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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 91 records · Page 5
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

Bias Correction and Statistical Downscaling of Future Solar Irradiance Projections Using the NSRDB

Assessing renewable energy resources under future climate scenarios has been highlighted to understand potential impacts of future climate change in renewable generation on the power sector. Climate model projection has been recognized by the renewable energy community as a useful data set to analyze the impacts of future climate change on renewable resources. However, future climate projections generated from general circulation models (GCMs) contain inherent biases that need to be corrected for accurate analysis of future projections of climate variables. In addition, the coarse spatiotemporal resolution of GCMs needs to be improved for regional climate studies. In this work, we develop statistical methods to downscale future projections of global horizontal irradiance (GHI) in a computationally efficient way. Our approach builds statistical downscaling models that correct bias of climate projection of GHI and downscale the future GHI projection from daily-scale to hourly-scale. The National Solar Radiation Database (NSRDB) is used to calibrate the statistical models and validate the downscaled GHI projections across the contiguous United State (CONUS). Preliminary results show that the statistical approach efficiently downscales climate projections of GHI with a nBIAS of 3%, nMAE of 34 % and nRMSE of 46% calculated against NSRDB for CONUS. This study describes the implemented methodology and initial results as well as future research to create high-resolution climate data sets for solar energy applications.

analytical models↗
NASA NTRS2011

Cold and Cryogenic Curation of Lunar Volatile Samples Returned to Earth

The study of volatile compounds and volatile elements, such as H, He, C, N, O, H2O, CH4, SO2, CO, CO2, NH3, HCN, etc., are commonly used for constraining evolutionary processes on planets, satellites, and asteroids, as well as formulating models of solar system formation. For Lunar science, the recent evidence of regolith and rocks containing small amounts of OH- and/or H2O has renewed scientific interest into the study of lunar volatiles [1, 2]. Future lunar sample return missions will include the study of volatiles as a high priority. Comet particles from the Stardust mission, asteroid particles from Hayabusa, meteorites, and subsurface lunar samples all occupied subfreezing environments prior to collection. Valuable geochemical information on volatiles is often lost when these samples are allowed to reach ambient temperatures on Earth. The ability to store, document, subdivide, and transport extraterrestrial geologic samples while maintaining below freezing or cryogenic temperatures is required for the complete scientific study of such samples, as well as future samples from a wide range of solar system bodies.

Calaway, M. J.↗
NASA NTRS2023

Distorted-Toroidal Flux Rope Model

The 3D characterization of magnetic flux ropes observed in the heliosphere has been a challenging task for decades. This is mainly due to the limitations on inferring the 3D global topology and physical properties from the 1D time series from any spacecraft. To advance our understanding of magnetic flux ropes whose configuration departs from the typical stiff geometries, here we present an analytical solution for a 3D flux rope model with an arbitrary cross section and a toroidal global shape. This constitutes the next level of complexity following the elliptic-cylindrical (EC) geometry. The mathematical framework was established by Nieves-Chinchilla et al. with the EC flux rope model, which describes a magnetic topology with an elliptical cross section as a first approach to changes in the cross section. In the distorted-toroidal flux rope model, the cross section is described by a general function. The model is completely described by a nonorthogonal geometry and the Maxwell equations can be consistently solved to obtain the magnetic field and relevant physical quantities. As a proof of concept, this model is generalized in terms of the radial dependence of current density components. The last part of this paper is dedicated to a specific function, F (φ) = δ (1 - λ cosφ), to illustrate possibilities of the model. This model paves the way toward the investigation of complex distortions of magnetic structures in the solar wind. Future investigations will explore these distortions in depth by analyzing specific events; studying implications for physical quantities, such as magnetic fluxes, helicity, or energy; and evaluating the force balance with the ambient solar wind that allows such distortions.

Solar wind↗
NASA NTRS2003

Experimental Study of Arcing on High-Voltage Solar Arrays

The main obstacle to the implementation of a high-voltage solar array in space is arcing on the conductor-dielectric junctions exposed to the surrounding plasma. One obvious solution to this problem would be the installation of fully encapsulated solar arrays which were not having exposed conductors at all. However, there are many technological difficulties that must be overcome before the employment of fully encapsulated arrays will turn into reality. An alternative solution to raise arc threshold by modifications of conventionally designed solar arrays looks more appealing, at least in the nearest future. A comprehensive study of arc inception mechanism suggests that such modifications can be done in the following directions: 1) To insulate conductor-dielectric junction from a plasma environment (wrapthrough interconnects); 2) To change a coverglass geometry (overhang); 3) To increase a coverglass thickness; 4) To outgas areas of conductor-dielectric junctions. The operation of high-voltage array in LEO produces also the parasitic current power drain on the electrical system. Moreover, the current collected from space plasma by solar arrays determines the spacecraft floating potential that is very important for the design of spacecraft and its scientific apparatus. In order to verify the validity of suggested modifications and to measure current collection five different solar array samples have been tested in a large vacuum chamber. Each sample (36 silicon based cells) consists of three strings containing 12 cells connected in series. Thus, arc rate and current collection can be measured on every string independently, or on a whole sample when strings are connected in parallel. The heater installed in the chamber provides the possibility to test samples under temperature as high as 80 C that stimulates the LEO operational temperature. The experimental setup is described below.

Vayner, Boris↗
NASA NTRS2005

Experimental Study of Arcing on High-voltage Solar Arrays

The main obstacle to the implementation of a high-voltage solar array in space is arcing on the conductor-dielectric junctions exposed to the surrounding plasma. One obvious solution to this problem would be the installation of fully encapsulated solar arrays which were not having exposed conductors at all. However, there are many technological difficulties that must be overcome before the employment of fully encapsulated arrays will turn into reality. An alternative solution to raise arc threshold by modifications of conventionally designed solar arrays looks more appealing, at least in the nearest future. A comprehensive study of arc inception mechanism [1-4] suggests that such modifications can be done in the following directions: i) to insulate conductor-dielectric junction from a plasma environment (wrapthrough interconnects); ii) to change a coverglass geometry (overhang); iii) to increase a coverglass thickness; iiii) to outgas areas of conductor-dielectric junctions. The operation of high-voltage array in LEO produces also the parasitic current power drain on the electrical system. Moreover, the current collected from space plasma by solar arrays determines the spacecraft floating potential that is very important for the design of spacecraft and its scientific apparatus. In order to verify the validity of suggested modifications and to measure current collection five different solar array samples have been tested in large vacuum chamber. Each sample (36 silicon based cells) consists of three strings containing 12 cells connected in series. Thus, arc rate and current collection can be measured on every string independently, or on a whole sample when strings are connected in parallel. The heater installed in the chamber provides the possibility to test samples under temperature as high as 80 C that simulates the LEO operational temperature. The experimental setup is described below.

Vayner, Boris↗
NASA NTRS2019

Fine-Scale Features of the Sun's Atmosphere: Spicules and Jets

We present an overview of fine-scale features in the Sun’s atmosphere, with a focus on spicules and jets. We consider older and newer observations and theories for chromospheric spicules and coronal jets. We also consider the connection between these features and some other solar atmospheric phenomena. We then discuss the possibility that there is a continuum of jet-like features ranging from spicules to large-scale CME-producing eruptions, all driven by similar magnetic processes operating on differing corresponding size scales. Future observational and theoretical studies will help clarify further the nature of these solar events, and elucidate possible connections between them.

Sterling, Alphonse C.↗
NASA NTRS2017

The Contribution of Solar Brightening to the US Maize Yield Trend

Predictions of crop yield under future climate change are predicated on historical yield trends1,2,3, hence it is important to identify the contributors to historical yield gains and their potential for continued increase. The large gains in maize yield in the US Corn Belt have been attributed to agricultural technologies4, ignoring the potential contribution of solar brightening (decadal-scale increases in incident solar radiation) reported for much of the globe since the mid-1980s. In this study, using a novel biophysical/empirical approach, we show that solar brightening contributed approximately 27% of the US Corn Belt yield trend from 1984 to 2013. Accumulated solar brightening during the post-flowering phase of development of maize increased during the past three decades, causing the yield increase that previously had been attributed to agricultural technology. Several factors are believed to cause solar brightening, but their relative importance and future outlook are unknown, making prediction of continued solar brightening and its future contribution to yield gain uncertain. Consequently, results of this study call into question the implicit use of historical yield trends in predicting yields under future climate change scenarios.

Matthijs Tollenaar↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Reflectivity Control Device (RCD) Momentum Management for Solar Cruiser and Future Solar Sail Missions

Solar sails provide propulsion from solar photonic pressure without the need for propellant. This advantage can be reduced or eliminated if propellant is required for attitude control. The current state of the art for solar sail attitude control is that of the solar sail mission Near Earth Asteroid Scout, which employs an Adjustable Mass Translator for pitch and yaw momentum management of reaction wheels, but must use a cold gas Reaction Control System for roll axis momentum management. It is highly desirable for solar sails to use an attitude control system that does not include propellant, so here we present a novel method of managing momentum on the roll axis. For the upcoming Solar Cruiser solar sail mission, for roll axis momentum management we plan to use Reflectivity Control Devices (RCDs), thin-film Polyimide Liquid Crystal Devices that are capable of changing optical properties on command, thus affording the opportunity to provide “photonic only” control if placed appropriately on the surface of the sail. RCD design for roll momentum management is multifaceted, and must include performance (degree of change in optical properties), RCD array size, locations of clusters on the sail, orientation with respect to the sail plane, and orientation out of the sail plane. Here we provide an explanation of the basic technology, optimal orientation, sizing, and location of RCDs, results of trade studies for Solar Cruiser, lessons learned from Solar Cruiser, and scalability for future solar sail missions. RCDs will dramatically improve the performance of the Solar Cruiser Momentum Management System compared to that of NEA Scout and will continue to benefit other future solar sail missions.

Daniel Tyler↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Reflectivity Control Device (RCD) Roll Momentum Management for Solar Cruiser and Future Solar Sail Missions

Solar sails provide propulsion from solar photonic pressure without the need for propellant. This advantage can be reduced or eliminated if propellant is required for attitude control. The current state of the art for solar sail attitude control is that of the solar sail mission Near Earth Asteroid Scout, which employs an Adjustable Mass Translator for pitch and yaw momentum management of reaction wheels, but must use a cold gas Reaction Control System for roll axis momentum management. It is highly desirable for solar sails to use an attitude control system that does not include propellant, so here we present a novel method of managing momentum on the roll axis. For the upcoming Solar Cruiser solar sail mission, for roll axis momentum management we plan to use Reflectivity Control Devices (RCDs), thin-film Polyimide Liquid Crystal Devices that are capable of changing optical properties on command, thus affording the opportunity to provide “photonic only” control if placed appropriately on the surface of the sail. RCD design for roll momentum management is multifaceted, and must include performance (degree of change in optical properties), RCD array size, locations of clusters on the sail, orientation with respect to the sail plane, and orientation out of the sail plane. Here we provide an explanation of the basic technology, optimal orientation, sizing, and location of RCDs, results of trade studies for Solar Cruiser, lessons learned from Solar Cruiser, and scalability for future solar sail missions. RCDs will dramatically improve the performance of the Solar Cruiser Momentum Management System compared to that of NEA Scout and will continue to benefit other future solar sail missions.

Daniel Tyler↗
NASA NTRS1976

Building application of solar energy. Study no. 4: Scenarios for the utilization of solar energy in southern California buildings, change 1

Plausible future market scenarios for solar heating and cooling systems into buildings in the area served by the Southern California Edison Company. A range of plausible estimates for the number of solar systems which might be installed and the electrical energy which might be displaced by energy from these systems are provided. The effect on peak electrical load was not explicitly calculated but preliminary conclusions concerning peak load can be inferred from the estimates presented. Two markets are investigated: the single family market and the large power commercial market.

Davis, E. S.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Lunar precursor missions for human exploration of Mars--III: studies of system reliability and maintenance

Discussions of future human expeditions into the solar system generally focus on whether the next explorers ought to go to the Moon or to Mars. The only mission scenario developed in any detail within NASA is an expedition to Mars with a 500-day stay at the surface. The technological capabilities and the operational experience base required for such a mission do not now exist nor has any self-consistent program plan been proposed to acquire them. In particular, the lack of an Abort-to-Earth capability implies that critical mission systems must perform reliably for 3 years or must be maintainable and repairable by the crew. As has been previously argued, a well-planned program of human exploration of the Moon would provide a context within which to develop the appropriate technologies because a lunar expedition incorporates many of the operational elements of a Mars expedition. Initial lunar expeditions can be carried out at scales consistent with the current experience base but can be expanded in any or all operational phases to produce an experience base necessary to successfully and safely conduct human exploration of Mars. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Moon↗
NASA NTRS2012

The Importance of Meteorite Collections to Sample Return Missions: Past, Present, and Future Considerations

While much of the scientific community s current attention is drawn to sample return missions, it is the existing meteorite and cosmic dust collections that both provide the paradigms to be tested by these missions and the context for interpreting the results. Recent sample returns from the Stardust and Hayabusa missions provided us with new materials and insights about our Solar System history and processes. As an example, Stardust sampled CAIs among the population of cometary grains, requiring extensive and unexpected radial mixing in the early solar nebula. This finding would not have been possible, however, without extensive studies of meteoritic CAIs that established their high-temperature, inner Solar System formation. Samples returned by Stardust also revealed the first evidence of a cometary amino acid, a discovery that would not have been possible with current in situ flight instrument technology. The Hayabusa mission provided the final evidence linking ordinary chondrites and S asteroids, a hypothesis that developed from centuries of collection and laboratory and ground-based telescopic studies. In addition to these scientific findings, studies of existing meteorite collections have defined and refined the analytical techniques essential to studying returned samples. As an example, the fortuitous fall of the Allende CV3 and Murchison CM2 chondrites within months before the return of Apollo samples allowed testing of new state-of-the-art analytical facilities. The results of those studies not only prepared us to better study lunar materials, but unanticipated discoveries changed many of our concepts about the earliest history and processes of the solar nebula. This synergy between existing collections and future space exploration is certainly not limited to sample return missions. Laboratory studies confirmed the existence of meteorites from Mars and raised the provocative possibility of preservation of ancient microbial life. The laboratory studies in turn led to a new wave of Mars exploration that ultimately could lead to sample return focused on evidence for past or present life. This partnership between collections and missions will be increasingly important in the coming decades as we discover new questions to be addressed and identify targets for for both robotic and human exploration . Nowhere is this more true than in the ultimate search for the abiotic and biotic processes that produced life. Existing collections also provide the essential materials for developing and testing new analytical schemes to detect the rare markers of life and distinguish them from abiotic processes. Large collections of meteorites and the new types being identified within these collections, which come to us at a fraction of the cost of a sample return mission, will continue to shape the objectives of future missions and provide new ways of interpreting returned samples.

Welzenbach, L. C.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Space solar power. Description of concept, results of preliminary studies, requirements for evaluation

The nation is actively pursuing alternate sources of energy because of the problems or concerns related to obtaining required energy for the future from oil, gas, nuclear, and coal sources. Solar energy is an obvious candidate for consideration. Its use in the past has been limited by the relative cost of collecting and converting solar energy into electrical power. The increasing costs of other energy sources will make solar energy more attractive. During recent years a new concept for the collection of solar energy has been developed. This concept involves the location of solar power stations in space. The concept, results of preliminary studies, and requirements for space evaluation of such a project are discussed.

Source record↗
DOE OSTI2020

Borexino and general neutrino interactions

We derive constraints on all possible general neutrino-electron interactions (scalar, vector, pseudo-scalar, axial-vector and tensor) using the recent real time Borexino event rate measurements of pp, pep and Be7 solar neutrinos. Some of the limits improve from TEXONO and CHARM-II for incoming electron and muon neutrinos while the rest remains weaker for Borexino and those for the tau flavor are the first ones. Future improvements by next-generation solar neutrino experiments are also studied. The limits extend the physics reach of solar neutrino measurements to TeV-scale physics. Finally, the different properties of the new interactions for Dirac and Majorana neutrinos are discussed.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
NASA NTRS2017

Lighting the Way to Mars

Transforming the Martian atmosphere into something suitable for plant life would require a scientific feat that we currently do not possess the means to achieve, but indoor agriculture with LEDs could be just the alternative. Previous research has shown that light recipes provided by LEDs can alter the growth and nutrition of a plant based on wavelengths emitted, and crops grown in space aboard the International Space Station would respond similarly. By testing various LED light recipes such as ratios of red, green, blue (RGB) wavelengths, along with white (W) and far red (FR) on flight approved crops, harvest data were analyzed for trends to determine best light conditions for plant growth. Crops of Outredgeous Lettuce, Tokyo Bekana Chinese cabbage, and Mizuna were grown for 28 days with harvests on 14, 21, and 28 days after planting. By collecting fresh mass, shoot dimensions, chlorophyll estimates, leaf areanumber, and dry mass, the overall differences per light treatment were compared. For Outredgeous lettuce, a recipe of W+FR LEDs yielded increases in biomass and size compared to RB LEDs alone. However, the RB recipe resulted in smaller plants with higher concentrations in phytonutrients. Overall, the RGB + FR treatment with ratios similar to sunlight provided a promising balance of optimized biomass, size, and nutrient content. The Chinese cabbage, which was grown under various ratios of W and B light, showed no differences between recipes, and exhibited similar physiological responses regardless of the light recipes that were tested. The Mizuna studies are still ongoing. Crops for ISS chambers and astronaut consumption are targeted based on biomass, physiology, and for human psychological benefit. The goal of this research is to provide light recipe recommendations for space crops that have been thoroughly tested on the ground. These results will serve a major benefit for astronauts growing crops in the Advanced Plant Habitat currently in orbit aboard the ISS. Future research studies include using LEDs to mimic and provide the solar spectrum in a controlled environment to take the next step in further optimizing crops for space.

Barnwell, Payton L.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Final Technical Report: Impact of Wildfires on Solar Generation, Reserves, and Energy Prices

This study quantifies the potential impacts of wildfires on the California grid, specifically the impacts under three different wildfire scenarios: a "no wildfire" scenario and two wildfire-specific scenarios, "2020 wildfire" and "enhanced wildfire" (with both wildfire scenarios assuming spatial distribution of the wildfire location the same as the 2020 fires). The study combines each scenario with two solar energy infrastructures: one corresponding to the current solar installation and the other to future (midcentury) solar installation. The analysis is conducted using state-of-the-science modeling tools: primarily WRF-Chem for atmospheric modeling with chemistry to account for impacts of wildfires on solar radiation and PLEXOS for electricity market simulations. The analysis suggests that wildfires can significantly attenuate solar radiation at both short downwind distances as well as far from the emissions sources. Although the study is limited in scope, and the analysis studies only a few of the many factors that can affect photovoltaic generation and electricity markets, it indicates that wildfire smoke is an important factor that needs to be carefully considered and analyzed in planning the future grid.

electricity market↗
NASA NTRS1981

Solar thermal materials research and development

Objectives of the Materials Research and Development effort are examined. The behavior and interaction of different materials used in solar thermal technologies are studied so as to create a sound technical base for future system and component designs. Materials are developed to extend the application potential of systems by either making materials more reliable in difficult operating environments or by offering lower cost alternatives to presently used materials. Solar thermal systems designed for electric power, industrial process heat from low to high temperature, and fuels and chemicals applications are discussed.

Gupta, B. P.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Distributed Solar and Storage Adoption Modeling

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is analyzing the rapidly increasing role of energy storage in the electrical grid through 2050 through its Storage Futures Study. In one phase of the study, NREL used the laboratory's Distributed Generation Market (dGen) model to examine the various future distributed storage capacity adoption scenarios, results, and implications.

agent-based modeling↗