SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “integrated design process”

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.

SourceResearch connectionFrom yearThrough year

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 181 records · Page 10

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

NASA NTRS2012

Development of Human System Integration at NASA

Human Systems Integration seeks to design systems around the capabilities and limitations of the humans which use and interact with the system, ensuring greater efficiency of use, reduced error rates, and less rework in the design, manufacturing and operational deployment of hardware and software. One of the primary goals of HSI is to get the human factors practitioner involved early in the design process. In doing so, the aim is to reduce future budget costs and resources in redesign and training. By the preliminary design phase of a project nearly 80% of the total cost of the project is locked in. Potential design changes recommended by evaluations past this point will have little effect due to lack of funding or a huge cost in terms of resources to make changes. Three key concepts define an effective HSI program. First, systems are comprised of hardware, software, and the human, all of which operate within an environment. Too often, engineers and developers fail to consider the human capacity or requirements as part of the system. This leads to poor task allocation within the system. To promote ideal task allocation, it is critical that the human element be considered early in system development. Poor design, or designs that do not adequately consider the human component, could negatively affect physical or mental performance, as well as, social behavior. Second, successful HSI depends upon integration and collaboration of all the domains that represent acquisition efforts. Too often, these domains exist as independent disciplines due to the location of expertise within the service structure. Proper implementation of HSI through participation would help to integrate these domains and disciplines to leverage and apply their interdependencies to attain an optimal design. Via this process domain interests can be integrated to perform effective HSI through trade-offs and collaboration. This provides a common basis upon which to make knowledgeable decisions. Finally, HSI must be considered early in the requirements development phase of system design and acquisition. This will provide the best opportunity to maximize return on investment (ROI) and system performance. HSI requirements must be developed in conjunction with capability ]based requirements generation through functional. HSI requirements will drive HSI metrics and embed HSI issues within the system design. After a system is designed, implementation of HSI oversights can be very expensive. An HSI program should be included as an integral part of a total system approach to vehicle and habitat development. This would include, but not limited to, workstation design, D&C development, volumetric analysis, training, operations, and human -robotic interaction. HSI is a necessary process for Human Space Flight programs to meet the Agency Human ]System standards and thus mitigate human risks to acceptable levels. NASA has been involved in HSI planning, procedures development, process, and implementation for many years, and has been building several internal and publicly accessible products to facilitate HSI fs inclusion in the NASA Systems Engineering Lifecycle. Some of these products include: NASA STD 3001 Volumes 1 and 2, Human Integration Design Handbook, NASA HSI Implementation Plan, NASA HSI Implementation Plan Templates, NASA HSI Implementation Handbook, and a 2 ]hour short course on HSI delivered as part of the NASA Space and Life Sciences Directorate Academy. These products have been created leveraging industry best practices and lessons learned from other Federal Government agencies.

Whitmore, Mihriban↗

DOE OSTI2019

Nuclear Criticality Safety Lessons Learned in the Design of the Uranium Processing Facility at the Y-12 National Security Complex

The Uranium Processing Facility (UPF) is being built by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to replace aging uranium processes at the Y-12 National Security Complex (Y-12 NSC) in Oak Ridge Tennessee. Specifically, the processes housed in building 9212 are being replaced as this facility dates to the World War II Manhattan Project days of Y-12. When the UPF Project is completed it will consist of three main facilities along with several support facilities. The Main Processing Building (MPB) will house oxide production and metal casting operations. The Salvage and Accountability Building (SAB) will house wet chemistry operations (examples include recovery evaporation and calcination of solutions). The Personnel Support Building will be connected to both the SAB and the MPB and will serve as a transition facility for materials and personnel between the two. The MPB will also be connected to the Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Storage Facility (HEUMF) via a connector (HCON) to permit transfers from storage into UPF directly. This paper will summarize some of the more important lessons learned for the NCS practitioner working in a design environment rather than in a production or experimental environment. As the Chief NCS Engineer for the UPF Project I have been responsible for ensuring the technical evaluations produced on the project are high quality, technically accurate, and conform to the Y-12 NCS Program expectations. Ensuring nuclear criticality safety for processes that do not yet exist in reality is a challenge very different than that of ensuring subcriticality for processes in an operating facility. The biggest difference being that in design space – everything is imaginary whereas in the operating facility you have the benefit of being able to go out and look at the equipment and interview the operators. Ensuring that Nuclear Criticality Safety is integrated into design is a process that requires constant communication between the NCS staff and the broader engineering design team. Until the facility is constructed – nothing is physically stable and so rigorous documentation of decisions – to include any assumptions – is necessary to minimize errors. Non-NCS engineers will not understand the hazard or the physics of nuclear criticality. It is up to the NCS staff to provide training and communication to the team. The NCS staff must be patient and prepared to explain themselves many times and be as flexible as possible.

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Gateway Program Safety and Mission Assurance Integration - the Future of Safe Deep Space Human Exploration

As a foundational element of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Artemis Campaign, the Gateway is an incrementally built cislunar spacecraft that will serve as a platform for deep space human exploration, science, and technology demonstration. The Gateway will be a unifying catalyst for international partners around the world to establish sustained deep space scientific investigations, lunar surface access, and missions to Mars. As human exploration moves farther away from Earth, spacecraft designs must prioritize and optimize mass and volume allocations, while minimizing human and spacecraft risk. To accomplish this objective, the Gateway Program Safety and Mission Assurance functions develop, implement, and ensure compliance with requirements, in concert with the accurate characterization and transparent communication of residual hazard risks, for integrated safety, reliability and maintainability and quality assurance. Safety and Mission Assurance was a key contributor during Gateway program pre-formulation and formulation activities where safety and reliability analysis was embedded in the Gateway Systems Engineering and Integration team. During these early program stages, a preliminary Gateway Integrated Hazard Analysis and Preliminary Gateway Probabilistic Risk Assessment assisted in Gateway architectural and operational definition as part of a risk-informed design process. As the deep space architecture has matured, the integrated Safety and Mission Assurance analyses have matured, new safety review processes have been developed, and requirements have been refined to ensure compliance with integrated safety and mission assurance objectives. The Gateway Program is currently concluding the preliminary design review informed milestone, where the primary objectives included: - Ensured completeness and consistency of the preliminary design, including the meeting of all requirements within appropriate margins and acceptable risk posture. - Identification of any major issues moving forward to the Critical Design phase. At this milestone, Safety and Mission Assurance provided numerous products, including Gateway Top Risks and Risk Mitigation Plans, updated integrated hazard analyses, updated probabilistic risk assessment, Crew Survival Analysis Report, and updated Safety and Mission Assurance Requirements and Plans. These products provide a many-faceted perspective on the inherent risk and available mitigations involved in flying the current proposed vehicle design and anticipated stack configurations. In addition, Safety and Mission Assurance identified top technical, process and workforce concerns to be addressed as the program progresses toward the critical design phase. This paper will detail the evolution of the Gateway Program Safety and Mission Assurance integration functions, provide its current status and lessons learned for future human spaceflight programs. Throughout this paper the key tenets of the Gateway Program Safety and Mission Assurance will be discussed: - Application of a risk-informed approach to identify and mitigate areas of highest risk. - Leverage of valuable processes and lessons learned from earlier spaceflight programs. - Development of Safety and Mission Assurance products to inform design risk trades. - Utilization of common Safety and Mission Assurance practices to identify safety risks for multiple perspectives: top-down, bottom-up, and across lines of integration. - Approval of safety hazards at the appropriate level of authority, keeping most deliberation closest to design expertise and elevating risks of greatest concern for program-level consideration. - Championing of Safety and Mission Assurance processes and forums to foster a pervasive safety culture that is transparent, inclusive, and collaborative between all partners. These tenets have allowed the Gateway Safety and Mission Assurance function to play a key role in optimized vehicle design evolution, and early identification and mitigation of Gateway program and Artemis mission risk.

Helen Vaccaro↗

DOE OSTI2013

Continuously Optimized Reliable Energy (CORE) Microgrid: Models & Tools (Fact Sheet)

This brochure describes Continuously Optimized Reliable Energy (CORE), a trademarked process NREL employs to produce conceptual microgrid designs. This systems-based process enables designs to be optimized for economic value, energy surety, and sustainability. Capabilities NREL offers in support of microgrid design are explained.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

DOE OSTI2021

Monolithic Integration of Lateral HV Power MOSFET with LV CMOS for SiC Power IC Technology

This paper reports the design and process flow for monolithic integration of lateral high voltage (HV) power MOSFET with low voltage (LV) CMOS circuits for SiC Power IC technology. The reported devices and circuits are fabricated on a N-/N+ 4H-SiC substrate at 150mm, production grade- Analog Devices Inc. (ADI) Hillview fabrication facility located in San Jose. Here, the static performance characteristics of HV NMOS and LV CMOS are reported. For future high temperature applications, the static performances are fully characterized and are reported up to 200oC. Finally, to validate the fabricated CMOS, a 5-stage ring oscillator is also demonstrated.

4H-SiC↗

NASA NTRS1984

Elements of computational engine-airframe integration

Computerized flow simulation methods are being developed to refine the traditional engine-airframe integration process. These analyses reduce design risk, minimize wind tunnel and flight test requirements, and provide detailed design information not available by any other means. This paper describes computational tools which have matured sufficiently to permit project applications. Several applications are combined with research studies to illustrate the prediction of high-speed nonlinear phenomena associated with engine inlet flow rate, nacelle shape and position, afterbody shape and integration, propeller slipstream interactions, airframe-induced inlet flow, and pylon integration. Both fighter and transport configurations are used to highlight current capabilities and future requirements.

Boppe, C. W.↗

DOE OSTI2016

Streamlining the Design-to-Build Transition with Build-Optimization Software Tools

Scaling-up capabilities for the design, build, and test of synthetic biology constructs holds great promise for the development of new applications in fuels, chemical production, or cellular-behavior engineering. Construct design is an essential component in this process; however, not every designed DNA sequence can be readily manufactured, even using state-of-the-art DNA synthesis methods. Current biological computer-aided design and manufacture tools (bioCAD/CAM) do not adequately consider the limitations of DNA synthesis technologies when generating their outputs. Designed sequences that violate DNA synthesis constraints may require substantial sequence redesign or lead to price-premiums and temporal delays, which adversely impact the efficiency of the DNA manufacturing process. In this paper, we have developed a suite of build-optimization software tools (BOOST) to streamline the design-build transition in synthetic biology engineering workflows. BOOST incorporates knowledge of DNA synthesis success determinants into the design process to output ready-to-build sequences, preempting the need for sequence redesign. The BOOST web application is available at https://boost.jgi.doe.gov and its Application Program Interfaces (API) enable integration into automated, customized DNA design processes. Finally, the herein presented results highlight the effectiveness of BOOST in reducing DNA synthesis costs and timelines.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

NASA NTRS1985

Summary of process research analysis efforts

A summary of solar-cell process research analysis efforts was presented. Process design and cell design are interactive efforts where technology from integrated circuit processes and other processes are blended. The primary factors that control cell efficiency are: (1) the bulk parameters of the available sheet material, (2) the retention and enhancement of these bulk parameters, and (3) the cell design and the cost to produce versus the finished cells performance. The process sequences need to be tailored to be compatible with the sheet form, the cell shape form, and the processing equipment. New process options that require further evaluation and utilization are lasers, robotics, thermal pulse techniques, and new materials. There are numerous process control techniques that can be adapted and used that will improve product uniformity and reduced costs. Two factors that can lead to longer life modules are the use of solar cell diffusion barriers and improved encapsulation.

Burger, D. R.↗

DOE OSTI2015

Application of Framework for Integrating Safety, Security and Safeguards (3Ss) into the Design Of Used Nuclear Fuel Storage Facility

Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy, Fuel Cycle Research and Development develops options to the current commercial fuel cycle management strategy to enable the safe, secure, economic, and sustainable expansion of nuclear energy while minimizing proliferation risks by conducting research and development focused on used nuclear fuel recycling and waste management to meet U.S. needs. Used nuclear fuel is currently stored onsite in either wet pools or in dry storage systems, with disposal envisioned in interim storage facility and, ultimately, in a deep-mined geologic repository. The safe management and disposition of used nuclear fuel and/or nuclear waste is a fundamental aspect of any nuclear fuel cycle. Integrating safety, security, and safeguards (3Ss) fully in the early stages of the design process for a new nuclear facility has the potential to effectively minimize safety, proliferation, and security risks. The 3Ss integration framework could become the new national and international norm and the standard process for designing future nuclear facilities. The purpose of this report is to develop a framework for integrating the safety, security and safeguards concept into the design of Used Nuclear Fuel Storage Facility (UNFSF). The primary focus is on integration of safeguards and security into the UNFSF based on the existing Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approach to addressing the safety/security interface (10 CFR 73.58 and Regulatory Guide 5.73) for nuclear power plants. The methodology used for adaptation of the NRC safety/security interface will be used as the basis for development of the safeguards /security interface and later will be used as the basis for development of safety and safeguards interface. Then this will complete the integration cycle of safety, security, and safeguards. The overall methodology for integration of 3Ss will be proposed, but only the integration of safeguards and security will be applied to the design of the UNFSF. The framework for integration of safeguards and security into the UNFSF will include 1) identification of applicable regulatory requirements, 2) selection of a common system that share dual safeguard and security functions, 3) development of functional design criteria and design requirements for the selected system, 4) identification and integration of the dual safeguards and security design requirements, and 5) assessment of the integration and potential benefit.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

NASA NTRS1993

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) applications in rocket propulsion analysis and design

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) has been used in recent applications to affect subcomponent designs in liquid propulsion rocket engines. This paper elucidates three such applications for turbine stage, pump stage, and combustor chamber geometries. Details of these applications include the development of a high turning airfoil for a gas generator (GG) powered, liquid oxygen (LOX) turbopump, single-stage turbine using CFD as an integral part of the design process. CFD application to pump stage design has emphasized analysis of inducers, impellers, and diffuser/volute sections. Improvements in pump stage impeller discharge flow uniformity have been seen through CFD optimization on coarse grid models. In the area of combustor design, recent CFD analysis of a film cooled ablating combustion chamber has been used to quantify the interaction between film cooling rate, chamber wall contraction angle, and geometry and their effects of these quantities on local wall temperature. The results are currently guiding combustion chamber design and coolant flow rate for an upcoming subcomponent test. Critical aspects of successful integration of CFD into the design cycle includes a close-coupling of CFD and design organizations, quick turnaround of parametric analyses once a baseline CFD benchmark has been established, and the use of CFD methodology and approaches that address pertinent design issues. In this latter area, some problem details can be simplified while retaining key physical aspects to maintain analytical integrity.

Mcconnaughey, P. K.↗

NASA NTRS2004

Performance and Reliability Optimization for Aerospace Systems subject to Uncertainty and Degradation

This report summarizes work performed by the Space Systems Laboratory (SSL) for NASA Langley Research Center in the field of performance optimization for systems subject to uncertainty. The objective of the research is to develop design methods and tools to the aerospace vehicle design process which take into account lifecycle uncertainties. It recognizes that uncertainty between the predictions of integrated models and data collected from the system in its operational environment is unavoidable. Given the presence of uncertainty, the goal of this work is to develop means of identifying critical sources of uncertainty, and to combine these with the analytical tools used with integrated modeling. In this manner, system uncertainty analysis becomes part of the design process, and can motivate redesign. The specific program objectives were: 1. To incorporate uncertainty modeling, propagation and analysis into the integrated (controls, structures, payloads, disturbances, etc.) design process to derive the error bars associated with performance predictions. 2. To apply modern optimization tools to guide in the expenditure of funds in a way that most cost-effectively improves the lifecycle productivity of the system by enhancing the subsystem reliability and redundancy. The results from the second program objective are described. This report describes the work and results for the first objective: uncertainty modeling, propagation, and synthesis with integrated modeling.

Miller, David W.↗

NASA NTRS2005

Development of Sensors for Aerospace Applications

Advances in technology have led to the availability of smaller and more accurate sensors. Computer power to process large amounts of data is no longer the prevailing issue; thus multiple and redundant sensors can be used to obtain more accurate and comprehensive measurements in a space vehicle. The successful integration and commercialization of micro- and nanotechnology for aerospace applications require that a close and interactive relationship be developed between the technology provider and the end user early in the project. Close coordination between the developers and the end users is critical since qualification for flight is time-consuming and expensive. The successful integration of micro- and nanotechnology into space vehicles requires a coordinated effort throughout the design, development, installation, and integration processes

Medelius, Pedro↗

DOE OSTI2013

Strategy Guideline: Partnering for High Performance Homes

High performance houses require a high degree of coordination and have significant interdependencies between various systems in order to perform properly, meet customer expectations, and minimize risks for the builder. Responsibility for the key performance attributes is shared across the project team and can be well coordinated through advanced partnering strategies. For high performance homes, traditional partnerships need to be matured to the next level and be expanded to all members of the project team including trades, suppliers, manufacturers, HERS raters, designers, architects, and building officials as appropriate. In an environment where the builder is the only source of communication between trades and consultants and where relationships are, in general, adversarial as opposed to cooperative, the chances of any one building system to fail are greater. Furthermore, it is much harder for the builder to identify and capitalize on synergistic opportunities. Partnering can help bridge the cross-functional aspects of the systems approach and achieve performance-based criteria. Critical success factors for partnering include support from top management, mutual trust, effective and open communication, effective coordination around common goals, team building, appropriate use of an outside facilitator, a partnering charter progress toward common goals, an effective problem-solving process, long-term commitment, continuous improvement, and a positive experience for all involved. This guide is intended for use by all parties associated with the design and construction of high performance homes. It serves as a starting point and features initial tools and resources for teams to start collaborating to continually improve the energy efficiency and durability of new houses.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

DOE OSTI2024

Glass Formulation and Testing with RPP-WTP HLW Simulants (Final Report)

This report presents the results from HLW glass formulation work that was conducted at the Vitreous State Laboratory of The Catholic University of America during Part B1 of the RPP-WTP Project (formally known as TWRS-P) in support of the Privatization contractor, BNFL, Inc. Glass formulation development is required to provide data that are essential for design of the vitrification facility in the near term and for safe and reliable operation of that facility in the longer-term. These data also form the bases from which contractually and technically acceptable immobilized high-level waste (IHLW) products will be devised. Glass formulation therefore impacts many aspects of the vitrification facility design, overall process economics, and contractual compliance. As an integral part of the overall system design, development of glass formulations requires input from many sources including tank waste characterization, pretreatment process definition, flow sheet development, and processing schedules. Accordingly, the glass formulation effort must be responsive to new information as the facility design basis evolves.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

DOE OSTI2025

Technoeconomic Analysis of a Microwave-Assisted Novel Process That Converts Polypropylene Plastic Waste to Propylene

Propylene is an important petrochemical that is used in various industries, including the automobile and polymer sectors. Conventionally, propylene has been produced through fluid catalytic cracking, steam cracking, and propane dehydrogenation. In this project, a novel process to produce propylene from polypropylene plastic waste using a microwave reactor is introduced. Propylene production is simulated in Aspen Plus for both the conventional propane dehydrogenation process and the novel design, with heat integration applied to minimize utility demands and the conventional process serving as the base case for comparison. Finally, a tailored technoeconomic analysis is carried out for both simulated cases to estimate important economic indicators. Analysis of the results shows that the novel microwave-assisted process outperforms the conventional route for propylene production, achieving a single-pass conversion of almost 100%, compared with only 33.8% in the conventional plant. The Net Present Value of the novel plant is $\$1720.3$ MM, which is 3.5 times higher than the conventional process, while the Levelized Cost of Propylene is reduced by 40%. Capital and operating expenditure are also improved in the proposed scheme, with reductions of approximately $\$29$ MM and $\$222$ MM/yr, respectively. In addition to cost savings, this novel process also provides a convenient means to recycle waste polypropylene.

42 ENGINEERING↗

DOE OSTI2017

Development of the hybrid sulfur cycle for use with concentrated solar heat. I. Conceptual design

We propose a detailed conceptual design of a solar hybrid sulfur (HyS) cycle. Numerous design tradeoffs, including process operating conditions and strategies, methods of integration with solar energy sources, and solar design options were considered. A baseline design was selected, and process flowsheets were developed. Pinch analyses were performed to establish the limiting energy efficiency. Detailed material and energy balances were completed, and a full stream table prepared. Design assumptions include use of: location in the southwest US desert, falling particle concentrated solar receiver, indirect heat transfer via pressurized helium, continuous operation with thermal energy storage, liquid-fed electrolyzer with PBI membrane, and bayonet-type acid decomposer. Thermochemical cycle efficiency for the HyS process was estimated to be 35.0%, LHV basis. The solar-to-hydrogen (STH) energy conversion ratio was 16.9%. This thus exceeds the Year 2015 DOE STCH target of STH >10%, and shows promise for meeting the Year 2020 target of 20%.

08 HYDROGEN↗

DOE OSTI2019

Evaluation of Hydrogen Production Feasibility for a Light Water Reactor in the Midwest

Increased electricity production from renewable energy resources coupled with low natural gas prices has caused existing light-water reactor (LWRs) to experience ever diminishing returns from the electricity market. Via partnership among Idaho National Laboratory (INL), The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Exelon, and Fuel Cell Energy a techno-economic analysis on the viability of retrofitting existing pressurized water reactors (PWRs) to produce hydrogen (H2) via high temperature steam electrolysis (HTSE) has been conducted. Such integration would allow nuclear facilities to expand into additional markets that may be more profitable in the long-term. To accommodate such an integration, a detailed analysis of HTSE process operation, requirements, and flexibility was conducted. Technical analysis includes proposed nuclear system control scheme modifications to allow dynamic operation of the HTSE via both thermal and electrical connection to the nuclear plant. High fidelity Modelica simulations showcase the viability of such control schemes. However, due to limited knowledge of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack degradation due to thermal gradients; thermal cycling of the HTSE was not included. Therefore, the control schemes proposed are only utilized to re-distribute steam at startup and only the portion of electricity utilized in the electrolyzers is cycled. From the detailed analysis of the nuclear integration and the HTSE process design, a comprehensive cost estimation was conducted in the APEA and H2A models to elucidate capital and operational costs associated with the production, compression, and distribution of hydrogen from a nuclear facility. Alongside this costing analysis, market analyses were conducted by NREL and ANL on the electric and hydrogen markets respectively in the PJM interconnect. Utilizing the electricity data market projections in the PJM interconnect from NREL and hydrogen demand/pricing projections from ANL a five variable sweep over component capacities, discount rates, and hydrogen pricing was completed using the stochastic framework RAVEN (Risk Analysis Virtual ENVironment) through its resource dispatch plugin HERON (Heuristic Energy Resource Optimization Network). Each combination of variables was evaluated stochastically four times over a seventeen year timespan from 2026-2042 (inclusive) to determine the most economically advantageous solution. Following the five variable sweep an optimization was conducted about the best sweep point to determine optimal component sizing and setpoints. Results suggest positive gain is achievable at all projected hydrogen market pricing levels and at all discount rates. However, exact component sizing and net returns vary based on these values and if incorrect sizing is selected; major net losses can occur. The optimal result occurred with set points as follows: high hydrogen prices, the largest possible HTSE unit in the sweep set at 7.47 kg/sec [645.4 tpd], a contractual hydrogen market agreement 7.29 kg/sec [629.8 tpd], and a hydrogen storage size 115,188 kg. The analysis suggested that with a discount rate of 8%, a ΔNPV = 1.2 billion over the seventeen year span can be achieved. The results illuminate that by operating in multiple markets the nuclear facility is capable of avoiding sale of electricity during times of low electricity market pricing, while maintaining the ability to capitalize on the high electricity market pricing. It should be noted that the analysis conducted in this report is a differential cash flow analysis and as such does not present profit levels. Instead it highlights the net benefit between building and competing in the hydrogen market utilizing nuclear facilities and conducting business as usual in the electricity markets. Additionally, results presented in this report exhibit conservatism due to four key assumptions: Given the limited knowledge on SOFC stack degradation due to thermal gradients the high temperature steam electrolysis plant is not allowed to thermally cycle. This limitation decreases electricity generation capacity in the nuclear plant, reducing capacity payments and the maximum output to the electrical grid. This analysis considers building a separate hydrogen pipeline for use in the nuclear facility. Research is currently being conducted to determine if existing natural gas pipelines can accommodate direct hydrogen injection. If hydrogen can be integrated into existing natural gas pipelines then a capital savings of ~$19,000,000 per kg/sec [1 kg/sec = 86.4 tpd] of installed HTSE capacity could be realized. Fast transients in the electric grid are typically served by flywheels and electric batteries. With electrolysis only operation the nuclear plant can flex its electricity just as quickly. However, for this analysis, the ancillary services market has been neglected. Should the nuclear plant have the ability to operate in the ancillary services market during periods when it is producing hydrogen, an additional substantial income stream that would increase overall system profitability could be considered. Subsidies for non-emitting generation technologies are not introduced in the cash flow analysis, but instead are completed assuming zero subsidies. Profitability is based solely on electricity pricing. Electric pricing is assumed to never go negative. Instead, it is assumed overall system curtailment by the Independent System Operator (ISO) will occur in such a manner that pricing remains at or above zero. This assumption inflates the “business as usual” scenario, thus decreasing the ΔNPV calculated. If negative pricing scenarios continue to occur as they do today, one would expect a further increase in ΔNPV. Overall, results advocate that, through market diversification, nuclear power plants have the potential to substantially increase current profit margins, increase market penetration, and ultimately solidify their place as a mainstay in energy production.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

A System to Provide Deterministic Flight Software Operation and Maximize Multicore Processing Performance: The Safe and Precise Landing – Integrated Capabilities Evolution (SPLICE) Datapath

A method and design are described for a system that processes multiple data streams, utilizing a multicore asymmetric processing architecture, that eliminates data interrupts to the application processors. The design supports a deterministic environment for flight software in NASA’s Safe and Precise Landing – Integrated Capabilities Evolution (SPLICE) project. The SPLICE project develops sensor, algorithm, and compute technologies for Precision Landing and Hazard Avoidance (PL&HA) capabilities. The compute technology for SPLICE is the Descent and Landing Computer (DLC). The DLC hosts several SPLICE algorithms with high computational resource requirements that must be executed in a real-time and deterministic manner. The software runs on a custom Single Board Computer (SBC), with a Xilinx Ultrascale+ Multiprocessor System-on-a-Chip (MPSoC). Input data for the flight software is from a variety of sensors, unique with respect to data rate and packet size. A data path between the SPLICE sensors and algorithms is designed to efficiently deliver this data to the flight software using the MPSoC asymmetric processing cores and Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) fabric. This is implemented in a manner that isolates the application processors running the flight software from interrupts associated with the input data. By leveraging real-time processors on the MPSoC, and a structure with the appropriate interfaces in the shared memory on the SBC, the flight software can use the full set of application processors. The available utilization for each processor in this set is also maximized for the SPLICE applications, providing a sufficiently deterministic execution environment without the cost and overhead of a real-time operating system.

heterogeneous processing system↗