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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 127 records · Page 7

Morning boundary layer conditions for shallow to deep convective cloud evolution during the dry season in the central Amazon

Observations of the boundary layer (BL) processes are analyzed statistically for dry seasons of 2 years and in detail, as case studies, for 4 shallow convective days (ShCu) and 4 shallow-to-deep convective days (ShDeep) using a suite of ground-based measurements from the Observation and Modeling of the Green Ocean Amazon (GoAmazon 2014/5) Experiment. The BL stages in ShDeep days, from the nighttime to the cloudy mixing layer stage, are then described in comparison with ShCu days. Atmospheric thermodynamics and dynamics, environmental profiles, and surface turbulent fluxes were employed to compare these two distinct situations for each stage of the BL evolution. Particular attention is given to the morning transition stage, in which the BL changes from stable to unstable conditions in the early morning hours. Results show that the decrease in time duration of the morning transition on ShDeep days is associated with high humidity and well-established vertical wind shear patterns. Higher humidity since nighttime not only contributes to lowering the cloud base during the rapid growth of the BL but also contributes to the balance between radiative cooling and turbulent mixing during nighttime, resulting in higher sensible heat flux in the early morning. The sensible heat flux promotes rapid growth of the well-mixed layer, thus favoring the deeper BL starting from around 08:00 LST (UTC-4 h). Under these conditions, the time duration of morning transition is used to promote convection, having an important effect on the convective BL strength and leading to the formation of shallow cumulus clouds and their subsequent evolution into deep convective clouds. Statistical analysis was used to validate the conceptual model obtained from the case studies. Despite the case-to-case variability, the statistical analyses of the processes in the BL show that the described processes are very representative of cloud evolution during the dry season.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Space Shuttle AFRSI OMS pod environment test using model 81-0 test fixture in the Ames Research Center 9x7-foot supersonic wind tunnel (OS-314A/B/C)

A test was conducted in the NASA/Ames Research Center 9x7-foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel to help resolve an anomaly that developed during the STS-6 orbiter flight wherein sections of the Advanced Flexible Reusable Surface Insulation (AFRSI) covering the OMS pods suffered some damage. A one-third scale two-dimensional shell structure model of an OMS pod cross-section was employed to support the test articles. These consisted of 15 AFRSI blanket panels form-fitted over the shell structures for exposure to simulated flight conditions. Of six baseline blankets, two were treated with special surface coatings. Two other panels were configured with AFRSI sections removed from the OV099 orbiter vehicle after the STS-6 flight. Seven additional specimens incorporated alternative designs and repairs. Following a series of surface pressure calibration runs, the specimens were exposed to simulated ascent and entry dynamic pressure profiles. Entry conditions included the use of a vortex generator to evaluate the effect of shed vortices on the AFRSI located in the area of concern.

Collette, J. G. R.↗

Space shuttle wheels and brakes

The Space Shuttle Orbiter wheels were subjected to a combination of tests which are different than any previously conducted in the aerospace industry. The major testing difference is the computer generated dynamic landing profiles used during the certification process which subjected the wheels and tires to simulated landing loading conditions. The orbiter brakes use a unique combination of carbon composite linings and beryllium heat sink to minimize weight. The development of a new lining retention method was necessary in order to withstand the high temperature generated during the braking roll. As with many programs, the volume into which this hardware had to fit was established early in the program, with no provisions made for growth to offset the continuously increasing predicted orbiter landing weight.

Carsley, R. B.↗

Aerodynamics of vortex generators

An experimental and theoretical study was undertaken of the separation delay and dramatic boundary-layer thinning that can occur in vortex-generator installations. Wind tunnel measurements of the dynamic-pressure profile downstream of a vortex generator were found to compare under certain conditions with that downstream of a suction slit, while water-tunnel visualization studies of vortex-generator height and geometry suggested optimum configurations, and only a minor effect of base porosity. A series of progressively more complex inviscid flow models was developed to be applied to a 3-D integral boundary-layer code. This code predicted layer thinning downstream of the suction site of the vortex models, and other observed features. Thin-layer Navier-Stokes equations are now being used with the ultimate goal of clarifying the physical processes involved in vortex generator performance and developing calculational procedures capable of predicting it.

Breidenthal, Robert E., Jr.↗

A semi-empirical approach for the chemoviscosity modeling of reactive resin system

A new analytical model for simulating chemoviscosity of a thermosetting resin is presented. The model is developed on the basis of the Williams-Landel-Ferry (WLF, 1955) polymer rheology theory for the thermoplastic materials, which was modified to account for the factor of reaction time by introducing a relationship between the glass transition temperature and the degree of cure of the resin system. Theoretical predictions of the chemoviscosity profiles under dynamic curing conditions are shown to compare favorably with the experimental data obtained on the Hercules 3501-6 resin system cured under seven isothermal conditions.

Hou, T. H.↗

Fuel cell energy storage for Space Station enhancement

Viewgraphs on fuel cell energy storage for space station enhancement are presented. Topics covered include: power profile; solar dynamic power system; photovoltaic battery; space station energy demands; orbiter fuel cell power plant; space station energy storage; fuel cell system modularity; energy storage system development; and survival power supply.

Stedman, J. K.↗

Further Experiments on the Flow and Heat Transfer in a Heated Turbulent Air Jet

Measurements have been made of the mean total-head and temperature fields in a round turbulent jet with various initial temperatures. The results show that the jet spreads more rapidly as its density becomes lower than that of the receiving medium, even when the difference is not sufficiently great to cause measurable deviations from the constant-density, dimensionless, dynamic-pressure profile function. Rough analytical considerations have given the same relative spread. The effective "turbulent Prandtl number" for a section of the fully developed jet was found to be equal to the true (laminar) Prandtl number within the accuracy of measurement. (author)

FLOW - JETS↗

An Axial-Torsional, Thermomechanical Fatigue Testing Technique

A technique for conducting strain-controlled, thermomechanical, axial-torsional fatigue tests on thin-walled tubular specimens was developed. Three waveforms of loading, namely, the axial strain waveform, the engineering shear strain waveform, and the temperature waveform were required in these tests. The phasing relationships between the mechanical strain waveforms and the temperature and axial strain waveforms were used to define a set of four axial-torsional, thermomechanical fatigue (AT-TMF) tests. Real-time test control (3 channels) and data acquisition (a minimum of 7 channels) were performed with a software program written in C language and executed on a personal computer. The AT-TMF testing technique was used to investigate the axial-torsional thermomechanical fatigue behavior of a cobalt-base superalloy, Haynes 188. The maximum and minimum temperatures selected for the AT-TMF tests were 760 and 316 C, respectively. Details of the testing system, calibration of the dynamic temperature profile of the thin-walled tubular specimen, thermal strain compensation technique, and test control and data acquisition schemes, are reported. The isothermal, axial, torsional, and in- and out-of-phase axial-torsional fatigue behaviors of Haynes 188 at 316 and 760 C were characterized in previous investigations. The cyclic deformation and fatigue behaviors of Haynes 188 in AT-TMF tests are compared to the previously reported isothermal axial-torsional behavior of this superalloy at the maximum and minimum temperatures.

Kalluri, Sreeramesh↗

Design and Study of a LOX/GH2 Throttleable Swirl Injector for Rocket Applications

A LOX/GH2 swirl injector was designed for a 10:1 propellant throttling range. To accomplish this, a dual LOX manifold was used feeding a single common vortex chamber of the swirl element. Hot-fire experiments were conducted for rocket chamber pressures from 80 to 800 psia at a mixture ratio of nominally 6.0 using steady flow, single-point-per-firing cases as well as dynamic throttling conditions. Low frequency (mean) and high frequency (fluctuating) pressure transducer data, flow meter measurements, and Raman spectroscopy images for mixing information were obtained. The injector design, experimental setup, low frequency pressure data, and injector performance analysis are presented. C* efficiency was very high (approx. 100%) at the middle of the throttleable range with somewhat lower performance at the high and low ends. From the analysis of discreet steady state operating conditions, injector pressure drop was slightly higher than predicted with an inviscid analysis, but otherwise agreed well across the design throttling range. Dynamic throttling of this injector was attempted with marginal success due to the immaturity of the throttling control system. Although the targeted mixture ratio of 6.0 was not maintained throughout the dynamic throttling profile, the injector behaved well over the wide range of conditions.

Greene, Christopher↗

Structural and Trajectory Control of Variable Geometry Planetary Entry Systems

The results presented in this paper apply to a generic vehicle entering a planetary atmosphere which makes use of a variable geometry change to modulate the heat, drag, and acceleration loads. Two structural concepts for implementing the cone angle variation, namely a segmented shell and a corrugated shell, are presented. A structural analysis of these proposed structural configuration shows that the stress levels are tolerable during entry. The analytic expressions of the longitudinal aerodynamic coefficients are also derived, and guidance laws that track reference heat flux, drag, and aerodynamic acceleration loads are also proposed. These guidance laws have been tested in an integrated simulation environment, and the results indicate that use of variable geometry is feasible to track specific profiles of dynamic load conditions during reentry.

decelerator↗

Structural and Control Concepts for Variable Geometry Planetary Entry Systems

The results presented in this paper apply to a generic vehicle entering a planetary atmosphere which makes use of a variable geometry change to modulate the heat, drag, and acceleration loads. Two structural concepts for implementing the cone angle variation, namely a segmented shell and a corrugated shell, are presented. A structural analysis of these proposed structural configuration shows that the stress levels are tolerable during entry. The analytic expressions of the longitudinal aerodynamic coefficients are also derived, and guidance laws that track reference heat flux, drag, and aerodynamic acceleration loads are also proposed. These guidance laws have been tested in an integrated simulation environment, and the results indicate that use of variable geometry is feasible to track specific profiles of dynamic load conditions during reentry.

decelerators↗

CATS Version 2 Aerosol Feature Detection and Applications for Data Assimilation

Using GEOS-5, we are developing a 1D ENS approach for assimilating CATS near real time observations of total attenuated backscatter at 1064 nm: a) After performing a 1-ENS assimilation of a cloud-free profile, the GEOS-5 analysis closely followed observed total attenuated backscatter. b) Vertical localization length scales were varied for the well-mixed PBL and the free troposphere After assimilating a cloud free segment of a CATS granule, the fine detail of a dust event was obtained in the GEOS-5 analysis for both total attenuated backscatter and extinction. Future Work: a) Explore horizontal localization and test within a cloudy aerosol layer. b) Address noisy analysis increments in the free troposphere where both CATS and GEOS-5 aerosol loadings are low. c) Develop a technique to screen CATS ground return from profiles. d) "Dynamic" lidar ratio that will evolve in conjunction with simulated aerosol mixtures.

Cloud Aerosol Transport↗

Architectural Techniques For Managing Non-volatile Caches

As chip power dissipation becomes a critical challenge in scaling processor performance, computer architects are forced to fundamentally rethink the design of modern processors and hence, the chip-design industry is now at a major inflection point in its hardware roadmap. The high leakage power and low density of SRAM poses serious obstacles in its use for designing large on-chip caches and for this reason, researchers are exploring non-volatile memory (NVM) devices, such as spin torque transfer RAM, phase change RAM and resistive RAM. However, since NVMs are not strictly superior to SRAM, effective architectural techniques are required for making them a universal memory solution. This book discusses techniques for designing processor caches using NVM devices. It presents algorithms and architectures for improving their energy efficiency, performance and lifetime. It also provides both qualitative and quantitative evaluation to help the reader gain insights and motivate them to explore further. This book will be highly useful for beginners as well as veterans in computer architecture, chip designers, product managers and technical marketing professionals.

Cache architecture↗

Wafer screening device and methods for wafer screening

Wafer breakage is a serious problem in the photovoltaic industry because a large fraction of wafers (between 5 and 10%) break during solar cell/module fabrication. The major cause of this excessive wafer breakage is that these wafers have residual microcracks--microcracks that were not completely etched. Additional propensity for breakage is caused by texture etching and incomplete edge grinding. To eliminate the cost of processing the wafers that break, it is best to remove them prior to cell fabrication. Some attempts have been made to develop optical techniques to detect microcracks. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to detect microcracks that are embedded within the roughness/texture of the wafers. Furthermore, even if such detection is successful, it is not straightforward to relate them to wafer breakage. We believe that the best way to isolate the wafers with fatal microcracks is to apply a stress to wafers--a stress that mimics the highest stress during cell/module processing. If a wafer survives this stress, it has a high probability of surviving without breakage during cell/module fabrication. Based on this, we have developed a high throughput, noncontact method for applying a predetermined stress to a wafer. The wafers are carried on a belt through a chamber that illuminates the wafer with an intense light of a predetermined intensity distribution that can be varied by changing the power to the light source. As the wafers move under the light source, each wafer undergoes a dynamic temperature profile that produces a preset elastic stress. If this stress exceeds the wafer strength, the wafer will break. The broken wafers are separated early, eliminating cost of processing into cell/module. We will describe details of the system and show comparison of breakage statistics with the breakage on a production line.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Chemistry and Reactivity of Oxide Films on Aluminum Clad Test Reactor Fuels

This paper describes recent work performed to assess the degradation of aluminum spent nuclear fuel (ASNF) as part of an ongoing Department of Energy project. As part of a multi-task effort, this paper specifically describes efforts initiated in 2018 to better understand chemical phenomena and degradation in ASNF). In this paper experimental and modeling activities are described. The modeling effort presents initial results in two areas potentially influencing stability. Using an established electrolyte model based on experimental data, the solubility of aluminum as a function of temperature and pH was examined. This work describes interesting results for the minimum pH providing relevant data that was not available from the literature. It was found that solubility increases with temperature and that the minimum pH shifts to low pH with increase in temperature. The second area involves understanding the metallurgy of aluminum alloys during fuel drying. In this study, the temperature range from 100°C to 300°C was analyzed. Thermodynamic models predict that AA1100 will not experience significant phase changes while the more highly alloyed AA6061 and AA5052 may experience significant phase changes. These thermodynamic measurements establish a potential for phase changes during drying, however they do not predict the kinetics for such processes. Phase 1 of the experimental program has initiated and results are forthcoming. The test program will examine aluminum oxidation under anticipated dry storage conditions (temperature and humidity). Examination of localized corrosion due to tight crevices and galvanic contact (with stainless steel) will be included. Finally, water deliquescence will be assessed using thermogravimetric analysis with dynamic humidity profiles.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Chemistry and Reactivity of Oxide Films on Aluminum Clad Test Reactor Fuels - 19294

This paper describes recent work performed to assess the degradation of aluminum spent nuclear fuel (ASNF) as part of an ongoing Department of Energy project. As part of a multi-task effort, this paper specifically describes efforts initiated in 2018 to better understand chemical phenomena and degradation in ASNF). In this paper experimental and modeling activities are described. The modeling effort presents initial results in two areas potentially influencing stability. Using an established electrolyte model based on experimental data, the solubility of aluminum as a function of temperature and pH was examined. This work describes interesting results for the minimum pH providing relevant data that was not available from the literature. It was found that solubility increases with temperature and that the minimum pH shifts to low pH with increase in temperature. The second area involves understanding the metallurgy of aluminum alloys during fuel drying. In this study, the temperature range from 100 deg. C to 300 deg. C was analyzed. Thermodynamic models predict that AA1100 will not experience significant phase changes while the more highly alloyed AA6061 and AA5052 may experience significant phase changes. These thermodynamic measurements establish a potential for phase changes during drying, however they do not predict the kinetics for such processes. Phase 1 of the experimental program has initiated and results are forthcoming. The test program will examine aluminum oxidation under anticipated dry storage conditions (temperature and humidity). Examination of localized corrosion due to tight crevices and galvanic contact (with stainless steel) will be included. Finally, water deliquescence will be assessed using thermogravimetric analysis with dynamic humidity profiles. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Alfalfa Virtual Building Service: Software Engineering Best Practices Applied to Runtime Interaction with Building Energy Models

Buildings are active participants in increasingly complex energy systems. Building Energy Modeling (BEM) has a key role to play in planning and de-risking an equitable energy transition, with BEM-backed "virtual buildings" critical path for diverse applications that include workforce training tools, Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) experimentation to study equipment performance under a range of conditions, Control-Hardware-in-the-Loop (CHIL) experimentation to de-risk commercial control implementations at equipment through grid orchestration levels, and integration of dynamic load profiles into grid modeling tools for energy system experimentation at the urban scale. Modeling requirements vary across these applications, but many software engineering tasks do not. The Alfalfa Virtual Building Service (AVBS, see https://github.com/NREL/alfalfa/wiki) is an open-source web service that solves these common tasks robustly in one place, providing a foundational platform for power users to bootstrap their own applications. AVBS abstracts the specifics of runtime interaction with OpenStudio, Modelica, and Spawn of EnergyPlus models behind a unified REST API. Additionally, AVBS provides resources for cloud deployment and scaling to 100s of parallel simulations, a growing library of modular Operational Technology (OT) integrations for emulation of real-world interfaces, and scripts to automate the population of communities of virtual buildings from URBANopt, ResStock and ComStock.

building automation↗