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Douglass, Howard W

Publications and source records attributed to Douglass, Howard W.

9 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1957

Nonmetallic Material Compatibility with Liquid Fluorine

Static tests were made on the compatibility of liquid fluorine with several nonmetallic materials at -3200 F and at pressures of 0 and 1500 pounds per square inch gage. The results are compared with those from previous work with gaseous fluorine at the same pressures, but at atmospheric temperature. In general, although environmental effects were not always consistent, reactivity was least with the low-temperature, low-pressure liquid fluorine. Reactivity was greatest with the warm, high-pressure gaseous fluorine. None of the liquids and greases tested was found to be entirely suitable for use in fluorine systems. Polytrifluorochloroethylene and N-43, the formula for which is (C4F9)3N, did not react with liquid fluorine at atmospheric pressure or 1500 pounds per square inch gage under static conditions, but they did react when injected into liquid fluorine at 1500 pounds per square inch gage; they also reacted with gaseous fluorine at 1500 pounds per square inch gage. While water did not react with liquid fluorine at 1500 pounds per square inch gage, it is known to react violently with fluorine under other conditions. The pipe-thread lubricant Q-Seal did not react with liquid fluorine, but did react with gaseous fluorine at 1500 pounds per square inch gage. Of the solids, ruby (Al2O3) and Teflon did not react under the test conditions. The results show that the compatibility of fluorine with nonmetals depends on the state of the fluorine and the system design.

Price, Harold G , Jr↗
NASA NTRS1957

Material compatibility with gaseous fluorine

Static tests on the compatibility of fluorine with non-metals at atmospheric temperature eliminated many materials from further consideration for use in fluorine systems. Several materials were found compatible at atmospheric pressures. Only Teflon and ruby (aluminum oxide) were compatible at 1500 pounds per square inch gage.

Price, Harold G , Jr↗
NASA NTRS1951

Investigation of the Liquid Fluorine-liquid Diborane Propellant Combination in a 100-pound-thrust Rocket Engine

The experimental performance of liquid fluorine and liquid diborane was investigated in a 100-pound-thrust engine at a combustion pressure of 300 pounds per square inch absolute. Methods of handling and transporting liquid fluorine were developed. It was extremely difficult to obtain satisfactory operation because of the high flame speed and high combustion chamber temperatures. The maximum performance obtained was 280 pound seconds per pound, 88 percent of the theoretical maximum. The theoretical performance was recalculated with revised thermodynamic data, indicating a maximum specific impulse of 311 pound seconds per pound as compared with the previously reported value of 323.

COMBUSTION - ROCKET ENGINES↗
NASA NTRS1950

Investigation of Ignition Characteristics of AN-F-32 and Two An-f-58a Fuels in Single Can-type Turbojet Combustor

Ignition characteristics of AN-F-32 and two AN-F-58a fuels were studied in a single can-type turbojet combustor under air-flow conditions representing engine speeds of 1600, 2500, and 4000 rpm, altitudes from sea level to 30,000 feet, ambient temperatures at sea level from 90 degrees to minus 36 degrees F, and flight Mach numbers of 0 and 0.6. Critical fuel-flow rates for ignition increased with increase in preignition engine speed, with increase in altitude, or with decrease in sea-level ambient temperature. This flow rate appears to increase in a direct relation to decrease in fuel volatility as indicated by the 10-percent-evaporated temperature.

Rayle, Warren D↗