Engineering topics

Whitlow, Jonathan E.

Publications and source records attributed to Whitlow, Jonathan E..

5 records

NASA NTRS2002

An Investigation of the Reverse Water Gas Shift Process and Operating Alternatives

The Reverse Water Gas Shift (RWGS) process can produce water and ultimately oxygen through electrolysis. This technology is being investigated for possible use in the exploration of Mars as well as a potential process to aid in the regeneration of oxygen from carbon dioxide. The initial part of this report summarizes the results obtained from operation of the RWGS process at Kennedy Space Center during May and June of this year. It has been demonstrated that close to complete conversion can be achieved with the RWGS process under certain operating conditions. The report also presents results obtained through simulation for an alternative staged configuration for RWGS which eliminates the recycle compressor. This configuration looks promising and hence seems worthy of experimental investigation.

Whitlow, Jonathan E.↗

NASA NTRS2001

Operation, Modeling and Analysis of the Reverse Water Gas Shift Process

The Reverse Water Gas Shift process is a candidate technology for water and oxygen production on Mars under the In-Situ Propellant Production project. This report focuses on the operation and analysis of the Reverse Water Gas Shift (RWGS) process, which has been constructed at Kennedy Space Center. A summary of results from the initial operation of the RWGS, process along with an analysis of these results is included in this report. In addition an evaluation of a material balance model developed from the work performed previously under the summer program is included along with recommendations for further experimental work.

Whitlow, Jonathan E.↗

NASA NTRS2000

Modeling and Analysis of the Reverse Water Gas Shift Process for In-Situ Propellant Production

This report focuses on the development of mathematical models and simulation tools developed for the Reverse Water Gas Shift (RWGS) process. This process is a candidate technology for oxygen production on Mars under the In-Situ Propellant Production (ISPP) project. An analysis of the RWGS process was performed using a material balance for the system. The material balance is very complex due to the downstream separations and subsequent recycle inherent with the process. A numerical simulation was developed for the RWGS process to provide a tool for analysis and optimization of experimental hardware, which will be constructed later this year at Kennedy Space Center (KSC). Attempts to solve the material balance for the system, which can be defined by 27 nonlinear equations, initially failed. A convergence scheme was developed which led to successful solution of the material balance, however the simplified equations used for the gas separation membrane were found insufficient. Additional more rigorous models were successfully developed and solved for the membrane separation. Sample results from these models are included in this report, with recommendations for experimental work needed for model validation.

Whitlow, Jonathan E.↗

NASA NTRS1995

The use of a block diagram simulation language for rapid model prototyping

The research performed this summer focussed on the development of a predictive model for the loading of liquid oxygen (LO2) into the external tank (ET) of the shuttle prior to launch. A predictive model can greatly aid the operational personnel since instrumentation aboard the orbiter and ET is limited due to weight constraints. The model, which focuses primarily on the orbiter section of the system was developed using a block diagram based simulation language known as VisSim. Simulations were run on LO2 loading data for shuttle flights STS50 and STS55 and the model was demonstrated to accurately predict the sensor data recorded for these flights. As a consequence of the simulation results, it can be concluded that the software tool can be very useful for rapid prototyping of complex models.

Whitlow, Jonathan E.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Modeling of flow systems for implementation under KATE

The modeling of flow systems is a task currently being investigated at Kennedy Space Center in parallel with the development of the KATE artificial intelligence system used for monitoring diagnosis and control. Various aspects of the modeling issues are focussed on with particular emphasis on a water system scheduled for demonstration within the KATE environment in September of this year. LISP procedures were written to solve the continuity equations for three internal pressure nodes using Newton's method for simultaneous nonlinear equations.

Whitlow, Jonathan E.↗