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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 73 records · Page 4
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

The Sensitivity of Chemical Kinetic Models on Flame Transfer Functions in Acoustic Fluctuation Environments with Varying Equivalence Ratios

Various factors affect the heat release response of flames – thermodynamics, hydrodynamics, acoustics, etc. The coupling of heat release rate and acoustics, in particular, is essential to the design of combustion devices so as to avoid adverse effects during their operation. Modeling flames in acoustic environments requires an accurate understanding of the fundamental physics that occurs when flames interact with a fluctuating pressure field. Over the past couple of decades, researchers have been quantifying the impact of this fluctuating pressure field on the unsteady heat release rate. The flame transfer functions computed have also been shown to depend on the level of detail in the chemical kinetic model. This paper attempts to bridge the gap between these studies to understand how sensitive the flame transfer function is to various kinetic models. The problem is studied by performing multiple one-dimensional simulations using the low-Mach solver NGA. The detailed GRI-Mech 3.0 will be used for comparison. Also, the pressure amplitude and reactant equivalence ratio are varied to understand how the environment affects this sensitivity.

Girdhar, Anant↗
DOE OSTI2023

Observing fish interactions with marine energy turbines using acoustic cameras

Abstract Marine current energy converters such as tidal and riverine turbines have the potential to provide reliable, clean power. The risk of collision of fishes with marine energy turbines is not yet well understood, in part due to the challenges associated with observing fish at turbine sites. Turbidity and light availability can limit the effectiveness of optical sensors like video cameras, motivating the use of acoustic cameras for this task. However, challenges persist in collecting and interpreting data acquired from acoustic cameras. Given the limited number of turbine deployments to date, it is prudent to draw on the application of acoustic cameras to monitor fish in other scenarios. This article synthesizes their use for other fisheries applications to inform best practices and set realistic expectations for the results of acoustic camera monitoring at turbine sites. We discuss six key tasks performed with acoustic cameras: detecting objects, identifying objects as fish, counting fish, measuring fish, classifying fish taxonomically and analysing fish behavior. Specific challenges to monitoring fish at turbine sites are discussed. This article is intended to serve as a reference for researchers, regulators and marine energy developers on effective use of acoustic cameras to monitor fish at turbine sites. The studies detailed in this article provide evidence that, in some scenarios, acoustic cameras can be used to inform the risk of fish collision with marine energy turbines but doing so requires careful study design and data processing.

Cotter, Emma↗
DOE OSTI2025

Graph-based design of irregular metamaterials

In the field of metamaterial research, random structures offer a novel and less conventional approach compared to traditional periodic designs. Designing random metamaterials is challenging when it comes to ensuring intercon- nectivity, which is essential for manufacturability. This study introduces an innovative framework for generating random metamaterials using graph al- gorithms, ensuring connectivity and adaptability across various base shapes, including cylinders, triangles, pyramids, and cubes. By employing graph algorithms, our framework enhances the intuitiveness and efficiency of de- sign representation and manipulation, streamlining the design process. The framework generates families of designs that exhibit a wide range of prop- erty magnitudes that can be adjusted intuitively by modifying the input parameters. The rapid design process allows many designs to be generated, offering the user a multitude of solutions around the target property range. The designs can be effectively implemented in various fields and subjected to diverse analytical studies, including static, dynamic, and eigenfrequency assessments. We illustrate computational results for two key properties (stiff- ness and acoustic impedance), showcasing the method’s effectiveness through examples ranging from rod-based to cube-based designs. Here, the framework not only advances metamaterial research but also creates new opportunities for innovation in fields requiring customized material properties.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Richtmyer–Meshkov instability when a shock is reflected for fluids with arbitrary equation of state

First predicted by Richtmyer in 1960 and experimentally confirmed by Meshkov in 1969, the Richtmyer–Meshkov instability (RMI) is crucial in fields such as physics, astrophysics, inertial confinement fusion and high-energy-density physics. These disciplines often deal with strong shocks moving through condensed materials or high-pressure plasmas that exhibit non-ideal equations of state (EoS), thus requiring theoretical models with realistic fluid EoS for accurate RMI simulations. Approximate formulae for asymptotic growth rates, like those proposed by Richtmyer, are helpful but rely on heuristic prescriptions for compressible materials. These prescriptions can sometimes approximate the RMI growth rate well, but their accuracy remains uncertain without exact solutions, as the fully compressible RMI growth rate is influenced by both vorticity deposited during shock refraction and multiple sonic wave refractions. This study advances previous work by presenting an analytic, fully compressible theory of RMI for reflected shocks with arbitrary EoS. It compares theoretical predictions with heuristic prescriptions using ideal gas, van der Waals gas and three-term constitutive equations for simple metals, the latter being analysed with detailed and simplified ideal-gas-like EoS. We additionally offer an alternative explicit approximate formula for the asymptotic growth rate. The comprehensive model also incorporates the effects of constant-amplitude acoustic waves at the interface, associated with the D'yakov–Kontorovich instability in shocks.

Napieralski, Mario (ORCID:0009000692344901)↗
DOE OSTI2025

Synthetic spectra for Lyman- α forest analysis in the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument

Synthetic data sets are used in cosmology to test analysis procedures, to verify that systematic errors are well understood and to demonstrate that measurements are unbiased. In this work we describe the methods used to generate synthetic datasets of Lyman-α quasar spectra aimed for studies with the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI). In particular, we focus on demonstrating that our simulations reproduces important features of real samples, making them suitable to test the analysis methods to be used in DESI and to place limits on systematic effects on measurements of Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAO). We present a set of mocks that reproduce the statistical properties of the DESI early data set with good agreement. Additionally, we use a synthetic dataset to forecast the BAO scale constraining power of the completed DESI survey through the Lyman-α forest.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Acoustic focusing of microplastics in microfabricated and steel tube devices: An experimental study on the effects from particle size and medium density

The contamination of aquatic systems with microplastics is becoming a severe threat to living organisms. Microplastics found in the environment consist of a wide range of particle sizes thus give rise to several challenges to current purification methods. Acoustic focusing has been utilized as a particle concentrating method in biological and non-biological applications. In this study, we investigate the feasibility of using acoustic focusing technology to isolate microplastics in aqueous samples and find that a two-stage mechanism is essential to concentrate microplastics of wide size ranges of the same material. We demonstrate for the first time experimentally that when the particle size is comparable to the resonance wavelength, they deviate from typical pressure nodal focusing and show pressure antinodal focusing. Further, we have expanded microplastics isolation beyond microfluidic systems and demonstrate their extraction capabilities relatively at higher flow rates using microplastics of polystyrene, polyethylene, and polymethyl methacrylate ranging from 6 µm to 300 µm diameter and in devices fabricated with cylindrical steel tubes. We could extract 70% of microplastics smaller than 180 µm and 82% of microplastics greater than 180 µm in diameter from an aqueous sample at a flow rate of 12 mL/min. In conclusion, we demonstrate that small microplastics focus on acoustic pressure nodes regardless of the medium density. However, focusing of large microplastics of the same material depends on the medium density.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2024

Evaluation of an autonomous acoustic surveying technique for grassland bird communities in Nebraska

Monitoring trends in wildlife communities is integral to making informed land management decisions and applying conservation strategies. Birds inhabit most niches in every environment and because of this they are widely accepted as an indicator species for environmental health. Traditionally, point counts are the common method to survey bird populations, however, passive acoustic monitoring approaches using autonomous recording units have been shown to be cost-effective alternatives to point count surveys. Advancements in automatic acoustic classification technologies, such as BirdNET, can aid in these efforts by quickly processing large volumes of acoustic recordings to identify bird species. While the utility of BirdNET has been demonstrated in several applications, there is little understanding of its effectiveness in surveying declining grassland birds. We conducted a study to evaluate the performance of BirdNET to survey grassland bird communities in Nebraska by comparing this automated approach to point count surveys. We deployed ten autonomous recording units from March through September 2022: five recorders in row-crop fields and five recorders in perennial grassland fields. During this study period, we visited each site three times to conduct point count surveys. We compared focal grassland bird species richness between point count surveys and the autonomous recording units at two different temporal scales and at six different confidence thresholds. Total species richness (focal and non-focal) for both methods was also compared at five different confidence thresholds using species accumulation curves. The results from this study demonstrate the usefulness of BirdNET at estimating long-term grassland bird species richness at default confidence scores, however, obtaining accurate abundance estimates for uncommon bird species may require validation with traditional methods.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

The effects of continuum fitting on Lyman-α forest correlations

Correlations of fluctuations of the flux in Lyman-α forests of high-redshift quasars have been observed by the Baryonic Acoustic Oscillation Spectroscopy Survey (BOSS) and the Dark Energy Spectroscopy Instrument (DESI) survey where they have revealed the effects of baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO). In order to fit the correlation functions to a physical model and thereby constrain cosmological parameters, it is necessary to take into account the effects of fitting the observed spectra to a template about which the fluctuations are measured. In this paper we use mock spectra to test the distortion matrix technique that has been used since the final BOSS data release to appropriately distort the models. We show that while percent-level effects on the derived forest bias parameters may be present, the technique works sufficiently well that the determination of the BAO peak position is not affected at the percent level. We introduce modifications in the technique used by DESI that were not in the original applications and suggest further possibilities for improvements.

Lyman alpha forest↗
DOE OSTI2020

Laser-induced fluorescence measurements of ion fluctuations in electron and ion presheaths

Electrostatic flow-driven instabilities have been predicted in the presheath region of low-temperature plasmas for both ion and electron rich sheaths. The ion-acoustic fluctuations that arise from these instabilities can influence transport through an enhanced collision rate. In this work, ion fluctuation spectra were measured using laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) in the presheath region for both sheath polarities. Furthermore, the non-invasive nature of LIF compared to that of probes is particularly valuable for these measurements because the sheath and presheath around a probe may generate their own flow-driven instabilities, which obscure the measurement. Measurements were made using a recently implemented field programmable gate array-based system able to measure ion fluctuation spectra up to 1 MHz using a two-point correlation function technique. Narrow bandwidth ion fluctuations were observed near 0:46 f pi (460 kHz) for both sheath polarities, where f pi is the ion plasma frequency. The observed fluctuations were significantly stronger in the electron sheath case and were observed over a larger volume of plasma. Fluctuations were measured in the ion sheath case at locations far enough from the sheath that linear theory predicts stability, suggesting that ion-acoustic instabilities generated in the relatively small unstable region near the boundary reflect from the sheath and perturb a much larger volume of the plasma. This is expected to affect probes with both ion and electron rich sheaths, meaning any dc biased probe may effectively act as an ion-acoustic wave antenna. These measurements are consistent with the recent theory and particle-in-cell results.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Advanced Downhole Acoustic Sensing for Wellbore Integrity (Final Report)

Borehole cement is used across the range of energy technologies to stabilize casing, to serve as a barrier to behind-casing fluid movement. Cement debonding and other flaws, both at cement interfaces and within the cement itself, can create leakage pathways that can threaten safety to personnel, and wellbore performance, with economic and regulatory consequences. A primary method to assess cement health and wellbore integrity is via acoustic methods. This project was designed with three aims: demonstrate a significant improvement in the interpretation of cement acoustic behavior, both during curing, and in interpreting effects of flaws and evolving interfaces; develop sensor technologies to improve signal-noise ratios and cement acoustic responses; and lastly, provide a borehole demonstration of at least one of these technologies. We have accomplished the first two objectives, and the third, delayed by pandemic health concerns, is proceeding as of this writing via a technology partner with the University of Texas Advanced Energy Consortium.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Numerical Modeling of Air-Blast Suppression as a Function of Explosive-Charge Burial Depth

As a chemical explosion is buried, the mechanism for acoustic wave generation transitions from fully gas-generated at the surface to completely spall-induced at full containment depth. The fully gas-generated and completely spall-induced signals in the acoustic waveform are well described; however, the transition between these two end-members eludes numerical modeling because of the complex phenomena that are involved. The phenomena of crater formation and explosive cloud evolution are simulated using an Eulerian hydrocode that incorporates geomaterials with strength and porosity. Having accurately modeled these phenomena, we can confidently predict the propagation and relative strength of the gas-generated and spall-induced pulses in the recorded acoustic waveform. The numerical predictions agree with observations from the historical Stagecoach experiment as well as modern recordings from the Source Physics Experiment. In particular, the peak pressure p generated by an explosion is initially due to the gas-generated mechanism and decays with scaled depth of burial d s (depth d scaled by the cube-root of explosive yield w 1/3 ) as exp(-d s ) but then transitions near a scaled depth of 6 m/ton 1/3 to the spall-generated mechanism in which the decay is d$_{s}^{-7/4}$. This decay form is related to the strong ground-motion attenuation relationship that affects spall strength. So these results can improve seismoacoustic inverse models for the explosive source that need to account for the gas-generated and spall-induced signals and their effect on peak pressures and other acoustic signal features.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Multiscale and multiphysics FEA simulation and materials optimization for laser ultrasound transducers

In this study, the relationship between the nanocomposite design and the laser ultrasound transducer (LUT) characteristics was investigated through simulations in multiple scale levels for material behavior, device response, and acoustic wave propagation in media. First, the effects of the nanoparticle size and concentration on the effective properties of composites were quantitatively investigated with the finite element analysis (FEA) method. Second, the effective properties of the nanocomposite were assigned to the layer, which is modeled as a homogeneous material, in the FEA for the LUT simulating the energy conversion from the incident laser to the acoustic wave. Finally, the ultrasound propagation in the water was calculated by a theoretical wave propagation model. The FEA-based prediction was compared with the experimental data in the literature and a theoretical analysis for LUT based on Thermal-Acoustic coupling. As a result, the ultrasound waves on the transducer surface and at a distance in the water could be predicted. Based on the hierarchically integrated prediction procedure, the optimal conditions of the photoacoustic nanocomposites were investigated through the parametric study with the particle size and concentration as variables. The results guide the material designs optimized for different device characteristics, such as high pressure and broad bandwidth.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Anharmonic phonon damping enhances the T c of BCS-type superconductors

In this study, a theory of superconductivity is presented where the effect of anharmonicity, as entailed in the acoustic, or optical, phonon damping, is explicitly considered in the pairing mechanism. The gap equation is solved including diffusive Akhiezer damping for longitudinal acoustic phonons or Klemens damping for optical phonons, with a damping coefficient which, in either case, can be directly related to the Grüneisen parameter and hence to the anharmonic coefficients in the interatomic potential. The results show that the increase of anharmonicity has a strikingly nonmonotonic effect on the critical temperature T c . The optimal damping coefficient yielding maximum T c is set by the velocity of the bosonic mediator. This theory may open up unprecedented opportunities for material design where T c may be tuned via the anharmonicity of the interatomic potential, and presents implications for the superconductivity in the recently discovered hydrides, where anharmonicity is very strong and for which the anharmonic damping is especially relevant.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2025

Unsteady- and Steady-State Relative Permeability Study with X-ray and Acoustic Monitoring for CO 2 Storage in Deep Saline Aquifers

In this study, we link the multiphase flow measurements with controls of sedimentary structures (e.g., heterogeneity and anisotropy) on relative permeability to variations in ultrasonic velocities for two deep saline aquifer formations (Entrada and Bluff Sandstones) in the San Juan Basin of the Southwestern USA. The rock specimens were extracted from outcrop sites near Durango, CO, USA. They have distinct differences in grain size, cementation composition, and individual chemical amounts, despite both formations being eolian sandstones. We performed a series of unsteady- and steady-state CO 2 -brine relative permeability experiments under capillary-controlled displacement rates. Unsteady-state experiments were conducted at 71 °C and 9.65 MPa; steady-state experiments were conducted at 85 °C and 22.8 MPa and 89 °C and 24.1 MPa for the Bluff and Entrada Sandstones, respectively. During the unsteady experiments, X-ray computed tomography was used to visualize multiphase flow in porous media and quantify saturations during brine drainage under various flow rates. Scan images and saturation profiles indicate that the CO 2 distribution in the pore volume was strongly impacted by the presence of high-angle cross-laminations, heterogeneous rock structure, and direction of bedding orientation. Those factors contribute to dramatic and quick initial breakthroughs and affect the overall saturation dynamics. Steady-state relative permeability tests were conducted at net flow rates of 1 mL/min for both brine drainage and imbibition. During the experimental steps, the CO 2 fractional flow was increased and decreased for both drainage and imbibition scenarios to mimic the front when CO 2 contacts brine and behind the front when brine enters space previously occupied by CO 2 . It was found that compressional velocity decreased, while shear waves slightly increased as brine saturation decreased. The hysteresis effects for the relative permeability and acoustic velocities were distinct. Furthermore, the CO 2 /brine front stability is quantified by applying a mobility ratio approach to spot saturations at which the boundary line between fluids becomes uneven. The results presented in this work can potentially boost the quality and precision of forecasts for the CO 2 storage projects in which the vertical and horizontal core-scale heterogeneity and anisotropy impact the plume migration within host reservoirs.

carbon dioxide (CO2)↗
DOE OSTI2023

Non-reciprocal acoustoelectric microwave amplifiers with net gain and low noise in continuous operation

Abstract Piezoelectric acoustic devices that are integrated with semiconductors can leverage the acoustoelectric effect, allowing functionalities such as gain and isolation to be achieved in the acoustic domain. This could lead to performance improvements and miniaturization of radio-frequency electronic systems. However, acoustoelectric amplifiers that offer a large acoustic gain with low power consumption and noise figure at microwave frequencies in continuous operation have not yet been developed. Here we report non-reciprocal acoustoelectric amplifiers that are based on a three-layer heterostructure consisting of an indium gallium arsenide (In 0.53 Ga 0.47 As) semiconducting film, a lithium niobate (LiNbO 3 ) piezoelectric film, and a silicon substrate. The heterostructure can continuously generate 28.0 dB of acoustic gain (4.0 dB net radio-frequency gain) for 1 GHz phonons with an acoustic noise figure of 2.8 dB, while dissipating 40.5 mW of d.c. power. We also create a device with an acoustic gain of 37.0 dB (11.3 dB net gain) at 1 GHz with 19.6 mW of d.c. power dissipation and a non-reciprocal transmission of over 55 dB.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2021

Behavior of the Fused Quartz Suspended Core Acoustic Waveguide Sensor in Gamma Radiation

Previously, a fused-quartz acoustic waveguide named the suspended core waveguide with tight-field confinement in a small diameter was developed and its sensing potential in harsh environment was demonstrated with the fabricated periodic acoustic fiber Bragg grating. In this paper, the acoustic sensor was exposed to around 70 Gy/h gamma radiation at room temperature for 3550 h at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. For comparisons, a thermocouple and two optical fiber Bragg gratings were tested under the same conditions. The central frequency reading of the acoustic sensor was found to encounter a relatively fast decrease of 0.5 kHz in the first 800 hours. The reading then became stable, centering at 478.5 kHz with a fluctuation of ±0.2 kHz, and responded to small environmental temperature variations less than 1.2 °C. The major effect to the fluctuation was concluded to be radiation-induced material compaction and expansion. For optical fiber Bragg gratings, the same one-directional fast change of readings in the first 500 hours were observed as well. Although the optical gratings were able to track temperature changes, they also showed continuous drifts. The survivability and consistency of the acoustic sensor under long-term gamma radiation could lead to new sensing methods in nuclear applications.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗