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At least 451 records · Page 25

Characteristics of 30-centimeter mercury ion thrusters

The technology development of the 30 centimeter J series mercury ion thruster for prime propulsion application in solar electric propulsion systems is described. Thruster design is reviewed. A standardized set of test and data recording procedures formulated to allow for the characterization of the J series thruster is described. Characteristics measured are the magnetic baffle characterization, the neutralizer characterization, perveance, the minimum eV/ion measurement, and the electrical and propellant utilization efficiency measurements. Test results are presented.

Maloy, J. E.↗

Low cost solar array project 1: Silicon material

The low cost production of silicon by deposition of silicon from a hydrogen/chlorosilane mixture is described. Reactor design, reaction vessel support systems (physical support, power control and heaters, and temperature monitoring systems) and operation of the system are reviewed. Testing of four silicon deposition reactors is described, and test data and consequently derived data are given. An 18% conversion of trichlorosilane to silicon was achieved, but average conversion rates were lower than predicted due to incomplete removal of byproduct gases for recycling and silicon oxide/silicon polymer plugging of the gas outlet. Increasing the number of baffles inside the reaction vessel improved the conversion rate. Plans for further design and process improvements to correct the problems encountered are outlined.

Jewett, D. N.↗

Investigation of the effects of inlet shapes on fan noise radiation

The effect of inlet shape on forward radiated fan tone noise directivities was investigated under experimentally simplified zero flow conditions. Simulated fan tone noise was radiated to the far field through various shaped zero flow inlets. Baseline data were collected for the simplest baffled and unbaffled straight pipe inlets. These data compared well with prediction. The more general inlet shapes tested were the conical, circular, and exponential surfaces of revolution and an asymmetric inlet achieved by cutting a straight pipe inlet at an acute angle. Approximate theories were developed for these general shapes and some comparisons with data are presented. The conical and exponential shapes produced directivities that differed considerably from the baseline data while the circular shape produced directivities similar to the baseline data. The asymmetric inlet produced asymmetric directivities with significant reductions over the straight pipe data for some angles.

Clark, T. L.↗

Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) analysis, introduction

Stray light transmittance analysis on a design of the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) is presented. The system was evaluated for scattered radiation propagation with the use of the APART (Arizon's Paraxial Analysis of Radiation Transfer), and the propagation of diffracted energy with both PADE (Paraxial Analysis of Diffracted Energy) and the GUERAP II programs. The scattered radiation analysis was performed by using both a 5% diffuse black on the baffle and vane surfaces and by using a mathematical model of the Martin Black scattering characteristics. The sources of infrared radiation and of radiation in the visible wavelengths are identified. Diffraction effects are dominant only at the large off-axis angles, except for a few specific cases and smaller angles. At the longer wavelengths the diffraction contributions go up significantly. It is the comparative increase which determines which propagation process predominates. Combined transmittance values are presented.

Source record↗

Stray radiation and the Infrared Astronomical Satellite /IRAS/ telescope

Stray light control is a major consideration in the design of infrared cryogenically cooled telescopes such as the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS). The basic design of the baffle system, and the placement, shape, and coating of the secondary support struts for the telescope subsystem are described. The intent of this paper is to highlight the stray light problems encountered while designing the system, and to illustrate how computer analysis can be a useful design aid. Scattering measurements of the primary mirror, and a full system level scatter measurement are presented. Comparisons of predicted performance with the measured results are also presented.

Noll, R. J.↗

Comparison of stray light mechanisms and performance in the Infrared Astronomy Satellite /IRAS/ and Shuttle Infrared Telescope Facility /SIRTF/ telescopes

NASA is developing two large space-based infrared astronomy telescopes, IRAS and SIRTF. Both of these systems will be functioning in the environment of a bright thermal emitting earth and sun while concurrently having baffle surfaces radiating thermal photons which combine to produce a stray-radiation background. The APART program was used to analyze the stray radiation propagation paths of both the IRAS and SIRTF designs. The SIRTF design was found to be about 1000 times superior in its stray radiation transmission, because several design options were able to be incorporated through different mechanical and optical constraints that were different, while being generically of a similar optical design.

Lange, S. R.↗

Preliminary cryogenic performance of the Shuttle Infrared Telescope Facility

The Shuttle Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF) is a cryogenically cooled telescope in the one-meter aperture class designed for sensing in the infrared from 2-200 microns. This facility is designed to be flown many times on the Space Shuttle with varying instrument complements. All components of the SIRTF within the field of view of the optics are cryogenically cooled. The primary coolant is supercritical helium which is stored in an external tank and routed through the telescope - cooling the instruments first, then the optical components and finally the baffles. For detector cooling below 6K small reservoirs of superfluid helium (He II) are provided. The SIRTF cryogenic system is designed to automatically control the tank pressure and telescope flow rates during prelaunch operations and flight as well as meet the Space Shuttle environmental and safety requirements. Temperatures maintained in the telescope are a function of instrument operation, design, energy dissipation, and telescope pointing angle. By control of the cryogen flow rate any selected instrument temperature can be maintained within fixed limits, and the critical secondary mirror can be maintained below 10K throughout a 14-day mission. Instrument thermal design is a critical factor in the maintenance of proper temperature differences in the experiment package. Design of a cryogenic telescope for space use presents many problems which do not exist in earth based systems. The limited opportunity for servicing, the restricted coolant supply, and the remote instrumentation and control all provide new considerations for the instrument and system designers.

Gier, H. L.↗

Reflective-Shield Radiative Cooler

Tests show radiative cooler consisting of several thin reflective shields with a slight angle between them redirects flow of heat very effectively. Shield can be used for deflecting virtually any level of thermal radiation can be deflected by technique; but it may be useful in construction reflecting baffles in front of ovens or furnaces.

Petrick, W.↗

Sodium Spray Would Speed Silicon Production

Production rate of solar-grade silicon in sodium/silicon tetrafluoride reactor increase by spray feed. Liquid-sodium droplet size is controlled by pressure of argon gas and by nozzle design. Baffle helps to prevent reactor opening from becoming clogged by reaction products.

Sancier, K. M.↗

Experimental performance of the regenerator for the Chrysler upgraded automotive gas turbine engine

Automobile gas turbine engine regenerator performance was studied in a regenerator test facility that provided a satisfactory simulation of the actual engine operating environment but with independent control of airflow and gas flow. Velocity and temperature distributions were measured immediately downstream of both the core high-pressure-side outlet and the core low-pressure-side outlet. For the original engine housing, the regenerator temperature effectiveness was 1 to 2 percent higher than the design value, and the heat transfer effectiveness was 2 to 4 percent lower than the design value over the range of test conditions simulating 50 to 100 percent of gas generator speed. Recalculating the design values to account for seal leakage decreased the design heat transfer effectiveness to values consistent with those measured herein. A baffle installed in the engine housing high-pressure-side inlet provided more uniform velocities out of the regenerator but did not improve the effectiveness. A housing designed to provide more uniform axial flow to the regenerator was also tested. Although temperature uniformity was improved, the effectiveness values were not improved. Neither did 50-percent flow blockage (90 degree segment) applied to the high-pressure-side inlet change the effectiveness significantly.

Winter, J. M.↗

The Dynamics Explorer Wind and Temperature Spectrometer

The Wind and Temperature Spectrometer, designed to measure the concentration, kinetic temperature, and motion (three mutually perpendicular components of the wind) of the neutral particles, is described, noting that measurements of the concentration and velocity of the ambient thermal ions are also possible. Two of the three wind components, the temperature and the concentration of the dominant constituent, can be measured to an altitude of approximately 650 km; the third component can be measured to about 375 km (estimated). Ion measurements can be taken throughout the orbit. The quadrupole mass spectrometer is the principal sensor for the instrument. Measurements of the zonal and vertical components of the wind are made by interpreting the modulation of the particle stream entering the mass spectrometer, induced by baffles that scan slowly (one vertically and one horizontally) in front of the entrance port of the mass spectrometer.

N W Spencer↗

Scattering characteristics of Martin Black at 118 microns

BRDF (bidirectional reflectance distribution function) values for 0.000118 m radiation at different angles of incidence and different scattering angles from the Infrared Astronomical Satellite telescope baffle coated with Martin Black are presented. Data from scatterometer experiments are collected and the BRDF and beta - beta sub 0 (sin theta sub s - sin theta sub 0) values are calculated based on the geometry, the voltage readings, the attenuators in the beam, and the calculated reference levels. A composite curve of forward and backward scattering data for several angles of incidence shows a peak near the specular direction (beta - beta sub 0 = 0), which is the instrument profile reduced by the 20% specular reflection of the Martin Black. The nonspecular part of the reflectivity indicates the slightly specular but largely Lambertian character of the coating. Data for the specular reflectivity as a function of the incidence angle unexpectedly shows a decrease in the specular reflectance with increasing angle of incidence.

Brooks, L. D.↗

Bidirectional reflectance distribution function of the Infrared Astronomical Satellite solar-shield material

The Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) telescope has an outer shield on it which is used to reduce the amount of thermal radiation that enters the telescope. The shield forms the first part of the baffle structure which reduces the photon incidence on the focal plane. It was, therefore, necessary to model this structure for scattering, and a required input for such modeling is the scattering characteristic of this surface. Attention is given to the measurement of the bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF), the reflected radiance divided by the incident irradiance at 10.6 micrometers, 118 micrometers, and at several angles of incidence. Visual observation of the gold sample shows that there are striations which line up in a single direction. The data were, therefore, taken with the sample oriented in each of two directions.

Hubbs, J. E.↗

Economic and technical aspects of repair, servicing, and retrieval of low earth orbit free flying spacecraft

The economic and technical aspects of the Solar Maximum Observatory Repair Mission at NASA are presented, in an effort to demonstrate the Space Shuttle capability to rendezvous with and repair on-orbit the Solar Maximum Observatory (SMM). A failure in the Attitude Control Subsystem (ACS) after 10 months of operation caused a loss in precision pointing capability. The Multimission Modular Spacecraft (MMS) used for the mission, was designed with on-orbit repairability, and to correct various instrument anomalies, repiar kits such as an electronics box, a thermal aperture closure, and a high energy particle reflection baffle will be used. In addition, a flight support system will be used to berth, electrically safe, and support all the repair activities. A two year effort is foreseen, and the economic return on SMM will be $176 M, in addition to two to three years of solar observation. The mission will eventually conduct studies on flare as a function of solar cycle.

Cepollina, F. J.↗

Extended Performance 8-cm Mercury Ion Thruster

A slightly modified 8-cm Hg ion thruster demonstrated significant increase in performance. Thrust was increased by almost a factor of five over that of the baseline thruster. Thruster operation with various three grid ion optics configurations; thruster performance as a function of accelerator grid open area, cathode baffle, and cathode orifice size; and a life test of 614 hours at a beam current of 250 mA (17.5 mN thrust) are discussed. Highest thruster efficiency was obtained with the smallest open area accelerator grid. The benefits in efficiency from the low neutral loss grids were mitigated, however, by the limitation such grids place on attainable ion beam current densities. The thruster components suffered negligible weight losses during a life test, which indicated that operation of the 8-cm thruster at extended levels of thrust and power is possible with no significant loss of lifetime.

Mantenieks, M. A.↗

Flow in a torsionally oscillating filled cylinder

The flow of a liquid in a completely filled cylinder undergoing torsional oscillations about its longitudinal symmetry axis was studied analytically and experimentally. The objective of the studies was to determine the efficacy of the torsional oscillations in mixing the confined liquid. Flow was found to be confined primarily to toroidal cells at the ends of the cylinder. Cell thickness was about equal to the cylinder radius. The use of baffles at the end walls was shown to enhance the mixing process.

Schafer, C. F.↗

An experimental investigation of noise attenuating techniques for space-shuttle canisters

A model of the space shuttle thermal canister was acoustically tested to determine the amount of noise attenuation which could be derived using a simple, single-wall canister construction having rectangular shape. Acoustic testing was performed on the basic canister and with noise-attenuating design modifications. The basic canister experienced noise amplifications at 56 and 80 Hz, which are attributed to the fundamental canister acoustic mode and local panel structural resonances, respectively. The standing wave response at 56 Hz was effectively suppressed by the incorporation of a cardboard baffle midway between the canister end-caps (an additional overall noise reduction of 4 dB). The canister was next tested with 14%, 22.5% and 31% sound absorptive coverages on the interior walls. The coverage was effective between 400-3000 Hz; the maximum benefit (9 dB) occurring at 1600 Hz. Viscoelastic damping strips bonded to the canister exterior provided an additional 4 to 5 dB attenuation over much of the frequency range and has an overall reduction of about 10 dB as compared to 4.4 dB without damping. A significant reduction of the resonant effect at 80 Hz was noted.

Mirandy, L.↗

An evaluation and assessment of flow quality in selected NASA wind tunnels

Tests have been conducted in a number of NASA wind tunnels to measure disturbance levels and spectra in their respective settling chambers, test sections, and diffusers to determine the sources of their disturbances. The present data supplements previous results in other NASA tunnels and adds to the ongoing acquisition of a disturbance level data base. The present results also serve to explain flow related sources which cause relatively large disturbance amplitudes at discrete frequencies. The installation of honeycomb, screens, and acoustic baffles in or upstream of the settling chamber can significantly reduce the disturbance levels.

Harvey, W. D.↗