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Results for “normalization method”

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 1,153 records · Page 64
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Forecasting Day-Ahead Solar Irradiance for Puerto Rico Using the WRF Model and NSRDB

Accurately predicting solar energy resources is a major challenge in integrating photovoltaics generation on the electric grid. Numerical weather prediction has been recognized by the solar energy community as a major approach to provide solar resource forecasts at various locations and for a variety of timescales. In this study, as a part of the Puerto Rico Grid Resilience and Transitions to 100% Renewable Energy Study (PR100), we develop day-head solar irradiance forecast data using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model at 3 km and hourly/5-minute. The global horizontal irradiance (GHI) and direct normal irradiance (DNI) forecasts simulated from the WRF model are postprocessed by a simple optimization method using satellite-derived gridded observations from the National Solar Radiation Data Base (NSRDB) to reduce error and bias of the solar irradiance forecasts covering 2018-2020. The NSRDB contributes to improving the GHI and DNI forecasts and also offers the opportunity for an in-depth analysis to evaluate their accuracy over a wide range of Puerto Rico regions. Preliminary results show overall improvements of GHI forecasts up to 37% (DNI: 15%) for mean absolute error and 97% (DNI: 76%) for mean bias error by applying a postprocessing technique to WRF model output.

data models↗
DOE OSTI2021

Adaptive Extremum Seeking Control Based LCL Filter Resonant Frequency Online Estimation

The LCL filter has been widely used in the grid-tied inverter systems. However, the resonance of the LCL filter can reduce the system stability margin and the control performance. Moreover, the grid impedance variations can lead to the drift of the resonant frequency, which can further worsen the system robustness. Thus, it is important to know the actual resonant frequency of the LCL filter. In this letter, an adaptive extremum seeking control (AESC) based estimation scheme is proposed to estimate the resonant frequency of the LCL filter online. Further by injecting a high-frequency (HF) signal into the inverter output voltage, the AESC scheme can identify the extremum of the LCL filter amplitude response, i.e., resonant peak. The amplitude of injection signal is adaptive based on the inverter HF response, which can address the tradeoff between the dynamic response and inverter output current quality. Most importantly, compare to other method, the proposed scheme has very low computational complexity, which minimizes the burden to the normal inverter controller operation. Stability analysis is given in this letter, and experimental studies are conducted to validate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2021

Identification and selection of optimal reference genes for qPCR-based gene expression analysis in Fucus distichus under various abiotic stresses

Quantitative gene expression analysis is an important tool in the scientist’s belt. The identification of evenly expressed reference genes is necessary for accurate quantitative gene expression analysis, whether by traditional RT-PCR (reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction) or by qRT-PCR (quantitative real-time PCR; qPCR). In the Stramenopiles (the major line of eukaryotes that includes brown algae) there is a noted lack of known reference genes for such studies, largely due to the absence of available molecular tools. Here we present a set of nine reference genes (Elongation Factor 1 alpha (EF1A), Elongation Factor 2 alpha (EF2A), Elongation Factor 1 beta (EF1B), 14-3-3 Protein, Ubiquitin Conjugating Enzyme (UBCE2), Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate Dehydrogenase (GAPDH), Actin Related Protein Complex (ARP2/3), Ribosomal Protein (40s; S23), and Actin) for the brown alga Fucus distichus . These reference genes were tested on adult sporophytes across six abiotic stress conditions (desiccation, light and temperature modification, hormone addition, pollutant exposure, nutrient addition, and wounding). Suitability of these genes as reference genes was quantitatively evaluated across conditions using standard methods and the majority of the tested genes were evaluated favorably. However, we show that normalization genes should be chosen on a condition-by-condition basis. We provide a recommendation that at least two reference genes be used per experiment, a list of recommended pairs for the conditions tested here, and a procedure for identifying a suitable set for an experimenter’s unique design. With the recent expansion of interest in brown algal biology and accompanied molecular tools development, the variety of experimental conditions tested here makes this study a valuable resource for future work in basic biology and understanding stress responses in the brown algal lineage.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Elastic Solutions to 2D Plane Strain Problems: Nonlinear Contact and Settlement Analysis for Shallow Foundations

The classical Neumann boundary value problem of an isotropic, homogeneous elastic half-plane under plane strain conditions is readdressed as the limiting case of the fully three-dimensional problem. Analytical solutions of the stress and strain tensors are obtained by taking the limit from known three-dimensional solutions. It is shown that the displacement fields for the plane strain problem are not well defined. A small number of simple expressions are developed, which provide a general solution for linearly-varying traction over arbitrary regions on the boundary. A simple, efficient, and rapidly convergent algorithm is developed which uses these solutions as analytic elements and provides a solution approach to the general boundary value problem. The method is verified against known solutions for Hertzian contact between parallel cylinders. Two numerical examples are presented for the analysis of shallow foundation systems. In the first, the boundary conditions are informed by analytical elastoplastic calculations and a strain influence analysis is performed and compared with the Schmertmann method. Subsequently, empirical laboratory contact traction distributions measured by Bauer et al., in both the normal and tangential directions are employed as boundary conditions for an analysis of the underlying stress field.

42 ENGINEERING↗
NASA NTRS1982

Diamond Sheet: A new diamond tool material

Diamond sheet is termed a diamond tool material because it is not a cutting tool, but rather a new material from which a variety of different tools may be fabricated. In appearance and properties, it resembles a sheet of copper alloy with diamond abrasive dispersed throughout it. It is capable of being cut, formed, and joined by conventional methods, and subsequently used for cutting as a metal bonded diamond tool. Diamond sheet is normally made with industrial diamond as the abrasive material. The metal matrix in diamond sheet is a medium hard copper alloy which has performed well in most applications. This alloy has the capability of being made harder or softer if specific cutting conditions require it. Other alloys have also been used including a precipitation hardened aluminum alloy with very free cutting characteristics. The material is suitable for use in a variety of cutting, surfacing, and ring type tools, as well as in such mundane items as files and sandpaper. It can also be used as a bearing surface (diamond to diamond) and in wear resistant surfaces.

Mackey, C. R.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Synthetic filter photometry and evolutionary status of two Be stars in the association Per OB1

Stromgren and H-beta colors have been determined from spectrophotometric observations for two Be stars without published photometry in the association Per OB1: HD 12856 (B0 pe) and HD 13890 (B1 III:pe). Stellar parameters and improved spectral types are then derived from the color indices using the calibrations of Jakobsen (1986), and independently from the BCD classification method. The intrinsic properties of HD 12856 and HD 13890 are compared with those of normal B stars and are used to estimate their evolutionary status.

Torres, Ana V.↗
NASA NTRS1988

An experimental study of an adaptive-wall wind tunnel

A series of adaptive wall ventilated wind tunnel experiments was carried out to demonstrate the feasibility of using the side wall pressure distribution as the flow variable for the assessment of compatibility with free air conditions. Iterative and one step convergence methods were applied using the streamwise velocity component, the side wall pressure distribution and the normal velocity component in order to investigate their relative merits. The advantage of using the side wall pressure as the flow variable is to reduce the data taking time which is one the major contributors to the total testing time. In ventilated adaptive wall wind tunnel testing, side wall pressure measurements require simple instrumentation as opposed to the Laser Doppler Velocimetry used to measure the velocity components. In ventilated adaptive wall tunnel testing, influence coefficients are required to determine the pressure corrections in the plenum compartment. Experiments were carried out to evaluate the influence coefficients from side wall pressure distributions, and from streamwise and normal velocity distributions at two control levels. Velocity measurements were made using a two component Laser Doppler Velocimeter system.

Celik, Zeki↗
NASA NTRS1988

Full configuration interaction benchmark calculations for TiH

Full configuration interaction (FCI) results for the 3F and 5F states of Ti and the 4Phi and 2Delta states of TiH are presented. While the coupled pair functional (CPF) or modified CPF approaches are found to work well for the 4Phi state of TiH, they do not perform as well for the 2Delta state. Although for mu, the CASSCF/MRCI methods do well for the 2Delta state, when the active space is expanded outside the normal valence definition, the dipole moment is only brought into agreement with the FCI results by natural orbital iterations.

Bauschlicher, Charles W., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Interfacial wave theory for dendritic structure of a growing needle crystal. I - Local instability mechanism. II - Wave-emission mechanism at the turning point

The complicated dendritic structure of a growing needle crystal is studied on the basis of global interfacial wave theory. The local dispersion relation for normal modes is derived in a paraboloidal coordinate system using the multiple-variable-expansion method. It is shown that the global solution in a dendrite growth process incorporates the morphological instability factor and the traveling wave factor.

Xu, Jian-Jun↗
NASA NTRS1990

Discrete-vortex model for the symmetric-vortex flow on cones

A relatively simple but accurate potential flow model was developed for studying the symmetric vortex flow on cones. The model is a modified version of the model first developed by Bryson, in which discrete vortices and straight-line feeding sheets were used to represent the flow field. It differs, however, in the zero-force condition used to position the vortices and determine their circulation strengths. The Bryson model imposed the condition that the net force on the feeding sheets and discrete vortices must be zero. The proposed model satisfies this zero-force condition by having the vortices move as free vortices, at a velocity equal to at the local crossflow velocity at their centers. When the free-vortex assumption is made, a solution is obtained in the form of two nonlinear algebraic equations that relate the vortex center coordinates and vortex strengths to the cone angle and angle of attack. The vortex center locations calculated using the model are in good agreement with experimental values. The cone normal forces as well as center locations are in good agreement with the vortex cloud method of calculating symmetric flow fields.

Gainer, Thomas G.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Swept wing ice accretion modeling

An effort to develop a three-dimensional modeling method was initiated. This first step towards creation of a complete aircraft icing simulation code builds on previously developed methods for calculating three-dimensional flow fields and particle trajectories combined with a two-dimensional ice accretion calculation along coordinate locations corresponding to streamlines. This work is a demonstration of the types of calculations necessary to predict a three-dimensional ice accretion. Results of calculations using the 3-D method for a MS-317 swept wing geometry are projected onto a 2-D plane normal to the wing leading edge and compared to 2-D results for the same geometry. It is anticipated that many modifications will be made to this approach, however, this effort will lay the groundwork for future modeling efforts. Results indicate that the flow field over the surface and the particle trajectories differed for the two calculations. This led to lower collection efficiencies, convective heat transfer coefficients, freezing fractions, and ultimately ice accumulation for the 3-D calculation.

Potapczuk, Mark G.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Interfacial tension measurement of immiscible liq uids using a capillary tube

The interfacial tension of immiscible liquids is an important thermophysical property that is useful in the behavior of liquids both in microgravity (Martinez et al. (1987) and Karri and Mathur (1988)) and in enhanced oil recovery processes under normal gravity (Slattery (1974)). Many techniques are available for its measurement, such as the ring method, drop weight method, spinning drop method, and capillary height method (Adamson (1960) and Miller and Neogi (1985)). Karri and Mathur mention that many of the techniques use equations that contain a density difference term and are inappropriate for equal density liquids. They reported a new method that is suitable for both equal and unequal density liquids. In their method, a capillary tube forms one of the legs of a U-tube. The interfacial tension is related to the heights of the liquids in the cups of the U-tube above the interface in the capillary. Our interest in this area arose from a need to measure small interfacial tension (around 1 mN/m) for a vegetable oil/silicon oil system that was used in a thermocapillary drop migration experiment (Rashidnia and Balasubramaniam (1991)). In our attempts to duplicate the method proposed by Karri and Mathur, we found it quite difficult to anchor the interface inside the capillary tube; small differences of the liquid heights in the cups drove the interface out of the capillary. We present an alternative method using a capillary tube to measure the interfacial tensions of liquids of equal or unequal density. The method is based on the combined capillary rises of both liquids in the tube.

Rashidnia, N.↗
NASA NTRS1992

The recovery of asteroids after two observations

It is shown that a generalization of the use of 'Vaisala orbits', briefly mentioned at the Asteroids 2 Conference, can be very conveniently accomplished by means of an inversion of the 'GEM' form of the Gauss method. The procedure can also be applied to Apollo objects and to indeterminate cases of normal three-observation orbit computation, and there is also a simple extension to situations involving four or more observations.

Marsden, Brian G.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Contact sensing from force measurements

This article addresses contact sensing (i.e., the problem of resolving the location of a contact, the force at the interface, and the moment about the contact normals). Called 'intrinsic' contact sensing for the use of internal force and torque measurements, this method allows for practical devices that provide simple, relevant contact information in practical robotic applications. Such sensors have been used in conjunction with robot hands to identify objects, determine surface friction, detect slip, augment grasp stability, measure object mass, probe surfaces, and control collision and for a variety of other useful tasks. This article describes the theoretical basis for their operation and provides a framework for future device design.

Bicchi, Antonio↗
NASA NTRS1999

3-D Surface Depression Profiling Using High Frequency Focused Air-Coupled Ultrasonic Pulses

Surface topography is an important variable in the performance of many industrial components and is normally measured with diamond-tip profilometry over a small area or using optical scattering methods for larger area measurement. This article shows quantitative surface topography profiles as obtained using only high-frequency focused air-coupled ultrasonic pulses. The profiles were obtained using a profiling system developed by NASA Glenn Research Center and Sonix, Inc (via a formal cooperative agreement). (The air transducers are available as off-the-shelf items from several companies.) The method is simple and reproducible because it relies mainly on knowledge and constancy of the sound velocity through the air. The air transducer is scanned across the surface and sends pulses to the sample surface where they are reflected back from the surface along the same path as the incident wave. Time-of-flight images of the sample surface are acquired and converted to depth/surface profile images using the simple relation (d = V*t/2) between distance (d), time-of-flight (t), and the velocity of sound in air (V). The system has the ability to resolve surface depression variations as small as 25 microns, is useable over a 1.4 mm vertical depth range, and can profile large areas only limited by the scan limits of the particular ultrasonic system. (Best-case depth resolution is 0.25 microns which may be achievable with improved isolation from vibration and air currents.) The method using an optimized configuration is reasonably rapid and has all quantitative analysis facilities on-line including 2-D and 3-D visualization capability, extreme value filtering (for faulty data), and leveling capability. Air-coupled surface profilometry is applicable to plate-like and curved samples. In this article, results are shown for several proof-of-concept samples, plastic samples burned in microgravity on the STS-54 space shuttle mission, and a partially-coated cylindrical ceramic composite sample. Impressive results were obtained for all samples when compared with diamond-tip profiles and measurements from micrometers. The method is completely nondestructive, noninvasive, non-contact and does not require light-reflective surfaces.

Roth, Don J.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Using High Frequency Focused Water-Coupled Ultrasound for 3-D Surface Depression Profiling

Surface topography is an important variable in the performance of many industrial components and is normally measured with diamond-tip profilometry over a small area or using optical scattering methods for larger area measurement. A prior study was performed demonstrating that focused air-coupled ultrasound at 1 MHz was capable of profiling surfaces with 25 micron depth resolution and 400 micron lateral resolution over a 1.4 mm depth range. In this article, the question of whether higher-frequency focused water-coupled ultrasound can improve on these specifications is addressed. 10 and 25 MHz focused ultrasonic transducers were employed in the water-coupled mode. Time-of-flight images of the sample surface were acquired and converted to depth / surface profile images using the simple relation (d = V*t/2) between distance (d), time-of-flight (t), and the velocity of sound in water (V). Results are compared for the two frequencies used and with those from the 1 MHz air-coupled configuration.

Roth, Don J.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Reducing and Inducing Convection in Ge-Si Melts with Static Magnetic Field

Results of a study of the effectiveness of using static magnetic fields to reduce convection in Ge-Si melts will be presented. Lenz's law causes a retardation of convection when a static magnetic field is applied to an electrically conducting liquid. However, during the solidification of a solid-solution system such as Ge-Si, the interface is neither isothermal nor isoconcentrational. The variation of temperature and chemical composition along the interface causes thermoelectric currents to be generated within the solidifying material (and the container if it is electrically conductive). These currents, in the presence of a magnetic field, can cause movement (stirring, convection) in the melt which can exceed convection induced by normal thermosolutal mechanisms. Crystals have been grown by both the Bridgman and floating-zone methods. Clear evidence for the existence of this thermoelectromagnetic convection, especially in the case of Si floating-zone growth, will be presented.

Szofran, Frank R.↗