Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “rot”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 163 records · Page 9

A Detailed Analysis of the Gl 486 Planetary System

Context . The Gl 486 system consists of a very nearby, relatively bright, weakly active M3.5V star at just 8 pc with a warm transiting rocky planet of about 1.3 R ⨁ and 3.0 M ⨁ . It is ideal for both transmission and emission spectroscopy and for testing interior models of telluric planets. Aims . To prepare for future studies, we aim to thoroughly characterise the planetary system with new accurate and precise data collected with state-of-the-art photometers from space and spectrometers and interferometers from the ground. Methods . We collected light curves of seven new transits observed with the CHEOPS space mission and new radial velocities obtained with MAROON-X at the 8.1m Gemini North telescope and CARMENES at the 3.5m Calar Alto telescope, together with previously published spectroscopic and photometric data from the two spectrographs and TESS. We also performed near-infrared interferometric observations with the CHARA Array and new photometric monitoring with a suite of smaller telescopes (AstroLAB, LCOGT, OSN, TJO). This extraordinary and rich data set was the input for our comprehensive analysis. Results . From interferometry, we measure a limb-darkened disc angular size of the star Gl 486 at θ LDD = 0.390 ± 0.018 mas. Together with a corrected Gaia EDR3 parallax, we obtain a stellar radius R * = 0.339 ± 0.015 R ⨀ . We also measure a stellar rotation period at P rot = 49.9 ± 5.5 days, an upper limit to its XUV (5–920 Å) flux informed by new Hubble/STIS data, and, for the first time, a variety of element abundances (Fe, Mg, Si, V, Sr, Zr, Rb) and C/O ratio. Moreover, we imposed restrictive constraints on the presence of additional components, either stellar or sub-stellar, in the system. With the input stellar parameters and the radial-velocity and transit data, we determine the radius and mass of the planet Gl 486 b at R p = 1.343 +0.063 -0.062 R ⨀ and M p = 3.00 +0.13 -0.13 M ⨁ , with relative uncertainties of the planet radius and mass of 4.7% and 4.2%, respectively. From the planet parameters and the stellar element abundances, we infer the most probable models of planet internal structure and composition, which are consistent with a relatively small metallic core with respect to the Earth, a deep silicate mantle, and a thin volatile upper layer. With all these ingredients, we outline prospects for Gl 486 b atmospheric studies, especially with forthcoming James Webb Space Telescope (Webb) observations.

Planetary systems↗

NEID Reveals That the Young Warm Neptune TOI-2076 b Has a Low Obliquity

TOI-2076 b is a sub-Neptune-sized planet (R = 2.39 ± 0.10 Rꚛ) that transits a young (204 ± 50 MYr) bright (V = 9.2) K-dwarf hosting a system of three transiting planets. Using spectroscopic observations obtained with the NEID spectrograph on the WIYN 3.5 m Telescope, we model the Rossiter–McLaughlin effect of TOI-2076 b, and derive a sky-projected obliquity of λ = -3 +16o −15 . Using the size of the star (R = 0.775 ± 0.015 Re), and the stellar rotation period (P rot = 7.27 ± 0.23 days), we estimate an obliquity of 𝜓=18 +10o −9 (𝜓 < 34° at 95% confidence), demonstrating that TOI-2076 b is in a well-aligned orbit. Simultaneous diffuser-assisted photometry from the 3.5 m telescope at Apache Point Observatory rules out flares during the transit. TOI-2076 b joins a small but growing sample of young planets in compact multi-planet systems with well-aligned orbits, and is the fourth planet with an age ≲300 Myr in a multi-transiting system with an obliquity measurement. The low obliquity of TOI-2076 b and the presence of transit timing variations in the system suggest the TOI-2076 system likely formed via convergent disk migration in an initially well-aligned disk.

Robert C Frazier↗

Air Dehumidification using Ionic Liquid-Based Fiber Bundle Membrane Contactor

Air dehumidification is essential since excess moisture in the buildings causes discomfort to the occupants, encourages the production of air pathogens such as mold or mildew, and causes corrosion and rotting that degrade building materials. Existing moisture removal processes are mainly focused on condensation and desiccant (liquid or solid) techniques with direct contact between air and desiccant. However, these methods are energy-intensive, or desiccant might be lost or cause corrosion in the process. The main objective of this study is to investigate an ionic liquid-based liquid desiccant absorber based on a membrane fiber bundle. The novel system consists of membrane contactors containing bundles of 10,000 polypropylene fibers. The fiber bundles have 0.3 micron diameter, with ionic liquid flowing inside, and air flowing outside. The fibers provide a high contact area among phases: 1.4 m2 contact surface area in a 0.00015 m3 volume. The ionic liquid as a sorbent stipulates the selectivity for air, prevents the loss of solvent in the operation due to negligible volatility, provides fast diffusion due to low viscosity compared to common ionic liquids, and has high affinity and solubility in water. The dehumidification capacity of the membrane technology was experimentally investigated. The experimental results show that the ionic-liquid based membrane system can effectively remove excess moisture from the air. The novel fiber bundle dehumidification system has a system volume of 0.00798 m3 (7.98 L) and active heat and mass transfer surface area of 8.4 m2. It achieved an average dehumidification of 320 ± 25 W with a volumetric air flowrate of 3.1 m3/min (108 ft3/min).

Turnaoglu, Tugba↗

What does it take to “see” air leakage through a building envelope?

Unwanted air leakage in buildings can cause health and comfort issues for the building occupants and contribute to rot and mold growth in building materials. Leakage also contributes to unnecessary energy consumption ~4 quads (1172 TWh) per year in the buildings sector in the United States. Finding and repairing leaks through the building envelope can improve the energy efficiency, comfort, air-quality, and moisture durability of the building stock. Typical methods of locating air leakage, such as infrared imaging or smoke tracing, rely on concurrent blower door operation which also measures the total leakage rate of the building. These methods can be disruptive to occupants and can’t measure the contribution of individual leaks to prioritize sealing efforts. ORNL is working on a refraction-based fluid flow imaging technique that can measure the leakage rate of individual leaks from the outside of the building. The working principle of this device is based on the refraction of light caused by the exfiltration because there is a small difference in density between the exfiltration and ambient air. We will discuss the operation of the air leak detector and key variables that affect its performance. We will also present preliminary results showing the visualization capability of this new air leak detector under different conditions. Experiments were completed with different claddings, air temperatures, and lighting conditions.

Boudreaux, Philip↗

Development of novel techniques for non-invasive air leakage and moisture detection in building envelopes

Unwanted air leakage and moisture in building envelopes can cause high energy consumption, detrimental indoor air quality, poor occupant comfort, and reduction in building material durability. High moisture can cause rot and mold, leading to costly and time-consuming repairs that add to the carbon burden of the building envelope. Novel detection techniques for locating and measuring air leakage flow and areas of high moisture in building envelopes will be presented. The techniques are easy, fast, and non-destructive which can enable quick building envelope assessment, foster retrofits, and lead to energy savings and carbon emission reduction.

Boudreaux, Philip [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000229564665)↗

Coastal Forest Seawater Exposure Increases Stem Methane Concentration

Methane (CH 4 ) exchange between trees and the atmosphere has recently emerged as an important, but poorly quantified process regulating global climate. The sources (soil and/or tree) and mechanisms driving the increase of CH 4 in trees and degassing to the atmosphere are inadequately understood, particularly for coastal forests facing increased exposure to seawater. Here, we investigated the eco-physiological relationship between tree stem wood density, soil and stem oxygen saturation (an indicator of redox state), soil and stem CH 4 concentrations, soil and stem carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) concentrations, and soil salinity in five forests along the United States coastline. We aim to evaluate the mechanisms underlying greenhouse gas (GHG) increase in trees and the influence of seawater exposure on stem CH 4 accumulation. Seawater exposure corresponded with decreased tree survival and increased tree stem methane. Tree stem wood density was significantly correlated with increased stem CH4 in seawater exposed gymnosperms, indicating that dying gymnosperm trees may accumulate higher levels of CH 4 in association with seawater flooding. Further, we found that significant differences in seawater exposed and unexposed gymnosperm tree populations are associated with increased soil and stem CH 4 and CO 2 , indicating that seawater exposure significantly impacts soil and stem greenhouse gas abundance. Our results provide new insight into the potential mechanisms driving tree CH 4 accumulation within gymnosperm coastal forests.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Monitoring of Unvented Roofs with Fibrous Insulation, Diffusion Vents, and Interior Vapor Control in a Cold Climate

This research involved construction of a conditioned test hut in a cold climate (Climate Zone 5A) with multiple side-by-side instrumented roof rafter bays. This work examined seven experimental unvented roofs and one code-compliant control hybrid ccSPF-cellulose roof over three winters and following summers. Examined variables included insulation material (fiberglass and cellulose), the presence or absence of a ridge diffusion vent (vapor-open material at the roof ridge to promote drying), the effect of various interior vapor control membranes (fixed and variable permeance), the effect of interior relative humidity, and the effect of interstitial airflow (from the interior into the cavity). This experiment was run over three winters, changing variables of interior conditions, roof configurations/materials, and the addition of intentional air leakage.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

A structured data transfer protocol

The transfer of data between different computers and programs can be a major obstacle during data analysis. We present a new data transfer protocol which is based on a simple structure containing a value, an error, and a unit. Each of these members can be arrays or another structure. The ability to nest structures allows for the concept of objects. When using an object-oriented language such as C++, reference can be made to the object name instead of each element explicitly. Prototype code has been written which implements the basic design with enhancements planned for the future.

Barrett, P.↗

Khoros software specification format and interoperability

Khoros defines formats for User Interface Specification (UIS) and Program Specification (PS) files. From such files, its code generator, Ghostwriter, creates source files and documentation. The great advantage of the system is that the code fragments that make up part of the PS file are purely generic. All Khoros-related code is created by the code generator; this includes all user interface code. As a matter of fact, both specification files are very generic in nature. Thus, one could imagine using it as the basis for other software systems. A case is made that writing a code generator that would create IRAF-compatible code from the Khoros UIS and PS files is fairly trivial. Another aspect of the Khoros system conventions concerns the way execution commands are generated by the user interface and the actual syntax of those commands. The protocols are such that interoperability at the level of executable modules is readily possible.

Rots, A. H.↗

Distribution and motions of atomic hydrogen in lenticular galaxies. X - The blue S0 galaxy NGC 5102

Results of the mapping of the blue gas-rich S0 galaxy NGC 5102 in the 21-cm H I line with a spatial resolution of 34 x 37 arcsec (delta(alpha) x Delta(delta)) and a velocity resolution of 12 km/s are presented. The H I distribution has a pronounced central depression of 1.9 kpc radius, and most of the H I is concentrated in a 3.6 kpc wide ring with an average radius of 3.7 kpc, assuming a distance of 4 Mpc for NGC 5102. The maximum azimuthally averaged H I surface density in the ring is 1.4 solar mass/sq pc, comparable to that found in other S0 galaxies. The HI velocity field is quite regular, showing no evidence for large-scale deviations from circular rotation, and the H I is found to rotate in the plane of the stellar disk. Both the H I mass/blue luminosity ratio and the radial H I distribution are similar to those in early-type spirals. The H I may be an old disk or it may have been acquired through capture of a gas-rich smaller galaxy. The recent starburst in the nuclear region, which gave the galaxy its blue color, may have been caused by partial radial collapse of the gas disk, or by infall of a gas-rich dwarf galaxy.

Van Woerden, H.↗

High Energy Astrophysics Program (HEAP)

This report reviews activities performed by the members of the USRA contract team during the 6 months of the reporting period and projected activities during the coming 6 months. Activities take place at the Goddard Space Flight Center, within the Laboratory for High Energy Astrophysics. Developments concern instrumentation, observation, data analysis, and theoretical work in astrophysics. Supported missions include advanced Satellite for Cosmology and Astrophysics (ASCA), X-Ray Timing Experiment (XTE), X-Ray Spectrometer (XRS), Astro-E, High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Research Center (HEASARC) and others.

Angelini, Lorella↗

Chandra Data Archive

We will present the architecture of the Chandra Data archive, its implementation, and the design of the public and proprietary user interfaces.

Rots, Arnold↗

Monitoring The Crab Pulsar

The monitoring of the X-ray pulses from the Crab pulsar is still ongoing at the time of this writing, and we hope to be able to continue the campaign for the life of the XTE mission. We have established beyond all doubt that: (1) the X-ray main pulse leads the radio pulse by approximately 300 microseconds, (2) this phase lag is constant and not influenced by glitches, (3) this lag does not depend on X-ray energy, (4) the relative phase of the two X-ray pulses does not vary, and (5) the spectral indices of primary, secondary, and inter-pulse are distinct and constant. At this time we are investigating whether the radio timing ephemeris can be replaced by an x-ray ephemeris and whether any long-time timing ephemeris can be established. If so, it would enable use to study variations in pulse arrival times at a longer time scales. Such a study is easier in x-rays than at radio wavelengths since the dispersion measure plays no role. These results were reported at the 2000 HEAD Meeting in Honolulu, HI. Travel was paid partly out of this grant. The remainder was applied toward the acquisition of a laptop computer that allows independent and fast analysis of all monitoring observations.

Rots, Arnold H.↗