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At least 1,531 records · Page 85
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1993

Foil bearings

The rolling element bearings (REB's) which support many turbomachinery rotors offer high load capacity, low power requirements, and durability. Two disadvantages of REB's are: (1) rolling or sliding contact within the bearing has life-limiting consequences; and (2) REB's provide essentially no damping. The REB's in the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) turbopumps must sustain high static and dynamic loads, at high speeds, with a cryogenic fluid as lubricant and coolant. The pump end ball bearings limit the life of the SSME high pressure oxygen turbopump (HPOTP). Compliant foil bearing (CFB) manufacturers have proposed replacing turbopump REB's with CFB's CFB's work well in aircraft air cycle machines, auxiliary power units, and refrigeration compressors. In a CFB, the rotor only contracts the foil support structure during start up and shut down. CFB damping is higher than REB damping. However, the load capacity of the CFB is low, compared to a REB. Furthermore, little stiffness and damping data exists for the CFB. A rotordynamic analysis for turbomachinery critical speeds and stability requires the input of bearing stiffness and damping coefficients. The two basic types of CFB are the tension-dominated bearing and the bending-dominated bearing. Many investigators have analyzed and measured characteristics of tension-dominated foil bearings, which are applied principally in magnetic tape recording. The bending-dominated CFB is used more in rotating machinery. This report describes the first phase of a structural analysis of a bending-dominated, multileaf CFB. A brief discussion of CFB literature is followed by a description and results of the present analysis.

Elrod, David A.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Feasibility Investigation for a Solar Power Generation Facility

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 states that by fiscal year 2013, at least 7.5% of the energy consumed by the government must be renewable energy. In an effort to help meet this goal, Johnson Space Center (JSC) is considering installing a solar power generation facility. The purpose of this project is to conduct a feasibility investigation for such a facility. Because Kennedy Space Center (KSC) has a solar power generation facility, the first step in this investigation is to learn about KSC's facility and obtain information on how it was constructed. After collecting this information, the following must be determined: the amount of power desired, the size of the facility, potential locations for it, and estimated construction and maintenance costs. Contacts with JSC's energy provider must also be established to determine if a partnership would be agreeable to both parties. Lastly, all of this data must be analyzed to decide whether or not JSC should construct the facility. The results from analyzing the data collected indicate that a 200 kW facility would provide enough energy to meet 1% of JSC's energy demand. This facility would require less than 1 acre of land. In the map below, potential locations are shown in green. The solar power facility is projected to cost $2 M. So far, the information collected indicates that such a facility could be constructed. The next steps in this investigation include contacting JSC's energy provider, CenterPoint Energy, to discuss entering a partnership; developing a life cycle cost analysis to determine payback time; developing more detailed plans; and securing funding.

Nathan, Lakshmi↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Open Science for Life in Space: Data Sharing and Tools for Knowledge Discovery

The next era in human space exploration is rapidly approaching. The use of health countermeasures and biomonitoring systems for space missions are required to counteract space health hazards and to support life to thrive in deep space (e.g., humans, animals, plants, crops; entire ecosystems within spacecrafts/habitats/spacesuits). The development of these mission components will be highly dependent on our understanding of basic biological and health responses to myriad space hazards (ionizing radiation, altered gravitational fields, altered day-night cycles, confined isolation, hostile-closed environments, distance-duration from Earth, planetary dust-regolith, and extreme temperatures/atmospheres). The fast-growing array of space biological and mission telemetry data, which in the past was simply archived after minimal analysis, holds great potential once applied to these mission challenges if it can be reorganized and formatted for Open Science. Organizing the data for such analysis is a challenge because of its multi-hierarchical, multi-modal, and heterogenous nature (molecular, cellular, tissue, organ, whole organism, behavior, ecosystem, microbiome; tabular, omics, imaging, video, biospecimen, environmental physical-chemical telemetry). This session focuses on current approaches in this domain such as: making space biological data FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable), effective data ingestion/dissemination, observational versus experimental data, Open Science collaborations, data analysis techniques, AI/ML/knowledge graph/modeling methods, and data integration/discovery tools.

open science↗
DOE OSTI2024

Multicriteria-Based Selection of Microalgae Biorefineries: Biomass Composition Defines the Most Suitable Product Portfolios

The supply of microalgae-derived biofuels and bioproducts will be vital in a global-scale bioeconomy. As the diversity of microalgae strains and their compositional plasticity may yield a wide array of products of market interest, the design of effective biorefineries is a central aspect in the path to making microalgae-based products available in the market. In this way, the conversion of microalgae biomass should be planned to employ mature technologies, while maximizing economic and environmental benefits obtained from a diverse product portfolio. This study applied sequential, hybrid Multicriteria Decision Analyses (MCDA) to aid the decision-making process of outlining the most suitable biorefining pathways for specific compositional profiles. For this, the methodology simultaneously considered multiple technical, economic, and environmental criteria, such as market aspects for the main algae-derived products, potential reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions provided by the biobased alternatives, and technology readiness level of conversion routes, among others. The framework was tested using productivity and compositional data for 13 high-productivity summer strains cultivated under varying nutrient availability. The analysis pointed to compositional profile being a key driver in defining the core biorefining strategy of algae biomass, with lipid-to-carbohydrate ratios higher than roughly 1 warranting the preferential processing of lipids into hydrocarbon fuels with the remainder of the algae biomass compounds being sent to higher-value applications, such as carboxylic acids and renewable thermoplastic substitutes. An in-depth process simulation, techno-economic assessment (TEA), and life-cycle analysis (LCA) effort was carried out as a closing step to corroborate the results stemming from the proposed framework. This study validates the use of MCDAs as a screening method prior to implementing more time-consuming analysis techniques and makes a compelling case for this approach as a product selection tool on a wide range of algae species, thus helping establish species-agnostic (but composition-driven) biorefineries.

biofuels↗
DOE OSTI2016

Methods for Specifying Scientific Data Standards and Modeling Relationships with Applications to Neuroscience [Plus Supplementary Data]

Neuroscience continues to experience a tremendous growth in data; in terms of the volume and variety of data, the velocity at which data is acquired, and in turn the veracity of data. These challenges are a serious impediment to sharing of data, analyses, and tools within and across labs. Here, we introduce BRAINformat, a novel data standardization framework for the design and management of scientific data formats. The BRAINformat library defines application-independent design concepts and modules that together create a general framework for standardization of scientific data. We describe the formal specification of scientific data standards, which facilitates sharing and verification of data and formats. We introduce the concept of Managed Objects, enabling semantic components of data formats to be specified as self-contained units, supporting modular and reusable design of data format components and file storage. We also introduce the novel concept of Relationship Attributes for modeling and use of semantic relationships between data objects. Based on these concepts we demonstrate the application of our framework to design and implement a standard format for electrophysiology data and show how data standardization and relationship-modeling facilitate data analysis and sharing. The format uses HDF5, enabling portable, scalable, and self-describing data storage and integration with modern high-performance computing for data-driven discovery. The BRAINformat library is open source, easy-to-use, and provides detailed user and developer documentation and is freely available at: https://bitbucket.org/oruebel/brainformat.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1994

Analysis of the Shuttle Orbiter reinforced carbon-carbon oxidation protection system

Reusable, oxidation-protected reinforced carbon-carbon (RCC) has been successfully flown on all Shuttle Orbiter flights. Thermal testing of the silicon carbide-coated RCC to determine its oxidation characteristics has been performed in convective (plasma Arc-Jet) heating facilities. Surface sealant mass loss was characterized as a function of temperature and pressure. High-temperature testing was performed to develop coating recession correlations for predicting performance at the over-temperature flight conditions associated with abort trajectories. Methods for using these test data to establish multi-mission re-use (i.e., mission life) and single mission limits are presented.

Williams, S. D.↗
DOE OSTI2021

DYNC1H1 regulates NSCLC cell growth and metastasis by IFN-γ-JAK-STAT signaling and is associated with an aberrant immune response

Highlights: • DYNC1H1 is upregulated and its high expression predicted poor outcomes in NSCLC. • Loss of function of DYNC1H1 inhibits cell growth and metastasis of NSCLC cells in vitro. • DYNC1H1 knockdown inhibited metastasis of NSCLC cells in vivo. • DYNC1H1 loss of function suppresses IFN-γ-JAK-STAT signaling pathway in NSCLC. • DYNC1H1 expression is correlated with aberrant immune response in NSCLC indicated by analysis of TCGA immune data. It is urgent to identify new biomarkers and therapeutic targets to ameliorate the clinical prognosis of patients with lung cancer. The functional significance and molecular mechanism of dynein cytoplasmic 1 heavy chain 1 (DYNC1H1) in nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) progression is still elusive. In our current study, publicly available data and Western blotting experiments confirmed that DYNC1H1 expression was upregulated in lung cancer samples compared with noncancerous samples. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) results indicated that high DYNC1H1 expression in lung cancer tissues was significantly associated with clinical tumor stage and distal metastasis; moreover, its high expression was negatively correlated with prognosis. Functional experiments demonstrated that DYNC1H1 loss of function caused a significant decrease in cell viability and cell proliferative ability, inhibition of the cell cycle, and promotion of both migration potential and invasion potential in vitro. Animal experiments by tail vein injection of lung cancer cells showed that DYNC1H1 knockdown significantly decreased lung cancer metastasis. Mechanistically, the results from a human protein array showed changes in the IFN-γ-JAK-STAT signaling pathway, and analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) immune data demonstrated that disturbance of the immune microenvironment might be involved in the impaired growth and metastatic ability mediated by DYNC1H1 loss in NSCLC. DYNC1H1 might serve as a promising biological marker of prognosis and a potential clinical therapeutic target for patients with NSCLC.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Transitioning from Simulation to Reality: Applying Chatter Detection Models to Real-World Machining Data

Chatter, a self-excited vibration phenomenon, is a critical challenge in high-speed machining operations, affecting tool life, product surface quality, and overall process efficiency. While machine learning models trained on simulated data have shown promise in detecting chatter, their real-world applicability remains uncertain due to discrepancies between simulated and actual machining environments. The primary goal of this study is to bridge the gap between simulation-based machine learning models and real-world applications by developing and validating a Random Forest-based chatter detection system. This research focuses on improving manufacturing efficiency through reliable chatter detection by integrating Operational Modal Analysis (OMA), Receptance Coupling Substructure Analysis (RCSA), and Transfer Learning (TL). The study applies a Random Forest classification model trained on over 140,000 simulated machining datasets, incorporating techniques like Operational Modal Analysis (OMA), Receptance Coupling Substructure Analysis (RCSA), and Transfer Learning (TL) to adapt the model for real-world operational data. The model is validated against 1600 real-world machining datasets, achieving an accuracy of 86.1%, with strong precision and recall scores. The results demonstrate the model’s robustness and potential for practical implementation in industrial settings, highlighting challenges such as sensor noise and variability in machining conditions. This work advances the use of predictive analytics in machining processes, offering a data-driven solution to improve manufacturing efficiency through more reliable chatter detection.

42 ENGINEERING↗
NASA NTRS1980

Generalized shading analysis for paraboloidal collector fields

This paper presents the development and results of a generalized shading analysis for a field of point-focus parabolic dish concentrators. Shading of one concentrator by another with attendant loss of energy is a function of the position of the sun and the relative locations of the concentrators within the field. A method is presented for determining the annualized energy loss which includes a trade-off of system life-cycle energy as a function of concentrator spacing and field geometric layout. System energy output is computed on an annualized basis, employing 15 minute-increment environmental data tapes for the year 1976 at Barstow, California. For a land cost of $5000 per acre, lowest system energy cost occurs at about a 25 percent packing fraction (concentrator area/land area) for a typical 1-MWe dish-Stirling solar thermal power plant. Basic equations are given for computing the shading and concomitant energy loss as a function of concentrator center-to-center spacing, field layout site location.

Osborn, D. B.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Deep Discharge Reconditioning and Shorted Storage of Batteries

The identification and measurement of hydrogen recombination in sealed nickel-cadium cells makes deep reconditioning on a battery basis safe and feasible. Deep reconditioning improves performance and increases life of nickel-cadium batteries in geosynchronous orbit applications. The hydrogen mechanism and supporting data are presented. Parameter cell design experiments are described which led to the definition of nickel-cadium cells capable of high rate overdischarge without detriment to specific energy. Nickel-cadium calls of identical optimum design were successfully cycled for 7 seasons in simulation of geosynchronous orbit at 75 percent depth-of-discharge with extensive midseason and end-of-season overdischarge at rates varying from C/20 to C/4. Destructive physical analysis and cyclin data indicated no deterioration or the development of dangerous pressures as a result of the cycling with overdischarge.

Ritterman, P. F.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Variability in pigment concentration in warm-core rings as determined by coastal zone color scanner satellite imagery from the Mid-Atlantic Bight

A time series of coastal zone color scanner (CZCS) derived chlorophyll (CZCS-chl) and sea surface temperature (SST) satellite imagery was developed for the Mid-Atlantic Bight (MAB). Warm-core rings (WCR) were identified by both the warmer SST signal as well as the low pigment concentrations of their cores. The variation in pigment concentrations and SST observed in satellite imagery over the geographic range and life span of four WCRs is investigated. The hypotheses are that pigment concentration increase during the lifetime of the WCR is a response to processes such as convective overturn, upwelling, edge enhancement due to increased vertical mixing, active convergence, or lateral exchange. Empirical orthogonal function analysis (EOF) is used to investigate the relationship between SST and pigment patterns observed in the presence of a WCR. The first two EOF modes explain more than 80% of the variability observed in all four WCRs and in both (SST and pigment) data sets. The results of this study show that, at the synoptic scales of staellite data, the variability observed in the WCRs is greater at the periphery of the rings. These results show that advective entrainment, rather than processes at ring center (e.g., shoaling of the pycnocline/nutricline in response to frictional decay) or at the periphery due to other processes such as vertical mixing, is the mechanism responsible for the observed variability.

Garcia-Moliner, Graciela↗
NASA NTRS2000

Applying Technology Ranking and Systems Engineering in Advanced Life Support

According to the Advanced Life Support (ALS) Program Plan, the Systems Modeling and Analysis Project (SMAP) has two important tasks: 1) prioritizing investments in ALS Research and Technology Development (R&TD), and 2) guiding the evolution of ALS systems. Investments could be prioritized simply by independently ranking different technologies, but we should also consider a technology's impact on system design. Guiding future ALS systems will require SMAP to consider many aspects of systems engineering. R&TD investments can be prioritized using familiar methods for ranking technology. The first step is gathering data on technology performance, safety, readiness level, and cost. Then the technologies are ranked using metrics or by decision analysis using net present economic value. The R&TD portfolio can be optimized to provide the maximum expected payoff in the face of uncertain future events. But more is needed. The optimum ALS system can not be designed simply by selecting the best technology for each predefined subsystem. Incorporating a new technology, such as food plants, can change the specifications of other subsystems, such as air regeneration. Systems must be designed top-down starting from system objectives, not bottom-up from selected technologies. The familiar top-down systems engineering process includes defining mission objectives, mission design, system specification, technology analysis, preliminary design, and detail design. Technology selection is only one part of systems analysis and engineering, and it is strongly related to the subsystem definitions. ALS systems should be designed using top-down systems engineering. R&TD technology selection should consider how the technology affects ALS system design. Technology ranking is useful but it is only a small part of systems engineering.

Jones, Harry↗
NASA NTRS1999

Solar Array Verification Analysis Tool (SAVANT) Developed

Modeling solar cell performance for a specific radiation environment to obtain the end-of-life photovoltaic array performance has become both increasingly important and, with the rapid advent of new types of cell technology, more difficult. For large constellations of satellites, a few percent difference in the lifetime prediction can have an enormous economic impact. The tool described here automates the assessment of solar array on-orbit end-of-life performance and assists in the development and design of ground test protocols for different solar cell designs. Once established, these protocols can be used to calculate on-orbit end-of-life performance from ground test results. The Solar Array Verification Analysis Tool (SAVANT) utilizes the radiation environment from the Environment Work Bench (EWB) model developed by the NASA Lewis Research Center s Photovoltaic and Space Environmental Effects Branch in conjunction with Maxwell Technologies. It then modifies and combines this information with the displacement damage model proposed by Summers et al. (ref. 1) of the Naval Research Laboratory to determine solar cell performance during the course of a given mission. The resulting predictions can then be compared with flight data. The Environment WorkBench (ref. 2) uses the NASA AE8 (electron) and AP8 (proton) models of the radiation belts to calculate the trapped radiation flux. These fluxes are integrated over the defined spacecraft orbit for the duration of the mission to obtain the total omnidirectional fluence spectra. Components such as the solar cell coverglass, adhesive, and antireflective coatings can slow and attenuate the particle fluence reaching the solar cell. In SAVANT, a continuous slowing down approximation is used to model this effect.

Bailey, Sheila G.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Modeling and Simulation Efforts to Support Improved Comfort in ARGOS

BACKGROUND: The Active Response Gravity Offload System (ARGOS) provides an analog environment for extravehicular activity (EVA) testing and training. Discomfort has been observed during longer suited test sessions. While the subject’s core is offloaded during surface EVA evaluations, his/her arms experience full Earth gravity and can become overly fatigued, especially during suited tests which involve reaching and prolonged arm extensions. A device (ARGOS Negation of Gravitational Effects on the Limbs: ANGEL) to offload the weight of the arms and suit sleeves is being developed by JSC’s Flight Systems Branch, and here we present preliminary modeling of that device using the open-source biomechanical tool OpenSim [1,2] with an in-house developed plugin. We analyze a series of motions performed by a single shirt-sleeved subject with goals of characterizing the device, validating the model, and predicting whether reduced gravity conditions (i.e., lunar gravity (Lg) or Martian gravity (Mg)) can be accurately simulated with the device, as well as providing comfort to the ARGOS user. METHODS AND RESULTS: To model the offload device, we augment the OpenSim human model topology with the offload mechanism components and joints, using CAD models to represent the mechanism graphically. The joint angles of the device are either obtained from (1) inverse kinematics (IK) using motion capture markers on the various components of the device or (2) calculated in the OpenSim plugin by modeling how the components configure themselves under the offloading spring tension given a particular IK-derived arm position. Given the joint angles of the device, the resulting force on the arm is computed by the plugin and applied as an external load in inverse dynamics (ID) in order to enable study of overall shoulder joint torques as well as offload achieved. We verify the calculated joint angles by using the inverse kinematic data and the forces from manual measurements of the spring both independently and integrated within the device. We found that calculated joint angles generally represent the angles measured and computed with IK, supporting a possible analysis workflow inputting human motion data and observing system behavior under varied design parameters. In two different device configurations in which the maximum applied force was 131 N, our current model accurately captured force with a difference of 2-3 N from measured loads. Though our initial test was performed with a shirt-sleeve subject, arm weights were added to emulate the weight of the suit sleeve and the subject was positioned in a test stand with a Mark-III Hard Upper Torso (HUT) and Portable Life Support System (PLSS) mockup. Arm range of motion tasks were performed outside of the HUT, inside the HUT, and inside the HUT while using the device. A variety of other upper body tasks were completed as well. In summary, we have developed a model to investigate and verify an upper limb offload device currently in development. We believe this model will be a valuable tool not only for device characterization but also to predict proper configurations to simulate Lg or Mg conditions, investigate range of motion concerns, predict limitations such as internal collisions and contacts, and inform future design improvements.

L B Nilsson↗
DOE OSTI2018

Long-term hindlimb unloading causes a preferential reduction of medullary thymic epithelial cells expressing autoimmune regulator (Aire)

Highlights: • Two-week hindlimb unloading caused persistent reductions of thymocyte number. • Two-week hindlimb unloading did not alter percentage of CD4{sup +}CD8{sup +} cells in thymocytes. • Hindlimb unloading reduced cellularity of thymic epithelial cells expressing Aire. • Hindlimb unloading reduced ectopic expression of tissue specific antigens in thymus. Hindlimb unloading (HU) of rodents has been used as a ground-based model of spaceflight. In this study, we investigated the detailed impact of 14-day HU on the murine thymus. Thymic mass and cell number were significantly reduced after 14 days of hindlimb unloading, which was accompanied by an increment of plasma corticosterone. Although corticosterone reportedly causes selective apoptosis of CD4{sup +}CD8{sup +} thymocytes (CD4{sup +}CD8{sup +}DPs) in mice treated with short-term HU, the reduction of thymocyte cellularity after the 14-day HU was not selective for CD4{sup +}CD8{sup +}DPs. In addition to the thymocyte reduction, the cellularity of thymic epithelial cells (TECs) was also reduced by the 14-day HU. Flow cytometric and RNA-sequencing analysis suggested that medullary TECs (mTECs) were preferentially reduced after HU. Moreover, immunohistochemical staining suggested that the 14-day HU caused a reduction of the mTECs expressing autoimmune regulator (Aire). Our data suggested that HU impacts both thymocytes and TECs. Consequently, these data imply that thymic T cell repertoire formation could be disturbed during spaceflight-like stress.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2015

TU-F-CAMPUS-I-05: Semi-Automated, Open Source MRI Quality Assurance and Quality Control Program for Multi-Unit Institution

Purpose: Phantom measurements allow for the performance of magnetic resonance (MR) systems to be evaluated. Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) Report No. 100 Acceptance Testing and Quality Assurance Procedures for MR Imaging Facilities, American College of Radiology (ACR) MR Accreditation Program MR phantom testing, and ACR MRI quality control (QC) program documents help to outline specific tests for establishing system performance baselines as well as system stability over time. Analyzing and processing tests from multiple systems can be time-consuming for medical physicists. Besides determining whether tests are within predetermined limits or criteria, monitoring longitudinal trends can also help prevent costly downtime of systems during clinical operation. In this work, a semi-automated QC program was developed to analyze and record measurements in a database that allowed for easy access to historical data. Methods: Image analysis was performed on 27 different MR systems of 1.5T and 3.0T field strengths from GE and Siemens manufacturers. Recommended measurements involved the ACR MRI Accreditation Phantom, spherical homogenous phantoms, and a phantom with an uniform hole pattern. Measurements assessed geometric accuracy and linearity, position accuracy, image uniformity, signal, noise, ghosting, transmit gain, center frequency, and magnetic field drift. The program was designed with open source tools, employing Linux, Apache, MySQL database and Python programming language for the front and backend. Results: Processing time for each image is <2 seconds. Figures are produced to show regions of interests (ROIs) for analysis. Historical data can be reviewed to compare previous year data and to inspect for trends. Conclusion: A MRI quality assurance and QC program is necessary for maintaining high quality, ACR MRI Accredited MR programs. A reviewable database of phantom measurements assists medical physicists with processing and monitoring of large datasets. Longitudinal data can reveal trends that although are within passing criteria indicate underlying system issues.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2015

Supply Chain Sustainability Analysis of Whole Algae Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Upgrading

The Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technology Office (BETO) collaborates with a wide range of institutions towards the development and deployment of biofuels and bioproducts. To facilitate this effort, BETO and its partner national laboratories develop detailed techno-economic assessments (TEA) of biofuel production technologies as part of the development of design cases and state of technology (SOT) analyses. A design case is a TEA that outlines a target case for a particular biofuel pathway. It enables preliminary identification of data gaps and research and development needs and provides goals and targets against which technology progress is assessed. On the other hand, an SOT analysis assesses progress within and across relevant technology areas based on actual experimental results relative to technical targets and cost goals from design cases and includes technical, economic, and environmental criteria as available. BETO also develops supply chain sustainability analyses (SCSA) for key biofuel production technologies that are the subject of design case or SOT analyses (Dunn et al. 2013). The SCSA utilizes a life-cycle analysis to estimate the energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with biofuel production and assists in comparing several biofuel pathways. This report documents an SCSA of whole algae hydrothermal liquefaction (AHTL) as the conversion technology to produce renewable diesel (RD). Jones et al. (2014) developed the design case process model that provides the material and energy intensity of the feedstock conversion step in the SCSA. In this study, conversion of algal biomass to RD is achieved by whole AHTL, as described in the design report by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (Jones et al., 2014). Wet algal biomass, as undisrupted cells, is converted into a liquid fuel with pressurized water in a condensed phase. The SCSA for this pathway is described.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
NASA NTRS1993

Investigating pyrolysis/incineration as a method of resource recovery from solid waste

Pyrolysis/incineration (P/I) is a physicochemical method for the generation of recoverable resources from solid waste materials such as inedible plant biomass (IPB), paper, plastics, cardboard, etc. P/I permits the collection of numerous gases with a minimal amount of solid residue. Pyrolysis, also known as starved air incineration, is usually conducted at relatively high temperatures (greater than 500 deg C) in the absence of oxygen. Incineration is conducted at lower temperatures in the presence of oxygen. The primary purpose of this study was to design, construct, and test a model P/I. The system design includes safety requirements for temperature and pressure. The objectives of this study were: (1) to design and construct a P/I system for incorporation with the Hybrid Regenerative Water Recovery System; (2) to initiate testing of the P/I system; (3) to collect and analyze P/I system data; (4) to consider test variables; and (5) to determine the feasibility of P/I as an effective method of resource recovery. A P/I system for the recovery of reuseable resources from solid waste materials was designed, constructed, and tested. Since a large amount of inedible plant biomass (IPB) will be generated in a space-based habitat on the lunar surface and Mars, IPB was the primary waste material tested in the system. Analysis of the effluent gases was performed to determine which gases could be used in a life support system.

Robertson, Bobby J.↗