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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 127 records · Page 7
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

Usable Data Abstractions for Next-Generation Scientific Workflows

Data- and computationally-intensive scientific research, such as numerical simulations and inversions or the training of large neural networks in machine learning applications, that are well suited for HPC environments also often require expert insight and evaluation throughout the computation which can be greatly facilitated with the use of interactive computing tools, such as those in the Jupyter ecosystem. HPC workflows and interactive workflows are typically treated as orthogonal, however, the next generation of research will require both. The first challenge we face in this project is thus designing the right level of abstractions to allow interactive capabilities in the JupyterLab environment to allow the working scientist to flexibly explore and query their data at multiple levels, with a minimal amount of customization required of the underlying optimized codes. In addition to these questions regarding the high-level representation of data for interactive use in HPC, we tackled two additional issues that are part of the entire lifecycle of research and that become particularly acute in HPC contexts: how to improve the experience of interfacing with the HPC system's scheduling environment for a scientist focused on exploratory questions, and how can that scientist then best share the results of their work with others in a self-contained, reproducible manner.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2021

Increasing the Usability of Sockeye: Implementing Customer-Driven Modeling Improvements, Features, and Documentation of Sockeye

A number of tasks for the heat pipe simulation tool Sockeye were identified based on customer needs and included both user documentation and code development: (a) Implement saturation-dependence in the capillary pressure model; (b) Provide an analytic utility to analyze the frozen startup limit; (c) Demonstrate custom friction closures; (d) Develop examples for different types of heat transfer sources and boundary conditions; (e) Demonstrate the capillary and sonic limits; and (f) Provide discretization details in the theory manual. These tasks were all completed, and results are given where applicable.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2022

Researcher Views on Water Data Accessibility, Usability, and Dissemination

Ultimately, the challenges that researchers face with finding, accessing, using, and disseminating water data affect their ability to do mission critical research for DOE and other sponsors. We interviewed PNNL researchers who support DOE’s Water Power Technologies Office and summarize their views on issues pertaining to data access, use, and dissemination. We also take a closer look at approaches to disseminating data to help inform WPTO and lab researcher decisions about incorporating data dissemination into future projects.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Complete Demonstration of a Prototype Version of FORCE User Interface and Conduct Analyst Survey Collecting Feedback on Interface Features and Usability

In 2024 the US Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) Integrated Energy System (IES) program continued to develop the Framework for Optimization of Resources and Economics (FORCE) analysis ecosystem into a more traditional toolset with simplified software installation, automated workflows, and interactive results visualization. The DOE-NE Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation (NEAMS) Workbench continued to be leveraged for user input, application workflow and runtime environment, and interactive results visualization capabilities. This report documents the demonstration of a FORCE User Interface (UI) prototype and the results of a survey of analysts’ using the Holistic Energy Resource Optimization Network (HERON) tool in FORCE with the prototype UI.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2023

Usability and Optimization Improvements in MOOSE

The Multiphysics Object-Oriented Simulation Environment (MOOSE) framework is a foundational capability used by the Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation (NEAMS) program to create over 15 different simulation tools for advanced nuclear reactors. Due to MOOSE’s broad use, improvements to the framework in support of modeling and simulation goals are critical to the program. Such improvements can take many forms, including optimization, improved user experience, streamlined application programming interfaces (APIs), parallelism, and new capabilities. The work described in this report was conducted in direct support of the simulation tools and has already been deployed. The capabilities were implemented in the same order as they are covered in this report: multiple nonlinear systems in the same input file, implementation of generic field transfers and other transfer system enhancements, support for stateful material property redistribution for adaptivity and distributed meshes, and dynamic linking and loading of individually compiled applications. These four additions are fundamental capabilities that will be leveraged by many NEAMS applications.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2024

IRI Technology Landscape – A survey of re-usable components and methodologies

This document describes technical implementation details on network access schemes connecting API-driven workflows to supercomputer centers. API-driven workflows are a central theme in connected computing, since they bring the terminal-mainframe' access pattern present since the 1970s up to the task of interfacing with modern web browser technologies. Both security (HTTPS/TLS/IPSec/VPNs/public key cryptography/digital signatures) and network protocol stacks (HTTP-REST APIs, tokens, gRPC, SRTP) have evolved to the point where implementing API-driven workflows is possible using stable, secure off-the-shelf software.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2026

Adaptable Standards for Discovery, Access, and Usability of Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Data Portals and Catalogs

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is leveraging its established capabilities and subject matter expertise in data curation, governance, management, national security, and risk assessment and mitigation to support the US Department of Energy (DOE) Grid Modernization Initiative. Using standards modeled by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Data Curation Network (DCN), the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility (OLCF), and other leading organizations in the fields of energy research, high-performance computing, and national and homeland security, ORNL seeks to provide a federated approach to research data discovery, use, and interoperability.

96 KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND PRESERVATION↗
DOE OSTI2018

A low cost, re-usable electricity-free infant warmer: evaluation of safety, effectiveness and feasibility

Setting: Rural Rwandan hospitals, where thermoregulation is critical yet a challenge for pre-term, low-birth-weight (LBW) or sick newborns. Objective: To assess the safety, effectiveness, and feasibility of an inexpensive, reusable, non-electric warmer to complement kangaroo mother care (KMC). Methods: Prospective single-arm, non-randomized intervention study. Enrolled infants were hypothermic or at risk of hypothermia due to prematurity/LBW. Infants used the warmer in conjunction with KMC or as the sole source of external heat. Temperatures of the infant, warmer and air were measured for up to 6 h. Results: Overall, 33 patients used the warmer for 102 encounters: 43 hypothermic and 59 at risk of hypothermia. In 7/102 encounters (7%), the infant developed a temperature of >37.5°C (37.6°-38.2°C). For 43 hypothermic encounters and 59 at-risk encounters, hypothermia was corrected/prevented in respectively 41 (95%) and 59 (100%) instances. The warmer maintained goal temperature for the study duration in 85% of uses. Two/12 warmers broke down after <10 uses. In no instances was the warmer used incorrectly. Conclusion: Our results are promising for this prototype design, and warrant testing on a wider scale.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1975

Feasibility and process scale-up low cost alumina fibers for advanced Re-usable Surface Insulation (RSI)

The objective of this program was to establish feasibility of a process to produce low cost aluminum oxide fibers having sufficient strength, flexibility, and thermal stability for multiple re-use at temperatures to 1480 C in advanced RSI type heat shields for reentry vehicles. Using bench-scale processing apparatus, the Alcoa 'Saphiber' process was successfully modified to produce nominally 8 microns diameter polycrystalline alpha-alumina fiber. Thermal stability was demonstrated in vacuum reheating tests to 1371 C and in atmospheric reheating to 1483 C. Individual fiber properties of strength, modulus, and flexibility were not determined because of friability and short length of the fiber. Rigidized tile produced from fiber of nominally 8, 20 and 40 micron diameter had thermal conductivities significantly higher than those of RSI SiO2 or mullite at relatively low temperature but became comparable above about 1000 C. Tile densities were high due to short fiber length, especially in the coarser diameter fiber. No significant effect of fiber diameter on thermal properties could be determined form the data. Mechanical properties of tiles deteriorated as fiber diameter increased.

Pearson, A.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Bearing seat usable in a gas turbine engine

A blade and mounting ring assembly is described which is adapted for rotation about a first axis including a series of blades mounted on said ring for rotation about a second axis and a series of bearing assemblies, each associated with one of said blades, an improved bearing seat is provided for seating the bearing assemblies.

Moreman, O. S., III↗
NASA NTRS1978

A computational scheme usable for calculating the plume backflow region

The effects of the nozzle wall boundary layer on the plume flowfield are neglected in the majority of computational schemes which exist for the calculation of rocket engine exhaust plume flowfields. This neglect, which is unimportant in many applications, becomes unacceptable for applications where a surface which can be adversely affected by plume impingement forces, heating, or contamination is located behind the nozzle exit plane in what is called the 'plume backflow region'. The flow in this region originates in, and is highly affected by, the nozzle wall boundary layer. The inclusion of the effects of the boundary layer in the calculations is required for an appropriate determination of the flowfield properties within this region. A description is presented of the results of modifications of a method-of-characteristics computer program. The modifications were made to include the effects of the nozzle wall boundary layer on the plume flowfield. A comparison of computed and experimental data indicates that the employed computer program may be a useful tool for calculating the entire plume flowfield for liquid propellant rocket engines.

Cooper, B. P., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1979

A nozzle boundary layer model including the subsonic sublayer usable for determining boundary layer effects on plume flowfields

A model for the boundary layer at the exit plane of a rocket nozzle was developed which, unlike most previous models, includes the subsonic sublayer. The equations for the flow near the nozzle exit plane are presented and the method by which the subsonic sublayer transitions to supersonic flow in the plume is described. The resulting model describes the entire boundary layer and can be used to provide a startline for method-of-characteristics calculations of plume flowfields. The model was incorporated into a method of characteristics computer program and comparisons of computed results to experimental data show good agreement. The data used in the comparisons were obtained in tests in which mass fluxes from a 22.2-N (5 lbf) thrust engine were measured at angles off the nozzle centerline of up to 150 deg. Additional comparisons were made with data obtained during tests of a 0.89-N (0.2 lbr) monopropellant thruster and from the OH-64 space shuttle heating tests. The agreement with the data indicates that the model can be used for calculating plume backflow properties.

Cooper, B. P., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1984

The US re-usable launch system - The Space Shuttle

The NASA Space Shuttle furnishes a range of readily available, and either already planned or yet-to-be-defined services, which already encompass satellite on-orbit servicing, refueling and repair, and satellite retrieval services. A gradual expansion will be made of services that capitalize on the presence of a large crew during commercial and scientific operations, while pursuing the development of automated, standardized procedures for the handling of experiments in order to reduce research costs.

Lee, C. M.↗