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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 145 records · Page 8

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NASA NTRS1987

A simulation evaluation of a pilot interface with an automatic terminal approach system

The pilot-machine interface with cockpit automation is a critical factor in achieving the benefits of automation and reducing pilot blunders. To improve this interface, an automatic terminal approach system (ATAS) was conceived that can automatically fly a published instrument approach by using stored instrument approach data to automatically tune airplane radios and control an airplane autopilot and autothrottle. The emphasis in the ATAS concept is a reduction in pilot blunders and work load by improving the pilot-automation interface. A research prototype of an ATAS was developed and installed in the Langley General Aviation Simulator. A piloted simulation study of the ATAS concept showed fewer pilot blunders, but no significant change in work load, when compared with a baseline heading-select autopilot mode. With the baseline autopilot, pilot blunders tended to involve loss of navigational situational awareness or instrument misinterpretation. With the ATAS, pilot blunders tended to involve a lack of awareness of the current ATAS mode state or deficiencies in the pilots' mental model of how the system operated. The ATAS display provided adequate approach status data to maintain situational awareness.

Hinton, David A.↗

NASA NTRS2000

AWE: Aviation Weather Data Visualization Environment

Weather is one of the major causes of aviation accidents. General aviation (GA) flights account for 92% of all the aviation accidents, In spite of all the official and unofficial sources of weather visualization tools available to pilots, there is an urgent need for visualizing several weather related data tailored for general aviation pilots. Our system, Aviation Weather Data Visualization Environment AWE), presents graphical displays of meteorological observations, terminal area forecasts, and winds aloft forecasts onto a cartographic grid specific to the pilot's area of interest. Decisions regarding the graphical display and design are made based on careful consideration of user needs. Integral visual display of these elements of weather reports is designed for the use of GA pilots as a weather briefing and route selection tool. AWE provides linking of the weather information to the flight's path and schedule. The pilot can interact with the system to obtain aviation-specific weather for the entire area or for his specific route to explore what-if scenarios and make "go/no-go" decisions. The system, as evaluated by some pilots at NASA Ames Research Center, was found to be useful.

Spirkovska, Lilly↗

NASA NTRS1973

Functional changes in systemic and regional (intracranial) circulation accompanying low accelerations

Functional changes in systemic and cerebral hemodynamics were studied with respect to vestibular stresses. The main types of responses, differing qualitatively with respect to the tolerance of test subjects to low accelerations (particularly to Coriolis accelerations), were established. This is of practical importance in the selection of aircraft and space pilots. The data presented sheds light on the physiological mechanisms of adaptation and disturbed compensation during vestibular stimulation. Further studies in this important field of aerospace medicine are outlined.

Usachev, V. V.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Application of data to piloted simulators

The application of a further developed analytical model and JAWS data to a piloted simulator is addressed. The Ames simulator provides a facility for the development of piloting procedures, and for the selection of training scenarios. The system is operational with the new wind shear models and comprehensive data output. The use of these models with the simulator is dicussed in detail.

Bray, Richard S.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Concepts for pilot interaction with an automated NOE obstacle-avoidance system

The problem of providing an appropriate method by which a human pilot interacts with an automated nap-of-the-Earth rotorcraft guidance and control system is addressed. This problem is closely related to the broader question of what level and degree of automation is effective at reducing pilot workload during low-altitude flight missions requiring obstacle avoidance. A systematic approach for establishing the possible combinations of manual versus automatic authority over relevant guidance and control functions is first presented. From these possibilities, three candidate concepts are selected; selection is based upon their potential for practical implementation and reduction in pilot workload. This paper describes the selection of these three pilot-interaction concepts and the mathematical models for their implementation.

Coppenbarger, R. A.↗

NASA NTRS1995

PSC implementation and integration

Hardware and software design of the performance seeking control (PSC) for the NASA F-15 research aircraft are described. The hardware architecture, vehicle management system computer (VMSC), pilot interface, and PSC mode selection are discussed. The PSC software is distributed among the VMSC, central computer, digital electronic engine controls (DEEC's), and electronic air inlet controllers (EAIC's). The major PSC modules, VMSC logic, VMSC channel C memory requirements, VMSC channel C timing, and navigation control indicator (NCI) variables and where they are located are presented.

Nobbs, Steven↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Validation of Multisystem Countermeasures Protocol for Spaceflight during Antarctica Winter-over at Palmer Station (Palmer Countermeasures)

Stressors associated with spaceflight induce persistent immune compromise in astronauts which increase subclinical latent virus reactivation. In select crews, adverse clinical events have been documented. Antarctica winter-over (AWO) mission most closely reproduces these mission stressors: prolonged deployment, extreme environment, circadian misalignment, isolation, station lifestyle, and personal risk. The US maintains three primary stations in Antarctica: South Pole Station, McMurdo, and Palmer. Previous studies suggest that stations located near the interior of Antarctica (South Pole, McMurdo) have confounding effects on the immune system due to persistent hypobaric hypoxia. We hypothesized that winter-over at a coastal station (Palmer) would be more akin to spaceflight due to its normoxic but still extreme environment. Therefore, AWO at Palmer Station was selected, and validated in a pilot study [2], as the platform for testing and validating the effectiveness of an immune-restorative countermeasure protocol designed for deep space missions. Specifics include diet modifications, nutritional supplementation (vitamin D, probiotic, etc.), prescribed aerobic and resistive exercise, and a protocol of stress relieving virtual reality exercises. A multitude of biological sample types, including blood, saliva, and hair will be collected in tandem with the countermeasures in order to examine the combined effectiveness of the countermeasures. Samples and logs from subjects will be transported from Palmer Station to Johnson Space Center for further processing and distribution to co-investigators at the end of each winter-over. Extracted samples will be analyzed by appropriate testing platforms (Multiplex, qPCR, ELISA, etc.) to monitor alterations in leukocyte distribution, T cell and NK function, cytokine profiles, reactivation of latent herpesviruses, and nutritional factors. The data collected will be compared to a control year in which no countermeasures were deployed to evaluate the overall effectiveness of the analog and to validate the candidate immune countermeasure strategy. AWO 2023 concluded with the 4th in-mission timepoint conducted in September 2023. Samples for 16 subjects, including blood, saliva, hair, surveys, and PCR data, were all successfully returned from Antarctica to NASA/JSC mid-November 2023. Samples have since been distributed to co-investigators for further processing and analysis. With the completion of the first countermeasure year, preliminary data on the effectiveness of the deep-space protocol is being evaluated, however, no conclusions can be drawn yet until the completion of the second AWO countermeasure year, AWO 2024. AWO 2024 commenced in late-March 2024, with 13 subjects consenting and performing their baseline data collections (BDCs). Unique to the 2024 deployment, NSF lifted certain COVID restrictions and rallied the crewmembers in Punta Arenas, Chile. All NSF activities were transferred to this location and NASA was allowed, for the first time, to perform consent briefings, baseline samplings and training in person. This augment greatly increased the likelihood of success for the overwinter activities.

Cody L Gutierrez↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Validation of Multisystem Countermeasures Protocol for Spaceflight during Antarctica Winter-over at Palmer Station (Palmer Countermeasures)

Stressors associated with spaceflight induce persistent immune compromise in astronauts which increase subclinical latent virus reactivation. In select crews, adverse clinical events have been documented. Antarctica winter-over (AWO) mission most closely reproduces these mission stressors: prolonged deployment, extreme environment, circadian misalignment, isolation, station lifestyle, and personal risk. The US maintains three primary stations in Antarctica: South Pole Station, McMurdo, and Palmer. Previous studies suggest that stations located near the interior of Antarctica (South Pole, McMurdo) have confounding effects on the immune system due to persistent hypobaric hypoxia. We hypothesized that winter-over at a coastal station (Palmer) would be more akin to spaceflight due to its normoxic but still extreme environment. Therefore, AWO at Palmer Station was selected, and validated in a pilot study, as the platform for testing and validating the effectiveness of an immune-restorative countermeasure protocol designed for deep space missions. Specifics include diet modifications, nutritional supplementation (vitamin D, probiotic, etc.), prescribed aerobic and resistive exercise, and a protocol of stress relieving virtual reality exercises. A multitude of biological sample types, including blood, saliva, and hair will be collected in tandem with the countermeasures in order to examine the combined effectiveness of the countermeasures. Samples and logs from subjects will be transported from Palmer Station to Johnson Space Center for further processing and distribution to co-investigators at the end of each winter-over. Extracted samples will be analyzed by appropriate testing platforms (Multiplex, qPCR, ELISA, etc.) to monitor alterations in leukocyte distribution, T cell and NK function, cytokine profiles, reactivation of latent herpesviruses, and nutritional factors. The data collected will be compared to a control year in which no countermeasures were deployed to evaluate the overall effectiveness of the analog and to validate the candidate immune countermeasure strategy. AWO 2023 concluded with the 4th in-mission timepoint conducted in September 2023. Samples for 16 subjects, including blood, saliva, hair, surveys, and PCR data, were all successfully returned from Antarctica to NASA/JSC mid-November 2023. Samples have since been distributed to co-investigators for further processing and analysis. With the completion of the first countermeasure year, preliminary data on the effectiveness of the deep-space protocol is being evaluated, however, no conclusions can be drawn yet until the completion of the second AWO countermeasure year, AWO 2024. AWO 2024 commenced in late-March 2024, with 13 subjects consenting and performing their baseline data collections (BDCs). Unique to the 2024 deployment, NSF lifted certain COVID restrictions and rallied the crewmembers in Punta Arenas, Chile. All NSF activities were transferred to this location and NASA was allowed, for the first time, to perform consent briefings, baseline samplings and training in person. This augment greatly increased the likelihood of success for the overwinter activities.

Cody L Gutierrez↗

NASA NTRS1958

A Flight Evaluation of the Factors which Influence the Selection of Landing Approach Speeds

The factors which influence the selection of landing approach speeds are discussed from the pilot's point of view. Concepts were developed and data were obtained during a landing approach flight investigation of a large number of jet airplane configurations which included straight-wing, swept-wing, and delta-wing airplanes as well as several applications of boundary-layer control. Since the fundamental limitation to further reductions in approach speed on most configurations appeared to be associated with the reduction in the pilot's ability to control flight path angle and airspeed, this problem forms the basis of the report. A simplified equation is presented showing the basic parameters which govern the flight path angle and airspeed changes, and pilot control techniques are discussed in relation to this equation. Attention is given to several independent aerodynamic characteristics which do not affect the flight path angle or airspeed directly but which determine to a large extent the effort and attention required of the pilot in controlling these factors during the approach. These include stall characteristics, stability about all axes, and changes in trim due to thrust adjustments. The report considers the relationship between piloting technique and all of the factors previously mentioned. A piloting technique which was found to be highly desirable for control of high-performance airplanes is described and the pilot's attitudes toward low-speed flight which bear heavily on the selection of landing approach speeds under operational conditions are discussed.

Drinkwater, Fred J., III↗

DOE OSTI2020

Filter 'Cook-Off': Filter Selection via Side-by-Side Testing at Actual Process Conditions - 20040

In 2005, the THOR steam reforming fluidized-bed reactor technology was selected by the U.S. Department of Energy for treatment of sodium-bearing waste at the INL. During the final phase of commissioning prior to radiological operations, regeneration of the high temperature filters in the process gas filter (PGF) vessel became ineffective. After approximately 50 days of testing, the differential pressure across the filters began increasing exponentially and the plant had to be shutdown. Subsequent investigation revealed that the Inconel 625 (I625) sintered metal filter media was corroding in the 550 deg. C reducing environment. A pilot plant run tested four candidate replacement filter media. The top candidate was further tested during a long-term pilot plant run to validate the selection. Data from the testing indicate the selected filters will provide reliable service throughout the life of the project, including after in-situ radiological decontamination. This paper presents the data from this effort and reinforces the value of pilot plant testing. (authors)

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NASA NTRS2005

Intelligent Pilot Aids for Flight Re-Planning in Emergencies

Effective and safe control of an aircraft may be difficult or nearly impossible for a pilot following an unexpected system failure. Without prior training, the pilot must ascertain on the fly those changes in both manual control technique and procedures that will lead to a safe landing of the aircraft. Sophisticated techniques for determining the required control techniques are now available. Likewise, a body of literature on pilot decision making provides formalisms for examining how pilots approach discrete decisions framed as the selection between options. However, other aspects of behavior, such as the task of route planning and guidance, are not as well studied. Not only is the pilot faced with possible performance changes to the aircraft dynamics, but he or she is also tasked to create a plan of actions that will effectively take the aircraft down to a safe landing. In this plan, the many actions that the pilot can perform are closely intertwined with the trajectory of the aircraft, making it difficult to accurately predict the final outcome. Coupled with the vast number of potential actions to be taken, this problem may seem intractable. This is reflected in the lack of a pre-specified procedure capable of giving pilots the ability to find a resolution for this task. This report summarizes a multi-year effort to examine methods to aid pilots in planning an approach and arrival to an airport following an aircraft systems failure. Ultimately, we hypothesize that automatic assistance to pilots can be provided in real-time in the form of improving pilot control of a damaged aircraft and providing pilots with procedural directives suitable for critical flight conditions; such systems may also benefit pilot training and procedure design. To achieve this result, a systematic, comprehensive research program was followed, building on prior research. This approach included a pencil-and-paper study with airline pilots examining methods of representing a flight route in an immediately understandable manner, and in a manner that would allow the pilot to modify an automatically-generated route and/or detect any inappropriate elements in an automatically-generated route. Likewise, a flight simulator study examined different cockpit systems for the relative merits of providing pilots with any of a variety of automated functions for emergency flight planning. The results provide specific guidance for the design of such systems.

Pritchett, Amy R.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Integrated design and manufacturing for the high speed civil transport

In June 1992, the School of Aerospace Engineering at Georgia Tech was awarded a three year NASA University Space Research Association (USRA) Advanced Design Program (ADP) grant to address issues associated with the Integrated Design and Manufacturing of High Speed Civil Transport (HSCT) configurations in its graduate Aerospace Systems Design courses. This report provides an overview of the on-going Georgia Tech initiative to address these design/manufacturing issues during the preliminary design phases of an HSCT concept. The new design methodology presented here has been incorporated in the graduate aerospace design curriculum and is based on the concept of Integrated Product and Process Development (IPPD). The selection of the HSCT as a pilot project was motivated by its potential global transportation payoffs; its technological, environmental, and economic challenges; and its impact on U.S. global competitiveness. This pilot project was the focus of each of the five design courses that form the graduate level aerospace systems design curriculum. This year's main objective was the development of a systematic approach to preliminary design and optimization and its implementation to an HSCT wing/propulsion configuration. The new methodology, based on the Taguchi Parameter Design Optimization Method (PDOM), was established and was used to carry out a parametric study where various feasible alternative configurations were evaluated. The comparison criterion selected for this evaluation was the economic impact of this aircraft, measured in terms of average yield per revenue passenger mile ($/RPM).

Lee, Jae Moon↗

NASA NTRS1984

Cockpit Window Edge Proximity Effects on Judgements of Horizon Vertical Displacement

To quantify the influence of a spatially fixed edge on vertical displacement threshold, twenty-four males (12 pilots, 12 non-pilots) were presented a series of forced choice, paired comparison trials in which a 32 deg arc wide, thin, luminous horizontal stimulus line moved smoothly downward through five angles from a common starting position within a three second-long period. The five angles were 1.4, 1.7, 2, 2.3, and 2.6 deg. Each angle was presented paired with itself and the other four angles in all combinations in random order. For each pair of trials the observer had to choose which trial possessed the largest displacement. A confidence response also was made. The independent variable was the angular separation between the lower edge of a stable 'window' aperture through which the stimulus was seen to move and the lowest position attained by the stimulus. It was found that vertical displacement accuracy is inversely related to the angle separating the stimulus and the fixed window edge (p = .05). In addition, there is a strong tendency for pilot confidence to be lower than that of non-pilots for each of the three angular separations. These results are discussed in erms of selected cockpit features and as they relate to how pilots judge changes in aircraft pitch attitude.

Haines, R. F.↗

NASA NTRS1990

A new program in earth system science education

A program aimed at accelerating the development of earth system science curricula at the undergraduate level and at seeding the establishment of university-based mechanisms for cooperative research and education among universities and NASA has been initiated by the Universities Space Research Association (USRA) in conjunction with NASA. Proposals were submitted by 100 U.S. research universities which were selected as candidates to participate in a three-year pilot program to develop undergraduate curricula in earth system science. Universities were then selected based upon peer review and considerations of overall scientific balance among proposed programs. The program will also aim to integrate a number of universities with evolving earth system programs, linking them with a cooperative curriculum, shared faculty, and NASA scientists in order to establish a stronger base for earth systems related education and interdisciplinary research collaboration.

Huntress, Wesley↗

DOE OSTI2021

Lightweight Materials - Carbon Fiber and Polymer Composites, Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME) Predictive Tools Development for Low-Cost Carbon Fiber for Lightweight Vehicles (University of Virginia) (Final Report)

This project aimed to develop low-cost alternative precursors and processing techniques through the implementation of an integrated computational materials engineering (ICME) framework to evaluate precursor conversion kinetics. Once established, this framework was then used to down-select precursors for laboratory- and pilot-scale production to validate resulting carbon fiber (CF) material properties and process cost-savings. The two most promising approaches to reduce the cost of CFs were to (1) use new low-cost precursors and (2) reduce the energy requirements of CF processing. These approaches were investigated over the course of three phases of work, spanning 3.5 years. This report describes the overall project objectives, approach, and the key accomplishments in each phase.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2022

Performance Testing of a Moving-Bed Gasifier Using Coal, Biomass, and Waste Plastic Blends to Generate White Hydrogen

The objective of this DOE-funded project by the Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. (EPRI), Hamilton Maurer International (HMI) and Sotacarbo S.p.A. (Sotacarbo), is to qualify coal, biomass, and plastic waste blends based on performance testing of selected pellet recipes in a pilot-scale updraft moving-bed gasifier. The testing will provide relevant data to advance the commercial-scale design of the moving-bed gasifier to be able to successfully use these feedstocks to produce hydrogen. In particular, the effects of the waste plastics on feedstock development (i.e., blending and pelletizing) and the resulting products (i.e., syngas compositions, organic condensate production, and ash characteristics) are a focus. The gasifier is Hamilton Mauer International, Inc. (HMI)’s moving-bed gasifier, which has been proven capable of gasifying nearly all coal ranks. It has also shown the ability in prior testing work to gasify wood chips. However, mixtures of these fuels with plastic wastes have not been prepared and gasified together. The feedstocks will be prepared by California Pellet Mill (CPM) under contract to HMI. The technical tasks and current status for this two-year research project are: Feed Procurement and Preparation: Nine different feedstocks were prepared from varying compositions of PRB coal, corn stover biomass, and car fluff waste plastics. Fuel pellets were produced by California Pellet Mill and shipped to Sotacarbo’s test facility in Italy. Test Plan Development: A test plan was created to define the test runs to be performed. The test plan detailed the different tests that were run, instrumentation used, extractive samples taken, and relevant figures of merit. Gasifier Testing: Tests are currently being performed in the pilot-scale gasifier at Sotacarbo using nine different fuel feedstocks generated from varying mixtures of coal, biomass, and plastic wastes. The testing will provide information on gasification reaction efficiency/performance, yielding relevant data for models used to scale up the gasifier design. This task will also include work to reassemble the gasifier at Sotacarbo and perform a baseline 100% coal run. Data Analysis and Reporting: Review of the data, determination of figures of merit, and interpretation of the results to be reported. The results will be used to specify the range of feedstock blends that can be successfully gasified as well as quantify gasifier outputs based on specific blends. This paper will be summarize the pelletizing procedure that insures the viability of the tri-fuel pellets for the gasification runs that are being performed at Sotacarbo’s 30mm up draft moving bed gasifier. Initial gasification tests have been conducted, and all the lab scale tri-fuel pellet gasification runs will be completed by the fall of 2022. Performance data will enable modeling of a full-scale HMI industrial scale gasifier supporting both CHP and Hydrogen production.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗

DOE OSTI2024

Performance Testing of a Moving-Bed Gasifier Using Coal, Biomass, and Waste Plastic Blends to Generate White Hydrogen

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗

DOE OSTI2024

Modeling Approach for the Aluminum-clad Dry Storage Pilot using HFIR Fuel

To confirm that the dry storage of aluminum-clad research reactor spent nuclear fuel (ASNF) will remain within the safety envelope after applied drying schemes and that the resulting evolution of the gas space composition, temperature, and pressure conditions are understood, a dry storage pilot project is being established. The pilot will incorporate an instrumented lid for discrete interval or for on-demand gas composition and temperature monitoring of two DOE Standard Canisters (DSCs) loaded with three High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) inner cores per DSC. Each DSC would be subjected to a separate alternative candidate drying scheme. Canisters will undergo 1 to 5 years of monitoring, including internal temperature and gas sampling to track pressure and composition changes. This report outlines the approach for modeling the ASNF-in-canister behavior in terms of evolving gas space conditions for the ASNF dry storage pilot using HFIR fuel. The ASNF has an adherent surface oxyhydroxide layer comprised of boehmite/bayerite that generates hydrogen when subjected to irradiation. Three-dimensional multi-physics computational fluid dynamics simulations will be executed to compute the thermal field within the DSC and provide inputs to a chemical model employed to compute pressure buildup as hydrogen is generated in the system. Implemented in Cantera, the chemical model solves gas phase and aluminum oxyhydroxide surface-mediated radiolysis reactions. Gas phase reactions are sourced from Wittman and Hanson (2015), whereas surface-mediated reactions are incorporated by fitting experimental data using an optimization algorithm (Abboud, 2023). Water radiolysis reactions from Wren and Ball (2001) are adopted with modifications as described in Abboud (2023c). Understanding the effect of the hydrogen buildup over time is important for long-term storage safety considerations. Modeling results will include the canister pressure, temperature, and composition evolution from the initial helium backfill with the addition of radiolytically-evolved chemical species (e.g., hydrogen and oxygen). The specific HFIR cores for the pilot program have not yet been selected, and the overall design is still in development. The CFD-chemical model used for this work will be based on prior models with necessary updates to allow for improved accuracy and efficiency. The experimental data obtained from the HFIR demonstration will be used to improve and validate the computational models to predict the ASNF-in-canister behavior.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗