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At least 163 records · Page 9

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NASA NTRS1976

High-efficiency solar concentrator

A new type of solar concentrator is presented using liquid lenses and simple translational tracking mechanism. The concentrator achieves a 100:1 nominal concentration ratio and is compared in performance with a flat-plate collector having two sheets of glazing and non-selective coating. The results of the thermal analysis show that higher temperatures can be obtained with the concentrator than is possible with the non-concentrator flat-plate type. Furthermore, the thermal efficiency far exceeds that of the comparative flat-plate type for all operating conditions.

Lansing, F. L.↗

NASA NTRS1980

High-efficiency solar concentrator

Lansing, F. L.↗

DOE OSTI2013

Co-Percolating Graphene-Wrapped Silver Nanowire Network for High Performance, Highly Stable, Transparent Conducting Electrodes

Transparent conducting electrodes (TCEs) require high transparency and low sheet resistance for applications in photovoltaics, photodetectors, flat panel displays, touch screen devices and imagers. Indium tin oxide (ITO), or other transparent conductive oxides, have typically been used, and provide a baseline sheet resistance (RS) vs. transparency (T) relationship. However, ITO is relatively expensive (due to limited abundance of Indium), brittle, unstable, and inflexible; moreover, ITO transparency drops rapidly for wavelengths above 1000 nm. Motivated by a need for transparent conductors with comparable (or better) RS at a given T, as well as flexible structures, several alternative material systems have been investigated. Single-layer graphene (SLG) or few-layer graphene provide sufficiently high transparency (≈97% per layer) to be a potential replacement for ITO. However, large-area synthesis approaches, including chemical vapor deposition (CVD), typically yield films with relatively high sheet resistance due to small grain sizes and high-resistance grain boundaries (HGBs). In this paper, we report a hybrid structure employing a CVD SLG film and a network of silver nanowires (AgNWs): RS as low as 22 Ω/ (stabilized to 13 Ω/ after 4 months) have been observed at high transparency (88% at λ = 550 nm) in hybrid structures employing relatively low-cost commercial graphene with a starting RS of 770 Ω/. This sheet resistance is superior to typical reported values for ITO, comparable to the best reported TCEs employing graphene and/or random nanowire networks, and the film properties exhibit impressive stability under mechanical pressure, mechanical bending and over time. The design is inspired by the theory of a co-percolating network where conduction bottlenecks of a 2D film (e.g., SLG, MoS2) are circumvented by a 1D network (e.g., AgNWs, CNTs) and vice versa. The development of these high-performance hybrid structures provides a route towards robust, scalable and low-cost approaches for realizing high-performance TCE.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2021

A model for the fragmentation kinetics of crumpled thin sheets

As a confined thin sheet crumples, it spontaneously segments into flat facets delimited by a network of ridges. Despite the apparent disorder of this process, statistical properties of crumpled sheets exhibit striking reproducibility. Experiments have shown that the total crease length accrues logarithmically when repeatedly compacting and unfolding a sheet of paper. Here, we offer insight to this unexpected result by exploring the correspondence between crumpling and fragmentation processes. We identify a physical model for the evolution of facet area and ridge length distributions of crumpled sheets, and propose a mechanism for re-fragmentation driven by geometric frustration. This mechanism establishes a feedback loop in which the facet size distribution informs the subsequent rate of fragmentation under repeated confinement, thereby producing a new size distribution. We then demonstrate the capacity of this model to reproduce the characteristic logarithmic scaling of total crease length, thereby supplying a missing physical basis for the observed phenomenon.

42 ENGINEERING↗

DOE OSTI2013

Titanium Sheet Production from Commercial Powder

Powder metallurgy titanium sheet was produced from hydride dehydride (HDH) powder using a diverse industrial supply chain. Three different processing routes were developed and production protocols were established in each route to provide options for manufacturing sheet. The produced sheet was tested in accordance with American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) B265 specifications and found to be equivalent with grade 4 in yield strength and tensile strength and were at grade 2 levels for elongation. The produced sheet was tested in a newly designed flat plate heat exchanger specifically designed for enhanced reverse osmosis desalination. The powder metallurgy sheet was found to be equivalent in performance to commercially available sheet produced by the standard Kroll process. The testing allows for an alternate supply chain for thin gage titanium sheet to be developed that is not based on the often volatile, aerospace supply chain.

Muth, Thomas R.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Laminar flow control SPF/08 feasibility demonstration

The feasibility of applying superplastic forming/diffusion bonding (SPF/DB) technology to laminar flow control (LFC) system concepts was demonstrated. Procedures were developed to produce smooth, flat titanium panels, using thin -0.016 inch sheets, meeting LFC surface smoothness requirements. Two large panels 28 x 28 inches were fabricated as final demonstration articles. The first was flat on the top and bottom sides demonstrating the capability of the tooling and the forming and diffusion bonding procedures to produce flat, defect free surfaces. The second panel was configurated for LFC porous panel treatment by forming channels with dimpled projections on the top side. The projections were machined away leaving holes extending into the panel. A perforated titanium sheet was adhesively bonded over this surface to complete the LFC demonstration panel. The final surface was considered flat enough to meet LFC requirements for a jet transport aircraft in cruising flight.

Ecklund, R. C.↗

NASA NTRS1971

Low-cost quasi-parabolic antenna

Antenna design employs flat petal-shaped aluminum sheets and novel rim configuration. New antenna is inexpensive and has only slightly degraded performance. Design advantages are low-cost tooling and fabrication, convenient size and shape for transport and assembly, and simple assembly procedure.

Taggart, R. B., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Solid state welding processes for an oxide dispersion strengthened nickel-chromium-aluminum alloy

Solid-state welding processes were evaluated for joining TD-NiCrAl (Ni-16Cr-4Al-2ThO2) alloy sheet. Both hot-press and resistance spot welding techniques were successfully applied in terms of achieving grain growth across the bond line. Less success was achieved with a resistance seam welding process. In stress-rupture shear and tensile shear tests of lap joints at 1100 C, most failures occurred in the parent material, which indicates that the weld quality was good and that the welds were not a plane of weakness. The overall weld quality was not as good as previously attained with TD-NiCr, probably because the presence of alumina at the faying surfaces and the developmental TD-NiCrAl sheet, which was not of the quality of the TD-NiCr sheet in terms of surface flatness and dimensional control.

Moore, T. J.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Multiwall thermal protection system

Multiwall insulating sandwich panels are provided for thermal protection of hypervelocity vehicles and other enclosures. In one embodiment, the multiwall panels are formed of alternate layers of dimpled and flat metal (titanium alloy) foil sheets and beaded scarfed edge seals to provide enclosure thermal protection up to 1000 F. An additional embodiment employs an intermediate fibrous insulation for the sandwich panel to provide thermal protection up to 2000 F. A third embodiment employs a silicide coated columbium waffle as the outer panel skin and fibrous layered intermediate protection for thermal environment protection up to 2500 F. The use of multiple panels on an enclosure facilitate repair and refurbishment of the thermal protection system due to the simple support provided by the tab and clip attachment for the panels.

Jackson, L. R.↗

NASA NTRS1992

A comparison of chromic acid and sulfuric acid anodizing

Because of federal and state mandates restricting the use of hexavalent chromium, it was deemed worthwhile to compare the corrosion protection afforded 2219-T87 aluminum alloy by both Type I chromic acid and Type II sulfuric acid anodizing per MIL-A-8625. Corrosion measurements were made on large, flat 2219-T87 aluminum alloy sheet material with an area of 1 cm(exp 2) exposed to a corrosive medium of 3.5-percent sodium chloride at pH 5.5. Both ac electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and the dc polarization resistance techniques were employed. The results clearly indicate that the corrosion protection obtained by Type II sulfuric acid anodizing is superior, and no problems should result by substituting Type II sulfuric acid anodizing for Type I chromic acid anodizing.

Danford, M. D.↗

NASA NTRS2008

Curved Piezoelectric Actuators for Stretching Optical Fibers

Assemblies containing curved piezoceramic fiber composite actuators have been invented as means of stretching optical fibers by amounts that depend on applied drive voltages. Piezoceramic fiber composite actuators are conventionally manufactured as sheets or ribbons that are flat and flexible, but can be made curved to obtain load-carrying ability and displacement greater than those obtainable from the flat versions. In the primary embodiment of this invention, piezoceramic fibers are oriented parallel to the direction of longitudinal displacement of the actuators so that application of drive voltage causes the actuator to flatten, producing maximum motion. Actuator motion can be transmitted to the optical fiber by use of hinges and clamp blocks. In the original application of this invention, the optical fiber contains a Bragg grating and the purpose of the controlled stretching of the fiber is to tune the grating as part of a small, lightweight, mode-hop-free, rapidly tunable laser for demodulating strain in Bragg-grating strain-measurement optical fibers attached to structures. The invention could also be used to apply controllable tensile force or displacement to an object other than an optical fiber.

Allison, Sidney G.↗

NASA NTRS2008

Cylindrical Piezoelectric Fiber Composite Actuators

The use of piezoelectric devices has become widespread since Pierre and Jacques Curie discovered the piezoelectric effect in 1880. Examples of current applications of piezoelectric devices include ultrasonic transducers, micro-positioning devices, buzzers, strain sensors, and clocks. The invention of such lightweight, relatively inexpensive piezoceramic-fiber-composite actuators as macro fiber composite (MFC) actuators has made it possible to obtain strains and displacements greater than those that could be generated by prior actuators based on monolithic piezoceramic sheet materials. MFC actuators are flat, flexible actuators designed for bonding to structures to apply or detect strains. Bonding multiple layers of MFC actuators together could increase force capability, but not strain or displacement capability. Cylindrical piezoelectric fiber composite (CPFC) actuators have been invented as alternatives to MFC actuators for applications in which greater forces and/or strains or displacements may be required. In essence, a CPFC actuator is an MFC or other piezoceramic fiber composite actuator fabricated in a cylindrical instead of its conventional flat shape. Cylindrical is used here in the general sense, encompassing shapes that can have circular, elliptical, rectangular or other cross-sectional shapes in the planes perpendicular to their longitudinal axes.

Allison, Sidney G.↗

NASA NTRS2019

Assessment of Altimetry Using Ground-Based GPS Data from the 88S Traverse, Antarctica, in Support of ICESat-2

We conducted a 750 km kinematic GPS survey, referred to as the 88S Traverse, based out of South Pole Station, Antarctica, between December 2017 and January 2018. This ground-based survey was designed to validate space-borne altimetry and airborne altimetry developed at NASA. The 88S Traverse intersects 20% of the ICESat-2 satellite orbits on a route that has been flown by two different Operation IceBridge airborne laser altimeters: the Airborne Topographic Mapper (ATM; 26 October 2014) and the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) Lidar (30 November and 3 December 2017). Here we present an overview of the ground-based GPS data quality and a quantitative assessment of the airborne laser altimetry over a flat section of the ice sheet interior. Results indicate that the GPS data are internally consistent (1:1+- 4:1 cm). Relative to the ground-based 88S Traverse data, the elevation biases for ATM and the UAF lidar range from -9:5 to 3.6 cm, while surface measurement precisions are equal to or better than 14.1 cm. These results suggest that the ground-based GPS data and airborne altimetry data are appropriate for the validation of ICESat-2 surface elevation data.

Brunt, Kelly M.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Flat-plate solar array progress and plans

The emphasis of the Flat-plate Solar Array Project has been shifted from price goals and commercial development toward longer-term, higher risk, higher-potential-payoff opportunities. The revised objectives, status, and plans of the project are presented and technical progress is noted in the areas of: large-area sheet formation; silicon feedstock refinement; flat-plate module process sequence development; and engineering and environmental testing.

Callaghan, W. T.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Experimental investigations of argon and xenon ion sources

The multipole thruster was used to investigate the use of argon and xenon propellants as possible alternatives to the electric thruster propellants of mercury and cesium. The multipole approach was used because of its general high performance level. The design employed, using flat and cylindrical rolled sections of sheet metal, was selected for ease of fabrication, design, assembly, and modification. All testing was conducted in a vacuum facility and the pumping was accomplished by a 0.8 m diffusion pump together with liquid nitrogen cooled liner. Minimum discharge losses were in the 200-250 ev. ion range for both argon and xenon. Flatness parameters were typically in the 0.70-0.75 range.

Kaufman, H. R.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Sensitivity analysis of the add-on price estimate for the silicon web growth process

The web growth process, a silicon-sheet technology option, developed for the flat plate solar array (FSA) project, was examined. Base case data for the technical and cost parameters for the technical and commercial readiness phase of the FSA project are projected. The process add on price, using the base case data for cost parameters such as equipment, space, direct labor, materials and utilities, and the production parameters such as growth rate and run length, using a computer program developed specifically to do the sensitivity analysis with improved price estimation are analyzed. Silicon price, sheet thickness and cell efficiency are also discussed.

Mokashi, A. R.↗

NASA NTRS2019

Electron Beam Welding of Pure Tungsten Hex Cans for Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Engines

Nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) is an in-space propulsion method currently being developed at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). NTP systems are a high specific impulse (750–1,100 s), high thrust (15,000–250,000 lbf ) method of propulsion which have the potential to allow for faster transit times when optimizing for high ΔV. In the nuclear rocket engine, the heat from the nuclear fission reaction is transferred to a low molecular mass propellant (such as hydrogen). Hot propellant is expanded through a nozzle to generate thrust. Development of ceramic metal (cermet) fuel systems for NTP applications is currently ongoing at MSFC. In cermet fuel systems, ceramic fissile fuel particles such as uranium nitride or uranium dioxide are dispersed within a net-shaped, high-density structural matrix. The composite material is cladded by a protective metal structure to make up an NTP fuel element. Cladding materials must be able to withstand the demanding operating conditions required of the engine as well as retain a hermetic seal to allow for retention of fuel element structural integrity, prevent hydrogen attack or migration of the ceramic fuel, and limit release of fission products during operation. For NTP applications, tungsten is a prime material for both the metal matrix and cladding in cermet fuel systems because of its high melting point, high temperature strength, and compatibility with hot hydrogen. If a weld in tungsten with the capability of holding a hermetic seal is achievable, tungsten becomes a strong candidate for NTP applications. This Technical Memorandum focuses on determining the weldability of pure tungsten using electron beam welding (EBW). Tungsten appears well suited for NTP applications, but it has a high ductile to brittle transition temperature (DBTT) dependent upon chemical composition, structure/stress distribution, and mechanical conditions. Therefore, it is highly subject to brittle fracture. Because of its high susceptibility to brittle fracture, it is very difficult to weld. EBW was chosen for joining pure tungsten because of its low heat input compared to gas tungsten arc welding. Reduced heat input can be directly correlated with an increase in ductility of a tungsten weld. EBW is a high energy density welding process in which a stream of electrons penetrates a weld joint in a deep, narrow spike in contrast to a broad gas tungsten arc weld pool. The investigation initially focused on EBW of tungsten plates of both 0.01 in and 0.03 in thickness to determine if EBW could weld pure tungsten without the presence of visual defects—particularly cracking—in the welds. Variation in the weld procedure and post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) was used to improve the surface appearance of flat EBWs on a pure tungsten sheet. The investigation moved on to weld 0.05-in-thick hexagonal tungsten cans with a weld joint thickness of 0.025 in. The goal for welding the pure tungsten hex cans was to avoid any visual surface defects and generate a weld capable of a hermetic seal. This proved difficult. Cold welds commonly exhibited porosity that leaked air. Hot welds exhibited cracks, typically observed immediately after welding. Later welds were preheated to increase ductility and decrease the likelihood of through-thickness cracking. PWHT was used to arrest microcrack growth both in the flat weld samples and hexagonal weld samples.

Courtright, Z. S.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Large area silicon sheet by EFG

Work carried out on the JPL Flat Plate Solar Array Project, for the purpose of developing a method for silicon ribbon production by Edge-defined Film-fed Growth (EEG) for use as low-cost substrate material in terrestrial solar cell manufacture, is described. A multiple ribbon furnace unit that is designed to operate on a continuous basis for periods of at least one week, with melt replenishment and automatic ribbon width control, and to produce silicon sheet at a rate of one square meter per hour, was constructed. Program milestones set for single ribbon furnace operation to demonstrate basic EEG system capabilities with respect to growth speed, thickness and cell performance were achieved for 10 cm wide ribbon: steady-state growth at 4 cm/min and 200 micron thickness over periods of an hour and longer was made routine, and a small area cell efficiency of 13+% demonstrated. Large area cells of average efficiency of 10 to 11%, with peak values of 11 to 12% were also achieved. The integration of these individual performance levels into multiple ribbon furnace operation was not accomplished.

Kalejs, J. P.↗