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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 361 records · Page 20
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2007

Initial Testing of the Stainless Steel NaK-Cooled Circuit (SNaKC)

An actively pumped alkali metal flow circuit, designed and fabricated at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, is currently undergoing testing in the Early Flight Fission Test Facility (EFF-TF). Sodium potassium (NaK) was selected as the primary coolant. Basic circuit components include: simulated reactor core, NaK to gas heat exchanger, electromagnetic liquid metal pump, liquid metal flowmeter, load/drain reservoir, expansion reservoir, test section, and instrumentation. Operation of the circuit is based around the 37-pin partial-array core (pin and flow path dimensions are the same as those in a full core), designed to operate at 33 kWt. This presentation addresses the construction, fill and initial testing of the Stainless Steel NaK-Cooled Circuit (SNaKC).

Garber, Anne↗
NASA NTRS1992

Metabolic responses to simulated extravehicular activity

Automatic control of the liquid cooling garment (LCG) worn by astronauts during extravehicular activity (EVA) would more efficiently regulate astronaut thermal comfort and improve astronaut productivity. An experiment was conducted in which subjects performed exercise profiles on a unique, supine upper body ergometer to elicit physiological and thermal responses similar to those achieved during zero-g EVAs. Results were analyzed to quantify metabolic rate, various body temperatures, and other heat balance parameters. Such data may lead to development of a microprocessor-based system to automatically maintain astronaut heat balance during extended EVAs.

Williamson, Rebecca C.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Evaluation of active thermal control options for Space Station

An analysis of various Space Station (MSS) active thermal control systems options under consideration because of their potential low weight, efficiency and reliability is reported. The study addressed ordinary and diode-action body mounted radiators, thermal storage, the area and pumping power requirements for single-phase cooling of cold plates, and single-phase and two-phase active cooling loops. The base configuration considered was a core MSS formed by four habitable modules on which are mounted heat pipe radiators articulated to be always edge-on to the sun. A simulation was performed which accounted for the available heat sinks, several thermal loads and the heat rejection capability. No benefits were found with diode-action radiators if the solar absorption is 0.1 or less, although diode-action heat pipes will maintain a higher level of performance in the presence of coating degradation. Thermal storage becomes important only with radiator coating degradation. Water can be up to three times as efficient as Freon as a heat transfer medium. Finally, single-phase cooling offers a lower system mass than two-phase cooling if varying temperature heat loads can be accommodated.

Schuster, J. R.↗
NASA NTRS1975

A radiometer for monitoring column densities of infrared-active molecules

A cryogenically cooled radiometer capable of accurately measuring the infrared background from 3.5 to 100 microns and the column density of water vapor for the low values specified for the space shuttle orbiter is described. The infrared spectral characteristics of the contaminant atmosphere are considered as well as the spectral characteristics of the natural IR background. The measurement technique is described in detail.

Witteborn, F. C.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Prototype solar heating and combined heating and cooling systems

System analysis activities were directed toward refining the heating system parameters. Trade studies were performed to support hardware selections for all systems and for the heating only operational test sites in particular. The heating system qualification tests were supported by predicting qualification test component performance prior to conducting the test.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1977

Physics of an active region loop system

The structure of the active region loops is investigated by the study of a loop complex which undergoes a dramatic evacuation of most of the mass it contains. The need for continual energy deposition in loops is emphasized by the apparent cessation of energy input to the loops studied and their subsequent behavior. Estimates are made of the energy necessary to form and to maintain the loops, and of the relative importance of radiation and thermal conduction as energy loss mechanisms. Models based on the observed EUV emission are used to place limits on the size of loops seen in various lines and on the density and temperature structure. It is found that the cool cores of active region loops are likely to be no more than a few hundred kilometers in radius and that several such cool threads may be imbedded in a common hot outer sheath. The primary energy loss on a large scale is radiation with thermal conduction contributing to local disturbances. There is a tendency for the development of apparently unstable condensations or knots along the length of a loop.

Levine, R. H.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Stratospheric sudden coolings and the role of nonlinear wave interactions in preconditioning the circumpolar flow

The mechanisms responsible for the transition of the circumpolar flow from its normal midwinter state to the preconditioned state that should evolve before a wavenumber-2 major warming are investigated, through a combination of observational, numerical and theoretical studies. Observations of Eliassen-Palm flux cross sections indicate that while wave zonal mean flow interaction theory could account for the qualitative evolution of the circumpolar flow during the warming, substantial nonlinear wave interactions were active during the cooling period, and these interactions significantly influenced the evolution of the circumpolar flow. Numerical experiments employing a truncated, semispectral model indicate that this cooling phenomenon is realistically reproducible in an idealized integration in which wave-wave interactions are present. Two different mechanisms are proposed to account for these nonlinearities.

Palmer, T. N.↗
NASA NTRS1980

A model for gas phase chemistry in interstellar clouds. II - Nonequilibrium effects and effects of temperature and activation energies

The chemical evolution of diffuse and dense interstellar clouds is examined via the time-dependent model outlined by Prasad and Huntress (1980). This paper presents specific results for CH, CO, CH4, O2, CH2O, CN, C2, C2H, HC3N, and NH3. Comparison with observations and predictions of other contemporary models show that cloud temperature plays a very important role through the inverse temperature dependence of radiative association reactions and through activation energies in neutral reactions and selected ion-molecule reactions. The observed fractional abundance of CN with respect to H2 and more accurate recent laboratory data on CN + O and CN + O2 reactions suggest that there is an unidentified, yet efficient, mechanism for conversion of O and O2 into polyatomic species. C2H and HC3N are synthesized early in the history of dense clouds. The value of the fractional abundance of C2H remains high, because as the cloud cools down the activation energy in the C2H + O reaction closes down this most important loss channel. A rapidly decreasing fractional abundance of O with time can also accomplish the same result. The value of the fractional abundance of HC3N remains high because it is an unreactive molecule and probably does not condense readily onto grains.

Prasad, S. S.↗
NASA NTRS2006

Making Activated Carbon by Wet Pressurized Pyrolysis

A wet pressurized pyrolysis (wet carbonization) process has been invented as a means of producing activated carbon from a wide variety of inedible biomass consisting principally of plant wastes. The principal intended use of this activated carbon is room-temperature adsorption of pollutant gases from cooled incinerator exhaust streams. Activated carbon is highly porous and has a large surface area. The surface area depends strongly on the raw material and the production process. Coconut shells and bituminous coal are the primary raw materials that, until now, were converted into activated carbon of commercially acceptable quality by use of traditional production processes that involve activation by use of steam or carbon dioxide. In the wet pressurized pyrolysis process, the plant material is subjected to high pressure and temperature in an aqueous medium in the absence of oxygen for a specified amount of time to break carbon-oxygen bonds in the organic material and modify the structure of the material to obtain large surface area. Plant materials that have been used in demonstrations of the process include inedible parts of wheat, rice, potato, soybean, and tomato plants. The raw plant material is ground and mixed with a specified proportion of water. The mixture is placed in a stirred autoclave, wherein it is pyrolized at a temperature between 450 and 590 F (approximately between 230 and 310 C) and a pressure between 1 and 1.4 kpsi (approximately between 7 and 10 MPa) for a time between 5 minutes and 1 hour. The solid fraction remaining after wet carbonization is dried, then activated at a temperature of 500 F (260 C) in nitrogen gas. The activated carbon thus produced is comparable to commercial activated carbon. It can be used to adsorb oxides of sulfur, oxides of nitrogen, and trace amounts of hydrocarbons, any or all of which can be present in flue gas. Alternatively, the dried solid fraction can be used, even without the activation treatment, to absorb oxides of nitrogen.

Fisher, John W.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Ultraviolet and optical spectrum studies of Lambda Andromedae - Evidence for atmospheric inhomogeneities

To pursue the study of solar phenomena in cool stars, chromospheric activity in Lambda Andromedae (HD 222107 has been investigated). This binary, whose primary star is G7-G8 IV-III, shows strong chromospheric emissions and is related to the RS CVn-type systems. The first quantitative measurements of chromospheric and solar-type transition-region emissions as a function of the variable starspot and active-region phenomena in an RS CVn star are presented. The presence of optically darker starspots in Lambda And coincides with the brightening of both Ca II K emission and the ultraviolet transition-region lines. The ultraviolet and optical spectra show attributes of starspots, active regions, and mass flow. Analogies to solar activity are successful in explaining these observations.

Baliunas, S. L.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Mixed time integration schemes for transient conduction forced-convection analysis

A partition procedure for forced-convection conduction transient problems is presented. Mixed time partitions are defined wherein coupled conduction force-matrix equations are discretized using an implicit integration method, followed by derivation of a mixed time integration technique. Explicit-implicit and explicit-explicit partitions are performed for a stability analysis for transient conditions, e.g., those found in an actively air-cooled engine and airframe structure.

Liu, W. K.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Stellar activity cycles

The variety of stellar chromospheric and coronal activity provides a framework for understanding solar and stellar magnetic activity. It is pointed out that the recognition of an 11-yr periodicity within the record of sunspot numbers is a relatively recent discovery of just over a century ago. The solar activity cycle is examined, taking into account the sunspot cycle, and solar dynamo models. Time-averaged stellar chromospheric activity levels are considered along with long-term activity fluctuations of cool stars. Attention is given to the direct measurement of stellar magnetic fields, solar luminosity variations, the RS Canum Venaticorum and BY Draconis variables, continuum variations in lower main sequence stars, chromospheric variations in lower main sequence stars, and chromospheric variations in evolved stars.

Baliunas, S. L.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Economy of middeck payloads

The utilization of the middeck, designed as the crew quarters, for experiments is examined. The dimensions of the middeck's standard lockers, double lockers, adapter plates, and the galley, which are applicable for experiments, are described. The utilities available for middeck payloads include ac and dc electrical power supply, active and passive cooling, vacuum/vent line connections, and data handling, and four basic payload configurations are possible. The development of a middeck accommodations rack to make payload space more flexible and to enable an optimum number and variety of experiments to be flown is proposed. Diagrams of the orbiter's middeck and experimental designs are provided.

Michel, E. L.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Hypersonic structures and materials - A progress report

The weight of a hypersonic, airbreathing SSTO vehicle may be more critical than for any previous aerospacecraft; an evaluation is accordingly made of the development status and applicability of intermetallic compounds, metal-matrix composites, carbon-carbon composites, ceramics, and ceramic-matrix composites applicable to SSTO craft primary structures. Aerothermal, aerothermoelastic, and acoustic loads are high because the airbreathing SSTO vehicle must follow a high dynamic pressure trajectory in order to achieve the requisite propulsive efficiency. Attention is given to the prospects for integral cryogenic tankage and actively hydrogen-cooled airframe and engine structures.

Jackson, L. Robert↗