Handbook of Solar Simulation for Thermal Vacuum Testing.
Handbook of solar simulation for thermal vacuum testing, discussing space environment, thermal control coatings, radiation sources, optical components, etc
Arvesen, J.↗
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Results for “Solar Thermal”
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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Thermal annealing of radiation damage in solar cells.
Thermal annealing of silicon solar cells with direct solar heating or electric storage methods to avoid radiation damage
POWER SUPPLY↗
Solar heating and hot water system installed at Saint Louis, Missouri
The solar heating and hot water system installed at the William Tao & Associates, Inc., office building in St. Louis, Missouri is described, including maintenance and construction problems, final drawings, system requirements, and manufacturer's component data. The solar system was designed to provide 50 percent of the hot water requirements and 45 percent of the space heating needs for a 900 sq ft office space and drafting room. The solar facility has 252 sq ft of glass tube concentrator collectors and a 1000 gallon steel storage tank buried below a concrete slab floor. Freeze protection is provided by a propylene glycol/water mixture in the collector loop. The collectors are roof mounted on a variable tilt array which is adjusted seasonally and is connected to the solar thermal storage tank by a tube-in-shell heat exchanger. Incoming city water is preheated through the solar energy thermal storage tank.
Source record↗
A survey of solar absorptance and thermal emittance instrumentation at Goddard Space Flight Center
Optical and thermal method of measuring solar absorptance and thermal emittance
THERMAL EMISSION↗
Solar rocket plume/mirror interactions
The extent to which the plume from a solar thermal rocket will impinge on the solar collector is studied by flow field analysis. Such interaction can adversely affect collector performance through fouling, excessive heat loading, or pressure loads that deform the delicate structures. The geometrical shape of the collector is such that only the flow from the nozzle boundary layer can reach it, but the thrust levels of interest lead to very viscous nozzle flows with thick boundary layers. Reasonable accuracy in solving these flows requires a fully coupled viscous-inviscid procedure. Results show that the fraction of the plume that hits the collector can be well estimated by continuum theory, but that transitional and rarefied phenomena will have some impact on how it is distributed over the surface. Initial results for one representative condition show that approx. 4 percent of the total flow in the jet makes its way to the collector. The pressures on the collector, however, remain quite low because of its distance from the engine. Additional work is needed to document the effect of thrust scaling and wall cooling on impingement.
Yu, Sheng-Tao↗
Solar Powered Propulsion for Space. (Latest citations from the Aerospace Database)
The bibliography contains citations concerning the design, development, and performance of solar propulsion systems. Solar electric propulsion and solar thermal propulsion are reviewed. Topics include solar power satellites, nuclear electric propulsion, solar-powered orbit transfer vehicles, and solar dynamic and bimodal power systems. References also discuss atmospheric pollution control, telephone services, space commercialization, interplanetary missions, and lunar and Mars exploration. (Contains 50-250 citations and includes a subject term index and title list.)
BIBLIOGRAPHIES↗
Response characteristics of a thermal-heliotrope solar-array orientation device
The thermal heliotrope is a passive solar-array orientation device containing a bimetallic helix that rotates when activated by solar energy. The rate and extent of the rotation depends upon the properties of the two metals and the temperature of the helix. An energy-balance analysis is performed to determine the temperature distribution in the helix. By initially restricting the analysis, a simplified equation governing the response of the heliotrope is obtained. In order to gain insight into the response of the heliotrope, a series of experiments were performed. The results of these tests and the implications are presented.
Morse, F. H.↗
Thermal system engineering experiment
The technical feasibility of a solar thermal collector to provide process steam in an industrial environment was determined. The form of the experiment was an industrial field test.
Source record↗
Origin of coronal mass ejection and magnetic cloud: Thermal or magnetic driven?
A fundamental problem in Solar-Terrestrial Physics is the origin of the solar transient plasma output, which includes the coronal mass ejection and its interplanetary manifestation, e.g. the magnetic cloud. The traditional blast wave model resulted from solar thermal pressure impulse has faced with challenge during recent years. In the MHD numerical simulation study of CME, the authors find that the basic feature of the asymmetrical event on 18 August 1980 can be reproduced neither by a thermal pressure nor by a speed increment. Also, the thermal pressure model fails in simulating the interplanetary structure with low thermal pressure and strong magnetic field strength, representative of a typical magnetic cloud. Instead, the numerical simulation results are in favor of the magnetic field expansion as the likely mechanism for both the asymmetrical CME event and magnetic cloud.
Zhang, Gong-Liang↗
High-Temperature Helical-Tube Solar Receiver
Solar-thermal receiver used with circular parabolic concentrator to supply about 58 kW thermal power to Brayton engine or industrial process. Solar radiation focused into open end of cylindrical ceramic thermal inertial sleeve 8 in. in diameter that reradiates energy to helical heatexchanger tube surrounding sleeve.
Robertson, C. S., Jr.↗
The sun-tracking control of solar collectors using high-performance step motors
Sun-tracking solar energy-focusing devices involving a central receiver, thermionic conversion, or a distributed solar thermal collector system are described. The Perkins solar collector uses a fixed focal point about which an 18 m-diameter parabolic dish moves on tracks. The elevation axis also moves on a circular track. A microprocessor manipulates sun sensor information and sun ephemeris data to ensure correct placement. Stepper motors are digital devices which provide direct interface with digital electronics and a wide dynamic range, and could easily be associated with the microprocessors. Design philosophy, performance criteria, wind load analysis, and control system requirements are also discussed.
Hughes, R. O.↗
Non-heat pipe receiver/p-40 Stirling engine
The technology for a full-up hybrid dish-Stirling Solar Thermal Power system is discussed. Overall solar-to-electric efficiency for the dish-Stirling system demonstration is approximately 30%. Hybrid operation is provided by fossil fuel combustion augmentation, which enables the Stirling engine to operate continuously at constant speed and power, regardless of insolation level, thus providing the capability to operate on cloudy days and at night.
Haglund, R. A.↗
Solidification of high temperature molten salts for thermal energy storage systems
The solidification of phase change materials for the high temperature thermal energy storage system of an advanced solar thermal power system has been examined theoretically. In light of the particular thermophysical properties of candidate phase change high temperature salts, such as the eutectic mixture of NaF - MgF2, the heat transfer characteristics of one-dimensional inward solidification for a cylindrical geometry have been studied. The Biot number for the solidified salt is shown to be the critical design parameter for constant extraction heat flux. A fin-on-fin design concept of heat transfer surface augmentation is proposed in an effort to minimize the effects of the salt's low thermal conductivity and large volume change upon fusing.
Sheffield, J. W.↗
In-Space Propulsion: Connectivity to In-Space Fabrication and Repair
The connectivity between new in-space propulsion technologies and the ultimate development of an in-space fabrication and repair infrastructure are described in this Technical Memorandum. A number of advanced in-space propulsion technologies are being developed by NASA, many of which are directly relevant to the establishment of such an in-space infrastructure. These include aerocapture, advanced solar-electric propulsion, solar-thermal propulsion, advanced chemical propulsion, tethers, and solar photon sails. Other, further-term technologies have also been studied to assess their utility to the development of such an infrastructure.
Johnson, L.↗
The effect of solar simulator operating characteristics on spacecraft thermal tests
Solar simulator performance characteristics effects on spacecraft heat test
PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS↗
Industrial application experiment series
The deployment of parabolic dish systems into the industrial sector for the purpose of providing users, suppliers, sponsors, and developers with a realistic assessment of system feasibility in selected near-term industrial applications will be accomplished initially through the industrial module experiment and later through additional experiments involving thermal, electric, and combined thermal and electrical systems. The approach is to progress through steps, from single module to multi-module systems, from thermal-only applications to more complex combined thermal and electric applications. The experience of other solar thermal experiments, particularly those involving parabolic dish hardware, will be utilized to the fullest extent possible in experiment planning and implementation.
Bluhm, S. A.↗
A bibliography of electrothermal thruster technology, 1984
Electrothermal propulsion concepts are briefly discussed as an introduction to a bibliography and author index. Nearly 700 citations are given for resistojets, thermal arcjets, pulsed electrothermal thrusters, microwave heated devices, solar thermal thrusters, and laser thermal thrusters.
Sovey, J. S.↗
A Strategic Roadmap to Centauri
This paper discusses the connectivity between in-space propulsion and in-space fabrication/repair and is based upon a workshop presentation by Les Johnson, manager of the In-Space Propulsion (ISP) Technology Project at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in Huntsville, Ala.. Technologies under study by ISP include aerocapture, advanced solar-electric propulsion, solar-thermal propulsion, advanced chemical propulsion, tethers and solar-photon sails. These propulsion systems are all approaching technology readiness levels (TRLs) at which they can be considered for application in space-science and exploration missions. Historically, human frontiers have expanded as people have learned to live off the land in new environments and to exploit local resorces. With this expansion, frontier settlements have required development of transportation improvements to carry tools and manufactured products to and from the frontier. It is demonstrated how ISP technologies will assist in the development of the solar-system frontier. In-space fabrication and repair will both require and assist the development of ISP propulsion systems, whether humans choose to settle planetary surfaces or to exploit resources of small Solar System bodies. As was true for successful terrestrial pioneers, in-space settlement and exploitation will require sophisticated surveys of inner and outer Solar System objects. ISP technologies will contribute to the success of these surveys, as well as to the efforts to retrieve Solar System resources. In a similar fashion, the utility of ISP products will be greatly enhanced by the technologies of in-space repair and fabrication. As in-space propulsion, fabrication and repair develop, human civilization may expand well beyond the Earth. In the future, small human communities (preceded by robotic explorers) may utilize these techniques to set sail f or the nearest stars.
Johnson, Les↗