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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 199 records · Page 11
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1990

Impulsive phase heating by uni-directional current systems in solar flares

The possibility of producing rapid heating of a substantial coronal volume by current dissipation, driven by a tearing instability associated with a single unidirectional current system, is investigated. For the fast tearing mode, it is found that, for initial growth rates gamma(f) equal or less than 0.3/s, the electron heating is offset by convective losses, resulting in a very slow temperature rise, and hard X-ray emitting temperatures are never realized. For the larger growth rates, heating from 10 to the 7th to 10 to the 8th K can be achieved in a few seconds; however, in this regime, the maximum volume heated is some three to five orders of magnitude less than the volume of heated material that is inferred from hard X-ray emission measures. The results suggest that to achieve the required heating for the fast tearing mode, a more complicated geometry involving multiple small-scale, oppositely directed current channels may be necessary.

La Rosa, T. N.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Optical measurements of a large-scale laboratory Beam Plasma Discharge (BPD)

Optical emission measurements provided information on the spatial distribution of energetic (primary and suprathermal) electrons producing the emissions; power dissipation during beam transit of the system; and modifications of the primary beam velocity distribution. The measurements were carried out for BPD's produced in a very large vacuum chamber using a 391.4 nm scanning photometer and total light (red sensitive) TV systems. Results for conditions Eb 500 to 2000 V, injection pitch angle 0 to 75 deg, and neutral density are presented. The typical power loss in ionization in transit of the 20 m pathlength during BPD is from 3 to 10% of the input power, an order of magnitude greater than attributable to collisional ionization alone. Differences between rocket observations and the laboratory results are noted.

Bernstein, W.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Radiative cooling of a solidifying droplet layer including absorption and scattering

A simple solution for the transient cooling of a solidifying layer filled with drops that can emit and scatter radiation is discussed, with application to a liquid drop radiator proposed for the Space Station (Mattick and Hertzberg, 1981). The layer remains at uniform temperature during solidification, and the outer portions rapidly lose heat, producing a variation along the length of the layer in the distribution of liquid concentration across the layer. The analysis is used to obtain both the amount of energy dissipated by the two-phase system at uniform temperature and the velocity distribution necessary to maintain a uniform liquid fraction across the entire layer at all locations along the layer length.

Siegel, Robert↗
NASA NTRS1989

On the Nature of Navier-stokes Turbulence

Several turbulent and nonturbulent solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations are obtained. The unaveraged equations are used numerically in conjunction with tools and concepts from nonlinear dynamics, including time series, phase portraits, Poincare sections, largest Liapunov exponents, power spectra, and strange attractors. Initially neighboring solutions for a low-Reynolds-number fully developed turbulence are compared. The solutions, separate exponentially with time, having a positive Liapunov exponent. Thus the turbulence is characterized as chaotic. In a search for solutions which contrast with the turbulent ones, the Reynolds number is reduced. Several qualitatively different flows are noted. These are, fully chaotic, complex period, weakly chaotic, simple periodic, and fixed-point. Of these, only the fully chaotic flows are classified as turbulent. Those flows have both a positive Liapunov exponent and Poincare sections without pattern. By contrast, the weakly chaotic flows have some pattern in their Poincare sections. The fixed-point and periodic flows are nonturbulent, since turbulence, is both time-dependent and aperiodic. Turbulent solutions are obtained in which energy cascades from large to small-scale motions. In general, the spectral energy transfer takes place between wavenumber bands that are considerably separated. The special transfer can occur either as a result of nonlinear turbulence self-interaction or by interaction of turbulence with mean gradients. Turbulent systems are compared with those studied in kinetic theory. The two types of systems are fundamentally different (continuous and dissipative as opposed to discrete and conservative), but there are similarities. For instance, both are nonlinear and show sensitive dependence on initial conditions. Also, the turbulent and molecular stress tensors are identical if the macroscopic velocities for the turbulent stress are replaced by molecular velocities.

Deissler, Robert G.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Energy dissipation in structured electrodynamic environments

It is usually assumed that the profile of the ion Pedersen conductivity determines the altitude dependence of the energy dissipation rate This paper points out the strong altitude dependence of the energy dissipation rate on the spatial scale size of the imposed electric field. To illustrate the importance of such considerations, examples of the ubiquity to electric field structure in the high-latitude ionosphere are shown; this is particularly prominent when the interplanetary magnetic field has a northward component. It is then shown quantitatively how the existence of electric field structure with scale sizes of 10 km or less strongly impacts both the altitude extent over which the electromagnetic energy is dissipated and its partitioning between current systems perpendicular and parallel to the magnetic field.

Heelis, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Multiple degree of freedom force-state component identification

Force-state mapping is extended to allow the quasistatic characterization of realistic multiple degree of freedom systems whose constitutive relations are nonlinear, dissipative, coupled and depend on memory of past states. A general constitutive force-state model is formulated, which includes dynamic hysteresis phenomena typical of that found in deployable structures. A two step parameter identification approach is developed, which employs a linear extended Kalman filter and a nonlinear least squares fit. A six degree of freedom force-state testing device was constructed, and used to obtain data on one bay of a simple truss and on one bay of the MODE deployable truss.

Masters, Brett P.↗
NASA NTRS1993

A nonlinear control design for energy sink simulation in the Euler-Poinsot problem

A nonlinear control design is presented for the purpose of quantitatively simulating the effects of internal damping mechanisms modeled as energy sinks on the attitude dynamics of rigid body spacecraft. Damping is important because it is often the driving mechanism behind passive attitude acquisition maneuvers. Introduction of the controller into the Euler attitude equations of motion allows for the explicit representation of damping without the introduction of additional degrees of freedom required for a physical damping mechanism. This result is significant because perturbation techniques which rely on the closed form solution of the unperturbed problem can then be used to analyze the effects of perturbations upon a damped system. The controller is designed to dissipate kinetic energy while maintaining the magnitude of the angular momentum vector. Control torques are nonlinear functions of the angular momentum components expressed in a body-fixed frame. A numerical simulation of an actual damping mechanism during a decay from minor axis spin into a flat spin is presented showing that the nonlinear controller gives a good qualitative representation and, in many instances, a good quantitative approximation of the attitude motion of a representative spacecraft containing a damping mechanism.

Kammer, Daniel C.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Six degree of freedom fine motion positioning stage based on magnetic levitation

The design of a magnetically suspended six degree of freedom positioning system capable of nanometer positioning is presented. The sample holder is controlled in six degrees of freedom (DOF) over 300 micrometers of travel in the X, Y, and Z directions. A design and control summary and test results indicating stability and power dissipation are included in the paper. The system is vacuum compatible, uses commercially available materials, and requires minimal assembly and setup.

Arling, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Damping of Quasi-stationary Waves Between Two Miscible Liquids

Two viscous miscible liquids with an initially sharp interface oriented vertically inside a cavity become unstable against oscillatory external forcing due to Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. The instability causes growth of quasi-stationary (q-s) waves at the interface between the two liquids. We examine computationally the dynamics of a four-mode q-s wave, for a fixed energy input, when one of the components of the external forcing is suddenly ceased. The external forcing consists of a steady and oscillatory component as realizable in a microgravity environment. Results show that when there is a jump discontinuity in the oscillatory excitation that produced the four-mode q-s wave, the interface does not return to its equilibrium position, the structure of the q-s wave remains imbedded between the two fluids over a long time scale. The damping characteristics of the q-s wave from the time history of the velocity field show overdamped and critically damped response; there is no underdamped oscillation as the flow field approaches steady state. Viscous effects serve as a dissipative mechanism to effectively damp the system. The stability of the four-mode q-s wave is dependent on both a geometric length scale as well as the level of background steady acceleration.

Duval, Walter M. B.↗
NASA NTRS2002

The Delta(dot) B = O Constraint vs. Minimization of Numerical Errors in MHD Simulations

The MHD equations are a system of non-strictly hyperbolic conservation laws. The non-convexity of the inviscid flux vector resulted in corresponding Jacobian matrices with undesirable properties. On the other hand, the MHD equations can be derived from basic principles in either conservative or non-conservative form. The non-conservative system has a better conditioned eigensystem. The Delta(dot)B = 0 constraint of the A4HD equations is only an initial condition constraint. One does not need the Delta(dot)B condition to close the MHD system. We formulate our new low dissipative high order scheme together with the Cargo & Gallice (1997) form of the MHD approximate Riemann solver in curvilinear grids for both versions of the MHD equations. A novel feature of our new method is that the well-conditioned eigen-decomposition of the non-conservative MHD equations is used to solve the conservative equations. This new feature of the method provides well-conditioned eigenvectors for the conservative formulation, so that correct wave speeds for discontinuities are assured. The justification for using the non-conservative eigen-decomposition to solve the conservative equations is that our scheme has a better control of the numerical error associated with the Delta(dot)B condition. Consequently, computing both forms of the equations with the same eigen-decomposition is almost equivalent. It will be shown that this approach, using the non-conservative eigensystem when solving the conservative equations, also works well in the context of standard shock-capturing schemes.

Yee, H. C.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Texturing Carbon-carbon Composite Radiator Surfaces Utilizing Atomic Oxygen

Future space nuclear power systems will require radiator technology to dissipate excess heat created by a nuclear reactor. Large radiator fins with circulating coolant are in development for this purpose and an investigation of how to make them most efficient is underway. Maximizing the surface area while minimizing the mass of such radiator fins is critical for obtaining the highest efficiency in dissipating heat. Processes to develop surface roughness are under investigation to maximize the effective surface area of a radiator fin. Surface roughness is created through several methods including oxidation and texturing. The effects of atomic oxygen impingement on carbon-carbon surfaces are currently being investigated for texturing a radiator surface. Early studies of atomic oxygen impingement in low Earth orbit indicate significant texturing due to ram atomic oxygen. The surface morphology of the affected surfaces shows many microscopic cones and valleys which have been experimentally shown to increase radiation emittance. Further study of this morphology proceeded in the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF). Atomic oxygen experiments on the LDEF successfully duplicated the results obtained from materials in spaceflight by subjecting samples to 4.5 eV atomic oxygen from a fixed ram angle. These experiments replicated the conical valley morphology that was seen on samples subjected to low Earth orbit.

Raack, Taylor↗
NASA NTRS2018

Assessment of the Mars Helicopter Thermal Design Sensitivities Using the Veritrek Software

The Mars Helicopter will be a technology demonstration conducted during the Mars 2020 mission. The primary mission objective is to achieve several 90-second flights and capture visible light images via forward and nadir mounted cameras. These flights could possibly provide reconnaissance data for sampling site selection for other Mars surface missions. The helicopter is powered by a solar array, which stores energy in secondary batteries for flight operations, imaging, communications, and survival heating. The helicopter thermal design is driven by minimizing survival heater energy while maintaining compliance with allowable flight temperatures in a variable thermal environment. Due to the small size of the helicopter and its complex geometries, along with the fact that it operates with very low power and small margins, additional care had to be paid while planning thermal tests and designing the thermal system. A Thermal Desktop® model has been developed to predict the thermal system’s performance. A reduced-order model (ROM) created with the Veritrek software has been utilized to explore the sensitivities of the thermal system’s drivers, such as electronics dissipations, gas gaps, heat transfer coefficients, etc., as well as to assess and verify the final thermal design. This paper presents the performance of the Veritrek software products and the details of the ROM creation process. The results produced by Veritrek were utilized to study the effect of the major thermal design drivers and Mars environment on the Mars Helicopter in as little as 10 days, an effort that would have taken over 4 months using traditional thermal analysis techniques.

Hengeveld, Derek W.↗
NASA NTRS2020

Europa Clipper Passive Thermal Control Valve Test and Analysis

Europa Clipper spacecraft utilizes passive thermal control valves (TCV) in an active thermal control system to maintain spacecraft component temperatures within their allowable limits. The single-phase mechanically pumped fluid loop recovers heat from the electronics and uses it to maintain propulsion system warm. When excess heat is dissipated the mixing valves direct the fluid to the radiator to reject this additional heat. The loop uses two mixing TCVs placed in series to modulate fluid flow and heat rejection rate from the radiator. This paper describes the thermal and hydraulic test results for Europa Clipper engineering model (EM) mixing valves. For the first time two heritage mixing valves previously developed for the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) were placed in series to modulate flow to the radiator from 0.1% to 95% of full flow between temperature range of 4 oC to 24 oC. Individually, each mixing valve was able to modulate the flow from 2% to 96% of full flow between the temperatures of 4 oC and 24 oC. Pressure drop was measured between 1.5 to 3 psid depending on the temperature of the mixed fluid and the opening fraction of the valves. A methodology was developed, tested, and validated to adjust the setpoints with an accuracy of 0.1 oC. The measured flow splits were corrected for the effects of impedance due to the flow meters used to measure the flow rates. Finally, flow rate to the radiator increased linearly as a function of mixed temperature for individual valves, while it increased parabolically with temperature when two mixing valves were placed in series.

Mastropietro, AJ↗
NASA NTRS1991

Calorimetric output power measurements on a CW 20 kW 7.16 GHz microwave transmitter

A calorimetric measurement technique developed for NASA's Deep Space Network (DSN) transmitters that does not require data on the coolant's thermal parameters is described. Calibration of the measurement system is achieved by measuring the DC input power to the klystron and relating coolant temperature increases to this known power dissipation. Agreement between calorimetric and electrical measurements of total system power was good, the difference being less than 2 percent. The operation of the system was not greatly affected by the composition of the coolant, which was varied from pure water to 40 percent ethylene glycol by mass. Good accuracy was also shown at output power levels, which varied over a 3.6:1 range.

Perez, Raul M.↗
NASA NTRS2013

A Universal Scaling for the Energetics of Relativistic Jets From Black Hole Systems

Black holes generate collimated, relativistic jets which have been observed in gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), microquasars, and at the center of some galaxies (active galactic nuclei; AGN). How jet physics scales from stellar black holes in GRBs to the supermassive ones in AGNs is still unknown. Here we show that jets produced by AGNs and GRBs exhibit the same correlation between the kinetic power carried by accelerated particles and the gamma-ray luminosity, with AGNs and GRBs lying at the low and high-luminosity ends, respectively, of the correlation. This result implies that the efficiency of energy dissipation in jets produced in black hole systems is similar over 10 orders of magnitude in jet power, establishing a physical analogy between AGN and GRBs.

Nemmen, R. S.↗
NASA NTRS1995

A Microinstrumentation System for Remote Environmental Monitoring

This paper reports on a hybrid micro-instrumentation system that includes a embedded micro-controller, transducers for monitoring environmental parameters, interface/readout electronics for linking the controller and the transducers, and custom circuitry for system power management. Sensors for measuring temperature, pressure, humidity, and acceleration are included in the initial system, which operates for more than 180 days and dissipates less than 700 microW from a 6V battery supply. The sensor scan rate is adaptive and can be event triggered. The system communicates internally over a 1 MHz, nine-line intramodule sensor bus and outputs data over a hard-wired serial interface or a 315MHz wireless link. The use of folding platform packaging allows an internal system volume as small as 5 cc.

Mason, Andrew↗
NASA NTRS1997

The Growth of Planets From Planetesimals

Modern theories of star and planet formation, which are based upon observations of the Solar System and of young stars and their environments, state that planets grow from circumstellar disks of gas and dust. Interstellar dust and/or disk condensates settle towards the midplane of the disk and agglomerate into kilometer-sized solid bodies known as planetesimals. These planetesimals then interact with one another via gravitational forces and collisions. Terrestrial planets are believed to grow via pairwise accretion until the spacing of planetary orbits becomes large enough that the configuration is stable for the age of the system. Giant planets begin their growth in the same manner as do terrestrial planets, but they become -massive enough that they are able to accumulate substantial amounts of gas before the protoplanetary disk dissipates. Models for the formation of our Solar System and of the giant planets found in recent radial velocity searches are discussed.

Lissauer, Jack J.↗