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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 217 records · Page 12
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2000

Water Vapor Effects on Silica-Forming Ceramics

Silica-forming ceramics such as SiC and Si3N4 are proposed for applications in combustion environments. These environments contain water vapor as a product of combustion. Oxidation of silica-formers is more rapid in water vapor than in oxygen. Parabolic oxidation rates increase with the water vapor partial pressure with a power law exponent value close to one. Molecular water vapor is therefore the mobile species in silica. Rapid oxidation rates and large amounts of gases generated during the oxidation reaction in high water vapor pressures may result in bubble formation in the silica and nonprotective scale formation. It is also shown that silica reacts with water vapor to form Si(OH)4(g). Silica volatility has been modeled using a laminar flow boundary layer controlled reaction equation. Silica volatility depends on the partial pressure of water vapor, the total pressure, and the gas velocity. Simultaneous oxidation and volatilization reactions have been modeled with paralinear kinetics.

Opila, E. J.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Ocean and Atmospheric Profiling Lidar Observations and Its Link to Ocean Carbon Cycle

This study introduces space-based ocean and atmospheric profiling lidar for improving modeling and understanding of ocean carbon cycle. Unique measurements from space-based profiling lidars include (1) the global ocean surface mean square slope measurements for improving air-sea turbulence exchange estimates; (2) the backscatter and beam attenuation measurements for improving the global estimate of partial pressure of CO2 of the ocean with the reduction of uncertainties in primary productivity estimates. Global statistics of CALIOP integrated ocean subsurface backscatter measurements of coastal waters will be presented. The study will also assess the impact of CALIOP on the uncertainty reduction of primary productivity and the improvement of CO2 partial pressure estimates. Ocean surface roughness statistics, its applications in air-sea interaction and its comparisons with other measurements will also be presented

Hu, Yongxiang↗
NASA NTRS1986

A new approach to non-invasive oxygenated mixed venous PCO(sub)2

A clinically practical technique was developed to calculate mixed venous CO2 partial pressure for the calculation of cardiac output by the Fick technique. The Fick principle states that the cardiac output is equal to the CO2 production divided by the arterio-venous CO2 content difference of the pulmonary vessels. A review of the principles involved in the various techniques used to estimate venous CO2 partial pressure is presented.

Fisher, Joseph A.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Crystal Growth of ZnSe and Related Ternary Compound Semiconductors by Vapor Transport

The objective of the project is to determine the relative contributions of gravity-driven fluid flows to the compositional distribution, incorporation of impurities and defects, and deviation from stoichiometry observed in the crystals grown by vapor transport as results of buoyance-driven convection and growth interface fluctuations caused by irregular fluid-flows. ZnSe and related ternary compounds, such as ZnSeS and ZnSeTe, were grown by vapor transport technique with real time in-situ non-invasive monitoring techniques. The grown crystals were characterized extensively to correlate the grown crystal properties with the growth conditions. The following are the research progress in the past two years. In-situ monitoring of partial pressure by optical absorption technique and visual observation of the growing crystal were performed during vapor growth of ZnSe. Low-temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectra and glow discharge mass spectroscopy (GDMS) were measured on ZnSe starting materials provided by various vendors and on bulk crystals grown from these starting materials by physical vapor transport (PVT) to study the effects of purification and contamination during crystal growth process. Optical characterization was performed on wafers sliced from the grown crystals of ZnSe, ZnTe and ZnSe(1-x),Te(x), (0<x<0.4). Energy band gaps at room temperature were determined from optical transmission measurements and a best fit curve to the band gap vs. composition, x, data gives a bowing parameter of 1.45. Low-temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectra of ZnSe and ZnTe were dominated by near band edge emissions and no deep donor-acceptor pairs were observed. The PL spectrum exhibited a broad emission for the ZnSe(1-x),Te(x), samples, 0.09<x<0.39. The single broad PL emission spectra and the spectra measured as a function of temperature were interpreted as being associated with the exciton bound to Te clusters because of the high Te content in these samples. To validate numerical codes, in-situ monitoring during the PVT of HgI2 was designed. Optical absorption spectra of the vapor phase over HgI2 were measured for wavelengths between 200 and 600nm at sample temperatures between 349 and 610K. The Beer's Law constants for 15 wavelengths between 200 and 440 nm were determined. From these constants the vapor pressure of HgI2 was established as a function of temperature for the liquid and the solid Beta-phases To characterize the growth conditions during the PVT growth of In-doped ZnSe the optical absorbance of the vapor phase over the In-Se system were measured and were used to obtain the partial pressures of Se2(g) and In2Se(g).

Su, Ching-Hua↗
NASA NTRS1976

Electrical conductivity measurements on silicate melts using the loop technique

A new method is described for measurement of the electrical conductivity of silicate melts under controlled oxygen partial pressure at temperatures to 1550 C. The melt samples are suspended as droplets on platinum-rhodium loops, minimizing iron loss from the melt due to alloying with platinum, and providing maximum surface exposure of the melt to the oxygen-buffering gas atmosphere. The latter provides extremely rapid equilibration of the melt with the imposed oxygen partial pressure. The loop technique involves a minimum of setup time and cost, provides reproducible results to within + or - 5% and is well suited to electrical conductivity studies on silicate melts containing redox cations.

Waff, H. S.↗
NASA NTRS1972

The inference of atmospheric ozone using satellite horizon measurements in the 1042 per cm band.

Description of a method for inferring atmospheric ozone information using infrared horizon radiance measurements in the 1042 per cm band. An analysis based on this method proves the feasibility of the horizon experiment for determining ozone information and shows that the ozone partial pressure can be determined in the altitude range from 50 down to 25 km. A comprehensive error study is conducted which considers effects of individual errors as well as the effect of all error sources acting simultaneously. The results show that in the absence of a temperature profile bias error, it should be possible to determine the ozone partial pressure to within an rms value of 15 to 20%. It may be possible to reduce this rms error to 5% by smoothing the solution profile. These results would be seriously degraded by an atmospheric temperature bias error of only 3 K; thus, great care should be taken to minimize this source of error in an experiment. It is probable, in view of recent technological developments, that these errors will be much smaller in future flight experiments and the altitude range will widen to include from about 60 km down to the tropopause region.

Russell, J. M., III↗
NASA NTRS1975

Oxide nucleation on thin films of copper during in situ oxidation in an electron microscope

Single-crystal copper thin films were oxidized at an isothermal temperature of 425 C and at an oxygen partial pressure of 0.005 torr. Specimens were prepared by epitaxial vapor deposition onto polished faces of rocksalt and were mounted in a hot stage inside the ultrahigh-vacuum chamber of a high-resolution electron microscope. An induction period of roughly 30 min was established which was independent of the film thickness but depended strongly on the oxygen partial pressure and to exposure to oxygen prior to oxidation. Neither stacking faults nor dislocations were found to be associated with the Cu2O nucleation sites. The experimental data, including results from oxygen dissolution experiments and from repetitive oxidation-reduction-oxidation sequences, fit well into the framework of an oxidation process involving the formation of a surface charge layer, oxygen saturation of the metal with formation of a supersaturated zone near the surface, and nucleation followed by surface diffusion of oxygen and bulk diffusion of copper for lateral and vertical oxide growth, respectively.

Heinemann, K.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Destabilization of yttria-stabilized zirconia induced by molten sodium vanadate-sodium sulfate melts

The extent of surface destabilization of ZrO2 - 8 wt percent Y2O3 ceramic disks was determined after exposure to molten salt mixtures of sodium sulfate containing up to 15 mole percent sodium metavanadate (NaVO3) at 1173 K. The ceramic surface was observed to transform from the cubic/tetragonal to monoclinic phase, concurrent with chemical changes in the molten salt layer in contact with the ceramic. Significant attack rates were observed in both pure sulfate and metavanadate sulfate melts. The rate of attack was found to be quite sensitive to the mole fraction of vanadate in the molten salt solution and the partial pressure of sulfur trioxide in equilibrium with the salt melt. The observed parabolic rate of attack is interpreted to be caused by a reaction controlled by diffusion in the salt that penetrates into the porous layer formed by the destabilization. The parabolic rate constant in mixed sodium metavanadate - sodium sulfate melts was found to be proportional to the SO3 partial pressure and the square of the metavanadate concentration. In-situ Raman spectroscopic measurements allowed simultaneous observations of the ceramic phases and salt chemistry during the attack process.

Nagelberg, A. S.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Measurements of recombination of electrons with H3(plus) and H5(plus) ions

The electron-ion recombination coefficients for H3(+) and H5(+) ions were determined by means of a microwave afterglow/mass spectrometer apparatus. Measurements of electron density decays in helium-hydrogen mixtures are correlated with the decay of mass-identified ion currents to the wall of the microwave cavity. At low partial pressures of hydrogen in the mixture, the ion H3(+) dominates the ion composition and the ion wall current tracks the electron density decay curves. From recombination controlled electron density decay curves, the values alpha (H3(+)) = (2.9 + or - 0.3), (2.3 + or - 0.3), and (2.0 + or - 0.2) x 0.0000001 cu cm per sec, are obtained at 205, 300 and 450 K, respectively. At higher partial pressures of hydrogen and low temperatures, where (H5(+)) is the dominant ion, the value alpha (H5(+)) = (3.6 + or - 1.0) x 0.0000001 cu cm per sec is obtained at 205 K. The implications of these results concerning ionization levels in the atmospheres of the outer planets and in the interstellar medium are discussed.

Leu, M. T.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Variations including possible solar cycle variations of stratospheric ozone over central Switzerland

The annual variation of the total amount of ozone over central Switzerland and the partial pressures in each of 7 layers from the surface to 7.8 m zeta shows the pattern representative of mid-latitude ozone: summer maximum in the troposphere, spring maximum in the lower stratosphere up to 30 mb and summer maximum in the middle stratosphere up to approx. mb. It was also shown that at the level of the ozone maximum the ozone partial pressure has a pronounced period of about 26 months. Total ozone and the ozone concentration in the different layers have marginally significant (at plus or minus sigma) correlations with relative sunspot number. The time lag for these correlations is long in the troposphere (about 36 months) but decreases with height to the level of ozone maximum (to about 2 months). A similar analysis of the data derived from the ozonesonde program at Hohenpeissenberg, Germany (GFR) gave completely consistent results with those discussed above.

London, J.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Experimental studies of the vapor phase nucleation of refractory compounds. I - The condensation of SiO

The critical partial pressure of SiO necessary to initiate avalanche nucleation in the SiO-H2 system is measured as a function of the ambient temperature in the range 750-1000 K. Results show that the condensate produced at low temperatures is Si2O3, while a mixture of Si2O3 and amorphous SiO2 is produced at high temperatures. A surface energy of approximately 500 ergs/sq cm for the particles is found by analyzing the critical partial pressure vs temperature using classical nucleation theory. It is concluded that classical nucleation theory is not applicable to this system, because several inconsistencies in the thermodynamic analysis are demonstrated, and it is suggested that a kinetic theory of nucleation may be the preferential way to describe the condensation process.

Nuth, J. A.↗
DOE OSTI2024

On the product phases and the reaction kinetics of carbothermic reduction of UO 2 +C at relatively low temperatures

The synthesis of UC using carbothermic reduction of UO 2 and C mixtures has been well studied at high temperatures. However, the product phase behavior of carbothermic reduction at low temperatures (≤1773 K) is not well studied. Such a study is important as low temperatures permit single phase UC synthesis without forming secondary higher carbides, and it further supports the knowledge base of the process that needs to be used for transuranic elements such as plutonium that have high vapor pressures at elevated temperatures. Therefore, a low temperature carbothermic reduction of two different C/UO 2 molar ratios under inert and reducing environments have been studied here. Two different sample holding crucibles, alumina (Al 2 O 3 ) and graphite, were also used here to differentiate the hypostoichiometric (UC 1-a ) and oxygen dissolved (UC 1-x O x ) uranium monocarbide phases adding more details on the two systems. Also, the reaction kinetics involved in the formation of UC via the carbothermic reduction of UO 2 +C using product phases instead of evolved gases such as carbon monoxide is reported here. Under inert atmospheres but with significant oxygen partial pressures, the low temperature carbothermic reduction of UO 2 +C produced up to 90 wt.% UC 1-x O x type oxycarbides as was confirmed by Xray powder diffraction. Reducing Ar-4%H 2 environments at these temperatures were not successful in synthesizing UC as it reduces the amount of C required for the carbothermic reduction, leaving UC phase at a non-equilibrium state. Inert atmospheres with low or negligible oxygen partial pressures on the other hand produced near stoichiometric UC at high phase purity, especially at 1673 – 1773 K temperature range. An activation energy of 377±75 kJmol -1 was also calculated using product phase concentrations of the carbothermic reduction of UO 2 +C under these inert Ar (g) atmospheres.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1990

Observational constraints on the global atmospheric CO2 budget

Observed atmospheric concentrations of CO2 and data on the partial pressures of CO2 in surface ocean waters are combined to identify globally significant sources and sinks of CO2. The atmospheric data are compared with boundary layer concentrations calculated with the transport fields generated by a general circulation model (GCM) for specified source-sink distributions. In the model the observed north-south atmospheric concentration gradient can be maintained only if sinks for CO2 are greater in the Northern than in the Southern Hemisphere. The observed differences between the partial pressure of CO2 in the surface waters of the Northern Hemisphere and the atmosphere are too small for the oceans to be the major sink of fossil fuel CO2. Therefore, a large amount of the CO2 is apparently absorbed on the continents by terrestrial ecosystems.

Tans, Pieter P.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Preflight studies on tolerance of pocket mice to oxygen and heat. III - Effects on eyes

A study was made of the eyes of eight pocket mice exposed to oxygen at partial pressures of 8, 10, or 12 psi over a period of 7 d. At the termination of the exposure, the animals were decompressed to sea-level O2, either immediately or over a period of 30, 60, or 90 min. No pathological changes were found in any of the eyes, except in the retina of one of the animals exposed to 12 psi O2. Here, only a single rod photoreceptor was found damaged, an observation not regarded as significant. Hence, an oxygen partial pressure as high as 12 psi in the canister in which pocket mice were expected to fly on Apollo XVII would probably have no deleterious effect on the eyes of the animals.

Philpott, D. E.↗
NASA NTRS1987

CO2 DIAL measurements of water vapor

CO2 lidars have heretofore been used to measure water vapor concentrations primarily using the 10R(20) line at 10.247 microns, which has a strong overlap with a water vapor absorption line. This paper discusses the use of that line as well as other CO2 laser lines for which the absorption coefficients are weaker. The literature on measurement of water vapor absorption coefficients using CO2 lasers is reviewed, and the results from four laboratories are shown to be generally consistent with each other after they are normalized to the same partial pressure, temperature, and ethylene absorption coefficent for the 10P(14) CO2 laser line; however, the agreement with the Air Force Geophysics Laboratory's HITRAN and FASCOD 2 spectral data tapes is not good either for the water vapor absorption lines or for the water vapor continuum. Demonstration measurements of atmospheric water vapor have been conducted using the Mobile Atmospheric Pollutant Mapping System, a dual CO2 lidar system using heterodyne detection. Results are discussed for measurements using three sets of laser line pairs covering a wide range of water vapor partial pressures.

Grant, William B.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Low Temperature Unbalanced Magnetron Deposition of Hard, Wear-Resistant Coatings for Liquid-Film Bearing Applications

The original program for evaluating the tribological properties several different hard coatings for liquid film bearing applications was curtailed when the time for the program was reduced from 3 years to 1. Of the several different coatings originally planned for evaluation, we decided to concentrate on one coating, carbon nitride. At BIRL, we have been instrumental in the development of reactively sputtered carbon nitride coatings, and we have found that it is a very interesting new material with very good tribological properties. In this program, we found that the reactively sputtered carbon nitride does not bond well directly to hardened 440C stainless steel; but if an interlayer of titanium nitride is added between the carbon nitride and the 440C, the adhesion of the dual coating combination is very good. Statistically designed experiments were run with the dual layer combination, and 3 variables were chosen for the Box-Benken design, which were the titanium nitride interlayer thickness, the nitrogen partial pressure during the reactive sputtering of the carbon nitride, and the carbon nitride substrate bias voltage. Two responses were studied from these three variables; the adhesion of the dual coating combination to the 440C substrate and the friction coefficient of the carbon nitride in dry sliding contact with 52100 steel in air. The best adhesion came with the thickness interlayer thickness studied, which was 4 micrometers, and the lowest coefficient of friction was 0.1, which was achieved when the bias voltage was in the range of -80 to - 120 V and the nitrogen partial pressure was 3 mTorr.

Sproul, William D.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Hydrogen uptake in graphite matrix at high temperature

Tritium management is a critical challenge for the next generation of nuclear reactors, such as Fluoride Salt Cooled High Temperature Reactors (FHRs) and High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactors (HTGRs), due to the higher production rate (up to 10,000 times) than conventional Light Water Reactors (LWRs). Graphitic materials employed as moderator, reflector, and fuel pebbles offer a potential pathway for tritium recovery by serving as a sink for tritium. Prediction of uptake capacity under reactor relevant conditions remains a challenge due to a lack of low partial pressure data and significant inter-grade variability of graphite. This study addresses these gaps by providing a comprehensive characterization of hydrogen (as a tritium surrogate) uptake and release behavior in the A3-3 graphite matrix (GM) used in fuel pebbles. Uptake measurements are performed at reactor relevant temperatures of 600- 800 °C, 1-200 Torr hydrogen pressure, and 15-120 min equilibration time, followed by thermal desorption spectroscopy up to 1100 °C. Uptake experiments at different equilibration times demonstrate the role of kinetics in hydrogen uptake, which can be modeled as a diffusion-with-trapping process. In the thermodynamics limit, the Sips adsorption model is shown to capture the uptake in A3-3 GM well. Our campaign provides a set of new results for hydrogen uptake in A3-3, including limiting uptake capacity at 600 °C, apparent diffusion coefficient at 600 °C, and the first estimates of the FHR/HTGR relevant (600 °C, 20 Pa partial pressure) equilibrium uptake capacity and time to saturation. Desorption data highlights a new site for hydrogen uptake, not observed in nuclear graphite, which we attribute to the non-graphitized binder. Using the Kissinger method, we estimate activation energy for release from the desorption peaks, confirming the activation energy for release from the basal planes and providing the first estimate for the activation energy of release from the binder.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
NASA NTRS1972

Rare-gas effects on metabolism and inert gas narcosis

The detailed examination is reported of the theory that narcosis results from expansion of the cell membrane under high partial pressures. The research is partially based on the hypothesis that, like oxygen toxicity, the mechanism of metabolic effects of rare gases may be similar at both low and high pressures and are simply more observable at high pressures. Using adult female goats, the parameters measured include oxygen consumption, CO2 production, respiration rate, heart rate, rectal and skin temperatures and the analysis of electroencephalograms and evoked response. Additionally, the specific activity is measured of plasma glucose subsequent to injection of glucose-UL-C-14, intravenous infusion, specific activity of expired CO2, unesterified fatty acid levels and whole blood lactate-to-pyruvate ratios. Also studied were the effects of acetylsalicylic acid, vitamin E and cationic detergents (which alleviate narcosis) upon metabolic changes induced by high pressure narcosis.

Source record↗