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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 523 records · Page 29
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

Pore‐Scale Modeling of Carbon Dioxide and Hydrogen Transport During Geologic Gas Storage

Abstract Geologic storage of CO 2 and H 2 are climate‐positive techniques for meeting the energy transition. While similar formations could be considered for both gases, the flow dynamics could differ due to differences in their thermophysical properties. We conduct a rigorous pore‐scale study of water/CO 2 and water/H 2 systems at relevant reservoir conditions in a Bentheimer rock sample using the lattice Boltzmann method to quantify the effects of capillary, viscous, inertial, and wetting forces during gas invasion. At similar conditions, H 2 invasion is weaker compared to CO 2 due to unfavorable viscosity ratios. Increasing flow rate, however, increases the breakthrough saturation for both gas systems in the range of capillary numbers studied. At isolated conditions of flow rate, viscosity ratio, and wettability, local inertial effects are found to be critical and show consistent increase in the invaded gas saturation. The effect of inertial forces persits for both gases across all field conditions tested.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

A fluctuating hydrodynamics model for nanoscale surfactant-laden interfaces

A multispecies diffuse interface model is formulated in a fluctuating hydrodynamics framework for the purpose of simulating surfactant interfaces at the nanoscale. The model generalizes previous work to ternary mixtures, employing a Cahn-Hilliard free energy density combined with incompressible, isothermal fluctuating hydrodynamics where dissipative fluxes include both deterministic and stochastic terms. The intermolecular parameters in the free energy are chosen such that one species acts as a partially miscible surfactant. From Laplace pressure measurements, we show that in this model the surface tension decreases linearly with surfactant concentration, leading to Marangoni convection for interfaces with concentration gradients. In the capillary wave spectrum for interfaces with and without surfactant, we find that for the former, the spectrum deviates significantly from classical capillary wave theory, presumably due to Gibbs elasticity. In non-equilibrium simulations of the Rayleigh-Plateau instability, deterministic simulations showed that the surfactant delays pinching of a fluid cylinder into droplets. However, stochastic simulations indicate that thermal fluctuations disrupt the surfactant's stabilizing effect. Similarly, the spreading of a patch of surfactant, driven by Marangoni convection, was found to be partially suppressed by thermal fluctuations.

Capillary waves↗
DOE OSTI2020

Downward jetting of a dynamic Leidenfrost drop

Jetting is a universal phenomenon frequently observed in nature and industries, for instance in rain drop impact, inkjet printing, spray cooling, fuel atomization, etc. In drop impact on a superheated surface, we observe the formation of a vapor cavity beneath the dynamic Leidenfrost drop and a consecutive downward ejection of a jet into the cavity, using ultrafast x-ray phase contrast imaging. We reveal that the cavity is induced mostly by the retraction of the drop and the jetting is caused by the convergence of capillary waves along the liquid-cavity interface. We find a jetting criterion based on the viscous damping of capillary waves: [OhWe 2 ] ≤ 66 ± 10. These results can provide important insight that leads to understanding and modeling of jets in nature.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2020

Impact of interface materials on side permeation in indirect encapsulation of organic electronics

This work demonstrates the impact of the contact interface between barrier films and adhesives on the side permeation of moisture into packaged devices. When barrier films are brought into contact with the adhesive layer during indirect encapsulation, permeation along defects at this interface can occur due to the imperfect nature of contact, resulting in the formation of pores. The connected network of pores can act as capillaries and be an alternative pathway for water permeation as opposed to the bulk of the adhesive or edge seal materials used for barrier attachment to the package. The rate of water permeation through the capillaries is governed by surface energies of the materials at the interfaces. Experimental results demonstrate that the rate of water permeation is significantly lowered by using materials with higher contact angles at the interface.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Characterizing Natural Organic Matter Transformations by Microbial Communities in Terrestrial Subsurface Ecosystems: A Critical Review of Analytical Techniques and Challenges

Determining the mechanisms, traits, and pathways that regulate microbial transformation of natural organic matter (NOM) is critical to informing our understanding of the microbial impacts on the global carbon cycle. The capillary fringe of subsurface soils is a highly dynamic environment that remains poorly understood. Characterization of organo-mineral chemistry combined with a nuanced understanding of microbial community composition and function is necessary to understand microbial impacts on NOM speciation in the capillary fringe. We present a critical review of the popular analytical and omics techniques used for characterizing complex carbon transformation by microbial communities and focus on how complementary information obtained from the different techniques enable us to connect chemical signatures with microbial genes and pathways. This holistic approach offers a way forward for the comprehensive characterization of the formation, transformation, and mineralization of terrestrial NOM as influenced by microbial communities.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1996

Altimeter Observations of Baroclinic Oceanic Inertia-Gravity Wave Turbulence

For a wide range of nonlinear wave processes - from capillary to planetary waves - theory predicts the existence of Kolmogorov-type spectral cascades of energy and other conserved quantities occuring via nonlinear resonant wave-wave interactions. So far, observations of wave turbulence (WT) have been limited to small-scale processes such as surface gravity and capillary-gravity waves.

wave processees capillary waves planetary waves Ko↗
NASA NTRS2019

The Unrealized Potential of Superhydrophobic Substrates in Advanced Life Support Systems

Nearly all water processing equipment aboard spacecraft is to a large extent controlled by capillary forces arising from substrate wetting conditions. Superhydrophobic wetting conditions provide an essentially passive means to keep water away from certain substrates providing a level of no-moving-parts phase separation and control. This work presents a host of non-wetting aqueous microgravity capillary fluidics phenomena arising from interactions with easily fabricated superhydrophobic substrates. The value of such phenomena for potential life support applications aboard spacecraft is clear, especially for substrate properties that are thermally robust, corrosion resistant, and self-cleaning for both long- and short term applications. Large length scale low-g demonstrations of the phenomena are provided in HD video format for the extensive drop tower tests conducted. The broader crosscutting impacts to numerous fluids processing operations for life support are discussed. Current practical applications addressed in light of superhydrophobicity include urine-processing, water recovery, fire safety, and others.

Superhydrophoic↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Plant Water Management in Microgravity

The NASA Plant Water Management (PWM) technology demonstrations aboard ISS apply recent advances in microgravity capillary fluidics research towards the mundane yet problematic challenges of simply watering plants in space. Plant growth in a low-g environment is often hampered by inadequate aeration and over-saturation of the root zone. The present effort aims to exploit the passive capillary forces of poorly wetting liquids (i.e., contaminated water) within unique system geometries that effectively replace the role of gravity in providing sufficient aeration and hydration for simulated plants. Several flight demonstrations have been completed on ISS, including soil and hydroponic models in single and parallel channel networks. Two future demonstrations are still in work and plan to further develop the system to handle sustained plant growth with additional sensors to monitor the growth environment. The results to date demonstrate proof-of-concept, system stability, limits of operation, and more, for simulated plant models. Eventually, real plants will be incorporated into these systems and tested on orbit. The implications are discussed in relation to plant growth facilities for further near-term microgravity plant science research as well as for automated food production for long duration human exploration missions.

microgravity↗
NASA NTRS2024

The CapiSorb Visible System (CVS) Demonstrations on ISS

Falling liquid film amine sorbent reactors have been successfully employed to scrub CO 2 aboard submarines for decades. However, applying such proven methods aboard orbiting and coast spacecraft is significantly challenged by the nearly weightless environment, where liquid sprays and films do not fall, and vapor bubbles and gases do not rise. The Capillary Sorbent (CapiSorb) Visible System (CVS) is a technology demonstration experiment performed aboard the ISS April 18 – 21, 2023. The system establishes stable steady thin liquid film flows in Contactor (absorber) and Degasser (desorber/stripper) replacing the passive role of gravity with the combined passive roles of surface tension, wetting, and system geometry. A TOX-0 fructose ersatz liquid sorbent is employed enabling ‘transparent’ experiments performed and filmed by the crew safely in the open cabin of the ISS. Completed objectives include demonstrations of stable passive ‘massively’ parallel planar thin film capillary flows across atmospheric pressure Contactor and sealed heated Degasser. The impacts of varying flow rate, flow direction, heat input, viscosity, positive and negative Degasser pressures, condensate collection and return, fluid distribution, interfacial stability, and others are reported. At least 49 diagnostics are recorded for digitization and subsequent thermal-fluids model validation by a single HD video downlink during the nearly 22 hours of operations. An overview of the flight hardware including description of the components, diagnostics, crew procedures, flight operations, and summary of accomplishments is reported in Ref. 1. Further details of the diagnostics, tests performed, and data reduction is reported in Ref. 2. This report collects both1,2 into a single report adding methods of data digitization, reduction, and archive along with analyses and discussions of technology impacts.

microgravity↗
DOE OSTI2022

A 1D–0D–3D coupled model for simulating blood flow and transport processes in breast tissue

In this work, we present mixed dimensional models for simulating blood flow and transport processes in breast tissue and the vascular tree supplying it. These processes are considered, to start from the aortic inlet to the capillaries and tissue of the breast. Large variations in biophysical properties and flow conditions exist in this system necessitating the use of different flow models for different geometries and flow regimes. In total, we consider four different model types. First, a system of 1D nonlinear hyperbolic partial differential equations (PDEs) is considered to simulate blood flow in larger arteries with highly elastic vessel walls. Second, we assign 1D linearized hyperbolic PDEs to model the smaller arteries with stiffer vessel walls. The third model type consists of ODE systems (0D models). It is used to model the arterioles and peripheral circulation. Finally, homogenized 3D porous media models are considered to simulate flow and transport in capillaries and tissue within the breast volume. Sink terms are used to account for the influence of the venous and lymphatic systems. Combining the four model types, we obtain two different 1D–0D–3D coupled models for simulating blood flow and transport processes: The first model results in a fully coupled 1D–0D–3D model covering the complete path from the aorta to the breast combining a generic arterial network with a patient specific breast network and geometry. The second model is a reduced one based on the separation of the generic and patient specific parts. The information from a calibrated fully coupled model is used as inflow condition for the patient specific sub-model allowing a significant computational cost reduction. Several numerical experiments are conducted to calibrate the generic model parameters and to demonstrate realistic flow simulations compared to existing data on blood flow in the human breast and vascular system. Moreover, we use two different breast vasculature and tissue data sets to illustrate the robustness of our reduced sub-model approach.

multiscale blood flow models↗
DOE OSTI2021

Preconditioners for multiphase poromechanics with strong capillarity

This paper aims to enhance the performance of Newton–Krylov solvers for coupled poromechanical problems with two-phase flow. In particular, we investigate the impact of capillary pressure on preconditioning strategies. Capillarity complicates the coupling between the solid deformation and fluid pressure degrees of freedom, as well as increases the nonlinearity of the system. Depending on the capillary pressure relation used in the constitutive formulation, the flow equations may exhibit a spectrum of advection-dominated to diffusion-dominated behavior. We propose preconditioning approaches that account for this behavior and lead to robust numerical performance within a broad range of regimes.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2025

Heterogeneous Catalysis by Fullerene C 60 : Photocatalytic Dehydro‐Dimerization of Primary Amines and Tetrahydroquinolines Studied Using Thread Spray Mass Spectrometry

Abstract Removal of a catalyst after a catalytic process is a time‐consuming and challenging process. In this paper, a fullerene catalyst coated on cellulose thread is developed and applied it in a heterogeneous photoreaction screening via a thread spray mass spectrometry (MS) platform. The surface of the cellulose thread is modified with NH 2 groups, which subsequently allows immobilization of fullerene C 60 on the thread. The final fullerene functionalized thread is placed in a glass capillary and the solution of the reactant to be interrogated is added. The assembly of thread and glass capillary is placed in front of a mass spectrometer, which serves as an online photoreaction platform after a light source and direct current high voltage are applied. As an ambient ionization approach, the photocatalytic reaction screening platform enabled real‐time MS characterization of products and intermediates and using only nanomole quantities of reactants. Fullerene C 60 is identified to facilitate dehydro‐dimerization reactions from amines. Norharmane shows a unique photo‐oxygenated dimer formation. The functionalized threads immobilized with fullerene C 60 are reusable, confirming the heterogeneous nature of the platform. Thus, this system provided real‐time screening of reactions catalyzed by fullerene C 60 and a means to investigate the reaction mechanism.

Chemistry↗
DOE OSTI2020

A versatile and low-cost chip-to-world interface: enabling ICP-MS characterization of isotachophoretically separated lanthanides on a microfluidic device

Microfluidics offer novel and state-of-the-art pathways to process materials. Microfluidic systems drastically reduce timeframes and costs associated with traditional lab-scale efforts in the area of analytical sample preparations. The challenge arises in effectively connecting microfluidics to off-chip analysis tools to accurately characterize samples after treatment on-chip. Here, a fused silica microfluidic device (MFD) is connected to a fused-silica capillary in order to create a world-to-chip connection between the MFD and an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). Specifically, this is demonstrated by utilizing isotachophoresis (ITP) on a microfluidic chip to separate samples containing up to 14 lanthanides into elementally pure bands. The separated sample is successfully transferred across a 7 nL dead space at the microchip-capillary junction, such that separation resolution is maintained and even increased through the interface and into the ICP-MS, where the elemental composition of the separated sample is analysed. Lanthanide samples of varying composition are detected using ICP-MS, demonstrating this versatile and cost-effective approach that does not degrade the separation quality achieved on the MFD. This simple and inexpensive connection enables fast, low-cost sample preparation immediately prior to injection into an ICP-MS or other analytical instruments.

Lackey, Hope E.↗
DOE OSTI2022

A generalized 3D elastic model for nanoscale, self-assembled oxide-metal thin films with pillar-in-matrix configurations

In recent years, functional oxide-metal based vertically aligned nanocomposite (VAN) thin films have gained interest due to their intriguing physical properties and multifunctionalities stemming from the complex interactions between the two phases in the film and the substrate. In this work, we develop a model for studying the energetics of these thin film systems, including the effects of both lattice mismatch and capillary forces due to interface curvature. Each phase is incorporated into the model using a phase indicator function, and we introduce the capillary forces as body forces using a vector density representation of the interface. The model is implemented using the finite element method to study the deformation of the thin film which is composed of Au nanopillars embedded in a La 0.7 Sr 0.3 MnO 3 (LSMO) matrix on an SrTiO 3 (STO) substrate. Further, the results suggest that the total energy is lowest for random configurations of pillars compared to ordered square and hexagonal lattice configurations, consistent with the random distribution of pillars found in experiments. Furthermore, we find that the interfacial energy dominates the total energy of each configuration, suggesting that interfacial energy in the system is an important design parameter for nanocomposite growth, along with the lattice mismatch.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

New insights into the mechanism of ultrasonic atomization for the production of metal powders in additive manufacturing

Ultrasonic atomization is one of the promising technologies for producing metal powders for additive manufacturing, where precise control of particle size and morphology is essential. In this study, we coupled an ultrasonic transducer with a carbon fiber plate and atomized liquid droplets and films under different vibration amplitudes. Water, glycerol, and pure aluminum melt were used to study the atomization mechanism and the resulting droplet/powder characteristics, respectively. High-speed optical and ultrafast synchrotron X-ray imaging were used to study in situ the ultrasonic atomization dynamics, including pulsation and clustering of cavities inside the liquid layer/films, development of capillary waves, and formation of liquid droplets. For the first time, we observed and captured the occurrence of cavitation during the atomization of resting drops, films and impact droplets. The inertial cavitation events interfered with the capillary waves across the interphase boundary, puncturing and breaking the boundary to produce atomized mist. The in situ observation revealed the intricate dynamics of ultrasonic atomization and underscored the pivotal role of cavitation events throughout the entire atomization process. We also conducted experiments on ultrasonic atomization of liquid aluminum, producing particles of perfectly spherical shape. The particle size tended to decrease with reduced vibration amplitude Our work has demonstrated the important processing strategies on how to tailor the particle size while ensuring consistent particle shape and morphology, which is the key processing capability for producing high quality powders for additive manufacturing applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Onset dynamics of air-water menisci on rock fracture surfaces

Information on menisci dynamics and equilibrium contact angles, θ e , is needed for modeling multiphase flow of fluids in geologic formations. The wettability of fracture faces is relevant to applications such as waterflooding in enhanced oil recovery and evaluation of caprock integrity for geologic carbon sequestration. We investigated the vertical capillary rise of air-water menisci on exposed fracture faces for a sandstone, a shale, and three granites. The experimental design approximated that employed in the Wilhelmy plate method. Replicate fracture faces were prepared by fracturing cylindrical rock cores using the Brazilian method and splitting the fractured cores apart along their fracture planes. Meniscus onset was imaged from a cross-sectional perspective using dynamic neutron radiography, and quantified with change point analysis. An existing model for meniscus onset fitted the experimental data very well (median R 2 = 0.96). Capillary rise was typified by t 2/3 scaling (where t is time), followed by a constant equilibrium height, z e . The average time taken for the menisci to reach z e was 0.39 s, with no differences between rock types. The menisci achieved a greater vertical extent on the fracture faces of the sedimentary rocks as compared to those of the granites. Apparent θ e values were calculated from the best fit estimates of z e using the Wilhelmy plate equation for a smooth and planar vertical surface. Despite the fractal roughness of some of the fracture faces, there was a significant linear relationship (R 2 = 0.80) between the apparent θ e values and intrinsic θ e values measured on polished surfaces of the same rocks using the sessile drop method. The regression equation indicated the apparent θ e values were consistently greater than the intrinsic values. This overestimation may be due to averaging of pixels at the air-water-solid interface, a required step in the image analysis. Further exploration of the range of applicability and measurement accuracy of this proposed new technique would be valuable.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Porous mesh manifold for enhanced boiling performance

High-performance electronics are continuously demanding cooling of higher heat fluxes. Phase-change cooling, including pool boiling, is a useful approach to address this challenge; however, competition between liquid and vapor flows generally limit the heat fluxes that can be dissipated. A range of strategies to control these flows have been investigated previously, including capillary guides. Here a manifold structure formed from a metallic mesh is investigated to control the disposition of liquid and vapor phases above a pool fed boiling surface enhanced with porous structures. Copper mesh forms defined liquid flow paths, using capillary action to guide and distribute liquid evenly over the heated surface, along with open channels to facilitate vapor escape. The mesh provides a novel structure for liquid guidance that imposes low resistance to liquid flow while occluding a minimal area of heated surface underneath. The manifold performance is characterized in boiling fed by a pool of water above a laser-textured aluminum nitride heat dissipation surface with pin–fin structures having heights of 110 µm and spacing of 30 µm with a heated area of 5 mm x 5 mm. A maximum heat flux of 490 W/cm 2 is reached with the manifold in the pool fed configuration, representing an increase of more than 65% over the porous pin fin surface alone. The maximum stable superheat observed for the manifold of 36K is 14K higher than that for the porous surface without the manifold. The factors limiting performance of the manifold are analyzed. High superheat is attributed to partial flooding of the boiling surface as suggested by the reduction in superheat using external suction. Similar systems and structures for enhanced two-phase cooling are compared.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2021

Microstructure and water absorption of ancient concrete from Pompeii: An integrated synchrotron microtomography and neutron radiography characterization

There is renewed interest in using advanced techniques to characterize ancient Roman concrete due to its exceptional durability and low-carbon footprint. In the present work, samples were drilled from the “Hospitium” in Pompeii and were analyzed by synchrotron microtomography (μCT) and neutron radiography to study how the microstructure, including the presence of induced cracks, affects their water adsorption. The water distribution and absorptivity were quantified by neutron radiography. The 3D crack propagation, pore size distribution and orientation, tortuosity, and connectivity were analyzed from μCT results using advanced imaging methods. Porosity was also measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) as a reference. Ductile fracture patterns were observed once cracks were introduced. Compared to Portland cement mortar/concrete, the Pompeii samples had relatively high porosity, low connectivity, and a similar coefficient of capillary penetration. In addition, permeability was predicted from models based on percolation theory and pore structure data to evaluate the fluid transport properties. Understanding the microstructure of ancient Pompeii concrete is important because it could inspire the development of modern concrete with high durability.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗