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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
NASA NTRS1984

A survey of gas-side fouling measuring devices

A survey of measuring devices or probes, which were used to investigate gas side fouling, was carried out. Five different types of measuring devices are identified and discussed including: heat flux meters, mass accumulation probes, optical devices, deposition probes, and acid condensation probes. A total of 32 different probes are described in detail and summarized in matrix or tabular form. The important considerations of combustion gas characterization and deposit analysis are also given a significant amount of attention. The results show that considerable work was done in the development of gas side fouling probes. However, it is clear that the design, construction, and testing of a durable, versatile probe - capable of monitoring on-line fouling resistances - remains a formidable task.

Marner, W. J.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Fouling behavior of zwitterionic membranes compared to polyamide membranes

Membrane fouling remains a critical bottleneck for reverse osmosis (RO) desalination, driving energy consumption and reducing membrane lifetime. Here, we employ all-atom molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the antifouling behavior of random zwitterionic amphiphilic copolymer (r-ZAC) membranes composed of sulfobetaine methacrylate (SBMA) and allyl methacrylate (AMA), benchmarked against conventional polyamide (PA) RO membranes. Structural and dynamical analyses—including radial distribution functions, coordination numbers, tetrahedral order parameters, vector orientation, and residence-time correlation functions—reveal that r-ZAC surfaces sustain tightly bound, long-lived hydration layers with preserved tetrahedrality and anisotropic water orientation, in sharp contrast to the weak and disordered hydration of PA. Steered molecular dynamics simulations demonstrate that r-ZAC membranes impose substantial free-energy barriers to foulant approach (alginate ≈ 90 kcal/mol, sucrose ≈ 35 kcal/mol, humic acid ≈ 15 kcal/mol), whereas PA membranes exhibit negligible barriers (< 1 kcal/mol) and thermodynamically favorable adsorption. Detailed foulant–surface interaction analyses show that zwitterionic hydration and electrostatic heterogeneity in r-ZAC suppress adhesion, except in the case of amphiphilic humic acid, which exploits multiple binding modes. Together, these results establish molecular-level design principles for antifouling membranes: the combination of zwitterionic hydration, structured interfacial water, and controlled amphiphilic balance in r-ZAC membranes provides superior resistance to organic fouling relative to PA.

Cross-linked polyamide↗
DOE OSTI2023

CFD modeling of crystallization fouling with CO 2 desorption incorporated for a falling-film evaporator in thermal desalination

Seawater flowing around horizontal tubes in falling-film evaporators is a common configuration for thermal desalination. Heat is transferred from in-tube steam condensation to the shell-side seawater by conduction through the tube wall and scaling layer, and conduction and convection to the evaporating liquid film. CO 2 is simultaneously released from seawater and mixed with the produced vapor. Fouling coupled with CO 2 desorption has deleterious impacts on both evaporation and condensation. The evaluation of spatiotemporal dependent crystallization fouling and CO 2 desorption is vital to selecting optimal operating conditions. Here, in this work, a CO 2 desorption model is integrated into CFD modeling for predictions of coupled heat and mass transfer, to understand and predict scale formation and CO 2 desorption with local and transient profiles of temperature, carbonate species concentrations, pH, and total alkalinity. The porosity of the scale layer is experimentally determined as 67.7% and invoked in the calculation of effective thermal conductivity. The simulation results reveal that high steam temperatures increase seawater total alkalinity and accelerate scale formation. The scale thickness on the bottom tube reaches 0.30 μm and 5.24 μm for steam temperatures of 60 °C and 80 °C, respectively. High salinity leads to a large CO 2 desorption rates. The CO 2 desorption rate increases 43% when the seawater salinity increases from 35 to 55 g/kg. The effects of operating conditions on carbonate speciation and pH have been compared and analyzed. This model can serve as a comprehensive tool for the design of thermal desalination systems and optimal operation.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2011

Effect of Heat Exchanger Material and Fouling on Thermoelectric Exhaust Heat Recovery

This study is conducted in an effort to better understand and improve the performance of thermoelectric heat recovery systems for automotive use. For this purpose an experimental investigation of thermoelectrics in contact with clean and fouled heat exchangers of different materials is performed. The thermoelectric devices are tested on a bench-scale thermoelectric heat recovery apparatus that simulates automotive exhaust. The thermoelectric apparatus consists of a series of thermoelectric generators contacting a hot-side and a cold-side heat exchanger. The thermoelectric devices are tested with two different hot-side heat exchanger materials, stainless steel and aluminum, and at a range of simulated exhaust gas flowrates (40 to 150 slpm), exhaust gas temperatures (240 C and 280 C), and coolant-side temperatures (40 C and 80 C). It is observed that for higher exhaust gas flowrates, thermoelectric power output increases while overall system efficiency decreases. Degradation of the effectiveness of the EGR-type heat exchangers over a period of driving is also simulated by exposing the heat exchangers to diesel engine exhaust under thermophoretic conditions to form a deposit layer. For the fouled EGR-type heat exchangers, power output and system efficiency is observed to be significantly lower for all conditions tested. The study found, however, that heat exchanger material is the dominant factor in the ability of the system to convert heat to electricity with thermoelectric generators. This finding is thought to be unique to the heat exchangers used for this study, and not a universal trend for all system configurations.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗
DOE OSTI2021

Modeling of crystallization fouling on a horizontal-tube falling-film evaporator for thermal desalination

Scale formation within horizontal-tube falling-film evaporators is an important issue for thermal desalination, because of the deterioration of heat transfer performance and added maintenance costs. Predicting the fouling process is crucial for desalination plant design, operation, and maintenance. In this paper, a model is developed to predict the crystallization fouling process during seawater falling-film flow over a horizontal tube bundle. The scaling is estimated based on deposition theory, with couple heat transfer including the in-tube steam condensation, conduction through the tube wall and the scale layer, and falling-film evaporation. The spatial and temporal variations of temperature, heat transfer coefficient, and scale thickness are predicted, and the effects of variations in process parameters of steam, feed seawater, and tube properties on the scale thickness, evaporation rate, and heat transfer coefficient for falling-film evaporation are analyzed. Comparisons to existing experimental data show the scaling layer thickness falls in the general range of reported measurements, with a slight overestimation due to neglecting the delay of scaling onset under real conditions. The scale layer thickness increases dramatically as the in-tube steam pressure is increased or the seawater flow rate is decreased. In general, the scaling layer becomes thicker on the lower tubes in the tube bundle, due to the heat and mass transfer of the falling film. The effect of tube material on scaling appears mainly dependent on thermal conductivity; thus, using polymer rather than a stainless steel tube decreases scaling and evaporation rate 96% and 88%, respectively. Finally, this work has potential to guide thermal desalination plant design, material selection, and operating parameter optimization.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2022

FOULING MITIGATION FOR LASER IGNITERS IN NATURAL GAS ENGINES

Due to several recent developments in lasers and optics, laser igniters can now be designed to be (i) compact so as to have the same footprint as a standard spark plug, (ii) have low power draw, usually less than 50 Watts, and (iii) have vibration and temperature resistance at levels typical of reciprocating engines. Primary advantages of these laser igniters remain (i) extension of lean or dilution limits for ignition of combustible mixtures, and (ii) improved ignition at higher pressures. Recently, tests performed in a 350 kW six-cylinder stationary natural gas reciprocating engine retrofitted with these igniters showed an extension of the operational envelope to yield efficiency improvements of the order of 2.6% points while being compliant with the mandated emission regulations. Even though laser igniters offer promise, fouling of the final optical element that introduces the laser into the combustion chamber is of concern. After performing a thorough literature search, a test plan was devised to evaluate various fouling mitigation strategies. The final approach that was used is a combination of three strategies and helped sustain an optical transmissivity exceeding 98% even after 1500 h of continuous engine operation at 2400 rpm. Based on the observed trend in transmissivity, it now appears that laser igniters can last up to 6000 h of continuous engine operation in a stationary engine running at 1800 rpm.

spark ignited engines, laser ignition, natural gas↗
DOE OSTI2024

Ash Fouling Free Regenerative Air Preheater for Deep Cyclic Operation

The University of Kentucky (UKy) project titled “Ash Fouling Free Regenerative Air Preheater for Deep Cyclic Operation”, DE-FE0031757, was conducted from 8/15/2019 to 8/14/2024 in two Budget Periods. Other participants included PPL Corporation and Black Dragon Double Boiler. The overall goal was to investigate the proposed self-cleaning technology to achieve ash fouling free air preheater operation in a coal-fired power plant, especially during deep cycling. All project deliverables, milestones, and success criteria were met. UKy obtained the following scientific findings. • Temporary and periodic high temperature of heating elements (450 ~ 500 °F) can prevent ash accumulation and maintain air preheater free of clogging. • The ash samples analysis and unit operation provide solid evidence of ABS formed during low load with SCR ammonia slip being the major cause of ash accumulation, and air preheater clogging can be prevented by raising the heating element temperature up to 450 °F~ 500 °F at which ABS is decomposed. • In-situ self-cleaning can be controlled by monitoring temperature and/or presetting fixed number of cleanings per day. Both approaches in pilot testing show positive results for maintaining an ash free state for the air preheater. • Temperature criteria (cold end or gas outlet temperature) for entering self-cleaning service is critical to balance the number of cleaning cycles with maintaining the ash level. • Temperature criteria (cold end or gas outlet temperature) for exiting self-cleaning service is critical to balance the duration of the cleaning cycles with maintaining the ash level.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2023

Simple Bioparticle Filtration Device Based on an Ultralow-Fouling Zwitterionic Polyurethane Membrane for Rapid Large-Volume Separation of Plasma and Viruses from Whole Blood

Plasma separation from whole blood is oftent required as an essential first step when performing blood tests with a viral assay. However, developing a point-of-care plasma extraction device with a large output and high virus recovery remains a significant obstacle to the success of on-site viral load tests. Here, we report a portable, easy-to-use, cost-efficient, membrane-filtration-based plasma separation device that enables rapid large-volume plasma extraction from whole blood, designed for point-of-care virus assays. The plasma separation is realized by a low-fouling zwitterionic polyurethane-modified cellulose acetate (PCBU-CA) membrane. The zwitterionic coating on the cellulose acetate membrane can decrease surface protein adsorption by 60% and increase plasma permeation by 46% compared with a pristine membrane. The PCBU-CA membrane, with its ultralow-fouling properties, enables rapid plasma separation. The device can yield a total of 1.33 mL plasma from 10 mL whole blood in 10 min. The extracted plasma is cell-free and exhibits a low hemoglobin level. In addition, our device demonstrated a 57.8% T7 phage recovery in the separated plasma. The results of real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis confirmed that the nucleic acid amplification curve of the plasma extracted by our device is comparable to that obtained by centrifugation. With its high plasma yield and good phage recovery, our plasma separation device provides an excellent replacement for traditional plasma separation protocols for point-of-care virus assays and a broad spectrum of clinical tests.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1980

Fouling and the inhibition of salt corrosion

In an attempt to reduce fouling while retaining the beneficial effects of alkaline earth inhibitors on the hot corrosion of superalloys, the use of both additives and the intermittent application of the inhibitors were evaluated. Additions of alkaline earth compounds to combustion gases containing sodium sulfate were shown to inhibit hot corrosion. However, sulfate deposits can lead to turbine fouling in service. For that reason, dual additives and intermittant inhibitor applications were evaluated to reduce such deposit formation. Silicon in conjunction with varium showed some promise. Total deposition was apparently reduced while the inhibition of hot corrosion by barium was unimpaired. The intermittant application of the inhibitor was found to be more effective and controllable.

Deadmore, D. L.↗
DOE OSTI2019

Local thermal actuation of material surfaces via micro- and nanowire heating for the prevention of cellular attachment and biological fouling

The invention relates in various embodiments to a composite useful as e.g. a medical implant device, and a method of treating fouling, including biofouling as may occur on an implant. The composite comprises a matrix phase and a patterned phase that comprises an energetically activatable wire intermixed with the matrix phase, the wire when energetically activated, which includes thermal activation, causes modification of at least a portion of the matrix phase to treat fouling that might otherwise occur. The method of treating biofouling may be practiced on a patent while the medical implant of the invention is in situ.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Method for preventing fouling of a demister

A method for preventing fouling of a demister is disclosed. A process fluid is provided into a vessel. A gas is provided to a gas inlet of the vessel. The gas comprises a component that desublimates, crystallizes, solidifies, reacts, or a combination thereof, in the process fluid, forming a first solid. The gas is passed through the process fluid, the component of the gas forming the first solid, resulting in a component-depleted gas. The component-depleted gas is passed out of the process fluid, causing splashing or spurting of the process fluid and the first solid. The diverter section is provided between the demister and the gas inlet, the diverter section comprising a physical obstruction preventing the process fluid and the first solid from splashing or spurting onto the demister. In this manner, fouling of the demister is prevented.

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

Flow assisted anti-fouling geometries for compact heat exchangers

A header for a heat exchanger and method for cleaning a heat exchanger in a loop without disconnecting loop components is provided. The header is in flow communication with the heat exchanger for distributing fluid through a plurality of adjacent channels. The header is connected between a main heat exchanger inlet nozzle and a channel flow distributor. A filter element is disposed within the header between the nozzle and channel flow distributor. Under normal operation, the filter element removes particulates and fouling material from the main flow stream before it enters the heat exchanger channels. During the cleaning process, fluid is injected on or through the filter element to remove particulates and fouling material through at least one outlet port. The header arrangement allows the filter element to be ‘cleaned in place’ without draining the system and disconnecting the heat exchanger or other components from the flow loop.

Carlson, Matthew David↗
DOE OSTI2022

Experimental study of crystallization fouling by calcium carbonate: Effects of surface structure and material

We report mitigation of crystallization fouling on heat transfer surface is crucial for developing highly efficient desalination techniques, because the tenacious and porous crystal layer can drastically deteriorate system efficiency. Surface modification is a potential approach to decrease scale formation and promote crystal removal, but some of the mechanisms between crystallization and substrate properties are still not fully understood. In this study, we use dual-angle microscopic visualization and image processing to quantify three-dimensional crystallization behavior and analyze the impact of surface structure and material. The transition of crystal size and distance with roughness and wettability are identified from statistical analysis. The determination of crystal porosity and effective thermal conductivity is enabled by visualized geometry and measured deposition mass. This study shed lights on potential strategies of surface modification to mitigate scaling in desalination by enhancing scale removal and localizing crystal growth.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2024

Experimental investigation of surface roughness/wettability pattern effect on crystallization fouling over falling-film flow

In many industries, including desalination, scaling in heat exchangers is a persistent issue, and most methods of scaling control involve environmentally hazardous chemical additives. Exploiting the effects of surface features and flow-imposed shear on salt deposition might introduce a new approach to scale management, opening the possibility of self-cleaning surfaces. In this work, we experimentally explore surface roughness and wettability patterns interaction with salt deposition and flow shear. Heat transfer and scale mass deposition on flat surfaces are measured during thin-film evaporation of calcium sulfate solution. A wide range of surface roughness (0.027–2.66 μm) is studied at fixed flow and heat flux conditions. Due to improved mixing, heat transfer is enhanced with rougher surfaces initially; however, degrades more quickly than smoother surfaces. Following a period of initial mass deposition fluctuation, a steady scaling stage is observed, with rough surfaces scaling more than smooth surfaces. Wettability patterned surfaces can suppress crystal nucleation without sacrificing overall surface wetting, resulting in antifouling performance and heat transfer enhancement. Scale mass deposition on a patterned surface is reduced by 60 %, and 27 % heat transfer improvement over the baseline surface is found. Furthermore, this study provides guidance to surface manipulation for heat transfer improvement and fouling mitigation.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2013

Utilization of municipal wastewater for cooling in thermoelectric power plants: Evaluation of the combined cost of makeup water treatment and increased condenser fouling

A methodology is presented to calculate the total combined cost (TCC) of water sourcing, water treatment and condenser fouling in the recirculating cooling systems of thermoelectric power plants. The methodology is employed to evaluate the economic viability of using treated municipal wastewater (MWW) to replace the use of freshwater as makeup water to power plant cooling systems. Cost analyses are presented for a reference power plant and five different tertiary treatment scenarios to reduce the scaling tendencies of MWW. Results indicate that a 550 MW sub-critical coal fired power plant with a makeup water requirement of 29.3 ML/day has a TCC of $3.0 - 3.2 million/yr associated with the use of treated MWW for cooling. (All costs USD 2009). This translates to a freshwater conservation cost of $0.29/kL, which is considerably lower than that of dry air cooling technology, $1.5/kL, as well as the 2020 conservation cost target set by the U.S. Department of Energy, $0.74/kL. Results also show that if the available price of freshwater exceeds that of secondary-treated MWW by more than $0.13-0.14/kL, it can be economically advantageous to purchase secondary MWW and treat it for utilization in the recirculating cooling system of a thermoelectric power plant.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗