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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 469 records · Page 26
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2007

High Fidelity, Fuel-Like Thermal Simulators for Non-Nuclear Testing: Analysis and Initial Test Results

Non-nuclear testing can be a valuable tool in the development of a space nuclear power system, providing system characterization data and allowing one to work through various fabrication, assembly and integration issues without the cost and time associated with a full ground nuclear test. In a non-nuclear test bed, electric heaters are used to simulate the heat from nuclear fuel. Testing with non-optimized heater elements allows one to assess thermal, heat transfer. and stress related attributes of a given system, but fails to demonstrate the dynamic response that would be present in an integrated, fueled reactor system. High fidelity thermal simulators that match both the static and the dynamic fuel pin performance that would be observed in an operating, fueled nuclear reactor can vastly increase the value of non-nuclear test results. With optimized simulators, the integration of thermal hydraulic hardware tests with simulated neutronic response provides a bridge between electrically heated testing and fueled nuclear testing. By implementing a neutronic response model to simulate the dynamic response that would be expected in a fueled reactor system, one can better understand system integration issues, characterize integrated system response times and response characteristics and assess potential design improvements at relatively small fiscal investment. Initial conceptual thermal simulator designs are determined by simple one-dimensional analysis at a single axial location and at steady state conditions; feasible concepts are then input into a detailed three-dimensional model for comparison to expected fuel pin performance. Static and dynamic fuel pin performance for a proposed reactor design is determined using SINDA/FLUINT thermal analysis software, and comparison is made between the expected nuclear performance and the performance of conceptual thermal simulator designs. Through a series of iterative analyses, a conceptual high fidelity design is developed: this is followed by engineering design, fabrication, and testing to validate the overall design process. Test results presented in this paper correspond to a "first cut" simulator design for a potential liquid metal (NaK) cooled reactor design that could be applied for Lunar surface power. Proposed refinements to this simulator design are also presented.

Bragg-Sitton, Shannon M.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Superconducting coherence peak in near-field radiative heat transfer

Enhancement and peaks in near-field radiative heat transfer (NFRHT) typically arise due to surface phonon-polaritons, plasmon-polaritons, and electromagnetic (EM) modes in structured materials. However, the role of material quantum coherence in enhancing near-field radiative heat transfer remains unexplored. Here, we unravel that NFRHT in superconductor-ferromagnetic systems displays a unique peak at the superconducting phase transition that originates from the quantum coherence of Bogoliubov quasiparticles in superconductors. Our theory takes into account evanescent EM radiation emanating from fluctuating currents related to Cooper pairs and Bogoliubov quasiparticles in stark contrast to the current-current correlations induced by free electrons in conventional materials. Our proposed NFRHT configuration exploits ferromagnetic resonance at frequencies deep inside the superconducting band gap to isolate this superconducting coherence peak. Furthermore, we reveal that Cooper pairs and Bogoliubov quasiparticles have opposite effects on near-field thermal radiation and isolate their effects on many-body radiative heat transfer near superconductors. As a result, our proposed phenomenon can have applications for developing thermal isolators and heat sinks in superconducting circuits.

Dipole approximation↗
NASA NTRS2009

Ablation and Thermal Response Property Model Validation for Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator

Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator was the heatshield material for the Stardust probe and is also a candidate heatshield material for the Orion Crew Module. As part of the heatshield qualification for Orion, physical and thermal properties were measured for newly manufactured material, included emissivity, heat capacity, thermal conductivity, elemental composition, and thermal decomposition rates. Based on these properties, an ablation and thermal-response model was developed for temperatures up to 3500 K and pressures up to 100 kPa. The model includes orthotropic and pressure-dependent thermal conductivity. In this work, model validation is accomplished by comparison of predictions with data from many arcjet tests conducted over a range of stagnation heat flux and pressure from 107 Watts per square centimeter at 2.3 kPa to 1100 Watts per square centimeter at 84 kPa. Over the entire range of test conditions, model predictions compare well with measured recession, maximum surface temperatures, and in depth temperatures.

Milos, F. S.↗
NASA NTRS2016

Turbo-Electric Compressor/Generator Using Halbach Arrays

The present invention is a turbojet design that integrates power generation into the turbojet itself, rather than use separate generators attached to the turbojet for power generation. By integrating the power generation within the jet engine, the weight of the overall system is significantly reduced, increasing system efficiency. Also, by integrating the power generating elements of the system within the air flow of the jet engine, the present invention can use the heat generated by the power generating elements (which is simply expelled waste heat in current designs) to increase the engine performance.

Kloesel, Kurt J.↗
NASA NTRS2001

A Magnetoresistive Heat Switch for the Continuous ADR

In compensated elemental metals at low temperature, a several Tesla field can suppress electronic heat conduction so thoroughly that heat is effectively carried by phonons alone. In approximately one mm diameter single crystal samples with impurity concentrations low enough that electron conduction is limited by surface scattering, the ratio of zerofield to high-field thermal conductivity can exceed ten thousand. We have used this phenomenon to build a compact, solid-state heat switch with no moving parts and no enclosed fluids. The time scale for switching states is limited by time scale for charging the magnet that supplies the controlling field. Our design and fabrication techniques overcome the difficulties associated with manufacturing and assembling parts from single crystal tungsten. A clear disadvantage of the magnetoresistive switch is the mass and complexity of the magnet system for the controlling field. We have discovered a technique of minimizing this mass and complexity, applicable to the continuous adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator.

Canavan, E. R.↗
NASA NTRS1982

The SPAR thermal analyzer: Present and future

The SPAR thermal analyzer, a system of finite-element processors for performing steady-state and transient thermal analyses, is described. The processors communicate with each other through the SPAR random access data base. As each processor is executed, all pertinent source data is extracted from the data base and results are stored in the data base. Steady state temperature distributions are determined by a direct solution method for linear problems and a modified Newton-Raphson method for nonlinear problems. An explicit and several implicit methods are available for the solution of transient heat transfer problems. Finite element plotting capability is available for model checkout and verification.

Marlowe, M. B.↗
NASA NTRS1984

High stability buffered phase comparator

A low noise RF signal phase comparator comprised of two high stability driver buffer amplifiers driving a double balanced mixer which operate to generate a beat frequency between the two RF input signals coupled to the amplifiers from the RF sources is described. The beat frequency output from the mixer is applied to a low noise zero crossing detector which is the phase difference between the two RF inputs. Temperature stability is provided by mounting the amplifiers and mixer on a common circuit board with the active circuit elements located on one side of a circuit board and the passive circuit elements located on the opposite side. A common heat sink is located adjacent the circuit board. The active circuit elements are embedded into the bores of the heat sink which slows the effect of ambient temperature changes and reduces the temperature gradients between the active circuit elements, thus improving the cancellation of temperature effects. The two amplifiers include individual voltage regulators, which increases RF isolation.

Adams, W. A.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Continuum Correlations from CFD-DEM Modeling of Conduction Heat Transfer in Granular Flows

Heat transfer between a surface and flowing particles is analyzed to improve the accuracy of continuum models for wall-to-bed heat transfer in a fluidized bed. Discrete element modeling (DEM) is used to model a fluidized bed heat exchanger where heat enters the system through a heated wall. The DEM heat transfer predictions are validated against published experimental work (Brewster et al., 2024) with less than 15% error. In previous work by Morris et al. (2015), a continuum model was developed using data from high-fidelity DEM simulations of chute flows. In the current study, the continuum model is extended and validated for fluidized beds. The sensitivity of the continuum heat transfer model parameters, which was not quantified in previous studies, is also investigated. It is observed that for a given particle with specific properties, e.g. the particle size, roughness, and conduction lens radius, the continuum correlation developed for heat transfer from a heated boundary to the particle bed depends mainly on the solid fraction or porosity of the particle bed for a given fluid. The new continuum heat transfer model is then validated over a wide range of superficial velocities via comparisons to both discrete element and experimental data. It is shown that this correlation is valid for a large range of particle flow conditions from chute flows to fluidized beds with less than 10% error as compared to DEM predictions.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS2013

Revised Thickness of the Lunar Crust from GRAIL Data: Implications for Lunar Bulk Composition

High-resolution gravity data from GRAIL have yielded new estimates of the bulk density and thickness of the lunar crust. The bulk density of the highlands crust is 2550 kg m-3. From a comparison with crustal composition measured remotely, this density implies a mean porosity of 12%. With this bulk density and constraints from the Apollo seismic experiment, the average global crustal thickness is found to lie between 34 and 43 km, a value 10 to 20 km less than several previous estimates. Crustal thickness is a central parameter in estimating bulk lunar composition. Estimates of the concentrations of refractory elements in the Moon from heat flow, remote sensing and sample data, and geophysical data fall into two categories: those with refractory element abundances enriched by 50% or more relative to Earth, and those with abundances the same as Earth. Settling this issue has implications for processes operating during lunar formation. The crustal thickness resulting from analysis of GRAIL data is less than several previous estimates. We show here that a refractory-enriched Moon is not required

Taylor, G. Jeffrey↗
NASA NTRS2016

Optics of Balloon Experimental Twin Telescope for Infrared Interferometry (BETTII): Delay Lines and Alignment

We present the optics of Balloon Experimental Twin Telescope for Infrared Interferometry (BETTII) as it gets ready for launch. BETTII is an 8-meter baseline far-infrared (30-90 microns) interferometer mission with capabilities of spatially resolved spectroscopy aimed at studying star formation and galaxy evolution. The instrument collects light from its two arms, makes them interfere, divides them into two science channels (30-50 microns and 60-90 microns), and focuses them onto the detectors. It also separates out the NIR light (1-2.5 microns) and uses it for tip-tilt corrections of the telescope pointing. Currently, all the optical elements have been fabricated, heat treated, coated appropriately and are mounted on their respective assemblies. We are presenting the optical design challenges for such a balloon borne spatio-spectral interferometer, and discuss how they have been mitigated. The warm and cold delay lines are an important part of this optics train. The warm delay line corrects for path length differences between the left and the right arm due to balloon pendulation, while the cold delay line is aimed at introducing a systematic path length difference, thereby generating our interferograms from where we can derive information about the spectra. The details of their design and the results of the testing of these opto-mechanical parts are also discussed. The sensitivities of different optical elements on the interferograms produced have been determined with the help of simulations using FRED software package. Accordingly, an alignment plan is drawn up which makes use of a laser tracker, a CMM, theodolites and a LUPI interferometer.

Dhabal, Arnab↗
NASA NTRS2026

Parametric-Based Heat Rejection Trade Study for Lunar and Martian Surface Operations

Establishing and maintaining a sustained presence on the lunar and/or Martian surfaces will require a diverse portfolio of surface elements (e.g., habitation, mobility, power generation, etc.). Many of these systems generate excess heat that must be rejected across a wide range of magnitudes, temperatures, and duty cycles and under variable environmental conditions. To identify the most promising heat rejection approaches for this diverse portfolio, a heat rejection trade study was conducted to evaluate the performance of different technology approaches across a spectrum of surface environments and heat-load requirements. The trade study consisted of three stages: (1) development of a parametric-based modeling framework, (2) creation of a database of heat rejection technologies, surface elements, and environmental conditions for the Moon and Mars, and (3) execution of a quantitative analysis of various heat rejection technologies across different operating conditions and surface elements. The modeling framework is developed in Python and Excel to prioritize small model size and hence low computational cost to enable large parametric sweeps while avoiding the reliance on proprietary software. Individual heat rejection processes are represented as simple Excel models, and a centralized Python script interfaces with the models to coordinate the parametric study. These simple sizing models were developed to take heat load requirements and environmental parameters as inputs and compute mass, power, and volume as outputs. Rather than assess each heat rejection technology separately for each surface element, a unified parametric space was developed to evaluate all technologies across all elements. This parametric space includes factors related to heat load (e.g., magnitude or temperature) and environment (e.g., surface temperature, sky temperature, solar flux). This effort generated a database containing information on over 60 heat rejection technologies and 30 surface elements. For each surface element, the expected heat rejection requirements were documented and analyzed to determine the most common needs shared across all elements. Environmental conditions at various lunar and Martian latitudes were also established for worst-case hot and worst-case cold scenarios. High-fidelity heat rejection models are currently under development. Preliminary trades between heat rejection technologies including radiators, venting technologies, convective coolers, and more have been conducted to identify promising options. This presentation will summarize the preliminary trade results and provide an overview and discussion of the expected heat loads and thermal environments for sustained surface operations on the Moon and Mars.

Heat Rejection↗
NASA NTRS1982

Thermal capabilities and graphical output of PAFEC

The program for automatic finite element calculations (PAFEC) developed for the computation of heat transfer in structures is discussed. The passive and interactive graphics capabilities of the PAFEC system are presented and future developments are outlined. This finite element system is shown to have significant thermal capabilities in support of its general structures. The program offers the following types of analysis: interactive graphics; user defined program control steps; steady state, transient heat transfer; boundary element methods; linear static, stress and displacements; modes and frequencies calculations; direct dynamic time intergration; frequency response analysis; elastohydrodynamic lubrication; large deflection analysis, buckling; creep and plasticity analysis; and substructures analysis.

Akin, J. E.↗
DOE OSTI2025

A three-dimensional laser ray-tracing methodology for radiation-hydrodynamics simulations

We report on a methodology for performing laser ray-tracing in three spatial dimensions for radiation-hydrodynamics simulation codes. Our method, which is an extension of that developed in Haines et al., Comput. Fluids 201, 104478 (2020), utilizes an automatically generated separate mesh for the laser ray-tracing from the radiation-hydrodynamics mesh. This enables the laser mesh to be tailored to minimize ray noise with significantly fewer rays than would be required when the ray-tracing is performed on the radiation-hydrodynamics mesh, primarily by allowing the use of high-aspect-ratio cells that are not suitable for hydrodynamics solvers. For a planar target, we show that our method provides a ≈ 100× reduction in computational expense to achieve a fixed level of ray noise relative to ray-tracing directly on the radiation-hydrodynamics mesh. The relatively low ray requirement also enables efficient computation of cross-beam energy transfer. Each cell in the logically cubic laser mesh is a non-convex dodecahedron with triangular sides, and numerical integration of the ray trajectories and inverse bremsstrahlung is performed by mapping each cell to the unit cube. We will describe our methodology in detail as well as its implementation in the xRAGE radiation-hydrodynamics code, discuss performance, and present the results from applying the methodology to test problems with analytic solutions for laser ray-tracing through a quadratic density gradient with an analytic solution as well as for a laser-driven heat front. In 3D radiation-hydrodynamics simulations of laser-driven experiments performed on the National Ignition Facility, laser ray-tracing with our methodology uses less than 1% of total computational time while introducing acceptably low levels of ray noise.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS2004

Higher-Order Finite Elements for Computing Thermal Radiation

Two variants of the finite-element method have been developed for use in computational simulations of radiative transfers of heat among diffuse gray surfaces. Both variants involve the use of higher-order finite elements, across which temperatures and radiative quantities are assumed to vary according to certain approximations. In this and other applications, higher-order finite elements are used to increase (relative to classical finite elements, which are assumed to be isothermal) the accuracies of final numerical results without having to refine computational meshes excessively and thereby incur excessive computation times. One of the variants is termed the radiation sub-element (RSE) method, which, itself, is subject to a number of variations. This is the simplest and most straightforward approach to representation of spatially variable surface radiation. Any computer code that, heretofore, could model surface-to-surface radiation can incorporate the RSE method without major modifications. In the basic form of the RSE method, each finite element selected for use in computing radiative heat transfer is considered to be a parent element and is divided into sub-elements for the purpose of solving the surface-to-surface radiation-exchange problem. The sub-elements are then treated as classical finite elements; that is, they are assumed to be isothermal, and their view factors and absorbed heat fluxes are calculated accordingly. The heat fluxes absorbed by the sub-elements are then transferred back to the parent element to obtain a radiative heat flux that varies spatially across the parent element. Variants of the RSE method involve the use of polynomials to interpolate and/or extrapolate to approximate spatial variations of physical quantities. The other variant of the finite-element method is termed the integration method (IM). Unlike in the RSE methods, the parent finite elements are not subdivided into smaller elements, and neither isothermality nor other unrealistic physical conditions are assumed. Instead, the equations of radiative heat transfer are integrated numerically over the parent finite elements by use of a computationally efficient Gaussian integration scheme.

Gould, Dana C.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Remotely actuated localized pressure and heat apparatus and method of use

Apparatus and method for the use of a remotely actuated localized pressure and heat apparatus for the consolidation and curing of fiber elements in, structures. The apparatus includes members for clamping the desired portion of the fiber elements to be joined, pressure members and/or heat members. The method is directed to the application and use of the apparatus.

Merret, John B.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Improved finite element methodology for integrated thermal structural analysis

An integrated thermal-structural finite element approach for efficient coupling of thermal and structural analysis is presented. New thermal finite elements which yield exact nodal and element temperatures for one dimensional linear steady state heat transfer problems are developed. A nodeless variable formulation is used to establish improved thermal finite elements for one dimensional nonlinear transient and two dimensional linear transient heat transfer problems. The thermal finite elements provide detailed temperature distributions without using additional element nodes and permit a common discretization with lower order congruent structural finite elements. The accuracy of the integrated approach is evaluated by comparisons with analytical solutions and conventional finite element thermal structural analyses for a number of academic and more realistic problems. Results indicate that the approach provides a significant improvement in the accuracy and efficiency of thermal stress analysis for structures with complex temperature distributions.

Dechaumphai, P.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Improved finite element methodology for integrated thermal structural analysis

An integrated thermal-structural finite element approach for efficient coupling of thermal and structural analyses is presented. New thermal finite elements which yield exact nodal and element temperature for one dimensional linear steady state heat transfer problems are developed. A nodeless variable formulation is used to establish improved thermal finite elements for one dimensional nonlinear transient and two dimensional linear transient heat transfer problems. The thermal finite elements provide detailed temperature distributions without using additional element nodes and permit a common discretization with lower order congruent structural finite elements. The accuracy of the integrated approach is evaluated by comparisons with analytical solutions and conventional finite element thermal-structural analyses for a number of academic and more realistic problems. Results indicate that the approach provides a significant improvement in the accuracy and efficiency of thermal stress analysis for structures with complex temperature distributions.

Dechaumphai, P.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Extending TOUGH + HYDRATE with a parallel particle transport simulator: numerical investigation of sand production during gas production from hydrate deposits

A new parallel code for simulating particle transport in porous media is integrated with the TOUGH + HYDRATE simulator to investigate sand production associated with gas production from unconsolidated gas hydrate-bearing sediments (HBS). Here, the parallel coupled simulator is named THMPT and uses the integral finite difference method to describe the Darcian and non-Darcian flow of fluids and heat transport, the finite element method to describe the associated geomechanical changes, and the discrete element method to track the trajectory of individual sand particles within the HBS. The THMPT simulator is written in Fortran, incorporates multiple optimized algorithms, and can comprehensively address the coupled flow, thermal, chemical, geomechanical, and particle transport processes that characterize the system behaviors during gas production from HBS. The simulator can capture all processes involved in sand particle transport in porous media, including sand detachment, collision, clogging (i.e., bridging), and migration. A benchmark case study of sand production in the course of depressurization-induced gas production from a representative HBS reveals various distinct microscopic particle migration mechanisms and the adverse impact of sand particle detachment, transport, and clogging. The numerical investigation also examines the effect of bottomhole pressure on mitigating sand production. The simulation results indicate that sand clogging near the wellbore significantly reduces permeability, decreasing gas production by at least 50%. Lastly, the efficiency of gravel packing in mitigating sand production is numerically evaluated, revealing that the structure of the porous media appears to profoundly influence the macroscopic motion behavior of sand particles and sand clogging characteristics.

discrete element method↗