Engineering Papers⌕ Search

Engineering topics

Menard, W. A.

Publications and source records attributed to Menard, W. A..

At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1984

Trends in Concentrator, Receiver, and Storage Development for Terrestrial Applications

The experience gained and the technical trends of the DOE-sponsored terrestrial solar thermal power systems project are summarized with respect to concentrator and receiver/storage development. Relevance of this experience to space power applications, and the perceived critical barriers of this technology, are discussed. It is concluded that, despite different objectives, the terrestrial program provides a strong basis of expertise valuable to space power applications development.

Roschke, E. J.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Planetary mission requirements, technology and design considerations for a solar electric propulsion stage

High energy planetary missions such as comet rendezvous, Saturn orbiter and asteroid rendezvous require development of a Solar Electric Propulsion Stage (SEPS) for augmentation of the Shuttle-IUS. Performance and functional requirements placed on the SEPS are presented. These requirements will be used in evolution of the SEPS design, which must be highly interactive with both the spacecraft and the mission design. Previous design studies have identified critical SEPS technology areas and some specific design solutions which are also presented in the paper.

Cork, M. J.↗
NASA NTRS1976

New potentials for conventional aircraft when powered by hydrogen-enriched gasoline

Hydrogen enrichment for aircraft piston engines is under study in a new NASA program. The objective of the program is to determine the feasibility of inflight injection of hydrogen in general aviation aircraft engines to reduce fuel consumption and to lower emission levels. A catalytic hydrogen generator will be incorporated as part of the air induction system of a Lycoming turbocharged engine and will generate hydrogen by breaking down small amounts of the aviation gasoline used in the normal propulsion system. This hydrogen will then be mixed with gasoline and compressed air from the turbocharger before entering the engine combustion chamber. The special properties of the hydrogen-enriched gasoline allow the engine to operate at ultralean fuel/air ratios, resulting in higher efficiencies and hence less fuel consumption. This paper summarizes the results of a systems analysis study. Calculations assuming a Beech Duke aircraft indicate that fuel savings on the order of 20% are possible. An estimate of the potential for the utilization of hydrogen enrichment to control exhaust emissions indicates that it may be possible to meet the 1979 Federal emission standards.

Menard, W. A.↗
NASA NTRS1976

New potentials for conventional aircraft when powered by hydrogen-enriched gasoline

Overall system efficiency and performance of a Beech Model 20 Duke aircraft was studied to provide analytical representations of an aircraft piston engine system, including all essential components required for onboard hydrogen generation. Lower emission levels and a 20% reduction in fuel consumption may be obtained by using a catalytic hydrogen generator, incorporated as part of the air induction system, to generate hydrogen by breaking down small amounts of the aviation gasoline used in the normal propulsion system. This hydrogen is then mixed with gasoline and compressed air from the turbocharger before entering the engine combustion chamber. The special properties of the hydrogen-enriched gasoline allow the engine to operate at ultra lean fuel/air ratios, resulting in higher efficiencies.

Menard, W. A.↗
NASA NTRS1976

New potentials for conventional aircraft when powered by hydrogen-enriched gasoline

Hydrogen enrichment for aircraft piston engines is under study in a new NASA program. The objective of the program is to determine the feasibility of inflight injection of hydrogen in general aviation aircraft engines to reduce fuel consumption and to lower emission levels. A catalytic hydrogen generator will be incorporated as part of the air induction system of a Lycoming turbocharged engine and will generate hydrogen by breaking down small amounts of the aviation gasoline used in the normal propulsion system. This hydrogen will then be mixed with gasoline and compressed air from the turbocharger before entering the engine combustion chamber. The paper summarizes the results of a systems analysis study. Calculations assuming a Beech Duke aircraft indicate that fuel savings on the order of 20% are possible. An estimate of the potential for the utilization of hydrogen enrichment to control exhaust emissions indicates that it may be possible to meet the 1979 Federal emission standards.

Menard, W. A.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Radiative relaxation behind strong shock waves in hydrogen-helium mixtures

Radiative relaxation rates have been investigated in a series of hydrogen-helium mixtures over a range of temperatures encountered during outer planet atmospheric entry. Using a conical electric arc shock tube, shock waves with velocities between 10 and 36 km/sec were studied in mixtures of 10% to 85% hydrogen in helium diluent. Intensities for several hydrogen continuum wavelengths and the H-alpha and H-beta lines of hydrogen were measured as a function of time. The nonequilibrium relaxation times were longer than expected for shock velocities greater than 18 km/sec and reached a plateau at higher shock velocities. Data from all mixtures were found to correlate with shock wave temperature.

Leibowitz, L. P.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Toward understanding the conical arc-chamber driver

The mechanical and electrical characteristics of the conical arc-chamber driver and the 1450-microfarad capacitor bank are described. The system dynamic performance can be approximated by a second-order nonlinear equation. The discharge of the capacitor bank into the conical arc-chamber was investigated at a variety of initial conditions. Details of the discharge are explained and compared for typical performance with both hydrogen and helium arc-chamber gases. At peak current the hydrogen plasma resistivity is significantly higher than that of the helium plasma and this, in part, accounts for the better shock speed performance with hydrogen. The lower melting and boiling point exploding wires of aluminum, copper, and stainless steel produced higher shock speed performance than the apparently nonexploding tungsten wire.

Livingston, F. R.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Improved high-performance shock tube

Mylar diaphragms in shock tubes are a major improvement over steel diaphragms. Other improvements include: better electrode design; improved flow by opening the throat and removing all constrictions; and improved driver geometry by optimizing volume and shape.

Menard, W. A.↗
NASA NTRS1970

A program for computing shock-tube gas dynamic properties

Computer program calculates thermodynamic properties from basic spectroscopic data. Program capacity is a mixture of 100 different species composed of ten different elements. The output is a complete thermodynamic and chemical description of the gas.

Horton, T. E.↗