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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 NTRS2015

Update on Risk Reduction Activities for a Liquid Advanced Booster for NASA's Space Launch System

The stated goals of NASA's Research Announcement for the Space Launch System (SLS) Advanced Booster Engineering Demonstration and/or Risk Reduction (ABEDRR) are to reduce risks leading to an affordable Advanced Booster that meets the evolved capabilities of SLS; and enable competition by mitigating targeted Advanced Booster risks to enhance SLS affordability. Dynetics, Inc. and Aerojet Rocketdyne (AR) formed a team to offer a wide-ranging set of risk reduction activities and full-scale, system-level demonstrations that support NASA's ABEDRR goals. For NASA's SLS ABEDRR procurement, Dynetics and AR formed a team to offer a series of full-scale risk mitigation hardware demonstrations for an affordable booster approach that meets the evolved capabilities of the SLS. To establish a basis for the risk reduction activities, the Dynetics Team developed a booster design that takes advantage of the flight-proven Apollo-Saturn F-1. Using NASA's vehicle assumptions for the SLS Block 2, a two-engine, F-1-based booster design delivers 150 mT (331 klbm) payload to LEO, 20 mT (44 klbm) above NASA's requirements. This enables a low-cost, robust approach to structural design. During the ABEDRR effort, the Dynetics Team has modified proven Apollo-Saturn components and subsystems to improve affordability and reliability (e.g., reduce parts counts, touch labor, or use lower cost manufacturing processes and materials). The team has built hardware to validate production costs and completed tests to demonstrate it can meet performance requirements. State-of-the-art manufacturing and processing techniques have been applied to the heritage F-1, resulting in a low recurring cost engine while retaining the benefits of Apollo-era experience. NASA test facilities have been used to perform low-cost risk-reduction engine testing. In early 2014, NASA and the Dynetics Team agreed to move additional large liquid oxygen/kerosene engine work under Dynetics' ABEDRR contract. Also led by AR, the objectives of this work are to demonstrate combustion stability and measure performance of a 500,000 lbf class Oxidizer-Rich Staged Combustion (ORSC) cycle main injector. A trade study was completed to investigate the feasibility, cost effectiveness, and technical maturity of a domestically produced Atlas V engine that could also potentially satisfy NASA SLS payload-to-orbit requirements via an advanced booster application. Engine physical dimensions and performance parameters resulting from this study provide the system level requirements for the ORSC risk reduction test article. The test article is scheduled to complete critical design review this fall and begin testing in 2017. Dynetics has also designed, developed, and built innovative tank and structure assemblies using friction stir welding to leverage recent NASA investments in manufacturing tools, facilities, and processes, significantly reducing development and recurring costs. The full-scale cryotank assembly was used to verify the structural design and prove affordable processes. Dynetics performed hydrostatic and cryothermal proof tests on the assembly to verify the assembly meets performance requirements. This paper will discuss the ABEDRR engine task and structures task achievements to date and the remaining effort through the end of the contract.

Crocker, Andrew M.↗
NASA NTRS2017

Near Earth Asteroid Solar Sail Engineering Development Unit Test Program

The Near Earth Asteroid (NEA) Scout project is a 30x20x10cm (6U) cubesat reconnaissance mission to investigate a near Earth asteroid utilizing an 86m2 solar sail as the primary propulsion system. This will be the largest solar sail NASA will launch to date. NEA Scout is a secondary payload currently manifested on the maiden voyage of the Space Launch System in 2018. In development of the solar sail subsystem, design challenges were identified and investigated for packaging within a 6U form factor and deployment in cis-lunar space. Analysis furthered understanding of thermal, stress, and dynamics of the stowed system and matured an integrated sail membrane model for deployed flight dynamics. This paper will address design, fabrication, and lessons learned from the NEA Scout solar sail subsystem engineering development unit. From optical properties of the sail material to folding and spooling the single 86m2 sail, the team has developed a robust deployment system for the solar sail. This paper will also address expected and received test results from ascent vent, random vibration, and deployment tests.

Lockett, Tiffany Russell↗
NASA NTRS2005

The Future of Bio-technology

Hosts of technologies, most notably in electronics, have been on the path of miniaturization for decades and in 2005 they have crossed the threshold of the nano-scale. Crossing the nano-scale threshold is a milestone in miniaturization, setting impressive new standards for component-packing densities. It also brings technology to a scale at which quantum effects and fault tolerance play significant roles and approaches the feasible physical limit form many conventional "top-down" manufacturing methods. I will suggest that the most formidable manufacturing problems in nanotechnology will be overcome and major breakthroughs will occur in a host of technologies, when nanotechnology converges with bio-technology; i.e. I will argue that the future of bio-technology is in nanotechnology. In 2005, methods in molecular biology, microscopy, bioinformatics, biochemistry, and genetic engineering have focused considerable attention on the nano-scale. On this scale, biology is a kind of recursive chemistry in which molecular recognition, self-assembly, self-organization and self-referencing context-control lead to the emergence of the complexity of structures and processes that are fundamental to all life forms. While we are still far from understanding this complexity, we are on the threshold of being able to use at least some of these biological properties for .technology. I will discuss the use of biomolecules, such as DNA, RNA, and proteins as "tools" for the bio-technologist of the future. More specifically, I will present in some detail an example of how we are using a genetically engineered 60-kDa protein (HSP60) from an organism living in near boiling sulfuric acid to build nano-scale templates for arranging metallic nanoparticles. These "extremophile" HSP60s self-assemble into robust double-ring structures called "chaperonins," which further assemble into filaments and arrays with nanometer accuracy. I will discuss our efforts to use chaperonins to organize quantum dots, electronic and magnetic nano-particles for electronic and photonic applications.

Trent, Jonathan↗
NASA NTRS2014

Design and Operation of a Fast, Thin-Film Thermocouple Probe on a Turbine Engine

As a demonstration of technology maturation, a thin-film temperature sensor probe was fabricated and installed on a F117 turbofan engine via a borescope access port to monitor the temperature experienced in the bleed air passage of the compressor area during an engine checkout test run. To withstand the harsh conditions experienced in this environment, the sensor probe was built from high temperature materials. The thin-film thermocouple sensing elements were deposited by physical vapor deposition using pure metal elements, thus avoiding the inconsistencies of sputter-depositing particular percentages of materials to form standardized alloys commonly found in thermocouples. The sensor probe and assembly were subjected to a strict protocol of multi-axis vibrational testing as well as elevated temperature pressure testing to be qualified for this application. The thin-film thermocouple probe demonstrated a faster response than a traditional embedded thermocouple during the engine checkout run.

thermocouples↗
DOE OSTI2023

Autonomous Restoration of Networked Microgrids Using Communication-Free Smart Sensing and Protection Units

Here this paper presents autonomous restoration of networked microgrids using distributed energy resources (DERs), inverter-based resources (IBRs) in general, and controllable assets of intelligence without communication to achieve a extremely resilient power system restoration. The main innovation of this work lies in use of real-time smart sensing and decision making that enable autonomous recombination of islanded microgrids, which are individually black-started by local grid-forming (GFM) inverter units. The smart circuit breakers (SCBs) designed and demonstrated here play critical roles in the restoration process to achieve autonomy; the autonomous restoration scheme is not pre-engineered and may be subject to encounter overloading, live or downed segments as the boundary of the microgrids dynamically expands without prior knowledge and only with local measurement. We demonstrate autonomous microgrid restoration both in simulation of a modified IEEE 13-bus system, and in a hardware testbed comprising 24 GFM-IBRs and 6-SCBs, depicting several scenarios to evaluate their functionalities and interoperability. This work validates high potential of extremely resilient microgrid using novel approaches for inverter-based bottom-up system restoration in a communication-free paradigm.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2023

Device architectures having engineered stresses

The present disclosure relates to a method that includes depositing a spalling layer onto a surface that includes a substrate, depositing a device comprising a III-V material onto the spalling layer, resulting in the forming of a stack, and dividing the stack substantially at a plane positioned within the spalling layer to form a first portion that includes the substrate and a second portion that includes the PV device, where the spalling layer includes a first layer configured to provide a compressive stress and a second layer configured to provide a tensile stress, the first layer and the second layer form an interface, the dividing occurs as result of the interface, and the compressive stress and the tensile stress are strain-balanced so that a total strain within the spalling layer is approximately zero.

Steiner, Myles Aaron↗
NASA NTRS1947

Laboratory Investigation of Ice Formation and Elimination in the Induction System of a Large Twin-engine Cargo Aircraft

The icing characteristics, the de-icing rate with hot air, and the effect of impact ice on fuel metering and mixture distribution have been determined in a laboratory investigation of that part of the engine induction system consisting of a three-barrel injection-type carburetor and a supercharger housing with spinner-type fuel injection from an 18-cylinder radial engine used on a large twin-engine cargo airplane. The induction system remained ice-free at carburetor-air temperatures above 36 F regardless of the moisture content of the air. Between carburetor-air temperatures of 32 F and 36 F with humidity ratios in excess of saturation, serious throttling ice formed in the carburetor because of expansion cooling of the air; at carburetor-air temperatures below 32 F with humidity ratios in excess of saturation, serious impact-ice formations occurred, Spinner-type fuel injection at the entrance to the supercharger and heating of the supercharger-inlet elbow and the guide vanes by the warn oil in the rear engine housing are design features that proved effective in eliminating fuel-evaporation icing and minimized the formation of throttling ice below the carburetor. Air-flow recovery time with fixed throttle was rapidly reduced as the inlet -air wet -bulb temperature was increased to 55 F; further temperature increase produced negligible improvement in recovery time. Larger ice formations and lower icing temperatures increased the time required to restore proper air flow at a given wet-bulb temperature. Impact-ice formations on the entrance screen and the top of the carburetor reduced the over-all fuel-air ratio and increased the spread between the over-all ratio and the fuel-air ratio of the individual cylinders. The normal spread of fuel-air ratio was increased from 0.020 to 0.028 when the left quarter of the entrance screen was blocked in a manner simulating the blocking resulting from ice formations released from upstream duct walls during hot-air de-icing.

ICE PREVENTION - AIR HEATING↗
DOE OSTI2026

Engineering CoO x ‑Based Self-Supported Anodes for Pure-Water-Fed Anion-Exchange-Membrane Electrolysis

Commercial membrane electrolyzers rely on acidic fluorocarbon membranes and ionomers, requiring the use of expensive IrO x -based oxygen-evolution catalysts. Anion-exchange-membrane water electrolyzers (AEMWEs) operate in an alkaline environment, enabling the use of non-precious-metal catalysts. Here, we study and engineer CoO x -based catalyst-coated anodes deposited via hydrothermal synthesis directly onto porous transport layers both with and without thermal annealing. The self-supported, nanoneedle-structured Co3O4 anode, formed by annealing the as-synthesized cobalt carbonate hydroxide, Co­(CO3) x (OH) y , outperforms the baseline Co3O4 nanoparticle ink-based anode in pure-water-fed AEMWE due to the improved catalyst-layer continuity and thus number of electroactive Co species. The as-synthesized and unannealed Co­(CO3) x (OH) y , however, appears to undergo substantial conversion to a more-active CoO x (OH) y phase predominantly at the surface, with nominal Co3+ present and higher electrical conductivity, lowering the cell voltage to ∼200 mV at 1.0 A·cm–2 in pure-water-fed AEMWE compared to the conventional Co3O4 nanoparticle anodes. We analyze the differences in electrode electrochemical response between pure-water and KOH feed modes, finding distinct activation and degradation modes. The Co­(CO3) x (OH) y anode shows significant activation and slower degradation linked to the conversion to oxyhydroxide. We propose catalyst layer designs that promote both hydroxide and electron transport, alongside interfacial engineering strategies to obtain high performance while mitigating anode degradation.

anion-exchange-membrane water electrolysis↗
NASA NTRS1955

Analog Study of Interacting and Noninteracting Multiple-loop Control Systems for Turbojet Engines

The results of an analog investigation of several turbojet-engine control configurations is presented in this report. Both proportional and proportional-plus-integral controllers were studied, and compensating terms for engine interaction were added to the control system. Data were obtained on the stability limits and the transient responses of these various configurations. Analytical expressions in terms of the component transfer functions were developed for the configurations studied, and the optimum form for the compensation terms was determined. It was found that the addition of the integral term, while making the system slower and more oscillatory, was desirable in that it made the final values of the system parameters independent of source of disturbance and also eliminated droop in these parameters. Definite improvement in system characteristics resulted from the use of proper compensation terms. At comparable gain points the compensated system was faster and more stable. Complete compensation eliminated engine interaction, permitting each loop to be developed to an optimum point independently.

Pack, George J↗
DOE OSTI2023

Additive Manufacturing of Poly(phenylene Sulfide) Aerogels via Simultaneous Material Extrusion and Thermally Induced Phase Separation

Abstract Additive manufacturing (AM) of aerogels increases the achievable geometric complexity, and affords fabrication of hierarchically porous structures. In this work, a custom heated material extrusion (MEX) device prints aerogels of poly(phenylene sulfide) (PPS), an engineering thermoplastic, via in situ thermally induced phase separation (TIPS). First, pre‐prepared solid gel inks are dissolved at high temperatures in the heated extruder barrel to form a homogeneous polymer solution. Solutions are then extruded onto a room‐temperature substrate, where printed roads maintain their bead shape and rapidly solidify via TIPS, thus enabling layer‐wise MEX AM. Printed gels are converted to aerogels via postprocessing solvent exchange and freeze‐drying. This work explores the effect of ink composition on printed aerogel morphology and thermomechanical properties. Scanning electron microscopy micrographs reveal complex hierarchical microstructures that are compositionally dependent. Printed aerogels demonstrate tailorable porosities (50.0–74.8%) and densities (0.345–0.684 g cm −3 ), which align well with cast aerogel analogs. Differential scanning calorimetry thermograms indicate printed aerogels are highly crystalline (≈43%), suggesting that printing does not inhibit the solidification process occurring during TIPS (polymer crystallization). Uniaxial compression testing reveals that compositionally dependent microstructure governs aerogel mechanical behavior, with compressive moduli ranging from 33.0 to 106.5 MPa.

Chemistry↗
DOE OSTI2024

A Versatile Electrochemical Cell for Operando XAS

In situ and operando X–ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) provides fundamental insight into the working principles of electrocatalysts and is an important tool for future catalyst development. However, the design of an operando XAS electrocatalytic cell is not facile, and researchers designing cells, whether new cells or modifications to previous cells, often spend many hours on cell design before obtaining high–quality XAS data. Here, we describe the design, with engineering drawings, and operation of a versatile XAS cell with options for gas flow, electrolyte flow, pH monitoring, temperature monitoring, and the ability to handle many catalyst forms (any catalyst that can be deposited onto a conductive X–ray transparent substrate). We benchmarked XAS spectra collected using the new experimental cell to a previous cell design showing its ability to produce quality XAS data. We demonstrate the viability of this cell by providing insight into electrocatalysts by studying cation effects and show the tetrabutylammonium cation prevents bulk oxidation of copper. Finally, we hope the availability of this cell allows researchers to convert time typically spent on cell design to time spent on breakthroughs in electrocatalysis.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2024

Spatially-resolved soot evolution and statistics in high-pressure diesel spray flames using two-color pyrometry

Previous studies of diesel spray flames have focused on details of the sooting behavior mainly during the quasi-steady period, but few have considered the spatially-resolved transient evolution in combination with injection-to-injection variations. In this study, a 500-injection data set is utilized to investigate the temporal evolution of a spray flame during auto-ignition, the premixed burn phase, and the quasi-steady period. Spatially-resolved OH* chemiluminescence data provide ignition delay times and reaction zone locations. Two-color pyrom-etry with a vastly improved optical system is used to quantify spatially-resolved soot evolution and its statistical variations. The ambient thermodynamic con-ditions are slightly below those in modern diesel engines, resulting in longer lift-off lengths and lower overall soot production. Spatially, soot formation in the lift-off region is small, but appreciable soot forms in the jet core and jet head regions, while it oxidizes gradually on the jet periphery. Total soot mass profiles indicate that regions with larger local soot mass take longer to form, but are the first to oxidize. Probability distributions of soot mass in localized regions indicate that a few injections with high soot mass bias the average soot mass data towards higher values. Altogether, results show good agreement with previous studies employing different diagnostic techniques while providing statistical details of transient and localized soot behavior in high pressure diesel spray flames in support of the related modeling efforts.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Domain-Dependent Surface Adhesion in Twisted Few-Layer Graphene: Platform for Moiré-Assisted Chemistry

Twisted van der Waals multilayers are widely regarded as a rich platform to access novel electronic phases thanks to the multiple degrees of freedom available for controlling their electronic and chemical properties. Here, in this work, we propose that the stacking domains that form naturally due to the relative twist between successive layers act as an additional ”knob” for controlling the behavior of these systems and report the emergence and engineering of stacking domain-dependent surface chemistry in twisted few-layer graphene. Using mid-infrared near-field optical microscopy and atomic force microscopy, we observe a selective adhesion of metallic nanoparticles and liquid water at the domains with rhombohedral stacking configurations of minimally twisted double bi- and trilayer graphene. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the manipulation of nanoparticles located at certain stacking domains can locally reconfigure the moiré superlattice in their vicinity at the micrometer scale. Our findings establish a new approach to controlling moiré-assisted chemistry and nanoengineering.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2020

Intrinsic chemical reactivity of solid-electrolyte interphase components in silicon–lithium alloy anode batteries probed by FTIR spectroscopy

Herein we report the solid reaction products from the chemical reaction of aprotic battery electrolyte and three purported components of the Si-based anode SEI : SiO 2 nanoparticles (NPs), lithium silicate (Li x SiO y ) powders, and Si NPs. We use FTIR and classical molecular dynamics/density functional perturbation theory to assess the solid products remaining with these model materials after exposure to electrolyte. The absence of electrochemical bias provides a view of the chemical speciation resulting from early-stage chemical reactivity during battery assembly as well as under open circuit storage conditions. We believe these species represent the initial stages of SEI growth and predict they likely drive subsequent chemical and electrochemical reactions by controlling molecular interactons at the Si active material interface. We find that nominally equivalent materials react differently even before any electrochemistry is performed (e.g., acidic SiO 2 dissolves whereas alkaline SiO 2 is relatively robust), and derive new understanding of the chemical species that could and could not form stable SEI components in Si-based anodes. These results can be used to inform how to passivate Si anode surfaces and potentially generate an artificially engineered SEI that would be stable and enable next-generation battery anodes.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS1967

Computer used to program numerically controlled milling machine

Computer program automatically directs a numerically controlled milling machine through a series of cutting and trimming actions. It accepts engineering data points, passes smooth curve segments through the points, breaks the resulting curves into a series of closely spaced points, and transforms these points into the form required by the mechanism.

Harris, T. C.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Computer program draws three-dimensional surfaces

Computer plotting program PLOT 3D draws views of surface forms z = f(x,y). Surface thus defined by program may be drawn after arbitrary rotations. Program portrays behavior of various functions involving two variables in many engineering, physics, and mathematical relationships.

Canright, R. B., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Summary of the general aviation manufacturers' position on aircraft piston engine emissions

The General Aviation Manufacturers recommended that the EPA rescind the aircraft piston engine emissions regulations currently on the books. The reason was the very small emission reduction potential and the very poor benefit-cost ratio involved in this form of emission reduction. The limited resources of this industry can far better be devoted to items of much greater benefit to the citizens of this country - reducing noise, improving fuel efficiency (which will incidently reduce exhaust emissions), and improving the safety, operational, and economic aspects of aircraft, all far greater contributions to our total national transportation system.

Helms, J. L.↗