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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 163 records · Page 9
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1988

Cytoplasmic membrane changes during adaptation of the fresh water cyanobacterium Synechococcus 6311 to salinity

In this investigation, changes were characterized in cell structure and cytoplasmic membrane organization that occur when the freshwater cyanobacterium Synechococcus 6311 is transferred from 'low salt' (0.03 molar NaCl) to 'high salt' (0.5 molar NaCl) media (i.e. sea water concentration). Cells were examined at several time points after the imposition of the salt stress and compared to control cells, in thin sections and freeze fracture electron microscopy, and by flow cytometry. One minute after exposure to high salt, i.e. 'salt shock', virtually all intracellular granules disappeared, the density of the cytoplasm decreased, and the appearance of DNA material was changed. Glycogen and other granules, however, reappeared by 4 hours after salt exposure. The organization of the cytoplasmic membrane undergoes major reorganization following salt shock. Freeze-fracture electron microscopy showed that small intramembrane particles (diameter 7.5 and 8.5 nanometers) are reduced in number by two- to fivefold, whereas large particles, (diameters 14.5 and 17.5 nanometers) increase two- to fourfold in frequency, compared to control cells grown in low salt medium. The changes in particle size distribution suggest synthesis of new membrane proteins, in agreement with the known increases in respiration, cytochrome oxidase, and sodium proton exchange activity of the cytoplasmic membrane.

NASA Discipline Number 61-10↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Photovoltaic Systems for Lunar Surface Survivability During the Lunar Day and Night

While photovoltaic systems will not be operating during the lunar night, it is still important to ensure that the cells, structure, and other components are able to survive the extreme low temperature conditions during times of low to no illumination. The Photovoltaics team at NASA GRC has expertise in low temperature solar cell operation, thermal cycling of solar cell coupons and array components, and the design of lunar solar arrays for long duration surface missions.

Solar power↗
NASA NTRS1990

Reynolds stress closure in jet flows using wave models

A collection of papers is presented. The outline of this report is as follows. Chapter three contains a description of a weakly nonlinear turbulence model that was developed. An essential part of the application of such a closure scheme to general geometry jets is the solution of the local hydrodynamic stability equation for a given jet cross-section. Chapter four describes the conformal mapping schemes used to map such geometries onto a simple computational domain. Chapter five describes a solution of a stability problem for circular, elliptic, and rectangular geometries. In chapter six linear models for the shock shell structure in non-circular jets is given. The appendices contain reprints of papers also published during this study including the following topics: (1) instability of elliptic jets; (2) a technique for predicting the shock cell structure in non-circular jets using a vortex sheet model; and (3) the resonant interaction between twin supersonic jets.

Morris, Philip J.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Advances in high output voltage silicon solar cells

Solar cells have been fabricated from 0.1 ohm-cm, p-type silicon by means of a two-step diffusion process of emitter formation in order to delineate the factors limiting V(oc) in conventionally structured cells with the goal of achieving 700 mV. The cells are 200 microns thick and 2 x 2 cm in area with a planar front surface that has an anti-reflection coating of tantalum oxide, as well as Cr-Au-Ag contact metallization on both sides of the cell. The Cr-Au-Ag is applied over an aluminum diffused layer on the back, while it is applied through small holes in the anti-reflection coating on the front. Results show that the best of these cells exhibits an open-circuit voltage of 654 mV under AMO illumination.

Arndt, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Silicon MINP solar cells

The MINP solar cell concept refers to a cell structure designed to be a base region dominated device. Thus, it is desirable that recombination losses are reduced to the point that they occur only in the base region. The most unique feature of the MINP cell design is that a tunneling contact is utilized for the metallic contact on the front surface. The areas under the collector grid and bus bar are passivated by a thin oxide of tunneling thickness. Efforts must also be taken to minimize recombination at the surface between grid lines, at the junction periphery and within the emitter. Results of both theoretical and experimental studies of silicon MINP cells are given. Performance calculations are described which give expected efficiencies as a function of base resistivity and junction depth. Fabrication and characterization of cells are discussed which are based on 0.2 ohm-cm substrates, diffused emitters on the order of 0.15 to 0.20 microns deep, and with Mg MIS collector grids. A total area AM 1 efficiency of 16.8% was achieved. Detailed analyses of photocurrent and current loss mechanisms are presented and utilized to discuss future directions of research. Finally, results reported by other workers are discussed.

Olsen, L. C.↗
NASA NTRS2005

Indium Phosphide Window Layers for Indium Gallium Arsenide Solar Cells

Window layers help in reducing the surface recombination at the emitter surface of the solar cells resulting in significant improvement in energy conversion efficiency. Indium gallium arsenide (In(x)Ga(1-x)As) and related materials based solar cells are quite promising for photovoltaic and thermophotovoltaic applications. The flexibility of the change in the bandgap energy and the growth of InGaAs on different substrates make this material very attractive for multi-bandgap energy, multi-junction solar cell approaches. The high efficiency and better radiation performance of the solar cell structures based on InGaAs make them suitable for space power applications. This work investigates the suitability of indium phosphide (InP) window layers for lattice-matched In(0.53)Ga(0.47)As (bandgap energy 0.74 eV) solar cells. We present the first data on the effects of the p-type InP window layer on p-on-n lattice-matched InGaAs solar cells. The modeled quantum efficiency results show a significant improvement in the blue region with the InP window. The bare InGaAs solar cell performance suffers due to high surface recombination velocity (10(exp 7) cm/s). The large band discontinuity at the InP/InGaAs heterojunction offers a great potential barrier to minority carriers. The calculated results demonstrate that the InP window layer effectively passivates the solar cell front surface, hence resulting in reduced surface recombination and therefore, significantly improving the performance of the InGaAs solar cell.

Jain, Raj K.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Low-cost ion implantation and annealing technology for solar cells

Ion implantation and thermal annealing techniques for processing junctions and back surface layers in solar cells are discussed. Standard 10 keV (31)p(+) junction implants and 25 keV (11)B(+) back surface implants in combination with three-step furnace annealing are used for processing a range of silicon materials and device structures. Cells with efficiencies up to 16.5% AM1 are being produced, and large-area terrestrial cells with implanted junctions and back fields being fabricated in pilot production exhibit average efficiencies in excess of 15% AM1. Thermal annealing methods for removal of the radiation damage caused by implantation should be replaced by transient processing techniques in future production. Design studies have been completed for solar cell processing implanters to support 10 MW/yr and 100 MW/yr production lines, and analyses indicate that implantation costs can be reduced to approximately 1 cent/watt.

Kirkpatrick, A. H.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Further experiments on supersonic turbulent flow development in a square duct

The mean-flow structure of supersonic, turbulent, adiabatic-wall flow in a square duct is investigated experimentally over a development length x/D = 0-50 for a uniform flow, Mach 3.9 condition at the duct inlet. The results show that a secondary flow cell structure develops which is similar to that for the incompressible case. Development of the primary flow is influenced by the combined effects of the secondary flow and the streamwise adverse pressure gradient. Total pressure, axial mean velocity, and Mach number profiles are presented which show that the outer flow is sensitive primarily to the streamwise pressure gradient, while flow in the near-wall region is dominated by the secondary flow. Axial mean-velocity profiles plotted in terms of van Driest-scaled variables show that a well-defined log-law region exists in the near-wall layer. This region exists in the presence of a secondary flow which continuously modifies spanwise wall shear stress behavior along the length of the duct.

Davis, D. O.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Steady flow of a non-Newtonian fluid through a contraction

A steady-state analysis is conducted to examine the basic flow structure of a non-Newtonian fluid in a domain including an inflow region, a contraction region, and an outflow region. A Cartesian grid system is used throughout the entire flow domain, including the contraction region, thus creating an irregular grid cell structure adjacent to the curved boundary. At node points adjacent to the curved boundary symmetry conditions are derived for the different flow variables in order to solve the governing difference equations. Attention is given to the motion and non-Newtonian constitutive equations, the boundary conditions, the numerical modeling of the non-Newtonian equations, the stream function contour lines for the non-Newtonian fluid, the vorticity contour lines for the non-Newtonian fluid, the velocity profile across the contraction, and the shear stress contour lines for the non-Newtonian fluid.

Gatski, T. B.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Epitaxial solar cells fabrication

Silicon epitaxy has been studied for the fabrication of solar cell structures, with the intent of optimizing efficiency while maintaining suitability for space applications. SiH2CL2 yielded good quality layers and junctions with reproducible impurity profiles. Diode characteristics and lifetimes in the epitaxial layers were investigated as a function of epitaxial growth conditions and doping profile, as was the effect of substrates and epitaxial post-gettering on lifetime. The pyrolytic decomposition of SiH4 was also used in the epitaxial formation of highly doped junction layers on bulk Si wafers. The effects of junction layer thickness and bulk background doping level on cell performance, in particular, open-circuit voltage, were investigated. The most successful solar cells were fabricated with SiH2 CL2 to grow p/n layers on n(+) substrates. The best performance was obtained from a p(+)/p/n/n(+) structure grown with an exponential grade in the n-base layer.

Daiello, R. V.↗
NASA NTRS1988

p/n InP homojunction solar cells with a modified contacting scheme by liquid phase epitaxy

p/n InP homojunction solar cells with a modified contacting scheme have been fabricated from wafers grown by liquid phase epitaxy. A p(+)-In(0.53)Ga(0.47)As contacting layer is incorporated in the cell structure to reduce contact resistance and to eliminaate surface spiking problems at the front surface. The highest conversion efficiency (total area) obtained under AM0 illumination is 15.0 percent. The corresponding open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current density, and fill factor for the best cell are 0.866 V, 29.3 mA/sq cm, and 81.0 percent, respectively.

Choi, K. Y.↗
NASA NTRS2020

Global Aerodynamic Modeling Using Automated Local Model Networks in Real Time

A novel method is presented for automated real-time global aerodynamic modeling using local model networks, known as Smoothed Partitioning with Localized Trees in Real Time (SPLITR), as part of NASA’s Learn-to-Fly technology development initiative. The global nonlinear aerodynamics are partitioned into several local regions known as cells, with the dimension, location, and timing of each partition automatically selected based on a residual characterization procedure, under the constraints of real-time operation. Regression trees represent the successive partitioning of the global flight envelope and describe the evolution of the cell structure. Recursive equation-error least-squares parameter estimation in the time domain is used to estimate a model that represents the local aerodynamics in each region, so that it can be updated independently with non-contiguous data in the range of each cell over time. A weighted superposition of these piecewise local models across the flight envelope forms a global nonlinear model that also accurately captures the local aerodynamics. The SPLITR approach is demonstrated using both simulation and flight data, and the results are analyzed in terms of model predictive capabilities as well as interpretability. The results show that SPLITR can be used to automatically partition complex nonlinear aerodynamic behavior, produce an accurate model, and provide valuable physical insight into the local and global aerodynamics.

Weinstein, Rose↗
NASA NTRS1974

A theoretical analysis of the current-voltage characteristics of solar cells

The current-voltage characteristics and efficiencies of solar cells are discussed. For one solar cell structure detailed curves are presented which include carrier densities, current densities, potential, and quasi-Fermi levels at different voltage levels both with and without optically generated carriers (AMO conditions). In addition some results are presented concerning the influence of various parameter variations such as lifetime, cell thickness, and high-low junction width on solar cell performance.

Hauser, J. R.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Tissuelike 3D Assemblies of Human Broncho-Epithelial Cells

Three-dimensional (3D) tissuelike assemblies (TLAs) of human broncho-epithelial (HBE) cells have been developed for use in in vitro research on infection of humans by respiratory viruses. The 2D monolayer HBE cell cultures heretofore used in such research lack the complex cell structures and interactions characteristic of in vivo tissues and, consequently, do not adequately emulate the infection dynamics of in-vivo microbial adhesion and invasion. In contrast, the 3D HBE TLAs are characterized by more-realistic reproductions of the geometrical and functional complexity, differentiation of cells, cell-to-cell interactions, and cell-to-matrix interactions characteristic of human respiratory epithelia. Hence, the 3D HBE TLAs are expected to make it possible to perform at least some of the research in vitro under more-realistic conditions, without need to infect human subjects. The TLAs are grown on collagen-coated cyclodextran microbeads under controlled conditions in a nutrient liquid in the simulated microgravitational environment of a bioreactor of the rotating- wall-vessel type. Primary human mesenchymal bronchial-tracheal cells are used as a foundation matrix, while adult human bronchial epithelial immortalized cells are used as the overlying component. The beads become coated with cells, and cells on adjacent beads coalesce into 3D masses. The resulting TLAs have been found to share significant characteristics with in vivo human respiratory epithelia including polarization, tight junctions, desmosomes, and microvilli. The differentiation of the cells in these TLAs into tissues functionally similar to in vivo tissues is confirmed by the presence of compounds, including villin, keratins, and specific lung epithelium marker compounds, and by the production of tissue mucin. In a series of initial infection tests, TLA cultures were inoculated with human respiratory syncytial viruses and parainfluenza type 3 viruses. Infection was confirmed by photomicrographs that showed signs of damage by viruses and virus titers (see figure) that indicated large increases in the populations of viruses during the days following inoculation.

Goodwin, Thomas J.↗
NASA NTRS2000

InGaP/InGaAs-on-Ge Concentrator Solar Cell for Space Power Generation

The passivating front and back window layer of the top cell has been chosen. We have chosen to use InGaAs as the tunnel junction interconnect compound since it is easily degenerately doped. All of the dual junction cell structures were grown on GaAs substrates. Time constraints prevented us from completing the development of the GaAs-on-Ge growth process. Analysis of the I-V and EQE data, and comparison with computer-modeled data, shows that the performance of the dual-junction cell is still being controlled by the bottom cell, in spite of top cell thinning. Further improvement in the dual-junction cell efficiency is possible by thinning the front window.

Sinharoy, Samar↗
NASA NTRS2022

Lithium-ion Battery Strain Gauge Monitoring and Depth of Discharge Estimation

Lithium-ion battery diagnostics and prognostics rely on measurements of electrical impedance, capacity, and voltage to infer the internal state of the battery. Mechanical changes to the cell structure represent an additional measure of the battery’s state because these changes are related to the overall battery health. As lithium-ion batteries are charged and discharged, lithium ions are inserted or removed from the anode and cathode, a process called intercalation and de-intercalation. As lithium ions intercalate and de-intercalate, they can cause changes to the lattice of the electrode particles, resulting in volumetric changes. These volumetric changes cause mechanical stresses and strains on the lithium-ion battery electrodes, and subsequently, the whole cell’s thickness varies as it is charged and discharged. This paper presents a study on the use of surface-mounted strain gauges for in-situ measurement of structural changes to lithium-ion batteries, along with a characterization of the unit-to-unit differences in strain response. A neural network modeling structure is then used to predict the battery’s depth of discharge under dynamic discharge conditions.

Lithium-ion batteries, depth of discharge, strain ↗
NASA NTRS1986

Development of high-efficiency solar cells on silicon web

Achievement of higher efficiency cells by directing efforts toward identifying carrier loss mechanisms; design of cell structures; and development of processing techniques are described. Use of techniques such as deep-level transient spectroscopy (DLTS), laser-beam-induced current (LBIC), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicated that dislocations in web material rather than twin planes were primarily responsible for limiting diffusion lengths in the web. Lifetimes and cell efficiencies can be improved from 19 to 120 microns, and 8 to 10.3% (no AR), respectively, by implanting hydrogen at 1500 eV and a beam current density of 2.0 mA/sq cm. Some of the processing improvements included use of a double-layer AR coating (ZnS and MgF2) and an addition of an aluminum back surface reflectors. Cells of more than 16% efficiency were achieved.

Meier, D. L.↗
NASA NTRS1978

An experimental map of the internal structure of a vortex breakdown

The flow field of an 'axisymmetric' vortex breakdown has been mapped using a laser-Doppler anemometer. The interior of the recirculation zone is dominated by energetic, non-axisymmetric, low frequency periodic fluctuations. Spectra for a number of points inside this zone, as well as time-averaged swirl and axial velocity profiles both inside and outside the recirculation zone, have been obtained. The time-averaged streamlines in the interior show an unexpected two-celled structure attributed to the action of the fluctuations. Although the present experiment deals with one particular breakdown, flow-visualization studies indicate that the case examined is typical of the 'axisymmetric' form of breakdown over a range of flow conditions.

Faler, J. H.↗