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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 55 records · Page 3

Stage efficiency in the analysis of thermochemical water decomposition processes

The procedure for analyzing thermochemical water-splitting processes using the figure of merit is expanded to include individual stage efficiencies and loss coefficients. The use of these quantities to establish the thermodynamic insufficiencies of each stage is shown. A number of processes are used to illustrate these concepts and procedures and to demonstrate the facility with which process steps contributing most to the cycle efficiency are found. The procedure allows attention to be directed to those steps of the process where the greatest increase in total cycle efficiency can be obtained.

Conger, W. L.↗

Cirrus clouds. I - A cirrus cloud model. II - Numerical experiments on the formation and maintenance of cirrus

A simplified cirrus cloud model is presented which may be used to investigate the role of various physical processes in the life cycle of a cirrus cloud. The model is a two-dimensional, time-dependent, Eulerian numerical model where the focus is on cloud-scale processes. Parametrizations are developed to account for phase changes of water, radiative processes, and the effects of microphysical structure on the vertical flux of ice water. The results of a simulation of a thin cirrostratus cloud are given. The results of numerical experiments performed with the model are described in order to demonstrate the important role of cloud-scale processes in determining the cloud properties maintained in response to larger scale forcing. The effects of microphysical composition and radiative processes are considered, as well as their interaction with thermodynamic and dynamic processes within the cloud. It is shown that cirrus clouds operate in an entirely different manner than liquid phase stratiform clouds.

Starr, D. OC.↗

A deficiency in DNA repair and DNA-PKcs expression in the radiosensitive BALB/c mouse

We have studied the efficiency of DNA double strand break (DSB) rejoining in primary cells from mouse strains that show large differences in in vivo radiosensitivity and tumor susceptibility. Cells from radiosensitive, cancer-prone BALB/c mice showed inefficient end joining of gamma ray-induced DSBs as compared with cells from all of the other commonly used strains and F1 hybrids of C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice. The BALB/c repair phenotype was accompanied by a significantly reduced expression level of DNA-PKcs protein as well as a lowered DNA-PK activity level as compared with the other strains. In conjunction with published reports, these data suggest that natural genetic variation in nonhomologous end joining processes may have a significant impact on the in vivo radiation response of mice.

Non-NASA Center↗

A plausible energy source and structure for quasi-stellar objects.

If a collision of two large, massive, fast gas clouds occurs, their kinetic energy is converted to radiation in a pair of shock fronts at their interface. Basic constraints imposed on such a model by observations of QSOs are considered. It is shown that a very large shock area is required if such a collision process is to provide the energy for a QSO. Details regarding the anticipated spectrum are discussed together with the opacity of the neutral clouds.

Daltabuit, E.↗

Gravity Fields from CHAMP Mission Data

The CHAMP mission, launched in July 2000, is the first in a series of missions that will revolutionize our ability to model the Earth s geopotential. The CHAMP spacecraft is equipped for precision tracking by the Global Positioning System (GPS) and Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) along with a precision accelerometer to provide measurements of the surface forces. Preliminary satellite-only geopotential solutions with only 30 days of CHAMP data are, by some criteria, as strong as solutions made from tracking data collected over the previous 30 years of the space age. Compared to EGM96, CHAMP makes notable contributions in regions where the terrestrial data (surface gravimetry and altimetry) were weak, for example in the polar regions, in the Amazon and the Himalayas. The CHAMP data allow us to separate the geoid from the dynamic ocean topography (DOT) up to at least degree 25 rather than just under degree 20 as in EGM96. We report on satellite-only and combination models that incorporate up to 100 days of CHAMP data as well as other satellite data. We report on our updated processing of the CHAMP tracking and accelerometer data and evaluate the performance of the geopotential models using a variety of tests.

Lemoine, Frank G.↗

The ATIC Science Flight in 2002-03: Description and Preliminary Results

The Advanced Thin Ionization Calorimeter (ATIC) balloon experiment completed a 19.7 day science flight, 29 Dec. 02 to 18 Jan. 03, from McMurdo, Antarctica, yielding 65 Gbytes of science data. The instrument was fully recovered just over the trans-Antarctic mountain range. ATIC is designed to make new measurements of the composition and energy spectra of cosmic rays in the region up to 100 TeV total energy. The flight and the instrument performance are described and compared to the ATIC-1 flight from 2000-01. Although the data from this new flight will not be fully processed and analyzed, some preliminary results are discussed.

Wefel, J. P.↗

An analysis of hydrogen production via closed-cycle schemes

A thermodynamic analysis and state-of-the-art review of three basic schemes for production of hydrogen from water: electrolysis, thermal water-splitting, and multi-step thermochemical closed cycles is presented. Criteria for work-saving thermochemical closed-cycle processes are established, and several schemes are reviewed in light of such criteria. An economic analysis is also presented in the context of energy costs.

Chao, R. E.↗

Process sensitivity studies of the Westinghouse sulfur cycle for hydrogen generation

The effect of variations of acid concentration, pressure, and temperature on the thermal process efficiency of the Westinghouse sulfur cycle was examined using the HYDRGN program. Modifications to the original program were made to duplicate the process flowsheet and take into account combined cycle heat-to-work efficiencies for electrochemical work requirements, aqueous solutions, and heat-of-mixing effects. A total of 125 process variations were considered (acid concentration: 50-90 w/o; pressure: 15-750 psia; temperature: 922K - 1366K). The methods of analysis, results, and conclusions are presented.

Carty, R. H.↗

Radiative cooling of a low-density plasma

The paper extends and improves the radiative cooling coefficient calculations of Cox and Tucker (1969) and Cox and Daltabuit (1971) for a low-density optically thin plasma with no molecules or dust, of cosmic abundances in the range from 10,000 to 100,000,000 K. Earlier rates applied to a plasma containing H, He, C, N, O, Ne, Mg, Si, and S; the present study added Ca, Fe, and Ni. For the elements included, many individual lines are calculated which previously has been averaged together. The cooling processes considered are permitted, forbidden, and semiforbidden line transitions, including contributions from dielectronic recombination and bremsstrahlung, radiative recombination, and two-photon continua. The ionization balance is calculated in collisional equilibrium using an approximate auto-ionization following inner-shell excitation and the low-density limit for the dielectronic recombination rate. Cooling in various observational bands in the soft X-ray region is determined.

Raymond, J. C.↗

Thermodynamic analysis of alternate energy carriers, hydrogen and chemical heat pipes

The paper discusses the production concept and efficiency of two new energy transmission and storage media intended to overcome the disadvantages of electricity as an overall energy carrier. These media are hydrogen produced by water-splitting and the chemical heat pipe. Hydrogen can be transported or stored, and burned as energy is needed, forming only water and thus obviating pollution problems. The chemical heat pipe envisions a system in which heat is stored as the heat of reaction in chemical species. The thermodynamic analysis of these two methods is discussed in terms of first-law and second-law efficiency. It is concluded that chemical heat pipes offer large advantages over thermochemical hydrogen generation schemes on a first-law efficiency basis except for the degradation of thermal energy in temperature thus providing a source of low-temperature (800 K) heat for process heat applications. On a second-law efficiency basis, hydrogen schemes are superior in that the amount of available work is greater as compared to chemical heat pipes.

Cox, K. E.↗

Operational Experience with the Electromagnetic Position Sensor (EPS) for the NASA 6-inch MSBS

A Magnetic Suspension and Balance System (MSBS), originally developed in 1969, has been recommissioned at NASA Langley and is being used to explore dynamic test techniques for planetary entry capsules. A critical component of this system is the Electromagnetic Position Sensor (EPS) which provides non-contact position measurement for control of the actively suspended model. The sensor’s operation is similar to a Linear Variable Differential Transformer (LVDT). However the EPS has a much larger gap and smaller core than traditional LVDTs and therefore it requires specialized driving and processing circuitry. This paper describes the history of this sensor system, its mechanical and electrical design, and the efforts to improve signal conditioning circuitry.

T. D. Schott↗

Long term trending of engineering data for the Hubble Space Telescope

A major goal in spacecraft engineering analysis is the detection of component failures before the fact. Trending is the process of monitoring subsystem states to discern unusual behaviors. This involves reducing vast amounts of data about a component or subsystem into a form that helps humans discern underlying patterns and correlations. A long term trending system has been developed for the Hubble Space Telescope. Besides processing the data for 988 distinct telemetry measurements each day, it produces plots of 477 important parameters for the entire 24 hours. Daily updates to the trend files also produce 339 thirty day trend plots each month. The total system combines command procedures to control the execution of the C-based data processing program, user-written FORTRAN routines, and commercial off-the-shelf plotting software. This paper includes a discussion the performance of the trending system and of its limitations.

Cox, Ross M.↗

Can We Model Forest Demography Globally? Benchmarking of State-of-the-Art Demographic DGVMs

Forests in Dynamic Global Vegetation Models (DGVMs) have historically been simulated as area-averaged plant functional types in each gridcell instead of representing communities of trees of different sizes and ages (demography). Just as the behaviour of a tree differs according to its ontogeny, so the behaviour of forests is known to differ depending on their demography. Accurately simulating demography is therefore key in order to address questions on afforestation and management strategies, as well as assessments of resilience of forests to disturbances such as drought and fire or diversity changes after a disturbance. Ultimately, demography determines the overall forest biomass in natural forests and is a key arbiter of growth and mortality rates. DGVMs are now able to simulate size and age structure of the trees in forests. However, these models have so far not been benchmarked alongside each other. We evaluate 6 DGVMs (BiomeE, CABLE-POP, FATES, LPJ-GUESS, JULES-RED, ORCHIDEE) against observations on regrowth dynamics as well as natural forests at boreal, temperate and tropical sites. We examine whether the models capture observed regrowth dynamics after disturbance, well-known stand size structure and well-established processes such as self-thinning. We outline the planned route forward towards a standardised international benchmarking framework for demographic DGVMs.

Dynamic Global Vegetation Models↗

Galactic infall and cosmic ray acceleration

An estimate is made of the extent to which cosmic rays would be accelerated as a result of their scattering off material entering into the galaxy. A model of the flow is presented, and the assumptions on which the applicability of the model depends are examined. As examples, the maximum acceleration efficiencies are calculated for two ratios of disk gas to total pressure. With these results, the upper limit for power supplied by this process is found to be essentially identical to the cosmic ray power requirement. This circumstance suggests the possibility that the infall might contribute appreciably to the cosmic ray acceleration.

Hedrick, D.↗

Thermal Protection Materials Development

The main portion of this contract year was spent on the development of materials for high temperature applications. In particular, thermal protection materials were constantly tested and evaluated for thermal shock resistance, high-temperature dimensional stability, and tolerance to hostile environmental effects. The analytical laboratory at the Thermal Protection Materials Branch (TPMB), NASA-Ames played an integral part in the process of materials development of high temperature aerospace applications. The materials development focused mainly on the determination of physical and chemical characteristics of specimens from the various research programs.

Selvaduray, Guna↗

Tailoring Enterprise Systems Engineering Policy for Project Scale and Complexity

Space systems are characterized by varying degrees of scale and complexity. Accordingly, cost-effective implementation of systems engineering also varies depending on scale and complexity. Recognizing that systems engineering and integration happen everywhere and at all levels of a given system and that the life cycle is an integrated process necessary to mature a design, the National Aeronautic and Space Administration's (NASA's) Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) has developed a suite of customized implementation approaches based on project scale and complexity. While it may be argued that a top-level system engineering process is common to and indeed desirable across an enterprise for all space systems, implementation of that top-level process and the associated products developed as a result differ from system to system. The implementation approaches used for developing a scientific instrument necessarily differ from those used for a space station. .

Cox, Renee I.↗

Representation and Integration of Scientific Information

The objective of this Joint Research Interchange with NASA-Ames was to investigate how the Tsimmis technology could be used to represent and integrate scientific information. The funding allowed us to work with researchers within NAS at the NASA Ames Research Center, to understand their information needs, and to work with them on integration strategies. Most organizations have a need to access and integrate information from multiple, disparate information sources that may include both structured as well as semi-structured information. At Stanford we have been working on an information integration project called Tsimmis, supported by DARPA. The main goal of the Tsimmis project is to allow a decision maker to find information of interest from such sources, fuse it, and process it (e.g., summarize it, visualize it, discover trends). Another important goal is the easy incorporation of new sources, as well the ability of deal with sources whose structure or services evolve. During the Interchange we had research meetings approximately every month or two. The participants from NASA included Michael Cox and Peter Vanderbilt. The Stanford PI, and various students and Stanford staff members also participated. NASA researchers also participated in some of our regular Tsimmis meetings. As planned, our meetings discussed problems and solutions to various information integration problems.

Source record↗