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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 NTRS1968

Power Matching of an Ion Thruster to Solar Cell Power Output

A 20-cm-diam thruster was operated over a 2:1 range of output power, allowing for continuous matching of thruster power to a varying solar cell output level. The technique of matching power by varying either the ion beam current or the net accelerating voltage is described. Ion beam current control, implemented in thruster control loops, utilized existing laboratory hardware. Stable thruster operation was achieved over a range of 1000 to 2000 W. Bistable values of mercury propellant flow at the same discharge chamber and ion beam conditions were also observed.

Pawlik, Eugene V.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Refining Absorber Shroud Geometry to Maximize Power Output and Reduce Power Peaking in ATF Test Train

In the wake of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident in 2011, the accident tolerant fuels (ATF) program was initiated to enhance the safety of light-water reactor fuels, placing significant emphasis on cladding. A crucial step for the broad implementation of ATF in commercial reactors involves irradiation testing of the fuel designs. ATF-2D, the latest experiment in the ATF series, is slated to undergo irradiation in the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) at Idaho National Laboratory (INL). ATF-2D is a joint effort of the INL with industry partners General Electric Global Research; Framatome; General Atomics; the Japan Atomic Energy Agency; Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy, Ltd; Global Nuclear Fuel-Japan Co., Ltd; Nippon Nuclear Fuel Development Co., Ltd; and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. The ATF-2D test train design consists of four tiers, each housing six rodlets. The device will be inserted in Loop 2A within the central flux trap of the ATR, and is anticipated to undergo irradiation throughout three 60-day cycles. Typical pressurized water reactor conditions will be emulated during the irradiation. The objective of the work presented here is to dimension neutron-absorbing hafnium (Hf) components surrounding the fuel rodlets, such that the axial power profile is flattened, while simultaneously ensuring that the total fission power output of the entire test train remains below 200 kW.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Refining Absorber Shroud Geometry to Maximize Power Output and Reduce Power Peaking in ATF Test Train

In the wake of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident in 2011, the accident tolerant fuels (ATF) program was initiated to enhance the safety of light-water reactor fuels, placing significant emphasis on cladding. A crucial step for the broad implementation of ATF in commercial reactors involves irradiation testing of the fuel designs. ATF-2D, the latest experiment in the ATF series, is slated to undergo irradiation in the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) at Idaho National Laboratory (INL). ATF-2D is a joint effort of the INL with industry partners General Electric Global Research; Framatome; General Atomics; the Japan Atomic Energy Agency; Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy, Ltd; Global Nuclear Fuel-Japan Co., Ltd; Nippon Nuclear Fuel Development Co., Ltd; and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. The ATF-2D test train design consists of four tiers, each housing six rodlets. The device will be inserted in Loop 2A within the central flux trap of the ATR, and is anticipated to undergo irradiation throughout three 60-day cycles. Typical pressurized water reactor conditions will be emulated during the irradiation. The objective of the work presented here is to dimension neutron-absorbing hafnium (Hf) components surrounding the fuel rodlets, such that the axial power profile is flattened, while simultaneously ensuring that the total fission power output of the entire test train remains below 200 kW.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
NASA NTRS1991

Submicron gate InP power MISFET's with improved output power density at 18 and 20 GHz

The microwave characteristics are presented at 18 and 20 GHz of submicron gate indium phosphide (InP) metal-insulator-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MISFETs) for high output power density applications. InP power MISFET's were fabricated and the output power density was investigated as a function of drain-source spacing. The best output power density and gain were obtained for drain-source spacing of 3 micron. The output power density is 2.7 times greater than was previously measured for InP MISFET's at 18 and 20 GHz, and the power-added efficiency also increased.

Biedenbender, Michael D.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Submicron gate InP power MISFET's with improved output power density at 18 and 20 GHz

The microwave characteristics are presented at 18 and 20 GHz of submicron gate indium phosphide (InP) metal-insulator-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MISFET's) for high output power density applications. InP power MISFET's were fabricated and the output power density was investigated as a function of drain-source spacing. The best output power density and gain were obtained for drain-source spacing of 3 microns. The output power density is 2.7 times greater than was previously measured for InP MISFET's at 18 and 20 GHz, and the power-added efficiency also increased.

Biedenbender, M. D.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Power-Combined GaN Amplifier with 2.28-W Output Power at 87 GHz

Future remote sensing instruments will require focal plane spectrometer arrays with higher resolution at high frequencies. One of the major components of spectrometers are the local oscillator (LO) signal sources that are used to drive mixers to down-convert received radio-frequency (RF) signals to intermediate frequencies (IFs) for analysis. By advancing LO technology through increasing output power and efficiency, and reducing component size, these advances will improve performance and simplify architecture of spectrometer array systems. W-band power amplifiers (PAs) are an essential element of current frequency-multiplied submillimeter-wave LO signal sources. This work utilizes GaN monolithic millimeter-wave integrated circuit (MMIC) PAs developed from a new HRL Laboratories LLC 0.15- m gate length GaN semiconductor transistor. By additionally waveguide power combining PA MMIC modules, the researchers here target the highest output power performance and efficiency in the smallest volume achievable for W-band.

Fung, King Man↗
NASA NTRS2010

Power Amplifier Module with 734-mW Continuous Wave Output Power

Research findings were reported from an investigation of new gallium nitride (GaN) monolithic millimeter-wave integrated circuit (MMIC) power amplifiers (PAs) targeting the highest output power and the highest efficiency for class-A operation in W-band (75-110 GHz). W-band PAs are a major component of many frequency multiplied submillimeter-wave LO signal sources. For spectrometer arrays, substantial W-band power is required due to the passive lossy frequency multipliers-to generate higher frequency signals in nonlinear Schottky diode-based LO sources. By advancing PA technology, the LO system performance can be increased with possible cost reductions compared to current GaAs PAs. High-power, high-efficiency GaN PAs are cross-cutting and can enable more efficient local oscillator distribution systems for new astrophysics and planetary receivers and heterodyne array instruments. It can also allow for a new, electronically scannable solid-state array technology for future Earth science radar instruments and communications platforms.

Fung, King Man↗
DOE OSTI2020

Control of Output Power in Primary Side LCC and Secondary Series Tuned Wireless Power Transfer System without Secondary Side Sensors

The output power of a wireless power transfer (WPT) system varies with load and coupling factor of the inductively coupled coils. This paper presents a method to control the output power of primary side LCC and secondary side series tuned WPT system using information of primary side variables. In this approach, a secondary side control system or secondary side sensors are not needed. Detailed mathematical derivations are given to identify and justify the suitable primary side variable that accomplishes the desired purpose without the need of any secondary side communications. Simulation results presented validate the proposed scheme.

Mukherjee, Subho↗
DOE OSTI2023

Efficiency and Output Power Sensitivity to Control Parameter Variations in an LCC-Series Wireless Power Transfer System

In wireless power transfer (WPT) systems, output power (Pout) can be controlled through input parameters such as, input voltage (Vin) , duty cycle (d) , and switching frequency (fsw) . The impact of these control parameters on the overall system efficiency has not been explored in previous studies. This paper focuses on the efficiency (η) and Pout sensitivity to these control parameter variations in an LCC-Series tuned WPT system. There are multiple combinations of Vin, d , and fsw that can achieve a specified target Pout . However, it is important to determine the optimal combination of these control variables that will yield the maximum η for a target Pout . A MATLAB/Simulink model is built to calculate and measure η and Pout . In order to achieve this result, several simulations are run where Vin,d , and fsw are swept across a wide range to cover all possible combinations. MATLAB's Sensitivity Analysis toolbox is used to evaluate how the parameters influence the model's output. Finally, an experimental prototype is implemented. The optimal values acquired using the sensitivity analysis is then plugged into the hardware prototype and compared with the simulation. The results obtained confirm the validity of the proposed method.

Harave, Sudarshan↗
DOE OSTI2024

Photovoltaic device for enhancing power output of concentrating solar thermal power plants

A photovoltaic retrofit device for a concentrating solar thermal power plant having a parabolic trough reflector, and a fluid receiver with working fluid therein spaced from the reflector and positioned at a focal point of the reflector. The photovoltaic device includes a plurality of adjustable angle dichroic mirrors positioned between the parabolic trough reflector and the fluid receiver. A photovoltaic receiver assembly has multiple photovoltaic panels in angular relationship to each other. A photovoltaic temperature regulating system includes a fluid medium to regulate temperature of the photovoltaic panels.

Otanicar, Todd↗
NASA NTRS1973

The effect of aerodynamic parameters on power output of windmills

Aerodynamic results for a study on windpower generation are reported. Windmill power output is presented in terms that are commonly used in rotary wing analysis, namely, power output as a function of drag developed by the windmill. Effect of tip speed ratio, solidity, twist, wind angle, blade setting and airfoil characteristics are given.

Wiesner, W.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Anomalous TWTA output power spikes and their effect on a digital satellite communications system

Several 30 GHz, 60 W traveling wave tube amplifiers (TWTA) were manufactured for the NASA Lewis Research Center's High Burst Rate Link Evaluation Terminal Project. An unusual operating problem characterized by anomalous nonperiodic output power spikes, common to all of the TWTAs proved during testing to significantly affect the performance of a digitally-modulated data transmission test system. Modifications made to the TWTAs significantly curtailed the problem and allowed acceptable system performance to be obtained. This paper presents a discussion of the TWTA output power spike problem, possible causes of the problem, and the solutions implemented by the manufacturer which improved the TWTA performance to an acceptable level. The results of the testing done at NASA Lewis on the TWTAs both before and after the improvement made by Hughes are presented, and the effects of the output power spikes on the performance of the test system are discussed.

May, Brian D.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Uncertainties in predicting solar panel power output

The problem of calculating solar panel power output at launch and during a space mission is considered. The major sources of uncertainty and error in predicting the post launch electrical performance of the panel are considered. A general discussion of error analysis is given. Examples of uncertainty calculations are included. A general method of calculating the effect on the panel of various degrading environments is presented, with references supplied for specific methods. A technique for sizing a solar panel for a required mission power profile is developed.

Anspaugh, B.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Temperature dependence of optically dumped far-infrared (FIR) laser output power

The temperature dependence of the small signal gain and saturation power are derived using temperature-dependent rates in a four-level model. An expression is developed for the output power of a far-infrared oscillator as a function of temperature for both fixed pressure and fixed density. The results are valid in the regime of homogeneous broadening of the rotational transition and Doppler broadening of the pump transition. It is shown that, for most lasers, both the small signal gain and the saturation power decrease with increasing temperature. These effects have the overall result of increasing output power with decreasing temperatures.

Lawandy, N. M.↗