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At least 739 records · Page 41

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NASA NTRS1988

Dynamical effects on the core-mantle boundary from depth-dependent thermodynamical properties of the lower mantle

A common assumption in modeling dynamical processes in the lower mantle is that both the thermal expansivity and thermal conductivity are reasonably constant. Recent work from seismic equation of state leads to substantially higher values for the thermal conductivity and much lower thermal expansivity values in the deep mantle. The dynamical consequences of incorporating depth-dependent thermodynamic properties on the thermal-mechanical state of the lower mantle are examined with the spherical-shell mean-field equations. It is found that the thermal structure of the seismically resolved anomalous zone at the base of the mantle is strongly influenced by these variable properties and, in particular, that the convective distortion of the core-mantle boundary (CMB) is reduced with the decreasing thermal expansivity. Such a reduction of the dynamically induced topography from pure thermal convection would suggest that some other dynamical mechanism must be operating at the CMB.

Zhang, Shuxia↗

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 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 state, but then becomes less significant.

Chato, David J.↗

NASA NTRS1988

The equation of state for stellar envelopes. III - Thermodynamic quantities

A method is described for deriving general expressions for all thermodynamic quantities of interest of a partially ionized multicomponent gas in terms of derivatives of the free energy. Explicit analytical formulas for all derivatives required in the evaluation of these quantities are given. Representative results for a hydrogen-helium mixture are shown.

Daeppen, Werner↗

NASA NTRS1988

Thermodynamic analysis of compatibility of several reinforcement materials with FeAl alloys

Chemical compatibility of several reinforcement materials with FeAl alloys within the concentration range 40 to 50 at pct Al have been analyzed from thermodynamic considerations at 1173 and 1273 K. The reinforcement materials considered in this study include carbides, borides, oxides, nitrides, and silicides. Although several chemically compatible reinforcement materials are identified, the coefficients of thermal expansion for none of these materials match closely with that of FeAl alloys and this might pose serious problems in the design of composite systems based on FeAl alloys.

Misra, Ajay K.↗

NASA NTRS1989

A review of reaction rates and thermodynamic and transport properties for the 11-species air model for chemical and thermal nonequilibrium calculations to 30000 K

Reaction rate coefficients and thermodynamic and transport properties are provided for the 11-species air model which can be used for analyzing flows in chemical and thermal nonequilibrium. Such flows will likely occur around currently planned and future hypersonic vehicles. Guidelines for determining the state of the surrounding environment are provided. Approximate and more exact formulas are provided for computing the properties of partially ionized air mixtures in such environments.

Gupta, Roop N.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Thermodynamics and wave processes in high Mach number propulsive ducts

Analysis of the flow in a propulsive duct indicates that, at high Mach numbers, the thermodynamic energy of the fluid is delivered directly into compression and expansion waves. The importance of the resulting wave phenomena is explored by considering the net thrust delivered by a two dimensional convergent-divergent duct with a simplified, planar heat addition zone. It is found that net thrust is reduced when operating at other than the design Mach number, an effect which is most severe for Mach numbers exceeding the design value. An idealized model is developed, involving a self-induced heat injection cycle, and it is seen that the waves produced by this cycle can be the dominant agency in producing thrust.

Stalker, R. J.↗

NASA NTRS1989

A survey of upwind methods for flows with equilibrium and non-equilibrium chemistry and thermodynamics

Several versions of flux-vector split and flux-difference split algorithms were compared with regard to general applicability and complexity. Test computations were performed using curve-fit equilibrium air chemistry for an M = 5 high-temperature inviscid flow over a wedge, and an M = 24.5 inviscid flow over a blunt cylinder for test computations; for these cases, little difference in accuracy was found among the versions of the same flux-split algorithm. For flows with nonequilibrium chemistry, the effects of the thermodynamic model on the development of flux-vector split and flux-difference split algorithms were investigated using an equilibrium model, a general nonequilibrium model, and a simplified model based on vibrational relaxation. Several numerical examples are presented, including nonequilibrium air chemistry in a high-temperature shock tube and nonequilibrium hydrogen-air chemistry in a supersonic diffuser.

Grossman, B.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Thermodynamic properties of some metal oxide-zirconia systems

Metal oxide-zirconia systems are a potential class of materials for use as structural materials at temperatures above 1900 K. These materials must have no destructive phase changes and low vapor pressures. Both alkaline earth oxide (MgO, CaO, SrO, and BaO)-zirconia and some rare earth oxide (Y2O3, Sc2O3, La2O3, CeO2, Sm2O3, Gd2O3, Yb2O3, Dy2O3, Ho2O3, and Er2O3)-zirconia system are examined. For each system, the phase diagram is discussed and the vapor pressure for each vapor species is calculated via a free energy minimization procedure. The available thermodynamic literature on each system is also surveyed. Some of the systems look promising for high temperature structural materials.

Jacobson, Nathan S.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Computer codes for the evaluation of thermodynamic properties, transport properties, and equilibrium constants of an 11-species air model

The computer codes developed provide data to 30000 K for the thermodynamic and transport properties of individual species and reaction rates for the prominent reactions occurring in an 11-species nonequilibrium air model. These properties and the reaction-rate data are computed through the use of curve-fit relations which are functions of temperature (and number density for the equilibrium constant). The curve fits were made using the most accurate data believed available. A detailed review and discussion of the sources and accuracy of the curve-fitted data used herein are given in NASA RP 1232.

Thompson, Richard A.↗

NASA NTRS1990

The applications of chemical thermodynamics and chemical kinetics to planetary atmospheres research

A review of the applications of chemical thermodynamics and chemical kinetics to planetary atmospheres research during the past four decades is presented with an emphasis on chemical equilibrium models and thermochemical kinetics. Several current problems in planetary atmospheres research such as the origin of the atmospheres of the terrestrial planets, atmosphere-surface interactions on Venus and Mars, deep mixing in the atmospheres of the gas giant planets, and the origin of the atmospheres of outer planet satellites all require laboratory data on the kinetics of thermochemical reactions for their solution.

Fegley, Bruce, Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1990

A review of reaction rates and thermodynamic and transport properties for an 11-species air model for chemical and thermal nonequilibrium calculations to 30000 K

Reaction rate coefficients and thermodynamic and transport properties are reviewed and supplemented for the 11-species air model which can be used for analyzing flows in chemical and thermal nonequilibrium up to temperatures of 3000 K. Such flows will likely occur around currently planned and future hypersonic vehicles. Guidelines for determining the state of the surrounding environment are provided. Curve fits are given for the various species properties for their efficient computation in flowfield codes. Approximate and more exact formulas are provided for computing the properties of partially ionized air mixtures in a high energy environment. Limitations of the approximate mixing laws are discussed for a mixture of ionized species. An electron number-density correction for the transport properties of the charged species is obtained. This correction has been generally ignored in the literature.

Gupta, Roop N.↗

NASA NTRS1990

A stratocumulus thermodynamic analysis: July 5 case study

On July 5 (NCAR Electra flight 4, Mission 186-G) the Electra flew a single aircraft mission which consisted of cross and along-wind legs at 6 different altitudes between 10:43 to 16:00 PDT (17:43 to 23:00 GMT). The leg length was kept short (8 to 10 minutes) to permit maximum vertical resolution, and there were 8 soundings. Observer notes report a thin, solid stratocumulus cloud deck which gradually became more broken in the afternoon. Winds were from the north at 10 to 13/ms throughout the night. Sea surface temperature measurements and conservative variable analyses for several of the July 5 legs are presented. These results are preliminary to a study of the thermodynamic budget on July 5; they indicate that: the sea surface temperature dropped more than 1 K (from 17.3 to 15.9 C) over the course of the flight (18:01 and at 21:51 GMT); mixing lines for each of the horizontal subcloud legs show the effect of a strong north-south gradient in SST; and there is a clear demarcation over a transition of 5 to 10 km between air to the south and cooler, moister air to the north. The FSSP measurements indicate there are small clouds/scud 250 m below cloud base on the cold northern side of this transition. The transition is seen in the saturation point diagrams at 984, 959, and 946 mb. There is no corresponding change in the horizontal wind across the transition regions.

Austin, Philip↗

NASA NTRS1989

Nonlocal thermodynamic equilibrium effects in stratospheric HF by collisional energy transfer from electronically excited O2 and implications for infrared remote sensing

A possible nonlocal thermodynamic equilibrium (non-LTE) effect involving stratospheric HF arising from the direct photochemical excitation of vibrationally excited HF by collisional energy transfer from electronically excited O2 is presented. Although this non-LTE effect is smaller that one associated with the direct solar excitation of both HF(nv = 1) and HF(nv = 2), calculations show that inclusion of the mechanism into retrieval algorithms is necessary if correct daytime upper stratosphere HF profiles are to be inferred in future IR thermal emission measurements.

Kaye, Jack A.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Evidence from the limb infrared monitor of the stratosphere for nonlocal thermodynamic equilibrium in the nu2 mode of mesospheric water vapour and the nu3 mode of stratospheric nitrogen dioxide

Data from the 6.9-micron H2O channel and the 6.2-micron NO2 channel of the Nimbus 7 Limb Infrared Monitor of the Stratosphere (LIMS) have been used to investigate the daytime enhancement to H2O; the high concentration of H2O sometimes observed in the polar night mesosphere; and the high ratio of daytime to nighttime NO2 in the upper stratosphere. These three phenomena deviate noticeably from the predictions of photochemical theory. The 20 to 30 percent diurnal variation in stratospheric H2O apparent in LIMS data cannot be reconciled with a photochemical lifetime in excess of four months. This is attributed to departure from local thermodynamic equilibrium of daytime emission which had not been accounted for in retrievals. Speculative possibilities of NLTE emission from the H2O nu2 and NO2 nu3 hot bands are discussed. It is found that the nonthermal emission from NO2 significantly affects retrieval of H2O in the polar nighttime and NO2 in the daytime stratosphere at low latitudes.

Kerridge, Brian J.↗

NASA NTRS1990

The equation of state for stellar envelopes. IV - Thermodynamic quantities and selected ionization fractions for six elemental mixes

The free-energy minimization technique in the form developed in the preceding papers in this series is employed to evaluate thermodynamic quantities and ionization fractions on a fine temperature and density grid for six astrophysical mixtures of 15 elements. The mixtures range from that appropriate to super-metal-rich stars, through solar abundance, to that for extreme Population II objects. In this paper, the results for solar abundances are summarized in a form that is illustrative and which facilitates comparison with the results from other equation of state calculations.

Mihalas, Dimitri↗

NASA NTRS1990

Identification of thermodynamically stable ceramic reinforcement materials for iron aluminide matrices

Aluminide-base intermetallic matrix composites are currently being considered as potential high-temperature materials. One of the key factors in the selection of a reinforcement material is its chemical stability in the matrix. In this study, chemical interactions between iron aluminides and several potential reinforcement materials, which include carbides, oxides, borides, and nitrides, are analyzed from thermodynamic considerations. Several chemically compatible reinforcement materials are identified for the iron aluminides with Al concentrations ranging from 40 to 50 at. pct.

Misra, Ajay K.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Equilibrium Statistical Thermodynamics of a Many-Particle System Coupled to an External Scalar Field

The equilibrium thermodynamics of a many-particle assembly in the presence of an external scalar field is examined. Two types of scalar coupling are considered: an external field coupled to the particle density and an external scalar field coupled to the energy density. It is shown that the broken translational and rotational invariance of the system due to the external field is reflected in the macroscopic physics by loss of the usual extensivity property of the system and by means of anisotropy in the response of the system to changes in the system lengths or to the system shape. In addition, the assumptions used in local equilibrium analyses are shown to be incorrect in principle. Nonlocal effects due to the external field must be included in the determination of the equation of state. Simple model calculations for a system in an external gravitational field and an externally imposed temperature field are presented as illustrations.

Salvino, R. E.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Electrochemical measurements and thermodynamic calculations of redox equilibria in pallasite meteorites - Implications for the eucrite parent body

The intrinsic oxygen fugacity (IOF) of olivine separates from the Salta, Springwater, and Eagle Station pallasites was measured between 850 and 1150 C using oxygen-specific solid zirconia electrolytes at 100,000 Pa. Thermodynamic calculations of redox equilibria involving equalibrium pallasite assemblages are in good agreement with the experimental results and provide a lower limit to pallasite redox stability; others involving disequilibrium assemblages, suggest that pallasites experienced localized, late-stage oxidation and reduction effects. Consideration of the redox buffer metal-olivine-orthopyroxene utilizing calculated Eucrite Parent Body (EPB) mantle phase compositions indicates that small redox gradients may have existed in the EPB. Such gradients may have produced strong compositional variation within the EPB. In addition, there is apparently significant redox heterogeneity in the source area of Eagle Station Trio pallasites and Bocaiuva iron meteorites.

Righter, Kevin↗