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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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At least 505 records · Page 28
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1991

Vortex movement and magnetization of high Tc superconductors

The basic characteristics of the thermoactivated vortex mobility in Y1Ba2Cu3O7 are determined by measurement of the kinetics of magnetization in two time regimes. The analysis of the kinetics of the approach of the equilibrium results in the activation energy, while the measurement of the log-creep rate allows determination of the activated moment. It is shown that the movement of vortices can be regarded as the diffusion process.

Roytburd, A. L.↗
NASA NTRS1990

NASA/DOD Aerospace Knowledge Diffusion Research Project. Paper 8: The role of the information intermediary in the diffusion of aerospace knowledge

The United States aerospace industry is experiencing profound changes created by a combination of domestic actions and circumstances such as airline deregulation. Other changes result from external trends such as emerging foreign competition. These circumstances intensify the need to understand the production, transfer, and utilization of knowledge as a precursor to the rapid diffusion of technology. Presented here is a conceptual framework for understanding the diffusion of technology. A conceptual framework is given for understanding the diffusion of aerospace knowledge. The framework focuses on the information channels and members of the social system associated with the aerospace knowledge diffusion process, placing particular emphasis on aerospace librarians as information intermediaries.

Pinelli, Thomas E.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Thermally driven diffusion of SO2 within the surface of Io

The presence of sulfur dioxide (SO2) on Io, together with the fact that the surface layer of Io has extremely high porosity, suggests the possibility of diffusion of this volatile within the surface, as well as exchange between the surface and an atmosphere. The former possibility is investigated through the development of a surface layer thermal model and subsequent calculations of the thermally driven diffusion flux of SO2 within the layer. The major factors affecting the diffusion process are the temperature and temperature gradient in the surface layer throughout the day, and the porosity and grain size in the surface layer. The results indicate that the net transport of SO2 in the near-surface region is downward into the subsurface, causing near-surface depletion of SO2. Near-surface depletion would result in a layer of reduced thermal inertia overlying the bulk of the surface, consistent with thermal eclipse observations of Io. For the present nominal model with 10-micron grains and a porosity of 85 percent, the peak net diurnal downward flux reaches nearly 0.008 g/sq cm per period.

Meade, Paul E.↗
NASA NTRS1990

NASA/DoD aerospace knowledge diffusion research project. VIII - The role of the information intermediary in the diffusion of aerospace knowledge

The U.S. aerospace industry is experiencing profound changes created by a combination of domestic actions and circumstances such as airline deregulation. Other changes result from external trends such as emerging foreign competition. These circumstances intensify the need to understand the production, transfer, and utilization of knowledge as a precursor to the rapid diffusion of technology. This article presents a conceptual framework for understanding the diffusion of aerospace knowledge. The framework focuses on the information channels and members of the social system associated with the aerospace knowledge diffusion process, placing particular emphasis on aerospace librarians as information intermediaries.

Pinelli, Thomas E.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Mechanisms of voids formation during cooldown and freezing of lithium in SP-100 type systems

The mechanisms of void formation during the cooldown and freezing of lithium coolant within the primary loop of SP-100 type systems are investigated. These mechanisms are: (a) homogeneous nucleation, (b) heterogeneous nucleation, (c) normal segregation of helium gas dissolved in liquid lithium, and (d) shrinkage of lithium during freezing. To evaluate the void formation potential due to segregation, a numerical scheme that couples the freezing and mass diffusion processes in both the solid and liquid regions is developed. The results indicated that the formation of He bubbles is unlikely by either homogeneous or heterogeneous nucleation during the cooldown process. However, homogeneous nucleation of He bubbles following the segregation of dissolved He in liquid Lithium ahead of the solid-liquid interface is likely to occur. Results also show that total volume of He void is insignificant when compared to that of shrinkage voids.

Yang, Jae Y.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Three-dimensional analytical model for the mixed layer depth

A three-dimensional (3D) semianalytical mixed-layer thermal inertia model for the mixed layer depth is developed, which includes the horizontal advection and diffusion processes modeled previously by Yan et al. (1991) in a one-dimensional (1D) model. The 3D model, which is based on the 3D thermal energy conservation equation, can be used as a supplement to the 1D model in the area where advection is important and for a finer resolution grid prediction. The model can be easily forced by remotely sensed data and is much simpler to compute than numerical 3D mixed-layer turbulence closure models. The new model was verified using data from the AVHRR/multichannel sea surface temperature data set and the Cooperative Ocean Atmosphere Data Set for the North Pacific Ocean, showing good agreement.

Yan, Xiao-Hai↗
NASA NTRS1992

Simultaneous equatorial measurements of waves and precipitating electrons in the outer radiation belt

Simultaneous wave and precipitating electron measurements near the equator in the outer radiation belt have been made from the CRRES satellite. The electron data of principal concern here were acquired in and about the loss cone with narrow angular resolution spectrometers covering the energy range 340 eV to 5 MeV. The wave data included electric field measurements spanning frequencies from 5 Hz to 400 kHz and magnetic field measurements from 5 Hz to 10 kHz. This paper presents examples in which the variations in electron fluxes in the loss cone and the wave intensities were correlated. These variations in electron flux were confined to pitch angles less than about 30 deg. The association between the flux enhancements and the waves is consistent with wave-induced pitch angle diffusion processes.

Imhof, W. L.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Kinetic simulations of the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability at the magnetopause

Two-dimensional hybrid simulations with particle ions and fluid electrons are used to calculate the kinetic evolution of the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability for a magnetopauselike configuration. The unidirectional magnetic field is essentially transverse to the plasma flow velocity, which is the most unstable case according to linear theory and models the flow dynamics in the subsolar region of the magnetopause for northward interplanetary magnetic field. We recover effects analogous to those found in MHD simulations, including a mode cascade to longer wavelengths. The boundary layer consists of coherent structure and is not well described by a diffusive process. Isolated structures on the order of the ion gyroradius are formed which can cross the boundary in either direction. We describe how the time evolution of these structures represents transport across boundary layers, and we consider the possible connection of these entities to flux transfer events and other structure seen in the low-latitude boundary layer at the Earth's magnetopause as well as to flux ropes commonly observed near the ionopause of Venus. We also discuss the relation of the hybrid calculations to previous MHD simulations and to observations.

Thomas, V. A.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Growth experiment of organic metal crystal in low gravity (M-21)

The purpose of this experiment is to grow large, high-quality single crystals of the organic metal (TMTTF-TCNQ) by the diffusion method without thermal fluctuation due to convection and gravitational sedimentation, and to evaluate the difference in properties between such crystals grown in low gravity and the ones obtained on Earth. The expected results may fix several physical properties of TMTTF-TCNQ, lead to the discovery of new phenomena, and enable us to analyze diffusion processes in a precise way. The result will contribute to the development of research on organic metals and, generally, on crystal growth.

Anzai, Hiroyuki↗
NASA NTRS1993

Evaporation in equilibrium, in vacuum, and in hydrogen gas

Evaporation experiments were conducted for SiO2 in three different conditions: in equilibrium, in vacuum, and in hydrogen gas. Evaporation rate in vacuum is about two orders of magnitude smaller than that in equilibrium, which is consistent with previous works. The rate in hydrogen gas changes depending on hydrogen pressure. The rate at 10 exp -7 bar of hydrogen pressure is as small as that of free evaporation, but at 10 exp -5 bar of hydrogen pressure it is larger than that in equilibrium. In equilibrium and in vacuum, the evaporation rate is limited by decomposition of SiO2 on the crystal surface, but it is limited by a diffusion process for evaporation in hydrogen gas. Therefore, evaporation rate of minerals in the solar nebula can be shown neither by that in equilibrium nor by that in vacuum. The maximum temperature of the solar nebula at the midplane at 2-3 AU where chondrites are believed to have originated is calculated to be as low as 150 K, 1500 K, or in between them. The temperature is, in any case, not high enough for total evaporation of the interstellar materials. Therefore, evaporation of interstellar materials is one of the most important processes for the origin and fractionation of solid materials. The fundamental process of evaporation of minerals has been intensively studied for these several years. Those experiments were carried out either in equilibrium or in vacuum; however, evaporation in the solar nebula is in hydrogen (and much smaller amount of helium) gas. In order to investigate evaporation rate and compositional (including isotopic) fractionation during evaporation, vaporization experiments for various minerals in various conditions are conducted. At first, SiO2 was adopted for a starting material, because thermochemical data and its nature of congruent vaporization are well known. Experiments were carried out in a vacuum furnace system.

Nagahara, Hiroko↗
NASA NTRS1993

Mineralogy and cooling history of magnesian lunar granulite 67415

Apollo granulite 67415 was investigated by mineralogical techniques to gain better understanding of cooling histories of lunar granulities. Cooling rates were estimated from chemical zoning of olivines in magnesian granulitic clasts by computer simulation of diffusion processes. The cooling rate of 10 deg C/yr obtained is compatible with a model of the granulite formation, in which the impact deposit was cooled from high temperature or annealed, at the depth of about 25 m beneath the surface.

Takeda, Hiroshi↗
NASA NTRS1994

An application of a two-equation model of turbulence to three-dimensional chemically reacting flows

A numerical study of three dimensional chemically reacting and non-reacting flowfields is conducted using a two-equation model of turbulence. A generalized flow solver using an implicit Lower-Upper (LU) diagonal decomposition numerical technique and finite-rate chemistry has been coupled with a low-Reynolds number two-equation model of turbulence. This flow solver is then used to study chemically reacting turbulent supersonic flows inside combustors with synergetic fuel injectors. The reacting and non-reacting turbulent combustor solutions obtained are compared with zero-equation turbulence model solutions and with available experimental data. The hydrogen-air chemistry is modeled using a nine-species/eighteen reaction model. A low-Reynolds number k-epsilon model was used to model the effect of turbulence because, in general, the low-Reynolds number k-epsilon models are easier to implement numerically and are far more general than algebraic models. However, low-Reynolds number k-epsilon models require a much finer near-wall grid resolution than high-Reynolds number models to resolve accurately the near-wall physics. This is especially true in complex flowfields, where the stiff nature of the near-wall turbulence must be resolved. Therefore, the limitations imposed by the near-wall characteristics and compressible model corrections need to be evaluated further. The gradient-diffusion hypothesis is used to model the effects of turbulence on the mass diffusion process. The influence of this low-Reynolds number turbulence model on the reacting flowfield predictions was studied parametrically.

Lee, J.↗
NASA NTRS1994

The effect of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 on Jupiter's synchrotron radiation

Solid material from comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 is expected to modify Jupiter's decimetric radio emission. Electrons passing through dust grains suffer a degradation in their energy, while larger sized material absorbs all electrons impinging on it. If there is enough dust and/or larger sized material in the magnetosphere, the effect on the energetic electrons can be observed via their synchrotron radiation, emitted at microwave frequencies. The planet's radio emission is expected to decrease, and the presence of dust induces a hardening in the radio spectrum. We expect the intensity to decrease immediately after cometary material enters the radiation belts; the radio emission continues to drop for many months as electrons diffuse inwards through a dusty magnetosphere. Radio observations of the planet during and after the cometary impact thus yield information on the amount of cometary material (optical depth of the dust and macroscopic material), impacts between cometary material and Jupiter's ring, and the diffusion process of energetic electrons through the magnetosphere.

De Pater, Imke↗
NASA NTRS1995

Field lines and magnetic surfaces in a two-component slab/2D model of interplanetary magnetic fluctuations

A two-component model for the spectrum of interplanetary magnetic fluctuations was proposed on the basis of ISEE observations, and has found an intriguing level of application in other solar wind studies. The model fluctuations consist of a fraction of 'slab' fluctuations, varying only in the direction parallel to the locally uniform mean magnetic field B(0) and a complement of 2D (two-dimensional) fluctuations that vary in the directions transverse to B(0). We have developed an spectral method computational algorithm for computing the magnetic flux surfaces (flux tubes) associated with the composite model, based upon a precise analogy with equations for ideal transport of a passive scalar in planar two dimensional geometry. Visualization of various composite models will be presented, including the 80 percent 2D/ 20 percent slab model with delta B/B(0) approximately equals 1 and a minus 5/3 spectral law, that is thought to approximately represent a snapshot of solar wind turbulence. Characteristically, the visualizations show that flux tubes, even when defined as regular on some plane, shred and disperse rapidly as they are viewed along the parallel direction. This diffusive process, which generalizes the standard picture of field line random walk, will be discussed in detail. Evidently, the traditional picture that flux tubes randomize like strands of spaghetti with a uniform tangle along the axial direction is in need of modification.

Matthaeus, W. H.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Thermal desorption of CO and H2 from degassed 304 and 347 stainless steel

Thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS), along with Auger electron spectroscopy, was used to study the desorption of H2 and CO from baked 304 and 347 stainless-steel samples exposed only to residual gases. Both 347 and 304 samples gave identical TDS spectra. The spectra for CO contained a sharp leading peak centered in the temperature range 410-440C and an exponentially increasing part for temperatures higher than 500C, with a small peak around 600C appearing as a shoulder. The leading peak followed a second-order desorption behavior with an activation energy of 28+/-2 kcal/mol, suggesting that the rate-limiting step for this peak is most likely a surface reaction that produces the CO molecules in the surface layer. The amount of desorbed CO corresponding to this peak was approximately 0.5X10(exp 14) molecules/cm(exp 2) . The exponentially rising part of the CO spectrum appeared to originate from a bulk diffusion process. The TDS spectrum for H2 consisted of a main peak centered also in the temperature range 410-440C, with two small peaks appearing as shoulders at approximately 500 and 650C. The main peak in this case also displayed a second-order behavior with an activation energy of 14+/-2 kcal/mol. The amount of desorbed H2, approximately 1.9X 10(exp 15) molecules/cm(exp 2) , appeared to be independent of the concentration of hydrogen in the bulk, indicating that the majority of the desorbed H2 originated from the surface layer.

Rezaie-Serej, S.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Aerodynamic Synthesis of a Centrifugal Impeller Using CFD and Measurements

The performance and flow structure in an unshrouded impeller of approximately 4:1 pressure ratio is synthesized on the basis of a detailed analysis of 3D viscous CFD results and aerodynamic measurements. A good data match was obtained between CFD and measurements using laser anemometry and pneumatic probes. This solidified the role of the CFD model as a reliable representation of the impeller internal flow structure and integrated performance. Results are presented showing the loss production and secondary flow structure in the impeller. The results indicate that while the overall impeller efficiency is high, the impeller shroud static pressure recovery potential is underdeveloped leading to a performance degradation in the downstream diffusing element. Thus, a case is made for a follow-on impeller parametric design study to improve the flow quality. A strategy for aerodynamic performance enhancement is outlined and an estimate of the gain in overall impeller efficiency that might be realized through improvements to the relative diffusion process is provided.

Larosiliere, L. M.↗
NASA NTRS1998

An Assessment of the Axial and Radial Dilation of a DPIMS Tantalum Cartridge for Space Shuttle Flight Experiments

Ground-based heat treatment tests are planned on an argon gas-filled tantalum cartridge developed as pan of a Diffusion Processes in Molten Semiconductors (DPIMS) experiment conducted on NASA's Space Shuttle. The possibility that the cartridge may creep during testing and touch the furnace walls is of real concern in this program. The present paper discusses the results of calculations performed to evaluate this possibility. Deformation mechanism maps were constructed using literature data in order to identify the creep mechanism dominant under the appropriate stresses and temperatures corresponding to the test conditions. These results showed that power-law creep was dominant when the grain size of the material exceeded 55 gm but Coble creep was the important mechanism below this value of grain size. Finite element analysis was used to analyze the heat treatment tWs assuming a furnace run away condition (which is a worst case scenario) using the appropriate creep parameters corresponding to grain sizes of 1 and 100 gm. Calculations were also conducted to simulate the effect of an initial 3 tilt of the cartridge assembly, the maximum possible tilt angle. The von Mises stress and su-ain distributions were calculated assuming that the cartridge was fixed at one end as it was heated from ambient temperature to 1823 K in 1.42 h, maintained at 1823 K for 9.5 h and then further heated to an over temperature condition of 2028 K in 0.3 h. The inelastic axial and radial displacements of the cartridge walls were evaluated by resolving the von Mises strain along the corresponding directions. These calculations reveal that the maximum axial and radial displacements are expected to be about 2.9 and 0.25 mm, respectively, for both fine and coarse-grained materials at 2028 K. It was determined that these displacements occur during heat-up to temperature and creep of the cartridge is likely to be relatively insignificant irrespective of grain size. Furthermore, with a 3' tilt of the cartridge, the deflection is increased by only 0.39 gm which is negligible. Since the gap between the furnace heating elements and the cartridge is about 7.5 mm and less than the maximum radial dilation of 0.25 mm at 2028 K, it is concluded that the cartridge is unlikely to touch the furnace walls during the experiments.

Raj, S.V.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Quench Module Insert (QMI) and the Diffusion Module Insert (DMI) Furnace Development

The Quench Module Insert (QMI) and the Diffusion Module Insert (DMI) are microgravity furnaces under development at Marshall Space Flight Center. The furnaces are being developed for the first Materials Science Research Rack (MSRR-1) of the Materials Science Research Facility (MSRF), one of the first International Space Station (ISS) scientific payloads. QMI is a Bridgman furnace with quench capability for studying interface behavior during directional solidification of metallic and alloy materials. DMI will be a Bridgman-Stockbarger furnace to study diffusion processes in semiconductors. The design for each insert, both QMI and DMI, is driven by specific science, operations and safety requirements, as well as by constraints arising from resource limitations, such as volume, mass and power. Preliminary QMI analysis and testing indicates that the design meets these requirements.

Crouch, Myscha R.↗