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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
DOE OSTI2012

Investigation of Surface Treatments to Improve the Friction and Wear of Titanium Alloys for Diesel Engine Components

This final report summarizes experimental and analytical work performed under an agreement between the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Office of Transportation Technologies, and UT-Battelle LLC. The project was directed by Jerry Gibbs, of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Propulsion Materials Program, with management by D. P. Stinton and J. A. Haynes of ORNL. Participants included Peter J. Blau (Principal Investigator), Kevin M. Cooley (senior technician), Melanie J. Kirkham (materials scientist) of the Materials Science and Technology Division or ORNL, and Dinesh G. Bansal, a post doctoral fellow employed by Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) and who, at the time of this writing, is an engineer with Cummins, Inc. This report covers a three-year effort that involved two stages. In the first stage, and after a review of the literature and discussions with surface treatment experts, a series of candidate alloys and surface treatments for titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) was selected for initial screening. After pre-screening using an ASTM standard test method, the more promising surface treatments were tested in Phase 2 using a variable loading apparatus that was designed and built to simulate the changing load patterns in a typical connecting rod bearing. Information on load profiles from the literature was supplemented with the help of T.C. Chen and Howard Savage of Cummins, Inc. Considering the dynamic and evolving nature of materials technology, this report presents a snapshot of commercial and experimental bearing surface technologies for titanium alloys that were available during the period of this work. Undoubtedly, further improvements in surface engineering methods for titanium will evolve.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
NASA NTRS1993

Estimating Wear Of Installed Ball Bearings

Simple inspection and measurement technique makes possible to estimate wear of balls in ball bearing, without removing bearing from shaft on which installed. To perform measurement, one observes bearing cage while turning shaft by hand to obtain integral number of cage rotations and to measure, to nearest 2 degrees, number of shaft rotations producing cage rotations. Ratio between numbers of cages and shaft rotations depends only on internal geometry of bearing and applied load. Changes in turns ratio reflect changes in internal geometry of bearing provided measurements made with similar bearing loads. By assuming all wear occurs on balls, one computes effective value for this wear from change in turns ratio.

Keba, John E.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Characterizing peak electricity demand for U.S. households: an assessment of end-use loads and demand factors

Understanding household peak electricity demand is critical to evaluate the technical need for electrical infrastructure upgrades. This study characterizes peak loads for existing and new equipment using metered data from a convenience sample of 11,940 U.S. dwellings from four sources, including 911 from two sources with end-use metering. After standardized data cleaning and labeling, we derived descriptive statistics for key metrics, such as maximum demand and demand factors, and developed predictive models relating 60- to 15-min demand for the National Electrical Code (NEC). Mean 15-min maximum demand was 9.7 kW (median 9.0 kW; IQR 7.0–11.5 kW, 95% CI 9.6–9.8 kW), indicating spare capacity in 98% of homes with hypothetical 100 A panels. Maximum demand increased with floor area and number of high-demand loads. Dwelling maximum demand was driven by higher-power, longer-duration heating appliances and vehicle charging, while most user-operated appliances contributed little. Demand factors are used to account for how most devices contribute less than their rated power to maximum demand. Existing load mean demand factors (28%; median 10%; IQR 0–58%; CI 28–29%) were higher than those for new loads (21%; median 7%; IQR 0–35%; CI 20–21%), because new loads changed the timing and magnitude of maximum demand. New high-demand loads had higher than average demand factors (40–60%). Whole dwelling demand factors support the NEC's 40% assumption, but they challenge its conservative 100% treatment of new HVAC. We propose a data-driven 50% demand factor for new equipment, which would align with metered data, improve affordability, and modernize electrical codes.

Appliances↗
DOE OSTI2025

Demonstration of a Novel Technology to Manage Electricity Demand in Grid-Independent Military Microgrids

This research was conducted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in collaboration with the S&C Electric Inc. through funding provided by the ESTCP. The project demonstrates use of cybersecure Automated Demand Response (ADR) technology to effectively manage microgrid loads during grid-independent, also known as "islanded," operation. When military microgrids become isolated from the main electrical grid, they are required to balance electricity supply and demand locally. Given that local generation may be constrained, the prevailing strategy involves shedding all but the most critical loads by tripping smart circuit breakers, which then necessitate manual resetting. This approach is generally implemented at the building level, which means that the buildings with mission-critical activities are exempt from load management and remain fully powered, whereas those deemed non-critical can experience a complete loss of service. In this research we developed a method that allows building automation systems to selectively control their assets in response to load shedding request from a microgrid controller, avoiding total loss of service in contrast to the conventional control approach. A commercial OpenADR client server by GridFabric is used for communication between the microgrid controller and the building management system (BMS). The microgrid controller monitors both generation capacity and various assets within the microgrid and issues a demand reduction request when necessary. This request is communicated to the OpenADR server via Modbus. Upon receiving the request, the OpenADR server forwards it to the BMS utilizing the OpenADR protocol. The BMS is pre-configured with various levels of load reduction strategies based on the controllable assets available, allowing for a nuanced approach to demand reduction. Both lab and field tests were performed that considered load shedding needed to achieve closed transition into island mode and to accommodate changing loads and power source availability while islanded. A commercial microgrid controller was used for these tests with normal programming within the expected constraints of the system capabilities. That is, the solution did not require any specialized modification to the code base of the controller. Given the latency of the round-trip communication path between the microgrid controller and the various devices involved with the load shed processes, there are certain scenarios for which the demonstrated solution are appropriate and some which are not. The methods described in this report can be used for load shedding/restoration during transitions between islanded and grid-tied modes of operation, as well as accommodating normal variations in load and the need to remove a power source from operation for maintenance. These methods should not be used for scenarios that require load shedding within a second or two such as sudden and unanticipated significant load increases or loss of power sources through equipment faults.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
NASA NTRS1971

A comparison of closed loop thermionic reactor control schemes.

The dynamics of the constant-voltage and constant-emitter-temperature control schemes are described. The closed loop responses to load changes, converter failures and reactivity perturbations are shown. Both control schemes inherently allow load voltages to vary during transients. An alternative control scheme is proposed which allows constant load voltage while preserving constant emitter temperatures.

Sawyer, C. D.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Composite structure global fracture toughness via computational simulation

A computational method for the simulation of damage and fracture propagation in laminated composites is presented. A quantitative evaluation of the global fracture toughness of composites is shown as a tool for monitoring the fracture stability of composites under sustained loading. Changes in overall structural properties such as natural frequencies and the fundamental buckling load are also computed with increasing load-induced damage. Structural degradation, delamination, fracture, and damage propagation are included in the simulation. An angle-plied composite plate structure subjected to inplane tensile loading is used as an example to demonstrate some of the feature of the computational method.

Minnetyan, L.↗
NASA NTRS1982

The relationship of compliance changes during fatigue loading to the fracture of composite materials

The study outlined here is based on measurements of the change in engineering stiffness values induced by the development of damage in composite laminates during quasi-static or cyclic (fatigue) loading. These changes are found to be related to the individual details of the damage events in the laminates, as well as to the residual strength and life of the laminates. It is believed that the stiffness changes can also be used to relate composite material behavior under cyclic loading to its behavior under quasi-static loading. Results are presented for both notched and unnotched laminates. Compliance changes are found to be caused by damage events that bring about both global and local redistributions of stress. It is also found that the redistributions of stress determine the residual strength of the laminate. The quantitative link between compliance changes and fracture strength is the mechanics of the internal stress redistributions.

Reifsnider, K. L.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Fast-response power saver for induction motors

With control circuit, induction motors run more efficiently at light loads and respond to sudden load changes. It also anticipates power needs so that motor can respond instantly (to a load applied by a clutch, for example).

Nola, F. J.↗
NASA NTRS2021

Mass Balance of the Antarctic Ice Sheet 1992–2016: Reconciling Results from GRACE Gravimetry With ICESat, ERS1/2 and Envisat Altimetry

GRACE and ICESat Antarctic mass-balance differences are resolved utilizing their dependencies on corrections for changes in mass and volume of the same underlying mantle material forced by ice-loading changes. Modeled gravimetry corrections are 5.22 times altimetry corrections over East Antarctica (EA) and 4.51 times over West Antarctica (WA), with inferred mantle densities 4.75 and 4.11 g/cu. cm. Derived sensitivities (Sg, Sa) to bedrock motion enable calculation of motion (δB0) needed to equalize GRACE and ICESat mass changes during 2003–08. For EA, δB0 is −2.2 mm/a subsidence with mass matching at 150 Gt/a, inland WA is −3.5 mm/a at 66 Gt/a, and coastal WA is only −0.35 mm/a at −95 Gt/a. WA subsidence is attributed to low mantle viscosity with faster responses to post-LGM deglaciation and to ice growth during Holocene grounding-line readvance. EA subsidence is attributed to Holocene dynamic thickening. With Antarctic Peninsula loss of −26 Gt/a, the Antarctic total gain is 95 ± 25 Gt/a during 2003–08, compared to 144 ± 61 Gt/a from ERS1/2 during 1992–2001. Beginning in 2009, large increases in coastal WA dynamic losses overcame long-term EA and inland WA gains bringing Antarctica close to balance at −12 ± 64 Gt/a by 2012–16.

Antarctic glaciology↗
NASA NTRS2003

Cryogenic Evaluation of an Advanced DC/DC Converter Module for Deep Space Applications

DC/DC converters are widely used in power management, conditioning, and control of space power systems. Deep space applications require electronics that withstand cryogenic temperature and meet a stringent radiation tolerance. In this work, the performance of an advanced, radiation-hardened (rad-hard) commercial DC/DC converter module was investigated at cryogenic temperatures. The converter was investigated in terms of its steady state and dynamic operations. The output voltage regulation, efficiency, terminal current ripple characteristics, and output voltage response to load changes were determined in the temperature range of 20 to -140 C. These parameters were obtained at various load levels and at different input voltages. The experimental procedures along with the results obtained on the investigated converter are presented and discussed.

Elbuluk, Malik E.↗
DOE OSTI2017

Exploring dynamic load imbalance solutions with the CoMD proxy application

Proxy applications are developed to simplify studying parallel performance of scientific simulations and to test potential solutions for performance problems. However, proxy applications are typically too simple to allow work migration or to represent the load imbalance of their parent applications. To study the ability of load balancing solutions to balance work effectively, we enable work migration in one of the Exascale Co-design Center for Materials in Extreme Environments (ExMatEx) [1] applications, CoMD. We design a methodology to parameterize three key aspects necessary for studying load imbalance correction: (1) the granularity with which work can be migrated; (2) the initial load imbalance; (3) the dynamic load imbalance (how quickly the load changes over time). Finally, we present a study of the impact of flexibility in work migration in CoMD on load balance and the associated rebalancing costs for a wide range of initial and dynamic load imbalance scenarios.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2019

Impact of Time-Varying Passenger Loading on Conventional and Electrified Transit Bus Energy Consumption

Transit bus passenger loading changes greatly over the course of a workday. Therefore, time-varying vehicle mass as a result of passenger load becomes an important factor in instantaneous energy consumption. Battery-powered electric transit buses have restricted range and longer 'fueling' time compared with conventional diesel-powered buses; thus, it is vital to know how much energy they require. Our previous work has shown that instantaneous transit bus mass can be obtained by measuring the pressure in the vehicle's airbag suspension system. This report leverages this novel technique to determine the impact of time-varying mass on energy consumption. Sixty-five days of velocity and mass data were collected from in-use transit buses operating on routes in the Twin Cities, MN metropolitan area. The simulation tool Future Automotive Systems Technology Simulator was modified to allow both velocity and mass as time-dependent inputs. This tool was then used to model an electrified and conventional bus on the same routes and determine the energy use of each bus. Results showed that the kinetic intensity varied from 0.27 to 4.69 mi-1 and passenger loading ranged from 2 to 21 passengers. Simulation results showed that energy consumption for both buses increased with increasing vehicle mass. The simulation also indicated that passenger loading has a greater impact on energy consumption for conventional buses than for electric buses owing to the electric bus's ability to recapture energy. This work shows that measuring and analyzing real-time passenger loading is advantageous for determining the energy used by electric and conventional diesel buses.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
NASA NTRS1978

Time variation of urban mass loading measured by small filters compared to high-volume samplers

The paper shows how the use of an instrument with 12 small-diameter (47-mm) membrane filters (samples taken for 12 2-hr periods), in conjunction with wind direction measurements, is a suitable technique for observing mass loading levels on a time-resolved basis. In contrast, standard high-volume instruments are unable to demonstrate specialized events because of the long collection period involved. A comparison is presented for a typical day where the mass loading changed during the observed period but could not be observed with a single high-volume sample measurement. Time-averaged mass loading for 2-hr periods is demonstrated to be a useful tool in developing trend analysis for diurnal effects.

Crumbly, K. H.↗
DOE OSTI2018

A Data-Driven Approach to Dynamic Var Compensator Placement for Local Voltage Stabilization on Feeders with High PV Penetration

Distribution feeders with a high penetration of distributed photovoltaic (PV) systems can experience voltage variability caused by the changing load flow injections corresponding to the availability of the solar resource. The rapid, uncontrolled voltage range fluctuations can affect the system. Tap-changing voltage regulators, switched capacitors, and smart inverter functions have been used to stabilize voltage. However, in some cases, when these options are insufficient or unavailable, dedicated reactive power control devices such as dynamic var compensators (DVCs) can be used for local voltage stabilization. This paper introduces a statistical framework to characterize voltage variability and stabilization, proposes a data-driven approach to DVC placement, and presents the results of a planning study on a real feeder using real data.

Reiman, Andrew P.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Stress intensities for cracks emanating from pin-loaded holes

A series of stress freezing photoelastic experiments were conducted on large plates containing central holes with cracks emanating from the edge formed by the intersection of the hole with the plate surface. Loads were applied through rigid pins with neat fits in the holes. Stress-intensity factors (SIF) were estimated by a computer assisted least squares analysis of the photoelastic data taken from slices near the points of intersection of the flaw border with the hole boundary and the plate surface. Results indicate that the local mode of loading changes from Mode 1 near the hole boundary to mixed mode near the plate surface. The analysis is extended to include mixed mode loading, and results are compared with an existing approximate theory.

Smith, C. W.↗
NASA NTRS1940

Tests of Lead-bronze Bearings in the DVL Bearing-testing Machine

The lead-bronze bearings tested in the DVL machine have proven themselves very sensitive to load changes as in comparison with bearings of light metal. In order to prevent surface injuries and consequently running interruptions, the increase of the load has to be made in small steps with sufficient run-in time between steps. The absence of lead in the running surface, impurities in the alloy (especially iron) and surface irregularities (pores) decreases the load-carrying capacity of the bearing to two or three times that of the static load.

Fischer, G↗
DOE OSTI2020

The Effect of Power Electronic Loads on Western Interconnection Stability

The prevalence of power electronics in the bulk power system is increasing rapidly in both the generation and consumption of electricity. This work focuses on the effect of changing load composition - specifically the transition from single phase air conditioner motors to power electronics backed air conditioners - on power system stability. Various transmission and generation contingency events for the Western Interconnection were simulated using Positive Sequence Load Flow software and planning models from the Western Electricity Coordinating Council. In general, an increased proportion of power electronic load leads to more instability. For some specific faults resulting in fault-induced delayed voltage recovery, transitioning to higher proportions of power electronic loads helps expedite system recovery. These results demonstrate that load composition should be examined in conjunction with generation composition when evaluating system stability.

FIDVR↗