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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 OSTI2015

Validation of an in-vivo proton beam range check method in an anthropomorphic pelvic phantom using dose measurements

Purpose: In-vivo dosimetry and beam range verification in proton therapy could play significant role in proton treatment validation and improvements. In-vivo beam range verification, in particular, could enable new treatment techniques one of which could be the use of anterior fields for prostate treatment instead of opposed lateral fields as in current practice. This paper reports validation study of an in-vivo range verification method which can reduce the range uncertainty to submillimeter levels and potentially allow for in-vivo dosimetry. Methods: An anthropomorphic pelvic phantom is used to validate the clinical potential of the time-resolved dose method for range verification in the case of prostrate treatment using range modulated anterior proton beams. The method uses a 3 × 4 matrix of 1 mm diodes mounted in water balloon which are read by an ADC system at 100 kHz. The method is first validated against beam range measurements by dose extinction measurements. The validation is first completed in water phantom and then in pelvic phantom for both open field and treatment field configurations. Later, the beam range results are compared with the water equivalent path length (WEPL) values computed from the treatment planning system XIO. Results: Beam range measurements from both time-resolved dose method and the dose extinction method agree with submillimeter precision in water phantom. For the pelvic phantom, when discarding two of the diodes that show sign of significant range mixing, the two methods agree with ±1 mm. Only a dose of 7 mGy is sufficient to achieve this result. The comparison to the computed WEPL by the treatment planning system (XIO) shows that XIO underestimates the protons beam range. Quantifying the exact XIO range underestimation depends on the strategy used to evaluate the WEPL results. To our best evaluation, XIO underestimates the treatment beam range between a minimum of 1.7% and maximum of 4.1%. Conclusions: Time-resolved dose measurement method satisfies the two basic requirements, WEPL accuracy and minimum dose, necessary for clinical use, thus, its potential for in-vivo protons range verification. Further development is needed, namely, devising a workflow that takes into account the limits imposed by proton range mixing and the susceptibility of the comparison of measured and expected WEPLs to errors on the detector positions. The methods may also be used for in-vivo dosimetry and could benefit various proton therapy treatments.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Pre-treating anaerobic mixed microflora with waste frying oil: A novel method to inhibit hydrogen consumption

Highlights: • Waste frying oil was successfully used as an inhibitor for H{sub 2} consumption during dark fermentation of mixed cultures. • Methane production in pre-treated cultures decreased significantly. • Duration of pre-treatment and concentration of waste frying oil affected H{sub 2} production. • Volatile fatty acids accumulation increased with waste frying oil concentration. - Abstract: An innovative method was introduced to inhibit methanogenic H{sub 2} consumption during dark fermentative hydrogen production by anaerobic mixed cultures. Waste frying oil was used as an inhibitor for hydrogenotrophic methanogens. Simultaneous effect of waste frying oil concentrations (0–20 g/L) and initial pH (5.5, 6.5 and 7.5) on inhibition of methanogenic H{sub 2} consumption and enhancement of H{sub 2} accumulation were investigated using glucose as substrate. Enhanced hydrogen yields with decreased methane productions were observed with increasing the waste frying oil concentrations. On average, CH{sub 4} productions from glucose in the cultures received 10 g/L WFO were reduced by 88%. Increased WFO concentration up to 20 g/L led to negligible CH{sub 4} productions and in turn enhanced H{sub 2} yields. Hydrogen yields of 209.26, 195.35 and 185.60 mL/g glucose{sub added} were obtained for the cultures pre-treated with 20 g/L waste frying oil with initial pH of 5.5, 6.5 and 7.5 respectively. H{sub 2} production by pre-treated cultures was also studied using a synthetic food waste. Anaerobic mixed cultures were pre-treated with 10 g/L WFO and varying durations (0, 24 and 48 h). A H{sub 2} yield of 71.46 mL/g VS was obtained for cultures pre-treated with 10 g/L WFO for 48 h that was 475% higher than untreated control. This study suggests a novel and inexpensive approach for suppressing hydrogenotrophic methanogens during dark fermentative H{sub 2} production.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2019

Solvothermal Synthesis of Mesoporous Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} Nanoparticles in Mixed Solvent of Ethylene Glycol and Water: Structure and Magnetic Properties

Mesoporous Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} nanoparticles were synthesized by a solvothermal method, via a mixed solvent of ethylene glycol (EG) and deionized water, using iron chloride and urea as the precursors. The phase, morphology, and pore structure are investigated by the characterization of X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and N{sub 2} isotherm adsorption–desorption. The results show that the amount of water in the mixed solvent plays vital role in controlling the size of Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} nanoparticles, specific surface area, and pore size. Additionally, solid Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} nanospheres were prepared using only EG as solvent, while α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanosized polyhedrals were obtained with only water as solvent. The mesoporous Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} nanoparticles show a ferromagnetic behavior, with saturation magnetizations (Ms) of 78–82 emu g{sup − 1} and coercivities (Hc) ranging from 13–58 Oe. The α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticles also exhibit a weak-ferrimagnetic character, with a remanent magnetization (Mr) of 0.24 emu g{sup − 1}, and Hc of 558 Oe.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2015

Microreactor and method for preparing a radiolabeled complex or a biomolecule conjugate

A microreactor for preparing a radiolabeled complex or a biomolecule conjugate comprises a microchannel for fluid flow, where the microchannel comprises a mixing portion comprising one or more passive mixing elements, and a reservoir for incubating a mixed fluid. The reservoir is in fluid communication with the microchannel and is disposed downstream of the mixing portion. A method of preparing a radiolabeled complex includes flowing a radiometal solution comprising a metallic radionuclide through a downstream mixing portion of a microchannel, where the downstream mixing portion includes one or more passive mixing elements, and flowing a ligand solution comprising a bifunctional chelator through the downstream mixing portion. The ligand solution and the radiometal solution are passively mixed while in the downstream mixing portion to initiate a chelation reaction between the metallic radionuclide and the bifunctional chelator. The chelation reaction is completed to form a radiolabeled complex.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2012

Study on the formation of Co{sub x}Fe{sub 3−x}O{sub 4} system using two low temperature synthesis methods

Graphical abstract: Display Omitted Highlights: ► Co{sub x}Fe{sub 3−x}O{sub 4} nanopowders are synthesized by two synthesis methods. ► The thermal decomposition of mixed Fe(III), Co(II) carboxylates method is original. ► For x = 1.0, CoFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} crystallizes as single phase at low temperatures by both methods. ► The presence of secondary phases for x ≠ 1 influences the magnetic properties. ► The particles are nanosized (<50 nm) leading to sintering at lower temperatures. -- Abstract: This paper presents a study regarding the cobalt ferrite obtaining in the Co{sub x}Fe{sub 3−x}O{sub 4} system, where x = 0.5; 1.0; 1.5 by two different synthesis methods. The Co(II) and Fe(III) complexes method leads to the thermal decomposition at 300 °C for this precursor with the pure cobalt ferrite (CoFe{sub 2}O{sub 4}) formation for x = 1 or mixed with γ-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} for x = 0.5 and Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} for x = 1.5. By co-precipitation followed by ultrasonic milling synthesis method the pure cobalt ferrite is obtained at 90 °C for x = 1 or mixed with Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} for x = 0.5 and Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} for x = 1.5. When the initial samples are heated at 400 °C, the identified oxide phase is identical for the same value of x. The obtained powders were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), FTIR spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDX). The final product has nanometric size and has a strong tendency to agglomerated, thus influencing the saturation magnetization value. The shape of the magnetization curves is influenced by the presence of the secondary phases for x ≠ 1.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2014

A discussion on the origin of quantum probabilities

We study the origin of quantum probabilities as arising from non-Boolean propositional-operational structures. We apply the method developed by Cox to non distributive lattices and develop an alternative formulation of non-Kolmogorovian probability measures for quantum mechanics. By generalizing the method presented in previous works, we outline a general framework for the deduction of probabilities in general propositional structures represented by lattices (including the non-distributive case). -- Highlights: •Several recent works use a derivation similar to that of R.T. Cox to obtain quantum probabilities. •We apply Cox’s method to the lattice of subspaces of the Hilbert space. •We obtain a derivation of quantum probabilities which includes mixed states. •The method presented in this work is susceptible to generalization. •It includes quantum mechanics and classical mechanics as particular cases.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
NASA NTRS1983

Improvement of mixed time implicit-explicit algorithms for thermal analysis of structures

Computer implementation aspects and numerical evaluation of the recently introduced mixed time implicit-explicit algorithms in thermal analysis of structures are presented. A computationally useful method of estimating the critical time step for a linear quadrilateral element is given herein for the methods introduced by Liu and co-workers. Numerical tests confirm the stability criterion and accuracy characteristics of the methods. The superiority of these mixed time methods to the fully implicit method or the fully explicit method is also demonstrated.

Liu, W. K.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Viscous flow analysis in mixed flow rotors

A method for analyzing the viscous flow through turbomachine rotors is presented. The field analysis is based upon the solution of the full Navier-Stokes equations over the rotor blade-to-blade stream channels. An Alternating-Direction-Implicit method is employed to carry out the necessary numerical integration of the elliptic governing equations. The flow analysis may be applied to various types of turbomachine rotors. Preliminarily, only the case of laminar flows are considered in this paper. The flow characteristics within the rotors of a mixed flow turbine and a radial bladed compressor are investigated over a wide range of operating conditions. Excellent results are obtained when compared with existing experimental data. The method of this analysis is quite general and can deal with a wide range of applications. Possible modification of the present study to deal with turbulent flow cases are also identified.

Khalil, I.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Reconstruction of magnetic island electron temperature in mixed second and third harmonic electron cyclotron emission conditions

Here we develop a method to use the mixed third and second harmonic electron cyclotron emission (ECE) signal in the DIII-D tokamak to reconstruct the electron temperature profile of a rotating magnetic island. The third harmonic ECE is removed by extracting the rotating-island-associated fluctuations in the mixed signal, and the extracted fluctuation is combined with the equilibrium temperature obtained from other diagnostics after correcting for the third harmonic reabsorption. The accuracy of the reconstruction is studied by considering a DIII-D shot where an unmixed signal from an island is available on the low field side of the plasma and a mixed signal from the same island is available from the high field side. It is found that the reconstruction method successfully reproduces the island shape and temperature perturbation magnitude without the distortion caused by third harmonic ECE mixing. However, the radial location of the reconstructed island is somewhat displaced relative to the location of the q = 2 surface in the axisymmetric equilibrium reconstruction, resulting in a corresponding inaccuracy in the absolute temperature of the island. It is conjectured that this may arise from an inaccuracy of the reconstructed axisymmetric equilibrium in this region.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS1992

Numerical study on mixing of sprayed liquid in an LNG storage tank

This paper presents a numerical method to simulate the mixing of heavier LNG sprayed on lighter layer. Numerical results for evolutions of flow field and density field are obtained in a rectangular computational domain which includes the vicinity of the liquid surface. At the surface boundary, uniform distributions of the fluid velocity and the density are assumed. Detail structure of flow caused by impingements of liquid drops are neglected. But, to trigger a realistic motion, a series of random numbers is employed. It is used as an initial distribution of the density near the surface. This method successfully gives a realistic simulation of the mixing process. Numerical results for mixing velocity shows good agreement with experimental data.

Uchida, Hiroyuki↗
DOE OSTI2018

Scalable hierarchical PDE sampler for generating spatially correlated random fields using nonmatching meshes: Scalable hierarchical PDE sampler using nonmatching meshes

This work describes a domain embedding technique between two nonmatching meshes used for generating realizations of spatially correlated random fields with applications to large-scale sampling-based uncertainty quantification. The goal is to apply the multilevel Monte Carlo (MLMC) method for the quantification of output uncertainties of PDEs with random input coefficients on general and unstructured computational domains. We propose a highly scalable, hierarchical sampling method to generate realizations of a Gaussian random field on a given unstructured mesh by solving a reaction–diffusion PDE with a stochastic right-hand side. The stochastic PDE is discretized using the mixed finite element method on an embedded domain with a structured mesh, and then, the solution is projected onto the unstructured mesh. This work describes implementation details on how to efficiently transfer data from the structured and unstructured meshes at coarse levels, assuming that this can be done efficiently on the finest level. We investigate the efficiency and parallel scalability of the technique for the scalable generation of Gaussian random fields in three dimensions. An application of the MLMC method is presented for quantifying uncertainties of subsurface flow problems. Here, we demonstrate the scalability of the sampling method with nonmatching mesh embedding, coupled with a parallel forward model problem solver, for large-scale 3D MLMC simulations with up to 1.9·109 unknowns.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2019

Numerical tests of coherence-corrected surface hopping methods using a donor-bridge-acceptor model system

Surface hopping (SH) is a popular mixed quantum-classical method for modeling nonadiabatic excited state processes in molecules and condensed phase materials. The method is simple, efficient, and easy to implement, but the use of classical and independent nuclear trajectories introduces an overcoherence in the electronic density matrix which, if ignored, often leads to spurious results, such as overestimated reaction rates. Several methods have been proposed to incorporate decoherence into SH simulations, but a lack of insightful benchmarks makes their relative accuracy unknown. Herein, we run numerical simulations of common coherence-corrected SH methods including Truhlar’s decay-of-mixing (DOM) and Subotnik’s augmented SH using a Donor-bridge-Acceptor (DbA) model system. Numerical simulations are carried out in the superexchange regime, where charge transfer proceeds from a donor to an acceptor as a result of donor-bridge and bridge-acceptor couplings. The computed donor-to-acceptor reaction rates are compared to the reference Marcus theory results. For the DbA model under consideration, augmented SH recovers Marcus theory with quantitative accuracy, whereas DOM is only qualitatively accurate depending on whether predefined parameters in the decoherence rate are chosen wisely. We propose a general method for parameterizing the decoherence rate in the DOM method, which improves the method’s reaction rates and presumably increases its transferability. Altogether, the decoherence method of choice must be chosen with great care and this work provides insight using an exactly solvable model.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2013

Synthesis and structure of nanocrystalline mixed Ce–Yb silicates

Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • New method of synthesis of nanocrystalline mixed lanthanide silicates is proposed. • Formation of A-type (Ce{sub 1−y}Yb{sub y}){sub 2}Si{sub 2}O{sub 7} in well dispersed Ce{sub 1−x}Yb{sub x}O{sub 2−(x/2)}–SiO{sub 2} system. • Formation of Yb{sub y}Ce{sub 9.33−y}(SiO{sub 4}){sub 6}O{sub 2} in agglomerated Ce{sub 1−x}Yb{sub x}O{sub 2−(x/2)}–SiO{sub 2} system. - Abstract: This work presents results of studies on synthesis and structure of mixed, nanocrystalline Ce–Yb silicates. Using TEM, XRD and FTIR we showed that heat treatment of nanocrystalline Ce{sub 1−x}Yb{sub x}O{sub 2−(x/2)} (x = 0.3, 0.5) mixed oxide supported on amorphous silica in reducing atmosphere, results in formation of Ce–Yb mixed silicates. Dispersion of the oxide on the silica surface and thus a local lanthanide/Si atomic ratio determines the stoichiometry of the silicate. Oxide crystallites uniformly dispersed on the silica surface transformed into A-(Ce{sub 1−y}Yb{sub y}){sub 2}Si{sub 2}O{sub 7} disilicate, while the agglomerated nanoparticles converted into Yb{sub y}Ce{sub 9.33−y}(SiO{sub 4}){sub 6}O{sub 2} oxyapatite silicate as an intermediate phase.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS2015

Nutrient Recovery of Plant Leachates Under Thermal, Biological, and Photocatalytic Pretreatments

Nutrient recovery has always been a problem for long distance and long-term space missions. To allow humans to man these missions, a steady source of oxygen, water, and food are necessary for survival beyond Earth's atmosphere. Plants are currently an area of interest since they are capable of providing all three resources for life sustainability. We are currently interested in nutrient recovery for future plant growth and simple aqueous leachate extractions can recover some of the nutrients. However, leaching plants also removes water-soluble organic plant wastes, which inhibits plant growth if not separated properly. To combat the issues with waste and maximize nutrient recovery, we are attempting to pre-treat the plant matter using biological, thermal, and photocatalytic methods before subjecting the solution with variable-strength acid digestion. For the biological method, the inoculums: mixed heterotrophic/nitrifying bioreactor effluent and Trichoderma vessei are used in an attempt to liberate more nutrients from the plant matter. For the thermal method, plants are subjected to varying temperatures at different retention times to determine nutrient recovery. Lastly, the photocatalytic method utilizes TiO (sub 2)'s oxidizing abilities under specific pHs and retention times to reduce organic wastes and improve nutrient gains. A final acid digestion serves to liberate nutrients even further in order to maximize recovery. So far, we have tested ideal acid digestion variables for practicality and performance in our experiments. We found that a low retention time of 10 minutes and a high acid concentration of 0.1 and 1 mole HCl were the most effective at nutrient recovery. For space travel purposes, 0.1 mole currently looks like a viable acid digestion to use since it is relatively effective and sustainable from a mass and energy balance if acid recovery can be performed on waste brines. Biological pretreatments do not look to be too effective and the thermal and photocatalytic methods may be preferred since they show a potential to recover more than 70 percent of the nutrients.

Photocatalytic↗
NASA NTRS2012

Calculation of Sensitivity Derivatives in an MDAO Framework

During gradient-based optimization of a system, it is necessary to generate the derivatives of each objective and constraint with respect to each design parameter. If the system is multidisciplinary, it may consist of a set of smaller "components" with some arbitrary data interconnection and process work ow. Analytical derivatives in these components can be used to improve the speed and accuracy of the derivative calculation over a purely numerical calculation; however, a multidisciplinary system may include both components for which derivatives are available and components for which they are not. Three methods to calculate the sensitivity of a mixed multidisciplinary system are presented: the finite difference method, where the derivatives are calculated numerically; the chain rule method, where the derivatives are successively cascaded along the system's network graph; and the analytic method, where the derivatives come from the solution of a linear system of equations. Some improvements to these methods, to accommodate mixed multidisciplinary systems, are also presented; in particular, a new method is introduced to allow existing derivatives to be used inside of finite difference. All three methods are implemented and demonstrated in the open-source MDAO framework OpenMDAO. It was found that there are advantages to each of them depending on the system being solved.

Moore, Kenneth T.↗
NASA NTRS1978

On least squares approximations to indefinite problems of the mixed type

A least squares method is presented for computing approximate solutions of indefinite partial differential equations of the mixed type such as those that arise in connection with transonic flutter analysis. The method retains the advantages of finite difference schemes namely simplicity and sparsity of the resulting matrix system. However, it offers some great advantages over finite difference schemes. First, the method is insensitive to the value of the forcing frequency, i.e., the resulting matrix system is always symmetric and positive definite. As a result, iterative methods may be successfully employed to solve the matrix system, thus taking full advantage of the sparsity. Furthermore, the method is insensitive to the type of the partial differential equation, i.e., the computational algorithm is the same in elliptic and hyperbolic regions. In this work the method is formulated and numerical results for model problems are presented. Some theoretical aspects of least squares approximations are also discussed.

Fix, G. J.↗
NASA NTRS2012

The Ground Flash Fraction Retrieval Algorithm Employing Differential Evolution: Simulations and Applications

The ability to estimate the fraction of ground flashes in a set of flashes observed by a satellite lightning imager, such as the future GOES-R Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM), would likely improve operational and scientific applications (e.g., severe weather warnings, lightning nitrogen oxides studies, and global electric circuit analyses). A Bayesian inversion method, called the Ground Flash Fraction Retrieval Algorithm (GoFFRA), was recently developed for estimating the ground flash fraction. The method uses a constrained mixed exponential distribution model to describe a particular lightning optical measurement called the Maximum Group Area (MGA). To obtain the optimum model parameters (one of which is the desired ground flash fraction), a scalar function must be minimized. This minimization is difficult because of two problems: (1) Label Switching (LS), and (2) Parameter Identity Theft (PIT). The LS problem is well known in the literature on mixed exponential distributions, and the PIT problem was discovered in this study. Each problem occurs when one allows the numerical minimizer to freely roam through the parameter search space; this allows certain solution parameters to interchange roles which leads to fundamental ambiguities, and solution error. A major accomplishment of this study is that we have employed a state-of-the-art genetic-based global optimization algorithm called Differential Evolution (DE) that constrains the parameter search in such a way as to remove both the LS and PIT problems. To test the performance of the GoFFRA when DE is employed, we applied it to analyze simulated MGA datasets that we generated from known mixed exponential distributions. Moreover, we evaluated the GoFFRA/DE method by applying it to analyze actual MGAs derived from low-Earth orbiting lightning imaging sensor data; the actual MGA data were classified as either ground or cloud flash MGAs using National Lightning Detection Network[TM] (NLDN) data. Solution error plots are provided for both the simulations and actual data analyses.

Koshak, William↗