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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 1,153 records · Page 64
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Design and Analysis of a Mutual Inductance Level Sensor for Liquid Metals

Here, this article describes the design and analysis of an electromagnetic level sensor for use in high-temperature liquid metal systems. The mutual inductance level sensor (MILS) described in this work was fabricated using two single-conductor mineral insulated cables wrapped in a bifilar fashion around a stainless steel tube core and was housed in an isolating thimble that preserved the pressure boundary of the test vessel. Two sensor variations were fabricated that differ only in active length, 1016 and 1778 mm. Experimental data were collected using the 1016-mm sensor (MILS-MKII-040) that demonstrated a sensitivity of 9.2 μ V/mm in a room temperature testing stand that used solid aluminum as a surrogate for liquid metal. Experimental data were collected using the 1778-mm sensor (MILS-MKII-070) that demonstrated a sensitivity of 6.9 μ V/mm in the high-temperature (300 ° C) liquid sodium environment at the mechanisms engineering test loop (METL) of Argonne National Laboratory. The sensor performance was found to be repeatable over the course of several months, with roughly ±1% deviation from nominal output. Finite element models were developed in COMSOL Multiphysics that fully describe each test setup, and the models were validated using experimental data. The validated COMSOL models were used to perform an array of analyses that examined the performance of the sensor in differing environments. Maximizing the coil diameter inside the isolating thimble was found to maximize the signal and sensitivity of the sensor. An optimal operating frequency was found near 1000 Hz using both experimental data and COMSOL. The influence of a metallic thimble surrounding the sensor and a metallic sensor core was quantified and found to be negligible at the optimal operating frequency. The sensitivity of the sensor was quantified when monitoring the level of additional liquid metals. These include lead, lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE), sodium-potassium alloy (NaK), and lithium (in addition to sodium). The sensitivities were quantified using liquid metal properties at 350 ° C and 650 ° C. The geometry of the test stand model, all material properties used in the model, and the results are presented in a manner that allows the reader can replicate the model and perform additional analyses.

COMSOL↗
DOE OSTI2023

Testing GFM and GFL Inverters Operating With Synchronous Condensers

Inverter-based resources (IBRs) are quickly evolving into a source of reliability services to the electric grid. Penetration levels of variable generation are rapidly increasing, ranging from 60% -70% in some systems. To go further, a fundamental shift is required to address challenges associated with grid stability. Synchronous condensers (SCs) are considered an important complementary technology in such transitions. This paper provides one-of-a-kind insights into real experimental results from operating a real MW-scale system consisting of a 2.2-MVA grid-forming (GFM) and grid-following (GFL) battery energy storage system, 2.5-MVA SCs, and a 3-MVA load bank operating as a small, islanded grid. Challenges that are expected in larger systems were mimicked in this small but real system to demonstrate seamless transitions from one mode to another as well as stable operation with different combinations of GFM and GFM resources, including a "loss of last synchronous generator" case. The experimental results presented in this paper are a valuable resource to everyone involved in developing and validating models or developing controls of power systems consisting of inverters and synchronous condensers.

grid-following converter↗
DOE OSTI2022

Comparison of Power System Current Sensors via Playback of Electrical Disturbances

The need to accurately measure high-frequency content in power system voltage and current phenomena is increasingly becoming more of a priority. As the amount of distributed energy resources (DER) and nonlinear loads penetrating the grid increases, so do challenges associated with traditional measurement and metering applications. In this paper, three commercially-available medium-voltage-level current sensors are characterized in terms of their harmonic amplitude and phase performance against reference signals that are “played back” through the sensors through the use of an arbitrary waveform generator. It is shown that none of the three sensors studied are able to faithfully replicate all of the input signals completely, though there are advantages and disadvantages to each in terms of noise, resonance, and induced phase drift. Additionally, the Goodness-of-Fit metric, typically used for PMU model validation, is used to generate side-by-side comparisons of sensor accuracy over a small window around the events under study.

Wilson, Aaron↗
DOE OSTI2026

AMAROK: A Radio Frequency Development Platform for High-Power, Full-Scale Positive Ion Sources for DIII-D Neutral Beam Injectors

Next-generation neutral beam injection (NBI) systems demand RF ion sources capable of efficiently coupling >120 kW at 2–4-MHz frequencies, yet existing designs face voltage standoff and impedance-matching challenges. To address this, the advanced multicoil antenna for RF operations at kilowatts (AMAROK) was developed as a high-power RF inductively coupled plasma (ICP) source delivering up to 200 kW in the 2–4-MHz range via four phase-controlled generators for flexible power sharing. Two antenna designs—a single-strap multiturn (MT) and a multistrap single-turn (ST) design—were evaluated to optimize resonance, impedance matching, and power coupling across plasma loads. Here, a semi-analytical self-resonant frequency (SRF) model, validated experimentally, predicts resonance trends for arbitrary turn counts and tubing diameters, enabling rapid antenna optimization. Strap-to-strap mutual inductance in the ST configuration showed strong spatial dependence, guiding generator operation and total load inductance. These insights informed a custom π -topology matching network, achieving stable impedance matching over a wide range of plasma-driven loads. Collectively, these results position AMAROK as a versatile testbed for advancing high-power RF source technology in fusion NBI applications.

DIII-D↗
DOE OSTI2018

Non-Invasive Identification of Inertia Distribution Change in High Renewable Systems Using Distribution Level PMU

Here, this letter proposed an approach to identify the change of inertia distribution in high renewable power systems. Using the footprints of electromechanical wave propagation at the distribution level, this approach provides a new and non-invasive way to aware the system inertia distribution for primary frequency response. Actual measurements and high renewable dynamic models validated effectiveness of the approach.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2016

Hydrologic Landscape Characterization for the Pacific Northwest, USA

Abstract We update the Wigington et al . (2013) hydrologic landscape ( HL ) approach to make it more broadly applicable and apply the revised approach to the Pacific Northwest ( PNW ; i.e., Oregon, Washington, and Idaho). Specific changes incorporated are the use of assessment units based on National Hydrography Dataset Plus V2 catchments, a modified snowmelt model validated over a broader area, an aquifer permeability index that does not require preexisting aquifer permeability maps, and aquifer and soil permeability classes based on uniform criteria. Comparison of Oregon results for the revised and original approaches found fewer and larger assessment units, loss of summer seasonality, and changes in rankings and proportions of aquifer and soil permeability classes. Differences could be explained by three factors: an increased assessment unit size, a reduced number of permeability classes, and use of smaller cutoff values for the permeability classes. The distributions of the revised HL s in five groups of Oregon rivers were similar to the original HL s but less variable. The improvements reported here should allow the revised HL approach to be applied more often in situations requiring hydrologic classification and allow greater confidence in results. We also apply the map results to the development of hydrologic landscape regions.

Leibowitz, Scott G.↗
DOE OSTI2022

The influence of increasing atmospheric CO 2 , temperature, and vapor pressure deficit on seawater-induced tree mortality

We report increasing seawater exposure is killing coastal trees globally, with expectations of accelerating mortality with rising sea levels. However, the impact of concomitant changes in atmospheric CO 2 concentration, temperature, and vapor pressure deficit (VPD) on seawater-induced tree mortality is uncertain. We examined the mechanisms of seawater-induced mortality under varying climate scenarios using a photosynthetic gain and hydraulic cost optimization model validated against observations in a mature stand of Sitka-spruce (Picea sitchensis) trees in the Pacific Northwest, USA, that were dying from recent seawater exposure. The simulations matched well with observations of photosynthesis, transpiration, nonstructural carbohydrates concentrations, leaf water potential, the percentage loss of xylem conductivity, and stand-level mortality rates. The simulations suggest that seawater-induced mortality could decrease by ~16.7% with increasing atmospheric CO 2 levels due to reduced risk of carbon starvation. Conversely, rising VPD could increase mortality by ~5.6% because of increasing risk of hydraulic failure. Across all scenarios, seawater-induced mortality was driven by hydraulic failure in the first two years after seawater exposure began, with carbon starvation becoming more important in subsequent years. Changing CO 2 and climate appear unlikely to have a significant impact on coastal tree mortality under rising sea levels.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2016

Incorporating seed fate into plant–frugivore networks increases interaction diversity across plant regeneration stages

Plant–animal mutualistic interactions, such as pollination and seed dispersal, affect ecosystem functioning by driving plant population dynamics. However, little is known of how the diversity of interactions in these mutualistic networks determines plant regeneration dynamics. To fill this gap, interaction networks should not only account for the number of seeds dispersed by animals, but also for seed fate after dispersal. Here, we compare plant–animal networks at both the seed dispersal and seedling recruitment stage to evaluate how interaction diversity, represented by different network metrics, changes throughout the process of plant regeneration. We focused on a system with six species of frugivorous birds and three species of fleshy‐fruited trees in the temperate secondary forest of the Cantabrian Range (northern Iberian Peninsula). We considered two plant cohorts corresponding to two fruiting years showing strong differences in fruit and frugivore abundance. Seed dispersal interactions were estimated from a spatially‐explicit, field‐validated model predicting tree and bird species‐specific seed deposition in different microhabitats. These interactions were further transformed into interactions at the seedling recruitment stage by accounting for plant‐ and microhabitat‐specific seed fates estimated from field sampling. We found that network interaction diversity varied across plant regeneration stages and cohorts, both in terms of the evenness and the number of paired interactions. Tree–bird interactions were more evenly distributed across species pairs at the recruitment stage than at the seed deposition stage, although some interactions disappeared in the seed‐to‐seedling transition for one plant cohort. The variations in interaction diversity were explained by between‐plant differences in post‐dispersal seed fate and in inter‐annual fruit production, rather than by differences between frugivores in seed deposition patterns. These results highlight the need for integrating plant traits and disperser quality to predict the functional outcome of plant–animal mutualistic networks.

Donoso, Isabel↗
DOE OSTI2025

Review of High‐Speed Digital Image Correlation: Advancements and Good Practices

This paper reviews the current state of the art in high‐speed (HS) and ultrahigh‐speed (UHS) digital image correlation (DIC) techniques, emphasizing their critical role in experimental research across various scientific domains. HS and UHS DIC have evolved significantly, driven by advancements in camera systems, image processing algorithms and experimental methodologies. These developments have opened new avenues for capturing and analysing dynamic events with unprecedented temporal and spatial detail, but not without introducing challenges such as optical distortions, motion blur and lighting issues that can affect measurement quality. This review advocates for standardized reporting practices in HS/UHS DIC methodologies to improve reproducibility and reliability across studies, drawing on guidelines from the International Digital Image Correlation Society (iDICs). Through a comprehensive analysis of over 150 articles, this review identifies key advancements in imaging technology and their application in six research domains: material characterization, test development, fracture mechanics, model validation, ballistic and explosive phenomena assessment and measurement uncertainties. Distinctions between two‐dimensional (2D) and stereo‐DIC applications are explored, offering insights into their practical implementation and trade‐offs. Good practices for HS/UHS DIC applications are proposed along with suggestions for future directions for this evolving field, highlighting the indispensable role of technological innovation in expanding the capabilities of optical metrology.

experimental mechanics↗
DOE OSTI2012

Fast transit portal dosimetry using density-scaled layer modeling of aSi-based electronic portal imaging device and Monte Carlo method

Purpose: Fast and accurate transit portal dosimetry was investigated by developing a density-scaled layer model of electronic portal imaging device (EPID) and applying it to a clinical environment. Methods: The model was developed for fast Monte Carlo dose calculation. The model was validated through comparison with measurements of dose on EPID using first open beams of varying field sizes under a 20-cm-thick flat phantom. After this basic validation, the model was further tested by applying it to transit dosimetry and dose reconstruction that employed our predetermined dose-response-based algorithm developed earlier. The application employed clinical intensity-modulated beams irradiated on a Rando phantom. The clinical beams were obtained through planning on pelvic regions of the Rando phantom simulating prostate and large pelvis intensity modulated radiation therapy. To enhance agreement between calculations and measurements of dose near penumbral regions, convolution conversion of acquired EPID images was alternatively used. In addition, thickness-dependent image-to-dose calibration factors were generated through measurements of image and calculations of dose in EPID through flat phantoms of various thicknesses. The factors were used to convert acquired images in EPID into dose. Results: For open beam measurements, the model showed agreement with measurements in dose difference better than 2% across open fields. For tests with a Rando phantom, the transit dosimetry measurements were compared with forwardly calculated doses in EPID showing gamma pass rates between 90.8% and 98.8% given 4.5 mm distance-to-agreement (DTA) and 3% dose difference (DD) for all individual beams tried in this study. The reconstructed dose in the phantom was compared with forwardly calculated doses showing pass rates between 93.3% and 100% in isocentric perpendicular planes to the beam direction given 3 mm DTA and 3% DD for all beams. On isocentric axial planes, the pass rates varied between 95.8% and 99.9% for all individual beams and they were 98.2% and 99.9% for the composite beams of the small and large pelvis cases, respectively. Three-dimensional gamma pass rates were 99.0% and 96.4% for the small and large pelvis cases, respectively. Conclusions: The layer model of EPID built for Monte Carlo calculations offered fast (less than 1 min) and accurate calculation for transit dosimety and dose reconstruction.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2014

SU-E-T-572: Beam Characteristics and Treatment Planning Commissioning for a New Proton Therapy Unit

Purpose: A single-room proton system, the Mevion S250, was introduced into the arena of proton radiotherapy by Mevion Medical Systems. The first unit was installed and operates at the S. Lee Kling Proton Therapy Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. The objective of this abstract is to report the system's beam characteristics and Eclipse commissioning. Methods: Commissioning data were acquired for modelling longitudinal fluence, virtual source position, effective source position, source size and Bragg peaks in Eclipse. Stoichiometric CT calibration was generated via ICRU44 human. Spread-out Bragg peaks (SOBP) were measured with Parallel Plate Chamber and profiles with solid state detector for model validation. Heterogeneity effects were measured with bone and lung inserts in the beam line. RT dose was computed in a virtual water phantom, and exported from Eclipse to compare with measurements at various depths and axis. SOBPs were fine-tuned with partial shining correction and entry correction to match measurements. Output factor was measured for each individual field with an ADCL ion chamber in a water tank and fitted to a polynomial function to cross-check the monitor unit verification. Results: Ranges of all 24 options were measured within ±1mm tolerance. Modulations met a ±1mm or ±2% tolerance. SOBP flatness met a ±3% tolerance. Distal fall off (80%-20%) were measured between 6mm and 7mm for all options. Virtual source positions varied between 177cm and 195cm, decreasing with field size and range. SOBP generated by Eclipse agreed with measurements within ±3% in the entry region, and ±1%/±1mm in other regions. Sanity check for output achieved 5% accuracy in 98% of cases. Conclusion: The commissioning of the first Mevions S250 proton therapy system met specifications. The unit has been put in clinical operation since 12/17/2013.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2014

TU-A-12A-09: Absolute Blood Flow Measurement in a Cardiac Phantom Using Low Dose CT

Purpose: To investigate a first pass analysis technique to measure absolute flow from low dose CT images in a cardiac phantom. This technique can be combined with a myocardial mass assignment to yield absolute perfusion using only two volume scans and reduce the radiation dose to the patient. Methods: A four-chamber cardiac phantom and perfusion chamber were constructed from poly-acrylic and connected with tubing to approximate anatomical features. The system was connected to a pulsatile pump, input/output reservoirs and power contrast injector. Flow was varied in the range of 1-2.67 mL/s with the pump operating at 60 beats/min. The system was imaged once a second for 14 seconds with a 320-row scanner (Toshiba Medical Systems) using a contrast-enhanced, prospective-gated cardiac perfusion protocol. Flow was calculated by the following steps: subsequent images of the perfusion volume were subtracted to find the contrast entering the volume; this was normalized by an upstream, known volume region to convert Hounsfield (HU) values to concentration; this was divided by the subtracted images time difference. The technique requires a relatively stable input contrast concentration and no contrast can leave the perfusion volume before the flow measurement is completed. Results: The flow calculated from the images showed an excellent correlation with the known rates. The data was fit to a linear function with slope 1.03, intercept 0.02 and an R{sup 2} value of 0.99. The average root mean square (RMS) error was 0.15 mL/s and the average standard deviation was 0.14 mL/s. The flow rate was stable within 7.7% across the full scan and served to validate model assumptions. Conclusion: Accurate, absolute flow rates were measured from CT images using a conservation of mass model. Measurements can be made using two volume scans which can substantially reduce the radiation dose compared with current dynamic perfusion techniques.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2015

The alanine detector in BNCT dosimetry: Dose response in thermal and epithermal neutron fields

Purpose: The response of alanine solid state dosimeters to ionizing radiation strongly depends on particle type and energy. Due to nuclear interactions, neutron fields usually also consist of secondary particles such as photons and protons of diverse energies. Various experiments have been carried out in three different neutron beams to explore the alanine dose response behavior and to validate model predictions. Additionally, application in medical neutron fields for boron neutron capture therapy is discussed. Methods: Alanine detectors have been irradiated in the thermal neutron field of the research reactor TRIGA Mainz, Germany, in five experimental conditions, generating different secondary particle spectra. Further irradiations have been made in the epithermal neutron beams at the research reactors FiR 1 in Helsinki, Finland, and Tsing Hua open pool reactor in HsinChu, Taiwan ROC. Readout has been performed with electron spin resonance spectrometry with reference to an absorbed dose standard in a {sup 60}Co gamma ray beam. Absorbed doses and dose components have been calculated using the Monte Carlo codes FLUKA and MCNP. The relative effectiveness (RE), linking absorbed dose and detector response, has been calculated using the Hansen and Olsen alanine response model. Results: The measured dose response of the alanine detector in the different experiments has been evaluated and compared to model predictions. Therefore, a relative effectiveness has been calculated for each dose component, accounting for its dependence on particle type and energy. Agreement within 5% between model and measurement has been achieved for most irradiated detectors. Significant differences have been observed in response behavior between thermal and epithermal neutron fields, especially regarding dose composition and depth dose curves. The calculated dose components could be verified with the experimental results in the different primary and secondary particle fields. Conclusions: The alanine detector can be used without difficulty in neutron fields. The response has been understood with the model used which includes the relative effectiveness. Results and the corresponding discussion lead to the conclusion that application in neutron fields for medical purpose is limited by its sensitivity but that it is a useful tool as supplement to other detectors and verification of neutron source descriptions.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗
DOE OSTI2015

Alcohol Selectivity in a Synthetic Thermophilic n-Butanol Pathway Is Driven by Biocatalytic and Thermostability Characteristics of Constituent Enzymes

n-Butanol is generated as a natural product of metabolism by several microorganisms, but almost all grow at mesophilic temperatures. In this paper, a synthetic pathway for n-butanol production from acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) that functioned at 70°C was assembled in vitro from enzymes recruited from thermophilic bacteria to inform efforts for engineering butanol production into thermophilic hosts. Recombinant versions of eight thermophilic enzymes (β-ketothiolase [Thl], 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase [Hbd], and 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydratase [Crt] from Caldanaerobacter subterraneus subsp. tengcongensis; trans-2-enoyl-CoA reductase [Ter] from Spirochaeta thermophila; bifunctional acetaldehyde dehydrogenase/alcohol dehydrogenase [AdhE] from Clostridium thermocellum; and AdhE, aldehyde dehydrogenase [Bad], and butanol dehydrogenase [Bdh] from Thermoanaerobacter sp. strain X514) were utilized to examine three possible pathways for n-butanol. These pathways differed in the two steps required to convert butyryl-CoA to n-butanol: Thl-Hbd-Crt-Ter-AdhE (C. thermocellum), Thl-Hbd-Crt-Ter-AdhE (Thermoanaerobacter X514), and Thl-Hbd-Crt-Ter-Bad-Bdh. n-Butanol was produced at 70°C, but with different amounts of ethanol as a coproduct, because of the broad substrate specificities of AdhE, Bad, and Bdh. A reaction kinetics model, validated via comparison to in vitro experiments, was used to determine relative enzyme ratios needed to maximize n-butanol production. By using large relative amounts of Thl and Hbd and small amounts of Bad and Bdh, >70% conversion to n-butanol was observed in vitro, but with a 60% decrease in the predicted pathway flux. With more-selective hypothetical versions of Bad and Bdh, >70% conversion to n-butanol is predicted, with a 19% increase in pathway flux. Finally and thus, more-selective thermophilic versions of Bad, Bdh, and AdhE are needed to fully exploit biocatalytic n-butanol production at elevated temperatures.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Offshore-onshore record of Last Glacial Maximum–to–present grounding line retreat at Pine Island Glacier, Antarctica

Pine Island Glacier, West Antarctica, is the largest Antarctic contributor to global sea-level rise and is vulnerable to rapid retreat, yet our knowledge of its deglacial history since the Last Glacial Maximum is based largely on marine sediments that record a retreat history ending in the early Holocene. Using a suite of 10 Be exposure ages from onshore glacial deposits directly adjacent to Pine Island Glacier, we show that this major glacier thinned rapidly in the early to mid-Holocene. Our results indicate that Pine Island Glacier was at least 690 m thicker than present prior to ca. 8 ka. We infer that the rapid thinning detected at the site farthest downstream records the arrival and stabilization of the retreating grounding line at that site by 8–6 ka. By combining our exposure ages and the marine record, we extend knowledge of Pine Island Glacier retreat both spatially and temporally: to 50 km from the modern grounding line and to the mid-Holocene, providing a data set that is important for future numerical ice-sheet model validation.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

River Deltas and Sea-Level Rise

Future sea-level rise poses an existential threat for many river deltas, yet quantifying the effect of sea-level changes on these coastal landforms remains a challenge. Sea-level changes have been slow compared to other coastal processes during the instrumental record, such that our knowledge comes primarily from models, experiments, and the geologic record. Here we review the current state of science on river delta response to sea-level change, including models and observations from the Holocene until 2300 CE. We report on improvements in the detection and modeling of past and future regional sea-level change, including a better understanding of the underlying processes and sources of uncertainty. We also see significant improvements in morphodynamic delta models. Still, substantial uncertainties remain, notably on present and future subsidence rates in and near deltas. Observations of delta submergence and land loss due to modern sea-level rise also remain elusive, posing major challenges to model validation. There are large differences in the initiation time and subsequent delta progradation during the Holocene, likely from different sea-level and sediment supply histories. Modern deltas are larger and will face faster sea-level rise than during their Holocene growth, making them susceptible to forced transgression. Regional sea-level projections have been much improved in the past decade and now also isolate dominant sources of uncertainty, such as the Antarctic ice sheet. Vertical land motion in deltas can be the dominant source of relative sea-level change and the dominant source of uncertainty; limited observations complicate projections. River deltas globally might lose 5% (~35,000 km 2 ) of their surface area by 2100 and 50% by 2300 due to relative sea-level rise under a high-emission scenario.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗