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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 235 records · Page 13
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Improved Moisture Management Technology for Eco-N-Control Fertilizer

Three fertilizer technologies to manage nitrogen (N) release rates in soil dominate the market today: 1) bulk controlled-release technologies, which use the intrinsic solubility properties of a N-organic co-polymer to control N release; 2) barrier-based controlled-release technologies, which use porous polymer or sulfur coatings as a physical barrier to control N release from encapsulated N nutrients; and 3) slow-release technologies, which use enzyme inhibitors to chemically slow down the transformation of N nutrients into ammonia (NH 3 ) or to temporarily reduce populations of bacteria in the soil that are responsible for converting ammonium (NH 4 + ) to highly soluble nitrates. These technologies are expensive and provide only limited control of N-release rates. Also, from another environmental perspective, synthetic polymer coatings do not decompose easily and will accumulate over time with continuous application of fertilizer. For most of the past two decades we have been developing the Eco-N-Control solid-nitride fertilizer technology, a type of bulk controlled-release technology. With Eco-N-Control, solid-nitride compounds weather like a mineral, slowly releasing N at a rate determined by their composition. Testing by an industrial collaborator, however, showed that earlier versions of Eco-N-Control released at 25% of the desired rate when deployed in unsaturated soils. The overall goal of the current project, therefore, was to strengthen our IP position and the potential for licensing of Eco-N-Control solid-nitride fertilizer technology by developing new ways to manage the level of moisture in contact with the fertilizer when applied to soil thereby ensuring the desired N-release rate. We achieved this goal by developing a biodegradable polymer cross-linking approach that substantially improved performance of our patented solid-nitride fertilizer. We found that cross-linking an environmentally friendly and biodegradable polymer with a mixture of solid nitrides, other N-nutrient compounds and other additives offers several advantages: 1) mechanical robustness of fertilizer beads, 2) chemical stability during storage, 3) maintenance of sufficient water content in the vicinity of the nitride, and 4) control of N-release rates. We also updated our N-release testing protocol to more realistically simulate the conditions found in soil. Finally, we filed an invention disclosure record to protect these new aspects of Eco-N-Control technology, which offers a potential way to lower both agricultural and industrial pollution by providing an efficient N-delivery mechanism to plants.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2023

PacWave Anchoring and Mooring Study

PacWave, with its location in some of the most energetic waters in the nation and a buildout to support grid-connected devices, is poised to become a leader in field testing of wave energy converters (WECs) at high technology readiness levels. As part of the device deployment and testing protocols at PacWave, the client is responsible for providing all mooring system components, since there are currently no mooring system components specified for PacWave. NREL and PNNL have been tasked with conducting a preliminary analysis of permanent or temporary mooring systems at the PacWave South site. Previous work for this task included a global trade study of mooring systems used for WECs, and a site characterization of PacWave South. This current report will use the results of the previous studies to inform the design of various mooring systems to be installed at PacWave, which will allow cost analyses to be performed to compare the costs of acquisition of these mooring systems and the costs of mooring systems designed specifically for clients' devices.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗
DOE OSTI2024

Low-Cost, High-Performance Carbon Fiber for Compressed Natural Gas Storage Tanks (Final Technical Report – Down Select Report)

The aim of this project is to reduce the cost of Type IV, carbon fiber (CF) composite overwrap compressed gas storage tanks by reducing the cost of CF and CF composites. The project team worked to reduce the cost of CF by exploring and testing opportunities for a low-cost alternative precursor material for CF production to supplant market-dominant and costly polyacrylonitrile (PAN). Concurrently, the team aimed to reduce the cost of the tanks at the composite level by improving the interfacial adhesion between the fibers and the matrix resin through the incorporation of low-cost nanoparticles recycled from waste materials, which would reduce the volume of costly CF required to achieve the same tank performance. At the end of the first year, the project team selected mesophase pitch as the primary precursor candidate from a field of materials based on the superior mechanical performance and cost-saving potential. During the second year, the team produced CFs derived from mesophase pitch achieving an average tensile strength of 365.6 ksi and average tensile modulus of 40.74 Msi. Facility availability for spinning and converting these fibers at greater scale has hindered scale-up demonstration, but the team has identified opportunities to conduct this work in the near term. Cost modeling shows that these mesophase pitch-derived CFs can be up to 40% less expensive than PAN-derived CFs due to the lower cost of the feedstock material, higher throughput, greater conversion yield, and lower cost spinning method and compared to PAN. Additionally, the team has demonstrated at lab-scale that nanoparticle coating CFs can significantly increase the interfacial shear strength and load transfer efficiency of CFs in a matrix. Single filament pull-out testing showed a 27% average increase in max interfacial shear strength due to this coating. A continuous method of applying these coatings to a tow of CF has been developed for scale-up. 26 m tows of coated CFs were produced using this system and formed into composite ring samples for ASTM ring burst testing. Issues with the testing protocol have limited assessment of these results. A prototype Type IV tank was designed to meet ANSI HGV2 standards, and the design criteria set out by DOE, using the CF properties developed by the team paired with a proprietary resin matrix, a polyamide liner, and aluminum end bosses. The tank weighs 153.1 kg and with a total capacity of 5.8 kg H2 (5.6 kg usable), which yields a gravimetric capacity of 1.17 kWh/kg. Cost modeling predicts that the tank will have a projected cost of $15.73/kWh. Tank performance modeling does not include considerations for fiber-matrix load transfer efficiency improvements offered by nanoparticle coating method.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2025

Material Test Reactors; Annular Core Research Reactor Testing

The Material Test Reactors Fifth Workshop reviews the successes and failures of material test protocols and lessons learned. This presentation introduces the Annular Core Research Reactor (ACRR), the history of nuclear reactors at Sandia National Labs and the experiment review process. Included are actual examples of experimental activities at ACRR.

Martin, Lonnie E. [Sandia National Laboratories (S↗
DOE OSTI2026

Large Scale Field Demonstration Evaluation Plan

This Evaluation Plan defines practical, commissioning-oriented test protocols for in-field assessment of grid-forming (GFM) inverter-based resources (IBRs) deployed under the UNIFI Consortium Field Demonstration. The demonstration’s overarching objective is to validate multi vendor GFM technologies at impactful unit/plant scale, assess interoperability and grid-service performance, and evaluate the applicability of the UNIFI Specifications for Grid-forming Inverter-based Resources in real utility environments, including integration with operational systems and protection schemes.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2025

Robust Polymer Electrolytes For Flexible Energy Storage (CRADA Final Report)

As part of the Cyclotron Road program, Anthro Energy investigated the formulation, synthesis, and application of advanced supramolecular compounds for lithium-ion batteries. Anthro Energy developed and tested formulations and chemistries to create polymeric materials with improved mechanical strength, safety, and electrochemical performance. These materials were explored for use in next-generation batteries with a variety of form factors. Initially, Anthro Energy tested these materials to create flexible and deformable batteries, which are in high demand for the wearable/flexible electronics industry. In future work, Anthro Energy’s materials may be applied to create rigid structural batteries, or to enable novel chemistries such as silicon anodes or lithium metal anodes. In the process of testing the company’s unique lithium-ion cells, Anthro Energy explored the development and utilization of novel cell components, cell architectures, and testing protocols. These next-generation flexible and structural batteries may eventually enable new categories of electronic devices.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Measurement of ion transport properties in ion exchange membranes for photoelectrochemical water splitting

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water-splitting systems have the unique ability to produce renewable hydrogen directly from sunlight, independent of the electrical grid. These systems are therefore appealing technological options for resilient long-term energy storage. Ion selective membranes, such as monopolar and bipolar membranes, are a vital component of PEC water-splitting systems. These membranes allow for ionic conduction between the cathode and anode chambers, separation of products, and improved catalyst environments for reactions. In order to measure key properties and to study the performance of these ion exchange membranes, it is imperative to develop a robust testing protocol that can be used across the field. This paper introduces two standard electrochemical cells designed to directly measure ion transport properties in monopolar and bipolar membranes. The first electrochemical cell uses commercially available Pt disk electrodes to preform electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and reliably measure through-plane conductivity of monopolar membranes. The second electrochemical cell uses four-point measurements with Luggin capillaries and a series of membrane configurations to perform current density-voltage and Faradaic efficiency (FE) measurements for water dissociation (WD) reactions on bipolar membranes. The cell designs and techniques laid out below allow for accurate measurement of ion transport parameters in ion exchange membranes, direct comparison of membranes being developed across the field, and in turn, greater advancements in ion exchange membranes and PEC water-splitting systems.

cation exchange membrane↗
DOE OSTI2023

A Bifunctional Pt/CeO 2 -Cu 1 /CeO 2 Catalyst System for Isooctane Oxidation under Fully Simulated Engine-Exhaust Condition: Eliminating the Inhibition by CO

Pt-based catalysts, because of their outstanding activity for hydrocarbon oxidation, are widely used in the engine-exhaust aftertreatment system to remove hydrocarbon emissions. However, the CO and NO x present in real engine exhausts compete with hydrocarbons for active Pt sites, and thus inhibit hydrocarbon oxidation. In this work, we evaluated the inhibition effects of CO and NO on isooctane oxidation over a Pt/CeO 2 catalyst under the simulated condition of the US DRIVE test protocol (S-GDI, stoichiometric gasoline direct injection). We also leveraged a low-cost single-atom Cu 1 /CeO 2 catalyst, which is highly active for low-temperature CO oxidation, to eliminate the inhibition effect of CO. Specifically, by physically mixing Cu 1 /CeO 2 and Pt/CeO 2 , all the CO is completely converted below 200 °C under simulated exhaust condition, which helps lower the isooctane oxidation temperature. However, the unconverted NO still strongly suppresses HC oxidation. Possible strategies to address the NO inhibitor were proposed.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2020

Leveraging Cell Expansion Sensing in State of Charge Estimation: Practical Considerations

Measurements such as current and terminal voltage that are typically used to determine the battery’s state of charge (SOC) are augmented with measured force associated with electrode expansion as the lithium intercalates in its structure. The combination of the sensed behavior is shown to improve SOC estimation even for the lithium ion iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry, where the voltage–SOC relation is flat (low slope) making SOC estimation using measured voltage difficult. For the LFP cells, the measured force has a non-monotonic F–SOC relationship. This presents a challenge for estimation as multiple force values can correspond to the same SOC. The traditional linear quadratic estimator can be driven to an incorrect SOC value. To address these difficulties, a novel switching estimation gain is used based on determining the operating region that corresponds to the actual SOC. Moreover, a drift in the measured force associated with a shift of the cell SOC–expansion behavior over time is addressed with a bias estimator for the force signal. The performance of Voltage-based (V) and Voltage and Force-based (V&F) SOC estimation algorithms are then compared and evaluated against a desired ±5% absolute error bound of the SOC using a dynamic stress test current protocol that tests the proposed estimation scheme across wide range of SOC and current rates.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2026

Do Flashing and Sealant Materials Need to be Exposed to Extreme Cycling?

In the U.S., over 50% of homes were built before 1980, when minimal building codes existed. The aging of building envelopes can significantly contribute to the air leakage, moisture intrusion, and durability of buildings leading to higher energy demands. Although the durability of building materials and envelope systems has been studied extensively, the durability of specific components like window-wall flashing and sealants remains underexplored. Current standards such as ASTM, NIST, and AAMA primarily focus on durability testing considering the high temperatures only and require sealant testing on anodized aluminum panels, leaving questions about performance in cold or fluctuating temperatures unanswered. Current ASTM and AAMA standards provide guidelines for durability testing but predominantly focus on exposure to higher temperature conditions. It remains unclear how exposure to cold temperatures, or cycles of both hot and cold conditions, affect the durability of these materials. Furthermore, AAMA standards mandate that flashing materials be tested on anodized aluminum panels, which may not reflect real-world applications. Therefore, this initial study aims to explore this concern through testing by constructing two window-wall interface prototypes and applying five different flashing and sealant materials to their joints. These samples were subjected to extreme temperatures, ranging from −34 ℃ (−30 °F) to 50 ℃ (122 °F), over a 28-day period (fourteen cycles of 24 hours), with daily visual inspections to document any signs of deterioration such as wrinkling, distortion, or warping. The study has two main objectives: (1) to determine whether flashing and sealant materials lose their durability and strength when exposed to varying climate conditions, specifically cold climates, and (2) to assess whether the interaction of these materials with different substrates (e.g., lumber, PVC, insulation) affects their durability and strength under varying climate conditions. The findings demonstrate how aging impacts the durability of window-wall systems interfaces, justifying future research that potentially could lead to the development of new testing protocols if significant defects are identified.

Palani, Hevar [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000220211994)↗
NASA NTRS1981

Additional uses of the facility

The adaptability and utility of the Orbiting Quarantine Facility (OQF) for purposes other than the quarantine mission are considered. One option in the quarantine testing protocol calls for performing a long-term, complete study of the Martian sample in space, rather than releasing the sample to an Earth-based laboratory. It is also possible that the studies prescribed in the protocol will not detect any life forms, in which case the mission will be completed as early as 60 to 90 days from the initial receipt of the Martian sample. It is because of this latter possibility that options for other uses of the facility were considered.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1983

Thermoregulation in cold- and noncold-acclimated rats cold exposed in hypergravic fields

The effect of hypergravity on thermoregulation processes is investigated experimentally in rats. Hooded male Long-Evans rats were kept for 6 weeks at 5 or 23 C (cold-acclimated and noncold-acclimated groups, CA and NCA) prior to testing. One test protocol comprised sequential 1-h exposures to 23 C at 1 G, 23 C at 3 G (in a 2.1-m radius centrifuge; -Gx), 8 C at 3 G, 8 C at 1 G, and finally 23 C at 1 G, with continuous measurement of the oxygen consumption. In a second protocol, restrained rats were exposed to 23 C at 1 G, 23 C at 3 G, and 10 C at 3 G, and core temperature changes were monitored. The results are presented in graphs and a table. Oxygen consumption doubled in both CA and NCA rats on exposure to cold at 1 G, but at 3 G NCA consumption decreased while CA consumption remained high. The CA rats were also more able to maintain core temperature at 3 G than the NCA rats. These differences are attributed to the nonshivering thermogenic processes developed in CA rats, which appear to be unaffected by hypergravity.

Horowitz, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Hysteresis in response to descending and ascending lower-body negative pressure

Changes in the indices of fluid redistribution and cardiovascular responses during graduated orthostatic stress were measured in 12 men subjected for 25 min to lower-body negative pressure (LBNP) test protocol that involved stepwise decreases (from the starting pressure of -8 to the final -50 mm Hg), followed by stepwise increases (back to -8 mm Hg) of LBNP. The values of many variables measured during the descending phase of LBNP were significantly different from the respective values measured during the ascending phase. These differences appear to be caused by a component of fluid translocation that occurs during LBNP and cannot be reversed within the duration of the procedure. It is hypothesized that this slowly-reversed component is the sequestration of fluid in the interstitial and the lymphatic compartments.

Tomaselli, Clare Marie↗
NASA NTRS1990

An intercomparison of airborne nitric acid measurements

Results are reported on the performance of (1) denuder-tube/chemiluminescent, (2) nylon-filter/ion-chromatography, and (3) tunable-diode-laser/multipath-absorption HNO3 measurement instruments during the NASA Global Tropospheric Experiment Chemical Instrumentation Test and Evaluation 2 (CITE 2) program in summer 1986. The instrument designs, test protocols, and CITE 2 flights are described, and the results are presented in extensive graphs and discussed in detail. The data obtained with the three instruments are shown to be in very poor agreement at mixing ratios below 150 parts per trillion by volume (pptv), with significant discrepancies even at higher levels. Instrument (3) gave systematically higher values than (1) and (2). It is concluded that none of the instruments is accurate enough for reliable use at normal atmospheric HNO3 levels (around 100 pptv).

Gregory, G. L.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Resolving Sensory Conflict: the Effect of Muscle Vibration on Postural Stability

The otolith-tilt reinterpretation hypothesis (OTTR) proposes that the central nervous system adapts to weightlessness by reinterpreting all otolith input as linear motion. While interpreting otolith input exclusively as linear motion is functionally useful in space, it is maladaptive upon return to Earth. Astronauts have reported experiencing illusory sensations during head movement which contributes to postural instability. The effect is assessed of muscle vibration in combination with a variety of sensory conflicts on postural equilibrium. The equilibrium of six healthy subjects was tested using the EquiTest sensory test protocol, with and without the confounding influence of triceps surea vibration. The data were analyzed with repeated measures with vibration, vision status, and platform status as independent variables. All main effects and an interaction between the presence of vision and platform sway referencing were found to be significant. Overall, a 4.5 pct. decrease in postural stability was observed with vibration. The trend of the difference scores between conditions with and without vibration suggests that vibration is most destabilizing when the triceps surea is able to change length during postural sway (i.e., conditions with a fixed support surface). The impact of sway referencing vision was virtually identical to that of eye closure, providing compelling evidence that sway referencing 'nulls out' useful cues about subject sway.

Layne, Charles S.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Outgassing and dimensional changes of polymer matrix composites in space

A thermal-vacuum outgassing model and test protocol for predicting outgassing times and dimensional changes for polymer matrix composites is described. Experimental results derived from a 'control' sample are used to provide the basis for analytical predictions to compare with the outgassing response of Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) flight samples.

Tennyson, R. C.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Anthropometric data from launch and entry suited test subjects for the design of a recumbent seating system

Returning space crews to Earth in a recumbent position requires the design of a new seating system. Current anthropometric data are based on measurements taken while the subjects were unsuited and sitting. To be most accurate, it is necessary to design by measurements of subjects in the launch and entry suit in a recumbent position. Since the design of the recumbent seating system must meet the requirements of both 5th percentile Japanese female and 95th percentile American male crew members, a delta is reported rather than absolute measurements of the test subjects. This delta is the difference in the measurements taken with the subjects unsuited and sitting and those taken with the subjects suited and recumbent. This delta, representative of the change due to the suit, can be added to the existing Man-Systems Integration Standards (NASA-STD-3000) anthropometric data to project the measurements for 5th percentile Japanese female and 95th percentile American male crew members. A delta accounting for the spinal elongation caused by prolonged exposures to microgravity is added as well. Both unpressurized and pressurized suit conditions are considered. Background information, the test protocol and procedure, analysis of the data, and recommendations are reported.

Stoycos, Lara E.↗