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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

Planetary geology, stellar evolution and galactic cosmology

Field studies of selected basalt flows in the Snake River Plain, Idaho, were made for comparative lunar and Mars geological investigations. Studies of basalt lava tubes were also initiated in Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, and northern California. The main effort in the stellar evolution research is toward the development of a computer code to calculate hydrodynamic flow coupled with radiative energy transport. Estimates of the rotation effects on a collapsing cloud indicate that the total angular momentum is the critical parameter. The study of Paschen and Balmer alpha lines of positronium atoms in the center of a galaxy is mentioned.

Source record↗

Thermal surveillance of volcanoes of the Cascade Range and Iceland utilizing ERTS DCP systems and imagery

The author has identified the following significant results. Significant results of the thermal surveillance of volcanoes experiment during 1972 included the design, construction, emplacement, and successful operation at volcanic sites in the Cascade Range, North America and on Surtsey, Iceland, of automated thermistor arrays which transmit ground and fumarole temperatures via the ERTS-1 data communication system to Goddard Space Flight Center. Temperature, radiance, and anomalous heat flow variations are being plotted by a U.S. Geological Survey IBM 360/65 computer program to show daily fluctuations at each of the sites. Results are being compiled in conjunction with NASA and USGS aircraft infrared survey data to provide thermal energy yield estimates during the current repose period of several Cascade Range volcanic systems. ERTS-1 MSS images have provided new information on the extent of structural elements controlling thermal emission at Lassen Volcanic National Park.

Friedman, J. D.↗

Mg/2+/-Fe/2+/ order-disorder in cummingtonite, /Mg, Fe/7Si8O22/OH/2 - A new geothermometer.

Determination of the temperature dependence of the Mg(2+)-Fe(2+) distribution between the M4 site and the M1, M2 and M3 sites in magnesium-rich cummingtonites by Fe-57 Mossbauer resonance spectroscopy. For the basic reversible ion-exchange reaction involved, the Gibbs free energy is estimated to be 3.6 to 4.1 kcal/mole, assuming an ideal solution model at each set of sites. The crystallization temperatures of two cummingtonite-bearing metamorphosed ultrabasic rocks are estimated to be 265 and 290 deg C. The Mossbauer resonance spectra are found to be an effective basis for detecting changes in site occupancies as a function of temperature.

Ghose, S.↗

Need for a regional wind survey

Accurate measurements for the purpose of estimating wind energies are proposed in those regions of the USA where the greatest potentials exists. Preliminary wind characteristic calculations from weather station data are provided for the Southern Great Plains region; wind energies from 153 to 212 kW-hr/(ft squared-per year) for 1970 to 1972 are determined. It is concluded that a wind energy survey based on data compiled from weather service stations is feasible for determining the energy potential of a windpowered integrated energy network.

Nelson, V.↗

Acceleration of electrons in solar flares

Observations pertaining to the acceleration and emission of 10 to 100 keV electrons in small solar flares are reviewed. The energy spectrum of the accelerated electrons is obtained from observations of X-rays and escaping electrons. The loss of the electrons through various processes, such as collisions with the ambient medium, escape to the interplanetary medium, and emission of X-rays and radio waves, is considered, and quantitative energy loss estimates obtained for each process. The role of the accelerated electrons in the overall flare mechanism is examined and an attempt is made to develop a consistent picture of a small electron flare.

Lin, R. P.↗

Transitions 2s/2/ 2p/k/ - 2s 2p/k+1/ of the F I, O I, and N I isoelectronic sequences

Transitions of the type 2s/2/ 2p/k/ - 2s 2p/k+1/ have been identified for the elements from titanium through nickel for ions of the fluorine, oxygen, and nitrogen isoelectronic sequences. Wavelengths, visual intensity estimates, and energies are given. The energy differences of levels of the ground configuration are compared with predictions based on semiempirical equations derived by Edlen. Some of the lines of these isoelectronic sequences should be strong lines in solar-flare spectra.

Doschek, G. A.↗

NiCd battery reliability for shuttle serviced spacecraft

Data from life-cycle testing of 22-cell NiCd batteries designed for shuttle-service spacecrafts are analyzed, first by averaging battery cycle lives as a function of temperature and depth of discharge, and then by calculating single cell failure and survival probabilities as a function of temperature, depth of discharge, and number of operating cycles. The single cell data are used to calculate battery survival probabilities. A mathematical failure model which is a function of the quantity of charge through the battery and the temperature is characterized, suggesting a predictive capability for accurate estimation of energy storage subsystem life and performance of accelerated tests. The failure mechanism described is apparently independent of most charge-discharge parameters and common to most cell sizes.

Eliason, J.↗

A preliminary assessment of the feasibility of deriving liquid and gaseous fuels from grown and waste organics

The anticipated depletion of our resources of natural gas and petroleum in a few decades has caused a search for renewable sources of fuel. Among the possibilities is the chemical conversion of waste and grown organic matter into gaseous or liquid fuels. The overall feasibility of such a system is considered from the technical, economic, and social viewpoints. Although there are a number of difficult problems to overcome, this preliminary study indicates that this option could provide between 4 and 10 percent of the U.S. energy needs. Estimated costs of fuels derived from grown organic material are appreciably higher than today's market price for fossil fuel. The cost of fuel derived from waste organics is competitive with fossil fuel prices. Economic and social reasons will prohibit the allocation of good food producing land to fuel crop production.

Graham, R. W.↗

Suburb-to-suburb intercity travel: Energy, time and dollar expenditures

The effect of adding suburb to terminal and terminal to suburb travel is examined. The energy consumed in entire trips was estimated. The total energy costs are compared with total travel times, and dollar costs to the traveler. Trips between origins in seven suburbs of Newark, New Jersey and destinations in two Washington, D. C. suburbs are analyzed.

Fels, M. F.↗

Ice crystal growth in water vapor at high saturation

A simple technique is presented for estimating the energy of formation of monolayer icelike clusters at ice-vapor interfaces. Under the assumptions that the ice surfaces are smooth and sparsely covered with monomers, dimers, etc., in near equilibrium with the vapor, and that the bond energies and configurational entropy dominate the energy of formation, it is found that the basal surfaces prefer triangular embryos with an orientation which reverses from layer to layer, whereas the most stable clusters on the prism surfaces are rectangular in configuration. The preferred prism clusters are determined to have a significantly lower critical energy of formation than the basal clusters due to differences in both corner free energy and configurational entropy. This phenomenon provides a mechanism for strongly anisotropic crystal growth at high saturations.

Bartley, D. L.↗

Gaseous-fuel nuclear reactor research for multimegawatt power in space

In the gaseous-fuel reactor concept, the fissile material is contained in a moderator-reflector cavity and exists in the form of a flowing gas or plasma separated from the cavity walls by means of fluid mechanical forces. Temperatures in excess of structural limitations are possible for low-specific-mass power and high-specific-impulse propulsion in space. Experiments have been conducted with a canister filled with enriched UF6 inserted into a beryllium-reflected cavity. A theoretically predicted critical mass of 6 kg was measured. The UF6 was also circulated through this cavity, demonstrating stable reactor operation with the fuel in motion. Because the flowing gaseous fuel can be continuously processed, the radioactive waste in this type of reactor can be kept small. Another potential of fissioning gases is the possibility of converting the kinetic energy of fission fragments directly into coherent electromagnetic radiation, the nuclear pumping of lasers. Numerous nuclear laser experiments indicate the possibility of transmitting power in space directly from fission energy. The estimated specific mass of a multimegawatt gaseous-fuel reactor power system is from 1 to 5 kg/kW while the companion laser-power receiver station would be much lower in specific mass.

Thom, K.↗

A preference-ordered discrete-gaming approach to air-combat analysis

An approach to one-on-one air-combat analysis is described which employs discrete gaming of a parameterized model featuring choice between several closed-loop control policies. A preference-ordering formulation due to Falco is applied to rational choice between outcomes: win, loss, mutual capture, purposeful disengagement, draw. Approximate optimization is provided by an active-cell scheme similar to Falco's obtained by a 'backing up' process similar to that of Kopp. The approach is designed primarily for short-duration duels between craft with large-envelope weaponry. Some illustrative computations are presented for an example modeled using constant-speed vehicles and very rough estimation of energy shifts.

Kelley, H. J.↗

Simultaneous measurements of energetic protons and electrons in the distant magnetosheath, magnetotail, and upstream in the solar wind

The paper investigates the presence of energetic protons and electrons in the magnetopause/magnetosheath region of the tail as well as upstream from the bow shock in the solar wind, estimates the energy densities of protons and electrons, and assesses the relationship between the energies associated with these particles and the dayside reconnection region. The study is based on measurements in experiments on the IMP 7 and 8 spacecraft. It is shown that the energetic protons and electrons are present not only in the distant magnetosheath but also in the upstream solar wind and inside the magnetosphere. These protons carry much more energy (x50) than the electrons, and most likely originate inside the magnetosphere. Thus there appears to be little connection between the presence of these energetic particles in the distant magnetosheath region and the dayside reconnection region.

Krimigis, S. M.↗

Heat flux estimates over vegetation derived using radiometric surface temperatures and a boundary layer model in comparison with sodar-derived values

An attempt was made to validate a method that uses radiometric surface temperatures and a boundary layer model to estimate surface energy budgets and characteristics. Surface temperatures from a hand-held radiometer and sodar data were collected simultaneously on seven days between mid-July and mid-October 1980. The comparison of the RDMS and sodar heat fluxes proved disappointing. Free convection conditions, required to produce sodar-derived heat fluxes, were inhibited by a terrain-induced low level inversion. Only three out of seven cases produced meaningful sodar heat fluxes. Of those three cases, one had good agreement and the other two had sodar heat fluxes 15 to 45 w/sq m lower than the RDMS values. Since the RDMS method is relatively untested, it was impossible to conclusively determine its validity from the results. There was evidence that the true heat flux was not underestimated by the RDMS, so it could be concluded that the Bowen ratios over well-watered vegetation were likely to be quite small.

Cooper, J. N.↗

The albedo of Uranus

New absolute spectrophotometry of Uranus between 3295 A and 7676 A obtained at spectral resolutions of 4 A and 8 A during its 1981 apparition is reported and compared with previous observations by Younkin (1970) recorded during the 1961-1963 apparitions. Geometric albedos are calculated, and Bond albedos are estimated for both sets of data. An increase in brightness of about 14% and a color change occurred during the interval between the epochs of observation, consistent with the high north-polar haze reported by Price and Franz (1979) and the change in aspect of the planet. An upper limit to the internal heat source is estimated from energy balance considerations.

Lockwood, G. W.↗

Hydrogen atom migration in the oxidation of aldehydes - O(3P) + H2CO

An ab initio study of hydrogen atom migration in methylenebis(oxy)H2CO2(3B2) to form triplet formic acid HCOOH (3A1) is reported. From HF, MCHF, and CI calculated energy barriers, the activation energy is estimated to be no less than 30 kcal/mol. It is concluded that the hydrogen migration channel is not accessible in recent room temperature experiments on the O(3P) + H2CO reaction.

Dupuis, M.↗