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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
DOE OSTI2014

Reliable and Efficient Distributed Checkpointing System for Grid Environments

In Fine-Grained Cycle Sharing (FGCS) systems, machine owners voluntarily share their unused CPU cycles with guest jobs, as long as their performance degradation is tolerable. However, unpredictable evictions of guest jobs lead to fluctuating completion times. Checkpoint-recovery is an attractive mechanism for recovering from such “failures”. Today’s FGCS systems often use expensive, high-performance dedicated checkpoint servers. However, in geographically distributed clusters, this may incur high checkpoint transfer latencies. Here we present a distributed checkpointing system called FALCON that uses available disk resources of the FGCS machines as shared checkpoint repositories. However, an unavailable storage host may lead to loss of checkpoint data. Therefore, we model the failures of a storage host and develop a prediction algorithm for choosing reliable checkpoint repositories. We experiment with FALCON in the university-wide Condor testbed at Purdue and show improved and consistent performance for guest jobs in the presence of irregular resource availability.

checkpoint↗
NASA NTRS2010

Numerical Comparison of NASA's Dual Brayton Power Generation System Performance Using CO2 or N2 as the Working Fluid

A Dual Brayton Power Conversion System (DBPCS) has been tested at the NASA Glenn Research Center using Nitrogen (N2) as the working fluid. This system uses two closed Brayton cycle systems that share a common heat source and working fluid but are otherwise independent. This system has been modeled using the Numerical Propulsion System Simulation (NPSS) environment. This paper presents the results of a numerical study that investigated system performance changes resulting when the working fluid is changed from gaseous (N2) to gaseous carbon dioxide (CO2).

Ownens, Albert K.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Airbreathing combined cycle engine systems

The Air Force and NASA share a common interest in developing advanced propulsion systems for commercial and military aerospace vehicles which require efficient acceleration and cruise operation in the Mach 4 to 6 flight regime. The principle engine of interest is the turboramjet; however, other combined cycles such as the turboscramjet, air turborocket, supercharged ejector ramjet, ejector ramjet, and air liquefaction based propulsion are also of interest. Over the past months careful planning and program implementation have resulted in a number of development efforts that will lead to a broad technology base for those combined cycle propulsion systems. Individual development programs are underway in thermal management, controls materials, endothermic hydrocarbon fuels, air intake systems, nozzle exhaust systems, gas turbines and ramjet ramburners.

Rohde, John↗
NASA NTRS2021

Future Model-Based Systems Engineering Vision and Strategy Bridge for NASA

A vision for the future of model-based systems engineering (MBSE) at NASA in 2029 and a strategy bridge towards that future are presented. Strategic thinking and leading change concepts were used to analyze reports and presentations on global trends and visionary thinking about the future of systems and digital engineering. The context, strategic time horizon, stakeholders, strategic challenges, strategic advantages, driving forces, and opportunities were considered. The analysis resulted in a future vision of MBSE that shows what NASA systems engineers and digital machines will do to perform rapid, extraordinary, and unprecedented missions. The NASA systems engineer, in this future vision, works with a global project team in a virtual and collaborative environment, engineers the system, and uses digital approaches as the routine and default way of working. The digital machines provide data-driven and automated mission designs; have a backbone of program and project management, systems engineering, and product life-cycle management; and are a knowledge-sharing infrastructure. The NASA systems engineer and the systems engineering team are envisioned to use digital machines to plan and perform rapid exploration missions, develop a digital twin that lasts across the life cycle, and develop enduring and adaptable systems. NASA has an engineering enterprise and a life-cycle management framework that endure, adapt, and respond. A strategy bridge based on the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence Framework and lessons learned from a recent MBSE initiative illuminates a way forward from today to this desired future. The bridge lays out a strategy for leaders and recommends investments of today for immediate benefits and for benefits in 2029.

model-based systems engineering, digital engineeri↗
DOE OSTI2023

Impact of Control on Availability and Cycling of Residential HVAC in a Real-World Experiment

Demand response is an important emerging part of smart grids and there is a large stream of research from theoretical and modeling perspectives. However, there is relatively little experimental evidence that could help researchers and building operators make informed decisions on best practices for modeling, developing, and deployment of control mechanisms. We contribute to the body of experimental research by providing numerical insights into the role and availability of residential HVAC systems for control. We share the findings on the duration of the cooling cycle, off cycle, and temperature settling time of HVAC systems from data collected from a smart neighborhood located in Atlanta, GA.

cycling↗
DOE OSTI2017

Life Cycle Inventory of Current Photovoltaic Module Recycling Processes in Europe

Solar photovoltaic (PV) installations must be properly dismantled and any waste treated and disposed at the end of project life. However, because most of the world's nearly 400 GW of PV systems have been built in the past decade - each expected to operate for between 20 and 30 years - current PV module waste volumes do not yet justify widespread operation of PV recycling facilities. The necessary policies and technologies for recycling PV systems are currently under rapid development. With modifications to the European waste electrical and electronic equipment directive (WEEE 2012/19/EU) in 2012, take back and recycling of PV modules is, in fact, already mandatory in Europe. There, take back and recycling is currently performed in small but annually-increasing quantities. Even though waste treatment is considered part of a module's life cycle, only a few life cycle inventories (LCI) of energy and materials flows are available for the industrial recycling processes that are used today to recycle crystalline silicon-based (c-Si) PV modules. LCI are the data inputs that inform lifecycle assessments which quantify the environmental impacts across the full life cycle of PV modules - from manufacturing and use to end of life. To help progress the industry forward, a survey of European recyclers was performed to characterize existing commercial recycling processes and share associated life cycle inventory data. System Boundaries: The reference unit, or "functional unit" in the vocabulary of life cycle assessment, is defined as the processing of one metric ton of crystalline silicon PV modules in recycling lines for laminated glass, metals, and electronic wastes. Today, all modules are processed in discrete batches, yet not metered at that scale. Thus the process energy for a batch is estimated based on scaled annual production data as well as on input and output streams.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS2009

Experimental and Analytical Performance of a Dual Brayton Power Conversion System

The interactions between two closed Brayton cycle (CBC) power conversion units (PCU) which share a common gas inventory and heat source have been studied experimentally using the Dual Brayton Power Conversion System (DBPCS) and analytically using the Closed- Cycle System Simulation (CCSS) computer code. Selected operating modes include steady-state operation at equal and unequal shaft speeds and various start-up scenarios. Equal shaft speed steady-state tests were conducted for heater exit temperatures of 840 to 950 K and speeds of 50 to 90 krpm, providing a system performance map. Unequal shaft speed steady-state testing over the same operating conditions shows that the power produced by each Brayton is sensitive to the operating conditions of the other due to redistribution of gas inventory. Startup scenarios show that starting the engines one at a time can dramatically reduce the required motoring energy. Although the DBPCS is not considered a flight-like system, these insights, as well as the operational experience gained from operating and modeling this system provide valuable information for the future development of Brayton systems.

Lavelle, Thomas A.↗
DOE OSTI2026

From models to reality: a systematic review on simulated and measured residential heat pump energy savings

High-performance HVAC solutions are central to residential energy management. A substantial share of these are electric, reversible-cycle systems, with heat pumps representing the largest portion of current and near-term adoption. This review synthesizes peer-reviewed and grey literature on residential space heating and cooling heat pumps. The academic literature is dominated by modeling (73.8%), with limited field measurement (13.1%). Grey literature from United States serve as a supplemental resource providing measured savings. Conversions from electric-resistance heating consistently show the largest site energy reductions, while oil/propane baselines yield moderate savings, and gas baseline scenario often deliver small and region-dependent savings. This study cross-checks the grey literature measured data with simulation data filtered from the ResStock dataset. The comparison indicates a discrepancy between simulations and measured data: simulated site EUIs are typically lower than measured EUIs, but percentage energy savings fall in similar ranges, implying simulations capture directional effects while underestimating energy use. Factors associated with variability and model–measurement differences include system characterization and control representation (e.g., backup heat engagement, thermostat/setpoint strategies, commissioning/installation quality), occupant behavior, weather normalization, metering scope, and envelope characterization. This paper also outlines the proposed methodology for comparing simulation and measured data for heat pumps. It emphasizes the metrics used for comparison and units harmonization, building characteristics matching, and compact metadata are needed for simulations to match measured data. The proposed methodology is expected to improve the credibility of simulated savings as measured evidence grows.

Yu, Lili↗
NASA NTRS1979

Load balancing multimodule switching power converters

Regulating system individually adjusts duty cycles of modules so that all share load equally, thus, protects individual modules and their components from overload and increases reliability and life expectancy. Converters are alternative to high-power, single unit systems.

Mclyman, W. T.↗
DOE OSTI2017

Water Footprint of European Rooftop Photovoltaic Electricity based on Regionalised Life Cycle Inventories

The water use of photovoltaic (PV) electricity has been investigated in very few studies so far, which may be due to the low water demand of PV systems during operation. In this study, the water consumption and water withdrawal of electricity generated by PV systems were assessed by considering all life cycle stages and by taking account of country-level regional differences in water availability. The life cycle inventories of the manufacture of monocrystalline silicon (mono-Si) and cadmium telluride (CdTe) PV modules are based on data collected between 2010 and 2013 and take account of the shares of different countries in total global production. The water use in the life cycle inventories of European rooftop PV systems and conventional electricity generation technologies was regionalised to the country or region (such as continents, political or geographic entities of several countries) level and complemented by the share of water lost by evaporation. The AWARE (Available WAter REmaining) method was used to assess the water stress impact caused by water consumption and water withdrawal of electricity generation by European rooftop PV systems as well as by reservoir hydroelectric power plants and large-scale hard coal and nuclear power plants in Europe. The functional unit of this analysis is 1 kWh of alternating current (AC) electricity (at busbar). The life cycle inventories were linked to KBOB (Coordination Group for Construction and Property Services) life cycle inventory data DQRv2:2016, which are based on ecoinvent data v2.2 and contain updated life cycle inventory data in relevant economic sectors. This study was financed by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) and carried out in the framework of the Task 12 of the Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS) of the International Energy Agency (IEA).

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS2018

NISAR L-Band and S-Band Instrument Antennas: Compatibility Test and Results

Abstract—NASA ISRO SAR (NISAR) is one of the next major Earth science flight projects that NASA is currently developing in collaboration with ISRO, the Indian Space Research Organization. Featuring a 12m deployable off-set reflector, similar to SMAP but twice as large, and a dual band, dual polarization feed array, NISAR will measure with great accuracy even the smallest changes on our planet’s landmass, ice-sheet and forests over a 3 year period with a 12-day repeat cycle everywhere on the globe. Two radar systems will be sharing the same reflector, one operating in L-Band and one in S-Band. While the L-Band radar and feed antenna are being developed at Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) for NASA, the S-Band feed antenna is under development at the Space Application Centre (SAC) in Ahmedabad, India, for ISRO. This paper describes the tests that were carried out both at JPL and SAC in order to verify that the level of compatibility between the two feed antennas were within the allocated requirements. Both S-parameters and radiation patterns were measured and compared with calculated predictions.

Harrell, Jefferson A.↗
DOE OSTI2016

Insights and Trends from a Literature Assessment of the Thorium Fuel Cycle

The thorium fuel cycle is often perceived to have limited experience, thereby imposing a barrier to its implementation. Thorium fuel cycles do not have the degree of commercial-scale experience associated with the uranium fuel cycle (especially the use of uranium oxide in a once-through configuration in light- or heavy-water reactors); however the abundance of major research campaigns - and the test and demonstration reactor operations that capped these campaigns - illustrate that significant knowledge concerning the use of thorium is available. Part of the reason for thorium's perceived immaturity is that the information is scattered among a multitude of sources and has not previously been consolidated and evaluated on a comprehensive scale. In recognition of this challenge, Vanderbilt University (VU) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) included a thorium fuel cycle literature assessment task as part of their Nuclear Energy University Programs (NEUP) project. The first phase of this literature assessment culminated in a comprehensive report. This paper describes the highlights of the initial version of this literature report, including item quantification, trends by category, and implications. This preliminary literature assessment has identified that a wealth of documented experience with thorium fuel cycles exists, across many varieties and specific technology options. Though a significant share of the literature is comprised of systems studies and/or proposed work, there is also a substantial knowledge base from experimentation and demonstration with thorium fuel cycle technologies. It is intended that this initial literature report serve as a starting point for continued discussions and consolidation of thorium fuel cycle literature. There are likely still records of work from the 1950's to the 1970's (and even more recently) which could be significant but were not adequately catalogued or are not readily available to a broad audience; hopefully, the ongoing discussions that have been spurred by the present work will stimulate making these documents available. The authors strongly encourage those with knowledge of additional data sources to share them with the interested community. Furthermore, the 21. century is experiencing a resurgence in thorium fuel cycle work that continues to develop the knowledge base. Thus, it would be beneficial to produce updated accounts of this thorium literature summary in future years. Ultimately, the items identified during the course of this literature assessment, along with additional items that continue to be identified, will be housed in an information repository. This will take the form of a relational database, with specific functionality to be determined based on user interest. This format is intended to enable future users to quickly find specific topics or sources as well as assess how much information is available about a particular topic. (authors)

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Advancements in Heat Transfer and Fluid Mechanics (Fundamentals and Applications)

Thermo-fluid science is a foundational discipline for numerous mechanical systems, particularly in energy production and building equipment, where thermal and mechanical energy transfer play critical roles. Advancements in heat transfer and fluid mechanics have significantly enhanced these systems, driving progress in associated market sectors. For instance, evaporator and condenser coils are essential for optimizing vapor compression cycles in building equipment. Heat pumps used for space and water heating constitute a major share of building systems, with microchannel heat exchanger technology at the forefront of these innovations. It is worth mentioning that advancements in heat transfer and fluid mechanics significantly alleviate the challenge of designing energy-efficient building equipment. The development of research techniques has contributed significantly to the advancement of science; for example, in the experimental field, non-intrusive measurement techniques such as Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) are now capable of resolving flow behavior in a 3D format for different length and time scales.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2014

Marine algae and land plants share conserved phytochrome signaling systems

Phytochrome photosensors control a vast gene network in streptophyte plants, acting as master regulators of diverse growth and developmental processes throughout the life cycle. In contrast with their absence in known chlorophyte algal genomes and most sequenced prasinophyte algal genomes, a phytochrome is found in Micromonas pusilla , a widely distributed marine picoprasinophyte (<2 µm cell diameter). Together with phytochromes identified from other prasinophyte lineages, we establish that prasinophyte and streptophyte phytochromes share core light-input and signaling-output domain architectures except for the loss of C-terminal response regulator receiver domains in the streptophyte phytochrome lineage. Phylogenetic reconstructions robustly support the presence of phytochrome in the common progenitor of green algae and land plants. These analyses reveal a monophyletic clade containing streptophyte, prasinophyte, cryptophyte, and glaucophyte phytochromes implying an origin in the eukaryotic ancestor of the Archaeplastida. Transcriptomic measurements reveal diurnal regulation of phytochrome and bilin chromophore biosynthetic genes in Micromonas . The expression of these genes precedes both light-mediated phytochrome redistribution from the cytoplasm to the nucleus and increased expression of photosynthesis-associated genes. Prasinophyte phytochromes perceive wavelengths of light transmitted farther through seawater than the red/far-red light sensed by land plant phytochromes. Prasinophyte phytochromes also retain light-regulated histidine kinase activity lost in the streptophyte phytochrome lineage. Our studies demonstrate that light-mediated nuclear translocation of phytochrome predates the emergence of land plants and likely represents a widespread signaling mechanism in unicellular algae.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Analysis and Control of a Three-Port Converter with High-Frequency AC Link for Hybrid Unmanned/Autonomous Aerial Vehicles

In this study, a three-port resonant converter with a high-frequency isolation link for hybrid unmanned/autonomous aerial vehicle (UAV/AAV) applications is analyzed. The rectified engine-generator set output supplies the first input ports while the other is connected to a battery energy storage system. Input ports consist of half-bridge high-frequency inverters, whereas output port utilizes a semi-bridgeless active rectifier. This rectifier is formed by replacing rectifier low-side diodes with active switching devices. A phase-shift duty-cycle control is implemented for switching signals to regulate the power share and flow between ports. The proposed control system implemented achieves zero voltage switching (ZVS), reduces switching losses, and minimum current flow optimization ensures regulation in a wide range of output power. Compared to the existing bidirectional pulse width modulation (PWM) converters, the proposed system decreases the number of power conversion stages and provides centralized control without needing communications between the ports. The proposed control technique operating in closed-loop control achieves the power flow between ports under various load conditions. Finally, theoretical analysis demonstrates the proposed converter’s viability and laboratory experimental validations at 500 W full power.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
NASA NTRS1999

Capillary Pumped Loop 3 Flight Experiment Overview

The Capillary Pumped Loop 3 (CAPL 3) Experiment is a follow on to the CAPL 1 and CAPL 2 experiments which flew on STS-60 (2/94) and STS-69 (9/95), respectively. CAPL 3 is tentatively scheduled to fly on the Space Shuttle in late 2000 as part of the Hitchhiker Experiments Advancing Technology (HEAT) payload. The experiment is a joint Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)/Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) payload which will meet technology objectives for both the Department of Defense and NASA. The primary objective of CAPL 3 is to demonstrate in space a multiple evaporator capillary pumped loop system, capable of reliable start-up, reliable continuous operation, and at least 50% heat load sharing with hardware for a deployable radiator. CAPL 3 is a full scale CPL system with four parallel capillary evaporators. The loop also contains a capillary starter pump, 8 parallel direct condensation condensers with associated flow regulators, a back pressure regulator, a two-phase reservoir, and various headers and transport tubing. A variable conductance heat pipe is located between one of the evaporators and the experiment radiator to provide a cooling source for the demonstration of heat load sharing. The experiment has an operating power range of 100 W to approximately 1400 W. The experiment ammonia charge will cause it to transition to a fixed conductance mode of operation if the radiator usage reaches 85%. Ambient functional tests have been performed on the experiment. Tests performed included start-up, low power, power cycles, high power, heat load sharing, variable/fixed conductance transition, saturation temperature changes, and pressure primes while the system was operating. The majority of the testing was performed at an ammonia saturation temperature of 30C, but a few tests were done at temperatures above and below this. The testing was highly successful. Details of the tests performed and a discussion of the results will be given in the presentation.

Ottenstein, Laura↗
NASA NTRS2006

Performance and Operational Characteristics for a Dual Brayton Space Power System With Common Gas Inventory

This paper provides an analytical evaluation on the operation and performance of a dual Brayton common gas system. The NASA Glenn Research Center in-house computer program Closed Cycle System Simulation (CCSS) was used to construct a model of two identical 50 kWe-class recuperated closed-Brayton-cycle (CBC) power conversion units that share a common gas inventory and single heat source. As operating conditions for each CBC change, the total gas inventory is redistributed between the two units and overall system performance is affected. Several steady-state off-design operating points were analyzed by varying turbine inlet temperature and turbo-alternator shaft rotational speed to investigate the interaction of the two units.

Johnson, Paul K.↗
NASA NTRS1984

The role of optimization in structural model refinement

To evaluate the role that optimization can play in structural model refinement, it is necessary to examine the existing environment for the structural design/structural modification process. The traditional approach to design, analysis, and modification is illustrated. Typically, a cyclical path is followed in evaluating and refining a structural system, with parallel paths existing between the real system and the analytical model of the system. The major failing of the existing approach is the rather weak link of communication between the cycle for the real system and the cycle for the analytical model. Only at the expense of much human effort can data sharing and comparative evaluation be enhanced for the two parallel cycles. Much of the difficulty can be traced to the lack of a user-friendly, rapidly reconfigurable engineering software environment for facilitating data and information exchange. Until this type of software environment becomes readily available to the majority of the engineering community, the role of optimization will not be able to reach its full potential and engineering productivity will continue to suffer. A key issue in current engineering design, analysis, and test is the definition and development of an integrated engineering software support capability. The data and solution flow for this type of integrated engineering analysis/refinement system is shown.

Lehman, L. L.↗