Research and development of silicon solar cells for low solar intensity and low temperature applications
Research and development of silicon solar cells for low solar intensity and low temperature operation on Jupiter mission
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Research and development of silicon solar cells for low solar intensity and low temperature operation on Jupiter mission
Thermal feedback theory for silicon junction FET operating at low temperatures
Bonding of flat metal surfaces utilizes low temperature melting intermediate material, pulse heating, and pressure application to produce strong, electrically conductive bond resistant to melting at temperatures well above melting point of intermediate material. Little or no intermediate material remains at the interface.
An analysis of the performance of a low-temperature Brayton space radiator is presented. The cylindrical radiator with circumferential tubes was subjected to an equivalent sink temperature environment that varied along the fluid flow path. The radiator performance, as measured by fluid outlet temperature, was found to be dependent on the orbital position and the location of the radiator inlet relative to the sink temperature environment. An approximate dynamic analysis of sun-shade variations in performance is included.
Test data obtained for a low temperature phase change material (PCM) canisters are presented. The canister was designed to provide up to 30 w-hrs of storage capacity at approximately -90 C with an overall thermal conductance which is greater than 8 w/deg C. N-heptane which is an n-paraffin and has a -90.6 C freezing point was used as the working fluid. The canister was fabricated from aluminum and has an aluminum honeycomb core. Its void volume permits service temperatures up to 70 C. Results obtained from component and system's tests indicate well defined melting and freezing points which are repeatable and within 1 C of each other. Subcooling effects are less than 0.5 C and are essentially negligible. Measured storage capacities are within 94 to 88% the theoretical.
Complex carbon molecules and ions are ubiquitous in space and form the building blocks of carbonaceous cosmic dust grains, ultimately contributing to the formation of planets. Here, we report the first experimental investigations of the low temperature chemical pathways leading to the production of cosmic grain analogs from gas phase molecular precursors in order to better understand the evolution of cosmic carbon. The experiments were performed using the COsmic SImulation Chamber (COSmIC) to generate and characterize grains formed from gas phase precursors under controlled conditions representative of astrophysical environments [1]. Using COSmIC, it is possible to investigate the evolution of cosmic carbon from the formation of neutral and ionized gas phase hydrocarbons and PAHs [2], to carbon grains [3, 4]. This is achieved by using a discharge nozzle to (1) produce an adiabatic jet expansion and cool down Ar-hydrocarbon/PAH gas mixtures to astrophysically relevant temperature (150 K) before inducing chemistry by generating a plasma discharge in the stream of the expansion. This plasma-induced chemistry results in the formation of complex molecules and solid particles, analogs of cosmic grains. Solid grains are produced in-situ in the plasma expansion, carried by the accelerated gas in the expansion, and collected on substrates placed a few centimeters downstream of the electrodes. The results of a preliminary solid phase ex-situ analysis of cosmic grain analogs produced at low temperature in COSmIC from gas mixtures including molecular precursors of cosmic carbon grains, i.e., such as CH4 and C2H2 found in circumstellar ejecta of late C stars [3] as well as PAHs ubiquitously detected in IR emission bands seen in galactic and extragalactic environments [4] will be discussed. Scanning Electron Microscopy imaging was used to provide insight on the morphology and growth structure of the grains produced in COSmIC, and to investigate how the precursors used to produce the grains affect these parameters [3]. Laser desorption mass spectrometry was used to identify the molecules making up the main structures within the condensed grains [4]. NIR to FIR optical properties are characterized to provide critical information (functional groups, optical constants) to the scientific community, for use in radiative transfer models in particular, and to help decipher and enhance the return data from space observations.
Psychotolerance, as an adaptation for surviving in extreme environments, is widespread among mesophilic microorganisms. Physico-chemical factors such as pressure, red-ox potential, pH and salinity could significantly alter the features of ecosystems by providing liquid water at subzero temperatures. Furthermore, organisms can respond to temperature changes by several known mechanisms, including changing the conformation capacities of constitutional proteins or by the synthesis of mucopolysaccharides around the cell wall and membrane. Such protective mechanisms make it possible for cells to not only passively survive low temperatures in a state of anabiosis, but also to be capable of actively metabolizing substrates and reproducing normally. The physiological and biochemical characteristics of the species, as well as genetics, could be remarkably changed due to adaptation and surviving in extreme environments. The cold shock genes of some of the studied strains of psychotolerant facultative anaerobes were reported previously. In this paper we present experimental data for psychotolerant, non spore-forming, facultative anaerobes isolated from geographically different cold regions of our planet. We show the growth response on changing from anaerobic conditions to aerobic with cultivation at low temperatures.
Low-temperature chemical starting of combined jp-4 nitric acid propellant for low-thrust rocket engine using three-fluid propellant valve
Results from research on catalytic recombination of CO-O2 for stable closed-cycle operation of CO2 lasers hold much promise for a variety of technology transfer. Expansion of CO2 laser remote sensing applications toward chemical detection and pollution monitoring would certainly be expected. However, the catalysts themselves may be especially effective in low-temperature oxidation of a number of chemicals in addition to CO. It is therefore of interest to compare the CO-O2 catalysts with chemical systems designed for chemical sensing, air purification and process catalysis. Success in understanding the catalytic mechanisms of the recombination of CO-O2 could help to shed light on how catalyst systems operate. New directions in low-temperature oxidation catalysts, coatings for chemical sensors and sorbents for air purification could well emerge.
Fully-depleted silicon on insulator transitors were characterized at low temperatures for performance reliability.
Laboratory-tested process demonstrates technical feasibility of new low temperature chemical pretreatment of new coal that yields purified product with low sulfur, oxygen, and inorganic ash content.
Low temperature battery - development of pasted plate cathode construction to extend cell life
Low solar absorption emissivity coatings for low temperature spacecraft radiators - ultraviolet radiation tests
Low temperature simulation of hypersonic melting ablation and wave patterns of gas-liquid interface
Cryoentrainment pump study and behavior of nude ionization gages at low temperature
An approach for the development of a practical low temperature (293 K-311 K/68 F-100 F) curing adhesive system based on a family of amide/ester resins was studied and demonstrated. The work was conducted on resin optimization and adhesive compounding studies. An improved preparative method was demonstrated which involved the reaction of an amine-alcohol precursor, in a DMF solution with acid chloride. Experimental studies indicated that an adhesive formulation containing aluminum powder provided the best performance when used in conjunction with a commercial primer.
This paper describes the Low Temperature Research Facility program now under development at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. This program will develop the experiments and cryogenic facility to fly experiments requiring temperatures in the liquid helium range, from the superfluid range (1.6 K) to the critical point (5.2 K). A shuttle facility is planned for 1998. It will be flown about every two years after that time. A free flyer is also being evaluated for the end of the decade or early in the next century. A brief discussion of the quality of micro-gravity available in various carriers is also given.
Low temperature performance of a 150 W, 50 kHz, 24/48 V boost PWM dc-to-dc converter is reported. The efficiency of the converter using a molypermalloy powder (MPP) core based inductor went up from 94% at room temperature (23 C) to 95.9% at liquid nitrogen temperature (-196 C). A BSCCO based high temperature superconducting (HTS) inductor with a transition temperature of approximately -158 C was compared to a MPP core based inductor in terms of the power converter performance at liquid nitrogen temperature. The use of the HTS inductor in the converter tested yielded no significant performance improvement over the same converter with the MPP inductor. The experimental results are discussed along with the HTS inductor characteristics.