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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 OSTI2017

Intelligent Facades for High Performance Green Buildings

Progress Towards Net-Zero and Net-Positive-Energy Commercial Buildings and Urban Districts Through Intelligent Building Envelope Strategies Previous research and development of intelligent facades systems has been limited in their contribution towards national goals for achieving on-site net zero buildings, because this R&D has failed to couple the many qualitative requirements of building envelopes such as the provision of daylighting, access to exterior views, satisfying aesthetic and cultural characteristics, with the quantitative metrics of energy harvesting, storage and redistribution. To achieve energy self-sufficiency from on-site solar resources, building envelopes can and must address this gamut of concerns simultaneously. With this project, we have undertaken a high-performance building integrated combined-heat and power concentrating photovoltaic system with high temperature thermal capture, storage and transport towards multiple applications (BICPV/T). The critical contribution we are offering with the Integrated Concentrating Solar Façade (ICSF) is conceived to improve daylighting quality for improved health of occupants and mitigate solar heat gain while maximally capturing and transferring onsite solar energy. The ICSF accomplishes this multi-functionality by intercepting only the direct-normal component of solar energy (which is responsible for elevated cooling loads) thereby transforming a previously problematic source of energy into a high quality resource that can be applied to building demands such as heating, cooling, dehumidification, domestic hot water, and possible further augmentation of electrical generation through organic Rankine cycles. With the ICSF technology, our team is addressing the global challenge in transitioning commercial and residential building stock towards on-site clean energy self-sufficiency, by fully integrating innovative environmental control systems strategies within an intelligent and responsively dynamic building envelope. The advantage of being able to use the entire solar spectrum for active and passive benefits, along with the potential savings of avoiding transmission losses through direct current (DC) transfer to all buildings systems directly from the site of solar conversion, gives the system a compounded economic viability within the commercial and institutional building markets. With a team that spans multiple stakeholders across disparate industries, from CPV to A&E partners that are responsible for the design and development of District and Regional Scale Urban Development, this project demonstrates that integrating utility-scale high efficiency CPV installations with urban and suburban environments is both viable and desirable within the marketplace. The historical schism between utility scale CPV and BIPV has been one of differing scale and cultures. There is no technical reason why utility-scale CPV cannot be located within urban embedded district scale sites of energy harvesting. New models for leasing large areas of district scale roofs and facades are emerging, such that the model for utility scale energy harvesting can be reconciled to commercial and public scale building sites and campuses. This consortium is designed to unite utility scale solar harvesting into building applications for smart grid development.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS1972

Effect of bedrest on thermoregulation.

Attempt to determine what changes occur in the thermoregulatory control system during the simulated weightlessness of prolonged bed rest, as determined by measurement of the onset of sweating in response to an imposed heat load. The threshold for sweating occurred at a lower mean skin temperature and the normal vasodilation response appears to be impaired slightly. It is possible that the result of bed rest is to decrease the circulatory capability of the body (autonomic dysfunction) and the effect on the thermoregulatory system, therefore, is to decrease vasomotor heat loss capability.

Williams, B. A.↗
NASA NTRS2000

An Evaluation of an Analytical Simulation of an Airplane with Tailplane Icing by Comparison to Flight Data

This report presents the assessment of an analytical tool developed as part of the NASA/FAA Tailplane Icing Program. The analytical tool is a specialized simulation program called TAILSM4 which was developed to model the effects of tailplane icing on the flight dynamics Twin Otter Icing Research Aircraft. This report compares the responses of the TAILSIM program directly to flight test data. The comparisons should be useful to potential users of TAILSIM. The comparisons show that the TAILSIM program qualitatively duplicates the flight test aircraft response during maneuvers with ice on the tailplane. TAILSIM is shown to be quantitatively "in the ballpark" in predicting when Ice Contaminated Tailplane Stall will occur during pushover and thrust transition maneuvers. As such, TAILSIM proved its usefulness to the flight test program by providing a general indication of the aircraft configuration and flight conditions of concern. The aircraft dynamics are shown to be modeled correctly by the equations of motion used in TAILSIM. However, the general accuracy of the TAILSIM responses is shown to be less than desired primarily due to inaccuracies in the aircraft database. The high sensitivity of the TAILSIM program responses to small changes in load factor command input is also shown to be a factor in the accuracy of the responses. A pilot model is shown to allow TAILSIM to produce more accurate responses and contribute significantly to the usefulness of the program. Suggestions to improve the accuracy of the TAILSIM responses are to further refine the database representation of the aircraft aerodynamics and tailplane flowfield and to explore a more realistic definition of the pilot model.

Hiltner, Dale W.↗
NASA NTRS2006

Compressive Failure of Fiber Composites under Multi-Axial Loading

This paper examines the compressive strength of a fiber reinforced lamina under multi-axial stress states. An equilibrium analysis is carried out in which a kinked band of rotated fibers, described by two angles, is sandwiched between two regions in which the fibers are nominally straight. Proportional multi-axial stress states are examined. The analysis includes the possibility of bifurcation from the current equilibrium state. The compressive strength of the lamina is contingent upon either attaining a load maximum in the equilibrium response or satisfaction of a bifurcation condition, whichever occurs first. The results show that for uniaxial loading a non-zero kink band angle beta produces the minimum limit load. For multi-axial loading, different proportional loading paths show regimes of bifurcation dominated and limit load dominated behavior. The present results are able to capture the beneficial effect of transverse compression in raising the composite compressive strength as observed in experiments.

Basu, Shiladitya↗
DOE OSTI2018

Methodology for Stress-Controlled Fatigue Test Under In-Air and Pressurized Water Reactor Coolant Water Condition and to Evaluate the Effect of Pressurized Water Reactor Water and Loading Rate on Ratcheting [Methodology for Stress-Controlled Fatigue Test Under In-Air and PWR Coolant Water Condition and to Evaluate the Effect of PWR Water and Loading Rate on Ratcheting]

Here, this work investigates the behavior of 316 stainless steel (SS) under stress-controlled low cycle fatigue loading. Several fatigue experiments are conducted under different environment such as in air at 300°C and primary loop water conditions for a pressurized water reactor (PWR). Two different loading conditions are also employed to examine the effect of stress rate on material hardening and ratcheting. During PWR water test, actuator position measurements are used to determine the strain of the specimen. Under PWR environment, 316 SS is found to ratchet to a significantly greater degree compared with in air. At slow stress rate, higher amount of cyclic hardening is observed in 316 SS, and slow stress rate increases the rate of ratcheting. Results also indicate that 316 SS exhibits asymptotic strain response at higher stress loading which can cause material to behave very differently under same stress cyclic loading.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2011

Examining Uncertainty in Demand Response Baseline Models and Variability in Automated Response to Dynamic Pricing

Controlling electric loads to deliver power system services presents a number of interesting challenges. For example, changes in electricity consumption of Commercial and Industrial (C&I) facilities are usually estimated using counterfactual baseline models, and model uncertainty makes it difficult to precisely quantify control responsiveness. Moreover, C&I facilities exhibit variability in their response. This paper seeks to understand baseline model error and demand-side variability in responses to open-loop control signals (i.e. dynamic prices). Using a regression-based baseline model, we define several Demand Response (DR) parameters, which characterize changes in electricity use on DR days, and then present a method for computing the error associated with DR parameter estimates. In addition to analyzing the magnitude of DR parameter error, we develop a metric to determine how much observed DR parameter variability is attributable to real event-to-event variability versus simply baseline model error. Using data from 38 C&I facilities that participated in an automated DR program in California, we find that DR parameter errors are large. For most facilities, observed DR parameter variability is likely explained by baseline model error, not real DR parameter variability; however, a number of facilities exhibit real DR parameter variability. In some cases, the aggregate population of C&I facilities exhibits real DR parameter variability, resulting in implications for the system operator with respect to both resource planning and system stability.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
NASA NTRS1973

The effect of yield strength and ductility to fatigue damage

The cumulative damage of aluminium alloys with different yield strength and various ductility due to seismic loads was studied. The responses of an idealized beam with a centered mass at one end and fixed at the other end to El Centro's and Taft's earthquakes are computed by assuming that the alloys are perfectly elastoplastic materials and by using numerical technique. Consequently, the corresponding residual plastic strain can be obtained from the stress-strain relationship. The revised Palmgren-Miner cumulative damage theorem is utilized to calculate the fatigue damage. The numerical results show that in certain cases, the high ductility materials are more resistant to seismic loads than the high yield strength materials. The results also show that if a structure collapse during the earthquake, the collapse always occurs in the very early stage.

Yeh, H. Y.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Probabilistic methods for structural response analysis

This paper addresses current work to develop probabilistic structural analysis methods for integration with a specially developed probabilistic finite element code. The goal is to establish distribution functions for the structural responses of stochastic structures under uncertain loadings. Several probabilistic analysis methods are proposed covering efficient structural probabilistic analysis methods, correlated random variables, and response of linear system under stationary random loading.

Wu, Y.-T.↗
NASA NTRS2017

Experimental Characterization of a Composite Morphing Radiator Prototype in a Relevant Thermal Environment

For future long duration space missions, crewed vehicles will require advanced thermal control systems to maintain a desired internal environment temperature in spite of a large range of internal and external heat loads. Current radiators are only able to achieve turndown ratios (i.e. the ratio between the radiator's maximum and minimum heat rejection rates) of approximately 3:1. Upcoming missions will require radiators capable of 12:1 turndown ratios. A radiator with the ability to alter shape could significantly increase turndown capacity. Shape memory alloys (SMAs) offer promising qualities for this endeavor, namely their temperature-dependent phase change and capacity for work. In 2015, the first ever morphing radiator prototype was constructed in which SMA actuators passively altered the radiator shape in response to a thermal load. This work describes a follow-on endeavor to demonstrate a similar concept using highly thermally conductive composite materials. Numerous versions of this new concept were tested in a thermal vacuum environment and successfully demonstrated morphing behavior and variable heat rejection, achieving a turndown ratio of 4.84:1. A summary of these thermal experiments and their results are provided herein.

Bertagne, Christopher L.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Analyzing Gas Turbine-Generator Performance of the Hybrid Power System

We report kinetic energy available from the turbomachinery may boost short-term ramp rates during load shifting between generator and fuel cell that may be exploited to optimize the performance of turbine-fuel cell hybrid systems during load following. The paper starts with modeling a gas turbine, gearbox, and generator sitting on the rigid shafts as a two-mass model primarily for estimating the rotational inertia available from the turbogenerator. The gas turbine and its environment impose constraints of available space allowances, measurements from high-speed rotating parts, lack of accessibility to the shaft of measure, making replacements and/or required installation adjustments of the torque transducer difficult. It is demonstrated that in the absence of torque measurement, the data containing only a slow excursion of the rotor motion in response to a slight load change is sufficient to determine inertia and damping coefficients from the model. Furthermore, the generator’s reactive power capability was investigated because it serves as an asset in integrated hybrid systems to meet dynamic reactive power demands, reducing the burden on the fuel cell’s power electronics control in generating reactive power.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2023

Fast Frequency Response using Reinforcement Learning-Controlled Wind Turbines

To fulfill the auxiliary grid services such as load regulation, spin and non-spin reserve, and frequency support during emergencies, power system operators often require certain wind farms to operate in de-loaded modes. By leveraging the fast response capability of wind farms, the reserved power in deloaded modes can significantly enhance the stability and reliability of power grids. This paper presents a novel methodology that incorporates wind turbines into reinforcement learning-based solutions for frequency response. The proposed approach employs the state-of-the-art reinforcement learning algorithm, surrogategradient- based evolution strategy (GSES), for continuous control of the wind farm output. Our methodology is tested on a modified IEEE-39 bus system, and simulation outcomes demonstrate that the proposed approach can reliably support the frequency of the power system and prevent unnecessary load shedding.

Gao, Wei↗
NASA NTRS2000

Influence of central set on anticipatory and triggered grip-force adjustments

The effects of predictability of load magnitude on anticipatory and triggered grip-force adjustments were studied as nine normal subjects used a precision grip to lift, hold, and replace an instrumented test object. Experience with a predictable stimulus has been shown to enhance magnitude scaling of triggered postural responses to different amplitudes of perturbations. However, this phenomenon, known as a central-set effect, has not been tested systematically for grip-force responses in the hand. In our study, predictability was manipulated by applying load perturbations of different magnitudes to the test object under conditions in which the upcoming load magnitude was presented repeatedly or under conditions in which the load magnitudes were presented randomly, each with two different pre-load grip conditions (unconstrained and constrained). In constrained conditions, initial grip forces were maintained near the minimum level necessary to prevent pre-loaded object slippage, while in unconstrained conditions, no initial grip force restrictions were imposed. The effect of predictable (blocked) and unpredictable (random) load presentations on scaling of anticipatory and triggered grip responses was tested by comparing the slopes of linear regressions between the imposed load and grip response magnitude. Anticipatory and triggered grip force responses were scaled to load magnitude in all conditions. However, regardless of pre-load grip force constraint, the gains (slopes) of grip responses relative to load magnitudes were greater when the magnitude of the upcoming load was predictable than when the load increase was unpredictable. In addition, a central-set effect was evidenced by the fewer number of drop trials in the predictable relative to unpredictable load conditions. Pre-load grip forces showed the greatest set effects. However, grip responses showed larger set effects, based on prediction, when pre-load grip force was constrained to lower levels. These results suggest that anticipatory processes pertaining to load magnitude permit the response gain of both voluntary and triggered rapid grip force adjustments to be set, at least partially, prior to perturbation onset. Comparison of anticipatory set effects for reactive torque and lower extremity EMG postural responses triggered by surface translation perturbations suggests a more general rule governing anticipatory processes.

Non-NASA Center↗
NASA NTRS1989

Analysis of shell-type structures subjected to time-dependent mechanical and thermal loading

The objective is to develop a general mathematical model and solution methodologies for analyzing structural response of thin, metallic shell-type structures under large transient, cyclic, or static thermomechanical loads. Among the system responses, which are associated with these load conditions, are thermal buckling, creep buckling, and racheting. Thus, geometric as well as material-type nonlinearities (of high order) can be anticipated and must be considered in the development of the mathematical model. Furthermore, this must also be accommodated in the solution procedures.

Simitses, G. J.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Microgrid Integration with High Performance Computing Systems for Microreactor Operation

Multiple nuclear microreactor concepts are currently being developed across several sizes and fuel types with high performance computing (HPC) systems anticipated to be end-users of the power. Nuclear microreactors are small in size, portable, produce less than 10 MW electric, operate autonomously, and have a refueling interval of as many as 10 years. However, their load-follow is also generally limited to 10%/minute or worse whereas the power variance in HPC systems easily exceeds this constraint under normal operations. This study explores an approach that requires no load-follow from the microreactor but integrates the HPC system with a microgrid built from commercial-off-the-shelf components. Three typical HPC architectures are explored in the context of microgrid operation in this study. Components of power quality and transient response are empirically measured for five different HPC load-follow response levels using a self-contained mobile datacenter connected to the microgrid capable of integration with a nuclear microreactor.

microgrids↗
DOE OSTI2014

Reversible Bending Fatigue Testing on Zry-4 Surrogate Rods

Testing high-burnup spent nuclear fuel (SNF) presents many challenges in areas such as specimen preparation, specimen installation, mechanical loading, load control, measurements, data acquisition, and specimen disposal because these tasks are complicated by the radioactivity of the test specimens. Research and comparison studies conducted at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) resulted in a new concept in 2010 for a U-frame testing setup on which to perform hot-cell reversible bending fatigue testing. Subsequently, the three-dimensional finite element analysis and the engineering design of components were completed. In 2013 the ORNL team finalized the upgrade of the U-frame testing setup and the integration of the U-frame setup into a Bose dual linear motor test bench to develop a cyclic integrated reversible-bending fatigue tester (CIRFT). A final check was conducted on the CIRFT test system in August 2013, and the CIRFT was installed in the hot cell in September 2013 to evaluate both the static and dynamic mechanical response of SNF rods under simulated loads. The fatigue responses of Zircaloy-4 (Zry-4) cladding and the role of pellet pellet and pellet clad interactions are critical to SNF vibration integrity, but such data are not available due to the unavailability of an effective testing system. While the deployment of the developed CIRFT test system in a hot cell will provide the opportunity to generate the data, the use of a surrogate rod has proven quite effective in identifying the underlying deformation mechanism of an SNF composite rod under an equivalent loading condition. This paper presents the experimental results of using surrogate rods under CIRFT reversible cyclic loading. Specifically, monotonic and cyclic bending tests were conducted on surrogate rods made of a Zry-4 tube and alumina pellet inserts, both with and without an epoxy bond.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2014

Improvement of cellulose catabolism in Clostridium cellulolyticum by sporulation abolishment and carbon alleviation

Background Clostridium cellulolyticum can degrade lignocellulosic biomass, and ferment the soluble sugars to produce valuable chemicals such as lactate, acetate, ethanol and hydrogen. However, the cellulose utilization efficiency of C. cellulolyticum still remains very low, impeding its application in consolidated bioprocessing for biofuels production. In this study, two metabolic engineering strategies were exploited to improve cellulose utilization efficiency, including sporulation abolishment and carbon overload alleviation. Results The spo0A gene at locus Ccel_1894, which encodes a master sporulation regulator was inactivated. The spo0A mutant abolished the sporulation ability. In a high concentration of cellulose (50 g/l), the performance of the spo0A mutant increased dramatically in terms of maximum growth, final concentrations of three major metabolic products, and cellulose catabolism. The microarray and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses showed that the valine, leucine and isoleucine biosynthesis pathways were up-regulated in the spo0A mutant. Based on this information, a partial isobutanol producing pathway modified from valine biosynthesis was introduced into C. cellulolyticum strains to further increase cellulose consumption by alleviating excessive carbon load. The introduction of this synthetic pathway to the wild-type strain improved cellulose consumption from 17.6 g/l to 28.7 g/l with a production of 0.42 g/l isobutanol in the 50 g/l cellulose medium. However, the spo0A mutant strain did not appreciably benefit from introduction of this synthetic pathway and the cellulose utilization efficiency did not further increase. A technical highlight in this study was that an in vivo promoter strength evaluation protocol was developed using anaerobic fluorescent protein and flow cytometry for C. cellulolyticum. Conclusions In this study, we inactivated the spo0A gene and introduced a heterologous synthetic pathway to manipulate the stress response to heavy carbon load and accumulation of metabolic products. These findings provide new perspectives to enhance the ability of cellulolytic bacteria to produce biofuels and biocommodities with high efficiency and at low cost directly from lignocellulosic biomass.

cellulose catabolism↗
NASA NTRS2013

A Multi-Environment Thermal Control System With Freeze-Tolerant Radiator

Future space exploration missions require advanced thermal control systems (TCS) to dissipate heat from spacecraft, rovers, or habitats operating in environments that can vary from extremely hot to extremely cold. A lightweight, reliable TCS is being developed to effectively control cabin and equipment temperatures under widely varying heat loads and ambient temperatures. The system uses freeze-tolerant radiators, which eliminate the need for a secondary circulation loop or heat pipe systems. Each radiator has a self-regulating variable thermal conductance to its ambient environment. The TCS uses a nontoxic, water-based working fluid that is compatible with existing lightweight aluminum heat exchangers. The TCS is lightweight, compact, and requires very little pumping power. The critical characteristics of the core enabling technologies were demonstrated. Functional testing with condenser tubes demonstrated the key operating characteristics required for a reliable, freeze-tolerant TCS, namely (1) self-regulating thermal conductance with short transient responses to varying thermal loads, (2) repeatable performance through freeze-thaw cycles, and (3) fast start-up from a fully frozen state. Preliminary coolant tests demonstrated that the corrosion inhibitor in the water-based coolant can reduce the corrosion rate on aluminum by an order of magnitude. Performance comparison with state-of-the-art designs shows significant mass and power saving benefits of this technology.

Chen, Weibo↗
DOE OSTI2017

Mesoporous Ag/In{sub 2}O{sub 3} composite derived from indium organic framework as high performance formaldehyde sensor

Mesoporous Ag/In{sub 2}O{sub 3} composite materials with different concentrations of Ag particles have been prepared by the calcination of Ag{sup +}-entrapped indium-organic frameworks (InOFs). The structures and components of these MOF-derived Mesoporous Ag/In{sub 2}O{sub 3} composite materials have been characterized thoroughly. Gas sensing measurements indicated that the incorporation of metallic Ag particles into the mesoporous structure significantly improves the gas-sensing properties of In{sub 2}O{sub 3}. Specially, the response of 5% Ag-loaded In{sub 2}O{sub 3} sensor to 50 ppm formaldehyde is 5 times higher than that of pure In{sub 2}O{sub 3} particles at 210 °C, which is among the best formaldehyde sensor materials reported to date. Also, Ag/In{sub 2}O{sub 3} composite sensor exhibit short response time (~22 s) and excellent recovery. These results indicated that the InOF-derived mesoporous Ag/In{sub 2}O{sub 3} materials maybe can be used to fabricate high performance formaldehyde sensors in practice. - Graphical abstract: Mesoporous Ag/In{sub 2}O{sub 3} materials have been produced by calcining indium-organic frameworks showing very fast and extremely high response towards HCHO. - Highlights: • Thermal decomposition of indium-organic framework. • Ag-loaded mesoporous In{sub 2}O{sub 3} materials. • Fast and high responses to HCHO.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗