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At least 721 records · Page 40

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NASA NTRS1992

Measuring ionospheric electron density using the plasma frequency probe

During the past decade, the plasma frequency probe (PFP) has evolved into an accurate, proven method of measuring electron density in the ionosphere above about 90 km. The instrument uses an electrically short antenna mounted on a sounding rocket that is immersed in the plasma and notes the frequency where the antenna impedance is large and nonreactive. This frequency is closely related to the plasma frequency, which is a direct function of free electron concentration. The probe uses phase-locked loop technology to follow a changing electron density. Several sections of the plasma frequency probe circuitry are unique, especially the voltage-controlled oscillator that uses both an electronically tuned capacitor and inductor to give the wide tuning range needed for electron density measurements. The results from two recent sounding rocket flights (Thunderstorm II and CRIT II) under vastly different plasma conditions demonstrate the capabilities of the PFP and show the importance of in situ electron density measurements of understanding plasma processes.

Jensen, Mark D.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Neptune atmospheric probe mission

A feasibility study of a 'Galileo-like' atmospheric probe mission to Neptune aimed at obtaining in situ measurements of atmospheric and cloud composition and structure is presented. The main scientific desire is to obtain in situ measurements down to a pressure level of 75-100 bars to completely penetrate the CH4, NH3, H2S, NH4SH, and H2O clouds. The probe mission should be based on a Galileo complement of instruments with the addition of a gas chromatograph. Particular attention is given to the deployment design, and operation of the atmospheric entry probe system to accomplish the above mission objective.

Swenson, Byron L.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Correction analysis for a supersonic water cooled total temperature probe tested to 1370 K

The authors address the thermal analysis of a water cooled supersonic total temperature probe tested in a Mach 2 flow, up to 1366 K total temperature. The goal of this experiment was the determination of high-temperature supersonic jet mean flow temperatures. An 8.99 cm exit diameter water cooled nozzle was used in the tests. It was designed for exit Mach 2 at 1366 K exit total temperature. Data along the jet centerline were obtained for total temperatures of 755 K, 1089 K, and 1366 K. The data from the total temperature probe were affected by the water coolant. The probe was tested through a range of temperatures between 755 K and 1366 K with and without the cooling system turned on. The results were used to develop a relationship between the indicated thermocouple bead temperature and the freestream total temperature. The analysis and calculated temperatures are presented.

Lagen, Nicholas T.↗

NASA NTRS1991

A fine-wire thermocouple probe for measurement of stagnation temperatures in real gas hypersonic flows of nitrogen

A fine-wire thermocouple probe was used to determine freestream stagnation temperatures in hypersonic flows. Data were gathered in a N2 blowdown wind tunnel with runtimes of 1-5 s. Tests were made at supply pressures between 30 and 1400 atm and supply temperatures between 700 and 1900 K, with Mach numbers of 14 to 16. An iterative procedure requiring thermocouple data, pilot pressure measurements, and supply conditions was used to determine test cell stagnation temperatures. Probe conduction and radiation losses, as well as real gas behavior of N2, were accounted for during analysis. Temperature measurement error was found to be 5 to 10 percent. A correlation was drawn between thermocouple diameter Reynolds number and temperature recovery ratio. Transient probe behavior was studied and was found to be adequate in temperature gradients up to 1000 K/s.

Hollis, Brian R.↗

NASA NTRS1993

A Fiber Optic Probe for the Detection of Cataracts

A compact fiber optic probe developed for on-orbit science experiments was used to detect the onset of cataracts, a capability that could eliminate physicians' guesswork and result in new drugs to 'dissolve' or slow down the cataract formation before surgery is necessary. The probe is based upon dynamic light scattering (DLS) principles. It has no moving parts, no apertures, and requires no optical alignment. It is flexible and easy to use. Results are presented for excised but intact human eye lenses. In a clinical setting, the device can be easily incorporated into a slit-lamp apparatus (ophthalmoscope) for complete eye diagnostics. In this set-up, the integrated fiber optic probe, the size of a pencil, delivers a low power cone of laser light into the eye of a patient and guides the light which is backscattered by the protein molecules of the lens through a receiving optical fiber to a photo detector. The non-invasive DLS measurements provide rapid determination of protein crystalline size and its size distribution in the eye lens.

Ansari, Rafat R.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Rugged, no-moving-parts windspeed and static pressure probe designs for measurements in planetary atmospheres

Instruments developed for making meteorological observations under adverse conditions on Earth can be applied to systems designed for other planetary atmospheres. Specifically, a wind sensor developed for making measurements within tornados is capable of detecting induced pressure differences proportional to wind speed. Adding strain gauges to the sensor would provide wind direction. The device can be constructed in a rugged form for measuring high wind speeds in the presence of blowing dust that would clog bearings and plug passages of conventional wind speed sensors. Sensing static pressure in the lower boundary layer required development of an omnidirectional, tilt-insensitive static pressure probe. The probe provides pressure inputs to a sensor with minimum error and is inherently weather-protected. The wind sensor and static pressure probes have been used in a variety of field programs and can be adapted for use in different planetary atmospheres.

Bedard, A. J., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Multiple fiberoptic probe for several sensing applications

A multiple fiber-optic particle sizing probe which uses a linear array of 11 optical fibers positioned in the focal plane of a graded index microlens is presented. The probe, a compact optical spectrum analyzer, provides simultaneous filtering of the angular spectrum of an extended quasi-monochromatic source. Active and passive configurations provide accurate measurements of the particle size distributions. The multiple fiber-optic probe together with processing electronics is a particle sizing sensor which yields the size distribution within 1-2 min.

Dhadwal, Harbans S.↗

NASA NTRS1993

'Incremental thermocouple probe' for testing insulation erosion on a rocket motor

An incremental thermocouple probe was developed to measure insulation erosion during a solid rocket motor firing. The probe's new and unique design is described along with its theory of operation. Data from an actual firing are reported which show that the probe's performance greatly exceeded predictions and present technology as a temperature measurement device and as an event gage.

Gould, Reginald J.↗

NASA NTRS1967

Venus 1970 Probe Study

Viewgraphs on the Venus '70 probe study are presented. The probe mission objectives were (1) to compliment the Mariner occultation experiment; (2) to construct Venus atmosphere profile; (3) to measure atmosphere properties from clouds to the surface; (4) to measure temperature and pressure for reconstruction of atmosphere; (5) to size an impacting probe for the Venus '70 window; and (6) to observe planetary quarantine.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS1994

Miniature, Cooled Pressure-Measuring Probe

Probe designed to reduce settling time dramatically. Pressure-sensing transducer mounted in probe and connected to tip by short tube having cross-sectional area substantially smaller than conventional connecting tubes. Probe includes stainless-steel cylindrical exterior housing holding closed pressure chamber in which piezoelectric pressure transducer mounted. Open connecting tube passes portion of high-velocity, high-temperature fluid stream into closed pressure chamber. Any change of pressure in sampled stream propagates into closed pressure chamber with settling time inversely proportional to cross-sectional area of connecting tube. Cooling chamber formed around pressure chamber connected to source of water or other cooling fluid via inlet and outlet tubes.

Ashby, George C., Jr.↗

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 NTRS1993

Probe systems for measuring static pressure and turbulence intensity in fluid streams

A method and an apparatus for measuring time-averaged static or ambient pressure and turbulence intensity in a turbulent stream are discussed. The procedure involves placing a plurality of probes in the stream. Each probe responds in a different manner to characteristics of the fluid stream, preferably as a result of having varying cross sections. The responses from the probes are used to eliminate unwanted components in the measured quantities for accurate determination of selected characteristics.

Rossow, Vernon J.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Temperature and abundances in the Jovian auroral stratosphere. 2: Ethylene as a probe of the microbar region

Individual emission lines of ethylene (C2H4) near 10.5 micron were measured from the equatorial and north polar regions of Jupiter. Observations were made at a spectral resolution of 0.00083/cm using infrared heterodyne spectroscopy at the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility of Mauna Kea, Hawaii. The line shape information possible with this resolving power permitted the retrieval of quiescent ethylene abundances and the investigation of abundance and thermal structure variability in the polar auroral region. A rough distribution of the north polar emission as a function of longitude was obtained with an instantaneous field of view (full width at half maximum) of approximately 1 arc sec on the planet. The greatest C2H4 emission was observed near the nominal north polar methane hot spot (60 deg N, 180 deg longitude, System III, 1965). It was found to be confined to less than 10 deg longitude on the planet. Using a Voyager-derived thermal profile, retrieved ethylene mole fractions for equatorial and north polar quiescent (non-hot spot) regions were consistent with results from existing photochemical models. At the hot spot an 18-fold increase in abundance was required near the 10-microbar level to reproduce the data. Alternatively varying the stratospheric thermal profile, a 67-137 K increase in temperature was required at the approximately 10-microbar level to satisfy the observed emission, if the C2H4 mole fraction is fixed to the quiescent value. These results provide the first direct probe of the upper stratosphere of Jupiter and give upper limits to the temperature increase near the source of the north polar thermal infrared aurora. Combined with results from similar measurements of auroral ethane emission (Livengood et al., this issue) probing the 1-mbar region, altitude information on the thermal structure can be obtained for the first time. The ethylene line emission region extends to the few microbar pressure level and may overlap the region where the H2 ultraviolet aurora is formed; thus it can be used as a probe of the coupling between the ultraviolet and thermal infrared phenomena.

Kostiuk, Theodor↗

NASA NTRS1995

Probes For Measuring Changing Internal Temperatures

Improved thermocouple probes devised for measuring rapidly changing temperatures within layers of solid materials. In original application, layers in question are carbon-cloth phenolic liners in solid-rocket motor nozzles, and probes inserted in layers to various depths of order of 0.5 in. measure changing temperatures in layers during hot-fire tests. Probe concept adapted to measurements of temperatures inside various other layers, materials, and components, including material test specimens.

Hunt, S. B.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Improved Capacitive Liquid-Level Probe

Improved capacitive probe designed to measure level of dielectric liquid in tank. In original application, liquid is hydrogen at low temperature, but design principles applicable to measurement of levels of other dielectric liquids in various temperature ranges. Outstanding features of design those making probe insensitive to temperature-induced and other spurious capacitive effects that otherwise distort capacitive liquid-level readings, and those making it possible to calibrate probe mostly by calculation from first principles.

Ziemke, Robert A.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Dynamic Light Scattering With Improved Fiber-Optic Probes

Improved fiber-optic probes developed for use in dynamic light-scattering measurements. Intended for measuring dynamic backscattering of laser light from concentrated suspensions of particles in liquids, for purpose of determining statistical distributions of sizes of particles. Offers advantages of compactness and ruggedness, and more suitable for industrial environments. Probes immersed in suspensions characterized. Associated lasers, photodetectors, and signal-processing circuits located remotely in safer environments, coupled to probes via optical fibers.

Dhadwal, Harbans Singh↗

NASA NTRS1995

Revolving Eddy-Current Probe Detects Cracks Near Rivets

Scanning eddy-current probe in circular pattern increases sensitivity with which probe indicates fatigue cracks and other defects in metal surfaces in vicinity of rivets. Technique devised to facilitate inspection of riveted joints in aircraft. Eddy-current probe in question described in "Electro-magnetic Flaw Detector Is Easier To Use" (LAR-15046).

Namkung, Min↗

NASA NTRS1995

Capacitance probe for fluid flow and volume measurements

Method and apparatus for making measurements on fluids are disclosed, including the use of a capacitive probe for measuring the flow volume of a material within a flow stream. The capacitance probe has at least two elongate electrodes and, in a specific embodiment of the invention, has three parallel elongate electrodes with the center electrode being an extension of the center conductor of a co-axial cable. A conductance probe is also provided to provide more accurate flow volume data in response to conductivity of the material within the flow stream. A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides for a gas flow stream through a microgravity environment that allows for monitoring a flow volume of a fluid sample, such as a urine sample, that is entrained within the gas flow stream.

Arndt, G. Dickey↗