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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 1,315 records · Page 73

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NASA NTRS1989

Ga:Ge array development

Work at the University of Arizona and at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory on the development of a far infrared array camera for the Multiband Imaging Photometer on the Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF) is discussed. The camera design uses stacked linear arrays of Ge:Ga photoconductors to make a full two-dimensional array. Initial results from a 1 x 16 array using a thermally isolated J-FET readout are presented. Dark currents below 300 electrons s(exp -1) and readout noises of 60 electrons were attained. Operation of these types of detectors in an ionizing radiation environment are discussed. Results of radiation testing using both low energy gamma rays and protons are given. Work on advanced C-MOS cascode readouts that promise lower temperature operation and higher levels of performance than the current J-FET based devices is described.

Young, Erick T.↗

NASA NTRS2001

New Propulsion Technologies For Exploration of the Solar System and Beyond

In order to implement the ambitious science and exploration missions planned over the next several decades, improvements in in-space transportation and propulsion technologies must be achieved. For robotic exploration and science missions, increased efficiencies of future propulsion systems are critical to reduce overall life-cycle costs. Future missions will require 2 to 3 times more total change in velocity over their mission lives than the NASA Solar Electric Technology Application Readiness (NSTAR) demonstration on the Deep Space 1 mission. Rendezvous and return missions will require similar investments in in-space propulsion systems. New opportunities to explore beyond the outer planets and to the stars will require unparalleled technology advancement and innovation. The Advanced Space Transportation Program (ASTP) is investing in technologies to achieve a factor of 10 reduction in the cost of Earth orbital transportation and a factor of 2 reduction in propulsion system mass and travel time for planetary missions within the next 15 years. Since more than 70% of projected launches over the next 10 years will require propulsion systems capable of attaining destinations beyond Low Earth Orbit, investment in in-space technologies will benefit a large percentage of future missions. The ASTP technology portfolio includes many advanced propulsion systems. From the next generation ion propulsion system operating in the 5 - 10 kW range, to fission-powered multi-kilowatt systems, substantial advances in spacecraft propulsion performance are anticipated. Some of the most promising technologies for achieving these goals use the environment of space itself for energy and propulsion and are generically called, "propellantless" because they do not require on-board fuel to achieve thrust. An overview of the state-of-the-art in propellantless propulsion technologies such as solar and plasma sails, electrodynamic and momentum transfer tethers, and aeroassist and aerocapture will also be described. Results of recent earth-based technology demonstrations and space tests for many of these new propulsion technologies will be discussed.

Johnson, Les↗

NASA NTRS2011

High altitude airship configuration and power technology and method for operation of same

A new High Altitude Airship (HAA) capable of various extended applications and mission scenarios utilizing inventive onboard energy harvesting and power distribution systems. The power technology comprises an advanced thermoelectric (ATE) thermal energy conversion system. The high efficiency of multiple stages of ATE materials in a tandem mode, each suited for best performance within a particular temperature range, permits the ATE system to generate a high quantity of harvested energy for the extended mission scenarios. When the figure of merit 5 is considered, the cascaded efficiency of the three-stage ATE system approaches an efficiency greater than 60 percent.

Choi, Sang H.↗

NASA NTRS2012

Spinoff 2011

Topics include: Bioreactors Drive Advances in Tissue Engineering; Tooling Techniques Enhance Medical Imaging; Ventilator Technologies Sustain Critically Injured Patients; Protein Innovations Advance Drug Treatments, Skin Care; Mass Analyzers Facilitate Research on Addiction; Frameworks Coordinate Scientific Data Management; Cameras Improve Navigation for Pilots, Drivers; Integrated Design Tools Reduce Risk, Cost; Advisory Systems Save Time, Fuel for Airlines; Modeling Programs Increase Aircraft Design Safety; Fly-by-Wire Systems Enable Safer, More Efficient Flight; Modified Fittings Enhance Industrial Safety; Simulation Tools Model Icing for Aircraft Design; Information Systems Coordinate Emergency Management; Imaging Systems Provide Maps for U.S. Soldiers; High-Pressure Systems Suppress Fires in Seconds; Alloy-Enhanced Fans Maintain Fresh Air in Tunnels; Control Algorithms Charge Batteries Faster; Software Programs Derive Measurements from Photographs; Retrofits Convert Gas Vehicles into Hybrids; NASA Missions Inspire Online Video Games; Monitors Track Vital Signs for Fitness and Safety; Thermal Components Boost Performance of HVAC Systems; World Wind Tools Reveal Environmental Change; Analyzers Measure Greenhouse Gasses, Airborne Pollutants; Remediation Technologies Eliminate Contaminants; Receivers Gather Data for Climate, Weather Prediction; Coating Processes Boost Performance of Solar Cells; Analyzers Provide Water Security in Space and on Earth; Catalyst Substrates Remove Contaminants, Produce Fuel; Rocket Engine Innovations Advance Clean Energy; Technologies Render Views of Earth for Virtual Navigation; Content Platforms Meet Data Storage, Retrieval Needs; Tools Ensure Reliability of Critical Software; Electronic Handbooks Simplify Process Management; Software Innovations Speed Scientific Computing; Controller Chips Preserve Microprocessor Function; Nanotube Production Devices Expand Research Capabilities; Custom Machines Advance Composite Manufacturing; Polyimide Foams Offer Superior Insulation; Beam Steering Devices Reduce Payload Weight; Models Support Energy-Saving Microwave Technologies; Materials Advance Chemical Propulsion Technology; and High-Temperature Coatings Offer Energy Savings.

Source record↗

DOE OSTI2023

UMERC Materials and Manufacturing Workshop

On October 4, 2023, DOE's Water Power Technology Office (WPTO) hosted a half-day workshop as part of the annual UMERC conference. The workshop brought together universities, industry, DOE offices, and national labs sharing their work, outcomes, capabilities, and critical gaps around materials and manufacturing (M&M) in the marine energy industry. There were breakout sessions for groups to make connections and explore paths forward to advance marine energy. The stated objectives included the following: 1) identify developers and universities highest priority M&M needs to reduce cost and improve performance to inform future DOE funding priorities; 2) raising awareness across the industry, around universities' M&M capabilities and key M&M projects, around developers' M&M needs, around national labs' M&M projects, capabilities, and opportunities to support research and deployment, and around TEAMER, IEC TC114, and other DOE offices that can support M&M research through resources and financial assistance.

manufacturing↗

DOE OSTI2025

Experimental Investigation of Air-Fuel Equivalence Ratio Effects on Advanced Dual-fuel Diesel/Ammonia Combustion on a Single-Cylinder Medium-Duty Diesel Engine at High Load

Ammonia (NH3) has gathered a lot of interest as a low-lifecycle-carbon fuel in sectors with high weight and distance requirements, such as shipping. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) mandates a 70-80% greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction by 2040, which is only possible with advanced engine technologies and fuels like NH3. Prior research studies at the US Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have shown strong performance with NH3 under dual-fuel mode using conventional diesel combustion (CDC) manifold air pressure (MAP) settings. Diesel airflow was initially used to simplify retrofitting (no turbocharger modification), which resulted in air-fuel equivalence ratios (λ) greater than 1.5. To characterize potential improvements in dual-fuel NH3 combustion performance at richer in-cylinder conditions, a global λ sweep using a diesel pilot ignition (DPI) strategy with diesel fuel injected near top-dead center (TDC) and a reactivity-controlled compression ignition (RCCI) injection strategy with diesel fuel injected earlier during the compression stroke were compared. The experiments were conducted at 1200 RPM and 12.6 bar (75% load), and λ was varied by decreasing the commanded air flow to the engine at greater than 90% ammonia energy substitution (AES) level. A diesel injection timing sweep was conducted for both the combustion modes at fixed λ, and the timing with the lowest engine-out N2O emissions was identified. The results indicated an optimal balance between CO2, eq and thermal efficiency benefits for both DPI and RCCI injection strategy cases compared to CDC at a λ of 1.4. The indicated N-based emissions exhibited a strong correlation to the ratio of CA5–50 and ignition delay for DPI, but no apparent trend emerged for the RCCI injection strategy at the tested boundary conditions.

Tyrewala, Daanish [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000208599324)↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Advancement of Metal Additive Manufacturing Processes and Alloys for Rocket Propulsion Applications

NASA has been involved in the development and maturation of metal additive manufacturing (AM) for space applications since the 2000’s. Several efforts have focused on the understanding of AM processes through material characterization and testing, standards development, component fabrication, and infusion into development and flight applications. While many common aerospace alloys have been and continue to be a focus of ongoing development, the need for custom-alloy developments for high performance applications enabled by various AM processes has been realized. The applications being targeted are liquid rocket engines with high heat fluxes, high pressure, and that utilize propellants such as hydrogen, which can degrade the alloy. NASA has recently focused on the development and advancement of novel alloy advancement using AM for use in these harsh environments, such as GRCop-42, GRCop-84, NASA HR-1, and JBK-75. These alloys have been evaluated using powder bed fusion (PBF), directed energy deposition (DED), and solid-state AM processes. The results from these processes have demonstrated that AM can enable rapid development of new alloy systems that can yield higher performances across various metal AM processes. These alloys have undergone the fundamental metallurgical evaluations, heat treatment study, and microstructure characterization and mechanical testing campaign. This, combined with direct application-specific component fabrication and hot-fire testing, enabled the increase of the Technology Readiness Level (TRL). This presentation will provide a background and overview of various AM-enabled novel alloys, a comparison across the AM processes, and development including metallurgical and mechanical property studies. It will also cover the latest advancement in the parallel component development and testing and future developments. The goal of these alloy development and use of various AM processes is to allow for technology infusion into NASA and commercial spaceflight missions as well as to establish and sustain the needed commercial AM supply chain.

Additive Manufacturing↗

DOE OSTI2024

Polymer Additive Manufacturing for Marine Renewable Energy Applications: Best Practices, Research Trends, and Current Challenges

Additive manufacturing (AM) is a rapidly growing technology space, not only for prototyping, but is also becoming more feasible at larger scales and increasing component quantities. There are a large variety of AM processes and materials available to users and effectively applying those processes and materials to a specific use case can be challenging. One specific area where AM could be particularly beneficial is marine renewable energy (MRE). Not only is MRE a relatively nascent industry with a near-term need for rapid deployments and prototype testing, but developers could also see long-term benefits from the broad variety of environmentally resistant materials available and the ability to manufacture complex geometries that AM technologies offer. Over the past 4 years, AM materials have played an increasing role in the Advanced Materials project; a multi-year, multi-laboratory research project funded by the U.S. Department of Energy's Water Power Technologies Office, with the main goal of reducing barriers to the adoption of complex materials in the MRE industry. The primary focus of this project is to develop test methods and generate datasets to understand the long-term performance of advanced materials in marine environmental and address specific material challenges as they arise. This report provides an extensive overview of the research that has been performed specific to AM polymers as part of the Advanced Materials project. The intention of this document is to provide recommendations of best practices with regards to material selection, mechanical test method development, and design practices, lessons learned along the way, current research trends, and ongoing challenges with regards to AM polymers in marine environments. In particular, this report focuses on several key aspects: Material and process selection, Environmental conditioning and subsequent degradation quantification through mechanical characterization, Composite reinforcements on AM polymer substrates, Adhesion of instrumentation for mechanical characterization and loads measurements, Protective coatings for preventing biofouling and water ingress, Other MRE case studies where AM has proved particularly useful. Ultimately, we hope that the test methods that have been developed, data generated, and lessons learned from this research will be valuable to the MRE community (researchers and developers alike), as well as other industries, and can be used as a reference point as the respective MRE and AM industries continue to grow and mature.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗

DOE OSTI2015

Transformative Reduction of Transportation Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Opportunities for Change in Technologies and Systems

The transportation sector is changing, influenced by concurrent, ongoing, dynamic trends that could dramatically affect the future energy landscape, including effects on the potential for greenhouse gas emissions reductions. Battery cost reductions and improved performance coupled with a growing number of electric vehicle model offerings are enabling greater battery electric vehicle market penetration, and advances in fuel cell technology and decreases in hydrogen production costs are leading to initial fuel cell vehicle offerings. Radically more efficient vehicles based on both conventional and new drivetrain technologies reduce greenhouse gas emissions per vehicle-mile. Net impacts also depend on the energy sources used for propulsion, and these are changing with increased use of renewable energy and unconventional fossil fuel resources. Connected and automated vehicles are emerging for personal and freight transportation systems and could increase use of low- or non-emitting technologies and systems; however, the net effects of automation on greenhouse gas emissions are uncertain. The longstanding trend of an annual increase in transportation demand has reversed for personal vehicle miles traveled in recent years, demonstrating the possibility of lower-travel future scenarios. Finally, advanced biofuel pathways have continued to develop, highlighting low-carbon and in some cases carbon-negative fuel pathways. We discuss the potential for transformative reductions in petroleum use and greenhouse gas emissions through these emerging transportation-sector technologies and trends and present a Clean Transportation Sector Initiative scenario for such reductions, which are summarized in Table ES-1.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2016

Final Performance Progress Report for AMP! Advanced Manufacturing Prototyping Center of East Tennessee

AMP! is using funding from the DOE’s Advanced Manufacturing Office (DOE-AMO) to support activities designed to develop, demonstrate, and exploit energy efficient, rapid, and flexible manufacturing technologies to advance U.S. competitiveness. These initiatives are designed to complement and leverage the Manufacturing Demonstration Facility (MDF) User Program at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2025

Manufacturability and performance response of developed Ni-based alloys for reactor environments

Under the Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies program, two Ni-based alloys fabricated by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) at ORNL and laser powder directed energy deposition (LP-DED) at INL have been evaluated: γ′-strengthened Haynes 282 and solution-strengthened Inconel 625. Printing defects were observed in the LPBF 282 alloy fabricated using a Renishaw AM250 machine, likely due to particle spattering during printing. For both the LPBF and LP-DED 282 alloys, annealing at 1,180°C for 1 h resulted in partial recrystallization and a bimodal grain distribution, while subsequent aging for 4 h at 800°C led to the formation of a high density of nano size γ′-strengthening precipitates. Creep testing performed at 750°C revealed lower creep life and ductility for the LPBF and LP-DED 282 compared with wrought 282. X-ray computed tomography combined with optical and scanning electron microscopy microstructural characterization revealed crack formation in the LPBF 282 alloy during creep testing, initiated either from printing defects or from creep cavitation at grain boundaries. Creep cavitation and cracking at grain boundaries were also observed for the LP-DED 282 alloy, and optimization of the printing strategies and post heat treatments will be needed to fabricate high performance 282 components for high temperature nuclear applications.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

DOE OSTI2015

Dosimetric commissioning and quality assurance of scanned ion beams at the Italian National Center for Oncological Hadrontherapy

Purpose: To describe the dosimetric commissioning and quality assurance (QA) of the actively scanned proton and carbon ion beams at the Italian National Center for Oncological Hadrontherapy. Methods: The laterally integrated depth-dose-distributions (IDDs) were acquired with the PTW Peakfinder, a variable depth water column, equipped with two Bragg peak ionization chambers. FLUKA Monte Carlo code was used to generate the energy libraries, the IDDs in water, and the fragment spectra for carbon beams. EBT3 films were used for spot size measurements, beam position over the scan field, and homogeneity in 2D-fields. Beam monitor calibration was performed in terms of number of particles per monitor unit using both a Farmer-type and an Advanced Markus ionization chamber. The beam position at the isocenter, beam monitor calibration curve, dose constancy in the center of the spread-out-Bragg-peak, dose homogeneity in 2D-fields, beam energy, spot size, and spot position over the scan field are all checked on a daily basis for both protons and carbon ions and on all beam lines. Results: The simulated IDDs showed an excellent agreement with the measured experimental curves. The measured full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the pencil beam in air at the isocenter was energy-dependent for both particle species: in particular, for protons, the spot size ranged from 0.7 to 2.2 cm. For carbon ions, two sets of spot size are available: FWHM ranged from 0.4 to 0.8 cm (for the smaller spot size) and from 0.8 to 1.1 cm (for the larger one). The spot position was accurate to within ±1 mm over the whole 20 × 20 cm{sup 2} scan field; homogeneity in a uniform squared field was within ±5% for both particle types at any energy. QA results exceeding tolerance levels were rarely found. In the reporting period, the machine downtime was around 6%, of which 4.5% was due to planned maintenance shutdowns. Conclusions: After successful dosimetric beam commissioning, quality assurance measurements performed during a 24-month period show very stable beam characteristics, which are therefore suitable for performing safe and accurate patient treatments.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2012

Technical Highlight: NREL Tests Integrated Heat Pump Water Heater Performance in Different Climates (Fact Sheet)

This technical highlight describes NREL tests to capture information about heat pump performance across a wide range of ambient conditions for five heat pump water heaters (HPWH). These water heaters have the potential to significantly reduce water heater energy use relative to traditional electric resistance water heaters. These tests have provided detailed performance data for these appliances, which have been used to evaluate the cost of saved energy as a function of climate. The performance of HPWHs is dependent on ambient air temperature and humidity and the logic controlling the heat pump and the backup resistance heaters. The laboratory tests were designed to measure each unit's performance across a range of air conditions and determine the specific logic controlling the two heat sources, which has a large effect on the comfort of the users and the energy efficiency of the system. Unlike other types of water heaters, HPWHs are both influenced by and have an effect on their surroundings. Since these effects are complex and different for virtually every house and climate region, creating an accurate HPWH model from the data gathered during the laboratory tests was a main goal of the project. Using the results from NREL's laboratory tests, such as the Coefficient of Performance (COP) curves for different air conditions as shown in Figure 1, an existing HPWH model is being modified to produce more accurate whole-house simulations. This will allow the interactions between the HPWH and the home's heating and cooling system to be evaluated in detail, for any climate region. Once these modeling capabilities are in place, a realistic cost-benefit analysis can be performed for a HPWH installation anywhere in the country. An accurate HPWH model will help to quantify the savings associated with installing a HPWH in the place of a standard electric water heater. In most locations, HPWHs are not yet a cost-effective alternative to natural gas water heaters. The detailed system performance maps that were developed by this testing program will be used to: (1) Target regions of the country that would benefit most from this technology; (2) Identify improvements in current systems to maximize homeowner cost savings; and (3) Explore opportunities for development of advanced hot water heating systems.

03 NATURAL GAS↗

DOE OSTI2019

Automotive Li-Ion Batteries: Current Status and Future Perspectives

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are currently the most suitable energy storage device for powering electric vehicles (EVs) owing to their attractive properties including high energy efficiency, lack of memory effect, long cycle life, high energy density and high power density. These advantages allow them to be smaller and lighter than other conventional rechargeable batteries such as lead–acid batteries, nickel–cadmium batteries (Ni–Cd) and nickel–metal hydride batteries (Ni–MH). Modern EVs, however, still suffer from performance barriers (range, charging rate, lifetime, etc.) and technological barriers (high cost, safety, reliability, etc.), limiting their widespread adoption. Given these facts, this review sets the extensive market penetration of LIB-powered EVs as an ultimate objective and then discusses recent advances and challenges of electric automobiles, mainly focusing on critical element resources, present and future EV markets, and the cost and performance of LIBs. Finally, novel battery chemistries and technologies including high-energy electrode materials and all-solid-state batteries are also evaluated for their potential capabilities in next-generation long-range EVs.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

NASA NTRS2006

Observations of High-Energy Phenomena with Swift and GLAST

The Swift and CLAST missions promise a great increase in our understanding of the gamma-ray universe. Swift was launched in November 2004 with a primary objective to study gamma-ray bursts. All instruments are performing well and more than 100 GRBs have been studied in detail. Major advances have already been made in the areas of short bursts, high redshift events and afterglow physics. The CLAST mission is scheduled for launch in fall 2007. It features a large new-technology instrument for high energy gamma-ray observations. Thousands of sources will be detected over a 5-10 year lifetime leading to the huge step forward in studies of the energetic gamma-ray sky.

Gehrels, Neil↗

DOE OSTI2013

New Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Fort Devens: Cold Climate Market-Rate Townhomes Targeting HERS Index of 40, Harvard, Massachusetts

Achieving aggressive energy efficiency targets requires tight coordination and clear communication among owners, designers, builders, and subcontractors. For this townhome project, MassDevelopment, the quasi-governmental agency owner, selected Metric Development of Boston, teaming with Building America team Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings (CARB) and Cambridge Seven Architects, to build very high performing market-rate homes. Fort Devens is part of a decommissioned army base in working-class Harvard, Massachusetts, approximately one hour northwest of Boston. The team proposed 12 net zero energy-ready townhomes that were also designed to achieve a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index Score of 41 before adding renewables. The team carefully planned the site to maximize solar access, daylighting, and efficient building forms.

air tight envelope↗

DOE OSTI2013

SISGR -- Domain Microstructures and Mechanisms for Large, Reversible and Anhysteretic Strain Behaviors in Phase Transforming Ferroelectric Materials

This four-year project (including one-year no-cost extension) aimed to advance fundamental understanding of field-induced strain behaviors of phase transforming ferroelectrics. We performed meso-scale phase field modeling and computer simulation to study domain evolutions, mechanisms and engineering techniques, and developed computational techniques for nanodomain diffraction analysis; to further support above originally planned tasks, we also carried out preliminary first-principles density functional theory calculations of point defects and domain walls to complement meso-scale computations as well as performed in-situ high-energy synchrotron X-ray single crystal diffraction experiments to guide theoretical development (both without extra cost to the project thanks to XSEDE supercomputers and DOE user facility Advanced Photon Source).

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2013

In-situ Spectroscopic and Structural Studies of Electrode Materials for Advanced Battery Applications

Techniques have been developed and implemented to gain insight into fundamental factors that affect the performance of electrodes in Li and Li-ion batteries and other energy storage devices. These include experimental strategies for monitoring the Raman scattering spectra of single microparticles of carbon and transition metal oxides as a function of their state of charge. Measurements were performed in electrolytes of direct relevance to Li and Li-Ion batteries both in the static and dynamic modes. In addition, novel strategies were devised for performing conventional experiments in ultrahigh vacuum environments under conditions which eliminate effects associated with presence of impurities, using ultrapure electrolytes, both of the polymeric and ionic liquid type that display no measurable vapor pressure. Also examined was the reactivity of conventional non aqueous solvent toward ultrapure Li films as monitored in ultrahigh vacuum with external reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Also pursued were efforts toward developing applying Raman-scattering for monitoring the flow of charge of a real Li ion battery. Such time-resolved, spatially-resolved measurements are key to validating the results of theoretical simulations involving real electrode structures.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗