Engineering topics

Levin, R. R.

Publications and source records attributed to Levin, R. R..

6 records

NASA NTRS1992

Surface transport vehicles and supporting technology requirements

Requirements have been identified for surface transport vehicles which allow remote scientific exploration on the moon, as well as lunar resource recovery and emplacement of a permanent base on the lunar surface. Attention is given to the results of a design study which developed configurational concepts for lunar surface transport vehicles and inferred technology-development requirements, with a view to a phased program of implementation. Distinct benefits are noted for the design of simple vehicle platforms with high commonality, in order to reduce logistical-support requirements and maximize functional flexibility. Two generic vehicle classed are defined.

Matijevic, J. R.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Systems Engineering of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles

Technical paper notes systems engineering principles applied to development of electric and hybrid vehicles such that system performance requirements support overall program goal of reduced petroleum consumption. Paper discusses iterative design approach dictated by systems analyses. In addition to obvious peformance parameters of range, acceleration rate, and energy consumption, systems engineering also considers such major factors as cost, safety, reliability, comfort, necessary supporting infrastructure, and availability of materials.

Kurtz, D. W.↗

NASA NTRS1983

EHV systems technology - A look at the principles and current status

An examination of the basic principles and practices of systems engineering is undertaken in the context of their application to the component and subsystem technologies involved in electric and hybrid vehicle (EHV) development. The limitations of purely electric vehicles are contrasted with hybrid, heat engine-incorporating vehicle technology, which is inherently more versatile. A hybrid vehicle concept assessment methodology is presented which employs current technology and yet fully satisfies U.S. Department of Energy petroleum displacement goals.

Kurtz, D. W.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Systems approach to walk-off problems for dish-type solar thermal power systems

'Walk-off' in a dish-type solar thermal power system is a failure situation in which the concentrator remains fixed while the spot of concentrated sunlight slowly moves across the face of the receiver. The intense local heating may damage the receiver and nearby equipment. Passive protection has advantages in minimizing damage, but in a fully passive design the receiver must be able to withstand full solar input with no forced fluid circulation during the walk-off. An active walk-off emergency subsystem may include an emergency detrack or defocus mechanism or sun-blocking device, emergency power, sensors and logic to detect the emergency and initiate protective action, and cooling or passive protection of emergency and non-emergency components. Each of these elements is discussed and evaluated in the paper.

Jaffe, L. D.↗

NASA NTRS1981

The JPL isolated application experiment series

The technical, operational, and economic readiness of parabolic dish power systems for a variety of applications in the power range below 10 MWe are discussed. Power systems are developed and tested to the point where commercialization efforts lead to successful market penetration. A key element in this strategy is the use of experiments to test hardware and assess operational readiness. The Isolated Application Experiments are described and their objectives discussed.

Levin, R. R.↗

NASA NTRS1980

The JPL isolated application experiment series

A set of small (approximately 60-150 kWe) solar thermal power experiments, each of which is meant to address a separate isolated load application, will employ point focusing distributed receiver technology with emphasis on electric and possibly some thermal power applications. The program will be closely integrated with the technology development element of the thermal power systems project with the objective of utilizing the technologies being developed under that program.

Levin, R. R.↗