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Results for “Processing reliability”

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 289 records · Page 16
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Assessment of North Slope of Alaska (NSA) Snow Monitoring Arrays

Arrays of instruments for monitoring winter precipitation (snowfall) and snow cover on the ground installed in 2017 at the U.S. Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) user facility’s North Slope of Alaska (NSA) C1 and at Oliktok Point sites became operational in 2018. In 2022, the instruments from Oliktok Point were moved to NSA E12, about 5.4 km south of NSA C1, where two arrays now operate. The instrument arrays monitor wind speed and direction, snow depth at multiple locations, the horizontal flux of blowing snow, and the number and fall speed of hydrometeors. The arrays are monitored using digital cameras. Collectively, the instruments produce a wealth of data on falling and accumulated snow, but, as with any instrument array, some data are more reliable and accurate than others. In this document, we present our findings on the efficacy, accuracy, and reliability of each type of instrument. Overall, a key finding is that no single instrument provides sufficient information to determine the source of falling snow particles nor the cause of changes in snow depth. However, if used in concert, the instruments produce a reliable understanding of the processes affecting the snow cover depth distribution and the true winter precipitation.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2026

ICL Commercial Production of Lithium Iron Phosphate Cathode Powder for the Global Lithium Battery Industry Final Technical Report

ICL was investing in producing cathode active material, Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP), used in the production of batteries for both electric vehicles and stationary storage. The demand for LFP was increasing with the global focus on sustainable energy, and there was no current manufacturer of this material in the United States. As such, imported LFP is subject to the uncertainties around supply chain and control of a foreign supplier. This investment would have allowed ICL to be a United States leader in LFP production. To gain a position in this market, ICL licensed the technology from a firm that has the process technology and has reliably supplied LFP into the battery market and currently has customers purchasing their product.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Design, Fabrication and On-Sun Performance Evaluation of SiC Receiver Feature Specimens for CST Applications Using Additively Manufactured SiC Materials

Increasing operating temperatures of solar receivers is paramount to the efficiency of concentrated solar thermal (CST) and solar power (CSP) systems. Successful development of CST systems to generate heat for industrial applications requires significant increase in temperature capability and techno-economically viability of the receiver systems. Supported by an award from the Solar Technology Office (SETO), US Department of Energy (DOE), GE Aerospace Research in collaboration with Heliogen Holdings Inc and Sandia National Lab, is engaged in the development of ultra-High Operating Temperature SiC-matrix Solar Thermal Air Receiver (HOTSSTAR) enabled by additive manufacturing. The program objective is to demonstrate SiC receiver with air exit temperatures up to 1100 oC and high thermal efficiencies. We report design, fabrication and on-sun test results of SiC components of a prototype 50kW (thermal) HOTSSTAR module. The receiver module architecture is based on a radial airflow design and consists of a series of radial SiC receiver sectors organized around a SiC center absorber. The SiC components are fabricated using binder-jet printed SiC followed by melt-infiltration reaction bonding process. To enhance the reliability and to minimize the risk of cracking damage of SiC test articles in thermal gradient and thermal shock environment of the application, the components were laminated with GE’s MI SiC-SiC CMC. Following extensive design and lab test analyses, selected SiC component designs are tested at Heliogen Lancaster Solar field under highly concentrated solar fluxes around 2000 suns to assess the thermal performance characteristics under realistic field conditions. We report on the test results and compare the thermal performances of different HOTSSTAR SiC absorbers. Finally, we discuss fabrication and initial assembly of a 50kW prototype test module in preparation of on-sun field tests to assess the performance of our final design.

CST, CSP, high temperature, air receiver, SiC, add↗
NASA NTRS1969

Information science

Information processing techniques and systems reliability by coding, digital designed methods, retrieval, and communication

Ash, R. B.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Proceedings of the Symposium on Welding, Bonding, and Fastening

Various technological processes to achieve lightweight reliable joining systems for structural elements of aircraft and spacecraft are considered. Joining methods, combinations of them, and nondestructive evaluation and quality assurance are emphasized.

Stein, B. A.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Preliminary design of a redundant strapped down inertial navigation unit using two-degree-of-freedom tuned-gimbal gyroscopes

This redundant strapdown INS preliminary design study demonstrates the practicality of a skewed sensor system configuration by means of: (1) devising a practical system mechanization utilizing proven strapdown instruments, (2) thoroughly analyzing the skewed sensor redundancy management concept to determine optimum geometry, data processing requirements, and realistic reliability estimates, and (3) implementing the redundant computers into a low-cost, maintainable configuration.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1978

Model for redundant-sensor signal errors

Report describes application of order statistics to analysis of failure modes in redundant systems. Report provides detailed mathematical discussion of approach, accompanied by graphs and equations. Techniques are relevant to process that demand high reliability, such as manufacture of dangerous chemicals. It also includes discussion of quad-redundant system.

Sowada, D. J.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Intercommunications in Real Time, Redundant, Distributed Computer System

An investigation into the applicability of fiber optic communication techniques to real time avionic control systems, in particular the total automatic flight control system used for the VSTOL aircraft is presented. The system consists of spatially distributed microprocessors. The overall control function is partitioned to yield a unidirectional data flow between the processing elements (PE). System reliability is enhanced by the use of triple redundancy. Some general overall system specifications are listed here to provide the necessary background for the requirements of the communications system.

Zanger, H.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Navstar Global Positioning System (GPS) clock program: Present and future

Global Positioning System (GPS) program status are discussed and plans for ensuring the long term continuation of the program are presented. Performance of GPS clocks is presented in terms of on orbit data as portrayed by GPS master control station kalman filter processing. The GPS Clock reliability program is reviewed in depth and future plans fo the overall clock program are published.

Tennant, D. M.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Liquid fluorine/hydrazine rhenium thruster update

The status of a fluorine/hydrazine thruster development program is discussed. A solid rhenium metal sea-level thrust chamber was successfully fabricated and tested for a total run duration of 1075 s with 17 starts. Rhenium fabrication methods are discussed. A test program was conducted to evaluate performance and chamber cooling. Acceptable performance was reached and cooling was adequate. A flight-type injector was fabricated that achieved an average extrapolated performance value of 3608 N-s/kg (368 lbf-s/lbm). Altitude thrust chambers were fabricated. One chamber incorporates a rhenium combustor and nozzle with an area ratio of 15:1, and a columbium nozzle extension with area ratios from 15:1 to 60:1. The other chamber was fabricated completely with a carbon/carbon composite. Because of the attributes of rhenium for use in high-temperature applications, a program to provide the materials and processes technology needed to reliably fabricate and/or repair vapor-deposited rhenium parts of relatively large size and complex shape is recommended.

Appel, M. A.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Encapsulation materials research

Encapsulation materials for solar cells were investigated. The different phases consisted of: (1) identification and development of low cost module encapsulation materials; (2) materials reliability examination; and (3) process sensitivity and process development. It is found that outdoor photothermal aging devices (OPT) are the best accelerated aging methods, simulate worst case field conditions, evaluate formulation and module performance and have a possibility for life assessment. Outdoor metallic copper exposure should be avoided, self priming formulations have good storage stability, stabilizers enhance performance, and soil resistance treatment is still effective.

Willis, P. B.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Ceramic matrix composites

An overview is presented covering NASA Lewis research efforts aimed at materials and processing development for structurally reliable fiber-reinforced ceramic matrix composites (FRC). With the primary goal of developing technology for strong, tough Si-based FRC with use-temperatures above 1400 C, guidelines for optimum material properties and current problems in achieving these properties are discussed. Brief descriptions of particular research projects directed toward solving these problems are presented. Particular emphasis is placed on those efforts addressing the critical need of developing high performance SiC fibers with stability above 1400 C and with proper coatings for optimum composite structural performance. Based on current results for fiber and matrix development, concluding remarks are made concerning future directions of FRC studies.

Dicarlo, James A.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Seed sprout production: Consumables and a foundation for higher plant growth in space

Seed sprouts can be produced as a source of fresh vegetable materials and as higher plant seedlings in space. Sprout production was undertaken to evaluate the mass accumulations possible, the technologies needed, and the reliability of the overall process. Baseline experiments corroborated the utility of sprout production protocols for a variety of seed types. The automated delivery of saturated humidity effectively supplants labor intensive manual soaking techniques. Automated humidification also lend itself to modest centrifugal sprout growth environments. A small amount of ultraviolet radiation effectively suppressed bacterial and fungal contamination, and the sprouts were suitable for consumption.

Day, Michelle↗
NASA NTRS1990

The evolution of the Space Shuttle

As the mission manifest develops in response to the needs of the users, new capabilities are being developed for the Shuttle. Other changes are being introduced in order to provide Assured Shuttle Availability (ASA), that is, safe efficient flight operations into the 21st century. These changes will provide simpler turnaround processing procedures, enhanced subsystem reliability, a reduction in critical failure modes, and enhanced operational flexibility.

Cohen, Aaron↗
NASA NTRS1991

A cost-effective intelligent robotic system with dual-arm dexterous coordination and real-time vision

Dexterous coordination of manipulators based on the use of redundant degrees of freedom, multiple sensors, and built-in robot intelligence represents a critical breakthrough in development of advanced manufacturing technology. A cost-effective approach for achieving this new generation of robotics has been made possible by the unprecedented growth of the latest microcomputer and network systems. The resulting flexible automation offers the opportunity to improve the product quality, increase the reliability of the manufacturing process, and augment the production procedures for optimizing the utilization of the robotic system. Moreover, the Advanced Robotic System (ARS) is modular in design and can be upgraded by closely following technological advancements as they occur in various fields. This approach to manufacturing automation enhances the financial justification and ensures the long-term profitability and most efficient implementation of robotic technology. The new system also addresses a broad spectrum of manufacturing demand and has the potential to address both complex jobs as well as highly labor-intensive tasks. The ARS prototype employs the decomposed optimization technique in spatial planning. This technique is implemented to the framework of the sensor-actuator network to establish the general-purpose geometric reasoning system. The development computer system is a multiple microcomputer network system, which provides the architecture for executing the modular network computing algorithms. The knowledge-based approach used in both the robot vision subsystem and the manipulation control subsystems results in the real-time image processing vision-based capability. The vision-based task environment analysis capability and the responsive motion capability are under the command of the local intelligence centers. An array of ultrasonic, proximity, and optoelectronic sensors is used for path planning. The ARS currently has 18 degrees of freedom made up by two articulated arms, one movable robot head, and two charged coupled device (CCD) cameras for producing the stereoscopic views, and articulated cylindrical-type lower body, and an optional mobile base. A functional prototype is demonstrated.

Marzwell, Neville I.↗