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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 811 records · Page 45
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

A solvable quantum field theory with asymptotic freedom in (3+1) dimensions

Recently, Ai, Bender and Sarkar gave a prescription on how to obtain [Formula: see text]-symmetric field theory results from an analytic continuation of Hermitian field theories. We perform this analytic continuation for the massless (critical) [Formula: see text] model with quartic interaction in (3+1) dimensions. In the large-[Formula: see text] limit, this theory is exactly solvable, and has negative [Formula: see text]-function in the ultraviolet, and a stable bound state in the infrared. The coupling diverges at a scale [Formula: see text], but can be continued into the far infrared. At finite temperature, the theory exhibits two phases separated by a second-order phase transition near [Formula: see text].

Physics↗
NASA NTRS1985

A swirl flow evaporative cold plate

A forced flow evaporative cold plate is under development for future application to the thermal bus concept being pursued by NASA for Space Station Thermal Control. The vaporizer is a swirl-flow device employing a spiral tube coil geometry sandwiched between conductive metal plates upon which electric components could be mounted. This concept is based on the inherent phase separation that occurs in a two phase stream in curvilinear flow. This is a zero 'g' design with one 'g' all-attitude capability and is capable of high heat transfer coefficients, good isothermality, and the ability to function at heat fluxes approaching 5w/sq cm on the cold plates (10w/sq cm on the tube wall) with Freon 114. The advantages of this design over other two phase evaporator approaches are high heat flux capability, simplified control requirements, insensitivity to micro-gravity oscillations, and inexpensive manufacturability. The program included design, fabrication, and test of such a cold plate utilizing an existing test stand developed for two-phase thermal management system (TPTMS) testing. Test results analysis and conclusions are included.

Niggemann, R. E.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Microencapsulation and Electrostatic Processing Method

Methods are provided for forming spherical multilamellar microcapsules having alternating hydrophilic and hydrophobic liquid layers, surrounded by flexible, semi-permeable hydrophobic or hydrophilic outer membranes which can be tailored specifically to control the diffusion rate. The methods of the invention rely on low shear mixing and liquid-liquid diffusion process and are particularly well suited for forming microcapsules containing both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs. These methods can be carried out in the absence of gravity and do not rely on density-driven phase separation, mechanical mixing or solvent evaporation phases. The methods include the process of forming, washing and filtering microcapsules. In addition, the methods contemplate coating microcapsules with ancillary coatings using an electrostatic field and free fluid electrophoresis of the microcapsules. The microcapsules produced by such methods are particularly useful in the delivery of pharmaceutical compositions.

Morrison, Dennis R.↗
NASA NTRS2025

Lyotropic Liquid Crystalline Phase Behavior of Boron Nitride Nanotube Aqueous Dispersions

Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) are gaining significant interest due to their outstanding mechanical and thermal properties, as well as their potential to serve as a model nanorod system. Processing BNNT liquid crystalline (LC) dispersions enables precise control over BNNT orientation in macroscopic assemblies, while their low absorption in the visible spectrum facilitates studying LCs at exceptionally high concentrations. Here, we investigate the behavior of BNNTs in aqueous solutions stabilized by the surfactant sodium deoxycholate (SDC), examining the effect of BNNT purity and BNNT−SDC concentrations on lyotropic LC formation. We disperse up to 15wt% BNNT in SDC solutions and use polarized light microscopy to detail the transition from an isotropic state to a biphasic regime, where isotropic and nematic domains coexist due to phase separation, to a single fully nematic phase. Cryogenic electron microscopy provides direct evidence of BNNT alignment within nematic domains. Our results show that enhanced depletion-induced attractions, driven by increased surfactant concentration, lower the threshold concentration of BNNT required to form nematic domains. In contrast, low surfactant concentrations relative to BNNT result in insufficiently coated nanotube surfaces, leading to poor dispersions and BNNT aggregation. Additionally, we fabricate well-aligned BNNT films from aqueous LC dispersions. Our findings advance the understanding of BNNT LCs, offering insight into controlling their orientation and highlighting their potential for high-performance materials.

Joe Khoury↗
DOE OSTI2019

Determination of the structure-processing-properties relationship of Fe-6.5wt%Si

The role of Fe-6.5wt%Si as a soft magnetic material in motor and power generation will continue to increase as power and efficiency demands keep increasing due to high silicon steel’s superior magnetic and electrical properties when operated at high frequencies. However, the presence of brittle phases creates challenges for mass production of the materials and for machining the materials into parts with demanding geometries. Understanding the processing parameters controlling the presence of the brittle phases is necessary to promote high silicon steels as the superior soft magnetic material. This research pioneers the use of in-situ cooling rate thermal imaging analysis and a 2D Laue x-ray detector to quantify the relationship among processing parameters, final microstructure of melt-spun ribbons and the associated physical properties. These techniques reveal the superlattice peaks of the ordered B2/D03 phases separating them from the background A2 phase. Utilizing a variety of techniques investigating mechanical, electrical, and magnetic properties’ correlation to crystal structure alongside processing parameters a time temperature transformation curve can be generated.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2021

Crystallization of the P 3 Sn 4 Phase upon Cooling P 2 Sn 5 Liquid by Molecular Dynamics Simulation Using a Machine Learning Interatomic Potential

We performed molecular dynamics simulations to study the crystallization of the P3Sn4 phase from P 2 Sn 5 liquid using a machine learning (ML) interatomic potential with desirable efficiency and accuracy. Our results capture the liquid properties of P 2 Sn 5 at 1300 K, which is well above the melting temperature. The phase separation and crystallization are observed when P 2 Sn 5 liquid is cooled down below 832 and 505 K, respectively. The simulation results are in good agreement with the experimentally observed phase transformation behaviors and provide useful insights into the complex nucleation and crystallization process at the details of atomistic scale. Our work also demonstrated that ML interatomic potentials based on neural network deep learning are robust and capable of accurately describing the energetics and kinetics of complex materials through molecular dynamics simulations.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2018

Structure of Lung-Mimetic Multilamellar Bodies with Lipid Compositions Relevant in Pneumonia

The hierarchical assembly of lipids, as modulated by composition and environment, plays a significant role in the function of biological membranes and a myriad of diseases. Elevated concentrations of calcium ions and cardiolipin (CL), an anionic tetra-alkyl lipid found in mitochondria and some bacterial cell membranes, have been implicated in pneumonia recently. However, their impact on the physicochemical properties of lipid assemblies in lungs and how it impairs alveoli function is still unknown. We use small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (S/WAXS) and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) to probe the structure and dynamics of lung-mimetic multilamellar bodies (MLBs) in the presence of Ca 2+ and CL. We conjecture that CL overexpressed in the hypophase of alveoli strongly affects the structure of lung-lipid bilayers and their stacking in the MLBs. Specifically, S/WAXS data revealed that CL induces significant shrinkage of the water-layer separating the concentric bilayers in multilamellar aggregates. ssNMR measurements indicate that this interbilayer tightening is due to undulation repulsion damping as CL renders the glycerol backbone of the membranes significantly more static. In addition to MLB dehydration, CL promotes intrabilayer phase separation into saturated-rich and unsaturated-rich lipid domains that couple across multiple layers. Expectedly, addition of Ca 2+ screens the electrostatic repulsion between negatively charged lung membranes. Furthermore, when CL is present, addition of Ca 2+ results in an apparent interbilayer expansion likely due to local structural defects. Combining S/WAXS and ssNMR on systems with compositions pertinent to healthy and unhealthy lung membranes, we propose how alteration of the physiochemical properties of MLBs can critically impact the breathing cycle.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Enzymatic degradation of liquid droplets of DNA is modulated near the phase boundary

Significance Biomolecules, such as proteins or nucleic acids, can condense into liquid droplets whose biological or technological function depends on interactions with other solutes. We explore such interactions using a system of self-assembled DNA particles that forms liquid droplets which are degraded by an active solute, a restriction enzyme. We find that enzymes are able to penetrate the droplets when the liquid is poised near the phase boundary, enhancing the degradation rate and, in certain cases, causing internal bubbling. These results point to a complex interplay of phase stability and solute transport in liquid–liquid phase-separating macromolecular systems.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Effects of transition metals on the evolution of polymer-derived SiOC ceramics

This work focuses on catalytic graphitization from different metals, iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), and nickel (Ni), for inducing carbon growth in silicon oxycarbides (SiOCs) during the pyrolysis. Fe, Co, and Ni-modified SiOCs were synthesized by pyrolysis to 900, 1100, and 1300 °C respectively in Ar. The transition metals induced the formation of the corresponding metal silicides, β-SiC, and graphitic carbon with the catalytic activity in the order of Fe > Co > Ni, in agreement with the activation energy calculation based on the carbon types and amounts. Lateral growth of turbostratic carbon followed a 2D grain growth process and its point-like defect density decreased based on the catalytic order of the transition metals, with SiOC/Fe having the lowest defect density. Quantitative analysis of the XPS results with Rietveld refinement illustrated that the phase separation of SiOC is more dominant than local carbothermal reduction between SiO 2 and C in the SiOC/M (M = Ni, Co, or Fe) systems. Understanding the catalytic graphitization effect of Ni, Co, and Fe on polymer derived ceramics offers new strategies in increasing high-temperature phase amounts and thus creating novel materials for heterogeneous catalysis, magnetic, and other applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1997

Microgravity Fluid Separation Physics: Experimental and Analytical Results

Effective, low power, two-phase separation systems are vital for the cost-effective study and utilization of two-phase flow systems and flow physics of two-phase flows. The study of microgravity flows have the potential to reveal significant insight into the controlling mechanisms for the behavior of flows in both normal and reduced gravity environments. The microgravity environment results in a reduction in gravity induced buoyancy forces acting on the discrete phases. Thus, surface tension, viscous, and inertial forces exert an increased influence on the behavior of the flow as demonstrated by the axisymmetric flow patterns. Several space technology and operations groups have studied the flow behavior in reduced gravity since gas-liquid flows are encountered in several systems such as cabin humidity control, wastewater treatment, thermal management, and Rankine power systems.

Shoemaker, J. Michael↗
DOE OSTI2017

Thermo-Catalytic Reforming of municipal solid waste

Highlights: • Successful Thermo-Catalytic Reforming of municipal solid waste into fuels. • Highly de-oxygenated bio-oil was produced using this process. • Bio-oil produced had a high-energy content and low total acid number. • 60% of the energy in the feedstock was transferred to the products. • Conversion of MSW using the TCR® offers many promising advantages. - Abstract: Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) refers to a heterogeneous mixture composed of plastics, paper, metal, food and other miscellaneous items. Local authorities commonly dispose of this waste by either landfill or incineration which are both unsustainable practices. Disposing of organic wastes via these routes is also becoming increasingly expensive due to rising landfill taxes and transport costs. The Thermo-Catalytic Reforming (TCR®) process, is a proposed valorisation route to transform organic wastes and residues, such as MSW, into sustainable energy vectors including (H{sub 2} rich synthesis gas, liquid bio-oil and solid char). The aim herein, was to investigate the conversion of the organic fraction of MSW into fuels and chemicals utilising the TCR technology in a 2 kg/h continuous pilot scale reactor. Findings show that MSW was successfully processed with the TCR after carrying out a feedstock pre-treatment step. Approximately, 25 wt.% of the feedstock was converted into phase separated liquids, composed of 19 wt.% aqueous phase and 6 wt.% organic phase bio-oil. The analysis of the bio-oil fraction revealed physical and chemical fuel properties, higher heating value (HHV) of 38 MJ/kg, oxygen content <7 wt.% and water content <4 wt.%. Due to the bio-oil’s chemical and physical properties, the bio-oil was found to be directly miscible with fossil diesel when blended at a volume ratio of 50:50. The mass balance closure was 44 wt.% synthesis gas, with a H{sub 2} content of 36 vol% and HHV of 17.23 MJ/Nm{sup 3}, and 31 wt.% char with a HHV of 17 MJ/kg. The production of high quantities of H{sub 2} gas and highly de-oxygenated organic liquids makes downstream hydrogen separation and subsequent hydro-deoxygenation of the produced bio-oil a promising upgrading step to achieve drop-in transportation fuels from MSW.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2015

Origin of colossal magnetoresistance in LaMnO 3 manganite

Significance Magnetoresistance is the change of resistance in the presence of an external magnetic field. In rare-earth manganite compounds, this change is orders of magnitude stronger than usual and it is promising for developing new spintronic and electronic devices. The colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) effect has been observed only in chemically doped manganite compounds. We report the realization of CMR in a compressed single-valent LaMnO 3 manganite compound. Pressure generates an inhomogeneous phase constituted by two components: a nonconductive one with a unique structural distortion and a metallic one without distortion. The CMR takes place when the competition between the two phases is at a maximum. We identify phase separation as the driving force for generating CMR in LaMnO 3 .

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Single-column cryogenic air separation: Enabling efficient oxygen production with rapid startup and low capital costs—application to low-carbon fossil-fuel plants

The rapid integration of intermittent renewable sources into the electricity grid is driving the need for more flexible, low-carbon fossil-fuel plants with lower capital costs. This then drives the need to improve the cryogenic air separation unit (ASU). To address this changing landscape, we explore a Praxair single-column ASU (PSC-ASU) design with the goal of reducing costs and improving flexibility, compared to a conventional double-column ASU. The PSC-ASU incorporates partial air condensation and air pre-separation in the bottom reboiler with a phase separator as well as N 2 -enriched vapor condensation in the upper reboiler to decrease energy consumption, as compared to Linde’s single-column ASU. All three of the above-mentioned ASU designs are simulated in Aspen Plus and analyzed. An economic analysis is applied to evaluate the relative cost savings of the PSC-ASU compared to the double-column ASU. Results suggest that the specific energy consumption of the PSC-ASU is significantly lower than that of Linde’s single-column ASU due to a drastically improved oxygen recovery rate. Although this improved oxygen recovery rate is still lower than that of the double-column ASU, the required pressure ratio of the main air compressor is 21% lower than that of the double-column ASU. As a result, the specific energy consumption of the PSC-ASU is only 1.9% greater than that of the double-column ASU for producing 95.1 mol% O 2 . However, the PSC-ASU reduces the hourly capital cost by 19% due to the elimination of a high-pressure column. This would effectively decrease the total hourly cost of the ASU, and thus the total hourly cost of low-carbon, fossil-fuel power plants that require oxygen.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Interfacial Tension of Polyelectrolyte Complex Coacervate Phases

We consider polyelectrolyte solutions which, under suitable conditions, phase separate into a liquid-like coacervate phase and a coexisting supernatant phase that exhibit an extremely low interfacial tension. Such interfacial tension provides the basis for most coacervate-based applications, but little is known about it, including its dependence on molecular weight, charge density, and salt concentration. By combining a Debye-Huckel treatment for electrostatic interactions with the Cahn-Hilliard theory, we derive explicit expressions for this interfacial tension. In the absence of added salts, we find that the interfacial tension scales as N-3/2(eta/eta(c)-1)(3/2) near the critical point of the demixing transition, and that it scales as eta(1/2) far away from it, where N is the chain length and eta measures the electrostatic interaction strength as a function of temperature, dielectric constant, and charge density of the polyelectrolytes. For the case with added salts, we find that the interfacial tension scales with the salt concentration psi as N-1/4(1-psi/psi(c))(3/2) near the critical salt concentration psi(c). Our predictions are shown to be in quantitative agreement with experiments and provide a means to design new materials based on polyelectrolyte complexation.

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

Transient pattern formation in an active matter contact poisoning model

Abstract One of the most notable features in repulsive particle based active matter systems is motility-induced-phase separation (MIPS) where a dense, often crystalline phase and low density fluid coexist. Most active matter studies involve time-dependent activity; however, there are many active systems where individual particles transition from living or moving to dead or nonmotile due to lack of fuel, infection, or poisoning. Here we consider an active matter particle system at densities where MIPS does not occur. When we add a small number of infected particles that can poison other particles, rendering them nonmotile, we find a rich variety of time dependent pattern formation, including MIPS, a wetting phase, and a fragmented state formed when mobile particles plow through a nonmotile packing. We map the patterns as a function of time scaled by epidemic duration, and show that the pattern formation is robust for a wide range of poisoning rates and activity levels. We also show that pattern formation does not occur in a random death model, but requires the promotion of nucleation by contact poisoning. Our results should be relevant to biological and active matter systems where there is some form of poisoning, death, or transition to nonmotility.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2023

Pattern formation and transport for externally driven active matter on periodic substrates (a)

Abstract We investigate the transport of interacting active run-and-tumble particles moving under an external drift force through a periodic array of obstacles for increasing drive amplitudes. For high activity where the system forms a motility-induced phase-separated state, there are several distinct dynamic phases including a low drive pinned cluster phase, an intermediate uniform fluid, and a higher drive stripe crystal state. The transitions between the phases are correlated with signatures in the transport curves, differential mobility, and power spectra of the velocity fluctuations. In contrast, in the low activity regime the transport curves and power spectra undergo little change as a function of drive. We argue that in the high activity limit, the behavior is similar to that of driven solids on periodic substrates, while in the low activity limit the system behaves like a driven fluid.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Single-column cryogenic air separation: enabling efficient oxygen production with rapid startup and low capital costs—application to low-carbon fossil-fuel plants

The rapid integration of intermittent renewable sources into the electricity grid is driving the need for more flexible, low-carbon fossil-fuel plants with lower capital costs. This then drives the need to improve the cryogenic air separation unit (ASU). To address this changing landscape, we explore a Praxair single-column ASU (PSC-ASU) design with the goal of reducing costs and improving flexibility, compared to a conventional double-column ASU. The PSC-ASU incorporates partial air condensation and air pre-separation in the bottom reboiler with a phase separator as well as N2-enriched vapor condensation in the upper reboiler to decrease energy consumption, as compared to Linde's single-column ASU. All three of the above-mentioned ASU designs are simulated in Aspen Plus and analyzed. An economic analysis is applied to evaluate the relative cost savings of the PSC-ASU compared to the double-column ASU. Results suggest that the specific energy consumption of the PSC-ASU is significantly lower than that of Linde's single-column ASU due to a drastically improved oxygen recovery rate. Although this improved oxygen recovery rate is still lower than that of the double-column ASU, the required pressure ratio of the main air compressor is 21% lower than that of the double-column ASU. As a result, the specific energy consumption of the PSC-ASU is only 1.9% greater than that of the double-column ASU for producing 95.1 mol% O2. However, the PSC-ASU reduces the hourly capital cost by 19% due to the elimination of a high-pressure column. This would effectively decrease the total hourly cost of the ASU, and thus the total hourly cost of low-carbon, fossil-fuel power plants that require oxygen.

Cheng, Mao↗