Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Temperature Control”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,639 records · Page 91

Biogenic amines and acute thermal stress in the rat

A study is summarized which demonstrates that depletion of the biogenic amines 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) or norepinephrine (NE) alters the normal thermoregulatory responses to acute temperature stress. Specifically, NE depletion caused a significant depression in equilibrium rectal temperature at 22 C and a greater depression in rectal temperature than controls in response to cold (6 C) stress; NE depletion also resulted in a significantly higher rectal temperature response to acute heat (38 C) stress. Depletion of 5-HT had less severe effects. It remains unclear whether the primary site of action of these agents is central or peripheral.

Williams, B. A.↗

Linear Thermal Expansion Measurements of Lead Magnesium Niobate (PMN) Electroceramic Material for the Terrestrial Planet Finder Coronagraph

Linear thermal expansion measurements of nine samples of Lead Magnesium Niobate (PMN) electroceramic material were recently performed in support of NASA's Terrestrial Planet Finder Coronagraph (TPF-C) mission. The TPF-C mission is a visible light coronagraph designed to look at roughly 50 stars pre- selected as good candidates for possessing earth-like planets. Upon detection of an earth-like planet, TPF-C will analyze the visible-light signature of the planet's atmosphere for specific spectroscopic indicators that life may exist there. With this focus, the project's primary interest in PMN material is for use as a solid-state actuator for deformable mirrors or compensating optics. The nine test samples were machined from three distinct boules of PMN ceramic manufactured by Xinetics Inc. Thermal expansion measurements were performed in 2005 at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in their Cryogenic Dilatometer Facility. All measurements were performed in vacuum with sample temperature actively controlled over the range of 270K to 3 10K. Expansion and contraction of the test samples with temperature was measured using a JPL developed interferometric system capable of sub-nanometer accuracy. Presented in this paper is a discussion of the sample configuration, test facilities, test method, data analysis, test results, and future plans.

Terrestrial Planet Finder (TPF)↗

Tailoring Negative Thermal Expansion via Tunable Induced Strain in La–Fe–Si-Based Multifunctional Material

Zero thermal expansion (ZTE) composites are typically designed by combining positive (PTE) with negative thermal expansion (NTE) materials acting as compensators and have many diverse applications, including in high-precision instrumentation and biomedical devices. La(Fe 1-x ,Si x )13-based compounds display several remarkable properties, such as giant magnetocaloric effect and very large NTE at room-temperature. Both are linked via strong magnetovolume coupling, which leads to sharp magnetic and volume changes occurring simultaneously across first-order phase transitions; the abrupt nature of these changes makes them unsuitable as thermal expansion compensators. To make these materials more useful practically, the mechanisms controlling the temperature over which this transition occurs and the magnitude of contraction need to be controlled. In this work, ball-milling was used to decrease particles and crystallite sizes and increase the strain in LaFe 11.9 Mn 0.27 Si 1.29 H x alloys. Such size and strain tuning effectively broadened the temperature over which this transition occurs. The material’s NTE operational temperature window was expanded, and its peak was suppressed by up to 85%. This work demonstrates that induced strain is the key mechanism controlling these materials’ phase transitions. This allows the optimization of their thermal expansion towards room-temperature ZTE-applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Kinetically Controlled Formation of Semi-crystalline Conjugated Polymer Nanostructures

Conjugated polymer (CP) materials that are considered as an attractive choice for various electronic and optoelectronic applications possess highly heterogeneous complex structures that can span several orders of magnitude in length scale. This is due to the intricate coupling effects of weak secondary interactions and entropic forces that determine molecular organization in bulk polymer materials. Understanding the influence of molecular interactions on the emergence and evolution of nano- and microscale structures is of paramount importance to the guided design and development of condensed CP materials. Such understanding is even more critical for the rational design of hierarchical systems away from equilibrium, where weak molecular interactions can guide the system along competing kinetic pathways toward local energy minima and metastable architectures. In this work, we studied a promising concept for accessing various kinetically stabilized semi-crystalline CP nanostructures that are formed in the process of controlled chain-growth Kumada catalyst-transfer polymerization initiated by a small-molecule catalytic species which can exist in equilibrium between free and aggregated states. Specifically, we chose a small-molecule perylenedicarboximide (PDCI) polymerization catalytic initiator which has a strong tendency toward reversible supramolecular assembly–disassembly that can be controlled by temperature. Addition of a thiophene monomer to a solution of the PDCI initiator starts the chain-growth polymerization process, which produces distinct nanoscale semi-crystalline polythiophene structures formed under predominant kinetic control. Furthermore, we demonstrated that, depending on the reaction temperature (which affects the fine balance between the position of PDCI assembly–disassembly equilibrium, rate of polymerization, and solvent–solute interactions for the growing polythiophene chains), a range of kinetically trapped hierarchically organized semi-crystalline CP systems with substantially varying optoelectronic properties could be obtained. In addition to spectroscopic and electron microscopic studies, in order to better reveal the structural aspects of the generated polymer nanoscale systems, we carried out a series of X-ray diffraction and neutron scattering experiments which indicated complex hierarchical organization in these kinetically stabilized CP assembled materials. We expect that this in situ polymerization-based approach can lead to a general way to expand access to various semi-crystalline CP nanostructured materials with broadly tunable electronic and optical properties.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Experimental feasibility of investigating acoustic waves in Couette flow with entropy and pressure gradients

The feasibility is discussed for an experimental program for studying the behavior of acoustic wave propagation in the presence of strong gradients of pressure, temperature, and flow. Theory suggests that gradients effects can be experimentally observed as resonant frequency shifts and mode shape changes in a waveguide. A convenient experimental geometry for such experiments is the annular region between two co-rotating cylinders. Radial temperature gradients in a spinning annulus can be generated by differentially heating the two cylinders via electromagnetic induction. Radial pressure gradients can be controlled by varying the cylinder spin rates. Present technology appears adequate to construct an apparatus to allow independent control of temperature and pressure gradients. A complicating feature of a more advanced experiment, involving flow gradients, is the requirement for independently controlled cylinder spin rates. Also, the boundary condition at annulus terminations must be such that flow gradients are minimally disturbed. The design and construction of an advanced apparatus to include flow gradients will require additional technology development.

Parrott, Tony L.↗

Single-Heater, Three-Zone Furnace

Temperature profile shaped with help of thermal barriers. Proposed furnace for use in experiments on growth of crystals of highly pure material in ampoule provides three temperature zones, yet contains only one heat-pipe liner and one heater and operates with only one controller. Three temperature zones established as thermal resistances of wicks and noncondensible gas reduces flows of heat into channel containing ampoule. Motion of ampoule along channel causes gradients of temperature to move along specimen in ampoule. Variety of three-zone temperature profiles in furnace created by changing thermal resistances of zones and injecting noncondensible gas at appropriate point. Furnace used for variety of experiments.

Gernert, Nelson J.↗

Using spacecraft trace contaminant control systems to cure sick building syndrome

Many residential and commercial buildings with centralized, recirculating, heating ventilation and air conditioning systems suffer from 'Sick Building Syndrome.' Ventilation rates are reduced to save energy costs, synthetic building materials off-gas contaminants, and unsafe levels of volatile organic compounds (VOC's) accumulate. These unsafe levels of contaminants can cause irritation of eyes and throat, fatigue and dizziness to building occupants. Increased ventilation, the primary method of treating Sick Building Syndrome is expensive (due to increased energy costs) and recently, the effectiveness of increased ventilation has been questioned. On spacecraft venting is not allowed, so the primary methods of air quality control are; source control, active filtering, and destruction of VOC's. Four non-venting contaminant removal technologies; strict material selection to provide source control, ambient temperature catalytic oxidation, photocatalytic oxidation, and uptake by higher plants, may have potential application for indoor air quality control.

Graf, John C.↗

Development Of A Magnetic Directional-Solidification Furnace

Report describes development of directional-solidification furnace in which axial magnetic field is imposed by surrounding ring permanent magnets and/or electromagnets and pole pieces. Furnace provides controlled axial temperature gradients in multiple zones, through which ampoule containing sample of material to be solidified is translated at controlled speed by low-vibration, lead-screw, stepping-motor-driven mechanism. Intended for use in low-gravity (spaceflight) experiments on melt growth of high-purity semiconductor crystals.

Aldrich, Bill R.↗

The characteristics and limitations of the MPS/MMS battery charging system

A series of tests was conducted on two 12 ampere hour nickel cadmium batteries under a simulated cycle regime using the multiple voltage versus temperature levels designed into the modular power system (MPS). These tests included: battery recharge as a function of voltage control level; temperature imbalance between two parallel batteries; a shorted or partially shorted cell in one of the two parallel batteries; impedance imbalance of one of the parallel battery circuits; and disabling and enabling one of the batteries from the bus at various charge and discharge states. The results demonstrate that the eight commandable voltage versus temperature levels designed into the MPS provide a very flexible system that not only can accommodate a wide range of normal power system operation, but also provides a high degree of flexibility in responding to abnormal operating conditions.

Ford, F. E.↗

Foam core shield (FCS) systems : a new dual - purpose technology for shielding against meteoroid strike damage and for thermal control of spacecrafts/satellite components

A new technology is being developed that can protect spacecraft and satellite components against damage from meteoroid strikes and control the thermal environment of the protected components. This technology, called Foam Core Shield (FCS) systems, has the potential to replace the multi-layer insulation blankets (MLI) that have been used on spacecraft for decades. In order to be an attractive candidate for replacing MLI, FCS systems should not only provide superior protection against meteoroid strikes but also provide an equal or superior ability to control the temperature of the protected component. Properly designed FCS systems can provide these principal functions, meteoroid strike protection and thermal control, with lower system mass and a smaller system envelope than ML.

thermal environment↗

The preliminary design of bearings for the control system of a high-temperature lithium-cooled nuclear reactor

The design of bearings for the control system of a fast reactor concept is presented. The bearings are required to operate at temperatures up to 2200 F in one of two fluids, lithium or argon. Basic bearing types are the same regardless of the fluid. Crowned cylindrical journals were selected for radially loaded bearings and modified spherical bearings were selected for bearings under combined thrust and radial loads. Graphite and aluminum oxide are the materials selected for the argon atmosphere bearings while cermet compositions (carbides or nitrides bonded with refractory metals) were selected for the lithium lubricated bearings. Mounting of components is by shrink fit or by axial clamping utilizing differential thermal expansion.

Yacobucci, H. G.↗

Calibrating Pressure Transducers at Cryogenic Temperatures

To calibrate transducers immersed in cryogenic environment, sealed reciprocating bellows generates sinusoidal dynamic pressure. Transducer manifold assembly and bellows immersed in cryogenic environment to minimize gradients in controllable cryogenic temperature.

Gibbens, B. V.↗