Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “supply modeling”

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

A Predictive Transient Model of the TREAT-SIRIUS Experiments

To support experiments modeling and transient analysis of the NASA-sponsored SIRIUS experiments in the Transient Reactor Test Facility (TREAT), an innovative predictive transient model has been developed to simulate various transient experiments. The developed model is based on a new approach that utilizes steady-state Monte Carlo calculations along with a surrogate model based on polynomial regression to determine the core reactivity. The reactivity is supplied to an exact point kinetics model that determines the reactor power, and it is coupled to an adiabatic feedback model to determine the fuel average temperature. In this work, the newly developed model is introduced along with validation test results considering SIRIUS-1 experiments at different power levels. The initial test results show a very good agreement with experimental data at different power levels, which indicates that the model can be used to predict the power of other transient tests.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Ionospheric calibration for single frequency altimeter measurements

This report investigates the potential of using Global Positioning System (GPS) data and a model of the ionosphere to supply a measure of the sub-satellite Total Electron Current (TEC) of the required accuracy (10 TECU rms) for the purpose of calibrating single frequency radar altimeter measurements. Since climatological (monthly mean) models are known to be in error by as much as 50 percent, this work focused on the Parameterized Real-Time Ionospheric Specification Model (PRISM) which has the capability to improve model accuracy by ingesting (adjusting to) in situ ionospheric measurements. A set of globally distributed TEC measurements were generated using GPS data and were used as input to improve the accuracy of the PRISM model. The adjusted PRISM TEC values were compared to TOPEX dual frequency TEC measurements (which are considered truth) for a number of TOPEX sub-satellite tracks. The adjusted PRISM values generally compared to the TOPEX measurements within the 10 TECU accuracy requirements when the sub-satellite track passed within 300 to 400 km of the GPS TEC data or when the track passed through a night time ionosphere. However, when the sub-satellite points were greater than 300 to 400 km away from the GPS TEC data or when a local noon ionosphere was sampled, the adjusted PRISM values generally differed by greater than 10 TECU rms with data excursions from the TOPEX TEC measurements of as much as 40 TECU (an 8 cm path delay error at K band). Therefore, it can be concluded from this analysis that an unrealistically large number of GPS stations would be needed to predict sub-satellite TEC at the 10 TECU level in the day time ionosphere using a model such as PRISM. However, a technique currently being studied at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) may provide a means of supplying adequate TEC data to meet the 10 TECU ionospheric correction accuracy when using a realistic number of ionospheric stations. This method involves using global GPS TEC data to estimate a global grid of vertical ionospheric TEC as a function of time (i.e. every one half hour) in a sun-fixed longitude frame. Working in a sun-fixed longitude frame, one is not limited by the spatial decorrelation distance of the ionosphere, but instead is limited more by the temporal correlations of the ionosphere in the sun-fixed frame which are a smaller effect. It is the opinion of the authors that using the global sun-fixed TEC grid data, in particular, ingesting it into PRISM, offers the best possibility of meeting the 10 TECU ionospheric correction accuracy requirement, and should be the subject of further study.

Schreiner, William S.↗

Some observations on the mechanism of aircraft wing rock

A pressure scale model of Northrop F-5A was tested in NASA Ames Research Center Eleven-Foot Transonic Tunnel to simulate the wing rock oscillations in a transonic maneuver. For this purpose, a flexible model support device was designed and fabricated which allowed the model to oscillate in roll at the scaled wing rock frequency. Two tunnel entries were performed to acquire the pressure (steady state and fluctuating) and response data when the model was held fixed and when it was excited by flow to oscillate in roll. Based on these data, a limit cycle mechanism was identified which supplied energy to the aircraft model and caused the Dutch roll type oscillations, commonly called wing rock. The major origin of the fluctuating pressures which contributed to the limit cycle was traced to the wing surface leading edge stall and the subsequent lift recovery. For typical wing rock oscillations, the energy balance between the pressure work input and the energy consumed by the model aerodynamic and mechanical damping was formulated and numerical data presented.

Hwang, C.↗

Some observations on the mechanism of aircraft wing rock

A scale model of the Northrop F-5A was tested in NASA Ames Research Center Eleven-Foot Transonic Tunnel to simulate the wing rock oscillations in a transonic maneuver. For this purpose, a flexible model support device was designed and fabricated, which allowed the model to oscillate in roll at the scaled wing rock frequency. Two tunnel entries were performed to acquire the pressure (steady state and fluctuating) and response data when the model was held fixed and when it was excited by flow to oscillate in roll. Based on these data, a limit cycle mechanism was identified, which supplied energy to the aircraft model and caused the Dutch roll type oscillations, commonly called wing rock. The major origin of the fluctuating pressures that contributed to the limit cycle was traced to the wing surface leading edge stall and the subsequent lift recovery. For typical wing rock oscillations, the energy balance between the pressure work input and the energy consumed by the model's aerodynamic and mechanical damping was formulated and numerical data presented.

Hwang, C.↗

A Fuzzy Expert System for Fault Management of Water Supply Recovery in the ALSS Project

Modeling with a new software is a challenge. CONFIG is a challenge and is design to work with many types of systems in which discrete and continuous processes occur. The CONFIG software was used to model the two subsystem of the Water Recovery system: ICB and TFB. The model worked manually only for water flows with further implementation to be done in the future. Activities in the models are stiff need to be implemented based on testing of the hardware for phase III. More improvements to CONFIG are in progress to make it a more user friendly software.

Tohala, Vapsi J.↗

Shuttle cryogenic supply system optimization study. Volume 5A-1: Users manual for math models

The Integrated Math Model for Cryogenic Systems is a flexible, broadly applicable systems parametric analysis tool. The program will effectively accommodate systems of considerable complexity involving large numbers of performance dependent variables such as are found in the individual and integrated cryogen systems. Basically, the program logic structure pursues an orderly progression path through any given system in much the same fashion as is employed for manual systems analysis. The system configuration schematic is converted to an alpha-numeric formatted configuration data table input starting with the cryogen consumer and identifying all components, such as lines, fittings, and valves, each in its proper order and ending with the cryogen supply source assembly. Then, for each of the constituent component assemblies, such as gas generators, turbo machinery, heat exchangers, and accumulators, the performance requirements are assembled in input data tabulations. Systems operating constraints and duty cycle definitions are further added as input data coded to the configuration operating sequence.

Source record↗

An initialization procedure for assimilating geostationary satellite data into numerical weather prediction models

An attempt was made to offset the limitations of GEO satellites for supplying timely initialization data for numerical weather prediction models (NWP). The NWP considered combined an isentropic representation of the free atmosphere with a sigma-coordinate model for the lower 200 mb. A flux form of the predictive equations described vertical transport interactions at the boundary of the two model domains, thereby accounting for the poor vertical temperature and wind field resolution of GEO satellite data. A variational analysis approach was employed to insert low resolution satellite-sensed temperature data at varying rates. The model vertical resolution was limited to that available from the satellite. Test simulations demonstrated that accuracy increases with the frequency of data updates, e.g., every 0.5-1 hr. The tests also showed that extensive cloud cover negates the capabilities of IR sensors and that microwave sensors will be needed for temperature estimations for 500-1000 mb levels.

Gal-Chen, T.↗

Life Cycle Analysis and Life Cycle Costing for Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Management and Materials Redeployment to Support ARPA-E’s Potential Program on Waste to Energy and Materials

Municipal solid waste infrastructure in the United States contains complex supply chains to transport, sort, and sequester waste. This project developed models to estimate the environmental and economic costs of waste infrastructure in the U.S. using data from several municipalities. Life cycle costing (LCC) models were developed for waste management relevant supply chain steps, including waste collection, sorting, landfilling, waste-to-energy, ash processing, and recycling. A waste-to-materials and energy (WTM&E) life cycle analysis (LCA) and LCC dashboard was developed in collaboration with Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) and an LCC tool was developed for additional analysis.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Light Regulation of Phytoplankton Growth in San Francisco Bay Studied Using a 3D Sediment Transport Model

In San Francisco Bay (SFB), light availability is largely determined by the concentration of suspended particulate matter (SPM) in the water column. SPM exhibits substantial variation with time, depth, and location. To study how SPM influences light and phytoplankton growth, we coupled a sediment transport model with a hydrodynamic model and a biogeochemical model. The coupled models were used to simulate conditions for the year of 2011 with a focus on northern SFB. For comparison, two simulations were conducted with ecosystem processes driven by SPM concentrations supplied by the sediment transport model and by applying a constant SPM concentration of 20 mg l –1 . The sediment transport model successfully reproduced the general pattern of SPM variation in northern SFB, which improved the chlorophyll-a simulation resulting from the biogeochemical model, with vertically integrated primary productivity varying greatly, from 40 g[C] m –2 year –1 over shoals to 160 g[C] m –2 year –1 in the deep channel. Primary productivity in northern SFB is influenced by euphotic zone depth ( Ze ). Our results show that Ze in shallow water regions (<2 m) is mainly determined by water depth, while Ze in deep water regions is controlled by SPM concentration. As a result, Ze has low (high) values in shallow (deep) water regions. Large (small) differences in primary productivity exist between the two simulations in deep (shallow) water regions. Furthermore, we defined a new parameter F light for “averaged light limitation” in the euphotic zone. The averaged chlorophyll-a concentration in the euphotic zone and F light share a similar distribution such that both have high (low) values in shallow (deep) water regions. Our study demonstrates that light is a critical factor in regulating the phytoplankton growth in northern SFB, and a sediment transport model improves simulation of light availability in the water column.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Atmospheric water mapping with the Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS), Mountain Pass, California

Observations are given of the spatial variation of atmospheric precipitable water using the Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) over a desert area in eastern California, derived using a band ratio method and the 940 nm atmospheric water band and 870 nm continuum radiances. The ratios yield total path water from curves of growth supplied by the LOWTRAN 7 atmospheric model. An independent validation of the AVIRIS-derived column abundance at a point is supplied by a spectral hygrometer calibrated with respect to radiosonde observations. Water values conform to topography and fall off with surface elevation. The edge of the water vapor boundary layer defined by topography is thought to have been recovered. The ratio method yields column abundance estimates of good precision and high spatial resolution.

Conel, James E.↗

Bioenergy Technologies in Long-Run Climate Change Mitigation: Results from the EMF-33 Study

Bioenergy is expected to play an important role in long-run climate change mitigation strategies as highlighted by many integrated assessment model (IAM) scenarios. These scenarios, however, also show a very wide range of results, with uncertainty about bioenergy conversion technology deployment and biomass feedstock supply. To date, the underlying differences in model assumptions and parameters for the range of results have not been conveyed. Here we explore the models and results of the 33rd study of the Stanford Energy Modeling Forum to elucidate and explore bioenergy technology specifications and constraints that underlie projected bioenergy outcomes. We first develop and report consistent bioenergy technology characterizations and modeling details. We evaluate the bioenergy technology specifications through a series of analyses—comparison with the literature, model intercomparison, and an assessment of bioenergy technology projected deployments. We find that bioenergy technology coverage and characterization varies substantially across models, spanning different conversion routes, carbon capture and storage opportunities, and technology deployment constraints. Still, the range of technology specification assumptions is largely in line with bottom-up engineering estimates. We then find that variation in bioenergy deployment across models cannot be understood from technology costs alone. Important additional determinants include biomass feedstock costs, the availability and costs of alternative mitigation options in and across end-uses, the availability of carbon dioxide removal possibilities, the speed with which large scale changes in the makeup of energy conversion facilities and integration can take place, and the relative demand for different energy services.

bioenergy↗

Coffee supply chain planning under climate change

The growing demand but uncertain supply makes the sustainability of the coffee industry a shared concern for all participants along the coffee supply chain. This study proposed a decision-making model that comprises the cultivation management, including shade management and annual agriculture management, and the supply chain logistics. A two-stage stochastic program is presented and used within a rolling horizon scheme that periodically updates input data information to deal with uncertainty associated with future climate scenarios. The program minimizes the total expected cost of the entire supply chain of arabica coffee. The study applied the model to the real case study of arabica coffee bean supply to the U.S. market, trying to answer whether arabica coffee supply can meet the U.S. demand from 2022 to 2050 and how to best mitigate any shortage through corporate-farmer partnerships. The results show that the coffee supply will have a 3% shortage in the future; medium-level shade management and more irrigation and fertilization are possible mitigation strategies. These results demonstrate the need for all participants to adopt suitable technologies for the sustainability of global coffee supply chains together.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

The Influence of Convection on Magnetotail Variability

This study investigates the evolution of the magnetotail's magnetic field with the aid of a self-consistent two-dimensional model. In this model the plasma mantle continuously supplies particles to the magnetotail, the ion current periodically updates the magnetic field using the Biot-Savart law. The simulated magnetotail evolves into a quasi-steady state, characterized by the periodic motion of the model's near-Earth X-line. This variability results from the nonadiabatic acceleration of ions in the current sheet and their rapid loss from the tail. The characteristic time scale of variability in the magnetotail is on the order of 4 - 5 minutes. We also investigate how the magnetotail's topology responds to increased convection electric fields, and show examples of observations of variability in the magnetotail.

Peroomian, Vahe↗

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

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

electric propulsion↗

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

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

electric propulsion↗

U.S. lithium resources from geothermal and extraction feasibility

As the demand for electric vehicles (EVs) increases, demand for lithium (Li) is expected to grow over the coming decade. To satisfy the demand for rechargeable batteries, it is imperative to devise solutions for sufficient Li production. Additionally, even though commercial Li currently comes from conventional saline salar brine and spodumene ore extractions, efforts to retrieve Li from geothermal brines are increasing in popularity. In this paper, we evaluate the United States’ potential to supply Li from geothermal brines using Systems Dynamics modeling. The main goals are to assess (1) the viability of US Li supply from geothermal brines and (2) the potential supply chain impact of extracting Li from this source. Results show that Li supply from geothermal brines could (1) reach around 4% to 8% of total US Li supply and (2) be economically viable.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗