Engineering topics

Misencik, J. A.

Publications and source records attributed to Misencik, J. A..

7 records

NASA NTRS1984

Evaluation of candidate Stirling engine heater tube alloys after 3500 hours exposure to high pressure doped hydrogen or helium

The heater head tubes of current prototype automotive Stirling engines are fabricated from alloy N-155, an alloy which contains 20 percent cobalt. Because the United States imports over 90 percent of the cobalt used in this country and resource supplies could not meet the demand imposed by automotive applications of cobalt in the heater head (tubes plus cylinders and regenerator housings), it is imperative that substitute alloys free of cobalt be identified. The research described herein focused on the heater head tubes. Sixteen alloys (15 potential substitutes plus the 20 percent Co N-155 alloy) were evaluated in the form of thin wall tubing in the NASA Lewis Research Center Stirling simulator materials diesel fuel fired test rigs. Tubes filled with either hydrogen doped with 1 percent CO2 or with helium at a gas pressure of 15 MPa and a temperature of 820 C were cyclic endurance tested for times up to 3500 hr. Results showed that two iron-nickel base superalloys, CG-27 and Pyromet 901 survived the 3500 hr endurance test. The remaining alloys failed by creep-rupture at times less than 3000 hr, however, several other alloys had superior lives to N-155. Results further showed that doping the hydrogen working fluid with 1 vol % CO2 is an effective means of reducing hydrogen permeability through all the alloy tubes investigated.

Misencik, J. A.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Evaluation of CO2 and CO dopants in hydrogen to reduce hydrogen permeation in the Stirling engine heater head tube alloy CG-27

Tubes of CG-27 alloy, filled with hydrogen doped with various amounts of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, were heated in a diesel fuel fired Stirling engine simulator materials test rig for 100 hours at 820 C and at a gas pressure of 15 MPa to determine the effectiveness of the dopants in reducing hydrogen permeation through the hot tube wall. This was done for clean as-heat treated tubes and also for tubes that had previously been exposed for 100 hours to hydrogen doped with 1.0 volume percent carbon dioxide to determine if the lower levels of dopant could maintain a low hydrogen permeation through the hot tube wall. Carbon dioxide, as a dopant in hydrogen, was most effective in reducing hydrogen permeation through clean tubes and in maintaining low hydrogen permeation after prior exposure to 1.0 volume percent carbon dioxide. Only the lowest level of carbon dioxide (0.05 volume percent) was not as effective in the clean or prior exposed tubes. Carbon monoxide as a dopant in hydrogen was less effective than carbon dioxide at a given concentration level. Of the four dopant levels studied; 1.0, 0.5, 0.2, and 0.05 volume percent carbon monoxide, only the 1.0 and 0.5 volume percent were effective in reducing and maintaining low hydrogen permeation through the CG-27.

Misencik, J. A.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Evaluation of dopants in hydrogen to reduce hydrogen permeation in candidate Stirling engine heater head tube alloys at 760 deg and 820 deg

Alloy tubes filled with hydrogen doped with various amounts of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, ethane, ethylene, methane, ammonia, or water were heated in a diesel fuel-fired Stirling engine simulator materials test rig for 100 hours at 21 MPa and 760 or 820 C to determine the effectiveness of the dopants in reducing hydrogen permeation through the hot tube walls. Ultra high purity (UHP) hydrogen was used for comparison. The tube alloys were N-155, A-286, Incoloy 800, Nitronic 40, 19-9DL, 316 stainless steel, Inconel 718, and HS-188. Carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide in the concentration range 0.2 to 5 vol % were most effective in reducing hydrogen permeation through the hot tube walls for all alloys. Ethane, ethylene, methane, ammonia, and water at the concentrations investigated were not effective in reducing the permeation below that achieved with UHP hydrogen. One series of tests were conducted with UHP hydrogen in carburized tubes. Carburization of the tubes prior to exposure reduced permeation to values similar to those for carbon monoxide; however, carbon dioxide was the most effective dopant.

Misencik, J. A.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Evaluation of candidate stirling engine heater tube alloys at 820 deg and 860 deg C

Seven commercial alloys were evaluated in Stirling simulator materials rigs. Five iron base alloys (N-155, A-286, Incoloy 800, 19-9DL, and 316 stainless steel), one nickel base alloy (Inconel 718), and one cobalt base alloy (HS-188) were tested in the form of thin wall tubing in a diesel fuel fired test rig. Tubes filled with hydrogen or helium at gas pressure of 21.6 MPa and temperatures of 820 and 860 C were endurance tested for 1000 and 535 hours, respectively. Results showed that under these conditions hydrogen permeated rapidly through the tube walls, thus requiring refilling during each five hour cycle. Helium was readily contained, exhibiting no measurable loss by permeation. Helium filled tubes tested at 860 C all exhibited creep-rupture failures within the 535 hour endurance test. Subsequent tensile test evaluation after removal from the rig indicated reduced room temperature ductility for some hydrogen-filled tubes compared to helium-filled tubes, suggesting possible hydrogen embrittlement in these alloys.

Misencik, J. A.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Reduced hydrogen permeability at high temperatures

CO and CO2 reduce hydrogen loss through iron, nickel, and cobalt based alloy tubes. Method is based on concept that oxide film on metal surface reduces hydrogen permeability through metal; adding CO or CO2 forms oxide films continuously during operation, and hydrogen containment is improved. Innovation enhances prospects for Stirling engine system utilization.

Stephens, J. R.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Effect of oxide films on hydrogen permeability of candidate Stirling engine heater head tube alloys

The effect of oxide films developed in situ from CO/CO2 doped hydrogen on high pressure hydrogen permeability at 820 C was studied on N-155, A-286, IN 800, 19-9DL, Nitronic 40, HS-188, and IN 718 tubing in a Stirling materials simulator. The hydrogen permeability decreased with increasing dopant levels of CO or CO2 and corresponding decreases in oxide porosity. Minor reactive alloying elements strongly influenced permeability. At high levels of CO or CO2, a liquid oxide formed on alloys with greater than 50 percent Fe. This caused increased permeability. The oxides formed on the inside tube walls were analyzed and their effective permeabilities were calculated.

Schuon, S. R.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Evaluation of candidate Stirling engine heater tube alloys for 1000 hours at 760 C

Six tubing alloys were endurance tested in a diesel fired, Stirling engine simulator materials test rig for 1000 hours of 760 C while pressurized at 17 to 21 MPa with either hydrogen or helium. The alloys tested were N 155, A 286, Incoloy 800, 19 9DL, Nitronic 40 and 316 stainless steel. The alloys were in the form of thin wall tubing. Hydrogen permeated rapidly through the tube walls of all six alloys when they were heated to 760 C. Helium was readily contained. Creep rupture failures occurred in four of the six alloys pressurized with hydrogen. Only two alloys survived the 1000 hour endurance test with no failures. Simultaneous exposure to either hydrogen or helium and the combustion environment did not seriously degrade the tensile strength of the six alloys in room temperature or 760 C tests after exposure. Decreases in room temperature ductility were observed and are attributed to aging rather than to hydrogen embrittlement in three of the alloys. However, there may be a hydrogen embrittlement effect in the N 155, 19 9DL, and Nitronic 40 alloys.

Misencik, J. A.↗