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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 127 records · Page 7

Measurement of the sound velocity and Grüneisen parameter of polystyrene at inertial confinement fusion conditions

The principal Hugoniot, sound velocity, and Grüneisen parameter of polystyrene were measured at conditions relevant to shocks in inertial confinement fusion implosions, from 100 to 1000 GPa. The sound velocity is in good agreement with quantum molecular dynamics calculations and all tabular equation of state models at pressures below 200 GPa. Above 200 GPa, the experimental results agree with two of the examined tables, but do not agree with the most recent table developed for design of ICF experiments. The Grüneisen parameter increases with density below ~3.1 g/cm 3 and approaches the asymptotic value for an ideal gas after complete dissociation. This behavior is in good agreement with quantum molecular dynamics results and previous work but is not represented by any of the tabular models. Finally, the discrepancy between tabular models and experimental measurement of the sound velocity and Grüneisen parameter is sufficient to impact simulations of ICF experiments.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Pulsed laser induced atomic layer etching of silicon

Here, we demonstrate the laser mediated atomic layer etching (ALEt) of silicon. Using a nanosecond pulsed 266 nm laser focused loosely over and in a parallel configuration to the surface of the silicon, we dissociate Cl 2 gas to induce chlorination. Then, we use pulsed picosecond irradiation to remove the chlorinated layer. Subsequently, we perform continuous wave (CW) laser annealing to eliminate amorphization caused by the picosecond laser etching. Based on atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), we observed strong evidence of chlorination and digital etching at 0.85 nm etching per cycle with good uniformity.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Mollier-I, S-Diagrams for Combustion Gases in Data Processing

In order to have all the thermal and caloric states of combustion gases accessible in a computer, closed mathematical approximation equations were established for the real factors, the enthalpy and the entropy of a real combustion gas. The equations approximate the various effects of molecular forces real gas influence and dissociation - at temperatures of 200 K to 6,000 K, pressures of 0.001 to 1,000 bar, and in the range from stoichiometric composition to air. A system of subprograms is listed in FORTRAN, by means of which thermodynamic calculations can be carried out in the same manner as with Mollier I,S diagrams.

Zacharias, F.↗

Nonequilibrium thermal radiation for an aeroassist flight experiment vehicle

The direct-simulation Monte Carlo method incorporating a dissociating and ionizing gas model for air with thermal radiation is used to characterize the hypersonic flow about an axisymmetric representation of an aeroassist flight experiment (AFE) vehicle, whose freestream conditions correspond to selected points along the entry, aerobraking, and exit phases of the trajectory. Calculations for two trajectory conditions indicate that the radiative heating of the AFE forebody is lower than the convective heating, but becomes significant as the maximum convective heating rate condition is approached.

Moss, James N.↗

Use of an expansion tube to examine scramjet combustion at hypersonic velocities

Combustion testing at total enthalpy conditions corresponding to flight Mach numbers in excess of 12 requires the use of impulse facilities. The expansion tube is the only operational facility of its size which can provide these conditions without excessive oxygen dissociation or driver gas contamination. Expansion tube operation is described herein and the operational parameters having the largest impact on its performance are determined. These are: driver-to-intermediate chamber pressure ratio, driver gas molecular weight and specific heat ratio, and driver gas temperature. Increases in the last-named parameter will markedly affect the test section static pressure. Preliminary calibration tests are discussed and test gas conditions which have been achieved are presented. Calculated and experimental test times are compared and the parameters affecting test time are discussed. The direction of future work using this important experimental tool is indicated.

Rizkalla, O.↗

IR line emission from supernovae in molecular clouds

The absorption of the x rays from a supernova explosion in the surrounding molecular gas is discussed. A supernova explosion in a molecular cloud results in a supernova remnant which radiates a fraction of the approximately 10 to the 51st power erg kinetic energy of the supernova explosion in the form of x rays. The absorption of these x rays in the surrounding molecular gas produces ionization, dissociation, and heating. It is found that a 10(exp 51) erg supernova explosion in a uniform molecular cloud of density equal to 1000 per cubic centimeter results in the emission of photons in the H2 line. This process may contribute appreciably to the strong S(1) line emission seen from some starburst galaxies, such as NGC 6240.

Draine, B. T.↗

Use of an Expansion Tube to Examine Scramjet Combustion at Hypersonic Velocities

Combustion testing at total enthalpy conditions corresponding to flight Math numbers in excess of 12 requires the use of impulse facilities. The expansion tube is the only operational facility of its size which can provide these conditions without excessive oxygen dissociation or driver gas contamination. Expansio tube operation is described herein and the operational parameters having the largest impact on its performance are determined. These are: driver-to-intermediate chamber pressure ratio, driver gas molecular weight and specific heat ratio, and driver gas temperature. Increases in the lase named parameter will markedly affect the test section static pressure. Preliminary calibration tests are discussed and test gas conditions which have been achieved are presented. Calculated and experimental test times are compared and the parameters affecting test time are discussed. The direction of future work using this important experimental tool is indicated.

Rizkalla, Oussama↗

Parahydrogen Properties Version 05 Database Release for Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Applications

Consistent modeling assumptions across any large project are crucial to minimize errors between different approaches. Use of consistent material and fluid properties across a large project supports consistent interpretation and application within modeling and simulation results as well as their relevancy to operational systems. NASA’s Space Nuclear Propulsion program dedicates extensive resources towards establishing consistent and, to the extent possible, accurate property databases for its internal staff and all external partners. This work highlights the extensive research performed to modernize the fluid property database of hydrogen which is the leading propellant option for in-space nuclear propelled spacecraft. Specifically, the parahydrogen spin state is of interest since the propellant is stored in a near normal boiling point liquid state which results in it consisting almost entirely of the parahydrogen spin isomer. This database tool has taken recent NASA work and modernized it into a python-based package for easy usage across all modeling entities. The package allows users to provide temperature and pressure pairs along with their desired output properties to yield results accounting for both real-gas and equilibrium dissociation effects while also sharing the default thermodynamic reference state provided by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Standard Database 23. The suite also includes advanced capabilities to increase usability, such as on-the-fly interpolation and multidimensional plotting.

Nuclear Thermal Propulsion↗

Parahydrogen Properties Version 05 Database Release for NTP Applications

Consistent modeling assumptions across any large project are crucial to minimize errors between different approaches. Use of consistent material and fluid properties across a large project supports consistent interpretation and application within modeling and simulation results as well as their relevancy to operational systems. NASA’s Space Nuclear Propulsion program dedicates extensive resources towards establishing consistent and, to the extent possible, accurate property databases for its internal staff and all external partners. This work highlights the extensive research performed to modernize the fluid property database of hydrogen which is the leading propellant option for in-space nuclear propelled spacecraft. Specifically, the parahydrogen spin state is of interest since the propellant is stored in a near normal boiling point liquid state which results in it consisting almost entirely of the parahydrogen spin isomer. This database tool has taken recent NASA work and modernized it into a python-based package for easy usage across all modeling entities. The package allows users to provide temperature and pressure pairs along with their desired output properties to yield results accounting for both real-gas and equilibrium dissociation effects while also sharing the default thermodynamic reference state provided by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Standard Database 23. The suite also includes advanced capabilities to increase usability, such as on-the-fly interpolation and multidimensional plotting.

Nuclear Thermal Propulsion↗

Flux Jacobian Matrices For Equilibrium Real Gases

Improved formulation includes generalized Roe average and extension to three dimensions. Flux Jacobian matrices derived for use in numerical solutions of conservation-law differential equations of inviscid flows of ideal gases extended to real gases. Real-gas formulation of these matrices retains simplifying assumptions of thermodynamic and chemical equilibrium, but adds effects of vibrational excitation, dissociation, and ionization of gas molecules via general equation of state.

Vinokur, Marcel↗

Ultraviolet photodissociation of gas-phase iron pentacarbonyl probed with ultrafast infrared spectroscopy

It is well known that ultraviolet photoexcitation of iron pentacarbonyl results in rapid loss of carbonyl ligands leading to the formation of coordinatively unsaturated iron carbonyl compounds. Here we employ ultrafast mid-infrared transient absorption spectroscopy to probe the photodissociation dynamics of gas-phase iron pentacarbonyl following ultraviolet excitation at 265 and 199 nm. After photoexcitation at 265 nm, our results show evidence for sequential dissociation of iron pentacarbonyl to form iron tricarbonyl via a short-lived iron tetracarbonyl intermediate. Photodissociation at 199 nm results in the prompt production of Fe(CO) 3 within 0.25 ps via several energetically accessible pathways. An additional 15 ps time constant extracted from the data is tentatively assigned to intersystem crossing to the triplet manifold of iron tricarbonyl or iron dicarbonyl. Mechanisms for formation of iron tetracarbonyl, iron tricarbonyl, and iron dicarbonyl are proposed and theoretically validated with one-dimensional cuts through the potential energy surface as well as bond dissociation energies. Ground state calculations are computed at the CCSD(T) level of theory and excited states are computed with EOM-EE-CCSD(dT).

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

The Delta band dissociation of nitric oxide - A potential mechanism for coupling thermospheric variations to the mesosphere and stratosphere

Depletion of solar radiation at discrete wavelengths by nitric oxide has a significant impact on the dissociation rate of this gas in the delta(0, 0) and delta(1, 0) bands. Inclusion of the opacity provided by a typical NO profile reduces the dissociation rate in the upper stratosphere to 50-75 pct of that predicted when the optical depth calculation omits this contribution. A substantial fraction of the NO column abundance as measured near the stratopause resides in the lower thermosphere where correlations of NO with solar and magnetic activity are well documented. Variations in the thermospheric NO abundance therefore modulate the radiation field at the precise wavelengths absorbed by this molecule in the mesosphere and upper stratosphere. Predicted changes in the dissociation rate arising from a varying thermospheric opacity exceed 8 pct throughout the mesosphere and reach 15 pct between 65 km and 95 km.

Frederick, J. E.↗

Dynamic in-situ imaging of methane hydrate formation and self-preservation in porous media

Here we present the results of dynamic in-situ 3D X-ray imaging of methane hydrates microstructure during methane hydrate formation and dissociation in sand samples. Short scanning times and high resolution provided by synchrotron X-rays allowed for better understanding of water movement and different types of gas-hydrate formation. Complementing previous observations, we conclude that the process of gas-hydrate formation is accompanied by the water movements caused by cryogenic water suction that happens in sequences of short fast movements with longer equilibrium states in between (when the water is immobile). Based on the 3D microstructure we identified two distinct types of gas-hydrate formation: (i) into the gas pockets and (ii) inside water volumes. For both mechanisms we do not see problems in gas or water supply to support the gas-hydrate formation. The rate of dissociation in the self-preservation mode (pressure drop at negative temperatures) appears to be different for these two types of gas hydrates. This means that the history of the gas-hydrate formation may influence its behaviour at the dissociation stage (e.g. gas-hydrate production).

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Resolving metal binding properties within subunits of a multimeric enzyme Mnx by surface induced dissociation and native ion mobility mass spectrometry

Multi-subunit enzymes function as coordinated assemblies. Yet most enzymatic assays measure the summed output of all populations in solution and cannot easily differentiate contributions of individual subunits. Native mass spectrometry detects intact protein complexes in the gas phase. Surface induced dissociation further releases subunits from protein complexes while retaining compact conformations and bound ligands. Combined with ion mobility, the released subunits can then be carefully monitored for more in-depth structural analysis. Mnx is a unique bacterial multicopper oxidase complex that oxidizes Mn(II) to form MnO 2 minerals, and is composed of three subunits: MnxG, a multicopper oxidase containing the active site, and two accessory proteins, MnxE and MnxF which also bind copper ions. Other known multicopper oxidases do not require accessory proteins, therefore the functions of MnxE and MnxF are not well understood. Here, we use native mass spectrometry with surface induced dissociation and ion mobility to characterize the metal binding properties of Mnx with two metals, catalytic Cu(II) and Mn(II) substrate. We demonstrate our assay can detect subtle structural changes within each subunit, which are presumably related to the allosteric mechanism. We also noticed that ionic strength and solution composition can impact metal binding and must be carefully investigated for such experiments.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗