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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 343 records · Page 19
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2018

Study on Kinetic Mechanism of Bastnaesite Concentrates Decomposition Using Calcium Hydroxide

The thermal decomposition of bastnaesite concentrates using calcium hydroxide was studied. Calcium hydroxide can effectively inhibit the emission of fluorine during roasting by transforming it to calcium fluoride. The decomposition rate increased with increasing reaction temperature and amount of calcium hydroxide. The decomposition kinetics were investigated. The decomposition reaction was determined to be a heterogeneous gas–solid reaction, and it followed an unreacted shrinking core model. By means of the integrated rate equation method, the reaction was proven to be kinetically first order. Different reaction models were fit to the experimental data to determine the reaction control process. The chemical reaction at the phase interface controlled the reaction rate in the temperatures ranging from 673 K to 773 K (400 °C to 500 °C) with an apparent activation energy of 82.044 kJ·mol{sup −1}. From 773 K to 973 K (500 °C to 700 °C), diffusion through the solid product’s layer became the determining step, with a lower activation energy of 15.841 kJ·mol{sup −1}.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2019

Titanium Extraction from Spent Selective Catalytic Reduction Catalysts in a NaOH Molten-Salt System: Thermodynamic, Experimental, and Kinetic Studies

In this study, sodium hydroxide was used as an alkali reagent in roasting spent selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalysts for titanium extraction. The thermodynamic analysis of the roasting process is discussed in terms of process design. The effects of various roasting parameters, such as the mass ratio of NaOH-to-SCR, temperature, and time, on the extraction efficiency of titanium were investigated; under the optimum parameters of 1.8:1, 550 °C, and 10 minutes, the titanium extraction yield reached 97.8 pct. The roasting kinetics of titanium extraction were also studied. The kinetics of titanium extraction follow the Avrami model, which is expressed as follows: −ln(1−x)=K{sub 0}C{sub m{sub N{sub a{sub O{sub H/m{sub S{sub C{sub R}{sup −2.012}}}}}}}}exp(−(4120/(8.314T)))t, and the overall roasting process is controlled by diffusion in the solid state, with an activation energy (E{sub a}) of 4.12 kJ/mol.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2017

Changes in photoperiod alter Glut4 expression in skeletal muscle of C57BL/6J mice

Seasonal changes in photoperiod influence body weight and metabolism in mice. Here, we examined the effect of changes in photoperiod on the expression of glucose transporter genes in the skeletal muscle and adipose tissue of C57BL/6J mice. Glut4 expression was lower in the gastrocnemius muscle of mice exposed to a short-duration day (SD) than those to a long-duration day (LD), with accompanying changes in GLUT4 protein levels. Although Glut4 expression in the mouse soleus muscle was higher under SD than under LD, GLUT4 protein levels remained unchanged. To confirm the functional significance of photoperiod-induced changes in Glut4 expression, we checked for variations in insulin sensitivity. Blood glucose levels after insulin injection remained high under SD, suggesting that the mice exposed to SD showed lower sensitivity to insulin than those exposed to LD. We also attempted to clarify the relationship between Glut4 expression and physical activity in the mice following changes in photoperiod. Locomotor activity, as detected via infrared beam sensor, was lower under SD than under LD. However, when we facilitated voluntary activity by using running wheels, the rotation of wheels was similar for both groups of mice. Although physical activity levels were enhanced due to running wheels, Glut4 expression in the gastrocnemius muscle remained unchanged. Thus, variations in photoperiod altered Glut4 expression in the mouse skeletal muscle, with subsequent changes in GLUT4 protein levels and insulin sensitivity; these effects might be independent of physical activity. - Highlights: • Glut4 expression in the gastrocnemius muscle was lowered under short photoperiod. • Insulin sensitivity was lowered under short photoperiod. • Access to running wheels did not alter Glut4 expression in the gastrocnemius muscle. • Photoperiodic changes in Glut4 expression may be independent of physical activity.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1992

Activation of microcarrier-attached lymphocytes in microgravity

A technology has been developed to achieve optimal attachment of adhesion-independent lymphocytes to microcarrier beads. The activation of T-lymphocytes by concanavalin A was tested under microgravity conditions in an experiment carried out in space during the first Spacelab Life Science Mission. Activation, measured as the synthesis of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and the production of interferon-gamma, more than doubled in attached lymphocytes in microgravity. The depression of the activation discovered in previous space experiments is due to an impairment not of the lymphocyte but of the macrophage function. The system described here may be useful for radiobiological investigations on the effect of high-energy particles and for testing the efficiency of the immune system in humans during the long-duration space flight planned in the future. The biotechnological significance of the increased lymphokine production in space remains to be assessed.

Non-NASA Center↗
DOE OSTI2014

Microstructural characterization of weld joints of 9Cr reduced activation ferritic martensitic steel fabricated by different joining methods

This paper presents a detailed electron microscopy study on the microstructure of various regions of weldment fabricated by three welding methods namely tungsten inert gas welding, electron beam welding and laser beam welding in an indigenously developed 9Cr reduced activation ferritic/martensitic steel. Electron back scatter diffraction studies showed a random micro-texture in all the three welds. Microstructural changes during thermal exposures were studied and corroborated with hardness and optimized conditions for the post weld heat treatment have been identified for this steel. Hollomon–Jaffe parameter has been used to estimate the extent of tempering. The activation energy for the tempering process has been evaluated and found to be corresponding to interstitial diffusion of carbon in ferrite matrix. The type and microchemistry of secondary phases in different regions of the weldment have been identified by analytical transmission electron microscopy. - Highlights: • Comparison of microstructural parameters in TIG, electron beam and laser welds of RAFM steel • EBSD studies to illustrate the absence of preferred orientation and identification of prior austenite grain size using phase identification map • Optimization of PWHT conditions for indigenous RAFM steel • Study of kinetics of tempering and estimation of apparent activation energy of the process.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Activity gradient mass transport accelerated corrosion of stainless steel in molten salt

Advanced energy systems based on molten salt technologies have gained increasing interest, and their design and construction are likely going to involve the use of materials of dissimilar chemistries. With dissimilar materials being used, galvanic coupling induced corrosion acceleration is one of the mechanisms believed to be an issue for the deployment of molten salt systems. However, non-galvanic interaction mechanisms such as activity gradient mass transport have also been theorized to represent a potential challenge. Unfortunately, the two effects have often been compounded in the literature, such that it is still unclear which degradation mechanisms are at play in these systems. In the following study, electrochemical measurements are used to predict the effect that galvanic coupling would have on dissimilar materials submerged in the same molten salt medium. Dissimilar material salt exposure tests are then performed to investigate whether galvanic coupling or activity gradient driven processes account for the levels of materials degradation observed. Finally, these separate effect electrochemical and corrosion experiments uniquely elucidate the degradation mechanisms in dissimilar materials systems.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Friction-mediated phase transition in confined active nematics

Using a minimal continuum model, we investigate the interplay between circular confinement and substrate friction in active nematics. Upon increasing the friction from low to high, we observe a dynamical phase transition from a circulating flow phase to an anisotropic flow phase in which the flow tends to align perpendicular to the nematic director at the boundary. We demonstrate that both the flow structure and dynamic correlations in the latter phase differ from those of an unconfined, active turbulent system and may be controlled by the prescribed nematic boundary conditions. Here, our results show that substrate friction and geometric confinement act as valuable control parameters in active nematics.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2014

Highly polarized photoluminescence and its dynamics in semipolar (202{sup ¯}1{sup ¯}) InGaN/GaN quantum well

Very high polarization degree of 0.98, considerably larger than theoretical predictions, has been measured in (202{sup ¯}1{sup ¯}) In{sub 0.24}Ga{sub 0.76}N/GaN quantum well by low temperature photoluminescence. With increasing temperature, the polarization degree decreases due to thermal population of the excited valence band level. This effect suggests an accurate method to determine the interlevel energy, which, for the studied well, is 32 meV. Time-resolved photoluminescence measurements set radiative recombination times between 2 and 12 ns for temperatures from 3 to 300 K. Nonradiative recombination was found to be slow, over 2 ns at 300 K, taking place via traps with activation energy of 0.19 eV.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2014

Sodium diffusion in 4H-SiC

Sodium diffusion has been studied in p-type 4H-SiC. Heat treatments have been performed from 1200 °C to 1800 °C for 1 min to 4 h. Secondary ion mass spectrometry has been used to measure the sodium distribution. We show that sodium has a considerable mobility at 1200 °C in p-type 4H-SiC. On the other hand for sodium atoms trapped at suitable sites the mobility is limited up to 1800 °C. Trap limited diffusion kinetics is suggested and an effective diffusivity has been extracted with an activation energy of 4 eV for sodium diffusion in p-type 4H-SiC.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Rectified Rotational Dynamics of Mobile Inclusions in Two-Dimensional Active Nematics

We investigate the dynamics of mobile inclusions embedded in 2D active nematics. The interplay between the inclusion shape, boundary-induced nematic order, and autonomous flows powers the inclusion motion. Disks and achiral gears exhibit unbiased rotational motion, but with distinct dynamics. In comparison, chiral gear-shaped inclusions exhibit long-term rectified rotation, which is correlated with dynamics and polarization of nearby +1/2 topological defects. Furthermore, the chirality of defect polarities and the active nematic texture around the inclusion correlate with the inclusion’s instantaneous rotation rate. Inclusions provide a promising tool for probing the rheological properties of active nematics and extracting ordered motion from their inherently chaotic motion.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2019

Feedbacks Between Surface Deformation and Permafrost Degradation in Ice Wedge Polygons: Modeling Archive

This Modeling Archive is in support of an NGEE Arctic publication "Feedbacks between surface deformation and permafrost degradation in ice wedge polygons," submitted for review to the Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface. The goals of the study were: 1) to determine how variability in microtopographic conditions (i.e., rim height, trough width, and trough depth) and hydrologic conditions in the trough (i.e., inundated or well-drained) of an ice wedge polygon impact active layer thickness above an ice wedge; and 2) to determine how microtopographic and hydrologic controls on active layer thickness may influence thermokarst trajectories in ice wedge polygon terrain. Toward these objectives, an ensemble of fine-scale simulations of the hydrologic and thermal regimes in ice wedge polygons of variable microtopography was conducted, each polygon being subjected to identical meteorological forcing data, characteristic of the last twenty years near Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. Simulations incorporated solutions of conservation of water and mass at the surface, in the subsurface, and in the snowpack. Active layer thickness in the trough (i.e., above the ice wedge) was extracted from each simulation at the end of a 19 year spin-up, and at the end of a markedly warm summer which followed the spin-up. This archive includes mesh files, meteorological forcing data, and input files needed to reproduce the analysis described in the paper. Due to the large file sizes, raw model output has been omitted. However, post-processing scripts and time series of several variables extracted from the raw output have been included. All data are included in one zipped file with a user guide as a pdf. All simulations were conducted using Amanzi-ATS, v 0.86 (https://doi.org/10.11578/dc.20190911.1).The Next-Generation Ecosystem Experiments: Arctic (NGEE Arctic), was a research effort to reduce uncertainty in Earth System Models by developing a predictive understanding of carbon-rich Arctic ecosystems and feedbacks to climate. NGEE Arctic was supported by the Department of Energy's Office of Biological and Environmental Research.The NGEE Arctic project had two field research sites: 1) located within the Arctic polygonal tundra coastal region on the Barrow Environmental Observatory (BEO) and the North Slope near Utqiagvik (Barrow), Alaska and 2) multiple areas on the discontinuous permafrost region of the Seward Peninsula north of Nome, Alaska.Through observations, experiments, and synthesis with existing datasets, NGEE Arctic provided an enhanced knowledge base for multi-scale modeling and contributed to improved process representation at global pan-Arctic scales within the Department of Energy's Earth system Model (the Energy Exascale Earth System Model, or E3SM), and specifically within the E3SM Land Model component (ELM).

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Hot Ductility and Compression Deformation Behavior of TRIP980 at Elevated Temperatures

The hot ductility tests of a kind of 980 MPa class Fe-0.31C (wt pct) TRIP steel (TRIP980) with the addition of Ti/V/Nb were conducted on a Gleeble-3500 thermomechanical simulator in the temperatures ranging from 873 K to 1573 K (600 °C to 1300 °C) at a constant strain rate of 0.001 s{sup −1}. It is found that the hot ductility trough ranges from 873 K to 1123 K (600 °C to 850 °C). The recommended straightening temperatures are from 1173 K to 1523 K (900 °C to 1250 °C). The isothermal hot compression deformation behavior was also studied by means of Gleeble-3500 in the temperatures ranging from 1173 K to 1373 K (900 °C to 1100 °C) at strain rates ranging from 0.01 s{sup −1} to 10 s{sup −1}. The results show that the peak stress decreases with the increasing temperature and the decreasing strain rate. The deformation activation energy of the test steel is 436.7 kJ/mol. The hot deformation equation of the steel has been established, and the processing maps have been developed on the basis of experimental data and the principle of dynamic materials model (DMM). By analyzing the processing maps of strains of 0.5, 0.7, and 0.9, it is found that dynamic recrystallization occurs in the peak power dissipation efficiency domain, which is the optimal area of hot working. Finally, the factors influencing hot ductility and thermal activation energy of the test steel were investigated by means of microscopic analysis. It indicates that the additional microalloying elements play important roles both in the loss of hot ductility and in the enormous increase of deformation activation energy for the TRIP980 steel.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS2005

Rover Sequencing and Visualization Program

The Rover Sequencing and Visualization Program (RSVP) is the software tool for use in the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) mission for planning rover operations and generating command sequences for accomplishing those operations. RSVP combines three-dimensional (3D) visualization for immersive exploration of the operations area, stereoscopic image display for high-resolution examination of the downlinked imagery, and a sophisticated command-sequence editing tool for analysis and completion of the sequences. RSVP is linked with actual flight-code modules for operations rehearsal to provide feedback on the expected behavior of the rover prior to committing to a particular sequence. Playback tools allow for review of both rehearsed rover behavior and downlinked results of actual rover operations. These can be displayed simultaneously for comparison of rehearsed and actual activities for verification. The primary inputs to RSVP are downlink data products from the Operations Storage Server (OSS) and activity plans generated by the science team. The activity plans are high-level goals for the next day s activities. The downlink data products include imagery, terrain models, and telemetered engineering data on rover activities and state. The Rover Sequence Editor (RoSE) component of RSVP performs activity expansion to command sequences, command creation and editing with setting of command parameters, and viewing and management of rover resources. The HyperDrive component of RSVP performs 2D and 3D visualization of the rover s environment, graphical and animated review of rover-predicted and telemetered state, and creation and editing of command sequences related to mobility and Instrument Deployment Device (IDD) operations. Additionally, RoSE and HyperDrive together evaluate command sequences for potential violations of flight and safety rules. The products of RSVP include command sequences for uplink that are stored in the Distributed Object Manager (DOM) and predicted rover state histories stored in the OSS for comparison and validation of downlinked telemetry. The majority of components comprising RSVP utilize the MER command and activity dictionaries to automatically customize the system for MER activities. Thus, RSVP, being highly data driven, may be tailored to other missions with minimal effort. In addition, RSVP uses a distributed, message-passing architecture to allow multitasking, and collaborative visualization and sequence development by scattered team members.

Cooper, Brian↗
NASA NTRS2005

Update on Rover Sequencing and Visualization Program

The Rover Sequencing and Visualization Program (RSVP) has been updated. RSVP was reported in Rover Sequencing and Visualization Program (NPO-30845), NASA Tech Briefs, Vol. 29, No. 4 (April 2005), page 38. To recapitulate: The Rover Sequencing and Visualization Program (RSVP) is the software tool to be used in the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) mission for planning rover operations and generating command sequences for accomplishing those operations. RSVP combines three-dimensional (3D) visualization for immersive exploration of the operations area, stereoscopic image display for high-resolution examination of the downlinked imagery, and a sophisticated command-sequence editing tool for analysis and completion of the sequences. RSVP is linked with actual flight code modules for operations rehearsal to provide feedback on the expected behavior of the rover prior to committing to a particular sequence. Playback tools allow for review of both rehearsed rover behavior and downlinked results of actual rover operations. These can be displayed simultaneously for comparison of rehearsed and actual activities for verification. The primary inputs to RSVP are downlink data products from the Operations Storage Server (OSS) and activity plans generated by the science team. The activity plans are high-level goals for the next day s activities. The downlink data products include imagery, terrain models, and telemetered engineering data on rover activities and state. The Rover Sequence Editor (RoSE) component of RSVP performs activity expansion to command sequences, command creation and editing with setting of command parameters, and viewing and management of rover resources. The HyperDrive component of RSVP performs 2D and 3D visualization of the rover s environment, graphical and animated review of rover predicted and telemetered state, and creation and editing of command sequences related to mobility and Instrument Deployment Device (robotic arm) operations. Additionally, RoSE and HyperDrive together evaluate command sequences for potential violations of flight and safety rules. The products of RSVP include command sequences for uplink that are stored in the Distributed Object Manager (DOM) and predicted rover state histories stored in the OSS for comparison and validation of downlinked telemetry. The majority of components comprising RSVP utilize the MER command and activity dictionaries to automatically customize the system for MER activities.

Cooper, Brian↗