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At least 127 records · Page 7

The Use of a Chlorophyll Meter (SPAD-502) for Field Determinations of Red Mangrove (Rhizophora Mangle L.) Leaf Chlorophyll Amount

The red mangrove Rhizophora mangle L., is a halophytic woody spermatophyte common to the land-sea interface of tropical and subtropical intertidal zones. It has been reported that 60 to 75% of the coastline of the earth's tropical regions are lined with mangroves. Mangroves help prevent shoreline erosion, provide breeding, nesting and feeding areas for many marine animals and birds. Mangroves are important contributors of primary production in the coastal environment, and this is largely proportional to the standing crop of leaf chlorophylls. Higher intensities of ultraviolet radiation, resulting from stratospheric ozone depletion, can lead to a reduction of chlorophyll in terrestrial plants. Since the most common method for determining chlorophyll concentration is by extraction and this is labor intensive and time consuming, few studies on photosynthetic pigments of mangroves have been reported. Chlorophyll meter readings have been related to leaf chlorophyll content in apples and maples. It has also been correlated to nitrogen status in corn and cotton. Peterson et al., (1993) used a chlorophyll meter to detect nitrogen deficiency in crops and in determining the need for additional nitrogen fertilizer. Efforts to correlate chlorophyll meter measurements to chlorophyll content of mangroves have not been reported. This paper describes the use of a hand-held chlorophyll meter (Minolta SPAD-502) to determine the amount of red mangrove foliar chlorophyll present in the field.

Connelly, Xana M.↗

Suppression of Random Dopant-Induced Threshold Voltage Fluctuations in Sub-0.1-(micron)meter MOSFET's with Epitaxial and (delta)-Doped Channels

A detailed three-dimensional (3-D) statistical 'atomistic' simulation study of fluctuation-resistant sub-0.1-(micron)meter MOSFET architectures with epitaxial channels and delta doping is presented. The need for enhancing the fluctuation resistance of the sub-0.1-(micron)meter generation transistors is highlighted by presenting summarized results from atomistic simulations of a wide range of conventional devices with uniformly doped channel. According to our atomistic results, the doping concentration dependence of the random dopant-induced threshold voltage fluctuations in conventional devices is stronger than the analytically predicted fourth-root dependence. As a result of this, the scaling of such devices will be restricted by the "intrinsic" random dopant-induced fluctuations earlier than anticipated. Our atomistic simulations confirm that the introduction of a thin epitaxial layer in the MOSFET's channel can efficiently suppress the random dopant-induced threshold voltage fluctuations in sub-0.1-(micron)meter devices. For the first time, we observe an "anomalous" reduction in the threshold voltage fluctuations with an increase in the doping concentration behind the epitaxial channel, which we attribute to screening effects. Also, for the first time we study the effect of a delta-doping, positioned behind the epitaxial layer, on the intrinsic threshold voltage fluctuations. Above a certain thickness of epitaxial layer, we observe a pronounced anomalous decrease in the threshold voltage fluctuation with the increase of the delta doping. This phenomenon, which is also associated with screening, enhances the importance of the delta doping in the design of properly scaled fluctuation-resistant sub-0.1-(micron)meter MOSFET's. Index Terms-Doping, fluctuations, MOSFET, semiconductor device simulation, silicon devices, threshold.

Asenov, Asen↗

10 meter Sub-Orbital Large Balloon Reflector (LBR)

The realization of a large, space-based 10 meter class telescope for far-infrared/THz studies has long been a goal of NASA. Such a telescope could study the origins of stars, planets, molecular clouds, and galaxies; providing a much needed means of following-up on tantalizing results from recent successful missions such as Spitzer, Herschel, and SOFIA. Indeed, Herschel began its life in the US space program as the Large Deployable Reflector (LDR) to be assembled in low Earth orbit by shuttle astronauts. Escalating costs and smaller federal budget allocations resulted in a downsizing of the mission. However, by combining successful suborbital balloon and ground-based telescope technologies, the dream of a 10 meter class telescope free of ~99% of the Earth's atmospheric absorption in the far-infrared can be realized. The same telescope can also be used to perform sensitive, high spectral and spatial resolution limb sounding studies of the Earth's atmosphere in greenhouse gases such as CO, ClO, O3, and water, as well as serve as a high flying hub for any number of telecommunications and surveillance activities. Flight times of 100+ days will be possible, with instruments having mass and power requirements in excess of ~500 kg and ~1 kW.Here we present the results of our NIAC Step 1, Phase B design study where each key aspect of the LBR concept is discussed and recommendations made for further study in Phase II.These aspects include realization of a large spherical reflecting surface, spherical corrector, pointing system, instrument module, and service module/gondola. Once each hardware component is introduced, a typical LBR Mission profile is described that enables the realization of a stratospheric 10 meter THz observatory and limb sounder. Verification of the design approach was achieved by using a combination of analytical modelling, lab testing of materials and techniques, and building a 3 meter rooftop LBR prototype.

Telescope↗

NIAC Project: 10 meter Sub-Orbital Large Balloon Reflector (LBR)

In Section 1 we summarize the technological approaches to the Large Balloon Reflector (LBR) that are discussed at length in our Phase I Technical report. Within each subsection we highlight how the work was advanced in Phase II. In Section 2 the work and lessons learned from the 3 and 5 meter LBR prototypes are described. In Section 3 the LBR Sensor Package stratospheric flight is described. Section 4 puts LBR in the context of on-going NASA missions.In Sections 5 and 6 the dissemination of results and plans to realize a stratospheric LBR are discussed. Instead of attempting to maintain the pointing of a large telescope at the end of a tether, we propose to deploy a telescope in the benign, protected environment within the carrier balloon. The telescope is itself a balloon, spherical in shape, metalized on one side and anchored to the top of the carrier balloon via a rotating azimuth plate (see Figure 2). The carrier balloon serves as both a stable mount and a radome for the inner balloon reflector. Light from space (or the atmosphere or ground) first passes through the ~2 mil thick polyethylene skin of the carrier balloon and then through the ~1 mil thickMylar side of the inner balloon. Together these layershave < 8% absorption at the wavelengths of interest.The incoming light then encounters the aluminized,spherical, back surface of the inner balloon and isthen focused into a receiving system. To achieve the performance of a 10 meter parabolic reflector, a 20 meter diameter inner balloon can be used with a modest size (~1 meter) spherical corrector.

Walker, Christopher↗

Evaluation of a Dynamic Weather-Avoidance Rerouting Tool in Adjacent-Center Arrival Metering

Dynamic Reroutes for Arrivals in Weather (DRAW) is a NASA-developed decision-support tool for Traffic Management Coordinators (TMCs) at the Federal Aviation Administration's Air Route Traffic Control Centers ("Centers"). DRAW proposes weather-avoidance reroutes for en route arrival flights subject to metering restrictions when transitioning into a busy terminal airspace. The prior DRAW study demonstrated that TMCs' use of DRAW promotes earlier reroutes of arrivals, and reduces the number of routes conflicting with weather in the Center. The present paper focuses on how DRAW benefits metering delivery accuracy when schedule freeze horizon distance was altered. A human-in-the-loop simulation was conducted at NASA Ames Research Center in October-November 2018, where retired TMCs and controllers performed simulated metering operations for southeast arrivals through the Atlanta and Jacksonville Centers to the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport during convective weather periods. Results demonstrated that DRAW use reduced the frequency of manual adjustments of Scheduled Times of Arrival and lowered TMC workload. DRAW use also made the metering accuracy, the number of reroute amendments after the freeze horizon, and the en route sector controller workload more robust to the effect of different freeze horizon distance.

Hayashi, Miwa↗

Web-Based Surface Metering Display (SMD) User Manual

This document serves as a user manual for the ATD-2 Web-Based Surface Metering Display (SMD). It describes the elements of the full SMD interface and provides explanations for how to interact with SMD. The document provides instructions for selecting the type of metering, entering specific metering parameters, and setting excess queue time variables. There are instructions for submitting system feedback and bug reports, as well.This document also includes information to guide a user in how to check the current metering state on other components of the ATD-2 system, via either the STBO Client or the RTC/RMTC.

Ruszkowski, Louise Morgan↗

Development and experimental evaluation of an acoustic flow meter prototype for measuring air flow

Here, this study outlines the development and testing of a flow meter prototype specifically designed for use in nuclear reactor environments. The meter uses flow-induced vibration to measure flow rates and is designed for remote monitoring in harsh environments where radiation can damage electronics. The device generates a vibration signal produced by a feedback system when fluid flows out of an orifice and interacts with a downstream wedge. The frequency of the vibration signal corresponds directly to flow rate and velocity. The study investigates geometric parameters intrinsic to the prototype, such as orifice height, width, edge distance, and chamber length. Different configurations were also tested, including a bypass loop with variable cross-sections around the device. The investigation results reveal the impact of these geometric parameters on the vibration signal output, providing valuable insights for future design improvements and enhancing the effectiveness of flow metering systems used in nuclear reactor applications.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

On the Use of Smart Meter Data to Estimate the Voltage Magnitude on the Primary Side of Distribution Service Transformers

This paper develops a novel method to estimate the voltage magnitude on the primary side of distribution service transformers. The proposed method relies exclusively on smart meters, and therefore it is fully data-driven. This is an important feature because electric utilities have detailed models of only the primary network - that is, the network between the distribution substation and the primary side of service transformers that are installed closer to end-customer sites. The network that connects the secondary side of service transformers to end-customer sites, referred to as the secondary network, is simply represented by a lumped load. For each secondary network, the proposed method uses data acquired from only 2 smart meters: the closest and the farthest-in the sense of electrical distance - from the service transformer. As a reference to this feature, the proposed method is named SM2Vp. To our knowledge, this is the first time a method is shown to provide actionable information for realtime operation and control of power distribution grids using only two smart meters per secondary network. This is important because utilities have experienced barriers in managing and using large data sets for real-time operation and control. SM2Vp is primarily intended to provide pseudo-measurements for distribution system state estimation, but it can also be used directly for voltage control schemes. The performance of SM2Vp is demonstrated by numerical simulations carried out on three secondary network synthetic models and by using field data provided by a utility partner serving customers in southwestern California. A maximum relative error of approximately 3.9% or less is observed for the primary voltage magnitude estimates in all numerical experiments.

distribution service transformer↗

Hardware-in-the-Loop Evaluation of Grid-Edge DER Chip Integration Into Next-Generation Smart Meters

To facilitate the implementation of distributed energy resource management systems (DERMS), we propose to insert a grid-edge distributed energy resource (DER) chip hosting a DERMS algorithm into the next generation of smart meters. This will create a pathway for the wide adoption of DERMS technology because many utilities plan to invest in advanced metering infrastructure in the near future. This will also bridge the gap between an electrical power utility and DERs behind the meter. The DER chip is designed to follow power direction signals from the DERMS coordinator while balancing its local objectives. We tested the chip using a controller- and power-hardware-in-the-loop evaluation under three scenarios that a DERMS could face in the real world. The DER chip was capable of and effective at directing four heterogeneous DERs to respond to a DERMS coordinator for grid services (e.g., voltage regulation and a virtual power plant).

distributed energy resource management system↗

An Overview of Behind-the-Meter Solar-Plus-Storage Regulatory Design: Approaches and Case Studies to Inform International Applications

Behind-the-meter energy storage systems paired with distributed photovoltaic (DPV) - with the capability to act as both generation and load - represent a unique and disruptive power sector technology capable of providing a range of important services to customers, utilities, and the broader power system. How should regulators, utilities, and policymakers manage the range of challenges and opportunities that increased behind-the-meter energy storage deployment will bring to the power system, in particular when these systems are paired with DPV? This report is intended to offer key regulatory considerations for facilitating DPV-plus-storage programs for retail customers; relevant cases from U.S. states are provided as examples of how novel regulatory issues related to behind-the-meter energy storage systems paired with DPV are being addressed in practice. At a high level, designing a regulatory framework that aligns DPV-plus-storage deployment with larger policy objectives requires thoughtful deliberation across a range of technical and economic issues. While this report attempts to segment many of these issues into distinct topics to enhance reader understanding, in reality, DPV-plus-storage regulatory issues are all closely integrated, and design decisions on a single aspect often have broader implications. With that in mind, this report outlines a series of steps that can be employed by regulators to approach DPV-plus-storage regulatory design.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

An Overview of Behind-the-Meter Solar-Plus-Storage Program Design: With Considerations for India

Indian consumers have been deploying behind-the-meter generation (predominantly diesel backup, and, more recently, photovoltaic) and storage systems (predominantly lead-acid and other kinds of batteries as uninterrupted power supplies) by the millions for decades) to address reliability issues within the Indian power system. The same energy storage systems could provide additional services to the consumer and distribution companies if properly regulated and designed from the outset to be grid interactive. Grid-connected distributed solar PV (DPV), or rooftop solar, has also seen wide deployment in India and features prominently in the Government of India’s plans for a transition to clean, reliable, and affordable energy for all. At the same time, many utilities and state governments, as well as the central government in India are currently funding-constrained for both operational and future capital expenditures in the power sector, and some perceive customer-sited resources as exacerbating existing financial challenges. In that context, behind-the-meter energy storage systems paired with distributed photovoltaic (DPV) - with the capability to act as both generation and load - represent a potentially unique and disruptive power sector technology capable of providing a range of important services to customers, utilities, and the broader power system in India. This report aims to offer a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to designing customer programs based on experience in the United States that can help regulators, utilities, and policymakers in India manage the range of challenges and opportunities that increased behind-the-meter energy storage deployment will bring to the power system, in particular when these systems are paired with DPV.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Behind-the-Meter Storage [Slides]

This is an overview of the work happening with Behind-the-Meter Storage. NREL is the Project Lead for Behind-the-Meter storage. The goal of this research is to produce behind-the-meter battery solutions deployed at scale to meet the functional requirement of high-power electric-vehicle charging.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Evaluation of a Tactical Surface Metering Tool for Charlotte Douglas International Airport Via Human-in-the-Loop Simulation

NASA has been working with the FAA and aviation industry partners to develop and demonstrate new concepts and technologies that integrate arrival, departure, and surface traffic management capabilities. In March 2017, NASA conducted a human-in-the-loop (HITL) simulation for integrated surface and airspace operations, modeling Charlotte Douglas International Airport, to evaluate the operational procedures and information requirements for the tactical surface metering tool, and data exchange elements between the airline controlled ramp and ATC Tower. In this paper, we focus on the calibration of the tactical surface metering tool using various metrics measured from the HITL simulation results. Key performance metrics include gate hold times from pushback advisories, taxi-in/out times, runway throughput, and departure queue size. Subjective metrics presented in this paper include workload, situational awareness, and acceptability of the metering tool and its calibration

air traffic management↗

Web-Based Surface Metering Display (SMD) User Manual

This document serves as a manual for the ATD-2 Web-Based Surface Metering Display (SMD) Version 4.6.0. It describes the elements of the full SMD interface and provides explanations for how to interact with the SMD. The document provides instructions for selecting the type of metering, entering specific metering parameters, and setting excess queue time variables. There are instructions for submitting system feedback and bug reports as well.

Surface Metering↗

On the Use of Smart Meter Data to Estimate the Voltage Magnitude on the Primary Side of Distribution Service Transformers: Preprint

This paper develops a novel method to estimate the voltage magnitude on the primary side of distribution service transformers. The proposed method relies exclusively on smart meters, and therefore it is fully data-driven. This is an important feature because electric utilities have detailed models of only the primary network--that is, the network between the distribution substation and the primary side of service transformers that are installed closer to end-customer sites. The network that connects the secondary side of service transformers to end-customer sites, referred to as the secondary network, is simply represented by a lumped load. For each secondary network, the proposed method uses data acquired from only 2 smart meters: the closest and the farthest--in the sense of electrical distance--from the service transformer. As a reference to this feature, the proposed method is named SM2Vp. To our knowledge, this is the first time a method is shown to provide actionable information for real-time operation and control of power distribution grids using only two smart meters per secondary network. This is important because utilities have experienced barriers in managing and using large data sets for real-time operation and control. SM2Vp is primarily intended to provide pseudo-measurements for distribution system state estimation, but it can also be used directly for voltage control schemes. The performance of SM2Vp is demonstrated by numerical simulations carried out on three secondary network synthetic models and by using field data provided by a utility partner serving customers in southwestern California. A maximum relative error of approximately 3.9% or less is observed for the primary voltage magnitude estimates in all numerical experiments.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Hardware-in-the-Loop Evaluation of Grid-Edge DER Chip Integration Into Next-Generation Smart Meters: Preprint

To facilitate the implementation of distributed energy resource management systems (DERMS), we propose to insert a grid-edge distributed energy resource (DER) chip hosting a DERMS algorithm into the next generation of smart meters. This will create a pathway for the wide adoption of DERMS technology because many utilities plan to invest in advanced metering infrastructure in the near future. This will also bridge the gap between an electrical power utility and DERs behind the meter. The DER chip is designed to follow power direction signals from the DERMS coordinator while balancing its local objectives. We tested the chip using a controller- and power-hardware-in-the-loop evaluation under three scenarios that a DERMS could face in the real world. The DER chip was capable of and effective at directing four heterogeneous DERs to respond to a DERMS coordinator for grid services (e.g., voltage regulation and a virtual power plant).

distributed energy resource management system↗

A new cw-NMR Q-meter for dynamically polarized targets for particle physics

Polarized solid targets produced via Dynamic Nuclear Polarization rely on Continuous-Wave Nuclear Magnetism Resonance measurements to accurately determine the degree of polarization of bulk samples polarized to nearly 100%. Since the late 1970's phase sensitive detection methods have been utilized to observe the magnetization of a sample as a small change in inductance under RF excitation near the Larmor frequency of the nuclear species of interest, using a device known as a Q-meter. Liverpool Q-meters, produced in the UK in the 80's and 90's, have been the workhorse devices for these targets for decades, however their age and scarcity has meant new systems are needed. In conclusion, we describe a Q-meter system designed and built at Jefferson Lab in the Liverpool style to have comparable electronic performance with several improvements to update and adapt the devices for modern use.

Dynamic nuclear polarization↗

Meter-scale plasma waveguides for multi-GeV laser wakefield acceleration

Here, we present results from two new techniques for the generation of meter-scale, low density (~10 17 cm -3 on axis) plasma waveguides, the “two-Bessel” technique, and the “self-waveguiding” technique. Plasma waveguides of this density and length range are needed for demonstration of a ~10 GeV laser wakefield accelerator module, key for future staging for a ~TeV lepton collider. Both techniques require the use of high quality ultrashort pulse Bessel beams to efficiently and uniformly ionize hydrogen gas in meter-scale supersonic gas jets via optical field ionization. We review these two techniques, describe our meter-scale gas jets, and present a new method for correction of optical aberrations in Bessel beams. Finally, we briefly present results from recent experiments employing one of our techniques, demonstrating quasi-monoenergetic acceleration of ~5 GeV electron bunches in 20 cm long, low density plasma waveguides.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗