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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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The performance of the NATO-111-A and NATO 111-B satellite battery is reported. The electrical power subsystem is briefly described. The electrical characteristics and the reconditioning experience of the batteries is cited. The in-orbit experience is compared with results of preflight accelerated life tests.
Performance results and design considerations are presented for an all solid-state Ku-band power amplifier which is feasible for use in PM communication systems for airborne or spacecraft transmitter applications. A six-stage GaAs FET preamplifier and a driver and balanced power amplifier utilizing GaAs IMPATT diodes operating in the injection locked oscillator mode are discussed. For high power and efficiency Schottky-Read IMPATT's with low-high-low doping profiles are employed. For improved reliability the IMPATT's incorporate a TiW barrier metallization to retard degradation of the IMPATT's. Results of accelerated life testing of the IMPATT devices are also presented.
A two-layer plasma-sprayed thermal barrier coating on a directionally solidified nickel-base eutectic alloy substrate was characterized prior to and after thermal cycling to 1095 C in an accelerated furnace test. The coating was comprised of an inner layer of Ni-16.4Cr-5.1Al-0.15Y (wt%) bond coat and an outer layer of ZrO2-7.9Y2O3 (wt%) thermal barrier. Characterization of the bond coat revealed that substantial amounts of yttrium and aluminum were oxidized during plasma-spraying in air. The oxidation of these elements reduced the protective capacity of the bond coat so that, on thermal exposure, severe degradation of the bond coat resulted and large amounts of nickel oxide formed. This nickel oxide was demonstrated to grow outward into the thermal barrier, which appears to have increased the stresses in the thermal barrier and contributed to its failure near the thermal barrier-bond coat interface.
High temperature barrier metallizations were assessed and tested for I(2)L and CMOS applications. Life tests were accelerated to 375 C in view of the -55 C to +300 C temperature range established for engine-located electronics without fuel cooling. The gold-refractory metallizations evaluated were Au-TiW-PtSi, Au-TiW/TiO2/TiW-PtSi and Au-TiW(N)-PtSi. These metallization systems were thermally annealed to at least 375 C for up to 250 hours. The critical requirement for stable diffusion barrier is the TiW grain size. Small grain (250A-500A) films were observed to be stable up to 375 C. Deposition to TiW diffusion barrier in the presence of oxygen and nitrogen also results in an effective diffusion barrier. Auger electron spectroscopy profiles of the PtSi indicates some penetration by the TiW. In the case of PtSi/TiW interface, the redistribution of oxygen further passivates the system by forming a TiO2 layer at the interface.
An accelerated battery test with 15 periods of cell reversals during reconditioning was performed. The nature and extent of hydrogen generation was examined, and the effects of reversals on battery performance were determined.
The influence of substituted pyridines, pyrroles, indoles, and quinolines on the storage stability of conventional Jet A turbine fuel is evaluated. Significant increases in the amount of deposit formed in accelerated storage tests are found upon addition of these compounds at levels as low as one ppm nitrogen. While the effect is correlated with basicity of the nitrogen compound within a given compound class, the correlation does not hold between classes (pyridines, quinolines, etc.). Steric hindrance at the nitrogen atom greatly inhibits deposit promotion. The characteristics, but not the elemental composition, of deposits vary with the identity of the added nitrogen compound and with deposition temperature.
The development of reasonably precise techniques for the measurement of storage stability of jet aviation fuel is described. Lewis bases, extracted by ligand-exchange from a coal-derived liquid, are shown to adversely affect storage stability (as determined by an accelerated storage test) when added to Jet A turbine fuel. JFTOT results suggesting slight decreases in thermal stability of fuel 'spiked' (i.e., contaminated with a measured quantity of reagent) with extract are reported. Addition to Jet A turbine fuel of individual heterocyclic nitrogen compounds is shown to produce comparable decreases in storage stability.
The effect of suspended solid particles on the performance of the compressor cascade was investigated experimentally in a specially built cascade tunnel, using quartz sand particles. The cascades were made of NACA 65(10)10 airfoils. Three cascades were tested, one accelerating cascade and two diffusing cascades. The theoretical analysis assumes inviscid and incompressible two dimensional flow. The momentum exchange between the fluid and the particle is accounted for by the interphase force terms in the fluid momentum equation. The modified fluid phase momentum equations and the continuity equation are reduced to the conventional stream function vorticity formulation. The method treats the fluid phase in the Eulerian system and the particle phase in Lagrangian system. The experimental results indicate a small increase in the blade surface static pressures, while the theoretical results indicate a small decrease. The theoretical analysis, also predicts the loss in total pressure associated with the particulate flow through the cascade.
Research efforts at NASA-Langley to characterize the durability of composite materials which are candidates for use as components on various space hardware systems are reviewed. The material applications include large space structures, antennas, cables, thermal control coatings, solar reflectors, and satellite power systems. Simulation facilities have been built to study radiation effects on polymer matrix composites, and the dimensional stability of the matrix composites and tension stabilized cables. Numerical models are being developed for radiation effects on the mechanical, physical, and optical properties. Additionally, chemical and microstructural analyses are performed to identify damage mechanisms and the limits of effectiveness of accelerating life tests. It is noted that no residual strength reduction has been detected in polymer films after dosages of 5 billion rads of electron radiation.
Five volunteer subjects were tested for acceleration tolerance under eight different experimental conditions representing relaxed and unprotected tolerance and tolerance with all possible combinations of the anti-G suit, and M-1 maneuver, and supination in a PALE seat. The individual and combined effects of the various acceleration protective techniques were examined as they related to various models for acceleration protection, and the data revealed no statistically significant deviations from a simple additive model. The apparent net additivity was interpreted as resulting from a combination of additive, synergistic, and overlapping mechanisms.
A laser photoacoustic technique (LPAT) has been verified for performing accelerated life testing of outdoor photooxidation of polymeric materials used in solar energy applications. Samples of the material under test are placed in a chamber with a sensitive microphone, then exposed to chopped laser radiation. The sample absorbs the light and converts it to heat by a nonradiative deexcitation process, thereby reducing pressure fluctuations within the cell. The acoustic signal detected by the microphone is directly proportional to the amount of light absorbed by the specimen. Tests were performed with samples of ethylene/methylacrylate copolymer (EMA) reprecipitated from hot cyclohexane, compressed, and molded into thin (25-50 microns) films. The films were exposed outdoors and sampled by LPAT weekly. The linearity of the light absorbed with respect to the acoustic signal was verified.Correlations were established between the photoacoustic behavior of the materials aged outdoors and the same kinds of samples cooled and heated in a controlled environment reactor. The reactor tests were validated for predicting outdoor exosures up to 55 days.
In order to develop a long life nickel electrode for a Ni/H2 cell, an investigation was begun to study the effects of sinter structure and active material loading level on the long life performance of nickel electrodes. This paper is a report on the initial performance of these electrodes as a part of an accelerated life test program. Seven different types of nickel plaques were made which included three levels of both their mechanical strength and median pore size. These plaques were impregnated with three levels of active material loading. The resultant electrodes were tested by a 200-cycle stress test which was conducted in flooded electrolyte, and also for initial performance in a Ni/H2 boiler plate cell. An interesting and unexpected observation was that an increased initial utilization of the active material was due more to its complete discharge to the lower average oxidation state than its increased charge acceptance in the charged state.
Within one year, a lithium battery design can be qualified for device use through the application of accelerated discharge testing, calorimetry measurements, real time tests and other supplemental testing. Materials and corrosion testing verify that the battery components remain functional during expected battery life. By combining these various methods, a high reliability lithium battery can be manufactured for applications which require zero defect battery performance.
An investigation on specific performance details of photon counting, ultraviolet image sensors having 2-dimensional formats is reviewed. In one study, controlled experiments were performed which compare the quantum efficiencies, in pulse counting mode, of CsI photocathodes deposited on: (1) the front surface of a microchannel plate (MCP), (2) a solid surface in front of an MCP, and (3) an intensified CCD image sensor (ICCD) where a CCD is directly bombarded by accelerated photoelectrons. Tests indicated that the detection efficiency of the CsI-coated MCP at 1026 A is lower by a factor of 2.5 than that of the MCP with a separate, opaque CsI photocathode, and the detection efficiency ratio increases substantially at longer wavelengths (ratio is 5 at 1216 A and 20 at 1608 A).
A Research Forum on Reliability and Engineering of Thin Film Photovoltaic Modules, under sponsorship of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Flat Plate Solar Array (FSA) Project and the U.S. Department of Energy, was held in Washington, D.C., on March 20, 1985. Reliability attribute investigations of amorphous silicon cells, submodules, and modules were the subjects addressed by most of the Forum presentations. Included among the reliability research investigations reported were: Arrhenius-modeled accelerated stress tests on a Si cells, electrochemical corrosion, light induced effects and their potential effects on stability and reliability measurement methods, laser scribing considerations, and determination of degradation rates and mechanisms from both laboratory and outdoor exposure tests.
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory is investigating the possibility of developing advanced electrochemical techniques as accelerated compatibility tests for metal/propellant systems which overcome the problems associated with the low conductivity of the liquid propellants (e.g., hydrazines, nitrogen tetroxide). Both DC techniques and AC electrochemical impedance spectroscopy are being evaluated. Progress has been made in experiments involving stainless steel with hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide propellants.
The Thermal Control Working Group limited its evaluation to issues associated with Earth orbiting and planetary spacecraft with power levels up to 50 kW. It was concluded that the space station technology is a necessary precursor but does not meet S/C 2000 needs (life, high heat flux, long term cryogenics, and survivability). Additional basic and applied research are required (fluid/materials compatibility and two phase system modeling). Scaling, the key issue, must define accelerated life test criteria. The two phase systems require 0g to 1 g correlation. Additional ground test beds are required and combined space environment tests of materials.
An experimental apparatus to scientifically investigate the process of Electron-Cyclotron-Resonance (ECR) plasma acceleration has been tested. The apparatus consists of a vacuum facility, a 20 kW microwave power supply, and an argon ECR plasma thruster. Present instrumentation allows measurement of microwave input power, reflected power, propellant flow rate, and static pressure in the vacuum tank. In initial tests, an argon ECR plasma has been initiated repeatably at power levels ranging from 0.3 to 7.0 kW. The ECR plasma appears to diverge and separate from the applied magnetic field as predicted by theory. These tests suggest that the ECR plasma acceleration concept can be studied scientifically in the new apparatus.