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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 1,207 records · Page 67
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2021

Land Surface Modeling Over the Dry Chaco: The Impact of Model Structures, and Soil, Vegetation and Land Cover Parameters

In this study, we tested the impact of a revised set of soil, vegetation and land cover parameters on the performance of three different state-of-the-art land surface models (LSMs) within the NASA Land Information System (LIS). The impact of this revision was tested over the South American Dry Chaco, an ecoregion characterized by deforestation and forest degradation since the 1980s. Most large-scale LSMs may lack the ability to correctly represent the ongoing deforestation processes in this region, because most LSMs use climatological vegetation indices and static land cover information. The default LIS parameters were revised with improved soil parameters, satellite-based interannually varying vegetation indices (leaf area index and green vegetation fraction) instead of climatological vegetation indices, and yearly land cover information instead of static land cover. A relative comparison in terms of water budget components and “efficiency space” for various baseline and revised experiments showed that large regional and long-term differences in the simulated water budget partitioning relate to different LSM structures, whereas smaller local differences resulted from updated soil, vegetation and land cover parameters. Furthermore, the different LSM structures redistributed water differently in response to these parameter updates. A time-series comparison of the simulations to independent satellite-based estimates of evapotranspiration and brightness temperature (Tb) showed that no LSM setup significantly outperformed another for the entire region and that not all LSM simulations improved with updated parameter values. However, the revised soil parameters generally reduced the bias between simulated surface soil moisture and pixel-scale in situ observations and the bias between simulated Tb and regional Soil Moisture Ocean Salinity (SMOS) observations. Our results suggest that the different hydrological responses of various LSMs to vegetation changes may need further attention to gain benefits from vegetation data assimilation.

Michiel Maertens↗
NASA NTRS2022

Assessment of ICESat-2’s Horizontal Accuracy Using Precisely Surveyed Terrains in McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica

This article presents an assessment of the horizontal accuracy and precision of the laser altimetry observations collected by NASA’s Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2) mission. We selected the terrain-matching method to determine the position of laser altimeter profiles within a precisely known surface, represented by a digital elevation model (DEM). We took this classical approach a step further, approximated the DEM by planar surfaces, and calculated the optimal position of the laser profile by minimizing the square sum of the elevation differences between reference DEMs and ICESat-2 profiles. We found the highly accurate DEMs of the McMurdo Dry Valleys (DV), Antarctica, ideal for this research because of their stable landscape and rugged topography. We computed the 3-D shift parameters of 379 different laser altimeter profiles along two reference ground tracks collected within the first two years of the mission. Analyzing these results revealed a total geolocation error (mean +1 σ ) of 4.93 m for version 3 and 4.66 m for version 4 data. These numbers are the averages of the six beams, expressed as mean +1 σ and lie well within the mission requirement of 6.5 m.

calibration↗
NASA NTRS2023

Wetting and Drying Trends Under Climate Change

The geography and timing of changes in water availability under climate change are of considerable societal interest. Characterizing these changes in a robust and meaningful manner, however, has not been easy. In the past decade, studies have engaged two provocative hypotheses to explain and predict large-scale trends in water availability. One hypothesis holds that there will be increased contrasts in available water, as wet places become wetter and dry places become drier. Another hypothesis states that there will be global aridification, as widespread increases in evapotranspiration overwhelm changes in precipitation in most terrestrial regions. There is an extensive and sometimes contentious literature on the evidence for each. In some cases, these debates reflect direct disagreement, but the appearance of disagreement is exaggerated by the diversity of methods and terminologies employed in different studies. Herein we examine the applicability and limits of both hypotheses across different frameworks, scales and contexts, yielding insights on hydrologic change and the future of water availability.

Benjamin F. Zaitchik↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Lithium Nucleation of Anode-Free Solid-State Batteries with a Dry Compressible Interlayer

Anode-free lithium batteries offer promising advantages, including increased energy density and the ability to address common mechanistic failures within the cell, thus increasing safety. One way that can make this possible is to control lithium nucleation. This could be achieved by reducing the overpotential required and implanting lithophilic nucleation sites in an anodic interlayer to aid in lithium ion transport and plating. The concept has been utilized in solid-state battery systems where electrolytes are solids with further improved safety and structural longevity. In this presentation, we discuss the use of a silver-holey graphene-based anodic interlayer that can be fabricated via direct dry compression without the use of solvent or binder. The addition of silver to the holey graphene matrix creates a route to lithium plating via a lower-energy intermediate. This idea is supported by the presence of a lithium-silver alloy that forms during the activation step. It is understood that the embedded silver acts as a nucleation site for lithium ions, thereby assisting in even plating. This control, combined with the added cushion of the holey graphene itself, can help reduce dendrite formation, ultimately increasing the safety and lifetime of the solid-state batteries.

Solid state batteries↗
DOE OSTI2013

Lithographic dry development using optical absorption

A novel approach to dry development of exposed photo resist is described in which a photo resist layer is exposed to a visible light source in order to remove the resist in the areas of exposure. The class of compounds used as the resist material, under the influence of the light source, undergoes a chemical/structural change such that the modified material becomes volatile and is thus removed from the resist surface. The exposure process is carried out for a time sufficient to ablate the exposed resist layer down to the layer below. A group of compounds found to be useful in this process includes aromatic calixarenes.

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

Ductility Evaluation of As-Hydrided and Hydride Reoriented Zircaloy-4 Cladding under Simulated Dry-Storage Condition

Pre-storage drying-transfer operations and early stage storage expose cladding to higher temperatures and much higher pressure-induced tensile hoop stresses relative to normal operation in-reactor and pool storage under these conditions. Radial hydrides could precipitate during slow cooling and provide an additional embrittlement mechanism as the cladding temperature decreases below the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature. As a means of simulating this behavior, unirradiated hydrided Zircaloy-4 samples were fabricated by a gas charging method to levels that encompass the range of hydrogen concentrations observed in current used fuel. Mechanical testing was carried out by the ring compression test (RCT) method at various temperatures to evaluate the sample s ductility for both as-hydrided and post-hydride reorientation treated specimens. As-hydrided samples with higher hydrogen concentration (>800 ppm) resulted in lower strain before fracture and reduced maximum load. Increasing RCT temperatures resulted in increased ductility of the as-hydrided cladding. A systematic radial hydride treatment was conducted at various pressures and temperatures for the hydrided samples with H content around 200 ppm. Following the radial hydride treatment, RCTs on the hydride reoriented samples were conducted and exhibited lower ductility compared to as-hydrided samples.

Yan, Yong↗
DOE OSTI2014

Oven rack having integral lubricious, dry porcelain surface

A lubricious glass-coated metal cooking article capable of withstanding repeated heating and cooling between room temperature and at least 500.degree. F. without chipping or cracking the glass coating, wherein the glass coating includes about 0.1 to about 20% by weight of a homogeneously distributed dry refractory lubricant material having a particle size less than about 200 .mu.m. The lubricant material is selected from the group consisting of carbon; graphite; boron nitride; cubic boron nitride; molybdenum (FV) sulfide; molybdenum sulfide; molybdenum (IV) selenide; molybdenum selenide, tungsten (IV) sulfide; tungsten disulfide; tungsten sulfide; silicon nitride (Si.sub.3N.sub.4); TiN; TiC; TiCN; TiO.sub.2; TiAlN; CrN; SiC; diamond-like carbon; tungsten carbide (WC); zirconium oxide (ZrO.sub.2); zirconium oxide and 0.1 to 40 weight % aluminum oxide; alumina-zirconia; antimony; antimony oxide; antimony trioxide; and mixtures thereof.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2014

Building America Case Study: Performance of a Hot-Dry Climate Whole House Retrofit, Stockton, California (Fact Sheet)

The Stockton house retrofit is a two-story tudor style single family deep retrofit in the hot-dry climate of Stockton, CA. The home is representative of a deep retrofit option of the scaled home energy upgrade packages offered to targeted neighborhoods under the pilot Large-Scale Retrofit Program (LSRP) administered by the Alliance for Residential Building Innovation (ARBI). Deep retrofit packages expand on the standard package by adding HVAC, water heater and window upgrades to the ducting, attic and floor insulation, domestic hot water insulation, envelope sealing, lighting and ventilation upgrades. Site energy savings with the deep retrofit were 23% compared to the pre-retrofit case, and 15% higher than the savings estimated for the standard retrofit package. Energy savings were largely a result of the water heater upgrade, and a combination of the envelope sealing, insulation and HVAC upgrade. The HVAC system was of higher efficiency than the building code standard. Overall the financed retrofit would have been more cost effective had a less expensive HVAC system been selected and barriers to wall insulation remedied. The homeowner experienced improved comfort throughout the monitored period and was satisfied with the resulting utility bill savings.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2015

FEASIBILITY OF ACOUSTIC METHODS FOR IMPURITY GAS MONITORING IN DRY STORAGE SYSTEMS

This paper explores the feasibility of monitoring impurities in dry storage containers (DSCs) for spent nuclear fuel using non-invasive acoustic sensing. The conceived implementation considers measurements based on changes in acoustic velocity at successive measurement intervals. Uncertainty contributions from the measurement system and temperature variability are estimated. Sources of temperature variability considered include changes in the decay heat source over time and ambient temperature variation. The results show that performance of a system which does not incorporate temperature compensation will be dependent upon geographic location and the decay heat source strength. The results also indicate that an annual measurement interval is optimal.

eddy current↗
DOE OSTI2016

Methods for dry etching semiconductor devices

The present invention provides methods for etching semiconductor devices, such aluminum nitride resonators. The methods herein allow for devices having improved etch profiles, such that nearly vertical sidewalls can be obtained. In some examples, the method employs a dry etch step with a primary etchant gas that omits BCl.sub.3, a common additive.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Experimental Investigation of Friction and Wear Behavior of 304L Stainless Steel Sliding Against Different Counterface in Dry Contact

In this study, friction and wear behavior of 304L stainless steel sliding against different ball counterface under dry contact was investigated. Tests were conducted using a ball-on-flat contact configuration in reciprocating sliding with 440C stainless steel, Al alloy (2017) and bronze ball counterfaces under different loads. Detailed surface analysis was also done using 3-D profilometry technique and optical microscopy in order to determine wear mechanism and dimension. All the pairs exhibited initial rapid increase in coefficient of friction after which a variety of friction behavior, depending on the ball counterface, was observed. The flat and the ball counterface in 304L stainless steel-440C stainless steel pair showed wear that was proportional to applied load. In both 304L stainless steel-Al alloy (2017) and 304L stainless steel-bronze pairs, ball samples showed severe wear that was proportional to the applied load while material transfer from the different balls occurred in the flat. The study concluded that friction and wear were not material properties but a kind of responses that characterize a pair of surfaces in contact undergoing relative motion.

Olofinjana, Bolutife↗
DOE OSTI2018

An Experimental and Computational Study of a Single Diesel Droplet Impinging on a Dry Surface

This work presents experiments and computational simulations of a single diesel droplet impinging on a dry surface to provide a better understanding of the dynamics of the impingement process. The experimental work was carried out at several substrate surface temperatures where a single diesel droplet was dropped from a precision syringe pump to provide a specific droplet diameter and impact velocity. The effect of the surface temperature on the temporal evolution of the droplet spreading factor, dynamic contact angle, and contact line velocity was studied. The experimental study on the temporal evolution of the droplet-wall interaction was used to develop a dynamic contact angle model for computational simulations. Using an in-house multiphase flow solver, simulations of the single diesel droplet impingement were performed. The simulation results of the spreading factor were compared to the experimental results and the effects of liquid temperature and contact angle model parameters were investigated. The development of a dynamic contact angle model for diesel droplets enhances the ability to study diesel droplet impingement, an important factor in diesel fuel injection. With an accurate dynamic contact angle model, future studies can be performed at scales and velocities representative of the conditions present in internal combustion engines.

Markt, D.↗
DOE OSTI2018

METAL FOAMS: NOVEL MATERIALS FOR AIR COOLING AND HEATING APPLICATION- PERFORMANCE UNDER DRY, WET AND FROSTING CONDITIONS

Metal foams have emerged as a potential material for advanced heat exchangers in air-cooling systems. The novel materials have a large surface-area-to-volume ratio and a tortuous structure which promotes flow mixing in heat exchanger applications. The current study provides an overview of the thermal-hydraulic performance of metal foam heat exchangers under dry, wet and frosting operations. The experiments have been conducted in a wind tunnels at a range of operating conditions varying air flow rate, inlet air temperature and relative humidity and the associated pressure drop and heat transfer rate have been measured. The impact of metal foam geometry has been evaluated and the findings have been summarized for heat transfer rate and pressure drop when the heat exchanger operates at various operating conditions.

Nawaz, Kashif↗
DOE OSTI2019

Method and apparatus for fabricating ceramic and metal components via additive manufacturing with uniform layered radiation drying

A freeform extrusion fabrication process for producing three-dimensional ceramic, metal and functionally gradient composite objects, including the steps of filling a plurality of paste sources with a respective plurality of aqueous paste compositions, operationally connecting respective syringes containing respective aqueous paste compositions to a mixing chamber, moving a first aqueous paste composition from a first respective paste source into the mixing chamber, moving a second aqueous paste composition from a second respective paste source into the mixing chamber, mixing the first and second aqueous paste compositions to define a first admixture having a first admixture composition, extruding the first admixture onto a surface to define an extruded layer having a first admixture composition, surrounding the sides of the extruded layer with an oil bath, radiatively drying the extruded layer.

Leu, Ming C.↗
DOE OSTI2020

A FEASIBILITY STUDY ON CRACK REPAIR IN AUSTENITIC STAINLESS STEEL DRY STORAGE CANISTERS USING ISOTHERMAL FRICTION STIR WELDING

In recent time, solid state crack repair techniques in spent nuclear fuel dry storage canisters (SNF-DSC) have garnered significant interest. Plates of austenitic stainless steels are usually arc welded to fabricate the cylindrical canisters which are prone to chloride-induced stress corrosion cracking. Friction stir welding (FSW) is considered to be a potential candidate for damage repair. In this work, electrical discharge machining was used to simulate cracks in 304L stainless steel plates of 12.7 mm thickness. Subsequently, isothermal FSW was carried out at two different temperatures (725 and 825°C) in order to repair the simulated crack. Microstructure-mechanical property correlations in FSWed plates were studied in detail. Significant grain refinement observed in the stir zone (SZ) was attributed to dynamic recrystallization occurring during FSW. A comparison of Vickers microhardness showed higher hardness and homogeneity in the 725°C SZ than its 825°C counterpart. The fraction of S3 boundary is found to be low in the SZ as compared to base metal (BM). Yield strength of the joints was found to be approximately 100 MPa higher than that of the BM accompanied by a drop in ductility by a factor of 2. Residual stress profile across 825°C weld was measured using x-ray diffraction.

Bhattacharyya, Madhumanti↗
DOE OSTI2021

Data Release Report for the Source Physics Experiment Phase II: Dry Alluvium Geology Experiments (DAG-1 through DAG-4), Nevada National Security Site

The Dry Alluvium Geology (DAG) project was Phase II of the Source Physics Experiment and consisted of a series of four chemical explosive tests conducted in the same source hole on the Nevada National Security Site. This hole is located at 37.1146°N and -116.0693°W, with a surface elevation of 1,285.2 meters (m) (4,216.5 feet [ft]) above sea level. The first test (DAG-1) was conducted on July 20, 2018, at 16:51:52.67838 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). The explosive source for DAG-1 was nitromethane initiated by a small plastic-bonded explosive (PBX) charge, detonated at the depth of 385.0 m (1,263.2 ft) below ground surface. DAG-1 had a trinitrotoluene (TNT) equivalent yield of 0.908 metric tons (2,002 pounds [lbs]). DAG-2 was conducted on December 19, 2018, at 18:45:56.92115 UTC. This test was the largest in the series, with a TNT equivalent yield of 50.997 metric tons (112,429 lbs). The explosive source for DAG-2 was nitromethane initiated by a small PBX charge, detonated at the depth of 299.8 m (983.6 ft) below ground surface. DAG-3 was conducted on April 27, 2019, at 15:49:01.84183 UTC. The explosive source for this test was nitromethane initiated by a small PBX charge, detonated at the depth of 149.9 m (492.0 ft) below ground surface. DAG-3 had a TNT equivalent yield of 0.908 metric tons (2,002 lbs). The final DAG test (DAG-4) was conducted on June 22, 2019, at 21:06:19.87632 UTC. The explosive source for DAG-4 was nitromethane initiated by a small PBX charge, detonated at the depth of 51.6 m (169.3 ft) below ground surface. DAG-4 had a TNT equivalent yield of 10.357 metric tons (22,833 lbs). The four tests were recorded by an extensive set of instrumentation that included sensors both at near-field (less than 200 m) and far-field (200 m or greater) distances. The near-field instruments consisted of three-component (3C) accelerometers installed at various depths ranging from 51.6 to 385 m (169.3 to 1,263.1 ft) below ground surface in boreholes positioned around the source hole, and arrays of single-component and 3C accelerometers on the surface. The far-field network comprised a variety of seismic and acoustic sensors, including short-period geophones, broadband seismometers, and 3C accelerometers at distances of 200 m to 400 kilometers. In addition, the DAG-2, DAG-3, and DAG-4 explosions were recorded by a temporary array of 496 geophones arranged in a densely spaced grid pattern known as “Large N.” This report coincides with the release of these data for analysts and organizations that are not participants in this program. This report describes the four DAG tests and the various types of near-field, far-field, and other data that are available. Assembled data sets are accessible through: Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology, Data Management Center 1408 NE 45th Street, Suite 201, Seattle, Washington 98105 USA. www.iris.washington.edu

58 GEOSCIENCES↗