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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 1,711 records · Page 95
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1991

Integrated energy balance analysis for Space Station Freedom

An integrated simulation model is described which characterizes the dynamic interaction of the energy transport subsystems of Space Station Freedom for given orbital conditions and for a given set of power and thermal loads. Subsystems included in the model are the Electric Power System (EPS), the Internal Thermal Control System (ITCS), the External Thermal Control System (ETCS), and the cabin Temperature and Humidity Control System (THC) (which includes the avionics air cooling, cabin air cooling, and intermodule ventilation systems). Models of the subsystems were developed in a number of system-specific modeling tools and validated. The subsystem models are then combined into integrated models to address a number of integrated performance issues involving the ability of the integrated energy transport system of Space Station Freedom to provide power, controlled cabin temperature and humidity, and equipment thermal control to support operations.

Tandler, John↗
NASA NTRS2015

Evaluation of Finite-Rate Gas/Surface Interaction Models for a Carbon Based Ablator

Two sets of finite-rate gas-surface interaction model between air and the carbon surface are studied. The first set is an engineering model with one-way chemical reactions, and the second set is a more detailed model with two-way chemical reactions. These two proposed models intend to cover the carbon surface ablation conditions including the low temperature rate-controlled oxidation, the mid-temperature diffusion-controlled oxidation, and the high temperature sublimation. The prediction of carbon surface recession is achieved by coupling a material thermal response code and a Navier-Stokes flow code. The material thermal response code used in this study is the Two-dimensional Implicit Thermal-response and Ablation Program, which predicts charring material thermal response and shape change on hypersonic space vehicles. The flow code solves the reacting full Navier-Stokes equations using Data Parallel Line Relaxation method. Recession analyses of stagnation tests conducted in NASA Ames Research Center arc-jet facilities with heat fluxes ranging from 45 to 1100 wcm2 are performed and compared with data for model validation. The ablating material used in these arc-jet tests is Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator. Additionally, computational predictions of surface recession and shape change are in good agreement with measurement for arc-jet conditions of Small Probe Reentry Investigation for Thermal Protection System Engineering.

Ablation↗
DOE OSTI2016

Evaluating geothermal and hydrogeologic controls on regional groundwater temperature distribution

Described is a one-dimensional (1-D) analytic solution is developed for heat transport through an aquifer system where the vertical temperature profile in the aquifer is nearly uniform. The general anisotropic form of the viscous heat generation term is developed for use in groundwater flow simulations. The 1-D solution is extended to more complex geometries by solving the equation for piece-wise linear or uniform properties and boundary conditions. A moderately complex example, the Eastern Snake River Plain (ESRP), is analyzed to demonstrate the use of the analytic solution for identifying important physical processes. For example, it is shown that viscous heating is variably important and that heat conduction to the land surface is a primary control on the distribution of aquifer and spring temperatures. Use of published values for all aquifer and thermal properties results in a reasonable match between simulated and measured groundwater temperatures over most of the 300 km length of the ESRP, except for geothermal heat flow into the base of the aquifer within 20 km of the Yellowstone hotspot. Previous basal heat flow measurements (110 mW/m 2 ) made beneath the ESRP aquifer were collected at distances of > 50 km from the Yellowstone Plateau, but a higher basal heat flow of 150 mW/m 2 is required to match groundwater temperatures near the Plateau. As a result, the ESRP example demonstrates how the new tool can be used during preliminary analysis of a groundwater system, allowing efficient identification of the important physical processes that must be represented during more-complex 2-D and 3-D simulations of combined groundwater and heat flow.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS2010

International Space Station Common Cabin Air Assembly Condensing Heat Exchanger Hydrophilic Coating Failures and Lessons Learned

The ability to control the temperature and humidity of an environment or habitat is critical for human survival. These factors are important to maintaining human health and comfort, as well as maintaining mechanical and electrical equipment in good working order to support the human and to accomplish mission objectives. The temperature and humidity of the International Space Station (ISS) United States On-orbit Segment (USOS) cabin air is controlled by the Common Cabin Air Assembly (CCAA). The CCAA consists of a fan, a condensing heat exchanger (CHX), an air/water separator, temperature and liquid sensors, and electrical controlling hardware and software. The CHX is the primary component responsible for control of temperature and humidity. The CCAA CHX contains a chemical coating that was developed to be hydrophilic and thus attract water from the humid influent air. This attraction forms the basis for water removal and therefore cabin humidity control. However, there have been several instances of CHX coatings becoming hydrophobic and repelling water. When this behavior is observed in an operational CHX, the unit s ability to remove moisture from the air is compromised and the result is liquid water carryover into downstream ducting and systems. This water carryover can have detrimental effects on the cabin atmosphere quality and on the health of downstream hardware. If the water carryover is severe and widespread, this behavior can result in an inability to maintain humidity levels in the USOS. This paper will describe the operation of the five CCAAs within in the USOS, the potential causes of the hydrophobic condition, and the impacts of the resulting water carryover to downstream systems. It will describe the history of this behavior and the actual observed impacts to the ISS USOS. Information on mitigation steps to protect the health of future CHX hydrophilic coatings and potential remediation techniques will also be discussed.

Balistreri, Steven F.↗
NASA NTRS2013

International Space Station Common Cabin Air Assembly Condensing Heat Exchanger Hydrophilic Coating Operation, Recovery, and Lessons Learned

The ability to control the temperature and humidity of an environment or habitat is critical for human survival. These factors are important to maintaining human health and comfort, as well as maintaining mechanical and electrical equipment in good working order to support the human and to accomplish mission objectives. The temperature and humidity of the International Space Station (ISS) United States On-orbit Segment (USOS) cabin air is controlled by the Common Cabin Air Assembly (CCAA). The CCAA consists of a fan, a condensing heat exchanger (CHX), an air/water separator, temperature and liquid sensors, and electrical controlling hardware and software. The CHX is the primary component responsible for control of temperature and humidity. The CCAA CHX contains a chemical coating that was developed to be hydrophilic and thus attract water from the humid influent air. This attraction forms the basis for water removal and therefore cabin humidity control. However, there have been several instances of CHX coatings becoming hydrophobic and repelling water. When this behavior is observed in an operational CHX in the ISS segments, the unit s ability to remove moisture from the air is compromised and the result is liquid water carryover into downstream ducting and systems. This water carryover can have detrimental effects on the ISS cabin atmosphere quality and on the health of downstream hardware. If the water carryover is severe and widespread, this behavior can result in an inability to maintain humidity levels in the USOS. This paper will describe the operation of the five CCAAs within the USOS, the potential causes of the hydrophobic condition, and the impacts of the resulting water carryover to downstream systems. It will describe the history of this behavior and the actual observed impacts to the ISS USOS. Information on mitigation steps to protect the health of future CHX hydrophilic coatings as well as remediation and recovery of the full heat exchanger will be discussed.

Balistreri, Steven F.↗
DOE OSTI2018

Control of Both Superconducting Critical Temperature and Critical Current by Means of Electric-Field-Induced Reconfigurable Strain

The controlled modification of superconductivity by any means is a long-standing issue in low-temperature physics. In this work, we present data on the control of the superconducting properties of conventional low critical-temperature (T{sub C}) Nb thin films with thickness (d{sub Nb}) = 15 and 20 nm under application of reconfigurable strain, S induced by an external electric field, and E{sub ex} to a piezoelectric (PE) single crystal, namely (1 − x)Pb(Mg{sub 1/3}Nb{sub 2/3})O{sub 3} − x PbTiO{sub 3} (PMN-PT) with x = 0.30–0.31. The experimental results (reduction of T{sub C} and critical current (J{sub C}) on the order of 6% and 90–100%, respectively) are nicely reproduced with a phenomenological model that incorporates the constitutive relation S(E{sub ex}) that describes the electro-mechanical response of the PE crystal to well-established formulas that describe T{sub C} and J{sub C} of the SC thin films.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2013

Nitridation Temperature Effects on Electronic and Chemical Properties of (Ga 1-x Zn x )(N 1-x O x ) Solid Solution Nanocrystals

Solid solution nanocrystals of gallium nitride–zinc oxide have been realized as potential photocatalysts for visible light driven overall water splitting. The band gap of these materials has been found to narrow further into the visible region as a function of increasing zinc oxide concentration, and thus, it is desirable to synthesize zinc oxide-rich gallium nitride–zinc oxide solid solutions. In this paper, we discuss the effects of using nitridation temperature to control zinc oxide content on the electronic and chemical properties of gallium nitride–zinc oxide solid solution nanostructures. The effect of nitridation temperature was studied using X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS), including both X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS), and X-ray excited optical luminescence (XEOL). It was determined that using nitridation temperature as a method of controlling zinc oxide concentration results in solid solutions with poor crystallinity, phase separation, and mixed surface oxide formation. These findings suggest that many complications arise from using nitridation temperature to control zinc oxide concentration in gallium nitride–zinc oxide solid solutions, and thus, it is possible that the resultant materials would exhibit poor photocatalytic activity.

Ward, Matthew James↗
DOE OSTI2015

X-Ray Spectroscopy of Ultra-Thin Oxide/Oxide Heteroepitaxial Films: A Case Study of Single-Nanometer VO2/TiO2

Epitaxial ultra-thin oxide films can support large percent level strains well beyond their bulk counterparts, thereby enabling strain-engineering in oxides that can tailor various phenomena. At these reduced dimensions (typically < 10 nm), contributions from the substrate can dwarf the signal from the epilayer, making it difficult to distinguish the properties of the epilayer from the bulk. This is especially true for oxide on oxide systems. Here, we have employed a combination of hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES) and angular soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) to study epitaxial VO2/TiO2 (100) films ranging from 7.5 to 1 nm. We observe a low-temperature (300 K) insulating phase with evidence of vanadium-vanadium (V-V) dimers and a high-temperature (400 K) metallic phase absent of V-V dimers irrespective of film thickness. Our results confirm that the metal insulator transition can exist at atomic dimensions and that biaxial strain can still be used to control the temperature of its transition when the interfaces are atomically sharp. More generally, our case study highlights the benefits of using non-destructive XAS and HAXPES to extract out information regarding the interfacial quality of the epilayers and spectroscopic signatures associated with exotic phenomena at these dimensions.

Quackenbush, Nicholas↗
NASA NTRS1982

Bipulsating Technique for Silicon Production

Method controls reaction temperature and rate of reaction of sodium and silicon tetrafluoride by alternately adding measured amounts of reactants. Technique used in large reactor, where heat dissipation becomes serious problem, to control reactor temperatures. Highly efficient method, which would utilize almost 100 percent of raw materials.

Sanjurjo, A.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Closed-loop strain controlled testing at elevated temperatures with a non-contacting gage

Normal strains were measured over a 100 micron gage length at a distance of 50 microns from the edge of a notch using a non-contacting, laser-based interferometric technique. Tests were performed at 600 C under direct strain control from this interferometric 'micro-gage'. A minicomputer system, that produced a voltage analog of strain as a final output, controlled the strain measuring apparatus. This analog output was used directly as the feedback signal to a closed-loop, electrohydraulic mechanical test system. This allowed both strain rate and strain amplitude to be controlled at the notch root of the specimen.

Martin, J. F.↗
DOE OSTI2019

Effects of temperature on surface-controlled dislocation multiplication in body-centered-cubic metal nanowires

Recent computational studies revealed that screw dislocations in body-centered-cubic (bcc) metal nanowires can self-multiply through cross-slip near the free surface. This unique process was termed surface-controlled dislocation multiplication (SCDM). In bcc metals, screw dislocation motion and its cross-slip behavior are often related to thermally activated processes; due to this relation, SCDM is expected to be highly temperature-sensitive. In this study, therefore, we investigated how temperature influences the SCDM in bcc molybdenum and niobium nanowires using atomistic simulations. Regardless of the difference in lattice resistance at a given temperature, both systems show similar trends of critical shear stress of SCDM with respect to temperature. Further, the temperature dependence was found to be divided into three different regimes; (1) lattice-resistance-dominant; (2) segmentation-dominant; (3) steady-state segmentation. The presence of these three regimes will be discussed in terms of the temperature-dependence of the lattice resistance and the dynamics of dislocation segmentation in the nano-scale volume. Our results provide a fundamental understanding of screw dislocation behavior in bcc metals at the nanometer scale and varying temperatures.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS2009

Temperature Dependence of Factors Controlling Isoprene Emissions

We investigated the relationship of variability in the formaldehyde (HCHO) columns measured by the Aura Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) to isoprene emissions in the southeastern United States for 2005-2007. The data show that the inferred, regional-average isoprene emissions varied by about 22% during summer and are well correlated with temperature, which is known to influence emissions. Part of the correlation with temperature is likely associated with other causal factors that are temperature-dependent. We show that the variations in HCHO are convolved with the temperature dependence of surface ozone, which influences isoprene emissions, and the dependence of the HCHO column to mixed layer height as OMI's sensitivity to HCHO increases with altitude. Furthermore, we show that while there is an association of drought with the variation in HCHO, drought in the southeastern U.S. is convolved with temperature.

Duncan, Bryan N.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Accelerated Aging System for Prognostics of Power Semiconductor Devices

Prognostics is an engineering discipline that focuses on estimation of the health state of a component and the prediction of its remaining useful life (RUL) before failure. Health state estimation is based on actual conditions and it is fundamental for the prediction of RUL under anticipated future usage. Failure of electronic devices is of great concern as future aircraft will see an increase of electronics to drive and control safety-critical equipment throughout the aircraft. Therefore, development of prognostics solutions for electronics is of key importance. This paper presents an accelerated aging system for gate-controlled power transistors. This system allows for the understanding of the effects of failure mechanisms, and the identification of leading indicators of failure which are essential in the development of physics-based degradation models and RUL prediction. In particular, this system isolates electrical overstress from thermal overstress. Also, this system allows for a precise control of internal temperatures, enabling the exploration of intrinsic failure mechanisms not related to the device packaging. By controlling the temperature within safe operation levels of the device, accelerated aging is induced by electrical overstress only, avoiding the generation of thermal cycles. The temperature is controlled by active thermal-electric units. Several electrical and thermal signals are measured in-situ and recorded for further analysis in the identification of leading indicators of failures. This system, therefore, provides a unique capability in the exploration of different failure mechanisms and the identification of precursors of failure that can be used to provide a health management solution for electronic devices.

Celaya, Jose R.↗
NASA NTRS2009

Improved Temperature Sounding and Quality Control Methodology Using AIRS/AMSU Data: The AIRS Science Team Version 5 Retrieval Algorithm

This paper describes the AIRS Science Team Version 5 retrieval algorithm in terms of its three most significant improvements over the methodology used in the AIRS Science Team Version 4 retrieval algorithm. Improved physics in Version 5 allows for use of AIRS clear column radiances in the entire 4.3 micron CO2 absorption band in the retrieval of temperature profiles T(p) during both day and night. Tropospheric sounding 15 micron CO2 observations are now used primarily in the generation of clear column radiances .R(sub i) for all channels. This new approach allows for the generation of more accurate values of .R(sub i) and T(p) under most cloud conditions. Secondly, Version 5 contains a new methodology to provide accurate case-by-case error estimates for retrieved geophysical parameters and for channel-by-channel clear column radiances. Thresholds of these error estimates are used in a new approach for Quality Control. Finally, Version 5 also contains for the first time an approach to provide AIRS soundings in partially cloudy conditions that does not require use of any microwave data. This new AIRS Only sounding methodology, referred to as AIRS Version 5 AO, was developed as a backup to AIRS Version 5 should the AMSU-A instrument fail. Results are shown comparing the relative performance of the AIRS Version 4, Version 5, and Version 5 AO for the single day, January 25, 2003. The Goddard DISC is now generating and distributing products derived using the AIRS Science Team Version 5 retrieval algorithm. This paper also described the Quality Control flags contained in the DISC AIRS/AMSU retrieval products and their intended use for scientific research purposes.

Susskind, Joel↗
DOE OSTI2013

High-Power Warm-White Hybrid LED Package for Illumination

In this project, an integrated warm-white hybrid light engine was developed. The hybrid approach involves combining phosphor-converted off-white InGaN LEDs and direct-emitting red AlInGaP LEDs in a single light engine to achieve high efficacy together with high color rendering index. We developed and integrated technology improvements in InGaN and AlInGaP die technology, phosphor technology, package architecture and encapsulation, to realize a hybrid warm-white LED package with an efficacy of 140 lm/W at a correlated color temperature of 3000K and a color rendering index of 90, measured under representative operating conditions. This efficacy is 26% higher than the best warm-white LEDs of similar specification that are commercially available at the end of the project. Since the InGaN- and AlInGaP-based LEDs used in the hybrid engine show different behavior as a function of current and temperature, a control system needs to be in place to ensure a stable color point over all operating conditions. In this project, we developed an electronic control circuit that is fully integrated into the light engine in such a way that the module can simply be driven by a conventional single-channel driver. The integrated control circuit uses a switch-mode boost converter topology to control the LED drive currents based on the temperature and the input current of the light engine. A color control performance of 5 SDCM was demonstrated, and improvement to 3 SDCM is considered well within reach. The combination of high efficacy and ease of integration with existing single-channel drivers is expected to facilitate the adoption of the hybrid technology and accelerate the energy savings associated with solid-state lighting. In the product commercialization plan, downlights and indirect-lit troffers have been selected as the first target applications for this product concept. Fully functional integrated prototypes have been developed for both applications, and the business case evaluation is ongoing as of the end of the project.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2015

Size-controllable fabrication of Cu nanoparticles on carbon nanotubes by simple heating

Highlights: • Cu nanoparticles were synthesized on the surface of carbon nanotubes by heating. • The particle size could be tuned by controlling the temperature and duration. • The possible nucleation and growth mechanisms of nanoparticles were discussed. - Abstract: In this paper, employing simple heating inside the transmission electron microscope, we demonstrated the decoration of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by Cu nanoparticles (NPs). More significantly, the particle sizes could be effectively controlled by simply controlling the temperature and duration. It is believed that the nucleation and growth of NPs results from the deposition of generated Cu vapor as well as the surface diffusion of Cu on the CNTs at elevated temperature.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2014

Control and diagnosis of temperature, density, and uniformity in x-ray heated iron/magnesium samples for opacity measurements

Experimental tests are in progress to evaluate the accuracy of the modeled iron opacity at solar interior conditions, in particular to better constrain the solar abundance problem [S. Basu and H. M. Antia, Phys. Rep. 457, 217 (2008)]. Here, we describe measurements addressing three of the key requirements for reliable opacity experiments: control of sample conditions, independent sample condition diagnostics, and verification of sample condition uniformity. The opacity samples consist of iron/magnesium layers tamped by plastic. By changing the plastic thicknesses, we have controlled the iron plasma conditions to reach (1) T{sub e} = 167 ± 3 eV and n{sub e} = (7.1 ± 1.5)× 10{sup 21} cm{sup −3}, (2) T{sub e} = 170 ± 2 eV and n{sub e} = (2.0 ± 0.2) × 10{sup 22} cm{sup −3}, and (3) T{sub e} = 196 ± 6 eV and n{sub e} = (3.8 ± 0.8) × 10{sup 22} cm{sup −3}, which were measured by magnesium tracer K-shell spectroscopy. The opacity sample non-uniformity was directly measured by a separate experiment where Al is mixed into the side of the sample facing the radiation source and Mg into the other side. The iron condition was confirmed to be uniform within their measurement uncertainties by Al and Mg K-shell spectroscopy. The conditions are suitable for testing opacity calculations needed for modeling the solar interior, other stars, and high energy density plasmas.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗