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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 1,549 records · Page 86
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2009

NASA Tech Briefs, October 2009

Topics covered include: Light-Driven Polymeric Bimorph Actuators; Guaranteeing Failsafe Operation of Extended-Scene Shack-Hartmann Wavefront Sensor Algorithm; Cloud Water Content Sensor for Sounding Balloons and Small UAVs; Pixelized Device Control Actuators for Large Adaptive Optics; T-Slide Linear Actuators; G4FET Implementations of Some Logic Circuits; Electrically Variable or Programmable Nonvolatile Capacitors; System for Automated Calibration of Vector Modulators; Complementary Paired G4FETs as Voltage-Controlled NDR Device; Three MMIC Amplifiers for the 120-to-200 GHz Frequency Band; Low-Noise MMIC Amplifiers for 120 to 180 GHz; Using Ozone To Clean and Passivate Oxygen-Handling Hardware; Metal Standards for Waveguide Characterization of Materials; Two-Piece Screens for Decontaminating Granular Material; Mercuric Iodide Anticoincidence Shield for Gamma-Ray Spectrometer; Improved Method of Design for Folding Inflatable Shells; Ultra-Large Solar Sail; Cooperative Three-Robot System for Traversing Steep Slopes; Assemblies of Conformal Tanks; Microfluidic Pumps Containing Teflon[Trademark] AF Diaphragms; Transparent Conveyor of Dielectric Liquids or Particles; Multi-Cone Model for Estimating GPS Ionospheric Delays; High-Sensitivity GaN Microchemical Sensors; On the Divergence of the Velocity Vector in Real-Gas Flow; Progress Toward a Compact, Highly Stable Ion Clock; Instruments for Imaging from Far to Near; Reflectors Made from Membranes Stretched Between Beams; Integrated Risk and Knowledge Management Program -- IRKM-P; LDPC Codes with Minimum Distance Proportional to Block Size; Constructing LDPC Codes from Loop-Free Encoding Modules; MMICs with Radial Probe Transitions to Waveguides; Tests of Low-Noise MMIC Amplifier Module at 290 to 340 GHz; and Extending Newtonian Dynamics to Include Stochastic Processes.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS2016

High Performance Torso Cooling Garment

The concept proposed in this paper is to improve thermal efficiencies of the liquid cooling and ventilation garment (LCVG) in the torso area, which could facilitate removal of LCVG tubing from the arms and legs, thereby increasing suited crew member mobility. EVA space suit mobility in micro-gravity is challenging, and it becomes even more challenging in the gravity of Mars. By using shaped water tubes that greatly increase the contact area with the skin in the torso region of the body, the heat transfer efficiency can be increased. This increase in efficiency could provide the required liquid cooling via torso tubing only; no arm or leg LCVG tubing would be required. Benefits of this approach include increased crewmember mobility, reduced LCVG mass, enhanced evaporation cooling, increased comfort during Mars EVA tasks, and easing of the overly dry condition in the helmet associated with the Advanced Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) ventilation loop currently under development. This report describes analysis and test activities performed to evaluate the potential improvements to the thermal performance of the LCVG. Analyses evaluated potential tube shapes for improving the thermal performance of the LCVG. The analysis results fed into the selection of flat flow strips to improve thermal contact with the skin of the suited test subject. Testing of small segments was performed to compare thermal performance of the tubing approach of the current LCVG to the flat flow strips proposed as the new concept. Results of the testing is presented along with recommendations for future development of this new concept.

Conger, Bruce↗
NASA NTRS2016

High Performance Torso Cooling Garment

The concept proposed in this paper is to improve thermal efficiencies of the liquid cooling and ventilation garment (LCVG) in the torso area, which could facilitate removal of LCVG tubing from the arms and legs, thereby increasing suited crew member mobility. EVA space suit mobility in micro-gravity is challenging, and it becomes even more challenging in the gravity of Mars. By using shaped water tubes that greatly increase the contact area with the skin in the torso region of the body, the heat transfer efficiency can be increased. This increase in efficiency could provide the required liquid cooling via torso tubing only; no arm or leg LCVG tubing would be required. Benefits of this approach include increased crewmember mobility, enhanced evaporation cooling, increased comfort during Mars EVA tasks, and easing of the overly dry condition in the helmet associated with the Advanced Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) ventilation loop currently under development. This report describes analysis and test activities performed to evaluate the potential improvements to the thermal performance of the LCVG. Analyses evaluated potential tube shapes for improving the thermal performance of the LCVG. The analysis results fed into the selection of flat flow strips to improve thermal contact with the skin of the suited test subject. Testing of small segments was performed to compare thermal performance of the tubing approach of the current LCVG to the flat flow strips proposed as the new concept. Results of the testing is presented along with recommendations for future development of this new concept.

Conger, Bruce↗
NASA NTRS2019

Exploration of Near-Term Potential Routes and Procedures for Urban Air Mobility

Urban air mobility is gaining interest as the need for On Demand Mobility in today's congested traffic is becoming high in metropolitan areas. Urban Air Mobility (UAM) is envisioned as a concept to transport passengers and cargo safely and efficiently using innovative aircraft in the urban areas. It is expected to improve mobility for the general public, decongest road traffic, reduce transport time and reduce the strain on existing public transport networks. There exist several challenges to Urban Air Mobility (UAM) such as integration of procedures with airspace and the airport, noise levels that are acceptable to the general public, public safety, public acceptance, vehicle certification, and more. Most of the research in the United States and European skies (DLR - German Aerospace Center) related to urban areas has focused on small UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) flights (NASA's UTM (UAS Traffic Management) research) and their integration with the airspace and building safe operations in densely populated areas. Previous studies on UAM have focused on fast time simulations of the routes that are separated via a separation service and network of routes. Similarly, research in Europe has focused on the approach profile for these innovative aircraft, vertiports and battery life among others. UAM as a part of the On-Demand Mobility effort has provided some guidelines for operations as shown below: Does not require additional ATC (Air Traffic Control) infrastructure; Does not impose additional workload on ATC; Does not restrict operations of traditional airspace users; Will meet appropriate safety thresholds and requirements; Will prioritize operational scalability; Will allow flexibility where possible and structure where necessary. This paper explores potential routes and procedures in a Human-In-The-Loop (HITL) experiment that could be applied in the near-term to allow integration of UAM flights into the airspace as well as a large airport. The airspace that was explored was Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) airspace managed by the DFW East Tower in South Flow only. In addition, Dallas Love Field (DAL) and Addison (ADS) airspace were also part of the testbed. The initial set of routes investigated in this study were published helicopter routes in the DFW area. Figure 1 shows class B airspace in DFW area and the origin/destination city pairs where UAM flights flew along with helicopter routes shown in blue. The research focused on exploring procedures for integrating UAM flights into Class Bravo and Class Delta airspace. Three different communication procedures, evaluated with three different levels of UAM traffic, are shown in Table 1. The current day routes were evaluated with current day communication procedures were explored as the first condition. The current day routes were also evaluated in the second condition with reduced communications, which was assumed due to the presence of a Letter Of Agreement (LOA). The purpose of the LOA was to reduce the verbiage associated with pilots getting clearance to Class B airspace from the controllers, pre-assigning beacons codes to the UAM flights, separate routes by assigning altitudes and speeds to flights going in any one direction. Flights were expected to automatically change frequency when exiting Class B airspace, thus transition points for entry and exit points were also specified in the LOA.

Urban Air Mobility↗
NASA NTRS2020

Marshall Space Flight Center Faculty Fellowship Program

This paper presents a multi-node model of autogenous pressurization of liquid nitrogen in a flight tank using the Generalized Fluid System Simulation Program (GFSSP), a general purpose flow network code developed at NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center. This study considers two different models: (a) pressurization of the tank by nitrogen gas from a supply tank and (b) pressurization of the tank by using the boil-off propellant through an IVF (Integrated Vehicle Fluids) loop. The tank pressurization model considers two different liquid fill-levels of the tank (a) 75% and (b) 45%. Heat and mass transfer between the liquid and vapor has been modeled at the liquid vapor interface. Heat transfer between wall and vapor at the ullage has been accounted for by assuming heat transfer occurs by natural convection. The model also accounts for heat leak to the tank through the insulation and metal wall by heat conduction. The predicted pressures and temperatures are compared with the measured data and good agreement has been observed. In the second case, the tank is pressurized by using the boil-off fluid that recirculates through an IVF loop. Preliminary results from this model are also reported.

N.F. Six↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Velocity and Temperature Measurements in High-speed Flows with Naturally Present Dust Particles Using Rayleigh and Mie Scattering

Dust particles and occasional moisture condensations are unavoidable reality of all wind tunnels. On the path to pursue a goal of velocity and temperature measurements in large transonic and supersonic wind tunnels we have created a tabletop, spectrally resolved, Rayleigh-Mie scattering setup around a small jet fed by ambient and lightly seeded air to determine the viability and accuracy of the technique. The other reality of a wind tunnel setup is the background scattering or the glare at laser frequency, which contaminates the Rayleigh-Mie scattered light. This is simulated by backgrounds with different reflectivity towards the collection optics. Light from a CW laser is delivered via an optical fiber and the scattered light is spectrally resolved using a stabilized Fabry-Perot interferometer, followed by imaging on an EMCCD camera. A model of the of the combined background glare, Mie scattering, and the Rayleigh spectrum was fitted to the camera image using maximum likelihood estimation. Since the background glare occurs at the known frequency of the incident light and the Mie scattering peak corresponds to the Doppler shift from the bulk velocity, both were easily identified, and provided a measure of flow velocity. Preliminary results show that the Rayleigh spectrum can also be resolved, which provides a measure of temperature. It is observed that a slight drift of the laser frequency during data collection affected fitting of the model function leading to larger error. A feedback loop-based stabilization system is on development to take advantage of slight tunability of the laser via a piezo-control. Preliminary results are presented in the abstract. More extensive data from a systematic survey will be presented in the final paper.

Rayleigh scattering↗
DOE OSTI2023

Twistorial monopoles & chiral algebras

We initiate the study of how the insertion of magnetically charged states in 4d self-dual gauge theories impacts the 2d chiral algebras supported on the celestial sphere at asymptotic null infinity, from the point of view of the 4d/2d twistorial correspondence introduced by Costello and the second author. By reducing the 6d twistorial theory to a 3d holomorphic-topological theory with suitable boundary conditions, we can motivate certain non-perturbative enhancements of the celestial chiral algebra corresponding to extensions by modules arising from 3d boundary monopole operators. We also identify the insertion of 4d (non-abelian) monopoles with families of spectral flow automorphisms of the celestial chiral algebra.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Improving deep learning performance for predicting large-scale geological ${{CO}_{2}}$ sequestration modeling through feature coarsening

Physics-based reservoir simulation for fluid flow in porous media is a numerical simulation method to predict the temporal-spatial patterns of state variables (e.g. pressure p) in porous media, and usually requires prohibitively high computational expense due to its non-linearity and the large number of degrees of freedom (DoF). This work describes a deep learning (DL) workflow to predict the pressure evolution as fluid flows in large-scale 3-dimensional(3D) heterogeneous porous media. In particular, we develop an efficient feature coarsening technique to extract the most representative information and perform the training and prediction of DL at the coarse scale, and further recover the resolution at the fine scale by spatial interpolation. We validate the DL approach to predict pressure field against physics-based simulation data for a field-scale 3D geologic CO 2 sequestration reservoir model. We evaluate the impact of feature coarsening on DL performance, and observe that the feature coarsening not only decreases the training time by >74% and reduces the memory consumption by >75%, but also maintains temporal error 0.63% on average. Besides, the DL workflow provides predictive efficiency with 1406 times speedup compared to physics-based numerical simulation. The key findings from this research significantly improve the training and prediction efficiency of deep learning model to deal with large-scale heterogeneous reservoir models, and thus it can also be further applied to accelerate workflows of history matching and reservoir optimization for close-loop reservoir management.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2015

The running coupling of the minimal sextet composite Higgs model

We compute the renormalized running coupling of SU(3) gauge theory coupled to N f = 2 flavors of massless Dirac fermions in the 2-index-symmetric (sextet) representation. This model is of particular interest as a minimal realization of the strongly interacting composite Higgs scenario. A recently proposed finite volume gradient flow scheme is used. The calculations are performed at several lattice spacings with two different implementations of the gradient flow allowing for a controlled continuum extrapolation and particular attention is paid to estimating the systematic uncertainties. For small values of the renormalized coupling our results for the β-function agree with perturbation theory. For moderate couplings we observe a downward deviation relative to the 2-loop β-function but in the coupling range where the continuum extrapolation is fully under control we do not observe an infrared fixed point. The explored range includes the locations of the zero of the 3-loop and the 4-loop β-functions in the $\overline{MS}$ scheme. The absence of a non-trivial zero in the β-function in the explored range of the coupling is consistent with our earlier findings based on hadronic observables, the chiral condensate and the GMOR relation. The present work is the first to report continuum non-perturbative results for the sextet model.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Hybrid Pressure Retarded Osmosis-Membrane Distillation System for Power Generation from Low-Grade Heat: Thermodynamic Analysis and Energy Efficiency

We present a novel hybrid membrane system that operates as a heat engine capable of utilizing low-grade thermal energy, which is not readily recoverable with existing technologies. The closed-loop system combines membrane distillation (MD), which generates concentrated and pure water streams by thermal separation, and pressure retarded osmosis (PRO), which converts the energy of mixing to electricity by a hydro-turbine. The PRO-MD system was modeled by coupling the mass and energy flows between the thermal separation (MD) and power generation (PRO) stages for heat source temperatures ranging from 40 to 80 degrees C and working concentrations of 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 mol/kg NaCl. The factors controlling the energy efficiency of the heat engine were evaluated for both limited and unlimited mass and heat transfer kinetics in the thermal separation stage. In both cases, the relative flow rate between the MD permeate (distillate) and feed streams is identified as an important operation parameter. There is an optimal relative flow rate that maximizes the overall energy efficiency of the PRO-MD system for given working temperatures and concentration. In the case of unlimited mass and heat transfer kinetics, the energy efficiency of the system can be analytically determined based on thermodynamics. Our assessment indicates that the hybrid PRO-MD system can theoretically achieve an energy efficiency of 9.8% (81.6% of the Carnot efficiency) with hot and cold working temperatures of 60 and 20 degrees C, respectively, and a working solution of 1.0 M NaCl. When mass and heat transfer kinetics are limited, conditions that more closely represent actual operations, the practical energy efficiency will be lower than the theoretically achievable efficiency. In such practical operations, utilizing a higher working concentration will yield greater energy efficiency. Overall, our study demonstrates the theoretical viability of the PRO-MD system and identifies the key factors for performance optimization.

Lin, SH↗
DOE OSTI2014

Velocity-resolved [Ne III] from X-ray irradiated Sz 102 microjets

Neon emission lines are good indicators of high-excitation regions close to a young stellar system because of their high ionization potentials and large critical densities. We have discovered [Ne III] λ3869 emission from the microjets of Sz 102, a low-mass young star in Lupus III. Spectroastrometric analyses of two-dimensional [Ne III] spectra obtained from archival high-dispersion (R ≈ 33, 000) Very Large Telescope/UVES data suggest that the emission consists of two velocity components spatially separated by ∼0.''3, or a projected distance of ∼60 AU. The stronger redshifted component is centered at ∼ + 21 km s{sup –1} with a line width of ∼140 km s{sup –1}, and the weaker blueshifted component at ∼ – 90 km s{sup –1} with a line width of ∼190 km s{sup –1}. The two components trace velocity centroids of the known microjets and show large line widths that extend across the systemic velocity, suggesting their potential origins in wide-angle winds that may eventually collimate into jets. Optical line ratios indicate that the microjets are hot (T ≲ 1.6 × 10{sup 4} K) and ionized (n{sub e} ≳ 5.7 × 10{sup 4} cm{sup –3}). The blueshifted component has ∼13% higher temperature and ∼46% higher electron density than the redshifted counterpart, forming a system of an asymmetric pair of jets. The detection of the [Ne III] λ3869 line with the distinct velocity profile suggests that the emission originates in flows that may have been strongly ionized by deeply embedded hard X-ray sources, most likely generated by magnetic processes. The discovery of [Ne III] λ3869 emission along with other optical forbidden lines from Sz 102 supports the picture of wide-angle winds surrounding magnetic loops in the close vicinity of the young star. Future high-sensitivity X-ray imaging and high angular-resolution optical spectroscopy may help confirm the picture proposed.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2017

GTRF Cladding Wear Modeling and Experimental Validation

Coolant flow-induced relative motions between certain structural components in the cores of lightwater nuclear reactor cores, a phenomenon called Grid-To-Rod Fretting (GTRF), can result in progressive wear damage. Wear-through of the cladding on fuel rods can introduce radioactive species into the coolant loop. Such an event is termed a “leaker” and may cause premature and expensive reactor shut-down. GTRF results in wear scars of various sizes, shapes, and depths on the sides of the fuel rod cladding. Fretting damage may also occur on the springs and dimples that hold the fuel rods in place, resulting in the formation of gaps. Due to variability in the operating conditions of the reactor (burn-up rates and operating campaigns) and the associated variable cladding surface oxide film growth and removal rates, the wear coefficient is unlikely to remain constant over time. Therefore, constant wear rate models do not accurately account for transients in the operating conditions.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
NASA NTRS1976

An experimental investigation of an axisymmetric jet in a coflowing airstream

The flow development of an axisymmetric jet exhausting into a moving airstream has been studied. The jet has a Reynolds number of 22,600, and the ratio of the jet velocity to the wind tunnel velocity is 5.1 to 1. The flow field of the axisymmetric jet was examined at locations varying from approximately zero to eight diameters downstream of the orifice. Of primary concern at each downstream location was the mapping of the one point statistical properties of the flow, including mean velocity, turbulent intensity, and intermittency. Autocorrelations and power spectral density curves were determined for both the fluctuating velocity field and the concentration signal at various distances from the jet's center line for different downstream locations. A laser Doppler velocimeter, using a phase locked loop processor, was used to make the desired velocity field measurements which were compared with hot wire anemometer and pressure probe data.

Catalano, G. D.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Thermal control for the 1990's

Current thermal distribution systems on large spacecraft, such as the Space Shuttle and Spacelab, use pumped fluid loops that circulate the coolant between a series of user stations and a single rejection point, involving complex plumbing and controls with a significant power penalty and limited reliability. In order to provide heat transport at near-isothermal conditions in future large spacecraft, two-phase flow systems will be implemented by taking advantage of the heat of vaporization and condensation of common working fluids at minimal expenditure of power and temperature variation. Such systems are considered for the cases of the thermal requirements of nearly 100 potential astrophysics and astronomy instruments. Data on temperature requirements, power dissipations, environmental fluxes, heat addition or rejection, and general description, are used to form conceptual designs for the thermal utility.

Ollendorf, S.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Optical spectrophotometry of the Cygnus Loop

Cygnus Loop filament optical spectral properties are discussed, with emphasis on comparisons between observational and model data. Some line intensities are correlated among filaments in such a way as to suggest that a well resolved ionization structure behind the shock front is being observed. Departures from the steady flow condition assumed in the present model are found to be necessary in order to improve agreement with observations.

Fesen, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1990

3-D components of a biological neural network visualized in computer generated imagery. II - Macular neural network organization

Computer-assisted reconstructions of small parts of the macular neural network show how the nerve terminals and receptive fields are organized in 3-dimensional space. This biological neural network is anatomically organized for parallel distributed processing of information. Processing appears to be more complex than in computer-based neural network, because spatiotemporal factors figure into synaptic weighting. Serial reconstruction data show anatomical arrangements which suggest that (1) assemblies of cells analyze and distribute information with inbuilt redundancy, to improve reliability; (2) feedforward/feedback loops provide the capacity for presynaptic modulation of output during processing; (3) constrained randomness in connectivities contributes to adaptability; and (4) local variations in network complexity permit differing analyses of incoming signals to take place simultaneously. The last inference suggests that there may be segregation of information flow to central stations subserving particular functions.

Ross, Muriel D.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Two-dimensional simulation of a two-phase, regenerative pumped radiator loop utilizing direct contact heat transfer with phase change

An innovative pumped loop concept for 600 K space power system radiators utilizing direct contact heat transfer, which facilitates repeated startup/shutdown of the power system without complex and time-consuming coolant thawing during power startup, is under development. The heat transfer process with melting/freezing of Li in an NaK flow was studied through two-dimensional time-dependent numerical simulations to characterize and predict the Li/NaK radiator performance during startup (thawing) and shutdown (cold-trapping). Effects of system parameters and the criteria for the plugging domain are presented together with temperature distribution patterns in solid Li and subsequent melting surface profile variations in time.

Rhee, Hyop S.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Post-flare loops embedded in a hot coronal fan-like structure

Limb events were demonstrated on the sun in which rising post-flare loops were embedded in hot structures looking in soft X-rays like fans of rays, formed during the flare and extending high into the corona. One of these structures is analyzed and it is suggested that these fans of rays represent temporary ministreamers, along which mass flows into interplanetary space. This suggestion is supported by maps of solar wind density constructed from scintillation measurements.

Svestka, Z.↗