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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
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2004

The Use of RF Waves in Space Propulsion Systems

This paper will review the ways in which RF and microwave radiation may be used in the design of electric propulsion systems for spacecraft. RF power has been used or proposed in electric propulsion systems to ionize, to heat, and to accelerate the propellant, or to produce plasma used to inflate a magnetic field for solar sail purposes. Direct RF propulsion using radiation pressure or ponderomotive forces is impractical owing to efficiency considerations. Examples of various systems that have been developed or proposed will be reviewed. The Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket (VASIMR) uses RF for producing, heating and accelerating plasma. Inductive RF and microwave ion thruster schemes use e-m waves to ionize the plasma, which is then accelerated by use of dc grids. The details of the VASIMR, an inductive RF thruster, and a microwave ion thruster are discussed and contrasted with related RF systems.

Bering, Edgar A., III↗
NASA NTRS2009

Design of a Glenn Research Center Solar Field Grid-Tied Photovoltaic Power System

The NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) designed, developed, and installed, a 37.5 kW DC photovoltaic (PV) Solar Field in the GRC West Area in the 1970s for the purpose of testing PV panels for various space and terrestrial applications. The PV panels are arranged to provide a nominal 120 VDC. The GRC Solar Field has been extremely successful in meeting its mission. The PV panels and the supporting electrical systems are all near their end of life. GRC has designed a 72 kW DC grid-tied PV power system to replace the existing GRC West Area Solar Field. The 72 kW DC grid-tied PV power system will provide DC solar power for GRC PV testing applications, and provide AC facility power for all times that research power is not required. A grid-tied system is connected directly to the utility distribution grid. Facility power can be obtained from the utility system as normal. The PV system is synchronized with the utility system to provide power for the facility, and excess power is provided to the utility for use by all. The project transfers space technology to terrestrial use via nontraditional partners. GRC personnel glean valuable experience with PV power systems that are directly applicable to various space power systems, and provide valuable space program test data. PV power systems help to reduce harmful emissions and reduce the Nation s dependence on fossil fuels. Power generated by the PV system reduces the GRC utility demand, and the surplus power aids the community. Present global energy concerns reinforce the need for the development of alternative energy systems. Modern PV panels are readily available, reliable, efficient, and economical with a life expectancy of at least 25 years. Modern electronics has been the enabling technology behind grid-tied power systems, making them safe, reliable, efficient, and economical with a life expectancy of at least 25 years. The report concludes that the GRC West Area grid-tied PV power system design is viable for a reliable, maintenance free, long life power system that is of significant value to NASA and the community.

Eichenberg, Dennis J.↗
NASA NTRS2009

Development and Testing of the Glenn Research Center Visitor's Center Grid-Tied Photovoltaic Power System

The NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) has developed, installed, and tested a 12 kW DC grid-tied photovoltaic (PV) power system at the GRC Visitor s Center. This system utilizes a unique ballast type roof mount for installing the photovoltaic panels on the roof of the Visitor s Center with no alterations or penetrations to the roof. The PV system has generated in excess of 15000 kWh since operation commenced in August 2008. The PV system is providing power to the GRC grid for use by all. Operation of the GRC Visitor s Center PV system has been completely trouble free. A grid-tied PV power system is connected directly to the utility distribution grid. Facility power can be obtained from the utility system as normal. The PV system is synchronized with the utility system to provide power for the facility, and excess power is provided to the utility. The project transfers space technology to terrestrial use via nontraditional partners. GRC personnel glean valuable experience with PV power systems that are directly applicable to various space power systems, and provides valuable space program test data. PV power systems help to reduce harmful emissions and reduce the Nation s dependence on fossil fuels. Power generated by the PV system reduces the GRC utility demand, and the surplus power aids the community. Present global energy concerns reinforce the need for the development of alternative energy systems. Modern PV panels are readily available, reliable, efficient, and economical with a life expectancy of at least 25 years. Modern electronics has been the enabling technology behind grid-tied power systems, making them safe, reliable, efficient, and economical with a life expectancy of at least 25 years. Based upon the success of the GRC Visitor s Center PV system, additional PV power system expansion at GRC is under consideration. The GRC Visitor s Center grid-tied PV power system was successfully designed and developed which served to validate the basic principles described, and the theoretical work that was performed. The report concludes that grid-tied photovoltaic power systems are reliable, maintenance free, long life power systems, and are of significant value to NASA and the community.

Eichenberg, Dennis J.↗
NASA NTRS2009

Development and Testing of a Prototype Grid-Tied Photovoltaic Power System

The NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) has developed and tested a prototype 2 kW DC grid-tied photovoltaic (PV) power system at the Center. The PV system has generated in excess of 6700 kWh since operation commenced in July 2006. The PV system is providing power to the GRC grid for use by all. Operation of the prototype PV system has been completely trouble free. A grid-tied PV power system is connected directly to the utility distribution grid. Facility power can be obtained from the utility system as normal. The PV system is synchronized with the utility system to provide power for the facility, and excess power is provided to the utility. The project transfers space technology to terrestrial use via nontraditional partners. GRC personnel glean valuable experience with PV power systems that are directly applicable to various space power systems, and provide valuable space program test data. PV power systems help to reduce harmful emissions and reduce the Nation s dependence on fossil fuels. Power generated by the PV system reduces the GRC utility demand, and the surplus power aids the community. Present global energy concerns reinforce the need for the development of alternative energy systems. Modern PV panels are readily available, reliable, efficient, and economical with a life expectancy of at least 25 years. Modern electronics has been the enabling technology behind grid-tied power systems, making them safe, reliable, efficient, and economical with a life expectancy of at least 25 years. Based upon the success of the prototype PV system, additional PV power system expansion at GRC is under consideration. The prototype grid-tied PV power system was successfully designed and developed which served to validate the basic principles described, and the theoretical work that was performed. The report concludes that grid-tied photovoltaic power systems are reliable, maintenance free, long life power systems, and are of significant value to NASA and the community.

Eichenberg, Dennis J.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Alternating Direct Current (ADC) - A New Form of Efficient Energy Transmission for Renewable Sources

The prevailing means of electricity transmission through Direct Current (DC) and Alternating Current (AC) have limitations with the ongoing transition to renewable energy sources. In this paper, we discuss a new form of energy transmission, known as alternating direct current (ADC) that would provide significant savings in energy consumption and simultaneously allow efficient utilization of generated energy from renewable sources. This has become possible due to substantial advances in electronics and optoelectronics technologies since the days of Nicholas Tesla and Thomas Edison. Recent efforts of implementing the proposed ADC technology in relevant environments have demonstrated significant energy savings and opened a new paradigm that has the potential to provide an efficient and cost-effective pathway for transition to renewable energy sources even with the existing grid infrastructure. The DC power utilization initiated by Thomas Edison can be stored in battery arrangement but suffers from line loss and hence is not efficient for long-distance transmission. However, AC power developed by Nicholas Tesla cannot be stored efficiently but can be transmitted over long distances due to significantly lower line losses. Currently, AC power is the global foundational energy transmission methodology used because of events that took place over 135 years ago involving Edison, Tesla, and Westinghouse, and since AC power can transmit long distances from power plants to end users efficiently and economically. Approximately 50 years ago, the introduction of semiconductors in commercialized electronic devices and products changed the way people consume electricity. Also, over the years, the expanding adaptation of nonlinear loads has adversely affected the grid stability and hence the utility infrastructures worldwide.

AC↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Establishing a Lunar Surface Power Grid

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is seeking to develop a lunar surface power system for its Artemis missions as well as for planned future commercial lunar surface activities. This power system is composed of a number of assets which contain electrical loads and many of these contain energy resources. These assets can be connected to form a grid, which allows power to be shared between the system’s distributed energy resources. This grid can provide backup power to existing assets as well as primary power to future assets. A trade study was conducted for an Artemis scale grid, which has identified 3 kV AC as an ideal transmission voltage. Development work has also begun for a universal modular interface converter (UMIC) which connects assets and microgrids operating at 120 V DC space power to the grid. Products from this grid definition and UMIC development work will enable highly reliable and available power for Artemis and future planetary surface missions, which is key to achieving NASA’s long term vision of space exploration.

Planetary surface power↗
NASA NTRS2012

How are Space Weather and Space Climate Connected to Solar Phenomena?

Many aspects of modern society are susceptible to space weather effects. Pertinent space weather effects include high-energy electromagnetic and particle radiation, changes of atmospheric drag, reduction of GPS accuracy or complete loss of GPS signals, communication outages, and the generation of potentially harmful DC currents in our electric power grid. Beginning in the early 1990s, researchers and government have been increasingly aware of the need to understand the causes of space weather, and to find ways to mitigate deleterious effects associated with it. New research and development programs have been created to address space weather primarily at NASA but also at other agencies. This investment has been very fruitful by generating a new class of entirely new space weather specification and forecast capabilities. This presentation provides an overview of space weather causes and effects, as well as of research and development to forecast and mitigate space weather effects. It will include a discussion of modern space weather analysis and forecasting, and conclude by pointing out paths into the future.

Hesse, Michael↗
NASA NTRS1970

Thermionic triode generates ac power

Electrostatic grid controls conduction cycle of thermionic diode to convert low dc output voltages to high ac power without undesirable power loss. An ac voltage applied to the grid of this new thermionic triode enables it to convert heat directly into high voltage electrical power.

Kniazzeh, A. G. F.↗
NASA NTRS2005

NSTAR Extended Life Test Discharge Chamber Flake Analysis

The Extended Life Test (ELT) of the NASA Solar Electric Propulsion Technology Readiness (NSTAR) ion thruster was concluded after 30,352 hours of operation. The ELT was conducted using the Deep Space 1 (DS1) back-up flight engine, a 30 cm diameter xenon ion thruster. Post-test inspection of the ELT engine revealed numerous contaminant flakes distributed over the bottom of the cylindrical section of the anode within the discharge chamber (DC). Extensive analyses were conducted to determine the source of the particles, which is critical to the understanding of degradation mechanisms of long life ion thruster operation. Analyses included: optical microscopy (OM) and particle length histograms, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) combined with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and atomic oxygen plasma exposure tests. Analyses of the particles indicate that the majority of the DC flakes consist of a layered structure, typically with either two or three layers. The flakes comprising two layers were typically found to have a molybdenum-rich (Mo-rich) layer on one side and a carbon-rich (C-rich) layer on the other side. The flakes comprising three layers were found to be sandwich-like structures with Mo-rich exterior layers and a C-rich interior layer. The presence of the C-rich layers indicates that these particles were produced by sputter deposition build-up on a surface external to the discharge chamber from ion sputter erosion of the graphite target in the test chamber. This contaminant layer became thick enough that particles spalled off, and then were electro-statically attracted into the ion thruster interior, where they were coated with Mo from internal sputter erosion of the screen grid and cathode components. Atomic oxygen tests provided evidence that the DC chamber flakes are composed of a significant fraction of carbon. Particle size histograms further indicated that the source of the particles was spalling of carbon flakes from downstream surfaces. Analyses of flakes taken from the downstream surface of the accelerator grid provided additional supportive information. The production of the downstream carbon flakes, and hence the potential problems associated with the flake particles in the ELT ion thruster engine is a facility induced effect and would not occur in the space environment.

deGroh, Kim K.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Net current measurements and secondary electron emission characteristics of the Voyager plasma science experiment and their impact on data interpretation

The Voyager Plasma Science (PLS) instrument is capable of returning integral (DC) current measurements, similar in some respects to measurements made with a Langmuir probe or a retarding potential analyzer, although there are significant differences. The integral measurements were made during a calibration sequence in the solar wind, during Cruise Science Maneuvers, and within the magnetospheres of Jupiter and Saturn by Voyager 1. After the failure of the PLS experiment following the Saturn encounter, that instrument was placed in the DC return mode returning possibly usable data from early 1981 through early 1985. The DC return measurements are difficult to interpret and are above threshold values only for relatively large fluxes; the determination of the measured current level is dependent on the operating temperature of the preamplifiers which further complicates the interpretation. Nevertheless, these measurements can be used to determine the efficiency of the suppressor grid at preventing the loss of secondary electrons off the collector plate. Some DC return measurements have been invaluable in aiding in the interpretation of some electron plasma measurements not previously understood. It is found that electron spectra can be significantly modified by the presence of second generation secondary electrons produced by either first generation secondaries or photoelectrons on the support ring of the negative high voltage modulator grid within the instrument housing.

Mcnutt, Ralph L., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Space Electronic Test Engineering

The Space Power and Propulsion Test Engineering Branch at NASA Glenn Research center has the important duty of controlling electronic test engineering services. These services include test planning and early assessment of Space projects, management and/or technical support required to safely and effectively prepare the article and facility for testing, operation of test facilities, and validation/delivery of data to customer. The Space Electronic Test Engineering Branch is assigned electronic test engineering responsibility for the GRC Space Simulation, Microgravity, Cryogenic, and Combustion Test Facilities. While working with the Space Power and Propulsion Test Engineering Branch I am working on several different assignments. My primary assignment deals with an electrical hardware unit known as Sunny Boy. Sunny Boy is a DC load Bank that is designed for solar arrays in which it is used to convert DC power form the solar arrays into AC power at 60 hertz to pump back into the electricity grid. However, there are some researchers who decided that they would like to use the Sunny Boy unit in a space simulation as a DC load bank for a space shuttle or even the International Space Station hardware. In order to do so I must create a communication link between a computer and the Sunny Boy unit so that I can preset a few of the limits (such power, set & constant voltage levels) that Sunny Boy will need to operate using the applied DC load. Apart from this assignment I am also working on a hi-tech circuit that I need to have built at a researcher s request. This is a high voltage analog to digital circuit that will be used to record data from space ion propulsion rocket booster tests. The problem that makes building this circuit so difficult is that it contains high voltage we must find a way to lower the voltage signal before the data is transferred into the computer to be read. The solution to this problem was to transport the signal using infrared light which will lower the voltage signal down low enough so that it is harmless to a computer. Along with my involvement in the Space Power and Propulsion Test Engineering Branch, I am obligated to assist all other members of the branch in their work. This will help me to strengthen and extend my knowledge of Electrical Engineering.

Chambers, Rodney D.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Electromagnetic heating of minor planets in the early solar system

Electromagnetic processes occurring in the primordial solar system are likely to have significantly affected planetary evolution. In particular, electrical coupling of the kinetic energy of a dense T-Tauri-like solar wind into the interior of the smaller planets could have been a major driver of thermal metamorphism. Accordingly a grid of asteroid models of various sizes and solar distances was constructed using dc transverse magnetic induction theory. Plausible parameterizations with no requirement for a high environmental temperature led to complete melting for Vesta with no melting for Pallas and Ceres. High temperatures were reached in the Pallas model, perhaps implying nonmelting thermal metamorphosis as a cause of its anomalous spectrum. A reversal of this temperature sequence seems implausible, suggesting that the Ceres-Pallas-Vesta dichotomy is a natural outcome of the induction mechanism. Highly localized heating is expected to arise due to an instability in the temperature-controlled current distribution. Localized metamorphosis resulting from this effect may be relevant to the production and evolution of pallasites, the large presumed metal component of S object spectra, and the formation of the lunar magma ocean.

Herbert, F.↗
NASA NTRS1999

A Three-Dimensional Total Odd Nitrogen (NO(y)) Simulation During SONEX using a Stretched-Grid Chemical Transport Model

The relative importance of various odd nitrogen (NOy) sources including lightning, aircraft, and surface emissions on upper tropospheric total odd nitrogen is illustrated as a first application of the three-dimensional Stretched-Grid University of Maryland/Goddard Chemical-Transport Model (SG-GCTM). The SG-GCTM has been developed to look at the effect of localized sources and/or small scale mixing processes on the large-scale or global chemical balance. For this simulation, the stretched-arid was chosen so that its maximum resolution is located over eastern North America and the North Atlantic; a region that includes most of the SONEX (the SASS (Subsonic Assessment) Ozone and Nitrogen Oxides Experiment) flight paths. The SONEX period (October-November 1997) is simulated by driving the SG-GCTM with assimilated data from the GEOS-STRAT DAS (Goddard Earth Observing System-STRAT Data Assimilation System). A new algorithm is used to parameterize the lightning, flash rates that are needed to calculate emissions of NOy by lightning. Model-calculated upper tropospheric NOy and NOy measurements from the NASA DC-8 aircraft are compared. Spatial variations in NOy were well captured especially with the stretched-grid run; however, model-calculated concentrations were often too high in the upper troposphere, particularly during the first several flights. The lightning algorithm does a reasonably good job; however, the use of emissions from observed lightning, flashes significantly improves the simulation on a few occasions, especially November 3, 1997, indicating that significant uncertainty remains in parameterizing lightning in CTMS. Aircraft emissions play a relatively minor role (about 12%) in the upper tropospheric NOY budget averaged along SONEX flight paths; however, the contribution of such emmissions is as large as about 30% during portions of some flights.

Allen, Dale↗
NASA NTRS1978

Design considerations for solar power satellites

This report summarizes the performance characteristics of a conceptual solar power satellite (SPS) system with emphasis on the microwave power transmission system. The latest tradeoff studies on photovoltaic and thermal systems for converting solar energy into electricity at the satellite are reviewed. The microwave system, consisting of dc-RF amplifiers, a 1-km phased array, and a ground antenna/rectifier scheme is capable of delivering 5 GW of power to the commercial grid. The transmission efficiencies of smaller system sizes (down to 1 GW) are compared with that of the nominal 5 GW system. At present the frequency region of interest is the IMS (industrial, medical, and scientific) band at 2450 plus or minus 50 MHz. Economic and technical tradeoffs as a function of the microwave operating frequency are considered. Candidate dc-RF power converter tubes, including medium-power amplitrons, high-power klystrons, and low-power solid state amplifiers, are examined.

Arndt, G. D.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Computational technology for flight vehicles; Proceedings of the Symposium on Computational Technology on Flight Vehicles, Washington, DC, Nov. 5-7, 1990

The present conference on computational methods for aeronautics applications discusses topics in the fields of parallel computing, multidisciplinary computational methods, grid generation, visualization methods for CFD, probabilistic modeling, numerical simulations and methodologies for different flow regimes, computational strategies and adaptive methods in CFD, and computational strategies and dynamics and control. Attention is given to the MACH system-software kernel, a multidisciplinary approach to aeroelastic analysis, interactive grid generation with control points, interactive flow visualization using stream surfaces, numerical simulations of dynamic/aerodynamic interactions, implicit mathods for the Navier-Stokes equations, and the automatic phase-space analysis of dynamical systems.

Noor, Ahmed K.↗
NASA NTRS2018

GMI-IPS: Processing & Visualization Software Used in ATom DC-8 Aircraft Studies

NASA's Atmospheric Tomography Mission (ATom) deployed in each of the four seasons during 2016-2018, the DC-8 aircraft in order to establish global-scale datasets intended to improve the representation of chemically reactive gases in global atmospheric chemistry models (ACMs). The Global Modeling Initiative (GMI) executed simulations for each ATom flight using the GMI Chemistry Transport Model (GMI-CTM) to provide species concentrations of chemical gases along the DC-8 flight transects. To solve the problem of translating the GMI-CTM simulation data to the unique spatial resolutions of each ATom flight, the GMI ICARTT Processing Software (GMI-IPS) was developed.The GMI-IPS is written in Python and provides data processing, flight extraction, and visualization support for aircraft research projects using ICARTT format, which is a standard format for airborne instrument data. Additionally, the GMI-IPS interpolates global gridded model data from Hierarchical Data Format (HDF) to ICARTT compatible flight transects. Software classes for instruments and collections provided by the ATom DC-8 aircraft such as MER10, MMS, etc. are derived from a common base class. Other functionality provided by the GMI-IPS are: deriving missing flight entries along a transect, reading ICARTT entries from file, and providing Python data structures for storing flight and model information, and more.The GMI-IPS is GIT source controlled, has approximately 30,000 lines of code, and supports parallelization across data collections. It delivered GMI-CTM data for more than forty distinct DC-8 aircraft flights that took place under ATom. The output ICARTT files adhere to format standard V1.1, and pass the scan utility provided by NASA LaRC Airborne Science Data for Atmospheric Composition. This presentation will include a software and methods overview, and results from ATom, including assessments using the GMI-CTM showing how well observations from ATom flight transects represent a broader region.

Damon, M. R.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Retention of Sputtered Molybdenum on Ion Engine Discharge Chamber Surfaces

Grit-blasted anode surfaces are commonly used in ion engines to ensure adherence of sputtered coatings. Next generation ion engines will require higher power levels, longer operating times, and thus there will likely be thicker sputtered coatings on their anode surfaces than observed to date on 2.3 kW-class xenon ion engines. The thickness of coatings on the anode of a 10 kW, 40-centimeter diameter thruster, for example, may be 22 micrometers or more after extended operation. Grit-blasted wire mesh, titanium, and aluminum coupons were coated with molybdenum at accelerated rates to establish coating stability after the deposition process and after thermal cycling tests. These accelerated deposition rates are roughly three orders of magnitude more rapid than the rates at which the screen grid is sputtered in a 2.3 kW-class, 30-centimeter diameter ion engine. Using both RF and DC sputtering processes, the molybdenum coating thicknesses ranged from 8 to 130 micrometers, and deposition rates from 1.8 micrometers per hour to 5.1 micrometers per hour. In all cases, the molybdenum coatings were stable after the deposition process, and there was no evidence of spalling of the coatings after 20 cycles from about -60 to +320 C. The stable, 130 micrometer molybdenum coating on wire mesh is 26 times thicker than the thickest coating found on the anode of a 2.3 kW, xenon ion engine that was tested for 8200 hr. Additionally, this coating on wire mesh coupon is estimated to be a factor of greater than 4 thicker than one would expect to obtain on the anode of the next generation ion engine which may have xenon throughputs as high as 550 kg.

Sovey, James S.↗