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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 289 records · Page 16

Reactor for producing large particles of materials from gases

A method and apparatus is disclosed for producing large particles of material from gas, or gases, containing the material (e.g., silicon from silane) in a free-space reactor comprised of a tube (20) and controlled furnace (25). A hot gas is introduced in the center of the reactant gas through a nozzle (23) to heat a quantity of the reactant gas, or gases, to produce a controlled concentration of seed particles (24) which are entrained in the flow of reactant gas, or gases. The temperature profile (FIG. 4) of the furnace is controlled for such a slow, controlled rate of reaction that virtually all of the material released condenses on seed particles and new particles are not nucleated in the furnace. A separate reactor comprised of a tube (33) and furnace (30) may be used to form a seed aerosol which, after passing through a cooling section (34) is introduced in the main reactor tube (34) which includes a mixer (36) to mix the seed aerosol in a controlled concentration with the reactant gas or gases.

Flagan, Richard C.↗

Space Vehicle Valve System

The present invention is a space vehicle valve system which controls the internal pressure of a space vehicle and the flow rate of purged gases at a given internal pressure and aperture site. A plurality of quasi-unique variable dimension peaked valve structures cover the purge apertures on a space vehicle. Interchangeable sheet guards configured to cover valve apertures on the peaked valve structure contain a pressure-activated surface on the inner surface. Sheet guards move outwardly from the peaked valve structure when in structural contact with a purge gas stream flowing through the apertures on the space vehicle. Changing the properties of the sheet guards changes the response of the sheet guards at a given internal pressure, providing control of the flow rate at a given aperture site.

Kelley, Anthony R.↗

Local measurement of temperatures and concentrations: A review for hypersonic flows

The quality of reentry simulation for Shuttle, HERMES, Sanger, and NASP systematically suffers from the strong non-equilibrium of rotational and vibrational temperature due to the rapid acceleration of the test gas in the nozzle. Therefore the determination of temperatures is necessary and, if possible, preferable by a non-intrusive technique. The specific interests of this review are optical techniques such as electron beam fluorescence, laser-induced fluorescence, and coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering. The capabilities available for local measurements with temporal resolution and quantitative accuracy are discussed for velocity, temperature, density, species concentrations, and fluctuations due to turbulence. The applicability of these methods of measurement is presented and discussed for the coming topic in aerothermodynamics: experimental techniques of hot gases in high enthalpy flows.

Dankert, C.↗

Hypervelocity Heat-Transfer Measurements in an Expansion Tube

A series of experiments has been conducted in the NASA HYPULSE Expansion Tube, in both CO2 and air test gases, in order to obtain data for comparison with computational results and to assess the capability for performing hypervelocity heat-transfer studies in this facility. Heat-transfer measurements were made in both test gases on 70 deg sphere-cone models and on hemisphere models of various radii. HYPULSE freestream flow conditions in these test gases were found to be repeatable to within 3-10%, and aerothermodynamic test times of 150 microsec in CO2 and 125 microsec in air were identified. Heat-transfer measurement uncertainty was estimated to be 10-15%. Comparisons were made with computational results from the non-equilibrium Navier-Stokes solver NEQ2D. Measured and computed heat-transfer rates agreed to within 10% on the hemispheres and on the sphere-cone forebodies, and to within 10% in CO2 and 25% in air on the afterbodies and stings of the sphere-cone models.

Hollis, Brian R.↗

Adsorption-based membranes for air separation using transition metal oxides

In this work, we use computational modeling to examine the viability of adsorption-based pore-flow membranes for separating gases when a purely size-based separation strategy is ineffective. Using molecular dynamics simulations of O 2 and N 2 , we model permeation through a nanoporous graphene membrane. Permeation is assumed to follow a five-step adsorption-based pathway, with desorption being the rate-limiting step. Using this model, we observe increased selectivity between O 2 and N 2 , resulting from increased adsorption energy differences. We explore the limits of this strategy, providing an initial set of constraints that need to be satisfied to allow for selectivity. Finally, we provide a preliminary exploration of some transition metal oxides that appear to satisfy those conditions. Using density functional theory calculations, we confirm that these oxides possess adsorption energies needed to operate as adsorption-based pore-flow membranes. These adsorption energies provide a suitable motivation to examine adsorption-based pore-flow membranes as a viable option for air separation.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Investigation of Flow Instabilities in the Inlet Ducts of DP-1C VTOL Aircraft

An investigation of flow instabilities in the inlet ducts of a two-engine vertical takeoff and landing aircraft DP-1C is described in this report. Recent tests revealed that the engines stall during run ups while the aircraft is operating on the ground. These pop stalls occurred at relatively low power levels, sometimes as low as 60 percent of the engine full speed. Inability to run the engines up to the full speed level is attributed to in-ground effects associated with hot gas ingestion. Such pop stalls were never experienced when the aircraft was tested on a elevated grid platform, which ensured that the aircraft was operating in out-of-the-ground-effect conditions. Based on available information on problems experienced with other vertical takeoff and landing aircraft designs, it was assumed that the engine stalls were caused by partial ingestion of hot gases streaming forward from the main exit nozzle under the aircraft inlets, which are very close to the ground. It was also suggested that the nose wheel undercarriage, located between the inlets, may generate vortices or an unstable wake causing intense mixing of hot exit gases with incoming inlet flow, which would enhance the hot gas ingestion. After running a short three-day series of tests with fully instrumented engine inlets, it is now believed the most probable reason for engine pop stalls are random ingestions of a vortex generated between the two streams moving in opposite directions: outbound hot gas stream from the main nozzle close to the ground and inbound inlet flow above. Originally, the vortex is in a horizontal plane. However, at a certain velocity ratio of these two streams, the vortex attaches either to the ground or the aircraft surface at one end and the other end is swallowed by one of the aircraft inlets. Once the vortex enters the inlet duct, a puff of hot air can be sucked through the vortex core into the engine, which causes a serious inlet flow field distortion followed by an engine stall. Once the engine stalls, the outflow from the inlet pushes the vortex away and the engine resumes normal operation. This hypothesis needs to be verified experimentally; e.g., by extensive smoke flow visualization ahead of the aircraft inlets.

Lepicovsky, Jan↗

Low-Speed Active Flow Control Laboratory Developed

The future of aviation propulsion systems is increasingly focused on the application of control technologies to significantly enhance the performance of a new generation of air vehicles. Active flow control refers to a set of technologies that manipulate the flow of air and combustion gases deep within the confines of an engine to dynamically alter its performance during flight. By employing active flow control, designers can create engines that are significantly lighter, are more fuel efficient, and produce lower emissions. In addition, the operating range of an engine can be extended, yielding safer transportation systems. The realization of these future propulsion systems requires the collaborative development of many base technologies to achieve intelligent, embedded control at the engine locations where it will be most effective. NASA Glenn Research Center s Controls and Dynamics Technology Branch has developed a state-of-the-art low-speed Active Flow Control Laboratory in which emerging technologies can be integrated and explored in a flexible, low-cost environment. The facility allows the most promising developments to be prescreened and optimized before being tested on higher fidelity platforms, thereby reducing the cost of experimentation and improving research effectiveness.

Culley, Dennis E.↗

Evaluation of High Vacuum Pump for Tritium Service

In tritium process systems, vacuum pumps are typically used to evacuate volumes and piping, as well as transfer gas to other parts of the process. This was done using the combination of an all-metal scroll pump with a metal bellows backing pump. The all-metal scroll pump, manufactured by Normetex, has been unavailable since 2012, and efforts continue to find a suitable replacement. The main obstacle is finding a pump that has no oils or polymer components, which degrade when exposed to tritium and introduce corrosive and/or hazardous impurities into the process. Since turbomolecular pumps are used in tritium processing, it is thought that pumps similar to the turbomolecular pumps would be of interest. A newer model turbomolecular pump with a variable rotation speed has been identified for use in tritium processing. The turbomolecular pump, backed by a Metal Bellows MB-601 pump with the pump heads in series, was characterized for static and gas flow conditions to determine the suction pressure at various discharge pressures or flow rates for various gases.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Evaluation of Power Fluidic Pumping Technology for Molten Salt Reactor Applications

Power Fluidics™ (PF) is a NuVision Engineering proprietary technology which uses gases to control the flow of other fluids in industrial applications. This unique technology has several advantages over traditional centrifugal pumps. Molten salt nuclear reactors and associated systems have unique fluid handling demands. This report explores the applicability of PF to molten salt systems. Several potential applications are identified, necessary modifications of existing PF technology for salt service are discussed, and a path for development and demonstration is proposed.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

Resolution requirements for energy conservation in kinetic plasma simulations

The kinetic codes used to model the coupled dynamics of electromagnetic fields and charged particle transport have requirements for spatial, temporal, and charge resolution. These requirements may vary by the solution technique and scope of the problem. In this report, we investigate the resolution limits in the energy-conserving implicit particle-in-cell code CHICAGO. This report has the narrow aim of determining the maximum acceptable grid spacing for the dense plasmas generated in models of z-pinch target gases and power-flow electrode plasmas. In the 2D sample problem, the plasma drifts without external forces with velocity of 10 cm/µs. Simulations are scaled by plasma density to maintain uniform strides across the plasma and from the plasma to the boundaries. Additionally, the cloud-in-cell technique is used with 400 particles per cell and Δ t = 0.85× the Courant limit. For the linear cloud distribution, the criterion for conserving energy is Δ E/E tot < 0.01 for 50,000 time steps. The grid resolution is determined to crudely be Δx ≲ 3 l s , where l s is the electron collisionless skin depth. For the second-order cloud distribution the criterion is Δ E/E tot < 0.005 yielding Δx ≤ 15 l s . These scalings are functions of the chosen v d , Δ t , particles-per-cell, and number of steps.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Gas flowmeter

Mass flowmeter measures rates of flow of all common gases from purges and collected leaks at leak ports. Without dependence on gravity, it measures rates between 5 and 650 cc/min with pressures ranging from 0.001 to 10 to the minus thirteenth torr at temperatures between 70 and 500 degrees K.

Morris, T. F.↗

Nuclear cardiograph and scintigraphy

Extensive advances in the technology of detectors, data analysis systems, and tracers used have resulted in greatly expanded applications of radioisotopes to the assessment of cardiac function and disease. The development of nuclear cardiology has proceeded along four lines: (1) radionuclide angiography, (2) myocardial perfusion imaging, (3) intracoronary microsphere imaging, and (4) regional myocardial blood flow determination using inert gases.

Mclaughlin, P.↗

The performance of multilayer insulation in a rapidly depressurizing environment

The performance of multilayer insulation in a rapidly depressurizing environment is determined by the variation of heat transfer with internal pressure and the pressure history of the interstitial gas. Measurements of thermal performance were made on three multilayer insulation configurations at room temperature and steady state pressures from 10(exp -6) to 10(exp -1) torr. The heat transfer due to gas conduction alone correlated with the kinetic theory of gases in the molecular flow regime. Pressure histories were measured in a unique apparatus which simulated the depressurization rate of a boost vehicle. The pressure histories on both sides of two of the configurations were measured to bound the actual interstitial pressure. The results of the two types of measurements agreed with earlier work and were combined to make performance predictions using an actual ascent pressure history.

Efromson, Ronald A.↗

Simulation of ablation in Earth atmospheric entry

The process of ablation for Earth atmospheric entry is simulated using a computational approach that allows thermo-chemical nonequilibrium of the flow field and ablation gases. The heat pulse into the heat shield is modeled. The flowfield and graphite heat shield are coupled through surface mass and energy balances. The surface thermochemistry involves the oxidation of graphite and allows for catalytic recombination of diatomic oxygen. Steady-state simulations are performed on a one meter nose radius sphere at an altitude of 65/km and at freestream velocities of 8 km/s and 10 km/s. A transient simulation is performed at 65 km altitude and a freestream velocity of 10 km/s.

Keenan, James A.↗

Analysis, Verification, and Application of Equations and Procedures for Design of Exhaust-pipe Shrouds

Investigations were made to develop a simplified method for designing exhaust-pipe shrouds to provide desired or maximum cooling of exhaust installations. Analysis of heat exchange and pressure drop of an adequate exhaust-pipe shroud system requires equations for predicting design temperatures and pressure drop on cooling air side of system. Present experiments derive such equations for usual straight annular exhaust-pipe shroud systems for both parallel flow and counter flow. Equations and methods presented are believed to be applicable under certain conditions to the design of shrouds for tail pipes of jet engines.

HEAT EXCHANGERS, SHROUDED↗