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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
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1980

Capillary acquisition devices for high-performance vehicles: Executive summary

Technology areas critical to the development of cryogenic capillary devices were studied. Passive cooling of capillary devices was investigated with an analytical and experimental study of wicking flow. Capillary device refilling with settled fluid was studied using an analytical and experimental program that resulted in successful correlation of a versatile computer program with test data. The program was used to predict Centaur D-1S LO2 and LH2 start basket refilling. Comparisons were made between the baseline Centaur D-1S propellant feed system and feed system alternatives including systems using capillary devices. The preferred concepts from the Centaur D-1S study were examined for APOTV and POTV vehicles for delivery and round trip transfer of payloads between LEO and GEO. Mission profiles were determined to provide propellant usage timelines and the payload partials were defined.

Blatt, M. H.↗
NASA NTRS2008

Liquid Acquisition Device Testing with Sub-Cooled Liquid Oxygen

When transferring propellant in space, it is most efficient to transfer single phase liquid from a propellant tank to an engine. In earth s gravity field or under acceleration, propellant transfer is fairly simple. However, in low gravity, withdrawing single-phase fluid becomes a challenge. A variety of propellant management devices (PMD) are used to ensure single-phase flow. One type of PMD, a liquid acquisition device (LAD) takes advantage of capillary flow and surface tension to acquire liquid. Previous experimental test programs conducted at NASA have collected LAD data for a number of cryogenic fluids, including: liquid nitrogen (LN2), liquid oxygen (LOX), liquid hydrogen (LH2), and liquid methane (LCH4). The present work reports on additional testing with sub-cooled LOX as part of NASA s continuing cryogenic LAD development program. Test results extend the range of LOX fluid conditions examined, and provide insight into factors affecting predicting LAD bubble point pressures.

Jurns, John M.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Liquid Oxygen Liquid Acquisition Device Bubble Point Tests with High Pressure LOX at Elevated Temperatures

When transferring propellant in space, it is most efficient to transfer single phase liquid from a propellant tank to an engine. In earth s gravity field or under acceleration, propellant transfer is fairly simple. However, in low gravity, withdrawing single-phase fluid becomes a challenge. A variety of propellant management devices (PMD) are used to ensure single-phase flow. One type of PMD, a liquid acquisition device (LAD) takes advantage of capillary flow and surface tension to acquire liquid. The present work reports on testing with liquid oxygen (LOX) at elevated pressures (and thus temperatures) (maximum pressure 1724 kPa and maximum temperature 122K) as part of NASA s continuing cryogenic LAD development program. These tests evaluate LAD performance for LOX stored in higher pressure vessels that may be used in propellant systems using pressure fed engines. Test data shows a significant drop in LAD bubble point values at higher liquid temperatures, consistent with lower liquid surface tension at those temperatures. Test data also indicates that there are no first order effects of helium solubility in LOX on LAD bubble point prediction. Test results here extend the range of data for LOX fluid conditions, and provide insight into factors affecting predicting LAD bubble point pressures.

Jurns, John M.↗
NASA NTRS1984

The effect of surface contamination on thermocapillary flow in a two-dimensional slot

In an analysis of the effect of insoluble surfactants on the steady capillary flow in a shallow slot, the problem is formulated as a two-dimensional channel heated differentially from the side, with a free surface on which an insoluble surface species is adsorbed. The vertical boundaries are considered to be isothermal and impenetrable and the lower horizontal boundary to be insulated and impenetrable. Lubrication theory and matched asymptotic expansions are used to reduce the problem to a single nonlinear integral-algebraic equation. For small elasticity E, the surface velocity is nearly constant, with the result that, for small Pe, the surface concentration is nearly uniform while, for large Pe, it develops a boundary layer near the stagnation point at the cold wall, resulting in high local surface concentrations. Condensed surfactant layers will form only with E much less than one and Pe much greater than one.

Homsy, G. M.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Characteristics of fluid flow in the combustion synthesis of TiC from the elements

The results of a numerical investigation of finite reservoir effects on capillary spreading at small reservoir dimensions are presently related to wave propagation phenomena in the combustion synthesis of TiC from its two elemental constituents. It is noted that gravitational forces can affect bubble coalescence by nonbuoyant means under the suitable conditions, although these conditions are expected to be rare in combustion synthesis. Finite-curved reservoirs can drive capillary flow due to surface tension and wall contact forces; these cause the wall and the metal to be completely reconfigured during combustion synthesis.

Valone, S. M.↗
NASA NTRS2014

Condensing Heat Exchanger with Hydrophilic Antimicrobial Coating

A multi-layer antimicrobial hydrophilic coating is applied to a substrate of anodized aluminum, although other materials may form the substrate. A silver layer is sputtered onto a thoroughly clean anodized surface of the aluminum to about 400 nm thickness. A layer of crosslinked, silicon-based macromolecular structure about 10 nm thickness overlies the silver layer, and the outermost surface of the layer of crosslinked, silicon-based macromolecular structure is hydroxide terminated to produce a hydrophilic surface with a water drop contact angle of less than 10.degree.. The coated substrate may be one of multiple fins in a condensing heat exchanger for use in the microgravity of space, which has narrow channels defined between angled fins such that the surface tension of condensed water moves water by capillary flow to a central location where it is pumped to storage. The antimicrobial coating prevents obstruction of the capillary passages.

Thomas, Christopher M.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Capillary Movement in Substrates in Microgravity

A more complete understanding of the dynamics of capillary flow through an unsaturated porous medium would be useful for a number of space and terrestrial applications. Knowledge of capillary migration of liquids in granular beds in microgravity would significantly enhance the development and understanding of how a matrix based nutrient delivery system for the growth of plants would function in a microgravity environment. Thus, such information is of interest from the theoretical as well as practical point of view.

Bula, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Tolerance requirements to prevent fluid leakage in the crucible/plunger MEA experiment MPS 770030

Molten Al-In leaked unexpectedly out of the crucible of a proposed MEA materials processing in space experiment. The molten metals use a spring loaded plunger to eliminate most free surfaces. The critical criteria necessary to initiate flow and the rate of fluid flow into the crucible/plunger annulus is calculated. Experimental in situ X-radiographs are interpreted according to the calculations. A note on possible effects of capillary flow if wetting occurs between crucible/plunger and liquids is included.

Rathz, T. J.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Acoustic Insights into Flow Condensation Mechanisms

Two-phase thermal management systems, with both boiling and condensation processes, offer great potential and heat transfer coefficients that are orders of magnitude higher than traditional single-phase systems. However, two-phase flows can suffer from a wide range of interfacial instabilities leading to significant thermal performance degradation. In this study, we aim to detect regime transitions and characterize dominating physical mechanisms of flow condensation, such as turbulent diffusion in annular liquid film and interfacial waves, using an integrated system of acoustic, modal, and optical sensing techniques and thermofluidic characterizations. A wideband acoustic emissions sensor and high-sensitivity accelerometer are utilized to capture acoustic and vibrational signatures that signal the onset of liquid film formation and interfacial waves during flow pattern transitions. Compared to optical imaging, wideband acoustic emission sensing allows for higher sampling rates to capture high-frequency interface oscillations critical to the flow regime transitions and works well even for condensation in opaque tubes. Acoustic features (e.g., amplitude, frequency, energy, duration) are correlated with thermofluidic processes (e.g., capillary flows, turbulent flows, boiling, condensation). By relating thermal performance metrics with these dynamic signatures in acoustic and modal regimes, we explore the ability to probe and monitor critical flow regime transitions and transport efficiency in flow condensation.

Acoustic Modal Regimes↗
NASA NTRS1989

Vibration isolation technology: Sensitivity of selected classes of space experiments to residual accelerations

Progress performed on each task is described. Order of magnitude analyses related to liquid zone sensitivity and thermo-capillary flow sensitivity are covered. Progress with numerical models of the sensitivity of isothermal liquid zones is described. Progress towards a numerical model of coupled buoyancy-driven and thermo-capillary convection experiments is also described. Interaction with NASA personnel is covered. Results to date are summarized and they are discussed in terms of the predicted space station acceleration environment. Work planned for the second year is also discussed.

Alexander, J. Iwan D.↗
NASA NTRS2017

Self-Healing Technologies for Wiring and Surfaces in Aerospace and Deep Space Exploration Applications

Self-healing technologies have been identified as critical technology gaps for future exploration. NASA and KSC have been working in this area for multiple years with established intellectual property; however, there are many challenges that remain in this area of research. How do we mimic what the body does so naturally when we as NASA have unique requirements? We have been investigating several mechanisms for self-healing: microencapsulation with a healant core to fill in voids in the case of mechanical puncture and flowable (or sealable)systems that have inherent chemical properties that allow the materials to flow back together when cut or damaged. The microcapsules containing healant have to be durable and robust, must be able to take high temperatures to meet NASA unique requirements, provide good capillary flow of the healant, and be small in diameters to fill in damage voids in thin films or surfaces. Sealable systems have to flow in a range of temperatures and yet be lightweight and chemically resistant. The systems currently being developed are based on polyimide and polyurethane matrices and have been studied for use in high performance wiring systems, inflatable systems, and habitation structures. Self-healing or self-sealing capability would significantly reduce maintenance requirements and increase the safety and reliability performance of critical systems. Advances in these self-healing technologies and some of the unique challenges needed to be overcome in order to incorporate a self-healing mechanism into wiring or thin films systems will be addressed.

Self-healing technologies↗
NASA NTRS2005

Integrity of Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) Chemically Welded Joints Examined

NASA Glenn Research Center s Capillary Flow Experiments (CFE) program is developing experiment payloads to explore fluid interfaces in microgravity on the International Space Station. The information to be gained from the CFE is relevant to the design of fluid-bearing systems in which capillary forces predominate, for example in the passive positioning of liquids in spacecraft fuel tanks. To achieve the science goals of CFE, Glenn researchers constructed several types of experiment vessels. One type of vessel, known as the interior corner flow (ICF), will be used to determine important transients for low-gravity liquid management in a two-phase system. Each vessel has a cylindrical fluid reservoir connected to each end of the test chamber by internal transport tubes, each with a quarter-turn shutoff valve (see the following photograph). These multipiece vessels are made from polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) because of its excellent optical properties (i.e., the fluids can be observed easily in the vessel). Because of the complexity of certain vessels, the test chamber had to be manufactured in pieces and welded chemically. Some past experience with adhesive bonded plastic showed that the experiment fluid degraded the adhesive to the point of failure. Therefore, it was necessary to see if the fluid also degraded the chemically welded PMMA joints.

Lerch, Bradley A.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Lithium Divertor Targets and Walls for the ASTER Liquid Stellarator Reactor, Distributed Divertor

Stellarators may have advantages for certain liquid metal options as Plasma Facing Components (PFC) for divertor targets and first walls due to the wide range of possible magnetic configurations, which additionally are free of disruptions and fast field variations. In a previous work (V. Queral et al., IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci. 52, 2024), a concept of stellarator reactor (ASTER-CP) based on swirling Li-molten salts and liquid lithium floating on the molten salt as PFC was presented. The divertor matters were not studied then and, thus, they are being studied and experimentally tested now. The ASTER-CP reactor concept, the initial liquid metal experiments and potential concepts for the ASTER-CP divertor and first wall are reported. Concerning the experiments, several small scale experiments of galinstan in a small rotating cylinder under magnetic field have been produced, including one experiment with high viscosity galinstan-mixture for increased thickness of layer. An experiment of floating lithium on the molten salt LiCl-PbCl2 gave fast volatilization/decomposition of the molten salt. Particularly for divertors, the traditional free-flow, Capillary Porous Systems and ‘divertorlets’ have been studied for application to ASTER-CP. Surface waves (hot spots), lack of enough surface fluid turbulence and excessive fluid speed are the main issues found in fast free-flow. The perhaps original concept of Distributed Divertor and Equi-power Surface is tentatively proposed and studied, taking advantage of stellarator fields and low recycling regime.

distributed divertor↗
NASA NTRS1996

Capillary movement of liquid in granular beds in microgravity

A more complete understanding of the dynamics of capillary flow through an unsaturated porous medium would be useful for the development of an effective water and nutrient delivery system for the growth of plants in space. An experiment was conducted on the Mir Space Station that used an experimental cuvette called "Capillary Test Bed" to compare fluid migration under terrestrial laboratory conditions by positioning the cuvette such that the hydrostatic force is negated and on Mir under microgravity conditions. Differences in fluid migration in the cuvette were observed with migration being slower in microgravity compared with some ground control experiments.

Mir Project↗
NASA NTRS1994

Capillary Movement of Liquid in Granular Beds in Microgravity

A more complete understanding of the dynamics of capillary flow through an g unsaturated porous medium would be useful for a number of space and terrestrial applications. One such application involves the development of an effective water and nutrient delivery system for the growth of plants in space. An experiment was conducted on the Mir Space Station that used an experimental cuvette called "Capillary Test Bed". An objective of this experiment was to compare fluid migration in the "Capillary Test Bed" under terrestrial laboratory simulated microgravity conditions by positioning the cuvette such that the hydrostatic force is negated and on Mir at microgravity conditions. Difference in fluid migration in the cuvette were observed. Based on these observations, improvements in the design of the cuvette are under-way that should allow for collection of more precise data in future flight experiments. The results of the MIR experiment and modifications being made to the cuvette for improved data collection will be discussed.

Yendeler, Boris S.↗
NASA NTRS2016

Terrestrial Testing of the CapiBRIC, a Microgravity Optimized Brine Processor

Utilizing geometry based static phase separation exhibited in the radial vaned capillary drying tray, a system was conceived to recover water from brine. This technology has been named the Capillary BRIC; abbreviated CapiBRIC. The CapiBRIC utilizes a capillary drying tray within a drying chamber. Water is recovered from clean water vapor evaporating from the free surface leaving waste brine solids behind. A novel approach of optimizing the containment geometry to support passive capillary flow and static phase separation provides the opportunity for a low power system that is not as susceptible to fouling as membranes or other technologies employing physical barriers across the free brine surface to achieve phase separation in microgravity. Having been optimized for operation in microgravity, full-scale testing of the CapiBRIC as designed cannot be performed on the ground as the force of gravity would dominate over the capillary forces. However, subscale units relevant to full-scale design were used to characterize fill rates, containment stability, and interaction with a variable volume reservoir in the PSU Dryden Drop Tower (DDT) facility. PSU also using tested units scaled such that capillary forces dominated in a 1-g environment to characterize evaporation from a free-surface in 1-g upward, sideways and downward orientations. In order to augment the subscale testing performed by PSU, a full scale 1-g analogue of the CapiBRIC drying unit was initiated to help validate performance predictions regarding expected water recovery ratio, estimated processing time, and interface definitions for inlets, outlets, and internal processes, including vent gas composition. This paper describes the design, development and test of the terrestrial CapiBRIC prototypes.

Sargusingh, Miriam J.↗
NASA NTRS2000

A Study of the Constrained Vapor Bubble Thermosyphon

The objective of this effort is to better understand the physics of evaporation, condensation, and fluid flow as they affect the heat transfer processes in a constrained vapor bubble heat exchanger (CVBHX). This CVBHX consists of a small enclosed container with a square cross section (inside dimensions. 3 x 3 x 40 mm) partially filled with a liquid. The major portion of the liquid is in the corners, which act as arteries. When a temperature difference is applied to the ends of the CVBHX, evaporation occurs at the hot end and condensation at the cold end resulting in a very effective heat transfer device with great potential in space applications. Liquid is returned by capillary flow in the corners. A complete description of the system and the results obtained to date are given in the papers listed.

Wayner, Peter C., Jr.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Characterization of Porous Transport Layers Towards the Development of Efficient Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis

The current goals for implementing the hydrogen economy have highlighted a need to further optimize water-splitting technologies for clean hydrogen production. Proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) is a leading technology, but further optimizations of anode materials including the porous transport layer (PTL) and the adjacent catalyst layer (CL) are required to increase overall cell performance and reduce cost. This literature review describes advances in PTL development and characterization, highlighting early PTL characterization work and most common methods including capillary flow porometry and mercury intrusion porometry, optical imaging, neutron and x-ray radiography, and x-ray computed tomography. The article also discusses PTL protective coatings and their characterizations, focusing on platinum group metal (PGM)-based coatings, alternative non-PGM-based coatings, post-treated PTLs, and investigations into thin PGM-based coatings. Furthermore, it highlights the integration of the PTL and the adjacent CL along with associated characterization challenges. Lastly, this review discusses future developments in the characterization needed to improve PEMWE's performance and long-term durability are discussed.

08 HYDROGEN↗