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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 703 records · Page 39
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

Evaluation of Rooftop Solar Potential in Chernihiv and Lviv, Ukraine, and Efficacy of High-Resolution 3D Data Digital Twins [Slides]

NREL evaluated rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) siting opportunities in the cities of Chernihiv and Lviv, Ukraine, leveraging very-high-resolution 3D elevation data to calculate technical potential. The study assessed total rooftop solar capacity and annual energy production. In Chernihiv and Lviv, 116,503 buildings were analyzed for their rooftop solar potential. The buildings in the study areas include a mixture of residential, commercial, and industrial buildings, characterized by diverse roof shapes and sizes. The total estimated rooftop solar capacity is 332 MWDC in Chernihiv and 873 MWDC in Lviv with annual energy production up to 376.2 GWhDC in Chernihiv and 995.5 GWhDC in Lviv. This accounting provides a clear estimate of the potential rooftop solar installations that could be realized under optimal conditions, considering both technical constraints and the geographic distribution of available rooftop space. Related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, NREL estimates loss from buildings damaged or destroyed of 2,754 buildings, 20.15 MWDC of capacity, and 22,869 MWhDC of annual energy production in Chernihiv as well as a loss of 1,316 buildings, 34.49 MWDC of capacity, and 39,369 MWhDC of annual energy production in Lviv. The study also assessed the feasibility of adapting this methodology on a national scale using either simulated digital surface models (DSMs) or a digital twin approach. While the very-high-resolution DSM provided more precise results, the simulated DSM demonstrated reasonable accuracy for broader applications in modeling aggregated distributed solar supply. The feasibility of using a digital twin for Ukraine's national rooftop solar potential is considered promising, with certain limitations in areas with highly variable building stock and heavy war damage.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Triggering cell death in cancers using self-illuminating nanocomposites

Bioinspired photocatalysis has resulted in efficient solutions for many areas of science and technology spanning from solar cells to medicine. Here we show a new bioinspired semiconductor nanocomposite (nanoTiO 2 DOPA-luciferase, TiDoL) capable of converting light energy within cancerous tissues into chemical species that are highly disruptive to cell metabolism and lead to cell death. This localized activity of semiconductor nanocomposites is triggered by cancer-generated activators. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is produced in excess in cancer tissues only and activates nearby immobilized TiDoL composites, thereby eliminating its off-target toxicity. The interaction of TiDoL with cancerous cells was probed in situand in real-time to establish a detailed mechanism of nanoparticle activation, triggering of the apoptotic signaling cascade, and finally, cancer cell death. Activation of TiDoL with non-cancerous cells did not result in cell toxicity. Exploring the activation of antibody-targeted semiconductor conjugates using ATP is a step toward a universal approach to single-cell-targeted medical therapies with more precision, efficacy, and potentially fewer side effects.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

pLiner

Compiler optimizations can alter significantly the numerical results of scientific computing applications. When numerical results differ significantly between compilers, optimization levels, and floating-point hardware, these numerical inconsistencies can impact programming productivity. pLiner is a framework that helps programmers identify locations in the source code that are highly affected by compiler optimizations. pLiner uses a novel approach to identify such code locations by enhancing the floatingpoint precision of variables and expressions. Using a guided search to locate the most significant code regions, pLiner can report to users such locations at different granularities, file, function, and line of code.

Laguna Peralta, Ignacio↗
NASA NTRS1975

Multiple scattering in planetary atmospheres

Methods for solving radiative transfer problems within the extended visible spectrum in planetary atmospheres are reviewed for use by the nonspecialist. Emphasis is placed on rapid, approximate procedures for the determination of such quantities as the plane and spherical (Bond) albedo, surface illumination, absorbed energy, limb darkening, phase curve, and spectra. Precise numerical methods and analytical results are also discussed. Recent approaches to such complications as atmospheric inhomogeneity and reflection from a porous regolith are described briefly.

Irvine, W. M.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Control of large thermal distortions in a cryogenic wind tunnel

The National Transonic Facility (NTF) is a research wind tunnel capable of operation at temperatures down to 89K (160 R) and pressures up to 900,000 Pa (9 atmospheres) to achieve Reynolds numbers approaching 120,000,000. Wide temperature excursions combined with the precise alignment requirements of the tunnel aerodynamic surfaces imposed constraints on the mechanisms supporting the internal structures of the tunnel. The material selections suitable for this application were also limited. A general design philosophy of utilizing a single fixed point for each linear degree of freedom and guiding the expansion as required was adopted. These support systems allow thermal expansion to take place in a manner that minimizes the development of thermally induced stresses while maintaining structural alignment and resisting high aerodynamic loads. Typical of the support mechanisms are the preload brackets used in the fan shroud system and the Watts linkage used to support the upstream nacelle. The design of these mechanisms along with the basic design requirements and the constraints imposed by the tunnel system are discussed.

Gustafson, J. C.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Report of the first Nimbus-7 SMMR Experiment Team Workshop

Preliminary results of sea ice and techniques for calculating sea ice concentration and multiyear fraction from the microwave radiances obtained from the Nimbus-7 SMMR were presented. From these results, it is evident that these groups used different and independent approaches in deriving sea ice emissivities and algorithms. This precluded precise comparisons of their results. A common set of sea ice emissivities were defined for all groups to use for subsequent more careful comparison of the results from the various sea ice parameter algorithms. To this end, three different geographical areas in two different time intervals were defined as typifying SMMR beam-filling conditions for first year sea ice, multiyear sea ice, and open water and to be used for determining the required microwave emissivities.

Campbell, W. J.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Radar polarimeter measures orientation of calibration corner reflectors

Radar polarimeter signals from a set of trihedral corner reflectors located in the Goldstone Dry Lake in California were analyzed, and three types of scattering behavior were observed: (1) Bragg-like slightly rough surface scattering that represents the background signal from the dry lake, (2) trihedral corner reflector scattering that returns the incident polarization, and (3) two-bounce corner reflector scattering resulting from a particular alignment of a trihedral reflector. A radar calibration approach using trihedral corner reflectors should be designed such that precise alignment of the reflectors is ensured, as three-bounce and two-bounce geometries lead to very different cross sections and hence very different inferred calibration factors.

Zebker, Howard A.↗
NASA NTRS1990

What FM can offer DFCS design

The results of aircrafts and spacecrafts flight tests are reported. It is shown that the problems of Digital Flight Control Systems (DFCS) are the problems of systems whose complexity has exceeded the reach of the intellectual tools employed. It is also shown that intuition, experience, and techniques derived from mechanical and analog systems are insufficient for complex, integrated, digital systems. Formal Methods (FM) of computer science can offer DFCS systematic techniques for the construction of trustworthy software, including: techniques for the precise specification of requirements and the development of designs; systematic approaches to the design and structuring of distributed and concurrent systems; fault tolerance algorithms; and systematic methods of testing and analytic methods of verification.

Rushby, John↗
NASA NTRS2000

Design of Mechanisms for Deployable, Optical Instruments: Guidelines for Reducing Hysteresis

This paper is intended to facilitate the development of deployable, optical instruments by providing a rational approach for the design, testing, and qualification of high-precision (i.e., low-hysteresis) deployment mechanisms for these instruments. Many of the guidelines included herein come directly from the field of optomechanical engineering, and are, therefore, neither newly developed guidelines, nor are they uniquely applicable to the design of high-precision deployment mechanisms. This paper is to be regarded as a guide to design and not a set of NASA requirements, except as may be defined in formal project specifications. Furthermore, due to the rapid pace of advancement in the field of precision deployment, this paper should be regarded as a preliminary set of guidelines. However, it is expected that this paper, with revisions as experience may indicate to be desirable, might eventually form the basis for a set of uniform design requirements for high-precision deployment mechanisms on future NASA space-based science instruments.

Lake, Mark S.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Longitudinal Handling Qualities of the Tu-144LL Airplane and Comparisons With Other Large, Supersonic Aircraft

Four flights have been conducted using the Tu-144LL supersonic transport aircraft with the dedicated objective of collecting quantitative data and qualitative pilot comments. These data are compared with the following longitudinal flying qualities criteria: Neal-Smith, short-period damping, time delay, control anticipation parameter, phase delay (omega(sp)*T(theta(2))), pitch bandwidth as a function of time delay, and flight path as a function of pitch bandwidth. Determining the applicability of these criteria and gaining insight into the flying qualities of a large, supersonic aircraft are attempted. Where appropriate, YF-12, XB-70, and SR-71 pilot ratings are compared with the Tu-144LL results to aid in the interpretation of the Tu-144LL data and to gain insight into the application of criteria. The data show that approach and landing requirements appear to be applicable to the precision flightpath control required for up-and-away flight of large, supersonic aircraft. The Neal-Smith, control anticipation parameter, and pitch-bandwidth criteria tend to correlate with the pilot comments better than the phase delay criterion, omega(sp)*T(theta(2)). The data indicate that the detrimental flying qualities implication of decoupled pitch-attitude and flightpath responses occurring for high-speed flight may be mitigated by requiring the pilot to close the loop on flightpath or vertical speed.

Cox, Timothy H.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Molecular Nanotechnology and Designs of Future

Reviewing the status of current approaches and future projections, as already published in the scientific journals and books, the talk will summarize the direction in which computational and experimental molecular nanotechnologies are progressing. Examples of nanotechnological approach to the concepts of design and simulation of atomically precise materials in a variety of interdisciplinary areas will be presented. The concepts of hypothetical molecular machines and assemblers as explained in Drexler's and Merckle's already published work and Han et. al's WWW distributed molecular gears will be explained.

Srivastava, Deepak↗
NASA NTRS2002

Speed Control Law for Precision Terminal Area In-Trail Self Spacing

This document describes a speed control law for precision in-trail airborne self-spacing during final approach. This control law was designed to provide an operationally viable means to obtain a desired runway threshold crossing time or minimum distance, one aircraft relative to another. The control law compensates for dissimilar final approach speeds between aircraft pairs and provides guidance for a stable final approach. This algorithm has been extensively tested in Monte Carlo simulation and has been evaluated in piloted simulation, with preliminary results indicating acceptability from operational and workload standpoints.

Abbott, Terence S.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Automated Environment Generation for Software Model Checking

A key problem in model checking open systems is environment modeling (i.e., representing the behavior of the execution context of the system under analysis). Software systems are fundamentally open since their behavior is dependent on patterns of invocation of system components and values defined outside the system but referenced within the system. Whether reasoning about the behavior of whole programs or about program components, an abstract model of the environment can be essential in enabling sufficiently precise yet tractable verification. In this paper, we describe an approach to generating environments of Java program fragments. This approach integrates formally specified assumptions about environment behavior with sound abstractions of environment implementations to form a model of the environment. The approach is implemented in the Bandera Environment Generator (BEG) which we describe along with our experience using BEG to reason about properties of several non-trivial concurrent Java programs.

Tkachuk, Oksana↗
NASA NTRS1998

Venus Gravity: 180th Degree and Order Model

The Megallan Doppler radiometric tracking data provides unprecedented precision for spacecraft based gravity measurements with the maximum resolution approaching spherical harmonic degree and order 180 in selected equatorial regions.

degree and order 180↗
NASA NTRS2009

T-Slide Linear Actuators

T-slide linear actuators use gear bearing differential epicyclical transmissions (GBDETs) to directly drive a linear rack, which, in turn, performs the actuation. Conventional systems use a rotary power source in conjunction with a nut and screw to provide linear motion. Non-back-drive properties of GBDETs make the new actuator more direct and simpler. Versions of this approach will serve as a long-stroke, ultra-precision, position actuator for NASA science instruments, and as a rugged, linear actuator for NASA deployment duties. The T slide can operate effectively in the presence of side forces and torques. Versions of the actuator can perform ultra-precision positioning. A basic T-slide actuator is a long-stroke, rack-and-pinion linear actuator that, typically, consists of a T-slide, several idlers, a transmission to drive the slide (powered by an electric motor) and a housing that holds the entire assembly. The actuator is driven by gear action on its top surface, and is guided and constrained by gear-bearing idlers on its other two parallel surfaces. The geometry, implemented with gear-bearing technology, is particularly effective. An electronic motor operating through a GBDET can directly drive the T slide against large loads, as a rack and pinion linear actuator, with no break and no danger of back driving. The actuator drives the slide into position and stops. The slide holes position with power off and no brake, regardless of load. With the T slide configuration, this GBDET has an entire T-gear surface on which to operate. The GB idlers coupling the other two T slide parallel surfaces to their housing counterpart surfaces provide constraints in five degrees-of-freedom and rolling friction in the direction of actuation. Multiple GB idlers provide roller bearing strength sufficient to support efficient, rolling friction movement, even in the presence of large, resisting forces. T-slide actuators can be controlled using the combination of an off-the-shelf, electric servomotor, a motor angle resolution sensor (typically an encoder or resolver), and microprocessor-based intelligent software. In applications requiring precision positioning, it may be necessary to add strain gauges to the T-slide housing. Existing sensory- interactive motion control art will work for T slides. For open-loop positioning, a stepping motor emulation technique can be used.

Vranish, John↗
NASA NTRS2011

A Starshade Petal Error Budget for Exo-Earth Detection and Characterization

We present a starshade error budget with engineering requirements that are well within the current manufacturing and metrology capabilities. The error budget is based on an observational scenario in which the starshade spins about its axis on timescales short relative to the zodi-limited integration time, typically several hours. The scatter from localized petal errors is smoothed into annuli around the center of the image plane, resulting in a large reduction in the background flux variation while reducing thermal gradients caused by structural shadowing. Having identified the performance sensitivity to petal shape errors with spatial periods of 3-4 cycles/petal as the most challenging aspect of the design, we have adopted and modeled a manufacturing approach that mitigates these perturbations with 1-meter-long precision edge segments positioned using commercial metrology that readily meets assembly requirements. We have performed detailed thermal modeling and show that the expected thermal deformations are well within the requirements as well. We compare the requirements for four cases: a 32 meter diameter starshade with a 1.5 meter telescope, analyzed at 75 and 90 milliarcseconds, and a 40 meter diameter starshade with a 4 meter telescope, analyzed at 60 and 75 milliarcseconds.

error budget↗
NASA NTRS2018

Airborne, Direct-Detection, 2-μm Triple-Pulse IPDA Lidar for Simultaneous and Independent Atmospheric Water Vapor and Carbon Dioxide Active Remote Sensing

Atmospheric water vapor and carbon dioxide are important greenhouse gases that significantly contribute to the global radiation budget on Earth. A 2-micron triple-pulse, Integrated Path Differential Absorption (IPDA) lidar instrument for ground and airborne atmospheric carbon dioxide and water vapor concentration measurements using direct detection was developed at NASA Langley Research Center. This active remote sensing instrument provides an alternate approach with significant advantages for measuring atmospheric concentrations of the gases. A high energy pulsed laser transmitter approach coupled with sensitive receiver detection provides a high-precision measurement capability by having a high signal-to-noise ratio. This paper presents the concept, development, integration and testing of the 2-micron triple-pulse IPDA. The integration includes the various IPDA transmitter, receiver and data acquisition subsystems and components. Ground and airborne testing indicated successful operation of the IPDA lidar.

Refaat, Tamer F.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Strategies for Automation of Model Tuning in Multifidelity Trajectory Uncertainty Propagation

Multi-model Monte Carlo methods are efficient strategies to perform forward uncertainty quantification studies in entry, descent, and landing (EDL) applications. These multi-model methods are based on the classical Monte Carlo estimator, but fuse predictions from several low-fidelity models to obtain estimators with greater precision given a prescribed computational budget. The effectiveness of these approaches relies on the magnitudes of correlations between the low-fidelity models and the high-fidelity model, as well as the relative computational costs of all models. Identifying and exploiting the best trade-off between correlation and cost, which ultimately depends on the selection of hyperparameters in the low-fidelity models, is a task often performed by hand or simply inspired by the deterministic understanding available for a specific application. This work extends a preliminary effort,

Marten Thompson↗