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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 721 records · Page 40
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1985

Satellite observed thermodynamics during FGGE

During the First Global Atmospheric Research Program (GARP) Global Experiment (FGGE), determinations of temperature and moisture were made from TIROS-N and NOAA-6 satellite infrared and microwave sounding radiance measurements. The data were processed by two methods differing principally in their horizontal resolution. At the National Earth Satellite Service (NESS) in Washington, D.C., the data were produced operationally with a horizontal resolution of 250 km for inclusion in the FGGE Level IIb data sets for application to large-scale numerical analysis and prediction models. High horizontal resolution (75 km) sounding data sets were produced using man-machine interactive methods for the special observing periods of FGGE at the NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center and archived as supplementary Level IIb. The procedures used for sounding retrieval and the characteristics and quality of these thermodynamic observations are given.

Smith, W. L.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Vector representation of trade cumulus thermodynamic fluxes

A tephigram of BOMEX averaged thermodynamic flux vectors, developed from two tradewind budgets, is presented. The parametric model, which is utilized to represent the fluxes in the tradewind layer of the product as a mass flux and a cloud-environment difference, is examined. A table of mean structure and fluxes of a dataset for the BOMEX ship array, and the Bowen ratio and convective mass flux for a nonmixing and a cloud-top mixing model is provided. The fluxes which are displayed in a simple vector format, using the saturation point notation of Betts (1982) reveal a coupling of fluxes and the relationship between Bowen ratio and height. It is concluded that with good tradewind budget data about the statistics of cloud mixing and radiative-convective coupling can be expressed.

Betts, A. K.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Thermodynamic properties of liquid Si and Ge

Thermodynamic properties of liquid Si and Ge are calculated using standard variational techniques, with the hard-sphere system as a reference system. Third-order electron-ion pseudopotential contributions are included nonvariationally and are shown to have little effect on the free energy, although a larger one on the derivatives of the free energy. Two different model pseudopotentials are used and give similar results in good agreement with experiment.

Shih, W.-H.↗
NASA NTRS1987

SO2 on Io: A thermodynamic perspective

The presence of condensed SO2 on Io mandates a finite abundance of SO2 vapor which must be present, regardless of plume activity. The absorption of SO2 was measured on particulate sulfur and the equilibrium between absorbed SO2, SO2 vapor, and SO2 ice examined, based upon measurements and simple thermodynamic considerations.

Zent, Aaron P.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Evidence for nonlocal thermodynamic equilibrium in the nu3 mode of mesospheric ozone

Laboratory kinetic studies suggest that an appreciable fraction of the ozone produced by recombination of atomic oxygen is vibrationally excited in the nu3 mode. Further, laboratory data are available for the physical quenching of nu3, its radiative relaxation, and its radiative excitation by resonant absorption. It is shown that these chemical and physical processes are likely to result in substantial departures from local thermodynamic equilibrium for the nu3 mode of ozone in the mesosphere and therefore have important effects on infrared mesospheric ozone measurments by emission in the 9.6-micron band. Implications of these effects on data from the Limb Infrared Monitor of the Stratosphere (Remsberg et al, 1984), particularly their night/day ratio, are discussed.

Solomon, S.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Kinetics and thermodynamics of chemical reactions in Li/SOCl2 cells

Work is described that was designed to determine the kinetic constants necessary to extrapolate kinetic data on Li/SOCl2 cells over the temperature range from 25 to 75 C. A second objective was to characterize as far as possible the chemical reactions that occur in the cells since these reactions may be important in understanding the potential hazards of these cells. The kinetics of the corrosion processes in undischarged Li/SOCl2 cells were determined and separated according to their occurrence at the anode and cathode; the effects that switching the current on and off has on the corrosion reactions was determined; and the effects of discharge state on the kinetics of the corrosion process were found. A thermodynamic analysis of the current-producing reactions in the cell was done and is included.

Hansen, Lee D.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Two-phase flows and heat transfer within systems with ambient pressure above the thermodynamic critical pressure

In systems where the design inlet and outlet pressure P sub amb are maintained above the thermodynamic critical pressure P sub c, it is often assumed that heat and mass transfer are governed by single-phase relations and that two-phase flows cannot occur. This simple rule of thumb is adequate in many low-power designs but is inadequate for high-performance turbomachines, boilers, and other systems where two-phase regions can exist even though P sub amb P sub c. Heat and mass transfer and rotordynamic-fluid-mechanic restoring forces depend on momentum differences, and those for a two-phase zone can differ significantly from those for a single-phase zone. By using a laminar, variable-property bearing code and a rotating boiler code, pressure and temperature surfaces were determined that illustrate nesting of a two-phase region within a supercritical pressure region. The method of corresponding states is applied to bearings with reasonable rapport.

Hendricks, R. C.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Conserved variable analysis of the convective boundary layer thermodynamic structure over the tropical oceans

An analysis of FGGE dropwindsonde data using conserved thermodynamic variables shows mixing line structures for the convective boundary layer over the equatorial Pacific. Deeper boundary layers show a double structure. Reversals of the gradients of mixing ratio and equivalent potential temperature above the boundary-layer top are present in all the averages and suggest that the origin of the air sinking into the boundary layer needs further study.

Betts, Alan K.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Thermodynamic budget diagrams for the hurricane subcloud layer

The idealized hurricane boundary layer budget from Malkus and Riehl (1960) are reexamined using vector diagrams for the thermodynamic budgets in the light of recent observational studies. A large air-sea temperature difference can only be maintained with both large fluxes through cloud-base level and a large evaporative cooling of the subcloud layer. The high equivalent potential temperature values observed in hurricane eyewalls can be reached if these cloud-base and evaporative fluxes are reduced and the subcloud layer moves toward the sea surface virtual potential temperature.

Betts, Alan K.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Thermodynamic state of SO2 on Io's surface

It has been suggested that surface conditions on Io might be conducive to significant SO2 adsorption on sulfur or alkali sulfides. A number of spectroscopic arguments for and against the high abundance of a SO2 adsorbate (versus frost) on Io have been made. SO2 absorption isotherms on particulate sulfur are measured, and the question of SO2 adsorbate/ice is approached from a thermodynamic perspective. Because of formidable experimental difficulties, data were not obtained at the very low temperatures and P(SO2) characteristics of Io; however, data were obtained over a wide range of pressures and temperatures somewhat higher than Io's and extrapolated to Io surface conditions. Errors in estimating adsorptive capacity accrue through extrapolation of the adsorption isotherms; however, more significant is the addition of the solid SO2 equilibrium vapor pressure curve to the phase diagram. The formation of ice places a strict upper limit on adsorptive coverage at any temperature. The limit for Io based upon the data is calculated, and it is shown that no more than 0.014 monolayers of SO2 can adsorb on sulfur at Io temperatures. Given the assumption that sulfur forms the primary adsorbent on Io's surface, or the assumption that the adsorptive capacity of the other adsorbents is not substantially greater than that of sulfur, this explains the fact that the nu(1) + nu(3) band center position is in better agreement with that of frost than adsorbate.

Zent, Aaron P.↗
NASA NTRS1987

A coupled dynamic-thermodynamic model of an ice-ocean system in the marginal ice zone

Thermodynamics are incorporated into a coupled ice-ocean model in order to investigate wind-driven ice-ocean processes in the marginal zone. Upswelling at the ice edge which is generated by the difference in the ice-air and air-water surface stresses is found to give rise to a strong entrainment by drawing the pycnocline closer to the surface. Entrainment is shown to be negligible outside the areas affected by the ice edge upswelling. If cooling at the top is included in the model, the heat and salt exchanges are further enhanced in the upswelling areas. It is noted that new ice formation occurs in the region not affected by ice edge upswelling, and it is suggested that the high-salinity mixed layer regions (with a scale of a few Rossby radii of deformation) will overturn due to cooling, possibly contributing to the formation of deep water.

Hakkinen, Sirpa↗
NASA NTRS1987

The nonlinear thermodynamics of meteors, noctilucent clouds, enhanced airglow and global atmospheric circulation

Two types of fundamental topological junctions of elements are deduced from a nonlinear thermodynamical model. Using this scheme, the possibility of a causal relation between fireballs and faint meteors as nonlinear sources on the one hand, and noctilucent clouds (NC) and Hoffmeister's enhanced airglow (EA) as complementary formative processes in the middle atmosphere and ionosphere, on the other hand, is examined. The principal role of the global atmospheric circulation in this relation is demonstrated. Such circulation in the mesosphere appears to prevent the neutral dust dissipated by fireballs from becoming an efficient agent in NLC generation. In this case, the behavior of ionized material deposited by both the bright and faint meteors is more probably controlled, as shown from the annual variation of the E sub s layer by the darkness of lunar eclipses and the global circulation of the lower thermosphere. The role of fireballs and neutral dust might be more significant as a source of EA phenomenon.

Rajchl, J.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Zero-G thermodynamic vent system for shuttle/Centaur

Viewgraphs are presented showing drawings of Centaur configurations, the Thermodynamic Vent System (TVS), the mixer pump, and the hydrogen vent motor pump inverter. A cryogenic performance summary is given in chart form. The TVS liquid flow operation and vapor flow operation are diagrammed.

Niggemann, Richard E.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Thermodynamic modeling of the no-vent fill methodology for transferring cryogens in low gravity

The filling of tanks with cryogens in the low-gravity environment of space poses many technical challenges. Chief among these is the inability to vent only vapor from the tank as the filling proceeds. As a potential solution to this problem, the NASA Lewis Research Center is researching a technique known as No-Vent Fill. This technology potentially has broad application. The focus is the fueling of space based Orbital Transfer Vehicles. The fundamental thermodynamics of the No-Vent Fill process to develop an analytical model of No-Vent Fill is described. The model is then used to conduct a parametric investigation of the key parameters: initial tank wall temperature, liquid-vapor interface heat transfer rate, liquid inflow rate, and inflowing liquid temperatures. Liquid inflowing temperature and the liquid-vapor interface heat transfer rate seem to be the most significant since they influence the entire fill process. The initial tank wall temperature must be sufficiently low to prevent a rapid pressure rise during the initial liquid flashing stage, but then becomes less significant.

Chato, David J.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Thermodynamic performance measure for cryogenic vessel insulation

Commonly encountered 'passive' insulation has been improved in recent years using 'dynamic'insulation based on closed cycle cryocoolers attached to photon shields. The paper presents a novel insulation performance measure based on ideal thermodynamic limits. Each floating insulation package has a unique value. In contrast real vessels with vent tube and supports are characterized by an 'effectiveness' less than unity.

Chen, W. E. W.↗
NASA NTRS1986

The interaction of a surface cold front with a prefrontal thermodynamically well-mixed boundary layer

The dynamics of a surface cold front as it proceeds from sea to shore and interacts with a thermodynamically well-mixed boundary layer are investigated by means of numerical simulations using a modified version of the two-dimensional model of Reeder and Smith (1987). The theoretical basis of the model is explained, and the results are presented graphically and characterized in detail. Good agreement is found with observational data on Australian summer cold fronts, and the transverse frontal circulation is shown to be significantly affected by diabatic heating.

Reeder, Michael J.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Are small diamonds thermodynamically stable in the interstellar medium?

Very small diamond particles (50 A diameter) are shown to be thermodynamically stable with respect to similar sized graphite particles for reasonable values of the surface free energies of diamond and graphite. Small diamonds are likely to be stable against both thermal evaporation and chemical attack in the general interstellar medium. A few of the consequences of these conclusions are examined.

Nuth, Joseph A., III↗