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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 91 records · Page 5

Operational summary of an electric propulsion long term test facility

An automated test facility capable of simultaneously operating three 2.5 kW, 30-cm mercury ion thrusters and their power processors is described, along with a test program conducted for the documentation of thruster characteristics as a function of time. Facility controls are analog, with full redundancy, so that in the event of malfunction the facility automaticcally activates a backup mode and notifies an operator. Test data are recorded by a central data collection system and processed as daily averages. The facility has operated continuously for a period of 37 months, over which nine mercury ion thrusters and four power processor units accumulated a total of over 14,500 hours of thruster operating time.

Trump, G. E.↗

Mechanical Components Branch Test Facilities and Capabilities

The Mechanical Components Branch at NASA Glenn Research Center formulates, conducts, and manages research focused on propulsion systems for both present and advanced aeronautical and space vehicles. The branch is comprised of research teams that perform basic research in three areas: mechanical drives, aerospace seals, and space mechanisms. Each team has unique facilities for testing aerospace hardware and concepts. This report presents an overview of the Mechanical Components Branch test facilities.

Oswald, Fred B.↗

Molecular Tagging Velocimetry Development for In-situ Measurement in High-Temperature Test Facility

The High Temperature Test Facility, HTTF, at Oregon State University (OSU) is an integral-effect test facility designed to model the behavior of a Very High Temperature Gas Reactor (VHTR) during a Depressurized Conduction Cooldown (DCC) event. It also has the ability to conduct limited investigations into the progression of a Pressurized Conduction Cooldown (PCC) event in addition to phenomena occurring during normal operations. Both of these phenomena will be studied with in-situ velocity field measurements. Experimental measurements of velocity are critical to provide proper boundary conditions to validate CFD codes, as well as developing correlations for system level codes, such as RELAP5 (http://www4vip.inl.gov/relap5/). Such data will be the first acquired in the HTTF and will introduce a diagnostic with numerous other applications to the field of nuclear thermal hydraulics. A laser-based optical diagnostic under development at The George Washington University (GWU) is presented; the technique is demonstrated with velocity data obtained in ambient temperature air, and adaptation to high-pressure, high-temperature flow is discussed.

Andre, Matthieu A.↗

Developments in Test Facility and Data Networking for the Altitude Test Stand at the John C. Stennis Space Center, MS - A General Overview

May 2007, NASA's Constellation Program selected John C Stennis Space Center (SSC) near Waveland Mississippi as the site to construct an altitude test facility for the developmental and qualification testing of the Ares1 upper stage (US) engine. Test requirements born out of the Ares1 US propulsion system design necessitate exceptional Data Acquisition System (DAS) design solutions that support facility and propellant systems conditioning, test operations control and test data analysis. This paper reviews the new A3 Altitude Test Facility's DAS design requirements for real-time deterministic digital data, DAS technology enhancements, system trades, technology validation activities, and the current status of this system's new architecture. Also to be discussed will be current network technologies to improve data transfer.

Hebert, Phillip W., Sr.↗

Final Report for the Contractor Readiness Assessment of the Transient Reactor Test Facility Resumption of Transient Testing Activity at the Idaho National Laboratory

The purpose of this review was to verify readiness for the TREAT restart of transient testing activity at the INL and inform the startup authorization authority decision-making for startup authorization by providing a deliberate and managed determination of the state of readiness preparation and determination of whether operations can be performed safely. Verification of readiness included assuring that equipment operability, procedure viability, and personnel knowledge, skills, and performance are adequate for operations. Because the TREAT (including restart of transient testing activity) is a hazard category-2 nuclear facility and because reactor operation and transient testing activities were suspended for programmatic and funding reasons in excess of a year, DOE O 425.1D required that both a contractor and DOE RA be satisfactorily completed prior to startup of the TREAT and restart of transient testing activity. To this end, DOE directed that a CRA and federal RA be conducted. The CRA IP defined the depth of the CRA through the objectives and CRADs, delineated in Appendix A of the IP; established roles and responsibilities for CRA team activities; and established processes, practices, and protocols for preparation, conduct, documentation, and reporting of the CRA. The approaches and methodologies identified in the IP were used to verify that the BEA management team has established SSCs, developed personnel capabilities and competencies, and implemented safety features, programs, and procedures in a manner that provides reasonable assurance for adequate protection of workers, the public, and the environment in preparation for and execution of the TREAT restart of transient testing activity. This CRA was intended to confirm that (1) the facility is in a state of readiness to safely conduct operations in accordance with the safety basis; and (2) the management control programs are in place to ensure safe operations can be sustained. This equated to mature implementation of the integrated safety management (ISM) in conjunction with implementation of the individual facility authorization basis. This CRA was structured to verify the readiness to conduct restart of transient testing activity safely, and that facility programs were in place to support the restart of transient testing activity.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Volume 10: Flow Test Facilities

Adding additional flow testing facilities has been considered as part of the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) Sustaining and Enhancing Neutron Science (SENSe) Initiative at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to support HFIR operations and experiments. This prospect has prompted many ideas and discussions regarding potential features, configurations, locations, and applications for the facilities. A working group of ORNL staff members was formed in fiscal year 2022 to recommend one or more configurations to best support future HFIR operations and scientific capacities and to develop order-of magnitude cost estimates and timing. The ideas discussed in this report include options ranging from upgrading existing small-scale testing facilities to building a full-scale HFIR mockup for detailed thermohydraulic testing and fuel assessment.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗

Systems test facilities existing capabilities compilation

Systems test facilities (STFS) to test total photovoltaic systems and their interfaces are described. The systems development (SD) plan is compilation of existing and planned STFs, as well as subsystem and key component testing facilities. It is recommended that the existing capabilities compilation is annually updated to provide and assessment of the STF activity and to disseminate STF capabilities, status and availability to the photovoltaics program.

Weaver, R.↗

Capabilities of NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center's Impact Testing Facility

The Impact Testing Facility (ITF) serves as an important installation for materials science at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). With an array of air, powder, and two-stage light gas guns, a variety of projectile and target types and sizes can be accommodated. The ITF allows for simulation of impactors from rain to micrometeoroids and orbital debris on materials being investigated for space, atmospheric, and ground use. Expendable, relatively simple launch assemblies are used to obtain well-documented results for impact conditions comparable to those from ballistic and rocket sled ranges at considerably lower cost. In addition, for applications requiring study of impacts at speeds in excess of those attainable by gun launches, hydrocode simulations, validated by test data, can be used to extend the velocity range. In addition to serving various NASA directorates, the ITF has performed testing on behalf of the European and Russian space agencies, as well as the Department of Defense, and academic institutions. The m s contributions not only enable safer space flight for NASA s astronauts, but can help design materials and structures to protect soldiers and civilians on Earth, through advances in body armor, aircraft survivability, and a variety of other applications.

Hovater, Mary↗

A high pressure, high temperature combustor and turbine-cooling test facility

A new test facility is being constructed for developing turbine-cooling and combustor technology for future generation aircraft gas turbine engines. Prototype engine hardware will be investigated in this new facility at gas stream conditions up to 2480 K average turbine inlet temperature and 4.14 x 10 to the 6th power n sq m turbine inlet pressure. The facility will have the unique feature of fully automated control and data acquisition through the use of an integrated system of mini-computers and programmable controllers which will result in more effective use of operating time, will limit the number of operators required, and will provide built in self protection safety systems. The facility and the planning and design considerations are described.

Cochran, R. P.↗

Closed Ecological Life Support Systems (CELSS) Test Facility

The CELSS Test Facility (CTF) is being developed for installation on Space Station Freedom (SSF) in August 1999. It is designed to conduct experiments that will determine the effects of microgravity on the productivity of higher (crop) plants. The CTF will occupy two standard SSF racks and will accommodate approximately one square meter of growing area and a canopy height of 80 cm. The growth volume will be isolated from the external environment, allowing stringent control of environmental conditions. Temperature, humidity, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and light levels will all be closely controlled to prescribed set points and monitored. This level of environmental control is needed to prevent stress and allow accurate assessment of microgravity effect (10-3 to 10-6 x g). Photosynthetic rates and respiration rates, calculated through continuous recording of gas concentrations, transpiration, and total and edible biomass produced will be measured. Toxic byproducts will be monitored and scrubbed. Transpiration water will be collected within the chamber and recycled into the nutrient solution. A wide variety of crop plants, e.g., wheat, soy beans, lettuce, potatoes, can be accommodated and various nutrient delivery systems and light delivery systems will be available. In the course of its development, the CTF will exploit fully, and contribute importantly, to the state-of-art in closed system technology and plant physiology.

Macelroy, Robert D.↗

Universal Test Facility

A universal test facility (UTF) for Space Station Freedom is developed. In this context, universal means that the experimental rack design must be: automated, highly marketable, and able to perform diverse microgravity experiments according to NASA space station requirements. In order to fulfill these broad objectives, the facility's customers, and their respective requirements, are first defined. From these definitions, specific design goals and the scope of the first phase of this project are determined. An examination is first made into what types of research are most likely to make the UTF marketable. Based on our findings, the experiments for which the UTF would most likely be used included: protein crystal growth, hydroponics food growth, gas combustion, gallium arsenide crystal growth, microorganism development, and cell encapsulation. Therefore, the UTF is designed to fulfill all of the major requirements for the experiments listed above. The versatility of the design is achieved by taking advantage of the many overlapping requirements presented by these experiments.

Laughery, Mike↗

Fermilab Cryogenic Test Facilities

Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) has multiple cryogenic test facilities, undertaking testing of superconducting magnets, Superconducting Radio Frequency (SRF) cavities, SRF cryomodules and other helium cryogenic components. The test areas within Fermilab include: Meson Cryogenic Test facility (Meson), Industrial Building 1 (IB-1), Heavy Assembly Building/Illinois Accelerator Research Center (HAB/IARC), New Muon Lab, (NML) and the Cryomodule Test Facility (CMTF). Meson and HAB/IARC utilize repurposed Tevatron era reciprocating engine based cryogenic refrigerator systems, whereas CMTF and IB-1 utilize gas bearing turbine based coldboxes. Each of these test areas support the various Fermilab projects and collaborations including the Linear Coherent Light Source II (LCLS-II), Proton Improvement Plan II (PIP-II), High Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC), and Mu2e. This paper outlines the diverse and extensive cryogenic test capabilities within Fermilab.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗