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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 181 records · Page 10

Removal of spacecraft-surface particulate contaminants by simulated micrometeoroid impacts

A series of hypervelocity impacts has been conducted in an exploding lithium-wire accelerator to examine with a far-field holographic system the removal of particulate contaminants from external spacecraft surfaces subjected to micrometeoroid bombardment. The impacting projectiles used to simulate the micrometeoroids were glass spheres nominally 37 microns in diameter, having velocities between 4 and 17 km/sec. The particulates were glass spheres nominally 25, 50, and 75 microns in diameter which were placed on aluminum targets. For these test, particulates detached had velocities that were log-normally distributed. The significance of the log-normal behavior of the ejected-particulate velocity distribution is that the geometric mean velocity and the geometric standard deviation are the only two parameters needed to model completely the process of particles removed or ejected from a spacecraft surface by a micrometeoroid impact.

Goad, J. H., Jr.↗

Water hyacinths for removal of phenols from polluted waters

Removal of phenol by water hyacinths (Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms) in static water was investigated. 2.75 g dry weight of this aquatic plant demonstrated the ability to absorb 100 mg of phenol per plant per 72 hours from distilled water, river water, and bayou water. One hectare of water hyacinth plants is shown to be potentially capable of removing 160 kg of phenol per 72 hours from waters polluted with this chemical.

Wolverton, B. C.↗

Contaminant removal from enclosed atmospheres by regenerable adsorbents

A system for removing contaminants from spacecraft atmospheres was studied, which utilizes catalyst-impregnated activated carbon followed by in-situ regeneration by low-temperature catalytic oxidation of the adsorbed contaminants. Platinum was deposited on activated carbon by liquid phase impregnation with chloroplatinic acid, followed by drying and high-temperature reduction. Results were obtained for the seven selected spacecraft contaminants by means of three experimental test systems. The results indicate that the contaminants could be removed by oxidation with very little loss in adsorptive capacity. The advantages of a catalyst-impregnated carbon for oxidative regeneration are found to be significant enough to warrent its use.

Goldsmith, R. L.↗

Condensate removal device for heat exchanger

A set of perforated tubes disposed at the gas output side of a heat exchanger, in a position not to affect the rate of flow of the air or other gas is described. The tubes are connected to a common manifold which is connected to a sucking device. Where it is necessary to conserve and recirculate the air sucked through the tubes, the output of the manifold is run through a separator to remove the condensate from the gas. The perforations in the slurper tubes are small, lying in the range of 0.010 inch to 0.100 inch. The tubes are disposed in contact with the surfaces of the heat exchanger on which the condensate is precipitated, whether fins or plates, so that the water may be directed to the tube openings by means of surface effects, together with the assistance of the air flow. Only about 5 percent of the air output need be thus diverted, and it effectively removes virtually all of the condensate.

Trusch, R. B.↗

Removal of instrument signature from Mariner 9 television images of Mars

The Mariner 9 spacecraft was inserted into orbit around Mars in November 1971. The two vidicon camera systems returned over 7300 digital images during orbital operations. The high volume of returned data and the scientific objectives of the Television Experiment made development of automated digital techniques for the removal of camera system-induced distortions from each returned image necessary. This paper describes the algorithms used to remove geometric and photometric distortions from the returned imagery. Enhancement processing of the final photographic products is also described.

Green, W. B.↗

Evaluation of high pressure water blast with rotating spray bar for removing paint and rubber deposits from airport runways, and review of runway slipperiness problems created by rubber contamination

A high pressure water blast with rotating spray bar treatment for removing paint and rubber deposits from airport runways is studied. The results of the evaluation suggest that the treatment is very effective in removing above surface paint and rubber deposits to the point that pavement skid resistance is restored to trafficked but uncontaminated runway surface skid resistance levels. Aircraft operating problems created by runway slipperiness are reviewed along with an assessment of the contributions that pavement surface treatments, surface weathering, traffic polishing, and rubber deposits make in creating or alleviating runway slipperiness. The results suggest that conventional surface treatments for both portland cement and asphaltic concrete runways are extremely vulnerable to rubber deposit accretions which can produce runway slipperiness conditions for aircraft operations as or more slippery than many snow and ice-covered runway conditions. Pavement grooving surface treatments are shown to be the least vulnerable to rubber deposits accretion and traffic polishing of the surface treatments examined.

Horne, W. B.↗

UREA/ammonium ion removal system for the orbiting frog otolith experiment

The feasibility of using free urease enzyme and ANGC-101 ion exchange resin to remove urea and ammonium ion for space system waste water applications was studied. Specifically examined is the prevention of urea and ammonia toxicity in a 30-day Orbiting Frog Otolith (OFO) flight experiment. It is shown that free urease enzyme used in conjunction with ANGC-101 ion-exchange resin and pH control can control urea and amonium ion concentration in unbuffered recirculating water. In addition, the resin does not adversely effect the bullfrogs by lowering the concentration of cations below critical minimum levels. Further investigations on bioburden control, frog waste excretion on an OFO diet, a trade-off analysis of methods of automating the urea/ammonium ion removal system and fabrication and test of a semiautomated breadboard were recommended as continuing efforts. Photographs of test equipment and test animals are shown.

Schulz, J. R.↗

Comparison of solutions to boundary-layer and Navier-Stokes equations for the case of mass removal from a turbulent boundary layer

Comparisons are made over a range of Mach numbers from 1.5 to 7.5 at a fixed Reynolds number for various amounts of mass removal (boundary-layer bleed). Results indicate that boundary-layer theory can be used for design purposes in the range of bleed rates required to eliminate separation in an isolated, strong, adverse pressure gradient. Only about 5% to 10% of the boundary-layer mass flow must be removed to prevent such separations. Direct comparisons of bleed rates required to eliminate separation predicted by boundary-layer and Navier-Stokes equations for an M = 3.5-engine inlet centerbody show comparable results.

Rose, W. C.↗

Airframe, wing, and tail aerodynamic characteristics of a 1/6-scale model of the rotor systems research aircraft with the rotors removed

A wind-tunnel investigation was conducted to determine the aerodynamic characteristics of the rotor systems research aircraft (RSRA) as the helicopter and the compound helicopter with the rotors removed. Data were obtained over ranges of angle of attack and angle of sideslip. Results are presented for the total loads on the airframe as well as the loads on the wing and the tail. The results indicate that the RSRA with the rotors removed has stable static longitidinal and directional characteristics and has stable effective dihedral.

Mineck, R. E.↗

Removal of ammonia from urine vapor by a dual-catalyst system

The feasibility of removing ammonia from urine vapor by a low-temperature dual-catalyst system has been demonstrated. The process is based on the catalytic oxidation of ammonia to a mixture of nitrogen, nitrous oxide, and water, followed by a catalytic decomposition of the nitrous oxide into its elements. Potential ammonia oxidation and nitrous oxide decomposition catalysts were first screened with artificial gas mixtures, then tested with the actual urine vapor produced by boiling untreated urine. A suitable dual-catalyst bed arrangement was found that achieved the removal of ammonia and also organic carbon, and recovered water of good quality from urine vapor.

Budininkas, P.↗

Fastener for easy installation and removal of tiles

Mating strips, one with metal hooks and one with metal loops, allow convenient mounting and removal on many kinds of modules. Principle is adaptable to applications where shear-resistant, compliants, removable fastening is needed in hard-to-reach places, especially when attached part is lightly loaded or fragile.

Maletz, L. H.↗

Removing overcoatings from microcircuits

Silicone resin of elastomer overcoatings are removed more quickly from microcircuit chips with hot concentrated sulfuric acid. Process takes few minutes as compared to day or two, using commercial solvents based on toluene, xylene, and like. Overcoatings are removed to expose circuit for failure analysis.

Belcher, J. G., Jr.↗

Screw/stud removal tool

Tool removes stubborn panheaded screws or studs where conventional tools would be either too weak or inconvenient to use. Screws with damaged heads or slots can also be removed this way. Tool can be worked with one hand and easily fits limited-access and blind areas. It can be made in various sizes to fit different screwheads.

Daniels, K.↗

A tool for installation and removal of cylindrical baffles

Simple tool based on principle of automobile oil wrench slips over cylindrical thread-on baffle to install or remove it from baffle assembly. Tool consists of curled metal sheet brazed onto handgrip. Handgrip is adapted to be driven by wrench, ratchet, extension, torque wrench, or some other convenient tool. Clockwise twist of handgrip, tightens metal sheet around baffle to advance it into threaded joint. Counterclockwise twist loosens sheet for repositioning or tool removal.

Pessin, R.↗

Removing bonded skin from a substrate

Metal skin is peeled off like sardine-can cover with key. Method is useful in removing bonded skins from any substrate where substrate is strong enough not to buckle or tear when bonded skin is rolled free. Also, it is useful for removing sections of damaged skin where bladders of other equipment below substrate might be damaged if saw or router were used to cut completely through skin.

Chartier, E. N.↗

Design and development of a trace contaminant removal canister for Spacelab

The paper describes the overall approach used by NASA-MSFC to design and develop a trace contaminant removal canister for Spacelab. The elements of this approach include the establishment of a trace contaminant load model, analysis and testing to define a preliminary design, development testing to verify the adequacy of the selected design, and testing to define a suitable canister location in the transfer tunnel ventilation system. The canister utilizes a catalyst material which is effective in removing carbon monoxide at room temperature, as well as plain and acid treated charcoal. The canister alone will control all contaminants in the load model below their maximum allowable concentration (MAC) levels without assistance from the baseline environmental control system (ECS) except for methyl alcohol and ammonia.

Ray, C. D.↗

NOSS-SCAT wind direction alias removal

The use of automated algorithms for removing aliases in NOSS-SCAT data is reported. The algorithms used for alias removal consist of histogram analysis, local averaging and curve fitting. The histogram analysis is used to determine the degree of homogeneity of the wind field defined by the largest probability alias vector at each grid point. The alias directions are compared with the preferred direction at each grid location and one of the multiple aliases is chosen as the true direction.

Shanmugan, K. S.↗

Monte Carlo studies of ocean wind vector measurements by SCATT: Objective criteria and maximum likelihood estimates for removal of aliases, and effects of cell size on accuracy of vector winds

The scatterometer on the National Oceanic Satellite System (NOSS) is studied by means of Monte Carlo techniques so as to determine the effect of two additional antennas for alias (or ambiguity) removal by means of an objective criteria technique and a normalized maximum likelihood estimator. Cells nominally 10 km by 10 km, 10 km by 50 km, and 50 km by 50 km are simulated for winds of 4, 8, 12 and 24 m/s and incidence angles of 29, 39, 47, and 53.5 deg for 15 deg changes in direction. The normalized maximum likelihood estimate (MLE) is correct a large part of the time, but the objective criterion technique is recommended as a reserve, and more quickly computed, procedure. Both methods for alias removal depend on the differences in the present model function at upwind and downwind. For 10 km by 10 km cells, it is found that the MLE method introduces a correlation between wind speed errors and aspect angle (wind direction) errors that can be as high as 0.8 or 0.9 and that the wind direction errors are unacceptably large, compared to those obtained for the SASS for similar assumptions.

Pierson, W. J.↗