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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 325 records · Page 18

Modeling, Design, and Testing of a Novel Biphasic Solvent-Enabled Absorption System for Post-Combustion Carbon Capture

A novel absorption process enabled by a new class of biphasic solvents for post-combustion carbon capture (BiCAP) is presently being developed at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The new biphasic solvents are water-lean solvent blends that develop dual liquid phases with the absorbed CO2 highly enriched in one of the phases. These solvents are superior in CO2 capacity and have high thermal and oxidative stability compared to MEA. The BiCAP technology features a unique process configuration of multi-stage CO2 absorption and liquid–liquid phase separation during CO2 absorption, allowing continual separation and removal of the CO2-enriched liquid phase for maintaining low solvent viscosity and a fast absorption rate. A 40 kWe-scale skid has recently been constructed at the Abbott Power Plant in Champaign, IL, to test the BiCAP solvent in continuous operation with a slipstream of real post-combustion flue gas. Along with improvements in the stripping configuration including cold feed bypass, the process is expected to achieve a minimum reboiler duty of 2,210 kJ/kg CO2 captured at a stripper operating pressure of 6 bar.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗

Capturing the interactions between ice sheets, sea level and the solid Earth on a range of timescales: a new “time window” algorithm

Retreat and advance of ice sheets perturb the gravitational field, solid surface and rotation of the Earth, leading to spatially variable sea-level changes over a range of timescales $\textit{O}$ (10 0–6 years), which in turn feed back onto ice-sheet dynamics. Coupled ice-sheet–sea-level models have been developed to capture the interactive processes between ice sheets, sea level and the solid Earth, but it is computationally challenging to capture short-term interactions $\textit{O}$ (10 0–2 years) precisely within longer $\textit{O}$ (10 3–6 years) simulations. The standard forward sea-level modelling algorithm assigns a uniform temporal resolution in the sea-level model, causing a quadratic increase in total CPU time with the total number of input ice history steps, which increases with either the length or temporal resolution of the simulation. In this study, we introduce a new “time window” algorithm for 1D pseudo-spectral sea-level models based on the normal mode method that enables users to define the temporal resolution at which the ice loading history is captured during different time intervals before the current simulation time. Utilizing the time window, we assign a fine temporal resolution $\textit{O}$ (10 0–2 years) for the period of ongoing and recent history of surface ice and ocean loading changes and a coarser temporal resolution $\textit{O}$ (10 3–6 years) for earlier periods in the simulation. This reduces the total CPU time and memory required per model time step while maintaining the precision of the model results. We explore the sensitivity of sea-level model results to the model temporal resolution and show how this sensitivity feeds back onto ice-sheet dynamics in coupled modelling. We apply the new algorithm to simulate sea-level changes in response to global ice-sheet evolution over two glacial cycles and the rapid collapse of marine sectors of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet in the coming centuries and provide appropriate time window profiles for each application. The time window algorithm reduces the total CPU time by ~ 50 % in each of these examples and changes the trend of the total CPU time increase from quadratic to linear. This improvement would increase with longer simulations than those considered here. Our algorithm also allows for coupling time intervals of annual temporal scale for coupled ice-sheet–sea-level modelling of regions such as West Antarctica that are characterized by rapid solid Earth response to ice changes due to the thin lithosphere and low mantle viscosities.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Thermal history of shock-compressed solids

An isotropic, heterogeneous, viscous thermoplastic model of the uniaxially shock-compressed state in transparent solids is examined with a view to determining the conditions under which this radiation may be nominally thermal or nonthermal. Regions of locally high temperatures producing thermal radiation may develop only where the local viscosity is low and the Maxwell time is short; alternatively, regions of low elastic moduli and long Maxwell time could experience sustained elastic deformation, leading to microfracture and triboluminescence. Attention is given to the cases of MgO and SiO2.

Svendsen, B.↗

Characterization of crystalline LARC-TPI powder

LARC-TPI, a linear aromatic polyimide, developed by NASA Langley Research Center in the late 1970's had thermoplastic character, but its melt-flow properties were much lower than those of conventional thermoplastics. An imidized version of the LARC-TPI molding powder was submitted to NASA-Langley for evaluation. The initial broad melt of this material occurs in the 270 C range and reorders to higher melting forms, depending on the physical and thermal treatments. Rheological characterization of this polymer shows it to have a very low melt viscosity, which increases as the melted specie transforms to other crystalline forms with higher melting temperatures.

Burks, Harold D.↗

Radial mixing of material in the asteroidal zone

The asteroid belt shows radial zoning of compositional structure. The most abundant types are successively S, C, and P types from the inner to the outer parts of the main belt, and D type in the Trojan clouds. This paper examines processes for producing this structure before, during, and after the accretion of asteroids. The initial structure is established by temperature and composition gradients in the turbulent solar nebula during the collapse of the presolar cloud. The radial scale of the zoning, comparable to the disk thickness, favors disk models with relatively low turbulent viscosity. Radial decay of solid bodies due to gas drag during settling to the central plane and planetesimal formation probably causes only a small degree of mixing, due to the systematic nature of drag-induced motions. The formation of Jupiter causes scattering of massive planetesimals from that planet's zone through the asteroid zone. The present random velocities of asteroids resulting from that stirring process are consistent with the radial scale of transitions between compositional types.

Ruzmaikina, T. V.↗

Crystalline Imide/Arylene Ether Copolymers

Series of imide/arylene ether block copolymers prepared by using arylene ether blocks to impart low melt viscosity, and imide blocks to provide high strength and other desirable mechanical properties. Work represents extension of LAR-14159 on imide/arylene ether copolymers in form of films, moldings, adhesives, and composite matrices. Copolymers potentially useful in variety of high-temperature aerospace and microelectronic applications.

Jensen, Brian J.↗

Volcanism on Venus as inferred from the morphometry of large shields

Morphometric data for the Venusian shields are compared with those for large volcanos on Mars and the Big Island shield in Hawaii. Reasonable assumptions and constraints on the chemical and physical properties of venusian magma, crust, and lithosphere are used with the morphometric data to estimate probable deep magma-source depths below the shields. Such data for selected large volcanos on Venus, Mars, and earth are presented. The flattened profiles of the Venusian shields are interpreted to be predominantly the result of the density contrast between lava and rocks between the source and surface, a relatively shallow depth to a primary magma source, low magma viscosity, high magma volumes and rates, and the inferred presence of flanking vents and lava tubes that carried lavas great distances from the summit. The measured shield heights are used in conjunction with a reasonable range of magma and rock densities to estimate the depths to deep magma sources, yielding an average of 25 km beneath the Venusian plains with a range depth of 3 to 40 km.

Schaber, G. G.↗

Analysis of a swirl stabilized arcjet thruster

Viscous swirling flow through transonic converging-diverging nozzles (with and without centerbodies) is examined numerically. An implicit technique is used to solve the axisymmetric Thin Layer Naiver-Stokes equations. The effect of swirl and viscosity on low Reynolds number flows is shown by examining integral parameters and flowfield details.

Keith, Theo G., Jr.↗

Lattice Boltzmann model for compressible fluids

A lattice Boltzmann model is derived which simulates compressible fluids. By choosing the parameters of the equilibrium distribution appropriately, the sound speed (which may be set arbitrarily low), bulk viscosity, and kinematic viscosity can be selected. This model simulates compressible flows and can include shocks. With a proper rescaling and zero-sound speed, this model simulates Burgers's equation. The viscosity determined by a Chapman-Enskog expansion compares well with that measured form simulations. The exact solutions of Burgers's equation on the unit circle are compared to solutions of lattice Boltzmann model finding reasonable agreement.

Alexander, F. J.↗

Polar motions excited by a convecting viscous mantle

The role played by time-dependent mantle convection on exciting long-term polar motions is examined by means of a viscous model. For sufficiently low effective viscosity, polar-wander speeds of 0(1 deg/Myr) would require contributions from the off-diagonal elements of the inertia tensor, with magnitudes around 100,000 times smaller than those found in viscoelastic models used for postglacial rebound. Contributions from the large-scale mantle flow to the angular momentum vector can be comparable to those due to changes in moment of inertia tensor for nonlinear rheology or for young planet. The relative roles of the two contributions depend on the nonlinear rheology of the mantle and its convective vigor.

Moser, Jiri↗

Multiringed impact craters on Venus - An overview from Arecibo and Venera images and initial Magellan data

Fifteen peak-ring craters, defined by a distinct outer rim and an inner ring of concentrically-arranged peaks, have been revealed by the examination of Arecibo and Venera 15/16 radar images of Venus. The overall morphology of these craters is similar to that of peak-ring craters on the other terrestrial planets, but the craters are of much smaller diameters. Nevertheless, the effective viscosities are low enough at depth to allow inward asthenospheric flow.

Alexopoulos, Jim S.↗

Phenylethynyl-Terminated Poly(Arylene Ethers)

Phenylethynyl-terminated poly(arylene ethers) synthesized in wide range of molecular weights by adjusting monomer ratios and adding appropriate amounts of 4-phenylethynyl-4'-fluorobenzophenone to monomers to end-cap oligomers during polymerization. Have low molecular weights and low melt viscosities, and are easily processed as adhesives, composites, and moldings. Thermally cured to provide materials that are crosslinked and insoluble in common organic solvents. Exhibit increased resistance to solvents, greater tensile moduli, and better high-temperature properties. Useful as adhesives, composite matrices, and moldings, especially in applications in which combination of toughness and resistance to solvents needed.

Jensen, Brian J.↗

Phenylethynyl-Terminated Polyimides

Phenylethynyl-terminated polyimides exhibit properties suitable for films, moldings, adhesives, and composite-material matrices. Polyimides synthesized at various molecular weights, selected to obtain desirable properties for specific applications. Thermally cured to form cross-linked molecular structures typically increasing resistance to solvents, glass-transition temperatures, and moduli of elasticity. Also have low molecular weights and low melt viscosities for easier processing into composites and adhesive bonds.

Jensen, Brian J.↗

Effect Of Molecular Weight On Adhesive Properties Of The Phenylethynyl-Terminated Polyimide LARC(sup TM)-PETI-5

Future civilian aircraft will require the use of advanced adhesive systems with high temperature capabilities. One such material has been developed at the NASA Langley Research Center, a phenylethynyl-terminated polyimide given the designation LARC(sup TM)-PETI-5. Recent work has shown the advantages of similar phenylethynyl-terminated polyimides as films, moldings, adhesives, and composite matrix resins. Phenylethynyl-terminated oligomers provide greater processing windows than materials which incorporate simple ethynyl endcaps. Since these low molecular weight, low melt viscosity oligomers thermally cure without the evolution of volatile by-products, they provide an excellent means of producing polymers with high glass transition temperatures, excellent solvent resistance, and high mechanical properties. Three different versions of LARC(sup TM)-PETI-5 with theoretical number average molecular weights (M(sub n)s) of 250, 5000, and 10000 g/mol were synthesized in this work. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) measurements were performed on the dry powder form of these materials to establish cure conditions which result in high glass transition temperatures (T(sub g)s). Lap shear specimens were prepared from adhesive tape made from each material and with the thermal cure conditions determined from the DSC data. The tensile shear data established processing conditions which provided the best adhesive strengths. Further testing was performed to establish the properties of LARC(sup TM)-PETI-5 as an adhesive material and to determine its solvent resistance.

Cano, Roberto J.↗

Adhesive Properties of Cured Phenylethynyl containing Imides

As part of a program to develop structural adhesives for high performance aerospace applications, several phenylethynyl containing oligomer blends of Larc(TM) MPEI and a reactive plasticizer designated LaRC LV-1 21 were prepared and evaluated. The fully imidized blends exhibited minimum melt viscosity as low as 1000 poise at 371 C. Ti/Ti lap shear specimens fabricated at 316 C under 15 psi gave RT strength of approx. 4300 psi and no change in strength was observed at 177 C. The chemistry and properties of this new MPEI as well as some blends of MPEI with LV-121 are presented and compared to the linear version, LARC(TM)-PETI-5.

Chang, Alice C.↗