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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 19 records

Implementation and evaluation of multi-dual mode counter-current chromatography in the CUP Modeler software

Counter-current chromatography (CCC) is a separation technique that utilizes immiscible solvent pairs as stationary and mobile phases, which imparts numerous benefits compared to solid-liquid chromatography including the ability to treat either the more-dense or less-dense solvent layer as the mobile phase. Multi-dual mode (MDM) is a CCC elution mode capable of improving the separation of closely eluting compounds by alternating upper- and lower-layer solvent flows in opposing directions within the same separation. While some effort has been made to model MDM, implementation of these models in experimental design has yet to be widely adopted. Accordingly, we further developed our previously published cell utilized partitioning (CUP) model to include MDM predictions with CCC and packaged the full suite of CUP modeling capabilities into a user-friendly, open-source tool called the CUP Modeler. The mathematical model for MDM CCC was derived and validated with experimental separation of ethyl guaiacol (EG) and ethyl phenol (EP), two compounds that co-elute in our previously demonstrated reductive catalytic fractionation (RCF) lignin monomer isolation method. The developed MDM model provided insights into the effect of multiple operating parameters - including stationary phase retention, flow rate, column efficiency, feed concentration ratio, selectivity factor, and solute distribution ratios - on the separation yields, productivity, and purities. Our model agreed with prevailing understanding of MDM but also revealed new insights including that the ideal distribution ratios for co-eluting solutes to be separated by MDM is between 1.1 and 1.5, with the lower value ideally close to 1.25. Overall, this work provides fundamental insights for MDM process design and enables broader adoption of general liquid-liquid chromatography with a new, open-source user-friendly interface.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

The Cell Utilized Partitioning Model as a Predictive Tool for Optimizing Counter-Current Chromatography Processes

Counter-current chromatography (CCC) is capable of unique elution modes that isolate analytes using the movement of the stationary phase in addition to moving the mobile phase. These modes include elution-extrusion CCC (EECCC) and dual-mode CCC (DM CCC) that are not possible in traditional solid-liquid chromatography systems. Although EECCC and DM CCC are widely used to recover highly retained components, to our knowledge, optimizing the elution process in these modes with predictive models has not been reported. To address this gap, we developed a predictive model for CCC dubbed the Cell Utilized Partitioning (CUP) model. The CUP model accurately predicts the effluents of multicomponent separations in EECCC and DM CCC modes when compared to experimental data. Furthermore, CUP model simulations were extended to investigate the influence of operating and intrinsic parameters on the yield and productivity, and to compare the separation performances of EECCC and DM CCC in various conditions. The results demonstrate that low distribution constants, usually a KD less than 1, and a selectivity > 1.3, under specific flowrate ranges, increase both productivity and yield. From these results, generalized optimization and scaleup guidelines are proposed that can apply to research settings and to industrial processes to maximize preparative CCC performance.

BIOMASS FUELS,INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND AN↗

Planetary Camera observations of the M87 stellar cusp

Results are presented of an analysis of V- and I-band HST Planetary Camera images of the giant elliptical galaxy M87 which show that its central starlight distribution is consistent with the black hole 2.6 x 10 exp 9-solar-mass cup model proposed for M87 by Young et al. (1978). A combined approach of image deconvolution and modeling is used to investigate the starlight distribution into limiting radii of about 0.04 arcsec. The central structure of M87 is described by three components: a power-law starlight profile of the form mu(r) varies as r exp -1/4 for r of less than 3 arcsec, a central nonthermal point source, and optical counterparts of the jet knots N1 and M identified by VLBI observations.

Lauer, Tod R.↗

AST Critical Propulsion and Noise Reduction Technologies for Future Commercial Subsonic Engines Area of Interest 1.0: Reliable and Affordable Control Systems

The General Electric Reliable and Affordable Controls effort under the NASA Advanced Subsonic Technology (AST) Program has designed, fabricated, and tested advanced controls hardware and software to reduce emissions and improve engine safety and reliability. The original effort consisted of four elements: 1) a Hydraulic Multiplexer; 2) Active Combustor Control; 3) a Variable Displacement Vane Pump (VDVP); and 4) Intelligent Engine Control. The VDVP and Intelligent Engine Control elements were cancelled due to funding constraints and are reported here only to the state they progressed. The Hydraulic Multiplexing element developed and tested a prototype which improves reliability by combining the functionality of up to 16 solenoids and servo-valves into one component with a single electrically powered force motor. The Active Combustor Control element developed intelligent staging and control strategies for low emission combustors. This included development and tests of a Controlled Pressure Fuel Nozzle for fuel sequencing, a Fuel Multiplexer for individual fuel cup metering, and model-based control logic. Both the Hydraulic Multiplexer and Controlled Pressure Fuel Nozzle system were cleared for engine test. The Fuel Multiplexer was cleared for combustor rig test which must be followed by an engine test to achieve full maturation.

Myers, William↗

A New Test Methodology for Evaluating Fire Risk Due to Electrical Faults in Oxygen-Enriched Environments

This paper discusses a new test methodology for assessing the safe use of materials found in spacecraft that may be exposed to electrical faults, as performed at the NASA White Sands Test Facility. “Wire-break” testing, modeled after the Cleveland Open Cup method, identifies the conditions under which pyrolyzed material transitions from a brief flash to a propagating flame. The approach focuses on fuel mass liberated through pyrolysis, mixed with oxygen, and ignited by a piloted ignition (spark due to fusion of wire) to achieve flame propagation with the least energy. The test approach attempts to find energy density thresholds derived using I²t values from current-induced heating of various test materials and wire characteristics. The application of the data provides a useful approach to mitigating fire risks in space systems by correlating threshold data to real-world designs and scaling factors, including oxygen pressure, wire diameter, heat sinking, and contained smoke volume. Several case studies, including Apollo missions and hypothetical scenarios, illustrate practical applications of these thresholds to enhance fire safety design considerations in space environments.

methodology↗

Simulating energetic particle losses in JET plasmas with a reverse integration biasing scheme

We report that an integrated energetic particle transport model has been constructed in JET plasmas constrained by experimental fast ion loss measurements. The model incorporates a synthetic fast ion loss detector identical to JET’s thin-foil Faraday cup fast ion loss detector array. The loss model combines analyses from the TRANSP and ORBIT-kick codes with enhanced features for producing the synthetic diagnostic. Extensions to the ORBIT code framework allow a full-orbit representation within the vacuum region that can map particles directly to an installed detector geometry. Since synthetic fast ion loss detectors are plagued by weak loss statistics, a novel reverse integration biasing scheme has been implemented to boost computational efficiency. The model is validated against experimental loss measurements induced by long-lived kink modes and is found to be in good agreement. This confirms the development of a fully integrated transport/loss model which can be quantitatively verified against experiment allowing for future validation and predictive studies. The model is particularly useful for more complicated plasma scenarios that involve multiple fast ion species such as JET’s 2021 DT-campaign.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Implementation of Charged Particle Behavior in Discrete Element Method (DEM) Simulations

Lunar landers will agitate the surface of the Moon with an exhaust plume during descent which will, due to the particulate nature of the lunar regolith, loosen and eject grains from the surface. This ejection is not only coupled with the charged plume gas, but also results in significant particle-particle interactions. Settling of these grains after plume effects have subsided takes much longer than expected in a ballistic trajectory. The prevailing hypothesis attributes this behavior to the accumulated charge on the particles. We are thus developing a discrete element method (DEM) approach to explore these charged particle interactions on the lunar surface. The Large-scale Atomic/Molecular Massively Parallel Simulator (LAMMPS) Improved for General Granular and Granular Heat Transfer Simulations (LIGGGHTS) software package provides a DEM modeling framework for granular interactions. It includes many complexities such as non-spherical particle shapes, cohesion and frictional forces, and heat transfer, but has no provision for inter-particle electrostatic forces and charge transfer that are important to examine in the lunar environment. In this work, a standard Coulomb potential and a Yukawa potential are integrated into the LIGGGHTS framework to provide a basis for particle-particle electrostatic interactions, as well as a gravitational potential to enable inter-grain gravitational interactions. A preliminary approach to charge transfer between grains incorporating properties such as work function and electrical conductivity to the library of available material characteristics will be presented. Several scenarios have been simulated that include charged particle interactions within a diffuse granular gas, settling of charged grains into a regolith bed, sliding of granular material along an incline, and vibration of settled grains to produce a behavior similar to fluidization. There are numerous challenges to incorporate realistic interactions between complex lunar particles. Currently, grains are modeled to behave as if the entirety of the charge acts at the center of mass, such as conductors with spherical symmetry and insulators with homogeneously distributed charge. We are developing improvements that will include the use of non-spherical particle geometries, as well as reasonable approximations of insulating/dielectric materials that have non-uniform charge distributions. The cases simulated thus far will be examined in a relevant environment within a vacuum chamber to validate the simulations. These simulations will be bounded by experiments utilizing high-speed camera observations of the motion for validation. The grains in the experiment will exchange charge during their motion and this can be quantified by collection within a charge measurement device such as a Faraday cup. Such a device may be modeled within the software by defining an integration region and computing the contained charge as a function of simulation time, allowing for side-by-side comparison of simulated and measured bulk charging results. Any differences will be reconciled by updating the mathematical mechanisms described within the simulation suite. Successfully combining results from experiments within a relevant environment into the LIGGGHTS framework will improve modeling of the charged grain dynamics experienced on the Moon to provide insights into dust behavior for future lunar exploration missions.

Electrostatics↗

Investigation of heat transfer in zirconium potassium perchlorate at low temperature: A study of the failure mechanism of the NASA standard initiator

The objective of this work was to study the reasons for the failure of pyrotechnic initiators at very low temperatures (10 to 100 K). A two-dimensional model of the NASA standard initiator was constructed to model heat transfer from the electrically heated stainless steel bridgewire to the zirconium potassium perchlorate explosive charge and the alumina charge cup. Temperature dependent properties were used in the model to simulate initiator performance over a wide range of initial temperatures (10 to 500 K). A search of the thermophysical property data base showed that pure alumina has a very high thermal conductivity at low temperatures. It had been assumed to act as a thermal insulator in all previous analyses. Rapid heat transfer from the bridgewire to the alumina at low initial temperatures was shown to cause failure of the initiators if the wire did not also make good contact with the zirconium potassium perchlorate charge. The mode is able to reproduce the results of the tests that had been conducted to investigate the cause for failure. It also provides an explanation for previously puzzling results and suggests simple design changes that will increase reliability at very low initial temperatures.

Varghese, Philip L.↗

Torque Transient of Magnetically Drive Flow for Viscosity Measurement

Viscosity is a good indicator of structural changes for complex liquids, such as semiconductor melts with chain or ring structures. This paper discusses the theoretical and experimental results of the transient torque technique for non-intrusive viscosity measurement. Such a technique is essential for the high temperature viscosity measurement of high pressure and toxic semiconductor melts. In this paper, our previous work on oscillating cup technique was expanded to the transient process of a magnetically driven melt flow in a damped oscillation system. Based on the analytical solution for the fluid flow and cup oscillation, a semi-empirical model was established to extract the fluid viscosity. The analytical and experimental results indicated that such a technique has the advantage of short measurement time and straight forward data analysis procedures

Ban, Heng↗

Pyrolysis Molecular Beam Mass Spectrometry_Analysis_of_Natural_Variants_of_Poplulus_Trichocarpa_Leaves

Select leaves from natural variants of Poplar (Populus Trichocarpa) grown in a greenhouse at Oak Ridge National Laboratory were analyzed by Pyrolysis-Molecular Beam Mass Spectrometry (Py-MBMS). Leaves were harvested, cryomilled and kept frozen until analysis. Py-MBMS analysis was conducted using approximately 4 mg of biomass and each sample was analyzed in duplicate. A Frontier PY2020 unit pyrolyzed samples at 500°C for 30 s in 80 µL deactivated stainless steel cups. An Extrel Super-Sonic MBMS Model Max 1000 was used to collect mass spectral data fromm/z30 to 450 at 17 eV and processed using Merlin Automation software (V3). Spectral ion intensities were normalized to the total ion chromatogram signal for each sample for analysis of spectral variance. Lignin content (wt %) was estimated based on relative responses from standards of known Klason lignin content using mean-normalized ion intensities ofm/z120, 124 (G), 137 (G), 138 (G), 150 (G), 152, 154 (S), 164 (G), 167 (S), 168 (S), 178 (G), 180, 181, 182 (S), 194 (S), 208 (S) and 210 (S) where G indicates guaiacyl-derived ions, S indicates syringyl-derived ions, and other ions either derive from other lignin monomers or multiple sources. Ratios of S and G lignin monomer units (S/G) were obtained by dividing the sum of S-based ions by the sum of G-based ions using mean-normalized ion intensities.

CBI↗

Pyrolysis_Molecular_Beam_Mass_Spectrometry_Analysis_of_Specific_Switchgrass_Genotypes

Select natural variant switchgrass genotypes grown in Tifton, GA were analyzed by Pyrolysis-Molecular Beam Mass Spectrometry (Py-MBMS). Biomass was harvested, milled, several genotypes were analyzed with and without being destarched and extracted with ethanol prior to analysis (indicated with -DE if destarched and extracted). Py-MBMS analysis was conducted using approximately 4 mg of biomass and each sample was analyzed in duplicate. A Frontier PY2020 unit pyrolyzed samples at 500°C for 30 s in 80 µL deactivated stainless steel cups. An Extrel Super-Sonic MBMS Model Max 1000 was used to collect mass spectral data fromm/z30 to 450 at 17 eV and processed using Merlin Automation software (V3). Spectral ion intensities were normalized to the total ion chromatogram signal for each sample for analysis of spectral variance. Lignin content (wt %) was estimated based on relative responses from standards of known Klason lignin content using mean-normalized ion intensities ofm/z120, 124 (G), 137 (G), 138 (G), 150 (G), 152, 154 (S), 164 (G), 167 (S), 168 (S), 178 (G), 180, 181, 182 (S), 194 (S), 208 (S) and 210 (S) where G indicates guaiacyl-derived ions, S indicates syringyl-derived ions, and other ions either derive from other lignin monomers or multiple sources. Ratios of S and G lignin monomer units (S/G) were obtained by dividing the sum of S-based ions by the sum of G-based ions using mean-normalized ion intensities.

CBI↗

Pyrolysis_Molecular_Beam_Mass_Spectrometry_Analysis_of_hybrid_cross_of_Populus_tremula_x_P_alba_717-1B4_and_overexpression_of_a_lectin_receptor-like_kinase_(PtLecRLK1)

Stem tissues from the hybrid poplarPopulus tremula × P. albaclone 717-1B4 and from lectin receptor-like kinase overexpression lines PP7 and PP19 were individually colonized with the ectomycorrhizal fungiLaccaria bicolorstrain S238N,Hyaloscypha finlandicastrain PMI746, orUmbelopsis vinaceastrain PMI3018, as well as with a mixed fungal inoculum; non-inoculated plants served as controls. Plants were grown in a greenhouse at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and harvested in January 2025. Stem samples were analyzed using Pyrolysis–Molecular Beam Mass Spectrometry (Py-MBMS). Stems were harvested, debarked, dried, milled, destarched and ethanol extracted prior to analysis. Py-MBMS analysis was conducted using approximately 4 mg of wood from biomass and each sample was analyzed in duplicate. A Frontier PY2020 unit pyrolyzed samples at 500°C for 30 s in 80 µL deactivated stainless steel cups. An Extrel Super-Sonic MBMS Model Max 1000 was used to collect mass spectral data fromm/z30 to 450 at 17 eV and processed using Merlin Automation software (V3). Spectral ion intensities were normalized to the total ion chromatogram signal for each sample for analysis of spectral variance. Lignin content (wt %) was estimated based on relative responses from standards of known Klason lignin content using mean-normalized ion intensities ofm/z120, 124 (G), 137 (G), 138 (G), 150 (G), 152, 154 (S), 164 (G), 167 (S), 168 (S), 178 (G), 180, 181, 182 (S), 194 (S), 208 (S) and 210 (S) where G indicates guaiacyl-derived ions, S indicates syringyl-derived ions, and other ions either derive from other lignin monomers or multiple sources. Ratios of S and G lignin monomer units (S/G) were obtained by dividing the sum of S-based ions by the sum of G-based ions using mean-normalized ion intensities.

CBI↗

A Novel Method for Breath Capture Inside a Space Suit

Any non-robotic mission to the Mars surface will need to rely on various life support technologies. The large metabolic generation rate and low tolerance to elevated levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the Mars atmosphere make CO2 removal one of the preeminent tasks in this domain. In addition, these same features provide a strong impetus for using regenerable CO2 removal technologies. In the past, many of these regenerable technologies have relied on the low partial pressure CO2 surrounding the vehicle to provide an ultimate sink for removing this gas contaminant, however any Mars mission will have to overcome the presence of the Mars atmosphere. This paper describes the investigation of methods to capture the exhaled CO2 from a suited crewmember before it becomes diluted with the high volumetric air flow present within the space suit. Typical expired air contains CO2 partial pressures in the range of 20-35 mm Hg. This research investigated methods to capture this high partial pressure CO2 prior to its dilution with the low partial pressure CO2 ventilation flow. Specifically the research looked at potential designs for a collection cup for use inside the space suit helmet. This collection cup should not be considered the same as a breathing mask typical of that worn by firefighters, etc. Instead, the collection cup is a non-contact device that makes use of detailed analyses of the ventilation flow environment within the helmet. The research used a detailed Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) code called Fluent to provide modeling of the various gas species (CO2, water vapor, O2) as they pass through a helmet. This same model was used to numerically evaluate several different collection cup designs for this same CO2 segregation effort.

Paul, Heather↗

A New Method for Breath Capture Inside a Space Suit Helmet

This project investigates methods to capture an astronaut's exhaled carbon dioxide (CO2) before it becomes diluted with the high volumetric oxygen flow present within a space suit. Typical expired breath contains CO2 partial pressures (pCO2) in the range of 20-35 mm Hg. This research investigates methods to capture the concentrated CO2 gas stream prior to its dilution with the low pCO2 ventilation flow. Specifically this research is looking at potential designs for a collection cup for use inside the space suit helmet. The collection cup concept is not the same as a breathing mask typical of that worn by firefighters and pilots. It is well known that most members of the astronaut corps view a mask as a serious deficiency in any space suit helmet design. Instead, the collection cup is a non-contact device that will be designed using a detailed Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) analysis of the ventilation flow environment within the helmet. The CFD code, Fluent, provides modeling of the various gas species (CO2, water vapor, and oxygen (O2)) as they pass through a helmet. This same model will be used to numerically evaluate several different collection cup designs for this same CO2 segregation effort. A new test rig will be built to test the results of the CFD analyses and validate the collection cup designs. This paper outlines the initial results and future plans of this work.

Filburn, Tom↗

xGFabric: Coupling Sensor Networks and HPC Facilities with Private 5G Wireless Networks for Real-Time Digital Agriculture

Advanced scientific applications require coupling distributed sensor networks with centralized high-performance computing facilities. Citrus Under Protective Screening (CUPS) exemplifies this need in digital agriculture, where citrus research facilities are instrumented with numerous sensors monitoring environmental conditions and detecting protective screening damage. CUPS demands access to computational fluid dynamics codes for modeling environmental conditions and guiding real-time interventions like water application or robotic repairs. These computing domains have contrasting properties: sensor networks provide low-performance, limited-capacity, unreliable data access, while high-performance facilities offer enormous computing power through high-latency batch processing. Private 5G networks present novel capabilities addressing this challenge by providing low latency, high throughput, and reliability necessary for near-real-time coupling of edge sensor networks with HPC simulations. This work presents xGFabric, an end-to-end system coupling sensor networks with HPC facilities through Private 5G networks. The prototype connects remote sensors via 5G network slicing to HPC systems, enabling real-time digital agriculture simulation.

Digital Agriculture↗

Sabots, Obturator and Gas-In-Launch Tube Techniques for Heat Flux Models in Ballistic Ranges

For thermal protection system (heat shield) design for space vehicle entry into earth and other planetary atmospheres, it is essential to know the augmentation of the heat flux due to vehicle surface roughness. At the NASA Ames Hypervelocity Free Flight Aerodynamic Facility (HFFAF) ballistic range, a campaign of heat flux studies on rough models, using infrared camera techniques, has been initiated. Several phenomena can interfere with obtaining good heat flux data when using this measuring technique. These include leakage of the hot drive gas in the gun barrel through joints in the sabot (model carrier) to create spurious thermal imprints on the model forebody, deposition of sabot material on the model forebody, thereby changing the thermal properties of the model surface and unknown in-barrel heating of the model. This report presents developments in launch techniques to greatly reduce or eliminate these problems. The techniques include the use of obturator cups behind the launch package, enclosed versus open front sabot designs and the use of hydrogen gas in the launch tube. Attention also had to be paid to the problem of the obturator drafting behind the model and impacting the model. Of the techniques presented, the obturator cups and hydrogen in the launch tube were successful when properly implemented

obturators↗

Multi-fidelity kinetic theory-based approach for the prediction of particle attrition: Application to jet cup attrition system

The timescale difference between the “fast” flow dynamics of fluidized bed reactors and the relatively “slow” rate of particle degradation makes the direct computational prediction of attrition challenging. An approach to this challenge is a multi-fidelity strategy where a high fidelity model for the flow dynamics is coupled with a lower fidelity model for the long-time resolution of the bulk attrition of the reactor inventory. We implement this approach using high-fidelity kinetic theory simulations to calculate the flow dynamics which are post-processed to calculate the frequency and intensity of the particle-particle and particle-wall collisions (e.g. collision energy spectra). This is combined with the particle breakage properties to construct the coefficients for a low-fidelity model [e.g. Monazam et al., 2018, Powder Technology 340, p. 528-536]. Simulations are performed of a jet cup attrition system containing Canadian hematite (Monazam et al. 2018). Furthermore, these are first analyzed using the collision energy spectra. Quantitative predictions of the mass loss are made using a low-fidelity model derived from the collision-spectra and a calibrated material breakage coefficient. The results are found to compare favorably with the experimental measurements.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Maximum Carbon Uptake Rate Dominates the Interannual Variability of Global Net Ecosystem Exchange

Terrestrial ecosystems contribute most of the interannual variability (IAV) in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations, but processes driving the IAV of net ecosystem CO2 exchange (NEE) remain elusive. For a predictive understanding of the global C cycle, it is imperative to identify indicators associated with ecological processes that determine the IAV of NEE. Here, we decompose the annual NEE of global terrestrial ecosystems into their phenological and physiological components, namely maximum carbon uptake (MCU) and release (MCR), the carbon uptake period (CUP), and two parameters, α and β, that describe the ratio between actual versus hypothetical maximum C sink and source, respectively. Using long‐term observed NEE from 66 eddy covariance sites and global products derived from FLUXNET observations, we found that the IAV of NEE is determined predominately by MCU at the global scale, which explains 48% of the IAV of NEE on average while α, CUP, β, and MCR explain 14%, 25%, 2%, and 8%, respectively. These patterns differ in water‐limited ecosystems versus temperature‐ and radiation‐limited ecosystems; 31% of the IAV of NEE is determined by the IAV of CUP in water‐limited ecosystems, and 60% of the IAV of NEE is determined by the IAV of MCU in temperature‐ and radiation‐limited ecosystems. The Lund‐Potsdam‐Jena (LPJ) model and the Multi‐scale Synthesis and Terrestrial Model Inter‐comparison Project (MsTMIP) models underestimate the contribution of MCU to the IAV of NEE by about 18% on average, and overestimate the contribution of CUP by about 25%. This study provides a new perspective on the proximate causes of the IAV of NEE, which suggest that capturing the variability of MCU is critical for modeling the IAV of NEE across most of the global land surface.

Fu, Zheng↗