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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 NTRS2005

NASA's East and Southeast Asia Initiatives: BASE-ASIA and EAST-AIRE

Airborne dust from northern China influences air quality and regional climate in Asia during springtime. However, with the economic growth in China, increased emission of particulate air pollutants from industrial and vehicular sources will not only impact the earth's radiation balance, but also adversely affect human health year round. In addition, both of dust and aerosol pollutants can be transported swiftly across the Pacific affecting North America within a few days. Asian dust and pollutant aerosols can be detected by their colored appearance using current Earth observing satellites (e.g., MODIS, SeaWiFS, TOMS, etc.) and by sunphotometers deployed on the surface of the earth. Biomass burning has been a regular practice for land clearing and conversion in many countries, especially those in Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia. However, the climatology of Southeast Asia is very different than that of Africa and South America, such that large-scale biomass burning causes smoke to interact extensively with clouds during the peak-burning season of March to April. Globally significant sources of greenhouse gases (eg., CO2, CH4), chemically active gases (e.g., NO, CO, HC, CH3Br), and atmospheric aerosols are produced by biomass burning. These gases influence the Earth-atmosphere system, impacting both global climate and tropospheric chemistry. Some aerosols can serve as cloud condensation nuclei, which play a role in determining cloud lifetime and precipitation, altering the earth's radiation and water budgets. Biomass burning also affects the biogeochemical cycling of nitrogen and carbon compounds; the hydrological cycle; land surface reflectivity and emissivity; and ecosystem biodiversity and stability. Two NASA initiatives, EAST-AIRE (East Asian Study of Tropospheric Aerosols: an International Regional Experiment) and BASE-ASIA (Biomass-burning Aerosols in South East-Asia: Smoke Impact Assessment) will be presented. The objectives of these initiatives is to develop a better understanding of the impacts of aerosols on regional-to-global climate, hydrological and carbon cycles, and tropospheric chemistry.

Tsay, S.↗
NASA NTRS1971

Space thermal control development

The results of experimental investigations on a number of various phase change materials (PCMs) and PCMs in combination with metals and other materials are reported. The evaluations include the following PCM system performance characteristics: PCM and PCM/filler thermal diffusivities, the effects of long-term thermal cycling, PCM-container compatibility, and catalyst effectiveness and stability. Three PCMs demonstrated performance acceptable enough to be considered for use in prototype aluminum thermal control devices. These three PCMs are lithium nitrate trihydrate with zinc hydroxy nitrate catalyst, acetamide, and myristic acid. Of the fillers tested, aluminum honeycomb filler was found to offer the most increase in system thermal diffusivity.

Hoover, M. J.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Ames Heat Pipe Experiment (AHPE) experiment description document

A gas-controlled variable-conductance heat pipe was qualified for flight aboard orbiting astronomical observatory (OAO3). Experiments were conducted to determine the performance and reliability of the pipe in the vacuum environment of space, and to demonstrate in a specific engineering application its effectiveness in providing temperature stability for spacecraft equipment which experiences varying electronic duty cycles and changing thermal boundary conditions. System design and hardware are discussed in detail.

Marcus, B. D.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Directionally solidified eutectic alloy gamma-beta

A pseudobinary eutectic alloy composition was determined by a previously developed bleed-out technique. The directionally solidified eutectic alloy with a composition of Ni-37.4Fe-10.0Cr-9.6Al (in wt%) had tensile strengths decreasing from 1,090 MPa at room temperature to 54 MPa at 1,100 C. The low density, excellent microstructural stability, and oxidation resistance of the alloy during thermal cycling suggest that it might have applicability as a gas turbine vane alloy while its relatively low high temperature strength precludes its use as a blade alloy. A zirconium addition increased the 750 C strength, and a tungsten addition was ineffective. The gamma=beta eutectic alloys appeared to obey a normal freezing relation.

Tewari, S. N.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Development and performance of a laser heterodyne spectrometer using tunable semiconductor lasers as local oscillators

A diode laser based IR heterodyne spectrometer for laboratory and field use was developed for high efficiency operation between 7.5 and 8.5 microns. The local oscillator is a PbSSe tunable diode laser kept continuously at operating temperatures of 12-60 K using a closed cycle cooler. The laser output frequency is controlled and stabilized using a high precision diode current supply, constant temperature controller, and a shock isolator mounted between the refrigerator cold tip and the diode mount. Single laser modes are selected by a grating placed in the local oscillator beam. The system employs reflecting optics throughout to minimize losses from internal reflection and absorption, and to eliminate chromatic effects. Spectral analysis of the diode laser output between 0 and 1 GHz reveals excess noise at many diode current settings, which limits the infrared spectral regions over which useful heterodyne operation can be achieved. System performance has been studied by making heterodyne measurements of etalon fringes and several Freon 13 (CF3Cl) absorption lines against a laboratory blackbody source. Preliminary field tests have also been performed using the Sun as a source.

Glenar, D.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Perturbation solutions of combustion instability problems

A method involving approximate modal analysis using the Galerkin method followed by an approximate solution of the resulting modal-amplitude equations by the two-variable perturbation method (method of multiple scales) is applied to two problems of pressure-sensitive nonlinear combustion instability in liquid-fuel rocket motors. One problem exhibits self-coupled instability while the other exhibits mode-coupled instability. In both cases it is possible to carry out the entire linear stability analysis and significant portions of the nonlinear stability analysis in closed form. In the problem of self-coupled instability the nonlinear stability boundary and approximate forms of the limit-cycle amplitudes and growth and decay rates are determined in closed form while the exact limit-cycle amplitudes and growth and decay rates are found numerically. In the problem of mode-coupled instability the limit-cycle amplitudes are found in closed form while the growth and decay rates are found numerically. The behavior of the solutions found by the perturbation method are in agreement with solutions obtained using complex numerical methods.

Googerdy, A.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Tunable diode-laser heterodyne spectrometer for remote observations near 8 microns

A diode-laser-based, ultrahigh resolution IR heterodyne spectrometer for laboratory and field use has been developed for operation between 7.5 and 8.5 microns. The local oscillator is a PbSe tunable diode laser kept continuously at operating temperatures of 12-60 K using a closed-cycle cooler. The laser output frequency is controlled and stabilized using a high-precision diode current supply, constant temperature controller, and a shock isolator mounted between the refrigerator cold tip and the diode mount. The system largely employs reflecting optics to minimize losses from internal reflection and absorption and to eliminate chromatic effects. Spectral analysis of the diode-laser output between 0 and 1 GHz reveals excess noise at many diode current settings, which limits the IR spectral regions over which useful heterodyne operation can be achieved. Observations have been made of atmospheric N2O, O3, and CH4 between 1170 and 1200/cm, using both a single-frequency swept IF channel and a 64-channel RF spectral line receiver with a total IF coverage of 1600 MHz.

Glenar, D.↗
NASA NTRS1982

CO2 lidar for measurements of trace gases and wind velocities

CO2 lidar systems technology and signal processing requirements relevant to measurement needs and sensitivity are discussed. Doppler processing is similar to microwave radar, with signal reception controlled by a computer capable of both direct and heterodyne operations. Trace gas concentrations have been obtained with the NASA DIAL system, and trace gas transport has been determined with Doppler lidar measurements for wind velocity and turbulence. High vertical resolution measurement of trace gases, wind velocity, and turbulence are most important in the planetary boundary layer and in regions between the PBL and the lower stratosphere. Shear measurements are critical for airport operational safety. A sensitivity analysis for heterodyne detection with the DIAL system and for short pulses using a Doppler lidar system is presented. The development of transient injection locking techniques, as well as frequency stability by reducing chirp and catalytic control of closed cycle CO2 laser chemistry, is described.

Hess, R. V.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Equipment and techniques for rapid bonding of composites

Rapid adhesive bonding concepts have been developed at NASA Langley which employ induction heating of thermoplastic composite matrices directly along the bond line and/or adherends without heating the entire structure, the supports, and the fixtures of the bonding assembly. Short term thermal cycling and water boil exposures have shown encouraging environmental stability for these rapid bonds. These bonding techniques have been extended to continuous seam bonding of metallic and composite panels with promising results for the bonding of both like and unlike adherends; the portability of the apparatus suggests that field repairs of damaged structures are possible.

Buckley, John D.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Atomic oxygen resistant protective coatings for the Hubble Space Telescope solar array in low earth orbit

The Hubble Space Telescope back-up solar array (BSFR-ATOX) was designed with atomic oxygen resistant materials to replace the original high efficiency cell (HEC) array. Pending qualification of the BSFR-ATOX array, protective coatings for application to the existing HEC array were evaluated. Three polysiloxane-type coating materials, SWS V-10, DC-100, and CV-1144 were evaluated with respect to atomic oxygen resistance, outgassing, contamination potential, stability under UV irradiation, electron-proton irradiation, thermal cycling, and long-term storage after application. Atomic oxygen testing included characterization of the atomic oxygen plasma using comparison of Kapton reaction to existing flight data, residual gas analysis, and temperature measurements. Results from these tests show DC-100 as a greater contamination concern if used in the vicinity of sensitive optical surfaces, i.e., solar cell cover glasses. The SWS V-10 and CV-1144 coatings met all acceptance criteria.

Burns, H. D.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Dynamics and control of coherent structures in the turbulent wall layer: An overview

We expand the velocity field in the vicinity of the wall in empirical eigenfunctions obtained from experiment. Truncating our system and using Galerkin projection, we obtain a closed set of non-linear ordinary differential equations with ten degrees of freedom. We find a rich dynamical behavior, including in particular a heteroclinic attracting orbit giving rise to intermittency. The intermittent jump from one attracting point to the other resembles in many respects the bursts observed in experiments. Specifically, the time between jumps and the duration of the jumps, is approximately that observed in a burst; the jump begins with the formation of a narrowed and intensified updraft, like the ejection phase of a burst, and is followed by a gentle, diffuse downdraft like the sweep phase of a burst. The magnitude of the Reynolds stress spike produced during a burst is limited by our truncation. The behavior is quite robust, much of it being due to the symmetries present (Aubry's group has examined dimensions up to 128 with persistence of the global behavior). We have examined eigenvalues and coefficients obtained from experiment, and from exact simulation, which differ in magnitude. Similar behavior is obtained in both cases; in the latter case, the heteroclinic orbits connect limit cycles instead of fixed points, corresponding to cross-stream waving of the streamwise rolls. The bifurcation diagram remains structurally similar, but somewhat distorted. The role of the pressure term is made clear - it triggers the intermittent jumps, which otherwise would occur at longer and longer intervals, as the system trajectory is attracted closer and closer to the heteroclinic cycle. The pressure term results in the jumps occurring at essentially random times, and the magnitude of the signal determines the average timing. Stretching of the wall region shows that the model is consistent with observations of polymer drag reduction. Change of the third order coefficients, corresponding to acceleration or deceleration of the mean flow, changes the heteroclinic cycles from attracting to repelling, increasing or decreasing the stability, in agreement with observations. The existence of fixed points is an artifact introduced by the projection; however, a decoupled model still displays the rich dynamics. Numerous assumptions made in Aubry et al. (1988) can now be proved exactly. Feeding back eigenfuncitons with the proper phase can delay the bursting, (the heteroclinic jump to the other fixed point), decreasing the drag. It is also possible to speed up the bursting, increasing mixing to control separation. Our approach is optimal for short time tracking in control.

Berkooz, Gal↗
NASA NTRS2002

Polar Wander on Triton and Pluto Due to Volatile Migration

Polar wander may occur on Triton and Pluto because of volatile migration. Triton, with its low obliquity, can theoretically sublimate volatiles (mostly nitrogen) at the rate of approximately 10(exp 14) kilograms per year from the equatorial regions and deposit them at the poles. Assuming Triton to be rigid on the sublimation timescale, after approximately 10(exp 5) years the polar caps would become large enough to cancel the rotational flattening, with a total mass equivalent to a global layer approximately 120-250 m in depth. At this point the pole wanders about the tidal bulge axis, which is the line joining Triton and Neptune. Rotation about the bulge axis might be expected to disturb the leading side/trailing side cratering statistics. Because no such disturbance is observed, it may be that Triton's mantle viscosity is too high but its surface volatile inventory is too low to permit wander. On the other hand, its mantle viscosity might be low, so that any uncompensated cap load might be expected to wander toward the tidal bulge axis. In this case, the axis of wander passes through the equator from the leading side to the trailing side; rotation about this wander axis would not disturb the cratering statistics. Low-viscosity polar wander may explain the bright southern hemisphere: this is the pole which is wandering toward the equator. In any case the permanent polar caps may be geologically very young. Polar wander may possibly take place on Pluto, due to its obliquity oscillations and perihelion-pole geometry. However, Pluto is probably not experiencing any wander at present. The Sun has been shining strongly on the poles over the last half of the obliquity cycle, so that volatiles should migrate to the equator, stabilizing the planet against wander. Spacecraft missions to Triton and Pluto which measure the dynamical flattening could give information about the accumulation of volatiles at the poles. Such information is best obtained by measuring gravity and topography from orbiters, as was done for Mars with the highly successful Mars Global Surveyor.

Rubincam, David Parry↗
NASA NTRS2013

Assessing 'Dangerous Climate Change': Required Reduction of Carbon Emissions to Protect Young People, Future Generations and Nature

We assess climate impacts of global warming using ongoing observations and paleoclimate data. We use Earth's measured energy imbalance, paleoclimate data, and simple representations of the global carbon cycle and temperature to define emission reductions needed to stabilize climate and avoid potentially disastrous impacts on today's young people, future generations, and nature. A cumulative industrial-era limit of approx.500 GtC fossil fuel emissions and 100 GtC storage in the biosphere and soil would keep climate close to the Holocene range to which humanity and other species are adapted. Cumulative emissions of approx.1000 GtC, sometimes associated with 2 C global warming, would spur "slow" feedbacks and eventual warming of 3-4 C with disastrous consequences. Rapid emissions reduction is required to restore Earth's energy balance and avoid ocean heat uptake that would practically guarantee irreversible effects. Continuation of high fossil fuel emissions, given current knowledge of the consequences, would be an act of extraordinary witting intergenerational injustice. Responsible policymaking requires a rising price on carbon emissions that would preclude emissions from most remaining coal and unconventional fossil fuels and phase down emissions from conventional fossil fuels.

climate↗
NASA NTRS2022

A Primordial Atmospheric Origin of Hydrospheric Deuterium Enrichment on Mars

The deuterium-to-hydrogen (D/H or 2H/1H) ratio of Martian atmospheric water (~6× standard mean ocean water, SMOW) is higher than that of known sources, requiring planetary enrichment. A recent measurement by NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory rover Curiosity of Hesperian-era (>3 Ga) clays yields a D/H ratio ~3×SMOW, demonstrating that most of the enrichment occurs early in Mars’s history, reinforcing the conclusions of Martian meteorite studies. As on Venus, Mars’s D/H enrichment is widely thought to reflect preferential loss to space of 1H (protium) relative to 2H (deuterium), but both the cause and the global environmental context of large and early hydrogen losses remain to be determined. Here, we apply a recent model of primordial atmosphere evolution to Mars, link the magma ocean of the accretion epoch with a subsequent water-ocean epoch, and calculate the behavior of deuterium for comparison with the observed record. In contrast to earlier works that consider Martian D/H fractionation in atmospheres in which hydrogen reservoirs are present exclusively as H2O or H2, here we consider 2-component (H2O-H2) outgassed atmospheres in which both condensed (H2O) and escaping (H2) components – and their interaction – are explicitly calculated. We find that a a ≈2-3× hydrospheric deuterium-enrichment is produced rapidly if the Martian magma ocean is chemically reducing at last equilibration with the primordial atmosphere, making H2 and CO the initially dominant species, with minor abundances of H2O and CO2. Reducing gases – in particular H2 – can cause substantial greenhouse warming and prevent a water ocean from freezing immediately after the magma ocean epoch. We find that greenhouse warming due to plausible H2 inventories (pH2=1-102 bars) yields surface temperatures high enough (Ts=290-560 K) to stabilize a water ocean and produce an early hydrological cycle through which surface water can be circulated. Moreover, the pressure-temperature conditions are high enough to produce ocean-atmosphere H2O-H2 isotopic equilibrium through gas-phase deuterium exchange such that surface H2O strongly concentrates deuterium relative to H2, which preferentially takes up protium and escapes from the primordial atmosphere. The efficient physical separation of deuterium-rich (H2O) and deuterium-poor (H2) species via condensation permits equilibrium isotopic partitioning and early atmospheric escape to be recorded in modern crustal reservoirs. The proposed scenario of primordial H2-CO-rich outgassing and escape suggests significant durations (>Myr) of chemical conditions on the Martian surface conducive to prebiotic chemistry immediately following magma ocean crystallization.

Mars↗
NASA NTRS1976

Ceramic thermal-barrier coatings for cooled turbines

Coating systems consisting of a plasma sprayed layer of zirconia stabilized with either yttria, magnesia or calcia over a thin alloy bond coat have been developed, their potential was analyzed and their durability and benefits evaluated in a turbojet engine. The coatings on air cooled rotating blades were in good condition after completing as many as 500 two-minute cycles of engine operation between full power at a gas temperature of 1644 K and flameout, or as much as 150 hours of steady state operation on cooled vanes and blades at gas temperatures as high as 1644 K with 35 start and stop cycles. On the basis of durability and processing cost, the yttria stabilized zirconia was considered the best of the three coatings investigated.

Liebert, C. H.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Characterization of Low Noise, Precision Voltage Reference REF5025-HT Under Extreme Temperatures

The performance of Texas Instruments precision voltage reference REF5025-HT was assessed under extreme temperatures. This low noise, 2.5 V output chip is suitable for use in high temperature down-hole drilling applications, but no data existed on its performance at cryogenic temperatures. The device was characterized in terms of output voltage and supply current at different input voltage levels as a function of temperature between +210 C and -190 C. Line and load regulation characteristics were also established at six load levels and at different temperatures. Restart capability at extreme temperatures and the effects of thermal cycling, covering the test temperature range, on its operation and stability were also investigated. Under no load condition, the voltage reference chip exhibited good stability in its output over the temperature range of -50 C to +200 C. Outside that temperature range, output voltage did change as temperature was changed. For example, at the extreme temperatures of +210 C and - 190 C, the output level dropped to 2.43 V and 2.32 V, respectively as compared to the nominal value of 2.5 V. At cryogenic test temperatures of -100 C and -150 C the output voltage dropped by about 20%. The quiescent supply current of the voltage reference varied slightly with temperature but remained close to its specified value. In terms of line regulation, the device exhibited excellent stability between -50 C and +150 C over the entire input voltage range and load levels. At the other test temperatures, however, while line regulation became poor at cryogenic temperatures of -100 C and below, it suffered slight degradation at the extreme high temperature but only at the high load level of 10 mA. The voltage reference also exhibited very good load regulation with temperature down to -100 C, but its output dropped sharply at +210 C only at the heavy load of 10 mA. The semiconductor chip was able restart at the extreme temperatures of -190 C and +210 C, and the limited thermal cycling did not influence its characteristics and had no impact on its packaging as no structural or physical damage was observed.

Patterson, Richard↗
NASA NTRS1985

A systematic plan for the continued study of dimensional stability of metallic alloys considered for the fabrication of cryogenic wind tunnel models

Interrelated research and development activities, phased development of stepped specimen program are documented and a sequence for a specific program of machining, validation and heat treatment cycles for one material are described. Proposed work for the next phase of dimensional stability research is presented and further technology development activities are proposed.

Wigley, D. A.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Biogeochemical cycling of manganese in Oneida Lake, New York: whole lake studies of manganese

Oneida Lake, New York is a eutrophic freshwater lake known for its abundant manganese nodules and a dynamic manganese cycle. Temporal and spatial distribution of soluble and particulate manganese in the water column of the lake were analyzed over a 3-year period and correlated with other variables such as oxygen, pH, and temperature. Only data from 1988 are shown. Manganese is removed from the water column in the spring via conversion to particulate form and deposited in the bottom sediments. This removal is due to biological factors, as the lake Eh/pH conditions alone can not account for the oxidation of the soluble manganese Mn(II). During the summer months the manganese from microbial reduction moves from the sediments to the water column. In periods of stratification the soluble Mn(II) builds up to concentrations of 20 micromoles or more in the bottom waters. When mixing occurs, the soluble Mn(II) is rapidly removed via oxidation. This cycle occurs more than once during the summer, with each manganese atom probably being used several times for the oxidation of organic carbon. At the end of the fall, whole lake concentrations of manganese stabilize, and remain at about 1 micromole until the following summer, when the cycle begins again. Inputs and outflows from the lake indicate that the active Mn cycle is primarily internal, with a small accumulation each year into ferromanganese nodules located in the oxic zones of the lake.

NASA Discipline Exobiology↗