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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 sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

NASA NTRS2013

Improving Sanitation and Health in Rural Alaska

In rural Alaskan communities personal health is threatened by energy costs and limited access to clean water, wastewater management, and adequate nutrition. Fuel-‐based energy systems are significant factors in determining local accessibility to clean water, sanitation and food. Increasing fuel costs induce a scarcity of access and impact residents' health. The University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences (SNRAS), NASA's Ames Research Center, and USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) have joined forces to develop high‐efficiency, low‐energy consuming techniques for water treatment and food production in rural circumpolar communities. Methods intended for exploration of space and establishment of settlements on the Moon or Mars will ultimately benefit Earth's communities in the circumpolar north. The initial phase of collaboration is completed. Researchers from NASA Ames Research Center and SNRAS, funded by the USDA‐ARS, tested a simple, reliable, low-energy sewage treatment system to recycle wastewater for use in food production and other reuse options in communities. The system extracted up to 70% of the water from sewage and rejected up to 92% of ions in the sewage with no carryover of toxic effects. Biological testing showed that plant growth using recovered water in the nutrient solution was equivalent to that using high‐purity distilled water. With successful demonstration that the low energy consuming wastewater treatment system can provide safe water for communities and food production, the team is ready to move forward to a full‐scale production testbed. The SNRAS/NASA team (including Alaska students) will design a prototype to match water processing rates and food production to meet rural community sanitation needs and nutritional preferences. This system would be operated in Fairbanks at the University of Alaska through SNRAS. Long‐term performance will be validated and operational needs of the system determined. The testbed will be a part of the university education and operator training program. The "Forgotten Alaska" has long awaited this technology to augment the traditional

Plant Growth↗

NASA NTRS2015

Oxide_Oxide Ceramic Matrix Composite (CMC) Exhaust Mixer Development in the NASA Environmentally Responsible Aviation (ERA) Project

LibertyWorks®, a subsidiary of Rolls-Royce Corporation, first studied CMC (ceramic matrix composite) exhaust mixers for potential weight benefits in 2008. Oxide CMC potentially offered weight reduction, higher temperature capability, and the ability to fabricate complex-shapes for increased mixing and noise suppression. In 2010, NASA was pursuing the reduction of NOx emissions, fuel burn, and noise from turbine engines in Phase I of the Environmentally Responsible Aviation (ERA) Project (within the Integrated Systems Research Program). ERA subtasks, including those focused on CMC components, were being formulated with the goal of maturing technology from Proof of Concept Validation (Technology Readiness Level 3 (TRL 3)) to System/Subsystem or Prototype Demonstration in a Relevant Environment (TRL 6). LibertyWorks®, a subsidiary of Rolls-Royce Corporation, first studied CMC (ceramic matrix composite) exhaust mixers for potential weight benefits in 2008. Oxide CMC potentially offered weight reduction, higher temperature capability, and the ability to fabricate complex-shapes for increased mixing and noise suppression. In 2010, NASA was pursuing the reduction of NOx emissions, fuel burn, and noise from turbine engines in Phase I of the Environmentally Responsible Aviation (ERA) Project (within the Integrated Systems Research Program). ERA subtasks, including those focused on CMC components, were being formulated with the goal of maturing technology from Proof of Concept Validation (Technology Readiness Level 3 (TRL 3)) to System/Subsystem or Prototype Demonstration in a Relevant Environment (TRL 6). Oxide CMC component at both room and elevated temperatures. A TRL≈5 (Component Validation in a Relevant Environment) was attained and the CMC mixer was cleared for ground testing on a Rolls-Royce AE3007 engine for performance evaluation to achieve TRL 6.

propulsion↗

NASA NTRS2009

Toroidal Variable-Line-Space Gratings: The Good, the Bad and The Ugly

Toroidal variable-line-space (VLS) gratings are an important factor in the design of an efficient VUV solar telescope that will measure the CIV (155nm) and MgII (280nm) emissions lines in the Sun's transition region. In 1983 Kita and Harada described spherical VLS gratings but the technology to commercially fabricate these devices is a recent development, especially for toroidal surfaces. This paper will describe why this technology is important in the development of the Solar Ultraviolet Magnetograph Investigation (SUMI) sounding rocket program (the good), the delays due to the conversion between the TVLS grating design and the optical fabrication (the bad), and finally the optical testing, alignment and tolerancing of the gratings (the ugly). The Solar Ultraviolet Magnetograph Investigation, SUMI, has been reported in several papers since this program began in 2000. The emphasis of this paper is to describe SUMI's Toroidal Variable-Line-Space (TVLS) gratings. These gratings help SUMI meet its scientific goals which require both high spectral resolution and high optical efficiency for magnetic field measurements in the vacuum ultraviolet wavelength band of the solar spectrum (the good). Unfortunately, the technology readiness level of these gratings has made their implementation difficult, especially for a sounding rocket payload (the bad). Therefore, this paper emphasizes the problems and solutions that were developed to use these gratings in SUMI (the ugly). Section 2 contains a short review of the scientific goals of SUMI and why this mission is important in the understanding of the 3D structure of the magnetic field on the Sun. The flight hardware that makes up the SUMI payload is described in Section 3 with emphasis on those components that affect the TVLS gratings. Section 4 emphasizes the alignment, testing and optical modeling that were developed to optimize the performance of these gratings.

West, Edward A.↗

DOE OSTI2021

Preferential Attraction of Oviposition-Ready Oriental Fruit Flies to Host Fruit Odor over Protein Food Odor

Olfaction plays a key role in the location of food and oviposition resources by tephritid fruit flies. Adult females, including oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis, can sustain egg production throughout their lives provided they obtain sufficient protein. Thus, preferential attraction to food or oviposition sites (host fruit) will depend on a fly’s particular physiological state. In this study, laboratory bioassays were conducted with mature, mated B. dorsalis (provisioned protein and sugar ad libitum) to evaluate attraction to traps baited with torula yeast versus six host fruit sources (guava, guava juice, mango, orange, Surinam cherry, or white sapote). Females that preferred fruit laid a significant number of eggs around the trap entrance (average 405 eggs/fly), while almost no eggs were laid by females that preferred yeast (0.5 and 1.3 eggs/fly on two occasions). Similar results were observed in a bioassay using headspace extracts of guava juice and torula yeast, supporting olfactory-mediated responses. When individual females were allowed to oviposit in guava juice traps 0–24 h after a choice test, 45.8% of females that chose guava juice laid eggs (average 14.7 eggs/fly), compared with 27.5% that chose yeast (average 6.5 eggs/fly). Dissections indicated that females with a preference for guava juice had an egg load 2.4 times greater than females that preferred yeast. These results suggest there is an olfactory-based behavioral switch in preference from protein to host odors when female B. dorsalis are oviposition-ready. We discuss the implications of our findings for practical behavioral management and detection programs for B. dorsalis.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2022

Plan for Developing TRISO Fuel Processing Technologies

This Plan demonstrates the availability of technologies for processing TRISO used nuclear fuel for waste management and actinide recovery purposes. These technologies are judged to be at a very low level of technology readiness and as such they constitute a fertile research area for the DOE-NE’s Office of Materials and Chemical Technologies. Strategies to mature the technologies to a point where they can reasonably be considered in engineering alternatives analyses typically involve laboratory-scale tests using fuel simulant to characterize process streams and demonstrate key engineering features. Several criteria are available to help selecting candidate technologies for further maturation

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

DOE OSTI2023

NucD-24 Nuclear Diagnostics Development: Time resolved 12 C-rhoR on GCD and NIS technology development for polar LOS and data quality [Slides]

The Neutron Imaging team is readying for the NIS2 polar LOS development and future improvements to data quality on all LOS given consistently higher yields at NIF. Next-gen nano guide scintillators for NIS2 and CMOS cameras to replace outdated CCDs will be studied. Digital image plates will be tested for better data quality on passive imaging systems. The transition into the ignition regime is expected to show a significant signature in the ablator areal density. In the marginal ignition regime, a decrease of 12C-rhoR (ablator areal density) is expected but once the burn propagation produces a shock and compresses the ablator the trend reverses. GCD with the PD-PMT can resolve this effect in the ablator areal density by a temporal shift in the carbon signal. To give quantitative results a calibration of the detector for the Hohlraum/TMP signal is needed. Shots using Al, Si, and Au pucks will yield the needed information to move forward with this project.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

DOE OSTI2023

Fully Distributed Acoustic and Magnetic Field Monitoring Via a Single Fiber Line for Optimized Production of Unconventional Resource Plays

This is the final technical report for the Virginia Tech Center for Photonics Technology (VT-CPT) research project entitled “Fully Distributed Acoustic and Magnetic Field Monitoring Via a Single Fiber Line for Optimized Production of Unconventional Resource Plays”. In the the four-year effort, VT-CPT collaborated with the Departments of Mathmatics at VT and Sentek Instrument, LLC (Sentek) to develop a fiber-optic sensing system capable of real-time simultaneous distributed measurement of multiple subsurface, drilling, and production parameters. The ultra-sensitive fiber optic distributed acoustic sensing technology, picoDAS, developed by Sentek was integrated with a novel multi-material optical sensing fiber fabricated by CPT-VT to obtain distributed acoustic and magnetic field measurements with ultrahigh sensitivity and high spatial resolution. The sensing technology successfully developed and demonstrated under this research program is truly unique has application beyond subsurface imaging to include carbon storage and electrical grid monitoring, as well as healthcare and nuclear fusion. The project, sponsored by the Advanced Technology Program, began in 2019 and had the original goal of developing the next generation of harsh environment sensing systems. Exhaustive theoretical modeling was performed to optimize the multi-material optical fiber design. VT developed the processing techniques employed to successfully fabricate single mode fibers with metal cladding wires. Sensing fibers with nickel and Metglas cladding wires were fully characterized, inscribed with sensors, and fully integrated with the picoDAS system. Laboratory scale testing was performed to demonstrate performance upon exposure to lateral and transverse magnetic fields. Preliminary field trials were performed for prototype magnetic and acoustic sensing systems upon near surface deployment at VT. The distributed acoustic and magnetic field sensing system was advanced from a (Technology Readiness Level) TRL=2 to a TRL=5 via laboratory scale system validation in relevant environments. The truly one-of-its kind distributed magnetic and acoustic sensing system is expected to find immediate applications that require subsurface monitoring, to include carbon storage site monitoring, and has the potential to be a distributive technology in healthcare and electric grid markets. The technologies developed by Virginia Tech’s Center for Photonics Technology will support the mission of the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) to drive innovation and deliver solutions for an environmentally sustainable and prosperous energy future by ensuring affordable, abundant, and reliable energy that drives a robust economy and national security. Technical accomplishments during the program are summarized briefly here and described in detail in the remainder of the report.

02 PETROLEUM↗

DOE OSTI2024

Distributed Magnetic Field and Temperature Monitoring for Superconducting Radio Frequency Cavities

The overall objective of the proposed Phase I program was to design, construct and demonstrate a fiber optic sensing system capable of providing temperature and magnetic field measurements with an enhanced spatial resolution that can be implemented over a large surface area (cryomodules) to survey superconducting radio frequency cavities and magnets. A magnetic field sensor capable of detecting fluxes on the order of 1 μT is required to detect the distribution of trapped flux on the cavity surface. A unique distributed magnetic field sensor was successfully designed and constructed to demonstrate the detection of magnetic fluxes less than 500 nT. The sensor leveraged the ultra-high sensitivity of Sentek’s picoDAS to measure the magnetostriction induced vibrations in a commercially available Metglas 2605 SC ribbon that was in physical contact with sensing fiber. Static magnetic fields were detected by applying an alternating current a copper wire proximate to the Metglas 2605SC ribbon to create an AC bias magnetic field. In an alternative approach, an AC bias magnetic field was applied to a special magnetic field sensing fiber with Metglas 2605SC cladding successfully detect a magnetic field flux of a 3 μT. Exhaustive testing was performed to characterize the dependency of sensor response on the direction of the applied magnetic field. Although the special sensing fiber based magnetic field sensor did not exhibit an observable dependence on the direction of the magnetic field, the Metglas 2605SC ribbon sensor exhibited a clear directional dependence. A wide variety of polymer materials were evaluated to enhance the temperature response of an FBG based sensor at cryogenic temperatures. The processing and performance challenges provided the motivation to develop a new simple cryogenic temperature sensor that uses a commercially available fiber optic splice protector. The EVA hot melt tube that becomes adhered to the optical fiber and the polyolefin outer tube that shrinks upon heating in the fusion splicer heater provide the high thermal expansion coefficient necessary to impart a significant strain on the FBG when exposed to cryogenic temperatures. The temperature sensitivity (Δ𝜆𝐵𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑔~ 62 𝑝𝑝𝑚/℃) of the FBG-based sensor was on par with the best reported to date. The simple design, use of readily available cost-effective materials, and well-established processing techniques lends this approach to the creation of hundreds to thousands of temperature sensors on one single optical fiber length. The inherently small form factor also allows for co-location with the distributed magnetic field sensor. In preparation for field testing of the prototype sensing system at the Jefferson Labs in potential Phase II program, several different cable designs were evaluated to package the sensors. The preliminary successful demonstration of fully functional sensing cables provides the foundation for subsequent development efforts to advance the Technology Readiness Level of the technology. The technical feasibility of the proposed approach was successfully demonstrated in this Phase I effort.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

DOE OSTI2022

Southeast Regional CO 2 Utilization and Storage Acceleration Partnership (SECARB-USA): Needs Assessment Framework for Storage Complexes Contributed to EDX (Work Product 2.1.c)

On September 30, 2021, a Needs Assessment Framework for Storage Complexes was completed for the SECARB-USA region by the Southern States Energy Board (SSEB) and The University of Texas at Austin Bureau of Economic Geology (UT-BEG). The Needs Assessment Framework for Storage Complexes documented a region-wide assessment to identify data needed to advance storage projects at sites of relevance to industrial, academic, and government stakeholders. The region-wide assessment addresses the needs of CO2 source, storage, and utilization stakeholders, finance and insurance institutions, state and local government agencies, local stakeholders at prospective storage complexes, environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and others as identified by the Partners. This assessment was tested against various potential storage sites and modified to include site-specific issues, such as surface or pore space rights. The framework was provided to stakeholders for review and then used in other tasks, such as the ML initiative (Subtask 3.4) and storage complex readiness evaluation (Subtask 4.2). In accordance with the SOPO, this assessment satisfied completion of Work Product 2.1.b. The OSTI ID is 3015803, and the DOI link is https://doi.org/10.2172/3015803. On February 28, 2022, SSEB uploaded Work Product 2.1.b to NETL’s Energy Data eXchange (EDX). As such, Work Product 2.1.c is completed as documented below.

42 ENGINEERING↗

DOE OSTI2025

Performance of the AstroPix Prototype Module for the Barrel Imaging Calorimeter at the ePIC Detector and in Space-Based Payloads

AstroPix is a high-voltage CMOS (HV-CMOS) monolithic active pixel sensor originally developed to enable precision gamma-ray imaging and spectroscopy in the medium-energy regime (~100 keV–100 MeV) based on the groundwork laid by ATLASpix and MuPix. It features a 500 μm pixel pitch, in-pixel amplification and digitization, and low power consumption (~3-4 mW/cm2), making it scalable for large-area, multilayer telescope detector planes. The detectors have a designed dynamic range of 25 keV to 700 keV. With these features, AstroPix meets the requirements of future space-based high-energy telescopes and the imaging layers of the Barrel Imaging Calorimeter (BIC) in the Electron-Proton/Ion Collider (ePIC) detector at the future Electron-Ion Collider (EIC). For the space-based payload, AstroPix is being integrated into sounding rocket and balloon payloads to demonstrate the technical readiness of the devices. For BIC, AstroPix-based imaging layers interleaved within the lead/scintillating-fiber (Pb/SciFi) sampling calorimeter provide granular shower imaging, enabling key performance features such as electron/pion or gamma/neutral pion separation. As part of the ongoing detector R&D efforts, we have been testing various AstroPix_v3 configurations: the single chip, a quad-chip assembly, a three-layer stack of quad chips, and a 9-chip module that represents the smallest prototype unit of the BIC imaging layer. This presentation will highlight recent performance test results from these AstroPix detector configurations.

Kim, Bobae (ORCID:0000000295396815)↗

NASA NTRS1986

Automation of preparation of nonmetallic samples for analysis by atomic absorption and inductively coupled plasma spectrometry

For a rapid preparation of solutions intended for analysis by inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry or atomic absorption spectrometry, an automatic device called Plasmasol was developed. This apparatus used the property of nonwettability of glassy C to fuse the sample in an appropriate flux. The sample-flux mixture is placed in a composite crucible, then heated at high temperature, swirled until full dissolution is achieved, and then poured into a water-filled beaker. After acid addition, dissolution of the melt, and filling to the mark, the solution is ready for analysis. The analytical results obtained, either for oxide samples or for prereduced iron ores show that the solutions prepared with this device are undistinguished from those obtained by manual dissolutions done by acid digestion or by high temperature fusion. Preparation reproducibility and analytical tests illustrate the performance of Plasmasol.

Wittmann, A.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Electromagnetic emission experiences using electric propulsion systems: A survey

As electric propulsion systems become ready to integrate with spacecraft systems, the impact of propulsion system radiated emissions are of significant interest. Radiated emissions from electromagnetic, electrostatic, and electrothermal systems have been characterized and results synopsized from the literature describing 21 space flight programs. Electromagnetic radiated emission results from ground tests and flight experiences are presented with particular attention paid to the performance of spacecraft subsystems and payloads during thruster operations. The impacts to transmission of radio frequency signals through plasma plumes are also reviewed.

Sovey, James S.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Electromagnetic emission experiences using electric propulsion systems - A survey

Sovey, James S.↗

NASA NTRS2002

A Facility and Architecture for Autonomy Research

Autonomy is a key enabling factor in the advancement of the remote robotic exploration. There is currently a large gap between autonomy software at the research level and software that is ready for insertion into near-term space missions. The Mission Simulation Facility (MST) will bridge this gap by providing a simulation framework and suite of simulation tools to support research in autonomy for remote exploration. This system will allow developers of autonomy software to test their models in a high-fidelity simulation and evaluate their system's performance against a set of integrated, standardized simulations. The Mission Simulation ToolKit (MST) uses a distributed architecture with a communication layer that is built on top of the standardized High Level Architecture (HLA). This architecture enables the use of existing high fidelity models, allows mixing simulation components from various computing platforms and enforces the use of a standardized high-level interface among components. The components needed to achieve a realistic simulation can be grouped into four categories: environment generation (terrain, environmental features), robotic platform behavior (robot dynamics), instrument models (camera/spectrometer/etc.), and data analysis. The MST will provide basic components in these areas but allows users to plug-in easily any refined model by means of a communication protocol. Finally, a description file defines the robot and environment parameters for easy configuration and ensures that all the simulation models share the same information.

Pisanich, Greg↗

NASA NTRS2003

NASA/BAE SYSTEMS SpaceWire Effort

This paper discusses the state of the NASA and BAE SYSTEMS developments of SpaceWire. NASA has developed intellectual property that implements SpaceWire in Register Transfer Level (RTL) VHDL for a SpaceWire link and router. This design has been extensively verified using directed tests from the SpaceWire Standard and design specification, as well as being randomly tested to flush out hard to find bugs in the code. The high level features of the design will be discussed, including the support for multiple time code masters, which will be useful for the James Webb Space Telescope electrical architecture. This design is now ready to be targeted to FPGA's and ASICs. Target utilization and performance information will be presented for Spaceflight worthy FPGA's and a discussion of the ASIC implementations will be addressed. In particular, the BAE SYSTEMS ASIC will be highlighted which will be implemented on their .25micron rad-hard line. The chip will implement a 4-port router with the ability to tie chips together to make larger routers without external glue logic. This part will have integrated LVDS drivers/receivers, include a PLL and include skew control logic. It will be targeted to run at greater than 300 MHz and include the implementation for the proposed SpaceWire transport layer. The need to provide a reliable transport mechanism for SpaceWire has been identified by both NASA And ESA, who are attempting to define a transport layer standard that utilizes a low overhead, low latency connection oriented approach that works end-to-end. This layer needs to be implemented in hardware to prevent bottlenecks.

Rakow, Glenn Parker↗

NASA NTRS2003

NASA/BAE Systems SpaceWire Efforts

This paper discusses the state of the NASA and BAE SYSTEMS developments using Spacewire. NASA has developed intellectual property that implements Spacewire in Register Transfer Level VHDL for a Spacewire link and router. This design has been extensively verified using directed tests from the Spacewire Standard and design specification, as well as being randomly tested to flush out hard to find bugs in the code. The high level features of the design will be discussed, including the support for multiple time code masters, which will be useful for the James Webb Space Telescope electrical architecture. This design is now ready to be targeted to FPGA's and ASICs. Target utilization and performance information will be presented for some spaceflight qualified FPGA's and a discussion of the ASIC implementations will be addressed. In particular, the BAE SYSTEMS ASIC will be highlighted which will be implemented in their 0.25 micron rad-hard line. The chip will implement a 4-port router with the ability to tie chips together to make larger routers without external glue logic. This part will have integrated LVDS driver/receivers, include a PLL and include skew control logic. It will be targeted to run at greater than 300 MHz and include the implementation for the proposed Spacewire transport layer. The need to provide a reliable transport mechanism for Spacewire has been identified by both NASA and ESA, who are attempting to define a transport layer standard that utilizes a low overhead, low latency connection oriented approach. The Transport layer needs to be implemented in hardware-to prevent bottlenecks.

Rakow, Glenn Parker↗

NASA NTRS2015

Reduced Boil-Off System Sizing

NASA is currently developing cryogenic propellant storage and transfer systems for future space exploration and scientific discovery missions by addressing the need to raise the technology readiness level of cryogenic fluid management technologies. Cryogenic propellants are baselined in many propulsion systems due to their inherently high specific impulse; however, their low boiling points can cause substantial boil-off losses over time. Recent efforts such as the Reduced Boil-off Testing and the Active Thermal Control Scaling Study provide important information on the benefit of an active cooling system applied to LH2 propellant storage. Findings show that zero-boil off technologies can reduce overall mass in LH2 storage systems when low Earth orbit loiter periods extend beyond two months. A significant part of this mass reduction is realized by integrating two stages of cooling: a 20 K stage to intercept heat at the tank surface, and a 90 K stage to reduce the heat entering the less efficient 20 K stage. A missing element in previous studies, which is addressed in this paper, is the development of a direct method for sizing the 90 K cooling stage. Such a method requires calculation of the heat entering both the 90 K and 20 K stages as compared to the overall system masses, and is reliant upon the temperature distribution, performance, and unique design characteristics of the system in question. By utilizing the known conductance of a system without active thermal control, the heat being intercepted by a 90 K stage can be calculated to find the resultant lift and mass of each active thermal control stage. Integral to this is the thermal conductance of the cooling straps and the broad area cooling shield, key parts of the 90 K stage. Additionally, a trade study is performed to show the ability of the 90 K cooling stage to reduce the lift on the 20 K cryocooler stage, which is considerably less developed and efficient than 90 K cryocoolers.

Cryogenic fluid management↗

NASA NTRS2018

Update on the Nested Hall Thruster Subsystem for the NextSTEP XR-100 Program

Under the NextSTEP program led by Aerojet Rocketdyne in collaboration with NASA Glenn Research Center the University of Michigan, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the XR-100 100 kW Electric Propulsion system is being developed to Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5. As part of this program, the X3, a Nested Hall Thruster (NHT) designed to operate at powers up to 200kW, is being further developed through parallel modeling and experimental efforts with the ultimate goal of supporting a 100kW-100hr system test in the final year of the NextSTEP program. Recent developments for the X3 subsystem are presented including a summary of testing and modeling results and design updates in anticipation of a risk reduction test scheduled for the summer of 2018.

Jorns, Benjamin A.↗