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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
NASA NTRS1990

Comparison of UNL laser imaging and sizing system and a phase Doppler system for analyzing sprays from a NASA nozzle

Research was conducted on characteristics of aerosol sprays using a P/DPA and a laser imaging/video processing system on a NASA MOD-1 air assist nozzle being evaluated for use in aircraft icing research. Benchmark tests were performed on monodispersed particles and on the NASA MOD-1 nozzle under identical lab operating conditions. The laser imaging/video processing system and the P/DPA showed agreement on a calibration tests in monodispersed aerosol sprays of + or - 2.6 micron with a standard deviation of + or - 2.6 micron. Benchmark tests were performed on the NASA MOD-1 nozzle on the centerline and radially at 0.5 inch increments to the outer edge of the spray plume at a distance 2 ft downstream from the exit nozzle. Comparative results at two operation conditions of the nozzle are presented for the two instruments. For the 1st case studied, the deviation in arithmetic mean diameters determined by the two instruments was in a range of 0.1 to 2.8 micron, and the deviation in Sauter mean diameters varied from 0 to 2.2 micron. Severe operating conditions in the 2nd case resulted in the arithmetic mean diameter deviating from 1.4 to 7.1 micron and the deviation in the Sauter mean diameters ranging from 0.4 to 6.7 micron.

Alexander, Dennis R.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Auto-Gopher: A Wire-Line Rotary-Hammer Ultrasonic Drill

Developing technologies that would enable NASA to sample rock, soil, and ice by coring, drilling or abrading at a significant depth is of great importance for a large number of in-situ exploration missions as well as for earth applications. Proven techniques to sample Mars subsurface will be critical for future NASA astrobiology missions that will search for records of past and present life on the planet, as well as, the search for water and other resources. A deep corer, called Auto-Gopher, is currently being developed as a joint effort of the JPL's NDEAA laboratory and Honeybee Robotics Corp. The Auto-Gopher is a wire-line rotary-hammer drill that combines rock breaking by hammering using an ultrasonic actuator and cuttings removal by rotating a fluted bit. The hammering mechanism is based on the Ultrasonic/Sonic Drill/Corer (USDC) that has been developed as an adaptable tool for many of drilling and coring applications. The USDC uses an intermediate free-flying mass to transform the high frequency vibrations of the horn tip into a sonic hammering of a drill bit. The USDC concept was used in a previous task to develop an Ultrasonic/Sonic Ice Gopher. The lessons learned from testing the ice gopher were implemented into the design of the Auto-Gopher by inducing a rotary motion onto the fluted coring bit. A wire-line version of such a system would allow penetration of significant depth without a large increase in mass. A laboratory version of the corer was developed in the NDEAA lab to determine the design and drive parameters of the integrated system. The design configuration lab version of the design and fabrication and preliminary testing results are presented in this paper

life dectection↗
NASA NTRS2010

Portable Handheld Optical Window Inspection Device

The Portable Handheld Optical Window Inspection Device (PHOWID) is a measurement system for imaging small defects (scratches, pits, micrometeor impacts, and the like) in the field. Designed primarily for window inspection, PHOWID attaches to a smooth surface with suction cups, and raster scans a small area with an optical pen in order to provide a three-dimensional image of the defect. PHOWID consists of a graphical user interface, motor control subsystem, scanning head, and interface electronics, as well as an integrated camera and user display that allows a user to locate minute defects before scanning. Noise levels are on the order of 60 in. (1.5 m). PHOWID allows field measurement of defects that are usually done in the lab. It is small, light, and attaches directly to the test article in any orientation up to vertical. An operator can scan a defect and get useful engineering data in a matter of minutes. There is no need to make a mold impression for later lab analysis.

Ihlefeld, Curtis↗
NASA NTRS1990

An automated calibration laboratory for flight research instrumentation: Requirements and a proposed design approach

NASA's Dryden Flight Research Facility (Ames-Dryden), operates a diverse fleet of research aircraft which are heavily instrumented to provide both real time data for in-flight monitoring and recorded data for postflight analysis. Ames-Dryden's existing automated calibration (AUTOCAL) laboratory is a computerized facility which tests aircraft sensors to certify accuracy for anticipated harsh flight environments. Recently, a major AUTOCAL lab upgrade was initiated; the goal of this modernization is to enhance productivity and improve configuration management for both software and test data. The new system will have multiple testing stations employing distributed processing linked by a local area network to a centralized database. The baseline requirements for the new AUTOCAL lab and the design approach being taken for its mechanization are described.

Oneill-Rood, Nora↗
NASA NTRS1990

An automated calibration laboratory - Requirements and design approach

NASA's Dryden Flight Research Facility (Ames-Dryden), operates a diverse fleet of research aircraft which are heavily instrumented to provide both real time data for in-flight monitoring and recorded data for postflight analysis. Ames-Dryden's existing automated calibration (AUTOCAL) laboratory is a computerized facility which tests aircraft sensors to certify accuracy for anticipated harsh flight environments. Recently, a major AUTOCAL lab upgrade was initiated; the goal of this modernization is to enhance productivity and improve configuration management for both software and test data. The new system will have multiple testing stations employing distributed processing linked by a local area network to a centralized database. The baseline requirements for the new AUTOCAL lab and the design approach being taken for its mechanization are described.

O'Neil-Rood, Nora↗
NASA NTRS2023

Orion Cabin Lighting System: Filter Workaround for Maintaining Crew Circadian Entrainment

Introduction: Suboptimal crew circadian entrainment (CCE) is common and results in cumulative fatigue and reduced cognitive function. This may promote use of psychostimulants and hypnotics. The Orion Cabin Lighting System (OCLS) consists of 15 dimmable lamps circuited to several zones. The OCLS monochromatic white lamp design is insufficient for maintaining CCE. While blue light (480-nm) elicits peak wake-cycle response, it is a powerful disruptor of CCE. We propose OCLS lamp filters (OLFs) as a workaround for maintaining CCE. Methods: Preliminary OLFs testing utilized a tunable-white LED to serve as a baseline lamp in the NASA Lighting Lab’s controlled environment (prototype OCLS lamps were unavailable). Illuminance and spectral irradiances were measured with the NASA Lighting Lab’s spectroradiometer. ConOps is proposed for OLFs. Results: OLFs markedly attenuated 480-nm light and illumination with minimal mass/volume requirements. ConOps includes in-flight deployment of OLFs and reducing OCLS lamp intensity prior to bedtime. Pros: minimal mass/volume, no added power, and a simplistic design. Cons: manual twice-daily articulation of OLFs, undetermined frangibility/flammability/off-gassing and effects on thermal regulation, and untested task illumination or color fidelity in the Orion cabin. Discussion: While OLFs aptly attenuate 480-nm light from our tunable LED lamp in the Lighting Lab’s controlled environment, they remain untested within the Orion cabin on OCLS lamps. Future tests include Orion cabin illumination optimization for appropriate Lux delivery and ensuring task/color fidelity with OLFs deployed. Adequate OCLS cooling should be similarly assessed. Other safety testing includes OLF frangibility/flammability/off-gassing in an enriched-O 2 /hypobaric environment. Together, these data will demonstrate OLFs provide a viable workaround for maintaining CCE further ensuring mission safety and success.

Carlos Rene Dostal↗
DOE OSTI2024

Performance of a triple-GEM detector with capacitive-sharing 3-coordinate (X–Y–U)-strip anode readout

The concept of capacitive-sharing readout, described in detail in a previous study, offers the possibility for the development of high-performance three-coordinates (X--Y--U)-strip readout for Micro Pattern Gaseous Detectors (MPGDs) using simple standard PCB fabrication techniques. Capacitive-sharing (X--Y--U)-strip readout allows simultaneous measurement of the Cartesian coordinates x and y of the position of the particles together with a third coordinate u along the diagonal axis in a single readout PCB. This provides a powerful tool to address multiple-hit ambiguity and enable pattern recognition capabilities in moderate particle flux environment of collider or fixed target experiments in high energy physics HEP) and nuclear physics (NP). We present in this paper the performance of a 10 cm × 10 cm triple-GEM detector with capacitive-sharing (X--Y--U)-strip anode readout. Spatial resolutions of the order of $\sigma_{x}^{res}$ = 71.6 $\pm$ 0.8 $\mu$m for X-strips, $\sigma_{y}^{res}$ = 56.2 $\pm$ 0.9 $\mu$m for Y-strips and $\sigma_{u}^{res}$ = 75.2 $\pm$ 0.9 $\mu$m for U-strips have been obtained at a beam test at Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab). Modifications of the readout design of future prototypes to improve the spatial resolution and challenges in scaling to large-area MPGDs are discussed.

(X-Y-U) strip↗
DOE OSTI2022

Roadmap to Advance Heliostat Technologies for Concentrating Solar-Thermal Power

Heliostat-based concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP) systems can offer immense potential to provide low-cost, dispatchable renewable thermal and electrical energy to help achieve 100% decarbonized energy infrastructure in the United States. Heliostats are a major capital cost technology and a performance-dominating component of state-of-the-art commercial molten salt towers and Generation 3 CSP systems. In 2021, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) launched the Heliostat Consortium (HelioCon), a five-year initiative to advance heliostat technologies. The HelioCon mission is threefold: (1) establish strategic core testing and modeling capabilities and infrastructure at national labs; (2) support heliostat technology development in relevant industries; and (3) serve as a central repository to integrate industry, academia, and other stakeholders for heliostat technology research, development, validation, and deployment. In this report, HelioCon presents a roadmapping study on advancing heliostat technologies, intended as a central reference for the whole CSP community.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

The Integration of Wi-Fi Location-Based Services to Optimize Energy Efficient Commercial Building Operations

This project investigated and demonstrated the use of Wi-Fi Location-Based Services (LBS) to perform occupancy sensing in commercial buildings. Wi-Fi LBS can be used to detect the presence of Wi-Fi enabled mobile devices and laptops that accompany occupants as they move through the building. These signals can be used to determine occupant presence, head count, and location. When integrated with the building automation system, this emerging technology approach can be used to manage other connected systems such as lighting and HVAC to reduce energy usage in the building and improve occupant comfort. An open source location detection algorithm was developed, which uses data collected from three or more Wi-Fi access points to determine the presence and estimate the location of mobile devices and laptops. Access points can detect Wi-Fi enabled devices even if they are not connected to the existing Wi-Fi network. Building occupancy is determined based on the presence, location, and movement of these devices through the space. From lab and small-scale in-situ testing, the Location Detection Algorithm (LDA) was found to be accurate to within 10 feet and could be further refined by tuning the algorithm for the specific space characteristics such as layout and obstructions (walls, furniture, etc.). An open source method to integrate the occupancy data with existing building automations systems was investigated. The Wi-Fi occupancy sensing approach was then demonstrated and validated at commercial buildings located in Saint Paul, MN; Madison, WI; New York City; and Fort Worth, TX.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2024

IoT-Based Comfort Control and Fault Diagnostics System for Energy-Efficient Homes

This project studies an Internet of Things (IoT)-based comfort control and fault diagnostics system (referred as iComfort in this report) for energy-efficient homes. The system delivers an occupant-comfort-oriented thermal environment adaptive to fault scenarios and achieves HVAC energy savings in a cost-effective and straightforward way. This smart iComfort home system consists of the following key features. 1) Cost-effectiveness and scalability of the entire hardware and software system: The system includes low-cost temperature, humidity, and airflow sensors, and a Raspberry Pi-based local hub that interfaces with the cloud and IoT-enabled devices. The cost is low, not only for sensors, but also the costs associated with sensor installation, system setup and commissioning, data communication and storage, and data analytics (e.g., the development of automated fault detection and diagnosis (AFDD), as well as adaptive control strategies that are both computationally efficient and practical to implement). 2) Energy performance and user satisfaction: The system delivers user satisfaction and energy savings. This includes a) ease of use, b) optimal occupant thermal comfort, and c) accurate system feedback (e.g., low false alarm of AFDD strategies). 3) Favorable demonstrated prototype performance: The prototype tested at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) Lab Homes demonstrates the accuracy of fault detections and diagnoses and shows thermal comfort improvement and energy savings through adaptive and optimal HVAC operations.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2023

PV Module Operating Temperature - Data and Resources

The Photovoltaic Systems Evaluation Laboratory (PSEL) at Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) in Albuquerque, NM has an extensive test site where PV modules and other system components are deployed and monitored for testing and evaluation. For this dataset PV Performance Labs has assembled one year of measurements from the Systems Long-Term Evaluation (SLTE) project (formerly known as PV Lifetime) providing the main variables needed to investigate and validate PV module operating temperature models: irradiance, ambient temperature, wind speed and back-of-module temperature. For use with more advanced thermal modeling, an estimate of down-welling long-wave radiation is also included.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS1980

Development of advanced avionics systems applicable to terminal-configured vehicles

A technique to add the time constraint to the automatic descent feature of the existing L-1011 aircraft Flight Management System (FMS) was developed. Software modifications were incorporated in the FMS computer program and the results checked by lab simulation and on a series of eleven test flights. An arrival time dispersion (2 sigma) of 19 seconds was achieved. The 4 D descent technique can be integrated with the time-based metering method of air traffic control. Substantial reductions in delays at today's busy airports should result.

Heimbold, R. L.↗
NASA NTRS2007

Overview of Fundamental High-Lift Research for Transport Aircraft at NASA

NASA has had a long history in fundamental and applied high lift research. Current programs provide a focus on the validation of technologies and tools that will enable extremely short take off and landing coupled with efficient cruise performance, simple flaps with flow control for improved effectiveness, circulation control wing concepts, some exploration into new aircraft concepts, and partnership with Air Force Research Lab in mobility. Transport high-lift development testing will shift more toward mid and high Rn facilities at least until the question: "How much Rn is required" is answered. This viewgraph presentation provides an overview of High-Lift research at NASA.

Leavitt, L. D.↗
NASA NTRS2015

Insulation Reformulation Development

The current Space Launch System (SLS) internal solid rocket motor insulation, polybenzimidazole acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (PBI-NBR), is a new insulation that replaced asbestos-based insulations found in Space Shuttle heritage solid rocket boosters. PBI-NBR has some outstanding characteristics such as an excellent thermal erosion resistance, low thermal conductivity, and low density. PBI-NBR also has some significant challenges associated with its use: Air entrainment/entrapment during manufacture and lay-up/cure and low mechanical properties such as tensile strength, modulus, and fracture toughness. This technology development attempted to overcome these challenges by testing various reformulated versions of booster insulation. The results suggest the SLS program should continue to investigate material alternatives for potential block upgrades or use an entirely new, more advanced booster. The experimental design was composed of a logic path that performs iterative formulation and testing in order to maximize the effort. A lab mixing baseline was developed and documented for the Rubber Laboratory in Bldg. 4602/Room 1178.

Chapman, Cynthia↗
NASA NTRS2015

Portable Virtual Training Units

The Mission Operations Lab initiated a project to design, develop, deliver, test, and validate a unique training system for astronaut and ground support personnel. In an effort to keep training costs low, virtual training units (VTUs) have been designed based on images of actual hardware and manipulated by a touch screen style interface for ground support personnel training. This project helped modernized the training system and materials by integrating them with mobile devices for training when operators or crew are unavailable to physically train in the facility. This project also tested the concept of a handheld remote device to control integrated trainers using International Space Station (ISS) training simulators as a platform. The portable VTU can interface with the full-sized VTU, allowing a trainer co-located with a trainee to remotely manipulate a VTU and evaluate a trainee's response. This project helped determine if it is useful, cost effective, and beneficial for the instructor to have a portable handheld device to control the behavior of the models during training. This project has advanced NASA Marshall Space Flight Center's (MSFC's) VTU capabilities with modern and relevant technology to support space flight training needs of today and tomorrow.

Malone, Reagan↗
NASA NTRS2017

Ames Engineering Directorate

The Ames Engineering Directorate is the principal engineering organization supporting aerospace systems and spaceflight projects at NASA's Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley. The Directorate supports all phases of engineering and project management for flight and mission projects-from R&D to Close-out-by leveraging the capabilities of multiple divisions and facilities.The Mission Design Center (MDC) has full end-to-end mission design capability with sophisticated analysis and simulation tools in a collaborative concurrent design environment. Services include concept maturity level (CML) maturation, spacecraft design and trades, scientific instruments selection, feasibility assessments, and proposal support and partnerships. The Engineering Systems Division provides robust project management support as well as systems engineering, mechanical and electrical analysis and design, technical authority and project integration support to a variety of programs and projects across NASA centers. The Applied Manufacturing Division turns abstract ideas into tangible hardware for aeronautics, spaceflight and science applications, specializing in fabrication methods and management of complex fabrication projects. The Engineering Evaluation Lab (EEL) provides full satellite or payload environmental testing services including vibration, temperature, humidity, immersion, pressure/altitude, vacuum, high G centrifuge, shock impact testing and the Flight Processing Center (FPC), which includes cleanrooms, bonded stores and flight preparation resources. The Multi-Mission Operations Center (MMOC) is composed of the facilities, networks, IT equipment, software and support services needed by flight projects to effectively and efficiently perform all mission functions, including planning, scheduling, command, telemetry processing and science analysis.

Small Satellites↗