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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 343 records · Page 19
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1983

Plasma diagnostics package assessment of the STS-3 orbiter environment and systems for science

Primary objectives of the Plasma Diagnostics Package (PDP) on STS-3 as part of the OSS-1 'Pathfinder' payload were to measure aspects of the Orbiter's induced environment and to utilize Orbiter crew and subsystems in the conduct of scientific investigations. Instrumentation temperatures were found to be within predicted limits, payload bay pressure varied from ambient up to 0.001 torr with thruster firings, EMI levels were found to be below worst case estimates, and V x B motional potentials were observed to vary + or - 5 V with respect to Orbiter ground. These parameters exhibited orbit-period modulation. Payload bay plasma varied in density and composition from ambient to a rarefied mixture with Orbiter-produced H2O(+). Energetic electrons and ions with energies up to 10's of eV were observed occasionally. Primary and vernier thrusters induce a momentary perturbation to the electron density, to the pressure and to the electric field with low energy ions and electrons occasionally produced. With the PDP on the RMS, both automode and manual modes were used to seek sources of EMI, to characterize the Orbiter's plasma wake and to measure beam-plasma phenomena.

Shawhan, S. D.↗
NASA NTRS1971

Measurements of seeded argon-hydrogen plasma properties.

Seeded argon-hydrogen plasmas have been produced at Georgia Tech in order to experimentally measure composition, temperature, radiant heat output and opacity. The plasma, seeded with submicron tungsten particles, simulates the propellant of a gaseous core nuclear rocket. These measurements are needed to predict the dynamic behavior of the operating gas core reactor. The temperature range in which the seed has vaporized but the hydrogen itself has not yet become opaque is known as the seed-hydrogen opacity window. Preliminary opacity data in this temperature range will be presented.

Benns, R. A.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Exploratory Investigation of Coal in Nonequilibrium Plasma

Coal is an abundant natural resource and there is motivation to find new uses for it that do not intrinsically involve combustion. One approach is to explore new ways of processing coal, and in this work, we focus on the transformation of coal in a nonequilibrium plasma generated from an equimolar mixture of nitrogen and hydrogen. The outcome of the nonequilibrium plasma reaction is fundamentally different than a thermal control reaction carried out using the same gas composition, pressure, and temperature range. The nonequilibrium plasma produces a gas mixture that is enriched in acetylene and its derivatives. Furthermore, when compared to the thermal control experiment, the solid char byproduct of the nonequilibrium plasma has a very reactive surface and is spontaneously combustible at ambient temperature. Experiments performed to characterize the reaction kinetics of coal in the plasma suggest that the mechanism proceeds through a sequential process by which the coal particle temperature rises to a point where devolatilization can occur, the devolatilization reaction happens, followed by parallel reactions of released organic vapors in the plasma phase and surface activation. In conclusion, the reaction rate appears to be limited by the time it takes for the coal particle temperature to rise, consistent with previous results reported for reactions of coal in thermal plasma.

Acetylene↗
NASA NTRS1989

The role of rapid solidification processing in the fabrication of fiber reinforced metal matrix composites

Advanced composite processing techniques for fiber reinforced metal matrix composites require the flexibility to meet several widespread objectives. The development of uniquely desired matrix microstructures and uniformly arrayed fiber spacing with sufficient bonding between fiber and matrix to transmit load between them without degradation to the fiber or matrix are the minimum requirements necessary of any fabrication process. For most applications these criteria can be met by fabricating composite monotapes which are then consolidated into composite panels or more complicated components such as fiber reinforced turbine blades. Regardless of the end component, composite monotapes are the building blocks from which near net shape composite structures can be formed. The most common methods for forming composite monotapes are the powder cloth, foil/fiber, plasma spray, and arc spray processes. These practices, however, employ rapid solidification techniques in processing of the composite matrix phase. Consequently, rapid solidification processes play a vital and yet generally overlooked role in composite fabrication. The future potential of rapid solidification processing is discussed.

Locci, Ivan E.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Valorization of waste polyolefins to butene, unsaturated fatty alcohols, and branched alkenes using CO 2 and plasma catalyst

Butene, branched alkenes, and short-chain unsaturated fatty alcohols are among the chemicals that have a wide range of industrial applications in the production of fuels, chemicals, and polymers. In this work, we produced these valuable commodity chemicals from waste plastics using a single-step plasma-catalytic process at atmospheric pressure CO 2 . The study shows that combining non-thermal plasma and zeolite could convert polyolefins at a temperature of 200 °C within 15 minutes, producing liquids rich in C 5 and C 6 branched alkenes and C 6 -C 8 unsaturated fatty alcohols. Additionally, gaseous products include a high yield of butene. Comparative studies indicate that combining CO 2 plasma with zeolite synergistically increases reaction rates and alters product compositions. Product selectivity was strongly dependent on reaction conditions, including plasma power, gas flow rates, reactor temperature, and catalyst loading. Furthermore, this process was applicable to common polyolefins and post-consumer polyethylene, indicating that the plasma catalytic approach has promising potential to valorize waste plastics and greenhouse gas CO 2 into versatile chemicals.

42 ENGINEERING↗
NASA NTRS1972

Spacecraft observations of the solar wind composition

Solar wind composition studies by means of plasma analyzers carried on various spacecraft are reviewed. The average ratio of helium to hydrogen over the solar cycle is close to 0.045; values as low as 0.0025 and as high as 0.25 have been observed. High values have been observed following solar flares and interplanetary shock waves when the flare gas driving the shock arrives at the spacecraft. Ions of He-3(+2), O-16(+6), and O-16(+7) have been observed with Vela 3 electrostatic analyzers. Further measurements with Vela 5 analyzers have shown the presence of N-14(+6), Si-28(+7) to Si-28(+9) and Fe-56(+7) to Fe-56(+12) ions. The relative abundance of oxygen, silicon, and iron in the solar wind of July 6, 1969, was 1.00, 0.21, and 0.17, which is very similar to reported values for the corona. The ratio of helium to oxygen is variable; the average value of He/O is close to 100, but values between 30 and 400 have been observed.

Bame, S. J.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Results of the AEROS satellite program: Summary

Published literature reporting aeronomic data collected on two AEROS missions is summarized. The extreme ultraviolet solar radiation and other significant parameters of the thermosphere/ionosphere were investigated. Kinetic pressure, the quantity of atomic nitrogen, and partial densities of helium, oxygen, nitrogen, argon, and atomic nitrogen were determined. The thermal electron population, superthermal energy distribution, plasma density, ion temperature, and composition according to ion types were measured. The chief energy supply in the thermosphere was calculated. Aeronomic calculations showing that variations in the parameters of the ionosphere cannot be correlated with fluctuations of extreme ultraviolet solar radiation were performed. The AEROS data were compared with data from S3-1, ISIS, and AE-C satellites. Models of the thermosphere and ionosphere were developed.

Lammerzahl, P.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Adaptive materials processing

New sensors for both arc welding and resistance spot welding processes were studied. For arc welding, the arc itself is used as the sensor. Minor changes in both composition and geometry of the plasma result in fluctuations in the arc voltage. While the process as currently employed is an off-line system, development of an on-line process controller would be possible once the optimum analysis technique is developed. It has been shown that for resistance spot welding, the dynamic resistance of the weld joint can be correlated to growth of the fusion zone. It is indicated that this technique is not as useful for projection welds as for spot welds.

Eager, T. W.↗
NASA NTRS1981

High-latitude ionospheric model - First step towards a predictive capability

In order to study the plasma density features associated with both weak and strong convection in the winter high-latitude F-region, a simple plasma convection model was combined with an ionospheric-atmospheric composition model. In a model calculation, a field tube of plasma is followed as it moves along a convection trajectory through a moving, neutral atmosphere. The altitude profiles of the ion densities are obtained by solving the appropriate continuity, momentum and energy equations, including many high-latitude processes. The result of following many such plasma field tubes is a time-dependent, three-dimensional ion density distribution for the ions NO(+), O2(+), O(+), N(+), and He(+). The high-latitude ionosphere is covered over one complete day above 42 deg N magnetic latitude, at altitudes of 160-800 km.

Schunk, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS1982

The upper atmospheres of the earth and planets; Proceedings of the Topical Meeting, Ottawa, Canada, May 16-June 2, 1982

Various topics concerned with the upper atmosphere of the earth and planets are discussed. The atmospheres of the terrestrial planets are addressed, emphasizing Venus. The energy budget of the mesosphere and thermosphere is considered, discussing current and particles as energy sources, the radiation field, and neutral atmosphere dynamics. The results of Pre-Map Project One are covered, and the International Reference Ionosphere is discussed, including electron density profiles, the lower ionosphere, the plasmasphere, plasma temperature profiles, and ion composition. Finally, the mass spectroscopy of atmospheres is treated.

Barth, C. A.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Self-lubricating coatings for high-temperature applications

Some present-day aeropropulsion systems impose severe demands on the thermal and oxidative stability of lubricant, bearing, and seal materials. These demands will be much more severe for operational systems around the turn of the century. Solid lubricants with maximum temperature capabilities of about 1100 C are known. Unfortunately, none of the solid lubricants with the highest temperature capabilities are effective below approximately 400 C. However, research shows that silver and stable fluorides, such as calcium and barium fluoride act synergistically to provide lubrication from below room temperature to approximately 900 C. Plasma-sprayed, self-lubricating composite coatings that were developed at Lewis are described. Background information is given on coatings, designed as PS100 and PS101, that contain the solid lubricants in a Nichrome matrix. These coatings have low friction coefficients over a wide temperature range, but they have inadequate wear resistance for some long-duration applications. Wear resistance was dramatically improved in a recently developed coating PS200, by replacing the Nichrome matrix material with metal-bonded chromium carbide containing dispersed silver and calcium fluoride/barium fluoride eutectic (CaF2/BaF2). The lubricants control friction and the carbide matrix provides excellent wear resistance. Successful tests of these coatings are discussed.

Sliney, Harold E.↗
NASA NTRS1990

The scientific mission of Ulysses

The major aims of the Ulysses' scientific investigations of the heliosphere at all latitudes are described. Missions goals include the assessment of the global three-dimensional properties of the interplanetary magnetic field and solar wind, the study of the composition of the solar wind plasma at different heliographic latitudes, and the study of the acceleration of energetic particles in solar flares. Waves, shocks and other discontinuities in the solar wind will be investigated through sampling of various plasma conditions, and interplanetary dust and cosmic rays will be analyzed. Other important goals include the search for gamma-ray-burst sources and for low-frequency gravitational waves by using the spacecraft's radio communication link. Achievement of the Ulysses' solar pole trajectory, which will utilize both launch vehicle thrust and gravitational pull, is also described.

Wenzel, K.-P.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Experimenter's data package for the descending layers rocket

In response to a proposal from Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), NASA Headquarters has approved a sounding rocket mission designed to study the physics of intermediate layers in the Earth's ionosphere at middle latitudes. The experiment will be carried out by a team of scientists and engineers from the NASA Wallops Flight Facility, SAIC, the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, and the Millstone Hill radar observatory. The mission will involve the launch of an instrumented sounding rocket from the Wallops Island rocket range in the summer of 1994, with the objective of penetrating a descending ionized layer in the E-region between altitudes of 115 and 140 km. Instrumentation aboard the rocket will measure the ion and neutral composition of the layer, its plasma density, driving wind and electric field forces, the thermal ion distribution function, and electron temperature. Depending on payload weight constraints and subject to availability, a particle detector to measure energetic ion and/or electron fluxes near the layer may also be included. This document was prepared as a reference for the NASA payload development and experiment teams, for distribution at the Project Initiation Conference (PIC). The design specifications discussed herein are therefore of a preliminary nature; the intent is to promote open discussions between experimenters and NASA engineers that will lead to a final design capable of achieving the experiment objectives.

Earle, Greg↗
NASA NTRS1993

Possible in situ detection of K(2+) in the Jovian magnetosphere

During the Voyager 1 and 2 encounters with Jupiter in 1979 the positive ion composition of the cold thermal plasma in the Jovian plasma sheet and cold Io torus could be obtained when the plasma Mach number in the spacecraft rest frame was sufficiently large. Clear indication of an ionic species with a mass-to-charge ratio between 16 (O(+) and/or S(2+)) and 23 Na(+) is present in two spectra were acquired during apparent crossings of the plasma sheet in the middle magnetosphere. One interpretation is that the most likely identification of the ion is K(2+), even though there is no evidence in the data for K(+). Such an ion presence would be consistent with reports of neutral potassium associated with the Jovian system and originating at Io as well as with the identification of an ion with a similar mass-to-charge ratio at higher energies in the Ulysses data. An alternative interpretation is that the ion is a singly ionized molecular species associated with water products sputtered from Europa, a scenario which may also be consistent with the Ulysses data. However, other species present in the data and the low temperature favor the Iogenic potassium hypothesis.

Mcnutt, Ralph L, Jr.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Friction and Wear Characteristics of Cu-4Al Foil Bearing Coating at 25 and 650 degree C

The friction and wear performance of a Cu-4Al top foil coating has been investigated in Generation I foil air bearings. The copper alloy was applied by a novel deposition technique (ion diffusion) and the journal was coated with PS304, a plasma spray deposited high temperature composite solid lubricant coating. The ion diffusion coating process deposits a desirable smooth layer compared to other methods like cathodic arc deposition. The tribological performance of bearings with and without Cu-4Al foil coatings were evaluated through start-stop tests on an air bearing test rig at 25 and 650 C. The results indicate that the Cu-4Al assists during the initial break-in period, gives more stable friction performance with respect to temperature, and appears to prevent top foil wear at high temperature. The measured load capacity coefficient was 0.5, which was comparable to earlier testing of more advanced design Generation III bearings coated with standard cathodic arc deposited Cu-4Al. However, further studies are needed to determine if deeper penetration of the copper alloy into the foil would help make the transition in friction behavior from contact with the Cu-4Al coated foil to contact with the base foil material more gradual. Also, future work is recommended to assess the performance of ion diffusion coatings with different Cu-based alloy compositions and to investigate the effect the coating has on the elastic modulus of the foil material.

Stanford, Malcolm K.↗
NASA NTRS2007

Effect of Electron Beam Freeform Fabrication (EBF3) Processing Parameters on Composition of Ti-6-4

The Electron Beam Freeform Fabrication (EBF3) process developed at NASA Langley Research Center was evaluated using a design of experiments approach to determine the effect of processing parameters on the composition and geometry of Ti-6-4 deposits. The effects of three processing parameters: beam power, translation speed, and wire feed rate, were investigated by varying one while keeping the remaining parameters constant. A three-factorial, three-level, fully balanced mutually orthogonal array (L27) design of experiments approach was used to examine the effects of low, medium, and high settings for the processing parameters on the chemistry, geometry, and quality of the resulting deposits. Single bead high deposits were fabricated and evaluated for 27 experimental conditions. Loss of aluminum in Ti-6-4 was observed in EBF3 processing due to selective vaporization of the aluminum from the sustained molten pool in the vacuum environment; therefore, the chemistries of the deposits were measured and compared with the composition of the initial wire and base plate to determine if the loss of aluminum could be minimized through careful selection of processing parameters. The influence of processing parameters and coupling between these parameters on bulk composition, measured by Direct Current Plasma (DCP), local microchemistries determined by Wavelength Dispersive Spectrometry (WDS), and deposit geometry will also be discussed.

Lach, Cynthia L.↗