Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Operational Versatility”

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.

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

At least 217 records · Page 12
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2003

Performance Enhancement of Tunable Bandpass Filters Using Selective Etched Ferroelectric Thin Films

The inclusion of voltage-tunable barium strontium titanate (BSTO) thin films into planar band pass filters offers tremendous potential to increase their versatility. The ability to tune the passband so as to correct for minor deviations in manufacturing tolerances, or to completely reconfigure the operating frequencies of a microwave communication system, are highly sought-after goals. However, use of ferroelectric films in these devices results in higher dielectric losses, which in turn increase the insertion loss and decrease the quality factors of the filters. This study explores the use of patterned ferroelectric layers to minimize dielectric losses without degrading tunability. Patterning the ferroelectric layers enables us to constrict the width of the ferroelectric layers between the coupled microstrip lines, and minimize losses due to ferroelectric layers. Coupled one-pole microstrip bandpass filters with fundamental resonances at approx. 7.2 GHz and well defined harmonic resonances at approx. 14.4 and approx. 21.6 GHz, were designed, simulated and tested. For one of the filters, experimental results verified that its center frequency was tunable by 528 MHz at a center frequency of 21.957 GHz, with insertion losses varying from 4.3 to 2.5 dB, at 0 and 3.5 V/micron, respectively. These data demonstrate that the tuning-to-loss figure of merit of tunable microstrip filters can be greatly improved using patterned ferroelectric thin films as the tuning element, and tuning can be controlled by engineering the ferroelectric constriction in the coupled sections.

Miranda, Felix A.↗
NASA NTRS2009

ANITA Air Monitoring on the International Space Station: Results Compared to Other Measurements

ANITA (Analysing Interferometer for Ambient Air) is a flight experiment precursor for a permanent continuous air quality monitoring system on the ISS (International Space Station). For the safety of the crew, ANITA can detect and quantify quasi-online and simultaneously 33 gas compounds in the air with ppm or sub-ppm detection limits. The autonomous measurement system is based on FTIR (Fourier Transform Infra-Red spectroscopy). The system represents a versatile air quality monitor, allowing for the first time the detection and monitoring of trace gas dynamics in a spacecraft atmosphere. ANITA operated on the ISS from September 2007 to August 2008. This paper summarizes the results of ANITA s air analyses with emphasis on comparisons to other measurements. The main basis of comparison is NASA s set of grab samples taken onboard the ISS and analysed on ground applying various GC-based (Gas Chromatography) systems.

Honne, A.↗
NASA NTRS2015

Structural Sizing Methodology for the Tendon-Actuated Lightweight In-Space MANipulator (TALISMAN) System

The Tendon-Actuated Lightweight In-Space MANipulator (TALISMAN) is a versatile long-reach robotic manipulator that is currently being tested at NASA Langley Research Center. TALISMAN is designed to be highly mass-efficient and multi-mission capable, with applications including asteroid retrieval and manipulation, in-space servicing, and astronaut and payload positioning. The manipulator uses a modular, periodic, tension-compression design that lends itself well to analytical modeling. Given the versatility of application for TALISMAN, a structural sizing methodology was developed that could rapidly assess mass and configuration sensitivities for any specified operating work space, applied loads and mission requirements. This methodology allows the systematic sizing of the key structural members of TALISMAN, which include the truss arm links, the spreaders and the tension elements. This paper summarizes the detailed analytical derivations and methodology that support the structural sizing approach and provides results from some recent TALISMAN designs developed for current and proposed mission architectures.

Jones, Thomas C.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Nickel-incorporated Oxide Composites for Fiber-Optic Based Gas Sensing

Numerous high-value applications within the energy sector involve environmental conditions that are incompatible with traditional sensor technology due to degradation of electrical interconnects, packaging, or the sensors themselves. These can include chemically harsh conditions, high temperature operation, or the presence of electromagnetic interference due to high voltage. The fiber optic platform, constructed of robust, electrically insulating glass or single crystal oxides, offers a versatile and often low cost per node solution to this problem, especially with the integration of distributed sensing techniques such as optical time-domain and frequency-domain reflectometry (OTDR, OFDR). A major challenge of gas and chemical sensing on the optical fiber platform is the fabrication of robust and stable sensing materials that interact quickly and reversibly to the presence of the target analytes. In this work, we discuss the utilization of nickel-incorporated oxides on evanescent-field optical fiber sensors for gas sensing under harsh conditions relevant to multiple energy infrastructure applications. This paper will discuss a Ni/GDC (Ni / Gd-doped ceria) based sensing layer targeting conditions relevant for high-temperature (up to at least 800oC) hydrogen sensing applications (e.g., for operation within a solid oxide fuel cell or electrolyzer). The impact of hydrogen at elevated temperatures on the optical properties of Ni/GDC will be shown and the material mechanisms for the optical response will be discussed.

gas sensors↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Sub-kW Class Hall-Effect Thruster Power Processing Unit for Wide Output Range Applications

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Small Spacecraft Electric Propulsion (SSEP) project is maturing high-propellant throughput sub-kilowatt Hall-effect thruster technologies to enable small spacecraft deep space science and exploration missions with high delta-v requirements. In support of this effort, development of a power processing unit (PPU) capable of providing discharge power of up to 1 kW continues to be pursued at the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC). Previous reported work included a successful integrated test of a scalable, modular breadboard discharge power supply with the NASA-H64M laboratory model Hall-effect thruster and presentation of notional designs for the various auxiliary power supplies needed for thruster operation. Since that time, auxiliary power supply designs have been completed and fabricated, with the cathode heater and keeper power supplies being successfully tested with a hollow cathode assembly (HCA) in the NASA GRC Vacuum Facility 56 (VF-56). The desire for a lower mass, higher efficiency, and more versatile PPU to maximize performance of power and mass-limited small spacecraft has led to the exploration of a discharge power supply based on a series-parallel (LCC) resonant topology. This topology has enabled the discharge power supply to operate over a wider output range at switching frequencies 4-5 times higher than previous design iterations. Simulation models of the topology have been developed and a breadboard of the topology has been fabricated and evaluated on both resistive loads and an integrated Hall thruster test. This paper will present collected performance and integrated test data from both the fabricated auxiliary and resonant discharge power supplies. Advantages of the resonant converter architecture over more traditional pulse-width modulated (PWM) techniques in Hall-effect thruster discharge power supply applications will also be described.

electric propulsion↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Sub-kW Class Hall-Effect Thruster Power Processing Unit for Wide Output Range Applications

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Small Spacecraft Electric Propulsion (SSEP) project is maturing high-propellant throughput sub-kilowatt Hall-effect thruster technologies to enable small spacecraft deep space science and exploration missions with high delta-v requirements. In support of this effort, development of a power processing unit (PPU) capable of providing discharge power of up to 1 kW continues to be pursued at the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC). Previous reported work included a successful integrated test of a scalable, modular breadboard discharge power supply with the NASA-H64M laboratory model Hall-effect thruster and presentation of notional designs for the various auxiliary power supplies needed for thruster operation. Since that time, auxiliary power supply designs have been completed and fabricated, with the cathode heater and keeper power supplies being successfully tested with a hollow cathode assembly (HCA) in the NASA GRC Vacuum Facility 56 (VF-56). The desire for a lower mass, higher efficiency, and more versatile PPU to maximize performance of power and mass-limited small spacecraft has led to the exploration of a discharge power supply based on a series-parallel (LCC) resonant topology. This topology has enabled the discharge power supply to operate over a wider output range at switching frequencies 4-5 times higher than previous design iterations. Simulation models of the topology have been developed and a breadboard of the topology has been fabricated and evaluated on both resistive loads and an integrated Hall thruster test. This paper will present collected performance and integrated test data from both the fabricated auxiliary and resonant discharge power supplies. Advantages of the resonant converter architecture over more traditional pulse-width modulated (PWM) techniques in Hall-effect thruster discharge power supply applications will also be described.

electric propulsion↗
DOE OSTI2025

Nickel-incorporated Oxide Composites for Fiber-Optic Based Gas Sensing

Numerous high-value applications within the energy sector involve environmental conditions that are incompatible with traditional sensor technology due to degradation of electrical interconnects, packaging, or the sensors themselves. These can include chemically harsh conditions, high temperature operation, or the presence of electromagnetic interference due to high voltage. The fiber optic platform, constructed of robust, electrically insulating glass or single crystal oxides, offers a versatile and often low cost per node solution to this problem, especially with the integration of distributed sensing techniques such as optical time-domain and frequency-domain reflectometry (OTDR, OFDR). A major challenge of gas and chemical sensing on the optical fiber platform is the fabrication of robust and stable sensing materials that interact quickly and reversibly to the presence of the target analytes. In this work, we discuss the utilization of nickel-incorporated oxides on evanescent-field optical fiber sensors for gas sensing under harsh conditions relevant to multiple energy infrastructure applications. This paper will discuss a Ni/GDC (Ni / Gd-doped ceria) based sensing layer targeting conditions relevant for high-temperature (up to at least 800 oC) hydrogen sensing applications (e.g., for operation within a solid oxide fuel cell or electrolyzer). The impact of hydrogen at elevated temperatures on the optical properties of Ni/GDC will be shown and the material mechanisms for the optical response will be discussed.

gas sensors↗
NASA NTRS1980

Solar electric propulsion - A versatile stage for earth orbiting missions

The paper examines recent developments in solar array and ion propulsion systems which make possible the utilization of readily available solar energy for spacecraft propulsion and operation. The Solar Electric Propulsion System (SEPS) stage represents a substantial increase in capability to perform interplanetary and earth orbiting missions due to the combination of high performance and low thrust. SEPS is an important augmentation to the Space Transportation System (STS) for numerous earth orbit missions because it can deliver a greatly increased total satellite mass to a geosynchronous orbit or greatly increase the on-orbit delta V capability.

Smith, D. D.↗
DOE OSTI2024

A Highly Efficient and Affordable Hybrid System for Hydrogen and Electricity Production (Final Project)

The pursuit of clean, secure, and sustainable energy has sparked significant interest in fuel cells for power generation and electrolyzer cells for hydrogen production. Among all types of fuel and electrolyzer cells, solid oxide cells (SOCs) have emerged as promising candidates due to their high efficiency and versatility. However, conventional oxygen-ion conductive SOCs face several challenges related to their performance and durability associated with their high-temperature operation (≥ 800 ºC). This has led to a growing interest in intermediate-temperature (≤ 650 ºC) proton-conducting solid oxide cells (p-SOCs) as potential alternatives. In collaboration between Phillips 66 and Georgia Tech, this project aims to achieve a 1 kW p-SOCs system to demonstrate the commercial viability of efficient SOC systems. This report addresses four primary areas and key challenges we overcame: (1) development of efficient and durable proton-conducting electrolyte (e.g., BaHf 0.1 Ce 0.7 Yb 0.2 O 3-δ ) and electrode/catalyst materials, (2) large area cell fabrication (10 x 10 cm 2 ), (3) scalable stack design and building (250 W and 1 kW), and (4) demonstration of a 1 kW prototype system. Notably, significant challenges faced during the large area cell fabrication process were addressed by achieving cell flatness, improving fabrication yield, and ensuring electrode/electrolyte interfacial adhesion. Stack designs were also developed, focusing on reducing contact resistance and optimizing stack components (e.g., sealants). These efforts resulted in the achievement of high performance and durability with promising outputs of 250 W and 1 kW. Furthermore, the integration of these stacks into a fuel-powered system was explored, with refinements made to heat management, as well as to pressure and heating conditions. The results demonstrated the potential applicability of our p-SOC technology in commercial energy storage and power generation systems. Additionally, the report discusses techno-economic analysis and a market transformation plan, aiming to evaluate and advance the commercial feasibility of this technology.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
NASA NTRS1976

Electronic system for optical shutter control

The paper describes a precise and versatile electronic system for shutter control in light beam experiments. Digital and analog circuitry is used to provide automatic timing, exposure control, manual operation, and remote programmability. A block diagram of the system is presented and the individual circuits - the timer control circuit, the clock control circuit, the comparator circuit, the exposure (integrator) circuit, and the shutter drive circuit are discussed in detail and diagrams are provided.

Viljoen, H. C.↗
NASA NTRS1976

The plasmatron: Advanced mode thermionic energy conversion

A theory of the plasmatron was developed. Also, a wide range of measurements were obtained with two versatile, research devices. To gain insight into plasmatron performance, the experimental results are compared with calculations based on the theoretical model of plasmatron operation. Results are presented which show that the plasma arc drop of the conventional arc (ignited) mode converter can be suppressed by use of an auxiliary ion source. The improved performance, however, is presently limited to low current densities because of voltage losses due to plasma resistance. This resistance loss could be suppressed by an increase in the plasma electron temperature or a decrease in spacing. Plasmatron performance characteristics for both argon and cesium are reported. The argon plasmatron has superior performance. Results are also presented for magnetic cutoff effects and for current distributing effects. These are shown to be important factors for the design of practical devices.

Hansen, L. K.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Library Of Subprograms In FORTRAN 77

MATH77, Release 3.17, is library of 412 FORTRAN 77 subprograms for use in numerical computation. Subprograms providing machine and system characteristic parameters make library operational on any computer system supporting full FORTRAN 77 standard. Portability and high quality of subprograms and user's manual make MATH77 extremely versatile and valuable tool for all numerical computation applications. Written in FORTRAN 77. Program and documentation copyrighted products of California Institute of Technology.

Lawson, Charles L.↗
NASA NTRS1990

ECLS resupply for Space Station Freedom

The design of logistics carriers is presented emphasizing the use of cost-effective pressurized and nonpressurized versions to resupply consumable fluids and provide on-orbit support for the Space Station Freedom. The requirements for the Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLS) system include high-pressure oxygen and nitrogen as well as consumables that do not require pressurization. The nominal and contingency requirements are given for logistics carriers designed to support various mission scenarios by resupplying and servicing fluid systems on-orbit. The resulting design overview for the logistics carriers describes the cryogenic-nitrogen storage during launch and operation of the unpressurized version and the flexible payload-support capacity of the pressurized version. The carriers are characterized as lightweight and versatile, and the resupply of cryogenic nitrogen is a flight-proven capability.

Higginbotham, Keith↗
NASA NTRS2003

An in silico assessment of gene function and organization of the phenylpropanoid pathway metabolic networks in Arabidopsis thaliana and limitations thereof

The Arabidopsis genome sequencing in 2000 gave to science the first blueprint of a vascular plant. Its successful completion also prompted the US National Science Foundation to launch the Arabidopsis 2010 initiative, the goal of which is to identify the function of each gene by 2010. In this study, an exhaustive analysis of The Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR) and The Arabidopsis Information Resource (TAIR) databases, together with all currently compiled EST sequence data, was carried out in order to determine to what extent the various metabolic networks from phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) to the monolignols were organized and/or could be predicted. In these databases, there are some 65 genes which have been annotated as encoding putative enzymatic steps in monolignol biosynthesis, although many of them have only very low homology to monolignol pathway genes of known function in other plant systems. Our detailed analysis revealed that presently only 13 genes (two PALs, a cinnamate-4-hydroxylase, a p-coumarate-3-hydroxylase, a ferulate-5-hydroxylase, three 4-coumarate-CoA ligases, a cinnamic acid O-methyl transferase, two cinnamoyl-CoA reductases) and two cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenases can be classified as having a bona fide (definitive) function; the remaining 52 genes currently have undetermined physiological roles. The EST database entries for this particular set of genes also provided little new insight into how the monolignol pathway was organized in the different tissues and organs, this being perhaps a consequence of both limitations in how tissue samples were collected and in the incomplete nature of the EST collections. This analysis thus underscores the fact that even with genomic sequencing, presumed to provide the entire suite of putative genes in the monolignol-forming pathway, a very large effort needs to be conducted to establish actual catalytic roles (including enzyme versatility), as well as the physiological function(s) for each member of the (multi)gene families present and the metabolic networks that are operative. Additionally, one key to identifying physiological functions for many of these (and other) unknown genes, and their corresponding metabolic networks, awaits the development of technologies to comprehensively study molecular processes at the single cell level in particular tissues and organs, in order to establish the actual metabolic context.

NASA Program Fundamental Space Biology↗
NASA NTRS2014

A 0.18 micrometer CMOS Thermopile Readout ASIC Immune to 50 MRAD Total Ionizing Dose (SI) and Single Event Latchup to 174MeV-cm(exp 2)/mg

Radiation hardened by design (RHBD) techniques allow commercial CMOS circuits to operate in high total ionizing dose and particle fluence environments. Our radiation hard multi-channel digitizer (MCD) ASIC (Figure 1) is a versatile analog system on a chip (SoC) fabricated in 180nm CMOS. It provides 18 chopper stabilized amplifier channels, a 16- bit sigma-delta analog-digital converter (SDADC) and an on-chip controller. The MCD was evaluated at Goddard Space Flight Center and Texas A&M University's radiation effects facilities and found to be immune to single event latchup (SEL) and total ionizing dose (TID) at 174 MeV-cm(exp 2)/mg and 50 Mrad (Si) respectively.

radiation hardened by design↗
NASA NTRS2006

Versatile Friction Stir Welding/Friction Plug Welding System

A proposed system of tooling, machinery, and control equipment would be capable of performing any of several friction stir welding (FSW) and friction plug welding (FPW) operations. These operations would include the following: Basic FSW; FSW with automated manipulation of the length of the pin tool in real time [the so-called auto-adjustable pin-tool (APT) capability]; Self-reacting FSW (SRFSW); SR-FSW with APT capability and/or real-time adjustment of the distance between the front and back shoulders; and Friction plug welding (FPW) [more specifically, friction push plug welding] or friction pull plug welding (FPPW) to close out the keyhole of, or to repair, an FSW or SR-FSW weld. Prior FSW and FPW systems have been capable of performing one or two of these operations, but none has thus far been capable of performing all of them. The proposed system would include a common tool that would have APT capability for both basic FSW and SR-FSW. Such a tool was described in Tool for Two Types of Friction Stir Welding (MFS- 31647-1), NASA Tech Briefs, Vol. 30, No. 10 (October 2006), page 70. Going beyond what was reported in the cited previous article, the common tool could be used in conjunction with a plug welding head to perform FPW or FPPW. Alternatively, the plug welding head could be integrated, along with the common tool, into a FSW head that would be capable of all of the aforementioned FSW and FPW operations. Any FSW or FPW operation could be performed under any combination of position and/or force control.

Carter, Robert↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Examining 18 Years of Journal Publications to Characterize Usage Modes of Giovanni, a Versatile Earth Science Data Web Service

Introduction to Giovanni (Geospatial Interactive Online Visualization ANd aNalysis Infrastructure) Giovanni … is a Web-based visualization and analysis system that provides 22 different visualization and analysis options, operating on thousands of Earth science data variables generated by satellite instrument observations and from related model datasets Giovanni … was originally conceived as a data exploration tool, but its ease-of-use, analytical capabilities (spatial and temporal subsetting, multi-period averaging, data mapping and time-series, and more) have led to its use as a multi-discipline research tool Giovanni … provided unprecedented access to NASA Earth science data for many different disciplines, AND is still providing a simple way to find, analyze, visualize, and utilize such data for a wide spectrum of research topics

James Acker↗
DOE OSTI2025

Modeling Losses in a Three Electrode System Towards Fast Charge Control

In this work we demonstrate the applicability of a versatile separator-reference mounted electrode in a three-electrode setup to accurately capture the primary current pathway in the battery cell during operation, calibrate a porous electrode model to the individual anode and cathode potential signals, and assign the various resistances to electrochemical phenomena in the battery cell. This calibrated electrochemical model is validated using continuous rate discharges associated with highway driving scenarios in an electric vehicle, and in turn utilized to predict the local anode potential and proximity to lithium plating onset. Finally, we demonstrate the strategy associated with utilization of the model to estimate constant anode potential charging during fast charge scenarios at various rates and starting conditions as a future look to fast charge calibration development and controls.

Garrick, Taylor R. (ORCID:0000000322518129)↗