Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “water absorption”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 163 records · Page 9

KELT-11 b: Abundances of Water and Constraints on Carbon-bearing Molecules from the Hubble Transmission Spectrum

In the past decade, the analysis of exoplanet atmospheric spectra has revealed the presence of water vapor in almost all the planets observed, with the exception of a fraction of overcast planets. Indeed, water vapor presents a large absorption signature in the wavelength coverage of the Hubble Space Telescope’s (HST) Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3), which is the main space-based observatory for atmospheric studies of exoplanets, making its detection very robust. However, while carbon-bearing species such as methane, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide are also predicted from current chemical models, their direct detection and abundance characterization has remained a challenge. Here we analyze the transmission spectrum of the puffy, clear hot-Jupiter KELT-11 b from the HST WFC3 camera. We find that the spectrum is consistent with the presence of water vapor and an additional absorption at longer wavelengths than 1.5 μm, which could well be explained by a mix of carbon bearing molecules. CO{sub 2}, when included is systematically detected. One of the main difficulties to constrain the abundance of those molecules is their weak signatures across the HST WFC3 wavelength coverage, particularly when compared to those of water. Through a comprehensive retrieval analysis, we attempt to explain the main degeneracies present in this data set and explore some of the recurrent challenges that are occurring in retrieval studies (e.g., the impact of model selection, the use of free versus self-consistent chemistry, and the combination of instrument observations). Our results make this planet an exceptional example of a chemical laboratory to test current physical and chemical models of the atmospheres of hot Jupiters.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Evaluation and Applications of Multi-Instrument Boundary-Layer Thermodynamic Retrievals

Recent reports have highlighted the need for improved observations of the atmosphere boundary layer. In this study, we explore the combination of ground-based active and passive remote sensors deployed for thermodynamic profiling to analyze various boundary-layer observation strategies. Optimal-estimation retrievals of thermodynamic profiles from Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometer (AERI) observed spectral radiance are compared with and without the addition of active sensor observations from a May–June 2017 observation period at the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Southern Great Plains site. In all, three separate thermodynamic retrievals are considered here: retrievals including AERI data only, retrievals including AERI data and Vaisala water vapour differential-absorption lidar data, and retrievals including AERI data and Raman lidar data. First, the three retrievals are compared to each other and to reference radiosonde data over the full observation period to obtain a bulk understanding of their differences and characterize the impact of clouds on these retrieved profiles. These analyses show that the most significant differences are in the water vapour field, where the active sensors are better able to represent the moisture gradient in the entrainment zone near the boundary-layer top. Furthermore, we also explore how differences in retrievals may affect results of applied analyses including land–atmosphere coupling, convection indices, and severe storm environmental characterization. Overall, adding active sensors to the optimal-estimation retrieval shows some added information, particularly in the moisture field. Given the costs of such platforms, the value of that added information must be weighed for the application at hand.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Aging of Limestones and Silane–Siloxane-Based Protective Hydrophobics: The Impact of Heating–Cooling and Freeze–Thaw Cycles

Stones are traditionally used in construction and architectural applications as building elements due to their aesthetic and technical/structural performance. Like other environmental factors (rain, humidity, moisture, salt presence, biological activity, etc.), heating–cooling and freeze–thaw cycles significantly threaten the longevity of stone materials. Hence, considering the socio-economic and cultural value of stones, preventive actions such as hydrophobic coatings are applied to prevent or mitigate damage. The scope of this study is the performance assessment of limestones with different characteristics and the efficiency of various commercial silane/siloxane-based hydrophobic coatings when exposed to thermal variation and freeze–thaw. For that purpose, the standards EN 14066:2013 (determination of resistance to aging by thermal shock) and EN 12371:2010 (determination of frost resistance) were followed. Open porosity and static contact angles were estimated to assess the stone durability and water protection capabilities of the hydrophobics. Additionally, sound speed propagation velocity, quality of building material index, elastic modulus and flexural strength were measured to evaluate the variation of mechanical properties. Static contact angle revealed that the coatings maintained an efficient level of hydrophobicity even after thermal-shock and freeze–thaw weathering tests. The study also revealed a critical interaction between freeze–thaw cycles, hydrophobic coatings and structural integrity of the stones, mostly on more porous ones. When they are subjected to harsh environmental conditions, untreated porous limestones keep structural cohesion, allowing for the natural absorption and release of water during freezing and thawing. On the contrary, when limestones are treated, the hydrophobic coatings can moderately obstruct the water release due to the partial saturation of the porous framework by the products. It also probably resulted from the different mechanical behavior between the inner matrix and layer of stone coated, resulting in a premature breakout and mechanical damage of the stone.

Lisci, Carla (ORCID:000000032179130X)↗

The Fast-Track Water Oxidation Channel on BiVO 4 Opened by Nitrogen Treatment

BiVO 4 is one of the most promising photoanode materials for water-splitting systems. Nitrogen incorporation into a BiVO 4 surface overcomes the known bottleneck in its charge-transfer kinetics into the electrolyte. We explored the role of nitrogen in the surface charge recombination and charge-transfer kinetics by employing transient photocurrent spectroscopy at the time scale of surface recombination and water oxidation kinetics, transient absorption spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. We attributed the activity enhancement mechanism to the accelerated V 5+ /V 4+ redox process, in which incorporated nitrogen suppresses a limiting surface recombination channel by increasing the oxygen vacancies.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Dual-loop Solvent-based CCS for Net Negative CO 2 Emissions with Lower Cost

This final technical report details the successful design, construction, and operational validation of an innovative dual-loop CO 2 capture technology designed to achieve deep decarbonization (>99%) from Natural Gas Combined Cycle (NGCC) power plants that results in the electricity with carbon intensity of approximate 42 kg CO 2 -eq/MWh, less than the electricity produced by solar PV. The integrated process couples a primary aqueous solvent (in this project, a water lean solvent – WLS) absorption loop for bulk CO 2 removal with a secondary potassium hydroxide (KOH) polishing loop featuring electrochemical regeneration. This architecture leverages the higher exergy efficiency of the primary loop while utilizing the fastest kinetic of the secondary loop to capture dilute residual CO 2 , achieving an overall capture rate of 99.9% and co-producing pure hydrogen after moisture being condensed and dehydrated. Technical feasibility was established through a comprehensive 2,000-hour experimental campaign on a bench-scale fully-integrated unit (using 4” absorber and 4” stripper) with the feeding flue gas flowrate in the range of 8-20 cfm, confirming the attainment of Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4. The project executed extensive parametric testing followed by 1,000 hours of continuous steady-state testing, demonstrating exceptional process stability with the electrochemical regenerator exhibiting less than a 10% reduction in electrical conductivity over the duration of the campaign. Operational characterization gathering on the bench unit revealed distinct energy profiles for the hybrid system: the primary loop required approximately 280 kJ mol -1 for bulk removal, while the polishing loop required approximately 1,600 kJ mol -1 specifically when reducing dilute CO 2 concentrations from ~740 ppm down to <50 ppm. (Please note those energy values/numbers can only be viewed as relative relationship and should not be extrapolated as absolute values required for CO 2 capture). Furthermore, dynamic testing validated the system’s flexibility for utility applications, demonstrating a rapid process response time of <30 minutes to changes in flue gas flowrate. Emission monitoring confirmed that the dual-loop architecture effectively mitigates solvent losses, utilizing a water wash to remove entrained aerosols to <1 ppm. The Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA) indicates a cost of capture of $\$$59.3/tonne and a Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) of 71.7 $\$$/MWh at the overall capture efficiency of 99.8% of total carbon in the flue gas stream, with sensitivity analysis identifying an economic optimum when the primary loop captures 97% of the total CO 2 . A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) confirms the technology’s potential for net-negative emissions, determining a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 52 kg CO 2 -eq/MWh—significantly lower than the baseline—which further decreases to 42 kg CO 2 -eq/MWh when crediting the displacement of conventional hydrogen production.

03 NATURAL GAS↗

Creative absorber design and optimization for CO 2 capture with aqueous piperazine

The Texas Carbon Management Program is preparing a Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) of the PZASTM (Piperazine with the Advanced Stripper TM ) for CO 2 capture at a natural gas combined cycle power plant in West Texas. This paper develops the absorber design for the capture system and studies the operational strategies of the absorber in response to ambient temperature swing. The design uses 2 absorber trains, and each train integrates absorption and a water-wash section in one column. Each column has a cross-section area of 174 m 2 and consists of 3 sections of MellapakPlus® 252Y structured packing. Packing heights for each section are 3, 4.9, and 2.7 m from top to bottom. A pump-around intercooler applied at the bottom bed circulates solvent and eliminates the direct contact cooler. The baseline CO 2 removal rate is 90% and will vary between 78% and 90% with ambient temperature. The system uses air cooling to eliminate cooling water usage. The water balance in the system will be managed by operating the water wash at a high circulation rate (1300 kg/h) to condense water during the night and make up for water loss during the day. Finally, the proposed design reduces the capital cost of the absorber column by minimizing the packing height and eliminating the direct contact cooler (DCC), and improves the energy cost by lowering the pump-around intercooling temperature and increasing the pump-around rate.

03 NATURAL GAS↗

Structural and spectral studies of hydrated hexaamminecobalt(III)–hexafluororhenate(IV)

The crystal structure of the [Co(NH 3 ) 6 ] 2 [ReF 6 ] 3 ·3H 2 O (I) salt is reported. The salt crystallizes in the trigonal space group P31m with the following unit cell dimensions: a = 15.8714(4) Å, b = 15.8714(4) Å, and c = 9.8657(4) Å. Here, the structure of (I) consists of [Co(NH 3 ) 6 ] 3+ cations, [ReF 6 ] 2– anions, and co-crystallized water molecules which are linked by hydrogen bonding. In (I), independent [ReF 6 ] 2– anions and [Co(NH 3 ) 6 ] 3+ cations octahedron are slightly distorted. Characteristic vibration bands of the [Co(NH 3 ) 6 ] 3+ cation, [ReF 6 ] 2– anion as well as the co-crystallized H 2 O molecules are observed in the infrared spectra of (I). UV-Visible analyses in water showed that the absorption of the [Co(NH 3 ) 6 ] 3+ cation predominate the spectra of (I).

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗

Shock tube/laser absorption measurement of the rate constant of the reaction: H 2 O 2 + CO 2 2OH + CO 2

We address the role of the linear mixing rule in the kinetics of the H 2 O 2 decomposition system by reporting the rate constant for H 2 O 2 + M = 2OH + M (M = Ar and CO 2 ) in the temperature range of 1087-1234 K at low pressures in a mixture of 20% CO 2 in Argon. The reaction rate constant was inferred from H 2 O concentrations monitored by using a laser-absorption spectroscopy-based water diagnostic. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first measurement of the rate constant of this reaction in a mixture to be reported in literature. A significant discrepancy was found between the rate constants derived using the traditional linear mixing rule and the reduced pressure linear mixing rule. Furthermore, this discrepancy can have serious implications on the predictive accuracy of these kinetic models, especially under conditions relevant to the operation of supercritical CO 2 (sCO 2 ) power cycles that rely on oxy-fuel combustion in a working fluid comprised almost entirely of CO 2 .

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗

Sensitivity of Simulated Polar Climate to Improved Partitioning of Spectral Solar Irradiance Between Visible and Near‐Infrared Bands

The solar radiative processes that contribute to Earth's surface and atmospheric energy budgets are strongly dependent on wavelength. For example, snow and water vapor become more absorptive as incident radiation shifts from visible (VIS) to near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths. Some earth system models (ESMs) aggregate solar radiation into just two bands (VIS and NIR) partitioned at 0.7 μm for transmission between the atmospheric and surface components. In the widely used radiative transfer model RRTMG_SW this partition is near the center of the overlap spectral band spanning 0.625–0.778 μm, whose flux is often approximated as being evenly divided between the VIS and NIR surface bands. Using a hyperspectral radiative transfer model, we show that the fractional downwelling surface flux within the overlap band is usually distributed about 55.5%:44.5% VIS:NIR. This improved approximation shifts as much as 4.27 W m −2 from the NIR to the VIS band, leading to an instantaneous decrease in surface absorption of up to 0.91 W m −2 over snow-covered surfaces. Century-long fully coupled ESM simulations show surface absorption over snow decreases by over 1.6 W m −2 . The coupled response in sea ice regions amplifies the initial forcing ten-fold, and increases seasonal sea ice area by up to 4.9%. These results highlight the importance of accurately representing the spectral distribution of solar radiation in the cryosphere.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Shortwave absorption by wildfire smoke dominated by dark brown carbon

Abstract Wildfires emit large amounts of black carbon and light-absorbing organic carbon, known as brown carbon, into the atmosphere. These particles perturb Earth’s radiation budget through absorption of incoming shortwave radiation. It is generally thought that brown carbon loses its absorptivity after emission in the atmosphere due to sunlight-driven photochemical bleaching. Consequently, the atmospheric warming effect exerted by brown carbon remains highly variable and poorly represented in climate models compared with that of the relatively nonreactive black carbon. Given that wildfires are predicted to increase globally in the coming decades, it is increasingly important to quantify these radiative impacts. Here we present measurements of ensemble-scale and particle-scale shortwave absorption in smoke plumes from wildfires in the western United States. We find that a type of dark brown carbon contributes three-quarters of the short visible light absorption and half of the long visible light absorption. This strongly absorbing organic aerosol species is water insoluble, resists daytime photobleaching and increases in absorptivity with night-time atmospheric processing. Our findings suggest that parameterizations of brown carbon in climate models need to be revised to improve the estimation of smoke aerosol radiative forcing and associated warming.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Micropulse Differential Absorption Lidar (MPD) Network Demonstration Field Campaign Report

The National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and Montana State University (MSU) are nearing completion of a National Science Foundation (NSF) major research instrumentation grant to build five micropulse differential absorption lidars (MPDs) for water vapor profiling. The first demonstration of the MPD configured as a five-unit network occurred at the Department of Energy (DOE) Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) user facility Southern Great Plains (SGP) field sites near Lamont, Oklahoma from 17 April–21 July 2019 for a total of 96 days of operation. The field deployment was funded in part by DOE (which provided support for the MPD installation, power at the field sites, personnel to launch 3-hourly radiosondes from the Central Facility, and the cost of the radiosondes themselves), internal NCAR funds (to support the MPD shipping costs and NCAR staff travel expenses), and NSF/Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) funds (to support the MSU travel expenses to participate in the instrument setup).

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Final Report on Aerosol Pretreatment Technology Performance and Benchmarking

Solvent-based post-combustion CO 2 capture (PCC) technology remains one of the leading methods to combat global CO 2 emissions produced from large-scale coal-fired power production. Advanced solventbased PCC technology has made significant improvements in design and performance that reduce capital and operating costs to enable its commercial use. Key to low cost, manageable logistics, and environmentally safe operation of solvent-based PCC technology are minimal solvent losses from the process through the treated gas stream exiting PCC plant absorbers. High flue gas aerosol particle concentrations (>10 5 particles/cm 3 ) for particles in the range of 70-200 nm have been shown to cause significant amine solvent losses for solvent-based PCC processes through several mechanisms including absorption of solvent and water into growing aerosol particles. Flue gas aerosol pretreatment technology is the only realistic and economically attractive method to reduce very high aerosol particle concentrations (>10 7 particles/cm 3 ) to enable solvent-based PCC for existing power plants lacking sufficient particle removal systems, such as baghouses. The overall goal of this project was to design, construct, independently test, and evaluate three flue gas aerosol pretreatment technologies identified to significantly reduce high aerosol particle concentrations (>10 7 particles/cm 3 ) in the 70-200 nm particle size range: (1) a novel, high-velocity water injection spray concept developed by RWE and tested by Linde, (2) an innovative electrostatic precipitator (ESP) device with optimized operating conditions developed by Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL), and (3) a non-regenerative sorbent-based filter technology developed by InnoSepra for SO x and NO x removal from coal-fired power plant flue gas. Each technology has been validated with tests on 500-1000 scfm of actual coal-fired flue gas and evaluated in terms of particle removal efficiency (%), cost competitiveness, and environmental impact. Aerosol measurements were performed upstream and downstream of each aerosol reduction unit during independent testing of each technology using advanced instrumentation and analytical methods provided by WUSTL. To perform aerosol measurements, isokinetic probes were inserted into flanged pipes attached to the flue gas piping, and a small suction pump was used to sample gas containing aerosol particles. Aerosol particle number concentrations (# particles/cm 3 ) and size distributions were then measured using a scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS, TSI Inc.) for very fine particles (<1,000 nm) and a particle counter manufactured by GRIMM for particles larger than 1,000 nm. This report summarizes the aerosol removal performance results from pilot scale testing of each technology. Performance results have been benchmarked against pre-defined targets and other flue gas aerosol pretreatment technologies with documented performance. Linde Gas North America LLC has been the prime contractor to DOE responsible for overall project management and provided the design for the high-velocity water spray-based aerosol removal technology based on a design concept developed by the German utility company RWE.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗

Compositions and methods for carbon dioxide capture

An aqueous solvent composition is provided, comprising a nucleophilic component having one or more sterically unhindered primary or secondary amine moieties, a Brønsted base component having one or more basic nitrogen moieties, a water-soluble organic solvent, and water. A biphasic composition is provided, comprising one or more carbamate compounds, one or more conjugate acids of Brønsted base, a water-soluble organic solvent, and water. A biphasic CO2 absorption process is also provided, utilizing the biphasic solvent composition.

Lu, Yongqi↗

Catalytic Water Electrolysis by Co–Cu–W Mixed Metal Oxides: Insights from X-ray Absorption Spectroelectrochemistry

Mixed metal oxides (MMOs) are a promising class of electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Despite their importance for sustainable energy schemes, our understanding of relevant reaction pathways, catalytically active sites, and synergistic effects is rather limited. Here, we applied synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) to explore the evolution of the amorphous Co–Cu–W MMO electrocatalyst, shown previously to be an efficient bifunctional OER and HER catalyst for water splitting. Ex situ XAS measurements provided structural environments and the oxidation state of the metals involved, revealing Co 2+ (octahedral), Cu + / 2+ (tetrahedral/square-planar), and W 6+ (octahedral) centers. Operando XAS investigations, including X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS), elucidated the dynamic structural transformations of Co, Cu, and W metal centers during the OER and HER. The experimental results indicate that Co 3+ and Cu 0 are the active catalytic sites involved in the OER and HER, respectively, while Cu 2+ and W 6+ play crucial roles as structure stabilizers, suggesting strong synergistic interactions within the Co–Cu–W MMO system. In conclusion, these results, combined with the Tafel slope analysis, revealed that the bottleneck intermediate during the OER is Co 3+ hydroperoxide, whose formation is accompanied by changes in the Cu–O bond lengths, pointing to a possible synergistic effect between Co and Cu ions. Our study reveals important structural effects taking place during MMO-driven OER/HER electrocatalysis and provides essential experimental insights into the complex catalytic mechanism of emerging noble-metal-free MMO electrocatalysts for full water splitting.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Disequilibrium Chemistry in Exoplanet Atmospheres Observed with the Hubble Space Telescope

Literature on the theory of exoplanet atmospheric disequilibrium chemistry is rich, although its observational counterpart has yet to emerge beyond the hints provided by a few targets in dedicated studies. We report results from an uniform data reduction and analysis for a catalog of 62 Hubble Space Telescope exoplanet transit spectra where we assess the atmospheric model preference for disequilibrium chemistry (i.e., water vapor is not the dominant absorption spectral signature) over thermal equilibrium chemistry in a comparative planetology context. Where model preference assessment is possible, we find that disequilibrium occurs in about half of the atmospheres, indicating that disequilibrium processes play an important role in the composition of exoplanet atmospheres. While very hot atmospheres, over 1800 K, prefer equilibrium chemistry, we find a clustering of preference for disequilibrium in the 1200–1800 K temperature range. We suggest that UV-augmented thermochemistry may play a significant role for those atmospheres.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Origin of enhanced water oxidation activity in an iridium single atom anchored on NiFe oxyhydroxide catalyst

The efficiency of the synthesis of renewable fuels and feedstocks from electrical sources is limited, at present, by the sluggish water oxidation reaction. Single-atom catalysts (SACs) with a controllable coordination environment and exceptional atom utilization efficiency open new paradigms toward designing high-performance water oxidation catalysts. Here, using operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy measurements with calculations of spectra and electrochemical activity, we demonstrate that the origin of water oxidation activity of IrNiFe SACs is the presence of highly oxidized Ir single atom (Ir 5.3+ ) in the NiFe oxyhydroxide under operating conditions. We show that the optimal water oxidation catalyst could be achieved by systematically increasing the oxidation state and modulating the coordination environment of the Ir active sites anchored atop the NiFe oxyhydroxide layers. Based on the proposed mechanism, we have successfully anchored Ir single-atom sites on NiFe oxyhydroxides (Ir 0.1 /Ni 9 Fe SAC) via a unique in situ cryogenic–photochemical reduction method that delivers an overpotential of 183 mV at 10 mA · cm – 2 and retains its performance following 100 h of operation in 1 M KOH electrolyte, outperforming the reported catalysts and the commercial IrO 2 catalysts. These findings open the avenue toward an atomic-level understanding of the oxygen evolution of catalytic centers under in operando conditions.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Experimental and modeling study of water time histories during H 2 S-N 2 O combustion in a shock tube

Here, with the interest in directly burning sour gas in gas turbines, and the fact that even small amounts of H 2 S or its combustion products can alter combustion characteristics, many research studies have been performed to better understand the combustion chemistry of H 2 S. In the present study, the water formation was followed by laser absorption with N 2 O as an oxidant, instead of O 2 . Nitrous Oxide being essentially consumed via N 2 O (+M) ⇌ N 2 + O (+M), the water formation via the H 2 S + O route can then be probed to further validate the models. Three H 2 S/N 2 O mixtures diluted in 98% Ar were studied to cover the following range of equivalence ratios: 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0, over a wide range of temperatures (1580–1940 K) around atmospheric pressure. A chemical kinetic model was then developed first by validating the base N 2 O kinetics mechanism, then by investigating the experimental results presented herein. The N 2 O kinetics mechanism was updated with recent work on the low- and high-pressure limits for N 2 O decomposition (N 2 O (+M) ⇌ N 2 + O (+M)) as well as a review of rate coefficients for N 2 O + H ⇌ N 2 + OH from the literature. Good agreement is shown for H 2 /N 2 O mixtures. Updates were then made to the H 2 S kinetics mechanism, specifically, an update from the literature on SO 2 + H (+M) ⇌ SO + OH (+M) and an adjustment to SO + SH ⇌ S 2 + OH. Additionally, reactions between SH and N 2 O were determined using W1BD data and transition state theory which required the addition of an NNS sub-mechanism. With these updates, the mechanism provides good agreement with the H 2 S/N 2 O experiments.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗