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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 397 records · Page 22

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NASA NTRS1991

Some recent studies with the solid-ionomer electrochemical capacitor

Giner, Inc. has developed a high-energy-density, all-solid-ionomer electrochemical capacitor, completely free of liquid electrolyte. The novel features of this device include 1) a three-dimensional metal oxide-particulate-ionomer composite electrode structure, and 2) a unitized repeating cell element. The composite electrode structures are bonded to opposite sides of a thin sheet of a solid proton-conducting ionomer membrane and form an integrally bonded membrane and electrode assembly (MEA). Individual MEAs can be stacked in series as bipolar elements to form a multiple cell device. The discharge characteristics and energy storage properties of these devices are described. Typical capacitance measured for a unit cell is 1 F/cm(exp 2). Life testing of a multicell capacitor on an intermittent basis has shown, that over a 10,000 hour period, the capacitance and resistance of the cell has remained invariant. There has been no maintenance required on the device since it was fabricated. Other multicell units of shorter life duration have exhibited similar reliable performance characteristics. Recent work has focused on increasing the capacitance of the unitized structure and improving the low-temperature characteristics. The approaches and experimental results will be presented. Some possible advanced NASA applications for these unique all-solid-ionomer devices will be discussed.

S Sarangapani↗

NASA NTRS1991

Multiple cell common pressure vessel nickel hydrogen battery

Johnson Controls Battery Group, Inc. has developed a multiple cell common pressure vessel (CPV) Nickel Hydrogen battery that offers significant weight, volume, cost and interfacing advantages over the conventional individual pressure vessel (IPV) Nickel Hydrogen configuration that is currently used for aerospace applications. The baseline CPV design was successfully demonstrated through the testing of a 26-cell prototype, which completed over 7,000 44% depth-of-discharge LEO cycles at COMSAT Laboratories. Two-cell boilerplate batteries have now exceeded 12,500 LEO cycles in ongoing laboratory tests. CPV batteries using both nominal 5" and 10" diameter vessels are currently available. The flexibility of the design allows these diameters to provide a broad capability for a variety of space applications.

Jeffrey P Zagrodnik↗

NASA NTRS1991

Advances in lightning protection that satisfies contemporary standards

Described here are the LEC, Inc. Spline Ball Ionizer (trademark) (SBI) and the Spline Ball Terminal (trademark) (SBT) families and how their use in a conventional lightning protection system can achieve strike prevention in a conventional setting. A properly completed standards based system which is composed of the SBI and SBT in a hybrid system will provide two modes of lightning protection: (1) a stroke prevention mode that reduces the risk of a strike to the protected facility in proportion to the size of that facility and the size and number of SBI/SBT's used; and (2) a Stroke Collector-Diverter System that is far superior to any system now in use because it collects strokes entering the protected area from any direction and angle.

Carpenter, Roy B., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1990

A comparison of real-time blade-element and rotor-map helicopter simulations using parallel processing

In recent efforts by NASA, the Army, and Advanced Rotorcraft Technology, Inc. (ART), the application of parallel processing techniques to real-time simulation have been studied. Traditionally, real-time helicopter simulations have omitted the modeling of high-frequency phenomena in order to achieve real-time operation on affordable computers. Parallel processing technology can now provide the means for significantly improving the fidelity of real-time simulation, and one specific area for improvement is the modeling of rotor dynamics. This paper focuses on the results of a piloted simulation in which a traditional rotor-map mathematical model was compared with a more sophisticated blade-element mathematical model that had been implemented using parallel processing hardware and software technology.

Corliss, Lloyd↗

NASA NTRS1990

NASA technology - A national payoff

In June of 1989, a report was released by the Chapman Research Group, Inc., entitled 'An Exploration of Benefits from NASA Spinoff'. It explores the real benefits and applications of NASA technologies as reported in the annual NASA Spinoff publication and attempts to identify and quantify these benefits. The report recognizes that the Spinoff publication does not include all examples known, but provides a database from which a study can be made and conclusions reported. Conclusions from this report are summarized here. All steps taken by the federal government to enable potential users to have access to new technological ideas are covered as well as the mechanisms, such as the NASA Technology Utilization network and the Federal Laboratory Consortium, which opens doors to new technologies. Also, recent technology transfer agreements signed by the Marshall Center and several area state governments are discussed.

Akbay, Ismail↗

NASA NTRS1991

Scale effects in buckling, postbuckling and crippling of graphite-epoxy Z-section stiffeners

The buckling, postbuckling and crippling of Hercules Inc. AS4/3502 graphite-epoxy Z-section stiffeners is investigated as a function of specimen structural parameters. Variables addressed are flange and web widths, flange-to-web corner radius, thickness and stacking sequence. Analytical, numerical and experimental results are discussed. Nondimensional parameters have been obtained from an analytical model which effectively normalize the initial local buckling data reported herein and in the references. The nature of the load redistribution after buckling and its impact on postbuckling stiffness is related to the geometric variables. A normalized total width concept is used to unify the crippling data.

Wieland, Todd M.↗

NASA NTRS1990

The cost of unreliability in the avionics suite of a launch vehicle

The main objective of the Advanced Launch System (ALS) program is to realize a substantial reduction in recurring launch costs over present launch systems. A methodology is presented for assessing the impact of the reliability of the avionics suite on the recurring launch cost of the ALS. The methodology is illustrated by focusing on two architectures. The first is a distillation of a typical architecture for this type of application. The second is a simplified implementation of the Advanced Information Processing System (AIPS) technology developed at the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc. Both architectures utilize redundancy of hardware to tolerate faults. the key contributors to the cost of unreliability are identified and modeled utilizing Markov modeling techniques for each of the two architectures. The results are presented along with the more traditional costs for these avionics suites.

Rosch, Gene↗

NASA NTRS1991

Status of automated nap-of-the-earth rotorcraft guidance

The status of automated nap-of-the-earth (NOE) flight guidance is discussed by examining two current research efforts that approach the problem of performing obstacle avoidance along a pre-planned course from different perspectives. The first, a real-time guidance system developed by Systems Technology Inc., focuses on the issue of pilot acceptable maneuvers, under the assumption of an ideal, but nonrealizable, obstacle detection system. The second, a system created at NASA Ames, concentrates on the utilization of realistic on-board sensor data for obstacle detection and avoidance-maneuver decisions. This paper examines the strengths and weaknesses of these two approaches, and how they might complement each other. The goal is an automatic NOE system that is both acceptable to pilots and capable of making intelligent use of realistic sensor information and path-selection logic.

Coppenbarger, Richard A.↗

NASA NTRS1991

LV software support for supersonic flow analysis

During 1991, the software developed allowed an operator to configure and checkout the TSI, Inc. laser velocimeter (LV) system prior to a run. This setup procedure established the operating conditions for the TSI MI-990 multichannel interface and the RMR-1989 rotating machinery resolver. In addition to initializing the instruments, the software package provides a means of specifying LV calibration constants, controlling the sampling process, and identifying the test parameters.

Bell, William A.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Solid rocket motor witness test

The Solid Rocket Motor Witness Test was undertaken to examine the potential for using thermal infrared imagery as a tool for monitoring static tests of solid rocket motors. The project consisted of several parts: data acquisition, data analysis, and interpretation. For data acquisition, thermal infrared data were obtained of the DM-9 test of the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Motor on December 23, 1987, at Thiokol, Inc. test facility near Brigham City, Utah. The data analysis portion consisted of processing the video tapes of the test to produce values of temperature at representative test points on the rocket motor surface as the motor cooled down following the test. Interpretation included formulation of a numerical model and evaluation of some of the conditions of the motor which could be extracted from the data. These parameters included estimates of the insulation remaining following the tests and the thickness of the charred layer of insulation at the end of the test. Also visible was a temperature signature of the star grain pattern in the forward motor segment.

Welch, Christopher S.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Analysis of model Titan atmospheric components using ion mobility spectrometry

The Gas Chromatograph-Ion Mobility Spectrometer (GC-IMS) was proposed as an analytical technique for the analysis of Titan's atmosphere during the Cassini Mission. The IMS is an atmospheric pressure, chemical detector that produces an identifying spectrum of each chemical species measured. When the IMS is combined with a GC as a GC-IMS, the GC is used to separate the sample into its individual components, or perhaps small groups of components. The IMS is then used to detect, quantify, and identify each sample component. Conventional IMS detection and identification of sample components depends upon a source of energetic radiation, such as beta radiation, which ionizes the atmospheric pressure host gas. This primary ionization initiates a sequence of ion-molecule reactions leading to the formation of sufficiently energetic positive or negative ions, which in turn ionize most constituents in the sample. In conventional IMS, this reaction sequence is dominated by the water cluster ion. However, many of the light hydrocarbons expected in Titan's atmosphere cannot be analyzed by IMS using this mechanism at the concentrations expected. Research at NASA Ames and PCP Inc., has demonstrated IMS analysis of expected Titan atmospheric components, including saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons, using two alternate sample ionizations mechanisms. The sensitivity of the IMS to hydrocarbons such as propane and butane was increased by several orders of magnitude. Both ultra dry (waterless) IMS sample ionization and metastable ionization were successfully used to analyze a model Titan atmospheric gas mixture.

Kojiro, D. R.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Metriwave final report

The superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) mixer is a device which is being used in the construction of very sensitive receivers in the millimeter and submillimeter wavelength regions. With its potential for conversion gain and quantum-limited performance, it is becoming a device of prime importance in radio astronomy as well as earth and planetary atmospheric research. Many of the parameters of the SIS mixer cannot be readily measured in the laboratory, however, since most commercially available test instruments use test signal powers large enough to saturate or destroy SIS junctions. Detailed here is the construction of a microwave network analyzer with extremely low test signal powers. The results of a development performed by Dynamics Technology, Inc., under a Phase 2 SBIR contract from NASA (NAS7-1025) are documented. The work resulted in a network analyzer to be delivered to workers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which should be capable of SIS mixer characterization in support of their ongoing work in this area.

Williams, Wyman↗

NASA NTRS1991

George M. Low Trophy: NASA's quality and excellence award

NASA's major goal is the preservation of America's position as a leader in the aerospace industry. To maintain that status, it is crucial that the products and services we depend upon from NASA contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers meet the highest quality standards to ensure the space program's success. The George M. Low Trophy: NASA's Quality and Excellence Award is the result of NASA's desire to encourage continuous improvement and Total Quality Management (TQM) in the aerospace industry and is awarded to members of NASA's contractor community that have demonstrated sustained excellence, customer orientation, and outstanding achievements in a Total Quality Management (TQM) environment. The purpose in presenting this award is to increase public awareness of the importance of quality and productivity to the nation's aerospace industry and the nation's leadership position overall; encourage domestic business to continuously pursue efforts that enhance quality and increase productivity which will strengthen the nation's competitiveness in the international arena; and provide a forum for sharing the successful techniques and strategies used by applicants with other American organizations. Awards to Rockwell International and Marotta Scientific Controls, Inc. are announced and discussed.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS1992

High accuracy fuel flowmeter. Phase 2C and 3: The mass flowrate calibration of high accuracy fuel flowmeters

A facility for the precise calibration of mass fuel flowmeters and turbine flowmeters located at AMETEK Aerospace Products Inc., Wilmington, Massachusetts is described. This facility is referred to as the Test and Calibration System (TACS). It is believed to be the most accurate test facility available for the calibration of jet engine fuel density measurement. The product of the volumetric flow rate measurement and the density measurement, results in a true mass flow rate determination. A dual-turbine flowmeter was designed during this program. The dual-turbine flowmeter was calibrated on the TACS to show the characteristics of this type of flowmeter. An angular momentum flowmeter was also calibrated on the TACS to demonstrate the accuracy of a true mass flowmeter having a 'state-of-the-art' design accuracy.

Craft, D. William↗

NASA NTRS1992

Weight, center of gravity and modal test report for NTF fan blade set no. 3

A complete set of fan blades for the National Transonic Facility (NTF) at the NASA Langley Research Center was recently fabricated by Dynamic Engineering Inc. (DEI). These blades were the third complete set of blades fabricated by the NTF. The first set of blades was fabricated by NASA and installed in the tunnel in December 1981. This original set was destroyed in a mishap in January 1989. The second set of blades is currently in use in the NTF. The third set of blades recently fabricated by DEI is a spare set. In order to ensure that the blades met the requirements, DEI performed a series of tests on each of the completed blades. In addition, a model survey was conducted on each blade to define the dynamic characteristics. Discussed here are the blade tests conducted by DEI and the test results. The test set-ups and procedures are discussed in detail. The results obtained for each of the 27 blades are documented and comparisons are made between this set of blades and similar data for two previous sets of NTF fan blades.

Friedman, Inger P.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Modulation and coding used by a major satellite communications company

Hughes Communications Inc., is a major satellite communications company providing or planning to provide the full spectrum of services available on satellites. All of the current services use conventional modulation and coding techniques that were well known a decade or longer ago. However, the future mobile satellite service will use significantly more advanced techniques. JPL, under NASA sponsorship, has pioneered many of the techniques that will be used.

Renshaw, K. H.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Solar cell arcing: The role of outgassing and contamination

The effect of outgassing, venting, and thruster firing events on spacecraft system performance has been a long standing issue. Recent laboratory measurements on negatively biased high voltage solar cells at Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) suggest that some currently designed and certainly future space power systems must address/re-evaluate this issue. Our observations show that exposing these cells to moderate levels (10 exp -3 torr-min) of H2O vapor enhances the arcing frequency, while heating to 85 C to remove water vapor significantly reduces the arc frequency. The interaction of the adhesive used to attach the cover glass to the solar cell with ambient water vapor is the key factor in determining arcing rates. Elimination of adhesive exposed to the environmental plasma reduces the arc frequency more than two orders of magnitude, and eliminates any sensitivity to H2O exposure. The adhesive may also become a source of spacecraft contamination. Macroscopic amounts were observed to blow off some arc events, and (we assume) electrostatically precipitate at other negatively biased locations. Data, analysis, and potential impact for future space platforms are discussed.

Marinelli, W. J.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Center for Cell Research, Pennsylvania State University

A brief review of Genentech, Inc., is presented. Additionally, the Physiological Systems Experiment (PSE-01) is discussed in terms of its development history. The PSE-01 was developed to investigate the bone wasting, muscle wasting, and immune cell dysfunction that occur in microgravity conditions. Specifically, a number of human disorders are associated with maladaptive changes in bone, muscle, and immune function. The physiological adjustments that the body makes in response to space flight can be monitored and may aid in the discovery of new protein forms and patterns. This research may also provide strategies for protecting the health of flight crews enduring prolonged space flight. Results are discussed.

Cronin, Mike↗