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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

High temperature NASP engine seal development

Key to the development of advanced hypersonic engines such as those being considered for the National Aerospace Plane (NASP) is the development and evaluation of high temperature, flexible seals that must seal the many feet of gaps between the articulating and stationary engine panels. Recent seal progress made at NASA-Lewis is reviewed in the areas of seal concept maturation, test rig development, and performance tests. A test fixture was built at NASA capable of subjecting candidate 3 ft long seals to engine simulated temperatures (up to 1500 F), pressures (up to 100 psi), and engine wall distortions (up to 0.15 in only 18 in span). Leakage performance test results at high temperatures are presented for an innovative high temperature, flexible ceramic wafer seal. Also described is a joint Pratt and Whitney/NASA planned test program to evaluate thermal performance of a braided rope seal under engine simulated heat flux rates (up to 400 Btu/sq ft s), and supersonic flow conditions. These conditions are produced by subjecting the seal specimen to hydrogen oxygen rocket exhaust that flows tangent to the specimen.

Steinetz, Bruce M.↗

Prototyping the Future

Advanced Ceramics Research (ACR) of Tucson, Arizona, researches transforming scientific concepts into technological achievement. Through the SBIR (Small Business Innovative Research) program, ACR developed a high pressure and temperature fused deposition system, a prototyping system that is known as extrusion freeform fabrication. This system is useful in manufacturing prosthetics. ACR also developed a three-dimensional rapid prototyping process in which physical models are quickly created directly from computer generated models. Marshall Space Flight Center also contracted ACR to fabricate a set of ceramic engines to be appraised for a solar thermal rocket engine test program.

Source record↗

Preparation, verification, and operational control of a large space-environment-simulation chamber for contamination sensitive tests

A 2-year program to prepare chamber A at the NASA Manned Spacecraft Center for Apollo telescope mount thermal-vacuum tests is discussed. This program covers modification to existing chamber systems, the development of facility and chamber operating procedures, the selection of chamber cleaning and control methods, and the development and evaluation of diagnostic instrumentation. Extensive efforts to ensure a minimum contamination environment for the Apollo telescope mount test series are illustrated. Recent thermal-vacuum tests of this chamber at progressive stages of cleanliness have demonstrated the success achieved in reducing the particulate and molecular contamination levels of the basic chamber interior.

Visentine, J. T.↗

Response Modeling of Lightweight Charring Ablators and Thermal Radiation Testing Results

Under NASA's In-Space Propulsion/Aerocapture Program, ARA conducted arc-jet and thermal-radiation ablation test series in 2003 for advanced development, characterization, and response modeling of SRAM-20, SRAM-17, SRAM-14, and PhenCarb-20 ablators. Testing was focused on the future Titan Explorer mission. Convective heating rates (CW) were as high as 153 W/sq cm in the IHF and radiation rates were 100 W/sq cm in the Solar Tower Facility. The ablators showed good performance in the radiation environment without spallation, which was initially a concern, but they also showed higher in-depth temperatures when compared to analytical predictions based on arc-jet thermal-ablation response models. More testing in 2003 is planned in both of these facility to generate a sufficient data base for Titan TPS engineering.

Congdon, William M.↗

Quench Location in the LARP MQXFS1 Prototype

TDThe high luminosity upgrade project US LARP/HiLumi has successfully tested the first 1.5 m prototype quadrupole MQXFS1 at Fermilab’ Magnet test facility. Several thermal cycles and test programs were performed, with different pre-load configurations. To localize and characterize quenches a quench antenna and voltage taps are used. The quench antenna was placed inside a warm bore of an anti-cryostat centered in the magnet. We varied the length between quench antenna segments from 1” to 6”, and shifted the location of the antenna to localize the quench origin along the various wedge and spacers transitions in the lead end of the magnet. We present results on the identified quench locations for the second and third thermal cycle in this paper.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Thermal performance evaluation of the Semco (liquid) solar collector

Procedures used and results obtained during the evaluation test program on a flat plate collector which uses water as the working fluid are discussed. The absorber plate is copper tube soldered to copper fin coated with flat black paint. The glazing consists of two plates of Lo-Iron glass; the insulation is polyurethane foam. The collector weight is 242.5 pounds with overall external dimensions of approximately 48.8 in. x 120.8 in. x 4.1 in. The test program was conducted to obtain thermal performance data before and after 34 days of weather exposure test.

Source record↗

A thermal vacuum test optimization procedure

An analytical model was developed that can be used to establish certain parameters of a thermal vacuum environmental test program based on an optimization of program costs. This model is in the form of a computer program that interacts with a user insofar as the input of certain parameters. The program provides the user a list of pertinent information regarding an optimized test program and graphs of some of the parameters. The model is a first attempt in this area and includes numerous simplifications. The model appears useful as a general guide and provides a way for extrapolating past performance to future missions.

Kruger, R.↗

Roman Space Telescope Optical System: Status and Test

A conference presentation providing an overview of the Roman Space Telescope optical system. Details on the optical system verification plan and Spacecraft Bus + Integrated Payload Assembly (SCIPA) thermal vacuum optical test program are provided.

space telescope↗

The Integration and Test Program of the James Webb Space Telescope

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) project has entered into a comprehensive integration and test (I&T) program that over the coming years will assemble the various elements of the observatory (the Optical Telescope Element [OTE], the Integrated Science Instrument Module [ISIM], and the Spacecraft) and verify the readiness of the integrated system for launch. The I&T program as replanned for a 2018 launch readiness date has a number of interesting features. These include a streamlined ISIM cryo-vacuum test program at Goddard Space Flight Center, a streamlined OTIS (OTE + ISIM) test program at Johnson Space Center (JSC), the addition of a second Core cryo-vacuum thermal test, the enhancement of the Pathfinder program at JSC, and enhancement of the subsystem-level testing program for the MIRI cryo-cooler. These latter activities all serve to reduce the risk heading into the end-to-end optical and thermal testing of the telescope at JSC, leading to reduced cost and schedule risk for that critical activity. We report here on the overall I&T program for JWST and on the status of the hardware and plans that support it.

Kimble, Randy↗

Design, fabrication, test, and qualification and price analysis of third generation design solar cell modules

The Block 4 shingle type module makes it possible to apply a photovoltaic array to the sloping roof of a residential building by simply nailing the overlapping hexagon shaped shingles to the plywood roof sheathing. This third-generation shingle module design consists of nineteen series connected 100 mm diameter solar cells which are arranged in a closely packed hexagon configuration to provide in excess of 75 watts/sq m of exposed module area under standard operating conditions. The solar cells are individually bonded to the embossed underside of a 4.4 mm thick thermally tempered piece of glass. An experimental silicone pottant was used as the transparent bonding adhesive between the cells and glass. The semi-flexible portion of each shingle module is a composite laminate construction consisting of an outer layer of FLEXSEAL bonded to an inner core of closed cell polyethylene foam. Silaprene is used as the substrate laminating adhesive. The module design has satisfactorily survived qualification testing program which includes 50 thermal cycles between -40 and +90 C, a seven day temperature-humidity exposure test, and a wind resistance test.

Shepard, N. F.↗

Space Shuttle Orbiter nose cap and wing leading edge certification test program

A reinforced carbon-carbon thermal protection system is used on the space shuttle orbiter vehicle's nose cap and wing leading edge regions where temperatures reach 1538 C (2800 F). To verify the analyses used to certify reinforced carbon-carbon for the first flight and operational missions, a multi-environment incremental test program was developed and implemented through the combined efforts of Rockwell International and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Three separate facilities at the Johnson Space Center were used to subject full-scale nose cap and wing leading edge test articles to simulated critical launch, on-orbit, and atmospheric entry environments.

Suppanz, M. J.↗

Benchmark Specification for Select Experiments Conducted at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Thermal Stratification Test Facility

The Department of Energy (DOE)-Nuclear Energy University Programs (NEUP) supported the creation and operation of the Thermal Stratification Test Facility (TSTF) at the University of Wisconsin Madison (UWM) as part of a larger effort to understand thermal stratification behavior in liquid-metal-cooled reactors. The TSTF was designed to simulate transients in a reactor plenum that are known to cause thermal stratification. High-reliability and high-resolution measurements of the flow and temperature were collected for use as experimental benchmarks to support validation efforts for computational models. The results of these tests contribute to the greater understanding of thermal stratification behavior of liquid sodium under various configurations and operating conditions. The six TSTF tests selected for benchmarking are a set of forced circulation tests at a fixed flow rate with different Upper Internal Structure (UIS) configurations in the test section (no UIS, solid UIS, and a UIS with flow area of 4, 8, 12, and 100%). This report provides a complete description of the benchmark problems, including all key test facility details, descriptions of each test condition, and measured data for comparison with modeled results.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Design, fabrication and test of prototype furnace for continuous growth of wide silicon ribbon

A program having the overall objective of growing wide, thin silicon dendritic web crystals quasi-continuously from a semi-automated facility is discussed. The design considerations and fabrication of the facility as well as the test and operation phase are covered; detailed engineering drawings are included as an appendix. During the test and operation phase of the program, more than eighty growth runs and numerous thermal test runs were performed. At the conclusion of the program, 2.4 cm wide web was being grown at thicknesses of 100 to 300 micrometers. As expected, the thickness and growth rate are closely related. Solar cells made from this material were tested at NASA-Lewis and found to have conversion efficiencies comparable to devices fabricated from Czochralski material.

Duncan, C. S.↗

Keynote address

The Space Shuttle test program is described. Consideration is given to thermal vacuum testing, static testing, ground vibration testing, high temperature testing, propulsion system testing, etc. Emphasis is placed on the Shuttle test philosophy and how it differs from that of past programs.

Yardley, J. F.↗

Space Shuttle Orbiter leading edge structural subsystem thermal performance

An extensive qualification test program and the STS-1 flight of the Space Shuttle Orbiter have provided the data necessary to verify the performance of the Orbiter thermal protection system. The reinforced carbon-carbon leading edge structural subsystem is used on areas of the orbiter where temperatures exceed 2300 F. The subsystem consists of the ROC nose cap and wing leading edge panels, metallic attachments, internal insulation, and interface tiles. Thermal response data from the qualification tests and the STS-1 flight, postflight inspection, and analytical predictions support the conclusion that the thermal performance of the subsystem verified the design.

Curry, D. M.↗

Space tug thermal control follow-on

The Space Tug Thermal Control Follow-On program was conducted to further explore some of the thermal control concepts proposed for use in space tug in a breadboard test program. The objectives were to demonstrate the thermal control capabilities of a louver/battery configuration and a thermal conditioning panel/heat pipe radiator configuration. An additional objective was added to model the header pipe and radiator of the second test and correlate the analysis with the test results. These three objectives were achieved and are discussed within this report.

Ward, T. L.↗