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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
NASA NTRS2001

Investigation of Vehicle Requirements and Options for Future Space Tourism

The research in support of this grant was performed by the PI, Dr. John Olds, and graduate students in the Space Systems Design Lab (SSDL) at Georgia Tech over the period December 1999 to December 2000. The work was sponsored by Dr. Ted Talay, branch chief of the Vehicle Analysis Branch at the NASA Langley Research Center. The objective of the project was to examine the characteristics of future space tourism markets and to identify the vehicle requirements that are necessary to enable this emerging new business segment.

Olds, John R.↗
DOE OSTI2016

GridKit

GridKit is a software development kit for interfacing power systems and power grid application software with high performance computing (HPC) libraries developed at National Labs and academia. It is also intended as interoperability layer between different numerical libraries. GridKit is not a standalone application, but comes with a suite of test examples illustrating possible usage.

Peles, Slaven↗
DOE OSTI2020

Design and Analysis of a Halo-Measurement Diagnostics

A large dynamical-range diagnostics (LDRD) design at Jefferson Lab will be used at the FAST-IOTA injector to measure the transverse distribution of halo associated with a high-charge electron beam. One important aspect of this work is to explore the halo distribution when the beam has significant angular momentum (i.e. is magnetized). The beam distribution is measured by recording radiation produced as the beam impinges a YAG:Ce screen. The optical radiation is split with a fraction directed to a charged-couple device (CCD) camera. The other part of the radiation is reflected by a digital micromirror device (DMD) that masks the core of the beam distribution. Combining the images recorded by the two cameras provides a measurement of the transverse distribution with over a large dynamical range. The design and analysis of the optical system will be discussed including optical simulation using SRW and the result of a mockup experiment to test the performances of the system will be presented.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Lab-scaled performance evaluation of novel water-lean solvents for post combustion CO 2 capture

Here, this work focuses on demonstrating the energetic performance and operational reliability in a continuous system of RTI's water-lean solvents for post-combustion CO 2 capture applications. RTI's Non-Aqueous Solvent, NAS-1A was subjected to 100 h of continuous, CO 2 capture and regeneration operation using a Lab-scale Gas Absorption System (LsGAS) while the CO 2 capture efficiency, mass balance, and total energy inputs were monitored. Throughout the test period, NAS-1A demonstrated stable operation with 90% CO 2 capture while requiring about 15% lower total energy input for solvent regeneration compared to 30 wt% monoethanolamine (MEA) solution. The use of a slipstream of CO 2 -rich solvent from the absorber sump reduced the regenerated CO 2 temperature before the gas was further cooled by the overhead condenser at the top of the desorber. The rich-split setup combined with a wash section may be an effective approach to remove water and solvent vapor from the regenerated CO 2 as well as to recover heat at the top of the desorber. NAS-1B was later developed and included a modifier component that lowers the heat of CO 2 absorption and reduces the vapor pressure of the amine component. The total energy inputs for 90% CO 2 capture with NAS-1B was found to be 25% less than that of the MEA. A gas chromatograph was used to monitor the amine concentration in the gas leaving the absorber wash section. It was found that under similar operating conditions, the presence of the modifier in NAS-1B reduces the amine in the absorber off-gas from 143 ppm in NAS-1A to 20 ppm.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS1991

The role of the Remotely Augmented Vehicle (RAV) laboratory in flight research

An overview is presented of the unique capabilities and historical significance of the Remotely Augmented Vehicle (RAV) Lab at NASA-Dryden. The role is reviewed of the RAV Lab in enhancing flight test programs and efficient testing of new aircraft control laws. The history of the RAV Lab is discussed with a sample of its application using the X-29 aircraft. The RAV Lab allows for closed or open loop augmentation of the research aircraft while in flight using ground based, high performance real time computers. Telemetry systems transfer sensor and control data between the ground and the aircraft. The RAV capability provides for enhanced computational power, improved flight data quality, and alternate methods for the testing of control system concepts. The Lab is easily reconfigured to reflect changes within a flight program and can be adapted to new flight programs.

Cohen, Dorothea↗
DOE OSTI2019

High-Fidelity Calibration and Characterization of Hyperspectral Computed Tomography System

This document archives the results developed by the Lab Directed Research and Development (LDRD) project sponsored by Sandia National Laboratories (SNL). In this work, a numerical study was performed to show the feasibility of approximating the non-linear operator of SNL's unique high-energy hyperspectral computed tomography system as a sequence of linear operators. The four main results gained from this work include the development of a simulation test-bed using a particle-transport Monte Carlo approach; the demonstration to assemble a linear operator of almost-arbitrary resolution for a given narrow energy window, developing a compression approach to dramatically reduce the size of the linear operator via a spline approach, and the demonstration of using the linear operator to perform processing of x-ray data; in this case, the development of an iterative reconstruction method. This numerical study has indicated that if these results can be replicated on the SNL system, the improved performance could be revolutionary as the method to approximate the nonlinear operator for a hyperspectral CT system is not feasible to perform on a traditional CT system.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
NASA NTRS2017

Technology Development and Design of an Electrically Driven Pump Fed (EDPF) Bi-Propellant Propulsion System for a Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV)

A Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV), as part of a potential Mars Sample Return (MSR) campaign, is a very unique challenge and has been the focus of technology development and design efforts at JPL (Jet Propulsion Lab.) for several decades. Recent trajectory studies, for the current range of notional MAV payloads (6-25 kilograms), evaluated performance using propulsion systems in the 2.5 kiloNewton to 4.5 kiloNewton (600-1000 pounds-force) thrust range. The study examined several propulsion system approaches - solid rocket, bi-propellant and hybrid propulsion systems - and developed a ranking based on several key figures of merit. This paper focuses on the evaluations conducted for the two bi-propellant propulsion system options considered for a potential MAV. Historically, bi-propellant propulsion systems have been considered for this application; this study took a fresh look at both a conventional State of the Art (SOA) pressure fed bi-propellant propulsion system and recent developments using small EDPF (Electrically-Driven Pump-Fed) bi-propellant propulsion systems.

Vaughan, David↗
DOE OSTI2025

Comparative Analysis of HEATNETS for Geothermal Network Performance

Thermal energy networks (TENs), also known as 5th generation district energy systems, or more specifically geothermal networks when exchanging heat with geothermal boreholes, are an important technology for decarbonization. In these networks an ambient loop connects buildings and thermal sources, such as a borehole field, to exchange energy and maintain a desired loop temperature. Water-source heat pumps are used at the buildings to connect to the ambient or thermal loop to meet to the building heating and cooling loads and maintain comfort. A semi-transient, reduced-order technical model and techno-economic model, called HEATNETS, has been developed at NREL that captures the flow of energy around a TEN. In this work, a comparison of the HEATNETS technical model and a well-known coding platform used for modeling geothermal networks, TRNSYS, has been completed for a proposed geothermal network as a verification and validation process. Hourly data provided from the TRNSYS simulation included building loads, pumping power, heat pump power, temperature entering and leaving the borehole field, and mass flow rates. The hourly borehole temperatures were used to create a linear regression model utilized in HEATNETS to estimate the borehole field heat exchange. The building loads and mass flow rates were direct inputs to HEATNETS while the pumping power, heat pump power, borehole temperatures, and coefficients of performance were all simulated and calculated by HEATNETS, allowing for direct comparison of the thermal energy transfer HEATNETS considers the full process from design inputs to economic outputs and can provide modeling options for high-level initial system design and operational optimization. This study focuses on a validation of HEATNETS using results from TRNSYS. HEATNETS is not intended to replace other modeling tools, but this work demonstrates, via a comparison with an industry standard code, that HEATNETS can be a unique, high-level and rapid modeling tool for estimating the performance of a full geothermal network system.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Comparative Analysis of HEATNETS for Geothermal Network Performance: Preprint

Thermal energy networks (TENs), also known as 5th generation district energy systems, or more specifically geothermal networks when exchanging heat with geothermal boreholes, are an important technology for decarbonization. In these networks an ambient loop connects buildings and thermal sources, such as a borehole field, to exchange energy and maintain a desired loop temperature. Water-source heat pumps are used at the buildings to connect to the ambient or thermal loop to meet to the building heating and cooling loads and maintain comfort. A semi-transient, reduced-order technical model and techno-economic model, called HEATNETS, has been developed at NREL that captures the flow of energy around a TEN. In this work, a comparison of the HEATNETS technical model and a well-known coding platform used for modeling geothermal networks, TRNSYS, has been completed for a proposed geothermal network as a verification process. Hourly data provided from the TRNSYS simulation included building loads, pumping power, heat pump power, temperature entering and leaving the borehole field, and mass flow rates. The hourly borehole temperatures were used to create a linear regression model utilized in HEATNETS to estimate the borehole field heat exchange. The building loads and mass flow rates were direct inputs to HEATNETS while the pumping power, heat pump power, borehole temperatures, and coefficients of performance were all simulated and calculated by HEATNETS, allowing for direct comparison of the thermal energy transfer, rather than also comparing control systems responses. HEATNETS considers the full process from design inputs to economic outputs and can provide modeling options for high-level initial system design and operational optimization. This study shows that HEATNETS, while not intended to replace other modeling tools, can be a unique modeling tool for the performance of a full geothermal network system.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2018

Solar-Driven Supercritical CO2 Brayton Cycle Testing (ANC)

Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) collaborated to conduct an investigation of the dynamic performance of a solar-driven supercritical CO2 (SCO2) Brayton cycle. This was performed on the SNL recompression closed Brayton cycle (RCBC) at the Nuclear Energy Systems Laboratory / Brayton Lab. Historical data were provided to CSIRO since the test assembly remained inoperable throughout the project. Also, multidimensional trade studies were generated using the SNL Recompression closed Brayton cycle Engineering and Trade Studies (RETS©) tool.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2023

FY22 Economic Impact Summary

In 2022, Idaho National Laboratory was one of the state’s top employers (sixth overall). INL directly employed a total of 5,460 positions, a 4% growth from the previous year. The large growth of Idaho’s economy between 2021 and 2022 means INL’s economic impact on the state has also deepened. Dollars that INL has brought into the state tend to stay and circulate longer, facilitating increased impacts and growth rates for the state. INL, along with the other 16 national labs housed under the Department of Energy (DOE), perform research focused on: nuclear energy, integrated energy systems (such Summary Results as microgrid, battery and environmental research), and national security. This study evaluates the economic activity of INL within the economy of Idaho. This study estimates the total economic impact generated by INL apart from any other DOE or Department of Defense operations within the state. Total operational impacts of INL in 2022 amounted to $\$ $3.38 billion in output, $\$ $2.42 billion in gross state product (GSP), and 16,445 jobs throughout Idaho.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Development of Low-Cost, High-Performance, Easy-To-Apply, Non-Flammable, Inorganic Phase Change Material (PCM) Technology (Project Final Report)

This report describes a 45-months long research program focused on the development of novel, easy-to-apply, non-flammable, and high-performance inorganic phase change materials (PCMs) for building and industrial applications. The University of Massachusetts Lowell (UML) formed a world-class team consisting of researchers form InsolCorp (only N. American manufacturer of inorganic PCM systems for building applications), and a group of industrial advisors, to develop a universal/multipurpose, simple-to-manufacture and cost-effective PCM technology. The project team expects that the results of this work will spur in the future the adoption of thermal storage materials – a key building energy saving technology as identified by DOE BTO – for a variety of building envelope applications. The main goal of this project was to demonstrate a suite of low-cost, multipurpose, and durable inorganic PCM formulations with phase transition temperatures encompassing typical building applications (between +5 o C and +55 o C). The first objective was to design, fabricate, and experimentally validate a performance of inexpensive, durable, highly efficient, non-flammable, and easy to manufacture PCMs. To allow a variety of building applications, the project team focused on formulations that exhibit repeatable phase transitions between +5 o C and +55 o C. To follow the DOE BTO cost efficiency target without compromising thermal performance, our work was based on inorganic compounds (mostly salt hydrates) and their blends, which represent a fraction of the cost of most of organic PCMs with about twice as high density as well as significantly higher thermal conductivity and phase change enthalpy. The second objective was to develop easy-to-manufacture and -install packaging/encapsulation designs that are 1) a superior barrier to current state-of-the-art macro-packaging, which significantly reduces the risk of loss of hydration water and PCM leak, and 2) optimal in enhancing the heat exchange rates with the surroundings and within the PCM core to ensure complete charging/discharging of the entire PCM within the product. Finally, the project’s intend was to scale-up the fabrication process to demonstrate installation on system-scale applications, and to validate the performance under field conditions. This work aimed at developing low-cost, high-energy storage, and reliable latent heat storage technology for building applications. This development was realized by formulating and integrating the following two technology components: 1) inorganic salt hydrate based PCMs that have high latent enthalpies and are low-cost and durable, and 2) PCM encapsulation (packaging) technology that maximizes PCM concentration and enhances heat transport characteristics in the product and with the external environment/materials. High thermal storage capacity, low cost and fire resistance are key to the building market entry for PCM technology. Therefore, the project’s focus was on salt-hydrate-based formulations which satisfy all these criteria. Packaging and/or encapsulation of PCM is a key processing step. The project team recognized that a low-cost and simple-to-manufacture salt hydrate-based PCM technology holds the best chance to be successful in the building construction market, a market which is traditionally extremely sensitive to cost and where commodity thermal insulations are the benchmark for envelope-related energy saving measures. That is why, in this project, the main intention was to minimize the production cost and maximize the product energy storage density without sacrificing the PCM performance. It was achieved through: 1. Minimizing the non-PCM components (plastics, additives, packaging/encapsulation materials, etc.) because they are significantly more expensive than salt hydrates, 2. Using highly thermally conductive and lightweight PCM carrier (packaging material) to facilitate more complete phase cycling, and 3. Optimizing the thickness and minimizing air spaces in product design (such as in pouched PCM). For this purpose, our approach was to enable an easy system design, including selection of the PCM operating temperatures, optimizing the necessary heat storage capacity (by stacking together several layers of PCM products), and if needed, a synchronized usage of PCM products of different temperatures. A specially designed, robust, highly thermally conducting and highly impermeable packaging (to retain salt hydrate water during phase transition cycles) was designed and tested to increase the overall system thermal performance and durability. All PCM products developed during this project were tested in both lab scale and in full scale field conditions. It is expected that, after further developments and commercialization, the developed PCM technologies may be also applied in space conditioning, energy storage technologies, and heat transfer applications.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
NASA NTRS2002

Flywheel Magnetic Suspension Developments

The paper provides an overview of many areas of the flywheel magnetic suspension (MS) R&D being performed at the Texas A&M Vibration Control and Electromechanics Lab (TAMU-VCEL). This includes system response prediction, actuator optimization and redundancy, controller realizations and stages, sensor enhancements and backup bearing reliability.

Palazzolo, Alan↗
NASA NTRS2012

A Portable, High Resolution, Surface Measurement Device

A high resolution, portable, surface measurement device has been demonstrated to provide micron-resolution topographical plots. This device was specifically developed to allow in-situ measurements of defects on the Space Shuttle Orbiter windows, but is versatile enough to be used on a wide variety of surfaces. This paper discusses the choice of an optical sensor and then the decisions required to convert a lab bench optical measurement device into an ergonomic portable system. The necessary trade-offs between performance and portability are presented along with a description of the device developed to measure Orbiter window defects.

Ihlefeld, Curtis M.↗
DOE OSTI2020

A VXS [VITA41] Trigger Processor for the 12GEV Experimental Programs at Jefferson Lab

The VXS_Trigger_Processor [VTP] was developed and commissioned for CLAS12 in the fall of 2016. This board is a VITA41 switch card and it collects data from a variety of front-end TDC and Flash ADC modules. The VTP has since been used in several experiments at Jefferson Lab serving as the L1 trigger module for a variety of detector types, such as stacked calorimeters, strip calorimeters, time-of-flight, Cerenkov, hodoscopes, drift chambers, and silicon strips. Trigger algorithms implemented include cluster finding (1D, 2D), drift chamber segment and road finding, geometry matching between various detectors, particle counting, and general global trigger bit processing. The VTP is also capable of reading out each front-end crate with up to 40Gbps Ethernet which is an enormous increase compared to the currently used 200MB/s VME bus. Recent progress has been made to show that a firmware and software upgrade can enable existing Jefferson Lab front-end crates to operate in a streaming DAQ mode. In February 2020, tests will be performed on a full calorimeter and matched hodoscope which are components of the CLAS12 Forward Tagger detector system with beam in Hall B. This paper details the hardware performance, triggered, and streaming applications that have been implemented using the VTP for several experiments at Jefferson Lab.

ABBOTT, David↗
DOE OSTI2017

Benefit Analysis of Energy Storage for Cordova Electric Cooperative

This report is a follow on to a previous study performed by Sandia National Labs and Alaska Center for Energy and Power which investigated the use of an energy storage system (ESS) providing spinning reserve within the Cordova Electric Cooperative (CEC) grid. The study provided the savings using the ESS as spinning reserve through reduced fossil fuel consumption and runtime on the diesel generators. In this report, the saving values are used from the previous study to determine the benefit-to-cost ratio for various ratings of ESS performing spinning reserve and quantifying other applications that are applicable to CEC.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Performance of $\text{BDX-MINI}$ veto systems

Here this paper describes the veto system of the BDX-MINI detector installed at Jefferson Lab (US). The BDX-MINI experiment is the first electron beam-dump experiment specifically designed to search for Light Dark Matter (LDM) particles in the MeV-GeV mass range. The core of the BDX-MINI detector is a lead-tungstate electromagnetic calorimeter, for a total volume of 4 dm 3 . The calorimeter is surrounded by a multi-layer veto aimed at rejecting cosmic background: the innermost layer of the veto is made by a passive tungsten shielding for low energy radiation, while plastic scintillators make the middle and outer layers for charged cosmic particles rejection. Being located about 20 m downstream, the dirt between the beam dump and the detector provides sufficient shielding from the beam-related background. In 2019–2020, BDX-MINI was exposed for about six months to weakly interacting particles (neutrinos and, if existing, DM) produced by a 2.176 GeV electron beam incident on the beam dump of experimental Hall-A at Jefferson Lab.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗