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At least 685 records · Page 38

Summary of process research analysis efforts

A summary of solar-cell process research analysis efforts was presented. Process design and cell design are interactive efforts where technology from integrated circuit processes and other processes are blended. The primary factors that control cell efficiency are: (1) the bulk parameters of the available sheet material, (2) the retention and enhancement of these bulk parameters, and (3) the cell design and the cost to produce versus the finished cells performance. The process sequences need to be tailored to be compatible with the sheet form, the cell shape form, and the processing equipment. New process options that require further evaluation and utilization are lasers, robotics, thermal pulse techniques, and new materials. There are numerous process control techniques that can be adapted and used that will improve product uniformity and reduced costs. Two factors that can lead to longer life modules are the use of solar cell diffusion barriers and improved encapsulation.

Burger, D. R.↗

Role of fuel chemical properties on combustor radiative heat load

In an attempt to rigorously study the fuel chemical property influence on combustor radiative heat load, United Technologies Research Center (UTRC) has conducted an experimental program using 25 test fuels. The burner was a 12.7-cm dia cylindrical device fueled by a single pressure-atomizing injector. Fuel physical properties were de-emphasized by selecting injectors which produced high-atomized, and hence rapidly-vaporizing sprays. The fuels were specified to cover the following wide ranges of chemical properties; hydrogen, 9.1 to 15- (wt) pct; total aromatics, 0 to 100 (vol) pct; and naphthalene, 0 to 30 (vol) pct. They included standard fuels, specialty products and fuel blends. Fuel naphthalene content exhibited the strongest influence on radiation of the chemical properties investigated. Smoke point was a good global indicator of radiation severity.

Rosfjord, T. J.↗

Development of a variational SEASAT data analysis technique

Oceans are data-sparse areas in terms of conventional weather observations. The surface pressure field obtained solely by analyzing the conventional weather data is not expected to possess high accuracy. On the other hand, in entering asynoptic data such as satellite-derived temperature soundings into an atmospheric prediction system, an improved surface analysis is crucial for obtaining more accurate weather predictions because the mass distribution of the entire atmosphere will be better represented in the system as a result of the more accurate surface pressure field. In order to obtain improved surface pressure analyses over the oceans, a variational adjustment technique was developed to help blend the densely distributed surface wind data derived from the SEASAT-A radar observations into the sparsely distributed conventional pressure data. A simple marine boundary layer scheme employed in the adjustment technique was discussed. In addition, a few aspects of the current technique were determined by numerical experiments.

Sasaki, Y. K.↗

Slow plastic strain rate compressive flow in binary CoAl intermetallics

Constant-velocity elevated temperature compression tests have been conducted on a series of binary CoAl intermetallics produced by hot extrusion of blended prealloyed powders. The as-extruded materials were polycrystalline, and they retained their nominal 10-micron grain size after being tested between 1100 and 1400 K at strain rates ranging from 2 x 10 to the -4th to 2 x 10 to the -7th per sec. Significant plastic flow was obtained in all cases; while cracking was observed, much of this could be due to failure at matrix-oxide interfaces along extrusion stringers rather than to solely intergranular fracture. A maximum in flow strength occurs at an aluminum-to-cobalt ratio of 0.975, and the stress exponent appears to be constant for aluminum-to-cobalt ratios of 0.85 or more. It is likely that very aluminum-deficient materials deform by a different mechanism than do other compositions.

Whittenberger, J. D.↗

One-photon pair annihilation in magnetized relativistic plasmas

In supersonic magnetic fields, electron-positron pairs may annihilate into single photons producing spectral features above 1 MeV. The paper calculates the exact one-photon annihilation rate in the general case where pairs may annihilate from excited Landau states, extending the previous studies which were restricted to pairs in the ground state. Asymptotic expressions for annihilation spectra and rates in the limit of large pair quantum numbers are also derived. It is found that the rate of annihilation from excited states can exceed the rate from the ground state by orders of magnitude in fields less than about 2 x 10 to the 12th G. This allows one-photon annihilation to be competitive with the two-photon process at typical neutron star field strengths. Annihilation spectra from a Maxwellian pair plasma at transrelativistic temperatures show fine structure near threshold on a scale (h/2pi)omega sub B as the result of contributions from individual pair states, which blend into a smooth continuum at higher energies.

Harding, A. K.↗

The magnetic field of the BY Draconis flare star EQ Virginis

High resolution, high S/N-ratio line profiles of the BY Draconis-type flare star EQ Vir obtained with the MMT are presently subjected to a novel Zeeman analysis procedure which includes radiative transfer effects and compensation for blends. A mean field of 2500 + or - 300 G covering 80 + or 15 percent of EQ Vir is determined. This constitutes the first positive detection of a magnetic field in a BY Draconis-type flare star, confirming that magnetic fields are present on these stars. The value of 2500 G obtained for the photospheric field strength is similar to the value derived by assuming equipartition of magnetic and thermal energy densities in the photosphere and scaling from the solar network fields, suggesting that equipartition may determine the mean field strength in the nonspotted portion of the flare star photosphere.

Saar, . H.↗

Multistage open-tube trap for enrichment of part-per-trillion trace components of low-pressure (below 27-kPa) air samples

A multistage open-tube trap for cryogenic collection of trace components in low-pressure air samples is described. The open-tube design allows higher volumetric flow rates than densely packed glass-bead traps commonly reported and is suitable for air samples at pressures below 27 kPa with liquid nitrogen as the cryogen. Gas blends containing 200 to 2500 parts per trillion by volume each of ethane and ethene were sampled and hydrocarbons were enriched with 100 + or - 4 percent trap efficiency. The multistage design is more efficient than equal-length open-tube traps under the conditions of the measurements.

Ohara, D.↗

X-29 initial flight test results

It is announced that the X-29 forward-swept-wing (FSW) aircraft has been built, with flight testing under way and proceeding smoothly. The X-29 is a single-seat, single-engine supersonic aircraft that blends an optimized FSW, a close-coupled near-coplar canard, an F-5A forward fuselage module employing two side-mounted engine inlets, and a new aft fuselage. An F404-GE-400 engine with afterburner provides about 16,000 lb of thrust. The X-29 was designed to be near neutrally stable in the supersonic region to minimize drag; it becomes highly unstable transonically and subsonically, which dictates the use of a computerized fly-by-wire flight control system capable of stabilizing the aircraft. The X-29 advanced technology demonstrator began flight testing on Dec. 14, 1984; by Sept. 26, 1985, its envelope had been expanded to 0.75 Mach, 350 knots estimated airspeed, and 30,000 feet altitude. The aircraft has flown with very few problems and aerodynamic, structural, and control system results have correlated well with predictions. Areas where prediction and performance are not so well correlated are noted.

Ishmael, S. D.↗

High temperature properties of equiatomic FeAl with ternary additions

The aluminide intermetallic compounds are considered potential structural materials for aerospace applications. The B2 binary aluminide FeAl has a melting point in excess of 1500 K, is of simple cubic structure, exists over a wide range of composition with solubility for third elements and is potentially self-protecting in extreme environments. The B2 FeAl compound has been alloyed with 1 to 5 at. pct ternary additions of Si, Ti, Zr, Hf, Cr, Ni, Co, Nb, Ta, Mo, W, and Re. The alloys were prepared by blending a third elemental powder with pre-alloyed binary FeAl powder. Consolidation was by hot extrusion at 1250 K. Annealing studies on the extruded rods showed that the third element addition can be classified into three categories based upon the amount of homogenization and the extent of solid solutioning. Constant strain rate compression tests were performed to determine the flow stress as a function of temperature and composition. The mechanical strength behavior was dependent upon the third element homogenization classification.

Titran, R. H.↗

Algebraic grid generation about wing-fuselage bodies

An algebraic procedure for the generation of boundary-fitted grids about wing-fuselage configurations is presented. A wing-fuselage configuration is specified by cross sections and mathematically represented by Coons' patches. A configuration is divided into sections so that several grid blocks that either adjoin each other or partially overlap each other can be generated. Each grid has six exterior surfaces that map into a computational cube. Grids are first determined on the six boundary surfaces and then in the interior. Grid curves that are on the surface of the configuration are derived from the intersection of planes with the Coons' patch definition. Single-valued functions relating approximate arc lengths along the grid curves to a computational coordinate define the distribution of grid points. The two-boundary technique and transfinite interpolation are used to determine the boundary surface grids that are not on the configuration, and transfinite interpolation with linear blending functions is used to determine the interior grid.

Smith, R. E.↗

Developmental testing of a programmable multizone furnace

A multizone furnace was evaluated for its potential utilization for process experimentation on board the Space Shuttle. A temperature gradient can be created through the use of a series of connected temperature zones and can be translated by the coordinated sequencing of zone temperatures. The Bridgman-Stockbarger thermal configuration for directional solidification was implemented so that neither the sample nor furnace was translated. The thermal behavior of the furnace was measured and characterized. Limitations due to both thermal and electronic (computer) factors are identified. The results indicate that the multizone design is limited to low temperature gradients because of the indirect furnace-to-sample thermal coupling needed to blend the discrete thermal zones. The multizone furnace design inherently consumes more power than a similar (two temperature) conventional Bridgman type directional solidification furnace because every zone must be capable of the high cooling rates needed to produce the maximum desired temperature drop. Typical achievable static temperature gradients for the furnace tested were between 6 and 75 C/in. The maximum gradient velocity was approximately 10 in./hr. Several aspects of the tested system could be improved, but the dependence of the multizone design on high heat loss will limit Space Shuttle applications in the form tested unless additional power is available. The multizone furnace offers great flexibility but requires a high level of operator understanding for full advantage to be obtained.

Ting, E. Y.↗

Near-infrared spectroscopy of planetary nebulae: How strong is the H2 emission?

In an effort to understand the systematics of the H2 emission from planetary nebulae, a program of near-infared spectroscopy using the University of Texas infrared reticon spectrometer was started. This instrument has a 1x32 element InSb photodiode array as a detector. All of the observations reported were made on the McDonald Observatory 2.7 m telescope, with spectra resolving power lambda/delta lambda = 600. The spectral coverage allows the measurement strengths of Brackett gamma He I 2.113 microns, HE II 2.189 microns and the v = 1=0 S(1) line of H2 at 2.122 microns. One of the most important advantages of this instrument is that we are able to resolve H2 from the adjacent He I line. Most previous observations of planetaries have been made at spectral resolving powers of about 100, which blend these lines. The contribution of the He I line has generally been dismissed as being unimportant, but we show that this may not be valid. Our higher resolving power also improves the line-to-continuum contrast; in some cases, the continuum is the limiting factor in detecting faint lines.

Dinerstein, H. L.↗

Cold atomic hydrogen in the inner galaxy

The VLA is used to measure 21 cm absorption in directions with the absolute value of b less than 1 deg., the absolute value of 1 less than 25 deg. to probe the cool atomic gas in the inner galaxy. Abundant H I absorption is detected; typical lines are deep and narrow, sometimes blending in velocity with adjacent features. Unlike 21 cm emission not all allowed velocities are covered: large portions of the l-v diagram are optically thin. Although not similar to H I emission, the absorption shows a striking correspondence with CO emission in the inner galaxy: essentially every strong feature detected in one survey is seen in the other. The provisional conclusion is that in the inner galaxy most cool atomic gas is associated with molecular cloud complexes. There are few or no cold atomic clouds devoid of molecules in the inner galaxy, although these are common in the outer galaxy.

Dickey, J. M.↗

Grid generation for turbomachinery problems

The development of a computer code to generate numerical grids for complex internal flow systems such as the fluid flow inside the space shuttle main engine is outlined. The blending technique for generating a grid for stator-rotor combination at a particular radial section is examined. The computer programs which generate these grids are listed in the Appendices. These codes are capable of generating grids at different cross sections and thus providng three dimensional stator-rotor grids for the turbomachinery of the space shuttle main engine.

Steinhoff, J.↗

The HD/H2 ratio in the atmosphere of Uranus

High resolution spectra of HD and H2 were brought together to derive the D/H ratio for Uranus. The deuterium concentration in the dominant molecular hydrogen phase is least susceptible to the effects of isotope fractionation in the planetary atmosphere, and the determination of relative abundances of HD and H2 is unambiguous due to nearness and relative weakness of the chosen spectral lines. The HD 5-0 R(0) and R(1) dipole lines and the H2 4-0 S(0), S(1), and S(2) quadrupole lines were obtained with a PEPSIOS instrument at the Palomar 5-meter telescope. The H2 spectra, which resolve the asymmetric line profiles resulting from pressure shifts in the deep stratified Uranus atmosphere, unambiguously define the line-of-sight hydrogen abundance for comparison with the HD spectra. The 5-0 band of HD was chosen to minimize interference from blended CH4 lines. However, weak interfering lines were found in the 5-0 bands from Uranus as well, and some uncertainties remain regarding the intrinsic line strengths in molecular hydrogen, complicating the analysis of the HD/H2 data. Nevertheless, it is established that the D/H ratio in the atmosphere of Uranus is smaller than the Jovian value, and is significantly smaller than recent theoretical predictions for Uranus based on estimates of isotope fractionation in the pre-planetary solar nebulae.

Trauger, J. T.↗

Optimization of aircraft interior panels

Eight different graphite composite panels were fabricated using four different resin matrices. The resin matrices included Hercules 71775, a blend of vinylpolystyrpyridine and bismaleimide, H795, a bismaleimide, Cycom 6162, a phenolic, and PSP 6022M, a polystyrylpyridine. Graphite panels were fabricated using fabric or unidirectional tape. This report describes the processes for preparing these panels and some of their mechanical, thermal and flammability properties. Panel properties are compared with state-of-the-art epoxy fiberglass composite panels.

Kourtides, Demetrius A.↗

Ultraviolet spectra of the N-type carbon star TX Piscium

Nine IUE low resolution spectra of TX Psc, one of the brightest N-type carbon stars, were analyzed. The integrated flux of the Mg II (UV 1) line (blend of h and k) varies by a factor of 7, and the flux of other lines varies similarly and in phase. No variations greater than a factor of 2 occur in the continuous flux. Synthetic spectra from a model chromosphere show surprisingly good agreement with the IUE observations. The enormous influence of the wings of the Mg I resonance line is noted, suggesting it may be a major part of the well-known violet and ultraviolet opacity in cool carbon stars.

Johnson, Hollis R.↗

The evidence for aspect dependent winds in Be stars

A stellar wind survey in 62 Be and 43 B stars covering 80 III-V to B5 III-V is presented. It is found that the wind absorption seen in C IV in Be stars is due to blended absorption from multiple shortward-shifted discrete components. Such components are not observed in normal B stars, but occur in 63% of the Be stars in the sample. Shortward-shifted discrete components in Be stars are observed only if v sin i is greater than 150 km/sec. Ten Be stars in the sample, including two low v sin i stars, show strong unshifted absorption components, similar to features seen in Beta Cep stars.

Grady, Carol A.↗