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At least 289 records · Page 16

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NASA NTRS1988

Unique cryogenic features of the Gravity Probe B (GP-B) experiment

Cryogenic designs to simplify launch-pad operations for the Gravity Probe B experiment (an orbital test of Einsteins's general theory of relativity using gyroscopes) while achieving an orbital lifetime of two years are discussed. The proposed system allows the probe to be loaded into a cold dewar, provides good structural support and thermal contact after insertion, and eliminates the need for a pumping system during ground hold. The use of a gamma alumina/epoxy minimizes the parasitic heat loads into the dewar through the telescope aperture and the tank supports.

Parmley, Richard T.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Timing Sampler For Delay Measurements

Integrated circuit called timing sampler used to measure delays in complementary metal oxide/silicon logic gates. Circuit chip contains chains of inverters and metal traces having minimum parasitic delays (delay chains), circuits to compare pulse timings, and output multiplexer. Timing sampler enables delay measurements for both positive and negative logic-level transitions by use of variety of circuit geometries representing tentative practical designs.

Blaes, Brent R.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Engineering study of the rotary-vee engine concept

The applicable thermodynamic cycle and performance considerations when the rotary-vee mechanism is used as an internal combustion (I.C.) heat engine are reviewed. Included is a simplified kinematic analysis and studies of the effects of design parameters on the critical pressures, torques and parasitic losses. A discussion of the principal findings is presented.

Willis, Edward A.↗

NASA NTRS1988

A CMOS matrix for extracting MOSFET parameters before and after irradiation

An addressable matrix of 16 n- and 16 p-MOSFETs was designed to extract the dc MOSFET parameters for all dc gate bias conditions before and after irradiation. The matrix contains four sets of MOSFETs, each with four different geometries that can be biased independently. Thus the worst-case bias scenarios can be determined. The MOSFET matrix was fabricated at a silicon foundry using a radiation-soft CMOS p-well LOCOS process. Co-60 irradiation results for the n-MOSFETs showed a threshold-voltage shift of -3 mV/krad(Si), whereas the p-MOSFETs showed a shift of 21 mV/krad(Si). The worst-case threshold-voltage shift occurred for the n-MOSFETs, with a gate bias of 5 V during the anneal. For the p-MOSFETs, biasing did not affect the shift in the threshold voltage. A parasitic MOSFET dominated the leakage of the n-MOSFET biased with 5 V on the gate during irradiation. Co-60 test results for other parameters are also presented.

Blaes, B. R.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Superfluid Helium On-Orbit Transfer Flight Experiment - Performance estimates

Several components on the Superfluid Helium On-Orbit Transfer Flight Experiment are analyzed with respect to expected performance. The interaction of the components is then used to calculate an expected transfer efficiency. Steady state conditions are assumed. Transfer efficiencies based on the thermomechanical pump range from 96 to 99 percent plus. Transfer line parasitics lead to lower efficiencies at low flow rates.

Dipirro, M. J.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Engineering study on the rotary-vee engine concept

This paper provides a review of the applicable thermodynamic cycle and performance considerations when the rotary-vee mechanism is used as an internal combustion (IC) heat engine. Included is a simplified kinematic analysis and studies of the effects of design parameters on the critical pressures, torques and parasitic losses. A discussion of the principal findings is presented.

Willis, Edward A.↗

NASA NTRS1988

A review of test results on parabolic dish solar thermal power modules with dish-mounted Rankine engines and for production of process steam

This paper presents results of development testing of various solar thermal parabolic dish modules and assemblies. Most of the tests were at modules and assemblies that used a dish-mounted, organic Rankine cycle turbine for production of electric power. Some tests were also run on equipment for production of process steam or for production of electricity using dish-mounted reciprocating steam engines. These tests indicate that early modules achieve efficiencies of about 18 percent in converting sunlight to electricity (excluding the inverter but including parasitics). A number of malfunctions occurred. The performance measurements, as well as the malfunctions and other operating experience, provided information that should be of value in developing systems with improved performance and reduced maintenance.

Jaffe, Leonard D.↗

NASA NTRS1989

An Experimental Investigation of Helicopter Rotor Hub Fairing Drag Characteristics

A study was done in the NASA 14- by 22-Foot Wind Tunnel at Langley Research Center on the parasite drag of different helicopter rotor hub fairings and pylons. Parametric studies of hub-fairing camber and diameter were conducted. The effect of hub fairing/pylon clearance on hub fairing/pylon mutual interference drag was examined in detail. Force and moment data are presented in tabular and graphical forms. The results indicate that hub fairings with a circular-arc upper surface and a flat lower surface yield maximum hub drag reduction; and clearance between the hub fairing and pylon induces high mutual-interference drag and diminishes the drag-reduction benefit obtained using a hub fairing with a flat lower surface. Test data show that symmetrical hub fairings with circular-arc surfaces generate 74 percent more interference drag than do cambered hub fairings with flat lower surfaces, at moderate negative angle of attack.

Sung, D. Y.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Advances in SIS receiver technology

Significant advances in SIS receiver technology since the last Asilomar meeting include: superconductor materials, integrated inductive tuning elements, and planar mounting structures. The effect of these advances is to push the upper frequency operating limit from about 600 to 1500 GHz, and to enhance the feasibility of focal plane arrays of heterodyne receivers. A fundamental high frequency operating limit of SIS mixers is set by the superconducting energy gap. A practical limitation for high frequency operation of SIS junctions is their parasitic capacitance and resistance. The performance of the mixer will be degraded by the Resistor-Capacitor rolloff. Several designs were reported for inductive elements integrated on the same substrate as the SIS junctions to tune out the bulk junction capacitance. Most millimeter SIS-based heterodyne receivers have used waveguide coupling structures. Technology has advanced to the state where programs that have a high probability of success can be defined to produce arrays of SIS receivers for frequencies as high as 1500 GHz.

Frerking, M. A.↗

NASA NTRS1989

The Space Station Photovoltaic Panels Plasma Interaction Test Program: Test plan and results

The Plasma Interaction Test performed on two space station solar array panels is addressed. This includes a discussion of the test requirements, test plan, experimental set-up, and test results. It was found that parasitic current collection was insignificant (0.3 percent of the solar array delivered power). The measured arcing threshold ranged from -210 to -457 V with respect to the plasma potential. Furthermore, the dynamic response of the panels showed the panel time constant to range between 1 and 5 microsec, and the panel capacitance to be between .01 and .02 microF.

Nahra, Henry K.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Microwave field effect transistor

Electrodes of a high power, microwave field effect transistor are substantially matched to external input and output networks. The field effect transistor includes a metal ground plane layer, a dielectric layer on the ground plane layer, a gallium arsenide active region on the dielectric layer, and substantially coplanar spaced source, gate, and drain electrodes having active segments covering the active region. The active segment of the gate electrode is located between edges of the active segments of the source and drain electrodes. The gate and drain electrodes include inactive pads remote from the active segments. The pads are connected directly to the input and output networks. The source electrode is connected to the ground plane layer. The space between the electrodes and the geometry of the electrodes extablish parasitic shunt capacitances and series inductances that provide substantial matches between the input network and the gate electrode and between the output network and the drain electrode. Many of the devices are connected in parallel and share a common active region, so that each pair of adjacent devices shares the same source electrodes and each pair of adjacent devices shares the same drain electrodes. The gate electrodes for the parallel devices are formed by a continuous stripe that extends between adjacent devices and is connected at different points to the common gate pad.

Huang, Ho-Chung↗

NASA NTRS1989

Space Station Freedom solar array panels plasma interaction test facility

The Space Station Freedom Power System will make extensive use of photovoltaic (PV) power generation. The phase 1 power system consists of two PV power modules each capable of delivering 37.5 KW of conditioned power to the user. Each PV module consists of two solar arrays. Each solar array is made up of two solar blankets. Each solar blanket contains 82 PV panels. The PV power modules provide a 160 V nominal operating voltage. Previous research has shown that there are electrical interactions between a plasma environment and a photovoltaic power source. The interactions take two forms: parasitic current loss (occurs when the currect produced by the PV panel leaves at a high potential point and travels through the plasma to a lower potential point, effectively shorting that portion of the PV panel); and arcing (occurs when the PV panel electrically discharges into the plasma). The PV solar array panel plasma interaction test was conceived to evaluate the effects of these interactions on the Space Station Freedom type PV panels as well as to conduct further research. The test article consists of two active solar array panels in series. Each panel consists of two hundred 8 cm x 8 cm silicon solar cells. The test requirements dictated specifications in the following areas: plasma environment/plasma sheath; outgassing; thermal requirements; solar simulation; and data collection requirements.

Martin, Donald F.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Computational chaos in massively parallel neural networks

A fundamental issue which directly impacts the scalability of current theoretical neural network models to massively parallel embodiments, in both software as well as hardware, is the inherent and unavoidable concurrent asynchronicity of emerging fine-grained computational ensembles and the possible emergence of chaotic manifestations. Previous analyses attributed dynamical instability to the topology of the interconnection matrix, to parasitic components or to propagation delays. However, researchers have observed the existence of emergent computational chaos in a concurrently asynchronous framework, independent of the network topology. Researcher present a methodology enabling the effective asynchronous operation of large-scale neural networks. Necessary and sufficient conditions guaranteeing concurrent asynchronous convergence are established in terms of contracting operators. Lyapunov exponents are computed formally to characterize the underlying nonlinear dynamics. Simulation results are presented to illustrate network convergence to the correct results, even in the presence of large delays.

Barhen, Jacob↗

NASA NTRS1990

The Space Station photovoltaic panels plasma interaction test program - Test plan and results

The plasma Interaction Test performed on two space station solar array panels is addressed. This includes a discussion of the test requirements, test plan, experimental set-up, and test results. It was found that parasitic current collection was insignificant (0.3 percent of the solar array delivered power). The measured arcing threshold ranged from -210 to -457 V with respect to the plasma potential. Furthermore, the dynamic response of the panels showed the panel time constant to range between 1 and 5 microsec, and the panel capacitance to be between .01 and .02 microF.

Nahra, Henry K.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Monolithically integrated two-dimensional arrays of optoelectronic threshold devices for neural network applications

A monolithic 10 x 10 two-dimensional array of 'optical neuron' optoelectronic threshold elements for neural network applications has been designed, fabricated, and tested. Overall array dimensions are 5 x 5 mm, while the individual neurons, composed of an LED that is driven by a double-heterojunction bipolar transistor, are 250 x 250 microns. The overall integrated structure exhibited semiconductor-controlled rectifier characteristics, with a breakover voltage of 75 V and a reverse-breakdown voltage of 60 V; this is attributable to the parasitic p-n-p transistor which exists as a result of the sharing of the same n-AlGaAs collector between the transistors and the LED.

Kim, J. H.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Supersonic aircraft drag reduction

This paper reviews aerodynamic drag reduction for friction, wave and vortex drag associated with supersonic cruise aircraft and suggests approaches and research directions. Suction laminar flow control may also enable improved low-speed, high-lift systems, improved lift-to-drag ratio for subsonic cruise, reduced parasitic viscous drag for favorable interference wave drag reduction approaches, and turbulent skin friction reduction via slot injection. Flow separation control at cruise proffers opportunities for increased leading-edge thrust, increased lift increment from upper surface, increased fuselage lift/camber for wave drag-due-to-lift reduction, improved performance of various favorable interference wave drag reduction schemes, as well as possibly better low-speed, high-lift systems and wing cruise performance.

Bushnell, D. M.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Application of the pentaiodide strong base resin disinfectant to the U.S. space program

A pentaiodide resin is described which has 70 percent of its weight composed of elemental iodine, has a relatively low iodine residual, and may offer superior disinfection capability for applications on long-duration space vehicles. Such a disinfectant is crucial for use on spacecraft for long periods of time where water would be recycled through various systems. The pentaiodide resin is capable of devitalizing 1 x 10 to the 9th bacteria per ml in aqueous suspension within 10 seconds of contact with the resin bed. A number of organisms have already been tested and the resin continues to prove effective. Resin properties and composition are discussed and a detailed account of the first investigation of the pentaiodide resin as a disinfectant against the intestinal parasite Giardia lamblia is provided.

Marchin, George L.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Experimental study of the two-layer electromagnetically coupled rectangular patch antenna

Experimental results on the characteristics of two-layer electromagnetically coupled rectangular patch antennas are presented. In addition to the relatively large bandwidth region that occurs when the separation between the two layers is less than 0.15 wavelength, a high-gain region is found when the separation exceeds 0.3 wavelength. The relative sizes of the parasitic and fed patches are found to have significant effects on the resonant input resistance and bandwidth.

Lee, Richard Q.↗