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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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45 records · Page 3
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2008

Astrobiology Sample Analysis Program (ASAP) for Advanced Life Detection Instrumentation Development and Calibration

Scientific ground-truth measurements for near-term Mars missions, such as the 2009 Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission, are essential for validating current in situ flight instrumentation and for the development of advanced instrumentation technologies for life-detection missions over the next decade. The NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI) has recently funded a consortium of researchers called the Astrobiology Sample Analysis Program (ASAP) to analyze an identical set of homogenized martian analog materials in a "round-robin" style using both state-of-the-art laboratory techniques as well as in-situ flight instrumentation including the SAM gas chromatograph mass spectrometer and CHEMIN X-ray diffraction/fluorescence instruments on MSL and the Urey and MOMA organic analyzer instruments under development for the 2013 ExoMars missions. The analog samples studied included an Atacama Desert soil from Chile, the Murchison meteorite, a gypsum sample from the 2007 AMASE Mars analog site, jarosite from Panoche Valley, CA, a hydrothermal sample from Rio Tinto, Spain, and a "blind" sample collected during the 2007 MSL slow-motion field test in New Mexico. Each sample was distributed to the team for analysis to: (1) determine the nature and inventory of organic compounds, (2) measure the bulk carbon and nitrogen isotopic composition, (3) investigate elemental abundances, mineralogy and matrix, and (4) search for biological activity. The experimental results obtained from the ASAP Mars analog research consortium will be used to build a framework for understanding the biogeochemistry of martian analogs, help calibrate current spaceflight instrumentation, and enhance the scientific return from upcoming missions.

Glavin, Daniel↗
NASA NTRS2014

Enabling Technologies for Entrepreneurial Opportunities in 3D printing of SmallSats

A consortium of innovative experts in additive manufacturing (AM) comprising Northrup Grumman Technical Services, University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), Configurable Space Microsystems Innovations & Applications Center (COSMIAC), NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC), and Youngstown State University, have made significant breakthroughs in the goal of creating the first complete 3D printed small satellite. Since AM machines are relatively inexpensive, this should lead to many entrepreneurial opportunities for the small satellite community. Our technology advancements are focused on the challenges of embedding key components within the structure of the article. We have demonstrated, using advanced fused deposition modeling techniques, complex geometric shapes which optimize the spacecraft design. The UTEP Keck Center has developed a method that interrupts the printing process to insert components into specific cavities, resulting in a spacecraft that has minimal internal space allocated for what traditionally were functional purposes. This allows us to increase experiment and instrument capability by provided added volume in a confined small satellite space. Leveraging initial progress made on a NASA contract, the team investigated the potential of new materials that exploit the AM process, producing candidate compositions that exceed the capabilities of traditional materials. These "new materials" being produced and tested include some that have improved radiation shielding, increased permeability, enhanced thermal properties, better conductive properties, and increased structural performance. The team also investigated materials that were previously not possible to be made. Our testing included standard mechanical tests such as vibration, tensile, thermal cycling, and impact resistance as well as radiation and electromagnetic tests. The initial results of these products and their performance will be presented and compared with standard properties. The new materials with the highest probability to disrupt the future of small satellite systems by driving down costs will be highlighted, in conjunction with the electronic embedding process.

Communications↗
DOE OSTI2021

Durable Mn-Based PGM-Free Catalysts for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells

This proposed project aims to develop and evaluate novel manganese based, nitrogen-derived, PGM-free electrocatalysts (denoted as Mn-N-C) to fully address the membrane electrolyte assemblies (MEA)’s ionomer degradation issue resulting from iron. Four thrusts will be pursed in this proposed project. First, advanced first-principles computation methods will be employed to accelerate the rational catalyst design and synthesis. Second, an effective hydro-gel method will be used to maximize atomic Mn active sites embedded in carbon matrix. Next, state-of-the art methods in fuel cell companies will be used to fabricate MEAs containing the Mn-N-C catalysts. Finally, industry standards will be rigorously followed to evaluate fuel cell performance and durability of the Mn-N-C catalysts. With successful completion of the project, it is expected that the following outcomes will be achieved. (1) A set of MEAs containing the Mn-N-C catalysts and with active area large than 50 cm 2 for independent testing, (2) testing results demonstrating that the MEAs of Mn-N-C catalysts have mass activity of 0.044 A/cm 2 at 0.9 VIR-free and H 2 /air performance of 0.50 V at 1.0 A/cm 2 ; (3) fundamental understanding of the composition-structure-property relation of the PGM-free Mn- N-C catalysts, and (4) computational data, measurement data, and publications deposited into the database of ElectroCat Consortium.

08 HYDROGEN↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Blast from the Past: ASDC Curation for NASA Suborbital Legacy Missions to Promote Data Discovery and Accessibility

NASA has an extensive history of conducting suborbital field campaigns to further advances in atmospheric sciences. Beginning with the Chemical Instrument Test and Evaluation (CITE) conducted in 1983-1984, NASA has completed many suborbital campaigns over the past three decades. Since the early 2010s, suborbital missions are typically assigned to a NASA Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC) prior to the mission for long-term archival and distribution. Efforts are being made by NASA’s Earth Science Data and Information System (ESDIS) Project and the Airborne Data Management Group (ADMG) to assign legacy missions to DAACs for permanent archival and distribution, so that these valuable datasets remain to be available to the scientific community. NASA’s Atmospheric Science Data Center (ASDC) has been named the assigned DAAC for nearly 20 atmospheric composition legacy missions, including missions conducted as part of the Global Tropospheric Experiment (GTE) and expects to be named the assigned DAAC for more of these missions over the next few years. The primary goal of the ASDC is to provide access to the datasets as they are currently formatted to the broad user community and enhance their findability and accessibility. However, data reporting standards have evolved significantly since 1983 and the datasets span a wide variety of file formats, including text, Ames, GTE, and ICARTT (International Consortium for Atmospheric Research on Transport and Transformation), and the amount of metadata and relevant information included in the files also varies greatly and can not be readily extracted without subject matter knowledge. This has caused challenges for the ASDC’s suborbital metadata extraction pipeline in ensuring that accurate and necessary metadata is being provided for the missions by all the ASDC’s existing search mechanisms. To make the data more findable and accessible, the ASDC has begun researching ways to further enhance the datasets, including distributing value-added products (i.e. consistent file format such as ICARTT or netCDF), adding standard names from the ESDIS Standards Coordination Office (ESCO)-approved Atmospheric Composition Variable Standard Names Convention (ACVSNC), and creating outreach materials such as ArcGIS StoryMaps, User Guides, and Micro Articles, providing overviews of the missions and what type of data was collected during the missions. These efforts also help support NASA’s Open-Source Science by enhancing the FAIRness of the legacy data products. This presentation will review the ASDC’s ongoing efforts, progress made, and future plans for legacy missions.

Megan Buzanowicz↗
NASA NTRS2003

NASA's National Center for Advanced Manufacturing

NASA has designated the Principal Center Assignment to the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) for implementation of the National Center for Advanced Manufacturing (NCAM). NCAM is NASA s leading resource for the aerospace manufacturing research, development, and innovation needs that are critical to the goals of the Agency. Through this initiative NCAM s people work together with government, industry, and academia to ensure the technology base and national infrastructure are available to develop innovative manufacturing technologies with broad application to NASA Enterprise programs, and U.S. industry. Educational enhancements are ever-present within the NCAM focus to promote research, to inspire participation and to support education and training in manufacturing. Many important accomplishments took place during 2002. Through NCAM, NASA was among five federal agencies involved in manufacturing research and development (R&D) to launch a major effort to exchange information and cooperate directly to enhance the payoffs from federal investments. The Government Agencies Technology Exchange in Manufacturing (GATE-M) is the only active effort to specifically and comprehensively address manufacturing R&D across the federal government. Participating agencies include the departments of Commerce (represented by the National Institute of Standards and Technology), Defense, and Energy, as well as the National Science Foundation and NASA. MSFC s ongoing partnership with the State of Louisiana, the University of New Orleans, and Lockheed Martin Corporation at the Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) progressed significantly. Major capital investments were initiated for world-class equipment additions including a universal friction stir welding system, composite fiber placement machine, five-axis machining center, and ten-axis laser ultrasonic nondestructive test system. The NCAM consortium of five universities led by University of New Orleans with Mississippi State University, Tennessee Technological University, Texas A&M University, and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University provided wide-ranging engineering research, new degree/curriculum programs, and a web-based lecture series. NCAM has fostered an important presence and leadership role within the national manufacturing community. Its progressive influence can be seen in government, industry and academia, and in national associations, professional organizations, conferences, workshops, and forums.

Vickers, John↗
DOE OSTI2021

Materials Challenges and Opportunities for Energy Generation, Conversion, Delivery, and Storage (Applied Energy Tri-Laboratory Consortium Workshop Report)

This report documents the outcomes of the Tri-Laboratory Materials Workshop that was held July 31 and August 1, 2019 to begin addressing the needs, opportunities, and challenges associated with the development, fabrication, and testing of the needed materials and components for integrated hybrid energy systems (i.e., incorporating nuclear, fossil, and renewables for electric and thermal applications). This was accomplished by assembling the research program leads and principal investigators at Idaho National Laboratory (INL), National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), and National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), who support the research and development of new technology and system integration. The team then identified and prioritized key materials development needs. This effort was intended to enhance communications and synergy among the Tri-Lab partners. Advanced functional and structural materials are central to transformative energy technologies for energy generation, conversion, delivery, and storage. With that in mind, the workshop focused on identifying and assessing the foundational materials research needs at both the basic and applied levels. Materials challenges include the ability to withstand harsh environments, such as high temperatures and pressures, corrosion, oxidation, or irradiation while maintaining flexible mission profiles and long service lifespans. Advanced energy system material challenges and needs range from materials for the capture, upgrading/concentration, storage, and delivery of low-grade heat to materials for high temperature environments that involve liquid metals, molten salt, and very high temperature gas heat delivery and storage systems. Material improvements are needed for hybrid energy systems due to accelerated corrosion and stress-fatigue failure of materials and equipment, which results from increased frequency and amplitude of thermal, mechanical, and electrical cycling of systems components. Multifunctional materials are needed for high temperature solid-oxide fuel cells, advanced electrochemical reactors, and in-process separation. Relative to materials manufacturing, application of advanced additive and subtractive methods need to be understood to develop both thin-layer homogenous materials and materials of graded composition. Materials modeling and machine learning will be critical to accelerate the design and production of power electronics, and nuclear reactor materials and fuel, as well as to gain an understanding of beneficial materials phenomena or deleterious microstructure evolution. There is also a need for standardized models, computational structures, data reporting protocols and modeling tools across the three laboratories. This would allow consistent results, analysis, and data sharing. Combining computational capabilities between the three laboratories (e.g., hardware, software) would greatly increase computational capabilities and throughput. The workshop identified the need for laboratories to anticipate and address problems that will occur during scale-up. Laboratory work must connect with industry to ensure that research focuses on processes that are scalable and marketable. Industry input and perspective are essential to guide laboratory research to meet these requirements and deploy new technology in industrial demonstrations. Another aspect of scale-up is the integration of multiple systems since new challenges often arise at the subsystem interfaces. Establishing a scale-up manufacturing demonstration/pilot plant, potentially as an industrial user facility, would be beneficial to the laboratories and industry. That modular scale-up manufacturing demonstration/pilot plant would allow researchers to find and resolve interface problems that cannot be identified by focusing only on individual parts. Communication exchanges among the organizers, attendees, and workshop survey responses indicate that the workshop was successful in achieving its goal to identify key technology gaps and research needs. Strong positive feedback was received on the sharing of ideas, capabilities, talent, and passion to move forward on the materials-related action items.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Electric Vehicles at Scale (EVs@Scale) Laboratory Consortium Deep-Dive Technical Meetings: High Power Charging (HPC) Summary Report

Electric vehicle (EV) adoption will change the composition of EV charging load to higher-power charging as more medium- (MD) and heavy-duty (HD) applications are electrified, and as all vocations, including light-duty (LD) vehicles, are capable of faster charging. These shifts provide the opportunity for high-power charging (HPC) and facility equipment to evolve and improve efficiency, cost, and space. High-Power Electric Vehicle Charging Hub Integration Platform (eCHIP) project designs and develops a high-power, interoperable charging experimental platform to research, develop, and demonstrate the integration approaches and technology solutions. The project addresses (1) interconnection and management of a grid-tied inverter; (2) development of a DC distribution system that is responsible for system energy management, interoperability, and DC protection; (3) modular DC/DC conversion for vehicle charging; (4) EV charging interface and DC/DC integration; and (5) smart charge control and vehicle-to-edge (vehicle-to-building [V2B], vehicle-to-everything [V2X]) capability. This summary presentation is the first technical progress output of the project. It provides insight for the first deep-dive technical meeting outputs in terms of research presentations and also includes summary of the discussions occurred in the follow-up breakout sessions. The summary presentation covers three technical areas: (1) HPC: State of the art power architectures and the design of the power electronics, (2) Modeling, energy management, and power control in the HPC station, and (3) Codes and standards work that are in line with the previous two topic areas.

ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS,POWER TRANSMISSION AND↗
DOE OSTI2023

Electric Vehicles at Scale (EVs@Scale) Laboratory Consortium Deep-Dive Technical Meetings: High Power Charging (HPC) Summary Report

Electric vehicle (EV) adoption will change the composition of EV charging load to higher-power charging as more medium- (MD) and heavy-duty (HD) applications are electrified, and as all vocations, including light-duty (LD) vehicles, are capable of faster charging. These shifts provide the opportunity for high-power charging (HPC) and facility equipment to evolve and improve efficiency, cost, and space. High-Power Electric Vehicle Charging Hub Integration Platform (eCHIP) project designs and develops a high-power, interoperable charging experimental platform to research, develop, and demonstrate the integration approaches and technology solutions. The project addresses (1) interconnection and management of a grid-tied inverter; (2) development of a DC distribution system that is responsible for system energy management, interoperability, and DC protection; (3) modular DC/DC conversion for vehicle charging; (4) EV charging interface and DC/DC integration; and (5) smart charge control and vehicle-to-edge (vehicle-to-building [V2B], vehicle-to-everything [V2X]) capability. This summary presentation is the first technical progress output of the project. It provides insight for the first deep-dive technical meeting outputs in terms of research presentations and also includes summary of the discussions occurred in the follow-up breakout sessions. The summary presentation covers three technical areas: (1) HPC: State of the art power architectures and the design of the power electronics, (2) Modeling, energy management, and power control in the HPC station, and (3) Next Generation Profiles for high power charging characterization.

ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2022

A Multi-Scale Computational Platform for Predictive Modeling of Corrosion in Al-Steel Joints (Final Report)

The research team proposed to develop innovative multi-scale models to predict corrosion and the resulting mechanical performances in aluminum-steel joints. The methods of joining considered are resistance spot welding, self-piercing riveting, and rivet-welding, all suitable for mass production applications. The multi-scale models integrate high throughput first-principle calculations based on density functional theory (DFT), high throughput calculation of phase diagrams (CALPHAD) modeling, and finite element method (FEM) simulations. These models are to be validated through laboratory experiments. Furthermore, the models are available as open source so as to enable scientists and engineers in the community to adapt and contribute to the development and application. The approaches rely on the research team’s extensive experience on the prediction of properties of individual phases at finite temperatures and variable compositions through DFT calculations, and our broad expertise on dissimilar material joining and their corrosion. The proposed computational framework enables high throughput computations for improved predictions of corrosion and the associated mechanical performance in dissimilar material joints, resulting in significant reduction in computational time needed by the current state-of-the-art methods. With the participation of researchers from three universities, an auto manufacturer, two manufacturing technology/equipment suppliers, and a software developer/vendor, the interdisciplinary research team applies the technical development on both phase-based modeling and laboratory experiments into the automobile body joining processes for validation and technology demonstration. The global cost of corrosion was estimated at about 3.4% of the global GDP in 2013. By using available corrosion control practices, it is estimated a saving between 15-35% of the cost of corrosion. In the U.S., more than $276 billion is spent repairing corrosion damage. Prediction of the corrosion and its impact on performance of the dissimilar material joints is critical for reducing the massive number of the current corrosion-based recalls for automobiles. Thus, the project goal is to develop models to enable predictive maintenance and end-of-life planning of multi-metal joints with risk of corrosion under different conditions such as exposure to high temperatures in summer and salt solutions in winter, quantified through its pH. An academia-industry consortium led by the University of Michigan and including Pennsylvania State University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Georgia, General Motors Company, Livermore Software Technology Corporation, and Optimal Process Technologies, LLC. created multi-scale models for prediction of corrosion in aluminum-steel joint structures such of them used in vehicle subassemblies – chassis and transmission systems. Starting from the first principle calculations, the team developed mathematical and data-driven models to predict the metallic components, which are formed during joining of two metals, for example aluminum and steel - a lightweight multilateral system which is currently used in more than 60% car bodies. These models were used for simulating chemical reactions that are happening when the joining metallic components are exposed to high temperatures and different pH values. The team was able to predict how the corrosion installs on the metallic components and how they lead to a sudden failure of components in cars. Newly developed machine learning algorithms combining Science, Technology, Engineering and Math disciplines, advanced finite element simulation and experimental validations have been integrated in a platform for prediction of the corrosion evolution and prediction the failure of joints under mechanical loadings and fatigue. Moreover, based on machine learning and inverse analysis, the team proposed solutions for designing new metallic alloys less susceptible to corrosion when joining multi-material assembles. An average of 4% error compared with experiments was achieved for the most common joints that are used in vehicle subassemblies.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗