Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “hydrogen detection”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 397 records · Page 22
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2017

Precise Determination of the 1s Lamb Shift in Hydrogen-Like Lead and Gold Using Microcalorimeters

Quantum electrodynamics in very strong Coulomb fields is one scope which has not yet been tested experimentally with sufficient accuracy to really determine whether the perturbative approach is valid. One sensitive test is the determination of the 1s Lamb shift in highly-charged very heavy ions. The 1s Lamb shift of hydrogen-like lead (Pb81+) and gold (Au78+) has been determined using the novel detector concept of silicon microcalorimeters for the detection of hard x-rays. The results of (260 +/- 53) eV for lead and (211 +/- 42) eV for gold are within the error bars in good agreement with theoretical predictions. To our knowledge, for hydrogen-like lead, this represents the most accurate determination of the 1s Lamb shift.

microcalorimeters for↗
NASA NTRS1990

Development and Application of Microfabricated Chemical Gas Sensors For Aerospace Applications

Aerospace applications require the development of chemical sensors with capabilities beyond those of commercially available sensors. In particular, factors such as minimal sensor size, weight, and power consumption are particularly important. Development areas which have potential aerospace applications include launch vehicle leak detection, engine health monitoring and control, and fire detection. Sensor development for these applications is based on progress in three types of technology: 1) Micromachining and microfabrication (Microsystem) technology to fabricate miniaturized sensors. 2) The use of nanocrystalline materials to develop sensors with improved stability combined with higher sensitivity. 3) The development of high temperature semiconductors, especially silicon carbide. Sensor development for each application involves its own challenges in the fields of materials science and fabrication technology. This paper discusses the needs of space applications and the point-contact sensor technology being developed to address these needs. Sensors to measure hydrogen, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides (Nox, carbon monoxide, oxygen, and carbon dioxide are being developed. A description is given of each sensor type and its present stage of development. Demonstration and application these sensor technologies will be described. The demonstrations range from use of a microsystem based hydrogen sensor on the Shuttle to engine demonstration of a nanocrystalline based sensor for NO, detection. It is concluded that microfabricated sensor technology has significant potential for use in a range of aerospace applications.

Hunter, G. W.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Propellant Feed System Leak Detection: Lessons Learned From the Linear Aerospike SR-71 Experiment (LASRE)

This paper presents pertinent results and assessment of propellant feed system leak detection as applied to the Linear Aerospike SR-71 Experiment (LASRE) program flown at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California. The LASRE was a flight test of an aerospike rocket engine using liquid oxygen and high-pressure gaseous hydrogen as propellants. The flight safety of the crew and the experiment demanded proven technologies and techniques that could detect leaks and assess the integrity of hazardous propellant feed systems. Point source detection and systematic detection were used. Point source detection was adequate for catching gross leakage from components of the propellant feed systems, but insufficient for clearing LASRE to levels of acceptability. Systematic detection, which used high-resolution instrumentation to evaluate the health of the system within a closed volume, provided a better means for assessing leak hazards. Oxygen sensors detected a leak rate of approximately 0.04 cubic inches per second of liquid oxygen. Pressure sensor data revealed speculated cryogenic boiloff through the fittings of the oxygen system, but location of the source(s) was indeterminable. Ultimately, LASRE was cancelled because leak detection techniques were unable to verify that oxygen levels could be maintained below flammability limits.

Hass, Neal↗
NASA NTRS1974

Interstellar lines in the ultraviolet spectrum of delta Scorpii

Results of a study of the interstellar resonance lines of the cosmologically most abundant elements with the aid of a spectrograph sensitive in the range from 1150 to 1700 A. These lines were analyzed by curve-of-growth techniques to yield column densities from which abundances relative to atomic hydrogen were determined. With the exception of silicon, the relative abundances of the detected species for which column densities could be determined are less by a factor of 1.8 to 8.6 than the relative solar abundances. Silicon, on the other hand, is slightly overabundant by a factor of 1.6.

Smith, A. M.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Radio detection of interstellar sulfur dioxide

Interstellar sulfur dioxide (SO2) has been detected in emission from the direction of the Orion Nebula molecular cloud and from Sgr B2. SO2 is the heaviest interstellar molecule detected to date, and the only nonlinear triatomic molecule which does not contain hydrogen. The remarkable Orion emission profiles suggest that two components are supporting the SO2 emission: a dense circumstellar-type envelope, which may be in maser emission, and a warm galactic cloud component.

Snyder, L. E.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Ultraviolet spectrometer observations of Uranus

The Voyager 2 UV spectrometer was used to scan the Uranus atmosphere at wavelengths from 500-1700 A with a field of view of 0.1 x 0.86 deg. The temperature and composition of the upper atmosphere were determined through occultations of light from gamma Pegasi, nu Geminorum and the sun. The data indicated a substantial gas density (100 million H atoms/cu cm) at about 28,000 km from the Uranus center, suggesting that gas drag plays a significant role in ring evolution. The distributions of CH4 and C2H2 in the lower atmosphere were also estimated. An electroglow emission was detected on the sunlit side, and attributed to emissions from atomic and molecular hydrogen excited by low energy electrons. An auroral glow was also observed, and exhibited evidence of an energy input equal to that of the electroglow. Finally, estimates of the C2H2 mixing ratio and the vertical column abundance of H2 are calculated.

Broadfoot, A. L.↗
NASA NTRS1986

A search for dust in high-velocity clouds

IRAS observations are used to look for infrared emission from dust in high-velocity clouds (HVCs). None of these clouds is detected. The upper limit that can be set on the IR emission per hydrogen atom from this type of H I cloud is significantly smaller than the measured emission from low-velocity H I clouds observed elsewhere. This result implies either that the dust in the HVCs studied is cooler than that in low-velocity hydrogen clouds or that the dust abundance is at least three times lower. The corresponding explanations are that either the HVCs are far above the galactic plane (a lower limit of 10 kpc is found if the dust abundance is normal) or that the dust inside the clouds has been depleted.

Wakker, B. P.↗
NASA NTRS2014

Simulation of Energetic Neutral Atoms from Solar Energetic Particles

Energetic neutral atoms (ENAs) provide the only way to observe the acceleration site of coronal-mass-ejection-driven (CME-driven) shock-accelerated solar energetic particles (SEPs). In gradual SEP events, energetic protons can charge exchange with the ambient solar wind or interstellar neutrals to become ENAs. Assuming a CME-driven shock with a constant speed of 1800 km/s and compression ratio of 3.5, propagating from 1.5 to 40 Rs, we calculate the accelerated SEPs at 5-5000 keV and the resulting ENAs via various charge-exchange interactions. Taking into account the ENA losses in the interplanetary medium, we obtain the flux-time profiles of these solar ENAs reaching 1AU.We find that the arriving ENAs at energies above approx.100 keV show a sharply peaked flux-time profile, mainly originating from the shock source below 5 RS, whereas the ENAs below approx. 20 keV have a flat-top time profile, mostly originating from the source beyond 10 Rs. Assuming the accelerated protons are effectively trapped downstream of the shock, we can reproduce the STEREO ENA fluence observations at approx. 2-5 MeV/nucleon. We also estimate the flux of ENAs coming from the charge exchange of energetic storm protons, accelerated by the fast CME-driven shock near 1AU, with interstellar hydrogen and helium. Our results suggest that appropriate instrumentation would be able to detect ENAs from SEPs and to even make ENA images of SEPs at energies above approx.10-20 keV.

sun↗
NASA NTRS1993

Detection of supersoft X-ray emission from GQ Muscae nine years after a nova outburst

The detection by the Rosat satellite of GQ Muscae as a very soft blackbodylike source is reported. If the observed X-ray flux is being radiated at the Eddington luminosity from a one solar mass white dwarf, its effective temperature must be about 350,000 K. It is concluded that the white dwarf is burning hydrogen-rich material near its surface. GQ Mus is, however, the only one of 26 recent novae detected in the all-sky Rosat study; this suggests that either most novae eject all their accreted material during outburst or GQ Mus is now burning recently accreted material. GQ Mus appears identical to the supersoft X-ray sources CAL83, CAL87, and RX J0527.8-6954, lending support to the suggestion that these sources are white dwarfs accreting and burning material from a companion.

Oegelman, Hakki↗
NASA NTRS1959

Stability of Ceramics in Hydrogen between 4000 and 4500 F

The various reactions that are possible between hydrogen and certain ceramic materials are discussed as well as the means of measuring the extent of such reactions. Powdered carbides, nitrides, borides, and oxides were tested. These materials were heated inductively in a tungsten cup between 4000 and 4500 F for two 1-hour periods under a static hydrogen atmosphere. Weight, pressure, and diffraction pattern changes were observed, and these served to indicate the extent of reaction. Most of the ceramics, HfC, ZrC, TiC, TaC, NbC, WC, MO2C, HfN, ZrN, NbN, ZrB2, NbB2, and WB, showed less reaction than the minimum detectable value. However, the ceramics, TiN, TaN, HfB2, TiB2, ZrO2, and Cr2O3, apparently reacted to a measurable extent with hydrogen. Reactions of SiC, VC, and TaB2 with hydrogen were not determinable because of their incompatibility with the tungsten container.

May, Charles E.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Detection of Micro-Leaks Through Complex Geometries Under Mechanical Load and at Cryogenic Temperature

Polymer Matrix Composite (PMC) hydrogen tanks have been proposed as an enabling technology for reducing the weight of Single-Stage-to-Orbit reusable launch vehicles where structural mass has a large impact on vehicle performance. A key development issue of these lightweight structures is the leakage of hydrogen through the composite material. The rate of hydrogen leakage can be a function of the material used, method of 6 fabrication used to manufacture the tank, mechanical load the tank must react, internal damage-state of the material, and the temperatures at which the tank must operate. A method for measuring leakage through a geometrically complex structure at cryogenic temperature and under mechanical load was developed, calibrated and used to measure hydrogen leakage through complex X-33 liquid-hydrogen tank structure sections.

Rivers, H. Kevin↗
NASA NTRS1985

Monodeurated methane in the outer solar system. 2. Its detection on Uranus at 1.6 microns

Deuterium in the atmosphere of Uranus has been studied only via measurements of the exceedingly weak dipole lines of hydrogen-deuteride (HD) seen in the visible region of the spectrum. The other sensitive indicator of deuterium in the outer solar system is monodeuterated methane (CH3D) but the two bands normally used ot study this molecule, NU sub 2 near 2200 1/cm and NU sub 6 near 1161 1/cm, have not been detected in Uranus.

Debergh, C.↗
NASA NTRS2009

Functional Fault Modeling of a Cryogenic System for Real-Time Fault Detection and Isolation

When setting out to model and/or simulate a complex mechanical or electrical system, a modeler is faced with a vast array of tools, software, equations, algorithms and techniques that may individually or in concert aid in the development of the model. Mature requirements and a well understood purpose for the model may considerably shrink the field of possible tools and algorithms that will suit the modeling solution. Is the model intended to be used in an offline fashion or in real-time? On what platform does it need to execute? How long will the model be allowed to run before it outputs the desired parameters? What resolution is desired? Do the parameters need to be qualitative or quantitative? Is it more important to capture the physics or the function of the system in the model? Does the model need to produce simulated data? All these questions and more will drive the selection of the appropriate tools and algorithms, but the modeler must be diligent to bear in mind the final application throughout the modeling process to ensure the model meets its requirements without needless iterations of the design. The purpose of this paper is to describe the considerations and techniques used in the process of creating a functional fault model of a liquid hydrogen (LH2) system that will be used in a real-time environment to automatically detect and isolate failures.

Ferrell, Bob↗
NASA NTRS1973

Stark broadening of high-principal-quantum-number n-alpha lines of hydrogen.

High n-alpha lines (transitions n + 1 to n) with quantum numbers n between 50 and 250 have been observed emanating from galactic H II regions where the electron density and temperature are about 1000/cu cm and 1 eV, respectively. High n-alpha lines have not previously been seen in the laboratory where fairly homogeneous plasmas may be produced and relatively precise measurements of electron densities and temperatures can be made. The present work describes experiments where the first members of the hydrogen line series with lower states n = 10, 11, 12, and 13 have been detected in a laboratory plasma. The width of the 12-alpha line at 88.7 microns could be measured and was consistent with calculated broadening from elastic electron collisions and quasi-static ion effects.

Lasalle, T. R.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Analysis of diffential absorption lidar technique for measurements of anhydrous hydrogen chloride from solid rocket motors using a deuterium fluoride laser

An active optical technique (differential absorption lidar (DIAL)) for detecting, ranging, and quantifying the concentration of anhydrous HCl contained in the ground cloud emitted by solid rocket motors (SRM) is evaluated. Results are presented of an experiment in which absorption coefficients of HCl were measured for several deuterium fluoride (DF) laser transitions demonstrating for the first time that a close overlap exists between the 2-1 P(3) vibrational transition of the DF laser and the 1-0 P(6) absorption line of HCl, with an absorption coefficient of 5.64 (atm-cm) to the -1 power. These measurements show that the DF laser can be an appropriate radiation source for detecting HCl in a DIAL technique. Development of a mathematical computer model to predict the sensitivity of DIAL for detecting anhydrous HCl in the ground cloud is outlined, and results that assume a commercially available DF laser as the radiation source are presented.

Bair, C. H.↗
NASA NTRS1993

A new way to measure the composition of the interstellar gas surrounding the heliosphere

The composition of neutral gas in the Local Interstellar Medium can be studied by direct, in situ measuring of interstellar neutral atoms penetrating into interplanetary space. A novel experimental approach for in situ atom detection, which has never been used earlier in space, is proposed. The technique is based on the conversion of neutral atoms to negative ions at a specially prepared sensitive surface. Negative ions are subsequently analyzed and detected in an essentially noise-free, multicoincidence mode. It is shown that interstellar hydrogen, deuterium, and oxygen atoms can be measured by the proposed technique. The experiment can be performed from a high-apogee Earth-orbiting satellite or from a deep space probe.

Gruntman, Michael A.↗
NASA NTRS2000

EPA/NASA/USAF Depainting Effort Concludes

The final report contains strip rate data from all of the methods, lessons learned during processing, metallurgical evaluations of the panels, and summaries of corrosion and hydrogen embrittlement studies. Any changes in surface roughness, fatigue and tensile properties, and crack detectability are noted in the report. No process was singled out above the others, as companies should consider equipment and operational costs when complying with the Aerospace NESHAP (National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants) and new OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) regulations.

Finckenor, Miria M.↗