Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “gas analysis”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 73 records · Page 4
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1975

Leak rate measurements for satellite subsystems and residual gas analysis during space environment tests

The measuring and evaluation procedure for the determination of leak rates of satellite subsystems with a quadrupole mass spectrometer, and the results of the residual gas analysis are described. The method selected for leak rate determination was placing the system into a vacuum chamber and furnishing the chamber with a mass spectrometer and calibrated leaks. The residual gas of a thermal vacuum test facility, in which the thermal balance test radiation input was simulated by a heated canister, was analyzed with the mass spectrometer in the atomic mass unit range up to 300 amu. In addition to the measurements during the space environment tests, mass spectrometric studies were performed with samples of spacecraft materials. The studies were carried out during tests for the projects HELIOS, AEROS B and SYMPHONIE.

Nuss, H. E.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Thermal and Evolved Gas Analysis of Hydromagnesite and Nesquehonite: Implications for Remote Thermal Analysis on Mars

Volatile-bearing minerals (e.g., Fe-oxyhydroxides, phyllosilicates, carbonates, and sulfates) may be important phases on the surface of Mars. In order to characterize these potential phases the Thermal Evolved-Gas Analyzer (TEGA), which was onboard the Mars Polar Lander, was to have performed differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and evolved-gas analysis of soil samples collected from the surface. The sample chamber in TEGA operates at about 100 mbar (approximately 76 torr) with a N2, carrier gas flow of 0.4 seem. Essentially, no information exists on the effects of reduced pressure on the thermal properties of volatile-bearing minerals. In support of TEGA, we have constructed a laboratory analog for TEGA from commercial instrumentation. We connected together a commercial differential scanning calorimeter, a quadruple mass spectrometer, a vacuum pump, digital pressure gauge, electronic mass flow meter, gas "K" bottles, gas dryers, and high and low pressure regulators using a collection of shut off and needle valves. Our arrangement allows us to vary and control the pressure and carrier gas flow rate inside the calorimeter oven chamber.

Lauer, H. V., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Evolved Gas Analysis and X-Ray Diffraction of Carbonate Samples from the 2009 Arctic Mars Analog Svalbard Expedition: Implications for Mineralogical Inferences from the Mars Science Laboratory

The 2009 Arctic Mars Analog Svalbard Expedition (AMASE) investigated several geologic settings using methodologies and techniques being developed or considered for future Mars missions, such as the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), ExoMars, and Mars Sample Return (MSR). AMASE-related research comprises both analyses conducted during the expedition and further analyses of collected samples using laboratory facilities at a variety of institutions. The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument suite, which will be part of the Analytical Laboratory on MSL, consists of a quadrupole mass spectrometer (QMS), a gas chromatograph (GC), and a tunable laser spectrometer (TLS). An Evolved Gas Analysis Mass Spectrometer (EGA-MS) was used during AMASE to represent part of the capabilities of SAM. The other instrument included in the MSL Analytical Laboratory is CheMin, which uses X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) to perform quantitative mineralogical characterization of samples. Field-portable versions of CheMin were used during the AMASE 2009. Here, we discuss the preliminary interpretation of EGA and XRD analyses of selected AMASE carbonate samples and implications for mineralogical interpretations from MSL. Though CheMin will be the primary mineralogical tool on MSL, SAM EGA could be used to support XRD identifications or indicate the presence of volatile-bearing minerals which may be near or below XRD detection limits. Data collected with instruments in the field and in comparable laboratory setups (e.g., the SAM breadboard) will be discussed.

McAdam, A. C.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Carbothermal Reduction Demonstration (CaRD) Gas Analysis Subsystem Development

The Carbothermal Reduction Demonstration (CaRD) project is currently developing a subscale system to demonstrate the operation and performance of the carbothermal reduction process and quantify the production of molar equivalent oxygen (carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2)). Traditionally, gas chromatography (GC) systems are utilized to qualify gases due to their ability to separate the volatile compounds within the gas mixture, followed by quantification of the isolated component of interest. Despite these capabilities, GCs require consumables for their operational mobile phase and consequently are not often considered a flight-forward option. An alternative analytical technique known as mass spectrometry measures the presentence of gas phase molecules based on their mass-to-charge ratio. Residual gas analyzers (RGAs) which utilize mass spectrometry are not traditionally used to quantify analytes, but proper design and calibrations can result in a flight-forward analytical instrument capable of direct quantification of volatile gases of interest. Kennedy Space Center's role for the project is to design a gas analyzer system to detect and quantify the CO and CO2 gas produced during the carbothermal reaction utilizing a commercial version of the Mass Spectrometer Observing Lunar Operations (MSolo) instrument. MSolo is a modified commercial off-the-shelf mass spectrometer which consists of quadrupole mass filter and space rated electronics. MSolo is currently a TRL 6 technology and manifested on the PRIME-1 and VIPER missions. This paper describes leveraging MSolo based instrumentation to develop a gas analysis system for the work outlined in the 2023 International Conference on Environmental Systems (ICES) paper number 313. The design and testing of the brassboard phase of the project will be described along with the current work underway which will cover the design and preliminary test results of the prototype phase.

Ryan Patrick Gott↗
NASA NTRS2024

Carbothermal Reduction Demonstration (CaRD) Gas Analysis Subsystem Development

The Carbothermal Reduction Demonstration (CaRD) project is currently developing a subscale system to demonstrate the operation and performance of the carbothermal reduction process and quantify the production of molar equivalent oxygen via carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2). Traditionally, gas chromatography (GC) systems are utilized to quantify gases due to their ability to separate volatile compounds within the gas mixture, followed by detection of the isolated component of interest. Despite their capabilities, GCs require carrier gas consumables for their operational mobile phase and consequently are not often considered a flight-forward option. An alternative analytical technique known as mass spectrometry measures the presence of gas phase molecules without the need of carrier gas. Residual gas analyzers (RGAs), which are smaller and rugged mass spectrometers, are not traditionally used to quantify analytes as they serve more as a monitoring tool. However, proper application and calibration can result in a flight-forward analytical instrument capable of direct quantification of volatile compounds of interest. Kennedy Space Center's role for the JSC led CaRD project is to design a gas analyzer system to detect and quantify the CO and CO2 gases produced during the carbothermal reaction utilizing a commercial version of the Mass Spectrometer observing lunar operations (MSolo) instrument. MSolo is a modified commercial off-the-shelf RGA, which consists of quadrupole mass filter and space rated electronics. MSolo is currently a TRL 6 technology and manifested on the PRIME-1 and VIPER missions. This paper describes leveraging MSolo based instrumentation to develop a gas analysis system for the work outlined in the 2023 International Conference on Environmental Systems (ICES) paper number 313.

Ryan P Gott↗
NASA NTRS2014

Sulphur-bearing Compounds Detected by MSL SAM Evolved Gas Analysis of Materials from Yellowknife Bay, Gale Crater, Mars

The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) and Chemistry and Mineralogy (CheMin) instruments on the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) analysed several subsamples of sample fines (<150 μm) from three sites in Yellowknife Bay, an aeolian bedform termed Rocknest (hereafter "RN") and two samples drilled from the Sheepbed mudstone at sites named John Klein ("JK") and Cumberland ("CB"). SAM's evolved gas analysis (EGA) mass spectrometry detected H2O, CO2, O2, H2, SO2, H2S, HCl, NO, OCS, CS2 and other trace gases. The identity of evolved gases and temperature (T) of evolution can support mineral detection by CheMin and place constraints on trace volatile-bearing phases present below the CheMin detection limit or difficult to characterize with XRD (e.g., X-ray amorphous phases). Here, we focus on potential constraints on phases that evolved SO2, H2S, OCS, and CS2 during thermal analysis.

McAdam, A. C.↗
DOE OSTI2018

A screening-level life cycle greenhouse gas analysis of CO 2 enhanced oil recovery with CO 2 sourced from the Shute Creek natural gas-processing facility

This life cycle analysis (LCA) evaluates life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with a system that produces both natural gas and crude oil. Two systems are defined: System 1, which independently produces natural gas and oil, and System 2, which captures carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) from the natural gas-processing plant and utilizes this captured CO 2 for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). The LCA uses customized spreadsheet models with emission factors from peer-reviewed literature and publications of the National Energy Technology Laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy. The modeling results show that the CO 2 EOR scenario using captured CO 2 produces both natural gas and oil with lower life cycle GHG emissions than alternative systems producing natural gas and oil independently. Sensitivity analyses show that the model results are most sensitive to the fraction of CO 2 captured (or equivalently, the fraction of CO 2 vented) at the natural gas-processing facility and the incremental oil recovery factor and net CO 2 utilization factor of the EOR operations. The input variable driving the relative difference in life cycle GHG emissions between these two systems is the fraction of CO 2 captured at the natural gas-processing facility (i.e., the capture rate). Here, the results of this study highlight the necessity of linking processes in the life cycle modeling, as a change to one process can affect other processes within the coupled energy system comprised of natural gas and oil. In addition, this analysis shows, as prior work has also suggested, that CO 2 EOR using captured anthropogenic CO 2 provides a viable means for offsetting carbon emissions from oil production and combustion via the associated storage of CO 2 that occurs incidentally during this tertiary method of oil recovery.

02 PETROLEUM↗
DOE OSTI2017

Thermal Degradation Investigation of Polyurethane Elastomers using Thermal Gravimetric Analysis - Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry

The thermal degradation of two polyurethane elastomers was investigated via thermal gravimetric analysis coupled with gas chromatography/ma ss spectrometry. Decomposition occur s in a multi - step fashion with similar onset temperatures for both materials. Apparent activation energy plots were calculated inside Model - Free Kinetics software and utilized to construct conversion and isothermal conversion tables . These tables predicted material degradation as a function of temperature and time. Isothermal experiments were performed and found to be in good agreement with the predictions made from the Model - Free Kinetic s software package. Volatile products evolved during the multistep decomposition were captured at various times and analyzed using the coupled gas chromatography/mass spectrometry system . This analysis demonstrated strong correlation between the degradation products and known decomposition mechanisms for polyurethanes.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Characterizing Hazardous Gases from NMC811 Materials and Coin Cells with TGA and Tube-Furnace FTIR-MS Evolved-Gas-Analysis

Abuse testing is useful for informing the risks of different battery chemistries but has been limited to larger formats. This paper conducted thermal abuse tests at the smaller coin cell level to determine its relevance in specifying vent gas flammability and toxicity. A nitrogen purge carried the evolved gases into a parallel Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) and a mass spectrometer (MS) downstream of the tube furnace. The experimental system was validated by comparing evolved gas data for single components between the tube furnace system and a thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) instrument. Multiple samples were tested during validation, including CaCO3, electrolyte, delithiated NMC 811 cathode, and lithiated graphite anode. Temperature-resolved gas evolution of HF, CO2, CO, H2, and hydrocarbons from isolated components helped to characterize the emission sources. A previously unreported H2 generation mechanism was found. It was shown that the reduced NMC cathode acts as a catalyst to crack polypropylene-decomposed hydrocarbons into H2 at around 450 degrees C. It was also shown, while studying LiPF6 thermal decomposition, that using the tube furnace with a coin cell casing as the sample holder has some advantages for evolved-gas analysis of environmentally sensitive samples relative to testing in TGA instruments. After validation with single components, a fully charged NMC 811 coin cell was failed in the tube furnace. The measured evolved gases were found to be a combination of the species measured from the single component tests. H2 formation related to the reduced cathode was found to have greater abundance than H2 formed from the anode. Hydrogen fluoride emission factors and diethyl carbonate conversion emission factors assist in understanding the gaseous hazards for larger format cells.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2020

High accuracy in-situ direct gas analysis of Li-ion batteries

Cycling of lithium-ion batteries containing Ni-rich NMC cathodes at high voltage involves intense gas generation. From the safety standpoint, it is critical to understand how different gas species respond to changes of upper cut-off voltages. In this manuscript, we introduce a novel experimental set up for real-time analysis of gas generation in prismatic pouch cells. In a typical experiment, a lithium-ion pouch cell is directly connected to a quadruple mass spectrometer by glass capillary. Pressure difference helps move the generated gases to the mass spectrometer column for full analysis. The gaseous species are probed during both formation cycle and aging cycles in Li-ion pouch cells comprising NMC811 cathode and graphite anode. The gases are generated upon the creation of the solid electrolyte interphase on graphite during the first formation charge. Besides ethylene gas, C 2 H 4 , whose occurrence is related to the decomposition of ethylene carbonate, a minor solvent decomposition happened at a lower voltage is demonstrated to be associated with residue water on the electrode. For aging cycles, three upper cut-off voltages have been selected to investigate the gas evolution behavior upon charging to 4.2, 4.4 and 4.6 V. Higher upper cut-off voltages do not affect the amount of O 2 measured as a part of the generated oxygen could have reacted with electrolytes. Quite similar and low amounts of O 2 remain in the cells upon charging to the selected cut-off voltages. On the other hand, the generation of CO 2 has been found to be very sensitive to upper cut-off voltage. During similar aging cycles, 6167 nmol $g_{NMC}^{-1}$ of CO 2 is generated at 4.6 V, versus 1650 nmol $g_{NMC}^{-1}$ of CO 2 at 4.4 V, versus 91 nmol $g_{NMC}^{-1}$ of CO 2 at 4.2 V.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
NASA NTRS2015

Results of the GCMS Effluent Gas Analysis for the Brine Processing Test

The effluent gas for the Paragon Ionomer Water Processor (IWP), UMPQUA Ultrasonic Brine Dewatering System (UBDS), and the NASA Brine Evaporation Bag (BEB) were analyzed using Headspace GCMS Analysis in the recent AES FY14 Brine Processing Test. The results from the analysis describe the number and general chemical species of the chemicals produced. Comparisons were also made between the different chromatograms for each system, and an explanation of the differences in the results is reported.

GCMS↗
NASA NTRS2012

Evolved Gas Analysis of Mars Analog Samples from the Arctic Mars Analog Svalbard Expedition: Implications for Analyses by the Mars Science Laboratory

The 2011 Arctic Mars Analog Svalbard Expedition (AMASE) investigated several geologic settings on Svalbard, using methodologies and techniques being developed or considered for future Mars missions, such as the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL). The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument suite on MSL consists of a quadrupole mass spectrometer (QMS), a gas chromatograph (GC), and a tunable laser spectrometer (TLS), which analyze gases created by pyrolysis of samples. During AMASE, a Hiden Evolved Gas Analysis-Mass Spectrometer (EGA-MS) system represented the EGA-QMS capability of SAM. Another MSL instrument, CheMin, will use x-ray diffraction (XRD) and x-ray fluorescence (XRF) to perform quantitative mineralogical characterization of samples. Field-portable versions of CheMin were used during AMASE. AMASE 2011 sites spanned a range of environments relevant to understanding martian surface materials, processes and habitability. They included the basaltic Sverrefjell volcano, which hosts carbonate globules, cements and coatings, carbonate and sulfate units at Colletth0gda, Devonian sandstone redbeds in Bockfjorden, altered basaltic lava delta deposits at Mt. Scott Keltie, and altered dolerites and volcanics at Botniahalvoya. Here we focus on SAM-like EGA-MS of a subset of the samples, with mineralogy comparisons to CheMin team results. The results allow insight into sample organic content as well as some constraints on sample mineralogy.

McAdam, A.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Gas analysis system for the Eight Foot High Temperature Tunnel

This paper describes the development of a gas collection and analysis system that is to be installed in the Eight-Foot High Temperature Tunnel (8' HTT) at NASA's Langley Research Center. This system will be used to analyze the test gas medium that results after burning a methane-air mixture to achieve the proper tunnel test parameters. The system consists of a sampling rake, a gas sample storage array, and a gas chromatographic system. Gas samples will be analyzed after each run to assure that proper combustion takes place in the tunnel resulting in a correctly balanced composition of the test gas medium. The proper ratio of gas species is critically necessary in order for the proper operation and testing of scramjet engines in the tunnel. After a variety of methane-air burn conditions have been analyzed, additional oxygen will be introduced into the combusted gas and the enriched test gas medium analyzed. The pre/post enrichment sets of data will be compared to verify that the gas species of the test gas medium is correctly balanced for testing of air-breathing engines.

Leighty, Bradley D.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Field Characterization of the Mineralogy and Organic Chemistry of Carbonates from the 2010 Arctic Mars Analog Svalbard Expedition by Evolved Gas Analysis

The 2010 Arctic Mars Analog Svalbard Expedition (AMASE) investigated two geologic settings using methodologies and techniques being developed or considered for future Mars missions, such as the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), ExoMars, and Mars Sample Return. The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) [1] instrument suite, which will be on MSL, consists of a quadrupole mass spectrometer (QMS), a gas chromatograph (GC), and a tunable laser mass spectrometer (TLS); all will be applied to analyze gases created by pyrolysis of samples. During AMASE, a Hiden Evolved Gas Analysis-Mass Spectrometer (EGA-MS) system represented the EGA-MS capability of SAM. Another MSL instrument, CheMin, will use x-ray diffraction (XRD) and x-ray fluorescence (XRF) to perform quantitative mineralogical characterization of samples [e.g., 2]. Field-portable versions of CheMin were used during AMASE. AMASE 2010 focused on two sites that represented biotic and abiotic analogs. The abiotic site was the basaltic Sigurdfjell vent complex, which contains Mars-analog carbonate cements including carbonate globules which are excellent analogs for the globules in the ALH84001 martian meteorite [e.g., 3, 4]. The biotic site was the Knorringfjell fossil methane seep, which featured carbonates precipitated in a methane-supported chemosynthetic community [5]. This contribution focuses on EGA-MS analyses of samples from each site, with mineralogy comparisons to CheMin team results. The results give insight into organic content and organic-mineral associations, as well as some constraints on the minerals present.

McAdam, A. C.↗