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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 1,333 records · Page 74
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2018

Fusion Energy Output Greater than the Kinetic Energy of an Imploding Shell at the National Ignition Facility

A series of cryogenic, layered deuterium-tritium (DT) implosions have produced, for the first time, fusion energy output twice the peak kinetic energy of the imploding shell. These experiments at the National Ignition Facility utilized high density carbon ablators with a three-shock laser pulse (1.5 MJ in 7.5 ns) to irradiate low gas-filled ( 0.3 mg / cc of helium) bare depleted uranium hohlraums, resulting in a peak hohlraum radiative temperature ~ 290 eV . The imploding shell, composed of the nonablated high density carbon and the DT cryogenic layer, is, thus, driven to velocity on the order of 380 km / s resulting in a peak kinetic energy of ~ 21 kJ , which once stagnated produced a total DT neutron yield of 1.9 × 10 16 (shot N170827) corresponding to an output fusion energy of 54 kJ. Time dependent low mode asymmetries that limited further progress of implosions have now been controlled, leading to an increased compression of the hot spot. Finally, it resulted in hot spot areal density ( ρr ~ 0.3 g / cm 2 ) and stagnation pressure ( ~ 360 Gbar ) never before achieved in a laboratory experiment.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Azimuthal Drive Asymmetry in Inertial Confinement Fusion Implosions on the National Ignition Facility

Data from nuclear diagnostics present correlated signatures of azimuthal implosion asymmetry in recent indirect-drive inertial confinement fusion (ICF) implosion campaigns performed at the National Ignition Facility (NIF). The mean hot-spot velocity, inferred from the Doppler shift of 14 MeV neutrons produced by deuterium-tritium (DT) fusion, is systematically directed toward one azimuthal half of the NIF target chamber, centered on φ ≈ 7 0 ° . Areal density ( ρ R ) asymmetry of the converged DT fuel, inferred from nuclear activation diagnostics, presents a minimum ρ R in the same direction as the hot-spot velocity and with Δ ρ R amplitude correlated with velocity magnitude. These two correlated observations, which are seen in all recent campaigns with cryogenic layers of DT fuel, are an understood signature of asymmetry in the fuel convergence, implying a systematic azimuthal drive asymmetry across a wide range of shot and target configurations. The direction of the implied radiation asymmetry is observed to cluster toward the hohlraum diagnostic windows. Furthermore, this low-mode asymmetry degrades hot-spot conditions at peak convergence and limits implosion performance and yield

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Hot Spot Evolution Measured by High-Resolution X-Ray Spectroscopy at the National Ignition Facility

Evolution of the hot spot plasma conditions was measured using high-resolution x-ray spectroscopy at the National Ignition Facility. The capsules were filled with DD gas with trace levels of Kr and had either a high-density-carbon (HDC) ablator or a tungsten (W)-doped HDC ablator. Time-resolved measurement of the Kr He β spectra, absolutely calibrated by a simultaneous time-integrated measurement, allows inference of the electron density and temperature through observing Stark broadening and the relative intensities of dielectronic satellites. By matching the calculated hot spot emission using a collisional-radiative code to experimental observations, the hot spot size and areal density are determined. Here these advanced spectroscopy techniques further reveal the effect of W dopant in the ablator on the hot spot parameters for their improved implosion performance.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Optimization Methodology of Polar Direct-Drive Illumination for the National Ignition Facility

Improved laser illumination uniformity drives shocks and implosions to create more extreme high energy density environments. Predominantly, the geometry of experiments that can be performed is dictated by the layout of beams at laser facilities, limiting inter-facility and multiscale investigations. This Letter presents the first automated, algorithmic approach for generating illumination configurations for high energy density experiments. The method is demonstrated in comparison to a polar direct drive solid target experiment at the National Ignition Facility. The new illumination configuration is simulated to create greater than ×3 higher peak pressure and almost ×2 higher density by maintaining better shock uniformity. Furthermore, the optimization process is performed with reduced computational expense and isotropic plasma profiles, while accounting for the impact of cross-beam energy transfer.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Utilizing the deuterium-tritium fusion resonance to diagnose thermal runaway in igniting plasmas

For high-efficiency inertial confinement fusion implosions, it is predicted that a burning hot spot will successfully encompass all surrounding fuel and then transition into a thermal runaway where the internal energy increase from fusion occurs on a timescale faster than the expansion of the fuel is able to quench the fusion chain reaction after ignition occurs. Observation of this dynamic phase transition would indicate distinct burn properties and indicate an implosion's robustness. A technique for diagnosing the presence of thermal runaway from measurements of nuclear reaction history is presented. The technique is based on taking the logarithmic derivative of the nuclear reaction history, called the 𝛼 curve, and allowing a mathematical decoupling of the mass, volume, and thermal reactivity in the fusion reaction rate equation. During thermal runaway, where the thermal temperature dominates the burn dynamics, a maximum in the 𝛼 curve is found where there is a maximum in the first derivative of the thermal fusion reactivity, an effect to the deuterium-tritium (DT) fusion cross-section resonance. This provides a distinct signature related to the fundamental nature of the DT fusion nuclear resonance and signifies the transition into the fusion thermal instability. Impacts of charged particle transport on the effect are also assessed and the analytical formulas are compared and found to be in agreement with radiation hydrodynamic codes.

high-energy-density plasmas↗
DOE OSTI2020

High-Field Ignition-Capable Stellarator i-ASTER: Initial Structural Evaluation

i-ASTER is a preliminary conceptual design of a high-field pulsed experimental stellarator aimed essentially at achieving and understanding plasma ignition. The averaged magnetic field on the axis of i-ASTER.v1 is B ~ 10 T and the plasma volume is 30 m 3 . A toroidal monolithic support structure, which is located externally to the modular coils, is defined to accurately arrange the coils and withstand the magnetic Lorentz forces from the high magnetic fields. The magnetic field in the coils and the resulting Lorentz forces on the coils were calculated and utilized for the stress calculation in monolithic support of constant thickness. Subsequently, a monolithic support of variable thickness is proposed and studied. The thickness of the structure is variable and adjusted to the magnitude of the mechanical stress in each area of the toroidal structure so as to smooth the stresses while minimizing the quantity of material used. A fabrication method for the monolithic structure has been tested. For that, a scaled-down mock-up of one period of stellarator has been additively manufactured and strengthened with fiber-reinforced resin. Unsurmountable difficulties have not been found for this fabrication method.

Queral, Vicente↗
DOE OSTI2015

Effect of Premixed Fuel Preparation for Partially Premixed Combustion with a Low Octane Gasoline on a Light-Duty Multi-Cylinder Compression Ignition Engine

Gasoline compression ignition concepts with the majority of the fuel being introduced early in the cycle are known as partially premixed combustion (PPC). Previous research on single- and multi-cylinder engines has shown that PPC has the potential for high thermal efficiency with low NOx and soot emissions. A variety of fuel injection strategies has been proposed in the literature. These injection strategies aim to create a partially stratified charge to simultaneously reduce NOx and soot emissions while maintaining some level of control over the combustion process through the fuel delivery system. The impact of the direct injection strategy to create a premixed charge of fuel and air has not previously been explored, and its impact on engine efficiency and emissions is not well understood. This paper explores the effect of sweeping the direct injected pilot timing from -91° to -324° ATDC, which is just after the exhaust valve closes for the engine used in this study. During the sweep, the pilot injection consistently contained 65% of the total fuel (based on command duration ratio), and the main injection timing was adjusted slightly to maintain combustion phasing near top dead center. A modern four cylinder, 1.9 L diesel engine with a variable geometry turbocharger, high pressure common rail injection system, wide included angle injectors, and variable swirl actuation was used in this study. The pistons were modified to an open bowl configuration suitable for highly premixed combustion modes. The stock diesel injection system was unmodified, and the gasoline fuel was doped with a lubricity additive to protect the high pressure fuel pump and the injectors. The study was conducted at a fixed speed/load condition of 2000 rpm and 4.0 bar brake mean effective pressure (BMEP). The pilot injection timing sweep was conducted at different intake manifold pressures, swirl levels, and fuel injection GTP-15-1067, Dempsey 2 pressures. The gasoline used in this study has relatively high fuel reactivity with a research octane number of 68. The results of this experimental campaign indicate that the highest brake thermal efficiency and lowest emissions are achieved simultaneously with the earliest pilot injection timings (i.e., during the intake stroke).

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Tailoring Charge Reactivity Using In-Cylinder Generated Reformate for Gasoline Compression Ignition Strategies

In-cylinder reforming of injected fuel during a negative valve overlap (NVO) recompression period can be used to optimize main-cycle combustion phasing for low-load low-temperature gasoline combustion (LTGC). The objective of this work is to examine the effects of reformate composition on main-cycle engine performance. An alternate-fire sequence was used to generate a common exhaust temperature and composition boundary condition for a cycle-of-interest, with performance metrics measured for these custom cycles. NVO reformate was also separately collected using a dump valve apparatus and characterized by both gas chromatography and photoionization mass spectroscopy. To facilitate gas sample analysis, sampling experiments were conducted using a five-component gasoline surrogate (isooctane, n-heptane, ethanol, 1-hexene, and toluene) that matched the molecular composition, 50% boiling point, and ignition characteristics of the research gasoline. For the gasoline, it was found that an advance of the NVO start-of-injection (SOI) led to a corresponding advance in main-period combustion phasing as the combination of longer residence times and lower amounts of liquid spray piston impingement led to a greater degree of fuel decomposition. The effect was more pronounced as the fraction of total fuel injected in the NVO period increased. Main-period combustion phasing was also found to advance as the main-period fueling decreased. Slower kinetics for leaner mixtures were offset by a combination of increased bulk-gas temperature from higher charge specific heat ratios and increased fuel reactivity due to higher charge reformate fractions.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2018

Numerical Prediction of Cyclic Variability in a Spark Ignition Engine Using a Parallel Large Eddy Simulation Approach

Cycle-to-cycle variability (CCV) is detrimental to IC engine operation and can lead to partial burn, misfire, and knock. Predicting CCV numerically is extremely challenging due to two key reasons. First, high-fidelity methods such as large eddy simulation (LES) are required to accurately resolve the in-cylinder turbulent flow field both spatially and temporally. Second, CCV is experienced over long timescales and hence the simulations need to be performed for hundreds of consecutive cycles. Ameen et al. (2017, "Parallel Methodology to Capture Cyclic Variability in Motored Engines,"Int. J. Engine Res., 18(4), pp. 366-377.) developed a parallel perturbation model (PPM) approach to dissociate this long time-scale problem into several shorter time-scale problems. This strategy was demonstrated for motored engine and it was shown that the mean and variance of the in-cylinder flow field was captured reasonably well by this approach. In the present study, this PPM approach is extended to simulate the CCV in a fired port-fuel injected (PFI) spark ignition (SI) engine. The predictions from this approach are also shown to be similar to the consecutive LES cycles. It is shown that the parallel approach is able to predict the coefficient of variation (COV) of the in-cylinder pressure and burn raterelated parameters with sufficient accuracy, and is also able to predict the qualitative trends in CCV with changing operating conditions. It is shown that this new approach is able to give accurate predictions of the CCV in fired engines in less than one-tenth of the time required for the conventional approach of simulating consecutive engine cycles.

Ameen, Muhsin M.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Initial Results on a New Light-Duty 2.7-L Opposed-Piston Gasoline Compression Ignition Multi-Cylinder Engine

Abstract Gasoline compression ignition (GCI) is a cost-effective approach to achieving diesel-like efficiencies with low emissions. The fundamental architecture of the two-stroke Achates Power Opposed-Piston (OP) Engine enables GCI by decoupling piston motion from cylinder scavenging, allowing for flexible and independent control of cylinder residual fraction and temperature leading to improved low-load combustion. In addition, the high peak cylinder pressure and noise challenges at high-load operation are mitigated by the lower brake mean effective pressure (BMEP) operation and faster heat release for the same pressure rise rate of the OP Engine. These advantages further solidify the performance benefits of the OP Engine and demonstrate the near-term feasibility of advanced combustion technologies, enabled by the opposed-piston architecture. This paper presents initial results from steady-state testing on a brand new 2.7-L OP GCI multi-cylinder engine (MCE) designed for light-duty truck applications. Successful GCI operation calls for a high compression ratio (CR), leading to higher combustion stability at low loads, higher efficiencies, and lower cycle HC + NOX emissions. Initial results show a cycle average brake thermal efficiency (BTE) of 31.7%, which is already greater than 11% conventional engines, after only ten weeks of testing. Emissions results suggest that Tier 3 Bin 160 levels can be achieved using a traditional diesel after-treatment system. Combustion noise was well controlled at or below the United States Council for Automotive Research limits. In addition, initial results on catalyst light-off mode with GCI are also presented.

Energy & Fuels↗
DOE OSTI2015

LES FOR SIMULATING THE GAS EXCHANGE PROCESS IN A SPARK IGNITION ENGINE

The gas exchange process is known to be a significant source of cyclic variability in Internal Combustion Engines (ICE). Traditionally, Large Eddy Simulations (LES) are expected to capture these cycle-to-cycle variations. This paper reports a numerical effort to establish best practices for capturing cyclic variability with LES tools in a Transparent Combustion Chamber (TCC) spark ignition engine. The main intention is to examine the sensitivity of cycle averaged mean and Root Mean Square (RMS) flow fields and Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) modes to different computational hardware, adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) and LES sub-grid scale (SGS) models, since these aspects have received little attention in the past couple of decades. This study also examines the effect of near-wall resolution on the predicted wall shear stresses. LES is pursued with commercially available CONVERGE code. Two different SGS models are tested, a one-equation eddy viscosity model and dynamic structure model. The results seem to indicate that both mean and RMS fields without any SGS model are not much different than those with LES models, either one-equation eddy viscosity or dynamic structure model. Computational hardware results in subtle quantitative differences, especially in RMS distributions. The influence of AMR on both mean and RMS fields is negligible. The predicted shear stresses near the liner walls is also found to be relatively insensitive to near-wall resolution except in the valve curtain region.

Ameen, Muhsin M↗
DOE OSTI2017

Spray-Wall Interactions in a Small-Bore, Multi-Cylinder Engine Operating With Reactivity-Controlled Compression Ignition

Experimental work on reactivity-controlled compression ignition (RCCI) in a small-bore, multi-cylinder engine operating on premixed iso-octane and direct-injected n-heptane has shown an unexpected combustion phasing advance at early injection timings, which has not been observed in large-bore engines operating under RCCI at similar conditions. In this work, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were performed to investigate whether spray-wall interactions could be responsible for this result. Comparison of the spray penetration, fuel film mass, and in-cylinder visualization of the spray from the CFD results to the experimentally measured combustion phasing and emissions provided compelling evidence of strong fuel impingement at injection timings earlier than -90 crank angle degrees (°CA) after top dead center (aTDC), and transition from partial to full impingement between -65 and -90°CA aTDC. Based on this evidence, explanations for the combustion phasing advance at early injection timings are proposed along with potential verification experiments.

Wissink, Martin L.↗
DOE OSTI2018

EFFECTS OF PORT FUEL AND DIRECT INJECTION STRATEGIES AND INTAKE CONDITIONS ON GASOLINE COMPRESSION IGNITION OPERATION

GGasoline compression ignition (GCI) using a single gasoline-type fuel for port fuel and direct injection has been shown as a method to achieve low-temperature combustion with low engine-out NOx and soot emissions and high indicated thermal efficiency. However, key technical barriers to achieving low temperature combustion on multi-cylinder engines include the air handling system (limited amount of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR)) as well as mechanical engine limitations (e.g. peak pressure rise rate). In light of these limitations, high temperature combustion with reduced amounts of EGR appears more practical. Furthermore, for high temperature GCI, an effective aftertreatment system allows high thermal efficiency with low tailpipe-out emissions. In this work, experimental testing was conducted on a 12.4 L multi-cylinder heavy-duty diesel engine operating with high temperature GCI combustion using EEE gasoline. Engine testing was conducted at an engine speed of 1038 rpm and brake mean effective pressure (BMEP) of 14 bar. Port fuel and direct injection strategies were utilized to increase the premixed combustion fraction. The impact on engine performance and emissions with respect to varying the injection and intake operating parameters was quantified within this study. A combined effect of reducing heat transfer and increasing exhaust loss resulted in a flat trend of brake thermal efficiency (BTE) when retarding direct injection timing, while increased port fuel mass improved BTE due to advanced combustion phasing and reduced heat transfer loss. Overall, varying intake valve close timing, EGR, intake pressure and temperature with the current pressure rise rate and soot emissions constraint was not effective in improving BTE, as the benefit of low heat transfer loss was always offset by increased exhaust loss.

Wang, Buyu↗
DOE OSTI2020

SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS OF FUEL PHYSICAL PROPERTY EFFECTS ON SPARK IGNITION ENGINE PERFORMANCE

Alternative fuels are of interest to automakers and regulators due to their potential to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions from transportation sources. Alternative fuels also have fuel properties which may enable advanced combustion modes with higher engine thermal efficiencies. There has been previous work to identify the relationship between various fuel properties and engine performance, but most of this work has been experiments or simulations where the change in properties was obtained through changing the fuel composition, making isolating the effects of individual fuel properties difficult. In this study, numerical simulations have been used to investigate the effects of individual fuel physical properties such as viscosity or heat of vaporization (HoV) on engine performance. Simulations have been performed of two different engine platforms, the first an optical, single-cylinder research engine and the second a multi-cylinder production engine. Both engines are direct-injection spark-ignition engines with pent-roof heads and are designed for automotive applications. Each engine was run at a different operating condition, one stable and one knock-limited. Different base fuels provided a variety of simulated conditions. Up to six different fuel properties were varied as part of Global Sensitivity Analyses performed for each of the engines with multiple performance targets including thermal efficiency, combustion efficiency and combustion phasing. Results show trends that are largely consistent with previous experimental findings using multiple fuels. The engine thermal efficiency was primarily sensitive to the fuel's HoV, with other fuel physical properties having smaller effects. For optical engine results, the magnitude of the effect was greater in this study than expected based on previous experimental results were many fuel physical and chemical properties were varied simultaneously. However, for the multi-cylinder production engine, the relationship between thermal efficiency and HoV was slightly smaller.

engine simulation↗
DOE OSTI2020

Jitter-induced Max-of-N fluence distribution at the National Ignition Facility

Max-of-N fluence is the maximum peak fluence at a given location over N number of shots and is important for calculating fluence dependence for intrinsic laser-induced optic damage. Previously, we observed the Max-of-N effect on the National Ignition Facility and developed an ad-hoc model to calculate its effect. In this work, we attempt to understand the fundamental mechanism that causes this Max-of-N effect. We conclude that the primary fundamental mechanism responsible for this effect is dominated by the combination of fluence variations and pointing jitter of the laser. This discovery both strengthens our model for predicting optics longevity and gives us insight into how to mitigate this effect.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2025

Optimizing fused silica debris shield use in the National Ignition Facility

The National Ignition Facility (NIF) deliberately and routinely operates with its final optics exposed to fluences likely to induce and grow damage. This choice has enabled the NIF to operate at energies previously unachievable at the expense of limitations to delivered power and energy contingent on the ability to repair damage on the final optics. Prior to the introduction of the fused silica debris shield (FSDS), the grating debris shield (GDS) was the optic type on the NIF most prone to damage and hence a primary limiter to the delivered energy. The introduction of the FSDS has reduced the damage initiation rate on the GDS by about two orders of magnitude to date. Despite the FSDS being a disposable optic, it is important to understand how the FSDS damages and when its damage requires it to be exchanged to maximize the FSDS lifetime while still protecting the GDS from damage. We will define the FSDS exchange criteria and evaluate the damage initiation mechanisms of the FSDS. The surface damage morphologies provide insight into the impact of the various damage mechanisms that limit the FSDS lifetime. These results are utilized in our analysis to optimize the FSDS exchange criteria to further extend the GDS lifetime.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2017

Fielding the LANL Gas Cherenkov Detector (GCD-3) at the National Ignition Facility: The engineering challenges of designing, analyzing, fabricating, testing, and commissioning the next-generation GCD detector and WellDIM3.9m insertion manipulator for use at NIF

We report that fielding the LANL third-generation Gas Cherenkov Detector (GCD-3) at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) revealed an array of complex engineering challenges. Fielding the GCD-3 Detector in a 3.9 meter re-entrant Well on the NIF Target Chamber required the development of a specialized detector deployment system named the WellDIM3.9m Diagnostic Manipulator (WellDIM). The most stringent design requirement entailed a no-load/no-contact condition with the Well, which dictated that all seismic loads be transferred to the Target Chamber port flange. The WellDIM transports the GCD-3 into the Well at a distance of 3.9m from Target Chamber Center. Finally, the GCD-3 Detector, outfitted with additional shielding to mitigate higher NIF backgrounds, will serve as a prototype for the future, heavily shielded “Super-GCD”.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2019

Threshold Field That Separates Domains of Subcritical and Deeply Subcritical Microwave Discharges Ignited on a Dielectric Surface

Microwave discharges initiated by an electromagnetic (EM) vibrator and ignited on the inner surface of a dielectric tube in a quasi-optical EM beam are experimentally studied. A threshold level of the microwave field that separates domains of subcritical and deeply subcritical microwave discharges is determined in experiments. Experiments show that streamer channels of the subcritical discharge propagate from the initiator along the propagation direction of the EM wave and in the opposite direction under certain conditions. Variations in the power of the microwave beam can be used to change length of the plasma region of the subcritical discharge along the wave vector of the microwave beam and control the level of the EM energy absorbed in the plasma regions of the deeply subcritical microwave discharge.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗