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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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10 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Solarize Fairbanks BRITE: Facilitating Efficient, Resilient Homes in Cold Climates

Solarize Fairbanks began an annual Solarize campaign in the Interior Alaska city in 2020, located in IECC climate zone 8, with a goal to increase the number of solar PV panels in the community. The campaign provides peer support, education, bulk purchase discounts, and simplified installation of solar PV technologies for homes, businesses, and nonprofits. In 2021, the campaign began offering energy audits to building and homeowners with a bulk discount; however, building owners were responsible for pursuing next steps on their own. In 2022, a diverse team of local, state, and federal partners formed a team to create a process to further facilitate energy efficiency improvements alongside solar PV technology. The resulting project, Solarize Fairbanks - Building Resilience for the Interior (BRITE) aims to build out an efficiency component over 3 years. If implemented, it will be the first efficiency add-on to a solarize campaign in Alaska. In year one, the team conducted energy audits of four nonprofits located in the cold climate of Interior Alaska and is providing technical assistance and fundraising for the nonprofits to pursue the recommended retrofits. These audits provided insights on the types of retrofits that could be expected to increase efficiency, comfort, and resiliency of buildings, including LED lighting retrofits, increased envelope insulation, improved building controls, and air source heat pump technology. A pre- and post-retrofit analysis will provide further insight on the energy savings and other benefits of the retrofits. It will also inform the offerings in the following years of the BRITE add-on to Solarize campaigns. In this presentation, program implementers will review the past campaigns of Solarize Fairbanks, summarize the energy efficiency and resiliency analyses of the nonprofit buildings, cover future plans for Solarize Fairbanks BRITE, and provide recommendations for other communities pursuing similar programs.

Alaska↗
DOE OSTI2022

Alternate Methods for Cleaning Zirconium Plate

The United States High Performance Research Reactor Conversion Program identified the need to transition from highly enriched uranium fuel to lowly enriched uranium fuel for high power research and civil reactors. One of the fuel configurations selected for these reactors was a uranium (U) foil alloyed with 10% molybdenum (Mo). The U-10Mo fuel foil was then covered with a zirconium (Zr) interlayer and pressed into an aluminum cladding. Idaho National Laboratory prescribed a need to remove surface oxidation on the Zr prior to bonding it with U-10Mo fuel foil. To determine the best method of oxidation removal, a variety of polishing methods, including hand polishing with a diamond paste or Scotch-Brite™ pads, mechanically wet-polishing with abrasive belts, and chemical etching with hydrofluoric/nitric acid mixtures, were investigated on pre-polished Zircaloy 702 sheets purchased directly from the manufacturer. No change in surface roughness was detected using any of these methods relative to the as-received material. In fact, scanning electron microscopy detected grit from hand polishing with Amplex Grade 30 waste soluble diamond paste and Scotch-Brite™ pads. Visible staining was found, and fluorine detected via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy on the flash etching samples. These contaminants were not seen on the as-received material. In addition to the need to remove the oxide layer on the Zr prior to co-rolling, there are concerns that the Neolube debonding agent on the co-rolling can may contaminate the Zr surface after co-rolling. The experimental results found that zirconium in contact with Neolube coated steel plates was easily cleaning with ethanol wiping after heat treated and no carbide inclusions remained on the surface. Overall, all cleaning methods tested did not significantly change the surface roughness of the plates or reduce the oxide layer present on the zirconium. Carbon was found on all the samples, before and after cleaning, except for the flash etch samples which detected fluorine instead. The insignificant changes seen in the cleaned plates relative to the as received plates question the need for cleaning prior to rolling. Further investigation in the requirements for cleaning at this step is recommended. Current methods for cleaning the surface after hot rolling with alcohol appear sufficient. After hot rolling, if Neolube does peel off the can and onto the zirconium coated foil surface, a dry abrasive or diamond paste polish is not recommended due to the chance of abrasive being embedded into the surface. However, the ability of an etchant to lift the lubricant off the zirconium surface indicates that a spot etch method could work to clean specific spots where Neolube is present, if the need arises.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Photon Doppler velocimetry surface return study for common surface preparations

Photon Doppler velocimetry (PDV) is a ubiquitous diagnostic method in dynamic compression experiments. It typically requires the roughening of the test surface to ensure scattering of the probe light back into the PDV probe at non-normal angles of incidence. Although surface scattering plays an essential role in the quality of PDV data, surface scattering properties for common materials and preparations have not previously been studied with specific relevance to PDV. Here, we present detailed measurements of the bidirectional reflectance distribution function for four different surface preparations (Scotch-Brite hand and drill roughened, ball-rolled, and grit blasted) and four different materials (copper, aluminum, stainless steel, and tantalum). These measurements employ a conventional PDV probe and obtain a diffraction limited angular resolution with 10 pW accuracy and 2.6% repeatability. In addition to scattering data, we employ scattering theory and simulations to accurately emulate the measured data. We also present a straightforward method to derive the average scattering distribution from surface profilometry and observe several qualitative aspects of the scattering data that may help to optimize PDV signals.

42 ENGINEERING↗
NASA NTRS2014

DRAGON - 8U Nanosatellite Orbital Deployer

The Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences (SRC PAS) together with Astronika company have developed an Orbital Deployer called DRAGON for ejection of the Polish scientific nanosatellite BRITE-PL Heweliusz (Fig. 1). The device has three unique mechanisms including an adopted and scaled lock and release mechanism from the ESA Rosetta mission MUPUS instrument. This paper discusses major design restrictions of the deployer, unique design features, and lessons learned from development through testing.

Dobrowolski, Marcin↗
NASA NTRS2014

Innovative Escapement-Based Mechanism for Micro-Antenna Boom Deployment

This paper presents the prototype of a tubular boom antenna developed for the Polish BRITE-PL satellite by the Space Research Center of the Polish Academy of Sciences (CBK PAN). What is unique about our work is that we developed an original type of the tubular boom antenna deployment mechanism that can be used widely as a basic solution for compact electrical antennas, booms deploying sensitive instruments, ultra-light planetary manipulators etc. The invented electromagnetic driving unit provides a dual complementary action - it adds extra energy to the driving spring, making the system more reliable, and at the same time it moderates the deployment speed acting as a kind of damper. That distinguishing feature predetermines the mechanism to be applied wherever the dynamic nature of a spring drive introducing dangerous vibrations and inducing severe local stress in the structure needs to be mitigated. Moreover, the paper reveals a product unique in Europe - a miniature beryllium bronze tubular boom free of geometry and strain defects, which is essential for stiffness and fatigue resistance. Both the deployment mechanism and the technology of tubular boom manufacturing are protected by patent rights.

Tokarz, Marta↗
DOE OSTI2022

Rice Bran Stabilisation and Oil Extraction Using the Microwave-Assisted Method and Its Effects on GABA and Gamma-Oryzanol Compounds

Rice bran oil (RBO) is a valuable ingredient extracted from rice bran (RB), a side stream of polishing rice grain in the milling process. RBO is rich in bioactive ingredients with potential health benefits, such as gamma-oryzanol (GO) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Despite its benefits, the quality of RBO depends on the degree of stabilisation of the RB, which is easily affected by lipase enzymes, and thus needs an effective treatment prior to RBO production. To assess the potential of the microwave-assisted method for RB stabilisation and RBO extraction, three Carolino rice varieties (Ariete, Teti, Luna) were tested. The effect of RB stabilisation was evaluated via acid value, water absorption, and GO and GABA levels. The RBO yield was optimised by solvent, temperature, and solvent-to-sample ratio, and the GO and fatty acid levels were determined. The RB stabilisation for the Luna variety did not affect the GO and GABA; for the Ariete and Teti varieties, the GO decreased by 34.4% and 24.2%, and the GABA increased by 26.5% and 47.0%, respectively. The GO levels in RBO samples were not affected by RB stabilisation. The RBO nutritional value was confirmed by the suitable ratio (>2) between polyunsaturated (PUFA) and saturated fatty acids (SFA), with the Teti variety presenting the highest ratio.

Reis, Núria (ORCID:0000000194339109)↗
DOE OSTI2026

Reexamining Fat: Exploring Diversity, Plasticity, Development, Functional Implication, and Therapeutic Options

Obesity has become so prevalent in many developed countries that it is increasingly perceived as a new norm, despite decades of interventions and drug development. Although research continues to explore novel strategies, no single approach to date has demonstrated sustained success in reducing its population-level dominance. This underscores the need to better evaluate and integrate the growing body of knowledge surrounding obesity’s multifaceted nature. Stamped under one ‘fat’ name, adipose tissue varies by color, location, morphology, composition, and function. This variability suggests a level of complexity that demands deeper investigation. Although the relevance and roles of different adipose types have been extensively discussed throughout the literature, their interdependence, synergy, and collective impact on the body remain to be fully expounded. This review aims to further consolidate and elucidate the available information on the different adipose tissue types and their association with obesity and metabolic health. We also discuss existing and emerging therapeutic strategies, highlighting their respective strengths and limitations.

BAT↗