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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 NTRS1997

Vertical Ozone Profile Comparisons Between Ozonesondes and Remote Instrumentation

Ozonesonde measurement quality is a critical factor for insuring measurement accuracy and is fundamentally indispensable for validating remotely measured ozone. Reasonable results from such ozone profile comparisons are best obtained by maintaining the smallest possible spatial and time differences between ozonesonde and remote measurement observations. Ozone profiles measured with the Halogen Occultation Experiment (HALOE) instrument and the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) instrument on NASA's Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) are compared with ECC profiles. Comparisons with the GSFC ozone lidar also demonstrate good agreement. In this paper we show: (1) the process used by NASA to secure quality ozonesonde measurements, (2) comparisons of ozonesondes with various remote sensing instruments and, (3) the reliability obtained when both measurement types are obtained close in time and, when possible, in space.

Schmidlin, F. J.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Measured air quality impacts after teaching parents about cooking ventilation with a video: a pilot study

BackgroundCooking-related emissions contribute to air pollutants in the home and may influence children’s health outcomes.ObjectiveIn this pilot study, we investigate the effects of a cooking ventilation intervention in homes with gas stoves, including a video-based educational intervention and range hood replacement (when needed) in children’s homes.MethodsThis was a pilot (n = 14), before-after trial (clinicaltrials.gov #NCT04464720) in homes in the San Francisco Bay Area that had a school-aged child, a gas stove, and either a venting range hood or over-the-range microwave/hood. Cooking events, ventilation use, and indoor air pollution were measured in homes for 2–4 weeks, and children completed respiratory assessments. Midway, families received this intervention: (1) education about the hazards of cooking-related pollutants and benefits of both switching to back burners and using the range hood whenever cooking and (2) ensuring the range hood met airflow and sound performance standards. The educational intervention was delivered via a video developed in conjunction with local youth.ResultsWe found substantially increased use of back burners and slight increases in range hood use during cooking after intervening. Even though there was no change in cooking frequency or duration, these behavior changes resulted in decreases in nitrogen dioxide (NO2), including significant decreases in the total integrated concentration of NO2 over all cooking events from 1230 ppb*min (IQR 336, 7861) to 756 (IQR 84.0, 4210; p < 0.05) and NO2 collected on samplers over the entire pre- and post-intervention intervals from 10.4 ppb (IQR 3.5, 47.5) to 9.4 (IQR 3.0, 36.1; p < 0.005). There were smaller changes in PM2.5, and no changes were seen in respiratory outcomes.ImpactThis pilot before-after trial evaluated the use of a four-minute educational video to improve cooking ventilation in homes with gas stoves and one or more school-aged children. Participant behavior changed after watching the video, and there were decreases in indoor air pollutant concentrations in the home, some of which were significant. This brief video is now publicly available in English and Spanish (wspehsu.ucsf.edu/projects/indoor-air-quality), and this provides suggestive evidence of the utility of this simple intervention, which could be particularly beneficial for households that have children with asthma.

Holm, Stephanie M↗
DOE OSTI2021

Modeling heat transport processes in enhanced geothermal systems: Validation study from EGS Collab Experiment 1

Heat recovery from enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) is a complex process involving heat transport in both fracture networks and rock formations. A comprehensive understanding of and the ability to model the underlying heat transport mechanisms is important for the success of EGS but remains challenging in practice due to the generally insufficient characterization of EGS reservoirs. In the present study, we analyze an extensively monitored intermediate-scale EGS field experiment performed in a well-characterized testbed. The high-resolution, high-quality measurements from the field experiment enable the development of a high-fidelity model incorporating a well-constrained fracture network. Based on the field experiment, we investigate the complex heat transport processes in an EGS-relevant environment and validate the capability of a numerical approach in simulating these inherently coupled heat transport processes. A series of numerical simulations were performed to study the effects of different heat transport mechanisms, including thermal convection with fracture flow, thermal conduction in rock formations, and the Joule-Thomson effect. The agreement of thermal responses between field measurements and simulation results indicates that our numerical approach can appropriately model the heat transport processes pertaining to heat recovery from EGS reservoirs.

Wu, Hui↗
NASA NTRS1997

Characteristics of the NASA-Ames Laminar Flow Supersonic Wind Tunnel for Unique Mach 1.6 Transition Studies

Flow quality measurements have been performed in the unique Laminar Flow Supersonic Wind Tunnel (LFSWT) to examine both mean and dynamic characteristics. The intent was to provide the necessary flow information about this ground test facility, to support meaningful transition research at Mach 1.6 and flight unit Reynolds numbers. This paper is intended to assist other experimentalists with similar goals of characterizing low-supersonic test environments. An array of instrumentation has been used to highlight the importance of proper selection of pressure instruments and data acquisition procedures. We conclude that the test section is low-disturbance (based on classical standards of pressure disturbances less than 0.1% with no specified data bandwidth), and has uniform flow. This is confirmation that the quiet design features of the LFSWT are effective. However, characterization of the test section flow over a 0.25k-5Ok bandwidth shows that the disturbance levels can be greater than classical standards particularly for stagnation pressures less than 9.5 psia (0.65 bar) with low stagnation temperatures. Variability of the flow disturbances in the settling chamber and test section is contained in a narrow frequency bandwidth below 5k Hz, which is associated with resonant frequencies from the pressure reduction system. So far, these disturbances have not impacted transition along the tunnel walls or a 10 degrees cone. However, continual vigilance is required to maintain a known low-disturbance environment for transition research in the LFSWT. Furthermore, the formation of standards for flow quality measurements is strongly recommended, so that transition research can be better isolated from tunnel disturbances.

Wolf, Stephen W. D.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Preliminary measurements of quality factors of monocrystals

High Q's were obtained with silicon and sapphire crystals on four points mechanical suspensions. Instrumentation was developed to observe the approach to thermal equilibrium at cryogenic temperatures and to study thermal noise level and fluctuations. High Q crystals with low thermal noise level are promising candidates as high stability time references.

Richard, J. P.↗
NASA NTRS1997

The Assignment of Scale to Object-Oriented Software Measures

In order to improve productivity (and quality), measurement of specific aspects of software has become imperative. As object oriented programming languages have become more widely used, metrics designed specifically for object-oriented software are required. Recently a large number of new metrics for object- oriented software has appeared in the literature. Unfortunately, many of these proposed metrics have not been validated to measure what they purport to measure. In this paper fifty (50) of these metrics are analyzed.

Neal, Ralph D.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Robust Parameter Design on Dual Stochastic Response Models With Constrained Bayesian Optimization

In engineering system design, minimizing the variations of the quality measurements while guaranteeing their overall quality up to certain levels, namely the robust parameter design (RPD), is crucial. Recent works have dealt with the design of a system whose response-control variables relationship is a deterministic function with a complex shape and function evaluation is expensive. In this work, we propose a Bayesian optimization method for the RPD of stochastic functions. Dual stochastic response models are carefully designed for stochastic functions. The heterogeneous variance of the sample mean is addressed by the predictive mean of the log variance surrogate model in a two-step approach. We establish an acquisition function that favors exploration across the feasible and optimality-improvable regions to effectively and efficiently solve the stochastic constrained optimization problem. Further, the performance of our proposed method is demonstrated by the extensive numerical and case studies. Note to Practitioners-Many manufacturing processes involve undesirable variations, which create variations in the final products. For example, many emerging manufacturing processes, such as nanomanufacturing, involve complex physical and chemical dynamics and transformation, creating variations in the manufacturing output. In such processes, it is crucial to design the manufacturing processes or products so that they have minimum variations in their quality. Meanwhile, it is also important to maintain the overall quality of the designed processes or products. Furthermore, acquiring data from many advanced manufacturing processes is often very costly, especially in the designing stage. In this work, we propose a data-driven method that automatically finds the best setting of manufacturing processes or products with the minimum variations of quality and a given constraint on the average quality satisfied. Our proposed method is used before conducting every experiment; It analyzes the historical data from previous experiments and provides a setting to be used in the next experiment. Our proposed method efficiently utilizes the historical data, and thus finds the best robust setting by conducting only a small number of experiments.

42 ENGINEERING↗
NASA NTRS2008

High Resolution Near Infrared Spectrometer to Study the Zodiacal Light Spectrum

We are developing a near infrared spectrometer for measuring solar absorption lines in the zodiacal light in the near infrared region. R. Reynolds at el. (2004, ApJ 612, 1206) demonstrated that observing single Fraunhofer line can be a powerful tool for extracting zodiacal light parameters based on their measurements of the profile of the Mg I line at 5184 A. We are extending this technique to the near infrared with the primary goal of measuring the absolute intensity of the zodiacal light. This measurement will provide the crucial information needed to accurately subtract zodiacal emission from the DIRBE measurements to get a much higher quality measurement of the extragalactic IR background. The instrument design is based on a dual Fabry-Perot interferometer with a narrow band filter. Its double etalon design allows to achieve high spectral contrast to reject the bright out of band telluric OH emission. High spectral contrast is absolutely necessary to achieve detection limits needed to accurately measure the intensity of the absorption line. We present the design, estimated performance of the instrument with the expected results of the observing program.

Kutyrev, Alexander↗
NASA NTRS2008

High Efficiency Near Infrared Spectrometer for Zodiacal Light Spectral Study

We are developing a near infrared spectrometer for measuring solar absorption lines in the zodiacal light in the near infrared region. R. Reynolds at el. (2004, ApJ 61 2, 1206) demonstrated that observing single Fraunhofer line can be a powerful tool for extracting zodiacal light parameters based on their measurements of the profile of the Mg I l~neat 5 184 A. We are extending this technique to the near infrared with the primary goal of measuring the absolute intensity of the zodiacal light. This measurement will provide the crucial information needed to accurately subtract zodiacal emission from the DIRBE measurements to get a much higher quality measurement of the extragalactic IR background. The instrument design is based on a dual Fabry-Perot interferometer with a narrow band filter. Its double etalon design allows to achieve high spectral contrast to reject the bright out of band telluric OH emission. High spectral contrast is absolutely necessary to achieve detection limits needed to accurately measure the intensity of the absorption line. We present the design, estimated performance of the instrument with the expected results of the observing program.

Kutyrea, A. S.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Mobile data buoy system

The Mobile Data Buoy System was conceived to serve the users requirement for obtaining water quality parameters from two separate watershed systems. In view of the cost constraints of the ERTS program it was obvious that the network of 10 sampling stations required could not be of the fixed installation type; therefore, it was decided to go to a system of battery powered buoys of a size that could be used in one watershed system for a period of time and then moved to another by use of a relatively small 6.7 m (22 foot) boat. The basic idea of the water quality measurement program was to establish the water quality pattern of change from the headwaters of the watersheds to and through the Mobile Bay. This would allow the investigator to develop a good picture of the state's major water resources and the pressures from pollution that are being imposed. At this point in deployment of this mobile system of buoys, it is too early to put a quantitative value on the system, however it appears less expensive than known fixed installations as to first cost. It has a basic advantage in that it can be moved, at very little expense, to alternate sites where it is desired to obtain water quality data. It is to be noted this buoy system which covers a 80 Km (50 mile) stretch of the Black Warrior River and then skips down 483 Km (300 miles) to Mobile Bay for the next measurements would not be feasible unless there is a satellite to collect and relay the data.

Morton, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1982

NASA participation in the 1980 PEPE/NEROS project: Data archive

Eight experimental air quality measurement systems were investigated during July and August 1980 as part of the EPA PEPE/NEROS fiel measurement program. Data from those efforts have been entered into an archive that may be accessed by other researchers. The data sets consists of airborne measurements of regional mixed layer heights and aerosol and ozone distributions as well as point measurements of meteorological parameters and ozone obtained during diurnal transitions in the planetary boundary layer. This report gives a discussion of each measurement system, a preliminary assessment of data quality, a description of the archive format for each data set, and a summary of several proposed scientific studies which will utilize these data.

Brewer, D. A.↗
DOE OSTI2024

A Generalized approach to the operationalization of Software Quality Models

Comprehensive measures of quality are a research imperative, yet the development of software quality models is a wicked problem. Definitive solutions do not exist and quality is subjective at its most abstract. Definitional measures of quality are contingent on a domain, and even within a domain, the choice of representative characteristics to decompose quality is subjective. Thus, the operationalization of quality models brings even more challenges. A promising approach to quality modeling is the use of hierarchies to represent characteristics, where lower levels of the hierarchy represent concepts closer to real-world observations. Building upon prior hierarchical modeling approaches, we developed the Platform for Investigative software Quality Understanding and Evaluation (PIQUE). PIQUE surmounts several quality modeling challenges because it allows modelers to instantiate abstract hierarchical models in any domain by leveraging organizational tools tailored to their specific contexts. Here, we introduce PIQUE; exemplify its utility with two practical use cases; address challenges associated with parameterizing a PIQUE model; and describe algorithmic techniques that tackle normalization, aggregation, and interpolation of measurements.

Data aggregation↗
NASA NTRS1991

Measurement of laser spot quality

Several ways of measuring spot quality are compared. We examine in detail various figures of merit such as full width at half maximum (FWHM), full width at 1/(e exp 2) maximum, Strehl ratio, and encircled energy. Our application is optical data storage, but results can be applied to other areas like space communications and high energy lasers. We found that the optimum figure of merit in many cases is Strehl ratio.

Milster, T. D.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Updated uranium reference material 231 Pa/ 235 U consensus model ages for nuclear forensics

Radiochronometry provides the model age of nuclear materials, which is useful for understanding the production history of materials found outside of regulatory control. Certified reference materials (CRMs) are important for radiochronometry to increase confidence in measurement quality; however, the absence of 231 Pa/ 235 U CRMs necessitates that nuclear forensic laboratories measure the 231 Pa/ 235 U model ages of preexisting uranium reference materials. Here, in this work, new consensus 231 Pa/ 235 U model ages are reported from three nuclear forensic laboratories for three reference materials using current analytical methods. These updated consensus values can be used for quality control of 231 Pa/ 235 U model age measurements.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗