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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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Modified 70 mm movie film editor automatically attaches solar cells to flexible film substrate. Machine can rapidly and inexpensively assemble cells for solar panels at rate of 250 cells per minute. Further development is expected to boost production rate to 1000 cells per minute.
Energy Conservation Program (ECP) gives design engineer methodology and easy-to-use computer program for simulating hourly thermal characteristics over full year for individually characterized zones within building. Inexpensive system can be used to develop thermal model of building to aid selection of most suitable and economical heating and cooling system for building
Difference in oil flow volume through two mechanical flowmeters is converted to analog signal by simple inexpensive circuit. Circuit can be implemented with only minor changes to conventional oil flowmeters and used to measure fuel consumed by oil fired furnace or water heater.
Method of measuring total reflectance employs relatively inexpensive reflectometer with gold-coated hemispherical reflector. Light sources may be tungsten lamp for visable region, or Globar lamp for infrared.
Manual discusses simple inexpensive image analysis technique used to interpret photographs and scanner of data of Earth's surface. Manual is designed for those who have no need for sophisticated computer-automated analysis procedures.
Device may be used to facilitate testing and fault isolation in teletype and modem systems that are used for communication by people who having hearing disabilities. Unit uses CMOS digital integrated circuitry which may be operated from relatively inexpensive battery of any voltage from 3 to 18 volts.
Instruments are developed for monitoring presence of hydrazine and nitrogen dioxide in air. Nitrogen dioxide and hydrazine are highly toxic and explosive substances used in propellants for rocket engines. Instruments discussed are inexpensive and most useful for detecting above substances in concentrations as low as few parts per million.
System utilizing natural ringing frequency of electronic circuit coupled to wideband transducer is used to determine frequency dependence of ultrasonic properties of tissue. With procedure frequency data can be obtained rapidly and inexpensively.
Soldering procedure, successfully tested for attaching leads to silicon solar cells, cover-glasses, is simple, inexpensive, and very effective in forming stable connection. Procedure uses solder of indium alloyed with either silver or tin.
Controller operates on less than 5W prime power and heats crystal from -10 C to 75 C in less than 45s. Unit is faster and more accurate (to within 0.7 C) than other inexpensive controllers and faster and less expensive than very precise controllers in vacuum flasks.
Bidirectional Manchester repeater is inserted at periodic intervals along single bidirectional twisted pair transmission line to detect, amplify, and transmit bidirectional Manchester 11 code signals. Requiring only 18 TTL 7400 series IC's, some line receivers and drivers, and handful of passive components, circuit is simple and relatively inexpensive to build.
Silicon tetrafluoride gas removes metallurgical-grade impurities when passed over silicon in quartz tube. Technique allows inexpensive increase in throughout rate. Approach could improve silicon production for silicon solar cells.
Optically-clear shatter-resistant safety shield protects workers from implosion and explosion of vacuum and pressure windows. Plastic shield is inexpensive and may be added to vacuum chambers, pressure chambers, and gas-filling systems.
Inexpensive hand-operated tool is used to dimple airframe skins to receive countersunk-head rivets. Tool replaces bulky pneumatic equipment normally used for dimpling and is useful for one person operation, thereby saving time and manpower.
Low cost procedure utilizing aluminum backing sheets protects boron/aluminum sheet from cracking during bending. Process utilizes inexpensive universal-brake bending dies rather than special hydroforming dies.
Light sensor/amplifier circuit detects weak light converts it into strong electrical signal in electrically noisy environment. Circuit is relatively simple and uses inexpensive, readily available components. Device is useful in such applications as fire detection and photographic processing.
Ge-on-InP heterojunction structure LED has been developed where in Ge film is evaporated onto commercially available InP substrate. Forward bias of device is approximately 1 volt, and it emits light in 9.800 angstrom region. Technique permits easy and inexpensive fabrication of LED for application at this wavelength.
Inexpensive self-expanding plug makes convenient low-pressure seal. Simple elastomeric plug seals round ports and holes better than regular cork. Plug is inserted with plastic tool that squeezes it to diameter smaller than port opening. Once tool is removed, plug self-expands to its original shape, exerting stronger pressure to sealed surface than cork. Plug is less expensive to make than screw-on or cam-expanded seals.