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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 109 records · Page 6
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1997

Global Analysis, Interpretation and Modelling: An Earth Systems Modelling Program

The Goal of the GAIM is: To advance the study of the coupled dynamics of the Earth system using as tools both data and models; to develop a strategy for the rapid development, evaluation, and application of comprehensive prognostic models of the Global Biogeochemical Subsystem which could eventually be linked with models of the Physical-Climate Subsystem; to propose, promote, and facilitate experiments with existing models or by linking subcomponent models, especially those associated with IGBP Core Projects and with WCRP efforts. Such experiments would be focused upon resolving interface issues and questions associated with developing an understanding of the prognostic behavior of key processes; to clarify key scientific issues facing the development of Global Biogeochemical Models and the coupling of these models to General Circulation Models; to assist the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) process by conducting timely studies that focus upon elucidating important unresolved scientific issues associated with the changing biogeochemical cycles of the planet and upon the role of the biosphere in the physical-climate subsystem, particularly its role in the global hydrological cycle; and to advise the SC-IGBP on progress in developing comprehensive Global Biogeochemical Models and to maintain scientific liaison with the WCRP Steering Group on Global Climate Modelling.

Moore, Berrien, III↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

TPSAS-NF1676L-10767-DND

Version 2.1ae of the NASA CFD code OVERFLOW has been used to simulate the flow past tandem cylinders. The multiblock grid system consisted of 15 overset meshes with a total grid count of 15.7 million points. The grid extended 3 cylinder diameters in the spanwise direction with periodic boundary conditions at the ends. Riemann conditions were used at the outer boundaries, and a no-slip condition on the cylinder surfaces. The 3rd order HLLC upwind spatial discretization scheme was used with a dual-time stepping algorithm. A modified version of the Delayed Detached Eddy Simulation hybrid RANS/LES turbulence model proposed by Spalart was used in a fully turbulent mode. The code was run on 53 Core 2 Duo nodes using MPI across nodes and OPENMP within each node. Simulation results will be compared with the available experimental data.

David P. Lockard↗
NASA NTRS1986

A three-dimensional axisymmetric calculation procedure for turbulent flows in a radial vaneless diffuser

An analytical model is proposed to calculate the three-dimensional axisymmetric turbulent flowfield in a radial vneless diffuser. The model assumes that the radial and tangential boundary layer profiles are approximated by power law profiles. Then, using the integrated radial and tangential momentum and continuity equations for the boundary layer and corresponding inviscid equations for the core flow, there results six ordinary differential equation in six unknowns which are easily solved using a Runge-Kutta technique. A model is also proposed for fully developed flow. The results using this technique were compared with the results from a three-dimensional viscous, axisymmetric duct code and with experimental data and good quantitative agreement was obtained.

Schumann, L. F.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Candidate sample acquisition systems for the Rosetta

The Comet Nucleus Sample Return (CNSR) mission, one of the four cornerstones of the ESA scientific program, is one of the most complex space ventures within the next century, both from technological and deep space exploration point of view. In the Rosetta scenario the sample acquisition phase represents the most critical point for the global mission's success. The proposed paper illustrates the main results obtained in the context of the CNSR-SAS ongoing activity. The main areas covered are related to: (1) sample properties characterization (comet soil model, physical/chemical properties, reference material for testing); (2) concepts identification for coring, shovelling, harpooning and anchoring; (3) preferred concept (trade off among concepts, identification of the preferred configuration); and (4) proposed development activity for gaining the necessary confidence before finalizing the CNSR mission. Particular emphasis will be given to the robotic and flexibility aspects of the identified sample acquisition systems (SAS) configuration, intended as a means for the overall system performance enhancement.

Magnani, P. G.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Development of compact tokamak fusion reactor use cases to inform future transport studies

The OMFIT STEP (Meneghini et al. , Nucl. Fusion , vol. 10, 2020, p. 1088) workflow has been used to develop inductive and steady-state H-mode core plasma scenario use cases for a $B_0 = 8 \, {\rm T}$ , $R_0 = 4 \, {\rm m}$ machine to help guide and inform future higher-fidelity studies of core transport and confinement in compact tokamak reactors. Both use cases are designed to produce 200 MW or more of net electric power in an up-down symmetric plasma with minor radius $a = 1.4 \, {\rm m}$ , elongation $\kappa = 2.0$ , triangularity $\delta = 0.5$ and effective charge $Z_{{\rm eff}} \simeq 2$ . Additional considerations based on the need for compatibility of the core with reactor-relevant power exhaust solutions and external actuators were used to guide and constrain the use case development. An extensive characterization of core transport in both scenarios is presented, the most important feature of which is the extreme sensitivity of the results to the quantitative stiffness level of the transport model used as well as the predicted critical gradients. This sensitivity is shown to arise from different levels of transport stiffness exhibited by the models, combined with the gyroBohm-normalized fluxes of the predictions being an order of magnitude larger than other H-mode plasmas. Additionally, it is shown that although heating in both plasmas is predominantly to the electrons and collisionality is low, the plasmas remain sufficiently well coupled for the ions to carry a significant fraction of the thermal transport. As neoclassical transport is negligible in these conditions, this situation inherently requires long-wavelength ion gyroradius-scale turbulence to be the dominant transport mechanism in both plasmas. These results are combined with other basic considerations to propose a simple heuristic model of transport in reactor-relevant plasmas, along with simple metrics to quantify coupling and core transport properties across burning and non-burning plasmas.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS1987

Depletion of interstitial oxygen in silicon and the thermal donor model

It is shown here that the experimental results of Newman (1985) and Tan et al. (1986) regarding the loss of oxygen interstitials during 450 C annealing of Czochralski silicon are consistent with the recently proposed model of Borenstein, Peak, and Corbett (1986) for thermal donor formation. Calculations were carried out for TD cores corresponding to O2, O3, O4, and/or O5 clusters. A simple model which attempts to capture the essential physics of the interstitial depletion has been constructed, and is briefly described.

Borenstein, Jeffrey T.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Numerical Analysis of Temperature Gradients and Interface Shape During Directional Solidification of Al and Al-Cu Alloy Under Microgravity Conditions

Numerical modeling was undertaken to analyze the influence of radial thermal gradient on solid/liquid (s/1) interface shape and convection patterns during solidification of pure Al and Al-4 wt% Cu alloy. The objective of the numerical task was to predict the influence of convective velocity on an insoluble particle near a s/l interface. These predictions would then be used to define the minimum gravity level (g) required to investigate the fundamental physics of interaction between a particle and a s/I interface. To satisfy this objective, steady state calculations were performed for different gravity levels and orientations with the gravity vector. ne furnace configuration used in this analysis is the proposed International Space Station Furnace, Quench Module Insert (QMI) 1. Results from a thermal model of the furnace core were used as initial boundary conditions for solidification modeling. General model of binary alloy solidification was based on the finite element code FIDAP. It was found that for the worst case orientation of 90 degrees with the gravity vector and a g level of 10(exp -4)g(sub o) (g(sub o) = 9.8 m/s(exp 2)) the dominant forces acting on the particle would be the fundamental drag and interfacial forces.

Bune, Andris V.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Geologic Evolution of the Martian Dichotomy and Plains Magnetization in the Ismenius Area of Mars

The global dichotomy divides the northern lowlands from the southern highlands, except where interrupted by relatively young volcanic provinces and impact basins. An elevation change of 2-4 km is typical across the dichotomy, and more than 6 km locally, over distances of several 100s km to as much as 1300 km [1,2]. A variety of exogenic and endogenic formation models have been proposed. Distinguishing between these models would help constrain the overall thermal evolution of the planet, possibly timing of core formation, and the associated mantle heat flux over time. A first step is to determine whether or not gravitational relaxation plays a role in modifying the boundary. Nimmo and Stevenson [3] examined 10 profiles across the dichotomy and used models of gravitational relaxation to conclude the relaxation has not occurred. In this study we begin by considering the geologic history in detail as inputs for modeling [4].

Smrekar, S. E.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Constraints on the Evolution of the Dichotomy Boundary at 50-90E

The global dichotomy is a fundamental feature of Mars. It marks the boundary between the highly cratered, older southern highlands, and the northern plains. Recent analysis of buried craters in the northern lowlands confirms the long held suspicion that they are comparable in age to the southern highlands, but with surficial deposits of younger material. A variety of exogenic and endogenic models have been proposed for the origin of the dichotomy, including multiple impacts, plate tectonics, and degree one convection produced by core formation, a plume under the lowlands, or a plume under the highlands. New gravity and topography data from the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mission favor endogenic processes. In this study we examine MGS topography, gravity and magnetic field data to constrain the tectonic history the dichotomy in the region 30-60N and 50-90E, which encompasses portions of the Ismenius Lacus quadrangle. The dichotomy formed very early the history of Mars and has undergone extensive modification by impact cratering, erosion, and faulting. This history must be carefully interpreted in order to reconstruct the original nature of the dichotomy boundary and ultimately discriminate between models of origin. In the study area boundary-parallel faults are well preserved, and may be the result of gravitational relaxation. The geologic history has been examined in detail, including estimates of volumes of material eroded. Further, it is one of the few regions where there is a correlation between the free air gravity, magnetic anomalies, and the geology. This allows to constrain subsurface faulting beneath the lowlands fill material. In addition to being an excellent location to unravel the complex history of the dichotomy, this area preserves the transition from a highly magnetized highlands crust to an unmagnetized or slightly magnetized lowlands crust.

S E Smrekar↗
DOE OSTI2023

Fiscal Year 2023 Software Quality Assurance Activities for the ARC Software

The Argonne Reactor Code (ARC) software suite [1-17] has been developed by Argonne researchers for fast reactor design and analysis since the 1970s. With the ARC software suite, a user can quickly build a model of a proposed or existing fast spectrum reactor and carry out fuel cycle, nominal thermal analysis and flow requirements, and assess, as is appropriate, whether the core design and constraint system yield an acceptable mechanical behavior. For transient reactor analysis with SAS4A [18], the ARC software suite can be used to generate reactivity coefficients and kinetics parameters at any modeled fuel cycle time point which forms part of the input to SAS4A. The ARC suite was consistently being developed until the 1990s and followed a software QA program which was an appropriate standard for the time. In the 1990s, the DOE funding to fast reactor research and development was all but eliminated and the ARC software was put into maintenance mode. In the early 2000s, the software quality assurance (SQA) program for ARC was still in place to define an official version, but by 2005 it all but was abandoned as there were insufficient staff to fill the work roles. Since 2005, there has been a considerable increase in research and design work on fast spectrum reactors. The ARC software as a whole has since been exported to many universities and commercial companies and ANL support has been given to the various projects over the years [19-23]. Further, MC 2 -3, PERSENT, and DASSH were all developed after 2005 without any adherence to a software standard. In recent time, the DOE VTR project [22] paid for verification work to be done on the ARC software as part of the goal of making it NQA-1 complaint. The VTR project was not considered the appropriate pathway to fund and maintain a SQA program for the ARC software and while software developments (DASSH) were made and several manuals were updated and software verification work was carried out, the ARC software is not NQA-1 compliant. More recently the Advanced Reactor Development Program (ARDP [23]) has funded the creation of manuals for some ARC utility programs and funded additional software verification work on DIF3D [6, 7] and MC 2 -3 [2-5] for the purpose of commercial grade dedication. Because of the VTR and ARDP projects, software verification work was completed on MC 2 -3 and DIF3D, and detailed reports were created for each piece of software, which discuss the inputs and outputs from the codes that are covered by the verification work and link various analytic, code-to-code, and hand calculation based verification work presented in the report with verification test problems provided with the software. This is a key part of the commercial grade dedication work and constitutes the bulk of the cost to get the ARC software to commercial grade. The ARC software suite is a valuable asset as a fast reactor design and analysis tool set that has been reasonably well verified and validated with various fast reactor benchmark problems and experiments over decades. Some or all of the ARC software suite has been utilized for designing the IFR [20], PGSFR [21], VTR [22], and Natrium [23] reactors and we can expect it to continue to be used for advanced fast reactor design and/or confirmatory calculation purposes in the future. Due to increased interest by commercial companies and regulatory bodies, it is becoming more important to make the ARC software suite complete and ready-to-use in terms of its SQA pedigree and commercial grade dedication needs. This report discusses the achievements made towards building a new SQA program for the ARC software and dealing with outstanding identified QA gaps.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
NASA NTRS1978

Theoretical models for Mars and their seismic properties

Theoretical seismic properties of the planet Mars are investigated on the basis of the various models which have been proposed for the internal composition of the planet. The latest interpretation of gravity-field data, assuming a lower value of the moment of inertia, would require a less dense mantle and a larger core than previous models. If Mars is chondritic in composition, the most reasonable models are an incompletely differentiated H-chondrite or a mixture of H-chondrites and carbonaceous chondrites. Seismic profiles, travel times, and free oscillation periods are computed for various models, with the aim of establishing which seismic data is crucial for deciding among the alternatives. A detailed discussion is given of the seismic properties which could - in principle - help answer the questions of whether Mars' core is liquid or solid and whether Mars has a partially molten asthenosphere in its upper mantle.

Okal, E. A.↗
NASA NTRS2005

Applying Qualitative Hazard Analysis to Support Quantitative Safety Analysis for Proposed Reduced Wake Separation Conops

This paper describes a scenario-driven hazard analysis process to identify, eliminate, and control safety-related risks. Within this process, we develop selective criteria to determine the applicability of applying engineering modeling to hypothesized hazard scenarios. This provides a basis for evaluating and prioritizing the scenarios as candidates for further quantitative analysis. We have applied this methodology to proposed concepts of operations for reduced wake separation for closely spaced parallel runways. For arrivals, the process identified 43 core hazard scenarios. Of these, we classified 12 as appropriate for further quantitative modeling, 24 that should be mitigated through controls, recommendations, and / or procedures (that is, scenarios not appropriate for quantitative modeling), and 7 that have the lowest priority for further analysis.

Shortle, John F.↗
NASA NTRS2018

Evaluation of a Thermodynamic Ice Crystal Icing Model Using Experimental Ice Accretion Data

This paper presents the evaluation of a thermodynamic ice crystal icing model, previously presented to describe the possible mechanisms of icing within the core of a turbofan jet engine. It has been proposed that there are two types of distinct ice accretions based on a surface energy balance: freeze-dominated icing and melt-dominated icing. In the former, ice accretion occurs where a freeze fraction (0 to 1) of melted ice crystals freezes on a surface, along with the existing ice of the impinging water and ice mass. This freeze-dominated icing is characterized by having strong adhesion to the surface. In the latter, icing occurs from accumulated unmelted ice on a surface, where a melt fraction (0 to 1) dictates the amount of unmelted impinged ice. This melt-dominated icing is characterized by weakly bonded surface adhesion. The experimentally observed ice growth rates suggest that only a small fraction of the impinging ice remains on the surface, implying a mass loss mechanism such as splash, runback, bounce, or erosion. This mass loss parameter must be determined in conjunction with the fraction of freezing liquid water or fraction of melting ice on an icing surface. This loss parameter, however, along with the freeze and melt fraction, are the only experimental parameters that are currently not measured directly. Using reported icing growth rates from published ice crystal icing experiments, a methodology is proposed to determine these unknown parameters. This work takes reported ice accretion data from tests conducted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 2016 and tests NASA collaborated on with the National Research Council (NRC) of Canada in 2012 that examined the fundamental physics of ice crystal icing. Those research efforts sought to generate icing conditions representative of those that occur inside a jet engine when ingesting ice crystals. This paper presents the fundamental equations of the thermodynamic model, the methodology used to determine the aforementioned unknown icing parameters, and results from model evaluation using experimental data. In addition, this paper builds on the previously proposed model by adding a transient conduction term to explain ice growth behavior at the onset of experimental tests that was observed to be different from steady-state ice growth that occurred later in the test run.With the addition of this energy term, this becomes a quasi-steady model. A key finding from this work suggests that mass loss fractions can exceed 0.90 for steady ice growth periods. In addition, due to conductive heat fluxes when using a warmer-than-freezing airfoil, lower mass loss fraction values were calculated during the initial transient period.

Ice-Crystal Ice Accretion↗
DOE OSTI2024

A Data-driven approach to Core Power distribution reconstruction in a Nuclear Reactor

This report presents the initial development of a data-driven approach for reconstructing the core power distribution in a nuclear reactor (power shape synthesis) using ex-core sensors. Traditional techniques rely on deploying a large number of detectors throughout the reactor core. However, this approach is not feasible for innovative reactor concepts like Advanced Reactors and Microreactors. First, the tight lattice pitch, designed to maximize power density, limits the space available for sensors. Secondly, the harsh operating conditions are not compatible with commercially available detectors. The method proposed in this work integrates high-fidelity modeling with data-driven techniques to accurately reconstruct power distribution across various reactor types, thereby reducing the reliance on in-core sensors. Purdue University Reactor One (PUR-1) was selected as the test case. The CAD model representing the latest configuration of the PUR-1 core was imported into the OpenMC simulation framework, and the model was built. Additionally, the previously developed MCNP6 model was updated. The two models were assessed against the data collected during an experimental campaign conducted in July 2024. Thirty gold foils were placed in three Irradiation Assemblies in PUR-1 core. Using the measured activity of the irradiated foils, the neutron flux at different core locations was estimated.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
NASA NTRS1973

The formation of planetary nebulae

A hydrodynamic model of a star consisting of a helium shell and a hydrogen-rich shell overlying a hard core is proposed in order to find out what causes the ejection of stellar mass with low velocities that form planetary nebulae. Observations indicate that a planetary nebula is composed of hydrogen-rich material, while the remaining remnant of the star is of helium or heavier material.

Sparks, W. M.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Curvilinear Ground on Mars: the Search for Terrestrial Analogs

Curvilinear features on Mars have dimensions ranging from 0.5 to 18.6 km in length and 0.2 to 2.0 km in width; these landforms can occur as curving ridges and troughs, rimless arcuate depressions, or features with no apparent relief. The Martian curvilinear ground has a relatively consistent relationship to both regional and local geomorphology. These landforms are one of a suite of features that occur near the base of the regional slope that marks the transition from the cratered uplands to the northern plains. Based on morphologic similarities, numerous terrestrial analogs were proposed for these Martian features. These include gilgai, backwasting scarps, solifluction lobes, ice-cored ridges and glacial moraines. Process models for the origin of the curvilinear ground suggest that its formation probably involved several processes, including scarp retreat by backwasting.

Rossbacher, L. A.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Coreflood Tests to Evaluate Enhanced Oil Recovery Potential of Wettability-Altering Surfactants for Oil-Wet Heterogeneous Carbonate Reservoirs

Summary Oil-wetness and heterogeneity are two main factors that result in low oil recovery (OR) by waterflood in carbonate reservoirs. The injected water is likely to flow through high-permeability regions and bypass the oil in the low-permeability matrix. In this study, systematic coreflood tests were carried out in both “homogeneous” cores and “heterogeneous” cores with a wettability-altering surfactant. The homogeneous coreflood tests were conducted to evaluate surfactant retention, as well as to compare tertiary surfactant flooding with secondary surfactant flooding. The heterogeneous coreflood test was proposed to model bypassing in low-permeability matrix during waterfloods, and dynamic imbibition of surfactant into the low-permeability matrix. Surfactant retention results suggest that retention increases as initial oil saturation decreases. The retention of selected surfactant in the target reservoir cores was measured to be within a range of 0.07–0.12 mg/g-rock, which is economically acceptable. The results of homogeneous coreflood tests showed that both secondary waterflood and secondary surfactant flood can achieve high OR (>50%) from relatively homogeneous oil-wet cores. A shut-in phase after the surfactant injection resulted in a surge in oil production, which suggests that enough time should be given for wettability alteration by surfactants. The results of heterogeneous coreflood tests showed that more oil is bypassed in the tighter matrix by waterflood if the permeability is higher in the flooded layer and this bypassed oil is the target for the wettability-altering surfactant floods. Slow wettability-altering surfactant injection leads to imbibition into bypassed regions. When the oil-wet carbonate reservoirs have large unswept regions after waterflood, wettability-altering surfactants can significantly improve OR if enough time is given for imbibition.

Engineering↗
NASA NTRS1987

Origin and evolution of the ureilite parent magmas - Multi-stage igneous activity on a large parent body

The minor-element/major-element trends among the ureilites were investigated using electron microprobe data on olivine and pigeonite cores in eight low-shock ureilites. The results show well-defined correlations between Fe/X (where X is one of the minor elements Mn, Cr, Ca, Al, Ti, P, or Ni) and Fe/Mg ratios. For the lithophile minor elements, these trends are linear, with positive slope, and pass through or near the origin, indicating various degrees of FeO reduction of the parent magmas. The trends shown by P and Ni are consistent with this interpretation and require, in addition, equilibrium crystallization of 20-27 mole pct metal. A model is proposed for generation and crystallization of ureilite parent magmas, which predicts that the ureilite parent body had a differentiated crust, did not have a core, and was at least 235 km in radius.

Goodrich, Cyrena Anne↗