Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Porous”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 181 records · Page 10

Layer silicates in a chondritic porous interplanetary dust particle

Analytical electron microscopy on individual grains from a portion of a chondritic porous interplanetary dust particle (aggregate W7029C1 from the NASA Johnson Space Center Cosmic Dust Collection) shows that layer silicates compose 50 percent of the silicate fraction examined. These layer silicates can be classified into two distinct crystallochemical groups: (1) fine-grained, polycrystalline smectite minerals; and (2) well-ordered, single crystals of kaolinite and Mg-poor talc. The layer silicates in this portion of sample W7029(asterisk)A are dissimilar to those described in other chondritic porous aggregates. The predominant layer silicate assemblage in W7029(asterisk)A indicates that heating of the aggregate during atmospheric entry was brief and probably to a temperature less than 300 C. Comparison with terrestrial phyllosilicate occurrences suggests that some layer silicates in aggregate W7029(asterisk)A may have been formed by alteratiton from preexisting silicate minerals at low temperatures (less than 25 C) after aggregate formation.

Rietmeijer, F. J. M.↗

AC impedance study of degradation of porous nickel battery electrodes

AC impedance spectra of porous nickel battery electrodes were recorded periodically during charge/discharge cycling in concentrated KOH solution at various temperatures. A transmission line model (TLM) was adopted to represent the impedance of the porous electrodes, and various model parameters were adjusted in a curve fitting routine to reproduce the experimental impedances. Degradation processes were deduced from changes in model parameters with electrode cycling time. In developing the TLM, impedance spectra of planar (nonporous) electrodes were used to represent the pore wall and backing plate interfacial impedances. These data were measured over a range of potentials and temperatures, and an equivalent circuit model was adopted to represent the planar electrode data. Cyclic voltammetry was used to study the characteristics of the oxygen evolution reaction on planar nickel electrodes during charging, since oxygen evolution can affect battery electrode charging efficiency and ultimately electrode cycle life if the overpotential for oxygen evolution is sufficiently low.

Lenhart, Stephen J.↗

Effect of structure on current and potential distributions in porous electrode

Porous electrodes generally contain constricted macropores and localized micropores. The effects of the macropore constrictions on the resistance of a capillary were studied and an analytical model was developed for predicting the current distribution in a constricted macropore which directly includes constriction effects and does not require an empirical tortuosity parameter. The current and concentration distributions in localized micropores were also investigated and it was shown that the microporous area is fully accessible to charge and mass transfer processes. From these analyses it was concluded that the micropores primarily affect the kinetics of the interfacial processes by contributing to the interfacial area, while the macropores impose ohmic and mass transport limitations through the volume of the porous electrode.

Lanzi, Oscar↗

The role of oxygen in porous molybdenum electrodes for the alkali metal thermoelectric converter

A model for chemical reactions in porous molybdenum electrodes is presented which is based on thermochemical and kinetic data, known sodium-molybdenum-oxygen chemistry, X-ray diffraction analysis of molybdenum and molybdenum oxide electrodes, and the electrochemical behavior of the cell. Enhanced sodium transport through the electrode in its optimum performance state is found to be due to the high sodium ion conductivity of molten Na2MoO4 in the pores, and the electrical conduction to the molybdenum matrix by Na2Mo3O6. The decline of electrode performance is shown to be due to a combination of loss mechanisms for the Na-Mo-O compounds including reduction at short circuit, disproportionation of Na2Mo3O6 at open circuit, and the evaporation of Na2MoO4 at elevated temperature. It is suggested that operation of the cell at moderate voltage of about 0.5 V corresponding to maximum power may be a more stable condition for the porous electrode than open-circuit stand or short-circuit, where degradation reactions are heightened.

Williams, R. M.↗

Synthesis of a further improved porous polymer for the separation of nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and carbon monoxide by gas chromatography

A further improvement has been made in the synthesis of an N-type porous polymer for the separation of permanent gases. Changing the ratios of reactants and diluting the Hi-DVB with styrene led to a porous polymer gas chromatographic packing which is superior to commercial products and to the author's own previously reported custom-made polymer.

Pollock, G. E.↗

Effect of flow oscillations on axial energy transport in a porous material

The effects of flow oscillations on axial energy diffusion in a porous medium, in which the flow is continuously disrupted by the irregularities of the porous structure, are analyzed. The formulation employs an internal heat transfer coefficient that couples the fluid and solid temperatures. The final relationship shows that the axial energy transport per unit cross-sectional area and time is directly proportional to the axial temperature gradient and the square of the maximum fluid displacement.

Siegel, R.↗

Porous wind tunnel corrections for counterrotation propeller testing

Wind tunnel interference corrections have direct impact on measured propeller efficiency. A systematic series of wind tunnel tests was done in the porous-wall NASA Lewis 8- by 6-Foot Wind Tunnel to determine the wind tunnel interference corrections to the NASA Lewis counterrotation propeller test data. The test results were compared with calculations from a potential flow code to determine the interference corrections. At a Mach number of 0.8, the interference corrections resulted in a -0.008 Mach number correction which reduced the counterrotation propeller net efficiency data by 0.46 percent at the reduced Mach number. Additional wind tunnel tests were done to measure the effect of propeller thrust on wind tunnel wall interference. No wall interference corrections due to propeller thrust were found necessary for the high speed counterrotation propeller data obtained in the porous wall NASA Lewis 8- by 6-Foot Wind Tunnel.

Stefko, George L.↗

Onset of finger convection in a horizontal porous layer underlying a fluid layer

The problem of the onset of finger convection in a porous layer underlying a fluid layer is considered using linear stability analysis. The linear stability equations for the porous layer are formulated for temperature and salinity gradients existing in both layers. The eigenvalue problem is solved by a shooting method. The solution method and associated computer program are validated by comparison with the results of Sun (1973) for the thermal convection case. Results are also presented for the onset of salt-finger convection.

Chen, F.↗

Porous wind tunnel corrections for counterrotation propeller testing

Wind tunnel interference corrections have direct impact on measured propeller efficiency. A systematic series of wind tunnel tests was done in the porous-wall NASA Lewis 8- by 6-Foot Wind Tunnel to determine the wind tunnel interference corrections to the NASA Lewis counterrotation propeller test data. The test results were compared with calculations from a potential flow code to determine the interference corrections. At a Mach number of 0.8, the interference corrections resulted in a -0.008 Mach number correction which reduced the counterrotation propeller net efficiency data by 0.46 percent at the reduced Mach number. Additional wind tunnel tests were done to measure the effect of propeller thrust on wind tunnel wall interference. No wall interference corrections due to propeller thrust were found necessary for the high speed counterrotation propeller data obtained in the porous wall NASA Lewis 8- by 6-Foot Wind Tunnel.

Stefko, George L.↗

Turbulent transport of He II in active and passive phase separators using slit devices and porous media

The turbulent transport mode of vapor liquid phase separators (VLPS) for He II has been investigated comparing passive porous plug separators with active phase separators (APS) using slits of variable flow paths within a common frame of reference. It is concluded that the basic transport regimes in both devices are identical. An integrated Gorter-Mellink (1949) equation, found previously to predict VLPS results of porous plugs, is employed to analyze APS data published in the literature. It is found that the Gorter-Mellink flow rate parameter for 9-micron and 14-micron APS slit widths are relatively independent of the slit width, having a rate constant of about 9 + or - 10 percent. This agrees with the early heat flow results for He II entropy transport at zero net mass flow in wide capillaries and slits.

Yuan, S. W. K.↗

Performance and impedance studies of thin, porous molybdenum and tungsten electrodes for the alkali metal thermoelectric converter

Columnar, porous, magnetron-sputtered molybdenum and tungsten films show optimum performance as alkali metal thermoelectric converter electrodes at thicknesses less than 1.0 micron when used with molybdenum or nickel current collector grids. Power densities of 0.40 W/sq cm for 0.5-micron molybdenum films at 1200 K and 0.35 W/sq cm for 0.5-micron tungsten films at 1180 K were obtained at electrode maturity after 40-90 h. Sheet resistances of magnetron sputter deposited films on sodium beta-double-prime-alumina solid electrolyte (BASE) substrates were found to increase very steeply as thickness is decreased below about 0.3-double-prime 0.4-micron. The ac impedance data for these electrodes have been interpreted in terms of contributions from the bulk BASE and the porous electrode/BASE interface. Voltage profiles of operating electrodes show that the total electrode area, of electrodes with thickness less than 2.0 microns, is not utilized efficiently unless a fairly fine (about 1 x 1 mm) current collector grid is employed.

Wheeler, B. L.↗

Transient heat and fluid flow in porous annuli

An analysis of the transient behavior of heat and fluid flow in porous annuli is reported. The problem analyzed has relevance to the design of adsorption compressors. Consideration is given to filling a porous annulus with a fluid while cooling is applied. The governing equations for the transport process considered have been solved numerically using a finite-difference method. A parametric study has been conducted to reveal the influence of the different parameters. The conditions for maximizing the mass intake are identified.

Sathe, S. B.↗

Slip effects associated with Knudsen transport phenomena in porous media

Porous media used in phase separators and thermomechanical pumps have been the subject of characterization efforts based on the Darcy permeability of laminar continuum flow. The latter is not always observed at low speed, in particular at permeabilities below 10 to the -9th/squared cm. The present experimental and theoretical studies address questions of slip effects associated with long mean free paths of gas flow at room temperature. Data obtained are in good agreement, within data uncertainty, with a simplified asymptotic Knudsen equation proposed for porous plugs on the basis of Knudsen's classical flow equation for long mean free paths.

Frederking, T. H. K.↗

Predicting Pressure Drop In Porous Materials

Theory developed to predict drop in pressure based on drag of individual fibers. Simple correlation method for data also developed. Helps in predicting flow characteristics of many strain-isolation pad (SIP) glow geometries in Shuttle Orbiter tile system. Also helps in predicting venting characteristics of tile assemblies during ascent and leakage of hot gas under tiles during descent. Useful in study of mechanics of flows through fibrous and porous media, and procedures applicable to purged fiberglass insulation, dialysis filters, and other fibrous and porous media.

Lawing, Pierce L.↗

Wall interference assessment/correction (WIAC) for transonic airfoil data from porous and shaped wall test sections

An existing computational wall interference assessment/correction (WIAC) procedure is applied to two sets of transonic airfoil data obtained from the same model tested in both a porous, planar-wall and a solid, shaped-wall test section. The published airfoil data from the porous test section agrees reasonably well with the published data from the shaped wall test section, although some differences exist. The WIAC procedure is applied to the data to assess and correct any wall interference effects; WIAC corrections generally improve the correlation between the two data sets. As an independent verification, both the published and WIAC corrected airfoil data are compared to Navier-Stokes calculations. Correlations are generally better between the WIAC corrected data and the Navier-Stokes calculations than between similar correlations with the published data.

Mineck, Raymond E.↗

Chemically Layered Porous Solids

Aerogels and other porous solids in which surfaces of pores have chemical properties varying with depth below macroscopic surfaces prepared by sequences of chemical treatments. Porous glass or silica bead treated to make two depth zones having different chemical properties. Beads dropped along tube filled with flowing gas containing atomic oxygen, generated in microwave discharge. General class of materials treatable include oxides of aluminum, silicon, zirconium, tin, titanium, and nickel, and mixtures of these oxides. Potential uses of treated materials include chromatographic separations, membrane separations, controlled releases of chemicals, and catalysis.

Koontz, Steve↗

Using a fast Fourier method to model sound propagation in a stratified atmosphere over a stratified porous-elastic ground

Using a Fast Fourier integration method and a global matrix method for solution of the boundary condition equations at all interfaces simultaneously, a useful tool for predicting acoustic propagation in a stratified fluid over a stratified porous-elastic solid was developed. The model for the solid is a modified Biot-Stoll model incorporating four parameters describing the pore structure corresponding to the Rayleigh-Attenborough rigid-porous structure model. The method is also compared to another Fast Fourier code (CERL-FFP) which models the ground as an impedance surface under a horizontally stratified air. Agreement with the CERL FFP is good. The effects on sound propagation of a combination of ground elasticity, complex ground structure, and atmospheric conditions are demonstrated by theoretical results over a snow layer, and experimental results over a model ground surface.

Tooms, S.↗

The liquid/vapor boundary in a porous plug

Results are presented from measurements of pressure and temperature differences as a function of the flow rate and hydrostatic head for two types of porous plugs for phase separation of superfluid He and He vapor: (1) a plug made of sintered stainless steel, similar to that in the IRAS, IRT, and COBE dewars except for larger pores, and (2) a glass plug with pores of uniform cross section. Results show that a liquid/vapor phase boundary exists at the outer surface of the porous plug for low flows or large hydrostatic heads; as the flow increases or the hydrostatic head decreases, the boundary retreats into the plug. Some hysteresis near the phase boundary retreat was observed in the stainless steel plug.

Dipirro, M. J.↗