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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 757 records · Page 42
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2016

Smart Novel Semi-Active Tuned Mass Damper for Fixed-Bottom and Floating Offshore Wind (Paper)

The intention of this paper is to present the results of a novel smart semi-active tuned mass damper (SA-TMD), which mitigates unwanted loads for both fixed-bottom and floating offshore wind systems. The paper will focus on the most challenging water depths for both fixed-bottom and floating systems. A close to 38m Monopile and 55m Tension Leg Platform (TLP) will be considered. A technical development and trade-off analysis will be presented comparing the new system with existing passive non-linear TMD (N-TMD) technology and semi-active. TheSATMD works passively and activates itself with low power source under unwanted dynamic loading in less than 60msec. It is composed of both variable stiffness and damping elements coupled to a central pendulum mass. The analysis has been done numerically in both FAST(NREL) and Orcaflex (Orcina), and integrated in the Wind Turbine system employing CAD/CAE. The results of this work will pave the way for experimental testing to complete the technology qualification process. The load reductions under extreme and fatigue cases reach up significant levels at tower base, consequently reducing LCOE for fixed-bottom to floating wind solutions. The nacelle acceleration is reduced substantially under severe random wind and sea states, reducing the risks of failure of electromechanical components and blades at the rotor nacelle assembly. The SA-TMD system isa new technology that has not been applied previously in wind solutions. Structural damping devices aim to increase offshore wind turbine system robustness and reliability, which eases multiple substructures installations and global stability.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS2018

Comparison of First-Come First-Served and Optimization Based Scheduling Algorithms for Integrated Departure and Arrival Management

Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) are investigating scheduling algorithms that will be a part of an integrated arrival and departure management system. Inha University, one of the Korean collaborators of KARI, developed an Extended First-Come First-Served (EFCFS) algorithm that is robust and efficient. However, since the EFCFS algorithm sequentially computes the schedule based on priority, the end results may not be optimal for system efficiency. The approach based on Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) originally developed by NASA and modified by KARI is known to produce better schedules at the expense of computational cost. In this paper, the two different scheduling approaches are compared using common traffic scenarios and constraints at Incheon International Airport. Capabilities to apply weight class based wake turbulence runway separation minima and Miles-in-Trail (MIT) restrictions at selected meter fixes are added to the previously developed EFCFS scheduler. Based on historic data, 40 departures and 20 arrivals are chosen in a one-hour period and 100 scenarios were created by randomly assigning gate numbers, gate departure times, and runway landing times. With the current runway separation requirements, MILP resulted in about ten to twenty percent smaller average delays depending on the constraints. With artificially increased separation minima, the difference between MILP and EFCFS became more noticeable. However, the EFCFS was about ten times faster with smaller variations among different scenarios and constraints. The comparison suggests that the MILP-based algorithm has a small advantage at the current traffic level; however, has potential to be more effective in higher demand or severe weather situations. The EFCFS algorithm may be better suited for real-time applications or investigating larger scale scheduling problems.

air traffic optimization↗
DOE OSTI2014

Shape resonance spectra of uracil, 5-fluorouracil, and 5-chlorouracil

We report on the shape resonance spectra of uracil, 5-fluorouracil, and 5-chlorouracil, as obtained from fixed-nuclei elastic scattering calculations performed with the Schwinger multichannel method with pseudopotentials. Our results are in good agreement with the available electron transmission spectroscopy data, and support the existence of three π* resonances in uracil and 5-fluorouracil. As expected, the anion states are more stable in the substituted molecules than in uracil. Since the stabilization is stronger in 5-chlorouracil, the lowest π* resonance in this system becomes a bound anion state. The present results also support the existence of a low-lying σ{sub CCl{sup *}} shape resonance in 5-chlorouracil. Exploratory calculations performed at selected C–Cl bond lengths suggest that the σ{sub CCl{sup *}} resonance could couple to the two lowest π* states, giving rise to a very rich dissociation dynamics. These facts would be compatible with the complex branching of the dissociative electron attachment cross sections, even though we cannot discuss any details of the vibration dynamics based only on the present fixed-nuclei results.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2014

Geometric and dosimetric accuracy of dynamic tumor-tracking conformal arc irradiation with a gimbaled x-ray head

Purpose: The Vero4DRT system has the capability for dynamic tumor-tracking (DTT) stereotactic irradiation using a unique gimbaled x-ray head. The purposes of this study were to develop DTT conformal arc irradiation and to estimate its geometric and dosimetric accuracy. Methods: The gimbaled x-ray head, supported on an O-ring gantry, was moved in the pan and tilt directions during O-ring gantry rotation. To evaluate the mechanical accuracy, the gimbaled x-ray head was moved during the gantry rotating according to input command signals without a target tracking, and a machine log analysis was performed. The difference between a command and a measured position was calculated as mechanical error. To evaluate beam-positioning accuracy, a moving phantom, which had a steel ball fixed at the center, was driven based on a sinusoidal wave (amplitude [A]: 20 mm, time period [T]: 4 s), a patient breathing motion with a regular pattern (A: 16 mm, average T: 4.5 s), and an irregular pattern (A: 7.2–23.0 mm, T: 2.3–10.0 s), and irradiated with DTT during gantry rotation. The beam-positioning error was evaluated as the difference between the centroid position of the irradiated field and the steel ball on images from an electronic portal imaging device. For dosimetric accuracy, dose distributions in static and moving targets were evaluated with DTT conformal arc irradiation. Results: The root mean squares (RMSs) of the mechanical error were up to 0.11 mm for pan motion and up to 0.14 mm for tilt motion. The RMSs of the beam-positioning error were within 0.23 mm for each pattern. The dose distribution in a moving phantom with tracking arc irradiation was in good agreement with that in static conditions. Conclusions: The gimbal positional accuracy was not degraded by gantry motion. As in the case of a fixed port, the Vero4DRT system showed adequate accuracy of DTT conformal arc irradiation.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗
DOE OSTI2018

Detwinning through migration of twin boundaries in nanotwinned Cu films under in situ ion irradiation

The mechanism of radiation-induced detwinning is different from that of deformation detwinning as the former is dominated by supersaturated radiation-induced defects while the latter is usually triggered by global stress. In situ Kr ion irradiation was performed to study the detwinning mechanism of nanotwinned Cu films with various twin thicknesses. Two types of incoherent twin boundaries (ITBs), so-called fixed ITBs and free ITBs, are characterized based on their structural features, and the difference in their migration behavior is investigated. It is observed that detwinning during radiation is attributed to the frequent migration of free ITBs, while the migration of fixed ITBs is absent. Statistics shows that the migration distance of free ITBs is thickness and dose dependent. Here, potential migration mechanisms are discussed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS2014

Trajectory Prediction Accuracy and Error Sources for Regional Jet Descents: Results of a 2010 Flight Trial at Denver International Airport using SkyWest Revenue Flights - Part II

The Efficient Descent Advisor (EDA) controller automation tool generates trajectory-based speed, path, and altitude-profile advisories to facilitate efficient, continuous descents into congested terminal airspace. While prior field trials have assessed the trajectory prediction accuracy for large jet (i.e., Boeing and Airbus) types, smaller (i.e., regional and business) jet types present unique challenges involving different descent procedures and Flight Management System (FMS) capabilities. This paper quantifies the trajectory prediction accuracy for small jet revenue flight descents based on SkyWest Canadair Regional Jet 200, 700, and 900 aircraft arrivals to Denver in the fall of 2010. Post flight test data analysis and SkyWest pilot interviews uncovered unexpected variation between flight crews due to different interpretations of (1) which fixed flight path angle (FPA) to fly based on the flight trial procedure and (2) how to fly the descent to achieve the target FPA. Pilot reports were used to select a subset of flights where pilots indicated an FPA according to the flight trial procedure to remove the unexpected variation due to (1) to focus on (2). Results for the subset for en-route descents, from prior to top of descent to the meter fix 30 to 130 nmi downstream, indicate that aircraft arrived to the meter fix six seconds early with about a twelve second standard deviation. Large FPA errors up to one degree relative to the EDA flight trial procedure were detected after the flight trial as a characteristic of the unexpected variation. It is recommended that quantitative validation be performed during future flight trials so that experimental procedures can be adjusted if unexpected results are detected.

Field Test Results↗
DOE OSTI2023

Sparsity of the electron repulsion integral tensor using different localized virtual orbital representations in local second-order Møller–Plesset theory

Utilizing localized orbitals, local correlation theory can reduce the unphysically high system-size scaling of post-Hartree–Fock (post-HF) methods to linear scaling in insulating molecules. The sparsity of the four-index electron repulsion integral (ERI) tensor is central to achieving this reduction. For second-order Møller–Plesset theory (MP2), one of the simplest post-HF methods, only the (ia|jb) ERIs are needed, coupling occupied orbitals i, j and virtuals a, b. In this paper, we compare the numerical sparsity (called the “ragged list”) and two other approaches revealing the low-rank sparsity of the ERI. The ragged list requires only one set of (localized) virtual orbitals, and we find that the orthogonal valence virtual-hard virtual set of virtuals originally proposed by Subotnik et al. gives the sparsest ERI tensor. To further compress the ERI tensor, the pair natural orbital (PNO) type representation uses different sets of virtual orbitals for different occupied orbital pairs, while the occupied-specific virtual (OSV) approach uses different virtuals for each occupied orbital. Here, our results indicate that while the low-rank PNO representation achieves significant rank reduction, it also requires more memory than the ragged list. The OSV approach requires similar memory to that of the ragged list, but it involves greater algorithmic complexity. An approximation (called the “fixed sparsity pattern”) for solving the local MP2 equations using the numerically sparse ERI tensor is proposed and tested to be sufficiently accurate and to have highly controllable error. A low-scaling local MP2 algorithm based on the ragged list and the fixed sparsity pattern is therefore promising.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2013

Feedback-Controlled LED Photobioreactor for Photophysiological Studies of Cyanobacteria

A custom photobioreactor (PBR) was designed to enable automatic light adjustments using computerized feedback control. A black anodized aluminum enclosure, constructed to surround the borosilicate reactor vessel, prevents the transmission of ambient light and serves as a mount for arrays of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The high-output LEDs provide narrow-band light of either 630 or 680 nm for preferential excitation of the cyanobacterial light-harvesting pigments, phycobilin or chlorophyll a, respectively. Custom developed software BioLume provides automatic control of optical properties and a computer feedback loop can automatically adjust the incident irradiance as necessary to maintain a fixed transmitted light through the culture, based on user-determined set points. This feedback control serves to compensate for culture dynamics which have optical effects, (e.g., changing cell density, pigment adaptations) and thus can determine the appropriate light conditions for physiological comparisons or to cultivate light-sensitive strains, without prior analyses. The LED PBR may also be controlled as a turbidostat, using a feedback loop to continuously adjust the rate of media-dilution based on the transmitted light measurements, with a fast and precise response. This cultivation system gains further merit as a high-performance analytical device, using non-invasive tools (e.g., dissolved gas sensors, online mass spectrometry) to automate real-time measurements, thus permitting unsupervised experiments to search for optimal growth conditions, to monitor physiological responses to perturbations, as well as to quantitate photophysiological parameters using an in situ light-saturation response routine.

controlled cultivation↗
DOE OSTI2015

Interface profile optimization for planar stress wave attenuation in bi-layered plates

Stress waves scatter upon entering a new medium. This occurs due to the reflection and transmission of the waves, which depends on the impedance mismatch between the two materials and the angle of incidence. For a bi-layered structure with finite dimensions and constant impedance ratio, the scattering and intensity of the stress waves may be varied by changing the interface profile between the two layers. In this study, a methodology is proposed for optimizing the interface profile between the layers of a finite bi-layered plate for the objective of planar stress wave attenuation. The bi-layered plates are subjected at one end to highly impulsive loadings with various durations, and the geometry of the internal interface is optimized for the purpose of minimizing the amplitude of the maximum reaction force at the opposite fixed end. The optimization methodology is based on a genetic algorithm, which is coupled with a finite element method for analyzing the wave propagation behavior of the plates. Finally, it is observed that the interface profile and the amount of stress wave attenuation depend on the duration of the applied impulsive loading, with higher amounts of attenuation obtained when the wavelength associated with the impulsive load is small compared to the dimensions of the bi-layered plates.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2026

Universal Relationship between Limiting Current and Electrochemical Transport Properties in Malonate-Based Polymer Electrolytes

There is considerable interest in developing high-performance electrolytes for rechargeable lithium batteries. For practical applications, the electrolyte must support large dc currents. However, the parameters most often reported in the literature, conductivity, κ, and current fraction, ρ + , reflect ion transport in the limit of infinitesimal currents. In this limit, the efficacy of an electrolyte is given by the product κρ + . The limiting current density, i lim , is the maximum current density that can be applied across an electrolyte; the cell voltage diverges if the applied current density exceeds ilim. This parameter reflects ion transport in the limit of large dc currents and is therefore of practical interest. It would therefore be convenient if i lim could be predicted from measurements of κρ + . In order to explore this possibility, we studied six malonate-based polymers and PEO at a fixed salt concentration (r = 0.08) and temperature (90°C) using symmetric cells with planar electrodes. Unfortunately, there is no correlation between ilim and κρ + . When the applied current density, i, is less than ilim, the cell voltage approaches a stable plateau, ϕ plateau . Here, we found a linear dependence between i and thickness-normalized plateau potential, ϕ plateau L –1 , irrespective of the magnitude of the applied current. In all seven polymer electrolytes, we found a linear correlation between ilim and the slopes of these lines, σ. In other words, measurements of σ can be used to predict the limiting current.

Jana, Rounak [Lawrence Berkeley National Laborator↗
DOE OSTI2011

Electrostatic carrier doping of GdTiO{sub 3}/SrTiO{sub 3} interfaces

Heterostructures and superlattices consisting of a prototype Mott insulator, GdTiO{sub 3}, and the band insulator SrTiO{sub 3} are grown by molecular beam epitaxy and show intrinsic electronic reconstruction, approximately 1/2 electron per surface unit cell at each GdTiO{sub 3}/SrTiO{sub 3} interface. The sheet carrier densities in all structures containing more than one unit cell of SrTiO{sub 3} are independent of layer thicknesses and growth sequences, indicating that the mobile carriers are in a high concentration, two-dimensional electron gas bound to the interface. These carrier densities closely meet the electrostatic requirements for compensating the fixed charge at these polar interfaces. Based on the experimental results, insights into interfacial band alignments, charge distribution, and the influence of different electrostatic boundary conditions are obtained.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Existence of a coupled system of fractional differential equations

We manage the existence and uniqueness of a fractional coupled system containing Schrödinger equations. Such a system appears in quantum mechanics. We confirm that the fractional system under consideration admits a global solution in appropriate functional spaces. The solution is shown to be unique. The method is based on analytic technique of the fixed point theory. The fractional differential operator is considered from the virtue of the Riemann-Liouville differential operator.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2016

Trapped charge densities in Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-based silicon surface passivation layers

In Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-based passivation layers, the formation of fixed charges and trap sites can be strongly influenced by small modifications in the stack layout. Fixed and trapped charge densities are characterized with capacitance voltage profiling and trap spectroscopy by charge injection and sensing, respectively. Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} layers are grown by atomic layer deposition with very thin (∼1 nm) SiO{sub 2} or HfO{sub 2} interlayers or interface layers. In SiO{sub 2}/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} and HfO{sub 2}/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} stacks, both fixed charges and trap sites are reduced by at least a factor of 5 compared with the value measured in pure Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}. In Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}/SiO{sub 2}/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} or Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}/HfO{sub 2}/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} stacks, very high total charge densities of up to 9 × 10{sup 12} cm{sup −2} are achieved. These charge densities are described as functions of electrical stress voltage, time, and the Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} layer thickness between silicon and the HfO{sub 2} or the SiO{sub 2} interlayer. Despite the strong variation of trap sites, all stacks reach very good effective carrier lifetimes of up to 8 and 20 ms on p- and n-type silicon substrates, respectively. Controlling the trap sites in Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} layers opens the possibility to engineer the field-effect passivation in the solar cells.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2026

Heat metrics and thresholds reshape population exposure and inequality signals

Extreme heat is intensifying worldwide, yet estimates of heat hazard and exposure inequality depend on both the heat metric and how extreme days are defined. Using summer 2022 across the Mediterranean, we quantify population heat exposure with four metrics—land surface temperature (LST), air temperature (Ta), heat index (HI), and wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT)—under absolute (fixed-value) and relative (anomaly-based) thresholds. Under absolute thresholds, total heat exposure differs by more than two orders of magnitude across metrics (31.3 billion person-days for Ta vs 0.3 billion for HI). Geographic hotspots also diverge: WBGT concentrates in humid coastal North Africa (e.g. the Nile Delta), whereas Ta and LST are more widespread. Under relative thresholds, exposure totals converge and cross-metric hotspot agreement increases (e.g. Ta–WBGT top-tercile overlap increases from 10.7% to 29.0%), shifting hotspots toward densely populated southern Europe. Crucially, the exposure–deprivation relationship also reverses across threshold frameworks: absolute thresholds concentrate exposure in more deprived North Africa and the Middle East, whereas relative thresholds shift the burden toward less-deprived European cities. This sensitivity is decision-relevant: city rankings based on WBGT exposure duration are almost completely reordered when switching threshold frameworks. Threshold choice therefore systematically reshapes hotspot patterns and inequality signals. Reporting both absolute and relative exposures can reveal hidden hotspots and support more targeted heat-risk monitoring and intervention planning.

Mediterranean↗
DOE OSTI2018

Point-Defect Nature of the Ultraviolet Absorption Band in AlN

In this paper, we present an approach where point defects and defect complexes are identified using power-dependent photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy, impurity data from SIMS, and density-functional-theory (DFT)-based calculations accounting for the total charge balance in the crystal. Employing the capabilities of such an experimental computational approach, in this work, the ultraviolet-C absorption band at 4.7 eV, as well as the 2.7- and 3.9-eV luminescence bands in AlN single crystals grown via physical vapor transport (PVT) are studied in detail. Photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy measurements demonstrate the relationship between the defect luminescent bands centered at 3.9 and 2.7 eV to the commonly observed absorption band centered at 4.7 eV. Accordingly, the thermodynamic transition energy for the absorption band at 4.7 eV and the luminescence band at 3.9 eV is estimated at 4.2 eV, in agreement with the thermodynamic transition energy for the $\text {C}_\text {N}^–$ point defect. Finally, the 2.7-eV PL band is the result of a donor-acceptor pair transition between the V N and C N point defects since nitrogen vacancies are predicted to be present in the crystal in concentrations similar to carbon-employing charge-balance-constrained DFT calculations. Power-dependent photoluminescence measurements reveal the presence of the deep donor state with a thermodynamic transition energy of 5.0 eV, which we hypothesize to be nitrogen vacancies in agreement with predictions based on theory. The charge state, concentration, and type of impurities in the crystal are calculated considering a fixed amount of impurities and using a DFT-based defect solver, which considers their respective formation energies and the total charge balance in the crystal. The presented results show that nitrogen vacancies are the most likely candidate for the deep donor state involved in the donor-acceptor pair transition with peak emission at 2.7 eV for the conditions relevant to PVT growth.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2016

First Monte Carlo analysis of fragmentation functions from single-inclusive e + e - annihilation

Here, we perform the first iterative Monte Carlo (IMC) analysis of fragmentation functions constrained by all available data from single-inclusive $e^+ e^-$ annihilation into pions and kaons. The IMC method eliminates potential bias in traditional analyses based on single fits introduced by fixing parameters not well contrained by the data, and provides a statistically rigorous determination of uncertainties. Our analysis reveals specific features of fragmentation functions using the new IMC methodology and those obtained from previous analyses, especially for light quarks and for strange quark fragmentation to kaons.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Constraints on the sum of the neutrino masses in dynamical dark energy models with w ( z ) ≥ - 1 are tighter than those obtained in Λ CDM

In this work, we explore cosmological constraints on the sum of the three active neutrino masses M ν in the context of dynamical dark energy (DDE) models with equation of state (EoS) parametrized as a function of redshift z by w(z) = w 0 + w a z/(1 + z), and satisfying w(z) ≥ -1 for all z. We make use of cosmic microwave background data from the Planck satellite, baryon acoustic oscillation measurements, and supernovae Ia luminosity distance measurements, and perform a Bayesian analysis. We show that, within these models, the bounds on M ν do not degrade with respect to those obtained in the Λ CDM case; in fact, the bounds are slightly tighter, despite the enlarged parameter space. We explain our results based on the observation that, for fixed choices of w 0 , w a such that w(z) ≥ - 1 (but not w = -1 for all z), the upper limit on M ν is tighter than the Λ CDM limit because of the well-known degeneracy between w and M ν . The Bayesian analysis we have carried out then integrates over the possible values of w 0 - w a such that w (z) ≥ -1, all of which correspond to tighter limits on M ν than the Λ CDM limit. We find a 95% credible interval (C.I.) upper bound of M ν < 0.13 eV . This bound can be compared with the 95% C.I. upper bounds of M ν < 0.16 eV , obtained within the Λ CDM model, and M ν < 0.41 eV, obtained in a DDE model with arbitrary EoS (which allows values of w < -1). Contrary to the results derived for DDE models with arbitrary EoS, we find that a dark energy component with w(z) ≥ -1 is unable to alleviate the tension between high-redshift observables and direct measurements of the Hubble constant H 0 . Lastly, in light of the results of this analysis, we also discuss the implications for DDE models of a possible determination of the neutrino mass ordering by laboratory searches.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2013

Trends in U.S. Surface Humidity, 1930–2010

U.S. hourly surface observations are investigated at 145 stations to identify annual and seasonal changes in temperature, dewpoint, relative humidity, and specific humidity since 1930. Due to numerous systematic instrument changes that have occurred, a homogeneity assessment was performed on temperatures and dewpoints. Dewpoints contained higher breakpoint detection rates associated with instrumentation changes than did temperatures. Temperature trends were tempered by adjusting the data, whereas dewpoints were unaffected. The effects were the same whether the adjustments were based on statistically detected or fixed-year breakpoints. Average long-term trends (1930–2010) suggest that temperature has warmed but that little change has occurred in dewpoint and specific humidity. Warming is strongest in spring. There is evidence of inhomogeneity in the relative humidity record that primarily affects data from prior to 1950. Therefore, long-term decreases in relative humidity, which are strongest in winter, need to be viewed with caution. Trends since 1947 indicate that the warming of temperatures has coincided with increases in dewpoints and a moistening of specific humidity. This moistening is especially pronounced during the summer in the Midwest. For the nation, trends in relative humidity show little change for the period 1947–2010, during which these data are more homogeneous. Moistening has occurred throughout the central United States while other regions have experienced drying. Urban-related warming and drying trends are present in the data, but their effect is minimal. Regional changes in land use and moisture availability are likely influencing trends in atmospheric moisture.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗