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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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Exhaust ventilation and corresponding outdoor air strategies are being implemented in high performance, new construction, multifamily buildings to meet program or code requirements for improved indoor air quality, but a lack of clear design guidance is resulting in poor performance of these systems despite the best intentions of the programs or standards.
The objective of the Conasauga Shale Research Consortium (CSRC) project was to establish a field laboratory and utilize a horizontal well of opportunity to conduct a scientific study designed to advance the understanding of the petrophysical and geomechanical properties of the emerging Rogersville Shale unconventional oil and gas play. Unfortunately, just as the research program was beginning, our industry partner lost a primary investor in the horizontal well which was intended to be the ‘well of opportunity’ for the project. In a negotiated restructuring of the project by DOE-NETL and the Awardee consortium, additional time for Budget Period 1 was granted in the hopes that the industry partner could acquire additional investments to allow for the drilling of the horizontal well. This search was ultimately unsuccessful, and the consortium was unable to pass the negotiated Go/No-go Decision Point #1, which resulted in the termination of the project on July 31, 2021.
Nature uses specialized metalloenzymes to carry out small molecule activation reactions, including CO 2 fixation, O 2 activation, and proton reduction, with unparalleled efficiency, rates, and selectivity. The latter reactions are performed by hydrogenases, protein metallo-complexes that interconverts H 2 to protons and electrons (H 2 oxidation) and the reverse reaction (H 2 production) with incredibly low energy input and amazingly fast kinetics. Reproducing both the activity and efficiency of metalloenzymes in sustainable anthropogenic systems remains one of the “holy grails” of inorganic chemistry. However, identifying the precise molecular components responsible for these desirable properties has been challenging in the natural metalloenzymes, hindering efforts to develop analogous processes in synthetic compounds. Considering the inherent complexity of a metalloenzyme and the many interactions, both strong and weak, that contribute to the function of an enzyme, we have elected to model natural metalloenzymes on a biochemical platform. Towards this end, we have a developed structural, functional, and mechanistic mimic of the [Ni-Fe] hydrogenases within a robust protein scaffold, rubredoxin, to understand the influence of the secondary coordination environment on the metal center. This involved preparing a series of three rubredoxin constructs containing a single point mutation at Val positions and making the NMR chemical shift assignments for the paramagnetic (nickel-substituted) and non-paramagnetic (zinc-substituted) form. These physical studies were complemented with in silico molecular dynamic studies on proteins with [Fe-S] clusters to engineer new proton channels to test in vitro . To assist our search for new natural metalloprotein scaffolds within the vast number of sequenced genomes, we created a neural network-based program to identify proteins with specific metal-binding sites. These computational and physical studies with metalloenzymes provide direct insight into the fundamental chemical principles driving the natural systems and offer design principles for developing catalysts that utilize analogous principles.
The geometry technology module (GTM) is described as a system of computerized elements residing in the engineering design integration system library developed for the generation, manipulation, display, computation of mass properties, and data base management of panelled geometry. The GTM is composed of computer programs and associated data for performing configuration analysis on geometric shapes. The program can be operated in batch or demand mode and is designed for interactive use.
The state-of-the-art concerning structures and materials technology is reviewed. It is shown that many present materials developments resulting from balloon and aircraft research programs can be applied to new concepts in LTA vehicles. Both buoyant and semi-buoyant vehicles will utilize similar approaches to solving structural problems and could involve pressurized non-rigid and unpressurized rigid structures. System designs common to both and vital to structural integrity will include much of the past technology as well. Further research is needed in determination of structural loads, especially in future design concepts.
Utilization of the new, lightweight, high-strength, aerospace structural-composite (filament/matrix) materials, when specifically designed into a new aircraft, promises reductions in structural empty weight of 12 percent at recurring costs competive with metals. A program of basic and applied research and demonstration is identified with the objective of advancing the state of the art to the point where civil helicopters are confidently designed, produced, certified, and marketed by 1985. A structural empty-weight reduction of 12 percent was shown to significantly reduce energy consumption in modern high-performance helicopters.
The design, evaluation, and testing of a practical, multivariable, linear quadratic regulator control for the F100 turbofan engine were accomplished. NASA evaluation of the multivariable control logic and implementation are covered. The evaluation utilized a real time, hybrid computer simulation of the engine. Results of the evaluation are presented, and recommendations concerning future engine testing of the control are made. Results indicated that the engine testing of the control should be conducted as planned.
Orbiter/payload avionics integration testing in the shuttle program are discussed. Payloads show extensive orbiter interfaces. The three testing modes used to verify orbiter/payload avionics interfaces are described. These modes consist of orbiter testing using generic payload simulators, payload testing utilizing the actual payload and a high fidelity orbiter simulator, and interface testing with the actual orbiter and payload. Several special avionics techniques, such as the split flight computer technique were developed for this testing. Experience from the first six shuttle cargoes is reviewed and problems found in testing that would have hampered mission success are emphasized.
This paper presents an overview of the Space Station, including program guidelines, international involvement, current baseline configuration, and utilization for science and application missions. Space Station configuration and capabilities, plus methods of utilizing the Space Station for scientific and engineering investigations, are described. The Space Station is being designed as a multipurpose facility to support a number of functions, such as a laboratory in space, a transportation node, an assembly facility, a staging base, etc. The description includes the baseline configuration, location of the pressurized modules, servicing and assembly facilities, and the work package structure for Space Station management. The Space Station will accommodate a wide variety of user requirements in laboratory modules and as attached payloads. To show the utility of the Space Station, a variety of science and application missions currently being studied for NASA at the Marshall Space Flight Center are discussed.
Object-oriented programming can be combined with fault free techniques to give a significantly improved environment for evaluating the safety and reliability of large complex systems for space missions. Deep knowledge about system components and interactions, available from reliability studies and other sources, can be described using objects that make up a knowledge base. This knowledge base can be interrogated throughout the design process, during system testing, and during operation, and can be easily modified to reflect design changes in order to maintain a consistent information source. An object-oriented environment for reliability assessment has been developed on a Texas Instrument (TI) Explorer LISP workstation. The program, which directly evaluates system fault trees, utilizes the object-oriented extension to LISP called Flavors that is available on the Explorer. The object representation of a fault tree facilitates the storage and retrieval of information associated with each event in the tree, including tree structural information and intermediate results obtained during the tree reduction process. Reliability data associated with each basic event are stored in the fault tree objects. The object-oriented environment on the Explorer also includes a graphical tree editor which was modified to display and edit the fault trees.
The Solar Concentrator Advanced Development Project has successfully designed, fabricated, and tested a full scale prototypical solar dynamic concentrator for space station applications. A Truss Hexagonal Panel reflector was selected as a viable solar concentrator concept to be used for space station applications. This concentrator utilizes a modular design approach and is flexible in attainable flux profiles and assembly techniques. The detailed design of the concentrator, which included structural, thermal and optical analysis, identified the feasibility of the design and specific technologies that were required to fabricate it. The needed surface accuracy of the reflectors surface was found to be very tight, within 5 mrad RMS slope error, and results in very close tolerances for fabrication. To meet the design requirements, a modular structure composed of hexagonal panels was used. The panels, made up of graphite epoxy box beams provided the strength, stiffness and dimensional stability needed. All initial project requirements were met or exceeded by hardware demonstration. Initial testing of structural repeatability of a seven panel portion of the concentrator was followed by assembly and testing of the full nineteen panel structure. The testing, which consisted of theodolite and optical measurements over an assembly-disassembly-reassembly cycle, demonstrated that the concentrator maintained the as-built contour and optical characteristics. The facet development effort within the project, which included developing the vapor deposited reflective facet, produced a viable design with demonstrated optical characteristics that are within the project goals.
One approach used to better understand the impact of visual flow on control tasks has been to use synthetic perspective flow patterns. Such patterns are the result of apparent motion across a grid or random dot display. Unfortunately, the optical flow so generated is based on a subset of the flow information that exists in the real world. The danger is that the resulting optical motions may not generate the visual flow patterns useful for actual flight control. Researchers conducted a series of studies directed at understanding the characteristics of synthetic perspective flow that support various pilot tasks. In the first of these, they examined the control of altitude over various perspective grid textures (Johnson et al., 1987). Another set of studies was directed at studying the head tracking of targets moving in a 3-D coordinate system. These studies, parametric in nature, utilized both impoverished and complex virtual worlds represented by simple perspective grids at one extreme, and computer-generated terrain at the other. These studies are part of an applied visual research program directed at understanding the design principles required for the development of instruments displaying spatial orientation information. The experiments also highlight the need for modeling the impact of spatial displays on pilot control tasks.
The Nitrogen/Oxygen Recharge System (NORS) for the International Space Station (ISS) Program was required as part of the Space Shuttle retirement efforts to sustain the ISS life support systems. The system is designed around a 7000 psia Oxygen or Nitrogen Recharge Tank Assembly which is able to be utilized both internally and externally to the ISS. Material selection and usage were critical to ensure oxygen compatibility for the design, while taking into consideration toxicity, weldability, brazability and general fabrication and assembly techniques. The system uses unique hardware items such a composite overwrap pressure vessel (COPV), high pressure mechanical gauges, compact regulators and valves, quick disconnects, metal tubing and flexhoses. Numerous challenges and anomalies were encountered due to the exotic nature of this project which will be discussed in detail. The knowledge gained from these anomalies and failure resolutions can be applied to more than space applications, but can also be applicable to industry pressurized systems.
The NASA Multiscale Analysis Tool (NASMAT) serves as a state-of-the-art, “plug and play,” software package which utilizes multiscale recursive micromechanics as a platform for massively multiscale modeling for hierarchical materials and structures subjected to thermomechanical loads on high performance computing systems. This paper is intended to give an overview of the design of NASMAT and how the design supports modularity, upgradability and maintainability, interoperability, and utility. First, the software architecture and hierarchy will be explored. Details on each of the 11 NASMAT procedures and the arrangement of NASMAT data will be presented. Finally, application program interfaces (APIs) that were developed to facilitate the communication of NASMAT with other programs will be described.
We develop the methodology of coupling two different computational fluid dynamic (CFD) codes, OpenNCC and Glenn-HT, in order to investigate the unsteady flow fields inside the combustor and around the first-stage stator of a high-pressure turbine (HPT) from the energy efficient engine (E 3 ) program. In our coupling strategy, OpenNCC, a time accurate unstructured mesh multi-phase combustion CFD code, is applied to the combustor region and Glenn-HT, a structured mesh CFD code designed for turbine applications, is utilized inside the HPT region. As a proof of concept, we first simulate the three-dimensional airflow over the backward facing step and compared the predicted pressure coefficient against experimental data. We then considered a Jet-A/Air combustor with the NASA single learn direct injector (LDI) as a reacting flow test case. Here, Glenn-HT is used in the downstream of the combustor and assumes that the working fluid is a single gas (i.e., air) where the properties of the gas are taken from time- and area-averaged values at the combustor exit. A fully coupled combustor-turbine simulation using both OpenNCC and Glenn-HT was conducted on the E 3 combustor and a detailed analysis done pertaining to how a realistic combustor outflow affects migration of hot-streaks and its impact on the aerodynamic behavior inside the HPT. It is found that the combustion dynamics (i.e., the switching main and pilot flame strength) significantly alters the aerodynamic behavior inside the HPT including hot-streak migration. Variations of the temperature and the velocity magnitude in the passage could be up to ±75 and ±15. These large variations are an important part of the combustor-turbine interactions, which are overlooked by a single component simulation of the HPT while imposing the steady inflow boundary condition at the HPT inlet. Finally, it is observed the strong density gradient associated with the hot-streaks and the pressure gradient at the passage significantly enhances the baroclinic torque, affecting the vorticity field.
Brochure with an overview of the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Indian Energy programs and projects designed to assist American Indians and Alaska Native villages with energy and infrastructure development.
Advanced Reactor Technologies (ART) Advanced Materials Program: Provide material solutions to enable design, construction, and operation of licensable advanced reactors Including Gas-cooled Reactors, Fast Reactors, Molten Salt Reactors (solid or liquid fuel) Could be of modular design, and from 350 to 1 Mwe Conduct developmental R&D on structural materials that are best addressed by the national program Integrate program-directed work at national labs & universities and collaboration with international partners to address advanced reactor developer needs Provide qualification data (to NQA-1 or equivalent) on structural materials and develop & validate improved high temperature design methodology Utilize consensus standards organizations when appropriate (e.g., ASME, ASTM, etc.) Target resolution of issues needed for near to mid-term deployment of advanced reactors
Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is developing a microreactor to produce electrical power utilizing a small nuclear core and Stirling engines under the Microreactor Application Research Validation and Evaluation (MARVEL) program. This procurement specification defines the requirements for fabrication of the MARVEL ZAL-45 standoff plates manufactured by Zircar. The design requires eight (8) ceramic standoff plates; however, the requested quantity shall be twelve to account for required testing after receipt of materials. Any conflict between this specification and referenced Codes and Standards, or any supplementary specifications in the procurement documents requires written clarification from the Contractor prior to proceeding with any work. Any deviation from the procurement documents requires approval by the Contractor with the change request process.