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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 451 records · Page 25

The performance and application of high speed long life LH2 hybrid bearings for reusable rocket engine turbomachinery

Data are presented for two different experimental programs which were conducted to investigate the characteristics of a hybrid (hydrostatic/ball) bearing operating in liquid hydrogen. The same bearing design was used in both programs. Analytical predictions were made of the bearing characteristics and are compared with the experimental results when possible. The first program used a bearing tester to determine the steady state, transient, and cyclic life characteristics of the bearing over a wide range of operating conditions. The second program demonstrated the feasibility of applying hybrid bearings to an actual high speed turbopump by retrofitting and then testing an existing liquid hydrogen turbopump with the bearings.

Hannum, N. P.↗

The performance and application of high speed long life LH2 hybrid bearings for reusable rocket engine turbomachinery

Data are presented for two different experimental programs which were conducted to investigate the characteristics of a hybrid (hydrostatic/ball) bearing operating in liquid hydrogen. The same bearing design was used in both programs. Analytical predictions were made of the bearing characteristics and are compared with the experimental results when possible. The first program used a bearing tester to determine the steady state, transient, and cyclic life characteristics of the bearing over a wide range of operating conditions. The second program demonstrated the feasibility of applying hybrid bearings to an actual high speed turbopump by retrofitting and then testing an existing liquid hydrogen turbopump with the bearings.

Hannum, N. P.↗

Hydrogen Fuel Cell development in Columbia (SC)

This is an update to the final report filed after the extension of this program to May of 2011. The activities of the present program contributed to the goals and objectives of the Fuel Cell element of the Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and Infrastructure Technologies Program of the Department of Energy through five sub-projects. Three of these projects have focused on PEM cells, addressing the creation of carbon-based metal-free catalysts, the development of durable seals, and an effort to understand contaminant adsorption/reaction/transport/performance relationships at low contaminant levels in PEM cells. Two programs addressed barriers in SOFCs; an effort to create a new symmetrical and direct hydrocarbon fuel SOFC designs with greatly increased durability, efficiency, and ease of manufacturing, and an effort to create a multiphysics engineering durability model based on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy interpretations that associate the micro-details of how a fuel cell is made and their history of (individual) use with specific prognosis for long term performance, resulting in attendant reductions in design, manufacturing, and maintenance costs and increases in reliability and durability.

08 HYDROGEN↗

Hydrogen Component Leak Rate Quantification for System Risk and Reliability Assessment through QRA and PHM Frameworks: Preprint

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (NREL) Hydrogen Safety Research and Development (HSR&D) program in collaboration with the University of Maryland's Systems Risk and Reliability Analysis Laboratory (SyRRA) are working to improve reliability and reduce risk in hydrogen systems. This approach strives to use quantitative data on component leaks and failures, together with Prognosis and Health Management (PHM), and Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA) to identify at-risk components, reduce component failures and downtime, and predict when components require maintenance. Hydrogen component failures increase facility maintenance cost, facility downtime, and reduce public acceptance of hydrogen technologies, ultimately increasing facility size and cost because of potentially overly conservative requirements. Leaks are a predominant failure mode for hydrogen components. However, uncertainties in the amount of hydrogen emitted from leaking components and the frequency of those failure events limit the understanding of the risks that they present under real-world operational conditions. NREL has deployed a test fixture, the Leak Rate Quantification Apparatus (LRQA), to quantify the mass flow rate of leaking gases from medium and high-pressure components that have failed while in service. Quantitative hydrogen leak rate data from this system could ultimately be used to better inform risk assessment and Regulation Codes and Standards (RCS). Parallel activity explores the use of PHM and QRA techniques to assess and reduce risk, thereby improving safety and reliability of hydrogen systems. The results of QRAs could further provide a systematic and science-based foundation for the design and implementation of RCS, as in the latest versions of the NFPA 2 code for gaseous hydrogen stations. Alternatively, data-driven techniques of PHM could provide new damage diagnosis and health-state prognosis tools. This research will help end users, station owners and operators, and regulatory bodies move towards risk-informed preventative maintenance versus emergency corrective maintenance, reducing cost and improving reliability. Predictive modelling of failures could improve safety and affect RCS requirements such as setback distances at liquid refuelling sites. The combination of leak rate quantification research, PHM, and QRA can lead to better informed models enabling data-based decision to be made for hydrogen system safety improvements.

codes and standards↗

Component Reliability R&D

A review of the work done on the hydrogen Component Reliability R&D project in the last year. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (NREL) Hydrogen Safety Research and Development (HSR&D) program in collaboration with the University of Maryland's Systems Risk and Reliability Analysis Laboratory (SyRRA) are working to improve reliability and reduce risk in hydrogen systems through the use of use quantitative data on component leaks and failures, together with Prognosis and Health Management (PHM), and Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA).

component↗

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Development in Columbia (SC)

This is an update to the final report filed after the extension of this program to May of 2011. The activities of the present program contributed to the goals and objectives of the Fuel Cell element of the Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and Infrastructure Technologies Program of the Department of Energy through five sub-projects. Three of these projects have focused on PEM cells, addressing the creation of carbon-based metal-free catalysts, the development of durable seals, and an effort to understand contaminant adsorption/reaction/transport/performance relationships at low contaminant levels in PEM cells. Two programs addressed barriers in SOFCs; an effort to create a new symmetrical and direct hydrocarbon fuel SOFC designs with greatly increased durability, efficiency, and ease of manufacturing, and an effort to create a multiphysics engineering durability model based on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy interpretations that associate the micro-details of how a fuel cell is made and their history of (individual) use with specific prognosis for long term performance, resulting in attendant reductions in design, manufacturing, and maintenance costs and increases in reliability and durability.

08 HYDROGEN↗

On the use of external burning to reduce aerospace vehicle transonic drag

The external combustion of hydrogen to reduce the transonic drag of aerospace vehicles is currently being investigated. A preliminary analysis based on a constant pressure control volume is discussed. Results indicate that the specific impulse of the external burning process rivals that of a turbojet and depends on the severity of the initial base drag as well as on the Mach flight number and the equivalence ratio. A test program was conducted to investigate hydrogen-air flame stability at the conditions of interest and to demonstrate drag reduction on a simple expansion ramp. Initial test results are presented and compared with the control-volume analysis. The expansion ramp surface pressure coefficient showed little variation with fuel pressure and altitude, in disagreement with the analysis. Flame stability results were encouraging and indicate that stable combustion is possible over an adequate range of conditions. Facility interference and chemical kinetics phenomena that make interpretation of subscale ground test data difficult are discussed.

Trefny, Charles J.↗

On the use of external burning to reduce aerospace vehicle transonic drag

The external combustion of hydrogen to reduce the transonic drag of aerospace vehicles is currently being investigated. A preliminary analysis based on a constant pressure control volume is discussed. Results indicate that the specific impulse of the external burning process rivals that of a turbojet and depends on the severity of the initial base drag as well as on the Mach flight number and the equivalence ratio. A test program was conducted to investigate hydrogen-air flame stability at the conditions of interest and to demonstrate drag reduction on a simple expansion ramp. Initial test results are presented and compared with the control-volume analysis. The expansion ramp surface pressure coefficient showed little variation with fuel pressure and altitude, in disagreement with the analysis. Flame stability results were encouraging and indicate that stable combustion is possible over an adequate range of conditions. Facility interference and chemical kinetics phenomena that make interpretation of subscale ground test data difficult are discussed.

Trefny, Charles J.↗

Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Systems PVL Line

In July 2010, Stark State College (SSC), received Grant DE-EE0003229 from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Golden Field Office, for the development of the electrical and control systems, and mechanical commissioning of a unique 20kW scale high-pressure, high temperature, natural gas fueled Stack Block Test System (SBTS). SSC worked closely with subcontractor, Rolls-Royce Fuel Cell Systems (US) Inc. (RRFCS) over a 13 month period to successfully complete the project activities. This system will be utilized by RRFCS for pre-commercial technology development and training of SSC student interns. In the longer term, when RRFCS is producing commercial products, SSC will utilize the equipment for workforce training. In addition to DOE Hydrogen, Fuel Cells, and Infrastructure Technologies program funding, RRFCS internal funds, funds from the state of Ohio, and funding from the DOE Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA) program have been utilized to design, develop and commission this equipment. Construction of the SBTS (mechanical components) was performed under a Grant from the State of Ohio through Ohio's Third Frontier program (Grant TECH 08-053). This Ohio program supported development of a system that uses natural gas as a fuel. Funding was provided under the Department of Energy (DOE) Solid-state Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA) program for modifications required to test on coal synthesis gas. The subject DOE program provided funding for the electrical build, control system development and mechanical commissioning. Performance testing, which includes electrical commissioning, was subsequently performed under the DOE SECA program. Rolls-Royce Fuel Cell Systems is developing a megawatt-scale solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stationary power generation system. This system, based on RRFCS proprietary technology, is fueled with natural gas, and operates at elevated pressure. A critical success factor for development of the full scale system is the capability to test fuel cell components at a scale and under conditions that can be accurately extrapolated to full system performance. This requires specially designed equipment that replicates the pressure (up to 6.5 bara), temperature (about 910 C), anode and cathode gas compositions, flows and power generation density of the full scale design. The SBTS fuel cell anode gas is produced through the reaction of pipeline natural gas with a mixture of steam, CO2, and O2 in a catalytic partial oxidation (CPOX) reactor. Production of the fuel cell anode gas in this manner provides the capability to test a fuel cell with varying anode gas compositions ranging from traditional reformed natural gas to a coal-syngas surrogate fuel. Stark State College and RRFCS have a history of collaboration. This is based upon SSCAs commitment to provide students with skills for advanced energy industries, and RRFCS need for a workforce that is skilled in high temperature fuel cell development and testing. A key to this approach is the access of students to unique SOFC test and evaluation equipment. This equipment is designed and developed by RRFCS, with the participation of SSC interns. In the near-term, the equipment will be used by RRFCS for technology development. When this stage is completed, and RRFCS has moved to commercial products, SSC will utilize this equipment for workforce training. The RRFCS fuel cell design is based upon a unique ceramic substrate architecture in which a porous, flat substrate (tube) provides the support structure for a network of solid oxide fuel cells that are electrically connected in series. These tubes are grouped into a {approx}350-tube repeat configuration, called a stack/block. Stack/block testing, performed at system conditions, provides data that can be confidently scaled to full scale performance. This is the basis for the specially designed and developed test equipment that is required for advancing and accelerating the RRFCS SOFC power system development program. All contract DE-EE0003229 objectives were achieved and deliverables completed during the period from March 1, 2010 through March 31, 2011. As a result of program completion, the Stack Block Test System was ready to support installation and electrical operation of a RRFCS solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack block in the second quarter of 2011.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗

Is Clean Hydrogen Production a Good Fit for Questa? Project Introduction

This presentation introduces the Questa Communities Local Energy Action Program (C-LEAP) project to local stakeholders, provides general information about green hydrogen and presents some preliminary information about how a green hydrogen production facility could be developed in Questa.

Communities LEAP↗

Rotating-Pump Design Code

Pump Design (PUMPDES) is a computer program for designing a rotating pump for liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen, liquid nitrogen, water, methane, or ethane. Using realistic properties of these fluids provided by another program called GASPAK, this code performs a station-by-station, mean-line analysis along the pump flow path, obtaining thermodynamic properties of the pumped fluid at each station and evaluating hydraulic losses along the flow path. The variables at each station are obtained under constraints that are consistent with the underlying physical principles. The code evaluates the performance of each stage and the overall pump. In addition, by judiciously choosing the givens and the unknowns, the code can perform a geometric inverse design function: that is, it can compute a pump geometry that yields a closest approximation of given design point. The code contains two major parts: one for an axial-rotor/inducer and one for a multistage centrifugal pump. The inducer and the centrifugal pump are functionally integrated. The code can be used in designing and/or evaluating the inducer/centrifugal-pump combination or the centrifugal pump alone. The code is written in standard Fortran 77.

Walker, James F.↗

Effect of ratio of wall boundary layer thickness to jet diameter on mixing of a normal hydrogen jet in a supersonic stream

A preliminary experimental program was conducted to determine the effect of the ratio of the free-stream boundary-layer thickness to jet diameter on the secondary jet penetration and mixing rate. Tests were conducted on a flat plate in a Mach number 4.05 airflow with sonic injection of hydrogen normal to the free-stream direction from circular underexpanded injectors. The ratio of boundary-layer thickness to jet diameter ranged from 1.25 to 6.5. Previous correlations of mixing performance were modified to account for the effect of the ratio of boundary-layer thickness to jet diameter.

Mcclinton, C. R.↗

Molecular Hydrogen-Rich Interstellar Ice

While molecular hydrogen is by far the most abundant gas phase molecule in interstellar dark clouds, the extreme volatility of H(sub 2) suggests that it has a relatively low abundance in grain volatile mantles, thought to be composed largely of amorphous water ice.

interstellar chemistry temperature programmed deso↗

On the use of a global hydrogen-air combustion model in the calculation of turbulent reacting flows

A two-step global model describing the combustion of hydrogen in air at one atmosphere pressure is developed by comparing the temperature histories obtained from a 28-reaction H-O mechanism. Using criteria discussed herein, good agreement is obtained in the range of initial mixture temperatures from 1000K to 2000K and in the range of equivalence ratios from 0.2 to 2.0. The two-step global model is compared with the results obtained using an eight-step, H-O reaction mechanism in a computer program describing the turbulent diffusion of hydrogen in supersonic, axisymmetric and two-dimensional reacting flows. Comparisons of profiles of temperature, fuel mass flux, and pitot pressure are presented. The global model is judged to be adequate in flows which are not dominated by long ignition delay times.

Rogers, R. C.↗

Low NOx heavy fuel combustor concept program

Three simulated coal gas fuels based on hydrogen and carbon monoxide were tested during an experimental evaluation with a rich lean can combustor: these were a simulated Winkler gas, Lurgi gas and Blue Water gas. All three were simulated by mixing together the necessary pure component species, to levels typical of fuel gases produced from coal. The Lurgi gas was also evaluated with ammonia addition. Fuel burning in a rich lean mode was emphasized. Only the Blue Water gas, however, could be operated in such fashion. This showed that the expected NOx signature form could be obtained, although the absolute values of NOx were above the 75 ppm goals for most operating conditions. Lean combustion produced very low NOx well below 75 ppm with the Winkler and Lurgi gases. In addition, these low levels were not significantly impacted by changes in operating conditions.

White, D. J.↗

The maximum momentum transfer in proton-hydrogen collisions

The upper limit of momentum transfer by a proton to K-shell electrons is calculated in a restricted three-body classical model. The model shows that the infinite upper limit used in practice, is generally good except for low energy protons passing through an extremely rarefied gas.

NASA Discipline Number 22-70↗

Hydrogen desorption from the surface and subsurface of cobalt

The influence of coverage on the diffusion of hydrogen into the subsurface of cobalt was studied using density functional theory (DFT) and temperature programmed desorption (TPD). DFT calculations show that as the hydrogen coverage on Co(0001) increases, the barrier for hydrogen diffusion into the bulk decreases by 20%. Additionally, subsurface hydrogen on a hydrogen covered surface was found to be more stable when compared to a clean cobalt surface. To test these theoretical findings experimentally, excited hydrogen was used in an ultra-high vacuum environment to access higher hydrogen coverages. Here, our TPD studies showed that at high hydrogen coverages, a sharp low temperature feature appeared, indicating the stabilization of subsurface hydrogen. Further DFT calculations indicate that this sharp low temperature feature results from associative hydrogen desorption from a hydrogen saturated surface with a population of subsurface hydrogen. Microkinetic modelling was used to model the TPD spectra for hydrogen desporption from cobalt with and without subsurface hydrogen, showing reasonable agreement with experiment.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Development of tritium technologies at KAERI

Korea has been operating a CANDU nuclear power plant since 1983. Tritium generated in the heavy water of the plant is removed by the Wolsong TRF (Tritium Removal Facility) and measurement campaigns of tritium near the power plant have shown the efficiency of the TRF system. The HANARO reactor uses heavy water as both reflector and moderator. In HANARO the tritiated water removal system consists of compressors, condensers, and adsorption beds. A tritium behavior analysis code (TRIBAC) for a Very High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor (VHTR) is under development at KAERI. The TRIBAC computer software has been equipped with models for tritium production, purification, and leakage, as well as chemisorption and tritium behavior, in the hydrogen production system. Korea takes part into the ITER program and is responsible for the supply of an SDS (Tritium Storage and Delivery System). Within this program Korea has launched an experimental program to study the physico-chemical properties of metal and their hydrides in which hydrogen isotope gases can be stored and removed safely.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗