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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 1,135 records · Page 63

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

NASA NTRS2009

Detection, Identification, Location, and Remote Sensing Using SAW RFID Sensor Tags

The Electromagnetic Systems Branch (EV4) of the Avionic Systems Division at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX is studying the utility of surface acoustic wave (SAW) radiofrequency identification (RFID) tags for multiple wireless applications including detection, identification, tracking, and remote sensing of objects on the lunar surface, monitoring of environmental test facilities, structural shape and health monitoring, and nondestructive test and evaluation of assets. For all of these applications, it is anticipated that the system utilized to interrogate the SAW RFID tags may need to operate at fairly long range and in the presence of considerable multipath and multiple-access interference. Towards that end, EV4 is developing a prototype SAW RFID wireless interrogation system for use in such environments called the Passive Adaptive RFID Sensor Equipment (PARSED) system. The system utilizes a digitally beam-formed planar receiving antenna array to extend range and provide direction-of-arrival information coupled with an approximate maximum-likelihood signal processing algorithm to provide near-optimal estimation of both range and temperature. The system is capable of forming a large number of beams within the field of view and resolving the information from several tags within each beam. The combination of both spatial and waveform discrimination provides the capability to track and monitor telemetry from a large number of objects appearing simultaneously within the field of view of the receiving array. In this paper, we will consider the application of the PARSEQ system to the problem of simultaneous detection, identification, localization, and temperature estimation for multiple objects. We will summarize the overall design of the PARSEQ system and present a detailed description of the design and performance of the signal detection and estimation algorithms incorporated in the system. The system is currently configured only to measure temperature (jointly with range and tag ID), but future versions will be revised to measure parameters other than temperature as SAW tags capable of interfacing with external sensors become available. It is anticipated that the estimation of arbitrary parameters measured using SAW-based sensors will be based on techniques very similar to the joint range and temperature estimation techniques described in this paper.

Barton, Richard J.↗

DOE OSTI2015

Submersible ROVs pioneer decommissioning of a legacy nuclear fuel storage pond - 15368

Submersible Remote Handling Vehicles (ROVs) are being used in innovative ways at the Sellafield decommissioning, reprocessing and nuclear waste management facility in the UK in a legacy fuel storage pond in support of pond decommissioning. A wide range of sensors and tooling attached to submersible ROVs are being used to characterise the contents of the pond and perform a wide range of maintenance and material retrieval tasks. Visual surveys, sludge and liquor sampling and radiological surveys are just some of the characterisation projects undertaken with the help of the ROVs. The ROVs have also been deployed with tooling including manipulators which can retrieve debris from the pond floor. A variety of mini and work class ROVs are used in the ponds and these can access areas of the pond that the traditional technologies such as long reach tooling and manipulators from overhead cranes cannot reach safely, efficiently and cost effectively. The ROVs are controlled at a distance from the pond to minimise operator exposure to radiation and avoid potential radiological contamination. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

DOE OSTI2022

Overview of HPCAT and capabilities for studying minerals and various other materials at high-pressure conditions

Abstract High-Pressure Collaborative Access Team (HPCAT) is a synchrotron-based facility located at the Advanced Photon Source (APS). With four online experimental stations and various offline capabilities, HPCAT is focused on providing synchrotron x-ray capabilities for high pressure and temperature research and supporting a broad user community. Overall, the array of online/offline capabilities is described, including some of the recent developments for remote user support and the concomitant impact of the current pandemic. General overview of work done at HPCAT and with a focus on some of the minerals relevant work and supporting capabilities is also discussed. With the impending APS-Upgrade (APS-U), there is a considerable effort within HPCAT to improve and add capabilities. These are summarized briefly for each of the end-stations.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2022

Simultaneous flow of zero-carbon and conventional fuel liquids through Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (Abstract)

The purpose of this CRADA is to address key technical challenges specific to the transport of ammonia, a promising carbon-free fuel and hydrogen-carrier, through crude oil pipelines. Specifically, the project seeks to develop novel technologies for preparing liquid ammonia/ hydrocarbon mixtures for the dual purpose of (i) pipeline transport, and (ii) developing advanced marine fuel blends. By demonstrating compatibility with the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline System (TAPS) ammonia/oil blends may improve access to stranded natural gas and help overcome low-flow issues associated with declining oil productivity. In Alaska, this technology enhances the capabilities of TAPS allowing it to function as a statewide “Hydrogen Highway” for exporting green or blue ammonia. This is strategically important for Alaska which lacks statewide electrical transmission infrastructure but contains vast renewable and fossil resources located in remote regions with few local markets. Nationally, Alaska-sourced green (hydropower) or blue ammonia has the potential to improve reliability of a Pacific Northwest hydrogen storage hub as a hydrogen-carrier by helping to overcome seasonality of green hydrogen produced from solar or wind energy. Globally, this technology project has significant potential to improve the safety and efficacy of ammonia-rich fuel compositions for use in maritime propulsion and other mid-sized engines.

10 SYNTHETIC FUELS↗

DOE OSTI2024

Simultaneous flow of zero-carbon and conventional fuel liquids through Trans-Alaska Pipeline System [Abstract]

08 HYDROGEN↗

NASA NTRS1981

Detailed aeromagnetic investigation of the Arctic Basin. II

Remote sensing techniques must be employed to determine the nature of the regional geologic and tectonic structure of the Arctic Basin. Magnetic measurements from aircraft are the most commonly used method. Since 1972 the U.S. Navy has been engaged in a long-term program of mapping, in relative detail, the earth's magnetic field over that portion of the Arctic Basin accessible to the P3 aircraft. A description is presented of the results of the 1977 and 1978 field efforts. The description represents a continuation of an investigation reported by Vogt et al. (1979). The efforts currently considered were directed towards understanding the nature, age, and origin of the major physiolographic features of the western Arctic Basin. Particular attention was given to the Canada and Makarov basins (Fletcher Abyssal Plain) and the Alpha Ridge. The aeromagnetic data are interpreted with respect to the theory of origin presented by Carey (1958).

Taylor, P. T.↗

NASA NTRS2002

An Experimental Framework for Executing Applications in Dynamic Grid Environments

The Grid opens up opportunities for resource-starved scientists and engineers to harness highly distributed computing resources. A number of Grid middleware projects are currently available to support the simultaneous exploitation of heterogeneous resources distributed in different administrative domains. However, efficient job submission and management continue being far from accessible to ordinary scientists and engineers due to the dynamic and complex nature of the Grid. This report describes a new Globus framework that allows an easier and more efficient execution of jobs in a 'submit and forget' fashion. Adaptation to dynamic Grid conditions is achieved by supporting automatic application migration following performance degradation, 'better' resource discovery, requirement change, owner decision or remote resource failure. The report also includes experimental results of the behavior of our framework on the TRGP testbed.

Huedo, Eduardo↗

NASA NTRS2004

Four-Channel PC/104 MIL-STD-1553 Circuit Board

The mini bus interface card (miniBIC) is the first four-channel electronic circuit board that conforms to MIL-STD-1553 and to the electrical-footprint portion of PC/104. [MIL-STD-1553 is a military standard that encompasses a method of communication and electrical- interface requirements for digital electronic subsystems connected to a data bus. PC/104 is an industry standard for compact, stackable modules that are fully compatible (in architecture, hardware, and software) with personal-computer data- and power-bus circuitry.] Prior to the development of the miniBIC, only one- and two-channel PC/104 MIL-STD-1553 boards were available. To obtain four channels, it was necessary to include at least two boards in a PC/104 stack. In comparison with such a two-board stack, the miniBIC takes up less space, consumes less power, and is more reliable. In addition, the miniBIC includes 32 digital input/output channels. The miniBIC (see figure) contains four MIL-STD-1553B hybrid integrated circuits (ICs), four transformers, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), and an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) interface. Each hybrid IC includes a MILSTD-1553 dual transceiver, memory-management circuitry, processor interface logic circuitry, and 64Kx16 bits of shared static random access memory. The memory is used to configure message and data blocks. In addition, 23 16-bit registers are available for (1) configuring the hybrid IC for, and starting it in, various modes of operation; (2) reading the status of the functionality of the hybrid IC; and (3) resetting the hybrid IC to a known state. The miniBIC can operate as a remote terminal, bus controller, or bus monitor. The FPGA provides the chip-select and data-strobe signals needed for operation of the hybrid ICs. The FPGA also receives interruption signals and forwards them to the ISA bus. The ISA interface connects the address, data, and control interfaces of the hybrid ICs to the ISA backplane. Each channel is, in effect, a MIL-STD-1553 interface that can operate either independently of the others or else as a redundant version of one of the others. The transformer in each channel provides electrical isolation between the rest of the miniBIC circuitry and the bus to which that channel is connected.

Cox, Gary L.↗

NASA NTRS2010

A Summary of NASA Related Contributions for the Remote Sensing of Evapotranspiration in Support of Water Management and Agriculture

The amount of evapotranspiration (ET) to the atmosphere can account for 60% or more of the water loss in many semi-arid locations, and can critically affect local economies tied to agriculture, recreation, hydroelectric power, ecosystems, and numerous other water-related areas. NASA supports many activities using satellite and Earth science data to more accurately and cost effectively estimate ET. NASA ET related work includes the research, development and application of techniques. The free and open access of NASA satellite data and products now permits a much wider application of ET mapping. Typically the NASA supported approaches ranges from large regional and continental ET mapping using MODIS (also with AIRS and CERES), GRACE (gravimetric water balance), geostationary (e.g., GOES and Meteosat for near continental sca|e), land surface modeling (i.e, Land Data Assimilation Systems) to fine scale mapping such as provided bvLandsatdata(<100 m). Usually satellite or airborne thermal imagery are used as input to an ET estimated surface energy balance based approach. There are currently several of these ET approaches under development and implementation including 'METRIC', 'SEBS', 'ALEXI/DisALEXI', etc.. One exception is an approach using GRACE satellite data that estimates the terrestrial water storage using gravimetric data over large areas and estimates ET indirectly. Also land surface modeling within the context of data assimilation and integration schemes provides the capability to integrate in situ, ancillary and satellite together to provide a spatially and synoptic estimates of ET also for use to provide for short-term ET predictions. We will summarize NASA related activities contributing to the improved estimation of ET for water management and agriculture with an emphasis on the Western U3.. This summary includes a description of ET projects in the Middle Rio Grande, Yakima, North Platte and other selected basins in the western US. We will also discuss plans to further address ET applications through working with the USDA and the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) to extend and evaluate western U.S. ET mapping to other parts of the U.S. and internationally.

Toll, David↗

DOE OSTI2018

A Novel RFID-Based Strain Sensor for Wireless Structural Health Monitoring

Conventional tools for deformation measurement are widely used for structural health monitoring—i.e. strain gauges and fiber optic sensors—due to their relative low cost and efficiency. However, these techniques still present some drawbacks particularly in limited access locations, since their usage requires some sort of cabling or battery-driven electronics. Thus, in a few situations there may be room for new technologies for deformation monitoring of structures. One of the options are passive radio frequency identification (RFID)-based sensors. In synthesis, like conventional methods, these sensors are attached to the surface a test-piece, but are then remotely interrogated and powered by a transmitter. The solidarity of the sensor to the underlying material means that the detected signal is modified in a way that can be correlated to sample strain in a given direction. This paper encompasses the project of a wireless deformation sensor based on an inverted-F antenna focusing on its miniaturization and performance optimization. For this purpose, such an antenna was designed with the help of finite element modelling tools for operation on a 2.0 mm-thick aluminium sheet, and then experimentally validated through static loading tests. Finally, even though sensors of this kind are still in early developments, results show that RFID sensors represents a promising method for remote deformation assessment in components.

42 ENGINEERING↗

NASA NTRS1979

Results of thin-route satellite communication system analyses including estimated service costs

Ways for determining optimum satellite and terrestrial system architectures and parameters for providing the most economical telephone service to remote areas of the U.S. are explored. Several configurations for an isolated rural telephone system, covering all the states plus Alaska, employing satellites is considered. Both direct-to-the-user and community-type of systems are evaluated using UHF and Ku-band RF equipment for the rural/satellite links. The effect of multiple spot beams, outage, signal quality, modulation method, satellite accessing, forward error correction, and the number of users are also evaluated. The total cost for a 5-minute call from an isolated rural user to a TELCO user was shown to be as low as $1.30 for a system with 1.8 X 10 to the sixth rural users.

Wright, D. L.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Planetary astronomy P. I. research summary

A systematic survey for near-Earth and planet-crossing asteriods is being conducted with the 0.46 m Schmidt at Palomar to increase the number of known asteroids and establish improved estimates of their populations and size distribution. Access to a limited number of PSS11 plates from the 1.2 m Schmidt are used also to search for unusual objects. Field pairs from the 0.46 m are photographed and inspected with a stereomicroscope; new objects are detected and followed to establich definitive orbits. When near-Earth asteroids are discovered, other astronomers are informed so that physical observations can be obtained. With remote sensing results, possible generic relationships are suggested. Population refinements can be accomplished by increasing the number of known asteroids under well-established conditions of search. From 13 observing runs made at Palomar, 215 new asteroids were discovered and reported with good orbits determined for 90. Significant discoveries are Apollo 1988 EG, Amor 1987 QB, and an unusual high inclination asteroid, 1988 EO. Other discoveries of importance include 12 Mars-crossers, 6 Hungaries, and 13 Phocaeas. The discovery of short-period comet Helin, 1988w, which makes a close approach to Saturn, is also notable.

Helin, Eleanor F.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Assembly considerations for large reflectors

The technologies developed at LaRC in the area of erectable instructures are discussed. The information is of direct value to the Large Deployable Reflector (LDR) because an option for the LDR backup structure is to assemble it in space. The efforts in this area, which include development of joints, underwater assembly simulation tests, flight assembly/disassembly tests, and fabrication of 5-meter trusses, led to the use of the LaRC concept as the baseline configuration for the Space Station Structure. The Space Station joint is linear in the load and displacement range of interest to Space Station; the ability to manually assemble and disassemble a 45-foot truss structure was demonstrated by astronauts in space as part of the ACCESS Shuttle Flight Experiment. The structure was built in 26 minutes 46 seconds, and involved a total of 500 manipulations of untethered hardware. Also, the correlation of the space experience with the neutral buoyancy simulation was very good. Sections of the proposed 5-meter bay Space Station truss have been built on the ground. Activities at LaRC have included the development of mobile remote manipulator systems (which can traverse the Space Station 5-meter structure), preliminary LDR sun shield concepts, LDR construction scenarios, and activities in robotic assembly of truss-type structures.

Bush, H.↗

NASA NTRS2000

Upgrade of the Thermal Vacuum Data System at NASA/GSFC

The Goddard Space Flight Center's new thermal vacuum data acquisition system is a networked client-sever application that enables lab operations crews to monitor all tests from a central location. The GSFC thermal vacuum lab consists of eleven chambers in Building 7 and one chamber in Building 10. The new data system was implemented for several reasons. These included the need for centralized data collection, more flexible and easier to use operator interface, greater data accessibility, a reduction in testing time and cost, and increased payload and personnel safety. Additionally, a new data system was needed for year-2000 compliance. This paper discusses the incorporation of the Thermal Vacuum Data System (TVDS) within the thermal vacuum lab at GSFC, its features and capabilities and lessons learned in its implementation. Additional topics include off-center (Internet) capability for remote monitoring and the role of TVDS in the efforts to automate thermal vacuum chamber operations.

Palmer, John↗

NASA NTRS2000

Upgrade of The Thermal Vacuum Data System at NASA/GSFC

Palmer, John↗

NASA NTRS2005

Synergy Between probes and Orbiter

There are many ways in which the science return from a planetary mission is considerably enhanced by interactions between entry probes and a mission orbiter. Mission configuration aspects that are desirable include delivery of entry probes by the orbiter, and communication between probe and orbiter. Both of these mission aspects could greatly enhance access to key scientific sites that might not otherwise be accessible using delivery from say, a flyby, or employing direct communication from probes to Earth. Examples for Venus and Jupiter will be discussed. A second class of orbiter-probe interaction could better be termed direct probe-orbiter science collaboration. That would include, determining the global context of the entry probe sites from the orbiter, obtaining ground truth from the probe for remote sensing observations from the orbiter, observing the global and vertical distribution of key atmospheric trace species, and measuring the global and vertical distribution of clouds and winds. The importance of each of these items will be illustrated by particular examples.

Young, Richard E.↗

NASA NTRS2017

Estimating the Relative Water Content of Leaves in a Cotton Canopy

Remotely sensing plant canopy water status remains a long-term goal of remote sensing research. Established approaches to estimating canopy water status the Crop Water Stress Index, the Water Deficit Index and the Equivalent Water Thickness involve measurements in the thermal or reflective infrared. Here we report plant water status estimates based upon analysis of polarized visible imagery of a cotton canopy measured by ground Multi-Spectral Polarization Imager (MSPI). Such estimators potentially provide access to the plant hydrological photochemistry that manifests scattering and absorption effects in the visible spectral region.Twice during one day, +- 3 hours from solar noon, we collected polarized imagery and relative water content data on a cotton test plot located at the Arid Land Agricultural Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture, Maricopa, AZ. The test plot, a small portion of a large cotton field, contained stressed plants ready for irrigation. The evening prior to data collection we irrigated several rows of plants within the test plot. Thus, ground MSPI imagery from both morning and afternoon included cotton plants with a range of water statuses. Data analysis includes classifying the polarized imagery into sunlit reflecting, sunlit transmitting, shaded foliage and bare soil. We estimate the leaf surface reflection and interior reflection based upon the per pixel polarization and sunview directions. We compare our cotton results with our prior polarization results for corn and soybean leaves measured in the lab and corn leaves measured in the field.

Cotton Canopy↗

DOE OSTI2023

Quantifying agricultural productive use of energy load in Sub-Saharan Africa and its impact on microgrid configurations and costs

The use of advanced energy technologies for agricultural purposes—such as irrigation, refrigeration, crop processing, and egg incubation—has the potential to increase crop yield, reduce vulnerability to changing precipitation patterns, increase shelf life, strengthen income and employment opportunities in rural areas, and reduce emissions by displacing fossil fuel-based technologies. These productive uses of energy (PUE) in remote areas could potentially be powered by microgrids that additionally serve otherwise unelectrified communities, most of which are located in rural Sub-Saharan Africa. Here, in this paper, we use high-resolution geospatial data to estimate the end-use electricity demand for a range of agricultural PUE across Sub-Saharan Africa, and we share these data in an open-access mapping tool. Next, we use REopt®, a techno-economic optimization model of energy systems, to determine the cost and system sizing implications of incorporating agricultural PUE into microgrid designs in Kenya and Zambia. We estimate the upper bound of agricultural PUE demand for irrigation, milling, shelling, refrigeration, and egg incubation across Sub-Saharan to be 16.8 TWh/yr. We find that incorporating local agricultural PUE into microgrid system designs increases the required system sizing while having minimal impact on the levelized cost of energy of these systems. Our analysis is the first to demonstrate the PUE potential in the agricultural sector at a 10x10-kilometer resolution across Sub-Saharan Africa and to show, at scale, how site-specific PUE can impact the cost and sizing of microgrids that are otherwise deployed to serve local household and community load.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗