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NASA NTRSDate not supplied

AM Processes Part 2: Principles of Directed Energy Deposition

Directed Energy Deposition (DED) is one of the metal additive manufacturing processes which finds wider industrial applications, particularly for repair and reclamation, and for large structures. This course helps the attendees to understand the fundamental concepts of DED process and covers the topics such as, how the technology works, different DED processes, materials used, and typical applications where this technology is used. The discussion will have a focus on ASTM F3187 – Standard guide for Directed Energy Deposition of Metals. After completing this webinar the attendees will achieve the following: · Identify and understand the different types of DED processes · Understand how to select a DED process and trade criteria · Understand the various materials used for DED processes · Understand the core parameters for the DED processes · Determine potential parts and end application of DED technology

Additive Manufacturing↗

DOE OSTI2013

Energy Storage/Conservation and Carbon Emissions Reduction Demonstration Project

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded the Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) federal assistance for the management of a project to develop and test a prototype flywheel-based energy recovery and storage system in partnership with Test Devices, Inc. (TDI). TDI specializes in the testing of jet engine and power generation turbines, which uses a great deal of electrical power for long periods of time. In fact, in 2007, the company consumed 3,498,500 kW-hr of electricity in their operations, which is equivalent to the electricity of 328 households. For this project, CTE and TDI developed and tested a prototype flywheel-based energy recovery and storage system. This technology is being developed at TDI’s facilities to capture and reuse the energy necessary for the company’s core process. The new technology and equipment is expected to save approximately 80% of the energy used in the TDI process, reducing total annual consumption of power by approximately 60%, saving approximately two million kilowatt-hours annually. Additionally, the energy recycling system will allow TDI and other end users to lower their peak power demand and reduce associated utility demand charges. The use of flywheels in this application is novel and requires significant development work from TDI. Flywheels combine low maintenance costs with very high cycle life with little to no degradation over time, resulting in lifetimes measured in decades. All of these features make flywheels a very attractive option compared to other forms of energy storage, including batteries. Development and deployment of this energy recycling technology will reduce energy consumption during jet engine and stationary turbine development. By reengineering the current inefficient testing process, TDI will reduce risk and time to market of efficiency upgrades of gas turbines across the entire spectrum of applications. Once in place the results from this program will also help other US industries to utilize energy recycling technology to lower domestic energy use and see higher net energy efficiency. The prototype system and results will be used to seek additional resources to carry out full deployment of a system. Ultimately, this innovative technology is expected to be transferable to other testing applications involving energy-based cycling within the company as well as throughout the industry.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

DOE OSTI2025

𝐴𝑏 initio density-matrix approach to exciton coherence: Phonon scattering, Coulomb interactions, and radiative recombination

Relaxation processes following light excitation in semiconductors are key in materials-based quantum technology applications. These processes are broadly studied in atomically thin transition-metal dichalcogenides, quasi-two-dimensional excitonic semiconductors in which atomistic design allows for tunable excited-state properties, such as relaxation lifetimes and photoinduced coherence. In this work, we present a density-matrix-based approach to compute exciton relaxation within a many-body ab initio perspective. We expand our previously developed Lindblad density-matrix formalism to capture multichannel electron-hole pair relaxation processes, including phonon and Coulomb scattering as well as radiative recombination, and we study their effect on the time-resolved excited-state propagation. Using monolayer MoSe 2 as a prototypical example, we examine many-body effects on the time-dependent dynamics of photoactive excitations, exploring how the electron-hole pair interactions are reflected in variations of the excitation energy, spectral signature, and state coherence. In conclusion, our method supplies a detailed understanding of exciton relaxation mechanisms in realistic materials, offering a previously unexplored pathway to study excited-state dynamics in semiconductors from first principles.

Band structure methods↗

NASA NTRS1991

Neural network technologies

A whole new arena of computer technologies is now beginning to form. Still in its infancy, neural network technology is a biologically inspired methodology which draws on nature's own cognitive processes. The Software Technology Branch has provided a software tool, Neural Execution and Training System (NETS), to industry, government, and academia to facilitate and expedite the use of this technology. NETS is written in the C programming language and can be executed on a variety of machines. Once a network has been debugged, NETS can produce a C source code which implements the network. This code can then be incorporated into other software systems. Described here are various software projects currently under development with NETS and the anticipated future enhancements to NETS and the technology.

Villarreal, James A.↗

NASA NTRS1994

The application of decision analysis to life support research and technology development

Applied research and technology development is often characterized by uncertainty, risk, and significant delays before tangible returns are obtained. Decision making regarding which technologies to advance and what resources to devote to them is a challenging but essential task. In the application of life support technology to future manned space flight, new technology concepts typically are characterized by nonexistent data and rough approximations of technology performance, uncertain future flight program needs, and a complex, time-intensive process to develop technology to a flight-ready status. Decision analysis is a quantitative, logic-based discipline that imposes formalism and structure to complex problems. It also accounts for the limits of knowledge that may be available at the time a decision is needed. The utility of decision analysis to life support technology R & D was evaluated by applying it to two case studies. The methodology was found to provide insight that is not possible from more traditional analysis approaches.

Ballin, Mark G.↗

NASA NTRS2012

Subsonic Ultra Green Aircraft Research Phase II: N+4 Advanced Concept Development

This final report documents the work of the Boeing Subsonic Ultra Green Aircraft Research (SUGAR) team on Task 1 of the Phase II effort. The team consisted of Boeing Research and Technology, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, General Electric, and Georgia Tech. Using a quantitative workshop process, the following technologies, appropriate to aircraft operational in the N+4 2040 timeframe, were identified: Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), Hydrogen, fuel cell hybrids, battery electric hybrids, Low Energy Nuclear (LENR), boundary layer ingestion propulsion (BLI), unducted fans and advanced propellers, and combinations. Technology development plans were developed.

Bradley, Marty K.↗

NASA NTRS2015

GOCI Level-2 Processing Improvements and Cloud Motion Analysis

The Ocean Biology Processing Group has been working with the Korean Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST) to process geosynchronous ocean color data from the GOCI (Geostationary Ocean Color Instrument) aboard the COMS (Communications, Ocean and Meteorological Satellite). The level-2 processing program, l2gen has GOCI processing as an option. Improvements made to that processing are discussed here as well as a discussion about cloud motion effects.

Robinson, Wayne↗

NASA NTRS2015

GOCI Level-2 Processing Improvements and Cloud Motion Analysis

Robinson, Wayne D.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

NASA Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative: Ensuring a Cohesive, Executable Strategy for Technology Development

Establishing a sustainable human presence on the Moon allows NASA to develop and test new approaches, technologies, and systems that will enable us to function in other, more challenging environments. The Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative (LSII) was established in 2019 and has evolved into a key agency asset to spur technology development and provide risk reduction for lunar surface system development and flight demonstrations. LSII coordinates activities implemented through a combination of in-house activities, competitive programs, and public-private partnerships to create transformative technologies needed for lunar surface exploration. This paper will outline the LSII model used to develop a technology pipeline that will retire the primary technology hurdles in six capability areas. In-situ resource utilization technologies for collecting, processing, storing, and using material found or manufactured on the Moon. Surface power technologies that provide the capability for sustainable, continuous power throughout the day and night for lunar missions. Dust mitigation strategies that diminish lunar dust hazards on lunar surface systems such as cameras, solar panels, space suits, habitats, and instrumentation. Extreme environments technologies that enable systems to operate throughout the full range of lunar surface conditions, including lunar noon (up to 150 at the equator), night (down to - 180 at the equator), multiple day/night cycles, and in permanently shadowed regions (down to -250). Extreme access technologies that enable humans or robotic systems to access, navigate, and explore previously inaccessible lunar surface or subsurface areas. Excavation and construction technologies that will allow affordable, autonomous manufacturing or construction. We outline key results, including milestones and achievements related to the capability areas and outcomes from partnerships with the commercial sector. A key tenet of the LSII is the Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium (LSIC), a collaboration across industry, academia, and government to successfully develop the transformative capabilities for lunar surface exploration. LSIC provides a forum for NASA to communicate technological requirements, needs, and opportunities and for the community to share existing capabilities and identify critical gaps with NASA. By working side by side with commercial enterprises and our international partners, NASA is able to combine the knowledge and expertise needed to explore the lunar surface and make technical advances that will feed technological and economic growth. Since its inception, LSII has engaged over 600 organizations across the United States and 46 countries to shape the technologies and systems needed to explore the lunar surface and stimulate a lunar surface economy.

lunar, lunar surface, technology development, ISRU↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

NASA Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative: Ensuring a Cohesive, Executable Strategy for Technology

Lunar↗

DOE OSTI2012

Low Temperature Reduction of Alumina Using Fluorine Containing Ionic Liquids

The major objective of the project is to establish the feasibility of using specific ionic liquids capable of sustaining aluminum electrolysis near room temperature at laboratory and batch recirculation scales. It will explore new technologies for aluminum and other valuable metal extraction and process methods. The new technology will overcome many of the limitations associated with high temperatures processes such as high energy consumption and corrosion attack. Furthermore, ionic liquids are non-toxic and could be recycled after purification, thus minimizing extraction reagent losses and environmental pollutant emissions. Ionic liquids are mixture of inorganic and organic salts which are liquid at room temperature and have wide operational temperature range. During the last several years, they were emerging as novel electrolytes for extracting and refining of aluminum metals and/or alloys, which are otherwise impossible using aqueous media. The superior high temperature characteristics and high solvating capabilities of ionic liquids provide a unique solution to high temperature organic solvent problems associated with device internal pressure build-up, corrosion, and thermal stability. However their applications have not yet been fully implemented due to the insufficient understanding of the electrochemical mechanisms involved in processing of aluminum with ionic liquids. Laboratory aluminum electrodeposition in ionic liquids has been investigated in chloride and bis (trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide based ionic liquids. The electrowinning process yielded current density in the range of 200-500 A/m 2 , and current efficiency of about 90%. The results indicated that high purity aluminum (>99.99%) can be obtained as cathodic deposits. Cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry studies have shown that initial stages of aluminum electrodeposition in ionic liquid electrolyte at 30°C was found to be quasi-reversible, with the charge transfer coefficient α = 0.40. Nucleation phenomena involved in aluminum deposition on copper in AlCl 3 -BMIMCl electrolyte was found to be instantaneous followed by diffusion controlled three-dimensional growth of nuclei. Diffusion coefficient (D o ) of the electroactive species Al 2 Cl 7 ¯ ion was in the range from 6.5 to 3.9x10 -7 cm 2 ∙s -1 at a temperature of 30°C. Relatively little research efforts have been made toward the fundamental understanding and modeling of the species transport and transformation information involved in ionic liquid mixtures, which eventually could lead to quantification of electrochemical properties. Except that experimental work in this aspect usually is time consuming and expensive, certain characteristics of ionic liquids also made barriers for such analyses. Low vapor pressure and high viscosity make them not suitable for atomic absorption spectroscopic measurement. In addition, aluminum electrodeposition in ionic liquid electrolytes are considered to be governed by multi-component mass, heat and charge transport in laminar and turbulent flows that are often multi-phase due to the gas evolution at the electrodes. The kinetics of the electrochemical reactions is in general complex. Furthermore, the mass transfer boundary layer is about one order of magnitude smaller than the thermal and hydrodynamic boundary layer (ReL≈10,000). Other phenomena that frequently occur are side reactions and temperature or concentration driven natural convection. As a result of this complexity, quantitative knowledge of the local parameters (current densities, ion concentrations, electrical potential, temperature, etc.) is very difficult to obtain. This situation is a serious obstacle for improving the quality of products, efficiency of manufacturing and energy consumption. The gap between laboratory/batch scale processing with global process control and nanoscale deposit surface and materials specifications needs to be bridged. A breakthrough can only be realized if on each scale the occurring phenomena are understood and quantified. Multiscale numerical modeling nevertheless can help to bridge this gap. In conjunction with various scale experimental efforts, this project was aim to construct the basis for a strategy for innovation, by developing a generally applicable modeling methodology for understanding and controlling the electrochemical processes of aluminum electrodeposition in ionic liquids with the unifying characteristic that they are based on charge-driven mass transfer. The approaches developed in this project will not only be essential for the mass production of aluminum on any pilot scale or industrial level production processes, leading to the development of a new aluminum production technology, but also bring significant benefits to the society in terms of saving energy, reducing pollutants emission and recovering valuable metals.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2011

Low Temperature Reduction of Alumina Using Fluorine Containing Ionic Liquids

The major objective of the project is to establish the feasibility of using specific ionic liquids capable of sustaining aluminum electrolysis near room temperature at laboratory and batch recirculation scales. It will explore new technologies for aluminum and other valuable metal extraction and process methods. The new technology will overcome many of the limitations associated with high temperatures processes such as high energy consumption and corrosion attack. Furthermore, ionic liquids are non-toxic and could be recycled after purification, thus minimizing extraction reagent losses and environmental pollutant emissions. Ionic liquids are mixture of inorganic and organic salts which are liquid at room temperature and have wide operational temperature range. During the last several years, they were emerging as novel electrolytes for extracting and refining of aluminum metals and/or alloys, which are otherwise impossible using aqueous media. The superior high temperature characteristics and high solvating capabilities of ionic liquids provide a unique solution to high temperature organic solvent problems associated with device internal pressure build-up, corrosion, and thermal stability. However, their applications have not yet been fully implemented due to the insufficient understanding of the electrochemical mechanisms involved in processing of aluminum with ionic liquids. Laboratory aluminum electrodeposition in ionic liquids has been investigated in chloride and bis (trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide based ionic liquids. The electrowinning process yielded current density in the range of 200-500 A/m 2 , and current efficiency of about 90%. The results indicated that high purity aluminum (>99.99%) can be obtained as cathodic deposits. Cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry studies have shown that initial stages of aluminum electrodeposition in ionic liquid electrolyte at 30°C was found to be quasi-reversible, with the charge transfer coefficient α = 0.40. Nucleation phenomena involved in aluminum deposition on copper in AlCl 3 -BMIMCl electrolyte was found to be instantaneous followed by diffusion controlled three-dimensional growth of nuclei. Diffusion coefficient (D o ) of the electroactive species Al 2 Cl 7 ¯ ion was in the range from 6.5 to 3.9×10 –7 cm 2 ∙s –1 at a temperature of 30°C. Relatively little research efforts have been made toward the fundamental understanding and modeling of the species transport and transformation information involved in ionic liquid mixtures, which eventually could lead to quantification of electrochemical properties. Except that experimental work in this aspect usually is time consuming and expensive, certain characteristics of ionic liquids also made barriers for such analyses. Low vapor pressure and high viscosity make them not suitable for atomic absorption spectroscopic measurement. In addition, aluminum electrodeposition in ionic liquid electrolytes are considered to be governed by multi-component mass, heat and charge transport in laminar and turbulent flows that are often multi-phase due to the gas evolution at the electrodes. The kinetics of the electrochemical reactions is in general complex. Furthermore, the mass transfer boundary layer is about one order of magnitude smaller than the thermal and hydrodynamic boundary layer (ReL≈10,000). Other phenomena that frequently occur are side reactions and temperature or concentration driven natural convection. As a result of this complexity, quantitative knowledge of the local parameters (current densities, ion concentrations, electrical potential, temperature, etc.) is very difficult to obtain. This situation is a serious obstacle for improving the quality of products, efficiency of manufacturing and energy consumption. The gap between laboratory/batch scale processing with global process control and nanoscale deposit surface and materials specifications needs to be bridged. A breakthrough can only be realized if on each scale the occurring phenomena are understood and quantified. Multiscale numerical modeling nevertheless can help to bridge this gap. In conjunction with various scale experimental efforts, this project was aimed to construct the basis for a strategy for innovation, by developing a generally applicable modeling methodology for understanding and controlling the electrochemical processes of aluminum electrodeposition in ionic liquids with the unifying characteristic that they are based on charge-driven mass transfer. The approaches developed in this project will not only be essential for the mass production of aluminum on any pilot scale or industrial level production processes, leading to the development of a new aluminum production technology, but also bring significant benefits to the society in terms of saving energy, reducing pollutants emission and recovering valuable metals.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2024

Formation and Microwave Losses of Hydrides in Superconducting Niobium Thin Films Resulting from Fluoride Chemical Processing

Abstract Superconducting niobium (Nb) thin films have recently attracted significant attention due to their utility for quantum information technologies. In the processing of Nb thin films, fluoride‐based chemical etchants are commonly used to remove surface oxides that are known to affect superconducting quantum devices adversely. However, these same etchants can also introduce hydrogen to form Nb hydrides, potentially negatively impacting microwave loss performance. Here, comprehensive materials characterization of Nb hydrides formed in Nb thin films as a function of fluoride chemical treatments is presented. In particular, secondary‐ion mass spectrometry, X‐ray scattering, and transmission electron microscopy reveal the spatial distribution and phase transformation of Nb hydrides. The rate of hydride formation is determined by the fluoride solution acidity and the etch rate of Nb 2 O 5, which acts as a diffusion barrier for hydrogen into Nb. The resulting Nb hydrides are detrimental to Nb superconducting properties and lead to increased power‐independent microwave loss in coplanar waveguide resonators. However, Nb hydrides do not correlate with two‐level system loss or device aging mechanisms. Overall, this work provides insight into the formation of Nb hydrides and their role in microwave loss, thus guiding ongoing efforts to maximize coherence time in superconducting quantum devices.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2011

Energy Saving Melting and Revert Reduction Technology (E-SMARRT): Design Support for Tooling Optimization

High pressure die casting is an intrinsically efficient net shape process and improvements in energy efficiency are strongly dependent on design and process improvements that reduce scrap rates so that more of the total consumed energy goes into acceptable, usable castings. Computer simulation has become widely used within the industry but use is not universal. Further, many key design decisions must be made before the simulation can be run and expense in terms of money and time often limits the number of decision iterations that can be explored. This work continues several years of work creating simple, very fast, design tools that can assist with the early stage design decisions so that the benefits of simulation can be maximized and, more importantly, so that the chances of first shot success are maximized. First shot success and better running processes contributes to less scrap and significantly better energy utilization by the process. This new technology was predicted to result in an average energy savings of 1.83 trillion BTUs/year over a 10 year period. Current (2011) annual energy saving estimates over a ten year period, based on commercial introduction in 2012, a market penetration of 30% by 2015 is 1.89 trillion BTUs/year by 2022. Along with these energy savings, reduction of scrap and improvement in yield will result in a reduction of the environmental emissions associated with the melting and pouring of the metal which will be saved as a result of this technology. The average annual estimate of CO2 reduction per year through 2022 is 0.037 Million Metric Tons of Carbon Equivalent (MM TCE).

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

NASA NTRS1979

Diffusion and utilization of scientific and technological knowledge within state and local governments

The state-of-the-art is reviewed concerning current knowledge of processes by which technological innovation and scientific information are disseminated among state and local governments. The effectiveness of various mechanisms, strategies, and approaches by which federal agencies have sought to transfer technology to state, regional, and city governments are assessed. It is concluded that the existing relationships between the state and local governments, and the scientific communities are not adequate.

Feller, I.↗

DOE OSTI2016

Development and Testing of a First-of-a-Kind Process to Support Commissioning a New Hazard Category 2 Nuclear Facility - 16573

The Department of Energy's Department of Environmental Management faces the complex task of cleaning up waste from nuclear weapons production. Often, the clean-up requires novel and untested technologies and approaches. In these cases, it is always necessary to provide some measure of assurance that the design engineers will be able to produce a design that will function in the means intended. Too many times we have seen first of a kind nuclear processing technologies put forth as commercially ready, only to be found insufficiently mature once attempted to be readied for operation. As now required by the DOE's Technology Readiness Assessment Process, it is necessary to demonstrate technologies in a similar environment to the current application and tested with a range of bounding simulants, or actual waste materials, if possible. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

DOE OSTI2017

Developing a human factors toolkit to cope with the multi-project situation - 346

Beside of the challenge from technology improvement and stricter safety review in the area of human factors engineering and integrated human system interface resources design, the pressure from the engineering efficiency and quality continues increasing nowadays while 'one-design-several-sites' is becoming more and more common for the nuclear energy industrial in China. A toolkit based on relational database technology was developed to support the whole process of HFE analysis for designer. A through requirement analysis was conducted. Beside of requirements form technical view of point, the considerations from engineering process, quality management, computer technology and data interface were also involved as a whole. During the implementation, resolutions were developed to solve problems like multi-project, multi-group and so on. Lessons learned during the design and development process are summarized as references for similar projects. (authors)

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

DOE OSTI2019

ANSTO Synroc Wasteforms for the Immobilization of a Range of Mo-99 Production Wastes - 19326

Tc-99m, the most commonly used radioisotope in nuclear medicine, is produced from the decay of Mo-99 which is predominantly produced in reactors by irradiation of enriched uranium targets. This results in three waste streams, one of which is a uranium filter cake containing fission products. This filter cake could itself be treated as a waste stream, or processed to retrieve the enriched uranium for further use, thus producing additional waste streams during reprocessing. All wastes are considered intermediate-level wastes and require an appropriate wasteform design for termination. ANSTO is collaborating with NECSA (Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa) to develop wasteform and processing solutions for the treatment of intermediate level wastes (ILW) from the production of Mo-99. The work is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) with technical support from Argonne National Laboratory (ANL). Here we highlight some of the outcomes of this collaboration which has seen the investigation and performance testing of a range of waste treatment technologies. Among the treatment options for the various waste streams, including the enriched uranium filter cake itself, were glass, glass-ceramic, ceramic and geopolymer wasteforms. All wasteforms were characterized (e.g., by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)) and their performance characteristics, for example compressive strength and aqueous durability, determined by standard methods and compared. Consideration has been given to the most suitable, practical and cost effective solutions for the immobilization of these Mo-99 wastes. This paper will discuss the down-selection of wasteforms and process technologies for Mo-99 wastes and compare these with regards to wasteform performance and process technology readiness. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗