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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2003

Solar Array in Simulated LEO Plasma Environment

Six different types of solar arrays have been tested in large vacuum chambers. The low earth orbit plasma environment was simulated in plasma vacuum chambers, where the parameters could be controlled precisely. Diagnostic equipment included spherical Langmuir probes, mass spectrometer, low-noise CCD camera with optical spectrometer, video camera, very sensitive current probe to measure arc current, and a voltage probe to register variations in a conductor potential. All data (except video) were obtained in digital form that allowed us to study the correlation between external parameters (plasma density, additional capacitance, bias voltage, etc) and arc characteristics (arc rate, arc current pulse width and amplitude, gas species partial pressures, and intensities of spectral lines). Arc inception voltages, arc rates, and current selections are measured for samples with different coverglass materials and thickness, interconnect designs, and cell sizes. It is shown that the array with wrapthrough interconnects have the highest arc threshold and the lowest current collection. Coverglass design with overhang results in decrease of current collection and increase of arc threshold. Doubling coverglass thickness cases the increase in arc inception voltage. Both arc inception voltage and current collection increase significantly with increasing a sample temperature to 80 C. Sustained discharges are initiated between adjacent cells with potential differences of 40 V for the sample with 300 micron coverglass thickness and 60 V for the sample with 150 micron coverglass thickness. Installation of cryogenic pump in large vacuum chamber provided the possibility of considerable outgassing of array surfaces which resulted in significant decrease of arc rate. Arc sites were determined by employing a video-camera, and it is shown that the most probable sites for arc inception are triple-junctions, even though some arcs were initiated in gaps between cells. It is also shown that the arc rate increases with increasing of ion collection current. The analysis of optical spectra (240-800 nm) reveals intensive narrow atomic lines (Ag, H) and wide molecular bands (OH, CH, SiH, SiN) that confirms a complicated mechanism of arc plasma generation. The results obtained seem to be important for the understanding of the arc inception mechanism, which is absolutely essential for progress toward the design of high-voltage solar array for space application.

Vayner, Boris↗
NASA NTRS2004

Solar Array in Simulated LEO Plasma Environment

Six different types of solar arrays have been tested in large vacuum chambers. The low Earth orbit plasma environment was simulated in plasma vacuum chambers, where the parameters could be controlled precisely. Diagnostic equipment included spherical Langmuir probes, mass spectrometer, low-noise CCD camera with optical spectrometer, video camera, very sensitive current probe to measure arc current, and a voltage probe to register variations in a conductor potential. All data (except video) were obtained in digital form that allowed us to study the correlation between external parameters (plasma density, additional capacitance, bias voltage, etc) and arc characteristics (arc rate, arc current pulse width and amplitude, gas species partial pressures, and intensities of spectral lines). Arc inception voltages, arc rates, and current collections are measured for samples with different coverglass materials and thickness, interconnect designs, and cell sizes. It is shown that the array with wrapthrough interconnects have the highest arc threshold and the lowest current collection. Coverglass design with overhang results in decrease of current collection and increase of arc threshold. Doubling coverglass thickness causes the increase in arc inception voltage. Both arc inception voltage and current collection increase significantly with increasing a sample temperature to 80 C. Sustained discharges are initiated between adjacent cells with potential differences of 40 V for the sample with 300 m coverglass thickness and 60 V for the sample with 150 m coverglass thickness. Installation of cryogenic pump in large vacuum chamber provided the possibility of considerable outgassing of array surfaces which resulted in significant decrease of arc rate. Arc sites were determined by employing a video-camera, and it is shown that the most probable sites for arc inception are triple-junctions, even though some arcs were initiated in gaps between cells. It is also shown that the arc rate increases with increasing of ion collection current. The analysis of optical spectra (240-800 nm) reveals intensive narrow atomic lines (Ag, H) and wide molecular bands (OH, CH, SiH, SiN) that confirms a complicated mechanism of arc plasma generation. The results obtained seem to be important for the understanding of the arc inception mechanism, which is absolutely essential for progress toward the design of high-voltage solar array for space application.

Vayner, Boris↗
NASA NTRS2005

High-Speed Rainbow Schlieren Visualization of an Oscillating Helium Jet Undergoing Gravitational Change

Rainbow schlieren deflectometry combined with high-speed digital imaging was used to study buoyancy effects on flow structure of a helium jet discharged vertically into air. The experimental data were taken using the 2.2-sec drop tower facility at the NASA John H. Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. The test conditions pertained to jet Reynolds number of 490 and jet Richardson number of 0.11, for which buoyancy is often considered unimportant. Experimental results show global oscillations at a frequency of 27 Hz in Earth gravity. In microgravity, the jet oscillations vanished and the jet width increased. Results provide a direct physical evidence of the importance of buoyancy on the flow structure of low-density gas jets at a Richardson number considered too small to account for gravity.

Leptuch, Peter A.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Resource Recovery and Environmental Protection in Wyoming’s Greater Green River Basin Using Selective Nanostructured Membranes (Final Report)

Produced water (PW) represents a sizable waste stream that is co-generated with oil and natural gas production. In 2021 Wyoming ranked 8th and 9th, respectively in domestic oil and natural gas production. In 2017 Wyoming ranked as the 4th highest generator of PW in the U.S, accounting for 7% of the total volume generated. In the context of being the 3rd most arid state in the U.S., the value of water reuse becomes obvious. PW reuse, and resource recovery, in any form requires some level of treatment to remove particulates, residual (free, dispersed) hydrocarbons, organics, and salts. The level of treatment depends on the requirements of the reuse, or resource recovery, application. PW management systems in Wyoming employ in order of volume of PW managed the following management strategies: reinjection for enhanced oil recovery, surface discharge, deep well injection, evaporation ponds (impoundments), and commercial management/treatment. Complicating treatment efforts are the relatively high concentrations of organics (natural and synthetic), dispersed/free hydrocarbons, benzene-toluene-ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) compounds, biologicals, salts, and minerals. Hydrocarbons (dispersed/dissolved crude oils) and BTEX compounds, as well as synthetic organics, present economic and environmental concerns. The former represents lost revenue, while the latter results in negative environmental impacts like emissions from surface impoundments. The overall objective of this proposal was to synthesize superhydrophilic/oleophobic and superhydrophobic/oleophilic membranes for selectively concentrating and then separating BTEX compounds and oil and grease (O&G) from PW originating from the Greater Green River Basin (GGRB) in Wyoming. Three specific research aims were pursued to accomplish this overall objective. This final report details the development of the superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic membranes, as well as the design of the membrane module prototypes specifically. The technoeconomic assessment is separately reported in another document. 1. Aim #1 – Material optimization and performance evaluation of superhydrophilic/oleophobic and superhydrophobic/oleophilic membranes made by electrospinning/spraying. 2. Aim #2 – Design and construction of cross-flow membrane modules for selectively concentrating and then separating BTEX/oil from GGRB produced water. 3. Aim #3 – Techno-economic assessment of BTEX/oil recovery, and clean water production, using superhydrophilic/oleophobic and superhydrophobic/oleophilic membrane separation for GGRB PW. Superhydrophobic membranes were synthesized by electrospinning poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) nanofibers onto polyester (PET) substrates and electrospraying nano-carbon black/PVDF-HFP onto the nanofibrous layer. These membranes were characterized by high (>8000 liters per square meter per hour per bar (LMH/bar)) permeance values for pure hydrocarbon phases and a high hydrocarbon selectivity (>96%) when treating GGRB PW. All results were obtained when operating the membrane in a crossflow configuration representative of actual field operating conditions. Solvent/oil properties, specifically viscosity and total surface energy/tension, affected permeance across the membrane, which resulted in light mineral oil (394 LMH/bar) and o-xylene (1834 LMH/bar) being characterized by lower permeance values in the pure phase tests. Mixed phase fluxes between 40 to 80 LMH were obtained for the PW when operating the membrane at a feed pressure of 0.3 bar. Flux decreased as the mixed phase concentration in the feed decreased pointing to the importance of maximizing the collision efficiency between the emulsion and the membrane surface and maximizing the emulsion concentration in the feed and the turbulence within the feed channel. These tests demonstrated that the superhydrophobic membranes developed here are a viable hydrocarbon recovery method for GGRB PWs and should be pursued for testing in pilot-scale trials. Superhydrophilic membranes were successfully synthesized via electrospinning/spraying using polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers as a base nanofibrous matrix. Integration of polyaniline (PANI) into the nanofibrous matrix produced a superior membrane, for water filtration applications, relative to PAN alone and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) when integrated into the nanofibrous matrix. This conclusion was based on the PANI-PAN resistance to flux loss (fouling) when treating model solvent/oil solutions representative of GGRB PWs and field collected PW from the GGRB. The synthesized PAN membranes outperformed a commercially available PAN membrane designed for oil/water separation. This finding indicates that the surface chemical and physical characteristics of the electrospun membranes presents improved properties for filtration of challenging waters like GGRB PWs. The electrospun membranes therefore show promise overall as a substitute for conventionally polymerized membranes in PW treatment applications. The PANI-PAN membrane specifically presents superior performance characteristics for concentration O&G prior to treatment by the hydrocarbon recovery membrane and producing high-quality filtrate for reuse and/or additional treatment (desalination).

02 PETROLEUM↗
NASA NTRS2003

Magnetogasdynamic Power Extraction and Flow Conditioning for a Gas Turbine

An extension of the Russian AJAX concept to a turbojet is being explored. This magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) energy bypass engine cycle incorporating conventional gas turbine technology has MHD flow conditioning at the inlet to electromagnetically extract part of the inlet air kinetic energy. The electrical power generated can be used for various on-board vehicle requirements including plasma flow control around the vehicle or it may be used for augmenting the expanding flow in the high speed nozzle by MHD forces to generate more thrust. In order to achieve this interaction, the air needs to be ionized by an external means even up to fairly high flight speeds, and the leading candidates may be classified as electrical discharge devices. The present kinetic modeling calculations suggest that the use of electron beams with characteristics close to the commercially available e-beam systems (electron energy approx. 60 keV, beam current approx. 0.2 mA/sq cm) to sustain ionization in intermediate pressure, low-temperature (P = 0.1 atm, T = 300 K) supersonic air flows allows considerable reduction of the flow kinetic energy (up to 10 to 20 percent in M = 3 flows). The calculations also suggest that this can be achieved at a reasonable electron beam efficiency (eta approx. 5), even if the e-beam window losses are taken into account. At these conditions, the exit NO and O atom concentrations due to e-beam initiated chemical reactions do not exceed 30 ppm. Increasing the beam current up to approx. 2 mA/sq cm, which corresponds to a maximum electrical conductivity of sigma(sub max) approx. 0.8 mho/m at the loading parameter of K = 0.5, would result in a much greater reduction of the flow kinetic energy (up to 30 to 40 percent). The MHD channel efficiency at these conditions would be greatly reduced (to eta approx. 1) due to increased electron recombination losses in the channel. At these conditions, partial energy conversion from kinetic energy to heat would result in a significant total pressure loss (P(sub 0)/P(sub 0i) approx. 0.3). The total pressure loss can be reduced operating at the loading parameter closer to unity, at the expense of the reduced electrical power output. Raising the beam current would also result in the increase of the exit O atom concentrations (up to 600 ppm) and NO (up to 150 ppm).

Adamovich, Igor V.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Reactivation of a Tin-Oxide-Containing Catalyst

The electrons in electric-discharge CO2 lasers cause dissociation of some CO2 into O2 and CO, and attach themselves to electronegative molecules such as O2, forming negative O2 ions, as well as larger negative ion clusters by collisions with CO or other molecules. The decrease in CO2 concentration due to dissociation into CO and O2 will reduce the average repetitively pulsed or continuous wave laser power, even if no disruptive negative ion instabilities occur. Accordingly, it is the primary object of this invention to extend the lifetime of a catalyst used to combine the CO and O2 products formed in a laser discharge. A promising low-temperature catalyst for combining CO and O2 is platinum on tin oxide (Pt/SnO2). First, the catalyst is pretreated by a standard procedure. The pretreatment is considered complete when no measurable quantity of CO2 is given off by the catalyst. After this standard pretreatment, the catalyst is ready for its low-temperature use in the sealed, high-energy, pulsed CO2 laser. However, after about 3,000 minutes of operation, the activity of the catalyst begins to slowly diminish. When the catalyst experiences diminished activity during exposure to the circulating gas stream inside or external to the laser, the heated zone surrounding the catalyst is raised to a temperature between 100 and 400 C. A temperature of 225 C was experimentally found to provide an adequate temperature for reactivation. During this period, the catalyst is still exposed to the circulating gas inside or external to the laser. This constant heating and exposing the catalyst to the laser gas mixture is maintained for an hour. After heating and exposing for an appropriate amount of time, the heated zone around the catalyst is allowed to return to the nominal operating temperature of the CO2 laser. This temperature normally resides in the range of 23 to 100 C. Catalyst activity can be measured as the percentage conversion of CO to CO2. In the specific embodiment described above, the initial steady-state conversion percentage was 70 percent. After four days, this conversion percentage decreased to 67 percent. No decrease in activity is acceptable because the catalyst must maintain its activity for long periods of time. After being subjected to the reactivation process of the present invention, the conversion percentage rose to 77 percent. Such a reactivation not only returned the catalyst to its initial steady state but resulted in a 10-percent improvement over the initial steady state value.

Hess, Robert↗
NASA NTRS1980

Study of component technologies for fuel cell on-site integrated energy systems

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment are integrated with three types of fuel cells. System design and computer simulations are developed to utilize the thermal energy discharge of the fuel in the most cost effective manner. The fuel provides all of the electric needs and a loss of load probability analysis is used to ensure adequate power plant reliability. Equipment cost is estimated for each of the systems analyzed. A levelized annual cost reflecting owning and operating costs including the cost of money was used to select the most promising integrated system configurations. Cash flows are presented for the most promising 16 systems. Several systems for the 96 unit apartment complex (a retail store was also studied) were cost competitive with both gas and electric based conventional systems. Thermal storage is shown to be beneficial and the optimum absorption chiller sizing (waste heat recovery) in connection with electric chillers are developed. Battery storage was analyzed since the system is not electric grid connected. Advanced absorption chillers were analyzed as well. Recommendations covering financing, technical development, and policy issues are given to accelerate the commercialization of the fuel cell for on-site power generation in buildings.

Lee, W. D.↗
NASA NTRS2019

The Chemical Evolution of Cosmic Carbon: Laboratory Studies with the COSmIC Facility

Cosmic dust plays an essential role in our understanding of the chemical and physical evolution of the universe. Our understanding of cosmic dust relies on a combination of astronomical observations (either remote or on extraterrestrial dust samples), astrophysical modeling and laboratory studies of realistic analogs of cosmic dust grains. The COSmIC facility was developed at NASA Ames to study the evolution of cosmic carbon from circumstellar outflows to interstellar clouds to planetary atmospheres in the laboratory [1]. COSmIC stands for “Cosmic Simulation Chamber” and is dedicated to the study of neutral and ionized molecules and grain particles under the low temperature and density conditions that are required to simulate space environments. COSmIC integrates a variety of instruments that allow generating, processing, and monitoring simulated space conditions in the laboratory. It is composed of a Pulsed Discharge Nozzle (PDN) expansion that generates a plasma in a free supersonic jet expansion, coupled to high-sensitivity, complementary in situ diagnostic tools used for the detection and characterization of the species present in the expansion: Cavity Ring Down Spectroscopy (CRDS) and fluorescence spectroscopy systems for photonic detection and an orthogonal Reflectron Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometer (oReTOF-MS) for mass detection. Recent advances achieved in laboratory astrophysics using COSmIC’s laboratory data in synergy with observational data will be presented. These results include the formation of dust grains and aerosols from gas-phase molecular precursors in environments as varied as circumstellar outflows of late AGB stars [2] and planetary atmospheres [3] and the evolution of our understanding of the diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs) with applications to the ESO Diffuse Interstellar Bands Large Exploration Survey (EDIBLES [4, 5]). Plans for future laboratory developments and techniques to study the evolution of cosmic carbon molecules and grains (including NIR-MIR CRDS, laser induced fluorescence (LIF) and incandescence (LII)) will also be addressed as well as their astronomical applications.

Salama, F.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Preliminary proof-of-concept of real-time divertor heat flux control from infrared cameras with nitrogen injection in the DIII-D tokamak

In future tokamak reactors like ITER and the Fusion Pilot Plant (FPP), real-time feedback control of heat flux to the plasma-facing components (PFC) will be critical for steady-state operation. This work presents the first experimental demonstration of real-time divertor heat flux estimation with infrared thermography and feedback control with impurity seeding on the DIII-D tokamak. The flexible infrastructure of the Plasma Control System (PCS) on DIII-D makes this new capability possible. The PCS software runs on a gateway computer system, and five real-time compute nodes. An array of low latency streaming digitizers from D-TACQ Solutions connects to these real-time computers to collect and process data, and send commands to actuators during plasma discharges. This system handles the signal IO from the tokamak and allows the PCS to utilize the diagnostic data necessary to perform control in real-time. Feedback control on heat flux was accomplished by feeding infrared camera data from the “Infrared TV” (IRTV) camera to a custom-developed User Datagram Protocol (UDP) server. This server transmits infrared data to a newly developed PCS algorithm that estimates the heat flux to PFC. Here, a proportional integral derivative (PID) controller minimizes the error between a heat flux reference and the real-time estimate by injecting nitrogen gas into the divertor.

Algorithm development↗
DOE OSTI2020

A low temperature unitized regenerative fuel cell realizing 60% round trip efficiency and 10 000 cycles of durability for energy storage applications

Unitized regenerative fuel cells (URFC) convert electrical energy to and from chemical bonds in hydrogen. URFCs have the potential to provide economical means for efficient long-term, seasonal, energy storage and on-demand conversion back to electrical energy. We first optimize the catalyst layer for discrete electrolyzer and fuel cell and then configure the URFC. The goal is to identify a cost competitive configuration for URFCs, and demonstrate it in terms of upper limit of round trip efficiencies (RTEs). Two possible configurations of URFCs are compared via experiments and techno-economic analysis (TEA), which emphasize the advantages of the unconventional constant-electrode (CE) URFC over the traditional constant-gas (CG) configuration. We also study the stability via accelerated stress tests (ASTs) and demonstrate steady state operation in a daily cycle for day to night energy shifting. From the investigations, the optimum composition of the URFC anode catalyst layer is 90 at% Ir-black balanced by Pt-black for both CE and CG configurations. At 80 °C and 1 A cm -2 , the optimized CE URFC achieves 57% and 60% RTE with air and O 2 as the reductant gases, respectively. We then evaluated the differences in durability using an AST over 10k charge–discharge cycles; the results reveal that the wider potential window at the anode in CE (0.05–1.55 V) has minimal effect on catalyst layer stability compared to CG (0.55–1.55 V). Furthermore, there was no degradation up to the range of 2k–5k cycles; beyond that the fuel cell (discharge) performance degraded while the electrolyzer (charge) performance was still stable. Finally, the observations here indicate substantial potential to employ URFCs as efficient and cost-effective bidirectional energy-conversion devices within energy storage and utilization systems after appropriate technological and operational optimizations.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2025

OH density and water vapor concentration gradients during plasma-droplet interactions

Plasma-droplet interactions significantly promote the reactivity transfer of gas phase species from the plasma to the liquid phase. Nonetheless, experimental studies on the impact of droplet evaporation on reactive species generation in such systems remain scarce. We report the spatial distribution of water vapor and OH radical densities around a droplet (∼41 μm in diameter) in He and He-Ar plasma using laser-induced fluorescence. The results reveal a significant gradient in both water vapor and OH radical concentrations near the droplets. Mutiple droplets present in the plasma can lead to a significant accumulation of water vapor and even local quenching of the discharge. The findings are critical for developing a quantitative understanding of plasma-liquid interactions for a broad range of plasma-enabled applications in the liquid phase often involving OH radicals.

42 ENGINEERING↗
NASA NTRS2017

Dynamic Gas Flow Effects on the ESD of Aerospace Vehicle Surfaces

The purpose of this work is to develop a version of Paschen's Law that takes into account the flow of ambient gas past electrode surfaces. Paschen's Law does not consider the flow of gas past an aerospace vehicle, whose surfaces may be triboelectrically charged by dust or ice crystal impingement while traversing the atmosphere. The basic hypothesis of this work is that the number of electron-ion pairs created per unit distance between electrode surfaces is mitigated by the electron-ion pairs removed per unit distance by the flow of gas. The revised theoretical model must be a function of the mean velocity, v (sub xm), of the ambient gas and reduce to Paschen's law when the gas mean velocity, v (sub xm) equals 0. A new theoretical formulation of Paschen's Law, taking into account the Mach number and dynamic pressure, derived by the authors, will be discussed. This equation was evaluated by wind tunnel experimentation whose results were consistent with the model hypothesis.

Electrostatic↗
NASA NTRS1989

Modeling of carbon monoxide oxidation kinetics over NASA carbon dioxide laser catalysts

The recombination of CO and O2 formed by the dissociation of CO2 in a sealed CO2 laser discharge zone is examined. Conventional base-metal-oxide catalysts and conventional noble-metal catalysts are not effective in recombining the low O2/CO ratio at the low temperatures used by the lasers. The use of Pt/SnO2 as the noble-metal reducible-oxide (NMRO), or other related materials from Group VIIIA and IB and SnO2 interact synergistically to produce a catalytic activity that is substantially higher than either componet separately. The Pt/SnO2 and Pd/SnO2 were reported to have significant reaction rates at temperatures as low as -27 C, conditions under which conventional catalysts are inactive. The gas temperature range of lasers is 0 + or - 40 C. There are three general ways in which the NMRO composite materials can interact synergistically: one component altering the properties of another component; the two components each providing independent catalytic functions in a complex reaction mechanism; and the formation of catalytic sites through the combination of two components at the atomic level. All three of these interactions may be important in low temperature CO oxidation over NMRO catalysts. The effect of the noble metal on the oxide is discussed first, followed by the effect of the oxide on the noble metal, the interaction of the noble metal and oxide to form catalytic sites, and the possible ways in which the CO oxidation reaction is catalyzed by the NMRO materials.

Herz, Richard K.↗
NASA NTRS2017

Recent Progress in Laboratory Astrophysics and Astrochemistry Achieved with the COSmIC Facility

We describe the characteristics and the capabilities of the laboratory facility, COSmIC, that was developed at NASA Ames to generate, process and analyze interstellar, circumstellar and planetary analogs in the laboratory. COSmIC stands for "Cosmic Simulation Chamber" and is dedicated to the study of neutral and ionized molecules and nanoparticles under the low temperature and high vacuum conditions that are required to simulate various space environments such as diffuse interstellar clouds, circumstellar outflows and planetary atmospheres. COSmIC integrates a variety of state-of-the-art instruments that allow recreating simulated space conditions to generate, process and monitor cosmic analogs in the laboratory. The COSmIC experimental setup is composed of a Pulsed Discharge Nozzle (PDN) expansion, that generates a plasma in the stream of a free supersonic jet expansion, coupled to high-sensitivity, complementary in situ diagnostics: cavity ring down spectroscopy (CRDS) and laser induced fluorescence (LIF) systems for photonic detection, and Reflectron Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometer (ReTOF-MS) for mass detection. Recent results obtained using COSmIC will be highlighted. In particular, the progress that has been achieved in the domain of the diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs) and in monitoring, in the laboratory, the formation of circumstellar dust grains and planetary atmosphere aerosols from their gas-phase molecular precursors. Plans for future laboratory experiments on interstellar and planetary molecules and grains will also be addressed, as well as the implications of the studies underway for astronomical observations and past and future space mission data analysis.

Salama, Farid↗
DOE OSTI2023

Decision-Making Framework to Evaluate Opportunities for Recovery of Rare Earth Elements and Critical Minerals in Produced Water Networks

Oil and gas development activities require a significant amount of water. Given the environmental impacts associated with high consumption and subsequent disposal of this water, there is a need for strategies to support effective reuse of, treatment of, and/or resource recovery from this produced water. These streams can contain appreciable concentrations of rare earth elements (REE) and critical minerals (CM) (e.g., Lithium), which are critical for many important applications in electronics, technology, manufacturing, energy, and medicine [1]. Along with REE/CM present in produced water, other waste streams such as fly ash from coal-fired power plants and acid mine discharge present other potential sources for recovery of REE/CM [2-4]. And with increases in demand for REE/CM, the need for recovery from wastewater streams is becoming even more important. There is a need to develop effective decision-making tools to evaluate the economic and environmental potential for REE/CM recovery from produced water networks while supporting the needs of drilling and hydraulic fracturing activities. In this work, we present our progress in developing a decision-making framework to efficiently design and operate produced water networks for REE/CM recovery. Our approach considers REE/CM recovery from produced water streams alongside other potential wastewater sources. The models consider the location and capacity of storage and decentralized treatment processes as well as the design and operation of pipeline and transportation networks to connect different sources and effectively schedule inventories, reuse, and recovery opportunities. We focus on the evaluation of opportunities for REE/CM recovery with treatment constraints on composition and flow. We demonstrate this framework with an illustrative case study that features diverse production sites, storage facilities, transportation, and treatment sites. This proposed framework will be deployed in an open-source software package that is compatible with the PARETO framework to deliver analysis and decision-making tools that allow stakeholders to quantitatively evaluate potential opportunities for REE/CM recovery in produced water networks.

Pulsipher, Joshua↗
DOE OSTI2022

LIQUID AIR COMBINED CYCLE

Hybrid integration of thermal energy storage with gas turbines can provide compact, cost-effective, long-duration energy storage while reducing the fuel consumption of dispatchable resources needed for the reliability of renewable dominant electric grids. The Liquid Air Combined Cycle™ (LACC) is a hybrid energy storage system using cryogenic liquid air as an energy storage medium and gas turbine exhaust heat to extract stored energy. The storage tank is charged using liquefaction processes employing electric motor-driven compressors to pressurize the air, heat exchangers to reject heat of compression, and expanders to reduce the temperature and liquefy the air. Proven cryogenic refrigeration processes can be selected based on capital cost (per kg/s of liquid air produced), efficiency (kJ per kg of air produced), and operating factors including startup speed and load following capability. This paper presents results of studies undertaken for the U.S. Department of Energy to evaluate cost and performance tradeoffs for charge and discharge cycle components, optimize charge and discharge cycles, and assess the techno-economic potential of LACC technology.

Conlon, William↗
NASA NTRS2019

Laboratory Astrophysics at NASA Ames: Recent Results and Advances

The Cosmic SImulation Chamber (COSmIC) facility was developed at NASA Ames to study, in the laboratory, neutral and ionized molecules and nanoparticles under the low temperature and high vacuum conditions representative of interstellar, circumstellar and planetary environments. COSmIC is composed of a Pulsed Discharge Nozzle expansion that generates a plasma in a free supersonic jet expansion coupled to highsensitivity, complementary in situ diagnostic tools, used for the detection and characterization of the species present in the expansion: a Cavity Ring Down Spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy systems operating in the UV-Visible range, and a Reflectron Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometer (ReTOF-MS). We will present recent advances that were achieved in laboratory astrophysics using COSmIC. These include advances in the domain of the diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs) and in the formation of dust grains and aerosols from their gas-phase molecular precursors in environments as varied as circumstellar outflows and planetary atmospheres. An extension of the spectral response of the facility into the infrared (IR) range is in progress with the addition of a high-resolution near-IR to mid-IR CRDS system that will allow to further investigate cosmic molecules and grains with COSmIC. Acquisition of laser induced fluorescence spectra of cosmic molecule analogs and the laser induced incandescence spectra of cosmic grain analogs are also planned. Preliminary results in these fronts will presented and the implications of the on-going studies for astronomy will be addressed.

Laboratory↗
NASA NTRS1987

The effect of pressure and excitation energy on the isotopic fractionation in the formation of ozone by discharge of O2

Isotopic fractionation processes in the formation of O3 by discharge (at 20 kV and 3 MHz) of O2 in a fused silica container at 77 K are investigated experimentally, with a focus on the effects of changes in the isotopic abundances in the predischarge O2, the O2 pressure, and the excitation energy on the isotope abundances in the postdischarge O2 and O3. The results are presented in extensive tables and graphs and characterized in detail, and good general agreement is found with data obtained using 60-kHz excitation (Yang and Epstein, 1987). It is shown that O-17 and O-18 enrichment of the residual O2 (when the predischarge gas is enriched) or of the O3 (when atmospheric isotope abundances are used) can occur independently of one another. It is inferred that the rate of anharmonic predissociation of vibrationally hot O3 depends on the symmetry and mass of the O3 molecules. The significance of the present findings for studies of anomalous oxygen isotope abundances in meteorites is indicated.

Yang, Jongmann↗