Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “stability analysis”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 127 records · Page 7

Stability Analysis of Power Systems with High Penetration of State-of-the-Art Inverter Technologies

With the increasing level of inverter-based resources (IBRs) in modern power systems, this paper presents a small-signal stability analysis for power systems comprising synchronous generators (SGs) and IBRs. Four types of inverter controls are considered: two grid-following (GFL) controls, with or without grid support functions; droop-based grid-forming (GFM) controls; and virtual oscillator control-based GFM. We also analyze the impact of STATCOM and synchronous condensers on system stability to assess their role in the energy mix transition. With the small-signal dynamic behavior of the major technologies modeled, this paper provides stringent stability assessments using the IEEE 39-bus benchmark system modified to simulate future power systems. The exhaustive test cases allow for (a) assessing the impacts of different types and controls of generation and supplementary grid assets, as well as system inertia and line impedance on grid stability, and (b) elucidating pathways for the stabilization of IBR-dominated power systems. The analysis also indicates that future power systems can be stabilized with only a fraction of the total generation as voltage sources without SGs or significant system inertia if they are well distributed. This study provides insights into future power system operations with a high level of IBRs that can also be used for planning and operation studies.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

On-orbit frequency stability analysis of the GPS NAVSTAR-1 quartz clock and the NAVSTARs-6 and -8 rubidium clocks

An on-orbit frequency stability performance analysis of the GPS NAVSTAR-1 quartz clock and the NAVSTARs-6 and -8 rubidium clocks is presented. The clock offsets were obtained from measurements taken at the GPS monitor stations which use high performance cesium standards as a reference. Clock performance is characterized through the use of the Allan variance, which is evaluated for sample times of 15 minutes to two hours, and from one day to 10 days. The quartz and rubidium clocks' offsets were corrected for aging rate before computing the frequency stability. The effect of small errors in aging rate is presented for the NAVSTAR-8 rubidium clock's stability analysis. The analysis includes presentation of time and frequency residuals with respect to linear and quadratic models, which aid in obtaining aging rate values and identifying systematic and random effects. The frequency stability values were further processed with a time domain noise process analysis, which is used to classify random noise process and modulation type.

Mccaskill, T. B.↗

Aeroelastic stability analysis of the AD-1 manned oblique-wing aircraft

The AD-1 manned flight test program was conducted to evaluate the stability, control and handling characteristics of oblique wing aircraft. The results of the aeroelastic stability analysis are presented for both the wing alone and the wing with ailerons. A comparison was made between the results obtained using the traditional k-method of flutter analysis and the results using the PK or British method of flutter analysis. Studies were performed using the latest version of the NASTRAN computer code as well as the PASS/FLUT program.

Rutkowski, M. J.↗

The dimensional stability analysis of seventeen stepped specimens of 18Ni 200 grade, PH13-8Mo and A-286

This report documents the results of a dimensional stability analysis of seventeen stepped specimens that were used in the evaluation of factors influencing warpage in metallic alloys being used for cryogenic wind tunnel models. Specimens used in the analysis were manufactured from 18Ni 200 Grade Maaraging steel, PH13-8Mo, and A-286 stainless steel. Quantitative data are provided on the behavior of the specimens due to the effects of both machining and cryogenic cycling effects.

Wigley, D. A.↗

Linearization of digital derived rate algorithm for use in linear stability analysis

The digital derived rate (DDR) algorithm is used to calculate the rate of rotation of the Centaur upper-stage rocket. The DDR is highly nonlinear algorithm, and classical linear stability analysis of the spacecraft cannot be performed without linearization. The performance of this rate algorithm is characterized by a gain and phase curve that drop off at the same frequency. This characteristic is desirable for many applications. A linearization technique for the DDR algorithm is investigated. The linearization method is described. Examples of the results of the linearization technique are illustrated, and the effects of linearization are described. A linear digital filter may be used as a substitute for performing classical linear stability analyses, while the DDR itself may be used in time response analysis.

Graham, R. E.↗

Linearization of digital derived rate algorithm for use in linear stability analysis

The digital derived rate (DDR) algorithm is used to calculate the rate of rotation of the Centaur upper-stage rocket. The DDR is highly nonlinear algorithm, and classical linear stability analysis of the spacecraft cannot be performed without linearization. The performance of this rate algorithm is characterized by a gain and phase curve that drop off at the same frequency. This characteristic is desirable for many applications. A linearization technique for the DDR algorithm is investigated. The linearization method is described. Examples of the results of the linearization technique are illustrated, and the effects of linearization are described. A linear digital filter may be used as a substitute for performing classical linear stability analyses, while the DDR itself may be used in time response analysis.

Graham, R. E.↗

Surface Nanostructure Control and Thermodynamic Stability Analysis of Femtosecond Laser-Ablated CuCoMn 1.75 NiFe 0.25 Nanoparticles

Surface nanostructure control is the key to functionalizing nanomaterials. This paper presents a characterization with thermodynamic stability analysis of CuCoMn 1.75 NiFe 0.25 high-entropy alloy (HEA) nanoparticles synthesized by femtosecond laser ablation in ethanol and liquid nitrogen (LN2). Using multimodal electron microscopy and spectroscopy, we examine phase, particle size, defect structure, chemical distribution, and surface composition and relate them to HEA stability. Elemental distributions are uniform in both media, but LN2 produces smaller particles with a narrower size distribution and mainly single- or few-domain interiors, whereas ethanol yields larger particles built from 2–4 nm crystallites with domain aggregation. Edge defects appear in both but energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) is broadly uniform with local fluctuations in ethanol. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), supported by an attenuation model, indicates an ∼1 nm oxide overlayer that suppresses Mn 2p intensity; correcting for it returns Mn toward the bulk value. UV–NIR and photoluminescent spectra independently support a thin oxide shell. Composition-based thermodynamic descriptors place LN2 closer to bulk mixing parameters, while ethanol raises ΔH_mix and lowers Ω. Cooling simulations are consistent (LN2 ∼ 0.1 μs quench, ethanol ∼1 μs). In conclusion, these results connect solvent-controlled kinetics and thermodynamics to crystalline state and surface chemistry, informing surface control of HEA nanoparticles.

Femtosecond Laser Ablation↗

Development of a neural network model for peeling–ballooning stability analysis in the KSTAR tokamak pedestals

The neural network model, MISHKA-NN is developed to mitigate the computational burden associated with the linear ideal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) stability analysis of the pedestal based on the peeling–ballooning (P–B) model. By utilizing both 1D plasma profiles (current density, pressure gradient, and safety factor) and 0D parameters (plasma geometry, total current, and toroidal mode number), the model predicts linear growth rate of edge-localized ideal MHD instability in a given equilibrium state. By enabling the prediction of each instability within a second, the model reduces the time required for plotting a pedestal P–B stability diagram (j - α diagram) from approximately 100 CPU hours to a few CPU minutes. Notably, even with the utilization of parametric pressure and current profiles and plasma boundary shapes for the training dataset, the model shows a satisfactory level of performance in benchmarking the j - α diagram for the reconstructed equilibrium from a KSTAR tokamak experiment. We anticipate the model to serve as a versatile alternative to 2D linear MHD stability codes, alleviating numerical costs.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Accuracy of kinetic equilibrium reconstruction of NSTX and NSTX-U plasmas and its impact on the transport and stability analysis

An accurate magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equilibrium reconstruction is an essential starting point for stability and transport plasma analysis. Herein this work describes an approach for obtaining kinetic equilibrium reconstructions using the OMFIT framework, which has been applied for the first time to spherical tokamak data from NSTX and NSTX-U. The EFIT equilibrium solver is integrated with experimental data analysis procedures and subsequent TRANSP transport simulations to enhance the accuracy of the reconstruction, in particular, at the edge region, by adding constraints on the total pressure and current density profiles, based on the transport code solution. The accuracy of the equilibrium reconstruction depends on the uncertainty and number of constraints, as well as the choice of basis functions to represent the pressure and current density profiles. Improved fidelity of the equilibrium reconstruction is demonstrated by reducing the variability of the magnetic axis and boundary locations from several centimeters, for reconstructions based on magnetic and experimental pressure constraints, to only several millimeters, for kinetic reconstructions based on transport code constraints, when different representations of basis functions were tested. The variability of the safety factor on axis was reduced ten times in the same sensitivity study. The accuracy of the equilibrium reconstruction and subsequent mapping of the experimental kinetic profile data have a significant impact on the trapped gyro Landau fluid and linear CGYRO turbulence simulations, which predict different spectra of unstable modes and turbulent fluxes for cases with different numbers of constraints in the equilibrium reconstruction. Conversely, the stability analysis performed using the GATO code shows plasmas that are stable to n = 1 MHD modes in both equilibria using magnetic and experimental pressure constraints as well as the transport code constrained equilibrium. However, a scan of parameters away from these conditions shows considerable deviation in the threshold of unstable modes between these reconstructions. Therefore, for reliable plasma analysis and use in turbulence and stability calculations, a high-fidelity equilibrium reconstruction with accurate kinetic constraints based on transport code solutions is necessary.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Developments in Cylindrical Shell Stability Analysis

Today high-performance computing systems and new analytical and numerical techniques enable engineers to explore the use of advanced materials for shell design. This paper reviews some of the historical developments of shell buckling analysis and design. The paper concludes by identifying key research directions for reliable and robust methods development in shell stability analysis and design.

Knight, Norman F., Jr.↗

A frequency domain stability analysis of a phase plane control system

A describing function is used to model a phase plane controller which is part of the Space Shuttle on-orbit Reaction Control System autopilot. A frequency domain stability analysis of the closed-loop control system is applied to a study of potential flight control system interaction with the Orbiter and a class of payloads deployed from a tilt table. Phase-gain plot techniques are used to show that expansion of phase plane angular rate limits and stiffening of the tilt table pivot do not always enhance system stability. Instability region approximations are mapped as a function of rate limit, payload geometry, jet used, and natural frequency of the pivot. Comparison of the describing function analysis with simulation results shows excellent correlation.

Hattis, P. D.↗

Stability analysis of Monte Carlo burnup calculation based on PWR fuel rods

The existing Monte Carlo burnup algorithms may give some unstable results when using multiple burnable cells during burnup calculations. A very small time step is required to maintain the stability of the system, which pose some limits for the realistic applications. In this paper, we firstly repeat the instability issue by using a Monte Carlo code based on a typical PWR fuel rod model. Then, a theoretical stability analysis was carried out by using the perturbation theory in order to get a better understanding about the property of system stability. We determine a perturbation matrix which relates some main influence factors, such as the time step and the height of fuel rod, it can help people estimate the stability of burnup calculation system and the results are quantitatively consistent with the Monte Carlo code. (authors)

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

On the Stability Analysis of Astrophysical Cooling Functions

To model the temperature evolution of optically thin astrophysical environments at MHD scales, radiative and collisional cooling rates are typically either pretabulated or fit into a functional form and then input into MHD codes as a radiative loss function. Thermal balance requires estimates of the analogous heating rates, which are harder to calculate, and due to uncertainties in the underlying dissipative heating processes these rates are often simply parameterized. The resulting net cooling function defines an equilibrium curve that varies with density and temperature. Such cooling functions can make the gas prone to thermal instability (TI), which will cause departures from equilibrium. There has been no systematic study of thermally unstable parameter space for nonequilibrium states. Motivated by our recent finding that there is a related linear instability, catastrophic cooling instability, that can dominate over TI, here we carry out such a study. We show that Balbus instability criteria for TI can be used to define a critical cooling rate, Λ c , that permits a nonequilibrium analysis of cooling functions through the mapping of TI zones. We furthermore illustrate how thermal conduction modifies the shape of TI zones. Upon applying a Λ c -based stability analysis to coronal loop simulations, we find that loops undergoing periodic episodes of coronal rain formation are linearly unstable to catastrophic cooling instability, while TI is stabilized by thermal conduction.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

On the Stability Analysis of Astrophysical Cooling Functions

To model the temperature evolution of optically thin astrophysical environments at MHD scales, radiative and collisional cooling rates are typically either pretabulated or fit into a functional form and then input into MHD codes as a radiative loss function. Thermal balance requires estimates of the analogous heating rates, which are harder to calculate, and due to uncertainties in the underlying dissipative heating processes these rates are often simply parameterized. The resulting net cooling function defines an equilibrium curve that varies with density and temperature. Such cooling functions can make the gas prone to thermal instability (TI), which will cause departures from equilibrium. There has been no systematic study of thermally unstable parameter space for nonequilibrium states. Motivated by our recent finding that there is a related linear instability, catastrophic cooling instability, that can dominate over TI, here we carry out such a study. We show that Balbus instability criteria for TI can be used to define a critical cooling rate, Λc, that permits a nonequilibrium analysis of cooling functions through the mapping of TI zones. We furthermore illustrate how thermal conduction modifies the shape of TI zones. Upon applying a Λc-based stability analysis to coronal loop simulations, we find that loops undergoing periodic episodes of coronal rain formation are linearly unstable to catastrophic cooling instability, while TI is stabilized by thermal conduction.

Amanda Stricklan↗