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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

Contributions to a thermodynamic model of Earth systems on rivers

A model for the chemical (ground water) erosion and physical (bed load, including sedimentation) erosion of the land was developed. The rudiments of the relation between a regulated sea level (for the past 2500 million years) and the episodic rise and erosion of continents was examined to obtain some notion of the process scalings. Major process scales of about 200 years, 100,000 years, 3 My, 40 My, 300 My were estimated. It was suggested that a program targeted at ecological management would have to become familiar with processes at the first four scales (i.e., from glaciation to the horizontal movement of continents). The study returns to the initial premise. In order to understand and manage Earth biology (life, and modern man), it is necessary minimally to pursue systems' biogeology at a considerable number of process space and time scales via their irreversible thermodynamic couplings.

Iberall, A. S.↗

Learning thermodynamic master equations for open quantum systems

The characterization of Hamiltonians and other components of open quantum dynamical systems plays a crucial role in quantum computing and other applications. Scientific machine learning techniques have been applied to this problem in a variety of ways, including by modeling with deep neural networks. However, the majority of mathematical models describing open quantum systems are linear, and the natural nonlinearities in learnable models have not been incorporated using physical principles. We present a data-driven model for open quantum systems that includes learnable, thermodynamically consistent terms. The trained model is interpretable, as it directly estimates the system Hamiltonian and linear components of coupling to the environment. We validate the model on synthetic two and three-level data, as well as experimental two-level data collected from a quantum device at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

Mathematics and Computing↗

Design and demonstrate the performance of cryogenic components representative of space vehicles: Start basket liquid acquisition device performance analysis

The objective was to design, fabricate and test an integrated cryogenic test article incorporating both fluid and thermal propellant management subsystems. A 2.2 m (87 in) diameter aluminum test tank was outfitted with multilayer insulation, helium purge system, low-conductive tank supports, thermodynamic vent system, liquid acquisition device and immersed outflow pump. Tests and analysis performed on the start basket liquid acquisition device and studies of the liquid retention characteristics of fine mesh screens are discussed.

Source record↗

Towards an Automated Full-Turbofan Engine Numerical Simulation

The objective of this study was to demonstrate the high-fidelity numerical simulation of a modern high-bypass turbofan engine. The simulation utilizes the Numerical Propulsion System Simulation (NPSS) thermodynamic cycle modeling system coupled to a high-fidelity full-engine model represented by a set of coupled three-dimensional computational fluid dynamic (CFD) component models. Boundary conditions from the balanced, steady-state cycle model are used to define component boundary conditions in the full-engine model. Operating characteristics of the three-dimensional component models are integrated into the cycle model via partial performance maps generated automatically from the CFD flow solutions using one-dimensional meanline turbomachinery programs. This paper reports on the progress made towards the full-engine simulation of the GE90-94B engine, highlighting the generation of the high-pressure compressor partial performance map. The ongoing work will provide a system to evaluate the steady and unsteady aerodynamic and mechanical interactions between engine components at design and off-design operating conditions.

Reed, John A.↗

Multi-Fidelity Simulation of a Turbofan Engine With Results Zoomed Into Mini-Maps for a Zero-D Cycle Simulation

A Zero-D cycle simulation of the GE90-94B high bypass turbofan engine has been achieved utilizing mini-maps generated from a high-fidelity simulation. The simulation utilizes the Numerical Propulsion System Simulation (NPSS) thermodynamic cycle modeling system coupled to a high-fidelity full-engine model represented by a set of coupled 3D computational fluid dynamic (CFD) component models. Boundary conditions from the balanced, steady state cycle model are used to define component boundary conditions in the full-engine model. Operating characteristics of the 3D component models are integrated into the cycle model via partial performance maps generated from the CFD flow solutions using one-dimensional mean line turbomachinery programs. This paper highlights the generation of the high-pressure compressor, booster, and fan partial performance maps, as well as turbine maps for the high pressure and low pressure turbine. These are actually "mini-maps" in the sense that they are developed only for a narrow operating range of the component. Results are compared between actual cycle data at a take-off condition and the comparable condition utilizing these mini-maps. The mini-maps are also presented with comparison to actual component data where possible.

Turner, Mark G.↗

Design and evaluation of thermodynamic vent/screen baffle cryogenic storage system

A comprehensive analytical program was performed to compare an integrated thermodynamic vent/screen baffle orbital cryogenic propellant storage and transfer system with other concepts. The screen systems were found to be 20% to 29% lighter in weight than a propulsively accelerated Tug-scale LH2/LO2 resupply module. The screen systems were compared with small-scale supercritical storage systems for the space shuttle fuel cell reactant and life support system fluid supply and were lighter by up to 556 kg (1225 lb) for the extended 30-day mission. When compared with high-pressure gas storage for the spacelab atmosphere supply, the screen system saved 79% of the inert system weight for the 30-day mission. An experimental program found that heat flux rates up to 9,450 watts/sq m (3,000 Btu/hr-sq ft) degraded the LH2 bubble point performance of eight screens by a maximum of 12.5%. No effects of helium pressurant, screen material, or LH2 superheat were observed.

Cady, E. C.↗

Cryogenic Propellant Feed System Analytical Tool Development

The Propulsion Systems Branch at NASA s Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (JSC) has developed a parametric analytical tool to address the need to rapidly predict heat leak into propellant distribution lines based on insulation type, installation technique, line supports, penetrations, and instrumentation. The Propellant Feed System Analytical Tool (PFSAT) will also determine the optimum orifice diameter for an optional thermodynamic vent system (TVS) to counteract heat leak into the feed line and ensure temperature constraints at the end of the feed line are met. PFSAT was developed primarily using Fortran 90 code because of its number crunching power and the capability to directly access real fluid property subroutines in the Reference Fluid Thermodynamic and Transport Properties (REFPROP) Database developed by NIST. A Microsoft Excel front end user interface was implemented to provide convenient portability of PFSAT among a wide variety of potential users and its ability to utilize a user-friendly graphical user interface (GUI) developed in Visual Basic for Applications (VBA). The focus of PFSAT is on-orbit reaction control systems and orbital maneuvering systems, but it may be used to predict heat leak into ground-based transfer lines as well. PFSAT is expected to be used for rapid initial design of cryogenic propellant distribution lines and thermodynamic vent systems. Once validated, PFSAT will support concept trades for a variety of cryogenic fluid transfer systems on spacecraft, including planetary landers, transfer vehicles, and propellant depots, as well as surface-based transfer systems. The details of the development of PFSAT, its user interface, and the program structure will be presented.

Lusby, Brian S.↗

Thermodynamics of signal transduction systems and fluctuation theorem in a signal cascade

Biochemical chain reactions are signal transduction cascades that can transmit biological information about the intracellular environment. In this study, we modelled a chain reaction as a code string for applying information theory. Herein, we assumed that cell signal transduction selects a strategy to maximize the transduced signal per signal event duration. To investigate the same, we calculated the information transmission capacity of the reaction chain by maximizing the average entropy production rate per reaction time, indicating the idea of the entropy coding method. Moreover, we defined a signal cascade trajectory. Subsequently, we found that the logarithm of the forward and reverse transition ratio per reaction time is equal to the entropy production rate, which derives the form of the fluctuation theorem in signal transduction. Our findings suggest the application of information entropy theory for analysing signal transduction.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Thermodynamic models in cosmochemical systems.

Generalized computer methods are developed for inferring details of the formation of cosmochemical systems. Compositions of ideal gas mixtures existing in equilibrium with multicomponent solid and liquid phases are calculated. A comparison of computed results with experimental data is made for the ternary system MgO-FeO-SiO2. While the ideal-solution approximation is shown to be inaccurate in dealing with the silicate melts, the stable phases and compositions can be accurately calculated in a system where there are only solids and gas. A model system containing the elements H, O, Si, Mg, S, C, Cl, and F is investigated over a range of compositions involving the gas and ten solid phases, to show the power of the technique in dealing with complex gas-solid equilibria. Systems close to cosmic composition are next considered, both with and without iron.

Griffiths, P. R.↗

Thermal energy storage for a space solar dynamic power system

In the past, NASA has employed solar photovoltaic devices for long-duration missions. Thus, the Skylab system has operated with a silicon photovoltaic array and a nickel-cadmium electrochemical system energy storage system. Difficulties regarding the employment of such a system for the larger power requirements of the Space Station are related to a low orbit system efficiency and the large weight of the battery. For this reason the employment of a solar dynamic power system (SDPS) has been considered. The primary components of an SDPS include a concentrating mirror, a heat receiver, a thermal energy storage (TES) system, a thermodynamic heat engine, an alternator, and a heat rejection system. The heat-engine types under consideration are a Brayton cycle engine, an organic Rankine cycle engine, and a free-piston/linear-alternator Stirling cycle engine. Attention is given to a system description, TES integration concepts, and a TES technology assessment.

Faget, N. M.↗

Critical evaluation and thermodynamic modeling of the Pd–Sn system

The single crystalline material PdSn 4 , a homologue of the Dirac nodal arc semimetal PtSn 4 , is a promising candidate to search for new topological states with fascinating quantum physical properties. In the present work, the thermochemistry and phase diagram information of the Pd–Sn system published in the literature was collected and critically reviewed, two thermodynamic reassessments of the Pd–Sn system were carried out in the frame of the CALPHAD approach to optimize the Gibbs free energy of each phase presented in the system. The liquid phase was described using respectively the Bragg-Williams random mixing model and the associate solution model. All the reliable thermodynamic property and phase equilibria data can be generally described using the presently obtained thermodynamic descriptions of the Pd–Sn system. Issues related to the further improvement of the thermodynamic descriptions of the Pd–Sn system are discussed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Testing of TVS Augmented Injectors for Tank-to-Tank Transfer of Cryogens

NASA is developing reusable cryogenic systems to enable manned missions to the Moon and Mars. These cryogenic systems will require replenishing cryogens on-orbit via a tanker or propellant depot with minimal loss to boil-off. Three additively manufactured injectors augmented with a Thermodynamic Venting System have been developed for use in tank-to-tank cryogenic fluid transfer. A Vented Chill/No-Vent Fill approach to tank-to-tank transfer has been the industry standard and is explored in this work with emphasis on injector spray patterns and compared to the Charge-Hold-Vent chill method.

Cryogenic Transfer↗

Testing of TVS Augmented Injectors for Tank-to-Tank Transfer of Cryogens

NASA is developing reusable cryogenic systems to enable manned missions to the Moon and Mars. These cryogenic systems will require replenishing cryogens on-orbit via a tanker or propellant depot with minimal loss to boil-off. Three additively manufactured injectors augmented with a Thermodynamic Venting System have been developed for use in tank-to-tank cryogenic fluid transfer. A Vented Chill/No-Vent Fill approach to tank-to-tank transfer has been the industry standard and is explored in this work with emphasis on injector spray patterns and compared to the Charge-Hold-Vent chill method.

Cryogenic Transfer↗