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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 559 records · Page 31
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1996

Influence of Geometry and Flow Variation on Jet Mixing and NO Formation in a Model Staged Combustor Mixer with Eight Orifices

A series of non-reacting parametric experiments was conducted to investigate the effect of geometric and flow variations on mixing of cold jets in an axis-symmetric, heated cross flow. The confined, cylindrical geometries tested represent the quick mix region of a Rich-Burn/Quick-Mix/Lean-Burn (RQL) combustor. The experiments show that orifice geometry and jet to mainstream momentum-flux ratio significantly impact the mixing characteristic of jets in a cylindrical cross stream. A computational code was used to extrapolate the results of the non-reacting experiments to reacting conditions in order to examine the nitric oxide (NO) formation potential of the configurations examined. The results show that the rate of NO formation is highest immediately downstream of the injection plane. For a given momentum-flux ratio, the orifice geometry that mixes effectively in both the immediate vicinity of the injection plane, and in the wall regions at downstream locations, has the potential to produce the lowest NO emissions. The results suggest that further study may not necessarily lead to a universal guideline for designing a low NO mixer. Instead, an assessment of each application may be required to determine the optimum combination of momentum-flux ratio and orifice geometry to minimize NO formation. Experiments at reacting conditions are needed to verify the present results.

Samuelsen, G. S.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Evaluation of joint probability density function models for turbulent nonpremixed combustion with complex chemistry

Two types of mixing sub-models are evaluated in connection with a joint-scalar probability density function method for turbulent nonpremixed combustion. Model calculations are made and compared to simulation results for homogeneously distributed methane-air reaction zones mixing and reacting in decaying turbulence within a two-dimensional enclosed domain. The comparison is arranged to ensure that both the simulation and model calculations a) make use of exactly the same chemical mechanism, b) do not involve non-unity Lewis number transport of species, and c) are free from radiation loss. The modified Curl mixing sub-model was found to provide superior predictive accuracy over the simple relaxation-to-mean submodel in the case studied. Accuracy to within 10-20% was found for global means of major species and temperature; however, nitric oxide prediction accuracy was lower and highly dependent on the choice of mixing sub-model. Both mixing submodels were found to produce non-physical mixing behavior for mixture fractions removed from the immediate reaction zone. A suggestion for a further modified Curl mixing sub-model is made in connection with earlier work done in the field.

Smith, N. S. A.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Effect of chemistry and turbulence on NO formation in oxygen-natural gas flames

The effects of chemistry and turbulence on NO formation in oxygen-natural turbulent diffusion flames gas flames have been investigated. The chemistry of nitric oxides has been studied numerically in the counterflow configuration. Systematic calculations with the GRI 2.11 mechanism for combustion of methane and NO chemistry were conducted to provide a base case. It was shown that the 'simple' Zeldovich mechanism accounts for more than 75% of N2 consumption in the flame in a range of strain-rates varying between 10 and 1000 s-l. The main shortcomings of this mechanism are: 1) overestimation (15%) of the NO production rate at low strain-rates because it does not capture the reburn due to the hydrocarbon chemistry, and 2) underestimation (25%) of the NO production rate at high strainrates because it ignores NO production through the prompt mechanism. Reburn through the Zeldovich mechanism alone proves to be significant at low strain-rates. A one-step model based on the Zeldovich mechanism and including reburn has been developed. It shows good agreement with the GRI mechanism at low strain-rates but underestimates significantly N2 consumption (about 50%) at high strain-rates. The role of turbulence has been assessed by using an existing 3-D DNS data base of a diffusion flame in decaying turbulence. Two PDF closure models used in practical industrial codes for turbulent NO formation have been tested. A simpler version of the global one-step chemical scheme for NO compared to that developed in this study was used to test the closure assumptions of the PDF models, because the data base could not provide all the necessary ingredients. Despite this simplification, it was possible to demonstrate that the current PDF models for NO overestimate significantly the NO production rate due to the fact that they neglect the correlations between the fluctuations in oxygen concentration and temperature. A single scalar PDF model for temperature that accounts for such correlations based on laminar flame considerations has been developed and showed excellent agreement with the values given by the DNS.

Samaniego, J. -M.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Mixing of Pure Air Jets with a Reacting Fuel-Rich Crossflow

Jets in a crossflow play an integral role in practical combustion systems such as can and annular gas turbine combustors in conventional systems, and the Rich-burn/Quick-mix/Lean-burn (RQL) combustor utilized in stationary applications and proposed for advanced subsonic and supersonic transports. The success of the RQL combustor rests with the performance of the quick-mixing section that bridges the rich and lean zones. The mixing of jet air with a rich crossflow to bring the reaction to completion in the lean zone must be performed rapidly and thoroughly in order to decrease the extent of near-stoichiometric fluid pocket formation. Fluid pockets at near-stoichiometric equivalence ratios are undesirable because the high temperatures attained accelerate pollutant formation kinetics associated with nitric oxide (NO). The present study develops a model experiment designed to reveal the processes that occur when jet air is introduced into hot effluent emanating from a fuel-rich reaction zone.

Leong, M. Y.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Computational Pollutant Environment Assessment from Propulsion-System Testing

An asymptotic plume growth method based on a time-accurate three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics formulation has been developed to assess the exhaust-plume pollutant environment from a simulated RD-170 engine hot-fire test on the F1 Test Stand at Marshall Space Flight Center. Researchers have long known that rocket-engine hot firing has the potential for forming thermal nitric oxides, as well as producing carbon monoxide when hydrocarbon fuels are used. Because of the complex physics involved, most attempts to predict the pollutant emissions from ground-based engine testing have used simplified methods, which may grossly underpredict and/or overpredict the pollutant formations in a test environment. The objective of this work has been to develop a computational fluid dynamics-based methodology that replicates the underlying test-stand flow physics to accurately and efficiently assess pollutant emissions from ground-based rocket-engine testing. A nominal RD-170 engine hot-fire test was computed, and pertinent test-stand flow physics was captured. The predicted total emission rates compared reasonably well with those of the existing hydrocarbon engine hot-firing test data.

Wang, Ten-See↗
NASA NTRS1993

Balloon-Borne Measurements of CLO, NO and O3 in a Volcanic Cloud: An Analysis of Heterogeneous Chemistry between 20 and 30 KM

Balloon profiles of chlorine monoxide (ClO), nitric oxide (NO), and ozone (O3) were measured on March 11, 1992 from 100 to 10 mb over Greenland (67.0 deg N, 50.6 deg W). Measurements from SAGE II indicate that the aerosol surface area in the region was enhanced by sulfur from the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, reaching 50 times background near 20 km. Concentrations of ClO were enhanced and concentrations of NO were suppressed relative to low aerosol conditions consistent with the effects of hydrolysis of N2O5 on the surface of sulfuric acid aerosols. The data are consistent with a value of 2 x 10(exp -4) for the reaction probability of the heterogeneous hydrolysis of ClONO2, indicating a minor role for this reaction at a temperature of 220 K. At these temperatures, we find no evidence for the catastrophic loss of ozone predicted to occur under conditions of enhanced aerosol surface area.

Dessler, A. E.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Chemical Characteristics of Continental Outflow Over the Tropical South Atlantic Ocean from Brazil and Africa

The chemical characteristics of air parcels over the tropical South Atlantic during September - October 1992 are summarized by analysis of aged marine and continental outflow classifications. Positive correlations between CO and CH3CL and minimal enhancements of C2CL40, and various ChloroFluoroCarbon (CFC) species in air parcels recently advected over the South Atlantic basin strongly suggest an impact on tropospheric chemistry from biomass burning on adjacent continental areas of Brazil and Africa. Comparison of the composition of aged Pacific air with aged marine air over the South Atlantic basin from 0.3 to 12.5 km altitude indicates potential accumulation of long-lived species during the local dry season. This may amount to enhancements of up to two-fold for C2H6, 30% for CO, and 10% for CH3Cl. Nitric oxide and NO(x) were significantly enhanced (up to approx. 1 part per billion by volume (ppbv)) above 10 km altitude and poorly correlated with CO and CH3Cl. In addition, median mixing ratios of NO and NO(x) were essentially identical in aged marine and continental outflow air masses. It appears that in addition to biomass burning, lightning or recycled reactive nitrogen may be an important source of NO(x) to the upper troposphere. Methane exhibited a monotonic increase with altitude from approx. 1690 to 1720 ppbv in both aged marine and continental outflow air masses. The largest mixing ratios in the upper troposphere were often anticorrelated with CO, CH3Cl, and CO2, suggesting CH, contributions from natural sources. We also argue, based on CH4/CO ratios and relationships with various hydrocarbon and CFC species, that inputs from biomass burning and the northern hemisphere are unlikely to be the dominant sources of CO, CH4 and C2H6 in aged marine air. Emissions from urban areas would seem to be necessary to account for the distribution of at least CH4 and C2H6. Over the African and South American continents an efficient mechanism of convective vertical transport coupled with large-scale circulations conveys biomass burning, urban, and natural emissions to the upper troposphere over the South Atlantic basin. Slow subsidence over the eastern South Atlantic basin may play an important role in establishing and maintaining the rather uniform vertical distribution of long-lived species over this region. The common occurrence of values greater than 1 for the ratio CH3OOH/H2O2 in the upper troposphere suggests that precipitation scavenging effectively removed highly water soluble gases (H2O2, HNO3, HCOOH, and CH3COOH) and aerosols during vertical convective transport over the continents. However, horizontal injection of biomass burning products over the South Atlantic, particularly water soluble species and aerosol particles, was frequent below 6 km altitude.

Talbot, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS1997

BP and Vascular Function Following Space Flight

Blood pressure and mesenteric resistance artery function were assessed in 9-week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats following an 18 day shuttle flight on STS-80. Blood pressure was measured twice, first in conscious animals using a tail-cuff method and then while the animals were anesthetized with 2% halothane in O2. Isolated mesenteric resistance artery responses to cumulative additions of norepinephrine, acetylcholine, sodium nitroprusside, and calcium were measured within 17 hours of landing using wire myography. Blood pressure was slightly reduced in conscious animals following flight (p=0.056) but was significantly elevated (p less than.001) above vivarium control group values in anesthetized animals. Maximal contraction of mesenteric arteries to norepinephrine was attenuated in the flight animals (p less than.001)aswasrelaxationtoacetylcholine(p less than .001)andcalcium(p less than .05). There was no difference between flight and control animals in the vessel response to sodium nitroprusside (p greater than .05). The results suggest that there may have been an increase in synthesis and release of nitric oxide in the flight animals.

Hatton, Daniel C.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Role of Inflammatory Reponse in Experimental Decompression Sickness

Decompression to altitude can result in gas bubble formation both in tissues and in the systemic veins. The venous gas emboli (VGE) are often monitored during decompression exposures to assess risk for decompression sickness (DCS). Astronauts are at risk for DCS during extravehicular activities (EVA), where decompression occurs from the Space Shuttle or Space Station atmospheric pressure of 14.7 pounds per square inch (PSI) to that of the space suit pressure of 4.3 PSI. DCS symptoms include diffuse pain, especially around joints, inflammation and edema. Pathophysiological effects include interstitial inflammatory responses and recurring injury to the vascular endothelium. Such responses can result in vasoconstriction and associated hemodynamic changes.The granulocyte cell activation and chemotaxin release results in the formation of vasoactive and microvascular permeability altering mediators, especially from the lungs which are the principal target organ for the venous bubbles, and from activated cells (neutrophils, platelets, macrophages). Such mediators include free arachidonic acid and the byproducts of its metabolism via the cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways (see figure). The cyclooxygenase pathway results in formation of prostacyclin and other prostaglandins and thromboxanes that cause vasoconstriction, bronchoconstriction and platelet aggregation. Leukotrienes produced by the alternate pathway cause pulmonary and bronchial smooth muscle contraction and edema. Substances directly affecting vascular tone such as nitric oxide may also play a role in the respose to DCS. We are studying the role and consequent effects of the release inflammatory bioactive mediators as a result of DCS and VGE. More recent efforts are focused on identifying the effects of the body's circadian rhythm on these physiological consequences to decompression stress. al

Butler, B. D.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Determination of Spectroscopic Properties of Atmospheric Molecules from High Resolution Vacuum Ultraviolet Cross Section and Wavelength Measurements

We have studied the spectroscopy and the cross sections of the simple molecules of atmospheric interest such as oxygen, nitric oxide, carbon dioxide, and water. We have made cross section measurements on an absolute base without the effects from the limited instrumental resolution. We have used the following different instruments- the grating spectrometer (6.65-m at CfA, 3-m at Photon Factory), VUV Fourier transform spectrometer at Imperial College, and then moved the same one to the Photon Factory. Selection of the instruments depend on the appearance of molecular bands, and their wavelength region. For example, the cross section measurements of Doppler limited bands can been done with the Fourier transform spectrometer at the very high resolution (0.025/ cm resolution). All of these spectroscopic measurements are needed for accurate calculations of the production of atomic oxygen penetration of solar radiation into the Earth's atmosphere, and photochemistry of minor molecules.

Parkinson, W. H.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Spectroscopy of Atmospheric Trace Gases HCl, NO and SO2

Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectral data have been recorded in the spectral region 400-4000/cm of hydrogen chloride and sulfur dioxide with I/cm resolution and of nitric oxide with 0.25 cm-i resolution, under quasi-static conditions, when the sample gas was passed through tubings of aluminum, copper, stainless steel and teflon. The absorbance was measured for the rotational lines of the fundamental bands of (1)H(35)Cl and (1)H(37)Cl for pressures in the range 100-1000 Torr and for the (14)N(16)O molecule in the range 100-300 Torr. The absorbance was also measured for individual rotational lines corresponding to the three modes of vibrations (upsilon(sub 1) - symmetric stretch, upsilon(sub 2) - symmetric bend, upsilon(sub 3) - anti-symmetric stretch) of the SO2 molecule in the pressure range 25-150 Torr. A graph of absorbance versus pressure was plotted for the observed rotational transitions of the three atmospherically significant molecules, and it was found that the absorbance was linearly proportional to the pressure range chosen, thereby validating Beer's law. The absorption cross-sections were determined from the graphical slopes for each rotational transition recorded for the HCl, NO and SO2 species. Qualitative and quantitative spectral changes in the FT-IR data will be discussed to identify and characterize various tubing materials with respect to their absorption features.

Haridass, C.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Elevated Tropospheric Ozone Over the South Tropical Atlantic in January-February 1999: An Ozone Paradox Due to Interhemispheric Transport, Lightning, or Stratospheric Exchange?

On this first North American to southern African oceanographic cruise with ozonesonde launches (January and February 1999 on board the NOAA Research Vessel Ronald H Brown between Norfolk, VA, and Cape Town, South Africa) we found: (1) high ozone, CO, and aerosols off northern equatorial Africa from biomass burning, but even higher ozone concentrations off southern Africa which was not burning - an "ozone paradox"; (2) TOMS satellite evidence that south Atlantic elevated ozone in January-February 1999 was a regional feature similar in extent to the well-known September-October ozone maximum. Several mechanisms are considered to explain the "ozone paradox." Convection transporting air from the lower troposphere rich in ozone and/or ozone precursors to the upper troposphere through the ITCZ (intertropical Convergence Zone) may lead to cross-hemisphere transport of pollution. This is supported by trajectory linkage of lower-tropospheric ozone maxima with smoke seen by the TOMS satellite. Lightning-generated NO (nitric oxide) leading to ozone peaks of > 100 ppbv observed at 7-10 km altitude is another explanation. The TRMM (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission) Lightning Imaging Sounder shows many lightning flashes over southern Africa, which trajectories link to the high-ozone layers south of the ITCZ. The highest ozone peaks in the middle troposphere correspond to very low water vapor, which may point to photochemical destruction of ozone or subsidence from the upper troposphere which had interacted with stratospheric ozone.

Thompson, Anne M.↗
NASA NTRS2000

1999 Correlation of N2O4 Analyses by Seven Laboratories

This work describes the range of average values seven laboratories reported for the following attributes found in propellant dinitrogen tetroxide (N2O4): nitric oxide (NO) presented by weight (wt%); assay wt%; water equivalent wt%; chloride content wt%; nonvolatile residue (mg/L); iron content (ppmw); and particulate (mg/L). These analyses of propellant N2O4 are required for specification conformance testing and quality assurance of missile propellants. The paramount purpose of this investigation was to determine the range of values that laboratories report of NO wt% content of N2O4. It was found that one laboratory had significantly different NO wt% values for a single sample of N2O4. Future correlation investigations will be conducted using more replicate testing and more carefully specified replicate determinations.

Wurzbach, Roy↗
NASA NTRS2000

Ecosystem Modeling of Biological Processes to Global Budgets

From an ecological perspective, the search for life on distant planets begins from several key assumptions. The first of these is that, viewed from a remote location in space, the signature of life on a distant planet will be the result of net gas exchange of organisms with their environment. On the basis of extensive biogeochemical measurements and biogenic trace gas fluxes in modem Earth environments, it is probable that certain groups of organisms both produce and consume the same trace gas(es) within a single bioprofile of Solid (porous) substrate or surface water. The net gas exchange rate with the atmosphere measured at the living surface is frequently the result of competing metabolic reactions, which may carried out by different functional groups of organisms located at dissimilar 'climatic' or chemical microsites within the same bioprofile. Biogenic gases produced at one (deep) level of a bioprofile may be consumed by another functional group of organisms located closer to the level of surface exchange with the atmosphere. A second key assumption is that the net biogenic fluxes of atmospheric gases on Earth can be used to infer relative abundance and functional composition of the major organisms on a distant planet. Examples of this principle include the presence of methanogenic microorganisms abundant today in freshwater ecosystems worldwide, which are major source of atmospheric methane and its seasonal variability in Earth's atmosphere. A third assumption is that scaling up biogenic gas fluxes from a single biological community to the planetary level requires flux measurements at the whole ecosystem level. This implies that measurements of biogenic gas exchange with the global atmosphere cannot be easily inferred from measurements of gas production rates of single organisms, which may have been isolated in some manner from the setting of their native ecosystem. Hence, the unit of biological organization used in modern Earth Science for scaling up to biosphere effects on atmospheric composition is the ecosystem level. These assumptions are the foundation for developing modern emission budgets for biogenic gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, carbon monoxide, isoprene, nitrous and nitric oxide, and ammonia. Such emission budgets commonly include information on seasonal flux patterns, typical diurnal profiles, and spatial resolution of at least one degree latitude/longitude for the globe. On the basis of these budgets, it is possible to compute 'base emission rates' for the major biogenic trace gases from both terrestrial and ocean sources, which may be useful benchmarks for defining the gas production rates of organisms, especially those from early Earth history, which are required to generate a detectable signal on a global atmosphere. This type of analysis is also the starting point for evaluation of the 'biological processes to global gas budget' extrapolation procedure described above for early Earth ecosystems.

Christopher, Potter S.↗
NASA NTRS2000

1999 Correlation of N2O4 Analyses by Seven Laboratories

This work describes the range of average values seven laboratories reported for the following attributes found in propellant dinitrogen tetroxide (N2O4): nitric oxide (NO) percent by weight (wt%); assay wt%; water equivalent wt%; chloride content wt%; nonvolatile residue (mg/L); iron content (ppmw); and particulate (mg/L). These analyses of propellant N2O4 are required for specification conformance testing and quality assurance of missile propellants. The paramount purpose of this investigation was to determine the range of values that laboratories report for NO wt% content of N2O4. It was found that one laboratory had significantly different NO wt% values for a single sample of N2O4. Future correlation investigations will be conducted using more replicate testing and more carefully specified replicate determinations.

Wurzbach, Roy↗
NASA NTRS2001

Infrared Signature Masking by Air Plasma Radiation

This report summarizes the results obtained during a research program on the infrared radiation of air plasmas conducted in the High Temperature Gasdynamics Laboratory at Stanford University under the direction of Professor Charles H. Kruger, with Dr. Christophe O. Laux as Associate Investigator. The goal of this research was to investigate the masking of infrared signatures by the air plasma formed behind the bow shock of high velocity missiles. To this end, spectral measurements and modeling were made of the radiation emitted between 2.4 and 5.5 micrometers by an atmospheric pressure air plasma in chemical and thermal equilibrium at a temperature of approximately 3000 K. The objective was to examine the spectral emission of air species including nitric oxide, atomic oxygen and nitrogen lines, molecular and atomic continua, as well as secondary species such as water vapor or carbon dioxide. The cold air stream injected in the plasma torch contained approximately 330 parts per million of CO2, which is the natural CO2 concentration in atmospheric air at room temperatures, and a small amount of water vapor with an estimated mole fraction of 3.8x10(exp -4).

Kruger, Charles H.↗
NASA NTRS1995

The No Vibrational Fundamental Band: Temperature Dependence of N2-Broadening Coefficients

Rovibrational spectra of the vibrational fundamental of nitric oxide have been recorded under N2-broadening conditions at 0.0056 cm(exp-1) resolution using the Solar McMath FTS at the Kitt Peak National Observatory. The temperature range for the experiments was 296 K to 183 K. The 30 cm absorption cell used for the measurements is cooled with a helium compressor and can operate at temperatures down to 60 K; vibration isolation of the cell allows its use with high performance Fourier Transform Spectrometers. From these spectra, N2-broadened line widths have been determined thru m = 16.5. Qualitative as well as quantitative discrepancies are observed between our experimental determinations of the temperature dependence of the broadening and theoretical calculations.

Spencer, M. N.↗
NASA NTRS2002

The Lunar Phase Curve in the Near Ultraviolet

We present the ultraviolet phase curve of the Moon at two wavelengths, 215 and 237 nm, as measured by the Ultraviolet Spectrometer on board the Student Nitric Oxide Explorer. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

Hendrix, A. R.↗