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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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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

A novel electro-hydraulic unit design based on a shaftless integration of an internal gear machine and a permanent magnet electric machine

In recent years, increasingly stringent emission regulations have spurred an electrification trend in off-highway vehicle technology. To address challenges such as the high cost of power electronics components, limited battery capacity, and the substantial modifications required for the vehicles, there is a pressing need to develop high-speed, cost-effective, compact, and efficient electro-hydraulic units capable of powering vehicle functions. In response to these demands, this paper introduces an innovative morphology for an electro-hydraulic unit and outlines the integration method for a crescent-type internal gear machine with a permanent magnet synchronous electric machine. The proposed morphology aims to minimize component count through a shaftless solution while incorporating a cooling system that utilizes the same working fluid as the hydraulic machine. The design approach utilizes a genetic algorithm optimization process to maximize overall energy efficiency and compactness. Insights gained from the optimization results shed light on the relationship between key design parameters and unit performance, enhancing the understanding of this electro-hydraulic unit. A prototype of the unit was manufactured and tested, demonstrating a volumetric efficiency ranging from 81 % to 97 % at a maximum rotational velocity of the pinion of 6000 rpm. Finally, these results validate both the morphology and the design approach, indicating the feasibility of designing compact electro-hydraulic units that leverage hydraulic machines with higher maximum rotational velocities than commercially available counterparts as a mean to enhance efficiency and compactness.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗
NASA NTRS2002

Space Vehicle Power System Comprised of Battery/Capacitor Combinations

Recent improvements in energy densities of batteries open the possibility of using electric rather that hydraulic actuators in space vehicle systems. However, the systems usually require short-duration, high-power pulses. This power profile requires the battery system to be sized to meet the power requirements rather than stored energy requirements, often resulting in a large and inefficient energy storage system. Similar transient power applications have used a combination of two or more disparate energy storage technologies. For instance, placing a capacitor and a battery side-by-side combines the high energy density of a battery with the high power performance of a capacitor and thus can create a lighter and more compact system. A parametric study was performed to identify favorable scenarios for using capacitors. System designs were then carried out using equivalent circuit models developed for five commercial electrochemical capacitor products. Capacitors were sized to satisfy peak power levels and consequently "leveled" the power requirement of the battery, which can then be sized to meet system energy requirements. Simulation results clearly differentiate the performance offered by available capacitor products for the space vehicle applications.

Camarotte, C.↗
NASA NTRS2007

Development of a Deployable Nonmetallic Boom for Reconfigurable Systems of Small Modular Spacecraft

Launch vehicle payload capacity and the launch environment represent two of the most operationally limiting constraints on space system mass, volume, and configuration. Large-scale space science and power platforms as well as transit vehicles have been proposed that greatly exceed single-launch capabilities. Reconfigurable systems launched as multiple small modular spacecraft with the ability to rendezvous, approach, mate, and conduct coordinated operations have the potential to make these designs feasible. A key characteristic of these proposed systems is their ability to assemble into desired geometric (spatial) configurations. While flexible and sparse formations may be realized by groups of spacecraft flying in close proximity, flyers physically connected by active structural elements could continuously exchange power, fluids, and heat (via fluids). Configurations of small modular spacecraft temporarily linked together could be sustained as long as needed with minimal propellant use and reconfigured as often as needed over extended missions with changing requirements. For example, these vehicles could operate in extremely compact configurations during boost phases of a mission and then redeploy to generate power or communicate while coasting and upon reaching orbit. In 2005, NASA funded Phase 1 of a program called Modular Reconfigurable High-Energy Technology Demonstrator Assembly Testbed (MRHE) to investigate reconfigurable systems of small spacecraft. The MRHE team was led by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and included Lockheed Martin's Advanced Technology Center (ATC) in Palo Alto and its subcontractor, ATK. One of the goals of Phase 1 was to develop an MRHE concept demonstration in a relevant 1-g environment to highlight a number of requisite technologies. In Phase 1 of the MRHE program, Lockheed Martin devised and conducted an automated space system assembly demonstration featuring multipurpose free-floating robots representing Spacecraft in the newly built Controls and Automation Laboratory (CAL) at the ATC. The CAL lab features a 12' x 24' granite air-bearing table and an overhead simulated starfield. Among the technologies needed for the concept demo were mating interfaces allowing the spacecraft to dock and deployable structures allowing for adjustable separation between spacecraft after a rigid connection had been established. The decision to use a nonmetallic deployable boom for this purpose was driven by the MRHE concept demo requirements reproduced in Table 1.

Rehnmark, Fredrik↗
NASA NTRS2010

Advances in High Energy Solid-State 2-micron Laser Transmitter Development for Ground and Airborne Wind and CO2 Measurements

Sustained research efforts at NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) during last fifteen years have resulted in a significant advancement in 2-micron diode-pumped, solid-state laser transmitter for wind and carbon dioxide measurement from ground, air and space-borne platform. Solid-state 2-micron laser is a key subsystem for a coherent Doppler lidar that measures the horizontal and vertical wind velocities with high precision and resolution. The same laser, after a few modifications, can also be used in a Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) system for measuring atmospheric CO2 concentration profiles. Researchers at NASA Langley Research Center have developed a compact, flight capable, high energy, injection seeded, 2-micron laser transmitter for ground and airborne wind and carbon dioxide measurements. It is capable of producing 250 mJ at 10 Hz by an oscillator and one amplifier. This compact laser transmitter was integrated into a mobile trailer based coherent Doppler wind and CO2 DIAL system and was deployed during field measurement campaigns. This paper will give an overview of 2-micron solid-state laser technology development and discuss results from recent ground-based field measurements.

Singh, Upendra N.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Progress on High-Energy 2-micron Solid State Laser for NASA Space-Based Wind and Carbon Dioxide Measurements

Sustained research efforts at NASA Langley Research Center during last fifteen years have resulted in significant advancement of a 2-micron diode-pumped, solid-state laser transmitter for wind and carbon dioxide measurements from ground, air and space-borne platforms. Solid-state 2-micron laser is a key subsystem for a coherent Doppler lidar that measures the horizontal and vertical wind velocities with high precision and resolution. The same laser, after a few modifications, can also be used in a Differential Absorption Lidar system for measuring atmospheric CO2 concentration profiles. Researchers at NASA Langley Research Center have developed a compact, flight capable, high energy, injection seeded, 2-micron laser transmitter for ground and airborne wind and carbon dioxide measurements. It is capable of producing 250 mJ at 10 Hz by an oscillator and one amplifier. This compact laser transmitter was integrated into a mobile trailer based coherent Doppler wind and CO2 DIAL system and was deployed during field measurement campaigns. This paper will give an overview of 2-micron solid-state laser technology development and discuss results from recent ground-based field measurements.

Singh, Upendra N.↗
NASA NTRS2018

What is EA?

An enterprise architecture (EA) is a conceptual blueprint that defines the structure and operation of an organization. The intent of an enterprise architecture is to determine how an organization can most effectively achieve its current and future objectives. A single slide PowerPoint, size 36" x 48" has been produced for printing onto a poster board for display in the Pathways Internship showcase November 2018. This poster board presentation is a display of my internship from 2014 to present, to include my NIFS (NASA Interns, Fellowships, Scholarships) internship, ITSS (Information Technology Support Services) contract, and current Pathways internship. The presentation discusses my years producing deliverables for: the ISS (International Space Station) Anomaly Project in 2014, the FJET (Frangible Joint Empirical Test) database project in 2015, the CUI (Compact Unique Identifier) project in early 2016, and various Enterprise Architecture deliverables and contributions such as the Roadmap SQL (Structured Query Language) stored procedure and architectural views of Program data elements.

MySQL↗
DOE OSTI2020

Automotive Power Electronics and Electric Machine Thermal Management

The transition to modular and scalable electrified vehicle transportation requires technologies to improve power density within cost and reliability constraints to maximize vehicle platform flexibility. Key research challenges arise due to the limited packaging space, coolant distribution, electrical connections, and ambient temperatures. Challenges include thermal management for compact power-dense electric machines and the associated power electronics for power management within the vehicle. High-temperature silicon and wide-bandgap (WBG) based power electronics systems are of interest to enable compact and efficient electric drive systems. The higher temperatures present packaging challenges for thermal management and reliability. In this work, we provide an overview of research for thermal characteristics of materials, packages and thermal management approaches for enabling compact power dense automotive electric drive systems.

DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗
DOE OSTI2018

A Compact Fusion–Fission Hybrid Reactor

Up today, two hyper research projects to achieve nuclear fusion energy exist; inertial confinement fusion (ICF) driven by laser, called national ignition facility (NIF) and magnetic confinement fusion the international thermonuclear experimental reactor (ITER) project. In reaching the required temperature and pressure, to ignite nuclear fusion reactor, is technologically complex and economically expensive. Thus, a breakthrough and a short cut, other alternative methods should be considered. Pulsed power ICF driver with repetitive pulse operation, mainly dense plasma focus (DPF) machines for high yield fusion neutrons could be taken as drivers for the fission blanket operation. The setup can be a cost-effective and efficient. In this article, we consider a set of two medium energy sizes DPF to produce simultaneously dense plasma columns, operating as thermonuclear plasma driver, to pierce the pellet target for external nuclear fusion reactions. These DPFs produce sufficient fast neutrons for the fission process in the neutral uranium or thorium and/or weak enriched uranium blanket. The drive systems and the concept for delivering thermonuclear plasma to pellets target in the magnetic free zone of central region will be presented. The feasibility of such fusion–fission hybrid reactor will be discussed.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2017

Synthesis of Zeolite Materials for Noble Gas Separation

Microporous zeolite adsorbent materials are widely used as a medium for separating gases. Adsorbent gas separation systems can run at ambient temperature and require minimal pressure to flow the input gas stream across the adsorbent bed. This allows for low energy consumption relative to other types of separation systems. Specific zeolites also have a high capacity and selectivity for the gases of interest, leading to compact and efficient separation systems. These characteristics are particularly advantageous for the application of signatures detection for non-proliferation, which often requires portable systems with low power draw. Savannah River National Laboratory currently is the leader in using zeolites for noble gas sampling for non-proliferation detection platforms. However, there is a constant customer need for improved sampling capabilities. Development of improved zeolite materials will lead to improved sampling technology. Microwave-assisted and conventional hydrothermal synthesis have been used to make a variety of zeolites tailored for noble gas separation. Materials characterization data collected in this project has been used to help guide the synthesis of improved zeolite materials. Candidate materials have been down-selected based on highest available surface area, maximum overall capacity for gas adsorption and highest selectivity. The creation of improved adsorbent materials initiated in this project will lead to development of more compact, efficient and effective noble gas collectors and concentrators. The work performed in this project will be used as a foundation for funding proposals for further material development as well as possible industrial applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS2005

Digital Audio Radio Broadcast Systems Laboratory Testing Nearly Complete

Radio history continues to be made at the NASA Lewis Research Center with the completion of phase one of the digital audio radio (DAR) testing conducted by the Consumer Electronics Group of the Electronic Industries Association. This satellite, satellite/terrestrial, and terrestrial digital technology will open up new audio broadcasting opportunities both domestically and worldwide. It will significantly improve the current quality of amplitude-modulated/frequency-modulated (AM/FM) radio with a new digitally modulated radio signal and will introduce true compact-disc-quality (CD-quality) sound for the first time. Lewis is hosting the laboratory testing of seven proposed digital audio radio systems and modes. Two of the proposed systems operate in two modes each, making a total of nine systems being tested. The nine systems are divided into the following types of transmission: in-band on-channel (IBOC), in-band adjacent-channel (IBAC), and new bands. The laboratory testing was conducted by the Consumer Electronics Group of the Electronic Industries Association. Subjective assessments of the audio recordings for each of the nine systems was conducted by the Communications Research Center in Ottawa, Canada, under contract to the Electronic Industries Association. The Communications Research Center has the only CCIR-qualified (Consultative Committee for International Radio) audio testing facility in North America. The main goals of the U.S. testing process are to (1) provide technical data to the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) so that it can establish a standard for digital audio receivers and transmitters and (2) provide the receiver and transmitter industries with the proper standards upon which to build their equipment. In addition, the data will be forwarded to the International Telecommunications Union to help in the establishment of international standards for digital audio receivers and transmitters, thus allowing U.S. manufacturers to compete in the world market.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS2005

Compact, Engineered, 2-Micron Coherent Doppler Wind Lidar Prototype: A New NASA Instrument Incubator Program Project

A new project, selected in 2005 by NASA s Science Mission Directorate (SMD) under the Instrument Incubator Program (IIP), will be described. The 3-year effort is intended to design, fabricate, and demonstrate a packaged, rugged, compact, space-qualifiable coherent Doppler wind lidar (DWL) transceiver capable of future validation in an aircraft and/or Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). The packaged DWL will utilize the numerous advances in pulsed, solid-state, 2-micron laser technology at NASA s Langley Research Center (LaRC) in such areas as crystal composition, architecture, efficiency, cooling techniques, pulse energy, and beam quality. The extensive experience of Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems (RSAS) in coherent lidar systems, in spacebased sensors, and in packaging rugged lidar systems will be applied to this project. The packaged transceiver will be as close to an envisioned space-based DWL system as the resources and technology readiness allow. We will attempt to facilitate a future upgrade to a coherent lidar system capable of simultaneous wind and CO2 concentration profile measurements. Since aerosol and dust concentration is also available from the lidar signal, the potential for a triple measurement lidar system is attractive for both Earth and Mars remote sensing. A key follow on step after the IIP will be to add a telescope, scanner, and software for aircraft validation. This IIP should also put us in a position to begin a parallel formulation study in the 2006-2007 timeframe for a space-based DWL demonstration mission early next decade.

Kavaya, Michael J.↗
NASA NTRS2006

The Development Of Enabling Technologies For Submillimeter-Wave Remote Sensing of Ice Clouds From Space

This paper presents the chronological development of technologies and techniques that have led to a satellite mission concept aimed at quantifying the temporal and spatial distributions of upper tropospheric ice clouds. The Submillimeter-wave and Infrared Ice Cloud Experiment (SIRICE) is an Earth System Science Pathfinder mission concept designed to improve our understanding of the upper tropospheric water cycle and its coupling to the Earth s radiation budget. Ice outflow from convective storm systems is known to play an important role in regional energy budgets; however, ice generation and subsequent precipitation and sublimation are poorly quantified. SIRICE will provide measurements of ice cloud distributions and microphysical properties which are needed for understanding the crucial link between the hydrologic and energy cycles. The SIRICE measurement platform is comprised of two integrated instruments, the Submillimeter/millimeter-wave radiometer (SM4) and the Infrared Cloud Ice Radiometer (IRCIR). The primary instrument is the SM4, a conical scanner that provides a 1600 km swath of the Earth's surface at 53 degree incidence. The SM4 has 6 linearly polarized receivers measuring 12 spectral bands centered at 183 GHz, 325 GHz, 448 GHz, 643 GHz and 874 GHz; two receivers at 643 GHz measure horizontal and vertical polarizations. Submillimeter-wavelengths are well suited to the remote sensing of ice clouds due to the relative size of the wavelengths to particle sizes. Upwelling emission from lower tropospheric water vapor is scattered by the ice clouds thus causing a brightness temperature depression at submillimeter wavelengths. The IRCIR is a push broom imager with approximately 1500 km swath and spectral channels at 11 and 12 micrometers. This combination of coincident infrared and submillimeter-wavelength measurements were chosen because of its ability to provide retrieval of ice water path and median particle size for a wide range of ice clouds from thin cirrus to thick anvil structures. Over the past decade there has been a parallel development of submillimeter-wave technologies, demonstration instruments, and remote sensing techniques that have led to the present SIRICE mission concept. Mapping of these developmental paths reveals the origins, rational and maturity of features of the SIRICE payload such as its channel selection, compact design, and multipoint calibration. This presentation traces the evolution of the SIRICE mission concept from the early 1990's to its present status.

Racette, Paul↗
NASA NTRS2009

Spacesuit Data Display and Management System

A prototype embedded avionics system has been designed for the next generation of NASA extra-vehicular-activity (EVA) spacesuits. The system performs biomedical and other sensor monitoring, image capture, data display, and data transmission. An existing NASA Phase I and II award winning design for an embedded computing system (ZIN vMetrics - BioWATCH) has been modified. The unit has a reliable, compact form factor with flexible packaging options. These innovations are significant, because current state-of-the-art EVA spacesuits do not provide capability for data displays or embedded data acquisition and management. The Phase 1 effort achieved Technology Readiness Level 4 (high fidelity breadboard demonstration). The breadboard uses a commercial-grade field-programmable gate array (FPGA) with embedded processor core that can be upgraded to a space-rated device for future revisions.

Hall, David G.↗
NASA NTRS2019

Performance Evaluation of High-Speed, Low-Side Gate Driver, FAN3122, over Extended Temperature Range

Emerging power metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFETs) based on silicon carbide and gallium nitride technology are finding widespread use in many electronic applications such as motor control and DC/DC converters due to their higher voltage, higher temperature tolerance, and higher frequency switching capabilities. To utilize these power devices and to meet circuit/system compactness, modularity, and operational functionality, gate drivers that provide unique attributes, such as fast switching and high-current handling capability, are needed. In addition, power systems geared for use in space mission applications require on-board devices to withstand exposure to extreme temperatures and wide thermal swings. Very little data, however, exist on the performance of such devices and circuits under extreme temperatures. In this work, the performance of a high-speed gate driver with potential use in controlling power-level transistors was evaluated under extreme temperatures and thermal cycling. The investigations were carried out to assess performance for potential use of this device in space exploration missions under extreme temperature conditions.

Wide Bandgap Semiconductors↗
NASA NTRS2017

RainCube, a Ka-band Precipitation Radar in a 6U CubeSat

RainCube (Radar in a CubeSat) is a 6U CubeSat mission between the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems (Tyvak). The objective of the mission is to develop, launch, and operate a 35.75 GHz nadirpointing precipitation profiling radar payload to validate a new architecture for Ka-band radars and an ultra-compact deployable Ka-band antenna design in the space environment. RainCube will also demonstrate the feasibility of a radar payload on a CubeSat platform. The radar payload is the evolution of two previous JPL research and development technologies – the miniaturized Ka-band atmospheric radar (miniKaAR) and the 0.5m diameter Ka-band parabolic deployable antenna (KaPDA). JPL has contracted Tyvak to develop the spacecraft bus, integrate the payload, and operate the spacecraft. RainCube is currently in integration and test with an expected ready-for-delivery in September 2017.

Williams, Austin↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Towards Erecting Straighter Lightweight Towers on the Moon Using Deployable Guy Wires

This paper reports our static stability test findings for a simple guy wire system to correct the natural lateral deflections of an 8.5m tall, compact deployable composite tower intended to support exploration of lunar permanently shadowed regions by nearby robotic assets. Deployable composite booms with microgravity flight heritage are currently being investigated at NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology(MIT)’s Space Resources Workshop for their potential to be vertically deployed in the lunar gravity field, in support of NASA’s Artemis campaign. These applications include vertical solar arrays and the provision of elevated lines-of-sight to science or engineering payloads on landers and rovers, in support of nearby or distant crewed or robotic assets exploring scientifically interesting and hard to reach areas. Useful elevated payloads include radio repeaters, remote sensing and imaging, navigation and power beaming systems. However, while these lightweight booms have an excellent height to mass ratio, they typically exhibit slight axial curvature upon deployment resulting in appreciable lateral dead-load deflection of the tip mass relative to the tower base. This static deflection increases with tower height and tip mass, not only constraining the value delivered by the tower but also endangering its integrity. To develop a competitive, lightweight deployable composite boom tower, a capability to correct static deflections during and after deployment may be required. This paper presents a pathfinder deployable guy wire stability system for the MIT / LaRC self-erecting composite boom lunar tower that provides real time measurements, maintains tension passively, and can serve as a reconfigurable platform to test new guy wire components, configurations and control algorithms. Using a validated, calibrated photogrammetry system, the natural lateral deflection of the boom tip relative to the boom base at different deployed heights in Earth’s gravity field was recorded. With real-time tension measurements it was found that guy wires can significantly reduce the tip deflection of a deployable composite boom under dead load. Specifically, we found that (1) control capability is greatest where it is needed most, i.e. for the lever arm closest to being opposite the direction of deflection, and (2) for a tower height of at least 8.5 m and arm length of at least 60 cm, a solution of differential tension in all three arms exists and, in principle, provides sufficient control capability to correct or significantly reduce boom deflections. We also found that natural deflections occur almost entirely out-of-plane of the seams of the boom cross-section, which was expected, and that the natural boom tip lateral deflection under dead load upon deployment was ~5% of boom deployed length, unexpectedly exceeding the manufacturing acceptance specification of 1%.Ongoing and future collaborative work between LaRC and MIT includes the further investigation of the unexpected lateral deflection, testing of alternative guy wire system designs at higher tensions and higher deployed heights, as well as trade studies of costs and benefits of an optimized integrated guywire system compared to other types of static stability solutions.

lunar towers↗
NASA NTRS2004

The Case for Space-Borne Far-Infrared Line Surveys

The combination of sensitive direct detectors and a cooled aperture promises orders of magnitude improvement in the sensitivity and survey time for far-infrared and submillimeter spectroscopy compared to existing or planned capabilities. Continuing advances in direct detector technology enable spectroscopy that approaches the background limit available only from space at these wavelengths. Because the spectral confusion limit is significantly lower than the more familiar spatial confusion limit encountered in imaging applications, spectroscopy can be carried out to comparable depth with a significantly smaller aperture. We are developing a novel waveguide-coupled grating spectrometer that disperses radiation into a wide instantaneous bandwidth with moderate resolution (R ~ 1000) in a compact 2-dimensional format. A line survey instrument coupled to a modest cooled single aperture provides an attractive scientific application for spectroscopy with direct detectors. Using a suite of waveguide spectrometers, we can obtain complete coverage over the entire far-infrared and sub-millimeter. This concept requires no moving parts to modulate the optical signal. Such an instrument would be able to conduct a far-infrared line survey 10 6 times faster than planned capabilities, assuming existing detector technology. However, if historical improvements in bolometer sensitivity continue, so that photon-limited sensitivity is obtained, the integration time can be further reduced by 2 to 4 orders of magnitude, depending on wavelength. The line flux sensitivity would be comparable to ALMA, but at shorter wavelengths and with the continuous coverage needed to extract line fluxes for sources at unknown redshifts. For example, this capability would break the current spectroscopic bottleneck in the study of far-infrared galaxies, the recently discovered, rapidly evolving objects abundant at cosmological distances.

Bock, J. J.↗