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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
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1979

Energy and cost saving results for advanced technology systems from the Cogeneration Technology Alternatives Study (CTAS)

An overview of the organization and methodology of the Cogeneration Technology Alternatives Study is presented. The objectives of the study were to identify the most attractive advanced energy conversion systems for industrial cogeneration applications in the future and to assess the advantages of advanced technology systems compared to those systems commercially available today. Advanced systems studied include steam turbines, open and closed cycle gas turbines, combined cycles, diesel engines, Stirling engines, phosphoric acid and molten carbonate fuel cells and thermionics. Steam turbines, open cycle gas turbines, combined cycles, and diesel engines were also analyzed in versions typical of today's commercially available technology to provide a base against which to measure the advanced systems. Cogeneration applications in the major energy consuming manufacturing industries were considered. Results of the study in terms of plant level energy savings, annual energy cost savings and economic attractiveness are presented for the various energy conversion systems considered.

Sagerman, G. D.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Energy and cost savings results for advanced technology systems from the Cogeneration Technology Alternatives Study /CTAS/

The Cogeneration Technology Alternatives Study (CTAS), a program undertaken to identify the most attractive advanced energy conversion systems for industrial cogeneration applications in the 1985-2000 time period, is described, and preliminary results are presented. Two cogeneration options are included in the analysis: a topping application, in which fuel is input to the energy conversion system which generates electricity and waste heat from the conversion system is used to provide heat to the process, and a bottoming application, in which fuel is burned to provide high temperature process heat and waste heat from the process is used as thermal input to the energy conversion system which generates energy. Steam turbines, open and closed cycle gas turbines, combined cycles, diesel engines, Stirling engines, phosphoric acid and molten carbonate fuel cells and thermionics are examined. Expected plant level energy savings, annual energy cost savings, and other results of the economic analysis are given, and the sensitivity of these results to the assumptions concerning fuel prices, price of purchased electricity and the potential effects of regional energy use characteristics is discussed.

Sagerman, G. D.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Solar thermal technology development: Estimated market size and energy cost savings. Volume 1: Executive summary

Estimated future energy cost savings associated with the development of cost-competitive solar thermal technologies (STT) are discussed. Analysis is restricted to STT in electric applications for 16 high-insolation/high-energy-price states. The fuel price scenarios and three 1990 STT system costs are considered, reflecting uncertainty over future fuel prices and STT cost projections. STT R&D is found to be unacceptably risky for private industry in the absence of federal support. Energy cost savings were projected to range from $0 to $10 billion (1990 values in 1981 dollars), dependng on the system cost and fuel price scenario. Normal R&D investment risks are accentuated because the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) cartel can artificially manipulate oil prices and undercut growth of alternative energy sources. Federal participation in STT R&D to help capture the potential benefits of developing cost-competitive STT was found to be in the national interest.

Gates, W. R.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Solar thermal technology development: Estimated market size and energy cost savings. Volume 2: Assumptions, methodology and results

Estimated future energy cost savings associated with the development of cost-competitive solar thermal technologies (STT) are discussed. Analysis is restricted to STT in electric applications for 16 high-insolation/high-energy-price states. Three fuel price scenarios and three 1990 STT system costs are considered, reflecting uncertainty over future fuel prices and STT cost projections. Solar thermal technology research and development (R&D) is found to be unacceptably risky for private industry in the absence of federal support. Energy cost savings were projected to range from $0 to $10 billion (1990 values in 1981 dollars), depending on the system cost and fuel price scenario. Normal R&D investment risks are accentuated because the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) cartel can artificially manipulate oil prices and undercut growth of alternative energy sources. Federal participation in STT R&D to help capture the potential benefits of developing cost-competitive STT was found to be in the national interest. Analysis is also provided regarding two federal incentives currently in use: The Federal Business Energy Tax Credit and direct R&D funding.

Gates, W. R.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Cost savings in LSI fabrication

One year study program was divided into three tasks: to identify costs factors involved in packaged electronic subsystems as function of LSI density and reliability; to select most promising factors that might be modified to reduce costs in high-density packaging; and to investigate cost-saving beam tape technology for producing high-volume discrete-device packages. Results are published in 67 page report.

Himmel, R. P.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Mars Observer System Thermal Vacuum Test and Its Cost Saving Approach

The Mars Observer spacecraft underwent a successful system thermal vacuum (STV) test in March 1992, meeting all five primary objectives. This paper presents a description of the spacecraft and the test configuration, as well as a discussion of the test results and how the test objectives were successfully met. It then describes some of the cost-saving methods used in this test. These include the early commitment to restricting the total test time to 300 hours, the timely completion of test control documentation, use of IR heating instead of solar simulation, use of non-flight structural heaters, and the in-test modification of test phases to account for unexpected deviations from pre-test predictions.

Mars↗
NASA NTRS2003

Cost savings through multimission code reuse for Mars image products

An overview of the library's design will be presented, along with mission adaptation experiences and lessons learned, and the kinds of additional functionality that have been added while still retaining its multimission character. The application programs using the library will also be briefly described.

cost savings ground system image processing Mars i↗
NASA NTRS2005

Incremental Scheduling Engines: Cost Savings through Automation

As humankind embarks on longer space missions farther from home, the requirements and environments for scheduling the activities performed on these missions are changing. As we begin to prepare for these missions it is appropriate to evaluate the merits and applicability of the different types of scheduling engines. Scheduling engines temporally arrange tasks onto a timeline so that all constraints and ob.jectives are met and resources are not over-booked. Scheduling engines used to schedule space missions fall into three general categories: batch, mixed-initiative, and incremental. This paper, presents an assessment of the engine types, a discussion of the impact of human exploration of the moon and Mars on planning and scheduling, and the applicability of the different types of scheduling engines. This paper will pursue the hypothesis that incremental scheduling engines may have a place in the new environment; they have the potential to reduce cost, to improve the satisfaction of those who execute or benefit from a particular timeline (the customers), and to allow astronauts to plan their own tasks and those of their companion robots.

Jaap, John↗
NASA NTRS1964

Connector for thermocouple leads saves costly wire, makes reliable connectors

A connector for use in the thermocouple circuits which is silver-brazed to the metal thermocouple sheath on one end and crimped over the insulation of the flexible lead on the other, assures protection against breakage and abrasion. A moisture-proof insulating material is used to encapsulate the wire junctions.

Miller, H. B.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Cost saving synergistic shaft seal

Segmented carbon rings, used to replace elastomeric seal lip, provide resistance to high temperatures generated in lubricating film. Machining and close manufacturing tolerances of conventional segmented seal are avoided by mounting segmented rings in elastomeric flex section.

Ludwig, L. P.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Mission science value-cost savings from the Advanced Imaging Communication System (AICS)

An Advanced Imaging Communication System (AICS) was proposed in the mid-1970s as an alternative to the Voyager data/communication system architecture. The AICS achieved virtually error free communication with little loss in the downlink data rate by concatenating a powerful Reed-Solomon block code with the Voyager convolutionally coded, Viterbi decoded downlink channel. The clean channel allowed AICS sophisticated adaptive data compression techniques. Both Voyager and the Galileo mission have implemented AICS components, and the concatenated channel itself is heading for international standardization. An analysis that assigns a dollar value/cost savings to AICS mission performance gains is presented. A conservative value or savings of $3 million for Voyager, $4.5 million for Galileo, and as much as $7 to 9.5 million per mission for future projects such as the proposed Mariner Mar 2 series is shown.

Rice, R. F.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Can water mined on the moon save cost for life support?

The water needed for space life support has been so far provided by direct supply from Earth on most missions or by recycling on the International Space Station (ISS). With the recent reduction in launch cost, Earth resupply has become more attractive than recycling for lunar missions with smaller crews and briefer missions requiring less than 1,000 crew days. The third alternative supply method would use water mined from the lunar regolith. Continuing lunar research suggests that the moon may have more water, more widely distributed than previously expected. The cost of water mined on the moon will depend on its form and concentration, the machinery and operations required, and the overall demand for water. The use of oxygen and hydrogen for propulsion may greatly exceed the need for crew life support. The conditions under which water mined on the moon would be less expensive that water provided by resupply or recycling are described.

Harry W Jones↗
NASA NTRS2012

EPOXI and Stardust NExT: The Management Challenges of Two Comet Flybys in Three Months

The EPOXI and Stardust NExT missions were missions of opportunity utilizing the Deep Impact and Stardust spacecraft, respectively. These new missions took advantage of the cost savings of utilizing spacecraft that were already flying for new science investigations. Both were retargeted to fly by an additional comet. EPOXI visited Hartley 2, significantly smaller than the other Jupiter family comets visited previously. Stardust NExT flew by Tempel 1, providing a second look at the comet previously studied by Deep Impact in 2005. Both projects were part of NASA's Discovery Program. In order to further save costs, the projects were combined into a single project office at JPL. This provided some efficiencies due to the similarity of the missions, but having the flybys space only three months apart posed challenges for the project management team to ensure each project was ready for its critical event and ensuring each received the proper support from the management team. The project office relied on an integrated calendar for tracking and scheduling meetings, reviews, and other key events. The project management team also coordinated their availability for both projects to maintain involvement with each team to ensure effective risk identification and management.

NExT (New Exploration of Tempel 1)↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

NASA's Compact High-Efficiency Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine for Mars Interplanetary Missions

NASA has successfully test fired a novel and compact liquid propulsion system known as a Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine. This is a specially designed ring-shaped thrust chamber that leverages additive manufacturing techniques and novel alloys such as GRCop-42 and GRX-810. The extreme combustion event, known as a detonation, reduces the combustion chamber length requirements down to a few inches while equivalent constant pressure rocket thrust chambers are on the order of feet. This is primarily due to rapid completion of combustion by the high-pressure detonation, an order of magnitude faster than deflagration combustion. In addition, the ring shape allows for rapid expansion of the combustion products. Depending on the thrust class and design supersonic area ratio, the full RDRE can be anywhere from 10% to 50% shorter than a traditional liquid rocket assuming the same exit diameter but is dependent on a number of design assumptions. This may enable substantial mass savings, cost savings, and broader design trade space for various mission architectures. Finally, the engine system has potential for higher Isp at identical average chamber pressure, which is currently being assessed by NASA. Experimental data obtained from testing in 2022 identified the feasibility of the novel propulsion system while multiple test series scheduled throughout 2023 and 2024 target closing the remaining critical technical gaps preventing widespread use of the technology amongst industry.

Thomas Teasley↗
NASA NTRS2011

Safe to Fly: Certifying COTS Hardware for Spaceflight

Providing hardware for the astronauts to use on board the Space Shuttle or International Space Station (ISS) involves a certification process that entails evaluating hardware safety, weighing risks, providing mitigation, and verifying requirements. Upon completion of this certification process, the hardware is deemed safe to fly. This process from start to finish can be completed as quickly as 1 week or can take several years in length depending on the complexity of the hardware and whether the item is a unique custom design. One area of cost and schedule savings that NASA implements is buying Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) hardware and certifying it for human spaceflight as safe to fly. By utilizing commercial hardware, NASA saves time not having to develop, design and build the hardware from scratch, as well as a timesaving in the certification process. By utilizing COTS hardware, the current detailed certification process can be simplified which results in schedule savings. Cost savings is another important benefit of flying COTS hardware. Procuring COTS hardware for space use can be more economical than custom building the hardware. This paper will investigate the cost savings associated with certifying COTS hardware to NASA s standards rather than performing a custom build.

Fichuk, Jessica L.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Effects of tunnel and station size on the costs and service of subway transit systems

The feasibility of less spacious, less costly underground rail mass transit system designs is studied. The major cost saving expected from alternative tunnel designs results from using precast concrete segment liners in place of steel. The saying expected for a two-foot decrease in the diameter of twin, single track tunnels is about two million dollars per route mile from 13 million dollars for precast concrete segment liners (a saving of about 16%). The cost per route-mile of a double track tunnel appears to be 15 to 25% higher than for the twin, single track tunnels. The effective cost saving expected from stations with four-car train capability instead of the usual eight-car trains is nearly 25% or seven million dollars per route mile. The saving in station costs can be obtained while improving service to the user (lower transit time and less waiting for trains) up to a capacity of 36,000 riders per hour in each direction.

Dayman, B., Jr.↗