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-43410-z.

SPRUCE experiment, Marcell Experimental Forest, so↗
NASA NTRS2001

Sensitivity Studies for Space-Based Global Measurements of Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is well known as the primary forcing agent of global warming. Although the climate forcing due to CO2 is well known, the sources and sinks of CO2 are not well understood. Currently the lack of global atmospheric CO2 observations limits our ability to diagnose the global carbon budget (e.g., finding the so-called "missing sink") and thus limits our ability to understand past climate change and predict future climate response. Space-based techniques are being developed to make high-resolution and high-precision global column CO2 measurements. One of the proposed techniques utilizes the passive remote sensing of Earth's reflected solar radiation at the weaker vibration-rotation band of CO2 in the near infrared (approx. 1.57 micron). We use a line-by-line radiative transfer model to explore the potential of this method. Results of sensitivity studies for CO2 concentration variation and geophysical conditions (i.e., atmospheric temperature, surface reflectivity, solar zenith angle, aerosol, and cirrus cloud) will be presented. We will also present sensitivity results for an O2 A-band (approx. 0.76 micron) sensor that will be needed along with CO2 to make surface pressure and cloud height measurements.

Mao, Jian-Ping↗
NASA NTRS2011

Development of a Pulsed 2-micron Laser Transmitter for CO2 Sensing from Space

NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC), in collaboration with NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), is engaged in the development and demonstration of a highly efficient, versatile, 2-micron pulsed laser that can be used in a pulsed Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL)/Integrated Path Differential Absorption (IPDA) instrument to make precise, high-resolution CO2 measurements to investigate sources, sinks, and fluxes of CO2. This laser transmitter will feature performance characteristics needed for an ASCENDS system that will be capable of delivering the CO2 measurement precision required by the Earth Science Decadal Survey (DS).

Singh, Upendra N.↗