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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 NTRS1989

Enhanced resolution particle size distributions by multiple angle photon correlation spectroscopy

Photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS) has become a method of choice for measuring submicrometer particles. It is capable of rapid, accurate measurements of mean particle size. Since the measurements are nonperturbing, it is ideal for monitoring systems undergoing dynamic changes. Despite its widespread acceptance, the information content of PCS measurements for particle size distributions is low and provides limited resolution. A method is presented whereby PCS measurements made at several scattering angles plus the angular distribution of light scattered from the particles are combined in a single simultaneous analysis to effect an enhanced resolution particle size distribution. The efficacy of the method is assessed by recovering size distributions from computer simulated data and by comparisons of conventional PCS measurements of polystyrene spheres with those made by the new method.

Bott, Steven E.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Comparison of the seasonal and interannual variability of phytoplankton pigment concentrations in the Peru and California Current systems

Monthly composite images from the global coastal zone color scanner (CZCS) data set are used to provide an initial illustration and comparison of seasonal and interannual variability of phytoplankton pigment concentration along the western coasts of South and North America in the Peru Current system (PCS) and California Current system (CCS). The analysis utilizes the entire time series of available data (November 1978 to June 1986) to form a mean annual cycle and an index of interannual variability for a series of both latitudinal and cross-shelf regions within each current system. Within 100 km of the coast, the strongest seasonal cycles in the CCS are in two regions, one between 34 deg and 45 deg N and the second between 24 deg and 29 deg N, each with maximum concentrations (greater than 3.0 mg m(exp-3)) in May-June. Weaker seasonal variability is present north of 45 deg N and in the Southern California Bight region (32 deg N). Within the PCS, in the same 100-km-wide coastal region, highest (greater than 45 deg S) and lowest (less than 20 deg S) latitude regions have a similar seasonal cycle with maximum concentrations (greater than 1.5 mg m(exp -3)) during the austral spring, summer, and fall, matching that evident throughout the CCS. Between these regions, off northern and central Chile, the seasonal maximum occurs during July-August (austral winter), contrary to the influence of upwelling favorable winds. Within the CCS, the dominant feature of interannual variability in the 8-year time series is a strong negative concentration anomaly in 1983, an El Nino year. The relative value of this negative anomaly is strongest off central California and is followed by an even stronger negative anomaly is strongest off central California and is followed by an even stronger negative anomaly in 1984 off Baja, California. In the PCS, strong negative anomalies during the 1982-1983 El Nino period are evident only off the Peruvian coast and are evident there only in the regions 100 km or more from the coast. Although negative anomalies associated with the El Nino were not present at higher latitudes (more than approximately 20 deg S) in the PCS, the extremely sparse sampling weakens our confidence in the results of the interannual analysis in this region. An upper estimate of the systematic winter bias remaining in the global CZCS data after reprocessing with the multiple scattering algorithm is given in the appendix.

Thomas, A. C.↗
NASA NTRS2012

A Technique Using Principal Component Analysis to Compare Seasonal Cycles of Earth Radiation from CERES and Model Computations

A method for quantitatively comparing the seasonal cycles of two global data sets is presented. The seasonal cycles of absorbed solar radiation (ASR) and outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) have been computed from an eight-year data set from the Clouds and Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) scanning radiometers and from a model data set produced by the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Global Modeling and Assimilation Office. To compare the seasonal cycles from these two data sets, principal component (PC) analysis is used, where the PCs express the time variations and the corresponding empirical orthogonal functions (EOFs) describe the geographic variations. Ocean has a long thermal response time compared to land, so land and ocean are separated for the analysis. The root-mean square values for the seasonal cycles of ASR and OLR are extremely close for the two data sets. The first three PCs are quite close, showing that the time responses and magnitudes over the globe are very similar. The agreement between the two sets of PCs is quantified by computing the matrix of inner products of the two sets. For ASR over land, the first PCs of CERES and the model agree to better than 99.9%. The EOF maps are similar for most of the globe, but differ in a few places, and the agreement of the EOF maps is likewise quantified. Maps of differences between the annual cycles show regions of agreement and disagreement.

Smith, G. Louis↗
NASA NTRS2015

ORION Environmental Control and Life Support Systems Suit Loop and Pressure Control Analysis

Under NASA's ORION Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) Project at Johnson Space Center's (JSC), the Crew and Thermal Systems Division has developed performance models of the air system using Thermal Desktop/FloCAD. The Thermal Desktop model includes an Air Revitalization System (ARS Loop), a Suit Loop, a Cabin Loop, and Pressure Control System (PCS) for supplying make-up gas (N2 and O2) to the Cabin and Suit Loop. The ARS and PCS are designed to maintain air quality at acceptable O2, CO2 and humidity levels as well as internal pressures in the vehicle Cabin and during suited operations. This effort required development of a suite of Thermal Desktop Orion ECLSS models to address the need for various simulation capabilities regarding ECLSS performance. An initial highly detailed model of the ARS Loop was developed in order to simulate rapid pressure transients (water hammer effects) within the ARS Loop caused by events such as cycling of the Pressurized Swing Adsorption (PSA) Beds and required high temporal resolution (small time steps) in the model during simulation. A second ECLSS model was developed to simulate events which occur over longer periods of time (over 30 minutes) where O2, CO2 and humidity levels, as well as internal pressures needed to be monitored in the cabin and for suited operations. Stand-alone models of the PCS and the Negative Pressure relief Valve (NPRV) were developed to study thermal effects within the PCS during emergency scenarios (Cabin Leak) and cabin pressurization during vehicle re-entry into Earth's atmosphere. Results from the Orion ECLSS models were used during Orion Delta-PDR (July, 2014) to address Key Design Requirements (KDR's) for Suit Loop operations for multiple mission scenarios.

Eckhardt, Brad↗
NASA NTRS2020

An Algorithm for Hyperspectral Remote Sensing of Aerosols: 3. Application to the GEO-TASO Data in KORUS-AQ Field Campaign

This paper describes the third part of a series of investigations to develop algorithms for simultaneous retrieval of aerosol parameters and surface spectral reflectance from the data measured by GEOstationary Trace gas and Aerosol Sensor Optimization (GEO-TASO) instrument. Since the algorithm is designed for future hyperspectral and geostationary satellite sensors, such as Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO), it is applied to GEO-TASO data measured over the same area by different flights as part of the Korea-United Stated Air Quality Study (KORUS-AQ) field campaign in 2016. While GEO-TAOS has a spectral sampling interval of ~0.28 nm in the visible, its data is thinned through a band selection approach with consideration of atmospheric transmittance and different surface types, which yields 20 common spectral bands to be used by the algorithm. The algorithm starts with 4 common principal components (PCs) for surface spectral reflectance extracted from various spectral libraries, and the constraints of surface reflectance parameters and aerosol scattering models respectively from k- means clustering analysis of the Rayleigh-corrected GEO-TASO spectra and AERONET data. The algorithm then proceeds iteratively with an optimal estimation approach to update PCs and retrieve aerosol optical depth (AOD) until the best match between simulated and GEOS-TASO measured spectra is achieved. The spectral AODs are compared between those retrieved from GEO-TASO (x) and 7 AERONETS (y) in 440, 550, 550, 675 nm, respectively. The comparison reveals that iterative updates of surface spectral PCs (and so surface reflectance) yield significant enhancement in AOD retrievals, improving the mean linear fitting equations from y = 0.735x + 0.088 (without update of PCs) to y = 1.055x+ 0.01, and the Pearson correlation coefficient (𝑅𝑅2) from 0.54 to 0.76, respectively. Move case studies are need to further evaluate the algorithm for its application to TEMPO that carries a enhanced version of GEO-TASO instrument.

Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution (T↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Preservation of Provenance and Context to Ensure Future Understandability of Airborne Earth Observations and Derived Data Products

Open-source science goes beyond making data from scientific projects (e.g., on-orbit/satellite missions, airborne and field investigations, and other data producing activities) openly available after they are generated, but involves and open sharing of information throughout the project lifecycle. Preservation of the data and associated information required for understanding and reusing the data well after the scientific projects is a contributor to open-source science as well. Considering the high investment in the on-orbit/satellite missions, we had developed a document titled “NASA Earth Science Data Preservation Content Specification (PCS)” in 2011. This document has been used as a requirement for recent on-orbit/satellite missions by NASA. Recently it became clear that the specifications should be applied to other scientific projects as well. Therefore, the document was revised to cover other types of projects, and a Preservation Content Implementation Guidance (PCIG) document was also developed. The revised PCS, and the PCIG, were published in 2022. The purpose of this presentation is to highlight the contents of these documents as they apply to suborbital/airborne investigations. The PCS calls for content preservation in eight general categories - Measuring Instrument/Platform Description, Instrument and Science Data Products and Metadata, Science Raw Data, Product and Algorithm Documentation, Instrument Calibration, Science Algorithm Software, Science Data Product Algorithm Inputs, Science Data Product Validation, and Science Data Access and Analysis Tools. While all these categories apply to various types of projects, a few clarifying sentences have been added to the descriptions of contents in each of the categories to show which categories are especially important to airborne and field investigations and where some contents are not applicable (or difficult to obtain). The PCIG document provides some general guidance applicable to all types of projects and specific guidance in a separate section for airborne and field investigations. This section calls out typical artifacts produced during such investigations that can meet the spirit of the various PCS categories.

remote sensing↗
DOE OSTI2024

Heterogenous catalysis for oxygen tolerant photoredox atom transfer radical polymerization and small-molecule dehalogenation

Heterogeneous photocatalysts (PCs) have garnered attention for their sustainability and cost-effectiveness. Despite the existence of various types of these PCs, their synthesis often involves complex, multi-step procedures and laborious purification. Herein, we propose a simple method for attaching small-molecule photocatalytic species onto crosslinked 3-D polymer networks as insoluble scaffolds to create robust heterogeneous PCs. The highly swellable poly(ethylene glycol)-based ChemMatrix (CM) resin, known for its amphiphilic properties and high functional group loading, facilitated the covalent immobilization of the photoredox dye Eosin Y (EY), but also streamlined functionalization with Ir( III ) complexes. The resulting heterogeneous CM-EY demonstrated efficient photocatalytic performance in open-to-air dual photoredox catalysis of atom transfer radical polymerization (photo-ATRP) under green light. This was confirmed by the well-controlled synthesis of polymers with molecular masses ranging from 20 kDa to 300 kDa and low dispersities. Furthermore, CM-EY exhibited excellent photostability and recyclability over multiple cycles of ATRP. The heterogeneous catalysis of photo-ATRP provided high temporal control and enabled benign conditions for synthesizing protein-polymer hybrids (PPH). When combined with the initiator-modified CM (CM-BIB), CM-EY facilitated the solid-phase synthesis of homopolymers and block copolymers with recyclable performance. However, the coordinatively bound Ir@CM showed decreased catalytic activity and efficiency toward photoredox dehalogenation due to the leaching of active species during recycling. This study highlights the advantages of the covalent linking of catalysts to solid supports over non-covalent interactions, underscoring the potential of functionalized polymer resin as a promising scaffold. Such an approach offers customization and tunability, presenting opportunities for innovation in green chemistry.

Kapil, Kriti↗
DOE OSTI2025

Structural Design and Modeling of MARVEL Primary Coolant System Using the ASME Section III, Division 5, Code

This paper presents the structural design and supporting analysis for the Microreactor Applications Research Validation and Evaluation (MARVEL) primary coolant system (PCS) using the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section III, Division 5, rules. MARVEL is a liquid metal–cooled microreactor intended to provide experimental capabilities for the rapid testing and development of microreactor technologies. The PCS utilizes high-temperature sodium-potassium liquid metal as the primary coolant and operates at a design temperature of 570°C, necessitating the consideration of creep-related failure mechanisms. The base metal for the PCS is 316H stainless steel, and the weldments are made with a 16-8-2 filler. The design approach incorporates the current base code rules along with ASME code cases N-924, N-861, and N-862 to address primary load, ratcheting, and creep-fatigue evaluations, respectively. The reactor’s operation involves complex thermal and mechanical interactions due to natural convective flow and differential thermal expansion between components. In conclusion, this paper discusses the structural engineering challenges encountered, such as managing thermal stresses in the distribution plenum and guard vessel, and outlines the strategies implemented to meet the code requirements, including design modifications and operational constraints.

21 - SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLAN↗
DOE OSTI2024

Virtual Tokamak for Test and Development of Plasma Control Applied to NSTX-U

Safe and efficient operation of tokamak experiments depends on shot preparation prior to the experiment to maximize performance and avoid issues that are predictable consequences of known physics. The General Atomics TokSys toolbox is used to test and develop the plasma control system (PCS) on numerous tokamaks around the world. Tokamaks that use a version of the DIII-D PCS can connect it to a TokSys simulation and control a virtual version of the tokamak with the real PCS. Recent upgrades to the simulation include more detailed profile and transport modeling to support design and implementation of optimized scenarios. The simulation combines a module called “Profiles” that simulates the 1D profiles of density, pressure, and current and a module called “GSevolve'' that evolves the 2D Grad-Shafranov equilibrium. The “Profiles'' module primarily uses simplified models for fueling, heating, and current. The TRANSP code provides precomputed diffusion coefficients and heating/current drive profiles from radio-frequency and neutral beam sources for the scenarios being simulated. The fidelity of a simulation can be enhanced by analyzing it with TRANSP and making corrections to the precomputed values and iterating until convergence. Simulations of the National Spherical Torus Upgrade (NSTX-U) are presented. It is shown that the simulation reproduces the experimental profile evolution. Here, the simulation has also been upgraded to reproduce the experimental outcome at points of bifurcation. This is demonstrated with a simulation of vertical displacement in NSTX-U.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Ultra-thin photonic crystal slab metalenses [Invited]

We report a novel ultra-thin metalens design based on photonic crystal slab (PCS) resonance modes. We experimentally verified with a metalens structure based on amorphous silicon on a quartz material platform by implementing the optical guided resonance on the PCS. The PCS metalens designs feature an ultra-thin device layer of about 160 nm at an operation wavelength of 940 nm. A full 2π transmission phase transition is realized by varying the air hole sizes at the design wavelength. Metalens devices with different phase change gradients were designed and fabricated to achieve different NAs. A maximum of 86.4% focusing efficiency is achieved. Imaging capabilities are characterized, and clear images are observed within the field of view. The PC resonance-based phase modulation design can be applied to optical beam manipulation, phase plate design, imaging, and laser beam formation applications.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS1971

Attitude-referenced radiometer study. Part 2: Primary calibration system

A primary calibration system, PCS, for infrared radiometers has been developed, built, and tested. The system allows radiometers to be calibrated with less than 1 percent error for use in earth coverage horizon measurements, earth resources surveys, and synoptic meteorological measurement. The final design, fabrication and test of the PCS are reported. A detailed description of the PCS construction is presented, along with the results of a complete series of functional tests. Test to verify the source thermal characteristics, collimator reflectance, and output beam characteristics are described and their results presented.

Williamson, W. R.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Jay Carter Enterprises, Incorporated steam engine

The Small Community Solar Thermal Power Experiment (SCSE) selected an organic rankine cycle (ORC) engine driving a high speed permanent magnet alternator (PMA) as the baseline power conversion subsystem (PCS) design. The back-up conceptual PCS design is a steam engine driving an induction alternator delivering power directly to the grid. The development of the automotive reciprocating simple rankine cycle steam engine and how an engine of similar design might be incorporated into the SCSE is discussed. A description of the third generation automotive engine is included along with some preliminary test data. Tests were conducted with the third generation engine driving an induction alternator delivering power directly to the grid. The purpose of these tests is to further verify the effects of expander inlet temperature, input thermal power level, expansion ratio, and other parameters affecting engine performance to aid in the development of an SCSE PCS.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1980

The Penrose Photoproduction Scenario for NGC 4151 /PCS-SSC/ - A black hole gamma-ray emission mechanism for active galactic nuclei and Seyfert galaxies

On the basis of general arguments, it has been suggested (Bignami et al., 1979) that a steepening of the spectrum between X-ray and gamma-ray energies may be a general, gamma-ray characteristic of Seyfert galaxies, if the diffuse gamma-ray spectrum is considered to be a superposition of unresolved contributions, from one or more classes of extragalactic objects. It is shown that the above suggestion can be given a consistent theoretical interpretation in the context of the Penrose Photoproduction Scenario (PCS-SSC). Specifically in the case of NGC 4151, the dominant process will be shown to be Penrose Compton Scattering PCS in the ergosphere of a massive, central, rapidly spinning Kerr black hole, assumed in its nucleus. It is assumed that PCS gamma-ray induced electron-position, Synchrotron-Self-Compton processes 'evolve' as the dominant source of nonthermal X-rays.

Leiter, D.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Control technology as applied to Space Telescope

The pointing control system (PCS) of the Space Telescope is addressed. The sensors employed in the primary PCS mode are the rate gyro assembly and the fine guidance sensors, while four reaction wheel assemblies provide control torques. Stability considerations based on structural modes are discussed, noting the stability margin criteria used in the design. Acquisition methodology is considered with regard to the PCS component hardware simulators and vehicle dynamics simulation.

Dougherty, H.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Utility-interactive photovoltaic power conditioners - Effects of transformerless design and dc injection

It is shown that the use of isolation transformers to eliminate dc injection into the utility in utility-interactive photovoltaic (PV) systems can reduce the overall efficiency of the system. In order to improve PV efficiency, a transformerless power conditioning subsystem (PCS) is proposed for a grounded PV array having two and three connections to a utility. An additional transformerless PCS configuration is proposed for an ungrounded PV array. A detailed schematic drawing of the interconnections between the elements of a transformerless PCS is provided.

Das, R.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Power conditioning subsystems for photovoltaic central-station power plants - State-of-the-art and advanced technology

An overview is given of the technical and near-term cost requirements that must be met to develop economically viable power conditioning subsystems (PCS) for large-scale, central photovoltaic power stations. Various commercially available PCS hardware suitable for use in today's central photovoltaic power stations are also surveyed. Federal and industrial activities in the research and development of advanced PCSs that will contribute to the attainment of fully competitive, large-scale photovoltaic power stations are reviewed. The status of the DOE central station PCS program is discussed.

Bulawka, A.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Impact of thermal energy storage properties on solar dynamic space power conversion system mass

A 16 parameter solar concentrator/heat receiver mass model is used in conjunction with Stirling and Brayton Power Conversion System (PCS) performance and mass computer codes to determine the effect of thermal energy storage (TES) material property changes on overall PCS mass as a function of steady state electrical power output. Included in the PCS mass model are component masses as a function of thermal power for: concentrator, heat receiver, heat exchangers (source unless integral with heat receiver, heat sink, regenerator), heat engine units with optional parallel redundancy, power conditioning and control (PC and C), PC and C radiator, main radiator, and structure. Critical TES properties are: melting temperature, heat of fusion, density of the liquid phase, and the ratio of solid-to-liquid density. Preliminary results indicate that even though overalll system efficiency increases with TES melting temperature up to 1400 K for concentrator surface accuracies of 1 mrad or better, reductions in the overall system mass beyond that achievable with lithium fluoride (LiF) can be accomplished only if the heat of fusion is at least 800 kJ/kg and the liquid density is comparable to that of LiF (1880 kg/cu m.

Juhasz, Albert J.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Impact of thermal energy storage properties on solar dynamic space power conversion system mass

A 16 parameter solar concentrator/heat receiver mass model is used in conjunction with Stirling and Brayton Power Conversion System (PCS) performance and mass computer codes to determine the effect of thermal energy storage (TES) material property changes on overall PCS mass as a function of steady state electrical power output. Included in the PCS mass model are component masses as a function of thermal power for: concentrator, heat receiver, heat exchangers (source unless integral with heat receiver, heat sink, regenerator), heat engine units with optional parallel redundancy, power conditioning and control (PC and C), PC and C radiator, main radiator, and structure. Critical TES properties are: melting temperature, heat of fusion, density of the liquid phase, and the ratio of solid-to-liquid density. Preliminary results indicate that even though overall system efficiency increases with TES melting temperature up to 1400 K for concentrator surface accuracies of 1 mrad or better, reductions in the overall system mass beyond that achievable with lithium fluoride (LiF) can be accomplished only if the heat of fusion is at least 800 kJ/kg and the liquid density is comparable to that of LiF (1800 kg/cu m).

Juhasz, Albert J.↗