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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

Low-gravity experiments in critical phenomena

Studies of anomalous thermodynamic, transport, and structural phenomena in multibody systems near critical points are reviewed. The nomenclature used to describe critical points is explained; theoretical predictions of the thermodynamic properties of bulk systems are presented; and experimental tests of these predictions systems are discussed, considering equilibration and gravity effects in fluid systems and emphasizing the value of experiments conducted in a reduced-gravity environment. Several such experiments are described, and the available academic-research opportunities are briefly surveyed.

Moldover, Michael R.↗

Evaluation of on-board hydrogen storage methods f or high-speed aircraft

Hydrogen is the fuel of choice for hypersonic vehicles. Its main disadvantage is its low liquid and solid density. This increases the vehicle volume and hence the drag losses during atmospheric flight. In addition, the dry mass of the vehicle is larger due to larger vehicle structure and fuel tankage. Therefore it is very desirable to find a fuel system with smaller fuel storage requirements without deteriorating the vehicle performance substantially. To evaluate various candidate fuel systems, they were first screened thermodynamically with respect to their energy content and cooling capacities. To evaluate the vehicle performance with different fuel systems, a simple computer model is developed to compute the vehicle parameters such as the vehicle volume, dry mass, effective specific impulse, and payload capacity. The results indicate that if the payload capacity (or the gross lift-off mass) is the most important criterion, only slush hydrogen and liquid hydrogen - liquid methane gel shows better performance than the liquid hydrogen vehicle. If all the advantages of a smaller vehicle are considered and a more accurate mass analysis can be performed, other systems using endothermic fuels such as cyclohexane, and some boranes may prove to be worthy of further consideration.

Akyurtlu, Ates↗

A Heat and Mass Transfer Model of the Orion European Service Module Propulsion Sub-System

A tool for simulating the thermodynamics of the fluid components of the Orion European Service Module propulsion subsystem has been developed. The 1-dimensional,time-stepping method tracks energy and mass movement through the propellant and pressurant tanks during burn and coast phases of a simulated mission. The code is fast and flexible, allowing easy modifications and incorporation into other computational tools. The results from the simulation have been used to support mission planning, development of flight rules and to guide experimental testing of components and systems.

Spacecraft propulsion↗

Closed fluid system without moving parts controls temperature

Closed fluid system maintains a constant temperature in an insulated region without the use of any moving parts. Within the system, the energy for thermodynamic cycling of two-phase heat transfer fluid and a hydraulic fluid is entirely supplied by the heat generated in the thermally insulated region.

Stenger, F. J.↗

Chemical kinetics computer program for static and flow reactions

General chemical kinetics computer program for complex gas mixtures has been developed. Program can be used for any homogeneous reaction in either one dimensional flow or static system. It is flexible, accurate, and easy to use. It can be used for any chemical system for which species thermodynamic data and reaction rate constant data are known.

Bittker, D. A.↗

Prediction of the effects of thermal stratification on pressure and temperature response of the Apollo supercritical oxygen tank

A semiempirical design-oriented model has been developed for the prediction of the effects of thermal stratification on tank pressure and heater temperature response for the Apollo supercritical oxygen tank. The heat transfer formulation describes laminar free convection at low-g and takes into account the radiation and conduction processes occurring in the tank. The nonequilibrium thermodynamic behavior of the system due to localized heating of the stored fluid is represented by the characteristics of a discrete number of fluid regions and thermal nodes. Solutions to the time dependent variable fluid property problem are obtained through the use of a reference temperature procedure. A criterion which establishes the reference temperature as a function of the fluid density ratio is derived. The analytical results are compared with the flight data.

Chen, I. M.↗

Homogeneous processes of atmospheric interest

Upper atmospheric research programs in the department of chemical kinetics are reported. Topics discussed include: (1) third-order rate constants of atmospheric importance; (2) a computational study of the HO2 + HO2 and DO2 + DO2 reactions; (3) measurement and estimation of rate constants for modeling reactive systems; (4) kinetics and thermodynamics of ion-molecule association reactions; (5) entropy barriers in ion-molecule reactions; (6) reaction rate constant for OH + HOONO2 yields products over the temperature range 246 to 324 K; (7) very low-pressure photolysis of tert-bytyl nitrite at 248 nm; (8) summary of preliminary data for the photolysis of C1ONO2 and N2O5 at 285 nm; and (9) heterogeneous reaction of N2O5 and H2O.

Rossi, M. J.↗

Vapor Growth of Alloy-Type Semiconductor Crystals

The present effort is part of a continuing research program directed towards the investigation of basic vapor transport phenomena and of crystal growth properties of electronic materials. The primary purpose of ground-based studies is the development and definition of optimum experimental parameters for flight experiments. The ground-based effort includes the investigation of gravity-driven convection effects on mass transport rates and on crystal morphology for different orientations of the density gradient with respect to the gravity vector, and as a function of pressure and of temperature. In addition to the experimental tasks, theoretical efforts involve the quantitative thermodynamic analysis of the systems under investigation, the computation of fluid dynamic parameters, and the consideration of other possible effects on fluid flow under vertical, stabilizing and microgravity conditions. The specific experiments to be performed in a microgravity environment include the investigation of vapor transport and crystal growth phenomena of the GeSe-Xenon system and of the mass flux and growth of bulk and layer-type crystals of Hg sub (1-x) Cd sub x Te using HgI as a transport agent.

Wiedemeier, H.↗

Chemical Equilibrium And Transport (CET)

Powerful, machine-independent program calculates theoretical thermodynamic properties of chemical systems. Aids in design of compressors, turbines, engines, heat exchangers, and chemical processing equipment.

Mcbride, B. J.↗

Thermochemical analysis of the silicon carbide-alumina reaction with reference to liquid-phase sintering of silicon carbide

The stabilities of different phases in the Si-Al-C-O system are calculated from thermodynamic considerations with the objective of identifying the liquid phases formed during sintering of SiC in the presence of Al2O3. It is shown that a liquid phase can form at the sintering temperatures by the reaction of SiC with Al2O3. Depending on the carbon activity, the liquid can be either of the following: Al2O3 + Al4C3, SiC + Al4C3, or molten aluminum. The stability of the aluminosilicate melts that can form by the reaction of Al2O3 with the surface silica layer on SiC powders is also evaluated. Several factors that influence liquid-phase sintering, such as the solubility of SiC in the melts and the generation of gases during sintering, are discussed. The results of the thermodynamic analysis are compared with the observed sintering behavior for SiC.

Misra, Ajay K.↗

Chemical stability of titanium diboride reinforcement in nickel aluminide matrices

Chemical stability of TiB2 reinforcement in NiAl (45 at percent Al) and Ni3Al (24 at percent Al) matrices has been theoretically and experimentally investigated. Calculations were made using thermodynamic properties of the systems to predict behavior at temperatures between 1173 and 1573 K. Experimental investigation of hot-press consolidated TiB2 particulate/prealloyed matrix powder blends were conducted using energy dispersive X-ray analysis, XRD, AES, and TEM. The theoretical and experimental analyses suggest that TiB2 is chemically stable in both matrices up to 1573 K; however, TiB2 was found to be less active in NiAl than in Ni3Al due to lower nickel activity in NiAl.

Rigney, J. D.↗

Experimental Results of Hydrogen Slosh in a 62 Cubic Foot (1750 Liter) Tank

Extensive slosh testing with liquid and slush hydrogen was conducted in a 62 cubic foot spherical tank to characterize the thermodynamic response of the system under normal gravity conditions. Slosh frequency and amplitude, pressurant type, ramp pressure, and ullage volume were parametrically varied to assess the effect of each of these parameters on the tank pressure and fluid/wall temperatures. A total of 91 liquid hydrogen and 62 slush hydrogen slosh tests were completed. Both closed tank tests and expulsions during sloshing were performed. This report presents and discusses highlights of the liquid hydrogen closed tank results in detail and introduces some general trends for the slush hydrogen tests. Summary comparisons between liquid and slush hydrogen slosh results are also presented.

Moran, Matthew E.↗

Sorbents Remove Oxygen At High Temperatures

Cobalt-exchanged, platinized zeolites 13X and L found conveniently reducible in hot gaseous mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen and thereafter useful as sorbents of trace amounts of oxygen at high temperatures. Aided by catalytic action of platinum, sorbents exhibit rapid oxygen-sorption kinetics and, according to thermodynamic properties of O2/CoO system, capable of lowering level of oxygen in otherwise inert gaseous atmosphere to less than 1 part per trillion in temperature range of 400 to 800 degrees C. Inert atmospheres with these oxygen levels required for processing of certain materials in semiconductor industry.

Sharma, Pramod K.↗