Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “State of Practice”

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 415 records · Page 23
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2018

The Small Spacecraft Systems Virtual Institute (S3VI) and NASA's Small Spacecraft Enterprise

The mission of the Small Spacecraft Systems Virtual Institute (S3VI) is to advance the field of small spacecraft systems and allied sciences by promoting innovation, exploring new concepts, identifying emerging technology opportunities, and establishing effective conduits for the collaboration and the dissemination of research results relevant to small spacecraft systems. The S3VI is the common portal for NASA related small spacecraft activities. The portal hosts the Small Spacecraft Body of Knowledge as an online resource for the Small Spacecraft Technology State of the Art report, and reliability processes and practices, among other small spacecraft-focused content. The S3VI's first year activities focused on development of the web portal and investment in collaborative tools to host and support working groups formed to concentrate on a variety of small spacecraft topics such as reliability and access to space. The S3VI serves as the front door for other governmental and non-governmental organizations that wish to collaborate or interact with NASA small spacecraft organizations. NASA presently has a growing number of small spacecraft related programs, projects, and efforts underway to advance the state of the art of small spacecraft instruments, technologies, and missions in order for NASA to achieve its science and exploration goals.

Small spacecraft↗
NASA NTRS1995

Pseudo-time methods for constrained optimization problems governed by PDE

In this paper we present a novel method for solving optimization problems governed by partial differential equations. Existing methods are gradient information in marching toward the minimum, where the constrained PDE is solved once (sometimes only approximately) per each optimization step. Such methods can be viewed as a marching techniques on the intersection of the state and costate hypersurfaces while improving the residuals of the design equations per each iteration. In contrast, the method presented here march on the design hypersurface and at each iteration improve the residuals of the state and costate equations. The new method is usually much less expensive per iteration step since, in most problems of practical interest, the design equation involves much less unknowns that that of either the state or costate equations. Convergence is shown using energy estimates for the evolution equations governing the iterative process. Numerical tests show that the new method allows the solution of the optimization problem in a cost of solving the analysis problems just a few times, independent of the number of design parameters. The method can be applied using single grid iterations as well as with multigrid solvers.

Taasan, Shlomo↗
DOE OSTI2025

Remote Sensing and Fluxes Upscaling for Real-world Impact (Workshop Report)

The "Remote Sensing and Fluxes Upscaling for Real-world Impact" workshop, held on July 9-10, 2024, at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, was a collaborative effort led by the AmeriFlux Management Project, NEON, and the Carbon Dew Community of Practice. The event brought together over 200 registrants and approximately 100 attendees each day, including leading experts, researchers, and practitioners. The primary focus was on bridging the gap between cutting-edge research and practical applications in environmental monitoring by integrating remote sensing and flux data. Key themes included the importance of site-level measurements for validating remote sensing products, providing nature-based climate solutions, and addressing challenges such as instrument costs and the need for standardized methods. At the regional scale, discussions centered on addressing spatial heterogeneity and using high-resolution remote sensing and machine learning methods to enhance data interpretation. Global scale challenges included data consistency, gap filling, and accurate emission source identification, with opportunities for international collaboration and standardized practices to improve global carbon budget assessments. The workshop emphasized the critical need for integrating data across local, regional, and global scales through explicit scale-matching and developed a workflow for scaling flux data using "straight shot" and "explicit nesting" approaches. The event highlighted the importance of connecting scientific research with real-world applications in carbon, energy, and water management, ensuring that advancements translate into tangible societal benefits. These insights will guide future research, technology transfer, and collaboration, maximizing the potential of environmental fluxes to address real-world challenges.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2025

Nanofilm Composite Membranes of Bottlebrush Poly(1,3‐Dioxolane) Plasticized by Poly(Ethylene Glycol) for CO 2 /N 2 Separation

Abstract Poly(1,3‐dioxolane) has emerged as a leading membrane material for post‐combustion CO 2 capture due to its high ether oxygen content and strong affinity toward CO 2 . However, they are often cross‐linked to inhibit crystallization, which makes them impossible to fabricate into industrial thin‐film composite membranes. Herein, soluble and high molecular weight bottlebrush polymers ( b PDXLA) are synthesized using reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer polymerization and demonstrate the feasibility of fabricating nanofilm (≈100 nm) composite membranes (NCMs). Furthermore, b PDXLA can be plasticized using a miscible additive of poly(ethylene glycol) dimethyl ether (PEGDME) to improve CO 2 permeability while retaining good CO 2 /N 2 selectivity. For example, adding 20 mass% PEGDME improves CO 2 permeance from 930 to 1300 GPU and decreases CO 2 /N 2 selectivity from 74 to 53 at 25 °C; the membrane exhibits stable separation performance competitive with state‐of‐the‐art commercial membranes. This work unveils a practical approach to designing uncross‐linked, highly polar polymers for practical membrane gas separation and highlights a facile way to enhance performance by incorporating miscible plasticizers using industrial manufacturing processes.

Zhang, Gengyi [Department of Chemical and Biologic↗
NASA NTRS2003

Baseline Testing of the Club Car Carryall With Asymmetric Ultracapacitors

The NASA John H. Glenn Research Center initiated baseline testing of the Club Car Carryall with asymmetric ultracapacitors as a way to reduce pollution in industrial settings, reduce fossil fuel consumption, and reduce operating costs for transportation systems. The Club Car Carryall provides an inexpensive approach to advance the state of the art in electric vehicle technology in a practical application. The project transfers space technology to terrestrial use via non-traditional partners, and provides power system data valuable for future space applications. The work was done under the Hybrid Power Management (HPM) Program, which includes the Hybrid Electric Transit Bus (HETB). The Carryall is a state of the art, ground up, electric utility vehicle. A unique aspect of the project was the use of a state of the art, long life ultracapacitor energy storage system. Innovative features, such as regenerative braking through ultracapacitor energy storage, are planned. Regenerative braking recovers much of the kinetic energy of the vehicle during deceleration. The Carryall was tested with the standard lead acid battery energy storage system, as well as with an asymmetric ultracapacitor energy storage system. The report concludes that the Carryall provides excellent performance, and that the implementation of asymmetric ultracapacitors in the power system can provide significant performance improvements.

Eichenberg, Dennis J.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Engineering surface charges of nanofiltration membranes to maximize Li + /Mg 2+ separation properties

Polyamide-based nanofiltration (NF) membranes are attractive for Li + /Mg 2+ separation for lithium recovery from salt brine (containing mainly Mg 2+ ). However, Li + and Mg 2+ have similar hydration radii, resulting in a low separation factor (SF Li/Mg ). Herein, we demonstrate that SF Li/Mg can be significantly enhanced by optimizing the membrane surface positive charges. This results in an unexpected maximum SF Li/Mg at a solution pH slightly below its isoelectric point (IEP). Specifically, NF270 membrane was surface-grafted with 2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyltrimethylammonium chloride (META) or polyethylenimine (PEI) using bio-adhesive dopamine, forming a thin, stable, charged layer (20–40 nm) on the surface. The effects of solution pH and surface modification on the surface zeta potential (ZP) and single- and mixed-salt Li + /Mg 2+ separation properties are thoroughly investigated. For example, the META grafting increases the ZP from 9.2 to 16 mV and SF Li/Mg by 130 % from 35 to 80 at pH 4, superior to the state-of-the-art commercial NF membranes. Furthermore, this surface modification occurs at ≈22 °C in aqueous solutions and can be utilized to enhance commercial modules for practical applications.

Li+/Mg2+ separation↗
DOE OSTI2024

Tailoring Binder Molecular Weight to Enhance Slurry-Cast NMC Cathodes for Sulfide Solid-State Batteries

We demonstrate for the first time the critical influence of binder molecular weight on the performance of slurry-cast lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) cathodes in sulfide-based all-solid-state batteries (SSBs). SSBs are increasingly recognized as a safer and potentially more efficient alternative to traditional Li-ion batteries, owing to the superior ionic conductivities and inherent safety features of sulfide solid electrolytes. However, the integration of high-voltage NMC cathodes with sheet-type sulfide solid electrolytes presents significant fabrication challenges. Our findings reveal that higher molecular weight binders not only enhance the discharge capacity and cycle life of these cathodes but also ensure robust adhesion and structural integrity. By optimizing binder molecular weights, we effectively shield the active materials from degradation and mechanical stress, significantly boosting the functionality and longevity of SSBs. These results underscore the paramount importance of binder properties in advancing the practical application of high-performance all-solid-state batteries.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
NASA NTRS1997

An Investigation of the Migration of Africanized Honey Bees into the Southern United States

It is estimated that Apis mellifera scutellata, a honey bee subspecies from Africa, now extends over a 20 million square kilometer range that includes much of South America and practically all of Central America, and recently has been introduced to the southern United States. African honeybees were introduced into Brazil in 1956 by a Brazilian geneticist, Mr. Warwick Kerr. At the insistence of the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, in 1957, 26 colonies were accidentally released in a eucalyptus forest outside S5o Paulo. The swelling front of the bees was recorded as traveling between 80 and 500 kilometers a year. David Roubik, one of the original killer bee team members estimated that there were one trillion individual Africanized/African honey bees in Latin America. An estimate that is thought to be conservative.

Navarro, Hector↗
DOE OSTI2024

Best Practices in Integrated Resource Planning: A guide for planners developing the electricity resource mix of the future

Most states today require regulated electric utilities to file an IRP every 1 to 5 years, and some utilities voluntarily prepare these plans. Planning needs have changed in recent years due to emerging load growth, plant retirements, rising costs, and more extreme weather events – among other factors. In response, Synapse Energy Economics and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory produced a joint report, Best Practices in Integrated Resource Planning: A guide for planners developing the electricity resource mix of the future. The guide offers best planning practices for electricity systems undergoing a major transition, but also contains a wealth of practical guidance to develop technically sophisticated, clearer, more effective, and state-of-the-art electric utility resource plans. The guide is for resource planning professionals and stakeholders involved in resource planning processes. This diverse group includes utility personnel tasked with conducting resource planning and making investment decisions, state regulatory commissions that develop planning guidance and oversee the resource planning process, and stakeholders that represent a wide range of interests—utility consumer advocates, environmental groups, industrial customers, local governments, independent power producers, and many other

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2025

HANDBOOK BEST PRACTICES FOR ORGANIZING PUBLIC E WASTE COLLECTION EVENTS Indoor and Outdoor Settings

This handbook was created to share best practices of organizing public e-waste collection events in the United States. The steps and checklists outlined in this handbook have been drawn from Sunnking’s decade’s long experience of organizing large scale outdoor collection events in New York. These practices have been verified by INL and ECyclers of Idaho to work well for both indoor and outdoor events in Idaho at a smaller scale. Understanding that the local conditions vary significantly, we have compiled key deciding factors to share in this handbook. We hope that by following these steps, you will succeed in organizing your own events. Although e-waste events typically require careful logistics planning due to the nature of the materials, the experience is very rewarding to bring the community together.

Collection Event↗
DOE OSTI2025

Generalized approach for rapid entropy calculation of liquids and solids

We build a comprehensive methodology for the fast computation of entropy across both solid and liquid phases. The proposed method utilizes a single trajectory of molecular dynamics (MD) to facilitate the calculation of entropy, which is composed of three components. The electronic entropy is determined through the temporal average acquired from density functional theory MD simulations. The vibrational entropy, typically the predominant contributor to the total entropy, even within the liquid state, is evaluated by computing the phonon density of states via the velocity autocorrelation function. The most arduous component to quantify, the configurational entropy, is assessed by probability analysis of the local structural arrangement and atomic distribution. We illustrate, through a variety of examples, that this method is both a versatile and valid technique for characterizing the thermodynamic states of both solids and liquids. Furthermore, this method is employed to expedite the calculation of melting temperatures, demonstrating its practical utility in computational thermodynamics.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS2018

XY vs X Mixer in Quantum Alternating Operator Ansatz for Optimization Problems with Constraints

Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm, further generalized as Quantum Alternating Operator Ansatz (QAOA), is a family of algorithms for combinatorial optimization problems. It is a leading candidate to run on emerging universal quantum computers to gain insight into quantum heuristics. In constrained optimization, penalties are often introduced so that the ground state of the cost Hamiltonian encodes the solution (a standard practice in quantum annealing). An alternative is to choose a mixing Hamiltonian such that the constraint corresponds to a constant of motion and the quantum evolution stays in the feasible subspace. Better performance of the algorithm is speculated due to a much smaller search space. We consider problems with a constant Hamming weight as the constraint. We also compare different methods of generating the generalized W-state, which serves as a natural initial state for the Hamming-weight constraint. Using graph-coloring as an example, we compare the performance of using XY model as a mixer that preserves the Hamming weight with the performance of adding a penalty term in the cost Hamiltonian.

quantum computing↗
DOE OSTI2025

CLEAP Project: OR-SAGE Analysis for MT, UT, and CO States

The OR-SAGE tool is designed to use industry-accepted practices in screening sites and then employ the proper array of data sources through the considerable computational capabilities of GIS technology available at ORNL. The tool was developed to screen the potential for NPP siting on a national and regional basis. However, because of the tool granularity, it is often focused specifically on the immediate area around user sites of interest. If data center siting parameters can be added to OR-SAGE, the ability to evaluate data center siting on a localized scale will be beneficial.1 More than 60 data sets have been collected and processed by ORNL to develop exclusionary, avoidance, and suitability criteria for screening sites for a variety of power generation types, including nuclear power plants. Available site evaluation parameters include population density, slope, seismic activity, proximity to cooling-water sources, proximity to hazard facilities, avoidance of protected lands and floodplains, susceptibility to landslide hazards, and many others. All siting parameters should be considered as flags to inform siting decisions and should not be used to rule in or rule out any NPP site. Once data center siting parameters are identified, appropriate data sets will be collected and processed. The OR-SAGE process is very versatile. Essentially, OR-SAGE is a visual, relational database. The database partitions the contiguous United States, a total of 720 million hectares (~1.8 billion acres), into 100-m by 100-m (1 hectare or ~2.5 acre) cells. The database is tracking just under 700 million individual land cells. Successive suitability criterion is applied to each cell in the database. User-specified thresholds can be applied to each siting parameter data layer. In this manner, a variety of scenarios can be quickly and thoroughly evaluated. Data can be added and/or revised within OR-SAGE to address user interests. Siting security assessment capability is currently being added to OR-SAGE. Security is expected to be of concern at data centers whether it is collocated with a nuclear power generating technology or not. If data center is collocated with a nuclear power generating source, the security threat attractiveness level of both will likely increase. It will be of additional benefit if a potential data center site is also assessed for security vulnerability.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
NASA NTRS2012

A Geometric Analysis to Protect Manned Assets from Newly Launched Objects - COLA Gap Analysis

A safety risk was identified for the International Space Station (ISS) by The Aerospace Corporation following the launch of GPS IIR-20 (March 24, 2009), when the spent upper stage of the launch vehicle unexpectedly crossed inside the ISS notification box shortly after launch. This event highlighted a 56-hour vulnerability period following the end of the launch Collision Avoidance (COLA) process where the ISS would be unable to react to a conjunction with a newly launched object. Current launch COLA processes screen each launched object across the launch window to determine if an object's nominal trajectory is predicted to pass within 200 km of the ISS (or any other manned/mannable object), resulting in a launch time closure. These launch COLA screens are performed from launch through separation plus I 00 minutes. Once the objects are in orbit, they are cataloged and evaluated as part of routine on-orbit conjunction assessment processes. However, as the GPS IIR-20 scenario illustrated, there is a vulnerability period in the time line between the end of launch COLA coverage and the beginning of standard on-orbit COLA assessment activities. The gap between existing launch and on-orbit COLA processes is driven by the time it takes to track and catalog a launched object, identify a conjunction, and plan and execute a collision avoidance maneuver. For the ISS, the total time required to accomplish an of these steps is 56 hours. To protect human lives, NASA/JSC has requested that an US launches take additional steps to protect the ISS during this "COLA gap" period. The uncertainty in the state of a spent upper stage can be quite large after all bums are complete and all remaining propellants are expelled to safe the stage. Simply extending the launch COLA process an additional 56 hours is not a viable option as the 3-sigma position uncertainty will far exceed the 200 km miss-distance criterion. Additionally, performing a probability of collision (Pc) analysis over this period is also not practical due to the limiting effects of these large orbit state uncertainties. An estimated upper bound for Pc for a typical spent upper stage if nominally aligned for a direct broadside collision with the ISS is only on the order of 10-6. For a smaller manned object such as a Soyuz capsule, the risk level decreases to an order of 10'8 . In comparison, the Air Force Range policy (AFI 91-217) for launch COLAs would only eliminate launch opportunities when conjunctions with objects exceed a Pc of 10'5 This paper demonstrates a conservative geometry-based methodology that may be used to determine if launch opportunities pose a threat to the ISS during the COLA gap period. The NASA Launch Services Program at Kennedy Space Center has developed this COLA gap analysis method and employed it fQr three NASA missions to identify potential ISS conjunctions and corresponding launch window closures during the 56-hour at-risk period. In the analysis, for each launch opportunity, the nominal trajectory of the spent upper stage and the orbit state of the ISS are propagated over the 56 hour period. Each time the upper stage crosses the orbit plane of the ISS, the relative radial and argument of latitude separations are calculated. A window cutout is identified if these separation differences fall within a mission-specific violation box, which is determined from the evaluation of a Monte Carlo dispersions analysis that quantifies the potential variation in the upper stage radial and argument of latitude differences. This paper details the results of these analyses and their impacts to each mission.

Hametz, Mark E.↗
DOE OSTI2026

A review of United States energy-only generator interconnection service policy and considerations for reform

Grid interconnection has emerged as a significant obstacle to the development of new electricity resources. There is growing interest in energy-only interconnection, which is an interconnection service option meant to allow the interconnection of new generators without ensuring their energy deliverability during all hours through the transmission system to customers. This approach potentially avoids upfront congestion-related transmission upgrades but could increase curtailment risk. Interest in energy-only interconnection is shaped by incomplete understanding of how interconnection policy functions in different jurisdictions, a knowledge gap that makes it difficult to determine how energy-only interconnection might be better used or re-designed. In this paper, we provide a regulatory review of energy-only interconnection in U.S. interconnection policy and practice, identifying jurisdictions in which rules are close to -or farther from-the theoretical concept of energy-only interconnection service. We find substantial jurisdictional differences in how energy-only interconnection is implemented, driven by differences in resource adequacy frameworks, real-time transmission operations, and state-level procurement practices. U.S. regulators have preferred local jurisdictional flexibility over federal prescription of interconnection study methods and procedures, which also contributes to differences among regions. Such findings raise fundamental questions about whether competition policies in electricity markets should extend beyond spot energy markets and into more prescriptive guidelines around interconnection rules and market entry. This paper sheds light on tensions that energy-only interconnection raises in allowing generators to access the transmission system on an as available basis and discusses how controlling thresholds for congestion-related network upgrades may be a barrier to electricity market entry.

Gorman, Will↗
NASA NTRS1996

An Innovative Multimedia Approach to Laboratory Safety

A new approach for teaching safe laboratory practices has been developed for materials science laboratories at Iowa State university. Students are required to complete a computerized safety tutorial and pass an exam before working in the laboratory. The safety tutorial includes sections on chemical, electrical, radiation, and high temperature safety. The tutorial makes use of a variety of interactions, including 'assembly' interactions where a student is asked to drag and drop items with the mouse (either labels or pictures) to an appropriate place on the screen (sometimes in a specific order). This is extremely useful for demonstrating safe lab practices and disaster scenarios. Built into the software is a record tracking scheme so that a professor can access a file that records which students have completed the tutorial and their scores on the exam. This paper will describe the development and assessment of the safety tutorials.

Anderson, M. B.↗
NASA NTRS1995

ICASE/LaRC Workshop on Adaptive Grid Methods

Solution-adaptive grid techniques are essential to the attainment of practical, user friendly, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) applications. In this three-day workshop, experts gathered together to describe state-of-the-art methods in solution-adaptive grid refinement, analysis, and implementation; to assess the current practice; and to discuss future needs and directions for research. This was accomplished through a series of invited and contributed papers. The workshop focused on a set of two-dimensional test cases designed by the organizers to aid in assessing the current state of development of adaptive grid technology. In addition, a panel of experts from universities, industry, and government research laboratories discussed their views of needs and future directions in this field.

South, Jerry C., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1972

The thermodynamic properties of nitrogen from 65 to 2000 K with pressures to 10,000 atmospheres

An equation of state is presented for liquid and gaseous nitrogen for temperatures from 65 degrees K to 2000 degrees K and pressures to 10,000 atmospheres. All the pressure-density-temperature data available from published literature have been corrected and applied to bring experimental temperatures into accord with the International Practical Temperature Scale of 1968. The coefficients of the equation of state were determined by a weighted least squares fit to selected published pressure-density-temperature data. The methods of weighting the various data for simultaneous fitting are presented and discussed.

Jacobsen, R. T.↗