Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Dynamic Rates”

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 289 records · Page 16

2D end-to-end modelling of kilonovae from binary neutron star merger remnants

We investigate the kilonova emission resulting from outflows produced in a 3D general-relativistic magnetohydrodynamic (GRMHD) simulation of a hypermassive neutron star (HMNS) remnant. We map the outflows into the flash hydrodynamics code to model their expansion in axisymmetry, and study the effects of employing different r-process heating rates. Except for the highest heating rate prescription, we find no significant differences with respect to overall ejecta dynamics and morphology compared to the simulation without heating. Once homologous expansion is attained, typically after ~2s for these ejecta, we map the outflows to the sedona radiative transfer code and compute the spectral evolution of the kilonova and broad-band light curves in various Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) bands. The kilonova properties depend on the remnant lifetime, with peak luminosities and peak time-scales increasing for longer lived remnants that produce more massive ejecta. For all models, there is a strong dependence of both the bolometric and broad-band light curves on the viewing angle. While the short-lived (12 ms) remnant produces higher luminosities when viewed from angles closer to the pole, longer lived remnants (240 ms and 2.5 s) are more luminous when viewed from angles closer to the equator. Our results highlight the importance of self-consistent, long-term modelling of merger ejecta, and taking viewing-angle dependence into account when interpreting observed kilonova light curves. We find that magnetized outflows from an HMNS – if it survives long enough – could explain blue kilonovae, such as the blue emission seen in AT2017gfo.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Dual mechanism of the OXA-23 carbapenemase inhibition by the carbapenem NA-1-157

Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii continues to be a leading cause of life-threatening infections that result in high mortality rates. The major cause of carbapenem resistance in this pathogen is the production of class D carbapenemases, enzymes that inactivate the last resort carbapenem antibiotics, thus significantly diminishing the available therapeutic options. In this study, we evaluated the interaction of OXA-23, the most widely disseminated class D carbapenemase in A. baumannii clinical isolates, with the atypically modified carbapenem, NA-1-157. The MICs of this compound against strains producing OXA-23 were reduced from highly resistant levels observed for the commercial carbapenems meropenem and imipenem (16–128 µg/mL) to sensitive or intermediate levels (2–4 µg/mL). Kinetic studies showed that NA-1-157 inhibits the enzyme due to a significant decrease (>2,000-fold) in the deacylation rate relative to its closest structural analog, meropenem. Structural studies and molecular dynamics simulations demonstrated that inhibition is caused by both the inability of a water molecule to get close enough to the scissile bond to perform deacylation and by partial decarboxylation of the catalytic lysine residue upon formation of the acyl-enzyme intermediate.

Acinetobacter baumannii↗

Dynamics of Radiation Damage Buildup in Ultrathin Hexagonal Boron Nitride Films under Ion Bombardment

Two-dimensional hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) is attractive for several emerging applications. Ion bombardment can be used to modify the hBN properties. However, the understanding of radiation damage buildup in hBN remains limited. Here, we investigate the effects of the dose rate and ion mass on radiation damage buildup by studying 40 nm-thick hBN films bombarded at room temperature with 500 keV 4 He, 15 N, 40 Ar, and 129 Xe ions and comparing with results for ion bombardment of polycrystalline hBN ceramics. Raman spectroscopy is used to quantify damage buildup, and transmission electron microscopy is used for microstructural analysis. Experiments are complemented by molecular dynamics simulations of the formation and evolution of point defects. Lighter ions are found to be more efficient at disordering hBN than heavier ions. This observation points to a critical role of intracascade defect processes. In contrast, a negligible dose rate effect observed suggests limited intercascade defect dynamic annealing processes for these irradiation conditions. These findings provide a fundamental basis for hBN defect engineering.

2D materials↗

Investigation of magnetic fluctuations in L-H and H-L transition dynamics on DIII-D

The dynamics of the L-H transition is not fully understood, with many parameters changing the threshold power to enter H-mode and the self-regulation between zonal flows and turbulence in the plasma edge. This paper is primarily a presentation of experimental results for DIII-D L-H and H-L transitions and speculation on the observations made. Power threshold analysis and measurements of pedestal temperatures for these transitions are presented. A comparison is made between an L-H transition and H-L transition of comparable Psep exhibiting oscillatory behaviour, showing symmetry between forward and backward transition dynamics. This paper shows the first observations of magnetic fluctuations during L-H and H-L transitions on DIII-D, and shows that L-H and H-L transitions have similar magnetic fluctuation dynamics. Information geometry analysis has been performed on measurements of plasma density fluctuations, perpendicular plasma velocity fluctuations, and magnetic field fluctuations to investigate the self-regulation and evolution of these variables during the transitions. Perpendicular flow evolution is shown to dominate the transition dynamics in both directions, but self-regulation behaviour is observed between all three variables. A strong correlation between magnetic fluctuation information rate and density fluctuation information rate for these two shots shows the strong influence of magnetic behaviour on both the L-H and H-L transition, and that these transition dynamics necessarily include electromagnetic effects.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Next Generation Multi-Use Heavy-Duty High-Flow Direct-Fill Hydrogen Refueling Station with Standardized Design (CRADA Final Report)

The Contractor will build a liquid hydrogen (LH2) fueling station model that is capable of simulating the amount of hydrogen transferred from the liquid storage tank to the vehicle, depending on the station’s design and control scheme. This modeling work will allow the Parties to seek the design and control scheme of an LH2 station that can fill a targeted number of vehicles while meeting a time-average flow rate of 10 kg/min for each fill. While evaluating a high dispensing performance station design and control scheme, the Contractor will analyze the design and control scheme are economically viable.

08 HYDROGEN↗

Semiclassical transition state theory through the lens of the restricted partition function

The wide adoption of transition state theory in resolving the rates of molecular processes relies on the simplification from reducing the formal and numerical expense of dynamics by a geometric constraint. Such a reduction is at odds with the uncertainty in localization that the uncertainty principle requires. While many forms of semiclassical transition state theory (SCTST) have been aimed at addressing this challenge, a popular approach has relied on resolving the underlying phase space structure of the exact rate formula to leverage Bohr–Sommerfeld quantization. Here, the Hernandez–Miller SCTST reframed the thermal rate formula into an integral of the so-called restricted partition function (RPF) over the action associated with the reaction. The density-of-state SCTST has reframed the rate formula in terms of the instanton’s density of states (DoS). Here, we show the relationship between the RPF-SCTST and the DoS-SCTST and derive the latter from the former. In this way, we help unify these branches of SCTST and provide a clearer formalism for future advances.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Potential Impacts of Dynamic Electricity Pricing in California: Load Shape and Customer Bill Impacts Under Elastic Customer Response

The increasing penetration of renewable energy in California has intensified grid management challenges, exemplified by the “duck curve” and the resulting need for steep ramping and curtailment of renewables. To address these issues, dynamic electricity tariffs that vary in near-real time are being considered to incentivize customers to shift demand and support the grid. This study extends previous work on the bill impacts of such tariffs in the absence of load response by quantifying the system-level and customer impacts of load response based on customer price elasticity. Customer-level load response modeling was conducted using meter data from 411,000 customers across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. Customer demand elasticity was estimated using literature-based values, with scenarios ranging from low to high elasticity, including an automation-enhanced scenario. Results indicate that universal adoption of, and response to, dynamic tariffs can significantly reduce peak net load (by 15%) and maximum ramping requirements (by 20%) with moderate elasticity, delivering demand response resources comparable to or exceeding current programs at all elasticity levels. Bill analysis shows that, when responding elastically to dynamic prices, most non-PV customers experience modest savings, while PV customers may see higher effective rates due to lower compensation for exports during low-price periods. Emissions analysis reveals a reduction in per-kWh emissions system-wide, with a total absolute load increase of 2% accompanied by a negligible absolute emissions increase. The study concludes that while dynamic tariffs offer substantial grid benefits, customer bill savings under modeled response behaviors may be too modest to drive widespread adoption without additional incentives or enabling technologies. Future research should model flexible loads and advanced control technologies with greater fidelity to better represent the potential opportunities of dynamic tariffs.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Measurement and feedback-driven adaptive dynamics in the classical and quantum kicked top

In classical dynamical systems, stochastic feedback can stabilize otherwise unstable periodic orbits, giving rise to distinct controlled and uncontrolled phases as the rate of control application is varied. In this work, we apply these control protocols in classical, semiclassical, and quantum regimes to the kicked top, a paradigmatic model of quantum chaos. The quantum kicked top, modeled as the dynamics of a spin-S object, naturally interpolates between these regimes with the spin size S acting as an effective Planck constant. We show that the dynamics of the kicked top in classical, semiclassical, and fully quantum limits can all be controlled using stochastic feedback protocols. Comparing the full quantum dynamics to a truncated Wigner approximation that captures quantum noise but neglects interference beyond the Ehrenfest time, we find that low-moment observables are largely accounted for semiclassically, while the remaining discrepancy in higher moments is consistent with contributions from interference and possibly nonlinearities in rare trajectories that explore the compact phase space. We also find rapid purification in the numerics studied for all rates of control considered, suggesting that control quenches the top's ability to encode a qubit of quantum information even in the uncontrolled phase.

Prasad, Mahaveer [Tata Inst.; Singapore U. Tech. D↗

Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis of the Molten Salt Tritium Transport Experiment Test Section

Tritium, a radionuclide produced through neutron capture by lithium and other elements (beryllium and fluoride) in molten salts, presents unique challenges to radionuclide release. This is true for both fusion energy breeder blankets and molten salt fission reactors. The fundamental understanding of tritium transport is crucial to the safe design and operation of these reactors. The Molten Salt Tritium Transport Experiment (MSTTE), currently under construction at Idaho National Laboratory, aims to investigate tritium transport phenomena using a forced-convection fluoride salt loop. This loop is designed to study various transport mechanisms, such as permeation through metals and gas-liquid interactions, and is intended to support future research on tritium extraction units. A critical aspect of the MSTTE loop design is ensuring a fully developed velocity profile before the fluid reaches the permeation test section where measurements are made. This study employs computational fluid dynamics to model the salt flow behavior within the MSTTE permeation test section. A realizable k-ε turbulent model with enhanced wall treatment is used to simulate the single-phase, vertical upward flow of molten salt FLiNaK under isothermal conditions. The simulation results indicated flow distortion and underdeveloped profiles at all planned flow rates within the test section due to the 85-deg sharp bend. To address this issue, a reduced diameter with a reducer and expander and a flow conditioner are investigated to achieve fully developed flow. The analysis showed that the flow conditioner successfully corrected the flow profile, achieving fully developed behavior at a flow rate of 50 liters per minute (LPM). In conclusion, this research enhances our understanding of flow dynamics in molten salt systems and contributes to optimizing tritium transport control technologies.

11 - NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Additively-manufactured Al-0.3Zr-0.2Ce-0.2Cu alloy with high creep resistance and electrical conductivity

Here, a new, solute-lean Al-0.3Zr-0.2Ce-0.2Cu (wt.%) alloy is developed for additive manufacturing that overcomes the classical tradeoff between conductivity and creep resistance. The rapid-cooling-enabled supersaturation of Zr, and its uniform distribution in α-Al matrix, along with formation of submicron (Ce,Cu)-rich intermetallic particles on solidification lead to unusually high creep resistance at 200 °C. Near-zero secondary creep rates are achieved up to the alloy yield stress (YS) of 65 MPa at 200 °C in as-fabricated state. The Zr-solute-induced dislocation-climb suppression mechanism underlying this improvement also restricts dynamic recovery above YS, as noted from appreciable primary creep and its transitioning to near-zero secondary creep rates. A combination of relatively coarse, epitaxially-grown α-Al grains, low Zr concentration in α-Al, and the impurity-scavenging effect of Ce to purify α-Al matrix produces high electrical conductivity of ∼48 %IACS. Aging precipitation of L1 2 -Al 3 Zr nanoprecipitates doubles the YS (to ∼150 MPa) at room temperature and increases alloy conductivity to ∼58 %IACS, but loss of solid-solution Zr out of α-Al matrix leads to activation of dislocation climb, degrading the creep properties as compared to the supersaturated Al-Zr solid solution in the as-fabricated state. Compared to L1 2 -Al 3 Zr nanoprecipitates, submicron (Ce,Cu)-rich particles formed on solidification are more effective at impeding dislocation climb, producing a threshold stress for dislocation creep of ∼ 50 MPa at 200 °C. The new alloy design concepts, especially solute-induced dislocation-climb suppression for creep resistance, explored here may pave way for the design of new metallic alloys for thermal/electrical conductors and other high-temperature applications.

Additive Manufacturing↗

Effective direct steam regeneration of bis-iminoguanidine solid sorbent used for carbon dioxide capture

A cost-effective, energy-efficient sorbent regeneration process for phase-changing guanidines used for CO 2 capture was developed based on direct-steam stripping. This approach enhances the regeneration rate, simplifies the overall CO 2 capture process, and reduces the energy cost compared to conventional conductive thermal regeneration. A direct-steam sorbent regeneration reactor was developed, demonstrating that aqueous bis(iminoguanidines) (BIG) sorbents, e.g., methylglyoxal-bis(iminoguanidine) (MGBIG) and glyoxal-bis(iminoguanidine) (GBIG), could be efficiently regenerated with up to ~ 99 % CO 2 recovery through direct-steam stripping. Using low-temperature steam at 100 °C, a 4.5 times faster regeneration rate for GBIG carbonate sorbent (e.g., 30 min for 10 g) was demonstrated compared to conductive-heating (e.g., 135 min for 10 g) at 130 °C. Additionally, fully regenerated MGBIG converts into an aqueous MGBIG solution when the steam condenses onto the sorbent surface. Condensed steam with the guanidine can be easily recycled as an aqueous solution into the gas–liquid contactor to achieve a continuous-flow CO 2 -capture process. Molecular dynamics simulation was employed to provide a better understanding of the process. Higher heat transfer rates from steam to guanidine carbonate, compared to air heating, were attributed to the vibration resonance of water molecules within MGBIG with that of vapor molecules and the effective transfer of kinetic energy from vapor to solid. Technoeconomic analysis demonstrated that direct-steam stripping significantly decreases the CO 2 capture cost by 50 % compared to traditional conductive heating methods. Further, enhanced mass transfer facilitated by low-temperature steam and subsequent condensation effectively heats up the H 2 O-containing BIG-carbonate crystals, facilitating the desorption of CO 2 from the solid crystals, thereby leading to fast, effective, and energy-efficient sorbent regeneration.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Background-Oriented Schlieren Velocimetry of Helium Coolant Flow in Additively Manufactured Channels

High-pressure helium gas cooling is an attractive solution for thermal management of the fusion blanket first wall, as this coolant is chemically and neutronically inert and separable from hydrogenic species. However, due to the low thermal mass of helium, geometric optimization of these channels is required to provide sufficient cooling at manageable flow rates and pumping burdens. Increasingly, analysis and optimization of these coolant channels rely on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, and these require relevant experimental data for turbulence model validation. Toward this end, a high-pressure helium gas flow visualization system has been employed to image the flow of helium in flow channels with one-sided heating, mimicking the blanket first wall environment. Flow of helium at 4 MPa pressure and flow rates up to 68 g/s (Reynolds number 57 000) is supplied to rectangular channel test sections, with uniform heating applied to the bottom wall of the channel at heat fluxes varied between roughly 50 and 130 kW/m2. A high-speed camera is used to image index of refraction (IOR) gradients in the fluid via background-oriented schlieren (BOS), and temperature and pressure instrumentation are used to characterize thermal-hydraulic performance of each channel. Cross correlation of time-resolved BOS images is then used to calculate time-averaged 2-D helium velocity fields. Flow in additively manufactured (AM) channels is examined in this manner, including both featureless channels and those containing baffling as a heat transfer enhancement. The flow distribution seen in the featureless case differs significantly from that seen in prior simulations, whereas the flow in the baffled case shows the predicted behavior of flow forced along the heated wall. This augmented flow distribution is seen to increase the heat transfer coefficient in the baffled test section. Here, strategies are discussed for ongoing and future validation of these simulations, with the aim of model deployment for blanket cooling design and optimization.

Additive manufacturing↗

Photo‐Induced Charge State Dynamics of the Neutral and Negatively Charged Silicon Vacancy Centers in Room‐Temperature Diamond

Abstract The silicon vacancy (SiV) center in diamond is drawing much attention due to its optical and spin properties, attractive for quantum information processing and sensing. Comparatively little is known, however, about the dynamics governing SiV charge state interconversion mainly due to challenges associated with generating, stabilizing, and characterizing all possible charge states, particularly at room temperature. Here, multi‐color confocal microscopy and density functional theory are used to examine photo‐induced SiV recombination — from neutral, to single‐, to double‐negatively charged — over a broad spectral window in chemical‐vapor‐deposition (CVD) diamond under ambient conditions. For the SiV 0 to SiV ‐ transition, a linear growth of the photo‐recombination rate with laser power at all observed wavelengths is found, a hallmark of single photon dynamics. Laser excitation of SiV ‒ , on the other hand, yields only fractional recombination into SiV 2‒ , a finding that is interpreted in terms of a photo‐activated electron tunneling process from proximal nitrogen atoms.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Experimental Evaluation of a High-Performance Cold-Climate Heat Pump Using Tandem Vapor-Injection Compressors

A high-performance cold-climate heat pump (CCHP) was developed and experimentally validated through comprehensive laboratory and field testing. The system utilized two equal-size tandem vapor-injection (VI) compressors with an inter-stage flash tank to improve efficiency and capacity retention under subfreezing conditions. Laboratory testing was conducted on a 3-ton prototype in a controlled environmental chamber equipped with calibrated thermocouples, refrigerant-side mass flow and pressure transducers, and precision airflow measurement for energy balance verification. The prototype achieved heating coefficients of performance (COPs) of 4.4 at 47 °F, 3.1 at 17 °F, and 2.0 at –13 °F, while maintaining 88% of its rated heating capacity at –13°F. These results confirm strong low-temperature performance and indicate the potential for significant reductions in electric resistance backup use. A field prototype was installed and monitored in a residential building in Fairbanks, Alaska, during a heating season. Instrumentation included real-time power, temperature, and refrigerant state measurements to evaluate performance under dynamic outdoor conditions. The heat pump operated reliably down to –30 °F, delivering 75% of its rated heating capacity with a COP of 1.8, while maintaining stable operation, effective defrost control, and indoor comfort without auxiliary heating. The combined laboratory and field results demonstrate that the tandem VI compressor configuration provides a practical and energy-efficient approach for residential heat pumps designed for cold and very cold climate regions.

Hu, Yifeng [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000242875185)↗

Benchmarking of three DWM-based wake models at below-rated wind speeds

Wind turbine wake models are essential tools for predicting power losses and structural loads in wind farms. Among these, the dynamic wake meandering (DWM) model, included as a recommended approach in the International Electrotechnical Commission design standard, is a widely used engineering-fidelity method that balances accuracy and computational cost. This study compares the performance of three DWM-based wake model implementations (from the Technical University of Denmark, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and the Institute for Energy Technology) under below-rated wind speed conditions. Model predictions of wake flow, power output, and structural loads for a four-turbine row are evaluated across different ambient turbulence levels and wind-direction misalignments and compared against high-fidelity large-eddy simulation results. All three models captured the overall wake evolution and mean turbine performance with reasonable accuracy; their predicted time-averaged thrust and power were typically within 5 %–10 % of the large-eddy simulation benchmark. However, notable differences emerged in wake structure and unsteady load predictions, with discrepancies increasing for turbines further downstream. These differences highlight the importance of modelling choices such as wake summation and turbulence treatment, which strongly influence power-deficit and fatigue-load predictions. Comparison with large-eddy simulations reveals each approach's strengths and weaknesses, indicating where improvements are needed. Overall, the findings point to specific refinements for DWM models to improve their fidelity, ultimately enabling more robust wake predictions for wind farm design and operation.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

Determining spin-dependent light dark matter rates from neutron scattering

The scattering and absorption rates of light dark matter with electron spin-dependent interactions depend on the target’s spin response. We show how this response is encoded by the target’s dynamical magnetic susceptibility, which can be measured using neutron scattering. We directly use existing neutron scattering data to compute the dark matter scattering rate in a candidate target material, finding close agreement with the previous first-principles calculation at MeV dark matter masses. Complementary experiments and measurements can extend the reach of this technique to other dark matter models and masses, and identify promising target materials for future experiments.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Air Carbon for Algae Production (AirCAP) – Expanding algae resource potential via direct (in-pond) air-CO2 capture.

Microalgae biofuel production potential in the United States is constrained by a lack of suitable cultivation locations within a close proximity to CO2 point-sources. Initial estimates suggest that removing the requirement of a concentrated CO2 source expands resource potential ten-fold, allowing the projection of production levels that approach levels of current U.S. diesel consumption. Decoupling cultivation locations from concentrated CO2 point-sources requires direct capture of air-CO2 into the pond bulk at a rate sufficient to meet maximum expected carbon assimilation rates (10 g C/m2-day and higher). Enhancement of the ingassing rate via chemical reaction, the direct reaction of dissolved CO2 with hydroxide ions, has been proposed as a mechanism to increase the ingassing rate of air-CO2. The central objectives of this project are to validate whether chemically enhanced air-CO2 ingassing rates in large raceway ponds can meet or exceed the level required to support high levels of algae productivity, then subsequently identify alkaliphilic strains able to withstand such conditions while maintaining a biomass productivity that enables process economics. Full scale ponds (~1 acre, unlined) will be used to validate ingassing rates as a function of pH expected at scale in a series of abiotic experiments. To date, mass-transfer dynamics have been characterized in ponds ranging from 1 to 1,000 m2. Initial results will be presented describing the mass transfer coefficient in 1-acre (~4,000 m2), unlined ponds. The maximum expected carbon ingassing rate will be measured during ingassing trials, in which pond pH is displaced from equilibrium via the addition of a strong base, with the subsequent decrease in pH (and increase in dissolved inorganic carbon) corresponding to the air-CO2 absorption rate. A mass-transfer model, validated with experimental results, will be used to project ingassing rates expected at pond scales (10 acres) required for production of commodity chemicals.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

The Onset of Nucleate Boiling Prediction in a Mini Channel with the Eulerian Multiphase Flow

The prediction of boiling incipience is a critical issue for a reactor. Vapor lock causes operating instability and undesirable temperature rise, especially for small channels. This study uses the Eulerian multiphase flow boiling model to predict the onset of nucleate boiling in a millimeter scale rectangular channel. Two wall boiling models, namely the RPI (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute) and the non-equilibrium sub cooled model are applied. Computational fluid dynamics is employed for this study to investigate the impact of operating conditions like liquid flow rate, operating pressure, heat flux, velocity profile, turbulence model, and inlet liquid temperature. Here, the effect of fundamental boiling parameters on the surface wall temperature and vapor volume fraction is also studied. The parameters under consideration are the bubble departure diameter, bubble departure frequency, nucleate site density, quenching time period, and interface heat transfer coefficients. A series of CFD calculations is conducted by varying the considered variables systematically in a wide range of flow conditions covering laminar, transition, and turbulent flows. The sub-component heat fluxes like the liquid convective, the vapor convective, the evaporative, and the quenching terms are monitored to infer the boiling dynamics in the transition region from the single-phase flow to the nucleate boiling zone. It is found that the CFD approach to detecting the boiling incipience point agrees reasonably with available experimental data. However, its limitations, like inaccuracy for lower flow rates and early transition to boiling flow, are also noticed due to the nature of the considered RPI model.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗