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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 271 records · Page 15

High-Pressure Transducer Package

Enclosure for silicon device ensures accurate measurements of cryogenic liquids. Package holds silicon sensor in uniform compression around periphery and helps ensure accurate, stable, and repeatable pressure measurements. Mounting assembly housed in package of stainless steel. Materials selected for equality of thermal expansion and for pressure-sealing properties. Besides its high-pressure, low-temperature characteristics, package withstands vibrations as severe as 400 times standard gravitational acceleration at 0 to 2,000 Hz.

Wamstad, D.↗

High-pressure droplet combustion studies

This is a joint research program, pursued by investigators at the University of Tokyo, UCSD, and NASA Lewis Research Center. The focus is on high-pressure combustion of miscible binary fuel droplets. It involves construction of an experimental apparatus in Tokyo, mating of the apparatus to a NASA-Lewis 2.2-second drop-tower frame in San Diego, and performing experiments in the 2.2-second tower in Cleveland, with experimental results analyzed jointly by the Tokyo, UCSD, and NASA investigators. The project was initiated in December, 1990 and has now involved three periods of drop-tower testing by Mikami at Lewis. The research accomplished thus far concerns the combustion of individual fiber-supported droplets of mixtures of n-heptane and n-hexadecane, initially about 1 mm diameter, under free-fall microgravity conditions. Ambient pressures ranged up to 3.0 MPa, extending above the critical pressures of both pure fuels, in room-temperature nitrogen-oxygen atmospheres having oxygen mole fractions X of 0.12 and 0.13. The general objective is to study near-critical and super-critical combustion of these droplets and to see whether three-stage burning, observed at normal gravity, persists at high pressures in microgravity. Results of these investigations will be summarized here; a more complete account soon will be published.

Mikami, Masato↗

A New Method for Evaluating Elastomeric Materials for Use in High Pressure Oxygen

The seal configuration tester (SCT) developed at the Stennis Space Center (SSC) was designed to replicate the intended application of different seat and seal materials in a high pressure oxygen system and assess the wearibility of those materials. Statistical models were used to test the reliability of the SCT in its intended application, and the tests showed very consistent measurements over time, indicating that the device was working as intended. Other statistical designs were used to test different O-ring materials in a high-pressure oxygen system. Those tests indicated that the SCT could be used to rank the performance of O-ring materials in certain environments. The results indicated that some cheaper materials performed as well as, if not better than, other more expensive materials. Different lubrications were integrated in the testing as well and had a significant impact on the performance of the materials. Testing of seat materials is the next stage of this project. An augmentation grant (JAG) was obtained to further this experimental testing at the Stennis Space Center. This part of the project is ongoing at this time and therefore there are no significant accomplishments with respect to seat materials as of yet.

Jordan, Scott M.↗

Evaluation of load tracks and wear of two sets of bearings from space shuttle main engine high pressure oxygen turbopumps

Bearings supporting the rotor in the High Pressure Oxygen Turbopump (HPOTP) were examined. The No. 1 bearings from both units were in good condition and had successfully completed 5000 seconds of operation. The No. 2 bearings, which were in service the same length of time, were significantly degraded in the form of ball wear, race pitting, and damage from high axial loads. The No. 3 and 4 bearings were in generally acceptable condition. The general conclusion from the examinations was that improved cooling on the No. 2 bearings and further improvements in controlling axial and radial load would likely result in the HPOTP meeting the qualification test results.

Kannel, J. W.↗

Ignition of nonmetallic materials by impact of high-pressure oxygen. II - Evaluation of repeatability of pneumatic impact test

The gaseous oxygen pneumatic impact test is used to evaluate the suitability of nonmetallic materials for use in high-pressure oxygen systems. The test was evaluated by testing the reactivity of four materials over a range of impact pressures. The evaluation also investigated the effect of valve opening time and other test variables on the frequency of reaction. The variability of the data obtained for each test material was too large for the test method to be capable of distinguishing other than gross differences in the reactivity of materials. No relation was found between this variability and changes in valve opening time and other test variables. The materials studied were found to be unacceptable for use as reference standards. Because of the high variability of the test data, it is recommended that new methods be developed for evaluating the suitability of materials for use in high-pressure oxygen systems.

Schmidt, Naomi↗

Evaluation of space shuttle main engine bearings from high pressure oxygen turbopump 9008

Two used turbopump mainshaft support bearings were examined to determine steps needed to achieve turbopump lifetimes of 27,000 seconds. The two bearings, which had been run in a high pressure oxygen turbopump, are angular contact ball bearings, applied as a preloaded pair, locked to the shaft, inner race rotating, with the outer races unrestrained axially. Examination showed that both bearings had been subjected to overloads, leading to fatigue spalling on the races and balls and advanced retainer wear. This is clear evidence of unintended high internal loads in the high pressure oxygen pump which would lead to complete bearing failure and extensive secondary pump damage. Action must be taken to reduce the applied bearing loads or to incorporate bearings of sufficient size to withstand the high loads.

Dufrane, K. F.↗

Numerical and experimental studies of particle flow in a high-pressure boundary-layer wind tunnel

The approach was to simulate the surface environment of Venus as closely as practicable and to conduct experiments to determine threshold wind speeds, particle flux, particle velocities, and the characteristics of various aeolian bedforms. The Venus Wind Tunnel (VWT) is described and the experimental procedures that were developed to make the high-pressure wind tunnel measurements are presented. In terrestrial simulations of aeolian activity, it is possible to conduct experiments under pressures and temperatures found in natural environments. Because of the high pressures and temperatures, Venusian simulations are difficult to achieve in this regard. Consequently, extrapolation of results to Venue potentially involves unknown factors. The experimental rationale was developed in the following way: The VWT enables the density of the Venusian atmosphere to be reproduced. Density is the principal atmospheric property for governing saltation threshold, particle flux, and the ballistics of airborne particles (equivalent density maintains dynamic similarity of gas flow). When operated at or near Earth's ambient temperature, VWT achieves Venusian atmospheric density at pressures of about 30 bar, or about one third less than those on Venus, although still maintaining dynamic similarity to Venus.

White, B. R.↗

Design guide for high pressure oxygen systems

A repository for critical and important detailed design data and information, hitherto unpublished, along with significant data on oxygen reactivity phenomena with metallic and nonmetallic materials in moderate to very high pressure environments is documented. This data and information provide a ready and easy to use reference for the guidance of designers of propulsion, power, and life support systems for use in space flight. The document is also applicable to designs for industrial and civilian uses of high pressure oxygen systems. The information presented herein are derived from data and design practices involving oxygen usage at pressures ranging from about 20 psia to 8000 psia equal with thermal conditions ranging from room temperatures up to 500 F.

Bond, A. C.↗

Energy efficient engine: High pressure turbine uncooled rig technology report

Results obtained from testing five performance builds (three vane cascades and two rotating rigs of the Energy Efficient Engine uncooled rig have established the uncooled aerodynamic efficiency of the high-pressure turbine at 91.1 percent. This efficiency level was attained by increasing the rim speed and annulus area (AN(2)), and by increasing the turbine reaction level. The increase in AN(2) resulted in a performance improvement of 1.15 percent. At the design point pressure ratio, the increased reaction level rig demonstrated an efficiency of 91.1 percent. The results of this program have verified the aerodynamic design assumptions established for the Energy Efficient Engine high-pressure turbine component.

Gardner, W. B.↗

High pressure far infrared spectroscopy of ionic solids

A high-pressure far-infrared cell operating at up to truly hydrostatic pressures of 8 kbar is described and used to determine the anharmonic self-energies associated with the transverse optic modes of ionic solids in which q approximately equals zero. The cell allows far-infrared studies in the spectral range below 120 reciprocal cm. The transverse optic modes were investigated to determine their mode Gruneisen constants and the pressure dependence of their inverse lifetimes in RbI, CsI, and TlCl.

Lowndes, R. P.↗

Advanced high pressure engine study for mixed-mode vehicle applications

High pressure liquid rocket engine design, performance, weight, envelope, and operational characteristics were evaluated for a variety of candidate engines for use in mixed-mode, single-stage-to-orbit applications. Propellant property and performance data were obtained for candidate Mode 1 fuels which included: RP-1, RJ-5, hydrazine, monomethyl-hydrazine, and methane. The common oxidizer was liquid oxygen. Oxygen, the candidate Mode 1 fuels, and hydrogen were evaluated as thrust chamber coolants. Oxygen, methane, and hydrogen were found to be the most viable cooling candidates. Water, lithium, and sodium-potassium were also evaluated as auxiliary coolant systems. Water proved to be the best of these, but the system was heavier than those systems which cooled with the engine propellants. Engine weight and envelope parametric data were established for candidate Mode 1, Mode 2, and dual-fuel engines. Delivered engine performance data were also calculated for all candidate Mode 1 and dual-fuel engines.

Luscher, W. P.↗

Evaluation of analytical methodology for hydrocarbons in high pressure air and nitrogen systems

Samples of liquid oxygen, high pressure nitrogen, low pressure nitrogen, and missile grade air were studied to determine the hydrocarbon concentrations. Concentration of the samples was achieved by adsorption on a molecular sieve and activated charcoal. The trapped hydrocarbons were then desorbed and transferred to an analytical column in a gas chromatograph. The sensitivity of the method depends on the volume of gas passed through the adsorbent tubes. The value of the method was verified through recoverability and reproducibility studies. The use of this method enables LOX, GN2, and missile grade air systems to be routinely monitored to determine low level increases in specific hydrocarbon concentration that could lead to potentially hazardous conditions.

Source record↗

CF6 Jet Engine Performance Improvement Program: High Pressure Turbine Aerodynamic Performance Improvement

The improved single shank high pressure turbine design was evaluated in component tests consisting of performance, heat transfer and mechanical tests, and in core engine tests. The instrumented core engine test verified the thermal, mechanical, and aeromechanical characteristics of the improved turbine design. An endurance test subjected the improved single shank turbine to 1000 simulated flight cycles, the equivalent of approximately 3000 hours of typical airline service. Initial back-to-back engine tests demonstrated an improvement in cruise sfc of 1.3% and a reduction in exhaust gas temperature of 10 C. An additional improvement of 0.3% in cruise sfc and 6 C in EGT is projected for long service engines.

Fasching, W. A.↗