Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Generation IV”

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 19 records

The role of minerals in the thermal alteration of organic matter. IV - Generation of n-alkanes, acyclic isoprenoids, and alkenes in laboratory experiments

The effect of common sedimentary minerals (illite, Na-montmorillonite, or calcite) under different water concentrations on the generation and release of n-alkanes, acyclic isoprenoids, and select alkenes from oil-prone kerogens was investigated. Matrices containing Green River Formation kerogen or Monterey Formation kerogen, alone or in the presence of minerals, were heated at 200 or 300 C for periods of up to 1000 hours, and the pyrolysis products were analyzed. The influence of the first two clay minerals was found to be critically dependent on the water content. Under the dry pyrolysis conditions, both minerals significantly reduced alkene formation; the C12+ n-alkanes and acyclic isoprenoids were mostly destroyed by montmorillonite, but underwent only minor alteration with illite. Under hydrous conditions (mineral/water of 2/1), the effects of both minerals were substantially reduced. Calcite had no significant effect on the thermal evolution of the hydrocarbons.

Huizinga, Bradley J.↗

Intravenous Solutions for Exploration Missions

This paper describes the intravenous (IV) fluids requirements being developed for medical care during NASA s future exploration class missions. Previous research on IV solution generation and mixing in space is summarized. The current exploration baseline mission profiles are introduced, potential medical conditions described and evaluated for fluidic needs, and operational issues assessed. We briefly introduce potential methods for generating IV fluids in microgravity. Conclusions on the recommended fluid volume requirements are presented.

Miller, Fletcher J.↗

Space and Terrestrial Power System Integration Optimization Code BRMAPS for Gas Turbine Space Power Plants With Nuclear Reactor Heat Sources

In view of the difficult times the US and global economies are experiencing today, funds for the development of advanced fission reactors nuclear power systems for space propulsion and planetary surface applications are currently not available. However, according to the Energy Policy Act of 2005 the U.S. needs to invest in developing fission reactor technology for ground based terrestrial power plants. Such plants would make a significant contribution toward drastic reduction of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions and associated global warming. To accomplish this goal the Next Generation Nuclear Plant Project (NGNP) has been established by DOE under the Generation IV Nuclear Systems Initiative. Idaho National Laboratory (INL) was designated as the lead in the development of VHTR (Very High Temperature Reactor) and HTGR (High Temperature Gas Reactor) technology to be integrated with MMW (multi-megawatt) helium gas turbine driven electric power AC generators. However, the advantages of transmitting power in high voltage DC form over large distances are also explored in the seminar lecture series. As an attractive alternate heat source the Liquid Fluoride Reactor (LFR), pioneered at ORNL (Oak Ridge National Laboratory) in the mid 1960's, would offer much higher energy yields than current nuclear plants by using an inherently safe energy conversion scheme based on the Thorium --> U233 fuel cycle and a fission process with a negative temperature coefficient of reactivity. The power plants are to be sized to meet electric power demand during peak periods and also for providing thermal energy for hydrogen (H2) production during "off peak" periods. This approach will both supply electric power by using environmentally clean nuclear heat which does not generate green house gases, and also provide a clean fuel H2 for the future, when, due to increased global demand and the decline in discovering new deposits, our supply of liquid fossil fuels will have been used up. This is expected within the next 30 to 50 years, as predicted by the Hubbert model and confirmed by other global energy consumption prognoses. Having invested national resources into the development of NGNP, the technology and experience accumulated during the project needs to be documented clearly and in sufficient detail for young engineers coming on-board at both DOE and NASA to acquire it. Hands on training on reactor operation, test rigs of turbomachinery, and heat exchanger components, as well as computational tools will be needed. Senior scientist/engineers involved with the development of NGNP should also be encouraged to participate as lecturers, instructors, or adjunct professors at local universities having engineering (mechanical, electrical, nuclear/chemical, and/or materials) as one of their fields of study.

Juhasz, Albert J.↗

Large-Scale Weibull Analysis of H-451 Nuclear- Grade Graphite Specimen Rupture Data

A Weibull analysis was performed of the strength distribution and size effects for 2000 specimens of H-451 nuclear-grade graphite. The data, generated elsewhere, measured the tensile and four-point-flexure room-temperature rupture strength of specimens excised from a single extruded graphite log. Strength variation was compared with specimen location, size, and orientation relative to the parent body. In our study, data were progressively and extensively pooled into larger data sets to discriminate overall trends from local variations and to investigate the strength distribution. The CARES/Life and WeibPar codes were used to investigate issues regarding the size effect, Weibull parameter consistency, and nonlinear stress-strain response. Overall, the Weibull distribution described the behavior of the pooled data very well. However, the issue regarding the smaller-than-expected size effect remained. This exercise illustrated that a conservative approach using a two-parameter Weibull distribution is best for designing graphite components with low probability of failure for the in-core structures in the proposed Generation IV (Gen IV) high-temperature gas-cooled nuclear reactors. This exercise also demonstrated the continuing need to better understand the mechanisms driving stochastic strength response. Extensive appendixes are provided with this report to show all aspects of the rupture data and analytical results.

Nemeth, Noel N.↗

The generation of gravitational waves. IV - Bremsstrahlung

Previously derived waveforms for gravitational bremsstrahlung are discussed along with their spectra and their limiting structure at high and low relative velocities. Waveforms and spectra are presented for a low-velocity bremsstrahlung encounter, and waveforms are given for encounters of arbitrary relative velocity. Limiting forms for the gravitational-wave amplitudes in the 'forward', 'intermediate', and 'backward' regions are derived in the high-velocity limit. The energy spectra seen by observers in the three regions are computed for arbitrary and high velocities. Simpler methods for analyzing special cases of the bremsstrahlung problem are examined, and the results of those methods are compared with the present results. Those methods include the quadrupole-moment and post-Newtonian formalisms, linear perturbations of the Schwarzschild metric, the method of colliding plane waves, the method of virtual quanta, and the zero-frequency limit. Classical gravitational bremsstrahlung is then compared with classical electromagnetic bremsstrahlung.

Kovacs, S. J., Jr.↗

IVGEN

The Exploration Medical Capabilities Element of NASA's Human Research Program chartered the IV fluid GENeration (IVGEN) project at the NASA Glenn Research Center to develop a system that could produce IV fluid in a microgravity environment meeting USP standards. NASA's flight surgeons have identified medical conditions likely to arise during exploration missions of various length and distance from the earth. Adequately treating some of those conditions will require the ability to utilize Intravenous (IV) therapy to either serve as a method for delivering pharmaceuticals that can only be administered via that route, or to hydrate patients that are unable to hydrate themselves. Given that need, NASA currently maintains a reserve of IV fluid on ISS sufficient to treat an astronaut until they can be returned to earth, which is generally within 24 hours. Because such a rapid return will not be an designed to produce United States Pharmacopeia ( USP) grade IV fluid in a reduced gravity p option for missions extending beyond low earth orbit, NASA must either fly as many as 100 liters of IV fluid, with a total mass of 100 Kg, or provide systems that can use vehicle resources to produce such fluid if it is needed. The IVGEN hardware, a compact water purification and mixing system, was environment using available resources.

DeVon, Griffin↗

Statistical Models of Fracture Relevant to Nuclear-Grade Graphite: Review and Recommendations

The nuclear-grade (low-impurity) graphite needed for the fuel element and moderator material for next-generation (Gen IV) reactors displays large scatter in strength and a nonlinear stress-strain response from damage accumulation. This response can be characterized as quasi-brittle. In this expanded review, relevant statistical failure models for various brittle and quasi-brittle material systems are discussed with regard to strength distribution, size effect, multiaxial strength, and damage accumulation. This includes descriptions of the Weibull, Batdorf, and Burchell models as well as models that describe the strength response of composite materials, which involves distributed damage. Results from lattice simulations are included for a physics-based description of material breakdown. Consideration is given to the predicted transition between brittle and quasi-brittle damage behavior versus the density of damage (level of disorder) within the material system. The literature indicates that weakest-link-based failure modeling approaches appear to be reasonably robust in that they can be applied to materials that display distributed damage, provided that the level of disorder in the material is not too large. The Weibull distribution is argued to be the most appropriate statistical distribution to model the stochastic-strength response of graphite.

Nemeth, Noel N.↗

Final Report for Intravenous Fluid Generation (IVGEN) Spaceflight Experiment

NASA designed and operated the Intravenous Fluid Generation (IVGEN) experiment onboard the International Space Station (ISS), Increment 23/24, during May 2010. This hardware was a demonstration experiment to generate intravenous (IV) fluid from ISS Water Processing Assembly (WPA) potable water using a water purification technique and pharmaceutical mixing system. The IVGEN experiment utilizes a deionizing resin bed to remove contaminants from feedstock water to a purity level that meets the standards of the United States Pharmacopeia (USP), the governing body for pharmaceuticals in the United States. The water was then introduced into an IV bag where the fluid was mixed with USP-grade crystalline salt to produce USP normal saline (NS). Inline conductivity sensors quantified the feedstock water quality, output water purity, and NS mixing uniformity. Six 1.5-L bags of purified water were produced. Two of these bags were mixed with sodium chloride to make 0.9 percent NS solution. These two bags were returned to Earth to test for compliance with USP requirements. On-orbit results indicated that all of the experimental success criteria were met with the exception of the salt concentration. Problems with a large air bubble in the first bag of purified water resulted in a slightly concentrated saline solution of 117 percent of the target value of 0.9 g/L. The second bag had an inadequate amount of salt premeasured into the mixing bag resulting in a slightly deficient salt concentration of 93.8 percent of the target value. The USP permits a range from 95 to 105 percent of the target value. The testing plans for improvements for an operational system are also presented.

McQuillen, John B.↗

Intravenous Fluid Generation Mini (IVGEN Mini) Summary and Related Research

This paper assists the ongoing effort to support NASA Glenn’s mission and its Human Research Program (HRP) core competency by investigating a technology demonstration to mitigate human health and performance risks during space exploration. Crew health and performance are critical to successful human exploration beyond low Earth orbit. Four hundred forty-two medical conditions have been identified and may present and require treatment during long-duration space exploration missions. One hundred fifteen out of four hundred forty-two identified medical conditions would require medical fluid treatment, generating a need for an on-demand or continuous supply of medical fluid. Intravenous Fluid Generation Mini (IVGEN Mini) is a technology demonstration designed to demonstrate a water purification and pharmaceutical mixing system that can make intravenous (IV) fluid in microgravity and builds on the success of the original Intravenous Fluid Generation for Exploration Missions (IVGEN) experiment, which flew on the ISS in March 2010. IVGEN Mini seeks to increase the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) and the overall function of the original IVGEN experiment to reduce the dependence of a needed medical consumable and streamline the size of the device and process to generate IV fluid IVGEN Mini is funded by the Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) directorate via the Exploration Medical Integrated Product Team (XMIPT) as a part of their mission to advance exploration medical technologies to benefit the overall health and safety of crews for beyond low Earth orbit space missions. This paper discusses a collection of related research topics such as microgravity fluid mixing and studying past efforts of IV fluid usage in extreme environments to aid IVGEN Mini project scientists in developing the IVGEN Mini technology.

iv generation↗

Analysis Coordinator Report

We present the IVS analysis coordination issues of 2012. The IVS Analysis Coordinator is responsible for generating and disseminating the official IVS products. This requires consistency of the input data by strict adherence to models and conventions. The term of the current IVS Analysis Coordinator will end on February 28, 2013.

Nothnagel, A.↗

IVGen Mini Techport May 2024

Intravenous (IV) fluids are an important treatment modality for multiple medical conditions that have the potential to occur during Mars missions and that may lead to adverse crew health and mission outcomes without appropriate treatment. However, carrying sufficient volumes of IV fluids with adequate shelf life to support such missions is currently not feasible due to anticipated mass and volume constraints of future vehicles and the relatively short shelf-life of terrestrial IV fluids. The goal of the IntraVenous Fluid Generation for Exploration Missions, Miniaturized, (IVGen Mini) project is to develop a low mass and volume IV fluid generation device that can produce IV fluids in situ and that reduces the need to launch and store large quantities of IV fluids. It builds on the original IVGEN system developed by the Human Research Program’s Exploration Medical Capability Element that successfully demonstrated the capability to produce in-situ IV fluids aboard the ISS in 2010 using an ISS potable water source. Flight demonstration objectives for this system included purification via packed bed resin, bubble removal, sterilization, passive mixing in microgravity, and United States Pharmacopeia (USP) tested compliance. The project will culminate in a flight technical demonstration on the ISS in 2025/2026.

Courtney M Schkurko↗

Longitudinal dependence of the interplanetary perturbation produced by energetic type 4 solar flares and of the associated cosmic ray modulation

One of the most significant features of the flare-associated Forbush decreases (Fds) in the galatctic cosmic ray (c.r.) is the so-called East-West asymmetry: the solar flares (Sfs) observed in the Eastern or central region of the solar disk exhibit a higher probability to cause large Fds than the Sfs occurring in the Western portion of the disk. In particular the interplanetary perturbations generated by Type IV Sfs depress the c.r. intensity in a vast spiral cone-like region (modulated region) which extends along the interplanetary magnetic field from the neighborhood of the active region to the advancing perturbation, and that, immediately after the flare-generated perturbation, the maximum c.r. modulation is observed between 0 and 40 deg. W of the meridian plane crossings the flare site at time of flare (flare's meridian plane).

Iucci, N.↗

Feasibility study for the implementation of NASTRAN on the ILLIAC 4 parallel processor

The ILLIAC IV, a fourth generation multiprocessor using parallel processing hardware concepts, is operational at Moffett Field, California. Its capability to excel at matrix manipulation, makes the ILLIAC well suited for performing structural analyses using the finite element displacement method. The feasibility of modifying the NASTRAN (NASA structural analysis) computer program to make effective use of the ILLIAC IV was investigated. The characteristics are summarized of the ILLIAC and the ARPANET, a telecommunications network which spans the continent making the ILLIAC accessible to nearly all major industrial centers in the United States. Two distinct approaches are studied: retaining NASTRAN as it now operates on many of the host computers of the ARPANET to process the input and output while using the ILLIAC only for the major computational tasks, and installing NASTRAN to operate entirely in the ILLIAC environment. Though both alternatives offer similar and significant increases in computational speed over modern third generation processors, the full installation of NASTRAN on the ILLIAC is recommended. Specifications are presented for performing that task with manpower estimates and schedules to correspond.

Field, E. I.↗