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Results for “ISS Technology Demonstrations”

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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8 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

Safe, Low-Cost, High Energy-Density, Solid-State Li-Ion Batteries

We developed intrinsically safe, robust, low-cost, high-energy-density solid-state Li-ion batteries, by integrating high conductivity garnet-type solid Li ion electrolytes and several different cathodes in tailored microstructures, fabricated by low-cost supported thin-film ceramic techniques, to overcome the primary technological barriers to next generation battery technology. In this ARPA-E project we employed Li-garnet solid-state electrolytes pioneered by one of the co-investigators (Thangadurai) which has room temperature (RT) conductivity of ~10 -3 S cm -1 . The highly stable garnet SSE allowed the use of S, NMC, and other cathodes with Li metal anodes without stability or flammability concerns. We studied the garnet’s stability when exposed to CO 2 and humidity (with or without an ALD coating) and showed that the material can be processed in ambient air for most steps prior to battery assembly, significantly reducing production costs. We extensively studied and scaled up the synthesis of the powder and explored external suppliers of garnet to determine the best pathway for commercial success. We used low-cost and scalable tapecasting fabrication methods to create porous-dense-porous “trilayer” solid electrolyte microstructures with a ~20 μm separating dense layer, and >70% porosity porous layers to host the electrodes. These scalable multilayer ceramic fabrication techniques, without need for dry rooms or vacuum equipment, also provide for dramatically reduced manufacturing costs. The tailored microstructured electrode supports (scaffold) increased interfacial area ~50x, overcoming the high impedance typical of planar geometry SSLiBs, resulting in record-setting 10 mA/cm 2 lithium cycling in a symmetric cell. We expanded our tapecasting ability and showed tapes >25m in length by the end of the project. We demonstrated the ability to sinter garnet without the use of a garnet powderbed, which could have been a major obstacle and waste of material at scale. At the same time, we expanded the size of our trilayers from coin cells (0.7 cm 2 ) to the full format design (30 cm 2 ). To develop full cells, we demonstrated 250 Wh/kg at room temperature with commercial NMC electrode films in a bilayer configuration. Similarly, we demonstrated 280 Wh/kg trilayer Li-S cells at room temperature with >90% capacity retention over 300 cycles. At 90°C we demonstrated 350 Wh/kg with a Li-S trilayer. The high thermal stability of the garnet electrolyte also enabled extended cycling (400 cycles) of a Li-TiS 2 cell at 150 °C, showcasing the exceptional safety and nonflammability of the solid-state trilayer batteries. Ion Storage Systems has taken this technology and knowledge to produce trilayer garnet electrolytes and is building out facilities to commercialize high performance solid state batteries. ISS has hired a strong staff, identified and communicated with a large number of potential partners, and successfully secured follow-on funding.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Exploration of RMP ELM control on ITER-similar shape (ISS) in KSTAR

Recent control advances at KSTAR enabled us to not only establish but also to sustain the ITER-similar shape (ISS) in a stationary manner, matching the ITER-like dimensionless shape parameters in lower single null configuration with vastly contrasting upper/lower triangularities. Here, the kinetic parameters of the ISS are different from the typical KSTAR configurations seen in ELM-RMP suppression experiments. We experimentally demonstrate the ISS-compatible resonant magnetic perturbation (RMP) control in KSTAR for the first time, using the n = 2, +90 degrees phasing RMP.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Chemical and morphological evolution of hybrid conversion coatings in low-Earth orbit space environment

Understanding how protective coatings respond to the harsh low-Earth orbit (LEO) environment is essential for ensuring the safety, longevity, and cost-effectiveness of spacecraft. In particular, identifying environmentally friendly, non-chromate alternatives that can maintain performance under such conditions has both technological and regulatory significance. This study investigates the environmental stability of zirconium-based hybrid conversion coatings with Cu additives (Cu10 and Cu20) applied to cold-rolled steel, tested in the Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE) outside the International Space Station (ISS). Chemical and morphological analyses were carried out using a combination of electron microscopy and X-ray spectroscopy techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), scanning transmission electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (STEM-EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy. After exposure outside the ISS, all coatings remained structurally intact, with all exhibiting a uniform Zr-rich matrix and embedded Cu-rich clusters, while a thin Si-rich surface layer developed from interaction with space environments. Depth-resolved XPS showed a layered structure with CuO on the surface, Cu 2 O, and partial Zr(IV) reduction near Cu-rich sites, evidence of Atomic Oxygen (AO)-driven surface oxidation. These results demonstrate that Cu–Zr coatings maintain their chemical integrity and microstructure in harsh space environments, offering a non-chromate alternative for long-term aerospace protection. These insights provide valuable guidance for developing next-generation protective coatings that combine environmental sustainability with the reliability required for future aerospace and orbital applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

ISOCS-based Extended In Situ Gamma Spectrometry Services Tool SuperISOCS for Waste Measurements - 20275

Canberra's In Situ Object Counting System (ISOCS) is an established tool used for gamma spectrometry. It allows physical representation of complex geometries and mathematical calculation of the calibration function while avoiding the need for radioisotope standards. ISOCS provides a large range of templates to generate the geometry for most nuclear waste components in nuclear facilities. Nonetheless, there are some complex geometries where the accuracy attainable is limited by the conventional ISOCS templates. An ISOCS-based extended in-situ Gamma Spectrometry service tool has been developed, based on the so-called SuperISOCS (SISOCS) software. This tool was developed to generate the most complex geometries. The principle of geometry construction is based on the composition of 8 different primitive geometries. The primitive object is able to be cut and to change a part of an object. An object is able to overlap to another one to form a more complex object. These functions refine the modelled geometry compared to the real objects and decrease the measurement systematic error because they allow the mathematical model to represent the real-life geometry more faithfully through reducing the approximations and simplifications that need to be made The algorithm of SISOCS is the same as that of standard ISOCS. A set of calculations was done in comparison with MCNP efficiency calculation and SISOCS results. 80 different models were compared between SISOCS and MCNP, with added 30 cases compared between ISOCS and SISOCS. The average differences were less than 2%, for all energy's efficiency calculations. In this paper we illustrate the benefits that this new tool can provide, in terms of improved accuracy for complex realistic geometries, through simulation of some example scenarios. Furthermore, we demonstrate, through SISOCS modelling of the real object data test, the comparison between SISOCS to ISOCS calculations for the same geometry. This paper describes the added functions that are easily employed using SISOCS. Our results show the potential application and benefit of this technique for real waste assay projects and the way to integrate the tool into the waste assay systems. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2022

Reducing the L-H transition power threshold in ITER-similar-shape DIII-D hydrogen plasmas

Recent dedicated DIII-D experiments in low-torque, ITER-similar-shape (ISS) hydrogen plasmas (at a plasma current I p ~ 1.5 MA and ITER-similar edge safety factor q 95 ~ 3.6) show that the L-H transition power threshold P LH can be reduced substantially (~30%) with L-mode helium admixtures n He /n e $\leqslant$ 25%. In the ensuing H-mode, helium ion fractions n He /n H remain below 25%. H-mode normalized pressure and confinement quality are only slightly affected by helium seeding, and Z eff $\leqslant$ 2.15 (including helium and carbon content). The plasmas investigated here are electron-heat dominated, with temperatures T e (0)/T i (0) $\geqslant$ 1 and edge heat flux ratio Q e /Q i (ρ = 0.95) ~ 1.2–1.5. Without mitigation, P LH is higher by a factor of 2–3 in comparison to similar ISS deuterium plasmas. ISS hydrogen plasmas with lower plasma current I p ~ 1 MA (increased edge safety factor q 95 ~ 5.1) exhibit a substantially lower power threshold. This plasma current dependence, also observed previously on ASDEX-U and in JET, is not accounted for by the commonly used 2008 ITPA multi-machine threshold scaling, but could potentially allow H-mode access at marginal heating power during the initial plasma current ramp-up. Attempts to reduce P LH with low-field- and high-field-side hydrogen pellet injection, using 1.7 mm diameter pellets, have not demonstrated a robust threshold reduction, in contrast to successful earlier experiments with larger 2.7 mm pellets. Finally, techniques for reducing P LH are very important for ITER, in particular for accessing H-mode in hydrogen plasmas during the Pre-Fusion Power Operation-1 (PFPO-1) campaign with marginal auxiliary heating power (20–30 MW of ECH).

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

The role of edge resonant magnetic perturbations in edge-localized-mode suppression and density pump-out in low-collisionality DIII-D plasmas

Two-fluid nonlinear MHD simulations using the TM1 code demonstrate that the formation of magnetic islands at the top and bottom of the H-mode pedestal, together with the strong screening of resonant fields in the gradient region of the pedestal, can account for ELM suppression and density pump-out by n = 2 resonant magnetic perturbations (RMPs) in low-collisionality DIII-D ITER similar shape (ISS) plasmas. Using experimentally relevant transport coefficients, neoclassical resistivity, electron collisionality, and RMP amplitudes, nonlinear MHD simulations reproduce the observed level of density reduction (density pump-out) in DIII-D due to the formation of narrow magnetic islands in the resistive foot of pedestal. For large amplitude RMPs ( B r / B t > 1 × 10 -4 ) simulations predict resonant field penetration and resulting in pressure reduction at the top of the pedestal, consistent with experimental observations at the onset of ELM suppression. The predicted reduction in the height and width of the pedestal by magnetic island enhanced collisional transport provides a quantitative mechanism for the stabilization of the peeling-ballooning mode (PBM). Importantly, these simulations predict strong screening of resonant fields in the steep gradient region of the pedestal due to strong E × B rotation and diamagnetic flows. Yet, if the plasma resistivity is made artificially larger (~ 10X) than neoclassical, the simulations predict magnetic stochasticity throughout the plasma edge and the collapse of the pedestal due to the reduction in the penetration threshold with increasing resistivity. A scaling relation for resonant field penetration at the pedestal top, using several hundred nonlinear simulations, reproduces the density and E × B rotation dependence of the ELM suppression threshold observed in DIII-D. Simulations using ITER model equilibria indicate that the penetration threshold at the top of the ITER pedestal will be lower than in DIII-D due to the anticipated lower perpendicular flow velocities in ITER, resulting in the weaker screening of resonant fields.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Light neutral-meson production in pp collisions at $\sqrt{\text{s}}$ = 13 TeV

The momentum-differential invariant cross sections of π 0 and η mesons are reported for pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV at midrapidity (|y| < 0.8). The measurement is performed in a broad transverse-momentum range of 0.2 < p T < 200 GeV/c and 0.4 < p T < 60 GeV/c for the π 0 and η, respectively, extending the p T coverage of previous measurements. Transverse-mass-scaling violation of up to 60% at low transverse momentum has been observed, agreeing with measurements at lower collision energies. Transverse Bjorken x (x T ) scaling of the π 0 cross sections at LHC energies is fulfilled with a power-law exponent of n = 5.01 ± 0.05, consistent with values obtained for charged pions at similar collision energies. The data are compared to predictions from next-to-leading order perturbative QCD calculations, where the π 0 spectrum is best described using the CT18 parton distribution function and the NNFF1.0 or BDSS fragmentation function. Expectations from PYTHIA8 and EPOS LHC overestimate the spectrum for the π 0 and are not able to describe the shape and magnitude of the η spectrum. The charged-particle multiplicity dependent π 0 and η p T spectra show the expected change of the spectral shape, characterized by a flatter slope with increasing multiplicity. This is demonstrated across a broad transverse-momentum range and up to events with a charged-particle multiplicity exceeding five times the mean value in minimum bias collisions. The η/π 0 ratio depends on the charged-particle multiplicity for p T < 4 GeV/c. PYTHIA8 and EPOS LHC qualitatively explain this behavior with an increasing contribution from the feed-down of heavier particles to the π 0 spectrum.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Common femtoscopic hadron-emission source in pp collisions at the LHC

The femtoscopic study of pairs of identical pions is particularly suited to investigate the effective source function of particle emission, due to the resulting Bose–Einstein correlation signal. In small collision systems at the LHC, pp in particular, the majority of the pions are produced in resonance decays, which significantly affect the profile and size of the source. In this work, we explicitly model this effect in order to extract the primordial source in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV from charged π–π correlations measured by ALICE. We demonstrate that the assumption of a Gaussian primordial source is compatible with the data and that the effective source, resulting from modifications due to resonances, is approximately exponential, as found in previous measurements at the LHC. The universality of hadron emission in pp collisions is further investigated by applying the same methodology to characterize the primordial source of K–p pairs. The size of the primordial source is evaluated as a function of the transverse mass (m T ) of the pairs, leading to the observation of a common scaling for both π–π and K–p, suggesting a collective effect. Further, the present results are compatible with the m T scaling of the p–p and p–Λ primordial source measured by ALICE in high multiplicity pp collisions, providing additional evidence for the presence of a common emission source for all hadrons in small collision systems at the LHC. This will allow the determination of the source function for any hadron–hadron pairs with high precision, granting access to the properties of the possible final-state interaction among pairs of less abundantly produced hadrons, such as strange or charmed particles.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗