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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 55 records · Page 3
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1990

Conceptual design of equipment to excavate and transport regolith from the lunar maria

NASA hopes to have a manned lunar outpost completed by 2005. In order to establish the base, regolith must be excavated from the lunar surface. Regolith will be used as a source for life-supporting elements and as radiation shielding for the lunar outpost. The design team from the University of Texas at Austin designed excavation and transportation equipment for initial operations of the lunar base. The design team also characterized the elements to be found in the regolith and determined the power required to excavate regolith. The characterization of the soil was based on a literature review of lunar geography. Power requirements for excavation were developed by adapting terrestrial equations for excavation power requirements and adapting them to lunar soil conditions. The design of the excavation and transportation equipment was broken into three functions: loosing, collecting, and transporting. A scarifier was selected to loosen, a bucket was selected to collect, and a load-haul system was selected to transport. The functions are powered by a modular fuel cell powered vehicle that provides power for motion of the equipment.

Detwiler, Mark↗
NASA NTRS1990

Fuel cell energy storage for Space Station enhancement

Viewgraphs on fuel cell energy storage for space station enhancement are presented. Topics covered include: power profile; solar dynamic power system; photovoltaic battery; space station energy demands; orbiter fuel cell power plant; space station energy storage; fuel cell system modularity; energy storage system development; and survival power supply.

Stedman, J. K.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Multi-Objective Boundary Analysis of Discrete and Integrated SiC FET Modular Non-inverting Buck and Boost Converters for Fuel Cell EVs

This paper presents a multi-objective analysis of discrete and integrated SiC FET-based non-inverting buck-boost converter modules for modular fuel cell electric vehicle (EV) systems. Two converter ratings, 60 kW and 90 kW, are evaluated for both implementations, scalable up to 420 kW and 450 kW, respectively. Performance is assessed across efficiency, volumetric and gravimetric power density, cost, thermal stress, and estimated lifetime, where lifetime is derived from SiC FET B10 power-cycling data and junction temperature variations at rated power. A normalized overall performance index combined with a Pareto-boundary framework is used to identify configurations that optimally balance competing objectives. Results show that most configurations lie on the Pareto front, providing balanced trade-offs, while certain high-power discrete (90 kW at 450 kW) and integrated (60 kW at 180−420 kW) configurations are dominated. In general, discrete modules are more favorable for lower-power modular systems due to higher power density and lower cost, whereas integrated modules become more advantageous at higher power levels due to improved thermal behavior and longer lifetime. These findings provide practical design guidance for scalable fuel cell converter architectures and highlight the importance of system-level trade-offs in modular power electronics design.

Asa, Erdem [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000190884812)↗
DOE OSTI2021

Urban cells: Extending the energy hub concept to facilitate sector and spatial coupling

The rapid growth of urban areas and concerns over climate change make it vital to improve the energy sustainability of cities. Understanding the complex interactions within different sectors (sectoral) and localities (spatial) of cities plays a crucial role in improving efficiency and sustainability, which is extremely challenging due to the complex urban morphology. State-of-the-art energy concepts do not facilitate a detailed consideration of both sectoral and spatial coupling that energy infrastructure maintains at the urban scale. This has become a significant challenge when designing interconnected urban energy infrastructure. The Urban Cell concept is introduced to address this bottleneck. A novel computational model using a modular approach is introduced to create an interconnected urban infrastructure, including the energy, building, and transportation sectors. Optimal sizing of the distributed energy system (including renewables, energy storage, and dispatchable sources) and optimal urban morphology is determined within a modular unit. A game-theoretic approach is used to model the interactions between urban cells (modular units). The study revealed that the urban cell concept can reduce the net present value of the interconnected energy infrastructure by 37% while increasing the installed renewable energy capacity by 25%. This demonstrates the benefit potential of urban cells and the importance of considering interactions between different sectors and different parts within a city. The Urban Cell concept can be used to present the complex interactions maintained within a city.

Perera, ATD↗
NASA NTRS1977

Cell-level battery charge/discharge protection system

The paper describes three design approaches to individual cell monitoring and control for sealed secondary battery cells. One technique involves a modular strap-on single cell protector which contains all the electronics required for monitoring cell voltage, responding to external commands, and forming a bypass circuit for the cell. A second technique, the multiplexed cell protector, uses common circuitry to monitor and control each cell in a battery pack. The third technique, the computerized cell protector, by replacing the hard-wired logic of the multiplexed cell protector with a microprocessor, achieves greatest control flexibility and inherent computational capability with a minimum parts count implementation.

Donovan, R. L.↗
DOE OSTI2018

Introducing a risk aggregation rationale for mapping risks to aquifers from point- and diffuse-sources–proof-of-concept using contamination data from industrial lagoons

Highlights: • Aquifer risk mapping is introduced for contaminants acting as point/diffuse-sources. • Innovations are framed by risk cells based on Source-Pathway-Receptor-Source (SPRC). • Point-source (Risk Cell 1) and diffuse-source (Risk Cell 2) use sets of algorithms. • Algorithms include MODPATH, DRASTIC, GWPI and are integrated on a modular basis. • Risk Cells 1/2 are aggregated giving fit-for-purpose results as proof-of-concept. - Abstract: Proof-of-concept for a methodology is presented on mapping risks to aquifers impacted from point- and diffuse-sources, where mapping or indexing refers to relative but not absolute values. The methodology is generic but tested by investigating impacts of a risk exposure from industrial wastewater lagoons. The methodology is innovative for using the qualitative Source-Pathways-Receptors-Consequences (SPRC) framework to aggregate risks from both point-sources and diffuse-sources through breaking down a study area into SPRC risk cells. In this paper, two risk cells are required as: (i) Cell 1 is directly impacted from a point-source; and (ii) Cell 2 is impacted by diffuse-sources to slowly contaminate the aquifer by infiltration over a large area. Indexing both types of risk cells generically comprise three tiered processes: (i) binary indexing establishes if a grid cell is at a potential risk or not; (ii) graded indexing measures the strength of the risk pathways from source to receptors; and (iii) local indexing measures intrinsic potentials at the grid cell to propagate the risk. These three processes apply to both point- and diffuse-sources but with different mathematical formulations. The proof-of-concept for the methodology of risk aggregation using the SPRC framework is supported by results of a study area, in which a set of performance metrics are used by comparing with the measurements. The results are found to be fit-for-purpose for serving as proactive management tools and to provide a deeper insight into potential impacts of adverse effects.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Modular automated bottom-up proteomic sample preparation for high-throughput applications

Manual proteomic sample preparation methods limit sample throughput and often lead to poor data quality when thousands of samples must be analyzed. Automated liquid handler systems are increasingly used to overcome these issues for many of the sample preparation steps. Here, we detail a step-by-step protocol to prepare samples for bottom-up proteomic analysis for Gram-negative bacterial and fungal cells. The full modular protocol consists of three optimized protocols to: (A) lyse Gram-negative bacteria and fungal cells; (B) quantify the amount of protein extracted; and (C) normalize the amount of protein and set up tryptic digestion. These protocols have been developed to facilitate rapid, low variance sample preparation of hundreds of samples, be easily implemented on widely-available Beckman-Coulter Biomek automated liquid handlers, and allow flexibility for future protocol development. By using this workflow 50 micrograms of protein from 96 samples can be prepared for tryptic digestion in under an hour. We validate these protocols by analyzing 47 Pseudomonas putida and Rhodosporidium toruloides samples and show that this modular workflow provides robust, reproducible proteomic samples for high-throughput applications. The expected results from these protocols are 94 peptide samples from Gram-negative bacterial and fungal cells prepared for bottom-up quantitative proteomic analysis without the need for desalting column cleanup and with protein relative quantity variance (CV%) below 15%.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS2018

Fuel Cell Model Validation with Power Module Test Data

The AES Modular Power Systems (AMPS) Fuel Cell team at the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) has created a Microsoft Excel model of a regenerative fuel cell (RFC) system for potential lunar and Martian applications. Due to some limitations of this model, including the ability to predict transient effects in the thermal and fluidic performance of the system, a system-level transient thermal/fluids model was desired. GT-SUITE is a transient multi-physics simulation tool that is popular in the automotive industry and has a built-in template for proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. However, terrestrial fuel cells used in the automotive industry vary significantly from aerospace fuel cells. A validation effort was undertaken to compare GT SUITE model results to actual data collected during the 2015 AMPS (Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) Modular Power Systems) Power Module Demonstration in which the AMPS team used a PEM fuel cell system to power a 478 kilogram rover assembly at the Dunes test site located at GRC. The purpose of the model was to evaluate the efficacy of using GT SUITE to model a non-flow through PEM fuel cell system. The validation effort examined electrochemical performance including fuel cell stack voltage and power supplied, the thermal performance of the stack namely stack temperature and heat rejection rates, and the fluidic performance of the system including pressures, reactant consumption, and water production rates.

Model Validation↗
NASA NTRS1991

Calorimetric determination of the thermoneutral potential for Li/BrCl in SOCl2 (BCX) cells

Proliferation of lithium cells into large modular battery packs are projected for future space applications. Assuring battery design safety while maintaining high energy density requires accurate and precise knowledge of the thermal parameters of the battery cell. Specifically, the thermoneutral potential was determined using heat conduction calorimetry on Li/BrCl in SOCl2 (BCX) DD-cells and compared to measurements obtained on Li/SOCl2 D-cells. Over 20 to 60 C, the Li/BCX cells were found to have a thermoneutral potential significantly higher (near 4.0 volts) than that for the Li/SOCl2 cells tested. The higher heat generation measured during discharge reflects the higher electrochemical polarization observed with the BCX cells.

Darcy, Eric C.↗
NASA NTRS2018

GT SUITE Fuel Cell Model Validation with Power Module Test Data

The AES Modular Power Systems (AMPS) Fuel Cell team at the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) has created a Microsoft Excel model of a regenerative fuel cell (RFC) system for potential lunar and Martian applications. Due to some limitations of this model, including the ability to predict transient effects in the thermal and fluidic performance of the system, a system-level transient thermal/fluids model was desired. GT-SUITE is a transient multi-physics simulation tool that is popular in the automotive industry and has a built in template for proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. However, terrestrial fuel cells used in the automotive industry vary significantly from aerospace fuel cells. A validation effort was undertaken to compare GT SUITE model results to actual data collected during the 2015 AMPS Power Module Demonstration in which the AMPS team used a PEM fuel cell system to power a 478 kg rover assembly at the Dunes test site located at GRC. The purpose of the model was to evaluate the efficacy of using GT SUITE to model a non-flow through PEM fuel cell system. The validation effort examined electrochemical performance including fuel cell stack voltage and power supplied, the thermal performance of the stack namely stack temperature and heat rejection rates, and the fluidic performance of the system including pressures, reactant consumption, and water production rates.

Gilligan, Ryan↗
NASA NTRS1997

Guidelines for the Procurement of Aerospace Nickel Cadmium Cells

NASA has been using a Modular Power System containing "standard" nickel cadmium (NiCd) batteries, composed of "standard" NiCd cells. For many years the only manufacturer of the NASA "standard" NiCd cells was General Electric Co. (subsequently Gates Aerospace and now SAFT). This standard cell was successfully used in numerous missions. However, uncontrolled technical changes, and changes in industrial restructuring require a new approach. General Electric (now SAFT Aerospace Batteries) had management changes, new manufacturers entered the market (Eagle-Picher Industries, ACME Electric Corporation, Aerospace Division, Sanyo Electric Co.) and battery technology advanced. New NASA procurements for aerospace NiCd cells will have specifications unique to the spacecraft and mission requirements. This document provides the user/customer guidelines for the new approach to procuring of and specifying performance requirements for highly reliable NiCd cells and batteries. It includes details of key parameters and their importance. The appendices contain a checklist, detailed calculations, and backup information.

Thierfelder, Helmut↗
DOE OSTI2023

Modular Solar-to-Fuel Electrolysis at Low Cell Potentials Enabled by Glycerol Electrooxidation and a Bipolar Membrane Separator

Solar fuel generation through water electrolysis or electrochemical CO 2 reduction is thermodynamically limited when paired with the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The glycerol electrooxidation reaction (GEOR) is an alternative anodic reaction with lower anodic electrochemical potential that utilizes a renewable coproduct produced during biodiesel synthesis. We show that GEOR on a Au-Pt-Bi ternary metal electrocatalyst in a model alkaline crude glycerol solution can provide significant cell potential reductions even when paired to reduction reactions in seawater and acidic catholytes via a bipolar membrane (BPM). We showed that the combination of GEOR electrooxidation and a BPM separator lowers the total cell potential by 1 V at an electrolysis current of 10.0 mA cm -2 versus to an anode performing OER when paired with hydrogen evolution and CO 2 reduction cathodes. The observed voltage reduction was steady for periods of up to 80 hours, with minimal glycerol crossover observed through the membrane. Furthermore, these results motivate new, high-performance cell designs for photoelectrochemical solar fuels integrated systems based on glycerol electrooxidation.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2017

Efficient and Extensible Quasi-Explicit Modular Nonlinear Multiscale Battery Model: GH-MSMD

Complex physics and long computation time hinder the adoption of computer aided engineering models in the design of large-format battery cells and systems. A modular, efficient battery simulation model -- the multiscale multidomain (MSMD) model -- was previously introduced to aid the scale-up of Li-ion material and electrode designs to complete cell and pack designs, capturing electrochemical interplay with 3-D electronic current pathways and thermal response. Here, this paper enhances the computational efficiency of the MSMD model using a separation of time-scales principle to decompose model field variables. The decomposition provides a quasi-explicit linkage between the multiple length-scale domains and thus reduces time-consuming nested iteration when solving model equations across multiple domains. In addition to particle-, electrode- and cell-length scales treated in the previous work, the present formulation extends to bus bar- and multi-cell module-length scales. We provide example simulations for several variants of GH electrode-domain models.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗