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At least 505 records · Page 28

Preflight status of the External Tank portion of the Space Shuttle Main Propulsion System

The development progress of the External Tank (ET) of the Shuttle Main Propulsion System (MPS) is described. 87% of ET propulsion components have satisfactorily completed qualification tests in preparation for the first Shuttle flight and their performance has been verified in the Main Propulsion Test Article (MPTA) firings of up to 100 seconds duration. The design changes in the LH2 tank pressurant diffuser, the LO2 feed system, and the ground test LO2 tank are discussed. Propellant loading information from MPTA tests may be used to predict loading operations and performance at KSC and VAFB, while ullage pressure profiles and boil-off rates during loading, chilldown rates, and final bulk density data have been obtained with geyser suppression evaluated and loading procedures established and verified. The MPTA test experience provided data to evaluate pressurization system and ET to Orbiter interface propellant performance noting thus that the fluid interface requirements will be satisfied for the first Shuttle flight. The Intertank inerting system was found to be effective in minimizing hazardous gas mixtures and full scale separation tests of the ET to Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate system were successfully completed.

Norquist, L.↗

An experimental determination of the cross section of the Swings band system of C3

The spectral absorption cross section of the Swings band of C3 was determined from measurements behind incident shock waves that heated a gas mixture of argon and acetylene. These measurements spanned the spectral region between 300 and 540 nm, and were obtained at temperatures between 3200 and 4000 K. An electronic oscillator strength of 0.033 was deduced from the measurements.

Cooper, D. M.↗

Nuclear-pumped CO2 laser

The He-3 (n,p)T reaction was examined as an energy source for a CO2 laser. For this purpose He-3 was added to a functioning CO2 electrically excited laser. Initially the laser was run electrically with 12 torr total pressure. The gas mixture was 1:1:8, CO2:N2:He. At zero reactor power, the laser was tested in place next to the core of the Georgia Tech. Research Reactor. After verification of laser action He-3 was added to the system. The He-3 partial pressures of 10 torr, 50 torr, and 300 torr were added in three separate reactor runs. Reactor power ranged from zero to 5 million watts, which corresponds to a peak flux of 10 to the 14th power/sq cm. At reactor powers greater than 10 kW, gain of up to 30 percent was shown. However, indications are this may be due to gamma excitation rather than caused by the He-3 (n,p)T reaction. These results do agree with the data of past CO2 nuclear pumped laser experiments.

Rowe, M.↗

User's guide for vectorized code EQUIL for calculating equilibrium chemistry on Control Data STAR-100 computer

A vectorized code, EQUIL, was developed for calculating the equilibrium chemistry of a reacting gas mixture on the Control Data STAR-100 computer. The code provides species mole fractions, mass fractions, and thermodynamic and transport properties of the mixture for given temperature, pressure, and elemental mass fractions. The code is set up for the electrons H, He, C, O, N system of elements. In all, 24 chemical species are included.

Kumar, A.↗

Computational models for the viscous/inviscid analysis of jet aircraft exhaust plumes

Computational models which analyze viscous/inviscid flow processes in jet aircraft exhaust plumes are discussed. These models are component parts of an NASA-LaRC method for the prediction of nozzle afterbody drag. Inviscid/shock processes are analyzed by the SCIPAC code which is a compact version of a generalized shock capturing, inviscid plume code (SCIPPY). The SCIPAC code analyzes underexpanded jet exhaust gas mixtures with a self-contained thermodynamic package for hydrocarbon exhaust products and air. A detailed and automated treatment of the embedded subsonic zones behind Mach discs is provided in this analysis. Mixing processes along the plume interface are analyzed by two upgraded versions of an overlaid, turbulent mixing code (BOAT) developed previously for calculating nearfield jet entrainment. The BOATAC program is a frozen chemistry version of BOAT containing the aircraft thermodynamic package as SCIPAC; BOATAB is an afterburning version with a self-contained aircraft (hydrocarbon/air) finite-rate chemistry package. The coupling of viscous and inviscid flow processes is achieved by an overlaid procedure with interactive effects accounted for by a displacement thickness type correction to the inviscid plume interface.

Dash, S. M.↗

Depriming of arterial heat pipes: An investigation of CTS thermal excursions

Four thermal excursions of the Transmitter Experiment Package (TEP) were the result of the depriming of the arteries in all three heat pipes in the Variable Conductance Heat Pipe System which cooled the TEP. The determined cause of the depriming of the heat pipes was the formation of bubbles of the nitrogen/helium control gas mixture in the arteries during the thaw portion of a freeze/thaw cycle of the inactive region of the condenser section of the heat pipe. Conditions such as suction freezeout or heat pipe turn-on, which moved these bubbles into the active region of the heat pipe, contributed to the depriming mechanism. Methods for precluding, or reducing the probability of, this type of failure mechanism in future applications of arterial heat pipes are included.

Antoniuk, D.↗

Some flow characteristics of conventional and tapered high-pressure-drop simulated seals

The leak rates through shaft seals with large pressure drops were simulated using gaseous hydrogen, or nitrogen flowing through an annulus with a nonrotating centerbody. The flows were choked. For concentric or eccentric position of the rotor and parallel or convergent tapered flow passages, data and analysis revealed that mass flux or leak rate can be determined from a relation whose normalizing parameters depend on the thermodynamic critical constants of the working fluid and an average flow area expressed in terms of the inlet and exit cross-sectional areas. Using these normalized relations, the flow data for parallel and three convergent, tapered, shaft-seal configurations are in good agreement. Generalization to any simple gas or gas mixtures is implied and demonstrated in part.

Hendricks, R. C.↗

The hollow-cathode helium-fluorine laser

It is possible to obtain uniform stable long-pulse excitation (in excess of 100 microsec) in gas mixtures involving highly electronegative constituents (SF6, CCl4, NF3, and I2). Such a system was used to investigate the atomic fluorine laser. In the hollow cathode, lasing on fluorine transitions in the doublet system lasted for up to 80 microsec with no signs of the self-termination as reported previously in positive-column devices. The excitation process of the laser appears to depend heavily upon the fluorine donor utilized. For instance, a single-step process is involved when NF3 is used whereas a two-step process is evident for SF6. The details are discussed.

Crane, J. K.↗

Iodine monofluoride emission spectrum and formation kinetics in electron-beam-produced plasmas

The observation of intense blue-green spontaneous emission attributed to IF from electron-beam-excited Ar/CF3I/NF3 gas mixtures is reported. Intense emission from a structured band centered at a wavelength of 484 nm was observed when mixtures of 2000-4000 Torr AR (or He or Ne), 3 Torr CF3I and 1 Torr NF3 (or F2) were irradiated with a 3-nsec FWHM electron beam. Analysis of ICl and IBr spectra, which the present spectrum closely resembles, indicates that the 484-nm emission originates from the E to A 3 pi 1 transition of IF. Examination of the time dependence of metastable IF and I2 emission reveals that the IF (E) level is formed primarily by excitation transfer from metastable I(4P) states. The fluorescence efficiency of the E-A transition and the radiative lifetime of the metastable IF (E) state are estimated to be approximately 6% and 15 nsec, respectively, and it is suggested that metastable IF is an attractive candidate for a blue-green laser.

Hutchison, S. B.↗

Ultraviolet laser excitation source

A new intense ultraviolet light source has been developed from an array of hypocycloidal pinch (HCP) devices. The basic unit of the array is constructed with three disk electrodes and is capable of producing dense plasmas at temperatures up to 10,000,000 K. Very high input power levels to the array are possible without significantly shortening its useful life, in strong contrast with conventional xenon flashlamps. The new light source, when operated with Ar and Xe gas mixtures at high pressures (approximately 5 x 10 to the 4th Pa), produced a light output of over 100 MW in the near-UV spectral range and successfully pumped an iodine photodissociation laser at 1.315 microns. A xenon recombination laser at 2.027 microns was also pumped in the HCP array.

Lee, J. H.↗

Optical absorption of carbon and hydrocarbon species from shock heated acetylene and methane in the 135-220 nm wavelength range

Absorption spectroscopy of carbon and hydrocarbon species has been performed in a shock tube at an incident shock condition for a wavelength range of 135-220 nm, in order to obtain information needed for calculating radiation blockage ahead of a planetary probe. Instrumentation consisted of high frequency response pressure transducers, thin-film heat transfer gages, or photomultipliers coupled by light pipes. Two test-gas mixtures, one with acetylene and the other with methane, both diluted with argon, were used to provide a reliable variation of C3 and C2H concentration ratio. Comparison of tests results of the two mixtures, in the temperature range of 3750 + or - 100 K, showed the main absorbing species to be C3. The wavelength for maximum absorption agrees well with the theoretical values of 7.68 eV and 8.03 eV for the vertical excitation energy, and a value of 0.90 for the electronic oscillator strength, obtained from the measured absorption band, is also in good agreement with the predicted value of 0.92.

Shinn, J. L.↗

Nuclear-pumped lasing of /He-3/-Xe at 2.63 microns

Direct nuclear pumping of an (He-3)-Xe laser, lasing at 2.63 microns, has been achieved. Scaling of the laser output with xenon concentration, total pressure, and thermal neutron flux has been investigated. A peak power in excess of 200 W was obtained at a total pressure of 3 atm, a gas mixture consisting of 5% xenon and 95% He-3, and a peak thermal flux of 6 x 10 to the 16th n/sq cm s.

Jalufka, N. W.↗

Low NO subx heavy fuel combustor concept program. Phase 1A: Coal gas addendum

The performance and emissions from a rich-lean combustor fired on simulated coal gas fuels were investigated using a 12.7-cm diameter axially-staged burner originally designed for operation with high heating value liquid fuels. A simple, tubular fuel injector was substituted for the liquid fuel nozzle; no other combustor modifications were made. Four test fuels were studied including three chemically bound nitrogen-free gas mixtures with higher heating values of 88, 227, and 308 kj/mol (103, 258 and 349 Btu/scf), and a 227 kj/mol (258 Btu/scf) heating value doped with ammonia to produce a fuel nitrogen content of 0.5% (wt). Stable, ultra-low nitrogen oxide, smoke-free combustion was attained for the nitrogen-free fuels. Results with the doped fuel indicated that less than 5% conversion of NH3 to nitrogen oxide levels below Environmental Protection Agency limits could be achieved. In some instances, excessive CO levels were encountered. It is shown that use of a burner design employing a less fuel-rich primary zone than that found optimum for liquid fuels would yield more acceptable CO emissions.

Rosfjord, T.↗

Some properties of RF sputtered hafnium nitride coatings

Hafnium nitride coatings were deposited by reactive RF sputtering from a hafnium target in nitrogen and argon gas mixtures. The rate of deposition, composition, electrical resistivity and complex index of refraction were investigated as a function of target substrate distance and the fraction nitrogen, (fN2) in the sputtering atmosphere. The relative composition of the coatings is independent on fN2 for values above 0.1. The electric resistivity of the hafnium nitride films changes over 8 orders of magnitude when fN2 changes from 0.10 to 0.85. The index of refraction is almost constant at 2.8(1-0.3i) up to fN2 = 0.40 then decreases to 2.1(1 - 0.01i) for higher values of fN2.

Aron, P. R.↗

Scientific Transactions No. 11 of the Institute of Mechanics, Moscow State University

The results of flow around wings, the determination of the optimal form, and the interaction of the wake with the accompanying flow at supersonic and hypersonic speeds of the free-stream flow are given. Methods of numerical and analytical calculation of one dimensional unsteady and two dimensional steady motions of fuel-gas mixtures with exothermic reactions are also considered.

Gonor, A. L.↗

Zoological effects of variations in atmospheric oxygen levels

The role of certain gene enzymes in survival in modified atmospheres was examined. Chromosome morphology was studied. Mortality and life span were measured. Equipment to deliver various gas mixtures to the flies was designed and fabricated. To study the gene enzymes a technique called starch gel electrophoresis was needed. Equipment and supplies for this work and the study of chromosome morphology was available on the market, although some of the equipment was fabricated to save the project money.

Kloek, G.↗

User's guide for the computer code COLTS for calculating the coupled laminar and turbulent flow over a Jovian entry probe

A user's guide for a computer code 'COLTS' (Coupled Laminar and Turbulent Solutions) is provided which calculates the laminar and turbulent hypersonic flows with radiation and coupled ablation injection past a Jovian entry probe. Time-dependent viscous-shock-layer equations are used to describe the flow field. These equations are solved by an explicit, two-step, time-asymptotic finite-difference method. Eddy viscosity in the turbulent flow is approximated by a two-layer model. In all, 19 chemical species are used to describe the injection of carbon-phenolic ablator in the hydrogen-helium gas mixture. The equilibrium composition of the mixture is determined by a free-energy minimization technique. A detailed frequency dependence of the absorption coefficient for various species is considered to obtain the radiative flux. The code is written for a CDC-CYBER-203 computer and is capable of providing solutions for ablated probe shapes also.

Kumar, A.↗