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At least 1,621 records · Page 90

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NASA NTRS1972

Analysis of oil lubricated, fluid film, thrust bearings with allowance for temperature dependent viscosity

A preliminary design study was performed to seek a fluid-film thrust bearing design intended to be part of a high-speed, hybrid (rolling element/fluid film) bearing configuration. The base line used is a design previously tested. To improve the accuracy of theoretical predictions of load capacity, flow rate, and friction power loss, an analytical procedure was developed to include curvature effects inherent in thrust bearings and to allow for the temperature rise in the fluid due to viscous heating. Also, a narrow-groove approximation in the treatment of the temperature field was formulated to apply the procedure to the Whipple thrust bearing. A comparative trade-off study was carried out assuming isothermal films; its results showed the shrouded-step design to be superior to the Whipple design for the intended application. An extensive parametric study was performed, employing isoviscous calculations, to determine the optimized design, which was subsequently recalculated allowing for temperature effects.

Pan, C. H. T.↗

NASA NTRS2018

Carbon-Nitrogen Coupling Under Three Schemes of Model Representation: A Traceability Analysis

The interaction between terrestrial carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycles has been incorporated into more and more land surface models. However, the scheme of C-N coupling differs greatly among models, and how these diverse representations of C-N interactions will affect C-cycle modeling remains unclear. In this study, we explored how the simulated ecosystem C storage capacity in the terrestrial ecosystem (TECO) model varied with three different commonly used schemes of C-N coupling. The three schemes (SM1, SM2, and SM3) have been used in three different coupled C-N models (i.e., TECO-CN, CLM 4.5, and O-CN, respectively). They differ mainly in the stoichiometry of C and N in vegetation and soils, plant N uptake strategies, down regulation of photosynthesis, and the pathways of N import. We incorporated the three C-N coupling schemes into the C-only version of the TECO model and evaluated their impacts on the C cycle with a traceability framework. Our results showed that all three of the C-N schemes caused significant reductions in steady-state C storage capacity compared with the C-only version with magnitudes of −23%, −30%, and −54% for SM1, SM2, and SM3, respectively. This reduced C storage capacity was mainly derived from the combined effects of decreases in net primary productivity (NPP; −29%, −15%, and −45%) and changes in mean C residence time (MRT; 9%, −17%, and −17%) for SM1, SM2, and SM3, respectively. The differences in NPP are mainly attributed to the different assumptions on plant N uptake, plant tissue C : N ratio, down regulation of photosynthesis, and biological N fixation. In comparison, the alternative representations of the plant vs. microbe competition strategy and the plant N uptake, combined with the flexible C : N ratio in vegetation and soils, led to a notable spread in MRT. These results highlight the fact that the diverse assumptions on N processes represented by different C-N coupled models could cause additional uncertainty for land surface models. Understanding their difference can help us improve the capability of models to predict future biogeochemical cycles of terrestrial ecosystems.

Du, Zhenggang↗

DOE OSTI2024

The National Transmission Planning Study: Chapter 5: Stress Analysis for 2035 Scenarios

The National Transmission Planning Study (NTP Study) was led by the U.S. Department of Energy's Grid Deployment Office, in partnership with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The study sought to develop new national grid-scale planning tools and methods that can be used by industry, especially when planning for interregional transmission capacity needs; identify potential transmission solutions that will provide broad-scale benefits to electric customers under a wide range of potential futures; inform planning processes for regional and interregional transmission; and identify interregional and national strategies to maintain grid reliability as the grid transitions, including to a reliance on low- and zero-carbon energy resources. The NTP Study is presented as a collection of six chapters.

ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY,POWER TRANSMI↗

DOE OSTI2024

The National Transmission Planning Study: Chapter 4: AC Power Flow Analysis for 2035 Scenarios

ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY,POWER TRANSMI↗

DOE OSTI2023

Membrane Adsorbents Comprising Self-Assembled Inorganic Nanocages (SINCs) for Super-fast Direct Air Capture Enabled by Passive Cooling

The objectives of the proposed project were to develop highly porous membrane adsorbents comprising CO 2 -philic polymers and self-assembled inorganic nanocages (SINCs) for rapid temperature swing adsorption using electricity-free solar heating and radiative cooling, enabling an economically viable approach for direct air capture (DAC). Our core technical activities combine three key innovations. (1) Highly porous flat-sheet membrane adsorbents contain CO 2 -philic amines that can be easily produced using a phase inversion method. (2) CO 2 -philic SINCs can be easily dispersed in the polymers with great stability (compared with the metal-organic frameworks or MOFs). (3) The adsorption and desorption are integrated with solar heating and radiative cooling for rapid continuous operation, in contrast to traditional long-cycle separate operation. The membrane adsorbents containing amines, polymers, and SINCs were produced using a one-step industrial process. The porous membranes coupled with porous SINCs offer low resistance for gas flow and fast CO 2 sorption/desorption cycles, while the incorporation of the additional amine groups provides high CO 2 sorption capacity. The key achievements are summarized below. (1) Membrane adsorbents with high PEI loading (>40%), high porosity of >80%, and low gasflow resistance were prepared in one step using commercially available, low-cost materials. (2) Membrane adsorbents based on Solupor and PEI show CO 2 sorption capacity of >1.5 mmol/g using air containing 400 ppm at a relative humidity of 15%. (3) Effect of the adsorbent compositions (such as PEI type, PEI content, SINC content, porosity) on the CO 2 sorption was systematically investigated. (4) Effect of the processing conditions (such as CO 2 content, temperature, and relative humidity) on the CO 2 sorption was systematically investigated; (5) The stability of the membrane adsorption against many cycles of sorption and desorption was studied. The higher molecular weight of PEI (PEI25k) shows better stability than PEI800. (6) Advanced materials with radiative cooling were developed, which can decrease the temperature by 5-7 °C compared to the ambient temperature. (7) Preliminary techno-economic analysis shows that our process may achieve a capture cost of $1,343/tonne CO 2 with a total OPEX cost of $1,112/tonne CO 2 . The adsorbent replacement cost accounted for 52% of the total OPEX cost. Membrane adsorbents with lower costs and longer operation life can significantly decrease the cost. The proposed project directly addresses the requirement of DE-FOA-0002188, i.e., novel materials with CO 2 adsorption capacity for direct air capture with integrated solar heating and radiative cooling to reduce the cost of the DAC. Our future work will focus on the development of low-cost adsorbents that can be stable at the sorption and desorption conditions for long term.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2022

Increasing the Pressure‐Free Stripping Capacity of the Lithium Metal Anode in Solid‐State‐Batteries by Carbon Nanotubes

Abstract Lithium metal is the key anode material for solid‐state‐batteries as its successful implementation will drastically increase their energy and power densities. However, anode contact loss during stripping leads to dendrites upon plating and subsequent cell failure. Design strategies to mitigate these issues are crucial to enable the use of lithium metal anodes. This paper reports the dissolution kinetics of composite anodes made of lithium metal and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with a garnet‐type solid electrolyte (SE). In addition to an enhancement of the effective diffusion within the anode, its dissolution is fundamentally changed from being 2D to 3D. By maintaining contact with the SE, the CNTs facilitate lithium transport to the interface, which yields more than 20 mAh cm −2 discharge capacity at 100 µ A cm −2 without the application of external stack pressure ( > 1 MPa). Conclusions drawn from electrochemical data on the anode microstructure are validated using cryo‐focused‐ion‐beam scanning electron microscopy and correlated with the mechanical properties. Micro‐indentation, acoustic analysis, and stress–strain testing show that mechanical properties of the anode, like yield strength and hardness, are adjustable. Overall, it is shown that the mechanical and electrochemical properties of Li–CNT composite electrodes can be tailored to suit the requirements of a practical cell.

Fuchs, Till↗

DOE OSTI2022

Adsorptive separation and recovery of triacetic acid lactone from fermentation broth

Triacetic acid lactone (TAL), an emerging bioprivileged molecule, can be produced microbially and further chemically upgraded to several high-value chemicals. In this work, several acidic and basic ion-exchange resins and activated charcoal were evaluated for their ability to adsorb microbially produced TAL. Activated charcoal and a weak base resin, Dowex 66, showed similar TAL adsorption capacity of 0.18 ± 0.002 g/g. At 15% w/v activated charcoal, about 98% of TAL present in fermentation broth could be adsorbed. Further, ethanol washing allowed recovery of 72% of adsorbed TAL. A biorefinery producing TAL from sucrose was designed, simulated, and evaluated (through technoeconomic analysis) under uncertainty, for an estimated TAL minimum product selling price (MPSP) of $\$4.27$/kg ($\$3.71$–4.94/kg; 5th–95th percentiles) given the current state of technology and $\$2.83$/kg ($\$2.46$–3.29/kg) following potential near-term improvements to fermentation. This work provides an adsorptive process for the recovery of microbially produced TAL that can be upgraded chemically to a range of industrial products.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

DOE OSTI2026

Governing in Time: Temporal Capacity and the Feasibility of Energy Transitions

Energy systems function as both technological systems and temporal institutions that shape how societies coordinate, justify, and support collective choices over time. This paper introduces the concept of governance horizons to explain why energy transitions can remain morally supported yet become institutionally weak under increasing pressure. We argue that governability depends on institutions' capacity to synchronize across multiple timeframes - aligning short-term decisions with intermediate coordination and long-term commitments. When this synchronization fails, transitions struggle not because their goals are dismissed, but because governance lacks sufficient time to justify, coordinate, and uphold decisions. Comparative analysis of San Antonio, Texas, and Interior Alaska reveals how energy system pressures generate distinct temporal configurations: San Antonio exhibits governance horizon stretching, where institutions must simultaneously meet near-term reliability demands and long-term transformation goals, while Interior Alaska exhibits horizon compression, where extreme environmental constraints force decision-making into short stabilization cycles. In both contexts, public support for sustainability goals coexists with institutional strain because evaluative judgments are unevenly distributed over time. A temporal configuration analysis is introduced as a diagnostic analytic stance for identifying these patterns. By treating temporal alignment as an explanatory variable rather than a background condition, this approach clarifies how feasibility, sequencing, and legitimacy are shaped by constraints on institutional time. The analysis demonstrates that successful energy transitions depend not only on technological innovation or institutional support, but on governance systems’ ability to sustain credible coordination across multiple time horizons.

Comparative case study↗

DOE OSTI2020

Understanding Multi-Ion Transport Mechanisms in Bipolar Membranes

Bipolar membranes (BPMs) have the potential to become critical components in electrochemical devices for a variety of electrolysis and electrosynthesis applications. Because they can operate under large pH gradients, BPMs enable favorable environments for electrocatalysis at the individual electrodes. Critical to the implementation of BPMs in these devices is understanding the kinetics of water dissociation that occurs within the BPM as well as the co- and counter-ion crossover through the BPM, which both present significant obstacles to developing efficient and stable BPM-electrolyzers. In this study, a continuum model of multi-ion transport in a BPM is developed and fit to experimental data. Specifically, concentration profiles are determined for all ionic species, and the importance of a water-dissociation catalyst is demonstrated. The model describes internal concentration polarization and co- and counter-ion crossover in BPMs, determining the mode of transport for ions within the BPM and revealing the significance of salt-ion crossover when operated with pH gradients relevant to electrolysis and electrosynthesis. Lastly, a sensitivity analysis reveals that the performance and lifetime of BPMs can be improved substantially by using of thinner dissociation catalysts, managing water transport, modulating the thickness of the individual layers in the BPM to control salt-ion crossover, and increasing the ion-exchange capacity of the ion-exchange layers in order to amplify the water-dissociation kinetics at the interface.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2022

BioSTEAMDevelopmentGroup/Bioindustrial-Park/TAL

Triacetic acid lactone (TAL) can be microbially produced and further chemically upgraded to several high-value chemicals. In this work, several acidic and basic ion-exchange resins and activated charcoal were evaluated for their ability to adsorb microbially produced TAL. Activated charcoal and a weak base resin, Dowex 66, showed similar TAL adsorption capacity of 0.18 ± 0.002 g/g. At 15% w/v activated charcoal, about 98% of TAL present in fermentation broth could be adsorbed. Further, ethanol washing allowed recovery of 72% of adsorbed TAL. A biorefinery producing TAL from sucrose was designed, simulated, and evaluated (through technoeconomic analysis) under uncertainty, for an estimated TAL minimum product selling price (MPSP) of $4.27/kg [$3.71−4.94/kg; 5th-95th percentiles] for the current state of technology and $2.83/kg [$2.46–3.29/kg] following potential near-term improvements to fermentation. Thus, this work provides an adsorptive process to recover microbially produced TAL that can be chemically upgraded to several industrial products.

Cortes-Peña, Yoel↗

DOE OSTI2024

Securing Critical Materials for the U.S. Electric Vehicle Industry: A Landscape Assessment of Domestic and International Supply Chains for Five Key Battery Materials

This study explores the prospective supply of upstream critical materials, providing insights into the U.S.'s capacity to meet its Electric Vehicle (EV) and Energy Storage System (ESS) deployment targets for 2035. It evaluates the proportion of critical materials demand that can be met by domestic upstream sources and the amount that will require non-U.S. sources. The analysis considers geological resources and current international development activities, contributing to the understanding of mineral supply security as the global community strives for net-zero emissions by 2050. The study focuses on five materials assessed in the 2023 DOE Critical Materials Assessment – Lithium, Nickel, Cobalt, Graphite, and Manganese.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

DOE OSTI2022

Lithium-Ion Battery Design for Grid-Scale Energy Storage App

A software that delivers parameters from energy storage system (ESS) to container, rack, module and single cell design, as well as data analysis on arbitrage energy and frequency regulation of ESS in different regions, has been developed. The Lithium-ion Battery Design for Grid-scale Energy Storage App V1.0 has the capability to output the system, module and cell design with the energy, power, capacity, group method, cost of single cell, and single cell test protocol which break down from input energy storage system data in different regions. The default chemistry of the battery is LiFePO4 and graphite. The energy density of the graphite/LiFePO 4 pouch cell ranges from 100 Wh/kg to 200 Wh/Kg in the software. Graphite/LiFePO 4 pouch cell (up to 1Ah in lab) manufacturing line is also built and can be used to evaluate the test protocol, moreover, for electrolyte evaluation in other ESMI seedling projects. The software enables rapid prototyping to accelerate energy storage research, development, and manufacturing.

Liu, Dianying↗

DOE OSTI2023

The Field Epidemiology Training Program’s Contribution to Essential Public Health Functions in Seven National Public Health Institutes

Objective: This study explores how Field Epidemiology Training Programs (FETP) whose National Public Health Institutes (NPHI) are supported by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have contributed to strengthening essential public health functions. Methods: We conducted 96 semi-structured interviews with public health experts including NPHI staff, non-NPHI government staff, and staff from non-governmental and international organizations in Cambodia, Colombia, Liberia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Zambia. We managed data using MAXQDA and employed direct content analysis to derive themes. Results: Three overarching themes emerged in relation to FETPs’ role within the NPHIs’ public health functions. These themes included contribution to improving country surveillance systems, role in providing leadership in outbreak responses, and strengthening countries’ and the NPHIs’ surveillance workforce capacity. Participants also shared challenges around FETPs’ implementation and suggestions for improvement. Conclusion: The results demonstrate the value of FETPs in strengthening public health systems through building workforce capacity and improving surveillance systems. By identifying the successes of FETPs in contributing to essential public health functions, our findings might inform current and future FETP implementation and its integration into NPHIs.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

NASA NTRS1972

The application of elastohydrodynamic lubrication in gear tooth contacts.

It is shown that in the early stages of design, scoring and fatigue failure of gear contact surfaces can be prevented by the following means: improving load capacity with the aid of tip relief, or by improved surface finish; by giving special care to the location and application of the lubricant in high-speed or high-load gear applications; by determining the thickness of the elastohydrodynamic film from an analysis for the worst temperature, speed, and load conditions, and selecting the appropriate lubricant from this analysis; by using an additive in the case of frequent repeated startup and shutdown conditions; by taking the expected temperature, speed, and load in the selection of an extreme pressure additive; and by systematically testing any new transmission or gear box design.

Townsend, D. P.↗

NASA NTRS1980

A mixed-mode crack analysis of rectilinear anisotropic solids using conservation laws of elasticity

A very simple and convenient method of analysis for studying two-dimensional mixed-mode crack problems in rectilinear anisotropic solids is presented. The analysis is formulated on the basis of conservation laws of anisotropic elasticity and of fundamental relationships in anisotropic fracture mechanics. The problem is reduced to a system of linear algebraic equations in mixed-mode stress intensity factors. One of the salient features of the present approach is that it can determine directly the mixed-mode stress intensity solutions from the conservation integrals evaluated along a path removed from the crack-tip region without the need of solving the corresponding complex near-field boundary value problem. Several examples with solutions available in the literature are solved to ensure the accuracy of the current analysis. This method is further demonstrated to be superior to other approaches in its numerical simplicity and computational efficiency. Solutions of more complicated and practical engineering problems dealing with the crack emanating from a circular hole in composites are presented also to illustrate the capacity of this method.

Wang, S. S.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Crew procedures for microwave landing system operations

The objective of this study was to identify crew procedures involved in Microwave Landing System (MLS) operations and to obtain a preliminary assessment of crew workload. The crew procedures were identified for three different complements of airborne equipment coupled to an autopilot. Using these three equipment complements, crew tasks were identified for MLS approaches and precision departures and compared to an ILS approach and a normal departure. Workload comparisons between the approaches and departures were made by using a task-timeline analysis program that obtained workload indexes, i.e., the radio of time required to complete the tasks to the time available. The results showed an increase in workload for the MLS scenario for one of the equipment complements. However, even this workload was within the capacity of two crew members.

Summers, Leland G.↗

NASA NTRS1995

A satellite system for multimedia personal communications at Ka-band and beyond

The main characteristics of the satellite extremely high frequency (EHF) communication of multimedia mobile services (SECOMS) system are given and the results of the preliminary analysis are included. The SECOMS provides a first generation Ka band system with coverage over Western Europe, in order to satisfy business user needs of very large bandwidths and terminal mobility. The satellite system also provides a second generation EHF enhanced system with increased capacity and enlarged coverage, to serve all of Europe and the nearby countries.

Vatalaro, F.↗

NASA NTRS2003

An Integrated Magnetic Circuit Model and Finite Element Model Approach to Magnetic Bearing Design

A code for designing magnetic bearings is described. The code generates curves from magnetic circuit equations relating important bearing performance parameters. Bearing parameters selected from the curves by a designer to meet the requirements of a particular application are input directly by the code into a three-dimensional finite element analysis preprocessor. This means that a three-dimensional computer model of the bearing being developed is immediately available for viewing. The finite element model solution can be used to show areas of magnetic saturation and make more accurate predictions of the bearing load capacity, current stiffness, position stiffness, and inductance than the magnetic circuit equations did at the start of the design process. In summary, the code combines one-dimensional and three-dimensional modeling methods for designing magnetic bearings.

Provenza, Andrew J.↗