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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 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2018

Optimized anion exchange column isolation of zirconium-89 (89Zr) from yttrium cyclotron target: Method development and implementation on an automated fluidic platform

Zirconium-89 (89Zr), produced by the (p,n) reaction from naturally monoisotopic yttrium (natY), is a promising positron emitting isotope for immunoPET imaging. Its long half-life of 78.4 h is sufficient for evaluating slow physiological processes. A prototype automated fluidic system, coupled to on-line and in-line detectors, has been constructed to facilitate development of new 89Zr purification methodologies. The highly reproducible reagent delivery platform and near-real time monitoring of column effluents allows for efficient method optimization. The separation of Zr from dissolved Y metal targets was evaluated using several anion exchange resins. Each resin was evaluated against its ability to quantitatively capture Zr from a load solution that is high in dissolved Y. The most appropriate anion exchange resin for this application was identified, and the separation method was optimized. The method is capable of a high Y decontamination factor (>105) and has been shown to separate Fe, an abundant contaminant in Y foils, from the 89Zr elution fraction. Finally, the performance of the method was evaluated using cyclotron bombarded Y foil targets. The separation method was shown to achieve >95% recovery of the 89Zr present in the foils. The 89Zr eluent, however, was in a chemical matrix not immediately conducive to labeling onto proteins. The main intent of this study was to develop a tandem column 89Zr purification process, wherein the anion exchange column method described here is the first separation in a dual-column purification process.

Zirconium-89, ImmunoPET, medical isotope, automati↗
DOE OSTI2018

Tandem column isolation of zirconium-89 from cyclotron bombarded yttrium targets using an automated fluidic platform: Anion exchange to hydroxamate resin columns

The development of a tandem column purification method for the production of high-purity 89Zr is presented. The primary column was a macroporous strongly basic anion exchange resin on styrene divinylbenzene co-polymer. The secondary column, with an internal volume of ~27 µL, was packed with hydroxamate resin. A condition of inverted selectivity was developed, whereby the 89Zr eluent from the primary column is synonymous with the load condition on the secondary column. The ability to transfer 89Zr from one column to the next allows two sequential column clean-up methods to be performed prior to the final elution of the 89Zr. This approach assures delivery of high purity 89Zr product and assures a 89Zr product that is eluted in a substantially smaller volume than is possible when using the traditionally-employed single hydroxamate resin column method. The tandem column purification process has been implemented into a prototype automated fluidic system. The system is configured with on-line gamma detection so column effluents can be monitored in near-real time. The automated method was tested using seven cyclotron bombarded Y foil targets. It was found that 95.1±1.3% of the 89Zr present in the foils was recovered in the secondary column elution fraction. Furthermore, elution peak analysis of several 89Zr elution profile radiochromatograms made possible the determination of 89Zr recovery as a function of volume; a 89Zr product volume that contains 90% of the mean secondary column elution peak can be obtained in 0.29±0.06 mL (representing 86±5% of the 89Zr activity in the target). This product volume represents a significant increase in isotope product concentration over the predominant method used in the field. In addition to the reduced 89Zr product elution volume, titrations of the 89Zr product with deferoxamine mesylate salt across two preparatory methods resulted in mean effective specific activity (ESA) values of 279 and 340 TBq·mmole-1 and mean bindable metals concentrations ([MB]) of 13.5 and 16.7 nmole·g-1. These ESA and [MB] values infer that the 89Zr product resulting from this tandem column isolation method has the highest purity reported to date.

immunoPET, zirconium-89, laboratory automation, de↗
DOE OSTI2018

Hydroxamate column-based purification of zirconium-89 (89Zr) using an automated fluidic platform

Zirconium-89 (89Zr) is a long-lived (t1/2 = 78.4 h) positron-emitting isotope that is useful for positron emission tomography (PET) based diagnostic imaging using radiolabeled antibodies. Hydroxamate resin columns are predominantly used for the purification of 89Zr from cyclotron bombarded natY targets dissolved in strong HCl. 89Zr is conventionally eluted from the resin in 1 M oxalic acid (H2C2O4), a complexant that is conducive to follow-on binding of 89Zr through a transchelation process to the deferoxamine siderophore. In the present study, we determined that a lower concentration of H2C2O4 eluent (0.8 M) is adequate to efficiently remove 89Zr from a column containing 100 mg hydroxamate resin. As a result, less buffering agents are needed to be added to the 89Zr product fraction prior to labeling. A simple automated fluidic system prototype has been developed to perform the steps required for 89Zr purification using a hydroxamate resin column (column conditioning in HCl, Y target dissolution, dissolved target solution load onto column, column washes using HCl and water, and 89Zr elution). The system performance was evaluated using several cyclotron bombarded Y targets; 89Zr product fractions demonstrated excellent chemical recoveries from these targets, with 1.0 mL product volumes yielding 89±2% of the column elution peak activity and 84±2% of 89Zr recovered from the target (at EOB). These results compare favorably with previously published 89Zr product volumes and yields, despite the lower concentration of H2C2O4 eluent employed. Transchelation of resulting 89Zr product fractions was performed to assess product quality. The effective specific activity (ESA) ranged between 44(7) and 109(22) TBq·mmole-1, while the bindable metals concentration, a metric introduced for assessing and comparing product purity, ranged between 43(7) and 115(27) nmole·g-1.

zirconium-89, 89Zr, ImmunoPET, medical isotope, au↗
NASA NTRS2021

Performance Assessment of Fluidic Oscillators Tested on the NASA Hump Model

Flow separation control over a wall-mounted hump model was studied experimentally to assess the performance of fluidic oscillators (sweeping jet actuators). An array of fluidic oscillators was used to control flow separation. The results showed that the fluidic oscillators were able to achieve substantial control over the separated flow by increasing the upstream suction pressure and downstream pressure recovery. Using the data available in the literature, the performance of the fluidic oscillators was compared to other active flow control (AFC) methods such as steady blowing, steady suction, and zero-net-mass-flux (ZNMF) actuators. Several integral parameters, such as the inviscid flow comparison coefficient, pressure drag coefficient, and modified normal force coefficient, were used as quality metrics in the performance comparison of the AFC methods. These quality metrics indicated the superiority of the steady suction method, especially at lower excitation amplitudes that is followed by the fluidic oscillators, steady blowing, and the ZNMF actuators, respectively. An aerodynamic figure of merit (AFM) was also constructed using the integral parameters and AFC power usage. The AFM results revealed that, for this study, steady suction was the most efficient AFC method at lower excitation amplitudes. The steady suction loses its efficiency as the excitation amplitude increases, and the fluidic oscillators become the most efficient AFC method. Both the steady suction and the fluidic oscillators have an AFM > 1 for the range tested in this study, indicating that they provide a net benefit when the AFC power consumption is also considered. On the other hand, both the steady blowing and ZNMF actuators were found to be inefficient AFC methods (AFM < 1) for the current configuration. Although they improved the flow field by controlling flow separation, the power requirement was more than their benefit.

Fluidic oscillators↗
NASA NTRS2007

Impact of Fluidic Chevrons on Supersonic Jet Noise

The impact of fluidic chevrons on broadband shock noise and mixing noise for single stream and coannular jets was investigated. Air was injected into the core flow of a bypass ratio 5 nozzle system using a core fluidic chevron nozzle. For the single stream experiments, the fan stream was operated at the wind tunnel conditions and the core stream was operated at supersonic speeds. For the dual stream experiments, the fan stream was operated at supersonic speeds and the core stream was varied between subsonic and supersonic conditions. For the single stream jet at nozzle pressure ratio (NPR) below 2.0, increasing the injection pressure of the fluidic chevron increased high frequency noise at observation angles upstream of the nozzle exit and decreased mixing noise near the peak jet noise angle. When the NPR increased to a point where broadband shock noise dominated the acoustic spectra at upstream observation angles, the fluidic chevrons significantly decreased this noise. For dual stream jets, the fluidic chevrons reduced broadband shock noise levels when the fan NPR was below 2.3, but had little or no impact on shock noise with further increases in fan pressure. For all fan stream conditions investigated, the fluidic chevron became more effective at reducing mixing noise near the peak jet noise angle as the core pressure increased.

Henderson, Brenda↗
NASA NTRS2015

Formation and Control of Fluidic Species

This invention generally relates to systems and methods for the formation and/or control of fluidic species, and articles produced by such systems and methods. In some cases, the invention involves unique fluid channels, systems, controls, and/or restrictions, and combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, the invention allows fluidic streams (which can be continuous or discontinuous, i.e., droplets) to be formed and/or combined, at a variety of scales, including microfluidic scales. In one set of embodiments, a fluidic stream may be produced from a channel, where a cross-sectional dimension of the fluidic stream is smaller than that of the channel, for example, through the use of structural elements, other fluids, and/or applied external fields, etc. In some cases, a Taylor cone may be produced. In another set of embodiments, a fluidic stream may be manipulated in some fashion, for example, to create tubes (which may be hollow or solid), droplets, nested tubes or droplets, arrays of tubes or droplets, meshes of tubes, etc. In some cases, droplets produced using certain embodiments of the invention may be charged or substantially charged, which may allow their further manipulation, for instance, using applied external fields. Non-limiting examples of such manipulations include producing charged droplets, coalescing droplets (especially at the microscale), synchronizing droplet formation, aligning molecules within the droplet, etc. In some cases, the droplets and/or the fluidic streams may include colloids, cells, therapeutic agents, and the like.

Link, Darren Roy↗
NASA NTRS2015

Investigation of Combustion Control in a Dump Combustor Using the Feedback Free Fluidic Oscillator

A feedback free fluidic oscillator was designed and integrated into a single element rocket combustor with the goal of suppressing longitudinal combustion instabilities. The fluidic oscillator uses internal fluid dynamics to create an unsteady outlet jet at a specific frequency. An array of nine fluidic oscillators was tested to mimic modulated secondary oxidizer injection into the combustor dump plane. The combustor has a coaxial injector that uses gaseous methane and decomposed hydrogen peroxide with an overall O/F ratio of 11.7. A sonic choke plate on an actuator arm allows for continuous adjustment of the oxidizer post acoustics enabling the study of a variety of instability magnitudes. The fluidic oscillator unsteady outlet jet performance is compared against equivalent steady jet injection and a baseline design with no secondary oxidizer injection. At the most unstable operating conditions, the unsteady outlet jet saw a 67% reduction in the instability pressure oscillation magnitude when compared to the steady jet and baseline data. Additionally, computational fluid dynamics analysis of the combustor gives insight into the flow field interaction of the fluidic oscillators. The results indicate that open loop high frequency propellant modulation for combustion control can be achieved through fluidic devices that require no moving parts or electrical power to operate.

Meier, Eric J.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Structural Requirements and Scaling Analysis of a Fluidic Mirror Space Telescope Support Structure

The NASA FLUTE project proposes large-scale (50m) fluidic telescopes for astronomy applications. To continue to explore the universe, astronomers require larger and larger telescope apertures. The highest priority astrophysics targets such as exoplanets and early galaxies are extremely faint, motivating larger telescope apertures. However, mission costs depend on aperture diameter, and scaling apertures beyond 10-m apertures faces economic and technological viability challenges. An unsegmented primary mirror made in space via fluidic microgravity shaping would provide a scalable and cost-effective method to scale apertures to 50-m scale while achieving sub-nanometer (root mean square) surface quality. Such microgravity fluidic shaping has been demonstrated in laboratory neutral buoyance environments, parabolic microgravity experiments, as well aboard the International Space Station. One of the main components of a fluidic observatory is the mirror frame. The frame must provide a stable bounding circular ring which the edges of the fluid mirror surface can wet. The frame can optionally provide a ‘floor’ surface on the interior of the ring to provide additional fluid support and reduce required fluid volume. In this work, we evaluate several classes of structural frame architectures potentially suitable for a fluidic telescope support structure. We start by estimating stability requirements, orbital, station keeping, and slew loads based on a notional CONOPS. The scaling of overall fluid mass required for each architecture is evaluated. Preliminary results elucidate the importance of a support floor for overall mission viability above 10-m diameter. We then investigate the scaling of a tetrahedral truss frame support structure. We show that segmented solid shell support surfaces can provide sufficient stability at modest mass fractions. We estimate that the total fluid and frame mass for a 50-m telescope could be on the order of 15,000 kg. Finally, implementation considerations are discussed, including deployment/assembly methodologies. The results of this study establish feasibility of a large-scale fluidic telescope and will guide further architecture development and detailed structural design.

Christine Gregg↗
DOE OSTI2023

Microfluidic systems, pumps, valves, fluidic chips thereof, and applications of same

Microfluidic systems, pumps, valves and applications of the same are provided. The microfluidic system may be a pump or a valve having a fluidic chip and an actuator controlling the opening and closing of the fluidic channel in the fluidic chip. The actuator may be disposed to tilt from the fluidic chip, forming a tilted-rotor peristaltic pump. Alternatively, the actuator may be a rolling ball actuator, and different fluidic chips may be used in different applications. For example, the fluidic chip may be a spiral pump chip having spiral channels, a rotary peristaltic pump chip having multiple output channels, or a multi-port valve chip having one port interconnected with multiple different ports. An analytical valve chip may switchably interconnect bioreactor and rinse/calibration input channels to sensor and waste output channels. The actuator of a random-access valve can move from one valve position to another without opening or closing intermediate ones.

Reiserer, Ronald S.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Microfluidic systems, pumps, valves, fluidic chips thereof, and applications of same

Microfluidic systems, pumps, valves and applications of the same are provided. The microfluidic system may be a pump or a valve having a fluidic chip and an actuator controlling the opening and closing of the fluidic channel in the fluidic chip. The actuator may be disposed to tilt from the fluidic chip, forming a tilted-rotor peristaltic pump. Alternatively, the actuator may be a rolling ball actuator, and different fluidic chips may be used in different applications. For example, the fluidic chip may be a spiral pump chip having spiral channels, a rotary peristaltic pump chip having multiple output channels, or a multi-port valve chip having one port interconnected with multiple different ports. An analytical valve chip may switchably interconnect bioreactor and rinse/calibration input channels to sensor and waste output channels. The actuator of a random-access valve can move from one valve position to another without opening or closing intermediate ones.

Reiserer, Ronald S.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Cellular fluidics

The natural world provides many examples of multiphase transport and reaction processes that have been optimized by evolution. These phenomena take place at multiple length and time scales and typically include gas–liquid–solid interfaces and capillary phenomena in porous media. Many biological and living systems have evolved to optimize fluidic transport. However, living things are exceptionally complex and very difficult to replicate, and human-made microfluidic devices (which are typically planar and enclosed) are highly limited for multiphase process engineering. In this paper, we introduce the concept of cellular fluidics: a platform of unit-cell-based, three-dimensional structures—enabled by emerging 3D printing methods—for the deterministic control of multiphase flow, transport and reaction processes. We show that flow in these structures can be ‘programmed’ through architected design of cell type, size and relative density. We demonstrate gas–liquid transport processes such as transpiration and absorption, using evaporative cooling and CO 2 capture as examples. We design and demonstrate preferential liquid and gas transport pathways in three-dimensional cellular fluidic devices with capillary-driven and actively pumped liquid flow, and present examples of selective metallization of pre-programmed patterns. Our results show that the design and fabrication of architected cellular materials, coupled with analytical and numerical predictions of steady-state and dynamic behaviour of multiphase interfaces, provide deterministic control of fluidic transport in three dimensions. Cellular fluidics may transform the design space for spatial and temporal control of multiphase transport and reaction processes.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS1970

Optimization of a fluidic temperature control device

Refinements are described to an existing fluidic temperature control system developed under a prior study which modulated temperature at the inlet to the liquid-cooled garment by using existing liquid supply and return lines to transmit signals to a fluidic controller located in the spacecraft. This earlier system produced a limited range of garment inlet temperatures, requiring some bypassing of flow around the suit to make the astronaut comfortable at rest conditions. Refinements were based on a flow visualization study of the key element in the fluidic controller: the fluidic mixing valve. The valve's mixing-ratio range was achieved by making five key changes: (1) geometrical changes to the valve; (2) attenuation of noise generated in proportional amplifier cascades; (3) elimination of vortices at the exit of the fluidic mixing valve; (4) reduction of internal heat transfer; and (5) flow balancing through venting. As a result, the refined system is capable of modulating garment inlet temperature from 45 F to 70 F with a single manual control valve in series with the garment. This control valve signals without changing or bypassing flow through the garment.

Zabsky, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1972

NASA contributions to fluidic systems: A survey

A state-of-the art review of fluidic technology is presented. It is oriented towards systems applications rather than theory or design. It draws heavily upon work performed or sponsored by NASA in support of the space program and aeronautical research and development (R&D). Applications are emphasized in this survey because it is hoped that the examples described and the criteria presented for evaluating the suitability of fluidics to new applications will be of value to potential users of fluidic systems. This survey of the fluidics industry suggests some of the means whereby a company may use a fluidic system effectively either to manufacture a product or as part of the end product.

Weathers, T. M.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Experimental and analytical investigation of a fluidic power generator

A combined experimental and analytical investigation was performed to understand the various fluid processes associated with the conversion of flow energy into electric power in a fluidic generator. Experiments were performed under flight-simulated laboratory conditions and results were compared with those obtained in the free-flight conditions. It is concluded that the mean mass flow critically controlled the output of the fluidic generator. Cross-correlation of the outputs of transducer data indicate the presence of a standing wave in the tube; the mechanism of oscillation is an acoustic resonance tube phenomenon. A linearized model was constructed coupling the flow behavior of the jet, the jet-layer, the tube, the cavity, and the holes of the fluidic generator. The analytical results also show that the mode of the fluidic power generator is an acoustical resonance phenomenon with the frequency of operation given by f approx = a/4L, where f is the frequency of jet swallowing, a is the average speed of sound in the tube, and L is the length of the tube. Analytical results further indicated that oscillations in the fluidic generator are always damped and consequently there is a forcing of the system in operation.

Sarohia, V.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Application of fluidics to instrumentation in hostile environments

This paper discusses the use of fluidic devices for measurement and control in the presence of hostile environments. Various applications are presented together with possible solutions by the use of fluidics. Several fluidic devices, components and circuits are described which may be adapted to fluidic measurement and control of processes where other methods fail or become extremely difficult or damaging to the instrumentation. Devices and techniques described include a description of a capillary temperature probe including both probe and circuit designs, and several possible techniques which may be used in the design and testing of fluidic devices.

Walsh, J.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Computational Study of Fluidic Thrust Vectoring using Separation Control in a Nozzle

A computational investigation of a two- dimensional nozzle was completed to assess the use of fluidic injection to manipulate flow separation and cause thrust vectoring of the primary jet thrust. The nozzle was designed with a recessed cavity to enhance the throat shifting method of fluidic thrust vectoring. The structured-grid, computational fluid dynamics code PAB3D was used to guide the design and analyze over 60 configurations. Nozzle design variables included cavity convergence angle, cavity length, fluidic injection angle, upstream minimum height, aft deck angle, and aft deck shape. All simulations were computed with a static freestream Mach number of 0.05. a nozzle pressure ratio of 3.858, and a fluidic injection flow rate equal to 6 percent of the primary flow rate. Results indicate that the recessed cavity enhances the throat shifting method of fluidic thrust vectoring and allows for greater thrust-vector angles without compromising thrust efficiency.

Deere, Karen↗