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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 163 records · Page 9

Lessons Learned in the Livingstone 2 on Earth Observing One Flight Experiment

The Livingstone 2 (L2) model-based diagnosis software is a reusable diagnostic tool for monitoring complex systems. In 2004, L2 was integrated with the JPL Autonomous Sciencecraft Experiment (ASE) and deployed on-board Goddard's Earth Observing One (EO-1) remote sensing satellite, to monitor and diagnose the EO-1 space science instruments and imaging sequence. This paper reports on lessons learned from this flight experiment. The goals for this experiment, including validation of minimum success criteria and of a series of diagnostic scenarios, have all been successfully net. Long-term operations in space are on-going, as a test of the maturity of the system, with L2 performance remaining flawless. L2 has demonstrated the ability to track the state of the system during nominal operations, detect simulated abnormalities in operations and isolate failures to their root cause fault. Specific advances demonstrated include diagnosis of ambiguity groups rather than a single fault candidate; hypothesis revision given new sensor evidence about the state of the system; and the capability to check for faults in a dynamic system without having to wait until the system is quiescent. The major benefits of this advanced health management technology are to increase mission duration and reliability through intelligent fault protection, and robust autonomous operations with reduced dependency on supervisory operations from Earth. The work-load for operators will be reduced by telemetry of processed state-of-health information rather than raw data. The long-term vision is that of making diagnosis available to the onboard planner or executive, allowing autonomy software to re-plan in order to work around known component failures. For a system that is expected to evolve substantially over its lifetime, as for the International Space Station, the model-based approach has definite advantages over rule-based expert systems and limit-checking fault protection systems, as these do not scale well. The model-based approach facilitates reuse of the L2 diagnostic software; only the model of the system to be diagnosed and telemetry monitoring software has to be rebuilt for a new system or expanded for a growing system. The hierarchical L2 model supports modularity and expendability, and as such is suitable solution for integrated system health management as envisioned for systems-of-systems.

Hayden, Sandra C.↗

Modeling, Monitoring and Fault Diagnosis of Spacecraft Air Contaminants

Progress and results in the development of an integrated air quality modeling, monitoring, fault detection, and isolation system are presented. The focus was on development of distributed models of the air contaminants transport, the study of air quality monitoring techniques based on the model of transport process and on-line contaminant concentration measurements, and sensor placement. Different approaches to the modeling of spacecraft air contamination are discussed, and a three-dimensional distributed parameter air contaminant dispersion model applicable to both laminar and turbulent transport is proposed. A two-dimensional approximation of a full scale transport model is also proposed based on the spatial averaging of the three dimensional model over the least important space coordinate. A computer implementation of the transport model is considered and a detailed development of two- and three-dimensional models illustrated by contaminant transport simulation results is presented. The use of a well established Kalman filtering approach is suggested as a method for generating on-line contaminant concentration estimates based on both real time measurements and the model of contaminant transport process. It is shown that high computational requirements of the traditional Kalman filter can render difficult its real-time implementation for high-dimensional transport model and a novel implicit Kalman filtering algorithm is proposed which is shown to lead to an order of magnitude faster computer implementation in the case of air quality monitoring.

Ramirez, W. Fred↗

Model-Based Diagnostics for Propellant Loading Systems

The loading of spacecraft propellants is a complex, risky operation. Therefore, diagnostic solutions are necessary to quickly identify when a fault occurs, so that recovery actions can be taken or an abort procedure can be initiated. Model-based diagnosis solutions, established using an in-depth analysis and understanding of the underlying physical processes, offer the advanced capability to quickly detect and isolate faults, identify their severity, and predict their effects on system performance. We develop a physics-based model of a cryogenic propellant loading system, which describes the complex dynamics of liquid hydrogen filling from a storage tank to an external vehicle tank, as well as the influence of different faults on this process. The model takes into account the main physical processes such as highly nonequilibrium condensation and evaporation of the hydrogen vapor, pressurization, and also the dynamics of liquid hydrogen and vapor flows inside the system in the presence of helium gas. Since the model incorporates multiple faults in the system, it provides a suitable framework for model-based diagnostics and prognostics algorithms. Using this model, we analyze the effects of faults on the system, derive symbolic fault signatures for the purposes of fault isolation, and perform fault identification using a particle filter approach. We demonstrate the detection, isolation, and identification of a number of faults using simulation-based experiments.

Daigle, Matthew John↗

On-line diagnosis of unrestricted faults

A formal model for the study of on-line diagnosis is introduced and used to investigate the diagnosis of unrestricted faults. A fault of a system S is considered to be a transformation of S into another system S' at some time tau. The resulting faulty system is taken to be the system which looks like S up to time tau, and like S' thereafter. Notions of fault tolerance error are defined in terms of the resulting system being able to mimic some desired behavior as specified by a system similar to S. A notion of on-line diagnosis is formulated which involves an external detector and a maximum time delay within which every error caused by a fault in a prescribed set must be detected. It is shown that if a system is on-line diagnosable for the unrestricted set of faults then the detector is at least as complex, in terms of state set size, as the specification. The use of inverse systems for the diagnosis of unrestricted faults is considered. A partial characterization of those inverses which can be used for unrestricted fault diagnosis is obtained.

Meyer, J. F.↗

Meeting the Challenges of Exploration Systems: Health Management Technologies for Aerospace Systems With Emphasis on Propulsion

The constraints of future Exploration Missions will require unique Integrated System Health Management (ISHM) capabilities throughout the mission. An ambitious launch schedule, human-rating requirements, long quiescent periods, limited human access for repair or replacement, and long communication delays all require an ISHM system that can span distinct yet interdependent vehicle subsystems, anticipate failure states, provide autonomous remediation, and support the Exploration Mission from beginning to end. NASA Glenn Research Center has developed and applied health management system technologies to aerospace propulsion systems for almost two decades. Lessons learned from past activities help define the approach to proper ISHM development: sensor selection- identifies sensor sets required for accurate health assessment; data qualification and validation-ensures the integrity of measurement data from sensor to data system; fault detection and isolation-uses measurements in a component/subsystem context to detect faults and identify their point of origin; information fusion and diagnostic decision criteria-aligns data from similar and disparate sources in time and use that data to perform higher-level system diagnosis; and verification and validation-uses data, real or simulated, to provide variable exposure to the diagnostic system for faults that may only manifest themselves in actual implementation, as well as faults that are detectable via hardware testing. This presentation describes a framework for developing health management systems and highlights the health management research activities performed by the Controls and Dynamics Branch at the NASA Glenn Research Center. It illustrates how those activities contribute to the development of solutions for Integrated System Health Management.

Melcher, Kevin J.↗

Model-based reasoning for power system management using KATE and the SSM/PMAD

The overall goal of this research effort has been the development of a software system which automates tasks related to monitoring and controlling electrical power distribution in spacecraft electrical power systems. The resulting software system is called the Intelligent Power Controller (IPC). The specific tasks performed by the IPC include continuous monitoring of the flow of power from a source to a set of loads, fast detection of anomalous behavior indicating a fault to one of the components of the distribution systems, generation of diagnosis (explanation) of anomalous behavior, isolation of faulty object from remainder of system, and maintenance of flow of power to critical loads and systems (e.g. life-support) despite fault conditions being present (recovery). The IPC system has evolved out of KATE (Knowledge-based Autonomous Test Engineer), developed at NASA-KSC. KATE consists of a set of software tools for developing and applying structure and behavior models to monitoring, diagnostic, and control applications.

Morris, Robert A.↗

Bearing Fault Detection on Wind Turbine Gearbox Vibrations Using Generalized Likelihood Ratio-Based Indicators

Studies in condition monitoring literature often aim to detect rolling element bearing faults because they have one of the biggest shares among defects in turbo machinery. Accordingly, several prognosis and diagnosis methods have been devised to identify fault signatures from vibration signals. A recently proposed method to capture the rolling element bearing degradation provides the groundwork for new indicator families utilizing the generalized likelihood ratio test. This novel approach exploits the cyclostationarity and the impulsiveness of vibration signals independently in order to estimate the most suitable indicators for a given fault. However, the method has yet to be tested on complex experimental vibration signals such as those of a wind turbine gearbox. In this study, the approach is applied to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory Wind Turbine Gearbox Condition Monitoring Round Robin Study data set for bearing fault detection purposes. The data set is measured on an experimental test rig of a wind turbine gearbox; hence the complexity of the vibration signals is similar to a real case. The outcome demonstrates that the proposed method is capable of distinguishing between healthy and damaged vibration signals measured on a complex wind turbine gearbox.

condition monitoring↗

Bearing Fault Detection on Wind Turbine Gearbox Vibrations Using Generalized Likelihood Ratio-Based Indicators: Preprint

Studies in condition monitoring literature often aim to detect rolling element bearing faults because they have one of the biggest shares among defects in turbo machinery. Accordingly, several prognosis and diagnosis methods have been devised to identify fault signatures from vibration signals. The underlying idea behind traditional indicators often revolves around tracking both cyclostationarity and abnormal impulses in the vibration signals without distinguishing the two. A recently proposed method to capture the rolling element bearing degradation lays out the groundwork for new indicator families utilizing generalized likelihood ratio test. This novel approach exploits the cyclostationarity and the impulsiveness of vibration signals independently in order to estimate the most suitable indicators for a given fault. However, the method has yet to be tested on complex experimental vibration signals such as those of a wind turbine gearbox. In this study, the approach is applied to the NREL Wind Turbine Gearbox Condition Monitoring Round Robin Study data set for bearing fault detection purposes. The data set is measured on an experimental test rig of a wind turbine gearbox, hence the complexity of the vibration signals is similar to a real case. Furthermore, the new indicators are also tested with signals that carry multiple fault signatures. The outcome demonstrates that the proposed method is capable of distinguishing between healthy and damaged vibration signals measured on a complex wind turbine gearbox.

condition monitoring↗

Hardware-in-the-Loop Testbed for Cyber-Physical Security of Photovoltaic Farms

In the last decades, modem grids with distributed energy resources, such as photovoltaic (PV) farms, are increasingly vulnerable to cyber-attacks that seriously affect the stability and performance of the power system. While cyber-physical security of smart grids is extensively studied, most of the existing work focuses on the grid level and neglects the modeling and features of device-level power electronics converters (PECs). Furthermore, establishing a high-fidelity simulation testbed that can simulate harmonic frequencies of the PV farm is in urgent need. In this paper, a high-fidelity and real-time hardware-in- the-loop testbed is built to simulate the harmonics of power electronics converters for cyber-physical security of PEC-enabled PV farms. Based on this testbed, the impact of typical cyber-attacks and physical faults on the PV converter can be analyzed, thus providing a foundation for cyber-attack detection, root cause diagnosis, and resilient control to mitigate the adverse effects of cyber-attacks.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Flight elements: Fault detection and fault management

Fault management for an intelligent computational system must be developed using a top down integrated engineering approach. An approach proposed includes integrating the overall environment involving sensors and their associated data; design knowledge capture; operations; fault detection, identification, and reconfiguration; testability; causal models including digraph matrix analysis; and overall performance impacts on the hardware and software architecture. Implementation of the concept to achieve a real time intelligent fault detection and management system will be accomplished via the implementation of several objectives, which are: Development of fault tolerant/FDIR requirement and specification from a systems level which will carry through from conceptual design through implementation and mission operations; Implementation of monitoring, diagnosis, and reconfiguration at all system levels providing fault isolation and system integration; Optimize system operations to manage degraded system performance through system integration; and Lower development and operations costs through the implementation of an intelligent real time fault detection and fault management system and an information management system.

Lum, H.↗

Data-Driven Cyber-Attack Detection for PV Farms via Time-Frequency Domain Features

The internetworking of grid-connected power electronics converters (PECs) in photovoltaic (PV) farms has inevitably expanded the cyber-attack surfaces. Here this paper presents a comprehensive study on cyber-attack detection and diagnosis for PEC-enabled PV farms via single waveform sensor to distinguish between normal conditions, open-circuit faults, short-circuit faults, and cyber-attacks. To our knowledge, this has not been attempted before. Firstly, we propose frequency-domain magnitude-based residuals to identify short-circuit faults and a time-domain mean current vector-based feature to distinguish open-circuit faults from other threats. These features can fully reflect the specific physical characteristics of PV farms during threat duration. Secondly, unlike micro phasor measurement units (µPMU) and raw electric waveform-based methods, the proposed innovative features can address novel cyber-attacks that are excluded from the training process. Thirdly, an online hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testbed using the OPAL-RT real-time digital simulator has verified the effectiveness. The monitoring system runs in real-time while using HIL as an operational solar farm and a National Instruments (NI) data acquisition card as the electric waveform sensor at the point of coupling.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Software Health Management with Bayesian Networks

Most modern aircraft as well as other complex machinery is equipped with diagnostics systems for its major subsystems. During operation, sensors provide important information about the subsystem (e.g., the engine) and that information is used to detect and diagnose faults. Most of these systems focus on the monitoring of a mechanical, hydraulic, or electromechanical subsystem of the vehicle or machinery. Only recently, health management systems that monitor software have been developed. In this paper, we will discuss our approach of using Bayesian networks for Software Health Management (SWHM). We will discuss SWHM requirements, which make advanced reasoning capabilities for the detection and diagnosis important. Then we will present our approach to using Bayesian networks for the construction of health models that dynamically monitor a software system and is capable of detecting and diagnosing faults.

Mengshoel, Ole↗

A real-time simulator of a turbofan engine

A real-time digital simulator of a Pratt and Whitney F100 engine has been developed for real-time code verification and for actuator diagnosis during full-scale engine testing. This self-contained unit can operate in an open-loop stand-alone mode or as part of closed-loop control system. It can also be used for control system design and development. Tests conducted in conjunction with the NASA Advanced Detection, Isolation, and Accommodation program show that the simulator is a valuable tool for real-time code verification and as a real-time actuator simulator for actuator fault diagnosis. Although currently a small perturbation model, advances in microprocessor hardware should allow the simulator to evolve into a real-time, full-envelope, full engine simulation.

Litt, Jonathan S.↗

On-Board Model Based Fault Diagnosis for CubeSat Attitude Control Subsystem: Flight Data Results

Self-sufficient, robotic spacecraft require estimates of their hardware health state in order to project future system state and plan actions toward achieving mission goals. In this paper, we report on integration of a Model-Based Fault Diagnosis (MBFD) model and reasoning engine into flight software leveraging the Arcsecond Space Telescope Enabling Research in Astrophysics (ASTERIA) mission, including test results against captured flight data using the ASTERIA system testbed. Our effort integrated the Model-based Off-Nominal State Identification and Detection (MONSID) model-based reasoning system, developed by Okean Solutions, into ASTERIA flight software using the F Prime software framework. The MONSID engine was supplied with a model of the Blue Canyon Technologies XACT attitude control system (ACS) and tested against flight data and seeded fault tests. While we were unable to conduct an on-board experiment due to the premature loss of ASTERIA, our effort proved the feasibility of on-board model-based fault management, demonstrating reliable and accurate diagnosis using captured data, and further supporting a closed-loop spacecraft autonomy demonstration including autonomous navigation in off-nominal conditions.

Prather, Maurice↗

A Novel Fault Diagnosis Approach for Rolling Bearing Based on CWT and Adaptive Sparse Representation

Extraction and enhancement of weak impulse signature is the key of rolling bearing fault prognostics in which case the features are often weak and covered by noise. Tunable Q-factor wavelet transform (TQWT), as an emerging wavelet construction theory developed in a frequency domain explicitly, has the advantages of matching with the specific oscillation behavior of signal components. In this article, an adaptive sparse representation (ASR) method is proposed, which integrates the sparse code shrinkage (SCS) and parameter optimization into TQWT. However, direct application of ASR is difficult to extract fault signatures at the early stage or low-speed operation due to weak fault symptoms and background noise. A novel fault diagnosis strategy based on continuous wavelet transform (CWT) and ASR is investigated. CWT owns significant advantages on multiscale subdivision and weak signal detection. The results of simulated and experimental vibration signal analyses verify the effectiveness of the proposed method in accurately extracting weak impulse features from the noise environment.

Yuan, Xing↗

Characterization of Model-Based Reasoning Strategies for Use in IVHM Architectures

Open architectures are gaining popularity for Integrated Vehicle Health Management (IVHM) applications due to the diversity of subsystem health monitoring strategies in use and the need to integrate a variety of techniques at the system health management level. The basic concept of an open architecture suggests that whatever monitoring or reasoning strategy a subsystem wishes to deploy, the system architecture will support the needs of that subsystem and will be capable of transmitting subsystem health status across subsystem boundaries and up to the system level for system-wide fault identification and diagnosis. There is a need to understand the capabilities of various reasoning engines and how they, coupled with intelligent monitoring techniques, can support fault detection and system level fault management. Researchers in IVHM at NASA Ames Research Center are supporting the development of an IVHM system for liquefying-fuel hybrid rockets. In the initial stage of this project, a few readily available reasoning engines were studied to assess candidate technologies for application in next generation launch systems. Three tools representing the spectrum of model-based reasoning approaches, from a quantitative simulation based approach to a graph-based fault propagation technique, were applied to model the behavior of the Hybrid Combustion Facility testbed at Ames. This paper summarizes the characterization of the modeling process for each of the techniques.

Poll, Scott↗

An Examination of Commercial Aviation Accidents and Incidents Related to Integrated Vehicle Health Management

The Integrated Vehicle Health Management (IVHM) Project is one of the four projects within the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Aviation Safety Program (AvSafe). The IVHM Project conducts research to develop validated tools and technologies for automated detection, diagnosis, and prognosis that enable mitigation of adverse events during flight. Adverse events include those that arise from system, subsystem, or component failure, faults, and malfunctions due to damage, degradation, or environmental hazards that occur during flight. Determining the causal factors and adverse events related to IVHM technologies will help in the formulation of research requirements and establish a list of example adverse conditions against which IVHM technologies can be evaluated. This paper documents the results of an examination of the most recent statistical/prognostic accident and incident data that is available from the Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing (ASIAS) System to determine the causal factors of system/component failures and/or malfunctions in U.S. commercial aviation accidents and incidents.

Reveley, Mary S.↗

LC Circuits for Diagnosing Embedded Piezoelectric Devices

A recently invented method of nonintrusively detecting faults in piezoelectric devices involves measurement of the resonance frequencies of inductor capacitor (LC) resonant circuits. The method is intended especially to enable diagnosis of piezoelectric sensors, actuators, and sensor/actuators that are embedded in structures and/or are components of multilayer composite material structures.

Chattin, Richard L.↗