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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
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

Gain balanced nonlinear optical interferometer

A nonlinear fiber interferometer is disclosed suitable for fiber sensor and other applications. A first nonlinear fiber section amplifies probe and conjugate sidebands of a pump through four-wave mixing. A second section introduces a phase shift to be measured, for example from a sensor. A third nonlinear fiber section amplifies with phase-sensitive gain to increase signal-to-noise ratio. Based on phase-sensitive output power of probe and/or conjugate components, the phase shift can be measured. Superior performance can be obtained by balancing gain between the (first and third) nonlinear sections. Non-fiber, for example photonic integrated circuit, embodiments are disclosed. Differential sensing, alternative detection schemes, sensing applications, associated methods, and other variations are disclosed.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2022

Gain balanced nonlinear optical interferometer

A nonlinear fiber interferometer is disclosed suitable for fiber sensor and other applications. A first nonlinear fiber section amplifies probe and conjugate sidebands of a pump through four-wave mixing. A second section introduces a phase shift to be measured, for example from a sensor. A third nonlinear fiber section amplifies with phase-sensitive gain to increase signal-to-noise ratio. Based on phase-sensitive output power of probe and/or conjugate components, the phase shift can be measured. Superior performance can be obtained by balancing gain between the (first and third) nonlinear sections. Non-fiber, for example photonic integrated circuit, embodiments are disclosed. Differential sensing, alternative detection schemes, sensing applications, associated methods, and other variations are disclosed.

Lukens, Joseph M.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Gain balanced nonlinear optical interferometer

A nonlinear fiber interferometer is disclosed suitable for fiber sensor and other applications. A first nonlinear fiber section amplifies probe and conjugate sidebands of a pump through four-wave mixing. A second section introduces a phase shift to be measured, for example from a sensor. A third nonlinear fiber section amplifies with phase-sensitive gain to increase signal-to-noise ratio. Based on phase-sensitive output power of probe and/or conjugate components, the phase shift can be measured. Superior performance can be obtained by balancing gain between the (first and third) nonlinear sections. Non-fiber, for example photonic integrated circuit, embodiments are disclosed. Differential sensing, alternative detection schemes, sensing applications, associated methods, and other variations are disclosed.

Lukens, Joseph M.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Modeling Single and Two-Phase Transport in Thin Porous Layers Using a Composite Continuum-Pore Network Formulation

In this work, a composite continuum-pore network formulation is presented to model single and two-phase transport thin porous layers, such as gas diffusion layers in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) and active electrodes in redox flow batteries (RFBs). The formulation can be integrated into CFD codes, thus combining the ease of implementation of continuum-based modeling and the computational power of pore-network modeling. The composite model includes a control volume (CV) mesh at the layer scale, which embeds a cubic pore network [1,2]. The pore-network model is used to determine analytically local anisotropic effective transport properties (local effective diffusivity and permeability), which are mapped onto the CV mesh to simulate transport in the porous transport layer [3,4]. Good agreement is found between the predicted global effective transport properties (global effective diffusivity and permeability) under dry and wet conditions and previous experimental data reported in the literature for Toray TGP-H series carbon paper. Water saturation distributions are also compared with results obtained using X-ray computed tomography [4]. [1] P.A. García-Salaberri, I.V. Zenyuk, J.T. Gostick, A.Z. Weber, Modeling Gas Diffusion Layer in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells Using a Continuum-Based Pore-Network Formulation, ECS Trans. 97 (2020) 615. [2] P.A. García-Salaberri, Modeling diffusion and convection in thin porous transport layers using a composite continuum-network model: Application to gas diffusion layers in polymer electrolyte fuel cells, Int J. Heat Mass Transf. (2020), submitted. [3] P.A. García-Salaberri, J.T. Gostick, G. Hwang, A.Z. Weber, M. Vera, Effective diffusivity in partially-saturated carbon-fiber gas diffusion layers: Effect of local saturation and application to macroscopic continuum models, J. Power Sources 296 (2015) 440–453. [4] P.A. García-Salaberri, G. Hwang, M. Vera, A.Z. Weber, J.T. Gostick, Effective diffusivity in partially-saturated carbon-fiber gas diffusion layers: Effect of through-plane saturation distribution, Int. J. Heat Mass Transf. 86 (2015) 319–333.

Garcia-Salaberri, Pablo↗
DOE OSTI2026

Aqueous Carbon Capture Using Guanidinium-Functionalized Hollow Fiber Sorbent Contactors

As part of the growing suite of technologies aimed at combatting rising temperatures, negative emissions technologies have become a powerful tool in the global effort to minimize the consequences of human-induced climate change. Among these, carbon removal from aqueous sources, which contain much higher carbon concentrations than the atmosphere, remains largely unexplored. Indeed, developing robust and efficient carbon capture materials for usage in complex aqueous environments remains a significant challenge. Here, we explore the potential of functionalizing polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) hollow fiber contactors grafted with a guanidinium-derived polymer sorbent for carbon removal from aqueous sources, including saline waters. Computational screening against amine-based analogs is utilized to identify guanidinium as a promising motif for bicarbonate (HCO 3 – ) ions binding. To leverage this finding, synthesis of a guanidinium polymer and subsequent covalent grafting onto PVDF hollow fibers is employed to structured polymer–sorbent–grafted hollow fiber contactors. Our prototype achieves an initial HCO 3 – removal of 34% with an increase to 98% after four cycles. The functionalized fibers demonstrate aqueous stability over 13 adsorption/desorption cycles in model NaHCO 3 solutions where regeneration is facilitated by a mild pH swing. Importantly, the system maintains selective performance in the presence of competitive chloride ions over multiple cycles; carbon removal remained above 10% even at high (10:1) NaCl/NaHCO 3 ratios. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of sorbent-based aqueous carbon removal and highlight its potential as a promising approach for negative emissions.

carbon capture↗
DOE OSTI2023

Testing of fiber optic based sensors for advanced reactors in the Texas A&M University TRIGA reactor

An Optical Fiber Based Gamma Thermometer has been developed and tested at the Texas A&M University reactor as well as the Ohio State Research Reactor. This sensor technology provides temperature measurement of a thermal mass undergoing gamma heating, from which the gamma flux along the length of the sensor may be calculated. The gamma flux data from an array of OFBGTs could allow the determination of local power density within a nuclear reactor core in three dimensions. The design of the sensor makes use of optical fiber as a truly distributed temperature sensor with a spatial resolution less than 1mm and temperature accuracy of ±1°C. The testing program showed that the system provided the expected temperature data for each location. Overall, this sensor technology shows promise for current Light Water Reactors as well as advanced nuclear reactors by providing an unparalleled level of precision in reactor power measurement.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2024

Enhanced Bottom Anode Monitoring in DC Electric Arc Furnaces Using Fiber-Optic Sensors

A pin style bottom anode employs conductive steel rods that serve as the pathway for the high electrical power through rammed refractory at the bottom of a DC Electric Arc Furnace (EAF). Anode wear during operation is important to monitor, as anode replacement is expensive and impacts EAF productivity. Liquid steel penetration into the un-sintered refractory layer can result from rapid electrical power ramp-up, dips in furnace temperature, or operating the anode for too long between EAF campaigns. In extreme cases, the liquid steel may penetrate the bottom of the furnace when anode wear progresses too close to the bottom shell, which is extremely dangerous and must be avoided. The current state of the art for monitoring bottom anode wear employs thermocouples imbedded in the anode pins at points in the anode. However, this approach is not sensitive enough to detect localized damage to the anode, especially when cracking occurs. Here, the present work utilizes fiber optic sensors to monitor the health of the anode, by creating a real-time spatially distributed temperature map of the anode. Unlike the traditional thermocouples, these sensors can be mounted at significantly greater depths, provide distributed temperature measurements, and can withstand temperatures of up to 900°C. Additionally, they are able to perform temperature measurements with a spatial resolution of 1.3 mm at a 5 Hz acquisition rate, providing unprecedented high-density real time monitoring of anode health and increasing the efficiency, and safety of EAF operation.

Bottom Anode↗
DOE OSTI2022

Abstract for CRADA between NETL and Georgia Tech Research Corporation (GTRC) (AGMT-1276)

Patent-pending chemisorption fiber sorbents (CHEFS) utilizing robust, patented basic immobilized amine sorbents (BIAS) are the newest innovation in carbon capture technology. This suite of fiber materials offers reliable and rapid removal of CO2 from both conventional post-combustion sources, like coal-fired power plants, and dilute air sources like those of newly recognized direct capture from air (DAC, 400 ppm CO2). Through this Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA), NETL and GTRC aim to improve and refine the fiber formulations and synthesis methods, while pushing towards scaling fiber production and testing in a pilot/semi-pilot scale 1,000-fiber module adsorption system.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2026

Generation of 3.3-mJ, 2.45-µm, sub-2-cycle laser pulses via hollow-core fiber pulse compression

We demonstrate nonlinear compression of mid-infrared pulses from a Cr:ZnSe chirped-pulse amplifier using a gas-filled stretched hollow-core fiber followed by bulk-material compression. Starting from 90 fs, 2.45 µm pulses with 5.3 mJ energy, spectral broadening in the gas-filled capillary combined with optimized dispersion management enables compression to 15 fs, less than two optical cycles at 2.45 µm, with 3.3 mJ pulse energy, corresponding to a peak power of approximately 0.12 TW. The simplicity of the approach, based on a single hollow-core fiber stage and bulk dispersion compensation, makes it scalable to higher energies and establishes a robust route to mid-infrared drivers for high harmonic generation and attosecond applications.

Britton, Mathew [SLAC National Accelerator Laborat↗
DOE OSTI2025

Development of High-Temperature Bonding Techniques to Enable High-Temperature Static or Dynamic Strain Measurements

Current light-water nuclear reactors rely on a variety of different sensors and sensor applications to meet their structural health monitoring needs throughout the entirety of the reactor primary, secondary, and containment systems. Optical fiber–based sensor technologies could provide solutions to reduce the sensor system footprint while enhancing the measurement fidelity and spatial resolution by leveraging distributed monitoring techniques. Moreover, advanced reactors may require optical fiber–based sensors for structural health monitoring because their operating temperatures will exceed the limits of conventional transducers used to acquire dynamic strain or acoustic data in nuclear power plants. Therefore, this report describes experiments targeting the development of high-temperature bonding techniques that would allow for potentially long lengths of fibers to be bonded to metallic reactor components in advanced reactor systems. The high temperatures experienced within target application, next-generation nuclear reactors, necessitate a high-temperature resistant bond to limit the amount of tension on the fiber at the target application temperature. The primary bonding method investigated in this work is brazing; hot-rolling has also been investigated to a lesser extent. Both techniques are well-suited to bonding optical fibers to large reactor components such as primary coolant piping, pressure vessels, or heat exchangers. Optical frequency domain reflectometry was used to monitor the strain in metal-coated optical fibers before, during, and after the high-temperature bonding process. On select optical fibers that were successfully bonded, additional thermal cycling was performed to assess the extent to which the fiber remained bonded based on the expected thermal expansion of the test specimen material. The results of the various experiments yielded the following general conclusions: (1) brazing is a viable technique for bonding and allows significant compressive strain to be applied to the fiber at room temperature; (2) hot-rolling is a viable technique as well, which has been more optimized than the brazing technique for bonding, but less residual compressive strain has been observed with this technique; and (3) both techniques will need further development and optimization to demonstrate bonding of a long length of fiber that can provably operate at relevant temperatures for an advanced nuclear reactor application.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Electrostatic generator/motor electrodes located on the inner surface of an electromechanical battery rotor

A geometric design of E-S generator motor electrodes mounted on the inner surface of a fiber-composite rotor is provided. The electrode configuration is able to sustain very high g levels. The rotor may be funned of carbon-fiber wound on top of an inner E car S-glass fiber composite core. The electrode design provides the needed area to satisfy the power requirements of the storage system and utilizes a stacked wedge-like electrode array that both solves the high-g problem and results in a doubling or tripling of the electrode area, relative to that of electrodes that conform to the inner cylindrical surface of the rotor.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2022

A 40 Gbps Optical Transceiver for Particle Physics Experiments

We present the design and the test results of a quad-channel optical transceiver module (QTRx) possibly for future particle physics experiments. The transmitters of QTRx, each at 10 Gbps, are based on a Quad-channel VCSEL Diode array Driver (QLDD) and 1 x 4 VCSEL array. The receivers of QTRx, with data rates of 2.56 Gbps or 10 Gbps per channel, are based on a Quad-channel Trans-Impedance and limiting Amplifier (QTIA) and 1 x 4 photodiode array of GaAs or InGaAs. QTRx is 20 mm x 10 mm x 5 mm and couples to an MT fiber connector. Test results indicate that QTRx achieves the design goals with a power consumption of 124 mW per transmitter channel at 10 Gbps and 120 mW at 2.56 Gbps for the receiver channel with an on-chip charge pump. The sensitivities of QTIA are -17 dBm at 2.56 Gbps and -8 dBm at 10 Gbps, respectively. Further improvements with a gold-finger interface and a more compact optical lens are being designed.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2023

Electrospun Nanofiber Electrodes for High and Low Humidity PEMFC Operation

MEAs with nanofiber mat electrodes containing Pt/C catalyst and Nafion binder were fabricated and evaluated. The electrodes were prepared by electrospinning a solution of catalyst powder, salt-form Nafion (with Na + , Li + , or Cs + as the sulfonic acid counterion), and a carrier polymer of either polyethylene oxide or poly(acrylic acid). The carrier polymer was extracted prior to MEA testing by a hot water soaking step. The resulting fibers were 15%–17% porous, with a core–shell-like morphology (a coating of primarily Nafion on the fiber surface). MEAs with anode/cathode catalyst loadings of 0.1 mg Pt cm −2 each and a Nafion 211 membrane produced high power at both high and low relative humidity (RH) conditions in H 2 /air fuel cell tests, e.g., a maximum power density of 919 mW cm −2 at 100% RH and 832 mW cm −2 at 40% RH for a test at 80 °C and 200 kPa abs . The presence of nm-size pores within the fibers trapped water via capillary condensation during low RH feed gas testing, thus maintaining a high proton conductivity of the Nafion binder in the anode and cathode while minimizing/eliminating ionic isolation of catalyst particles in low water content, poorly conductive binder.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Project Final Report - Advanced Oxygen Separation from Air Using a Novel Mixed Matrix Membrane

This report describes a summary of the findings of the project. The technical work was divided into three activities: 1) technoeconomic analysis; 2) membrane component development (support layer, selective layer development, and gutter layer formulation); and 3) hollow fiber formation. The technoeconomic analysis includes operating, capital, and materials costs of an oxygen enrichment system with 1-3 stages. The analysis concluded that the desired gas quality (90-95% O2) cannot be reached with a single stage. The triple stage system yielded the best overall product quality at lower membrane performance levels but with the highest cost. For the membrane development activities, functionalized nanodiamonds have been shown to slightly improve membrane formation behaviors and gas permeability performance. For example, support layers based on polysulfone-nanodiamond composites have been formed that increase the material’s O2 permeability by over a factor of 150, however, at the cost of selectivity that suggests a change in transport mechanism. Furthermore, nanodiamonds have been found to improve membrane durability. Improvements in selective and gutter layers also have been accomplished. An additional accomplishment is the demonstration of phase inversion of polysulfone-nanodiamond composites that ensures that hollow fiber formation can be performed. Finally, the interfaces between support, gutter, and selective layers were briefly examined and the resulting membrane material consisting of all three layers gave good performance in an O2 separation from N2. The three-layer prototype membrane gave permeability of 29.2-32.2 Barrers, which equates to permeance of approximately 290-320 GPU, which is lower than the TEA informed goal of 500 GPU. O2/N2 selectivity ranged from 5.2-6.2, which is consistent with the less costly two-stage implementation of the technology. In summary, new materials have been developed for O2 concentration from air and are well-suited to a hollow fiber format.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Sustainable Coal Tar Pitch Carbon Fiber Manufacturing

Coal is a versatile resource that has historically propelled the Industrial Revolution, transportation, and energy generation, and continues to meet needs for power. The United States possesses the largest worldwide coal reserves (with a 2019 total production-to-recoverable-reserves ratio of 0.05) that are of high quality and are cost-effective to recover (i.e., $0.03/kg–$0.10/kg). However, the demand of coal for power generation has declined because of a shift to natural gas (because of lower natural gas prices) and to renewable energy sources. This decline has affected the economic viability US coal industry. Historically, domestic demand for coal was driven mostly by the electric power sector, which accounts for about 93% of the total demand, followed by industrial uses (primarily for cement and chemicals at a minimal level) and steel production (coke). The complex, dense carbon chemical structure of coal, abundant domestic supply, and stable, low price gives it great potential for use in a wide range of value-added non-fuel coal products (e.g., nanomaterials at $20,000/kg–$100,000/kg and commercial-grade carbon fiber at $22/kg–$33/kg), as well as in upgraded coal fuels.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2022

Fourth Generation MPDV and MBR at DARHT

A new experimental setup for diagnosing hydrotest performance was designed, built, and implemented at DARHT. The setup consists of 128 points of fourth generation (Gen4) multiplexed photonic Doppler velocimetry (MPDV) and 128 separate points of modulation based ranging (MBR) to serve as a direct complement to the MPDV. The diagnostics were designed to overcome limitations in the third generation of the MPDV diagnostic that limited laser launch power to ~10 mW per point. As the main failure mechanism identified in the third generation MPDV system arose from stimulated Brillouin scattering, a nonlinear optical phenomenon inherent in standard single mode fiber, the fourth generation MPDV system reduced the number of time-multiplexed channels by a factor of two. This has allowed laser launch power to be increased to as much as 200 mW per channel which is a 20 times increase in the signal to noise ratio (SNR) as compared with the third generation system. This document will first discuss the previous limitations and describe the design of the system. This will be followed by the results of a simple flyer plate experiment used to demonstrate the improved SNR as well as calibrate the phase errors in the system that MBR is sensitive to.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2022

Functional fiber-optic sensors embedded in stainless steel components using ultrasonic additive manufacturing for distributed temperature and strain measurements

The nuclear industry is progressing toward microreactors that can be factory assembled and deployed to remote regions for reliable, scalable power generation. However, the reduced power output requires enhanced monitoring capabilities to reduce staffing and eventually move toward autonomous control to improve the economics of microreactors. The ability to embed sensors such as fiber-optics, which can provide spatially distributed temperature and strain measurements, within microreactor components for real-time health monitoring would be particularly advantageous. Recent advances in ultrasonic additive manufacturing (UAM) have demonstrated the successful embedding of fiber-optics in soft materials such as Al and Cu by placing the sensors in machined cavities and ultrasonically welding over the top with thin foils. This article reports the first successful embedment of fiber-optic sensors and thermocouples within a common nuclear reactor material, SS304, via UAM. UAM parameters were first explored with simple plate geometries before moving to more complex geometries, such as pipes and other test articles for heat pipe–based microreactors. Select samples were sectioned for microscopy to evaluate the sensor/foil and foil/foil interfaces from samples fabricated by using 100% SS304 foils vs. foils plated with a Ni coating to improve UAM bonding. Furthermore, embedding metal-coated, low-bend loss fibers resulted in greatly reduced signal attenuation and adequate compressive residual strain in the embedded region to ensure successful strain coupling. Pipe specimen functional testing was performed by monitoring temperature and strain during transient and steady-state thermal testing.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

High gain and wideband hybrid optical amplifier using bismuth-doped and neodymium-doped fibers for E-band applications

A hybrid dual-stage bismuth-doped fiber and neodymium-doped fiber amplifier with high optical gain and extended bandwidth of operation in the E-band is demonstrated. The amplifier features a maximum gain of 43 dB, output power of 372 mW, and a minimum noise figure of 5.5 dB, and operation wavelength range of 1397–1472 nm, enabled by 153-m of bismuth-doped fiber and two 7-m lengths of neodymium-doped fiber. The demonstration shows the possibility of achieving improved gain bandwidth by combining fiber amplifiers with overlapping gain spectra in the E-band.

Applied optics↗