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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
DOE OSTI2022

Methods and systems for fabricating high quality superconducting tapes

An MOCVD system fabricates high quality superconductor tapes with variable thicknesses. The MOCVD system can include a gas flow chamber between two parallel channels in a housing. A substrate tape is heated and then passed through the MOCVD housing such that the gas flow is perpendicular to the tape's surface. Precursors are injected into the gas flow for deposition on the substrate tape. In this way, superconductor tapes can be fabricated with variable thicknesses, uniform precursor deposition, and high critical current densities.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Methods and systems for fabricating high quality superconducting tapes

An MOCVD system fabricates high quality superconductor tapes with variable thicknesses. The MOCVD system can include a gas flow chamber between two parallel channels in a housing. A substrate tape is heated and then passed through the MOCVD housing such that the gas flow is perpendicular to the tape's surface. Precursors are injected into the gas flow for deposition on the substrate tape. In this way, superconductor tapes can be fabricated with variable thicknesses, uniform precursor deposition, and high critical current densities.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Methods and systems for fabricating high quality superconducting tapes

An MOCVD system fabricates high quality superconductor tapes with variable thicknesses. The MOCVD system can include a gas flow chamber between two parallel channels in a housing. A substrate tape is heated and then passed through the MOCVD housing such that the gas flow is perpendicular to the tape's surface. Precursors are injected into the gas flow for deposition on the substrate tape. In this way, superconductor tapes can be fabricated with variable thicknesses, uniform precursor deposition, and high critical current densities.

Majkic, Goran↗
DOE OSTI2023

Understanding Subsurface Fracture Evolution Dynamics Using Time‐Lapse Full Waveform Inversion of Continuous Active‐Source Seismic Monitoring Data

Abstract Predicting the behavior, geometry, and flow properties of subsurface fractures remains a challenging problem. Seismic models that can characterize fractures usually suffer from low spatiotemporal resolution. Here, we develop a correlative double‐difference time‐lapse full waveform inversion of continuous active source seismic monitoring data for determining high‐spatiotemporal‐resolution time‐lapse V p models of in‐situ fracture evolution at a shallow contamination site in Wyoming, USA. Assisted by rock physics modeling, we find that (a) rapidly increasing pore pressure initializes and grows the fracture, increasing the porosity slightly (from ∼13.7% to ∼14.6%) in the tight clay formation, thus decreasing V p (∼50 m/s); (b) the fluid injection continues decreasing V p , likely through the introduction of gas bubbles in the injectate; and (c) final V p reductions reach over ∼150 m/s due to a posited ∼4.5% gas saturation. Our results demonstrate that high‐resolution V p changes are indicative of mechanical and fluid changes within the fracture zone during hydrofracturing.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Material Model Parameters Optimization in Liquid Mercury Target Dynamics Simulation With Machine Learning Surrogates

A pulsed spallation target is subjected to very short (∼0.7μs) but intense loads (23.3 kJ) from repeated proton pulses, which knock away neutrons from the mercury atoms’ nuclei for a wide range application in physics, engineering, medicine, petroleum exploration, biology, chemistry, etc. The effect of this pulsed loading on the stainless-steel target module which contains the flowing mercury target material is difficult to predict not only due to its short but intense explosive-like physical reaction, but also the nonlinear material behavior of the liquid mercury in the structure. Injecting small helium bubbles in the mercury has been an efficient method of mitigating the pressure wave at high power level stage. However, prediction of the resultant loading on the target is more difficult when helium gas is intentionally injected into the mercury. A 2-phase material model that incorporates the Rayleigh-Plesset (R-P) model is expected to address this complex multi-physics dynamics problem by including the bubble dynamics in the liquid mercury. A parameter sensitivity study was firstly employed to understand their impact on the simulation strains. The investigated parameters included E, μ, γ, σ, n, VFgas, and gas cumulative volume curve control parameters a and b. Verification and validation results from sparse polynomial expansions (SPE) method and directional Gaussian smoothing (DGS) optimization show that the surrogate model had training error of ∼7% and validation error of ∼15%, indicating that machine learning methods and surrogate models can help optimize the uncertain parameters in the complex 2-phase material model. This approach is expected to fill the knowledge gap between unknown liquid-gas mixture material model and measured vessel strain responses.

Lin, Lianshan↗
DOE OSTI2021

Surfactants are Ineffective for Reducing Imbibition of Water-Based Fracturing Fluids in Deep Gas Reservoirs

Minimizing loss of injected hydraulic fracturing fluids into shale along fracture-matrix boundaries is desired because imbibed water restricts gas production and wastes valuable water resources. This problem has motivated the addition of surfactants into water-based hydraulic fracturing fluids in order to reduce the capillary driving force for imbibition. Here, we show that reduction in interfacial tension and wettability alteration has negligible ability to reduce imbibition in deep gas reservoirs. The effectiveness of altering capillary forces acting at the wetting front also depends on the injection pressure acting at the fracture-matrix boundary. The pressure at the interface between the fracture and the shale matrix is constrained between the reservoir pore pressure and formation pressure (rock fracture pressure, also known as breakdown pressure of the rock) and increases with depth to magnitudes that greatly exceed that of capillary pressures. Furthermore, the analyses presented here show that even maximum alteration of interfacial properties that result in strongly hydrophobic interactions between the fracturing fluid and reservoir rock is incapable of significantly reducing imbibition in deep reservoirs. Instead of using surfactants, this analysis points to decreases in wellbore shut-in pressures and shut-in times as practical options for reducing imbibition losses of water-based fluids.

03 NATURAL GAS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Integrating the Design of Desalination Technologies into Produced Water Network Optimization

The oil and gas energy sector uses billions of gallons of water for hydraulic fracturing each year to extract oil and gas. The water injected into the ground for fracturing along with naturally occurring formation water from oil wells surfaces back in the form of produced water. Produced water can contain high concentrations of total dissolved solids and is unfit for reuse outside the oil and gas industry without desalination. In semi-arid shale plays, produced water desalination for beneficial reuse could play a crucial role in alleviating water shortages and addressing extreme drought conditions. In this poster we co-optimize the design and operation of desalination technologies along with operational decisions across produced water networks. A multi-period produced water network model with simplified split-fraction-based desalination nodes is developed. Rigorous steady-state desalination mathematical models based on mechanical vapor recompression are developed and embedded at the desalination sites in the network model. An optimal common design across all periods is ensured using global capacity constraints. The solution approach is demonstrated for multi-period planning problems on networks from the PARETO open-source library. Model formulation and challenges associated with scalability are discussed.

Naik, Sakshi↗
DOE OSTI2024

Integrating the Design of Desalination Technologies into Produced Water Network Optimization

The oil and gas energy sector uses billions of gallons of water for hydraulic fracturing each year to extract oil and gas. The water injected into the ground for fracturing along with naturally occur-ring formation water from the oil wells surfaces back in the form of produced water. Produced water can contain high concentrations of total dissolved solids and is unfit for reuse outside the oil and gas industry without desalination. In semi-arid shale plays, produced water desalination for beneficial reuse could play a crucial role in alleviating water shortages and addressing extreme drought conditions. In this paper we co-optimize the design and operation of desalination technologies along with operational decisions across produced water networks. A multi-period produced water network model with simplified split-fraction-based desalination nodes is developed. Rigorous steady-state desalination mathematical models based on mechanical vapor recompression are developed and embedded at the desalination sites in the network model. An optimal common design is ensured across all periods using global capacity constraints. The solution approach is demonstrated for multi-period planning problems on networks from the PARETO open-source library. Model formulation and challenges associated with scalability are discussed.

Naik, Sakshi↗
DOE OSTI2023

Integration of seismic-pressure-petrophysics inversion of continuous active-seismic monitoring data for monitoring and quantifying CO 2 plume (Final Report)

The overall objective of this project is to develop and validate an integrated package of joint seismic-pressure-petrophysics inversion (jSPPI) of continuous active-source seismic monitoring dataset capable of providing real-time monitoring of CO 2 plume during geologic carbon sequestration (GCS). The three specific developments include: (a) the methodologies for fast seismic full waveform inversion of continuous active source seismic monitoring, (CASSM) datasets for simultaneously estimating velocity and attenuation, and with data assimilation; (b) joint Bayesian petrophysical inversion of seismic models and pressure data for providing and updating CO 2 saturation models; (c) the methods using multiple datasets including (Crainfield and Frio-II borehole) synthetic, laboratory, and field CASSM datasets. The outcomes of jSPPI include (a) a workflow for processing CASSM data, (b) Bayesian inversion algorithms using CASSM data and pressure response data, and (c) integration with data assimilation algorithms for continuously updating site-specific models used for prediction and reservoir management. The validation of joint FWI will be conducted using synthetic models based on the Cranfield and Frio experiments as well as field CASSM datasets collected as part of the Frio-II pilot injection. To quantify and map the mass and distribution of CO 2 (saturation), we will jointly invert velocity and attenuation measurements from the FWI with a Bayesian approach using a rock physics model for attenuation (e.g., White’s attenuation model with two selected patch sizes (White, 1976; Dutta and Seriff, 1979)). The Bayesian inversion will be applied to each time step in the CASSM survey in an updating scheme, which integrates with an ensemble of reservoir simulations at each step. A more complete experimental validation dataset will be collected as part of a mesoscale (2-3 m) gas-CO 2 injection experiment utilizing a higher frequency version of the CASSM system developed for laboratory studies; the integrated inversion will be demonstrated using this dataset which will provide both a dense geometry as well as more precise secondary confirmation measurements (e.g. saturation) typically not available in the field. The resulting real-time map of CO 2 saturation is able to provide a deeper scientific understanding of the complex, time-varying dynamics of subsurface fluid flow migration path as well as the rapid detection of CO 2 leakage hazards.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Numerical Solution of the Steady-State Network Flow Equations for a Non-Ideal Gas

Herein we formulate a steady-state network flow problem for non-ideal gas that relates injection rates and nodal pressures in the network to flows in pipes. For this problem, we present and prove a theorem on uniqueness of generalized solution for a broad class of non-ideal pressure-density relations that satisfy a monotonicity property. Further, we develop a Newton-Raphson algorithm for numerical solution of the steady-state problem, which is made possible by a systematic non-dimensionalization of the equations. The developed algorithm has been extensively tested on benchmark instances and shown to converge robustly to a generalized solution. Previous results [1]-[4], indicate that the steady-state network flow equations for an ideal gas are difficult to solve by the Newton-Raphson method because of its extreme sensitivity to the initial guess. In contrast, we find that non-dimensionalization of the steady-state problem is key to robust convergence of the Newton-Raphson method. We identify criteria based on the uniqueness of solutions under which the existence of a non-physical generalized solution found by a non-linear solver implies non-existence of a physical solution, i.e., infeasibility of the problem. Finally, we compare pressure and flow solutions based on ideal and non-ideal equations of state to demonstrate the need to apply the latter in practice. The solver developed in this article is open-source and is made available for both the academic and research communities as well as the industry.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2024

Characterization and controllability of radiated power via extrinsic impurity seeding in strongly negative triangularity plasmas in DIII-D

Experiments with extrinsic impurity seeding in strongly negative triangularity shapes in DIII-D achieved radiated power fractions (relative to input power) of up to ≈85% total radiation and ≈55% core radiation in steady-operating conditions. The relationship between core and total radiation was sensitive to impurity species and input power. Attempts to reach higher radiation levels via higher impurity flows resulted in radiative collapse disruptions. Nitrogen, neon, argon, and krypton were tested. Injection was by gas puffing, usually controlled by feeding back real-time estimates for core or total radiating fractions ($P_\textrm{rad} / P_\textrm{input}$). Argon and krypton were controlled by feeding back total radiating fraction, whereas neon was controlled by feeding back the core radiating fraction, due to the lower efficiency of neon as a divertor radiator. Nitrogen flows were pre-programmed. Reasonable total $P_\textrm{rad}$ control target following was achieved with argon or krypton. Control was more challenging with the neon/core radiation configuration, which was more prone to slow response and overshooting of the control target. Poor particle removal contributed to the control challenge: neon particle inventory within the last closed flux surface was roughly constant for up to 1 s (the longest duration tested) after neon injection was halted. However, separate experiments with laser-blow off of non-recycling impurities measured a short impurity confinement time, on the scale of the energy confinement time of ∼100 ms. Modeling with the Aurora impurity transport simulation matched experimental neon density profiles with full recycling (R = 1.0) and weak pumping but predicted rapid decreases in neon inventory if pumping were increased or recycling decreased. This indicates that changes outside the confined plasma (adding a well-placed pump) would improve controllability for all highly recycling species.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Economic assessment of seismic monitoring for underground hydrogen storage

Underground hydrogen storage (UHS) plays a key role in the energy landscape. However, like other subsurface engineering technologies, UHS may cause leakage into the groundwater or atmosphere and possibly induce local seismicity. To reduce these risks, seismic monitoring could be a viable technique to track the UHS plume, detect leakages, and locate induced seismicity events. Seismic monitoring has been proposed to safely monitor UHS, but research in this area is still new and requires field studies. Lab and theoretical studies have demonstrated the validity of seismic monitoring for UHS. Therefore, it is imperative to analyze the economic feasibility of seismic monitoring for UHS. Hence, we develop a cost model and open-source Python code for seismic monitoring that considers types of seismometers, comprehensive operational scenarios, detection thresholds, and long-term leakage monitoring. A case study is further provided to validate the cost model on reservoir simulations of UHS. We find that the levelized cost for a 10-year operating UHS site will range on the order of ∼0.003 $\$$/kg. The methods developed in this study could also be applied to the monitoring of groundwater, gas, and/or wastewater injection.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2022

Measurements of beam backgrounds in SuperKEKB Phase 2

The high design luminosity of the SuperKEKB electron-positron collider will result in challenging levels of beam-induced backgrounds in the interaction region. Understanding and mitigating these backgrounds is critical to the success of the Belle II experiment. We report on the first background measurements performed after roll-in of the Belle II detector, utilizing both the BEAST II system of dedicated background sensors and the Belle II detector itself. Here we also report on first revisions to the background simulation made in response to our findings. Backgrounds measured include contributions from synchrotron radiation, beam-gas, Touschek, and injection backgrounds. At the end of Phase 2, single-beam backgrounds originating from the 4 GeV positron Low Energy Ring (LER) agree reasonably well with simulation, while backgrounds from the 7 GeV electron High Energy Ring (HER) are approximately one order of magnitude higher than simulation. We extrapolate these backgrounds forward and conclude it is safe to proceed to installation of the Belle II vertex detector.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2024

Glow Discharge Boronization and Real-Time Boronization Using an Impurity Powder Dropper in LHD

In the Large Helical Device (LHD), boronization is utilized for wall conditioning, employing two distinct methods: glow discharge using diborane gas and the injection of boron powder into the plasma via an impurity powder dropper (IPD). Glow discharge boronization is conducted after maintenance when the vacuum vessel is exposed to air and just before the start of an experimental campaign. In contrast, real-time boronization using the IPD is performed during discharges. The distribution of boron on plasma-facing components was assessed through long-term material probes in the case of glow discharge and through numerical simulations for the IPD method. Results indicated non-uniform boron distributions in both cases. The impact of these boronization techniques on impurity levels and the lifetime of their effects were also examined. Both methods effectively reduced oxygen and iron in the plasma, with the iron impurities originating from the first wall. For glow discharge boronization, the reduction in oxygen levels persisted until the end of the experimental campaign, whereas the reduction in iron levels only lasted a few days. In the case of boron injection during long pulse discharges exceeding 200 s, the suppression of oxygen and iron was observed. The effect on iron quickly diminished within several seconds after the injection ended, whereas the effect on oxygen lasted more than 100 s. The difference in the lifetimes of the boronization effects is further discussed.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Large-scale Hydrogen Storage – Risk Assessment Seattle City Light and Port of Seattle [Abstract]

This CRADA presents the strategy that Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) will take to support Seattle City Light (SCL), and the Port of Seattle (Port) in performing a risk assessment of large-scale hydrogen storage. Risk assessment is often used to ensure that adequate measures are taken to protect workers and the public, the environment, infrastructure, and assets. A detailed risk assessment can also be used to direct funding and upgrades, to specific components and sub-systems in order to mitigate risks to the larger system. In this way risk assessments are often employed as a part of a larger risk management strategy, with the goal of minimizing the occurrence of hazards and to identify means to limit their consequences. Risk assessment is often used to engage and inform regulators, and to communicate how specific regulations are being met. However, it is important to note that the proposed work is not intended for SCL and the Port to use in order to gain regulatory acceptance for their proposed activities. The work performed as a part of this effort will be a preliminary risk assessment for early-stage component and system designs and should be considered research and development (R&D). As such, the proposed work will be performed to a quality level and design maturity consistent with R&D and is not considered appropriate for final safety analysis and regulatory compliance purposes. Previous and on-going work at SCL and the Port demonstrated the utility of deploying hydrogen systems at the Port. The deployment of hydrogen at the Port is a part of a larger vision of using hydrogen to address a range of issues for SCL and the Port. These include large-scale fueling of MD/HD vehicles, cargo-handling equipment (CHE), and harbor vessels to reduce emissions; support of adjacent LD vehicles; support of critical port operations during extreme events (i.e., resiliency); deferral of more capital- and time-intensive electrical distribution system upgrades while still supporting evolving port operations and decarbonization efforts; facilitating electrification by establishing energy storage as a grid resource, starting at strategic port locations; creation of a flexible market resource that can be used by SCL to generate revenue via arbitrage; support of planned future maritime operations that involve heavy use of hydrogen for ocean-going vessels; and future end-use applications involving natural gas pipeline hydrogen injection. Ultimately, the success of these activities is underpinned by the deployed storage capacity. Large-scale deployment of hydrogen systems will require hydrogen storage at a scale that has not been demonstrated. In addition, the ideal location for such multi-use systems is near the end user which will often necessitate deploying into urban and/or industrial areas. A detailed risk assessment using the Port as a test case is necessary to ensure the deployment of large-scale hydrogen is successful. Many technologies have been proposed for hydrogen storage; however, these technologies need to be analyzed as they apply to an actual site. The physical infrastructure and hydrogen use cases for the Port will be analyzed, and a risk assessment for compressed hydrogen, liquified hydrogen, and Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier (LOHC) storage will be performed. These risk assessments will be useful for understanding how each of these technologies would perform in terms of facility and public safety. The operating states of the proposed hydrogen systems at the Port will be analyzed and incorporated into the storage risk assessment. Scalability will also be analyzed to understand how future port uses would affect the overall risk assessment. Finally, using the risk assessment as a tool to inform engagement and to gain stakeholder acceptance will be explored.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2024

MR13A-3183: Microbial and Geochemical Characterization of Groundwater: Implications for Underground Hydrogen Storage Leakage

Underground hydrogen storage (UHS) in geological formations is a key element of the clean energy transition as it enables the decarbonization of the transportation and industrial sectors by decoupling hydrogen production and storage. UHS has many benefits, including low cost, much wider availability, large storage capacity, well-established infrastructure, and increased safety because of geological sealing capabilities. However, the impact of hydrogen (H2) biogeochemical interactions in the presence of subsurface microorganisms is largely neglected from UHS perspectives. These interactions might affect the effectiveness of storage and can even cause H2 to leak into the shallow aquifers. Leakage of H2 into groundwater can change the geochemistry and induce several microbial-driven processes. Microorganisms, such as sulfate-reducers, are naturally abundant in groundwater and consume H2 to produce hydrogen sulfide (H2S), which can contaminate the freshwater drinking groundwater and cause damage to infrastructure. Hydrogen leakage can also trigger microbial reactions responsible for metal mobility, which can impact the water quality. However, the kinetics of these reactions and the temporal impact of hydrogen leakage in groundwater are still unknown. Therefore, a time series hydrogen-groundwater interaction experiment was conducted, and the changes in fluid chemistry and headspace gas composition will be analyzed along with DNA sequencing results to understand the extent and kinetics of biogeochemical reactions that occur if hydrogen leaks into groundwater. In the experiments, Ultra High Purity (UHP) hydrogen gas will be injected into glass vials with groundwater samples, for a designated time period. For each glass-sealed vial, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, IC, ICP-MS, and GC-TCD will be performed. The experiments provide insights into plausible impacts of hydrogen leakage into shallow drinking water aquifers.

Clark, Allison [West Virginia University (WVU)]↗
DOE OSTI2020

Segmented annular combustion system with dual fuel capability

A segmented annular combustion system with dual fuel capability includes an alternating arrangement of fuel injection modules and integrated combustor nozzles. The fuel injection module includes a bundled tube fuel nozzle portion and fuel injection lances, which are fluidly coupled via conduits to respective fuel plenums. A liquid fuel cartridge is disposed within the bundled tube fuel nozzle portion, within one of the plurality of fuel injection lances, or within both the bundled tube fuel nozzle portion and one of the plurality of fuel injection lances. A gas turbine having the segmented annular combustion system is also provided.

Berry, Jonathan Dwight↗
DOE OSTI2021

Application of Machine Learning to Predict the Response of the Liquid Mercury Target at the Spallation Neutron Source

The Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory is currently the most powerful accelerator-driven neutron source in the world. The intense proton pulses strike on SNS’s mercury target to provide bright neutron beams, which also leads to severe fluid-structure interactions inside the target. Prediction of resultant loading on the target is difficult particularly when helium gas is intentionally injected into mercury to reduce the loading and mitigate the pitting damage on the target’s internal walls. Leveraging the power of machine learning and the measured target strain, we have developed machine learning surrogates for modeling the discrepancy between simulations and experimental strain data. We then employ these surrogates to guide the refinement of the high-fidelity mercury/helium mixture model to predict a better match of target strain response.

Lin, Lianshan↗