Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Collaboration”

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 145 records · Page 8

NCSP Outlook and Interest for Collaboration on HST Experiments [Slides]

The majority of the NCSP budget goes to Integral Experiments. The goal is to produce needed integral data for criticality safety needs in DOE, largely resulting in ICSBEP benchmarks. NCSP has a well defined process for allocating funding through proposals and expert review. NCSP is a fairly small program and funding is prioritized for experiments that would address DOE criticality safety needs. The majority of the currently identified DOE criticality safety needs are HEU and Pu systems. NCSP has a formal mechanism to ensure quality and benefit through the phase gates and approvals within the CED process.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Collaborative Proposal: Improving understanding of the internal structure and dynamics of deep convection using ARM observations and large eddy simulations

Recent observational and large eddy simulation (LES) modeling studies have nearly unanimously supported the view of deep cumulus convection being composed of a series of quasi-spherical bubbles of buoyant air, known as moist thermals. Despite the prevalence of moist thermals in deep convection, a comprehensive theory for the dynamics of these structures is lacking. Most current conceptual models for cumulus convection are based on canonical scaling theories for dry thermals or plumes; however, there is considerable evidence that the behavior of moist thermals differs markedly from these theories. Furthermore, the theoretical basis for most cumulus parameterizations originates from the plume conceptual model, and therefore these parameterizations are inconsistent with the real structure of moist convection. Motivated by the aforementioned knowledge gaps, this “end-to-end” research effort use theory, observations, numerical simulations, and direct improvements to the Zhang-McFarlane (ZM) convection scheme in the global climate Community Atmosphere Model (CAM) to address the following research questions: What key environmental parameters determine whether or not shallow convection will transition into deep convection, in the context of thermal-like updrafts? What factors regulate the size of thermals within cumulus updrafts? How does vertical wind shear influence thermal behavior, and as a consequence, vertical velocity and mass flux profiles and the shallow-to-deep convective transition? What are the critical processes that determine updraft vertical velocities and their connection to the vertical mass flux profile for thermal-like updrafts? Idealized LES modeling will be used in conjunction with theoretical models for the core properties of thermal-like updrafts to better understand key processes that regulate thermal ascent rates and entrainment properties. Thermal-tracking procedures will be used to characterize the behavior of thermals within the LES, and recently developed direct measures of entrainment and detrainment will be used to quantify entrainment/detrainment rates. Building from these results, we will analyze the structure of moist thermals from hemispheric range-height indicator scans taken during the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Cloud, Aerosol, and Complex Terrain Interactions (CACTI) field campaign, and from “real case” LES of CACTI events. This combined modeling and observational analysis will provide essential validation for the existing body of research on moist thermal dynamics, which is based primarily on modeling studies. With the insight gained from the aforementioned activities, we will modify the Zhang-McFarlane convection scheme to improve its representation of updraft vertical velocity and entrainment rate profiles. These process-level changes will be tested in the Community Atmosphere Model to assess the impact on global climate simulations.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Recent Collaborations and Innovations to Demonstrate Next-Generation Techniques for Monitoring Subsurface Carbon Storage

World Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) Conference, Bergen, Norway, September 1–4, 2025. This talk provides a high-level overview of many novel and sustainable carbon storage-monitoring methods to accelerate the deployment of CCUS technologies at future CCUS sites across the United States. The Energy & Environmental Research Center’s work impacts the general CCUS industry by providing novel low-impact methods for tracking the injected plume’s migration and more autonomous data collection and processing techniques for performing assurance monitoring. Specifically, the results benefit 1) CCUS community members through knowledge sharing of lessons learned; 2) CCUS operators through commercialization of additional methods, including improvements to workflows and simplification of fieldwork; and 3) CCUS project stakeholders through implementation of low-impact and more autonomous monitoring solutions.

02 PETROLEUM↗

Progress on the US-Japan Source Term Benchmark Analysis Collaboration

There has been a resurgence in global interest in advanced reactor technology, with a variety of innovative concepts being proposed and developed. Sodium-cooled Fast Reactors (SFRs) have garnered considerable attention given their beneficial characteristics and extensive historical development programs and operating experience. Central to the licensing of non-light water reactor (non-LWR) technology is the characterization of the safety case. At its basics, reactor safety focuses on the prevention and mitigation of the release of radioactive material to the environment.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Collaborative R&D with REEL Solar Inc (REEL) to Understand and Overcome Performance Limitations in CdTe Solar Cells: Cooperative Research and Development (Final Report)

This CRADA will focus on processing, advanced characterization, and testing of photovoltaic materials and devices to understand and improve REEL CdTe solar technology. This will include examining process variations and different buffer, absorber, and contact layers from REEL and NLR to maximize performance. The unique and diverse advanced characterization tools at NLR, such as time-resolved photoluminescence, capacitance-voltage measurements, electron beam scattered diffraction, cathodoluminescence, electron microscopy, TOF-SIMS, and other measurements will be applied to characterize REEL processing to improve understanding and guide experimental directions. Accelerated stability and potential induced degradation tests will be used to analyze metastability, short-and-long term degradation, and improve bankability. A second and major thrust this period will be joint development of Si/CdTe tandem solar cells to overcome industry wide terrestrial solar efficiency limits with the two lowest cost and manufacturable solar materials today. This will include developing novel transparent back contacts that can be incorporated into tandem structures and other novel solar applications, detailed analysis of designs and configurations for CdTe/Si tandem modules, and prototyping REEL CdTe Technology with Si bottom cells in tandem structures.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

ACT University Collaboration Proposal: Role of manufacturing defects on material failure under dynamic loading for developing enhanced failure models and theories (Final Report)

Research on the tensile behavior of additively manufactured 316L stainless steel coupon specimens at increasing strain rates was conducted over the past year at Penn State. Dynamic loading rates into the 1000 1/s loading rates were performed on specimens with nearly 1.32” gage lengths. Stress-strain plots show ductile and plastic behavior well beyond 12% strain with necked specimens, having smaller effective gage lengths showing up to 56% ultimate strain. Additional tests performed on compact tension specimens helped with simulation work to understand the deformation behavior. Using finite elements, it was possible to determine the feasibility of a comprehensive experimental validation study towards an improved model for AM material failure – specifically, the Bai-Wierzbicki approach which accounts for lode angle and triaxiality. A non-significant number of tests are projected for eight specific failure nodes, with additional replicates to provide strain-rate capabilities to the existing formulation. One such correction factor is explored for quasi-static, notched specimens. Finally, stress intensity factor was explored using a set of compact-tension specimens which would also provide useful validation data for any simulation work.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Collaborative: Fundamental studies of how water influences the synthesis and behavior of zeolite catalysts for reactions in the circular carbon economy (Final Technical Report)

This project established a computational framework to predict and interpret how synthesis conditions control active site location in MFI zeolites and how those site distributions influence catalytic reactivity. The Hibbitts Group led the theoretical effort, applying periodic DFT calculations to quantify (i) SDA–framework–heteroatom interactions during crystallization and (ii) the energetics and mechanisms of arene methylation reactions within distinct MFI environments.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Collaborative Approach to Identify Degradation Mechanisms and Validate Aging Protocols for a Diverse Set of DAC Materials (TCF Base Technology-Specific Final Report)

This work supports the mission of the U.S. Department of Energy to promote American energy leadership, technological innovation, and economic growth through the development of technologies for cost effective carbon capture. While capture technologies can provide carbon dioxide for enhanced oil recovery, many capture materials suffer from oxidative, hydrolytic and/or thermal degradation which leads to capacity loss and unwanted emissions such as ammonia. Short lifetimes increase operational costs and cost studies suffer from uncertainty because the true lifetimes of many capture materials are unknown. In this study, a suite of capture materials were studied to quantify their degradation, provide insight into the mechanisms that lead to their uptake loss and provide validated accelerated aging protocols for industry.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗