Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “digital interface”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,117 records · Page 62
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1972

Development of a digital control system for a spacecraft propulsion test facility.

A digital computer control and abort system which is used at NASA-Lewis Research Center's Plum Brook Test Facilities is described. The system was designed by NASA personnel to control test operations such as rocket engine testing, structure testing, and wind tunnel tests. Because of the nature of spacecraft system testing, particularly rocket engine testing, the unique features of the system are, control function updating at a 20 millisecond rate, continuous abort monitoring and a software system designed for short duration tests rather than continuous on-line control. To accomplish these system requirements, special hardware was designed. The presentation will include a description of the computer system including special interface hardware as well as a general description of the software used.

Smalley, R. R.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Moisture-Induced TBC Spallation on Turbine Blade Samples

Delayed failure of TBCs is a widely observed laboratory phenomenon, although many of the early observations went unreported. The weekend effect or DeskTop Spallation (DTS) is characterized by initial survival of a TBC after accelerated laboratory thermal cycling, then failure by exposure to ambient humidity or water. Once initiated, failure can occur quite dramatically in less than a second. To this end, the water drop test and digital video recordings have become useful techniques in studies at NASA (Smialek, Zhu, Cuy), DECHMA (Rudolphi, Renusch, Schuetze), and CNRS Toulouse/SNECMA (Deneux, Cadoret, Hervier, Monceau). In the present study the results for a commercial turbine blade, with a standard EB-PVD 7YSZ TBC top coat and Pt-aluminide diffusion bond coat are reported. Cut sections were intermittently oxidized at 1100, 1150, and 1200 C and monitored by weight change and visual appearance. Failures were distributed widely over a 5-100 hr time range, depending on temperature. At some opportune times, failure was captured by video recording, documenting the appearance and speed of the moisture-induced spallation process. Failure interfaces exhibited alumina scale grains, decorated with Ta-rich oxide particles, and alumina inclusions as islands and streamers. The phenomenon is thus rooted in moisture-induced delayed spallation (MIDS) of the alumina scale formed on the bond coat. In that regard, many studies show the susceptibility of alumina scales to moisture, as long as high strain energy and a partially exposed interface exist. The latter conditions result from severe cyclic oxidation conditions, which produce a highly stressed and partially damaged scale. In one model, it has been proposed that moisture reacts with aluminum in the bond coat to release hydrogen atoms that embrittle the interface. A negative synergistic effect with interfacial sulfur is also invoked.

Smialek, James↗
DOE OSTI2021

Traveling Wave Relays for Distribution Feeder Protection with High Penetrations of Distributed Energy Resources

Increased penetration of power electronics interfaced Distributed Energy Resources (DER) like PV, electric vehicle and battery storage in the distribution system (both in numbers and sizes) may cause bi-directional power flows under normal operation. In addition, they contribute low fault current under short circuit conditions. These two changes can impact the proper operation of legacy protection systems. This can add additional challenges during weak grid and islanded operation. In this research, traveling wave (high frequency) signature based protection scheme is proposed for future distribution systems. Simulations are performed under different transient scenarios to provide insight into the high frequency signatures to show the traveling wave behavior. Finally, this paper discusses the importance of sensing and digital processing requirements for traveling-wave protection in distribution system.

41 EE - Solar Energy Technologies Office (EE-4S)↗
NASA NTRS2003

Strain-Gauge Measurement of Weight of Fluid in a Tank

A method of determining the amount of fluid in a tank is based on measurement of strains induced in tank supports by the weight of the fluid. Unlike most prior methods, this method is nonintrusive: there is no need to insert instrumentation in the tank and, hence, no need to run wires, cables, or tubes through the tank wall. Also unlike most prior methods, this method is applicable even if the fluid in the tank is at supercritical pressure and temperature, because it does not depend on the presence of a liquid/gas interface (as in liquid-level-measuring methods). The strain gauges used in this method are of two types: foil and fiber-optic. Four foil gauges and one or more fiber-optic gauges are mounted on each of the tank-supporting legs. An additional fiber-optic gauge is mounted on an object, made of the same material as that of the tank-supporting legs, that is not subjected to any mechanical load. The reading obtained by the additional fiber-optic gauge is used to compensate for apparent strains caused by changes in temperature. The signals from the foil and fiber-optic gauges are conditioned, then digitized for input to a computer. As the tank is filled or emptied, the deformation in each leg increases or decreases, respectively. Measured deformations of all legs are added to obtain a composite deformation indicative of the change in weight of the tank plus fluid. An initial calibration is performed by recording data at two points (usually, empty and full) for which the mass or weight of fluid is known. It is assumed that the deformations are elastic, so that the line passing through the two points can be used as a calibration curve of mass (or weight) of fluid versus deformation. At the time of reporting the information for this article, a set of foil gauges had been tested on the supports of a 500-gallon (1,900-liter) tank. The gauges were found to be capable of measuring the deformations (up to 22 microstrain) that occurred during filling and emptying the tank. The fluid masses calculated from the gauge readings were found to be accurate within 4.5 percent. It has been estimated that once the fiber-optic gauges are put into operation, it should be possible to determine fluid masses with 3 percent or less. It may be possible to increase accuracy further by increasing the signal-to-noise ratio through the use of more deformable tank supporting legs.

Figueroa, Jorge↗
DOE OSTI2021

Traveling Wave Relays for Distribution Feeder Protection with High Penetrations of Distributed Energy Resources: Preprint

Increased penetration of power electronics interfaced Distributed Energy Resources (DER) like PV, electric vehicle and battery storage in the distribution system (both in numbers and sizes) may cause bi-directional power flows under normal operation. In addition, they contribute low fault current under short circuit conditions. These two changes can impact the proper operation of legacy protection systems. This can add additional challenges during weak grid and islanded operation. In this research, traveling wave (high frequency) signature based protection scheme is proposed for future distribution systems. Simulations are performed under different transient scenarios to provide insight into the high frequency signatures to show the traveling wave behavior. Finally, this paper discusses the importance of sensing and digital processing requirements for traveling-wave protection in distribution system.

41 EE - Solar Energy Technologies Office (EE-4S)↗
DOE OSTI2021

Traveling Wave Relays for Distribution Feeder Protection with High Penetrations of Distributed Energy Resources

Increased penetration of power electronics interfaced Distributed Energy Resources (DER) like PV, electric vehicle and battery storage in the distribution system (both in numbers and sizes) may cause bi-directional power flows under normal operation. In addition, they contribute low fault current under short circuit conditions. These two changes can impact the proper operation of legacy protection systems. This can add additional challenges during weak grid and islanded operation. In this research, traveling wave (high frequency) signature based protection scheme is proposed for future distribution systems. Simulations are performed under different transient scenarios to provide insight into the high frequency signatures to show the traveling wave behavior. Finally, this paper discusses the importance of sensing and digital processing requirements for traveling-wave protection in distribution system.

41 EE - Solar Energy Technologies Office (EE-4S)↗
DOE OSTI2017

The Warm Circumgalactic Medium: 10{sup 5−6} K Gas Associated with a Single Galaxy Halo or with an Entire Group of Galaxies?

In preparation for a Hubble Space Telescope (HST) observing project using the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS), the positions of all AGN targets having high-S/N far-UV G130M spectra were cross-correlated with a large catalog of low-redshift galaxy groups homogenously selected from the spectroscopic sample of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). Searching for targets behind only those groups at z = 0.1–0.2 (which places the O vi doublet in the wavelength region of peak COS sensitivity), we identified only one potential S/N=15--20 target, FBQS 1010+3003. An O vi-only absorber was found in its G130M spectrum at z = 0.11326, close to the redshift of a foreground small group of luminous galaxies at z = 0.11685. Because there is no associated Lyα absorption, any characterization of this absorber is necessarily minimal; however, the O vi detection likely traces “warm” gas in collisional ionization equilibrium at T ≈ 3 × 10{sup 5} K. While this discovery is consistent with being interface gas between cooler, photoionized clouds and a hotter intra-group medium, it could also be warm, interface gas associated with the circumgalactic medium (CGM) of the single closest galaxy. In this case, a detailed analysis of the galaxy distribution (complete to 0.2 L{sup ∗}) strongly favors the individual galaxy association. This analysis highlights the necessity of both high-S/N>20 COS data and a deep galaxy redshift survey of the region in order to test more rigorously the association of O vi-absorbing gas with a galaxy group. A Cycle 23 HST/COS program is currently targeting 10 UV-bright AGN behind 12 low-redshift galaxy groups to test the warm, group gas hypothesis.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS2006

The MY NASA DATA Project

On the one hand, locating the right dataset, then figuring out how to use it, is a daunting task that is familiar to almost any scientist or graduate student in the fields of Earth system science. On the other hand, the ability to explore authentic Earth system science data, through inquiry-based education, is an important goal in US national education standards. Fortunately, in the digital age, tools are emerging that can make such data exploration commonplace at all educational levels. This paper describes the conception and development of one project that aims to bridge this gap: Mentoring and inquiry using NASA Data on Atmospheric and Earth science for Teachers and Amateurs (MY NASA DATA; mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov). With funding from NASA's Science Mission Directorate, this project was launched in early 2004 with the aim of developing microsets and identifying other enablers for making data accessible. A key feature of the project is a Live Access Server, the first educational implementation of this open source software, developed by NOAA, that makes it possible to explore multiple data formats through a single interface. This powerful tool is made more useful to the primary target audiences (K-12 and amateur scientists) through careful selection of the data offered, user-friendly explanations of the tool itself, and age-appropriate explanations of the parameters. However experience already shows that graduate students and even practicing scientists can also make use of this resource. The website also hosts teacher-contributed lesson plans, and seeks to feature reports of research projects that use the data.

Chambers, Lin H.↗
DOE OSTI2016

Isotope ratio characteristics and sensitivity for uranium determinations using a liquid sampling-atmospheric pressure glow discharge ion source coupled to an Orbitrap mass analyzer

Abstract The continued development of the liquid sampling-atmospheric pressure glow discharge (LS-APGD) microplasma as an ion source for diverse, elemental/isotopic analysis applications continues. To this end, characterization of the capabilities in performing precise and accurate isotope ratio (IR) determinations is essential. Based on past experience with the Thermo Exactive Orbitrap mass analyzer, the LS-APGD was interfaced with this instrument for these tests. While the Orbitrap platform has demonstrated excellent mass resolution and accuracy in “organic” mass spectrometry (MS) applications, work using an Orbitrap for IR analysis is very sparse. These efforts build off previous work in this coupling, where the importance of a few of the LS-APGD discharge parameters and Orbitrap data acquisition methods on IR precision and accuracy were probed. Presented here are the results of a study that evaluated the analytical precision for natural uranium sample (assumed 235U/238U = 0.0072) determinations. The instrumental parameters evaluated include the number of microscans and scans making up a data acquisition set, uranium concentration/signal level, sample make-up, and Fourier transform digitization window. Ultimately, a precision of 0.41% relative standard deviation (RSD) can be achieved for a single determination, with a reproducibility of 1.63 %RSD over 10 separate analytical measurements. A preliminary study of matrix effects on IR measurements of U is presented, highlighting the importance of pre-mass selection before injection into the Orbitrap. The analytical system sensitivity is suggested with the ability to produce a calibration function having an R2 value of >0.99 over a range of 4 orders of magnitude of concentration (~1 – 1000 ng mL-1). These efforts demonstrate the very promising pairing of the LS-APGD ionization source and the Orbitrap, pointing as well to definitive paths forward to better utilize both components in high quality isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS).

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory↗
DOE OSTI2015

SU-C-201-01: Investigation of the Effects of Scintillator Surface Treatment On Light Output Measurements with SiPM Detectors

Purpose: To examine the effect of different scintillator surface treatments (BGO crystals) on the fraction of scintillation photons that exit the crystal and reach the photodetector (SiPM). Methods: Positron Emission Tomography is based on the detection of light that exits scintillator crystals, after annihilation photons deposit energy inside these crystals. A considerable fraction of the scintillation light gets trapped or absorbed after going through multiple internal reflections on the interfaces surrounding the crystals. BGO scintillator crystals generate considerably less scintillation light than crystals made of LSO and its variants. Therefore, it is crucial that the small amount of light produced by BGO exits towards the light detector. The surface treatment of scintillator crystals is among the factors affecting the ability of scintillation light to reach the detectors. In this study, we analyze the effect of different crystal surface treatments on the fraction of scintillation light that is detected by the solid state photodetector (SiPM), once energy is deposited inside a BGO crystal. Simulations were performed by a Monte Carlo based software named GATE, and validated by measurements from individual BGO crystals coupled to Philips digital-SiPM sensor (DPC-3200). Results: The results showed an increment in light collection of about 4 percent when only the exit face of the BGO crystal, is unpolished; compared to when all the faces are polished. However, leaving several faces unpolished caused a reduction of at least 10 percent of light output when the interaction occurs as far from the exit face of the crystal as possible compared to when it occurs very close to the exit face. Conclusion: This work demonstrates the advantages on light collection from leaving unpolished the exit face of BGO crystals. The configuration with best light output will be used to obtain flood images from BGO crystal arrays coupled to SiPM sensors.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
NASA NTRS1994

Using Commercial Off-the-Shelf Software Tools for Space Shuttle Scientific Software

In October 1993, the Astronaut Science Advisor (ASA) was on board the STS-58 flight of the space shuttle. ASA is an interactive system providing data acquisition and analysis, experiment step re-scheduling, and various other forms of reasoning. As fielded, the system runs on a single Macintosh PowerBook 170, which hosts the six ASA modules. There is one other piece of hardware, an external (GW Instruments, Sommerville, Massachusetts) analog-to-digital converter connected to the PowerBook's SCSI port. Three main software tools were used: LabVIEW, CLIPS, and HyperCard: First, a module written in LabVIEW (National Instruments, Austin, Texas) controls the A/D conversion and stores the resulting data in appropriate arrays. This module also analyzes the numerical data to produce a small set of characteristic numbers or symbols describing the results of an experiment trial. Second, a forward-chaining inference system written in CLIPS (NASA) uses the symbolic information provided by the first stage with a static rule base to infer decisions about the experiment. This expert system shell is used by the system for diagnosis. The third component of the system is the user interface, written in HyperCard (Claris Inc. and Apple Inc., both in Cupertino, California).

Groleau, Nicolas↗
DOE OSTI2023

A Comparison of Three Types of Computer-Based Procedures: An Experiment Using the Rancor Microworld Simulator

The nuclear power industry has historically used paper-based procedures, but a shift towards computer-based procedures (CBPs) has the potential to reduce human errors, alleviate mental workload, and improve work performance. Twenty-seven participants were randomly assigned to one of three CBP types using the Rancor Microworld Simulator, and each performed two different types of operational scenarios (startup and loss of feedwater). The three CBP types varied in levels of digitalization. It was hypothesized that there would be less favorable impressions of the most basic procedures, and that these would demonstrate lower usability than types with greater digitalization. Overall, our predictions were partially supported with some interesting caveats, specifically with some performance benefits for CBPs that provided indicators but not embedded controls. We discuss our findings in terms of optimal levels of digitalization/automation within nuclear operations and suggest pathways for future directions.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2022

UAE6 - Wind Tunnel Tests Data - UAE6 - Sequence S - Raw Data

Sequences S, T, and U: Upwind, No Probes (F); Upwind 2° Pitch (F); Upwind 4° Pitch (F) This test sequence used an upwind, rigid turbine with a 0° cone angle. The wind speed ranged from 5 m/s to 25 m/s. Yaw angles of 0° to 180° were achieved for Sequence S, but the yaw angle remained at 0° for Sequences T and U. The blade tip pitch was 3° for Sequence S, 2° for Sequence T, and 4° for Sequence U. These three sequences were interleaved during testing because the pitch angle change was easily made by the turbine operator. The rotor rotated at 72 RPM. Blade pressure measurements were collected. The five-hole probes were removed and the plugs were installed. Plastic tape 0.03-mm-thick was used to smooth the interface between the plugs and the blade. The teeter dampers were replaced with rigid links, and these two channels were flagged as not applicable by setting the measured values in the data file to -99999.99 Nm. The teeter link load cell was pre-tensioned to 40,000 N. During post-processing, the probe channels were set to read -99999.99. In addition to the standard 30-second campaigns, yaw sweeps were done at 7 m/s and 10 m/s for the Sequence S configuration. These 6-minute campaigns were collected while the yaw drive rotated the turbine 360° at a rate of 1°/s. The file names for these campaigns use the letter designation, followed by two digits for wind speed, followed by YSU, followed by 00.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

UAE6 - Wind Tunnel Tests Data - UAE6 - Sequence T - Raw Data

Sequences S, T, and U: Upwind, No Probes (F); Upwind 2° Pitch (F); Upwind 4° Pitch (F) This test sequence used an upwind, rigid turbine with a 0° cone angle. The wind speed ranged from 5 m/s to 25 m/s. Yaw angles of 0° to 180° were achieved for Sequence S, but the yaw angle remained at 0° for Sequences T and U. The blade tip pitch was 3° for Sequence S, 2° for Sequence T, and 4° for Sequence U. These three sequences were interleaved during testing because the pitch angle change was easily made by the turbine operator. The rotor rotated at 72 RPM. Blade pressure measurements were collected. The five-hole probes were removed and the plugs were installed. Plastic tape 0.03-mm-thick was used to smooth the interface between the plugs and the blade. The teeter dampers were replaced with rigid links, and these two channels were flagged as not applicable by setting the measured values in the data file to -99999.99 Nm. The teeter link load cell was pre-tensioned to 40,000 N. During post-processing, the probe channels were set to read -99999.99. In addition to the standard 30-second campaigns, yaw sweeps were done at 7 m/s and 10 m/s for the Sequence S configuration. These 6-minute campaigns were collected while the yaw drive rotated the turbine 360° at a rate of 1°/s. The file names for these campaigns use the letter designation, followed by two digits for wind speed, followed by YSU, followed by 00.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

UAE6 - Wind Tunnel Tests Data - UAE6 - Sequence U - Raw Data

Sequences S, T, and U: Upwind, No Probes (F); Upwind 2° Pitch (F); Upwind 4° Pitch (F) This test sequence used an upwind, rigid turbine with a 0° cone angle. The wind speed ranged from 5 m/s to 25 m/s. Yaw angles of 0° to 180° were achieved for Sequence S, but the yaw angle remained at 0° for Sequences T and U. The blade tip pitch was 3° for Sequence S, 2° for Sequence T, and 4° for Sequence U. These three sequences were interleaved during testing because the pitch angle change was easily made by the turbine operator. The rotor rotated at 72 RPM. Blade pressure measurements were collected. The five-hole probes were removed and the plugs were installed. Plastic tape 0.03-mm-thick was used to smooth the interface between the plugs and the blade. The teeter dampers were replaced with rigid links, and these two channels were flagged as not applicable by setting the measured values in the data file to -99999.99 Nm. The teeter link load cell was pre-tensioned to 40,000 N. During post-processing, the probe channels were set to read -99999.99. In addition to the standard 30-second campaigns, yaw sweeps were done at 7 m/s and 10 m/s for the Sequence S configuration. These 6-minute campaigns were collected while the yaw drive rotated the turbine 360° at a rate of 1°/s. The file names for these campaigns use the letter designation, followed by two digits for wind speed, followed by YSU, followed by 00.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS1999

Landsat-7 Mission and Early Results

The Landsat-7 mission has the goal of acquiring annual data sets of reflective band digital imagery of the landmass of the Earth at a spatial resolution of 30 meters for a period of five years using the Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) imager on the Landsat-7 satellite. The satellite was launched on April 15, 1999. The mission builds on the 27-year continuous archive of thematic images of the Earth from previous Landsat satellites. This paper will describe the ETM+ instrument, the spacecraft, and the ground processing system in place to accomplish the mission. Results from the first few months in orbit will be given, with emphasis on performance parameters that affect image quality, quantity, and availability. There will also be a discussion of the Landsat Data Policy and the user interface designed to make contents of the archive readily available, expedite ordering, and distribute the data quickly. Landsat-7, established by a Presidential Directive and a Public Law, is a joint program of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Earth Science Enterprise and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Earth Resources Observing System (EROS) Data Center.

Dolan, S. Kenneth↗
NASA NTRS1968

Propulsive re-entry aerodynamics Interim report, 1 Jun. 1967 - 1 Jun. 1968

This report discusses the progress accomplished during the first year of a two-year contract to study Propulsive Re-Entry Aerodynamics. Analytical methods were developed during the first year to predict the flow field in the immediate vicinity of a planetary entry system composed of an aeroshell with a single retrorocket which exhausts into a subsonic or supersonic counterflowing planetary atmosphere. In the second year a digital computer program will be developed for the analytical solutions, and the analytical model will be tested by performing an experimental test program and comparing the experimental results with the analytical predictions. The analytical investigation considers the flow field due to a single supersonic retrorocket exhausting from an aeroshell into oncoming subsonic, transonic, or supersonic streams in the large thrusting coefficient regime, 0.5 < C(sub T) = T/q(sub ∞) A(sub m) < 15, which is the range of thrusting coefficients encountered during the terminal landing phase for planetary landing on Mars or Venus. Analyses are provided for all the geometrical features of the flow field such as the location of the terminal shock, jet boundary, and the profile for the interface between the jet and atmospheric gases. In addition, analyses are developed which describe the growth of the mixing layers along the interface and at the edge of the jet boundary and dead-air region and the reattachment of the shear layer to the aeroshell or the recompression of the shear layer in wake type flow. A comprehensive discussion of the experimental wind tunnel test program to be accomplished in Phase II is presented.

Philip O Jarvinen↗
NASA NTRS1978

Reconfigurable modular computer networks for spacecraft on-board processing

The core electronics subsystems on unmanned spacecraft, which have been sent over the last 20 years to investigate the moon, Mars, Venus, and Mercury, have progressed through an evolution from simple fixed controllers and analog computers in the 1960's to general-purpose digital computers in current designs. This evolution is now moving in the direction of distributed computer networks. Current Voyager spacecraft already use three on-board computers. One is used to store commands and provide overall spacecraft management. Another is used for instrument control and telemetry collection, and the third computer is used for attitude control and scientific instrument pointing. An examination of the control logic in the instruments shows that, for many, it is cost-effective to replace the sequencing logic with a microcomputer. The Unified Data System architecture considered consists of a set of standard microcomputers connected by several redundant buses. A typical self-checking computer module will contain 23 RAMs, two microprocessors, one memory interface, three bus interfaces, and one core building block.

Rennels, D. A.↗