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System Modeling and Robust Stability Region Analysis for Multi-inverters Based on VSG

As the number of inverter-interfaced distributed generators (IIDGs) increases, the decrease in the inertia of the microgrid affects the stability of microgrid voltage and current. The virtual synchronous generator (VSG) control method simulates the output characteristics of the synchronous machine to improve the inertia and damping of the microgrid. However, low-frequency oscillations can occur in systems with multi-VSGs connected in parallel, primarily when operating in island mode. Therefore, this article develops the small-signal state-space model for multi-inverters based on VSG and analyses the robust stability region (RSR) of the control parameters. Firstly, an extensible small-signal state-space model is established and simplified in the dq axis, which is a necessary preprocessing for the subsequent stability analysis. Secondly, the guardian map method based on bialternate product operation is constructed, and the RSR is established through translation mapping and rotation mapping. Therefore, the solution of RSR is transformed into the problem of identifying the Hurwitz matrix. Finally, the simulations and experiments verify that the calculated region can ensure stable operation during startup and meet the requirement to suppress low-frequency oscillations. In conclusion, the method of solving RSR proposed in this paper provides a basis for selecting controller parameters in practical engineering.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Tumor Retention of Enzyme-Responsive Pt(II) Drug-Loaded Nanoparticles Imaged by Nanoscale Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry and Fluorescence Microscopy

In nanomedicine, determining the spatial distribution of particles and drugs, together and apart, at high resolution within tissues, remains a major challenge because each must have a different label or detectable feature that can be observed with high sensitivity and resolution. We prepared nanoparticles capable of Enzyme-Directed Assembly of Particle Therapeutics (EDAPT), containing an analog of the Pt(II)-containing drug oxaliplatin, an 15 N-labeled monomer in the hydrophobic block of the backbone of the polymer, the near-infrared dye Cy5.5, and a peptide that is a substrate for tumor metalloproteinases in the hydrophilic block. When these particles reach an environment rich in tumor associated proteases, the hydrophilic peptide substrate is cleaved, causing the particles to accumulate through a morphology transition, locking them in the tumor extracellular matrix. To evaluate the distribution of drug and EDAPT carrier in vivo , the localization of the isotopically labeled polymer backbone was compared to that of Pt by Nanoscale Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (NanoSIMS). The correlation of NanoSIMS with super-resolution fluorescence microscopy revealed the release of the drug from the nanocarrier and co-localization with cellular DNA within tumor tissue. The results confirmed the dependence of particle accumulation and Pt(II) drug delivery on the presence of an MMP substrate and demonstrated antitumor activity. We conclude that these techniques are powerful for the elucidation of the localization of cargo and carrier, and enable a high-resolution assessment of their performance following in vivo delivery.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Lasing in a Tm : Yb{sub 3}Al{sub 5}O{sub 12} crystal pumped at 1.678 μm

The Yb{sub 3}Al{sub 5}O{sub 12} (YbAG) crystal is proposed as a matrix of Tm{sup 3+}-doped laser elements for two-micron lasers. A Tm : YbAG crystal of high optical quality is grown by the Czochralski method and its spectral and luminescent characteristics are studied. The luminescence decay time for the upper laser level {sup 3}F{sub 4} is measured to be 4.7 ms. Lasing in this crystal pumped by a 1.678-μm fibre laser is obtained at a wavelength of 2.02 μm for the first time. The total and slope efficiencies of the laser at room temperature and an output power up to 330 mW reach 33% and 41%, respectively. (lasers)

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Dark Energy Survey Year 1 results: weak lensing mass calibration of redMaPPer galaxy clusters

We constrain the mass-richness scaling relation of redMaPPer galaxy clusters identified in the Dark Energy Survey Year 1 data using weak gravitational lensing. We split clusters into 4 x 3 bins of richness lambda and redshift z for lambda >= 20 and 0.2 <= z <= 0.65 and measure the mean masses of these bins using their stacked weak lensing signal. By modelling the scaling relation as M-200m|lambda, M-0(lambda/40)(F)((1 + /1.35)(G), we constrain the normalization of the scaling relation at the 5.0 per cent level, finding M-0 = [3.081 +/- 0.075(stat) +/- 0.133(sys)] center dot 10(14) M-aS (TM) at lambda = 40 and = 0.35. The recovered richness scaling index is F = 1.356 +/- 0.051 (stat) +/- 0.008 (sys) and the redshift scaling index G = -0.30 +/- 0.30 (stat) +/- 0.06 (sys). These are the tightest measurements of the normalization and richness scaling index made to date from a weak lensing experiment. We use a semi-analytic covariance matrix to characterize the statistical errors in the recovered weak lensing profiles. Our analysis accounts for the following sources of systematic error: shear and photometric redshift errors, cluster miscentring, cluster member dilution of the source sample, systematic uncertainties in the modelling of the halo-mass correlation function, halo triaxiality, and projection effects. We discuss prospects for reducing our systematic error budget, which dominates the uncertainty on M-0. Our result is in excellent agreement with, but has significantly smaller uncertainties than, previous measurements in the literature, and augurs well for the power of the DES cluster survey as a tool for precision cosmology and upcoming galaxy surveys such as LSST, Euclid, and WFIRST

clusters↗

Magnetic phase transitions in quantum spin-orbital liquids

Here, we investigate the spin and orbital correlations of a superexchange model with spin $\textit{S}$ = 1 and orbital $\textit{L}$ = 1 relevant for $5d^4$ transition-metal Mott insulators, using exact diagonalization and density matrix renormalization group (DMRG). For spin-orbit coupling λ = 0, the orbitals are in an entangled state that is decoupled from the spins. We find two phases with increasing λ: (I) the $\textit{S}$2 phase with two peaks in the structure factor for λ ≤ λ$_{c1}$ ≈ 0.34$\textit{J}$ where $\textit{J}$ is the ferromagnetic exchange; and, (II) the $\textit{S}$1 phase for λ$_{c1}$ < λ ≤ λ$_{c2}$ ≈ 1.2$\textit{J}$ with emergent antiferromagnetic correlations. Both $\textit{S}$1 and $\textit{S}$2 phases are shown to exhibit power-law correlations, indicative of a gapless spectrum. Upon increasing λ > λ$_{c2}$ leads to a product state of local spin-orbital singlets that exhibit exponential decay of correlations, indicative of a gapped phase. We obtain insights into the phases from the well-known Uimin-Lai-Sutherland model in an external field that provides an approximate description of our model within mean-field theory.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

HPC4Energy Final Report : GE Energy

Power System planning tools are being used today to simulate systems that are far larger and more complex than just a few years ago. Advances in renewable technologies and more pervasive control technology are driving planning engineers to analyze an increasing number of scenarios and system models with much more detailed network representations. Although the speed of individual CPU’s has increased roughly according to Moore’s Law, the requirements for advanced models, increased system sizes, and larger sensitivities have outstripped CPU performance. This computational dilemma has reached a critical point and the industry needs to develop the technology to accurately model the power system of the future. The hpc4energy incubator program provided a unique opportunity to leverage the HPC resources available to LLNL and the power systems domain expertise of GE Energy to enhance the GE Concorda PSLF software. Well over 500 users worldwide, including all of the major California electric utilities, rely on Concorda PSLF software for their power flow and dynamics. This pilot project demonstrated that the GE Concorda PSLF software can perform contingency analysis in a massively parallel environment to significantly reduce the time to results. An analysis with 4,127 contingencies that would take 24 days on a single core was reduced to 24 minutes when run on 4,217 cores. A secondary goal of this project was to develop and test modeling techniques that will expand the computational capability of PSLF to efficiently deal with systems sizes greater than 150,000 buses. Toward this goal the matrix reordering implementation time was sped up 9.5 times by optimizing the code and introducing threading.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Conceptual design of a self-deployable, high performance parabolic concentrator for advanced solar-dynamic power systems

NASA has initiated technology development programs to develop advanced solar dynamic power systems and components for space applications beyond 2000. Conceptual design work that was performed is described. The main efforts were the: (1) conceptual design of self-deploying, high-performance parabolic concentrator; and (2) materials selection for a lightweight, shape-stable concentrator. The deployment concept utilizes rigid gore-shaped reflective panels. The assembled concentrator takes an annular shape with a void in the center. This deployable concentrator concept is applicable to a range of solar dynamic power systems of 25 kW sub e to in excess of 75 kW sub e. The concept allows for a family of power system sizes all using the same packaging and deployment technique. The primary structural material selected for the concentrator is a polyethyl ethylketone/carbon fiber composite also referred to as APC-2 or Vitrex. This composite has a nearly neutral coefficient of thermal expansion which leads to shape stable characteristics under thermal gradient conditions. Substantial efforts were undertaken to produce a highly specular surface on the composite. The overall coefficient of thermal expansion of the composite laminate is near zero, but thermally induced stresses due to micro-movement of the fibers and matrix in relation to each other cause the surface to become nonspecular.

Dehne, Hans J.↗

Spark Plasma Sintering of W-UO2 Cermets

About 50 vol.% 3 um depleted uranium dioxide (UO2) powder was encapsulated within a tungsten super alloy matrix produced from sub-micron tungsten powders using the Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) process. An additive of 25 atom-percent (at.%) rhenium was included within the tungsten matrix to improve the ductility and fracture toughness of the ceramic–metallic (cermet) matrix. Cermet fabrication to 97.9% of the theoretical cermet density was achieved by sintering at 1500 degrees C with 40 MPa of applied pressure for 20 min. The results presented are from the first known trials of W–UO2 and nuclear cermet production via SPS.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

TU-CD-BRB-09: Prediction of Chemo-Radiation Outcome for Rectal Cancer Based On Radiomics of Tumor Clinical Characteristics and Multi-Parametric MRI

Purpose: To evaluate the tumor clinical characteristics and quantitative multi-parametric MR imaging features for prediction of response to chemo-radiation treatment (CRT) in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). Methods: Forty-three consecutive patients (59.7±6.9 years, from 09/2013 – 06/2014) receiving neoadjuvant CRT followed by surgery were enrolled. All underwent MRI including anatomical T1/T2, Dynamic Contrast Enhanced (DCE)-MRI and Diffusion-Weighted MRI (DWI) prior to the treatment. A total of 151 quantitative features, including morphology/Gray Level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM) texture from T1/T2, enhancement kinetics and the voxelized distribution from DCE-MRI, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) from DWI, along with clinical information (carcinoembryonic antigen CEA level, TNM staging etc.), were extracted for each patient. Response groups were separated based on down-staging, good response and pathological complete response (pCR) status. Logistic regression analysis (LRA) was used to select the best predictors to classify different groups and the predictive performance were calculated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results: Individual imaging category or clinical charateristics might yield certain level of power in assessing the response. However, the combined model outperformed than any category alone in prediction. With selected features as Volume, GLCM AutoCorrelation (T2), MaxEnhancementProbability (DCE-MRI), and MeanADC (DWI), the down-staging prediciton accuracy (area under the ROC curve, AUC) could be 0.95, better than individual tumor metrics with AUC from 0.53–0.85. While for the pCR prediction, the best set included CEA (clinical charateristics), Homogeneity (DCE-MRI) and MeanADC (DWI) with an AUC of 0.89, more favorable compared to conventional tumor metrics with an AUC ranging from 0.511–0.79. Conclusion: Through a systematic analysis of multi-parametric MR imaging features, we are able to build models with improved predictive value over conventional imaging or clinical metrics. This is encouraging, suggesting the wealth of imaging radiomics should be further explored to help tailor the treatment into the era of personalized medicine. This work is supported by the National Science Foundation of China (NSFC Grant No. 81201091), National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 program, Grant No. 2015AA020917), and Fund Project for Excellent Abroad Scholar Personnel in Science and Technology.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

A study of void effects on the interlaminar shear strength of unidirectional graphite fiber reinforced composites

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of voids on the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) of a polyimide matrix composite system. The graphite/PRM-15 composite was chosen for study because of the extensive amount of experience that has been amassed in the processing of this material. Composite densities and fiber contents of more than thirty different laminates were measured along with ILSS. Void contents were calculated and the void geometry and distribution were noted using microscopic techniques such as those used in metallography. It was found that there was a good empirical correlation between ILSS and composite density. The most acceptable relationship between the ILSS and density was found to be a power equation which closely resembles theoretically derived expressions. An increase in scatter in the strength data was observed as the void content increased. In laminates with low void content, the void appears to be more segregated in one area of the laminate. It was found that void free composites could be processed in matched metal die molds at pressures greater than 1.4 and less than 6.9 MPa.

Bowles, Kenneth J.↗

NASA Tech Briefs, December 2010

Topics include: Coherent Frequency Reference System for the NASA Deep Space Network; Diamond Heat-Spreader for Submillimeter-Wave Frequency Multipliers; 180-GHz I-Q Second Harmonic Resistive Mixer MMIC; Ultra-Low-Noise W-Band MMIC Detector Modules; 338-GHz Semiconductor Amplifier Module; Power Amplifier Module with 734-mW Continuous Wave Output Power; Multiple Differential-Amplifier MMICs Embedded in Waveguides; Rapid Corner Detection Using FPGAs; Special Component Designs for Differential-Amplifier MMICs; Multi-Stage System for Automatic Target Recognition; Single-Receiver GPS Phase Bias Resolution; Ultra-Wideband Angle-of-Arrival Tracking Systems; Update on Waveguide-Embedded Differential MMIC Amplifiers; Automation Framework for Flight Dynamics Products Generation; Product Operations Status Summary Metrics; Mars Terrain Generation; Application-Controlled Parallel Asynchronous Input/Output Utility; Planetary Image Geometry Library; Propulsion Design With Freeform Fabrication (PDFF); Economical Fabrication of Thick-Section Ceramic Matrix Composites; Process for Making a Noble Metal on Tin Oxide Catalyst; Stacked Corrugated Horn Rings; Refinements in an Mg/MgH2/H2O-Based Hydrogen Generator; Continuous/Batch Mg/MgH2/H2O-Based Hydrogen Generator; Strain System for the Motion Base Shuttle Mission Simulator; Ko Displacement Theory for Structural Shape Predictions; Pyrotechnic Actuator for Retracting Tubes Between MSL Subsystems; Surface-Enhanced X-Ray Fluorescence; Infrared Sensor on Unmanned Aircraft Transmits Time-Critical Wildfire Data; and Slopes To Prevent Trapping of Bubbles in Microfluidic Channels.

Source record↗

Polymeric Materials for Aerospace Power and Propulsion

The NASA Glenn Research Center is hosting its second University Student Design Challenge (USDC-2) where students will present their aeronautics or space-themed projects related to either Humans, A Solar System Species, or Neighborhoods and Cities with Flying Cars and Other Vehicles. This presentation will highlight current polymers research in the Materials Chemistry and Physics Branch and discuss its relevance to the two above-mentioned design challenge topics.

polymer matrix composites↗

Effect of the Laser Scan Rate on the Microstructure, Magnetic Properties, and Microhardness of Selective Laser-Melted FeSiB

FeSiB alloys have been fabricated by selective laser melting (SLM) using a laser scan rate of 0.1–1.5 m/s, laser power of 90 W, scan line spacing of 40 μ m, and layer thickness of 50 μ m. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, profilometer, microdurometer, and vibrating sample magnetometer have been used to investigate the structural, microstructural, roughness, microhardness, and magnetic property changes during the laser melting process. The produced samples exhibit a nanocomposite structure consisting of nanocrystalline α-Fe{sub 0.95}Si{sub 0.05} and Fe{sub 2}B phases embedded into an amorphous ε-FeSi-type matrix. The selective laser-melted samples show high density, low surface roughness, higher microhardness values (1654–2273 Hv), and soft magnetic properties (M{sub s} = 188.6–199 emu/g and H{sub c} = 43.8–73 Oe).

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Multilayered Cu-Carbon Nanotube Composites for Advanced Conductors

Improving the efficiency of electrical components is critical in reducing energy consumption for various industrial and residential applications, ranging from rotating machinery to all electric devices and electric vehicle (EV) components to power grid systems. Substituting Cu wires with reduced resistance conductors that incorporate carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into Cu─ultraconductive Cu (UCC) composites─has recently been considered a promising strategy to improve energy efficiency, power density, and/or performance across various applications. Here, in this study, we created stable material formulations [CNT-containing polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) in dimethylformamide (DMF) solution] and utilized commercially viable fabrication approaches (electrospinning and magnetron sputtering) that produced high-performance multilayered tape-based UCC composite architectures. Increasing the CNT volume fraction by sequential layering of the structure with additional Cu-CNT layers showed a nearly stepwise improved performance in electrical and mechanical properties. This study also provides valuable insight into the effectiveness of nitrogen doping in modifying the conductivity of the CNT matrix. Fabricated prototypes demonstrated a >10% increase in current carrying capacity and >10% improvement in mechanical strength compared to those obtained on pure Cu. We believe that the properties demonstrated here, combined with the scalable manufacturing pathway of our approach, pave the way in designing future advanced conductors for diverse energy efficient and high-performance electrical systems and applications.

Carbon nanotubes↗

Moisture-induced autonomous surface potential oscillations for energy harvesting

A variety of autonomous oscillations in nature such as heartbeats and some biochemical reactions have been widely studied and utilized for applications in the fields of bioscience and engineering. Here, we report a unique phenomenon of moisture-induced electrical potential oscillations on polymers, poly([2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl] dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl) ammonium hydroxide-co-acrylic acid), during the diffusion of water molecules. Chemical reactions are modeled by kinetic simulations while system dynamic equations and the stability matrix are analyzed to show the chaotic nature of the system which oscillates with hidden attractors to induce the autonomous surface potential oscillation. Using moisture in the ambient environment as the activation source, this self-excited chemoelectrical reaction could have broad influences and usages in surface-reaction based devices and systems. As a proof-of-concept demonstration, an energy harvester is constructed and achieved the continuous energy production for more than 15,000 seconds with an energy density of 16.8 mJ/cm 2 . A 2-Volts output voltage has been produced to power a liquid crystal display toward practical applications with five energy harvesters connected in series.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Unusual infrared absorption increases in photo-degraded organic films

Degradation is among the most pressing problems facing organic materials, occurring through ingress of moisture and oxygen, and light exposure. We determine the nanoscale pathways underlying degradation by light-soaking organic films in an environmental chamber, and performing infrared spectroscopy, to identify atomic bonding changes. We utilize as a prototype the low band gap PTB7-PCBM blend. Films light-soaked in the presence of oxygen show unusual increased absorption at 1727 cm –1 attributable to increased C=O modes, and a broad increase at 3240 cm –1 attributable to hydroxyl (O–H) groups bonded within the organic matrix. Films exposed to oxygen in the dark, or light-soaked in an inert atmosphere, do not exhibit significant absorption changes, suggesting simultaneous exposure of oxygen and light that creates singlet excited oxygen is the detrimental factor. Our ab initio electronic structure simulations interpret these by oxidation at the α-C site of the alkyl chains in PTB7, with an irreversible rupture of the alkyl chain and formation of new C=O and C–O–H conformations at the α-C. Infrared spectroscopy coupled with ab initio simulation can provide a powerful tool for quantifying photo-structural atomic bonding changes. As a result, understanding nanoscale light-induced structural changes will open avenues to designing more stable organic materials for organic electronics.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Micro-Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy: A Novel Approach Used in the Detection of Six Rare Earths and One Transition Metal

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was undertaken using an instrument which used a high-powered microscope to deliver the light and tightly focused the low energy laser beam onto the surface of a solid sample. A micro-plasma was generated on the surface of the sample under test even though the amount of energy/pulse from a beam of 532 nm was <1 mJ. Rare earth elements such as europium, gadolinium, lanthanum, neodymium, praseodymium, samarium, and a transition metal, yttrium, were tested. These elements are important in nuclear fission reactions especially for estimation of actinide masses for non-proliferation “safeguards”. Each element was mixed in the graphite matrix in different percentages from 1% to 50% by weight and the LIBS spectra were obtained for each composition as well as after mixing each element in the same amount using oxides of the elements. The data for the 5% mixture of the rare earth elements with graphite powder along with the transition metal has been presented in this article. A micro-LIBS approach was used to demonstrate that these rare earth elements can be identified individually and in a complex mixture in glove boxes in which the microscope LIBS instrument is housed in a nuclear research environment.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

21 cm Signal Recovery via Robust Principal Component Analysis

The redshifted 21 cm signal from neutral hydrogen (H i) is potentially a very powerful probe for cosmology, but a difficulty in its observation is that it is much weaker than foreground radiation from the Milky Way as well as extragalactic radio sources. The foreground radiation at different frequencies, however, is coherent along one line of sight, and various methods of foreground subtraction based on this property have been proposed. In this paper, we present a new method based on robust principal component analysis (RPCA) to subtract the foreground and extract the 21 cm signal, which explicitly uses both the low-rank property of the frequency covariance matrix (i.e., frequency coherence) of the foreground and the sparsity of the frequency covariance matrix of the 21 cm signal. The low-rank property of the foreground’s frequency covariance has been exploited in many previous works on foreground subtraction, but to our knowledge the sparsity of the frequency covariance of the 21 cm signal is first explored here. By exploiting both properties in the RPCA method, the frequency covariance matrix of the foreground and the 21 cm signal can be separated accurately. We then use the generalized internal linear combination method to recover the 21 cm signal from the data. Our method is applicable both to a small patch of sky with the flat-sky approximation and to a large area of sky where the sphericity has to be considered. It is also easy to extend to deal with more complex conditions such as a sky map with defects.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗