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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
NASA NTRS1991

Historical perspectives: The role of the NASA Lewis Research Center in the national space nuclear power programs

The history of the NASA Lewis Research Center's role in space nuclear power programs is reviewed. Lewis has provided leadership in research, development, and the advancement of space power and propulsion systems. Lewis' pioneering efforts in nuclear reactor technology, shielding, high temperature materials, fluid dynamics, heat transfer, mechanical and direct energy conversion, high-energy propellants, electric propulsion and high performance rocket fuels and nozzles have led to significant technical and management roles in many national space nuclear power and propulsion programs.

Bloomfield, H. S.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Historical perspectives - The role of the NASA Lewis Research Center in the national space nuclear power programs

The history of the NASA Lewis Research Center's role in space nuclear power programs is reviewed. Lewis has provided leadership in research, development, and the advancement of space power and propulsion systems. Lewis' pioneering efforts in nuclear reactor technology, shielding, high temperature materials, fluid dynamics, heat transfer, mechanical and direct energy conversion, high-energy propellants, electric propulsion and high performance rocket fuels and nozzles have led to significant technical and management roles in many natural space nuclear power and propulsion programs.

Bloomfield, H. S.↗
NASA NTRS2000

A Comparison of Brayton and Stirling Space Nuclear Power Systems for Power Levels from 1 Kilowatt to 10 Megawatts

An analytical study was conducted to assess the performance and mass of Brayton and Stirling nuclear power systems for a wide range of future NASA space exploration missions. The power levels and design concepts were based on three different mission classes. Isotope systems, with power levels from 1 to 10 kW, were considered for planetary surface rovers and robotic science. Reactor power systems for planetary surface outposts and bases were evaluated from 10 to 500 kW. Finally, reactor power systems in the range from 100 kW to 10 mW were assessed for advanced propulsion applications. The analysis also examined the effect of advanced component technology on system performance. The advanced technologies included high temperature materials, lightweight radiators, and high voltage power management and distribution.

Mason, Lee S.↗
NASA NTRS2004

MSFC Nuclear Propulsion Materials Development

Nuclear propulsion systems for spacecraft applications present numerous technical challenges for propulsion systems. They have been the focus of a recent NRA. Challenges inclue: a nuclear reactor subsystem to produce thermal energy; a power conversion subsystem to convert the thermal energy into electrical energy; a propulsion subsystem that utilizes Hall effect thrusters; thruster technologies and high temperature materials to support subsystems. The MSFC Electrostatic Levitation (ESL) Facility provides an ideal platform for the study of high temperature and reactive materials. An overview of the facility and its capabilities will be presented.

Rogers, J. R.↗
NASA NTRS2014

Non-Cooled Power System for Venus Lander

The Planetary Science Decadal Survey of 2013-2022 stated that the exploration of Venus is of significant interest. Studying the seismic activity of the planet is of particular importance because the findings can be compared to the seismic activity of Earth. Further, the geological and atmospheric properties of Venus will shed light into the past and future of Earth. This paper presents a radioisotope power system (RPS) design for a small low-power Venus lander. The feasibility of the new power system is then compared to that of primary batteries. A requirement for the power source system is to avoid moving parts in order to not interfere with the primary objective of the mission - to collect data about the seismic activity of Venus using a seismometer. The target mission duration of the lander is 117 days, a significant leap from Venera 13, the longest-lived lander on the surface of Venus, which survived for 2 hours. One major assumption for this mission design is that the power source system will not provide cooling to the other components of the lander. This assumption is based on high-temperature electronics technology that will enable the electronics and components of the lander to operate at Venus surface temperature. For the proposed RPS, a customized General Purpose Heat Source Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (GPHSRTG) is designed and analyzed. The GPHS-RTG is chosen primarily because it has no moving parts and it is capable of operating for long duration missions on the order of years. This power system is modeled as a spherical structure for a fundamental thermal analysis. The total mass and electrical output of the system are calculated to be 24 kilograms and 26 Watts, respectively. An alternative design for a battery-based power system uses Sodium Sulfur batteries. To deliver a similar electrical output for 117 days, the battery mass is calculated to be 234 kilograms. Reducing mission duration or power required will reduce the required battery mass. Finally, the advantages and disadvantages of both power systems with regard to science return, risk, and cost are briefly compared. The design of the radioisotope power system is considerably riskier because it is novel and would require additional years of further refinement, manufacturing, safety analysis, and testing that the primary batteries do not need. However, the lifetime of the radioisotope power system makes its science return more promising.

planetary↗
DOE OSTI2024

High Fidelity Simulations of Air-Cooled Reactor Cavity Cooling System

Nuclear energy is increasingly acknowledged as pivotal in the global shift towards cleaner energy solutions. Advanced nuclear technologies, including High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactors (HTGRs), stand out as appealing options among Generation IV reactors due to their high temperature heat output and potential for cogeneration. HTGR designs incorporate passive safety systems, such as the Reactor Cavity Cooling System (RCCS), which utilize natural principles to manage heat dissipation from the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) during accidents or routine shutdowns. Regulatory bodies require thorough validation of safety systems like the RCCS to ensure they meet specified standards. Consequently, there is a pressing need within the industry for advanced simulation tools capable of assessing these systems’ performance accurately. There is a knowladge gap in the literature concerning high-fidelity data for the RCCS, which motivates the focus of this study. This research focuses on a specific RCCS designed for the Modular High-Temperature Gas Reactor developed by General Atomics (GA- MHTGR). Experimental studies on a scaled version of the air-cooled RCCS of GA-MHTGR were conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison. This work contributes to a broader initiative aimed at establishing a numerical benchmark based on the UW-Madison experiments. As first step we performed high fidelity simulations of the experimental facility setup, to analyze flow physics in such systems and validate NekRS and the MOOSE heat transfer and radiation modules.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
NASA NTRS1986

Thermally regenerative hydrogen/oxygen fuel cell power cycles

Two innovative thermodynamic power cycles are analytically examined for future engineering feasibility. The power cycles use a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell for electrical energy production and use the thermal dissociation of water for regeneration of the hydrogen and oxygen. The TDS (thermal dissociation system) uses a thermal energy input at over 2000 K to thermally dissociate the water. The other cycle, the HTE (high temperature electrolyzer) system, dissociates the water using an electrolyzer operating at high temperature (1300 K) which receives its electrical energy from the fuel cell. The primary advantages of these cycles is that they are basically a no moving parts system, thus having the potential for long life and high reliability, and they have the potential for high thermal efficiency. Both cycles are shown to be classical heat engines with ideal efficiency close to Carnot cycle efficiency. The feasibility of constructing actual cycles is investigated by examining process irreversibilities and device efficiencies for the two types of cycles. The results show that while the processes and devices of the 2000 K TDS exceed current technology limits, the high temperature electrolyzer system appears to be a state-of-the-art technology development. The requirements for very high electrolyzer and fuel cell efficiencies are seen as determining the feasbility of the HTE system, and these high efficiency devices are currently being developed. It is concluded that a proof-of-concept HTE system experiment can and should be conducted.

Morehouse, J. H.↗
NASA NTRS2014

Venus High Temperature Atmospheric Dropsonde and Extreme-Environment Seismometer (HADES)

The atmospheric composition and geologic structure of Venus have been identified by the US National Research Council's Decadal Survey for Planetary Science as priority targets for scientific exploration, however the high temperature and pressure at the surface, along with the highly corrosive chemistry of the Venus atmosphere, present significant obstacles to spacecraft design that have severely limited past and proposed landed missions. Following the methodology of the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) proposal regime and the Collaborative Modeling and Parametric Assessment of Space Systems (COMPASS) design protocol, this paper presents a conceptual study and initial feasibility analysis for a Discovery-class Venus lander capable of an extended-duration mission at ambient temperature and pressure, incorporating emerging technologies within the field of high temperature electronics in combination with novel configurations of proven, high Technology Readiness Level (TRL) systems. Radioisotope Thermal Power (RTG) systems and silicon carbide (SiC) communications and data handling are examined in detail, and various high-temperature instruments are proposed, including a seismometer and an advanced photodiode imager. The study combines this technological analysis with proposals for a descent instrument package and a relay orbiter to demonstrate the viability of an integrated atmospheric and in-situ geologic exploratory mission that differs from previous proposals by greatly reducing the mass, power requirements, and cost, while achieving important scientific goals.

HADES↗
NASA NTRS2007

Ultra-High Temperature Materials Characterization for Space and Missile Applications

Numerous advanced space and missile technologies including propulsion systems require operations at high temperatures. Some very high-temperature materials are being developed to meet these needs, including refractory metal alloys, carbides, borides, and silicides. System design requires data for materials properties at operating temperatures. Materials property data are not available at the desired operating temperatures for many materials of interest. The objective of this work is to provide important physical property data at ultra-high temperatures. The MSFC Electrostatic Levitation (ESL) facility can provide measurements of thermophysical properties which include: creep strength, emissivity, density and thermal expansion. ESL uses electrostatic fields to position samples between electrodes during processing and characterization experiments. Samples float between the electrodes during studies and are free from any contact with a container or test apparatus. This provides a high purity environment for the study of high-temperature, reactive materials. ESL can be used to process a wide variety of materials including metals, alloys, ceramics, glasses and semiconductors. A system for the determination of total hemispherical emissivity is being developed for the MSFC ESL facility by AZ Technology Inc. The instrument has been designed to provide emissivity measurements for samples during ESL experiments over the temperature range 700-3400K. A novel non-contact technique for the determination of high-temperature creep strength has been developed. Data from selected ESL-based characterization studies will be presented. The ESL technique could advance space and missile technologies by advancing the knowledge base and the technology readiness level for ultra-high temperature materials. Applications include non-eroding nozzle materials and lightweight, high-temperature alloys for turbines and structures.

Rogers, Jan↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

A Brief Overview of Relevant Silicon Carbide Electronics and Sensor Development for Long Duration Venus Surface Exploration

This presentation concentrates on the potential of long duration Venus surface missions, and the role of Silicon Carbide (SiC) electronics and sensor advancements in such exploration. For example, SiC integrated circuit (IC) electronics have matured to a state where a simple long-life scientific probe is feasible for extended Venus surface operations. These electronics have been demonstrated for more than a year at 500˚C, and 60 days in high-fidelity simulated Venus surface conditions [1-2]. Further, high temperature chemical sensing technology, including SiC-based gas sensors, integrated with SiC electronics can enable future exploration of the Venus surface atmosphere [3]. Continued maturation of these high temperature electronics and sensors has been part of the Long-Lived In-Situ Solar System Explorer (LLISSE) project to provide an operational system for in situ exploration of the Venus surface up to 60 days [4]. A key focus of this work includes increasing the complexity and decreasing the power consumption of the ICs which will pave the way to enhanced capabilities, such as long-duration Venus seismic measurements and other mission capabilities currently under development. This is in parallel to work expanding the capabilities of the sensor technology to provide science measurements on the Venus surface. This presentation will give an overview of possible extended duration Venus surface exploration and some of the SiC-based technologies that can enable this exploration.

high temperature Venus surface electronics sensors↗
DOE OSTI2025

High-emissivity, thermally robust emitters for high power density thermophotovoltaics

Thermal radiative energy transport is essential for high-temperature energy harvesting technologies, including thermophotovoltaics (TPVs) and grid-scale thermal energy storage. However, the inherently low emissivity of conventional high-temperature materials constrains radiative energy transfer, thereby limiting system performance and technoeconomic viability. Here, in this study, we demonstrate ultrafast femtosecond laser-material interactions to transform diverse materials into near-blackbody surfaces with broadband spectral emissivity above 0.96. This enhancement arises from hierarchically engineered light-trapping microstructures enriched with nanoscale features, effectively decoupling surface optical properties from bulk thermomechanical properties. These laser-blackened surfaces (LaBS) exhibit exceptional thermal stability, retaining high emissivity for over 100 h at temperatures exceeding 1,000°C, even in oxidizing environments. When applied as TPV thermal emitters, Ta LaBS double electrical power output from 2.19 to 4.10 W cm −2 at 2,200°C while sustaining TPV conversion efficiencies above 30%. This versatile, largely material-independent technique offers a scalable and economically viable pathway to enhance emissivity for advanced thermal energy applications.

laser-blackened surfaces↗
NASA NTRS1974

High-temperature earth-storable propellant acoustic cavity technology

Design criteria, methods and data, were developed to permit effective design of acoustic cavities for use in regeneratively cooled OME-type engines. This information was developed experimentally from two series of motor firings with high-temperature fuel during which the engine stability was evaluated under various conditions and with various cavity configurations. Supplementary analyses and acoustic model testing were used to aid cavity design and interpretation of results. Results from this program clearly indicate that dynamic stability in regeneratively cooled OME-type engines can be ensured through the use of acoustic cavities. Moreover, multiple modes of instability were successfully suppressed with the cavity.

Oberg, C. L.↗
NASA NTRS1991

SSTAC/ARTS review of the draft Integrated Technology Plan (ITP). Volume 8: Aerothermodynamics Automation and Robotics (A/R) systems sensors, high-temperature superconductivity

Viewgraphs of briefings presented at the SSTAC/ARTS review of the draft Integrated Technology Plan (ITP) on aerothermodynamics, automation and robotics systems, sensors, and high-temperature superconductivity are included. Topics covered include: aerothermodynamics; aerobraking; aeroassist flight experiment; entry technology for probes and penetrators; automation and robotics; artificial intelligence; NASA telerobotics program; planetary rover program; science sensor technology; direct detector; submillimeter sensors; laser sensors; passive microwave sensing; active microwave sensing; sensor electronics; sensor optics; coolers and cryogenics; and high temperature superconductivity.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1992

Laser-based strain measurements for high temperature applications

The Instrumentation and Control Technology Division at NASA Lewis Research Center has developed a high performance optical strain measurement system for high temperature applications using wires and fibers. The system is based on Yamaguchi's two-beam speckle-shift strain measurement technique. The system automatically calculates surface strains at a rate of 5 Hz using a digital signal processor in a high speed micro-computer. The system is fully automated, and can be operated remotely. This report describes the speckle-shift technique and the latest NASA system design. It also shows low temperature strain test results obtained from small diameter tungsten, silicon carbide, and sapphire specimens. These specimens are of interest due to their roles in composite materials research at NASA Lewis.

Lant, Christian T.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Pressure application technique for high-temperature composite fabrication

Technique utilizes characteristic of room-temperature vulcanizing rubber (RTV) which expands readily when heated. RTV expansion can exert uniform pressure on filament-reinforced polymer materials during curing. Technology accommodates high-temperature pressure application for P13-N polyimide composite consolidation during cure.

Baucom, R. M.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Development of High Temperature (>700°C) Molten Salt Pump Technology for Generation 3 Solar Power Tower Systems

Bearings are required for long-shafted pumps historically used in concentrating solar thermal power applications. For molten chloride salts, bearings for such service conditions are not commercially available, nor has a design been demonstrated to work. Therefore, a project was sponsored by the Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technologies Office for the development and demonstration of a submerged bearing for use in chloride salt pumps. This project’s tasks covered the tribological testing of candidate materials and the design, fabrication, testing, and post-test analysis of full-scale salt-compatible bearings. This work expands upon previous work. The effects of potential particulate in the salt were investigated through tribological bench testing. Through 11 tests, the MgO particulate size and concentration in a molten chloride salt were varied, and the effects on friction, wear rate, and wear characteristics were recorded. Novel journal bearings for chloride salt service were designed and fabricated based on these results. The bearings were of a relevant scale (i.e., for a 1.5 in. pump shaft) to demonstrate the technology with respect to further scale-up. The bearings were made of Haynes 244 and Yttria Partially Stabilized Zirconia. A custom bearing test rig, salt tanks, and associated infrastructure (e.g., heaters, tanks, transfer lines, gas flow control) were designed, procured, and installed. A few issues were encountered in the system fabrication process, resulting in delay of the project schedule. The system was successfully fabricated and assembled. Heating, cover gas, and pump motor systems were integrated into the control logic. This progress of the bearing test system represents a significant step forward towards demonstrating this promising technology. Nevertheless, the project ended before testing of the full-scale bearings could be performed.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS1985

Advanced Containerless Processing Technology

Breadboards for high temperature containerless processing systems are to be developed, the principles of operation are to be studied, the performance is to be characterized, the limitations identified, and the influence of the acoustic field on the samples established. The subjects to be addressed are experimental and theoretical studies of: (1) acoustic positioning and manipulation capabilities in a high temperature gradient environment (from 26 C to 990 C); (2) acoustic waveforms, harmonic contents, power transfer, sample transport and stability associated with high temperature gradient system; (3) high temperature ground based levitation systems which will allow melting, processing, and solidifying samples without crucibles in the laboratory, (4) KC-135 and laboratory tests of various acoustic geometries which may have spherical applications in the Materials Processing in Space Program; and (5) provide technical information to Acoustics Containerless Experimental System (ACES) engineering team and establish the operation conditions for ACES.

Wang, T. G.↗