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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 253 records · Page 14
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2016

Reactivity Coefficient Calculation for a Low-Power LEU Research Reactor

Core design studies on a 20-MW thermal power low enriched uranium (LEU) fueled research reactor are underway at the NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR) with the primary purpose of providing quality neutron beams for scientific research. The 'tank-in-pool' design pattern is adopted for the new reactor: A compact core composed of two horizontally split halves are surrounded by a cylindrical D{sub 2}O reflector tank, and the tank is itself surrounded by a large H{sub 2}O pool, which functions as thermal and biological shielding. The split core consists of 18 MTR-type fuel elements which are evenly distributed into two regions. The LEU fuel used in the study is the U{sub 3}Si{sub 2}-Al dispersion fuel with U-235 enrichment of 19.75%, the only NRC certified LEU fuel in the U.S. The core is cooled and moderated by H{sub 2}O, and separated from D{sub 2}O by zircaloy core boxes. Hafnium control blades are utilized as both criticality and safety control elements for the reactor. They are controlled by a mechanical driver located at the bottom of the core but with the fully withdrawn positions at the top of the core. In a standard reactor calculation, it is necessary to evaluate the reactivity coefficient with respect to some physical parameters such as fuel or moderator temperature. For nearly all reactor designs, negative reactivity coefficients are required for safety. As a light-water cooled thermal reactor, the new reactor is designed to work in an under-moderated mode with the most achievable reactivity. The core is required to have negative reactivity coefficients under any normal or abnormal circumstances such as over power transient, loss of coolant or reflector, etc. Therefore the reactivity coefficient addresses reactor safety concerns as well as provides valuable quantitative parameters for reactor safety analyses. In this summary, three typical reactivity coefficients for the low-power LEU core are calculated using the Monte-Carlo code MCNP-6: the moderator temperature coefficient (MTC), the fuel temperature coefficient (FTC), and the void coefficient (VC). A direct perturbation methodology is applied to calculate all these coefficients. The perturbed case is produced by manually perturbing a single physical property with respect to the reference case (the one with normal operational conditions), as the multiplication factor (i.e. k{sub eff}) of the perturbed case is calculated by MCNP. The corresponding reactivity coefficient is thereby determined by dividing the reactivity change over the associated parameter changes. Core design studies are underway at NIST to develop a low-power LEU fueled beam reactor to advance the neutron source capability at NCNR for the next century. The reactivity effect caused by moderator temperature, fuel temperature and void is investigated though a direct perturbation approach using the MCNP code. The MTC, FTC, and VC for a representative startup core is obtained and the negative effect characteristics of these coefficients are observed. The reactivity effects under several postulated abnormal scenarios are also investigated. The overall negative feedback to the reactivity at each situation is confirmed. (authors)

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Low GWP Refrigerants Modelling Study for a Room Air Conditioner Having Microchannel Heat Exchangers

Microchannel heat exchangers (MHX) have found great successes in residential and commercial air conditioning applications, being compact heat exchangers, to reduce refrigerant charge and material cost. This investigation aims to extend the application of MHXs in split, room air conditioners (RAC), per fundamental heat exchanger and system modelling. For this paper, microchannel condenser and evaporator models were developed, using a segment-to-segment modelling approach. The microchannel heat exchanger models were integrated to a system design model. The system model is able to predict the performance indices, such as cooling capacity, efficiency, sensible heat ratio, etc. Using the calibrated system and heat exchanger models, we evaluated numerous low GWP (global warming potential) refrigerants. The predicted system performance indices, e.g. cooling efficiency, compressor discharge temperature, and required compressor displacement volume etc., are compared. Suitable replacements for R22 and R-410A for the room air conditioner application are recommended.

Low GWP↗
NASA NTRS1982

The energetics of molecular clouds. V - The S37 molecular cloud

The molecular clouds of S37, which coincides with a region of visual obscuration, is observed at several molecular transition frequencies and at IR wavelengths in the 2-125 micron range. It is found that the temperature and the column density peak near the reflection nebulae vdB 118 and 119, with line splitting and possible self-absorption being observed near the latter. Although many 2-micron sources are observed in the direction of the cloud, no bright, 10-micron sources are seen, and far-IR emission is found over an extensive region in the cloud. An energetics analysis leads to the prediction of a dust cooling rate consistent with the far-IR observations, which indicate not less than 15,000-35,000 solar luminosities, and more detailed energetics examinations show that the conditions necessary for collision heating of the gas by warm dust exist.

Evans, N. J., II↗
DOE OSTI2016

High Luminosity 100 TeV Proton-Antiproton Collider

The energy scale for new physics is known to be in the multi-TeV range, signaling the potential need for a collider beyond the LHC. A $10^{34}$ cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$ luminosity 100 TeV proton-antiproton collider is explored. Prior engineering studies for 233 and 270 km circumference tunnels were done for Illinois dolomite and Texas chalk signaling manageable tunneling costs. At a $p\bar{p}$ the cross section for high mass states is of order 10x higher with antiproton collisions, where antiquarks are directly present rather than relying on gluon splitting. The higher cross sections reduce the synchrotron radiation in superconducting magnets, because lower beam currents can produce the same rare event rates. In our design the increased momentum acceptance (11 $\pm$ 2.6 GeV/c) in a Fermilab-like antiproton source is used with septa to collect 12x more antiprotons in 12 channels. For stochastic cooling, 12 cooling systems would be used, each with one debuncher/momentum equalizer ring and two accumulator rings. One electron cooling ring would follow. Finally antiprotons would be recycled during runs without leaving the collider ring, by joining them to new bunches with synchrotron damping.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
NASA NTRS1993

Optical probing of cold trapped atoms

Transitions between excited states of laser-cooled and laser-trapped rubidium and cesium atoms are probed by use of fiber and diode lasers. High-resolution Doppler-free spectra are detected by observation of the absorption and fluorescence of light from the intermediate level of two-step cascade systems. The optical double-resonance spectra show Autler-Townes splitting in the weak probe limit and more complicated spectra for a strongly coupled three-level system.

Fox, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS1984

High-temperature gaseous oxygen/hydrogen thrusters for space station

Efforts to determine the critical technologies necessary for the development of a high-temperature GO2/GH2 thruster are reviewed, for space station applications. Two types of thrust chambers are evaluated: one operable at high temperature and the other incorporating regenerative cooling. The high temperature chamber made of rhenium requires minimum cooling of the chamber wall, however, an oxidation barrier should be incorporated to prevent the rhenium thruster from readily oxidizing. The use of rhenium brought about a lower cost, lower weight, and simplicity of fabrication. The igniter-injector, the chamber, the test facility, and the test program are discussed. It is found that an obtained flow split of 58/42 increased the thruster performance from 3893 N-s/Kg to 4030 N-s/Kg for the same chamber pressure and overall mixture ratio. An increase in performance is also observed when the core mixture ratio is lowered. The thruster was tested for 1.9 hrs with no well degradation.

Dowdy, M. W.↗
DOE OSTI2014

Evaluation of Retrofit Variable-Speed Furnace Fan Motors

In conjunction with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and Proctor Engineering Group, Ltd. (PEG), the Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings (CARB) has evaluated the Concept 3 (tm) replacement motors for residential furnaces. These brushless, permanent magnet (BPM) motors can use much less electricity than their PSC (permanent split capacitor) predecessors. This evaluation focuses on existing homes in the heating-dominated climate of upstate New York with the goals of characterizing field performance and cost-effectiveness. The results of this study are intended to be useful to home performance contractors, HVAC contractors, and home efficiency program stakeholders. The project includes eight homes in and near Syracuse, NY. Tests and monitoring was performed both before and after fan motors were replaced. Average fan power reductions were approximately 126 Watts during heating and 220 Watts during cooling operation. Over the course of entire heating and cooling seasons, these translated into average electric energy savings of 163 kWh. Average cost savings were $20 per year. Homes where the fan was used outside of heating and cooling mode saved an additional $42 per year on average. Results indicate that BPM replacement motors will be most cost-effective in HVAC systems with longer run times and relatively low duct static pressures. More dramatic savings are possible if occupants use the fan-only setting when there is no thermal load. There are millions of cold-climate, U.S. homes that meet these criteria, but the savings in most homes tested in this study were modest.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
NASA NTRS1982

Effect of storable propellants on single-stage earth-to-orbit vehicles

A comparison is made between the storable-propellant engine and an equivalent dual-expander engine using oxygen, propane, and hydrogen propellants. The propane and hydrogen dual-expander engine is then compared with previous results with separate propane and hydrocarbon engines. It is shown that the dual-expander reduces vehicle dry mass from 94 to 89 Mg, or 5%. The hydrogen-only thrust of the dual-expander is 0.4 MN, while the separate hydrogen engines have a thrust of 2.3 MN. The low thrust level increases the difficulty of cooling the dual-expander engine, and additional hydrogen flow is added for transpirational cooling. This additional hydrogen flow leads to an increase in the hydrogen tank size. It is also shown that storable propellants increase the dry mass of single-stage earth-to-orbit vehicles by about 20% and the gross mass by about 54%. It is concluded that dual-expander engines should be studied with several thrust splits and thrust levels.

Martin, J. A.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Development, calibration, and validation of a novel gray-box energy model for residential split air conditioners

Energy models for vapor compression refrigeration in residential air conditioners have been developed through white-box, gray-box, and black-box methods in decades. However, existing white-box and gray-box models require complicated equations with detailed geometries while black-box models require substantial experimental data. Further, this paper aims to develop and validate a simple gray-box steady-state energy model without the need for detailed geometries, which can accurately predict the cooling capacity and electrical power input based on outdoor and indoor air conditions, and supply airflow rates. First three state variables, including the evaporation and condensation temperatures, and refrigerant mass flowrate, are applied to develop the energy model and are solved by three physical equations, including the energy conservations at the evaporator and condenser, and the refrigerant volume-mass flow correlation of the compressor. Secondly, seven performance property functions related to three state variables and three physical equations are identified and calibrated by simple temperature and power measurements. Finally, field experiments are conducted on a residential air conditioner to calibrate these performance property functions and validate the developed model. The validated results reveal the model can accurately predict the cooling capacity and electrical power input, with the normalized root mean square errors of 2.3% and 0.87% respectively.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2016

A new hybrid-Lagrangian numerical scheme for gyrokinetic simulation of tokamak edge plasma

In order to enable kinetic simulation of non-thermal edge plasmas at a reduced computational cost, a new hybrid-Lagrangian δf scheme has been developed that utilizes the phase space grid in addition to the usual marker particles, taking advantage of the computational strengths from both sides. The new scheme splits the particle distribution function of a kinetic equation into two parts. Marker particles contain the fast space-time varying, δf, part of the distribution function and the coarse-grained phase-space grid contains the slow space-time varying part. The coarse-grained phase-space grid reduces the memory-requirement and the computing cost, while the marker particles provide scalable computing ability for the fine-grained physics. Weights of the marker particles are determined by a direct weight evolution equation instead of the differential form weight evolution equations that the conventional delta-f schemes use. The particle weight can be slowly transferred to the phase space grid, thereby reducing the growth of the particle weights. The non-Lagrangian part of the kinetic equation – e.g., collision operation, ionization, charge exchange, heat-source, radiative cooling, and others – can be operated directly on the phase space grid. Deviation of the particle distribution function on the velocity grid from a Maxwellian distribution function – driven by ionization, charge exchange and wall loss – is allowed to be arbitrarily large. The numerical scheme is implemented in the gyrokinetic particle code XGC1, which specializes in simulating the tokamak edge plasma that crosses the magnetic separatrix and is in contact with the material wall.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2012

Validation of the U.S. NRC NGNP evaluation model with the HTTR

The High Temperature Test Reactor (HTTR) was modeled with TRITON/PARCS. Traditional light water reactor (LWR) homogenization methods rely on the short mean free paths of neutrons in LWR. In gas-cooled, graphite-moderated reactors like the HTTR neutrons have much longer mean free paths and penetrate further into neighboring assemblies than in LWRs. Because of this, conventional lattice calculations with a single assembly may not be valid. In addition to difficulties caused by the longer mean free paths, the HTTR presents unique axial and radial heterogeneities that require additional modifications to the single assembly homogenization method. To handle these challenges, the homogenization domain is decreased while the computational domain is increased. Instead of homogenizing a single hexagonal fuel assembly, the assembly is split into six triangles on the radial plane and five blocks axially in order to account for the placement of burnable poisons. Furthermore, the radial domain is increased beyond a single fuel assembly to account for spectrum effects from neighboring fuel, reflector, and control rod assemblies. A series of five two-dimensional cases, each closer to the full core, were calculated to evaluate the effectiveness of the homogenization method and cross-sections. (authors)

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
NASA NTRS1977

Linear aerospike engine study

Parametric data on split-combustor linear engine propulsion systems are presented for use in mixed-mode single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) vehicle studies. Preliminary design data for two selected engine systems are included. The split combustor was investigated for mixed-mode operations with oxygen/hydrogen propellants used in the inner combustor in Mode 2, and in conjunction with either oxygen/RP-1, oxygen/RJ-5, O2/CH4, or O2/H2 propellants in the outer combustor for Mode 1. Both gas generator and staged combustion power cycles were analyzed for providing power to the turbopumps of the inner and outer combustors. Numerous cooling circuits and cooling fluids (propellants) were analyzed and hydrogen was selected as the preferred coolant for both combustors and the linear aerospike nozzle. The maximum operating chamber pressure was determined to be limited by the availability of hydrogen coolant pressure drop in the coolant circuit.

Diem, H. G.↗
DOE OSTI2012

Dynamic simulation and load-following control of an integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power plant with CO{sub 2} capture

Load-following control of future integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) plants with pre-combustion CO{sub 2} capture is expected to be far more challenging as electricity produced by renewable energy is connected to the grid and strict environmental limits become mandatory requirements. To study control performance during load following, a plant-wide dynamic simulation of a coal-fed IGCC plant with CO{sub 2} capture has been developed. The slurry-fed gasifier is a single-stage, downward-fired, oxygen-blown, entrained-flow type with a radiant syngas cooler (RSC). The syngas from the outlet of the RSC goes to a scrubber followed by a two-stage sour shift process with inter-stage cooling. The acid gas removal (AGR) process is a dual-stage physical solvent-based process for selective removal of H{sub 2}S in the first stage and CO{sub 2} in the second stage. Sulfur is recovered using a Claus unit with tail gas recycle to the AGR. The recovered CO{sub 2} is compressed by a split-shaft multistage compressor and sent for sequestration after being treated in an absorber with triethylene glycol for dehydration. The clean syngas is sent to two advanced “F”-class gas turbines (GTs) partially integrated with an elevated-pressure air separation unit. A subcritical steam cycle is used for heat recovery steam generation. A treatment unit for the sour water strips off the acid gases for utilization in the Claus unit. The steady-state model developed in Aspen Plus® is converted to an Aspen Plus Dynamics® simulation and integrated with MATLAB® for control studies. The results from the plant-wide dynamic model are compared qualitatively with the data from a commercial plant having different configuration, operating condition, and feed quality than what has been considered in this work. For load-following control, the GT-lead with gasifier-follow control strategy is considered. A modified proportional–integral–derivative (PID) control is considered for the syngas pressure control. For maintaining the desired CO{sub 2} capture rate while load-following, a linear model predictive controller (LMPC) is implemented in MATLAB®. A combined process and disturbance model is identified by considering a number of model forms and choosing the final model based on an information-theoretic criterion. The performance of the LMPC is found to be superior to the conventional PID control for maintaining CO{sub 2} capture rates in an IGCC power plant while load following.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2020

Technology Development and Field Monitoring in nZEB - US Country report IEA HPT Annex 49 Task 3

The International Energy Agency (IEA) Heat Pumping Technologies (HPT) Annex 49, “Design and Integration of Heat Pumps for Nearly Zero Energy Buildings,” deals with the application of heat pumps (HPs) as a core component of the HVAC system for nearly or net-zero energy buildings. This report covers the Task 3 activities of the US team. Three institutions are involved on the US team and have worked on the following projects. 1) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) summarized development activities since the conclusion of IEA HPT Annex 40 for several integrated HP (IHP) systems - electric ground-source IHP and air-source IHP versions and engine-driven AS-IHP version. 2) The University of Maryland partnered with ORNL and Blue Bear Management to develop a personal cooling device called RoCo that can provide personalized conditioned air to occupants in inadequately or unconditioned environments. With RoCo, building facility management can elevate the HVAC thermostat settings without compromising occupants’ thermal comfort. Researchers have found that a 4°F increase in thermostat settings can save 12–30% energy savings. Therefore, RoCo is a promising technology that can help reduce building energy consumption and facilitate achievement of net-zero energy building performance. 3) The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is working on a field study effort on the NIST Net-Zero Energy Residential Test Facility. Two air-source split-system HPs were installed in a residential, net-zero energy home that was constructed as a laboratory on the NIST campus in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The first HP was a two-stage, 7 kW (2 ton), 15.8 seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER), 9.05 heating seasonal performance factor (HSPF) conventionally ducted system; the second HP was a variable-speed, 10.6 kW (3 ton), 14 SEER, 8.35 HSPF, high-velocity ducted system. These two systems operated side by side, using separate supply ducts and a common return duct, on a weekly alternating schedule to condition the home that was operated with very consistent simulated thermal loads. The team wanted to determine whether the high-velocity system could provide comparable energy-use efficiency to the conventional system. The results of this study showed that it did meet the required loads and had slightly greater efficiency; the average cooling coefficient of performance (COP) was (0.40 ± 0.11) higher, and the average heating COP was statistically equal. A new firmware was provided at the end of the heating season that greatly improved the performance of the high-velocity system; its average heating COP went from (1.8 ± 0.9) to (2.5 ± 1.1) at a 95% confidence level. The new firmware heating COP averaged (1.05 ± 0.23) higher than the old firmware over the same outdoor temperatures. The defrost performance is very different for these two systems, yet they consumed equivalent energy per HDD. The conventional system uses a timed-initiate, temperature-terminate algorithm with auxiliary electric resistive heating, whereas the high-velocity system uses calculated evaporator parameters with a hot-gas bypass before a full reverse-cycle defrost with no supplementary resistive heat.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2023

CODEX: Role of velocity substructure in the scaling relations of galaxy clusters

The use of galaxy clusters as cosmological probes relies on a detailed understanding of their properties. They define cluster selection and ranking linked to a cosmologically significant cluster mass function. Previous studies have employed small samples of clusters, concentrating on achieving the first calibrations of cluster properties with mass, while the diversity of cluster properties has been revealed via detailed studies. The large spectroscopic follow-up on the CODEX cluster sample with SDSS and NOT enables a detailed study of hundreds of clusters, lifting the limitations of previous samples. We aim to update the spectroscopic cluster identification of CODEX by running the spectroscopic group finder on the follow-up spectroscopy results and connecting the dynamical state of clusters to their scaling relations. We implemented a reproducible spectroscopic membership determination and cleaning procedures, based on the redMaPPer membership, running the spectroscopic group finder on the follow-up spectroscopy results and cleaning the membership for spectroscopic outliers. We applied the Anderson-Darling test for velocity substructure and analysed its influence on the scaling relations. We also tested the effect of the X-ray-to-optical centre offset on the scaling relations. We report on the scaling relations between richness, X-ray luminosity, and velocity dispersion for a complete sample of clusters with at least 15 members. Clusters with velocity substructure exhibit enhanced velocity dispersion for a given richness and are characterized by 2.5 times larger scatter. Clusters that have a strong offset in X-ray-to-optical centres have comparable scaling relations as clusters with substructure. We demonstrate that there is a consistency in the parameters of the scaling relations for the low- and high-richness galaxy clusters. Splitting the clusters by redshift, we note a decrease in scatter with redshift in all scaling relations. We localize the redshift range where a high scatter is observed to z < 0.15, which is in agreement with the literature results on the scatter. We note that the increase in scatter for both high- and low-luminosity clusters is z < 0.15, suggesting that both cooling and the resulting active galactic nucleus feedback are at the root of this scatter.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1978

High efficiency low cost solar cell power

A concept for generating high-efficiency, low-cost, solar-cell power is outlined with reference to solar cell parameters, optical concentrators, and thermal control procedures. A design for a 12.5-kw power module for space operation is discussed noting the optical system, spectrum splitter, light conversion system, cell cooling, power conditioner, and tracking mechanism. It is found that for an unconcentrated array, efficiency approaches 60% when ten or more bandgaps are used. For a 12-band system, a computer program distributed bandgaps for maximum efficiency and equal cell currents. Rigid materials and thin films have been proposed for optical components and prisms, gratings, and dichroic mirrors have been recommended for spectrum splitting. Various radiator concepts are noted including that of Weatherston and Smith (1960) and Hedgepeth and Knapp (1978). The concept may be suitable for the Solar Power Satellite.

Bekey, I.↗
DOE OSTI2015

Spectroscopic study on deuterated benzenes. II. High-resolution laser spectroscopy and rotational structure in the S{sub 1} state

High-resolution spectra of the S{sub 1}←S{sub 0} transition in jet-cooled deuterated benzenes were observed using pulse dye amplification of single-mode laser light and mass-selective resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) detection. The vibrational and rotational structures were accurately analyzed for the vibronic levels in the S{sub 1} state. The degenerate 6{sup 1} levels of C{sub 6}H{sub 6} or C{sub 6}D{sub 6} are split into 6a{sup 1} and 6b{sup 1} in many of deuterated benzenes. The rigid-rotor rotational constants were assessed and found to be slightly different between 6a and 6b because of different mean molecular structures. Their rotational levels are significantly shifted by Coriolis interactions. It was found that the Coriolis parameter proportionally changed with the number of substituted D atoms.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗