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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 19 records

Catalytic surface effect on ceramic coatings for an aeroassisted orbital transfer vehicle

Surface catalytic efficiencies of glassy coatings were determined from a reaction boundary layer computation and arc-jet data. The catalytic efficiencies of the various coatings examined are discussed in terms of their reaction-rate constants. These constants are a function of the wall temperature (1290 K to 2000 K). In addition, the advantage of a thermal protection system for a bent biconic, aeroassisted orbital transfer vehicle with a low surface catalytic efficiency is discussed.

Steward, D. A.↗

Catalytic surface effects experiment on the Space Shuttle

A Space Shuttle experiment planned to measure the surface catalytic efficiency of the baseline high-temperature reusable surface insulation (HRSI) during earth entry is described. A spray-on overcoat, with high catalytic efficiency, will be used as a comparative basis for determining the HRSI surface catalytic efficiency through surface temperature measurement. Catalytic efficiency, as well as aerothermal response of the overcoat, was evaluated, using various models made of HRSI material in arc-plasma flow environments. Agreement is obtained between the measured and computed heating rise of the coated surfaces. Computed predictions for the flight case are presented.

Stewart, D. A.↗

Effect of surface catalytic activity on stagnation heat-transfer rates.

An experiment was made to determine the effect heterogeneous catalytic surface reactions have on heat-transfer rates in highly frozen low-density stagnation-point boundary layers. Data were obtained in arc-heated facilities that were capable of producing large percentages of chemical energy frozen in a supersonic freestream. The heat-transfer rate to a silicon-dioxide surface was reduced to a minimum value of only one-third of the value obtained on relatively active nickel and platinum surfaces. This is the result of its low catalytic efficiency. Ionization energy was recovered on both the active and the inactive surfaces, indicating that this energy either was released many times faster than the recombination energy or was not controlled by the surface composition.

Anderson, L. A.↗

Effect of Porosity on Surface Catalytic Efficiency

This paper describes the effect of surface porosity of thermal protection materials on surface catalytic efficiency using test data taken from both arc-jet and side-arm reactor facilities. Relative surface porosity of the samples varied from 6% to 50%. Surface porosity was measured using a flow apparatus and Bernoulli equation. The surface catalytic efficiency of the materials was calculated using aerothermodynamic, and kinetic theories. The catalytic efficiency of the materials are compared at surface temperatures between room temperature and 2500 F. The data are presented in the form of graphs and tables.

Stewart, David A.↗

Catalytic surface effects on space thermal protection system during Earth entry of flights STS-2 through STS-5

An on going orbiter experiment catalytic surface effects experiment being conducted on the Space Shuttle is discussed. The catalytic surface effects experiment was peformed on four of the five flights of Columbia. Temperature time histories and distributions along the midfuselage and wing of the orbiter were used to determine the surface catalytic efficiency of the baseline high temperature reusable surface insulation. Correlation parameters are shown that allow the comparison of all flight data with predictions from the design and surface emittance decreased as a result of contaminants during the five flights of the Space Shuttle.

Stewart, D. A.↗

BLIMPK/Streamline Surface Catalytic Heating Predictions on the Space Shuttle Orbiter

This paper describes the results of an analysis of localized catalytic heating effects to the U.S. Space Shuttle Orbiter Thermal Protection System (TPS). The analysis applies to the High-temperature Reusable Surface Insulation (HRSI) on the lower fuselage and wing acreage, as well as the critical Reinforced Carbon-Carbon on the nose cap, chin panel and the wing leading edge. The object of the analysis was to use a modified two-layer approach to predict the catalytic heating effects on the Orbiter windward HRSI tile acreage, nose cap, and wing leading edge assuming localized highly catalytic or fully catalytic surfaces. The method incorporated the Boundary Layer Integral Matrix Procedure Kinetic (BLIMPK) code with streamline inputs from viscous Navier-Stokes solutions to produce heating rates for localized fully catalytic and highly catalytic surfaces as well as for nominal partially catalytic surfaces (either Reinforced Carbon-Carbon or Reaction Cured Glass) with temperature-dependent recombination coefficients. The highly catalytic heating results showed very good correlation with Orbiter Experiments STS-2, -3, and -5 centerline and STS-5 wing flight data for the HRSI tiles. Recommended catalytic heating factors were generated for use in future Shuttle missions in the event of quick-time analysis of damaged or repaired TPS areas during atmospheric reentry. The catalytic factors are presented along the streamlines as well as a function of stagnation enthalpy so they can be used for arbitrary trajectories.

Marichalar, Jeremiah J.↗

Non-catalytic surfaces for metallic heat shields

The magnitude of the atom recombination coefficients needed for metal heat shield surfaces on Shuttle-type vehicles is analyzed and discussed. Prior work which identifies surfaces having low catalytic activity is reviewed. Arc tunnel tests to evaluate catalytic activity are described and the difficulties of such tests are discussed. Results are presented which show major differences between atom recombination and atom exchange from molecules. Results of surface analysis show that bulk and surface composition of a coating are different.

Swann, R. T.↗

Process of forming catalytic surfaces for wet oxidation reactions

A wet oxidation process was developed for oxidizing waste materials, comprising dissolved ruthenium salt in a reactant feed stream containing the waste materials. The feed stream is introduced into a reactor, and the reactor contents are then raised to an elevated temperature to effect deposition of a catalytic surface of ruthenium black on the interior walls of the reactor. The feed stream is then maintained in the reactor for a period of time sufficient to effect at least partial oxidation of the waste materials.

Jagow, R. B.↗

Surface catalytic degradation study of two linear perfluoropolyalkylethers at 345 C

Thin-liquid-film degradation studies of two commercially available perfluoropolyalkylether fluids (PFAE) were performed at 345 C, in nitrogen and air atmospheres, on iron and 440 C stainless steel surfaces. It was found that one fluid degraded on both iron and 440 C stainless steel surfaces in an air atmosphere, whereas the other fluid did not degrade. Chemical analysis revealed that the test fluid degraded to lower molecular weight products and that the degradation was accompanied by the formation of a brownish deposit on both the iron and 440 C stainless steel surfaces. Surface analysis of the deposit revealed a susbstantial amount of iron oxide (Fe2O3). It was hypothesized that the fluid which degraded did so because of its acetal structure. The other fluid, lacking the acetal structure, did not degrade.

Morales, Wilfredo↗

Surface Catalytic Efficiency of Advanced Carbon Carbon Candidate Thermal Protection Materials for SSTO Vehicles

The catalytic efficiency (atom recombination coefficients) for advanced ceramic thermal protection systems was calculated using arc-jet data. Coefficients for both oxygen and nitrogen atom recombination on the surfaces of these systems were obtained to temperatures of 1650 K. Optical and chemical stability of the candidate systems to the high energy hypersonic flow was also demonstrated during these tests.

Stewart, David A.↗

The role of surface generated radicals in catalytic combustion

Experiments were conducted to better understand the role of catalytic surface reactions in determining the ignition characteristics of practical catalytic combustors. Hydrocarbon concentrations, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide concentrations, hydroxyl radical concentrations, and gas temperature were measured at the exit of a platinum coated, stacked plate, catalytic combustor during the ignition of lean propane-air mixtures. The substrate temperature profile was also measured during the ignition transient. Ignition was initiated by suddenly turning on the fuel and the time to reach steady state was of the order of 10 minutes. The gas phase reaction, showed no pronounced effect due to the catalytic surface reactions, except the absence of a hydroxyl radical overshoot. It is found that the transient ignition measurements are valuable in understanding the steady state performance characteristics.

Santavicca, D. A.↗

Stagnation flow field analysis for an aeroassist flight experiment vehicle

Continuum methods are used to analyze the stagnation flow field of the aeroassist flight experiment (AFE) vehicle. For the lower altitude portion of an AFE trajectory, the viscous shock-layer equations are employed. At higher altitudes, the full Navier-Stokes equations with chemical nonequilibrium and surface slip are used. Particular attention is given to the effect of surface catalyticity on surface heating, electron number density, and flow field structure.

Gupta, Roop N.↗