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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 OSTI2022

Effective thermal conductivity of insulation materials for cryogenic LH 2 storage tanks: A review

An accurate estimation of the effective thermal conductivity of various insulation materials is essential in the evaluation of heat leak and boil-off rate from liquid hydrogen storage tanks. In this work, we review the existing experimental data and various proposed correlations for predicting the effective conductivity of insulation systems consisting of powders, foams, fibrous materials, and multilayer systems. We also propose a first principles-based correlation that may be used to estimate the dependence of the effective conductivity as a function of temperature, interstitial gas composition, pressure, and structural properties of the material. We validate the proposed correlation using available experimental data for some common insulation materials. Further improvements and testing of the proposed correlation using laboratory scale data obtained using potential LH 2 tank insulation materials are also discussed.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2021

Thermodynamic modeling of hydrogen fueling process from high-pressure storage tank to vehicle tank

This study develops a hydrogen fueling station (HFS) thermodynamic model that simulates the actual fueling process in which hydrogen is supplied from a high-pressure (HP) storage tank into a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) tank. To make the model as accurate as possible, we use the same components and specifications as in actual HFSs, such as a pressure control valve, a pre-cooling system, and an FCEV tank. After the components and their specifications are set, pressure and temperature profiles are set as the HP tank supply conditions. Based on the pressure and temperature profiles, the model solves for the temperature, pressure, and mass flow rate of hydrogen at each downstream position, including the inside of the vehicle tank. The values predicted by the model are compared with experimental data, and we show that the developed model makes it possible to accurately simulate those values at any position during the fueling process.

08 HYDROGEN↗
NASA NTRS1991

Self-pressurization of a flightweight liquid hydrogen storage tank subjected to low heat flux

Results are presented for an experimental investigation of self-pressurization and thermal stratification of a 4.89 cu m liquid hydrogen (LH2) storage tank subjected to low heat flux (0.35, 2.0, and 3.5 W/sq m) under normal gravity conditions. Tests were performed at fill levels of 83 to 84 percent (by volume). The LH2 tank was representative of future spacecraft tankage, having a low mass-to-volume ratio and high performance multilayer thermal insulation. Results show that the pressure rise rate and thermal stratification increase with increasing heat flux. At the lowest heat flux, the pressure rise rate is comparable to the homogenous rate, while at the highest heat flux, the rate is more than three times the homogeneous rate. It was found that initial conditions have a significant impact on the initial pressure rise rate. The quasi-steady pressure rise rates are nearly independent of the initial condition after an initial transient period has passed.

Hasan, M. M.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Modeling Self-Pressurization and Spray Bar Pressure Control of a Cryogenic Storage Tank in Normal Gravity

This paper presents Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models for simulating self-pressurization and spray bar cooling processes in a large-scale liquid hydrogen storage tank under normal gravity. The self-pressurization model utilizes the kinetics-based Schrage equation with the Volume-Of-Fluid (VOF) model to account for the evaporative and condensing interfacial mass fluxes. It uses a laminar approach to model natural convection and compares the pressures and temperatures predicted by the CFD model with experimental data from the Multipurpose Hydrogen Test Bed (MHTB) self-pressurization experiment. Additionally, the predicted interfacial mass flux is presented. A CFD model for simulating pressure control using a spray bar is also presented. An Eulerian-Lagrangian approach models the interactions between the discrete droplets and the continuous ullage phase. The spray model is coupled with the VOF model by tracking particles in the ullage, removing particles from the ullage when they reach the interface, and then adding their contributions to the liquid. The T-sat model is used to calculate the droplet-ullage heat and mass transfer. In this model, droplets warm up to the saturation temperature corresponding to the ullage vapor pressure thereafter evaporating while remaining at the saturation temperature. The tank pressure, vapor, and liquid temperature evolutions are validated against data from the MHTB spray bar mixing experiment.

Self-Pressurization↗
NASA NTRS1980

Thermal stratification in liquid storage tanks

Comprehensive literature survey indicates thermal stratification in solarenergy/liquid-storage tank improves system performance by as much as 15 percent. Collector efficiency increases when collector inlet fluid is drawn from bottom of storage tank, where fluid is coolest; warmest liquid drawn top of tank to satisfy thermal load.

Christensen, D. L.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Effectiveness of Vapor Corrosion Inhibitors Under Elevated Chloride Conditions for Aboveground Storage Tank Application

The sand quality used to construct the tank pad is an important contributing factor to the rate of corrosion that occurs on the soil-side of the aboveground storage tanks (ASTs) floor plates. Clean sand that meets specific criteria provides the first line of defense for mitigation of tank floor corrosion. However, it has been observed that the sand quality used for some existing tanks differ greatly from the specifications provided in the API 651 standard; this could be partially due to initial sand quality not meeting the specification, and partially due to the environmental effects over time. For example, rain-water intrusion could lead to higher than the specified contents of corrosive species such as chloride. Tank operators are increasingly using vapor corrosion inhibitors (VCIs) either as a stand alone or in combination with cathodic protection (CP) for ASTs to mitigate soil-side corrosion. VCIs are delivered either through-thefloor or injected through the ports in the ring wall. Experimental studies were conducted to evaluate VCIs’ performance at elevated chloride concentrations and to study the effectiveness of the delivery methods under extreme chloride conditions. The experimental work found that VCI performance is robust and not compromised due to high chloride levels, such as 300 ppm or more. The work also showed that the through-the-floor VCI delivery method is more beneficial compared to the through-the-sand-pad method when tank pad corrosivity is elevated.

Shukla, Pavan K.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Failure Analysis for Molten Salt Thermal Energy Storage Tanks for In-Service CSP Plants

Thermal Energy Storage (TES) is a fundamental component in concentrating solar power (CSP) plants to increase the plant's dispatchability, capacity factor, while reducing the levelized cost of electricity. In central receivers CSP plants, nitrate molten salts have been used for several years for operation temperatures of up to 565 degrees C. Despite many efforts to advance nitrate salt to higher operation temperatures (even considering a replacement with molten chloride salts) to achieve higher energy conversion efficiencies, the 565 degrees C temperature is currently considered the state-of-the art. Although molten salt tanks have been broadly deployed in commercial CSP plants worldwide, several failures have been reported in these tanks after a few months or years of operation, causing significant economic loss and mistrust in CSP technologies. Most of these failures are associated with the infancy of the technology and multiple issues related to tank design, fabrication, commissioning, and aggressive operation. A technical standard dedicated to the design and fabrication of molten nitrate TES tanks does not exist today. Current in-service molten salt tanks have been generally designed based on the American Petroleum Institute's (API) 650 and ASME Section II standards. The API 650 code provides guidelines for dimensions and fabrication for oil storage tanks up to 260 degrees C. The ASME standard provides allowable stress values for various materials at a range of temperatures and conditions. Both standards seem to be limited for molten salt TES tanks where high temperatures, thermal cycling, and transient conditions are expected. In 2020, NREL released the Concentrating Solar Power Best Practices Study (NREL/TP-5500-75763) that summarized multiple issues in CSP plants, along with potential alternatives and recommendations to address those issues based on information collected from participants representing about 80% of operating CSP plants in the world. One of the recommendations from this study was the development of accurate and validated models to evaluate the plant's transient operation, capable of capturing the effect of short-term clouds and operator response, while being flexible in being adapted to various spatial and temporal resource data. The "Failure Analysis for Molten Salt Thermal Energy Tanks for In-Service CSP Plants" project was inspired on this recommendation and was focused on (1) the development and validation of a physics-based model for a representative, commercial-scale molten salt tank, (2) performing simulations to evaluate the behavior of the tank as a function of typical plant operation conditions, (3) understanding tank failures mechanisms, (4) determining the residual stress and distortion in the tank floor after welding fabrication and evaluating their impact in the stresses developed in the tank during operation, (5) assessing the impact of key operation parameters on the temperature and stress distribution, (6) conduct a preliminary evaluation of design features to reduce stress and improve tank's reliability, and (7) estimate the tank's service life based on the stress developed under diverse operation scenarios. From the analysis conducted in the project and presented in this report, it was found that maximum stresses surpassing the yield strength point of the stainless steel (SS) 347H are developed on the tank floor near the perimeter. These large stresses are strongly influenced by the initial residual stresses and distortion of the tank floor after welding fabrication. During operation, large stresses are developed in the tank floor at high operation temperatures with large salt inventory levels during transient operation. High stresses are also related to elevated temperature gradients in the tank floor that could be attributed to insufficient mixing within the salt inflow and the salt inventory. Based on the analysis, creep is the predominant failure mechanism. However, the large stress levels could favor the plastic deformation into buckles, and crack formation due to stress relaxation cracking during cycle operation. A lifetime below 3 years was estimated for the typical plant operation conditions and a specific initial residual stress and deformation distribution of the tank floor. The estimated life agrees with the service time to failure reported in several commercial molten salt tanks. Desing and operation guidelines can be extracted from the analysis presented in this report, which could be adopted by tank manufacturers and CSP operators to advance toward an ultimate solution for tank failures by reducing residual and operational stresses to achieve a tank service life of more than 30 years. Addressing failures in molten salt TES tanks is fundamental for the CSP industry's survivability, but it is also important for other industrial and power generation applications using this technology, including nuclear and concentrating solar thermal.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS2004

Polymer/Silicate Nanocomposites Used to Manufacture Gas Storage Tanks With Reduced Permeability

Over the past decade, there has been considerable research in the area of polymer-layered silicate nanocomposites. This research has shown that the dispersion of small amounts of an organically modified layered silicate improves the polymer strength, modulus, thermal stability, and barrier properties. There have been several reports on the dispersion of layered silicates in an epoxy matrix. Potential enhancements to the barrier properties of epoxy/silicate nanocomposites make this material attractive for low permeability tankage. Polymer matrix composites (PMCs) have several advantages for cryogenic storage tanks. They are lightweight, strong, and stiff; therefore, a smaller fraction of a vehicle's potential payload capacity is used for propellant storage. Unfortunately, the resins typically used to make PMC tanks have higher gas permeability than metals. This can lead to hydrogen loss through the body of the tank instead of just at welds and fittings. One approach to eliminate this problem is to build composite tanks with thin metal liners. However, although these tanks provide good permeability performance, they suffer from a substantial mismatch in the coefficient of thermal expansion, which can lead to failure of the bond between the liner and the body of the tank. Both problems could be addressed with polymersilicate nanocomposites, which exhibit reduced hydrogen permeability, making them potential candidates for linerless PMC tanks. Through collaboration with Northrop Grumman and Michigan State University, nanocomposite test tanks were manufactured for the NASA Glenn Research Center, and the helium permeability was measured. An organically modified silicate was prepared at Michigan State University and dispersed in an epoxy matrix (EPON 826/JeffamineD230). The epoxy/silicate nanocomposites contained either 0 or 5 wt% of the organically modified silicate. The tanks were made by filament winding carbon fibers with the nanocomposite resin. Helium permeability was measured by Northrop Grumman, showing that the leak rate/day of the nanocomposite matrix tank was approximately 80-percent less than that of the neat epoxy matrix tank.

Campbell, Sandi G.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

CFD Model Development of a Cryogenic Storage Tank Self-Pressurization in Normal Gravity and Validation against SHIIVER Experiment

Two-phase flow and heat transfer simulations with interfacial phase change of the Structural Heat Intercept, Insulation, and Vibration Evaluation Rig (SHIIVER) self-pressurization experiment were conducted using storage tank CFD model in the framework of the ANSYS Fluent CFD code. The simulations were performed for the 70% fill level case with MLI on domes and no vapor cooling. All the phase change calculations in these simulations were generated by in-house Schrage-based evaporation-condensation model. The calculations were performed using both the Volume of Fluid (VOF) and Sharp Interface multiphase 2D axisymmetric models. A number of parametric and sensitivity studies were performed to check the various aspects of the CFD model. These studies helped to understand the effects of varying several parameters on the tank pressure and temperature during self-pressurization. Turbulence modeling; turbulence damping at the interface; and using constant vs. temperature dependent fluid properties were shown to have the most profound influence on predicted tank pressures and temperatures. Current study indicates that including phase change at the interface into the computational model is crucial for accurate prediction of the tank self-pressurization process. The effect of accommodation coefficient was also studied. Tank pressure values predicted by the VOF, and Sharp Interface models are within 4% of the experimental ones.

Computational Fluid Dynamics↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

CFD Model Development of a Cryogenic Storage Tank Self-Pressurization in Normal Gravity and Validation against SHIIVER Experiment

Two-Phase flow and heat transfer simulations with interfacial phase change of the Structural Heat Intercept, Insulation, and Vibration Evaluation Rig (SHIIVER) self-pressurization experiment were conducted using storage tank CFD model in the framework of the ANSYS Fluent CFD code. The simulations were performed for the 70% fill level case with MLI on domes and no vapor cooling. All the phase change calculations in these simulations were generated by in-house Schrage-based evaporation-condensation model. The calculations were performed using both the VOF and Sharp Interface multiphase 2Daxisymmetric models. A number of parametric and sensitivity studies were performed to check the various aspects of the CFD model. These studies helped to understand the effects of varying several parameters on the tank pressure and temperature during self-pressurization. These parameters include: the effect of turbulence modeling and turbulence damping at the interface; the effect of constant vs. temperature dependent fluid properties; the effect of accommodation coefficient; the effect of modeling phase change at the interface and the effect of the fill level.

Computational Fluid Dynamics↗
DOE OSTI2022

Refueling water storage tank (RWST) with tailored passive emergency core cooling (ECC) flow

A nuclear reactor comprises a pressure vessel containing a nuclear reactor core. A reactor core cooling system comprises a standpipe including a plurality of orifices in fluid communication with a refueling water storage tank (RWST) to drain water from the RWST into the standpipe, and an injection line configured to drain water from the standpipe to the pressure vessel. In some embodiments the standpipe is disposed in the RWST, while in other embodiments the standpipe is disposed outside of the RWST and cross-connection pipes connect the plurality of orifices with the RWST. The reactor core cooling system may further comprise a valve configured to control flow through one orifice of the plurality of orifices in fluid communication with the RWST based on water level in the standpipe. The valve may comprise a float valve having its float disposed in the standpipe.

Watson, Ronald C.↗
NASA NTRS2016

Effects of Material Choice on Biocide Loss in Orion Water Storage Tanks

When preparing for long-duration spaceflight missions, maintaining a safe supply of potable water is of the utmost importance. One major aspect of that is ensuring that microbial growth is minimized. Historically, this challenge has been addressed through the use of biocides. When using biocides, the choice of materials for the storage containers is important, because surface reactions can reduce biocide concentrations below their effective range. In the water storage system baselined for the Orion vehicle, the primary wetted materials are stainless steel (316 L) and a titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V). Previous testing with these materials has shown that the biocide selected for use in the system (ionic silver) will plate out rapidly upon initial wetting of the system. One potential approach for maintaining an adequate biocide concentration is to spike the water supply with high levels of biocide in an attempt to passivate the surface. To evaluate this hypothesis, samples of the wetted materials were tested individually and together to determine the relative loss of biocide under representative surface area-to-volume ratios after 24 hours. Additionally, we have analyzed the efficacy of disinfecting a system containing these materials by measuring reductions in bacterial counts in the same test conditions. Preliminary results indicate that the use of titanium, either individually or in combination with stainless steel, can result in over 95% loss of biocide, while less than 5% is lost when using stainless steel. In bacterial testing, viable organisms were recovered from samples exposed to the titanium coupons after 24 hours. By comparison, no organisms were recovered from the test vessels containing only stainless steel. These results indicate that titanium, while possessing some favorable attributes, may pose additional challenges when used in water storage tanks with ionic silver biocide.

Wallace, W. T.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Addressing Failures in Molten Salt Thermal Energy Storage Tank for Central Receiver Concentrating Solar Power Plants

The thermal energy storage (TES) system is a critical component in concentrated solar power (CSP) plants that increases the plant's capacity factor and economic competitiveness by reducing the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) while simultaneously increasing the value of the delivered energy. Failures including molten-salt leaks and diverse localized cracking after several months to a few years of operation have been reported in hot tanks for CSP plants operating around the world. A model of a molten salt thermal energy storage tank was developed and validated to analyze the impact of different tank design features on the temperature and stress distributions as a function of typical plant operation conditions. Design features included the floor plate thicknesses, friction coefficients between the tank floor and the foundation, and the sparger ring location. Maximum stresses in the tank floor frequently surpassed the yield point of the material during operation, leading to a detriment of the tank's lifetime. Recommendations on design features to improve the reliability of new molten salt tanks for CSP plants are provided.

concentrating solar power↗
NASA NTRS1991

Environmental projects. Volume 13: Underground storage tanks, removal and replacement. Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex

The Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex (GDSCC), located in the Mojave Desert about 40 miles north of Barstow, California, and about 160 miles northeast of Pasadena, is part of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA's) Deep Space Network, one of the world's largest and most sensitive scientific telecommunications and radio navigation networks. Activities at the GDSCC are carried out in support of six large parabolic dish antennas. As a large-scale facility located in a remote, isolated desert region, the GDSCC operations require numerous on-site storage facilities for gasoline, diesel oil, hydraulic oil, and waste oil. These fluids are stored in underground storage tanks (USTs). This present volume describes what happened to the 26 USTs that remained at the GDSCC. Twenty-four of these USTs were constructed of carbon steel without any coating for corrosion protection, and without secondary containment or leak detection. Two remaining USTs were constructed of fiberglass-coated carbon steel but without secondary containment or leak protection. Of the 26 USTs that remained at the GDSCC, 23 were cleaned, removed from the ground, cut up, and hauled away from the GDSCC for environmentally acceptable disposal. Three USTs were permanently closed (abandoned in place).

Bengelsdorf, Irv↗
DOE OSTI2025

Impact of molten salt inflow on the temperature distribution in thermal energy storage tanks at startup for central receiver concentrating solar power plants

Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) systems with molten salt thermal energy storage (TES) tanks are one of the most promising, renewable-based energy conversion technologies for larger-scale power generation. The TES tank is one of the most critical components in CSP plants due to its high-temperature operation (up to 565 °C), daily thermal cycling, and intermittent solar radiation conditions. The plant startup is one of the most challenging operation conditions that could lead to damaging thermal gradients due to low salt inventory levels. In this study an analytical model for the sparger ring was developed and integrated with a detailed computational fluid dynamics model of a commercial-scaled molten salt tank. The integrated model allows an accurate representation of the tank operation to evaluate the effect of molten salt inflow on the mixing process. The tank filling process during plant startup was analyzed considering sparger rings with variations in design features, including inlet orifice configurations, number of orifices, direction of the inlets, and orifice diameter. The results demonstrated that higher temperature gradients are obtained in the tank floor during the plant startup. A sparger ring configuration with a predetermined orifice inlet inclination (30°, 45° and 60°) leads to significant temperature differences in the floor, between 57 °C and 62 °C, but better homogeneity in the temperature of the salt inventory. Lower salt inflow velocities result in a more homogeneous floor temperature, with maximum temperature differences under 38 °C. The sparger ring configuration with 52 orifices of 1-in. diameter and vertical flow showed better homogeneity in the temperature differences as a function of the salt level and lower temperature gradients in the tank floor. Because large temperature gradients in the tank's floor have been identified as one of the main factors contributing to tank failures, assessing various sparger ring design features is fundamental to determining proper inflow conditions that lead to low-temperature gradients and reducing failure susceptibility.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS2007

Numerical Modeling of Propellant Boiloff in Cryogenic Storage Tank

This Technical Memorandum (TM) describes the thermal modeling effort undertaken at Marshall Space Flight Center to support the Cryogenic Test Laboratory at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) for a study of insulation materials for cryogenic tanks in order to reduce propellant boiloff during long-term storage. The Generalized Fluid System Simulation program has been used to model boiloff in 1,000-L demonstration tanks built for testing the thermal performance of glass bubbles and perlite insulation. Numerical predictions of boiloff rate and ullage temperature have been compared with the measured data from the testing of demonstration tanks. A satisfactory comparison between measured and predicted data has been observed for both liquid nitrogen and hydrogen tests. Based on the experience gained with the modeling of the demonstration tanks, a numerical model of the liquid hydrogen storage tank at launch complex 39 at KSC was built. The predicted boiloff rate of hydrogen has been found to be in good agreement with observed field data. This TM describes three different models that have been developed during this period of study (March 2005 to June 2006), comparisons with test data, and results of parametric studies.

Majumdar, A. K.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Analysis of Molten Salt Thermal Energy Storage Tank Sizing and Preheating

Molten Salt Thermal energy storage (TES) is essential for concentrating solar power (CSP) plants, enhancing their capacity factor and dispatchability to ultimately reduce electricity costs. This technology is becoming more important for other technologies including nuclear power, thermal-electrical storage, and concentrating solar thermal (CST). While molten salt TES tanks have been successfully deployed in lower-temperature parabolic-trough plants, the current state-of-the-art central receiver systems operating at temperatures up to 565 degrees Celsius have experienced costly and frequent failures. These failures are associated with the immaturity of the technology and problems in tank design, fabrication, commissioning and, sometimes, aggressive operation. A primary contributing factor is the absence of a dedicated technical standard for high-temperature molten nitrate TES tanks; designers must currently rely on existing codes like API 650 and ASME Section II, which are insufficient because they fail to account for the unique demands of high temperatures, thermal cycling, and transient conditions.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗