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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 487 records · Page 27

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DOE OSTI2024

Li-ion battery design through microstructural optimization using generative AI

Lithium-ion batteries are used across various applications, necessitating tailored cell designs to enhance performance. Optimizing electrode manufacturing parameters is a key route to achieving this, as these parameters directly influence the microstructure and performance of the cells. However, linking process parameters to performance is complex, and experimental or modeling campaigns are often slow and expensive. This study introduces a fast computational optimization framework for electrode manufacturing parameters. A generative model, trained on a small dataset of microstructural images associated with different manufacturing parameters, efficiently generates representative microstructures for new parameters. This model is integrated into a Bayesian optimization loop that includes microstructure generation, characterization, and simulation, aiming to find optimal manufacturing parameters for a particular application. Significant improvement in the energy density of a 4680 cell is achieved through bespoke cell design, highlighting the importance of cell-scale normalization. The framework’s modularity allows its application to various advanced materials manufacturing scenarios.

batteries↗

NASA NTRS1994

Progress in navigation filter estimate fusion and its application to spacecraft rendezvous

A new derivation of an algorithm which fuses the outputs of two Kalman filters is presented within the context of previous research in this field. Unlike other works, this derivation clearly shows the combination of estimates to be optimal, minimizing the trace of the fused covariance matrix. The algorithm assumes that the filters use identical models, and are stable and operating optimally with respect to their own local measurements. Evidence is presented which indicates that the error ellipsoid derived from the covariance of the optimally fused estimate is contained within the intersections of the error ellipsoids of the two filters being fused. Modifications which reduce the algorithm's data transmission requirements are also presented, including a scalar gain approximation, a cross-covariance update formula which employs only the two contributing filters' autocovariances, and a form of the algorithm which can be used to reinitialize the two Kalman filters. A sufficient condition for using the optimally fused estimates to periodically reinitialize the Kalman filters in this fashion is presented and proved as a theorem. When these results are applied to an optimal spacecraft rendezvous problem, simulated performance results indicate that the use of optimally fused data leads to significantly improved robustness to initial target vehicle state errors. The following applications of estimate fusion methods to spacecraft rendezvous are also described: state vector differencing, and redundancy management.

Carpenter, J. Russell↗

NASA NTRS2005

Memory-efficient decoding of LDPC codes

We present a low-complexity quantization scheme for the implementation of regular (3,6) LDPC codes. The quantization parameters are optimized to maximize the mutual information between the source and the quantized messages. Using this non-uniform quantized belief propagation algorithm, we have simulated that an optimized 3-bit quantizer operates with 0.2dB implementation loss relative to a floating point decoder, and an optimized 4-bit quantizer operates less than 0.1dB quantization loss.

Low-Density-Parity-Check (LDPC)↗

NASA NTRS1995

Sensitivity Analysis and Optimization of Enclosure Radiation with Applications to Crystal Growth

In engineering, simulation software is often used as a convenient means for carrying out experiments to evaluate physical systems. The benefit of using simulations as 'numerical' experiments is that the experimental conditions can be easily modified and repeated at much lower cost than the comparable physical experiment. The goal of these experiments is to 'improve' the process or result of the experiment. In most cases, the computational experiments employ the same trial and error approach as their physical counterparts. When using this approach for complex systems, the cause and effect relationship of the system may never be fully understood and efficient strategies for improvement never utilized. However, it is possible when running simulations to accurately and efficiently determine the sensitivity of the system results with respect to simulation to accurately and efficiently determine the sensitivity of the system results with respect to simulation parameters (e.g., initial conditions, boundary conditions, and material properties) by manipulating the underlying computations. This results in a better understanding of the system dynamics and gives us efficient means to improve processing conditions. We begin by discussing the steps involved in performing simulations. Then we consider how sensitivity information about simulation results can be obtained and ways this information may be used to improve the process or result of the experiment. Next, we discuss optimization and the efficient algorithms which use sensitivity information. We draw on all this information to propose a generalized approach for integrating simulation and optimization, with an emphasis on software programming issues. After discussing our approach to simulation and optimization we consider an application involving crystal growth. This application is interesting because it includes radiative heat transfer. We discuss the computation of radiative new factors and the impact this mode of heat transfer has on our approach. Finally, we will demonstrate the results of our optimization.

Tiller, Michael M.↗

DOE OSTI2026

Neutral beams for the burning plasma era: Simulations and modeling of deuterium ion beams for plasma heating (CRADA Final Report)

Together with Realta Fusion, we set up several simulation scenarios and ran simulations using the WarpX code which is developed by LBNL and especially by members of the LBNL team. We investigated beam transport and beam neutralization and ran optimization and benchmark simulations. To achieve this, several new features were added to the warpX code. These code additions will also be beneficial to other users of warpX including several fusion companies and researchers at National Laboratories. Furthermore, we supported Realta Fusion in setting up their own instances of WarpX. We presented our results at the American Physical Society Division of Plasma Physics meeting and are in the process of writing a publication that will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal to share our results with the broader community.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

NASA NTRS2015

Strategic Planning of Efficient Oceanic Flights

The efficiency of oceanic flights is low due to limited navigational and communication equipment, congestion and airspace restrictions. The availability of Automated Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) and other improvements provides opportunity for better strategic planning of trajectories. Transatlantic flights between US and Europe constitute one of the busiest oceanic airspace regions in the world. This paper examines the benefits of a wind-optimal trajectory concept with a strategic de-confliction component compared to the current flight planning using the North Atlantic Tracks. The methodology generates a wind-optimal route for each aircraft and a strategic reduction in the potential conflicts between aircraft by a combination of small adjustments to departure times and rerouting. The de-confliction is achieved by optimization techniques involving simulated annealing with local gradient searching. The fuel burn for the tracks in today's Organized Track System are compared with the corresponding quantities for the wind-optimized routes to evaluate the potential benefits of flying wind-optimal routes in North Atlantic Airspace. The analysis is based on air traffic between US and Europe during July 2012. The potential fuel savings depend on existing inefficiencies in current flight plans, atmospheric conditions and location of the city-pairs. The paper provides both aggregate results and detailed examination of some of the most popular city-pairs. Results show that strategic planning can improve the efficiency of flight trajectories by 3 to 5 depending on city-pairs and aircraft type. This translates into a potential fuel savings in the range of (420-970) kg per flight for a Boeing 767-300, the most widely used aircraft between the city-pairs in this study.

oceanic operations↗

DOE OSTI2026

Optimization of an Energy Tuning Assembly for High Explosives Detection

The Portable Isotopic Neutron Spectroscopy (PINS) system, employs neutron-induced gamma-ray spectroscopy and provides a nondestructive method for high explosives detection. In standard operation it uses Californium-252 as a neutron source. Operating PINS with a deuterium-tritium (DT) neutron generator has some advantages over Cf-252, including lifetime and ability to produce high-energy inelastic scattering gamma rays. However, current systems using DT neutron generators suffer from a high environmental background and reduced ability to induce neutron capture, reducing spectral quality and limiting nitrogen sensitivity. Here, this study presents the development of an energy-tuning assembly (ETA) designed to optimize the DT neutron energy spectrum to increase nitrogen reaction rates in a target, thereby improving high explosive detection capabilities. A metaheuristic optimization framework, MultiGNOWEE, coupled with MCNP, was employed to generate two ETA configurations: a single-objective ETA, which maximizes nitrogen capture reactions, and a multi-objective ETA, which balances neutron capture and inelastic scattering. Simulations demonstrated the optimized configurations achieved up to a 10-fold improvement in nitrogen capture rates compared to the bare configuration. Experimental validation was conducted using a DT neutron generator and a high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector. Two prototype ETAs were constructed and assessed on a melamine simulant. Measurements demonstrated improved nitrogen detection for both prototype ETA configurations when compared to the standard system.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

NASA NTRS2002

Overall Traveling-Wave-Tube Efficiency Improved By Optimized Multistage Depressed Collector Design

Depressed Collector Design The microwave traveling wave tube (TWT) is used widely for space communications and high-power airborne transmitting sources. One of the most important features in designing a TWT is overall efficiency. Yet, overall TWT efficiency is strongly dependent on the efficiency of the electron beam collector, particularly for high values of collector efficiency. For these reasons, the NASA Glenn Research Center developed an optimization algorithm based on simulated annealing to quickly design highly efficient multistage depressed collectors (MDC's). Simulated annealing is a strategy for solving highly nonlinear combinatorial optimization problems. Its major advantage over other methods is its ability to avoid becoming trapped in local minima. Simulated annealing is based on an analogy to statistical thermodynamics, specifically the physical process of annealing: heating a material to a temperature that permits many atomic rearrangements and then cooling it carefully and slowly, until it freezes into a strong, minimum-energy crystalline structure. This minimum energy crystal corresponds to the optimal solution of a mathematical optimization problem. The TWT used as a baseline for optimization was the 32-GHz, 10-W, helical TWT developed for the Cassini mission to Saturn. The method of collector analysis and design used was a 2-1/2-dimensional computational procedure that employs two types of codes, a large signal analysis code and an electron trajectory code. The large signal analysis code produces the spatial, energetic, and temporal distributions of the spent beam entering the MDC. An electron trajectory code uses the resultant data to perform the actual collector analysis. The MDC was optimized for maximum MDC efficiency and minimum final kinetic energy of all collected electrons (to reduce heat transfer). The preceding figure shows the geometric and electrical configuration of an optimized collector with an efficiency of 93.8 percent. The results show the improvement in collector efficiency from 89.7 to 93.8 percent, resulting in an increase of three overall efficiency points. In addition, the time to design a highly efficient MDC was reduced from a month to a few days. All work was done in-house at Glenn for the High Rate Data Delivery Program. Future plans include optimizing the MDC and TWT interaction circuit in tandem to further improve overall TWT efficiency.

Vaden, Karl R.↗

NASA NTRS1971

Optimization of life support systems and their systems reliability

The identification, analysis, and optimization of life support systems and subsystems have been investigated. For each system or subsystem that has been considered, the procedure involves the establishment of a set of system equations (or mathematical model) based on theory and experimental evidences; the analysis and simulation of the model; the optimization of the operation, control, and reliability; analysis of sensitivity of the system based on the model; and, if possible, experimental verification of the theoretical and computational results. Research activities include: (1) modeling of air flow in a confined space; (2) review of several different gas-liquid contactors utilizing centrifugal force: (3) review of carbon dioxide reduction contactors in space vehicles and other enclosed structures: (4) application of modern optimal control theory to environmental control of confined spaces; (5) optimal control of class of nonlinear diffusional distributed parameter systems: (6) optimization of system reliability of life support systems and sub-systems: (7) modeling, simulation and optimal control of the human thermal system: and (8) analysis and optimization of the water-vapor eletrolysis cell.

Fan, L. T.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Performance analysis of an optimal file transfer protocol for integrated mobile satellite services

A file-transfer protocol based on the selective-repeat automatic-retransmission-request (ARQ) scheme has been developed for the Mobile Satellite Experiment (MSAT-X). In this protocol, each file is divided into packets, which are error-detected and acknowledge individually. A file can be transferred in either the open- or closed-end connection. In the open-end connection, the file is transmitted continuously according to the selective-repeat scheme until all packets are positively acknowledged; in the closed-end connection, each retransmission will initiate its own connection request. The relationship between the packet size and the average end-to-end delay in the mobile fading environment is investigated. The communications channel uses trellis-coded modulation with symbol interleaving, packet replication, and error detection. The packet error performance in such a channel is evaluated by simulation, and the optimal packet size for various operating conditions is derived, using the simulated results. It is shown that for a symbol-energy-to-noise ratio of 12 dB, each file should be divided into packets of length between 256 bits and 512 bits (excluding the overhead) to minimize the average end-to-end delay.

Wang, Charles C.↗

DOE OSTI2024

Optimal Management of Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings via Safe Reinforcement Learning

Reinforcement learning (RL)-based methods have achieved significant success in managing grid-interactive efficient buildings (GEBs). However, RL does not carry intrinsic guarantees of constraint satisfaction, which may lead to severe safety consequences. Besides, in GEB control applications, most existing safe RL approaches rely only on the regularisation parameters in neural networks or penalty of rewards, which often encounter challenges with parameter tuning and lead to catastrophic constraint violations. To provide enforced safety guarantees in controlling GEBs, this paper designs a physics-inspired safe RL method whose decision-making is enhanced through safe interaction with the environment. Different energy resources in GEBs are optimally managed to minimize energy costs and maximize customer comfort. The proposed approach can achieve strict constraint guarantees based on prior knowledge of a set of developed hard steady-state rules. Simulations on the optimal management of GEBs, including heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), solar photovoltaics, and energy storage systems, demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.

Huo, Xiang↗

DOE OSTI2025

Clifford Circuit-Based Heuristic Optimization of Fermion-To-Qubit Mappings

Simulation of interacting Fermionic Hamiltonians is one of the most promising applications of quantum computers. However, the feasibility of analyzing Fermionic systems with a quantum computer hinges on the efficiency of Fermion-to-qubit mappings that encode nonlocal Fermionic degrees of freedom in local qubit degrees of freedom. While recent studies have highlighted the importance of designing Fermion-to-qubit mappings that are tailored to specific problem Hamiltonians, the methods proposed so far either are restricted to a narrow class of mappings or they use computationally expensive and unscalable brute-force search algorithms. Here, in this work, we address this challenge by designing a heuristic numerical optimization framework for Fermion-to-qubit mappings. To this end, we first translate the Fermion-to-qubit mapping problem to a Clifford circuit optimization problem and then use simulated annealing to optimize the average Pauli weight of the problem Hamiltonian. For all Fermionic Hamiltonians we have considered, the numerically optimized mappings outperform their conventional counterparts, including ternary-tree-based mappings that are known to be optimal for single creation and annihilation operators. We find that our optimized mappings yield between 15% and 40% improvements on the average Pauli weight when the simulation Hamiltonian has an intermediate level of complexity. Most remarkably, the optimized mappings improve the average Pauli weight for 6 × 6 nearest-neighbor hopping and Hubbard models by more than 40% and 20%, respectively. Surprisingly, we also find specific interaction Hamiltonians for which the optimized mapping outperforms any ternary-tree-based mapping. Our results establish heuristic numerical optimization as an effective method for obtaining mappings tailored for specific Fermionic Hamiltonian.

Hamiltonians↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Computational Optimization of a Rotary Valved Pulse Combustor Concept

A resonant pulse combustor valve concept is introduced that utilizes two slotted, coaxial counterrotating discs for mechanical actuation at the combustor inlet. The intended test article for prototype demonstration is a small, 22 in. long, propane fueled laboratory combustor, flowing approximately 0.006 lbm/s of air. The objective is to develop an externally actuated (i.e., active) valve that yields better performance and longer life than the traditional internally actuated (i.e., passive), reed-type valve found on most pulse combustors. The rotary valve motion is optimized using an axisymmetric, two-dimensional computational fluid dynamic simulation with a domain that includes the valve as a moveable interior wall. Parameters such as slew rate, dwell period in the open position, and total closed period are varied using fuel specific impulse as the figure of merit. Variations in fuel injector location and air fuel ratio are also examined. Additionally, the performance impact of leakage from the rotary valve is quantified since leakage is endemic to the design. The optimized simulation results indicate that the rotary valve concept can deliver the desired performance attributes using disc rotational speeds and stresses that are well within the realm of modern materials. A preliminary mechanical valve design is included in the report.

pressure gain combustion↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Computational Optimization of a Rotary Valved Pulse Combustor Concept

pressure gain combustion↗

DOE OSTI2024

Generalized Quantum Signal Processing

Quantum signal processing (QSP) and quantum singular value transformation (QSVT) currently stand as the most efficient techniques for implementing functions of block-encoded matrices, a central task that lies at the heart of most prominent quantum algorithms. However, current QSP approaches face several challenges, such as the restrictions imposed on the family of achievable polynomials and the difficulty of calculating the required phase angles for specific transformations. In this paper, we present a generalized quantum signal processing (GQSP) approach, employing general SU(2) rotations as our signal-processing operators, rather than relying solely on rotations in a single basis. Our approach lifts all practical restrictions on the family of achievable transformations, with the sole remaining condition being that | P | ≤ 1 , a restriction necessary due to the unitary nature of quantum computation. Furthermore, GQSP provides a straightforward recursive formula for determining the rotation angles needed to construct the polynomials in cases where P and Q are known. In cases where only P is known, we provide an efficient optimization algorithm capable of identifying in under a minute of GPU time, a corresponding Q for polynomials of degree on the order of 10 7 . We further illustrate GQSP simplifies QSP-based strategies for Hamiltonian simulation, offer an optimal solution to the ϵ -approximate fractional query problem that requires O ( ( 1 / δ ) + log ( 1 / ϵ ) ) queries to perform where O ( 1 / δ ) is a proved lower bound, and introduces novel approaches for implementing bosonic operators. Moreover, we propose a novel framework for the implementation of normal matrices, demonstrating its applicability through synthesis of diagonal matrices, as well as the development of a new algorithm for convolution through synthesis of circulant matrices using only O ( d log N + log 2 N ) 1 and 2-qubit gates for a filter of lengths d . Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Motlagh, Danial↗

NASA NTRS2002

Virtually Out of This World!

Ames Research Center granted Reality Capture Technologies (RCT), Inc., a license to further develop NASA's Mars Map software platform. The company incorporated NASA#s innovation into software that uses the Virtual Plant Model (VPM)(TM) to structure, modify, and implement the construction sites of industrial facilities, as well as develop, validate, and train operators on procedures. The VPM orchestrates the exchange of information between engineering, production, and business transaction systems. This enables users to simulate, control, and optimize work processes while increasing the reliability of critical business decisions. Engineers can complete the construction process and test various aspects of it in virtual reality before building the actual structure. With virtual access to and simulation of the construction site, project personnel can manage, access control, and respond to changes on complex constructions more effectively. Engineers can also create operating procedures, training, and documentation. Virtual Plant Model(TM) is a trademark of Reality Capture Technologies, Inc.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS2021

Nonlinear Navigation Analysis for a Europa Lander Mission Concept

Navigation strategies typically use linearized techniques to predict maneuver statistics. This method has been successfully employed on numerous high-energy trajectories, but may not be valid for low-energy ones due to the highly non-linear environment. We explore nonlinear navigational techniques applied to a Europa Lander concept by assessing trajectory sensitivity. The linearity assumption is tested at different phases of the endgame trajectory. Maneuver strategies and placement are considered to improve the delivery to Europa. Several cases of non-linear statistical maneuver Monte Carlo simulations are conducted to optimize maneuvers and compare ∆V statistics against conventional linear simulations.

Hernandez, Sonia↗

NASA NTRS1989

CONSOLE: A CAD tandem for optimization-based design interacting with user-supplied simulators

CONSOLE employs a recently developed design methodology (International Journal of Control 43:1693-1721) which provides the designer with a congenial environment to express his problem as a multiple ojective constrained optimization problem and allows him to refine his characterization of optimality when a suboptimal design is approached. To this end, in CONSOLE, the designed formulates the design problem using a high-level language and performs design task and explores tradeoff through a few short and clearly defined commands. The range of problems that can be solved efficiently using a CAD tools depends very much on the ability of this tool to be interfaced with user-supplied simulators. For instance, when designing a control system one makes use of the characteristics of the plant, and therefore, a model of the plant under study has to be made available to the CAD tool. CONSOLE allows for an easy interfacing of almost any simulator the user has available. To date CONSOLE has already been used successfully in many applications, including the design of controllers for a flexible arm and for a robotic manipulator and the solution of a parameter selection problem for a neural network.

Fan, Michael K. H.↗