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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 181 records · Page 10
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1993

Early Mars was wet but not warm: Erosion, fluvial features, liquid water habitats, and life below freezing

There is considerable evidence that Mars had liquid water early in its history and possibly at recurrent interval. It has generally been assumed that this implied that the climate was warmer as a result of a thicker CO2 atmosphere than at the present. However, recent models suggest that Mars may have had a thick atmosphere but may not have experienced mean annual temperatures above freezing. In this paper we report on models of liquid water formation and maintenance under temperatures well below freezing. Our studies are based on work in the north and south polar regions of Earth. Our results suggest that early Mars did have a thick atmosphere but precipitation and hence erosion was rare. Transient liquid water, formed under temperature extremes and maintained under thick ice covers, could account for the observed fluvial features. The main difference between the present climate and the early climate was that the total surface pressure was well above the triple point of water.

Mckay, C. P.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Nucleation Pathways For Freezing Of Two Grades Of Zirconium

Report discusses classical nucleation theory of freezing and describes experimental study of nucleation mechanisms that predominate during freezing of spherical specimens of initially molten zirconium levitated electrostatically in vacuum.

Rhim, Won-Kyu↗
NASA NTRS1995

Freezing Behavior of Stratospheric Sulfate Aerosols Inferred from Trajectory Studies

Based on the trajectory analysis presented in this paper, a new mechanism is described for the freezing of the stratospheric sulfate aerosols. Temperature histories based on 10-day back trajectories for six ER-2 flights during AASE-I (1989) and AAOE (1987) are presented. The mechanism requires, as an initial step, the cooling of a H2SO4/H2O aerosol to low temperatures. If a cooling cycle is then followed up by a warming to approximately 196-198 K, the aerosols may freeze due to the growth of the crystallizing embryos formed at the colder temperature. The HNO3 absorbed at colder temperatures may increase the nucleation rate of the crystalling embryos and therefore influence the crystallization of the supercooled aerosols upon warming. Of all the ER-2 flights described, only the polar stratospheric clouds (PSC), observed on the flights of January 24, and 25, 1989 are consistent with the thermodynamics of liquid ternary solutions of H2SO4/HNO3/H2O (type Ib PSCs). For those two days, back trajectories indicate that the air mass was exposed to sulfuric acid tetrahydrate (SAT) melting temperatures about 24 hours prior to being sampled by the ER-2. Temperature histories, recent laboratory measurements, and the properties of glassy solids suggest that stratospheric H2SO4 aerosols may undergo a phase transition to SAT upon warming at approximately 198 K after going through a cooling cycle to about 194 K or lower.

Tabazadeh, A.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Freezing Rain as an In-Flight Icing Hazard

Exposure to supercooled large drops (SLD-subfreezing water droplets with diameters greater than approx. 50 microns) can pose a significant threat to the safety of some aircraft. Although SLD includes both freezing drizzle (FZDZ) and freezing rain (FZRA), much of the SLD research and development of operational SLD forecast tools has focused on FZDZ and ignored FZRA, regarding is as less of a hazard to aviation. This paper provides a counterpoint case study that demonstrates FZRA as a significant in-flight icing hazard. The case study is based on flight and meteorological data from a joint NASA/FAA/NCAR SLD icing research project collected on February 4, 1998. The NASA Twin Otter Icing Research Aircraft experienced a prolonged exposure to "classical" FZRA that formed extensive ice formations including ridges and nodules on the wing and tail, and resulted in a substantial performance penalty. Although the case study provides only a singular FZRA event with one aircraft type, it is clear that classical FZRA can pose a significant in-flight icing hazard, and should not be ignored when considering SLD issues.

Bernstein, Ben C.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Stratospheric Polar Freezing Belt Causes Denitrification

Trajectory cloud model calculations are presented to show that homogeneous freezing of nitric acid hydrates can produce a polar freezing belt in both hemispheres that can cause denitrification. While hydrate cloud microphysical properties are similar over both poles, the shorter persistence of clouds in the Arctic prevents the depth of the denitrified layers from growing beyond a few kilometers. The 1999-2000 Arctic winter is unique in showing a distinct denitrification profile with a depth of approx. 4.5 km that is nearly half as deep as that computed for a typical Antarctic winter.

Tabazadeh, A.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Fundamental Boiling and RP-1 Freezing Experiments

This paper describes results from experiments performed to help understand certain aspects of the MC-1 engine prestart thermal conditioning procedure. The procedure was constrained by the fact that the engine must chill long enough to get quality LOX at the LOX pump inlet but must be short enough to prevent freezing of RP-1 in the fuel pump. A chill test of an MC-1 LOX impeller was performed in LN2 to obtain data on film boiling, transition boiling and impeller temperature histories. The transition boiling data was important to the chill time so a subsequent experiment was performed chilling simple steel plates in LOX to obtain similar data for LOX. To address the fuel freezing concern, two experiments were performed. First, fuel was frozen in a tray and its physical characteristics were observed and temperatures of the fuel were measured. The result was physical characteristics as a function of temperature. Second was an attempt to measure the frozen thickness of RP-1 on a cold wall submerged in warm RP-1 and to develop a method for calculating that thickness for other conditions.

Goode, Brian↗
NASA NTRS2007

Continuously Regenerable Freeze-Out CO2 Control Technology

Carbon dioxide (CO2) removal technology development for portable life support systems (PLSS) has traditionally concentrated in the areas of solid and liquid chemical sorbents and semi-permeable membranes. Most of these systems are too heavy in gravity environments, require prohibitive amounts of consumables for operation on long term planetary missions, or are inoperable on the surface of Mars due to the presence of a CO2 atmosphere. This paper describes the effort performed to mature an innovative CO2 removal technology that meets NASA s planetary mission needs while adhering to the important guiding principles of simplicity, reliability, and operability. A breadboard cryogenic carbon dioxide scrubber (Cryo Scrubber) for a closed loop cryogenic PLSS was developed, designed, and tested, and a conceptual design suitable for a PLSS was developed based on the results of the breadboard testing. The Cryo Scrubber freezes CO2 and other trace contaminants out of expired vent loop gas using cooling available from a liquid oxygen (LOX) based PLSS. The device is continuously regenerable, with solid CO2 being removed from the cold freeze-out surfaces, sublimated, and vented overboard. Duration is limited only by the supply of LOX stored in the PLSS. Simplicity, reliability, and operability are universally important criteria for critical hardware on long duration Lunar or Mars missions. The Cryo Scrubber has no moving parts, requires no additional consumables, and uses no electrical power, contributing to its simplicity and reliability. It is easy to use; no operator action is required to prepare, use, or shut down the Cryo Scrubber, and it does not require charging or regeneration. The versatility of the concept allows for operation on earth, the moon, and Mars, and in microgravity.

Fricker, John↗
NASA NTRS1996

Control of crystal growth in water purification by directional freeze crystallization

A Directional Freeze Crystallization system employs an indirect contact heat exchanger to freeze a fraction of liquid to be purified. The unfrozen fraction is drained away and the purified frozen fraction is melted. The heat exchanger must be designed in accordance with a Growth Habit Index to achieve efficient separation of contaminants. If gases are dissolved in the liquid, the system must be pressurized.

Conlon, William M.↗
NASA NTRS2018

Freeze Casting of LAGP for 3D Textured Solid-State Structural Electrolytes

In this study, all-solid-state structural lithium-ion batteries, a type of load bearing electrochemical energy storage that provides systems-level weight savings is being pursued for the realization of inherently safe next generation hybrid-electric and all-electric green aerospace propulsion systems. Currently investigated all-solid-state batteries do not meet the requirements for specific power and mechanical stability. To address these issues, freeze casting of lithium aluminum germanium phosphate (LAGP) electrolyte material has been explored for the creation of a textured 3D electrolyte scaffold with large interfacial surface area for high power discharge and hierarchical porosity for accommodation of active material volume changes during electrochemical cycling. We report the effects of freeze casting processing parameters on the microstructural development and mechanical performance of the scaffolds, characterized through scanning electron microscopy and ring-on-ring mechanical testing. Slurry composition and casting parameters such as solids loading, casting speed, tape angle, and temperature gradients have been modified to determine the impact on density, lamellar morphology, and final load-bearing performance.

ceramics↗
NASA NTRS2018

Experimental Effervescence and Freezing Point Depression Measurements of Nitrogen in Liquid Methane-Ethane Mixtures

NASA is designing an unmanned submarine to explore the depths of the hydrocarbon-rich seas on Saturn's moon Titan. Data from Cassini indicates that the Titan north polar environment sustains stable seas of variable concentrations of ethane, methane, and nitrogen, with a surface temperature near 93 K. The submarine must operate autonomously, study atmosphere/sea exchange, interact with the seabed, hover at the surface or any depth within the sea, and be capable of tolerating variable hydrocarbon compositions. Currently, the main thermal design concern is the effect of effervescence on submarine operation, which affects the ballast system, science instruments, and propellers. Twelve effervescence measurements on various liquid methane-ethane compositions with dissolved gaseous nitrogen are thus presented from 1.5 bar to 4.5 bar at temperatures from 92 K to 96 K to simulate the conditions of the seas. After conducting effervescence measurements, two freezing point depression measurements were conducted. The freezing liquid line was depressed more than 15 K below the triple point temperatures of pure ethane (90.4 K) and pure methane (90.7 K). Experimental effervescence measurements will be used to compare directly with effervescence modeling to determine if changes are required in the design of the thermal management system as well as the propellers.

Submarine↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Experimental Observations of Mechanisms of Pattern Formation During Freeze Casting

Empirically, many different materials compositions have been freeze cast over the years. Few have been analyzed to better understand the mechanisms by which the ice crystal growth drives structure formation, particularly the substructures on the cell walls. Collating substructural features, for example, ridges, bridges, and “jellyfish-like” substructures, found on the cell walls of freeze-cast ceramics (platelets versus particles), fibrillated biopolymers (collagen, nanocellulose), and "smooth" biopolymers (chitosan, trehalose), we capture the ice crystal growth process and analyze it both in situ in 2D and "post-mortem" in 3D to gain insights into anisotropic ice crystal growth and other self-assembly mechanisms. Combining these experimental observations with 3D Phase-field simulations of structure formation in ice-templated materials, detailed in a companion presentation, it becomes possible to gain fundamental science insights and to obtain the desired structure-property-processing correlations not only at the more traditional macroscopic, but also at the meso- and microscopic scales.

Kaiyang Yin↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Experimental Observations of Mechanisms of Pattern Formation During Freeze Casting

Empirically, many different materials compositions have been freeze cast over the years. Few have been analyzed to better understand the mechanisms by which the ice crystal growth drives structure formation, particularly the substructures on the cell walls. Collating substructural features, for example, ridges, bridges, and “jellyfish-like” substructures, found on the cell walls of freeze-cast ceramics (platelets versus particles), fibrillated biopolymers (collagen, nanocellulose), and "smooth" biopolymers (chitosan, trehalose), we capture the ice crystal growth process and analyze it both in situ in 2D and "post-mortem" in 3D to gain insights into anisotropic ice crystal growth and other self-assembly mechanisms. Combining these experimental observations with 3D Phase-field simulations of structure formation in ice-templated materials, detailed in a companion presentation, it becomes possible to gain fundamental science insights and to obtain the desired structure-property-processing correlations not only at the more traditional macroscopic, but also at the meso- and microscopic scales.

Kaiyan Yin↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Actively Controlled Louver for Human Spacecraft Radiator Ultraviolet (UV), Dust, and Freeze Protection

This paper examines the use of actively controlled louvers to attenuate UV and dust, as well as mitigate freezing concerns for human spacecraft radiators during Artemis missions. Artemis missions to the lunar orbit or surface will expose the radiators to high energy UV radiation and dust, which will degrade the radiator’s coating emissivity and consequently reduce heat rejection performance. In addition, subfreezing environmental temperatures during transit to lunar orbit and nighttime on lunar south pole can rupture coolant tubes, reduce heat rejection performance, and worst-case scenario result in a Loss of Mission (LOM). Louver technology would be a promising solution to maintaining radiator performance and integrity for Artemis missions, but heritage louvers are passively controlled. This technology needs maturing to active control, or motor actuation, to achieve faster thermal response times. Actively controlled louver design considerations are discussed in this paper. The analysis that follows shows actively controlled louvers can attenuate high energy UV radiation and dust, as well as protect the coolant from freezing.

Louver↗
NASA NTRS2023

Actively Controlled Louver for Human Spacecraft Radiator Ultraviolet (UV), Dust, and Freeze Protection

This paper examines the use of actively controlled louvers to attenuate UV and dust, as well as mitigate freezing concerns for human spacecraft radiators during Artemis missions. Artemis missions to the lunar orbit or surface will expose the radiators to high energy UV radiation and dust, which will degrade the radiator’s coating emissivity and consequently reduce heat rejection performance. In addition, subfreezing environmental temperatures during transit to lunar orbit and nighttime on lunar south pole can rupture coolant tubes, reduce heat rejection performance, and worst-case scenario result in a Loss of Mission (LOM). Louver technology would be a promising solution to maintaining radiator performance and integrity for Artemis missions, but heritage louvers are passively controlled. This technology needs maturing to active control, or motor actuation, to achieve faster thermal response times. Actively controlled louver design considerations are discussed in this paper. The analysis that follows shows actively controlled louvers can attenuate high energy UV radiation and dust, as well as protect the coolant from freezing.

Louver↗
DOE OSTI2021

Formation of stable submicron peptide or protein particles by thin film freezing

The present invention includes compositions and methods for preparing micron-sized or submicron-sized particles by dissolving a water soluble effective ingredient in one or more solvents; spraying or dripping droplets solvent such that the effective ingredient is exposed to a vapor-liquid interface of less than 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 200, 400 or 500 cm−1 area/volume to, e.g., increase protein stability; and contacting the droplet with a freezing surface that has a temperature differential of at least 30° C. between the droplet and the surface, wherein the surface freezes the droplet into a thin film with a thickness of less than 500 micrometers and a surface area to volume between 25 to 500 cm−1.

Johnston, Keith P.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Formation of stable submicron peptide or protein particles by thin film freezing

The present invention includes compositions and methods for preparing micron-sized or submicron-sized particles by dissolving a water soluble effective ingredient in one or more solvents; spraying or dripping droplets solvent such that the effective ingredient is exposed to a vapor-liquid interface of less than 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 200, 400 or 500 cm −1 area/volume to, e.g., increase protein stability; and contacting the droplet with a freezing surface that has a temperature differential of at least 30° C. between the droplet and the surface, wherein the surface freezes the droplet into a thin film with a thickness of less than 500 micrometers and a surface area to volume between 25 to 500 cm −1 .

Johnston, Keith P.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Ion-Depleted Microenvironments During Lithium Deposition Revealed by Operando Freezing Cryogenic Electron Microscopy

Local structures and chemistry at active electrochemical interfaces are critical to determining safety, lifetime, and energy density in lithium metal batteries and other devices, but they are challenging to characterize at the nanoscale. We address this issue by developing operando freezing cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to preserve battery interfaces in an active state for subsequent high-resolution characterization. We find that ion-depleted microenvironments form locally in the electrolyte adjacent to the lithium deposition interface in lithium metal batteries and are linked to heterogenous growth morphologies. These depleted environments arise locally even under conditions for which ion depletion is not predicted at steady state; this provides a mechanistic explanation for why dangerous lithium morphologies can still propagate in such systems and lead to thermal runaway. Operando freezing cryo-EM thus provides a method to directly visualize nanoscale heterogeneities that arise locally at electrochemical interfaces and play key roles in device failure.

CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS,E↗
DOE OSTI2026

WIMP-like Dark Matter Without Thermalization At Freeze-Out

In the standard thermal relic scenario, dark matter remains in chemical equilibrium with the Standard Model radiation bath until freeze-out occurs at $T \sim m_X/20$, where $m_X$ is the dark matter mass. In this familiar class of models, the observed relic density is obtained for annihilation cross sections of order $σv \sim 10^{-26}$ cm$^3$/s. We show that comparable cross sections can naturally be realized in hidden-sector models in which the dark matter and Standard Model sectors decouple at a very high temperature, $T \gg m_X$, and subsequently evolve with separate thermal histories. Despite this decoupling, the two sectors have similar temperatures during freeze-out, leading to the usual thermal relic abundance. As a consequence, the coupling between the Standard Model and hidden sectors can be extremely small, potentially placing direct detection and collider signals far below foreseeable sensitivities.

Hooper, Dan [Wisconsin U., Madison] (ORCID:0009000↗