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At least 469 records · Page 26
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1994

Stratospheric ozone variations in the equatorial region as seen in Stratiospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment data

An analysis is made of equatorial ozone variations for 5 years, 1984-1989, using the ozone profile data derived from the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment II (SAGE II) instrument. Attention is focused on the annual cycle and also on interannual variability, particularly the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) and El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) variations in the lower stratosphere, where the largest contribution to total column ozone takes place. The annual variation in zonal mean total ozone around the equator is composed of symmetric and asymmetric modes with respect to the equator, with maximum contributions being around 19 km for the symmetric mode and around 25 km for the asymmetric mode. The persistent zonal wavenumber 1 structure observed by the total ozone mapping spectrometer over the equator is almost missing in the SAGE-derived column amounts integrated in the stratosphere, suggesting a significant contribution from tropospheric ozone. Interannual variations in the equatorial ozone are dominated by the QBO above 20 km and the ENSO-related variation below 20 km. The ozone QBO is characterized by zonally uniform phase changes in association with the zonal wind QBO in the equatorial lower stratosphere. The ENSO-related ozone variation consists of both the east-west vacillation and the zonally uniform phase variation. During the El Nino event, the east-west contrast with positive (negative) deviations in the eastern (western) hemisphere is conspicuous, while the decreasing tendency of the zonal mean values is maximum at the same time.

Shiotani, Masato↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Cryogenic Flow Boiling Parabolic Flight Experiment and Universal Correlations for Cryogens

Cryogenic fluids are employed in many industries and play crucial roles in space applications, including nuclear thermal propulsion systems, LOX/LCH4 ascent and descent stage feedlines, LOX/LH2 transfer lines for in-space fuel depots, and LHe transfer lines that cool space experiments. Due to the ultra-low boiling point of cryogens, phase change is inevitable in these systems, which leads to complex boiling behavior in reduced gravity. For cost-effective design and sizing of the aforementioned systems, accurate knowledge of two-phase parameters such as pressure drop, heat transfer coefficient (HTC), and critical heat flux (CHF) is desired. Since 2018, researchers from Purdue University and NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) have been collaborating to investigate the effects of reduced gravity on cryogenic pool boiling, flow boiling ins tubes, and spray cooling. Using a variety of both terrestrial and parabolic flight experimental rigs, extensive LN2 data have been amassed and combined with cryogenic data from World literature to develop both ‘universal’ empirical correlations and CFD models, which are expected to serve as foundation for design of future space systems involving cryogenic fluids. This presentation will provide an overview of both the experimental work and predictive tools that have resulted from the joined Purdue-Glenn studies.

Flow Boiling↗
NASA NTRS1973

Shock compression of a recrystallized anorthositic rock from Apollo 15

Hugoniot measurements on 15,418, a recrystallized and brecciated gabbroic anorthosite, yield a value of the Hugoniot elastic limit (HEL) varying from 45 to 70 kbar as the final shock pressure is varied from 70 to 280 kbar. Above the HEL and to 150 kbar, the pressure-density Hugoniot is closely described by a hydrostatic equation of state constructed from ultrasonic data for single-crystal plagioclase and pyroxene. Above 150 kbar, the Hugoniot states indicate that a series of one or more shock-induced phase changes are occurring in the plagioclase and pyroxene. From Hugoniot data for both the single-crystal minerals and the Frederick diabase, we infer that the shock-induced high-pressure phases in 15,418 probably consists of a 3.71 g/cu cm density, high-pressure structure for plagioclase and a 4.70 g/cu cm perovskite-type structure for pyroxene.

Ahrens, T. J.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Effect of liquid droplets on turbulence structure in a round gaseous jet

A proposed two equation turbulence model for incompressible dilute two phase flows was validated and extended for steady incompressible two phase flow including phase change. The model was tested for the flow of a turbulent axisymmetric gaseous jet laden with multisize evaporating liquid droplets. Predicted results include distributions of the mean velocity; volume fractions of different phases concentration of the evaporated material in the carrier phase; turbulence intensity and shear stress of the carrier phase; droplet diameter distribution; and the jet spreading rate. Results are analyzed based on a qualitative comparison with the corresponding single phase jet flow.

Mostafa, A. M.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Three-Dimensional CFD Simulations in the Film Boiling Regime During Liquid Nitrogen Chilldown Process

The paper presents a three-dimensional CFD simulation for predicting the liquid nitrogen chilldown process through a SS-304 tube. A dispersed mixture model has been employed to predict the two-phase flow behavior whereas the Lee phase change model has been used to predict the boiling process. Cryogenic chilldown process starts with a pure vapor region and proceeds to film, transition and nucleate boiling regimes before reaching the single phase liquid flow and complete chilldown of the transfer line. The present numerical model predicted the film boiling regime accurately and the slope of the chilldown curve deviates slightly from the experimental curve towards the transition and nucleate boiling regime, which needs further investigation. The contours of liquid volume fraction and temperature profiles has been presented to understand the inverted annular film flows in the film boiling regime in detail. In future, the present CFD model will be extended to a wide range of chilldown conditions and different cryogenic fluids to develop a robust methodology.

CFD↗
NASA NTRS1988

Dynamics of face and annular seals with two-phase flow

A detailed study was made of face and annular seals under conditions where boiling, i.e., phase change of the leaking fluid, occurs within the seal. Many seals operate in this mode because of flashing due to pressure drop and/or heat input from frictional heating. Some of the distinctive behavior characteristics of two phase seals are discussed, particularly their axial stability. The main conclusions are that seals with two phase flow may be unstable if improperly balanced. Detailed theoretical analyses of low (laminar) and high (turbulent) leakage seals are presented along with computer codes, parametric studies, and in particular a simplified PC based code that allows for rapid performance prediction: calculations of stiffness coefficients, temperature and pressure distributions, and leakage rates for parallel and coned face seals. A simplified combined computer code for the performance prediction over the laminar and turbulent ranges of a two phase flow is described and documented. The analyses, results, and computer codes are summarized.

Hughes, William F.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Multilayer Dielectric Transmissive Optical Phase Modulator

A multilayer dielectric device has been fabricated as a prototype of a low-loss, low-distortion, transmissive optical phase modulator that would provide as much as a full cycle of phase change for all frequency components of a transmitted optical pulse over a frequency band as wide as 6.3 THz. Arrays of devices like this one could be an alternative to the arrays of mechanically actuated phase-control optics (adaptive optics) that have heretofore been used to correct for wave-front distortions in highly precise optical systems. Potential applications for these high-speed wave-front-control arrays of devices include agile beam steering, optical communications, optical metrology, optical tracking and targeting, directional optical ranging, and interferometric astronomy. The device concept is based on the same principle as that of band-pass interference filters made of multiple dielectric layers with fractional-wavelength thicknesses, except that here there is an additional focus on obtaining the desired spectral phase profile in addition to the device s spectral transmission profile. The device includes a GaAs substrate, on which there is deposited a stack of GaAs layers alternating with AlAs layers, amounting to a total of 91 layers. The design thicknesses of the layers range from 10 nm to greater than 1 micrometer. The number of layers and the thickness of each layer were chosen in a computational optimization process in which the wavelength dependences of the indices of refraction of GaAs and AlAs were taken into account as the design was iterated to maximize the transmission and minimize the group-velocity dispersion for a wavelength band wide enough to include all significant spectral components of the pulsed optical signal to be phase modulated.

Keys, Andrew Scott↗
NASA NTRS1999

Interfacing a General Purpose Fluid Network Flow Program with the SINDA/G Thermal Analysis Program

A general purpose, one dimensional fluid flow code is currently being interfaced with the thermal analysis program Systems Improved Numerical Differencing Analyzer/Gaski (SINDA/G). The flow code, Generalized Fluid System Simulation Program (GFSSP), is capable of analyzing steady state and transient flow in a complex network. The flow code is capable of modeling several physical phenomena including compressibility effects, phase changes, body forces (such as gravity and centrifugal) and mixture thermodynamics for multiple species. The addition of GFSSP to SINDA/G provides a significant improvement in convective heat transfer modeling for SINDA/G. The interface development is conducted in multiple phases. This paper describes the first phase of the interface which allows for steady and quasi-steady (unsteady solid, steady fluid) conjugate heat transfer modeling.

Schallhorn, Paul↗
NASA NTRS2000

Interfacing the Generalized Fluid System Simulation Program with the SINDA/G Thermal Program

A general purpose, one dimensional fluid flow code has been interfaced with the thermal analysis program SINDA/G. The flow code, GFSSP, is capable of analyzing steady state and transient flow in a complex network. The flow code is capable of modeling several physical phenomena including compressibility effects, phase changes, body forces (such as gravity and centrifugal) and mixture thermodynamics for multiple species. The addition of GFSSP to SINDA/G provides a significant improvement in convective heat transfer modeling for SINDA/G. The interface development was conducted in two phases. This paper describes the first (which allows for steady and quasi-steady - unsteady solid, steady fluid - conjugate heat transfer modeling). The second (full transient conjugate heat transfer modeling) phase of the interface development will be addressed in a later paper. Phase 1 development has been benchmarked to an analytical solution with excellent agreement. Additional test cases for each development phase demonstrate desired features of the interface. The results of the benchmark case, three additional test cases and a practical application are presented herein.

Schallhorn, Paul↗
NASA NTRS2001

A Steady State and Quasi-Steady Interface Between the Generalized Fluid System Simulation Program and the SINDA/G Thermal Analysis Program

A general purpose, one dimensional fluid flow code is currently being interfaced with the thermal analysis program SINDA/G. The flow code, GFSSP, is capable of analyzing steady state and transient flow in a complex network. The flow code is capable of modeling several physical phenomena including compressibility effects, phase changes, body forces (such as gravity and centrifugal) and mixture thermodynamics for multiple species. The addition of GFSSP to SINDA/G provides a significant improvement in convective heat transfer modeling for SINDA/G. The interface development is conducted in multiple phases. This paper describes the first phase of the interface which allows for steady and quasisteady (unsteady solid, steady fluid) conjugate heat transfer modeling.

Schallhorn, Paul↗
NASA NTRS1989

Thermodynamic properties of some metal oxide-zirconia systems

Metal oxide-zirconia systems are a potential class of materials for use as structural materials at temperatures above 1900 K. These materials must have no destructive phase changes and low vapor pressures. Both alkaline earth oxide (MgO, CaO, SrO, and BaO)-zirconia and some rare earth oxide (Y2O3, Sc2O3, La2O3, CeO2, Sm2O3, Gd2O3, Yb2O3, Dy2O3, Ho2O3, and Er2O3)-zirconia system are examined. For each system, the phase diagram is discussed and the vapor pressure for each vapor species is calculated via a free energy minimization procedure. The available thermodynamic literature on each system is also surveyed. Some of the systems look promising for high temperature structural materials.

Jacobson, Nathan S.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Thermal and other tests of photovoltaic modules performed in natural sunlight

The bulk of the testing was the characterization of twenty-nine modules according to their nominal operating cell temperature (NOCT) and the effect on NOCT of changes in module design, various residential roof mounting configurations, and dirt accumulation. Other tests, often performed parallel with the NOCT measurements, evaluated the improvement in electrical performance by cooling the modules with water and by channeling the waste heat into a phase change material (wax). Electrical degradation resulting from the natural marriage of photovoltaic and solar water heating modules was also demonstrated. Cost effectiveness of each of these techniques are evaluated in light of the LSA cost goal of $0.50 per watt.

Stultz, J. W.↗
NASA NTRS2020

Evolution of Pitch Angle Distributions of Relativistic Electrons During Geomagnetic Storms: Van Allen Probes Observations

We present a study analyzing relativistic and ultra relativistic electron energization and the evolution of pitch angle distributions using data from the Van Allen Probes. We study the connection between energization and isotropization to determine if there18is a coherence across storms and across energies. Pitch angle distributions are fit with a J(sub 0) sin(sup n)θ function, and the variable ’n’ is characterized as the pitch angle index and tracked over time. Our results show that, consistently across all storms with ultra relativistic electron energization, electron distributions are most anisotropic within around a day of Dst(sub min) and become more isotropic in the following week. Also, each consecutively higher energy channel is associated with higher anisotropy after storm main phase. Changes in the pitch angle index are reflected in each energy channel; when 1.8 MeV electron pitch angle distributions increase (or decrease) in pitch angle index, so do the other energy channels. We show that the peak anisotropies differ between CME- and CIR- driven storms and measure the relaxation rate as the anisotropy falls after the storm. The isotropization rate in pitch angle index for CME-driven storms is -0.15±0.02 day(sup −1) at 1.8 MeV, -0.30±0.01 day(sup −1) at 3.4 MeV, and -0.39±0.02 day(sup −1) at 5.2 MeV. For CIR-driven storms, the isotropization rates are -0.10±0.01 day(sup −1) for 1.8 MeV, -0.13±0.02 day(sup −1) for 3.4 MeV, and -0.11±0.0231 day(sup −1) for 5.2 MeV. This study shows that there is a global coherence across energies and that storm type may play a role in the evolution of electron pitch angle distributions. Plain Language Summary Using Van Allen Probes data, we measure pitch angle distributions of relativistic and ultra relativistic electrons. Anisotropic pitch angle distributions are sharply peaked around 90 degrees. More evenly distributed pitch angles are isotropic. Our results show that, consistently across all storms with ultra relativistic electron enhancements, electrons are most anistropic within around a day of storm onset and slowly isotropize in the following week. In addition, each consecutively higher energy channel is also associated with higher anisotropy after the main phase of geomagnetic storms, a characteristic which holds through the storm and recovery. Changes in the pitch angle index are reflected in each energy channel; when 1.8 MeV electrons increase (or decrease) in pitch angle index, so do all the other energy channels. In a superposed epoch study, we show that the peak anisotropies differ between different storm drivers (namely, coronal mass ejections and corotating interaction regions) and measure the isotropization rate as the anisotropy falls after the storm. This study shows that there is a global coherence across energies and that storm type may play a role in the evolution of electron pitch angle distributions.

pitch angle distributions↗
NASA NTRS1996

Three-dimensional organization of otolith-ocular reflexes in rhesus monkeys. I. Linear acceleration responses during off-vertical axis rotation

1. The dynamic properties of otolith-ocular reflexes elicited by sinusoidal linear acceleration along the three cardinal head axes were studied during off-vertical axis rotations in rhesus monkeys. As the head rotates in space at constant velocity about an off-vertical axis, otolith-ocular reflexes are elicited in response to the sinusoidally varying linear acceleration (gravity) components along the interaural, nasooccipital, or vertical head axis. Because the frequency of these sinusoidal stimuli is proportional to the velocity of rotation, rotation at low and moderately fast speeds allows the study of the mid-and low-frequency dynamics of these otolith-ocular reflexes. 2. Animals were rotated in complete darkness in the yaw, pitch, and roll planes at velocities ranging between 7.4 and 184 degrees/s. Accordingly, otolith-ocular reflexes (manifested as sinusoidal modulations in eye position and/or slow-phase eye velocity) were quantitatively studied for stimulus frequencies ranging between 0.02 and 0.51 Hz. During yaw and roll rotation, torsional, vertical, and horizontal slow-phase eye velocity was sinusoidally modulated as a function of head position. The amplitudes of these responses were symmetric for rotations in opposite directions. In contrast, mainly vertical slow-phase eye velocity was modulated during pitch rotation. This modulation was asymmetric for rotations in opposite direction. 3. Each of these response components in a given rotation plane could be associated with an otolith-ocular response vector whose sensitivity, temporal phase, and spatial orientation were estimated on the basis of the amplitude and phase of sinusoidal modulations during both directions of rotation. Based on this analysis, which was performed either for slow-phase eye velocity alone or for total eye excursion (including both slow and fast eye movements), two distinct response patterns were observed: 1) response vectors with pronounced dynamics and spatial/temporal properties that could be characterized as the low-frequency range of "translational" otolith-ocular reflexes; and 2) response vectors associated with an eye position modulation in phase with head position ("tilt" otolith-ocular reflexes). 4. The responses associated with two otolith-ocular vectors with pronounced dynamics consisted of horizontal eye movements evoked as a function of gravity along the interaural axis and vertical eye movements elicited as a function of gravity along the vertical head axis. Both responses were characterized by a slow-phase eye velocity sensitivity that increased three- to five-fold and large phase changes of approximately 100-180 degrees between 0.02 and 0.51 Hz. These dynamic properties could suggest nontraditional temporal processing in utriculoocular and sacculoocular pathways, possibly involving spatiotemporal otolith-ocular interactions. 5. The two otolith-ocular vectors associated with eye position responses in phase with head position (tilt otolith-ocular reflexes) consisted of torsional eye movements in response to gravity along the interaural axis, and vertical eye movements in response to gravity along the nasooccipital head axis. These otolith-ocular responses did not result from an otolithic effect on slow eye movements alone. Particularly at high frequencies (i.e., high speed rotations), saccades were responsible for most of the modulation of torsional and vertical eye position, which was relatively large (on average +/- 8-10 degrees/g) and remained independent of frequency. Such reflex dynamics can be simulated by a direct coupling of primary otolith afferent inputs to the oculomotor plant. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED).

NASA Discipline Neuroscience↗
NASA NTRS1998

An Evaluation of the Vapor Phase Catalytic Ammonia Removal Process for Use in a Mars Transit Vehicle

An experimental program has been developed to evaluate the potential of the Vapor Phase Catalytic Ammonia Reduction (VPCAR) technology for use as a Mars Transit Vehicle water purification system. Design modifications which will be required to ensure proper operation of the VPCAR system in reduced gravity are also evaluated. The VPCAR system is an integrated wastewater treatment technology that combines a distillation process with high temperature catalytic oxidation. The distillation portion of the system utilizes a vapor compression distillation process to provide an energy efficient phase change separation. This portion of the system removes any inorganic salts and large molecular weight, organic contaminates, i.e., non-volatile, from the product water stream and concentrates these contaminates into a byproduct stream. To oxidize the volatile organic compounds and ammonia, a vapor phase, high temperature catalytic oxidizer is used. This catalytic system converts these compounds along with the aqueous product into CO2, H2O, and N2O. A secondary catalytic bed can then be used to reduce the N2O to nitrogen and oxygen (although not evaluated in this study). This paper describes the design specification of the VPCAR process, the relative benefits of its utilization in a Mars Transit Vehicle, and the design modification which will be required to ensure its proper operation in reduced gravity. In addition, the results of an experimental evaluation of the processors is presented. This evaluation presents the processors performance based upon product water purity, water recovery rates, and power.

Flynn, Michael↗
NASA NTRS1979

Solar activity and changes in atmospheric circulation

Several related investigations of the possible influence of the solar and interplanetary magnetic sector structure on the atmospheric circulation are described. The area of low pressure troughs in the northern hemisphere has a minimum about one day after a warped heliospheric current sheet has been carried past the earth by the solar wind. Possible physical mechanisms could relate to phase changes in meteorological processes, changes in atmospheric electricity or changes in solar extreme ultraviolet irradiation. A quantitative analysis suggests that the accuracy of weather forcasting decreases during the two days after the warped heliospheric current sheet has passed the earth. A description is given of several further investigations in progress.

Wilcox, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Microstructural aspects of zirconia thermal barrier coatings

Various combination of plasma-sprayed bond coatings and zirconia ceramic coatings on a nickel-based superalloy substrate were tested by static thermal exposure at 1200 C and cyclic thermal exposure to 1000 C. The bond coats were based on Ni-Cr-Al alloys with additions of rare earth elements and Si. The ceramic coats were various ZrO2-Y2O3 compositions, of which the optimum was found to be ZrO2-8.9 wt percent Y2O3. Microstructural analysis showed that resistance to cracking during thermal exposure is strongly related to deleterious phase changes. Zones depleted of Al formed at the bond coat/ceramic coat interface due to oxidation and at the bond coat/substrate interface due to interdiffusion, leading eventually to breakdown of the bond coat. The 8.9 percent Y2O3 coating performed best because the as-sprayed metastable tetragonal phase converted slowly into the low-Y2O3 tetragonal plus high-Y2O3 cubic-phase mixture, so that the deleterious monoclinic phase was inhibited from forming. Failure appeared to start with the formation of circumferential cracks in the zirconia, probably due to compressive stresses during cooling, followed by the formation of radial cracks due to tensile stresses during heating. Cracks appeared to initiate at the Al2O3 scale/bond coat interface and propagate through the zirconia coating. Comparisons were made with the behavior of bulk ZrO2-Y2O3 and the relationship between the microstructure of the tetragonal phase and the phase diagram. A separate investigation was also made of the ZrO2-Al2O3 interface.

Mitchell, T. E.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Large aperture interferometer with phase-conjugate self-reference beam

A large aperture self-referencing interferometer consisting of a Twyman-Green interferometer using a self-pumped phase conjugator in series with test section optics is described and experimentally demonstrated. This interferometer provides twice the fringe shift of a Mach-Zehnder (M-Z) interferometer for a given optical phase change induced within the test section. It also provides greater irradiance in the reference beam than does a similar series setup utilizing a M-Z interferometer incorporating a local reference beam. Whereas the ordinary interferometer records instantaneous conditions, the new one records overage conditions if a BaTiO3 crystal is used as the phase conjugator.

Howes, W. L.↗