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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 577 records · Page 32

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NASA NTRS1989

Characteristics of an ITS that evolves from tutor to operator's assistant

This paper discusses the motivation and goals of a research project which addresses the problems and issues of operator training in complex engineering sytems. The research proposes a tutor/aid paradigm for the design of an intelligent tutoring system (ITS) that evolves from a tutor to an operator's assistant for supervisory control of complex dynamic systems. Characteristics of an intelligent tutoring/aiding system are identified with respect to the representation of domain knowledge, the tutor's pedagogical structure, and the student knowledge representation. The research represents a first step in the design of an intelligent complex dynamic systems.

Chu, R. W.↗

DOE OSTI2023

Highly Oxidized Oxide Surface toward Optimum Oxygen Evolution Reaction by Termination Engineering

The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a critical step for sustainable fuel production through electrochemistry process. Maximizing active sites of nanocatalyst with enhanced intrinsic activity, especially the activation of lattice oxygen, is gradually recognized as the primary incentive. Since the surface reconfiguration to oxyhydroxide is unavoidable for oxygen-activated transition metal oxides, developing a surface termination like oxyhydroxide in oxides is highly desirable. In this work, we demonstrate an unusual surface termination of (111)-facet Co 3 O 4 nanosheet that is exclusively containing edge-sharing octahedral Co 3+ similar to CoOOH that can perform at approximately 40 times higher current density at 1.63 V (vs RHE) than commercial RuO 2 . It is found that this surface termination has an oxidized oxygen state in contrast to standard Co-O systems, which can serve as active site independently, breaking the scaling relationship limit. Finally, this work forwards the applications of oxide electrocatalysts in the energy conversion field by surface termination engineering.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2018

Additive Manufacturing Consolidation of Low-Cost Water Atomized Steel Powder Using Micro-Induction Sintering

ORNL worked with Grid Logic Inc to demonstrate micro induction sintering (MIS) and binder decomposition of steel powders. It was shown that MIS effectively emits spatially confined electromagnetic energy that is directly coupled to metallic powders resulting in resistive heating of individual particles. The non-uniformity of particle morphology and distribution of the water atomized steel powders resulted in inefficient transfer of energy. It was shown that adhering the particles together using polymer binders resulted in more efficient coupling. Using the MIS processes, debinding and sintering could be done in a single step. When combined with another system, such as binder-jet, this could reduce the amount of required post-processing. An invention disclosure was filed on hybrid systems that use MIS to reduce the amount of required post-processing.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2019

Inertial effects in the dc+ac driven underdamped Frenkel-Kontorova model: Subharmonic steps, chaos, and hysteresis

The effects of inertial terms on the dynamics of the dc+ac driven Frenkel-Kontorova model were examined. As the mass of particles was varied, the response of the system to the driving forces and appearance of the Shapiro steps were analyzed in detail. Unlike in the overdamped case, the increase of mass led to the appearance of the whole series of subharmonic steps in the staircase of the average velocity as a function of average driving force in any commensurate structure. At certain values of parameters, the subharmonic steps became separated by chaotic windows while the whole structure retained scaling similar to the original staircase. The mass of the particles also determined their sensitivity to the forces governing their dynamics. Depending on their mass, they were found to exhibit three types of dynamics, from dynamical mode-locking with chaotic windows, through to a typical dc response, to essentially a free-particle response. Examination of this dynamics in both the upforce and downforce directions showed that the system may not only exhibit hysteresis, but also that large Shapiro steps may appear in the downforce direction, even in cases for which no dynamical mode-locking occurred in the upforce direction. © 2019 American Physical Society.

42 ENGINEERING↗

DOE OSTI2019

Online Primal-Dual Methods With Measurement Feedback for Time-Varying Convex Optimization

This paper addresses the design and analysis of feedback-based online algorithms to control systems or networked systems based on performance objectives and engineering constraints that may evolve over time. The emerging timevarying convex optimization formalism is leveraged to model optimal operational trajectories of the systems, as well as explicit local and network-level operational constraints. Departing from existing batch and feed-forward optimization approaches, the design of the algorithms capitalizes on an online implementation of primal-dual projected-gradient methods; the gradient steps are, however, suitably modified to accommodate feedback from the system in the form of measurements - hence, the term 'online optimization with feedback.' By virtue of this approach, the resultant algorithms can cope with model mismatches in the algebraic representation of the system states and outputs, they avoid pervasive measurements of exogenous inputs, and they naturally lend themselves to a distributed implementation. Under suitable assumptions, analytical convergence claims are established in terms of dynamic regret. Furthermore, when the synthesis of the feedback-based online algorithms is based on a regularized Lagrangian function, Q-linear convergence to solutions of the time-varying optimization problem is shown.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

DOE OSTI2021

Monitoring Radiochemical Processing Streams for the 238 Pu Supply Program with Process Pulse II

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is developing advanced spectroscopic and real-time monitoring capabilities to improve the timeliness of analytical measurements and process decisions for the 238Pu Supply Program. Reducing the time, resources, and costs associated with each production campaign is critical because overlapping campaigns will be required to meet the production goals of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Real-time, in situ analytical measurements in the heavily shielded hot cells at the Radiochemical Engineering Development Center (REDC) will allow for rapid process information feedback and operational benefits that help the 238Pu supply program scale-up production efforts. Noteworthy steps were taken during Campaign 5 to establish the ability to monitor processing streams in real time with spectrophotometry and a commercially available online monitoring software called The Unscrambler X Process Pulse II (PP) multivariate statistical process monitoring system by Camo Analytics (version 5.60). PP automates univariate-type calculations within the software itself and executes multivariate models built using The Unscrambler X (version 10.4 or newer). The Unscrambler is a commercially available data analysis software made by the same company. PP is composed of easy-to-use-tools for all personnel, including data scientists and technicians. The software can be used to plot analyte concentration profiles, spectral data, and other process variables in real time. All process data are represented in a single view with interactive charts useful for viewing how a process evolves over time.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗

NASA NTRS1992

Distributed environmental control

We present an architecture of distributed, independent control agents designed to work with the Computer Aided System Engineering and Analysis (CASE/A) simulation tool. CASE/A simulates behavior of Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS). We describe a lattice of agents capable of distributed sensing and overcoming certain sensor and effector failures. We address how the architecture can achieve the coordinating functions of a hierarchical command structure while maintaining the robustness and flexibility of independent agents. These agents work between the time steps of the CASE/A simulation tool to arrive at command decisions based on the state variables maintained by CASE/A. Control is evaluated according to both effectiveness (e.g., how well temperature was maintained) and resource utilization (the amount of power and materials used).

Cleveland, Gary A.↗

NASA NTRS2011

Test Results From a Pair of 1-kWe Dual-Opposed Free-Piston Stirling Power Convertors Integrated With a Pumped NaK Loop

As a step towards development of Stirling power conversion for potential use in Fission Surface Power (FSP) systems, a pair of commercially available 1-kW-class free-piston Stirling convertors were modified to operate with a NaK (sodium (Na) and potassium (K)) liquid metal pumped loop for thermal energy input. This was the first-ever attempt at powering a free-piston Stirling engine with a pumped liquid metal heat source and is a major FSP project milestone towards demonstrating technical feasibility. The convertors were successfully tested at the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) from June 6 through July 14, 2009. The convertors were operated for a total test time of 66 hr and 16 min. The tests included (a) performance mapping the convertors over various hot- and cold-end temperatures, piston amplitudes, and NaK flow rates and (b) transient test conditions to simulate various startup (i.e., low-, medium-, and high-temperature startups) and fault scenarios (i.e., loss of heat source, loss of NaK pump, convertor stall, etc.). This report documents the results of this testing

Geng, Steven M.↗

NASA NTRS2015

Solar Thermal Upper Stage Liquid Hydrogen Pressure Control Testing

High-energy cryogenic propellant is an essential element in future space exploration programs. Therefore, NASA and its industrial partners are committed to an advanced development/technology program that will broaden the experience base for the entire cryogenic fluid management community. Furthermore, the high cost of microgravity experiments has motivated NASA to establish government/aerospace industry teams to aggressively explore combinations of ground testing and analytical modeling to the greatest extent possible, thereby benefitting both industry and government entities. One such team consisting of ManTech SRS, Inc., Edwards Air Force Base, and Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) was formed to pursue a technology project designed to demonstrate technology readiness for an SRS liquid hydrogen (LH2) in-space propellant management concept. The subject testing was cooperatively performed June 21-30, 2000, through a partially reimbursable Space Act Agreement between SRS, MSFC, and the Air Force Research Laboratory. The joint statement of work used to guide the technical activity is presented in appendix A. The key elements of the SRS concept consisted of an LH2 storage and supply system that used all of the vented H2 for solar engine thrusting, accommodated pressure control without a thermodynamic vent system (TVS), and minimized or eliminated the need for a capillary liquid acquisition device (LAD). The strategy was to balance the LH2 storage tank pressure control requirements with the engine thrusting requirements to selectively provide either liquid or vapor H2 at a controlled rate to a solar thermal engine in the low-gravity environment of space operations. The overall test objective was to verify that the proposed concept could enable simultaneous control of LH2 tank pressure and feed system flow to the thruster without necessitating a TVS and a capillary LAD. The primary program objectives were designed to demonstrate technology readiness of the SRS concept at a system level as a first step toward actual flight vehicle demonstrations. More specific objectives included testing the pressure and feed control system concept hardware for functionality, operability, and performance. Valuable LH2 thermodynamic and fluid dynamics data were obtained for application to both the SRS concept and to future missions requiring space-based cryogen propellant management.

Moore, J. D.↗

DOE OSTI2026

Engineering Structural Transitions in a Multilevel Molecular Switch via Intermolecular Coupling

Controlling molecular conformations with atomic precision is essential for advancing molecular functional electronics, as well as our understanding of molecular dynamics. While switching between bistable molecular conformers is common in nature, creating systems with multiple, addressable states remains synthetically challenging. Here, we demonstrate a bottom-up strategy in which intermolecular interactions give rise to multilevel functionality within a simple two-molecule assembly. Using low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy, we show that a pyrrolidine dimer on Cu(100) exhibits six distinct adsorption conformations, exceeding the four expected from two independent bistable units. This unusual complexity arises from the interplay between intermolecular van der Waals attraction and steric repulsion, which reshapes the potential energy landscape and changes a single high-energy transition into a sequential two-step pathway. Each step is driven by low-energy inelastic electron excitations, achieving a switching efficiency an order of magnitude higher than that of the monomer. Here, by tuning the bias voltage and tip–molecule distance, we achieve deterministic control over multiple stable states, establishing a general design principle for on-demand engineering of collective molecular behavior and energy-efficient multilevel molecular devices.

Molecular interactions↗

DOE OSTI2016

Final report on the MAGARC software consulting support contract (WFO No. 15904) for ITER magnet safety assessment

he ITER (not an acronym but Latin for "the Way”) International Organization (IO) is building a large-scale scientific experiment that is now under construction in Cadarache, France. The ITER Tokamak fusion reactor aims to demonstrate that it is possible to produce energy from fusion. The ITER’s power output goal is to deliver ten times the power it consumes. During its operational lifetime, ITER will test key technologies necessary for the next step: the demonstration fusion power plant that will prove that it is possible to capture fusion energy for commercial use. General information on the ITER project can be found at http://www.iter.org. The ITER reactor’s superconducting magnet systems create ~41GJ of stored magnetic field energy when fully energized. The consequences of such energy dissipating via electrical arcs under faulted conditions gives rise to safety concerns even though these fault events are extremely unlikely. As part of the ITER licensing procedure, and as a result of such safety concerns, this contract was established to benchmark a developing magnet safety analysis tool at Culham Centre for Fusion Energy against the MAGARC computer code. MAGARC was developed by the U.S. Idaho National Laboratory (INL) under the ITER Engineering Design Activity (EDA) Project and was applied to produce previous analyses, in order to support magnet fault and safety assessment for the ITER design description document. This contract report documents the completion of requested modifications to the MAGARC code by the ITER IO, a time-step size sensitivity analysis with MAGARC during an unmitigated quench event, a comparison of the modeling approaches taken in developing MAGARC and the CCFE analysis package, and the data required for the benchmarking activity for these codes.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2019

Cytosolic lipid droplets as engineered organelles for production and accumulation of terpenoid biomaterials in leaves

Cytosolic lipid droplets are endoplasmic reticulum-derived organelles typically found in seeds as reservoirs for physiological energy and carbon to fuel germination. In this work, we report synthetic biology approaches to co-produce high-value sesqui- or diterpenoids together with lipid droplets in plant leaves. The formation of cytosolic lipid droplets is enhanced in the transient Nicotiana benthamiana system through ectopic production of WRINKLED1, a key regulator of plastid fatty acid biosynthesis, and a microalgal lipid droplet surface protein. Engineering of the pathways providing the universal C5-building blocks for terpenoids and installation of terpenoid biosynthetic pathways through direction of the enzymes to native and non-native compartments boost the production of target terpenoids. We demonstrate that anchoring of distinct biosynthetic steps onto the surface of lipid droplets leads to efficient production of terpenoid scaffolds and functionalized terpenoids. The co-produced lipid droplets “trap” the terpenoids in the cells.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2019

Advancing local helicity injection for non-solenoidal tokamak startup

Experiments on the A ~ 1 PEGASUS ST are advancing the physics and technology basis of Local Helicity Injection (LHI). LHI injects helicity with relatively intense electron current sources in the plasma edge. It creates high toroidal current, toroidally-averaged tokamak-like plasmas that have been efficiently transitioned to Ohmically driven tokamak plasmas. Tradeoffs between physics and engineering goals are tested with LHI systems on the low-field-side and the high-field-side of PEGASUS, producing plasmas predominantly driven by non-solenoidal induction and DC helicity drive, respectively. An extensive LHI source development campaign comparing active arc sources, passive and gas-effused electrode sources lead to the selection of active arc sources for present and next-step LHI deployments. LHI plasmas with net toroidal current I p =0.225 MA, T e >100 eV, and n e ~ 10 19 m -3 are attained to date. A predictive 0D power-balance model describes experimental I p (t) and partitions the active current drive sources. High-frequency MHD activity is found to be present during LHI current drive, in addition to n=1 modes previously found in NIMROD simulation and experiment. A new system of reduced MHD activity was detected where n=1 activity is suppressed, LHI CD efficiency improves, and long-pulse plasmas are sustained with V IND ~ 0.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2021

Effect of Mechanical Deformation on the Dielectric Electric Field in Dynamic Umbilical Cables

Wave energy converter (WEC) systems have unique umbilical cable design requirements compared to conventional marine designs. Due to their dynamic nature, WEC umbilical cables are required to handle increased loads and larger motions over longer deployment scenarios. However, the life expectancy of dynamic umbilical cables is predominantly analyzed for mechanical fatigue, with little consideration given to the effect of mechanical stress on the response of the dielectric as it has been previously assumed that the non-polymeric components will fail prior to the polymeric components. In this work, we explore the effects of mechanical bending on the concentration of the electric field in the insulation of a conceptual three-core dynamic umbilical cable to determine the limiting requirements for life expectancy. A conceptual industrial schematic of a medium voltage dynamic umbilical cable was used as the basis for the WEC system under study. Simulations on the dynamic umbilical cable were performed using COMSOL Multiphysics®. Mechanical loads up to the calculated limit (2.64 m minimum bend radius or 388 kN transverse load) were applied to the dynamic umbilical in a step-wise fashion with one end of the umbilical cable fixed. One-way coupling in three-dimensions was conducted by first determining the engineering strains, then using the engineering strains as the initial condition for determination of the Green-Lagrange strains, and lastly calculating the electric field in the deformed dielectric. Based upon the input load, deformation of the dielectric at the minimum bend radius produced an increase in the electric field of more than 12% when compared to the undeformed umbilical cable, which may lead to dielectric breakdown of the insulation prior to mechanical failure of the umbilical cable.

Spencer, Mychal P.↗

DOE OSTI2019

FCC-ee: The Lepton Collider

Particle physics has arrived at an important moment of its history. The discovery of the Higgs boson, with a mass of 125 GeV, completes the matrix of particles and interactions that has constituted the “Standard Model” for several decades. This model is a consistent and predictive theory, which has so far proven successful at describing all phenomena accessible to collider experiments. On the other hand, several experimental facts do require the extension of the Standard Model and explanations are needed for observations such as the domination of matter over antimatter, the evidence for dark matter and the non-zero neutrino masses. Theoretical issues that need to be addressed include the hierarchy problem, the neutrality of the Universe, the stability of the Higgs boson mass upon quantum corrections and the strong CP problem. This report contains the description of a novel research infrastructure based on a highest-luminosity energy frontier electron-positron collider (FCC-ee) to address the open questions of modern physics. It will be a general precision instrument for the continued in-depth exploration of nature at the smallest scales, optimised to measure precisely the properties of the Higgs boson at the per-cent level, the Z and W bosons, the top quark and the Higgs coupling to the Z at the per-mil level. FCC-ee will provide unprecedented sensitivity to signs of new physics appearing either in the form of small deviations from the Standard Model or as rare decay processes. This collider will be implemented in stages, successively spanning the entire energy range from the Z pole over the WW threshold and H production peak to the t"t" ̅ threshold. Most of the infrastructure (e.g. underground structures, surface sites, electrical distribution, cooling & ventilation, RF systems) can be directly re-used for a subsequent highest-energy hadron collider (described in the FCC conceptual design report volume 3), serving the world-wide particle-physics community in a highly synergetic and cost-effective manner throughout the 21st century. The European Strategy for Particle Physics (ESPP) update 2013 stated “To stay at the forefront of particle physics, Europe needs to be in a position to propose an ambitious post-LHC accelerator project at CERN by the time of the next Strategy update”. The FCC study has implemented the ESPP recommendation by developing a long-term vision for an “accelerator project in a global context”. This document describes the detailed design and preparation of a construction project for a post-LHC circular lepton collider “in collaboration with national institutes, laboratories and universities worldwide”, and enhanced by a strong participation of industrial partners. Now, a coordinated preparation effort can be based on a core of an ever-growing consortium of already more than 135 institutes worldwide. The technology for constructing a high-energy, highest-luminosity circular lepton collider exists today. The FCC-ee concept comprises a power-saving twin-aperture magnet system, a continuous top-up injection scheme for stable operation and maximum integrated luminosity. Combined with an energy staging scheme, the FCC-ee represents the most efficient and most sustainable route for executing the research required to discover signs of new physics beyond the Standard Model. The step-wise energy increase of the FCC-ee does not require any additional civil engineering activities. Strategic R&D for FCC-ee aims at minimising construction cost and energy consumption, while maximising the socio-economic impact. It will mitigate residual technology-related risks and ensure that industry can benefit from an acceptable economic utility. Concerning the implementation, a preparatory phase of about eight years is both necessary and adequate to establish the project governance and organisation structures, building the international machine and experiment consortia, developing a territorial implementation plan in agreement with the host-states’ requirements, optimising the disposal of land and underground volumes and preparing the civil engineering project. Such a large-scale, international fundamental research infrastructure, tightly involving industrial partners and providing training at all education levels, will be a strong motor of economic and societal development in all participating nations. The FCC study has implemented a set of actions towards a coherent vision for the world-wide high-energy and particle physics community, providing a collaborative framework for topically complementary and geographically well-balanced contributions. This conceptual design report lays the foundation for a subsequent infrastructure preparatory and technical design phase.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

NASA NTRS1986

Numerical study of hydrogen-air supersonic combustion by using elliptic and parabolized equations

The two-dimensional Navier-Stokes and species continuity equations are used to investigate supersonic chemically reacting flow problems which are related to scramjet-engine configurations. A global two-step finite-rate chemistry model is employed to represent the hydrogen-air combustion in the flow. An algebraic turbulent model is adopted for turbulent flow calculations. The explicit unsplit MacCormack finite-difference algorithm is used to develop a computer program suitable for a vector processing computer. The computer program developed is then used to integrate the system of the governing equations in time until convergence is attained. The chemistry source terms in the species continuity equations are evaluated implicitly to alleviate stiffness associated with fast chemical reactions. The problems solved by the elliptic code are re-investigated by using a set of two-dimensional parabolized Navier-Stokes and species equations. A linearized fully-coupled fully-implicit finite difference algorithm is used to develop a second computer code which solves the governing equations by marching in spce rather than time, resulting in a considerable saving in computer resources. Results obtained by using the parabolized formulation are compared with the results obtained by using the fully-elliptic equations. The comparisons indicate fairly good agreement of the results of the two formulations.

Chitsomboon, T.↗

NASA NTRS2000

Advancement of Bi-Level Integrated System Synthesis (BLISS)

Bi-Level Integrated System Synthesis (BLISS) is a method for optimization of an engineering system, e.g., an aerospace vehicle. BLISS consists of optimizations at the subsystem (module) and system levels to divide the overall large optimization task into sets of smaller ones that can be executed concurrently. In the initial version of BLISS that was introduced and documented in previous publications, analysis in the modules was kept at the early conceptual design level. This paper reports on the next step in the BLISS development in which the fidelity of the aerodynamic drag and structural stress and displacement analyses were upgraded while the method's satisfactory convergence rate was retained.

Sobieszczanski-Sobieski, J.↗

NASA NTRS2000

Advancement of Bi-Level Integrated System Synthesis (BLISS)

Sobieszczanski-Sobieski, Jaroslaw↗