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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 73 records · Page 4
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1993

Technology for gelled liquid cryogenic propellants - Metallized hydrogen/aluminum

The theoretical basis for solid-loaded or densified liquid hydrogen propellants for advanced space applications is outlined. Metallized propellants make it possible to increase the safety of propulsion systems as well as the payloads of future vehicles. Nanogellant formulated liquid hydrogen gels and other fuel gels are characterized by excellent settling stability, low yield point, and a high shear thinning index which makes them attractive for propulsion applications.

Starkovich, John↗
NASA NTRS2005

Quantum-limited Terahertz detection without liquid cryogens

Under this contract, we have successfully designed, fabricated and tested a revolutionary new type of detector for Terahertz (THz) radiation, the tunable antenna-coupled intersubband Terahertz (TACIT) detector. The lowest-noise THz detectors used in the astrophysics community require cooling to temperatures below 4K. This deep cryogenic requirement forces satellites launched for THz- observing missions to include either large volumes of liquid Helium, complex cryocoolers, or both. Cryogenic requirements thus add significantly to the cost, complexity and mass of satellites and limit the duration of their missions. It hence desirable to develop new detector technologies with less stringent cryogenic requirements. Such detectors will not only be important in space-based astrophysics, but also respond to a growing demand for THz technology for earth-based scientific and commercial applications.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1990

Cryogenic liquid hydrogen reorientation activated by constant reverse gravity acceleration of geyser initiation

A key objective for cryogenic fluid management in a spacecraft propulsion system is development of the technology necessary for acquisition or positioning of liquid outflow or vapor venting. Numerical simulation of positive liquid acquisition is attempted by introducing a reverse gravity acceleration from the propulsive thrust of auxiliary engines which exceeds critical value for the initiation of a geyser. Based on the computer simulation of flow fields during the course of fluid reorientation, six dimensionless parameters resulted. These parameters hold near-constant values through the entire range of liquid filled levels, from 30 to 80 percent, during the course of fluid reorientation.

Hung, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Cavitation in liquid cryogens. 1: Venturi

The results of continuing cavitation studies are reported. The cavitation characteristics of liquid hydrogen and liquid nitrogen flowing in a transparent plastic Venturi are discussed. Thermodynamic data, consisting of pressure and temperature measurements within fully developed hydrogen cavities, are reported. Details concerning test apparatus, test procedure, and data correlation techniques are given.

Hord, J.↗
NASA NTRS1966

Charged Probes, Bourdon Tubes Maintain Cryogenic Liquid Level

The problem: To design a system that automatically maintains the fluid level in a liquid nitrogen cold trap. It is frequently necessary to operate a vacuum system using one or more cold traps for a prolonged period with the cold trap liquid level maintained between set limits. Electronic devices have been subject to failure due to the effect on components of cryogenic temperatures. The solution: An automatic liquid nitrogen dispensing system that uses gas filled probes, driving Bourdon tube gauges equipped with microswitches that, through a relay, control a solenoid valve in the liquid nitrogen storage line.

Krejsa, Mylo J.↗
NASA NTRS1983

A helium-3 refrigerator employing capillary confinement of liquid cryogen

A condensation refrigerator suitable for operation in a zero gravity space environment was constructed. The condensed liquid refrigerant is confined by surface tension inside a porous metal matrix. Helium-4 and helium-3 gases were condensed and held in a copper matrix. Evaporative cooling of confined liquid helium-4 resulted in a temperature of 1.4K. Using a zeolite adsorption pump external to the cryostat, a temperature of 0.6 K was achieved through evaporative cooling of liquid helium-3. The amount of time required for complete evaporation of a controlled mass of liquid helium-4 contained in the copper matrix was measured as a function of the applied background power. For heating powers below 18 mW the measured times are consistent with the normal boiling of the confined volume of liquid refrigerant. At background powers above 18 mW the rapid rise in the temperature of the copper matrix the signature of the absence of confined liquid occurs in a time a factor of two shorter than that expected on the basis of an extrapolation of the low power data.

Ennis, D. J.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Cavitation in liquid cryogens. 3: Ogives

Experimental results for three, scaled, quarter-caliber ogives are given. Both desinent and developed cavity data, using liquid hydrogen and liquid nitrogen, are reported. The desinent data do not exhibit a consistent ogive size effect, but the developed cavity data were consistently influenced by ogive size; B-factor increases with increasing ogive diameter. The developed cavity data indicated that stable thermodynamic equilibrium exists throughout the vaporous cavities. These data were correlated by using the extended theory derived in NASA-CR-2156 (volume II of this report series). The new correlating parameter MTWO, improves data correlation for the ogives, hydrofoil, and venturi and appears attractive for future predictive applications. The cavitation coefficient and equipment size effects are shown to vary with specific equipment-fluid combinations. A method of estimating cavitation coefficient from knowledge of the noncavitating pressure coefficient is suggested.

Hord, J.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Pressurization and expulsion of cryogenic liquids: Generic requirements for a low gravity experiment

Requirements are presented for an experiment designed to obtain data for the pressurization and expulsion of a cryogenic supply tank in a low gravity environment. These requirements are of a generic nature and applicable to any cryogenic fluid of interest, condensible or non-condensible pressurants, and various low gravity test platforms such as the Space Shuttle or a free-flyer. Background information, the thermophysical process, preliminary analytical modeling, and experimental requirements are discussed. Key parameters, measurements, hardware requirements, procedures, a test matrix, and data analysis are outlined.

Vandresar, Neil T.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Cryogenic liquid O2/H2 reaction control systems for Space Shuttle.

A Space Shuttle liquid oxygen/hydrogen reaction control system design analysis has been performed. The system concept considered eliminates propellant conditioning equipment and delivers the propellants to the engines in a liquid rather than a gaseous state. This paper provides system design analyses results and compares various means of implementing the concept on the basis of weight, technology requirements, and operational considerations. Additionally, weight comparisons are made between cryogenic oxygen/hydrogen system requirements. These comparisons show that the liquid oxygen/hydrogen system concept could effect marked weight reductions in the Space Shuttle orbiter total impulse range.

Kelly, P. J.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Thermohydrodynamic Analysis of Cryogenic Liquid Turbulent Flow Fluid Film Bearings

This report describes a thermohydrodynamic analysis and computer programs for the prediction of the static and dynamic force response of fluid film bearings for cryogenic applications. The research performed addressed effectively the most important theoretical and practical issues related to the operation and performance of cryogenic fluid film bearings. Five computer codes have been licensed by the Texas A&M University to NASA centers and contractors and a total of 14 technical papers have been published.

San Andres, Luis↗
NASA NTRS1973

Cavitation in liquid cryogens. 2: Hydrofoil

Boundary layer principles, along with two-phase concepts, are used to improve existing correlative theory for developed cavity data. Details concerning cavity instrumentation, data analysis, correlative techniques, and experimental and theoretical aspects of a cavitating hydrofoil are given. Both desinent and thermodynamic data, using liquid hydrogen and liquid nitrogen, are reported. The thermodynamic data indicated that stable thermodynamic equilibrium exists throughout the vaporous cryogen cavities. The improved correlative formulas were used to evaluate these data. A new correlating parameter based on consideration of mass limiting two-phase flow flux across the cavity interface, is proposed. This correlating parameter appears attractive for future correlative and predictive applications. Agreement between theory and experiment is discussed, and directions for future analysis are suggested. The front half of the cavities, developed on the hydrofoil, may be considered as parabolically shaped.

Hord, J.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Temperature and pressure effects on capacitance probe cryogenic liquid level measurement accuracy

The inaccuracies of liquid nitrogen and liquid hydrogen level measurements by use of a coaxial capacitance probe were investigated as a function of fluid temperatures and pressures. Significant liquid level measurement errors were found to occur due to the changes in the fluids dielectric constants which develop over the operating temperature and pressure ranges of the cryogenic storage tanks. The level measurement inaccuracies can be reduced by using fluid dielectric correction factors based on measured fluid temperatures and pressures. The errors in the corrected liquid level measurements were estimated based on the reported calibration errors of the temperature and pressure measurement systems. Experimental liquid nitrogen (LN2) and liquid hydrogen (LH2) level measurements were obtained using the calibrated capacitance probe equations and also by the dielectric constant correction factor method. The liquid levels obtained by the capacitance probe for the two methods were compared with the liquid level estimated from the fluid temperature profiles. Results show that the dielectric constant corrected liquid levels agreed within 0.5 percent of the temperature profile estimated liquid level. The uncorrected dielectric constant capacitance liquid level measurements deviated from the temperature profile level by more than 5 percent. This paper identifies the magnitude of liquid level measurement error that can occur for LN2 and LH2 fluids due to temperature and pressure effects on the dielectric constants over the tank storage conditions from 5 to 40 psia. A method of reducing the level measurement errors by using dielectric constant correction factors based on fluid temperature and pressure measurements is derived. The improved accuracy by use of the correction factors is experimentally verified by comparing liquid levels derived from fluid temperature profiles.

Edwards, Lawrence G.↗
NASA NTRS2019

Continued Development of a Highly Reflective Solar Coating for Cryogenic Liquid Storage in Space

State-of-the-art solar reflectors absorb 6-8 % of the sun's irradiant power, which is adequate for spacecraft thermal control; but not for storage of cryogens in tanks exposed to the Sun. A solar reflector must absorb less than 0.4% of the Sun's power, while radiating effectively in the far IR, to allow LOX storage. Hibbard realized this in 1960's, at about the same time that nearly perfect optical reflectors were developed based on particle scattering. In 2015, under funding from the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts Program (NIAC), these breakthroughs were rediscovered. Theoretical analysis showed that a tank coated with a thick (1 cm) layer of 150 nm particles, composed of a broadband material, could allow the tank to chill to cryogenic temperatures, even in the presence of 1 AU solar irradiance. Subsequent work lead to the demonstration and testing of BaF2 based rigid coupons. Placing one of these in a cryocooler-based simulated deep space environment and irradiating with simulated sunlight has shown about 1% absorption. This is better than the state-of-the-art but not yet sufficient for LOX storage.This paper will review the background material presented above but will concentrate on work performed over the last year, including the design and build-up of the testing apparatus. Since our last publication, we have changed materials from BaF2 to Y2O3. Y2O3 has slightly higher solar absorptance, but is hydrophobic and higher index.

Swanger, Adam↗
NASA NTRS2012

NASA Flexible Screen Propellant Management Device (PMD) Demonstration With Cryogenic Liquid

While evaluating various options for liquid methane and liquid oxygen propellant management for lunar missions, Innovative Engineering Solutions (IES) conceived the flexible screen device as a potential simple alternative to conventional propellant management devices (PMD). An apparatus was designed and fabricated to test flexible screen devices in liquid nitrogen. After resolution of a number of issues (discussed in detail in the paper), a fine mesh screen (325 by 2300 wires per inch) spring return assembly was successfully tested. No significant degradation in the screen bubble point was observed either due to the screen stretching process or due to cyclic fatigue during testing. An estimated 30 to 50 deflection cycles, and approximately 3 to 5 thermal cycles, were performed on the final screen specimen, prior to and between formally recorded testing. These cycles included some "abusive" pressure cycling, where gas or liquid was driven through the screen at rates that produced differential pressures across the screen of several times the bubble point pressure. No obvious performance degradation or other changes were observed over the duration of testing. In summary, it is felt by the author that these simple tests validated the feasibility of the flexible screen PMD concept for use with cryogenic propellants.

Wollen, Mark↗