Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Field Operators”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 649 records · Page 36
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2014

Direct measurement and characterization of active photosynthesis zones inside biofuel producing and wastewater remediating microalgal biofilms

Abstract: Microalgal biofilm based technologies are of keen interest due to their high biomass concentrations and ability to utilize renewable resources, such as light and CO2. While photoautotrophic biofilms have long been used for wastewater remediation applications, biofuel production represents a relatively new and under-represented focus area. However, the direct measurement and characterization of fundamental parameters required for physiological analyses are challenging due to biofilm heterogeneity. This study evaluated oxygenic photosynthesis and biofuel precursor molecule production using a novel rotating algal biofilm reactor (RABR) operated at field- and laboratory-scales for wastewater remediation and biofuel production, respectively. Clear differences in oxygenic-photosynthesis, respiration and biofuel-precursor capacities were observed between the two systems and different conditions based on light and nitrogen availability. Nitrogen depletion was not found to have the same effect on lipid accumulation compared to prior planktonic studies. Physiological characterizations of these microalgal biofilms identify potential areas for future process optimization.

Biofilm↗
DOE OSTI2021

Accurate numerical, integral methods for computing drift-kinetic Trubnikov-Rosenbluth potentials

A novel numerical method is employed to compute the integral form of the axi-symmetric Trubnikov-Rosenbluth potentials. Two methods for quadrature in pitch-angle are described and their convergence properties are studied. Careful attention is given to quadrature over a singular Green's function. Here it is shown that an infinite series representation of the Green's function can be used more efficiently than its closed form involving complete elliptic integrals. Then a collocation method in speed, with its associated quadrature scheme, is laid out and its convergence properties are studied. Using the proposed scheme, accurate low-order moments of the field collision operator are obtained using relatively few velocity space degrees of freedom. The scheme is showcased by solving for the equilibrium, axi-symmetric bootstrap current in tokamaks. A C 0 Gauss-Lobatto-Legendre finite element pitch-angle basis with vertex nodes at the trapped/passing boundary is shown, in the context of the integral methods used, to be much more efficient than the more common Legendre polynomial expansion.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2018

Evaluation of the performance of the oceanic hydrate accumulation at site NGHP-02-09 in the Krishna-Godavari Basin during a production test and during single and multi-well production scenarios

The objective of this study is to quantify, by means of numerical simulation, the response of the complex system of gas hydrate accumulations at Site NGHP-02-09, Krishna-Godavari Basin, Indian Ocean, to different production conditions, and to determine the technical feasibility of gas production through depressurization-induced dissociation. The study assesses the suitability of the site for a long-term production test involving a single vertical well, and the long-term potential of the deposit under full-field production using a system of multiple vertical wells. We simulate gas and water flow, estimate the production performance of the accumulation and separately investigate the corresponding geomechanical response of the system. Results indicate that production from Site NGHP-02-09 under the conditions of a long-term field test involving a single vertical well is technically feasible and can yield high gas production rates. However, an inability to fully isolate the water bearing zones results in production that is largely from dissolved gas rather than hydrate dissociation and is thus burdened by excessive water production. Given the estimated physical properties of the reservoir system, Site NGHP-02-09 does not appear to be a promising location for a single-well field test of gas production, but may be a promising production target for full-field production operations using a multi-well system in which exterior wells can mitigate water inflows to allow interior wells to more effectively depressurize the formation and capture methane from gas hydrate dissociation. Geomechanical issues need to be carefully considered as significant displacements are possible, which can be challenging to well construction and stability.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Scalable and automated CRISPR-based strain engineering using droplet microfluidics

Abstract We present a droplet-based microfluidic system that enables CRISPR-based gene editing and high-throughput screening on a chip. The microfluidic device contains a 10 × 10 element array, and each element contains sets of electrodes for two electric field-actuated operations: electrowetting for merging droplets to mix reagents and electroporation for transformation. This device can perform up to 100 genetic modification reactions in parallel, providing a scalable platform for generating the large number of engineered strains required for the combinatorial optimization of genetic pathways and predictable bioengineering. We demonstrate the system’s capabilities through the CRISPR-based engineering of two test cases: (1) disruption of the function of the enzyme galactokinase ( galK ) in E. coli and (2) targeted engineering of the glutamine synthetase gene ( glnA ) and the blue-pigment synthetase gene ( bpsA ) to improve indigoidine production in E. coli .

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2013

Control of plasma profile in microwave discharges via inverse-problem approach

In the manufacturing process of semiconductors, plasma processing is an essential technology, and the plasma used in the process is required to be of high density, low temperature, large diameter, and high uniformity. This research focuses on the microwave-excited plasma that meets these needs, and the research target is a spatial profile control. Two novel techniques are introduced to control the uniformity; one is a segmented slot antenna that can change radial distribution of the radiated field during operation, and the other is a hyper simulator that can predict microwave power distribution necessary for a desired radial density profile. The control system including these techniques provides a method of controlling radial profiles of the microwave plasma via inverse-problem approach, and is investigated numerically and experimentally.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2014

Fast wave current drive in DEMO

The ability to non-inductively drive a large fraction of the toroidal plasma current in magnetically confined plasmas is an essential requirement for steady state fusion reactors such as DEMO. Besides neutral beam injection (NBI), electron-cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) and lower hybrid wave heating (LH), ion-cyclotron resonance heating (ICRH) is a promising candidate to drive current, in particular at the high temperatures expected in fusion plasmas. In this paper, the current drive (CD) efficiencies calculated with coupled ICRF wave / CD numerical codes for the DEMO-1 design case (R{sub 0}=9m, B{sub 0}=6.8T, a{sub p}=2.25m) [1] are presented. It will be shown that although promising CD efficiencies can be obtained in the usual ICRF frequency domain (20-100MHz) by shifting the dominant ion-cyclotron absorption layers to the high-field side, operation at higher frequencies (100-300MHz) has a stronger CD potential, provided the parasitic RF power absorption of the alpha particles can be minimized.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2016

Top-gated field-effect LaAlO{sub 3}/SrTiO{sub 3} devices made by ion-irradiation

We present a method to fabricate top-gated field-effect devices in a LaAlO{sub 3}/SrTiO{sub 3} two-dimensional electron gas (2-DEG). Prior to the gate deposition, the realisation of micron size conducting channels in the 2-DEG is achieved by an ion-irradiation with high-energy oxygen ions. After identifying the ion fluence as the key parameter that determines the electrical transport properties of the channels, we demonstrate the field-effect operation. At low temperature, the normal state resistance and the superconducting T{sub c} can be tuned over a wide range by a top-gate voltage without any leakage. A superconductor-to-insulator quantum phase transition is observed for a strong depletion of the 2-DEG.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2025

Conductivity space isotherm behavior in quantum anomalous Hall devices

The quantum Hall effect (QHE) has enhanced accessibility to measure and disseminate electrical units, owed in part to the recently redefined International System of Units in 2019. Graphene remains one of the preferred options to realize the ohm despite the limitations of high magnetic fields to produce a robust QHE. Topological insulators, on the other hand, show promise in providing quantized resistance via the quantum anomalous Hall effect, a phenomenon that removes the need for magnetic fields during operation. To optimize future devices for metrological applications, it is important to gain a better understanding of magnetically doped topological insulators like Cr-doped bismuth antimony telluride. The application of differential conductivity space analyses offers a more sensitive way to analyze the data and distinguish between 2D and 3D transport behaviors. This is particularly important in thin films, where the transition between 2D and 3D behavior can be subtle. The ability to confidently determine the dimensionality of the transport is crucial for selecting appropriate theoretical models for future device optimization. Furthermore, this work identifies variable range hopping as the dominant transport mechanism in the 2D regime using a rigorous statistical analysis (via the Bayes factor). These elements assist in the understanding of microscopic processes that govern charge transport in these materials.

Tran, N. T. M. [National Inst. of Standards and Te↗
DOE OSTI2015

Alcator C-Mod: research in support of ITER and steps beyond

This paper presents an overview of recent highlights from research on Alcator C-Mod. Significant progress has been made across all research areas over the last two years, with particular emphasis on divertor physics and power handling, plasma–material interaction studies, edge localized mode-suppressed pedestal dynamics, core transport and turbulence, and RF heating and current drive utilizing ion cyclotron and lower hybrid tools. Specific results of particular relevance to ITER include: inner wall SOL transport studies that have led, together with results from other experiments, to the change of the detailed shape of the inner wall in ITER; runaway electron studies showing that the critical electric field required for runaway generation is much higher than predicted from collisional theory; core tungsten impurity transport studies reveal that tungsten accumulation is naturally avoided in typical C-Mod conditions.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

The High Luminosity LHC interaction region magnets towards series production

The High Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC) is the new flagship project of CERN. First endorsed in 2013 and approved in 2016, HL-LHC is an upgrade of the accelerator aiming to increase by a factor of ten the statistics of the LHC collisions at the horizon of 2035-2040. HL-LHC relies on cutting edge technologies: among them, large aperture superconducting magnets will replace the present hardware to allow a smaller beam size in two interaction points (IPs). The project involves the construction of about 150 magnets of six different types: the quadrupole triplet, two main dipoles and three orbit correctors. The triplet, manufactured at CERN and in the USA, will consist of 30 magnets based on Nb3Sn technology, with an operational peak field of 11.4 T. These will be the first quadrupole Nb3Sn magnets installed in a particle accelerator. The other five types of magnets, all relying on Nb-Ti technology, present non-trivial challenges in the design and construction; they will be manufactured as part of in-kind contribution under the responsibility of institutes in Japan, China, Spain, and Italy. The project is now in the phase of transition between qualification through short models and prototypes and the beginning of the series construction. In this paper we review the magnet requirements, the reasons for selecting the design, the technological challenges with respect to previous projects, and we summarize the steps that have been taken to validate the baseline.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2024

Development of a high current density, high temperature superconducting cable for pulsed magnets

Abstract A low AC loss Rare Earth Barium Copper Oxide (REBCO) cable, based on the VIPER cable technology has been developed by Commonwealth Fusion Systems for use in high field, REBCO based tokamaks. The new cable is composed of partitioned and transposed copper ‘petals’ shaped to fit together in a circular pattern with each petal containing a REBCO tape stack and insulated from each other to reduce AC losses. A stainless steel jacket adds mechanical robustness—also serving as a vessel for solder impregnation—while a tube runs through the middle for cooling purposes. Additionally, fiber optic sensors are placed under the tape stacks for quench detection. To qualify this design, a series of experiments were conducted as part of the SPARC tokamak Central Solenoid Model Coil program—to retire the risks associated with full scale, fast ramping, high flux HTS Central Solenoid (CS) and Poloidal Field (PF) coils for tokamak fusion power plants and net energy demonstrators. These risk study and risk reduction experiments include (1) AC loss measurement and model validation in the range of ~5 T/s, (2) an IxB electromagnetic loading of over 850 kN/m at the cable level and up to 300 kN/m at the stack level, (3) a transverse compression resilience of over 350 MPa, (4) manufacturability at tokamak relevant speeds and scales, (5) cable to cable joint performance, (6) fiber optic based quench detection speed, accuracy, and feasibility, and (7) overall winding pack integration and magnet assembly. The result is a cable technology, now referred to as PIT VIPER, with AC losses that measure fifteen times lower (at ~5 T/s) than its predecessor technology; a 2% or lower degradation of critical current (Ic) at high IxB electromagnetic loads; no detectable Ic degradation up to 570 MPa of transverse compression on the cable unit cell; end to end magnet manufacturing, consistently producing Ic values within 7% of the model prediction; cable to cable joint resistances at 20 K on the order of ~15 nΩ; and fast, functional quench detection capabilities that do not involve voltage taps. This cable technology will be tested comprehensively in a Central Solenoid Model Coil to prove its readiness for compact, high field tokamak operation.

Sanabria, Charlie (ORCID:0000000150175309)↗
DOE OSTI2015

Spinodal backreaction during inflation and initial conditions

We investigate how long wavelength inflationary fluctuations can cause the background field to deviate from classical dynamics. For generic potentials, we show that, in the Hartree approximation, the long wavelength dynamics can be encapsulated by a two-field model operating in an effective potential. The latter is given by a simple Gaussian integral transformation of the original inflationary potential. We use this new expression to study backreaction effects in quadratic, hilltop, flattened, and axion monodromy potentials. We find that the net result of the altered dynamics is to slightly modify the spectral tilt, drastically decrease the tensor-to-scalar ratio, and to effectively smooth over any features of the potential, with the size of these deviations set by the initial value of power in large scale modes and the shape of the potential during the entire evolution.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2021

TEQUILA: a platform for rapid development of quantum algorithms

Variational quantum algorithms are currently the most promising class of algorithms for deployment on near-term quantum computers. In contrast to classical algorithms, there are almost no standardized methods in quantum algorithmic development yet, and the field continues to evolve rapidly. As in classical computing, heuristics play a crucial role in the development of new quantum algorithms, resulting in a high demand for flexible and reliable ways to implement, test, and share new ideas. In this paper, inspired by this demand, we introduce TEQUILA, a development package for quantum algorithms in PYTHON, designed for fast and flexible implementation, prototyping and deployment of novel quantum algorithms in electronic structure and other fields. TEQUILA operates with abstract expectation values which can be combined, transformed, differentiated, and optimized. On evaluation, the abstract data structures are compiled to run on state of the art quantum simulators or interfaces.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2014

Narrowband Emission in Compton/Thomson Sources Operating in the High-Field Regime

We present a novel and quite general analysis of the interaction of a high-field chirped laser pulse and a relativistic electron, in which exquisite control of the spectral brilliance of the upshifted Thomson-scattered photon is shown to be possible. Normally, when Thomson scattering occurs at high field strengths, there is ponderomotive line broadening in the scattered radiation. This effect makes the bandwidth too large for some applications, and reduces the spectral brilliance. In this paper we show that such broadening can be corrected and eliminated by suitable frequency modulation of the incident laser pulse. Further, we suggest a practical realization of this compensation idea in terms of a chirped-beam driven FEL oscillator configuration, and show that significant compensation can occur, even with the imperfect matching to be expected in these conditions.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Availability and Maintenance Modeling for GIS Equipment Served in High-Speed Railway Under Incomplete Maintenance

Gas-insulated substation (GIS) equipment served in the traction power-supply system (TPSS) of the high-speed railway (HSR) suffers from extremely severe traction load conditions during its lifetime. In this paper, three major issues related to the actual field maintenance operations of GIS equipment in TPSS are addressed: 1) s-dependent degradation and shock process; 2) both spatial and temporal failure thresholds of shocks; and 3) incomplete maintenance (i.e., nonignorable maintenance time). To model the deterioration and failure process of GIS equipment, the hard failure model and the soft failure model are proposed. The characteristic function is utilized to bridge the s-dependent degradation and shock process in the soft failure model, while the extreme shock model (with spatial threshold) and δ-shock model (with temporal threshold) are introduced in the hard failure model. Furthermore, the index of availability, which combines both reliability and maintainability, is derived under the incomplete maintenance consideration. Based on the balance of availability and maintenance cost, the maintenance strategy with periodic inspections for GIS equipment in the long-run time span is developed. In conclusion, optimizations of three decision parameters (i.e., inspection period, extreme shock threshold, and δ-shock threshold) are implemented to achieve the best performance (with high availability and low maintenance cost) of the maintenance strategy.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Multi-Source Data Aggregation and Real-Time Anomaly Classification and Localization in Power Distribution Systems

This paper proposes a real-time anomaly location and classification framework for power distribution systems to simultaneously determine the type of anomaly (i.e., short-circuit fault, cyber attack, DER switching) and its location. The proposed framework employs the data aggregation module to collect the measurement data from multiple field devices operating at different sampling rates, such as protection relays and D-PMUs. The output of the data aggregation is then fed into a multi-task learning-based long-based short-term memory (MTL-LSTM) to classify the type of anomaly and the location in two separate tasks. The proposed MTL-LSTM approach can be utilized in real-time operation in order to distinguish between normal and several anomalous operations and locate the anomaly. The proposed framework is tested on a modified IEEE 33-bus test feeder benchmark that integrates solar generation and energy storage. Furthermore, the results show that the proposed framework can locate and classify anomalies for several operation conditions with more than 96% accuracy. Further experiments highlight the impact of aggregating multiple sources of data on the performance of the proposed model.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗