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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

Instrument canister thermal control

A transient thermal analysis and test of a thermal control canister is described. The 1 x 1 x 3 m canister provides a uniform thermal environment for shuttle instrument payloads requiring fine temperature control, the design goal being operation between 0 C and 20 C with a range of plus or minus 1 C at any selected set-point temperature. The canister side walls are isothermalized by a system of longitudinal and circumferential heat pipes rejecting heat through feedback controlled, variable conductance heat pipes to side mounted radiators. A breadboard model of two side walls and two radiators was tested in a thermal vacuum chamber. The breadboard was stable over a wide range of effective environments, experiment dissipations, and control point temperature levels.

Harwell, W.↗

Contemplating the plasmalemmal control center model

An abundant epidermal mechanosensory calcium-selective ion channel appears able not only to detect mechanical stimuli such as those that initiate gravitropism but also to detect thermal, electrical, and various chemical stimuli. Because it responds to multimodal input with a second messenger output, this channel system seems likely to be an integrator that can engage in feedbacks with many other systems of the cell--and feedback is the hallmark of regulation. In general, the mechanical tension required for channel activation is likely transmitted from the relatively rigid cell wall to the plasma membrane system via linkage or adhesion sites that display antigenicities recognized by antibodies to animal beta-1 integrin, vitronectin, and fibronectin and which have mechanical connections to the cytoskeleton. Thus, functionally, leverage exerted against any given adhesion site will tend to control channels within a surrounding domain. Reactions initiated by passage of calcium ions through the channels could presumably be more effectively regulated if channels within the domains were somewhat clustered and if appropriate receptors, kinases, porters, pumps, and some key cytoskeletal anchoring sites were in turn clustered about them. Accumulating evidence suggests not only that activity of clusters of channels may contribute to control of cytoskeletal architecture and of regulatory protein function within their domain, but also that both a variety of regulatory proteins and components of the cortical cytoskeleton may contribute to control of channel activity. The emerging capabilities of electronic optical microscopy are well suited for resolving the spatial distributions of many of these cytoskeletal and regulatory molecules in living cells, and for following some of their behaviors as channels are stimulated to open and cytosolic calcium builds in their vicinity. Such microscopy, coupled with biochemical and physiological probing, should help to establish the nature of the feedback loops putatively controlled by the linkage sites and their channel domains.

Review↗

Development of an improved model for runback water on aircraft surfaces

A computer simulation for 'running wet' and evaporative aircraft anti-icing systems is developed. The model is based on the analysis of the liquid water film which forms in the regions of direct impingement and, then, breaks up near the impingement limits into rivulets. The wetness factor distribution resulting from the film breakup and the rivulet configuration on the surface are predicted using a stability analysis theory and the laws of mass energy conservation. The solid structure is modeled as a multiple layer wall. The anti-icing system modeled is of the thermal type utilizing hot air and/or electrical heating elements embedded within the wall layers. Experimental observations revealing some of the basic physics of the water flow on the surface are presented. Detailed qualitative documentation of the tests are given. Several numerical examples are considered, and the effect of some of the involved parameters on the system performance are investigated.

Al-Khalil, Kamel M.↗

Acoustic Test Results of Melamine Foam with Application to Payload Fairing Acoustic Attenuation Systems

A spacecraft at launch is subjected to a harsh acoustic and vibration environment resulting from the passage of acoustic energy, created during the liftoff of a launch vehicle, through the vehicle's payload fairing. In order to ensure the mission success of the spacecraft it is often necessary to reduce the resulting internal acoustic sound pressure levels through the usage of acoustic attenuation systems. Melamine foam, lining the interior walls of the payload fairing, is often utilized as the main component of such a system. In order to better understand the acoustic properties of melamine foam, with the goal of developing improved acoustic attenuation systems, NASA has recently performed panel level testing on numerous configurations of melamine foam acoustic treatments at the Riverbank Acoustical Laboratory. Parameters assessed included the foam's thickness and density, as well as the effects of a top outer cover sheet material and mass barriers embedded within the foam. This testing followed the ASTM C423 standard for absorption and the ASTM E90 standard for transmission loss. The acoustic test data obtained and subsequent conclusions are the subjects of this paper.

Acoustic Foam↗

Acoustic Test Results of Melamine Foam with Application to Payload Fairing Acoustic Attenuation Systems

A spacecraft at launch is subjected to a harsh acoustic and vibration environment resulting from the passage of acoustic energy, created during the liftoff of a launch vehicle, through the vehicle's payload fairing. In order to ensure the mission success of the spacecraft it is often necessary to reduce the resulting internal acoustic sound pressure levels through the usage of acoustic attenuation systems. Melamine foam, lining the interior walls of the payload fairing, is often utilized as the main component of such a system. In order to better understand the acoustic properties of melamine foam, with the goal of developing improved acoustic attenuation systems, NASA has recently performed panel level testing on numerous configurations of melamine foam acoustic treatments at the Riverbank Acoustical Laboratory. Parameters assessed included the foam's thickness and density, as well as the effects of a top outer cover sheet material and mass barriers embedded within the foam. This testing followed the ASTM C423 standard for absorption and the ASTM E90 standard for transmission loss. The acoustic test data obtained and subsequent conclusions are the subjects of this paper.

Payload Fairing↗

Analysis of aeroelastic and resonance responses of a wind tunnel model support system

Vibrations of the National Transonic Facility model support system were analyzed using CAP-TSD (Computational Aeroelasticity Program-Transonic Small Disturbance), a three-dimensional transonic small disturbance potential code designed for aeroelastic analysis of complex configurations. The model support system was represented as a tunnel-spanning flexible wing whose structural properties were obtained from measured responses. Aeroelastic transients were calculated, assuming no structural damping, and analyzed to obtain modal stability characteristics. The results showed that there is a tendency toward a hump mode instability in one of the modes and that there are other weakly damped or unstable modes. The close proximity of the solid wind-tunnel diffuser side walls to the model support system was shown to have adverse effects on its aeroelastic stability characteristics. When the effects of the wind-tunnel walls were modeled, the analyses indicated the presence of wind-tunnel resonance modes which were not present when free-air boundary conditions were used.

Whitlow, Woodrow, Jr.↗

Hardware and operating features of the adaptive wall test section for the 0.3-meter transonic cryogenic tunnel

A 13- by 13-inch adaptive wall test section was installed in the Langley 0.3-Meter Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel circuit. This test section has four solid walls and is configured for two-dimensional airfoil testing. The top and bottom walls are flexible and movable, whereas the sidwalls are rigid and fixed. The test section has a turntable to support airfoil models, a survey mechanism to probe the model wake, and provisions for a sidewall boundary-layer-control system. Details of the adaptive wall test section, the tunnel circuit modifications, the supporting instrumentation, the monitoring and control hardware, and the wall adaptation strategy are discussed. Sample results of shakedown tests with the test section empty and with an airfoil installed are also included.

Mineck, Raymond E.↗

Multichannel spectroscopy guide

System makes use of diverging duct walls for conducting the light from entrance slips to the conductors by means of multiple reflectors. This system simultaneously records, photoelectrically, the intensities of several closely spaceed narrow wavelengths in the ultraviolet and infrared areas of the spectrum.

Roth, D. E.↗

A computational study of saddle point separation and horseshoe vortex system

Incompressible flow around a cylinder-end wall junction has been simulated by solving the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations in three dimensions. The equations, cast in generalized curvilinear coordinates, are solved in time as a hyperbolic system by adding a pressure term in the continuity equation and are marched to a steady state. Various physical quantities associated with the saddle point of separation and the horseshoe vortex system are calculated. Computational and experimental results are generally consistent. The skin friction and the pressure distribution on the end wall are consistent with the physics of the problem. Secondary flows both in front of the cylinder and behind it are predicted that are in qualitative agreement with flow visualization results. The calculations also indicate a strongly nonuniform pressure loading along the length of the cylinder. A new mechanism for the existence of the recirculation bubbles behind the cylinder-end wall with relatively low ratio of cylinder height to the approaching boundary layer thickness is observed which is markedly different from its two-dimensional counterpart.

Kaul, U. K.↗

Shell forming system

An apparatus is provided for forming gas-filled spheres of metal, glass or other material, which produces spheres (12) of uniform size and wall thickness in a relatively simple system. The system includes concentric nozzles, including an inner nozzle (18) through which gas flows and and an outer nozzle (20), which jointly define an annular passageway (50) through which a liquid flows. The flow rates are adjusted so that the gas flows at greater velocity than does the liquid, out of their respective nozzles, e.g. three times as great, in order to produce an extrusion (30) which undergoes axisymmetric oscillations resulting in the pinch off into hollow spheres with very uniform spacing. The system is useful not only where gas-filled spheres are required, but also is useful to accurately control the dispensing of solid, liquid, or gaseous materials.

Kendall, Jr., James M.↗

Propagation and radiation of sound from flanged circular ducts with circumferentially varying wall admittances. I Semi-infinite ducts. II - Finite ducts with sources

Sound propagation in infinite, semiinfinite, and finite circular ducts with circumferentially varying wall admittances is investigated analytically. The infinite case is considered, and an example demonstrates the effects of wall-admittance distribution on dispersion characteristics and mode shapes. An exact solution is obtained for the semiinfinite case, a circular duct with a flanged opening: sidelobe suppression and circumferential-mode energy scattering leading to radiated-field asymmetry are found. A finite duct system with specified hard-walled pressure sources is examined in detail, evaluating reflection coefficients, transmission losses, and radiated-field directivity. Graphs and diagrams are provided, and the implications of the results obtained for the design of aircraft-turbofan inlet liners are discussed.

Fuller, C. R.↗

Analysis of Cryogenic Propellant Liquefaction Rates in Cooled Constant-Wall-Temperature Tanks

NASA has been focused on developing technology that would allow the production of cryogenic propellants on the Lunar and Martian surfaces. Utilizing Lunar/Martian resources, the produced gaseous propellants must first be liquefied and stored prior to use on the Moon or Mars ascent vehicle. Liquefaction of cryogenic propellants is a necessary technical development to enable NASA’s future spaceflight goals. This paper presents an overview of a proposed model for a propellant liquefaction system, and the effect of tank wall temperatures on cryogenic propellant liquefaction rates. The propellant system was assumed to be a receiver of a gas from an In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) harvester and condensed the gas by cooling the tank walls. First, the heat transfer principles pertinent to condensation are summarized, followed by an overview of the model which performed the analysis, including a summary of the Fortran algorithm implementation. The sensitivity of the condensation rate relative to varying tank wall temperatures is also discussed.

Anson Koch↗

Exercise of the SSM/PMAD Breadboard

The Space Station Module Power Management and Distribution (SSM/PMAD) Breadboard is a test facility designed for advanced development of space power automation. Originally designed for 20-kHz power, the system is being converted to work with direct current (dc). Power levels are on a par with those expected for a Space Station module. Some of the strengths and weaknesses of the SSM/PMAD system in design and function are examined, and the future directions foreseen for the system are outlined.

Walls, Bryan↗

Development of Metal-impregnated Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes for Toxic Gas Contaminant Control in Advanced Life Support Systems

The success of physico-chemical waste processing and resource recovery technologies for life support application depends partly on the ability of gas clean-up systems to efficiently remove trace contaminants generated during the process with minimal use of expendables. Carbon nanotubes promise superior performance over conventional approaches to gas clean-up due to their ability to direct the selective uptake of gaseous species based on their controlled pore size, high surface area, ordered chemical structure that allows functionalization and their effectiveness also as catalyst support materials for toxic gas conversion. We present results and findings from a preliminary study on the effectiveness of metal impregnated single walled nanotubes as catalyst/catalyst support materials for toxic gas contaminate control. The study included the purification of single walled nanotubes, the catalyst impregnation of the purified nanotubes, the experimental characterization of the surface properties of purified single walled nanotubes and the characterization of physisorption and chemisorption of uptake molecules.

Pisharody, Suresh A.↗