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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 613 records · Page 34
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Parallel transport modeling of linear divertor simulators with fundamental ion cyclotron heating *

Abstract The Material Plasma Exposure eXperiment (MPEX) is a steady state linear device with the goal to perform plasma material interaction studies at future fusion reactor relevant conditions. A prototype of MPEX referred as ‘Proto-MPEX’ is designed to carry out research and development related to source, heating and transport concepts on the planned full MPEX device. The auxiliary heating schemes in MPEX are based on cyclotron resonance heating with radio frequency (RF) waves. Ion cyclotron heating (ICH) and electron cyclotron heating in MPEX are used to independently heat the ions and electrons and provide fusion divertor conditions ranging from sheath-limited to fully detached divertor regimes at a material target. A hybrid particle-in-cell code- PICOS++ is developed and applied to understand the plasma parallel transport during ICH in MPEX/Proto-MPEX to the target. With this tool, evolution of the distribution function of MPEX/Proto-MPEX ions is modeled in the presence of (a) Coulomb collisions, (b) volumetric particle sources and (c) quasi-linear RF-based ICH. The code is benchmarked against experimental data from Proto-MPEX and simulation data from B2.5 EIRENE. The experimental observation of ‘density-drop’ near the target in Proto-MPEX and MPEX during ICH is demonstrated and explained via physics-based arguments using PICOS++ modeling. In fact, the density drops at the target during ICH in Proto-MPEX/MPEX to conserve the flux and to compensate for the increased flow during ICH. Furthermore, sensitivity scans of various plasma parameters with respect to ICH power are performed for MPEX to investigate its role on plasma transport and particle and energy fluxes at the target.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Real-time Condition Monitoring of Power Modules in Grid-tied Power Converter

This paper proposes and demonstrates a real-time condition monitoring method using gate driver integrated sensing circuits and sensor fusion algorithms. Power device on-state voltage (VDSon) measurement and junction temperature (Tj) sensing circuits with high noise immunity are built and integrated into an adaptive gate driver circuit for power modules. Considering the inherently noisy measurement environment of power converters, VDSon together with several other measurements are fused together to provide accurate descriptions of the stress and degradation of each power device. Furthermore, the gate driver circuit can actively control the turn-on gate voltage (VGSon) for each device based on the stress and degradation state. The proposed sensing circuits and power device condition assessment algorithms are implemented in a 75 KVA grid-tied power converter. This paper focuses on the sensing circuits hardware designs and testing in grid-tied power converter prototype and device stress index generation. More comprehensive results on the device state of health index generation will be presented in future work.

Fan, Junchong↗
DOE OSTI2022

Reliability-Informed Economic and Energy Evaluation for Bi-Level Design for Remanufacturing: A Case Study of Transmission and Hydraulic Manifold

Abstract Design for remanufacturing (DfRem) is one attractive strategy that encourages the reuse of a product and extends the product's life cycle. Traditional design processes often only consider product reliability at an early design stage. However, from the perspective of environmental sustainability, it is becoming increasingly important to evaluate the long-term economic and environmental impacts of design decisions during early-stage design. We propose a bi-level DfRem framework consisting of system-level reusability allocation and component-level design tradeoff analysis, considering reliability and product warranty policy. First, a system-level reusability allocation problem aims at a theoretical exploration of the design space where all the components comprising the system are allocated certain reuse rates to achieve target energy savings with minimum cost. Following the theoretical exploration at the system level, a component-level analysis looks at practical design options for each component and trades-off between the overall cost and energy consumption for multiple remanufacturing cycles. Both levels of the framework require modeling component reuse for multiple remanufacturing cycles, which we achieve by using a branched power-law model that provides probabilistic scenarios of reusing the component or replacing it with a new part. We demonstrate the utility of this framework with the case study of an infinitely variable transmission (IVT) used by some agricultural machines manufactured by John Deere and show snapshots of a prototype software tool that we developed for easy use by designers.

Engineering↗
DOE OSTI2021

Simultaneous Capture and Conversion of CO 2 to Methanol via a Switchable Ionic Liquid and Low-Temperature Metal Catalyst (CRADA 449)

Advance development of the Integrated (Carbon Dioxide) CO 2 Capture and Conversion to Methanol (ICCCM) process, which is based on PNNL’s proprietary Carbon Dioxide Binding Organic Liquids (CO 2 BOLs) capture solvent technology for separating the CO 2 from dilute streams. Design, fabricate, and demonstrate a bench-scale ICCCM prototype for the continuous flow combined capture and catalytic conversion of CO 2 into methanol and assess viability for commercialization.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2023

ProtoDUNE-SP's Performance, Physics status, and Future Plans

The ProtoDUNE-SP detector is a single-phase liquid argon time projection chamber measuring$ 7.2 \times 6.1 \times 7.0 m^3$ in active volume. It is designed as a test bed and full-scale prototype for the elements of the first far detector module of the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE). Located at the CERN Neutrino Platform, the detector was exposed to a tagged and momentum-analyzed particle beam with momentum settings ranging from 0.3 GeV/c to 7 GeV/c and collected more than four million beam events. Additionally, the detector operated for approximately two years, continuously collecting cosmic ray events. We present the performance of the detector which has met or surpassed the specifications set for the DUNE far detector. The status of physics analyses including hadron-Ar cross sections and measurements of liquid argon properties will be summarized. Talk will conclude with plans for the coming Run2 with ProtoDUNE-HD (horizontal drift).

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Coal-based Bricks & Blocks (CBBs): Process Development to Prototype Fabrication Coupled with Techno-Economic Analysis and Market Survey

Coal-based bricks and blocks (CBBs) were formulated using anthracite and thermoplastic binder. Lab scale test composites were formed by hot-press molding and commercial extrusion for test articles and for a full-scale prototype. Formulations and test matrices followed a systematic experimental design to examine the effects of and interactions among three primary independent variables: a) thermoplastic type, b) weight fractions of binder relative to the total anthracite weight, and c) relative proportions of large versus small (milled) anthracite size fractions. Technical performance metrics include compressive strength, modulus, porosity/permeability and density. These DoE studies establish composition-property relations and identify the best combination for any desired property of interest – in particular, strength. Based on CBB composition and fabrication process, validated against technical performance metrics, a techno-economic analysis was constructed which incorporated a process flow model, engineering design (with scaling), and calculated capital plus operating costs. Based on measured property metrics and estimated process economics and a projected price by TEA (techno-economic analysis), building and construction target markets were identified by a market survey assessment. With known cost, price, performance metrics and competitive advantages for CBBs matched with commercial applications/uses, a technical gap analysis was performed to identify further development required for scale-up and commercialization.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2024

2x2 Demonstrator High-Coverage Light Readout System in a Novel LArTPC

DUNE is a long-baseline Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber (LArTPC) neutrino oscillation experiment. Its near detectors, located at Fermi National Laboratory, will constrain systematic errors on far detector measurements. The 2x2 Demonstrator, a novel proof of concept prototype for the ND LArTPC, has a modular TPC design that mitigates event pileup in a high-occupancy nearline beam environment, further aided by a native 3D pixelated charge readout and a 30% coverage, low profile light readout. This will be the first large-scale LArTPC to utilize pixels in place of wire planes

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Exploring the Use of Flexible Circuit Boards to the Increase Power Density of a Rotary Triboelectric Nanogenerator

EExpansion on previous triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) research that investigated a freestanding rotary TENG. The previous prototype used a single printed circuit board (PCB) stator with exposed copper electrodes and an arcylic rotor with vinyl-cut fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) wedges. The second generation prototype again used a PCB stator but used a flexible PCB rotor consisting of alternating polyamide and copper wedges. This prototype was assembled in a stacked configuration, with the intent of increasing current output. Results indicated that the internal resistance of the prototype was decreased, allowing for higher current output. However, degradation of the power output was observed, which led to decay testing of the prototypes. To overcome charge decay, a self-exciting design is suggested as further work.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2026

Pioneer WEC v1 testing report

The “Pioneer WEC” project is tasked with developing a wave energy converter (WEC) to provide additional electrical power to the CeNtral Surface Mooring (CNSM) within the NSF-funded Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) Pioneer Array. This report summarizes the design, testing, and deployment of the “Pioneer WEC v1 prototype.”

Coe, Ryan Geoffrey [Sandia National Laboratories (↗
DOE OSTI2024

Overview of the Optical Design of the CMB-S4 Large Aperture Telescopes and Camera Optics

CMB-S4, the next-generation CMB observatory, will deploy hundreds of thousands of detectors to enable mapping the millimeter-wavelength sky with unprecedented speed. The large aperture telescopes for CMB-S4 consist of six-meter diameter crossed Dragone designs and a five-meter diameter three-mirror anastigmat. The two-mirror crossed Dragone design requires astigmatism corrections in the refractive optics to achieve diffraction-limited performance. We present biconic lens corrections for the CMB-S4 crossed Dragone camera optics and compare these designs to the camera optics for the three mirror anastigmat, as the optical designs of the cameras for these telescopes are being prototyped.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2024

Flashback characterization of additively manufactured swirl-stabilized fuel injector with varying surface roughness

This work investigates the effects of as-built surface roughness on the flashback propensity in additively manufactured (AM) swirl-stabilized lean premixed (LPM) fuel injectors. Adoption of AM for rapid prototyping and fabrication of complex fuel-flexible injector designs requires investigating surface roughness effects on the flow and flame stability characteristics of the combustor. Wall roughness increases the near-wall shear, which could alter the boundary layer structure and change the propensity for flame flashback. Accounting for the realistic as-built surface roughness is crucial in carrying out computational modeling and experimental analysis to establish a feedback loop for the precision designing of fuel-flexible injectors. The presented numerical analysis of as-built AM injector is an essential consideration to optimize injector design for aerodynamics and additive manufacturability.

Mohanty, Pratikshya↗
DOE OSTI2026

Nb3Sn Superconducting Cavity Developments for Heavy-ion Beams

Nb3Sn has been identified as the most promising next-generation superconducting material for accelerator cavities. This is due to the higher critical temperature (Tc = 18 K) of Nb3Sn compared to niobium (Tc = 9.2 K), which leads to greatly reduced RF losses in the cavity during 4.5 K operation. This allows two important changes during cavity and cryomodule design. First, the higher Tc leads to negligible BCS losses when operated at 4.5 K, which allows for a higher frequency to be used, translating to significantly smaller cavities and cryomodules. Second, the reduced dissipated power lowers the required cryogenic cooling capacity, meaning that cavities can feasibly be operated on 5-10 W cryocoolers instead of a centralized helium refrigeration plant. These plants and distribution systems are costly and complex, requiring skilled technicians for operation and maintenance. These fundamental changes present an opportunity for a paradigm shift in how low-beta linacs are designed and operated. Fabrication and testing results of first prototypes are discussed.

Petersen, T. [Argonne]↗
DOE OSTI2023

Prototype SSR2 Tuner Procurement and Testing at IJCLab for PIP-II Project

IJCLab is involved in the PIP-II project on the design and development of accelerator components for the SSR2 (Single Spoke Resonator type 2) section of the superconducting linac. Five prototype tuners have been built and are being tested at IJCLab. After a short description of the tuner, this paper reports on the procurement strategy and the performance observed at both room and low temperatures in vertical cryostat test with SSR2 prototype cavities. This paper will also share results on accelerated lifetime tests performed in a dedicated nitrogen-cooled cryostat.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Toward digital design at the exascale: An overview of project ICECap

High performance computing has entered the Exascale Age. Capable of performing over 1018 floating point operations per second, exascale computers, such as El Capitan, the National Nuclear Security Administration's first, have the potential to revolutionize the detailed in-depth study of highly complex science and engineering systems. However, in addition to these kind of whole machine “hero” simulations, exascale systems could also enable new paradigms in digital design by making petascale hero runs routine. Currently, untenable problems in complex system design, optimization, model exploration, and scientific discovery could all become possible. Motivated by the challenge of uncovering the next generation of robust high-yield inertial confinement fusion (ICF) designs, project ICECap (Inertial Confinement on El Capitan) attempts to integrate multiple advances in machine learning (ML), scientific workflows, high performance computing, GPU-acceleration, and numerical optimization to prototype such a future. Built on a general framework, ICECap is exploring how these technologies could broadly accelerate scientific discovery on El Capitan. In addition to our requirements, system-level design, and challenges, we describe some of the key technologies in ICECap, including ML replacements for multiphysics packages, tools for human-machine teaming, and algorithms for multifidelity design optimization under uncertainty. As a test of our prototype pre-El Capitan system, we advance the state-of-the art for ICF hohlraum design by demonstrating the optimization of a 17-parameter National Ignition Facility experiment and show that our ML-assisted workflow makes design choices that are consistent with physics intuition, but in an automated, efficient, and mathematically rigorous fashion.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Sample Testing Basket: Design and Capabilities Report

SFR designs all require integral components that can withstand prolonged submersion in the liquid sodium primary coolant as well as in the gas space of the reactor vessel. Materials are often desired to withstand these conditions for the lifetime of the reactor. The Sample Testing Basket (STB) was designed and fabricated to meet the anticipated need for material exposure testing in prototypic reactor coolant environments; in the liquid sodium primary coolant and the sodium-vapor-laden gas space. Developed at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), the STB is a piece of equipment designed for use in the Mechanisms Engineering Test Loop (METL) to allow for sodium exposure testing of materials within the METL facility.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Mono‐Materials Created by Engineering a Continuum of P3HB Stereomicrostructures in a One‐Step Catalytic Process

Multi-material products that combine multiple complementary polymers can create products with desired performance but present challenges to end-of-life (EoL) management. The emerging mono-material product design based on a single polymer type addresses the fundamental EoL issue, but challenges of delivering vastly tunable material properties by the single polymer still remain. Here, we introduce a simple strategy to produce biodegradable poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (P3HB) materials with a wide range of material properties by engineering a stereomicrostructure continuum, achieved through polymerizing diastereomeric mixtures of racemic and meso-dimethyl diolides at various feed ratios with a single catalyst. This one-step, one-pot process produces biodegradable P3HB mono-materials ranging from rigid to flexible thermoplastics, to tough thermoplastic elastomers, to a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA), which have been then combined to fabricate prototype all-P3HB PSA tapes, demonstrating the feasibility of designing mono-material products through engineering polymer stereomicrostructures.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Controller Verification of a Smart-Grid Compatible 200 kHz Single-stage Photovoltaic Microinverter

This paper presents control system design, implementation, and experimental validation of a single-stage 400 W, 200 kHz solar photovoltaic (PV) microinverter using hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) and hardware testing. The selected circuit topology is based on a Gallium Nitride (GaN) direct-matrix based dual active bridge (DAB) converter with a low voltage active power decoupler (APD) circuit. Control performance is verified, smart-grid compatibility is tested, and circuit operation is confirmed. Controller HIL (CHIL) is shown to aid in a complex power electronics system design by 1) enabling detailed control development prior to hardware implementation, 2) expanding the use of automated testing, and 3) increasing confidence in control performance prior to prototype testing. Altogether, these factors make HIL a valuable tool in complex power electronic designs.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Additively manufactured novel Al-Cu-Sc-Zr alloy: Microstructure and mechanical properties

An in-depth understanding of microstructure and resultant properties is paramount in the design of a novel alloy system, especially for additive manufacturing (AM). The present investigation aims to characterize a prototypical AM Al alloy with great potential for structural applications. An Al-1.5Cu-0.8Sc-0.4Zr alloy designed using integrated computational material engineering was printed using the laser powder bed fusion AM process. This novel alloy shows promising combination of strength and ductility in as-built and peak-aged conditions. This improvement in the tensile properties is attributed to the presence of both coherent L1 2 Al 3 Sc/Al 3 (Sc,Zr) precipitates and Cu-rich regions. The microstructures were studied via extensive microscopy at different length scales using X-ray microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Fractography revealed that the columnar grain boundaries in as-built condition allow easy slip transfer as compared to the equiaxed grains, with the apex of the melt pool acting as the crack nucleation site. Furthermore, the peak aged condition resulted in improved strength while marginally sacrificing ductility due to precipitates decorating dislocations, grain boundaries and melt pool boundaries thus acting as obstacles to slip transfer.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗