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At least 37 records · Page 2

Molecular dynamics of liquid SiO2 under high pressure

The molecular dynamics of pure SiO2 liquids was investigated up to pressures of 20 GPa at 4000 K using 252, 498, 864, and 1371 particles. The results obtained suggest that the pressure-induced maxima in the self-diffusion coefficients of both oxygen and silicon are dependent on the system size. In the case of larger systems, the maximum decreases and shifts to lower pressures. Changes in the velocity autocorrelation function with increasing pressure are described. The populations of anomalously coordinated silicon and oxygen are then discussed as a function of pressure and system size.

Rustad, James R.↗

Water Flow Performance of a Superscale Model of the Fastrac Liquid Oxygen Pump

As part of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's ongoing effort to lower the cost of access to space, the Marshall Space Flight Center has developed a rocket engine with 60,000 pounds of thrust for use on the Reusable Launch Vehicle technology demonstrator slated for launch in 2000. This gas generator cycle engine, known as the Fastrac engine, uses liquid oxygen and RP-1 for propellants and includes single stage liquid oxygen and RP-1 pumps and a single stage supersonic turbine on a common shaft. The turbopump design effort included the first use and application of new suction capability prediction codes and three-dimensional blade generation codes in an attempt to reduce the turbomachinery design and certification costs typically associated with rocket engine development. To verify the pump's predicted cavitation performance, a water flow test of a superscale model of the Fastrac liquid oxygen pump was conducted to experimentally evaluate the liquid oxygen pump's performance at and around the design point. The water flow test article replicated the flow path of the Fastrac liquid oxygen pump in a 1.582x scale model, including scaled seal clearances for correct leakage flow at a model operating speed of 5000 revolutions per minute. Flow entered the 3-blade axial-flow inducer, transitioned to a shrouded, 6-blade radial impeller, and discharged into a vaneless radial diffuser and collection volute. The test article included approximately 50 total and static pressure measurement locations as well as flush-mounted, high frequency pressure transducers for complete mapping of the pressure environment. The primary objectives of the water flow test were to measure the steady-state and dynamic pressure environment of the liquid oxygen pump versus flow coefficient, suction specific speed, and back face leakage flow rate. Results showed excellent correlation between the predicted and experimentally measured pump head rise at low suction specific speeds. Likewise, only small circumferential variations in steady-state impeller exit and radial diffuser pressure distributions were observed from 80% to 120% of the design flow coefficient, matching the computational predictions and confirming that the integrated design approach has minimized any exit volute-induced distortions. The test article exhibited suction performance trends typically observed in inducer designs with virtually constant head rise with decreasing inlet pressure until complete pump head breakdown. Unfortunately, the net positive suction head at 3% head fall-off occurred far below that predicted at all tested flow coefficients, resulting in a negative net positive suction head margin at the design point in water. Additional testing to map the unsteady pressure environment was conducted and interesting rotating phenomena at the inducer inlet were observed. These rotating phenomena's cell numbers, direction, and speed were correlated with pump operating parameters. The impact of the unsteady phenomena and their corresponding energy losses on the unexpectedly poor pump performance is also discussed.

Skelley, Stephen↗

Pressure dependence of the oxygen reduction reaction at the platinum microelectrode/nafion interface - Electrode kinetics and mass transport

The investigation of oxygen reduction kinetics at the platinum/Nafion interface is of great importance in the advancement of proton-exchange-membrane (PEM) fuel-cell technology. This study focuses on the dependence of the oxygen reduction kinetics on oxygen pressure. Conventional Tafel analysis of the data shows that the reaction order with respect to oxygen is unity at both high and low current densities. Chronoamperometric measurements of the transport parameters for oxygen in Nafion show that oxygen dissolution follows Henry's isotherm. The diffusion coefficient of oxygen is invariant with pressure; however, the diffusion coefficient for oxygen is lower when air is used as the equilibrating gas as compared to when oxygen is used for equilibration. These results are of value in understanding the influence of O2 partial pressure on the performance of PEM fuel cells and also in elucidating the mechanism of oxygen reduction at the platinum/Nafion interface.

Parthasarathy, Arvind↗

Selective permeability of PVA membranes. I - Radiation-crosslinked membranes

The water and salt transport properties of ionizing radiation crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) membranes were investigated. The studied membranes showed high permeabilities and low selectivities for both water and salt. The results were found to be in accord with a modified solution-diffusion model for transport across the membranes, in which pressure-dependent permeability coefficients are employed.

Katz, M. G.↗

Selective Permeability of PVA Membranes. I: Radiation-Crosslinked Membranes

The water and salt transport properties of ionizing radiation crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) membranes were investigated. The studied membranes showed high permeabilities and low selectivities for both water and salt. The results were found to be in accord with a modified solution-diffusion model for transport across the membranes, in which pressure-dependent permeability coefficients are employed.

Katz, Moshe G.↗

Ring current impoundment of the Io plasma torus

A newly discovered feature in the Io plasma formation that may be described as a ramp separating a high-density plasma ledge on its Jupiterward side from the lower-density radially distended Io plasma disc on its anti-Jupiterward side is observed to coincide with a marked inward decrease in the ring current population. The spatial congruency of the counter-directed maximal gradients in both plasma bodies reveals a profound coupling between them. The existence of the ramp requires a local order-of-magnitude reduction in the diffusion coefficient that governs radial mass transport. It is demonstrated that the diminished diffusive efficiency there is caused by strong pressure gradient inhibition of the interchange instability that underlies mass transport. The Io plasma torus, which is defined as the region of strong ultraviolet emissions, is identified as the plasma ledge. The plasma density in the ledge is high and, incidentally therefore, able to emit strongly because it is impounded against rapid, centrifugal expulsion by the inwardly directed pressure of the ring current at its inner edge.

Siscoe, G. L.↗

Influence of the structure of inlet free-stream turbulence on diffuser performance

The pressure recovery coefficient of a two-dimensional diffuser (Cp) was found to be significantly affected by the intensity and structure of the inlet free-stream turbulence. Significantly larger values of Cp occurred for the case of highly anisotropic inlet free-stream turbulence with the plane of rotation of the eddies parallel to the free-stream flow and perpendicular to the diverging walls of the diffuser, as compared to the values of Cp for the case of grid-generated near-isotropic inlet conditions. The relatively high values of Cp for the case of the highly anisotropic inlet free-stream turbulence conditions can be attributed to highly effective mixing, where the plane of rotation of the eddies facilitates a direct transport of momentum from the free-stream to the boundary layers along the diverging walls of the diffuser, as compared to the mixing that occurs with grid-generated highly unorganized eddies.

Hoffmann, Jon A.↗

Theoretical brightness temperature profiles of atmospheric pure H2 rotational quadrupole lines - Jupiter and Uranus

With the advent of high-resolution instruments and their use high above most of the telluric water vapor, the hydrogen pure rotational quadrupole lines at 28, 17, and 12 microns from the atmospheres of the outer planets may be observed. Best values for the line strengths, pressure-broadening coefficients, diffusion constants, and pressure shifts for these rotational transitions are calculated. The collisionally narrowed Galatry profile is used to calculate brightness temperature line profiles for these H2 transitions for the outer planets, Jupiter and Uranus. The effects of the H2 rotational-translational continuum and of the NH3 v2 band are also included.

Goorvitch, D.↗

Performance of the Modified V-1710-93 Engine-Stage Supercharger with a Constant-Area Vaneless Diffuser

As part of an investigation to increase the power output of the V-1710-93 engine at altitude, the engine-stage supercharger was combined with a constant-area vaneless diffuser designed to improve the performance of the engine-stage supercharger at the rated engine operating point. The performance of the modified supercharger was investigated in a variable-component supercharger test rig and compared with that of the standard supercharger with an 8-vaned diffuser. A separate evaluation of the component efficiencies and a study of the flow characteristics of the modified supercharger was made possible by internal diffuser instrumentation. At the volume flow required by the engine for rated operating conditions, the modified supercharger increased the over-all adiabatic efficiency 0.05 and the over-all pressure coefficient 0.035. Furthermore, the capacity of the engine-stage supercharger was increased by replacing the standard 8-vaned diffuser with the vaneless diffuser. The peak over-all adiabatic efficiency for the modified supercharger, however, was 0.05 to 0.07 lower than that of the standard unit over the range of tip speeds investigated. The improved performance of the modified supercharger at rated engine operating conditions resulted from a shift of the point of peak adiabatic efficiency and pressure coefficient of the standard supercharger to a higher flow. The energy loss through the vaneless diffuser was found to be small. Because of the restricted diffuser diameter, however, diffusion was inadequate, which resulted in a relatively small static-pressure rise through the diffuser, high diffuser-exit velocities, and excessive collector-case losses.

Douglas, John E.↗

On the theory of cosmic-ray-mediated shocks with variable compression ratio

Cosmic-ray-mediated shocks may accelerate enough cosmic rays to high enough energies that they escape the shock, carrying an appreciable amount of energy before being convected to downstream infinity. Under such conditions, it is noted, the overall compression ratio cannot be determined from the conservation equations as in conventional hydrodynamic treatments, and the standard equations for shock acceleration admit arbitrarily high compression ratios. A procedure is outlined for obtaining the structure of high Mach number, cosmic-ray-mediated shocks, including their overall compresion ratio, around a low Mach number viscous subshock. Analytic solutions are obtained by quardrature for an energy-dependent diffusion coefficient in the limit of extreme sensitivity to energy, which, unlike previous solutions, include the finite thermal pressure of the preshock gas.

Eichler, D.↗

Experimental Evaluation of Turning Vane Designs for High-speed and Coupled Fan-drive Corners of 0.1-scale Model of NASA Lewis Research Center's Proposed Altitude Wind Tunnel

Two turning vane designs were experimentally evaluated for the fan-drive corner (corner 2) coupled to an upstream diffuser and the high-speed corner (corner 1) of the 0.1 scale model of NASA Lewis Research Center's proposed Altitude Wind Tunnel. For corner 2 both a controlled-diffusion vane design (vane A4) and a circular-arc vane design (vane B) were studied. The corner 2 total pressure loss coefficient was about 0.12 with either vane design. This was about 25 percent less loss than when corner 2 was tested alone. Although the vane A4 design has the advantage of 20 percent fewer vanes than the vane B design, its vane shape is more complex. The effects of simulated inlet flow distortion on the overall losses for corner 1 or 2 were small.

Gelder, Thomas F.↗

Effectiveness of Micro-Blowing Technique in Adverse Pressure Gradients

The impact of the micro-blowing technique (MBT) on the skin friction and total drag of a strut in a turbulent, strong adverse-pressure-gradient flow is assessed experimentally over a range of subsonic Mach numbers (0.3 less than M less than 0.7) and reduced blowing fractions (0 less than or equal to 2F/C (sub f,o) less than or equal to 1.75). The MBT-treated strut is situated along the centerline of a symmetric 2-D diffuser with a static pressure rise coefficient of 0.6. In agreement with presented theory and earlier experiments in zero-pressure-gradient flows, the effusion of blowing air reduces skin friction significantly (e.g., by 60% at reduced blowing fractions near 1.75). The total drag of the treated strut with blowing is significantly lower than that of the treated strut in the limit of zero-blowing; further, the total drag is reduced below that of the baseline (solid-plate) strut, provided that the reduced blowing fractions are sufficiently high. The micro-blowing air is, however, deficient in streamwise momentum and the blowing leads to increased boundary-layer and wake thicknesses and shape factors. Diffuser performance metrics and wake surveys are used to discuss the impact of various levels of micro-blowing on the aerodynamic blockage and loss.

Welch, Gerard E.↗

Characteristics of Perforated Diffusers at Free-stream Mach Number 1.90

An investigation was conducted at Mach number 1.90 to determine pressure recovery and mass-flow characteristics of series of perforated convergent-divergent supersonic diffusers. Pressure recoveries as high as 96 percent were obtained, but at reduced mass flows through the diffuser. Theoretical considerations of effect of perforation distribution on shock stability in converging section of diffuser are presented and correlated with experimental data. A method of estimating relative importance of pressure recovery and mass flow on internal thrust coefficient basis is given and a comparison of various diffusers investigated is made.

FLOW, SUPERSONIC↗

MOCVD of GaAs in a horizontal reactor - Modeling and growth

A two-dimensional model for metalorganic chemical vapor deposition of GaAs in a horizontal reactor is presented. The model is characterized by the following parameters: reactor geometry and operating pressure, thermal boundary conditions, ratio of reactants, chemical reactions, total inlet gas flow rate, as well as molecular weights, thermal conductivities, heat capacities, viscosities, and binary diffusion coefficients of the gas-phase species. Film thickness profiles predicted by the model are compared with those of GaAs thin films grown in the modeled reactor. Results obtained show a good agreement between the predictions and data over the entire length of the deposition region for the low pressure and high flow rate run. Attention is also given to the reactor design and growth conditions.

Clark, Ivan O.↗

Water Flow Performance of a Superscale Model of the Fastrac Liquid Oxygen Pump

As part of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's ongoing effort to lower the cost of access to space, the Marshall Space Flight Center has developed a rocket engine with 60,000 pounds of thrust for use on the Reusable Launch Vehicle technology demonstrator slated for launch in 2000. This gas generator cycle engine, known as the Fastrac engine, uses liquid oxygen and RP-1 for propellants and includes single stage liquid oxygen and RP-1 pumps and a single stage supersonic turbine on a common shaft. The turbopump design effort included the first use and application of new suction capability prediction codes and three-dimensional blade generation codes in an attempt to reduce the turbomachinery design and certification costs typically associated with rocket engine development. To verify the pump's predicted cavitation performance, a water flow test of a superscale model of the Fastrac liquid oxygen pump was conducted to experimentally evaluate the liquid oxygen pump's performance at and around the design point. The water flow test article replicated the flow path of the Fastrac liquid oxygen pump in a 1.582x scale model, including scaled seal clearances for correct leakage flow at a model operating speed of 5000 revolutions per minute. Flow entered the 3-blade axial-flow inducer, transitioned to a shrouded, 6- blade radial impeller, and discharged into a vaneless radial diffuser and collection volute. The test article included approximately 50 total and static pressure measurement locations as well as flush-mounted, high frequency pressure transducers for complete mapping of the pressure environment. The primary objectives of the water flow test were to measure the steady-state and dynamic pressure environment of the liquid oxygen pump versus flow coefficient, suction specific speed, and back face leakage flow rate. Initial results showed acceptable correlation between the predicted and experimentally measured pump head rise at low suction specific speeds. Likewise, only small circumferential variations in steady-state were observed from 80% to 120% of the design flow coefficient, matching the computational predictions and confirming that the integrated design approach has minimized any exit volute-induced distortions. The test article exhibited suction performance trends typically observed in inducer designs with virtually constant head rise with decreasing inlet pressure until complete pump head breakdown. Unfortunately, the net positive suction head at 3% head fall-off occurred far below that predicted at all tested flow coefficients, resulting in a negative net positive suction head margin at the design point in water. Additional testing to map the unsteady pressure environment was conducted and cavitation-induced flow disturbances at the inducer inlet were observed. Two distinct disturbances were identified, one rotating and one stationary relative to the fixed frame of reference, while the transition from one regime to the next produced significant effects on the steady state pump performance. The impact of the unsteady phenomena and the corresponding energy losses on the unexpectedly poor pump performance is also discussed.

Skelley, Stephen↗

Correlation and prediction of gaseous diffusion coefficients.

A new correlation method for binary gaseous diffusion coefficients from very low temperatures to 10,000 K is proposed based on an extended principle of corresponding states, and having greater range and accuracy than previous correlations. There are two correlation parameters that are related to other physical quantities and that are predictable in the absence of diffusion measurements. Quantum effects and composition dependence are included, but high-pressure effects are not. The results are directly applicable to multicomponent mixtures.

Marrero, T. R.↗

Increasing Durability of Flame-Sprayed Strain Gauges

Thermally sprayed dielectric ceramic coatings are the primary means of attaching strain and temperature gauges to hot-section rotating parts of turbine engines. As hot-section temperatures increase, lifetimes of installed gauges decrease, and seldom exceed one hour above 2,000 F (approx.1,100 C). Advanced engine components are expected to operate at temperatures approaching 2,200 F (approx.1,200 C), and the required high-temperature lifetime is 10 hours minimum. Typically, to enable a ceramic coating to adhere to the smooth surface of an engine component, a thermally sprayed NiCrAlY or NiCoCrAlY bond coat is applied to the smooth surface, thereby providing a textured surface to which the ceramic coat can adhere. The main failure mechanism of this system is decohesion and/or delamination at the interface between the ceramic top coat and the bond coat, caused by oxidation of the bond coat and stresses from the mismatch between the coefficients of thermal expansion of the ceramic top coat and the metallic bond coat. The approach taken to increase the high-temperature lifetime of a gauge attached to an engine component by the method described above involves (1) selective oxidation of the bond coat by means of a heat treatment in reduced oxygen partial pressure followed by (2) the application of a noble-metal diffusion barrier. In experiments to test this approach, heat treatments of NiCoCrAlY bond coats were carried out in a tube furnace in which, in each case, the temperature was alternately (1) increased at a rate of 3 C per minute and (2) held steady for one hour until the desired temperature was reached. The tube furnace was continuously purged with dry nitrogen gas. A final heat-treatment temperature range of 1,600 to 1,800 F (871 to 982 C) proved most beneficial.

Gregory, Otto J.↗

Inlet Performance Analysis Code Developed

The design characteristics of an inlet very much depend on whether the inlet is to be flown at subsonic, supersonic, or hypersonic speed. Whichever the case, the primary function of an inlet is to deliver free-stream air to the engine face at the highest stagnation pressure possible and with the lowest possible variation in both stagnation pressure and temperature. At high speeds, this is achieved by a system of oblique and/or normal shock waves, and possibly some isentropic compression. For both subsonic and supersonic flight, current design practice indicates that the inlet should deliver the air to the engine face at approximately Mach 0.45. As a result, even for flight in the high subsonic regime, the inlet must retard (or diffuse) the air substantially. Second, the design of an inlet is influenced largely by the compromise between high performance and low weight. This compromise involves tradeoffs between the mission requirements, flight trajectory, airframe aerodynamics, engine performance, and weight-all of which, in turn, influence each other. Therefore, to study the effects of some of these influential factors, the Propulsion System Analysis Office of the NASA Lewis Research Center developed the Inlet Performance Analysis Code (IPAC). This code uses oblique shock and Prandtl-Meyer expansion theory to predict inlet performance. It can be used to predict performance for a given inlet geometric design such as pitot, axisymmetric, and two-dimensional. IPAC also can be used to design preliminary inlet systems and to make subsequent performance analyses. It computes the total pressure, the recovery, the airflow, and the drag coefficients. The pressure recovery includes losses associated with normal and oblique shocks, internal and external friction, the sharp lip, and diffuser components. Flow rate includes captured, engine, spillage, bleed, and bypass flows. The aerodynamic drag calculation includes drags associated with spillage, cowl lip suction, wave, bleed, and bypass.

Jules, Kenol↗