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At least 289 records · Page 16
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2001

Solar Dynamo Driven by Periodic Flow Oscillation

We have proposed that the periodicity of the solar magnetic cycle is determined by wave mean flow interactions analogous to those driving the Quasi Biennial Oscillation in the Earth's atmosphere. Upward propagating gravity waves would produce oscillating flows near the top of the radiation zone that in turn would drive a kinematic dynamo to generate the 22-year solar magnetic cycle. The dynamo we propose is built on a given time independent magnetic field B, which allows us to estimate the time dependent, oscillating components of the magnetic field, (Delta)B. The toroidal magnetic field (Delta)B(sub phi) is directly driven by zonal flow and is relatively large in the source region, (Delta)(sub phi)/B(sub Theta) much greater than 1. Consistent with observations, this field peaks at low latitudes and has opposite polarities in both hemispheres. The oscillating poloidal magnetic field component, (Delta)B(sub Theta), is driven by the meridional circulation, which is difficult to assess without a numerical model that properly accounts for the solar atmosphere dynamics. Scale-analysis suggests that (Delta)B(sub Theta) is small compared to B(sub Theta) in the dynamo region. Relative to B(sub Theta), however, the oscillating magnetic field perturbations are expected to be transported more rapidly upwards in the convection zone to the solar surface. As a result, (Delta)B(sub Theta) (and (Delta)B(sub phi)) should grow relative to B(sub Theta), so that the magnetic fields reverse at the surface as observed. Since the meridional and zonai flow oscillations are out of phase, the poloidal magnetic field peaks during times when the toroidal field reverses direction, which is observed. With the proposed wave driven flow oscillation, the magnitude of the oscillating poloidal magnetic field increases with the mean rotation rate of the fluid. This is consistent with the Bode-Blackett empirical scaling law, which reveals that in massive astrophysical bodies the magnetic moment tends to increase with the angular momentum of the fluid.

Mayr, Hans G.↗
NASA NTRS2015

Process Control for Precipitation Prevention in Space Water Recovery Systems

The ability to recover and purify water through physiochemical processes is crucial for realizing long‐term human space missions, including both planetary habitation and space travel. Because of their robust nature, rotary distillation systems have been actively pursued by NASA as one of the technologies for water recovery from wastewater primarily comprised of human urine. A specific area of interest is the prevention of the formation of solids that could clog fluid lines and damage rotating equipment. To mitigate the formation of solids, operational constraints are in place that limits such that the concentration of key precipitating ions in the wastewater brine are below the theoretical threshold. This control in effected by limiting the amount of water recovered such that the risk of reaching the precipitation threshold is within acceptable limits. The water recovery limit is based on an empirically derived worst case wastewater composition. During the batch process, water recovery is estimated by monitoring the throughput of the system. NASA Johnson Space Center is working on means of enhancing the process controls to increase water recovery. Options include more precise prediction of the precipitation threshold. To this end, JSC is developing a means of more accurately measuring the constituent of the brine and/or wastewater. Another means would be to more accurately monitor the throughput of the system. In spring of 2015, testing will be performed to test strategies for optimizing water recovery without increasing the risk of solids formation in the brine.

Sargusingh, Miriam↗
NASA NTRS2018

Active Thermal Architecture for Cryogenic Optical Instrumentation (ATACOI)

The Active Thermal Architecture for Cryogenic Optical Instrumentation (ATACOI) project will demonstrate an advanced thermal control system for CubeSats and enable the use of cryogenic electro-optical instrumentation on small satellite platforms. Specifically, the project focuses on the development of a deployable solar tracking radiator, a rotationally flexible rotary union fluid joint, and a thermal/vibrational isolation system for miniature cryogenic detectors. This technology will represent a significant improvement over the current state of the art for CubeSat thermal control, which generally relies on simple passive and conductive methods.

small spacecraft↗
NASA NTRS2014

Dual Fan Separator within the Universal Waste Management System

Since NASA's new spacecraft in development for both LEO and Deep Space capability have considerable crew volume reduction in comparison to the Space Shuttle, the need became apparent for a smaller commode. In response the Universal Waste Management System (UWMS) was designed, resulting in an 80% volume reduction from the last US commode, while enhancing performance. The ISS WMS and previous shuttle commodes have a fan supplying air flow to capture feces and a separator to capture urine and separate air from the captured air/urine mixture. The UWMS combined both rotating equipment components into a single unit, referred to at the Dual Fan Separator (DFS). The combination of these components resulted in considerable packaging efficiency and weight reduction, removing inter-component plumbing, individual mounting configurations and required only a single motor and motor controller, in some of the intended UWMS platform applications the urine is pumped to the ISS Urine Processor Assembly (UPA) system. It requires the DFS to include less than 2.00% air inclusion, by volume, in the delivered urine. The rotational speed needs to be kept as low as possible in centrifugal urine separators to reduce air inclusion in the pumped fluid, while fans depend on rotational speed to develop delivered head. To satisfy these conflicting requirements, a gear reducer was included, allowing the fans to rotate at a much higher speed than the separator. This paper outlines the studies and analysis performed to develop the DFS configuration. The studies included a configuration trade study, dynamic stability analysis of the rotating bodies and a performance analysis of included labyrinth seals. NASA is considering a program to fly the UWMS aboard the ISS as a flight experiment. The goal of this activity is to advance the Technical Readiness Level (TRL) of the DFS and determine if the concept is ready to be included as part of the flight experiment deliverable.

Stapleton, Tom↗
NASA NTRS1999

Monitoring Global Geophysical Fluids by Space Geodesy

Since its establishment on 1/1/1998 by the International Earth Rotation Service, the Coordinating Center for Monitoring Global Geophysical Fluids (MGGF) and its seven Special Bureaus have engaged in an effort to support and facilitate the understanding of the geophysical fluids in global geodynamics research. Mass transports in the atmosphere-hydrosphere-solid Earth-core system (the "global geophysical fluids") will cause the following geodynamic effects on a broad time scale: (1) variations in the solid Earth's rotation (in length-of-day and polar motion/nutation) via the conservation of angular momentum and effected by torques at the fluid-solid Earth interface; (2) changes in the global gravitational field according to Newton's gravitational law; and (3) motion in the center of mass of the solid Earth relative to that of the whole Earth ("geocenter") via the conservation of linear momentum. These minute signals have become observable by space geodetic techniques, primarily VLBI, SLR, GPS, and DORIS, with ever increasing precision/accuracy and temporal/spatial resolution. Each of the seven Special Bureaus within MGGF is responsible for calculations related to a specific Earth component or aspect -- Atmosphere, Ocean, Hydrology, Ocean Tides, Mantle, Core, and Gravity/Geocenter. Angular momenta and torques, gravitational coefficients, and geocenter shift will be computed for geophysical fluids based on global observational data, and from state-of-the-art models, some of which assimilate such data. The computed quantities, algorithm and data formats are standardized. The results are archived and made available to the scientific research community. This paper reports the status of the MGGF activities and current results.

Chao, Benjamin F.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Fine particulate capture device

To capture fine particulate matter in a gas such as air, a dielectric fluid is directed to the center of whichever face of a rotating disc is exposed to the air flow. The disc is comprised of two or more segments which bear opposite electrostatic potentials. As the dielectric fluid is centrifuged towards the periphery of the rotating disc, the fluid becomes charged to the same potential as the segment over which it is passing. Particulate matter is attracted to the charged segment and is captured by the fluid. The fluid then carries the captured particulate matter to a collection device such as a toroidal container disposed around the periphery of the disc. A grounded electrically-conductive ring may be disposed at the outer periphery of the disc to neutralize the captured particles and the fluid before they enter the container.

Peterson, V. S.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Optimization of the parameters for a rotating, mixed-phase reactor

The motion of small, monodisperse particles in fluid was studied in a horizontal, cylindrical container rotating about its axis. One instigation for the study was the common requirement for mixed-phase, chemical or biological reactors to maintain particles in suspension for extended periods. A cylindrical, rotating reactor can allow long-term particle suspension without particle collisions and resulting agglomeration. The purpose of this study was to verify parametric effects and optimize the time of particle suspension. The theoretical and experimental results were obtained for inert, constant-diameter particles of nearly neutral buoyancy. The centrifugal buoyancy and gravitation terms were both included in the equations of motion. Laser illumination, photography and computer imaging were used to measure experimental particle concentration.

Cleland, J. G.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Development of a rotary fluid transfer coupling and support mechanism for space station

A design was developed for a rotary fluid coupling to transfer coolant fluids (primarily anhydrous ammonia) across rotating joints of the space station. Development testing using three conceptual designs yielded data which were used to establish the design of a multipass fluid coupling capable of handling three fluid circuits. In addition, a mechanism to support the fluid coupling and allow an astronaut to replace the coupling quickly and easily was designed.

Bradley, O. H., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Fluid-film bearing damper

Device for rotating machinery has noncircular support that allows changes in dynamic properties. Device can be controlled for either manually or automatically altering its stiffness and damping properties without interruption of operation.

Cunningham, R. E.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Fluid stress disturbance activated by gravity jitters induced slosh waves in microgravity

A full scale Gravity Probe-B (GP-B) Spacecraft propellant dewar tank subjected to various frequencies of gravity jitter have been investigated. Excitation of slosh waves induced by gravity jitter are simulated. Results show that fluid stress distribution exerted on the walls of the rotating dewar are closely related to the characteristics of slosh waves excited on the liquid-vapor interface in the rotating dewar tank. Slosh wave excitations shift the fluid mass distribution in the dewar tank which impose time dependent variations in GP-B Spacecraft moment of inertia, angular momentum, and torque produced by imbalance fluid stresses. This can provide a set of data leading toward the control of spacecraft imbalance caused by the uneven fluid stress distribution from slosh waves.

Hung, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Use of rotation to suppress thermosolutal convection in directionally solidified binary alloys

Effects of rotation on onset of convection during plane-front directional solidification of Pb-Sn and the pseudobinary system mercury cadmium telluride (Hg(1-x)Cd(x)Te), and on dendritic solidification of Pb-Sn have been studied by means of linear stability analysis. Incorporating Coriolis and centrifugal accelerations into the momentum equation of Coriell et al., we find that under realistic processing conditions, a large degree of stabilization can be achieved using modest rotation rates for both Pb-Sn and mercury cadmium telluride. At a growth velocity of 5 micron/sec and nominal liquid-side temperature gradient of 200 K/cm in Pb-Sn, rotation at 500 rpm results in a hundredfold increase in the critical Sn concentration. Large increases in the maximum allowable growth velocity at fixed melt composition are also attainable with modest rotation rates. The effect is amplified under conditions of reduced gravitational acceleration. For Hg(1-x)Cd(x)Te, we have also studied the nonrotating case. The key differences are due to the existence of a composition range for Hg(1-x)Cd(x)Te in which the melt density has a local maximum as a function of temperature. When the melt solidifies by cooling from below, the liquid density may initially increase with distance above the interface, before ultimately decreasing as the melt temperature increases above the value at which the local density maximum occurs. In contrast to the Pb-Sn case where density depends monotonically on temperature and composition, for Hg(1-x)Cd(x)Te there exists a critical value of the growth velocity above which plane-front solidification is unstable for all bulk CdTe mole fractions. Again, rotation leads to significant inhibition of onset. We identify the predicted stabilization with the Taylor-Proudman mechanism by which rotation inhibits thermal convection in a single-component fluid heated from below. In a binary liquid undergoing solidification, rotation inhibits the onset of buoyancy-driven convection, and has no effect on the short-wavelength morphological instability. At large growth velocities, the plane-front interface between liquid and solid becomes unstable with respect to a morphological instability and solidification occurs dendritically, with a mushy zone of dendrites and interdendritic fluid separating the solid from the melt. For the Pb-Sn system, rotation substantially suppresses the onset of convection in the mushy zone and in the overlying liquid, holding open the promise that rotation can suppress freckling and other macrosegregation defects.

Pearlstein, Arne J.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Oscillations of a compound drop system undergoing rotation

A compound liquid-drop system is comprised of three immiscible concentric fluids: a core fluid of density p(i) surrounded by a shell of density p(s) which is embedded in a medium of density p(o). In this analysis, the fluids are incompressible and inviscid. The effect of rotation upon the modes of oscillation of a compound drop is investigated. Rotation rate is considered as a small perturbation of the normal modes of the compound drop, thus introducing the effects of a Coriolis force and a centrifugal distortion.

Lyell, M. J.↗
NASA NTRS2019

Operational Stability Limits in Rotating Detonation Engine Numerical Simulations

An instability is described which arises in computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations of semi-idealized rotating detonation engines (RDE) configured with a throat at the exit. Its existence is verified by examining output from two independently developed CFD codes simulating the same configuration and producing solutions that agree well. The instability is shown to be thermo-acoustic in that a spatial integral of the product of pressure and heat release fluctuations develops a regular oscillation which grows in time. The instability can become severe enough to cause detonation failure. Its onset is shown to be closely linked to the size of the exit throat and the size of the inlet restriction; both parameters that strongly influence RDE performance. It is shown that the instability places a cap on ideal RDEperformance, but that an optimized exhaust throat and inlet restriction combination still yields substantial pressure gain. Other parametric sensitivities are also examined in terms ofinstability growth. These include axial length, inlet manifold pressure, and air-fuel ratio.

Paxson, Daniel E.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Dual mode actuator

Compact mechanism functions under automatic control, manual control, or both. Output shaft rotation is controlled automatically by two hydraulic cylinders or manually by movement of input lever. Automatic control movement is isolated from manual-control movement by adjustment of force on piston spring. Actuator can be modified to control straight line position rather than rotation, or to open valves that regulate fluid flow in actuator, thus creating special movements other than simple rotation.

Rick, S. C.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Apparatus for mixing solutions in low gravity environments

An apparatus is disclosed for allowing mixing of solutions in low gravity environments so as to carry out crystallization of proteins and other small molecules or other chemical syntheses, under conditions that maximize crystal growth and minimize disruptive turbulent effects. The apparatus is comprised of a housing, a plurality of chambers, and a cylindrical rotatable valve disposed between at least two of the chambers, said valve having an internal passageway so as to allow fluid movement between the chambers by rotation of the valve. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, a valve is provided having an additional internal passage way so that fluid from a third chamber can be mixed with the fluids of the first two chambers. This alternate embodiment of the invention is particularly desirable when it is necessary to provide a termination step to the crystal growth, or if a second synthetic step is required.

Carter, Daniel C.↗
NASA NTRS1993

High-temperature, high-pressure oxygen metering valve

A control valve includes a body defining a central cavity arranged between a fluid inlet and outwardly-diverging first and second fluid outlets respectively disposed in a common transverse plane. A valve member is arranged in the cavity for rotation between first and second operating positions where a transverse fluid passage through the valve member alternatively communicates the fluid inlet with one or the other of the fluid outlets. To minimize fluid turbulence when the valve member is rotated to an alternate operating position, the fluid passage has a convergent entrance for maintaining the passage in permanent communication with the fluid inlet as well as an oblong exit opening with spaced side walls for enabling the exit opening to temporarily span the first and second fluid outlets as the valve member is turned between its respective operating positions.

Christianson, Rollin C.↗
NASA NTRS2005

Lunar Fluid Core and Solid-Body Tides

Variations in rotation and orientation of the Moon are sensitive to solid-body tidal dissipation, dissipation due to relative motion at the fluid-core/solid-mantle boundary, and tidal Love number k2 [1,2]. There is weaker sensitivity to flattening of the core-mantle boundary (CMB) [2-5] and fluid core moment of inertia [1]. Accurate Lunar Laser Ranging (LLR) measurements of the distance from observatories on the Earth to four retroreflector arrays on the Moon are sensitive to lunar rotation and orientation variations and tidal displacements. Past solutions using the LLR data have given results for dissipation due to solid-body tides and fluid core [1] plus Love number [1-5]. Detection of CMB flattening has been improving [3,5] and now seems significant. This strengthens the case for a fluid lunar core.

Williams, J. G.↗