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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 235 records · Page 13

An electronically tuned, stable 8415 MHz dielectric resonator FET oscillator for space applications

A voltage-controlled 8415-MHz FET oscillator stabilized by a dielectric resonator is described. The oscillator provides over 3.2-MHz linear electronic tuning range with a flat power output equal to +1.8 dBm (27 C, nominal), a single-sideband noise-to-carrier ratio of -68 dBc/Hz at 1 kHz off carrier, and a frequency-temperature coefficient of 0.54 parts per million/C over a -24 C to 75 C range. The oscillator withstood 150 Krads (Si) of gamma radiation with no significant performance degradation. The overall performance of the FET oscillator is far superior in many ways to that of an equivalent bipolar oscillator for space applications. For space applications, the FET dielectric resonator oscillator (DRO) is preferred over bipolar DRO because of its lower DC power consumption, better thermal frequency stability, linear electronic tunability, and higher RF output power capability.

Mysoor, Narayan R.↗

Feasibility of Self Powered Actuation for Flow, Separation and Vibration Control

Gas turbine engines are anywhere from 40-50% efficient with a large amount of waste heat production. The primary focus of this work was to evaluate the feasibility of harvesting energy from sections of an imaginary but representative gas turbine engine that has large thermal gradients using thermoelectric generators (TEGs) and using the harvested energy locally for flow control using either plasma actuators or piezoelectric actuators. This work is a summary of a two- year NASA Center Innovation Fund Project from 2010 to 2012. The trade-off between thermoelectric harvesting and turbine blade surface temperature was studied to ensure that blade durability is not adversely impacted by embedding a low thermal conductivity TEG. Calculations show that at least 2-3 Watts can be harvested per blade depending on flow conditions and on the thermoelectric material chosen while maintaining metal temperatures below critical limits. BiTe and SiGe were considered as TEG materials although higher ZT materials are now in development. A circuit to convert the DC power output of the TEG to AC input for plasma actuation was fabricated and tested. Several novel plasma actuator configurations were also tested.

Thermoelectric↗

Nonhazardous acid etches weld samples

Nonhazardous citric acid solution used with 24 volt dc power supply etches weld samples. This etching method is limited to 300 stainless steel and a small range of other high temperature alloys.

Allen, B. C↗

Self-starting circuit for switching regulators

Schematic is provided on a self-starting circuit for a switching regulator which uses a logic circuit to sense a change in output voltage and provides a correction signal for dc power sources. With this device, the total power consumed by the logic circuitry is held to a minimum, and the circuit receives the optimum regulated supply power.

Schraut, E. H.↗

Improved dc voltage regulator

Simplified solid-state circuit provides a closely regulated dc voltage from an unregulated dc source. It eliminates the undesirable loading effect of the emitter-base current of a transistor used in an error-sensing circuit of a regulated dc power supply.

Barnes, H. F.↗

Solid-state ac-to-dc converter

Converter uses solid-state ac-to-dc rectification circuitry, filter circuitry, a tuned transformer, ac chopper circuitry, and an automatic current-control network. It has a dc power source which operates from 5 to 100 percent load at a 72 to 94 input to output efficiency.

Monroe, C. M.↗

Electronic strain-level counter

Counter for aircraft counts and records number of times the strain at a point in a structural member exceeds each of four preset levels. Counter uses 28 volt dc power supply, metallic resistance strain gage bridge as sensor, integrated and solid state circuits for signal processing, and electromechanical counters for data storage and readout.

Pitts, F. L.↗

Electronic ripple indicator

Electronic circuit for monitoring excessive ripple voltage on dc power lines senses voltage variations from few millivolts to maximum of 10 volts rms. Instrument is used wherever power supply fluctuations might endanger system operations or damage equipment. Device is inexpensive and easily packaged in small chassis.

Davidson, J. K.↗

A radar altimeter-driftmeter for small planetary probes

A light weight radar altimeter-driftmeter applicable to landing planetary probes is described. The system utilizes a small light weight phased array antenna to generate three independent radio frequency beams. The range and Doppler along each of these beams is measured. The six measured quantitites are then combined with a resulting range (altitude) accuracy of 75 meters and a horizontal drift velocity accuracy of 6 cm/sec. The entire system weighs less than 3.7 kilograms and requires less than 9 watts of dc power.

Bryan, J. W.↗

Pulsed metallic-plasma generators.

A pulsed metallic-plasma generator is described which utilizes a vacuum arc as the plasma source. The arc is initiated on the surface of a consumable cathode which can be any electrically conductive material. Ignition is accomplished by using a current pulse to vaporize a portion of a conductive film on the surface of an insulator separating the cathode from the ignition electrode. The film is regenerated during the ensuing arc. Over 100 million ignition cycles have been accomplished by using four 0.125-in. diameter zinc cathodes operating in parallel and high-density aluminum-oxide insulators. Among the applications being investigated for the generator are metal deposition, vacuum pumping, electric propulsion, and high-power dc arc interruption.

Gilmour, A. S., Jr.↗

Laser-actuated holographic storage device

Device permits automatic selection of one out of thousands of pages in holographic memory system by using laser beam. In typical operation for 2 to 3 C temperature interval, using dc power supply with no power regulation, holograms were successfully written and erased over 2- by 2-cm area, using 80-mW argon laser beam.

Gange, R. A.↗

Variable-frequency inverter controls torque, speed, and braking in ac induction motors

Dc to ac inverter provides optimum frequency and voltage to ac induction motor, in response to different motor-load and speed requirements. Inverter varies slip frequency of motor in proportion to required torque. Inverter protects motor from high current surges, controls negative slip to apply braking, and returns energy stored in momentum of load to dc power source.

Nola, F. J.↗

Engineering information on an Analog Signal to Discrete Time Interval Converter (ASDT-IC)

An electronic control system for nondissipative dc power converters is presented which improves (1) the routinely attainable static output voltage accuracy to the order of + or - 1% for ambient temperatures from -55 to 100 C and (2) the dynamic stability by utilizing approximately one tenth of the feedback gain needed otherwise. Performance is due to a functional philosophy of deterministic pulse modulation based on pulse area control and to an autocompensated signal processing principle. The system can be implemented with commercially available unselected components.

Schwarz, F. C.↗

The ATS-F interferometer - A precision wide field-of-view attitude sensor

An RF phase interferometer has been integrated into the ATS-F spacecraft attitude control system. Laboratory measurements indicate that the interferometer is capable of determining spacecraft attitude in pitch and roll to an accuracy of 0.18 deg over a field-of-view of plus or minus 12.5 deg about the spacecraft normal axis with an angular resolution of 0.004 deg. The system is completely solid state, weighs 17 pounds, and consumes 12.5 W of DC power.

Teichman, M. A.↗