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At least 739 records · Page 41
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1981

Preparation and evaluation of advanced electrocatalysts for phosphoric acid fuel cells

The highest performance fuel cell cathode electrocatalyst combination ever observed gives 755 mV vs hydrogen at 100 ASF on air at 180 C and shows a potential improvement to 775 mV vs hydrogen for better electrode structures. A pressurized fuel cell (UTC at 5 atm) would then give 805 mV at 320 ASF and 180 C. Another activity diagnostic is the performance of this electrocatalyst on oxygen at 900 mV vs hydrogen. The value for electrocatalyst is 44 mA per milligram of platinum and is projected to reach 60 mA per milligram of platinum with improved electrode structures. Since the electrocatalyst surface area and the electrode structure are not yet optimized there is considerable room for performance enhancement beyond these values, especially at higher temperatures.

Stonehart, P.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Low-cost solar array project task 1: Silicon material. Gaseous melt replenishment system

The operation of a silicon production technique was demonstrated. The essentials of the method comprise chemical vapor deposition of silicon, by hydrogen reduction of chlorosilanes, on the inside of a quartz reaction vessel having large internal surface area. The system was designed to allow successive deposition-melting cycles, with silicon removal being accomplished by discharging the molten silicon. The liquid product would be suitable for transfer to a crystal growth process, casting into solid form, or production of shots. A scaled-down prototype reactor demonstrated single pass conversion efficiency of 20 percent and deposition rates and energy consumption better than conventional Siemens reactors, via deposition rates of 365 microns/hr. and electrical consumption of 35 Kwhr/kg of silicon produced.

Jewett, D. N.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Optimum subsonic, high-angle-of-attack nacelles

Many proposed advanced aircraft - but especially tilt-nacelle, subsonic-cruise, V/STOL aircraft - require nacelles that operate over a wide range of aerodynamic conditions. The optimum design of such nacelles and their inlets is described, including how the inlet low-speed design conditions are selected, the conditions for which the various regions of the inlet are designed, and appropriate criteria of merit. For low-speed operation the optimum internal surface velocity distributions and skin friction distributions are described for three categories of inlets: those without boundary-layer control (BLC), those with BLC, and those with blow-in door slots and retractable slats. Experimental results are presented that show the performance of the various types of inlets. At cruise speed the effect of factors that reduce the nacelle external surface area and the local skin friction is illustrated. These factors are cruise Mach number, inlet throat size, fan-face Mach number, and nacelle contour. The interrelation of these cruise-speed factors with the design requirements for good low-speed performance is discussed. Finally an inlet design without BLC and an optimized inlet design with slots and slats are compared to illustrate the possible reductions in nacelle size.

Luidens, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Effect of texture on microwave emission from soils

The intensity brightness temperature, T(B), of the microwave emission from the soil is determined primarily by its dielectric properties. The large difference between the dielectric constant of water and that of dry soil produces a strong dependence of the soil's dielectric constant on its moisture content. This dependence is effected by the texture of the soil because the water molecules close to the particle surface are tightly bound and do not contribute significantly to the dielectric properties. Since this surface area is a function of the particle size distribution (soil texture), being larger for clay soils with small particles, and smaller for sandy soils with larger particles, the dielectric properties will depend on soil texture. This dependence has been demonstrated by laboratory measurements of the dielectric constant for soils which are briefly summarized. The dependence of the microwave emission on texture is demonstrated by measurements of T(B) from an aircraft platform for a wide range of soil textures. It is concluded that the effect of soil texture differences on the observed T(B) values can be normalized by expressing the soil moisture values as a percentage of field capacity for the soil.

Schmugge, T. J.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Photometry and polarimetry of Saturn's rings from Pioneer Saturn

A profile of the average normal optical depth for Saturn's rings between 1.22 and 2.35 Saturn radii is examined. In the A and B rings, horizontal inhomogeneities make these values deceptive. A thinner component of the B ring with an optical depth below 0.08 covers up to 4% of its surface area. In the A ring, the more transparent component covers more than 7% of its area and has an optical depth greater than 0.10. These thinner parts of the rings would rarely be apparent from earth based observations. The particles of the C ring are larger than 15 microns and differ from those of the B and A rings. The C ring is either homogeneous with high albedo and forward scattering phase functions, or shows a gradient in albedo with distance from Saturn. Polarimetry of Saturn's ring provides only an upper limit (below 15%) which is consistent with ground-based predictions. Polarization in the outer A ring is negative.

Esposito, L. W.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Increased fracture toughness of graphite-epoxy composites through intermittent interlaminar bonding

The objective of this study was to increase the fracture toughness of multilayer continuous-filament graphite-epoxy composites. The method used is intermittent interlaminar bonding which can lead to a large increase in the fracture surface area. Intermittent bonding was achieved through introduction of thin perforated Mylar between the layers of the composite. For the optimum condition, fracture toughness was increased from about 100 kJ/sq m for untreated specimens to an average of about 500 kJ/sq m, while tensile strength dropped from 500 MPa to 400 MPa, and elastic modulus remained the same at about 75 GPa. An approximate analysis is presented to explain the improvement in toughness.

Jea, L.-C.↗
NASA NTRS1981

A study of stratospheric aerosol maturity

A sampling and analysis technique that uses the binomial distribution to characterize stratospheric aerosol populations at the 95% level of confidence is described. Particle samples obtained over Alaska during July 15-19, 1979, are used; the results show the presence of more small particles at lower altitude than at high altitudes. Calculations of the surface area and volume distributions for all aerosol samples collected are given. Evidence from these data suggests either that Aitken nuclei are injected or diffused across the tropopause and rise into the stratosphere, where they mature into larger particles, or nuclei form in the lower stratosphere and become mature aerosols at high altitude. Samples obtained at another site give the same results, supporting the view that the process of injection or nucleation and maturing of aerosols with altitude may be global and need not occur only in locations exhibiting unique meteorologic features.

Oberbeck, V. R.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Effects of meteoric debris on stratospheric aerosols and gases

Characterizations of meteoric dust height and size distributions are obtained using Hunten's calculations of meteor ablation and recondensation rates. The contribution of meteor residues to aerosol composition, the role of meteoric dust as condensation nuclei, and the effects of meteor debris on aerosol size distributions are quantified, and particle surface areas are estimated. The potential importance of heterogeneous chemistry for stratospheric trace gases is discussed. The interaction between H2SO4 vapor and meteor metal vapors is investigated. It is concluded that meteoric particles may dominate the natural stratospheric aerosols at small (less than .01 micron radius) and large (greater than 1 micron radius) sizes under normal conditions.

Turco, R. P.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Stellar chromospheric and coronal heating by magnetohydrodynamic waves

An investigation is presented on the way in which the generation of magnetohydrodynamic waves by turbulent motions in stellar convection zones depends on the star's effective temperature, surface gravity, and magnetic field strength. It is shown that the emitted Alfven wave flux (and acoustic slow wave flux in a very strong magnetic field) is in reasonable agreement with the general trend of observed chromospheric radiative losses in stars, and with the observations of three stars for which magnetic field strength, surface area covered by strong fields, and radiative losses have all been measured.

Stein, R. F.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Far-infrared continuum observations of solar faculae

New observations of photospheric faculae in the far-infrared (10-25 micron wavelength) continuum are presented. Two-beam linear scans with 10 arcsec and 20 arcsec resolution were used to compile statistics on infrared continuum emission from faculae surrounding sunspots. The infrared facular excess above the quiet sun continuum is found to be much smaller than that predicted by plane parallel photospheric models constructed from Mg II h and k line wing observations. It is proposed that the discrepancy results from unresolved granular structure in which the facular granules occupy only about 0.1 of the resolved surface area in the low photosphere.

Lindsey, C.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Efficient Silicon Reactor

High-purity silicon efficiently produced and transferred by continuous two-cycle reactor. New reactor operates in relatively-narrow temperature rate and uses large surfaces area to minimize heat expenditure and processing time in producing silicon by hydrogen reduction of trichlorosilane. Two cycles of reactor consists of silicon production and removal.

Bates, H. E.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Acoustic Methods Remove Bubbles From Liquids

Two acoustic methods applied to molten glass or other viscous liquids to remove bubbles. Bubbles are either absorbed or brought to surface by applying high-intensity Sonic field at resonant frequency. Sonic oscillation increases surface area of bubbles and causes them to dissipate.

Trinh, E.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Survey on aging on electrodes and electrocatalysts in phosphoric acid fuel cells

The processes which contribute to the decay in performance of electrodes used in phosphoric acid fuel cell systems are discussed. Loss of catalytic surface area, corrosion of the carbon support, electrode structure degradation, electrolyte degradation, and impurities in the reactant streams are identified as the major areas for concern.

Stonehart, P.↗
NASA NTRS1982

The tectonics of Ganymede

Evidence of tectonic activity has been found on the Jupiter moon Ganymede, which is the largest solar system icy object known. The transition of dense ice polymorphs in the deep interior of large icy bodies to either less dense polymorphs or liquid water at shallow depths, as internal differentiation and formation of a silicate core occurs, could increase Ganymede's surface area by as much as 7%. If the tectonic evolution of Ganymede is to be described by a progressive fragmentation of an initially uniform lithosphere in response to planetary expansion, the stress transmitted across different areas of bright terrain must differ significantly. Alternatively, lithospheric thickness variations or such other mechanisms as tidal distortion or convection stresses beneath the lithosphere may have been important.

Parmentier, E. M.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Pushbroom radiometry and its potential using large space antennas

Electromagnetic radiation is emitted by matter which was heated to a temperature above absolute zero. The amount of blackbody radiation in the microwave frequency region of interest (10 to the 8th power f 10 to the 10th power Hz) emitted by matter can be determined from the Rayleigh-Jeans approximation to Planck's Radiation Law. The amount of electromagnetic radiation from matter which is not a blackbody is a function of the emissivity of the material. The emissivity is a factor less than unity and is a function of several parameters including chemical composition, temperature, frequency, surface characteristics, and viewing angle. A radiometer is an instrument which detects and provides a measure of the electromagnetic radiation being emitted by a material or surface area within the radiometer's antenna beamwidth. Microwave radiometers provide the capability for remote measurements from Earth orbits of geophysical parameters. These measurements will require the use of a microwave imaging radiometer using a large aperture deployable antenna with multiple beams in a pushbroom mode to achieve high spatial resolution and large swath width.

Harrington, R. F.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Small Gas Turbine Combustor Primary Zone Study

A development process is described which consists of design, fabrication, and preliminary test evaluations of three approaches to internal aerodynamic primary zone flow patterns: (1) conventional double vortex swirl stabilization; (2) reverse flow swirl stabilization; and (3) large single vortex flow system. Each concept incorporates special design features aimed at extending the performance capability of the small engine combustor. Since inherent geometry of these combustors result in small combustion zone height and high surface area to volume ratio, design features focus on internal aerodynamics, fuel placement, and advanced cooling. The combustors are evaluated on a full scale annular combustor rig. A correlation of the primary zone performance with the overall performance is accomplished using three intrusion type gas sampling probes located at the exit of the primary zone section. Empirical and numerical methods are used for designing and predicting the performance of the three combustor concepts and their subsequent modifications. The calibration of analytical procedures with actual test results permits an updating of the analytical design techniques applicable to small reverse flow annular combustors.

Sullivan, R. E.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Variable anodic thermal control coating

A process for providing a thermal control solar stable surface coating for aluminum surfaces adapted to be exposed to solar radiation wherein selected values within the range of 0.10 to 0.72 thermal emittance (epsilon sub tau) and 0.2 to 0.4 solar absorptance (alpha subs) are reproducibly obtained by anodizing the surface area in a chromic acid solution for a selected period of time. The rate voltage and time, along with the parameters of initial epsilon sub tau and alpha subs, temperature of the chromic acid solution, acid concentration of the solution and the material anodized determines the final values of epsilon/tau sub and alpha sub S. 9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures.

Gilliland, C. S.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Sorption of noble gases by solids, with reference to meteorites. II - Chromite and carbon. III - Sulfides, spinels, and other substances; on the origin of planetary gases

The trapping of noble gases by chromite and carbon, two putative carriers of primordial noble gases in meteorites, was studied by synthesizing 19 samples in a Ne-Ar-Kr-Xe atmosphere at 440-720 K. Noble gas contents are found to approximately obey Henry's Law, but only slight correlations are found with composition, surface area, or adsorption temperature. Geometric mean distribution coefficients for bulk samples and HCl residues in 10 cu cm STP/g atm are: Xe 100, Kr 15, Ar 3.5, and Ne 0.62. Elemental fractionation data support the suggestion of Lewis et al. (1977) that chromite and carbon in C2 and C3 chondrites were formed by the reaction: Fe, Cr + 4CO yields (Fe, Cr)3O4 + 4C + carbides. In contrast to meteoritic minerals, the synthetic specimens show no isotopic fractionation of noble gases. In a subsequent study, attention is given to the cases of sulfides and spinels, on the way to consideration of the origin of planetary gases. Sulfides showed three distinctive trends relative to chromite or magnetite. The elemental fractionation pattern of Ar, Kr and Xe in meteorites, terrestrial rocks and planets resembles the adsorption patterns on the carbons, spinels, sulfides, and other solids studied. The high release temperature of meteoritic noble gases may be explained by transformation of the physisorbed or chemisorbed gas. The ready loss of meteoritic heavy gases on surficial oxidation is consistent with adsorption, as is the high abundance.

Yang, J.↗