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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 199 records · Page 11

Locating Seismic Events with Local-Distance Data

As the seismic monitoring community advances toward detecting, identifying, and locating ever-smaller natural and anthropogenic events, the need is constantly increasing for higher resolution, higher fidelity data, models, and methods for accurately characterizing events. Local-distance seismic data provide robust constraints on event locations, but also introduce complexity due to the significant geologic heterogeneity of the Earth’s crust and upper mantle, and the relative sparsity of data that often occurs with small events recorded on regional seismic networks. Identifying the critical characteristics for improving local-scale event locations and the factors that impact location accuracy and reliability is an ongoing challenge for the seismic community. Using Utah as a test case, we examine three data sets of varying duration, finesse, and magnitude to investigate the effects of local earth structure and modeling parameters on local-distance event location precision and accuracy. We observe that the most critical elements controlling relocation precision are azimuthal coverage and local-scale velocity structure, with tradeoffs based on event depth, type, location, and range.

42 ENGINEERING↗

EMP Testing of NAE Magnetic Motor Starters

Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) performed a high-altitude nuclear electromagnetic pulse (HEMP) critical generation station component vulnerability test campaign with a focus on high-frequency, conducted early-time (E1) HEMP for the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER). This report provides vulnerability test results to investigate component response and/or damage thresholds to reasonable HEMP threat levels that will help to inform site vulnerability assessments, mitigation planning, and modeling calibrations. This work details testing of North American Electric (NAE) magnetic motor starters to determine the effects of conducted HEMP environments. Motor starters are the control elements that provide power to motors throughout a generating plant; a starter going offline would cause loss of power to critical pumps and compressors, which could lead to component damage or unplanned plant outages. Additionally, failed starters would be unable to support plant startup. Six industrial motor starters were tested: two 2 horsepower (HP) starters with breaker disconnects and typical protection equipment, two 20 HP starters with breaker disconnects, and two 20 HP starters with fused disconnects. Each starter was placed in a circuit with a generator and inductive motor matching the starter rating. The conducted EMP insult was injected on the power cables passing through the motor starter, with separate tests for the generator and motor sides of the starter.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

HFIR LEU High Density Silicide Dispersion Optimized Design Neutronics Analyses with PHAME

A high-fidelity neutronics model of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) with the low-enriched uranium (LEU) high-density silicide dispersion Optimized fuel design was updated and analyzed to generate reactor physics-based metrics to support follow-on thermal hydraulic and transient analyses of this design. The Python HFIR Analysis and Measurement Engine (PHAME) was also updated to enhance the automation capabilities of the framework developed and maintained to perform these reactor physics modeling and simulation efforts. The automated framework significantly increases the efficiency and reproducibility to design and thoroughly analyzes HFIR LEU core designs, changes, and uncertainties. Reactor physics metrics evaluated include but are not limited to fuel depletion, cycle length, fission rate density distributions, axial power peaking factors, kinetics data, reactivity coefficients, control element worths, heat deposition rates, and decay heat. These neutronics results provide essential input to follow-on steady state thermal, thermal hydraulic and reactor transient analyses, which are subject of other reports. The Optimized design operates at 95 MW to maintain HFIR’s current highly enriched uranium core performance level at 85 MW.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

The Melting Behavior of Hydrogen Direct Reduced Iron in Molten Steel and Slag: An Integrated Computational and Experimental Study

Direct reduced iron (DRI) and hot briquetted iron (HBI) are essential feedstocks for tramp element control in the electric arc furnace (EAF). Due to greenhouse gas (GHG) concerns related to CO2 emissions, hydrogen as a substitute for natural gas and a reductant in DRI production is being widely explored to reduce GHG emissions in ironmaking. This study examines the melting behavior of hydrogen DRI (H-DRI) pellets in the EAF containing low-carbon (0.1 wt.%) molten steel and molten slag. A computational heat transfer model was developed to predict the melting behavior of H-DRI pellets. To validate the model, a set of experimental laboratory simulations was conducted by immersing H-DRI in a molten steel bath and slag. The temperature history at the center of the pellet during melting and the shell thickness at different melting stages were utilized to validate the model. The simulation results agree with the experimental measurements of steel balls and H-DRI in different metallic molten steel and slag baths.

Materials Science↗

Third annual NASA University Conference on Manual Control

This volume contains the proceedings of the Third Annual NASA-University Conference on Manual Control held from March 1 to 3, 1967, at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California. The program was divided into the following sessions: display, describing function models , decision processes I, computer processing of manual control records, controlled elements, decision processes 11, physiological modeling, decision processes 111, advanced modeling techniques , and applications. Both formal and informal presentations were made; all of the formal and many of the informal papers are included in this volume.

Source record↗

Thermal system design of the Nimbus spacecraft.

Thermal control of Nimbus spacecraft by utilizing semipassive and passive thermal control elements to maintain temperature of overall spacecraft, subsystems and components

Drummond, F. O., Jr.↗

On adaptive manual control.

Adaptive manual control rapid variation determined by input, controlled element, task and programmed adaptation systems, discussing human strategy changes

Young, L. R.↗

A Preliminary Investigation of the Performance of a Short-length Turbojet Combustor Using Vaporized Hydrocarbon Fuels

Two short turbojet combustors designed for use with vaporized hydrocarbon fuels were tested in a one-quarter annular duct. The experimental combustors consisted of many small "swirl-can" combustor elements manifolded together. This design approach allowed the secondary mixing zone to be considerably reduced over that of conventional combustors. The over-all combustion lengths, for the two configurations were 13.5 and 11.0 inches, approximately one-half the length of the shortest conventional combustors. These short combustors did not provide combustion efficiencies as high as those for conventional combustors at low pressures. However, over the range of combustor-inlet total-pressures expected in aircraft capable of flight at Mach numbers of 2.5 and above, these short combustors gave very high efficiencies. A combustion efficiency of 97 percent was obtained at a combustor-inlet total-pressure of 25.0 inches of mercury absolute, reference velocity of 120 feet per second, and inlet-air total temperature of 1160 deg R. By proportioning the fuel flow between the manifold rows of can combustor elements, control of the combustor-outlet radial total-temperature profile was demonstrated. Combustor totalpressure loss varied from 0.75 percent of the inlet total pressure at isothermal conditions and a reference velocity of 75 feet per second to 5.5 percent at a total-temperature ratio of 1.8 and a reference velocity of 180 feet per second.

Jones, R. E.↗

Effects of display format on pilot describing function and remnant

As part of a program to develop a comprehensive theory of manual control displays, six display formats were used by three instrument-rated pilots to regulate against random disturbances with a controlled element under both foveal and 10 deg parafoveal viewing conditions. The six display formats were: CRT line, CRT thermometer bar, 14-bar quantized on a CRT, a rotary dial and pointer, and two variations of a moving scale tape-drive. All were scaled to equivalent movement and apparent brightness. Measures included overall performance, describing functions, error remnant power spectra, critical instability scores, and subjective display ratings. The results show that the main effect of display format is on the loop closure properties. Less desirable displays induce lower bandwidth closures with consequent effects on the closed-loop remnant and performance.

Jex, H. R.↗

Thermal surveillance of volcanoes of the Cascade Range and Iceland utilizing ERTS DCP systems and imagery

The author has identified the following significant results. Significant results of the thermal surveillance of volcanoes experiment during 1972 included the design, construction, emplacement, and successful operation at volcanic sites in the Cascade Range, North America and on Surtsey, Iceland, of automated thermistor arrays which transmit ground and fumarole temperatures via the ERTS-1 data communication system to Goddard Space Flight Center. Temperature, radiance, and anomalous heat flow variations are being plotted by a U.S. Geological Survey IBM 360/65 computer program to show daily fluctuations at each of the sites. Results are being compiled in conjunction with NASA and USGS aircraft infrared survey data to provide thermal energy yield estimates during the current repose period of several Cascade Range volcanic systems. ERTS-1 MSS images have provided new information on the extent of structural elements controlling thermal emission at Lassen Volcanic National Park.

Friedman, J. D.↗

Minicomputer-controlled frequency generator

Extremely-accurate and low-phase-noise frequency generator varies oscillator frequency as predetermined function of time. System could be used: (a) to automatically vary transmission frequencies in accordance with seasonal and diurnal changes in ionospheric conditions, (b) as automatic tuner for heterodyne receivers, or (c) as control element for phase-locked telemetry receivers.

Winkelstein, R. A.↗

Solid state electro-optic color filter and iris

A pair of solid state electro-optic filters (SSEF) in a binocular holder were designed and fabricated for evaluation of field sequential stereo TV applications. The electronic circuitry for use with the stereo goggles was designed and fabricated, requiring only an external video input. A polarizing screen suitable for attachment to various size TV monitors for use in conjunction with the stereo goggles was designed and fabricated. An improved engineering model 2 filter was fabricated using the bonded holder technique developed previously and integrated to a GCTA color TV camera. An engineering model color filter was fabricated and assembled using PLZT control elements. In addition, a ruggedized holder assembly was designed, fabricated and tested. This assembly provides electrical contacts, high voltage protection, and support for the fragile PLZT disk, and also permits mounting and optical alignment of the associated polarizers.

Source record↗

Design of a modular digital computer system, CDRL no. D001, final design plan

The engineering breadboard implementation for the CDRL no. D001 modular digital computer system developed during design of the logic system was documented. This effort followed the architecture study completed and documented previously, and was intended to verify the concepts of a fault tolerant, automatically reconfigurable, modular version of the computer system conceived during the architecture study. The system has a microprogrammed 32 bit word length, general register architecture and an instruction set consisting of a subset of the IBM System 360 instruction set plus additional fault tolerance firmware. The following areas were covered: breadboard packaging, central control element, central processing element, memory, input/output processor, and maintenance/status panel and electronics.

Easton, R. A.↗

Factors influencing tolerance to wind shears in landing approach

Flight simulator studies were conducted to examine the piloting problems resulting from encounters with unusual atmospheric disturbances late in landing approach. Simulated encounters with disturbances, including examples derived from accident data, provided the opportunity to study aircraft and pilot performance. It was observed that substantial delays in pilot response to shear-induced departures from glide slope often seriously amplified the consequences of the encounter. In preliminary assessments, an integrated flight instrument display featuring flight path as the primary controlled element appeared to provide the means to minimize such delays by improving tolerance to disturbances in landing approaches.

Bray, R. S.↗