Forging New Partnerships Through the Use of Environmental Test Facilities
Increasing demands from researchers and the science community are driving environmental test facilities to be more versatile with increased capabilities.
Environmental Tests↗
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Results for “TESTING FACILITY”
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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Hawaiian Hoary Bat Report for Sandia National Laboratories, Kauai Test Facility
The Hawaiian Hoary Bat Report for Sandia National Laboratories, Kauai Test Facility (SNL/KTF) provides data and analysis of Hawaiian hoary bat occupancy of the SNL/KTF site. The monitoring period was from 2023-2025 and used passive acoustic detection at three locations to determine whether the Hawaiian hoary bat occurs at the site and if they roost and pup in the vegetation of the site. Bats were detected at all three locations, however, given the vegetation type at SNL/KTF, it is very unlikely
Jones, Amanda Kaye [Sandia National Laboratories (↗
Simulation in ground-test facilities of ablation performance of charring ablators during atmospheric entry
Ground test facility simulation of performance of charring ablators during atmospheric entry
Tompkins, S. S.↗
Development of test facilities. Noble metal thermocouple research program 1000-2000 C Summary report
Test facility development for noble metal thermocouple research program 1000 to 2000 C
Edelman, S.↗
A high-pressure, high-temperature combustor and turbine-cooling test facility
NASA-Lewis Research Center is presently constructing a new test facility for developing turbine-cooling and combustor technology for future generation aircraft gas turbine engines. Prototype engine hardware will be investigated in this new facility at gas stream conditions up to 2480 K average turbine inlet temperature and 4,140,000 N per sq m turbine inlet pressure. The facility will have the unique feature of fully-automated control and data acquisition through the use of an integrated system of minicomputers and programmable controllers, which will result in more effective use of operating time, will limit the number of operators required, and will provide a built-in self-protection safety system. The paper describes the facility and the planning and design considerations involved.
Cochran, R. P.↗
Geothermal Test Facility, California, Site
This fact sheet provides information about the Geothermal Test Facility, California, Site
Source record↗
Design, Fabrication and Start-up of Test Facilities for the LAWPS Full-Scale IX Column Test and Engineering Scale Test - 17418
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of River Protection's (ORP) primary mission is to retrieve and treat Hanford's tank waste and close the Tank Farms to protect the Columbia River. Mixed radioactive waste is stored in 177 underground tanks at the Hanford Site as reported in DOE/ORP 2003-02, Environmental Impact Statement for Retrieval, Treatment, and Disposal of Tank Waste and Closure of the Single Shell Tanks at the Hanford Site, Richland WA, Inventory and Source Term Data Package. The 177 underground tanks are estimated to contain about 56 million gallons of waste. The Low Activity Waste Pretreatment System (LAWPS) Project provides for the early production of immobilized low activity waste (ILAW) by feeding LAW directly from Tank Farms to the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant's (WTP's) LAW Facility, bypassing the Pretreatment Facility. Prior to the transfer of feed to the WTP LAW Vitrification Facility, tank supernatant waste will be pretreated in the LAWPS to meet the WTP LAW waste acceptance criteria. The LAWPS will also facilitate the return of secondary liquid wastes from the WTP LAW Vitrification Facility to the Tank Farms. In November of 2015 DOE's Tank Operations Contractor, Washington River Protection Solutions (WRPS), awarded a contract to the AECOM Team to design, fabricate and operate two test platforms to generate performance data at two different scales and demonstrate technology maturation. The first platform models the ion exchange (IX) columns at full scale, and the second platform models the integrated flowsheet (cross flow filter (CFF) and IX) at 1/9. scale. Both test platforms underwent shakedown and start-up testing in August 2016 and moved into actual testing and NQA-1 data generation shortly thereafter. This paper covers the engineering design, procurement, construction, installation, and acceptance testing of the test platforms (which are now operational) under an aggressive fast track schedule, and initial test data as available. (authors)
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
Primary System Test Facility Review
Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is designing a Dynamic Energy Transport and Integration Laboratory (DETAIL) to demonstrate the operation of an integrated energy system as part of supporting research and development needs for the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy Integrated Energy Systems (IES) Program. DETAIL will demonstrate real-time integration with the electrical grid, renewable energy inputs, thermal and electrical energy storage, and energy delivery to an end user. A Thermal Energy Distribution System (TEDS) is being constructed within the DETAIL facility to demonstrate the operation of integrated energy system heat transfer components, thermal energy storage, distribution systems, and instrumentation and control (I&C), which will allow the facility to emulate the distribution of thermal energy to the generation of electrical power, and/or producing non-electrical commodities (e.g., hydrogen). As is the case for other subsystems within DETAIL, TEDS is designed to operate either independently or as a part of an integrated system to demonstrate the operation of integrated components, develop and validate thermal energy transport models and control systems, and study thermal energy inertia and energy storage. In an effort to completely understand how TEDS will integrate with operational plants, data from tests previously run at existing integral system test facilities (IST) will be used to drive the TEDS heater. Alternatively, a real-time data connection would allow steam conditions at the IST to drive the TEDS heater at the same time as having TEDS conditions provide feedback to the IST in terms of steam demand and/or pressure. This integrated testing approach will assess the ability of TEDS to operate during all plant conditions. Three existing integral system test facilities have been reviewed to determine their suitability for demonstrating TEDS capabilities when integrated within the DETAIL. This report summarizes the capabilities of each IST facility and any challenges that must be overcome to meet the operational needs of TEDS and DETAIL.
25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
High Temperature Test Facility Preliminary RELAP5-3D Input Model Description
A RELAP5-3D input model is being developed for the High Temperature Test Facility at Oregon State University. The current model is described in detail. Further refinements will be made to the model as final as-built drawings are released and when system characterization data are available for benchmarking the input model.
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
Thermal Testing Facilities and Efforts at Dryden Flight Research Center
This presentation provides the thermal testing panel discussion with an overview of the thermal test facilities at the Dryden Flight Research Center (DFRC) as well as highlights from the thermal test efforts of the past year. This presentation is a little more in-depth than the corresponding material in the center overview presentation.
Holguin, Andrew↗
Intracore Natural Circulation Study in the High Temperature Test Facility
The development of the Modular High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor is a significant milestone in advanced nuclear reactor technology. One of the concerns for the reactor’s safe operation is the effects of a loss-of-flow accident (LOFA) where the coolant circulators are tripped, and forced coolant flow through the core is lost. Depending on the steam generator placement, loop or intracore natural circulation develops to help transfer heat from the core to the reactor cavity, cooling system. This paper investigates the fundamental physical phenomena associated with intracore coolant natural circulation flow in a one-sixth Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model of the Oregon State University High Temperature Test Facility (OSU HTTF) following a loss-of-flow accident transient. This study employs conjugate heat transfer and steady-state flow along with an SST k-ω turbulence model to characterize the phenomenon of core channel-to-channel natural convection. Previous studies have revealed the importance of complex flow distribution in the inlet and outlet plenums with the potential to generate hot coolant jets. For this reason, complete upper and lower plenum volumes are included in the analyzed computational domain. CFD results also include parametric studies performed for a mesh sensitivity analysis, generated using the STAR-CCM+ software. The resulting channel axial velocities and flow directions support the test facility scaling analysis and similarity group distortions calculation.
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
The test facility requirements for the thermal vacuum thermal balance test of the Cosmic Background Explorer Observatory
The Cosmic Background Explorer Observatory (COBE) underwent a thermal vacuum thermal balance test in the Space Environment Simulator (SES). This was the largest and most complex test ever conducted at this facility. The 4 x 4 m (13 x 13 ft) spacecraft weighed approx. 2223 kg (4900 lbs) for the test. The test set up included simulator panels for the inboard solar array panels, simulator panels for the flight cowlings, Sun and Earth Sensor stimuli, Thermal Radio Frequency Shield heater stimuli and a cryopanel for thermal control in the Attitude Control System Shunt Dissipator area. The fixturing also included a unique 4.3 m (14 ft) diameter Gaseous Helium Cryopanel which provided a 20 K environment for the calibration of one of the spacecraft's instruments, the Differential Microwave Radiometer. This cryogenic panel caused extra contamination concerns and a special method was developed and written into the test procedure to prevent the high buildup of condensibles on the panel which could have led to backstreaming of the thermal vacuum chamber. The test was completed with a high quality simulated space environment provided to the spacecraft. The test requirements, test set up, and special fixturing are described.
Milam, Laura J.↗
Test facility requirements for the thermal vacuum thermal balance test of the Cosmic Background Explorer Observatory
The Cosmic Background Explorer Observatory (COBE) underwant a thermal vacuum thermal balance test in the Space Environment Simulator (SES). This was the largest and most complex test ever conducted at this facility. The 4 x 4 m (13 x 13 ft) spacecraft weighed approx. 2223 kg (4900 lbs) for the test. The test set up included simulator panels for the inboard solar array panels, simulator panels for the flight cowlings, Sun and Earth Sensor stimuli, Thermal Radio Frequency Shield heater stimuli and a cryopanel for thermal control in the Attitude Control System Shunt Dissipator area. The fixturing also included a unique 4.3 m (14 ft) diameter Gaseous Helium Cryopanel which provided a 20 K environment for the calibration of one of the spacecraft's instruments, the Differential Microwave Radiometer. This cryogenic panel caused extra contamination concerns and a special method was developed and written into the test procedure to prevent the high buildup of condensibles on the panel which could have led to backstreaming of the thermal vacuum chamber. The test was completed with a high quality simulated space environment provided to the spacecraft. The test requirements, test set up, and special fixturing are described.
Milam, Laura J.↗
The Langley thermal protection system test facility: A description including design operating boundaries
A description of the Langley thermal protection system test facility is presented. This facility was designed to provide realistic environments and times for testing thermal protection systems proposed for use on high speed vehicles such as the space shuttle. Products from the combustion of methane-air-oxygen mixtures, having a maximum total enthalpy of 10.3 MJ/kg, are used as a test medium. Test panels with maximum dimensions of 61 cm x 91.4 cm are mounted in the side wall of the test region. Static pressures in the test region can range from .005 to .1 atm and calculated equilibrium temperatures of test panels range from 700 K to 1700 K. Test times can be as long as 1800 sec. Some experimental data obtained while using combustion products of methane-air mixtures are compared with theory, and calibration of the facility is being continued to verify calculated values of parameters which are within the design operating boundaries.
Klich, G. F.↗
The use of environmental test facilities for purposes beyond their original design
This paper presents an overview of the JPL's efforts to provide its space flight projects with test facilities to meet unique test requirements and to serve the needs of selected outside customers.
environmental↗
Technical analysis of filter testing at the U.S. Department of Energy Filter Test Facility
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) technical standard DOE-STD-3020-2015 requires verification testing at the Filter Test Facility (FTF) of high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters to be installed in nuclear facility (Hazard Category 1, 2, 3, and radiological facilities) confinement ventilation systems, or to be installed in habitability systems (e.g., filters for protection of workers required to act for the control and mitigation of emergency situations). Filters in these applications perform a safety function in accident situations, are designated as important to safety, or are necessary for habitability systems. Different FTFs have operated for decades, and results of tests are available to examine the need for and benefits of continued execution of 100 percent QA verification testing. The objective of this study and resulting report was to assess the need for 100 percent QA testing at the current FTF in Maryland, based on an examination of a database of test results from 2013 to August 2020. Filters that require independent testing per DOE-STD-3020-2015 to be installed in nuclear facilities are sent to the FTF before being shipped to the facilities. The FTF examines the documentation (e.g., certificates of compliance, results of particle penetration and airflow resistance testing by the manufacturers, labels affixed to filters and packages, and other requirements specified in purchase orders by the nuclear facility operators), implements visual inspections of the physical state of the filters, and checks the dimensions of frames. Filters that meet the documentation and visual inspection requirements are subjected to particle penetration and airflow resistance testing. In case of rejections, the filters are shipped back to the manufacturers, at the cost of the manufacturers, for replacement. Filters that pass all tests are shipped to the nuclear facilities.
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
Test facility for simulation of system- environment interaction during Martian entry.
Martian entry test facility for real size entry systems, discussing design, fabrication and operation
Berry, G. A.↗
NASA/Princeton digital avionics flight test facility
This paper describes a general-aviation digital avionics flight-test facility being jointly developed by the Flight Dynamics Laboratory of Princeton University and NASA/Langley Research Center. This facility consists of the Princeton avionics research aircraft (ARA) and NASA/Langley's digital avionics research (DARE) system. The ARA is a fully instrumented five-degree-of-freedom fly-by-wire aircraft. The DARE system contains a state-of-the-art flight computer system and receiving equipment that permits use of the NASA/Wallops Flight Center's position-tracking ground-based display-generation and ground-to-air digital-data-link equipment. The DARE/ARA system will be used for flight evaluation of advanced control, guidance, and display concepts developed as part of NASA/Langley Research Center's general aviation terminal area operations program.
Downing, D. R.↗