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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 1,243 records · Page 69
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Power increases using wind direction spatial filtering for wind farm control: Evaluation using FLORIS, modified for dynamic settings

As wind energy plays a growing role in the energy sector, new methods for controlling wind turbines and wind farms to maximize performance are garnering industry interest. A developing body of research treats the entire wind farm as a control system, with individual turbines acting as agents in a network, allowing farm-level objectives to be considered. Two promising developments in this research are wake steering control, which seeks to increase the power generated at a wind farm by directing the wakes of upstream turbines away from downstream ones, and communication-based spatial filtering, which seeks to improve the quality of information used by turbine- and farm-level controllers by combining measurements of the wind field collected at the individual turbines. The latter method has been shown to improve the estimates of wind direction at the turbines; however, the resulting potential for increased power capture warrants further investigation. With this paper, we begin to address this gap by combining wake steering with wind direction spatial filtering. To do so, we present a preliminary method for assessing the power capture of dynamic controllers using wind farm codes designed for time-averaged simulation. This allows us to generate results much more rapidly than would be possible using high-fidelity wind farm simulators and may be useful in many wind farm control design applications.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Cross-beam energy transfer in direct-drive ICF. II. Theory and simulation of mitigation through increased laser bandwidth

The response of the cross-beam energy transfer instability (CBET) to laser bandwidth is investigated through a combination of theory and simulation. Existing linear theory is generalized to treat broadband lasers, demonstrating that CBET is most effectively suppressed when the bandwidth exceeds the ion-acoustic wave (IAW) frequency. It is shown that for such bandwidths, reverse (seed to pump) transfer becomes possible, which reduces the net energy transfer rapidly as bandwidth is increased. The CBET gain exponent in this regime scales with bandwidth (Δω) as Δω−3 for Gaussian or Lorentzian laser spectra with different scalings possible for other spectra. Comparison of our theory with linearized fluid and particle-in-cell simulations, performed with the laser-plasma simulation environment (LPSE) and vector particle in cell (VPIC) codes, respectively, finds that the model is accurate in the absence of nonlinear processes. However, linear analysis also finds that the IAW energy density scales as Δω−1, implying that nonlinear effects may be more difficult to control than the CBET scaling would suggest. Indeed, nonlinear effects are found to be present in VPIC simulations with high-intensity lasers, despite minimal apparent CBET. Nonlinear processes in the VPIC cases include particle trapping, the two-ion wave decay, and ion wave self-focusing. In some high intensity VPIC cases, these effects lead to net energy transfer from seed to pump and increases to backscatter stimulated Brillouin scattering reflectivities. Finally, for a given bandwidth, we show that improved control of nonlinear processes can be achieved via smoothing by spectral dispersion.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Increased electron, positron, and x-ray production from high intensity laser interactions using micro-wire targets

We report increases in energetic electrons, positrons, and x-rays emitted from high-intensity laser interactions (10 18−20 W/cm 2 ) with structured silicon micro-wires on the surface of a 1 mm gold converter target using a 10 ps laser pulse. A total of four different wire configurations are tested, where the gaps (7–28 μm) between the wires and the thicknesses (3–6 μm) of the wires are varied, while the height remains constant (⁠ ~25 μm). We observe the largest enhancement in electrons, positrons, and x-rays with the sparsest wire configurations. The electron temperature (T e ≈6 MeV) remains consistent across all shots, regardless of whether wires or planar targets are used. This suggests that the observed enhancement is due to increased laser light absorption by the accelerated electrons over a long scale length. Two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations confirm that absorption is significantly enhanced with the wire target. Additionally, specific simulations examining laser pointing on different parts of the wire structure reveal that, while the final electron spectrum remains largely insensitive, the angular distribution is highly sensitive to these variations.

Bremsstrahlung↗
DOE OSTI2010

On the possibility of increasing the pulse energy of a passively Q-switched erbium glass minilaser

A simple method to increase the output energy of a passively Q-switched erbium glass laser is proposed. Using the amplitude modulation of losses at the active element face, the fundamental mode was reliably suppressed and the laser operated in a selected higher-order mode. The output energy was experimentally increased by a factor of 2.1, and the range of allowable pump energy instability was extended threefold. (lasers)

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2011

Increase in the optical damage threshold of a ZnSe-passivated front mirror of a laser diode

The operation of single-mode diode lasers with a front mirror passivated by ZnSe films of different thicknesses is studied in the pulsed regime (pulse duration {tau} = 0.2 - 10 {mu}s). It is found that in the case of short (0.2 {mu}s) pulses, the catastrophic optical damage threshold grows almost linearly as the film thickness on the front mirror increases from 0.1 to 0.5 {mu}m. It is shown that lasers with mirrors passivated by 'thick' (0.4 - 0.6 {mu}m) ZnSe films can operate stably in the case of 'long' (2 - 10 {mu}s) pulses. It is assumed that in this pulsed regime the ZnSe film provides an additional heat removal from the hot zone of the front mirror, and consequently increases the optical damage threshold. (lasers)

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2019

AlGaInAs/InP semiconductor lasers with an increased electron barrier

This paper presents an experimental study of AlGaInAs/InP semiconductor lasers with different barrier layers. The use of strained layers with an increased band gap as blocking barriers limiting carrier leakage is shown to increase the output power of the lasers at a given pump current. (paper)

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2020

AlGaInAs/InP semiconductor lasers with an ultra-narrow waveguide and an increased electron barrier

Semiconductor lasers based on AlGaInAs/InP heterostructures with an ultra-narrow waveguide and an increased electron barrier layer are developed. It is shown that the use of this waveguide in conjunction with profiled doping ensures a balance between internal optical losses and heat resistance. Additional use of strained wide-bandgap layers as blocking barriers limiting electron leakage from the active region makes it possible to increase the output power at the same pump current. The developed lasers with a stripe contact 100 μm wide demonstrate at room temperature an output optical power of 4.0 – 4.4 W (pump current 14 A) in a continuous-wave regime and 15 – 17 W (100 A) in a pulsed regime (100 ns, 1 kHz) at wavelengths of 1450 – 1500 nm. (paper)

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2013

Tropical forest responses to increasing [CO2]: current knowledge and opportunities for future research

Elevated atmospheric [CO2] (ca) will undoubtedly affect the metabolism of tropical forests worldwide; however, critical aspects of how tropical forests will respond remain largely unknown. Here we review the current state of knowledge about physiological and ecological responses, with the aim of providing a framework that can help to guide future experimental research. Modelling studies have indicated that elevated ca can potentially stimulate photosynthesis more in the tropics than at higher latitudes, because suppression of photorespiration by elevated ca increases with temperature. However, canopy leaves in tropical forests could also potentially reach a high temperature threshold under elevated ca that will moderate the rise in photosynthesis. Belowground responses, including fine root production, nutrient foraging, and soil organic matter processing, will be especially important to the integrated ecosystem response to elevated CO2. Water-use efficiency will increase as ca rises, potentially impacting upon soil moisture status and nutrient availability. Recruitment may be differentially altered for some functional groups, potentially decreasing ecosystem carbon storage. Whole-forest CO2 enrichment experiments are urgently needed to test predictions of tropical forest functioning under elevated ca. Smaller scale experiments in the understory and in gaps would also be informative, and could provide stepping stones toward stand-scale manipulations.

Cernusak, Lucas↗
DOE OSTI2015

21st Century United States Emissions Mitigation Could Increase Water Stress more than the Climate Change it is Mitigating

By using coupled models of human and earth system processes, we show that climate mitigation would result in an increase in the total magnitude and spatial extent of surface water deficits for almost all U.S. water resources regions, and in larger and more extreme hotspots of water deficits—primarily due to the increased demand for bioenergy crops. Most water deficits will be experienced by the agricultural sector, with the exception of Northeast region of the US. In addition, using models capable of resolving higher spatial and temporal variability and representing human-earth system interactions, we reveal that climate mitigation may have large human footprints on streamflows, especially in dry regions. This research shows the potential for unintended and negative consequences of climate mitigation if human-natural system interactions are ignored in policy-making.

mitigation, Integrated assessment model, Earth sys↗
DOE OSTI2017

Gene polymorphism linked to increased asthma and IBD risk alters gasdermin-B structure, a sulfatide and phosphoinositide binding protein

The exact function of human gasdermin-B (GSDMB), which regulates differentiation and growth of epithelial cells, is yet to be elucidated. In human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer, GSDMB gene amplification and protein overexpression indicate a poor response to HER2-targeted therapy. Genome-wide association studies revealed a correlation between GSDMB SNPs and an increased susceptibility to Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and asthma. Here, the N- and C-terminal domains of all gasdermins possess lipid-binding and regulatory activities, respectively. Inflammatory caspases cleave gasdermin-D in the interdomain linker but not GSDMB. The cleaved N-terminal domain binds phosphoinositides and cardiolipin, forms membrane-disrupting pores, and executes pyroptosis. We show that both full-length GSDMB and the N-terminal domain bind to nitrocellulose membranes immobilized with phosphoinositides or sulfatide, but not with cardiolipin. In addition, the GSDMB N-terminal domain binds liposomes containing sulfatide. The crystal structure of the GSDMB C-terminal domain reveals the structural impact of the amino acids encoded by SNPs that are linked to asthma and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). A loop that carries the polymorphism amino acids corresponding to healthy individuals (Gly299:Pro306) exhibits high conformational flexibility, whereas the loop carrying amino acids found in individuals with increased disease risk (Arg299:Ser306) exhibits a well-defined conformation and higher positive surface charge. Apoptotic executioner caspase-3, -6, and -7, but not the inflammatory caspases, cleave GSDMB at 88 DNVD 91 within the N-terminal domain. Selective sulfatide binding may indicate possible function for GSDMB in the cellular sulfatide transport.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Accelerating pathway evolution by increasing the gene dosage of chromosomal segments

Experimental evolution is a critical tool in many disciplines, including metabolic engineering and synthetic biology. However, current methods rely on the chance occurrence of a key step that can dramatically accelerate evolution in natural systems, namely increased gene dosage. Our studies sought to induce the targeted amplification of chromosomal segments to facilitate rapid evolution. Since increased gene dosage confers novel phenotypes and genetic redundancy, we developed a method, Evolution by Amplification and Synthetic Biology (EASy), to create tandem arrays of chromosomal regions. In Acinetobacter baylyi , EASy was demonstrated on an important bioenergy problem, the catabolism of lignin-derived aromatic compounds. The initial focus on guaiacol (2-methoxyphenol), a common lignin degradation product, led to the discovery of Amycolatopsis genes ( gcoAB ) encoding a cytochrome P450 enzyme that converts guaiacol to catechol. However, chromosomal integration of gcoAB in Pseudomonas putida or A. baylyi did not enable guaiacol to be used as the sole carbon source despite catechol being a growth substrate. We report in ~1,000 generations, EASy yielded alleles that in single chromosomal copy confer growth on guaiacol. Different variants emerged, including fusions between GcoA and CatA (catechol 1,2-dioxygenase). This study illustrates the power of harnessing chromosomal gene amplification to accelerate the evolution of desirable traits.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Increased flood exposure in the Pacific Northwest following earthquake-driven subsidence and sea-level rise

Climate-driven sea-level rise is increasing the frequency of coastal flooding worldwide, exacerbated locally by factors like land subsidence from groundwater and resource extraction. However, a process rarely considered in future sea-level rise scenarios is sudden (over minutes) land subsidence associated with great (>M8) earthquakes, which can exceed 1 m. Along the Washington, Oregon, and northern California coasts, the next great Cascadia subduction zone earthquake could cause up to 2 m of sudden coastal subsidence, dramatically raising sea level, expanding floodplains, and increasing the flood risk to local communities. Here, we quantify the potential expansion of the 1% floodplain (i.e., the area with an annual flood risk of 1%) under low (~0.5 m), medium (~1 m), and high (~2 m) earthquake-driven subsidence scenarios at 24 Cascadia estuaries. If a great earthquake occurred today, floodplains could expand by 90 km 2 (low), 160 km 2 (medium), or 300 km 2 (high subsidence), more than doubling the flooding exposure of residents, structures, and roads under the high subsidence scenario. By 2100, when climate-driven sea-level rise will compound the hazard, a great earthquake could expand floodplains by 170 km 2 (low), 240 km 2 (medium), or 370 km 2 (high subsidence), more than tripling the flooding exposure of residents, structures, and roads under the high subsidence scenario compared to the 2023 floodplain. Our findings can support decision-makers and coastal communities along the Cascadia subduction zone as they prepare for compound hazards from the earthquake cycle and climate-driven sea-level rise and provide critical insights for tectonically active coastlines globally.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗
DOE OSTI2011

A STUDY OF A NEW INCREASING SUBMILLIMETER SPECTRAL COMPONENT OF AN X28 SOLAR FLARE

In this paper, we study a novel spectral component that increases with frequency above 200 GHz in an X28 solar flare that occurred on 2003 November 4. A maximum flux density of {approx}20,000 sfu was observed at 405 GHz at main phase. We model its spectra based on gyrosynchrotron (GS) radiation computations in the case of a magnetic dipole field. Our computations show that the new increasing submillimeter spectral component at the main peak P1 can be generated by energetic electrons with a harder spectral index (2.3), low-energy cutoff of 30 keV, and number density of 10{sup 10} cm{sup -3} in a compact source (0.''5 radius) with a strong local magnetic field varying from 780 to 4590 G via GS emission. The associated microwave (MW) spectral component can be produced by energetic electrons via GS emission, but with a 10 keV low-energy cutoff and number density 1.2 x 10{sup 6} cm{sup -3} in an extended source (40'' radius) with mean magnetic field strengths from 100 to 576 G. The MW and submillimeter emission sources, inferred from the magnetic dipole field model, are located in the corona and {approx}1000 km low atmosphere levels above the photosphere, respectively. Energy flux, energy loss rate, and total energy released by energetic electrons are estimated for the first time. It is found that the energy flux can attain values of 7.2 x 10{sup 13} erg cm{sup -2} s{sup -1} in the submillimeter source. This value is four orders higher than that in the MW source. The energies released by electrons in the submillimeter and MW sources reach, respectively, 1.2 x 10{sup 32} and 1.9 x 10{sup 31} erg. The total energy released by energetic electrons is 1.4 x 10{sup 32} erg during the flare in the MW and submillimeter sources. The mean energy released by energetic electrons for a subsecond pulse, i.e., the fragment energy, is estimated to be about 5.2 x 10{sup 26} erg.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

AN INCREASE IN THE MASS OF PLANETARY SYSTEMS AROUND LOWER-MASS STARS

Trends in the planet population with host star mass provide an avenue to constrain planet formation theories. We derive the planet radius distribution function for Kepler stars of different spectral types, sampling a range in host star masses. We find that M dwarf stars have 3.5 times more small planets (1.0–2.8 R{sub ⨁}) than main-sequence FGK stars, but two times fewer Neptune-sized and larger (>2.8 R{sub ⨁}) planets. We find no systematic trend in the planet size distribution between spectral types F, G, and K to explain the increasing occurrence rates. Taking into account the mass–radius relationship and heavy-element mass of observed exoplanets, and assuming those are independent of spectral type, we derive the inventory of the heavy-element mass locked up in exoplanets at short orbits. The overall higher planet occurrence rates around M stars are not consistent with the redistribution of the same mass into more, smaller planets. At the orbital periods and planet radii where Kepler observations are complete for all spectral types, the average heavy-element mass locked up in exoplanets increases roughly inversely with stellar mass from 4 M{sub ⨁} in F stars to 5 M{sub ⨁} in G and K stars to 7 M{sub ⨁} in M stars. This trend stands in stark contrast with observed protoplanetary disk masses that decrease toward lower mass stars, and provides a challenge for current planet formation models. Neither models of in situ formation nor migration of fully formed planets are consistent with these results. Instead, these results are indicative of large-scale inward migration of planetary building blocks—either through type-I migration or radial drift of dust grains—that is more efficient for lower mass stars, but does not result in significantly larger or smaller planets.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2012

Increasing N{sub eff} with particles in thermal equilibrium with neutrinos

Recent work on increasing the effective number of neutrino species (N{sub eff}) in the early universe has focussed on introducing extra relativistic species ('dark radiation'). We draw attention to another possibility: a new particle of mass ∼<10 MeV that remains in thermal equilibrium with neutrinos until it becomes non-relativistic increases the neutrino temperature relative to the photons. We demonstrate that this leads to a value of N{sub eff} that is greater than three and that N{sub eff} at CMB formation is larger than at BBN. We investigate the constraints on such particles from the primordial abundance of helium and deuterium created during BBN and from the CMB power spectrum measured by ACT and SPT and find that they are presently relatively unconstrained. We forecast the sensitivity of the Planck satellite to this scenario: in addition to dramatically improving constraints on the particle mass, in some regions of parameter space it can discriminate between the new particle being a real or complex scalar.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Results from an improved flowing liquid lithium limiter with increased flow uniformity in high power plasmas in EAST

Significant engineering and physic progress was made by the upgrade of a flowing liquid lithium limiter (FLiLi) inserted into EAST H-mode discharges in 2016. The progress includes an improvement of liquid Li coverage uniformity, no macroscopic surface erosion by plasma materials interaction, effective removal of 55% of the discharge heat flux using high pressure He cooling during ohmic discharges, and the demonstrated ability to restart Li flow for a second experiment performed a week after the first. With increasing Li flow rate, fuel particle recycling and Fe impurity radiation gradually decreased, and plasma performance slightly improved, but there was no impact on the edge tungsten influx. No obvious Li bursts appeared during operation with up to about 4.5 MW auxiliary heating power with peak heat flux reaching ~4 MW m –2 on FLiLi. In addition, a gradual mitigation of edge localized mode (ELM) activity was observed with FLiLi operation. Lastly, short-lived ELM-free phases were observed for the first time in EAST during FLiLi insertion, with increasing τ E and transient H 98(y, 2) < 2.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Magnetized directly-driven ICF capsules: increased instability growth from non-uniform laser drive

Simulations anticipate increased perturbation growth from non-uniform laser heating for magnetized direct-drive implosions. At the capsule pole, where the magnetic field is normal to the ablator surface, the field remains in the conduction zone and suppresses non-radial thermal conduction; in unmagnetized implosions this non-radial heat-flow is crucial in mitigating laser heating imbalances. Single-mode simulations show the magnetic field particularly amplifying short wavelength perturbations, whose behavior is dominated by thermal conduction. The most unstable wavelength can also become shorter. 3D multi-mode simulations of the capsule pole reinforce these findings, with increased perturbation growth anticipated across a wide range of scales. Finally, the results indicate that high-gain spherical direct-drive implosions require greater constraints on the laser heating uniformity when magnetized.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Comparing wind turbine aeroelastic response predictions for turbines with increasingly flexible blades

Highly flexible blades are becoming more prevalent designs as a potential solution to the transportation challenges associated with large-scale wind turbine rotors. However, there is currently no quantitative definition of “highly flexible” blades. To further develop turbines with highly flexible blades, a precise definition of the term and accurate simulations of turbines with such blades are required. Assumptions made in the traditional aerodynamic model, Blade Element Momentum (BEM) theory, are violated in turbines with flexible blades. However, Free Vortex Wake (FVW) methods can more accurately model these turbine designs. Though more computationally expensive than BEM, FVW methods are still computationally tractable for use in iterative turbine design. The purpose of this work was to determine the blade flexibility at which BEM and FVW methods begin to produce diverging aeroelastic response results. This was accomplished by simulating the BAR-DRC reference turbine with increasingly flexible blades in a range of steady, uniform inflow conditions using OpenFAST, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s physics-based turbine engineering tool. Blade-tip deflections confirmed that BEM and FVW results diverge as blade flexibility increases. For the 212 m rotor diameter turbine used in this study, the two methods largely agreed for smaller blade deflections. But their results differed by an average of 5% when the out-of-plane blade-tip deflections exceeded 5% of the blade length and in-plane blade-tip deflections exceeded 1.25% of the blade length, with percent differences approaching 25% at the largest deflections.

17 WIND ENERGY↗