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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 415 records · Page 23
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1981

End region and current consolidation effects upon the performance of an MHD channel for the ETF conceptual design

The effects of MHD channel end regions on the overall power generation were considered. The peak plant thermodynamic efficiency was found to be slightly lower than for the active region (41%). The channel operating point for the peak efficiency was shifted to the supersonic mode (Mach No., M sub c approx. 1.1) rather than the previous subsonic operation (M sub c approx. 0.9). The sensitivity of the channel performance to the B-field, diffuser recovery coefficient, channel load parameter, Mach number, and combustor pressure is also discussed. In addition, methods for operating the channel in a constant-current mode are investigated. This mode is highly desirable from the standpoint of simplifying the current and voltage consolidation for the inverter system. This simplification could result in significant savings in the cost of the equipment. The initial results indicate that this simplification is possible, even under a strict Hall field constraint, with resonable plant thermodynamic efficiency (40.5%).

Wang, S. Y.↗
NASA NTRS1982

End region and current consolidation effects upon the performance of an MHD channel for the ETF conceptual design

It is noted that operating conditions which yielded a peak thermodynamic efficiency (41%) for an EFT-size MHD/steam power plant were previously (Wang et al., 1981; Staiger, 1981) identified by considering only the active region (the primary portion for power production) of an MHD channel. These previous efforts are extended here to include an investigation of the effects of the channel end regions on overall power generation. Considering these effects, the peak plant thermodynamic efficiency is found to be slightly lowered (40.7%); the channel operating point for peak efficiency is shifted to the supersonic mode (Mach number of approximately 1.1) rather than the previous subsonic operation (Mach number of approximately 0.9). Also discussed is the sensitivity of the channel performance to the B-field, diffuser recovery coefficient, channel load parameter, Mach number, and combustor pressure.

Wang, S. Y.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Simplified combustion noise theory yielding a prediction of fluctuating pressure level

The first order equations for the conservation of mass and momentum in differential form are combined for an ideal gas to yield a single second order partial differential equation in one dimension and time. Small perturbation analysis is applied. A Fourier transformation is performed that results in a second order, constant coefficient, nonhomogeneous equation. The driving function is taken to be the source of combustion noise. A simplified model describing the energy addition via the combustion process gives the required source information for substitution in the driving function. This enables the particular integral solution of the nonhomogeneous equation to be found. This solution multiplied by the acoustic pressure efficiency predicts the acoustic pressure spectrum measured in turbine engine combustors. The prediction was compared with the overall sound pressure levels measured in a CF6-50 turbofan engine combustor and found to be in excellent agreement.

Huff, R. G.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Depletion layer recombination effects on the radiation damage hardness of gallium arsenide cells

The significant effect of junction depletion layer recombination on the efficiency of windowed GaAs cells was demonstrated. The effect becomes more pronounced as radiation damage occurs. The depletion is considered for 1 MeV electron fluences up to 10 to the 16th power e/sq m. The cell modeling separates damage in emitter and base or buffer layers using different damage coefficients is reported. The lower coefficient for the emitter predicts less loss of performance at fluences greater than 10 to the 15th power e/sq cm. A method for obtaining information on junction recombination effects as damage proceeds is described; this enables a more complete diagnosis of damage to be made.

Garlick, G. F. J.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Monochromatic calculations of atmospheric radiative transfer due to molecular line absorption

Sensitivity studies related to the effects of line cutoff, spectral resolution, and temperature and pressure interpolations in radiative transfer have been performed so that a data set of absorption coefficients for water vapor, CO2, and O3 may be created efficiently. Results show that computations of absorption coefficients are affected only slightly by cutting a line off at a wave number 190 times the Lorentz half width from the center, or equivalently, cutting off 0.33 percent of the line intensity from the wings. To achieve a relative cooling rate error smaller than 2 percent, it is sufficient to precompute the absorption coefficient at three temperatures (210, 250, and 290 K) and 19 pressures with Delta (log 10 p) = 0.2. The absorption coefficient at other conditions can be interpolated linearly with pressure and exponentially with a quadratic in temperature. For the spectral resolution the absorption coefficients can be adequately computed at 0.01, 0.002, 0.005, and 0.025/cm intervals in the thermal water vapor, the CO2 and O3 bands, and the solar water vapor bands, respectively, which limits the error to only a few percent in the cooling and heating rates. Using the precomputed absorption coefficients, repeated monochromatic calculations of atmospheric heating/cooling rates for radiation model developments and for comparison with less detailed calculations are no longer difficult.

Chou, M.-D.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Dynamic characterization of viscoelastic polymer solutions in a lubricated cylinder - Plate apparatus

The characterization of several viscoelastic lubricants which are oil or water based has been studied in an apparatus consisting of a lubricated cylinder-plate contact. The friction loads were measured as a function of speed. The experimental results show the influence of the molecular weight and of the concentration of the polymeric additive as well as the influence of the viscosity of the oil-base on the load and friction coefficient. Also a test for mechanical degradation was performed on the polymer solutions. Several additives can favor a viscoelastic lubrication.

Doremus, P.↗
NASA NTRS1990

The latitudinal gradient of the NO peak density

Results are presented from SME observations of the latitudinal gradients of peak NO densities at about 110-km altitude during the solstice and equinox periods from 1982 through 1985. It is shown that the response of the peak NO densities to the declining level of solar activity varies with latitude, with the polar regions exhibiting low sensitivity and the low-latitude regions responding strongly. The SME data also revealed marked asymmetries in the latitudinal structure of the two hemispheres for each season and considerable day-to-day variations in the NO densities. The solar cycle minimum data for June were simulated using a two-dimensional model; results of sensitivity studies performed with varied quenching rate and eddy diffusion coefficient are presented.

Fesen, C. G.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Synergic inversion technique for active and passive microwave remote sensing of the ocean

A unified approach for combining active and passive microwave measurements for remote sensing applications is described. A synergic inversion technique has been developed and applied to the retrieval of geophysical parameters of the ocean surface and of the atmosphere. It is based on the combination of radiometric and radar measurements at the electromagnetic and cell level and not only on the correction of radar measurements by radiometric measurements, or conversely. Such a combination is performed through a common quantity: the bistatic scattering coefficient of the observed surface. This is used in a direct model to simulate combined measurements from active and passive sensors. It requires a rather complete and accurate calculation of the scattering of microwaves by the rough sea surface. Comparisons with experimental models derived for scatterometers and radar altimeters or with data derived from radiometric measurements show that the results of this unified approach are consistent with those from separate microwave sensors, at least for a foam-free sea surface.

Sobieski, Piotr↗
NASA NTRS1992

A nozzle internal performance prediction method

A prediction method was written and incorporated into a three-dimensional Navier-Stokes code (PAB3D) for the calculation of nozzle internal performance. The following quantities are calculated: (1) discharge coefficient; (2) normal, side, and axial thrust ratios; (3) rolling, pitching, and yawing moments; and (4) effective pitch and yaw vector angles. Four different case studies are presented to confirm the applicability of the methodology. Internal and, in most situations, external flow-field regions are required to be modeled. The computed nozzle discharge coefficient matches both the level and the trend of the experimental data within quoted experimental data accuracy (0.5 percent). Moment and force ratios are generally within 1 to 2 percent of the absolute level of experimental data, with the trends of data matched accurately.

Carlson, John R.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Dynamic Smagorinsky model on anisotropic grids

Large Eddy Simulation (LES) of complex-geometry flows often involves highly anisotropic meshes. To examine the performance of the dynamic Smagorinsky model in a controlled fashion on such grids, simulations of forced isotropic turbulence are performed using highly anisotropic discretizations. The resulting model coefficients are compared with a theoretical prediction (Scotti et al., 1993). Two extreme cases are considered: pancake-like grids, for which two directions are poorly resolved compared to the third, and pencil-like grids, where one direction is poorly resolved when compared to the other two. For pancake-like grids the dynamic model yields the results expected from the theory (increasing coefficient with increasing aspect ratio), whereas for pencil-like grids the dynamic model does not agree with the theoretical prediction (with detrimental effects only on smallest resolved scales). A possible explanation of the departure is attempted, and it is shown that the problem may be circumvented by using an isotropic test-filter at larger scales. Overall, all models considered give good large-scale results, confirming the general robustness of the dynamic and eddy-viscosity models. But in all cases, the predictions were poor for scales smaller than that of the worst resolved direction.

Scotti, A.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Calibration of Direct Velocimetry Using Hot Wire Anemometry

We studied the functionality of the IFA300 Hot Wire Anemometry system and its feasibility for the calibration of Direct Estimator Velocimetry (DEV) using Laser Induced Florescence (LIF). The experimental setup consisted of a single-wire hot wire probe measuring one component of velocity, the anemometry computational hardware and software, an HP oscilloscope, and a table fan to produce a simple flow with fluctuations. Measurements were taken at several points in the stream wise and transverse directions in the flow and various parameters recorded such as mean velocities temperature, turbulence intensities, skewness coefficients and flatness coefficients. The IFA300 software also allowed us to perform statistical manipulations such as spectrum analysis on velocities samples and correlation. Utilization of data files, also produced by the anemometry software, and post analysis were performed to produce graphical representations of turbulent intensity versus probe position and a flow field velocity profile. We concluded that the IFA300 Hot Wire Anemometry system is a reliable and functional method for calibration of DEV using LIF. Our future intentions are to set up a test chamber such that both velocity measurement techniques can be applied simultaneously, thus the calibration.

Holland, Michael L.↗
NASA NTRS2006

Space Shuttle Main Engine Low Pressure Oxidizer Turbo-Pump Inducer Dynamic Environment Characterization through Water Model and Hot-Fire Testing

The Low Pressure Oxidizer Turbopump (LPOTP) inducer on the Block II configuration Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) experienced blade leading edge ripples during hot firing. This undesirable condition led to a minor redesign of the inducer blades. This resulted in the need to evaluate the performance and the dynamic environment of the redesign, relative to the current configuration, as part of the design acceptance process. Sub-scale water model tests of the two inducer configurations were performed, with emphasis on the dynamic environment due to cavitation induced vibrations. Water model tests were performed over a wide range of inlet flow coefficient and pressure conditions, representative of the scaled operating envelope of the Block II SSME, both in flight and in ground hot-fire tests, including all power levels. The water test hardware, facility set-up, type and placement of instrumentation, the scope of the test program, specific test objectives, data evaluation process and water test results that characterize and compare the two SSME LPOTP inducers are discussed. In addition, dynamic characteristics of the two water models were compared to hot fire data from specially instrumented ground tests. In general, good agreement between the water model and hot fire data was found, which confirms the value of water model testing for dynamic characterization of rocket engine turbomachinery.

Patrick Arellano↗
NASA NTRS2006

Tunable semiconductor lasers

Tunable semiconductor lasers are disclosed requiring minimized coupling regions. Multiple laser embodiments employ ring resonators or ring resonator pairs using only a single coupling region with the gain medium are detailed. Tuning can be performed by changing the phase of the coupling coefficient between the gain medium and a ring resonator of the laser. Another embodiment provides a tunable laser including two Mach-Zehnder interferometers in series and a reflector coupled to a gain medium.

Taghavi-Larigani, Shervin↗
NASA NTRS2007

Time-Varying Expression of the Formation Flying along Circular Trajectories

Usually, the formation flying associated with circular orbits is discussed through the well-known Hill s or C-W equations of motion. This paper dares to present and discuss the coordinates that may contain time-varying coefficients. The discussion presents how the controller s performance is affected by the selection of coordinates, and also looks at the special coordinate suitable for designating a target bin to which each spacecraft in the formation has only to be guided. It is revealed that the latter strategy may incorporate the J2 disturbance automatically.

Kawaguchi, Jun'ichiro↗
NASA NTRS2009

Automated CFD for Generation of Airfoil Performance Tables

A method of automated computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has been invented for the generation of performance tables for an object subject to fluid flow. The method is applicable to the generation of tables that summarize the effects of two-dimensional flows about airfoils and that are in a format known in the art as C81. (A C81 airfoil performance table is a text file that lists coefficients of lift, drag, and pitching moment of an airfoil as functions of angle of attack for a range of Mach numbers.) The method makes it possible to efficiently generate and tabulate data from simulations of flows for parameter values spanning all operational ranges of actual or potential interest. In so doing, the method also enables filling of gaps and resolution of inconsistencies in C81 tables generated previously from incomplete experimental data or from theoretical calculations that involved questionable assumptions.

Strawn, Roger↗
NASA NTRS2010

NASA Tech Briefs, March 2010

Topics covered include: Software Tool Integrating Data Flow Diagrams and Petri Nets; Adaptive Nulling for Interferometric Detection of Planets; Reducing the Volume of NASA Earth-Science Data; Reception of Multiple Telemetry Signals via One Dish Antenna; Space-Qualified Traveling-Wave Tube; Smart Power Supply for Battery-Powered Systems; Parallel Processing of Broad-Band PPM Signals; Inexpensive Implementation of Many Strain Gauges; Constant-Differential-Pressure Two-Fluid Accumulator; Inflatable Tubular Structures Rigidized with Foams; Power Generator with Thermo-Differential Modules; Mechanical Extraction of Power From Ocean Currents and Tides; Nitrous Oxide/Paraffin Hybrid Rocket Engines; Optimized Li-Ion Electrolytes Containing Fluorinated Ester Co-Solvents; Probabilistic Multi-Factor Interaction Model for Complex Material Behavior; Foldable Instrumented Bits for Ultrasonic/Sonic Penetrators; Compact Rare Earth Emitter Hollow Cathode; High-Precision Shape Control of In-Space Deployable Large Membrane/Thin-Shell Reflectors; Rapid Active Sampling Package; Miniature Lightweight Ion Pump; Cryogenic Transport of High-Pressure-System Recharge Gas; Water-Vapor Raman Lidar System Reaches Higher Altitude; Compact Ku-Band T/R Module for High-Resolution Radar Imaging of Cold Land Processes; Wide-Field-of-View, High-Resolution, Stereoscopic Imager; Electrical Capacitance Volume Tomography with High-Contrast Dielectrics; Wavefront Control and Image Restoration with Less Computing; Polarization Imaging Apparatus; Stereoscopic Machine-Vision System Using Projected Circles; Metal Vapor Arcing Risk Assessment Tool; Performance Bounds on Two Concatenated, Interleaved Codes; Parameterizing Coefficients of a POD-Based Dynamical System; Confidence-Based Feature Acquisition; Algorithm for Lossless Compression of Calibrated Hyperspectral Imagery; Universal Decoder for PPM of any Order; Algorithm for Stabilizing a POD-Based Dynamical System; Mission Reliability Estimation for Repairable Robot Teams; Processing AIRS Scientific Data Through Level 3; Web-Based Requesting and Scheduling Use of Facilities; AutoGen Version 5.0; Time-Tag Generation Script; PPM Receiver Implemented in Software; Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer Product File Readers; Reporting Differences Between Spacecraft Sequence Files; Coordinating "Execute" Data for ISS and Space Shuttle; Database for Safety-Oriented Tracking of Chemicals; Apparatus for Cold, Pressurized Biogeochemical Experiments; Growing B Lymphocytes in a Three-Dimensional Culture System; Tissue-like 3D Assemblies of Human Broncho-Epithelial Cells; Isolation of Resistance-Bearing Microorganisms; Oscillating Cell Culture Bioreactor; and Liquid Cooling/Warming Garment.

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