SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “particulate”

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.

SourceResearch connectionFrom yearThrough year

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 199 records · Page 11

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

NASA NTRS1975

Elemental composition of suspended particulates as functions of space and time in Cleveland, Ohio

An approach to the analysis of a very large elemental concentration data set. The particular data considered was generated by instrumental neutron activation and emission spectroscopy analyses of over 750 24-hour ambient air particulate samples collected at 16 sites in Cleveland, Ohio, during the 15 months from August 1971 thru October 1972. Examples are presented that show the use of multiple approaches to interpreting the data, including pairwise correlation statistics, selective data plotting and cluster analysis.

Neustadter, H. E.↗

NASA NTRS1975

A photometric function for diffuse reflection by particulate materials

A photometric function is proposed to describe the diffuse reflection of radiation by particulate materials. Both multiple scattering and the dominant effects of particle shadowing are included and the function is verified by comparisons with the photometries of laboratory surfaces. Brightness measurements of planetary and other diffusely scattering surfaces can be used to calculate the brightness for geometries other than those used in the measurements and for which the Minnaert function does not apply. The measurements also can be directly related to such surface characteristics as particle size, single-particle albedo, and compactness.

Meador, W. E.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Coronagraph particulate measurements. Skylab flight experiment T025

Major results of the Skylab T025 Coronagraph experiment designed to monitor the particulate contamination about the spacecraft and to study the earth's atmospheric aerosol distribution are presented. A model for comet outbursts based on the properties of amorphous ice and ground based narrow-band and white light photography of comet Kohoutek ten days to perihelion are included. The effect of atmospheric refraction on the analysis of the T025 atmospheric data was also investigated.

Greenberg, J. M.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Particulate exhaust emissions from an experimental combustor

The concentration of dry particulates (carbon) in the exhaust of an experimental gas turbine combustor was measured at simulated takeoff operating conditions and correlated with the standard smoke-number measurement. Carbon was determined quantitatively from a sample collected on a fiberglass filter by converting the carbon in the smoke sample to carbon dioxide and then measuring the volume of carbon dioxide formed by gas chromatography. At a smoke of 25 (threshold of visibility of the smoke plume for large turbojets) the carbon concentration was 2.8 mg carbon/cu m exhaust gas, which is equivalent to an emission index of 0.17 g carbon/kg fuel.

Norgren, C. T.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Determination of optical parameters of atmospheric particulates from ground-based polarimeter measurements

This paper describes the theoretical analysis that is required to infer, from polarimeter measurements of skylight, the size distribution, refractive index and abundance of particulates in the atmosphere. To illustrate the viability of the method, some data obtained at UCLA is analyzed and the atmospheric parameters are derived. The explicit demonstration of the redundancy in the description of aerosol distributions suggests that radiation field measurements will not uniquely determine the modal radius of the size distribution. In spite of this nonuniqueness information useful to heat budget calculations can be derived.

Kuriyan, J. G.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Ice particulates in the mesosphere

The observations of noctilucent clouds, the measurements of hydrated and of large immobile ions, and the light-scattering layer detected by the OGO-6 satellite suggest the presence of particulates, probably ice, in the mesosphere. The correlation between temperature and positive ion conductivity where the vapor pressure over ice becomes greater than atmospheric pressure in the stratopause region indicates the presence of ice crystals throughout the mesosphere over a wide range of latitudes during all seasons. Between one and ten billion ice crystals per cubic meter of order 10 nanometers in diameter can dominate ionization loss processes in the mesosphere, and can explain a variety of experimental observations, including observed solar angle dependence and seasonal variability of electron density.

Chesworth, E. T.↗

NASA NTRS1974

In situ measurements of particulate number density and size distribution from an aircraft

Two different commercial particulate measuring instruments were flown aboard the NASA Convair 990. A condensation nuclei monitor was utilized to measure particles larger than approximately 0.003 micron in diameter. A specially designed pressurization system was used with this monitor at cabin altitude pressure. A near-forward light scattering counter was used to measure the number and size distribution particles in the size range from 0.5 to 5 microns and greater in diameter. Considerable variation in number density was encountered for both classes of particles at the test altitudes ranging from 5 to 12 km. Presence of clouds could be detected by the light scattering instrument because large numbers of particles would then be registered by the instrument, especially in the size range above 5.0 microns in diameter.

Briehl, D.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Extensive 1-year survey of trace elements and compounds in the airborne suspended particulate matter in Cleveland, Ohio

Concentrations of 75 chemical constituents in the airborne particulate matter were measured in Cleveland, Ohio, during 1971 and 1972. Values covering a 1-year period (45 to 50 sampling days) at each of 16 sites are presented for 60 elements. A lesser number of values is given for sulfate, nitrate, fluoride, acidity, 10 polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon compounds, and the aliphatic hydrocarbon compounds as a group. Methods used included instrumental neutron activation, emission spectroscopy, gas chromatography, combustion techniques, and colorimetry. Uncertainties in the concentrations associated with the sampling procedures, the analysis methods, the use of several analytical facilities, and samples with concentrations below the detection limits are evaluated in detail. The data is discussed in relation to other studies and source origins. The trace constituent concentrations as a function of wind direction are used to suggest a practical method for air pollution source identification.

King, R. B.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Analysis of benzo(a)pyrene in airborne particulates by gas chromatography

A routine method was developed to measure benzo(a)pyrene in airborne particulates. Samples were collected on a filter and the organic portion was extracted with cyclohexane. The polynuclear hydrocarbon (PNHC) fraction was separated from the aliphatics by column chromatography. An internal standard was added to the extract and a portion of it was injected into a gas chromatograph. Although the gas chromatographic method has often been reported in the literature, satisfactory separation of benzo(a)pyrene and benzo(e)pyrene has not been achieved. With the introduction of a nematic liquid crystal as the stationary phase good separation is now possible.

Luedecke, E.↗

NASA NTRS1976

A four-channel portable solar radiometer for measuring particulate and/or aerosol opacity and concentration of NO2 and SO2 in stack plumes

Solar absorption radiometry has been investigated as a method of measuring stackplume effluents. A simple and inexpensive instrument was constructed for observing the sun at four wavelengths: 800, 600, 400, and 310 nm. Higher wavelength channels measured the effect of the particulates and NO2, and an ultraviolet channel measured the contribution of SO2 to the attenuation. Stack-plume measurements of opacity and concentration of NO2 and SO2 were in basic agreement with in-stack measurements. The major limitation on the use of the radiometer is the requirement for an accessible viewing position which allows the sun-plume-observer relationship to be attained. It was concluded that the solar radiometer offers an inexpensive method for monitoring plume effluents when the viewing position is not restricted.

Exton, R. J.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Mean effective size and refractive index of transparent atmospheric particulates

It is demonstrated that the scattering ratio-principle originally restricted to exact forward and exact backward scattering, and to values of the size parameter and of the product (refractive index x size parameter) less than 0.8 has a much wider applicability. After relaxing these stringent conditions, it is also shown that this principle can be retained as the basis of an experimental technique for retrieving the mean effective size and refractive index of transparent atmospheric particulates.

Fymat, A. L.↗

NASA NTRS1976

One-dimensional wave propagation in particulate suspensions

One-dimensional small-amplitude wave motion in a two-phase system consisting of an inviscid gas and a cloud of suspended particles is analyzed using a continuum theory of suspensions. Laplace transform methods are used to obtain several approximate solutions. Properties of acoustic wave motion in particulate suspensions are inferred from these solutions.

Rochelle, S. G.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Preliminary study of contaminant particulates around Skylab

Techniques originally developed for the Skylab T025 contamination experiment were applied to S052 white-light coronagraph data in a preliminary study to investigate particulates around Skylab. Periods were selected which contained some contamination, even though there were no apparent dumps or vents during these periods. Velocity and size distributions were determined from optical data for particles within 200 meters of the spacecraft. Both photographic (61 particle tracks) and video (34 particles) observations yield an upper limit on particle radius of 100 micrometers. Selected photometric data from the S073 zodiacal light experiment during mission SL-2 were also examined for evidence of contamination.

Schuerman, D. W.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Elemental composition of airborne particulates and source identification - An extensive one year survey

Concentrations of 60 chemical elements in the airborne particulate matter were measured at 16 sites in Cleveland, OH over a 1 year period during 1971 and 1972 (45 to 50 sampling days). Analytical methods used included instrumental neutron activation, emission spectroscopy, and combustion techniques. Uncertainties in the concentrations associated with the sampling procedures, the analytical methods, the use of several analytical facilities, and samples with concentrations below the detection limits are evaluated in detail. The data are discussed in relation to other studies and source origins. The trace constituent concentrations as a function of wind direction are used to suggest a practical method for air pollution source identification.

King, R. B.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Coronagraphic technique to infer the nature of the Skylab particulate environment

Photographs taken with the High Altitude Observatory's White Light Coronagraph (Skylab experiment S052) are shown to contain information on the sizes and velocities of contaminant particulates around Skylab. Sizes as small as 5 micron (radius) are derived for particles as far away as 200 m from the spacecraft. The random error in the size derivation is about 30%, and no particle larger than 120 micron was observed. Transverse velocities are determined to within 0.08 m/sec and radial velocities to within 9 m/sec. The S052 data bank contains about 3500 contaminated frames from which the nature of the Skylab environment can be inferred.

Schuerman, D. W.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Compounds in airborne particulates - Salts and hydrocarbons

Concentrations of 10 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), the aliphatics as a group, sulfate, nitrate, fluoride, acidity, and carbon in the airborne particulate matter were measured at 16 sites in Cleveland, OH over a 1-year period during 1971 and 1972. Analytical methods used included gas chromatography, colorimetry, and combustion techniques. Uncertainties in the concentrations associated with the sampling procedures, and the analytical methods are evaluated. The data are discussed relative to other studies and source origins. High concentrations downwind of coke ovens for 3,4 benzopyrene are discussed. Hydrocarbon correlation studies indicated no significant relations among compounds studied.

King, R. B.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Decomposition of N2O over particulate matter

Nitrous oxide is shown to undergo both a thermal and a photochemical decomposition at 296 K when it is adsorbed on various dry sands. The photochemical process occurs with light of wavelengths greater than 280 nm, where gaseous N2O does not absorb. At low pressures (less than 0.1 torr) the half-life for the thermal decomposition of nitrous oxide to nitrogen when placed in contact with about 5 gm of heat-treated Tunisian sand in a one-liter vessel was 350 + or - 35 days. Under certain photolytic conditions this half-life was reduced. The efficiency of the photolytic process for a particular sand depends on the pressure and on the wavelength of light. For Tunisian sand at 1.1 torr and with the full mercury arc, the destruction efficiency is about 0.00002 molecule/incident photon. These results indicate that particulate matter in the troposphere may be responsible for the decomposition of nitrous oxide and hence act as an atmospheric sink for N2O. However, moisture causes a drastic reduction in the number of molecules dissociated per incident photon.

Rebbert, R. E.↗

NASA NTRS1977

A stratospheric aerosol model with perturbations induced by the space shuttle particulate effluents

A one dimensional steady state stratospheric aerosol model is developed that considers the subsequent perturbations caused by including the expected space shuttle particulate effluents. Two approaches to the basic modeling effort were made: in one, enough simplifying assumptions were introduced so that a more or less exact solution to the descriptive equations could be obtained; in the other approach very few simplifications were made and a computer technique was used to solve the equations. The most complex form of the model contains the effects of sedimentation, diffusion, particle growth and coagulation. Results of the perturbation calculations show that there will probably be an immeasurably small increase in the stratospheric aerosol concentration for particles larger than about 0.15 micrometer radius.

Rosen, J. M.↗