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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

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NASA NTRS1976

A fixed collector employing reversible vee-trough concentrator and a vacuum tube receiver for high temperature solar energy systems

A solar heat collection system employing non-tracking reflectors integrated with a fixed vacuum tube receiver which achieves modest year-round concentration (about 2) of the sunlight at low capital costs is discussed. The axis of the vee-trough reflector lies in a east-west direction and requires reversal of the reflector surfaces only twice a year without disturbing the receiver tubes and associated plumbing. It collects most of the diffuse flux. The vacuum tube receiver with selective absorber has no convection losses while radiation and conduction losses are minimal. Significant cost reductions are offered since the vee-trough can be fabricated from inexpensive polished or plastic reflector laminated sheet metal covering 2/3 of the collection area, and only about 1/3 of the area is covered with the more expensive vacuum tube receivers. Thermal and economic performance of the vee-trough vacuum tube system, year-round variation of the concentration factor, incident flux, useful heat per unit area at various operation temperatures and energy cost estimates are presented. The electrical energy cost is estimated to be 77 mills/kWh, and the system construction cost is estimated to be $1140/kWe.

Selcuk, M. K.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Performance prediction evaluation of ceramic materials in point-focusing solar receivers

A performance prediction was adapted to evaluate the use of ceramic materials in solar receivers for point focusing distributed applications. System requirements were determined including the receiver operating environment and system operating parameters for various engine types. Preliminary receiver designs were evolved from these system requirements. Specific receiver designs were then evaluated to determine material functional requirements.

Ewing, J.↗

NASA NTRS1979

The low-noise 115-GHz receiver on the Columbia-GISS 4-ft radio telescope

The superheterodyne millimeter-wave radiometer on the Columbia-GISS 4-ft telescope is described. This receiver uses a room-temperature Schottky diode mixer, with a resonant-ring filter as LO diplexer. The diplexer has low signal loss, efficient LO power coupling, and suppresses most of the LO noise at both sidebands. The receiver IF section has a parametric amplifier as its first stage with sufficient gain to overcome the second-stage amplifier noise. A broad-banded quarter-wave impedance transformer minimizes the mismatch between mixer and paramp. At 115 GHz, the SSB receiver noise temperature is 860 K, which is believed to be the lowest figure so far reported for a room-temperature receiver at this frequency.

Cong, H.-I.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Antenna feed system for receiving circular polarization and transmitting linear polarization

An invention is described which provides for receiving a circularly polarized signal from an antenna feed connected to orthogonally spaced antenna elements. It also provides for transmitting a linearly polarized signal through the same feed without switches, and without suffering a 3 dB polarization mismatch loss, using an arrangement of hybrid junctions. The arrangement is comprised of two dividing hybrid junctions, each connected to a different pair of antenna elements and a summing hybrid junction. In one version, a receiver is connected to the summing hybrid junction directly. A diplexer is used to connect a transmitter to only one pair of antenna elements. In another version, designated left and right circularly polarized (LCP and RCP) transmitters are connected to the summing hybrid junction by separate diplexers, and separate LCP and RCP sensitive receivers are connected to the diplexers in order to transmit linearly polarized signals using all four antenna elements while receiving circularly polarized signals as before. An orthomode junction and horn antenna may replace the two dividing hybrid junctions and antenna feed.

Seidel, B. L.↗

NASA NTRS1979

High temperature solar thermal receiver

A design concept for a high temperature solar thermal receiver to operate at 3 atmospheres pressure and 2500 F outlet was developed. The performance and complexity of windowed matrix, tube-header, and extended surface receivers were evaluated. The windowed matrix receiver proved to offer substantial cost and performance benefits. An efficient and cost effective hardware design was evaluated for a receiver which can be readily interfaced to fuel and chemical processes or to heat engines for power generation.

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NASA NTRS1980

Design considerations for optical heterodyne receivers: A review

The current state of knowledge concerning optical heterodyne receivers is reviewed. Following a discussion of noise processes in the heterodyne receiver and the manner in which sensitivity is increased through time integration of the detected signal, an expression for the mean square signal current is derived by mixing a coherent local oscillator with a partially coherent, quasimonochromatic source. Then the manner in which the IF signal calculation can be transferred to any convenient plane in the optical front end of the receiver is demonstrated. Using these techniques, a relatively simple equation is obtained for the coherently detected signal from an extended incoherent source and applied to the heterodyne detection of an extended thermal source and to the backscatter lidar problem where the antenna patterns of both the transmitter beam and heterodyne receiver must be taken into account. Finally, the detection of a coherent source is considered and, in particular, a distant point source such as a star or laser transmitter in a long range heterodyne communications system is discussed.

Degnan, J. J.↗

NASA NTRS1979

False lock performance of quadriphase receivers

Quadriphase receivers, like biphase receivers, have the ability to false lock on a sideband on the data modulation. The theory associated with this phenomenon for receivers of binary phase-shift-keying (BPSK), using Costas loop demodulation, has recently been documented in the literature. This paper considers the corresponding theory for receivers of balanced quadriphase-shift-keying (QPSK) employing a quadriphase Costas loop (or equivalent fourth-power loop) for demodulation. Specific closed form expressions for false lock performance are developed and numerically evaluated for the particular case of single pole arm filters and an NRZ data format for each of the two statistically independent quadrature modulations.

Simon, M. K.↗

NASA NTRS1981

High temperature solar receiver

The development of a high temperature solar thermal receiver is described. A prototype receiver and associated test support (auxiliary) hardware was fabricated. Shakedown and initial performance tests of the prototype receiver were performed. Maximum outlet temperatures of 1600 F were achieved at 100% solar (70-75 kW) input power with 900 F inlet temperatures and a subsequent testing was concluded by a 2550 F outlet run. The window retaining assembly was modified to improve its tolerance for thermal distortion of the flanges. It is shown that cost effective receiver designs can be implemented within the framework of present materials technology.

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NASA NTRS1981

Design considerations for a LORAN-C timing receiver in a hostile signal to noise environment

The environment in which a LORAN-C Timing Receiver may function effectively depends to a large extent on the techniques utilized to insure that interfering signals within the pass band of the unit are neutralized. The baseline performance manually operated timing receivers is discussed and the basic design considerations and necessary parameters for an automatic unit utilizing today's technology are established. Actual performance data is presented comparing the results obtained from a present generation timing receiver against a new generation microprocessor controlled automatic acquisition receiver. The achievements possible in a wide range of signal to noise situations are demonstrated.

Porter, J. W.↗

NASA NTRS1981

An error budget for the JPL hydrogen maser receiver

The hydrogen maser receiver is a synthesizer that converts the maser signal, at about 1420 MHz, to a set of output signals at 100, 20, 10, 5, 1, and 0.1 MHz. The contribution of the receiver and its component modules to the frequency instability and phase noise of each of its outputs is estimated, and these results are compared to published measurements of the 100-MHz output of the frequency standard, which consists of a maser plus its receiver. One can then assess how much the receiver degrades the performance of the frequency standard.

Greenhall, C. A.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Development, solar test, and evaluation of a high-temperature air receiver for point-focusing parabolic dish applications

A high temperature solar receiver was fabricated and tested in excess of 1370 C on an 11-meter-diameter test bed concentrator at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory Parabolic Dish Test Site, Edwards, California. The 60-kilowatt thermal receiver design utilizes state-of-the-art silicon carbide honeycomb matrix panels to receive and transfer the solar energy and mullite elements for thermal buffer storage. Solar tests were conducted with indicated air exit temperatures ranging from 885 C (1625 F) to 1427 C (2600 F), mass flow rates of 75 to 105 g/sec (0.16 to 0.23 lbm/sec), and pressures up to 265 kPa absolute (38.4 psia). Estimates of efficiency are 59.7% at 1120 C (2048 F) to 80.6% at 885 C (1625 F) when aperture spillage losses are considered separately. Results are presented which demonstrate the feasibility of this innovative receiver concept for point-focusing parabolic dish applications over a wide temperature range.

Hanseth, E. J.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Construction and performance characteristics of a prototype NBS/GPS receiver

The construction and performance characteristics of a low-cost, high-accuracy GPS C/A receiver are reviewed. The receiver takes advantage of a simultaneous common view of the same satellites, which could allow time transfer with accuracies on the order of 10 ns or less for baselines as large as 3000 km. Frequency can be measured to better than one part in 10 to the 14th. The software and the receiver are configured to be fully automatic with a Z80A microprocessor setting the amplitude for the lock loops of the receiver and setting the synthesizer with corrects for Doppler shift. The microprocessor can calibrate a 0.1 ns built-in time interval counter.

Davis, D. D.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Lidar clear atmosphere multiple scattering dependence on receiver range

The degree of multiple scattering encountered by nadir-directed lidar in clear atmosphere conditions was assessed by the Monte Carlo method based on a model of the vertical distribution of aerosol scattering in the atmosphere. The lowest 3 km of the atmosphere were regarded as containing 90% of the aerosol optical thickness, with the unity normalized value for the forward peak of the aerosol phase function being 4.38 at a 694.3 nm laser wavelength. Results were obtained for two lidar receiver heights for three receiver field of view (FOV) angular halfwidths. An increase in receiver height was determined to cause a significant increase in the amount of angular scattering of the lidar signal. A factor of 20 change in receiver height produced an order of magnitude change in the single to multiple scattering ratio.

Spinhirne, J. D.↗

NASA NTRS1982

High-temperature ceramic heat exchanger element for a solar thermal receiver

A study was performed by AiResearch Manufacturing Company, a division of The Garrett Corporation, on the development a high-temperature ceramic heat exchanger element to be integrated into a solar receiver producing heated air. A number of conceptual designs were developed for heat exchanger elements of differing configuration. These were evaluated with respect to thermal performance, pressure drop, structural integrity, and fabricability. The final design selection identified a finned ceramic shell as the most favorable concept. The shell is surrounded by a larger metallic shell. The flanges of the two shells are sealed to provide a leak-tight pressure vessel. The ceramic shell is to be fabricated by an innovative combination of slip casting the receiver walls and precision casting the heat transfer finned plates. The fins are bonded to the shell during firing. The unit is sized to produce 2150 F ar at 2.7 atm pressure, with a pressure drop of about 2 percent of the inlet pressure. This size is compatible with a solar collector providing a receiver input of 85 kw(th). Fabrication of a one-half scale demonstrator ceramic receiver has been completed.

Strumpf, H. J.↗

NASA NTRS1982

A high temperature ceramic heat exchanger element for a solar thermal receiver

The development of a high-temperature ceramic heat exchanger element to be integrated into a solar receiver producing heated air was studied. A number of conceptual designs were developed for heat exchanger elements of differing configuration. These were evaluated with respect to thermal performance, pressure drop, structural integrity, and fabricability. The final design selection identified a finned ceramic shell as the most favorable concept. The shell is surrounded by a larger metallic shell. The flanges of the two shells are sealed to provide a leak-tight pressure vessel. The ceramic shell is to be fabricated by a innovative combination of slip casting the receiver walls and precision casting the heat transfer finned plates. The fins are bonded to the shell during firing. The unit is sized to produce 2150 F air at 2.7 atm pressure, with a pressure drop of about 2 percent of the inlet pressure. This size is compatible with a solar collector providing a receiver input of 85 kw(th). Fabrication of a one-half scale demonstrator ceramic receiver was completed.

Strumpf, H. J.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Second-law efficiency of solar-thermal cavity receivers

Properly quantified performance of a solar-thermal cavity receiver must not only account for the energy gains and losses as dictated by the First Law of thermodynamics, but it must also account for the quality of that energy. However, energy quality can only be determined from the Second Law. An equation for the Second Law efficiency of a cavity receiver is derived from the definition of available energy, which is a thermodynamic property that measures the maximum amount of work obtainable when a system is allowed to come into unrestrained equilibrium with the surrounding environment. The fundamental concepts of the entropy and availability of radiation were explored from which a workable relationship among the reflected cone half-angle, the insolation, and the concentrator geometric characteristics was developed as part of the derivation of the Second Law efficiency. First and Second Law efficiencies were compared for data collected from two receivers that were designed for different purposes. A Second Law approach to quantifying the performance of a solar-thermal cavity receiver lends greater insight into the total performance than does the conventional First Law method.

Moynihan, P. I.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Low-noise 115-GHz receiver using superconducting tunnel junctions

A 110-118-GHz receiver based on a superconducting quasiparticle tunnel junction mixer is described. The single-sideband noise temperature is as low as 68 + or - 3 K. This is nearly twice the sensitivity of any other receiver at this frequency. The receiver was designed using a low-frequency scale model in conjunction with the quantum mixer theory. A scaled version of the receiver for operation at 46 GHz has a single-sideband noise temperature of 55 K. The factors leading to the success of this design are discussed.

Pan, S.-K.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Microwave blackbodies for spaceborne receivers

The properties of microwave blackbody targets are explained as they apply to the calibration of spaceborne receivers. Also described are several practicable, blackbody targets used to test and calibrate receivers in the laboratory and in the thermal vacuum chamber. Problems with the precision and the accuracy of blackbody targets, and blackbody target design concepts that overcome some of the accuracy limitations present in existing target designs, are presented. The principle of the Brewster angle blackbody target is described where the blackbody is applied as a fixed-temperature test target in the laboratory and as a variable-temperature target in the thermal vacuum chamber. The reflectivity of a Brewster angle target is measured in the laboratory. From this measurement, the emissivity of the target is calculated. Radiatively cooled thermal suspensions are discussed as the coolants of blackbody targets and waveguide terminations that function as calibration devices in spaceborne receivers. Examples are given for the design of radiatively cooled thermal suspensions. Corrugated-horn antennas used to observe the cosmic background and to provide a cold-calibration source for spaceborne receivers are described.

Stacey, J. M.↗