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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 631 records · Page 35
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1983

Vapor flow into a capillary propellant-acquisition device

An analytical model is described that specifies the conditions needed to cause a flow of vapor through the screens of a start basket. The analytical model is composed of several original submodels that interrelate the evaporation of the liquid in the basket, the bubble-point change of a screen in the presence of wicking, the drying out of a screen through a combination of evaporation and pressure difference, the vapor flow rate across a wet screen as a function of pressure difference, and the effect on wicking of a difference between the static pressure of the liquid reservoir and the vapor surrounding the screen. Most of the interrelations were demonstrated by a series of separate-effects tests, which were also used to determine certain empirical constants. The equations of the model were solved numerically for typical start basket designs. A simplified start basket was constructed and tested to verify these predictions, using both volatile and non-volatile liquids. The test results verified the trends predicted by the model.

Dodge, F. T.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Profiling atmospheric water vapor by microwave radiometry

High-altitude microwave radiometric observations at frequencies near 92 and 183.3 GHz were used to study the potential of retrieving atmospheric water vapor profiles over both land and water. An algorithm based on an extended kalman-Bucy filter was implemented and applied for the water vapor retrieval. The results show great promise in atmospheric water vapor profiling by microwave radiometry heretofore not attainable at lower frequencies.

Wang, J. R.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Trichite growth during oxidation of titanium and TA6V4 alloy by water vapor at high temperatures

Analysis by electron scanning microscope detected the formation of rutile trichites on the surface of specimens of titanium and titanium alloy TA6V4 oxidized in water vapor in the temperature range 650 to 950 C and the water vapor pressure range from 0.5 to 18 torr. In all specimens, two sublayers of rutile were formed: an external layer of basalt-like appearance, and a microcrystalline inner layer. Morphology of the trichites depends on temperature and the material (whether metal or alloy), but not on vapor pressure.

Coddet, C.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Nimbus 7 SMMR Derived Seasonal Variations in the Water Vapor, Liquid Water and Surface Winds over the Global Oceans

Monthly mean distributions of water vapor and liquid water contained in a vertical column of the atmosphere and the surface wind speed were derived from Nimbus Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer (SMMR) observations over the global oceans for the period November 1978 to November 1979. The remote sensing techniques used to estimate these parameters from SMMR are presented to reveal the limitations, accuracies, and applicability of the satellite-derived information for climate studies. On a time scale of the order of a month, the distribution of atmospheric water vapor over the oceans is controlled by the sea surface temperature and the large scale atmospheric circulation. The monthly mean distribution of liquid water content in the atmosphere over the oceans closely reflects the precipitation patterns associated with the convectively and baroclinically active regions. Together with the remotely sensed surface wind speed that is causing the sea surface stress, the data collected reveal the manner in which the ocean-atmosphere system is operating. Prominent differences in the water vapor patterns from one year to the next, or from month to month, are associated with anomalies in the wind and geopotential height fields. In association with such circulation anomalies the precipitation patterns deduced from the meteorological network over adjacent continents also reveal anomalous distributions.

Prabhakara, C.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Water Vapor Profile Retrievals from the HIRS/MSU Satellite Sounder

The objective of this research is to develop a method for the retrieval of atmospheric water vapor profiles within the context of the GLAS physically based retrieval scheme. The GLAS retrieval method is currently capable of producing accurate atmospheric temperature retrievals as well as cloud fields and retrieved surface properties such as temperature and microwave emissivity. In the GLAS retrieval scheme, the water vapor field used in the computation of the atmospheric transmittance functions is obtained from a 6 hour forecast and is not modified in the retrieval process. Improved estimates of the water vapor field, in addition to being in themselves variables of meteorological interest, may, therefore, result in improved estimates of the other retrieved parameters obtained from the system.

Reuter, D.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Water vapor radiometry research and development phase

This report describes the research and development phase for eight dual-channel water vapor radiometers constructed for the Crustal Dynamics Project at the Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, and for the NASA Deep Space Network. These instruments were developed to demonstrate that the variable path delay imposed on microwave radio transmissions by atmospheric water vapor can be calibrated, particularly as this phenomenon affects very long baseline interferometry measurement systems. Water vapor radiometry technology can also be used in systems that involve moist air meteorology and propagation studies.

Resch, G. M.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Implications of the stratospheric water vapor distribution as determined from the Nimbus 7 LIMS experiment

The LIMS experiment on Nimbus 7 has provided new results on the stratospheric water vapor distribution. The data show (1) a latitudinal gradient with mixing ratios that increase by a factor of 2 from equator to + or - 60 degrees at 50 mb, (2) most of the time there is a fairly uniform mixing ratio of 5 ppmv at high latitudes, but more variation exists during winter, (3) a well-developed hygropause at low to midlatitudes of the lower stratosphere, (4) a source region of water vapor in the upper stratospehere to lower mesosphere that is consistent with methane oxidation chemistry, at least within the uncertainties of the data, (5) an apparent zonal mean H2O distribution that is consistent with the circulation proposed by Brewer in 1949, and (6) a zonal mean distribution in the lower stratosphere that is consistent with the idea of quasi-isentropic transport by eddies in the meridional direction. Limits to the use of the data in the refinement of our understanding of the stratospheric water vapor budget are noted.

Remsberg, E. E.↗
NASA NTRS1985

A new ozone standard - The vapor pressure of ozone at liquid argon temperatures

The vapor pressure of ozone has been measured at liquid argon temperatures. At the normal boiling point of argon (-185.9 C) an ozone pressure of 0.0405 torr was obtained with an accuracy of + or - 1.5 percent. Increases and decreases in liquid argon temperatures raised and lowered the ozone vapor pressure, respectively. During the vapor pressure measurements the purity of ozone was monitored with a mass spectrometer. The proposed ozone standard will considerably improve the calibration of experiments for atmospheric research, the determination of absorption cross sections and other laboratory ozone studies.

Mauersberger, K.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Relative spectral absorption of solar radiation by water vapor and cloud droplets

A moderate (20/cm) spectral resolution model which accounts for both the highly variable spectral transmission of solar radiation through water vapor within and above cloud, as well as the more slowly varying features of absorption and anisotropic multiple scattering by the cloud droplets, is presented. Results from this model as applied to the case of a typical 1 km thick stratus cloud in a standard atmosphere, with cloud top altitude of 2 km and overhead sun, are discussed, showing the relative importance of water vapor above the cloud, water vapor within the cloud, and cloud droplets on the spectral absorption of solar radiation.

Davies, R.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Possible seasonal variability of mesospheric water vapor

Ground-based spectral line measurements of the 22.2 GHz water vapor line in atmospheric emission were made at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which have been used to deduce the mesospheric water vapor profile. The measurements were made nearly continuously in the spring and early summer of 1984. The results indicate a temporal increase in the water vapor mixing ratio in the upper mesosphere from April through June. At 75 km, this increase is nearly by a factor of 2. Comparison of the present results with the results of a similar series of measurements made at the Haystack (radio astronomy) Observatory indicate that this temporal increase is part of a seasonal variation.

Bevilacqua, R. M.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Precision ozone vapor pressure measurements

The vapor pressure above liquid ozone has been measured with a high accuracy over a temperature range of 85 to 95 K. At the boiling point of liquid argon (87.3 K) an ozone vapor pressure of 0.0403 Torr was obtained with an accuracy of + or - 0.7 percent. A least square fit of the data provided the Clausius-Clapeyron equation for liquid ozone; a latent heat of 82.7 cal/g was calculated. High-precision vapor pressure data are expected to aid research in atmospheric ozone measurements and in many laboratory ozone studies such as measurements of cross sections and reaction rates.

Hanson, D.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Three-Frequency Water-Vapor Radiometer

Measurements increase accuracies of delay predictions. Threefrequency microwave radiometer measures quantity of water vapor in atmosphere, part of effort to determine microwave-signal delays due to water vapor. Delay estimates necessary for accurate determination of distances in geodesy and related applications as very-long-baseline interferometry. Water-vapor data directly useful in weather research.

Janssen, M. A.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Theoretical and experimental comparison of vapor cavitation in dynamically loaded journal bearings

Vapor cavitation for a submerged journal bearing under dynamically loaded conditions was investigated. The observation of vapor cavitation in the laboratory was done by high-speed photography. It was found that vapor cavitation occurs when the tensile stress applied to the oil exceeded the tensile strength of the oil or the binding of the oil to the surface. The theoretical solution to the Reynolds equation is determined numerically using a moving boundary algorithm. This algorithm conserves mass throughout the computational domain including the region of cavitation and its boundaries. An alternating direction implicit (MDI) method is used to effect the time march. A rotor undergoing circular whirl was studied. Predicted cavitation behavior was analyzed by three-dimensional computer graphic movies. The formation, growth, and collapse of the bubble in response to the dynamic conditions is shown. For the same conditions of dynamic loading, the cavitation bubble was studied in the laboratory using high-speed photography.

Brewe, D. E.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Vapor-screen flow-visualization experiments in the NASA Langley 0.3-m transonic cryogenic tunnel

The vortical flow on the leeward side of a delta-wing model has been visualized at several different tunnel conditions in the NASA Langley 0.3-Meter Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel using a vapor-screen flow-visualization technique. Vapor-screen photographs of the subject flow field are presented and interpreted relative to phenomenological implications. Results indicate that the use of nitrogen fog in conjunction with the vapor-screen technique is feasibile.

Selby, G. V.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Propagation of detonations in hydrazine vapor

In the range of greater hydrazine vapor pressure, detonation speed depends exclusively on the extent of the ammonia decomposition in the second reaction stage. As vapor pressure decreases, the ammonia disintegration speed becomes increasingly slower and the reaction reached in the reaction zone increasingly decreases until finally, in the vapor pressure range between 53 and 16 Torr, the contribution of the second stage to detonation propagation disappears, and only the first stage remains active. Since the disintegration speed of the hydrazine in this pressure range has decreased markedly as well, no level, but rather only spinning, detonations occur. Temporary separations of the impact front and the reaction zone in the process lead to fluctuations of the detonation speed.

Heinrich, H. J.↗
NASA NTRS1985

An electron diffraction study of alkali chloride vapors

A study of monomers and dimers of the four alkali chlorides NaCl, KCl, RbCl, and CsCl in the vapor phase using the counting method of high energy electron diffraction is reported. Nozzle temperatures from 850-960 K were required to achieve the necessary vapor pressures of approximately 0.01 torr. Using harmonic calculations for the monomer and dimer 1 values, a consistent set of structures for all four molecules was obained. The corrected monomer distances reproduce the microwave values very well. The experiment yields information on the amount of dimer present in the vapor, and these results are compared with thermodynamic values.

Mawhorter, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Intercomparisons of high-resolution solar blind Raman lidar atmospheric profiles of water vapor with radiosondes and kytoon

A report is given of measurements of atmospheric profiles of water vapor in the boundary layer by use of solar blind Raman lidar. These measurement episodes, occuring twice a day over a two week period, were accompanied by a dense net of supporting measurements. The support included two radiosonde launches per measurement episodes as well as a kytoon support measurement of water vapor using a wet bulb-dry bulb instrument. The kytoon strategy included ten minute stops at strategic altitudes. Additional kytoon measurements included ozone profiles and nephelometric extinction profiles in the visible. Typically, six or seven 1000 shot lidar profile averages were collected during a measurement episode. Overall performance comparisons are provided and intercomparisons between auxiliary measurement devices are presented. Data on the accuracy of the lidar water vapor profiles are presented.

Petri, K.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Measurements of lower stratospheric/upper tropospheric water vapor by the SAGE II instrument

Preliminary, unvalidated data are discussed from early measurements of water vapor profiles in the upper troposphere/lower stratosphere by means of SAGE II satellite sensors. Zonal means for April 1985 are discussed and compared with previous, separate data sets for water vapor profiles for the 100 mbar and 300 mbar levels determined from space-based IR and rawinsonde data. Techniques employed to correct for noisy measurements due to the presence of clouds in the SAGE II scenes are described, noting the slant path transmission methods applied to generate the water vapor profiles.

Larsen, J. C.↗