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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 253 records · Page 14
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1987

Soot loading in a generic gas turbine combustor

Variation in soot loading along the centerline of a generic gas turbine combustor was experimentally investigated. The 12.7-cm dia burner consisted of six sheet-metal louvers. Soot loading along the burner length was quantified by acquiring measurements first at the exit of the full-length combustor and then at upstream stations by sequential removal of liner louvers to shorten the burner length. Alteration of the flow field approaching removed louvers, maintaining a constant liner pressure drop. Burner exhaust flow was sampled at the burner centerline to determine soot mass concentration and smoke number. Characteristic particle size and number density, transmissivity of the exhaust flow, and local radiation from luminous soot particles in the exhaust flow were determined by optical techniques. Four test fuels were burned at three fuel-air ratios to determine fuel chemical property and flow temperature influences. Data were acquired at two combustor pressures. Particulate concentration data indicated a strong oxidation mechanism in the combustor secondary zone, though the oxidation was significantly affected by flow temperature. Soot production was directly related to fuel smoke point. Less soot production and lower secondary-zone oxidation rates were observed at reduced combustor pressure.

Eckerle, W. A.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Computational/experimental studies of isolated, single component droplet combustion

Isolated droplet combustion processes have been the subject of extensive experimental and theoretical investigations for nearly 40 years. The gross features of droplet burning are qualitatively embodied by simple theories and are relatively well understood. However, there remain significant aspects of droplet burning, particularly its dynamics, for which additional basic knowledge is needed for thorough interpretations and quantitative explanations of transient phenomena. Spherically-symmetric droplet combustion, which can only be approximated under conditions of both low Reynolds and Grashof numbers, represents the simplest geometrical configuration in which to study the coupled chemical/transport processes inherent within non-premixed flames. The research summarized here, concerns recent results on isolated, single component, droplet combustion under microgravity conditions, a program pursued jointly with F.A. Williams of the University of California, San Diego. The overall program involves developing and applying experimental methods to study the burning of isolated, single component droplets, in various atmospheres, primarily at atmospheric pressure and below, in both drop towers and aboard space-based platforms such as the Space Shuttle or Space Station. Both computational methods and asymptotic methods, the latter pursued mainly at UCSD, are used in developing the experimental test matrix, in analyzing results, and for extending theoretical understanding. Methanol, and the normal alkanes, n-heptane, and n-decane, have been selected as test fuels to study time-dependent droplet burning phenomena. The following sections summarizes the Princeton efforts on this program, describe work in progress, and briefly delineate future research directions.

Dryer, Frederick L.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Downward Diffusion Flame Spread and Extinction in Variable Gravitational Fields - Lunar and Martian Simulations

This paper describes experimental observations of downward, opposed-flow flame spreading made under partial-gravity conditions aboard NASA research aircraft. Flame spreading and flammability limit behavior of a thin cellulosic fuel tested at normal pressure in oxygen/nitrogen mixtures of 21 percent oxygen, by volume, and below are described over effective acceleration levels ranging from 0.05 to 0.6 times normal earth gravity. Downward burning flammability and flame spread rates are shown to be enhanced by reductions in gravitational acceleration. These data have fire safety implications for the planning of lunar and Martian outposts.

Sacksteder, Kurt R.↗
NASA NTRS1925

Atomization of liquid fuels. Part II

This report describes the design and operation of a nozzle to inject fuel into an engine. The design of the nozzle is open, without any compulsory or automatic stop-valve. The fuel injection is regulated simply by the pressure and the adjustment of the fuel pump.

FUELS - TESTS↗
NASA NTRS1925

Atomization of liquid fuels. Part I

In the present treatise we will consider chiefly the problem of solid injection in comparison with air injection. On leaving the valve or nozzle through one or more small openings, the fuel is split up into innumerable fine drops, which penetrate the combustion chamber in divergent directions in the form of a conical jet. The efficiency of this jet is judged from the following three viewpoints: 1) with respect to the fineness of atomization; 2) with respect to the direction or distribution of sprayed particles; 3) with respect to the penetration of the particles.

FUELS - TESTS↗
NASA NTRS2003

Droplet Combustion in a Slow Convective Flow

The influences of slow convective flow on droplet combustion, particularly in the low Reynolds number regime, have received very little attention in the past. Most studies in the literature are semi-empirical in nature and they were motivated by spray combustion applications in the moderate to high Reynolds number regime. None of the limited number of fundamental theoretical studies applicable to low Reynolds numbers have been verified by rigorous experimental data. Moreover, many unsteady phenomena associated with fluid-dynamic unsteadiness, such as impulsive starting or stopping of a burning droplet, or flow acceleration/deceleration effects, have not been investigated despite their importance in practical applications. In this study we investigate the effects of slow convection on droplet burning dynamics both experimentally and theoretically. The experimental portion of the study involves both ground-based experiments in the drop towers and future flight experiments on board the International Space Station. Heptane and methanol are used as test fuels, and this choice complements the quiescent-environment studies of the Droplet Combustion Experiment (DCE). An analytical model that employs the method of matched asymptotic expansions and uses the ratio of the convective velocity far from the droplet to the Stefan velocity at its surface as the small parameter for expansion has also been developed as a part of this investigation. Results from the ground-based experiments and comparison with the analytical model are presented in this report.

Nayagam, V.↗
NASA NTRS2016

Extreme Environments Test Capabilities at NASA GRC for Parker Hannifin Visit

The presentation includes general description on the following test facilities: Fuel Cell Testing Lab, Structural Dynamics Lab, Thermal Vacuum Test Facilities - including a description of the proposed Kinetic High Altitude Simulator concept, EMI Test Lab, and the Creek Road Cryogenic Complex - specifically the Small Multi-purpose Research Facility (SMiRF) and the Cryogenics Components Lab 7 (CCL-7).

Extreme Environments Test Capabilities↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Predicting contamination accumulation in facilities with limited data

In preparation for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) launch at Centre Spatial Guyanias (CSG) in French Guiana, particulate contamination accumulation predictions were necessary for each facility in which the hardware would be exposed because the Telescope would be uncovered in each of the facilities and had strict particulate requirements. These included facilities for final integration and testing, fueling, transportation and encapsulation. Minimal heritage data existed from CSG and previous launch campaigns to use as a basis for contamination predictions. Data from the Automatic Transfer Vehicle and Herschel & Planck launch campaigns were used in conjunction with facility monitoring data provided by ESA and data collected during JWST working group visits to CSG. These campaigns were conducted at varying cleanliness levels that were typically less stringent than JWST requirements. Each facility was evaluated using the data provided and likely performance improvement with the addition of High Efficiency Particulate Air filter (HEPA) banks operating when possible. Once the launch campaign was completed, the predicted fallout was compared with actual data collected throughout the campaign. Based on the actual measurements, JWST’s primary and secondary mirrors turned out to be much cleaner than what was predicted.

James Webb Space Telescope, contamination, cleanro↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Predicting contamination accumulation in facilities with limited data

"In preparation for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) launch at Centre Spatial Guyanias (CSG) in French Guiana, particulate contamination accumulation predictions were necessary for each facility in which the hardware would be exposed because the Telescope would be uncovered in each of the facilities and had strict particulate requirements. These included facilities for final integration and testing, fueling, transportation and encapsulation. Minimal heritage data existed from CSG and previous launch campaigns to use as a basis for contamination predictions. Data from the Automatic Transfer Vehicle and Herschel & Planck launch campaigns were used in conjunction with facility monitoring data provided by ESA and data collected during JWST working group visits to CSG. These campaigns were conducted at varying cleanliness levels that were typically less stringent than JWST requirements. Each facility was evaluated using the data provided and likely performance improvement with the addition of High Efficiency Particulate Air filter (HEPA) banks operating when possible. Once the launch campaign was completed, the predicted fallout was compared with actual data collected throughout the campaign. Based on the actual measurements, JWST’s primary and secondary mirrors are likely much cleaner than was expected with the predicted fallout in each facility. "

James Webb Space Telescope, contamination, cleanro↗
DOE OSTI2021

Swell Behavior of Elastomers with a Hydrothermal Liquefaction Bio-Crude and a Fast Pyrolysis Bio-Oil

The compatibility of seventeen elastomer materials with two heavy biofuels (fast pyrolysis bio-oil and hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) bio-crude) and diesel was assessed through volume change measurements. The elastomers included two fluorocarbons, six acrylonitrile rubbers (NBRs), and one each of fluorosilicone, neoprene, polyurethane, silicone, epichlorohydrin rubber (ECO), a blend of polyvinyl chloride and NBR (OZO), styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), hydrogenated NBR (HNBR) and ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM). The specimens were immersed in each test fuel for four weeks at 50°C and then measured for volume change. Afterwards, the specimens were dried, and the volume was remeasured. Ingeneral, the bio-oil produced unacceptable swelling in the fluoroelastomers, ECO, OZO, neoprene, polyurethane, SBR, HNBR, EPDM, silicone and five of the NBRs. In most cases, the HTL bio-crude produced lower (though still unacceptable) swelling than the bio-oil. Materials that showed good compatibility with the HTL biocrude were the fluoroelastomers, OZO, and silicone.

Kass, Michael↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

What’s Going on with Compact Fuel Element Environmental Test (CFEET)

Recently, space nuclear propulsion has again become a concept of high interest for deep space missions. A nuclear thermal engine can offer numerous benefits including the option of a mission abort along with shorter transit times for crewed missions. The compact fuel element environment test (CFEET) facility was first introduced in 2012 as a low cost alternative to the Nuclear Thermal Rocket Element Environmental Simulator (NTREES) where materials of interest are exposed to prototypical conditions inside a nuclear thermal engine, including elevated temperatures in the presence of a hydrogen flow. CFEET has become a reliable and recognizable instrument to test the survivability of potential fuel material under hot hydrogen at high temperatures. The furnace has undergone several changes and improvements over the last years. This presentation will focus on new upgrades to improve the processing conditions, temperature measurement accuracy, and to qualify CFEET for reaching temperatures of up to 2900K.

Jamelle K.P. Williams↗
DOE OSTI2022

Consensus DOE Advanced Fuels Campaign TREAT/SATS Test Plan [Slides]

This record is comprised of summary slides of the Combined TREAT-LOC & SATS Integral LOCA Experiment Plan. The experimental program has been developed to specifically address data gaps and opportunities identified through detailed review of the existing public knowledgebase on LOCA FFRD and specific experimental development for prototypic LOCA conditions for LWR systems. The test program relies on a unique combination of in-pile and out-of-pile experimental approaches to (1) provide clear tieback to the existing integral and semi-integral LOCA experiment database using state-of-the-art facilities. More importantly, this program will systematically investigate the impacts of: (2) prototypic HBu fuel and cladding thermomechanical behaviors under postulated LWR LOCA conditions never fully investigated before. These conditions correspond with prototypic decay-energy heat up (DEH) and stored-energy heat up (SEH) conditions. Unique TREAT capability will provide first evaluation of SEH conditions on HBu fuels. The test program includes an emphasis on developing improved mechanistic understanding of key phenomena through independent experimental systems, development of a database to support fuel performance modeling tools, world leading advanced materials characterization, and the most advanced approach to in-situ diagnostics ever deployed to evaluate FFRD. The results will represent a significant leap forward in the evaluation of prototypic conditions and novel data to support modeling development and validation, as well as to inform the technical basis of LOCA-induced FFRD.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Status Report on Fast Flux Test Facility Mechanistic Fuel Failure Experiment Analysis with BISON for Post Irradiation Examination Support

The renewed interest in metallic U-Zr nuclear fuel alloy has led to a drive for deeper understanding of the mechanisms driving the phenomena observed under irradiation conditions. The Department of Energy Advanced Fuel Campaign has developed infrastructure to support metallic fuel development, including Post Irradiation Examination (PIE) of legacy Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) Mechanistic Fuel Failure (MFF) experiments. The PIE performed on legacy FFTF MFF experiments gives insight on metallic fuel performance and can address the lack of knowledge and scarcity of reliable data identified in several studies over recent years. Unfortunately, PIE efforts can cost significant time and resources which can impede the progress of metallic U-Zr fuel development. Metallic U-Zr fuel performance modeling can be used to inform PIE efforts on regions of interest for relevant investigations and can help understand phenomena observed in PIE. This report demonstrates the current progress of FFTF MFF fuel performance simulations using the BISON fuel performance code and discusses the support provided by simulation to PIE efforts. Progress in temperature, profilometry, fission gas release, plenum pressure, and zirconium redistribution simulation results have been demonstrated.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Multi-Sensor Data Acquisition System for Process Monitoring

Idaho National Laboratory is building a new nuclear fuel cycle test bed. This fuel cycle test bed named “Beartooth” will give researchers the opportunity to study the nuclear fuel cycle process. The process operations include the use of centrifugal contactors and process flow for the purification of special nuclear material recovery in used fuel. This new research facility has the need to use non-traditional measurement sensors to determine the state-of-health of the solvent extraction process. These non-traditional sensors can also enhance nuclear nonproliferation supervision and other activities. The non-traditional sensors include accelerometers, acoustic, current, flow, colorimetric, temperature, pH and conductivity. The challenge behind deploying all these sensors, is the need for fast and reliable data collection. The data acquisition system (DAQ) needs to be capable of recording up to 12 accelerometers and/or acoustic microphones simultaneously at rates up to 12.8 kSamples/second/channel. This requires the need for a strong architecture and data collection solution. This summary identifies the system architecture, DAQ, and sensors needed to support non-traditional measurements in a solvent extraction process.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Transient Testing of Nuclear Fuels Performed in the Original Operation of TREAT (First Edition)

This report provides summary information on a selected set of key historic experiment series which were performed in the Transient Reactor Test Facility (TREAT) during its original operation from 1959-1994. The selected experiments are intended to illustrate the diversity in experiments which have been performed, and the range in capabilities of the TREAT reactor. Knowledge of those prior experiments provides a foundation for qualification and safety evaluation of numerous fuel forms already tested in TREAT, planning and designing new future tests, and for future TREAT operation.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Applications of Similarity Analysis of Reactivity-initiated Accident Experiments in TREAT

Experimental testing capabilities have been created to perform reactivity-initiated accident experiments in the Transient Reactor Test Facility for fuel safety testing of Accident Tolerant Fuel concepts and to extend the burnup limits for our current light water reactor fuel designs. Completely prototypic test conditions are not possible and compromises naturally have to be made. To date, the representativity of the small scale safety testing to a similar event in a commercial reactor is made by comparing a few specific phenomena of interest. The goal of this work is to apply similarity analysis as another metric to judge the representativity of in-pile safety tests to full-scaled accident scenario.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗