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At least 1,459 records · Page 81

The effect of ambient temperature and humidity on the carbon monoxide emissions of an idling gas turbine

Changes in ambient temperature and humidity affect the exhaust emissions of a gas turbine engine. The results of a test program employing a JT8D combustor are presented which quantize the effect of these changes on carbon monoxide emissions at simulated idle operating conditions. Analytical results generated by a kinetic model of the combustion process and reflecting changing ambient conditions are given. It is shown that for a complete range of possible ambient variations, significant changes do occur in the amount of carbon monoxide emitted by a gas turbine engine.

Kauffman, C. W.↗

Direct nuclear pumping by a volume source of fission fragments

A detailed kinetic model is presented for the analysis of nuclear pumped lasers when the pumping is a result of a volume source of fission fragments. The results of the model are employed to study a He-3 - Xe laser. For the range of pressures, neutron fluxes and mixtures considered, the gain and power calculations are in good agreement with experiment. Moreover, based on these calculations, it appears that the collisional recombination is the dominant pumping mechanism for 7p-7s transitions while direct excitation is the dominant pumping mechanism for the 5d-6p transitions.

Deese, J. E.↗

Development of Methods of Characterizing Coal in Its Plastic State

Coal in its plastic state (typically 400-460 C) was examined by the isothermal Gieseler plastometry of seven selected coals of widely varying plastic properties. Kinetic models were proposed for the isothermal plastometric curves. Plastic behavior was compared with a variety of laboratory analyses and characterizations of these coals, including classical coal analysis; mineral analysis; microstructural analysis (extractable fractions, surface area measurement, and petrographic analysis); and thermal analysis (thermogravimetric analysis, thermomechanical analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry). The phenomenon of a sharp, large, poorly reproducible exotherm in the differential scanning calorimetric analysis of coking coals was examined. Several coal extrudates show mineral distribution, organic maceral composition and overall calorific value to be little affected by 800 F extrusion. Volatile matter and plastic properties are moderately reduced, and the network structure (as gauged by extractables) appears to be slightly degraded in the extrusion process.

Lloyd, W. G.↗

The kinetic effects of Alfven wave pressure in the solar wind

The results of a kinetic model for the radial evolution of the proton component of the solar wind in the presence of Alfven waves are presented. The calculation is based on general quasi-linear equations developed to describe the temporal and spatial evolution of the ion distribution functions of a multispecies plasma in presence of waves, using a short wavelength expansion. These equations include new wave-particle interaction terms arising from temporal and spatial inhomogeneities in the plasma. Numerical solutions are obtained of these equations specialized to the case of Alfven waves in a spherically symmetric solar wind. The Alfven wave effects on the proton distribution function vary strongly in velocity space. Protons with small transverse velocities are primarily decelerated with respect to the wave rest frame. This deceleration becomes less important with increasing transverse velocity, as wave induced diffusion to larger transverse velocity becomes the dominant effect. The competition of these effects results in interesting distortions of evolving proton distribution functions which give rise the wave acceleration well known from fluid theory.

Goodrich, C. C.↗

Distribution functions in plasmas generated by a volume source of fission fragments

The role played by fission fragments and electron distribution functions in nuclear pumped lasers is considered and procedures for their calculations are outlined. The calculations are illustrated for a He-3/Xe mixture where fission is provided by the He-3(n,p)H-3 reaction. Because the dominant ion in the system depends on the Xe fraction, the distribution functions cannot be determined without the simultaneous consideration of a detailed kinetic model. As is the case for wall sources of fission fragments, the resulting plasmas are essentially thermal but the electron distribution functions are non-Maxwellian.

Deese, J. E.↗

Subophitic basalts from Mare Crisium - Cooling rates

Subophitic basalt is the most common rock type at Mare Crisium. The cooling rate of a sample of this rock was determined by: (1) an olivine cooling speedometer and (2) Zr partitioning between ilmenite and ulvospinel. The kinetic modeling of the olivine cooling speedometer starts with a calculation of the compositional profile of olivine (the 'as-solidified profile') and proceeds to re-equilibration by diffusion as a function of cooling rate. The estimated cooling rate for subophitic basalts from the Luna 24 site is in the range of 2 C/day (about 0.1 C/hr), which is reasonably well corroborated by dynamic crystallization studies of Grove (1978).

Taylor, L. A.↗

Olivine cooling speedometers

Several kinetic models of zoning in olivines are discussed at length. The effects on predicted cooling rates of various assumptions used in the analyses are evaluated. It is concluded that the models of Walker et al. (1977) and Taylor et al. (1977) both provide underestimates of the cooling rate required to preserve a given compositional profile, and that both models as well as the model of Taylor et al. (1978) can be used to provide order-of-magnitude estimates of cooling rates. A new model is described which considers diffusion in both solid and liquid during crystallization as well as diffusion in the solid after crystallization is complete. The model provides a description of the compositional gradients which develop during crystallization as well as after cooling at various rates. Applied to olivine crystals nucleated at 1272 C in a high-iron analogue to Lunar Composition 15555, the model predicts only slight compositional gradients - in accord with electron beam microprobe measurements on crystals grown isothermally at this temperature.

Onorato, P. I. K.↗

Kinetics of a CO2 nuclear pumped laser

A detailed kinetic model is presented for the analysis of a nuclear pumped CO2-N2-He laser system. The model assumes that collisional recombination is the dominant pumping mechanism. The results show that, for mixture typical of those employed in electric discharge systems, the gain coefficients are such that lasing is not expected to take place. On the other hand, concentrations of CO2 in the range 1/2%-3% are optimal for direct nuclear pumping.

Hassan, H. A.↗

Kinetics of a CO2 nuclear pumped laser

A detailed kinetic model is presented for the analysis of a nuclear pumped CO2-N2-He laser system. The model assumes that collisional recombination is the dominant pumping mechanism. The results show that, for mixtures typical of those employed in electric discharge systems, the gain coefficients are such that lasing is not expected to take place. On the other hand, concentrations of CO2 in the range 1/2 percent - 3 percent are optimal for direct nuclear pumping.

Hassan, H. A.↗

I/asterisk/ /6s 4P/ collisional quenching - Application to the IF 491-nm laser

Measurements of the rate constants for quenching of the excited I (6s 4P) states by Ar, Xe, CF39I, UF6, and NF3 are described. Each rate constant is determined by recording the exponential time decay of the excited IF or excited I2 (342 nm) fluorescence in the afterglow of the e-beam-excited plasmas containing Ar, CF3I, NF3, and the desired quenching gas. In addition, further experimental evidence in support of neutral channel formation of excited IF in e-beam-pumped Ar/CF3I/NF3 mixtures is presented. Details of the experimental apparatus and gas handling procedures are given, and the kinetics model developed to interpret the experimental data is described.

Hutchison, S. B.↗

Testing of fuel/oxidizer-rich, high-pressure preburners

Results of an evaluation of high pressure combustion of fuel rich and oxidizer rich LOX/RP-1 propellants using 4.0 inch diameter prototype preburner injectors and chambers are presented. Testing covered a pressure range from 8.9 to 17.5 MN/square meters (1292 to 2540 psia). Fuel rich mixture ratios ranged from 0.238 to 0.367; oxidizer rich mixture ratios ranged from 27.2 to 47.5. Performance, gas temperature uniformity, and stability data for two fuel rich and two ozidizer rich preburner injectors are presented for a conventional like-on-like (LOL) design and a platelet design injector. Kinetically limited combustion is shown by the excellent agreement of measured fuel rich gas composition and C performance data with kinetic model predictions. The oxidizer rich test results support previous equilibrium combustion predictions.

Lawver, B. R.↗

Weak double layers

The characteristics of weak double layers with potential steps approximately equal to five are investigated in a triple plasma device and compared with a kinetic model. The double layers considered here differ from those previously investigated in two significant ways: (1) the double layers are much weaker; and (2) trapped ions play a much less important role. In this study, two plasmas at different potentials but with similar characteristics are separated from a target chamber by grids so that ions enter only at the high potential side and electron beams enter at the low potential side. What is more, thermal electrons enter at the high potential side and are trapped by the double layer. The model calculations illustrate the role of the trapped ions in determining the position of the double layer, and they demonstrate the dependence of the length of the double layer on the entering ion and electron fluxes.

Hershkowitz, N.↗

Conversion of blackbody radiation into laser energy

By employing detailed kinetic models, three concepts which utilize a blackbody cavity for the conversion of solar energy into laser energy using a CO2 lasant are analyzed and compared. In the first, the blackbody radiation is used to excite flowing CO2 directly. The second and third employ a mixing laser concept with CO and N2 being the donor gases. The CO is optically pumped while thermal heating excites the N2. Blackbody temperatures ranging from 1500 deg K - 2500 deg K are considered. Based on calculated laser power output per unit flow rate of CO2, it appears that the N2-CO2 mixing laser is the most attractive system.

Mcinville, R. M.↗

An analysis of the physical, chemical, optical, and historical impacts of the 1908 Tunguska meteor fall

An analysis is presented of the physical characteristics and photochemical aftereffects of the 1908 Tunguska explosive cometary meteor, whose physical manifestations are consistent with a five million ton object's entry into the earth's atmosphere at 40 km/sec. Aerodynamic calculations indicate that the shock waves emanating from the falling meteor could have generated up to 30 million tons of nitric oxide in the stratosphere and mesosphere. A fully interactive one-dimensional chemical-kinetics model of atmospheric trace constituents is used to estimate the photochemical consequences of such a large NO injection. The 35-45% hemispherical ozone depletion predicted by the model is in keeping with the 30 + or - 15% ozone variation reported for the first year after the Tunguska fall. Attention is also given to the optical anomalies which followed the event for indications of NO(x)-O(x) chemiluminescent emissions, NO2 solar absorption, and meteoric dust turbidity, along with possible climate changes due to the nearly one million tons of pulverized dust deposited in the mesosphere and stratosphere by the meteor.

Turco, R. P.↗

The detailed chemistry and thermodynamics of sodium in oxygen-rich flames

Measurement of sodium and OH concentrations in ten oxygen-rich H2/O2/N2 flames by respective saturated and low-power laser induced fluorescence techniques have permitted a detailed examination of the pronounced flame chemistry of sodium in such oxygen rich media. Previous interpretations have been shown to be largely incomplete or in error. The flame downstream profiles indicate that the amount of free sodium tracks the decay of H-atom and as the flame radicals decay sodium becomes increasingly bound in a molecular form. A detailed kinetic model indicates that the sodium is distributed between NaOH and NaO2 species. Concentrations of NaO are very small and NaH negligible. The actual distribution is controlled by the state of equilibrium of the flames' basic free radicals. Na, NaO2 and NaOH are all coupled to one another by fast reactions which can rapidly interconvert one to another as flame conditions vary. Above about 2000K, NaOH becomes dominant whereas NaO2 plays an increasingly important contribution at lower temperatures.

Hynes, A. J.↗

Dynamic mechanical characterization of cure of a polyimide-graphite fiber composite (PMR 15/Celion 6000)

Dynamic mechanical studies of thermosetting PMR 15 polyimide/Celion 6000 composites were used to characterize cure behavior. Variation in composite shear modulus with cure time for laminates partially cured under 3.45 MPa pressure was compared with that of laminates fully cured under pressure to select a partially cured system whose behavior corresponded with that of the pressure-cured composites. An empirical kinetic model was developed that relates relative composite shear moduli to cure time and temperature. This model, coupled with standard statistical techniques, was used in the determination of an overall activation energy, E = 145 kj/mole (35 kcal/mole) and order of reaction, n, for the cure reaction(s). The empirical relationship defining dynamic modulus as a function of time and temperature remained linear well into the glassy region. Changes in dynamic glass-transition temperature and in the breadth of the transition peaks with cure time are discussed. Shear modulus and damping were found to be more sensitive measures of relative extent of cure than Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.

Hurwitz, F. I.↗

The chemistry of phosphorus in dense interstellar clouds

Laboratory experiments show that the ion-molecule chemistry of phosphorus is significantly different from that of nitrogen in dense interstellar clouds. The PH3 molecule is not readily formed by gas-phase, ion-molecule reactions in these regions. Laboratory results used in a simple kinetic model indicate that the most abundant molecule containing phosphorus in dense clouds is PO.

Thorne, L. R.↗

Sulfur and carbon cycling in organic-rich marine sediments

Nearshore, continental shelf, and slope sediments are important sites of microbially mediated carbon and sulfur cycling. Marine geochemists investigated the rates and mechanisms of cycling processes in these environments by chemical distribution studies, in situ rate measurements, and steady state kinetic modeling. Pore water chemical distributions, sulfate reduction rates, and sediment water chemical fluxes were used to describe cycling on a ten year time scale in a small, rapidly depositing coastal basin, Cape Lookout Bight, and at general sites on the upper continental slope off North Carolina, U.S.A. In combination with 210 Pb sediment accumulation rates, these data were used to establish quantitative carbon and sulfur budgets as well as the relative importance of sulfate reduction and methanogeneis as the last steps in the degradation of organic matter.

Martens, C. S.↗