Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “system calibration”

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

Measurement Uncertainty in One-Of-A-Kind Event Data Analysis

A golden standard in science is to repeat an experiment a statistically significant number of times, recording data using the same set of detectors and the same data analysis methodology. In such case experimental error includes both the range of true values generated by repetitions of the experiment, and measurement uncertainty caused by the detector. They are independent. It is a huge and too frequently used simplification, to assume that one can measure multiple repetitions of an identical experiment, resulting in identical true experimental value. Repetitions, as similar is it is experimentally achievable, have unavoidable built-in differences resulting in a range of the true values rather than in a single value. When modern, very sensitive and well calibrated measurement systems are used, this range is not negligible, and sometimes dominates over the measurement uncertainty. Range of true values depends on built-in differences in physics of the experiment. Stochastic physical processes result typically in a broader range of true values than non-stochastic processes do. Measurement uncertainty depends on a measurement method (properties of the detector not of the experiment). Modern measurement methods, including digital ones, frequently make the measurement uncertainty very small. When data from one–of –a kind experiment are analyzed, only the measurement uncertainty is reported. It provides no information about the range of true experimental values, neither about reliability of a reported data point. Reliability of a data point is in general independent from its measurement uncertainty. However, in practice reliable measurement methods frequently have high measurement uncertainty, while low reliability methods are applied to limit measurement uncertainty. Comparison of reliable data with high measurement uncertainty to not so reliable data measured with low uncertainty is discussed – in different scenarios different data analysis methods are applicable. Methods for data analysis from an experiment repeated statistically significant number of times are very well developed. They do not require a detailed expertise in physics of an experiment, nor in the properties of the measurement system used, and meaning of the reported uncertainty is well understood in any scientific community. It all changes when data from one-of-a-kind experiment is analyzed. Analyst’s expertise is required both in the physics of the experiment and in all aspects of the measurement system, all possible malfunctions. Data users must remember that only measurement uncertainty is reported from any one-of-a-kind experiment. Theory with simulations may provide estimation of expected built-in differences in the experiment, and by this of expected range of true values for a given experiment; yet measurement uncertainty can never be used in place of the range of true experimental values.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

MicroResonators for Compacts Optical Sensors (μRCOS)

As the demand for continuous, in-situ surveillance of health of systems and environments rapidly increases, miniaturized sensors with fast responses are sought. Optical dielectric resonators supporting Whispering Gallery Modes (WGMs) have exceptional properties, like very high-power density, very narrow spectral linewidth, and extremely small mode volume. As the footprint of these sensors is drastically reduced, measurements of microvolumes samples with dramatic reduction in analysis time are possible, enabling large numbers of parallel analyses using microarrays. The high sensitivity and speed of WGM resonators combined with the ability to detect molecules in their native state have great future potential for basic and applied research such as reliable single molecule, trace-gas detection, environmental monitoring, chemical threat sensing, and biodefense Such appealing peculiarities motivated us developing WMG resonators (WGMRs) for Cavity Enhanced Absorption Spectroscopy (CEAS) for chem-bio detection. Specifically, we designed and batch-fabricated microspheres and fiber tapers for resonances excitation. We successfully detected gases (N 2 and CO 2 ) in customized environmental chambers, and bio-organisms (Inf. A and E. Coli) with integrated microfluidic systems. Background calibration and environmental isolation were always accounted for in proving the performances.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

MicroResonators for Compacts Optical Sensors (μRCOS)

As the demand for continuous, in-situ surveillance of health of systems and environments rapidly increases, miniaturized sensors with fast responses are sought. Optical dielectric resonators supporting Whispering Gallery Modes (WGMs) have exceptional properties, like very high-power density, very narrow spectral linewidth, and extremely small mode volume. As the footprint of these sensors is drastically reduced, measurements of microvolumes samples with dramatic reduction in analysis time are possible, enabling large numbers of parallel analyses using microarrays. The high sensitivity and speed of WGM resonators combined with the ability to detect molecules in their native state have great future potential for basic and applied research such as reliable single molecule, trace-gas detection, environmental monitoring, chemical threat sensing, and biodefense Such appealing peculiarities motivated us developing WMG resonators (WGMRs) for Cavity Enhanced Absorption Spectroscopy (CEAS) for chem-bio detection. Specifically, we designed and batch-fabricated microspheres and fiber tapers for resonances excitation. We successfully detected gases (N 2 and CO 2 ) in customized environmental chambers, and bio-organisms (Inf. A and E. Coli) with integrated microfluidic systems. Background calibration and environmental isolation were always accounted for in proving the performances.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

X-Ray Spectroscopic Studies of X-Pinch Plasmas with 3-5 Picosecond Resolution: A Quest for Clear Experimental Evidence for Radiative Collapse in the X-ray Spectra (Final Report)

Dense Z-pinch plasmas produced from current-carrying exploding wires frequently produce very brief (less than 0.1 nanosecond), intense, bursts of soft X-rays from tiny (about 1 micrometer), very hot (10-30 million K) regions of the plasma. This project addresses the physical processes that lead to those tiny, high-energy density plasmas and develops means to measure the conditions just before and during the X-ray bursts. One possible relevant process is radiative collapse, which starts if the power radiated by a dense Z-pinch, proportional to the density-squared, exceeds the resistive heating rate from the current flow, thereby cooling the plasma and enabling the magnetic pinching force to exceed the outward plasma thermal pressure. As the resulting radius reduction further increases the radiation rate, this process produces a runaway magnetic implosion. A competing mechanism is a sausage-like instability that can develop in a Z-pinch plasma at a lower current than is needed to induce radiative collapse. This mechanism can also produce tiny hot spots in the neck regions of the sausage-shaped plasma column. It is also possible that these two mechanisms work together to produce the X-ray emitting hot spots. If radiative collapse does contribute to hot spot formation, it would be terminated when the plasma becomes so dense that the radiation cannot escape, enabling the plasma kinetic pressure to build up and stop the current-driven implosion. This project aims to study the development of the hot spots by means of high temporal and spatial resolution X-ray spectroscopy to determine if there is evidence for the presence of the radiative collapse mechanism. Progress toward this goal is presented. To summarize, during the four-year period 09/15/2017 - 9/14/2021, we have collected necessary spectroscopic data to determine the plasma conditions and continue to do so. We are also now in the process of calibrating diagnostic systems (especially the x-ray streak camera system) and analyzing data to determine plasma conditions as a function of time before, during and after the X-ray burst.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

IMoFi - Intelligent Model Fidelity: Physics-Based Data-Driven Grid Modeling to Accelerate Accurate PV Integration (Final Report)

This report summarizes the work performed under a project funded by U.S. DOE Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) to use grid edge measurements to calibrate distribution system models for improved planning and grid integration of solar PV. Several physics-based data-driven algorithms are developed to identify inaccuracies in models and to bring increased visibility into distribution system planning. This includes phase identification, secondary system topology and parameter estimation, meter-to-transformer pairing, medium-voltage reconfiguration detection, determination of regulator and capacitor settings, PV system detection, PV parameter and setting estimation, PV dynamic models, and improved load modeling. Each of the algorithms is tested using simulation data and demonstrated on real feeders with our utility partners. The final algorithms demonstrate the potential for future planning and operations of the electric power grid to be more automated and data-driven, with more granularity, higher accuracy, and more comprehensive visibility into the system.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

IMoFi (Intelligent Model Fidelity): Physics-Based Data-Driven Grid Modeling to Accelerate Accurate PV Integration Updated Accomplishments

This report summarizes the work performed under a project funded by U.S. DOE Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO), including some updates from the previous report SAND2022-0215, to use grid edge measurements to calibrate distribution system models for improved planning and grid integration of solar PV. Several physics-based data-driven algorithms are developed to identify inaccuracies in models and to bring increased visibility into distribution system planning. This includes phase identification, secondary system topology and parameter estimation, meter-to-transformer pairing, medium-voltage reconfiguration detection, determination of regulator and capacitor settings, PV system detection, PV parameter and setting estimation, PV dynamic models, and improved load modeling. Each of the algorithms is tested using simulation data and demonstrated on real feeders with our utility partners. The final algorithms demonstrate the potential for future planning and operations of the electric power grid to be more automated and data-driven, with more granularity, higher accuracy, and more comprehensive visibility into the system.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

FNCL Enhancements Implementation (FY25 Annual Report)

The FNCL investigations team at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has completed research and development of hardware, signal processing, and analysis tools to enhance the measurement capabilities of both the current CAEN SyS VeryFuel Fast Neutron Collar (FNCL) instrument and a next-generation FNCL prototype. The team successfully built and commissioned the LLNL Demonstrator System: a fully integrated, three-panel detector system featuring higher segmentation, plastic scintillators (EJ-276D), Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPMs), no high-voltage requirement, a reduced electronic footprint, and the LLNL-developed Gaussian Mixture Model Pulse Shape Discrimination (GMM-PSD) signal processing. An extensive experimental campaign was conducted at LLNL’s Inherently Safe Subcritical Assembly (ISSA) facility using both the baseline FNCL and the LLNL Demonstrator. The campaign results validated system performance, calibration stability, and the effectiveness of advanced signal processing and analysis algorithms in a relevant environment.

and physical protection↗

A Comprehensive Review and Qualitative Analysis of Micro-Combined Heat and Power Modeling Approaches

Concurrent production of electrical and thermal energy from a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) device is an attractive tool to address the growing energy needs of the planet. Micro CHP (µCHP) systems can reduce a building’s primary energy consumption, reduce carbon footprint, and enhance resiliency. Modeling of the µCHP helps understand the system from multiple perspectives and helps discover errors earlier, improves impact analysis and simulation of system solutions for ease of integration with the building. Consequently, there is a need for analysis of the impact of µCHP modeling approach on its reliability and flexibility. The primary objective of this paper is to review the state-of-the art models in the µCHP space with a focus towards internal combustion engine as the primary mover (PM) and limit the study to system modeling, calibration, and validation methodologies. Based on the analysis, recommendations for further model considerations and refinements are presented.

42 ENGINEERING↗

The Pantheon+ Analysis: Cosmological Constraints

We present constraints on cosmological parameters from the Pantheon+ analysis of 1701 light curves of 1550 distinct Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) ranging in redshift from z = 0.001 to 2.26. This work features an increased sample size from the addition of multiple cross-calibrated photometric systems of SNe covering an increased redshift span, and improved treatments of systematic uncertainties in comparison to the original Pantheon analysis, which together result in a factor of 2 improvement in cosmological constraining power. For a flat ΛCDM model, we find Ω M = 0.334 ± 0.018 from SNe Ia alone. For a flat w 0 CDM model, we measure w 0 = –0.90 ± 0.14 from SNe Ia alone, H 0 = 73.5 ± 1.1 km s –1 Mpc –1 when including the Cepheid host distances and covariance (SH0ES), and w 0 = $-{0.978}_{-0.031}^{+0.024}$ when combining the SN likelihood with Planck constraints from the cosmic microwave background (CMB) and baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO); both w 0 values are consistent with a cosmological constant. We also present the most precise measurements to date on the evolution of dark energy in a flat w 0 w a CDM universe, and measure w a = $-{0.1}_{-2.0}^{+0.9}$ from Pantheon+ SNe Ia alone, H 0 = 73.3 ± 1.1 km s –1 Mpc –1 when including SH0ES Cepheid distances, and w a = $-{0.65}_{-0.32}^{+0.28}$ when combining Pantheon+ SNe Ia with CMB and BAO data. Finally, we find that systematic uncertainties in the use of SNe Ia along the distance ladder comprise less than one-third of the total uncertainty in the measurement of H 0 and cannot explain the present "Hubble tension" between local measurements and early universe predictions from the cosmological model.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

DFT Calculation of Thermal Expansion within Debye-Grüneisen Framework Made Simple and Accurate

The density functional theory (DFT) based Debye-Grüneisen approach is a computational method used to calculate the thermodynamic properties of materials by relating the volume dependence of the Debye frequency to the Grüneisen parameter. In this study, we propose a new model to describe the volume dependence of the Grüneisen parameter. This model offers a simple yet accurate approach to predict the thermal expansion of materials within the framework of the Debye-Grüneisen theory. Specifically, for pure elements or species used as a reference system, we calibrated the parameters to reproduce the experimental coefficient of thermal expansion, heat capacity, and entropy. For compounds with arbitrary compositions, the parameters are determined by taking the arithmetic or geometric average of those obtained from the pure elements or species based on their composition. We then compared the model prediction with experiments. This allowed for a comprehensive characterization of the thermal expansion behavior of various materials.

Wang, Yi↗

Calibration and Measurement techniques in the LLRF systems of the Fermilab PIP-II Linac

he PIP-II Accelerator is an 800 MeV superconducting Linac in the injection chain of the Fermilab accelerator complex. The LLRF systems are a based on two different hardware platforms controlling a variety of cavity types and resonance control systems including temperature, pneumatic and piezzo tuners. The various calibrations required prior to beam operation include, signal power, gradient, amplifier characterization, cavity Q measurement and detune constants. Measurements such as piezzo capacitance, cavity piezo transfer function help in determining tuner health and in devising microphonics control strategies. These measurement and calibration methods of the PIP-II LLRF system are discussed here.

Varghese, P.↗

Calibration technique of wall shear stress sensors using oscillating plate

Disclosed are a system and methods for calibrating wall shear stress sensors. The system includes an oscillating plate coupled to an actuator and mounted on a rolling elements, and one or more sensors coupled to a height adjusting device. The system can further comprise a height control rod coupled to a height control base and a sensor holder configured to house the one or more sensors and supported on a connector, the connector configured to be rotatably disposed about the height control rod. The system can be calibrated by causing the actuator to oscillate the oscillating plate at a frequency, sensing, using the one or more sensors, shear stress at a wall, the shear stress at the wall being associated with a velocity field, and determining a theoretical wall shear stress based on fluid properties, the frequency, and the height of the one or more sensors above the oscillating plate.

Freidkes, Brett R.↗

Implementation of low temperature spectrometers for the JET high resolution Thomson scattering diagnostic for disruption plasma measurements

This work presents a system upgrade of the High Resolution Thomson Scattering (HRTS) diagnostic on JET that allows it to measure low temperature (1–500 eV) plasma pre- and post-Thermal quench (TQ), which would help us further understand the Shattered Pellet Injection (SPI) physics. The upgrade was done by connecting optic fibers from the original HRTS system to four spectrometers specialized in measuring low temperature plasmas. The upgraded system allows for the measurement of low temperature plasma at up to 12 spatial points, which can be flexibly distributed throughout the JET outer midplane profile during the dedicated SPI experiments. In other JET experiments, four previously unused groups of fibers were used to measure the central plasma to provide disruption data without changing the standard HRTS system. The low temperature Thomson scattering system was installed, commissioned, and cross-calibrated against the standard HRTS diagnostic in a calibration pulse. The system worked reliably during the JET experiments and provided electron density and temperature profiles for pre- and post-TQ low temperature plasmas in the SPI campaign.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

A self-certifying FPGA based pixel readout chip test system for CMS ETL upgrade

A flexible self-certifying pixel readout test system for testing the Endcap Timing Read-Out Chip (ETROC) has been developed for the CMS MIP Timing Detector (MTD), part of the upgrade for the HL-LHC. The system includes an FPGA-based (Xilinx KC705) test system that can take data from an emulator or up to four ETROC boards in telescope mode. A python based DAQ system simplifies configuration, calibration, and testing of the chips. The system provides an efficient & reliable solution for testing ETROC (ETROC2 since April 2023 with 16x16 pixels, full-size, full functionality prototype) and can be extended to other readout chips with similar architecture (AIDA integration is currently being explored).

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Automated Integration of Continental-Scale Observations in Near-Real Time for Simulation and Analysis of Biosphere–Atmosphere Interactions

The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) is a continental-scale observatory with sites across the US collecting standardized ecological observations that will operate for multiple decades. To maximize the utility of NEON data, we envision edge computing systems that gather, calibrate, aggregate, and ingest measurements in an integrated fashion. Edge systems will employ machine learning methods to cross-calibrate, gap-fill and provision data in near-real time to the NEON Data Portal and to High Performance Computing (HPC) systems, running ensembles of Earth system models (ESMs) that assimilate the data. For the first time gridded EC data products and response functions promise to offset pervasive observational biases through evaluating, benchmarking, optimizing parameters, and training new machine learning parameterizations within ESMs all at the same model-grid scale. Leveraging open-source software for EC data analysis, we are already building software infrastructure for integration of near-real time data streams into the International Land Model Benchmarking (ILAMB) package for use by the wider research community. We will present a perspective on the design and integration of end-to-end infrastructure for data acquisition, edge computing, HPC simulation, analysis, and validation, where Artificial Intelligence (AI) approaches are used throughout the distributed workflow to improve accuracy and computational performance.

Durden, David J.↗

XCal: model-based approach to X-ray CT spectral calibration

Transmission X-ray computed tomography (CT) is widely used to quantitatively reconstruct 3D objects composed of multiple materials. However, accurate CT reconstruction requires the system to be calibrated to account for the effective X-ray spectrum. Unfortunately, measurement of the effective spectrum is ill-posed, and existing calibration methods require that the system be recalibrated when the system parameters are changed. In this paper, we propose XCal, a multi-energy model-based spectral calibration approach for X-ray CT. The XCal approach models the effective spectrum using a separable physics-based model of the CT system. The model parameters are then estimated by fitting calibration data with known objects at multiple energies. An important advantage of XCal is that it allows the user to change scanner settings, such as the source voltage or X-ray filters, without the need for recalibration. Evaluations on simulated and measured datasets demonstrate that XCal significantly improves the accuracy of the estimated spectrum as compared to existing calibration methods.

Li, Wenrui [Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN (Unit↗

Trial-based calibration for audio-based identification, recognition, and detection system

The disclosed technologies include methods for generating a calibration model using data that is selected to match the conditions of a particular trial that involves an automated comparison of data samples, such as a comparison-based trial performed by an audio-based recognition, identification, or detection system. The disclosed technologies also include improved methods for selecting candidate data used to build the calibration model. The disclosed technologies further include methods for evaluating the performance of the calibration model and for rejecting a trial when not enough matched candidate data is available to build the calibration model. The disclosed technologies additionally include the use of regularization and automated data generation techniques to further improve the robustness of the calibration model.

McLaren, Mitchell Leigh↗