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Metallurgical-grade silicon transforms into tribromosilane by reacting it with process byproducts. Tribromosilane is separated from mixture, purified, and finally decomposed in presence of hydrogen in silicon-product reactor. Conversion efficiencies of 30 to greater than 60 percent of tribromosilane to ultrapure granular polycrystalline silicon are typical in produce reactor.
The focus of interest is the maneuvering flight of advanced entry vehicles operating at altitudes above 50 km and at velocities of 5 to 8 km/s. Information resulting in more accurate aerodynamic analysis is sought and measurement techniques that appear to be applicable are identified. Measurements discussed include: shock layer or boundary layer profiles of velocity, temperature, species mass fractions, and other gas properties associated with aerodynamic heating; surface energy transfer process; nonequilibrium flow processes and pressure distribution; separated, vortic leeside flow of nonequilibrium fluid; boundary layer transition on highly swept configurations; and shock and surface slip and gas/surface interaction. Further study should focus on evolving measurement techniques, installation requirements, and on identification of the portions of flights where successful results seem probable.
The goal of the Process Development Area, as part of the Flat-Plate Solar Array (FSA) Project, was to develop and demonstrate solar cell fabrication and module assembly process technologies required to meet the cost, lifetime, production capacity, and performance goals of the FSA Project. R&D efforts expended by Government, Industry, and Universities in developing processes capable of meeting the projects goals during volume production conditions are summarized. The cost goals allocated for processing were demonstrated by small volume quantities that were extrapolated by cost analysis to large volume production. To provide proper focus and coverage of the process development effort, four separate technology sections are discussed: surface preparation, junction formation, metallization, and module assembly.
The effect of randomness or jitter of the acoustic waveform on the spectrum of rotor impulsive noise is studied because of its importance for data interpretation. An acoustic waveform train is modelled representing rotor impulsive noise. The amplitude, shape, and period between occurrences of individual pulses are allowed to be randomized assuming normal probability distributions. Results, in terms of the standard deviations of the variable quantities, are given for the autospectrum as well as special processed spectra designed to separate harmonic and broadband rotor noise components. Consideration is given to the effect of accuracy in triggering or keying to a rotor one per revolution signal. An example is given showing the resultant spectral smearing at the high frequencies due to the pulse signal period variability.
The AVIRIS instrument has a separate dedicated analog signal processing chain for each of its four spectrometers. The signal chains amplify low-level focal-plane line array signals (5 to 10 mV full-scale span) in the presence of larger multiplexing signals (approx 150 mV) providing the data handling system a ten-bit digital word (for each spectrometer) each 1.3 microns. This signal chain provides automatic correction for the line array dark signal nonuniformity (which can approach the full-scale signal span).
The task of creating software to run on a distributed system brings with it many problems not encountered in a uni-processor environment. The designer, in addition to creating a solution to meet the functional requirements of the applicaiton, must determine how to distribute that functionality in order to meet the nonfunctional requirements such as performance and fault tolerance. In the traditional approach to building distributed software systems, decisions of how to partition the software must be made early in the design process so that a separate program can be written for each of the processors in the system. This design paradigm is extremely vulnerable to changes in the target hardware environment, as well as being sensitive to poor initial guesses about what distribution of functionality will satisfy the nonfunctional requirements. The paradigm is also weak in that no compiler has a complete view of the system. Many of the advantages of using a powerful language system are lost in a one-program-per-processor environment. Another approach to the development of distributed software systems, Honeywell's Distributed Ada program, is presented.
The AVIRIS instrument has a separate dedicated analog signal processing chain for each of its four spectrometers. The signal chains amplify low-level focal-plane line array signals (5 to 10 mV full-scale span) in the presence of larger multiplexing signals (approx 150 mV) providing the data handling system a ten-bit digital word (for each spectrometer) each 1.3 microns. This signal chain provides automatic correction for the line array dark signal nonuniformity (which can approach the full-scale signal span).
The effect of randomness or jitter of the acoustic waveform on the spectrum of rotor impulsive noise is studied because of its importance for data interpretation. An acoustic waveform train is modeled representing rotor impulsive noise. The amplitude, shape, and period between occurrences of individual pulses are allowed to be randomized assuming normal probability distributions. Results, in terms of the standard deviations of the variable quantities, are given for the autospectrum as well as special processed spectra designed to separate harmonic and broadband rotor noise components. Consideration is given to the effect of accuracy in triggering or keying to a rotor one per revolution signal. An example is given showing the resultant spectral smearing at the high frequencies due to the pulse signal period variability.
In an effort to improve the current solutions in the design and analysis of liquid propulsive engines, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model capable of calculating the reacting flows from the combustion chamber, through the nozzle to the external plume, was developed. The Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) fired at sea level, was investigated as a sample case. The CFD model, FDNS, is a pressure based, non-staggered grid, viscous/inviscid, ideal gas/real gas, reactive code. An adaptive upwinding differencing scheme is employed for the spatial discretization. The upwind scheme is based on fourth order central differencing with fourth order damping for smooth regions, and second order central differencing with second order damping for shock capturing. It is equipped with a CHMQGM equilibrium chemistry algorithm and a PARASOL finite rate chemistry algorithm using the point implicit method. The computed flow results and performance compared well with those of other standard codes and engine hot fire test data. In addition, the transient nozzle flowfield calculation was also performed to demonstrate the ability of FDNS in capturing the flow separation during the startup process.
The annual report presents the fiscal year (FY) 1990 research activities and accomplishments for the Catalysis and Biocatalysis Program of the Advanced Industrial Concepts Division (AICD), Office of Industrial Technologies of the Department of Energy (DOE). The mission of the AICD is to create a balanced program of high risk, long term, directed interdisciplinary research and development that will improve energy efficiency and enhance fuel flexibility in the industrial sector. The Catalysis and Biocatalysis Program's technical activities were organized into five work elements: the Molecular Modeling and Catalysis by Design element; the Applied Microbiology and Genetics element; the Bioprocess Engineering element; the Separations and Novel Chemical Processes element; and the Process Design and Analysis element.
This document presents in viewgraph format the design and development of silver zinc (AgZn) batteries for the solid rocket booster (SRB) and external tank (ET) range safety subsystems. Various engineering techniques, including composite separator systems, new electrode processing techniques, and new restraint techniques, were used to meet difficult requirements.
We examine the effects of loss of constituents of the Martian atmosphere due to sputtering by solar-wind pick-up ions and photochemical escape during the last 3.8 billion years. Sputtering is capable of efficiently removing species from the upper atmosphere to space, including the light noble gases; nitrogen and oxygen are removed by both sputtering ad photochemical processes. Due to diffusive separation (by mass) above the homopause, removal from the top of the atmosphere will fractionate the isotopes of each species, with the lighter isotope being preferentially lost. This allows current measurements of the isotopic ratios to be used as a measure of the atmospheric evolution as integrated over geologic time. For carbon and oxygen, isotopic fractionation is buffered by exchange of atmospheric species with non-atmospheric reservoirs of CO2 and H2O. This allows us to determine the size of the non-atmospheric reservoirs which are capable of mixing with the atmosphere; these reservoirs can be CO2 absorbed in the regolith and/or H2O in the polar ice caps. Such an exchangeable reservoir is required in order to keep the fractionation of the atmospheric gases as low as is observed.
The two-dimensional wavelet transform is a very efficient bandpass filter, which can be used to separate various scales of processes and show their relative phase/location. In this paper, algorithms and techniques for automated detection and tracking of mesoscale features from satellite imagery employing wavelet analysis are developed. The wavelet transform has been applied to satellite images, such as those from synthetic aperture radar (SAR), advanced very-high-resolution radiometer (AVHRR), and coastal zone color scanner (CZCS) for feature extraction. The evolution of mesoscale features such as oil slicks, fronts, eddies, and ship wakes can be tracked by the wavelet analysis using satellite data from repeating paths. Several examples of the wavelet analysis applied to various satellite Images demonstrate the feasibility of this technique for coastal monitoring.
We have developed computerized analysis and display techniques to help identify the origins of visually evoked scalped potentials (VESP). The potentials are recorded simultaneously from many electrodes (usually 40 to 48) spaced over the region of the scalp where appreciable evoked potentials are found in response to particular stimulus. Contour mapping algorithms are then used to display the time behavior of equipotential surfaces on the scalp during the VESP. We then use an optimization technique to select the parameters of arrays of current dipole sources within the model until the model equipotential field distribution closely fits the measured data. Computer graphics are then used to display, as a movie, the actual and model scalp potential fields and the parameters of the dipole generators within the model head during the course of VESP activity. We have devised reaction time tests that involve potentially separable stages of cognitive processing and utilize stimuli that produce measurable cognition-related features in the late component of the evoked potential. We have used these techniques to determine the loci in the brain where known cognition-related features in the evoked potential are generated and we have explored the extent to which each of these features can be related to the reaction time tasks. We have also examined the temporal-spatial aspects of their cerebral involvement. Our current work is planned to characterize the age-related changes in the processes performed by such sources. We also use a neuromagnetometer to measure the evoked magnetic fields in similar circumstances; we will discuss the relative merits of the two methodologies.
An integrated computerized approach for design and stress analysis of low-noise spiral bevel gear drives with adjusted bearing contact is proposed. The procedure of computations is an iterative process that requires four separate procedures and provide: (a) a parabolic function of transmission errors that is able to reduce the effect of errors of alignment on noise and vibration, and (b) reduction of the shift of bearing contact caused by misalignment. Application of finite element analysis enables us to determine the contact and bending stresses and investigate the formation of the bearing contact. The design of finite element models and boundary conditions is automated and does not require intermediate CAD computer programs for application of general purpose computer program for finite element analysis.
The study of gravisensing would be greatly enhanced if physiological events associated with gravity sensing could be detected separately from subsequent growth processes. This report presents a means to discriminate sensing from the growth processes. By using a vibrating probe, we have found an electric current generated by the gravity sensing region of the root cap of maize (Zea mays cv Merit) in response to gravistimulation. On the upper surface of the root cap, the change from the endogenous current has a density of 0.55 microampere per square centimeter away from gravity. The onset of the current shift has a characteristic of lag of three to four minutes after gravistimulation, which corresponds to the presentation time for gravity sensing in this tissue. A description of the current provides some information about the sensing mechanism, as well as being a valuable means to detect gravity sensing independently of differential growth.
An automated system to aid the diagnosis of neuromuscular diseases by producing fiber size histograms utilizing histochemically stained muscle biopsy tissue. Televised images of the microscopic fibers are processed electronically by a multi-microprocessor computer, which isolates, measures, and classifies the fibers and displays the fiber size distribution. The architecture of the multi-microprocessor computer, which is iterated to any required degree of complexity, features a series of individual microprocessors P.sub.n each receiving data from a shared memory M.sub.n-1 and outputing processed data to a separate shared memory M.sub.n+1 under control of a program stored in dedicated memory M.sub.n.
The Ares I-X trajectory reconstruction produced best estimated trajectories of the flight test vehicle ascent through stage separation, and of the first and upper stage entries after separation. The trajectory reconstruction process combines on-board, ground-based, and atmospheric measurements to produce the trajectory estimates. The Ares I-X vehicle had a number of on-board and ground based sensors that were available, including inertial measurement units, radar, air-data, and weather balloons. However, due to problems with calibrations and/or data, not all of the sensor data were used. The trajectory estimate was generated using an Iterative Extended Kalman Filter algorithm, which is an industry standard processing algorithm for filtering and estimation applications. This paper describes the methodology and results of the trajectory reconstruction process, including flight data preprocessing and input uncertainties, trajectory estimation algorithms, output transformations, and comparisons with preflight predictions.