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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 1,297 records · Page 72
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2015

Research on long pulse ECRH system of EAST in support of ITER

Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), as a fully superconducting tokamak in China, aims to achieve high performance plasma under steady-state operation. To fulfill the physical objectives of EAST, a program of 4-MW long pulse electron cyclotron resonance heating and current drive (EC H&CD) system, which would offer greater flexibility for plasma shape and plasma stabilization has been launched on EAST since 2011. The system, composed of 4 gyrotrons with nominal 1MW output power and 1000s pulse length each, is designed with the feature of steerable power handling capabilities at 140 GHz, using second harmonic of the extraordinary mode(X2). The missions of the ECRH system are to provide plasma heating, current drive, plasma profile tailoring and control of magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) instabilities. Presently, the first two 140-GHz 1-MW gyrotrons, provided by GYCOM and CPI, respectively, have been tested at long pulse operation. The tubes, the associated power supplies, cooling system, cryogenic plant, 2 transmission lines and an equatorial launcher are now installed at EAST. The power generated from each tube will be transmitted by an evacuated corrugated waveguide transmission line and injected into plasma from the low field side (radial port) through a front steering equatorial launcher. Considering the diverse applications of the EC system, the beam’s launch angles can be continuously varied with the optimized scanning range of over 30° in poloidal direction and ±25° in toroidal, as well as the polarization could be adjusted during the discharge by the orientations of a pair of polarizers in the transmission line to maintain the highest absorption for different operational scenarios. The commissioning of the first 2MW ECRH plant for EAST is under way. The design, R&D activities and recent progress of the long pulse 140-GHz ECRH system are presented in this paper. As the technological requirements for EAST ECRH have many similarities with ITER devices, the installation and experience of EAST ECRH system may provide valuable data for the ITER.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2016

Synthesis of TiO{sub 2} by electrochemical method from TiCl{sub 4} solution as anode material for lithium-ion batteries

Metal oxide combined with graphite becomes interesting composition. TiO{sub 2} is a good candidate for Li ion battery anode because of cost, availability of sufficient materials, and environmentally friendly. TiO{sub 2} gravimetric capacity varied within a fairly wide range. TiO{sub 2} crystals form highly depends on the synthesis method used. The electrochemical method is beginning to emerge as a valuable option for preparing TiO{sub 2} powders. Using the electrochemical method, the particle can easily be controlled by simply adjusting the imposed current or potential to the system. In this work, the effects of some key parameters of the electrosynthesis on the formation of TiO{sub 2} have been investigated. The combination of graphite and TiO{sub 2} particle has also been studied for lithium-ion batteries. The homogeneous solution for the electrosynthesis of TiO{sub 2} powders was TiCl{sub 4} in ethanol solution. The electrolysis was carried out in an electrochemical cell consisting of two carbon electrodes with dimensions of (5 × 2) cm. The electrodes were set parallel with a distance of 2.6 cm between the electrodes and immersed in the electrolytic solution at a depth of 2 cm. The electrodes were connected to the positive and negative terminals of a DC power supply. The electrosynthesis was performed galvanostatically at 0.5 to 2.5 hours and voltages were varied from 8 to 12 V under constant stirring at room temperature. The resulted suspension was aged at 48 hrs, filtered, dried directly in an oven at 150°C for 2 hrs, washed 2 times, and dried again 60 °C for 6 hrs. The particle product has been used to lithium-ion battery as anode. Synthesis of TiO{sub 2} particle by electrochemical method at 10 V for 1 to 2.5 hrs resulted anatase and rutile phase.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2016

Solar Thermoelectricity via Advanced Latent Heat Storage

We report on a new modular, dispatchable, and cost-effective solar electricity-generating technology. Solar ThermoElectricity via Advanced Latent heat Storage (STEALS) integrates several state-of-the-art technologies to provide electricity on demand. In the envisioned STEALS system, concentrated sunlight is converted to heat at a solar absorber. The heat is then delivered to either a thermoelectric (TE) module for direct electricity generation, or to charge a phase change material for thermal energy storage, enabling subsequent generation during off-sun hours, or both for simultaneous electricity production and energy storage. The key to making STEALS a dispatchable technology lies in the development of a 'thermal valve,' which controls when heat is allowed to flow through the TE module, thus controlling when electricity is generated. The current project addresses each of the three major subcomponents, (i) the TE module, (ii) the thermal energy storage system, and (iii) the thermal valve. The project also includes system-level and techno- economic modeling of the envisioned integrated system and will culminate in the demonstration of a laboratory-scale STEALS prototype capable of generating 3kWe.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2019

The dual advanced ion simultaneous implantation experiment (DAISIE) for testing plasma-facing materials

A novel dual ion beam experimental facility, the Dual Advanced Ion Simultaneous Implantation Experiment (DAISIE), has been constructed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Inertial Electrostatic Confinement laboratory for implanting candidate plasma-facing components of multiple ion species. DAISIE is capable of implanting ions at energies from 10 kV to 50 kV, ion currents of 10 µA–950 µA, corresponding to steady-state ion fluxes of 1 × 10 14 cm –2 s –1 to 1 × 10 16 cm –2 s –1 , incidence angles of 55°, and surface temperatures of at least 1100 °C. Improvements to the sample current and sample temperature measurement and control systems over those used in prior UW-IEC experiments have been made. Likewise, optical measurements of the spot size of the beam on samples in DAISIE are in agreement with existing measurements of the ion beam and spot size in previous UW-IEC experiments. Dual-beam operation has been validated with helium-deuterium ion implantations in tungsten surfaces.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Josephson dynamics in two-dimensional ring-shaped condensates

We investigate Josephson transport in a fully closed, two-dimensional superfluid circuit formed by a ring-shaped 87 Rb Bose-Einstein condensate that contains two optical barriers acting as movable weak links. Translating these barriers at controlled speeds imposes a steady bias current, enabling direct mapping of the current-chemical-potential (𝐼−Δ⁢𝜇) characteristics. For narrow junctions (𝑤 ≈ 1µ⁢m), the circuit exhibits a pronounced dc branch that terminates at a critical current 𝐼 𝑐 = 9⁢(1) × 10 3 s −1 ; above this threshold, the system switches to an ac, resistive regime. Classical-field simulations that include the moving barriers quantitatively reproduce both the nonlinear 𝐼−Δ⁢𝜇 curve and the measured 𝐼 𝑐 , validating the underlying microscopic picture. Analysis of the ensuing phase dynamics shows that dissipation is mediated by the nucleation and traversal of vortex-antivortex pairs through the junctions, while the bulk condensate remains globally phase locked—direct evidence of the ring's topological constraint enforcing quantized circulation. These results establish a cold-atom analog of a superconducting quantum interference device in which Josephson dynamics can be resolved at the single-vortex level, providing a versatile platform for atomtronic circuit elements, nonreciprocal Josephson devices, and on-chip Sagnac interferometers for multiaxis rotation sensing.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Current-Driven Magnetization Reversal in Orbital Chern Insulators

Graphene multilayers with flat moiré minibands can exhibit the quantized anomalous Hall effect due to the combined influence of spontaneous valley polarization and topologically nontrivial valley-projected bands. The sign of the Hall effect in these Chern insulators can be reversed either by applying an external magnetic field, or by driving a transport current through the system. Here we propose a current-driven mechanism whereby reversal occurs along lines in the (current I , magnetic-field B ) control parameter space with slope d I / d B = ( e / h ) M A M ( 1 – γ 2 ) / γ , where M is the magnetization, A M is the moiré unit cell area, and γ < 1 is the ratio of the chemical potential difference between valleys along a domain wall to the electrical bias e V .

2-dimensional systems↗
DOE OSTI2022

Triple Phase-Shift Optimization of SiC-based Dual-Active Bridge DC/AC Converter

This paper presents a loss-optimized Triple Phase-Shift (TPS) switching strategy for Dual-Active Bridge (DAB) based converters. The proposed strategy considers minimizing total converter loss with respect to minimizing device rms cur-rents, enabling Zero-Voltage Switching (ZVS) turn-on of devices and accurate control of device turn-off current. A model for switching currents is presented, followed by a loss model and optimization strategy. A 1.3kV/100kW prototype based on SiC MOSFETs was used in this work and experimental results up to 10kW show the proposed TPS strategy to be more efficient for operation.

Vetrivelan, Adithyan↗
DOE OSTI2024

System Modeling and Robust Stability Region Analysis for Multi-inverters Based on VSG

As the number of inverter-interfaced distributed generators (IIDGs) increases, the decrease in the inertia of the microgrid affects the stability of microgrid voltage and current. The virtual synchronous generator (VSG) control method simulates the output characteristics of the synchronous machine to improve the inertia and damping of the microgrid. However, low-frequency oscillations can occur in systems with multi-VSGs connected in parallel, primarily when operating in island mode. Therefore, this article develops the small-signal state-space model for multi-inverters based on VSG and analyses the robust stability region (RSR) of the control parameters. Firstly, an extensible small-signal state-space model is established and simplified in the dq axis, which is a necessary preprocessing for the subsequent stability analysis. Secondly, the guardian map method based on bialternate product operation is constructed, and the RSR is established through translation mapping and rotation mapping. Therefore, the solution of RSR is transformed into the problem of identifying the Hurwitz matrix. Finally, the simulations and experiments verify that the calculated region can ensure stable operation during startup and meet the requirement to suppress low-frequency oscillations. In conclusion, the method of solving RSR proposed in this paper provides a basis for selecting controller parameters in practical engineering.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2018

Multiparameter Outstation Agents for Cyber-Physical Electrical Grid Security and Restoration

This paper describes the development and deployment of cyberaware sensors to monitor the electrical grid and aid with disaster relief. These cyberaware sensors, outstation agents, provide information of multiple parameters simultaneously acting like a black box. The sensors embedded in the outstation agents and the communication architectures are described. These outstation agents are deployed around electrical substations in stationary and mobile platforms. The data collected from the outstation agents is sent to the utility control center providing information of the current status of the electrical grid. In the event of a disaster, the outstation agents make available information on the state of the grid, failures, and resources available to create an effective restoration pathway.

Morales Rodriguez, Marissa↗
DOE OSTI2021

DC Circuit Breakers: A Technology Development Status Survey

DC circuit breakers (DCCBs) play a significant role in obtaining the reliability and stability of DC power systems. Selective and fast isolating of faults minimizes the power supply outages to end electricity users and protects the power converters implemented in the DC system. During the last decades, DCCBs have been deeply investigated in industry and academia. There has been impressive progress in terms of efficiency, response time, power-density, lifetime, and electrical operating ratings. Introducing wide bandgap (WBG) devices further has motivated researchers to propose more efficient and novel topologies. This paper provides a point of reference and a background review for DCCBs from novel aspects, fulfilling absent parts in the literature. The elaborated subjects include current commutation circuitry, DCCBs trip-curves developments, newly added functions to DCCBs, as well as marketing analysis. The advancements of DCCBs are surveyed and development needs are recognized. This paper aims to identify the future research needs of DCCBs for emerging DC power systems.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2022

Blackstart and Fault Ride-Through Capability of DFIG-Based Wind Turbines

Grid-forming wind turbines must be able to re-energize transmission branches, motor loads, unbalanced loads, and power electronics loads following a blackout. Further, they must ride through faults that can arise during restoration. To tackle these challenges, this paper sets forth a grid-forming control strategy for wind turbines using doubly-fed induction generators (DFIGs). In particular, a special set of feedforward control loops are engineered to mitigate the impacts of restoration transients as well as symmetrical and asymmetrical faults on the regulation of DFIG rotor currents and stator voltages. This paper also leverages two-axis anti-windup regulators to bound two-axis voltage and current commands within ratings. As a result, the controller performance is demonstrated via a high-fidelity simulation model of a notional wind-dominant grid.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

TRIZ-Based Design Improvement for Facilitating Transmission Control Unit Remanufacturing

Design for Remanufacturing (DfRem) centers on enhancing product design and operations to facilitate remanufacturing while increasing both economic and environmental sustainability. DfRem requires a comprehensive understanding of product characteristics, production conditions, and operational constraints. Thus, DfRem requires a systematic methodology to identify and implement alternative designs. Among many critical steps in remanufacturing, disassembly is essential because it directly supports remanufacturing by separation of product components for cleaning, inspection, and other subsequent process steps. This study proposes a TRIZ-based framework to improve product design for disassembly in support of remanufacturing. The framework is applied to a transmission control unit (TCU) case study. The current TCU design prevents remanufacturing due to the sealant-based component joinery, which complicates disassembly and risks damaging the printed circuit board (PCB). After defining technical contradictions for the TCU product design and reviewing the suggested TRIZ principles to solve the conflicts, a cantilever snap-fit design alternative is developed. The economic feasibility of the snap-fit design is assessed by comparing the current and snap-fit design costs for three life cycles. The cost analysis demonstrates that the cost of the snap-fit design remains the same as the current design. Additionally, the snap-fit design offers substantial cost savings for three life cycles compared to the current design. We demonstrate how snap-fit design supports both environmental and economic sustainability.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2015

Optically resonant subwavelength films for tamper-indicating tags and seals

We present the design, modeling and performance of a proof-of-concept tamper indicating approach that exploits newly-developed subwavelength-patterned films. These films have a nanostructure-dependent resonant optical reflection that is wavelength, angle, and polarization dependent. As such, they can be tailored to fabricate overlay transparent films for tamper indication and authentication of sensitive or controlled materials not possible with currently-known technologies. An additional advantage is that the unique optical signature is dictated by the geometry and fabrication process of the nanostructures in the film, rather than on the material used. The essential structure unit in the subwavelength resonant coating is a nanoscale Open-Ring Resonator (ORR). This building block is fabricated by coating a dielectric nanoscale template with metal to form a hemispherical shell-like structure. This curved metallic shell structure has a cross-section with an intrinsic capacitance and inductance and is thus the optical equivalent to the well-known “LC” circuit where the capacitance and inductance are determined by the nanoshell dimensions. For structures with sub 100 nm scale, this resonance occurs in the visible electromagnetic spectrum, and in the IR for larger shells. Tampering of the film would be visible though misalignment of the angular dependence of the features in the film. It is additionally possible to add in intrinsic oxidation and strain sensitive matrix materials to further complicate tamper repair and counterfeiting. Cursory standoff readout would be relatively simple using a combination of a near-infrared (or visible) LED flashlight and polarizer or passively using room lighting illumination and a dispersive detector.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Programming twist angle and strain profiles in 2D materials

Moiré superlattices in twisted two-dimensional materials have generated tremendous excitement as a platform for achieving quantum properties on demand. However, the moiré pattern is highly sensitive to the interlayer atomic registry, and current assembly techniques suffer from imprecise control of the average twist angle, spatial inhomogeneity in the local twist angle, and distortions caused by random strain. We manipulated the moiré patterns in hetero- and homobilayers through in-plane bending of monolayer ribbons, using the tip of an atomic force microscope. This technique achieves continuous variation of twist angles with improved twist-angle homogeneity and reduced random strain, resulting in moiré patterns with tunable wavelength and ultralow disorder. Our results may enable detailed studies of ultralow-disorder moiré systems and the realization of precise strain-engineered devices.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗
DOE OSTI2018

Electrochemical CO 2 Reduction on Oxide-Derived Cu Surface with Various Oxide Thicknesses

Here, cuprous oxide on copper foil electrodes prepared via electrochemical deposition and thermal annealing are investigated towards CO 2 electrochemical reduction at low overpotential. The thickness of the electrochemical deposited Cu 2 O was controlled by varying the constant-current deposition time. The surface morphology and roughness were examined with SEM and CV respectively. The electrode fabricated by cuprous oxide deposited for 20 min demonstrated the best faradic efficiency (7.02%) and specific activity (0.123 mA/cm 2 ) towards format/formic acid formation at -0.5 V vs. RHE in CO 2 saturated 0.5 M K 2 CO 3 among studied samples.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Single Atomic Iron Site Catalysts via Benign Aqueous Synthesis for Durability Improvement in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

Atomically-dispersed iron-nitrogen-carbon (Fe–N–C) catalysts have arisen as promising candidates for replacing the costly precious metal catalysts in fuel cells but still face some grand challenges, such as insufficient site density and durability. Herein, we report a self-assembly method in an aqueous solution to develop an atomically-dispersed iron catalyst with high oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity and stability in acidic electrolytes. As determined by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), and high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM), this benign aqueous synthesis strategy facilitates the formation of homogeneous atomic nitrogen-coordinated iron sites embedded in a popcorn-like porous graphitic carbon matrix. These catalyst properties contribute to the improved ORR kinetic current density and mass transport. By controlling synthesis chemistry, the correlation between structure and property is systematically investigated. In this work, the iron content is the most critical material property and can regulate site density and graphitic carbon structures in the catalyst, impacting catalytic activity and stability. The enhanced performance and durability were examined in both acidic aqueous electrolytes and membrane electrode assemblies.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Electrolytic Etching of Germanium Substrates with Hydrogen Peroxide

Anodic electrolytic etching of germanium has been performed in hydrogen peroxide etchants with controlled external conditions. In-situ current and ex-situ etch-depths were measured and tracked with respect to etchant composition and stir rates. Gas bubbles formed during the etching process were found to cause non-uniformity in etch-current and surface quality. The effects were minimized in specific composition spaces. Quantitative analysis revealed a linear correlation of the number of electrons transferred during germanium oxidation with the number of surface atoms removed. Experimental results of 2.77 electrons/atom deviate significantly from 4 electrons/atom previously reported for silicon. The conclusion is that etching mechanisms for germanium are sufficiently different from those for silicon which invalidates the direct transfer of processing techniques between the two materials.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗