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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 595 records · Page 33

Large horizontal axis wind turbine development

An overview of the NASA activities concerning ongoing wind systems oriented toward utility application is presented. First-generation-technology large wind turbines were designed and are in operation at selected utility sites. In order to make a significant energy impact, costs of 2 to 3 cents per kilowatt hour must be achieved. The federal program continues to fund the development by industry of wind turbines which can meet the cost goals of 2 to 3 cents per kilowatt hour. Lower costs are achieved through the incorporation of new technology and innovative system design to reduce weight and increase energy capture.

Robbins, W. H.↗

Study of Critical Heat Flux and Two-Phase Pressure Drop Under Reduced Gravity

The design of the two-phase flow systems which are anticipated to be utilized in future spacecraft thermal management systems requires a knowledge of two-phase flow and heat transfer phenomena in reduced gravities. This program was funded by NASA headquarters in response to NRA-91-OSSA-17 and was managed by Lewis Research Center. The main objective of this program was to design and construct a two-phase test loop, and perform a series of normal gravity and aircraft trajectory experiments to study the effect of gravity on the Critical Heat Flux (CHF) and onset of instability. The test loop was packaged on two aircraft racks and was also instrumented to generate data for two-phase pressure drop. The normal gravity tests were performed with vertical up and downflow configurations to bound the effect of gravity on the test parameters. One set of aircraft trajectory tests was performed aboard the NASA DC-9 aircraft. These tests were mainly intended to evaluate the test loop and its operational performance under actual reduced gravity conditions, and to produce preliminary data for the test parameters. The test results were used to demonstrate the applicability of the normal gravity models for prediction of the two-phase friction pressure drop. It was shown that the two-phase friction multipliers for vertical upflow and reduced gravity conditions can be successfully predicted by the appropriate normal gravity models. Limited critical heat flux data showed that the measured CHF under reduced gravities are of the same order of magnitude as the test results with vertical upflow configuration. A simplified correlation was only successful in predicting the measured CHF for low flow rates. Instability tests with vertical upflow showed that flow becomes unstable and critical heat flux occurs at smaller powers when a parallel flow path exists. However, downflow tests and a single reduced gravity instability experiment indicated that the system actually became more stable with a parallel single-phase flow path. Several design modifications have been identified which will improve the system performance for generating reduced gravity data. The modified test loop can provide two-phase flow data for a range of operating conditions and can serve as a test bed for component evaluation.

Abdollahian, Davood↗

Exploring the benefits of utilizing small modular device for sustainable and flexible shale gas water management

Growing shale gas extraction in recent years has triggered wide discussions on the associated freshwater requirement and wastewater management. Many optimization approaches have been developed for shale gas water management; however, most of the studies assumed permanent utilization of wastewater treatment facilities with fixed capacities. Considering the rapidly declining characteristics of shale gas wastewater production, these treatment facilities could remain largely underutilized after the first few months/years of production, making them less economically attractive. To maximize the capacity utilization of treatment facilities and further improve the economic performance of shale gas development, this study develops a systematic optimization framework, where the capacity strategy of conventional treatment facilities and utilization of the recent concept of modular manufacturing are both considered for flexible shale gas water management. The proposed mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model simultaneously optimizes the design and planning of integrated shale gas and water supply chain, with a focus on capacity planning for both large-scale conventional treatment facilities and small-scale modular devices. A series of Marcellus-based case studies are performed to illustrate the applicability of the proposed model and provide general insights into the trade-offs between the multiple types of treatment facilities. The optimization results reveal that the combinatorial utilization of conventional facilities and modular devices for wastewater treatment (66% by conventional facilities and 34% by modular devices) brings 9.3% more reused water for other well development and 6.2% savings in water-related costs, compared to flexible management of only conventional facilities. Furthermore, this work suggests that taking modular device as auxiliary equipment for shale gas water management is most beneficial to increase the capacity utilization of treatment facilities and achieve a more economic and sustainable shale gas production system.

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS↗

A survey of CPU-GPU heterogeneous computing techniques

As both CPU and GPU become employed in a wide range of applications, it has been acknowledged that both of these processing units (PUs) have their unique features and strengths and hence, CPU-GPU collaboration is inevitable to achieve high-performance computing. This has motivated significant amount of research on heterogeneous computing techniques, along with the design of CPU-GPU fused chips and petascale heterogeneous supercomputers. In this paper, we survey heterogeneous computing techniques (HCTs) such as workload-partitioning which enable utilizing both CPU and GPU to improve performance and/or energy efficiency. We review heterogeneous computing approaches at runtime, algorithm, programming, compiler and application level. Further, we review both discrete and fused CPU-GPU systems; and discuss benchmark suites designed for evaluating heterogeneous computing systems (HCSs). Furthermore, we believe that this paper will provide insights into working and scope of applications of HCTs to researchers and motivate them to further harness the computational powers of CPUs and GPUs to achieve the goal of exascale performance.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Multicolor pyrometer for materials processing in space

The program goals are to design, construct, and program a prototype imaging pyrometer capable of measuring the temperature distribution across the surface of a moving object suspended in space. The approach is to utilize an optical system which operates at short wavelengths compared to the peak of the blackbody spectrum for the temperature range of interest, thus minimizing errors associated with a lack of knowledge about heated sample emissivity. An analysis of the system's temperature measurement capability based on the camera's responsivity was performed and bound to be satisfactory. Details for the evolving optical design and the progress towards construction of a working model are discussed. Details of the algorithm developed for selecting the optimum colors to be used by the pyrometer are reported. Though final selection of the colors will have to await a final design of the optical system, results using a preliminary optical design are presented.

Frish, Michael↗

Development of a Technical Standard for Radiological Characterization of DAW - 18062

Throughout its 70+-year history, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and its predecessor agencies have performed a wide mission involving nuclear materials and weapons development, production, testing, and modernization. While the initial mission components relied heavily upon reactor physics and chemistry, the environmental programs have increasingly relied upon development of more accurate and effective measurement methodologies to determine the radiological and chemical properties of the unique waste streams that were generated during the weapons production and testing mission. Over time, the DOE laboratories and former production sites have developed a wide range of site-specific processes and procedures for conducting radiological characterization of dry active waste (DAW) that is managed as low-level radioactive waste. This has resulted in a Complex-wide variability among sites with respect to the methodologies and instrumentation used to characterize individual waste streams. The DAW-type waste was selected for development of a characterization standard since it is a simple, voluminous, and repetitive waste stream with a substantial knowledge base, established experience history at multiple site locations, and the potential for realization of programmatic benefits though standardization. The Energy Facility Contractors Group (EFCOG) Waste Management Working Group (WMWG) has proposed the development of a new DOE Technical Standard for radiological characterization of DAW. The purpose of the proposed new standard is to provide a technical resource that integrates and enhances the utilization of current site-specific methodologies and processes. A Technical Basis Document (TBD) has been prepared to support the development and utilization of the new standard by providing detailed information for use by site personnel when implementing the guidance provided in the standard. It also provides the rationale for and details concerning the recommended technical approaches for radiological characterization of representative DAW-type waste streams. The TBD will be included as an appendix to the proposed standard. Adoption of a standardized approach to DAW characterization will take advantage of multiple applications for a technology that is both mature and stable. The DAW characterization process is repetitive and lends itself to implementation at a wide range of operating locations - resulting in economies of scale, compliance with regulatory requirements, and consistent implementation of procedures which support design, operations, maintenance, and management of facilities, activities and programs. The purpose of the proposed new Technical Standard for DAW Radiological Characterization is to integrate and improve the utilization of current site-specific methodologies and processes and will include a comprehensive evaluation and comparison of current radiological characterization methodologies to determine which ones are most reliable and effective in producing relevant and valid data. In view of the long history and participation by several agencies in the regulation of nuclear programs, existing Voluntary Consensus Standards have also been reviewed for relevancy and applicability to the new proposed standard. The proposed new Standard will be developed in concert with existing scientific and regulatory guidance to produce a document that incorporates the state of current knowledge and site practices with a graded approach to applying those methodologies that are applicable and effective for characterizing a wide range of DAW-type wastes - including, but not limited to, debris, low specific activity (LSA) material, and surface contaminated objects (SCO). Under the leadership of the National Laboratory Subgroup of the EFCOG/WMWG), an EFCOG team will develop the proposed technical standard. This process will incorporate the information gathered during preparation of the TBD, which will serve as a technical resource to support the technical approach for selection of DAW characterization methodologies. Preparation of the TBD included a detailed survey of historical site practices and examination of the characterization approaches and measurement methodologies currently being applied to DAW-type wastes. Future activities include the development and submittal of a Project Justification Statement that will be submitted to the DOE Technical Standards Program for review and comment. The EFCOG/WMWG Team will respond to reviewer comments, as required. Following final concurrence by affected organizations through the DOE Technical Standards Coordination process, the EFCOG/WMWG Team will prepare the draft technical standard and respond to comments generated during RevCom review and final format review by the DOE Technical Standards Management Program. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Rocket Engine Numerical Simulator (RENS)

Work is being done at three universities to help today's NASA engineers use the knowledge and experience of their Apolloera predecessors in designing liquid rocket engines. Ground-breaking work is being done in important subject areas to create a prototype of the most important functions for the Rocket Engine Numerical Simulator (RENS). The goal of RENS is to develop an interactive, realtime application that engineers can utilize for comprehensive preliminary propulsion system design functions. RENS will employ computer science and artificial intelligence research in knowledge acquisition, computer code parallelization and objectification, expert system architecture design, and object-oriented programming. In 1995, a 3year grant from the NASA Lewis Research Center was awarded to Dr. Douglas Moreman and Dr. John Dyer of Southern University at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to begin acquiring knowledge in liquid rocket propulsion systems. Resources of the University of West Florida in Pensacola were enlisted to begin the process of enlisting knowledge from senior NASA engineers who are recognized experts in liquid rocket engine propulsion systems. Dr. John Coffey of the University of West Florida is utilizing his expertise in interviewing and concept mapping techniques to encode, classify, and integrate information obtained through personal interviews. The expertise extracted from the NASA engineers has been put into concept maps with supporting textual, audio, graphic, and video material. A fundamental concept map was delivered by the end of the first year of work and the development of maps containing increasing amounts of information is continuing. Find out more information about this work at the Southern University/University of West Florida. In 1996, the Southern University/University of West Florida team conducted a 4day group interview with a panel of five experts to discuss failures of the RL10 rocket engine in conjunction with the Centaur launch vehicle. The discussion was recorded on video and audio tape. Transcriptions of the entire proceedings and an abbreviated video presentation of the discussion highlights are under development. Also in 1996, two additional 3year grants were awarded to conduct parallel efforts that would complement the work being done by Southern University and the University of West Florida. Dr. Prem Bhalla of Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi, is developing the architectural framework for RENS. By employing the Rose Rational language and Booch Object Oriented Programming (OOP) technology, Dr. Bhalla is developing the basic structure of RENS by identifying and encoding propulsion system components, their individual characteristics, and cross-functionality and dependencies. Dr. Ruknet Cezzar of Hampton University, located in Hampton, Virginia, began working on the parallelization and objectification of rocket engine analysis and design codes. Dr. Cezzar will use the Turbo C++ OOP language to translate important liquid rocket engine computer codes from FORTRAN and permit their inclusion into the RENS framework being developed at Jackson State University. The Southern University/University of West Florida grant was extended by 1 year to coordinate the conclusion of all three efforts in 1999.

Davidian, Kenneth O.↗

Space station electrical power distribution analysis using a load flow approach

The space station's electrical power system will evolve and grow in a manner much similar to the present terrestrial electrical power system utilities. The initial baseline reference configuration will contain more than 50 nodes or busses, inverters, transformers, overcurrent protection devices, distribution lines, solar arrays, and/or solar dynamic power generating sources. The system is designed to manage and distribute 75 KW of power single phase or three phase at 20 KHz, and grow to a level of 300 KW steady state, and must be capable of operating at a peak of 450 KW for 5 to 10 min. In order to plan far into the future and keep pace with load growth, a load flow power system analysis approach must be developed and utilized. This method is a well known energy assessment and management tool that is widely used throughout the Electrical Power Utility Industry. The results of a comprehensive evaluation and assessment of an Electrical Distribution System Analysis Program (EDSA) is discussed. Its potential use as an analysis and design tool for the 20 KHz space station electrical power system is addressed.

Emanuel, Ervin M.↗

Investigation of upper-surface-blowing nacelle integration at cruise speeds utilizing powered engine simulators

Various overwing nacelle designs were investigated on a representative four-engine short-haul aircraft configuration during a combined analytical and experimental program. Design conditions were a Mach number of 0.7 and a lift coefficient of 0.4. All nacelles had D-shaped nozzle exits and included a streamline-contoured design, a low boattail angle reference configuration, and a high boattail angle powered lift design. Testing was done with the design four-engine airplane configuration as well as with only inboard nacelles installed. Turbopowered engine simulators were used to provide realistic representation of nacelle flows. Performance trends are compared for the various nacelle designs. In addition, comparisons are presented between analytical and experimental pressure distributions and between flow-through and powered simulator results.

Meleason, E. T.↗

Near-term hybrid vehicle program, phase 1. Appendix A: Mission analysis and performance specification studies report

Results of a study leading to the preliminary design of a five passenger hybrid vehicle utilizing two energy sources (electricity and gasoline/diesel fuel) to minimize petroleum usage on a fleet basis are presented. The study methodology is described. Vehicle characterizations, the mission description, characterization, and impact on potential sales, and the rationale for the selection of the reference internal combustion engine vehicle are presented. Conclusions and recommendations of the mission analysis and performance specification report are included.

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Rig Diagnostic Tools

Rig Diagnostic Tools is a suite of applications designed to allow an operator to monitor the status and health of complex networked systems using a unique interface between Java applications and UNIX scripts. The suite consists of Java applications, C scripts, Vx- Works applications, UNIX utilities, C programs, and configuration files. The UNIX scripts retrieve data from the system and write them to a certain set of files. The Java side monitors these files and presents the data in user-friendly formats for operators to use in making troubleshooting decisions. This design allows for rapid prototyping and expansion of higher-level displays without affecting the basic data-gathering applications. The suite is designed to be extensible, with the ability to add new system components in building block fashion without affecting existing system applications. This allows for monitoring of complex systems for which unplanned shutdown time comes at a prohibitive cost.

Soileau, Kerry M.↗

Computational Modeling of a 3D Printed Recuperator and Subsequent Experimental Loop for Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Cycles

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), in collaboration with mechanical-thermal energy storage (mTES) provider EarthEn, a US Department of Energy (DOE) Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Program (LEEP) recipient at ORNL’s Innovation Crossroads 2023, is utilizing a state-of-the-art patented 3D printing technique to design an additively manufactured (AM) supercritical CO2 (sCO2) recuperator (REC) for EarthEn’s charge/discharge cycle. The AM REC will be printed at ORNL’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility using Inconel Alloy 718 and tested on a closed-loop, ∼100 kW scale experimental facility that is under construction. The testing will compare the printed design against a commercial-off-the-shelf Printed Circuit Heat Exchanger (PCHE) REC. The design of the sCO2 facility is guided by a Modelica-based system model which is primarily dependent on the open-source TRANSFORM library developed at ORNL and uses the open-source CoolProp library for thermophysical properties of sCO2 via the External Media library. It is envisioned that an iterative process will be followed between the physical loop and the system model wherein the initial experimental data will be used to tune the model, which in turn will be used to guide future loop operation. Simultaneously, the AM REC is being designed using computer-aided design models, and it is also being analyzed for hydraulic and thermomechanical response using commercial computational fluid dynamics software, Simcenter STAR-CCM+, on highperformance computing resources.1

See, Nate [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000178581202)↗

California Energy Systems for the 21st Century (CES-21) Annual Report - 2018

The California Energy Systems for the 21st Century (CES-21) Program is a public-private collaborative research and development (R&D) program between the California Joint Utilities1 and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). The purpose of this annual report is to provide the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC or Commission) with a summary of the 2018 progress of the CES-21 Program2. The CES-21 Program is designed to research solutions for the medium- and far-term challenges of a fastevolving energy marketplace. The program is comprised of two projects: Cybersecurity Project and Grid Integration - Flexibility Metrics Project. This report provides information on the operations of the CES-21 program, including projects funded, results of research, efforts made to involve third parties, and intellectual property that results from the research.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

An assessment of separable fluid connector system parameters to perform a connector system design optimization study

The key to optimization of design where there are a large number of variables, all of which may not be known precisely, lies in the mathematical tool of dynamic programming developed by Bellman. This methodology can lead to optimized solutions to the design of critical systems in a minimum amount of time, even when there are a great number of acceptable configurations to be considered. To demonstrate the usefulness of dynamic programming, an analytical method is developed for evaluating the relationship among existing numerous connector designs to find the optimum configuration. The data utilized in the study were generated from 900 flanges designed for six subsystems of the S-1B stage of the Saturn 1B space carrier vehicle.

Prasthofer, W. P.↗

Development of a flow visualization apparatus

The use of an optical flow visualization device for studying convection flow patterns was investigated. The investigation considered use of a shadowgraph, schlieren and other means for visualizing the flow. A laboratory model was set up to provide data on the proper optics and photography procedures to best visualize the flow. A preliminary design of a flow visualization system is provided as a result of the study. Recommendations are given for a flight test program utilizing the flow visualization apparatus.

Spradley, L. W.↗

ERDA-NASA wind energy project ready to involve users

The NASA contribution to the Wind Energy Project is discussed. NASA is responsible for the following: (1) identification of cost-effective configurations and sizes of wind-conversion systems, (2) the development of technology needed to produce these systems, (3) the design of wind-conversion systems that are compatible with user requirements, particularly utility networks, and (4) technology transfer obtained from the program to stimulate rapid commercial application of wind systems. Various elements of the NASA program are outlined, including industry-built user operation, the evaluation phase, the proposed plan and schedule for site selection and user involvement, supporting research and technology (e.g., energy storage), and component and subsystem technology development.

Thomas, R.↗

Voltage profile program for the Kennedy Space Center electric power distribution system

The Kennedy Space Center voltage profile program computes voltages at all busses greater than 1 Kv in the network under various conditions of load. The computation is based upon power flow principles and utilizes a Newton-Raphson iterative load flow algorithm. Power flow conditions throughout the network are also provided. The computer program is designed for both steady state and transient operation. In the steady state mode, automatic tap changing of primary distribution transformers is incorporated. Under transient conditions, such as motor starts etc., it is assumed that tap changing is not accomplished so that transformer secondary voltage is allowed to sag.

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Highlights of 1978 activities

General highlights of NASA's activities for 1978 are presented. The highlights are categorized into topics such as space science, space transportation systems, space and terrestrial applications, environment, technology utilization, aeronautics, space research and technology, energy programs, and international. A list of the 1978 launches including: (1) launch date; (2) payload designation; (3) launch vehicle; (4) launch site and (5) mission remarks is also presented.

Source record↗